Title: Voice warning device using entertainment speaker

We claim:

1. A voice warning device for a driver's compartment equipped with an entertainment sound production system comprising a plurality of speakers, an entertainment sound signal production device, and a plurality of electrical connections for conducting entertainment sound-bearing electric signals from the entertainment sound signal production device to said speakers;

said voice warning device, comprising:

a plurality of switching devices, each provided in one of said electrical connections between one of said speakers and said entertainment sound signal production device;

a warning voice sound signal production device, for selectively generating electric signals representing human voice sounds for conveying a warning; and,

means for operating said switching devices such that all of said switching devices are automatically switched to transmit entertainment sound-bearing electric signals from said entertainment sound signal production device to their respective speakers when said warning voice sound signal production device is not generating electric signals, but, when said warning voice sound signal production device is generating electric signals, at least one of said switching devices is automatically switched from transmitting entertainment sound-bearing electric signals from said entertainment sound signal production device to its respective speaker to transmitting warning voice sound-bearing electric signals from said warning voice sound signal production device to said respective speaker;

said operating means automatically changing a number of said switching devices which transmit said warning voice sound-bearing electric signal to a respective speaker in accordance with a type of warning voice sound-bearing electric signal which is being produced so that said number is increased as the severity and urgency of the condition represented by the warning voice sound-bearing electric signal increases.

2. A voice warning device according to claim 1, wherein said operating means is part of said warning voice sound electric signal production device.

3. A voice warning device according to claim 2, wherein said warning voice sound electric signal production device comprises a memory for storing digital signals which represent warning voice sounds, a microcomputer for receiving digital signals from said memory and for outputting digital signals which directly represent warning voice sounds, and a D/A converter for receiving said output signals from said microcomputer and outputting analog electrical signals directly representing said warning voice sounds.


Other info:


Inventors: Torii, Taketsugu (Kasugai, JP)
Oota, Hisatoshi (Toyota, JP)
Arai, Hiroshi (Toyota, JP)

Application Number: 06/204059
Filing Date: 1980-11-04
Publication_date: 1983-06-21
Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR CO LTD (JP)

Primary Class(es): 340/692 340/870.090, 455/149, 381/123, 381/86, 455/227, 381/1
Other Classes: B60R16/02; G08B25/02; H04M1/00
US Patent Ref:

3098975	July, 1963	Schneiderman	455/227	Emergency radio receiver
3870818	March, 1975	Barton et al.	340/52F	Solid state digital automatic voice response system
3876940	April, 1975	Wickord et al.	340/33	Driver's safety warning system
4006447	February, 1977	Narbaits-Jaureguy et al.	340/33	Audibility-control system for radio receiver
4107464	August, 1978	Lynch et al.	340/692	Alarm communications system

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Caldwell Sr., John W.
Assistant Examiner: Crosland, Donnie L.
Attorney: Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher