EP1104922A2 - Apparatus and method for remote control of a car radio - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement has an input unit for entering commands by the user and a transmission unit for transmitting the entered commands to the car radio. The input unit has a microphone (10) for picking up spoken commands and a speech recognition unit that can classify signal sequences from the spoken commands picked up by the microphone from a defined command set. Independent claims are also included for the following: a method of remote control of a car radio.

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a device for remote control of Car radios, containing an input unit for entering commands by the user and a transmission unit for transmitting the entered commands to the car radio. The invention further relates to a method for remote control of car radios.

State of the art

Remote controls of car radio type are known. They serve the Control of the car radio (e.g. switching on, switching off, station selection, Volume control, tone control, balance) without being able to press the controls on the car radio itself have to. Under the name "car radio" should be part of the This application also other devices used in the car Sound reproduction can be understood, especially cassette recorders and CD player. Due to the usually chosen arrangement of the car radio in the area of the center console are those on the car radio Controls are difficult to access for the driver. In particular he must temporarily pay attention to their activity turn away from driving. With remote controls avoid the resulting dangerous situations. With them can the driver without letting go of the steering wheel and without leaving the road lose control of the car radio out of sight. Farther Remote controls allow the radio to be controlled from further away Locations, e.g. from the rear seats or with the car parked from the outside. Finally, with the help of a remote control, it is also possible the car radio at a different location than the one usually chosen to be arranged in the area of the center console.

Known remote controls of the type mentioned contain one Keyboard as an input unit via which the driver or the User can type the commands they want. These commands are then what is transmitted from a transmission unit to the car radio especially wireless (radio, ultrasound, infrared IR etc.) can. However, it is disadvantageous that the driver performs movements must hinder him in controlling the vehicle. He may have to even release one hand from the steering wheel to the remote control to seize and operate. To the desired keyboard keys to press, the driver must at least briefly pay attention and turn his eyes to the keyboard. As a result, he is from Driving events distracted, leading to dangerous situations in traffic can lead. Known remote controls can therefore be used with the Operation of a car radio related security problems only very much reduce to a limited extent.

Presentation of the invention, task, solution, advantages

The object of the present invention was to provide a device and a To provide procedures for remote control of car radios with which the comfort and especially the security of the remote control is enlarged.

This object is achieved by a device with the specified in claim 1 Features resolved.

The device for remote control of a car radio therefore contains one Input unit for entering the commands by the user and a Transmission unit for transmitting these commands entered the car radio. It is characterized in that the input unit a microphone for recording spoken commands and a unit for Has speech recognition, the latter from that recorded by the microphone Isolate speech signal sequences, recognize and a given Can assign instruction set. With the device according to the invention it is therefore possible for the user to sound his commands Paths, that is, in particular through human language enters. The spoken commands are from the remote control microphone recorded and converted into electrical signals. This electrical Signals can then be sent from a system in a manner known per se be analyzed for speech recognition. With this system it can for example a special microchip or a suitable software program act in conjunction with a microprocessor. The speech recognition system examines the speech recorded by the microphone for the presence of signal sequences that a command from a given command set of commands for the car radio. In the simplest case, this speech recognition takes place in such a way that the recorded sound signals with stored sound signal patterns for Commands are compared and that when a threshold is exceeded the correlation between the compared patterns Command of the command set is selected as the result of the detection. If no command from the command set is sufficiently safe in the spoken text recognized, so no command to the car radio submitted. If necessary, the remote control can be used in this case a corresponding signal (e.g. beep or lighting up of a LED) to signal to the user that the command entered could not be recognized and must therefore be repeated if necessary. The car radio can be used alone with the device according to the invention control through language. This is especially true for the driver of Advantage of controlling the radio without releasing the steering wheel and operate without reducing attention to road traffic can. It is obvious that this affects security in the Road traffic increased significantly.

If necessary, several microphones can be in different locations in the Vehicle distributed to be provided from the recording of the language from different points the actual speech signal better from to be able to discriminate disturbing background noises. Furthermore it is conceivable that the remote control according to the invention for a car radio a hands-free device for a car phone is combined, that is, that the reception system of both facilities is combined.

