JPH0580971A - Voice input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a voice input device which detects a voice input level to receive the result information from the distant side after specifying a voice generating section and transmitting the voice generating contents to the distant side and at the same time changes the voice input level, the voice transmitting direction, and the voice transmission output level. CONSTITUTION:A voice input means 2 is provided together with a voice level detector means 3 which controls the voice input gain and detects a voice generating section, a voice signal transmitter means 4 which transmits the input voices to the external equipments, a control signal receiver means 5 which receives the response signals from the external equipments, a timer means 6 which starts counting the time when the end of the voice generation is confirmed by the means 3 after the start of the voice generation is confirmed and finishes the counting when a control signal is received, and a result deciding means 7 which decides the result of the received control signal. In such a constitution, it is possible to obtain a voice input device where the means 5 accepts the state of the voice signal received by the external equipment, controls the accepted state at a proper voice input level, and can perform the input control accordant with transmission of the voice signals.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice input device having means for transmitting an input voice signal to a place distant from an input section when receiving a voice input.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a voice input device, such as a wireless microphone or a cordless telephone, modulates a voice signal received by an input section using various modulation methods, and uses an electric wave or the like to externally transmit the signal to the other party. The audio signal is transmitted to a device (hereinafter simply referred to as an external device).

A conventional voice input device will be described below. FIG. 4 shows a conventional voice input device. Figure 4
In the figure, 51 is a voice input device described here.
Reference numeral 52 is a voice input means for capturing the uttered voice. 5
Reference numeral 3 is a voice level detecting means for detecting and adjusting the voice level in order to adjust the voice input gain and obtain a proper voice signal when performing the voice signal processing. Reference numeral 54 is a voice signal transmitting means for modulating and transmitting the inputted voice signal.

The voice input device 51 configured as described above
The operation will be described below. To embody the description, a wireless microphone is assumed as the voice input device 51. First, switch on the wireless microphone to enable voice input. Next, speak a word or words toward the input part of the wireless microphone. The voice input means 52 receives this input. Then, the voice level detecting means 53 deletes a signal component which has a set threshold value and is considered to be a noise component, in order to detect the input level of voice. In addition, the input voice is limited to the components that can be transmitted in the transmission frequency band. Then, the voice signal transmitting means 54 modulates the input voice by using the defined modulation method and transmits the voice by a radio wave having a specific frequency band.

On the external device side, there is a device capable of receiving a signal having a specific frequency band, and the transmitted audio signal is demodulated and the audio signal is reproduced from a speaker or the like.
When the speaker hears the reproduced voice, the loudness level is determined by determining the loudness of the voice, changing the loudness of the voice, and changing the input level of the wireless microphone. The values are changed and adjusted so that an appropriate audio output can be obtained from the speaker.

[0006]

However, in the conventional configuration, in order to detect and adjust the voice level, the speaker hears the output from the external device and adjusts the input level. There was a problem that it was difficult to adjust in the place where the output from could not be heard. Also, the level adjustment is affected by both the input level and the transmission distance, so that there is a problem in that it is not possible to make an appropriate adjustment for transmitting an audio signal by adjusting only the input level. It was

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a voice input device having means for adjusting to an appropriate level according to the input and transmission distance of an input voice signal. To aim.

[0008]

To achieve this object, the present invention provides a voice input means for receiving a voice input, and a voice level detection for adjusting a gain of the voice input from the voice input means to detect a vocal section. Means, a voice signal transmitting means for transmitting the input voice to an external device, a control signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from the external device, and a voice level detecting means for confirming the start of utterance and then confirming the end of utterance. A timer means for starting the counting and for measuring the time until the control signal is received by the control signal receiving means; and a result determining means for determining the result of the control signal received by the control signal receiving means. It is a thing.

[0009]

With this configuration, the control signal receiving means has a means for receiving the state of the audio signal received by the external device side and adjusting it to an appropriate audio input level, so that the audio output of the external device side cannot be heard. In addition, it is possible to provide a voice input device capable of input adjustment suitable for voice signal transmission.

