JPH03139024A - Traffic information reception system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain safe drive by changing a mode automatically when the signal strength of a service radio wave reaches a prescribed level or lower. CONSTITUTION:The screen display state of a display device 10 in the mode before the traffic information in selected and an output state from a speaker 8 are stored. Then an ID signal and an operating start command signal are sent to a traffic information receiver 5 and the traffic information signal received by the receiver 5 is fed to the speaker 8 and the message representing the traffic information is displayed on the display device 10. When a detector 6 discriminates the presence of the carrier of the received radio wave and when the electric field strength level reaches a prescribed level or lower and the state elapses for a prescribed time, an amplifier 7 is switched to interrupt the connection with the receiver, thereby switching back to the mode before the selection of traffic information is made.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a traffic information receiving system mounted on a vehicle, which receives traffic information service radio waves for local services and outputs them in the form of audio.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, compact discs (hereinafter abbreviated as CDs)
There is a traffic information receiving system that includes audio equipment such as a player, cassette tape recorder, and radio tuner, a traffic information receiver that receives traffic information service radio waves for local services, an amplifier, and a speaker. The operator can select any mode by selecting and operating the function switch of this system. As shown in Figure 4, when it is determined that the vehicle M traveling on the expressway has entered the traffic information service area S-A (
Generally, signs or the like are used to display guidance for operators such as drivers. ) The operator selects and operates the function switch to enter traffic information mode. As a result, the traffic information receiver and the speaker are connected via an amplifier, and the traffic information service radio waves transmitted within the traffic information service area S-A are received by the traffic information receiver and converted into acoustic signals. is output as audio from the speaker via the amplifier. When it is determined that the vehicle M has gone out of the service area S-A, the operator selects and operates another function switch to change to another mode. Sound corresponding to this mode is output from the speaker. In addition, there is a TV tuner as a modification of the above audio equipment.
Broadcast images and messages can also be displayed on the display. In this case, well-known touch switches can be provided on the display screen to select channels, adjust sound quality, etc.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation flow of the CPU in the control device when the traffic information mode is selected.

In the figure, in step 310, the speaker and the traffic information receiver are controlled to be switched and connected within the amplifier as described above. In step 311, the display is controlled to display a message indicating that the traffic information mode is in effect on the display screen.

The subsequent operation of the system is the same as described above, so a description thereof will be omitted.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, the conventional traffic information receiving system requires the operator to judge whether or not the vehicle has left the traffic information service area S-A before selectively operating the function switch. However, there have been problems such as the operation being time-consuming.Especially when the operator is a driver, it is necessary for driving safety to reduce the operation effort as much as possible.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a traffic information receiving system that automatically switches from a traffic information mode to another mode.

[Means to solve the problem]

The traffic information receiving system of the present invention includes a traffic information receiving means, an acoustic signal generating means, an acoustic outputting means for selectively outputting an acoustic signal including traffic information according to an external operation, and an electric field of traffic information service radio waves. A control means is provided for controlling the sound output means so as to automatically switch from the traffic information to another sound when the intensity level falls below a predetermined level.

[For production]

In the traffic information receiving system of the present invention, when the vehicle moves from inside the traffic information service area to outside the area, the field strength level of the traffic information service radio waves weakens below a predetermined level, so the control means that detects this weakens to a predetermined level or less. To automatically switch the output of an output means from traffic information to other sounds.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a traffic information receiving system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, l is a TV tuner that receives TV broadcast radio waves, generates and outputs video and audio signals of a desired channel, 2 is a CD player that plays back music audio signals from CDs, and 3 is a cassette tape player (also known as cassette tape recorder for playing,
4 is a radio tuner that receives radio broadcast waves and outputs radio broadcast audio signals. 5 is a traffic information receiver that receives the traffic information service radio wave, converts it into a traffic information sound 1F signal, and outputs it; 6 is a carrier detection device that detects the field strength of the traffic information service radio wave received by the traffic information receiver 5; is detected, and when this electric field strength level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, a detection signal is output as carrier detection. 1 to 5 above
Each of the acoustic signal output terminals of is connected to each input terminal of the amplifier 7. This amplifier 7 has a multiplexer,
It is configured to select and output any one of the input acoustic signals. A pair of stereo speakers 8 are connected to the output terminal of the amplifier 7. Above code 1
Components 5 and 7 are connected to a bidirectional path line 9 for inputting ID (by tJ) signals, command signals, and the like. The pass line 9 is also connected to the output terminal of the carrier detection device 6. 10 is a display that visualizes the video signal on a screen, 11 is a display 10
The operation area is divided by a well-known pressure-sensitive type or infrared type touch switch provided on the screen, and when a divided area is operated, a serial signal specific to that divided area is generated.

12 is a function switch provided on the screen side of the display 10 as shown in FIG. 2; 12a is a TV selection switch; 12b is a radio selection switch;
2C is a CD selection switch, 12d is a tape recorder selection switch, 12e is a traffic information selection switch, 12
f is a volume for adjusting the sound level, and 12g is a brightness adjustment switch for adjusting the brightness of the screen of the display 10.

