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EP0095069A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic learning aid with sound effects mode

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1983-05-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-05-04
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Abstract

Abstract An electronic learning aid includes a scanning means for reading coded indicia which control the sound generated by the apparatus via a speech synthesis system. The apparatus operates to generate sound effects as follows. The coded indicia is read (101) and identified as calling for a sound effect (102). The coded indicia includes prosody data and identification of a sound effect allophone. The prosody data is employed to set control parameters (104) and the proper synthesis data is accessed corresponding to the sound effect allophone (105) so that the apparatus may speak the desired sound effect (106). The coded indicia may also include a repeat command and a repeat number. If the coded indicia includes such a repeat command (107) the sound effect allophone is repeatedly spoken the indicated number of times (108). Provision of prosody data along with speech element identifying data enables the learning aid to produce a greater and more pleasing variety of sounds from the same stored speech data corresponding to sound effects. In addition the repeat command permits the learning aid to generate relatively long sound effects from short coded Indicia.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ashok Dittakavi
  • 👤 Albert J. Olson
  • 👤 Kun-Shan Lin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 08:03
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/06; G09B5/062

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
An electronic learning aid comprising: scanning means for reading coded indicia, said coded indicia including associated pairs having first coded indicia corresponding to prosody and second coded indicia corresponding to an element of nonspoken sound; control means for selecting a set of control parameters corresponding to said prosody upon reading of first coded indicia; and control means for selecting speech data corresponding to an element of nonspoken sound upon reading of second coded indicia; and speech synthesis means for generating a sound effect corresponding to said selected control parameters and said selected speach data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 94 words
An electronic learning aid comprising: scanning means for reading coded indicia, said coded indicia including associated pairs having first coded indicia corresponding to prosody and second coded indicia corresponding to an element of nonspoken sound; control means for selecting a set of control parameters corresponding to said prosody upon reading of first coded indicia; and control means for selecting speech data corresponding to an element of nonspoken sound upon reading of second coded indicia; and speech synthesis means for generating a sound effect corresponding to said selected control parameters and said selected speach data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 48 words
An electronic learning aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein: said associated pairs of coded indicia include third coded indicia associated therewith for identifying said associated pair as corresponding to nonspoken sounds; said control means selects control parameters in a differing manner upon reading said third coded indicia.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
An electronic learning aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein: said scanning means includes optical reading means for reading a printed bar code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
An electronic learning aid as claimed in Claim 3, wherein: said printed bar code includes at least one associated pair of coded indicia having a picture associated therewith corresponding to said sound effect.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 86 words
An electronic learning aid comprising: a scanning means for reading coded indicia, said coded indicia including first coded indicia corresponding to an element of nonspoken sound and a second coded indicia corresponding to a repeat command, a control means for selecting speech data corresponding to said element of nonspoken sound upon reading first coded indicia and for repeat selection of the previously selected speech data upon reading second coded indicia; and a speech synthesis means for generating a sound effect corresponding to said selected speech data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 86 words
An electronic learning aid comprising: a scanning means for reading coded indicia, said coded indicia including first coded indicia corresponding to an element of nonspoken sound and a second coded indicia corresponding to a repeat command, a control means for selecting speech data corresponding to said element of nonspoken sound upon reading first coded indicia and for repeat selection of the previously selected speech data upon reading second coded indicia; and a speech synthesis means for generating a sound effect corresponding to said selected speech data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
An electronic learning aid as claimed in Claim 5, wherein: said control means includes repeat numbering means for repetitive selection of the previously selected speech data a predetermined number of times corresponding to said read second coded indicia.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
An electronic learning aid as claimed in Claim 5, wherein: said scanning means includes optical reading means for reading printed bar code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
An electronic learning aid as claimed in Claim 7, wherein: said printed bar code includes at least one first coded indicia and at least one second coded indicia having a picture associated therewith corresponding to said sound effect.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR2452149A1 Cited
DE3020315A1 Cited
EP0042155A1 Cited
EP0059318A1 Cited

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