US 4,093,831 A · Transcriber having selectable word reproduction rate

Abstract

The invention is a device for controlling a sound reproduction transcriber which provides alternate playback intervals and stopped intervals. The playback interval length in words and the average word reproduction rate are manually selectable by a secretary or instructor. The device meters the reproduced words during the playback interval and initiates the stopped interval at the first audio pause after the selected number of words have been played back. The required total cycle time is computed by effectively dividing the number of words played back during the playback interval by the selected average word reproduction rate. A timer, which counts the time elapsed since the playback interval was initiated, has its counted time compared to the computed total cycle time so that the stopped interval is terminated, the circuit is reset and the playback interval is again initiated upon coincidence of the computed time and the elapsed time.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An apparatus for controlling the average word reproduction rate from a recording which is mounted to a playback means including an electrically operable drive motor and a sound pickup and output means, said apparatus providing an operating cycle comprising alternate playback intervals and stopped intervals and comprising:

(a) means connected to said sound pickup and output means for detecting and counting syllables reproduced during a playback interval;
(b) clock timing means for counting the elapsed time from the beginning of said cycle;
(c) rate selector means for selecting a time rate of word reproduction;
(d) circuit means connected to the outputs of said rate selector means and said syllable counter means for computing a total cycle time;
(e) time comparator means connected to the outputs of said computing circuit means and said clock timing means for signalling the coincidence of the computed cycle time and the clock time;
and
(f) control logic means having a motor drive control output coupled to said drive motor and having an input connected to said time comparator means, for at times stopping said playback and for initiating playback in response to the coincidence of said elapsed time and said computed total cycle time.

4 more elements

An apparatus for controlling the average word reproduction rate from a recording which is mounted to a playback means including an electrically operable drive motor and a sound pickup and output means, said apparatus providing a cycle comprising alternate playback intervals and stopped intervals and comprising:

(a) means connected to said sound pickup and output means for detecting and counting syllables reproduced during a playback interval;
(b) means for selecting a phrase length and providing an output syllable count representing the selected phrase length;
(c) syllable comparator means connected to the outputs of said detecting and counting means and said phrase length selecting means for switching states in response to the syllable count becoming at least equal to the selected phrase length;
(d) clock timing means for counting the elapsed time from the beginning of said cycle;
(e) rate selector means for selecting a time rate of word reproduction;
(f) circuit means connected to the outputs of said rate selector means and said syllable counter means for computing a cycle time by dividing said syllable count by the output of said rate selector means;
(g) time comparator means connected to the outputs of said cycle time computing circuit means and said clock timing means for signalling the coincidence thereof;
(h) natural pause detector means coupled to said syllable detecting and counting means for signalling the absence of a substantial sound signal;
and
(i) control logic means having outputs including a reset output connected to said syllable detecting and counting means and said clock timing means for resetting their counts and a motor drive control output connected to said drive motor and having inputs connected to the outputs of said syllable comparator means, said time comparator means and said natural pause detector means for initiating playback in response to an output signal from its reset output, for stopping said playback in response to said syllable count being at least equal to said selected phrase length and the simultaneous detection of the absence of a substantial sound signal and for generating a reset output in response to the coincidence of said elapsed time and said computed cycle time.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Transcriber having selectable word reproduction rate

Life of this patent

Transcriber having selectable word reproduction rate

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16