JP4285371B2 - Sound field control system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention also relates to Ruoto field control system to control the sound field in the cabin.

As a system for managing the sound in the passenger compartment, for example, there is a system shown in Patent Document 1.
JP-A-7-159190

  In the passenger compartment, various sounds such as music output from audio equipment, voice guidance for route guidance output from the navigation device, and warning sound output from the collision prevention device coexist. However, in the conventional system, these music, voice guidance, warning sound, and the like are not output in cooperation with each other, but each is output independently, so for example, music is output at a very high volume. Even if voice guidance or warning sound is output in the middle of the operation, the output voice guidance or warning sound is buried in the music, and the voice guidance or warning sound cannot be heard properly by the user. is there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has an object of, for example, music such as music output from an audio device, voice guidance output from a navigation device, and warning sound output from a collision prevention device. If the sound coexist, is to provide the most necessary sound can be heard in the appropriate Ruoto field control system for the user.

According to the sound field control system according to claim 1, the state management means, when a command is input from the first in-vehicle apparatus or the first in-vehicle system mounted on a vehicle, from the input command It manages the state of the first in-vehicle apparatus or the first extracts the priority or immediacy of the sound output of the in-vehicle system first in-vehicle apparatus or the first vehicle system, Ya the extracted priority A schedule relating to sound output of the first in- vehicle device or the first in- vehicle system is determined based on the immediacy. Then, the sound field control means, the sound field characteristic of the original sound or the sound data to provide the information necessary to the operation output from the first vehicle apparatus or the first vehicle system based on the determined scheduled by the state management means And adjust the output volume to control the sound field.
The first in-vehicle device or the first in-vehicle system is for monitoring whether or not an abnormal situation has occurred in the vehicle and, when detecting that an abnormal situation has occurred in the vehicle, informing the user of that fact Vehicle monitoring system that outputs necessary original sound or sound data to the sound field control device, necessary original sound for monitoring the vehicle periphery and detecting that an abnormal situation has occurred around the vehicle, It includes at least one of a vehicle periphery monitoring system that outputs sound data to the sound field control device.
The plurality of sound output devices can be arranged at different parts of the vehicle, and one of the plurality of sound output devices is information necessary for driving output from the first in-vehicle device or the first in-vehicle system. The output sound whose sound field is controlled by the sound field control means for the original sound or the sound data providing the sound is output, and the other sound output device among the plurality of sound output devices is the second in-vehicle device or the second in-vehicle system. The output sound whose sound field is not controlled by the sound field control means for the original sound or the sound data that provides the information that is not necessary for the driving that is output from is output.

  Thus, for example, if music output from the audio device and voice guidance output from the navigation device coexist, the navigation device is playing the music data and outputting the music on the audio device. When a voice guidance data playback request is generated, the priority and immediacy of the command input from the audio device is compared with the priority and immediacy of the command input from the navigation device. If the priority or immediacy is higher than the priority or immediacy of the music data playback request, the schedule is determined so that the voice guidance output has priority over the music output, and the voice guidance has priority over the music. The sound field is controlled by adjusting the sound field characteristics and output volume so that it can be heard. Taken most needed sounds, that is, if this case, it is possible to heard suitably voice guidance.

Further, for example, when music output from an audio device and a warning sound output from the collision prevention device coexist, the collision prevention device is in the middle of music data being reproduced and output by the audio device. When a warning sound data playback request occurs, the priority or immediacy of the command input from the audio device is compared with the priority or immediacy of the command input from the collision prevention device, and the warning sound data is reproduced. If the priority and immediacy of the request is higher than the priority and immediacy of the music data playback request, the schedule is determined so that the warning sound output has priority over the music output, and the warning sound has priority over the music. The sound field is controlled by adjusting the sound field characteristics and output volume so that the sound is heard, and the sound that is most necessary for the user, that is, in this case, the warning sound is appropriately heard. It is possible to et al.
In addition, it is possible to control the sound field of the original sound or sound data that provides information necessary for driving such as voice guidance and warning sound, while the original sound or sound that provides information not necessary for driving such as music. Controlling the sound field of data can be avoided in advance, and unnecessary control of the sound field can be avoided.

According to the sound field control system of the second aspect, the sound field control means controls the sound field by imparting directivity to the original sound or the sound data. Thus, for example, when outputting voice guidance such as “turn right at an intersection 500 meters ahead”, the direction in which the voice guidance can be heard by providing directivity so that the voice guidance can be heard from the right side of the user. The user can be informed of the direction of travel. Also, for example, in the case of outputting a warning sound, by providing directivity so that the warning sound can be heard from a direction in which the vehicle may come into contact with an obstacle, the vehicle can be controlled according to the direction in which the warning sound is heard. The user can be informed of the direction in which there is a risk of contact with the obstacle.

