CA1326076C - Circuit for judging to distinguish between audio and non-audio signals - Google Patents
Circuit for judging to distinguish between audio and non-audio signalsInfo
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- CA1326076C CA1326076C CA000581607A CA581607A CA1326076C CA 1326076 C CA1326076 C CA 1326076C CA 000581607 A CA000581607 A CA 000581607A CA 581607 A CA581607 A CA 581607A CA 1326076 C CA1326076 C CA 1326076C
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/64—Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10L—SPEECH ANALYSIS OR SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
- G10L25/00—Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups G10L15/00 - G10L21/00
- G10L25/78—Detection of presence or absence of voice signals
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Computational Linguistics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Audiology, Speech & Language Pathology (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Control Of Amplification And Gain Control (AREA)
- Signal Processing Not Specific To The Method Of Recording And Reproducing (AREA)
- Time-Division Multiplex Systems (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A threshold level for determining whether an input speech signal is an audio or non-audio signal in a voice operated recorder is changed in accordance with the ratio of the non-audio duration of the input speech signal to a predetermined period of time so as to decrease the influence of ambient noise on the judgement between audio and non-audio signals as made by the voice operated recorder.
A threshold level for determining whether an input speech signal is an audio or non-audio signal in a voice operated recorder is changed in accordance with the ratio of the non-audio duration of the input speech signal to a predetermined period of time so as to decrease the influence of ambient noise on the judgement between audio and non-audio signals as made by the voice operated recorder.
Description
~` 1 326076 2794l BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a circuit for distinguishing between audio and non-audio signals and, more particularly, to a circuit for use in a recording/reproducing apparatus that is voice controlled.
Description of the Prior Art In a recordingtreproducing apparatus using a magnetic tape, a solid-state memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, as a recording medium, it is known to conserve the space available on the recording medium by automatically setting a recording mode to record speech signals only when a person is actually speaXing. These recorders are known as voice actuated or voice operated recorders and applications for such recording/reproducing apparatus are an automatic telephone answering machine, a memory machine, a transcription machine, and the like. In the apparatus to be voice controlled, a circuit for distinguishing between audio and non-audio signals, that is, which judges the presence/absence of an input speech signal, is typically employed.
A conventional audio/non-audio signal judging circuit compares the level of an input speech signal with a predetermined threshold level, determines that the speech signal is a non-audio signal when the speech signal is lower than the threshold level, and determines it to be an audio signal when it exceeds the threshold level~ ~
`` 1 32 6 07 6 2794l In the conventional audio/non-audio signal judging circuit, however, the threshold level for distinguishing between audio and non-audio signals is fixed at a predetermined value. Therefore, when there is a large, steady, noise disturbance, such as unusual ambient noise picked up by a microphone or a telephone or a telephone line, even if the user does not speak, the noise level exceeds the predetermined threshol~ level and the presence of an audio (speech) signal is erroneously detected. As a result, the recording/reproducing apparatus is undesirably set in the recording state and this disturbance noise is erroneously recorded, thereby decreasing the utilization rate of the recording medium and defeating one of the original purposes of the voice actuated recorder.
This problem can be particularly troublesome in an automatic telephone answering apparatuR wherein the telephone line is disengaged b~ detecting a non-audio signal, that is, the absence of speech, upon completion of a message from a caller. If a detection error is caused by noise, the telephone line will be kept DC-engaged even after the message is completed. For this reason, in addition to wasting the available space on the recording medium, the automatic telephone answering apparatus cannot prepare for the next incoming call because the telephone line has been incorrectly kept engaged.
In the Voice Operational Recording (VOR) mode of a dictating or transcription machine, the recording state can also be automatically started by a large noise disturbance, ` 1 326076 27941 and the recording state will unnecessarily continue. As a result, an actual input speech signal may not be able to be recorded because the recording medium has been used up.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording/reproducing apparatus that is actuated in the recording mode by audio signals that can eliminate the above-noted defects inherent in the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an audio/non-audio signal determination circuit in which an audio/non-audio signal threshold level is altered in accordance with the ratio of the duration of a non-audio input signal to a predetermined time.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an audio/non-audio signal determination circuit in which when the total non-audio duration within a predetermined time period is sensed to be short, it i9 determined that a long and steady noise that exceeds the existing judging level is present, and the audio/non-audio signal threshold or judging level is raised, whereas when the total non-audio duration is long, it is determined that a steady noise disturbance is not present and the threshold level is maintained, thereby accurately discriminating between audio and non-audio signals regardless of the presence of noise.
- 1 326076 2794l BRIEF DESCRIPTION O OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic in block diagram form of an embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 2A~2C are timing charts useful in explaining the operation of the circuit of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit of Fig. 1 in more detail; and Fig. 4 is a schematic in block diagram form of another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the present invention is applied to a digital recording/reproducing apparatus employing a solid-state memory as a recording medium. The system shown in Fig. 1 is divided into a recordingtreproducing section 1 and an audio/non-audio signal determination circuit section 2. When recording/reproducing section 1 is in a recording mode an input speech (analog) signal SA1 obtained from a microphone 3 is raised in signal level by an input amplifier 4. The amplified signal is supplied to a digital signal processing circuit 5 where it is converted into a digital signal. In this embodiment, the speech signal SA1 is subjected to the well-known adaptive delta modulation (ADM) procesYing and is converted into a one-bit digital speech signal SD. The signal SD is then recorded in a memory 6 that is constituted by a semiconductor memory or the like.
1 326076 2794l In a reproducing mode, the signal SD is read out from memory 6 and demodulated into the original analog signal SA1 by digital signal processing circuit 5. The reproduced analog signal SA1 is amplified by an output amplifier 7 and fed to a loudspeaker 8. A system controller 9 controls the operation of the processing circuit 5, as well as other circuits in the apparatus at predetermined timings in the recording and reproducing modes.
In the recording mode, the output signal from input amplifier 4 is also supplied to audio/non-audio signal determination circuit section 2 and is subjected therein to audio!non-audio signal determination, as will be described later. In accordance with this determination, only the input digital signal SD that is determined to be of an audio duration is written in memory 6 under the control of system controller 9.
In the operation of the audio/non-audio judging circuit section 2, when a total non-audio duration as determined by a predetermined audio/non-audio signal threshold level is less than three seconds, within a first interval of 30 seconds from the start of recording, that is, if the sum of the speech duration of a user as determined by the threshold level and the duration of the noise is long, it is determined that what is actually being recorded is noise that has continued for a long period of time. As a result, the threshold level is effectively raised by one step so as to decease the sensitivity to noise, thereby detecting only a speech from the user. It will be appreciated, of course, that the time periods above are given by way of example only and many other time periods could be advantageously employed.
In addition, if the total non-audio duration determined by the threshold level that has just been raised by one step is less than three seconds within the next 30 seconds following the interval of 30 seconds from the start of recording, it is determined that the undesirable noise has continued for a longer period of time. As a result, the threshold level is raised by another step so as to further decrease sensitivity to noise, thereby detecting only a speech from the user. Thereafter, the threshold level is kept unchanged.
Moreover, if the total non-audio duration is less than three seconds within an interval of 30 seconds from the start of recording but it exceeds three seconds within an interval o~ 60 seconds from the start of recording, the threshold level is raised when the first interval of 30 seconds has elapsed, so as to detect only speech from the user. Thereafter, the threshold lavel is kept unchanged.
According to the above-described operation, when a total non-audio duration judged within a predetermined period of time is less than a set value (three seconds in this embodiment), the threshold level is raised by determining that a large disturbance noise is present.
Therefore, only speech from the user can be detected and erroneous operation and consumption of the available memory due to noise can be prevented.
1 32607~ 2794l The audio/non-audio signal determination circuit section 2 will be described in detail below with reference to Fig. 1. When recording/reproducing section 1 is set in the recording mode, system controller 9 outputs a recording start signal ST, and in response to this signal ST, latch circuits 10, 11, and 12 are set, while counters 13 and 14 are reset. In addition, system controller 9 outputs a clock signal CK having a predetermined frequency that is supplied to counter 13 to be counted therein. Clock signal CK is also fed to the input side of a switch 15. Initially, the gain of a variable gain amplifier 16 to which the output signal from input amplifier 4 is supplied is set to a maximum value.
When recording commences, the output signal from input amplifier 4 is amplified by variable gain amplifier 16 using its maximum gain, and the amplified signal is filtered by a band-pass filter 17, so that a signal SA2 having frequencies only in the speech band is passed thereby. The level of this signal SA2 is compared with a predetermined threshold level Vs in a comparator 18, so that audio/non-audio signal determination is performed. A signal SS representing the result of this determination is supplied to system controller 9 and to control the operation of switch 15.
When the determination result indicated by signal SS is "non-audio signal", system controller 9 stops writing data obtained from digital signal processing circuit 5 in memory 6. At the same time, switch 15 is closed by signal 1 326076 2794l SS and the clock signal CK from system controller 9 is supplied to counter 14 through switch 15. Consequently, counter 14 measures the total time duration of the non-audio signal. In this embodiment the maximum measurement time in counter 14 is s~t to be three seconds.
When counter 13 has counted the clock pulses in clock signal CK for 30 seconds from the start of recording, it outputs a 30-second latch trigger signal Ll to latch circuit 10 and when counter 13 has counted clock pulses CK
for 60 seconds from the start of recording, it outputs a 60-second latch trigger signal L2 to latch circuit 11. Note that counter 13 always receives and counts the pulses in clock signal CK, whereas counter 14 only counts such clock pulses during the time when it is determined that a non-audio signal is present in response to comparatox 18.
In addition, latch circuit 12 latches the measurement result from counter 14, that is, the indication whether the total non-audio duration from the start of recording has reached three seconds or not, and latch circuits 10 and 11 latch an output LO or ~O from latch circuit 12. In this embodiment, the output LO represents that the measurement result from counter 14 is less than three seconds, whereas the output LO represents that such measurement exceeds three seconds. Output signals Vcl and V~2 from latch circuits 10 and 11, respectively, are gain control signals for controlling variable gain amplifier 16.
Examples of the operation of the system of Fig. 1 are shown in Figs. 2A-2C. More specifically, in Fig. 2A
because the measurement result of the non-audio duration from counter 14 does not total three seconds in the first 30 seconds from the commencement of recording, the signal LO is output from latch circuit 12 and counter 13 outputs the 30-second latch trigger signal L1. Latch circuit 10 latches the output signal LO from latch 12, and outputs the corresponding signal Vcl to variable gain amplifier 16 to decrease its gain by one step. In this embodiment, one step of decreasing gain is set to be approximately 3dB.
