1
`
`VWGoA - Ex. 1007
`Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Petitioner
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 16, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`6,064,323
`
`F/5.7
`
`2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 16, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`6,064,323
`
`F/5.2
`
`3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 16, 2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`
`6,064,323
`
`.__________..__________—___
`
`
`
`«Hag_mH:mu_o:_
`
`u:<mama
`
`
`
`muou.mHum_m;Qno.
`
`
`
`mamamu=y_m:o4
`
`Ea._:38.
`
`
`
`:o_m$>:8n_wo
`
`
`
`:o_~_:moommmo_o>aa--x
`
`
`
`H_:=-ulid.¢_m_N.
`
`:o_yumym=o_#m_w=mu
`
`:o_H_mo1u%owam.%¢o__m:w_m
`
`
`«:mmm.m.Hcw.<omu_>
`
`.|||||||nI||I||lu|.II'I.l|l|llI..InI.uI.|||II|luI||I|Il..|nl.I|.InIululllulllllnullllln
`
`uw:_my:oo
`
`.oHmm_>m:
`
`-+_mm
`
`___
`
`NN
`
`>mx
`
`va\»qN:o_Hmm_>mz
`
`m=ym.moa<
`
`~_:=>m_Qm_a
`
`4
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 16, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`6,064,323
`
`F/5.4
`
`Prefecture
`
`Hokkaido
`
`Other
`Munici‘ Names
`palities
`
`Akabira City
`Asahikawa City
`
`Phonemic Model
`
`A0m0Fi
`Prefecture
`
`Aomori city
`
`Kanagawa
`Prefecture
`
`Ooiso Town
`00iS0*Ch0
`
`Kanagawa
`
`Prefecture
`
`Kawasaki City
`
`What
`
`time is it now?
`
`Present Time
`
`Time
`
`5
`
`

`
`tHCtaP3nu
`
`May 16, 2000
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`6,064,323
`
`
`
`
`
`mu:w_Hm4mu:y_wco4moamzmm:_EaJmmu
`
`o.=uom+m_;
`
`m.b\..\
`
`
`
`>H_om;mx_;mm<
`
`
`
`>~_om__nmx<
`
`ou_mxxoI
`
`6
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 16, 2000
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`6,064,323
`
`Recognize voice
`
`1
`
`'egistereu
`place name
`ecognized7
`
`YES
`
`Output recognized
`
`character data
`
`Convert place name to
`
`latitude /
`
`longitude
`
`Specific
`
`V°gT;é§fiihQ?an
`
`latitude
`Output
`/
`longitude data
`
`Determine code
`corresponding to
`recognized voice
`
`Output determine code
`
`process based on voice
`
`reco:nition
`
`7
`
`

`
`‘nonaD13U
`
`‘nunuup
`
`May 16, 2000
`
`Sheet 7 of 9
`
`6,064,323
`
`
`
`w:~m.maam:o_Hmm_>m::_
`
`
`
`m:_mm¢uo_a>m_am_u
`
`:o_ym.ym_mm.+o
`
`
`
`:o_y_moaumwm_uommmmzy
`
`
`
`+0mymuanscmmm
`
`
`
`;#_;>m_gm_g
`
`mymuawe
`
`m_N
`
`
`
`
`
`xum_#m:_mwme.m_<
`
`:o_w_moa
`
`
`
`uflmcwfimu.8um:Bm_mm_Lt;>m_Qm_m_
`
`NmymuQME
`
`>m_am__
`
`
`
`:o_«m:m_mmu:o_«_moo
`
`:o_ym.mao>mx>3
`
`
`
`m:_«m:w_mmu:o_y_moo
`
`:a:_>__mn_m>mno
`
`
`
`mo_o>mN_mm;~:>m
`
`m#m:_u.oou
`
`
`
`Emum.u:tm:o_
`
`:.:Q:_3_m€m>
`
`
`
`mo_o>mN_mm;#:>m
`
`mwmugas«socmmm
`
`noam_oommmmcw+o
`
`:o_«_moa
`
`‘%
`
`«:mmm.¢
`
`
`
`>m_am_u:o_w_moa
`
`Nance
`
`
`
`#:mmm.a«omymo
`
`:o_«_moa
`
`mwmuems«soummm
`
`u2o2mu+o
`
`:o_«_moa
`
`
`
`;#_;>m_am_a
`
`mymuems
`
`8
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 16, 2000
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`
`6,064,323
`
`F/6.8
`
`Display map by
`
`voice input
`
`401
`
`402
`
` Cursor to
`be moved?
