JPH08101632A - Learning machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable a user to effective learn to read out optional voice message and further successively reproduce two relative voice messages which are independently stored by reading out a voice message corresponding to a voice message read by a 1st read means out of a 2nd speech signal group stored in a storage means. CONSTITUTION: There are a voice signal of a question and a voice signal of an answer to the question and called a Q message and an A message respectively. With a control switch 13d set at a PLAY position, the mode is switched to a reproduction mode. Here, when a Q switch is pressed, a Q1 message is reproduced and after the reproduction of one message ends, the reproduction is automatically stopped. With an A switch 13b pressed, an A1 message having the same pair code with the last Q1 message is reproduced. When the A switch 13b is pressed continuously, the A1 message is reproduced again. Namely, the A message paired with the Q message is always reproduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Q & A type learning machine having a memory / playback function and used for learning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a portable learning machine, a microcassette tape recorder has been generally used as a recording means in the past. However, in recent years, IC memory has been complicated because the random access is impossible and the mechanical part becomes complicated. Has been used as a recording means. The IC memory can easily perform a character display function corresponding to voice, a repeated reproduction operation, and a random reproduction operation, and there is a voice output learning machine using the IC memory as shown below.

A portable semiconductor memory recording / reproducing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-44299 discloses an AD converter for digitally processing an audio signal for language learning and a semiconductor memory for storing and reproducing the audio signal. Is equipped with. Furthermore, by varying the pause time during repeat playback, not only hearing practice but also vocal practice can be performed.

[0004]

However, the recording / reproducing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-44299 has only the function of recording independent voices and reproducing them in order. However, this feature has the drawback that it can only be used as a practice machine for speaking English and vocabulary. Further, it is difficult to selectively reproduce and learn an unlearned voice signal to uniformly learn all voice signals.

The present invention enables effective learning by reading an arbitrary voice message from the stored voice message group and successively reproducing two associated voice messages stored independently. The purpose is to provide a learning machine.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a learning machine according to the invention of claim 1 comprises a first voice signal group consisting of a plurality of voice messages, and a first voice signal group of the first voice signal group. And a second voice signal group including a plurality of voice messages corresponding to the respective voice messages, and a storage unit for storing the second voice signal group. Further, the first reading means for reading an arbitrary voice message from the first voice signal group stored in the storage means, and the first read means for reading the second voice signal group stored in the storage means. Second reading means for reading a voice message corresponding to the voice message read by the reading means.

A learning machine according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a recording means for recording the first voice signal group and the second voice signal group in the storage means by using a microphone. Is.

A learning machine according to a third aspect of the invention is characterized by comprising a ROM as a storage means for storing the first voice signal group and the second voice signal group.

Further, the learning machine according to the invention of claim 4 is
A type code for identifying whether the voice message stored in the storage means belongs to the first voice signal group or the second voice signal group, the voice message of the first voice signal group, and the second voice signal. A pair code indicating a correspondence with a voice message of the group is stored in the storage means together with each voice message.

Further, the learning machine according to the invention of claim 5 stores the number of times of reading, which is updated each time each voice message is read, in the storage means together with each voice message, and the voice message is read out from the storage means. It is characterized in that it is provided with a read control means for preferentially reading the one having a small number of read times.

[0011]

According to the first aspect, one of the two corresponding voice messages is stored in the storage means as the first voice signal group and the other is stored as the second voice signal group. At the time of reproduction, an arbitrary voice message belonging to the first voice signal group is reproduced, and a voice message corresponding to the voice message belonging to the first voice signal group reproduced immediately before is reproduced in the second voice signal group. The contents are read out and reproduced from the inside.

According to the second aspect, the voice message can be recorded in the storage means by capturing the voice message using the microphone and converting the voice message into a voice signal.

According to the third aspect, since the voice messages belonging to the first voice signal group and the second voice signal group are stored in the ROM used as the storage means from the beginning, the recording means is provided. You can learn without.

Further, according to claim 4, since the voice message is stored with the type code and the pair code, when the voice signal is reproduced, the type code is used for the first voice signal group. It is read by determining whether it belongs to the second audio signal group. Further, the pair code is used to indicate and indicate the correspondence between two corresponding voice messages.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the type code and the pair code, the number of readings of the voice message is stored, and the reading order is sorted according to the number of readings. Can be read with priority.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Will be described with reference to. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a learning machine 1 of the present invention. The system microcomputer 7 includes a control output line CONT ₁ for controlling the IC memory 6, a DATA line for exchanging data with the IC memory 6, and an IC memory 6
Are connected to the IC memory 6 by three lines consisting of an ADDRESS line for exchanging addresses with. The control output line CONT ₁ has a write enable signal (WE) for writing data, an erase signal (ER) for collectively erasing data, and a memory enable for disconnecting the memory in the IC memory 6 from the data bus. A signal (ME) is sent from the system microcomputer 7 to the IC memory 6.

