Vehicle system and program

Abstract

To provide a radar detecting device which performs output control of voice to a driver of a vehicle and also properly provides information required by each driver by voice.SOLUTION: A radar detecting device 1 comprises a database 100 which stores information such as voice output information and GPS content including position information about a control point where traffic control is carried out and others. On the basis of a plurality of types of acquired information including personal information of a driver, the radar detecting device outputs voice by selecting one of the voice output information stored in the database 100 according to a combination of information contents of the acquired information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle system that controls output of audio to a driver of the vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as driving assistance devices for assisting in driving a vehicle, there have been known in-vehicle devices such as a navigation device that displays a map and provides route guidance, and a radar detector that presents traffic enforcement information. A typical navigation device has a function of calculating a route to a destination and a GPS function for locating the current position of the vehicle. Some of these navigation devices provide voice guidance on the direction to travel along the calculated route (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Some radar detectors have a function to receive radar waves for speed enforcement, as well as a database of speed enforcement system installation points and a GPS function to acquire the current location. Such radar detectors detect the approach of a vehicle to a speed enforcement system installation point and warn the driver of the approach with sound and light (for example, see Patent Document 2).

[0004] However, the conventional driving assistance devices have the following problem: The driving assistance information output by these driving assistance devices is standardized information based on a combination of information internally held by the driving assistance device, such as route information and the installation points of speed enforcement systems, and vehicle information, such as the current position, and is therefore insufficient in terms of providing each driver with the information he or she needs appropriately, without excess or deficiency. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-56396 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2007-248180 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional art, and is an invention that aims to provide a vehicle system that controls the output of voice to the vehicle driver, and that provides the information required by each driver appropriately via voice. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a vehicle system that controls output of a voice to a driver of a vehicle, Based on multiple types of acquired information, including the driver's personal information, The vehicle system selects one of a plurality of types of voice output information to be output as voice in accordance with a combination of information contents of the plurality of types of acquired information (claim 1).

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a program for controlling a vehicle system that controls output of a voice to a driver of a vehicle, the program comprising: The present invention relates to a computer program for implementing the functions of the vehicle system (claim 30).

[0009] The vehicle system of the present invention outputs, by voice, any of the voice output information corresponding to the combination of the information contents based on the multiple types of acquired information including the personal information. The multiple types of acquired information include the driver's personal information. Therefore, according to this vehicle system, it is possible to output voice output information appropriate for each driver. If voice output information can be provided in this way, it is possible to provide detailed driving support corresponding to each driver, and it is also possible to relax and entertain the driver by voice output.

[0010] The personal information of the driver in the present invention includes information such as the latitude and longitude of the location of the driver's home, information on the location of the organization such as the company or school to which the driver belongs, information on the route the driver frequently travels, information on the driver's tastes, interests and preferences, information on the driver's behavioral patterns, information on the driver's date of birth and anniversaries, etc. Such personal information may be registered according to the driver's operation, or automatically generated according to the vehicle's driving history, etc.

[0011] For example, when the multiple types of acquired information are personal information such as information on the location of the driver's home, information on the current location of the vehicle, information on the current time, and information on whether the vehicle's ignition is on or off, the following are examples of combinations of the information contents. A combination of information contents such as the time when the ignition of a vehicle parked at home is switched on is 7:00 a.m. When such a combination of information contents is present, for example, voice output information such as "Good morning. Please work hard today." When the combination of information contents is such that the time when the ignition of a vehicle that has arrived at home is switched off is 10:00 p.m., for example, voice output information such as "Welcome home. Thank you for working so late." can be output.

[0012] The information for audio output in the vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes information for assisting driving of the vehicle and information unrelated to driving of the vehicle (claim 2). Examples of information that supports driving include information about traffic enforcement, route guidance information for reaching a destination, etc. Examples of information that is not related to driving among the voice output information include the above-mentioned morning greetings, current topics, and other information that is equivalent to "chatter" and that entertains and relaxes the driver.

[0013] By appropriately outputting information equivalent to "chatter" unrelated to driving according to the driver, the driver can be entertained and not bored throughout the long period of use of the vehicle system of the present invention. With the vehicle system of the present invention that outputs clever (appropriate) "chatter" information reflecting the information content of the personal information, the user can enjoy using it and is unlikely to get bored. Many users who have used this vehicle system for a long period of time are likely to purchase a new product designed with the same concept as the vehicle system when it is time to replace the vehicle system. It is possible to increase the number of so-called repeat users, and to capture users.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle system of the present invention, a plurality of groups are formed for the plurality of types of audio output information, each group having different audio output conditions that trigger audio output, and a combination of the types of the plurality of types of acquired information when selecting any of the audio output information is set for each of the plurality of groups (Claim 3). For example, for a group of voice output information in which the voice output condition is set to the start of driving (opening), a combination of the following types of information can be set: personal information such as information on the location of the home, information on the current time, information on the current location of the vehicle, and information on the on / off state of the ignition. In this case, voice output information for morning greetings as described above can be output.

[0015] On the other hand, for the group of voice output information in which the voice output condition is set to be when approaching a traffic control point, a combination of types of information on the position of the control point, information on the current position of the vehicle, and information on the speed of the vehicle can be set. For example, when the speed is equal to or higher than the speed limit, a warning is issued that the vehicle is approaching the control point, and voice output information such as "Slow down!" can be appropriately output.

[0016] In the vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to set one of a plurality of output modes having different output frequencies of the information for audio output (claim 4). By changing the output frequency of the voice output information according to the setting of the output mode, it is possible to respond to a wide variety of drivers and improve versatility. As the output mode, for example, a "quiet" mode with a low output frequency, a "talkative" mode with a high output frequency, an intermediate "normal" mode, etc. can be set. The output frequency may be further divided into stages.

[0017] In the vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a sound output condition that triggers sound output is determined in advance for each of the plurality of output modes (claim 5). As the voice output condition, it is possible to set conditions such as when driving starts, when driving is in progress, when driving ends, etc. For example, the start of driving may be determined when a predetermined driving start determination condition is satisfied, such as when the vehicle ignition is switched on. For example, the end of driving may be determined when a predetermined driving end determination condition is satisfied, such as when the vehicle ignition is switched off. In addition, for example, it is possible to determine that the vehicle is driving during the period from when the driving start determination condition is satisfied to when the driving end determination condition is satisfied. Note that, for example, when driving, the condition may be when the vehicle approaches a predetermined position or when the state of the vehicle becomes a predetermined state. For example, the following conditions may be set as the voice output condition. (1) The vehicle ignition is turned on. (2) Approaching a location that is the subject of an alert, warning, or notification, such as a traffic enforcement point. (3) Proximity to scenic spots and other viewpoints. (4) A specific situation occurs, such as the remaining amount of gasoline or other energy falling below a specified level. (5) The vehicle ignition is turned off. etc.

[0018] For example, in the case of a vehicle system whose main function is to provide traffic enforcement alerts, the main function can be ensured by outputting sound triggered only by the sound output condition (2) above in the "quiet" output mode, while in the "talkative" output mode, sound can be set to be outputted triggered by all of the sound output conditions (1) to (5) above.

[0019] In a vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of audio output conditions that can trigger audio output are set, and an output mode can be set for each audio output condition (claim 6). In this case, for example, the driver's needs can be finely addressed, such as not needing voice output triggered by the voice output condition (1) above, but needing voice output triggered by the voice output condition (3) above. Furthermore, the voice output condition may be appropriately switched depending on the driving situation, such as whether it is a weekday or a holiday, whether it is close to home or far away, and the driving scene and driving location.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of types of voice output information in the vehicle system include specific assistance information related to driving assistance and output regardless of the output mode, It is possible to set one of a plurality of driving assistance modes having different output frequencies of the specific assistance information (claim 7). The specific support information includes information regarding traffic control, route guidance information to a destination, and the like.

