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US4827520A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Voice actuated control system for use in a vehicle

Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Co
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Filing: 1987-01-16
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Granted: 1989-05-02
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Expires: 2007-01-16
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Abstract

Abstract A voice actuated control system for controlling vehicle accessories includes a voice processing circuit and memory for storing data representing command words employed to perform control functions for vehicle accessories and for detecting spoken command words and providing data corresponding thereto. A microprocessor compares the data to determine if a word match has occurred and provides a selected control output signal in such event. The microprocessor is coupled by an interface circuit to a plurality of devices to be controlled including for example, a cellular telephone, a radio receiver and the like. Also, in a preferred embodiment a display and control panel is provided to selectively provide visual prompts to the operator and a manual control. The microprocessor is programmed to provide a variety of tests on stored data and spoken word to improve the reliability of the system.

Inventors

  • 👤 Mark L. Zeinstra

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 22:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/037; B60R16/0373; G; G10; G10L; G10L15/00; G10L15/06; G10L15/063; G10L15/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim 218 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing first data defining a plurality of spoken words which are employed to provide selected control functions; means for receiving spoken command words and providing second data defining each of the received spoken command words; means for comparing said second data with said first data and assigning a digital number representing the closeness of said second data with the closes word representative data of said first data, wherein said comparing and assigning means assigns first and second digital numbers representating the closeness of the second data to first and second word representative data of said first data and representing the first and second closest word matches and wherein said system further includes means coupled to said comparing means for prompting the operator to verify if the spoken command was correctly detected to resolve any ambiguity if the difference between said first and second digital numbers fall within a second predetermined limit thereby indicating a possible ambiguity in the word detected; and control means responsive to signals from said comparing means indicting a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken command word when said digital number falls within a predetermined number limit thereby indicating the probability of a correct word match.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 218 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing first data defining a plurality of spoken words which are employed to provide selected control functions; means for receiving spoken command words and providing second data defining each of the received spoken command words; means for comparing said second data with said first data and assigning a digital number representing the closeness of said second data with the closes word representative data of said first data, wherein said comparing and assigning means assigns first and second digital numbers representating the closeness of the second data to first and second word representative data of said first data and representing the first and second closest word matches and wherein said system further includes means coupled to said comparing means for prompting the operator to verify if the spoken command was correctly detected to resolve any ambiguity if the difference between said first and second digital numbers fall within a second predetermined limit thereby indicating a possible ambiguity in the word detected; and control means responsive to signals from said comparing means indicting a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken command word when said digital number falls within a predetermined number limit thereby indicating the probability of a correct word match.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system a defined in claim 1 wherein said prompting means includes means for providing an audible inquiry to the operator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said audible inquiry comprises an interrogative statement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system as defined in claim 3 wherein said statement comprises the question, "Did you say" followed by the command word of the closest match.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 162 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing first data defining a plurality of spoken words which are employed to provide selected control function; means for receiving spoken command words and providing second data defining each of the received spoken command words; means for comparing said second data with said first data and assigning a digital number representing the closeness of said second data with the closest word representative data of said first data, wherein said first data comprises at least two separate stored digital data sequences representing each word and wherein said comparing means compares said second data from said receiving means with each of said stored digital data sequences; and control means responsive to signals from said comparing means indicating a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken command word when said digital number falls within a predetermined number limit thereby indicating the probability of a correct word match.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 162 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing first data defining a plurality of spoken words which are employed to provide selected control function; means for receiving spoken command words and providing second data defining each of the received spoken command words; means for comparing said second data with said first data and assigning a digital number representing the closeness of said second data with the closest word representative data of said first data, wherein said first data comprises at least two separate stored digital data sequences representing each word and wherein said comparing means compares said second data from said receiving means with each of said stored digital data sequences; and control means responsive to signals from said comparing means indicating a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken command word when said digital number falls within a predetermined number limit thereby indicating the probability of a correct word match.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 147 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing first data defining a plurality of spoken words which are employed to provide selected control functions; means for receiving spoken command words and providing second data defining each of the received spoken commands words, wherein said means for receiving spoken command words includes a microphone positioned in a vehicle above and forward of the operators mouth; means for comparing said second data with said first data and assigning a digital number representing the closeness of said second data with the closest word representative data of said first data; and control means responsive to signals form said comparing means indicating a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken command word when said digital number falls within a predetermined number limit thereby indicating the probability of a correct word match.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 147 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing first data defining a plurality of spoken words which are employed to provide selected control functions; means for receiving spoken command words and providing second data defining each of the received spoken commands words, wherein said means for receiving spoken command words includes a microphone positioned in a vehicle above and forward of the operators mouth; means for comparing said second data with said first data and assigning a digital number representing the closeness of said second data with the closest word representative data of said first data; and control means responsive to signals form said comparing means indicating a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken command word when said digital number falls within a predetermined number limit thereby indicating the probability of a correct word match.