Qualitative and quantitative analysis of voice onset by means of a multidimensional voice analysis system (MVAS) using high-speed imaging

High-speed filming is one of the most informative methods for assessing voice physiology data. Tracing high-speed images of the glottis provides quantitative parameters such as the glottal area and the glottal width function. By way of example, a number of studies are discussed which extract quantitative data from high-speed images showing voice onsets. Furthermore, a new computer system (MVAS; multi-dimensional voice analysis system) is presented that synchronously displays a laryngoscopic high-speed film, the electroglottographical signal, and several acoustic analyses of the recorded voice sample. The automatic measurement of glottal width and glottal area from the laryngoscopic images is also provided. Looking at former studies and our analyses of voice onsets reveals a tremendous intersubject and even intrasubject variability (different prephonatory closure, different time span until full amplitude is reached, different open quotient).     

Phonatory control in male singing: A study of the effects of subglottal pressure, fundamental frequency, and mode of phonation on the voice source

This article describes experiments carried out in order to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying variation of vocal loudness in singers. Ten singers, two of whom are famous professional opera tenor soloists, phonated at different pitches and different loudnesses. Their voice source characteristics were analyzed by inverse filtering the oral airflow signal. It was found that the main physiological variable underlying loudness variation is subglottal pressure (Ps). The voice source property determining most of the loudness variation is the amplitude of the negative peak of the differentiated flow signal, as predicted by previous research. Increases in this amplitude are achieved by (a) increasing the pulse amplitude of the flow waveform; (b) moving the moment of vocal fold contact earlier in time, closer to the center of the pulse; and (c) skewing the pulses. The last mentioned alternative seems dependent on both Ps and the ratio between the fundamental frequency and the first formant. On the average, the singers doubled Ps when they increased fundamental frequency by one octave, and a doubling of the excess Ps over threshold caused the sound pressure level (SPL) to increase by 8–9 dB for neutral phonation, less if mode of phonation was changed to pressed. A shift of mode of phonation from flow over neutral to pressed was associated with a reduction of the peak glottal permittance i.e., the ratio between peak transglottal airflow to Ps. Flow phonation had the most favorable relationship between Ps and SPL.     

高速气流对C/SiC复合材料激光烧蚀行为影响的实验研究

为了明确高速气流对C/SiC复合材料激光烧蚀行为的影响机制,开展了不同环境下强激光对C/SiC复合材料的烧蚀对比实验研究。利用激光器与高速风洞联合实验平台,完成了静态以及Ma 1.8,Ma 3.0,Ma 6.0气流环境下2D与3DN C/SiC复合材料激光烧蚀实验。结果表明,与静态环境相比,高速气流对C/SiC复合材料的激光烧蚀行为产生了显著的影响,气流的冲刷使得烧蚀坑呈现出更宽、更深、更光滑的变化趋势。随着气流速度的增长,线烧蚀速率与质量烧蚀速率逐渐增大,主要原因为当地静压降低引起的升华速率增大,以及动压增大引起的剥蚀速率增大。此外,通过实验对比了不同构型对C/SiC激光烧蚀行为的影响。结果表明：2D C/SiC复合材料由于厚度方向更低的导热能力、更低的孔隙率等原因,其在不同环境条件下抗烧蚀能力均强于3DN C/SiC复合材料。     

Dynamic glottal pressures in an excised hemilarynx model

During phonation, air pressures act upon the vocal folds to help maintain their oscillation. The air pressures vary dynamically along the medial surface of the vocal folds, although no live human or excised studies have shown how those pressure profiles vary in time. The purpose of this study was to examine time-dependent glottal pressure profiles using a canine hemilarynx approach. The larynx tissue was cut in the midsaggital plane from the top to about 5 mm below the vocal folds. The right half was replaced with a Plexiglas pane with imbedded pressure taps. Simultaneous recordings were made of glottal pressure signals, subglottal pressure, particle velocity, and average airflow at various levels of adduction. The data indicate that the pressures in the glottis (on the Plexiglas) vary both vertically and longitudinally throughout the phonatory cycle. Pressures vary most widely near the location of maximum vibratory amplitude, and can include negative pressures during a portion of the cycle. Pressures anterior and posterior to the maximum amplitude location may have less variation and may remain positive throughout the cycle, giving rise to a new concept called dynamic bidirectional pressure gradients in the glottis. This is an important concept that may relate strongly to tissue health as well as basic oscillatory mechanics.     

