Speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing

• US 20080300885A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ching-An Liaw, Chung-Hung Shih
• Original Assignee: Ching-An Liaw, Chung-Hung Shih
• Inventors: Liaw, Ching-An, Shih, Chung-Hung
• Application Number:
  US11/907,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20080300885A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/271
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/0575 Aids for the handicapped in speaking

Abstract

A speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing comprises a display screen, a controller, a host having a storage unit for storing specific software and connected with the display screen, and a speaker connected with the host. A plurality of choices is presented on the display screen in a nine-square form or an English keyboard form for patients to select according to their needs. The controller is used for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing to move a cursor on the display screen to select any choice they need. The speaker is designed to output speech sounds of words or simple sentences in different languages corresponding to the choices patients select via the controller and thus make it possible for patients to communicate with others.

Claims

1. A speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing, comprising:

a display screen showing a plurality of choices to form a nine-square set thereon, where each of the nine squares is provided with a piece of information for patients to select;

a controller used for a patient having difficulty in speaking or writing to move a cursor on the display screen to select a choice according to their needs;

a host having a storage unit for storing specific software and connected with the display screen; and

a speaker connected with the host for giving off the sound corresponding to a piece of information selected by a patient so that the patient is able to communicate with others.

2. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is a wireless head-mounted mouse, a wireless mouse, or a usual mouse for controlling the movement of the cursor.

3. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is a touch screen.

4. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pieces of information in the nine squares are presented in forms of figures, patterns, or situational cartoons.

5. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the cursor is moved to the square that a patient selects, a corresponding sound is sent out via the speaker.

6. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central square of the nine squares is a resting square for resting the cursor thereon without giving off sound.

7. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 6, wherein a time-delay choice is further presented on the display screen for delaying the speaker sending out sound, where the sound is sent out only when the cursor is moved to and stayed on a selected square for a short while.

8. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 1, wherein a group of plural main choices is further presented on the display screen for patients to change different sets of nine squares according to their needs.

9. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 8, wherein the main choices are presented in forms of figures, patterns, or situational cartoons.

10. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mode-selection choice is further presented on the display screen for switching the nine-square mode into a simplified keyboard mode for patients to input.

11. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 10, wherein the simplified keyboard is an English keyboard.

12. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 1, wherein a language output choice is further presented on the display screen for patients to select a kind of languages of the sound sent out by the speaker.

13. The speech communication system for patients having difficulty in speaking or writing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display screen is a touch liquid crystal display screen.