New Voice Module Update

It looks like I will be making a voice module. Actually its a generic one for a trade show demo. I even went out a found a Japanese womans voice to use for the messages. With my current design, we can put in numerous other accents, even foreign languages. I have memory to spare. I even thought it might be useful to add a couple extra inputs for seat switches such as what someone mentioned doing for practical jokes.

I am working under short time constraints (Las Vegas show is coming up soon), so I really can't spend the time to reverse engineer the Nissan IO connection scheme, other than what is in the FSM. I wonder if someone could photograph the connectors or even send me a dead unit. As I'm making this demo generic, it will have screw terminals. I would expect to source the Nissan connector, and as such make them plug and play compatible with the exception of the seat switch.

Any thoughts or interest.
Ron
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1973 Saab Sonett V4
1984 & 1986 200SX
1985 & 1986 300ZX

sounds cool! sounds like something fun i wouldn't mind having in my car..

i wish i could help but i don't have a spare unit... where are these connectors you need pics of?

The voice module is usually located on the right rear shock tower towards the read of the car. In other words, sort of a pita to get at. I'd pull mine off, but with the cold, I'd probably bust the trim finisher. I'm hoping someone is in the middle of a restoration and could easily photograph theirs.

Thanks
Ron
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1973 Saab Sonett V4
1984 & 1986 200SX
1985 & 1986 300ZX

heh, you mean you can make my car talk dirty to me? *lmao*
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1987 200sx CA18ETi
1972 Dodge Charger 413ci/6.6L
1968 Mercury Cougar 289ci/4.6L
Matt Lamperd
http://www.angelfire.com/freak/brutesquad/index.html

In the interest of being politically correct.... No dirty talk will be programmed here. My top notch assembly tech is a female.

However, the audio input is used to add your practical joke messages, but could also be used so you could program in whatever you wanted it so say for normal operation. I will add that function to the software spec. Maybe the console switch besides being an on/off switch could be used to switch modes by turning it off and on a predetermined sequence. Then you would have clean, dirty, practical joke mode 1, practical joke mode 2 and so on.

Interesting
Ron
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1973 Saab Sonett V4
1984 & 1986 200SX
1985 & 1986 300ZX

if ya need anything ron, just shoot me a note.
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Jeff Hester
1986 200sx 2.0L
1967 El Camino 402ci

heh, I wasn't suggesting that you do it for your project ... just more that in theory, it would be possible ...

And an dirty/clean switch would be good for when the gf is in the car with me ... *lol*
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1987 200sx CA18ETi
1972 Dodge Charger 413ci/6.6L
1968 Mercury Cougar 289ci/4.6L
Matt Lamperd
http://www.angelfire.com/freak/brutesquad/index.html

Heres the deal, I have to build a unit for a trade show. The cool part is that I will own the IP, rather than the client, I'm cutting him an amazing deal!!!

Therefore, I want to get as much mileage out of the unit as possible, and any suggestions you guys have know, will be added. Obviously even in Las Vegas, a dirty talking demo, probably would not fly in the Hilton, but otoh, non of the extra features will be included in the trade show demo, yet all of the inputs and outputs will be there, just not accessed in the firmware.

Feel free to come up with anything and everything, as at this time, 90% of the task is in firmware.

Ron
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1973 Saab Sonett V4
1984 & 1986 200SX
1985 & 1986 300ZX

How about a mercury switch that detects lateral g's that triggers DDDrrrrIIIIFFFTOOOOOOOO.

or how about "initiating anti-vehical missle launch" or "passenger ejector seat - launch confirmed" at the touch of a button.

I'd love one that swore at me in the asian voice. "Close the fucking door", "Lights are on dumb shit" , "Get me some mother fucking gas"... ect.
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Geoff Golda
1986 200sx Notchback, CA20E

Acytually there is an accelerometer on the board. For some odd reason, I can't think of why its there, but I know I designed one in.....

Actually I seem to use quite a few of them.

Ok, I just remembered, in order to determine the emergency brake is on, the vehicle needs to be in motion. Nissan does this with the pulse train out of the speedo module or the analog dash. In order to make the unit more generic, and since on GM cars, the speedo data is class II serial via the PCM module, it doesn't lend it self to an easy firmware interface, eg the data is inconsistent from model to model and more so mfgr to mfgr. Thus the accelerometer is used for motion detection.

As far as the ejection seat, hmm perhaps we could tie into the body sonic system on a 84 Z31.....

Ron
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1973 Saab Sonett V4
1984 & 1986 200SX
1985 & 1986 300ZX

Well, granted this is probably way too out there for this project, but if you wanted something that knew when you were sitting in the car, or if you wanted to do something like once the ignition is on, the car says hi to you, and could tell when there was a passenger ...

Old Mopars (I think 72 ish) had an ignition lockout that sensed when the seatbelts were used or not. If they weren't you couldn't start the car. But they even did it on the passenger side, with a spring and contact plate (like a horn) that disabled it unless there was enough weight on the seat to trigger it.

Cadillac had a similar thing, except it just triggered the "fasten seatbelt" buzz until the belts were locked, rather than just a few seconds. If you stood up, it would stop. That was in a 73 Eldorado convertible, the only real Cadillac I've ever been in.

I think that would be very James Bond, have it programmed initially with the owner's name.

"Welcome Mr. Amundson" as soon as you sit down, "and welcome to your passenger" if someone sits in shotgun.

Heh, and of course the ever-popular HAL "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that."
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1987 200sx CA18ETi
1972 Dodge Charger 413ci/6.6L
1968 Mercury Cougar 289ci/4.6L
Matt Lamperd
http://www.angelfire.com/freak/brutesquad/index.html

Old fords have the same spring and buzzer thing as well. Can be really annoying if it gets stuck down.

Man, adding ejection seat rumble just after the voice said activate could really be good for some laughs.

Any way to hook this into a radar detector? "Smokey at your 10" would get my attention better than a little beep.

btw I'm all for the swearing asian voice as well.

Ok, here are the features so far:

Inputs
4 seat inputs (you guys come up with the switch and wiring)
1 special toggle switch input (you guys come up with the switch)
Microphone input
Radar Detector LED sensor?
Left Door
Right Door
Parking Brake
Fuel Level
Light
Ignition Key
Voice Warning Switch

Audio Output modes
Standard Nissan Messages
Standard Nissan Messages with Asian Ladies Accent
User Programmable Messages (3 banks)
clean
dirty
practical joke

Unit will output signal via standard wire harness if desired, otherwise the audio out is available via screw terminals, such that you could place a speaker under the pas seat.

All inputs and outputs are on set of Phoenix style screw terminals. I'd rather use crimp connections, but screw terminals make for an easy install of the options. I will try and source the voice module connector, and provide it prewired to the screw terminals for the factory plug and play version.

The power supply terminals will have reverse polarity protection, however I cannot easily protect the input and output terminals due to cost constraints. The screw terminals will be labeled, as will the harness, but this unit will require care during install to avoid damage. It would probably run an extra $25 to goof proof the unit, and I would think that most are knowledgeable enough not to hook +12 and or ground to the speaker output.

Mode selection will be controlled with the console voice repeat switch.

Programming and setup will be controlled via voice prompts and a couple pushbuttons on the module, as I can't see it being changed a great deal. We could run the toggle swith connections to screw terminals such that you could put a couple buttons on the dash for programming.

I can handle a radar detector input via a LED sensor, but the wiring might be a pita to route the sensor leads to your detectors front panel.

Everything is quite workable, 90% of the project is firmware. I will be starting the design next week, so if you want anything more, now is the time.

I need to have it running for the trade show by the end of Dec, and hopefully can do the Nissan firmware in January, and then you guys can buy a couple hundred icon_smile.gif

Ron
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1973 Saab Sonett V4
1984 & 1986 200SX
1985 & 1986 300ZX

a friend of mine has an alarm that tells the cabin temperature and i think maybe also the date and time, but i'm not sure...

kinda useless, but it'd might be a cool option

Now you have me thinking, although we are going a bit beyond a simple software mod. Besides cabin temp, perhaps it should be able to call out road surface temp and warn of ice.

I went to a IEEE seminar put on by MNDOT, and I had a good talk with the speaker after the seminar. They use IRT's on the snowplows, as well as the DOT official's test bed car. He is totally sold on the concept, and feels safety is much improved. Perhaps we add an an IRT input as an option so you could get an all clear, or ice warning, ice warning, ice warning.....

The basic design is around 90% complete as of this evening, so I should have it done and be ready to prototype come Monday. I'm setting the microphone up as a 1/8" phone plug, and I've added a line level input, so one could upload voices from an MP3 player or WAV file. Both needed for my trade show deal.

Once we have the prototypes for the Nissan, I would like to find someone in a hot climate in January to run a beta test. Any interest in the Southern hemisphere.

I also need a test run in extreme cold, and chances are I won't be able to time it with MN temps, so I need someone in consistant -30 C or lower.

Thanks for all the help and input.
Ron
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1973 Saab Sonett V4
1984 & 1986 200SX
1985 & 1986 300ZX

As far as an ice warning unit, should the sensor plug into the voice module, or should an ice warning device be a totally separate entity.

The voice module is probably only applicable to a few die hard S12 fans, whereas an ice warning unit may have the potential to actually generate positive cash flow.

Next how important is the key is in the ignition thing, I find it quite rare that I leave the keys in, but common to keep the key in the acc setting to run the radio etc. Perhaps key is in the ignition should repeat 3-5 times and stop?

Thanks
Ron
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1973 Saab Sonett V4
1984 & 1986 200SX
1985 & 1986 300ZX

Well I know mine only chimes if the key is in the ignition and the driver's door is opened. I would prefer it if that went off after a few chimes, sometimes you are working on the car or hanging out and you want to have the radio on and the door open without constant dinging.
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