[0021] In the vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one of a plurality of expression modes having different expression modes when the information for audio output is output by audio can be set (claim 8). For example, while a representation mode similar to that of a conventional vehicle-mounted device can be set as the "normal" representation mode, it is also possible to set representation modes corresponding to an intimate representation mode such as a passenger in the passenger seat talking to you, a tense representation mode such as a commander in the cockpit of a fighter jet, a representation mode imitating a popular anime character, etc. By incorporating an amusement-like element into the vehicle system, the marketability can be improved.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle system of the present invention, a plurality of expression modes are provided which differ in the manner of expression when the audio output information is output by audio, and the settable output modes among the plurality of output modes are predetermined for each expression mode (Claim 9). For example, there is a tendency that among drivers who set the "quiet" output mode, there is a high ratio of drivers who do not like amusing expression modes. Taking such a tendency into consideration, it is also good to limit the expression modes that can be set for the "quiet" output mode to the "normal" expression mode. In this case, when used by users who do not require an amusing element, the effort of setting can be reduced and usability can be improved.

[0023] The acquired information captured by the vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes at least information representing the current location of the vehicle and information representing a specific area in which the driver has a personal connection, The output mode of the information for voice output differs depending on whether the vehicle is located within the specific area (claim 10).

[0024] The output mode includes whether or not to output audio output information, which of the multiple types of audio output information is to be output, the volume of audio output, and the like. The specific area with which the driver has a personal connection may be, for example, the area around the driver's home or workplace, a tourist spot that the driver visits, or an area set by the driver himself / herself. For example, if the area around the driver's home is set as the specific area, the output of voice output information that is likely to be known by the driver can be suppressed. On the other hand, if the area around a tourist spot that the driver is visiting for the first time is set as the specific area, the driver can be appropriately supported by outputting as much voice output information as possible.

[0025] Among the multiple types of voice output information in a vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is tourist information including location information of tourist spot locations, and whether or not to output the tourist information is switched depending on whether or not the vehicle is located within the specific area (Claim 11). For example, if the specific area is set to be the area around the user's home, it is better to suppress output of the tourist information, whereas if the specific area is set to be the area visited for sightseeing, it is better to actively output the tourist information.

[0026] The vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a registration unit for registering the specific area (claim 12). The registration means included in the vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention registers a predetermined range based on a point designated by an external operation as the specific area (claim 13). The predetermined range may be, for example, within a 5 km radius from a specified point, or may be set to any value within a 2 km to 10 km radius range. For example, for a housewife who usually just goes shopping at a nearby store, places with a radius of more than 2 km are places where she does not know the details. Also, for someone who drives a car for work, a radius of about 10 km is considered to have detailed information.

[0027] The registration means provided in a vehicle system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention registers a specified range based on a line segment having two points, one corresponding to the driver's home and the other corresponding to the driver's commute to work or school, as the specific area (Claim 14). The specified range may be, for example, a combination of a range within a distance of 5 km from the line segment and a range within a radius of 5 km from the end point, or may be set within a radius of 2 km to 10 km.

[0028] In a vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a home location and a work or school location can be input in response to an external operation (claim 15). The vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention estimates the location of the home and the location of the commuter or school based on the past history of the current location (claim 16). For example, for a driver who has a daytime job, a location where the vehicle is frequently parked during the night on weekdays can be estimated as the driver's home, while a location where the driver goes every day during the day on weekdays can be estimated as the driver's commute to work or school.

[0029] The registration means provided in a vehicle system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention selects a route that has been driven frequently from the history of routes traveled by the vehicle, and registers a specified area based on that route as the specific area (Claim 17). In this case, the specific area can be automatically generated and registered according to the use of the vehicle system. A route with a high driving frequency may be a route that has been traveled a predetermined number of times or more in the past month. Furthermore, a route that has been traveled within the past week may be treated as a route with a high driving frequency. In this way, a route that has been traveled a predetermined number of times or more in a predetermined period may be treated as a route with a high driving frequency. The predetermined period and the predetermined number of times may be configured to be set by the user. Furthermore, even if a detour is made from a normal route to avoid traffic congestion, it is considered that the user will not deviate from the original route beyond a predetermined range such as 1 km or more. Therefore, when a nearby road within a predetermined range is used, it is preferable to register the detour as having traveled the same route.

[0030] The acquired information acquired by the vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes at least information representing a specific position and information representing a current position where the vehicle is located, The output mode of the information for audio output varies depending on the positional relationship between the current position and the specific position (claim 18). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a specific location in a vehicle system is a traffic control point where speed violations are detected, and the multiple types of audio output information include traffic control information that notifies the driver of approach to a traffic control point (Claim 19). The acquired information captured by the vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes information indicating the speed of the vehicle, and the traffic enforcement information is output in a different manner depending on the speed of the vehicle (claim 20). For example, when the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit, the traffic control information may be output more frequently or at a louder volume.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the specific location in the vehicle system is a location of a facility where a parking space for the vehicle is provided and where the driver can take a rest, and the plurality of types of voice output information includes rest information for guiding the driver to the facility, The acquired information includes information indicating a continuous driving time, which is the elapsed time since the vehicle was switched from off to on and driving started, and the output manner of the rest information differs depending on this continuous driving time (claim 21). In this case, the rest information can be presented at an appropriate timing when the driver is likely to feel tired.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the specific location in the vehicle system is a location of a facility where energy required for the operation of a prime mover of the vehicle can be replenished, and the plurality of types of voice output information includes replenishment information for guiding the user to the facility, The acquired information includes information indicating a remaining amount of energy stored in the vehicle, and the output mode of the replenishment information differs depending on this remaining amount (claim 22).

[0033] In this case, it is possible to prevent unnecessary presentation of the replenishment information when the remaining amount of energy is sufficient, and to present the replenishment information at an appropriate timing when the replenishment of energy is required. Furthermore, when the distance from the current position to the location of the nearest facility is long, it is also effective to advance the presentation timing of the replenishment information according to the distance, for example, to present the replenishment information when the remaining amount of energy is relatively large.

[0034] The acquired information taken in by a vehicle system in a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes at least information representing the current time, and the multiple types of information for audio output include information for audio output related to the vehicle's driving conditions and general information that is output according to the time regardless of the vehicle's driving conditions (Claim 23). The general information includes morning and evening greetings, seasonal greetings, current topics, and the like. Examples of information to be outputted by voice relating to the driving conditions of a vehicle include information to warn drivers of road conditions depending on the time of day, such as during rush hour.

[0035] The acquired information captured by the vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes at least information indicating whether the vehicle is on or off, information indicating the location of the driver's home or commute location, and location information indicating the current location of the vehicle. One of the multiple types of voice output information is selected and output depending on a combination of information content such as the time when the vehicle was switched from off to on and whether the current location at the time of the switch was home or commute (Claim 24).

[0036] For example, if the current location is a home when the vehicle is switched on early in the morning, a scene of going to work can be assumed. In this case, if the voice output information is outputted by voice, such as "Good morning. Please work hard today," the driver can be cheered up and motivated. On the other hand, if the current location is a commuter destination when the vehicle is switched on in the evening or at night, a scene of returning home can be assumed. In this case, the driver's fatigue can be relieved by outputting the voice output information by voice, such as "Thank you for your hard work. Please be careful on your way home."

[0037] In the vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the output mode of the information to be outputted by voice differs depending on whether or not there is a passenger other than the driver in the vehicle (claim 25). By changing the output mode of the voice output information depending on the presence or absence of a passenger, it is possible to prevent the voice output from interfering with conversation. There are various methods for detecting passengers, such as detection by an occupant sensor, detection using setting information related to the air conditioning area of ​​an air conditioner with a zone air conditioning function, and detection of the presence or absence of a passenger by voice recognition.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle system of the present invention, when selecting any one of the multiple types of audio output information, the vehicle system randomly selects any one of the multiple types of audio output information extracted as candidates (Claim 26). In this case, it is possible to provide an element of surprise in the audio output, and to realize a vehicle system that does not tire the driver.

