WO2013145083A1

WO2013145083A1 - Audio device, sound output management device, terminal device and sound output control method

Info

Publication number: WO2013145083A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/057795
Authority: WO
Inventors: 貴之椎津
Original assignee: パイオニア株式会社
Priority date: 2012-03-26
Filing date: 2012-03-26
Publication date: 2013-10-03

Abstract

In a directionality measurement operation mode, when a target directionality direction is set, a directionality control unit (740A) controls an audio signal generation unit (760) to generate a test audio signal as an external output audio signal, whereby a test sound is outputted from an external audio output unit (910) as an external output sound. Then, by controlling the speaker direction on the basis of the pickup results by sound pickup units (950₁-950_M) of the test sound outputted outside the vehicle, a directionality control unit (740A) calculates a speaker direction to accurately match the directionality of the external output sound propagated through the vehicle-external space with the target directionality. Further, the directionality control unit (740A) associates the set target directionality direction and the calculated speaker direction and registers these in a directionality table inside of the storage unit (710). Hereby, the directionality of an external output sound outside of a vehicle can be accurately set as desired.

Description

Acoustic device, output sound management device, terminal device, and output sound control method

The present invention relates to an audio device, an output sound management device, a terminal device, an output sound control method and an output sound control program, and a recording medium on which the output sound control program is recorded.

In recent years, an electric vehicle using a battery as a driving force source and a hybrid vehicle using a battery as a part of the driving force source are spreading. When such a vehicle travels using a battery as a driving force source, the level of driving sound outside the vehicle is dramatically lower than that of a conventional gasoline vehicle. As a result, a situation may occur in which a pedestrian or bicycle driver does not notice the presence of a vehicle approaching from outside the field of view, such as behind. The occurrence of such a situation is a serious problem for traffic safety.

For this reason, various proposals have been made on techniques for outputting external output sound such as pseudo engine sound to the outside of the vehicle while the vehicle is running. Among these proposed technologies, there is a technology that prevents an external output sound from being output in an unnecessary direction by outputting the external output sound from the speaker after setting the direction of the speaker (patent) Reference 1: hereinafter referred to as “conventional example”). In this conventional technique, a vehicle occupant (driver) operates an input device provided on a steering wheel of a vehicle, so that a pedestrian or a bicycle occupant (hereinafter referred to as “pedestrian or the like”) is operated. The direction of the speaker is set in the direction.

JP 2008-162477 A

The sound output from the speaker generally has directivity that matches the direction of the speaker when traveling in a space free of obstacles. However, since the speaker that outputs the external output sound is installed in the vehicle, the directivity of the external output sound output from the speaker outside the vehicle is affected by vehicle parts such as a bumper. As a result, the directivity of the external output sound immediately after being output from the speaker may be different from the directivity of the external output sound in the space outside the vehicle.

In the conventional technology described above, the direction of the speaker is set in the direction toward the pedestrian or the like based on the intention of the occupant. Even if the direction of the speaker is set in this way, the external output sound in the space outside the vehicle does not always travel with directivity that matches the direction of the speaker with high accuracy.

For this reason, there is a demand for a technique capable of setting the directivity of the external output sound in the exterior space to a desired directivity. Meeting this requirement is one of the problems to be solved by the present invention.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an acoustic device, an output sound management device, a terminal device, and an output that perform processing for accurately setting the directivity of external output sound outside the vehicle to a desired directivity. An object is to provide a sound control method.

From a first aspect, the present invention is an acoustic device that supplies an external output sound signal to an external sound output unit that outputs sound toward the outside of the vehicle, and is disposed at a predetermined position outside the vehicle. An acquisition unit that acquires sound collection results sent from a plurality of sound collection units; and based on acquisition results by the acquisition unit and directivity information set with respect to directivity of sound output by the external sound output unit And a directivity control unit that controls directivity of sound output from the external sound output unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a reception unit that receives sound collection results sent from a plurality of sound collection units arranged at a predetermined position outside the vehicle; a reception result by the reception unit; and the vehicle A generating unit that generates control information for directivity of sound output from the external sound output unit based on directivity information set with respect to directivity of sound output by the external sound output unit installed in the sound source; An output sound management apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits a generation result by the generation unit.

From a third aspect, the present invention is a terminal device installed in a vehicle, which acquires sound collection results sent from a plurality of sound collection units arranged at a predetermined position outside the vehicle. A transmission unit that transmits an acquisition result obtained by the acquisition unit; and a directivity information set with respect to a directivity of sound output from an external sound output unit installed in the vehicle. A reception unit that receives the control information on the directivity of the sound output by the external sound output unit, and a control unit that controls the external sound output unit based on a reception result by the reception unit; It is a terminal device characterized by comprising.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an acquisition step of acquiring sound collection results sent from a plurality of sound collection units arranged at predetermined positions outside the vehicle; an acquisition result in the acquisition step; and the vehicle A directivity control step for controlling directivity of sound output from the external sound output unit based on directivity information set with respect to directivity of sound output from the external sound output unit installed in This is an output sound control method.

From the fifth aspect, the present invention is an output sound control program characterized by causing an arithmetic unit to execute the output sound control method of the present invention.

From the sixth aspect, the present invention is a recording medium in which the output sound control program of the present invention is recorded so as to be readable by a calculation unit.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the audio equipment which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the terminal device and output sound management apparatus which concern on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the information data memorize | stored in the memory | storage unit of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a microphone. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the determination process of the speaker direction corresponding to the target directivity in the apparatus of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of the directivity of an external output sound when a pedestrian etc. may exist near the right-and-left side of the advancing direction of a vehicle. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of the directivity of an external output sound when a pedestrian etc. may exist near the left side of the advancing direction of a vehicle. It is a block diagram for demonstrating positioning of the terminal device and server apparatus which concern on 2nd Example of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the terminal device of FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the server apparatus of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

<Configuration>
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an acoustic device 700 according to the first embodiment. The acoustic device 700 is mounted on a vehicle CR that uses electric energy as part or all of driving energy.

An external sound output unit 910 is installed in the vehicle CR. The external sound output unit 910 includes a speaker SP that outputs an external output sound toward the outside of the vehicle in accordance with an external output sound signal sent from the acoustic device 700. From the speaker SP, an external output sound having directivity that is axisymmetric about the central axis of the speaker SP is output.

Note that the external output sound output from the speaker SP is output outside the vehicle after passing through the space where the vehicle parts are arranged. For this reason, the directivity of the external output sound propagating through the vehicle exterior space does not necessarily match the directivity of the external output sound immediately after being output from the speaker SP.

The external sound output unit 910 further includes a rotation driving unit (not shown) that rotates the speaker SP. The rotation driving unit rotates the speaker SP around a rotation axis parallel to the vertical direction in accordance with a rotation control signal sent from the acoustic device 700.

As shown in FIG. 1, the acoustic device 700 includes a storage unit 710, an input unit 720, and an acquisition unit 730. The acoustic device 700 includes a directivity control unit 740A, a sound source unit 750, and a sound signal generation unit 760. The acoustic device 700 further includes a position detector (not shown) that detects the current position of the vehicle CR.

The storage unit 710 stores various information used in the audio device 700. Such information includes map information and a directivity table. The directivity control unit 740A is accessible to the storage unit 710.

The above map information includes road information such as road width information and presence / absence information of oncoming lanes. In the directivity table, the directivity of the external output sound outside the vehicle and the direction of the speaker SP (hereinafter referred to as “speaker direction”) are associated and registered.

The input unit 720 includes a keyboard and the like. When the user operates the input unit 720, setting of operation contents and operation commands of the acoustic device 700 are performed. Such settings include switching between the normal operation mode and the directivity measurement operation mode, and setting of the target directivity in the directivity measurement operation mode. The content input to the input unit 720 is sent to the directivity control unit 740A.

The target directivity is set in the direction of the axis of symmetry (hereinafter referred to as “target directivity axis”) in which the wavefront shape of the external output sound in the vehicle exterior space is axisymmetric (hereinafter referred to as “target directivity direction”). It is assumed that this is done by setting

The acquisition unit 730 receives the sound collection results transmitted from each of the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _{M including} a microphone. Then, the acquisition unit 730 sends the sound collection result to the directivity control unit 740A.

The directivity control unit 740A controls the speaker direction in the external sound output unit 910 based on the sound collection results sent from the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M in the directivity measurement operation mode. In the normal operation mode, the directivity control unit 740A controls the speaker direction so that the directivity of the external output sound corresponding to the current position of the vehicle CR is obtained. Furthermore, the directivity control unit 740A instructs the sound signal generation unit 760 to generate an external output sound signal in the directivity measurement operation mode and the normal operation mode.

Note that details of the processing executed by the directivity control unit 740A will be described later.

The sound source unit 750 stores sound data corresponding to the external output sound. The sound signal generation unit 760 can access the sound source unit 750.

The sound signal generation unit 760 generates an external output sound signal under the control of the directivity control unit 740A. When generating the external output sound signal, the sound signal generation unit 760 generates an external output sound signal based on the data read from the sound source unit 750. The external output sound signal thus generated is sent to the external sound output unit 910.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the acoustic device 700 configured as described above will be described.

<Operation in directivity measurement operation mode>
First, an operation when the directivity measurement operation mode is designated by an operation on the input unit 720 by the user will be described. Prior to setting the target directivity by the user's operation on the input unit 720, each of the microphones constituting the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M is placed at a position outside the vehicle CR corresponding to the target directivity. It is assumed that the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M are connected to the acquisition unit 730 of the acoustic device 700 while being arranged.

When the target directivity direction is set, the directivity control unit 740A first performs rotation control on the external sound output unit 910 with the same direction as the set target directivity direction as the initial speaker direction. . Next, the directivity control unit 740A sends a test sound signal generation command to the sound signal generation unit 760.

Here, as a test sound, in a measurement environment with high silence, an external output sound in the normal operation mode can be adopted. On the other hand, in the measurement environment where there is ambient noise having the same frequency component as part of the frequency component included in the external output sound in the normal operation mode, the sound composed of the frequency component that does not substantially include the ambient noise. Adopt as a test sound.

Upon receiving the test sound signal generation instruction, the sound signal generation unit 760 reads sound data corresponding to the test sound from the sound source unit 750. Subsequently, the sound signal generation unit 760 generates a test sound signal as an external output sound signal based on the read sound data. Then, the sound signal generation unit 760 sends the generated external output sound signal to the external sound output unit 910. As a result, a test sound is output from the speaker SP of the external sound output unit 910.

During the output of the test sound, the directivity control unit 740A receives the sound collection results by the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M via the acquisition unit 730. The directivity control unit 740A calculates an error between the directivity of the test sound in the exterior space and the target directivity based on the sound collection results sent from the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M. Such an error is calculated based on a difference between sound pressure levels in a sound collection result by a plurality of sound collection units including microphones arranged symmetrically with respect to the target directivity axis.

Subsequently, the directivity control unit 740A derives the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the speaker SP for setting the speaker direction that the error is estimated to be small based on the calculated error. The directivity control unit 740A then performs correction rotation control on the external sound output unit 910 to rotate the speaker SP by the derived rotation angle in the derived rotation direction.

Thereafter, the directivity control unit 740A calculates the error between the directivity of the test sound in the vehicle exterior space and the target directivity based on the sound collection result, and the corrected rotation control. Repeat until the calculated error is greater than or equal to When the newly calculated error is equal to or greater than the previously calculated error, the directivity table in the storage unit 710 is associated with the target directivity by associating the speaker direction from which the previously calculated error is obtained. Register with.

As described above, the direction of the speaker in the storage unit 710 can accurately match the target directivity set by the user and the directivity when the external output sound propagates outside the vehicle. Registered in the table.

<Operation in normal operation mode>
Next, an operation when the normal operation mode is designated by an operation on the input unit 720 by the user will be described. In the normal operation mode, the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M are not connected to the acquisition unit 730 of the audio device 700. In the normal operation mode and when the vehicle CR is traveling, the external sound output unit 910 outputs an external output sound for calling attention to the approach of the vehicle CR.

In the normal operation mode and when the vehicle CR is traveling, the directivity control unit 740A displays the map information in the storage unit 710 based on the current position of the vehicle CR sent from the position detection unit. Referring to the road environment, the width of the road on which the vehicle CR is currently traveling and the presence or absence of an oncoming lane are identified. And directivity control part 740A determines the directivity in the case of propagation of external output sound in the space outside the vehicle based on the specified traveling road environment.

