JP3399105B2 - Hands-free communication device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hands-free communication device for talking without using a handset when talking with a mobile phone in a car.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a mobile phone is brought into a vehicle,
There is a car telephone system that can be installed and used in a vehicle as it is. This is to set and use a mobile phone by using a mobile phone in-vehicle adapter when using the mobile phone in a vehicle. Among them, as an in-vehicle voice dial device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-40728, a microphone installed in a vehicle is used to perform a dial call to a telephone by voice recognition, and an in-vehicle audio speaker is used for the voice. It is stated that it also serves as a part of.

[0003]

However, this is a structure in which a telephone is simply connected to supply power and a hands-free microphone is connected for voice input, and a hands-free microphone is used instead of a call system. Even in such a case, the speaker built in the mobile phone is used for the voice output of the call, and there is a problem that the received voice is hard to hear in the noise during traveling. In addition, although the operation of the mobile phone is generally a simple operation, there are many methods that support it with one hand and operate it with the other hand, and it is difficult to operate the volume with only one hand. There is also a problem that attention to driving tends to be neglected because the operation is unfamiliar.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent a trouble in driving a vehicle when a hands-free call is made in the vehicle,
It is to provide a hands-free communication device that realizes high quality communication.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the structure of the invention according to claim 1 is an in-vehicle hands-free communication device in which a mobile phone is installed in an in-vehicle adapter and a call is made without a receiver. the vehicle adapter, the microphone used by the driver is not in hand, it is arranged on the steering neighbors dash panel near reception switch for starting a call when there is a call to a call from the central office, and place a call on hold Equipped with a hold switch to
The vehicle adapter, a control unit for connecting the audio signal to the vehicle audio portion of the portable telephone, the in-vehicle
The audio section includes an audio device and the audio device.
Sound signal from the audio device
It has a sound control unit for adjusting the quantity and sound quality, and the control unit is
A call mode determination unit that determines whether or not a hands-free call is requested when the mobile phone is connected, and a signal processing unit that converts a signal from the mobile phone into a signal handled by the acoustic control unit. The signal processing unit and the
It is connected to the audio control section independently of the audio equipment.
The in-vehicle audio unit further has an operation unit for instructing the sound control unit to perform voice control of the mobile phone from the signal processing unit, and the in-vehicle audio unit,
It is characterized by further comprising call mode switching means controlled by the operation means to make the acoustic characteristics of the acoustic control section suitable for a call. Further, according to the invention of claim 2,
The configuration is that the mobile phone is installed in the in-vehicle adapter and the handset is
In-vehicle hands-free calling device for talking without holding
The in-vehicle adapter can be used without being held by the driver.
Microphone, near steering and dash panel
There was a call from the central office, which was placed nearby.
Handset switch to start a call when the call is put on hold
Hold switch, the in-vehicle adapter is
For connecting the voice signal of the telephone to the car audio unit
The vehicle-mounted audio unit has a control unit, and
Connected to the audio device and the audio device.
Acoustic control unit that adjusts the volume and sound quality of the acoustic signal from the device
And when the mobile phone is connected,
To determine if a handsfree call is required for
The call mode determination unit and the signal from the mobile phone are
With a signal processing unit that converts into a signal handled by the acoustic control unit,
Independently of the signal processing unit and is the audio component, before
Connected to the audio control unit, the on-vehicle audio unit
When a call is made, the acoustic characteristics of the acoustic control unit are automatically
Is a call mode that makes the characteristics suitable for calls.
And

[0006]

[Function] In-car audio for connecting a mobile phone has already been well developed and has good sound quality, and in most cases the voice operation unit is installed on the front dashboard, which has good operability and a speaker installed in the vehicle. Since the vehicle environment is taken into consideration, the voice of the mobile phone is incorporated into the voice processing function of the in-vehicle audio unit. Then, in the voice processing unit of the in-vehicle audio unit, a call mode for a mobile phone having a voice processing condition suitable for a call is set. When the driver rings the phone, the driver can start a call using the earphone switch provided near the steering wheel without having to pick up the mobile phone and press the earphone switch. Can be heard through. Then, the sound quality, volume, etc. can be adjusted by the voice operation unit of the vehicle audio unit as required. In addition, the operations for holding and ending the call can be operated with a switch installed near the steering wheel.

