JP2001078276A - Remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] If the arrangement relationship between the remote control unit and the light receiving unit 32 is proper, the car audio device can be controlled relatively accurately, but the car audio device is exposed to sunlight as in a car. In such an environment, there is a problem that the light receiving sensitivity of the light receiving unit 32 is relatively deteriorated, and erroneous operation or inoperability may be caused. SOLUTION: When a sound signal associated with a control item is received, a control item is determined from the sound signal and the control item is controlled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device for remotely controlling electronic devices mounted on a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various methods have been used for remotely controlling an electronic device. Infrared (light), sound waves, radio waves in the radio wave band, and the like are used as a medium for transmitting operation information. In the case of sound waves, in addition to ultrasonic waves, voices have recently been used by voice recognition technology.

Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. In particular, assuming the operation of in-vehicle electronic devices and home electronic devices, the merits and demerits of each system will be described below. The infrared method has the advantages that the use of light allows the transmission speed of operation information to be extremely high, and that, in a use environment where the arrangement relationship between the operation unit and the light receiving unit is limited, transmission accuracy is high and erroneous operation is reduced. On the other hand, the limited use environment is also a disadvantage. In an environment exposed to sunlight, such as outdoors or in a car, there is a disadvantage that the light receiving sensitivity is relatively deteriorated and erroneous operation or inoperability is easily caused. Further, an additional device is required for audiovisual confirmation of transmission information.

[0004] The radio wave system has features such as high transmission speed, applicability to a relatively long distance, and low cost. On the other hand, there are drawbacks such as the problem of radio regulation, the problem of directivity due to the directivity similar to the infrared method, the problem of erroneous operation due to noise radio waves, and the necessity of an antenna, which requires a certain amount of size. Further, an additional device is required for audiovisual confirmation of transmission information.

[0005] The ultrasonic system has a lower transmission speed than the above two systems, but has a higher transmission speed than the voice input system described later by using a higher sound wave frequency and using a signal sound as operation information. can do. Relatively small size is possible. However, ultrasonic waves have a remarkable directivity as compared with sound waves in the audible range, and thus have a drawback that their use conditions are easily limited. Further, there is a drawback that ultrasonic waves generated from various objects such as a reflected wave of an obstacle and a running automobile are susceptible to interference, thereby causing an erroneous operation. Further, an additional device is required for confirming the transmission information.

The voice input method does not require an operation unit, can handle fairly complicated and diverse operation information, and the contents to be operated are obvious. That is, as an operation method, transmission and simultaneous confirmation can be performed, which has a function close to ideal. However, at this time, the effects of background noise such as running noise,
There is a drawback that erroneous recognition, that is, erroneous operation often occurs due to the influence of differences between people and occurrences, resulting in a reduction in transmission speed of operation information.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view showing an infrared light emitting type remote control unit which is a part of a conventional remote control device.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a battery serving as a power supply for an electronic circuit, 2 denotes a power switch for switching the power on / off, 3 denotes an operation button for selecting an AM station on a radio, 4 denotes an operation button for selecting an FM station on a radio, and 5 denotes an operation button for selecting an FM station on a radio. An operation button for selecting a CD performance, an operation button 6 for selecting a cassette tape performance, operation buttons 7 and 8 for tuning a radio or fast-forwarding a CD / tape, and operation buttons 9 and 10 for a receiving broadcast station or C
An operation button 11 for selecting a D / tape song is a light emitting window 11 that emits infrared light.

FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the remote control unit. In FIG.
0 is an electronic circuit switch, 13 is a switch circuit that outputs an operation signal indicating the open / close state of the electronic circuit switch 12, 14
Is a pulse modulation circuit for pulse-modulating the operation signal output from the switch circuit 13, 15 is an amplifier for amplifying the output signal of the pulse modulation circuit 14, and 16 is an infrared light emitting diode for emitting infrared pulse modulated light.

FIG. 41 is a perspective view showing a car audio device on which one component of a conventional remote control device is mounted.
In the figure, 21 is a power button of a car audio device,
Reference numeral 22 denotes a CD or cassette tape insertion hole, 23 denotes a CD or cassette tape eject operation button, and 24 denotes a sound source selection operation button group.
D, for switching the performance of a cassette tape or the like. 25 is an operation button for selecting a broadcast station or a CD / tape song, and 26 is a radio tuning or CD / tape.
An operation button for fast-forwarding the tape, 27 is a volume control knob, 28 is a window for receiving infrared rays, and 29 is a display unit for displaying the operating state of the car audio device.

FIG. 42 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the car audio device. In FIG.
An electronic circuit switch 31 for outputting an operation signal indicating an open / close state of the electronic circuit switch 30;
Receives infrared pulse modulated light emitted from the remote control unit and demodulates the pulse modulated light,
A light receiving unit that outputs an operation signal indicating the operation content of the operation buttons 3 to 10 in the remote control unit, 33 is an operation signal output by the light receiving unit 32 and a switch circuit 31
Is a control unit that outputs a control signal in accordance with the operation signal output from the control unit.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a cassette tape reproducing unit for reproducing a cassette tape based on a control signal from the control unit 33, 35 denotes a radio receiving unit for receiving radio based on a control signal from the control unit 33, and 36 denotes a control unit. A CD reproducing unit for reproducing a CD or the like based on a control signal of the unit 33, an audio signal processing unit 37, and an audio signal amplifier 38.

Next, the operation will be described. The car audio device is installed on the dashboard or front console in the interior of the car, and can operate a CD or receive a radio by operating the operation buttons 26 and the like, but can remotely control the car audio device. In addition, there is a type in which a remote control unit of an infrared light emitting type is mounted from the viewpoint of reducing the load on the driver while the vehicle is running.

More specifically, when a driver or the like operates the operation buttons 3 to 10 of the remote control unit, an operation signal indicating the operation content is modulated by the pulse modulation circuit 14, and infrared light is emitted from the light emission window 11 of the remote control unit. Pulse modulated light is emitted. When the light receiving unit 32 of the car audio device receives the infrared pulse-modulated light, the light-modulating unit 32 demodulates the pulse-modulated light and outputs an operation signal indicating the operation contents of the operation buttons 3 to 10 in the remote control unit.

In this manner, the control unit 33 of the car audio device transmits the control signal according to the operation signal output from the light receiving unit 32 in the same manner as when the operation button 26 or the like of the car audio device is operated. Thus, the car audio device can be controlled by operating the operation buttons 3 to 10 of the remote control unit without operating the operation button 26 or the like of the car audio device.

[0015]

Since the conventional remote control device is configured as described above, the car audio device can be controlled relatively accurately if the positional relationship between the remote control unit and the light receiving unit 32 is proper. However, in an environment exposed to sunlight, such as in an automobile, there is a problem that the light receiving sensitivity of the light receiving unit 32 is relatively deteriorated, which may cause erroneous operation or inoperability. In addition, since the arrangement relationship between the remote control unit and the light receiving unit 32 is limited, if the direction of the light emitting window 11 of the remote control unit with respect to the window 28 of the car audio device is inappropriate, the car audio device does not accept the operation and the car audio device does not accept the operation. There has been a problem that a lot of time may be spent on operating the audio device.
Further, if display means for displaying the operation state of the remote control unit and the like, for example, voice notification and character display means are mounted,
Although the operation contents of the remote control unit can be confirmed, the mounting of the display means increases the cost of the remote control unit and also causes a problem of increasing the size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can quickly control an uncontrolled object such as a car audio device without causing erroneous operation or inoperability even in an environment exposed to sunlight. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a remote control device capable of operating a computer. It is another object of the present invention to provide a remote control device capable of confirming operation contents without mounting a display unit.

[0017]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A remote control device according to the present invention controls a control item by receiving a sound signal formed by a musical sound associated with the control item, determining the control item from the sound signal. It is something to do.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, when the sounding means emits a monophonic or chordal sound signal having a different scale name according to the control item, the control item is determined by determining the scale name of the sound signal. It is like that.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, when the sound generator emits a sound signal having a different melody according to the control item, the control item is determined by determining the melody of the sound signal. .

In the remote control device according to the present invention, when the sounding means emits an audio signal having a different rhythm according to the control item, the control item is determined by determining the rhythm of the audio signal. .

In the remote control device according to the present invention, the selection means is constituted by a plurality of switches having a one-to-one correspondence with the control items, and the sound generation means is constituted by a plurality of sounding bodies emitting sounds having mutually different scale names. And when at least one of the plurality of switches is operated, at least one sounding body emits a sound.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, the selection means is constituted by a plurality of switches having a one-to-one correspondence with the control items, and the sounding means which emits a melody sound in accordance with the operation of each switch. Is constituted.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, the selecting means is constituted by a plurality of switches having a one-to-one correspondence with the control items, and the sounding means which emits a rhythm sound corresponding to the operation of each switch is provided by the sounding means. Is constituted.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, the sounding body is constituted by a plurality of oscillating sounders whose pitch frequencies have a natural fractional ratio with respect to each other.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, the selection means and the sound generation means are attached to a steering wheel of the vehicle.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, the frequency of the sound signal generated by the sound generating means is set in the audible range of 300 Hz to 3 KHz.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, a control item is determined by comparing the output waveform of the band-pass filter with the output waveform of the all-band filter.

