Voice discriminating system

A voice discriminating system is disclosed which includes input circuitry for a pair of microphones, circuitry for detecting the presence of voiced sounds inputted to the microphones, selectively enabled circuitry for detecting the presence of unvoiced sounds inputted to the microphones, and a microcontroller which executes functions under the control of the presence or absence of voiced or non-voiced sounds inputted to the microphones. The disclosed system further includes a display circuit and a sound circuit that are controlled by the microcontroller for the purpose of playing games wherein the players provide spoken commands to the microphones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The disclosed invention relates to a voice discriminating system and is 
particularly embodied in a game apparatus that is voice-controlled. 
There are prior art devices that are intended for discriminating between 
words such as "YES" and "NO" and for providing outputs indicative of the 
nature of the spoken sounds. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,126, issued 
to Klein on Aug. 29, 1972, discloses apparatus that is sound operated. 
However, prior art devices have the major disadvantage of lacking accuracy 
and consistency in discriminating between voiced sounds (such as the word 
"NO") and voiced sound followed by unvoiced sound (such as the word 
"YES"). Moreover, none of the prior art devices are directed to sound 
inputs provided by two or more persons especially sounds which may 
partially overlap. Also, prior art devices lack sufficient dynamic range 
to be useful in an environment where a large amount of background noise is 
present. Further, prior art devices generally have to be adjusted for 
background noise. 
Also, there are prior art devices that are controlled by sound. However, 
such prior art devices are generally responsive to the presence or absence 
of sound, and are not responsive to the nature of the sound. For example, 
such prior art devices may be responsive to a handclap or similar noise. 
It is therefore an object of the subject invention to provide a voice 
discriminating system that is accurate and consistent. 
A further object of the disclosed invention is to provide a voice 
discriminating system that has high immunity to background noise and has a 
large dynamic range. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a voice discriminating 
system that discriminates between sounds spoken by two or more persons. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a voice discriminating system 
that is responsive to voiced and non-voiced sounds spoken by two or more 
persons and selects the sounds provided by the person who was first to 
speak. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a voice discriminating 
system that can be used to control a game apparatus. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a voice discriminating system 
that identifies which of two players was first to speak, and also 
identifies whether the spoken sound was, for example a "YES" or a "NO". 
An object of the disclosed invention is also to provide a voice 
discriminating system that is responsive to predetermined sequences of 
voiced and non-voiced sounds. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the 
disclosed system which includes circuitry for analyzing voiced inputs 
provided to a pair of microphones. Signals representative of the sound 
inputs to the microphones are filtered and compared for determination of 
which input contained low frequency components of greater magnitude. A VOX 
output is provided indicating which microphone was first to provide an 
input having low frequency components of greater magnitude. The microphone 
input which is associated with the VOX output is subsequently sampled for 
high frequency content and an output is provided to indicate the presence 
of such high frequency components. A microcontroller is adapted to respond 
to the VOX output and the output indicative of high frequency content, and 
provides signals indicative of which sound input was selected for 
processing and the nature of the sound input selected. The microcontroller 
utilizes these signals to control and execute game functions, and to 
provide appropriate control signals to a sound circuit and a display 
circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
Referring now to FIG. 1, the disclosed voice discriminating system, 
generally designated by the reference numeral 10, includes a pair of 
microphones 11 and 13 which are responsive to sound inputs from players A 
and B, respectively. The microphones 11 and 13 should be physically 
separated and should be facing away from each other for improved player 
discrimination. The outputs of the microphones 11 and 13 are applied to a 
dual channel microphone preamplifier 15. The preamplifier 15 includes a 
balance control and provides amplified electrical signals INPUT A and 
INPUT B indicative of the inputs to the microphones 11 and 13, 
respectively. The preamplifier 15 may include appropriate filters, such as 
bandpass filters, for controlling the frequency content of signals INPUT A 
and INPUT B. These amplified signals are applied to a voice detection 
circuit 19 which processes the inputs provided by the preamplifier and 
provides as outputs signals indicative of whether player A (VOX A) or 
player B (VOX B) made a sound into the respective microphones 11 or 13 
which was recognized by the voice detection circuit 19 as being the sound 
of a player's voice. As discussed more fully herein, the outputs VOX A or 
VOX B of the voice detection circuit 19 indicate which player was first to 
speak. Further, the outputs VOX A and VOX B of the voice detection circuit 
19 are utilized to control the operation of the voice detection circuit 19 
and the selective closing of a timed analog switch 23 and a timed analog 
switch 25. 
