JP3666178B2 - Vehicle navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation apparatus including a display for a driver and a display for a passenger other than the driver.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a navigation device for a vehicle, a navigation image such as a road map or a planned travel route is displayed on a display provided near the driver's seat, and the display image is changed as the vehicle moves, so that the driver It is made to perform driving guidance for.
[0003]
The vehicle navigation apparatus not only displays a navigation image on the display, but also responds to the change in the image (in other words, corresponds to the movement of the vehicle), and provides voice guidance for traveling at the intersection. In some cases, the operation guidance is performed by voice when the user performs an operation for setting a destination or a route.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in recent years, such a navigation device or a display for navigation is also provided in a seat (passenger seat, rear seat, etc.) other than the driver's seat of the vehicle, so that not only the driver but also other passengers can use the navigation device. There is a need to make it available. In order to meet this demand, a plurality of navigation devices may be mounted on the vehicle, or the navigation device may be configured to connect a plurality of displays and a plurality of operation input devices.
[0005]
However, in the case where a plurality of displays are provided in the vehicle in this way, in a navigation device that outputs voice for route guidance and operation guidance, even when the navigation image is not displayed on the display for the driver, When the navigation image is displayed on the passenger display, or when the passenger is operating the operation input device, the guidance voice is output.
[0006]
When the sound is output in this way, the driver may mistakenly recognize that the sound is related to the display screen of the driver display, and may not be able to concentrate on driving the vehicle.
The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and in a navigation device having a plurality of displays for a driver and other passengers and having a voice output function for driving guidance or operation guidance, voice output is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of appropriately controlling the state.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 1, which has been made to achieve the above object, includes a plurality of display means for a driver and a passenger as display means for displaying a navigation image for driving guidance. Is provided. The navigation control means displays a navigation image on each display means in response to a command from the operation input means arranged in the vicinity of each display means, and a sound signal for driving guidance corresponding to the navigation image. Is output. For this reason, according to the vehicle navigation device of the present invention, not only the driver but also a passenger can use the navigation device.
[0008]
In the present invention, the determination means determines whether or not the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means, and the voice output control means displays the navigation image on the driver display means according to the determination result. If so, the output of the audio signal for driving guidance from the navigation control means is permitted, and if the navigation image is not displayed on the driver display means, the output of the audio signal from the navigation control means is prohibited.
[0009]
Therefore, according to the vehicle navigation device of the present invention, when an image unrelated to the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means or when the image display on the driver display means is not performed, No voice signal for driving guidance is output from the navigation control means, and the driver can be prevented from misrecognizing the voice for driving guidance. Therefore, according to the present invention, the driver can concentrate on driving the vehicle.
[0010]
Incidentally, a plurality of navigation control means may be provided corresponding to each display means, and a navigation image may be displayed on the corresponding display means in accordance with a command from an operation input means arranged in the vicinity of the display means. One navigation control means may display the same navigation image on each display means.
[0011]
Next, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the operation guidance sound for outputting an operation guidance sound signal to the vehicular navigation device according to the first aspect when each operation input means is operated. Output means are provided. In the present invention, the voice output control means also limits the voice signal output from the operation guidance voice output means according to the determination result of the determination means. That is, only when the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means, the audio signal output permission from the operation guidance voice output means is permitted, and when the navigation image is not displayed on the driver display means, The audio signal output from the operation guidance audio output means is prohibited.
[0012]
Therefore, according to the vehicle navigation device of the present invention, when an image unrelated to the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means or when the image display on the driver display means is not performed, It is also possible to prevent the driver from misrecognizing the operation guidance voice.
[0013]
On the other hand, the invention described in claim 3 further provides a sound output for prohibiting the operation of the sound output control means in accordance with a command from the operation input means with respect to the vehicle navigation device according to claim 1 or claim 2. Control prohibiting means is provided. Therefore, according to the vehicle navigation device of the present invention, it is possible to set whether or not to limit the output of the guidance voice according to the judgment of the vehicle occupant, and the usability of the device can be improved.
[0014]
In other words, the driver misrecognizes the voice of the driving guidance and the operation guidance when the driver does not expect the guidance voice to be output, and if the driver knows that the guidance voice is output, The voice is not misrecognized. Accordingly, as in the present invention, if it is possible to set by external operation whether or not to limit the audio output, even if the limitation is released, the driver can recognize that fact, and the vehicle It is possible to accurately prevent a voice output that is not related to running from being uttered. And if it does in this way, a passenger will also be able to use a navigation apparatus effectively by canceling | releasing the restriction | limiting of audio | voice output as needed.