The remote control device according to the present invention, when judging a control item by judging a melody of an acoustic signal, includes a numerical code of a template showing characteristics of the melody pattern;
The numerical code of the sound signal is subjected to a product-sum operation, and the control item is determined from the operation result.

The remote control device according to the present invention analyzes the zero-cross data sampled by the sampling section to determine the melody of the sound signal.

[0030] The remote control device according to the present invention is provided with presentation means for presenting the content of the control item determined by the determination means.

[0031] The remote control device according to the present invention is provided on a dashboard of a vehicle, and constitutes a presentation means using a display for displaying the contents of control items on a windshield.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, the presenting means is constituted by using a voice synthesizer for voice-synthesizing the contents of the control item and voicing.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, the selecting means and the sound generating means are constituted by using a musical instrument which generates a plurality of kinds of sounds.

[0034]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an interior of an automobile in which a remote control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is mounted.
Reference numeral 42 denotes a steering handle, 43 denotes a car air conditioner operating unit, 44 denotes an air outlet of an air conditioner, and 45 denotes an acoustic remote control unit of a remote control device, which is adhered and fixed to the surface of the steering handle 42 with an adhesive tape or the like.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a car audio device which is a controlled electronic device of the remote control device, and 88 denotes an acoustic remote control unit 4.
A sound collection hole for receiving an acoustic signal generated from 5, a speaker 48 of a car audio device 46, a windshield 49, a dashboard 50, a display unit 51 including a display such as an LCD (presenting means). The display unit 51 is mounted on the dashboard 50 immediately before the driver with the display surface facing upward, and creates a mirror image 52 using the light reflection effect of the windshield 49.

FIG. 2A is a front external view of the acoustic remote control unit 45, and FIG. 2B is a rear external view of the acoustic remote control unit 45. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 61 denotes a solar light receiving window, and 62 to 64 denote control units. Operation buttons for selecting items, 65
Is a sound emission hole for emitting an acoustic signal. The acoustic remote control unit 45 includes a sound generation unit 71 having a structure including a circuit board.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit of the sounding unit 71. In the figure, reference numeral 72 denotes a power generation circuit section of a solar cell, 73 denotes a secondary battery made of NiCd or the like, and 62
a to 64a are electronic circuit switches of the operation buttons 62 to 64, 74 and 75 are diode elements, and 76 is fa whose sounding frequency is selected within a range of 300 Hz to 3 KHz having good auditory sensitivity.
A sounder for generating a sound having a fundamental frequency of Hz, a sounder for generating a sound having a fundamental frequency of fbHz selected within a range of 300 Hz to 3 KHz having a good sounding sensitivity, and sounders 76 and 77 shown in FIG. It is assembled to the substrate so as to be located near the frontage of the hole 65. The operation buttons 62 to 64, the electronic circuit switches 62a to
64a and the diode elements 74 and 75 constitute a selecting means, and the sound emitting hole 65 and the sounders 76 and 77 constitute a sound generating means.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the car audio device 46. In the drawing, reference numeral 81 denotes a power button of the car audio device, 82 denotes a CD or cassette tape insertion hole,
3 is an eject operation button for a CD or a cassette tape,
Reference numeral 84 denotes a sound source selection operation button group, which includes an AM radio and an FM radio.
The user switches the performance of a radio, CD, cassette tape, or the like. 85 is an operation button for selecting a reception broadcast station or a CD / tape song, 86 is an operation button for tuning a radio or fast-forwarding a CD / tape, 87 is a volume adjustment knob, and 88 is a sound collection hole for receiving an audio signal. It is.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the car audio device 46. In FIG.
6 is an electronic circuit switch, and 92 is an electronic circuit switch 91.
A switch circuit for outputting an operation signal indicating the open / closed state of the switch, 9
Reference numeral 3 denotes a sound receiving unit that receives a sound signal emitted from the sound remote control unit 45, analyzes the sound signal, determines a control item, and outputs an operation signal, and 94 denotes an operation output by the sound receiving unit 93. Signal and switch circuit 9
2 is a control unit that outputs a control signal according to the operation signal output by the control unit 2.

Reference numeral 95 denotes a cassette tape reproducing unit for reproducing a cassette tape based on a control signal from the control unit 94; 96, a radio receiving unit for receiving radio on the basis of a control signal from the control unit 94; A CD playback unit for playing back a CD or the like based on a control signal of the unit 94, an audio signal processing unit 98, and an audio signal amplifier 99. The control means comprises a control unit 94, a cassette tape reproducing unit 95, a radio receiving unit 96, a CD reproducing unit 97, an audio signal processing unit 98 and an audio signal amplifier 99.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the sound receiving unit 93. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 101 denotes a microphone such as an electret condenser microphone unit for receiving a sound signal and converting the sound signal into an electric signal; 102
Is a microphone amplifier that amplifies the acoustic signal converted to an electric signal, and the microphone amplifier 102 constitutes a sound receiving unit together with the microphone 101. 103 is an acoustic signal Si amplified by the microphone amplifier 102
Is a signal determination unit (determination unit) that determines the control item by analyzing the control signal and outputs an operation signal So indicating the determination result to the control unit 94.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the signal determination unit 103. In the figure, 111 is a band-pass filter (hereinafter referred to as BPF) having a pass center frequency of faHz, and 112 is a BPF having a pass center frequency of fbHz. , 1
Reference numeral 13 denotes an all-pass filter (hereinafter, referred to as APF) for passing all signal components in a voice band (about 100 to 3000 Hz). Reference numerals 114 to 116 smooth a filter output and output a signal corresponding to an effective value of a waveform. (Hereinafter referred to as DET) 117 is a level comparison circuit (hereinafter referred to as CMP) for comparing the output level of DET 114 with the output level of DET 116, and 118 is a CM for comparing the output level of DET 115 with the output level of DET 116
P and 119 are CMPs for comparing the output level of the DET 116 with a specified level, and 120 is a microcomputer as an arithmetic circuit for identifying a control item from the comparison results of the CMPs 117 to 119. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the microcomputer 120.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the general operation of the remote control device will be described. First, the operator who is the driver operates the operation buttons 62 to 62 of the acoustic remote control unit 45.
When the driver 64 is operated, an acoustic signal is emitted from the sound output hole 65 as a sound wave, and is received by the sound pickup hole 88 of the car audio device 46 located at a spatially separated place.

The acoustic signal received from the sound collecting hole 88 of the car audio device 46 is input to the sound receiving unit 93 of the car audio device 46 and analyzed to determine a control item. An operation signal indicating the determination result is input to the control unit 94 of the car audio device 46 to actually control the control item (for example, playing a CD) or to display the content of the control item on the display unit 51. I do.

Next, the operation of the remote control device will be described in detail. The operation of the sounding unit 71 is as follows. For example, when the operation button 62 located on the left side of FIG. 2A is pressed, the electronic circuit switch 62a of the operation button 62 is closed, and the power generation circuit unit 72 of the solar cell or the secondary battery 73
Is applied to the sounder 76. As a result, the sounder 76 generates an acoustic signal whose fundamental frequency is faHz.

Similarly, when the operation button 64 located on the right side of FIG. 2A is pressed, a battery voltage is applied to the sounder 77, so that an acoustic signal having a fundamental frequency of fbHz is generated. When the center operation button 63 is pressed, the battery voltage is applied to both of the sounders 76 and 77, so that the sound signal having the fundamental frequency of faHz and the fundamental frequency of f
Sound signals of bHz are generated simultaneously. In addition, since the acoustic remote control unit 45 is provided with a solar cell and a secondary battery, when installed and used on a steering wheel of a car, the acoustic remote control unit 45 is constantly charged by sunlight entering through a window.
Maintenance such as battery replacement is not required.

The operation of the sound receiving unit 93 in the car audio device 46 is as follows. The microphone 101 of the sound receiving unit 93 is, as described above,
When a sound signal is generated from the first sounder 76 or the like, the sound signal is collected and converted into an electric signal, and the microphone amplifier 102 amplifies the sound signal converted into the electric signal.

When the microphone amplifier 102 amplifies the audio signal, the signal determination unit 103 analyzes the audio signal Si to determine a control item, and outputs an operation signal So indicating the determination result to the control unit 94. Specifically, the BPF 111 of the signal determination unit 103 receives the audio signal Si, executes a filtering process, extracts a faHz frequency component included in the audio signal Si, and outputs the extracted frequency component to the DET 114 as the operation signal So.

Similarly, the BPF 112 of the signal determination unit 103
Receives the acoustic signal Si, performs a filtering process, and outputs the fbHz frequency component included in the acoustic signal Si to the DET 115 as the operation signal So. In addition, the APF 113 of the signal determination unit 103 receives the audio signal Si, executes a filtering process,
(0-3000 Hz).

