CA2039671A1 - Method for generating an attention attracting signal - Google Patents
Method for generating an attention attracting signalInfo
- Publication number
- CA2039671A1 CA2039671A1 CA002039671A CA2039671A CA2039671A1 CA 2039671 A1 CA2039671 A1 CA 2039671A1 CA 002039671 A CA002039671 A CA 002039671A CA 2039671 A CA2039671 A CA 2039671A CA 2039671 A1 CA2039671 A1 CA 2039671A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- state
- signal
- states
- time period
- generating
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B5/00—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
- G08B5/22—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G08B5/36—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
- G08B5/38—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources using flashing light
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
- G08G1/095—Traffic lights
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
- H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
- H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
- H05B47/165—Controlling the light source following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
- Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)
- Audible And Visible Signals (AREA)
- Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A signal with several in timely sequence repeatedly occurring states is generated. In order to avoid an attention reduced by habit of an observer, the duration during which at least one of the states occurs is determined by a circuit each time randomly or pseudorandomly. The random duration may be limited by selectable upper and/or lower limits.
A signal with several in timely sequence repeatedly occurring states is generated. In order to avoid an attention reduced by habit of an observer, the duration during which at least one of the states occurs is determined by a circuit each time randomly or pseudorandomly. The random duration may be limited by selectable upper and/or lower limits.
Description
2~3~7 1.
( 4 5 2 2 9 a ) ~El~IOI) YOR G~RATI2~& A~ ~TTE2~IO~ ATT~CTI~G
SI~
The inventia~ relates to a method for generating an attention attracting signal provided as a sequence of different signal periods of a signal generator.
It is known to make attention attrac~ing signals perceptible either by a sta~ic or by a peri~di d.Lspl~y~ One o~
~hese two me~hod~ is generall-y usedt r~gardl2s5 wheth~r ~he dispLay i5 effected mechanically (by pointers, needles, colox discs etc.) acoustlcally (by ~uzzers, whis~les, bells) or opticall~ (by warning lights, warning flashers, especially traffic lights, or by a ligh-t buoy or lighthouse signal). Such displays ser~e their purpose well as long as a professional watchfulness ~f the persons ~ddressed by the siqnal can be acco~nted for. Where a reduced watchfulness i5 possi~le, a periodically fla~hing display i~ ge~erally used (e.g. yellow .
flashing lights for traffic lights or red f~ashing alarm li~hts in the case of hazardous machinery). In ever repeating situa-kions, which therefore are partly losing their alarming charac-ter, a periodical signal may lead to a habit and accordingly, the signal may be disregarded. The problem may be known to many users of alarm clocks generating an alarm signal repeating in fixed intervals. ~ similar problem occurs with systems for traffic guiding and warning, especially in heavy populated areas, where such guiding and warning displays are numerous.
There is the danger that these displays are overlooked from time to time, especially when there is only little traffic or when traffic is slow.
Hence, it i5 a general object o:E the presen-t inven~
tion to provide a method oE generating a signal that counter acts this habitual effect. Now, .in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the method is manifested by the features of the claims.
The invention will be better understoad and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when con 2~3~B'7~
sideration is given to the following de~ailed description ~hereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:
Figures la, lb show timing diagrams of two embodi-ments of the invention;
Figure 2 shows the timing diagram of another embod-iment;
Figure 3 shows a block diagram of a circuit for effecting the invention; and Figure 4 shows par~.ially a flow chart for controlling the circuit of Figure 3.
In the -following description the term "random sequence or pseudorandom se~uence" i9 subst.ituted by the simpls term ~random~. For more details on xandom or p~eudorandom sequences, see e.g. U. ~'ietze and Ch. Schenk, "Halbleiter Schaltungstechnik", Springer 1976.
Figure 1 shows the timing diagram of a preferred simple embodiment of the invention, where only two different states of the signal generator are generated. This may be e.g.
the light and the dark state of a yellow traffic lisht. The two states may be as well two different intensities of a light signal of any color, e.g. for railways~ or may cons~itu~e the states "alarm" and ~'silence'- of an alarm clock or two different .
' .
2 ~
sounds of a siren. In the diagram the states are designated as O (zero) and 1 (one~, although the states are not limited to an ~l~ff" and "onl~ state, respectively. Tha states designated as O
and 1 may eOg. belong to an intensive and to a weak pha~e of a single signal lamp. The states may further express the states of a light changing from yellow to orange color and vice versa or they may relate to the lighting of two adjacent lamps of the same color. The abscissa in the diagram shows the time t.