Further, the system microcomputer 7 receives the Q switch 13a and the input line IN ₃ via the input line IN _2.
Is connected to the A switch 13b via the input line IN ₄ , and is connected to the C switch 13c via the input line IN ₄ . In addition, the system microcomputer 7 is connected to the input line from the control switch 13d, the REC position is the input line IN ₅ , and the OFF position is the input line IN.
₆ , the PLAY position is connected to the input line IN ₇ .

The audio compression circuit 5 is connected to the system microcomputer 7 and the IC memory 6 via the DATA line. Furthermore, in order to control the audio compression circuit 5 by the system microcomputer 7, the audio compression circuit 5 is connected to the system microcomputer 7 by the control output line CONT ₂ . Similarly, the audio expansion circuit 8 is connected to the system microcomputer 7 and the IC memory 6 via the DATA line. Further, in order to control the audio expansion circuit 8 by the system microcomputer 7, the audio expansion circuit 8 is connected to the system microcomputer 7 by the control output line CONT ₃ .

At the time of recording, voice is converted into an analog signal by the microphone 2, this analog signal is amplified by the amplifier 3, and the analog voice signal is converted into a digital voice signal by the AD converter 4. If this digital audio signal is recorded as it is, a large-capacity memory is required, but in order to avoid this, the digital audio signal is compressed by the audio compression circuit 5 to several tenths to one tenth. The compressed digital audio signal is once read by the system microcomputer 7 and written in the IC memory 6 by designating an address. The system microcomputer 7 increments the address into this voice signal,
The operation of writing in the memory 6 is repeated.

During voice reproduction, the system microcomputer 7 specifies an address from the IC memory 6 to read out a digital voice signal, and the voice expansion circuit 8 restores the voice signal to a decompressed digital signal. The digital audio signal is converted into an analog signal by the DA converter 9, amplified by the amplifier 10, and reproduced as sound from the earphone 12 via the volume controller 11.

FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view showing the appearance of the learning machine of the present invention. The casing 14 has a disk-shaped Q switch 13a and an A switch 13 on the upper surface.
b and the C switch 13c are installed. The Q switch is used when recording or reproducing the Q message, the A switch is used when recording or reproducing the A message, and the C switch is used for erasing the message when recording or skipping the message when reproducing.

A disk-shaped microphone 2 is embedded in the upper surface of the casing 14. Further, on the side surface of the casing 14, the control switch 13d and the earphone 1
Volume controller 11 and earphone terminal 12 for adjusting the volume of 2
a and are installed. The earphone 12 is connected to the earphone terminal 12a, and the control switch 13d is set to RE.
It has three positions of C, OFF, and PLAY. The REC position switches to the recording mode, the OFF position switches to the power-off mode of the apparatus, and the PLAY position switches to the playback mode.

Next, each operation during recording and reproduction will be described. The voice signal includes a voice signal of a question and a voice signal of an answer to the question, which will be hereinafter referred to as a Q message and an A message, respectively.

First, the operation during recording will be described.
The control switch 13d is set to the REC position to switch to the recording mode. Here, the Q message is recorded while pressing the Q switch 13a. At this time, in addition to the voice data,
The recording start address, the recording end address, the type code for identifying the Q message or the A message, the pair code indicating the number of the message, and the index information for recording the number of times of reading are also stored on the IC memory 6. Recorded in. FIG. 3 shows a conceptual diagram of the index created in the IC memory 6. Add a description for the first time recording. The system microcomputer 7 first writes the recording start address into the index X1-1, and then the index X1-
In 2, the type code is written.

In this embodiment, there are only two types of message, Q message and A message.
The type code of 0H is given to the Q message and the type code of 1H is given to the A message. For index X1-3,
The messages are added in the recording order of the messages, and are recorded by giving the same pair code to the Q message and the corresponding A message. The pair code is 1 for the maximum value of the pair code of the same type of message already recorded at the time of recording.
Shall be added.

At the time of recording, the index X1-4
00H is written as a default value of the number of times of reading. The system microcomputer 7 continues recording until the Q switch is released. When the Q switch is released, recording ends, and the address at the end of recording is recorded in index X1-5.

The address at the end of recording is index X1
By recording in -5, one voice data Q1 message is stored in the IC memory 6. When the A message is subsequently recorded, it is recorded while pressing the A switch 13b. In this way, the A1 message is recorded. To record the A message again, the A2 message is recorded by pressing the A switch 13b while the control switch 13d is in the REC position.

At this time, index information for recording the recording start address, the recording end address, the type code, the pair code, and the number of times of reading is also recorded on the IC memory 6. If C switch 13c is pressed for a certain period of time,
All data on the IC memory 6 is erased. The repetition of the above operation is summarized below.

Press the Q switch to record. → Q1 message is recorded. Press the A switch to record. → A1 message is recorded. Press the A switch to record. → A2 message is recorded. Press the Q switch to record. → Q2 message is recorded. Press the Q switch to record. → Q3 message is recorded.・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Press the C switch. → All data will be deleted.

Next, the reproducing operation will be described. It is assumed that all messages are reproduced for the first time. First, the control switch 13d is set to the PLAY position to switch to the reproduction mode. When the Q switch is pressed here, the Q1 message is reproduced, and when the reproduction of one message is completed, it is automatically stopped. Then, when the A switch 13b is pressed, the A1 message having the same pair code as the immediately preceding Q1 message is reproduced. Continuing, A switch 13
When b is pressed, the A1 message is reproduced again. That is, the A message paired with the Q message is always reproduced. After that, when the Q switch is pressed, the Q2 message is reproduced, when the Q switch is pressed, the Q3 message is reproduced, and when the A switch is pressed, the A3 message is reproduced. Furthermore, when the C switch 13c is pressed, the Q message group is skipped to the beginning. Normally, the Q message that is read out less frequently is reproduced first. Summarizing the repetition of the above operation, the reproduction is performed as follows in the reproduction mode.

Press the Q switch. → The Q1 message is played and the car stops automatically. Press the A switch. → A1 message is played and it automatically stops. Press the A switch. → A1 message is played and it automatically stops. Press the Q switch. → Q2 message is played and it automatically stops. Press the Q switch. → Q3 message is played and it automatically stops. Press the A switch. → A3 message is played and it automatically stops.・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Press the C switch. → Skip to the beginning of the Q1 message. The processing operation during recording will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

The initial state is when the vehicle is stopped at an arbitrary position. Here, the case where the voice data is recorded in the IC memory 6 for the first time will be described. First, control switch 13
After switching d to the REC position, press Q switch 1
By operating 3a or the A switch 13b, the system microcomputer 7 generates a recording trigger. In step S1, the system microcomputer 7 determines whether or not the recording trigger is the Q trigger. If the recording trigger is the Q trigger, the process proceeds to step S2. If it is not the Q trigger (in this case, the A trigger occurs), the process proceeds to step S6.
As for the recording trigger, a Q trigger is generated when the Q switch is pressed, and an A trigger is generated when the A switch is pressed.

In step S2, the system microcomputer 7 searches for a blank area in the IC memory 6 and positions it at the recording start address. The blank area means a message block in which nothing is recorded. Then, in step S3, the system microcomputer 7 records the recording start address at the position of the index X1-1. Next, in step S4, the system microcomputer 7 writes 0H, which means a Q message, as a type code in the index X1-2.

Further, the system microcomputer 7 reads the maximum value of the pair code of the Q message already recorded in step S5, adds 1 to the pair code read in step S5 in step S10, and indexes X1 in step S11. The pair code obtained in step S10 is written in -3.

In step S12, the number of times of reading is recorded in the index X1-4. Since the number of times of reading is zero during recording, the default value 00H is always written in step S12. Recording is started in step S13, and it is determined whether or not a recording end trigger is generated in step S14. If a recording end trigger is generated, the process proceeds to step S15, and if no recording end trigger is generated, the process returns to step S14. . In step S15, the recording end address is recorded in the index X1-5, and the process ends.

In step S1, if the system microcomputer 7 determines that the recording trigger is not a trigger, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the system microcomputer 7 searches for a blank area in the IC memory 6,
Align the position with the address at the start of recording. Then, in step S7, the system microcomputer 7 sets the index X
The address at the start of recording is recorded at the position 1-1.