Subsequently, the directivity control unit 740A refers to the directivity table in the storage unit 710 and reads the speaker direction corresponding to the determined directivity. And directivity control part 740A performs rotation control for the direction of the read speaker to external sound output part 910. As a result, a pedestrian or the like is alerted appropriately and efficiently by an external output sound.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when setting of the target directivity direction is performed in the directivity measurement operation mode, the directivity control unit 740A causes the sound signal generation unit 760 to By generating a test sound signal as an output sound signal, a test sound is output as an external output sound from the external sound output unit 910. The directivity control unit 740A controls the directivity of the external output sound that propagates outside the vehicle by controlling the speaker direction based on the sound collection results of the test sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M thus output outside the vehicle. The direction of the speaker that can accurately match the target with the target directivity is obtained. Then, the directivity control unit 740A associates the set target directivity direction with the obtained speaker direction and registers them in the directivity table in the storage unit 710.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the directivity of the external output sound outside the vehicle can be accurately set to the desired directivity.

[Second Embodiment]
First, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

<Configuration>
FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the terminal device 810 and the output sound management device 820 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 810 is installed in the vehicle CR and operates. The output sound management device 820 is disposed outside the vehicle CR. The terminal device 810 and the output sound management device 820 can communicate with each other via the network 850.

The output sound management device 820 can communicate with other terminal devices configured in the same manner as the terminal device 810, but only the terminal device 810 is representatively shown in FIG.

<< Configuration of Terminal Device 810 >>
The terminal device 810 is different from the acoustic device 700 of the first embodiment described above in that a control unit 740B is provided instead of the directivity control unit 740A, and a transmission unit 811 and a reception unit 812 are provided. ing. In the following, the description will be given mainly focusing on this difference.

The control unit 740B receives sound collection results sent from the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M via the acquisition unit 730 in the directivity measurement operation mode. Then, the control unit 740B sends the sound collection result to the transmission unit 811 as terminal transmission data. In addition, when setting input of the target directivity direction is performed on the input unit 720 in the directivity measurement operation mode, the control unit 740B transmits the set target directivity direction to the transmission unit 811 as terminal transmission data.

In addition, the control unit 740B transmits the directivity control information of the external output sound output from the external sound output unit 910 transmitted from the output sound management device 820 in the directivity measurement operation mode to the network 850 and the reception unit 812. Receive via. And control part 740B controls a speaker direction according to the control information concerned. Further, similarly to the directivity control unit 740A described above, the control unit 740B instructs the sound signal generation unit 760 to generate an external output sound signal in the directivity measurement operation mode and the normal operation mode. At the same time, the speaker direction is controlled in the normal operation mode.

Details of processing executed by the control unit 740B will be described later.

The transmission unit 811 receives the terminal transmission data transmitted from the control unit 740B. Then, the transmission unit 811 transmits the terminal transmission data to the output sound management apparatus 820 via the network 850.

The reception unit 812 receives the directivity control information of the external output sound transmitted from the output sound management device 820 via the network 850. Then, the receiving unit 812 sends the control information to the control unit 740B.

<< Configuration of Output Sound Management Device 820 >>
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the output sound management device 820 includes a reception unit 821, a generation unit 822, and a transmission unit 823.

The receiving unit 821 receives terminal transmission data transmitted from the terminal device 810 via the network 850. Then, the reception unit 821 sends the received terminal transmission data to the generation unit 822.

The generation unit 822 receives the target directivity direction and the sound collection result transmitted from the reception unit 821 as terminal transmission data. And the production | generation part 822 produces | generates the control information for controlling the directivity of the external output sound which propagates the space outside a vehicle based on the said sound collection result. The control information generated in this way is sent to the transmission unit 823.

The transmission unit 823 receives the control information transmitted from the generation unit 822. Then, the transmission unit 823 transmits the control information to the terminal device 810 via the network 850.

In the configuration of the terminal device 810 and the configuration of the output sound management device 820 as described above, the target directivity direction collected by the control unit 740B and the sound collection results by the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M are the transmission unit 811 and the network 850. Then, the data is sent to the generation unit 822 via the reception unit 821. The control information generated by the generation unit 822 is sent to the control unit 740B via the transmission unit 823, the network 850, and the reception unit 812.

<Operation>
Next, the directivity control processing of the external output sound that is executed in cooperation between the terminal device 810 and the output sound management device 820 configured as described above will be described.

<Operation in directivity measurement operation mode>
First, an operation when the directivity measurement operation mode is designated by an operation on the input unit 720 of the terminal device 810 by the user will be described. Prior to the setting of the target directivity (target directivity direction) by the user's operation on the input unit 720, each of the microphones of the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M is the vehicle CR corresponding to the target directivity. It is assumed that the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M are connected to the acquisition unit 730 of the acoustic device 700 while being arranged at an external position.

When the target directivity direction is set, the control unit 740B of the terminal device 810 sends the set target directivity direction to the generation unit 822 of the sound output management device 820. Receiving the target directivity direction, the generation unit 822 sends rotation control information whose initial speaker direction is the same direction as the set target directivity direction to the control unit 740B. Upon receiving this rotation control information, the control unit 740B performs rotation control on the external sound output unit 910 with the same direction as the set target directivity direction as the initial speaker direction.

Next, the control unit 740B sends a test sound signal generation command to the sound signal generation unit 760 of the terminal device 810. Upon receiving the test sound signal generation instruction, the sound signal generation unit 760 reads sound data corresponding to the test sound from the sound source unit 750. Subsequently, the sound signal generation unit 760 generates a test sound signal as an external output sound signal based on the read sound data. Then, the sound signal generation unit 760 sends the generated external output sound signal to the external sound output unit 910 disposed in the vehicle CR. As a result, a test sound is output from the speaker SP of the external sound output unit 910.

During the output of the test sound, the control unit 740B receives the sound collection results by the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M via the acquisition unit 730. Then, the control unit 740B sends the sound collection result to the generation unit 822.

The generation unit 822 that has received the sound collection result calculates an error between the directivity of the test sound in the vehicle exterior space and the target directivity in the same manner as the directivity control unit 740A described above based on the sound collection result. . Subsequently, the generation unit 822 derives the rotation direction and rotation angle of the speaker SP for setting the speaker direction in which the error is estimated to be small in the same manner as the directivity control unit 740A described above based on the calculated error. To do.

Next, the generation unit 822 sends the derived rotation direction and rotation angle to the control unit 740B as control information. Receiving this control information, the control unit 740B performs the correction rotation control for rotating the speaker SP by the derived rotation angle in the derived rotation direction with respect to the external sound output unit 910. Then, the control unit 740B sends a report of completion of the correction rotation control to the generation unit 822.

Thereafter, the control unit 740B transmits the sound collection results from the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M to the generation unit 822, the correction rotation control based on the control information sent from the generation unit 822, and the report of the completion of the correction rotation control. Until the measurement end notification sent from the generation unit 822 is received. Further, the generation unit 822 repeats until the newly calculated error after receiving the correction rotation control report sent from the control unit 740B becomes equal to or more than the previously calculated error.

When the newly calculated error is equal to or greater than the previously calculated error, a measurement end notification including the speaker direction from which the previously calculated error is obtained is sent to the control unit 740B. Upon receiving the measurement end notification, the control unit 740B registers the speaker direction included in the measurement end notification in the directivity table in the storage unit 710 in association with the set target directivity.

As described above, the direction of the speaker for propagating the external output sound through the space outside the vehicle is determined with the target directivity set by the user.

In the normal operation mode and when the vehicle CR is traveling, the control unit 740B sets the current position of the vehicle CR sent from the position detection unit in the same manner as the directivity control unit 740A described above. Based on the map information in the storage unit 710 on the basis of this, the width of the road on which the vehicle CR is currently traveling and the traveling road environment such as the presence or absence of the oncoming lane are specified. And control part 740B determines the directivity at the time of external output sound propagating through the space outside a vehicle based on the specified road environment.

Subsequently, the control unit 740B refers to the directivity table in the storage unit 710 and reads the speaker direction corresponding to the determined directivity. Then, the control unit 740B performs rotation control on the external sound output unit 910 in order to set the read speaker direction. As a result, a pedestrian or the like is alerted appropriately and efficiently by an external output sound.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the directivity measurement operation mode, based on the sound collection results by the sound collection units 950 ₁ to 950 _M for the test sound output to the outside of the vehicle CR, The control unit 740B of the terminal device 810 and the generation unit 822 of the output sound management device 820 cooperate to control the direction of the speaker so that the directivity of the external output sound propagating through the vehicle exterior space can be set to the target directivity and accuracy. Find the speaker direction that can be matched well. Then, the set target directivity direction and the obtained speaker direction are associated and registered in the directivity table in the storage unit 710.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, the directivity of the external output sound outside the vehicle can be accurately set to the desired directivity.

[Modification of Embodiment]
The first and second embodiments described above can be variously modified.

For example, in the first and second embodiments, the directivity of the external output sound propagating outside the vehicle is controlled by controlling the direction of the speaker. On the other hand, the present invention can also be applied to the case where the directivity of the external output sound propagating outside the vehicle is controlled by another method.

In the first and second embodiments described above, when the newly calculated error is equal to or greater than the previously calculated error, the speaker direction from which the previously calculated error is obtained is set to the target direction. In association with the directivity, it is registered in the directivity table in the storage unit 710. On the other hand, when the calculated error is equal to or less than a predetermined allowable value, the speaker direction at that time is registered in the directivity table in the storage unit 710 in association with the target directivity. Also good.

In the first embodiment, the acoustic device includes the storage unit, the input unit, the sound source unit, and the sound signal generation unit. On the other hand, when other devices include elements that can be shared as these elements, the elements that can be shared may be used. In this case, a sharable element can be omitted as a component of the acoustic device.

In the second embodiment, the terminal device includes a storage unit, an input unit, a sound source unit, and a sound signal generation unit. On the other hand, when other devices include elements that can be shared as these elements, the elements that can be shared may be used. In this case, a sharable element can be omitted as a component of the terminal device.

In the second embodiment, in the normal operation mode, the control unit 740B of the terminal device 810 independently controls the directivity of the external output sound that propagates outside the vehicle. On the other hand, the control information for the control may be generated by the output sound management device 820 even in the normal operation mode. In this case, the terminal device 810 further transmits the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection unit to the output sound management device 820, and the output sound management device 820 refers to the map information. The traveling road environment may be specified, and the directivity of the external output sound when propagating in the space outside the vehicle may be determined based on the specified traveling road environment.

Note that the acquisition unit, directivity control unit, and sound signal generation unit of the acoustic device according to the first embodiment described above are a calculation unit including a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processing), and the like. A part of or all of the processing of these elements may be executed by executing a program prepared in advance on the computer. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, CD-ROM, or DVD, and is loaded from the recording medium and executed by the computer. The program may be acquired in a form recorded on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, or may be acquired in a form distributed via a network such as the Internet. Also good.

In addition, the acquisition unit, the control unit, the sound signal generation unit, and the output sound management device generation unit of the terminal device of the second embodiment described above are a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processing Unit). ) Etc., and a part or all of the processing of these elements may be executed by executing a program prepared in advance on the computer. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, CD-ROM, or DVD, and is loaded from the recording medium and executed by the computer. The program may be acquired in a form recorded on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, or may be acquired in a form distributed via a network such as the Internet. Also good.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description and drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the navigation 100 as the acoustic device according to the first embodiment. This is an aspect of the acoustic device 700 (see FIG. 1) of the first embodiment described above.

The navigation device 100 is mounted on a vehicle CR that uses electric energy as part or all of driving energy. An external sound output unit 210 as an external sound output unit 910 is installed in the vehicle CR. The external sound output unit 210 includes a speaker SP that outputs an external output sound toward the outside of the vehicle in accordance with an external output sound signal sent from the navigation device 100. From the speaker SP, an external output sound having directivity that is axisymmetric about the central axis of the speaker SP is output.

Note that the external output sound output from the speaker SP is output outside the vehicle after passing through the space where the vehicle parts are arranged. For this reason, the directivity of the external output sound propagating in the vehicle exterior space (hereinafter also referred to as “external vehicle directivity”) does not necessarily match the directivity of the external output sound immediately after being output from the speaker SP. .

