JP2006215667A - Electronic equipment and control program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately and clearly voice-output an optional index word designated by a user or a text part in explanatory information in an integrated operational form using real voice and synthetic voice in electronic equipment such as a small portable electronic dictionary provided with text display function or text reading voice output function. <P>SOLUTION: In a retrieval information display screen G1 for displaying a retrieval index word and explanatory information, when the retrieval index word has a real voice including recorded native pronunciation in voice dictionary data, a "true voice" icon 23 is displayed in addition to reverse display H of a "speaker" icon 22 at the top of an index word display position, and a index word reading voice by the real voice is outputted according to input of a "translation/determination" key 14d. When the retrieval index word is an index word having no real voice, the index word itself is reversely displayed H without the display of the "speaker" icon 22 and the "true voice" icon 23, and the index word reading voice by synthetic voice is outputted according to input of the "translation/determination" key 14d. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a small portable electronic dictionary having a function of displaying a text and a function of outputting a read-out sound of the displayed text, and a control program thereof.

  In the conventional electronic devices, various devices that output a read-out sound of the displayed text have been proposed.

  For example, there has been proposed a small portable electronic device such as an electronic dictionary that can output a read-out sound of a word that is displayed after a dictionary search, for example (see Patent Document 1, for example).

  In addition, there is a text-to-speech apparatus that incorporates a processing program for outputting a text-to-speech while displaying text sequentially, such as a personal computer in recent years (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

For example, in an electronic dictionary, speech data (actual speech) recorded natively for each word stored as dictionary data is stored in association with each other, and a translation of a headword (word) by dictionary search (explanatory information) In the case where is displayed, real voice data stored in association with the displayed word is read and output.
JP-A-11-202751 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-064583

  However, as in the conventional electronic dictionary, recording voice data that is spoken natively for each of a large number of words stored as dictionary data and storing them in association with each other is extremely complicated. In addition, a very large memory capacity for storing audio data is required.

  For this reason, in particular, in the current electronic dictionary products that are required to be small, portable, and inexpensive, not all of the vast vocabulary (words) of tens of thousands of words stored in the dictionary data are selected carefully in advance. Audio data is recorded and stored only for the spoken word, and the reading voice can be output. Therefore, there is a problem that not only the headwords other than the carefully selected headwords (words) but also texts such as example sentences in the explanation information of each headword cannot be output in speech.

  On the other hand, in a personal computer (PC) or the like, it is possible to generate synthesized speech for text data such as English text handled by the PC using text data reading voice output processing software. Since it is not as clear and practical as real speech data, there is a problem that is insufficient for learning the speech of an accurate word.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and it is easy to understand an arbitrary entry word specified by a user or a text part in explanation information in a unified operation form using real speech and synthesized speech. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device capable of appropriately outputting sound and a control program thereof.

  In the electronic device (electronic device control program) described in claim 1 of the present invention (the electronic device control program), the headword stored in the dictionary storage means corresponding to the input headword and its explanation information Is searched and displayed by the dictionary search and display control means, and in the display screen of the searched and found headword and its explanation information, when the output of voice is instructed according to the user operation, the designated display control means When the actual speech corresponding to the headword being displayed is stored by the voice storage means, a specific mark is designated and displayed, and when it is not stored, the headword being displayed is designated and displayed. When the specific mark is designated and displayed by the designated display control means, the real voice stored in the voice storage means corresponding to the headword being displayed is outputted by the real voice output control means, When the headword being displayed is designated and displayed, the synthesized voice corresponding to the headword is generated and output by the synthesized voice output control means.

  According to this, for a headword searched and displayed in accordance with a series of dictionary search operations, it is a real voice when it is a headword having real speech, and a synthetic voice when it is a headword without real speech. The read-out voice can be output, and the user can be clearly notified of whether the voice output is a real voice or a synthesized voice.

  The electronic device according to claim 2 of the present invention is the electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a display screen for the headword displayed by the dictionary search display control means and its explanation information. , Provided with designated position movement control means for moving the position of the designated display for the specific mark or headword by the designated display control means with respect to any one sentence included in the explanation information according to the user operation, and outputs synthesized speech The control means includes a single sentence voice output control means for generating and outputting a synthesized voice corresponding to the one sentence when one sentence of the explanation information being displayed is designated and displayed by the designated position movement control means. To do.

  According to this, following the display of the headword and its explanation information in accordance with a series of dictionary search operations, an arbitrary example sentence in the explanation information is easily specified and displayed in units of one sentence, and the reading voice is read. It can be generated and output as synthesized speech.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to the first or second aspect, the designation for an arbitrary sentence in the explanation information moved by the designated position movement control means is provided. A designated head position change control means for changing the head position of the display back and forth according to a user operation is provided, and the synthesized speech output control means performs a designation display for one sentence of the explanation information being displayed by the designated head position change control means. When the head position is changed, it has a partial voice output control means for generating and outputting a synthesized voice corresponding to a portion after the head position of the designated display of the sentence.

