Motion sensitive reminder

• US 5,721,532 A
• Filed: 12/12/1996
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lehmann, Roger W., Michael I. Satten
• Original Assignee: Lehmann, Roger W., Michael I. Satten
• Inventors: Lehmann, Roger W., Satten, Michael I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/764,823
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/571, 340/573, 340/540, 340/686, 340/687, 340/689, 340/566, 340/523, 340/529, 340/530, 340/527, 340/309.15, 340/526, 340/691, 340/692, 340/693, 368/109, 368/1, 368/10
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A compact motion sensitive reminder device that is readily attachable to almost any movable item that emits an audio signal when the item is initially moved from a stationary condition and then remains silent during the item'"'"'s use, and emits the audio signal again only after a certain amount of time that the movable item has remained stationary.

Claims

1. An motion sensitive reminder apparatus being adaptable for coupling to any item that is movable, said motion sensitive reminder comprising:

a housing;

means for releasably coupling said housing to the movable item;

said housing comprising;

a speaker for emitting an audio signal;

a motion sensor for detecting movement of the movable item;

electronic control means, electrically coupled to said speaker and to said motion sensor, for controlling said speaker emission, said electronic control means activating said speaker to emit said audio signal for a predetermined period of time whenever the movable item is initially moved and thereafter silencing said speaker during further motion of the movable item and resetting said speaker to prepare to emit said audio signal again whenever the movable item has remained stationary for a certain amount of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined period is approximately 6 seconds.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said certain amount of time is approximately 1 minute.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said audio signal comprises at least one audible statement.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said audio signal comprises a sound.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said audio signal comprises music.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably coupling said housing comprises a pair of vertically-oriented L-shaped sleeves disposed on said housing and a clasp, said L-shaped sleeves being adaptable to receive said clasp, said clasp attachable to the movable item.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably coupling said housing comprises a pair of vertically-oriented L-shaped sleeves disposed on said housing and a bar attachment, said L-shaped sleeves being adaptable to receive a portion of said bar attachment, said bar attachment comprising separable semi-circular portions for coupling to a bar.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electronic control means resides on a single die.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said electronic control means comprises an audio circuit for providing an electrical signal representative of said audio signal to said speaker, said motion sensor being coupled to said audio circuit through a motion switching circuit that is coupled to said motion sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said audio circuit comprises a timer for terminating said electrical signal representative of said audio signal after said predetermined period of time.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said electronic control means further comprises a reset means, coupled between said motion switching circuit and said audio circuit, for resetting the electronic control means whenever said apparatus remains stationary for said certain amount of time.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said motion switching circuit generates an alternating wave whenever said apparatus is in motion.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said audio circuit is digital.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said apparatus further comprises batteries and said electronic control means further comprises a low battery voltage detector coupled to the batteries, said low battery voltage detector monitoring the voltage of the batteries and activating an indicator whenever the voltage falls to a predetermined value.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said low battery voltage detector is coupled to said motion sensor, said motion sensor enabling said low battery voltage detector to activate said indicator when said motion sensor is detecting motion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said low battery voltage detector causes said indicator to flash to conserve power during a low battery voltage condition.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electronic control means comprises an audio circuit for providing an electrical signal representative of said audio signal to said speaker, said motion sensor being coupled to said audio circuit through a motion switching circuit that is coupled to said motion sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said audio circuit comprises a timer for terminating said electrical signal representative of said audio signal after said predetermined period of time.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said electronic control means further comprises a reset means, coupled between said motion switching circuit and said audio circuit, for resetting the electronic control means whenever said apparatus remains stationary for said certain amount of time.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said motion switching circuit generates an alternating wave whenever said apparatus is in motion.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said reset means comprises a resistor-capacitor-diode network, said resistor and diode being connected in parallel with said capacitor coupled in series with said parallel connected resistor and diode, said diode and capacitor forming a quick discharge path for discharging said capacitor whenever said apparatus is in motion, and said resistor causing said capacitor to charge for said certain amount of time whenever said apparatus is stationary for said certain amount of time, thereby resetting said speaker to prepare to emit again said audio signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said apparatus further comprises batteries and said electronic control means further comprises a low battery voltage detector coupled to the batteries, said low battery voltage detector monitoring the voltage of the batteries and activating an indicator whenever the voltage falls to a predetermined value.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said low battery voltage detector is coupled to said motion sensor, said motion sensor enabling said low battery voltage detector to activate said indicator when said motion sensor is detecting motion.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said low battery voltage detector causes said indicator to flash to conserve power during a low battery voltage condition.

26. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said audio circuit is digital.