JP2013256249A - Voice transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a voice transmission device for performing phone call function control based on where a vehicle is currently located.SOLUTION: A voice transmission device includes: voice transmission parts 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b for transmitting voice outside and inside a vehicle; a phone call function control part 10 for controlling ON/OFF of the voice transmission parts 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b based on map information on a current position of the vehicle.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automobile voice call device that enables a call with a party outside the vehicle or allows ambient sounds outside the vehicle to be taken into the vehicle.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle audio transmission device that allows a vehicle occupant to express intentions by voice to passers-by outside the vehicle. This audio transmission device includes an in-vehicle microphone and a speaker attached in a side mirror. The passenger's utterance voice is collected by the in-vehicle microphone and output from the speaker, so that the passenger can express his intention to the passerby by voice. It also discloses that an ambient sound outside the vehicle is output from the speaker inside the vehicle by attaching a microphone inside the side mirror and a speaker inside the vehicle.

JP-A-4-358936

  However, the voice transmission device disclosed in Patent Document 1 switches the speaker ON / OFF by the operation of the passenger, and does not automatically control the call function according to the traveling state of the vehicle.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an audio transmission device that performs call function control according to the current location of a vehicle.

  The audio transmission apparatus according to the present invention includes an audio transmission unit that transmits audio between the inside and outside of a vehicle, and a control unit that controls ON / OFF of the audio transmission unit based on map information of the current location of the vehicle.

  The audio transmission apparatus according to the present invention includes an audio transmission unit that transmits audio between the inside and outside of a vehicle, and a control unit that controls ON / OFF of the audio transmission unit based on map information of the current location of the vehicle. Therefore, the call function control can be performed based on the current location of the vehicle.

1 is a configuration diagram of a sound transmission device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of control of the call path based on present location information. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the audio transmission device according to the first embodiment. 6 is a configuration diagram of a sound transmission device according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the audio transmission device according to the second embodiment. 6 is a configuration diagram of a sound transmission device according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the audio transmission device according to the third embodiment.

<A. Embodiment 1>
<A-1. Configuration, operation>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sound transmission device 101 according to the first embodiment. The audio transmission device 101 includes an in-vehicle speaker 1a, an out-of-vehicle speaker 1b, an in-vehicle microphone 2a, and an out-of-vehicle microphone 2b as an audio transmission unit that transmits audio between the inside and outside of the vehicle. The in-vehicle microphone 2a and the out-of-vehicle speaker 1b are connected by wire or wirelessly, and the connection path is a transmission path through which an audio signal is transmitted from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle. In addition, the outside microphone 2b and the inside speaker 1a are also connected by wire or wirelessly, and the connection path is a receiving path through which an audio signal is transmitted from the outside to the inside of the car. In the following description, both the transmission path and the reception path are collectively referred to as a call path.

  Further, the voice transmission device 101 includes a map information holding unit 5 that holds map information, a position information detection unit 6 that detects position information, and a call function that controls ON / OFF of a call path based on the map information and the position information. A control unit 10 is provided. When the transmission path is turned on, it means that the in-vehicle sound is output from the outside speaker 1b. When the transmission path is turned off, the in-vehicle sound is not output from the outside speaker 1b. To do. Also, turning on the reception path means that the sound outside the vehicle is output from the in-vehicle speaker 1a, and turning off the reception path means that the sound outside the vehicle is not output from the in-vehicle speaker 1a. Say.

  In the map information holding unit 5, the map information is held by a storage medium such as a CD, a DVD, a BD, or an HDD. Further, the map information may be stored in the storage medium after being received from an external server or the like. The map information is map information used for map display in a general car navigation system, and includes position information of each facility such as a store or a library. Furthermore, it may include information on the location, content, and date and time of various events including outdoor events such as fireworks and festivals.

  The position information detection unit 6 is realized by a GPS receiver, for example, and detects position information of the current location of the vehicle represented by latitude and longitude.

