1. A method of estimating the pitch of a speech signal (2), said method comprising the steps of:
dividing the speech signal into segments,
calculating for each segment a conformity function for the signal, and
detecting peaks in the conformity function, characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of:
calculating an average value of pitch estimates estimated in a number of previous segments,
calculating for each peak in the conformity function the difference between the position of the peak and said average value, and
using the position of the peak having the smallest value of said difference as an estimate of the pitch.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of:
sampling the speech signal to obtain a series of samples, and
performing said division into segments such that each segment has a fixed number of consecutive samples.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of:
estimating a set of filter parameters using linear predictive analysis (LPA),
providing a modified signal (26) by filtering the speech signal through a filter based on said estimated set of filter parameters, and
calculating said conformity function of the modified signal.
4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said conformity function is calculated as an autocorrelation function.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises the step of:
selecting, if the peak having the smallest value of said difference is represented by a number of samples, the sample having the maximum amplitude of said conformity function as said estimate of the pitch.
6. Use of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in a mobile telephone.
7. A device adapted to estimate the pitch of a speech signal, and comprising:
means (3) for dividing the speech signal into segments,
means (5) for calculating for each segment a conformity function for the signal, and
means (6) for detecting peaks in the conformity function,
characterized in that the device is further adapted to:
calculate an average value of pitch estimates estimated in a number of previous segments,
calculate for each peak in the conformity function the difference between the position of the peak and said average value, and
use the position of the peak having the smallest value of said difference as an estimate of the pitch.
8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises:
means (3) for sampling the speech signal to obtain a series of samples, and
means for performing said division into segments such that each segment has a fixed number of consecutive samples.
9. A device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it further comprises:
means (4; 24) for estimating a set of filter parameters using linear predictive analysis (LPA),
means (4; 25) for providing a modified signal by filtering the speech signal through a filter based on said estimated set of filter parameters, and
means (5) for calculating said conformity function of the modified signal.
10. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said conformity function is an autocorrelation function.
11. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it is further adapted to select, if the peak having the smallest value of said difference is represented by a number of samples, the sample having the maximum amplitude of said conformity function as said estimate of the pitch.
12. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the device is a mobile telephone.
13. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the device is an integrated circuit.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A device comprising:
a ceramic or wax first form comprising:
a first plurality of surface artifacts that are integral to the first form and that substantially spatially replicate a surface geometry of a first stacked foil mold; and
a first prong that:
has a predominantly ceramic composition;
that is integral to the first form;
is adapted to form a first hole in a metallic cast product that is cast in a molten state substantially around the first prong;
is adapted to substantially structurally disintegrate due to thermal stresses imparted on the first prong as the metallic cast product cools from a molten state to a solid state; and
defines a prong longitudinal axis, an intersection of the first form and the first prong defining a fillet that is integral to the first prong and the first form, the fillet defining a first midpoint fillet depth measured in a first plane that contains the prong longitudinal axis, the fillet defining a second midpoint fillet depth measured in a second plane that contains the prong longitudinal axis, the first plane separated from the second plane by a predetermined angle measured perpendicular to the prong longitudinal axis.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first midpoint fillet depth is measured at a longitudinal midpoint located approximately halfway between a first prong transition that is located where the fillet substantially blends into the first prong in the first plane and a first form transition that is located where the fillet substantially blends into the first form in the first plane.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the second midpoint fillet depth is measured at a longitudinal midpoint located approximately halfway between a second prong transition that is located where the fillet substantially blends into the first prong in the second plane and a second form transition that is located where the fillet substantially blends into the first form in the second plane.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein:
an external surface of the fillet is defined by an external surface of the form and an exterior surface of the first prong.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the cast product is at least a portion of an airfoil.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first form defines at least a portion of a ceramic core.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first form defines at least a portion of a wax mold.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein:
at least a portion of the first form is adapted to be replaced by a molten metallic alloy that, upon solidification, creates at least a portion of the cast product.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the cast product is adapted to be cast substantially around the form.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the cast product is adapted to be cast substantially within the form.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong is adapted to be destructively removed from the cast product.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong extends outwardly with respect to a predetermined axis of the first form.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong extends inwardly with respect to a predetermined axis of the first form.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong extends outwardly with respect to a predetermined axis of the first form toward a second prong that extends inwardly from a shell or mold.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong extends inwardly with respect to a predetermined axis of the first form toward a second prong that extends outwardly with respect to a predetermined axis of a core.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first hole is a cooling hole.
17. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first hole is a through hole.
18. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first hole is a blind hole.
19. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first hole is adapted to be finished via a machining technique.
20. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong is adapted to extend from the form toward a predetermined target feature in a wax pattern or shell.
21. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first hole is adapted to extend from a wax pattern toward a predetermined target feature in a core or shell.
22. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong is one of an array of prongs defined by and integral to the first form.
23. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong is coated with a predetermined material.
24. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong is a composite, reinforced structure.
25. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong is consumable.
26. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong defines a first hole entry andor exit that has a predetermined curvature.
27. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong defines a first hole cross-section that, at a predetermined depth of the first hole, is round.
28. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong defines a first hole cross-section that, at a predetermined depth of the first hole, is not round.
29. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong defines:
a first prong periphery that has a first predetermined shape as measured in a first predetermined longitudinal cross-sectional plane of the first prong that intersects a first predetermined position along the prong longitudinal axis; and
a second prong periphery that has a second predetermined shape as measured in a second predetermined longitudinal cross-sectional plane of the first prong that intersects a second predetermined position along the prong longitudinal axis
the first predetermined shape differing from the second predetermined shape.
30. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong defines:
a first prong cross-sectional area that is measured in a first predetermined longitudinal cross-sectional plane of the first prong that intersects a first predetermined position along the prong longitudinal axis; and
a second prong cross-sectional area that is measured in a second predetermined longitudinal cross-sectional plane of the first prong that intersects a second predetermined position along the prong longitudinal axis
the first prong cross-sectional area differing from the second prong cross-sectional area.
31. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the prong longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first form.
32. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the prong longitudinal axis is curved with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first form.
33. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the cast product defines a counter-sunk andor moat-like region adjacent an entrance andor exit of the first hole.
34. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong defines a fiducial on a sidewall of the first hole andor a bottom of the first hole, the fiducial adapted to locate a second hole andor align a traditional machining technique with the first hole.
35. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong defines a channel connecting the first hole to a second hole, that channel potentially extending between the first hole and the second hole at any position along a length of the first hole.
36. The device of claim 1, wherein:
an outer surface of the first prong defines a stress, fatigue, andor crack reduction feature.
37. The device of claim 1, wherein:
an outer surface of the first prong defines a predetermined surface geometry.
38. The device of claim 1, wherein:
an outer surface of the first prong defines a predetermined surface roughness.
39. The device of claim 1, wherein:
an outer surface of the first prong is dimpled.
40. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong defines a hole wall comprising filtering projections.
41. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong defines a hole wall comprising a filtering feature.
42. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first prong defines a hole wall comprising blind pockets.
43. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first form comprises a rubber liner attached to a metal base, the liner adapted to define a shape of the first form, the liner comprising a second plurality of surface artifacts that are integral to the liner and that substantially spatially mirror a surface of a second stacked foil mold.
44. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the cast product defines a plurality of inner cavities.
45. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the cast product defines a pair of inner cavities that are interconnected via one or more passages.
46. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first plurality of surface artifacts invertedly spatially replicate the surface geometry of the first stacked foil mold.
47. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first plurality of surface artifacts comprise at least one protruding undercut.
48. The device of claim 1, wherein:
the ceramic composition is adapted to undergo a crystal structure change prior to the metallic cast product being cast around the first prong.
49. A device comprising:
a metallic cast product comprising:
a first plurality of surface artifacts that are integral to the cast product and substantially spatially replicate a surface geometry of a stacked foil mold; and
a product surface that defines a first hole, the first hole defining a hole longitudinal axis, an intersection of the product surface and a wall of the first hole defining a depth of the first hole, the intersection defining a fillet that is integral to the product, the fillet defining a first midpoint fillet depth measured in a first plane that contains the hole longitudinal axis, the fillet defining a second midpoint fillet depth measured in a second plane that contains the hole longitudinal axis, the first plane separated from the second plane by a predetermined angle measured perpendicular to the hole longitudinal axis.
50. A method comprising:
within a first portion of a ceramic or wax investment casting mold and a second portion of the casting mold, at least one of the first portion and the second portion being a first form comprising:
a first plurality of surface artifacts that are integral to the first form and that substantially spatially replicate a surface geometry of a first stacked foil mold; and
a first prong that:
has a predominantly ceramic composition;
is integral to the first form;
is adapted to form a first hole in a metallic cast product that is cast in a molten state substantially around the first prong;
is adapted to substantially structurally disintegrate due to thermal stresses imparted on the first prong as the metallic cast product cools from a molten state to a solid state; and
defines a prong longitudinal axis, an intersection of the form and the first prong defining a fillet that is integral to the first prong and the first form, the fillet defining a first midpoint fillet depth measured in a first plane that contains the prong longitudinal axis, the fillet defining a second midpoint fillet depth measured in a second plane that contains the prong longitudinal axis, the first plane separated from the second plane by a predetermined angle measured perpendicular to the prong longitudinal axis, casting the cast product.