JP2008126920A - Vehicular input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular input device capable of reducing troubles felt by a user. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular input device comprises an input unit for receiving the input for operating an apparatus of a vehicle from a user, an output unit for outputting the sound expressing the operational state by the user for the input unit, a stop detection unit for detecting the stop of the vehicle, and an output control unit for controlling the output unit so that the volume of the sound output by the output unit is reduced, and/or the length of the sound output by the output unit is reduced when the stop detection unit detects the stop of the vehicle in comparison with that when the stop detection unit does not detect the stop of the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular input device, and more particularly to a vehicular input device that detects a tentacle to a button of an input unit and outputs the detected instruction content of the button and / or the name of the button.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique has been proposed that allows a user to recognize an operation state without operating the steering switch by visually outputting the operation state of the user when operating the steering switch (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-143559 A

  However, in the conventional technology, even when the user can visually recognize the steering switch, for example, even when the vehicle is stopped, the user's operation status is output as a voice, so the user feels troublesome.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle input device that reduces the annoyance felt by the user.

  An aspect of the present invention is directed to a vehicle input device. The present invention relates to an input unit that receives an input for operating a device of a vehicle from a user, an output unit that outputs a voice representing a user's operation status with respect to the input unit, and a stop detection that detects that the vehicle is stopped. When the vehicle and the stop detection unit detect the stop of the vehicle, the volume of the audio output by the output unit is smaller and / or the sound output by the output unit is smaller than when the stop of the vehicle is not detected. And an output control unit that controls the output unit so as to shorten the length.

  In this way, when the vehicle is stopped, the annoyance felt by the user is reduced by reducing the volume of the audio output and / or shortening the length of the audio output regarding the user's operation status. A vehicle input device can be provided.

  Moreover, it is preferable that an output control part prohibits the audio | voice output of an output part, when a stop detection part detects the stop of a vehicle.

  In this way, it is possible to provide a vehicle input device that eliminates the annoyance felt by the user by prohibiting the voice output of the user's operation status when the vehicle is stopped.

  In addition, it is preferable that the vehicle speed measurement unit further measures the speed of the vehicle, and the stop detection unit detects that the vehicle is stopped when the speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed. .

  Further, it is preferable that a tentacle detection unit that detects a user's tentacle with respect to the button of the input unit is further provided, and the output unit outputs a sound of explanation regarding the button whose tentacle is detected by the tentacle detection unit.

  In addition, a display unit that displays a cursor that is operated in response to an input to the input unit and an image that represents an instruction to the device is further provided, and the output unit is an audio for explaining the instruction that is represented by the image specified by the cursor Is preferably output.

  Moreover, it is preferable that an input part is installed in the steering part of a vehicle. In this way, a comfortable operating environment can be provided to the user in the switch that performs the blind operation while the vehicle is running.

  Moreover, it is preferable that an input part is installed in the console part of a vehicle. In this way, a comfortable operating environment can be provided to the user in the switch that performs the blind operation while the vehicle is running.

  As described above, according to the aspect of the present invention, when the vehicle is stopped, the user can reduce the volume of the audio output about the operation status of the user and / or shorten the length of the audio output. Thus, it is possible to provide a vehicular input device that reduces the annoyance felt by the vehicle. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a vehicular input device that eliminates the annoyance felt by the user by prohibiting voice output about the user's operation status when the vehicle is stopped.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the vehicle input device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of the vehicle input device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The vehicle input device 100 is mounted on a vehicle. In FIG. 1, the vehicle input device 100 includes an input unit 110, a tentacle detection unit 120, a vehicle speed measurement unit 130, an output unit 140, and an output control unit 150.

  The input unit 110 receives an input for operating a device of the vehicle from the user. The vehicle device may be any device that is mounted on the vehicle, such as a navigation device, an audio device, or an air conditioning device. In the present embodiment, the input unit 110 is a switch installed in the steering unit. The switch includes one or more buttons to which instructions for the device are assigned. The button has a structure that can be pressed in two stages of half-press and full-press. As will be described in detail later, when the button is half-pressed, it is determined that the user is touching the button, and when the button is fully pressed, an instruction assigned to the button is input. It is judged that it was done. The input unit 110 outputs information indicating whether or not the button is fully pressed to the output control unit 150. The input unit 110 may be installed in a place where the driver can reach, for example, in the console unit.

  The tentacle detection unit 120 detects a user's tentacle with respect to the button of the input unit 110. In the present embodiment, the tentacle detection unit 120 detects the user's tentacle with respect to the button by detecting that the button is half pressed. When the tentacle detection unit 120 detects a user's tentacle, the tentacle detection unit 120 outputs a tentacle detection signal indicating the detection to the output control unit 150. In another embodiment, the tentacle detection unit 120 may be configured to detect a tentacle using a technique such as a resistance sheet method, a capacitance method, and an infrared (infrared light) method. The resistance sheet method is a method of detecting a button position touched by a user, which is composed of a sheet pasted on a button. The capacitance method is a method of detecting the presence or absence of a tentacle based on a change in electrical resistance value or a change in capacitance when the user touches the tentacle. The infrared (infrared light) method is a method of detecting the presence or absence of a tentacle by blocking a user's fingertip or the like from an infrared beam that runs in a matrix.