  The call function control unit 10 extracts current location information with reference to map information based on the location information of the current location acquired from the location information detection unit 6. The current location information is information on events, facilities near the current location, and road equipment (hereinafter simply referred to as facilities) that are performed near the current location of the vehicle. The call function control unit 10 refers to the map information and extracts information on event locations and facilities that are within a distance less than a predetermined threshold from the current location as current location information. The distance threshold for extracting the current location information varies depending on the object to be extracted, but is about several meters in the case of a facility, and is a larger numerical value in the case of an event venue. In the case of an event venue, the date and time information of the event is also referred to, and the event whose date matches the current time is extracted. When information on a plurality of facilities is extracted, for example, information on a facility closest to the current location is used as the current location information.

  Based on the current location information extracted in this way, the call function control unit 10 controls the call path. FIG. 2 shows an example of current location information and a call path control based on the current location information. When the current location information indicates a drive-through store, a gas station, or an ETC gate, it is assumed that the passenger is required to make a two-way call with the outside of the vehicle when using these facilities. 10 performs control to turn on both the transmission path and the reception path. In addition, when the current location information indicates any level crossing, drive-in theater, or fireworks venue, it is assumed that the passenger is required to listen to the voice outside the vehicle. Control is performed to turn off the path and turn on the reception path. For example, in order to hear a warning sound of a railroad crossing in the vicinity of a railroad crossing and to listen to a movie sound broadcast outside the vehicle in a drive-in theater. Also, at the fireworks venue, it is possible to listen to the fireworks sound while in the car by turning on the reception path. The call function control unit 10 controls the call path based on the current location information extracted from the map information. In other words, the call function control unit 10 controls the call path based on the map information.

  When the in-vehicle microphone 2a (out-vehicle microphone 2b) and the out-of-vehicle speaker 1b (in-vehicle speaker 1a) are connected by wire via an amplifier, DAT, or the like, the power of the hardware IC such as the amplifier or DAT is turned on / off. By controlling this, ON / OFF control of the call path is performed. Alternatively, when the MUTE circuit is provided in the connection path, the call path can be turned off by setting the volume of the MUTE circuit to 0. Alternatively, when the call path is configured wirelessly, by controlling ON / OFF of the power supply of the transmitter and receiver provided between the in-vehicle microphone 2a (out-vehicle microphone 2b) and the out-of-vehicle speaker 1b (in-vehicle speaker 1a), Call path ON / OFF control is performed. With the above operation, ON / OFF of the call function of the voice transmission unit is controlled.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the call function control unit 10 in the audio transmission device 101. The call function control unit 10 acquires position information of the current location from the position information detection unit 6 (step S1). Next, the current location information is acquired based on the location information of the current location by referring to the map information held by the map information holding unit 5 (step S2). Next, the call path is controlled based on the current location information acquired in step S2 (step S3). The above operation is started, for example, at the timing when the power of the audio transmission device 101 is turned on, and is repeatedly performed at a predetermined cycle.

  Since the voice transmission device 101 performs the above operation, the passenger does not need to operate ON / OFF of the call path, and the call path is automatically turned ON / OFF based on the position information of the current location of the vehicle.

<A-2. Modification>
In the above description, the control of both the transmission path and the reception path as the call path based on the map information has been described. However, only one of the transmission path and the reception path may be configured by the voice transmission unit, and ON / OFF of either one of the paths may be controlled.

<A-3. Effect>
The voice transmission device 101 according to the present embodiment includes a voice transmission unit that transmits voice between the inside and outside of the vehicle, and a call function control unit 10 that controls ON / OFF of the voice transmission unit based on map information of the current location of the vehicle. (Control part). Therefore, ON / OFF switching of the voice transmission unit is automatically performed based on the position information of the current location of the vehicle, regardless of the passenger's operation.

  The sound transmission unit includes an in-vehicle microphone 2a (first microphone) provided in the vehicle and an in-vehicle speaker 1b (first speaker) connected to the in-vehicle microphone 2a and provided outside the vehicle. Therefore, switching of the transmission path ON / OFF is automatically performed based on the position information of the current location of the vehicle, regardless of the passenger's operation.

