WO2002045052A1 - Multipurpose portable phonic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a multipurpose portable phonic device. A main unit (30-34) contained in a housing comprises a voice synthesizer (32) and an audio transmitter (40, 41) contained in a microcard including a specific type of information acquisition system (40), for example room temperature; and a processing circuit (41) designed to express in code form said information. Said codes are capable of being interpreted by the voice synthesizer (32) of the main unit so that an audible voice information corresponding to the input information, for example room temperature, is transmitted via an audio transmission circuit. The main unit can alternatively co-operate with a plurality of secondary units to translate verbally several types of data.

Description

 Multi-functional portable voice device

The present invention relates to a multifunctional portable voice device comprising means for acquiring several types of information and a voice translation means suitable for translating this information into audible form to a user carrying the device. Thanks to advances in speech recognition, speech synthesis and electronic miniaturization, we have been able to develop portable voice devices that make life easier for the blind and visually impaired. Such devices allow input and output of voice information, a voice recognition device making it possible to convert voice information into electronic information suitable for processing by a processing unit, and a speech synthesis device making it possible to convert electronic information. processed into voice information.

There is in particular on the market an electronic agenda with voice recognition and voice synthesis offering functions of the telephone directory, notepad, appointment book, alarm clock and calculator.

Néanmoins, un tel type d'appareil ne satisfait pas à l'ensemble des besoins des personnes non- voyantes ou mal- voyantes. Notamment, il serait utile qu'un tel appareil remplisse des fonctions spécifiques pour les personnes non-voyantes ou mal-voyantes en plus des fonctions habituelles d'un agenda électronique. Notamment il serait intéressant qu'un tel appareil soit adapté à la mesure de grandeurs physiques afin de fournir à l'utilisateur une indication de ces grandeurs sous forme vocale.

However, such a type of device does not meet all of the needs of blind or partially sighted people. In particular, it would be useful for such a device to fulfill specific functions for the blind or visually impaired in addition to the usual functions of an electronic organizer. In particular, it would be advantageous for such a device to be suitable for measuring physical quantities in order to provide the user with an indication of these quantities in voice form.

French patent application FR-2 644 615 describes a vocal thermometer comprising a temperature sensor, for example a resistance with a negative temperature coefficient, connected to an information processing unit via an oscillator. The processing unit measures the output frequency of the oscillator, compares it with stored reference frequency values and takes codes from a memory corresponding to the measured frequency. The output of this unit is sent to a voice synthesizer linked to a library of phonemes associated with the codes, for voice transmission, via an amplifier and a speaker, of a measured temperature.

European patent application EP-AI-235 460 describes an apparatus making it possible to measure a color or a level of lighting for transcribing it by voice. For this purpose, the device includes a color sensor, as well as a lighting level sensor. The measurement of the color is expressed by analog information which is converted into digital information by a computer then analyzed in order to produce a voice message indicating the color or the level of illumination.

These documents only describe devices capable of performing a single type of physical quantity measurement. The number of different needs of a blind or visually impaired person in terms of voice devices of this type is such that it hardly seems possible to simply juxtapose existing voice devices in order to cover all of these needs.

The present invention therefore relates to a multifunctional voice apparatus making it possible to satisfy a large part of the needs of blind people. or visually impaired while remaining compact, simple to use and low cost.

To this end, a multi-functional portable voice device is proposed comprising means for acquiring several types of information and voice translation means adapted to translate said information into audible form to a user carrying the device, characterized in that '' consists of a main unit and a plurality of secondary units which can be alternately connected to said main unit, said main unit comprising at least said voice translation means and each of said secondary units comprising at least one of said means acquisition of one of said types of information.

Thus, we can be content to install in the main unit the circuits that already contains a conventional electronic voice synthesized agenda, such as a power supply circuit, a keyboard circuit, a microcontroller circuit and a single circuit. assembly of voice synthesis and sound signal transmission forming voice translation circuit. The circuits allowing information acquisition will be installed in the secondary units. For example, these secondary units can be in the form of mini-cards which can be connected to a box containing the main unit, each mini-card containing a data acquisition circuit capable of supplying a given type of information. For example, a card may contain a brightness detection circuit, another a real time clock circuit and a third a temperature detection circuit. The signals, digital or analog, generated by these circuits are interpreted by the voice translation circuit and the information which they contain is transmitted in audible voice form. Thus, when, for example, the card containing the temperature detection circuit is connected to the housing, the assembly forms a voice thermometer indicating the temperature to the user in voice form.

