USB dictation device

• US 20040215452A1
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dictaphone Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Pearah, David E., Chen, Francis
• Granted Patent: US 7,263,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/231
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/07 Mechanical or electrical reduction of wind noise generated by wind passing a microphone

Abstract

The invention includes a handheld device for receiving audio input in the form of speech. The handheld device is specifically optimized for digitally recording speech input for the purpose of speech recognition. The handheld device includes an ergonomically positioned pointing device to enable dictation and navigation through a document using only one hand. The handheld device may optionally include a memory device, a fingerprint security device, and a barcode scanner.

Claims

1. A handheld device for receiving audio input in the form of speech, the audio input recorded in a recording medium and processed by a speech recognition engine, thereby generating text, the handheld device comprising:

an omni-directional microphone element disposed at a distal end,

a wind screen selected according to a predetermined wind noise sensitivity factor,

an electric circuit for receiving the audio input in the form of speech and for converting analog signals to digital signals, the electric circuit having a gain control for providing a signal level that is suitable for speech recognition, and

a set of input buttons ergonomically positioned on a top surface of the handheld device, wherein at least one of the input buttons is for selectively navigating through predetermined sections of a form, and the set of input buttons including a button for selecting a predetermined section of a form and a button for initiating recording,

wherein the at least one of the input buttons for selectively navigating predetermined sections of the text, the button for selecting a predetermined section of a form, and the button for initiating recording are positioned to allow one-handed navigation through the predetermined sections of a form, selection of a predetermined section of a form, and initiation of recording.

2. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the set of input buttons includes a button for advancing to a next predetermined section of a form and a button for going back to a previous predetermined section of a form.

3. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the set of input buttons includes a button for selecting a portion of text.

4. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the set of input buttons includes a button for reviewing back through an audio file to a previously recorded portion of the file, a button for advancing through an audio file to a previously recorded portion of the file, and a button for playing a portion of an audio file through an integrated speaker on the handheld device.

5. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein the button for playing a portion of an audio file is also a stop button, wherein when any function of the handheld device is active, pressing the stop button deactivates the handheld device.

6. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the set of input buttons includes a button for dictation, wherein when the button for dictation is pressed, the microphone element is activated to receive audio input in the form of speech, the audio input is digitized and transmitted to the speech recognition engine, and the speech recognition engine translates the speech into text.

7. The handheld device of claim 1, further comprising a pointing device on the top surface of the handheld device and at least one button associated with the pointing device.

8. The handheld device of claim 7, wherein the pointing device is a microjoystick.

9. The handheld device of claim 7, wherein the at least one button associated with the pointing device is on the bottom surface of the handheld device.

10. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the set of input buttons includes a button for signing a form, wherein when the button for signing a form is pressed, the form is modified to include an indicator that the form has been signed.

11. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the set of input buttons includes a button for coding.

12. A handheld device for receiving audio input in the form of speech, the audio input recorded in a recording medium and processed by a speech recognition engine, thereby generating text, the handheld device comprising:

a USB hub for receiving and transmitting signals through a USB interface to a USB root hub of a computer,

a power switch for switching power drawn from the USB interface between a first USB port on the USB hub and a second USB port on the USB hub,

a pointing device connected to the second USB port on the USB hub, and

a USB streaming controller connected to the first USB port on the USB hub, wherein the USB streaming controller receives digital audio signals from an audio codec that converts analog audio signals from a microphone element into the digital audio signals.

13. The handheld device of claim 12, further comprising a preamplifier between the audio codec and the microphone for amplifying the analog audio signals from the microphone before it is digitized by the audio codec.

14. The handheld device of claim 13, further comprising a speaker, wherein digital audio signals from the USB streaming controller are converted into analog audio signals by the audio codec, the analog audio signals are amplified by an amplifier, and the amplified analog audio signals drive the speaker.

15. The handheld device of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of buttons connected to a plurality of switches, wherein when a button is pressed a corresponding switch is closed, and the USB streaming controller detects the closed switch.

16. The handheld device of claim 15, further comprising at least one LED connected to the USB streaming controller, wherein when one of the plurality of the buttons is pressed and the corresponding switch is closed, a recording function of the handheld device is activated and the at least one LED is lit.

17. The handheld device of claim 12, further comprising a data storage device.

18. The handheld device of claim 12, further comprising a fingerprint security device.

19. The handheld device of claim 17, further comprising a fingerprint security device.

20. A handheld device for receiving audio input in the form of speech, the audio input recorded in a recording medium and processed by a speech recognition engine, thereby generating text, the handheld device comprising:

a USB hub for receiving and transmitting signals through a USB interface to a USB root hub of a computer,

a power switch for switching power drawn from the USB interface between a first USB port on the USB hub and a second USB port on the USB hub,

a pointing device connected to the second USB port on the USB hub,

a USB streaming controller connected to the first USB port on the USB hub, wherein the USB streaming controller receives digital audio signals from an audio codec that converts analog audio signals from a microphone element into the digital audio signals,

a barcode scanner for scanning barcodes to identify the subject matter of the audio input.

21. The handheld device of claim 20, further comprising a preamplifier between the audio codec and the microphone for amplifying the analog audio signals from the microphone before it is digitized by the audio codec.

22. The handheld device of claim 21, further comprising a speaker, wherein digital audio signals from the USB streaming controller are converted into analog audio signals by the audio codec, the analog audio signals are amplified by an amplifier, and the amplified analog audio signals drive the speaker.

23. The handheld device of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of buttons connected to a plurality of switches, wherein when a button is pressed a corresponding switch is closed, and the USB streaming controller detects the closed switch.

24. The handheld device of claim 23, further comprising at least one LED connected to the USB streaming controller, wherein when one of the plurality of the buttons is pressed and the corresponding switch is closed, a recording function of the handheld device is activated and the at least one LED is lit.

25. The handheld device of claim 20, further comprising a data storage device.

26. The handheld device of claim 20, further comprising a fingerprint security device.

27. The handheld device of claim 25, further comprising a fingerprint security device.