GB2236879A

GB2236879A - Talking calculator

Info

Publication number: GB2236879A
Application number: GB8923073A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Justine Shen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-10-13
Filing date: 1989-10-13
Publication date: 1991-04-17
Also published as: GB8923073D0

Abstract

A talking calculator which produces speech corresponding to the numbers or operands input from keyboard of the calculator. The result of calculation is also output as speech. The calculator structure comprises one-chip microcomputer 1 and a speech integrated circuit, 2. A built-in ROM is mounted within the one-chip microcomputer. Four speed-adjusting buttons on the keyboard, 11, allow the user to adjust the speed of output reporting by adjusting the delay between successive numbers voiced. A facility is provided for testing the speed of speech reporting. <IMAGE>

Description

A TALKING CAICULATOR BACKGROUND OF THE @NVENTION This invention relates to a talking calenlator More particularly, it relates to a calculator which produces a speech corresponding to the numbers ol- operands of a keyboard pressed by an user.

Currently, calculators which possess rapid and accurate calculating ability are most appreciated by the public. However, no mater how these calculators have been changed or improved. the improvements are mainly based on the functions thereof in calculating and no new improvement has been made in designs which provide a more useful characteristies. In order to verify that a button of a calculator is pressed, calculator with buttons having a sound prochieing function when they are pressed have been designed and commercialized. However, the sound @hich pro@@@ed is only a sound with different frequeucies. The sound njerely provides an evidence that a bution has been pressed, but it fails to provide the user the exact number which has been pressed.Therefore, the user has to be fully concentrated on tile buttons he pressed in order to avoid making errors in keying the desired numbers. As a result, the efficiency of tl-ie keying operation by an user cannot be increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the presellt invention to provide a talking calculator having the characteristics of producing a speech which is exactly corresponding to the keying buttons of the calculator.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a talking calculator which can output the results of the calculating procedures in speech.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a talking calculator which is capable of output tlle keying numbers and the results of tulle calculation from these numbers and operands in speech so as to enable the user to acknowledge the keying numbers.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular descrlpt Ion of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG l. is the eircuit diagram of the talk calculator in accordance with the present Invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMINT The basic structure of a talking calculator is illustrated in FIG.. The talking calculator comprises one-chip microcomputer (1), a keyboard ( ] ] ) and a liquid crystal display C12), wherein a scanning circuit of the integral keyboard and a driving circuit for the controlling of LCD display (12) are within said one-chip microcomputer (1). The one-chIp microcomputer (1) constitutes the center of the overall calculation and controlling of the calculator.

As the button of the keyboard is pressed, the scanning cireuit of the one-chip microcomputer detects the button which has been pressed. The detected information is temporar 11 y stored in a memory therein and is associated with the subsoquent pressed numbers and operands and calculation is thcn characterized through the arithmetic calculation unit. Ti-je performed of the calculating procedure are output and results on the LCD display C12). The present invention has achieved the function of calculation and is displayed in that a built-in ROM is provided within said one-chip microcomputer (1), said ROM is a corresponding table for the respective buttons of the keyboard alld a speech address. The detail thereof will be discussed later. The output ports (I/O) of said speech address are respectively connected to address input terminal of a speech integrated circuit (2).

Furthermore, the start input terminal (START) and the busy line output terminal (BUSY) of said speoch integrated eircuit (2) are respoctivoly connceted with start speech output terminal and intermittent (INT) input terminal of line (2, 24) aid one-chip computer (1). Besides, a pre-recorded or prepared corresponding spcech which corresponds to the individual numbers and operands of the keyboard (11 is within the speech integrated eireuit (2) aiicl t}le storage address of the individual speoch is corresponding to the corresponding table of the above one@chip mierocomputer (1) ROM.The speech output terminal of the speoch integrated eireuit (2) provide a speech by means of sound amplifier (21) and a loudspeaker (22).

The foregoing provides a keyboard ( which when the button of the keyboard (11) is pressed, a speoch corresponding to said button is produced and the results of the calculation can also be provided. ln operation, after the microcomputer accesses the numbers or operands of the keyboard (11) which 1ave been pressed by the user, it divides into two routes.

One of which is to directly input into the arithmetie operards which output by the LCD dispiay (12).

Another route is to input into t-Ie RON and to malch with the numbers or operands corresponding to The speech deposition address of the speed integraled circuit (2). After completing tl-ie trigger of tJe speech integrated circuit address, by means of tIi(' start output terminal of the one-chip mierocomputer (1) and via line (23), the start lead position of the speech integrated circuit (2) is triggered. The speech output is triggered. After the speech output is completed, a signal is transmitted to tl-ie one-chip microcomputer through the busy output terminal (BUSY) lead position of the speech integrated eircuit (2) Microcomputer is again output the next speech address to the speech integrated circuit (2) and then repeats the above steps and accepts the input of the keyboard (11) and speech output. Therefore, a calculator having a corresponding speech with respect to the input key is obtained.The calculator according to the present invention enables tile user to achnovledge t1le input keys l' producing a speech The result after calculation Is reported by the speech integrated circuit (2). In operation, when the one-chip microcomputer (1) outputs the result of the calculation, the LCD display (12) cisplass the result of the calculation. The result is then inpur in sequence into the ROM so as to produce the corresponding speech address. The result Is reported similar to the above speech action through a loudspeaker (22).

There is difference between the reporting of key input and the reporting of the result of ealculation.

The speed of reporting of result. is faster than that of key input is because in between each numbers at result reporting, a time delay is introduced, so that the reporting of the result is clearer and the speed of result reporting can be adjusted. Four speed adjusting, buttons are provides on the keyboard (11) The user can adjust a speed of result reporting as desired. The time delay between each numbers is thus varied. Besides, the present invention also provides a test for the speed of speoch reporting. When speed adjusting button is pressed, one-chip mierocomputer (1) triggers the speech IC eirenit (2) to prochuce a special soured effect corresponding to said ci speed. In this way the user is told before band t I-ic speed of tulle speech report I ng.

While the invention has been shown and deseribed with referenfce to preferred embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will recognize that the above and other changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the Invention.

Claims

1. A talking calculator comprising one-chip microcomputer and keyboard having buttons for number input and connected with a LCD display, chara cter- i zed in that a built-in ROM is within the one-chip microcomputer, said ROM stored a corresponding table of number keys and operand keys of said keyboard and speech address, and an output terminal of said ROM being address output port, address output port being connected with address input terminal of a speed integrated circuit, output terminal of speed integrated circuit being connected to an amplifier and loudspeaker, the address of said integrated circuit being stored corresponding to speech signal of ROM which corresponds to number keys and the operands, whereby, when said keys are pressed and a result displayed, a corresponding speech is obtained.

2. The talking calculator as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said speech integrated circuit is connected to one-chip microcomputer with a start input terminal and a busy output terminal which constitute a detection and feedback circuit.

3. The talking calculator as set forth in Glaim 1, wherein several speech reportillg speed keys capble of controlling time delay in between each speech are mounted on said keyboard.