JP2017069835A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus having an interaction function capable of smoothly interacting with a user.SOLUTION: A refrigerator (1) comprises a microphone (8) and a speaker (9) and has an interaction function for acquiring voice and outputting voice depending on the acquired voice. The refrigerator (1) comprises: a position identification unit (11c) for identifying a user's position within a predetermined range in the vicinity of the refrigerator (1); a microphone control unit (11a) for adjusting sensitivity of the microphone (8) so that the sensitivity has a value corresponding to the user's position identified by the position identification unit (11c); and a speaker control unit (11b) for adjusting the volume of sound of the speaker (9).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device having an interactive function that acquires voice and speaks in accordance with the acquired voice.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, home appliances (home electronic devices) having an interactive function have been developed, which acquire voice with a microphone, recognize the voice, and output (speak) a voice corresponding to the result from a speaker.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electric warming pot that supports housework while interacting with a person by voice, and Patent Document 2 sets a washing time and the like and answers by voice when instructed by voice. A dryer is disclosed. Patent Document 3 discloses a refrigerator that transmits information input by voice to an external device to acquire a recipe. Patent Document 4 recognizes a voice instruction and uses the result as an operation command for an air conditioner. A remote controller (hereinafter referred to as “remote controller”) for transmitting to the network is disclosed. Patent Document 5 discloses a heating cooker that interacts with a home server to facilitate selection of a cooking menu through dialogue.

  Some household appliances that have such interactive functions, such as pressing a household appliance button, opening a household appliance door, triggering a user's operation on the household appliance, or using a human sensor mounted on the household appliance Some of them start a conversation when they detect their presence. Hereinafter, home appliances having an interactive function are referred to as “consumer home appliances”.

JP 2003-036091 A (published on Feb. 07, 2003) JP 2013-070831 A (published April 22, 2013) JP 2014-196847 A (released on October 16, 2014) JP 2008-009120 A (published on January 17, 2008) JP 2003-269729 A (released on September 25, 2003)

  However, the conventional consumer electronics technologies described in Patent Documents 1 to 5 do not change the sensitivity of the microphone or the volume of the speaker according to the position of the user. Therefore, depending on the user's position, the voice recognition rate may be different depending on the user's position in the home appliances in which Patent Documents 1 to 5 interact, depending on the sensitivity of the original microphone, the volume of the original speaker, or the position where they are attached. There is a risk that the content may decrease or the user cannot hear the utterance content of the home appliance.

  This is the case, for example, when the user puts items in or out of the storage room (freezer room or vegetable room) at the bottom of the refrigerator. When accessing the lower part of the refrigerator, the user squats down or crouches and faces down. Therefore, if a microphone or a speaker is installed in accordance with a user who accesses the refrigerator room at the top of the refrigerator, it is difficult to pick up the user's voice, and it is also difficult to clearly reach the user.

  Further, in the case of a large household appliance such as a refrigerator, the user may access in a state where the user approaches the right side or the left side of the household appliance. In this case as well, if the microphone or speaker is provided on the side opposite to the side where the user is located or is attached to the front side of the door opened by the user, the same problem as described above occurs.

  On the other hand, if the household appliance is a relatively small household appliance such as a heating cooker or a rice cooker, the above problem does not occur when the user is operating the household appliance. However, a similar problem occurs when the user leaves the home appliance a little.

  For home appliances that speak, it is desirable that the user can smoothly interact within a predetermined range in the vicinity of the home appliance where the user attempts to interact with the home appliance, not only when the user is operating the home appliance.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic device capable of smoothly interacting with a user.

  In order to solve the above problems, an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an audio acquisition unit and an audio output unit, acquires an audio, and has an interactive function of speaking in accordance with the acquired audio. A position specifying unit that specifies the position of the user within a predetermined range in the vicinity of the electronic device, and a sensitivity of the voice acquisition unit so as to be a value corresponding to the position of the user specified by the position specifying unit. Or an adjustment unit that adjusts the volume of the audio output unit or both of them.

  According to the electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention, the sensitivity of the sound acquisition unit, the volume of the sound output unit, or both are adjusted so as to be a value corresponding to the position of the user. Thereby, there is an effect that it is possible to provide an electronic device capable of smoothly interacting with the user.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the refrigerator as an electronic device which concerns on this Embodiment 1. FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the state where the door of the above-mentioned refrigerator was opened. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the principal part regarding the interactive function of the said refrigerator. (A) and (b) are the figures which show the image of the sensitivity adjustment of the microphone of the said refrigerator, and the volume adjustment of a speaker. It is a schematic front view of the refrigerator as an electronic device which concerns on this Embodiment 2,3. It is a schematic front view of the refrigerator as an electronic device which concerns on this Embodiment 4. It is a front view of the heating cooker as an electronic device which concerns on this Embodiment 5. FIG. It is a front view of the heating cooker as an electronic device which concerns on this Embodiment 6. FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the washing machine as an electronic device concerning this Embodiment 7. It is drawing explaining the audio | voice level cut-out in the said washing machine. It is an external appearance perspective view of the washing machine as an electronic device concerning this Embodiment 8. It is an external appearance perspective view of the washing machine as an electronic device concerning this Embodiment 9.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a refrigerator is exemplified as an electronic device having an interactive function.

