SPEECH SYSTEM USED FOR ROBOT AND ROBOT WITH SPEECH SYSTEM

• US 20120046788A1
• Filed: 01/22/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TEK Electrical Company Limited (IDG Capital Partners Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TEK Electrical Company Limited (IDG Capital Partners Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Qian, Dongqi
• Application Number:
  US13/145,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20120046788A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/257
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/0005 Manipulators having means for high-level communication with users, e.g. speech generator, face recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems

Abstract

A speech system (2) used for a robot (1) and a robot (1) with the speech system (2) are provided. The speech system (2) includes an audio file storage unit (200) and a speech control unit (300). The audio file storage unit (200) stores audio files obtained from an audio file preparation unit (100), which is located outside the robot (1). The data stored in the audio file storage unit (200) can be prepared, modified or replaced according to the requirement of a user. According to the received robot state information, the speech control unit (300) converts the audio data of the audio file, which corresponds to the state information and is stored in the audio file storage unit (200), to a corresponding analog signal, and then plays the analog signal.

Claims

1. A speech system used for robot, including an audio file storage unit (200, 200′

) and a speech control unit (300, 300′

, 300a, 300a′

), wherein the audio file storage unit (200, 200′

) stores the audio files obtained from an audio file preparation unit (100), characterized in the following;

the audio file preparation unit (100) is configured outside of the robot;

the data stored in the audio file storage unit (200, 200′

) can be prepared, modified or replaced according to the needs of a user;

the speech control unit (300, 300′

, 300a, 300a′

) is coupled to the audio file storage unit (200, 200′

) to realize information transmission and data reading;

according to the received robot state information, the speech control unit (300, 300′

, 300a, 300a′

) converts the audio data of the audio file, which corresponds to the state information and is stored in the audio file storage unit (200, 200′

), to a corresponding analog signal, and then plays the analog signal.

2. The speech system used for robot of claim 1, characterized in the following:

the audio file storage unit (200) is an independent external storage unit to the robot, and it is communicated with the robot in wired or wireless mode, and may obtain the audio file from the audio file preparation unit (100) or from a third party in which the audio file prepared by the audio file preparation unit (100) is stored.

3. The speech system used for robot of claim 2, characterized in the following:

the speech control unit (300) includes a control subunit (301), an audio signal processor (302) and a speaker (303), wherein the control subunit (301) is respectively connected with the audio signal processor (302) and the audio file storage unit (200);

wherein, according to the received robot state information, the control subunit (301) reads the audio file from the audio file storage unit (200) corresponding to the state information, and sends the audio file to the audio signal processor (302);

the audio signal processor (302) is used to make signal processing for the audio file, and outputs the processed analog signal which corresponds to the state information to the speaker (303) to be played.

4. The speech system used for robot of claim 2, characterized in the following:

the speech control unit (300′

) includes a control subunit (301′

), an audio signal processor (302′

) and a speaker (303′

);

the audio signal processor (302′

) is respectively connected with the control subunit (301) and the audio file storage unit (200);

wherein, according to the received robot state information, the control subunit (301′

) sends an information to the audio signal processor (302′

) requesting the audio signal processor to output the audio data corresponding to the state information;

after receiving the information, the audio signal processor (302′

) reads the audio file from the audio file storage unit (200) corresponding to the state information, makes signal processing for the audio file, and finally outputs the processed analog signal which corresponds to the state information, to the speaker (303′

) to be played.

5. The speech system used for robot of claim 4, characterized in the following:

the audio signal processor (302′

), the speaker (303′

) and the audio file storage unit (200) are integrated to constitute an external removable storage and playing device, which is independent to the robot.

6. The speech system used for robot of claim 5, characterized in the following:

the control subunit (301′

) is connected with the removable storage and playing device wirelessly.

7. The speech system used for robot of claim 3, characterized in the following:

the audio file storage unit (200) may include a wireless communication circuit, and the control subunit (301) is coupled to the audio file storage unit (200) in wired or wireless connection.

8. The speech system used for robot of claim 4, characterized in the following:

the audio file storage unit (200) may include a wireless communication circuit, and audio signal processor (302′

) is coupled to the audio file storage unit (200) in wired or wireless connection.

12. The speech system used for robot of claim 1, characterized in the following:

the audio file storage unit (200′

) is a memory configured inside the robot;

through a communication interface, the memory downloads or records the audio file from the audio file preparation unit (100) or from a third party in which the audio file prepared by the audio file preparation unit (100) is stored.