  The vehicle speed measurement unit 130 is a vehicle speed meter that measures the speed (vehicle speed) of the vehicle. The vehicle speed data measured by the vehicle speed measuring unit 130 is input to the output control unit 150.

  The output unit 140 outputs sound representing the user's operation status with respect to the input unit 110. Specifically, for example, a speaker is used to output a sound indicating an operation state related to a button of the input unit 110 in which the tentacle detection unit 120 detects a tentacle. The voice indicating the operation status is a voice indicating the instruction content of the button of the input unit 110 and / or the name of the button.

  The output control unit 150 is a control device (ECU) that controls the sound output of the output unit 140. Specifically, the output control unit 150 detects the stop of the vehicle based on the vehicle speed data measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit 130. And when the stop of a vehicle is detected, it controls so that the volume of the audio | voice output of the output part 140 may become small.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle input device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the output control unit 150 determines whether or not the engine is turned on (step S201). If it is determined in step S201 that the engine is not turned on, the output control unit 150 waits until the engine is turned on. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S201 that the engine is turned on, the output control unit 150 determines whether the tentacle detection unit 120 has detected the user's tentacle with respect to the button of the input unit 110 (step S201). S202).

  If it is determined in step S202 that the user's tentacle for the button has not been detected, the output control unit 150 waits until the user's tentacle for the button is detected. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S202 that the user's tentacle with respect to the button has been detected, the sound output sound volume level of the output unit 140 is determined based on the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit 130 (step S203).

  The determination of the volume level in step S203 is performed by referring to the vehicle speed volume level table 300 shown in FIG. The vehicle speed volume level table 300 is a table in which the vehicle speed and the volume level are stored in association with each other. The vehicle speed volume level table 300 is stored in advance in a storage device such as a memory provided inside or outside the output control unit 150. The output control unit 150 specifies a volume level corresponding to the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit 130 in the vehicle speed volume level table 300. For example, when the vehicle speed volume level table 300 shown in FIG. 3 is used, the volume level is 10 if the vehicle speed is 100 km / h or more, the volume level is 8 if the vehicle speed is less than 100 km / h and 80 km or more, and the vehicle speed is less than 80 km / h and 60 km. The volume level is determined to be 6 if / h or more, and 0 if the vehicle speed is less than 4 km / h.

  Next, the output control unit 150 causes the output unit 140 to output sound indicating the operation status at the volume level determined in step S203 (step S204).

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a change in audio output during traveling and when the vehicle is stopped. As shown in FIG. 4, if the vehicle speed is higher than 4 km / h, the output control unit 150 regards the vehicle as traveling and causes the output unit 140 to output a sound indicating the operation status. On the other hand, if the vehicle speed is less than 4 km / h, the output control unit 150 considers that the vehicle is stopped and prohibits the audio output of the output unit 140 (the volume level is set to 0). Note that the vehicle is considered to stop when the vehicle speed is less than 4 km / h in consideration of a response delay of a vehicle speed meter used as the vehicle speed measuring unit 130. That is, there is a time lag after the vehicle actually stops (at least after the driver feels that it is stopped) until the vehicle speed measurement unit 130 measures 0 km / h. Therefore, if the volume level is set to 0 when the vehicle speed measurement unit 130 measures 0 km / h, the user may feel uncomfortable. Further, if the measurement result of the vehicle speed measurement unit 130 is about 4 km / h, it is considered that the vehicle is actually stopped (at least, the driver feels that it is stopped). For the above reason, in the present embodiment, when the speed measured by the vehicle speed measuring unit 130 is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed (4 km / h), it is detected that the vehicle is stopped.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, after step S204, the output control unit 150 determines whether or not the engine is turned off (step S205). When it is determined in step S205 that the engine is not turned off, the output control unit 150 returns the process to step S202 and performs a determination process as to whether or not a tentacle has been detected. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S205 that the engine is turned off, the output control unit 150 ends the process.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the output control unit 150 prohibits the sound output by the output unit 140 when the stop of the vehicle is detected. As a result, voice output unnecessary for the user can be prevented, and the user can be prevented from feeling bothersome.

  In another embodiment, the output control unit 150 reduces the volume of the audio output by the output unit 140 when the stop of the vehicle is detected, compared to when the stop of the vehicle is not detected. May be. Also by this, the troublesomeness given to the user can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, a vehicle input device 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the component similar to Embodiment 1, and it demonstrates in the simplified format.

  The output control unit 150 detects the stop of the vehicle based on the vehicle speed data measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit 130, and controls the output content of the audio output of the output unit 140 to be shortened when the stop of the vehicle is detected. For example, an ECU.

  The operation of the vehicle input device 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the output control unit 150 determines whether or not the engine is turned on (step S501). If it is determined in step S501 that the engine is not turned on, the output control unit 150 waits until the engine is turned on. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S501 that the engine is turned on, the output control unit 150 determines whether the tentacle detection unit 120 has detected a user's tentacle for the button of the input unit 110 (step S501). S502).

  If it is determined in step S502 that the user's tentacle for the button has not been detected, the output control unit 150 waits until the user's tentacle for the button of the input unit 110 is detected. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S502 that a tentacle has been detected, the output control unit 150 determines the output content corresponding to the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit 130 (step S503).

  The determination of the output content is performed by referring to the vehicle speed output content table 600 held by the output control unit 150 as shown in FIG. 6 based on the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit 130. The vehicle speed output content table 600 is a table in which vehicle speed and output content are stored in association with each other. For example, when the operation state in which the tentacle detection unit 120 detects the tentacle is a tentacle to the volume button, if the vehicle speed is 60 km / h or more, the corresponding output content is “button for adjusting the volume”, or the vehicle speed is 4 km. If it is less than / h, the corresponding output content is determined as “volume”. Further, for example, when the operation state in which the tentacle detection unit 120 detects the tentacle is a tentacle to a button for decreasing the volume, if the vehicle speed is 60 km / h or more, the corresponding output content is “button for decreasing the volume. If the vehicle speed is less than 60 km / h, the corresponding output content is “Volume button”, or if the vehicle speed is less than 4 km / h, the corresponding output content is “Volume Is determined.

  The vehicle speed output content table 600 has been described as an example of a table held in the output control unit 150, but may be a table provided outside the output control unit 150. In this case, the output control unit 150 refers to a table provided outside.

  Next, the output control unit 150 causes the output unit 140 to output a sound indicating the operation status with the output content determined in step S503 (step S504).

  That is, for example, if the vehicle speed is greater than 4 km / h (during traveling), the output control unit 150 may, from the output unit 140, indicate the instruction content of the button of the input unit 110 detected by the tentacle detection unit 120 and / or The output content indicating the name of the button is output longer and in more detail. On the other hand, if the vehicle speed is 4 km / h or less (when the vehicle is stopped), the output control unit 150 instructs the instruction content of the button of the input unit 110 detected by the tentacle detection unit 120 from the output unit 140 and / or the name of the button. The output content indicating is shorter and easier to output.

  Next, the output control unit 150 determines whether or not the engine is turned off (step S505). If it is determined in step S505 that the engine is not turned off, the output control unit 150 returns the process to step S502 and performs a determination process as to whether or not a tentacle has been detected. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S505 that the engine is turned off, the output control unit 150 ends the process.

  In this way, it is possible to provide a vehicular input device that reduces the annoyance felt by the user by shortening the length of the voice output regarding the user's operation status when the vehicle is stopped.

  The configuration described in each of the above embodiments is associated with the button that the vehicle input device 100 displays the icon associated with each button of the input unit 110 and detects the tentacle with the tentacle detection unit 120. The present invention can also be applied to a case where a display unit that displays a cursor so as to match the icon is further provided.

  In this case, the output control unit 150 causes the output unit 140 to output the instruction content of the button associated with the icon matched by the cursor displayed on the display unit and / or the voice representing the button name, and the vehicle stops. It is good also as a structure which controls so that the volume of the audio | voice output about a user's operation condition may become small and / or the length of an output becomes short.

  The configuration described in the above embodiment is merely a specific example and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Any configuration can be employed within the scope of the effects of the present application.

  It is useful as an input device for a vehicle that is used for a blind operation when the vehicle is running, particularly as a steering switch, a console switch, or the like.

The block diagram which shows the whole structure of the vehicle input device which concerns on Embodiment 1 and 2 of this invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the vehicle input device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of a vehicle speed volume level table Schematic diagram showing the state of audio output from the output unit during travel and when stopped The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the vehicle input device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of a vehicle speed output content table

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Input device for vehicles 110 Input part 120 Tentacle detection part 130 Vehicle speed measurement part 140 Output part 150 Output control part

Claims (7)

An input device for a vehicle,
An input unit that receives input from a user for operating a vehicle device;
An output unit that outputs voice representing a user's operation status with respect to the input unit;
A stop detection unit for detecting that the vehicle is stopped;
When the stop detection unit detects the stop of the vehicle, the volume of the sound output by the output unit is smaller and / or the sound output by the output unit is smaller than when the stop of the vehicle is not detected. An input device for a vehicle, comprising: an output control unit that controls the output unit so that the length is shortened.   2. The vehicle input device according to claim 1, wherein the output control unit prohibits audio output of the output unit when the stop detection unit detects a stop of the vehicle. A vehicle speed measurement unit for measuring the speed of the vehicle;
The vehicle stop according to claim 1, wherein the stop detection unit detects that the vehicle is stopped when the speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed. Input device. A tentacle detection unit that detects a user's tentacles with respect to the buttons of the input unit;
The said output part outputs the audio | voice of the description regarding the button by which the tentacles were detected by the said tentacle detection part, The vehicle input device in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. A display unit for displaying a cursor operated in response to an input to the input unit and an image representing an instruction to the device;
The said output part outputs the audio | voice of the description regarding the instruction | indication represented with the image designated by the said cursor, The vehicle input device in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The vehicle input device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is installed in a steering unit of a vehicle.   The vehicle input device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is installed in a console unit of the vehicle.

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