News | April 21, 2007

Epson Selects Fonix Text-To-Speech Technology For New Semiconductor Chip

Salt Lake City, UT - Fonix Speech, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fonix Corporation specializing in embedded speech interfaces for mobile devices, handheld electronic products, video game systems and processors, announced Fonix text-to-speech (TTS) technology on a new semiconductor chip manufactured and sold by Seiko Epson Corporation ("Epson"), a worldwide provider of information-related equipment, according to the company source.

Epson's semiconductor chip, the S1V30120, is a companion chip that converts text-based characters into synthetic speech. The chip features Fonix DECtalk TTS, Fonix's leading TTS solution optimized for embedded and limited memory applications. DECtalk offers multiple languages and "speaks" words and phrases in nine understandable synthetic voices. Target applications include a wide range of voice-driven devices and systems such as mobile phones, portable media devices, home appliances, office/industrial equipment, and assistive and other handheld devices. Fonix will receive licensing fees.

"Epson is pleased to introduce our new Fonix-enabled speech synthesis chip into our line of semiconductor products for equipment and device manufacturers," says Yasutoshi Takizawa of Epson. "The combination of Epson technology and Fonix TTS provides a powerful development platform for which to develop devices and systems that incorporate speech interfaces. Epson chose Fonix text-to-speech because it uses little device memory, is clear and easy for users to understand and because of our long-standing, positive relationship with Fonix Corporation."

Key features of the S1V30120 include:

  • Fonix text-to-speech
    • Fonix DECtalk fully parametric speech synthesis with improvements in voice quality
    • Multiple languages – US English, Castilian and Latin American Spanish
    • Nine TTS voices for each language (four male, four female, one child)
    • Sampling rate: 11.025kHz
  • Audio playback (ADPCM)
    • ADPCM decoding (in Epson's original format)
    • Bit rate: 80kbps, 64kbps, 48kbps, 32kbps, 24kbps
    • Sampling rates: 16kHz, 8kHz

Developers interested in Epson's new S1V30120 chip may contact Epson at the contact info below for product specs and purchasing information.

SOURCE: Fonix Speech, Inc.