Abstract: A speech processing apparatus which can playback a sentence using recorded-speech-playback or text-to-speech is provided. It is determined whether each of a plurality of words or phrases constituting a sentence is a word or phrase to be played back by recorded-speech-playback or a word or phrase to be played back by text-to-speech. When each of the plurality of words or phrases is to be played back in a first sequence using the determined synthesis method, it is selected whether to playback each of the plurality of words or phrases in the first sequence or a sequence different from the first sequence, based on the number of times of reversing playback using recorded-speech-playback and playback using text-to-speech. Each of the plurality of words or phrases is played back in the selected sequence using the selected synthesis method.

Abstract: A speech recognition apparatus which improves the sound quality of speech output as a speech recognition result is provided. The speech recognition apparatus includes a recognition unit, which recognizes speech based on a recognition dictionary, and a registration unit, which registers a dictionary entry of a new recognition word in the recognition dictionary. The recognition unit includes a generation unit, which generates a dictionary entry including speech of the new recognition word item and feature parameters of the speech, and a modification unit, which makes a modification for improving the sound quality of the speech included in the dictionary entry generated by the generation unit. The recognition unit includes a speech output unit, which outputs speech which is included in a dictionary entry corresponding to the recognition result of input speech, and is modified by the modification unit.

Abstract: A flexible metal foil/polyimide laminate is prepared by applying a polyamic acid varnish onto a very thin copper foil on a carrier, semi-drying the varnish, laminating a polyimide film to the varnish-coated copper foil using a hot roll press, and heat treating the laminate for solvent removal and imidization in an atmosphere having a controlled oxygen concentration. A polyimide adhesive layer resulting from the imidization of polyamic acid has a thickness of up to 6 ?m, the sum of the thicknesses of the polyimide film and the polyimide adhesive layer is up to 25 ?m. The polyimide adhesive layer has a Tg>400° C.

Abstract: A language processing unit identifies a word by performing language analysis on a text supplied from a text holding unit. A synthesis selection unit selects speech synthesis processing performed by a rule-based synthesis unit or speech synthesis processing performed by a pre-recorded-speech-based synthesis unit for a word of interest extracted from the language analysis result. The selected rule-based synthesis unit or pre-recorded-speech-based synthesis unit executes speech synthesis processing for the word of interest.

Abstract: A speech synthesis method includes selecting a segment, determining whether to conduct prosodic modification on the selected segment, calculating a target value of prosodic modification of a segment on which prosodic modification has been determined to be conducted based on a result of the determination, conducting prosodic modification such that a prosody of the segment on which prosodic modification has been determined to be conducted takes the target value of prosodic modification, and concatenating the segment on which prosodic modification has been conducted or a segment on which prosodic modification has been determined not to be conducted as a result of the determination.

Abstract: Provided are an image forming apparatus and an image forming method in which a decline in the recognition rate of voice recognition ascribable to operating sound during printing can be prevented by starting voice recognition after the printing operation has been suspended. The image forming apparatus is provided with a voice recognition unit (103) for recognizing entered voice, and a image printing unit (107) for printing prescribed print information. Whether the image printing unit (107) is currently printing is discriminated by an image-printing-state holding unit (106). Further, a request to start operation of a voice recognition unit (103) is accepted. If the request to start operation of the voice recognition unit (103) is accepted during printing of print information by the image printing unit (107), then printing of the print information by the image printing unit (107) is suspended.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for inputting a pronunciation symbol corresponding to an English notation includes pronunciation symbol information holding means for holding pronunciation symbol information indicating a relationship between a predetermined alphabet and a pronunciation symbol that starts from the predetermined alphabet, pronunciation symbol statistical information holding means for holding statistical information associated with the probability of occurrence of each pronunciation symbol immediately after a predetermined pronunciation symbol, display means for extracting pronunciation symbols corresponding to an input alphabet from the pronunciation symbol information, and displaying the extracted pronunciation symbols while sorting them on the basis of the statistical information, and determination means for determining a pronunciation symbol corresponding to the English notation from the displayed pronunciation symbols.

Abstract: An adhesive sheet made of an acrylic adhesive composition comprising (A) an acrylic polymer containing carboxyl groups and having a Tg of 5-30° C., (B) a resol phenolic resin, (C) an epoxy resin, and (D) a curing accelerator has improved heat resistance, processing and handling as well as good adhesion, and is suited for use in the manufacture of FPC.

Abstract: An information retrieval apparatus which retrieves a program by using speech recognition is provided. A recognition dictionary storage unit stores a recognition dictionary in which a lexicon for the speech recognition is described. A program information storage unit stores program information data. A viewing history storage unit stores a viewing history containing information of the viewed frequency of a program which a user viewed in the past. When a program which satisfies a criterion concerning the viewed frequency is extracted from the program information data, a related word of the extracted program is registered in the recognition dictionary. A speech recognition unit performs speech recognition with respect to an input speech by using the recognition dictionary in which the related word is registered. A retrieval unit retrieves a program corresponding to the result of the speech recognition from the program information data.

