Communication device

Abstract

To provide a communication device that can perform diagnosis without imparting discomfort to vehicle occupants.SOLUTION: A communication device 20 includes: a D / A converter 46 that causes audio based on audio signals to be generated from a speaker 11; an A / D converter 45 into which input audio signals related to audio collected by a microphone 12 are input; an audio signal generator 48 that generates audio signals related to audio at frequencies not included in an audible region as diagnostic audio signals; a diagnostic unit 49 that diagnoses whether or not any abnormality has occurred by comparing the input audio signals related to the audio collected by the microphone 12 with the diagnostic audio signals when the audio based on the diagnostic audio signals generated by the audio signal generator 48 is generated from the speaker 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0004]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication device provided in a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an emergency information notification device provided in a vehicle. The emergency information notification device has a function of transmitting an audio signal related to the audio collected by a microphone to an external center, and a function of generating an audio based on the audio signal transmitted from the center from a speaker. Further, when the emergency information notification device generates an audio based on a predetermined audio signal from the speaker at startup, the emergency information notification device causes the microphone to collect the audio. Then, the emergency information notification device diagnoses whether an abnormality has occurred by comparing a loopback signal, which is an audio signal related to the audio collected by the microphone, with the predetermined audio signal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When performing the above diagnosis, there is a possibility that the occupant may feel uncomfortable because the audio based on the predetermined audio signal can be heard by the occupant.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A communication device for solving the above problems is a device mounted in a vehicle in which a speaker and a microphone are installed inside the vehicle, and which communicates with a center outside the vehicle. The communication device comprises: an output unit that generates sound from the speaker based on an input sound signal when an audio signal is input; an input unit that receives an input sound signal, which is an audio signal relating to sound collected by the microphone; an audio signal generation unit that generates an audio signal relating to a frequency not included in the audible range, which is the frequency range of sound that humans can hear, as a diagnostic sound signal; and a diagnostic unit that diagnoses whether or not an abnormality has occurred by comparing the input sound signal relating to sound collected by the microphone with the diagnostic sound signal when sound based on the diagnostic sound signal generated by the audio signal generation unit is generated from the speaker. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The above communication device has the effect of allowing diagnostics to be performed without causing discomfort to the vehicle's occupants. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of a communication device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of the communication device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processes performed by the audio input / output device of the communication device shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] An embodiment of the communication device will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a communication device 20 mounted on a vehicle, and a speaker 11 and microphone 12 installed in the vehicle's passenger compartment. The speaker 11 generates sound in the passenger compartment based on an audio signal input from the communication device 20. The microphone 12 collects sound in the passenger compartment and outputs an audio signal, which is a signal related to that sound, to the communication device 20. The microphone 12 is positioned to collect sound generated by the speaker 11.

[0009] <Communication equipment> The communication device 20 is a device that communicates with the center 100 installed outside the vehicle via a wireless LAN 110. For example, when a vehicle occupant and an operator outside the vehicle are having a conversation, the speaker 11 collects the voice spoken by the occupant, and the communication device 20 transmits an audio signal related to the voice collected by the speaker 11 to the center 100. When the communication device 20 receives an audio signal related to the voice spoken by the operator, the communication device 20 generates audio from the speaker 11 based on the received audio signal.

[0010] The communication device 20 comprises a main control unit 30, an audio input / output device 40, and an amplifier 21. The audio input / output device 40 outputs an audio signal to the amplifier 21 when generating sound from the speaker 11. The amplifier 21 amplifies the input audio signal and outputs it to the speaker 11. As a result, the speaker 11 can generate sound based on the audio signal output by the audio input / output device 40.

[0011] Although not shown in the diagram, the communication device 20 also includes other control devices besides the main control device 30 and the voice input / output device 40. The voice input / output device 40 and the other control devices are configured to transmit and receive information with the main control device 30.

[0012] <Main control unit> The main control unit 30 has a first interface for sending and receiving information with the audio input / output device 40, and a second interface for communicating with the center 100. The main control unit 30 has, as the first interface, a first receiving interface 31 for receiving audio signals from the audio input / output device 40, and a first transmitting interface 32 for transmitting audio signals to the audio input / output device 40. The main control unit 30 has, as the second interface, a second transmitting interface 33 for transmitting signals to the center 100, and a second receiving interface 34 for receiving signals transmitted by the center 100.