The DETs 114 to 116 are BPF1
When the signal output corresponding to the effective value of the waveform is output by smoothing the filter output of the APF
P117 is the output level of DET114 and DET116
And the output level of DET 114 is D
If the output level is higher than the output level of the ET 116, a positive logic level signal S1 (S1 = 1) is output, and the DET 114 is output.
Is not higher than the output level of DET 116, a negative logic level signal S1 (S1 = 0) is output.

Similarly, the CMP 118 is connected to the DET 11
5 and the output level of DET 116,
When the output level of DET 115 is higher than the output level of DET 116, a positive logic level signal S2 (S2
= 1) and the output level of DET 115 is DET 1
If the output level is not higher than 16, the negative logic level signal S2 (S2 = 0) is output.

The CMP 119 compares the output level of the DET 116 with a specified level Sn (for example, the specified level is a level corresponding to an equivalent noise level or a level corresponding to an audio reproduction sound level).
Is higher than the specified level Sn, a positive logic level signal S3 (S3 = 1) is output, and DET is output.
If the output level of the signal 116 is not higher than the specified level Sn, a negative logic level signal S3 (S3 = 0) is output.

The microcomputer 120 includes CMPs 117 to 119
Outputs the logic level signals S1 to S3, the control items are identified from the logic level signals S1 to S3.
Specifically, the control items are identified according to the procedure shown in FIG. First, the microcomputer 120 determines the logic level of the logic level signal S3 (step ST1). If the logic level is a positive logic level (S3 = 1), the background noise is considered to be large, so the operation signal So indicating the determination result is obtained. Is set to "-1" indicating that "operation is not accepted" (step ST2).

The microcomputer 120 outputs the logic level signal S
If the logic level of No. 3 is negative (S3 = 0), the logic levels of the logic level signal S1 and the logic level signal S2 are checked (step ST3).

If the logic level of at least one of S1 and S2 is positive, a specific analysis process is started.
Initialization of the cumulative variables SUM1, SUM2, SUM3, that is, setting of a zero value (step ST4), and subsequently, initialization of the counter I, that is, setting of a zero value (step ST4)
Perform 5). If none of the levels of S1 and S2 is positive, it is determined that there is no remote control operation, and the process of step ST21 (So = 0) is performed.

In step ST6, the level comparison circuit CM
The output of P waits for a time unit read by the microcomputer 120, that is, for a time Δt corresponding to the sampling period. This Δt is related to the time length of the sound signal to be sounded, in other words, the pressing time of the operation button 62 and the sampling number. For example, the minimum allowable time for pressing is 0.3
If the number of seconds and the number of samplings are 10, Δt is selected to be 30 milliseconds.

After waiting for one sampling period, the logic level of logic level signal S1 is determined (step ST).
7). If it is a positive logic level (S1 = 1), it is determined that an acoustic signal with a reference frequency of faHz is being generated, and the process proceeds to step ST8. If it is a negative logic level (S1 = 0), It is determined that no acoustic signal having the reference frequency of faHz is being generated, and the process proceeds to step ST11.

In step ST8, the logic level of the logic level signal S2 is determined. If the logic level is a positive logic level (S2 = 1), it is determined that an acoustic signal having a reference frequency of fbHz is also generated. Cumulative variable SUM
3 is incremented, that is, a numerical value 1 is added (step ST9).

On the other hand, if the logic level is negative (S2 =
0), it is determined that the sound signal of the reference frequency of fbHz is not generated, and the cumulative variable SUM1 is incremented, that is, a numerical value 1 is added (step ST10).

If the logic level determination result is negative (S1 = 0) in step ST7, the logic level of the logic level signal S2 is determined (step ST1).
1) If this signal is also negative (S2 = 0), a code "0" indicating that the button operation has not been performed is sent to S
o is set (step ST21).

The result of the determination in step ST11 is positive (S2 =
If 1), the cumulative variable SUM2 is incremented (step ST12).

The cumulative variables SUM1, SUM2, and SUM3 are incremented (steps ST9 and ST1).
After 0, step ST12), it is determined whether the accumulated variable value has exceeded the required number M (steps ST13, ST14, ST15). If not, the counter I is incremented (step ST16).

Further, the counter is set to the required sampling number N
Is determined (step ST17). If it does not exceed N, the process proceeds to step ST6 to continue sampling, and if it exceeds N, the process returns to the start (step ST1).

On the other hand, if any of the cumulative variable values exceeds the required value M (steps ST13, ST14, ST15), the operation signal So is set as follows according to the variable symbol.

When SUM1 is exceeded: A code of "1" indicating that the operation button 62 on the front left is operated is set (step ST18). If SUM2 has been exceeded: A code of "2" indicating that the operation button 64 on the front right has been operated is set (step ST20). When SUM3 is exceeded: A code of "3" indicating that the center operation button 63 has been operated is set (step ST
19). The required number M is smaller than the sampling number N.

As described above, the logic level signal S1
When the control items are identified from S3 to S3,
When any of the operation buttons 62 to 64 is operated (So
= 1, 2, 3), the operation signal S indicating the determination result
is output to the control unit 94 (step ST22,
ST23). The microcomputer 120 is provided with the operation buttons 62
When none of the operations No. to 64 are operated (So = 0),
If the background noise is loud (So = -1), the process ends without outputting the operation signal So indicating the determination result to the control unit 94.

Thus, the control unit 94 can receive the operation signal So from the sound receiving unit 93 when the operation buttons 62 to 64 of the acoustic remote control unit 45 are operated. As in the case of the operation, operations such as reproduction of a CD and reception of a radio can be performed.

Here, the display unit 51 will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 9, the display unit 51
A display 121 capable of displaying CD characters and the like;
It is composed of a cursor display 122 using a plurality of EDs (in this example, a structure in which five LEDs are arranged side by side). The display unit 51 is installed on the dashboard 50 with the character display surface facing upward near the windshield 49 that can be seen by the driver without moving his / her gaze during driving operation. However, the display unit 51 displays inverted characters in consideration of the mirror image being inverted.

Finally, a process for controlling the car audio device 46 will be described with reference to a transition diagram of the operation display screen of FIG. However, the operation display screen is the windshield 49
Is shown in the form of a mirror image shown in FIG. <Step 1> First, the driver operates the power button 81 to turn on the power to the car audio device 46 and the display unit 51. This operation is not remote operation. When the power is turned on, the display 121 of the display unit 51 displays the function operation state of the immediately preceding car audio, and the cursor display 122 illuminates and displays the state display position immediately before selection and determination (for example, FIG. ) Cursor display 122b
Is lit). In the figure, “AM”, “FM”, “C”
"D" and "TAPE" are display characters indicating states of AM broadcast reception, FM broadcast reception, CD reproduction, and tape reproduction, respectively, and FIG. 10A shows a state of AM broadcast reception.

Here, if the driver determines that there is no safety problem in the driving operation, the driver can operate the car audio device 46 by operating the operation button of the main body of the car audio device 46. Inside, an acoustic remote control unit 45 installed on the steering wheel 42 or the like for easy operation
Operate the operation buttons of.

<Step 2> When it is desired to switch from the current AM reception state to CD reproduction, for example, the operation button 64 on the front right side of the acoustic remote control unit 45 is pressed twice. <Step 3> The driver looks at the display unit 51 installed on the front windshield surface and sees the cursor indicator 12
It is confirmed that the cursor No. 2 shifts to the right by two and moves to the position where the character display section displays the character "CD" (the cursor display 122d in FIG. 10B is lit).

<Step 4> If it is confirmed and OK, the operation button 63 at the center of the acoustic remote control unit 45 meaning "selection decision" is pressed. As a result, the car audio device 46 switches from the AM radio reception to the CD playback function. Steps 2 and 3 are actually synchronized actions. This is similar to the act of using a mouse to change the function display of a personal computer while looking at the window screen of the display.

In step 2, an acoustic signal of fbHz is intermittently emitted twice from the sounding unit 71, and the sound receiving unit 93 detects and determines the sound signal. The sound receiving unit 93 transmits the determination result to the control unit 94, and the control unit 9
4 outputs a control signal to the cursor display 122 in order to shift the lighting position of the cursor display 122 rightward twice. Such a cursor display function can be realized by a method of transmitting a lighting drive signal from a control unit having a microcomputer function using a bar display in which many LEDs are arranged in a bar shape.

<Step 5> At the same time as switching to the CD playback function, the display unit 51 also switches to the CD playback display screen (see FIG. 10C). Where “≪”,
“≫”, “<”, and “>” are display symbols that mean one song left / right feed and a right / left fast forward of a reproduced song.

<Step 6> When the operation button 62 on the front left side of the acoustic remote control unit 45 is pressed once in order to advance one CD (track), a faHz acoustic signal is generated, and as a result, the cursor is displayed. The lighting position of the lamp 122 shifts to the left by one (see FIG. 10D).