Next, in step S8, the system microcomputer 7
Writes 1H, which means A message, as the type code in the index X1-2. Further, the system microcomputer 7 reads the maximum value of the pair code of the A message already recorded in step S5,
Go to 10. By repeating the above operation n times, n audio signal groups having the above index are recorded on the IC memory 6.

Next, the read operation from the IC memory 6 during the reproducing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The initial state is assumed to be stopped at any position. First, the control switch 13d is switched to the PLAY mode. In step S1, it is determined whether the previous operation is the recording mode. If the recording mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S2. If not, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S2, it is determined whether or not the type of the generated reproduction trigger is a Q message, and if it is a Q trigger, step S4.
If the A trigger is not the Q trigger, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, only the A message, which is the answer to the question, cannot be reproduced alone, so an alarm is sounded and the process returns to step S2.

On the other hand, in step S4, the recording start address of the message described in the index XN-1 in the IC memory 6, the type code described in the index XN-2 and the index XN-3 are recorded. The index data composed of the pair code, the number of times of reading described in the index XN-4, and the recording end address described in the index XN-5 are read into the working RAM incorporated in the system microcomputer 7. In step S5
Move to

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the index having the maximum pair code is read. If the index having the maximum pair code is read, the process proceeds to step S6. If not, the process returns to step S4. And continue this operation until all the indexes are read.

At step S6, the index data group read by the system microcomputer 7 into the work RAM is
The sorting process is performed in the ascending order of the number of times of reading and in the descending order of the pair code to create a sorted index table in the area of the work RAM, and the process proceeds to step S7. The details of the sorting process will be described later.

In step S7, the address of the Q message having the highest priority obtained by the above sorting is aligned, and the process proceeds to step S10 to reproduce the Q message and automatically stop to finish.

On the other hand, if the previous operation was not the recording mode in step S1, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, it is determined whether or not the type of the generated reproduction trigger is a Q message, and if it is a Q message, step S7.
If it is an A message instead of a Q message, step S9
Move to In step S9, the position is aligned with the highest priority A message address in the address table, and the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the reproduction of the message aligned in the previous step is started.

Further, the processing format during reproduction is shown in FIG.
It will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The initial state is during playback at an arbitrary position. In the case of FIG. 6, it is assumed that the index has already been sorted and is in the reproduction state of the Q message having the indexes XN-1 to XN-5. In step S1,
Whether or not the Q message is reproduced is determined. If the Q message is reproduced, the process proceeds to step S2, and if not, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S2, it is checked whether or not the update timing of the number of times of reading is good. The update timing of the read count is
(1) When Q message is played to the end, (2) Q
The case where the beginning of the message is reproduced, (3) the middle part of the Q message is reproduced, and (4) the combination of these is considered. In the present embodiment, the reading number is updated at the start of the reproduction of the Q message.

In step S3, the index of the number of times of reading the address data of the Q message being reproduced is updated, and the process proceeds to step S4. As a method of updating,
Since 1 byte is given to the read count index XN-4, the read count can be updated in a maximum of 128 steps from 00H to 7FH.

In step S4, the read number index XN'-4 of the A message having the same pair code index XN'-3 as the Q message of which the read number is updated in step S3 is updated, and the process proceeds to step S5. To do.

In step S5, if the C switch 13c is pressed, the operation skips to step S6. If the C switch 13c is not pressed, the Q message is continuously reproduced and then the operation proceeds to step S7.

In step S6, the address data of the Q message located next to the address data of the Q message reproduced immediately before on the address table is read out, and the process proceeds to step S13. On the other hand, step S7
In step S8, it is determined whether the message is the message end. If the message is the message end, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, it is determined whether or not a reproduction trigger has occurred. If no reproduction trigger has occurred, the process proceeds to step S9 and ends. On the other hand, step S8
If a playback trigger occurs in step S10, the process proceeds to step S10,
In step S10, it is determined whether or not the type of reproduction trigger is a Q trigger. If it is a Q trigger, the process proceeds to step S11, and if it is not the Q trigger, the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S11, the address data of the Q message located next to the address data of the Q message reproduced immediately before on the address table is read, and the process proceeds to step S13. Step S12
In (1), the address data of the A message, which is located next to the address data of the Q message that was reproduced immediately before and has the same pair code, is read out, and then the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the message having the address read in the previous step is reproduced,
The process proceeds to step S1 and the above steps are repeated.