The external sound output unit 210 further includes a rotation drive unit (not shown) that rotates the speaker SP. This rotation drive unit rotates the speaker SP around a rotation axis parallel to the vertical direction in accordance with a rotation control signal sent from the navigation device 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the navigation device 100 includes a control unit 110 A and a storage unit 120 as the storage unit 710. In addition, the navigation device 100 includes a sound output unit 130, a display unit 140, and an input unit 150 as the input unit 720. Furthermore, the navigation device 100 includes a sensor unit 160 and a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving unit 170 as a part of the position detection unit.

The control unit 110A controls the entire navigation device 100. The control unit 110A will be described later.

The storage unit 120 includes a nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk device. The storage unit 120 can be accessed by the control unit 110A. Information data stored in the storage unit 120 will be described later.

The above-described sound output unit 130 includes a speaker, and outputs a sound corresponding to the sound data sent from the control unit 110A. This sound output unit 130 outputs guidance voices such as the traveling direction of the vehicle CR, the traveling situation, and the traffic situation regarding the navigation processing under the control of the control unit 110A.

The display unit 140 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and displays an image corresponding to the display data sent from the control unit 110A. This display unit 140 displays images such as map information and route information, guidance information, and the like during navigation processing under the control of the control unit 110A.

The input unit 150 includes a key unit provided in the main body of the navigation device 100 and / or a remote input device including the key unit. Here, as a key part provided in the main body part, a touch panel provided in a display device of the display unit 140 can be used. In addition, it can replace with the structure which has a key part, or can also employ | adopt the structure input with a sound using a voice recognition technique in combination.

When the user operates the input unit 150, the operation content of the navigation device 100 is set and an operation command is performed. For example, the user uses the input unit 150 to set a destination or the like related to route search in the navigation process. The user also uses the input unit 150 to switch between the normal operation mode and the directivity measurement operation mode and to set the target directivity in the directivity measurement operation mode. Such input contents are sent as input data from the input unit 150 to the control unit 110A.

The sensor unit 160 includes a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, a tilt sensor, and the like. Detection results from various sensors included in the sensor unit 160 are sent as sensor data to the control unit 110A.

The GPS receiving unit 170 described above calculates the current position of the vehicle CR based on reception results of radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites. Further, the GPS receiving unit 170 measures the current time based on the date / time information transmitted from the GPS satellite. Information regarding these current position and current time is sent to the control unit 110A as GPS data.

Next, information data stored in the storage unit 120 will be described. The storage unit 120 stores various information data used in the navigation device 100. Such information data includes map information data MPD, directivity table TBL, and sound source data SSD as shown in FIG.

The map information data MPD includes road information such as road network information, road width information, and presence / absence information of oncoming lanes. In the directivity table TBL, the directivity outside the vehicle and the speaker direction are registered in association with each other. The sound source data SSD includes sound data corresponding to the external output sound in the normal operation mode and sound data corresponding to the test sound that is the external output sound in the directivity measurement operation mode. .

Next, the control unit 110A described above will be described. The control unit 110A includes a central processing unit (CPU) and its peripheral circuits. Various functions as the navigation device 100 are realized by the control unit 110A executing various programs. These functions include a part of the position detection unit, the acquisition unit 730, the directivity control unit 740A, and the sound signal generation unit 760 in the first embodiment described above.

Note that the program executed by the control unit 110A is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, CD-ROM, or DVD, and is loaded from the recording medium and executed. The program may be acquired in a form recorded on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, or may be acquired in a form distributed via a network such as the Internet. Also good.

The control unit 110A appropriately refers to the map information data MPD in the storage unit 120 based on the sensor data received from the sensor unit 160 and the GPS data received from the GPS receiving unit 170, and provides navigation information to the user. Process. The navigation information providing processing includes (a) a map display for displaying a map of an area designated by the user on the display device of the display unit 140, (b) where the vehicle CR is located on the map, , Map matching to calculate which direction it is heading, (c) route search from the position where the vehicle currently exists to a destination which is an arbitrary position designated by the user, (d) to the set route When driving to the destination along, calculation of the predicted arrival time to the destination, (e) the map matching result, the calculated predicted arrival time, and the advice of the direction to proceed, are performed, Processing such as control for displaying guidance on the display device of the display unit 140 and control for outputting voice guidance from the speaker of the sound output unit 130 is included.

In the directivity measurement operation mode, the control unit 110A controls the speaker direction in the external sound output unit 210 based on the sound collection results sent from the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M. In addition, in the normal operation mode, the control unit 110A controls the speaker direction so that the external output sound corresponding to the current position of the vehicle CR is directed to the outside of the vehicle.

In addition, the control processing of the directivity outside the vehicle by the control of the speaker direction executed by the control unit 110A will be described later.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the navigation device 100 configured as described above will be described mainly focusing on the vehicle directivity control process executed by the control unit 110A.

<Operation in directivity measurement operation mode>
First, the operation when the directivity measurement operation mode is designated by the user's operation on the input unit 150 will be described. Prior to setting the target directivity by the user's operation on the input unit 150, each of the microphones constituting the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M is located at a position outside the vehicle CR corresponding to the target directivity. It is assumed that the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M are connected to the control unit 110A of the navigation device 100.

The sound collecting units 610 ₁ to 610 _M are the five sound collecting units 610 ₁ to 610 ₅ , and the target directivity direction is any one of the front direction of the vehicle CR, the left front 45 ° direction, and the right front 45 ° direction. FIG. 5 shows an example of arrangement of sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 ₅ suitable for the case.

When the directivity measurement operation mode is designated, as shown in FIG. 6, first, in step S11, the control unit 110A determines whether or not the target directivity direction is newly set. If the result of this determination is negative (step S11: N), the process of step S11 is repeated.

When a new target directivity direction is set and the result of determination in step S11 is affirmative (step S11: Y), the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the control unit 110A performs rotation control on the external sound output unit 210 with the same direction as the set target directivity direction as the initial speaker direction.

Next, in step S 13, the control unit 110 A reads sound data corresponding to the test sound from the storage unit 120. Subsequently, the control unit 110A generates a test sound signal as an external output sound signal based on the read sound data. Then, the control unit 110A sends the generated external output sound signal to the external sound output unit 210. As a result, a test sound is output from the speaker SP of the external sound output unit 210. During the output of the test sound, the control unit 110A collects the sound collection results by the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M over a predetermined period length.

