JP2004362132A - Speech translation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a speech translation device that enables persons using different languages to easily communicate with each other and that can be easily adapted to a plurality of different languages. <P>SOLUTION: In the speech translation device, a microphone inputs the speech of a first language. A speech recognition means recognizes the speech of the first language as speech signals of the first language. A translation means converts the speech signals of the first language into speech signals of a second language. A speech generation means generates the speech of the second language from the speech signals of the second language. Loudspeakers output the speech of the second language. The speech translation device has a body unit and a data unit including a storage medium for storing speech-translation data for each language to be translated. The data unit has a mounting part that allows the data unit to be removably attached to a case of the body unit. The data unit is replaced according to the language to be translated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a voice translating device that converts a voice uttered by a user into another different language and outputs the converted voice.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, a speech translator recognizes speech of a first language input from a microphone, translates the recognition signal into a second language, synthesizes the result, and outputs the result from a speaker. In the related art, for example, as in Patent Document 1, there is a multilingual interpreter that allows users of a plurality of different languages to simultaneously talk using a large-scale computer and a communication medium.
[0003]
A miniaturized and portable speech translator is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 2 and the like. FIG. 5 is an external view of a small-sized interpreter disclosed in Patent Document 1 as viewed obliquely from the front, and FIG. 1 shows an external view of a small translator from an oblique rear surface. 5 and 6, the housing 100 includes an information input / output unit 101 and a grip unit 102, and has a small size and can be operated with one hand. The information input / output unit 101 includes a voice input unit 103, a voice output unit 104, and an information display unit 105. When the power is turned on by the power switch 106 disposed on the rear surface of the small interpreter, the voice input switch 107 becomes operable, the voice input switch 107 is pressed down, and voice input is performed by the voice input means 103. Then, voice recognition of the input voice is performed, and the candidate character string is displayed on the information display unit 105. When the cursor in the information display means 105 is moved up and down by the up and down movement switches 108 and 109 to select a candidate to be translated from the candidate character strings and the confirmation switch 110 is pressed, the translation is executed. When the sound output switch 111 is pressed, a sound is generated, and the sound is output through the sound output unit 104. Here, the volume of the output sound is controlled by adjusting the volume control switch 112. If the user wants to cancel during these operations, the user can press the cancel switch 113 to return to the state before the voice input.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-112939
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-315205 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in an apparatus such as that disclosed in Patent Literature 1, it is necessary for a user to carry a personal computer and a communication device or the like when interpreting. Did not.
[0007]
Further, the device of Patent Document 2 is miniaturized and can be translated by one device, but the structure becomes complicated. In terms of operability, too, the number of switches to be operated, such as the voice input switch 107, the voice output switch 111, the enter switch 110, and the cancel switch 113, is large. It takes a long time to output the sound of the second language. Further, when the translation target is to be changed, for example, to change from Japanese translation into English (Japanese-English) to Japanese translation into Chinese (Japanese-Chinese), a new device that translates Japanese and Chinese is required. Was needed.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and enables people who use different languages to easily communicate with each other and to easily cope with a plurality of different languages. It is an object of the present invention to provide a speech translator that has been implemented.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the above object of the present invention, a microphone inputs a first language voice, a voice recognition unit recognizes the first language voice as a first language voice signal, and a translation unit converts the first language voice signal. A speech translation device that converts the speech into a speech signal in a second language, wherein the speech generation means generates speech in a second language from the speech signal in the second language, and a speaker outputs the speech in the second language; The speech translation device includes a main unit and a data unit including a storage medium storing speech-translation data for each language to be translated, and includes a mounting unit that allows the data unit to be detachably attached to a case of the main unit. This is achieved by exchanging the data units according to the language to be translated.
[0010]
Further, the above object is achieved in that the voice recording means records a voice input through a microphone, a memory provided in the main unit stores the recorded voice, and the speaker reproduces the stored voice. The output is achieved effectively.
[0011]
Further, the object of the present invention is that the case of the main body unit has a switch for starting to input a voice, a grip portion formed in a rod shape capable of operating the switch while grasping with one hand, and the microphone. And the speaker, and the main body is formed in a shape in which the front and rear surfaces can be clearly seen.
[0012]
In addition, the above object is achieved by providing a mounting part for detaching the data unit from the case of the main body unit, a concave part provided on a bottom surface of the grip part, and an upper part of the data unit inserted into the concave part. This is effectively achieved by being constituted by the arranged convex portions.
