CA1129194A - Portable word translator device - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A portable hand-held translator device which functions as a dictionary with an audible pronunciator, the device having a keyboard for input of the letters forming a word or words of a first language, a keyboard display for displaying the input word or words and displaying the equivalent word in a second language, and a voice synthesizer for joining selected stored phonemes for audible reproduction through a speaker. The translator device utilizes module components for data storage of language information such that this data storage module component can be substituted with simi-lar modules for different languages using essentially the same operational components and processors.

Description

~Z~94 The present invention relates to a portable translator device which translates words in a first language into words in a second language.
In the past, travelers unfamiliar with local language would refer to a pocket dictionary, which provided an abbreviated dictionary of translated words. Computer operated translators have been devised for use by professional translators. However, the expense, bulk, and overly extensive vocabulary make it unavailable and impractical for the ordinary traveler.
Advances in mini-electronics for portable calculators and advances in electronic speech synthesis have generated new and adaptive electronic components. The problems of using such components in an arrangement and size suitable for a portable translator has not been solved.
It is an object of this invention to provide a portable translator device that is small in size for convenience, in-expensive and that can provide an synthesized, oral pronunciation of the word translated useful to a traveler.
This invention provides a translator device for trans-lating words in a first language to words in a second languageand conversely, comprising a combination of a microcomponent assembly for digital storage and processing of data, and a pre-defined data base arrangement characterization in a self-contain-ed portable hand-holdable unit for selective visual and audible output of words in said first language and in said second language having: word input means and function input means for manually inputting words and commands for conversion to electronic signals;
an interface circuit for digitally generating and temporarily storing equivalent processable word information and instruction information from the electronic signals for translation of words that have been input through the word input means; a central processor unit with an associate control program for directlng ~ I

~Z9~94 operations under instruction from the control program; a clocking means operating in conjunction with said central processor unit for use in timing the coordination of said operations; control-ler means electrically connected to said interface circuit and to said central processor unit for receiving and routing word information and instruction information originated through said word and function input means to unit components of the trans-lator device under direction of said central processor unit; a memory wherein said control program is stored for use by said central processor unit in directing translation and generating output words, and having a stored data base, said data base comprising: a predetermined arrangement of word information of a first language together with a predetermined arrangement of associated speech synthesis code information for assembling-speech synthesis audio information for generating audio output words corresponding to said word information of said first language; a predetermined arrangement of word information of a second language, together with a predetermined arrangement of associated speech synthesis code information for assembling speech synthesis audio information for generating audio output words corresponding to said word information of said second language, said word information of said second language compris-ing language translations of said word information of said first language; code data associated with said word information of said first language and said second language, for use by said control program in locating word information in one language corresponding to words input through said word input means and locating the corresponding word information and speech synthesis code information in the other language; and a predetermined arrangement of speech synthesis audio information for assembly in generating audio output words; output means under operation of said controller means by direction of said central processor . .

1~29~94 unit for producing visual output words from located word infor-mation from said data base and or generating audio output words from assembled speech synthesis audio information from said data base upon manual input of input words and selected commands for translation of an input wordi and a power supply means for powering the electrical components of said translator device.
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred single unit electronic translator device;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of the micro-computer system in the device of Figure l;
Figure 3(a) is a schematic illustration of the storage arrangement in the read only memory;
Figure 3(b) is an alternate arrangement of the storage of 3(a);
Figure 4(a) is a flow chart illustration of the operation;
Figure 4(b) is a flow chart illustration of a sub-sequence; and -2a-~Z9i94 (3) Figure 5 is an alternate embodiment o~ the elec-tronic translator device in two line connected components.