[0007]

Since the in-vehicle audio unit has already been sufficiently developed and has good sound quality and excellent operability, a mobile phone is connected to this audio unit to set a call mode having acoustic characteristics suitable for a call. By doing so, it is possible to realize an in-vehicle sound suitable for a call and make the call easy to hear.

[0008]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below based on specific examples. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle-mounted hands-free communication device 100 to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a mobile phone 2 wirelessly exchanged with a central office.
(Hereinafter, it may be abbreviated as a telephone) shows a configuration in which it is connected to an in-vehicle audio section 7 through a control section 4, and a voice input to a hands-free microphone 1 installed in the vehicle is controlled by the control section 4. To the telephone 2 through. Further, the voice of the other party is connected to the audio unit 7 through the control unit 4, and is output through the in-vehicle speaker 11 of the audio unit. The signal connection portion between the control unit 4 and the telephone 2 is formed by a simple connector 12 including an in-vehicle adapter (the shape of the in-vehicle adapter and the shape of the connector are not shown).
The connector 12 is fitted at the same time as is mounted on the in-vehicle adapter of the control unit 4 and is electrically connected to the control unit 4. In order to save the power of the mobile phone 2, the connector 12 is also provided with a line (not shown) for supplying power from the control unit 4 side to the mobile phone 2.

The control unit 4 is a microcomputer system including a call mode determination unit 5 and a signal processing unit 6 for controlling a call signal or the like of the telephone set 2. The signal processing result is sent to the sound control unit 9 of the audio unit 7. Output. When the mobile phone 2 is connected and there is a call from the telephone station, the call mode determination unit 5 captures a signal generated in the phone 2 and puts the call signal in a processable state. The signal processing unit 6 converts the signal of the telephone 2 into a signal that can be processed by the audio unit 7 in the signal processing unit 6, and sends the converted signal to the sound control unit 9. For example, the sound control unit 9 causes the various audio devices 8 to operate. Instruct to control. In addition, the control unit 4 may have a voice dial function, or may generate a guidance sound, a recognition synthesized sound, or the like for that purpose, and output the guidance sound to the audio unit 7.

Normally, the control unit 4 is installed in a place where the telephone 2 can be easily attached, so that the control unit 4 and the sound control unit 9 exchange a call signal and the like using the cable connector 13. The hands-free microphone 1 is also installed (not shown) in such a manner that the call is a hands-free call to the driver. Then, the earphone switch 14 of the telephone 2 is provided near the steering wheel or in the dash panel, which is easy to operate, and when the telephone 2 calls from the telephone station, the earphone switch 14 is pushed to control the controller 4. A call is initiated via. It should be noted that the reception switch 14 also serves as an end switch that ends the call by pressing the switch again after releasing the call once.

The audio section 7 is connected to various audio equipments 8 such as a radio, cassette tape, CD, MD, etc. centering on the sound control section 9, and the sound operation section 10 is connected to the sound control section 9 to set the volume, The sound quality is adjusted. A controlled voice signal is output from the acoustic control unit 9 to a speaker 11 installed outside, and can be heard with a sound that matches the in-vehicle environment. The voice signal controlled here is control that is determined by a sound quality control switch (not shown) such as a tone or a bass that is usually installed in the acoustic operation unit 10, and is equivalent to control by a simple equalizer device. is there. In addition to this, it has a call mode in which the setting can be changed by an electric instruction from the control unit 4, and an acoustic setting suitable for a call is made.

Also in the portable telephone, a call bell (not shown) of the telephone 2 rings at the same time as reception (listening), picks up the receiver (presses the receiving switch), and talks. Here, if you are driving the vehicle, you will have to take the handset (push the handset switch) to drive with one hand or release the shift lever, and you will not be able to take immediate action in an emergency. Hands-free calls are made. In this case, along with the signal of the doorbell, the user can press the earpiece switch of the operation unit 3 of the telephone set 2 to start the call with the earpiece switch 14 provided near the steering wheel (handle) in the same operation as when the handset is picked up (hang-on). Therefore, it is possible to talk without pressing the reception switch 14 of the telephone 2 or without picking up the receiver. In the conventional case, the call was configured to listen to the call using the speaker attached to the mobile phone, but the in-vehicle speaker 11 of the audio unit 7 is used here. Therefore, since the volume operation and the like can be controlled by the acoustic operation unit 10 of the audio unit 7 which is often installed on the dash panel that has been conventionally used, the operation is easy even during driving and does not hinder driving. .

If the audio device section 8 has an equalizer (not shown), the equalizer setting section is provided with a telephone call mode, and the control section 4 gives an instruction to set the in-vehicle speaker. It is possible to make a call with a sound quality that matches the characteristics of No. 11 and the acoustic characteristics in the vehicle, and it is possible to improve the call quality. That is, the call mode switching means may include a circuit for switching the call mode set in the equalizer.
Furthermore, if the sound control unit 9 of the audio unit 7 has a mode storage function, it is possible to automatically set the call mode having this optimum sound characteristic. It is also possible to adjust the call mode again and set it again.

Ordinarily, the audio equipment 8 is used, and the above-mentioned call mode can be automatically set only when the telephone is called and the telephone is hung on. This is also easily realized by sending a signal from the control unit 4 to the audio unit 7.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processes for processing signals in the control unit 4 and the audio unit 7 for the above operations. This flow chart only shows a rough flow, and the technique for fine button operation can be dealt with by a conventionally known electric circuit technique, and therefore is not described as corresponding to fine operation. Also, FIGS.
It is a flowchart which shows each sub-process.

The operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control unit 4 is energized by turning on the key of the vehicle. Therefore, at the start-up, processing such as initial setting such as system check (step 200) is performed.
Since the initial setting has no direct relation to the gist of the present invention, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Since the telephone 2 is not always installed in the control unit 4, if it is not installed, it is not necessary to set up a hands-free call, so that the presence or absence of the phone 2 is checked in step 202. When the telephone 2 is installed, it keeps checking whether various signals are generated (step 204). It should be noted that the operation at the time of calling the above-mentioned call mode judging section 5 is also included in this step 204. In other words, the operation of the call mode determination unit 5 causes the circuits in the control unit 4 to be just activated from the sleep state.

When there is a telephone 2 and a telephone call is made from the telephone station, the bell of the telephone 2 rings and the driver pushes the earpiece switch 14 provided near the steering wheel to start the telephone reception. In step 204, the reception process of FIG. 2 is executed as the reception process occurs, and the call setting of the system (step 206) is performed. After the settings have been made, the call will continue automatically, so the system will continue to perform steps 202 and 204 to monitor for the signaling of the next situation.

In the call setting process, as shown in FIG. 3, first, when the audio device 8 is connected and music or the like is played from the speaker in the vehicle, the hands-free call cannot be performed, and thus the audio can be disconnected once. You will need it. Therefore, in step 302, the circuit of the audio device currently used is maintained as it is and separated from the sound control unit. Then, the call signal of the control unit 4 is connected to the sound control unit 9. At that time, at the same time, a signal for setting a function such as an equalizer to a telephone call mode so that the telephone call is suitable for in-vehicle is issued. Once the call circuit is set up, the call automatically continues. The fine adjustment can be arbitrarily performed by the driver by using the acoustic operation unit 10.

