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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus for a vehicle. More
particularly, the present invention is directed to a voice output device
of a voice navigation apparatus for improving the rate at which audible
navigation instructions can be recognized by a driver while the driver is
navigating a vehicle.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Conventional navigation apparatus have provided navigation instructions to
a driver, when the driver is driving to a desired destination. Such
navigation apparatus give instructions as to the correct route, so that
the driver can properly navigate to a particular destination even though
the driver is unfamiliar with the locality within which he or she is
driving the vehicle. Several recent developments have been made of such
navigation apparatus. Navigation apparatus have been provided which
display a destination route, and which give instructions concerning the
traveling direction to be taken at each spot, as necessary for navigation
of the vehicle to the intended destination. The instructions are displayed
on a display device such as a CRT display. The driver observes route
information by viewing the display device as needed.
A disadvantage associated with such display-type navigation apparatus is
that the driver must take his or her eyes away from the road in order to
view the display in order to obtain routing information as needed. In
order for the driver to confirm whether he or she is going in the right
direction without being distracted from driving the vehicle, the driver
must glance at the information on the display very quickly. However, a
mere quick glance at the display may not be a satisfactory amount of time
for the driver to sufficiently recognize and understand navigation
instructions given by the navigation apparatus. Should the driver stop the
vehicle in order to observe the display, the driver will delay the amount
of time it takes to reach the intended destination. Repeated stops of the
vehicle along the way will cause a large loss in time in reaching the
destination.
In order to address the above-noted problems, voice navigation apparatus
have provided voice navigation instructions, in addition to displayed
navigation instructions, displayed on, e.g., a CRT display. More
specifically, voice navigation apparatus have been provided with a
loudspeaker for outputting voice instructions. The loudspeaker may be
configured such that, for example, when it is determined that the vehicle
should turn to the right at the next intersection, the loudspeaker will
sound the words "turn to the right at the next intersection."
By the use of a voice navigation apparatus, the driver can audibly obtain
route information without taking his or her eyes off the road in order to
view a display. Thus, the driver can easily recognize navigation
instructions audibly. However, when a driver has not completely recognized
a voiced instruction sounded by a voice navigation apparatus, or when a
driver forgets an instruction, the driver will not recognize the
instruction's content and thus will be inconvenienced. In today's
high-speed and complicated traffic situations, quick decisions are
essential to proper and safe driving. If a driver fails to understand or
fails to hear an audibly indicated routing instruction, the driver may
miss an intersection, and thus may depart from the proper route to the
intended destination. Thus, it is important in voice navigation apparatus
that the driver can quickly recognize the content of the instructions with
only one voiced instruction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
voice navigation apparatus which allows the driver to quickly and
accurately recognize the content of voice instructions issued by the
voiced navigation apparatus. The voice instructions may include, e.g., a
route instruction for a vehicle, issued by a sounding of a loudspeaker.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a voice
navigation apparatus which orients an acoustic image of an output voice,
at a predetermined position, so that an instruction can be conveyed to the
vehicle driver more efficiently.
The present invention, therefore, is directed to a voice navigation
apparatus used for routing instructions to a vehicle driver, which
comprises various features related to the sounding of voice instructions
in such a fashion that a driver of the vehicle can quickly and accurately
recognize routing information.
In accordance with a particular aspect, the present invention is directed
to a navigation apparatus for giving instructions regarding a route to be
taken by a vehicle. The instructions are indicated as an audible voice.
The apparatus comprises a first memory device, a voice data selection
device, and a voice output device. The first memory device stores various
voice data for guiding a driver along a route to be traveled by the
vehicle. The voice data selection device selects, from the first memory
device, voice data according to a route to be traveled. The voice output
device audibly outputs the voice data selected by the voice data selection
device from a location that corresponds to a content of the selected voice
data.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the apparatus may
also be provided with a current position detection device for detecting
the current position of the vehicle. In addition, an input device may be
provided for inputting a destination, a second memory device may be
provided for storing map data, and a route determining device may be
provided for determining a route that leads to the destination input by
the input device. The determining device determines the route on the basis
of the current position detected by the current position detection device
and the map data stored in the second memory device. The voice data
selection device selects voice data from the first memory device in
accordance with the route determined by the route determining device.