Referring to Figure 1, the preferred embodiment of the electronic translator device, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown. The device 10 has an enclosing case 12 with a front panel 14. The front panel has a dual display 18 at the top of the panel.
The keyboard is arranged primarily around an alpha-betical set 20 of keys in typewriter configuration to facil-itate input as is conventional in keypunch and other terminals.
A plurality of function keys 21 allows various operations to be performed and increases the versatility of the translator.
The translator 10 is devised to allow input of a word or words in a first language and generate an output of a word or words in a second language which comprise an automatic translation of the words in the first language.
The words of the first language are displayed in the first line 22 of the display 18 and the translated words are dis-played on the second line 24 of the display.
Furthermore, the translation device includes a voice synthesizer which generates an oral pronunciation of the trans-lated word through a speaker 26 having a volume control 27.
This is an immense aid to those who are unfamiliar with a foreign language and need immediate aid for speaking.
A limited memory included in the device stores a phrase or short sentence by stringing together several words which may be translated and displayed, and if desired, orally spoken. If the information to be displayed exceeds the display capacity, a lamp 28 will light indîcating the dis-play is incomplete. Depressing a display key 29 will cause Z9~94 display of the xemainin~ data.

Certain common words and short phrases are directly translated. These, however, are limited in num-ber, requiring an individual key Eor each word or phrase.

The alphabetical set 20 for word input is trans-~ormed to a short word set by depressing a function key 30 labeled "2nd". This key shifts the alphabetical re-gister to a common word register for the words or phrases indicated below each key. An individual can translate directly these frequently used words or phrases without inputting individual letters to s~pell the desired word or phrase.

A third register reached by depressing the "3rd' key 25 translates numbers, that is, displays the numbers in written form in the foreign language.

As noted, a principal function of the device is to provide an oral translation of the input word or words.
After activating the device by the on-off switch 31 on the side of the device and selecting the direction of transla-tion by slide 32, along the edge of the device, speech cir-cuits can be act~yated for use by a sw~tch 33. When a word has been keyed in ana a trans-lation, includin~ oral~ is desired, a com~ned translation ana speech key 34 i~s de~
pressed. The oral synthes-is of the word can be repeated by depress~in~ the repeat key 35. If si~ply~ a translat~on is requ~red, a translation key 36 ~s~depress-ed and the oral translation i5 om~tted. If no oral translations are con-templatd~ the activating sw~tch 33 for the oral synthe-sizing circu~ts i`s-ma~ntained in the "of~" post~on to savè the power supply.

A set o~ memory keys comprising a memory store key li29194 (5) 38, a memory reproduce key 40 and a memory clear key 42 allows temporary storage of words, reproduction of the stored words in a phrase or short sentence and clearing of the memory. Thus, several words can be stored and simultan-eously displayed to allow the user to assemble a phrase or short sentence. This capability is naturally limited by the capacity of the display which can conveniently accomo-date about forty characters. Display key 29 as noted is used to display the remaining data in excess of the display capacity.
A tense key 44 and a plural key 46 will display different tenses in se~uence on each key depression or respectively the plural of the input word, if desired. This is particularly help~ul if the ~rds have irregular tenses or plurals. For saving in memory space, such tense and plural selections are provided only if irregular. Signal lamps 47 indicate such are available.
A set 48 of accent keys, are included to correctly input words in various languages where accent marks or an apostrophe are necessary.
For the particular device of Figure 1, an inverse display key 50 is included which permits a word that is trans-lated from a first language to a second language to be retrans-lated from the second language to the first thereby providing a check on the meaning. This aids in ascertaining whether the proper word, if multiple translated words are offered, has been correctly selected. Other keys such as a common expression key 51, which by lamp 52 signals when an input llZ9~94 `
(6) word is used in one or more common expressions stored in memory and a form of speech key 49, which allows selection of the desired form of speech, i.e. noun, adjective, etc.
when available, complete the conte~plated special operational functions. A clear key 53 allows the entry to be cleared in a conventional manner.
~ efore detailing the practical manner of using the translator device, a consideration of the block diagram of Figure 2 will provide an understanding of the internal operation of the device. The primary components are integrated circuits which, for example, correspond to existing shelf item circuits manufactured by Intel Corporation as set forth in the chart included hereinafter. The resultant assemblage is in effect a special application microprocessor system using a circuit configuration that constitutes a simple general purpose digital computer.
The microprocessor system consists of a central processor unit 54 with a clock generator 55 and controller circuits 56, random access memories 58, read only memories 60 and several input/output devices. The input~oùtput devices include a keyboard 62 and a visual display or character display 64, as discussed in detail herebefore, a speech synthesizer designated generally by reference numeral 66 and an optional printer 68. The central processor 54 co~municates with the memories and input/output devices via the data 70, control 72 and address 74 busses. Special interface circuits 76, 78, 80, are used to interface the bus lines to the associated input/output devices.