13. The speech system used for robot of claim 12, characterized in the following:

the speech control unit (300a) includes a control subunit (301a), an audio signal processor (302a) and a speaker (303a), wherein the control subunit (301a) is respectively connected with the audio signal processor (302a) and the audio file storage unit (200′

);

wherein, according to the received robot state information, the control subunit (301a) reads the audio file from the audio file storage unit (200′

) corresponding to the state information, and sends the audio file to the audio signal processor (302a);

the audio signal processor (302a) processes the audio file signals and outputs the processed analog signal, which corresponds to the state information, to the speaker (303a) to be played.

14. The speech system used for robot of claim 12, characterized in the following:

the speech control unit (300a′

) includes a control subunit (301a), an audio signal processor (302a′

) and a speaker (303a);

the audio signal processor (302a′

) is respectively connected with the control subunit (301a) and the audio file storage unit (200′

);

wherein, according to the received robot state information, the control subunit (301a′

) sends an information to the audio signal processor (302a′

) requesting the audio signal processor to output the audio data corresponding to the state information;

After receiving the information, the audio signal processor (302a′

) reads the audio file from the audio file storage unit (200′

) corresponding to the state information, makes signal processing for the audio file, and finally outputs the processed analog signal, which corresponds to the state information, to the speaker (303a′

) to be played.

16. The speech system used for robot of claim 1, characterized in the following:

a plurality of audio files corresponding to one state of the robot are stored in the audio file storage unit (200, 200′

).

17. The speech system used for robot of claim 1, characterized in the following:

the audio file is in the format of MP3, WAV, WMA, MP2, OGG, APE, AAC, MIDI or VQF.

18. The speech system used for robot of claim 1, characterized in the following:

a built-in memory (400) is configured inside the robot to store the standard audio files corresponding to the robot states;

according to the received robot state information and the application conditions, the speech control unit (300, 300′

, 300a, 300a′

) converts the audio data in the audio file, which corresponds to the state information and is stored in the audio file storage unit (200, 200′

) or the built-in memory (400), to a corresponding analog signal to be played.

20. A robot with speech function, including a control system (500), a sensor system (600), a driver system (700), an implement mechanism (800) and a man-machine interface (900);

wherein the man-machine interface (900) is used for man machine interaction, the control system (500) is used to control the driver system (700) so as to drive the implement mechanism (800) to perform corresponding tasks;

the sensor system (600) is used to detect the operation states of the robot;

characterized in the following;

the robot also includes the speech system as recited in claim 1;

the speech system plays the audio files corresponding to the state information detected by the sensor system (600).

21. A robot with speech function of claim 20, characterized in the following:

the speech control unit (300, 300, 300a, 300a′

) in the speech system is a component unit of the control system (500).

22. A robot with the speech function of claim 20, characterized in the following:

the robot is a dusting robot, wherein, the sensor system includes a sensor for detecting the working environment, a sensor for detecting the operation state and a signal processing circuit corresponding to the sensors;

the implement mechanism is a cleaning unit;

the driver system includes a working motor used to drive the cleaning unit to work, the wheels for mobility of the robot and a driving motor of the wheels;

the control system is used to control the robot to complete the dusting work, and it interacts with the speech system to enable that different audio files are played under different operation states;

the man-machine interface is the operation interface of the robot.

23. A robot with speech function of claim 22, characterized in the following:

the sensors used to detect the operation state include an infrared sensor and/or a piezoelectric sensor.

24. The speech system used for robot of claim 2, characterized in the following:

a built-in memory (400) is configured inside the robot to store the standard audio files corresponding to the robot states;

according to the received robot state information and the application conditions, the speech control unit (300, 300′

) converts the audio data in the audio file, which corresponds to the state information and is stored in the audio file storage unit (200) or the built-in memory (400), to a corresponding analog signal to be played.

25. The speech system used for robot of claim 12, characterized in the following:

a built-in memory (400) is configured inside the robot to store the standard audio files corresponding to the robot states;

according to the received robot state information and the application conditions, the speech control unit (300a, 300a′

) converts the audio data in the audio file, which corresponds to the state information and is stored in the audio file storage unit (200′

) or the built-in memory (400), to a corresponding analog signal to be played.

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19. (canceled)