JPH10288531A - Navigator for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the outputted state of a voice so as to be pertinently controllable, in this navigator which is equipped with plural pieces of displays for a driver and other occupants, and also provided with a voice output function for traveling guidance. SOLUTION: In this navigator, two display units 10 and 20 consisting of each set of display parts 12, 22 and operating parts 14, 24 are installed in a driver's seat and rear seats, and a navigation picture image and other information picture images are made so as to be selectively indicatable each on these display parts 12 and 24 of both the display units 10 and 20. In this case, when the navigation picture image is not displayed on the display part 12 of the driver's seat, such a fact that each sound signal for traveling guidance and operation guidance is outputted from a sound signal outputting part 48 is prohibited. In consequence, such a possibility that a voice for navigation is outputted, whereas a driver doesn't yet display the navigation picture image on the display part 12, and thereby the driven can not concentrate his/her attention on the driving is thus preventable from occurring.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation system provided with a display for a driver and a display for a passenger other than the driver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a navigation apparatus for a vehicle displays a navigation image such as a road map or a scheduled route on a display provided near a driver's seat, and changes the display image as the vehicle moves. By doing
The driving guidance is provided to the driver.

[0003] The vehicle navigation apparatus not only displays a navigation image on a display, but also responds to a change in the image (in other words, corresponding to the movement of the vehicle) to travel along an intersection or the like at an intersection. In some cases, guidance is provided by voice, or operation guidance when a user performs an operation for setting a destination or a route is provided by voice.

[0004]

However, in recent years,
Such a navigation device or a display for navigation is provided also in a seat (passenger seat, rear seat, etc.) different from the driver's seat of the vehicle so that not only the driver but also other occupants can use the navigation device. It is desired. To meet this demand, a plurality of navigation devices may be mounted on the vehicle, or the navigation device may be configured so that a plurality of displays and a plurality of operation input devices can be connected.

However, when a vehicle is provided with a plurality of displays as described above, a navigation device that outputs voices for route guidance and operation guidance does not display a navigation image on a driver display. However, when the navigation image is displayed on the display for the fellow passenger, or when the fellow passenger is operating the operation input device, the guidance voice is output.

[0006] Then, when the voice is output as described above,
The driver may erroneously recognize that the sound is related to the display screen of the driver display, and may not be able to concentrate on driving the vehicle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a navigation device having a plurality of displays for a driver and another passenger and having a voice output function for traveling guidance or operation guidance is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of appropriately controlling a state.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle navigation apparatus for displaying a navigation image for driving guidance. A plurality of display means for passengers are provided. Then, the navigation control means displays a navigation image on each display means in response to a command from the operation input means arranged near each of the display means, and a voice signal for traveling guidance corresponding to the navigation image. Is output. Therefore, according to the vehicular navigation device of the present invention, not only the driver but also the fellow passenger can use the navigation device.

In the present invention, the judging means judges whether or not a navigation image is displayed on the display means for the driver, and the voice output control means judges according to the judgment result.
If the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means, the output of the voice signal for driving guidance from the navigation control means is permitted. If the navigation image is not displayed on the driver display means, the navigation control means is provided. Prohibits the output of audio signals from.

Therefore, according to the vehicle navigation apparatus of the present invention, an image irrelevant to the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means, or no image is displayed on the driver display means. Occasionally, the navigation control means does not output a voice signal for driving guidance, thereby preventing the driver from erroneously recognizing the voice for driving guidance. Therefore, according to the present invention, the driver can concentrate on driving the vehicle.

It should be noted that a plurality of navigation control means are provided corresponding to each display means, and a navigation image is displayed on the corresponding display means in accordance with a command from an operation input means arranged near the display means. Well one
One navigation control means may display the same navigation image on each display means.