~lZ9~94 (7) The keyboard 62 is a switch matrix which connects to the keyboard/display interface circuit 76 via scan lines 82 and data lines 84 and 86. Data from each key stroke are encoded and temporarily stored by the interface circuit 76 as schematically illustrated in Figure 2, and an interrupt request is automatically sent to the central processing unit, the CPU, 54. The CPU 54 xesponds by reading the data from the keyboard interface 76 via the data bus 70. The CPU
54 then temporarily writes the encoded letters to the random access memory 58 for later use and also writes the data to the display interface 76. The display interface 76 gener-ates scan and data signals for the visual character display 64.
Program instructions which control the operation of the CPU 54 a~e stored in the read only memory 60. The read only memory 60 also contains the spelling and trans-lation instructions for the dictionary vocabulary. As a word is spelled into the keyboard 62, the CPU 54 searches the contents of the read only memory 60 to locate the word.
Associated with each vocabulary word in the read only memory 60 are a set of translation instructions which contain the memory address of the translated word. These instructions are used by the CPU to find the spelling of the translated word in the read only memory and transmit it via the display inter-face 76 to the character display 64.
The optional printer 68 is able to produce a perm-anent record of the information appearing on the character display 64. The peripheral interface circuit 80 translates `- llZ9~94 (8) printer instructions received from the CPU 54 into appro-priate printer commands. The printer is expected to comprise an auxilliary plug in unit.
The speech synthesizer 66 includes a peripheral interface 78, a controller 88 and a speech data read only memory 90 which stores phonemes and synthesis information suf-ficient to construct speech wave forms that are amplified and filtered in an amplifier 92 which annunciates words in both languages through speaker 94. The address codes for speech vocabulary are sent from CP~ 54 to the speech controller 88 via the peripheral interface 78. The speech controller 88 contains the algorithm for synthesizing speech from data stored in the speech memory 90. Speech waveforms produced in the speech controller 88 go through the audio filter and amplifier 92 to a loud speaker 94.
In addition to letters, the keyboard has several command keys. These commands are read by the CPU 54 via the keyboard interface 76 and are executed according to program instructions stored in the read only memory 60. For example, using the memory store keys words and phrases can be tempor-~ily stored in the random access memory 58 for recall on command.
ThecfQllowing suggested components, some in multiples, may be used with appropriate software to accom-plish the above described functions.

9~94 (9) NO. ITEM COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION
_~ __ _ ~,,, ~
54 Central processor unit 1977 Intel Cat. No. 8080A
Clock generator 1977 Intel Cat. No. 8224 56 System controller 1977 Intel Cat. No. 8228 58 Random access memory 1977 Intel Cat. No. 8111 Read only memory 1977 Intel Cat. No. 8708 76 Keyboard/display interface 1977 Intel Cat. No. 8279 78 Peripheral interface 1977 Intel Cat. No. 8255A
Peripheral interface 1977 Intel Cat. No. 8255A
88 Speech controller r ~ Telesensory Systems, Inc.
90 Speech data read only ~I.C. chip S16031-A
memory Referring to Figure 3(a), the schematic illus-tration provides a general scheme for arranging storage of the first and second language vocabularies in the read only memory 60 of the mircroprocessor.
The arrangement is based on a root word ordering of the vocabulary. Each block essentially represents one or more storage bytes and contains a coding symbol, a word letter or an address code. The example of the root word ordering in Figure 3(a) is typical of the coding for the vocabularies of both languages.
The first byte 100 in a coding series indicates whether the following stored word is a new word, a root word and/or a continuation of a root word, and additionally includes coding indicating the part of speech, i.e. a noun, ~rcllQ r~