[0013] Furthermore, the main control unit 30 has a plurality of functional units 35 that perform signal input and output when exchanging signals between the first interface and the second interface. The plurality of functional units 35 include, for example, a function unit for adjusting the volume and a switch.

[0014] The main control unit 30 also has a third interface 36 for sending and receiving information with the audio input / output device 40. As will be described in more detail later, the audio input / output device 40 performs a diagnostic process to determine whether or not an abnormality has occurred. If the audio input / output device 40 performs this diagnostic process, it transmits diagnostic information, which is information related to the diagnostic result, to the main control unit 30. At this time, the main control unit 30 receives the diagnostic information via the third interface 36.

[0015] <Audio Input / Output Device> The audio input / output device 40 has a transmission interface 41 for transmitting audio signals to the main control unit 30 and a reception interface 42 for receiving audio signals from the main control unit 30. The audio input / output device 40 also has a diagnostic interface 43 for transmitting the diagnostic information to the third interface 36 of the main control unit 30.

[0016] The audio input / output device 40 includes an A / D converter 45 and a D / A converter 46. The audio signal related to the sound collected by the microphone 12 is input to the A / D converter 45. In other words, the A / D converter 45 corresponds to the "input section". When the audio signal input from the microphone 12 to the audio input / output device 40 is considered the input audio signal, the input audio signal input from the microphone 12 to the A / D converter 45 is an analog signal. The A / D converter 45 converts the input audio signal input from the microphone 12 from an analog signal to a digital signal and outputs it.

[0017] The D / A converter 46 outputs the audio signal to the amplifier 21. In other words, the D / A converter 46 corresponds to the "output section" that generates sound from the speaker 11 based on the audio signal. When the audio signal input to the D / A converter 46 is considered the output audio signal, the output audio signal input to the D / A converter 46 is a digital signal. The D / A converter 46 converts the input output audio signal from a digital signal to an analog signal and outputs it to the amplifier 21.

[0018] The audio input / output device 40 has a plurality of functional units 47 that perform signal input and output when performing communication processing with the communication device 20. The plurality of functional units 47 include an audio processing unit 47a. The audio processing unit 47a has an echo canceller function and a noise canceller function. The echo canceller function removes acoustic echo components from the audio signal received from the communication device 20. The noise canceller function removes noise components from the input audio signal output from the A / D converter 45. Other functional units 47 besides the audio processing unit 47a include, for example, a volume control function and switches.

[0019] The audio input / output device 40 includes an audio signal generation unit 48 and a diagnostic unit 49. The audio signal generation unit 48 generates audio signals related to sounds with frequencies not included in the audible range as diagnostic audio signals. The audible range is the frequency range of sounds that humans can hear. Here, the audible range is defined as the frequency range from 20 Hz to 15 kHz.

[0020] In this embodiment, the voice signal generation unit 48 generates a voice signal related to a voice having a frequency higher than the audible range as a diagnostic voice signal. For example, the voice signal generation unit 48 generates a voice signal related to a voice having a frequency between 18 kHz and 20 kHz as a diagnostic voice signal.

[0021] The diagnosis unit 49 diagnoses whether an abnormality has occurred using the diagnostic voice signal. The "abnormality" referred to here is an abnormality that makes it impossible for the vehicle occupant to talk to the operator outside the vehicle, or an abnormality that makes it difficult to talk.

[0022] In this embodiment, the diagnosis unit 49 performs a first diagnosis process and a second diagnosis process. The first diagnosis process is a process of diagnosing whether the speaker 11 can output a voice and whether the voice input / output device 40 can acquire an input voice signal related to the voice collected by the microphone 12. Therefore, in the first diagnosis process, the diagnosis unit 49 can diagnose whether an abnormality has occurred in any of the amplifier 21, the microphone 12, the speaker 11, and a part of the voice signal generation unit 48. The "part of the voice signal generation unit 48" referred to here includes the A / D converter 45 and the D / A converter 46.

[0023] The second diagnosis process is a process of diagnosing whether the input voice signal can be transmitted to the center 100 and whether the voice signal received from the center 100 can be input to the D / A converter 46. Therefore, in the second diagnosis process, the diagnosis unit 49 can diagnose whether an abnormality has occurred in any of the plurality of functional units 47 of the voice input / output device 40 and the plurality of functional units 35 of the main control device 30.

