On-vehicle input and output apparatus

• US 6,285,924 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Okamoto, Terumi, Oomuro, Katsumi, Sakai, Katsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/362,044
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/211, 704/272, 340/996, 345/326, 345/358
• US Class Current: 701/1
• 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: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00

Abstract

An on-vehicle input and output apparatus having a head portion and a body portion, has an information input unit for receiving input information in an on-vehicle environment, an information interpreter unit for interpreting the input information received through the information input unit to generate output information, and an information output unit for outputting the output information generated in the information interpreter unit.

Claims

1. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus, comprising:

a head portion and a body portion;

an information input unit receiving and interpreting vehicle environment information; and

an information output unit outputting the interpreted vehicle environment information in conjunction with movement of said head portion and said body portion.

2. A method of providing vehicle environment information, comprising:

receiving and interpreting vehicle environment information; and

outputting the interpreted vehicle environment information in conjunction with movement of a head portion and a body portion of an on-vehicle input and output apparatus.

3. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus having a head portion and a body portion, comprising:

an information input unit receiving input information in an on-vehicle environment;

an information interpreter unit interpreting the input information received through said information input unit to generate output information; and

an information output unit outputting the output information generated in said information interpreter unit, wherein said information output unit has a head motion mechanism for moving said head portion with respect to said body portion, and outputs the output information in such a manner that said head motion mechanism is used to move said head portion.

4. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information output unit has a voice output apparatus for outputting a voice, and outputs the output information through said voice output apparatus in form of voice.

5. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said information output unit has a head motion mechanism for moving said head portion with respect to said body portion, and outputs the output information in such a manner that said head motion mechanism is used to move said head portion.

6. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said information output unit has right and left arm portions, and an arm motion mechanism for moving said right and left arm portions with respect to said body portion, and said information output unit outputs the output information in such a manner that said arm motion mechanism is used to move said right and left arm portions.

7. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said information output unit has a transmitter apparatus for transmitting the output information to an equipment which alters in its state in accordance with information received, said equipment being set up in a car, and

said information interpreter unit generates the output information to alter a state of said equipment in accordance with the input information received through said information input unit.

8. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said information output unit has a transmitter apparatus for transmitting the output information to an equipment which alters in its state in accordance with information received, said equipment being set up in a car, and

said information interpreter unit generates the output information to alter a state of said equipment in accordance with the input information received through said information input unit.

9. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said information output unit has right and left arm portions, and an arm motion mechanism for moving said right and left arm portions with respect to said body portion, and outputs the output information in such a manner that said arm motion mechanism is used to move said right and left arm portions.

10. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said information output unit has a transmitter apparatus for transmitting the output information to an equipment which alters in its state in accordance with information received, said equipment being set up in a car, and

said information interpreter unit generates the output information to alter a state of said equipment in accordance with the input information received through said information input unit.

11. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said information output unit has a transmitter apparatus for transmitting the output information to an equipment which alters in its state in accordance with information received, said equipment being set up in a car, and

said information interpreter unit generates the output information to alter a state of said equipment in accordance with the input information received through said information input unit.

12. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information output unit has right and left arm portions, and an arm motion mechanism for moving said right and left arm portions with respect to said body portion, and outputs the output information in such a manner that said arm motion mechanism is used to move said right and left arm portions.

13. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said information output unit has a transmitter apparatus for transmitting the output information to an equipment which alters in its state in accordance with information received, said equipment being set up in a car, and

said information interpreter unit generates the output information to alter a state of said equipment in accordance with the input information received through said information input unit.

14. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information output unit has right and left arm portions, and an arm motion mechanism for moving said right and left arm portions with respect to said body portion, and outputs the output information in such a manner that said arm motion mechanism is used to move said right and left arm portions.

15. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said information output unit has a transmitter apparatus for transmitting the output information to an equipment which alters in its state in accordance with information received, said equipment being set up in a car, and

said information interpreter unit generates the output information to alter a state of said equipment in accordance with the input information received through said information input unit.

16. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information output unit has a transmitter apparatus for transmitting the output information to an equipment which alters in its state in accordance with information received, said equipment being set up in a car, and said information interpreter unit generates the output information to alter a state of said equipment in accordance with the input information received through said information input unit.

17. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information output unit has a transmitter apparatus for transmitting the output information to an equipment which alters in its state in accordance with information received, said equipment being set up in a car, and

said information interpreter unit generates the output information to alter a state of said equipment in accordance with the input information received through said information input unit.

18. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a microphone for picking up a voice, and said information interpreter unit has a voice recognition apparatus for recognizing a voice, and recognizes the voice to generate the output information.

19. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said information input unit has a sensor for detecting a predetermined environment condition in an on-vehicle environment, and said information interpreter unit interprets the environment condition detected by said sensor to generate the output information.

20. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said information input unit has a receiver apparatus for receiving information representative of a predetermined physical amount indicative of a state of a car, the predetermined physical amount being detected by a sensor set up in the car, and said information interpreter unit interprets the information received by said receiver apparatus to generate the output information.

21. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said information input unit has a receiver apparatus for receiving information representative of a predetermined physical amount indicative of a state of a car, the predetermined physical amount being detected by a sensor set up in the car, and said information interpreter unit interprets the information received by said receiver apparatus to generate the output information.

22. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a sensor for detecting a predetermined environment condition in an on-vehicle environment, and said information interpreter unit interprets the environment condition detected by said sensor to generate the output information.

23. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said information input unit has a receiver apparatus for receiving information representative of a predetermined physical amount indicative of a state of a car, the predetermined physical amount being detected by a sensor set up in the car, and said information interpreter unit interprets the information received by said receiver apparatus to generate the output information.

24. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a receiver apparatus for receiving information representative of a predetermined physical amount indicative of a state of a car, the predetermined physical amount being detected by a sensor set up in the car, and said information interpreter unit interprets the information received by said receiver apparatus to generate the output information.

25. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a microphone for picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit interprets to receive a greeting through a voice recognition and generates output information representative of a responsive greeting to the greeting, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

26. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has an acceleration sensor or a slope sensor,

said information interpreter unit interprets the input information as one of a quick acceleration, an emergency brake, and an emergency handle, and generates an associated output information, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

27. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a terrestrial magnetism sensor collecting direction data and a microphone picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit interprets an inquiry as to a direction of movement of a car through a voice recognition and uses the direction data to generate output information representative of the direction of movement of the car, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

28. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a microphone for picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit interprets a car head light control instruction through a voice recognition and generates an associated output information, and

said information output unit informs, in the form of at least one of voice and motion, of a matter that a head light is controlled, and transmits output information for a head light control to a head light control equipment.

29. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit receives car speed information, timing information, and photo detector information for detecting luminance,

said information interpreter unit uses the received information to interpret that a car is within a tunnel or out of the tunnel, by determining that a car is in motion and that a predetermined time elapses after a change in luminance is detected, and generate an associated output information, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

30. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit receives timer information and one of car speed information and vibration sensor information,

said information interpreter unit uses the received information to interpret that a car is in a state of a continuous driving over a predetermined time and generate an associated output information, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

31. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a microphone picking up a voice, and said information input unit receives timer information and one of car speed information and vibration sensor information,

said information interpreter unit uses the received information to interpret that a car is continuously driven over a predetermined time while no voice is input, and generate an associated output information, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

32. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit receives odor sensor information,

said information interpreter unit interprets driving under the influence of liquor using the odor sensor information and generates an associated output information, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

33. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit receives vibration sensor information,

said information interpreter unit interprets that a car is in motion on a bad road using the vibration sensor information and generates an associated output information, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

34. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a temperature sensor, and a microphone picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit interprets inquiries as to temperature of a car interior through a voice recognition, and generates an output information representative of temperature of the car interior, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

35. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a temperature sensor and a microphone for picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit determines in accordance with information from the temperature sensor as to whether a temperature of a car interior is within a suitable temperature limit, and when it is determined that the temperature of the car interior is out of the suitable temperature limit, and when an agreement of a temperature control is interpreted through a voice recognition, said information interpreter unit generates an associated output information, and

said information output unit informs, in the form of at least one of voice and motion, of a matter that an air-conditioning control is performed, and transmits output information for an air-conditioning control to an on-vehicle air-conditioning control equipment.

36. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a microphone for picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit interprets effective temperature information through a voice recognition and generates an associated output information, and

said information output unit informs, in the form of at least one of voice and motion, of a matter that an air-conditioning control is performed, and transmits output information for an air-conditioning control to an on vehicle air-conditioning control equipment.

37. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a microphone for picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit interprets auditory sense volume information through a voice recognition and generates an associated output information, and

said information output unit informs, in the form of at least one of voice and motion, of a matter that a volume control for an on-vehicle audio equipment is performed, and transmits output information for a volume control for the on-vehicle audio equipment, to the on-vehicle audio equipment.

38. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a microphone for picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit interprets an instruction as to a car interior lighting through a voice recognition and generates an associated output information, and

said information output unit informs, in the form of at least one of voice and motion, of a matter that a control for a car interior lighting equipment is performed, and transmits output information for a car interior lighting equipment control to the car interior lighting equipment.

39. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said on-vehicle input and output apparatus incorporates therein one of a portable telephone and a connection to a portable telephone,

said information input unit has a microphone for picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit interprets an instruction as to a portable telephone control through a voice recognition and generates an output information for the portable telephone control, and

said information output unit transmits output information for the portable telephone control to the portable telephone.

40. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a microphone for picking up a voice, and receives information detected by a sensor for detecting a predetermined physical amount indicative of a state of a car, said sensor being set up in the car,

said information interpreter unit interprets an inquiry as to the state of the car through a voice recognition, and generates an output information representative of the state of the car responding to the inquiry, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

41. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said on-vehicle input and output apparatus is connected to a car navigation system,

said information input unit has a microphone for picking up a voice, and receives information obtained through said car navigation system,

said information interpreter unit interprets an inquiry as to a navigation through a voice recognition, and generates an output information representative of a response to the inquiry, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

42. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said car navigation system connected to said on-vehicle input and output apparatus has a function that a landmark including a voice is applied,

said information interpreter unit interprets an instruction of applying the landmark through a voice recognition, and generates an output information as to a control of applying the landmark to said car navigation system, and said information interpreter unit receives an input of a voice to be associated with the landmark from said microphone, and generates an output information representative of the voice to be associated with the landmark through a voice recognition, and

said information output unit outputs the output information to said car navigation system.

43. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit receives speed information of a car,

said information interpreter unit interprets a delay of the car, and generates an associated output information, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

44. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said on-vehicle input and output apparatus has a camera,

said information input unit has a microphone for picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit interprets an instruction as to a photography through a voice recognition, and generates an output information for a camera control, and

said information output unit outputs the output information to said camera.

45. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a terrestrial magnetism sensor,

said information interpreter unit interprets a turn-right, a turn-left, or a turn of a car, and generates an associated output information, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

46. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has one of a timer and a clock,

said information interpreter unit interprets a time-up of the timer or an elapse of a predetermined time, and generates a predetermined output information, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.

47. An on-vehicle input and output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information input unit has a humidity sensor, and a microphone picking up a voice,

said information interpreter unit interprets inquiries as to humidity of a car interior through a voice recognition, and generates an output information representative of humidity of the car interior, and

said information output unit outputs the output information in the form of at least one of voice and motion.