`
`403
`
`Move cursor to display
`
`Dosition
`
`
`
`N0
`
`Destination-
`
`YES
`
`'
`
`404
`
`405
`
`407
`
`
`
`Set route from
`
`Set route from
`
`present position to
`
`residence to cursor
`
`cursor position
`
`-osition
`
`Display destination mark,
`etc. destination-
`
`setting process
`
`408
`
`9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 16, 2000
`
`Sheet 9 of 9
`
`6,064,323
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` «HE-- ; 5:]
`
`
`‘-5..
`F0.‘.l"!‘.‘!/E
`
`
`
`
` \£ Suidounsh
`
`
`F/5.9/4
`
`F/5.98
`
`10
`
`

`
`6,064,323
`
`1
`
`NAVIGATION APPARATUS, NAVIGATION
`METHOD AND AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus
`suitably mounted on an automotive vehicle for displaying a
`road map or the like, a navigation method and an automotive
`vehicle having such a navigation apparatus mounted
`thereon.
`
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Various types of navigation apparatuses for use on an
`automotive vehicle are under development. The navigation
`apparatus comprises, for example, a large-capacity storage
`means such as a CD-ROM storing road map data, means for
`detecting the present position, and a display unit for dis-
`playing the road map of the neighborhood of the detected
`present position on the basis of the data read from the data
`storage means. The present position detection means
`includes a positioning system using a positioning earth
`satellite called the GPS (Global Positioning System) or a
`device operated using a self-contained navigation method by
`tracking the change in the present position from the starting
`point on the basis of the information including the vehicle
`running speed and the direction in which the vehicle is
`running.
`the map of the desired position as well as the
`Also,
`neighborhood of the present position can be displayed on the
`display unit by key operation as far as the associated map
`data are available.
`
`In this navigation apparatus for use on automotive
`vehicles, for example, the display unit is generally mounted
`in the vicinity of the driver’s seat so that the driver can check
`the map of the neighborhood of the present position while
`the vehicle is running or waiting for a traffic signal.
`The above-mentioned navigation apparatus is required to
`be operated in a manner not to interfere with the operation
`of the vehicle on which the apparatus is mounted. While the
`vehicle is moving, for example, complex operations of the
`navigation apparatus are prohibited. In other words, this
`navigation apparatus, when installed on the vehicle,
`is
`connected with a running condition detector (such as a
`parking brake switch). In this way, the apparatus can be fully
`operated only when the detector finds that the vehicle is
`stationary, and a complicated key operation is prohibited
`while the vehicle is not stationary (i.e., when the vehicle is
`moving).
`inconvenient that the key operation is
`It
`is, however,
`impossible for switching the display map while the vehicle
`is moving. Demand is high,
`therefore, for a navigation
`apparatus that can be manipulated in sophisticated manner
`without interfering with the vehicle operation.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In view of these points, the object of the present invention
`is to provide a navigation apparatus that facilitates a sophis-
`ticated operation of various devices including the navigation
`apparatus without interfering with the vehicle operation.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the apparatus
`according to an embodiment built in an automotive vehicle.
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the
`driver’s seat of an automotive vehicle into which the appa-
`ratus according to an embodiment is built in.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration according to
`an embodiment of the invention.
`
`FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a storage area con-
`figuration of a voice recognition memory according to an
`embodiment.
`
`FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a storage area con-
`figuration of a latitude/longitude conversion memory
`according to an embodiment.
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process based on voice
`recognition according to an embodiment.
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the display process of the
`navigation apparatus according to an embodiment.
`FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the destination-setting
`process according to an embodiment.
`FIG. 9 including FIGS. 9A and 9B is a diagram for
`explaining an example display of the destination according
`to an embodiment.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`An embodiment of the present invention will be described
`with reference to the accompanying drawings.
`This embodiment is applied to a navigation apparatus
`mounted on an automotive vehicle. The manner in which the
`
`apparatus according to this embodiment is mounted on the
`vehicle will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As
`shown in FIG. 2, an automotive vehicle 50 has a steering
`wheel 51 mounted on the front of a driver’s seat 52.