According to claim 2, the transmission unit can be designed in particular be that it transmits its commands wirelessly to the car radio. The wireless transmission has the advantage that the location of the Remote control is arbitrary within the vehicle and easily changed can be. The car radio can therefore be used by virtually anyone Can be operated from here, especially from the rear seats or from the outside. In particular come as a means for wireless transmission Infrared light IR, ultrasound, radio or the like in question. The Deviating from this, transmission unit can of course also be by a Fixed wiring to be connected to the car radio, which in particular then comes into question if the remote control is in a fixed place in the Vehicle should be arranged. Fixed cabling has the advantage that it is less expensive and generally less prone to failure. Further the power supply of the remote control in this case the cabling is done.

According to claim 3, the microphone of the device according to the invention be arranged on the steering wheel of the vehicle. In particular, can the microphone can be integrated into the steering wheel. Preferably is not only the microphone, but the complete remote control device so arranged on the steering wheel. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the microphone is close to the driver, so that a qualitative good reception of the spoken commands is possible without that Microphone gets in the way of the driver.

In a development of the invention according to claim 4, the device contains an activation button or an activation switch, via which the recording of voice signals and voice recognition can be switched on and off. The system only works and only tries commands from the entered one Recognize language when the button is pressed or if the switch was previously operated. This can prevent it that the system is due to misinterpretation of background noise or a conversation in the vehicle erroneously commands transmitted to the car radio. Prerequisite for the activity of the remote control is then namely that the driver or another user of this System previously via the mechanical button respectively Has activated the switch. Such mechanical activation does not result serious disadvantages for road safety, since only one the only button / switch to be pressed. So the driver doesn't have to Look away from the road to find the right element from one Keyboard field. Rather, he can look at the actuator without looking serve. This is especially true when the button is on a fixed location in the vehicle, e.g. the steering wheel is arranged.

According to claim 5, the remote control can also be an input keyboard included for entering commands. That is, the remote control a combination of a conventional remote control with keyboard and a remote control according to the invention with voice input. The Keyboard can be used as an alternative to voice input if its Benefits are not needed. This is particularly true when actuated remote control by occupants other than the driver or the case with the vehicle stationary. The keyboard can be entered then have the advantage that it allows faster operation and that possible problems with speech recognition are avoided.

In an embodiment of the invention according to claim 6, the device contains for remote control a memory in which speech pattern stored by the user as a reference for speech recognition. The use of such reference patterns has the advantage that the Can set the speech recognition unit individually to the user, which significantly reduces the error rate of command recognition. It can also prevent unauthorized persons from doing so People control the car radio using the remote control. The usage of reference patterns also has the advantage that the user can largely choose which voice command (or which sequence of tones) he wants to call up which function. For example, he can the radio by expressing a specific station name cause reception to be tuned to a specific frequency. Another advantage of voice input is that the Number of commands that can be transmitted can be considerably larger than for one Keyboard and that the input is made much more user-friendly can.

The storage of the user's speech pattern can be done in a separate Session before starting the remote control. It is there possible behavior at any time by changing the reference pattern the remote control and change it e.g. to another user vote.

The invention also includes a method for remote control of a Car radios in which at least one voice input by the user assigned a command from a command set and then that to the command appropriate command is transmitted to the car radio. Under the Assignment of the commands should include the case in particular be that a command can be selected which is not a command or does not trigger changes to the car radio ("no operation" Command). This command is particularly assigned when the Speech recognition from the input sound signals not with the necessary Security could detect a specific active command.

With the method mentioned, the above in connection with achieve the advantages described for remote control.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine Fernbedienung als Handgerät und im Lenkrad integriert;

Fig. 2

die Kombination mit einer herkömmlichen Fernbedienung als Handgerät und im Lenkrad integriert;

Fig. 3

eine Fernbedienung mit drahtgebundener Übertragung;

Fig. 4

ein Prinzipschaltbild der Fernbedienung.

In the following the invention is explained by way of example with the aid of the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a remote control as a handheld device and integrated in the steering wheel;

Fig. 2

the combination with a conventional remote control as a handheld device and integrated in the steering wheel;

Fig. 3

a remote control with wired transmission;

Fig. 4

a block diagram of the remote control.

Best way to carry out the invention

1 shows a remote control 200 according to the invention in the left part, which is designed as a device to be held in the hand. The device contains a microphone 10, via which the user's voice input can be recorded. Via a voice recognition unit the sound signals converted into electrical signals are searched for patterns, which commands from a given and stored Match instruction set. If such an order with reasonable certainty is recognized, a corresponding command is coded Form sent to the car radio (or other audio device in the car). The transmission can in particular be carried out with the aid of infrared signals IR done wirelessly.