[0015]
In the present invention (Claims 1 to 3), the sound output control means sets the driving state of the vehicle as a condition for restricting the sound output, and the sound output control means is operated only when the vehicle is driving. Audio output may be prohibited when no navigation image is displayed on the display means.
[0016]
As described above, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the sound output state can be appropriately controlled.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a vehicle navigation apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus of the present embodiment has a GPS receiver 2 that receives a radio wave transmitted from an artificial satellite and detects the current location and traveling speed of the vehicle, a plurality of road maps, facility information, and the like stored therein. A CD-ROM changer 4 that selectively reads map data and facility information from a CD-ROM, an FM multiplex receiver 6 that receives FM character multiplex broadcasting and decodes character information superimposed on the broadcast signal, and a public telephone line A wireless telephone terminal device (hereinafter referred to as a telephone terminal) 8 for reading road conditions and the like from various information terminals, and two display devices 10 for displaying various information including a navigation image for driving guidance, 20.
[0019]
One of the two display devices 10 and 20 is disposed in the driver's seat of the vehicle, and a front seat display as a driver display means for guiding (displaying) various information to the driver. The other display device 20 is a rear seat display device as a passenger display means that is arranged in the rear seat of the vehicle and guides (displays) various information to the passenger sitting on the rear seat. is there. Each of the display devices 10 and 20 includes operation units 14 and 24 as operation input means in addition to the display units 12 and 22 including a CRT and an LCD.
[0020]
Next, the GPS receiver 2 and the CD-ROM changer 4 are connected to the navigation control unit 32 in the control device 30, and the FM multiplex receiver 6 and the telephone terminal 8 are connected to the information display control unit 34 in the control device 30. The front and rear operation units 14 and 24 are connected to the output control unit 50 in the control device 30. Each control unit 32, 34, 50 in the control device 30 is configured by a dedicated microcomputer.
[0021]
Here, the navigation control unit 32 uses the travel information of the vehicle such as the current location detected by the GPS receiver 2 and the map data read from the CD-ROM via the CD-ROM changer 4 for travel guidance. This is for generating image data (navigation image data) DNAV and, if necessary, voice data for driving guidance and voice data for operation guidance related to navigation control.
[0022]
When the navigation control unit 32 generates the navigation image data DNAV, the navigation control unit 32 stores the navigation image data DNAV in the video RAM (VRAM) 36, and further supplies the synchronization signal SYNC to the video signal output unit 40, thereby generating the video signal output unit. From 40, the navigation image data DNAV stored in the VRAM 36 is converted into a navigation video signal VNAV and output. Further, when voice data (navigation voice data) ANAV for running guidance and operation guidance is generated, it is output to the voice signal output unit 48.
[0023]
On the other hand, the information display control unit 34 generates image data (information display image data) DINF for displaying the information from the information obtained via the FM multiplex receiver 6 or the telephone terminal 8, and if necessary, The operation guidance voice data (information display voice data) AINF related to the information display is generated.
[0024]
When the information display control unit 34 generates the information display image data DINF, the information display control unit 34 stores the information display image data DINF in the VRAM 38, and further supplies the synchronization signal SYNC to the video signal output unit 42. The information display image data DINF stored in the VRAM 38 is converted into an information display video signal VINF and output. When the information display audio data AINF is generated, it is output to the audio signal output unit 48.
[0025]
The audio signal output unit 48 converts the audio data ANAV and AINF from the navigation control unit 32 or the information display control unit 34 into an analog audio signal, which is separately installed in the vehicle. By outputting to an audio device such as a speaker, a sound for driving guidance or operation guidance is generated.
[0026]
Next, when the output control unit 50 receives a command from the operation unit 14 or 24, the input command is navigation such as changing the scale of the display map, changing the destination, and correcting the current location detected by the GPS receiver 2. A command for control, a command for information display control such as a change of a reception channel of the FM multiplex receiver 6, an input of a telephone number of an information terminal called from the telephone terminal 8, or a change of display information, or a display It is determined whether the display image of the units 12 and 22 is an image switching command for switching the navigation image from the navigation image to the information display image or vice versa.
[0027]
When the input command is a command for navigation control, a control signal (navigation control signal) CNAV corresponding to the command content is output to the navigation control unit 32, and the input command is a command for information display control. In this case, a control signal (information display control signal) CINF corresponding to the command content is output to the information display control unit 34.
[0028]
When the input command is a command for image switching, the front seat or rear seat display unit is switched by switching the front seat video switching switch 44 or the rear seat video switching switch 46 corresponding to the command content. The video signal to be output to 12, 22 is switched to the navigation video signal VNAV or the information display video signal VINF.
