Programmable event reminder apparatus

• US 5,097,429 A
• Filed: 04/23/1990
• Issued: 03/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beckhusen, Fred K., Marc B. Wood, Michael D. Masterton
• Original Assignee: Beckhusen, Fred K., Marc B. Wood, Michael D. Masterton
• Inventors: Beckhusen, Fred K., Masterton, Michael D., Wood, Marc B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MELNICK, STEVEN A
• Application Number:
  US07/513,436
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 364/569, 364/413.02, 368/247, 368/246, 368/109, 368/113, 368/70, 368/10, 221/2
• US Class Current: 702/177
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times

Abstract

A programmable event reminder apparatus is housed in a "pocket-sized" casing and includes a microcomputer for processing selected parameters representing a plurality of events and the times at which the events are scheduled to occur. The microcomputer keeps track of the actual time and generates an alarm signal at the time that each of the programmed events is scheduled to occur. The apparatus includes a visual display, whereby the particular event and the scheduled time of the event are displayed when the alarm signal is generated. A current alarm signal will continue until it is disabled by the user. The alarm signals corresponding to subsequently scheduled events will be at least temporarily disabled until the current alarm signal is disabled by the user, such that the user will not be reminded of subsequent events until the current alarm signal is acknowledged by the user. The apparatus further includes user-controllable switches for entering the selected parameters and for controlling the apparatus to display selected information relating to the data programmed into the apparatus. For example, the user can call up on the display the time parameters relating to a particular event in chronological sequence, which gives the user a quick indication of how the apparatus has been previously programmed. The user can also remind himself of when the next event is scheduled to occur by displaying the next event and the scheduled time thereof. The event reminder apparatus according to the present invention is particularly well-suited for use as a medication prompting device to alert the user that a particular medication is due to be taken at a particular time.

Claims

1. A programmable event reminder apparatus, comprising in combination:

user-controllable input means for entering selected parameters corresponding to a plurality of discrete events into said apparatus, said selected parameters including an event parameter identifying each event and a time parameter indicating a preset elapsed time relative to a predetermined reference time at which each event is scheduled to occur;

memory means for storing said selected parameters;

timekeeping means for measuring elapsed time relative to the predetermined reference time;

alarm means for generating a discrete alarm signal for each event, each discrete alarm signal identifying a corresponding event and the preset elapsed time relative to the predetermined reference time at which the corresponding event is scheduled to occur;

control means responsive to said selected parameters and elapsed time measured by said timekeeping means for controlling said alarm means to generate a particular discrete alarm signal when the measured elapsed time corresponds to the preset elapsed time of a particular event;

user-controllable means for disabling said alarm means from generating said particular discrete alarm signal; and

means for automatically disabling said alarm means from generating the discrete alarm signals corresponding to selected events which are scheduled to occur after the particular event until said particular discrete alarm signal is disabled by said user-controllable means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said time parameter represents a predetermined clock time, said timekeeping means for keeping track of the current time of day on a twenty-four hour basis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said time parameter represents a particular day of the week and a particular time of day, said timekeeping means for keeping track of the current day of the week and time of day.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said event represents particular medication to be taken by a user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including display means for providing a visual indication of the particular event and the preset elapsed time at which the event is scheduled to occur when said particular discrete alarm signal is generated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input means includes switch means for selecting a mode of operation of said apparatus, said apparatus having a programming mode in which said selected parameters are entered into said apparatus and an operating mode in which said apparatus is responsive to said selected parameters for reminding a user when each event is scheduled to occur.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including usercontrollable switch means for controlling the apparatus to identify the next scheduled event and the time parameter corresponding thereto when the apparatus is in the operating mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further including means for storing the events in chronological sequence and means for indicating to the user the time parameter corresponding to each event in chronological sequence when the apparatus is in the programming mode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said selected events correspond to the events scheduled to occur after the particular event during a particular twenty-four hour day, said means for automatically disabling said alarm means permanently disabling said alarm means from generating the discrete alarm signal for each event scheduled during a particular twenty-four hour period for which the corresponding discrete alarm signal is not generated during that particular twenty-four hour period.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each discrete alarm signal includes an audible signal and a visual signal identifying the corresponding event and the time parameter of the corresponding event, said audible signal being generated intermittently until said alarm signal is disabled, said visual signal being generated continuously until said alarm signal is disabled.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the time parameter corresponding to each event indicates the time of day at which the corresponding event is scheduled to occur.