Abstract: A perceptron device has processing elements arranged in an input layer, one or more hidden layers, and an output layer. The training method of the perceptron device uses the back propagation method. In order to increase learning speed, the learning rate for the updates of a particular processing element is a function f(M,N,K) of the number N of inputs to that element, the number K of outputs of that element, and the number N of inputs to the next layer. Function f increases with increasing M, and decreases with increasing K and N.

Abstract: A communication control device and method for an information transmission system which can set automatically its self-address. When the device is connected to the system, candidate values set as destination addresses are sequentially sent from the device to the system. If no response is obtained from the system even when a candidate value is sent to the system, the candidate value is set as the self-address of the device.

Abstract: Non-linear intersymbol interference and noise in a received data signal are corrected through use of a Viterbi detector which estimates the most likely sequence of transmitted data symbols by keeping track of candidate data sequence that are recursively updated, based on likelihood measures which are determined by a signal processor which includes circuits for estimating hypothesized channel outputs in the absence of noise. Non-linear input-output relations are stored in one or more look-up tables which, in a preferred embodiment, are registers that store hypothesized channel output symbols in the absence of noise. The contents of the look-up tables may be modified in response to an error signal representative of the difference of the channel output signal and the look-up table output signal.

Abstract: In a system for transmitting a binary source signal from a data transmitter to a data receiver through a noisy dispersive channel, the data transmitter includes a sliding block encoder which converts the binary source signal at a given symbol rate 1/T into an encoded binary data signal at a symbol rate P/(NT), where P and N are positive integers such that N/P.ltoreq..sup.2 log(3)/2= 0.79248. Since the channel introduces intersymbol interference and noise into the encoded data signal, the data receiver is formed from the cascade of an equalizer, a sampler and a reconstruction circuit which serves to reconstruct the binary source signal at the symbol rate 1/T. The reconstruction circuit includes a detector in a cascade with a decoder having memory the equalizer, sampler and detector are arranged for the detection of a ternary data signal at the symbol rate P/(2NT).

Abstract: LPC-synthesizing device, in which a modulation of the synthesized signal with a window signal is used to reduce the buzz which is characteristic for such devices. This window signal has an amplitude which initially increases gradually from substantially zero value to a constant value, and then decreases gradually from the constant value to substantially zero value. As a result of this modulation the signal in the transition between two segments of voiced speech is forced to zero thereby eliminating any transition discontinuities, the existence of which causes the buzz.

Abstract: A string of input characters is recognized as one of a plurality of reference sets which are stored in predetermined groups. A set of signals representative of the correspondence of the input characters to the reference characters is generated. The input character string is identified responsive to the character correspondence signals. The character string identification comprises forming a set of signals each representative of the correspondence of the input character string to one of the predetermined groups responsive to the character correspondence signals. Jointly responsive to the character correspondence signals, the reference character sets and the group correspondence signals, the reference set that most closely corresponds to the input character string is selected.

Abstract: In a formant speech analysis synthesis system, formant extraction to control a recursive digital all-pole filter encounters the problem that pole-pairs are not orderly arranged and that real poles may occur which are not representative of formants. The problem is solved by transforming the coefficients of the second-order sections of the filter to coefficients which can be easily ordered and by means of which it is simple to assign formants to the real poles.