JPH10163911A - Automatic selector device for car audio - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a selector device for automatically switching to another audio equipment when a reception level drops during the reception of a car radio or the like. SOLUTION: A system 1 is provided with the tuner 20 for broadcasting radio waves, a cassette tape player 40 and a CD player 50 connected to an audio selector 10. The tuner 20 receives the broadcast radio waves through an antenna 22 and sends them to the audio selector 10. The audio selector 10 sends the received broadcast radio waves to an amplifier 30, amplifies them and outputs them from a speaker 32. Then, when the reception level of the broadcast radio waves drops, the audio selector 10 detects it, automatically selects and activates the cassette tape player 40 or the CD player 50, sends the output to the amplifier 30 and outputs it from the speaker 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car audio apparatus, a car radio, a cassette tape player and a CD.
The present invention relates to an auto selector device for automatically selecting an audio unit such as a player.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, some car audio devices mounted on passenger cars and the like are equipped with audio equipment corresponding to various kinds of media such as a cassette tape player and a CD player in addition to a car radio. Further, devices such as a car navigation system are also becoming popular.

[0003]

For example, when a user of an automobile is receiving a car radio while driving, the reception level of radio waves may decrease. The decrease in reception level
This naturally occurs due to a change in the terrain during traveling, a change in the distance from the transmitting antenna, or the like. In some current car audio systems, when the radio reception condition deteriorates, the user manually switches to another audio device such as a cassette tape player or a CD player. The present invention automates the selection of the audio device and provides a different selector device.

[0004]

A plurality of audio devices including a tuner for receiving a broadcast radio wave installed in an automobile are connected to the car audio selector device of the present invention. The audio selector has means for detecting the level of the received radio wave, and has a function of switching from the tuner to another audio device when the level of the received radio wave is reduced. Further, the audio selector has a function of switching from the tuner to another audio device when a decrease in the level of the received radio wave is predicted based on information from the car navigation device.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an audio device and a navigation system mounted on an automobile. A system indicated by the reference numeral 1 is a tuner for broadcast radio waves connected to an audio selector 10 of the present invention. 20
, Cassette tape player 40, and CD player 50
Having. The tuner 20 receives a broadcast wave via the antenna 22 and sends the broadcast wave to the audio selector 10. The audio selector 10 sends the received broadcast wave to the amplifier 30 for amplification, and outputs the amplified broadcast wave from the speaker 32.

When the reception level of the broadcast radio wave decreases, the audio selector 10 detects the state, automatically selects and activates the cassette tape player 40 or the CD player 50, and sends its output to the amplifier 30. ,
Output from the speaker 32.

The car navigation system 200 has a current position detecting means, vehicle information such as running direction and speed, and map information. For example, the map information can include information such as the frequency of a receivable broadcast radio wave at the current location, and information on a terrain where the level of the broadcast radio wave decreases such as a tunnel or a mountain. The audio selector 10 can receive this information from the car navigation system 200, switch the broadcast channel, or switch from the tuner to the player just before entering the tunnel to continue the audio output.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing the control unit of the present invention. The audio control unit 100 of the auto selector device controls an audio device driving unit 150 such as a radio tuner, a tape player, a CD player, etc., and outputs a sound to a speaker 32 as an audio output unit via an amplifier.

The voice control section 160 has an input section 162, a storage section 164, and an output section 166. A user inputs control information of audio equipment to the input section 162, and the storage section 164 stores and outputs the control information. This is displayed in the section 166. The received signal of the tuner 20 is sent to the level drop detection unit 130, and is sent to the audio control unit 100 via the detection unit 130. The initial setting unit 110 is a unit for setting an initial state of the auto selector, and this information is stored in the storage unit 120.

[0010] The car navigation system 200 has a car navigation control unit 210,
Receives radio waves from PS satellites. Car navigation external storage unit 2
Numeral 30 stores the location and the like of the broadcasting station in the area in addition to the map data. The selection information input section 240 is used to input information such as the frequency of the broadcasting station in each area.

[0011] A selection information input section 220 interposed between the car navigation control section 210 and the audio control section 100 selects information from the car navigation control section and sends it to the audio control section. For example, if a car is about to enter a tunnel according to information from the car navigation control unit 210, the fact is sent to the audio control unit 100. Audio control unit 100
Receives the information and switches from the tuner to the player. The audio control unit 250 outputs audio information such as “we will enter a tunnel now” to the audio control unit 110.
And output from the speaker.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the present invention. The process started in step S10 performs an initial setting in step S20. Among the initial settings, step S21 is a performance start position of the media. Step S22 is a timing for switching between the audio device and the car navigation system. For example, it is set whether to return after completing one song on the medium. Step S23 is to select the type of audio device. Step S24 is an indoor method, for example, instructing a method of guiding the user by voice before entering the tunnel. A step S25 sets how to return to the radio after the reception level has recovered. A step S26 selects a broadcasting station.

