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Proposal of Artificial Larynx Using PZT Ceramics Vibrator as Sound Source
Katsutoshi Ooe*, Toshio Fukuda**, and Fumihito Arai*
*Dept. of Micro System Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho l, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-0814, Japan
**Center of Cooperative Research Center in Advanced Science & Technology, Nagoya University
Received:October 18, 1999Accepted:April 11, 2000Published:June 20, 2000
Keywords:artificial larynx, PZT ceramics vibrator, speech production substitutes
Abstract
Speech production substitutes that reconstruct speech function have been developed and used practically to enable the handicapped to speak, but still present problems. We focused on the PZT ceramics vibrator as a sound source of an artificial larynx. We produced an artificial larynx using the PZT ceramics vibrator and evaluated its performance. The power spectrum of an artificial larynx user's voice is similar to that of a healthy person's voice. The vocalization of artificial larynx user shows good characteristics in formant frequency important for vowel discrimination. Based on the result of listening evaluation, this voice has good clarity. We expect that our proposed artificial larynx will go into wide use.
Cite this article as:K. Ooe, T. Fukuda, and F. Arai, “Proposal of Artificial Larynx Using PZT Ceramics Vibrator as Sound Source,” J. Robot. Mechatron., Vol.12 No.3, pp. 304-309, 2000.Data files:
Copyright© 2000 by Fuji Technology Press Ltd. and Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. All right reserved.