Because the measured result of the duration of non-audio sound still does not total three seconds within the next 30 second period, the signal LO is output once again from latch circuit 12. Then, counter 13 outputs the 60-second latch trigger L2 to latch circuit 11, and latch circuit 11 latches the output signal LO and produces the signal Vc2 fed to variable gain amplifier 16, thereby decreasing the gain by another step, preferably 3dB.
Thus, because the gain of variable gain amplifier 16 is decreased in the above-described manner, the predetermined threshold level of the comparator 18 is effectively raised by two steps.
Fig. 2B represents another example, in which because the measured total duration of non-audio signal does not total three seconds within the first 30 seconds following commencement of recording, the output signal LO is output from latch circuit 12. As a result, the signal V
is produced by latch circuit 10 on the basis of the 30-second latch trigger signal L1, and the gain of variable _g _ amplifier 16 i5 decreased ky one step. Thus, the threshold level of comparator 18 is effectively raised by one step (3dB).
Because the measured total duration of non-audio signals does exceed three seconds within the next successive 30 seconds, the output signal LO is output from latch circuit 12. Latch circuit 11 then latches the output signal LO in response to the 60-second trigger L2 from counter 13, the signal Vc2 is not produced, and the gain of variable gain amplifier 16 remains unchanged. That is, the gain is held decreased by only one step. Therefore, the threshold level Vs of comparator 18 is effectively held increased by only one step (3dB).
Fig. 2C represents another example, in which because the measured total duration of non-audio signal exceeds three seconds within the first 30 seconds, the output signal LO is produced by latch circuit 12.
Therefore, because latch circuit 10 latches the output LO in response to the 30-second latch trigger Ll from counter 13, the signal Vcl is not produced, and the gain of variable gain amplifier 16 is maintained unchanged at its original maximum level.
Because latch circuit 11 latches the output signal LO in response to the 60-second latch trigger L2 from counter 13 even after the next 30 seconds have elapsed, the signal Vc2 cannot be produced, and variable gain amplifier 16 continues to hold the original maximum gain. Therefore, the threshold level Vs of comparator 18 remains substantially unchanged.
Fi~. 3 shows a detailed circuit arrangement of the audio/non-audio signal determination circuit 2 of Fig. 1.
The same reference numerals in Fig. 3 denote the same part as in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3 the speech signal SAl amplified by input amplifier 4, shown in Fig. 1 but not in Fig. 3, is supplied to an input terminal 19. The initial gain of the signal SA1 is set by a variable resistor 20 after passing through variable gain amplifier 16 and band-pass filter ~7.
Then, the signal SAl is supplied to comparator 18 and the comparison result Ss obtained by comparator 18 is output at terminal 21a and is supplied to an AND gate, which constitutes switch 15 in Fig. 1. Terminals 21a are not shGwn to be connected in Fig. 3 in the interest of schematic neatness but it should be understood that these terminals are electrically the same point.
In addition, the recording start signal ST is supplied from system controller 9, shown in Fig. 1, to an input terminal 22. In response to signal ST, counter 14 is reset and latch circuits 10, 11, and 12 are set in predetermined states. These latch circuits 10, 11, and 12 are constituted by D flip-flops in this embodiment. The outputs signals LO and LO from latch circuit 12 are latched by latch circuits 10 and 11, respectively. The output signal Vcl and Vc2 from latch circuit 10 are supplied to the bases of transistors 23 and 24, respectively, for controlling the gain of variable gain amplifier 16.
; 1 326076 27941 In the above-described embodiment, the gain of variable gain amplifier 16 is controlled by the gain control signals Vcl and Vc2. According to another embodiment shown in Fig. 4, however, the threshold level Vs of comparator 18 may be directly controlled at a variable voltage source by signals Vcl and Vc2. In that case amplifier 16' need not be i a variable gain amplifier. The threshold level Vs can be easily changed using a transistor switched voltage divider or a switched multi-voltage source, all of which are well known to the artisan.
Furthermore, although in this embodiment the audio/non-audio signal threshold level is raised or maintained depending on whether a total non-audio duration within 30 or 60 seconds from the start of recording reaches a ~et value (three seconds) the level could also be lowered.
In addition, the non-audio signal duration within a predetermined per~od of time may be measured at least once in the course of recording 90 that the audio/non-audio ~` ~ignal level i8 raised, lowered, or maintained depending on whether the non-audio duration reaches the set value or not.
~; Moreover, the audio/non-audio signal threshold level may be further fine-controlled by increasing the number of time latch triggers such as the 30-second and 60-second latch triggers Ll and L2 from the latch circuits, and setting the predetermined time to be 10 ~econds, 15 seconds, or the ~ like.
f The pxocessing described above can also be performed by a microcomputer, and elements such as the -~2-~ 1 326076 27941 counters and the latch circuit can be integrated in the microcomputer.
The present invention can be applied not only to digital recording/reproducing apparatus but also to recording/reproducing apparatus using magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, and the like.
The above description is given on a single preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be apparent that many mvdifications and variations could be effected by one skilled in the art without departing form the spirit or scope of the novel concepts of the invention, which should be determined by tha appended cl~.ims.
Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a circuit for distinguishing between audio and non-audio signals and, more particularly, to a circuit for use in a recording/reproducing apparatus that is voice controlled.
