Vehicle Operating Device Voice Language Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of motor vehicles face inconvenience and distraction when trying to change the operating language of convenience electronics, as they must navigate through menus, which is time-consuming and difficult, especially when the language is unfamiliar, leading to user dissatisfaction and potential safety issues.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses a speech recognition and language determination device to detect the user's spoken language and generate a query signal in the desired language, allowing users to switch the operating language without navigating through menus, enabling quick and simple language changes by voice input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user navigates through a written menu to change the operating language, then the language can be changed, but the process is time-consuming and causes distraction from driving

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of language switchingVSAvoidtime for language switching

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of navigating through menu interfaces with a voice-based speech recognition system. The user simply speaks the desired language name, and the system automatically detects and switches to that language, eliminating the need to manually navigate through menu options and significantly reducing the time and distraction required for language switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic language detection and switching based on the user's voice input. The speech recognition device automatically identifies the spoken language and changes the operating language without requiring the user to manually select options or navigate menus, making the process self-service and highly efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the menu is displayed in an unfamiliar language, then multiple languages can be supported, but the user cannot understand the menu options

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-language supportVSAvoidusability of language selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring the user to read and understand menu text in the target language to select it, the system inverts the approach: the user speaks the language name in their native or familiar language, and the system automatically detects and switches to that language. This eliminates the need for the user to understand the menu text in the target language.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces text-based menu navigation with voice-based speech recognition. The user speaks the desired language name, and the speech recognition system automatically identifies and switches to that language, eliminating the need for the user to read and understand foreign language text in the menu.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the user determines the language setting during a trip, then the operating language can be changed, but the user experiences dissatisfaction and distraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelanguage switching capabilityVSAvoiduser satisfaction and safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual menu navigation with voice-based speech recognition, allowing the user to quickly switch languages by simply speaking the language name. This rapid switching capability reduces distraction from driving and improves user satisfaction by enabling quick language changes when the user realizes they need a different language during a trip.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11501767B2Method for operating a motor vehicle having an operating device

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 AUDI AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle having an operating device, which includes a speech recognition and language determination device. A recognition of a voice input of a user of the motor vehicle, and a check as to whether a language of the voice input corresponds to the first operating language take place in a first operating mode with a first operating language. Depending on a result of the checking process, a confidence value is assigned to the voice input, which describes a probability with which the language of the voice input is the second operating language. Depending on the assigned confidence value, a query signal is generated, which describes a request, understandable in a second operating language, to the user for indicating the operating mode to be set or the operating language to be set. In response to a received operating signal, the operating mode to be set or the operating language to be set are set.