In the first embodiment, the directivity measurement operation is performed in a measurement environment that is as quiet as possible. And as a test sound, the sound which consists of a frequency component assumed that ambient noise is not included substantially is employ | adopted.

Next, in step S14, the control unit 110A calculates an error between the outside directivity of the test sound and the target directivity. Such an error is calculated based on a difference between sound pressure levels in a sound collection result by the sound collection units arranged symmetrically with respect to the target directivity axis.

For example, in the arrangement of the sound collecting units 610 ₁ to 610 ₅ illustrated in FIG. 5 described above, when the target directivity direction is the front direction of the vehicle CR, the control unit 110A collects sound by the sound collecting unit 610 ₂ . The error is calculated based on the difference between the sound pressure level of the result and the sound pressure level of the sound collection result by the sound collection unit 610 ₄ . When the target directivity direction is the 45 ° right front direction of the vehicle CR, the control unit 110A determines the sound pressure level of the sound collection result by the sound collection unit 610 ₁ and the sound collection result by the sound collection unit 610 ₃ . The error is calculated based on the difference from the sound pressure level. When the target directivity direction is the 45 ° front left direction of the vehicle CR, the control unit 110A determines the sound pressure level of the sound collection result by the sound collection unit 610 ₃ and the sound collection result by the sound collection unit 610 ₅ . The error is calculated based on the difference from the sound pressure level.

Next, in step S15, the control unit 110A determines whether or not the error calculation in the previous step S14 was the first error calculation related to the current target directivity. If the result of this determination is affirmative (step S15: Y), the process proceeds to step S16.

In step S16, based on the calculated error, the control unit 110A derives a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the speaker SP for setting the speaker direction in which the error is estimated to be small. Then, the control unit 110A performs correction rotation control for the external sound output unit 210 to rotate the speaker SP in the derived rotation direction by the derived rotation angle. Then, the process returns to step S13.

Subsequently, when the processes in steps S13 to S15 are executed a plurality of times and the determination result in step S15 is negative (step S15: N), the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, the control unit 110A determines whether or not the newly calculated error is less than the previously calculated error, so that the directivity outside the vehicle is higher than the target directivity compared to the previous error calculation. It is determined whether or not it has approached.

If the result of the determination in step S17 is affirmative (step S17: N), the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, as described above, based on the calculated error, a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the speaker SP for deriving the speaker direction in which the error is estimated to be small are derived. Then, the control unit 110A performs correction rotation control for the external sound output unit 210 to rotate the speaker SP in the derived rotation direction by the derived rotation angle. Then, the process returns to step S13.

Thereafter, the processes in steps S13 to S17 are repeated until the result of the determination in step S17 becomes negative. If the determination result in step S17 is negative (step S17: N), the process proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, the control unit 110A determines the speaker direction in which the previously calculated error is obtained as the optimum speaker direction for the target directivity. Subsequently, the control unit 110A registers the determined speaker direction in the directivity table TBL in the storage unit 120 in association with the target directivity outside the vehicle. Then, the process returns to step S11.

Thereafter, the processes of steps S11 to S18 are repeated until the directivity measurement operation mode is canceled by an operation on the input unit 150 by the user. As a result, each time the user sets the target directivity direction, the speaker direction for propagating the external output sound with the set target directivity outside the vehicle and the outside space is determined. Are registered in the directivity table TBL.

<Operation in normal operation mode>
Next, an operation when the normal operation mode is designated by an operation on the input unit 150 by the user will be described. In the normal operation mode, the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M are not connected to the control unit 110A. In the normal operation mode and when the vehicle CR is traveling, the external sound output unit 210 outputs an external output sound for calling attention to the approach of the vehicle CR.

In the normal operation mode and when the vehicle CR is traveling, the control unit 110A refers to the map information data MPD in the storage unit 120 based on the current position of the vehicle CR, and the vehicle CR The driving road environment such as the width of the driving road and the presence or absence of the opposite lane is specified. Then, the control unit 110A determines the directivity of the external output sound when propagating in the outside space based on the identified traveling road environment.

When determining such directivity, for example, when there is no oncoming lane and the road width is narrower than a predetermined value, it is assumed that pedestrians or the like pass on both sides of the traveling road in close proximity to the vehicle CR. First, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 110A determines the traveling direction of the vehicle CR as the outside directivity of the external output sound in order to allow the external output sound to reach both sides of the traveling road LD1 evenly. . In addition, when there is an oncoming lane or the road width is wider than a predetermined value, it is assumed that a pedestrian or the like passes only one side of the traveling road in close proximity to the vehicle CR. As shown in FIG. 8, the direction toward the center position of a region where there is a possibility that a pedestrian or the like who is a target of alerting is present (for example, 45 ° direction to the left front with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle CR). Is determined as the external directivity of the external output sound. FIG. 8 illustrates the case of a traveling road LD2 that has an opposite lane and a center line CLN.

Subsequently, the control unit 110A refers to the directivity table TBL in the storage unit 120 and reads the speaker direction corresponding to the determined external directivity. Then, the control unit 110 A performs rotation control on the external sound output unit 210 to make the read speaker direction. As a result, a pedestrian or the like is alerted appropriately and efficiently by an external output sound.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the target directivity direction is set in the directivity measurement operation mode, the control unit 110A generates the test sound signal as the external output sound signal. Thus, a test sound is output from the external sound output unit 210 as an external output sound. The control unit 110A sets the external directivity of the external output sound by controlling the speaker direction based on the sound collection results of the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M for the test sound output outside the vehicle in this way. The speaker direction for accurately matching the target directivity is obtained. Then, the control unit 110A registers the set target directivity direction and the obtained speaker direction in the directivity table TBL in the storage unit 120 in association with each other.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This second example is an aspect of the above-described second embodiment (see FIG. 2).

<Configuration>
FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the arrangement positions of the terminal device 300 and the server device 400 according to the second embodiment. The terminal device 300 is an aspect of the terminal device 810 in the second embodiment, and the server apparatus 400 is an aspect of the output sound management device 820 in the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal device 300 is arranged in the vehicle CR. This vehicle CR is provided with an external sound output unit 210 as in the case of the first embodiment described above.

The server device 400 is arranged outside the vehicle CR. The terminal device 300 and the server device 400 can communicate with each other via the network 500.

The server device 400 can communicate with other terminal devices configured in the same manner as the terminal device 300, but only the terminal device 300 is representatively shown in FIG.

<< Configuration of Terminal Device 300 >>
FIG. 10 shows a schematic configuration of the terminal device 300. As shown in FIG. 10, the terminal device 300 is provided with a control unit 110B instead of the control unit 110A, a sensor unit 160 is not provided, as compared with the navigation device 100 of the first embodiment described above. The difference is that a wireless communication unit 320 as a transmission unit 811 and a reception unit 812 is further provided. Hereinafter, description will be made mainly focusing on these differences.

The control unit 110B includes a central processing unit (CPU) and its peripheral circuits, and performs overall control of the entire terminal device 300. Various functions as the terminal device 300 are realized by the control unit 110B executing various programs. These functions include functions as the acquisition unit 730, the control unit 740B, and the sound signal generation unit 760 in the second embodiment described above. The control unit 110B acquires the GPS data received from the GPS receiving unit 170, and specifies the current position and the current time based on the acquired GPS data.

The control unit 110B receives the sound collection results sent from the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _{M in} the directivity measurement operation mode. Then, the control unit 110B sends the sound collection result to the wireless communication unit 320 as terminal transmission data. In addition, when setting input of the target directivity direction is performed on the input unit 150 in the directivity measurement operation mode, the control unit 110B transmits the set target directivity direction to the wireless communication unit 320 as terminal transmission data. .

Also, the control unit 110B transmits the directivity control information of the external output sound output from the external sound output unit 210, which is transmitted from the server device 400 in the directivity measurement operation mode, via the network 500 and the wireless communication unit 320. Receive. Then, the control unit 110B controls the speaker direction according to the control information. Further, similarly to the control unit 110A described above, the control unit 110B generates an external output sound signal in the directivity measurement operation mode and the normal operation mode, and also controls the speaker direction in the normal operation mode. .

Details of processing executed by the control unit 110B will be described later.

The wireless communication unit 320 receives the terminal transmission data sent from the control unit 110B. Then, the wireless communication unit 320 transmits the terminal transmission data to the server device 400 via the network 500.

The wireless communication unit 320 receives the directivity control information of the external output sound transmitted from the server device 400 via the network 500. Then, the wireless communication unit 320 sends the control information to the control unit 110B.

<< Configuration of Server Device 400 >>
FIG. 11 shows a schematic configuration of the server device 400. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the server device 400 includes a control unit 110 C, a storage unit 410, and an external communication unit 420 as a reception unit 821 and a transmission unit 823.

The control unit 110C described above includes a central processing unit (CPU) and its peripheral circuits, and performs overall control of the server device 400 as a whole. Various functions as the server device 400 are realized by the control unit 110C executing various programs. These functions include the function as the generation unit 822 in the second embodiment described above.

Details of processing executed by the control unit 110C will be described later.

The storage unit 410 stores various information data used in the server device 400. The storage unit 410 can be accessed by the control unit 110C.

The external communication unit 420 receives terminal transmission data transmitted from the terminal device 300 via the network 500. Then, the external communication unit 420 sends the terminal transmission data to the control unit 110C.

In addition, the external communication unit 420 receives server transmission data such as control information sent from the control unit 110C. Then, the external communication unit 420 sends the server transmission data to the terminal device 300 via the network 500.

In the configuration of the terminal device 300 and the configuration of the server device 400 as described above, the terminal transmission data output from the control unit 110B is transmitted to the control unit 110C via the wireless communication unit 320, the network 500, and the external communication unit 420. Will be. The server transmission data output from the control unit 110C is sent to the control unit 110B via the external communication unit 420, the network 500, and the wireless communication unit 320.

<Operation>
Next, the directivity control processing of the external output sound that is executed in cooperation between the terminal device 300 and the server device 400 configured as described above will be described.

<Operation in directivity measurement operation mode>
First, the operation when the directivity measurement operation mode is designated by the user's operation on the input unit 150 of the terminal device 300 will be described. Prior to setting of the target directivity (target directivity direction) by the user's operation on the input unit 150, each of the microphones of the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M corresponds to the vehicle CR corresponding to the target directivity. It is assumed that the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M are connected to the control unit 110B of the terminal device 300 while being arranged at external positions.

When the target directivity direction is set, the control unit 110B sends the set target directivity direction to the control unit 110C of the server device 400. The control unit 110C that has received the target directivity direction sends to the control unit 110B rotation control information whose initial speaker direction is the same direction as the set target directivity direction. Receiving this rotation control information, the control unit 110B performs rotation control on the external sound output unit 210 with the same direction as the set target directivity direction as the initial speaker direction.

Next, the control unit 110B reads sound data corresponding to the test sound from the storage unit 120. Subsequently, the control unit 110B generates a test sound signal as an external output sound signal based on the read sound data. And control unit 110B sends the produced | generated external output sound signal to the external sound output unit 210 arrange | positioned in vehicle CR. As a result, a test sound is output from the speaker SP of the external sound output unit 210.

During the output of the test sound, the control unit 110B collects the sound collection results by the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M. Then, the control unit 110B sends the sound collection result to the control unit 110C.

The control unit 110C that has received the sound collection result calculates an error between the directivity of the test sound in the vehicle exterior space and the target directivity in the same manner as the control unit 110A described above based on the sound collection result. Subsequently, the control unit 110C derives the rotation direction and rotation angle of the speaker SP for setting the speaker direction in which the error is estimated to be small, based on the calculated error, similarly to the control unit 110A described above.

Next, the control unit 110C sends the derived rotation direction and rotation angle to the control unit 110B as control information. Receiving this control information, the control unit 110B performs correction rotation control for the external sound output unit 210 to rotate the speaker SP in the derived rotation direction by the derived rotation angle. Then, the control unit 110B sends a report of completion of the correction rotation control to the control unit 110C.

Thereafter, the control unit 110B transmits the sound collection results by the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M to the control unit 110C, the correction rotation control by the control information sent from the control unit 110C, and the report of the completion of the correction rotation control. Are repeated until a measurement end notification sent from the control unit 110C is received. Also, the control unit 110C repeats until the newly calculated error after receiving the correction rotation control report sent from the control unit 110B becomes larger than the previously calculated error.

