Output sound abnormality detecting device

Abstract

To provide an output sound abnormality detecting device capable of detecting an abnormality in an output system including a content of an output sound.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle device 100 comprises: a warning sound generation unit 24 that generates an L channel warning sound that is an output target and an R channel sound having the same content as the warning sound; an amplifier 30 that amplifies these sounds and outputs an amplified sound; a comparator 40 that compares signal levels of the two sounds output from the amplifier 30; and a warning sound abnormality determining unit 28 that determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the warning sound and the amplifier 30 based on a comparison result by the comparator 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an output sound abnormality detection device that detects abnormalities in the output of a warning sound or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, audio amplifiers that detect an abnormal operation of a power amplifier circuit used in the audio amplifier are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this audio amplifier, a determination is made by a determination means as to whether or not an output signal of the power amplifier circuit is abnormal when an audio signal is input from a preamplifier at a previous stage. Specifically, the determination means includes an output signal determination means, a time measurement means, and a comparison means. The output signal determination means is, for example, a comparator using a differential amplifier, and outputs an H level signal when the voltage of the output signal of the power amplifier circuit exceeds a predetermined upper threshold V2 or becomes lower than a predetermined lower threshold V1, and outputs an L level signal otherwise. When H is output from the output signal determination means, the time measurement means measures the time during which H is continuously output using a timer, and provides the value Tsc to the comparison means. The comparison means compares this time Tsc with a predetermined time Tth, and determines that the operation of the audio amplifier is abnormal when Tsc is greater than Tth. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-304123 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Recently, there are sounds that are expected to be output reliably and accurately, such as various warning sounds output into the vehicle cabin. However, the abnormality detection operation of the audio amplifier disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 can detect an abnormality in the operation of the power amplifier circuit when the power amplifier circuit is not operating normally, but has a problem in that it cannot detect an abnormality in the content of the sound input to the power amplifier circuit.

[0005] The present invention has been created in consideration of these points, and its purpose is to provide an output sound abnormality detection device that can detect abnormalities in an output system, including the content of the output sound. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the output sound abnormality detection device of the present invention comprises an output sound generation means for generating a first sound to be output and a second sound having the same content as the first sound, an amplification means for amplifying and outputting the first and second sounds, a comparison means for comparing the signal levels of the first and second sounds output from the amplification means, and an abnormality determination means for determining the presence or absence of an abnormality in the first sound generated by the output sound generation means and the amplification means based on the comparison result by the comparison means.

[0007] In addition, it is desirable that the above-mentioned abnormality determination means determines that an abnormality has occurred in the amplification means and / or the output sound generation means when the comparison means obtains a comparison result indicating that the signal levels of the first sound and second sound to be compared are different.

[0008] A first sound to be output is compared with a second sound of the same content, and if there is no abnormality in the content of the first sound or the operation of the amplification means, the comparison result should indicate that the first and second sounds are the same. Based on this comparison result, it is possible to detect abnormalities in the output system, including the content of the output sound.

[0009] In addition, each of the first and second sounds described above is I 2It is desirable that the signals are transmitted between the output sound generating means and the amplifying means using left and right channels in a data format conforming to the S (Inter-IC Sound) standard. This makes it easy to synchronize the first sound and the second sound, and makes it possible to eliminate detection errors caused by a difference in input timing between the first and second sounds when the comparing means performs a comparison operation.

[0010] In addition, it is preferable that the first sound is a warning sound outputted to the user, so that the user can easily know whether a warning sound of high importance is being outputted normally or not.

[0011] It is also preferable that the second sound is created by copying the warning sound, so that the content of the second sound can be reliably the same as that of the first sound.

[0012] It is also desirable that the second sound described above includes a sound having a signal level that is not correlated with the first sound in a predetermined cycle, so that even if there is an abnormality in the comparison means or the downstream circuit, the abnormality can be detected based on the periodic comparison result. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an in-vehicle device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of data transmitted according to the I2S standard. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the L channel and R channel sounds output from an amplifier and the results of comparing these sounds. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of data transmitted according to the I2S standard. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram of a modified example showing the sounds of the L channel and the R channel output from the amplifier and the results of comparing these sounds. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle device according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An in-vehicle device according to an embodiment of the present invention, to which an output sound abnormality detection device is applied, will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0015] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an in-vehicle device 100 according to an embodiment. The in-vehicle device 100 shown in Fig. 1 detects various abnormalities (vehicle abnormalities) in the vehicle and outputs a warning sound corresponding to the contents of the abnormality, and also detects an abnormality (warning sound abnormality) in the output system of the warning sound. The in-vehicle device 100 includes a sensor 10, an abnormality processing unit 20, an amplifier 30, a speaker 32, and a comparator 40.