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 158 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing first data defining a plurality of spoken words which are employed to provide selected control functions; means for receiving spoken command words and providing second data defining each of the received spoken command words; means for comparing said second data with said first data and assigning a digital number representing the closeness of said second data with the closest word representative data of said first data; and control means responsive to signals from said comparing means indicating a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken command word when said digital number falls within a predetermined number limit thereby indicating the probability of a correct word match wherein said control means further includes a push-button switch for selectively enabling said receiving means to detect spoken words only during a predetermined window of time initiated by each actuation of said switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 158 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing first data defining a plurality of spoken words which are employed to provide selected control functions; means for receiving spoken command words and providing second data defining each of the received spoken command words; means for comparing said second data with said first data and assigning a digital number representing the closeness of said second data with the closest word representative data of said first data; and control means responsive to signals from said comparing means indicating a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken command word when said digital number falls within a predetermined number limit thereby indicating the probability of a correct word match wherein said control means further includes a push-button switch for selectively enabling said receiving means to detect spoken words only during a predetermined window of time initiated by each actuation of said switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 38 words
The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said control means responds to the actuation of said switch during the time a control function is being carried out to provide an output signal to discontinue said control function.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 126 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing a predetermined number of command words defining a vocabulary for controlling selected functions of a vehicle, wherein said words are arranged according to pages with each page having words contained thereon necessary to complete a predetermined control function; means for recalling selected stored command words according to a predetermined pattern of functions selected to be carried out by the operator; means for detecting a spoken command and comparing the spoken command with the selected stored command words to determine if there is a word match; and control means responsive to the detection of a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored word.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 126 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing a predetermined number of command words defining a vocabulary for controlling selected functions of a vehicle, wherein said words are arranged according to pages with each page having words contained thereon necessary to complete a predetermined control function; means for recalling selected stored command words according to a predetermined pattern of functions selected to be carried out by the operator; means for detecting a spoken command and comparing the spoken command with the selected stored command words to determine if there is a word match; and control means responsive to the detection of a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored word.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 137 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing a predetermined number of command words defining a vocabulary for controlling selected functions of a vehicle, wherein said words are arranged according to pages with each page having words contained thereon necessary to complete a predetermined control function, and wherein one of said pages comprises a radio control page; means for recalling selected stored command words according to a predetermined pattern of functions selected to be carried out by the operator; means for detecting a spoken command and comparing the spoken command with the selected stored command words to determined if there is a word match; and control means responsive to the detection of a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored word.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 137 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing a predetermined number of command words defining a vocabulary for controlling selected functions of a vehicle, wherein said words are arranged according to pages with each page having words contained thereon necessary to complete a predetermined control function, and wherein one of said pages comprises a radio control page; means for recalling selected stored command words according to a predetermined pattern of functions selected to be carried out by the operator; means for detecting a spoken command and comparing the spoken command with the selected stored command words to determined if there is a word match; and control means responsive to the detection of a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored word.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 137 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing a predetermined number of command words defining a vocabulary for controlling selected functions of a vehicle, wherein said words are arranged according to pages with each page having words contained thereon necessary to complete a predetermined control function, and wherein one of said pages comprises a telephone control page; means for recalling selected stored command words according to a predetermined pattern of functions selected to be carried out by the operator; means for detecting a spoken command and comparing the spoken command with the selected stored command words to determine if there is a word match; and control means responsive to the detection of a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored word.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 137 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing a predetermined number of command words defining a vocabulary for controlling selected functions of a vehicle, wherein said words are arranged according to pages with each page having words contained thereon necessary to complete a predetermined control function, and wherein one of said pages comprises a telephone control page; means for recalling selected stored command words according to a predetermined pattern of functions selected to be carried out by the operator; means for detecting a spoken command and comparing the spoken command with the selected stored command words to determine if there is a word match; and control means responsive to the detection of a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored word.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 138 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing a predetermined number of command words defining a vocabulary for controlling selected functions of a vehicle, wherein said words are arranged according to pages with each page having words contained thereon necessary to complete a predetermined control function, and wherein one of said pages comprises a vehicle window control page; means for recalling selected stored command words according to a predetermined pattern of functions selected to be carried out by the operator; means for detecting a spoken command and comparing the spoken command with the selected stored command words to determine if there is a word match; and control means responsive to the detection of a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored word.