Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Rikimaru

Hiroshi Rikimaru has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8057234
    Abstract: The increasing globalization of the world necessitates further strengthening of foreign language learning policies. The brain's foreign language recognition activity is enhanced and effective foreign language learning is enabled by extracting signals of prescribed bands from a speech signal in a foreign language using a first bandpass filter section having two or more bandpass filters, extracting the envelopes of each frequency band signal using envelope extraction sections having envelope extractors, applying a noise source signal to a second bandpass filter section having two or more bandpass filters and extracting noise signals corresponding to the prescribed bands, multiplying the outputs of the first bandpass filter section and the second bandpass filter section in multiplication sections, summing up the outputs of the multiplication sections in an addition section to produce a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal, and presenting the Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signals for listening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroshi Rikimaru, Shinichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Nakaichi
  • Patent number: 7729907
    Abstract: Preparing for the full-fledged aged society, measures to prevent senility are required. Senility is prevented by extracting signals of prescribed bands from a speech signal using a first bandpass filter section having a plurality of bandpass filters, extracting the envelopes of each frequency band signal using an envelope extraction section having envelope extractors, applying a noise source signal to a second bandpass filter section having a plurality of bandpass filters and extracting noise signals corresponding to the prescribed bands, multiplying the outputs from the first bandpass filter section and the second bandpass filter section in a multiplication section, summing up the outputs from the multiplication section in an addition section to produce a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal, and presenting the Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal for listening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Rion Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Rikimaru
  • Patent number: 7502483
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hearing aid in which at least one portion of an input sound signal is divided into a frequency band signal, and a single or a plurality of the frequency band signals are subjected to noise to generate a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal, which a user can hear. Such a hearing aid facilitates activation of the brain and is expected to provide an effect on treatment or training of people with a neural disorder. Such a hearing aid lets a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal recognized by utilizing normal portions of the brain to the maximum level and the Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal is compensated for by other normal portions of the brain, in order to let a person with hearing difficulty understand the meaning of the input sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroshi Rikimaru
  • Patent number: 7421392
    Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic device that presents, to a patient, a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal that is obtained by dividing at least one portion of a sound signal into a single or a plurality of frequency band signals and subjecting the frequency band signals to noise, and analyzing the content of a response recognized by the patient and the presented stimulus to diagnose a disease of the patient based on the analysis results, so that diagnosis including determining the disease of the patient and estimating a damaged site can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: RION Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Rikimaru
  • Publication number: 20070185710
    Abstract: Preparing for the full-fledged aged society, measures to prevent senility are required. Senility is prevented by extracting signals of prescribed bands from a speech signal using a first bandpass filter section having a plurality of bandpass filters, extracting the envelopes of each frequency band signal using an envelope extraction section having envelope extractors, applying a noise source signal to a second bandpass filter section having a plurality of bandpass filters and extracting noise signals corresponding to the prescribed bands, multiplying the outputs from the first bandpass filter section and the second bandpass filter section in a multiplication section, summing up the outputs from the multiplication section in an addition section to produce a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal, and presenting the Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal for listening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2005
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Rion Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Rikimaru
  • Publication number: 20070009864
    Abstract: The increasing globalization of the world necessitates further strengthening of foreign language learning policies. The brain's foreign language recognition activity is enhanced and effective foreign language learning is enabled by extracting signals of prescribed bands from a speech signal in a foreign language using a first bandpass filter section having two or more bandpass filters, extracting the envelopes of each frequency band signal using envelope extraction sections having envelope extractors, applying a noise source signal to a second bandpass filter section having two or more bandpass filters and extracting noise signals corresponding to the prescribed bands, multiplying the outputs of the first bandpass filter section and the second bandpass filter section in multiplication sections, summing up the outputs of the multiplication sections in an addition section to produce a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal, and presenting the Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signals for listening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicants: Rion Co., Ltd., Hiroshi Rikimaru
    Inventors: Hiroshi Rikimaru, Shinichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Nakaichi
  • Publication number: 20070003083
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hearing aid in which at least one portion of an input sound signal is divided into a frequency band signal, and a single or a plurality of the frequency band signals are subjected to noise to generate a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal, which a user can hear. Such a hearing aid facilitates activation of the brain and is expected to provide an effect on treatment or training of people with a neural disorder. Such a hearing aid lets a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal recognized by utilizing normal portions of the brain to the maximum level and the Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal is compensated for by other normal portions of the brain, in order to let a person with hearing difficulty understand the meaning of the input sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventor: Hiroshi Rikimaru
  • Publication number: 20060167681
    Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic device that presents, to a patient, a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal that is obtained by dividing at least one portion of a sound signal into a single or a plurality of frequency band signals and subjecting the frequency band signals to noise, and analyzing the content of a response recognized by the patient and the presented stimulus to diagnose a disease of the patient based on the analysis results, so that diagnosis including determining the disease of the patient and estimating a damaged site can be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventor: Hiroshi Rikimaru