`
`the driver seated in the seat 52 operates the
`Basically,
`navigation apparatus. Other occupants of the vehicle 50,
`however, may operate the navigation apparatus. A naviga-
`tion apparatus body 20 and a voice recognition unit 10
`connected to the navigation apparatus body 20 are installed
`in an arbitrary space (in the rear trunk, for example) in the
`vehicle 50, and a positioning signal-receiving antenna 21 is
`mounted outside of the vehicle body (or in the vehicle inside
`of the rear window) as described later.
`As seen from FIG. 2, which shows the neighborhood of
`the driver’s seat, a talk switch 18 and an operating key 27 for
`the navigation apparatus are arranged beside the steering
`wheel 51. The switch and keys are so arranged as not to
`interfere with the operation of the vehicle while running.
`Also, a display unit 40 connected with the navigation
`apparatus is arranged in such a position as not to interfere
`with the forward field of view of the driver. Aspeaker 32 for
`outputting a voice signal synthesized in the navigation
`apparatus 20 is mounted at such a position (beside the
`display unit 40, for example) that the output voice can reach
`the driver.
`
`the navigation apparatus according to this
`Further,
`embodiment is so constructed as to accept a voice input. For
`this purpose, a microphone 11 is mounted on a sun visor 53
`arranged in the upper part of the windshield in a way to pick
`up the speech of the driver seated in the driver’s seat 52.
`Also, the navigation apparatus body 20 according to this
`embodiment is connected with an engine control computer
`54 of the automotive vehicle, which supplies a pulse signal
`proportional to the vehicle speed.
`Now, the internal configuration of the navigation appara-
`tus will be explained with reference to FIG. 3. In this
`embodiment, the voice recognition unit 10, which is con-
`nected with the navigation apparatus 20, is also connected
`with the microphone 11. This microphone 11 preferably has
`a comparatively narrow directivity to pick up only the
`speech of the person seated in the driver’s seat.
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`
`6,064,323
`
`3
`The voice signal picked up by the microphone 11 is
`supplied to an analog/digital converter 12, where it
`is
`sampled with a signal of a predetermined sampling fre-
`quency and converted into a digital signal. The digital voice
`signal output from the analog/digital converter 12 is applied
`to a digital voice processing circuit 13 including an inte-
`grated circuit called a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The
`digital voice processing circuit 13 supplies the digital voice
`signal as vector data to the voice recognition circuit 14 by
`such means as bandwidth division or filtering.
`This voice recognition circuit 14 is connected with a voice
`recognition data storage ROM 15 and performs the recog-
`nition operation in accordance with a predetermined voice
`recognition algorithm (such as HMM or Hidden Markov
`Model). Aplurality of candidates are thus selected from the
`voice recognition phonemic models stored in the ROM 15,
`and the character data corresponding to the most coincident
`phonemic model among the candidates is read out.
`Explanation will now be made about the data storage
`condition of the voice recognition data storage ROM 15.
`According to this embodiment, only the place names and the
`words are recognized for giving instructions to operate the
`navigation apparatus. As shown by the setting of the storage
`area in FIG. 4, the place names registered include only the
`names of the prefectures and other municipalities (cities,
`wards, towns and villages) in Japan. In addition, character
`codes of the place names and phonemic models providing
`data for voice recognition of the place names are stored for
`each pair of prefecture and municipality.
`In Japan, for example, there are about 3500 municipalities
`over the whole country, and therefore about 3500 place
`names are stored. In the case of a town which is pronounced
`one of two ways “Machi” and “Cho”, however, two types of
`data including “xx Cho” and “xx Machi” are stored. In
`similar fashion, for the place name of a village which is also
`pronounced one of two ways “Son” and “Mura”, two types
`of names, i.e., “xx Son” and “xx Mura”, are stored for each
`of such villages.
`Also, as regards the municipalities located adjacent to a
`boundary of a prefecture the name of which is liable to be
`called by the wrong name,
`the prefectural name often
`mistaken for it
`is additionally registered. The city of
`“Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture”, for example, is regis-
`tered also as “Kawasaki, Tokyo” including the name of the
`adjacent prefecture.