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 138 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing a predetermined number of command words defining a vocabulary for controlling selected functions of a vehicle, wherein said words are arranged according to pages with each page having words contained thereon necessary to complete a predetermined control function, and wherein one of said pages comprises a vehicle window control page; means for recalling selected stored command words according to a predetermined pattern of functions selected to be carried out by the operator; means for detecting a spoken command and comparing the spoken command with the selected stored command words to determine if there is a word match; and control means responsive to the detection of a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored word.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 143 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing a predetermined number of command words defining a vocabulary for controlling selected functions of a vehicle, wherein said words are arranged according to pages with each page having words contained thereon necessary to complete a predetermined control function, and wherein one of said pages comprises a summary page of available control functions for the system; means for recalling selected stored command words according to a predetermined pattern of functions selected to be carried out by the operator; means for detecting a spoken command and comparing the spoken command with the selected stored command words to determine if there is a word match; and control means responsive to the detection of a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored word.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 143 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing a predetermined number of command words defining a vocabulary for controlling selected functions of a vehicle, wherein said words are arranged according to pages with each page having words contained thereon necessary to complete a predetermined control function, and wherein one of said pages comprises a summary page of available control functions for the system; means for recalling selected stored command words according to a predetermined pattern of functions selected to be carried out by the operator; means for detecting a spoken command and comparing the spoken command with the selected stored command words to determine if there is a word match; and control means responsive to the detection of a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored word.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 209 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing data representing a plurality of command words which are employed to provide selected control functions; display means for displaying said command words which will effect control functions indicated by said display means; means for receiving spoken command words and converting such audio information into data which corresponds to the stored to the stored command word data when the stored command words are spoken; means for comparing data representing spoken command words with data representing said stored command words which are displayed to determine if a word match has occurred; control circuit means coupled to said comparing means and responsive to a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored stemplate; switch means having a plurality of switch locations identified by and aligned with said command words of said display means for providing said control output signal for the command word when the switch associated with the display command word is actuated by the operator; and a vehicle accessory having a control input coupled to said control circuit and responsive to control output signals for controlling the operation of the vehicle accessory according to the spoken commands.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 209 words
A voice actuated control system for controlling a vehicle accessory comprising: means for storing data representing a plurality of command words which are employed to provide selected control functions; display means for displaying said command words which will effect control functions indicated by said display means; means for receiving spoken command words and converting such audio information into data which corresponds to the stored to the stored command word data when the stored command words are spoken; means for comparing data representing spoken command words with data representing said stored command words which are displayed to determine if a word match has occurred; control circuit means coupled to said comparing means and responsive to a word match for providing a control output signal associated with a spoken word which matches a stored stemplate; switch means having a plurality of switch locations identified by and aligned with said command words of said display means for providing said control output signal for the command word when the switch associated with the display command word is actuated by the operator; and a vehicle accessory having a control input coupled to said control circuit and responsive to control output signals for controlling the operation of the vehicle accessory according to the spoken commands.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said accessory is a telephone.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 96 words
A voice control for use in a vehicle comprising: storage circuit means for storing data corresponding to voice commands to be recognized by the system; means for detecting spoken voice commands and providing data corresponding to such commands; means for comparing spoken voice command data with voice command data in said storage means for determining if a match has occurred and for providing a control output signal in such event; means for selectively providing audible prompts to the operator for operation of the system; and display means for displaying voice command words which will be recognized.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 96 words
A voice control for use in a vehicle comprising: storage circuit means for storing data corresponding to voice commands to be recognized by the system; means for detecting spoken voice commands and providing data corresponding to such commands; means for comparing spoken voice command data with voice command data in said storage means for determining if a match has occurred and for providing a control output signal in such event; means for selectively providing audible prompts to the operator for operation of the system; and display means for displaying voice command words which will be recognized.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said display means comprises an electroluminescent display.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 131 words
A voice controlled system for controlling the operation of accessories in a vehicle comprising: a microprocessor and memory means for said microprocessor; a voice processor circuit coupled to said microprocessor; sound transducing means and means coupling said sound transducing means to said voice processing circuit for supplying audio information to and from the operator to said voice processing circuit; and program means for said microprocessor and contained in said memory means for operating said microprocessor for comparing signals identifying words spoken by an operator with stored signals representing the words for testing first and second closed word matches to verify if a spoken word is a recognizable command, wherein each first and second closest word match is assigned a digital number indicating the closeness of the word to a stored word.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 131 words
A voice controlled system for controlling the operation of accessories in a vehicle comprising: a microprocessor and memory means for said microprocessor; a voice processor circuit coupled to said microprocessor; sound transducing means and means coupling said sound transducing means to said voice processing circuit for supplying audio information to and from the operator to said voice processing circuit; and program means for said microprocessor and contained in said memory means for operating said microprocessor for comparing signals identifying words spoken by an operator with stored signals representing the words for testing first and second closed word matches to verify if a spoken word is a recognizable command, wherein each first and second closest word match is assigned a digital number indicating the closeness of the word to a stored word.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 31 words
The system as defined in claim 18 wherein at least one of said digital numbers is compared to a reference number to determine if a valid word command has been detected.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system as defined in claim 19 wherein said digital numbers are compared to each other to determine the closeness of the words.
