New PCJR Speech board design, need Input !
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:11 am
Guys,
I am getting close to making time to designing the Speech board I mentioned a while back.
I’ve been giving it some thought and would like some input from the Jr experts we have on this board.
here is a list of items I am considering: and would value some input.
-I have two voice chips to choose from, One is the 2004Winbond chip that is an extreme High end voice output, I can program it to be Female Or Male voice but not both. the feedback we get from our RailYard customers that we do controllers for, is they like the Female voice. This is probably because the guys like to hear women talking to them (grin).
- the next chip I have is the Epson speech chip that has multiple voices both male and female, I beleive there are 7 software selectable voices. You can also switch to two types of spanish voices. This chip has a lower voice conversion and to be blunt, sounds similiar to the voice Steven Hawkings preferred to use.
- Both chips have the ability to adjust the volume in software, so the user can adjust it as needed.
- I am using the Modem slot for the board.
- I will am thinking of making the IO address jumper selectable.
- On board will be a small 8ohm speaker that you should be able to hear thru the front case grills slots.
- there will be an RCA jack that allows you to bring out the Speaker or a standard audio level output that goes to your audio IN amplifier. Jumper selectable.
- on board there will be an trim pot to adjust the main volume out for the speaker, this does not interfere with the software setting of the volume, it just sets the
baseline max volume to the speaker. Considering a jumper to allow the user to add and external volume control, by just deselect the trim pot, via jumpers and
add external POT with some exteneder wires that will plug into a 3 pin header.
- there will be an AT type command set to allow user to adjust the chip voices/language(epsonchip) / and volume(both chips)
- maybe an on board led that turns on when the voice is executing, with jumper to bring the Led to front panel for user viewing.
- simple use, same as sending strings to a modem port, which is typical ‘text to voice’ conversion.
- I have the option to include some controllable I/O maybe 8 inputs, and 8 outputs for user use. These can be optically isolated to control whatever.
- is there any need for any A/D channel I/O .
- Also consider LED activity for any optional items we are talking about.
- I can even add an ethernet port here, my son is the expert on this implementation, but it would use standard ether to serial type communication.
( I will review this more with him)
This will use a standard Arm processor as the main brain here.
I have thought about using the Jr to control my train setup ( when I get time for that again), but it can easily be interface to any type of control/monitoring system via the
I/O I spoke of.
Using the Jr for a control system is overkill of course! But having the voice now gives a wide range of use for the system again, I you are willing to program your favorite activity into this system..... brush up on your Turbo Pascal...
Anyway I have been working this in my head for a couple months now and wanted to give the Jr experts a chance to’voice’ their opinion. (pun intended)
Chuck
I am getting close to making time to designing the Speech board I mentioned a while back.
I’ve been giving it some thought and would like some input from the Jr experts we have on this board.
here is a list of items I am considering: and would value some input.
-I have two voice chips to choose from, One is the 2004Winbond chip that is an extreme High end voice output, I can program it to be Female Or Male voice but not both. the feedback we get from our RailYard customers that we do controllers for, is they like the Female voice. This is probably because the guys like to hear women talking to them (grin).
- the next chip I have is the Epson speech chip that has multiple voices both male and female, I beleive there are 7 software selectable voices. You can also switch to two types of spanish voices. This chip has a lower voice conversion and to be blunt, sounds similiar to the voice Steven Hawkings preferred to use.
- Both chips have the ability to adjust the volume in software, so the user can adjust it as needed.
- I am using the Modem slot for the board.
- I will am thinking of making the IO address jumper selectable.
- On board will be a small 8ohm speaker that you should be able to hear thru the front case grills slots.
- there will be an RCA jack that allows you to bring out the Speaker or a standard audio level output that goes to your audio IN amplifier. Jumper selectable.
- on board there will be an trim pot to adjust the main volume out for the speaker, this does not interfere with the software setting of the volume, it just sets the
baseline max volume to the speaker. Considering a jumper to allow the user to add and external volume control, by just deselect the trim pot, via jumpers and
add external POT with some exteneder wires that will plug into a 3 pin header.
- there will be an AT type command set to allow user to adjust the chip voices/language(epsonchip) / and volume(both chips)
- maybe an on board led that turns on when the voice is executing, with jumper to bring the Led to front panel for user viewing.
- simple use, same as sending strings to a modem port, which is typical ‘text to voice’ conversion.
- I have the option to include some controllable I/O maybe 8 inputs, and 8 outputs for user use. These can be optically isolated to control whatever.
- is there any need for any A/D channel I/O .
- Also consider LED activity for any optional items we are talking about.
- I can even add an ethernet port here, my son is the expert on this implementation, but it would use standard ether to serial type communication.
( I will review this more with him)
This will use a standard Arm processor as the main brain here.
I have thought about using the Jr to control my train setup ( when I get time for that again), but it can easily be interface to any type of control/monitoring system via the
I/O I spoke of.
Using the Jr for a control system is overkill of course! But having the voice now gives a wide range of use for the system again, I you are willing to program your favorite activity into this system..... brush up on your Turbo Pascal...
Anyway I have been working this in my head for a couple months now and wanted to give the Jr experts a chance to’voice’ their opinion. (pun intended)
Chuck
