Takeshi Fujita

Syllable-beat-point synchronized rule-based speech synthesis from coded utterance-speed-independent phoneme combination parameters

In a speech synthesizer, each frame for generating a speech waveform has an expansion degree to which the frame is expanded or compressed in accordance with the production speed of synthetic speech. In accordance with the set speech production speed, the time interval between beat synchronization points is determined on the basis of the speed of the speech to be produced, and the time length of each frame present between the beat synchronization points is determined on the basis of the expansion degree of the frame. Parameters for producing a speech waveform in each frame are properly generated by the time length determined for the frame. In the speech synthesizer for outputting a speech signal by coupling phonemes constituted by one or a plurality of frames having phoneme vowel-consonant combination parameters (VcV, cV, or V) of the speech waveform, the number of frames can be held constant regardless of a change in the speech production speed. This prevents degradation in the tone quality or a variation in the processing quantity resulting from a change in the speech production speed.

Method and apparatus for speech processing

An apparatus and method for processing vocal information includes an extractor for extracting a plurality of spectrum information from parameters for vocal information, a vector quantizer for vector-quantizing the extracted spectrum information and for producing a plurality of parameter patterns therefrom, a memory for storing the plurality of parameter patterns so obtained, and a memory for storing positional information indicating the positions at which the plurality of parameter patterns are stored and for storing code information specifying parameter patterns and corresponding to the positional information. The parameter patterns and code information can be used to synthesize speech. Because a small number of parameter patterns are used, only a small memory capacity is needed and efficient processing of vocal information can be performed.

Loudspeaker system having wide-directional characteristics

A loudspeaker system having wide-directional characteristics includes a loudspeaker body having a polyhedron shape, preferably of dodecahedron and a plurality of speakers disposed on outer surfaces, respectively, of the polyhedron-shaped loudspeaker body in a manner that axial lines of adjacent two speakers intersect each other at a predetermined angle. A correction filter is further operatively connected to the speakers, and the correction filter provides a correction value set so as to obtain a flatness of sound pressures at various portions around the loudspeaker body.