If the newly calculated error is equal to or greater than the previously calculated error, a measurement end notification including the speaker direction from which the previously calculated error is obtained is sent to the control unit 110B. Receiving the measurement end notification, the control unit 110B registers the speaker direction included in the measurement end notification in the directivity table TBL in the storage unit 120 in association with the set target directivity.

As described above, the speaker direction for propagating the external output sound with the target directivity set by the user through the vehicle exterior space is determined.

<Operation in normal operation mode>
Next, an operation when the normal operation mode is designated by an operation on the input unit 150 by the user will be described. In the normal operation mode, the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M are not connected to the control unit 110B of the terminal device 300. In the normal operation mode and when the vehicle CR is traveling, the external sound output unit 210 outputs an external output sound for calling attention to the approach of the vehicle CR.

In the normal operation mode and when the vehicle CR is traveling, the control unit 110B performs map information in the storage unit 120 based on the current position of the vehicle CR in the same manner as the control unit 110A described above. With reference to the data MPD, the width of the road on which the vehicle CR is currently traveling and the traveling road environment such as the presence or absence of the oncoming lane are specified. Then, the control unit 110C determines the directivity when the external output sound propagates through the outside space based on the identified traveling road environment.

Subsequently, the control unit 110B refers to the directivity table TBL in the storage unit 120 and reads the speaker direction corresponding to the determined directivity. Then, the control unit 110B performs rotation control on the external sound output unit 210 so that the read speaker direction is set. As a result, a pedestrian or the like is alerted appropriately and efficiently by an external output sound.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the directivity measurement operation mode, based on the sound collection results by the sound collection units 610 ₁ to 610 _M for the test sound output to the outside of the vehicle CR, The control unit 110B of the terminal device 300 and the control unit 110C of the server device 400 cooperate to control the direction of the speaker, thereby matching the directivity of the external output sound propagating in the vehicle exterior space with the target directivity with high accuracy. A speaker direction that can be used is required. Then, the set target directivity direction and the obtained speaker direction are associated with each other and registered in the directivity table TBL in the storage unit 120.

[Modification of Example]
The first embodiment described above can be variously modified.

In the first and second embodiments described above, when the newly calculated error is equal to or greater than the previously calculated error, the speaker direction from which the previously calculated error is obtained is set to the target direction. In association with the directivity, it is registered in the directivity table TBL in the storage unit 120. On the other hand, when the calculated error is equal to or smaller than a predetermined allowable value, the speaker direction at that time is registered in the directivity table TBL in the storage unit 120 in association with the target directivity. May be.

In the first embodiment, the storage unit of the navigation device stores the sound source data. On the other hand, when a storage unit included in another device can be shared as a storage unit for storing sound data of the external output sound, the sharable storage unit may be used. In this case, the sound data of the external output sound can be omitted as information stored in the storage unit of the navigation device.

In the above first embodiment, the control unit of the navigation device generates an external output sound signal. On the other hand, for example, the external sound output unit may generate an external output sound signal.

In the second embodiment, in the normal operation mode, the control unit of the terminal device independently controls the directivity of the external output sound that propagates outside the vehicle. On the other hand, control information for the control may be generated by the server device even in the normal operation mode. In this case, the terminal device further transmits the current position of the vehicle to the server device, and the server device refers to the map information to identify the traveling road environment, and the identified traveling road environment. Based on the above, the directivity in the propagation of the external output sound in the space outside the vehicle may be determined.

In the second embodiment, the storage unit of the terminal device stores the map information data and the sound source data. On the other hand, as a storage unit for storing the map information data or the sound source data, when a storage unit provided in another device can be shared, the sharable storage unit may be used. In this case, map information data or sound source data can be omitted as information stored in the storage unit of the terminal device.

In the second embodiment, the terminal device 300 does not include the sensor unit 160. However, similar to the navigation device 100 of the first embodiment, the terminal device 300 includes the sensor unit 160 and is similar to the navigation device 100. Map matching may be performed.

Claims

An acoustic device that supplies an external output sound signal to an external sound output unit that outputs sound toward the outside of the vehicle,
An acquisition unit that acquires sound collection results sent from a plurality of sound collection units arranged at predetermined positions outside the vehicle;
Directivity control for controlling the directivity of the sound output by the external sound output unit based on the acquisition result by the acquisition unit and the directivity information set for the directivity of the sound output by the external sound output unit Part;
An acoustic device comprising:
The directivity control unit is
Calculating the difference between the directivity of the sound output from the external sound output unit obtained based on the acquisition result by the acquisition unit and the directivity indicated by the set directivity information;
Based on the calculated difference, the directivity of the sound output by the external sound output unit is controlled.
The acoustic device according to claim 1.
The sound according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the directivity control unit controls the directivity of sound output from the external sound output unit by changing a direction of the external sound output unit. apparatus.
A receiving unit that receives sound collection results sent from a plurality of sound collecting units arranged at predetermined positions outside the vehicle;
Based on the reception result by the receiving unit and the directivity information set for the directivity of the sound output by the external sound output unit installed in the vehicle, the directivity of the sound output by the external sound output unit is determined. A generation unit for generating control information;
A transmission unit for transmitting a generation result by the generation unit;
An output sound management device comprising:
A terminal device installed in a vehicle,
An acquisition unit that acquires sound collection results sent from a plurality of sound collection units arranged at predetermined positions outside the vehicle;
A transmission unit that transmits an acquisition result obtained by the acquisition unit;
The sound output by the external sound output unit generated based on the acquisition result by the acquisition unit and the directivity information set with respect to the directivity of the sound output by the external sound output unit installed in the vehicle. A receiving unit for receiving directivity control information;
A control unit for controlling the external sound output unit based on a reception result by the receiving unit;
A terminal device comprising:
An acquisition step of acquiring sound collection results sent from a plurality of sound collection units arranged at predetermined positions outside the vehicle;
Based on the acquisition result in the acquisition step and the directivity information set for the directivity of the sound output by the external sound output unit installed in the vehicle, the directivity of the sound output by the external sound output unit is determined. Directivity control process to control;
An output sound control method comprising:
An output sound control program for causing an arithmetic unit to execute the output sound control method according to claim 6.
8. A recording medium in which the output sound control program according to claim 7 is recorded so as to be readable by an arithmetic unit.