JP4524016B2 - Automotive electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle electronic device that operates by voice input.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a main unit configured to be able to control a plurality of connected devices such as a CD, an MD, a cassette tape drive, a car navigation system, a TV, and a tuner, and a plurality of subunits connected to the main unit via a communication line For example, an in-vehicle electronic device provided in each seat has been proposed.
[0003]
In this type, as shown in FIG. 3, the main unit 50 includes a voice input microphone 51, and the voice input to the voice input microphone 51 by the speaker is input to the A / D converter 53. Here, the voice is converted from an analog signal to a digital data signal.
[0004]
This data signal is converted into a frequency band necessary for voice recognition by the voice filter circuit 55, and the converted data signal is sent to the internal data bus 59 through the bus controller 57 and transmitted to the CPU 61.
[0005]
In the CPU 61, the data signal is subjected to voice recognition processing and sent to the bus controller 63 via the internal data bus 59, thereby controlling each connected device (display 65, CD drive 67, tuner 69).
[0006]
A plurality of subunits 77 a to 77 n are connected to the external bus controller 71 via an external data bus 75.
[0007]
The main unit 50 distinguishes and controls the subunits by recognizing individual addresses preset in the plurality of subunits 77a to 77n. This individual address is set for each device in the memory of the circuit that constitutes the device by the device, but if there is a possibility that multiple devices of the same type are connected, the address is set in advance for that device. The switch is prepared and set by the user individually using the switch provided at the time of purchase.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional configuration, since one voice input microphone 51 is provided for one CPU 61, a sub unit 77a to 77n is installed for each seat in a vehicle having many seats such as a bus, and various functions are individually executed. In the multi-system, there is a problem that control by individual voice input for each seat is impossible.
[0009]
Further, when a plurality of the same type of subunits 77a to 77n are connected to the main unit 50 and these devices are controlled by the main unit 50, addresses must be set individually to distinguish these devices.
[0010]
However, if an address setting switch is provided for each of the subunits 77a to 77n as in the prior art, the cost increases by the amount of the address setting switch. Also, the number of settings by the switch is limited, and the number of devices that can be connected is limited. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to manage the product when setting and shipping individual addresses to the same type of device before production and shipment of the product.
[0011]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional technology described above, and to perform voice input operation from any of the subunits, and to set the address of each subunit when each subunit is connected. An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle electronic device that can be easily performed.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a main unit configured to be able to control a plurality of connection devices, and a connection device that is connected to the main unit via a communication line, and different connection devices are connected to each other through the communication line. In an in-vehicle electronic device including a plurality of subunits configured to be operable, each of the subunits is provided with a voice input unit, and the main unit is provided with a voice recognition processing unit. a storage means for memorize and process voice input from the voice input means, that each subunit comprises a switch means for notifying the start of the voice input, the switching means also serves as an address setting switch of each subunit It is characterized by.
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the invention, in those claims 1 Symbol placement, the main unit comprises a memory for storing audio signal data received from any of the sub-unit, this memory for each subunit of the audio signal data Is stored together with the subunit address designated by the CPU, and the CPU sequentially performs voice recognition processing, and the result of the voice recognition processing is transmitted to the subunit at the corresponding address and executed by the subunit. It is.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 shows a so-called multi-display system that is a vehicle-mounted electronic device according to the present embodiment and has a display mounted on each subunit.
[0019]
This multi-display system includes, for example, a main unit 1 installed on a dashboard of an automobile and a plurality of subunits 3a, 3b,... 3n installed on each seat. The main unit 1 is configured to be able to control a plurality of connected devices such as a CD, an MD, a cassette tape drive, a car navigation system, a TV, and a tuner, and the subunits 3a, 3b,... 3n have different connection functions through the main unit 1. Are configured to be simultaneously operable.
The main unit 1 includes a voice input microphone 11, and a voice input to the voice input microphone 11 by a speaker is input to an A / D converter 12, where the voice is converted from an analog signal to a digital data signal. Is done. This data signal is converted into a frequency band necessary for voice recognition by the voice filter circuit 13, and the converted data signal is sent to the internal data bus 15 through the bus controller 14 and transmitted to the CPU 16.
[0020]
In the CPU 16, the data signal is subjected to voice recognition processing and sent to the bus controller 17 via the internal data bus 15, thereby controlling each connected device (display 18, CD drive 19, tuner 20).
[0021]
A plurality of subunits 3 a, 3 b,... 3 n are connected to the external bus controller 21 via the external data bus 22.
[0022]
These subunits 3 a, 3 b,... 3 n have a voice input start switch 33 and a voice input microphone 35. Here, only the subunit 3a will be described, but the other subunits 3b to 3n have the same configuration. When the speaker turns on the voice input start switch 33 of an arbitrary subunit and utters a voice recognition command toward the voice input microphone 35, the voice is input to the A / D converter 37. The audio signal is converted from an analog signal to a digital data signal by the A / D converter 37 and input to the terminal control unit 39.
[0023]