According to the sound field control system described in claim 3, the sound field control means includes the sound field characteristics and output volume of the original sound or sound data output from the in-vehicle device or in-vehicle system including the recognition result by the road noise recognition means. To adjust the sound field. As a result, even when road noise is occurring, by controlling the sound field in consideration of road noise, the most necessary sound for the user can be heard properly while suppressing the influence of road noise. be able to.

According to the sound field control system described in claim 4, the sound field control means includes the recognition result by the parking / stopping state recognition means for recognizing whether or not the vehicle is in the parking / stopping state, from the in-vehicle device or the in-vehicle system. The sound field is controlled by adjusting the sound field characteristics and output volume of the output original sound or sound data. As a result, it is related to whether the vehicle is parked or stopped by controlling the sound field in consideration of whether the vehicle is parked or parked (eg, parked or running). And the sound most necessary for the user can be heard appropriately.

According to the sound field control system of claim 5, the sound field control means recognizes the type of one of the sound output devices that outputs the output sound whose sound field is controlled by the sound field control device. controlling the sound field by adjusting the sound field characteristic and output volume of the original sound or the sound data outputted from the first in-vehicle apparatus or the first vehicle system, including the recognition result by the means. As a result, the sound field is controlled in consideration of the type of the sound output device (for example, whether it is a stationary speaker or a headphone speaker), so that it is most suitable for the user regardless of the type of the sound output device. The necessary sound can be heard properly.

According to the sound field control system according to claim 6, one of the sound output device, ing at least two speakers that can be placed in front of the driver's seat. This ensures that the sound field can be output from at least two loudspeakers can be arranged to output sound of the original sound or the sound data which has been controlled to the front of the driver's seat, the output sound to provide information necessary for the operation appropriate Can be heard. In this case, it is also possible to realize sound image localization effective for the user (driver) by arranging at least two speakers in the front part of the driver's seat.

According to the sound field control system according to claim 7, the sound output device other hand, the ing from at least one speaker that can be placed at a site other than the front of the driver's seat.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of a sound field control system. In the sound field control system 1, the sound field control device 2 is configured by connecting an audio ECU 3, a navigation ECU 4, an air conditioner ECU 5, a travel control ECU 6, a driving support ECU 7, a speech determination ECU 8, and a communication ECU 9 through an in-vehicle LAN (not shown). Has been. These vehicle-mounted ECUs 3 to 9 correspond to the vehicle-mounted devices referred to in the present invention, and output the original sound or sound data to the sound field control device 2 and also store commands (priority and immediacy related to their own sound output). Message) is also output to the sound field control device 2. The communication ECU 9 is configured to be connectable to the mobile phone 10.

  The sound field control device 2 includes a state management unit 11 (state management unit in the present invention), a road noise recognition unit 12 (road noise recognition unit in the present invention), and a parking / stopping state recognition unit 13 (parking / stopping in the present invention). A state recognition unit), a sound output device recognition unit 14 (sound output device recognition unit in the present invention), and a sound field control unit 15 (sound field control unit in the present invention).

  The state management unit 11 is configured to receive original sounds, sound data, and commands from the in-vehicle ECUs 3 to 9, and when a command is input from the in-vehicle ECUs 3 to 9, priority and immediacy are determined from the input commands. Is extracted to manage the state of the in-vehicle ECUs 3 to 9, and the schedule related to the sound output of the in-vehicle ECUs 3 to 9 is determined based on the extracted priority and immediacy.

  The road noise recognition unit 12 recognizes road noise collected by the road noise recognition microphone 16 and outputs the recognition result to the sound field control unit 15. The parking / stopping state recognition unit 13 determines whether or not the vehicle is in a parking / stopping state based on, for example, a vehicle speed signal input from a vehicle speed sensor (not shown). The recognition result is output to the sound field control unit 15. The sound output device recognition unit 14 recognizes the type of the sound output device 17 (for example, whether it is a stationary speaker or a headphone type speaker) and outputs the recognition result to the sound field control unit 15.

