VOICE SHIFTING

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for a vehicle comprising an audio detection unit, an operation device, which is separate from the audio detection unit, and a transmission module for transferring torque, wherein the audio detection unit and an operation device transmit control signals to the transmission module for initializing an operational mode, wherein a processing unit is embodied to differentiate between a control signal received by the transmission module from the operation device and a control signal received by the transmission module from the audio detection unit, and wherein when transmission module receives the respective control signals simultaneously the processing unit prioritizes the control signal from the operation device, such that the transmission module implements an operational mode accordingly.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle comprising: an audio detection unit; an operation device, which is separate from the audio detection unit; and a transmission module for transferring torque; wherein the audio detection unit is configured to transmit a first control signals to the transmission module, and wherein the operation device is configured to transmit a second control signal to the transmission module, the first control signal and the second control signal for initializing an operational mode of the transmission module, wherein the audio detection unit and the operation device are each connected directly to the transmission module via at least one communications pathway, wherein the transmission module comprises a processing unit configured to: differentiate between the second control signal received by the transmission module from the operation device and the first control signal received by the transmission module from the audio detection unit; and prioritize the second control signal from the operation device and disregard the first control signal from the audio detection unit, such that the transmission module implements an operational mode according to the second control signal from the operation device, in response to the transmission module receiving the second control signal and the first control signal at least one of simultaneously or successively within a time span of a predetermined length.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the audio detection unit is configured to: detect at least a first predetermined audio command signal and a second predetermined audio command signal, the first predetermined audio command signal and the second predetermined audio command signal comprising vocal signals of an operator of the vehicle; and to transmit at least a third control signal and a fourth control signal, wherein the third control signal corresponds to the first predetermined audio command signal and wherein the fourth control signal corresponds to the second predetermined audio command signals, wherein the audio detection unit is configured to transmit the fourth control signal exclusively when a predetermined operation mode of the transmission module is currently engaged.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the audio detection unit is configured to perform a biometric analysis of a detected audio signal.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the audio detection unit is configured to perform a biometric comparison of a received voice audio signal on a basis of biometric information stored in the audio detection unit.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the audio detection unit is configured to transmit a third control signal to the transmission module on a basis of at least one of a biometric analysis ora biometric comparison, the third control signal indicating that the transmission module should disregard other control signals from the audio detection unit at least one of for a predetermined amount of time or until the audio detection unit transmits a fourth control signal indicating that the transmission module should again regard other control signals from the audio detection unit.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one communications pathways is configured as a data bus.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the audio detection unit comprises at least an operation mode and a configuration mode, wherein, when in the operation mode, the audio detection unit is configured to detect a predetermined audio signal and transmit a third control signal, and when in a configuration mode, the audio detection unit is configured to record an operator specified audio signal for use as the predetermined audio signal.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operation device comprises a sensor for sensing contact of the operation device by an operator of the vehicle, wherein the operation device is configured to transmit a contact signal to the transmission module indicating the contact is established, and wherein the processing unit of the transmission module is configured to disregard all signals originating from the audio detection unit for a predetermined period of time after receiving the contact signal.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operation device comprises a sensor for sensing contact of the operation device by an operator of the vehicle, wherein the operation device is configured to transmit a contact signal to the transmission module indicating the contact is established, and wherein the processing unit of the transmission module is configured to disregard all signals originating from the audio detection unit until the operation device transmits a second contact signal indicating that contact by the operator has been removed.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit of the transmission module is configured to perform a plausibility check on the first control signal and the second control signal.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the audio detection unit is configured to only transmit a third control signal when a drive gear of the transmission module is engaged in accordance with the second control signal transmitted by the operation device.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communications pathway comprises a gateway.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Embodiments of the system will next be described more closely on the basis of the following figures.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic layout of a vehicle comprising an embodiment of the system;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the functional components of an embodiment of the system; and

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the functional components of an embodiment of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic layout of a vehicle 15 comprising an embodiment of the system. An operator K of the vehicle is situated in the vehicle 15 gives audio commands A1, A2. Centered in the vehicle 15 is an operation device 3. The operation device 3 is connected to a transmission module 5 via a communications pathway 7. The communications pathway 7 is a CAN-Bus. The transmission module 5 comprises a processor unit 9.

[0030] An audio detection unit 1 is displayed. The audio detection unit 1 comprises a transducer (not shown) that serves to convert audio signals A1, A2 into electrical signals. Further, the audio detection unit 1 comprises a processing unit (not shown) to process and analyze the electrical signals.

[0031] Both the operation device 3 and the audio detection unit 1 are capable of sending or transmitting electrical signals S1, S3, Ok, X to the transmission module. These electrical signals S1, S3, Ok, X, in part referred to as control signals S1, S3, carry information. The information encoded into these signals S1, S3, OK, X is received and interpreted by the processing unit 9 of the transmission module 5. The control signals S1, S3 indicate to the transmission module 5 an operator's input command A1, A2 regarding a presently desired configuration of the transmission module 5. In other words, the signals contain information that the transmission module 5 interprets as an actionable command to control certain actuators in such a way that an operation mode such as a drive operation mode D, D1, D2, park P, reverse R, etc. is engaged.

[0032] It is possible for the operation device 3 and the audio detection unit 1 to both transmit control signals S1, S3 at the same time, for instance because the operator K or driver of the vehicle 15 has physically manipulated the operation device 3 in order to send a shift command A1, A2 to the transmission module 5, while at the same time, a passenger of the vehicle has given an audible command that is interpreted by the audio detection unit 1 as shift command A1, A2. If the transmission module 5 receives a control signal S3 from the operation device 3, this signal will be implemented by the transmission module 5. If the transmission module 5 receives a control signal S1 from the audio detection unit 1 at the same time that it receives a control signal S3 from the operation device 3, then this control signal S1 from the audio detection unit 1 will not be implemented. Furthermore, the signal S1 from the audio detection unit 1 will not be implemented if it is received within a predetermined time span that spans the arrival of the control signal S3 from the operation device 3. That is, when the control signal S1 is received from the audio detection unit 1, the processor 9 of the transmission module 5 first examines a message history of received signals in a memory unit of the transmission module 5 to verify that no control signals S3 have been received from the operation device 3 within the last T seconds, where T can be determined according to safety requirements or other operator K preferences. T can also be for example 0.5. The transmission module 5 further delays implementing the control signal S1 from the audio detection unit 1 for a time period Y seconds, wherein Y is predetermined, according to said safety requirements or operator K preferences. During this time period Y seconds of delay, the transmission module 5 monitors incoming control signals S1, S3. If a control signal S3 from the operation device 3 is received during this time period, then transmission module 5 will not implement the control signal S1 from audio detection unit 1.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the functional components of an embodiment of the system. The audio detection unit 1 and the operation device 3 are both connected independently to the transmission module 5. The connections 7 are bus systems. The bus system connecting the operation device 3 can be subject to higher safety requirements than the bus system connecting the audio detection unit 1. Generally, the audio detection unit 1 can be used for various other purposes, such as for example, inputting commands to a media system, for selecting music, or for controlling a mobile communications device through a Bluetooth interface.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows block diagram of the functional components of an embodiment of the system, wherein the audio detection unit 1 is connected to a gateway 13 which is in turn integrated in the bus system 7 connecting the operation device 3 to the transmission module 5. This permits the audio detection unit 1 to be connected to a completely different communication bus having a different architecture or protocol, while preserving the ability of the audio detection unit 1 to transmit control signals S1, S11, S12 to the transmission module 5.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0035] 1 audio detection unit [0036] 3 operation device [0037] 5 transmission module [0038] 7 communications pathway [0039] 9 processing unit of the transmission module [0040] 11 sensor [0041] 13 gateway [0042] 15 vehicle [0043] K operator [0044] A1, A2 audio commands [0045] S1 control signal from audio detection unit [0046] S11 control signal from audio detection unit [0047] S12 control signal from audio detection unit [0048] S3 control signal from operation device [0049] P, R, N, D, D1, D2 operational modes