System and method for synthesizing human speech
First Claim
1. A method for synthesizing speech using piezoelectric material in contact with a chest of a subject, the method comprising:
- obtaining a piezoelectric electrical signal from the piezoelectric material, the piezoelectric electrical signal based on mechanical movement of the chest, the mechanical movement related to movement of sound tendons of the subject during an act of speaking;
communicating the piezoelectric electrical signal to a signal processor;
manipulating the piezoelectric electrical signal in the signal processor using signal processing techniques;
extracting from the manipulated piezoelectric electrical signal a set of speech identifying parameters; and
generating a speech signal using the set of speech identifying parameters, the speech signal corresponding to the piezoelectric electrical signal.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for detecting voice related vibration in the upper region of the chest and synthesizing human speech. The innovation finds its use in speech rehabilitation applications among others, specifically in speech impairments and speech disability arising due to accident, congenital defects or other reasons. A set of piezoelectric based sensors are placed on an upper region of the chest atop or near sound tendons. The sensors pick up the vibrations in the sound tendons and convert the vibrations into electrical output signals. These signals are filtered, amplified and processed using the signal recognition unit. Subsequently, a set of parameters are extracted and used to generate speech or a written text. The sensors incorporate piezoelectric or other transducing materials. These sensors are externally affixed to a human body surface corresponding to the position of the sounds tendons in the upper chest/neck region.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for synthesizing speech using piezoelectric material in contact with a chest of a subject, the method comprising:
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obtaining a piezoelectric electrical signal from the piezoelectric material, the piezoelectric electrical signal based on mechanical movement of the chest, the mechanical movement related to movement of sound tendons of the subject during an act of speaking; communicating the piezoelectric electrical signal to a signal processor; manipulating the piezoelectric electrical signal in the signal processor using signal processing techniques; extracting from the manipulated piezoelectric electrical signal a set of speech identifying parameters; and generating a speech signal using the set of speech identifying parameters, the speech signal corresponding to the piezoelectric electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for synthesizing human speech, the system comprising:
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piezoelectric based sensors for placement in contact with a chest of a subject, the piezoelectric based sensors sensing mechanical movement of the chest, the mechanical movement related to movement of sound tendons of the subject during an act of speaking;
the piezoelectric based sensors generating a piezoelectric signal corresponding to the mechanical movement of the chest; anda processor for receiving the piezoelectric signal generated from the piezoelectric based sensors, the processor configured to manipulate the received piezoelectric signal generated, extract a set of speech identifying parameters and generate a speech signal using the set of speech identifying parameter, the speech signal corresponding to the piezoelectric signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. One or more processors for synthesizing human speech, the one or more processors configured to:
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receive piezoelectric signals generated based on mechanical movement of a chest portion of a subject, the mechanical movement related to movement of sound tendons of the subject during an act of speaking; manipulate the received piezoelectric signal; extract from the manipulated piezoelectric signal a set of speech identifying parameter; and generate a speech signal using the set of speech identifying parameter, the speech signal corresponding to the piezoelectric signal.
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Specification