[0039] A vehicle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention estimates the degree of awakening of the driver by using the acquired information, and varies the output mode of the information for audio output depending on the degree of awakening of the driver (claim 27). Acquired information that can estimate the degree of awakening includes, for example, vehicle information such as changes in steering angle and accelerator opening (throttle opening). Furthermore, by combining this vehicle information with information on the elapsed time since the vehicle ignition or the like was switched on, the degree of awakening may be estimated with even greater accuracy. It is also possible to estimate the degree of awakening based on whether the driver responds to a voice output called out from the vehicle system. The voice output called out includes calls to the driver requesting a response, as well as calls to slow down. In the former case, the degree of awakening can be estimated based on whether the driver's response can be input through a sound collecting microphone or the like. In the latter case, the degree of awakening can be estimated based on whether a change occurs in the vehicle information in response to the call.

[0040] A preferred embodiment of the vehicle system of the present invention uses the acquired information to calculate the degree of energy consumption when the vehicle is operating, and outputs eco-information representing the degree of energy consumption as the information for audio output (Claim 28). The output of the eco-information, which is effective for saving energy, can motivate the driver to drive in a fuel-efficient manner (eco-driving) while having fun like playing a game.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle system outputs one of the voice output information by voice when a combination of the information content produces a pattern that deviates from a pattern obtained during a specified period of time in the past (Claim 29). When the combination of the contents of the acquired information is different from a normal pattern, there is a possibility that the driver is unfamiliar with the surrounding geography. If the voice output information is output when a combination of the contents of the acquired information that is different from a normal pattern occurs, there is a high possibility that it will be helpful to the driver. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0042] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the front side of the radar detector according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the rear side of the radar detector according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the radar detector in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a standby screen in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a map screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a front view showing a GPS warning screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a front view showing an RD warning screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an alarm mode in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of pronunciation frequency in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a character in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of sound production conditions in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between sound production conditions and sound production frequencies in the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between sound frequency and characters in the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting phrases for each time period in the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting a phrase according to a calendar in the first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting a phrase corresponding to a specific period in the first embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a sound generation process in the first embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of registration of a specific region in the first embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of sound generation specifications in the second embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of sound generation specifications based on a combination of events in the second embodiment. [Figure 21] An explanatory diagram illustrating the sound specifications of the Orvis countdown in Example 2. [Figure 22]FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating sound generation specifications according to an RD reception level in the second embodiment. [Diagram 23] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of sound generation specifications according to vehicle information in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] The embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described using the following examples. Example 1 This example relates to a radar detector, which is a preferred embodiment of a vehicle system according to the present invention, and will be described with reference to FIGS. The radar detector 1 of this embodiment, whose main function is to issue warnings regarding traffic enforcement, is provided with a speech function that outputs greetings and the like by voice (hereinafter referred to as pronunciation).

[0044] 1 and 2, the radar detector 1 of this example is an in-vehicle device that has a thin rectangular case body 2 and is attached to the dashboard of a vehicle via a bracket 28 that is attached from the lower back side of the case body 2. By changing the bracket 28, the radar detector 1 can also be installed behind a sun visor or a rearview mirror.

[0045] A 3.2-inch color touch panel 15 is provided on the front of the case body 2 that faces the driver when installed. The touch panel 15 is a display panel in which a transparent sheet-like touch screen 151 (FIG. 3) that detects a touch position is laminated on a TFT dot matrix liquid crystal display 152 (FIG. 3). A volume control button 21 is provided on the right outer side of the touch panel 15 when viewed from the driver's side, and various operation buttons 22 such as a power button and a light-emitting section 23 in which a full-color LED 127 is embedded are provided on the left outer side. A light-receiving surface 25 of an infrared light-receiving section 128 that receives infrared rays from an operation remote control (not shown) is provided on the lower right of the touch panel 15. The radar detector 1 of this example can be operated by touching the touch panel 15 with a fingertip, operating a button, operating a remote control, etc.

[0046] A card insertion port 27 is provided on the right side of the case body 2 as viewed from the driver's side for inserting a memory card 171 such as an SD card, which is a removable recording medium. A USB connector 20 is provided on the lower back of the case body 2. A cigarette plug cord extending from the cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle, an OBD (On-board Diagnostics) adapter cord including an OBD connector described later, a USB cable, etc. are connected to this USB connector 20. The radar detector 1 operates by receiving power supply via these cords connected to the USB connector 20.

[0047] 3, the radar detector 1 is electrically configured with a control unit 10 at its center. In addition to the components described above, a GPS receiver 121, a microwave receiver 122, a wireless receiver 123, an acceleration sensor 124, a gyro 125, a clock unit 126, a speaker 16, a memory card reader 17, etc. are electrically connected to the control unit 10. Furthermore, the radar detector 1 is provided with a database 100 that can be accessed from the control unit 10.

[0048] The GPS receiver 121 is a receiver that receives GPS signals transmitted from GPS satellites and outputs the current time, current position information (latitude and longitude), current speed, altitude, etc. The GPS receiver 121 is incorporated in the case body 2 so as to be located at the upper center of the rear side of the radar detector 1. Note that the control unit 10, which has acquired the current position information from the GPS receiver 121, can also calculate the vehicle speed based on the fluctuation of the current position.

[0049] Microwave receiver 122 is a receiver that receives radar waves in the microwave wavelength band emitted from a speed measurement device such as a mobile radar (hereinafter simply referred to as radar). The wireless receiver 123 is a receiver that receives wireless signals of a predetermined frequency. The wireless receiver 123 in this embodiment can be selectively set to one of a plurality of frequencies so as to be compatible with various types of wireless radio waves. The microwave receiver 122 and the wireless receiver 123 are built into the case body 2 so as to be located on the rear side of the radar detector 1. Such a built-in position is suitable for receiving radio waves and the like coming from the front of the vehicle. Note that the microwave receiver 122 has five levels of microwave field strength set, from Lv1 to Lv5, from lowest to highest.

[0050] The clock unit 126 is a clock that outputs calendar information. The calendar information includes data indicating the date and the current time. Once a day, when the current time is acquired from the GPS receiver 121, the current time (including the date and time) of the clock unit 126 is calibrated to the current time acquired from the GPS receiver 121. The speaker 16 is mounted inside the case body 2 so as to be able to output sound and the like through a speaker hole (not shown) that opens in the bottom surface of the case body 2. The memory card reader 17 reads data recorded on the memory card 171 and transfers it to the control unit 10. The memory card 171 inserted into the card insertion slot 27 is attached to the memory card reader 17.

[0051] The control unit 10 is configured by a microcomputer (not shown) including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM, an I / O, and the like. The ROM stores software programs to be executed by the CPU. The storage area of ​​the non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM includes a history storage area for storing the vehicle's movement history (history of current location), a setting information storage area for storing setting information such as alarm settings and chat settings, and a personal information storage area for storing personal information about the user (the driver).

[0052] The database 100 is composed of a non-volatile memory (e.g., EEPROM) inside the microcomputer of the control unit 10 or external to the microcomputer. The database 100 at the time of product shipment stores map data, GPS content including location information of warning targets, various facilities and tourist spots, regulatory information such as speed limits, and various information for voice output. Furthermore, the database 100 stores a large amount of voice data used for voice synthesis (TTS: Text To Speech). The voice data includes data corresponding to frequently used phrases such as "Good morning" and data corresponding to phonemes. The voice output information in the database 100 includes information that assists driving and information that is not directly related to driving. The former type of driving support information includes warning information, which is specific support information, and other driving support information. The latter type of information that is not directly related to driving includes general information that is pronounced according to the time regardless of the vehicle's driving conditions, and other information.

[0053] The data stored in the database 100 can be updated using a memory card 171. When the memory card 171 storing update data such as map data, GPS contents, and voice output information is inserted into the memory card reader 17, the update data is read out under the control of the control unit 10, and the data in the database 100 can be updated. In particular, by adding or updating voice output information, it is possible to change the pronunciation mode and increase the variation. It is also possible to update the database 100 by connecting a PC with update data stored on a hard disk or the like via USB.

[0054] The radar detector 1 realizes various functions by having the CPU execute software programs read from the ROM. The functions of the radar detector 1 in this example include a display function for displaying various screens on the touch panel 15, an alarm function for issuing various alarms, a log function, a chat function, an OBD function, a setting function, a registration function, etc. The alarm functions include a GPS alarm function, an RD alarm function, a wireless alarm function, etc. The control unit 10 is provided with means corresponding to each function.