[0024] <Diagnosis Process> Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the sequence of processes when performing the first and second diagnostic processes will be explained. Figure 3 shows a flowchart illustrating this sequence of processes. The communication device 20 executes the sequence of processes shown in Figure 3 when the vehicle's driving switch is turned on. An example of a driving switch is the ignition switch.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, in step S11, the communication device 20 sets the communication circuit in the audio input / output device 40 as the circuit for the first diagnostic process. An example of the circuit for the first diagnostic process is shown by arrow R1 in Figure 1. That is, the communication device 20 sets the communication circuit to satisfy the following (A1) and (A2).

[0026] (A1) The diagnostic audio signal generated by the audio signal generation unit 48 is input to the D / A converter 46 and the diagnostic unit 49. (A2) Ensure that the input audio signal output by the A / D converter 45 is input to the diagnostic unit 49.

[0027] In the next step S13, the audio signal generation unit 48 generates a first diagnostic audio signal, which is an example of a diagnostic audio signal. This first diagnostic audio signal is then output to the D / A converter 46 and the diagnostic unit 49.

[0028] In the subsequent step S15, the D / A converter 46 generates sound from the speaker 11 based on the first diagnostic audio signal. At this time, the A / D converter 45 converts the input audio signal related to the sound collected by the microphone 12 when the sound is generated from the speaker 11 into a digital signal and outputs it to the diagnostic unit 49.

[0029] Then, in step S17, the diagnostic unit 49 compares the input audio signal obtained from the A / D converter 45 with the first diagnostic audio signal obtained from the audio signal generation unit 48. At this time, if the diagnostic unit 49 determines that the period of the waveform of the input audio signal and the period of the waveform of the first diagnostic audio signal are the same, it diagnoses that no abnormality has occurred. On the other hand, if the diagnostic unit 49 determines that the period of the waveform of the input audio signal is not the same as the period of the waveform of the first diagnostic audio signal, it diagnoses that an abnormality has occurred. The diagnostic unit 49 causes the main control unit 30 to transmit diagnostic information indicating the diagnostic result of the first diagnostic process from the diagnostic interface 43. When the communication device 20 finishes the first diagnostic process, it moves the process to step S21.

[0030] In step S21, the communication device 20 configures the communication circuit within the communication device 20 as a circuit for the second diagnostic process. An example of the circuit for the second diagnostic process is shown by arrow R2 in Figure 2. That is, the communication device 20 configures the communication circuit to satisfy the following conditions (B1), (B2), and (B3).

[0031] (B1) The diagnostic audio signal generated by the audio signal generation unit 48 is transmitted to the main control unit 30 via the functional unit 47 and the transmission interface 41 of the audio input / output device 40. (B2) The diagnostic audio signal received by the main control unit 30 via the first receiving interface 31 is transmitted to the audio input / output device 40 via the first transmitting interface 32 after passing through a plurality of functional units 35 of the main control unit 30.

[0032] (B3) The diagnostic audio signal received by the audio input / output device 40 via the receiving interface 42 is input to the diagnostic unit 49 after passing through a plurality of functional units 47. In the next step S23, the audio signal generation unit 48 generates a second diagnostic audio signal, which is an example of a diagnostic audio signal. The second diagnostic audio signal may be the same as the first diagnostic audio signal, or it may be a different audio signal from the first diagnostic audio signal. Then, the second diagnostic audio signal is output to the diagnostic unit 49 and the functional unit 47.

[0033] In the following step S25, the communication device 20 circulates the second diagnostic voice signal within the communication device 20 as described in (B1), (B2), and (B3) above. Then, the communication device 20 proceeds to step S27.

[0034] In step S27, the diagnostic unit 49 compares the acquired signal, which is the signal obtained through the processing in step S25, with the second diagnostic audio signal obtained from the audio signal generation unit 48. At this time, if the diagnostic unit 49 determines that the period of the waveform of the acquired signal and the period of the waveform of the second diagnostic audio signal are the same, it diagnoses that no abnormality has occurred. On the other hand, if the diagnostic unit 49 determines that the period of the waveform of the acquired signal is not the same as the period of the waveform of the second diagnostic audio signal, it diagnoses that an abnormality has occurred. The diagnostic unit 49 causes the main control unit 30 to transmit diagnostic information indicating the diagnostic result of the second diagnostic process from the diagnostic interface 43. When the communication device 20 finishes the second diagnostic process, it finishes the series of processes shown in Figure 3.