新型送风末端装置性能的实验研究

对新型送风装置的出风特性进行了实验研究。结果表明 ,该种结构末端装置能产生所要求的动态风 ,其出风速度变化与控制信号变化有很好的一致性 ;当控制信号为模拟自然风时 ,出风速度频谱分析表明 ,在低频段能量较高 ,高频段能量较低 ,变化剧烈 ,与自然风的频谱非常相似 ;而在稳态时 ,频谱变化比较平缓。该送风末端的紊流系数为 0 .0 97;在距离地面 1.1m的高度上 ,速度分布在射流方向速度较高 ,但是覆盖面积较小 ,有待进一步研究改进。     

Approximations of open quotient and speed quotient from glottal airflow and egg waveforms : Effects of measurement criteria and sound pressure level

Noninvasive measures of vocal fold activity are useful for describingnormal and disordered voice production. Measures of open and speed quotient from glottal airflow and electroglottographic (EGG) waveforms have been used to describe timing events associated with vocal fold vibration. To date, there has been little consistency in the measurement criteria used to calculate quotient values. In this study, criteria of 20% and 50% were applied to the AC amplitude of glottal airflow and inverted EGG waveforms for measurement of open quotient. Criteria of 20%, 50%, and 80%, and a midslope criterion that segmented the waveform between 20% and 80% of the waveform amplitude, were used for the calculation of speed quotient. Subjects produced waveforms at sound pressure levels (SPL) of 70, 75, 80 and 85 dB. Results indicated that approximations of open quotient obtained from the glottal airflow waveform significantly decreased using both the 20% and 50% criteria as SPL increased from 80 to 85 dB. No significant changes were found in open quotient from the EGG waveform as a function of SPL. Results of speed quotient measures from the glottal airflow and EGG waveforms showed a generally increasing trend as SPL increased, although the differences were not statistically significant. The data suggest that the signal type, measurement criterion and SPL must be considered in interpreting quotient measures.     

Glottal airflow and electroglottographic measures of vocal function at multiple intensities

Ten normal female subjects produced syllables at 5 dB increments from soft to loud. The differentiated electroglottogram (dEGG) open and speed quotients were compared to similar quotients from the inverse-filtered airflow waveform. The latter were measured according to objective and subjective criteria. The data indicate that the open quotient from the airflow waveform decreased as the intensity increased. The dEGG open quotient did not demonstrate this trend. The speed quotient from airflow increased initially with vocal intensity and decreased again as the intensity ceiling was approached. The ratio of closing to opening slopes calculated from peaks in the dEGG signal followed a similar pattern. While the trends across intensity conditions were found to correspond for several of the measures, the absolute values obtained using the different methodologies were not comparable.     

Vocal fold bulging effects on phonation using a biophysical computer model

Glottal adduction is a primary laryngeal variable that helps to determine glottal configuration and phonatory output. Greater adduction of the vocal folds can be produced by narrowing the gap between the vocal processes or by bulging the medial surface of the vocal folds. This study examined phonatory effects due to changing the degree of bulging using a computational model. Bulging was modeled as a quadratic surface and was related to active muscle stress. Results indicated that bulging had a significant effect on glottal flow resistance, maximum glottal width and area, and mean glottal volume velocity. The results are discussed relative to clinical issues of hyperfunction.     