According to another aspect of the present invention, said voice translation means comprises an interpretation means adapted to convert digital data into a voice signal and a transmission means adapted to audibly transmit said voice signal to said user wearing the device. Advantageously, said voice transmission means comprises an amplification means and a sound diffusion means.

Advantageously, each of said secondary units comprises a processing means for processing information generated by said acquisition means in order to put it in a form suitable for its interpretation by said interpretation means.

The acquisition circuit of each secondary unit generates analog or digital data representative of the input information, for example a measured quantity. These data are presented in a form dependent on the type of this measured quantity. For example, in the case of the temperature detection circuit, the data output from the acquisition circuit can be digital data representing a temperature quantity. A processing means receiving this data will correspond to this measured quantity, for example using correspondence tables stored in memory, code data which, received by an interpretation circuit of the main unit, will control a voice synthesizer so as to generate voice information corresponding to the quantity measured. Thus, whatever the type of information at the input of the acquisition circuit of the secondary unit, the voice translation circuit of the main data unit receives codes interpretable by its interpretation circuit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, at least one of said secondary units comprises a processing means for processing information generated by said acquisition means in order to put it in a form suitable for the input of said transmission means, and, when said secondary unit is connected to said main unit, the output of said processing means is directly transmitted to the input of said transmission means, without passing through said interpretation means.

Advantageously, in this case, the information acquisition means generates an analog signal at the output. These are in particular cases where the input information can be translated in the form of a variable frequency sound signal. For example, a light detector can indicate the brightness using an audible signal whose frequency varies according to this brightness. In such cases, there is no need to go through the speech synthesizer. Indeed, a light detector circuit generates an analog signal whose frequency varies as a function of the brightness and it then suffices, after processing allowing an adaptation of the signal, to transmit this signal to the transmission circuit which will amplify it and diffuse it in sound form. According to another aspect of the present invention, said main unit also comprises an activation and deactivation means and a supply means.

The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, where: FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above and from the side of a box provided with a card of a portable voice device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a portable voice device according to the present invention with a secondary unit for forming a voice thermometer; Figure 3 is a block diagram of a portable voice device according to the present invention with a secondary unit for forming a voice stopwatch; and Figure 4 is a block diagram of a portable voice device according to the present invention with a secondary unit for forming a light detector.

Overall, with reference to FIG. 1, a multifunctional portable voice device 1 comprises a main unit 10 and secondary units 20.

In the example shown, the main unit 10 is enclosed in a box 17 for printed circuit. This box also supports a microphone 12, a miniature speaker 13, a digital keyboard 11 of standard type with 12 rubber keys, and side navigation keys 16. The power supply is done by batteries installed in a housing (not shown) formed on the back of the housing and provided with a connector, the end of which is soldered to the appropriate connection point of the main unit printed circuit. The housing 17 further comprises a housing 15 for accommodating a mini-card 21 of secondary unit 20. in the card housing 15 is provided a connector of the SIM connector type, the multiple inputs and outputs are connected to the appropriate connection points on the main unit PCB. Finally, the main unit box 17 has a stereo jack socket 14.

The main unit printed circuit 10 includes several component circuits. Conventionally, it includes a circuit ensuring the power supply function, built around a component of the MC33263 type, in order to deliver in particular a voltage of 3.3 N. Overall, this main unit circuit also includes a circuit ensuring a main microcontroller function, a circuit ensuring a communication function with the keyboard 11, a circuit ensuring a communication function with a mini card 21 of secondary unit 20 and a circuit ensuring a voice synthesis function for audible transmission to through speaker 13.

The main microcontroller circuit, for example built around a PIC 17C756 microcontroller connected to a clock with a frequency of 32.768 kHz, is in particular in communication with the keyboard component and it manages the various functions using a SPI link. It is thus capable, as is well known in the field of electronic speech-to-speech agendas, of matching input information, for example information stored in memory and addressed using the keyboard, data codes which, received by an interpretation circuit of the voice synthesis component, make it possible to generate voice information corresponding to the input information. When a mini card 21 of secondary unit 20 is installed in the slot 15, the main microcontroller circuit can activate and, if necessary, control the operation of secondary unit using at least one of its outputs connected to an input of a component of the secondary unit.

The communication circuit with the keyboard makes it possible, in a conventional manner, to transmit information, entered by the user by means of the keyboard 11 and the side keys 16, to the main microcontroller component or directly to the secondary unit. In particular, it allows the user to navigate the menus using the side keys 16 and to enter numerical data with the keyboard 11.

The communication circuit with the secondary unit is built around one or more connectors, for example 8-pin SIM type connectors. The voice synthesis circuit or voice translation circuit comprises an interpretation circuit adapted to convert digital data into a voice signal and a transmission circuit adapted to audibly transmit the voice signal to a user carrying the voice device 1. The interpretation circuit is built around two voice components of the ISD MicroTad-16M type, the recording time of which is 16 minutes each. The recording is done by means of the microphone 12, for example of the micro electret type. The voice components are in communication with the main microcontroller via the SPI link. When a secondary unit mini-card 21 is present in the housing 15, these voice components can also be in communication with a secondary microcontroller present in the secondary unit. As is well known in the field of speech synthesis, these components are adapted to receive digital code data and to generate in response an analog signal forming voice information. The transmission circuit includes an amplification circuit and a sound diffusion circuit. The amplification circuit is built around a component of the LM4861 type which allows in particular the volume adjustment under the control of the side navigation keys 16 via the microcontroller and a digital potentiometer of the AD8450 type. It also allows the optional connection of an external earphone. The frequency range is from 1 to 4.2 kHz. The sound diffusion circuit transmits the voice signal from the interpretation circuit and amplified by the amplification circuit to the loudspeaker 13, advantageously an 8 ohm loudspeaker.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, a secondary unit 20 is enclosed in a mini-card 21. Overall, the device 1 comprises a plurality of secondary units which can be alternately connected to the main unit. The connection is made by inserting the corresponding mini-card 21 into the housing 15 provided for this purpose in the housing 17 of the main unit 10. Each mini-card comprises a printed circuit corresponding to a given function. In general, the printed circuit includes an information acquisition circuit and an information processing circuit.

The acquisition circuit depends on the type of input information considered. It will therefore be described in more detail below with reference to examples of secondary units. Generally, this acquisition circuit is in communication with the main microcontroller circuit of the main unit 10 which can at least activate or deactivate it and, if necessary, control its operation. This acquisition circuit generates to the processing circuit digital data representative of the input information. In some cases, one of which is described below, the acquisition circuit and the processing circuit can be constituted by a single and same component, for example a secondary microcontroller.

The processing circuit includes a secondary microcontroller circuit, for example built around a PIC 16Cxx type microcontroller connected to a clock of frequency 32.768 kHz, programmed according to the application. Its output is adapted to be put in communication with the interpretation circuit of the voice translation circuit of the main unit 10. Like the main microcontroller, it is able to match digital or analog input information, for example digital data characterizing a physical quantity measured by the corresponding acquisition circuit, code data which, received by the interpretation circuit of the voice translation circuit of the main unit 10, make it possible to generate corresponding voice information to the input information, for example the physical quantity measured. The codes generated by the main microcontroller circuit and by all the secondary microcontroller circuits are of course codes of the same type interpretable by the voice components of the main unit.

In some cases, one of which is described below, the processing circuit only modifies the signal transmitted by the acquisition circuit for direct transmission to the transmission circuit of the interpretation circuit of the main unit 10 The secondary microcontroller circuit, for example built around a PIC 16Cxx microcontroller connected to a clock with a frequency of 32.768 kHz, is then no longer programmed to generate code data intended for voice translation, but simply for adaptation of the application-specific input signal. A card containing such a circuit processing has connections such that the output of the processing circuit is placed in communication directly with the transmission circuit of the voice interpretation circuit of the main unit 10.

In the present example, there will be described, with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 respectively, three secondary units 20 performing functions respectively of voice thermometer, voice stopwatch and light detector.

FIG. 2 shows the main unit, represented by blocks 30 to 34, connected to a secondary unit, represented by blocks 40 to 41, in order to perform a vocal thermometer function.

Block 30 represents the means for activating and deactivating the system, in practice the main microcontroller, which controls an information acquisition means 40, the output of which, in the form of digital data, is transmitted to a processing means 41, in practice a secondary microcontroller. The acquisition and processing means 40 and 41 are supplied by a supply means of the system 31, in practice the circuit ensuring the supply function of the main unit. The output of the processing means 41, in the form of coded data, is connected to an interpretation means 32, in practice the interpretation circuit of the voice translation circuit of the main unit. The interpretation means is connected to an amplification means 33 and to a sound diffusion means 34, in practice, respectively, the interpretation and sound diffusion circuits of the voice translation circuit of the main unit.