<Step 7> Here, when the operation button 63 at the center of the acoustic remote control unit 45 is pressed, the function of the cursor position is determined, and the car audio device 46 reproduces the next song. <Step 8> When switching the sound source in this state, the operation button 62 on the front left side of the acoustic remote control unit 45 is pressed twice to shift the cursor lighting position to the position of “RETURN”. Further, by pressing the center operation button 63, it is possible to return to the previous operation display screen (FIG. 1).
0 (e)).

As is apparent from the above, the first embodiment
According to the above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Obviously, electromagnetic waves and light are not disturbed, and the audible sound wave of a sine wave causes a small reduction in the recognition rate due to the influence of vehicle running noise (which has strong randomness). (2) Because the signal sound has high auditory sensitivity and high recognition sensitivity,
Blind (no visual) which operation button was operated
You can check with. That is, erroneous operation and non-operation can be confirmed. (3) Since the propagation directivity of the audible sound wave is not strong, the acoustic remote control unit 45 can be freely placed and mounted. Therefore, it can be used by being attached to the steering wheel 42 that constantly moves during traveling operation. (4) Compared with a voice recognition device using sound in the same manner, the algorithm for signal sound recognition is simpler, and the analyzer can be configured with an inexpensive configuration.

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, the sounders 76 and 77 are used as sounding bodies, and the sounding is performed by an electronic circuit. However, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a natural musical instrument is used as an acoustic remote control unit. It may be.

FIG. 11 shows sounding bodies 131 and 132 based on the resonance principle of a metal piece lead having a structure like a harmonica.
This is an acoustic remote control unit in which two harmonica are arranged. The two leads are adjusted so that the fundamental frequency (= pitch) becomes faHz and fbHz, respectively.

On the other hand, FIG. 12 shows an acoustic remote control unit in which two sounding bodies 133 and 134 having a sound-generating principle of tube resonance having a structure like a pitch pipe are arranged in a pitch pipe shape. These acoustic remote control units normally blow their mouths in a manner similar to playing a harmonica or a pitch pipe.

In any case, two types of pitch sounds can be produced. However, in the drawing, only the left sounding body, only the right sounding body, or both sounding bodies can be produced simultaneously. , The front left operation button 62, the front right operation button 64,
And pressing the center operation button 63. The sound generated by the blowing is generated by the sound receiving unit 93.
The pitch frequency is analyzed, converted into an operation signal, and the display unit 51 and the control unit 94 are operated. Less than,
The operation is the same as in the first embodiment. Embodiment 2
The effect of (1) is that the acoustic remote control unit can be extremely simplified, and there is no need to prepare an energy source such as a battery.

The present invention is not limited to the three operation buttons and the two sounders described in the first embodiment, and is not limited to the two sounding bodies described in the second embodiment. Frequency pitch is different and audible range (300Hz
(3 kHz) and M operation button switches (or M ringing types), and each of the operation button switches is pressed (or ringed).
Thereby, one or a plurality of sounding bodies may be simultaneously sounded in predetermined different combinations, and M kinds of operation commands may be transmitted to the display unit.

Embodiment 3 In the first and second embodiments, the sound signal of a single tone or a chord having a different scale name is generated according to the control item, and the control item is determined by determining the scale name of the sound signal. A sound signal having a different melody may be generated according to the control item, and the control item may be determined by determining the melody of the sound signal.

FIG. 13A shows an acoustic remote control unit 45.
FIG. 13B is an acoustic remote control unit 4
FIG. 13 is a rear external view of FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, 141 is a solar light receiving window, 142 is an operation button group including a plurality of operation buttons for selecting a control item, and 143 is a sound emission hole for emitting a sound signal. As shown in FIG. 14, the operation button group 142 corresponds to operation buttons for remote control of the car audio device 46, four buttons for selecting a sound source, and two buttons for shifting a broadcasting station or a music piece. , Two for increasing / decreasing the volume and one for turning on / off the power supply. Also, the correspondence between the operation of these operation buttons and the action is
This is as shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the sounding unit 71. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Reference numeral 142a denotes an electronic circuit switch group of the operation button group 142, and 151 denotes a signal processing circuit that generates a melody acoustic signal formed by a harmonic scale tone selected within a range of 400 Hz to 3 KHz with good auditory sensitivity. The processing circuit 151 is, for example, a processing circuit that generates signal waveforms corresponding to a plurality of types of harmony melody shown in the melody column of FIG. An amplifier 152 amplifies the audio signal generated from the signal processing circuit 151, and a speaker 153 emits the audio signal amplified by the amplifier 152. The operation button group 14
2 and an electronic circuit switch group 142a, a selection means is constituted, and the sound output hole 143, the signal processing circuit 151, the amplifier 15
2 and a speaker 153 constitute a sound generator.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the signal processing circuit 151. In the drawing, reference numerals 161 to 164 denote BPFs whose passing center frequencies are pitch frequencies of a harmonic scale tone.
In particular, BPF 161 is A4 (440 Hz), BPF
PF162 is C ^# 5 (550Hz), BPF163 is E
5 (660 Hz), BPF 164 is A5 (880 Hz)
Has a pass center frequency of 165 is a voice band (about 10
0-3000 Hz) APF that passes all signal components,
DETs 166 to 170 smooth the filter output and output a signal corresponding to the effective value of the waveform, and 171 to 174 denote the output levels of DETs 166 to 169 and DET1, respectively.
CMP for comparing the output levels of DET 70 and DET 1
CMP for comparing the output level of 70 with a prescribed level, 17
Reference numeral 6 denotes a microcomputer for identifying a control item from the comparison results of the CMPs 171 to 175. The microcomputer 176 stores a melody pattern corresponding to each electronic circuit switch 142a and an analysis data memory for storing analysis data (numerical code) of the melody pattern. Have.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are flowcharts showing the processing contents of the microcomputer 176. 1 and 4,
FIGS. 5 and 6 are drawings common to the remote control device according to the first embodiment.

First, the general operation of the remote control device will be described. First, when an operator as a driver operates the operation button group 142 of the acoustic remote control unit 45, an acoustic signal is emitted as sound waves from the sound emission holes 143, and the sound signal of the car audio device 46 located at a spatially distant place is provided. Sound is received by the sound collection hole 88.

The sound signal received from the sound collecting hole 88 of the car audio device 46 is input to the sound receiving unit 93 of the car audio device 46 and analyzed to determine a control item. An operation signal indicating the determination result is input to the control unit 94 of the car audio device 46 to actually control the control item (for example, playing a CD) or to display the content of the control item on the display unit 51. I do.

Next, the operation of the remote control device will be described in detail. The operation of the sound generation unit 71 shown in FIG. 15 is as follows. When one of the operation buttons in the operation button group 142 is pressed, the electronic circuit switch corresponding to the operation button is closed. The signal processing circuit 151 monitors the open / closed state of the electronic circuit switch group 142a, and when a certain electronic circuit switch is closed, selects a melody pattern corresponding to the electronic circuit switch (see FIG. 19) and outputs the selected melody pattern. The waveform signal of the pattern is output to the amplifier 152. Then, after the amplifier 152 amplifies the waveform signal, the speaker 153 emits sound as an acoustic signal from the sound output hole 143 to the outside.

The operation of the sound receiving unit 93 in the car audio device 46 is as follows. The microphone 101 of the sound receiving unit 93 is, as described above,
When an audio signal is generated from one speaker 153, the audio signal is collected and converted into an electric signal, and the microphone amplifier 102 amplifies the audio signal converted into the electric signal.

When the microphone amplifier 102 amplifies the audio signal, the signal determination unit 103 analyzes the audio signal Si to determine a control item, and outputs an operation signal So indicating the determination result to the control unit 94.

More specifically, the BPF 1
Reference numerals 61 to 164 input the acoustic signal Si, execute filtering processing, and execute A filtering included in the acoustic signal Si, respectively.
4 (440 Hz), C ^# 5 (550 Hz), E5 (66
0 Hz) and A5 (880 Hz) frequency components are extracted and output to DETs 166 to 169. Also, the signal determination unit 1
The APF 165 receives the audio signal Si, executes a filtering process, and executes an audio band (about 100 to 300).
0 Hz).

Then, DETs 166 to 170 correspond to BPF1.
When the signal output corresponding to the effective value of the waveform is output by smoothing the filter output of 61 to 164 or the APF 165, the CM
P171 to 174 compare the output levels of DET166 to 169 and the output level of DET170, respectively,
When the output level of T166 to 169 is higher than the output level of DET170, the positive logic level signals S1 to
S4 (S1 to S4 = 1) is output, and DETs 166 to 16 are output.
9 is not higher than the output level of DET 170, negative logic level signals S1 to S4 (S1
To S4 = 0).

The CMP 175 compares the output level of the DET 170 with a specified level Sn (for example, the specified level is a level corresponding to an equivalent noise level or a level corresponding to an audio reproduction sound level).
Is higher than the specified level Sn, a positive logic level signal S5 (S5 = 1) is output, and DET is output.
If the output level of 170 is not higher than the specified level Sn, a negative logic level signal S5 (S5 = 0) is output.

