JPH04335743A - Automobile telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To input information for an outgoing call and an incoming call or the like without diverting the visual line from the front direction during driving of an automobile. CONSTITUTION:The telephone set is provided with a 2nd input device for information input having three keys, a RAM 121 and a ROM 122 storing the information, a voice synthesizer 124 to synthesize the information stored in the RAM 121 and the ROM 122 in voice in response to the information input, and a control circuit 123 to make operation control of the telephone set in response to the input from the 2nd entry device 20 with respect to the voice signal generated by the voice synthesizer 124. The key input is implemented according to the voice, the three keys employed are easily identified and the telephone operation is safely implemented during driving.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Purpose of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car telephone device having a voice generation function.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, telephone devices mounted on automobiles have become popular. FIG. 9 is an external view of a conventional car telephone device. Hereinafter, a conventional car telephone device will be explained using the same figure.

[0003] The handset unit 1 is connected to an on-vehicle unit 4 via a connector 2 and a cable 3. At this time, power is supplied from the car's battery. Then, a telephone number, speed dial number, etc. are input by key input from the keypad 6 on which a large number of keys are arranged.
A call is made. Information such as these telephone numbers is then displayed on a display section 7 provided in the handset unit 1.

As described above, information input for making and receiving calls is performed using the keypad 6 on which a large number of keys are arranged. Therefore, when there is an incoming call while driving or when it is unavoidable to make a call while driving, the operator must look away from the front and select the necessary key from among the many keys. This poses problems in terms of traffic safety, such as having to search for the vehicle and making it easy to impair proper driving.

[0005]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in conventional devices, in order to search for a necessary key among a large number of keys for answering an incoming call or making a call while driving, it is necessary to take one's line of sight away from the front while driving. This was dangerous in terms of traffic safety. In addition, when the driver does not take his eyes off the front, it is not easy to search for the necessary key among the many keys by groping. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to make it possible to input information for making and receiving calls, etc., without taking your eyes off the front. [Structure of the invention]

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input means for inputting information having up to five keys, a storage means for storing information, and a storage means for storing information. a voice generating means for generating the information stored in the storage means in the form of voice in response to information input by the input means; and input from the input means to the voice generated by the voice generating means; Accordingly, there is provided a car telephone device characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the operation of the device. Note that the information stored in the storage means may include operation guide information.

[0007]

[Operation] According to the present invention, in response to information input using an input device consisting of a small number of keys, a telephone number, etc. stored in a storage device is uttered by a voice generator, and a predetermined number is uttered in response to the voice. When this input is made, control of call origination, call reception, etc. is performed. Therefore, when there is an incoming call while the vehicle is running, or when it is unavoidable to make a call, the operator does not need to take his/her line of sight off the road ahead, which is favorable from the viewpoint of traffic safety.

[0008] Furthermore, if the information stored in the storage device includes operation guide information, the next operation procedure can be known by listening to the audio, and the necessary operation can be executed without relying on vision.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a car telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(a) is a diagram showing a state in which the second input device 20 is detached from the radio device housing 10, and FIG.
(b) is a diagram showing a state in which the second input device 20 is attached to the radio device housing 10.

In FIG. 1(a), a radio device housing 10 includes an antenna 11 and a display unit 1 for displaying various information.
2, a keypad 13 which is a first input device provided in a recessed area of the radio housing 10 by the thickness of the second input device 20 from the surface where the display unit 12 is provided, and this key. A groove 14 provided on both upper and lower opposing sides of a recess whose bottom is the pad 13, and a second input device 20 and a radio device housing 10 provided on the side surface of the recess that does not have the groove 14. and a connector 15 for electrically connecting the internal circuit of the.

The second input device 20 includes a keypad 13
Three keys 20-1, 20-2, and 20-3 are provided, for example, five times as large as the key of A protrusion 21 that fits into the ridge 14 is provided.

[0013] In the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1(a), the second
When the second input device 20 is inserted into the radio housing 10 so that the groove 14 and the protrusion 21 are fitted, the second input device 20 is connected to the connector 15. The state at this time is shown in Figure 1(b)
). Next, FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the car telephone device of this embodiment. The configuration will be described below using the same figure. The car telephone device 10 includes a transmitting/receiving section 110, a control circuit section 120, a power supply circuit section 130,
It is composed of an audio circuit section 140 and an antenna 11.