[0010]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a voice input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a voice input device according to the present invention, 2 is voice input means for receiving voice input, 3 is voice level detection means for adjusting voice input gain and detecting a vocal section, and 4 is input device side (external device side). It is an audio signal transmitting means for transmitting to (not shown). Reference numeral 5 is a control signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from an external device. Reference numeral 6 denotes a timer means, which starts the measurement when the voice level detecting means 3 confirms the start of the utterance and then confirms the end of the utterance, and the time until the control signal receiving means 5 receives the control signal. To measure. Reference numeral 7 is a result judging means for judging the result of the received control signal. Reference numeral 8 is an output means for outputting the state to the user according to the processing result of the result judging means 7.

The operation of the voice input device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is assumed that the voice input gain is an initial value or an appropriate value set previously. When the user starts voice input to the voice input device 1, the voice level detecting means 3 causes
A voice level above a certain threshold is detected to confirm the start of utterance. During the utterance period, the voice signal is modulated into a signal that can be transmitted to an external device (for example, FM modulation), and a signal having a specific frequency band is transmitted. Radio waves or light such as infrared rays are used for this transmission.

After confirming the start of utterance, the voice level detecting means 3 can know the end of utterance when the input becomes a level below a certain threshold value. Simultaneously with the end of this utterance, the timer means 6 starts the timer.
This timer means 6 starts, stops counting of time,
It has a function of clearing and a means for designating a countable time and outputting a signal that the time has reached when the count advances to the designated time.

On the other hand, the control signal receiving means 5 waits for control information from an external device. When the control information is not received within the designated time set in the timer, the result judging means 7 receives the signal from the timer means 6, stops the counting function of the timer, and performs the time-out process. Details of the timeout process will be described later.

When the control signal receiving means 5 receives the control information within the designated time, first the counter of the timer means 6 is stopped and the received control information is sent to the result judging means 7. The result determination means 7 determines the control information that has been sent, and performs control according to the content.

The control information includes the following contents. The signal level received by the external device. Operating status of the external device. Voice input can be accepted or not accepted. An instruction to change the audio signal transmission form, for example, an instruction to change the frequency transmitted from the audio signal transmission means 4 (for example, use the reference frequency at the initial stage and use the assigned frequency afterwards) and control information transmitted from the external device side. Frequency change instruction, modulation method change instruction, analog signal transmission and digital signal transmission type.
In the case of digital signal transmission, there are an instruction to change the sampling frequency, an instruction to change the quantization level value, a change in the setting of the designated time-out, and the like.

When the voice input device 1 has the output means 3, the control signal for outputting the result message of the processing state by voice output and the input prompt message is transmitted. Of course, the output means 8 transmits the control message necessary for outputting the result message and the input prompting message in the case of the display output of the crystal device or the like as in the case of the voice output.

The timeout processing by the result judging means 7 is carried out as follows. The reason for the time-out that occurred is that the external device is not powered on, so it cannot accept the audio signal, or if there is an object that blocks the transmission signal in a place far from the audio signal, or in the middle. There may be a case where the transmission method does not match due to a difference in transmission / reception frequency. In such a case, if an output device is included, a message indicating the content is output, and an operation on the external device side and confirmation of the transmission path are requested. The output frequency is changed, the output level is changed, and the output direction is changed when an optical signal is used. By repeating these operations, the audio signal is transmitted again, and the operation of waiting for a response from the external device side again is repeated. The result judging means 7 has a function of performing all or a part of the work following the frequency change and narrowing down the contents of the trouble. For example, when using radio waves,
If a timeout occurs even if the reference frequency is maximum output, a message is output to confirm the operating status of the external device. On the other hand, if the timeout is not detected when the output is increased or the output direction is changed,
After that, use will continue in that state. If necessary, change the timeout setting time (if the response is not confirmed, change it a little longer).

The following operations are performed in order to change the voice input gain. The external device side determines the adjustment level difference between the voice input level and the voice input level, and determines the content.
Send to. The result judging means 7 receives the contents via the control signal receiving means 5, and changes the input gain of the voice level detecting means 3. When changing the threshold value of the input voice, as in the above case, the signal for changing the threshold value is output from the external device side in order to obtain a voice level convenient for the audio signal processing on the external device side.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the control is performed using the voice signal handled by the external device side, for example, when the voice recognition means is used, the utterance section is specified and
It is an effective means for obtaining a voice signal that is easy to recognize.
When the voice input is very long (such as reading), voice signal output and control signal reception may be performed bidirectionally. Even in such a case, the input gain and the like are automatically changed, and a device that always transmits an appropriate audio signal can be configured.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The configuration of the voice input device is similar to that of the first embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the voice input device 1
An example will be described in which a signal is transmitted between an external device and an external device by radio waves, and one external device has one or more voice input devices 1. When using a single external device for a plurality of voice input devices 1,
As described in the first embodiment, a mode in which an appropriate frequency band is assigned from the external device side after the initial communication is performed using the reference frequency so that each voice input device 1 has a different frequency band Need to take.