  Alternatively, the sound transmission unit includes an out-of-vehicle microphone 2b (second microphone) provided outside the vehicle and an in-vehicle speaker 1a (second speaker) connected to the out-of-vehicle microphone 2b. Therefore, the ON / OFF switching of the reception path is automatically performed based on the position information of the current location of the vehicle, regardless of the passenger's operation. Of course, the in-vehicle microphone 2b and the in-vehicle speaker 1a may constitute an audio transmission unit together with the in-vehicle microphone 2a and the out-of-vehicle speaker 1b. In this case, switching of the call path ON / OFF is not performed by the passenger's operation. This is automatically performed based on the position information of the current location of the vehicle.

  In addition, if the map information includes information about the event location, event details, and date and time, for example, while driving near the event location, such as fireworks, the reception path is automatically turned on and the fireworks sound is heard inside the vehicle. It is possible to control by listening. In addition, when the map information includes information on facilities and road equipment, for example, when using a drive-through store, both the transmission path and the reception path are automatically turned on to enable conversation inside and outside the vehicle. It is possible to control to do. Further, for example, when traveling near a railroad crossing, it is possible to control to automatically turn on the reception path and listen to the warning sound of the railroad crossing in the vehicle.

<B. Second Embodiment>
<B-1. Configuration, operation>
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the audio transmission device 102 according to the second embodiment. The audio transmission device 102 further includes a door opening / closing detection unit 7 and a window opening / closing detection unit 8 in addition to the configuration of the audio transmission device 101 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the same or corresponding components as those of the audio transmission device 101 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description overlapping with that in Embodiment 1 is omitted.

  The door open / close detection unit 7 detects the open / closed state of the door of the vehicle. The window opening / closing detection unit 8 detects the opening / closing state of the window of the vehicle. When the door or the window is open, since the voice can be transmitted inside and outside the vehicle without turning on the transmission path and the reception path, the call function control unit 10 turns off both of them. Then, only when both the door and the window are closed, the call function control unit 10 controls the call path based on the current location information described in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the operation of the call function control unit 10 in the voice transmission device 102. The call function control unit 10 acquires the open / close state of the door from the door open / close detection unit 7, and acquires the open / close state of the window from the window open / close detection unit 8 (step S11). Next, the call function control unit 10 determines whether the door and window are open or closed (step S12). If either one of the door and the window is open (Yes in step S12), both the transmission path and the reception path are turned off (step S16), and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if both the door and the window are closed (No in step S12), the call path control based on the current location information is performed in steps S13 to S15, and then the process ends. Steps S13 to S15 are the same as steps S1 to S3 in FIG. The above operation is started, for example, at the timing when the power of the audio transmission device 102 is turned on, and is repeatedly performed at a predetermined cycle.

<B-2. Modification>
The audio transmission device 102 has been described as including the door opening / closing detection unit 7 and the window opening / closing detection unit 8, but may include only one of the door opening / closing detection unit 7 and the window opening / closing detection unit 8. . For example, when only the door opening / closing detection unit 7 is provided, the call function control unit 10 performs ON / OFF control of the call path based on the current location information only when the door is closed, and in other cases, the transmission path And turn off both listening paths.

  Also, the voice transmission apparatus 102 may be configured such that only one of the transmission path and the reception path is configured by the voice transmission unit, and ON / OFF of either one of the paths is controlled.

<B-3. Effect>
The voice transmission device 102 according to the present embodiment includes a door open / close detection unit 7 that detects the open / closed state of the door, and the call function control unit 10 (control unit) Control ON / OFF of. When the door is open, the voice transmission function based on the current location information is not controlled, so that the control according to the actual usage situation is performed.

  The voice transmission device 102 according to the present embodiment includes a window opening / closing detection unit 8 that detects the opening / closing state of the window, and the call function control unit 10 (control unit) Control ON / OFF of. When the window is open, the voice transmission function based on the current location information is not controlled, so that the control according to the actual usage situation is performed.