Next, a second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect.
The vehicle navigation device according to the above, further provided with an operation guidance voice output unit that outputs an operation guidance voice signal when each operation input unit is operated.
According to the present invention, the voice output control means also limits the output of the voice signal from the operation guidance voice output means in accordance with the determination result of the determination means. That is, only when the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means, the audio signal output from the operation guidance audio output means is permitted,
When the navigation image is not displayed on the driver display unit, the output of the audio signal from the operation guidance audio output unit is prohibited.

Therefore, according to the vehicle navigation apparatus of the present invention, an image irrelevant to the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means, or no image is displayed on the driver display means. Sometimes the driver
It is also possible to prevent the operation guidance voice from being erroneously recognized.

On the other hand, the invention according to claim 3 is based on claim 1.
Alternatively, the vehicle navigation apparatus according to the second aspect further includes a voice output control prohibiting unit that prohibits the operation of the voice output control unit in accordance with a command from the operation input unit. Therefore, according to the vehicular navigation device of the present invention, it is possible to set whether or not to limit the output of the guidance voice based on the judgment of the vehicle occupant, and to improve the usability of the device.

That is, the driver mistakenly recognizes the voice of the traveling guidance or the operation guidance when he / she does not expect to output the guidance voice, and knows that the guidance voice will be output. Then, the voice is not erroneously recognized.
Therefore, if it is possible to set whether or not to limit the audio output by an external operation as in the present invention, even if the restriction is released, the driver can recognize that the restriction is released. It is possible to accurately prevent the utterance of a sound output that is not related to running. Then, by removing the restriction on the voice output as necessary, the passenger can effectively use the navigation device.

In the present invention (claims 1 to 3), the conditions under which the audio output control means restricts the audio output include:
The running state of the vehicle may be set, and the voice output control unit may prohibit the voice output only when the vehicle is running, when the navigation image is not displayed on the driver display unit.

As described above, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the audio output state can be appropriately controlled.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus according to the present embodiment stores a GPS receiver 2 for detecting a current position, a traveling speed, and the like of a vehicle by receiving a transmission radio wave from an artificial satellite, a road map, facility information, and the like. A CD-ROM changer 4 for selectively reading map data and facility information from a plurality of CD-ROMs; an FM multiplex receiver 6 for receiving an FM text multiplex broadcast and decoding text information superimposed on the broadcast signal;
A wireless telephone terminal device (hereinafter, referred to as a telephone terminal) 8 for reading road conditions and the like from various information terminals using a public telephone line, and 2 for displaying various information including a navigation image for driving guidance. Display devices 1
0,20.

One of the two display devices 10, 20 is arranged in the driver's seat of the vehicle and serves as driver display means for guiding (displaying) various information to the driver. The front display device, the other display device 20,
The rear seat display device is disposed in a rear seat of a vehicle and serves as a passenger display means for guiding (displaying) various kinds of information to a passenger sitting in the rear seat. Each of these display devices 10 and 20 is a display unit 1 composed of a CRT, an LCD, or the like.
2, 22 as well as operation units 14, 2 as operation input means
4 is provided.

Next, the GPS receiver 2 and the CD-ROM changer 4 are connected to the navigation control unit 32 in the control device 30, and the FM multiplex receiver 6 and the telephone terminal 8
Is connected to the information display control unit 34 in the control device 30,
The operation units 14 and 24 for the front and rear seats are connected to an output control unit 50 in the control device 30. Each of the control units 32, 34, and 50 in the control device 30 is configured by a dedicated microcomputer.

Here, the navigation control unit 32
Using the travel information of the vehicle such as the current location detected by the PS receiver 2 and the map data read from the CD-ROM via the CD-ROM changer 4, image data for travel guidance (image data for navigation) DNAV And voice data ANAV for operation guidance related to navigation control and voice data for navigation guidance as needed.

