TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Glottal Control Language and Voice Obscuration System

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to license and commercialize its voice obscuration system and glottal control language technologies.

Background:

There is expanding interest in voice controlled and voice obscuration devices.  The latter are commonly white/pink noise generators or telephone signal" scramblers" which rebroadcast obscuring signals to nearby listeners.  They do not work well and there is much room for improvement.   The former may be useful in turning equipment on or off under voice control for enhanced safety features or distance control.

Description:   

Glottal Control Invention:

The first invention describes a method of controlling machines, iPhones, or computers by using human tissue vibrations associated with the human speech system.  These are caused by the opening and closing of the vocal folds, or in other words, the opening and closing of the glottis or glottal opening.  Such opening and closing can be directly detected using radar- like-sensors or they can be indirectly detected by measuring the motions (i.e., vibrations) of tissues( using an accelerometer or microphone) as they vibrate caused by the glottal opening and closing inside the human air passage.

Voice Obscuration  Invention:

The increasing use of cell phones, and ear-pods which transit signals to a cell phone, as well as tissue-vibration measuring devices make possible two inventive products:  the first is a real-time, very effective voice obscurator and the 2nd is a voice canceling product.  Both would be very useful for users of cell phones who wish privacy, or for use in environments where cell phone noise is prohibited or needs to be attenuated, and other applications.

Advantages: 

•·        Reduces sound pollution of phone users.

•·        Enables reductions in communication bandwidth.

Potential Applications: 

• Hands-free control of cell phone products.
• Advanced computer interaction devices.
• Motorized wheel chairs.
• Military controls.

Development Status:  

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at http://ipo.llnl.gov/workwithus/partneringprocess.php

for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Glottal Control Language and Voice Obscuration System technologies should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1.   Company Name and address.

2.   The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.

•3.      A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Industrial Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-795

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention:  FBO 195-08

Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Glottal Control Language and Voice Obscuration System technologies.