Voice guidance device and navigation device with the same

• US 20060020472A1
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Mitsui, Takao
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/033 Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/065 Aids for the handicapped in understanding

Abstract

For a voice guidance phrase, multiple voice data items having individually different voice ranges or frequencies are previously stored in a memory. A voice mixing unit chooses to mix three voice data items among the stored voice data items and thereby produces a mixed voice data item. A voice outputting unit converts the mixed voice data item into a voice and then vocalizes a voice guidance phrase via a speaker. A voice measuring unit measures a characteristic of a frequency, a volume, or a pronunciation speed with respect to a response voice responding to the outputted voice guidance phrase. A voice mixing unit produces a mixed voice data item having a characteristic similar to the measured characteristic and outputs it.

Claims

1. A voice guidance device comprising:

a storing unit that stores a plurality of voice data items for at least one voice guidance phrase, wherein each of the plurality of voice data items has a different frequency;

a voice mixing unit that mixes at least two voice data items of the stored plurality of voice data items to thereby produce a mixed voice data item; and

a voice outputting unit that outputs a mixed voice based on the produced mixed voice data item.

2. The voice guidance device of claim 1,

wherein the voice mixing unit mixes three voice data items of the plurality of voice data items,

wherein the three voice data items individually correspond to a low range voice, a medium range voice, and a high range voice, and

wherein the low range voice, the medium range voice, and the high range voice form a harmonic sound.

3. The voice guidance device of claim 1,

wherein the voice mixing unit mixes three voice data items, a frequency ratio of which is 1:

2;

4, to thereby produce the mixed voice data.

4. The voice guidance device of claim 1,

wherein the voice mixing unit mixes three voice data items, a frequency ratio of which is 1:

1.5;

2, to thereby produce the mixed voice data.

5. The voice guidance device of claim 1,

wherein the voice mixing unit produces the mixed voice data so that a voice volume of the mixed voice increases as time elapses.

6. The voice guidance device of claim 1, further comprising:

a voice detecting unit that detects a response voice responding to the outputted mixed voice; and

a voice measuring unit that measures at least one of characteristics of a frequency, a voice volume, and a pronunciation speed, with respect to the detected response voice,

wherein the voice mixing unit produces the mixed voice data item having a characteristic that is measured with respect to a response voice detected after the mixed voice is outputted.

7. The voice guidance device of claim 6,

wherein the voice mixing unit determines a mixing ratio of the at least two voice data items based on the measured characteristic, to thereby produce the mixed voice data item.

8. The voice guidance device of claim 6,

wherein the voice mixing unit produces the mixed voice data item constituted by a single voice data item of the plurality of voice data items, based on the measured characteristic.

9. A voice guidance device comprising:

a storing unit that stores at least one voice data item for at least one voice guidance phrase;

a voice producing unit that produces at least one voice data item for the voice guidance phrase from the stored at least one voice data item using voice synthesis, wherein each of the stored at least one voice data item and the produced at least one voice data item has a different frequency;

a voice mixing unit that mixes at least two voice data items of the stored at least one voice data item and the produced at least one voice data item to thereby produce a mixed voice data item; and

a voice outputting unit that outputs a mixed voice for the voice guidance phrase based on the produced mixed voice data item.

10. The voice guidance device of claim 9,

wherein the voice mixing unit mixes three voice data items of the stored at least one voice data item and the produced at least one voice data item,

wherein the three voice data items individually correspond to a low range voice, a medium range voice, and a high range voice, and

wherein the low range voice, the medium range voice, and the high range voice form a harmonic sound.

11. The voice guidance device of claim 9,

wherein the voice mixing unit mixes three voice data items, a frequency ratio of which is 1:

2;

4, to thereby produce the mixed voice data.

12. The voice guidance device of claim 9,

wherein the voice mixing unit mixes three voice data items, a frequency ratio of which is 1:

1.5;

2, to thereby produce the mixed voice data.

13. The voice guidance device of claim 9,

wherein the voice mixing unit produces the mixed voice data so that a voice volume of the mixed voice increases as time elapses.

14. The voice guidance device of claim 9, further comprising:

a voice detecting unit that detects a response voice responding to the outputted mixed voice; and

a voice measuring unit that measures at least one of characteristics of a frequency, a voice volume, and a pronunciation speed, with respect to the detected response voice,

wherein the voice mixing unit produces the mixed voice data item having a characteristic that is measured with respect to a response voice detected after the mixed voice is outputted.

15. The voice guidance device of claim 14,

wherein the voice mixing unit determines a mixing ratio of the at least two voice data items based on the measured characteristic, to thereby produce the mixed voice data item.

16. The voice guidance device of claim 14,

wherein the voice mixing unit produces the mixed voice data item constituted by a single voice data item of the stored at least one voice data item and the produced at least one voice data item, based on the measured characteristic.

17. A voice guidance method comprising steps of:

obtaining a plurality of voice data items for at least one voice guidance phrase, wherein each of the plurality of voice data items has a different frequency and at least one of the plurality of voice data items is read from a memory and others of the plurality of voice data items are synthesized from the voice data item read from the memory;

producing a mixed voice data item by mixing at least two voice data items selected from the plurality of voice data items; and

outputting a mixed voice for the voice guidance phrase based on the produced mixed voice data item.

18. The voice guidance method of claim 17, further comprising steps of:

detecting a response voice responding to the outputted mixed voice;

measuring at least one of characteristics of a frequency, a voice volume, and a pronunciation speed, with respect to the detected response voice; and

producing a voice data item for the voice guidance phrase, wherein the produced voice data item has the measured characteristic.

19. A navigation device including a voice guidance device comprising:

a storing unit that stores a plurality of voice data items for at least one voice guidance phrase, wherein each of the plurality of voice data items has a different frequency;

a voice mixing unit that mixes at least two voice data items of the stored plurality of voice data items to thereby produce a mixed voice data item; and

a voice outputting unit that outputs a mixed voice based on the produced mixed voice data item.

20. A navigation device including a voice guidance device comprising:

a storing unit that stores at least one voice data item for at least one voice guidance phrase;

a voice producing unit that produces at least one voice data item for the voice guidance phrase from the stored at least one voice data item using voice synthesis, wherein each of the stored at least one voice data item and the produced at least one voice data item has a different frequency;

a voice mixing unit that mixes at least two voice data items of the stored at least one voice data item and the produced at least one voice data item to thereby produce a mixed voice data item; and

a voice outputting unit that outputs a mixed voice for the voice guidance phrase based on the produced mixed voice data item.

21. A voice guidance device comprising:

a storing unit that stores at least one voice data item for at least one voice guidance phrase;

an obtaining unit that obtains a plurality of voice data items for the voice guidance phrase, wherein each of the plurality of voice data items has a different frequency, wherein at least one of the plurality of voice data items is read from the storing unit and others of the plurality of voice data items are synthesized from the at least one of the plurality of voice data items read from the storing unit;

a voice mixing unit that mixes at least two voice data items of the plurality of voice data items to thereby produce a mixed voice data item; and

a voice outputting unit that outputs a mixed voice for the voice guidance phrase based on the produced mixed voice data item.