When the navigation control unit 32 generates the navigation image data DNAV, it generates the
M (VRAM) 36, and furthermore, a video signal output unit 4
By supplying the synchronization signal SYNC to 0, the video signal output unit 40 converts the navigation image data DNAV stored in the VRAM 36 into a navigation video signal VNAV and outputs it.
Further, when audio data (navigation audio data) ANAV for travel guidance and operation guidance is generated, this is output to the audio signal output unit 48.

On the other hand, the information display control unit 34 generates image data (information display image data) DINF for displaying the information from the information obtained via the FM multiplex receiver 6 or the telephone terminal 8, This is for generating voice data AINF for operation guidance (information display voice data) related to information display as required.

When the information display control unit 34 generates the image data DINF for information display, the information display control unit 34
The video signal output unit 42 supplies the video signal output unit 42 with the synchronization signal SYNC.
The information display image data DINF stored in M38 is converted into an information display video signal VINF and output. When the information display audio data AINF is generated, it is output to the audio signal output unit 48.

When audio data ANAV and AINF are input from the navigation control unit 32 or the information display control unit 34, the audio signal output unit 48 converts the audio data into analog audio signals and is separately mounted on the vehicle. By outputting the audio to an audio device including an amplifier, a speaker, and the like, a sound for traveling guidance or operation guidance is generated.

Next, the output control unit 50 operates the operation unit 14.
Or a command for navigation control such as changing the scale of the display map, changing the destination, or correcting the current location detected by the GPS receiver 2, or receiving the command from the FM multiplex receiver 6. Command for information display control, such as changing the receiving channel of the information terminal, inputting the telephone number of the information terminal called from the telephone terminal 8, and changing the display information, or displaying the display images on the display units 12 and 22 from the navigation image. It is determined whether the command is an image switching command for switching to an image or vice versa.

When the input command is a command for navigation control, the navigation control unit 32 sends a control signal (navigation control signal) CNAV corresponding to the content of the command.
If the input command is an information display control command, a control signal (information display control signal) CINF corresponding to the content of the command is output to the information display control unit 34.

When the input command is an image switching command, the front or rear seat video switch 46 or 46 is switched in accordance with the content of the command to switch the front or rear seat video switch. Are switched to the navigation video signal VNAV or the information display video signal VINF.

That is, the video signal output section 40 for outputting the navigation video signal VNAV and the video signal output section 42 for outputting the information display video signal VINF are provided with a front-seat video switch 44 and a rear-seat video switch, respectively. 46, and each of these video changeover switches 44 and 46 is
Since each of the two video signals VNAV and VINF can be selectively output to the corresponding display sections 12 and 22, respectively, the output control section 50 controls the respective video changeover switches 44. , 46 are selectively output to the display units 12, 22 by the front and rear operation units 1.
Switching is performed in accordance with the video switching command from 4, 24.

Therefore, according to the navigation device of the present embodiment, the driver and the passenger sitting on the backseat respectively
The image displayed on the display units 12 and 22 can be arbitrarily selected as either the navigation image or the information display image. For example, the driver can display the information display image obtained by the FM multiplex receiver 6 or the like on the display unit. When displayed on the display 12, a passenger in the rear seat can display a navigation image on the display unit 22 to set a destination or the like.

However, as described above, the driver operates the display unit 12.
When the information display image is displayed on the display unit, the navigation control unit 32 outputs voice data for traveling guidance in conjunction with the display of the navigation image on the display unit 22 of the rear seat, When the operation unit 24 is operated and the navigation control unit 32 or the information display control unit 34 outputs voice data for operation guidance, the voice signal output unit 4
8, an audio signal is output to the audio device, and a guidance sound flows in the vehicle. Then, at this time, if the driver does not know that the guidance sound is played,
The driver may erroneously recognize that the sound is related to the display screen of the display unit 12 and may not be able to concentrate on driving the vehicle.

Therefore, in the navigation device of this embodiment, the operation mode of the device is set such that the output of the audio signal from the audio signal output unit 48 is prohibited when the navigation image is not displayed on the display unit 12 on the driver side. And a voice output prohibition mode.

