GB2316774A

GB2316774A - Voice recording alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2316774A
Application number: GB9618005A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Chou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-08-29
Filing date: 1996-08-29
Publication date: 1998-03-04
Also published as: GB9618005D0; DE29615922U1

Abstract

An electronic memorandum for recording a users voice and replaying it at a preselected alarm time includes a capacitance microphone 60 which picks up a users voice, an analog-to-digital converter 50 which converts the analog signal from the capacitance microphone into a corresponding digital signal, a microprocessor 20 which receives and processes output data from converter, a memory 30 for saving all settings, a keyboard 10 connected to the microprocessor for data input, a display 40 connected to the microprocessor for data output, an amplifier 70 for increasing intensity of signal output from the microprocessor, and a loudspeaker connected 80 the microprocessor for voice output.

Description

TITLE: AN ELECTRONIN MEMORANDUM This invention relates to an improved electronic memorandum.

It has been found that the conventional memorandum is simply achieved by a scheduling program in a personal computer or by an alarm clock for arousing one's attention at a particular time. However, the former requires complicated procedures for data input and too bulky in volume thereby making it unfit for practical use, while the latter is too simple to provide other functions than ringing.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electronic memoradum which can obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

This invention relates to an electronic memorandum.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an electronic memorandum which can play back the speech recorded previously to arouse one's attention at preset time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic memorandum which is easy and convenient to use.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electronic memorandum which is simple in construction.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electronic memorandum which is fit for practical use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electronic memorandum which is low in cost.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of constructions and method, combination of elements, arrangement of parts and steps of the method which will be exemplified in the constructions and method hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of an electronic memorandum according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the electronic memorandum; FIG. 3 illustrates a hardware control flow chart of the electronic memorandum; FIG. 4 illustrates a time setting control flow chart of the electronic memorandum; FIG. 5 illustrates a speech alarm setting control flow chart of the electronic memorandum; and FIG. 6 illustrates a checking and changing mode control flow chart of the electronic memorandum.

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the electronic memorandum according to the present invention comprises a keyboard 10, a microprocessor 20, a flash memory 30, a display 40, an analog-to-digital converter 50 and other pheripheral circuits (not shown) which are connected together by data buses (not shown). The analog-to-digital converter 50 is connected to a capacitance microphone 60. The microprocessor 20 is connected to an amplifier 70 which is in turn connected to a loudspeaker 80.

The keyboard 10 is used for data and instructions input and the display 40 for showing input data the processing condition. The capacitance microphone 60 picks up the user's voice signal. The microprocessor 20 processes all data and instructions. The analog-to-digital converter 50 converts the analog signal from the capacitance microphone 10 into a corresponding digital signal. The microprocessor 20 receives and processes the output data of the analog-to-digital converter 50. All settings are stored in the flash memory 30. When desired to initiate speech alarm, the microprocessor 20 will send out a signal to the amplifier 70 for increasing its intensity which will in turn transmitted to the loudspeaker 80 for voice output.

The flash memory 30 can hold the data for a long period of time without power thereby making it unnecessary to worry about data loss in case of power failure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a hardware control flow chart of the electronic memorandum. As shown, after initiation, the flash memory 30 is first formatted by the microprocessor 20. Then, use the keyboard to set the correct time. The display 409 shows the input data and processing condition. The speech alarm is recorded after time is set. After the time setting and speech recording procedures, the data is stored in the flash memory 30.

The following flow will be maintained in waiting condition for instructions unless it is set, cleared, or changed by the speech alarm or only if the memory is full.

FIG. 4 illustrates a time setting control flow chart of the electronic memorandum. As illustrated, when the power is turned on and the keybutton "Time" is depressed for two seconds, the time setting control mode will be entered. By means of the keybutton "Prog" of the keyboard 10, the hour, minute, date, time zone and time system can be chosen as desired. Then, the day and time can be adjusted by the keybuttons "Skip" and "Rew". After setting, leave the sub-program and return to the main-program.

