JPH0983277A - Sound volume adjustment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To take proper sound volume balance automatically corresponding to the passenger composition and the riding position, to change the sound volume rapidly for preventing the driver from being asleep thereby improving the safety and to save trouble of operation by a passenger. SOLUTION: Number of passengers and the position of the passengers are detected whether or not each passenger comes out at a prescribed position according to an image picked up by a camera 1 and the result is confirmed by output signals from temperature sensors 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15 arranged to each seat. The driver falling asleep and the sleeping state of the passengers are decided by comparing initial video data at riding from a video image of the camera 1 with data of a position of the bodies and tilt of the body. The signal as required is given to an audio amplifier to control sound volume balance of speakers 3-6. When the doze driver is detected, the sound volume of a car audio equipment is changed to prevent the driver from falling into asleep. Thus, the driving safety is enhanced and trouble of operation by the passenger is saved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a volume control device for a car audio, and more particularly, to a balance adjustment and a drows prevention for detecting the number of passengers and the positions of the passengers and the state of the passengers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional car audio systems, the volume, balance (volume ratio of left and right), and fader (volume ratio of front and rear) can be manually adjusted to the position where the person who gets in the car can think the best regardless of the number of passengers. Alternatively, a method has been used in which balance adjustment based on a volume ratio determined in advance according to the indoor capacity of the vehicle or the number of personnel is selected by a push button or the like.

[0003]

However, in all of these methods, balance adjustment must be performed by the operation of the occupant, and the operability is poor. Furthermore, in reality, it is not always said that listening is performed in the optimum state.For example, for a sleeping passenger, it is desirable to adjust the volume balance in the passenger compartment while the volume near the seat is reduced, It was necessary to redo the volume balance adjustment by the operation of the occupant when the vehicle changed (getting on and off halfway).

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a plurality of sound output means arranged in a passenger compartment, and an occupant detecting means for detecting the state of an occupant in the passenger compartment. It is characterized by further comprising control means for automatically controlling an output level of each of the plurality of sound output means to a predetermined state according to a state of the occupant based on a detection output from the occupant detection means.

Further, the occupant detection means is an image pickup means for picking up an image of the inside of the vehicle compartment, and the number of occupants in the vehicle compartment and the seats of the occupants are analyzed by analyzing the imaged screen of the vehicle interior of the vehicle. It is characterized by detecting an arrangement state, a sleep state of the occupant, and a dozing state of the driver. Further, the control means automatically sets the output level of each of the plurality of acoustic output means to a state adapted to the number of occupants in the vehicle compartment and the arrangement of the occupants with respect to the seat, based on the detection output from the imaging means. It is characterized by being controlled to.

Further, the occupant detecting means is a temperature sensor for an air conditioner provided in each seat in the passenger compartment, and the number of passengers in the passenger compartment and the occupant are detected by detecting the body temperature of the passenger for the seat of the temperature sensor for the air conditioner. It is characterized in that it detects the state of the arrangement of the seats. Further, the control means adjusts the output level of each of the plurality of acoustic output means based on the detection output from the temperature sensor for the air conditioner to a state adapted to the number of passengers in the vehicle compartment and the arrangement of the passengers with respect to the seats. The feature is that it is automatically controlled.

Further, when the control means detects from the detection output from the image pickup means that the occupant in the seat is sleeping, the volume of the sound output means near the occupant's seat is lowered. It is characterized by or,
When the control means detects that the driver is in a dozing state by the detection output from the imaging means, the sound volume of the sound output means near the driver's seat is instantaneously changed to prevent the drowsiness. Is characterized in that.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the passengers and sleepers are detected from the video signal taken by the camera provided in the vehicle compartment, and the car audio balance is adjusted according to the condition. Further, the present invention provides a volume adjusting device which detects a driver's drowsiness and changes the volume of a car audio to prevent the drowsiness.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an image view in this example, (A) is a side view inside a cabin of a vehicle, and (B) is a plan view of the same. Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera, which is mounted on the upper front center of the passenger compartment and is provided at a position where the situation of each seat and the state of the occupant can be photographed. Then, the state of the occupants (each data such as the number of occupants, the position of the occupants, the sleeping state of the sleeper or the driver, etc.) is monitored.

The number of occupants and the positions of the occupants are detected from the image taken by the camera to determine whether or not the occupants are in a predetermined position. Further, the number of passengers and their positions can be confirmed by the output signal from the temperature sensor provided in the seat. The occupant's sleep state and the driver's doze state are the image analysis data at the time of getting on the image captured by the camera 1 and the posture and body inclination,
Judgment is made by comparing the data of eye opening and closing etc. by analyzing images.