The transmitting/receiving section 110 is composed of a transmitter 111, a receiver 112, a synthesizer 113 that supplies a reference signal for setting the transmitting frequency or receiving frequency of these transmitting and receiving devices, and a duplexer 114.

The control circuit unit 120 includes a keypad 13 as a first input device, a second input device 20, a display unit 12 for displaying various information, and a RAM (RAM) for registering a telephone number. random access m
memory) 121 and ROM (read only memory) 12 for registering operating procedure guidance.
2, and a control circuit 12 for detecting input from the keypad 13 and the second input device 20 and controlling each part.
3, and the contents registered in the RAM 121 and RAM 122 according to the input from the second input device 20,
It is composed of a speech synthesizer 124 that generates speech.

The power supply circuit section 130 is composed of a power supply circuit 131 that is controlled by inputs from the keypad 13 and the second input device 20, and a battery 132 that is a power source for the car telephone device 10. Finally, the audio circuit section 140 includes an audio circuit 141, a transmitter 142, and a receiver 143.

Next, FIGS. 3 to 8 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the car telephone device of this embodiment. The operation of the car telephone device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the same figure and FIG. 2.

First, FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the main operation flow of the car telephone device of this embodiment. In this embodiment, it is assumed that several telephone numbers are registered in advance using the keypad 13. In addition, in the following operations, as a general rule, the input of the key (20-1) is the next candidate, the input of the key (20-2) is determined, and the input of the key (20-3) is the next candidate.
) is assumed to mean termination. Also,
On the drawings (Figures 3 to 8), the key (20-1) is marked with a circle 1,
The key (20-2) is marked with a circle 2, and the key (20-3) is marked with a circle 3.

The operator presses the key (
20-1, 20-2, 20-3) is pressed (step 31), the power supply circuit 13
1 supplies power to each part (step 32).

Now, an incoming signal is received by the receiver 112 via the antenna 11 and the service equipment 114, and this signal is input to the control circuit 123, and when it is determined that there is an incoming call (step 34), the process proceeds to step 35. Then, the process proceeds to a subroutine for incoming call operation, and the operation at the time of incoming call, which will be described later, is performed.

[0021] When it is determined in step 34 that there is no incoming call, a flag is set in the control circuit 123 for calling and adjusting the volume. Flag for calling is F
The initial value is set to 1 in lag (issue). Further, the flag for adjusting the volume is Flag (sound), and the initial value is set to 0. F
A flag value of 1 indicates that the operation corresponding to the flag is executable (step 36).

In step 37, Flag (issued) or F
Operation guidance corresponding to the lag (sound) whose value is 1 is generated as a voice message. This operation guidance message is stored in the ROM 122 in advance, and depending on which Flag is set to 1 in the control circuit 123, the message corresponding to that Flag is read out, and the speech synthesis device 124 reads out the message corresponding to that Flag. The message is generated as audio.

Next, the key (
20-2 or 20-3) is input (step 400), F which was set to 1 in step 35 is
The process proceeds to a subroutine for the operation (calling or volume adjustment) corresponding to the lag, and the operation at the time of calling or volume adjustment, which will be described later, is performed (step 400).

On the other hand, if the key input in step 38 is made using the key (20-1), step 36
Returning to , the control circuit 123 changes the value of Flag to Flag(
(sound) and Flag (sound), and the above operation is repeated.

[0025] When the operation for making a call or adjusting the volume is completed in step 400 (RETURN), the operation for receiving a call is also completed in step 35 (RETURN).
Then, the control circuit 123 determines which key will be used for the next key input (step 410). Here, if the key input is by the key (20-1), the process returns to step 34. Therefore, the operator can continue making the above settings. Further, if the key input is by the key (20-2 or 20-3), the operation flow of this embodiment is ended. Next, FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when a call arrives, and is a subroutine for FIG. 3 described above.

When the control circuit 123 determines that there is an incoming call when receiving an incoming call signal, the speaker 1 is output via the audio circuit 141.
A ring tone is generated from 43. When the key (20-3) is input in response to this ringing tone (step 41), it is assumed that the operator has refused to answer the incoming call, and step 41 in FIG.
Proceed to 0 (RETURN).

In step 41, when the control circuit 123 determines that the key (20-1 or 20-2) has been input, this input is regarded as off-hook, and the call is started (step 42). In key input during a call, the input of the key (20-3) is regarded as an end of the call, that is, on-hook, and the process proceeds to step 410 in FIG. 3 (step 43).

On the other hand, in step 43, the key (20
-1) is determined by the control circuit 123, Fla
g is set. Here, the Flag for adjusting the volume is Flag (sound) with an initial value of 1, and the Flag for Mute (muting the sound input from the operator side) is Flag.
(M), the initial value is 0, and the flag for reservation is F
The initial value of lag is set to 0 (step 44).

[0029] When Flag is set, F
An operation explanation corresponding to the lag is generated as a voice message (step 45). When a key (20-2 or 20-3) is input in response to this voice message (step 46), the action corresponding to the flag set to 1 in step 44 (volume adjustment, mute or hold) is performed. The process proceeds to a subroutine, and a volume adjustment operation, a mute operation, or a hold operation, which will be described later, is performed (step 47). After the subroutine ends, the process returns to step 42.

On the other hand, if the key input in step 46 is made using the key (20-1), step 44
The value of the flag is reset in the control circuit 123. This means that the value of Flag (sound) is Flag (M),
The value of Flag (M) is replaced with Flag (hold), and the value of Flag (hold) is replaced with Flag (sound). In other words, if the value of Flag (M) is 1, Fla
When the values of g (sound) and Flag (hold) are 0, Fla
The value of g (hold) is 1, Flag (M) and Flag (sound)
Since the value of is 0, the key (20
Each time -1) is input, the above three operations become selectable in sequence.

[0031] In this way, when a call arrives, the operator can answer the call by pressing either one of the two keys (20-1, 20-2) other than the key (20-3). Since it is easy to avoid the key (20-3) among the three sufficiently large keys, it is possible to answer an incoming call much more easily than in the past. Next, FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when making a call, and is a subroutine for the above-mentioned FIG. 3.

In step 37 of FIG. 3, if a key (20-2 or 20-3) is input in step 38 in response to the voice saying, ``You can make a call,'' for example, the input from the keypad 13 is The telephone number stored in the RAM 121 is generated as a voice by the voice synthesizer 124 (step 51).

[0033] In response to this voice notification of the telephone number,
When the key (20-1) is input, that is, when the notified telephone number is not the desired call destination for the operator, another telephone number stored in the RAM 121 is selected (step 53), the process returns to step 51 and the above operations are repeated.

Further, in step 52, the key (20-2
or 20-3) is input, if this key input is made by the key (20-3), it is assumed that the call has been canceled and
The process returns to step 410 (step 54). If the key input is by the key (20-2), a call is made to the telephone number and the process shifts to a telephone conversation (step 55).
. Hereinafter, steps 55 to 60 are the same operations as steps 42 to 47 in FIG. 4, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0035] In this way, by inputting keys with a sufficiently large key, the pre-registered telephone numbers are successively notified to the operator by voice, and by inputting the keys to the desired telephone number, a call can be made. It becomes possible to make a call without the troublesome operations required in the past.

Furthermore, the voice notification of the called party is not limited to a telephone number, but may also be the name of the called party or words that allow the operator to recognize the called party. Next, FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of setting the volume level, and is a subroutine for FIGS. 3 to 5 described above.

First, a volume confirmation message stored in the ROM 122 is generated from the voice synthesizer 124 at a predetermined volume determined by the control circuit 123 (step 61).
). This volume confirmation message is, for example, something like "How's the volume?". When the operator is satisfied with this volume and presses the key (20-2 or 20-3) (step 62), step 400 in FIG. 3, step 42 in FIG. 4, or step 5 in FIG. Return to 55.

Now, in step 62, the key (20
-1) When pressed, the Fla provided for volume setting
The control circuit 123 determines whether the value of g (positive) is 1 or not. When this Flag (positive) is 1, it means that the volume level is increased during volume adjustment, and the Flag (positive) is 1.
(correct) being 0 means lowering the volume level.

If the value of Flag (positive) is 1 in step 64, control is performed in the control circuit 123 to increase the volume level by one (step 65). Note that if this volume level is not the maximum (step 6)
6), the process returns to step 61 and the above-described operations are repeated.

[0040] Furthermore, if it is determined in step 66 that the volume level is the maximum, the value of Flag (positive) is set to 0.
to lower the volume level (step 67).
). Then, the volume level is lowered by one (step 6
8). If the value of Flag (positive) is not 1 in step 64, the volume level is also lowered by one in step 68.