[0016] The sensor 10 measures the state of each part of the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device 100 is mounted, and outputs the corresponding measured quantity. The abnormality processing unit 20 detects abnormalities in each part of the vehicle based on the measured values ​​output from the sensor 10, generates a warning sound corresponding to the content of the abnormality, and determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the output system of the warning sound. Various types of abnormalities in each part of the vehicle to be warned about can be considered. For example, the sensor 10 includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a voltage sensor, a current sensor, switches, etc., and can detect engine abnormalities, tire air pressure abnormalities, seat belt non-fastening, etc. as abnormal states. Note that the present invention is intended to determine abnormalities in the output system of the warning sound, and specific examples of the sensor 10 and vehicle abnormalities are not limited to these.

[0017] The abnormality processing unit 20 includes a vehicle abnormality detection unit 22, a warning sound generation unit 24, an interrupt timer 26, and a warning sound abnormality determination unit .

[0018] The vehicle abnormality detection unit 22 detects abnormalities in various parts of the vehicle based on the measurement results of the sensor 10. The warning sound generation unit 24 generates a warning sound corresponding to the content of the abnormality detected by the vehicle abnormality detection unit 20. For example, 2The warning sound data is transmitted between the abnormality processing unit 20 and the amplifier 30 in a format conforming to the S (Inter-IC Sound) standard. In this standard, PCM data for two channels, left and right, is transmitted through one signal line.

[0019] Figure 2 shows the I 2 2 is a diagram showing an example of data transmitted in accordance with the S standard. As shown in FIG. 2, sound data of the R channel and sound data of the L channel are transmitted alternately via one signal line. In this embodiment, for example, a monaural warning sound is transmitted using the L channel. Also, the same sound data as the warning sound of the L channel is copied and stored in the R channel.

[0020] The operations of the interrupt timer 26 and the warning sound abnormality determination unit 28 will be described later.

[0021] The amplifier 30 receives the sound data generated by the warning sound generation unit 24, converts this sound data (both the L channel and the R channel) into an analog audio signal, amplifies it, and outputs it from the speaker 32. Note that although the target sound output from the speaker 32 is the L channel warning sound, the R channel sound having the same content is also amplified at the same time.

[0022] The comparator 40 compares the signal level of the L channel warning sound output from the amplifier 30 with the signal level of the R channel sound, and outputs an L level signal if these signal levels are the same, and outputs an H level signal if these signal levels are different.

[0023] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the L channel and R channel sounds output from amplifier 30 and the comparison result between them. Sound A (warning sound) of the L channel and the R channel sound are transmitted in a synchronized state as a single serial data line, so the waveforms (signal levels) of these sounds are the same, as shown in Fig. 3(A). Therefore, if no abnormality has occurred in the output system of the warning sound, signals of the same level are compared in comparator 40, and the output of comparator 40 becomes L level, as shown in Fig. 3(B).

[0024] An interrupt timer 26 in the abnormality processing unit 20 periodically captures the output (L level / H level) of the comparator 40, and generates an interrupt when it captures the H level (when an abnormality has occurred in the warning sound output system). The warning sound abnormality determination unit 28 determines, based on the interrupt generation, that an abnormality has occurred in the warning sound output system. When this abnormality is determined to have occurred, since it is not possible to output a warning sound notifying the abnormality from the speaker 32, a warning is displayed on a display device (not shown) to inform the user that an abnormality has occurred in the warning sound output system, and so the user is notified by other means.

[0025] In this way, in the in-vehicle device 100 of this embodiment, a comparison is made between the warning sound to be output (L channel sound) and the R channel sound of the same content, and if there is no abnormality in the content of the warning sound or the operation of the amplifier 30 (digital-to-analog conversion operation or amplification operation), an L level output should be obtained, which is a comparison result indicating that the two sounds are the same, and based on this comparison result, the warning sound abnormality judgment unit 28 is able to detect abnormalities in the output system, including the content of the warning sound.

[0026] Also, I 2 By using the left and right channels in a data format conforming to the S standard, it becomes easy to synchronize the L channel sound as a warning sound with the R channel sound for comparison, and it becomes possible to eliminate detection errors associated with discrepancies in the input timing of these sounds when performing a comparison operation by comparator 40.

[0027] Furthermore, the target of abnormality detection is the warning sound output to the user, making it possible to easily know whether or not a warning sound of high importance is being output normally.