A car audio device 2 amplifies a signal output from a music source (tape / compact disk) and outputs the amplified signal from speakers 3, 4, 5 and 6 provided in the vehicle. In the case of stereo music, the speakers 3 and 5 are connected so as to output an L (right) signal and the speakers 4 and 6 to output an R (left) signal. 7 is a driver's seat, on which a driver sits to drive a vehicle. When a driver sits on the seat 7, a temperature sensor 8 senses the body temperature and outputs an electric signal. A thermostat switch or the like is used as the temperature sensor. Reference numeral 9 is a passenger seat, and 10 is a sensor provided in the passenger seat, which is similar to the driver seat 7. Also, 1
Reference numerals 1 and 13 are rear seats, 12 is a driver seat side of the rear seat, 14 is a passenger seat side of the rear seat, and 15 is a sensor provided in the center of the rear seat as described above.

Next, the configuration of this example will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera, which is attached to the upper center of the front of the passenger compartment and is provided at a position where the condition of each seat and the condition of an occupant can be photographed. Then, the state of the occupants (each data such as the number of occupants, the position of the occupants, the sleeping state of the sleeper or the driver, etc.) is monitored. Two
Is a car audio device, which is a speaker 3, 4 provided in the vehicle with music or the like by radio broadcasting or a music source,
It outputs from 5 and 6.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a speaker provided on the driver's seat side, which outputs a left (R) signal of a stereo signal. Reference numeral 4 denotes a speaker provided on the passenger seat side, which outputs a right (L) signal of a stereo signal. Reference numeral 5 denotes a rear seat speaker on the driver side, which is provided on the sun deck behind the rear seat and outputs a left (R) signal of a stereo signal. Further, 6 is a speaker for the rear seat on the passenger side, which is provided on the sun deck after the rear seat and outputs a left (R) signal of a stereo signal.

Reference numeral 8 is a temperature sensor provided on the driver side.
Reference numeral 10 is a passenger seat temperature sensor, 12 is a temperature sensor provided on the driver seat side of the rear seat, 14 is a temperature sensor on the rear seat passenger seat side, and 15 is a temperature sensor provided on the center of the rear seat. When an occupant sits in each seat, the occupant's body temperature is detected and an electric signal is output. For these sensors, the sensors provided for the air conditioner are diverted, and in the case of the air conditioner, the temperature of each seat is detected and controlled to eliminate temperature unevenness in the passenger compartment due to the presence or absence of passengers and the riding position. are doing. These temperature sensors and the position of each seat correspond in advance. If this sensor is used, the cost can be reduced without requiring a dedicated means for passenger detection.

If the number of passengers and their positions are confirmed by the seat sensor together with the confirmation by the image from the camera 1, the number and positions of passengers can be detected more reliably. Further, the detection may be performed only by the seat sensor, except for the detection of the dozing state and the sleeping state. Reference numeral 16 is a processing unit for detecting the number of persons, the sleeping state of the occupant, the drowsy state of the driver, and the like from the image captured by the camera 1, which is processed by the microcomputer and a signal is input to the audio amplifier as necessary. Control the balance.

The occupant detection by the processing unit 16 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the positional deviation between the reference image previously stored in the ROM or the like and the currently detected image is shifted from the driver's seat to each seat. If there is no detection image (occupant's head) in the predetermined seat, it is absent. If there is a large deviation from the reference image (head is tilted) for a predetermined time or more, sleep state Is determined to be
This is data-formatted for each seat, and the CPU 32
Output to Besides this method, the sleep state may be detected from the movement of the eyelids.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a sensor data processing unit, which processes the signals of the temperature sensor provided in each seat to detect the number of passengers, the arrangement of passengers, and the like, and outputs necessary signals (for example, data shown in FIG. 3D). Format) is an audio amplifier CPU
The volume adjustment variable resistor 23 and the volume adjustment variable resistors 24, 25, 26, 27 of the speakers are controlled by a control signal input to the (microcomputer) 32 and processed by the CPU (microcomputer) 32.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of an audio amplifier. Reference numeral 20 denotes a music source (player), which plays a stereo music source such as a compact disc or a cassette tape, an R signal is supplied to a preamplifier 21, and an L signal is supplied to a preamplifier. Two
Enter 2 21 is an R signal preamplifier and 22 is L
The signal preamplifier amplifies the stereo input signal from the music source 20.

Reference numeral 23 is an interlocking volume adjusting variable resistor (electronic volume), and the left and right volumes are controlled by a CPU (microcomputer) 32.
It is adjusted simultaneously by the control signal of. Reference numeral 24 is a variable resistor for adjusting the volume from the driver side (FR) speaker 3. Reference numeral 25 is a variable resistor for adjusting the volume from the driver side (RR) speaker 5. Reference numeral 26 is a variable resistor for adjusting the volume from the speaker 4 on the passenger side (FR). Reference numeral 27 is a variable resistor for adjusting the volume from the speaker 6 on the passenger side (RL). Each of these variable resistors is composed of, for example, an electronic device and is controlled by a control signal of the CPU (microcomputer) 32 (each data such as the number of occupants, the position of the occupants, the sleeping state of the sleeper or the driver). .

Reference numeral 28 denotes a power amplifier for amplifying a signal given to the speaker 3 on the driver's seat side, which amplifies the FR input signal adjusted by the variable resistor 24 for FR and outputs it from the speaker 3. Reference numeral 29 is a power amplifier provided in the rear seat (sun deck) on the driver's side for amplifying a signal given to the speaker 5, and amplifies the RR input signal adjusted by the variable resistor 25 for RR and outputs it from the speaker 5.

A power amplifier 30 amplifies a signal given to the speaker 4 on the passenger side, and amplifies the FL input signal adjusted by the variable resistor 26 for FL and outputs it from the speaker 4. Reference numeral 31 is a power amplifier provided in the rear seat (sun deck) on the passenger side for amplifying a signal given to the speaker 6, and amplifies the RL input signal adjusted by the variable resistor 27 for RL and outputs it from the speaker 6.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a variable resistor (V
The OL 23 is changed by the control signal b. Further, the variable resistors 24, 25, 26, 27 are varied by the control signal c), which is a CPU (microcomputer) for processing a signal obtained by analyzing an image taken by a CCD camera and a signal from the temperature sensor data. The processing operation of this CPU (microcomputer) will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. CPU
The processing operation of the (microcomputer) starts when the car audio device 2 is turned on. In step S1, the image data captured by the camera (CCD) is processed by the camera image processing unit 16 (signal data such as the number of occupants, the position of the occupants, the sleeping state of the sleeper or the driver, etc.) and the data are provided in each seat. Temperature sensors 8, 10, 12, 14, 15
The signal data obtained by processing the signal from the sensor data processing unit is input.

Then, the process proceeds to step S2, and step S
1, the data format input from the camera image processing unit 16 (or the sensor data processing unit 17)
It is detected whether there is one occupant based on the data format). If the number of passengers is not one, the process proceeds to step S10. If the number of passengers is one, the process proceeds to step S3, and it is determined whether or not there is a sleeper based on the data format from the camera image processing unit 16. When it is determined that there is no sleeper, the process proceeds to step S5, and the volume balance is adjusted to the seating position of one passenger, that is, the seating position of the passenger is detected from the data input in step S1 and the passenger is detected based on the map shown in FIG. The stereo signal is set so as to maintain the optimum volume balance at the seating position, and the control signals b and c corresponding thereto are output, and the process returns to step S1.

If a sleeper is detected in step S3,
Data format from camera image processing unit 16 (or data format from sensor data processing unit 17)
Based on the above, the process proceeds to step S4 to detect whether or not the sleeper, that is, the driver is asleep, and when not asleep, it is determined that the occupant other than the driver is a sleeper, and the step S4
41, the seat in which the sleeper is present is recognized based on the data format from the camera image processing unit 16 (or the data format from the sensor data processing unit 17), and the volume of the speaker closest to this seat is reduced or set to 0.
To

When drowsiness of the driver is detected in step S4, the process proceeds to step S6 and the volume of the VOL 23 and the variable resistor 24 of the FR circuit of FIG. Then, in step S7, it is determined whether or not the timer has expired. While the timer is not expired, the volume is kept increased (predetermined volume), and when the timer is expired, the process proceeds to step S8 and the variable resistor of the VOL 23 and the FR circuit is changed. 24 is changed in the output reduction direction to reduce the volume (predetermined volume). Then, the process proceeds to step S9, and it is determined whether or not the timer has expired. While the timer is not expired, the volume is kept low (predetermined volume), and when the timer is expired, the process returns to step S1.

Therefore, in order to repeat steps S1 to S9 until the driver's drowsiness is no longer detected, the sound volume of the driver near the seat increases or decreases repeatedly to warn the driver's drowsiness. give. This method costs less than simply sounding a buzzer,
It is also psychologically effective. Next, in step S10, it is determined whether or not there are two occupants. If the number of occupants is two, the process proceeds to step S11 to detect drowsiness. If no drowsiness is detected, the process proceeds to step S12. Step S12
Then, the optimum volume balance at the seating positions of the two occupants is set in accordance with the occupant's riding position input in step S1, and the process returns to step S1. When drowsiness is detected in step S11, the process proceeds to step S13 to detect whether or not the driver is dozing, and when the driver is dozing, the process returns to step S6. When an occupant other than the driver is asleep, the process proceeds to step S14, the volume near the position of the passenger is reduced, and the process returns to step S1. This step S11, S1
2, S13 and S14 are steps S3, S4 and S described above.
This is the same processing as 4, S41, and S5.

