Voice recognition system used in telephone apparatus

• US 5,239,586 A
• Filed: 11/20/1991
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Marui, Kuniyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): KEMENY, EMANUEL
• Application Number:
  US07/795,274
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 381/43, 381/47, 381/107, 381/390, 395/2
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241

Abstract

A voice recognition system comprises a handset and a hands-free microphone for generating an input audio signal, a high-pass filter for eliminating low frequency components from the signal from the handset or hands-free microphone, a signal level controller for adjusting the level of the high-pass signal in response to the user of either the handset or hands-free microphone, a storer for storing the speech data and a controller for controlling the storer so that a user'"'"'s utterance is stored or the user'"'"'s utterance is recognized by comparing the utterance to speech data already stored. The handset hook switch provides an on-hook control signal to reduce amplifier gain during hands-free microphone operation.

Claims

1. Telephone apparatus with a voice recognition system, comprising a voice recognition unit and a separate input unit, wherein the separate input unit is provided at a prescribed distance from the voice recognition unit, the separate input unit including:

a handset having a handset microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance;

a cradle having a hands-free microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance, and a hook switch for generating an on-hook signal when the handset is mounted in the cradle and for generating an off-hook signal when the handset is dismounted from the cradle;

a balance line for transmitting the audio signal generated by the hands-free microphone or the handset microphone; and

the voice recognition unit including an unbalance line, and comprising;

balance/unbalance converting means, connected to the balance line, for causing the audio signal transmitted by the balance line to be transmitted by the unbalance line;

high-pass filter means, connected to the unbalance line, for eliminating low frequency components from the signal transmitted by the unbalance line and for outputting a high-pass signal;

signal level control means for adjusting the level of the high-pass signal from the high-pass filter means in response to the on-hook signal or the off-hook signal and for outputting a speech data signal corresponding to a user'"'"'s utterance, the signal level control means causing the high-pass signal to have a first level when the hook switch generates the on-hook signal and a second level when the hook switch generates the off-hook signal;

storing means, coupled to the signal level control means, for storing speech data corresponding to the speech data signal from the signal level control means; and

control means, coupled to the storing means, for controlling the storing means in one of a plurality of operational modes, the modes including at least;

(a) a registration mode in which the control means controls the storing means so that speech data corresponding in a first utterance y a user is stored into the storing means; and

(b) a voice recognition mode in which, in response to a second utterance by a user, the control means controls the storing means so as to retrieve speech data which is identical to speech data corresponding to the second utterance by comparing speech data corresponding to the second utterance with the speech data stored in the storing means and, in the event that speech data identical to the speech data corresponding to the second utterance is retrieved from the storing means, provides a recognition result corresponding to the identical speech data.

2. Telephone apparatus with a voice recognition system for recognizing input sounds uttered by an operator, comprising:

a handset having a handset microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance;

a cradle having a hands-free microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance, and a hook switch for generating an on-hook signal when the handset is mounted in the cradle and for generating an off-hook signal when the handset is dismounted from the cradle;

high-pass filter means for eliminating low frequency components for the audio signal from the handset microphone or the hands-free microphone and outputting a high-pass signal;

signal level control means for adjusting the level of the high-pass signal from the high-pass filter means in response to the on-hook signal or the off-hook signal and for outputting a speech data signal corresponding to a user'"'"'s utterance, the signal level control means causing the high-pass signal to have a first level when the hook switch generates the on-hook signal and a second level when the hook switch generates the off-hook signal;

storing means, coupled to the signal level control means, for storing speech data corresponding to the speech data signal from the signal level control means; and

control means, coupled to the storing means, for controlling the storing means in one of a plurality of operational modes, the modes including at least;

(a) a registration mode in which the control means controls the storing means so that speech data corresponding in a first utterance by a user is stored into the storing means; and

(b) a voice recognition mode in which, in response to a second utterance by a user, the control means controls the storing means so as to retrieve speech data which is identical to speech data corresponding to the second utterance by comparing speech data corresponding to the second utterance with the speech data stored in the storing means and, in the event that speech data identical to the speech data corresponding to the second utterance is retrieved from the storing means, provides a recognition result corresponding to the identical speech data.

3. The voice recognition system of claim 2, wherein the signal level control means comprises:

amplifying means connected to an output of the high-pass filter means for amplifying an output signal from the high-pass filter means by an amplification factor; and

adjusting means connected to an output of the amplifying means for adjusting an input level of the amplifying means, whereby the output signal level of the signal control means is maintained at a prescribed magnitude.

4. The voice recognition system of claim 3, wherein the amplifying means is capable of amplifying the output signal from the high-pass filter by an amplification factor selected out of a plurality of amplification factors, and the signal level selecting means further comprises control means coupled to the amplifying means for selecting the amplification factor for the amplifying means.

5. Telephone apparatus with a voice recognition system for recognizing input sounds uttered by a user, comprising:

a handset having a handset microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance;

a cradle having a hands-free microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance, and a hook switch for generating an on-hook signal when the handset is mounted in the cradle and for generating an off-hook signal when the handset is dismounted from the cradle;

high-pass filter means for eliminating low frequency components from the signal from the handset microphone or the hands-free microphone and outputting a high-pass signal;

amplifying means, coupled to the high-pass filter means, for amplifying the high-pass signal from the high-pass filter means by an amplification factor selected from a plurality of amplification factors;

selecting means, coupled to the amplifying means, for selecting the amplification factor in response to the on-hook signal or the off-hook signal, the selecting means causing the amplifying means to amplify the high-pass signal by a first one of the amplification factors in response to the on-hook signal and by a second one of the amplification factors in response to the off-hook signal;

storing means, coupled to the output of the amplifying means, for storing speech data corresponding to the signal from the signal level control means; and

control means, coupled to the storing means, for controlling the storing means in one of a plurality of operational modes, the modes including at least;

(a) a registration mode in which the control means controls the storing means so that speech data corresponding in a first utterance by a user is stored into the storing means; and

(b) a voice recognition mode in which, in response to a second utterance by a user, the control means controls the storing means so as to retrieve speech data which is identical to speech data corresponding to the second utterance by comparing speech data corresponding to the second utterance with the speech data stored in the storing means and, in the event that speech data identical to the speech data corresponding to the second utterance is retrieved from the storing means, provides a recognition result corresponding to the identical speech data.

6. The voice recognition system of claim 5, further comprising adjusting means coupled to an output and input of the amplifying means for adjusting an input level of the amplifying means so that the output level of the amplifying means is maintained within a prescribed range of magnitude.

7. Telephone apparatus with a voice recognition system for recognizing input sounds uttered by an operator, comprising:

a handset having a handset microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance;

a cradle having a hands-free microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance and a hook switch for generating an on-hook signal when the handset is mounted in the cradle and for generating an off-hook signal when the handset is dismounted from the cradle;

high-pass filter means for eliminating low frequency components from the signal from the handset microphone or the hands-free microphone and outputting a high-pass signal;

amplifying means, coupled to the high-pass filter means, for amplifying the high-pass signal from the high-pass filter means by an amplification factor selected from a plurality of amplification factors;

adjusting means, coupled to an output and input of the amplifyign means, for adjusting an input level of the amplifying means so that an output level of the amplifying means is maintained within a prescribed range of magnitude;

selecting means, coupled to the amplifying means, for selecting the amplification factor in response to the on-hook signal or the off-hook signal, the selecting means causing the amplifying means to amplify the high-pass signal by a first one of the amplification factors in response to the on-hook signal and by a second one of the amplification factors in response to the off-hook signal;

storing means, coupled to the output of the amplifying means, for storing speech data corresponding to the signal from the amplifying means; and

control means, coupled to the storing means, for controlling the storing means in one of a plurality of operational modes, the modes including at least;

(a) a registration mode in which the control means controls the storing means so that speech data corresponding in a first utterance by a user is stored into the storing means; and

(b) a voice recognition mode in which, in response to a second utterance by a user, the control means controls the storing means so as to retrieve speech data which is identical to speech data corresponding to the second utterance by comparing speech data corresponding to the second utterance with the speech data stored in the storing means and, in the event that speech data identical to the speech data corresponding to the second utterance is retrieved from the storing means, provides a recognition result corresponding to the identical speech data.

8. Telephone apparatus with a voice recognition system for recognizing input sounds uttered by an operator, comprising:

a handset having a handset microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance;

a cradle having a hands-free microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance and a hook switch for generating an on-hook signal when the handset is mounted in the cradle and for generating an off-hook signal when the handset is dismounted from the cradle;

high-pass filter means for eliminating low frequency components from the signal from the handset microphone or the hands-free microphone and outputting a high-pass signal;

amplifying means, coupled to the high-pass filter means, for amplifying the high-pass signal from the high-pass filter means by an amplification factor selected from a plurality of amplification factors in response to the on-hook signal or the off-hook signal, the amplifying means amplifying the high-pass signal by a first one of the amplification factors in response to the on-hook signal and by a second one of the amplification factors in response to the off-hook signal;

adjusting means, coupled to an output and input of the amplifying means, for adjusting an input level of the amplifying means so that an output level of the amplifying means is maintained within a prescribed range of magnitude;

storing means, coupled to the output of the amplifying means, for storing speech data corresponding to the signal from the amplifying means; and

control means, coupled to the storing means, for controlling the storing means in one of a plurality of operational modes, the modes including at least;

(a) a registration mode in which the control means controls the storing means so that speech data corresponding in a first utterance by a user is stored into the storing means; and

(b) a voice recognition mode in which, in response to a second utterance by a user, the control means controls the storing means so as to retrieve speech data which is identical to speech data corresponding to the second utterance by comparing speech data corresponding to the second utterance with the speech data stored in the storing means and, in the event that speech data identical to the speech data corresponding to the second utterance is retrieved from the storing means, provides a recognition result corresponding to the identical speech data.

9. Telephone apparatus having a cradle, a handset and a voice recognition function, comprising:

a hands-free microphone connected to the cradle;

a handset microphone provided in the handset;

a hook-switch provided in the cradle for generating an on-hook signal when the handset is mounted in the cradle and for generating an off-hook signal when the handset is dismounted from the cradle;

amplifier means, selectively connected to one of the hands-free microphone and the handset microphone, for amplifying signals applied from the microphone connected to the amplifier means by an amplification factor to set an amplitude level, the amplifier means amplifying the signals from the microphone connected to the amplifier means by a first amplification factor in response to the on-hook signal and by a second amplification factor in response to the off-hook signal; and

recognition means, coupled to the output of the amplifier means, for recognizing signals amplified by the amplifier means.

10. The telephone apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the amplitude level set in the amplifier means when the on-hook signal is generated is greater than the amplitude level set in the amplifier means when the off-hook signal is generated.

11. The telephone apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means for establishing a communication link with a base station and means for transmitting a telephone dial number information on the basis of a recognition result by the recognition means.

12. The telephone apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising high-pass filter means for eliminating low frequency components from a microphone input signal and for outputting a high-pass signal to the amplifier means.

13. The telephone apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising auto-gain control means for comparing the output signal of the amplifier means with a predetermined magnitude to produce a feedback signal and for comparing signals applied from the connected microphone with the feedback signal.

14. The telephone apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising attenuator means for attenuating signals applied from the microphone connected to the amplifier means in response to an attenuation control signal.

15. The telephone apparatus according to claim 9 wherein audio signals applied from the microphone connected to the amplifier means are transmitted through a balance line.

16. Telephone apparatus activated by a user'"'"'s utterance and providing hands-free operation for the user, comprising:

a hands-free microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance;

a handset microphone for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance;

recognition means selectively connected to one of the hands-free microphone and the handset microphone for recognizing the audio signal form the microphone connected to the recognition means; and

level control means, provided between the microphones and the recognition means and selectively coupled to one of the handset microphone and the hands-free microphone, for controlling a level of an output signal output by the level control means so that the recognized audio signal is amplified less when the recognized audio signal is the audio signal from the hands-free microphone than when the recognized audio signal is the audio signal from the handset microphone.

17. The telephone apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the level control means comprises high-pass filter means for eliminating low frequency components from a microphone input signal and for outputting a high-pass signal.

18. The telephone apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the level control means comprises auto-gain control means for comparing the output signal of the level control means with a predetermined magnitude to produce a feedback signal and for comparing the audio signal from the microphone connected to the recognition means with the feedback signal.

19. The telephone apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the level control means comprises attenuator means for attenuating signals applied thereto in response to an attenuation control signal.

20. The telephone apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the audio signal form the microphone connected to the recognition means is transmitted between the microphone connected to the recognition means and the level control means through a balance line.

21. The telephone apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising means for establishing a communication link with a base station and means for transmitting a telephone dial number information on the basis of a recognition result by the recognition means.

22. Telephone apparatus having a voice recognition function, wherein the telephone apparatus is activated by a user'"'"'s utterance, comprising:

first microphone input means for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance, the first microphone input means being provided in a handset of the telephone apparatus;

second microphone input means for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance, the second microphone input means being provided at a prescribed distance from the user;

amplifier means, selectively coupled to one of the first microphone input means and the second microphone input means, for amplifying signals applied from the microphone input means, an amplification level in the amplifier means being set to a first magnitude when the first microphone input means is coupled to the amplifier means, an amplification level in the amplifier means being set to a second magnitude when the second microphone input means is coupled to the amplifier means, and the second magnitude being lower than the first magnitude; and

recognition means, coupled to the output of the amplifier means, for recognizing audio signals amplified by the amplifier means.

23. The telephone apparatus according to claim 22 further comprising means for establishing a communication link with a base station and means for transmitting a telephone number information on the basis of a recognition result by the recognition means.

24. The telephone apparatus according to claim 22 further comprising high-pass filter means for eliminating low frequency components from a microphone input signal and outputting a high-pass signal to the amplifier means.

25. The telephone apparatus according to claim 22 further comprising auto-gain control means for comparing the output signal of the amplifier means with a predetermined magnitude to produce a feedback signal and for comparing signals applied from one of the first microphone input means and the second microphone input means with the feedback signal.

26. The telephone apparatus according to claim 22 further comprising attenuator means for attenuating signals applied from one of the first microphone input means and the second microphone input means in response to an attenuation control signal.

27. The telephone apparatus according to claim 22 wherein audio signals applied from the second microphone input means is transmitted through a balance line.

28. Telephone apparatus having a voice recognition function, wherein the telephone apparatus is activated by a user'"'"'s utterance, comprising:

first microphone input means for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance, the first microphone input means being provided in a handset of the telephone apparatus;

second microphone input means for generating an audio signal representing a user'"'"'s utterance, the second microphone input means being provided at a prescribed distance from the user;

recognition means, selectively connected to one of the first microphone input means and the second microphone input means, for recognizing audio signal from the microphone input means connected to the recognition means; and

level control means, provided between the first and second microphone input means and the recognition means, and selectively coupled to one of the first microphone input means and the second microphone input means, for controlling a level of a signal output by the level control means so that the recognized audio signal is amplified less when the recognized audio signal is the audio signal from the second microphone input means than when the recognized audio signal is the audio signal from the first microphone input means.

29. The telephone apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the level control means comprises high-pass filter means for eliminating low frequency components from a selected input signal and outputting a high-pass signal.

30. The telephone apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the level control means comprises auto-gain control means for comparing the output signal of the level control means with a predetermined magnitude to produce a feedback signal and for comparing the audio signal from the microphone input means connected to the recognition means with the feedback signal.

31. The telephone apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the level control means comprises attenuator mans for attenuating signals applied thereto in response to an attenuation control signal.

32. The telephone apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the audio signal from the microphone connected to the recognition means is transmitted between the second microphone input means and the level control means through a balance line.

33. The telephone apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising transmitting means for transmitting telephone dial number information on the basis of recognition result by the recognition means.

34. Telephone apparatus having a cradle, a handset and a voice recognition function, comprising:

a hands-free microphone connected to the cradle;

a handset microphone provided in the handset;

a hook-switch provided in the cradle for generating an on-hook signal when the handset is mounted in the cradle and for generating an off-hook signal when the handset is dismounted from the cradle;

amplifier means, selectively connected to one of the hands-free microphone and the handset microphone, for amplifying signals applied from the microphone connected to the amplifier means by an amplification factor to set an amplitude level, the amplifier means amplifying the signals from the microphone connected to the amplifier means by a first amplification factor in response to the on-hook signal and by a second amplification factor in response to the off-hook signal; and

recognition means, coupled to the output of the amplifier means, for recognizing signals amplified by the amplifier means.

35. The telephone apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the hands-free microphone is provided at a prescribed distance from the cradle.