JP3192827B2 - Announcement device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an announcement device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an announcement device that stores audio information and forms an audio signal from the audio information based on information to be announced.

[0002] The present invention is particularly applicable to, but not limited to, on-board navigation systems.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a navigation system mounted on a vehicle is known that announces a place name, a driving route, sightseeing guidance, and the like to a passenger. In such an apparatus, audio information necessary for forming an audio signal is stored in a CD-ROM or the like.

[0004]

The expression form of the announcement is usually a standard colloquial style, and cannot be freely selected by the user. For this reason, there are many users who are dissatisfied with the announcement being flat and boring, or who are uneasy if they are not familiar with the standard spoken language announcement.

A technical object of the present invention is to focus on such a problem and to allow a user to select an expression form of an announcement in an announcement device.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the basic principle of the present invention. The announcement device of the present invention can store voice information in a plurality of expression forms for one piece of announcement information, and a user can set an arbitrary position on a map as a destination. A certain destination setting means, and a sound reproducing means for reading the corresponding sound information from the sound information storage means based on the announcement information and the position information from the destination setting means and forming a sound signal from the sound information And In addition, the announcement device of the present invention includes a region storage unit that stores region information of a region corresponding to each of the expression forms, and position information from the destination setting unit based on the region information stored in the region storage unit. To which region the expression belongs, and expression selection means for selecting an expression form corresponding to the area, wherein the sound reproduction means is configured to perform the operation based on the announcement information and the expression form selected by the expression selection means. And reading out the corresponding audio information from the audio storage means and forming an audio signal from the audio information. Further, the announcement device of the present invention is a vehicle-mounted announcement device that stores audio information and forms an audio signal from the audio information based on the information to be announced. A voice information storage unit that stores voice information in a plurality of expression forms; a position detection unit that detects a position of a vehicle by a radio wave from a satellite; and a user that can set an arbitrary position on a map as a destination. Possible destination setting means, standard colloquial, regional colloquial, colloquial selecting means for selecting which colloquial is to be announced among designated colloquies, and when the standard colloquial is selected by the colloquial selecting means, Reading the voice information in the standard spoken language from the voice information storage means, and when the regional spoken language is selected,
Based on the announcement information and the position information from the position detecting means or the destination setting means, the corresponding sound information is read from the sound information storing means, and when the designated spoken language is selected, the sound storing means is read. And voice reproducing means for reading voice information in a spoken language specified by the user and forming a voice signal from the read voice information.

[0007]

The announcement apparatus according to the present invention has a configuration in which a plurality of pieces of audio information having different expression forms are stored, and a specific one of them is selected to make an announcement. Here, the user specifies the criteria for selecting a specific expression form. Therefore, according to the announcement device of the present invention, the user can select the expression form of the announcement.

The different expression forms mean, for example, "turn" in the standard colloquial, "turn" in the standard colloquial, "curve" in the standard colloquial, and "curving in the Tohoku dialect" Sho ", Kansai dialect" turns ", Kawauchi dialect" turns ", Suruga dialect"
"Turn" in English, "Please turn" in female spoken languages.

[0009] More specifically, different expression forms refer to those having different timbres and accents.

[0010] The audio information is obtained by recording an announcement having the above-described expression form in an analog manner over the entire announcement, digitally recording the entire announcement, or by analog recording by decomposing the phrase unit. Things, digitally recorded by breaking them down into phrases,
Refers to analog recordings that are decomposed into words, analog recordings that are decomposed into words, analog recordings that are decomposed into vowels and consonants, and digital recordings that are decomposed into vowels and consonants. .

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, how an announcement device according to the present invention is actually embodied will be described with reference to embodiments.

<< Description of Configuration >>
... FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation system incorporating the announcement device of the present invention.

A vehicle position is output to a bus 30 via a port 11 from a GPS 10 which receives a radio wave emitted from a satellite and detects its own position. The vehicle position is input from the bus 30 to the CPU 18.

A vehicle position is output to a bus 30 via a port 13 from a geomagnetic sensor device 12 which detects the position of the self-machine by detecting the terrestrial magnetism. The vehicle position is from bus 30 to CP
Input to U18.

A traveling direction of the vehicle is output to a bus 30 via a port 15 from a gyro sensor device that detects the direction of the own machine using the gyro. The traveling direction is bus 30
To the CPU 18.

The speed of the vehicle is output from the speed sensor device 16 to the bus 30 via the port 17. The speed is
The data is input from the bus 30 to the CPU 18. The position, speed, and traveling direction of these vehicles are mainly used to realize the navigation function of the present device.

In the CPU 18, control of the navigation system and control described later are executed. ROM19
Stores a control procedure of the control. In RAM20,
Data necessary for the control is rewritably stored. CP
Data can be transmitted and received between the U18 and the ROM 19 and the RAM 20 via the bus 30.

In the CD-ROM device 21, data can be read from a built-in CD-ROM and a CD-ROM that can be mounted and replaced. CD-ROM device 21
The data read from the CD-ROM is output to the bus 30 via the CD-ROM control circuit 22 if the data is image information.

The image information is sent from the bus 30 to the display control circuit 24.
To enter. On the other hand, if the data is audio information, the audio information is transmitted from the CD-ROM control circuit 22 to the D / A circuit 23.
Is output to

If the data is phrase information / word information, the phrase information / word information is a CD-RO.
The signal is output to the bus 30 via the M control circuit 22. The phrase information / word information is input from the bus 30 to the speech synthesis control circuit 27.

If the data is data that divides an area, the data is output to the bus 30 via the CD-ROM control circuit 22. The area division data is sent from the bus 30 to the CPU.
Enter in 18.

In the D / A circuit 23, the audio information is converted into an audio signal, and the audio signal is output to the mixer 31.

In the display control circuit 24, a scanning signal is generated from the image information input from the bus 30 and display data input from the bus 30, and the scanning signal is generated by the display circuit 25.
Is output to The display data instructs character display, graphic display, and the like, and is output from the CPU 18 to the bus 30.

The display means 26 is driven by the display circuit 25. The display means 26 displays characters, figures, images, and the like. As the display means 26, a CRT, a liquid crystal panel or the like is preferably used.

In the speech synthesis control circuit 27, control for copying the phrase information / word information input from the bus 30 to the RAM 34 is executed. The ROM 33 stores voice information obtained by decomposing the standard spoken language into phrase units and word units.

The ROM 35 is mounted on a replaceable memory card. The ROM 35 stores voice information obtained by decomposing the optional spoken text into phrase units and word units.
The optional colloquial style is, for example, a form of expression using the voice of a certain actress or actor, or a form of expression that incorporates sloppy words.

In the voice synthesis control circuit 27, the reproduction control of the voice information is executed based on the bank identifier, phrase identifier and word identifier input from the bus 30. The bank identifier, the phrase identifier and the word identifier are output from the CPU 18 to the bus 30.

In the reproduction control of the audio information, a ROM
33, the voice information corresponding to the inputted bank identifier, phrase identifier / word identifier is selected from the voice information stored in the RAM 34 and the ROM 35,
/ A circuit 32. In the reproduction control, the ROM
33, the RAM 34, and the ROM 35 are selected by the bank identifier.

In the D / A circuit 32, the audio information is converted into an audio signal, and the audio signal is output to the mixer 31.

In the mixer 31, the audio signal output from the D / A circuit 23 and the audio signal output from the D / A circuit 32 are synthesized. The speaker 38 is driven by a signal obtained by amplifying the composite signal by the amplifier 37.

Information on the operation of the operation panel 29 by the user includes:
Output to the bus 30 via the port 28. The operation information is input from the bus 30 to the CPU 18. The illumination state of the LEDs and lamps arranged on the operation panel 29 is controlled by illumination information input from the bus 30 via the port 28. The illumination information is output from the CPU 18 to the bus 30.

<< Description of Operation Panel >>
........................... Figure 3 shows the operation panel
FIG. 29 is a front view showing an example of 29. Around the display means 26,
A switch 55 is provided. The switch 55 is used to select a menu in menu selection control of the navigation system.

The switch 51 is used to specify an announcement mode in announcement control described later. The switch 51 has a 7-segment L on the back side of the operation surface.
An ED is attached and numerical display is possible.

The tray 52 has the above-mentioned replaceable C
A D-ROM can be stored. When the switch 53 is operated, the tray 52 moves back and forth, so that the CD-ROM can be mounted and removed.

In the slot 56, the above-mentioned memory card can be inserted. Behind the ventilation hole 54, the speaker 38
Is attached.

<< Description of Storage Contents of CD-ROM >>
FIG. 4 is a data structure diagram showing an example of the storage contents of the built-in CD-ROM.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the CD-ROM stores standard colloquial information and voice information obtained by PCM recording of place names read out in various dialects, arranged in the order of area identifiers. Then, the audio information for each place name is arranged and stored in the order of the place name identifier.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the CD-ROM stores phrase information obtained by recording a phrase in PCM and word information obtained by recording a word in PCM, arranged in the order of a phrase identifier and a word identifier. Is done. Then, those phrase information and word information recorded by PCM in various dialects are
It is stored in the order of the region identifier.

The CD-ROM stores an image to be reproduced in real time and two-channel audio, as shown in FIG. The image information and the audio information of the two channels are stored in a time-division format for each time ΔT. The voice channel 1 stores voice information obtained by PCM recording a standard spoken language announcement. The voice channel 2 stores voice information obtained by PCM recording of a dialect announcement.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3D, the coordinates (X ₁ , Y ₁ )... (X _M ) of the end points of the line segments dividing the use area of each dialect are stored in the CD-ROM. , X _M )
They are arranged and stored in the order of the region identifier.

In the replaceable CD-ROM, a place name read out in an optional spoken language is stored as a P in the same manner as in FIG.
The CM-recorded voice information is stored in the order of the option identifier.

In the same manner as in FIG. 2B, the CD-ROM stores phrase information obtained by recording a phrase in PCM and word information obtained by recording a word in PCM, arranged in the order of a phrase identifier and a word identifier. You. Then, the phrase information and word information recorded by PCM in each option spoken word are stored in the order of the option identifier.

<< Description of Contents Stored in Voice Information Memory
>> ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Figure 5 shows the ROM
FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram showing an example of data stored in a RAM 33, a RAM 34, and a ROM 35.

In the memory, each phrase is stored in P
The voice information recorded by the CM is stored in the order of the phrase identifier. The memory also stores voice information obtained by recording each word in PCM, arranged in the order of word identifiers.

<< Description of Control Data >>
..... FIG.
FIG. 2 is a data structure diagram showing an example of control data stored in 20.

The announcement mode D70 stores whether an announcement is made in a standard spoken language, a regional spoken language, that is, an announcement that differs depending on the region in a dialect, or an announcement made in a designated spoken language.

The designated spoken language D70 stores whether the designated spoken language is a dialect or an optional spoken language. In the area identifier / option identifier D72, which dialect is specified or which option colloquial is specified is stored. The value designating the optional spoken word is a value obtained by renumbering a unique number for each of the optional spoken words stored in the memory card and the removable CD-ROM.

Designated area X coordinate D73, designated area Y coordinate D74
Before the announcement control described later is executed, coordinate values are set by a higher-level control procedure.

The announcement data is set in the announcement data D75 by a higher-level control procedure before the announcement control described later is executed. The announcement data is an announcement identifier indicating the content of the announcement, that is, a phrase identifier, a word identifier, and a place name identifier arranged in chronological order.

<< Description of Control Procedure for Updating Control Data >> FIG. 7 (a) shows control for updating the designated spoken word D70 and area identifier / option identifier D72. It is a flowchart which shows a procedure. The control is
It is started from the host control, that is, the menu selection control of the navigation system.

In step H80, the display means 26
Then, a menu as shown in FIG. 7B is displayed, and a region designation operation or an option designation operation is prompted. The designation is performed by operating the switch 55 arranged next to the area or the position where the option is displayed.

The option display indicates that the ROM 35 mounted on the memory card and the CD
-Reading each title stored in the ROM. At this time, a table for storing the option identifiers to be renumbered and the correspondence between the storage media is created in a certain area of the RAM 20.

In step H80, the menu display page is turned by operating the switch 55 arranged next to the "next page" or the "previous page". . When the region designation operation or the option designation operation is performed, the control shifts to Step H81.

In step H81, step H
If the operation at 80 is a region designation, the designated spoken word D70
Is set to a value indicating a dialect. An area identifier indicating the selected area is set in the area identifier / option identifier D72. On the other hand, if the operation is an option designation, a value indicating an option is set in the designated spoken word D70. Then, an option identifier indicating the selected optional colloquial is set in the area identifier / option identifier D72. Then, the control ends.

