The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 03, 1995
Michael L Byce, Boise, ID (US);
Joel E Just, Meridian, ID (US);
Other;
Abstract
A system of the present invention includes a sound source for providing sound in the oral-nasal cavity, a microphone to receive sound modulated by the user's mouth, tongue, teeth, and lips as he or she speaks or attempts vocalization, and a circuit. The circuit, coupled to the microphone, generates an output simulating a male or female voice that conveys the modulation as intelligible speech. In one embodiment, the sound source provides subaudible sound. In another embodiment, the circuit includes a sampling circuit for digital signal processing. In yet another embodiment, the circuit with a transducer constitute the sound source for providing overtones and diagnostic waveforms in the mouth. According to a method of the present invention, a modulated sound signal with a first period is received from an oral-nasal cavity and used to form a second signal having a longer period for conveying the first signal's modulation at a lower fundamental frequency. By nonintrusive monitoring of the oral-nasal cavity, a simulated voice is provided without discomfort for the vocally disabled, including laryngectomees.