[0055] The display function is a function for displaying various display screens on the touch panel 15. The display screens include a standby screen 31 and a map screen 32 that are alternatively displayed when in standby mode for an event that is the subject of an alert (described later), as well as a GPS alert screen 35, an RD alert screen 36, and a wireless alert screen (not shown) that are switched and displayed in response to the occurrence of an event that is the subject of an alert. The specific configuration of each screen will be described later with reference to Figs. 4 to 7.

[0056] The log function is a function that stores the current position detected by the GPS receiver 121 every second in a history storage area and records it as a position history. The current position is stored in association with the detection time and the speed (vehicle speed) at that time. This position history is recorded in, for example, the NMEA format.

[0057] The OBD function is a function that acquires vehicle information via an OBD port (fault diagnosis port) provided on the vehicle side based on the OBD2 standard, which is a vehicle inspection standard. This OBD function functions only when the radar detector 1 is connected to the vehicle side via an OBD adapter cord including an OBD connector that is connected to the OBD port on the vehicle side. Examples of vehicle information that can be acquired from the OBD port of the vehicle include vehicle speed, engine speed, engine load factor, ignition timing, intake manifold pressure, intake air flow rate (MAF), injection open time, engine coolant temperature (coolant temperature), air temperature taken into the engine (intake temperature), outside vehicle temperature (outside air temperature), fuel flow rate, instantaneous fuel consumption, accelerator opening (throttle opening), turn signal information (operation information of left and right turn signals), brake opening, steering wheel rotation angle information, etc. The OBD function acquires vehicle information every 0.5 seconds.

[0058] The setting function is a function for making various settings related to the operation of the radar detector 1. The settings can be broadly categorized into alarm settings, chat settings, and personal information settings. The warning setting is a setting of a driving assistance mode related to a warning by the warning function. The warning information, which is the specific assistance information, is sounded in accordance with the warning setting. The chatter setting is a setting related to the pronunciation of voice output information other than alarm information. The personal information setting is a setting related to the personal information of the driver, who is the user. When executing pronunciation using the chat function, the pronunciation mode, such as whether or not to execute the function, may be determined by referring to the personal information set as the personal information setting.

[0059] The registration function is a function for registering a specific area in which the driver, who is the user, has a personal connection, and is executed by a registration means realized as software in the control unit 10. The specific area may be an area around the user's home, an area within a predetermined range based on a line segment connecting the user's home and a place of work such as an office, or an area around a My Point registered by the user. For example, a specific area around the user's home or My Point is registered as an area within a circle of a predetermined radius centered on the user's home or My Point. This radius may be set to, for example, about 5 km to 10 km.

[0060] The chat function is a function that outputs voice synthesized by the CPU from the speaker 16. The voice output information targeted by the chat function is voice output information other than warning information (specific support information) related to traffic enforcement according to the warning setting. The voice output information targeted by the chat function includes various information such as driving support information including information that supplements the contents of warning information, as well as information that is not directly related to driving.

[0061] The GPS warning function warns of approaching an object such as an automatic speed violation enforcement device. In the GPS warning function, a calculation process is repeatedly performed at a specified time interval (for example, every second) to calculate the distance between the location of the object to be warned and the current location. When this distance reaches a specified approach distance and an event called approach to the warning point occurs, a GPS warning is issued to that effect.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 8, the targets of the GPS warning function include speed cameras, enforcement areas, checkpoints, intersection monitoring points, parking monitoring areas, N systems, traffic monitoring systems, red light ignoring prevention systems, police stations, accident-prone areas, areas with high rates of vehicle theft, sharp curves, branching and merging points, ETC lanes, etc. In the database 100, the type information of these targets, location information (latitude and longitude) indicating their locations (specific locations), schematic diagram or photo data to be displayed on the touch panel 15, and audio data are stored as GPS content in a correlated state. The targets of the warning may also include locations of drowsy driving accidents, radar, speed limit change points, etc.

[0063] GPS contents other than those that are subject to warnings from the GPS warning function include service areas (expressways), parking areas (expressways), highway oases (expressways), smart interchanges (expressways), gas stations in PAs / SAs (expressways), tunnels (expressways), highway radio receiving areas (expressways), prefectural border announcements, roadside stations, view point parking, etc. Voice output information related to these GPS contents is pronounced by the speech function.

[0064] The RD warning function is a function that warns of the incidence of radar waves (microwaves) emitted from a radar-type enforcement device. When an event occurs in which the microwave receiver 122 receives radar waves (hereinafter referred to as RD reception), an RD warning is issued to indicate this.

[0065] The wireless warning function is a function that issues a warning so as not to interfere with the driving of emergency vehicles, etc. When an event occurs in which a wireless signal emitted by an emergency vehicle, etc. (hereinafter referred to as wireless reception) is received, a wireless warning is issued to alert the driver. The targets of the warning include police radio, car location radio, digital radio, special low-power radio, police station radio, police telephone, police activity radio, tow truck radio, helicopter radio, fire helicopter radio, fire radio, emergency radio, highway radio, security radio, etc.

[0066] The main function of the radar detector 1 of this embodiment configured as described above is the basic operation of the alarm function realized by the control of the control unit 10, etc. In a standby state in which no events that are the subject of an alarm, such as RD reception, wireless reception, or approach to an alarm point, occur, the standby state is set to display the standby screen 31 (Fig. 4) or map screen 32 (Fig. 5). When any event occurs in this standby state, a process is executed to execute the corresponding function from among the GPS alarm function, RD alarm function, and wireless alarm function. Note that when two or more events occur simultaneously, the priority of each function is, from highest to lowest, the RD alarm function, the wireless alarm function, and the GPS alarm function.

[0067] The standby screen 31 in Fig. 4 displays the speed, latitude, longitude, and altitude of the vehicle detected by the GPS receiver 121. The map screen 32 in Fig. 5 displays a map of the area around the current position detected by the GPS receiver 121. In response to a single touch operation on the standby screen 31 or the map screen 32, a menu screen (not shown) including a screen switching button is popped up and displayed. By touching the screen switching button, the standby screen 31 and the map screen 32 can be switched back and forth between the two screens.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 5, the map screen 32 displays a map in a main display area R1 that covers almost the entire surface of the touch panel 15. On the map screen 32, the map is displayed so that the direction of travel of the vehicle is always facing upwards, and the current vehicle position is located at the center of the lower part of the main display area R1. A vehicle icon 301 is displayed at the vehicle position. A horizontally long status area R2 that displays status information is arranged at the top of the map screen 32. The status information displayed in the status area R2 includes, from the left, the current time 321, a reception level display icon 322 that indicates the reception level of the GPS radio wave by the number of bars up to three, a no-parking area icon 323 that indicates that the vehicle is in a most important no-parking area or an important no-parking area, a reception sensitivity mode display icon 324 that indicates the reception sensitivity of the radar, a current vehicle speed (vehicle speed) 325, and a compass 326. In the status area R2 that is displayed superimposed on the main display area R1, characters and symbols are displayed in a transparent frame so that the map information in the main display area R1 can be seen through the status area R2. In addition, the LH display 302 in the main display area R1 indicates an LH type speed camera.

[0069] In the map screen 32, a scale display area R3 for displaying scale information (map scale) is provided on the left side of the main display area R1. In this scale display area R3, the vehicle position is set as the reference (0 m) and the distance between the upper end position and the middle position of the main display area R1 is displayed in numbers. In FIG. 5, scale information with an upper end position of 1000 meters and a middle position of 500 meters is illustrated. The scale of the map on the map screen 32 can be changed using a map scale change button (not shown) that pops up in response to two consecutive touch operations on the main display area R1. The scale of the map screen 32 can be changed as appropriate by touching this map scale change button. When the scale of the map screen 32 is changed, the scale information of the scale display area R3 is changed accordingly.

