Vehicle control device

Abstract

To make it possible for a user to recognize that a voice request is correctly accepted when the user instructs a request for air conditioning control by the voice and prevent a feeling of discomfort.SOLUTION: When a voice recognition unit 21 of a DAECU 2 recognizes a voice requesting air conditioning to an air conditioning ECU 3, request command information is transmitted as transmitting information of a serial communication from a DA communication unit 23, when an AC communication unit 31 of the air conditioning ECU 3 receives the request command information from the DA communication unit 23 as receiving information of the serial communication, response information indicating that the request command information is received as the transmitting information of the serial communication from the AC communication unit 31, and the air conditioning EDCU 3 performs air conditioning control in response to the request command information received by the AC communication unit 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle control device that controls an air conditioner based on input audio by serial communication via a communication bus between a display audio control means and an air conditioner control means. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is a vehicle air conditioner that controls the air conditioning in the vehicle cabin by voice, as described in Patent Document 1, for example. This type of device includes a voice input unit that accepts voice-based operation instructions for the air conditioning unit, a voice recognition unit that recognizes the content of the operation instructions accepted by the voice input unit, and a control unit that controls the air conditioning in accordance with the operation instructions recognized by the voice recognition unit.

[0003] In recent years, vehicles have begun to be equipped with car audio systems equipped with displays known as Display Audio (hereinafter referred to as DA). This DA allows the tuner to receive FM and AM radio broadcasts and output them from the speakers, displays videos stored on USB devices on the display and plays and outputs music, connects designated apps on smartphones via Bluetooth (registered trademark) and outputs them from the speakers, and even allows compatible navigation apps on smartphones to be operated by voice, displaying navigation images on the display and providing voice guidance for navigation routes.

[0004] On the other hand, the DA can also be operated by voice input, and it is being considered that the voice input function of such a DA can be used to control the air conditioning in the vehicle cabin. In this case, a communication system based on the CAN (Controller Area Network) protocol, which is generally installed for on-board communication, is used, and the air conditioner is controlled by serial communication performed at a predetermined communication cycle (for example, 60 msec) via a communication bus between a DAECU (Electronic Control Unit) that controls the DA and an air conditioner ECU that controls the air conditioning in the vehicle cabin.

[0005] More specifically, when the air conditioner is controlled to a conditioned temperature of 20°C, the air conditioner ECU repeatedly transmits air conditioner display information indicating that the air conditioner is controlled to a conditioned temperature of 20°C to the DAECU at a predetermined communication cycle (60 msec). In this state, if the user issues a voice command to request air conditioner control such as raising the air conditioner temperature to 24°C, the DAECU recognizes the user's voice, and at the next communication timing, the DAECU transmits a request to change the air conditioner temperature to 24°C to the air conditioner ECU. When the air conditioner ECU receives this request, the air conditioner ECU executes control to change the air conditioner temperature to 24°C. When control to change the air conditioner temperature to 24°C is executed, air conditioner display information indicating that the air conditioner temperature is 24°C is transmitted from the air conditioner ECU to the DAECU. When the DAECU receives this air conditioner display information, the DAECU synthesizes a voice indicating that the air conditioner temperature has been set to 24°C and outputs it from a speaker. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-209808 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the conventional CAN communication between the DAECU and the air conditioner ECU described above, even if the DAECU sends a request to change the air conditioning temperature to 24°C in response to a user's voice request for air conditioning control, and the air conditioner ECU receives the request to change the air conditioning temperature to 24°C from the DAECU, depending on the timing of the communication, the air conditioner ECU may not be able to immediately control the air conditioner in response to this temperature change request. In such cases, the next communication will send air conditioner display information indicating that the previous air conditioning temperature was 20°C, and the DAECU will not change the air conditioning temperature to 24°C. It is determined that the request to increase the temperature has not been carried out, and a synthesized voice (such as "The operation was not performed correctly") is output to indicate that the user's request was not carried out correctly.The air conditioner ECU then carries out air conditioner control in accordance with the request to change the air conditioning temperature to 24°C, and at the communication timing after the air conditioning control is carried out, air conditioner display information indicating that the air conditioning temperature is 24°C is sent from the air conditioner ECU, and a synthesized voice (such as "The air conditioning temperature will be changed to 24°C") is output by the DAECU to indicate that the air conditioning temperature has been changed to 24°C as requested by the user.

[0008] In other words, when a user makes a vocal request to raise the air conditioning temperature to 24°C, the user will initially hear a voice indicating that the request was not executed correctly, and will not be able to recognize that the vocal instruction was correctly accepted.It is only when the user subsequently hears a voice indicating that air conditioning control has been executed based on the user's request and the air conditioning temperature has been changed to 24°C that the user will recognize that the request was correctly accepted.

[0009] Therefore, even if a user issues a voice command to request air conditioning control, the user may feel uncomfortable because they will not realize that their voice request has been properly accepted until they hear the voice indicating that the air conditioning temperature has been changed to 24°C.

[0010] In another pattern, when a user vocally requests to raise the air conditioning temperature to 24°C, the user may recognize that the request has been accepted correctly. However, depending on the timing, even if the user vocally requests air conditioning control, the system may respond with "control not successful," and the vocal request may not be accepted correctly.

[0011] To prevent a user from feeling uncomfortable when the user issues a voice command to control an air conditioner by making the user aware that the voice command has been correctly accepted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle control device of the present invention is a vehicle control device comprising: a display audio control means for controlling a display audio; and an air conditioning control means for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle compartment; and a vehicle control device for controlling serial communication performed at a predetermined communication cycle via a communication bus between the display audio control means and the air conditioning control means, wherein the display audio control means comprises a voice recognition unit for recognizing voice input from the outside through a microphone, a voice synthesis output unit for outputting synthesized voice via a speaker, and a DA communication unit for performing the serial communication for transmitting and receiving information via the communication bus; The control means includes an AC communication unit that performs the serial communication for transmitting and receiving information via the communication bus, and when the voice recognition unit recognizes a voice requesting air conditioning control to the air conditioning control means, the DA communication unit of the display audio control means transmits request command information as transmission information of the serial communication, and when the AC communication unit of the air conditioning control means receives the request command information as reception information of the serial communication, it transmits response information indicating that the request command information has been received as transmission information of the serial communication, and the air conditioning control means performs the air conditioning control according to the request command information received by the AC communication unit. the response information transmitted from the AC communication unit includes a plurality of response codes whose contents correspond to the status of the air conditioning control based on the request command information; when the display audio control means receives the response information from the AC communication unit via the DA communication unit as received information of the serial communication, the display audio control means synthesizes a voice whose contents are based on the response code included in the response information via the voice synthesis output unit and outputs the synthesized voice from the speaker, and transmits transmission stop information of the request command information to the air conditioner control means as transmitted information of the serial communication; and when the air conditioner control means receives the transmission stop information of the request command information from the DA communication unit via the AC communication unit as received information of the serial communication, it transmits the transmission stop information of the response information as transmitted information of the serial communication. It is characterized by the following.

[0013] With this configuration, when the voice recognition unit of the display audio control means recognizes a voice requesting air conditioning control from the air conditioning control means, request command information is transmitted from the DA communication unit as transmission information of serial communication, and when the AC communication unit of the air conditioning control means receives the request command information from the DA communication unit as reception information of serial communication, response information indicating that the request command information has been received is transmitted from the AC communication unit as transmission information of serial communication, and the air conditioning control means performs air conditioning control in accordance with the request command information received by the AC communication unit.

[0014] Therefore, when a user vocally requests air conditioner control, the DA communication unit of the display audio control means and the AC communication unit of the air conditioner control means can send and receive request command information based on the user's vocal request for air conditioner control, and response information indicating that this request command information has been received.Based on the response information indicating that the request command information has been received, the display audio control means can notify the user that the vocal request for air conditioner control has been correctly accepted, preventing the user from feeling uncomfortable.

[0016] AlsoThe response information transmitted from the AC communication unit of the air conditioning control means includes a plurality of response codes whose content corresponds to the status of air conditioning control based on the request command information from the DA communication unit of the display audio control means, and when the DA communication unit receives the response information from the AC communication unit, a voice whose content is based on the response codes included in the response information is output from the speaker, so that the user can know what stage the air conditioning control status is in response to the air conditioning control request that the user issued via voice, through a voice whose content is based on the plurality of response codes, and the voice whose content is detailed based on the plurality of response codes can give the user a sense of security. Also, because the DA communication unit transmits transmission stop information for request command information to the air conditioning control means, the DA communication unit can notify the AC communication unit that it will not transmit request command information, and because the AC communication unit transmits transmission stop information for response information, the AC communication unit can notify the DA communication unit that it will not transmit response information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, when a user vocally requests air conditioner control, request command information based on the user's vocal request for air conditioner control, and response information indicating that this request command information has been received, can be transmitted and received between the DA communication unit of the display audio control means and the AC communication unit of the air conditioner control means.Therefore, based on the response information indicating that the request command information has been received, the display audio control means notifies the user that the vocal request for air conditioner control has been correctly accepted, allowing the user to recognize that their vocal request has been correctly accepted, thereby preventing the user from feeling uncomfortable. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a vehicle control device of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] An embodiment of a vehicle control device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0020] (composition) The vehicle control device in this embodiment is configured as shown in Fig. 1. That is, the vehicle control device 1 includes a microcomputer-configured DAECU 2 that is DA control means that controls the display audio (hereinafter referred to as DA), a microcomputer-configured air conditioner ECU 3 that is air conditioner control means that controls the air conditioner, and a communication bus 4 for performing serial communication (hereinafter also referred to as CAN communication) between the DAECU 2 and the air conditioner ECU 3 at a predetermined communication cycle (60 msec) according to the CAN (Controller Area Network) protocol.

[0021] The DAECU 2 also includes a voice recognition unit 21 that recognizes the user's voice input through the microphone 6, a voice synthesis output unit 22 that outputs synthesized voice through the speaker 7, and a DA communication unit 23 that performs CAN communication according to the CAN protocol to send and receive information via the communication bus 4. The microphone 6 is enabled by operating a microphone switch located on the steering wheel or the like of the vehicle, and when the user issues a voice command through the microphone 6 to request air conditioning control, the voice recognition unit 21 recognizes the voice request for air conditioning control to the air conditioning ECU 3, and the DA communication unit 23 transmits request command information via the communication bus 4 as transmission information for CAN communication.

[0022] The air conditioner ECU 3 is equipped with an AC communication unit 31 that performs serial communication using the CAN protocol to send and receive information via the communication bus 4. When the AC communication unit 31 receives request command information from the DA communication unit 23 as received information in CAN communication, the AC communication unit 31 transmits response information indicating that the request command information has been received via the communication bus 4 as transmitted information in CAN communication.

[0023] The air conditioner ECU 3 also receives temperature information detected by a temperature sensor 9 that detects the outside air temperature and the temperature inside the vehicle cabin. The air conditioner ECU 3 controls the air conditioning using an air conditioner unit 11 in response to switch operations on an air conditioner operation section 10 located on an instrument panel or the like. When request command information is received by the AC communication section 31, the air conditioning unit 11 controls the air conditioning in response to the request command information received by the AC communication section 31 from the DA communication section 23.

[0024] The DAECU 2 basically controls the audio system 8, plays music and outputs it from the speaker 7, and displays screens related to audio control and other controls on the display 8a of the audio system 8. More specifically, the DAECU 2 causes the built-in tuner to receive FM / AM radio broadcasts and output them from the speaker 7, displays videos stored in a connected USB device on the display 8a, plays music and outputs it from the speaker 7, connects to a specified app in the user's smartphone via Bluetooth (registered trademark) and outputs music from the speaker 7, and even operates a corresponding navigation app in the smartphone via voice, causing navigation images to be displayed on the display 8a and navigation route guidance to be provided via voice via the speaker 7.

[0025] 2, and these response codes are set to contents corresponding to the status of air conditioning control based on the request command information from the DA communication unit 23. Examples of these response codes include "000" which indicates no voice request, "001" which indicates that the voice request has been successfully accepted, "010" which indicates that the status is the same as the content of the voice request, "011" which indicates that the air conditioner operation unit 10 is given priority, "100" which indicates that the voice request cannot be accepted, and other codes that are not currently defined.

[0026] Then, on the DAECU 2 side, when the DA communication unit 23 receives response information from the AC communication unit 31 as received information in CAN communication, the voice synthesis output unit 22 synthesizes voice based on the response code included in the response information and outputs it from the speaker 7, and also transmits transmission stop information to stop transmission of request command information to the air conditioner ECU 3 as transmitted information in CAN communication. Also, on the air conditioner ECU 3 side, when the AC communication unit 31 receives transmission stop information for request command information as received information in CAN communication, it transmits transmission stop information to stop transmission of response information as transmitted information in serial communication.

[0027] (operation) The operation procedure for controlling the air conditioner by voice in the vehicle control device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

[0028] Now, when the air conditioner is controlled to a temperature of 20°C, if the user issues a voice command through the microphone 6 requesting air conditioner control, such as "set the temperature to 24°C," as shown in Figure 3, the voice recognition unit 21 of the DAECU 2 recognizes the voice request for air conditioner control, "set the temperature to 24°C," and the DA communication unit 23 transmits request command information for setting the air conditioner temperature to 24°C via the communication bus 4 as transmission information for CAN communication.

