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US4276445A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Speech analysis apparatus

Assignee: KAY ELEMETRICS CORP
•
Filing: 1979-09-07
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Granted: 1981-06-30
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Expires: 1999-09-07
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Abstract

Abstract Speech analysis apparatus transduces speech sounds to electrical signals which are fed via a selectable low pass to extract the pitch frequency. The pitch frequency representing signals are fed via a frequency to voltage transducer to a visual display device.

Inventors

  • 👤 William D. Harbeson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 00:48
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/009; G10; G10L; G10L25/00; G10L25/90

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 206 words
Speech analysis apparatus comprising: transducer means for converting speech sounds into electrical signals; low pass filter means connected to said transducer means for extracting the pitch frequency from the electrical signals representing the speech sounds; frequency-to-voltage generator means responsive to said low pass filter means for a generating voltage whose amplitude is a function of the pitch frequency extracted from said electrical signals; means for displaying the output of said frequency-to-voltage generating means; said frequency-to-voltage generating means further comprising pulse generating means for generating at least one pulse for each cycle of pitch frequency and converting means for converting the time between adjacent pulses to a voltage level, wherein said pulse generating means includes means for generating two sequential pulses for each cycle of pitch frequency and wherein said converting means comprises a source of a reference voltage, a resistance-capacitance network, first switching means operative during the presence of one of the two sequential pulses for connecting said source of reference voltage to said resistance-capacitance network to establish a time decaying voltage across said network, a voltage holding means and a second switching means operative during the presence of the other of the two sequential pulses for connecting said resistance-capacitance network to said voltage holding means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 206 words
Speech analysis apparatus comprising: transducer means for converting speech sounds into electrical signals; low pass filter means connected to said transducer means for extracting the pitch frequency from the electrical signals representing the speech sounds; frequency-to-voltage generator means responsive to said low pass filter means for a generating voltage whose amplitude is a function of the pitch frequency extracted from said electrical signals; means for displaying the output of said frequency-to-voltage generating means; said frequency-to-voltage generating means further comprising pulse generating means for generating at least one pulse for each cycle of pitch frequency and converting means for converting the time between adjacent pulses to a voltage level, wherein said pulse generating means includes means for generating two sequential pulses for each cycle of pitch frequency and wherein said converting means comprises a source of a reference voltage, a resistance-capacitance network, first switching means operative during the presence of one of the two sequential pulses for connecting said source of reference voltage to said resistance-capacitance network to establish a time decaying voltage across said network, a voltage holding means and a second switching means operative during the presence of the other of the two sequential pulses for connecting said resistance-capacitance network to said voltage holding means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 77 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said low pass filter means comprises a low pass filter, bi-level signal operating means for emitting a signal of a first level as long as a received signal is below a given level and emitting a signal of a second level when the received signal is above another given level, and connecting means for connecting the output of said low pass filter to the input of said bi-level signal operating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises automatic level control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 64 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pulse generating means comprises a first pulse generator for generating a pulse each time there is a transition for said first to said second level of the signal emitted by said bi-level signal generating means and a second pulse generator for emitting a pulse at the trailing edge of the pulse emitted by said first pulse generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means responsive to said bi-level signal generating means for digitally displaying the value of the pitch frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a third pulse generator and a gate coupled to said first and second pulse generators for inhibiting the first sequential pulses at the start of each analysis period.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3971034A Cited
US3855418A Cited
US4052568A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-06-29 1984-12-29 1985-06-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-06-29 1988-12-29 1989-06-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-06-29 1992-12-29 1993-06-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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