JPH10315876A - Hands free device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a portable telephone from being left connected to a communicating means by providing an alarm control unit for operating an alarm means when a telephone is left connected to a communicating means in the condition that a judgment unit judges that the alarm condition is formed. SOLUTION: A main control unit 23c outputs the control code signal corresponding to an operated key among the predetermined control code signals, which are previously regulated, to a portable telephone through a communicating means 20 so as to control the portable telephone in the predetermined operating condition. The main control unit 23c detects whether the portable telephone is connected to the communicating means 20 or not on the basis of the connection condition signal corresponding to the connection and non-connection of a connector of the portable telephone and a connector. In the case where the portable telephone is left connected to the communicating means 20 when a judgment unit 23b judges that the alarm condition is formed, an alarm means 22 is operated so as to send out the predetermined message for informing that the portable telephone is left connected to the communicating means when the last occupant opens a door for getting out of a vehicle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hands-free device provided in a vehicle cabin and capable of making a call without holding a telephone hand, and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been proposed to install a hands-free device capable of making a call without holding a telephone hand in a vehicle cabin, and particularly with the recent spread of portable telephones (hereinafter referred to as mobile telephones). There has been proposed a hands-free device of a type in which a mobile phone is mounted, and this type of device is configured as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

As shown in FIG. 4, a cradle 1 is installed on a center console, a glow box, or the like. The cradle 1 has a concave portion 2 for accommodating various types of commercially available mobile phones HT. A detection switch S for detecting accommodation of the telephone HT and enabling a hands-free operation is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a cable 3 is connected to the cradle 1, and a connector 4 provided at the end of the cable 3 is connected to a connector provided also on the mobile phone HT side. By Cradle 1
The mobile phone HT is connected to a control circuit (not shown) via the
The operation of T is controlled.

As shown in FIG. 4, a cradle 1 is connected to a speaker 6 for transmitting sound from the other party so as to be freely connected to and detached from the cradle 1, and a telephone key such as a talk key, an end key, and a hold key. Operation means having various operation keys 7 of
An operation unit 9 including a built-in microphone 8 for collecting voices emitted by a passenger in the vehicle cabin is connected to the cradle 1 so as to be freely separated from the cradle 1, and a volume control knob 10 is provided on the cradle 1.

When the connector 4 is connected to the connector of the mobile phone HT and the mobile phone HT is accommodated in the concave portion 2 of the cradle 1, the mobile phone H is controlled by the control circuit described above.
T can be controlled. For example, when a driver receives an incoming call while driving alone, a ringing tone is transmitted from the speaker 6 and the driver turns on the talk key of the operation unit 9 so that the mobile phone HT While being controlled to the line connection state, it is possible to make a call with the other party. On the other hand, when the driver makes a call, the user turns on the call key of the operation unit 9 and dials a predetermined telephone number. By operating a predetermined key of the operation unit 9 and dialing to call a predetermined telephone number from among telephone numbers registered in advance, the mobile phone HT is controlled to a calling state, and a telephone of a desired destination is called.

At this time, a control code signal corresponding to the operated key is output to the mobile phone HT from the predetermined control code signal defined in advance by the normal control circuit, and the mobile phone HT is controlled to a predetermined operation state. It is supposed to be.

Further, since the cradle 1 is also connected to the battery of the vehicle, the mobile phone HT can be charged by housing the mobile phone HT in the concave portion 2.

[0009]

However, in the above configuration, when the last occupant tries to get out of the vehicle,
Even when the mobile phone HT is connected to the connector 4, the mobile phone HT does not notice that the mobile phone HT is connected to the connector 4 and sometimes forgets to carry the mobile phone HT.