`Further, various character codes of words representing
`operating instructions to the navigation apparatus and cor-
`responding phonemic models are stored. The words include
`those indicating a display position such as “destination”,
`“starting point”, “intermediate place”, “residence”, and
`those for giving various operating instructions such as
`“What time is it now?” (a command asking about the present
`time), “Where are we now?” (a command asking about the
`present position), “What is the next” (a command asking
`about the next intersection), “How long to go?” (a command
`asking about
`the remaining distance to the destination),
`“What is the speed” (a command asking about the current
`speed), “What is the altitude” (a command asking about the
`altitude), “Which direction should we take?” (a command
`asking about the direction in which to run), and “Command
`list” (a command for displaying a list of recognizable
`commands).
`In the case where a character code corresponding to a
`phonemic model coinciding with the recognition obtained
`through a predetermined voice recognition algorithm from
`an input vector data through the voice recognition circuit 14
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`represents a place name, then the particular character code
`is read from the ROM 15. The character code thus read is
`
`applied to a converter circuit 16. The converter circuit 16 is
`connected with a conversion data storage ROM 17, so that
`the longitude/latitude data and incidental data associated
`with the character data supplied from the voice recognition
`circuit 14 are read out of the ROM 17.
`
`Now, explanation will be made about the data storage
`condition of the conversion data storage ROM 17 according
`to this embodiment. In this embodiment, a storage area is set
`for each character code identical to that of the place name
`stored in the voice recognition data storage ROM 15. As
`shown in FIG. 5,
`the latitude/longitude data and display
`scale data as incidental data of each place name are stored
`for each character code representing a place name. Unlike
`the character code read from the voice recognition data
`storage ROM 15 that is expressed in katakana, the latitude/
`longitude conversion data storage ROM 17 has also stored
`therein character codes for display in kanji, hiragana and
`katakana, in addition to character codes of katakana.
`According to the present embodiment,
`the latitude/
`longitude data of each place name represents the absolute
`position of a municipal oflice (such as city oflice, ward
`oflice, town oflice or village oflice) of the area indicated by
`the particular place name. Also, the incidental data which are
`output together with the latitude/longitude data include the
`display character code and the display scale. The display
`scale data are set in several levels, for example, according to
`the size of the area indicated by each place name.
`The latitude/longitude data and the incidental data read
`from the latitude/longitude conversion data storage ROM 17
`are applied to output terminals 10a, 10b as an output of the
`voice recognition unit 10. The data produced at the output
`terminals 10a, 10b are applied to the navigation apparatus
`20. The voice recognition unit 10 according to this embodi-
`ment includes a talk switch 18 adapted to open and close in
`unlocked state (that is to say, turned on only as long as
`depressed). While this talk switch 18 is depressed, only the
`voice signal picked up by the microphone 11 is processed as
`described above by the circuits all the way from the analog/
`digital converter 12 to the latitude/longitude conversion
`circuit 16.
`
`Now, explanation will be made about a configuration of
`the navigation apparatus 20 connected with the voice rec-
`ognition unit 10. The navigation apparatus 20 comprises a
`GPS antenna 21. The positioning signal received from a
`GPS satellite by the antenna 21 is processed by a present
`position detecting circuit 22. The data thus received is
`analyzed to detect the present position. The present position
`data thus detected include the latitude/longitude data pro-
`viding the prevailing absolute position.
`The present position data thus detected are applied to an
`arithmetic circuit 23. The arithmetic circuit 23 functions as
`
`a system controller for controlling the operation of the
`navigation apparatus 20. The arithmetic circuit 23, in which
`a CD-ROM (optical disk) for storing the road map data is
`set, is connected with a CD-ROM driver 23 for reading the
`data stored in the CD-ROM, a RAM 25 for storing various
`data required for data processing, a vehicle speed sensor 26
`for detecting the behavior of the vehicle on which the
`navigation apparatus is mounted, and an operating key 27. In
`the case where the latitude/longitude coordinate data includ-
`ing the present position is obtained, the CD-ROM drive 24
`is controlled to read the road map data of the neighborhood
`of the position represented by the coordinate. The road map
`data read by the CD-ROM driver 24 is temporarily stored in
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`
`6,064,323
`
`5
`the RAM 25. Display data for displaying the road map is
`produced by use of the road map data thus stored. In the
`process, the map is displayed from the display data in a scale
`set by the operation of the key 27 arranged at a predeter-
`mined position in the vehicle.