To this end, a control signal for changing the frequency is output from the external device side, and the frequency output from the audio signal transmitting means 4 is output to the result determining means 7 via the control signal receiving means 5 according to the content of the corresponding signal. Change the band. When the input must be limited due to the limitation of the transmission frequency band, the voice input level of the voice level detecting means 3 may be limited.

Even if only one unit is normally used, the second or more units may be used at any time. Therefore, even in the case of only one unit, by adopting a configuration in which the frequency can be changed, it is possible to easily add the unit (without burdening the user).

When the center frequency of the transmission frequency band is used as the carrier frequency (when transmitting a voice signal, a specific frequency called the carrier frequency is continuously transmitted), the external device measures the input level of this carrier frequency. As a result, a control signal for designating the level of the audio signal output on the audio input device 1 side and the amount of change is output. With this configuration, the result determining means 7
Can realize the function of adjusting the output level of the audio signal transmitting means 4.

In the present embodiment, one external device has been described. However, even when there are a plurality of external devices, it is possible to cope with the change by changing the transmission frequency. By adopting a method that has a basic frequency for each external device, a method that determines the next frequency by communicating with an external device that has a unified basic frequency, is convenient, or has the fastest response, Even in the case of a configuration including a plurality of voice input devices 1 and a plurality of voice input devices 1, it is effective to have a means for changing the frequency.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The configuration of the voice input device is similar to that of the first embodiment. The difference is that the signal transmission between the voice input device 1 and an external device is performed by an optical signal,
An example of a case where there is one or more voice input devices 1 will be described. Also in the case of light, it is possible to have a means for changing the frequency and a means for changing the output level as in the case of the second embodiment.

The optical signal has a directivity because it has a shorter wavelength than that of a radio wave. Therefore, it has a feature of transmitting a signal only in a specific direction. The signal transmission level decreases as the distance from the center point in the transmission direction increases (when the center is 0 degrees, the angle increases). The external device is
A function of measuring the reception level and slightly changing the transmission direction of the voice signal transmission means 4 on the side of the voice input device 1 to output a control signal to measure the change in the reception level and set an appropriate transmission direction. Can be realized. By combining the transmission direction and the adjustment of the output level, it is possible to follow the movement of the voice input device 1 as well. If the external device also has the function of changing the input direction, a higher effect can be obtained.

In the case of light output, not only the light source output is increased, but also the light source is changed by changing the diameter of the lens, the angle between the light source and the lens, or the focus included in the light output section. The light amount can be changed without changing the output. The audio signal transmitting means 4 means adjusting the output of the light source and / or the positions of the light source and the lens.

It is also possible to provide two or more directions for outputting the audio signal. By providing two or more receivers on the external device side, even if one of the optical transmission paths is blocked, it is possible to continue holding transmission using another path. Further, since light has a characteristic of reflecting light, when the light transmission path is cut off, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the output direction is changed in order to search for a path to be reflected by a wall or the like for transmission.

(Embodiment 4) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows a voice input device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, 1 is a voice input device equivalent to that of the first embodiment, 21 is an external device, 22 is a voice signal input means, and 23.
Is a control signal output means, 24 is a voice recognition means, and 25 is a control signal determination means.

The external device 21 takes the transmitted voice signal into the voice recognition means 24 via the voice signal input means 25. The voice recognition means 24 performs voice recognition based on the input voice signal. The voice is used for designating an operation of the external device 21 or another device connected to the external device 21. Therefore, the target device on the external device side can be controlled by voice recognition of voice input such as running control of the tape device and time setting of a clock.