[0070] In the standby state, when an event that requires a warning, such as RD reception, radio reception, or approach to a warning point, occurs, a warning screen is displayed superimposed on the standby screen 31 or map screen 32, and warning information to that effect is sounded. At this time, the color of the light-emitting unit 23 changes from blue, which indicates the standby state, to red, thereby indicating that caution is required. In the case of a GPS warning, a GPS warning screen 35 as shown in Fig. 6 is displayed. The GPS warning screen 35 is a display screen in which a GPS warning display 350 showing a schematic diagram of the warning target, the remaining distance, etc. is displayed in an inset manner in the main display area R1. In the case of an RD warning, an RD warning screen 36, as shown in Fig. 7, is displayed. The RD warning screen 36 is a display screen in which an RD warning display 360 including a schematic diagram or photograph of a radar is displayed in an interrupted manner in the main display area R1. Note that a distance display 365 to the radar at the bottom of the RD warning display 360 displays the distance estimated from the electric field strength (Lv1 to Lv5) of the received radar wave. In the case of a wireless alarm, a wireless alarm screen (not shown) is displayed as it is almost the same as the RD alarm.

[0071] Next, the specifications and contents of the pronunciation that characterizes the radar detector 1 of this embodiment will be described. The pronunciation is performed by the chatter function and the alarm function (GPS alarm function, RD alarm function, and wireless alarm function). All of these functions are realized by the control of the control unit 10, etc. First, the alarm function issues alarm information (specific assistance information) according to the alarm settings in FIG. 8. Driving assistance modes according to the alarm settings include normal mode, minimum mode, special mode, all-on mode, and manual mode. Normal mode is the initial setting mode when the product is shipped. In each mode other than manual mode, the operation (on / off) according to each alarm target is predefined. In manual mode, the user can manually set the operation according to the alarm target.

[0072] Minimum mode is a setting that warns only the minimum necessary items for all RD warning functions, radio warning functions, and GPS warning functions. Normal mode is a mode that emphasizes the balance between functions, and in addition to the items in minimum mode, it is set to warn of items related to enforcement that are of high importance as warning targets. Special mode is a setting that warns of all items related to enforcement as warning targets in addition to the items in normal mode.

[0073] The speech function produces pronunciation according to the speech settings and personal information settings. Examples of personal information set by the personal information setting include (1) location information of the home location, (2) location information of the place of work (company, government office, etc.), (3) location information of the school, (4) location information of MyPoints, which are registered points by the user, and (5) personal information such as the birthday, preferences, hobbies, etc. of the driver who is the user. These personal information can be set using a personal information setting screen (not shown) displayed on the touch panel 15.

[0074] The chat settings include various settings such as pronunciation frequency (output mode), character settings (expression mode), pronunciation conditions (voice output conditions), etc. The chat settings can be set using a chat setting screen (not shown). As shown in Figure 9, there are three output frequency settings for the pronunciation frequency: Talkative, Normal, and Quiet, from the most frequent. Talkative mode is an output mode suitable for driving alone, in which pronunciation is executed frequently. Quiet mode is an output mode suitable for driving with a passenger, in which pronunciation is kept to a minimum so as not to disturb the conversation. Normal mode is an output mode in which pronunciation is executed at the same level as a conventional radar detector. As for the character settings, as shown in Figure 10, there is Normal, a calm character similar to a conventional radar detector; Passenger Seat, an intimate character like a friend, lover or family member who talks from the passenger seat; Cockpit, a character who speaks with a sense of urgency reminiscent of the cockpit of a fighter jet or spaceship; and Lei, a character from a popular anime. As shown in Figure 11, five types of pronunciation conditions are preset. The pronunciation conditions are designed in such a way that it is virtually impossible for users to manually set them. There are five types of pronunciation conditions: (1) opening phrases, (2) phrases when an event that triggers an alarm occurs, (3) phrases when approaching other content, (4) phrases using vehicle information, etc., and (5) phrases when arriving at a specific registered location.

[0075] In the radar detector 1 of this example, the pronunciation conditions under which voice output is executed differ for each pronunciation frequency, as shown in Fig. 12. For example, in the chatty mode, pronunciation is executed for all pronunciation conditions, whereas in the quiet mode, the pronunciation condition is set to be only when an event that is the subject of an alarm (2) occurs, so that when the quiet mode is set, pronunciation is realized in the same way as in conventional radar detectors that do not have a chatty function. Note that the △ in the pronunciation condition 5 in the normal mode means that the user can select whether or not to produce a pronunciation. Furthermore, in the radar detector 1 of this embodiment, the sound frequency modes that can be set for each character are different, as shown in Fig. 13. For example, for a normal character, the quiet mode and normal mode can be set, but the chatty mode cannot be set. For a cockpit character, the chatty mode and normal mode can be set, but the quiet mode cannot be set.

[0076] Specific examples of pronunciation by the radar detector 1 of this example will be described for each pronunciation condition. As shown in FIG. 11, the voice output information in the radar detector 1 of this example is classified into five groups, the first word group to the fifth word group, for each pronunciation condition. Of these, the voice output information belonging to the second word group is warning information (specific support information) that is pronounced by the warning function. The voice output information belonging to the first and third to fifth word groups is voice output information by the chatter function. The radar detector 1 of this example selects and pronounces one of the voice output information depending on the combination of information contents of multiple types of acquired information such as the current position and time, but there is a difference in the combination of types of acquired information referenced for each word group.

[0077] (1) Opening phrases (first group of phrases) Depending on a combination of information contents of acquired information such as vehicle ignition information, current time, current vehicle position, and personal information set by personal information setting, any of the voice output information belonging to the first phrase group is pronounced. The first phrase group includes voice output information that is not related to the driving operation of the vehicle. Such voice output information is useful for relaxing the mind of the user, i.e., the driver, and preventing boredom.

[0078] For example, the first phrase group includes voice output information corresponding to the date and time, as shown in Figs. 14 to 16. Fig. 14 shows voice output information related to greetings for each time period of a day. For example, when the ignition is turned on at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 11, using the voice output information in Fig. 14, it is possible to pronounce "Good morning. Today is Monday, June 11.". Fig. 15 shows voice output information related to greetings related to the calendar of a year. For example, when it is a national holiday, it is possible to pronounce the name of the national holiday using the voice output information in Fig. 15. It is also possible to execute pronunciation related to personal information set by the user, such as a specific day when some event is held or the birthday of the driver. Fig. 16 shows voice output information that calls attention to a specific period, such as Golden Week or Obon. For example, during a consecutive holiday period, it is possible to urge the driver to drive carefully by using the voice output information in Fig. 14 and pronouncing that there is a risk of traffic congestion. It is also effective to inform the driver of a traffic safety week and urge him or her to drive safely. In addition, when it is a weekday but not a specific period, it is also possible to make a sound that calls for driving caution depending on the time of day. For example, from 7:00 to 9:00 (in the morning), it is possible to make a sound such as "This is the rush hour for commuting. Please be careful of pedestrians commuting to school," from 16:00 to 19:00, it is "This is the rush hour for people returning home. Please be careful of pedestrians returning home," and from 23:00 to 5:00 the next morning, it is possible to make a sound such as "Please be careful when driving late at night."

[0079] Next, examples of the pronunciation of words and phrases during the opening will be described. (1-1) Home When the ignition (power source) of a vehicle parked at home is switched on, the pronunciation process illustrated in FIG. 17 is executed. When the ignition of the vehicle is switched on, the pronunciation process starts (S101), and a greeting according to the current time is pronounced (S102). Next, the date is determined (S103), and the pronunciation content varies depending on whether the day is a weekday, a weekend, a national holiday, or a special day (S104, S114, S124). Furthermore, if it is a special time period when the vehicle is expected to be used for commuting, etc., a pronunciation appropriate to the usage situation is made (S105). If the day falls within a special period, a pronunciation to provide that information is made (S115), and the pronunciation process is terminated (S106).