The sorting process will be described based on the conceptual diagram of FIG. Prior to sorting, the system microcomputer 7 has a working RAM in the system microcomputer 7,
Indexes are recorded in ascending order at the start of recording.
As shown in (a), the data is sequentially read from the IC memory. The structure of the index data of one read message is 1 from the most significant 1 byte (MSB) side.
The byte read count index, the 3-byte pair code index, and the 1-byte type code index are arranged in order toward the lowest 1 byte (LSB) side.
It is arranged.

The Q messages are arranged in ascending order of the number of readings.
The Q messages having the same number of readings are arranged in ascending order of pair code. A message is Q with the same pair code
They should be listed immediately after the message. The result of this sorting is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 9A, the address table read from the IC memory has index data arranged in the order of addresses at the start of recording. FIG.
In case of, when recording, Q1 message ~ Q6 message,
Since the A1 message to the A6 message are recorded in this order, they are read out in this order also at the start of sorting.
In the same figure (b), Q3 message, A3 message, Q5 message, A5 message, Q1 message, A1 message, Q2 message, A2 message ...

The processing on the address table for the reproduction trigger will be described below. In the figure (b), Q
When the Q switch is pressed after the end of the 3 message playback or skipped during the Q3 message playback, the address jump of the playback trigger of the Q message is performed and Q5
The message is reproduced (in the case of 1 in the same figure (b)). Alternatively, when the A switch is pressed after the reproduction of the Q3 message is completed, the A3 message is reproduced (in the case of 2 in the same figure (b)). In this way, it is possible to obtain an index table in which the Q message and the corresponding A message are paired and arranged in order of the number of times of reading.

In the learning machine 1 of the present invention, the IC memory 6 may be removable as a memory card. Further, if the learning machine 1 of the present invention is provided with a video recording means, a video display means such as a liquid crystal display, the video can be recorded and reproduced together with the voice.

[0057]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first audio signal group and the second audio signal group can be separately recorded and stored in the storage means and can be read out in any order. It is not necessary to record voice messages in order, and effective learning can be performed by continuously reading and reproducing corresponding voice messages.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the voice message is recorded in the storage means by using the microphone,
The user can memorize only necessary voice messages and learn effectively.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the voice messages belonging to the first voice signal group and the second voice signal group are previously stored in the ROM used as the storage means, it is necessary to provide the recording means. There is no need to simplify the structure of the learning machine.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the voice message is stored with the type code and the pair code, these are used when the voice signal is reproduced, and the corresponding voice message can be easily continued. And can be played back.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the type code, the pair code, and the number of times of reading are stored, and the order of reading is sorted according to the number of times of reading, so that the voice message having a small number of times of reproduction is preferentially read. It can be played back and allows a wide range of learning for a large number of voice messages.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the learning machine showing the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an index according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a recording control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a reproduction control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a format of reproduction processing according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a sorting process according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7A is an address table before the sorting process, and FIG. 7B is an address table after the sorting process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Learning Machine 2 Microphone 3, 10 Amplifier 4 AD Converter 5 Voice Compression Circuit 6 IC Memory 7 System Microcomputer 8 Voice Expansion Circuit 9 DA Converter 11 Volume Controller 12 Earphone 13a Q Switch 13b A Switch 13c C Switch 13d Control Switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A first voice signal group consisting of a plurality of voice messages, and a second voice signal group consisting of a plurality of voice messages corresponding to each voice message of the first voice signal group are stored. Storing means, a first reading means for reading an arbitrary voice message from the first voice signal group stored in the storage means, and a second voice signal group stored in the storage means ,
A learning machine comprising: a second reading means for reading a voice message corresponding to the voice message read by the first reading means. 2. The learning according to claim 1, further comprising recording means for recording the first audio signal group and the second audio signal group stored in the storage means by using a microphone. Machine. 3. The learning machine according to claim 1, further comprising a ROM as storage means for storing the first audio signal group and the second audio signal group. 4. A type code for identifying whether the voice message stored in said storage means belongs to a first voice signal group or a second voice signal group, and a voice message of the first voice signal group. 3. The learning machine according to claim 1, wherein a pair code indicating a correspondence with the voice message of the second voice signal group is stored in the storage means together with each voice message. 5. The number of times of reading, which is updated each time each voice message is read, is stored together with each of the voice messages in the storage means, and the one with the smallest number of times of reading the voice message is preferentially read out from the storage means. The learning machine according to claim 4, further comprising a read control unit.