Thermal alarm clock

• US 7,106,662 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phillip F. Acker Jr
• Original Assignee: Phillip F. Acker Jr
• Inventors: Acker, Phillip F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld, Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hinze, Leo T.
• Application Number:
  US10/649,620
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368 71- 74, 368/243, 368/244, 368/250, 219/212, 219/258
• US Class Current: 368/73
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 25/02 by feeling; Clocks or watches for blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/02 at preselected times, e.g. alarm clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/00 Time-pieces comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time intervals G04G11/00, G04G13/00 take precedence; electronic timers G04F1/005; pulse delay circuits H03K5/13; electronic time-delay switches H03K17/28; electronic time-programme switches which automatically terminate their operation after the programme is completed H03K17/296

Abstract

A thermal alarm clock including an alarm clock controller that activates a heating device to wake a slumbering person. The thermal alarm clock incorporates traditional alarm, clock, and radio functions as well. The heating device is located adjacent a sleeping person and can be activated with, or instead of, an audible alarm. A slumbering person will be gently awakened by the heat of the device instead of the jarring sound from an audible alarm clock. The thermal alarm clock is also effective at waking a single person from a plurality of sleepers and is effective for users with special needs, such as the hearing impaired or blind. In one embodiment, the thermal alarm clock incorporates sensors and circuitry to monitor a user'"'"'s presence.

Claims

1. An alarm clock comprising:

an alarm clock controller electrically connected to an electrical power source;

at least one electrical connector electrically coupled to the alarm clock controller;

at least one sensor operable to detect a presence of a user;

logic for monitoring the at least one sensor;

logic for recording a time between an activation of the at least one electrical connector and a detected absence of the user; and

logic for adjusting an activation time of the at least one electrical connector wherein said alarm clock controller includes a circuit operable to switch electricity on and off to the at least one electrical connector, and wherein the adjustment to the activation time is based on a function of the recorded time.

2. The alarm clock of claim 1, further comprising a heat level controller electrically connected to the alarm clock controller and the at least one electrical connector.

3. The alarm clock of claim 2, wherein the heat level controller is adjustable to vary a flow of electricity to the at least one electrical connector when the electricity is switched on to the at least one electrical connector.

4. The alarm clock of claim 1, further comprising at least one heating device electrically coupled to the at least one electrical connector.

5. The alarm clock of claim 4, wherein the at least one heating device includes at least one of a heating pad or an electrically heated blanket.

6. The alarm clock of claim 4, wherein the heating device further includes one or more electrical switches operable to connect electricity to corresponding one or more zones of the heating device.

7. The alarm clock of claim 1, wherein the alarm clock controller includes a circuit to manually switch the at least one electrical connector for a period of time.

8. The alarm clock of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical connector is deactivated when the user is not present.

9. The alarm clock of claim 1, wherein:

the function is an average time a user wakes after the activation of the at least one electrical connector.

10. A thermal alarm clock comprising:

an alarm clock controller;

a heat level controller in electrical connection with the alarm clock controller;

at least one heating device electrically connected to the alarm clock controller;

at least one sensor operable to detect a presence of a user;

logic for monitoring the at least one sensor;

logic for recording a time between the activation of the at least one heating device and the absence of a user;

logic for adjusting the activation time of the at least one heating device; and

wherein said alarm clock controller activates and deactivates said at least one heating device by switching electricity on and off to said at least one heating device, and wherein the adjustment to the activation time is based on a function of the recorded time.

11. The thermal alarm clock of claim 10, wherein the at least one heating device wherein the at least one heating device includes at least one of a heating pad or an electrically heated blanket.

12. The thermal alarm clock of claim 10, wherein the heating device further includes one or more electrical switches operable to connect electricity to corresponding one or more zones of the heating device.

13. The thermal alarm clock of claim 10, wherein the heat level controller includes a circuit operable to variably adjust a flow of electrical power to the at least one heating device when the alarm clock controller activates the at least one heating device.

14. The thermal alarm clock of claim 10, wherein the alarm clock controller includes a circuit to manually activate the at least one heating device for a period of time.

15. The thermal alarm clock of claim 10 wherein the at least one heating device is deactivated when the user is not present.

16. The thermal alarm clock of claim 10, wherein

the function is an average time a user wakes after the activation of the at least one heating device.

17. The thermal alarm clock of claim 10, wherein the alarm clock controller includes at least one electrical connector and the at least one heating device is electrically connected to the alarm clock controller through the at least one electrical connector.

18. A method for waking a user comprising:

selecting an initial activation time in an alarm clock controller;

detecting a presence of a user;

selecting a wake time occurring after the initial activation time;

recording a time between the initial activation time and a detected absence of the user;

activating at least one heating device at the in initial activation time, the at least one heating device being electrically coupled to the alarm clock controller; and

automatically selecting a subsequent activation time of the at least one heating device based on a function of the time.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one heating device includes at least one of a heating pad or an electrically heated blanket.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the heating device includes a plurality of electrical switches operable to connect electricity to corresponding zones of the heating device.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising varying a flow of electricity to the at least one heating device when the alarm clock controller activates the at least one heating device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one heating device is activated for a preselected period of time at the initial activation time.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising manually activating the at least one heating device for a preselected period of time.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one heating device is deactivated if the user is not present.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein

automatically selecting a subsequent activation time of the at least one heating device the function of the time is an average of the time between the activation time and the detected absence of the user.