US4121051A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Speech synthesizer
Assignee: International Telephone and Telegraph Corp
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Filing: 1977-06-29
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Granted: 1978-10-17
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Expires: 1997-06-29
Abstract
Abstract Upon operating a key on a phonetic keyboard, the clock circuit gate is opened to permit the counters, normally held in reset condition, to begin counting. Each of the memories (organized in 2048 x 8 bits) that are connected in parallel to the counters begin to emit the digital representation in CVSD (Controlled Variable Slope Delta Modulation) form of the repertoire of phonetic sounds with each memory containing the entire phonetic alphabet. The keyboard switch selects the desired data stream output from an addressed memory which represents the chosen phonetic sound, and guides this data stream to a CVSD demodulator, thus producing an analog representation of the desired sound. This sound may be amplified and reproduced by means of a loudspeaker or alternatively, it may be amplified and placed on a telephone line. A feature of the invention is a stop decode gate which automatically stops the counting for a short phonetic sound.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Place
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:42
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10L; G10L19/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A speech synthesizer comprising: N first means each having N phonetic sounds stored therein in digital form, where N is an integer greater than one; second means each coupled to a different one of said first means to select desired phonetic sounds in digital form from an addressed one of said first means; third means coupled to said second means to convert said selected desired phonetic sounds in digital form to analog synthesized speech; and a fourth means coupled to said first means and said second means to automatically stop the operation of said third means for short phonetic sounds; said first means including N memories; and said second means including N switch means each coupled to a different one of said memories to select said desired phonetic sounds, a clock source, a binary counter to generate a different address for each of said memories, and an AND gate coupled to said switch means, said clock source and said fourth means to control the coupling of the clock of said source to said counter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A speech synthesizer comprising: N first means each having N phonetic sounds stored therein in digital form, where N is an integer greater than one; second means each coupled to a different one of said first means to select desired phonetic sounds in digital form from an addressed one of said first means; third means coupled to said second means to convert said selected desired phonetic sounds in digital form to analog synthesized speech; and a fourth means coupled to said first means and said second means to automatically stop the operation of said third means for short phonetic sounds; said first means including N memories; and said second means including N switch means each coupled to a different one of said memories to select said desired phonetic sounds, a clock source, a binary counter to generate a different address for each of said memories, and an AND gate coupled to said switch means, said clock source and said fourth means to control the coupling of the clock of said source to said counter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A synthesizer according to claim 1, wherein said third means includes a M-bit parallel in, serial out shift register coupled to each of said memories, said binary counter to load said selected desired phonetic sounds into said shift register and said AND gate to control the shifting of said shift register, where M is an integer greater than one but different than N, and a digital-to-analog converter coupled to said shift register and said AND gate to produce said analog synthesized speech.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A synthesizer according to claim 2, wherein said phonetic sounds are coded according to a controlled-variable-slope-delta modulation code, and said converter includes a controlled-variable-slope-delta modulation decoder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A synthesizer according to claim 3, wherein said fourth means includes a NAND gate coupled directly to selected ones of the conductors carrying said M-bits, and inverters coupled between the remaining ones of the conductors carrying said M-bits and said NAND gate, said NAND gate detecting a predetermined code which indicates a short phonetic sound and produces a control signal coupled to said AND gate to stop the operation of said converter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A synthesizer according to claim 4, wherein N is equal to 40, and M is equal to 8.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
A synthesizer according to claim 1, wherein bits of said selected desired phonetic sounds are conducted on a different one of M-conductors, where M is an integer greater than one but different than N; and said fourth means includes a NAND gate coupled directly to selected ones of said conductors, and inverters coupled between the remaining ones of said conductors and said NAND gate, said NAND gate detecting a predetermined code which indicates a short phonetic sound and produces a control signal coupled to said second means to stop operation of said third means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
149 words
A speech synthesizer comprising: N first means each having N phonetic sounds stored therein in digital form, where N is an integer greater than one; second means each coupled to a different one of said first means to select desired phonetic sounds in digital form from an addressed one of said first means; and third means coupled to said second means to convert said selected desired phonetic sounds in digital form to analog synthesized speech; said first means including N memories; and said second means including N switch means each coupled to a different one of said memories to select said desired phonetic sounds, a clock source, a binary counter to generate a different address for each of said memories, and an AND gate coupled to said switch means, said clock source and a fourth means to control the coupling of the clock of said source to said counter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