  The sound field control unit 15 includes an output sound balance determination unit 18, a sound data addition unit 19, a sound field characteristic addition unit 20, and an output volume adjustment unit 21. The output sound balance determination unit 18 includes a schedule related to sound output determined by the state management unit 11, a recognition result input from the road noise recognition unit 12, a recognition result input from the parking / stopping state recognition unit 13, and a sound output device. Based on the recognition result input from the recognition unit 14, the overall balance of the output sound is determined, and the sound field characteristics and the output volume are adjusted.

  The sound data adding unit 19 exchanges original sound or sound data with the output sound balance determining unit 18 and adds sound data to the original sound. The sound field characteristic adding unit 20 exchanges the original sound and the sound field characteristic data with the output sound balance determining unit 18, and adds the sound field characteristic data to the original sound. The output volume adjustment unit 21 exchanges the original sound or sound data with the output sound balance determination unit 18 and adjusts the output volume of the original sound or sound data.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the above-described sound field control device 2 is formed into a chip, that is, almost the entire functional block corresponding to the sound field control device 2 is integrated into an audio device as a sound field control chip ( (Built-in) schematically. Specifically, the audio device 31 includes a CD decoder 32 that reproduces music data recorded on a CD, an MD decoder 33 that reproduces music data recorded on an MD, and music recorded on a DVD. A DVD decoder 34 for reproducing data, a changeover switch 35 for switching the path of music data reproduced by the decoders 32 to 34, an audio processor 36 for controlling the overall operation of the audio equipment 31, a sound field control chip 37, and analog data for analog data A D / A converter 38 for converting data, an amplifier 39 for amplifying analog data, and a speaker 40 for outputting output sound are provided.

  The sound field control chip 37 includes a state management module 41, a road noise recognition module 42 corresponding to the functional blocks of the state management unit 11, the road noise recognition unit 12, and the sound field control unit 15 in the sound field control device 2 described above. The sound field control module 43 is configured to include the output sound balance determination unit 18, the sound data addition unit 19, the sound field characteristic addition unit 20, and the output volume in the sound field control unit 15 described above. An output sound balance determination module 44, a sound data addition module 45, a sound field characteristic addition module 46, and an output volume adjustment module 47 corresponding to each functional block of the adjustment unit 21 are configured.

  The audio processor 36 outputs the original sound and the command to the sound field control chip 37. The navigation device interface unit 48 has an interface function between the navigation device 49 and the sound field control chip 37. When sound data and commands are input from the navigation device 49, the input sound data and commands are input. Is output to the sound field control chip 37. The sensor control ECU interface unit 50 has an interface function between the sensor control ECU 51 and the sound field control chip 37. When sound data and a command are input from the sensor control ECU 51, the input sound data and The command is output to the sound field control chip 37. In this case, the sensor control ECU 51 includes a right front corner sensor 52, a right rear corner sensor 53, a left front corner sensor 54, and a left rear corner sensor that are disposed on the right front, right rear, left front, and left rear of the vehicle. 55 is connected.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows an aspect in which the audio device 31, the navigation device 49, the sensor control ECU 51, and the corner sensors 52 to 55 are mounted on the vehicle. In this case, the navigation device 49 is disposed at a position where it can be operated by the user in the vehicle compartment together with the audio device 31 while being connected to the audio device 31 through the communication cable 56. The sensor control ECU 51 is disposed outside the vehicle compartment in a state where it is connected to the audio device 31 through the communication cable 57. Furthermore, each corner sensor 52-55 is connected to sensor control ECU51 through the communication cables 58-61.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, in the configuration shown in FIG.
(1) When a voice guidance data playback request is generated while music is being output (2) A case where a warning sound data playback request is generated while music is being output will be described as an example.

(1) When a voice guidance data playback request is generated while music is being output First, “when a voice guidance data playback request is generated while music is being output” is shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the sound field control chip 37 is reproducing music data when a request for reproducing music data is generated by the audio processor 36 (step S1), and the original sound and command are input from the audio processor 36 to the state management module 41. Is recognized as state management (step S2), and music is output from the speaker 40.

  Here, the sound field control chip 37 generates a voice guidance data reproduction request in the navigation device 49 (step S3), and the sound data and commands are input from the navigation device 49 to the state management module 41 through the navigation device interface unit 48. Then, the priority level and the immediate level are extracted from the input command, and the priority level and the immediate level extracted from the command previously input from the audio processor 36 and the navigation device 49 are input. The priority level and the immediate level extracted from the command are compared, and it is determined whether the priority level and the immediate level extracted from which command are high (step S4).