`The display data produced by the arithmetic circuit 23 are
`applied to a video signal producing circuit 28, which gen-
`erates a video signal of a predetermined format on the basis
`of the display data. The resulting video signal is applied to
`an output terminal 20c.
`The video signal output from the output terminal 20c is
`applied to a display unit 40. The display unit 40 performs the
`receiving process on the basis of the video signal and causes
`the road map or the like to be displayed on the display panel
`of the display unit 40.
`In addition to the road map of the neighborhood of the
`present position,
`the road map of an arbitrary position
`designated by the operation of the key 27 can also be
`displayed under the control of the arithmetic circuit 23. Also,
`specific coordinate positions representing “destination”,
`“starting point”, “intermediate place” and “residence” can
`be registered by the operation of the key 27. In the case
`where a specific coordinate position is registered, the coor-
`dinate position data thus registered (latitude/longitude data)
`are stored in the RAM 25.
`
`in the case where the vehicle speed sensor 26
`Also,
`detects that the vehicle is running, the arithmetic circuit 23
`rejects the operation of the key 27 except for comparatively
`minor ones.
`
`The navigation apparatus 20 also comprises a self-
`contained navigator 29 for computing the running speed of
`the vehicle accurately on the basis of a pulse signal corre-
`sponding to the vehicle speed supplied from an automotive
`engine control computer or the like, detecting the direction
`in which the vehicle is running on the basis of the output of
`a gyro sensor in the self-contained navigator 29, and mea-
`suring the present position autonomously from a position
`determined by the speed and the running direction. Under
`the circumstances where the present position is incapable of
`being detected by the present position detection circuit 22,
`for example, the present position is measured by the self-
`contained navigation method from the position last detected
`by the present position detection circuit 22.
`The arithmetic circuit 23 is also connected with a voice
`
`synthesis circuit 31. In the case where the arithmetic circuit
`23 is required to issue some instruction by voice, the voice
`synthesis circuit 31 is caused to synthesize the voice for the
`instruction and to produce the voice from a speaker 32
`connected to the voice synthesis circuit 31. The voice
`instructions include, for example, “We are approaching the
`destination”, “You should proceed to the right”, etc. These
`and various other instructions are issued by voice as required
`as a navigation apparatus. Also, the voice synthesis circuit
`31 synthesizes the voice recognized by the voice recognition
`unit 10 on the basis of the character data supplied thereto,
`and output the synthesized voice from the speaker 32. This
`process will be described later.
`The navigation apparatus 20 comprises input terminals
`20a, 20b supplied with the character code, latitude/longitude
`data and data incidental
`thereto output from the output
`terminals 10a, 10b of the voice recognition unit 10. These
`latitude/longitude data, data incidental thereto and the char-
`acter code data produced from the input terminals 20a, 20b
`are applied to the arithmetic circuit 23. The arithmetic circuit
`23, when supplied with the latitude/longitude and other data
`from the voice recognition unit 10, controls the CD-ROM
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`driver 24 to read the road map data of the neighborhood of
`the particular latitude/longitude from the disk. The road map
`data read by the CD-ROM driver 24 are temporarily stored
`in the RAM 25. By use of the road map data thus stored,
`display data for displaying the road map are produced. The
`display data thus produced are used to display the map
`around the supplied latitude and longitude in the designated
`display scale incidental to the latitude/longitude data.
`On the basis of this display data, the video signal pro-
`ducing circuit 28 generates a video signal, and the display
`unit 40 is caused to display the road map of the coordinate
`point designated by the voice recognition unit 10.
`In the case where a character code representing a verbal
`instruction for operating the navigation apparatus is supplied
`from the output terminal 10b of the voice recognition unit
`10, the arithmetic circuit 23 identifies the verbal character
`code and performs related control operations. Assume that
`the verbal character code specifies a display position such as
`“destination”, “starting point”, “intermediate place” or “resi-
`dence”. It is decided whether the coordinate of the display
`position is registered in the RAM 25 or not. If it is registered
`so, the road map data of the neighborhood of the particular
`position is read from the disk by the CD-ROM driver 24.