Description of the Prior Art In a recordingtreproducing apparatus using a magnetic tape, a solid-state memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, as a recording medium, it is known to conserve the space available on the recording medium by automatically setting a recording mode to record speech signals only when a person is actually speaXing. These recorders are known as voice actuated or voice operated recorders and applications for such recording/reproducing apparatus are an automatic telephone answering machine, a memory machine, a transcription machine, and the like. In the apparatus to be voice controlled, a circuit for distinguishing between audio and non-audio signals, that is, which judges the presence/absence of an input speech signal, is typically employed.
A conventional audio/non-audio signal judging circuit compares the level of an input speech signal with a predetermined threshold level, determines that the speech signal is a non-audio signal when the speech signal is lower than the threshold level, and determines it to be an audio signal when it exceeds the threshold level~ ~
`` 1 32 6 07 6 2794l In the conventional audio/non-audio signal judging circuit, however, the threshold level for distinguishing between audio and non-audio signals is fixed at a predetermined value. Therefore, when there is a large, steady, noise disturbance, such as unusual ambient noise picked up by a microphone or a telephone or a telephone line, even if the user does not speak, the noise level exceeds the predetermined threshol~ level and the presence of an audio (speech) signal is erroneously detected. As a result, the recording/reproducing apparatus is undesirably set in the recording state and this disturbance noise is erroneously recorded, thereby decreasing the utilization rate of the recording medium and defeating one of the original purposes of the voice actuated recorder.
This problem can be particularly troublesome in an automatic telephone answering apparatuR wherein the telephone line is disengaged b~ detecting a non-audio signal, that is, the absence of speech, upon completion of a message from a caller. If a detection error is caused by noise, the telephone line will be kept DC-engaged even after the message is completed. For this reason, in addition to wasting the available space on the recording medium, the automatic telephone answering apparatus cannot prepare for the next incoming call because the telephone line has been incorrectly kept engaged.
In the Voice Operational Recording (VOR) mode of a dictating or transcription machine, the recording state can also be automatically started by a large noise disturbance, ` 1 326076 27941 and the recording state will unnecessarily continue. As a result, an actual input speech signal may not be able to be recorded because the recording medium has been used up.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording/reproducing apparatus that is actuated in the recording mode by audio signals that can eliminate the above-noted defects inherent in the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an audio/non-audio signal determination circuit in which an audio/non-audio signal threshold level is altered in accordance with the ratio of the duration of a non-audio input signal to a predetermined time.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an audio/non-audio signal determination circuit in which when the total non-audio duration within a predetermined time period is sensed to be short, it i9 determined that a long and steady noise that exceeds the existing judging level is present, and the audio/non-audio signal threshold or judging level is raised, whereas when the total non-audio duration is long, it is determined that a steady noise disturbance is not present and the threshold level is maintained, thereby accurately discriminating between audio and non-audio signals regardless of the presence of noise.
- 1 326076 2794l BRIEF DESCRIPTION O OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic in block diagram form of an embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 2A~2C are timing charts useful in explaining the operation of the circuit of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit of Fig. 1 in more detail; and Fig. 4 is a schematic in block diagram form of another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the present invention is applied to a digital recording/reproducing apparatus employing a solid-state memory as a recording medium. The system shown in Fig. 1 is divided into a recordingtreproducing section 1 and an audio/non-audio signal determination circuit section 2. When recording/reproducing section 1 is in a recording mode an input speech (analog) signal SA1 obtained from a microphone 3 is raised in signal level by an input amplifier 4. The amplified signal is supplied to a digital signal processing circuit 5 where it is converted into a digital signal. In this embodiment, the speech signal SA1 is subjected to the well-known adaptive delta modulation (ADM) procesYing and is converted into a one-bit digital speech signal SD. The signal SD is then recorded in a memory 6 that is constituted by a semiconductor memory or the like.
1 326076 2794l In a reproducing mode, the signal SD is read out from memory 6 and demodulated into the original analog signal SA1 by digital signal processing circuit 5. The reproduced analog signal SA1 is amplified by an output amplifier 7 and fed to a loudspeaker 8. A system controller 9 controls the operation of the processing circuit 5, as well as other circuits in the apparatus at predetermined timings in the recording and reproducing modes.
In the recording mode, the output signal from input amplifier 4 is also supplied to audio/non-audio signal determination circuit section 2 and is subjected therein to audio!non-audio signal determination, as will be described later. In accordance with this determination, only the input digital signal SD that is determined to be of an audio duration is written in memory 6 under the control of system controller 9.
In the operation of the audio/non-audio judging circuit section 2, when a total non-audio duration as determined by a predetermined audio/non-audio signal threshold level is less than three seconds, within a first interval of 30 seconds from the start of recording, that is, if the sum of the speech duration of a user as determined by the threshold level and the duration of the noise is long, it is determined that what is actually being recorded is noise that has continued for a long period of time. As a result, the threshold level is effectively raised by one step so as to decease the sensitivity to noise, thereby detecting only a speech from the user. It will be appreciated, of course, that the time periods above are given by way of example only and many other time periods could be advantageously employed.
In addition, if the total non-audio duration determined by the threshold level that has just been raised by one step is less than three seconds within the next 30 seconds following the interval of 30 seconds from the start of recording, it is determined that the undesirable noise has continued for a longer period of time. As a result, the threshold level is raised by another step so as to further decrease sensitivity to noise, thereby detecting only a speech from the user. Thereafter, the threshold level is kept unchanged.