  The sound field control chip 37 has the priority and immediacy extracted from the command input from the navigation device 49 as “A rank”, the priority extracted from the command input from the audio processor 36, Immediateness is “B rank”, that is, the priority or immediacy extracted from the command input from the navigation device 49 is higher than the priority or immediacy extracted from the command input from the audio processor 36. For example, the schedule is determined so that the voice guidance has priority over the music, and the sound field control module 43 controls the sound field (step S5).

  More specifically, the sound field control chip 37 reduces the volume of the music so that the volume of the voice guidance is relatively larger than the volume of the music so that the voice guidance is not buried in the music. Or giving different directivity to music (applying Circle Surround (trademark) technology) or temporarily stopping playback of music data. Further, in this case, the sound field control chip 37 may give directivity to the voice guidance according to the content of the voice guidance. If the voice guidance prompts a right turn, for example, the voice guidance is given from the right side of the user. Guidance may be heard. Further, in this case, the sound field control chip 37 analyzes the recognition result input from the road noise recognition module 42 and identifies the degree of the road noise, so that the sound field is not buried in the road noise. May be controlled.

  The sound field control chip 37 recognizes that the music data is being reproduced and the voice guidance data is being reproduced as state management (step S6), and causes the speaker 40 to output music and voice guidance.

  By the series of processes described above, as shown in FIG. 5, when the vehicle A passes a point “500 m” from the intersection to be turned right, for example, while the music is being output, the volume of the music is reduced. The voice guidance “turn right at the intersection 500 m ahead” is output, that is, the voice guidance is output without being buried in the music, and the voice guidance can be heard appropriately.

(2) When a warning sound data reproduction request is generated while music is being output Next, “when a warning sound data reproduction request is generated while music is being output” is described with reference to FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this case, in the sound field control chip 37, the sensor control ECU 51 generates a warning sound data reproduction request (step S13), and the sound data and commands are sent from the sensor control ECU 51 to the state management module 41 through the sensor control ECU interface unit 50. When input, the priority and immediacy are extracted from the input command, and the priority and immediacy extracted from the command input from the audio processor 36 prior to this are input from the sensor control ECU 51. The priority level and the immediate level extracted from the command are compared to determine which command has the higher priority level and immediate level (step S14).

  The sound field control chip 37 issues a warning if the priority or immediacy extracted from the command input from the sensor control ECU 51 is higher than the priority or immediacy extracted from the command input from the audio processor 36. The schedule is determined so that the sound has priority over the music, and the sound field control module 43 controls the sound field (step S15).

  Specifically, the sound field control chip 37 reduces the volume of the music so that the volume of the warning sound is relatively higher than the volume of the music so that the warning sound is not buried in the music. Or giving different directivity to music (applying Circle Surround (trademark) technology) or temporarily stopping playback of music data. Also in this case, the sound field control chip 37 may give directionality to the warning sound according to the content of the warning sound. For example, if the warning sound is from the left rear corner sensor 55, the sound field control chip 37 may A warning sound may be heard.

  The sound field control chip 37 recognizes that the music data is being reproduced and the warning sound data is being reproduced as state management (step S16), and causes the speaker 40 to output the music and the warning sound.

  Through the series of processes described above, as shown in FIG. 7, if there is a risk that the vehicle A comes into contact with the obstacle B, for example, in the left rear direction while the music is being output, the volume of the music decreases. After that, the warning sound “beep” is output, that is, the warning sound is output without being buried in the music, and the warning sound can be appropriately heard.

  By the way, if it is the structure provided with the parking / stopping state recognition module equivalent to the functional block of the parking / stopping state recognition part 13 shown in FIG. 1 in the above-mentioned structure, a vehicle will be based on the recognition result of a parking / stopping state recognition module. By identifying whether or not the vehicle is parked or stopped, the sound field may be controlled so that the voice guidance or the warning sound can be heard appropriately depending on whether or not the vehicle is parked or stopped. Further, if the configuration includes a sound output device recognition module corresponding to the functional block of the sound output device recognition unit 14 shown in FIG. 1, the type of the sound output device is determined based on the recognition result of the sound output device recognition module. By identifying the sound field, the sound field may be controlled so that the voice guidance and the warning sound are appropriately heard according to the type of the sound output device.