In Fig. 1, an input push button 11 can also be seen, which is pressed must be activated for the remote control 200 to be active. This means, that this only records, analyzes and, if necessary, language Passes commands to the car radio, as the button 11 operated becomes. This prevents background noise or the like undesirably interpreted as commands and the Can change the setting of the radio.

The corresponding remote control 201 is shown in the right part of FIG. 1, which is integrated into the steering wheel of the car. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the microphone is very close to the mouth of the driver and is therefore relatively trouble-free Can record speech. Furthermore, the input button 11 is easily accessible and can be operated with the thumb, for example, without the driver having to Hand from the steering wheel.

Since with the remote control according to the invention the car radio by voice can be operated, there are dangers of letting go of the steering wheel or a reduction in attention to road traffic avoided. You can also do more with voice input Commands are transmitted to the car radio as with a keyboard. Also is the assignment between a voice command and that to the radio issued command very flexible. Finally, it should be noted that on the radio side, no changes are necessary because the (wireless or wired) transmission of commands as with conventional systems can be made.

In Fig. 2 is the combination of a voice-based according to the invention Remote control shown with a conventional remote control which the commands are entered via a keyboard 12. Through the Combining both types of input can combine their advantages. The keyboard allows remote control of the car radio even if if the speech recognition should fail (for example in case of hoarseness of the driver or operation by a user other than the person who did the language training).

3 is the wired coupling of an inventive Remote control 204 shown with the connector 14 of a car radio. The connection is made using a suitable cable 13 Plug 14 can in particular be a standardized plug of the Trade car radios (for example ISO connection box). A wired Coupling between remote control and car radio has the advantage that it is less susceptible to faults and that it also provides energy the remote control can be done.

4 is the principle of operation of the remote control according to the invention represented schematically. From the microphone 100 the acoustic Signals from the user's voice input into electrical signals (LF signals) converted. The microphone 100 is with an analog / digital converter 105, which converts the LF signal into a digital signal converts.

The A / D converter 105 is on the output side with the input of a control unit 110 connected. This is also connected to a memory 115, in which reference language pattern for the available Commands of the command set are stored. By comparing the from A / D converter 105 transmitted signals with the reference patterns from the Memory 115, speech recognition unit 110 may have a spoken one Recognize the command and assign it to a specific command from the command set.

For the transmission of the command thus recognized as a command to the Car radio are both wired and wireless in Fig. 4 Variant shown. In the case of wireless transmission, this is done by the Speech recognition unit 110 recognized command via a connecting line transmitted to an infrared transmitter diode 120. From this one the command with a suitable coding to an infrared receiver diode 125 transmitted in the car radio, which from the received signal the associated command is decoded and sent to the control unit 130 of the car radio. Alternatively, the transfer of the Commands also take place via a bus interface 135 of the remote control 205, which is connected on the input side to the speech recognition unit 110 and which on the output side is connected to the Control unit 130 of the car radio is coupled. The control unit 130 then ensures the implementation of the transmitted commands in the car radio.

The voice recognition within the remote control according to the invention can be done by known methods. To refine it, the For example, users order voice commands into the microphone speak or read a given text. That way you can Reference patterns formed and stored in a permanent memory that allow speech recognition to focus on the individual Set characteristics of the user's language. The input the reference pattern can be controlled, for example, using the enter key become. For example, this must be held down for an entry become. If the entry is to be repeated, the Enter key can be used for example three times in a row (as A beep can be triggered, for example). After that the user can start again.

Claims (7)

Device (200-205) for remote control of a car radio, comprising an input unit (10, 12, 100) for entering commands by the user and a transmission unit (120, 135) for transmitting the entered commands to the car radio,
characterized in that the input unit has a microphone (10, 100) for receiving spoken commands and a speech recognition unit (110) which can assign signal sequences from the speech recorded by the microphone to commands from a predetermined command set. Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that the transmission unit (120) is designed such that it wirelessly transmits commands to the car radio. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2,
characterized in that the microphone (10) is arranged on the steering wheel. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that it contains an activation button (11) and / or an activation switch, via which the recording and speech recognition can be switched on and off. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that it contains an input keyboard (12) for entering commands. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that it contains a memory (115) in which the user's speech pattern can be stored as a reference for speech recognition. Method for remote control of a car radio, in which one Voice input from the user at least one command from one Assigned command set and the corresponding to the command Command is transmitted to the car radio.

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