Particularly, the voice detection circuit 19 provides the VOX A signal when 
a voice associated with player A is detected. The VOX A signal is provided 
as the ENABLE FRICATIVE A signal to the timed analog switch 23 to enable 
that switch. Also, the VOX A signal is provided as the MIC B DISABLE 
signal to the voice detection circuit 19 to disable the processing of any 
INPUT B signals provided by the dual channel preamplifier 15 which are 
associated with player B. 
Similarly, when the voice of player B is first detected, the voice 
detection circuit 19 provides the VOX B signal. The VOX B signal is 
applied as an ENABLE FRICATIVE B signal to enable the timed analog switch 
25. The VOX B signal is further utilized by the voice detection circuit 19 
as a MIC A DISABLE signal to disable the processing of any INPUT A signals 
provided by the dual channel preamplifier 15. 
Thus, it should be apparent that the voice detection circuit functions to 
detect the sound provided by the player who was first to speak, and 
further selects the appropriate input signal (INPUT A or INPUT B) for 
further processing. It should also be apparent that the micro-controller 
21 could also be utilized to provide the MIC B DISABLE, ENABLE FRICATIVE 
A, MIC A DISABLE, and ENABLE FRICATIVE B signals, if desired. However, 
using the VOX A and VOX B outputs to provide these signals is simple and 
effective. 
The timed analog switch 23 and the timed analog switch 25 are normally open 
switches which are closed on the trailing edge of the appropriate ENABLE 
signals from the voice detection circuit 19. Each timed analog switch 23 
and 25 includes timing circuitry, such as an RC discharge circuit, which 
maintains the analog switch closed for a predetermined amount of time 
after the switch is closed. Thus, the analog switches 23 and 25 
effectively sample the outputs of their associated amplifiers 15 and 17 
during an interval that starts after the trailing edge of a VOX A or VOX B 
output, produced by the voice detection circuit 19. 
The sampled signals INPUT A or INPUT B provided by the dual channel 
preamplifier 15 through respective timed analog switches 23 or 25 are 
applied to a fricative detection circuit 27. The fricative detection 
circuit 27 analyzes the sampled signals for frequency content, and 
provides a fricative signal indicative of the presence of an unvoiced 
sound spoken by the player whose microphone input (as represented by INPUT 
A or INPUT B) has been sampled. 
It should be pointed out that the term "fricative" is used herein as a 
broad designation for an unvoiced spoken sound. Thus, the fricative 
detection circuit 27 is responsive to frequency content of unvoiced spoken 
sounds, such as the "S" at the end of the "YES". 
The microcontroller 21 functions to control a display circuit 29 in 
response to the control provided by the VOX A and VOX B signals from the 
voice detection circuit 19, and by the fricative signal from the fricative 
detection circuit 27. The display circuit 29 includes a display driver 
(not shown) responsive to the microcontroller 21, and visual display 
elements (not shown) such as red and green LED's. For example, the 
National Semiconductor MM5450 integrated circuit is an appropriate display 
driver. The visual display elements provide to the players visual 
indications of the nature of the game being played, the progress and 
status of the game being played, the score of the game being played, as 
well as other visible procedures such as pregame and postgame light shows. 
As contemplated herein, the display circuit 29 includes pairs of red and 
greed LED's, which pairs are arranged in circular fashion in a circular 
housing. The contemplated games, are selected according to the position of 
selectively enabled LED's and the nature of the sounds, if any, that are 
detected by the voice detection circuit 19 and the fricative detection 
circuit 27. Similarly, control and play of the game being played will be a 
function of the position of the enabled LED's, the detection of a voice 
from one of the players and the nature of the sound of that voice (i.e. 
whether a voiced sound of short duration was followed by an unvoiced 
sound), and which player first provided the control sound. In response to 
signals provided by the voice detection circuit 19 and the fricative 
detection circuit 27, the microcontroller 21 appropriately proceeds with 
the game selected and further controls the progress of the selected game 
in accordance with such inputs. 
The voice-controlled apparatus 10 further includes a sound circuit 31 which 
is controlled by the microcontroller 21. The sound circuit 31 includes a 
transducer, such as a piezo-ceramic speaker, and circuitry for driving the 
transducer. The microcontroller 21 controls the sound circuit to provide 
game sounds as well as sounds to accompany the selective enabling of the 
visual display elements in the display circuit 29. 
FIG. 2, discloses a particular embodiment of the voice detection circuit 19 
which was generally described in the above. The output from the amplifier 
15 is provided through a coupling capacitor 32 to one terminal of an input 
resistor 33 which has its other terminal coupled to a capacitor 35 and an 
analog switch 37. A resistor 34 is coupled between the coupling capacitor 
32 and a reference level V.sub.r. The capacitor 35 is also coupled to a 
ground reference level, and along with the resistor 33 forms a low pass 
filter. The analog switch 37 is a normally closed switch which is 
selectively opened by application of the control signal MIC A DISABLE to 
its gate. The remaining terminal of the analog switch 37 is coupled to 
resistors 39 and 41. The resistor 39 is also coupled to a reference node 
to which a reference voltage V.sub.r is applied. The resistor 41 and 
coupled to a capacitor 43, and these elements together form another low 
pass filter. The resistor 41 is further coupled to the non-inverting input 
of an operational amplifier 45. The output of the operational amplifier 45 
is coupled to a feedback capacitor 47 and a peak detecting diode 49. 
Specifically, the feedback capacitor 47 is interposed between the output 
of the operational amplifier 45 and its inverting input. The cathode of 
the diode 49 is coupled to one end of a resistor 51 which has its other 
end connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier 45. An 
integrating capacitor 53 is coupled between ground reference level and the 
cathode of the diode 49. 
The signal provided at the non-grounded end of the capacitor 53 is 
indicative of the positive peak envelope of the low frequency voice signal 
provided to the input of the operational amplifier 45. Particularly, the 
signal on the capacitor 53 is a continuous filtered signal so that short 
breaks in the sound input to the microphone 11 (as represented by the 
INPUT A) do not prevent the sound from being detected. 
The non-grounded end of the capacitor 53 is coupled to a diode 55 which in 
turn has its cathode coupled to the inverting input of an operational 
amplifier 57. The diode 55 serves to prevent signals at the inverting 
input of the operational amplifier 57 from distorting the charge on the 
capacitor 53. A feedback capacitor 59 is interposed between the output of 
the operational amplifier 57 and its inverting input. A resistor 61 is 
coupled between ground and the inverting input of the operational 
amplifier 57. The capacitor 59 and the resistor 61 serve to control the 
decay of the output provided by the operational amplifier 57 after the 
capacitor 53 has discharged below a threshold level. That prevents 
multiple VOX A signals from occurring during a single spoken command. The 
output of the operational amplifier 57 is the VOX A signal indicative of 
the presence of a detected voiced sound. 
The INPUT B signal (which is associated with player B) is applied to 
circuitry that is similar to the circuitry described above with respect to 
FIG. 2. Specifically, referring still to FIG. 2, the INPUT B signal 
provided by the dual-channel preamplifier 15 is applied through a coupling 
capacitor 62 to one end of a resistor 63 which has its other end connected 
to a capacitor 65, which is coupled between the resistor 63 and ground 
reference level. A resistor 34 is coupled between the coupling capacitor 
32 and the reference level V.sub.r. The resistor 63 and the capacitor 65 
form a low pass filter. The non-grounded end of the capacitor 65 and one 
end of the resistor 63 are commonly connected to an analog switch 67 which 
is a normally closed switch that can be opened by application of the 
appropriate control signal MIC B DISABLE to its gate. As discussed 
previously, the MIC B DISABLE signal is provided by the VOX A output. The 
controlled output of the analog switch 67 is coupled to a resistor 69 
which is interposed between the analog switch 67 and the reference node 
having reference voltage V.sub.r . The controlled output of the analog 
switch 67 is also applied to a resistor 71 which in turn is coupled to a 
grounded capacitor 73. The resistor 71 and the capacitor 73 form a low 
pass filter. 