  In addition, when a warning sound data playback request is generated while both music and voice guidance are being output, the warning sound is output if the priority or immediacy extracted from the warning sound data command is the highest. The sound field may be controlled so that it has priority over music and voice guidance. If a voice guidance data playback request occurs while both music and warning sounds are being output, If the priority or immediacy extracted from the data command is the highest, the sound field may be controlled so that the voice guidance is given priority over music and warning sounds. Further, the priority and the immediacy stored in the command may be arbitrarily set by the user according to the content of the voice guidance or the content of the warning, or the navigation device 49 or the sensor control ECU 51 is manufactured. It may be set centrally by the manufacturer.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the sound field control chip 37 generates a voice guidance data reproduction request from the navigation device 49 while music data is being reproduced and music is being output. Or when a warning sound data reproduction request is generated from the sensor control ECU 51, the priority or immediacy of the command input from the audio processor 36, the command input from the navigation device 49, or the sensor control ECU 51 Compare the command priority and immediacy, and if the priority or immediacy of the voice guidance data or warning sound data playback request is higher than the priority or immediacy of the music data playback request, the voice guidance or warning sound Scheduled to give priority to data output over music output, voice guidance and warning The sound field characteristics and output volume are adjusted to control the sound field so that the sound can be heard in preference to the music. Can be made.

  Further, if the sound field control chip 37 is configured to control the sound field by giving directivity to the output sound, for example, the user can be informed of the traveling direction by the direction in which the voice guidance is heard, or the warning sound is generated. The direction in which the vehicle can hear can inform the user of the direction in which the vehicle may come into contact with the obstacle.

  Further, since the sound field control chip 37 is configured to control the sound field including the recognition result by the road noise recognition module 42, the road noise is taken into consideration even when the road noise is generated. By controlling the sound field, it is possible to appropriately hear the sound most necessary for the user while suppressing the influence of road noise.

  In addition, the sound field control chip 37 includes a recognition result by a parking / stopping state recognition module for recognizing whether or not the vehicle is parked / stopped and a recognition result by a sound output device recognition module for recognizing the type of the sound output device 17. If the vehicle is configured to control the sound field, it is determined whether the vehicle is parked or stopped by controlling the sound field in consideration of whether the vehicle is parked or not and the type of the sound output device 17. Regardless of the type of the sound output device, it is possible to appropriately hear the sound most necessary for the user.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The second embodiment is not an aspect in which an in-vehicle ECU is connected to the sound field control device, but is an aspect in which an in-vehicle system is connected to the sound field control device, as described in the first embodiment. It is different from what I did. That is, in the second embodiment, in the sound field control system 101, the sound field control device 102 includes a vehicle monitoring system 103, a safe driving support system 104, a vehicle exterior sound monitoring system 105, a vehicle periphery monitoring system 106, a communication system 107, A navigation system 108 and an audio system 109 are connected via an in-vehicle LAN.

  These in-vehicle systems 103 to 109 output original sound or sound data to the sound field control device 102, and also send commands (messages) in which priority and immediacy related to their sound output are stored. Output to. In this case, the in-vehicle systems 103 to 108 excluding the audio system 109 among the in-vehicle systems 103 to 109 are in-vehicle systems that provide information necessary for driving (related to driving) or output original sound or sound data. The audio system 109 is an in-vehicle system that provides information not necessary for driving (not related to driving) and outputs original sound or sound data.

  The sound field control device 102 is substantially the same as the state management unit 110 having substantially the same function as the state management unit 11 described in the first embodiment and the sound field control unit 15 described in the first embodiment. A sound field control unit 111 having an equivalent function, a first amplifier 112 that amplifies output sound output from the first sound output line, and a second that amplifies output sound output from the second sound output line An amplifier 113 is provided.

  The first speaker 114 and the second speaker 115 are arranged in the passenger compartment alongside the front part of the passenger seat. The third speaker 116 is disposed in the passenger compartment on the right side of the passenger seat, and the fourth speaker 117 is disposed in the passenger compartment on the left side of the passenger seat. The fifth speaker 118 is located in the right side of the right rear seat in the vehicle interior, and the sixth speaker 119 is located in the left side of the left rear seat in the vehicle interior. In this case, the first speaker 114 and the second speaker 115 realize sound image localization effective for the user (driver) by, for example, the time difference between the output sounds that reach the user's both ears.