Claim 33
Independent Claim 186 words
A method of testing data for a voice actuated control system for a vehicle to assure an accurate word match has occurred comprising the steps of: providing first digital data representing storing at least one voice print of each word in the vocabulary of command words to be used; providing second digital data representing a word command spoken by the operator; comparing the second digital data with said first digital data to determine the first and second closest comparisons representing first and second closest word matches; assigning a digital number to said first and second word matches representing the closeness of the second digital data to a word representing by said first data; correlating said digital numbers against each other and predetermined constants; providing a control output signal for actuating a vehicle accessory in the event predetermined correlation occurs indicating a spoken command word has reliably been detected, wherein said first digital data includes a redundant stored command word for each command word of the vocabulary; and wherein said correlation step includes testing the first and second word matches to determine if they are the same.
Claim 34
Independent Claim 186 words
A method of testing data for a voice actuated control system for a vehicle to assure an accurate word match has occurred comprising the steps of: providing first digital data representing storing at least one voice print of each word in the vocabulary of command words to be used; providing second digital data representing a word command spoken by the operator; comparing the second digital data with said first digital data to determine the first and second closest comparisons representing first and second closest word matches; assigning a digital number to said first and second word matches representing the closeness of the second digital data to a word representing by said first data; correlating said digital numbers against each other and predetermined constants; providing a control output signal for actuating a vehicle accessory in the event predetermined correlation occurs indicating a spoken command word has reliably been detected, wherein said first digital data includes a redundant stored command word for each command word of the vocabulary; and wherein said correlation step includes testing the first and second word matches to determine if they are the same.
Claim 35
Independent Claim 177 words
A method of testing data for a voice actuated control system for a vehicle to assure an accurate word match has occurred comprising the steps of: providing first digital data representing storing at least one voice print of each word in the vocabulary of command words to be used; providing second digital data representing a word command spoken by the operator; comparing the second digital data with said first digital data to determine the first and second closest comparisons representing first and second closest word matches; assigning a digital number to said first and second word matches representing the closeness of the second digital data to a word represented by said first data; correlating said digital numbers against each other and predetermined constants, wherein said correlation step includes testing the number corresponding to the first closest match to determine if it is less than a constant and therefore, a good match; and providing a control output signal for actuating a vehicle accessory in the event predetermined correlation occurs indicating a spoken command word has reliably been detected.
Claim 36
Independent Claim 177 words
A method of testing data for a voice actuated control system for a vehicle to assure an accurate word match has occurred comprising the steps of: providing first digital data representing storing at least one voice print of each word in the vocabulary of command words to be used; providing second digital data representing a word command spoken by the operator; comparing the second digital data with said first digital data to determine the first and second closest comparisons representing first and second closest word matches; assigning a digital number to said first and second word matches representing the closeness of the second digital data to a word represented by said first data; correlating said digital numbers against each other and predetermined constants, wherein said correlation step includes testing the number corresponding to the first closest match to determine if it is less than a constant and therefore, a good match; and providing a control output signal for actuating a vehicle accessory in the event predetermined correlation occurs indicating a spoken command word has reliably been detected.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-05-01 1992-10-31 1993-05-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-05-01 1996-10-31 1997-05-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-05-01 2000-10-31 2001-05-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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