Timer device for use in an audio/visual presentation

• US 7,379,393 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Morykwas, Phillip R. Merkey
• Original Assignee: Michael Morykwas, Phillip R. Merkey
• Inventors: Merkey, Phillip R., Morykwas, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska; Vit W
• Application Number:
  US10/266,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,059 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/79, 368/223, 368/278, 235/377, 353/40, 353/122, 353/DIG.3, 359/436, 359/443, 359/449, 359/450
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/00 Visual time or date indication means
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0058 using a cathode ray tube as display device displaying supplementary informative, e.g. time on TV screen H04N5/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

The present invention provides a time tracking device comprising a display incorporated into a housing of a projector, a control pad, and a power source. The time tracking device can provide a presenter with the ability to track the elapsed time of a presentation. The time tracking device is further capable of being projected onto a viewing screen using the light source and lens of the projector device. The device comprises a control pad which controls the functions of the timer device, such as on/off, start, stop, pause, reset, mode, illumination, and time of day. The present invention also provides a presentation timer comprising a presentation timer program module and an input control module operable for controlling timer functions associated with the presentation timer program module.

Claims

1. A time tracking device comprising:

a time display device incorporated into a portion of the light stage of a projector, the light stage positioned in a housing surface of the projector and including usable space for the displaying of images, wherein the time display device displays a readout, and wherein the readout of the time display device is capable of being projected by the projector;

a control pad incorporated into a housing of the projector, wherein the control pad controls the readout and the functions of the time tracking device; and

a power source, wherein the power source supplies power to the control pad and display device.

2. The time tracking device of claim 1, wherein the control pad comprises one or more feature keys comprising at least one of the following:

power on, power off, start timer, stop timer, pause timer, reset timer, timer mode, display on, display off, and control pad illumination.

3. The time tracking device of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises an analog timer readout display.

4. The time tracking device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a digital timer readout display.

5. The time tracking device of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises at least one of the following:

a plurality of solar panels, a battery, a connection of the time tracking device to the circuitry of the projector, and any combination of the solar panels, battery, and circuitry.

6. The time tracking device of claim 1, wherein the projector comprises at least one of the following;

an overhead projector, a slide projector, a projector connected to a computer, and any other projector capable of displaying information onto a screen using a light source and a lens.

7. The time tracking device of claim 1, further comprising:

an audible alarm, wherein the audible alarm may be programmed to sound at any predetermined time period or interval.

8. The time tracking device of claim 1, further comprising:

a visual alarm, wherein the visual alarm alerts a presenter and the audience at a predetermined time selected by the presenter.

9. The time tracking device of claim 1, wherein the projector further comprises a remote control unit and a second control pad incorporated into the remote control unit, wherein the second control pad controls the readout and the functions of the time tracking device.

10. The time tracking device of claim 1, wherein the power source is connected to the power circuitry of the projector, such that the time tracking device is capable of cutting the power supply to an illumination device in the projector.

11. A time tracking device comprising:

a time display device incorporated into a portion of a light stage of an overhead projector, the light stage positioned in a housing surface of the projector and including usable space for the displaying of images, wherein the time display device displays a readout, wherein the readout of the time display device is capable of being projected by a light source from within a housing of the projector, and wherein the light source emits light that directly passes through the time display device;

a control pad incorporated into a housing of the projector, wherein the control pad controls the readout and the functions of the time tracking device; and

a power source, wherein the power source supplies power to the control pad and display device.

12. The time tracking device of claim 11, wherein the control pad comprises one or more feature keys comprising at least one of the following:

power on, power off, start timer, stop timer, pause timer, reset timer, timer mode, display on, display off, and control pad illumination.

13. The time tracking device of claim 11, further comprising:

an audible alarm, wherein the audible alarm may be programmed to sound at any predetermined time period or interval.

14. The time tracking device of claim 11, further comprising:

a visual alarm, wherein the visual alarm alerts a presenter and the audience at a predetermined time selected by the presenter.

15. The time tracking device of claim 11, wherein the projector further comprises a remote control unit and a second control pad incorporated into the remote control unit, wherein the second control pad controls the readout and the functions of the time tracking device.

16. An overhead projector incorporating a time tracking device comprising:

a housing surface, wherein the housing surface comprises a light stage for the displaying of images;

a time display device incorporated into the portion of a light stage of the overhead projector, wherein the time display device displays a readout, wherein the readout of the time display device is capable of being projected by a light source from within a housing of the projector, and wherein the light source emits light that directly passes through the time display device;

a control pad incorporated into a housing of the projector, wherein the control pad controls the readout and the functions of the time tracking device; and

a power source, wherein the power source supplies power to the control pad and display device.

17. The overhead projector of claim 16, wherein the readout is capable of being read by a presenter viewing the housing.

18. The overhead projector of claim 16, wherein the displaying of images comprises utilizing transparencies.