  The in-vehicle systems 103 to 108 excluding the audio system 109 among the in-vehicle systems 103 to 109 are connected to the first speaker 114 and the second speaker 115 via the sound field control device 102. Therefore, the original sound or sound data that provides information necessary for driving and output from the in-vehicle systems 103 to 108 is subjected to sound field control by the sound field control device 102 and output sound from the first speaker 114 and the second speaker 115. Is output as

  On the other hand, the audio system 109 is connected to the third speaker 116 to the sixth speaker 119 via the third amplifier 120 without passing through the sound field control device 102. Therefore, the original sound or the sound data that provides information unnecessary for driving output from the audio system 109 is output from the third speaker 116 to the sixth speaker 119 without being subjected to sound field control by the sound field control device 102. Output as sound. That is, the first speaker 114 and the second speaker 115 correspond to sound output devices that output an output sound that provides information necessary for driving in the present invention, and the third speaker 116 to the sixth speaker 119. Corresponds to another sound output device that outputs an output sound that provides information that is not necessary for driving in the present invention. In this case, the sound field control device 102 can adjust only the gain of the third amplifier 120, that is, only the volume of the output sound output from the third speaker 116 to the sixth speaker 119. Can be adjusted.

  The vehicle monitoring system 103 monitors whether or not an abnormal situation has occurred in the vehicle and, when detecting that an abnormal situation has occurred in the vehicle, controls the sound field of the original sound or sound data required to notify the user of that fact. Output to the device 102. The safe driving support system 104 detects, for example, a vehicle distance from a preceding vehicle that travels ahead of the host vehicle and monitors whether the vehicle is capable of safe driving, and the vehicle is not capable of safe driving. When the effect is detected, the necessary original sound or sound data for informing the user of the fact is output to the sound field control device 102.

  In this embodiment, the vehicle exterior sound monitoring system 105 is configured by any of the following. That is, as shown in FIG. 9A, the vehicle exterior sound monitoring system 105 includes an information processing unit 105a, microphones 105b to 105d, and an alarm sound sampling table 105e. In this case, the microphones 105b to 105d are mounted on the vehicle so as to be located at the apexes of the triangle, for example, and collect sounds outside the vehicle. When the information processing unit 105a determines the correlation between the sound data outside the vehicle collected by the microphones 105b to 105d and the alarm sound sampling table 105e, and detects that the correlation coefficient is equal to or greater than the threshold, the microphones 105b to 105d. The original sound or sound data of the alarm sound related to the sound collected by the above is output to the sound field control apparatus 102. In this case, the vehicle exterior sound monitoring system 105 is not limited to the configuration that outputs the original sound or sound data of the alarm sound to the sound field control device 102, but the original sound or sound data of the alarm message such as “Ambulance is approaching”, for example. May be output to the sound field control apparatus 102.

  As another example of the configuration, the vehicle exterior sound monitoring system 105 may include an information processing unit 105f, a communication unit 105g, and a vehicle sampling table 105h, as shown in FIG. 9B. In this case, the communication unit 105g receives a radio signal transmitted from an emergency vehicle or a railroad crossing. The information processing unit 105f analyzes the radio signal transmitted from the emergency vehicle or the railroad crossing to the communication unit 105g, determines the correlation with the vehicle sampling table, and based on the determination result, the original sound or the presence of the emergency vehicle or railroad crossing The sound data is output to the sound field control device 102.

  The vehicle periphery monitoring system 106 monitors the periphery of the vehicle, and when detecting that an abnormal situation has occurred around the vehicle, the vehicle periphery monitoring system 106 outputs to the sound field control device 102 the necessary original sound or sound data for notifying the user. The communication system 107 receives a notification signal from outside the vehicle, and outputs the original sound or sound data of the received notification signal to the sound field control device 102.

  In this embodiment, the navigation system 108 is configured as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the navigation system 108 includes an information processing unit 108a, a map database 108b, a search database 108c, a guidance information database 108d, a display device 108e, a GPS receiver 108f, a vehicle speed sensor 108g, a gyroscope 108h, A geomagnetic sensor 108i is provided.

  The audio system 109 includes an audio playback device such as a radio, a cassette tape recorder, a CD, an MD, a DVD, and a television, and a device that adjusts the amplitude and waveform of the audio such as a volume and an equalizer. Are output to the third speaker 116 to the sixth speaker 119 via the third amplifier 120.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG.
A process performed by the sound field control device 102 when the in-vehicle systems 103 to 108 other than the audio system 109 among the in-vehicle systems 103 to 109 output commands to the sound field control device 102 is shown as a flowchart.

  When a command is input from any of the in-vehicle systems 103 to 108 (“YES” in step S101), the sound field control device 102 is reproducing the original sound or sound data of any in-vehicle system at that time. Whether or not (step S102). When the sound field control device 102 detects that the original sound or sound data of any in-vehicle system is being reproduced at that time (“YES” in step S102), the sound field control device 102 is reproducing the original sound or sound data. It is determined whether a certain in-vehicle system is an in-vehicle system that outputs original sound or sound data providing information necessary for driving or an in-vehicle system that outputs original sound or sound data providing information not necessary for driving (step) S103).

