JP2005345903A - Device control device by voice - Google Patents

Abstract

Device control by voice that controls the operation of a device in a minute amount according to a user's request, adapts to the user's feeling in a minute operation, and prevents the user from being confused Providing equipment.
An input voice is recognized, and an operation amount standard increase Au and a standard decrease Su (standard value) for at least one of a plurality of devices based on operation words (operation amount keywords) stored in advance. And a small amount coefficient (a slight increase coefficient Xa, a slight decrease coefficient Xs. Correction amount) are calculated (S100 to S112), and an operation amount is determined by multiplying the calculated standard value and the small amount coefficient (correction amount) (S110, S112). The operation of at least one of the plurality of devices is controlled with the determined operation amount (S110, S112).
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a device control apparatus using voice.

  Recently, a technique for controlling a device in accordance with a voice uttered by a user has been proposed. As an example of a device control apparatus using such a voice, a technique described in Patent Document 1 below can be cited. In the proposed technology, the volume of an audio device mounted on the vehicle is controlled based on the user's voice input via voice input means such as a microphone. Specifically, in this technology, when saying “Volume up”, the volume is increased by one step, when saying “Slightly inaudible”, two steps, and when saying “Never heard” Is configured to increase by 3 steps.

As described above, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to previously define a recognition vocabulary corresponding to an amount operation, and to control a device with a different operation amount by voice recognition.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-242497

  As described above, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the defined recognition vocabulary corresponds to a predetermined amount of operation, a minute amount (small amount) less than that amount is finely adjusted in response to a user request. It was difficult to satisfy the user sufficiently.

  Furthermore, there are individual differences in the amount of change recalled by the user with respect to the recognized vocabulary, that is, the vocabulary of volume manipulation by voice, and this tendency is particularly noticeable in the case of minute manipulation. However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has not taken any measures against this point.

  Furthermore, if the rate or degree of change in devices corresponding to a certain amount of operation vocabulary is not consistent across all devices, the user may be confused. However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has not taken any measures against it.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the inconveniences described above, and a first object of the invention is to provide a device control amount by voice so that the operation of the device is controlled to a very small amount (minute) according to a user's request. There is.

  A second object of the present invention is to provide a voice device control apparatus adapted to suit each user's feeling in a minute operation by making it possible to set the operation amount for each user.

  The third object of the present invention is to control the device by voice so that the user does not cause confusion by matching the rate or degree of change of the device corresponding to a certain amount of operation vocabulary through all devices. To provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above first to third objects, in claim 1, the operation of at least one of the plurality of devices is controlled based on the voice input through the voice input means. In the device controller using voice, the input voice is recognized, and a standard value and a correction amount of the operation amount are calculated for at least one of the plurality of devices based on the operation amount keyword stored in advance. Operation amount calculation means, operation amount determination means for determining the operation amount based on the calculated standard value and correction amount, and control of at least one of the plurality of devices with the determined operation amount The apparatus control means is configured to be provided.

  In the voice-based device control apparatus according to claim 2, the storage unit that stores the correction amount for each user of the device, and the user based on the voice input through the voice input unit. A user specifying unit for specifying is provided, and the operation amount calculating unit is configured to search the value corresponding to the specified user from the stored correction amounts and calculate the correction amount.

  In the device control apparatus using voice according to claim 3, the correction amount is set to the same value for the plurality of devices.

  The device control apparatus using voice according to claim 4 further includes an operation history storage unit that stores the determined operation amount as a history over time, and the operation amount calculation unit stores the stored operation amount. The correction amount is changed according to the history.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the programmed computer controls the operation of at least one of the plurality of devices based on the voice input through the voice input means. , Recognizing the input voice, calculating a standard value and a correction amount of an operation amount for at least one of the plurality of devices based on an operation amount keyword stored in advance, and calculating the standard value The operation amount is determined based on the correction amount, and the procedure for controlling the operation of at least one of the plurality of devices with the determined operation amount is executed.