  First, the outline | summary of the refrigerator of this Embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. 1, FIG. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the refrigerator 1 with the door opened.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the refrigerator 1 is provided with a refrigerator compartment 2 at the top, and from the refrigerator compartment 2 downward, an adjusted freezer compartment 3, a vegetable compartment 5, and a freezer compartment 6 are provided in order, An ice making room 4 is provided next to the adjustment freezer room 3. In addition, arrangement | positioning of each chamber illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 is an example, and is not restricted to this.

  The refrigerator compartment 2 has two right doors 2R and a left door 2L with double doors. In FIG. 1, a right-handed refrigerator is illustrated, and the right door 2R positioned on the right side is made larger than the left door 2L positioned on the left side. A vertically long operation panel 7 is provided on the larger right door 2R. The operation panel 7 is a user interface for inputting a user instruction or notifying the state of the refrigerator 1, and is provided with predetermined buttons for causing the refrigerator 1 to speak.

  On the other hand, the adjustment freezer room 3, the vegetable room 5, the freezer room 6, and the ice making room 4 are drawer type. For convenience of explanation, the drawn-out state of the adjusted freezer compartment 3, the vegetable compartment 5, the freezer compartment 6 and the ice making compartment 4 is also expressed as a door being opened.

  The refrigerator 1 is a home appliance having a dialogue function by voice, and includes a microphone (voice acquisition unit) 8 that picks up voice and a speaker (voice output unit) 9 that outputs voice. 1 and 2 exemplify a configuration in which a microphone 8 and a speaker 9 are provided in the hinge cover portion 10 of the right door 2R located on the top surface portion of the refrigerator 1. 1 and 2, for convenience, the speaker 9 is shown in the same shape as the microphone 8. In addition, the arrangement of the microphone 8 and the speaker 9 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an example, and is not limited thereto.

  The refrigerator 1 can be opened by either the right door 2R or the left door 2L of the refrigerating room 2 or the doors of the adjustment freezer room 3, the vegetable room 5, the freezer room, and the ice making room 4, or by a predetermined operation panel 7. When the occurrence of a predetermined event such as the operation of the button is detected, the microphone 8 is activated to start a dialogue.

  The refrigerator 1 acquires the voice uttered by the user when the microphone 8 is activated, and performs the utterance according to the recognition result of the acquired voice. The voice recognition function may be mounted on the refrigerator 1 or may be mounted on a server or the like that can communicate with the refrigerator 1 via a communication network. In the present embodiment, a case where it is mounted on a server is illustrated.

  The refrigerator 1 includes an open / close sensor 17, a human sensor 18, and a distance measuring sensor 19. The open / close sensor 17 is disposed in each of the right door 2R and the left door 2L of the refrigerating room 2 and the doors of the adjustment freezer room 3, the vegetable room 5, the freezer room 6 and the ice making room 4, and the open / close state of each door is determined. It is to detect.

  On the basis of the detection results of the open / close sensors 17, the refrigerator 1 opens and closes the right door 2 </ b> R and the left door 2 </ b> L of the refrigerator compartment 2, and the open / close states of the adjusted freezer compartment 3, the vegetable compartment 5, the freezer compartment 6, and the ice making compartment 4. When the open state continues for a predetermined time, a sound or a sound is emitted to notify that the open state continues.

  The human sensor 18 is a sensor that detects the presence of a person, and is a human sensor that can detect the position of the person who has detected the presence. The distance measuring sensor 19 measures the distance to the object. The human sensor 18 and the distance sensor 19 do not necessarily need to be mounted on the refrigerator 1A like the open / close sensor 17, but by providing at least one of the human sensor 18 or the distance sensor 19, the When there is a person nearby, this can be detected and a dialogue can be started.

  Although details will be described later, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment specifies the position of the user using the detection results of the open / close sensor 17 provided in each door, and the microphone 8 The sensitivity and the volume of the speaker 9 are adjusted so as to correspond to the position of the user.

  Next, the structure of the principal part regarding the interactive function of the refrigerator 1 is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part related to the interactive function of the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, and the above-described operation panel 7, microphone 8, speaker 9, open / close sensor 17, human feeling as main parts related to the interactive function. A sensor 18 and a distance measuring sensor 19 are provided. The control unit 11 includes a microphone control unit (adjustment unit) 11a, a speaker control unit (adjustment unit) 11b, and a position specifying unit 11c.

  The control part 11 consists of computer apparatuses comprised by arithmetic processing parts, such as CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a dedicated processor, for example, and controls operation | movement of each part of the refrigerator 1. FIG.

  The memory | storage part 12 memorize | stores the various information used with the refrigerator 1, and memorize | stores the audio | voice data etc. which were uttered by the dialog with a user, the audio | voice data downloaded from the server on the network via the communication network, etc.

  The communication unit 13 performs mutual communication with the server via the communication network under the control of the control unit 11. The communication unit 13 transmits the voice data of the voice acquired by the microphone 8 to a server equipped with a voice recognition function, and receives the voice data for answer transmitted from the server.

  The microphone control unit 11a controls the microphone 8 to create voice data of the voice acquired by the microphone 8. The microphone control unit 11a stops the microphone 8 when a predetermined event that triggers activation of the microphone 8 occurs when the microphone 8 is stopped or when a predetermined button on the operation panel 7 is operated. Start.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the microphone control unit 11a increases the sensitivity of the microphone 8 so that the user's voice can be acquired without any problem according to the position of the user specified by the position specifying unit 11c described later. adjust.

  The speaker control unit 11b controls the speaker 9 to generate a predetermined event that triggers a speech, operates a predetermined button on the operation panel 7, or receives voice data for reply from the server. In other words, a sound corresponding to the sound data is uttered from the speaker 9. As voice data to be uttered, there is data that has been stored in the storage unit 12 from the time of delivery of the refrigerator 1 in addition to the data downloaded from the server.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the speaker control unit 11b controls the volume of the speaker 9 so that the user can hear the sound from the refrigerator 1 without any trouble according to the position of the user specified by the position specifying unit 11c described later. Adjust.

  The position specifying unit 11c specifies the position of the user within a predetermined range near the refrigerator. In the present embodiment, the position specifying unit 11c is disposed at each of the right door 2R and the left door 2L of the refrigerating room 2 and the doors of the adjustment freezing room 3, the vegetable room 5, the freezing room 6, and the ice making room 4. The position of the user is specified using the detection result of the open / close sensor 17. Specifically, it is as follows.

  (1) When at least one of the right door 2R or the left door 2L of the refrigerator compartment 2 is open and the other doors are closed, “the user stands in front of the refrigerator 1 and faces forward. ".

  (2) If any of the adjusted freezer room 3, the ice making room 4 or the vegetable room 5 is open and the other doors are closed, “The user should bend in the front of the refrigerator 1 "I am suitable".

  (3) When the door of the freezer compartment 6 is in the open state and the other doors are in the closed state, it is specified that “the user is squatting on the front of the refrigerator 1 or bent down and facing down”.

  (4) If all the doors are open, or if both the right door 2R of the refrigerator compartment 2 and the door of the freezer compartment 6 are open, the above (1) to (3) do not apply Among the doors in the open state, the door is specified based on the door located at the lowest position.

  Next, the sensitivity adjustment of the microphone 8 and the volume adjustment of the speaker 9 in the refrigerator 1 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  In the case of a refrigerator, the microphone installation position and sensitivity defaults are often set according to a refrigerator room with high access frequency. Also in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, the microphone 8 is installed on the top surface in accordance with the user accessing the refrigerator compartment 2, and the default sensitivity thereof also interferes with the sound emitted by the user accessing the refrigerator compartment 2. It is set to be able to get without. That is, it is set in accordance with the state of “accessing to the refrigerator compartment 2 and standing in front of the refrigerator 1 and facing forward”.

  Therefore, with the sensitivity as it is, when the user accesses the adjustment freezer room 3, the ice making room 4 or the vegetable room 5 and is bent slightly and turned downward, the user's voice is disturbed to be acquired. The recognition rate may decrease. This is even greater when the user is accessing the freezer compartment 6 and crouching. When the speech recognition rate decreases, it becomes impossible to communicate smoothly.

  Such a problem corresponding to the position of the user is the same for the speaker 9. In the case of a refrigerator, the speaker setting position and the volume default are often set in accordance with a refrigerator room with high access frequency. In the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment as well, the speaker 9 is installed on the top surface according to the user accessing the refrigerator compartment 2, and the default sound volume is also provided to the user accessing the refrigerator compartment 2 from the speaker 9. The sound is set so that it can be heard without any problem.

  Therefore, at the volume as it is, the user accesses the adjustment freezer room 3, the ice making room 4 or the vegetable room 5, and in a state where the user is bent slightly and turned down, the sound from the speaker 9 does not clearly reach the user, There is a fear that it cannot be heard. This is even greater when the user is accessing the freezer compartment 6 and crouching. If the voice from the refrigerator 1 cannot be heard, it will not be possible to communicate smoothly.

  In order to solve such a problem, in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the position specifying unit 11c specifies the position of the user using the detection result of the open / close sensor 17 (see FIG. 3) disposed in each door. Then, based on the result, the microphone control unit 11a adjusts the sensitivity of the microphone 8 so that the user's voice can be acquired without any trouble, and the speaker control unit 11b allows the user to hear the sound from the speaker 9 without any trouble. The volume of the speaker 9 is adjusted so that it can be heard.

  FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing images of sensitivity adjustment of the microphone 8 of the refrigerator 1 and volume adjustment of the speaker 9. In FIG. 4, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are indicated by the size of a circle (virtual line). The higher the sensitivity, the larger the volume, the larger the circle.

  FIG. 4A shows that the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are from the normal level 1 based on the specific result that “the user is slightly bent in the front of the refrigerator 1 and turned downward”. It shows how it has been raised to level 2 which is one level higher.

  Thereby, even if the user is bent slightly in front of the refrigerator 1 and turned down, the refrigerator 1 can acquire the user's voice without any trouble and can output the sound at a volume that the user can hear without trouble.

  FIG. 4B shows that the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are normally based on the specific result that “the user is squatting on the front of the refrigerator 1 or bent and facing down”. It shows how the level 1 has been raised to level 3 which is two levels higher.

  Thereby, even if the user is crouching in front of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator 1 can obtain the user's voice without any trouble and can output the sound at a volume that the user can hear without trouble.

  Needless to say, if it is specified that “the user is standing in front of the refrigerator 1 and facing forward”, neither the sensitivity of the microphone 8 nor the volume of the speaker 9 need to be adjusted, so that the normal level 1 also remains.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are raised to a preset level according to the position of the user is exemplified. However, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 according to the position of the user and The volume of the speaker 9 may be appropriately set by the user using the operation panel 7. When the refrigerator 1 is associated with a communication terminal device such as a smartphone, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 corresponding to the user's position are set using the communication terminal device. It is good also as a structure set suitably from these.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which both the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are adjusted according to the position of the user is exemplified, but only one of the sensitivity of the microphone 8 or the volume of the speaker 9 is illustrated. The structure which adjusts may be sufficient. The same applies to other embodiments described below.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the user position with respect to the refrigerator 1 is divided into three parts, upper part (refrigeration room 2), middle part (adjustment freezer room 3, ice making room 4, vegetable room 5), and lower part (freezer room 6). Although it adjusted finely, the structure adjusted only about the lower part (freezer compartment 6) may be sufficient.

[Embodiment 2]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a front view of refrigerator 1A that is the electronic apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, in the refrigerator 1A, a microphone 8R and a speaker 9R are provided on the right side (toward the right side) of the top surface portion, and a microphone 8L and a speaker 9L are provided on the left side (toward the left side) of the top surface portion. ing.

  In this way, in the configuration in which two microphones and two speakers are mounted separately on the left and right sides, the left and right directivities can be given to each of voice acquisition and voice output.

  That is, by increasing the sensitivity of the right microphone 8R and decreasing the sensitivity of the left microphone 8L, the overall sound acquisition directivity can be shifted to the right. Conversely, by reducing the sensitivity of the right microphone 8R and increasing the sensitivity of the left microphone 8L, the overall sound acquisition directivity can be shifted to the left.

  The same applies to the directivity of the sound output. By increasing the volume of the right speaker 9R and decreasing the sound volume of the left speaker 9L, the overall sound output directivity can be shifted to the right. Conversely, by reducing the volume of the right speaker 9R and increasing the volume of the left speaker 9L, the overall sound output directivity can be shifted to the left.

  And in 1 A of refrigerators of this Embodiment, when not only specifying a user's position to an up-down direction but specifying also in the left-right direction, and specifying that the user is on the left side or the right side, voice acquisition and voice Match each output directivity to a specific result. This point is different from the refrigerator 1 of the first embodiment. This will be specifically described below.

  The position specifying unit 11c in the refrigerator 1A specifies the position of the user as follows using the detection result of the open / close sensor 17 of each door.

  (i) When the right door 2R of the refrigerator compartment 2 is in an open state and the other doors are in a closed state, it is specified that “the user is standing on the right front side of the refrigerator 1A and facing forward”.

  (ii) When the left door 2L of the refrigerator compartment 2 is in the open state and the other doors are in the closed state, it is specified that “the user stands on the left side of the front of the refrigerator 1A and faces forward”.

  (iii) When the door of the adjustment freezer compartment 3 is in an open state and the other doors are in a closed state, it is specified that “the user is bent slightly at the front right side of the refrigerator 1A and turned downward”.

  (iv) When the door of the ice making chamber 4 is in the open state and the other doors are in the closed state, it is specified that “the user is bent slightly on the left side of the front side of the refrigerator 1A and turned downward”.

  (v) When the door of the vegetable compartment 5 is in an open state and the other doors are in a closed state, it is specified that “the user is bent slightly in the center of the front of the refrigerator 1A and turned downward”.

  (i) When the door of the freezer compartment 6 is in an open state and the other doors are in a closed state, it is specified that “the user is squatting at the front center of the refrigerator 1A or bent and facing downward”. .

  (vii) If all the doors are open, or if both the door 2R of the refrigerator compartment 2 and the door of the freezer compartment 6 are open, the above (i) to (vii) Except for the case where the left and right sides of the door in the open state are aligned (for example, the right door 2R and the adjustment freezer compartment 3 are in the open state) The user specifies that it is located in the center.

  Then, the microphone control unit 11a adjusts the sensitivity of the microphone 8 or the sensitivity and directivity so that the voice emitted by the user can be acquired without hindrance according to the position of the user specified by the position specifying unit 11c. . In addition, the speaker control unit 11b adjusts the volume of the speaker 9 or the volume and directivity so that the user can hear the sound from the refrigerator 1A without trouble according to the position of the user specified by the position specifying unit 11c. To do.

  For example, when the position specifying unit 11c specifies that “the user is standing on the right side of the front of the refrigerator 1A and facing forward”, the microphone control unit 11a increases the sensitivity of the right microphone 8R from the default. The sensitivity of the left microphone 8L is lowered from the default, and the sound acquisition directivity is set to the right. Similarly, the speaker control unit 11b increases the sound volume of the right speaker 9R and decreases the sound volume of the left speaker 9L so as to make the sound output directivity rightward.

  Thereby, the voice recognition rate of the voice uttered by the user standing on the front right side of the refrigerator 1A can be increased as compared with the case where the directivity is left at the default (close to the center). In addition, it is possible to increase the ease of listening to the sound generated by the refrigerator 1A for a user standing on the right side of the front of the refrigerator 1A as compared with the case where the directivity is left at the default (close to the center).

  Further, when the position specifying unit 11c specifies that “the user is bent slightly on the right side of the front side of the refrigerator 1A and facing downward”, the microphone control unit 11a increases the sensitivity of the right microphone 8R from the default. On the other hand, the sensitivity of the left microphone 8L is lowered from the default, and the directivity of voice acquisition is made to the right. At the same time, the microphone control unit 11a increases the sensitivity of the right microphone 8R as compared to the case where it is specified that “the user is standing on the right front side of the refrigerator 1A and facing forward”, and the overall sound acquisition is performed. Increase the sensitivity. Similarly, the speaker control unit 11b increases the sound volume of the right speaker 9R and decreases the sound volume of the left speaker 9L so as to make the sound output directivity rightward. At the same time, the speaker control unit 11b raises the volume of the right speaker 9R higher than the case where it is specified that “the user is standing on the right front side of the refrigerator 1A and facing forward”, and the overall sound output is increased. Increase the volume.

  Thereby, even if a user bends a little on the front right side of the refrigerator 1A and turns downward, the refrigerator 1 can acquire the user's voice without any trouble, and can output the sound with a volume that the user can hear without trouble. .

  When the position specifying unit 11c specifies that “the user is squatting at the center of the front of the refrigerator 1A, or bending down and facing down”, the microphone control unit 11a sets the right and left microphones 8R. , 8L sensitivity is increased from the default. Similarly, the speaker control unit 11b increases the volume of the right and left speakers 9R and 9L from the default. In this case, by increasing the sensitivity of the right and left microphones 8R and 8L, the directivity of voice acquisition remains close to the center. Similarly, by increasing the volume of both the right and left speakers 9R and 9L, the directivity for sound acquisition remains closer to the center.

  Thereby, even if the user is crouching at the front center of the refrigerator 1A or bent and turned down, the refrigerator 1A can obtain the user's voice without any trouble and output the sound at a volume that the user can hear without trouble. can do.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which both the sensitivity and directivity of the microphone 8 and the volume and directivity of the speaker 9 are adjusted according to the position of the user is exemplified. However, the sensitivity and directivity of the microphone 8 or the speaker is exemplified. 9 may be configured to adjust only one of the volume and directivity.

  In the present embodiment, the user position with respect to the refrigerator 1 is divided into three parts: an upper part (refrigeration room 2), a middle part (adjusted freezing room 3, ice making room 4, vegetable room 5), and a lower part (freezing room 6). The right side (right door 2R, adjusting freezer 3) and the left side (left door 2L, ice making chamber 4) were finely adjusted, but the right side (right door 2R, adjusting freezer 3), left side (left door) 2L, the ice making room 4), and the lower part (freezing room 6) may be adjusted.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of microphones and speakers are provided, which are separately mounted on the left and right sides to have left and right directivities, but are configured to be mounted separately on the upper and lower sides and have upper and lower directivities. It can also be.

  In the present embodiment, the microphones 8R and 8L and the speakers 9R and 9L are configured to be provided on the main body side of the electronic device. However, the microphones 8R and 8L and the speakers 9R and 9L include the right door 2R and the left door 2L. May be provided. However, in that case, by opening the door, it becomes difficult for the microphone provided in the door to pick up sound, and the sound of the speaker is difficult to reach the user. Therefore, when the right door 2R is opened, the sensitivity of the left microphone 8L located above the left door 2L and the volume of the left speaker 9L may be increased.

[Embodiment 3]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  Like refrigerator 1A, refrigerator 1B which is the electronic device of the present embodiment has a configuration in which two microphones and two speakers are separately mounted on the left and right sides. Directivity can be imparted (see FIG. 5).

  The difference from the refrigerator 1A is in the position specifying unit 11c. The position specifying unit 11c of the refrigerator 1B is not the detection result of the opening / closing sensor 17 of each door, but the detection result of the human sensor 18 or the distance measuring sensor 19 or both. Is used to specify the position of the user. This point is different from the refrigerator 1A of the second embodiment.

  When the user's position is specified using the detection result of the door opening / closing sensor 17, the user's position cannot be accurately specified, for example, when a plurality of doors are open at the same time as described above. On the other hand, since the human sensor 18 and the distance measuring sensor 19 detect the user's presence or the distance to the user by directly looking at the user's human body, even when a plurality of doors are simultaneously open, The position can be specified accurately.

  Further, the specification of the user position performed using the detection result of the open / close sensor 17 is to estimate the user position based on the access state of the user to each door. Therefore, when the user accesses in a state different from the assumed state, a deviation occurs between the actual user position and the specific result. Even in such a case, the user's position can be accurately specified by directly viewing and specifying the user's human body.

  Thereby, the refrigerator 1B of this Embodiment respond | corresponded to the user's position more correctly in the sensitivity or sensitivity and directivity of the microphone 8, and the volume or volume and directivity of the speaker 9 than the refrigerators 1 and 1A. Can be adjusted to things.

  In addition, by using the human sensor 18 or the distance measuring sensor 19, it is possible to detect the presence of a user who does not access the refrigerator 1B and operates with a stove near the refrigerator 1B, and specify the position.

  Thereby, even in a state where the user is not accessing the refrigerator 1B, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are adjusted, and a smooth dialogue with the user in a predetermined range near the refrigerator 1B is performed. Can do. The predetermined range in the vicinity of the refrigerator 1B here means that the user within the detectable area of the human sensor 18 or the distance measuring sensor 19 is assumed to try to interact with the refrigerator 1B, for example, within 3 m from the refrigerator 1B. It is a range. Moreover, if it is the dialogue while operating refrigerator 1B, it is the range within 1 m from refrigerator 1B, for example. Such a range is not generally determined, and is set according to the size of the electronic device, the installation location of the electronic device, the usage of the electronic device, and the like.

[Embodiment 4]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of refrigerator 1C of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the refrigerator 1 </ b> C that is the electronic device of the present embodiment includes a right door 2 </ b> R and a left door 2 </ b> L of the refrigerator compartment 2, an adjustment freezer compartment 3, an ice making room 4, a vegetable compartment 5, and a freezer compartment 6. A microphone 8 and a speaker 9 are provided together with the open / close sensor 17 in accordance with each door. Note that the microphone 8 and the speaker 9 are attached not to the door side but to the main body side of the refrigerator 1C.

  When the position specifying unit 11c of the refrigerator 1C specifies the position of the user based on the detection result of the opening / closing sensor 17 of each door, only the microphone 8 and the speaker 9 corresponding to the opened door are valid and correspond to other doors. The microphone 8 and the speaker 9 are disabled. These points are different from the refrigerators 1 and 1A of the first and second embodiments.

  As described above, by enabling only the microphone 8 and the speaker 9 corresponding to the door that is actually operated by the user, it is possible to perform voice recognition in the most sensitive state and at the position closest to the user. Can be output.

[Embodiment 5]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a front view of a heating cooker 30 which is an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the cooking device 30 has a door 31 on the front surface, and a microphone 8 and a speaker 9 </ b> R are provided on the upper right side of the cooking device 30 on the main body side. Further, a human sensor 18 and a distance measuring sensor 19 are provided on the microphone 8 and the speaker 9R, and an operation panel 7 is provided on the microphone 8 and the speaker 9R. The door 31 is also provided with an open / close sensor 17.

  In the heating cooker 30, as in the refrigerator 1B of the third embodiment, a position specifying unit (not shown) specifies the position of the user from the detection results of the human sensor 18 or the distance measuring sensor 19 or both. Then, a microphone control unit (not shown) and a speaker control unit (not shown) adjust the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 so that the values correspond to the specified user position.

  For example, when the specified user's position is close to operating the cooking device 30 directly, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are left as default. Whether the cooking device 30 is directly operated can also be determined from the detection result of the open / close sensor 17 and the input detection of the operation panel 7.

  On the other hand, when the position of the specified user is away from the heating cooker 30, for example, before the stove, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 is increased and the volume of the speaker 9 is increased. The sensitivity increase range of the microphone 8 and the volume increase range of the speaker 9 are adjusted according to the distance from the heating cooker 30 to the user.

  Thereby, even in a state where the user is not accessing the heating cooker 30, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are adjusted, and the user who is within a predetermined range in the vicinity of the heating cooker 30 can smoothly Dialogue can be conducted.

  Also in this case, the predetermined range in the vicinity of the heating cooker 30 means that the user attempts to interact with the heating cooker 30 within the detectable region of the human sensor 18 or the distance measuring sensor 19, for example, heating. The range is within 3 m from the cooker 30. Moreover, if it is the dialogue while operating the cooking-by-heating machine 30, it is the range within 1 m from the cooking-by-heating machine 30, for example.

[Embodiment 6]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a front view of a cooking device 30A that is an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the cooking device 30A is provided with a microphone 8R and a speaker 9R on the right side of the upper part on the main body side, and a microphone 8L and a speaker 9L on the left side.

  Thus, by setting it as the structure where two microphones and speakers are separately mounted on the left and right, respectively, as in the refrigerator 1A of the first embodiment, left and right directivities are provided for each of voice acquisition and voice output. You can have it.

  In the heating cooker 30A, as in the refrigerator 1B of the third embodiment, a position specifying unit (not shown) specifies the position of the user from the detection results of the human sensor 18 or the distance measuring sensor 19 or both. Then, the microphone control unit (not shown) adjusts the sensitivity or sensitivity and directivity of the microphone 8 so that the value corresponds to the specified user position, and the speaker control unit (not shown). The volume of the speaker 9 or the volume and directivity are adjusted.

  For example, when the specified user is close to the position where the cooking device 30A is directly operated, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are left as default. Both the directivity of the voice acquisition unit and the directivity of voice acquisition remain near the center.

  On the other hand, if the specified user is away from the cooking device 30A, for example, in front of the right stove, the sensitivity of the right microphone 8R is raised from the default, while the sensitivity of the left microphone 8L is the default. To make the sound acquisition directivity to the right. Similarly, the volume of the right speaker is increased, the volume of the left speaker 9L is decreased, and the sound output directivity is set to the right.

[Embodiment 7]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of a washing machine 40 that is an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the washing machine 40 has a door 31 on the front surface, and an operation panel 7, a microphone 8, and a speaker 9 </ b> R are provided in the upper center of the main body side of the washing machine 40. A human sensor 18 and a distance measuring sensor 19 are provided on the upper right side. The door 41 is also provided with an open / close sensor 17.

  In the washing machine 40, as in the refrigerator 1B of the third embodiment, a position specifying unit (not shown) specifies the position of the user from the detection results of the human sensor 18 and / or the distance measuring sensor 19. Then, a microphone control unit (not shown) and a speaker control unit (not shown) adjust the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 so that the values correspond to the specified user position.