Moreover, if the total non-audio duration is less than three seconds within an interval of 30 seconds from the start of recording but it exceeds three seconds within an interval o~ 60 seconds from the start of recording, the threshold level is raised when the first interval of 30 seconds has elapsed, so as to detect only speech from the user. Thereafter, the threshold lavel is kept unchanged.
According to the above-described operation, when a total non-audio duration judged within a predetermined period of time is less than a set value (three seconds in this embodiment), the threshold level is raised by determining that a large disturbance noise is present.
Therefore, only speech from the user can be detected and erroneous operation and consumption of the available memory due to noise can be prevented.
1 32607~ 2794l The audio/non-audio signal determination circuit section 2 will be described in detail below with reference to Fig. 1. When recording/reproducing section 1 is set in the recording mode, system controller 9 outputs a recording start signal ST, and in response to this signal ST, latch circuits 10, 11, and 12 are set, while counters 13 and 14 are reset. In addition, system controller 9 outputs a clock signal CK having a predetermined frequency that is supplied to counter 13 to be counted therein. Clock signal CK is also fed to the input side of a switch 15. Initially, the gain of a variable gain amplifier 16 to which the output signal from input amplifier 4 is supplied is set to a maximum value.
When recording commences, the output signal from input amplifier 4 is amplified by variable gain amplifier 16 using its maximum gain, and the amplified signal is filtered by a band-pass filter 17, so that a signal SA2 having frequencies only in the speech band is passed thereby. The level of this signal SA2 is compared with a predetermined threshold level Vs in a comparator 18, so that audio/non-audio signal determination is performed. A signal SS representing the result of this determination is supplied to system controller 9 and to control the operation of switch 15.
When the determination result indicated by signal SS is "non-audio signal", system controller 9 stops writing data obtained from digital signal processing circuit 5 in memory 6. At the same time, switch 15 is closed by signal 1 326076 2794l SS and the clock signal CK from system controller 9 is supplied to counter 14 through switch 15. Consequently, counter 14 measures the total time duration of the non-audio signal. In this embodiment the maximum measurement time in counter 14 is s~t to be three seconds.
When counter 13 has counted the clock pulses in clock signal CK for 30 seconds from the start of recording, it outputs a 30-second latch trigger signal Ll to latch circuit 10 and when counter 13 has counted clock pulses CK
for 60 seconds from the start of recording, it outputs a 60-second latch trigger signal L2 to latch circuit 11. Note that counter 13 always receives and counts the pulses in clock signal CK, whereas counter 14 only counts such clock pulses during the time when it is determined that a non-audio signal is present in response to comparatox 18.
In addition, latch circuit 12 latches the measurement result from counter 14, that is, the indication whether the total non-audio duration from the start of recording has reached three seconds or not, and latch circuits 10 and 11 latch an output LO or ~O from latch circuit 12. In this embodiment, the output LO represents that the measurement result from counter 14 is less than three seconds, whereas the output LO represents that such measurement exceeds three seconds. Output signals Vcl and V~2 from latch circuits 10 and 11, respectively, are gain control signals for controlling variable gain amplifier 16.
Examples of the operation of the system of Fig. 1 are shown in Figs. 2A-2C. More specifically, in Fig. 2A
because the measurement result of the non-audio duration from counter 14 does not total three seconds in the first 30 seconds from the commencement of recording, the signal LO is output from latch circuit 12 and counter 13 outputs the 30-second latch trigger signal L1. Latch circuit 10 latches the output signal LO from latch 12, and outputs the corresponding signal Vcl to variable gain amplifier 16 to decrease its gain by one step. In this embodiment, one step of decreasing gain is set to be approximately 3dB.
Because the measured result of the duration of non-audio sound still does not total three seconds within the next 30 second period, the signal LO is output once again from latch circuit 12. Then, counter 13 outputs the 60-second latch trigger L2 to latch circuit 11, and latch circuit 11 latches the output signal LO and produces the signal Vc2 fed to variable gain amplifier 16, thereby decreasing the gain by another step, preferably 3dB.
Thus, because the gain of variable gain amplifier 16 is decreased in the above-described manner, the predetermined threshold level of the comparator 18 is effectively raised by two steps.
Fig. 2B represents another example, in which because the measured total duration of non-audio signal does not total three seconds within the first 30 seconds following commencement of recording, the output signal LO is output from latch circuit 12. As a result, the signal V
is produced by latch circuit 10 on the basis of the 30-second latch trigger signal L1, and the gain of variable _g _ amplifier 16 i5 decreased ky one step. Thus, the threshold level of comparator 18 is effectively raised by one step (3dB).
Because the measured total duration of non-audio signals does exceed three seconds within the next successive 30 seconds, the output signal LO is output from latch circuit 12. Latch circuit 11 then latches the output signal LO in response to the 60-second trigger L2 from counter 13, the signal Vc2 is not produced, and the gain of variable gain amplifier 16 remains unchanged. That is, the gain is held decreased by only one step. Therefore, the threshold level Vs of comparator 18 is effectively held increased by only one step (3dB).
Fig. 2C represents another example, in which because the measured total duration of non-audio signal exceeds three seconds within the first 30 seconds, the output signal LO is produced by latch circuit 12.
Therefore, because latch circuit 10 latches the output LO in response to the 30-second latch trigger Ll from counter 13, the signal Vcl is not produced, and the gain of variable gain amplifier 16 is maintained unchanged at its original maximum level.
