Indoor position information providing apparatus, position notifier apparatus and program

• US 9,869,747 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Inoue, Toru, Nakayama, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ratcliffe, Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): N'Dure, Amie M
• Application Number:
  US14/745,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20150378001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 367137, 367178
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/725 Marker, boundary, call-sign or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0045 Transmission from base station to mobile station G01S5/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves

Abstract

A position information providing apparatus for providing present position information to a position notifier apparatus is provided. The position information providing apparatus includes an ultrasonic wave output device for outputting ultrasonic wave and a controller for controlling the ultrasonic wave output device. In accordance with contents of the present position information, the controller sequentially selects a modulation frequency from among multiple detectable frequencies which are detectable by the position notifier apparatus and which are lower than an ultrasonic wave frequency. The controller controls the ultrasonic wave output device so that a maximum value or a minimum value of amplitude of the ultrasonic wave varies with to the selected modulation frequency.

Claims

1. A position information providing apparatus for providing present position information indicating a present position to a position notifier apparatus having a function to notify the present position, the position information providing apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic wave output device that outputs ultrasonic wave having a predetermined ultrasonic frequency;

a controller that

has a plurality of predetermined detectable frequencies which are within a frequency range detectable by a speech input device of the position notifier apparatus and which are lower than the ultrasonic wave frequency,

sequentially selects one detectable frequency as a modulation frequency from among the plurality of detectable frequencies in accordance with contents of the present position information, and

controls the ultrasonic wave output device so that a maximum value or a minimum value of amplitude of the ultrasonic wave varies with the selected modulation frequency, wherein

the ultrasonic wave output device includes

a plurality of first ultrasonic speakers for outputting the ultrasonic wave that is normal-phase, and

a plurality of second ultrasonic speakers for outputting the ultrasonic wave that is reverse-phase,

the plurality of first ultrasonic speakers are arranged in an outward spiral from a predetermined center point along an installation surface, wherein the installation surface is perpendicular to an ultrasonic wave output direction in which the ultrasonic wave output device outputs the ultrasonic wave;

the plurality of second ultrasonic speakers are arranged in an outward spiral from the predetermined center point along the installation surface; and

the plurality of first ultrasonic speakers and the plurality of second ultrasonic speakers are alternately arranged in an outwardly radial direction from the predetermined center point.

2. The position information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the ultrasonic wave frequency differs from each integral multiple of the modulation frequency.

3. A position notifier apparatus having a function to notify a present position, the position notifier apparatus comprising:

an speech input device for inputting ultrasonic wave outputted from the position information providing apparatus recited in claim 1; and

a position information acquisition device that

detects the modulation frequency of the ultrasonic wave inputted to the speech input device, and

acquires the present position from the ultrasonic wave based on the detected modulation frequency.

4. A program that causes a computer to function as the position information acquisition device of the position notifier apparatus recited in claim 3.

5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the program recited in claim 4.

6. A position information providing apparatus for providing present position information indicating a present position to a position notifier apparatus having a function to notify the present position, the position information providing apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic wave output device that outputs ultrasonic wave having a predetermined ultrasonic frequency;

a controller that

has a plurality of predetermined detectable frequencies which are within a frequency range detectable by a speech input device of the position notifier apparatus and which are lower than the ultrasonic wave frequency,

sequentially selects one detectable frequency as a modulation frequency from among the plurality of detectable frequencies in accordance with contents of the present position information, and

controls the ultrasonic wave output device so that a maximum value or a minimum value of amplitude of the ultrasonic wave varies with the selected modulation frequency, wherein,

the ultrasonic wave output device is configured to output a sound pressure level, the sound pressure level gradually decreasing with increasing distance from a center corresponding to a center position of the ultrasonic wave output device such that the position notifier apparatus calculates the center position relative to the center by detecting the sound pressure level of the ultrasonic wave.

7. A position information providing apparatus for providing present position information indicating a present position to a position notifier apparatus having a function to notify the present position, the position information providing apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic wave output device that outputs ultrasonic wave having a predetermined ultrasonic frequency;

a controller that

has a plurality of predetermined detectable frequencies which are within a frequency range detectable by a speech input device of the position notifier apparatus and which are lower than the ultrasonic wave frequency,

sequentially selects one detectable frequency as a modulation frequency from among the plurality of detectable frequencies in accordance with contents of the present position information, and

controls the ultrasonic wave output device so that a maximum value or a minimum value of amplitude of the ultrasonic wave varies with the selected modulation frequency, wherein,

the ultrasonic wave output device is configured to output two sound pressure levels, the two sound pressure levels denoting the sound pressure levels along different straight lines from a center corresponding to a center position of the ultrasonic wave output device such that the position notifier apparatus calculates the center position relative to the center by detecting the sound pressure levels of the ultrasonic wave.