  For example, when the specified user's position is close to operating the washing machine 40 directly, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are left as default. Whether the washing machine 40 is directly operated can also be determined from the detection result of the open / close sensor 17 and the input detection of the operation panel 7.

  On the other hand, when the position of the specified user is away from the washing machine 40, for example, in front of the washstand, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 is increased and the volume of the speaker 9 is increased. The sensitivity increase range of the microphone 8 and the volume increase range of the speaker 9 are adjusted according to the distance from the washing machine 40 to the user.

  Thereby, even when the user is not accessing the washing machine 40, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are adjusted, and a smooth dialogue with a user within a predetermined range in the vicinity of the washing machine 40 is achieved. It can be carried out.

  Also in this case, the predetermined range in the vicinity of the washing machine 40 is assumed that the user tries to interact with the washing machine 40 within the detection area of the human sensor 18 or the distance measuring sensor 19, for example, the washing machine The range is within 40 to 3 m. Moreover, if it is the dialogue while operating the washing machine 40, it is the range within 1 m from the washing machine 40, for example.

  Further, in the case of an electronic device that emits a driving sound during operation, such as the washing machine 40, the microphone control unit (not shown) adjusts the sound level to be cut out when generating sound data from the sound picked up by the microphone 8. Thus, the influence of the operation sound is suppressed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining extraction of an audio level in the microphone control unit. The automatically set extraction level is a relative dB value from the environmental noise level. When the washing machine 40 is in operation (during washing or drying operation) or in a state where the ambient noise is large, the SN ratio is low, so the threshold value (relative dB) is reduced. On the other hand, when the washing machine 40 is not in operation or in a quiet state where the ambient noise is low, it is easy to pick up small noises, so a minimum value (absolute value) of the extraction level is provided. Thereby, the whisper is not recognized.

  When the heating cookers 30 and 30A according to the fifth and sixth embodiments make a driving sound during operation, it is preferable to employ a configuration that adjusts the extraction of the sound level in such a microphone control unit.

[Embodiment 8]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of a washing machine 40A that is an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the washing machine 40A is provided with a microphone 8R and a speaker 9R on the right side of the upper part on the main body side, and a microphone 8L and a speaker 9L on the left side. The human sensor 18 and the distance measuring sensor 19 are provided on the operation panel 7 in the upper center.

  Thus, by setting it as the structure where two microphones and speakers are separately mounted on the left and right, respectively, as in the refrigerator 1A of the first embodiment, left and right directivities are provided for each of voice acquisition and voice output. You can have it.

  In washing machine 40A, as in refrigerator 1B of the third embodiment, a position specifying unit (not shown) specifies the position of the user from the detection results of human sensor 18 or distance measuring sensor 19 or both. Then, the microphone control unit (not shown) adjusts the sensitivity or sensitivity and directivity of the microphone 8 so that the value corresponds to the specified user position, and the speaker control unit (not shown). The volume of the speaker 9 or the volume and directivity are adjusted.

  For example, when the specified user's position is close to operating the washing machine 40A directly, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are left as default. Both the directivity of the voice acquisition unit and the directivity of voice acquisition remain near the center.

  On the other hand, when the identified user is away from the washing machine 40A, for example, in front of the right washbasin, the sensitivity of the right microphone 8R is increased from the default, while the sensitivity of the left microphone 8L is the default. To make the sound acquisition directivity to the right. Similarly, the volume of the right speaker is increased, the volume of the left speaker 9L is decreased, and the sound output directivity is set to the right.

[Embodiment 9]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 12 is an external perspective view of a washing machine 40B that is an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the washing machine 40 </ b> B is provided with a microphone 8, a speaker 9, and an operation panel 7 in the upper part on the main body side, and an opening / closing sensor 17 is also provided on the door 41. The human sensor 18 and the distance measuring sensor 19 are not provided.

  In the washing machine 40B, a position specifying unit (not shown) specifies that the position of the user is directly operating the washing machine 40B from the input detection of the operation panel 7. In that case, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 and the volume of the speaker 9 are left as default.

  On the other hand, the position specifying unit (not shown) indicates, based on the detection result of the open / close sensor 17, that the user's position is the position where the laundry is put in and out of the washing tub of the washing machine 40B, that is, “squatting, or "Bend and turn down." In that case, the sensitivity of the microphone 8 is increased and the volume of the speaker 9 is increased.

[Embodiment 10]
In the refrigerators 1 to 1C, the heating cookers 30 and 30A, and the washing machines 40 to 40B described in the first to ninth embodiments, the microphone control unit 11a, the speaker control unit 11b, and the position specifying unit 11c are integrated circuits (IC chips). ) It may be realized in hardware by the logic circuit formed above, or may be realized in software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

  In the latter case, each of the refrigerators 1 to 1C, the heating cookers 30 and 30A, and the washing machines 40 to 40B includes a CPU that executes instructions of a program that is software that realizes each function, and the above programs and various data are stored in a computer (or A ROM (Read Only Memory) or a storage device (these are referred to as “recording media”) recorded so as to be readable by a CPU), a RAM (Random Access Memory) that expands the program, and the like are provided. And the objective of this invention is achieved when a computer (or CPU) reads the said program from the said recording medium and runs it. As the recording medium, a “non-temporary tangible medium” such as a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. The program may be supplied to the computer via an arbitrary transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) that can transmit the program. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

  Moreover, although the refrigerator, the heating cooker, and the washing machine were illustrated here as an electronic device, it cannot be overemphasized that it can apply also to another electronic device.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible, and the present invention also relates to embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is included in the technical scope. Furthermore, a new technical feature can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment.

