Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a personal protective device 100, 100, 300, 400, 500 with local voice recognition comprising a voice receiving unit 20, 20, a voice processing unit 30, 30, a command processing unit 40, 40 and a control unit 42, 42. The present disclosure further relates to a method of processing a voice signal 202, 202 in a personal protective device 100, 100, 300, 400, 500 with local voice recognition comprising the steps of recognizing a voice signal 202, 202 by a microphone 10, 10, transmitting the voice signal 202, 202 to the voice processing unit 30, 30, optionally of an external device 31, processing the received voice signal 202, 202 with the voice processing unit 30, 30 to generate a voice command based on the received voice signal 202, 202, processing the voice command generated from the voice signal 202, 202 and matching it with the command information stored within the voice processing unit 30, 30 to generate a voice command information block, transmitting the voice command information block to the command processing unit 40, 40, processing the voice command information block and matching it with the control information stored within the command processing unit 40, 40 to generate a control command and transmitting the control command to the control unit 42, 42.
Claims
1. A personal protective device with local voice recognition comprising a. a voice receiving unit comprising at least one microphone; for recognizing voice signals of a user, b. a control unit for controlling functions of the personal protective device, c. a voice processing unit for processing voice signals received from the at least one microphone, the voice processing unit is connected to the at least one microphone of the voice receiving unit, wherein the voice processing unit is configured to generate a voice command based on the received voice signal, wherein the voice processing unit comprises predetermined command information stored internally within the voice processing unit, wherein the voice processing unit is configured to match the voice command generated from the voice signal with the stored command information to generate a voice command information block, d. a command processing unit for processing the voice command information block generated by the voice processing, wherein the command processing unit is connected to the voice processing unit and to the control unit, wherein the command processing unit comprises predetermined control information stored within the command processing unit and wherein the command processing unit is configured to match the voice command information block with the stored control information to generate a control command and to transmit the control command to the control unit.
2. The personal protective device according to claim 1, further comprising a feedback unit comprising at least one indication unit to provide a feedback to the user of the personal protective device, wherein the feedback unit is connected to the control unit and wherein the control unit is configured to control the feedback unit such that an indication is provided to the user about the matching of the voice command with the stored command information and/or about the matching of the voice command information block with the stored control information and/or about the control command to be transmitted to the control unit.
3. The personal protective device according to claim 2, wherein the feedback unit comprises an audible indication unit to provide an audible indication to a user.
4. The personal protective device according to claim 3, wherein the audible indication unit comprises at least one speaker electrically connected to the feedback unit for playing an acoustic signal to the user as audible indication, wherein the control unit is configured to control the feedback unit such that the feedback unit generates an acoustic signal to be played on the at least one speaker.
5. The personal protective device according claim 2, wherein the feedback unit comprises a visual indication unit to provide visual indication to a user.
6. The personal protective device according to claim 2, wherein the feedback unit comprises a haptic indication unit to provide haptic indication to a user.
7. The personal protective device according to claim 1, wherein the voice processing unit and/or command processing unit is contained within the personal protective device.
8. The personal protective device according to claim 1, wherein the voice processing unit and/or command processing unit is arranged remote from the personal protective device and wherein the personal protective device is configured to communicate with the voice and/or command processing unit via a short-range connection.
9. The personal protective device according to claim 1, wherein the voice processing unit comprises storage space for storing additional command information different from the predetermined command information and/or wherein the command processing unit comprises storage space for storing additional control information.
10. The personal protective device according to claim 1, wherein the personal protective device is a hearing protection device with local voice recognition further comprising two earmuffs or ear plugs and noise reduction means, optionally a headband.
11. The personal protective device according to claim 1, wherein the personal protective device is a welding shield with local voice recognition further comprising an automatic darkening filter.
12. The personal protective device according to claim 1, wherein the personal protective device is a respiratory device with local voice recognition further comprising filter cartridges filtering inhaled air.
13. The personal protective device according to claim 1, wherein the personal protective device preferably the control unit is further configured to process a keyword training mode for training a user about the correct pronunciation of the voice signals.
14. A method of processing a voice signal in a personal protective device with local voice recognition comprising: a. a voice receiving unit comprising at least one microphone for recognizing voice signals of a user, b. a control unit for controlling functions of the personal protective device, c. a voice processing unit for processing voice signals received from the at least one microphone of the voice receiving unit, wherein the voice processing unit is connected to the at least one microphone, wherein the voice processing unit is configured to generate a voice command based on the received voice signal, wherein the voice processing unit comprises predetermined command information stored internally within the voice processing unit, wherein the voice processing unit is configured to match the voice command generated from the voice signal with the stored command information to generate a voice command information block, d. a command processing unit for processing the voice command information block generated by the voice processing unit, wherein the command processing unit is connected to the voice processing unit and to the control unit, wherein the command processing unit comprises predetermined control information stored within the command processing unit and wherein the command processing unit is configured to match the voice command information block with the stored control information to generate a control command and to transmit the control command to the control unit, the method comprising the steps of I. recognizing a voice signal by a microphone, II. transmitting the voice signal to the voice processing unit, optionally of an external device, III. processing the received voice signal with the voice processing unit to generate a voice command based on the received voice signal, IV. processing the voice command generated from the voice signal and matching it with the command information stored within the voice processing unit to generate a voice command information block, V. transmitting the voice command information block to the command processing unit, VI. processing the voice command information block and matching it with the control information stored within the command processing unit to generate a control command and VII. transmitting the control command to the control unit.