  According to this, following the designation display in units of one sentence such as an arbitrary example sentence in the dictionary search-displayed headword and its explanation information, the head position of the designation display is, for example, in the front-rear direction in the sentence in units of words. It is possible to easily change and generate and output the read-out speech of the portion corresponding to the designated display after the change of the head position as synthesized speech.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to any one of the first to third aspects, a specific mark is designated and displayed by the designated display control means. Accordingly, a real voice mark display control means for displaying a real voice mark indicating that real voice can be output is provided.

  According to this, by displaying not only a specific mark but also a real voice mark, it is possible to clearly notify that the headword currently being searched and displayed can be output by voice.

  The electronic device according to claim 5 of the present invention is the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the synthesized voice output control means is configured to output the designated and displayed voice output target. When a character string includes a symbol, synthesized speech corresponding to the character string from which the symbol is deleted is generated and output.

  According to this, when a symbol is included in the designated character string to be output, for example, a symbol such as a midpoint “•” or apostrophe “′” included in the word of the character string is deleted and the Since the synthesized speech corresponding to the character string is generated and output, it is possible to output the designated and displayed headword, example sentence, or part of the example sentence as appropriate reading speech.

  The electronic device according to claim 6 of the present invention is the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the synthesized voice output control means is configured to output the designated and displayed voice output target. When a bracket character is included in the character string, synthesized speech corresponding to the character string from which the range of the bracket symbol is deleted is generated and output.

  According to this, when a bracket character is included in the character string of the audio display target that is designated and displayed, for example, characters indicating addition or replacement by bracket symbol such as “()” or “[]” included in the character string Since the synthesized speech corresponding to the character string is generated and output after the column range is deleted, the designated example sentence or a part of the example sentence can be output as an appropriate reading voice.

  According to the electronic device (the control program for the electronic device) described in claim 1 of the present invention (in terms of electronic device control program), the headword searched and displayed in accordance with a series of dictionary search operations is a headword having real speech. In some cases, it is real speech, and in the case of a headword that does not have real speech, the speech can be output as synthesized speech, and the user can clearly notify whether the speech output is actual speech or synthesized speech. can do.

  According to the electronic device according to claim 2 of the present invention, in the electronic device according to claim 1, following the display of the headword and its explanation information according to a series of dictionary search operations, Arbitrary example sentences and the like in the explanation information can be easily specified and displayed in units of sentences, and the read-out voice can be generated and output as synthesized voice.

  According to the electronic device according to claim 3 of the present invention, in the electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, such as a headword displayed in the dictionary search and an arbitrary example sentence in the explanation information thereof Following the designation display in units of one sentence, the head position of the designation display is easily changed in the front-rear direction in the sentence, for example, in units of words, and the read-out voice corresponding to the designation display after the head position change is synthesized voice. Can be generated and output.

  According to the electronic device according to claim 4 of the present invention, the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein not only a specific mark but also a real voice mark is displayed, It becomes possible to clearly notify that the headword currently being searched and displayed can be output by voice.

  According to an electronic device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a symbol is included in a character string of a voice output target designated and displayed. Is included, for example, the symbols such as the midpoint “•” and apostrophe “'” included in the word of the character string are deleted, and then the synthesized speech corresponding to the character string is generated and output. A headword, an example sentence, or a part of an example sentence can be output as an appropriate reading voice.

  According to the electronic device according to claim 6 of the present invention, in the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, parentheses are included in the designated character string of the audio output target. When a symbol is included, for example, a character string range indicating addition or replacement by parenthesis symbols such as “()” and “[]” included in the character string is deleted, and then synthesized speech corresponding to the character string is generated and output. Therefore, the specified example sentence or a part of the example sentence can be output as an appropriate reading voice.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately output a user-specified headword or a text portion in the explanation information in an easy-to-understand manner with a unified operation form using real speech and synthesized speech. It is possible to provide an electronic device and its control program that are made possible.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a portable device (electronic dictionary) 10 according to an embodiment of the electronic device of the present invention.

  The portable device (electronic dictionary) 10 is configured as a PDA (personal digital assistants), a PC (personal computer), a mobile phone, an electronic book having an electronic dictionary function described below, or a portable device dedicated to the electronic dictionary. Configured as The portable device (electronic dictionary) 10 is configured by a computer that reads a program recorded in various storage media or a transmitted program and whose operation is controlled by the read program. A CPU (central processing unit) 11 is provided.

  The CPU 11 is a device control program stored in advance in the program ROM 12a, a device control program read into the program ROM 12a from an external storage medium such as the memory card 13, or a Web server on the Internet N (not shown) The device control program stored in the program ROM 12a is a keyboard 14 or a touch panel 15 according to a device control program read into the program ROM 12a via a communication device. It is activated in response to an input signal corresponding to a user operation from the input unit 16 or a connection communication signal with an externally connected memory card (storage medium) 13 such as EEPROM, RAM, ROM.