The information acquisition means 40 is an ambient temperature measurement circuit which, when activated by the activation and deactivation means 30, generates digital data which varies as a function of the ambient temperature. The processing means 41, using correspondence tables stored in memory, will make this digital data representative of a physical quantity correspond to a series of codes which, interpreted by the interpretation means 32, will give rise to to a voice signal which, amplified by the amplification means 33 and audibly diffused by the diffusion means 34, will translate the measured temperature by voice. FIG. 3 shows the main unit, represented by blocks 30 to 34, connected to a secondary unit, represented by block 50, in order to perform a voice stopwatch function.

The activation and deactivation means 30 controls an information acquisition means combined with an information processing means, the whole forming a means of information acquisition and processing 50. In practice, this involves '' a secondary microcontroller associated with a 32.768 kHz frequency oscillator. The acquisition and processing means 50 are supplied by the supply means of the system 31. The output of the acquisition and processing means 50, in the form of coded data, is connected to the interpretation means 32.

The secondary microcontroller associated with the 32.768 kHz frequency oscillator is a means of acquiring information by generating a clock signal so as to obtain a timed time. This same microcontroller forms a means of information processing by making the timed time correspond to a series of codes which, translated by the means 32, 33 and 34, will translate the timed time vocally.

FIG. 4 shows the main unit, represented by blocks 30 to 34, connected to a secondary unit, represented by blocks 60 and 61, in order to perform a light detector function.

The system activation and deactivation means 30 controls an information acquisition means 60, the output of which, in the form of analog data, is transmitted to a processing means 61. The output of the processing means 61 is directly transmitted to the amplification means 33 and then to the sound diffusion means 34 of the voice translation circuit of the main unit. This is made possible by the fact that the connector directly connects the output of the processing means 61 to the transmission means of the translation circuit of the main unit, short-circuiting for this purpose the output of the interpretation means of this circuit. translation. The information acquisition means 60 is a brightness measurement circuit which generates an analog signal whose frequency varies as a function of the brightness. The processing circuit is a microcontroller programmed to modify the analog input signal into an analog signal whose translation into sound signal is adapted to a good understanding by a user. This analog signal, amplified by the amplification means 33 and audibly broadcast by the diffusion means 34, will audibly translate the brightness, the frequency of the sound signal varying as a function of the brightness.

Claims

1. Multifunction portable voice device comprising means of acquisition (40, 50, 60) of several types of information and voice translation means (32, 33, 34) adapted to translate said information into audible form to a user carrying the device, characterized in that it consists of a main unit (10) and a plurality of secondary units (20) which can be alternately connected to said main unit, said main unit comprising at least said voice translation means (32, 33, 34) and each of said secondary units comprising at least one of said means for acquiring (40; 50; 60) one of said types of information. 2. Multi-function portable voice device according to claim 1, characterized in that said voice translation means (32, 33, 34) comprises an interpretation means (32) adapted to convert digital data into a voice signal and a transmission means (33, 34) adapted to audibly transmit said voice signal to said user wearing the device. 3. Multi-functional portable voice device according to claim 2, characterized in that said voice transmission means (33, 34) comprises an amplification means (33) and a sound diffusion means (34). 4. Multi-functional portable voice device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that each of said secondary units (20) comprises a processing means (41; 50) for processing information generated by said acquisition means (40; 50) in order to put it in a form suitable for its interpretation by said means of interpretation (32). 5. Multi-functional portable voice device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one of said secondary units (20) comprises processing means (61) for processing information generated by said acquisition means (60) in order to put it in a form suitable for the input of said transmission means (33, 34), and, when said secondary unit is connected to said main unit (10), the output of said processing means is directly transmitted to the input of said transmission means (33, 34), without passing through said means of interpretation (32). 6. Portable multi-function voice device according to claim 5, characterized in that said means (60) for acquiring information generates an analog signal at output. 7. Portable multi-function voice device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main unit (10) also comprises an activation and deactivation means (30) and a supply means (31). ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a multi-functional portable voice device. A main unit (30-34) enclosed in a housing includes a speech synthesizer (32) and an audio transmitter (33, 34). A secondary unit (40, 41) enclosed in a mini card comprises an acquisition system (40) of a given type of information, for example an ambient temperature, and a processing circuit (41) adapted to express in the form of codes said information. These codes can be interpreted by the voice synthesizer (32) of the main unit so that an audible voice information corresponding to the input information, for example an ambient temperature, is transmitted via the audio transmission circuit. The main unit can alternately cooperate with a plurality of secondary units to translate a plurality of types of information into verbal form.