In step S30, it is checked whether the broadcast is being received by the tuner. If the broadcast is being received, it is checked in step S31 whether the reception level has decreased.
If the broadcast reception level has decreased, it is checked in step S32 whether the vehicle is running. In step S33, the audio selector performs an operation in accordance with the above-described initial setting, and checks in step S34 whether the reception level has recovered. If the reception level has recovered, the settings after the recovery are made in step S35, and the process returns to step S30.

If there is no reception level of the broadcast radio wave in step S31, the reception of the GPS radio wave for the car navigation is checked in step S40.
Proceed to 3. If the tuner has not received the broadcast in step S30, the process ends in step S50.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another process of the auto selector device according to the present invention. If a broadcast wave is being received in step S100, the reception state of the GPS wave for car navigation is checked in step S101. If the car navigation wave can be received, a check is made in step S102 for a decrease in the broadcast reception level. If there is no decrease in the reception level, the process returns to step S100.

If the radio wave for car navigation cannot be received in step S101, or if the broadcast reception level decreases in step S102, the output of the tuner is muted in step S103 to eliminate the noise. Check that the tape is inserted. If a cassette tape has been inserted, step S1
At step 05, the cassette tape is started and sound is output.
If a CD has been inserted in step S110, step S
At 111, the CD is started and the sound is output.

If neither a cassette tape nor a CD is prepared, the process enters a recovery waiting mode in step S120. If information indicating that the car navigation radio wave can be received is obtained in step S130, the optimum reception frequency at the current position is determined based on the data from the car navigation in step S150, and the process returns to step S100. Even if car navigation reception is impossible in step S130, if the reception level of the broadcast radio wave is recovered in step S140, the process returns to step S100 via step S150.

[0018]

As described above, the present invention automatically switches to another audio device such as a cassette tape player or a CD player when the reception level of the broadcast radio wave received by the tuner is reduced while the vehicle is traveling. The driver can enjoy music and the like without performing any operation. In addition, when a car navigation device is provided, it is possible to know in advance that the car will enter an area, such as a tunnel, where it is difficult to receive broadcast radio waves, based on the map information of the car navigation. Therefore, the trouble can be avoided by switching from the tuner to another audio device in advance by the auto selector. In addition, since it is possible to know that the car enters the area of another broadcasting station, it is possible to automatically select a music station to which the car enters.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control process of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control process of the apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Audio selector 20 Tuner 30 Amplifier 40 Cassette tape player 50 CD player 100 Audio control unit 130 Reception level drop detection unit 150 Audio equipment control unit 160 Audio control unit 200 Car navigation device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hideo Kageyama 504-2 Shinanomachi, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Within Hitachi Electronics Service Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuaki Goto 504-2 Shinanomachi, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Hitachi Hitachi Inside Electronic Services Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Reiwa Yamagishi 504-2 Shinanomachi, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Hitachi Electronics Service Co., Ltd. (72) Mutsuji Takesada 504-2 Shinanomachi, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Hitachi, Ltd. Service Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An audio system comprising: a plurality of audio devices including a tuner for receiving a broadcast radio wave installed in an automobile; and an audio selector for switching the plurality of audio devices. The audio selector includes a unit for detecting a level of a received radio wave. A car audio auto selector device that switches from a tuner to another audio device when the level of a received radio wave decreases. 2. A car navigation system comprising: a plurality of audio devices including a tuner for receiving a broadcast wave, a car navigation device, and an audio selector for switching between the plurality of audio devices. A car audio auto selector device that switches from a tuner to another audio device when a decrease in the level of a received radio wave is predicted based on the above information. 3. The car audio auto-selector device according to claim 1, wherein the audio selector includes means for presetting the order of audio devices switched from the tuner. 4. The car audio auto selector device according to claim 1, wherein the audio selector returns to the tuner when detecting that the level of the received radio wave has recovered. 5. The car audio auto selector device according to claim 4, wherein a condition for returning to the tuner can be set in advance. 6. The car audio system according to claim 2, wherein said car navigation device includes means for transmitting information of a broadcasting station in said area to an audio selector when detecting that the car has moved to another broadcasting area. Selector device. 7. The car audio auto selector device according to claim 6, wherein the car navigation device includes means for storing broadcast station information.