Analysis of Vocal-fold Vibrations from High-Speed Laryngeal Images Using a Hilbert Transform-Based Methodology

This paper presents a Hilbert transform-based approach to analyze vocal fold vibrations in human subjects exhibiting normal and abnormal voice productions. This new approach is applied to the analysis of glottal area waveform (GAW) and is capable of providing useful information on the vocal fold vibration. The GAW is extracted from high-speed laryngeal images by delineating the glottal edge for each image frame. An analytic signal is generated through the Hilbert transform of the GAW, which yields a recognizable pattern of the vocal fold vibration in the analytic phase plane. The vibratory pattern is comprehensive and can be correlated with specific voice conditions. Quantitative measures of the glottal perturbation are introduced using the analytic amplitude and instantaneous frequency obtained from the analysis. Examples of clinical voice recordings are used to evaluate and test the effectiveness of this approach in providing qualitative representation and quantitative characteristics of vocal fold vibratory behavior. The results demonstrate the potential of using this new analytical tool incorporated with the high-speed laryngeal imaging modality for clinical voice assessment.     

Gender recognition from vocal source

Efficiency of automatic recognition of male and female voices based on solving the inverse problem for glottis area dynamics and for waveform of the glottal airflow volume velocity pulse is studied. The inverse problem is regularized through the use of analytical models of the voice excitation pulse and of the dynamics of the glottis area, as well as the model of one-dimensional glottal airflow. Parameters of these models and spectral parameters of the volume velocity pulse are considered. The following parameters are found to be most promising: the instant of maximum glottis area, the maximum derivative of the area, the slope of the spectrum of the glottal airflow volume velocity pulse, the amplitude ratios of harmonics of this spectrum, and the pitch. On the plane of the first two main components in the space of these parameters, an almost twofold decrease in the classification error relative to that for the pitch alone is attained. The male voice recognition probability is found to be 94.7%, and the female voice recognition probability is 95.9%.     

A preliminary study of particle velocity during phonation in an in vivo canine model

The particle velocity across the glottis was measured with simultaneous electroglottography, photoglottography, and subglottic pressure in an in vivo canine model of phonation. A constant temperature anemometer measured flow velocity at five midline anterior to posterior glottal positions. Tracheal input air flow was varied in five steps from 175 to 500 cc/s, while vocal fold approximation was achieved by constant electrical stimulation of the laryngeal nerves. For all levels of air flow, a decreasing peak velocity gradient was observed from the anterior commissure to the arytenoids. Time-varying features of the flow velocity are discussed in relation to glottal vibratory events and aerodynamics.     

一种新的长短光脉冲同步方案

单纵模长激光脉冲经分束后分别输入到两个波导调制器中，同时分别输入两个具有高同步准确度的电脉冲到调制器中.通过这种方式可以实现具有高同步准确度的长短光脉冲的输出.研究结果表明：该方案下长短脉冲的同步准确度可小于3.5 ps（rms）.     

Glottal airflow and transglottal air pressure measurements for male and female speakers in low, normal, and high pitch

Measurements on the inverse filtered airflow waveform and of estimated average transglottal pressure and glottal airflow were made from syllable sequences in low, normal, and high pitch for 25 male and 20 female speakers. Correlation analyses indicated that several of the airflow measurements were more directly related to voice intensity than to fundamental frequency (F₀). Results suggested that pressure may have different influences in low and high pitch in this speech task. It is suggested that unexpected results of increased pressure in low pitch were related to maintaining voice quality, that is, avoiding vocal fry. In high pitch, the increased pressure may serve to maintain vocal fold vibration. The findings suggested different underlying laryngeal mechanisms and vocal adjustments for increasing and decreasing F₀ from normal pitch.     

啁啾匹配和同步抖动对光参量啁啾脉冲放大的影响

 通过研究光参量啁啾脉冲放大过程转换效率随泵浦光啁啾参数的变化,以及信号光和泵浦光波长的对应关系,确立了信号光和泵浦光同步时实现线性啁啾匹配的方法。以磷酸二氢钾作为非线性晶体,研究了信号光和泵浦光之间的线性啁啾匹配和时间同步抖动对光参量啁啾脉冲放大后信号光脉冲波形和转换效率的影响。结果表明：在时间同步的情况下,线性啁啾匹配时的信号光脉冲波形很对称,转换效率也较高;在同步抖动程度一定的情况下,不同泵浦光啁啾参数时,信号光的增益及放大后的脉冲波形差异较大;在线性啁啾匹配程度一定时,信号光和泵浦光时间同步抖动越严重,放大信号光的脉冲波形变化越大,信号光增益越小,且转换效率也越低。     