The voice output device may comprise voice output members arranged at a
plurality of positions. Each of the voice output members outputs a voice
message. The voice output device may further comprise a device for
modifying the message output by the voice output members, so that a voice
message is output at one or more particular positions with respect to the
driver of the vehicle in a manner which corresponds to a direction in
which the vehicle is being guided.
The current position detection device may include at least one of a GPS
sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a steering sensor
and a beacon receiver. In addition, the content of the selected voice data
may include an instruction to change a route of the vehicle. In this
regard, the voice output device audibly outputs the voice data when the
vehicle is at a position which is a predetermined distance before reaching
a location at which the direction of movement of the vehicle is to be
changed. The voice output device may further output voice data
corresponding to a route to be traveled a plurality of times for each
instruction given by the navigation apparatus.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the voice output
device outputs voice data to form an acoustic image that causes a driver
of the vehicle to perceive that sound is coming from a particular
direction that corresponds to the direction to be taken by the vehicle in
continuing along the route of the vehicle. In accordance with a further
aspect of the invention, the content of the selected voice data includes
an instruction for the vehicle to change directions along the route, and
the voice output device outputs voice data in a manner that creates an
acoustic image which causes a driver of the vehicle to perceive that sound
is coming from the position that corresponds to a direction in which the
vehicle is instructed to be driven.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, the voice
output device creates an acoustic image causing the driver to perceive
that sound is coming from the position that corresponds to the direction
in which the vehicle is instructed to be driven along the route of the
vehicle. In this regard, the perceived position from which the sound is
coming is changed as the vehicle travels, so that the direction from which
the sound is perceived to come and the perceived distance from the
perceived sound to the driver change as the vehicle position changes.
The apparatus as discussed above may further comprise a vehicle speed
detection device for detecting a speed of the vehicle, and a direction
detection device for detecting a direction in which the vehicle is being
navigated. In this regard, the voice output device creates an acoustic
image based upon the voice data in accordance with a vehicle speed
detected by the vehicle speed detection device, and further in accordance
with the direction detected by the direction detection device. The
direction detection device may comprise a steering sensor, and may further
comprise a device for detecting the direction in which the vehicle is
moving based upon a steering amount of the vehicle as detected by the
steering sensor and further based upon a relative angle at which the
vehicle is moving with respect to a direction in which the vehicle is
traveling before the vehicle has changed its direction.
In accordance with a further aspect, the present invention is directed to a
voice-type navigation apparatus for providing instructions to a driver of
the vehicle. The instructions include audible utterances of directions to
the driver regarding a direction in which the vehicle should be driven
when the vehicle reaches a next reference position. A memory device is
provided for storing data representative of voice utterances of direction
instructions. A selection device is further provided for selecting various
words from the voice utterances stored in the memory device in accordance
with a direction in which the vehicle should be driven by a driver of the
vehicle when the vehicle reaches a next reference location. In addition, a
voice output device is provided for audibly outputting one or more of the
words selected by the selection device. In this regard, the voice output
device audibly outputs the one or more words at one or more locations with
respect to the driver, and the one or more locations are chosen and
arranged as a function of the direction given by the selected words.
This application is related to Japanese Patent Application No.
