US4039756A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Artificial larynx with semi-automatic inflection control
Assignee: MISSOURI PROVINCE EDUCATIONAL INST
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Filing: 1976-11-17
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Granted: 1977-08-02
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Expires: 1996-11-17
Abstract
Abstract An artificial larynx helps people speak with less monotonous voice by providing an automatic pitch changer for voice inflection. The predetermined basic vocal pitch frequency circuit is modulated by a frequency control signal whose value changes at a predetermined rate established by an RC circuit, and includes switches manually-operable to select upward or downward pitch change inflections.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Burtschi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
632 words
An artificial larnyx for enabling persons who have had their larnyx removed or the like to be able to speak comprising: first comparator means having first and second inputs and a comparator output, said first input being adapted to receive a first reference signal and said second input being adapted to receive a monitored signal for comparison with said first reference signal, said first comparator means being responsive to the detection of a pre-determined relationship between said monitored signal and said first reference signal for outputting a first triggering signal; second comparator means having first and second inputs and a comparator output, said first input being adapted to receive a second reference signal and said second input being adapted to receive said monitored signal for comparison with said second reference signal, said second comparator means being responsive to the detection of a second pre-determined relationship between said monitored signal and said second reference signal for outputting a second triggering signal; power supply means; voltage divider means coupled between said power supply means and ground and having first and second voltage taps, said first voltage tap being coupled to the first input of said first comparator means for normally establishing said first reference signal and said second voltage tap being coupled to said first input of said second comparator means for normally establishing said second reference signal; bistable means responsive to the generation of said first triggering signal for assuming a first electrical state and responsive to the generation of said second triggering signal for switching to the opposite electrical state, the output of said bistable means being a train of electrical pulses whose frequency is determined by the rate at which said first and second triggering signals are generated by said first and second comparator means; frequency stabilization means coupled to the output of said bistable means for receiving said generated train of electrical pulses and isolating said pulses from fluctuations due to variations in the load; switching means coupled to the output of said bistable means and responsive to said bistable means being in said first state for switching to a conductive state and responsive to said bistable means being in said opposite state for switching to a non-conductive state; first RC circuit means including a charging capacitor coupled between said power supply ground for supplying said monitored signal to the second input of said first and second comparator means, said RC circuit means responsive to the non-conductive of said switching means for charging said charging capacitor to increase the value of said monitored signal and responsive to said switching means being in the conductive state for discharging said capacitor and decreasing the value of said monitored signal such that the RC time constant of said first RC circuit means establishes the normal frequency at which said first and second triggering signals and therefore said train of electrical output pulses is generated; a vibratory transducer means for generating sound waves which can be articulated in a person's mouth for speech purposes; means responsive to the train of electrical pulses from said isolation means for driving said vibratory transducer means at a frequency determined by the frequency of state changes of said bistable means; and pitch change circuit means having an output node coupled to said voltage divider means for supplying a frequency control signal thereto for varying the value of said first and second reference signals so as to vary the frequency at which said first and second triggering signals and therefore said train of electrical output pulses are generated, said pitch change circuit means including a second RC circuit means for establishing a predetermined rate at which said frequency control signal varies and manually-operable switching means for selecting the direction in which said variation occurs at said established predetermined rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
632 words
An artificial larnyx for enabling persons who have had their larnyx removed or the like to be able to speak comprising: first comparator means having first and second inputs and a comparator output, said first input being adapted to receive a first reference signal and said second input being adapted to receive a monitored signal for comparison with said first reference signal, said first comparator means being responsive to the detection of a pre-determined relationship between said monitored signal and said first reference signal for outputting a first triggering signal; second comparator means having first and second inputs and a comparator output, said first input being adapted to receive a second reference signal and said second input being adapted to receive said monitored signal for comparison with said second reference signal, said second comparator means being responsive to the detection of a second pre-determined relationship between said monitored signal and said second reference signal for outputting a second triggering signal; power supply means; voltage divider means coupled between said power supply means and ground and having first and second voltage taps, said first voltage tap being coupled to the first input of said first comparator means for normally establishing said first reference signal and said second voltage tap being coupled