The low pass signal at the non-grounded end of the capacitor 73 is applied 
to the non-inverting input of an operational amplifier 75. A feedback 
capacitor 77 is coupled between the output of the operational amplifier 75 
and its inverting input. The output of the operational amplifier 75 is 
also coupled to the anode of a peak detecting diode 79 which has its 
cathode connected to a resistor 81. One end of the resistor 81 is commonly 
connected with one end of the capacitor 77 to the inverting input of the 
operational amplifier 75. An integrating capacitor 83 is connected between 
the cathode of the diode 79 and ground reference level. The signal on the 
non-grounded end of the capacitor 83 is a continuous filtered signal 
indicative of the positive peak envelope of the low-pass components of the 
voiced input to the microphone 13. The peak detection and integration 
functions prevent short breaks in the sound input represented by the INPUT 
B signal from causing the sound input to not be detected. 
The anode of a diode 85 is coupled to the non-grounded end of the capacitor 
83, and the cathode of the diode 85 is connected to the inverting input of 
an operational amplifier 87. The diode 85 is to prevent signals at the 
input of the operational amplifier 87 from erroneously charging the 
capacitor 83. A feedback capacitor 89 is coupled between the output of the 
operational amplifier 87 and its inverting input. A resistor 91 is coupled 
between ground reference level and the inverting input of the operational 
amplifier 87. The capacitor 89 and the resistor 91 serve to control the 
decay time of the output provided by the operational amplifier 87 after 
the capacitor 73 has discharged below a threshold LEVEL. The output of the 
operational amplifier 87 is the VOX B signal which is indicative of the 
presence of a detected voiced sound. 
The input to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 87 is 
provided by the electrical signal present at the common node between the 
capacitor 53 and the diode 55. Similarly, the input to the non-inverting 
input of the operational amplifier 57 is provided by the electrical signal 
at the common node between the capacitor 83 and the diode 85. Thus, it 
should be apparent that the outputs of the operational amplifier 87 (VOX 
A) and 87 (VOX B) will be a function of the difference in the magnitudes 
of the respective integrated charge values on the capacitors 53 and 83 
which are respectively associated with players A and B. In order to 
balance the outputs VOX A and VOX B, a balancing resistor 93 is provided 
between the inverting inputs of the operational amplifiers 45 and 75. The 
wiper terminal of the balancing resistor 93 is coupled to the reference 
node having reference voltage V.sub.r. 
As disclosed in FIG. 2, each of the operational amplifiers 57 and 87 
functions as a differential comparator. As is also shown in FIG. 2, diodes 
provide the inputs to the non-inverting inputs to the operational 
amplifiers 57 and 87. Thus, it should be apparent that for a VOX signal to 
be provided, a particular voice input as represented on one of the 
capacitors 53 or 83 must exceed the other voice input as represented on 
the other of capacitors 53 or 83 by at least one diode voltage drop. It 
should also be pointed out that the presence of a VOX signal will cause 
all inputs to the other channel to be cut out, as described previously. 
Thus, the operational amplifier that is providing a VOX signal will turn 
off at a lower signal threshold than the threshold that was required to 
turn it on. 
FIG. 3 discloses a particular embodiment of the fricative detection circuit 
27. The outputs from the timed analog switches 23 and 25 (FIG. 1) are 
applied through a coupling capacitor 96 to the non-inverting input of an 
operational amplifier 95. A resistor 94 is coupled between the 
non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 95 and the reference 
level V.sub.r. The inverting input of the operational amplifier 95 is 
coupled to the wiper element of an adjustable resistor 99 which has its 
two other terminals coupled to resistors 101 and 103. A feedback capacitor 
105 is coupled between the output of the operational amplifier 95 and its 
inverting input. The node between the resistor 103 and the resistor 99 is 
connected to the reference level V.sub.r. The resistor 103 has one end 
connected to a reference node which is as the reference level V.sub.r 
which was discussed previously in conjunction with FIG. 2. Further, a pair 
of diodes 105 and 107 are interposed between the output of the operational 
amplifier 95 and the resistor 103. The diodes 105 and 107 function to 
reduce low level noise from the output of the operational amplifier 95. 
Also, the variable resistor 99 is used to set the gain of the output of 
the operational amplifier 95 to optimize high frequency signal to noise 
ratios. 