FIG. 9C is a flowchart showing a procedure for updating the announcement mode D70. The control is
This is executed when the switch 51 is operated.

In step H85, 1 is added to the announcement mode D70. However, when the addition result exceeds the maximum value of the announcement mode D70, the minimum value is set in the announcement mode D70.

In step H85, the LED mounted on the switch 51 is controlled so as to display the value of the announcement mode D70. Then, the control ends.

<< Control Procedure for Obtaining Announcement Channel >> FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing a control procedure for obtaining an announcement channel. This control is started from announcement control described later. The announcement channel indicates a form of expression when making an announcement. It is assumed that the announcement channel is defined as shown in FIG.

In step H90, the announcement mode D70 is referred to. If the mode indicates a standard colloquial language, control proceeds to step H91. Step H
At 91, the announcement channel is set to 0, a standard spoken language. Then, the control ends.

In step H90, if the mode indicates the designated colloquial language, the control shifts to step H93. In step H93, the announcement channel is set to the area identifier / option identifier D72. However, if the designated spoken word D70 indicates an option, the announcement channel is set to a value obtained by adding the number of areas N to the area identifier / option identifier D72.
Then, the control ends.

In step H90, if the mode indicates regional colloquial language, the control shifts to step H92. In step H92, the coordinates of the end point of the line segment that divides each dialect used area stored in the CD-ROM are read out, and the designated area X coordinate D73 and designated area Y coordinate D74 are read out of any area. Is determined.

In step H92, the announcement channel is set to an area identifier indicating the area obtained by the determination. Then, the control ends.

<< Description of Control Procedure for Making Announcement
>> FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for making an announcement. This control is started from the host control, that is, the control means of the navigation system. The designated area X coordinate D73, the designated area Y coordinate D73, and the announcement data D75 are set by higher-level control before the control is activated.

In step H100, the control for obtaining the announcement channel is started, and the announcement channel is obtained. Then, the control shifts to step H101.

In step H101, the channel value is determined, and if a standard spoken language is designated, the control proceeds to step H103. On the other hand, if the channel value indicates a language other than the standard spoken language, the control moves to step H102.

In step H102, the correspondence table between the option identifier to be renumbered and the storage medium is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the channel corresponds to the option spoken word recorded in the ROM 35.
If so, control proceeds to step H103.

In step H102, the channel of the phrase information / word information copied in the RAM 34 is compared with the channel. If they are the same, control proceeds to step H103.

On the other hand, if they are not the same, the CD-ROM
The phrase information / word information corresponding to the channel is read out from and read into the RAM 34. At this time, the channel is stored in preparation for the next channel collation. Then, the control shifts to step H103.

In step H103, the announcement identifier set in the announcement data D75 is sequentially read. When all the announcement identifiers set in the announcement data D75 have been processed, the control ends. If there is an unprocessed announcement identifier, the control moves to step H104.

In step H104, the read announcement identifier is decrypted. If the decryption result is a place name identifier, control proceeds to step H105.

In step H105, the CD-R
From the OM, the P corresponding to the place name identifier and the channel
The voice information recorded in the CM is read out, and the place name is announced. Then, control returns to step H103.

If the decryption result in step H104 is a phrase identifier or a word identifier, the control shifts to step H106.

In step H106, the phrase identifier or word identifier and the bank identifier corresponding to the channel are output to the speech synthesis control circuit 27, and a phrase or word is announced. Then, control returns to step H103.

Prior to the activation of the control, the designated area X coordinate D73 and the designated area Y coordinate D74 are determined by higher-level control.
If the current position of the vehicle is set in the area, and the announcement mode is selected as the local colloquial language, according to this control, an announcement is made in the dialect of the area where the vehicle is located.

In other words, in the case of going out on a vehicle, an announcement is made in the dialect of the area where the vehicle passes.

Prior to the start of the control, the designated area X coordinate D73 and the designated area Y coordinate D74 are controlled by higher-level control.
If the announcement mode is set to the local dialect, an announcement is made in the dialect of the destination according to the control.

In other words, in the case where the user goes out on a vehicle, an announcement is made in the local dialect in the destination guidance of the navigation system.

If the announcement mode is selected as the designated colloquial, the control allows the announcement to always be made in the designated dialect or the designated optional colloquial.