Abstract: In order to prevent or reduce setting errors, a speech output of information concerning the contents of settings is produced so that important setting information can be output as speech to users. The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for outputting setting information via speech, the apparatus and method including changing a plurality of preset setting values based on user input, detecting changes in the setting values, determining a priority according to which setting information is to be output as speech according to the detected changes, and producing a speech output of the setting information according to the priority.

Abstract: In an information processing apparatus which can set one of a plurality of setting values for a setting item, a guidance holding unit holds guidance information for voice output for each of the plurality of setting values. A document information acquisition unit acquires document information as limiting information which limits a range of a settable setting value. A guidance selection unit and a guidance change unit acquire pieces of guidance information to be output by voice on the basis of the pieces of guidance information corresponding to the plurality of setting values held in the guidance holding unit and the limiting information acquired by the document information acquisition unit. An voice information output unit outputs, by voice, the acquired pieces of guidance information to be output by voice.

Abstract: In a phoneme-selection-type speech synthesis apparatus, sound quality when a suitable phoneme is not found is prevented from being deteriorated without changing an input sentence. A plurality of pieces of reading prosody information are obtained. The cost when an optimum phoneme sequence is selected with respect to each of the plurality of pieces of reading prosody information is calculated. Speech with respect to the reading prosody information in which the cost is minimized is synthesized.

Abstract: A method for preparing a flexible metal foil/polyimide laminate is characterized by laminating a metal foil and a polyimide film, with a heat resistant adhesive interleaved therebetween, on a heating roll press, and heat treating the laminate for removing the residual solvent from the adhesive layer and heat curing the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A flexible metal foil/polyimide laminate consists of all three layers, a polyimide film, a metal foil, and a polyimide resin layer disposed between the polyimide film and the metal foil.

Abstract: A polyimide precursor resin solution composition sheet having a solvent content of 1–50% by weight and a thickness of 1–10 microns has improved adhesion, forms a heat resistant polyimide layer when cured, and is advantageously used in the bonding of conductors to plastic films.

Abstract: Provided is an acrylic adhesive composition, including: (A) 100 parts by mass of an acrylic polymer containing a carboxyl group, with a glass transition temperature of 5 to 30° C., (B) 1 to 20 parts by mass of a resol-type phenol resin, (C) 1 to 20 parts by mass of an epoxy resin, and (D) 10 to 100 parts by mass of an inorganic filler, the composition optionally including 0 to 0.5 parts by mass of a curing accelerator per 100 parts by mass of the component (A). Also provided are an acrylic adhesive sheet that contains an adhesive layer including this composition and a method of bonding two substrates using this acrylic adhesive sheet. The acrylic adhesive sheet exhibits excellent adhesiveness, heat resistance, workability, handling properties and storage stability, and the acrylic adhesive composition is useful in the production of such an adhesive sheet.

Abstract: Provided is an acrylic flame retardant adhesive composition, including: (A) 100 parts by mass of an acrylic polymer containing a carboxyl group, with a glass transition temperature of 5 to 30° C., (B) 1 to 20 parts by mass of a resol-type phenol resin, (C) 1 to 20 parts by mass of an epoxy resin, (D) 0.1 to 5 parts by mass of a curing accelerator, (E) a bromine-based flame retardant, in sufficient quantity to produce a bromine content within the entire composition, excluding the component (F), of 15 to 40% by mass, and (F) 10 to 100 parts by mass of an inorganic filler. Also provided are an acrylic adhesive sheet that contains an adhesive layer including this composition and a method of bonding two substrates using this acrylic adhesive sheet. The acrylic adhesive sheet exhibits excellent adhesiveness, heat resistance, workability, handling properties and flame retardancy, and the acrylic adhesive composition is useful in the production of such an adhesive sheet.

Abstract: A flexible metal foil/polyimide laminate is prepared by applying a polyamic acid varnish onto a very thin copper foil on a carrier, semi-drying the varnish, laminating a polyimide film to the varnish-coated copper foil using a hot roll press, and heat treating the laminate for solvent removal and imidization in an atmosphere having a controlled oxygen concentration. A polyimide adhesive layer resulting from the imidization of polyamic acid has a thickness of up to 6 ?m, the sum of the thicknesses of the polyimide film and the polyimide adhesive layer is up to 25 ?m. The polyimide adhesive layer has a Tg>400° C.

Abstract: An electronic dictionary apparatus and its control method are provided. A database contains entry words and advanced phonetic information corresponding to each entry word. A dictionary search section searches the database using an entry word specified by a user as a search key and acquires the advanced phonetic information corresponding to the entry word. A display section displays simple phonetic information generated based on the acquired advanced phonetic information. A speech output section performs speech synthesis based on the acquired advanced phonetic information and outputs the synthesized speech.

Abstract: In a flexible metal foil/polyimide laminate comprising in sequence, a heat resistant polyimide film, an adhesive layer, and a metal foil, the adhesive layer is a polyimide adhesive layer with a Tg of at least 400° C., obtained by heat imidization of a polyamic acid varnish containing 5-200 ppm of a leveling agent, typically polyether-modified silicone. This laminate of the all polyimide type takes full advantage of the properties of heat resistant polyimide film, includes the adhesive layer having a smooth surface, and is free of thickness variations.