  In addition to the program ROM 12a, the CPU 11 is connected to a database ROM 12b and a RAM 12c. In addition to the memory card 13, the keyboard 14 and the touch panel 15, the display unit 17 comprising an LCD and an audio output amplifier 18a are connected. A speaker 18 or the like is connected via

  The electronic circuit of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10 is driven by voltage supply from the power supply circuit 19 by the battery power supply B.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of data stored in the program ROM 12a, database ROM 12b, and RAM 12c of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10. As shown in FIG.

  As a device control program stored in the program ROM 12a, a main processing program 12a1 that controls the overall operation of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10 is stored, and in addition to the device data according to input characters based on dictionary data (12b1). Dictionary search processing program 12a2 for searching and displaying headwords and searching for explanation information thereof, for outputting text data designated on the display as real speech recorded native pronunciation or synthesized speech Synthesis speech output processing program 12a3, speech synthesis processing for synthesizing synthesized speech data (12b3) of each phoneme in accordance with character string combinations and phonetic symbols of text data to be speech output, and generating and outputting the read-out speech A program 12a4 and the like are stored.

  In the database ROM 12b, various dictionary data 12b1, such as an English-Japanese dictionary, an English-English dictionary, a Japanese-English dictionary, a national language dictionary, a Han-Japanese dictionary, a German-Japanese dictionary, and a French-Japanese dictionary, and dictionary data that should be capable of voice output by native pronunciation are selected carefully. Phonetic dictionary data 12b2 associated with real speech data recorded in native pronunciation recorded for the headword (and explanation information), and each phoneme used in speech synthesis processing based on text data designated as a speech output target The synthesized voice data 12b3 and the like corresponding to are stored.

  Similar to the dictionary data 12b1 and the voice dictionary data 12b2 stored in the database ROM 12b, other dictionary data and voice dictionary data stored in the memory card 13 can be input and used from the outside.

  In the RAM 12c, an input character memory 12c1 for storing character data input from the input unit 16 (14, 15), a headword searched according to the dictionary search processing (12a2), and its explanation information are stored. A search headword memory 12c2, a headword information designation position memory 12c3 for storing position data such as words and example sentences designated according to user input in the search-displayed headwords and their explanation information, and the like are provided. It is done.

  FIG. 3 is a front view showing an external configuration of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10.

  The portable device (electronic dictionary) 10 has, for example, a foldable housing, and is opened in the vertical direction, with a display unit 17 having a transparent touch panel 15 superimposed on the upper side, a keyboard 14 and a speaker 18 on the lower side. Is placed.

  On the keyboard 14, an “ON / OFF” key 14 a for turning on / off the power and various dictionaries for searching for words and explanation information corresponding to the input headword by designating various main dictionaries A series of character input keys 14c for arbitrarily inputting keys 14b1, 14b2, 14b3,..., Hiragana, katakana, kanji, and alphanumeric characters are arranged, and explanations corresponding to determination / determination of selection data and selection headwords "Translation / decision" key 16d for instructing to read and display information and output the read-out voice, cursor keys 14e for up / down / left / right directions for data selection operation and scroll operation on the display screen, various page operations In addition, the text data designated by the up / down key 14f for performing the switching designation operation to the adjacent headword or the adjacent example sentence in the search display and the reverse display H About the “speech” key 14g for setting the voice output mode, the “example / explanation” key 14h for displaying an example or explanation about the headword / explanation information in the search display, and for setting the shift mode. A “shift” key 14i, a “return” key 14j for instructing a return of the processing step, and the like are provided.

  In this portable device (electronic dictionary) 10, when text data such as a word or an example sentence to be read out by a user operation is specified in the headword and its explanation information displayed by dictionary search, the text Data is output sequentially with real speech or synthesized speech. At that time, the user can specify text data that is the output target of read-out speech with a unified operation for any word or example sentence. On the other hand, it is possible to inform the user in an easy-to-understand manner whether the voice output of the text data designated by the user operation is performed with real speech or synthesized speech.

  Next, a dictionary search function and a voice output function by the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10 having the above-described configuration will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing dictionary search voice output processing (part 1) by the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing dictionary search voice output processing (part 2) by the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display operation and a voice utterance operation of the search information display screen G1 corresponding to the headword “get” having real voice data accompanying the dictionary search voice output process of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10. is there.

  When the dictionary search processing program 12a2 stored in the program ROM 12a is activated, a character to be searched is input in response to a user operation on the keyboard 14 and stored in the input character memory 12c1 in the RAM 12c (step S1). The headword corresponding to this input character is searched based on the dictionary data 12b1 stored in the database ROM 12b and displayed on the display unit 17 as a headword list screen (not shown) (step S2).

  In the display state of the headword list screen, when a user-desired headword (for example, “get” is selected by moving the cursor according to the user operation on the keyboard 14 and operating the “translation / decision” key 14d ( In step S3), the selected headword “get” and its explanation information are read from the dictionary data 12b1 and stored in the search headword memory 12c2, and for example, as shown in FIG. The search information display screen G1 is displayed on the display unit 17 (step S4).