[0080] For example, when the current time when the vehicle ignition is switched on is between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m., and the current location is at home, a scene of going to work can be assumed. Depending on the conversation setting, for example, pronunciation such as "Good morning. Good luck with your work today" can be executed. Furthermore, it is also good to pronounce the date. (1-2) Place of work When the current time when the vehicle ignition is switched on is in the time period between 4:00 and 6:30 p.m., and the current location is the workplace, a scene of returning home can be assumed. Depending on the conversation settings, for example, "Thank you for your hard work. Be careful on your way home." is pronounced. Also, when the current time is replaced with a time period between 6:30 and 11:00 p.m., a scene of returning home from overtime work can be assumed. In this case, it is possible to pronounce "Thank you for your hard work until late. Be careful when driving home." (1-3) School A university or a vocational school can be assumed as a school to be commuted to by vehicle. In the case of a university or a vocational school, the end times of classes and extracurricular activities vary widely, making it difficult to predict when the student will return home depending on the time. Therefore, in the case of a combination of information content in which the current location when the vehicle ignition is switched on is the school to be commuted to, it is a good idea to randomly pronounce a voice such as "Did you have fun today? How was your studies?" and add a voice such as "Drive carefully" at the end.

[0081] (2) Phrases that are used when an event that triggers an alarm occurs (second group of phrases) Any of the warning information (specific assistance information) belonging to the second phrase group is pronounced according to a combination of information contents of the acquired information such as the type of the event that has occurred, speed limit information, the current position of the vehicle, and vehicle speed information. The events to be warned include the approach to the warning point, the RD reception, the radio reception, and the like. The warning information is pronounced according to the warning setting, regardless of the pronunciation frequency in the chat setting, and only the expression style differs depending on the character setting in the chat setting. With such a setting, the pronunciation frequency of the main warning function of the radar detector 1 of this example can be made consistent regardless of the chat setting. If the pronunciation is consistent, the timing of the warning pronunciation will be constant, so that the user (the driver) can be prevented from missing the warning.

[0082] For example, if the information content combination indicates that the vehicle's current location is within 1 km of an Orbis (automatic speed violation enforcement device) and the vehicle's speed is above the speed limit, a warning message (traffic enforcement message) such as "You've been locked on by an enemy 1 km away! Slow down now!" will be sounded under the cockpit character settings. Also, if the information content combination indicates that the vehicle's speed is within the speed limit, a warning message such as "An enemy has been spotted 1 km away! Continue as is!" will be sounded.

[0083] (3) Phrases used when accessing other content (third group of phrases) Depending on a combination of information content such as location information (GPS content) of specific facilities, the current location of the vehicle, and the continuous driving time since the user (driver) started driving, any of the voice output information belonging to the third phrase group is pronounced. (3-1) Rest facilities When driving on a highway, if the continuous driving time exceeds two hours when approaching a rest facility such as a service area, a parking area, or a highway oasis, rest information such as "Thank you for driving for a long time. Won't you take a break now? There is a service area 1 km ahead." is pronounced. If the continuous driving time is replaced by a combination of information that traffic congestion has exceeded a certain time, rest information such as "Aren't you tired from the traffic jam?" may be pronounced. Furthermore, when the continuous driving time becomes excessive, rest information strongly encouraging a break such as "Continuing to drive continuously will put the mission at risk! Take a rest at the service area 1 km ahead!!" may be pronounced. It is also possible to pronounce similar rest information when approaching a rest facility such as a roadside station even when driving on a general road.

[0084] Whether the vehicle is on an expressway or a general road may be determined by determining whether the vehicle's current position is on an expressway or a general road using a known map matching calculation, or by determining the road type according to the vehicle's speed, acceleration, deceleration, and other conditions. Since it is difficult to completely determine the road type using the latter determination method, it is advisable to clearly state in the product manual that there are cases where automatic determination of whether the road is on an expressway or a general road is not possible. While the radar detector 1 may be provided with a means for setting the type of road on which the vehicle is traveling, it is also advisable to state in the product manual that accurate rest information can be presented if the road type is set. In addition, a method of detecting congestion includes, for example, a detection method in which congestion is determined to occur when the speed becomes less than 30 km / h while traveling on an expressway. (3-2) View Point Parking (tourist parking lot) When the current location of the vehicle is outside the specific area registered based on the home and workplace locations, and the current location is near a viewpoint parking area, tourist information such as the name of the viewpoint and points of interest is announced. As the specific area, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, it is good to set and register an area that combines a circular area with a radius of 5 km centered on the home, a circular area with a radius of 5 km centered on the workplace, and a rectangular area with a width of 10 km centered on the straight line connecting the home and workplace. By registering such a specific area, it is possible to prevent the announcement of tourist information that is unnecessary for the user because it is located near the home or workplace. (3-3)Other When the information content is combined with information that the vehicle is approaching a long tunnel or a series of tunnels while driving on a highway, a message such as "There is a long tunnel. Please turn on your lights and drive carefully" is pronounced. When the information content is combined with information that the vehicle is driving near a parking lot, a message such as "There is a parking lot nearby" can be pronounced. When the information content is combined with information that the vehicle is driving near a fire engine, a message such as "There is a fire station nearby. Please watch out for emergency vehicles" can be pronounced.

[0085] (4) Phrases using vehicle information, etc. (fourth group of phrases) According to a combination of contents of acquired information including vehicle information, etc., any of the voice output information belonging to the fourth phrase group is pronounced. The vehicle information, etc. includes vehicle information acquired by the OBD function, and internal information acquired by internal devices such as the acceleration sensor 124, the gyro 125, and the clock unit 126 (FIG. 3). (4-1) Refueling Information In the case where the remaining amount in the tank estimated using the fuel flow rate acquired by the OBD function is less than a specified amount, and the information content indicates that the vehicle is traveling near a gas station, it is advisable to execute pronunciation such as "You're running low on gas. There is a gas station 1 km away. Would you like to stop by?". The remaining amount in the tank can be estimated by subtracting the amount of fuel used, which is the cumulative fuel flow rate, from the tank capacity registered in advance by the user. When the tank capacity is unknown, it is also possible to pronounce refueling information (replenishment information) according to the amount of fuel used. This example illustrates a vehicle that runs on gasoline as an energy source. In the case of an electric vehicle, the energy required for running is electricity. (4-2) Drowsiness warning The driver's level of alertness is estimated based on the steering wheel rotation angle, accelerator opening, etc., and when the level of alertness falls below a threshold, voice output information is generated to warn that the level of alertness is decreasing. (4-3) Eco Information Eco points, which indicate the degree of achievement of eco-driving, are tallied based on the accelerator opening, fuel flow rate, etc., and voice output information is generated to praise or encourage the driver according to the eco points. The timing of the voice output may be random or when the eco points reach a specific point. The degree of achievement of eco-driving may be, in addition to the degree of fuel consumption per distance, the rate of occurrence of situations in which the accelerator is depressed beyond a specified accelerator opening (the rate relative to the mileage or driving time, etc.), the rate of occurrence of sudden braking, sudden steering, sudden acceleration, etc. The degree of eco-driving may be calculated by combining these rates. (4-4)Other It is also possible to output various types of voice information at random timing. In particular, if the driver's total driving time within a certain period of time becomes long, the driver can be relieved from drowsiness and can be entertained by the random output. If a memory card 171 is inserted that stores various information including news and weather as well as public crackdown information, voice output information such as "△△ happened at XX on XX month," "It's raining today, do you have an umbrella?", and "△△ will be held at XX this weekend" can be output. At this time, it is preferable to keep track of the update date and time of the data and compare it with the current time so as not to output information based on old data. Furthermore, for users who do not frequently update the public crackdown information, voice output information such as "The data is outdated. If you could update it, we could be of more use to you..." can be output to encourage the update of the public crackdown information.

[0086] (5) Phrases used when arriving at a specific registration point (specific location) (fifth group of phrases) According to a combination of information such as the location information of a specific registered point and the current location of the vehicle, any one of the pieces of information for voice output belonging to the fifth phrase group is pronounced. (5-1) When you arrive at your registered place of employment When the current location of the vehicle coincides with the registered location of the workplace, voice output information such as "Please do your best at work today" is pronounced. After that, when the ignition of the vehicle is switched off, information such as the mileage, driving time, fuel consumption, and fuel efficiency at that time may be pronounced. (5-2) When you arrive at your registered home When the vehicle's current location matches the registered home location, voice output information such as "Thank you for your hard work today. Please have a good rest." can be pronounced. If the current time is included in the combination of types of acquired information, more thoughtful and pleasant phrases can be pronounced. For example, if the user returns home at 2 p.m., the usual greeting for returning home can be avoided to reduce discomfort for the user. (5-3) When the user arrives at the location of the My Point registered by the user When the current position of the vehicle coincides with the My Point, voice output information such as "You have arrived at My Point" can be pronounced.

