Abstract: A speech recognition apparatus has a speech input unit for inputting a speech; a speech analysis unit for analyzing the inputted speech to output the time series of a feature vector; a candidates selection unit for inputting the time series of a feature vector from the speech analysis unit to select a plurality of candidates of recognition result from the speech categories; and a discrimination processing unit for discriminating the selected candidates to obtain a final recognition result. The discrimination processing unit includes three components in the form of a pair generation unit for generating all of the two combinations of the n-number of candidates selected by said candidate selection unit, a pair discrimination unit for discriminating which of the candidates of the combinations is more certain for each of all .sub.n C.sub.

Abstract: A speech recognition apparatus including a memory for storing with respect to each feature specific to a particular phoneme a name of a process and a procedure of the process which is performed in order to search whether the presence of a feature specific to a certain type of speech is included in a feature vector series, and for storing a table in which the names of the processes in a performed for all the categories of speech to be recognized. The information stored in the memory is used to discriminate between two categories and provides ways for interpreting the results of the process. The recognition processes performed the discrimination is done in accordance with the information stored in the table.

Abstract: A voice coding system for separating and coding voice information into spectrum envelope information and voice source information, with the intention of compressing the amount of information for efficient coding of vocal audio signals through the control of the voice source information based on the fact that the spectrum envelope information and voice source information highly correlate with each other.

Abstract: A speech analysis method which includes the steps of detecting a maximum-level position in that portion of an input speech signal which exists in a period equal to the pitch period of the input speech signal from a predetermined one of periodically-generated timing pulses, tracing the speech signal from the maximum-level position in a time reversing direction to find a zero-crossing point where the level of the traced signal is first reduced to zero, extracting a one-pitch signal which starts from the zero-crossing point and has the duration equal to the pitch period of the input speech signal, from the speech signal, and carrying out Fourier transform for the one-pitch signal to obtain a spectrum of the input speech signal.

Abstract: A character voice communication system including high efficiency voice coding system for encoding and transmitting speech information at a high efficiency and a voice character input/output system for converting speech information into character information or receiving character information and transmitting speech or character information are organically integrated. A speech analyzer and a speech synthesizer are shared by both the voice coding and the voice character input/output systems. Communication apparatus is also provided which allows mutual conversion between speech signals and character codes.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for displaying a travel path of a running body in which a constantly changing location of the running body on a two-dimensional coordinates is successively computed and the current location of said running body is displayed successively, in accordance with the data thus computed, on a display screen having a map previously displayed thereon. According to this apparatus, longitude and latitude values of a reference point in a mesh consisting of lines of longitude and latitude in each map of divided areas are registered as known factors and the current location of the running body on the two-dimensional coordinates thus computed is converted to a location on longitude-latitude coordinates, whereby the current location on the map is calculated from the known longitude and latitude values of the reference point displayed on the display screen.

Abstract: An electrically conductive layer is formed on a surface of a model, and an organic solvent layer of an organic solvent which is inactive with respect to the conductive layer is formed on a surface of the conductive layer. Particles are then placed on the organic solvent layer to allow the particles to be partly melted by the organic solvent layer, and the organic solvent layer is removed to allow the particles to be adhered to the conductive layer. A metal layer is deposited on the model in an electroforming process to form an electroformed shell thinner than the diameter of the particles. The electroformed shell is separated from the model, and the particles are dissolved away from the electroformed shell with an organic solvent to produce an electroformed object having a number of vent apertures.

Abstract: A magnetic separator for fluids has a non-magnetic container which is divided into a trapping portion and an accumulating portion. A fluid containing magnetic particles to be removed therefrom is introduced via an inflow pipe and discharged via a discharge pipe located in the top and bottom, respectively, of the trapping portion. A pair of electrodes are mounted in opposite end walls of the container, and a plurality of magnetizable wires are strung across the container in parallel between the electrodes. The electrodes are electrically connected to a mechanism for generating alternating current whose frequency components are harmonics of the fundamental frequency of vibration of the magnetizable wires. The container is situated between a pair of magnets which produce a magnetic field whose strength increases from the trapping portion to the accumulating portion. The magnetic field strength is preferably a maximum in the accumulating portion at a position removed from the end wall of the accumulating portion.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a speech analysis-synthesis apparatus which resorts to a multi-pulse exciting method using a plurality of modeled pulses as a synthetic sound source if input speech is analyzed so that speech may be synthesized on the basis of the analyzed result. A factor for effecting perpetual weighting in a manner to correspond to the sound source pulse number is made variable, and the error between the input speech and the synthesized speech is perceptually weighted so that the amplitude and location of the train of the sound source pulses are so determined as to minimize said error.

Abstract: A speech recognition method makes it possible to improve the accuracy of recognition of input speech and is capable of operating on a real time basis. This is accomplished by generating from the input speech signal a difference signal which indicates whether the speech power of the input speech is increasing or decreasing for each frame. The similarity between the input speech and a standard pattern is then calculated for each frame, and this is then followed by correcting the similarity calculation on the basis of the generated difference signal and a difference signal relating to the standard pattern obtained from storage. The matching of the input speech and the standard pattern is then effected by using the corrected similarity, and the input speech is then recognized from the result of this matching. Thus, a spectrum matching distance weighted by power information of speech can be obtained in real time.