When the number of passengers is not two in step S10 (via a), the process proceeds to step S15 of FIG. 6 to detect whether or not there are three passengers. When it is detected that there are three occupants, the process proceeds to step S16, and if the doze is not detected, the process proceeds to step S17 and step S17.
The optimum volume balance at the seating positions of the three occupants is set in accordance with the occupant's riding position input in 1, and the process returns to step S1.

When the doze is detected in step S16, the process proceeds to step S18 to detect whether or not the driver is asleep, and when the driver is asleep (via A), step S6 in FIG. Return to. When the driver is not asleep, the process proceeds to step S19, the volume is reduced in accordance with the sitting position of the person who is asleep (via b), and the process returns to step S1 in FIG. This step S16, S17, S
18, S19 are the above-mentioned steps S3, S4, S41,
The process is the same as S5.

As described above, from step S20, four occupants and five occupants, and from step S15 to step S
The same processing as the processing operation up to 19 is performed. When there are 0 or more than 5 people, the process proceeds to step S22, the volume balance is set to the initial value (via b), and the process returns to step S1 in FIG. As described above, the number of passengers and the riding positions are detected to automatically control the volume balance corresponding to the number of passengers and the riding positions, and when the sleeping passengers are detected, the sleeping passengers' Reduce the volume near the seat. Further, when it is detected that the driver falls asleep, the sound volume around the driver is instantly changed to prevent the driver from falling asleep. In this example, the personnel detection is partially performed by the temperature sensor, but the CCD
Personnel detection may be performed only by the camera 1. or,
Depending on the specifications, either sleep control or automatic level control may be performed independently.

[0030]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, an appropriate sound volume is automatically balanced in accordance with the occupant structure and the riding position, and the sound volume is reduced particularly near the seat of the sleeping occupant. It is possible to automatically adjust to keep the optimum volume balance in the state, and the occupant's operation time can be saved. Further, when the driver is asleep, the sound volume near the driver is drastically changed to prevent the driver from falling asleep, which improves safety and saves the occupant's labor.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an image diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a comparison of image pickup screens of the CCD camera 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an audio amplifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of a CPU (microcomputer) 32.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of a CPU (microcomputer) 32.

FIG. 7: Output distribution map diagram according to occupant position

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Camera 2 ... Car audio device 3 ... Driver side speaker 4 ... Passenger side speaker 5. ······· Rear seat driver side speaker 6 ···· Rear seat passenger side speaker 7 ····· Temperature sensor 9 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Passenger seat 10 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Passenger seat temperature sensor

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of acoustic output means arranged in a vehicle compartment, an occupant detection means for detecting a state of an occupant in the vehicle compartment, and a detection output from the occupant detection means, depending on a state of the occupant. And a volume control device for automatically controlling the output level of each of the plurality of sound output means to a predetermined state. 2. The occupant detection means is an image pickup means for picking up an image of the passenger compartment, and the number of occupants in the passenger compartment and the seats of the occupants are determined by analyzing the image pickup screen of the passenger compartment by the image pickup means. The volume adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the volume adjusting device detects an arrangement state, a sleep state of the occupant, and a dozing state of the driver. 3. The state in which the control means adapts the output level of each of the plurality of acoustic output means to the number of passengers in the vehicle compartment and the arrangement status of the passengers with respect to the seats based on the detection output from the image pickup means. 3. The volume control device according to claim 1, wherein the volume control device is automatically controlled according to claim 1. 4. The occupant detection means is an air conditioner temperature sensor provided in each seat in a vehicle compartment, and the occupant's body temperature detection with respect to the seat by the air conditioner temperature sensor,
2. The volume adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the volume adjusting device detects the number of passengers in the vehicle compartment and the arrangement state of the passengers with respect to the seats. 5. The control means adapts an output level of each of the plurality of acoustic output means to the number of passengers in the vehicle compartment and the arrangement status of the passengers on the seats based on a detection output from the temperature sensor for the air conditioner. The volume control device according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the volume control device automatically controls the state. 6. The control means lowers the volume of the sound output means near the seat of the occupant when detecting that the occupant located in the seat is sleeping based on the detection output from the imaging means. Claim 1 characterized by the above.
Alternatively, the volume adjusting device according to claim 2. 7. When the control means detects that the driver is in a dozing state by the detection output from the image pickup means, the control means instantaneously changes the volume of the sound output means near the driver's seat, The volume adjusting device according to claim 1 or 2, which is for preventing drowsiness.