Light communication channel-based voice-activated control system and method for implementing thereof

• US 20030095675A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bernard A. Meyer, Harvinder Singh, Lakhi N. Goenka, Marlow C. Allen
• Original Assignee: Bernard A. Meyer, Harvinder Singh, Lakhi N. Goenka, Marlow C. Allen
• Inventors: Goenka, Lakhi N., Singh, Harvinder, Marlow, C. Allen, Meyer, Bernard A.
• Application Number:
  US10/270,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20030095675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/110
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/22 with cylinders in V, fan, or star arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/085 with sensors measuring combustion processes, e.g. knocking, pressure, ionization, combustion flame
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/089 relating to engine temperature concerning coolant temperature F01P11/16
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/18 Packaging of the electronic circuit in a casing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 51/005 Arrangement of electrical wires and connections, e.g. wire harness, sockets, plugs; Arrangement of electronic control circuits in or on fuel injection apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2225/08 Thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2925 using electrical detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 11/02 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 23/16 by photoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12104 Mirror; Reflectors or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12109 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12004 Combinations of two or more optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12007 forming wavelength selective elements, e.g. multiplexer, demultiplexer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/122 Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/02 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 : using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A voice-activated control system in which a voice command transmitted to an audio signal receiver such as a microphone is digitized by a voice recognition program that produces an address and a function corresponding to the component to which the voice command is directed. The digitized signal is converted by an IR transceiver or an encoder/decoder to an IR signal, which is transmitted via an LCC bus to one or more devices attached to it. The device that has the appropriate address is actuated to perform the function and/or provide feedback to the system. The invention also includes voice-activated systems that rely on a centralized control approach while a third type of system uses a hybrid system that uses both lcc-based and electrical-based input. The present invention is also directed to various methods of activating and controlling one or more components of a system through a voice-activated system.

Claims

1. A voice-activated control system comprising:

an audio signal receiver that receives an audio input,

a voice recognition software that digitizes the audio input to produce a digitized audio input and assigns an address and a function corresponding to a component to which the audio input is directed,

a first signal converter that converts the digitized audio input to a light signal,

an LCC bus that receives the light signal and directs the light signal to a second signal converter, and

at least one device connected to the second signal converter,

wherein a signal from the second signal converter actuates the at least one device to perform the function required by the audio input.

2. The voice-activated control system of claim 1, wherein the LCC bus comprises a material selected from a group consisting of polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyisobutylene, polyacrylonitrile, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(methyl methacrylate), silica, and polycarbonate.

3. The voice-activated control system of claim 1, wherein the LCC bus comprises at least one surface signal router.

4. The voice-activated control system of claim 3, wherein the surface signal router is a reflective coating.

5. The voice-activated control system of claim 1, wherein the first signal converter or second signal converter is a transceiver or an encoder/decoder.

6. A voice-activated control system comprising:

an audio signal receiver that receives an audio input,

a signal converter that converts the audio input to a light signal,

a first LCC bus that receives the light signal generated by the signal converter, and

a master control unit that receives a light signal from the first LCC bus and contains a voice recognition program,

wherein the master control unit sends out a light signal to a second LCC bus to actuate at least one device connected to the second LCC bus.

7. The voice-activated control system of claim 6, wherein the LCC bus comprises a material selected from a group consisting of polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyisobutylene, polyacrylonitrile, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(methyl methacrylate), silica, and polycarbonate.

8. The voice-activated control system of claim 6, wherein the LCC bus comprises at least one surface signal router.

9. The voice-activated control system of claim 8, wherein the surface signal router is a reflective coating.

10. The voice-activated control system of claim 6, wherein the signal converter is an LED or a laser diode.

11. The voice-activated control system of claim 6, wherein the master control unit processes an LCC-based input and an electrical-based input.

12. A voice-activated control system comprising:

an audio signal receiver that receives an audio input,

a signal converter that converts the audio input to a light signal,

a voice recognition unit that digitizes the audio input, assigns an address and a function that correspond to the component to which the audio input is directed, and generates an output signal,

an LCC matrix through which the output signal propagates,

at least one surface signal router on the LCC matrix that controls the direction of propagation of the output signal from the voice recognition unit, and

at least one component embedded in the LCC matrix that is activated by the output signal from the voice recognition unit.

13. A voice-activated control system comprising:

an LCC matrix through which a signal propagates,

at least one surface signal router that controls the direction of propagation of a signal within the LCC matrix,

an audio signal receiver that receives an audio input,

a voice recognition unit that digitizes the audio input, assigns an address and a function that correspond to a component to which the audio input is directed, and generates a first signal corresponding to the audio input,

at least one signal converter that converts the first signal into a second signal, and

at least one component embedded in the LCC matrix that is activated by the second signal that corresponds to the audio input.

14. The voice-activated control system of claim 13, wherein the LCC matrix comprises an electrically-conductive material.

15. The voice-activated control system of claim 14 further comprising at least one component that is operatively connected on the surface of the electrically-conductive material.

16. The voice-activated control system of claim 14, wherein the electrically-conductive material is formed as a layer on one side of the LCC matrix.

17. The voice-activated control system of claim 14, wherein the electrically-conductive layer is operatively connected to another electrically-conductive layer by electrically-conductive connectors that are operatively connected to a transceiver.

18. A method for controlling a component of a system comprising:

sending an audio input to an audio signal receiver,

digitizing the audio input using a voice recognition program to generate a digitized audio input,

assigning a component address and a component function that correspond to a component to which an audio input is directed,

converting the digitized audio input to a light signal using a first signal converter,

transmitting the light signal through an LCC bus to a second signal converter that converts the light signal to an output signal,

directing the output signal from the second signal converter to a device that is operatively connected to the second signal converter, and

actuating the device via the output signal to perform a function required by the audio input.

19. A method for controlling a component of a system comprising:

sending an audio input to an audio signal receiver,

converting the audio input to a light signal using a first signal converter,

transmitting the light signal through a first LCC bus to a master control unit that contains a voice recognition program and that generates an output signal, and

directing the output signal from the master control unit to a second LCC bus to actuate at least one device that is operatively connected to the second LCC bus.

20. A voice-activated control system comprising:

sending an audio input to an audio signal receiver,

directing the audio input to a voice recognition unit that digitizes the audio input, assigns an address and a function that correspond to a component to which the audio input is directed, and generates an output signal,

directing the output signal to a first signal converter that converts the output signal to a light signal,

transmitting the light signal to an LCC matrix that comprises a surface signal router,

directing the light signal propagating through the LCC matrix to a second signal converter that converts the light signal to an electrical signal, and

transmitting the electrical signal to at least one component embedded in the LCC matrix.