An object of the present invention is to prevent a portable telephone from being forgotten to be carried.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication means connected to a portable telephone for detecting an incoming call and generating a ringing tone, and a telephone operation such as a call key, an end key and a hold key. Operating means consisting of a plurality of keys for use, a microphone for collecting sound emitted in the vehicle cabin during a call, a speaker for transmitting a call sound from the other party during a call, and a communication means connected to the communication means. Control means for controlling the microphone and speaker during a call while controlling the telephone through the communication means in response to a key operation, and a notifying means for controlling the control means and notifying that the telephone has been forgotten, and The control means includes various sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, a parking brake sensor for detecting a state of a parking brake, and an occupant detection sensor for detecting whether or not an occupant is seated. And an input unit to which each signal from the ignition key detecting means for detecting the insertion and removal of the ignition key, and from each of the signals to the input unit, there is no occupant in the passenger compartment when the vehicle is stopped, and the ignition key is A judging unit for judging whether a notification condition of disconnection is satisfied, and the notifying unit when the telephone remains connected to the communication unit in a state where the judgment unit determines that the notification condition is satisfied. And a notification control unit for operating the.

According to such a configuration, when the vehicle is stopped and there is no occupant in the vehicle compartment and the ignition key has been removed, and the portable telephone is still connected to the communication means, It is determined that the portable telephone has been forgotten, and the notifying unit notifies the occupant who is about to get out of the vehicle that he has forgotten to carry the portable telephone.

[0013] Further, as set forth in claim 2, the vehicle further comprises a door detection sensor for detecting the opening of the door, wherein the notification condition includes that the last occupant opened the door to get out of the vehicle. Based on signals from the detection sensor and the door detection sensor to the input unit, the determination unit may determine whether the last occupant has opened the door to get out of the vehicle. When the user opens the door to get out of the vehicle, the user is notified that the portable telephone has been forgotten, so that the last occupant is effectively notified of the forgetting to carry.

By the way, as a control method of such a hands-free device, when the vehicle is stopped,
Detects whether or not there is an occupant in the vehicle interior, and detects whether or not the ignition key has been removed,
When the vehicle is stopped and there is no occupant in the vehicle interior and the ignition key is removed and the telephone is still connected to the communication means, the notification means notifies the user of forgetting to carry the telephone. Preferably, when the last occupant opens the door to get out of the vehicle, it is preferable that the notification means notifies the user of forgetting to carry the telephone.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram, FIG. 2 is a partial block diagram, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation. However, since the external configuration of the hands-free device in the present embodiment is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 4, the following description will also refer to FIG.

First, FIG. 1 will be described. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a communication unit, which is connected to the mobile phone HT accommodated in the cradle 1 by the cable 3 and the connector 4, and detects an incoming call to generate a ringing tone.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a power supply unit which is connected to the battery of the automobile and supplies power to each unit of the hands-free device including a control unit to be described later. Reference numeral 22 denotes a notification unit for transmitting a predetermined message, which is controlled by the control unit to be described later. The data of the message of forgetting to carry the portable telephone stored in the memory composed of the above is read out and synthesized by the voice synthesizing unit, and this message is transmitted from the speaker 6.

Reference numeral 23 denotes control means, which is constituted by a microcomputer or the like, and is provided with a vehicle speed sensor S for detecting a vehicle speed.
A, a parking brake sensor SB for detecting the state of a parking brake, for example, an occupant detection sensor S for detecting presence or absence of each driver and occupants, each including an ultrasonic sensor buried above each seat on the vehicle interior ceiling;
C, signals from various sensors such as a door detection sensor SD for detecting the opening of a driver's door and other doors, and a signal from an ignition key detecting means SW for detecting the removal and insertion of an ignition key from the position of an ignition switch. , Which is connected to the communication means 20 and basically outputs a control code signal corresponding to a key operation of the operation unit 9 to the mobile phone HT via the communication means 20 to control the mobile phone HT. It has a function of controlling the hands-free device in accordance with a control code signal output from the mobile phone HT, controlling the speaker 6 and the microphone 8 during a call, and operating the notification means 22 under predetermined conditions. In FIG. 1, AT is an antenna of the mobile phone HT.

Next, FIG. 2 showing the internal configuration of the control means 23 will be described.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 23a denotes each of the sensors SA to S
D and an input unit to which signals from the ignition key detection means SW are input, 23b is a determination unit, and an input unit 23a
From the sensors SA to SD and the output of the ignition key detection means SW, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is stopped. When the vehicle is stopped, there is no occupant in the vehicle compartment and the ignition key is removed, and the last occupant It is determined whether a notification condition that the door has been opened to get out of the vehicle is satisfied.

Reference numeral 23c denotes a main control unit which controls each unit in accordance with a control code signal output from the mobile phone HT via the communication unit 20, and particularly, a speaker for collecting and transmitting call voice during a call. 6 and a function of controlling the microphone 8 and, when any one of the operation keys 7 is operated, controls the code signal output section 23d to correspond to the operated key among the predetermined control code signals defined in advance. It has a function of outputting a control code signal to the mobile phone HT via the communication means 20 and controlling the mobile phone HT to a predetermined operation state.

The main controller 23c connects the mobile phone HT to the communication means 20 based on a connection state signal corresponding to the connection or disconnection state between the connector of the mobile phone HT and the connector 4 (see FIG. 4). The determination unit 23 detects whether the
If the mobile phone HT is still connected to the communication means 20 when it is determined that the above-mentioned notification condition is satisfied by b, the notification means 22 operates when the last occupant opens the door to get out of the vehicle. It also has a function as a notification control unit for transmitting a predetermined message indicating that the user has forgotten to carry the mobile phone HT.

Next, the operation of the above-described hands-free device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, the main control section 23c of the control means 23 determines whether or not there is an outgoing call operation, that is, whether or not the call key as the operation key 7 is turned on and a predetermined telephone number is dialed. Is determined (step S1), and if the determination result is YES, a predetermined calling process including a call of the dialed party is performed (step S2), and thereafter, the process returns to step S1 again.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the above step S1 is NO, the main control unit 23c determines whether there is an incoming call, that is, whether there is an incoming signal from the telephone of the caller (step S3). If the result of this determination is YES, the line to the call destination is connected by a predetermined incoming call process (step S4), and thereafter, the process returns to step S1. A determination is made (step S5), and if this determination is NO, the process returns to step S1.

If the decision result in the step S5 is YES, it is determined whether or not the end operation, that is, the operation of the end key which is the operation key 7 is performed (step S6). Then, a call termination process in which the line is disconnected is performed (step S7), and then the process proceeds to step S9. A determination is made (step S8). If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S7, and if the determination is NO, the process proceeds to the next step S9.

By the way, if the result of the determination in step S5 is NO
If so, it is determined whether the ignition switch is turned off and the ignition key is removed (step S9). If the determination is NO, the process returns to step S1. If the determination is YES, the process is repeated. Notification conditions, that is, the vehicle is in a stopped state, there is no occupant in the vehicle interior, and the ignition key has been removed,
It is determined whether the condition that the last occupant opened the door to get out of the vehicle is satisfied (step S1).
0), if this determination is NO, the determination in step S10 is repeated until the determination is YES, and if the determination is YES, the mobile phone HT and the communication unit 20
The presence or absence of connection with the communication means 20 of the mobile phone HT is detected from the connection state signal of the connector (step S1).
1).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the mobile phone HT is connected to the communication means 20 (step S1).
2) If the result of this determination is YES, the notification means 22 is controlled to send a message notifying that the mobile phone HT has forgotten to carry (step S13), and then it is determined again whether the notification condition is satisfied (step S13). Step S14) If the result of this determination is YES, the process returns to step S11 described above.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S14 is NO, the process shifts to the step S15 together with the case where the decision result in the step S12 is NO, and in this case, the above-mentioned notification condition is not satisfied or the notification condition is satisfied. However, since it is determined that the last occupant has ignored the message and closed the door, the operation of the notification means 22 is stopped and the transmission of the message is stopped (step S15), and then the power supply unit 21 is turned off (step S15). S16) The consumption of the battery is prevented, and the operation is thereafter terminated.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, when the last occupant tries to go out of the vehicle with the mobile phone HT connected to the communication means 20, the notification means 22 informs the user that he or she has forgotten to carry. Since the mobile phone HT is transmitted, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to carry the mobile phone HT while leaving it in the vehicle.

In the above embodiment, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of each driver or other occupant is provided as an occupant detection sensor, and the opening of each door such as a driver door is detected as a door detection sensor. Although the case where the sensor is provided has been described, it is needless to say that only the occupant detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the driver's seat may be provided, and accordingly, only the door detection sensor for detecting the opening of the driver's seat door may be provided. .