15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of providing an indication to the user about the matching of the voice command with the stored command information and/or about the matching of the voice command information block with the stored control information and/or about the control command to be transmitted to the control unit, wherein the indication to the user comprises an audible indication, a visual indication, a haptic feedback or a combination thereof.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0042] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the method of processing a voice signal in a personal protective device with local voice recognition according to the present disclosure.
[0043] FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of a personal protective device with local voice recognition according to the present disclosure.
[0044] FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of a personal protective device with local voice recognition according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a personal protective device with local voice recognition according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a personal protective device with local voice recognition according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0047] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a personal protective device with local voice recognition according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates in a schematic block diagram the method of processing a voice signal in a personal protective device with local voice recognition according to the present disclosure. A user (not shown here) speaks a voice signal, which is recognized by the voice receiving unit 20, 20 (not shown here). The received voice signal is transmitted to the voice processing unit 30, 30 (also not shown here). The transmitted voice signal is then processed within the voice processing unit 30 30 to generate a voice command. The voice command is then matched with the command information stored within the voice processing unit 30, 30 to generate a voice command information block. The voice command information block is then transmitted to and processed within the command processing unit 40, 40 (not shown here). This includes matching the voice command information block with the command information stored within the command processing unit 40, 40 to generate a control command. The control command is then transmitted to the control unit 42, 42 and feedback is provided to the user of the personal protective device about the match.
[0049] FIG. 2A shows one embodiment of the personal protective device 100 with local voice recognition and a user 200 using the personal protective device 100. The user 200 speaks a voice signal 202 which is received by the microphone 10 of the voice receiving unit 20 which is connected via connection 12. The voice receiving unit 20 may convert the received voice signal into a digital voice signal, if the microphone 10 is an analogue microphone. In case of using a digital microphone, this step may be omitted. The voice receiving unit 20 transmits the voice signal 202 via connection 22 to the voice processing unit 30. There, the voice signal 202 is processed including generating a voice command based on the received voice signal 202 and matching the voice command with the predetermined command information stored within the voice processing unit 30 to generate a voice command information block. The voice command information block is then transmitted to the command processing unit 40 via connection 32. In the command processing unit 40, the voice command is being processed including matching the voice command with the stored control information and generating a control command. The control command is then transmitted to the control unit 42 via connection 44 for initiating an action in the personal protective device 100, e. g. turning up or down of the speaker volume, switching on or off additional functions such as noise cancellation, radio, one or two way communication to other personal protective devices (not shown here) or the like. In parallel, the control unit 42 transmits a feedback signal about the match to the feedback unit 50 via connection 34. The feedback unit 50 may initiate an audible indication to the user 200 by an audible indication unit 52, e. g. a loudspeaker 52, connected via connection 54. Also, the feedback unit 50 may initiate a visual indication to the user 200 by a visual indication unit 56, e. g. a lamp or LED (light emitting diode) 56 or the like, connection via connection 58. The feedback unit 50 may also initiate a haptic indication to the user 200 by a haptic indication unit 60, e. g. a vibration alert generated by a motor 60 or the like, connected via connection 62.
[0050] FIG. 2B shows another embodiment of the personal protective device 100 with local voice recognition and a user 200 using the personal protective device 100. The personal protective device 100 is similar to the personal protective device 100 as shown in FIG. 1 except that the voice processing unit 30 is part of an external device 31 such as smartphone 31 or the like. In the embodiment shown, the external device 31 is wirelessly connected to the voice receiving unit 20 via wireless connection 22. Also, a wired connection (not shown) is conceivable. The external device 31 is also wirelessly connected to the command processing unit 40 via wireless connection 32. Also, a wired connection (not shown) is conceivable. The command processing unit 40 is connected to the feedback unit 50 via connection 34 on the other hand. These wireless connections may be of the type Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ZigBee, Near Field Communication (NFC), Near Field Magnetic Induction (NFMI) or other suitable wireless connections. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, the user 200 speaks a voice signal 202 which is received by the microphone 10 of the voice receiving unit 20 which is connected via connection 12. The voice receiving unit 20 may convert the received voice signal into a digital voice signal, if the microphone 10 is an analogue microphone. In case of using a digital microphone, this step may be omitted. The voice receiving unit 20 transmits the voice signal 202 via wireless connection 22 to the voice processing unit 30. There, the voice signal 202 is processed including generating a voice command based on the received voice signal 202 and matching the voice command with the predetermined command information stored within the voice processing unit 30 to generate a voice command information block. The voice command information block is then transmitted to the command processing unit 40 via wireless connection 32. In the command processing unit 40, the voice command information block is being processed including matching the voice command information block with the stored control information and generating a control command. The control command is then transmitted to the control unit 42 via connection 44 for initiating an action in the personal protective device 100, e. g. turning up or down of the speaker volume, switching on or off additional functions such as noise cancellation, radio, one or two way communication to other personal protective devices (not shown here) or the like. In parallel, the control unit 42 transmits a feedback signal about the match to the feedback unit 50 via connection 34. The feedback unit 50 may initiate an audible indication to the user 200 by an audible indication unit 52, e. g. a loudspeaker 52 or a piezo element, connected via connection 54. Also, the feedback unit 50 may initiate a visual indication to the user 200 by a visual indication unit 56, e. g. a lamp or LED (light emitting diode) 56 or the like, connected via connection 58. The feedback unit 50 may also initiate a haptic indication to the user 200 by a haptic indication unit 60, e. g. a vibration alert generated by a motor 60 or the like, connected via connection 62.
[0051] FIG. 3 shows in a front-side perspective view an embodiment of the personal protective device 300 with local voice recognition according to an embodiment of the present disclosure which is a welding helmet 300 with local voice recognition. The welding helmet 300 comprises a welding helmet shell 310 and an automatic darkening filter 330, which is mounted in a forward-facing optically transmissive window 320. The welding helmet 300 comprises the components of the personal protective device 100 or personal protective device 100 as laid out above in FIG. 2A or 2B, which have been omitted in FIG. 3 for simplification (for details see FIG. 2A or 2B). The control unit 42, 42 (not shown here) is connected to the automatic darkening filter 330 or other switchable electronic components such that switching of the automatic darkening filter 330 and/or of these other components can be performed.
[0052] FIG. 4 shows in a perspective view a user 200 wearing a personal protective device 400 with local voice recognition according to an embodiment of the present disclosure being a hearing protection device 400 with local voice recognition. The hearing protection device 400 comprises a first and a second cup 412, 414 mounted to a headband 416 via mounts 418, 420. Mounts 418, 420 are connected to headband mount 426, 428 formed by a section of the headband 416. An antenna 472 extends from one of the cups 412 for allowing improvement of a signal transmission, for example of an electrical voice signal from or to the hearing device 400. FIG. 4 further shows a microphone boom 470 extending from one of the cups 414 towards the voice microphone 474 such that voice microphone 474 is held in a position close to the user's mouth. A good sound transfer of the mouth to the voice microphone 474 when the user is speaking is thereby achieved. As can be seen in FIG. 4, ear cushions 422, 424 are arranged between the cups 412, 414 and the user's head such that a good wearing comfort of the hearing protection device is achieved. The hearing protective device 400 comprises the components of the personal protective device 100 or personal protective device 100 as laid out above in FIG. 2A or 2B, which have been omitted in FIG. 4 for simplification (for details see FIG. 2A or 2B). The control unit 42, 42 (not shown here) is connected to components within the hearing protection device 400, e. g. a microphone, a loudspeaker, a noise reduction unit or other switchable electronic components, such that switching of these components can be performed.
[0053] FIG. 5 shows in a perspective view a user 200 wearing a personal protective device 500 with local voice recognition according to an embodiment of the present disclosure being respiratory device 500 with local voice recognition. The respiratory device 500 comprises an axial fan 512 which is contained inside a housing 516. To control the operation of the axial fan 512, a switch mechanism 514 is connected to the control unit 42, 42 (not shown here), e. g. to optimize the desired speed of the axial fan, and hence, the cooling effect based upon the environmental conditions, the task the wearer 200 is undertaking, and the wearer's personal choice. The personal protection respiratory device 500 that is illustrated in FIG. 5 is a 3M 4251 Valved Filtering Half Face Respirator. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of filter cartridges 522, 524 are integrally attached to the respirator mask 520 at respective inhalation ports (not shown). Each of the inhalation ports includes a respective inhalation valve (not shown) on the inside of the respirator mask 520 which open as a wearer 200 draws a breath. The respirator mask 520 has adjustable straps 528 for attachment to the wearer 200. The respiratory device 500 comprises the components of the personal protective device 100 or personal protective device 100 as laid out above in FIG. 2A or 2B, which have been omitted in FIG. 5 for simplification (for details see FIG. 2A or 2B). The control unit 42, 42 (not shown here) is connected to components within the respiratory device 500, e. g. a motorized ventilation unit or other switchable electronic components, such that switching of these components can be performed.