[0013]
Further, the object is that the microphone and the speaker are respectively included in the front and rear surfaces of the main body, and when the voice of the first language is input to the microphone on the front, the second language is transmitted. Is output from the rear speaker, and when the second language audio is input to the rear microphone, the audio converted to the first language is output from the front speaker. Is achieved effectively.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a speech translation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a speech translation device 1 includes a main unit 11 including a CPU 2, a memory 3, a peripheral control device 4, a speech input device 5, a speech output device 6, switches 7, 8, a speech recording means 9, and a recording switch 10, The data unit 12 includes a recognition data 12a and a translation data 12b.
[0016]
The audio input means 5 includes a microphone 13 and an A / D converter 14, and the audio output means includes a speaker 15 and a D / A converter 16, one on each of the front side and the rear side. The voice of the first language input from the voice input means 5 on the front side is translated into a second language and output from the voice output means 6 on the rear side, and the second language input from the voice input means 5 on the rear side. The bilingual sounds are translated into the first language and output from the sound output means 6 on the front side.
[0017]
The CPU 2 recognizes the voice of the first language as the voice signal of the first language, or recognizes the voice of the second language as the voice signal of the second language, and recognizes the voice signal of the first language as the voice signal of the second language. A translator 2b for converting an audio signal of a second language into an audio signal of a second language or an audio signal of a first language, generating an audio of a second language from the audio signal of the second language, or A function such as a voice generation unit 2c that generates a voice of the first language from the voice signal is executed.
[0018]
The data unit 12 stores programs executed by the CPU 2 and various data for each language to be translated. Here, the various data are recognition data 12a referred to for speech recognition and translation data 12b referred to for translation. Further, since the data unit 12 is detachably attached to the mounting portion 17, the data unit 12 is detached, and another data unit having a different language to be translated is attached, so that, for example, Japanese-English translation is performed. Things can be translated into a Japanese-Chinese translation.
[0019]
The memory 3 is used as a work area for arithmetic processing mainly performed by the CPU 2. Further, a program or various data stored in the data unit 12 may be loaded.
[0020]
Although not particularly limited, the switch 7 is a switch for starting the voice input unit 5 on the front side, and the switch 8 is a switch for starting the voice input unit 5 on the rear side.
[0021]
Further, the voice translating device 1 is provided with a voice recording means 9, which can start recording by a recording switch 10 and store the voice recorded from the microphone 13 in the memory 3. The stored voice can be reproduced from the speaker 15.
[0022]
Subsequently, the operation and operation of the present apparatus will be described.
[0023]
The first language voice captured through the front-side switch 13 by pressing the front-side switch 7 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 14 and then captured by the peripheral control device 4. The voice signal of the first language is recognized by the voice recognition means 2a in the CPU 2. Here, the recognition data 12a stored in the data unit 12 is referred to. The recognized speech signal in the first language is translated into a speech signal in the second language by the translation means 12b in the CPU 2. Here, the translation data 12b stored in the data unit 12 is referred to. The translated second language voice signal is generated into a second language voice by the voice generating means 2 c in the CPU 2 and sent to the peripheral control device 4. The arithmetic processing in the CPU 2 is performed while using the memory 3 as a work area. The generated second language voice is transmitted from the peripheral control device 4 to the D / A converter 16, where it is converted into an analog signal. The sound of the second language converted to analog is output via the speaker 15 on the rear side.
[0024]
Further, even if the switch 8 on the rear side is pressed and the second language is captured via the microphone 13 on the rear side, the same operation as described above is performed, and the translated voice of the first language is output to the speaker on the rear side. 15 is output.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is an external view of a speech translator according to one embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the front, and FIG. 3 is an external view of a speech translator according to one embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the back. 3 and 4, a case 21 of the speech translator 1 includes a main body 20a in which an audio unit 21 having a microphone 13 and a speaker 15 is included, switches 7, 8, a recording switch 9, and a data unit removal switch. And a grip portion 21b having a grip 23. The main body portion 21a is formed in a thick plate shape in which the front and rear surfaces can be clearly seen, and the grip portion 21b is formed in a rod shape in which the above-mentioned buttons can be operated while holding with one hand.
[0026]
The audio section 22 is provided on both the front and rear sides. As described above, when the switch 7 is pressed and a voice of the first language (here, Japanese) is input from the front, the second section translated from the rear side. When the voice of the language (here, English) is output, the switch 8 is pressed, and the voice of the second language (English) is input from the rear, the translated voice of the first language (Japanese) is output.
