Speech recognition system and method for an automotive vehicle

• US 4,593,403 A
• Filed: 09/29/1982
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kishi, Norimasa, Noso, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Kemeny, E. S. Matt
• Application Number:
  US06/428,232
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 381/41-43, 381/110, 381/86, 364/513, 364/513.5
• US Class Current: 704/243
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/00 Speech recognition G10L17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/87 Detection of discrete points within a voice signal

Abstract

A speech recognition system for an automotive vehicle sequentially activates at least one device having plural different operating modes in accordance with a plurality of spoken instructions without repeating the same phrase. To adjust fender mirrors, for instance, first the driver says "Mirror" while depressing a recognition switch to stop the moving mirror; secondly the driver says "Right, horizontally", thirdly the driver says "Right, vertically" after having depressed a reset switch; lastly the driver says "Stop". The speech recognition system comprises a reset switch, at least one device instruction phrase memory, plural operation-mode instruction phrase memories, and a reference pattern memory selector for selecting the device memory or an appropriate operation-mode memory, in addition to or in place of a section of a conventional speech recognizer.

Claims

1. A speech recognition system for an automotive vehicle for sequentially actuating a device having a plurality of different operating modes by a plurality of actuators in accordance with a plurality of spoken instructions coupled through a microphone, which comprises:

(a) recognizing means for separately recognizing a spoken instruction corresponding to (1) the device and (2) plural operating modes for the device and for deriving signals to actuate the corresponding actuators;

(b) first memory means for storing a reference spoken instruction signal corresponding to the device;

(c) a plurality of second memory means for storing reference spoken instruction signals corresponding to a plurality of operation-modes for the device;

(d) resetting means connected to said recognizing means for deriving a reset signal; and

(e) selecting means for connecting said recognizing means to said first memory to recognize the device instruction phrase and then sequentially to one of said second memory means to recognize the operation-mode instruction phrases and to actuate an actuator corresponding to the recognized operation-mode instruction phrases, the recognized spoken instruction phrase being cancelled in response to the reset signal, and the actuated actuator being stopped and the operation-mode being renewed in response to the reset signal, whereby the actuator corresponding to the recognized operation-mode instruction phrases can be actuated without uttering the same device spoken instruction repeatedly.

2. A speech recognition system for an automotive vehicle for sequentially actuating a device having a plurality of different operation modes by sequentially energizing a plurality of actuators in accordance with a plurality of spoken instructions uttered into a microphone, which comprises:

(a) a recognition switch (3) for deriving a recognizing signal when closed;

(b) a reset switch (103) for deriving a reset signal when closed;

(c) an analysis section (101) for analyzing spoken instruction signals supplied thereto by the microphone while said recognition switch is closed;

(d) a memory unit (10) for storing spoken instruction signals analyzed by said analysis section;

(e) a comparison section (102) for comparing the spoken instruction signals stored in said memory unit with previously stored reference spoken instruction signals and for activating one of the actuators separately when both the signals match;

(f) a reference pattern memory unit (11) including;

(1) at least one device instruction phrase memory unit (11-1) for storing reference spoken instruction signals corresponding to at least one device; and

(2) a plurality of operation-mode instruction phrase memory units (11-2) for storing reference spoken instruction signals corresponding to a plurality of operation-modes for the at least one device;

(g) a reference pattern memory selector (105) for switching connections which normally subsist between said comparison section and said device instruction phrase memory unit to establish connections between said comparison section and one of said operation-mode instruction phrase memory units; and

(h) a controller connected to said recognition switch, said reset switch, said analysis section, said memory unit, said comparison section, said reference pattern memory unit, and said reference pattern memory selector, said controller supplying various command signals to the entire system in such a way that;

(1) said reference pattern memory selector connects said comparison section to said at least one device instruction phrase memory unit for recognizing at least one device instruction phrase in response to the recognizing signal;