350,655/1992, filed Dec. 4, 1992, the disclosure of which is expressly
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is further described, along with other objects and
merits of the present invention, by reference to several noted drawings by
way of non-limiting examples of preferred embodiments of the present
invention, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall arrangement of a voice
navigation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a voice output operation of the voice
navigation apparatus;
FIG. 3 illustrates an explanatory view of the positional relationship
between a driver and an acoustic image formed by an instruction voiced by
a voice navigation apparatus according to a second embodiment of the
present invention; and
FIG. 4 illustrates an explanatory view of the positional relationship
between a driver and an acoustic image formed by an instruction voiced by
a modified version of the voice navigation apparatus of the second
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows the overall
arrangement of a voice navigation apparatus according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the voice
navigation apparatus depicted therein comprises an arithmetic processing
device 4, an input device 1, a memory device 2, a current position
detecting device 3, an image display device 12, a voice synthesis device
5, and a control amplifier 6. Each of the above-noted elements, including
input device 1, memory device 2, current position detecting device 3,
image display device 12, voice synthesis device 5, and control amplifier
6, is connected to arithmetic processing device 4 via various interfaces.
Right and left loudspeakers 7b and 7a are also provided, each connected to
control amplifier 6 via a respective speaker line.
Input device 1 is used for inputting position information including, e.g.,
an intended destination, the current position of the vehicle, and the
like, and comprises a touch panel for inputting information by directly
touching a display unit, provided, e.g., within display device 12, or by
touching a keyboard (not shown).
Memory device 2 stores road information including, e.g., map data,
intersection data, a destination list, and the like, which are necessary
to navigate (i.e., to perform route navigation). Memory device 2 may
comprise, e.g., a CD-ROM, an IC card, or the like.
Current position detection device 3 comprises a receiver (not shown) for
receiving a radio wave from a beacon (not shown), arranged in a GPS
(Global Position System) satellite or, in the alternative, arranged on a
road. Additionally, current position detection device 3 may comprise
various bearing sensing mechanisms (not shown), such as an optical gyro
sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and the like. Current position detection
device 3 may also comprise several elements also not shown in the
drawings, including a vehicle speed sensor, a wheel sensor, a steering
sensor, and the like. The current position detecting device 3 determines
the current (absolute) position of the vehicle, in terms of coordinates
representative of the longitude and latitude of the vehicle. Current
position detection device 3 mainly utilizes a GPS receiver in order to
determine the absolute position of the vehicle, and performs position
determinations with high precision in combination with data concerning the
actual traveling distance and the bearing of the vehicle as detected by
various sensors. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3a denotes an antenna of the
receiver (not shown). Antenna 3a may include several antennas with at
least one located at a front position of the vehicle and another located
at a rear position of the vehicle. The antennas may be positioned in this
manner in order to improve the precision of the GPS receiver (not shown)
within current position detection device 3.
Arithmetic processing device 4 makes various decisions necessary for
navigating the vehicle (i.e., performing route navigation) based upon
various data which is received from input device 1, memory device 2, and
current position detection device 3. Arithmetic processing device 4
comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 for performing functions such
as route calculation and deciding what travel direction should be taken.
In addition, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 8 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 9
are also provided, connected to CPU 10 via a bus line that includes, e.g.,
a data bus. ROM 8 stores various programs (navigation programs) and data
that is necessary for CPU 10 to calculate the route and to decide the
traveling direction. RAM 9 comprises a working memory for storing various
data such as the results of the route calculation and the decided
traveling direction.
CPU 10 confirms what the current position of the vehicle is based upon
coordinate data received from current position detection device 3, map
data received from memory device 2, and other pertinent information, and
determines a route to a destination in accordance with a navigation
program stored in ROM 8. In addition to determining the route for the
destination, CPU 10 also decides navigating directions for the vehicle.
The navigation directions decided by CPU 10 are supplied to image display
device 12 and are further supplied to voice synthesis device 5, so that
each of these I/O devices can provide an instruction indication
concerning, e.g., the traveling direction, to the driver.
CPU 10 also determines the output balance between the right and left
loudspeakers 7b and 7a in accordance with the travel directions decided by
CPU 10. Based upon the determined balance between the loudspeakers, an
appropriate control signal is supplied to control amplifier 6.
