Volume control of aural guidance of vehicle route guidance apparatus

• US 5,506,578 A
• Filed: 07/23/1993
• Issued: 04/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kishi, Hiroshi, Ito, Toru, Nimura, Mitsuhiro, Yokoyama, Shoji, Morimoto, Kyomi, Ohara, Shigekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/095,439
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995, 340/990, 340/996, 340/460, 340/902, 340/692, 340/870.28, 364/449
• US Class Current: 340/996
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice

Abstract

An apparatus to facilitate volume control for route aural guidance. When supplying a guidance voice to a loudspeaker 34a, a voice control section 30 disconnects the loudspeaker 34a from audio and outputs the guidance voice through the loudspeaker. A volume control screen is displayed on a display section 28 where the user adjusts the volume by touching the screen. When the voice control section 30 switches a signal to the loudspeaker 34a, a mute circuit 40a is operated to mute the voice output before the voice is output through the loudspeaker 34a. When the user terminates volume adjustment, the voice control section 30 outputs a voice for volume confirmation or check at the adjusted volume through the loudspeaker 34a. The user can check the adjusted volume at this time.

Claims

1. A vehicle route guidance apparatus which selectively outputs route guidance aurally through one loudspeaker, comprising:

a voice generation section which selectively generates a guidance voice signal for route guidance through only one of a plurality of loudspeakers of an audio apparatus whenever selective route guidance is needed;

volume setting means being responsive to external operation, for setting a predetermined guidance voice signal level;

guidance voice adjustment means responsive to said volume setting means for adjusting a level of said guidance voice signal to said predetermined guidance voice signal level and for outputting an adjusted guidance voice signal;

test voice means for selectively outputting a test guidance voice signal through said guidance voice adjustment means to said only one loudspeaker when a predetermined period of time has passed after said predetermined guidance voice signal level is set by said volume setting means;

a circuit change switch for switching an input to said only one loudspeaker between an output signal from said audio apparatus and either said adjusted guidance voice signal or the adjusted test guidance voice signal; and

a control section which controls the switching of said circuit change switch, said control section controlling said guidance voice adjustment means independently from a volume control means controlling a level of said output signal from said audio apparatus.

2. A route guidance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

volume control means for adjusting a volume of said output signal from said audio apparatus, said volume control means being controlled by said control section; and

muting means for muting said output signal from said audio apparatus before said control section switches said circuit change switch

said guidance voice signal being output to said audio apparatus, said audio apparatus then activating said muting means, and said control section then switching said circuit change switch to said adjusted guidance voice signal.

3. A route guidance apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said volume setting means includes voice-stopping means for changing said predetermined guidance voice signal level from a present level to an inaudible level after an OFF key is operated.

4. A route guidance apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said volume setting means further comprises voice-resuming means for changing said predetermined guidance voice signal level back to said present level from said inaudible level after said volume setting means is externally operated.

5. A route guidance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

a display section formed with a touch panel on a surface thereof;

wherein said volume setting means comprises volume control indicators displayed on said display section, said predetermined guidance voice signal level being set by a touch of said volume control indicators.

6. A route guidance apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said volume control indicators comprise a guidance voice volume increase key for increasing said predetermined guidance voice signal level and a guidance voice volume decrease key for decreasing said predetermined guidance voice signal level.

7. A route guidance apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said volume setting means further comprises an indicator indicating a current volume level of said predetermined guidance voice signal level.

8. A route guidance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

external operation detection means for determining an external operation of said volume setting means; and

said test voice means outputting said predetermined test guidance voice at said predetermined guidance voice signal level said predetermined time period after said external operation of said volume setting means is detected by said external operation detection means;

whereby said predetermined guidance voice signal level can be checked after said volume setting means is externally operated.

9. A route guidance apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

external operation time lapse detection means for detecting said predetermined period of time after said external operation of said volume setting means is detected by said external operation detection means.

10. A vehicle route guidance apparatus which selectively outputs route guidance aurally through a loudspeaker, comprising:

a voice generation section which selectively generates a guidance voice signal for route guidance through only one of a plurality of loudspeakers of an audio apparatus whenever selective route guidance is needed;

volume setting means being responsive to external operation, for setting a predetermined guidance voice signal level, said volume setting means including voice-stopping means for setting said predetermined guidance voice signal level at an inaudible level when an OFF key is operated;

guidance voice adjustment means responsive to said volume setting means for adjusting a level of said guidance voice signal to said predetermined guidance voice signal level and for outputting an adjusted guidance voice signal;

test voice means for selectively outputting a test guidance voice signal through said guidance voice adjustment means to said only one loudspeaker when a predetermined period of time has passed after setting said predetermined guidance voice signal level by said volume setting means;

a circuit change switch for switching an input to said loudspeaker between an output signal from said audio apparatus and either said adjusted guidance voice signal or the adjusted test guidance voice signal; and

control means for switching said circuit change switch to input either said adjusted guidance voice signal or said adjusted test guidance voice signal to said loudspeaker when said respective guidance voice signal or said test guidance voice signal is to be output through said loudspeaker, and for switching said circuit change switch to input said output signal from said audio apparatus when said guidance voice and said test guidance voice are not to be output through said loudspeaker, said control means independently controlling said guidance voice adjustment means separate from a volume control for a level of said output signal from said audio apparatus.

11. A vehicle route guidance apparatus which selectively outputs route guidance aurally through a loudspeaker, comprising:

a voice generation section which selectively generates a guidance voice signal for route guidance whenever selective route guidance is needed;

volume control key means responsive to external operation, for setting a predetermined guidance voice signal level;

guidance voice adjustment means responsive to said volume control key means for adjusting a level of said guidance voice signal to said predetermined guidance voice signal level and for outputting an adjusted guidance voice signal;

a circuit change switch for switching an input to said loudspeaker between an output signal from an audio apparatus and said adjusted guidance voice signal;

control means for switching said circuit change switch to input said adjusted guidance voice signal to said loudspeaker when said guidance voice signal is to be output through said loudspeaker, and for switching said circuit change switch to input said output signal from said audio apparatus when said guidance voice is not to be output through said loudspeaker, said control means independently controlling said guidance voice adjustment means separate from a volume control for a level of said output signal from said audio apparatus;

test voice means for selectively outputting a predetermined test guidance voice signal through said guidance voice adjustment means to said loudspeaker when a predetermined period of time has passed subsequent to setting said predetermined guidance voice signal level by said volume control key means.

12. A route guidance apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

external operation detection means for determining an external operation of said volume control key means; and

said test voice means outputs said predetermined test voice at said predetermined guidance voice signal level said predetermined time period after said external operation of said volume control key means is detected by said external operation detection means;

whereby said predetermined guidance voice signal level can be checked after said volume control key means is externally operated.