The microcomputer 176 includes CMPs 171 to 175.
Outputs the logic level signals S1 to S5, the control items are identified from the logic level signals S1 to S5.
Specifically, the control items are identified according to the procedures shown in FIGS.

First, the microcomputer 176 determines whether the CMP
From 175, a process of taking in the logic level signals S1 to S5 every frame period is executed (step ST20).
Note that the frame cycle is preferably set to 20 to 50 msec from the viewpoint of the accuracy of the determination, the determination processing time, and the like. The microcomputer 176 determines the logic level of the logic level signal S5 (step ST21). If the logic level is a positive logic level, it is considered that the background noise is large, so the determination result is output to the control unit 94 without being output to the control unit 94. To end.

The microcomputer 176 has a logic level signal S
If 5 is a negative logic level, the logic levels of the logic level signals S1 to S4 are determined (step ST2).
2) If any one of the logic level signals S1 to S4 has a positive logic level, step ST
Proceeding to step 23, if all of the logic levels are negative, the logic level signal S1 is again output in the next frame cycle.
To S5 are read (step ST20).

In step ST23, data storage address i
Is set to the initial value. Normally, i = 1 and step S
The process proceeds to T24. In step ST24, the logic level signals S1 to S4 are continuously fetched, and the logic level signals S1 to S4 are stored in the address i of the analysis data memory, that is, W (i) in the following manner (step ST25). Least significant bit W0 of analysis data memory
, A logic level signal S2 at the next digit bit W1, a logic level signal S3 at the next digit bit W2, and a logic level signal S4 at the next digit bit W3.

The data fetching process and the data storing process in steps ST24 and ST25 continue until the storage address i reaches the predetermined upper limit N (steps ST26 and ST25).
ST27). When the storage of the N pieces of data is completed, the following determination processing is executed (the determination processing is performed according to the algorithm of FIG. 18 using the analysis data sequence W (i)).

Here, FIG. 20 shows a template T formed by the characteristic data of the melody pattern used in the judgment processing.
j (i), and the template is shown in FIGS.
In this case, one chromatic note (quarto) is pronounced for 0.3 seconds at a time. Therefore,
This corresponds to an analysis parameter when the entire melody is played in 1.2 seconds. Note that the analysis frame cycle (the data capture cycle in FIG. 17) is 25 ms, and the parameter “1” is A4 (440 Hz) and “2” is C ^#
5 (550 Hz), "4" is E5 (660 Hz), "8"
Corresponds to the detection of the A5 (880 Hz) sound by the BPFs 161 to 164.

First, the microcomputer 176 stores the pattern number 1
Time series parameters (numerical code) and input analysis time series data (numerical code) for ~ 9
Is calculated for each time point, and a total sum of 1.2 seconds (48 data in this example) is obtained. This result is stored in RES (j) (step ST31).

The microcomputer 176 searches for the smallest RES (j), that is, the pattern number jm of the melody pattern whose input data is most similar (step ST32). Then, the microcomputer 176 compares the jm-th total residual value RES (j) with the threshold value α (step ST33), and if it is smaller than the threshold value α, the judgment accuracy is high, and thus it is judged that the melody pattern is jm. (Step ST34), and outputs the determination result to the control unit 94 (Step ST35). Conversely, if they are larger or equal, it is determined that the accuracy is low, and no determination result is output, and the determination process ends. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

As is clear from the above, the third embodiment
According to the above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The audible sound wave of the sine wave, of course, is not affected by electromagnetic waves or light, so that the decrease in the recognition rate due to the influence of the running noise of the automobile (which has strong randomness) is small. (2) Since the melody signal sound has high auditory sensitivity and high recognition sensitivity, it is possible to confirm which operation button has been operated with a blind (no visual observation). That is, erroneous operation or non-operation can be confirmed. (3) Since the propagation directivity of the audible sound wave is not strong, there is freedom in the place of the operation unit and how to attach it. Therefore, the steering wheel 4 that constantly moves during driving operation
2 and can be used. (4) Compared with a voice recognition device using sound in the same manner, an algorithm for signal sound recognition can be simplified, and an analysis device can be inexpensive.

Embodiment 4 In the third embodiment, the case where the sounding unit 71 emits the sound signal of the melody sound from the speaker 153 has been described. This configuration has the advantage of high design flexibility, for example, the frequency of the scale tone can be selected relatively freely. However, in terms of acoustic energy, the electroacoustic conversion efficiency is low and the amplifier 152 with high output is required. Due to the size of the speaker 153, there is a disadvantage that the entire acoustic remote control unit 45 becomes large.

In the fourth embodiment, the sound generation unit 71 is improved.
It is intended. FIG. 21 shows a pronunciation unit according to the fourth embodiment.
21. In FIG. 21, 154a is the first knit.
(For example, A)
4: 440 Hz), 154b is the second scale pitch pitch
A wave number oscillation sounder (for example, C ^#5: 550H
z), 154c is for oscillation of the third scale pitch frequency
Sounder (for example, E5: 660 Hz), 154d is 4
The sounder for oscillating the pitch of the chromatic scale pitch (for example,
A5: 880 Hz).

These sounders 154 a to 154 d are connected in parallel and driven by the amplifier 152. Since these sounders 154a to 154d resonate a scale of metal or the like to generate sound, if the drive signal contains a resonance frequency component, the sounder vibrates violently to generate sound. Therefore, the sounders 154a to 154d are small and highly efficient sounding bodies.

As is clear from the above, the fourth embodiment
According to this, the acoustic remote control unit 45 can be configured to be small, and the sounders 154a to 154d have high electro-acoustic conversion efficiency, so that there is an effect that the power consumption of the acoustic remote control unit 45 can be reduced. In addition, use of a solar battery provides convenience such as free battery replacement.

Embodiment 5 FIG. Although the signal processing circuit 151 according to the third embodiment has a simple configuration, in order to use the signal processing circuit 151 in a usage environment in which noise including musical tones is large, the cutoff characteristics of each BPF must be steep to maintain the determination accuracy. That is, it is necessary to configure the filter with multiple stages, which is considerably expensive.

In the fifth embodiment, the signal processing circuit 15
The first object of the present invention is to overcome the above problems according to the first aspect. FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit of the signal processing circuit 151. In the figure, reference numeral 181 includes a pitch frequency of a scale tone emitted by the acoustic remote control unit 45, and suppresses passage of other frequency components. A band pass filter (hereinafter, referred to as a BPF) 182 detects a point in time at which the output level of the BPF 181 becomes zero level, and the transition point from minus to plus is “+1”, plus The transition point from to minus is "-
ZCD (Zero Cross Detect), which is classified into three types, such as "1" and "0" at other times.
tor), and the ZCD 182 is obtained by a combination of a square wave shaping circuit using an operational amplifier and a differentiating circuit, and forms a sampling unit.

Reference numeral 183 denotes a zero cross data memory for storing zero cross data detected by the ZCD 182;
84 is an analysis memory, 185 is a template memory, 18
Reference numeral 6 denotes a microcomputer (determination unit) that analyzes the zero-cross data and determines a melody pattern corresponding to the audio signal.

Next, the operation will be described. Microcomputer 18
Numeral 6 fetches the zero-cross data detected by the ZCD 182 at a predetermined sampling period, and stores it in the zero-cross data memory 183 as data for about twice the analysis frame period. An example of this data is shown in FIG.
3 is shown.

In the fifth embodiment, a melody pattern corresponding to an audio signal which is an input signal sound is recognized and determined with the zero-cross data as an analysis target. Hereinafter, the recognition procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the microcomputer 186 captures the zero-cross data (step ST41), the sampling period of the zero-cross data is set to Z (I), and the autocorrelation function of the following equation is calculated to obtain the pitch period (step ST42). ).

(Equation 1) Here, N is the number of sampling points included in the analysis period (for example, if the sampling frequency is 13200 Hz and the analysis frame period is 25 ms, N = 330).

If Φmax is larger than a predetermined threshold value φ (step ST43), it is convinced that there is a pitch property, and the pitch frequency is specified by the following equation (step ST44). Pitch frequency = sampling frequency / jm

If Φmax is not greater than threshold value φ (step ST43), it is determined that there is no pitch property. This pitch frequency is obtained for each analysis frame period.

After obtaining the pitch frequency, the microcomputer 186 converts the pitch frequency into time series data of a scale name and a numerical code using a conversion table shown in FIG. 25 (step ST45). FIG. 24 shows an example of scale name data and code data after conversion.

If the microcomputer 186 determines that there is no pitch property, or if a pitch frequency different from the frequency generated by the acoustic remote control unit 45 is extracted,
Since the noise influences, no scale name is assigned, and the conversion code is also set to 0.

Then, the microcomputer 186 performs a judgment process from the numerical code strings (see FIG. 24) of all the melody patterns prepared in the template memory 185 in advance and the analysis code strings obtained in the previous step by the following equation. Execute (step ST46).