[0029] Then, when the AC communication unit 31 of the air conditioner ECU 3 receives the request command information to set the air conditioning temperature to 24°C from the DA communication unit 23, as shown in Figure 3, 60 msec after the reception, which is the communication period of the CAN communication, the AC communication unit 31 transmits response information indicating that the request command information to set the air conditioning temperature to 24°C has been received as transmission information of the CAN communication.

[0030] The response information transmitted from the AC communication unit 31 includes a response code as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, when the response information is received by the DA communication unit 23 of the DAECU 2, a voice based on the response code included in the received response information is synthesized by the voice synthesis output unit 22 and output from the speaker 7.

[0031] At this time, as described above, when the AC communication unit 31 receives the request command information to set the air conditioning temperature to 24° C., the air conditioning unit 11 is controlled by the air conditioning ECU 3 to set the air conditioning temperature to 24° C. in accordance with the request command information received by the AC communication unit 31 from the DA communication unit 23. However, response information including "001" shown in FIG. 2 is transmitted from the AC communication unit 31 as a response code indicating that the request has been accepted, and control is executed to change the air conditioning temperature to 24° C. as requested. Then, when the response information including the response code "001" is received by the DA communication unit 23 of the DAECU 2, the voice synthesis output unit 22 synthesizes a voice based on the received response code, such as "Your request to set the temperature to 24° C. has been accepted," and outputs the synthesized voice from the speaker 7.

[0032] Furthermore, when request command information to set the air conditioning temperature to 24°C is received by AC communication unit 31, if the air conditioning control status is already in a control status to set the air conditioning temperature to 24°C, response information including the response code "010" shown in Figure 2 is transmitted from AC communication unit 31, and when response information including the response code "010" is received by DA communication unit 23, voice synthesis output unit 22 synthesizes voice based on the received response code, such as "The temperature is now 24°C," and outputs it from speaker 7, notifying the user that the air conditioning temperature is already in a control status to set it to 24°C.

[0033] On the other hand, when the AC communication unit 31 receives request command information to set the air conditioning temperature to 24°C, if the air conditioner ECU 3 determines that the air conditioner operation unit 10 is to be given priority, response information including the response code "011" shown in FIG. 2 is transmitted from the AC communication unit 31. When the DA communication unit 23 receives the response information including the response code "011," the voice synthesis output unit 22 synthesizes a voice such as "Priority will be given to the operation of the air conditioner operation unit" based on the received response code and outputs the synthesized voice from the speaker 7.

[0034] Furthermore, when the user issues a voice command to request that the air conditioning temperature be set to 24°C, and the AC communication unit 31 receives request command information to set the air conditioning temperature to 24°C based on this command, if the air conditioner ECU 3 is unable to accept the voice request for some reason, response information including the response code "100" shown in Figure 2 is transmitted from the AC communication unit 31. When the response information including the response code "100" is received by the DA communication unit 23, the voice synthesis output unit 22 synthesizes a voice such as "Voice request cannot be accepted" based on the received response code and outputs the synthesized voice from the speaker 7, thereby informing the user that the voice request cannot be accepted.

[0035] Then, as described above, when the voice synthesis output unit 22 of the DAECU2 synthesizes voice based on the response code contained in the response information and outputs it from the speaker 7, as shown in Figure 3, 200 msec (the processing time required on the DAECU2 side) after the air conditioner ECU3 sends the response information, the DA communication unit 23 sends transmission stop information to stop sending request command information to the air conditioner ECU3, and the DA communication unit 23 notifies the AC communication unit 31 that the request command information will not be sent.

[0036] Also, on the air conditioner ECU 3 side, when the AC communication unit 31 receives the transmission stop information for the request command information, 60 msec after the reception, which is the communication cycle of the CAN communication, the AC communication unit 31 transmits transmission stop information for stopping the transmission of the response information as transmission information for the CAN communication, and notifies the DA communication unit 23 that the AC communication unit 31 will not transmit the response information.

[0037] As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, when a user vocally requests air conditioner control through the microphone 6, the DA communication unit 23 of the DAECU 2 and the AC communication unit 31 of the air conditioner ECU 3 exchange request command information based on the user's voice request for air conditioner control, and also exchange response information indicating that this request command information has been received, in the form of handshake communication. Therefore, when air conditioner control is executed as requested, the DAECU 2 can notify the user that the voice request for air conditioner control has been correctly accepted based on the response information indicating that the request command information has been received, thereby preventing the user from feeling uncomfortable.

