GB2255206A - Automatic calender - Google Patents

Abstract

A calendar display includes a calendar grid having an aperture corresponding to each day square, and an LED projecting outwardly through each aperture, the grid being adapted to receive calendar pads with holes corresponding to the LED locations. Clock circuits illuminate the LED corresponding to the correct data. The circuits include switch means for setting the correct time and data and timing means for updating the time and date to illuminate the correct light emitting diode (LED). The grid has at least five rows of seven spaces. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: , AUTOMATIC CALENDAR Introduction In this highly competitive era, managing and keeping track of time, on a micro and macro scale, appears to be a daily routine, for many of us, at the workplace and in private life - using clocks/watches and calendars in the process.

Thanks to modern technological developments, consumers nowadays have a great selection of these timepieces to choose from in the marketplace.

Background Speaking in terms of design concepts, basically, there are two types of timekeeping devices in use: the analog type and the digital type.

The first type, as the terminology intimates, is based on the analog principle.

This principle to all intents and purposes, may be manifested through the example of an ordinary clock/watch, equipped with two or three progressively moving hands, each pointing to a specific numeral on dial, calibrated to 12 hours and 60 min./sec.

The second type is just a digital, direct readout device. This concept is utilized in the design of clocks/watches and calendars.

Pros and Cons of Existing Timepieces The overwhelming advantage of the analog type timepieces is that they provide countless number of correlated data, indicating time in relative terms, placed in perspective.

This provision, in fact, allows the user to visualize spent and unspent time, by looking at the dial and assessing or planning the events of the day accordingly.

In contrast, a digital display clock/watch and/or calendar presents a single data only. For example: 6:30 and/or Wed. 7 - not an iota more than that.

Need For A New Timepiece The fact that there is a genuine and pressing need for an analog calendar, that provides a daily updated set point on the classical calendar grid, is evident everywhere.

One can recite many dozens of scenarios yearly, as people in the workplace or even on live TV or radio programs, mistakenly write down or call out the date of the day.

Under certain circumstances a misconstrued date can have serious legal or financial ramifications, especially in the area of business planning or simply missing a crucial deadline of any sorts.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a front view of the calendar; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a table-top version of the invention; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a wall-mountable version of the invention; Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the electronic circuitry.

Description of a new timepiece The inventors, recognizing the need for an automatic analog calendar, have conceived such an electronic device.

The product resembles a traditional desk top or wall-mounted calendar. The front panel of the enclosure is equipped with an array of LEDs. The monthly calendar sheets are prepunched and laid over the front panel, thus allowing the LEDs to protrude from the surface of the calendar.

The device is energized by 115 VAC 60 Hz. Once the calendar is switched on and set, an LED will light up, indicating the actual date on the calendar grid. The change over from one day to the next one occurs with minute accuracy.

This automatic calendar is programmed to follow the pattern of the conventional calendar until the year 2,010 without the need for readjustment.

In case of power failure, up to one hour in duration, a built-in "No-Break" system will provide operational continuity.

The automatic calendar has three basic parts, namely the "electronic gear", the panel which carries the circuit board and other physical components, and the calendar sheets.

Electronic Gear The electronic gear is constructed by using a microcontroller, interfaced with three program switches and a 5 by 7 plus 2 matrix of LEDs.

The four segment digital display is complete with a colon symbol, and two temperature sensing elements are interfaced via an analog to digital converter.

The microcontroller is programmed to keep track of time and date, and to indicate the current date by illuminating the appropriate LED in the LED matrix.

The program switches are used to initiate and set the time and date.

Subsequently the four digit display and the 37 piece LED Grid, respectively indicate the following on a step-by step basis: TIME 14:32 CALENDAR YEAR 91 MONTH and DAY 03 20 WEEK DAY 04 WEEK 04 DATE 20 Also, the four digit display is programmed to provide indoor/outdoor temperature readings, using temperature sensors in the process.

Of course, the display can also be used or show either time or indoor or outdoor temperature permanently.