[0028] In addition, by creating the R channel sound to be compared with the L channel warning sound by copying the warning sound, the content of the R channel sound can be reliably made the same as the L channel warning sound.

[0029] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. 2 Although the sound data conforming to the S standard includes an R channel sound having exactly the same content as the warning sound in the L channel, it is also possible to include a sound of a signal level that is not correlated with the warning sound in the L channel at a predetermined cycle as the R channel sound.

[0030] Figure 4 shows the I 2 4 is a diagram showing another example of data transmitted in accordance with the S standard. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the L channel contains sound data indicating a warning sound, while the R channel contains sound data indicating 0 (corresponding to a 0-level signal) at regular intervals.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a modified example showing the sounds of the L channel and the R channel output from the amplifier 30 and the comparison result between them. The warning sound of the L channel and the sound of the R channel are basically the same, but since the sound of the R channel temporarily becomes 0 level at a certain period (FIG. 5(A)), the output of the comparator 40 also temporarily becomes H level at a certain period. Therefore, an interrupt is generated at a certain period by the interrupt timer 26. The warning sound abnormality determination unit 28 can confirm that the comparator 40 and the circuit at the subsequent stage (interrupt timer 26, etc.) are operating normally by the interrupt generated at this certain period. Also, if an interrupt occurs at a timing other than this certain period, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the content of the warning sound or in the output system, as in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0032] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the two sounds (the warning sound of the L channel and the sound of the R channel) output from the amplifier 30 are compared using the comparator 40, but the comparator 40 may be replaced with an analog adder.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a modified in-vehicle device 100A. The in-vehicle device 100A shown in FIG. 6 differs from the in-vehicle device 100 shown in FIG. 1 in that the comparator 40 is replaced with an analog adder 40A. The analog adder 40A performs analog addition of the non-inverted input L channel sound (warning sound) and the inverted input R channel sound. Since the R channel sound is inverted, the analog adder 40A subtracts each signal level of the R channel sound from the L channel warning sound. Therefore, when the signal levels of the L channel warning sound and the R channel sound are the same, the output of the analog adder 40A becomes the L level, and the same output as the comparator 40 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained. Also, when the signal levels of the L channel warning sound and the R channel sound are different, the output of the analog adder 40A becomes a level higher than the L level according to the difference between them, and an interrupt is generated by the interrupt timer 26 according to this level information, and an abnormality is determined by the warning sound abnormality determination unit 28.

[0034] In the above embodiment, I 2 Although the case where warning sound data is transmitted in accordance with the S standard has been described, the warning sound may be transmitted in a format conforming to other standards. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the sound to be output is a warning sound, but the present invention may be applied to a configuration for outputting a sound other than a warning sound, for example, a specific announcement voice. [Industrial Applicability]

[0035] As described above, according to the present invention, a sound of the same content is used for the warning sound to be output and compared with the sound. If there is no abnormality in the content of the warning sound or in the operation of the amplifier 30, the comparison result should indicate that the two sounds are the same. Based on this comparison result, it is possible to detect abnormalities in the output system, including the content of the warning sound. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 10 Sensors 20 Abnormality Processing Unit 22 Vehicle abnormality detection unit 24 Warning sound generator 26 Interrupt Timer 28 Warning sound abnormality determination section 30 Amplifier 32 Speaker 40 Comparator 40A Analog Adder 100, 100A Vehicle equipment

Claims

1. an output sound generating means for generating a first sound to be output and a second sound having the same content as the first sound; an amplifier for amplifying and outputting the first and second sounds; a comparison means for comparing the signal levels of the first and second sounds output from the amplification means; an abnormality determination means for determining whether or not there is an abnormality in the first sound generated by the output sound generation means and in the amplification means based on a comparison result by the comparison means; An output sound abnormality detection device comprising:

2. The output sound abnormality detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the abnormality determination means determines that an abnormality has occurred in the amplification means and / or the output sound generation means when the comparison means obtains a comparison result indicating that the signal levels of the first sound and the second sound to be compared are different.

3. Each of the first and second sounds is 2 2. The output sound abnormality detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the output sound is transmitted between the output sound generating means and the amplifying means using left and right channels in a data format conforming to the Inter-IC Sound (S) standard.

4. 2. The output sound abnormality detection device according to claim 1, wherein the first sound is a warning sound outputted to a user.

5. 5. The output sound abnormality detection device according to claim 4, wherein the second sound is created by copying the warning sound.

6. 2. The output sound abnormality detection device according to claim 1, wherein the second sound includes a sound having a signal level that is uncorrelated with the first sound in a predetermined period.

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