FIG. 5 illustrates a speech alarm setting control flow chart of the electronic memorandum. As can be seen, if the keybutton "Alarm" is depressed for two seconds in waiting condition for instructions , the speech alarm setting mode will be entered. Then, the time is set by pushing the keybuttons "Prog", "Skip" and "Rew". If desired to set the alarm in a single day mode, it is only necessary to use the keybutton "Prog" to select "day" and then use the keybuttons "Skip" and "Rew" to set the correct day and depress the keybutton "STOP" to confirm the setting. Thereafter, the keybutton "REC" is depressed to record speech alarm and then the keybutton "Stop" is depressed to confirm the setting.

If desired to set the speech alarm to work at the same time every day, depress the keybutton "Stop" to set in the daily mode after the time is correctly set.

Thereafter, record the desired speech alarm and then return to the main-program.

FIG. 6 illustrates a checking and changing mode control flow chart of the electronic memorandum. As illustrated, the keybutton "Alarm" is depressed under the waiting condition for instructions to enter the checking and changing mode. By means of the keybutton "Prog", the contents of settings and storage can be checked in sequence. When desired to change the time setting, simply depress the keybutton "Alarm" for two seconds and repeat the time setting control flow.

The invention is naturally not limited in any sense to the particular features specified in the forgoing or to the details of the particular embodiment which has been chosen in order to illustrate the invention. Consideration can be given to all kinds of variants of the particular embodiment which has been described by way of example and of its constituent elements without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. This invention accordingly includes all the means constituting technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electronic memorandum comprising: a hardware circuit including a capacitance microphone which picks up an user's voice signal, an analog-to-digital converter which converts analog signal from said capacitance microphone into a corresponding digital signal, a mircoprocessor which receives and processes output data of said analog-to-digital converter, a flash memory for saving all settings, a keyboard connected to said microprocessor for data input, a display connected to said microprocess for data output, an amplifier for increasing intensity of signal output from said microprocess, and a loudspeaker connected said microprocessor for voice output; hardware control flow wherein after initiation, said flash memory is first formatted by said microprocessor; said keyboard is used to set correct time; said display shows input data and processing condition; speech or alarm is recorded after said correct time is set; the input data is stored in said flash memory after time setting and speech recording procedures; following flow will be maintained at waiting condition for instructions unless it is set, cleared, or changed by the speech alarm or only if the memory is full; time setting control flow wherein when power is turned on and the keybutton "Time" is depressed for a predetemined period of time, the time setting control mode will be entered; by means of a keybutton "Prog" of said keyboard, hour, minute, date, time zone and time system can be selected as desired; day and time can be adjusted by keybuttons "Skip" and "Rew"; and sub-program is left and the main-program is returned after setting; speech alarm setting control flow wherein if a keybutton "Alarm" is depressed for a predetermined period of time in waiting condition for instructions; the speech alarm setting mode will be entered and the time is set by pushing the keybuttons "Prog", "Skip" and "Rew"; if desired to set the alarm in a single day mode, the keybutton "Prog" is pushed to select "day" and the keybuttons "Skip" and "Rew" pushed to set correct day and a keybutton "STOP" is depressed to confirm the setting; thereafter, the keybutton "REC" is depressed to record speech alarm and then the keybutton "Stop" is depressed to confirm the setting; if desired to set the speech alarm to work at the same time every day, the keybutton "Stop" is pushed to set in daily mode after the time is correctly set; thereafter, desired speech alarm is recorded and then the main-program is returned; and a checking and changing mode control flow wherein the keybutton "Alarm" is depressed under waiting condition for instructions to enter the checking and changing mode and by means of the keybutton "Prog", the contents of settings and storage can be checked in sequence; when desired to change the time setting, the keybutton "Alarm" is depressed for a predetermined period of time and the time setting control flow is repeated.