A resistor 109 has one end coupled to the common node between the resistor 
103 and the diodes 105 and 107. The other end of the resistor 109 is 
coupled to one end of a coupling capacitor 111 which has its other 
terminal connected to a frequency to voltage generator 113. The output of 
the frequency to voltage generator 113 is applied to a threshold 
comparator 115. The purpose of the comparator 115 is to provide the 
appropriate logic levels associated with the output of the frequency to 
voltage generator 113. This is due to the fact that the output of the 
frequency to voltage generator 113 is continuous during the presence of a 
sampled fricative, and the comparator 115 provides its logic level outputs 
as a function of whether the output of the frequency to voltage generator 
113 is above or below a predetermined threshold. An example of an 
integrated circuit that includes both a frequency to voltage generator and 
a threshold comparator is the National Semiconductor LM2917-8. That 
integrated circuit can be adopted with appropriate external capacitors and 
resistors to achieve the desired frequency and voltage characteristics. 
As is readily apparent, the fricative detection circuit 21 (FIG. 1) is 
provided an input only after a sound input has been detected and selected 
by the voice detection circuit 19. Thus, the fricative signal provided by 
the threshold comparator 115 (FIG. 3) is indicative of the presence or 
absence of any unvoiced fricative that follows a non-fricative sound of 
short duration. For example, if player A says the word "YES" the amplifier 
57 (FIG. 2) will provide a VOX A signal indicative of detection of a sound 
from player A; and the frequency to voltage generator 113 (FIG. 3) will 
provide to the microcontroller a fricative signal indicative of the 
unvoiced spoken sound at the end of the word "YES". 
It should be pointed out that the microcontroller 21 prevents a player who 
maintains a continuos VOX output from providing a valid control command 
since the microcontroller 21 will ignore a VOX output that lasts longer 
than a predetermined short duration. Thus, although a player can disable 
an opponent's microphone input by continuously providing sounds, such a 
player effectively disables the processing of his own voice. 
For purposes of economy and simplicity, the frequency to voltage generator 
113 and the threshold comparator 115 could be replaced with an integrator. 
However, it should be pointed out that an integrator would substantially 
decrease the performance of the fricative detection circuit 27. 
The microcontroller 21 shown in FIG. 1 may be one of readily available 
integrated circuits, such as those included in the COP 400 series of 
single-chip microcontrollers available from National Semiconductor. 
The functions generally performed by the microcontroller 21 (FIG. 1) are 
shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4. Particularly, the functions performed 
by the microcontroller 21 begin after the power is turned on, as indicated 
by the POWER ON function indicated in the block 117. Subsequently, the 
internally stored program for executing the microcontroller functions is 
initialized as shown by the INITIALIZE PROGRAM block 119. After the 
program is initialized, a short light and sound show is provided by the 
microcontroller 21 through the display circuit 29 and the sound circuit 
31, as indicated by the LIGHT/SOUND SHOW block 121. After the light and 
sound show, the visual dislay element in the display circuit 29 are 
appropriately turned on as indicated by the flow chart block 123. The 
microcontroller then examines its inputs to determine whether a voice 
input is present, as indicated by the presence of the VOX A or VOX B 
signals from the voice detection circuit 19. That decision is indicated in 
the VOICE INPUT decision block 125. 
The negative response to the decision shown in block 125 will first be 
discussed. The next function is to determine whether a game is in 
progress, as indicated in a decision block 127. If a game is not in 
progress, the microcontroller goes back to execute the functions 
identified by the block 123, which is to appropriately turn on the visual 
display elements of the display circuit 29. If the decision of the block 
127 is that a game is in progress, the microcontroller will proceed to 
make the necessary computations required by the game in progress, as shown 
by the block 129. After the computations are made, a decision is made as 
to whether the game is over, as indicated by the decision block 131. If 
the game is not over, the functions identified by the block 123 which 
indicates that the display elements of the display circuit 29 will be 
appropriately turned on. If, however, the game is over, then the function 
of providing a post-game light and sound show is carried out as indicated 
by the flow chart block 133. After the post game light and sound show, 
control of the functions carried out by the microcontroller 21 is returned 
to the INITIALIZE PROGRAM flow chart block 119. 
Returning now to the VOICE INPUT decision block 125, if the condition is 
answered affirmatively, then another decision must be made as to whether 
the game is in progress, as indicated by a decision block 135. If a game 
is in progress, then the next function carried out by the microcontroller 
is to analyze the voice input, as shown by the flow chart function block 
137. After the voice input has been analyzed, then control of the 
functions returns to the flow chart function block 129 which indicates 
that the necessary computations for the control of the game in progress 
are made. 
If the condition found in accordance with the decision block 135 is that a 
game is not in progress, then the next function carried out by the 
microcontroller 21 is to select the game which is indicated by the 
position of the illuminated visual elements in the display circuit 29 at 
the time that a voice input was detected. The function of game selection 
is identified by the flow chart function block 136. After the game 
selection function is completed, the microcontroller provides a pregame 
light show as indicated by the flow chart function block 139. After the 
pregame light show, control is returned to the flow chart function block 
123 which will turn on the appropriate visual elements of the display 
circuit 29. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a flow chart of the particular 
functions performed by the microcontroller 21 in analyzing the voice input 
as generally shown by the flow chart function block 137 in FIG. 4. 
Particularly, the presence of either of the VOX A or VOX B signals causes 
a VOX interrupt as indicated by the entry block 141. It should be noted 
that instead of an interrupt the outputs provided by VOX A and VOX B could 
be polled. The next function is to decide whether a VOX A or VOX B signal 
is present, as indicated by the decision block 143. If neither VOX A or 
VOX B is present, the subroutine will exit. However, if either VOX A or 
VOX B is present, the microcontroller will select the VOX that is on and 
ignore the other VOX until the other VOX is selected, if at all. This 
function is indicated in the function block 145. As shown by a function 
block 147, the next function is to time the duration of the VOX that has 
been selected. A decision is then made, as indicated by the decision block 
149, as a function of the duration of the VOX selected. The decision 
branch for a valid VOX of duration between 30 and 200 milliseconds will be 
first discussed. The time delay between the end of the VOX selected and 
the start of any fricative signal provided by the fricative detection 
circuit 27 is then measured, as shown by the flow chart function block 
151. A decision is then made based upon the time of the fricative delay, 
as shown by the decision block 153. If the delay is greater than 50 
milliseconds, then the subroutine provides an output indicating that the 
selected VOX was a "NO" and exits. If the fricative delay is greater than 
50 milliseconds, then the duration of the fricative signal output is 
timed, as indicated by the function block 155. A decision is then made 
based upon the time duration of the fricative signal output, as indicated 
by the decision block 157. If the fricative signal duration is between 1 
and 100 milliseconds, then the subroutine provides an output indicative of 
a "YES". However, if the duration of the fricative signal is less than one 
millisecond or is greater than one hundred milliseconds, the subroutine 
branches to a decision block 159 which determines whether the non-selected 
VOX is on. 
It should be noted that the decision block 159 is also one of the branches 
from the decision block 149. Specifically, if the selected VOX duration, 
which was measured in accordance with the function block 147, is greater 
than 200 milliseconds or is less than 30 milliseconds, then the decision 
provided by the decision block 149 will branch to the decision block 159. 
If the non-selected VOX is not on, then the subroutine will exit. However, 
if the non-selected VOX is on, then that VOX is selected for further 
processing, as indicated by the function block 161. 
FIG. 6 is a timing diagram that illustrates in exemplary form the waveforms 
associated with the various signals referred to in the above disclosure. 
Particularly, the waveform identified by the reference numeral I is the 
waveform associated with a VOICE A. The waveform identified by the 
reference numeral II is the waveform associated with a VOICE B. The 
waveform identified by the reference numeral III is the VOX A output 
associated with the inputs provided by VOICE A, as shown above in the 
waveform identified by the reference numeral I. The waveform identified by 
the reference numeral IV is the VOX B output associated with the input 
provided by the VOICE B as shown in the waveform identified by the 
reference numeral II. The waveform identified by the reference numeral V 
is the fricative output that is caused to be provided by the inputs VOICE 
A and VOICE B. The waveform identified by the reference numeral VI shows 
the waveform of the FRICATIVE A ENABLE signals that are generated as a 
result of the VOX A signals. The waveform identified by the reference 
numeral VII is the FRICATIVE B ENABLE signal that is provided as a result 
of the VOX B signal shown in the waveform identified by the reference 
numeral IV. The waveforms identified by the reference numerals VIII and IX 
indicate the respective results for VOICE A and VOICE B provided by the 
microcontroller 21 in response to the VOX A, VOX B, and fricative signals 
which are provided as shown in the waveforms identified by the reference 
numerals III, IV, and V. 
