JP3265604B2 - Sound generator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sound generator for converting data read by a bar code reader into sound and outputting the sound.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there have been known English word pronunciation training machines and English conversation training machines which store voice data of words or sentences in a ROM and output the words or sentences selected by the user in voice. ing.

When practicing pronunciation of English words or practicing English conversation, the more the number of English words and the type of conversation that can be output, the better. As the number of types increases, a large-capacity ROM is required, and the cost of the apparatus increases.

[0004] Further, it is demanded that an English word pronunciation practice machine, an English conversation practice machine, etc. be able to pronounce at a speed lower than a normal pronunciation speed in order to make the pronunciation easier to remember.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a voice generating apparatus which can output many words or sentences at low cost and can change the output speed of voice easily.

[0006]

The gist of the present invention is to read bar-coded audio data with a bar code reader and convert the read bar code into voice at a speed corresponding to the reading speed at the time of reading. It is to output sound.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a sound generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The sound generator of this embodiment has a pencil-type shape in which a barcode reader 1 and a speaker 2 for outputting sound are integrated.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 2, in the dictionary used in the voice generating apparatus, a bar code-converted voice code is printed following a word and a sentence. The bar code is scanned to read a voice code, and the voice code is converted into voice and output from the speaker unit 2.

A display unit 3 such as a liquid crystal display device is provided on a side surface of the sound generation device, and the display unit 3 can display time and the like. Next, FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram of the sound generator. The clock signal generated by the oscillating circuit 11 is frequency-divided by the frequency dividing circuit 12 to a predetermined frequency and output to the time counting circuit 13 and the AND gate 14.

The time counting circuit 13 counts the signal output from the frequency dividing circuit 12 to obtain time data, and outputs the time data to the CPU 15. The CPU 15 is a central processing unit that detects a switch input from the switch unit 16, stores a voice code read by the barcode reader unit 1 in the RAM 17, displays time, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the RAM 17. RA
M17 includes a mode register M for storing a numerical value corresponding to the operation mode, and whether to generate sound at a speed set by the user or to generate sound at a speed corresponding to the reading speed of the barcode reader unit 1. Decide flag FS
A register FM for storing a three-step sounding speed set by the user, a register FV for storing a three-step sounding speed set in accordance with the barcode reading speed, and restoration from a bar-coded voice code. There is provided a pronunciation data storage unit 17a for storing the converted audio data, and a length data storage unit 17b for storing length data indicating the length of the barcode.

The registers FM and FV store numerical values corresponding to the sounding speed. For example, "1" is sounded at a normal speed, and "2" is sounded at a slightly slower speed. When sounding at a lower speed, "3" is stored.

Returning to FIG. 3, the timer circuit 18 is a circuit for measuring the time from the start of bar code reading to the stop thereof.
This is a circuit for starting and stopping the timer time measurement by the timer circuit 18 in accordance with a signal from U15.

When the set signal is output from the CPU 15, the timer circuit 18 is cleared, and at the same time, the flip-flop 19 is set, and the clock signal from the frequency dividing circuit 12 is supplied to the timer circuit 16 via the AND gate 14.

After the timer time measurement starts, the CP
When the reset signal is output from U15, the flip-flop 19 is reset, the AND gate 14 is closed, and the supply of the clock signal from the frequency divider 12 is stopped.

The voice synthesizer 20 synthesizes voice from voice data read by the bar code reader unit 1 and stored in the RAM 17, and outputs the synthesized voice from the speaker 2. Next, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the voice generating device.
First, in step S1 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the value of the mode register M is "0". If M = 0, the mode is the watch mode. In this case, it is determined whether or not a switch input has been performed in the next step S2, and if a switch input has been performed, it is further determined in step S3 whether or not the switch M has been operated. Determine.

When the switch M is operated, "1" is set in the mode register M in step S4 to switch to the learning mode. If the switch M is not operated in the determination in step S3, another switch process in step S5 is executed. Thereafter, the time display process of step S6 is executed, and the current time is displayed on the display unit 3.

If it is determined in step S1 that the value of the mode register M is M ≠ 0, the learning mode is M = 1. In this case, the learning mode process in step S7 is executed. FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the learning mode processing. In step S11 in FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not a switch input has been made. When there is a switch input,
In the next step S12, it is determined whether or not the switch M is operated.

If the switch M has been operated, "0" is set in the mode register M in step S13 to switch to the clock mode. If it is determined in step S12 that the switch M has not been operated, it is determined in step S14 whether or not the switch A has been operated. If the switch A has been operated, it is further determined in step S15 whether or not the flag FS is "0".

If FS = 0, the flag FS is set to "1" in step S16, and if FS ≠ 0, the flag FS is set to "0" in step S17. That is, by operating the switch A, it is possible to select whether to sound at a speed set by the user (FS = 0 state) or to sound at a speed corresponding to the barcode reading speed (FS = 1 state). Can be.

Thereafter, in a step S34, it is determined whether or not the flag FS is "0". If FS = 0, the sound is generated at the speed set by the user. In this case, the content of the flag FS and the data indicating the sound generation speed set in the register FM are displayed on the display unit 3 in step S36.

If FS = 1, the sound is generated at a speed corresponding to the reading speed of the bar code. In this case, the contents of the flag FS and the contents of the register FV are displayed in step S35.

If it is determined in step S14 that the switch A is not operated, the flow advances to step S18 to switch B
It is determined whether or not the operation is performed. If the switch B is operated, the process proceeds to step S19 to determine whether or not the read data is a start code. If the start code is detected, the flip-flop 19 is set in the next step S20, and at the same time, the timer circuit is set. 18 is cleared to start measuring the timer time.

Here, the bar code printed on the dictionary has a configuration as shown in FIG. 7, in which a start code is provided at the beginning, followed by a voice code and a length indicating the length of the bar code. The code and the end code are provided at the end.

When the start code is detected by reading the bar code as described above, the read voice code is converted into voice data in the next step S21 and stored in the sound data storage unit 17a of the RAM 17.

Further, it is determined whether or not the code read in step S22 is a length code. If the code is not a length code, the conversion process to voice data in step S21 is repeated, and if a length code is detected, the length code is detected. Is stored in the length code storage unit 17b of the RAM 17.

Next, in step S24, it is determined whether or not the end code is detected. If the end code is not detected, the reading of the length code is repeated in step S23, and if the end code is detected, in the next step S25. The flip-flop 19 is reset to stop timer measurement.

Then, in step S26, the timer circuit 18
The bar code reading speed is determined from the reading time and the length data. Then, in step S27, it is determined whether the reading speed is higher than normal, slightly lower, or lower. If the reading speed is higher than usual, the register F is set in step S28.
V is set to "1", and if the reading speed is slightly slower, "2" is set to the register FV in step S29. If the reading speed is low, "3" is set in the register FV in step S30.
Set.

Next, at step S31, the flag FS is set to "0".
That is, it is determined whether the sound is generated at a speed set by the user or whether the sound is generated at a speed corresponding to the reading speed.

When FS ≠ 0, the sound is generated at a speed corresponding to the bar code reading speed. In this case, the process proceeds to step S32, and the sound is generated at the speed determined by the value of the register FV.

When FS = 0, sound is generated at a speed set by the user. In this case, step S
The program proceeds to step 33, at which a sound is generated at the sound generation speed set in the register FM by operating a switch D described later.

Thereafter, steps S34 to S36 described above are performed.
Is executed, and if FS = 0, a numerical value indicating the sound generation speed set in the register FV by the user is displayed,
If FS = 1, a numerical value indicating the sound generation speed corresponding to the reading speed of the register FM is displayed.

If it is determined in step S18 that the switch B has not been operated, the flow advances to step S37 to switch C
It is determined whether or not the operation is performed. If the switch C has been operated, it is determined in the next step S38 whether or not the voice data has been stored in the pronunciation data storage unit 17a. If the voice data is stored in the pronunciation data storage unit 17a, the processing from step S31 described above is executed, and the speed set by the user according to whether the flag FS is "0" or the barcode reading speed is determined. At a different speed.

That is, by operating the switch C, the already pronounced word or sentence stored in the pronunciation data storage section 17a can be repeatedly pronounced. If it is determined in step S37 that the switch C has not been operated, the flow advances to step S39 to determine whether or not the switch D has been operated. If the switch D is operated, the content of the register FM is cyclically changed to "1 to 3" in step S40.

That is, by operating the switch D, an arbitrary numerical value of "1" to "3" is set in the register FM, and the sound is generated at any one of three speeds of a normal speed, a slightly slow speed, and a slow speed. You can choose to do it.

If it is determined in step S39 that the switch operated is not the switch D, it means that another switch other than the above-mentioned switch has been operated, so that step S4 is performed.
One other switch process is executed.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, words, sentences, and the like are pronounced at three speeds of normal speed, slightly slow speed, and slow speed in accordance with the barcode reading speed. Alternatively, by changing the scanning speed of the barcode reader unit 1 in accordance with the degree of understanding of a sentence, an arbitrary speed is selected from among three stages of sounding speeds, and the sound is pronounced at that speed, and the pronunciation of words or sentences is performed. Can practice.

Next, FIG. 8 is an external view of another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has a structure in which a bar code reader and a sound generating section containing a CPU and the like are separated. In this case, since it is not necessary to incorporate a display unit or a speaker in the barcode reader unit, the barcode reader unit can be made more compact. Note that data may be sent wirelessly between the barcode reader and the sound generator.

[0039]

According to the present invention, a word, a sentence, etc. can be pronounced at a speed corresponding to the reading speed of a bar code reader. By changing the reading speed of the reader, it is possible to produce a sound at a speed suitable for oneself.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a voice generating device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dictionary.

FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram of the sound generation device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a RAM.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a learning mode process.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a barcode.

FIG. 8 is an external view of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 bar code reader unit 2 speaker 3 display unit 17 RAM 18 timer circuit

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-56-5600 (JP, A) JP-A-57-201963 (JP, A) JP-A-58-218000 (JP, A) JP-A-59-2019 67569 (JP, A) JP-A-3-7998 (JP, A) JP-A-63-113179 (JP, U) JP-A-63-113180 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G10L 13/00-13/08 G06K 7/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bar code reader for reading a bar code in which voice data is coded, detecting means for detecting a reading speed when the bar code is read by the bar code reader, and reading by the bar code reader. An audio output unit for converting a barcode into audio and outputting the audio at a speed corresponding to the reading speed detected by the detection unit.