Time interval indicating device

• US 20060133215A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Learning Resources, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Learning Resources, Inc.
• Inventors: Gordon, Gayle E., Victor, Ng Kwok-ho
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/79
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005

Abstract

A device for indicating the passage of two or more time intervals is provided. In one embodiment, the device includes a base portion with a user interface and a light portion. The light portion includes three lights of different colors that are disposed in a vertical arrangement above the base portion. The user interface includes a display and a keypad for programming the device with one or more time durations, and for associating one or more of the lights with each time interval. A controller is in communication with the user interface and operatively coupled with the lights to illuminate and turn off each light during its associated interval. The device may include an audio section linked to the controller for further indicating the intervals or transitions therebetween by outputting one or more sounds.

Claims

1. A device for indicating two or more time intervals, the sum of which defines a total length of time, the device comprising:

a first light associated with a first time interval;

a second light associated with a second time interval;

a keypad for establishing the total length of time in a first device mode and a duration for each of the first and second time intervals in a second device mode; and

a controller in communication with the keypad and the first and second lights, whereby the controller receives input communication from the keypad and produces output communication to the display, the controller controlling illumination of the first light during a duration of the first interval, and controlling illumination of the second light during a duration of the second interval.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the second time interval is subsequent to the first time interval.

3. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the controller operates in the first device mode to subdivide the total length of time into the first and second time intervals in accordance with a predetermined ratio.

4. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein the predetermined ratio provides for the first time interval equal to eighty percent of the total length of time or more, and the second time interval less than or equal to twenty percent of the total length of time.

5. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first light comprises a first color and the second light comprises a second color different from the first color.

6. The device as recited in claim 1 including a display, wherein during the illuminating of the first and second lights, the display shows a continuously updating decremental timer for the time remaining in the total length of time.

7. The device as recited in claim 1 including a display, and wherein during the illuminating of the first and second lights, the display shows a continuously updating decremental timer for the time remaining in an interval.

8. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second lights each comprise one or more light emitting diodes.

9. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second lights are disposed in a substantially vertically orientation.

10. The device as recited in claim 9 wherein the first and second lights are viewable about approximately 180°

of a circumference coaxial with a vertical axis through the device.

11. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising an audio section in communication with the controller for outputting one or more audible signals relative to the first and second intervals, or to indicate a transition therebetween.

12. The device as recited in claim 11 wherein a first audible signal is output relative to a portion of the first interval and a second audible signal is output relative to a portion of the second interval.

13. The device as recited in claim 11 wherein the audio section further comprises a sound recording means for recording an audible signal for output by the audio section.

14. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising one or more of an olfactory and tactile indicating means in communication with the controller for outputting scent and tactile indications relative to the first and second intervals, or to indicate a transition therebetween.

15. The device as recited in claim 1 including a display that shows the time of day in a third device mode.

16. A time interval indicating device comprising:

a clock;

a sensory indicator operative to output at least one of a visual signal and an audio signal, the visual signal providing a visually-changing light and the audio signal providing a sound;

a programmable user interface for establishing a total length of time including at least two time intervals;

a controller in communication with the sensory indicator and the programmable user interface for associating a first color of the light with a first time interval and a second color of the light with a second time interval, and for selectively associating the sound with one or more of a start and end of the first and second time intervals or to indicate a transition therebetween.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the clock comprises a liquid crystal display.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the color-changing light comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein the color-changing light comprises a multicolor light emitting diode.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein the color-changing light comprises a plurality of LEDs stacked generally vertically.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprise at least two LED groups, a first LED group linked to the controller for illuminating only during timing of the first time interval, and a second LED group linked to the controller for illuminating only during timing of the second time interval.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein during the timing of the first time interval the clock shows a continuously updating decremental timer for the time remaining in the first time interval and during the timing of the second time interval the clock shows a continuously updating decremental timer for the time remaining in the second time interval.

23. The device of claim 16 further comprises a sound recording means coupled to the controller for recording an audio signal for output by the sensory indicator.

24. The device of claim 16 wherein the sensory indicator further comprises one or more of an olfactory and tactile indicating means in communication with the controller for outputting scent and tactile indications relative to the first and second intervals, or to indicate a transition therebetween.

25. A device for indicating two or more time intervals, the sum of which defines a total length of time, the device comprising:

a color-changing light having a first color or hue associated with a first time interval and a second color or hue associated with a second time interval;

a keypad for establishing the total length of time in a first device mode and a duration for each of the first and second time intervals in a second device mode; and

a controller in communication with the keypad and the light, whereby the controller receives input communication from the keypad and produces output communication to the display, the controller controlling illumination of the light during the intervals.

26. The device as recited in claim 25 wherein the controller operates in the first device mode to subdivide the total length of time into the first and second time intervals in accordance with a predetermined ratio.

27. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the predetermined ratio provides for the first time interval greater than or equal to eighty percent of the total length of time, and the second time interval less than or equal to twenty percent of the total length of time.

28. The device as recited in claim 25 wherein during the illuminating of the light, the display shows a continuously updating decremental timer for the time remaining in the total length of time.

29. The device as recited in claim 25 wherein during the illuminating of the light, the display shows a continuously updating decremental timer for the time remaining in an active interval.

30. The device as recited in claim 25 wherein the light comprises a light emitting diode.

31. The device as recited in claim 25 further comprising an audio section in communication with the controller for outputting one or more audible signals relative to the first and second intervals, or to indicate a transition therebetween.

32. The device as recited in claim 31 wherein a first audible signal is output relative to a portion of the first interval and a second audible signal is output relative to a portion of the second interval.

33. The device as recited in claim 31 wherein the audio section further comprises a sound recording means for recording an audible signal for output by the audio section.

34. The device as recited in claim 25 further comprising one or more of an olfactory and tactile indicating means in communication with the controller for outputting scent and tactile indications relative to the first and second intervals, or to indicate a transition therebetween.

35. The device as recited in claim 25 wherein the device comprises a generally flat housing with a viewable portion therethrough so that the device may be adapted for use with an overhead projector.

36. The device as recited in claim 25 including a display, and wherein during the illuminating of the light, the display shows a continuously updating incremental timer for the time expired in the total length of time.

37. The device as recited in claim 25 including a display, and wherein during the illuminating of the light, the display shows a continuously updating incremental timer for the time expired in an interval.

38. The device as recited in claim 25 wherein the light is viewable about at least 180°

of a circumference coaxial with a vertical axis through the device.

39. The device as recited in claim 25 including a display suitable for hanging on a wall.