Because latch circuit 11 latches the output signal LO in response to the 60-second latch trigger L2 from counter 13 even after the next 30 seconds have elapsed, the signal Vc2 cannot be produced, and variable gain amplifier 16 continues to hold the original maximum gain. Therefore, the threshold level Vs of comparator 18 remains substantially unchanged.
Fi~. 3 shows a detailed circuit arrangement of the audio/non-audio signal determination circuit 2 of Fig. 1.
The same reference numerals in Fig. 3 denote the same part as in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3 the speech signal SAl amplified by input amplifier 4, shown in Fig. 1 but not in Fig. 3, is supplied to an input terminal 19. The initial gain of the signal SA1 is set by a variable resistor 20 after passing through variable gain amplifier 16 and band-pass filter ~7.
Then, the signal SAl is supplied to comparator 18 and the comparison result Ss obtained by comparator 18 is output at terminal 21a and is supplied to an AND gate, which constitutes switch 15 in Fig. 1. Terminals 21a are not shGwn to be connected in Fig. 3 in the interest of schematic neatness but it should be understood that these terminals are electrically the same point.
In addition, the recording start signal ST is supplied from system controller 9, shown in Fig. 1, to an input terminal 22. In response to signal ST, counter 14 is reset and latch circuits 10, 11, and 12 are set in predetermined states. These latch circuits 10, 11, and 12 are constituted by D flip-flops in this embodiment. The outputs signals LO and LO from latch circuit 12 are latched by latch circuits 10 and 11, respectively. The output signal Vcl and Vc2 from latch circuit 10 are supplied to the bases of transistors 23 and 24, respectively, for controlling the gain of variable gain amplifier 16.
; 1 326076 27941 In the above-described embodiment, the gain of variable gain amplifier 16 is controlled by the gain control signals Vcl and Vc2. According to another embodiment shown in Fig. 4, however, the threshold level Vs of comparator 18 may be directly controlled at a variable voltage source by signals Vcl and Vc2. In that case amplifier 16' need not be i a variable gain amplifier. The threshold level Vs can be easily changed using a transistor switched voltage divider or a switched multi-voltage source, all of which are well known to the artisan.
Furthermore, although in this embodiment the audio/non-audio signal threshold level is raised or maintained depending on whether a total non-audio duration within 30 or 60 seconds from the start of recording reaches a ~et value (three seconds) the level could also be lowered.
In addition, the non-audio signal duration within a predetermined per~od of time may be measured at least once in the course of recording 90 that the audio/non-audio ~` ~ignal level i8 raised, lowered, or maintained depending on whether the non-audio duration reaches the set value or not.
~; Moreover, the audio/non-audio signal threshold level may be further fine-controlled by increasing the number of time latch triggers such as the 30-second and 60-second latch triggers Ll and L2 from the latch circuits, and setting the predetermined time to be 10 ~econds, 15 seconds, or the ~ like.
f The pxocessing described above can also be performed by a microcomputer, and elements such as the -~2-~ 1 326076 27941 counters and the latch circuit can be integrated in the microcomputer.
The present invention can be applied not only to digital recording/reproducing apparatus but also to recording/reproducing apparatus using magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, and the like.
The above description is given on a single preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be apparent that many mvdifications and variations could be effected by one skilled in the art without departing form the spirit or scope of the novel concepts of the invention, which should be determined by tha appended cl~.ims.
Claims (11)
1. A circuit for distinguishing between speech and non-speech signals for judging an input audio signal to be a non-speech signal when a level of the input audio signal is lower than a predetermined level and judging the input audio signal to be a speech signal when the level of the input audio signal is higher than the predetermined level, comprising:
a comparator for comparing the level of the input audio signal with the predetermined level; and level changing control means for raising or lowering the predetermined level by a predetermined amount in accordance with a ratio of a total non-speech time duration of the input audio signal to a time period having a value equal to a predetermined constant.
a comparator for comparing the level of the input audio signal with the predetermined level; and level changing control means for raising or lowering the predetermined level by a predetermined amount in accordance with a ratio of a total non-speech time duration of the input audio signal to a time period having a value equal to a predetermined constant.
2. A circuit according to claim 1, wherein said level changing control means comprises:
first counter means for counting a total non-speech time duration and producing an output in accordance with an output from said comparator;
second counter means for counting the time of the input audio signal and producing an output signal when a period of time having a value equal to said predetermined constant has elapsed; and control signal generating means for outputting a control signal for altering thelevel of said comparator by a predetermined amount in response to the output from said first and second counter means.
first counter means for counting a total non-speech time duration and producing an output in accordance with an output from said comparator;
second counter means for counting the time of the input audio signal and producing an output signal when a period of time having a value equal to said predetermined constant has elapsed; and control signal generating means for outputting a control signal for altering thelevel of said comparator by a predetermined amount in response to the output from said first and second counter means.
3. A circuit according to claim 2, wherein said control signal generating means comprises:
first latch means for latching the output from said first counter means and outputting the latched output depending on whether the total non-speech duration exceeds the period of time having a value equal to said predetermined constant; and second latch means for latching the output from said second counter means and outputting a control signal for altering the judging level of said comparator by the predetermined amount in response to an output from said first latch means.
first latch means for latching the output from said first counter means and outputting the latched output depending on whether the total non-speech duration exceeds the period of time having a value equal to said predetermined constant; and second latch means for latching the output from said second counter means and outputting a control signal for altering the judging level of said comparator by the predetermined amount in response to an output from said first latch means.
4. A circuit according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of periods of time are set each having a value equal to said predetermined constant, and said second counter means counts the input time of the input audio signal and produces an output signal when each period of time having a value equal to said predetermined constant has elapsed.
5. A circuit for distinguishing between speech and non-speech signals for judging an input audio signal to be a non-speech signal when a level of the input audio signal is lower than a predetermined level and judging the input audio signal to be a speech signal when the level of the input audio signal is higher than the predetermined level, comprising:
a comparator for comparing the level of the input audio signal with the predetermined level; and level changing control means for raising or lowering the predetermined judging level by a predetermined amount in accordance with a ratio of a non-speech time duration of the input audio signal to a predetermined time;
wherein said level changing control means comprises:
first counter means for counting a total non-speech time duration and producing an output in accordance with an output from said comparator;
second counter means for counting the time of the input audio signal and producing an output signal when a predetermined period of time has elapsed; and control signal generating means for outputting a control signal for altering thelevel of said comparator by a predetermined amount in response to the outputs from said first and second counter means;
wherein said control signal generating means comprises:
first latch means for latching the output from said first counter means and outputting the latched output depending on whether the total non-speech duration exceeds the predetermined period of time; and second latch means for latching the output from said second counter means and outputting a control signal for altering the judging level of said comparator by the predetermined amount in response to the output from said first latch means;
wherein said second latch means comprises a plurality of latch circuits for respectively latching a plurality of outputs from said second counter means.
a comparator for comparing the level of the input audio signal with the predetermined level; and level changing control means for raising or lowering the predetermined judging level by a predetermined amount in accordance with a ratio of a non-speech time duration of the input audio signal to a predetermined time;
wherein said level changing control means comprises:
first counter means for counting a total non-speech time duration and producing an output in accordance with an output from said comparator;
second counter means for counting the time of the input audio signal and producing an output signal when a predetermined period of time has elapsed; and control signal generating means for outputting a control signal for altering thelevel of said comparator by a predetermined amount in response to the outputs from said first and second counter means;
wherein said control signal generating means comprises:
first latch means for latching the output from said first counter means and outputting the latched output depending on whether the total non-speech duration exceeds the predetermined period of time; and second latch means for latching the output from said second counter means and outputting a control signal for altering the judging level of said comparator by the predetermined amount in response to the output from said first latch means;
wherein said second latch means comprises a plurality of latch circuits for respectively latching a plurality of outputs from said second counter means.
6. A circuit for distinguishing between speech and non-speech signals for judging an input audio signal to be a non-speech signal when a level of the input audio signal is lower than a predetermined level and judging the input audio signal to be a speech signal when the level of the input audio signal is higher than the predetermined level, comprising:
a comparator for comparing the level of the input audio signal with the predetermined level; and level changing control means for raising or lowering a level of the input audio signal input to said comparator by a predetermined amount in accordance with a ratio of a non-speech time duration of the input audio signal to a predetermined time.
a comparator for comparing the level of the input audio signal with the predetermined level; and level changing control means for raising or lowering a level of the input audio signal input to said comparator by a predetermined amount in accordance with a ratio of a non-speech time duration of the input audio signal to a predetermined time.
7. A circuit according to claim 6, wherein said level changing control means comprises:
first counter means for counting a total non-speech duration and producing an output in accordance with an output from said comparator;
second counter means for counting the input time of the input audio signal and producing an output signal when a predetermined period of time is elapsed; and control signal generating means for producing a control signal for changing the level of the input audio signal input to said comparator by a predetermined amount in response to the outputs for said first and second counter means.
first counter means for counting a total non-speech duration and producing an output in accordance with an output from said comparator;
second counter means for counting the input time of the input audio signal and producing an output signal when a predetermined period of time is elapsed; and control signal generating means for producing a control signal for changing the level of the input audio signal input to said comparator by a predetermined amount in response to the outputs for said first and second counter means.
8. A circuit according to claim 7, wherein said control signal generating means comprises:
first latch means for latching the output from said first counter means and producing a latched output when the total non-speech duration exceeds the predetermined period of time; and second latch means for latching the output from said second counter means and producing a control signal for changing the level of the input audio signal input to said comparator by a predetermined amount in response to the output from said first latch means.
first latch means for latching the output from said first counter means and producing a latched output when the total non-speech duration exceeds the predetermined period of time; and second latch means for latching the output from said second counter means and producing a control signal for changing the level of the input audio signal input to said comparator by a predetermined amount in response to the output from said first latch means.
9. A circuit according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of predetermined periods of time are set, and said second counter means counts the input time of the input audio signal and produces an output signal when each predetermined period of time is elapsed.
10. A circuit according to claim 9 wherein said second latch means comprises a plurality of latch circuits for respectively latching a plurality of outputs from said second counter means.
