Yamaha Corporation

Junya Ura

Katsuji Yoshimura

Takehiko Kawahara

Yuji Hisaminato

Hiroaki Matsubara

The present invention is provided with: a voice input section that receives a remark (a question) via a voice signal; a reply creation section that creates a voice sequence of a reply (response) to the remark; a pitch analysis section that analyzes the pitch of a first segment (e.g., word ending) of the remark; and a voice generation section (a voice synthesis section, etc.) that generates a reply, in the form of voice, represented by the voice sequence. The voice generation section controls the pitch of the entire reply in such a manner that the pitch of a second segment (e.g., word ending) of the reply assumes a predetermined pitch (e.g., five degrees down) with respect to the pitch of the first segment of the remark. Such arrangements can realize synthesis of replying voice capable of giving a natural feel to the user.

Technology for responding to remarks using speech synthesis

A clock generation circuit includes a first divider, a loop unit that has a second divider and generates an output clock which is in phase synchronization with a reference clock of the first divider and has a frequency that is F times the reference clock, a clock switching unit that selects one input clock among a plurality of input clocks and supplies the selected input clock to the first divider, and a timing control unit. The timing control unit switches the clock selection command in accordance with switching of clock selection information, switches at least one of a setting of the number R of the input clocks and a setting of the number F of the output clocks, and starts both of a count operation by using the first divider and a count operation by using the second divider after switching of the setting.

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Hamamatsu, Japan

Junya Ura