[0041] If the volume level continues to be lowered, the volume level will eventually reach the minimum level, and in that case, the volume level must be raised again. Therefore, in step 69, the control circuit 123 determines whether the volume level has become minimum.

If the volume level is not the minimum, the process returns to step 61, and if it is the minimum, the value of Flag (positive) is set to 1 again so that the volume level can be raised, and the process returns to step 61, as described above. The action is repeated.

In this way, each time the key (20-1) is pressed, the volume level is switched and the operator can obtain the desired volume, so the operator can adjust the volume to be easily audible depending on the situation inside or outside the vehicle. Can be easily adjusted to any level. Next, FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of Mute, and is a subroutine for FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, the keys (20-1, 20-2, 20-3
), the control circuit 123 determines which key has been input (step 71). And the key (20-1
) is input, if it is muted (step 72), mute is canceled (step 73),
Further, if the mute is not in progress, the control circuit 123 controls the mute to be performed (step 74). Then, the process returns to step 71. Incidentally, in step 71, if the key input is by the key (20-2 or 20-3), the process returns to step 42 in FIG. 4 or step 55 in FIG. In this way, setting and canceling Mute can be easily performed by pressing the key (20-1). Next, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the suspension operation, and is a subroutine for FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, the keys (20-1, 20-2, 20-3
), the control circuit 123 determines which key has been input (step 81). And the key (20-1
), if it is on hold (step 82), the hold is released (step 83), and if it is not on hold, it is put on hold (step 84). 123. And step 81
Return to Incidentally, in step 81, if the key input is by the key (20-2 or 20-3), the process returns to step 42 in FIG. 4 or step 55 in FIG. In this way, you can set and release hold using the key (20-1).
This can be easily done by pressing .

As explained above, by using the second input device 20 consisting of only three keys that are five times the size of the keys on the keypad 13, the operator can easily Even if the user does not take their eyes off the road ahead, they can be sufficiently identified just by the feel of their hands or fingers, which does not interfere with the operation of the car phone, and is very desirable in terms of traffic safety. In addition, in the present invention, the same contents may be visually displayed on the display unit 12 instead of displaying the operation instructions, telephone number, etc. only by voice.

[0047]Also, registration of telephone numbers, etc. is done in the same way as when registering automatic dialing or speed dialing. However, the second input device 20 may also be used. In particular, in the case of a car telephone device that does not have a keypad 13 and only has an input device such as the second input device 20, the telephone functions are almost the same as conventional ones, although the device configuration is simplified. It is very effective because it can maintain the

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a call is made based on a pre-registered telephone number, but it is also possible to make a call by inputting a telephone number using voice without registering a telephone number. It's okay.

[0049]

According to the present invention, operation guide information, dial information, etc. stored in a storage device are emitted by a voice generator by a voice in response to information input by an input device consisting of a small number of keys. When the input device inputs the voice, call origination, call reception, etc. are controlled.

[0050] Therefore, the operator only needs to input keys according to the voice, and since the number of keys is small,
It becomes easy to identify the key to be input, and there is no need to take your eyes off the road ahead even when driving a car. That is,
Since the operator can operate the telephone without taking any risks, this is preferable in terms of traffic safety.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a car telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing the detailed configuration of a car telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the main operation flow of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the present invention when a call is received.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when making a call according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of setting a volume level according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of Mute according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a suspension operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an external view of a conventional car telephone device.

[Explanation of symbols]

13...Keypad 20...Second input device
20-1, 20-2, 20-3...Key 121
...RAM 122...ROM 123...Control circuit 124...Speech synthesis device

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claim 1: An input means for inputting information having five or less keys; a storage means for storing information; a voice generating means for generating information in voice;
A car telephone device comprising: a control means for controlling the operation of the device in response to input from the input means to the voice generated by the voice generation means. 2. A first input means for inputting information;
a storage means for storing information inputted by at least the first input means; a second input means for inputting information having fewer keys than the first input means; a voice generating means for generating the information stored in the storage means in the form of voice in response to information input by the input means; and a voice generated by the voice generating means from the second input means. 1. A car telephone device comprising: control means for controlling the operation of the device in response to input. 3. The automobile telephone device according to claim 2, wherein the second input means is detachably attached to an upper part of the first input means. 4. The automobile telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the information stored in the storage means includes operation guide information.