  Here, the sound field control device 102 detects that the in-vehicle system that is reproducing the original sound or sound data is an in-vehicle system that outputs the original sound or sound data that provides information necessary for driving (in step S103). "YES"), the priority and immediacy of the in-vehicle system that outputs the command and the in-vehicle system that is reproducing the original sound or sound data at that time are compared (step S104).

  When the sound field control apparatus 102 detects that the priority or immediacy of the in-vehicle system that has output the command is higher than the priority or immediacy of the in-vehicle system that is reproducing the original sound or sound data (in step S105). "YES"), the schedule is determined so that the output sound from the in-vehicle system that outputs the command has priority, and the output sound of the original sound or sound data output from the in-vehicle system that outputs the command is prioritized and output (Step S106).

  On the other hand, when the sound field control apparatus 102 detects that the priority or immediacy of the in-vehicle system that has output the command is lower than the priority or immediacy of the in-vehicle system that is reproducing the original sound or sound data ( "NO" in step S105), the schedule is determined so that the output sound from the in-vehicle system that is reproducing the original sound or sound data is given priority, and the original sound or sound data is output from the in-vehicle system that is reproducing The output sound of the original sound or the sound data is preferentially output (step S107).

  Further, when the sound field control device 102 detects that the in-vehicle system that is reproducing the original sound or sound data is an in-vehicle system that outputs the original sound or sound data that provides information that is not necessary for driving (in step S103). “NO”), the output sound of the original sound or sound data output from the in-vehicle system that output the command, and the output sound of the original sound or sound data output from the in-vehicle system that is reproducing the original sound or sound data Adjust (for example, reduce the volume) (step S108). Further, when the sound field control device 102 detects that the original sound or sound data of any in-vehicle system is not being reproduced (“NO” in step S102), the original sound or sound data output from the in-vehicle system that has output the command Is output (step S109).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the sound field control system 101, the original sound or sound of any other in-vehicle system is being reproduced while the original sound or sound data of any in-vehicle system is being reproduced. When a data playback request occurs, the priority and immediacy of the command input from the in-vehicle system from which the playback request of the original sound or sound data is generated, and the priority and immediacy of the command input from the in-vehicle system being played back In this case, the same effect as that described in the first embodiment can be obtained, that is, the most necessary sound for the user. A certain voice guidance and warning sound can be heard appropriately.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This third embodiment is not a mode in which the sound field control device is arranged separately from the in-vehicle system, but is a mode in which the sound field control device is incorporated as part of the in-vehicle system. Different from that described in the second embodiment. That is, in the third embodiment, in the sound field control system 201, the sound field control device 202 is incorporated as a part of the function of the navigation system 203, and the vehicle monitoring system 103, the safe driving support system 104, the outside sound. A monitoring system 105, a vehicle periphery monitoring system 106, a communication system 107, and an audio system 109 are connected through an in-vehicle LAN. In this case, the sound field control device 202 performs processing similar to the processing performed by the sound field control device 102 described in the second embodiment.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, in the sound field control system 201, the original sound or sound of any other in-vehicle system is being reproduced while the original sound or sound data of any in-vehicle system is being reproduced. When a data playback request occurs, the priority and immediacy of the command input from the system that issued the original sound or sound data playback request, and the priority and immediacy of the command input from the in-vehicle system being played are displayed. Since the sound field is controlled by comparison, in this case as well, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as those described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, which is most necessary for the user. It is possible to properly listen to voice guidance and warning sounds that are simple sounds.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
In the first embodiment, the in-vehicle ECU may be of other types. In addition, the functional block corresponding to the sound field control device is not limited to be integrated into the audio device as the sound field control chip, but the functional block corresponding to the sound field control device is used as the sound field control chip as a navigation device or other device. It may be configured to be integrated into the unit.
In the second embodiment and the third embodiment, the in-vehicle system may be of other types. In addition, the number and arrangement of the speakers may be other numbers and arrangement, and the configuration of the in-vehicle system such as the vehicle exterior sound monitoring system and the navigation system may be another configuration.