Confirmed current position data, calculated route data, map data from
memory device 2, and the like, are also supplied from CPU 10 to image
display device 12. The image display device 12 may comprise a CRT display,
a liquid crystal display, or the like. Display device 12 displays a road
map which is formed based upon map data and other related information
provided from CPU 10, and further displays the current position of the
vehicle also based upon information provided from CPU 10. In addition,
display device 12 displays the route that is calculated by CPU 10, and
displays a destination list, and other pertinent information, as a result
of information acquired from memory device 2.
During processing by arithmetic processing device 4, e.g., while confirming
the current position of the vehicle, setting a destination, and performing
other processing functions, various data is loaded from memory device 2
into arithmetic processing device 4. When new information, such as new
road information, is obtained, e.g., when the beacon receiver receives
information regarding a new current position from position detection
device 3, the new information is written from arithmetic processing device
4 into memory device 2.
Voice synthesis device 5 comprises a voice synthesis device of the
so-called record/edit type. That is, voice synthesis device 5 stores units
of audio information including, e.g., words and clauses such as "at the
next intersection", "right", and "to the", and edits these words and
clauses by combining the words and clauses to form messages such as, e.g.,
the message "turn to the right at the next intersection". The words and
clauses are combined (i.e., edited) based upon an instruction signal given
by CPU 10, and a resulting instruction voice is thereby synthesized by
voice synthesis device 5. The synthesized voice signal is supplied by
control amplifier 6 which amplifies the appropriate signals and forwards
the same to its appropriate speaker 7a, 7b.
Control amplifier 6 has speaker lines respectively connected to right and
left loudspeakers 7b and 7a, and adjusts the output balance between these
lines in accordance with a control signal forwarded from CPU 10. Upon
receipt of the voice signal from the voice synthesis device 5, control
amplifier 6 divides the received signal into signals to be forwarded over
the respective speaker lines, and amplifies the divided signals using a
power amplifier unit (not shown) on the basis of the adjusted right/left
balancing. Control amplifier outputs the voice signals to the right and
left loudspeakers 7b and 7a via their corresponding lines.
The right and left loudspeakers 7b and 7a are used to output voice signals
in the form of instruction voices, and are audibly arranged at right and
left positions of the driver of the vehicle. The right and left
loudspeakers 7b and 7a may comprise, e.g., loudspeakers of a car audio
system.
The operation of the voice navigation apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 will
now be described by reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram
representing the operation of a voice navigation apparatus such as that
shown in FIG. 1, when performing a route navigation operation. It is noted
that the image output operation performed by an image display device 12
(FIG. 1) is not depicted in FIG. 2. However, image display unit 12
appropriately displays guidance information such as information indicative
of the appropriate routes to a destination, direction instructions, and
the like, even though such steps are not referred to in FIG. 2.
In step S1, a driver inputs the destination using input device 1 (via a
touch panel, a keyboard, or the like). When performing step S1, CPU 10 of
arithmetic processing device 4 specifies the position of the input
destination in terms of the map data stored in memory device 2, and stores
the specified position in RAM 9.
In step S2, the driver manually inputs the current position (i.e., the
starting position) using input device 1, or, in the alternative, the GPS
receiver (not shown) located within current position detection device 3
detects the starting absolute position of the vehicle. CPU 10 thus
confirms the current position (i.e., a starting position), in step S2. The
confirmed current position of the vehicle is displayed, on image display
device 12, as a position on the map formed on the display based upon the
above-mentioned map data.
In step S3, CPU 10 determines a route to the destination based upon the
current position data, and the above-mentioned destination data, with the
use of various programs stored in ROM 8. This route is also displayed on
the map displayed by image display device 12.
After the route to the destination is determined in step S3, and the
vehicle begins to move, in step S4, CPU 10 confirms the road and position
at which the vehicle is currently traveling based upon the coordinate data
determined by the GPS receiver (not shown) and various sensors (not shown)
of current position detection device 3, along with map data stored in
memory device 2, and other pertinent information. The current position is
continually confirmed, on the basis of coordinate data supplied from
current position detection device 3, at predetermined time intervals, and
image display device 12 displays the confirmed current position as needed
while scrolling the screen as the vehicle moves.
In step S5, CPU 10 determines an instruction to be given (i.e., determines
an instruction content) based upon a decided traveling direction in which
the vehicle should be moving when it reaches the next intersection. The
instruction is determined based upon the current position data, and the
route data determined previously in step S3. For example, in step S5, CPU
10 may determine that the next instruction to be given is that the vehicle
should be turned to the right when it reaches the next intersection.
After the instruction content is determined in step S5, in step S6, CPU 10
determines whether the instruction content includes an instruction to make
a right turn in step S6, or whether the instruction content includes an
instruction to make a left turn in step S8. If the instruction content
includes an instruction to make a right turn, the process of CPU 10
proceeds to step S7. If the instruction content does not include an
instruction to make a right turn, then the process proceeds to step S8,
where a determination is made as to whether the instruction content
includes an instruction to make a left turn.
When CPU 10 determines that the instruction content includes an instruction
to make a right turn at step S6, in step S7, a control signal Q is
supplied to control amplifier 6, in order to set the right/left output
balance of the respective right and left speakers 7b and 7a as they should
be set when a right turn instruction is to be given. More particularly,
the right speaker is driven to have a high level tone volume and the left
loudspeaker is driven to have a low level tone volume.
On the other hand, when the instruction content includes a left turn
instruction as determined at step S8, in step S9, CPU 10 supplies to
control amplifier 6 a control signal Q to set the right/left output
balance to have an output state corresponding to a left turn instruction.
Thus, the control amplifier 6 adjusts the right/left balance of the
respective speakers 7b and 7a so that the right loudspeaker is driven to
have a low level tone volume, and the left loudspeaker is driven to have a
high level tone volume.
When the instruction content includes neither an instruction to make a left
turn nor an instruction to make a right turn, CPU 10 proceeds to step S10,
where control amplifier 6 is supplied by CPU 10 with a control signal Q
for setting an output state corresponding to a straight traveling
instruction or another appropriate guidance instruction. Thus, in step
S10, control amplifier 6 adjusts the right/left balance of the speakers so
that the tone volume level of a voice signal to be output to right
loudspeaker 7b is equal to that of the voice signal to be output by left
loudspeaker 7a.
Subsequent to setting the levels of the loudspeakers, in either of steps
S7, S9, and S10, a determination is made by CPU 10 at step S11 as to
whether or not the vehicle has reached the intersection at which the
instruction voice determined at step S5 is to be output. This
determination is made based upon the coordinate data, and other pertinent
information, forwarded from current position detection device 3.
If it is determined at step S11, that the current position of the vehicle
has reached the intersection at which the voice instruction should be
output by the speakers, CPU 10 will proceed to step S12, and the image
instruction signal is output to image display device 12, and the voice
synthesis instruction signal is output to voice synthesis device 5.
Upon receipt of the instruction signal, outputted from CPU 10 at step S12,
step S13 will be performed. In step 13, voice synthesis device 5 will load
the appropriate words, clauses, and the like, corresponding to the
instruction signal to be outputted, from its semiconductor memory, and
will edit the loaded data in accordance with a predetermined program to
synthesize the appropriate words in the form of a predetermined
instruction voice (e.g., "turn to the right at the next intersection").
The synthesized voice signal is supplied to the control amplifier 6, which
forwards the appropriate signals to the speakers.
The received voice signal is divided by control amplifier 6 into signals
for the two respective lines corresponding to the right and left
loudspeaker 7b and 7a. Control amplifier 6 has already set the right/left
tone volume balance in the processing steps of S7, S9, or S10. Thus, for
example, in step S14 when the instruction content includes a right turn
instruction, an instruction voice to turn right is output in a high level
tone volume from right loudspeaker 7b and the instruction voice to turn
right is output in a low level tone volume from left loudspeaker 7a.