[0087] According to the radar detector 1 of this embodiment configured as described above, it is possible to appropriately pronounce useful information required by the driver, who is the user. Based on multiple types of acquired information including the location of the home or workplace, and personal information such as date of birth, preferences, and hobbies, the radar detector 1 pronounces any information according to a combination of the contents of the information. Therefore, information useful to each driver can be appropriately pronounced. For example, in the area surrounding the home, workplace, or commuting route, tourist information and rest information are judged to be not useful to the user, and pronunciation is restricted. On the other hand, in an area where the user is expected to be unfamiliar, tourist information and rest information are judged to be useful to the user, and are actively pronounced. In addition, since rest information is not useful for a driver who has just finished a rest, rest information is appropriately presented taking into consideration continuous driving time, time (3:00 p.m., etc.). The information appropriately presented in this way can provide detailed driving support corresponding to each driver, and is very useful for relaxing and entertaining the driver by audio output.

[0088] The radar detector 1 of this example sounds information that assists driving, such as warning information, as well as information that is not directly related to driving. Some of the information that is not directly related to driving is sounded according to the time regardless of the vehicle's driving conditions. In this radar detector 1, warning information is sounded according to the warning setting, and other information is sounded according to the chatter setting. This specification is very effective in providing consistency to the warning function, which is the main function of the radar detector 1, regardless of the chatter setting related to the chatter function, which is an additional function. The driver, who is the user, can enjoy the chatter function with his or her preferred chatter setting without worrying about the effect on the warning function, which is the main purpose for which the radar detector 1 was purchased.

[0089] The chat function provides information appropriate for each driver, unexpected information when the driver's behavior pattern is different from usual, and different information every day even if the driver's behavior pattern is the same. Various ideas are incorporated to make the user enjoyable to use without getting bored, and to provide useful information to the user. For users who are accustomed to using such a chat function, this chat function becomes an essential function in addition to the main alarm function that motivates the purchase, and can be an added value of the radar detector 1 of this example. For users who consider the chat function to be an added value, the radar detector 1 of this example with the chat function is a very attractive product. If there are more such users, it is expected that there will be an increase in repeat customers who, when replacing their radar detectors, will choose a new product that inherits the design concept of the radar detector 1 of this example without hesitating between other radar detectors.

[0090] It is advisable to make the speech settings (character and pronunciation frequency settings) common to all pronunciation conditions. This is because it is possible to provide consistency in the pronunciation for each pronunciation condition. In particular, if a common speech setting is applied when driving starts, while driving, and when driving ends, a consistent pronunciation style is achieved from the time the user gets in the vehicle until he or she gets out. Alternatively, it is possible to allow different settings for the pronunciation frequency for each pronunciation condition, while making the character common to each pronunciation condition.

[0091] It is advisable to prepare multiple types of voice output information for similar combinations of information content. For example, if about 30 phrases are prepared for the voice output information of the first phrase group, which is the opening phrase, for similar combinations of information content, a different phrase can be pronounced every day even if the same combination of information content is repeated for one month. If a different phrase is pronounced every day, it is possible to take the user, the driver, by surprise. The user, the driver, will want to hear what phrase will be pronounced next time and will look forward to it every day. If such enjoyment is created, the chat function of this product can be used for a long period of time without getting bored.

[0092] When the vehicle is traveling on a route different from the travel route of the travel history stored in the history storage area, the driver may be unfamiliar with the surrounding geography, so it is advisable to pronounce geographical information such as town information or tourist information, such as "There is a convenience store in this neighborhood." Furthermore, the pronunciation frequency of the geographical information may be changed according to the degree of distance from the most recent position in the stored travel history to the current position. The greater the distance, the further away the user (the driver) is from his / her hometown, and it can be assumed that the driver is unfamiliar with the geography, so it is advisable to increase the pronunciation frequency of the geographical information.

[0093] It is also good to provide an information pattern storage area for storing combination patterns of information contents of acquired information in the storage area of ​​the non-volatile memory. When the user, the driver, acts in a pattern different from usual, a new pattern not stored in the information pattern storage area appears. The radar detector 1 can grasp the occurrence of an unusual behavior in response to the appearance of such a new pattern. For example, in the case of the phrase at the opening (first phrase group), a combination pattern of information contents of acquired information such as vehicle ignition information, current time, current vehicle position, and personal information can be stored, and when a new pattern different from the pattern obtained in the past month or week is obtained, a pronunciation according to the combination of the information contents can be executed. While a combination pattern of information contents that the ignition of the vehicle at home is switched on around 6:00 every morning is stored, if the ignition is switched on later than that, it is good to execute the pronunciation of "Good morning. It's a little later than usual, but please drive carefully and slowly." Or, when the ignition of the home vehicle is switched on at 5 a.m., it may be good to pronounce, "It's early today. The roads are relatively empty, but please be careful not to drive too fast."

[0094] This example is an example of a stand-alone vehicle system that produces various sounds by itself using the radar detector 1. Alternatively, a vehicle system may be configured that includes a base station that has a database of information for audio output and is accessible via a network, while providing the radar detector 1 with a network function.

[0095] While adding a means for detecting the presence or absence of a passenger, it is also possible to change the character setting and the sound frequency depending on the presence or absence of a passenger. For example, even if the sound frequency is set to a chatty mode, if there is a passenger, it is also possible to temporarily set the quiet mode. In this case, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the radar detector 1 disturbs a conversation with a passenger. As a means for detecting a passenger, a means using a pressure sensor embedded in the seat, or a means for detecting a passenger by applying image processing to an image taken by an imaging camera installed facing the interior of the vehicle can be adopted.

[0096] Example 2 This example is an example in which a sound output specification is added to the radar detector 1 of the embodiment 1. The details of this example will be described with reference to Figs. The radar detector of this embodiment is set to the sound output specifications shown in Fig. 19. The specifications in Fig. 19 include specifications that overlap with those in the first embodiment. In this example, the setting of the sound frequency is slightly different from that of the first embodiment. While it is similar to the first embodiment in that there are three output mode settings, chatty, normal, and quiet, from the most frequent, it is different in that the quiet mode has the same sound frequency as a conventional radar detector. The chatty mode is an output mode for drivers who want to hear all warnings and various information. The quiet mode is an output mode for drivers who want to drive quietly and be satisfied with the same warnings as a conventional radar detector. The normal mode is an intermediate mode between the two, and is an output mode for drivers who want to receive more information on speed cameras, checkpoints, etc. than conventional radar detectors.

[0097] The pronunciation by the event combination in Fig. 19 is a pronunciation specification when any two or more types of events among a plurality of types of events such as approaching GPS content (GPS content approach), RD reception, radio reception, etc. occur simultaneously (Fig. 20), and is an additional specification to the embodiment 1. In addition to the above, the target events include an event of specific vehicle information acquisition such as acquisition of vehicle information indicating that the speed limit is exceeded by 10 km or more, and acquisition of vehicle information indicating that a traffic jam is expected. The speed camera countdown sounds when you approach a speed camera (Figure 21). The sound produced according to the RD reception level (Lv) is a specification for producing a sound according to changes in Lv strength (Figure 22). The pronunciation according to the vehicle information is based on the vehicle information acquired by the radar detector (Figure 23).

[0098] As can be seen from FIG. 19, when the pronunciation frequency during the chat setting is set to the quiet mode, the pronunciation according to the event combination and the pronunciation according to the vehicle information are not executed. If a user desires the same pronunciation as that of the conventional radar detector 1, the pronunciation frequency can be suppressed by setting the quiet mode, and the pronunciation specification is the same as that of the conventional radar detector 1 except for the pronunciation according to the RD reception level. On the other hand, when the chat mode is set, the pronunciation according to the event combination and the pronunciation according to the vehicle information are all executed. For example, if the all-on mode is set as the alarm setting and the pronunciation frequency during the chat setting is set to the chat mode, a very high pronunciation frequency and a very lively specification are realized.

