FAQ – VR STAMP
Why does the toolkit have limited licenses? What if I need these items for a longer period of time?
We do this in order to keep the overall cost of the toolkit down. The fully unlimited Phyton C Compiler upgrade is available for about $500 by itself, Quick T2SI cost even more and therefore, to fit it all into an affordable toolkit, we have had to limit the license. The license for the Phyton limited life C compiler lasts 12 weeks (= 84 days). The license for Quick T2SI-Lite limits you to sets of 12 words of phrases maximum. If you’d like to upgrade Quick T2SI Lite to the full version, you can for a fee of $1000. Sensory fully understands the need to stretch a budget, and the VR Stamp Toolkit as it is, is the best, and most affordable option to getting started with speech recognition hardware.
I am using the SensoryLoader to load the sample programs that came with my VR Stamp Toolkit. Every time I try to download a program, it gives me a communication error.
Possible causes for a VR Stamp "communications error".
- The ZIF socket door is not fully closed thus making an intermittent connection. Make sure the VR Stamp module is firmly seated.
- You are using an older version of the downloader software. The latest version is v1_6_2 and is available from Sensory Technical Support.
- You are using the wrong COM port to download. Try a different COM port.
- Some other software is using the port. Close all other applications.
- You have a bad USB cable. Highly unlikely, but it happens occasionally. Try a different cable and see if it helps.
- The FTD drivers are not installed correctly. Try uninstalling, and reinstalling the driver.
- You are running Microsoft Vista, or are running on a machine with an x64 processor. You may need to download a different set of Virtual COM Port (VCP) drivers. Go to www.ftdichip.com to get the latest drivers.
- The COM port is reported as OK, but is not working on the PC you are using. Try a different computer.
- The VR Stamp module is bad. Try a different one.
- The MPB (module programmer board) is bad. Try a different one.
There are some demos on the enclosed VR Stamp CD, but they are only in .bin form. Is it possible to send me some examples in another form which could I modify? Can you provide some source code?
Sensory does not provide source code for the VR Stamp demos. However, there are a number of FluentChip samples that demonstrate all of our major software technologies. Full source code is provided. They can be found in the \asamples\ and \csamples\ folders of FluentChip installations.
My VR Stamp Kit didn’t come with Quick T2SI. How do I get it?
The VR Stamp Toolkit made by Sensory comes with Quick T2SI-Lite.
Another VR Stamp product is made and sold by MikroElektronika. They service and sell this product and while it is similar in nature, it does not come with Quick T2SI Lite. Sensory does not sell this software separately, but we have made an arrangement with MikroElektronika which allows them to offer this software to their Easy VR Stamp Programmer customers. Simply call MikroElektronika and request it.
I am running out of memory. What kinds of external memory can the VR Stamp address?
The VR Stamp is not intended to be used with external memories. It is a self-contained module with everything needed for a small-to-medium sized application. If you are running out of memory on your VR Stamp, you should try the following:
- If you have multiple T2SI sets, use the Acoustic Model Combiner to reduce the memory needed for acoustic model data.
- Compress SX speech files at a higher compression rate to reduce memory size.
- Optimize your application program to reduce redundant code.
- Upgrade to a Rapid Prototype Module, which has 512 KBytes of code/const flash memory and 32 Mbits of serial data flash memory.
Why can’t I just purchase a few RSC chips instead of a VR Stamp?
RSC chips are general purpose microprocessors and require programming in order to perform any useful functions. Sensory has provided a suite of development tools for the VR Stamp which are essential to writing and maintaining software programs for them. Further, the RSC chips require a few additional components to make them functional (i.e. resistors, capacitors, etc.) The beauty of the VR Stamp is that it has all of the necessary components on board already, and the programming tools are relatively inexpensive.
Can I build my own VR Stamp modules?
It is not possible for developers to do this. The VR Stamp has a special RSC-4128 that has a bootloader code mask-programmed into it. Sensory does not sell the RSC-4128 chips used on the VR Stamp separately. For large volume customers we are happy to custom mask any program desired. Also, we do have a reference design available which shows how to make an In-System Programmable (86-0002).
How hard/easy is it to program the VR Stamp?
We do not recommend purchasing the VR Stamp without possessing strong programming skills.
How do I turn on an LED when a word is recognized?
Since the RSC4128 on the VR Stamp is a general purpose microprocessor, there is no pre-programmed way that commands are related to I/O. This is something you need to provide for in your application program. Many of the Sensory sample programs using the I/O have an example of how to raise or lower an I/O after recognition. We recommend you study the sample programs in the \asamples\ and \csamples\ folders.
Say for example you wanted to define P04 as the Green2 output. You could do this:
- In config.mca, add lines to define your LEDs:
DefPort Green2, p0, 4, OUTPUT, 0
- In demo_io.h, define the same pin for the C program:
#define Green2Port p 0Out
#define Green2Bit 0x10
#define Green2On Green2Port |= Green2Bit
#define Green2Off Green2Port &= ~Green2Bit
- 3. In your main program, use this
Green2On; // no underscore needed
Is there a phone number I can call for VR Stamp technical support?
No. Due to the volume of VR Stamp sales, we cannot provide telephone support. Send your technical questions to Technical Support.
Do you give technical support for the MikroElektronika Easy VRStamp Toolkit?
No. You must contact MikroElektronika to receive technical support for their development kit..
I think my VR Stamp isn’t working. What do I do?
If your VR Stamp has stopped working you should contact the store where you bought it from. Sensory offers a 90 day limited warranty. We will accept warranty returns ONLY when accompanied with a Sensory RMA number.
FAQ – RSC Products & Technology
How do your Voice Recognition algorithms work? Can you send me the source code for them?
The full details of the recognition algorithms are proprietary and Sensory cannot release any information other than what is already available on the Sensory web page.
Is it possible to have more than one T2SI trigger word?
No. Only one T2SI trigger at a time is currently supported.
Can you support RS232?
There is no hardware UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) inside the RSC4x, but we have written an equivalent serial software driver to handle the same functions. The only drawback is that because it is software based, it is not possible to receive serial data simultaneously with doing recognition or synthesis output. Adding a hardware UART would overcome this limitation but increase the chip cost.
"RS232" means conforming to the RS232 voltage standards (1= -12V, 0= +12V). Technically the RSC4x has TTL level (1= +3V, 0= 0V) serial transfer, not true RS232. An separate RS232 converter chip, like the MAX232 is commonly used by Sensory customers to create a true RS232 compatible circuit.
Where can I purchase a Voice Extreme Toolkit or Voice Direct Toolkit?
These products are obsolete and no longer available.
I am working on a Senior Design Project, do you donate materials to students?
We apologize, but at this time Sensory does not have a sponsorship program nor do we donate materials for educational purposes.
In our program we want to use the idle with audio wakeup mode with a trigger word, that we also want to recognize immediately after changing into active mode.
There is a sample program which shows how to use the audio wakeup feature. Look in the \asamples\pwrdown folder. There is also a C language equivalent. Only a whistle, hand clap or loud noise can wake the RSC chip from the idle with audio wakeup mode. It is not possible to attempt recognition on the same word used for wakeup.
I am trying to write a program to recognize the digits 0-9, or the letters A-Z, but it is not working.
Can you help me?
The English Language digits 0-9 and letters A-Z are notoriously difficult to recognize. They are all short duration, often monosyllabic, words that sound similar to each other. Sensory is constantly working on improving and perfecting our voice recognition algorithms.
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