(Equation 2) However, the code sequence of the template shown in FIG.
(I) Let the analysis code string be S (i). Further, * is a logical product operator, M is the number of patterns, NN is the number of frames, and i is the frame number.

The jm having the largest score among the RES (j) and its score RESmax are obtained, and
If Smax> β (36 in this example), jm is determined to be the corresponding melody pattern (step S
T47). On the other hand, if RESmax is equal to or smaller than β, the determination is impossible.

The feature of the above-described signal sound recognition procedure is that the pitch frequency is obtained from the autocorrelation coefficient of only the analysis frame length corresponding to the length of the sound which is known in advance, so that the calculation is simple and the sound Since the pitch cycle of the sound generated by the remote control unit 45 is set to an integral multiple of the sampling cycle, the pitch frequency obtained by the analysis must always be equal to the pitch frequency of the scale sound when the scale signal corresponding to the input signal exists. Is guaranteed to have a considerably high probability, and even if there is another musical noise, it can be accurately analyzed and extracted.

As is clear from the above, the fifth embodiment
According to the above, relatively inexpensive, simple configuration, erroneous operation,
There is an effect that the object can be achieved by a suitable device with few non-operations.

Embodiment 6 FIG. In the above third embodiment, a speaker or a sounder is used as a sounding body and a sound is generated by an electronic circuit. However, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, a natural musical instrument is used as an acoustic remote control unit. You may.

FIG. 28 shows sounding bodies 191 to 194 based on the principle of sound resonance of a metal piece lead having a structure like a harmonica.
This is an acoustic remote control unit in which four harmonica are arranged. The four leads are adjusted so that the fundamental frequency (= pitch) is 440 Hz, 550 Hz, 660 Hz, and 880 Hz, respectively.

On the other hand, FIG. 29 shows an acoustic remote control unit in which four sounding bodies 195 to 198 are formed in the form of a pitch pipe. These acoustic remote control units normally blow their mouths in a manner similar to playing a harmonica or a pitch pipe.

In each case, a melody that matches the intention of the operation is performed using four scale sounds. The sound generated by the blowing is analyzed by the signal processing circuit 151 for the pitch frequency, and the melody pattern is recognized and determined. The melody pattern is converted into an operation signal to operate the electronic device. However, when a natural musical instrument is used, the length of the melody sound blown from the natural musical instrument may not completely match the length of the melody pattern of the template. The melody pattern can be determined even if the lengths are slightly different from each other.

The effect of the sixth embodiment is that the acoustic remote control unit 45 can be made extremely simple.
There is no need to provide an energy source such as a battery. In addition,
The number of operation buttons and the four sound sources described in the third embodiment are not limited to nine melody patterns, and the number is not limited to nine. Conversely, when there are many operation items, the melody pattern and further the number of sounds may be increased.

Embodiment 7 FIG. In the first and second embodiments, the sound signal of a single tone or a chord having a different scale name is generated according to the control item, and the control item is determined by determining the scale name of the sound signal. A sound signal having a different rhythm may be generated according to the control item, and the control item may be determined by determining the rhythm of the sound signal.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the sounding unit 71. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 denote the same or corresponding parts, and a description thereof will be omitted. Reference numeral 201 denotes a rhythm pattern generation circuit that generates at least three rhythms in accordance with the open / close states of the electronic circuit switches 62a to 64a.
This is a sounder that generates a sound having a fundamental frequency in the range of ３3 KHz, and the sounder 202 is mounted on the board so as to be disposed near the frontage of the sound emission hole 65. 203 is a transistor for a sounder driver. The sound emitting means is constituted by the sound emitting hole 65, the rhythm pattern generating circuit 201, the sounder 202 and the sounder driver transistor 203.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the signal judgment unit 103. In the figure, reference numeral 211 denotes a BPF having a pass center frequency of frHz, and 212 denotes a voice band (about 100 to 3).
APF, 21 which passes all signal components of 000 Hz)
DET 3214 smoothes the filter output and outputs a signal corresponding to the effective value of the waveform, and 215 DET 213
Comparing the output level of the DET 214 with the output level of the DET 214
MP and 216 are a CMP for comparing the output level of the DET 214 with a specified level, and 217 is a microcomputer for identifying a control item from a comparison result of the CMPs 215 and 216.

FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing the processing contents of the microcomputer 217. 1, 2, 4 and 5
And FIG. 6 is a drawing common to the remote control device of the first embodiment.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the general operation of the remote control device will be described. First, the operator who is the driver operates the operation buttons 62 to 62 of the acoustic remote control unit 45.
When the driver 64 is operated, an acoustic signal is emitted from the sound output hole 65 as a sound wave, and is received by the sound pickup hole 88 of the car audio device 46 located at a spatially separated place.

The sound signal received from the sound collecting hole 88 of the car audio device 46 is input to the sound receiving unit 93 of the car audio device 46 and analyzed to determine a control item. An operation signal indicating the determination result is input to the control unit 94 of the car audio device 46 to actually control the control item (for example, playing a CD) or to display the content of the control item on the display unit 51. I do.

Next, the operation of the remote control device will be described in detail. The operation of the sounding unit 71 is as follows. For example, when the operation button 62 located on the left side of FIG. 2A is pressed, the electronic circuit switch 62a of the operation button 62 is closed, and the port a of the rhythm pattern generation circuit 201 goes high.

Thus, the rhythm pattern generation circuit 20
1 generates the rhythm pattern of FIG. The rhythm pattern output from the rhythm pattern generation circuit 201 is power-amplified by the sounder driver transistor 203 and applied to the sounder 202. As a result, a sound signal having a sound frequency of frHz is emitted from the sounder 202 in accordance with the rhythm pattern (A).

Similarly, when the operation button 64 located on the right side of FIG. 2A is pressed, the sounder 202 emits a sound signal having a sound frequency of frHz in accordance with the rhythm pattern of FIG. When the operation button 63 located in the center of a) is pressed, the sounding frequency from the sounder 202 is changed to f.
An acoustic signal of rHz is emitted according to the rhythm pattern of (C).

The operation of the sound receiving unit 93 in the car audio device 46 is as follows. The microphone 101 of the sound receiving unit 93 is, as described above,
When a sound signal is generated from one sounder 202, the sound signal is collected and converted into an electric signal, and the microphone amplifier 102 amplifies the sound signal converted into the electric signal.

When the microphone amplifier 102 amplifies the audio signal, the signal determination unit 103 analyzes the audio signal Si to determine a control item, and outputs an operation signal So indicating the determination result to the control unit 94. Specifically, the BPF 211 of the signal determination unit 103 receives the audio signal Si, executes a filtering process, extracts a frequency component of frHz included in the audio signal Si, and outputs the frequency component to the DET 213. Also, the APF 212 of the signal determination unit 103 receives the acoustic signal Si, performs a filtering process,
All signal components in the audio band (about 100 to 3000 Hz) are passed.

The DETs 213 and 214 are BPF2
11 or the filter output of the APF 212 to output a signal corresponding to the effective value of the waveform.
Compares the output level of DET 213 with the output level of DET 214 and determines that the output level of DET 213 is DET 21
If the output level of the DET 213 is not higher than the output level of the DET 214, a negative logic level signal S1 (S1 = S1 = S1 = 1) is output. 0) is output.

The CMP 216 compares the output level of the DET 214 with a specified level Sn (for example, the specified level is a level corresponding to an equivalent noise level).
Is higher than the prescribed level Sn, a positive logic level signal S2 (S2 = 1) is output, and DET is output.
If the output level of 214 is not higher than the specified level Sn, a negative logic level signal S2 (S2 = 0) is output.

The microcomputer 217 includes CMPs 215 and 216.
Outputs the logic level signals S1 and S2, the control item is identified from the logic level signals S1 and S2.
Specifically, the control items are identified according to the procedure shown in FIG. First, the microcomputer 217 determines the logic level of the logic level signal S2 (step ST5).
1) If it is a positive logic level (S2 = 1), it is considered that the background noise is large, and therefore, the operation signal So indicating the identification result indicates “not accepting operation”, “−”.
The code "1" is set (step ST52).

The microcomputer 217 outputs the logic level signal S
2 is a negative logic level (S
2 = 0), a timing process is executed (step ST53).
That is, the logic level of the logic level signal S1 is determined, and the time during which the sound signal exists, that is, the time tc when the logic level signal S1 is a positive value is measured (see the flowchart of FIG. 34).

Then, the microcomputer 217 determines the time tc measured as the time when the logic level signal S1 indicates a positive value.
Is determined whether or not is close to T0 (step ST54).
Proceed to 56. Here, T0 is set to, for example, the length of a half note. On the other hand, if it is not close, a code of “0” meaning “impossible to determine” is set to the operation signal So indicating the identification result (step ST55).

In step ST56, a time during which the sound signal continues to be present, that is, a time tc when the logic level signal S1 is a positive value is measured, and the time tc is compared with T1 (step ST57). Here, T1 is set to, for example, the length of a half note. If the time tc and T1 substantially match, the process proceeds to step ST58. If the time tc and T1 do not substantially match, the process proceeds to step ST62.

In step ST58, a time during which the sound signal continues to be present, that is, a time tc when the logic level signal S1 is a positive value is measured, and the time tc is compared with T2 (step ST59). Here, T2 is set to, for example, the length of a quarter note. If the time tc is close to T2, it is determined that the rhythm pattern is (A), and a code of "1" is set for the operation signal So indicating the identification result (step ST60). On the other hand, if the time tc is not close to T2, the code is not a rhythm pattern to be determined, so a code of “0” is set for the operation signal So indicating the identification result (step ST61).

In step ST62, step ST56 is executed.
The time tc obtained by the time measurement processing of the above is compared with T2, and the time t
If c is close to T2, a time counting process is further performed (step S2).
T63). On the other hand, if the time tc is not close to T2, the code is not a rhythm pattern to be determined, so a code of “0” is set for the operation signal So indicating the identification result (step ST68).

In step ST64, step ST63
The time tc obtained by the time measurement processing of the above is compared with T2, and the time t
If c is close to T2, it is determined that the rhythm pattern is (B), and "2" is given to the operation signal So indicating the identification result.
Is set (step ST65).

In step ST66, in step ST63
The time tc obtained in the time counting process of the above is compared with T1, and the time tc
If c is close to T1, it is determined that the rhythm pattern is (C), and "3" is given to the operation signal So indicating the identification result.
Is set (step ST67). On the other hand, if the time tc is not close to T1, there is no corresponding rhythm pattern, so that “0” is given to the operation signal So indicating the identification result.
Is set (step ST68).

As described above, the logic level signal S
When the control item is identified from S1 and S2, the microcomputer 217
Outputs an operation signal So indicating the identification result to the control unit 94 when any of the operation buttons 62 to 64 is operated (in the case of So = 1, 2, 3) (step ST).
69, ST70). Note that the microcomputer 217 determines that none of the operation buttons 62 to 64 is operated (So =
0) and when the background noise is loud (So = −1), the process ends without outputting the operation signal So indicating the identification result to the control unit 94. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

As is clear from the above, the seventh embodiment
According to the above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The audible sound wave of the sine wave, of course, is not affected by electromagnetic waves or light, so that the decrease in the recognition rate due to the influence of the running noise of the automobile (which has strong randomness) is small. (2) Since the signal sound has high auditory sensitivity and high recognition sensitivity,
It is possible to check which operation button has been operated through a blind (without visual observation). That is, erroneous operation or non-operation can be confirmed. (3) Since the propagation directivity of the audible sound wave is not strong, there is freedom in the place of the operation unit and how to attach it. Therefore, the steering wheel 4 that constantly moves during driving operation
2 and can be used. (4) Compared with a voice recognition device using sound in the same manner, an algorithm for signal sound recognition can be simplified, and an analysis device can be inexpensive.

Embodiment 8 FIG. In the seventh embodiment, the sounder 202 is used as a sounding body, and the sounder is generated by an electronic circuit. However, as shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, a natural musical instrument is used as an acoustic remote control unit. Is also good.

FIG. 35 shows an acoustic remote control unit in which a sounding body having a principle of sound generation based on a metal piece lead resonance having a structure like a harmonica is formed in a caller shape. The lead is adjusted so that the fundamental frequency (= pitch) is frHz.

On the other hand, FIG. 36 shows an acoustic remote control unit in which a sounding body having a sound resonance principle based on tube resonance having a structure like a pitch pipe is formed in a caller shape. The sound generation basic pitch is also adjusted to be frHz. These acoustic remote control units normally blow their mouth in the manner of blowing a caller (see FIGS. 37 and 38).

Here, by blowing these acoustic remote control units in three different rhythm patterns, in the acoustic remote control unit 45 according to the seventh embodiment, the front left operation button 62, the front right operation button 64, and It can correspond to pressing the center operation button 63. The sound generated by the blowing is analyzed by a sound receiving unit 93 to analyze a rhythm pattern and is converted into an operation signal.
To work. Hereinafter, the operation is the same as that of the seventh embodiment. However, when using a natural instrument, the length of the rhythm sound blown from the natural instrument may not completely match the length of the rhythm pattern, so DP matching is performed to determine the length of the rhythm sound. The rhythm pattern can be determined even if the rhythm pattern is expanded or contracted and the length is slightly different.

The effect of the eighth embodiment is that the acoustic remote control unit can be extremely simplified, and there is no need to prepare an energy source such as a battery. Note that the three operation buttons shown in the above-described seventh embodiment,
The rhythm pattern is not limited to the same rhythm pattern, and the audible range (300 Hz to 3 kHz)
, And M operation button switches (or M ringing types), and a single or a plurality of sounding members are determined by each key press (or ringing type) of the operation button switches. May be performed simultaneously in different combinations, and M types of operation commands may be transmitted to the display unit.

Embodiment 9 FIG. In the first to eighth embodiments, the display unit 51 displays the contents of the control items on the windshield. However, a voice synthesizer (not shown) may perform the voice synthesis of the contents of the control items to increase the volume. Good. Thus, there is an effect that the driver can check the contents of the control items without shifting his / her eyes from a predetermined position on the windshield.

[0157]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a sound signal formed by a musical sound associated with a control item is received, the control item is determined from the sound signal and the control item is controlled. Therefore, even in an environment exposed to sunlight, there is an effect that a non-control target can be quickly operated without causing erroneous operation or inoperability.

According to the present invention, when the sounding means emits a monophonic or chordal sound signal having a different scale name according to the control item, the control item is determined by determining the scale name of the sound signal. Therefore, there is an effect that the control items can be reliably determined even in an environment exposed to sunlight. In addition, when talking with a fellow passenger or listening to music in the passenger compartment, it may not be possible to determine the control item, in which case, the operator himself can not hear the acoustic signal, You can confirm that the operation cannot be performed. Therefore, the re-operation is naturally attempted, and there is an effect that the operation can be executed while confirming the validity of the operation with own ear.

According to the present invention, when the sound generator emits a sound signal having a different melody according to the control item, the control item is determined by determining the melody of the sound signal. There is an effect that control items can be reliably determined even in an exposed environment. In addition, when talking with a fellow passenger or listening to music in the passenger compartment, it may not be possible to determine the control item, in which case, the operator himself can not hear the acoustic signal, You can confirm that the operation cannot be performed. Therefore, the re-operation is naturally attempted, and there is an effect that the operation can be executed while confirming the validity of the operation with own ear.

According to the present invention, when the sound generator emits an acoustic signal having a different rhythm according to the control item, the control item is determined by determining the rhythm of the acoustic signal. There is an effect that control items can be reliably determined even in an exposed environment. In addition, when talking with a fellow passenger or listening to music in the passenger compartment, it may not be possible to determine the control item,
In that case, the operator himself cannot hear the acoustic signal and can confirm that the operation cannot be performed. Therefore, the re-operation is naturally attempted, and there is an effect that the operation can be executed while confirming the validity of the operation with own ear.

According to the present invention, the selecting means is constituted by a plurality of switches having a one-to-one correspondence with the control items, and the sounding means is constituted by a plurality of sounding bodies emitting sounds having mutually different scale names. When any one of the plurality of switches is operated, at least one or more sounding bodies are configured to emit a sound, so that an effect of generating an acoustic signal without complicating the structure of the sounding means is obtained. is there.

According to the present invention, the selecting means is constituted by a plurality of switches having a one-to-one correspondence with the control items, and the sounding means is constituted by a sounding body which emits a melody sound in accordance with the operation of each switch. Thus, there is an effect that an acoustic signal can be generated without complicating the configuration of the sound generating means.

According to the present invention, the selecting means is constituted by a plurality of switches having a one-to-one correspondence with the control items, and the sounding means is constituted by a sounding body which emits a rhythm sound according to the operation of each switch. Thus, there is an effect that an acoustic signal can be generated without complicating the configuration of the sound generating means.

According to the present invention, the sounding body is constituted by a plurality of oscillating sounders whose pitch frequencies have a natural fractional ratio with respect to each other, so that the sound signal can be reproduced without complicating the structure of the sounding means. Can be generated.

According to the present invention, since the selecting means and the sound generating means are configured to be attached to the steering wheel of the vehicle, it is possible to operate the driver without greatly shifting the driver's line of sight from the front.

According to the present invention, since the frequency of the sound signal generated by the sound generator is set in the audible range of 300 Hz to 3 KHz, the effect that the driver can identify the meaning of the sound signal is obtained. is there.

According to the present invention, the control item is determined by comparing the output waveform of the band-pass filter with the output waveform of the all-band filter, so that the control unit can be controlled without complicating the configuration of the determination means. There is an effect that the item can be determined.

According to the present invention, when the control item is determined by determining the melody of the sound signal, the numerical code of the template indicating the characteristic of the melody pattern and the numerical code of the sound signal are multiplied and calculated, and the calculation is performed. Since the control item is determined from the result, the control item can be determined quickly.