A

li29194 (10) verb, adjective, etc., correlative to the translationswhether the word is a key word for phrases, and/or is an irregular verb or has an irregular plural. A root word is a word that forms the beginning of a plurality of other words.
The next byte 101 indicates the number o~ bytes until the beginning of the next continuation of a root word, which enables a word search to skip the intervening bytes, and the number of letters in the word.
The following bytes 102 comprise the letters of the word stored.
Subsequent to the letters of the word are bytes 103 for the address for speech synthesis memory.
Following are three groups of bytes 105, 106 and 107 which comprise the address locations of the corresponding three definitional words of the example in the second language.
Following these addresses are address bytes 114 for one or more common expression phrases if such include the word stored as a key word or the word stored is a key word though not included in the phrase.
This sequence is repeated with minor variations.
For example, the letters stored can comprise both a continu-ation of a root word and itself a root word 115.
Basically, the following chart indicates the appor-tioning of storage.

(11) MAIN PROGRAM

VOCABULARY - FIRST LANGUAGE

VOCABULARY - SECOND LANGUAGE

PHRASE LISTINGS
PHRASE LISTINGS

The preferred ordering of storage is based on an indexing system similar to that of an ordinary dictionary with addressing for translations to the second language.
The translations are stored in a separate section of the memory with a similar arrangement of addressing for the first language. The root word method compresses the size of the storage and allows the search for a word to skip over contin-uat~ons of a root word if the root word is not part of the word sought. If vocabulary size is large, the CP~I can check what the first letter is and jump immediately to the section where the first letter starts.
Other storage arrangements may be advantageous.
For example, instead of storing words alphabetically, the storage can be done by order of frequency of word usage, i.e.
words most frequently used being stored in the front part of the storage memory. Alternately the translation word in the second language can be placed adjacent the first language word in conventional dictionary style. As shown in Figure 3(b), the letters of the translation word in the second language 120 and the speech data 121 for oral synthesis of the trans-lation can be located adjacent the first language word. The ~2~i94 (12) addresses of alternate translations 122 and 123 follow together with the addresses of phrases in the first language 124, 126 and their respective translations 125 and 127. This would reduce the storage required for a substantial portion of the cross addressing. However, the storage of first language words having multiple translations which in turn have mul-tiple in reverse translations would be difficult and confusing to arrange in a data base.
The address codes for stored words also include necessary referral addresses to the speech data read only memory to enable coding for phoneme assembly in the word synthesizer. In such instance, the address o~ the phoneme code in the read only memory can be used to locate the address in the speech data read only memory, the coding that is necessary to string together the basic phonemes stored in digital form in the speech data read only memory.
The divided storage systems for the first language data base, the second language data base, the common expres-sion or phrase data base, and the speech synthesis data base may require a somewhat greater storage capacity than alter-nate systems. For example, the integrated system shown in Figure ~(b) can minimize cross addressing by locating the translation adjacent the base word. However, the divided storage system described in Figure 3(a) is a preferred arrangement for systematically establishing the data bank and for allowing reprogramming for different language pairings.

Referring now to the flow chart of Figures 4(a) and 4(b) the operation of the translator device can be described with greater clarity in conjunction with the pre-vious figures of the drawings.

~Z9194 (13) In Figure 4(a) the functioning of the translator commences on activating the device and entering letters via the keyboard 16. From this start 130 in the flow chart of Figure 4(a) the CPU 54 reads the letters from the key board in a read step 132 as they are entered. In a subsequent store step 134 the CPU stores the letters and subsequent incoming letters into the random access memory 58, and also displays the letters in the display 18 such that the user can verify his entry. In a search step 136 the CPU institutes a search of the read only memory 60 using comparer operations to match the incoming letters to the initial letters and root words of the words stored in the vocabularly of the read only memory.