All components of the electronic gear are mounted on a printed circuit board.

Mechanical Elements The front/top/rear panel is fabricated as a single part formed to a "U" shape to facilitate the mounting of a printed circuit board, carrying all components of the electronic gear.

The side/bottom panel is also formed in a "U" shape to complement the front/top/rear panel, thus becoming an integral enclosure.

Calendar Sheets The calendar sheets are prepunched to allow the protrusion of 37 LEDs and the two mounting studs.

The sheets preferably are edge-coated with either adhesive and/or magnetic paste at the border lines to make the pad firm, compact and to prevent the curling of each individual sheet.

The correct date is indicated by the appropriate LED, i.e. the one which protrudes through the calendar pad for the correct date, being illuminated by the electronic circuitry.

Summary In summary, this calendar provides all the earlier disclosed advantages of an analog device, that is to say that it is equipped with a fail-safe setpoint, which is a unique feature.

One might add, that if properly presented to the marketplace, this product could become an automatic timepiece in many offices, shops and households.

The parts list for the preferred embodiment is on the following two pages.

ITEM SYMBOL QTY D E S C R I P T I O N MANUFACTURER PART NO. 1 1 Microcontroller Motorola MC68ilC705C8P 2 2 Peripheral Driver, Octal ULN2803A 3 1 Display Driver Motorola MC14499P 4 1 A/D Converter Motorola MC145041P2 5 1 Voltage Reg., 5V 1A Motorola MC78MO5CT 6 1 Op-Amp, Quad LM324N 7 2 Temperature Sensor Nat. Semi. LM335Z 8 2 Diode Schottky 1N5817 9 7 Transistor, PNP Motorola MPS6534 10 1 Transistor, Quad. Pack Motorola MPQ2222A 11 38 LED Len-Lite LLL-4223 12 2 7-Seg. Display Common Cathode Len-Lite ELD-6740P 13 2 Cap. Ceramic, 22pF 200V 14 1 Cap. Ceramic, 22nF 50V 15 5 Cap. Ceramic, .1uF 50V 16 17 18 1 Cap. Electro, Radial 47uF 10V min. 19 1 Cap. Electro, Radial 10uF 10V min. 20 4 Cap. Tantalum, Radial lOuF 10V min. 21 22 23 24 37 Res. Carbon 220 iW 25 1 Res. Carbon 470 kW 26 2 Res. Carbon 2.2K W 27 1 Res. Carbon 4.7K W 28 1 Res. Carbon 10M %W 29 30 2 Res. Var. Trim 2K Mallory MTC-23L1t

ITEM SYMBOL QTY D E S C R I P T I O N MANUFACTURER PART NO. 31 2 Res. Var. Trim 10K Mallory MTC-14L1A 32 1 Res. SIP BUSS 7x3.3K Dale 4114R-001-332 33 1 Res. SIP BUSS 7x470 Dale 4114R-001-332 34 35 36 2 Switch Miniature Momentary On Omron B3F-1050 37 1 Switch Miniature Momentary On Omron B3F-3152 38 3 Keycap Black Omron B32-1010 39 40 1 Battery Holder Coin Cell, 20mm MPD BH800 41 1 Battery Lithium Coin Cell, 20mm 42 43 1 Heat Sink Aavid 5070B 44 45 1- Crystal 2MHz 46 1 Power Pack 120 VAC f.8:5.VDC 350mA 47 48 1 I.C. Socket 40DIP Solder Type 49 50

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. An automatic calendar, comprising a panel adapted to carry a calendar grid having at least five rows of seven spaces, characterized by said panel having at least one aperture at the location of each said space, said panel having secured therebehind a circuit board having a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted thereon to project one through each of said apertures, and further characterized by electronic circuits on said circuit board adapted to illuminate one said light emitting diode corresponding to the correct date, said circuits including switch means for programming the correct time and date, said circuits further including timing means for updating said time and date to illuminate the correct light emitting diode.