  When the key operation signal corresponding to the operation of the “voice” key 14g of the keyboard 14 is input to set the voice output mode on the search information display screen G1 for the search headword “get” (step S5). As shown in FIG. 6B, a “voice” icon 21 is displayed in the dictionary name field on the search information display screen G1, and it is notified that the voice output mode is being selected (step S6).

  Then, whether or not the head word “get” searched and displayed on the search information display screen G1 is a head word having actual voice data is registered as voice dictionary data 12b2 in the database ROM 12b, for example. Judgment is made according to whether the headword is present (step S7).

  In the case of this headword “get”, if it is determined that the headword has actual speech data, as shown in FIG. 6B, the headline of the headword “get” is displayed at the beginning. The displayed “speaker” icon 22 is highlighted H, and a “true voice” icon 23 is displayed adjacent to the “speech” icon 21 in the dictionary name column. The user is informed that “get” is a search term having real voice data and that the voice can be output by operating the “translation / decision” key 14d at this time (step S7 → S8).

  While the reverse display H of the “speaker” icon 22 and the “true voice” icon 23 are displayed on the search information display screen G1, the voice output of the search headword “get” by the actual voice is output. When the “translation / decision” key 14d is operated so as to perform the operation (step S9), the real recorded voice is stored in the voice dictionary data 12b2 in association with the search term “get”. A reading voice is output from the speaker 18 (step S10).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the “right cursor” key 14eR is operated while the “speaker” icon 22 is highlighted, as shown in FIG. 6C. The “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed, but the designated digit by the highlighted display H is moved in the direction of the cursor operation, and the text data (in this case, “get”) including the designated digit is highlighted. H (steps S14 to S17).

  In this manner, the search headword “get” itself on the search information display screen G1 is highlighted H and the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed. When the “translation / decision” key 14d is operated (step S18), the highlighted text data “get” is extracted as a speech output target (step S19), and is synthesized by speech synthesis processing (12a4). A synthesized speech signal for reading out the text data is generated, and a readout speech based on the synthesized speech is output from the speaker 18 via the amplifier 18a (steps S20 to S22).

  At this time, when the parenthesis part such as () or [] is included in the text data which is highlighted and extracted as the audio output target, the parenthesis part is deleted (step S 20). If the text data that has been highlighted H and extracted as a voice output target includes a midpoint “·”, the midpoint is also deleted (step S21), and unnecessary portions of the read-out voice are deleted. Then, a synthesized sound output process is performed (step S22).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display operation and a voice utterance operation of the search information display screen G1 corresponding to the headword “education” having no real voice data accompanying the dictionary search voice output process of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10. It is.

  In the display state of the search word list screen searched according to the user's desired input characters (steps S1 and S2), the user moves the cursor according to the user operation on the keyboard 14 and inputs the operation of the “translation / decision” key 14d. When a desired headword (for example, “education” is selected (step S3), the selected headword “education” and its explanatory information are read from the dictionary data 12b1 and stored in the search headword memory 12c2. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the search information display screen G1 is displayed on the display unit 17 as well as being stored (step S4).

  In the search information display screen G1 for the search headword “education”, when a key operation signal corresponding to the operation of the “voice” key 14g of the keyboard 14 is input to set the voice output mode (step S5). As shown in FIG. 7B, a “voice” icon 21 is displayed in the dictionary name column on the search information display screen G1, and it is notified that the voice output mode is being selected (step S6).

  Then, the headword “education” searched and displayed on the search information display screen G1 is not registered as the voice dictionary data 12b2 in the database ROM 12b, for example, as a headword having no real voice data. The headword “education” being displayed on the search information display screen G1 is highlighted H as shown in FIG. 7B. At this time, the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed (step S11).

  The "translation / decision" key is used to output the sound in the state where the search word "education" on the search information display screen G1 is highlighted H and the "true voice" icon 23 is not displayed. When 14d is operated (step S18), the highlighted text data “education” is extracted as a speech output target (step S19), and a synthesized speech signal is generated to read out the text data by speech synthesis processing (12a4). Then, a read-out sound based on the synthesized sound is output from the speaker 18 via the amplifier 18a (steps S20 to S22).

  At this time, when the parenthesis part such as () or [] is included in the text data which is highlighted and extracted as the audio output target, the parenthesis part is deleted (step S 20). If the text data that has been highlighted H and extracted as a voice output target includes a midpoint “·”, the midpoint is also deleted (step S21), and unnecessary portions of the read-out voice are deleted. Then, a synthesized sound output process is performed (step S22).

  On the other hand, when the “down cursor” key 14eD is operated in a state where the search headword “education” is highlighted, as shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, a “true voice” icon is displayed. 23 is not displayed, and the specified line by the reverse display H is moved in the direction of the cursor operation according to the number of operations, and each sentence includes the specified line (in the case of a single operation, “the process... college ”) (“ Jody's grandmother… school) ”in the case of three operations is highlighted (step S12 → S13).

  Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 7D, the third example sentence “Jody's grandmother ... school).” Of the search headword “education” on the search information display screen G1 is highlighted H. At the same time, when the “translation / decision” key 14d is operated to output the sound without the “true voice” icon 23 being displayed (step S18), the highlighted text data “Jody's grandmother” is displayed. ... school). "Is extracted as a voice output target (step S19), and a synthesized voice signal that reads out the text data is generated by the voice synthesis process (12a4), and the voice is read out by the synthesized voice from the speaker 18 via the amplifier 18a. Is output (steps S20 to S22).

  At this time, when the text data that is highlighted H and extracted as an audio output target includes parentheses such as () and [], the parentheses (in this case, “(= education in a school) ”) is deleted (step S20), and when the middle point“ · ”is included in the text data that is highlighted H and extracted as a voice output target, Deleted (step S21), unnecessary portions are deleted from the read-out voice, and a synthesized sound output process (step S22) is performed.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7C, the first example sentence “the process... College” of the search word “education” on the search information display screen G1 is highlighted H. When the “right cursor” key 14eR is operated, the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed, and the current designated digit “the” by the reverse display H moves to the right of the cursor operation every time the cursor operation is performed. For example, in the case of one right cursor operation, as shown in FIG. 7 (E), the text data “process... College” of the subsequent sentence including the designated digit “process” at the beginning of one digit is inverted. Display H is displayed (steps S14 to S17).

  Here, when the “translation / decision” key 14d is operated to perform voice output on the text data “process... College” in which the head position of the specified example sentence is arbitrarily moved and changed by the “right cursor” key 14eR. (Step S18), the highlighted text data “process... College” is extracted as a voice output target (Step S19), and a synthesized voice signal that reads out the text data is generated by voice synthesis processing (12a4). To read out a voice read out by the synthesized voice (steps S20 to S22).

  In this way, in particular, when an example sentence etc. is designated and the reading voice is to be output, the output start digit (first word) of the reading voice is easily changed to a desired position by operating the “right cursor” key 14eR. Voice output.

  Note that the designated position by the inverted display H is being displayed in a state where the designated position of the reading voice output target by the inverted display H on the search information display screen G1 is moved and changed by the operation of the “right cursor” key 14eR. When the search headword information is returned beyond the end of the search headword information, the specified position is searched according to the headword having actual speech data as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, for example. If it is determined that the position is the position of the “speaker” icon 22 on the information display screen G1 (steps S14 to S16), the process proceeds to the processing of steps S8 to S10. In addition to the display processing of the “true voice” icon 23, the reading speech output processing by the actual speech of the current search word according to the operation of the “translation / decision” key 14d is executed.

  On the other hand, for example, in the search information display screen G1 for the headword “education” shown in FIG. 7A (steps S1 to S4), the search is performed by operating the “shift” key 14i + “voice” key 14g. If it is determined that voice output [word voice] for each word of explanation information in the headword information is instructed (step S5 → S23), as shown in FIG. 7F, the dictionary on the search information display screen G1 A “speech” icon 21 is displayed in the name field to notify that the sound output mode is being selected (step S24).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the search headword “education” on the search information display screen G1 is a headword having real voice data (step S25), and the search headword “education” is real voice. If it is determined that the headword has no data, the first word “the” of the explanation information displayed on the search information display screen G1 is highlighted H as shown in FIG. The At this time, the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed (step S26).

  When the “down cursor” key 14eD is operated in a state where the explanation information head word “the” is highlighted H in the search information display screen G1 when such [word voice] is designated, the “true voice” icon 23 is operated. Is not displayed, the designated line with the reverse display H is moved in the direction of the cursor operation by an amount corresponding to the number of operations, and the word positioned at the head of the destination line is displayed in reverse video H (step S27). → S28).

  On the other hand, when the “right cursor” key 14eR is operated, the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed, and the designated word of the current word by the reverse display H becomes the word in the right direction of the cursor operation every time the cursor is operated. For example, in the case of one right cursor operation, the word adjacent to the right is highlighted H (steps S29 to S32).

  Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 7F, the first word “the” in the first example sentence of the search word “education” on the search information display screen G1 is highlighted H and “ When the “translation / decision” key 14d is operated to output the voice in a state where the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed (step S33), the text data “the” of the highlighted word is displayed. Extracted as a speech output target (step S34), a synthesized speech signal for reading out the text data is generated by speech synthesis processing (12a4), and a word reading speech based on the synthesized speech is output from the speaker 18 (steps S35 and S36). .

  At this time, if the midpoint “·” is included in the text data of the word that has been highlighted H and extracted as a voice output target, the midpoint data is deleted (step S35) and read out. A portion unnecessary for the voice is deleted, and a synthesized sound output process is performed (step S36).

  As described above, when an arbitrary word in the searched and displayed explanation information is designated and the reading voice is to be output, the designated line of the word by the reverse display H is moved by operating the “down cursor key” 14eD. At the same time, by operating the “right cursor” key 14eR, the digit position of the reverse display H is easily moved to an arbitrary word in the specified line, and the read-out voice of the specified word by the reverse display H is output as a synthesized voice. be able to.

  On the other hand, in the search information display screen G1 of any headword (steps S1 to S4), the voice for each word of the explanation information in the search headword information by the operation input of the “shift” key 14i + “voice” key 14g. Even when it is determined that the output [word speech] has been instructed (steps S5 → S23), it is determined that the search headword is a headword having actual voice data in the voice dictionary data 12b2. In this case (step S25 (Yes)), the “speaker” icon 22 displayed at the head of the display line of the search headword is highlighted H and the “voice” icon displayed in step S24. A “true voice” icon 23 is displayed adjacent to 21 and the headword currently being displayed for search is a search headword having actual voice data, and the “translation / decision” key 14d at this time. The user is informed that real voice output is possible (steps S25 → S37).

  Then, when the “translation / decision” key 14d is operated (step S38), the reading voice based on the native voice recorded in the voice dictionary data 12b2 in association with the search headword is read out by the speaker 18. (Step S39).

  Here, when the “down cursor key” 14eD or the “right cursor key” 14eR is operated, the process proceeds to steps S27 to S32, and the reverse display H in the description information on the current search information display screen G1 is displayed. The line digit position is arbitrarily moved, and a word desired by the user is designated and displayed as a word to be read out. At this time, the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed.

  Then, by operating the “translation / decision” key 14d (step S33), a read-out synthesized speech of a word in the explanation information designated by the reverse display H is generated and output from the speaker 18 (step S34). To S36).

  It should be noted that the word designation position by the reverse display H is changed in a state where the word designation position to be read out by the reverse display H on the search information display screen G1 is changed by the operation of the “right cursor” key 14eR. When the search headword information being displayed exceeds the end and returns to the top, the designated position corresponds to the headword having actual speech data as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B), for example. If it is determined that the position is the position of the “speaker” icon 22 on the search information display screen G1 (steps S29 to S31), the process proceeds to steps S37 to S39, and the “speaker” icon 22 is reversed. Along with the display processing of the display H and the “true voice” icon 23, the reading speech output processing by the actual speech of the current search word according to the operation of the “translation / decision” key 14 d is executed .

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display operation of the search example display screen G2 corresponding to the headword “get” associated with the dictionary search voice output process of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10.

  In such a search example display screen G2, the position of the reverse display H for designating and displaying the example of the read-out voice output target is shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B according to the operation of the “down cursor key” 14eD. ), The display is moved to the next example in the row direction, and at this time, the space between words in the example sentence, parentheses “()” “[]”, midpoint “·”, apostrophe “ “” Is ignored, and the text data of the sentence is designated by the reverse display H (step S12 → S13).

  FIG. 9 shows the designated state by the reverse display H of the voice output target text on the search information display screen G1 and the search example display screen G2 associated with the dictionary search voice output processing of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10, and its synthesized voice output. It is a figure which shows the relationship.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9A, the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed on the search example display screen G2, and the text data “He took… shelf” of the voice output target that is highlighted H is displayed. "Is read out from" He "to" shelf ", and synthesized speech is generated and output (steps S18 to S22).

  As shown in FIG. 9B, the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed on the search information display screen G1, and the text data “get · at” of the headword that is the audio output target that is highlighted H is displayed. “A-ble” is generated and output by reading out synthesized speech from which “•” and “−” are deleted (steps S18 to S22).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9C, the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed on the search example display screen G2, and the text data “take notes… lecture” of the audio output target that is highlighted H is displayed. Is generated and output (steps S18 to S22).

  Therefore, according to the dictionary search function and the voice output function of the mobile device (electronic dictionary) 10 having the above-described configuration, an arbitrary entry word is keyed in and searched based on the dictionary data 12b1, and the searched entry word and In the search information display screen G1 on which the explanatory information is displayed, when the search headword is a headword having real voice data in which native pronunciation is recorded in the voice dictionary data 12b2, the headword display position The “speaker” icon 22 is highlighted H and the “true voice” icon 23 is displayed at the top of the “Speaker” icon, and the utterance reading voice based on the actual voice data is output according to the operation input of the “translation / decision” key 14d. On the other hand, when the search headword is a headword having no real voice data in the voice dictionary data 12b2, the “speaker” icon 22 and the “toe” are displayed. There is no display of the “voice” icon 23, and the headword itself is highlighted H, and the headword reading voice by the synthesized voice is output according to the operation input of the “translation / decision” key 14d. It is clear to the user whether the voice output is read out using real speech or synthesized speech without requiring a search operation or voice output operation using different procedures for the spoken word and the headword that does not exist. Can be notified.