Next, if the driver presses the hold switch 15 to hold the call during the call, step 204
Then, the hold processing of FIG. 2 is executed as the hold processing occurs (step 208 and FIG. 4). In the hold processing, the voice signal of the connected telephone 2 is once disconnected to release the call, and then voice or music of the audio section is played to the other party of the call as necessary. Send a signal such as music to inform that the call circuit is not broken. Since the telephone is a two-way communication, the voice (sending) on this side is put on hold and music etc. is played as a hold signal. That is, the function of the hands-free microphone 1 is stopped and the audio output is connected instead. At that time, the circuit adjusts the audio signal level to be approximately the same as the speech level. Once the circuit connection is set, it will remain in that state until the next pending release.

When the driver presses the hold switch 15 again to release the hold, the hold release process of FIG. 2 is executed as the hold release process occurs in step 204 (step 210 and FIG. 5). To cancel the hold processing, disconnect the audio signal that was being sent as the hold signal (step
502), the circuit of the held hands-free microphone 1 is connected to the telephone 2 again (step 504), and the call is restored and restarted.

When the call ends, the driver presses the reception switch 14 via the control unit 4 again to release the call, and the call of the telephone 2 ends. Therefore, in step 204, it is determined that the end process has occurred, and the end process of FIG. 2 is executed (step 210 and FIG. 6). This is because the control unit 4 and the sound control unit 9 are connected to release the call mode (step 602), the audio device is restored to its original state (step 604), and the state before the call is started is restored. .

The hands-free communication device 100 is operated as described above. Since a call process cannot be performed by simply connecting a call signal to an ordinary audio device, a device such as the control unit 4 is required and a predetermined signal process is performed.

Since it is possible that the driver takes out the telephone 2 from the control unit 4 to talk during the steps, if the telephone 2 is detached during the call, the telephone 2 will not be able to talk. It is desirable that the configuration be such that it can be secured. Although not shown in the flow charts, the system is always monitored, because the hands-free call cancellation setting may be set even in the middle of each flow chart.

It is also possible to prevent the hands-free communication with the microphone 1 while the mobile phone 2 is attached to the control unit 4. In such a case, the changeover switch (not shown) provided in the call mode determination unit 5 of the control unit 4 may be used to release the hands-free call so that the mobile phone 2 operates independently, and the hands-free call device 100 is disconnected. It will be in a state where it was opened. Although this state is not added to the judgment in step 204 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the judgment is also included in the monitoring of the above system. This case has no relation to the features of the present invention and will not be described in detail.

If a call is put on hold during a call,
In the flow chart shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 4 sets the hold and the audio signal is sent from the audio unit to the other party during the hold (step 404). When the hold is completed, the call returns to resume the call. Here, sending an audio signal from the audio unit 7 to the other party of the call corresponds to playing a standby melody while the call is on hold, and has the effect of allowing the other party to confirm that the call is not cut off. Also, cassette tapes and C
When the sound recorded in D or the like is desired to be transmitted to the other party of the call, by transmitting the sound directly from the audio unit 7, it is possible to transmit a sound that is easy to hear and maintain a good-quality call. In this case, a changeover switch for turning off the microphone input is provided, and by turning off the microphone input, it is possible to transmit the recorded voice or the like without ambient noise. The audio section 7 is constructed so that copyrighted tapes, CDs, etc. cannot be used.

In addition, as a response to the call bell of the mobile phone 2, the reception switch 14 provided on the control unit 4 side.
Instead of making a call, a hands-free call may be made by operating with a reception switch (not shown) of the operation unit 3 of the mobile phone 2. This is equivalent to pressing the earpiece switch 14 of the vehicle by pressing the earpiece switch attached to the operation unit 3 of the telephone set 2, so that it is significant that either of the switches will result in a hands-free call. is there. This need only be a parallel configuration of these reception switches.

Also, when making a call only from a hands-free call to an ordinary mobile phone, the phone 2 can be detached from the in-vehicle adapter and the call can be made only with the phone 2. In this case, even if the telephone 2 is again connected to the vehicle-mounted adapter while the telephone is in a call or the telephone 2 in the hold state is connected to the vehicle-mounted adapter, the call mode determination unit 5 of the control unit 4 determines the state of the telephone 2. Then, the required call mode is maintained, each function is set to correspond to it, and the call can be maintained including the hold in the hands-free call format.

The handset referred to in the claims is a speaker capable of emitting the voice of the other party, but recent mobile phones are sufficiently miniaturized and integrated with the telephone device without providing a handset. It corresponds to the entire device.
In other words, in a conventional telephone, the mobile phone is equipped with a receiver switch that lifts the receiver to start a call, and this switch operation replaces the picking up of the receiver. It is equivalent to not having in.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hands-free device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a sub-process of the reception process of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a sub-process of the holding process of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a sub-process of the hold releasing process of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a sub-process of the call ending process of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Hands-free microphone 2 mobile phones 3 Operation part (inside the telephone) 4 control unit 5 Call mode determination unit (control unit) 6 Signal processing unit (control unit) 7 Audio section 8 audio equipment (audio system) 9 Sound control section (audio section) 10 Sound control section (audio section) 11 In-vehicle speaker 12 connector (vehicle adapter) 13 Connection cable 14 Receive switch (end switch) 15 Hold switch

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshige Asada, 1-1, Showa-cho, Kariya city, Aichi Prefecture, Nihon Denso Co., Ltd. (56) References Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-270539 (JP, A). −36955 (JP, U) Actually open 5-20450 (JP, U) Actually open 63-15651 (JP, U) Actually open 62-51864 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl . ^7, DB name) H04M 1/00 H04M 1/24 - 1/253 H04M 1/58 - 1/62 H04M 1/66 - 1/82 H04B 7/24 - 7/26 102 H04Q 7/00 - 7 / 38

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hands-free communication device for a vehicle, in which a mobile phone is installed in an in-vehicle adapter and a call is made without a handset, wherein the in-vehicle adapter is a microphone that is used without being held by a driver , a vicinity of a steering wheel or a dash panel. The in- vehicle adapter is provided in the vicinity and has a reception switch for starting a call when there is a call from the central office, and a hold switch for holding the call. And a control section for connecting to the audio section, the in-vehicle audio section and the audio device.
Audio from the audio device connected to the audio device
Has an acoustic controller that adjusts the signal of the sound volume, sound quality, the control unit includes a call mode determining section which the cellular telephone to determine whether hands-free communication when connected is requested, the portable A signal processing unit for converting a signal from a telephone into a signal handled by the acoustic control unit , wherein the signal processing unit and the audio device are independent of each other.
The on- vehicle audio unit is connected to the audio control unit, and the voice control of the mobile phone from the signal processing unit is further performed.
The audio control unit has an operation unit for performing an instruction operation, and the vehicle-mounted audio unit has a call mode switching unit controlled by the operation unit to make the acoustic characteristics of the audio control unit suitable for a call. Characteristic hands-free communication device. 2. An in-vehicle hands-free communication device in which a mobile phone is installed in an in-vehicle adapter and a telephone call is made without a handset, wherein the in-vehicle adapter is a microphone that is used without being held by a driver , the vicinity of a steering wheel or a dash panel. The in- vehicle adapter is provided in the vicinity and has a reception switch for starting a call when there is a call from the central office, and a hold switch for holding the call. And a control section for connecting to the audio section, the in-vehicle audio section and the audio device.
Audio from the audio device connected to the audio device
Has an acoustic controller that adjusts the signal of the sound volume, sound quality, the control unit includes a call mode determining section which the cellular telephone to determine whether hands-free communication when connected is requested, the portable A signal processing unit for converting a signal from a telephone into a signal handled by the acoustic control unit , wherein the signal processing unit and the audio device are independent of each other.
The on- vehicle audio unit is connected to the audio control unit, and when a call is made, the on-vehicle audio unit automatically
A call mode that makes the sound characteristics of the sound control unit suitable for a call.
Hands-free communication device that is characterized by becoming a terminal.