A speech synthesizer comprising: N first means each having N phonetic sounds stored therein in digital form, where N is an integer greater than one; second means each coupled to a different one of said first means to select desired phonetic sounds in digital form from an addressed one of said first means; and third means coupled to said second means to convert said selected desired phonetic sounds in digital form to analog synthesized speech; said first means including N memories; and said second means including N switch means each coupled to a different one of said memories to select said desired phonetic sounds, a clock source, a binary counter to generate a different address for each of said memories, and an AND gate coupled to said switch means, said clock source and a fourth means to control the coupling of the clock of said source to said counter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A synthesizer according to claim 7, wherein said third means includes a M-bit parallel in, serial out shift register coupled to each of said first means, said binary counter to load said selected desired phonetic sounds into said shift register and said AND gate to control the shifting of said shift register, where M is an integer greater than one but different than N, and a digital-to-analog converter coupled to said shift register and said AND gate to produce said analog synthesized speech.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A synthesizer according to claim 8, wherein said phonetic sounds are coded according to a controlled-variable-slope-delta modulation code, and said converter includes a controlled-variable-slope-delta modulation decoder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A synthesizer according to claim 9, wherein N is equal to 40, and M is equal to 8.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
A speech synthesizer comprising: N first means each having N phonetic sounds stored therein in digital form, where N is an integer greater than one; second means each coupled to a different one of said first means to select desired phonetic sounds in digital form from an addressed one of said first means; and third means coupled to said second means to convert said selected desired phonetic sounds in digital form to analog synthesized speech; said second means including N switch means each coupled to a different one of said first means to select said desired phonetic sounds, a clock source, a binary counter to generate a different address for each of said memories, and an AND gate coupled to said switch means, said clock source and a fourth means to control the coupling of the clock of said source to said counter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
143 words
A speech synthesizer comprising: N first means each having N phonetic sounds stored therein in digital form, where N is an integer greater than one; second means each coupled to a different one of said first means to select desired phonetic sounds in digital form from an addressed one of said first means; and third means coupled to said second means to convert said selected desired phonetic sounds in digital form to analog synthesized speech; said second means including N switch means each coupled to a different one of said first means to select said desired phonetic sounds, a clock source, a binary counter to generate a different address for each of said memories, and an AND gate coupled to said switch means, said clock source and a fourth means to control the coupling of the clock of said source to said counter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
A synthesizer according to claim 11, wherein said third means includes a M-bit parallel in, serial out shift register coupled to each of said first means, said binary counter to load said selected desired phonetic sounds into said shift register and said AND gate to control the shifting of said shift register, where M is an integer greater than one but different than N, and a digital-to-analog converter coupled to said shift register and said AND gate to produce said analog synthesized speech.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A synthesizer according to claim 12, wherein said phonetic sounds are coded according to a controlled-variable-slope-delta modulation code, and said converter includes a controlled-variable-slope-delta modulation decoder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A synthesizer according to claim 13, wherein N is equal to 40, and M is equal to 8.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
151 words
A speech synthesizer comprising: N first means each having N phonetic sounds stored therein in digital form, where N is an integer greater than one; second means each coupled to a different one of said first means to select desired phonetic sounds in digital form from an addressed one of said first means; and third means coupled to said second means to convert said selected desired phonetic sounds in digital form to analog synthesized speech; said third means including a M-bit parallel in, serial out shift register coupled to each of said first means, a binary counter to load said selected desired phonetic sounds into said shift register and an AND gate to control the shifting of said shift register, where M is an integer greater than one but different than N, and a digital-to-analog converter coupled to said shift register and said AND gate to produce said analog synthesized speech.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
151 words
A speech synthesizer comprising: N first means each having N phonetic sounds stored therein in digital form, where N is an integer greater than one; second means each coupled to a different one of said first means to select desired phonetic sounds in digital form from an addressed one of said first means; and third means coupled to said second means to convert said selected desired phonetic sounds in digital form to analog synthesized speech; said third means including a M-bit parallel in, serial out shift register coupled to each of said first means, a binary counter to load said selected desired phonetic sounds into said shift register and an AND gate to control the shifting of said shift register, where M is an integer greater than one but different than N, and a digital-to-analog converter coupled to said shift register and said AND gate to produce said analog synthesized speech.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A synthesizer according to claim 15, wherein said phonetic sounds are coded according to a controlled-variable-slope-delta modulation code, and said converter includes a controlled-variable-slope-delta modulation decoder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A synthesizer according to claim 16, wherein N is equal to 40, and M is equal to 8.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-16 | 1982-04-17 | 1982-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-16 | 1986-04-17 | 1986-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-16 | 1990-04-17 | 1990-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |