Abstract: An embedded system comprising an embedded core, a non-volatile memory (e.g., a Flash memory or a ROM), and a volatile memory (e.g., RAM). The embedded core performs processing tasks for the embedded system. The non-volatile memory stores executable codes for the embedded core. The volatile memory stores program data and auxiliary data for the embedded core during first and second operating modes, respectively. The embedded core executes the executable codes from the non-volatile memory and operates on the program data in the volatile memory in the first operating mode, and retrieves the auxiliary data from the volatile memory and performs processing based on the retrieved auxiliary data in the second operating mode. The embedded system is fully functional in the second operating mode, and the auxiliary data may comprise (1) programming codes used to program the non-volatile memory, or (2) a test program to test the embedded system.

Abstract: A text-to-speech conversion system that includes a first module to convert text into words, a second module to convert words into phonemes, a third module to map phonemes to sound units, and a storage unit to store speech representations for a library of sound units. The first, second, and third modules and the storage unit are implemented within a single integrated circuit to reduce size and cost. The system typically further includes a ROM to store the codes for the modules, a RAM to store the text and intermediate results, a processor to execute the codes for the modules, a control module to direct the operation of the first, second, and third modules. The storage unit may be implemented with a multi-level, non-volatile analog storage array and may be programmed with a new library of speech representations by a programming module.