The voice recognition means 24 cannot always correctly recognize the vocabulary spoken. If the vocabulary is wrong, or if the utterance is interrupted in the middle, the input level is too low for voice recognition (the utterance is confirmed but the input level is too low for recognition), too high, or When the utterance is too long, or when a utterance other than the recognizable vocabulary is received, it is necessary to have a means for notifying the voice input device 1 side of that fact.

When the input is too small, the control signal determining means 25 issues a control signal for outputting a message to the effect that a louder voice is desired and a control signal for changing the voice input gain. And When the input is too large, as in the case where the input is too small, the control signal determining means 25 outputs a control signal for outputting a message to the effect that a smaller voice is desired and a control signal for changing the voice input gain. It is set to emit. In addition, I confirmed the utterance, but when I could not recognize it,
A control signal is generated to output a message that prompts the user to speak again.

There is an S / N ratio, which is a ratio of a voice signal and a noise signal, as a cause of preventing an increase in the voice recognition rate (probability of uttering a correct vocabulary and correctly selecting a corresponding vocabulary). The sources of this noise signal include the following factors. First
The cause of is the ambient noise mixed when the voice is input in the environment where the voice input device 1 is used. For example, the sound emitted by an audio device such as a television. Telephone bell sound. The voice of another person. There are also various sounds coming in from the surroundings. The second factor is noise that is transmitted when a voice signal is transmitted using a radio wave and the like and is received. When the voice input device 1 is used in a room, there is a high possibility that noise including a high frequency component emitted from various AV equipment, OA equipment, lighting equipment such as a fluorescent lamp is mixed. Other noise (due to sparks) emitted from motorcycles cannot be ignored.

In order to solve the first factor, there is a means in which a microphone having a strong directivity is used as the voice input means so that another peripheral signal is not mixed in as much as possible. There is also a means for changing the input gain by the voice level detecting means.
Furthermore, the voice level detecting means may be configured to measure the ambient noise level and perform voice signal processing such that the noise level is subtracted to obtain the signal component necessary for voice recognition.

In order to solve the second factor, there is a method of changing the transmission means. There are a transmission method in which a frequency band to be used is changed, a modulation method is changed, an output level is changed, a voice signal is converted into a digital signal, and a signal component for error detection and correction is added to the voice signal component. In order to realize these, the means described in the first and second embodiments is used. When light is used, noise of high frequency components emitted from AV equipment or the like is not mixed. However, it does not mean that optical signals containing the same frequency band do not mix depending on the environment in which it is used (various remote controllers, toys that use various optical signals such as laser beams, and other optical devices), so the voice recognition rate is improved. In order to do so, it is necessary to have the function of changing the transmission means.

Furthermore, the output means in the voice input device is provided with a function for displaying the vocabulary that can be recognized by voice, and in order to instruct the user about the vocabulary to be spoken, the control signal determining means provides the vocabulary information that allows voice recognition. A control signal is output from the control signal output means, the result determination means determines the content, and the result is displayed on the output means. This means is effective when a complicated operation is performed on the external device side.

For example, when an external device is connected to the AV device group, a television, video, various audio devices, etc. can be controlled by one audio input device. Up to now, each device was operated with a remote controller that corresponded one-to-one, but these can be integrated. In voice input, first, when the name of the corresponding device is uttered, a vocabulary that can be set (sound recognition is possible) in the target device is displayed. If more detailed settings are required depending on the utterance content, that content is displayed. In this way, it becomes possible to control a plurality of devices with mode transition by voice. In addition, by transmitting the operation state of the target device by including it in the control signal, the information can be obtained on the side of the voice input device 1. Not only the operating state of the target device can be known, but also the failure information and the like can be known. Although the AV equipment was explained here, HA that integrates various home appliances and household equipment (various lighting equipment, air conditioning equipment, doors with locks, etc.), car phones and various equipment inside the car (wiper and mirror control, car stereo) , There are many fields in which control by voice input is effective by combining a voice input device and an external device, such as a combination of objects to be instructed while running such as a car air conditioner).

The external device for the voice input device has been described as having a configuration in which radio waves and light are input, but a telephone can also be connected to this external device. Any device that can output voice and has some input means from the other party can be connected to this external device and can perform similar control. I
More control is possible with SDN terminals. In addition, the external device 21 is a home bus (standard number ET-210
1) When connected, if the system using the audio signal in the bus is configured, the use is further expanded.

In order to perform voice recognition on the external device side, it is sufficient that there is sufficient voice signal for voice recognition. For example, as the amount of voice information required to perform voice recognition, 8 voices are used.
Since the signal is sampled at a sampling frequency such as KHz or 10 KHz and the quantization is performed in about 8 to 12 bits, the voice signal transmitting means processes the input voice in advance as a digital signal to perform signal recognition, which is a necessary signal component. Can be configured to transmit only. By compressing the audio signal, the amount of signal transmission can be reduced.

As a characteristic of the voice signal, in the case of a telephone, due to the restriction of the transmission path, only the signal component in the band up to about 4 KHz is transmitted excluding the high frequency component. Therefore, unlike other acoustic signals, the input of voice recognition is from several KHz to 1
Since voice recognition can be performed if there is an input of about 0 KHz, even if quantization is performed, it is not necessary to handle high frequency components so much and only a small amount of components suitable for voice recognition is handled. The transmission amount can be reduced.

The control information transmitted from the external device side to the voice input device side may include voice information.
Also in this case, a configuration in which the transmission amount is reduced can be realized by adopting a mode in which only the information amount necessary for synthesizing the voice is transmitted. There are several ways to perform speech synthesis. The first is a method in which the voice input device 1 side has a database required for voice synthesis, and the corresponding voice is output if the utterance number is specified. The second is that the voice input device 1 side simply performs voice reproduction. A method of creating utterance data on the device 21 side and transmitting the utterance data to the voice input device 1 side, and the third is data encoding of the utterance data on the external device 21 side for transmission, and the voice input device 1
On the side, there is a method of decoding the reception control signal and reproducing the voice. Furthermore, by handling not only voice information but also image information as the control information, it is possible to configure a device that provides the necessary information in a desired format according to the purpose of use by the user.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the voice level detecting means for adjusting the voice input gain and detecting the utterance section, the voice signal transmitting means for transmitting the input voice, and the control for receiving the response signal from the external device. By providing the signal receiving means, the timer means for measuring the time until the control signal is received after the end of the utterance, and the result judging means for judging the result of the received control signal, the voice received by the external device side is provided. (EN) An excellent voice input device capable of receiving a signal state, adjusting to a proper voice input level, and performing input adjustment suitable for voice signal transmission.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a voice input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control flow chart for explaining the operation of the voice input device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a voice input device combined with an external device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional voice input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 voice input device 2 voice input means 3 voice level detecting means 4 voice signal transmitting means 5 control signal receiving means 6 timer means 7 result judging means

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A voice input means for receiving a voice input, a voice level detecting means for adjusting a gain of the voice input from the voice input means to detect a vocal section, and a voice signal transmitting means for transmitting the input voice to an external device. A control signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from an external device; and, when the end of the utterance is confirmed after the start of the utterance is confirmed by the voice level detecting means, the control signal receiving means controls the measurement. A voice input device comprising timer means for measuring a time until a signal is received, and result judging means for judging a result of the control signal received by the control signal receiving means. 2. The voice input device according to claim 1, wherein the voice level detecting means changes the voice input gain by the result determining means. 3. The voice input device according to claim 1, wherein the result determining means determines a process when the control signal from the external device cannot be received by the timer means within a designated time. 4. The voice input device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission with the external device by the voice signal transmitting means or the control signal receiving means is performed by radio waves. 5. The voice input device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission with the external device by the voice signal transmitting means or the control signal receiving means is performed by an optical signal. 6. The voice input device according to claim 1, wherein the voice signal transmitting means changes the voice signal output frequency band by the result determining means. 7. The audio signal transmitting means controls the direction of outputting the audio signal by the result judging means.
The voice input device described. 8. The voice input device according to claim 1, wherein the voice signal transmitting means controls the output level of the voice signal by the result judging means. 9. A voice recognition means for recognizing a voice signal received from a voice signal transmitting means in the external device, and a control signal transmitting means for controlling the external device based on the recognition result and transmitting the control result. 2. The voice input device according to claim 1, wherein the vocabulary for controlling an external device is used as a voice input. 10. A voice input device according to claim 9, further comprising voice signal transmitting means for compressing a signal component necessary for voice recognition.