In a decision step 138 it is determined if the letters received are present in proper sequence in at least the first of a series of stored vocabular~ words.
If not then additional letters input will not cure the deficient comparison and the display 18 will immediately flash an "unknown" and display the word from vocabulary with the closest spelling as indicated in the termination step 140.

If yes, there is a subsequent decision step 142 to determine if there are more letters. If there are more letters the loop is continued until there are no more let-ters. The indicator determining that there are no more letters is a request to translate by depressing the trans-lation key 36, or the common expression key 51.

,~;' ~Z~1~'L94 After determining that there are no more letters, a comparison is made in a comparison step 144 whether the input word is identical in full to a vocabulary word. If not, the "unknown" termination 140 is activated with a display of the closest word stored. If yes, it is defined in a decision step 146 whether a phrase is wanted, and, if yes, an automatic determination step 148 defines whether a phrase is available. If yes, in the terminating step 150, the phrase or phrases are retrieved and displayed with their translations in the display. If more than one phrase is available the phrases are sequenced by repeating the pressing of the common expression key.

If no phrase is available and it is wanted at this time by selection of the phrase key 51 in deference to one of the translation keys, a "no common expression"
signal is flashed in the display in step 152.

If in user decision step 146 it is decided that no phrase is wanted, it is nevertheless automatically determined if a phrase is available in determination step 154. If yes, a light 52 adjacent the common expression key on the keyboard is activated, box 156, during the fol-lowing sequences to indicate that there is one or more com-mon expressions incorporating as a key word, the word that is desired to be translated. At any time during or after the translation while the input word is still being re-tained, the common expression key can be depressed, causing retrieval of one or more phrases including the input word or for which the input word is a key word.

~,, ~l~Z9~94 .
_ (15) If no phrase is available, the indicator light remains dark and the sequence goes immediately to a trans-lation step 158.

If the word to be translated has more than one form of speech available for translation, i.e. adjective, noun, verb, etc. and more than one translation, the forms available and the total number of the translations avail-able are indicated by symbols. The user selects the form of speech by an order selection key 49 which sequentially shifts the order of the symbols representing the forms of speech. The one farthest to the left, for example, the "n", in the upper display 22 of Figure 1, can be rotated to the end and the next in order shifted to the prime position by this key to short-cut going through all the translations.

In the flow chart at step 158, the display in-cludes the input word, its forms of speech, the number of alternate translations and a translation. The translation corresponds to the form of speech indicated in the prime left position, and unless shifted by the translation key, initially comprises the first translation in that form of speech.

First there is an inquiry whether the form of speech is accepted in decision step 160. If no, there is a shift to the next form at box 162. The display will now show the next in order form symbol in the prime left posi-tion together with the first, or only, translation for that form. If the form is accepted, the translation is questioned in a similar loop beginning with decision step .~
- 1~29~94 (16) 164 and shift box 166 where the next in order translation is provided and continuing until an acceptable or at least temporarily acceptable translation is located. This is accomplished by repeated depressing of the translation key 36.

An inverse translation decision 168, if desired, displays the inverse translations of the translated words, i.e. provides all the translations in the first language of the accepted translation of the second language as a check on the meaning of the conditionally accepted trans-lation at box 170. This is accomplished by depressing the inverse translation key 50. In decision step 172, if it is found that the accepted translation from this check was not the one desired the next translation can be ordered by the translation shift box 166 in the manner noted.