[0035] <Operation and Effects of This Embodiment> (1) The first diagnostic audio signal used in the first diagnostic process is an audio signal relating to sounds at frequencies not included in the audible range. Therefore, even if the speaker 11 generates sound based on the first diagnostic audio signal, it is difficult for the vehicle occupants to notice that the speaker 11 is generating sound. Thus, the communication device 20 can perform the first diagnostic process without causing discomfort to the occupants.

[0036] (2) In order to generate sound at frequencies lower than the audible range from a speaker, it is necessary to install a relatively high-performance and large speaker in the vehicle. In this regard, when the communication device 20 performs the first diagnostic process, it generates sound at frequencies higher than the audible range from the speaker 11. Therefore, the communication device 20 does not need to install a high-performance and large speaker in the vehicle.

[0037] (3) The communication device 20 also performs a second diagnostic process. This allows the diagnostic unit 49 to diagnose whether or not the communication device 20 can communicate with the center via the wireless LAN 110. <Example of changes> The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0038] If the diagnostic unit 49 performs the first diagnostic process, it is not necessary for the diagnostic unit 49 to perform the second diagnostic process. The first diagnostic audio signal may be an audio signal relating to a frequency outside the range of 18kHz to 20kHz, as long as it relates to an audio signal with a frequency higher than the audible range. The same applies to the second diagnostic audio signal.

[0039] The first diagnostic audio signal may be an audio signal relating to sounds with frequencies lower than the audible range. The second diagnostic audio signal is the same as the first diagnostic audio signal. The first and second diagnostic processes may be executed at times other than when the vehicle is started, such as when the vehicle's driving switch is turned on.

[0040] The audio input / output device 40 is not limited to one that includes a CPU and ROM and performs software processing. In other words, the audio input / output device 40 may have any of the following configurations: (a), (b), and (c).

[0041] (a) The audio input / output device 40 includes one or more processors that perform various processes according to a computer program. The processor includes a CPU and memory such as RAM and ROM. The memory stores program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to perform the processes. The memory, i.e., computer-readable media, includes any available media that can be accessed by a general-purpose or dedicated computer.

[0042] (b) The audio input / output device 40 includes one or more dedicated hardware circuits that perform various processes. Examples of dedicated hardware circuits include application-specific integrated circuits, i.e., ASICs or FPGAs. ASIC is an abbreviation for "Application Specific Integrated Circuit," and FPGA is an abbreviation for "Field Programmable Gate Array."

[0043] (c) The audio input / output device 40 includes a processor that performs some of the various processes according to a computer program, and a dedicated hardware circuit that performs the remaining processes of the various processes. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 11...Speaker, 12...Microphone, 20...Communication device, 30...Main control unit, 35...Functional unit, 40...Audio input / output device, 45...A / D converter, 46...D / A converter, 47...Functional unit, 47a...Audio processing unit, 48...Audio signal generation unit, 49...Diagnostic unit, 100...Center.

Claims

1. A communication device installed in a vehicle with a speaker and microphone located inside the vehicle, which communicates with a center outside the vehicle, When an audio signal is input, an output unit generates sound from the speaker based on the audio signal, An input section into which an input audio signal, which is an audio signal related to the sound collected by the aforementioned microphone, is input. A sound signal generation unit generates a sound signal for diagnostic purposes that relates to a sound with frequencies not included in the audible range, which is the frequency range of sounds that humans can hear. A diagnostic unit diagnoses whether or not an abnormality has occurred by comparing the input audio signal related to the audio collected by the microphone when audio based on the diagnostic audio signal generated by the audio signal generation unit is emitted from the speaker, with the diagnostic audio signal. It comprises multiple functional units that perform signal input and output when performing communication processing with the aforementioned center, The aforementioned diagnostic unit, The diagnostic audio signal generated by the audio signal generation unit is input sequentially to the plurality of functional units. The system diagnoses whether or not an abnormality has occurred by comparing the signal that has passed through any of the multiple functional units with the diagnostic audio signal. Communication device.

2. The audio signal generation unit generates audio signals relating to sounds with frequencies higher than the audible range as the diagnostic audio signals. The communication device according to claim 1.

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