基于阿秒抖动光纤锁模激光器的时钟同步

光纤锁模激光器结构简单, 运转稳定, 且输出的超短脉冲序列具有极高的时钟稳定性, 在抽运探测、脉冲相干合成等要求高精度时钟同步的前沿领域有着广阔的应用前景. 本文通过激光器腔内的电光调制器进行反馈控制, 实现了两台光纤锁模激光器之间的紧密时钟信号同步; 并且通过平衡光学互相关方法, 对残余的时钟误差信号进行了测量, 分辨率达到了13 as. 通过优化激光器的腔内动力学过程及反馈环路的参数, 在[1 Hz, 10 MHz]的积分区间内得到了109 as的残余时钟误差, 对应单台激光器的平均时间抖动为77 as.     

基于FPGA的高速光幕同步系统设计与实现

常规光幕实现发射器和接收器双方信号的同步需要专用同步电缆来完成。针对这一缺点,提出了一种新的高速光幕同步方法,即在发射器的每个循环周期的第一通道发射光脉冲之前增加一个作为帧同步码的光脉冲段,接收端通过判断帧同步码的方式实现收发信号同步,这样便不再需要专用同步电缆,有效地节省了光幕同步系统成本。进一步地,采用新提出的高速光幕同步方法,基于FPGA技术,设计并实现了高速光幕同步系统的总体方案,硬件制作了可应用于高速运动物体的实时到位检测的高速光幕检测装置。实际工程应用表明,采用此方法的高速光幕检测装置,成本低,工作稳定可靠,捕捉与同步性能优良。     

Airflow noise in telephone handsets and methods for its reduction

The noise in a telephone handset produced by the bursts of airflow that accompany plosive sounds such as a "p" or "t" has been investigated. Measurements have been made on a series of modified handsets, using various arrangements of ports and tubes between microphone and the exterior of the telephone mouthpiece. A narrow stream of air was used to probe the mouthpiece and the signal picked up by the microphone recorded. The use of one, two, and multiple exterior holes was considered. Two-hole approaches alleviate the static pressure buildup that occurs when a single microphone hole is used and in many cases they result in reduced noise generation; for some directions of incident airflow, though, noise can be markedly increased. This was found to be due to interaction between intersecting streams of air. By using a large number of small (less than 0.5 mm) exterior holes, the airflow noise can be reduced by over 30 dB for all incident directions of airflow. It is also beneficial to ensure that none of the exterior holes is in direct line with the sound tube leading to the microphone.     

Pressure-flow relationships during phonation in the canine larynx

Measurements of air pressure and flow were made using an in vivo canine model of the larynx. Subglottic pressures at varying flow rates were taken during phonation induced by laryngeal nerve stimulation. Results showed that during constant vocal fold stiffness, subglottic pressure rose slightly with increased air flow. The larynx in the in vivo canine model exhibited a flow-dependent decrease in laryngeal airway resistance. Increasing flow rate was associated with an increase in frequency of phonation and open quotient, as measured glottographically. Results from this experiment were compared with a theoretical two-mass model of the larynx and other theoretical models of phonation. The influence of aerodynamic forces on glottal vibration is explained by increased lateral excursion of the vocal folds during the open interval and shortening of the closed interval during the glottal cycle.     

Testing of a 100-kV 100-Hz Rep-Rate Gas Switch

A two-electrode gas switch with a self-breakdown voltage of 100 kV was operated at a pulse-repetition rate (PRR) of 100 Hz with bursts up to 10 s in duration. The output of a pulse transformer provided the (1 - cos ?t) waveform which charged the switch in about one-half ms. The switch discharged with a peak current of about 10 kA and a total charge transfer of about 10 mC into a damped LC circuit. A continuous purge of air through the interelectrode spacing enabled the switch to recover its breakdown voltage between discharges. Flow rates up to 35 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) were employed. This paper discusses the dependence of switch jitter and waveform reproducibility on airflow rate.