Abstract:
The present invention is a synthetic speech encoding device that produces a synthetic speech signal which closely matches an actual speech signal. The actual speech signal is digitized, and excitation pulses are selected by minimizing the error between the actual and synthetic speech signals. The preferred pattern of excitation pulses needed to produce the synthetic speech signal is obtained by using an excitation pattern containing a multiplicity of weighted pulses at timed positions. The selection of the location and amplitude of each excitation pulse is obtained by minimizing an error criterion between the synthetic speech signal and the actual speech signal. The error criterion function incorporates a perceptual weighting filter which shapes the error spectrum.
Abstract:
The present invention is a method for determining linear predictive coding filter parameters for encoding a voice signal. The method includes sampling a voice signal, grouping the samples into a plurality of frames, generating a plurality reflection coefficients for each frame of samples, quantizing the reflection coefficients, generating spectral coefficients from the quantized reflection coefficients, selecting a quantized reflection coefficient having the smallest log-spectral distance between a quantized spectrum, and an unquantized spectrum and, converting the selected quantized reflection coefficient to linear predictive coding (LPC) filter coefficient.
Abstract:
A method for assessing the performance of a company is provided. The method may include receiving financial data about the company and determining a future value of the company. Next, the future value is decomposed into a plurality of future value components, where the plurality of future value components includes an economy component that defines an implied amount of growth of the company attributable to the growth of the economy in general. Finally, the method may include displaying at least one of the future value components to advise a user of the performance of the company relative to the economy in general.
Abstract:
A tailgate adjustment strap that allows a user to adjust the tailgate of a truck between a fully open and a fully closed position. The tailgate latch connector is secured to the base belt via a loop sewn into the first end of the base belt. The striker connector extends outwardly from one end of the cam buckle and includes a plate having a central aperture which varies in diameter. The striker is an elongated rod extending inwardly toward a middle of the truck bed from its attachment point to the inner side panel of the truck bed. A disc is disposed on an end of the striker and has a greater diameter than the central aperture to prevent the striker connector from disconnecting from the striker.
Abstract:
Software encoded on a computer-readable medium when executed performs a method for assessing the performance of a company. The method includes receiving financial data about the company; calculating a Total Economic Profit (TEP) value based in part on the financial data, the TEP value including a current value component and a future value component, determining at least one business component of the company that drives at least one selected from the group comprising the current value component and the future value component, and assessing the at least one business component based in part on at least one selected from the group comprising the TEP value, the current value component, and the future value component. From this data, a Total Return to Shareholders (TRS) value may be calculated with a data processor. The TRS may be decomposed into components and mapped onto a computer-generated display. The data may also be incorporated in corporate management systems and investment analysis systems, and used to generate a set of supplemental financial reports.
Abstract:
A single sheet has multiple separation lines arranged such that the sheet can be printed on by a standard printer such as a personal computer printer, and the sheet may thereafter be separated and/or folded in any one of three different configurations to form different possible compact disc jewel case inserts including both face labels and spine labels. One embodiment is of a sheet having at least four longitudinal lines of weakness extending across at least a major portion of the length of the sheet, and at least three latitudinal lines of weakness extending across a major portion of the width of the sheet, with at least one longitudinal line of weakness being a fold about which at least one portion is folded.
Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for analyzing the relative performance of a business unit of a company is provided. The method may include: receiving financial data about the business unit; determining with a data processor NOPLAT, revenue, capital charge, and invested capital values for the business unit at least at a first time and a second time from the financial data; determining with the data processor at least two data point from the NOPLAT, revenue, capital charge, and invested capital values, each data point including a first component indicative of NOPLAT/revenue for the business unit and a second component indicative of revenue/capital charge for the business unit, the at least two data points indicative of values determined at one of the first time and the second time, respectively; and displaying, to advise a user of the performance of the business unit, the at least two data points, a first indicia for each data point indicative of the capital value, a second indicia indicative of a spread percentage, and a third indicia indicative of a relationship between the at least two data points between the first time and the second time.
Abstract:
Pending structural engineer approval, the invention replaces previous technology for creating vertical separation between concrete or soil and exposed structural wood posts. Previous accommodations for this requirement call for obtrusive raised concrete bases (considerably wider than the posts themselves) under the posts. Such bases create the potential for personal injury and are visually unappealing. The bracket base is of equal size and shape to the bottom of the cross-cut wood post. The single center-mounted bolting strap allows for recessing the nuts, bolts, and washers flush to the outside of the post. There are, thus, continuous planes along the four sides of the post from its top to the bottom of the exposed bracket. The entire post and bracket can be clad with any suitable material (wood, manufactured sidings, aluminum, vinyl, etc.) to conceal the entire bracket and structural post.
Abstract:
Ultraremovable adhesive is applied to a paper sheet to form therewith a liner sheet and the liner sheet is laminated to a cardstock sheet to form a laminate cardstock. The cardstock sheet is then die cut therethrough, but not through the liner sheet, to form cardstock cut lines that define at least in part perimeters of business cards (or other printable media). The outer face of the liner sheet is then die cut therethrough, but not through the cardstock sheet, to form liner sheet strips on a back side of the cardstock sheet. Some of the strips define cover strips covering some of the cardstock cut lines, and others of the strips define waste strips. The waste strips are then matrix removed from the back of the cardstock sheet. The resulting business card sheet construction is then fed through a printer or copier by the user and the desired indicia printed on the front sides of the business cards, while the cover strips hold the cards together as a unit sheet construction. After this printing operation, the printed cards are easily peeled off of the cover strips, ready for use. By designing the sheet construction to form the printed media with different sizes and shapes and by including optional scored fold lines, and/or additional flexibility cut lines or flexibility perforation lines, media aside from business cards, such as post cards and greeting cards, can be constructed and used pursuant to this invention.
Abstract:
Ultraremovable adhesive is applied to a paper sheet to form therewith a liner sheet, and the liner sheet is laminated to a cardstock sheet to form a laminate cardstock. The cardstock sheet is then die cut therethrough, but not through the liner sheet, to form cardstock cut lines that define at least in part perimeters of business cards (or other printable media). The outer face of the liner sheet is then die cut therethrough, but not through the cardstock sheet, to form liner sheet strips on a back side of the cardstock sheet. Some of the strips define cover strips covering some of the cardstock cut lines, and others of the strips define waste strips. The waste strips are then matrix removed from the back of the cardstock sheet. According to a preferred (dry laminate) embodiment the only liner sheet die cut is parallel to the leading edge of the sheet and forms a narrow leading edge liner strip which is removed. The resulting business card sheet construction is then fed through a printer or copier by the user and the desired indicia printed on the front sides of the business cards, while the cover strips hold the cards together as a unit sheet construction. After this printing operation, the printed cards are easily peeled off of the cover strips, ready for use. By designing the sheet construction to form the printed media with different sizes and shapes and by including optional scored fold lines, and/or additional flexibility cut lines or flexibility perforation lines, media aside from business cards, such as post cards and greeting cards, can be constructed.