(2) after the device instruction phrase has been recognized, said reference pattern memory selector automatically connects said comparison section to one of said operation-mode instruction phrase memory units corresponding to the recognized device for recognizing one of the operation-mode instruction phrases to actuate one of the actuators corresponding thereto;

(3) the recognized spoken instruction phrase is cancelled in response to the resetting signal; and

(4) the actuated actuator is stopped and said reference pattern memory selector connects said comparison section to the succeeding one of said operation-mode instruction phrase memory units corresponding to the recognized device for recognizing the succeeding one of operation-mode instruction phrases to actuate one of the actuators corresponding thereto in response to the resetting signal,

whereby after a device instruction phrase has once been supplied to the system, it is possible to sequentially actuate a plurality of actuators corresponding to a device by closing said reset switch repeatedly and deriving only the operation-mode instruction phrase sequentially without uttering the same device spoken instruction repeatedly.

3. The automotive vehicle speech recognition system of claim 2, wherein said analysis section, said memory unit said comparison section, said reference pattern memory unit, said reference pattern memory selector and said controller are all incorporated in a microcomputer.

4. The automotive vehicle speech recognition system of claim 2, further comprising a display unit for sequentially indicating one of the necessary succeeding spoken instruction phrases and necessary messages thereon in letter form.

5. The automotive vehicle speech recognition system of claim 2, wherein said device instruction phrase memory unit stores reference spoken instruction signals corresponding to a fender-mirror actuating device and said operation-mode instruction phrase memory units store reference spoken instruction signals corresponding to one of right- and left-hand fender mirrors and one of horizontal and vertical adjustments, and actuator means for horizontally and vertically moving the right and left mirrors in response to an output signal of the comparison means.

6. The automotive vehicle speech recognition system of claim 2, wherein said device instruction phrase memory unit stores reference spoken instruction signals corresponding to a seat actuating device and said operation-mode instruction phrase memory units store reference spoken instruction signals corresponding to one of frontward and rearward seat adjustments and one of frontward and rearward seat back adjustments, and actuator means for the frontward and rearward seat adjustments responsive to an output signal of the comparison means.

7. The automotive vehicle speech recognition system of claim 2, wherein said device instruction phrase memory unit stores reference spoken instruction signals corresponding to door window actuating device and said operation-mode instruction phrase memory units store reference spoken instruction signals corresponding to one of right- and left-hand door windows and one of opening and closing adjustments, and actuator means for opening and closing the right and left door windows in response to an output signal of the comparison means.

8. A method of sequentially actuating at least one device having a plurality of different operation modes with actuators in accordance with plural spoken instructions supplied to a speech recognizer through a microphone and recognized by the speech recognizer provided with a recognition switch, a reset switch, a comparison section, at least one device instruction phrase memory unit, and a plurality of operation-mode instruction phrase memory units, which comprises the following steps in the named sequence of:

(a) determining whether or not the recognition switch is kept closed;

(b) if the recognition switch is closed, supplying at least one of the device instruction phrases to the speech recognizer for recognizing the device;

(c) recognizing the supplied device instruction phrase on the basis of at least one reference device instruction phrase stored in the device instruction phrase memory unit;

(d) changing a normal connection between the comparison section and the device instruction phrase memory unit to a connection between the comparison section and one of the operation-mode instruction phrase memory units in the system;

(e) determining whether or not the reset switch is closed;

(f) if the reset switch is closed, returning to step (a) above;

(g) if the reset switch is not closed, supplying one of the operation-mode instruction phrases to the speech recognizer for recognizing the operation mode;

(h) recognizing the supplied operation-mode instruction phrase on the basis of a reference operation-mode instruction phrase stored in one of the operation-mode instruction phrase memory units;

(i) actuating one of the actuators corresponding to the recognized operation-mode instruction phrase;

(j) determining whether or not the reset switch is closed;

(k) if the reset switch is closed, stopping the actuator and returning to step (e) above; and

(l) if the reset switch is not closed, supplying a spoken instruction phrase corresponding to device-stop to stop all the actuators and then return to step (a) above.