In the above-described embodiment, the notification conditions for notifying that the user has forgotten to carry the vehicle are as follows: (i) the vehicle is stopped, (ii) there is no occupant in the vehicle interior, and (iii) the ignition key is removed. And (iv) that the last occupant opened the door to get out of the car, but three (i), (ii) and (iii) were reported. It goes without saying that the condition may be set, and when this condition is established, the notification of forgetting to carry may be notified.

Further, in the above embodiment, the notifying means 22
Has been described by using a message sending means, but it is needless to say that a buzzer or a warning lamp may be used.

The occupant detection sensor may be constituted by a touch sensor including a piezoelectric element embedded in a seat and detecting the occupant's seat, in addition to the ultrasonic sensor described above.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first and third aspects of the present invention, when the vehicle is stopped, there is no occupant in the vehicle compartment and the ignition key is removed.
If the mobile phone is still connected to the communication means, the notification means notifies the occupant who is about to get out of the vehicle that he has forgotten to carry the mobile phone. It is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to carry the mobile phone while leaving it unattended, and it is possible to provide a hands-free device having excellent functions.

According to the second and fourth aspects of the present invention, when the last occupant opens the door to get out of the vehicle, the user is notified that the portable telephone has been forgotten. It is possible to effectively notify the user of forgetting to carry.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a part of the above.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the above.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a hands-free device as a background of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Speaker 7 Operation Key 8 Microphone 20 Communication Means 22 Notification Means 23 Control Means 23a Input Unit 23b Judgment Unit 23c Main Control Unit 23d Code Signal Output Unit HT Mobile Phone SA Vehicle Speed Sensor SB Parking Brake Sensor SC Occupant Detection Sensor SD Door Detection Sensor SW Ignition key detection means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A communication means connected to a portable telephone for detecting an incoming call and generating a ring tone; an operation means comprising a plurality of telephone operation keys such as a call key, an end key, and a hold key; A microphone for collecting voices emitted in the vehicle cabin, a speaker for transmitting voice calls from the other party during a call, and a telephone connected to the communication means and via the communication means in response to a key operation of the operation means. Control means for controlling the microphone and the speaker at the time of a call, and a notifying means controlled by the control means to notify the user of forgetting to carry the telephone, wherein the control means detects a vehicle speed, a vehicle speed sensor, and a parking brake. Various sensors such as a parking brake sensor that detects the state of the vehicle, an occupant detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of an occupant, and removal and insertion of the ignition key An input unit to which each signal from the ignition key detecting means for detecting the condition is detected, and a notification condition that no occupant is present in the vehicle interior when the vehicle is stopped and the ignition key is removed from the respective signals to the input unit. And a notification control unit that operates the notification unit when the telephone remains connected to the communication unit in a state where the determination unit determines that the notification condition is satisfied. And a hands-free device. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a door detection sensor that detects opening of the door, wherein the notification condition includes that a last occupant opens the door to get out of the vehicle. 2. The hands-free device according to claim 1, wherein, based on a signal to the input unit, the determination unit determines whether the last occupant has opened the door to get out of the vehicle. 3. A call key, an end key provided separately from a key of the telephone in a state of being installed in a vehicle interior and being connected to and detachable from a portable telephone, and being connected to the telephone.
The operating state of the telephone is controlled in accordance with the operation of a telephone operation key such as a hold key, a ringing tone is generated when an incoming call is received, and a call voice from the other party is transmitted from a speaker during a call, and a call is made in the vehicle cabin. A hands-free device that collects a sound emitted by a microphone and sends it to the other party.When the vehicle is stopped, it detects whether an occupant is present in the vehicle interior and detects whether the ignition key has been removed. When the occupant is not in the vehicle interior and the ignition key is removed and the telephone is connected to the communication means, the notification means notifies the user that the user has forgotten to carry the telephone. To control a hands-free device. 4. The method of controlling a hands-free device according to claim 3, wherein when the last occupant opens the door to get out of the vehicle, the notifying unit notifies the user that he or she has forgotten to carry the telephone. .