In the example of Figure la, the shortest duration of the state 1 is limited by a selected fixed value A at each occurrence of the state 1. A random time B1, B2, B3... is added to A at each occurrence of the state 1. ~enerally, the duration of the added random time is limited, the limit being depicted as Bo in Figure la. Contrary to ~he state 1, the state O is set in Figure la at a selected but fîxed value R.
In the example of Figure lb, both state~ have a selectable minimum duration A and R, respect.ively, to which a random duxation Bi and Si, respectively, is added, which is limited in duration by the selectable values Bo and SO, respec-tively.
Of course, se~eral other combinations of limited and/or unlimited tim~ sequences other than those described in Figures la, lb are possible. For example, a~ter a fixadly or randomly set number of chan~es of state (or after a certain time) a limi~ed number of states with fixed duration may be inserted if this is preferred.
2~
Fig. 2 shows the timing diagram of a signal genera-tor with four s~ates. light green, dark green, light red, dark red. Always, a pair of light and dark states o-f one color changes to a like pair of states of the other color. To sim-plify the example, all pairs of states of the kind "green" have the same duration G and all of the kind "red" have the same duration R, although this naturally is not necessary. Within each pair, the duration of the first state Hi and Si, respec-tively, is randomly selected between æero and the maximum value G and R, respectively. The attention of an obser~er is directed in this way predominantly on this signal - without changing the color of the optical signal. A limitation to only one color, generally the color red, is possible.
The signal sequences described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 may be ~enerated by a circuit as shown schemati-cally as a block diagram in Fig. 3. A c0ntral procsssi.ng unlt (CPU) i5 powered by a power sllpply (not shown). The processlng unit is connected to a memory unit 2 including ROM and RAM
memory. The central processing unit acts accordin~ to the program contained in the memory. The signal sequences are accordingly generated by the processing unit and are fed to an interface 3. The signals are then fed via driviny circuits 4a, 4~ adapted to drive a lamp or a horn, respectively, to the signal lamp 5 and the signal horn 6. The processing unit 1 is programmed to maintain a certain state of the lamp and/or the horn during a time period determined pseudorandomly.
' .
6 ~ ~ 3 ~
Figure 4 shows a simplified flow chart of the program path for generating a signal with two alternately occurring states ON and OFF. Each duration of the signal ON
consists of a fixed duration tBE plus a variable part tVE; each duration of the signal OFF consis~s of a fixed duration tBA and a variable part tVA. The flowchart of Fig. 4 shows a closed loop for alternately generating the signals ON and OFF, which have a random duration within two limits. Of course, in a working program, there are program branches for initializing and for the regular break-off o the process (not shown in Fig.
4) as well as o-ther service rou-tines.
Appendix A shows a program written in the language C for generating the signals and displa~ing them on the screen of a personal computer.
While there are shown and described prese.nt pre-ferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctl~
understood that the invention is not limited thereto, bu-t may be otherwise variously emboclied arld practiced wi.thin the scope o the following claims.
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( 4 5 2 2 9 a ) ~El~IOI) YOR G~RATI2~& A~ ~TTE2~IO~ ATT~CTI~G
SI~
The inventia~ relates to a method for generating an attention attracting signal provided as a sequence of different signal periods of a signal generator.
It is known to make attention attrac~ing signals perceptible either by a sta~ic or by a peri~di d.Lspl~y~ One o~
~hese two me~hod~ is generall-y usedt r~gardl2s5 wheth~r ~he dispLay i5 effected mechanically (by pointers, needles, colox discs etc.) acoustlcally (by ~uzzers, whis~les, bells) or opticall~ (by warning lights, warning flashers, especially traffic lights, or by a ligh-t buoy or lighthouse signal). Such displays ser~e their purpose well as long as a professional watchfulness ~f the persons ~ddressed by the siqnal can be acco~nted for. Where a reduced watchfulness i5 possi~le, a periodically fla~hing display i~ ge~erally used (e.g. yellow .
flashing lights for traffic lights or red f~ashing alarm li~hts in the case of hazardous machinery). In ever repeating situa-kions, which therefore are partly losing their alarming charac-ter, a periodical signal may lead to a habit and accordingly, the signal may be disregarded. The problem may be known to many users of alarm clocks generating an alarm signal repeating in fixed intervals. ~ similar problem occurs with systems for traffic guiding and warning, especially in heavy populated areas, where such guiding and warning displays are numerous.
There is the danger that these displays are overlooked from time to time, especially when there is only little traffic or when traffic is slow.
Hence, it i5 a general object o:E the presen-t inven~
tion to provide a method oE generating a signal that counter acts this habitual effect. Now, .in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the method is manifested by the features of the claims.