  Further, according to the dictionary search function and voice output function of the mobile device (electronic dictionary) 10 having the above-described configuration, after the searched headword is output as a read-out voice, according to the operation input of the “cursor” key 14e up / down / left / right Then, the text designation position of the voice output target by the reverse display H on the search information display screen G1 is arbitrarily moved in the line digit direction for each sentence unit in the explanation information, and according to the operation input of the “translation / decision” key 14d Thus, the read-out voice by the synthesized voice is output, so that one sentence of the arbitrary text which is not the “speaker” icon 22 is highlighted H, and the “true voice” icon 23 is not displayed, so that the read-out voice by the synthesized voice is obtained. This makes it possible to synthesize and output the text of one sentence designated by the reverse display H while clearly informing the user.

  Further, according to the dictionary search function and the voice output function by the mobile device (electronic dictionary) 10 having the above-described configuration, the “true voice” icon 23 is a “speaker” that informs that the search headword has actual voice data. Since the icon 22 is displayed as it is highlighted and designated, it is possible to clearly notify that it is possible to output the read-out speech by the actual speech of the search word in that state.

  In addition, according to the dictionary search function and the voice output function of the mobile device (electronic dictionary) 10 having the above-described configuration, in a state where the explanation information of the search headword is highlighted H for each sentence and designated as a voice output target, “ Since the start position of the reverse display H is moved and displayed in units of words in the digit direction according to the operation input of the “left and right cursor” keys 14eL and 14eR, the output start position of the reading speech in the designated one sentence is arbitrarily changed. Only a part of the sound can be output by operating.

  Furthermore, according to the dictionary search function and the voice output function by the mobile device (electronic dictionary) 10 having the above-described configuration, for example, a word or an example sentence that is a voice output target designated by the reverse display H on the search information display screen G1. For text data, symbols such as midpoint “•” included in words and enclosing symbols such as “()” “[]” included in example sentences are deleted and synthesized speech is generated and output. It is possible to output a correct synthesized speech excluding a portion unnecessary for reading out specified text data.

  In the dictionary search function and the voice output function by the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10 of the embodiment, the headword search mainly according to the dictionary data 12b1 and the voice dictionary data 12b2 related to English, its display operation, and designated text In the case where there is no actual voice for the data, the output operation of each reading voice has been described. As shown in FIG. In the example display screen G3, the display of the “voice” icon 21 and the reverse display H of the “speaker” icon 22 and the display of the “true voice” icon 23 associated therewith are set as fixed ones. Is configured such that only the words of the search headword can be read out and output by real speech only.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the display operation of the German word search example display screen G3 corresponding to the headword “gut” associated with the dictionary search voice output processing related to the German word of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10.

  That is, in this German word search example display screen G3, the display of the “voice” icon 21 and the reverse display H of the “speaker” icon 22 and the display of the “true voice” icon 23 associated therewith are fixed. By making it possible to read out only the words in real speech only and output the synthesized speech output in English reading according to the spelling of the alphabet by arbitrarily specifying the German words themselves and example sentences To prevent.

  Note that each processing method by the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10 described in each of the embodiments, that is, the dictionary search voice output process (part 1) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, and the dictionary search voice output shown in the flowchart of FIG. Each method such as processing (part 2) is a program that can be executed by a computer, such as a memory card (ROM card, RAM card, etc.) 13, a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disc (CD-ROM). , DVD, etc.) and an external storage medium such as a semiconductor memory for distribution. The various computer terminals having the dictionary database (12b) read the program stored in the external storage medium into the program ROM 12a, and the operation is controlled by the read program. A dictionary search / speech output function can be realized, and the same processing can be executed by the method described above.

  Further, program data for realizing each of the above methods can be transmitted on a communication network (Internet) N as a program code form, and a computer terminal (program server) connected to the communication network (Internet) N The above-mentioned program data can be taken in from the above and the dictionary search / voice output function described above can be realized.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention at the stage of implementation. Furthermore, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in each embodiment or some constituent features are combined, the problems described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved. When the effects described in the column of the effect of the invention can be obtained, a configuration in which these constituent elements are deleted or combined can be extracted as an invention.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic circuit of the portable apparatus (electronic dictionary) 10 which concerns on embodiment of the electronic device of this invention. The figure which shows the content of the data memorize | stored in program ROM12a, database ROM12b, and RAM12c of the said portable device (electronic dictionary) 10. FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an external configuration of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10. 6 is a flowchart showing dictionary search voice output processing (part 1) by the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10; 7 is a flowchart showing dictionary search voice output processing (part 2) by the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10; The figure which shows the display operation | movement of the search information display screen G1 corresponding to the headword "get" which has real audio | voice data accompanying the dictionary search audio | voice output process of the said portable device (electronic dictionary) 10, and audio | voice utterance operation | movement. The figure which shows the display operation | movement of the search information display screen G1 corresponding to the headword "education" which does not have real audio | voice data with the dictionary search audio | voice output process of the said portable device (electronic dictionary) 10, and audio | voice utterance operation | movement. The figure which shows the display operation | movement of the example display screen G2 for a search corresponding to the headword "get" accompanying the dictionary search audio | voice output process of the said portable apparatus (electronic dictionary) 10. FIG. The relationship between the designated state by the reverse display H of the voice output object text on the search information display screen G1 and the search example display screen G2 accompanying the dictionary search voice output processing of the portable device (electronic dictionary) 10 and the synthesized voice output is shown. Figure. The figure which shows the display operation | movement of the example display screen G3 for German word search corresponding to the headword "gut" accompanying the dictionary search audio | voice output process regarding the German word of the said portable device (electronic dictionary) 10. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Mobile device (electronic dictionary)
11 ... CPU
12a ... Program ROM
12a1 ... main processing program 12a2 ... dictionary search processing program 12a3 ... synthesized speech output processing program 12a4 ... speech synthesis processing program 12b ... database ROM
12b1 ... Dictionary data 12b2 ... Speech dictionary data 12b3 ... Synthetic speech data 12c ... RAM
12c1 ... Input character memory 12c2 ... Search headword memory 12c3 ... Keyword information designation position memory 13 ... Memory card 14 ... Keyboard (Key)
14a ... "ON / OFF" key 14bn ... Each dictionary key 14c ... Character input key 14d ... "Translation / Determination" key 14e ... Each cursor key 14f ... Up / Down key 14g ... "Voice" key 14h ... "Example / explanation" Key 14i ... "Shift" key 14j ... "Back" key 15 ... Touch panel 16 ... Input part 17 ... Display part (LCD)
18 ... Speaker 18a ... Amplifier (Amp)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Power supply circuit 21 ... "Voice" icon 22 ... "Speaker" icon 23 ... "True voice" icon B ... Battery power G1 ... Search information display screen G2 ... Search example display screen G3 ... German language search example display screen H ... Reverse instruction display

