SPEECH RECOGNITION APPARATUS FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS

A spoken word or phrase recognition device. The device does not require a digital signal processor, large RAM, or extensive analog circuitry. The input audio signal is digitized and passed recursively through a digital difference filter to produce a multiplicity of filtered output waveforms. These waveforms are processed in real time by a microprocessor to generate a pattern that is recognized by a neural network pattern classifier that operates in software in the microprocessor. By application of additional techniques, this device has been shown to recognize an unknown speaker saying a digit from zero through nine with an accuracy greater than 99%. Because of the recognition accuracy and cost-effective design, the device may be used in cost sensitive applications such as toys, electronic learning aids, and consumer electronic products.