Functional block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention Functional block diagram showing a mode in which the sound field control chip is integrally mounted on an audio device The figure which shows schematically the aspect by which audio equipment, a navigation apparatus, and sensor control ECU are mounted in the vehicle Sequence Diagram The figure which shows the aspect in which a sound field is controlled schematically 4 equivalent diagram Figure equivalent to FIG. Functional block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention Functional block diagram of the external sound monitoring system Functional block diagram of the navigation system flowchart Functional block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

In the drawings, 1 is a sound field control system, 2 is a sound field control device, 3 to 9 are in-vehicle ECUs (vehicle equipment), 11 is a state management unit (state management unit), and 12 is a road noise recognition unit (road noise recognition unit). ), 13 is a parking / stopping state recognition unit (parking / stopping state recognition unit), 14 is a sound output device recognition unit (sound output device recognition unit), 15 is a sound field control unit (sound field control unit), and 17 is a sound output device. , 41 is a state management module (state management means), 42 is a road noise recognition module (road noise recognition means), 43 is a sound field control module (sound field control means), 101 is a sound field control system, and 102 is sound field control. Devices, 103 to 109, an in-vehicle system, 110 a state management unit (state management unit), 111 a sound field control unit (sound field control unit), 114 and 115 speakers (sound output devices), and 116 to 119 speakers ( The sound output device), 201 sound field control system, 202 is a sound field controller.

Claims (7)

It is configured to be mounted on a vehicle, and can output a sound or sound data providing information necessary for driving by outputting a command storing priority and immediacy related to its own sound output to the sound field control device. A first in-vehicle device or a first in-vehicle system;
A second in-vehicle device or a second in-vehicle system configured to be mounted on a vehicle and capable of outputting original sound or sound data that provides information not required for driving;
Provided in the sound field control device, a command is input from the first in- vehicle device or the first in- vehicle system, and a sound output of the first in- vehicle device or the first in- vehicle system is input from the input command. And managing the state of the first in- vehicle device or the first in- vehicle system by extracting the priority and the immediacy related to the first in- vehicle device or the first in- vehicle device based on the extracted priority and immediacy State management means for determining a schedule relating to sound output of the first in- vehicle system;
It provided in the sound field controller, on the basis of the state schedule determined by the management unit, the first in-vehicle apparatus or the first original sound or sound to provide the necessary information to the driver output from the in-vehicle system Sound field control means for controlling the sound field by adjusting the sound field characteristics and output volume of the data ,
A plurality of sound output devices that can be arranged in different parts of the vehicle ,
The first in-vehicle device or the first in-vehicle system is for monitoring whether or not an abnormal situation has occurred in the vehicle and, when detecting that an abnormal situation has occurred in the vehicle, informing the user of that fact Vehicle monitoring system that outputs necessary original sound or sound data to the sound field control device, necessary original sound for monitoring the vehicle periphery and detecting that an abnormal situation has occurred around the vehicle, Including at least one of vehicle periphery monitoring systems that output sound data to a sound field control device;
One of the plurality of sound output devices is an output whose sound field is controlled by the sound field control means of the original sound or sound data output from the first in-vehicle device or the first in-vehicle system. Output sound,
The sound field of the other sound output device among the plurality of sound output devices is not controlled by the sound field control means of the original sound or sound data output from the second in-vehicle device or the second in-vehicle system. A sound field control system characterized by outputting an output sound . The sound field control system according to claim 1,
The sound field control means, the sound field control system and controlling the sound field to have a directivity to the original sound or the sound data. In the sound field control system according to claim 1 or 2,
Road noise recognition means to recognize road noise,
The sound field control means controls the sound field by adjusting the sound field characteristics and output volume of the original sound or sound data output from the in-vehicle device or in-vehicle system including the recognition result by the road noise recognition means. Sound field control system . The sound field control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A parking / stopping state recognition means for recognizing whether or not the vehicle is in a parking / stopping state;
The sound field control means controls the sound field by adjusting the sound field characteristics and output volume of the original sound or sound data output from the in-vehicle device or in-vehicle system including the recognition result by the parking / stopping state recognition means. A characteristic sound field control system . The sound field control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A sound output device recognition means for recognizing the type of the one sound output device that outputs the output sound whose sound field is controlled by the sound field control device;
The sound field control unit adjusts the sound field characteristic and output volume of the original sound or the sound data outputted from said first in-vehicle apparatus or the first vehicle system, including the recognition result by the sound output apparatus recognition means Sound field control system characterized by controlling the sound field. The sound field control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The sound output control system according to claim 1, wherein the one sound output device includes at least two speakers that can be disposed in front of the driver's seat . The sound field control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The other sound output device, the sound field control system comprising a benzalkonium such at least one speaker that can be placed at a site other than the front of the driver's seat.

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