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US4401850A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Speech analysis apparatus

Assignee: KAY ELEMETRICS CORP A CORP OF NJ
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Filing: 1981-02-23
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-02-23
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Abstract

Abstract Speech analysis apparatus converts sounds to electrical signals which are fed via a selectable low pass filter to extract the fundamental pitch frequency while attenuating the increase in energy with voice pitch and the influence of higher voice pitch harmonic frequencies. 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 2026-10-27 10:41
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/009; G10; G10L; G10L25/00; G10L25/90

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 160 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 on a real time, cycle-to-cycle basis the fundamental pitch frequency from the electrical signals representing the speech sounds, said filter means having a signal attentuation characteristic that is flat for low frequencies up to a selected frequency level and effects an increasing reduction of signal level with pitch frequencies above said selected level of between 13 decibels per octave and 15 decibels per octave in order to compensate for the increase in signal energy with speech pitch and to subtract second and higher voice frequency harmonics from said electrical signals, frequency-to-voltage generator means responsive to said low pass filter means for generating a voltage whose amplitude is a function of the fundamental pitch frequency extracted from said electrical signal, and means for displaying on a real time, cycle-to-cycle basis the output of said frequency-to-voltage generating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 160 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 on a real time, cycle-to-cycle basis the fundamental pitch frequency from the electrical signals representing the speech sounds, said filter means having a signal attentuation characteristic that is flat for low frequencies up to a selected frequency level and effects an increasing reduction of signal level with pitch frequencies above said selected level of between 13 decibels per octave and 15 decibels per octave in order to compensate for the increase in signal energy with speech pitch and to subtract second and higher voice frequency harmonics from said electrical signals, frequency-to-voltage generator means responsive to said low pass filter means for generating a voltage whose amplitude is a function of the fundamental pitch frequency extracted from said electrical signal, and means for displaying on a real time, cycle-to-cycle basis the output of said frequency-to-voltage generating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter means comprises, a pair of series connected amplifiers, capacitive feedback networks for each of said respective amplifiers, one of said capacitive networks being coupled to an input terminal of the respective amplifier in order to filter a frequency band of said signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 59 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said filter means further comprises a third amplifier, a capacitive feedback network for said third amplifier, said capacitive network being coupled to an input terminal of said third amplifier with the output from said respective amplifier to which said electrical signals are applied in order to filter another frequency band of said signals.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3405237A Cited
US4063035A Cited
US4164626A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-08-29 1987-02-28 1987-08-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-08-29 1991-02-28 1991-08-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-08-29 1995-02-28 1995-08-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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