US4472833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Speech aiding by indicating speech rate is excessive
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-06-24
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Granted: 1984-09-18
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Expires: 2002-06-24
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for aiding speech wherein a signal is provided, representative of detected speech, and is monitored to determine if the speech rate exceeds a predetermined value. If so, then an indication is provided to the speaker. The speech detector can be a microphone (1,2) and the monitoring means (3) preferably drives the indication means in the form of a light source (4), an earphone (7), a meter (5), a loudspeaker (6) or a tactile element. The intensity of the warning indication may increase in proportion to the amount by which the predetermined value is exceeded.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald P. Turrell
- 👤 John G. Parkhouse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/58; G; G09; G09B; G09B19/00; G09B19/04; G09B5/00; G09B5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
Speech aiding apparatus comprising detecting means arranged to detect speech of a person to be monitored and to provide a speech signal representative of said speech, monitoring means responsive to said speech signal and arranged to determine the speech rate thereof and to provide an output signal only when said monitored speech signal rate exceeds a predetermined speech signal rate, means for adjusting said predetermined speech signal rate and indicating means having an input responsive to said output signal for providing an indication only when the monitored speech rate exceeds said predetermined speech rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
Speech aiding apparatus comprising detecting means arranged to detect speech of a person to be monitored and to provide a speech signal representative of said speech, monitoring means responsive to said speech signal and arranged to determine the speech rate thereof and to provide an output signal only when said monitored speech signal rate exceeds a predetermined speech signal rate, means for adjusting said predetermined speech signal rate and indicating means having an input responsive to said output signal for providing an indication only when the monitored speech rate exceeds said predetermined speech rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Speech aiding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said indicating means is a loudspeaker spaced from the ears of said person to be monitored.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of reducing disfluency of speech of a person suffering from speech disfluency, comprising detecting the speech of such a person, generating a speech signal representative thereof, monitoring said speech signal to determine the speech rate thereof and providing an output signal only when the speech rate of said monitored signal exceeds a predetermined speech rate, adjusting the value of the predetermined speech rate to suit the person being monitored, and using said output signal to actuate an indicating means only when the monitored speech rate exceeds said predetermined value.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of reducing disfluency of speech of a person suffering from speech disfluency, comprising detecting the speech of such a person, generating a speech signal representative thereof, monitoring said speech signal to determine the speech rate thereof and providing an output signal only when the speech rate of said monitored signal exceeds a predetermined speech rate, adjusting the value of the predetermined speech rate to suit the person being monitored, and using said output signal to actuate an indicating means only when the monitored speech rate exceeds said predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, and providing as said indicating means a loudspeaker that is spaced from the ears of said person.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1987-09-18 | 1988-03-19 | 1988-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-18 | 1992-03-19 | 1992-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-18 | 1996-03-19 | 1996-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |