Speech synthesizer and method for synthesizing speech for superposing and adding a waveform onto a waveform obtained by delaying a previously obtained waveform

• US 5,381,514 A
• Filed: 12/23/1992
• Issued: 01/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ohora, Yasunori, Aso, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doerrler, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US08/101,621
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 381/29-53, 395/2, 395/2.67-2.78
• US Class Current: 704/264
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/04 Details of speech synthesis systems, e.g. synthesiser structure or memory management
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/84 Generating pulses having a predetermined statistical distribution of a parameter, e.g. random pulse generators

Abstract

A speech synthesizer includes a first indicator for indicating the amplitude of a waveform by using a random number, a second indicator for indicating the superposition period for waveforms by using a random number, a waveform generator for generating first and second waveforms having an amplitude indicated by the first indicator, and a waveform superposition device for synthesizing an unvoiced speech waveform by superposing the second waveform generated by the waveform generator onto a waveform obtained by delaying the first waveform by a superposition period indicated by the second indication means. The speech synthesizer is capable of making the frequency characteristic of unvoiced speech analogous to that of white noise, and generating synthesized speech which is natural and analogous to an actual human voice.

Claims

1. A speech synthesizer comprising:

first indication means for indicating the amplitude of a waveform by using a random number;

second indication means for indicating the superposition period for waveforms by using a random number;

waveform generating means for generating a waveform having an amplitude indicated by said first indication means;

waveform superposition means for superposing and adding the waveform generated by said waveform generating means onto a waveform obtained by delaying the waveform, which is previously generated by said waveform generating means, by a superposition period indicated by said second indication means; and

output means for outputting the waveform added by said waveform superposition means as unvoiced speech.

2. A speech synthesizer according to claim 1, further comprising means for multiplying an unvoiced speech waveform synthesized by said waveform superposition means by a coefficient in order to control the power of the unvoiced speech waveform synthesized by said waveform superposition means.

3. A speech synthesizer according to claim 1, further including:

identification means for identifying whether speech to be synthesized is voiced speech or unvoiced speech; and

control means for controlling the superposition of the waveforms in accordance with the result of identification by said identification means.

4. A speech synthesizer comprising:

indication means for indicating the superposition period of waveforms by using a random number;

waveform superposition means for synthesizing an unvoiced speech waveform by superposing and adding a second waveform onto a waveform obtained by delaying a first waveform by said superposition period indicated by said indication means; and

output means for outputting the waveform added by said waveform superposition means as unvoiced speech.

5. A speech synthesizer according to claim 4, further comprising means for multiplying an unvoiced speech waveform synthesized by said waveform superposition means by a coefficient in order to control the power of the speech waveform synthesized by said waveform superposition means.

6. A speech synthesizer according to claim 4, further including:

identification means for identifying whether speech to be synthesized is voiced speech or unvoiced speech; and

control means for controlling the superposition of the waveform in accordance with the result of identification by said identification means.

7. A method for synthesizing speech, comprising the steps of:

indicating the amplitude of a waveform by using a random number;

indicating the superposition period for waveforms by using a random number;

generating a waveform having an amplitude indicated by said amplitude indicating step;

superposing and adding the waveform generated in said generating step onto a waveform obtained by delaying the waveform, which is previously generated in said waveform generating step, by a superposition period indicated in said indicating step; and

outputting the waveform added in said superposing and adding step as unvoiced speech.

8. A method for synthesizing speech according to claim 7, further comprising the step of controlling the power of a speech waveform synthesized in said superposing step by multiplying the speech waveform by a coefficient.

9. A method for synthesizing speech according to claim 7, further including the steps of:

identifying whether speech to be synthesized is voiced speech or unvoiced speech, and

controlling the superposition of the waveforms in accordance with the result of identification in said identifying step.

10. A method for synthesizing speech, comprising the steps of:

indicating the superposing period of a waveform by using a random number;

synthesizing an unvoiced speech waveform by superposing and adding a second waveform onto a waveform obtained by delaying a first waveform by the superposition period indicated in said indicating step; and

outputting the waveform added in said superposing and adding step as unvoiced speech.

11. A method for synthesizing speech according to claim 10, further comprising the step of controlling the power of a speech waveform synthesized in said synthesizing step by multiplying the speech waveform by a coefficient.

12. A method for synthesizing speech according to claim 10, further including the steps of:

identifying whether speech to be synthesized is voiced speech or unvoiced speech, and

controlling the superposition of the waveforms in accordance with the result of identification in said identifying step.