  The device control apparatus using voice according to claim 1, wherein the input voice is recognized, and a standard value and a correction amount of an operation amount are calculated for at least one of a plurality of devices based on an operation amount keyword stored in advance. The operation amount is determined based on the calculated standard value and the correction amount, and the operation of the device is controlled, that is, the operation amount is determined from the standard value and the correction amount. By appropriately setting, it is possible to control the operation of the device in a minute amount according to the user's request.

  In the device control apparatus using voice according to claim 2, the correction amount is stored for each user of the device, the user is specified, and the value corresponding to the specified user is searched from the stored correction amounts. The correction amount is calculated, in other words, the correction amount among the factors that determine the operation amount is set for each user. Control can be realized.

  In the device control apparatus using voice according to claim 3, since the correction amount, more specifically, at least its initial value is set to the same value for the plurality of devices, a certain amount of operation The rate or degree of change of the device corresponding to the vocabulary can be matched through all the devices, and the user can be prevented from being confused by the minute operation.

  In the voice-based device control apparatus according to claim 4, since the determined operation amount is stored as a history over time and the correction amount is changed according to the stored history, It is possible to realize control closer to the amount of change that the user recalls to the vocabulary of operation, and to make the rate or degree of change more consistent across all devices, thus causing confusion for the user Can be more reliably prevented.

  In the computer program according to the fifth aspect, the same effect as the first aspect can be obtained.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The best mode for carrying out an audio device control apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall apparatus control apparatus using voice according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment, a case where an air conditioner, an audio device and the like mounted on a vehicle are controlled by sound is taken as an example.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a device control apparatus based on the sound. The apparatus 10 is an electronic control unit (ECU, hereinafter referred to as “main ECU”) stored at an appropriate position in the room 12 a of the vehicle 12. 14. The main ECU 14 includes a microcomputer and includes a CPU (not shown) 14a and a storage device 14b.

  In the storage device 14b, in addition to a ROM for storing instructions to the CPU 14a and a RAM (both not shown) for temporarily storing input / calculation results, operation words (the vocabulary for the quantity operation described above, operation word keywords) are stored. An operation word storage area (or Data Base; hereinafter referred to as “operation word DB”) 14b1 to be stored, and a coefficient storage area (hereinafter referred to as “a small amount coefficient (correction amount)” set for each user and information of a scheduled user. 14b2 and an operation history storage area (storage means; hereinafter referred to as “history DB”) 14b3 for storing executed operations as a history over time.

  The operation word DB 14b1, the user DB 14b2, and the history DB 14b3 are a hard disk device, a magneto-optical disk device, a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, a storage medium that can only be read such as a CD-ROM, a volatile memory such as a RAM, Or it is comprised from the medium which can be read and written by those combination.

  A microphone (microphone) 16 is disposed in the vicinity of the inner surface of the roof (not shown) of the vehicle 12 and functions as a voice input means for inputting a voice uttered by a user (such as a driver of the vehicle 12). Further, a switch 12b1 is disposed in the vicinity of the steering wheel 12b, and in the apparatus 10, the CPU 14a is activated when the user turns on the switch 12b1.

  The CPU 14a of the main ECU 14 shown in FIG. 1 is specifically shown in a block diagram functionally showing its operation, and includes a voice recognition unit 14a1, a voice recognition result analysis unit 14a2, a device control unit 14a3, and a control result output. Part 14a4.

  In the following description, the voice recognition unit 14a1 authenticates the user from the voice of the user input from the microphone 16 and executes voice recognition processing. The recognition result is sent to the speech recognition result analysis unit 14a2, where the operation word DB 14b1 is searched from the recognition result to calculate and determine the operation amount for a specific device. The determined operation amount is sent to the device control unit 14a3, and the operation of the device specified based on the determined operation amount is controlled.

