A voice synthesizer of the type set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,717 wherein the control signals applied to the devices in the vocal track model take the form of variable pulse width "duty cycle" waveforms. A novel system for producing the duty cycle signals is disclosed. Variable speech rate is provided.
A synthetic-speech calculator includes a keyboard consisting of digit keys and function keys and one or more mode selectors, a desired number of registers for storing numerical information entered by the depression of selected ones of the digit keys, a read-only-memory for storing a large number of digital codes as sound quantizing information, counter means for specifying the address of the memory so as to take a specific digital code out of the memory, a digital-to-analog converter for converting the specific digital code taken out of the memory into an audible sound signal, and a loud speaker driven by the audible sound signal and producing an audible sound. The synthetic-speech calculator is adapted such that the audible sound signals are derived via the loud speaker by at least two different methods of sound generation. For example, when a voice start key is depressed, all digits of keyed information are produced in audible form with appropriate pauses. In addition, numerical information is produced by digit by digit in audible form each time a voice start key is depressed. Numerical information is produced in a 3-digit group mode, each of the 3-digit groups being audibly produced each time the voice start key is depressed. Finally, numerical information may be audibly produced in order of ascending significance relative to the least significant digit or in order of descending significance relative to the most significant digit. The mode selector directs the synthetic-speech calculator how to derive the audible sound signals via the loud speaker.
Discloses a pneumatic controller having a proportional band altering unit, a proportional plus integral operation unit, a comparator and a manual-automatic transfer means, wherein the proportional band altering unit is combined with the proportional plus integral operation unit to provide a proportional band altering mechanism which limits input to prevent output of the comparator from being saturated whereby to enable the pneumatic controller to perform the transfer between the manual and automatic modes in a balanceless and bumpless manner.
Sound generating parameters are used for outputting fundamental frequency and a command regarding prosody, and a sound source generator. The sound generation device further includes use of an accent command and a descent command for calculating fundamental frequency and incorporates a rhythm command, which is representable by a sine wave. The device also uses character string analysis for analyzing a character string and generating a command concerning phoneme and prosody, a calculating element for outputting fundamental frequency as sound generation parameters, which depends on prosody, a sound source generator, and an articulator that depends on a phoneme command.
A speech synthesis device is adapted to provide an audible indication of numerical information through the utilization of a predetermined number of phonemes. Those phonemes are stored within a read only memory on a single large scale integrated circuit chip. A desired length of pause or silence is provided depending upon the kind and location of information to be audibly outputted. The necessity for the pause period is stored in digitally encoded signals within the read only memory in the same manner as with the phonemes.
4301328 - Voice synthesizer - Owned by Federal Screw Works (Detroit, MI) [*] Notice:The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to December 5, 1995 has been disclaimed.
A voice synthesizer that is responsive to sequences of digital input command words to phonetically synthesize human speech. The system includes control circuits that are responsive to the input command words to introduce an articulated silent phoneme into the speech pattern, vary the duration of each phoneme produced, as well as to vary the overall rate and volume of the speech generated. In addition, the design utilizes inflection assignment for individual phonemes and also employs a glottal waveform which is more representative of human glottis action. The invention also incorporates resonant suppression into the vocal tract to simulate the dampening effect due to the opening of the glottis, and provides closer simulation of human energy content at higher frequencies to improve the quality of the speech generated.