If the inverse translation affirms the correct-ness of the translation, the sequence proceeds to the speech decision step 173. If speech is desired, by depres-sign the speech translation key 34, speech is synthesized at box 174. It can be repeated by speech repeat step 176, representing the repeat key 35, which loops again through the synthesis. An alternate translation decision can again be made at decision step 178, which-if desired returns to the translation shift box 166. If not, the user has the choice of electing a phrase, if the phrase light is lit at decision step 180 which goes to the phrase sequence, here indicated by box 182, a repeat of box 150. If not the sequence terminates at end 184.

i~2g~g4 (17) The phrase sequence is similar to the transla-tion sequence. The phrases are stored in a somewhat dif-ferent manner as general vocabulary words. sriefly, use-ful short phrases are stored in a separate section of the read only memory. The phrases are stored not as spelled words but as a sequence of address pointers which correspond to words in the vocabulary memory. This organ-ization reduces the memory space re~uired for phrases.
Each!phrase is stored as a block consisting of a length code followed by address pointers. The phrase is called us by giving the address location of its block beginning.

"Key words" are used for locating a phrase.
Each "key word" may correspond to several phrases. For example, "taxi" might refer to phrases which include the word taxi explicitly but might also be a "key word" for the phrase "how much is the fare?n. In order to keep the vocabulary memory simple, the phrase addresses are not located in the respective "key word" memory blocks. In-stead, the "key word" memory block contains a single address pointer for phrases which locates an intermediate list of phrase addresses corresponding to the particular "key". These intermediate addresses can then be called in order to construct the actual phrases.