The audio output setting process executed for setting the operation mode, and the audio output inhibition process executed for actually inhibiting the audio output when the audio output inhibition mode is set Will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The audio output setting process shown in FIG.
This is a process executed in the output control unit 50 when a voice output setting command is input from 4 or 24. When the process is started, first, in S110 (S represents a step), the voice output setting is performed. Message on the operation unit 14 or the display unit 1 on the side of the operation unit 24 to which the voice output setting command is input.
2 or 22 is displayed. For example, the control unit (the navigation control unit 32 or the information display control unit 34) that identifies the type of the image displayed on the display unit 12 or 22 of the seat that has input the voice output setting command and outputs the image. )
Then, by generating image data including a voice setting message, the message is displayed on the display unit on the operation unit side to which the voice output setting command has been input.

Then, in S120, the process waits for the driver or passenger to input a setting command for prohibiting or canceling the voice output in accordance with the displayed message screen. When the setting command is input, the process proceeds to S130. It is determined whether the prohibition of the audio output has been set. Then, when the prohibition of the audio output is set, the audio output prohibition mode is set by setting the audio output prohibition flag F1 in S140, and when the prohibition of the audio output is released, , S1
At 50, the voice output prohibition mode is released by resetting the voice output prohibition flag. And finally,
In S160, the voice output setting message displayed in S110 is deleted, and the process ends.

Next, the audio output prohibition process shown in FIG. 3 is performed together with the process of switching the front seat video switch 44 when a command to switch the video of the display unit 12 is input from the operation unit 14 of the front seat. This process is executed by the output control unit 50. When the process is started, first, in S210, it is determined whether or not the navigation image is to be displayed on the display unit 12 in the front seat by the video switching (the Is the seat a navigation video?) If the front seat is not a navigation image, the process proceeds to S220 to determine whether the audio output prohibition flag F is set. If the audio output prohibition flag is set, the process proceeds to S230. Then, an audio output prohibition signal SAUD for stopping the output of the audio signal is output to the audio signal output unit 48, and the process is terminated. As a result, the output of the audio signal from the audio signal output unit 48 is stopped.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S210 that the front seat is a navigation image, or if it is determined in S220 that the audio output inhibition flag F has been reset, it is not necessary to inhibit the audio output. Therefore, in S240, the output of the audio output inhibition signal SAUD to the audio signal output unit 48 is stopped, and the process ends. As a result, thereafter, the navigation control unit 32 or the information display control unit 34
The audio data output from is converted into an audio signal by the audio signal output unit 48, output to the audio equipment, and the guidance voice is output into the vehicle interior.

As described above, in the navigation device of the present embodiment, if the voice output prohibition mode is set by operating the operation units 14 and 24, when the image of the display unit 12 in the front seat is not a navigation image. When the image is an information display image, the output of the audio signal from the audio signal output unit 48 is prohibited, and no sound for traveling guidance and operation guidance is generated in the vehicle interior. Therefore, the driver does not erroneously recognize a sound that is not related to the image displayed on the display unit 12, and the driver can concentrate on driving the vehicle, thereby improving safety. Further, according to the present embodiment, if the voice output prohibition mode is canceled by operating the operation units 12 and 22, the guidance voice can be always generated regardless of the image displayed on the display unit 12. , The usability can be improved.

Here, in the above embodiment, the front seat display device 1
Although the case has been described in which the control unit 0 and the rear-seat display device 20 are controlled by one control device 30, the present invention provides a GPS receiver 62, a CD-ROM player 64,
Operation input device 66, display device 68, audio output device 69,
And a navigation device 60 including a navigation control device 70 for the front seat, and a GPS receiver 82,
Even in a navigation system in which a navigation device 80 including a CD-ROM player 84, an operation input device 86, a display device 88, a sound output device 89, and a navigation control device 90 is used for a rear seat, the navigation control device 70, 90 Are connected by the communication line 92, the present invention can be easily realized.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when general navigation devices 60 and 80 each having one display device and one operation input device are directly mounted on a vehicle, each of the navigation devices 60 and 80 is completely Operate independently of each other, so that the navigation control devices 70, 90 that execute the navigation control in each device 60, 80
Have a communication function, and each of the navigation devices 60, 80
The data for navigation is shared between them, and their operations are linked.

