GB2220290A

GB2220290A - Voice-actuated control system

Info

Publication number: GB2220290A
Application number: GB8913301A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip David Harvey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-09
Filing date: 1989-06-09
Publication date: 1990-01-04
Also published as: GB8813713D0; GB8913301D0

Abstract

A control system for apparatus responsive to infra-red signals, such as a television receiver 30 or video recorder 32, comprises a programmable voice recognition module, an interface 20 and an output module 22 for producing infra-red signals related to recognised voice input. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Control Systems DESCRIPTION This invention concerns control systems particularly but not exclusively for use by disabled persons but who have vocal ability.

Operating electrical apparatus such as television sets and video recorders can be virtually impossible for some disabled persons. Control systems requiring a person to make a selection from a series of options, such as by blowing down a tube to operate a pressure switch or by operating some other switch, are available. However, such systems operate by indicating options in a fixed sequence that has to be gone through every time a new option is required. Such systems may have a light display or audible signal to indicate which options have been or may be selected. Thus, as more options may be required to be available the necessary equipment will become cumbersome and time taken for selection more protracted.

An object of this invention is to provide a control system for use by persons with vocal ability regardless of their physical agility to enable them to operate various apparatus, particularly electrically controlled apparatus.

According to this invention there is provided a control system for apparatus responsive to signals, such as infra-red or other remotely generated signals, the system comprising programmable voice recognition means for generating a signal related to voice input and means responsive to said signal enabling prescribed signal output.

The preferred control system of the invention comprises three main functional blocks: 1. A voice recognition module 2. An interface converter 3. An output module The voice recognition module will preferably translate the spoken word into an electronic reference pattern which may be stored for future use, or compared to reference patterns already stored when used in either "training" or "recognition" mode respectively.

One suitable recognition module outputs an alphanumeric string of characters for onward transmission down a telephone line.

The voice recognition module itself preferably comprises a printed circuit board which receives its audio input from a microphone, which may be a remote microphone. The vocabulary to be used, the reference patterns and recognition parameters are also held in a computer means preferably equipped with keyboard, screen and offline storage. This enables the voice recognition card to be powered down without loss of all working data.

The preferred interface converter takes the input serial data and converts it to a parallel output data stream that is maintained for a predetermined time.

The preferred output module takes the parallel output data and uses it to activate one of several relays which may then control all manner of external devices, or to activate an infra-red or other signal transmitter. This is matched to an appropriate signal receiver in a television, hi-fi or video recorder, for instance.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a hands free control system; Figure 2 is a circuit diagram for a power supply of the control system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a circuit diagram for an interface converter of the control system of Figure 1; and Figures 4 and 5 show circuit diagrams for an infra-red transmitter and a relay output driver respectively of the control system of Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a hands free environmental control system has a microphone 10 for receiving spoken instructions. The spoken instructions are transmitted to a printed circuit board 12 arranged to receive the spoken instructions from the microphone 10 and convert them to electronic reference patterns. The electronic reference patterns are passed to a computer 14 having a visual display screen 16 and off-line disc storage 18. The computer 14 is programmed firstly to receive and store the electronic reference patterns in order to build up a vocabulary of spoken instructions. The computer 14 is programmed secondly to receive electronic reference patterns and compare them with the vocabulary.When a match occurs, the computer issues appropriate instructions via the printed circuit board 12 and an RS232 connection 19 in serial form to power supply and interface converter 20.

The printed circuit board and computer together define a voice recognition module.

The interface converter 20 takes the serial input and converts it to a parallel output data stream for onward transmission to output module 22 via parallel connection 24. The power supply and interface converter 20 circuit diagrams are shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings respectively.

The circuit shown in Figure 2 is a conventional linear power supply providing +12 volts, -12 volts and 5 volts of sufficient current and in a regulated manner to the rest of the circuitry.

The circuit shown in Figure 3 comprises a serial to parallel converter, whereby incoming RS232 data is converted to TTL signals in 1489. The TTL signals are converted to parallel output by the universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART). The UART receives its clock from the oscillator and frequency divider chips (74393, 7490 and 6.144MHz oscillator) allowing a range of data rates to be used. Control signals to the UART allow the use of different data formats. The remaining circuitry provides a latching output for a period of time.

The output module 22 takes the parallel output data and uses it to activate one of several relays 26 which may then control all manner of external devices or to activate an infra-red transmitter 28. The circuit diagram for the output module is shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. The circuit diagram of Figure 4 shows a proprietory infra-red transmitter chip (1250) as used in conventional handsets. The push buttons of a conventional handset are replaced by analogue switches (508), themselves controlled by the parallel input to allow selection of individual functions. Thyristor C103 and associated circuitry ensures orderly power up of the circuitry. The infra-red transmitter is matched to an appropriate infra-red receiver, such as in a television 30, video recorder 32 or hi-fi system (not shown).

The relay output driver (Figure 5) uses data selectors to provide upto sixteen relay outputs (74154) for each of upto four banks dependent on the code signal input.

The voice recognition module must be trained to suit a particular user when speaking a number of words.

Once trained, the system monitors all spoken words and when a word is "heard" that corresponds to one in memory, the appropriate output action is taken.

This means that it is possible to say, for example: TELEVISION - and the television is switched on BBC 1 - and that channel is selected QUIETER - and the volume is reduced TELETEXT - and that service is brought to the television screen ONE, TWO, ZERO - and the business headlines are displayed on the television screen The system is designed to replace the physical act of button pushing with the vocal act of saying a word to allow a physically disadvantaged person to control their own environment. The system has unexpected benefits.

The system is quicker to respond to long command sequences, such as those required to select certain teletext pages. The reasons are believed to be two fold: (a) There is a shorter period of time between thinking, looking at a keypad, locating the button and pressing it, which involves coordination and manual dexterity skills than takes to think of and say a word.

(b) The electronic circuitry in use outputs the minimum pulse required, whereas a button is kept depressed until feedback is received that the action has been taken.

The system has inherently more flexibility of use as there is no physical limit on the number of keys available for depression, as there is on a hand controller for instance.

The system is easier to use, as there is no confusion of labelling and use, as may be the case with hand controllers having buttons of mixed functionality.

Claims

1. A control system for apparatus responsive to signals, the system comprising programmable voice recognition means for generating a signal related to voice input and means responsive to said signal enabling prescribed signal output.

2. A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said prescribed signal output is an infra-red signal output.

3. A control system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said system activates one or more relay outputs.

4. A control system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said voice recognition means comprises means for converting voice input into an electronic reference pattern, means for storing electronic reference patterns and means for comparing voice input electronic reference patterns with stored electronic reference patterns.

5. A control system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said generated signal is alphanumeric.

6. A control system as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said voice recognition means comprises a microphone for receiving voice input, control circuitry for converting voice input into an electronic reference pattern and for generating enabling signals, computer means programmed for storing said patterns for comparing said patterns with stored said patterns and for activating generation of said enabling signals.

7. A control system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said computer means has off-line data storage.

8. A control system as claimed in claim 6 or 7 comprising an interface for taking activation signals from said control circuitry and converting same into a form suitable for enabling prescribed signal output.

9. A control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interface receives input serial data and converts it to a parallel output data stream that is maintained for a predetermined length of time.

10. A control system as claimed in claim 9, comprising means for receiving said parallel output data for activation of a signal transmitter or relay output.

11. A control system for apparatus responsive to signals substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.