Arrangement for facilitating selection and activation of a voice control system by a vehicle operator

• US 10,137,849 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Aberg, Nina, Hildebrandsson, Fredrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Qi
• Application Number:
  US14/134,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20140207471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 704275, 704270, 7042701, 704231
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/28 Constructional details of speech recognition systems

Abstract

An arrangement is provided for facilitating selection and activation of a voice control system by a vehicle operator. The arrangement may include a switch selectively switchable between a first switch position (P₁) and a second switch position (P₂) and arranged to emit a signal when switched between the switch positions (P₁, P₂). The arrangement may further include a processing unit arranged to select, based on an interpretation of the signal, one of the vehicle voice control system or a voice control system of an external communication device and to communicate an activation signal to the selected one of the vehicle voice control system and the external communication device voice control system.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating selection and activation of a voice control system by a vehicle operator, the system comprising:

a switch selectively switchable between a first switch position (P₁) and a second switch position (P₂) and arranged to emit a signal when switched between the switch positions (P₁, P₂);

a vehicle voice control system;

communication means; and

a processing unit arranged to interpret the signal and, based on the interpretation of the signal, perform a selection of one of the vehicle voice control system or a voice control system of an external communication device to be activated, and communicate, via the communication means, an activation signal to the voice control system selected;

wherein one of the vehicle voice control system and the voice control system of the external communication device is arranged to be activated when the switch is brought to the second switch position (P₂) during less than a predefined time limit (T_L), and that the other one of the vehicle voice control system and the voice control system of the external communication device is arranged to be activated when the switch is brought to the second switch position (P₂) during at least the predefined time limit (T_L).

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein one of the vehicle voice control system and the voice control system of the external communication device is arranged to be activated when the switch is brought to the second switch position (P₂) once with a single-click, and that the other one of the vehicle voice control system and the voice control system of the external communication device is arranged to be activated when the switch is brought to the second switch position (P₂) twice with a double click.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein an activated voice control system further is arranged to be deactivated based on an interpretation of selected second switch position (P₂).

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the switch is arranged as a push button selectively switchable between the first switch position (P₁) and the second switch position (P₂), and that the first switch position (P₁) is a rest position in which the push button is positioned when not being switched by the vehicle operator.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the switch is an integrated part of a vehicle steering wheel user interface such that the switch constitutes a part of a vehicle steering wheel switch cluster, such that the switch allows the vehicle operator to activate one of the vehicle voice control system and the voice control system of the external communication device with his/her hands positioned in an ordinary steering wheel operating position.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the processing unit further is arranged to emit a signal when of one of the vehicle voice control system or the voice control system of an external communication device is activated, the signal is arranged to enable at least one of a haptic, optical, or acoustic feedback arrangement that provides the vehicle operator with at least one of haptic, optical, or acoustic feedback regarding the activation.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the activation signal is communicated via at least one of a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, CAN bus or other wired communication means.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle.

9. A system for facilitating selection and activation of a voice control system by a vehicle operator, the system comprising:

a switch selectively switchable between a first switch position (P₁) and a second switch position (P₂) and arranged to emit a signal when switched between the switch positions (P₁, P₂); and

a processing unit arranged to select, based on an interpretation of the signal, one of a vehicle voice control system or a voice control system of an external communication device and to communicate an activation signal to the selected one of the vehicle voice control system or the external communication device voice control system;

wherein one of the vehicle voice control system and the voice control system of the external communication device is arranged to be activated when the switch is brought to the second switch position (P₂) during less than a predefined time limit (T_L), and that the other one of the vehicle voice control system and the voice control system of the external communication device is arranged to be activated when the switch is brought to the second switch position (P₂) during at least the predefined time limit (T_L).

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein one of the vehicle voice control system and the voice control system of the external communication device is arranged to be activated when the switch is brought to the second switch position (P₂) once with a single-click, and that the other one of the vehicle voice control system and the voice control system of the external communication device is arranged to be activated when the switch is brought to the second switch position (P₂) twice with a double click.

11. The system according to claim 9 wherein an activated voice control system further is arranged to be deactivated based on an interpretation of selected second switch position (P₂).

12. The system according to claim 9 wherein the switch is arranged as a push button selectively switchable between the first switch position (P₁) and the second switch position (P₂), and that the first switch position (P₁) is a rest position in which the push button is positioned when not being switched by the vehicle operator.

13. The system according to claim 9 wherein the switch is an integrated part of a vehicle steering wheel switch cluster, such that the switch allows the vehicle operator to activate one of the vehicle voice control system and the voice control system of the external communication device with his/her hands positioned in an ordinary steering wheel operating position.

14. The system according to claim 9 wherein the processing unit further is arranged to emit a feedback signal when of one of the vehicle voice control system or the voice control system of an external communication device is activated, the feedback signal arranged to enable at least one of a haptic, optical, or acoustic feedback arrangement that provides the vehicle operator with at least one of haptic, optical, or acoustic feedback regarding the activation.

15. The system according to claim 9 wherein the activation signal is communicated via at least one of a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, CAN bus or other wired communication means.

16. The system of claim 9 further comprising a vehicle.