[0027]
FIG. 4 is an external view showing a state in which the data unit of the speech translating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is cut off from an oblique rear surface. In the figure, the data unit 12 is detachable by a data unit removal switch 23, and the mounting portion 17 has a connecting portion concave portion 17a provided on the bottom surface of the grip portion 21b and a convex portion provided on the upper surface of the data unit 12. And a portion 17b. The mounting structure is such that a groove is provided in a part of the side surface of the convex portion 17b, and a claw provided in the concave portion 17a is caught by the groove, so that the data unit 12 is fixed. Further, when the data unit removal button 23 is pressed, the nail is released from the groove, and the data unit 12 can be removed. The detaching structure is not particularly limited. For example, a structure in which a plug-in type is inserted, a structure in which a convex portion is provided on the bottom surface of the grip portion 20b, and a structure in which the convex portion is inserted into a concave portion provided on the upper surface of the data unit 12 and attached are applied. May be. As described above, by removing the data unit 12 for Japanese-English translation and attaching the data unit 12 'for Japanese-Chinese translation, the Japanese-English translation to the Japanese-Chinese translation can be performed. Can be converted to
[0028]
Although the present invention has been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a voice input through a microphone is recognized as a first language voice signal, and the first language voice signal is converted into a second language voice signal according to a predetermined rule. In a voice translation device that emits voice to the outside through a speaker, translation between different languages is possible by exchanging a unit including a storage medium storing speech-translation data for each translation target according to the translation target. I made it. This eliminates the need to buy a device for each translation target and simplifies the work of attaching and detaching, so that it is possible to respond flexibly to multiple languages.
[0030]
In addition, by making the device case small and operable while holding it with one hand, it can be easily carried on a trip, etc., while maintaining a natural posture during dialogue without feeling the language barrier Can communicate.
[0031]
Also, the first language voice input means and the second language voice output means are provided on the front side, and the first language voice output means and the second language voice input means are provided on the rear side. As a result, translation can be carried out efficiently because both can be translated while one person has the device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a speech translation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external view of a voice translating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front.
FIG. 3 is an external view of a voice translating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from behind.
FIG. 4 is an external view showing a state in which a data unit of the speech translation apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is removed, as viewed obliquely from the rear side.
FIG. 5 is an external view of a conventional small interpreter as viewed from an oblique front.
FIG. 6 is an external view of a conventional small translator as viewed from an oblique rear surface.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 speech translator 2 CPU
2a voice recognition means 2b translation means 2c voice generation means 3 memory 9 voice recording means 11 main unit 12 data unit 13 microphone 15 speaker 17 mounting portion 17a concave portion 17b convex portion 21 case 21a main body portion 21b grip portion

Claims (5)

A microphone inputs a first language voice, a voice recognition unit recognizes the first language voice as a first language voice signal, and a translator converts the first language voice signal into a second language voice signal. A voice translation device that performs conversion, wherein the voice generating means generates a second language voice from the second language voice signal, and wherein the speaker outputs the second language voice;
The speech translation device has a main unit and a data unit including a storage medium storing speech-translation data for each language to be translated, and a mounting unit that allows the data unit to be detachably attached to a case of the main unit. A speech translation apparatus, comprising: exchanging the data units according to a language to be translated. Voice recording means for recording voice input through a microphone, a memory provided in the main unit stores the recorded voice, and the speaker outputs the stored voice. The speech translation device according to claim 1. The case of the main body unit has a switch for starting the input of voice, a grip portion formed in a rod shape that can operate the switch while grasping with one hand, the microphone and the speaker. 3. The speech translation device according to claim 1, wherein the speech translation device comprises a main body having a shape in which a front surface and a rear surface are clearly visible. A mounting portion for detaching the data unit from the case of the main body unit; a concave portion provided on a bottom surface of the grip portion; and a convex portion provided on an upper portion of the data unit to be inserted into the concave portion. 4. The speech translation device according to claim 3, comprising: One microphone and one speaker are included on the front and rear surfaces of the main body, respectively. When sound of the first language is input to the microphone on the front, sound converted to the second language is generated. The voice output in the second language is output from the rear speaker, and the voice converted into the first language is output from the front speaker when the voice in the second language is input to the microphone in the rear. The speech translation device according to 3 or 4.

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