to said first input of said second comparator means for normally establishing said second reference signal; bistable means responsive to the generation of said first triggering signal for assuming a first electrical state and responsive to the generation of said second triggering signal for switching to the opposite electrical state, the output of said bistable means being a train of electrical pulses whose frequency is determined by the rate at which said first and second triggering signals are generated by said first and second comparator means; frequency stabilization means coupled to the output of said bistable means for receiving said generated train of electrical pulses and isolating said pulses from fluctuations due to variations in the load; switching means coupled to the output of said bistable means and responsive to said bistable means being in said first state for switching to a conductive state and responsive to said bistable means being in said opposite state for switching to a non-conductive state; first RC circuit means including a charging capacitor coupled between said power supply ground for supplying said monitored signal to the second input of said first and second comparator means, said RC circuit means responsive to the non-conductive of said switching means for charging said charging capacitor to increase the value of said monitored signal and responsive to said switching means being in the conductive state for discharging said capacitor and decreasing the value of said monitored signal such that the RC time constant of said first RC circuit means establishes the normal frequency at which said first and second triggering signals and therefore said train of electrical output pulses is generated; a vibratory transducer means for generating sound waves which can be articulated in a person's mouth for speech purposes; means responsive to the train of electrical pulses from said isolation means for driving said vibratory transducer means at a frequency determined by the frequency of state changes of said bistable means; and pitch change circuit means having an output node coupled to said voltage divider means for supplying a frequency control signal thereto for varying the value of said first and second reference signals so as to vary the frequency at which said first and second triggering signals and therefore said train of electrical output pulses are generated, said pitch change circuit means including a second RC circuit means for establishing a predetermined rate at which said frequency control signal varies and manually-operable switching means for selecting the direction in which said variation occurs at said established predetermined rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
219 words
The artificial larynx of claim 1 wherein said second RC circuit means includes a first circuit branch including a first resistive means connected between said power supply means and said output node, a first capacitor connected in parallel with said first circuit branch between said power supply means and said output node, a second circuit branch including a second resistive means connected between said output node and ground, a second capacitor connected in parallel with said second circuit branch between said output node and ground, the values of said first and second resistive means and said first and second capacitors establishing said predetermined rate at which the frequency control signal at said output node varies, and wherein said manually-operable switching means includes a first manually-operated switching means connected in said first circuit branch in series with said first resistive means, said second RC circuit means being responsive to the closure of said first manually-operable switching means for increasing the value of said frequency control signal at said predetermined established rate and a second manually-operable switching means connected in said second circuit branch in series with said second resistive means, said second RC circuit means being responsive to the closure of said second manually-operable switching means for decreasing the value of said frequency control signal at said predetermined established rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The artificial larynx of claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second resistive means includes means for varying the value of the resistance thereof for changing the RC time constant of said pitch change circuit means so as to selectively alter said predetermined established rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
The artificial larynx of claim 1 wherein said first RC circuit means for establishing the normal frequency at which said train of electrical output pulses is generated includes means for varying the rate at which said charging capacitor charges and discharges to vary said monitored signal so as to selectively increase and decrease the frequency of generation of said first and second triggering signals and therefore the normal frequency at which said train of electrical output pulses is generated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
The artificial larynx of claim 4 wherein said first RC circuit means includes resistive means connected in series between said power supply means and said charging capacitor, said resistive means including a first branch having a resistor of a first value therein and a second branch in parallel with said first branch and having a resistor of a lessor value therein, said resistive means further including switching means for selecting on of said branches to complete a series path between said power supply means and said charging capacitor, the selection of one of said branches establishing a basic frequency corresponding to the average fundamental frequency of a man's voice and the selection of the other of said branches establishing a basic frequency corresponding to the average fundamental frequency of a woman's voice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