According to the present invention, the melody of the acoustic signal is determined by analyzing the zero-cross data sampled by the sampling section. Therefore, the use environment in which the noise is large is not complicated without complicating the structure of the determination means. There is an effect that can be used in chemical conversion.

According to the present invention, the present invention is provided with the presenting means for presenting the content of the control item determined by the determining means, so that the driver can confirm the control item.

According to the present invention, the presenting means is constituted by using the display device installed on the dashboard of the vehicle and displaying the contents of the control items on the windshield.
There is an effect that the driver can check the control items without greatly shifting the driver's line of sight from the front.

According to the present invention, since the presenting means is constituted by using the speech synthesizer which synthesizes the contents of the control items by voice and loudspeaks, the driver can control the control items without shifting the driver's line of sight. There is an effect that can be confirmed.

According to the present invention, since the selecting means and the sound generating means are constituted by using musical instruments which generate a plurality of kinds of sounds, the selecting means and the sound generating means can be extremely simplified and the battery can be used. There is an effect that such an energy source becomes unnecessary.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an automobile cabin equipped with a remote control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

2A is a front external view of the acoustic remote control unit 45, and FIG. 2B is a rear external view of the acoustic remote control unit 45. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of a sounding unit 71.

4 is a perspective view showing the car audio device 46. FIG.

5 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of the car audio device 46. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of the sound receiving unit 93.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of a signal determination unit 103.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a microcomputer 120;

FIG. 9 is an external view showing a display unit 51.

FIG. 10 is a transition diagram of an operation display screen.

FIG. 11 is an external view showing an acoustic remote control unit of a natural musical instrument.

FIG. 12 is an external view showing an acoustic remote control unit of a natural musical instrument.

13A is a front external view of the acoustic remote control unit 45, and FIG. 13B is a rear external view of the acoustic remote control unit 45. FIG.

14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation button group 142. FIG.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of the sounding unit 71.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of the signal processing circuit 151.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a microcomputer 176.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a microcomputer 176.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence between the operation of the operation buttons, the action, and the melody.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing template data of a melody signal tone.

21 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of the sounding unit 71. FIG.

FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of the signal processing circuit 151.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of zero cross data.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of scale name data and code data after conversion.

FIG. 25 is a table diagram showing a conversion table in which a scale name and a digitized code corresponding to a pitch frequency are stored.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing template data of a melody signal tone.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a microcomputer 186.

FIG. 28 is an external view showing an acoustic remote control unit of a natural musical instrument.

FIG. 29 is an external view showing an acoustic remote control unit of a natural musical instrument.

30 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of the sounding unit 71. FIG.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing a rhythm pattern.

FIG. 32 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of the signal determination unit 103.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a microcomputer 217.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a microcomputer 217.

FIG. 35 is an external view showing an acoustic remote control unit of a natural musical instrument.

FIG. 36 is an external view showing an acoustic remote control unit of a natural musical instrument.

FIG. 37 is a musical note diagram showing a rhythm pattern.

FIG. 38 is a musical note diagram showing a rhythm pattern.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view showing an infrared light-emitting remote control unit which is a part of a conventional remote control device.

FIG. 40 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of the remote control unit.

FIG. 41 is a perspective view showing a car audio device on which one component of a conventional remote control device is mounted.

FIG. 42 is a configuration diagram showing an internal circuit of the car audio device.

[Explanation of symbols]

41 car front console, 42 steering wheel, 43 car air conditioner operation unit, 44 air conditioner air outlet, 45 acoustic remote control unit, 46 car audio device, 48 speaker, 49 windshield, 50 dashboard, 51 display unit, 5
2 Mirror image, 61 solar light receiving window, 62-64 operation buttons, 62a-64a electronic circuit switch, 65 sound emission hole, 71 sounding unit, 72 power generation circuit section, 73 secondary battery, 74, 75 diode element, 76, 77 sounder , 81 power button, 82 insertion hole, 83 eject operation button, 84 sound source selection operation button group, 85,
86 operation button, 87 volume control knob, 88 sound collection hole, 91 electronic circuit switch, 92 switch circuit, 9
3 Sound receiving unit, 94 control unit, 95 cassette tape reproducing unit, 96 radio receiving unit, 9
7 CD playback unit, 98 audio signal processing unit, 99 audio signal amplifier, 101 microphone, 102 microphone amplifier, 103 signal determination unit, 111, 112 BPF, 113APF, 114 ~
116 DET, 117-119 CMP, 120 microcomputer, 121 display, 122, 122a-1
22d cursor display, 131-134 sounding body, 1
41 solar light receiving window, 142 operation button group, 143 sound emission hole, 142a electronic circuit switch group, 151 signal processing circuit, 152 amplifier, 153 speaker, 154a
１５154d Oscillator sounder, 161 164 BP
F, 165 APF, 166-170 DET, 171
~ 175 CMP, 176 microcomputer, 181 BP
F, 182 ZCD, 183 Zero cross data memory, 184 analysis memory, 185 template memory, 186 microcomputer, 191-198 sounding body, 20
1. Rhythm pattern generation circuit, 202 sounder, 203
Transistor for sounder driver, 211 BPF,
212 APF, 213, 214 DET, 215, 21
6 CMP, 217 microcomputer.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B60R 16/02 655 B60R 16/02 655K 5K048 G10H 1/00 102 G10H 1/00 102Z G10K 15/04 302 G10K 15/04 302F G10L 13/00 H04R 3/00 310 15/10 G10L 3/00 Q 15 / 00531N H04R 3/00 310 551G (72) Inventor Naoto Tabushi 2-6-25 Nishi Nagasu, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture F-term in Eagle System Engineering Co., Ltd. (reference)

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A selecting means for selecting a control item, a sounding means for generating a sound signal formed of a musical tone associated with the control item selected by the selecting means into a space, and the sounding means converting the sound signal into a space. Sounding means for receiving the sound signal when the sound is pronounced; determining means for determining a control item from the sound signal received by the sound receiving means; and control for controlling the control item determined by the determining means. Remote control device comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines the control item by determining the scale name of the sound signal when the sounding means generates a monophonic or chord sound signal having a different scale name according to the control item. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines the control item by determining a melody of the sound signal when the sounding unit generates a sound signal having a different melody according to the control item. Remote control device. 4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines the control item by determining a rhythm of the sound signal when the sounding unit generates a sound signal having a different rhythm according to the control item. Remote control device. 5. A selecting means comprising a plurality of switches having a one-to-one correspondence with control items, and a sounding means comprising a plurality of sounding bodies emitting sounds having mutually different scale names. 3. The remote control device according to claim 2, wherein at least one sounding body emits a sound when any one of the switches is operated. 6. A selection means comprising a plurality of switches having a one-to-one correspondence with control items, and a sounding means comprising a sounding body which emits a melody sound according to the operation of each switch. The remote control device according to claim 3, wherein 7. A selection means comprising a plurality of switches having a one-to-one correspondence with control items, and a sounding means comprising a sounding body which emits a rhythm sound according to the operation of each switch. 5. The remote control device according to claim 4, wherein: 8. The remote control device according to claim 6, wherein the sounding body comprises a plurality of oscillating sounders whose pitch frequencies are in a natural fractional ratio relationship with each other. 9. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the selection means and the sound generation means are attached to a steering wheel of the vehicle. 10. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of the sound signal generated by the sounding means is set in an audible range of 300 Hz to 3 KHz. 11. A sound receiving means comprising a band-pass filter having a pass center frequency equal to a sound frequency of an acoustic signal generated by the sound generating means, and an all-band pass filter for passing a signal component of a voice band. 11. The determination means according to claim 1, wherein the determination means comprises an arithmetic circuit for comparing an output waveform of the band-pass filter with an output waveform of the all-band filter to determine a control item. Item 7. The remote control device according to item 1. 12. An arithmetic circuit, when determining a control item by determining a melody of a sound signal, performs a product-sum operation on a numerical code of a template showing characteristics of the melody pattern and a numerical code of the sound signal, and performs the calculation. The remote control device according to claim 11, wherein a control item is determined from a result. 13. A band-pass filter for passing a pitch frequency of a melody sound, a sampling unit for detecting a zero-cross point of an output waveform of the band-pass filter and sampling zero-cross data, and a zero-cross sampled by the sampling unit. 7. The remote control device according to claim 6, wherein the determination unit includes a determination unit that determines the melody of the audio signal by analyzing the data. 14. The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising a presentation unit that presents the content of the control item determined by the determination unit. 15. The remote control device according to claim 14, wherein the display means is provided on a dashboard of the vehicle, and comprises a display means for displaying the contents of the control items on a windshield. 16. The remote control device according to claim 14, wherein the presenting means is constituted by using a voice synthesizer for voice-synthesizing the contents of the control item and vocalizing. 17. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit and the sound generation unit are configured using an instrument that generates a plurality of types of sounds.