  In this embodiment, the devices include an air conditioner (abbreviated as “air conditioner”) 20 that adjusts the air flow rate and temperature of the vehicle 12, an audio device (abbreviated as “audio”) 22 of the vehicle 12, A variable suspension device 24 that variably adjusts a suspension (not shown), a cruise actuator 26 that includes a throttle actuator and a brake device that realizes auto-cruise (constant speed running) of the vehicle 12, and steering of the user of the vehicle 12 The power steering device (abbreviated as “power steering”, specifically, an electric motor disposed on a steering shaft (not shown)) 28 is assisted. The stiffness of the variable suspension device 24 is adjusted by changing the amount of attenuation of a suspension buffer device (not shown).

  The operation of the air conditioner 20 and the like is controlled through an air conditioner ECU 20a, an audio ECU 22a, a vehicle body control ECU 24a, an auto cruise ECU 26a, and a power steering ECU 28a, which are composed of a microcomputer, like the main ECU 14. Specifically, these ECUs are connected to the main ECU 14 via a vehicle network, input an operation amount output from the main ECU 14 as will be described later, and corresponding devices in the air conditioner 20 or the like based on the input values. To control the operation.

  The control content in the device control unit 14a3 is sent to the control result output unit 14a4, and the control result output unit 14a4 sends the control result to the speaker 12c1 (specifically, the audio 22) arranged on the door 12c of the vehicle 12, etc. The speaker is also used), the display 12d, the meter 12e, and the like to notify the user.

  In FIG. 1, the device group controlled by the device control unit 14a3 and the device such as the speaker 12c1 from which the control result is output from the control result output unit 14a4 are examples, and various devices other than those shown in the figure can be added. It is.

  Next, the operation of the above-described apparatus 10 will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the user authentication process in the operation. The illustrated program is executed only once when the user gets on and turns on the switch 12b1 to activate the CPU 14a in the apparatus 10.

  First, user authentication is executed in S10. Specifically, when the switch 12b1 is turned on, a sound such as “Perform user authentication. Please say your name” is output from the speaker 12c1, and the user utters the name accordingly. To be executed. In the user DB 14b2, after purchasing the vehicle 12, the name and voice of the user scheduled by the user are registered, and the registered user is verified by collating the name registered in S10 with the voice. It is determined whether or not.

  Alternatively, acoustic feature data corresponding to the user's utterance may be registered in the user DB 14b2 in advance and collated with it, or by collating the user identification signal of the keyless entry device. Also good.

  When user authentication is performed in S10 and it is confirmed that the user is a planned user, the process proceeds to S12. Similarly, after purchasing the vehicle 12, a micro coefficient (correction) registered for each user scheduled by the user in the user DB 14b2. Amount) is searched with the name of the authenticated (identified) user and the corresponding trace coefficient is read, and the process proceeds to S14 to set the read trace coefficient. The trace coefficient is specifically composed of a slight increase coefficient Xa and a slight decrease coefficient Xs, which will be described later.

  Further, the operation of the above-described apparatus 10 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation amount calculation process in the CPU 14a in the operation. The illustrated program is interrupted and executed every time a voice is input from the user via the microphone 16 after the CPU 14a is activated in response to the switch 12b1 being turned on.

  First, in S100, the user's voice input from the microphone 16 is recognized, and the process proceeds to S102, where the operation word DB is referred (searched) from the recognition result to analyze whether there is an operation word for a specific device. The user authentication process in the flowchart of FIG. 2 may be performed when S100 is looped for the first time.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of operation words stored in advance in the operation word DB 14b1. In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, for example, regarding the operation word for the audio 22, in addition to expressions such as “large volume” and “small volume”, a small amount (small volume) such as “a little volume” and “a little volume”. ) Various words to instruct operation were memorized. In FIG. 4, operation words indicating such a minute operation are shown in parentheses.

  In S100 and S102, whether or not there is an operation word stored in the operation word DB 14b1 in the voice uttered from the user input through the microphone 16 is analyzed using a known voice recognition method, that is, Perform voice recognition processing.

  Next, the process proceeds to S104, where it is determined whether or not there is an operation word from the voice recognition processing result. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to S106, and the operation word is a word indicating the above-described minute operation (shown in parentheses in FIG. 4). Word).