Then, the navigation control device 9 in the rear seat
When 0 outputs sound for traveling guidance or operation guidance from the sound output device 89, communication is performed with the navigation control device 70 in the front seat by the communication procedure shown in FIG. 5, for example. The permission of voice output is obtained from the 70 side.

Hereinafter, this communication procedure will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the navigation control device 90 in the rear seat is
When outputting the guidance voice, the voice output process is started and a permission request for voice output is transmitted to the navigation control device 70 in the front seat (S310). Upon receiving this permission request, the front navigation control device 70 activates a permission signal output process, and determines whether or not the navigation image is currently being displayed on the display device 68 (whether or not the navigation image is being output). (S410). If the navigation video is being output, a voice output permission is transmitted to the navigation control device 90 in the rear seat (S420). Conversely, if the navigation video is not being output, a voice output non-permission is transmitted (step S420). S430), the permission signal output process ends.

On the other hand, the navigation control device 90 in the rear seat
After transmitting the voice output permission request, the side waits for a voice output permission or non-permission response signal to be transmitted from the navigation control device 70 at the front seat (S320). It is determined whether the signal is a signal for permitting audio output (S330). If the response signal is a signal for permitting audio output, the audio output device 8
9, an audio signal is output (S 340), and the audio output processing ends, otherwise, the audio output processing ends without outputting an audio signal.

As a result, the rear-seat navigation device 80
In this case, only when the front-seat navigation device 60 displays the navigation image on the display device 68, the guidance sound is output, and the sound is prevented from hindering the driving of the driver. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire navigation device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an audio output setting process executed by an output control unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a sound output prohibition process executed by the output control unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows two navigation devices in the front seat (driver seat).
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation system arranged at a rear seat (rear seat).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a communication procedure executed between navigation devices in order to implement the present invention in the system of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 front display device 20 rear display device 12,
Reference Signs List 22 display unit 14, 24 operation unit 30 control device 32 navigation control unit 34 information display control unit 36, 38 VRAM 40, 42 video signal output unit 44 front video switching switch 46 rear video Changeover switch 48 ... Sound signal output unit 50 ... Output control unit 60 ... Navigation device for front seat 80 ... Navigation device for rear seat 66,86 ... Operation input device 68,88 ... Display device 69,89 ... Sound output device 70,90 ... Navigation control device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A driver display means disposed near a driver's seat of a vehicle, one or more passenger display means disposed near a seat other than the driver's seat, and a display means disposed near each of the display means. A plurality of operation input means for inputting various commands by an external operation, and in accordance with the command from each of the operation input means, display a navigation image for travel guidance on each of the display means,
One or more navigation control means for outputting a voice signal for traveling guidance corresponding to the navigation image; a judgment means for judging whether or not the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means; According to the determination result of the means, if the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means, the output of the audio signal from the navigation control means is permitted, and the navigation image is displayed on the driver display means. And a sound output control means for prohibiting the output of the sound signal from the navigation control means if not performed. 2. An operation guidance voice output unit for outputting a voice signal for operation guidance when each of the operation input units is operated, wherein the voice output control unit includes a voice signal from the operation guidance voice output unit. In regard to the output, according to the determination result of the determination unit, the output is permitted only when the navigation image is displayed on the driver display unit, and is not displayed on the driver display unit unless the navigation image is displayed. 2. The vehicular navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal output from the operation guide audio output means is prohibited. 3. The vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising a voice output control prohibiting unit that prohibits the operation of the voice output control unit in accordance with a command from the operation input unit. .