The invention will be better understoad and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when con 2~3~B'7~
sideration is given to the following de~ailed description ~hereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:
Figures la, lb show timing diagrams of two embodi-ments of the invention;
Figure 2 shows the timing diagram of another embod-iment;
Figure 3 shows a block diagram of a circuit for effecting the invention; and Figure 4 shows par~.ially a flow chart for controlling the circuit of Figure 3.
In the -following description the term "random sequence or pseudorandom se~uence" i9 subst.ituted by the simpls term ~random~. For more details on xandom or p~eudorandom sequences, see e.g. U. ~'ietze and Ch. Schenk, "Halbleiter Schaltungstechnik", Springer 1976.
Figure 1 shows the timing diagram of a preferred simple embodiment of the invention, where only two different states of the signal generator are generated. This may be e.g.
the light and the dark state of a yellow traffic lisht. The two states may be as well two different intensities of a light signal of any color, e.g. for railways~ or may cons~itu~e the states "alarm" and ~'silence'- of an alarm clock or two different .
' .
2 ~
sounds of a siren. In the diagram the states are designated as O (zero) and 1 (one~, although the states are not limited to an ~l~ff" and "onl~ state, respectively. Tha states designated as O
and 1 may eOg. belong to an intensive and to a weak pha~e of a single signal lamp. The states may further express the states of a light changing from yellow to orange color and vice versa or they may relate to the lighting of two adjacent lamps of the same color. The abscissa in the diagram shows the time t.
In the example of Figure la, the shortest duration of the state 1 is limited by a selected fixed value A at each occurrence of the state 1. A random time B1, B2, B3... is added to A at each occurrence of the state 1. ~enerally, the duration of the added random time is limited, the limit being depicted as Bo in Figure la. Contrary to ~he state 1, the state O is set in Figure la at a selected but fîxed value R.
In the example of Figure lb, both state~ have a selectable minimum duration A and R, respect.ively, to which a random duxation Bi and Si, respectively, is added, which is limited in duration by the selectable values Bo and SO, respec-tively.
Of course, se~eral other combinations of limited and/or unlimited tim~ sequences other than those described in Figures la, lb are possible. For example, a~ter a fixadly or randomly set number of chan~es of state (or after a certain time) a limi~ed number of states with fixed duration may be inserted if this is preferred.
2~
Fig. 2 shows the timing diagram of a signal genera-tor with four s~ates. light green, dark green, light red, dark red. Always, a pair of light and dark states o-f one color changes to a like pair of states of the other color. To sim-plify the example, all pairs of states of the kind "green" have the same duration G and all of the kind "red" have the same duration R, although this naturally is not necessary. Within each pair, the duration of the first state Hi and Si, respec-tively, is randomly selected between æero and the maximum value G and R, respectively. The attention of an obser~er is directed in this way predominantly on this signal - without changing the color of the optical signal. A limitation to only one color, generally the color red, is possible.
The signal sequences described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 may be ~enerated by a circuit as shown schemati-cally as a block diagram in Fig. 3. A c0ntral procsssi.ng unlt (CPU) i5 powered by a power sllpply (not shown). The processlng unit is connected to a memory unit 2 including ROM and RAM
memory. The central processing unit acts accordin~ to the program contained in the memory. The signal sequences are accordingly generated by the processing unit and are fed to an interface 3. The signals are then fed via driviny circuits 4a, 4~ adapted to drive a lamp or a horn, respectively, to the signal lamp 5 and the signal horn 6. The processing unit 1 is programmed to maintain a certain state of the lamp and/or the horn during a time period determined pseudorandomly.
' .
6 ~ ~ 3 ~
Figure 4 shows a simplified flow chart of the program path for generating a signal with two alternately occurring states ON and OFF. Each duration of the signal ON
consists of a fixed duration tBE plus a variable part tVE; each duration of the signal OFF consis~s of a fixed duration tBA and a variable part tVA. The flowchart of Fig. 4 shows a closed loop for alternately generating the signals ON and OFF, which have a random duration within two limits. Of course, in a working program, there are program branches for initializing and for the regular break-off o the process (not shown in Fig.
4) as well as o-ther service rou-tines.
Appendix A shows a program written in the language C for generating the signals and displa~ing them on the screen of a personal computer.
While there are shown and described prese.nt pre-ferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctl~
understood that the invention is not limited thereto, bu-t may be otherwise variously emboclied arld practiced wi.thin the scope o the following claims.
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Claims (10)
1. Method for generating an attention attracting signal provided as a sequence of different states of a signal generator, each being maintained for a time period, wherein the time period of at least one state is at least sometimes deter-mined randomly or pseudorandomly.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said time period is determined randomly or pseudorandomly at each occur-rence of the state.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein exactly two different states are generated.
4. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the time period of at least one state is limited by a selected minimum value.
5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the time period of at least one state is limited by a maximum value.
6. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein said signal generator is generating optical signals.
7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said signal generator is generating acoustic signals.
8. Use of the method according to claim 1 to traffic lights or railway signal lights, wherein said states are lighter and darker phases of at least one of the colors from the group green, yellow, red.
9. Method according to claims 3 and 8, wherein one of both states is the yellow phase of a traffic light and the other state is the darker phase of the same traffic light.
10. Use of the method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said darker phase is the unlit state.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH1260/90A CH678462A5 (en) | 1990-04-04 | 1990-04-04 | |
| CH1260/90-5 | 1990-04-04 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2039671A1 true CA2039671A1 (en) | 1991-10-05 |
Family
ID=4206232
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002039671A Abandoned CA2039671A1 (en) | 1990-04-04 | 1991-04-03 | Method for generating an attention attracting signal |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0450426A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH04227596A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2039671A1 (en) |
| CH (1) | CH678462A5 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2014204897A1 (en) * | 2013-06-17 | 2014-12-24 | Brancaccio Richard Michael | Device and method for attention and focus acquisition and maintenance |
| CN107432061A (en) * | 2015-02-17 | 2017-12-01 | 飞利浦灯具控股公司 | Lighting device |
| US11191433B2 (en) | 2018-02-17 | 2021-12-07 | Revibe Technologies, Inc. | Apparatus and method for a personalized reminder with intelligent self-monitoring |
| US11583209B2 (en) | 2018-02-17 | 2023-02-21 | Revibe Technologies, Inc. | System and method for a personalized reminder with intelligent self-monitoring |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102005059492A1 (en) * | 2005-12-13 | 2007-06-14 | Dirk Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jansen | Randomly distributed light pattern generating method for e.g. advertising application, has battery, where random sequences are dimensioned such that light pulse pattern is generated and pattern is unforeseeable for observer |
| DE102007052377B4 (en) * | 2007-10-31 | 2015-04-02 | Werma Holding Gmbh + Co. Kg | Warning light for visual display of at least one operating state |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2381075A1 (en) * | 1977-02-18 | 1978-09-15 | Lille Communaute Urbaine | Microprocessor operated traffic lights control system - has memory with TTL command circuit with interchangeable cards defining sequences |
| US4227174A (en) * | 1978-03-30 | 1980-10-07 | Robert A. Belcher | Distress/hazard signal flasher |
| FR2587821A1 (en) * | 1985-09-24 | 1987-03-27 | Bethry Michel | Presence simulator for a temporarily unoccupied premises and network of such simulators |
| DE3812144A1 (en) * | 1988-04-12 | 1989-10-26 | Siemens Ag | Circuit arrangement for emitting acoustic alarm signals for alarm signalling systems |
-
1990
- 1990-04-04 CH CH1260/90A patent/CH678462A5/de not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1991
- 1991-03-22 EP EP91104512A patent/EP0450426A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1991-04-03 CA CA002039671A patent/CA2039671A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-04-04 JP JP3071809A patent/JPH04227596A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2014204897A1 (en) * | 2013-06-17 | 2014-12-24 | Brancaccio Richard Michael | Device and method for attention and focus acquisition and maintenance |
| EP3010573A1 (en) * | 2013-06-17 | 2016-04-27 | Richard Michael Brancaccio | Device and method for attention and focus acquisition and maintenance |
| EP3010573A4 (en) * | 2013-06-17 | 2017-04-05 | Richard Michael Brancaccio | Device and method for attention and focus acquisition and maintenance |
| US10624590B2 (en) | 2013-06-17 | 2020-04-21 | Richard Michael Brancaccio | Device and method for attention and focus acquisition and maintenance |
| CN107432061A (en) * | 2015-02-17 | 2017-12-01 | 飞利浦灯具控股公司 | Lighting device |
| US11191433B2 (en) | 2018-02-17 | 2021-12-07 | Revibe Technologies, Inc. | Apparatus and method for a personalized reminder with intelligent self-monitoring |
| US11583209B2 (en) | 2018-02-17 | 2023-02-21 | Revibe Technologies, Inc. | System and method for a personalized reminder with intelligent self-monitoring |
| US11877822B2 (en) | 2018-02-17 | 2024-01-23 | Revibe Technologies, Inc. | Apparatus and method for a personalized reminder with intelligent self-monitoring |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH04227596A (en) | 1992-08-17 |
| EP0450426A1 (en) | 1991-10-09 |
| CH678462A5 (en) | 1991-09-13 |
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