  When the result in S106 is affirmative, the routine proceeds to S108, where it is determined whether there is an operation word for instructing an increase or an operation word for instructing a decrease. In the example of the operation word for an air conditioner shown in FIG. 4, “the temperature is slightly higher” corresponds to the former, and “the temperature is slightly lower” corresponds to the latter. Next, the process proceeds to S110 or S112 according to the determination result of S108.

  In S110, Y: manipulated value (change amount), Au: standard increase (standard value), Xa: slight increase coefficient (trace coefficient). In S112, Y represents an operation amount (amount of change), Su: a standard decrease, and Xs: a slight decrease coefficient (a trace coefficient). These trace coefficients Xa and Xs are coefficients set for each user read and set in S12 to S14 in the flowchart of FIG. In the standard values Au and Su, the subscript u means the target device (air conditioner 20 or the like). Note that the addition of the subscript u means that a different value can be set depending on the device.

  In this way, in S104 to S112, as shown in the figure, the input voice is recognized, and the operation amount is determined for at least one of a plurality of devices such as the air conditioner 20 and the audio 22 based on the operation words stored in advance. Standard values (standard increase Au, standard decrease Su) and micro coefficients (correction amounts) Xa and Xs are calculated, and based on the calculated standard values and correction amounts, the micro coefficients are more accurately calculated. And the operation amount is determined, and the operation of the device is controlled by the operation amount Y through the corresponding ECU in the air conditioner ECU 20a.

  On the other hand, when the result in S104 is negative, the process proceeds to S114, the operation history (described later) is cleared, and the subsequent processing is skipped. When the result in S106 is negative, the process proceeds to S116, where either the standard amount Au or Su is selected (calculated) according to the operation word recognized from the speech recognition processing result, and the selected standard amount is used as the operation amount Y. And output to the corresponding ECU.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the calculation process of the above-described minute coefficient (correction amount). The illustrated program is also interrupted and executed every time a voice is input from the user via the microphone 16 after the CPU 14a is activated in response to the switch 12b1 being turned on.

  First, in S200, the above-described operation is compared with the device by referring to (searching) the history DB 14b3. Specifically, it is determined whether or not there is a history of the minute operation for the same device u last time. In the above, “current” means that the processing of the flow chart of FIG. 5 is looped this time, and “previous” means that the previous loop was executed.

  When it is affirmed in S202 and it is determined that a minute operation has been performed on the same device last time, whether the previous operation and the current operation are in the increasing direction or the decreasing direction, more specifically, from slightly increasing to slightly increasing. Or from a slight increase to a slight decrease, or from a slight decrease to a slight decrease, and proceeds from S204 to S210 according to the determination result. As shown in the figure, the slight increase coefficient Xa (or the slight decrease coefficient Xs) The value Hu is added to or subtracted from () and corrected (rewritten).

  In summary, in the processing from S204 to S210, when the increase (or decrease) direction is constant, the trace coefficient in that direction is corrected, and the slight decrease coefficient immediately after being changed from the decrease direction to the increase direction. Is corrected, and the slight increase coefficient is corrected immediately after the change from the increasing direction to the decreasing direction.

  In S204 and the like, the value Hu indicates a correction value, and the subscript u similarly indicates the target device. The addition of the subscript u indicates that the correction value can be different for each device, as in the previous case.

  As described above, since the micro coefficient is changed when the micro operation is continuously performed with reference to the operation history, the operation history is unnecessary when it is determined that there is no operation word in S104 in the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the operation history is cleared (deleted) in S114.

  Next, in S212, limit processing is performed on the corrected trace coefficient.

  FIG. 6 is a sub-routine flowchart showing the processing.

  In S300, it is determined whether or not the trace coefficient Xa or Xs has reached the limit. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to S302, and the process is limited to the limit value. For example, the limit is 1.0 for Xa and -1.0 for Xs, but may be other values. Note that after the switch 12b1 is turned off or the engine is stopped, the trace coefficient is stored (stored) in a location corresponding to the corresponding user in the user DB 14b2.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 5, the process then proceeds to S214, and the trace coefficients Xa and Xs for which the limit processing has been completed are temporarily stored in a RAM or the like. The stored value is used in S110 or S112 in FIG. 3 to calculate (determine) and output the manipulated variable Y.

