Solid state digital automatic voice response system

• US 3,870,818 A
• Filed: 08/24/1973
• Issued: 03/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John E. Stork, William A. Barton
• Original Assignee: John E. Stork, William A. Barton
• Inventors: Barton, William A., Stork, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Copper, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Application Number:
  US05/391,297
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 179/1SA,15.55R,1SM,1SG 340/27R,152,148,22
• US Class Current: 704/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L

Abstract

A voice response device similar to an annuciator includes comprising individual circuits each capable upon triggering of generating speech synthesizing signals corresponding to a given word or phrase. Digital code groups represent the permanently stored words or phrases. A particular code group is generated and applied to the storage unit to reproduce the corresponding message only if a given condition occurs. The voice response system is ideally suited to automobiles wherein a condition such as an unfastened seat belt will automatically generate a digital code group which when applied to the storage unit results in an audible formation of a message such as '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'fasten seat belt'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'.

Claims

1. A digital automatic voice response system comprising, in combination:

a. a plurality of transducers, each transducer having an output line and being responsive to a given condition sensed by said transducer to produce on its output line a binary output signal representing the sensed condition;

b. a word message storage means which permanently stores a plurality of sets of speech synthesizing signals which respectively correspond to various pre-selected word messages;

c. speech synthesizing means coupled to said storage means and responsive to a set of speech synthesizing signals received from said storage means for generating an audible word message corresponding to the word message stored in said storage means;

said sTorage means being responsive to a digital code group supplied thereto for generating a set of speech synthesizing signals corresponding to a particular stored word message as indicated by the digital value of said digital code group;

d. sequential sampling means including a clock pluse generator, and a counter responsive to successive pulses from said clock pulse generator to repetitively count through successive states of its counting sequence, said counter having a plurality of output lines respectively corresponding to the output lines from said transducers and being operable in each counting state to couple the corresponding transducer output line to the corresponding counter output line;

said clock pulse generator having start and stop terminals, the stop terminal being coupled to receive a signal from any one of said counter output lines so that the clock pulse generator is stopped and thereby stops the counter in its given state; and

said storage means including start signal generating means responsive to the completion of the generation of a set of speech synthesizing signals to pass a start signal to said start terminal, whereby said sequential sampling means is automatically stopped while a message is being delivered and is automatically started on completion of the message.

2. In a signaling system for providing an automatic voice announcement of a condition being monitored, which system includes a plurality of transducers each of which is adapted to produce a signal above a distinct threshold voltage level when a corresponding condition being monitored occurs, and which system also includes permanent word message storage means, a speech synthesizer responsive to signals generated from the storage means for generating a word message, and a loud speaker for announcing the word message, the improvement comprising:

sequential sampling means for sampling the outputs of said transducers in sequence;

clock pulse generating means for driving said sequential sampling means;

gating means controlled by said sequential sampling means for initiating the generation by the storage means of signals representing the word message corresponding to the occurrence of the condition being monitored by a particular transducer; and

additional gating means controlled by said sequential sampling means for selectively enabling said first-named gating means and for concurrently stopping the operation of said clock pulse generating means until the generation of the word message signals from said storage means has been completed.