[0029]
That is, the video signal output unit 40 that outputs the navigation video signal VNAV and the video signal output unit 42 that outputs the information display video signal VINF are both the front seat video switch 44 and the rear seat video switch 46, respectively. These video changeover switches 44 and 46 are configured to selectively output one of the two video signals VNAV and VINF to the corresponding display units 12 and 22, respectively. Therefore, the output control unit 50 outputs the video signals selectively output from the video changeover switches 44 and 46 to the display units 12 and 22 from the operation units 14 and 24 in the front and rear seats. Switching is performed according to the switching command.
[0030]
Therefore, according to the navigation device of the present embodiment, the driver and the passenger sitting in the back seat respectively change the images displayed on the display units 12 and 22 to either the navigation image or the information display image. For example, when the driver displays the information display image obtained by the FM multiplex receiver 6 or the like on the display unit 12, the passenger in the rear seat displays a navigation image on the display unit 22. The destination can be set.
[0031]
However, when the driver is displaying the information display image on the display unit 12 in this way, the navigation control unit 32 performs driving guidance for the driving guidance in conjunction with the display of the navigation image on the rear seat display unit 22. When audio data is output, or when the operation unit 24 in the rear seat is operated and operation guide audio data is output from the navigation control unit 32 or the information display control unit 34, the audio signal output unit 48 outputs the audio device. An audio signal is output to the vehicle, and guidance audio flows in the vehicle. At this time, if the driver does not know that the guidance voice flows, the driver mistakenly recognizes that the voice is related to the display screen of the display unit 12, and concentrates on driving the vehicle. It may be impossible to do so.
[0032]
Therefore, in the navigation device of the present embodiment, the operation mode of the device is set such that the audio signal output from the audio signal output unit 48 is prohibited when the navigation image is not displayed on the display unit 12 on the driver side. The output prohibit mode can be set.
[0033]
Hereinafter, the audio output setting process executed for setting the operation mode, and the audio output prohibiting process executed for actually prohibiting the audio output when the audio output prohibiting mode is set, This will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0034]
The audio output setting process shown in FIG. 2 is a process executed in the output control unit 50 when an audio output setting command is input from the operation unit 14 or 24. When the process is started, first, S110 ( S represents a step), and the voice output setting message is displayed on the display unit 12 or 22 on the operation unit 14 or 24 side that has input the voice output setting command. For example, the control unit (navigation control unit 32 or information display control unit 34) that identifies the type of image displayed on the display unit 12 or 22 of the seat that has received the voice output setting command and outputs the image. ) To generate image data including a voice setting message, the message is displayed on the display unit on the operation unit side that has input the voice output setting command.
[0035]
Then, in S120, it waits for input of a setting command for prohibiting or canceling voice output according to the message screen displayed by the driver or the passenger, and when the setting command is input, voice output is performed in S130. It is determined whether or not prohibition is set. If the prohibition of audio output is set, in S140, the audio output prohibit mode is set by setting the audio output prohibit flag F1, and conversely if the prohibition of audio output is canceled. In S150, the audio output prohibit mode is canceled by resetting the audio output prohibit flag. Finally, in S160, the voice output setting message displayed in S110 is deleted, and the process ends.
[0036]
Next, the audio output prohibiting process shown in FIG. 3 is performed together with a process of switching the front seat video switch 44 when a video switching command of the display unit 12 is input from the front seat operation unit 14. 50. When the process is started, first, in S210, whether or not a navigation image is to be displayed on the front seat display unit 12 by video switching (the front seat is a navigation system). Image). If the front seat is not a navigation image, the process proceeds to S220, where it is determined whether the audio output prohibition flag F is set. If the audio output prohibition flag is set, the process proceeds to S230. Then, the audio output prohibiting signal SAUD for stopping the output of the audio signal is output to the audio signal output unit 48, and the process is terminated. As a result, the output of the audio signal from the audio signal output unit 48 is stopped.
[0037]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S210 that the front seat is a navigation image, or if it is determined that the audio output prohibition flag F is reset in S220, it is not necessary to prohibit audio output. In S240, the output of the audio output prohibition signal SAUD to the audio signal output unit 48 is stopped, and the process ends. As a result, after that, the audio data output from the navigation control unit 32 or the information display control unit 34 is converted into an audio signal by the audio signal output unit 48 and output to the audio device. Will be output.
[0038]
As described above, in the navigation device of this embodiment, if the audio output prohibit mode is set by operating the operation units 14 and 24, the image of the front seat display unit 12 is not a navigation image (that is, information) In the case of a display image), the output of the audio signal from the audio signal output unit 48 is prohibited, and no sound for running guidance and operation guidance is generated in the passenger compartment. Therefore, the driver does not misrecognize sound that is not related to the image displayed on the display unit 12, and the driver can concentrate on driving the vehicle, thereby improving safety. Further, according to the present embodiment, if the voice output prohibition mode is canceled by operating the operation units 12 and 22, the guidance voice can always be generated regardless of the image displayed on the display unit 12. , Improve usability.