The artificial larynx of claim 1 further characterized in that said driving means includes a switching means connected in a series current path with power supply means and said vibratory transducer means, said switching means being coupled to the output of said isolation means and being responsive to the train of electrical output pulses therefrom for driving said vibratory transducer means at a frequency predetermined by the frequency of generation of said train of electrical output pulses and variable impedance means in series with said switching means and said vibratory transducer means for controlling the volume of the sound generated by said vibratory transducer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The artificial larynx of claim 6 wherein said variable impedance means includes first and second parallel branches connected in series with said switching means, the resistance of one of said paths being greater than the resistance of the other of said paths and manually-operable switching means for selecting one or the other of said paths so as to produce a corresponding low volume or high volume output from said vibratory transducer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The artificial larynx of claim 1 wherein said vibratory transducer means includes inductive means and said larynx includes capacitive means coupled in parallel across said inductive means for producing desireable harmonics into the audio output form said vibratory transducer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
219 words
In an artificial larynx having means for generating electrical pulses at a predetermined frequency in the average fundamental frequency range of the human voice, transducer means for vibrating at said predetermined frequency to generate sound waves which can be articulated in a person's speech cavities for speaking purposes and means responsive to said electrical pulses for driving said transducer means, the improvement comprising RC circuit means for generating a frequency control signal whose value varies at a predetermined rate established by the RC time constant of said RC circuit means; means coupling said frequency control signal to said pulse-generating means such that the rate of change of the value of said control signal determines the rate at which the frequency of generation of said electrical pulses changes; and manually-operable switching means coupled to said RC circuit means for enabling a person to selectively increase the value of said control signal so as to increase the frequency of generation of said electrical pulses at said established predetermined rate and for enabling a person to selectively decrease the value of said control signal so as to decrease the frequency of generation of said electrical pulses at said established predetermined rate thereby permitting said person to select a direction of inflection in the pitch of the sounds articulated in his speech cavities.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
219 words
In an artificial larynx having means for generating electrical pulses at a predetermined frequency in the average fundamental frequency range of the human voice, transducer means for vibrating at said predetermined frequency to generate sound waves which can be articulated in a person's speech cavities for speaking purposes and means responsive to said electrical pulses for driving said transducer means, the improvement comprising RC circuit means for generating a frequency control signal whose value varies at a predetermined rate established by the RC time constant of said RC circuit means; means coupling said frequency control signal to said pulse-generating means such that the rate of change of the value of said control signal determines the rate at which the frequency of generation of said electrical pulses changes; and manually-operable switching means coupled to said RC circuit means for enabling a person to selectively increase the value of said control signal so as to increase the frequency of generation of said electrical pulses at said established predetermined rate and for enabling a person to selectively decrease the value of said control signal so as to decrease the frequency of generation of said electrical pulses at said established predetermined rate thereby permitting said person to select a direction of inflection in the pitch of the sounds articulated in his speech cavities.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
255 words
The improved artificial larynx of claim 9 wherein said RC circuit means includes a first circuit branch having resistive means therein connected between a power supply and a frequency control signal output node, a second circuit branch having a capacitive means therein connected in parallel across said first circuit branch between said power supply and said output node, a third circuit branch having resistive means therein connected between said output node and ground, and a fourth circuit branch having a capacitive means therein connected in parallel across said third circuit branch between said output node and ground, the values of said first and second resistive means and said first and second capacitive means determining the RC time constant of said RC circuit means and therefore establishing the predetermined rate at which said frequency control signal produced at said output node increases and decreases in value, said switching means including a first manually-operable switch connected in series in said first circuit branch such that the closure thereof initiates the charging of the capacitive means of said fourth circuit branch thereby increasing the value of said frequency control signal at said output node and a second manually-operable switch in series with said third circuit branch for completing a current path to discharge the capacitive means of said second circuit branch to decrease the value of said fequency control signal at said output node thereby enabling said person to determine the direction of pitch change by selecting which of said first and second switches are to be closed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
169 words
The improved artificial larynx of claim 9 wherein said RC circuit means includes a first series path coupled between a power supply means and ground, said first circuit path including a resistive means and a charging capacitor, one plate of said charging capacitor being coupled to ground and an output node being provided that the junction of said resistive means and said charging capacitor for outputting said frequency control signal, the values of said resistive means and said charging capacitor establishing the RC time constant of said series circuit thereby establishing a predetermined rate at which the value of said frequency control signal varies; and wherein said manually-operable switching means includes a manually-operable switch coupled into said first series circuit, the closure of said switch completing a circuit path between said power supply means and ground for charging said charging capacitor and increasing the value of said frequency control signal at said output node at the predetermined rate determined by the established RC time constant of said series circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