  With reference to FIG. 7, the operation amount and trace coefficient calculation processing described in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 5 will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows an operation example when the target devices are the audio 22 and the air conditioner 20.

  In the figure, (a) shows the processing (operation step), and (b) shows initial values and set values such as a minute coefficient when the control target devices are the audio 22 and the air conditioner 20.

  First, in operation step 01 of FIG. 9A, initial values are set as shown. As shown in FIG. 6B, for these devices, initial values of the slight increase coefficient Xa and the slight decrease coefficient Xs are set as shown (the slight increase coefficient is indicated by a positive value and the slight decrease coefficient is indicated by a negative value). . Needless to say, these trace coefficients are values set for each user.

  The initial value of the vol value (volume increase / decrease amount) of the audio 22 and the temperature of the air conditioner 20 (change amount / ° C.) is also set as shown. The vol value is indicated as a value (anonymous number) between the audio 22 when the minimum volume is 0 and the maximum volume is 30. The temperature of the air conditioner 20 is also set to an initial value in the range of 18 ° C. to 32 ° C.

  Regarding the standard increase Au and standard decrease Su and the correction value Hu described above, those Aaudio and Saudio of the audio 22 are set as shown, and the correction value Haudio is also set as shown. In the calculation of the operation amount of the audio 22, the decimal point is rounded off. In addition, those values for the air conditioner 20 are set as shown in the figure, and the decimal points are rounded down in the calculation of the operation amount. Therefore, when looping the flowchart of FIG. 3 for the first time, the manipulated variable Y is calculated (determined) using such initial values.

  Next, in operation step 02, for example, it is assumed that a voice as illustrated is input. In this case, although it is an operation word for the audio 22, it is a normal operation since it does not instruct a minute operation, and the operation amount Y is calculated (output) only from the standard increase amount Aaudio (S116 in FIG. 3). As a result, the vol value is manipulated to be 15. Since the operation word is not intended for the air conditioner 22, the temperature is not changed, and the trace coefficients (Xa, Xs) are also kept at the initial values.

  Next, in operation step 03, for example, it is assumed that a voice as illustrated is input. In this case, although it is an operation word for instructing the minute operation in the increasing direction for the audio 22, since the minute operation has not been performed for the audio 22 in the past, it is denied in S 202 of the flow chart of FIG. It will remain at 25. Accordingly, in the flowchart S110 of FIG. 3, the standard increase Aaudio is multiplied by the slight increase coefficient Xa to obtain the operation amount Y = 5 × 0.25 = 1.25. As described above, the calculation of the operation amount of the audio 22 is rounded off to the nearest decimal point, so that the operation amount Y = 1. As a result, the vol value changes from 15 to 16.

  Next, in the operation step 04, if the same operation word is input again, the process proceeds to S204, in which affirmative determination is made in S202 of the flowchart of FIG. 5, and the slight increase coefficient Xa is changed to 0.25 + 0.1 = 0.35. In S110 of the 3-flow chart, the operation amount Y = 5 × 0.35 = 1.75 is obtained by multiplying the standard increase amount Aaudio, and the operation amount Y = 2. As a result, the vol value changes from 16 to 18.

  Next, in the operation step 05, if the same operation word is input again, the slight increase coefficient Xa is further changed to 0.35 + 0.1 = 0.45 and multiplied by the standard increase Aaudio, and the operation amount Y = 5 × 0. 45 = 2.25, and the manipulated variable Y is similarly Y = 2. As a result, the vol value changes from 18 to 20.

  Next, in the operation step 06, if the operation word is changed to an instruction word for instructing a minute operation in the decreasing direction, the slightly increasing operation is changed to a slightly decreasing operation. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the process proceeds to S208, and the slightly increasing coefficient Xa is 0.45-0.1. = 0.35 is corrected. That is, since the operation direction is reversed from the increasing direction to the decreasing direction, immediately after that (change point), only the slight increase coefficient is corrected. On the other hand, since the operation word of the operation step 06 is an instruction to reduce the amount, the operation amount Y = 5 × (−0.25) = − 1.25 in the process of the flow chart S112 of FIG. 3, and the operation amount Y = −1. It becomes. As a result, the vol value changes from 20 to 19.

