Audio output device with speech synthesis technique

Claim 3

A language translator device having interchangeable word capabilities with voice output, comprising: first memory means for storing a plurality of words and a plurality of standard sentences of a first language and voice information associated with each of said words and said standard sentences of sadi first language; second memory means for storing a plurality of words and a plurality of standard sentences of a second language and voice information associated with each of said words and said standard sentences of said second language; selection means for choosing one standard sentence from said plurality of standard sentences of said first language and storing said one standard sentence in a standard sentence buffer; slot detection means for sensing an interchangeable word slot in said one standard sentence stored in said standard sentence buffer and producing a first flag signal if such a slot is present; key input means for inputting a replacement word into a bracket buffer; searching means for determining if a word corresponding to said replacement word in said bracket buffer is contained in said first memory means, said searching means producing a first signal to indicate that such a word is not contained in said first memory means; microphone means, responsive to said first signal, for enabling the input of a voice signal representative of said replacement word and producing a second flag signal indicating that said voice signal is available; third memory means for storing said voice signal; translation means, responsive to said first and second flag signals, for producing a translation output in said second language, said translation output being a first translation in said second language of said one standard sentence in said standard sentence buffer if no flag signals are present, a second translation in said second language of said one standard sentence with said replacement word from said bracket buffer area included in the interchangeable word slot if only said first flag signal is present, or a third translation in said second language, of said one standard sentence except for said interchangeable word slot if said first and second flag signals are present; and voice output means, responsive to said first and second flag signals, for producing an audible voice message, said voice message including a representation of said translation output by accessing voice information associated with said translated output from said second memory means, said audible voice message also including said voice signal, stored in said third memory means, in said interchangeable word slot, if said first and second flag signals are present.

Claim 4

A language translator device having interchangeable word capabilities with voice output, comprising: first memory means for storing a plurality of words and a plurality of standard sentences of a first language and voice information associated with each of said words and said standard sentences of sadi first language; second memory means for storing a plurality of words and a plurality of standard sentences of a second language and voice information associated with each of said words and said standard sentences of said second language; selection means for choosing one standard sentence from said plurality of standard sentences of said first language and storing said one standard sentence in a standard sentence buffer; slot detection means for sensing an interchangeable word slot in said one standard sentence stored in said standard sentence buffer and producing a first flag signal if such a slot is present; key input means for inputting a replacement word into a bracket buffer; searching means for determining if a word corresponding to said replacement word in said bracket buffer is contained in said first memory means, said searching means producing a first signal to indicate that such a word is not contained in said first memory means; microphone means, responsive to said first signal, for enabling the input of a voice signal representative of said replacement word and producing a second flag signal indicating that said voice signal is available; third memory means for storing said voice signal; translation means, responsive to said first and second flag signals, for producing a translation output in said second language, said translation output being a first translation in said second language of said one standard sentence in said standard sentence buffer if no flag signals are present, a second translation in said second language of said one standard sentence with said replacement word from said bracket buffer area included in the interchangeable word slot if only said first flag signal is present, or a third translation in said second language, of said one standard sentence except for said interchangeable word slot if said first and second flag signals are present; and voice output means, responsive to said first and second flag signals, for producing an audible voice message, said voice message including a representation of said translation output by accessing voice information associated with said translated output from said second memory means, said audible voice message also including said voice signal, stored in said third memory means, in said interchangeable word slot, if said first and second flag signals are present.