162 words
The improved artificial larynx of claim 9 wherein said RC circuit means includes a series circuit path coupled between said a power supply means and ground, said series circuit path including a charging capacitor having one plate coupled to said power supply and its other plate coupled to a frequency control signal output node, said node being coupled through a resistive means to ground, the values of said resistive means and said charing capacitor establishing the RC time constant of said series circuit and therefore the predetermined rate at which the value of said frequency control signal varies; and wherein said manually-operable switching means includes a manually-operable switch connected in said series path such that the closure of said switch completes an electrical circuit between said charging capacitor and ground for discharging said charging capacitor through said resistive means to decrease the value of said frequency control signal at the predetermined rate established by the RC time constant of said series circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The improved artificial larynx of claim 10 wherein at least one of the resistive means of said first branch and the resistive means of said third branch may be selectively varied to change the RC time constant of said RC circuit means thereby varying said predetermined established rate at which the value of said frequency control signal increases and decreases.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improved artificial larynx of claim 9 further characterized in that said transducer means includes a coil and the improvement includes capacitive means connected across said coil for inroducing desireable harmonics into the sound generated by said transducer means to eliminate mechanically sounding monitones and produce a more human-sounding voice.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improved artificial larynx of claim 9 wherein said electrical pulse-generating means includes a second RC circuit means for normally establishing the frequency of generation of said electrical pulses in the average fundamental frequency range of a human voice and further includes means for varying the RC time constant thereof to selectively increase or decrease the normal fundamental frequency of generation of said pulses to suit the needs of the user.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
114 words
The improved artificial larynx of claim 15 wherein said means for selectively increasing and decreasing the normal frequency of generation of said electrical pulses includes a parallel circuit branch having first impedance means of a first value in a first branch thereof for establishing an RC time constant to produce a lower frequency of generation of signals generally associated with a man's speech and a second parallel branch having second impedance means of a different value for producing a frequency of generation of said electrical pulses at a rate normally associated with a woman's voice, and wherein said second RC circuit means includes switching means for selecting one of said first and second branches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved artificial larynx of claim 9 wherein said driving means includes means for selectively increasing and decreasing the volume of sound outputted from said vibratory transducer means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
211 words
An artificial layrnx comprising pulse-generating means coupled to a power supply for normally generating electrical pulses at a predetermined basic frequency generally in the normal range of fundamental frequencies for a human voice, said pulse generating means having an input normally responsive to the receipt of a reference signal for effecting the generation of said pulses at said predetermined basic frequency but further responsive to a frequency control signal whose value increases and decreases with time for increasing and decreasing the rate of generation of said electrical pulses to frequencies higher and lower than said predetermined basic frequency at a rate proportional to the rate of change of the value of said frequency control signal, transducer means coupled to said pulse generating means and responsive to the frequency of generation of said electrical pulses for producing sound waves in a person's speech cavitites which can be articulated for speach purposes, the frequency of generation of said pulses being directly related to the pitch of the sound produced, circuit means for establishing the rate at which the value of said frequency control signal automatically increases and decreases, and manually-operated switching means for selecting the direction in which the value of said frequency control signal automatically increases or decreases at said established rate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
211 words
An artificial layrnx comprising pulse-generating means coupled to a power supply for normally generating electrical pulses at a predetermined basic frequency generally in the normal range of fundamental frequencies for a human voice, said pulse generating means having an input normally responsive to the receipt of a reference signal for effecting the generation of said pulses at said predetermined basic frequency but further responsive to a frequency control signal whose value increases and decreases with time for increasing and decreasing the rate of generation of said electrical pulses to frequencies higher and lower than said predetermined basic frequency at a rate proportional to the rate of change of the value of said frequency control signal, transducer means coupled to said pulse generating means and responsive to the frequency of generation of said electrical pulses for producing sound waves in a person's speech cavitites which can be articulated for speach purposes, the frequency of generation of said pulses being directly related to the pitch of the sound produced, circuit means for establishing the rate at which the value of said frequency control signal automatically increases and decreases, and manually-operated switching means for selecting the direction in which the value of said frequency control signal automatically increases or decreases at said established rate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
274 words
The artificial larynx of claim 18 wherein said circuit means for establishing the rate at which the value of said frequency control signal automatically increases and decreases includes a first series path coupled between said power supply means and ground, said first series path including a resistive means and a charging capacitor, the juncture of said resisted means with said charging capacitor serving as an output node for said frequency control signal, the opposite plate of said capacitor means being coupled to ground, said circuit means further including a second series path coupled between said power supply means and ground, said second series path including a second charging capacitor and a second resistive means, the juncture of said second charging capacitor and said second resistive means corresponding to said output node and the opposite plate of said second charging capacitor being coupled to said power supply means; and wherein said manually-operable switching means includes a first manually operable switch interposed in said first series circuit such that the closure of said switch completes a current path between said source of potential and ground for charging said first charging capacitor so that the frequency control signal generated at said output node increases at a rate determined by the RC time constant of said first series circuit, and a second manual-operable switch interposed in said second series path for completing a discharge circuit between said second charging capacitor and ground through said second resistive means for discharging said capacitor and decreasing the value of said frequency control signal at said output node at a rate determined by the RC time constant of said second series path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
648 words
The artificial larynx of claim 18 wherein said pulse generating means includes: a first comparator having first and second inputs and an output, said first comparator being responsive to the equality of the signals present at said first and second inputs for generating a first triggering signal at the output thereof; a second comparator means having first and second inputs and an output, said second comparator means being responsive to the equality of the signals present at said first and second inputs for generating a second triggering signal at the output thereof; flip-flop means having its inputs coupled to the outputs of said first and second comparator means for being driven to a first state in response to the generation of said first triggering signal and to the opposite state in response to the generation of said second triggering signal such that the output thereof is a series of electrical pulses whose frequency is determined by the frequency at which said first and second triggering signals are generated by said first and second comparator means respectively; voltage divider means coupled between a source of potential and ground, said voltage divider means having a first output coupled to said first input of said first comparator means for supplying a first reference signal thereto and a second output coupled to the first input of said second comparator means for supplying a second reference signal thereto, said first and second reference signals normally controlling the rate of generation of said first and second triggering signals and therefore establishing said predetermined basic frequency of generation of output pulses from said flip-flop means; and Rc circuit means coupled between said power supply and ground, said RC circuit means including a charging capacitor having one plate grounded and a first resistive means coupled between the opposite plate of said charging capacitor and said power supply, the junction of said first resistive means and said charging capacitor being coupled to the second inputs of said first and second comparator means for supplying a monitored signal thereto to be compared with said first and second reference signals; and switching means coupled between said opposite end of said first resistive means and ground, said switching means being responsive to the output of said flip-flop means for conducting to discharge said charging capacitor through said resistive means when said flip-flop means is in said one state and for switching to a non-conductive state to allow the charging of said charging capacitor from said power supply means when said flip-flop means is in said opposite state, the RC time constant of sid RC circuit means establishing the rate at which said charging capacitor charges and discharges thereby establishing the rate of variation of said monitored signal such that when said monitored signal is equal to said first reference signal, said first comparator means generates said first triggering signal to place said flip-flop means and said first state and cause said switching means to conduct so as to discharge said charging capacitor and cause said monitored signal to fall until said monitored signal is equal to said second reference signal thereby causing said second comparator means to generate said second triggering signal to switch said flip-flop means to said opposite state such that the frequency of generation of said electrical output pulses is determined by the rate at which said triggering pulses are produced, said frequency control signal being supplied to said first output of said voltage divider means for overriding said normal first and second reference signals so as to increase and decrease the value of said first and second reference signal as the value of said frequency control signal increases and decreases thereby increasing and decreasing the rate at which said first and second triggering signals are generated and therefore causing said electrical pulses to be generated at a rate greater or lower than said predetermined basic frequency.
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