`Also, when registering the display position of
`“destination”, “starting point”, “intermediate place” or
`“residence”, the voice of, say, “register destination” can be
`recognized and set. When an instruction is given for regis-
`tration of any of these display positions, the cursor position
`(indicated by a mark at an arbitrary position in the map by
`a predetermined operation of the key 27) on the map
`displayed on the display unit 40 is registered. The arithmetic
`circuit 23 according to this embodiment
`is adapted to
`automatically set the route up to the position of a destination
`or an intermediate place which may be registered. More
`specifically, what is considered the most appropriate route
`from the position registered as the residence or the present
`position detected by the present position detecting circuit 22
`up to the destination or the intermediate place is determined
`automatically by arithmetic operations. In the case where
`information on traffic jam or other road conditions is avail-
`able from an external source, however, the route can be set
`taking such information into account.
`On the other hand, assume that a character code data
`indicating the pronunciation of a recognized voice is sup-
`plied to the arithmetic circuit 23 from the voice recognition
`unit 10. The words represented by the character code are
`synthesized by the voice synthesis circuit 31 and output as
`a voice from the speaker 32 connected with the voice
`synthesis circuit 31. Suppose the voice recognition unit 10
`recognizes the voice as “Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo”,
`for
`example, the voice synthesis circuit 31 performs synthesis in
`a manner to generate a voice signal pronounced “Bunkyo
`Ward, Tokyo” on the basis of the character string data of the
`pronunciation recognized. The voice signal thus generated is
`output by way of the speaker 32.
`In such a case, according to the present embodiment,
`whenever a voice is recognized by the voice recognition unit
`10, the latitude/longitude data are supplied to the terminal
`20a of the navigation apparatus 20 substantially at the same
`time as the character code data representing the recognized
`pronunciation is applied to the terminal 20b. The arithmetic
`circuit 23, however, first causes the voice synthesis circuit
`31 to synthesize the recognized voice, and then causes the
`road map display data to be produced on the basis of the
`latitude/longitude data.
`Now, explanation will be made about displaying the road
`map using the voice recognition unit 10 and the navigation
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`
`6,064,323
`
`7
`apparatus 20. First, the voice recognition operation of the
`voice recognition unit 10 will be described with reference to
`the flowchart of FIG. 6. The first step decides whether the
`talk switch 18 is on or not (step 101). In the case where the
`decision is that the talk switch 18 is on, the voice signal
`picked up by the microphone 11 during the on-time of the
`talk switch 18 is sampled by the analog/digital converter 12
`and processed by the digital voice processing circuit 13 into
`vector data (step 102). On the basis of this vector data, the
`voice recognition circuit 14 performs the voice recognition
`process (step 103).
`It is decided whether the voice of a place name stored in
`the voice recognition data storage ROM 15 (i.e., a place
`name registered in advance) has been recognized (step 104).
`In the case where the voice of a registered place name has
`been recognized, the character data for pronouncing the
`recognized place name is read out of the ROM 15 and output
`from the output terminal 10b (step 105). At the same time,
`the latitude/longitude data of the recognized place name are
`read from the latitude/longitude conversion data storage
`ROM 17 connected to the latitude/longitude conversion
`circuit 16 (step 106). The place names registered in the ROM
`15 represent domestic prefectures and municipalities, and
`therefore the voices of a place name are recognized in the
`form of “xx City, xx Prefecture”, “xx Ward, xx City” or the
`like (in the case under consideration, the ward name can be
`recognized even if the prefectural name is omitted).
`The latitude/longitude data and incidental data read out on
`the basis of the recognized voice are output from the output
`terminal 10a (step 107).
`In the case where step 104 is unable to recognize the voice
`of a registered place name, it is decided whether a registered
`specific voice other than the place name has been recognized
`or not (step 108). In the case where a registered specific
`voice other than the place name has been recognized, a
`character code corresponding to the recognized voice is
`determined (step 109), and the character code thus identified
`is output from the output terminal 10b (step 110).
`In the case where even a specific registered voice other
`than a place name could not be recognized in step 108, the
`process is terminated. In such a case, an alternative is to
`notify the navigation apparatus 20 that the voice could not
`be recognized and to issue a warning by means of the voice
`synthesized on the voice synthesis circuit 31 or the charac-
`ters displayed on the display unit 40.
`Now, the operation of the navigation apparatus 20 will be
`explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7. First, the
`arithmetic circuit 23 decides whether the present position
`display mode is set or not (step 201). In the case where the
`decision is that the present position display mode is set, the
`present position detecting circuit 22 is caused to execute the
`measurement of the present position (step 202). The road
`map data of the neighborhood of the present position thus
`measured is read from the CD-ROM (step 203). On the basis
`of the road map data thus read out, the process is performed
`for displaying the road map of the corresponding coordinate
`point on the display unit 40 (step 204).
`In the case where the decision in step 201 is that the
`present position display mode is not set, or in the case where
`the process for display of the road map of the present
`position has been completed in step 204 and the road map is
`on display, then it is decided whether the latitude/longitude
`data, etc. are supplied from the voice recognition unit 10
`through the input terminals 20a, 20b (step 205). In the case
`where the decision is that the latitude/longitude data and
`incidental character data or the like are supplied, the pro-
`
`8
`nunciation character code supplied through the terminal 20b
`is supplied to the voice synthesis circuit 31, so that the voice
`recognized by the voice recognition unit 10 is synthesized
`and output from the speaker 32 (step 206). The road map
`data of the neighborhood of the position indicated by the
`latitude/longitude data is then read out of the CD-ROM (step
`207). On the basis of the road map data thus read out, the
`road map display process is performed thereby to display the
`road map of the corresponding coordinate point on the
`display unit 40 (step 208).
`In the case where the decision in step 205 is that the
`latitude/longitude data are not supplied from the voice
`recognition unit 10, or in the case where the process for
`displaying the road map of a designated place name is
`complete in step 208, and the road map is on display, on the
`other hand, it is decided whether the character code directly
`specifying a display position is supplied from the voice
`recognition unit 10 through the input terminal 20b (step
`209). In the case where the decision is that the character code
`is supplied from the terminal 20b, the particular character
`code is supplied to the voice synthesis circuit 31, and the
`voice recognized by the voice recognition unit 10 is output
`from the speaker 32 (step 210). In the case where step 209
`identifies a character code directly specifying the display
`position (i.e., such words as “destination”, “starting point”,
`“intermediate place”, “residence” or the like), it is decided
`whether the coordinate point specified by these characters is
`registered in the RAM 25 or not (step 211). In the case where
`such coordinate point is registered, the road map data of the
`neighborhood of the position indicated by the latitude/
`longitude data representing the registered coordinate point is
`read from the CD-ROM (step 212). The process for display-
`ing the road map is performed on the road map data thus read
`out, and the road map of the corresponding coordinate point
`is displayed on the display unit 40 (step 213). The process
`returns to step 201 while the same road map is on display.
`In the case where step 209 decides that the character code
`directly specifying the display position is not supplied from
`the voice recognition unit 10,
`the arithmetic circuit 23
`decides whether the operation is performed for specifying
`the display position by the operating key 27 (step 214). In
`the case where the operation is performed for specifying the
`display position, it is decided whether the vehicle is moving
`or not on the basis of the data detected by the vehicle speed
`sensor 26 (step 215). In the case where the arithmetic circuit
`23 decides that the vehicle is moving, the operation per-
`formed at that time is invalidated and the process returns to
`step 201 (in which case some alarm may be issued).
`In the case where the decision is that the vehicle is not
`
`moving, on the other hand, the process proceeds to step 211
`for deciding whether a coordinate point is registered or not.
`In the case where a coordinate point
`is registered,
`the
`process is performed for displaying the road map of the
`coordinate point (steps 212, 213), after which the process
`returns to step 201.
`In the case where step 211 decides that the coordinate
`point of the corresponding position such as “destination”,
`“starting point”, “intermediate place” or “residence” is not
`registered, an alarm is issued against the lack of registration
`by voice synthesis through the voice synthesis circuit 31 or
`by character display on the display unit 40 (step 216), and
`the process returns to the decision in step 201.
`The foregoing explanation with reference to the flowchart
`of FIG. 7 refers to the process relating to map display. In the
`case where a character code is supplied from the voice
`recognition unit 10 based on the result of recognizing a voice
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`
`6,064,323
`
`9
`specifying an operation other than map display, however, the
`corresponding process is performed under the control of the
`arithmetic circuit 23. When the character code is supplied
`upon recognition of a voice meaning “What time is it now?”,
`for example, a voice announcing the present time is synthe-
`sized by the voice synthesis circuit 31 and output from the
`speaker 32 under the control of the arithmetic circuit 23.
`Other commands are also processed similarly as a verbal
`reply synthesized by the voice synthesis circuit 31 and
`output from the speaker 32, or by a correspon