Referring now to the left most situation shown in FIG. 6, VOICE A says 
"YES" slightly before VOICE B says "NO". That situation illustrates that 
where there is partial overlap between the voice inputs, disclosed 
circuitry is capable of discriminating the nature of the two voiced 
inputs. The results are shown in the waveforms identified by reference 
numerals VIII and IX. 
Referring now to the middle situation shown in FIG. 6, VOICE B says "YES" 
before VOICE A says "YES". There is little overlap between the two voice 
commands. In this situation, the "YES" results for both voices are readily 
provided as shown in the waveforms identified by the reference numerals 
VIII and IX. 
The right most situation shown in FIG. 6 illustrates the situation where 
VOICE B is provided as an extended "YES" and where VOICE A provides a "NO" 
of normal duration. In this situation, the microcontroller 21 ignores the 
VOX B outputs since it is greater than 200 milliseconds. Further, since 
the voice detection circuit 19 (which is particularly disclosed in FIG. 2) 
is capable of providing a VOX output as soon as the other VOX output 
terminates, a VOX A signal of appropriate duration will be provided by the 
voice detection 19. This VOX A signal will be accepted by the 
microcontroller 21 and will be regarded as a normal VOX input. Therefore, 
the microcontroller 21 will look for a fricative signal, but will not find 
a fricative signal since the VOICE A associated with VOX A was a "NO". 
Therefore, the micrcontroller 21 will provide a "NO" output as indicated 
in the waveform identified by their reference numeral VIII. 
It should be noted with respect to the right most situation described 
immediately above a FRICATIVE B ENABLE signal and a fricative signal were 
both generated despite the fact that the microcontroller 21 ignored the 
VOX B input since it had exceeded the 200 millisecond limit. This is 
caused by the fact that the FRICATIVE B ENABLE signal is taken directly 
off the VOX B output, as indicated on FIG. 2. However, it should be 
apparent that if the FRICATIVE A ENABLE and FRICATIVE B ENABLE signals are 
provided by the microcontroller 21 then the microcontroller 21 would be 
appropriately adapted so that it would not provide a FRICATIVE ENABLE 
signal if it has decided to ignore a VOX input. In such a situation a 
fricative signal would not be provided. 
FIG. 7 discloses in exemplary form a housing which shows the placement of 
the microphones identified by the reference numerals XI and XIII in FIG. 
1, as well as the visual display elements which were discussed in 
conjunction with the display circuit 29. Particularly, the device of FIG. 
7 includes microphones 163 and 165 which are mounted diametrically 
opposite each other and facing away from each other in a housing 167. As 
discussed previously, such an arrangement improves the discrimination 
between inputs provided to the microphones. This is caused by the fact 
that sound will first reach the microphone closest to the source. Within 
the housing are pairs of LED's which are placed in circular fashion. Each 
LED pair is generally referred to by the reference numeral 169. Each pair 
consists of two LED's of different colors, as shown by illustrating one of 
each LED pair as being shaded. The shaded LED's are associated with the 
microphone 163, as shown by the shaded number area adjacent the microphone 
163. Of course, the non-shaded LED's are associated with the microphone 
165 which has a non-shaded number area adjacent it. The LED pairs 169 are 
covered by a colored plastic sheet, such as a smoked plastic sheet, which 
is designated by the reference numeral 171. The plastic plate 171 includes 
radial score lines to separate areas associated with the LED pairs. 
In the center of the housing 167 is a sound dispersing dome 173 with 
circumferentially distributed openings for enclosing the appropriate 
speaker of the sound circuit 31 (FIG. 1). The dome 173 is centered between 
the microphones 163 and 165 so that its emitted sounds effectively cancel 
each other in the voice detection circuit 19 (FIG. 1). 
Although the foregoing has been a description of a specific embodiment of 
the disclosed invention, modifications and changes thereto can be made by 
persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of 
the invention as defined by the following claims.