Junichi Tamura

Encoding method for syllables

A method for encoding syllables of a language, particularly the Japanese language, and for facilitating the extraction of sound codes from the input syllables, for voice recognition or voice synthesis includes the step of providing a syllable classifying table, in which each syllable is represented by an upper byte code indicating the consonant part of the syllable and a lower byte code indicating the non-consonant part of the syllable. The consonants constitute a first category of data classified by phonetic features, while the non-consonants constitute a second category of data classified by phonetic features, so that the extraction of consonant or non-consonant sounds can be made by a search in only the first or the second categories. The encoding of diphthongs are made in such a manner that those containing the same vowel have the same remainder corresponding to the code of this vowel, when the codes are divided by the number of vowels contained in the second category, so that the extraction of a vowel from diphthongs can be achieved by a simple mathematical division.

Voice synthesizing apparatus and method and apparatus and method used as part of a voice synthesizing apparatus and method

A voice synthesizing apparatus is arranged to synthesize a voice from text data composed of either character codes or a series of symbols by generating a sound source based on a series of sound-source parameters and synthesizing the sound source on the basis of a series of synthesis parameters. The voice synthesizing apparatus is provided with a sound-source generating circuit for generating the aforesaid sound source from a signal obtained from an instrumental sound generated with a musical instrument. This arrangement serves to easily synthesize voices which convey language information and yet which simulate the sounds of musical instruments such as a guitar, a violin, a harmonica, a musical synthesizer and the like.

Method and apparatus for processing speech

The speech processing apparatus and method includes a microphone, an analyzer, a selector, and a memory. The microphone converts input speech into an electrical signal representing speech data. The analyzer converts the speech data into non-linear frequency converted speech data in accordance with a non-linear frequency conversion. The selector selects a coefficient of the non-linear frequency conversion suitable for each of the phonemes or frames of the speech. The memory stores the speech data.

Voice processing apparatus for varying the speed with which a voice signal is reproduced

A voice processing apparatus capable of varying the speed of speech, in which a voice of a predetermined duration is represented by feature parameters and propriety information indicating whether a change in the speech speed is permitted or not. During voice synthesis, the speech speed is varied by skipping or repeating only the feature parameters for which the variation in speech speed is permitted by the associated propriety information.