13 is a control device connected to the pass line 9, the display 10, the touch switch 11, the function switch 12, and the TV tuner 1, which controls the display on the display 10, controls the operation of each device indicated by numerals 1 to 5,
Performs switching control of the amplifier 7, etc. This control device 13 is
A switch signal input section that inputs switch signals from the switch 11 and the function switch 12 and performs waveform shaping, etc., with a serial interface 13a connected to the path line 9 for outputting control signals and inputting response signals. 13b1 serial interface 13
a and the switch signal input section 13b, the CPU 13C performs arithmetic processing of digital data according to a predetermined control program.

A display control section 13d that controls the display of the display 10 under the control of the CPU 13c, and a television tuner 1.
The superimpose control section 13e receives a television broadcast video signal from the display control section 13d, superimposes the signal from the display control section 13d, and displays the superimposed signal on the display 10.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 13c in the control device 13, which is stored as a control program in a memory device in the CPU 13c.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The operator normally operates the function switch 12 to set the TV mode.

Either CD mode, cassette tape mode, or radio mode is selected. When the mode is selected, the control word N13 sends an ID signal and a command signal to start operation to the pass line 9, and the TV tuner 1. CD
One of the player 2, cassette tape recorder 3, and radio tuner 4 is started and connected to the speaker 8 via the amplifier 7. The audio signal of the device selected in that mode is output as sound from the speaker 8 via the amplifier 7 at a volume corresponding to the amount of operation of the volume 12f. In the case of television mode or radio mode, a switch display for channel selection is displayed on the display 10, so that the operator can select a channel by touching the touch switch 11.

In the television mode, broadcast video is displayed on the screen of the display 10 using a video signal from the television tuner 2. In the case of CD mode or cassette tape mode, a display for adjusting the sound quality (treble, bass, left/right balance), etc. is displayed on the display 10, so the sound quality etc. can be adjusted by the operator's touch operation of the touch switch 11. Ru.

If the operator determines that the vehicle has entered the traffic information service area in this state, the traffic information switch 126
operate. The CPU 13C inputs this operation signal via the switch signal input section 13b, and detects from this operation signal that the traffic information mode is specified. And C.P.
U13c operates according to the control program shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, the screen display state of the display 10 and the sound output state from the speaker 8, that is, the control state of the amplifier 70, according to the mode before traffic information selection are stored, and the next step is to stop the operation of the corresponding device. In S2, the ID signal and the operation start command signal are sent to the traffic information receiver 5 via the serial interface 13a and the pass line 9, and the amplifier 7 is switched and controlled to connect the traffic information receiver 5 and the speaker 8. As a result, 162
0KHz or 1629KHz etc. (522KHz, 16
11KHz etc. are also in special areas. ) The traffic information acoustic signal outputted from the traffic information receiver 5 which has received the traffic information service radio waves is outputted as audio from the speaker 8 via the amplifier 7 at a volume corresponding to the operating amount of the volume 12f. In step S3, the display control section 13d is controlled to display a message indicating that the system is in the traffic information mode on the screen of the display 10 via the superimpose control section 13e. In step S4, it is determined whether or not a detection signal is input from the carrier detection device 6 via the path line 9 and the serial interface 13a, that is, whether or not there is a carrier. If it is within the traffic information service area, the field strength level of the traffic information received by the traffic information receiver 5 is higher than a predetermined level, and the carrier detection device 6 detects this and outputs a detection signal. If the vehicle is outside the service area, the field strength level of the traffic information reception radio wave becomes below a predetermined level, so the carrier detection device 6 does not output a detection signal. Specifically, the carrier detection device 6 receives from the traffic information receiver 5 a signal that changes depending on the field strength level of the traffic information service radio wave, compares the signal with a reference signal, and outputs a signal according to the result. In step S4, the process waits until the carrier detection device 6 no longer outputs a detection signal. If there are no more carriers, the process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined whether a predetermined period of time, for example, 5 to 10 seconds, has elapsed without the carrier detection device 6 continuously outputting a detection signal. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S4, and if the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step S6.
Proceed to. In step S6, the amplifier 7 is switched to the previous mode so as to disconnect the speaker 8 and the traffic information receiver 5, and the display screen state of the display 10 and the output state of the speaker date, that is, the amplifier 7 is changed to the mode before traffic information selection. Returns control state.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the traffic information mode is automatically switched to another sound mode when the electric field strength level of the traffic information service radio waves falls below a predetermined level. This has the effect of saving time and making driving safer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a traffic information receiving system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a more detailed arrangement of the function switches in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the function switches in FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the service area of traffic information service radio waves, etc., and FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing the operation of the conventional system. In the figure, 1... TV tuner 2... CD player 3... Cassette tape recorder 4... Radio tuner 5... Traffic information receiver 6... Carrier detection device 7... Amplifier, 8...Speaker, 9
...Pass line, 12...Function switch, 13...Control device. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or equivalent parts. Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] traffic information receiving means for receiving traffic information service radio waves of local services and converting them into acoustic signals for traffic information; acoustic signal generating means for outputting the acoustic signals; and selectively outputting the acoustic signals in the form of sounds according to an external operation. a sound output means for
When a signal corresponding to the electric field intensity of the traffic information service radio wave is received from the traffic information receiving means and the electric field intensity level becomes a predetermined level or less, the acoustic signal of the acoustic signal generating means is changed from the traffic information acoustic signal. A traffic information receiving system comprising: a control means for controlling the sound output means so as to automatically switch to a signal and output the sound.