If the announcement mode is selected as the standard spoken language, the control allows the announcement to be always made in the standard spoken language.

<< Description of Control Procedure for Reproducing Multiple Voices >> FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for reproducing multiple voices. This control is activated every time the switch 51 is operated, from higher-level control, that is, sightseeing guide reproduction control of the navigation system or inn guide reproduction reproduction control.

During the period in which the higher-level control, that is, the sightseeing guide reproduction control or the inn guide reproduction control is being performed, image information of the sightseeing guide or the inn guide is read from the CD-ROM, and the display control Transferred to circuit 24. That is, an image of a sightseeing guide or an inn guide is displayed.

In the period, the CD-RO
The audio information of the sightseeing guide or the inn guide of the channel set in the M control circuit 22 is read from the CD-ROM and transferred to the D / A circuit 23.

When the switch 51 is operated, the control for updating the announcement mode is started before the control is started.

In step H120, the announcement mode D70 is referred to. If the mode indicates a standard colloquial language, control proceeds to step H121.

In step H121, the CD-R
Channel 1 is set in the OM control circuit 22. And
The control ends.

If the mode in step H120 indicates a mode other than the standard spoken language, control is passed to step H122.
Move to

In step H122, the CD-R
Channel 2 is set in the OM control circuit 22. And
The control ends.

According to the control, a sightseeing guide or an inn guide is announced each time the switch 51 is operated.
You will switch back and forth between dialect and standard spoken language.

[0089]

As described above, the announcement apparatus of the present invention is configured to store a plurality of voice information having different expression forms, so that the announcement apparatus uses a plurality of expression forms, unlike the related art. It became possible to do.

Since the announcement apparatus of the present invention is configured to select a specific expression form from different expression forms and make an announcement as described above, the user selects a reference for selecting a specific expression form. By specifying, the user can select the expression form of the announcement.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating an example of an operation panel.

FIG. 4 is a data structure diagram showing storage contents of a CD-ROM.

FIG. 5 is a data structure diagram showing storage contents of a voice information memory.

FIG. 6 is a data structure diagram showing an example of control data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for updating control data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for obtaining an announcement channel.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for making an announcement.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure for reproducing multiplex audio.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Voice information storage means 2 Voice reproduction means 10 GPS 12 Geomagnetic sensor device 14 Gyro sensor device 16 Speed sensor device 18 CPU 19 RAM 20 RAM 21 CD-ROM device 22 CD-ROM control circuit 23 D / A circuit 24 Display control circuit 25 Display circuit 26 Display means 27 Voice synthesis control circuit 29 Operation panel 30 Bus 31 Mixer 32 D / A circuit 33 ROM 34 RAM 35 ROM 39 Bus

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An on-vehicle announcement device for announcing information, comprising: a voice information storage means for storing voice information in a plurality of expression forms for one announcement information; A destination setting unit capable of setting a position as a destination; and, based on the announcement information and the position information from the destination setting unit, read out corresponding audio information from the audio information storage unit. An audio reproducing means for generating an audio signal from audio information. 2. A region storing means for storing region information of a region corresponding to each of the expression forms, and a position from the position detecting means or the destination setting means based on the region information stored in the region storing means. Expression selecting means for determining to which area the information belongs, and selecting an expression form corresponding to the area, wherein the audio reproducing means is based on the announcement information and the expression form selected by the expression selecting means. 2. The announcement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the corresponding audio information is read from the audio storage means, and an audio signal is formed from the audio information. 3. An on-vehicle announcement device for announcing information, comprising: audio information storage means for storing audio information in a plurality of expression forms for one announcement information; A position detecting means for detecting a position; a destination setting means for allowing a user to set an arbitrary position on a map as a destination; an announcement in any of a standard spoken language, a regional spoken language, and a designated spoken language Announcement form selecting means for selecting whether or not to perform, and when the standard colloquial is selected by the announcement form selecting means, reads the voice information in the standard colloquial language from the voice information storage means, and selects the local colloquial language. The corresponding voice information from the voice information storage means based on the announcement information and the position information from the position detection means or the destination setting means. And voice reproducing means for reading out voice information in the spoken language specified by the user from the voice storage means when the specified spoken language is selected, and forming a voice signal from the read voice information. An announcement device characterized by the above-mentioned.