  Next, in operation step 07, if the same minute operation instruction is continuously input, since the direction from the slightly decreasing operation to the slightly decreasing operation is constant in the decreasing direction, the slightly decreasing coefficient Xs is -0.25-0.1 = in S210. It is corrected to −0.35 and is multiplied by the standard reduction Saudio, so that the operation amount Y = 5 × (−0.35) = − 1.75 and the operation amount Y = −2. As a result, the vol value changes from 19 to 17.

  Next, in the operation step 08, if an operation instruction in the increasing direction as shown in the figure is input, the operation amount Y is calculated (output) only from the standard increase amount Aaudio because it does not instruct a minute operation, and becomes a normal operation. As a result, the vol value is manipulated to be 22.

  Next, in the operation step 09, if an operation word for instructing a minute operation in the decreasing direction is input, the operation becomes a minute operation from the normal state, and the minute coefficient is not corrected, but the operation amount Y = 5 × (−0.35) in the process of S112. ) = − 1.75. As a result, the operation amount becomes −2 and the vol value is changed to 20.

  Next, when the normal operation in the decreasing direction is instructed in the operation step 10, the operation amount Y is calculated (output) only from the standard decrease Saudio, and the vol value is operated to be 15. Since all the operation words input from operation steps 02 to 10 relate to the audio 22, the temperature is not changed.

  Next, in operation step 11, assuming that an operation word for instructing normal operation in the increasing direction is input instead of the audio 22, the operation amount Y is calculated (output) only from the standard increase Aaircon, and the temperature is 20 to 23 Since the operation word is changed to the one for the air conditioner 22, the vol value is not changed. Moreover, since it is normal operation, a trace coefficient (Xa, Xs) does not change.

  Next, in the operation step 12, if an operation word for instructing a minute operation in the decreasing direction is input for the air conditioner 20, since the minute operation has not been performed for the air conditioner 20, the slight reduction coefficient is not corrected and the value for the audio 22 is not corrected. -0.35 is used as is. Therefore, in the flowchart S112 of FIG. 3, the standard reduction amount Saircon is multiplied by the slight reduction coefficient Xs, so that the operation amount Y = 3 × (−0.35) = − 1.05. As described above, in calculating the operation amount of the air conditioner 20, since the decimal point is rounded down, the operation amount Y = −1 and the temperature is changed from 23 to 22.

  Next, in the operation step 13, if an operation word for instructing the air conditioner 20 to increase in a minute amount operation is input, the operation is affirmative in S202 in the flowchart of FIG. The coefficient Xs is changed to −0.35 + 0.05 = −0.30. On the other hand, in the process of the flow chart S110 in FIG. 3, the standard increase Aaircon is multiplied by the slight increase coefficient Xa to obtain the operation amount Y = 3 × 0.35 = 1.05 and the operation amount Y = 1. As a result, the temperature is changed from 22 to 23.

  Next, in operation step 14, if an operation word indicating an increasing amount of minute operation is input again for the audio 22, the minute coefficient is not changed because the operation is not the same device, and the slightly increased coefficient Xa corrected for the air conditioner 20. Is used as is and multiplied by the standard increment Aaudio. As a result, the operation amount Y = 5 × 0.35 = 1.75 and the operation amount Y = 2. As a result, the vol value changes from 15 to 17. Since the air conditioner 20 is not targeted, the temperature is left as it is.

  Next, in operation step 15, if an operation word for instructing a minute operation in the decreasing direction is input for the same device, the operation is changed from a slight increase operation to a slight decrease operation. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the process proceeds to S208, and the slight increase coefficient Xa is 0.35-. It is corrected as 0.1 = 0.25. However, in the process of the flowchart of FIG. 3, as a result of proceeding to S112, the operation amount Y = 5 × (−0.30) = − 1.5, the operation amount Y = −2, and the vol value is 15.

  FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, and shows an operation example when the target devices are the cruise actuator 26 and the variable suspension device 24. Similarly, FIG. 4A shows the processing (operation step) of FIG. 3 and the like, and FIG. 4B shows the initial value and the set value such as the trace coefficient.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the initial values of the slight increase coefficient Xa (correction amount) and the slight decrease coefficient Xs (correction amount) are also set to the same value as 0.25 or −0.25 for these devices. The correction value is set to 0.2.

  The initial value of the speed setting value in the auto cruise is set to, for example, 90 km / h between 60 km / h and 120 km / h. The initial value of the amount of damping of the variable suspension device 24 is set to, for example, 5 between 1-10 (anonymous number).

  Even in the operation of FIG. 8 (a), when the minute operation continues, the slight increase coefficient or the slight decrease coefficient is not different from the case of FIG. 7a.

  In this embodiment, as described above, the sound is controlled by controlling the operation of at least one of a plurality of devices such as the air conditioner 20 and the audio 22 based on the sound input through the sound input means (the microphone 16). In the device control apparatus 10, the input voice is recognized, and based on a pre-stored operation word (operation amount keyword), the operation amount standard increase Au and standard decrease Su for at least one of the plurality of devices. (Standard value) and a small amount of coefficient (correction amount), more specifically, operation amount calculation means for calculating a slight increase coefficient Xa and a slight decrease coefficient Xs (from speech recognition unit 14a1, speech recognition result analysis unit 14a2, S108 to S112, S200 S216), based on the calculated standard value and the small amount coefficient (correction amount) (more specifically, multiplying the standard value by the small amount coefficient) to calculate the manipulated variable. Operation amount determining means (device control units 14a3, S110, S112) to be determined, and device control means (device control units 14a3, S110) that control at least one of the plurality of devices with the determined operation amount. , S112).

  That is, the input voice is recognized, and a standard value and a small coefficient (correction amount) of the operation amount are calculated for at least one of a plurality of devices such as the air conditioner 20 and the audio 22 based on operation words stored in advance. Then, based on the calculated standard value and the correction amount, more accurately, the manipulated value is determined by multiplying the calculated standard value by a small coefficient, and the operation of the device is performed via the corresponding ECU in the air conditioner ECU 20a or the like. Since only the operation amount Y is controlled, it is possible to control the operation of the device to a minute amount (minute) according to the user's request by appropriately setting the minute amount coefficient (correction amount).

  Furthermore, the user is specified based on the voice input through the storage means (coefficient storage area (user DB) 14b2 and the voice input means) for storing the minute coefficient (correction amount) for each user of the device. User identification means (speech recognition unit 14a1, speech recognition result analysis units 14a2, S10 to S14) is provided, and the operation amount calculation means corresponds to the user identified from the stored minute coefficient (correction amount). This value is searched to calculate the trace coefficient (correction amount).

  In other words, the micro coefficient (correction amount) among the factors that determine the operation amount is set for each user, that is, the micro coefficient is stored for each user of the device, the user is specified, and from among the stored micro coefficients It is configured to search for and set (calculate) a value corresponding to the identified user, in other words, it is possible to realize control suitable for each user's sense.

  In addition, since the trace coefficient (correction amount) is set to the same value for the plurality of devices, more specifically, the initial value is set to the same value as 0.25. By correcting the trace coefficient according to the operation history and continuing to use the target device while changing it, the volume of the audio 22 is set to “a little higher” and the temperature of the air conditioner 20 is set to “a little” such as “a little higher”. It converges in a form that is close to the user's sense, and the user can match the rate or degree of change of equipment corresponding to a certain amount of operation vocabulary through all the equipment, and the user can be confused by the degree of minute operation. Invitation can be prevented.

  Furthermore, an operation history storage unit (operation history storage area (history DB) 14b3) that stores the determined operation amount as a history with time is provided, and the operation amount calculation unit is configured to respond to the stored history. Since the micro-coefficient (correction amount) is changed, more specifically, the micro-coefficient is changed while using the correction value Hu together, the change that the user recalls with respect to the operation word (quantity operation vocabulary) Control closer to the amount can be realized, and the rate or degree of the amount of change can be made more consistent throughout all the devices, thereby preventing the user from being confused more reliably.