The terminal control unit 39 converts the signal format of the data signal so that the digital data signal can be communicated on the external data bus 22, and adds the address data information assigned to the subunit 3a. The data is transmitted to the main unit 1 via the external data bus 22. Reference numeral 39a denotes a memory, and the memory 39a stores address data assigned to the subunit 3a as will be described later. Reference numeral 41 denotes a display.
[0024]
This data signal received by the main unit 1 is input to the CPU 16 via the bus controller 21. This data signal is managed and divided by the CPU 16 for each address information of each subunit 3a, 3b... 3n, and the data is sequentially stored in the memory 25 of the main unit 1.
[0025]
These series of operations are performed not only for the subunit 3a but also for each subunit 3b.
[0026]
The data for each subunit stored in the memory 25 is sent to the CPU 16 to perform voice recognition processing, and the contents are judged.
[0027]
The result is transmitted as a control command to the corresponding subunit 3 based on the subunit address information and executed by the subunit 3. The control command is transmitted from the CPU 16 to the subunit 3 indicated by the subunit address information via the bus controller 21 and the external data bus 22.
[0028]
In this embodiment, since the display 41, the microphone 35, and the voice input start switch 33 are installed in each of the subunits 3a, 3b,..., 3n, each subunit 3a, 3b,. When the function is to be executed, the individual functions can be controlled by the microphones 35 and the switch 33, and voice input is possible from any of the subunits 3a, 3b,.
[0029]
In addition, since the voice recognition processing is performed by a single CPU 16 installed in the main unit 1, it is not necessary to install a voice recognition CPU for each of the subunits 3a, 3b,. The system can be configured.
[0030]
Furthermore, since the microphone 35 is attached to each subunit 3a, 3b,... 3n, the distance between the speaker and the microphone 35 can be shortened, the influence of external noise is reduced, and the speech recognition rate is improved. Can be made.
[0031]
Next, the individual address determination procedure of the subunit 3 will be described.
[0032]
After connecting the plurality of subunits 3a, 3b... 3n to the main unit 1, the individual address of the subunit 3 is determined prior to the operation of the system. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the power is turned on (S1). In the initial state when the power is turned on, the same address as the initial address set at the time of shipment from the production factory is set in each of the subunits 3a, 3b,.
[0033]
Next, the voice input start switch 33 of any subunit 3 is turned on (S2). When the voice input start switch 33 is turned on, it is confirmed whether the unit address stored in the memory 39a of the terminal control unit 39 matches the initial address set at the time of shipment from the production factory (S3). If the address is different from the initial address at the time of production and shipment and is already an individual address assigned in this system, voice input is started (S4).
[0034]
If this unit address matches the initial address at the time of production and shipment, this sub-unit performs an individual address assignment operation.
[0035]
First, a subunit initial address and an individual address allocation request command are transmitted to the main unit 1 (S5). The main unit 1 determines an address so as not to overlap with other devices (S6), stores the determined address in the memory 25 of the main unit 1, and notifies the corresponding subunit 3 of the address data. (S7) The subunit 3 receiving this address data stores it in the memory 39a of the terminal control unit 39 (S8).
[0036]
By sequentially performing these operations in all the subunits 3a, 3b,... 3n, individual addresses are allocated to the subunits 3a, 3b,.
[0037]
In the present embodiment, even when a plurality of subunits 3a, 3b,... 3n of the same model are connected, the main unit 1 automatically applies to each subunit 3 by using the voice input start switch 33. Since an individual address is set, it is not necessary to provide an address setting switch for each subunit as in the prior art, and the cost is reduced by the amount of the address setting switch.
[0038]
Further, in the case of the conventional system using switches, the number of address settings is limited and the number of connectable devices is limited. However, in this embodiment, since the switch system is not used, the main unit 1 stores address data. Devices can be connected as long as the capacity of the memory 16 permits.
[0039]
In addition, it is not necessary to set individual addresses for the same type of equipment before production and shipment of the product, and product management is simplified.
[0040]
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on one Embodiment, this invention is not limited to this.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, voice input operation can be performed from any of the subunits, and the address setting of each subunit can be easily performed when each subunit is connected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an in-vehicle electronic device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for assigning subunit addresses;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional on-vehicle electronic device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Main unit 3 Sub unit 16 CPU (voice recognition processing means)
25 Memory (storage means)
33 Voice input start switch 35 Voice input microphone (voice input means)

Claims (2)

A main unit configured to be able to control a plurality of connected devices, and a plurality of units connected to the main unit via a communication line and configured to be able to operate different connected devices by mutual communication through the communication line. In an in-vehicle electronic device provided with a sub-unit,
Provide audio input means in each of the subunits,
Voice recognition processing means is provided in the main unit,
The voice recognition processing means, have a storage means processed to memorize the voice input from the voice input means,
An on-vehicle electronic device characterized in that each subunit includes switch means for notifying start of voice input, and the switch means also serves as an address setting switch for each subunit . The main unit includes a memory for storing audio signal data received from an arbitrary subunit. This memory stores the audio signal data together with a subunit address designated for each subunit, and the CPU sequentially performs voice recognition processing. performs, transmits to the sub-unit of the address to the appropriate result of the speech recognition process is performed in a subunit thereof, according to claim 1 Symbol placement vehicle electronic apparatus, characterized in that.

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