Patent GB-1345828-A (GB)
Title: Speech synthesis
IPC: G10L19/02
Filed: 1972-01-21
Abstract: 1345828 Speech synthesis INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP 21 Jan 1972 [2 Feb 1971] 2908/72 Heading H4R In a speech synthesis equipment a "given sound", e.g. a period of sound lasting 25 m.s., is produced by generating samples of the "given sound", the samples for example being produced at 100 �.s. intervals, and reproducing the samples in sequence to yield the "given sound", the arrangement being characterized in that each sample of a "given sound" comprises a combination of the time, and therefore sample, dependent amplitude values of a fundamental frequency and its harmonics weighted by the fourier coefficients of the fourier series representing the "given sound", each successive sample of a "given voiced sound" being produced using the same fundamental frequency, whereas each sample of a "given unvoiced sound" is produced using a fundamental frequency which differs randomly from the fundamental frequency of the previous sample. Detailed Arrangement.-Each "given sound" to be generated can be represented by a fourier series and to produce a range of different "given sounds" 20 fundamental frequencies are used, which are each stored as a series of digital values representing amplitude values of the frequency at successive times corresponding to successive samples. i.e. each frequency is given a main address B. The first digital amplitude value is given an address B+#, the 2nd an address B + 20 and so on until at an address B+n# the digital values start being repeated. To generate the 2nd harmonic an address B + 20 is used for the first digital amplivalue followed by addresses B+2n# for successive values. Similarly for the 3rd harmonic addresses B + 3n# are used. Fig. 2 shows an arrangement for achieving the synthesis of a "given sound", LS is a local store which receives over the line CHANNEL INPUT data indicative of whether a sound is voiced or unvoiced, the values of B and # and the fourier coefficients An. In read only memory SIN are stored the fundamental frequencies, each being a series of digital values stored in a main address B as described above, a random number generator GBA is provided for supplying values of B when generating samples of unvoiced "given sounds". In operation a value of B is transferred through ADD 1 to REG 1 from store LS in the case of a voiced "given sound" or from random number generator GBA in the case of an unvoiced "given sound". From REG 1 it is returned as input to ADD 1 together with # from LS and # and B are added to provide the address of the first sample of the fundamental frequency. This address is fed to REG 1 from which it is fed to store SIN to cause the read out of the digital value stored at address B + # and to LS to cause read out of A1. In ADD/MULT the fourier coefficient A 1  is multiplied by the contents of B+# and the product is stored in REG 2. The address B + # is also fed back to ADD 1 where 0 is again added to give the address of the digital value of the second harmonic. This new address is fed to REG 1 causing A 2  and the contents of B + 2# to be read to ADD/MULT. The product is obtained and is added to the previously obtained product stored in REG 2. The process is then repeated for between 50-100 harmonics. The sum of the products stored in ADD/MULT represents a sample of the "given sound". This sample is then fed to a digital to analogue converter D/A and is then outputed. Synthesis of the second sample is then commenced. In the case of an "unvoiced given sound" a different value of B, e.g. different fundamental frequency is used, but for a "given voiced sound" the same value of B is used but addresses B + 2#, B + 4#, &c., will be used. The production of samples continues for 25 m.s. after which time new data is supplied to store LS and the synthesis of samples for a new "given sound" is commenced. Instead of the store SIN containing digital representations of a plurality of different fundamental frequencies only a single frequency may be stored which is represented by digital values taken at a high sampling rate. If the rate is sufficiently high, all the required fundamental frequencies are provided by harmonics of the single stored frequency.