<C. Embodiment 3>
<C-1. Configuration, operation>
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the audio transmission device 103 according to the third embodiment. In addition to the configuration of the audio transmission device 101 according to the first embodiment, the audio transmission device 103 further includes a running state detection unit 9 that detects a running state (stopped or running). In FIG. 6, the same or corresponding components as those of the audio transmission device 101 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description overlapping with that of the first embodiment is omitted.

  There is little need to talk outside the vehicle while the vehicle is running. Therefore, the voice transmission device 103 turns off both the transmission path and the reception path while the vehicle is running, and performs ON / OFF control of the call path based on the current location information only when the vehicle is stopped.

  A flowchart of the operation of the call function control unit 10 in the voice transmission device 103 is shown in FIG. The call function control unit 10 acquires the traveling state of the vehicle from the traveling state detection unit 9 (step S21). Next, the call function control unit 10 determines whether or not the vehicle is traveling (step S22). If the vehicle is traveling (Yes in step S22), both the transmission path and the reception path are turned off (step S26). The process is terminated. On the other hand, if the vehicle is stopped (No in step S22), the call path is controlled based on the current location information in steps S23 to 25, and then the process is terminated. Steps S23 to S25 are the same as steps S1 to S3 in FIG. The above operation is started, for example, at the timing when the power of the audio transmission device 103 is turned on, and is repeatedly performed at a predetermined cycle.

<C-2. Modification>
In the above description, the configuration of the voice transmission device 101 according to the first embodiment plus the traveling state detection unit 9 is the voice transmission device 103 according to the present embodiment, but the voice transmission device 102 according to the second embodiment. The traveling state detection unit 9 may be added to the configuration. In this case, the call function control unit 10 controls the call path based on the current location information only when the vehicle is stopped and both the door and the window are closed. In other cases, both the transmission path and the reception path are turned off.

<C-3. Effect>
The voice transmission device 103 according to the present embodiment includes a traveling state detection unit 9 that detects whether the vehicle is traveling or stopped, and the call function control unit 10 (control unit) includes a traveling state detection unit. Based on the detection result of 9, the ON / OFF of the voice transmission unit is controlled. By performing ON / OFF control of the voice transmission unit based on the current location information only while the vehicle is stopped, control according to the actual use situation is performed.

  It should be noted that the present invention can be freely combined with each other within the scope of the invention, and each embodiment can be appropriately modified or omitted.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a Car speaker, 1b Car speaker, 2a Car microphone, 2b Car microphone, 3 Sending path, 4 Calling path, 5 Map information holding part, 6 Location information detection part, 7 Door opening / closing detection part, 8 Window opening / closing detection part, 9 Traveling state detection unit, 10 call function control unit, 101, 102, 103 voice transmission device.

Claims (7)

A voice transmission unit that transmits voice between the inside and outside of the vehicle;
A control unit that controls ON / OFF of the voice transmission unit based on map information of the current location of the vehicle;
Audio transmission device. The voice transmission unit is
A first microphone provided in the vehicle;
A first speaker connected to the first microphone and provided outside the vehicle;
The audio transmission device according to claim 1. The voice transmission unit is
A second microphone provided outside the vehicle;
A second speaker connected to the second microphone and provided in the vehicle;
The voice transmission device according to claim 1 or 2. The map information includes information on the location of the event, the details of the event, and the date and time of the event, or information on facilities and road equipment.
The voice transmission device according to claim 1. A door opening / closing detection unit for detecting the opening / closing state of the door;
The control unit controls ON / OFF of the voice transmission unit based on a detection result of the door opening / closing detection unit.
The voice transmission device according to claim 1. A window opening / closing detection unit for detecting an opening / closing state of the window;
The control unit controls ON / OFF of the voice transmission unit based on a detection result of the window opening / closing detection unit.
The voice transmission device according to claim 1. A travel state detection unit for detecting whether the vehicle is running or stopped,
The control unit controls ON / OFF of the voice transmission unit based on a detection result of the running state detection unit.
The voice transmission device according to claim 1.

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