Talking display signage

• US 5,485,139 A
• Filed: 03/28/1995
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George V. Tarnovsky
• Original Assignee: George V. Tarnovsky
• Inventors: Tarnovsky, George V.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/412,059
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/555-557, 340/552-554, 340/692, 340/825.35, 367/93-94, 250/221, 250/222.1, 364/554, 359/155, 342/118, 356/3
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2027/001 Comprising a presence or proximity detector
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 25/00 Audible advertising sound recording or reproducing per se G11B; public address systems H04R27/00

Abstract

A system for presenting automatic verbal announcement by means of active infrared detection in conjunction with a digital voice recorder/playback unit includes a modulated infrared signal generator for generating a signal of given frequency at a target when in a sensing range, a detector for detecting a modulated infrared signal of the given frequency reflected from a target within the sensing range, a digital voice recorder/playback unit for recording and then providing announcements, when a target is within the sensing range, a speaker to provide an audible output from a signal generated by the digital unit and a microprocessor operatively connected to the generator to periodically output a modulated signal from the generator, to the detector for receiving a signal of the given frequency when a target is within the sensing range and to the digital unit for sending a signal to same and initiate an announcement when a signal is received from the detector. Various switches are provided to allow for different modes of operation. The system also provides for the taking of statistical data.

Claims

1. A system for presenting automatic verbal announcements comprising:

a modulated infrared signal generator for generating a modulated signal of given frequency at a target when the target is within a sensing range;

a detector for detecting a modulated infrared signal of the given frequency after is it reflected from a target within the sensing range;

a digital voice recorder/playback means for recording an announcement and subsequently providing said announcement when a target is within the sensing range;

speaker means to provide an audible output in response to the announcement received from said digital voice recorder/playback means; and

,

a microprocessor operatively connected to said generator to periodically output a modulated signal from said generator to said detector, said microprocessor being operatively connected to said digital voice recorder/playback means for initiating an announcement when a reflected signal of the given frequency is received at said detector.

2. The invention defined by claim 1 further including means for accumulating statistical data from said microprocessor.

3. A system for presenting automatic verbal announcements comprising:

a modulated infrared signal generator for generating a modulated signal of given frequency at a target when the target is within a sensing range;

a detector for detecting a modulated infrared signal of the given frequency after it is reflected from a target within the sensing range;

a digital voice recorder/playback means for recording an announcement and subsequently providing said announcement when a target is within the sensing range;

speaker means to provide an audible output in response to the announcement received from said digital voice recorder/playback means; and

,

a microprocessor operatively connected to said generator, said detector and said digital voice recorder/playback means to

periodically output a modulated signal from said generator to said detector,

receive said modulated signal from said detector,

digitally time analyze said modulated signal to determine the presence of a target within said sensing range, and,

in response thereto,

initiate announcement from said digital voice recorder/playback means.

4. A system for presenting automatic verbal announcements comprising:

a modulated infrared signal generator having a variable output level for generating a modulated signal of given frequency at a target when the target is within a sensing range, said generator including

an infrared emitter for emitting the signal,

an oscillator/driver for modulating the signal, and

a means to vary the output level of said generator;

a detector for detecting a modulated infrared signal of the given frequency after it is reflected from a target within the sensing range, said detector including

an infrared detector for receiving a modulated signal of the given frequency reflected from a target when the target is within the sensing range,

an amplifier for conditioning the reflected modulated signal of the given frequency and,

a band pass filter for passing the reflected signal of the given frequency;

a digital voice recorder/playback means for recording an announcement and subsequently providing said announcement when a target is within the sensing range, said digital voice recorder/playback means including

a digital voice recorder/playback unit,

means for providing an audio input to said digital voice recorder/playback unit when said digital voice recorder/playback unit is in a recording mode and,

means for storing said audio input as an announcement;

speaker means to provide an audible output in response to the announcement signals received from said digital voice recorder/playback unit when said digital voice recorder/playback unit is in a playback mode, said speaker means including

a speaker,

an amplifier, and,

a volume control;

a microprocessor operatively connected to said oscillator/driver of said generator to periodically output a modulated signal from said emitter, said microprocessor being operatively connected to said digital voice recorder/playback unit for sending a start signal to said digital voice recorder/playback unit to initiate an announcement when a reflected signal is received at said detector band pass filter, said microprocessor receiving an announcement completion signal from said digital voice recorder/playback unit, said microprocessor adapted to send a parting announcement signal to said digital voice recorder/playback unit, to initiate a parting announcement;

means operatively connected to said microprocessor for switching said digital voice recorder/playback unit between play mode and record mode,

means operatively connected to said microprocessor for switching said digital voice recorder/playback unit to record or initiate an announcement; and

means operatively connected to said microprocessor for switching said digital voice recorder/playback unit to a parting announcement.