[0099] An example of a sound produced by a combination of events will be described with reference to FIG. 20. For example, if a GPS content approach event due to approaching an ORBIS and an RD reception event due to reception of a radar wave occur simultaneously, a sound reflecting the two events is produced. This is a new feature not found in the radar detector 1 of the first embodiment, in which an RD warning is given priority over a GPS warning. Specifically, a sound reflecting both the GPS content approach event of "Radar warning confirmed in ORBIS area! Watch your speed" and the RD reception event is produced. In addition, if a GPS content approach event due to approaching a speed trap area and an event of importing specific vehicle information of a speed 10 to 20 km / h over the speed limit occur simultaneously, a sound reflecting the two events of "Watch out for speed enforcement! Speed ​​limit is 10 km over." is produced. In addition, if a radio reception event due to reception of a speed enforcement radio signal occurs in addition to these two events, a sound reflecting the three events of "Speed ​​enforcement measurement area, speed limit is 10 km over." is produced.

[0100] In addition, when a GPS content approach event due to approaching an accident-prone area and a radio reception event due to reception of a car location radio occur simultaneously, a pronunciation reflecting the two events is executed: "There is a risk of a traffic accident in this area. Drive with caution." When a GPS content approach event due to approaching a parking area and a specific vehicle information import event that indicates a traffic jam in which driving at 30 km / h or less has continued for a specified period of time occur simultaneously, a pronunciation is executed: "There is a XX parking area 2 km ahead. Are you tired from the traffic jam? We recommend taking a break." When a GPS content approach event due to approaching a service area with an attached gas station and a specific vehicle information import event indicating that the amount of gas remaining in the tank is below 20% occur simultaneously, a pronunciation is executed: "Your gasoline is low. There is a gas station at the XX service area 2 km ahead. We recommend refueling."

[0101] The specifications for the sound of the speed camera countdown according to the approach to the speed camera will be described with reference to FIG. 21. The specifications differ according to the sound frequency during the talk setting. In the quiet mode, the countdown sound is not sounded every 100m, and an alarm is issued similar to that of the conventional radar detector 1, while in the talk mode and normal mode, the countdown sound may be executed every 100m. In particular, when the talk mode is set, count 2 in the figure is applied, in which the countdown is performed at a distance of 1000m to 100m. On the other hand, in the normal mode, count 1 in the figure is applied, in which the countdown every 100m starts when approaching within 500m. Note that, as traffic control information for notifying by voice of the approach to a control point (a specific location such as the installation location of a speed camera), there is warning information sounded according to the warning setting, as well as voice output information sounded by the speed camera countdown.

[0102] The pronunciation specification according to the RD reception level will be described with reference to FIG. 22. As shown in FIG. 19, this pronunciation specification is common regardless of the pronunciation frequency during the talk setting (talk mode, normal mode, quiet mode). When the reception level gradually increases from Lv1 to Lv5, the following pronunciations are executed when the reception level reaches Lv1, Lv3, and Lv5, respectively: "Radar waves received," "Approaching radar wave transmission area!", and "You are in a radar wave transmission area." On the other hand, when the reception level gradually decreases from Lv5 to Lv1, the following pronunciations are executed when the reception level reaches Lv5, Lv3, and zero level, respectively: "You are in a radar wave transmission area," "Leaving radar wave transmission area!", and "Outside of radar wave transmission area."

[0103] An example of sound generation according to vehicle information will be described with reference to Fig. 23. In the figure, internal information refers to information acquired by internal devices such as the acceleration sensor 124 and the clock unit 126. For example, when the vehicle is traveling at low speed or idling for a long time and is driving on a highway, a message such as "There is a parking area 1 km ahead. Would you like to take a break?" is issued before a parking area or service area. When the throttle opening by the OBD function is maintained at 80% or more for several seconds, a message such as "The engine is overloaded. This is not good for fuel economy" is issued. When the fuel flow rate by the OBD function reaches a preset alarm value, a message such as "There is not enough gasoline. Please refuel." is issued. In the reminder setting, vehicle information from the OBD function is used, and when the set number of days or distance is reached, a message such as "It is time to change the battery" or "It is time to change the tires" is issued.

[0104] Furthermore, by executing pronunciation according to information acquired internally by the radar detector, such as vehicle speed, acceleration, and inclination, and vehicle information acquired by the OBD function, it becomes possible to notify changes in the driving state, surrounding conditions, vehicle conditions, and the like by voice from moment to moment. For example, in the case of the output of the acceleration sensor 124, the values ​​of acceleration G, deceleration G, and lateral G can be pronounced from moment to moment when they exceed a preset threshold value for a predetermined period of time. For example, "acceleration G ○○", "○○"... "lateral G ○○", "○○"... In the case of the OBD output (vehicle information by the OBD function), the output value of a set item can be pronounced from moment to moment when the output value exceeds a threshold value for a predetermined period of time. For example, "engine load ○○", "○○"... "full throttle", "○○"...

[0105] As described above, according to the radar detector of this example having the sound generation specification according to the combination of events, when multiple events occur at the same time while driving, appropriate information reflecting the contents of those events can be generated. For example, when the approaching speed to the speed trap area is 10 to 20 km / h over, useful information necessary to avoid the speed trap such as "Watch out for speeding! You are 10 km over the speed limit" can be generated. Also, for example, when approaching a service area with a gas station, if the amount of gas remaining in the tank is below 20%, useful information necessary to avoid running out of gas such as "You have little gas remaining. There is a gas station at the XX service area 2 kilometers ahead. We recommend you refuel." can be generated.

[0106] In this way, the radar detector of this example can provide the driver with the information he or she needs in a given situation by announcing information corresponding to a combination of multiple overlapping events. This radar detector is an "intelligent" in-vehicle device that can provide appropriate information that reflects the individual driver's situation, etc. Other configurations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0107] Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail as in Examples 1 and 2, these specific examples merely disclose examples of the technology encompassed by the claims. Needless to say, the claims should not be interpreted as being limited by the configurations, numerical values, etc. of the specific examples. The claims encompass technologies that are obtained by variously modifying or changing the specific examples by utilizing publicly known technologies or the knowledge of a person skilled in the art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 1. Radar detector (vehicle system) 10 Control section 100 Databases 121 GPS receiver 122 Microwave Receiver 123 Radio Receiver 124 Accelerometer 125 Gyro 126 Clock section 15 Touch Panel 16 Speakers 17 Memory card reader 171 Memory Card 2 Case body 28 Bracket 31 Wallpaper 32 Map screen 35 GPS alarm screen 36 RD alarm screen

Claims

1. A system having a function of making a predetermined sound when a vehicle is switched on, The predetermined pronunciation is different depending on whether the date is a weekday or not, and when the date is a weekday, a pronunciation process is performed for each time period in which the predetermined pronunciation is performed when the current time falls within the specific time period, while when the date is not a weekday, the pronunciation process is not performed for each time period. A system characterized by.

2. The predetermined pronunciation has a function of outputting a voice based on voice output information for a specific period when the date falls within a preset specific period, and the voice output information for the specific period has a content indicating that the date falls within the specific period and a content calling attention to the specific period. The system of claim 1 .

3. The predetermined pronunciation is provided with a function of making a pronunciation assuming a scene of going to work when the current time when the vehicle is switched on belongs to a first time zone and the current location is a home.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

4. The predetermined pronunciation is provided with a function of making a pronunciation assuming a scene of returning home when the current time when the vehicle is switched on belongs to a second time zone and the current location is the workplace.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

5. Equipped with a function to output voice information when the vehicle's current location matches the registered workplace location 5. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

6. When the vehicle is turned off, the vehicle is equipped with a function to pronounce at least one of the following information: mileage, driving time, fuel consumption, or fuel economy.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein

7. A program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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