In no, user can proceed to step 194. A speech synthesis choice is available at decision step 194. If it is not utilized, the program terminates at end 196; if it is utilized, the speech is synthesized at box 198. A re-peat decision step 200 is provided which loops to a repeat of the synthesis if desired. If not, the sequent terminates at end 202.

``` ~lZ9194 (18) A similar flow chart can be adpated for the conventional memory storage and recall of entered and translated words in sequence. Irregular verbs and plurals can be called at any time that input word re-malns ln random access memory~

Referring to Figure 5, an alternate embodiment 208 is shown to illustrate the modifications that may be necessary to accomodate presently available components or the necessities of certain language problems. In Figure 5, is shown a hand-held processor 209 and keyboard 210 with a dual display 212. The processor includes the basic processors and components such as the CPU, the key-board display interface, the clock generator, the system controller, the random access memory, the peripheral interface and the speech controller. The keyboard includes on-off switches 214 and 216 for power supply and speech circuits respectively, as well as function keys 217 simi-lar to those in the previous embodiment.

The keyboard and processor are connected by an electrical cable 218 to a pack 220. The pack is divided into three sections or compartments. A top compartment 222 includes the audio filter, amplifier, and accompanying circuits of the audio section of speech synthesizer and a speaker 224 for sound reproduotion. The read only memory is located in a casette in a central section 226. This casette can be designed in a module fashion such that it is replaceable by other similar casettes for different language matches. At the base of the pack 226 is a power supply 228 with a recharge terminal 230. The power supply 228 for both the preferred translator device 10 and the : .

, (19) alternate embodiment 208 is a rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery which is preferred for its long life and recharging capabilities using a conventional d.c. transformer (not shown) and a.c. power source.

A clip 225 permits the pack 220 to be convenient-ly carried in a pocket. Terminal 227 allows auxiliary output units such as a printer or cathode ray tube (not shown) to be connected to the unit if desired.

The pack 220 is primarily sized to accommodate the necessary memory packet. Using bubble memory rather than present shelf I.C. technology for memory circuits the space requirements can be greatly reduced. It is contemplated that the processors for the display transla-tions and the speech synthesis can be reduced to a limited number of custom I.C. chips.

In the alternate embodiment, the keyboard 234 is greatly expanded from that shown for the preferred embodiment. This expansion is required for those instances where one or both of the languages involved for transla-tion has a character requirement in excess of the standard 26 for the English and Romance Language Countries.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure of the inven-tion, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without de-parting from the spirit and principles of the invention.

~'

Claims (10)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A translator device for translating words in a first language to words in a second language and con-versely, comprising a combination of a microcomponent as-sembly for digital storage and processing of data, and a predefined data base arrangement characterization in a self-contained portable hand-holdable unit for selective visual and audible output of words in said first language and in said second language having:
a. word input means and function input means for manually inputting words and commands for conversion to electronic signals;
b. an interface circuit for digitally generating and temporarily storing equivalent processable word infor-mation and instruction information from the electronic sig-nals for translation of words that have been input through the word input means;
c. a central processor unit with an associate control program for directing operations under instruction from the control program;
d. a clocking means operating in conjunction with said central processor unit for use in timing the coordina-tion of said operations;
e. controller means electrically connected to said interface circuit and to said central processor unit for receiving and routing word information and instruction information originated through said word and function input means to unit components of the translator device under direction of said central processor unit;
f. a memory wherein said control program is stored for use by said central processor unit in directing translation and generating output words, and having a stored data base, said data base comprising:
i) a predetermined arrangement of word informa-tion of a first language together with a predetermined arrangement of associated speech synthesis code information for assembling speech synthesis audio information for gener-ating audio output words corresponding to said word informa-tion of said first language;
ii) a predetermined arrangement of word information of a second language, together with a predetermined arrange-ment of associated speech synthesis code information for assembling speech synthesis audio information for generating audio output words corresponding to said word information of said second language, said word information of said second language comprising language translations of said word infor-mation of said first language;
iii) code data associated with said word information of said first language and said second language, for use by said control program in locating word information in one language corresponding to words input through said word input means and locating the corresponding word information and speech synthesis code information in the other language; and iv) a predetermined arrangement of speech synthesis audio information for assembly in generating audio output words;
g. output means under operation of said controller means by direction of said central processor unit for pro-ducing visual output words from located word information from said data base and for generating audio output words from assembled speech synthesis audio information from said data base upon manual input of input words and selected commands for translation of an input word; and h. a power supply means for powering the elec-trical components of said translator device.

2. The translator device of Claim 1 having further a random access memory cooperating with said interface cir-cuit, said controller means and central processor unit for temporary storage and retrieval of information and instruc-tions under direction of said central processor unit wherein said central processor unit is reserved for primarily opera-tional functions.

3. The translator device of Claim 2 having further a speech synthesizer means included in said output means with control circuits operable under direction of said central processor unit for generating audible speech synthesized out-put words from assembled speech synthesis audio information in said data base.

4. The translator device of Claim 3 wherein said code data for locating word information comprises address in-formation accompanying the word information in each language which cross references the location of word information in the other language.

5. The translator device of Claim 4 wherein said code data includes additional address information for locating speech synthesis information generating speech synthesized output words.

6. The translator device of Claim 2 wherein said word input means comprises a set of alphabetical depressable keys and said function input means comprises a set of depres-sable keys having individual functions including a translation key for initiating translation of an input word upon depres-sion of said translation key after input of a word in a first language by depression of select alphabetical depressable keys, and an audio output key for initiating generation of an audio output after input of the word in a first language and translation of the input word upon depression of said audio output key.

7. The translator device of Claim 6 having further memory means cooperating with said random access memory for temporary storage of input word information and output word information for storage of input word information and output word information for sentence construction, said memory means including a memory store key for initiating input of word information in said random access memory after entering words by said word input means and depressing said memory store key, a memory reproduce key for initiating reproduction of words from word information stored in said random access memory upon depressing said memory reproduce key, and a memory clear key for clearing all word information stored in said random access memory.

8. The translator device of Claim 5 wherein said word information of at least one language includes code in-formation processable by said central processing unit for indi-cating to a user the number of translations available, the form of the input words, the irregularity of word tenses and plur-als, and the availability of related phrases in which the input word is a key word.

9. The translator device of Claim 6 wherein said function input means includes an inverse translation key for initiating a reverse translation of a translated input word for cross checking the original translation upon depressing said inverse translation key.

10. The translator device of Claim 2 having further terminal means for attaching said translator device to auxil-liary output devices of the type for recording and displaying information or words generated by said translator device.