11. A circuit according to claim 6, wherein the input audio signal is passed through a variable gain amplifier before being input to said comparator, and said level changing control means raises or lowers the level of the input audio signal by the predetermined amount by controlling the gain of said variable gain amplifier.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP286764/87 | 1987-11-13 | ||
| JP62286764A JP2551050B2 (en) | 1987-11-13 | 1987-11-13 | Voice / silence judgment circuit |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1326076C true CA1326076C (en) | 1994-01-11 |
Family
ID=17708743
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000581607A Expired - Fee Related CA1326076C (en) | 1987-11-13 | 1988-10-28 | Circuit for judging to distinguish between audio and non-audio signals |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4926484A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0317157B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2551050B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR970002751B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1326076C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3888631T2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (24)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1989011693A1 (en) * | 1988-05-27 | 1989-11-30 | Wang Laboratories, Inc. | Document annotation and manipulation in a data processing system |
| US5267323A (en) * | 1989-12-29 | 1993-11-30 | Pioneer Electronic Corporation | Voice-operated remote control system |
| US5226090A (en) * | 1989-12-29 | 1993-07-06 | Pioneer Electronic Corporation | Voice-operated remote control system |
| US5134658A (en) * | 1990-09-27 | 1992-07-28 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Apparatus for discriminating information signals from noise signals in a communication signal |
| US5220287A (en) * | 1991-02-19 | 1993-06-15 | Audion Pty. Ltd. | Voice processing apparatus |
| JPH0772961B2 (en) * | 1992-03-31 | 1995-08-02 | 日本コロムビア株式会社 | Track interval detector |
| US5278944A (en) * | 1992-07-15 | 1994-01-11 | Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd. | Speech coding circuit |
| US5323337A (en) * | 1992-08-04 | 1994-06-21 | Loral Aerospace Corp. | Signal detector employing mean energy and variance of energy content comparison for noise detection |
| AU7018594A (en) * | 1993-05-24 | 1994-12-20 | Motorola, Inc. | Method for improving stored voice message quality |
| US5485522A (en) * | 1993-09-29 | 1996-01-16 | Ericsson Ge Mobile Communications, Inc. | System for adaptively reducing noise in speech signals |
| JPH07225593A (en) * | 1994-02-10 | 1995-08-22 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Sound processor |
| US5617478A (en) * | 1994-04-11 | 1997-04-01 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Sound reproduction system and a sound reproduction method |
| US5867581A (en) * | 1994-10-14 | 1999-02-02 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Hearing aid |
| GB2303471B (en) * | 1995-07-19 | 2000-03-22 | Olympus Optical Co | Voice activated recording apparatus |
| US5609508A (en) * | 1995-10-23 | 1997-03-11 | Sony Corporation | Toy telephone with visual display for recorded messages |
| US5903868A (en) * | 1995-11-22 | 1999-05-11 | Yuen; Henry C. | Audio recorder with retroactive storage |
| US5724410A (en) * | 1995-12-18 | 1998-03-03 | Sony Corporation | Two-way voice messaging terminal having a speech to text converter |
| US5784436A (en) * | 1996-06-19 | 1998-07-21 | Rosen; Howard B. | Automatic telephone recorder system incorporating a personal computer having a sound handling feature |
| KR19990000365A (en) * | 1997-06-05 | 1999-01-15 | 윤종용 | How to Record Voice Messages from an Answering Machine |
| US6496206B1 (en) | 1998-06-29 | 2002-12-17 | Scansoft, Inc. | Displaying thumbnail images of document pages in an electronic folder |
| WO2001024041A1 (en) * | 1999-09-30 | 2001-04-05 | Dictaphone Corporation | Automatic selection of recording mode in portable digital audio recorder |
| JP4348970B2 (en) * | 2003-03-06 | 2009-10-21 | ソニー株式会社 | Information detection apparatus and method, and program |
| US20040264938A1 (en) * | 2003-06-27 | 2004-12-30 | Felder Matthew D. | Audio event detection recording apparatus and method |
| US9263059B2 (en) * | 2012-09-28 | 2016-02-16 | International Business Machines Corporation | Deep tagging background noises |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3832491A (en) * | 1973-02-13 | 1974-08-27 | Communications Satellite Corp | Digital voice switch with an adaptive digitally-controlled threshold |
| US4008375A (en) * | 1975-08-21 | 1977-02-15 | Communications Satellite Corporation (Comsat) | Digital voice switch for single or multiple channel applications |
| FR2502370A1 (en) * | 1981-03-18 | 1982-09-24 | Trt Telecom Radio Electr | NOISE REDUCTION DEVICE IN A SPEECH SIGNAL MELEUR OF NOISE |
| US4449190A (en) * | 1982-01-27 | 1984-05-15 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Silence editing speech processor |
| DE3236000A1 (en) * | 1982-09-29 | 1984-03-29 | Blaupunkt-Werke Gmbh, 3200 Hildesheim | METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING AUDIO SIGNALS |
| JPS59139099A (en) * | 1983-01-31 | 1984-08-09 | 株式会社東芝 | Voice section detector |
| US4700392A (en) * | 1983-08-26 | 1987-10-13 | Nec Corporation | Speech signal detector having adaptive threshold values |
-
1987
- 1987-11-13 JP JP62286764A patent/JP2551050B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1988
- 1988-10-26 US US07/262,581 patent/US4926484A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-10-28 CA CA000581607A patent/CA1326076C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-11-08 DE DE3888631T patent/DE3888631T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-11-08 EP EP88310509A patent/EP0317157B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-11-10 KR KR1019880014747A patent/KR970002751B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| KR970002751B1 (en) | 1997-03-10 |
| DE3888631D1 (en) | 1994-04-28 |
| EP0317157A1 (en) | 1989-05-24 |
| JPH01128250A (en) | 1989-05-19 |
| KR890009140A (en) | 1989-07-15 |
| JP2551050B2 (en) | 1996-11-06 |
| US4926484A (en) | 1990-05-15 |
| EP0317157B1 (en) | 1994-03-23 |
| DE3888631T2 (en) | 1994-07-07 |
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