[Summary]
The electronic devices (refrigerators 1 to 1C, heating cookers 30 and 30A, and washing machines 40 to 40B) according to the first aspect of the present invention include an audio acquisition unit (microphone 8) and an audio output unit (speaker 9), and output audio. An electronic device having an interactive function of acquiring and speaking in accordance with the acquired voice, wherein the position specifying unit 11c specifies the position of the user within a predetermined range near the electronic device, and the position specifying unit 11c An adjustment unit (microphone control unit 11a, speaker control unit 11b) that adjusts the sensitivity of the audio acquisition unit, the volume of the audio output unit, or both so as to be a value according to the specified user position; .

  According to this, the position specifying unit specifies the position of the user within a predetermined range in the vicinity of the electronic device, and the adjustment unit has a value corresponding to the position of the user specified by the position specifying unit. , Adjust the sensitivity of the voice acquisition unit, the volume of the voice output unit, or both.

  Thereby, the sensitivity of the sound acquisition unit or the sound volume of the sound output unit corresponds to the position of the user who interacts with the electronic device, and can smoothly interact with the user.

  The electronic device according to the second aspect of the present invention (the refrigerator 1A, the heating cooker 30A, and the washing machine 40A) further includes a plurality of the sound acquisition units and the sound output units, and the adjustment unit includes a plurality of The sound acquisition unit has different sensitivities, or the sound output units have different sound volumes, or both, so that sound acquisition and / or sound output has directivity. You can also.

  According to this, an adjustment part adjusts by giving directivity to acquisition of an audio | voice, or an output of both, or both so that it may become a value according to the user's position specified by the position specific | specification part. Thereby, it becomes possible to further smoothly interact with the user.

  The electronic device (refrigerators 1A and 1B) according to the third aspect of the present invention further includes a plurality of doors (right door 2R, left door 2L, adjustment freezer room 3, vegetable room 5, freezer) that are opened and closed when the electronic device is operated. And the open / close sensor 17 for detecting the open / closed state of the door provided in each of the plurality of doors, and the position specifying unit includes the open / close sensor. It is the structure which specifies a user's position from the position of the operated door based on the detection result by a sensor.

  For example, in a configuration in which there are a plurality of doors, such as a refrigerator, and each door is provided with an open / close sensor, the position specifying unit can be provided without using a separate sensor or the like by using an open / close sensor provided from the beginning. This can be realized (corresponding to the electronic device according to the aspect 5 of the present invention).

  The electronic device (refrigerator 1B, heating cooker 30, 30A, washing machine 40, 40A) according to aspect 4 of the present invention further includes a human sensor 18 or a distance measuring sensor 19 that can detect the position of the user, The position specifying unit 11c may be configured to specify the position of the user based on the detection results of the human sensor 18 or the distance measuring sensor 19 or both.

  Since the human sensor 18 and the distance measuring sensor 19 directly detect the presence of the user or the distance to the user by directly looking at the human body of the user, the position of the user can be specified accurately. As a result, the sensitivity or sensitivity and directivity of the sound acquisition unit, and the volume or volume and directivity of the sound output unit can be adjusted more accurately according to the position of the user, and more smoothly with the user. It is possible to interact.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C Refrigerator 2 Refrigerating room 2R Right door 2L Left door 3 Adjusting freezing room 4 Ice making room 5 Vegetable room 6 Freezing room 7 Operation panel 8, 8R, 8L Microphone (voice acquisition unit)
9, 9R, 9L Speaker (Audio output unit)
11 Control unit 11a Microphone control unit (adjustment unit)
11b Speaker control (adjustment unit)
11c Position specifying unit 12 Storage unit 13 Communication unit 17 Open / close sensor 18 Human sensor 19 Distance sensor 30, 30A Heating cooker 31 Door 40, 40A, 40B Washing machine 41 Door

Claims (5)

An electronic device comprising a voice acquisition unit and a voice output unit, having a dialogue function for acquiring voice and speaking according to the acquired voice,
A position specifying unit for specifying the position of the user within a predetermined range in the vicinity of the electronic device;
An adjustment unit that adjusts the sensitivity of the voice acquisition unit, the volume of the voice output unit, or both so as to have a value corresponding to the position of the user specified by the position specifying unit. Features electronic equipment. A plurality of the voice acquisition unit and the voice output unit are provided,
The adjusting unit is directed to acquiring sound and / or outputting sound by changing the sensitivities of the plurality of sound acquisition units, or changing the sound volumes of the plurality of sound output units, or both. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a property. A plurality of doors that are opened and closed when the electronic device is operated;
An open / close sensor for detecting an open / closed state of the door provided in each of the plurality of doors,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the position specifying unit specifies the position of the user from the position of the operated door based on a detection result by the opening / closing sensor. A human sensor that can detect the user's position, a distance sensor, or both,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the position specifying unit specifies the position of the user based on detection results of the human sensor, the distance sensor, or both.   The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the electronic device is a refrigerator.

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