[0039]
Here, in the above embodiment, the case where the front seat display device 10 and the rear seat display device 20 are controlled by one control device 30 has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 62, a navigation device 60 comprising a CD-ROM player 64, an operation input device 66, a display device 68, a sound output device 69, and a navigation control device 70 is used for the front seat. Even in a navigation system in which the navigation device 80 including the operation input device 86, the display device 88, the voice output device 89, and the navigation control device 90 is used for the rear seat, the communication line 92 is used between the navigation control devices 70 and 90. By connecting, the present invention can be easily realized.
[0040]
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when general navigation devices 60 and 80 each having one display device and one operation input device are mounted on a vehicle as they are, each navigation device 60 and 80 is completely independent. Therefore, the navigation control devices 70 and 90 that execute navigation control in each device 60 and 80 have a communication function, and the navigation devices 60 and 80 share navigation data. Synchronize operation.
[0041]
Then, when the rear seat navigation control device 90 outputs a voice for driving guidance or operation guidance from the voice output device 89, for example, the communication procedure shown in FIG. Communication is performed, and permission of voice output is obtained from the navigation control device 70 side.
[0042]
Hereinafter, this communication procedure will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, when outputting the guidance voice, the rear seat navigation control device 90 activates the voice output processing and transmits a voice output permission request to the front seat navigation control device 70 (S310). ). Upon receiving this permission request, the front seat navigation control device 70 activates a permission signal output process to determine whether or not a navigation image is currently being displayed on the display device 68 (whether or not navigation video is being output). (S410). If the navigation video is being output, a voice output permission is transmitted to the navigation control device 90 in the rear seat (S420). Conversely, if the navigation video is not being output, a voice output disapproval is transmitted (S420). S430), the permission signal output process is terminated.
[0043]
On the other hand, the navigation control device 90 on the rear seat side waits for an audio output permission or non-permission response signal from the front seat navigation control device 70 after transmitting the voice output permission request (S320). When the response signal is received, it is determined whether or not the response signal is a signal permitting audio output (S330). If the response signal is a signal permitting audio output, the audio signal is output to the audio output device 89 (S340), and the audio output process is terminated. Otherwise, the audio signal is output. Without any processing, the audio output process is terminated.
[0044]
As a result, the rear-seat navigation device 80 outputs a guidance voice only when the front-seat navigation device 60 displays a navigation image on the display device 68, and the voice is output to the driver. Can be prevented from hindering driving.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire navigation device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an audio output setting process executed by the output control unit of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an audio output prohibiting process executed by the output control unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system in which two navigation devices are arranged in a front seat (driver's seat) and a rear seat (rear seat).
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a communication procedure executed between each navigation device in order to implement the present invention in the system of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Front seat display apparatus 20 ... Rear seat display apparatus 12, 22 ... Display part 14, 24 ... Operation part 30 ... Control apparatus 32 ... Navigation control part 34 ... Information display control part 36, 38 ... VRAM
40, 42 ... Video signal output unit 44 ... Front seat video switching switch 46 ... Rear seat video switching switch 48 ... Audio signal output unit 50 ... Output control unit 60 ... Front seat navigation device 80 ... Rear seat navigation devices 66, 86 ... operation input devices 68, 88 ... display devices 69, 89 ... voice output devices 70, 90 ... navigation control devices

Claims (3)

Display means for the driver arranged near the driver's seat of the vehicle;
One or more passenger display means arranged in the vicinity of the seat other than the driver seat;
A plurality of operation input means arranged in the vicinity of each display means for inputting various commands by external operation;
One or a plurality of navigation control means for displaying a navigation image for driving guidance on each of the display means and outputting a voice signal for driving guidance corresponding to the navigation image in response to a command from each operation input means. When,
Determination means for determining whether or not the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means;
If the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means according to the determination result of the determination means, output of the audio signal from the navigation control means is permitted, and the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means. Is not displayed, voice output control means for prohibiting the output of the voice signal from the navigation control means,
A vehicle navigation apparatus comprising: When each operation input means is operated, an operation guidance voice output means for outputting a voice signal for operation guidance is provided,
The voice output control means permits the voice signal output from the operation guidance voice output means only when the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means according to the determination result of the determination means. 2. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the navigation image is not displayed on the driver display means, output of an audio signal from the operation guidance audio output means is prohibited. 3. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voice output control prohibiting unit that prohibits the operation of the voice output control unit in accordance with a command from the operation input unit.

Images