On-site speaker device, on-site speech broadcasting system and method thereof

• US 10,140,971 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Sun, Yuanhai, Ma, Jingchuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sharma, Neeraj
• Application Number:
  US14/739,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20150364126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 704258-260, 704270, 704 9, 704235, 4554141, 4554041, 4554042, 84723, 379 8801, 3405456, 340517, 709238, 348 1408
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/012 using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/02 Methods for producing synthetic speech; Speech synthesisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of on-site speech broadcasting. The method includes receiving text signal, wherein the text signal is generated in response to a parameter reaching a predetermined value sensed by an on-site sensor (110) arranged in the field; converting the text signal to a speech signal by a speech converting module (210) disposed within an on-site speaker device (200); playing the converted speech signal by using a speaker (220) of the on-site speaker device (200). Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide an on-site speaker device and an on-site speech broadcasting system. With the embodiments of the present disclosure, an effective text-to-speech conversion is achieved, pre-created speech data is not necessary and the workload of design is reduced, making it more cost effective. Meanwhile, speech messages being broadcasted allow operators instantaneously knowing the content of the alarm. Therefore, the operators are able to position and tackle the problem right away, improving efficiency and safety.

Claims

1. A method of on-site speech broadcasting, comprising:

receiving a text signal, wherein the text signal is automatically generated by an on-site text-generating device in response to a parameter in an industrial environment sensed by an on-site sensor of the on-site text-generating device reaching a predetermined value;

converting the text signal to a speech signal by an on-site speech converting module disposed within an on-site speaker device separated from the on-site text-generating device; and

playing the converted speech signal by using a speaker of the on-site speaker device to broadcast an alarm in the industrial environment,

wherein the text signal is generated by automatically selecting the text signal from a plurality of text signals preset by an on-site user to correspond to the parameter reaching the predetermined value,

wherein the on-site text-generating device further includes a human machine interface for automatically selecting a text from a plurality of texts without input of the on-site user, and a transmitting interface for transmitting the text signal,

wherein the human machine interface comprises a processor for determining an event indicating a certain device in the industrial environment is abnormal based on the parameter sensed by the on-site sensor, and

wherein the text of the plurality of texts corresponds to the event.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising inserting a mark in the text signal, the mark indicating a requirement of text-to-speech conversion, such that the on-site speech converting module converts the text signal to the speech signal in accordance with the requirement.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the text signal comprises at least two languages.

5. The on-site speaker device according to claim 3, wherein the on-site speech converting module is capable of converting the text signal to the speech signal in accordance with a requirement of text-to-speech conversion indicated by a mark in the text signal.

4. An on-site speaker device, comprising:

a receiving interface configured for receiving a text signal, wherein the text signal is automatically generated by an on-site text-generating device separated from the on-site speaker device in response to a parameter in an industrial environment sensed by an on-site sensor of the on-site text-generating device reaching a predetermined value;

an on-site speech converting module configured for converting the text signal to a speech signal; and

an on-site speaker configured for playing the speech signal and configured to broadcast an alarm in the industrial environment,

wherein the text signal is automatically generated by selecting the text signal from a plurality of text signals preset by an on-site user to correspond to the parameter sensed by the on-site sensor reaching the predetermined value,

wherein the on-site text generating device further includes a human machine interface for automatically selecting a text from a plurality of texts without input of the on-site user, and a transmitting interface for transmitting the text signal,

wherein the human machine interface comprises a processor for determining an event indicating a certain device in the industrial environment is abnormal based on the parameter sensed by the on-site sensor, and

wherein the text of the plurality of texts corresponds to the event.

6. The on-site speaker device according to claim 4, wherein the text signal comprises at least two languages.

7. An on-site speech broadcasting system, comprising:

i.) an on-site text generating device for generating a text signal, having;

an on-site sensor configured for sensing a parameter in an industrial environment reaching a predetermined value;

an on-site human machine interface configured for automatically generating a text signal in response to the parameter sensed by the on-site sensor reaching the predetermined value, the human machine interface being configured for automatically selecting a text from a plurality of texts without input of an on-site user, wherein the text signal is generated by automatically selecting the text signal from a plurality of text signals preset by the on-site user to correspond to the parameter sensed by the on-site sensor reaching the predetermined value; and

an on-site transmitting interface configured for transmitting the generated text signal; and

ii.) an on-site speaker device, separated from the on-site text-generating device, including;

an on-site receiving interface configured for receiving the transmitted generated text signal;

an on-site speech converting module configured for converting the received text signal to a speech signal; and

an on-site speaker configured for playing the speech signal and configured to broadcast an alarm in the industrial environment,

wherein the human machine interface comprises a processor for determining an event indicating a certain device in the industrial environment is abnormal based on the parameter sensed by the on-site sensor, and

wherein the text of the plurality of texts corresponds to the event.