Combination clock radio, weather station and message organizer

• US 20030076745A1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maverick Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Maverick Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Chapman, Peter A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,967,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/028 combined with a radio
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature

Abstract

A combination clock radio, weather station and message organizer includes a base unit having a visual display, a controller located in the base unit including a central processor for controlling operation of the combination, and a temperature sensor for obtaining outdoor temperature readings, the temperature sensor being in communication with the controller. The controller is adapted to present a hue on the visual display that is a function of the outdoor temperature reading. The combination may also include a pressure sensor in communication with the controller for monitoring a rate of change in atmospheric pressure and providing a weather forecast animation that is a function of the changes in the atmospheric pressure.

Claims

1. A combination clock radio, weather station and message organizer comprising:

a base unit including a visual display;

a controller located in said base unit including a central processor for controlling operation of said combination;

a temperature sensor spaced from said base unit for obtaining outdoor temperature readings, said temperature sensor being in communication with said controller, wherein said controller is adapted to generate a hue on said visual display that is a function of the outdoor temperature reading.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hue generated on said visual display changes in response to the outdoor temperature reading.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hue is a first color when the outdoor temperature reading is within a first temperature range and a second color when the outdoor temperature range is within a second temperature range that is exclusive of said first temperature range.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hue is a third color when the outdoor temperature range is within a third temperature range that is exclusive of said first and second temperature ranges.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first color is blue, said second color is amber and said third color is red.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first temperature range is between −

50 and 50°

F., said second temperature range is between 50.1 and 75.0°

F. and said third temperature range is between 75.1 and 140°

F.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor is spaced from said base unit and includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting the outdoor temperature readings to said base unit.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a radio frequency receiver associated with said base unit, said radio frequency receiver being adapted to receive the outdoor temperature readings transmitted by said radio frequency transmitter and communicate the outdoor temperature readings to said controller.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with said controller for measuring atmospheric pressure, wherein said controller is adapted to select one of a plurality of weather forecast animations as a function of a rate of change of said measured atmospheric pressure and to generate the selected weather forecast animation on said visual display.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said plurality of weather forecast animations are selected from the group consisting of a sun animation, a sun and cloud animation, a cloud animation, a rain animation, and a storm animation.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein each said weather forecast animation comprises a series of images that are generated on said visual display to give the illusion of motion.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said controller is adapted to select one of a plurality of weather tendency indicators as a function of the rate of change of the atmospheric pressure and to generate the selected weather tendency indicator on said visual display.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein said plurality of weather tendency indicators are selected from the group consisting of a tendency up indicator, a tendency down indicator, and a tendency steady indicator.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone in communication with said controller for recording spoken messages;

a memory device for storing said recorded spoken messages;

a speaker in communication with said controller for broadcasting said recorded spoken messages at a predetermined wake-up time.

15. The combination as claimed in claim 14, wherein upon reaching said predetermined wake-up time, said controller will broadcast through said speaker at least one wake-up alarm, a voice message related to the predetermined wake-up time, and a voice message related to the outdoor temperature reading, and the recorded spoken messages.

16. The combination as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

movable keys associated with said base unit and in communication with said controller for selecting a radio band, the predetermined wake-up time and commencing recordation of said spoken messages.

17. A combination clock radio, weather station and message organizer comprising:

a base unit including a visual display;

a controller located in said base unit including a central processor for controlling operation of said combination;

a pressure sensor for measuring atmospheric pressure in communication with said controller;

a remote temperature sensor spaced from said base unit for obtaining outdoor temperature readings, said temperature sensor including a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals related to the outdoor temperature readings;

a radio frequency receiver provided in said base unit for receiving the signals related to the outdoor temperature readings and communicating said signals to said controller, wherein said controller is adapted to select one of a plurality of weather tendency forecast animations as a function of the atmospheric pressure and to generate the selected weather forecast animations on said visual display, and wherein said controller is adapted to generate a hue on said visual display that is a function of the outdoor temperature reading.

18. The combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein said visual display is a liquid crystal display adapted to display said hue on a color scale running from violet though blue, green, and yellow to red.

19. The combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein said base unit includes a stand, a support element connected to said stand, and a housing including said visual display connected to said support element.

20. The combination as claimed in claim 19, wherein said support arm includes a pivotal connection between said housing and said stand.

21. The combination as claimed in claim 19, wherein said base unit includes movable keys in communication with said controller for selecting a radio band, selecting a wake-up time and date, and commencing recordation of said one or more spoken memoranda.

22. The combination as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

a microphone in communication with said controller for recording spoken messages;

a memory device for storing said recorded spoken messages;

a speaker in communication with said controller for broadcasting radio signals, at least one wake-up alarm signal and said recorded spoken messages.

23. The combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein said temperature sensor is a thermistor and said pressure sensor is adapted to produce an output signal that is linearly related to the atmospheric pressure.

24. A combination clock radio, weather station and message organizer comprising:

a base unit including a visual display for presenting radio band information, time information, date information, weather information, and spoken messages information;

a microphone for recording said spoken messages;

a speaker for broadcasting radio signals, at least one wake-up alarm and said recorded spoken messages;

a controller associated with said base unit, said controller including a central processor for controlling operation of said combination, said central processor being in communication with said microphone and said speaker;

a temperature sensor spaced from and in communication with said base unit for obtaining outdoor temperature readings and transmitting said outdoor temperature readings to said base unit; and

data entry keys associated with said base unit for selecting one or more radio stations, selecting a predetermined wake-up time, and recording said spoken messages, wherein upon reaching the predetermined wake-up time, said controller will generate through said speaker a wake-up alarm, a voice message related to said predetermined wake-up time, a voice message related to said outdoor temperature, and any previously recorded spoken messages.

25. The combination as claimed in claim 24, wherein said temperature sensor includes a radio frequency transmitter for wireless transmission of said outdoor temperature readings and said base unit includes a radio frequency receiver for receiving said wirelessly transmitted outdoor temperature readings.

26. The combination as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a pressure sensor associated with said base unit for measuring atmospheric pressure, said pressure sensor being in communication with said controller, wherein said controller is adapted to select one of a plurality of weather forecast animations as a function of a rate of change of the atmospheric pressure and to present the selected weather forecast animation on said visual display.

27. The combination as claimed in claim 24, wherein said controller is adapted to generate a hue on said visual display that is a function of said outdoor temperature reading and to change said hue in response to said outdoor temperature reading.

28. The combination as claimed in claim 27, wherein said hue is a first color when said outdoor temperature reading is within a first temperature range, a second color when said outdoor temperature reading is within a second temperature range that is exclusive of said first temperature range, and a third color when said outdoor temperature reading is within a third temperature range that is exclusive of said second temperature range.

29. The combination as claimed in claim 28, wherein said first color is blue, said second color is amber and said third color is red.

30. The combination as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a second temperature sensor associated with said base unit for obtaining indoor temperature readings and communicating said indoor temperature readings with said controller, wherein said controller is adapted to generate said indoor temperature readings on said visual display.