Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-26
2003-03-04
Black, Thomas G. (Department: 3663)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C348S148000, C340S692000, C340S988000, C455S158400, C455S186200, C180S168000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06529825
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voice guidance switching device for use in, for example, a car navigation device installed in a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, various functions have been added to car navigation devices installed in vehicles. For this reason, when function-selecting and function-confirming switches are provided for each function, the number of switches increases. In consideration of this drawback, car navigation devices are generally disposed with a monitor having a screen on which are displayed virtual buttons that indicate various functions. The virtual buttons are selected and confirmed by use of touch sensors disposed in the monitor or by use or a controller including a joystick, whereby the functions represented by the virtual buttons are implemented.
When the car navigation device is structured in this manner, it becomes possible to display many virtual buttons simply by switching the monitor screen, whereby the number of actual switches is reduced. In other words, there is an advantage in that many functions can be added to the car navigation device itself, regardless of whether the device utilizes a controller having a few number of switches, panel switches, or a controller using a means including a joystick that have a few number of switches.
However, every time the monitor screen is switched, the virtual buttons displayed on the monitor screen are altered. For this reason, there is a disadvantage in that the screen must be viewed when the navigation device is operated, which means that a driver cannot safely operate the navigation device while driving the vehicle.
In order to overcome this disadvantage, proposals have been made to add a voice guidance function to car navigation devices, whereby the name and description of a function to be implemented by confirming the virtual button that has been selected is outputted by voice, in cases in which a virtual button has been selected by a controller or by touching touch sensors in the monitor screen and cases in which a virtual button is selected by moving a joystick.
When such a voice guidance function is added to the car navigation device, it becomes unnecessary to view the monitor screen since the description of the function to be implemented can be understood by listening to the outputted voice. This proves advantageous because it is possible for a driver to select a virtual button for implementing a desired function without having to take his/her eyes off of the road to view the monitor.
In such a car navigation device disposed with a voice guidance function, the voice guidance is generated once a virtual button is selected. After the voice guidance has been completed, the voice guidance function is confirmed. Thus, time is consumed because a plurality of selections must be hierarchically made until the desired function is finally implemented.
Consequently, except for the time when the driver operates the car navigation device while the vehicle is in motion, the voice guidance is unnecessary because the car navigation device can be operated while viewing the monitor screen when a vehicular occupant other than the driver operates the car navigation device or when the driver operates the car navigation device while the vehicle is stopped. However, when it becomes necessary to use voice guidance to operate the car navigation device, it is troublesome for the operator (driver or passenger) because time is consumed until a desired function is finally implemented.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned facts, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a voice guidance switching device that can switch voice guidance between an operable state and an inoperable state, in response to situations in which the voice guidance is or is not necessary.
A voice guidance switching device of the present invention, comprises: a voice guidance generator for generating a voice in response to a function of a specific device in a vehicle interior, with the voice guidance generator being connected to the specific device; a first operating device for operating the specific device by predetermined operations, with the first operating device being disposed at a location at which the first operating device can be operated by an occupant seated in a driver's seat of the vehicle; a second operating device for operating the specific device by operations corresponding to the predetermined operations, with the second operating device being disposed at a location at which an occupant seated in a seat other than the driver's seat can operate the second operating device; and a switching device, wherein the switching device receives a signal transmitted from one of the first operating device and the second operating device, determines whether the signal is transmitted from the first operating device or the second operating device, and switches the voice guidance generator to an operable state when it is determined that the signal is transmitted from the first operating device.
In accordance with the voice guidance switching device with the above-described structure, a variety of signals such as operation signals transmitted from the first operating device and the second operating device are transmitted to the switching device. At the switching device, a determination is made of whether the received signal is transmitted from the first operating device or from the second operating device.
Here, if it is determined that the signal received at the switching device is from the first operating device, the voice guidance generator is set to the operable state by the switching device.
For example, in a case in which the voice guidance generator is connected to a car navigation device, when a virtual button which is for a function selection and displayed on a monitor screen is selected, the voice guidance generator utters a function name, function content or the like of the selected virtual button. Otherwise, in a case in which a vehicle reached a place where the vehicle is required to turn right or left, the voice guidance generator suggests by voice, for example, to turn right or left.
Meanwhile, for example, if the voice guidance generator is set to a stopped state (an inoperable state) by the switching device in a case in which it is determined that the signal received at the switching device is from the second operating device, the voice guidance generator basically never operates in any conditions. Therefore, for example, in a case in which the virtual button displayed on the monitor screen is selected with the above-described car navigation device, the voice guidance generator never utter by voice the function content and the function name, or it never suggests by voice, for example, to turn right or left.
Preferably, the voice guidance switching device of the present invention further comprising: a determination device for determining whether the second operating device has been operated from the driver's seat or a seat other than the driver's seat, with the determination device being disposed in correspondence with the second operating device, wherein the second operating device is disposed at a location at which the second operating device can be operated from the driver's seat and a seat other than the driver's seat.
In accordance with the voice guidance switching device with the above-described structure, the second operating device is operable from both the driver's seat side and the seat other than the driver's seat. However, in a case in which the second operating device was operated, a determination is made by the determination device of whether the second operating device was operated from the driver's seat side or from the seat other than the driver's seat. A signal corresponding to the determination result of the determination device is transmitted to the switching device. If the determination device determined that the second operating device was operated from the driv
Kunimatsu Yoshimasa
Mega Susumu
Nagasaka Chikao
Nishikawa Masato
Black Thomas G.
Cole Thomas W.
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki -Seisakusho
Mancho Ronnie
Nixon & Peabody LLP
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