[0038] Furthermore, the response information sent from the AC communication unit 31 of the air conditioner ECU 3 includes multiple response codes whose content corresponds to the status of the air conditioning control based on the request command information from the DA communication unit 23 of the DAECU 2, and when the DA communication unit 23 receives the response information from the AC communication unit 31, a voice message based on the response code included in the response information is output from the speaker 7. This allows the user to easily know the current stage of the air conditioner control status in response to the air conditioner control request that the user has made via voice command, based on the voice message with detailed content based on the multiple response codes, and provides the user with a sense of security.

[0039] In particular, when the AC communication unit 31 receives request command information to set the air conditioning temperature to 24°C as transmission information of CAN communication, and the air conditioner ECU 3 determines that the air conditioner operation unit 10 is to be given priority, response information including the response code "011" (see Figure 2) is transmitted from the AC communication unit 31, and the voice synthesis output unit 22 of the DAECU 2 synthesizes a voice such as "The operation of the air conditioner operation unit will be given priority" and outputs it from the speaker 7.Furthermore, when the request command information to set the air conditioning temperature to 24°C is received as transmission information of CAN communication, and the air conditioner ECU 3 is in a state where it cannot accept the voice request for some reason, response information including the response code "100" (see Figure 2) is transmitted from the AC communication unit 31, and the voice synthesis output unit 22 synthesizes a voice such as "The voice request cannot be accepted" and outputs it from the speaker 7, so that the user can easily recognize the situation where the request is not being fulfilled.

[0040] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0041] For example, in the above embodiment, the display audio control means is a microcomputer-configured DAECU2, and the air conditioner control means is a microcomputer-configured air conditioner ECU3, but the display audio control means and the air conditioner control means are not limited to being configured using these ECUs 2 and 3.

[0042] In addition, in the above embodiment, the response codes included in the response information from the AC communication unit 31 are exemplified by those shown in Figure 2, but it goes without saying that the types and meanings of the response codes are not limited to those shown in Figure 2.

[0043] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the configuration of the vehicle control device 1 is not limited to that shown in FIG.

[0044] The present invention can be applied to a vehicle control device that includes a display audio control means for controlling the display audio and an air conditioning control means for controlling the air conditioning in the vehicle cabin, and that controls serial communication that takes place at a predetermined communication cycle via a communication bus between the display audio control means and the air conditioning control means. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1...Vehicle control device 2...DAECU (Display Audio Control Unit) 3...Air conditioner ECU (air conditioner control means) 4...Communication bus 6. Mike 21...Speech recognition unit 22...Speech synthesis output unit 23...DA Communications Department 31…AC communication department

Claims

[Claim 1] A vehicle control device comprising: a display audio control means for controlling a display audio; and an air conditioning control means for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle cabin, the vehicle control device controlling serial communication between the display audio control means and the air conditioning control means at a predetermined communication cycle via a communication bus, The display audio control means a voice recognition unit that recognizes voice input from the outside through a microphone; a speech synthesis output unit that outputs synthesized speech via a speaker; a DA communication unit that performs serial communication to transmit and receive information via the communication bus; Equipped with The air conditioner control means an AC communication unit that performs the serial communication for transmitting and receiving information via the communication bus; The DA communication unit of the display audio control means When the voice recognition unit recognizes a voice requesting air conditioner control to the air conditioner control means, request command information is transmitted as transmission information of the serial communication; The AC communication unit of the air conditioner control means When the request command information is received as the received information of the serial communication, response information indicating that the request command information has been received is transmitted as the transmitted information of the serial communication; the air conditioner control means performs the air conditioning control in accordance with the request command information received by the AC communication unit, the response information transmitted from the AC communication unit includes a plurality of response codes whose contents correspond to the status of the air conditioning control based on the request command information, The display audio control means when the DA communication unit receives the response information from the AC communication unit as received information of the serial communication, the voice synthesis output unit synthesizes a voice based on the response code included in the response information and outputs the synthesized voice from the speaker, and also transmits information to stop transmission of the request command information to the air conditioner control means as transmitted information of the serial communication; The air conditioner control means When the AC communication unit receives the request command information transmission stop information from the DA communication unit as the serial communication reception information, the AC communication unit transmits the response information transmission stop information as the serial communication transmission information. A vehicle control device characterized by:

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