  Further, in this embodiment, as described above, the air conditioner 20 and the audio are based on the voice inputted through the voice input means (microphone 16) by the computer (main ECU 14) programmed (shown in the flow chart of FIG. 2). 22 that controls the operation of at least one of a plurality of devices such as 22, the program recognizes the input voice, and based on the operation word (operation amount keyword) stored in advance, A standard increase Au, a standard decrease Su (standard value) and a minute coefficient (correction amount), more specifically a slight increase coefficient Xa and a slight decrease coefficient Xs are calculated for at least one of the plurality of devices (from S108). S112, S200 to S216), based on the calculated standard value and the correction amount (more specifically, the standard value is multiplied by a trace coefficient) The operation amount is determined (S110, S112), and at least one of the plurality of devices is controlled by the determined operation amount (S110, S112). In addition, it is possible to control the operation of the device in a minute amount according to the user's request.

  In the embodiment, the device controlled by voice is a vehicle-mounted device, but it is needless to say that the device is not limited thereto. Any device can be used as long as it can be controlled by inputting voice.

  Further, in the embodiment, the storage area is described as being stored in the apparatus, but the storage area is stored in a storage apparatus installed in another location and connected to the storage apparatus via wireless communication or the like. You may do it.

It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of the apparatus control apparatus by the sound which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the user authentication process in operation | movement of the apparatus shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the operation amount calculation process in operation | movement of the apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the operation word memorize | stored in operation word DB (operation word storage area) of the apparatus shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the trace coefficient (correction amount) calculation process in operation | movement of the apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a sub-routine flow chart showing a modified coefficient limit process in the process shown in FIG. 5. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 for the example in case the control object apparatus is an audio apparatus and an air conditioner. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 for an example in case the control object apparatus is an auto-cruise apparatus and a variable suspension apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Device control device by voice 12 Vehicle 14 Main ECU (electronic control device)
14a CPU
14b storage device 14b2 coefficient storage area (user DB; storage means)
16 Microphone (microphone; voice input means)
20 Air conditioner (air conditioner) (equipment)
22 Audio equipment (audio) (equipment)
24 Variable suspension system (equipment)
26 Cruise actuator (equipment)
28 Power steering system (equipment)

Claims (5)

In a device control apparatus by voice that controls at least one of the operations of a plurality of devices based on the voice input through the voice input means,
a. An operation amount calculating means for recognizing the input voice and calculating a standard value and a correction amount of the operation amount for at least one of the plurality of devices based on an operation amount keyword stored in advance;
b. An operation amount determining means for determining the operation amount based on the calculated standard value and the correction amount;
And c. Device control means for controlling the operation of at least one of the plurality of devices with the determined operation amount;
A device control apparatus using voice, comprising: further,
d. Storage means for storing the correction amount for each user of the device;
And e. User specifying means for specifying the user based on voice input through the voice input means;
2. The voice according to claim 1, wherein the operation amount calculation means calculates the correction amount by searching for a value corresponding to the identified user from the stored correction amounts. Equipment control device.   The device control apparatus using voice according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the correction amount is set to the same value for the plurality of devices. further,
f. Operation history storage means for storing the determined operation amount as a history over time;
4. The device control apparatus using voice according to claim 1, wherein the operation amount calculation unit changes the correction amount according to the stored history. 5. What controls at least any one operation | movement in several apparatuses based on the audio | voice input through the audio | voice input means with the programmed computer in the said program,
a. Recognizing the input voice, and calculating a standard value and a correction amount of an operation amount for at least one of the plurality of devices based on an operation amount keyword stored in advance;
b. The operation amount is determined based on the calculated standard value and the correction amount,
And c. Controlling the operation of at least one of the plurality of devices with the determined operation amount;
A program characterized by causing a procedure to be executed.

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