The driver will thus hear instructions to take right turns (e.g., "turn to
the right at the next intersection) coming predominantly from the right
side, and the driver will hear instructions to take left turns (e.g.,
"turn to the left at the next intersection") coming predominantly from the
left side. The louder voice output will be to the right of the driver for
a turn right instruction, and the louder voice output will be to the left
of the driver for turn left instruction. When an instruction content
includes an instruction that does not concern turning to the left or to
the right, and includes, e.g., a straight traveling instruction, the
driver will hear an instruction "go straight on the next intersection" in
a central manner. That is, the volume levels of the left and right
speakers will be equal.
It is noted that a straight instruction is issued when CPU 10 determines
that the route of the vehicle need not be changed at the next
intersection. A voice output (e.g., indicating a straight instruction)
need not be generated for every intersection that is approached by the
vehicle, but need only be generated when the intersection is a principle
intersection. CPU 10 not only outputs information regarding the direction
to be taken at a particular intersection, but further outputs other
information concerning guidance of the vehicle including, e.g., the
distance from the vehicle to its intended destination. Such information is
required for route navigation as well.
In order to control the output states of each of the loudspeakers 7b and 7a
in step S7 or step S9, a difference between the tone volume levels of the
right and left loudspeaker 7b and 7a is set to be large enough so that the
driver will sense a significant difference in the voiced instruction's
volume level for the sound coming from either the left or right side. When
the right and left loudspeakers 7b and 7a are not arranged at equal
distances from the driver, the ratio between the right and left speaker
volume levels must be set accordingly, so that the total perception of the
driver is taken into account. For example, this may occur when the right
and left loudspeakers 7b and 7a are respectively mounted on the right and
left doors of a vehicle which has a steering wheel positioned at the right
side of the vehicle. In this case, the driver's ears are closer to the
right loudspeaker side 7b than they are to the left loudspeaker 7a. When a
left turn instruction voice is to be output, the volume level of the left
loudspeaker 7a is set to be significantly larger than that of the right
loudspeaker 7b. When an instruction content includes an instruction which
is neither a left turn nor a right turn instruction (e.g., to continue
straight), the volume level of the left loudspeaker 7a is set to be
slightly larger than that of the right loudspeaker 7b, so that the sounded
instruction is perceived by the driver to be of equal volume level from
the right and left directions.
Once the voice is outputted at step S14, CPU 10 proceeds to check at step
S15 if the destination stored in RAM 9 coincides with the current position
of the vehicle. If the destination stored in RAM 9 does not coincide with
the current position, i.e., if the vehicle has not reached its intended
destination, CPU 10 will return to step S5 to repeat the processing steps
pertaining to navigating through a next upcoming intersection. On the
other hand, if it is determined at step S15 that the current position
coincides with the intended destination, all of the processing operations
will end.
As described above, in the voice navigation apparatus according to the
first embodiment, the volume levels of the right and left loudspeakers are
controlled in accordance with the instruction content of the route
navigation instruction, so that the instruction direction (e.g., a left
turn direction or a right turn direction) coincides with the direction
from which the sound of the instruction voice is perceived to be coming
from. This allows the driver to be able to perceive the instruction and
understand the instruction based upon the driver's perception of which
direction the instruction voice is coming. The driver can thus more
readily recognize the content of the instruction.
Several variations may be made by one of ordinary in the art to the
above-described voice navigation apparatus of the present invention. For
example, in the first embodiment, a voiced instruction may be output only
once before the immediate intersection. Alternatively, a voice instruction
may be output two or more times; for example, an initial voice instruction
may be output at a position which is a predetermined distance (e.g., 300
m) before the intersection, and a later voice instruction may be output
when the vehicle is located immediately before the intersection.
As disclosed above, the right/left tone volume balance, controlled by
control amplifier 6, is adjusted based upon a control signal output from
CPU 10 which is located within arithmetic processing device 4. In the
alternative, a discrimination circuit may be provided for discriminating
the content of an instruction from CPU 10. Such a discrimination circuit
may be provided in addition to CPU 10, and may make the decisions of steps
S6-S10 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In such a case, a control signal
corresponding to t | | |
