Position-sensing waking system and method

• US 5,841,354 A
• Filed: 02/27/1997
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sang I.L. Bae, Sang Yun Bae, Tae Hong Bae
• Original Assignee: Sang I.L. Bae, Sang Yun Bae, Tae Hong Bae
• Inventors: Bae, Tae Hong, Bae, Sang Yun, Bae, Sang Il
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/807,150
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 340/575, 340/576, 340/573, 340/693, 340/689, 340/686, 340/384.7, 200/61.52, 200/61.47, 200/DIG. 2, 200/DIG. 29, 200/303, 200/336, 200/564, 381/68, 381/68.6, 381/69, 381/69.2, 381/187
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A position-sensing waking system and method includes an ear plug for slidably inserting into an ear of a person, a housing rotatably connected with the ear plug, an alarm mechanism for generating an alarm sound, a detection switch disposed inside the housing, a control circuit for controlling the position-sensing waking system, and a battery for supplying power to the position-sensing waking system, the housing containing the alarm system, the system switch, the detection switch, the control circuit and the battery, wherein the detection switch is activated according to a movement of the ear to generate the alarm sound by the alarm mechanism.

Claims

1. A position-sensing waking system comprising:

an ear plug for inserting into an orifice of an ear; and

a housing connected to said ear plug and being rotatable, said housing including,

alarm means for generating an alarm sound,

a system switch for controlling said alarm means,

a detection switch disposed inside said housing, and

a control circuit for controlling said position-sensing waking system,

wherein said system switch is turned on by rotating said ear plug into said housing in a first direction until a maximum rotation position is reached.

2. The position-sensing waking system of claim 1, wherein said system switch is turned off by rotating said ear plug in a second direction away from the maximum rotation position.

3. The position-sensing waking system of claim 1, wherein said alarm means includes:

a sound source for generating a sound signal,

a speaker for amplifying the sound signal to generate the alarm sound, and

a power source for supplying power to said sound source and said control circuit, said power source being permanently fixed inside said housing.

4. The position-sensing waking system of claim 1, wherein said ear plug has an opening disposed on a conical end thereof for transmitting the alarm sound.

5. The position-sensing waking system of claim 1, wherein said control circuit includes:

a chip mounted near one end portion of said housing for controlling said alarm means, said detection switch, and said system switch, and

connection means for electrically connecting said chip, said detection switch and said alarm means.

6. The position-sensing waking system of claim 1, wherein said detection switch includes either mercury bubbles or a metal ball, and further includes first and second contacts for connecting with said alarm means.

7. The position-sensing waking system of claim 1, wherein said ear plug has a cone shape.

8. The position-sensing waking system of claim 1, wherein said housing includes an indicator for indicating a position of said detection switch.

9. The position-sensing waking system of claim 8, wherein said indicator is a protrusion formed on the bottom outer surface of said housing.

10. The position-sensing waking system of claim 8, wherein said alarm sound is generated when said indicator is positioned at an angle ranging from approximately 30°

to approximately 45°

with respect to a vertical reference line from a center of the bottom surface of said housing.

11. The position-sensing waking system of claim 1, wherein said system switch includes a screw mechanism formed on an end portion of said ear plug and on an inner portion of said housing.

12. A position-sensing waking system comprising:

an ear plug for slidably inserting into an orifice of an ear;

a housing rotatably connected with said ear plug;

alarm means for generating an alarm sound;

a detection switch disposed inside said housing;

a control circuit for controlling said position-sensing waking system; and

a battery fixed to the housing for supplying power to said position-sensing waking system,

wherein said housing contains said alarm means, said detection switch, said control circuit and said battery, and

wherein said detection switch is activated according to a movement of the ear to generate the alarm sound by said alarm means.

13. The position-sensing waking system of claim 12, further comprising:

a system switch for turning on and off said position-sensing waking system, said system switch including a screw mechanism formed on an end portion of said ear plug and on an inner portion of said housing.

14. The position-sensing waking system of claim 13, wherein said system switch is turned on by rotating said ear plug into said housing until a maximum rotation position is reached.

15. The position-sensing waking system of claim 14, wherein said system switch is turned off by rotating said ear plug away from the maximum rotation position.

16. The position-sensing waking system of claim 12, wherein said housing includes an indicator for indicating a position of the detection switch inside said housing, and the detection switch contains either a metal ball or mercury bubbles.

17. The position-sensing waking system of claim 16, wherein said alarm sound is generated when said indicator is positioned at an angle ranging from approximately 30°

to approximately 45°

with respect to a vertical reference line from a center of the bottom surface of said housing.

18. A method of waking a person using a position-sensing alarm system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an ear plug rotatably connected to a housing, the housing having a sound source for generating an alarm sound, a detection switch, a system switch for controlling the alarm system, a power source, and a control circuit therein;

turning on the system switch by rotating said ear plug into said housing until a maximum rotation position is reached;

slidably inserting the ear plug into an orifice of an ear of the person; and

generating the alarm sound by activating the detection switch according to a movement of the ear.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said housing includes an indicator for indicating a position of the detection switch inside the housing.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the alarm sound is generated when the indicator is positioned at an angle ranging from approximately 30°

to approximately 45°

with respect to a vertical reference line from a center of the bottom surface of the housing.