Abstract: A thermosensitive recording adhesive sheet capable of forming colored images thereon upon application of heat, comprising (a) a support material with print patterns on the front side or back side thereof, (b) a thermosensitive coloring layer formed on the support material, (c) an adhesive layer formed on the back side of the support material, opposite to the thermosensitive coloring layer, and (d) a disposable backing sheet which is attached to the adhesive layer and can be peeled off the adhesive layer when the thermosensitive recording adhesive label is used. When necessary, (e) a protective layer for protecting the thermosensitive coloring layer and for improving the thermal head matching properties of the thermosensitive coloring layer can be formed on the thermosensitive coloring layer.

Abstract: A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle wherein a current location of the automotive vehicle in terms of two-dimensional coordinates may be obtained arithmetically by a signal processing unit on the basis of a signal to detect a current travel distance of the vehicle and a signal to detect a current direction of travel taken by the vehicle, so that the current location of the vehicle may be indicated visually on a display screen on the basis of the thus-obtained locational data which varies from time to time. The apparatus comprises a microfilm including a plurality of fractioned area maps with a part of the areas thereof overlapped with each other, an access unit adapted to access each of the plurality of area maps, and an image pick-up unit adapted to photographically pick-up the images of the area maps accessed.

Abstract: In a course guidance system for use in an automobile, for example, which includes an electronic display, a map, a direction sensor, a speed sensor and the like for deriving the present location of the car and plotting it on the display, the invention provides a course guidance system for a car which causes a linear and/or rotational movement of the driving locus displayed on the display when the map is changed or reset so that the present position can be easily located on the map.

Abstract: In this speech recognition system, a set of templates for each phoneme includes clusters of speech patterns based on two speech features: "physical" features (formant spectra of men versus women) and "utterance" features (unvoiced vowels and nasalization), derived from a plurality of reference speakers.

Abstract: In a machine implemented voice recognition method, as a first step speech signals are analyzed for feature vectors which are used to compare input signals with prestored reference signals. Patterns of any suitable form are used to calculate a similarity distance measure d.sub.IJ which is tested against a threshold to select likely candidates as a first step. A second step selects the most likely candidate by using "common nature" parameters of phonemes such as relative occurrence. Five embodiments of the second step are disclosed, each using a "common nature" criteria of inference to infer (select) the most likely candidate:(1) d'.sub.I =W.sub.1,.W.sub.2.W.sub.3 where W is a weighting factor;(2) d".sub.I =C.sub.I d'.sub.I where C.sub.I is a correction factor;(3) max p(i,j) where p(i) is the probability of occurrence of the i.sup.th phoneme;(4) min d'.sub.ij as a variation of max p(i,j); and(5) N(i) is the numerical similarity of the common characteristics of the selected candidates.

Abstract: A travel route indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle, wherein a current travel route of the automotive vehicle in terms of two-dimensional coordinates may be obtained arithmetically by means of signal processing on the basis of the outputs from a travel distance detecting unit adapted to detect a current travel distance of the vehicle, and from a bearing detecting unit adapted to detect a resultant azimuth taken by the vehicle after travelling to a current point of travel, so that the thus obtained locational data on the location of the vehicle varying from time to time may be stored in sequence, and so that the travel path of the vehicle may be continuously visually indicated, as the vehicle travels, on the screen of a display from the thus-obtained travel data leading to the resulting current location of the vehicle.

Abstract: A course guidance system includes a direction sensor and a speed sensor both fitted to a moving body, a display mounted in the moving body and a map displayed in a manner corresponding to the display surface of the display and in which the present position of the moving body is derived by the direction sensor and the speed sensor and is plotted on the display in a manner corresponding to the map.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle for visually indicating the travel route thereof. A current travel route of the vehicle is arithmetically obtained in terms of two-dimensional coordinates for a unit travel distance of the vehicle on the basis of outputs from a travel distance detecting unit and a gas rate sensor. The thus-obtained locational data on the current location of the vehicle, varying from time to time, is stored in sequence, and the current travel path of the vehicle is continuously visually indicated. A timer unit is provided for starting the supply of power to the gas rate sensor a sufficient amount of time prior to starting the vehicle to permit the sensor to reach a stable working temperature in advance.

Abstract: This speech signal recognition system compares the two-dimensionals pattern (time sequence of feature vectors) of an unknown signal to prestored standard references patterns for recognition, thus forming a corresponding two-dimensional comparison pattern of points of elemental Hamming distance differences. The sum of the pattern point distances is the similarity measure. To improve accuracy, partial patterns are selected (or "masked") and tested sequentially, and the point values weighted relative to their location within the mask. The mask may be rectangular or oblique.

Abstract: Vocoder signals in Telex format include a "word accent" code which indicates a sudden change in pitch (fundamental) frequency, perhaps by 50 Hz, usually caused by accenting a certain syllable in a word, whereby continuous speech may be more accurately segmented.