Data processing: speech signal processing – linguistics – language – Speech signal processing – Application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-27
2001-12-11
Dorvil, Richemond (Department: 2741)
Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language
Speech signal processing
Application
C704S277000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330540
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to voice controlled compact computer devices. A hand-held computer device is provided in which speech is substituted for keyboard entry of text and for control signals otherwise input by keyboard or pointing device. Spoken words and commands are recognized by an interpreter and displayed in real time to only one eye, using a compact folded display having at least one mirror with negative curvature. In another embodiment, a second mirrored display is used to project an independent image to the other eye.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Voice recognition systems, which can convert human speech into computer information, are known to those versed in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,303 to Firman, teaches such a voice recognition system and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Such systems may be insensitive to the speed of the spoken input and may operate fast enough to visually display the interpreted speech real time. Such a system is described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,382 to Griggs, herein entirely incorporated by reference.
The use of mirrors with negative curvature for magnification is well known; spherical and parabolic mirrors have been used in reflecting telescopes for centuries. The use of such a mirror to reflect the display of a CRT is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,503 to Dugdale, the teachings therein incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. The mirrored display, as taught by Dugdale, is necessarily bulky, because of the use of a CRT, and the use of one mirror to display to both eyes necessarily requires a large mirror.
Hand-held computers such as notebook and palm computer have been commercially available for a number of years. Such computers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,183 to Kobayashi, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,569 to Sellers. The degree that the size of such a computer may be reduced is primarily limited to the presence of a keyboard or other data entry means, as well as the relatively large display screen required for viewing at a normal reading distance.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of this invention is therefore to provide a hand-held compact computer of minimal size, wherein data entry is primarily by means of voice, and whereby real time visual feedback of the interpreted speech is displayed to one eye by a mirror with negative curvature.
Another object of this invention is to provide a computerized telephone whereby dialing may be achieved by voice entry alone, and where a mirror with negative curvature allows one eye to view the number or the name of the person being called, without having to remove the telephone from its normal speaking and listening position.
Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive and lightweight display for a compact hand-held computer, while allowing the user to simultaneously observe the environment.
Another object of this invention is to provide a display for a hand-held computer whereby one eye may easily observe the display.
Another object of this invention is to provide a binocular display for a hand-held computer whereby a display is presented to each eye by separate mirrors, and where each eye may only view one display.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In general, in one aspect, the instant invention allows voiced utterances to be substituted for keyboard entry of text, with a real time display of the interpreted utterances reflected and magnified by a mirror having negative curvature. The elimination of the need for a keyboard or pointing device allows for the device to be sufficiently compact to comfortably fit into a shirt pocket, while the display allows for comfortable reading and editing of the interpreted utterances.
In another aspect of the instant invention, when used as a Dictaphone, the real time display allows the accuracy of the interpreting to monitored and for immediate editorial corrections to be made without having to move the device from a dictation mode to a more distant reading mode.
In another aspect of the instant invention, when used as a telephone, the user may simply speak the name of the person to be called, rather than using a keyboard entry. If the name has been earlier entered with an associated phone number, the name and phone number are displayed by means of a mirror with negative curvature, allowing the user to validate whether the number the telephone is about to dial is the correct number. If the telephone has access to a data bank, such as might be accessed using an Internet connection, then the telephone could also seek to match a number to the spoken name, if no match was otherwise known. Alternatively, the telephone number may be directly verbally entered. Obviously, all of the speech of the user may be interpreted, and such a telephone may be used to transmit only the interpreted speech, at a considerable reduction in the amount of transmitted information required.
It is an aspect of the instant invention that the display be reflected to the viewer by means of a mirror having negative curvature, so as to magnify the image and place it on more distant focal plane, where it may by more easily viewed. This allows the image to be viewed without eyestrain even with the mirror very close to the eye. Typically the mirror would be placed between 10 and 300 mm from the eye, and more preferably 20 to 200 mm from the eye. The display reflected by the mirror is located between the eye and the mirror. The display is also preferably placed to one side or below the level of the eye, allowing the most comfortable and natural viewing, and generally allowing maximal ambient lighting of the display, as it is undesirable to expend limited battery resources for auxiliary lighting. Mirrors with negative curvature that may be employed in this invention include spherical, parabolic, hyperbolic and toroidal types. Spherical mirrors are preferred as being of lowest cost.
The reflected image is preferably directed to one eye, herein referred to as the active eye, while no part of the image is easily visible to the other eye, herein referred to as the passive eye. Allowing part of the display to be visible to the passive eye degrades the readability of the display, causing fatigue. If the mirror were large enough for the display to be fully visible to both eyes, in could not be contained within the constraints of a hand-held device.
The reflected image of the display may be made visible to only one eye by placing the display on a generally vertical alignment, and restricting the number of lines displayed so that none can be read by the passive eye. This allows sentences of a number of words to be formed on a single line, which if presented horizontally at the same distance could be partially read by the passive eye, creating difficulty in reading. Most people are able to read sentences at orientations of up to about 90 degrees from the horizontal, and improve quickly with practice. A switch may be used to invert the text, so that the display may be easily read using the right or left hands. The inversion may also be accomplished automatically by means of an accelerometer or mercury switch located within the housing, or by a manual switch, but is preferably accomplished by means of a verbal command.
The reflected image of the display may be also be shielded from the passive eye by the housing of the instant invention, or by the nose of the user. Only sufficient shielding is necessary so that the passive eye cannot recognize what is sees, so as to prevent a dominance conflict between the eyes. The mirror should preferably be located at approximately 75 mm or closer to the active eye in order to effectively use the nose as a shield; however, it preferred to use the housing of the hand-held computer itself to block the view of the passive eye, as the size of the nose is unpredictable. The housing may also be used effectively to block the breath of the user, so as to prevent possible fogging of the mirror.
While a vertically oriented mirrored display, having dimensions relatively tall and narrow, may be built into t
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