Claims (7)

Dictionary storage means for storing a headword and its explanation information in association with each other;
Voice storage means for storing real speech corresponding to a predetermined headword among headwords stored by the dictionary storage means;
Dictionary search display control means for searching and displaying the headword stored in the dictionary storage means corresponding to the input headword and its explanation information;
Voice output instruction means for instructing voice output in response to a user operation;
On the display screen of the headword displayed by the dictionary search display control means and its explanation information, when the voice output instruction means instructs to output the voice, the actual word corresponding to the headword being displayed is displayed. A designated display control means for designating and displaying a specific mark when speech is stored by the speech storage means, and for designating and displaying a headword that is being displayed when not stored.
Real voice output control means for outputting the real voice stored in the voice storage means corresponding to the headword being displayed when a specific mark is designated and displayed by the designation display control means;
A synthesized speech output control means for generating and outputting a synthesized speech corresponding to the headword when the headword being displayed is designated and displayed by the designated display control means;
An electronic device characterized by comprising: further,
On the display screen of the headword displayed by the dictionary search display control means and its explanation information, the position of the designated display for the specific mark or headword by the designated display control means is explained according to the user operation A designated position movement control means for moving an arbitrary sentence included in the information;
The synthesized voice output control means includes a single sentence voice output control means for generating and outputting a synthesized voice corresponding to the one sentence when one sentence of the explanation information being displayed is designated and displayed by the designated position movement control means. Have
The electronic device according to claim 1. further,
A designated head position change control means for changing the head position of the designated display for any one sentence in the explanation information moved by the designated position movement control means to change back and forth according to a user operation;
When the designated display start position for one sentence of the explanation information being displayed is changed by the designated start position change control means, the synthesized speech output control means corresponds to the portion after the start position of the designated display of the sentence. Having a partial voice output control means for generating and outputting the synthesized voice,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an electronic device. further,
2. An actual voice mark display control means for displaying a real voice mark indicating that a real voice can be output when a specific mark is designated and displayed by the designation display control means. Item 4. The electronic device according to any one of Item 3.   The synthesized speech output control means generates and outputs a synthesized speech corresponding to a character string from which the symbol is deleted when a symbol is included in the designated and displayed character string of the speech output target. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The synthesized speech output control means generates and outputs a synthesized speech corresponding to a character string from which a range of the parenthesis symbol is deleted when the designated and displayed speech output target character string includes a parenthesis symbol. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is characterized in that: Dictionary storage means for storing a headword and its explanation information in association with each other, and voice storage means for storing real speech corresponding to a predetermined headword among headwords stored by the dictionary storage means A control program for controlling a computer of an electronic device comprising:
The computer,
Dictionary search display control means for searching and displaying the headword stored in the dictionary storage means corresponding to the input headword and its explanation information;
On the display screen of the headword displayed by the dictionary search display control means and its explanation information, when the voice output is instructed according to the user operation, the actual voice corresponding to the headword being displayed Designated display control means for designating and displaying a specific mark if it is stored by the voice storage means, and for designating and displaying the headword being displayed if not stored,
Real voice output control means for outputting the real voice stored in the voice storage means corresponding to the headword being displayed when a specific mark is designated and displayed by the designation display control means;
A synthesized voice output control means for generating and outputting a synthesized voice corresponding to the headword when the headword being displayed is designated and displayed by the designated display control means;
A computer-readable electronic device control program for functioning as a computer.

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