EP3879355A1 - Time elapsed display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-part time lapse display device (1) comprising at least one display section (11) in the course of the time lapse display device (1) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) so that light in the visible spectral range can penetrate through the housing jacket (110) is to be created, which can be read in a simplified manner. This is achieved in that the multi-part time lapse display device (1) is designed as a hollow cylinder or hollow truncated cone, comprises electronics (100) which are operatively connected to lighting means (111) arranged in the interior of the display section (11) in such a way that the time lapse display device (1 ) As a software-controlled device, a time-varying light emission in brightness and / or light wavelength (λ) is enabled by software controlled by the microcontroller (102) to the outside of the multi-part timing display device (1) radially away from the longitudinal axis (L), with a light animation process up to to a target event with emitted light of increasing wavelength, coupled to the remaining time until the target result and an optical and / or acoustic information of the user when the target event is reached is programmed and is microcontroller-controlled.

Description

Technical area

The present invention describes a multi-part timing display device comprising a housing jacket and at least one display section in the course of the timing display device in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the display section being designed to be sufficiently transparent so that light in the visible spectral range can be emitted from the display section, as well as a method for setting a target event and for operating a Timing indicator.

State of the art

Time lapse display devices according to the present application are devices which display a remaining time to be awaited until a target event in the future. The current time is to be displayed in the course of a time interval or a period of time up to a target event. The classic example is an hourglass. This has a multi-part housing in which a limited amount of sand migrates from one chamber into a second chamber, whereby the time of the approaching target event can be estimated from the current fill level of the sand in the first chamber and in the second chamber. The user knows that the target event has only been reached when the sand has completely trickled out of the first chamber.

Today one could simulate such a timing display device with a smartphone. Usually an app is used which can be set in such a way that a time remaining until a target event is set and then a clock that runs backwards is displayed. The user can take part in the currently expiring Read off the remaining time until the target event and how long he has to wait until the target event.

While the hourglass is too imprecise and inflexible to use, certain user groups do not get along with the operation and reading of smartphone screens and the small numbers displayed on them. If you think of children who can neither read clocks nor assess the temporal significance of a period of time, then it becomes clear that there must be an improved way of being able to program, display and read off the remaining times up to a target event as simply as possible. Elderly people also often have trouble estimating the remaining time until the target event. But the setting options of a time lapse display device must also be improved. The end of brushing teeth or sufficient hand washing can be defined as the target event, for example. A child has no way of knowing how long 30 seconds or two minutes is. With a suitable time lapse display device, it must be possible to set the time to elapse quickly and easily. When the time lapse display device is started, the current status should be easy to read and ideally also readable from a distance.

The convenience of known timing display devices leaves something to be desired today. Neither the adjustability nor general usability nor the readability are sufficiently well thought out or designed for the target audience of children and the elderly today.

Presentation of the invention

The above-described disadvantages known from the prior art are intended to be eliminated by the present device.

The present invention has set itself the task of a flexibly programmable, easy to use and easy to read To provide timing display device. This object is achieved by a time lapse display device having the features of claim 1.

The timing display device allows a simple method of setting a target event and operating the timing display device as claimed in claim 13.

Variations of combinations of features or slight adaptations of the invention can be found in the detailed description, shown in the figures and included in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The subject matter of the invention is described in detail below in connection with the attached drawings. Necessary features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description, a preferred embodiment of the invention and some additional features or optional features being listed in detail.

Figur 1

zeigt eine teilweise geschnitten dargestellte Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Zeitablaufanzeigevorrichtung, während

Figur 2a

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Zeitablaufanzeigevorrichtung mit 360° Abstrahlung des Regenbogenlichts und

Figur 2b

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Zeitablaufanzeigevorrichtung mit einer beispielhaften Abstrahlung des Regenbogenfarbenlichts durch einen begrenzten Anzeigeabschnitt und abgewandeltem Einstellabschnitt zeigt.

Figuren 3a) bis d)

zeigen jeweils Seitenansichten der Zeitablaufanzeigevorrichtungen zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten vor einem Zielereignis in der Zukunft.

They are shown in

Figure 1

shows a partially sectioned side view of a time lapse display device according to the invention, during

Figure 2a

a perspective view of a timing display device with 360 ° radiation of rainbow light and

Figure 2b

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a timing display device with exemplary irradiation of rainbow color light by a limited display section and modified setting section.

Figures 3a) to d)

Figure 16 shows side views of the timing indicators at different times prior to a future target event, respectively.

description

The timing display device 1 presented here is designated as a whole by 1 and has a housing comprising an adjustment section 10, a display section 11 and a foot section 12. In order to achieve sufficient recognizability of the time lapse display device 1, the display section 11 is designed larger or longer in the course of the longitudinal axis L than the remaining sections. Here, the length of the display section 11 exceeds the length of the sum of the length of the adjustment section 12 and the foot section 12. The entire housing is designed essentially cylindrical here. The individual sections 10, 11, 12 are releasably connected to one another.

The time lapse display device 1 has electronics 100 which include at least one real-time clock 101, a microprocessor 102 and a rotary switch 103. Optionally, at least one acceleration sensor 104 and / or a loudspeaker 105 can also be installed and connected to the electronics 100.

The electronics 100 are preferably based on a printed circuit board which is positioned in the adjustment section 10 opposite the foot section 12. The setting section 10 forms the rotary switch 103 or a part of the rotary switch 103, so that the electronics 100 can be set or programmed by means of the rotary switch 103. The microprocessor and software installed on a memory of the electronics 100 control the other components or read sensor values. There are development boards known that include all the necessary components to create such a controller, so that software can be easily uploaded to the memory and can be processed by means of microprocessor 102. The microprocessor 102 or the electronics 100 are controlled by inputs on the rotary switch 103. The real time clock 101 informs the microprocessor 102 of the current time. The remaining time until a target event is set on the microprocessor 102, the remaining time correspondingly running out after the time lapse display device 1 has been started. The electronics 100 with the components mentioned could also be arranged in the display section 11.

The electronics 100 are connected to lighting means 111 and a display 112 via cabling (not shown). These components are arranged at a distance from the electronics 100 on or in part of a housing jacket 110 which extends along the display section 11. The display 112 can also be designed as a touchscreen (touch-sensitive screen) for display with input options. The lighting means 111 and the display 112 are connected to the electronics 100 via the at least one microprocessor 102. After the start of the time lapse display device 1 or after defining the remaining time until the target event, the lighting means 111 emit light, controlled by the electronics 100.

In order to ensure the best possible visibility of the lighting means 111 or the emitted light, the lighting means are designed as at least one LED strip which can shine outward from the display section 11 along the housing jacket 110. A plurality of LED strips 111 are preferably arranged, approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis L over the entire length of the display section 11, if possible.

LED strips 111 are provided which represent electronically controlled light of different colors, that is to say different wavelengths λ can. The use of LED strips 111 with RGB LEDs is particularly preferred in order to be able to display a complete color spectrum. The wavelengths λ and / or the brightness of the emitted light are changed over time in a microcontroller-controlled manner.

In order to achieve an optimized emission of the light, the housing jacket 110 should be transparent and let through as much light as possible in the visible spectral range. At least a proportion of 20%, in particular 30% and more, of the emitted light should penetrate through the housing jacket 110. The housing jacket 110 is preferably made of transparent plastics such as polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate. Artificial wood or glass with sufficient transparency are also possible, although stability must of course be guaranteed. At least the display section 11 is essentially cylindrical here, as a hollow cylinder or as a hollow truncated cone. The illuminants 111 are stored in the interior of the display section 11 in an operatively connected manner to the electronics 100.

The display 112, especially if it is designed as a touchscreen 112, is arranged on the outside of the housing jacket 110, for particularly simple operation, running parallel to the longitudinal axis L over a large area of the display section 11.

An exchangeable energy supply 120 is preferably arranged in the foot section 12. For this purpose, suitable cutouts are required in the foot section 12, and electrical contacts and cabling to the electronics 100 are provided. If the time lapse display device 1 is to work independently for a longer period of time without an external voltage supply, sufficient batteries 120 or rechargeable batteries 120 are to be used. A correspondingly large amount of space is required, which is available in the foot section 12. The foot section 12 is preferably releasably attached to the display section 11 so that the energy supply 120 can be exchanged.

A possibility of charging the rechargeable batteries 120 can also be created in this case. Optionally, a socket can be arranged to which a charger can be connected. Here, a programming interface 121 is optionally arranged in the foot section 12, with which the microprocessor 102 can be programmed. This allows the user to program software with associated methods for displaying colors and brightnesses of emitted radiation at different times himself or to install software updates.

A contactless rotary switch 103, which is operated by turning and pulling the setting section 10, is used as the rotary switch 103. A haptic feedback is simulated by the loudspeaker 105. The loudspeaker 105 can, however, also be used to output acoustic signals during programming or during the passage of time up to the target event.

The acceleration sensor 104 can be used to unlock the electronics 100, for example. Depending on the signal from the acceleration sensor 104, the microprocessor 102 can initiate the start or a programming of the timing display device 1.

The real-time clock 101 stores the date and current time and logs the programmed time lapse until the target event.

The light sensor 113 is optionally connected to the electronics 100 in the setting section 10 in order to be able to estimate the intensity of the light to be emitted by the microcontroller 102. Depending on the existing brightness, the lighting means 111 can be controlled in a coordinated manner.

As in Figure 2a As shown, the setting section 10 of the timing display device 1 has a through hole 106 through the setting section 10, which can also be referred to as an eyelet 106, as a reinforced through hole. A cord indicated by dashed lines can be fastened through the through hole 106 or the eyelet 106, so that the time lapse display device 1 can be stored in a suspended manner. Optionally, the time lapse display device 1 can be stored standing on the foot section 12 on a floor.

By means of the setting section 10 with rotary switch 103, the electronics 100 and thus the timing display device 1 can be adjusted by an indicated rotary movement of the entire setting section 10 relative to the longitudinal axis L and an up and down movement parallel to the longitudinal axis L.

The display 112 shows the status of the time lapse display device 1 as text output or in the form of symbols. Since the display 112 does not necessarily have to be readable by the user, but rather by the programmer of the time lapse display device 1, the text or the symbols of the display 112 can be selected to be smaller and do not have to be recognizable from a long distance.

The individual sections 10, 11, 12 are connected to one another by means of screw connections or bayonet connections. However, the connections are designed in such a way that no undesired opening can be carried out.
As in Figure 2b As shown, the setting section 10 can also be designed without a rotary switch and the setting section 10 can have the display 112 with a touchscreen for setting the timing display device 1. Mechanical input is then no longer possible, but input via the touchscreen, as indicated by the horizontal double arrow. Also the radiation of the light with rainbow colors takes place through a smaller display section 11, which can be described as a window, for example.

The timing display device 1 is intended primarily to offer children and the elderly a simple time display. A programmed sequence program is controlled by the electronics 100, by means of which the remaining time until a target event is displayed on the display section 11. Children often cannot imagine how long an hour or two minutes is. If a child is to occupy himself for an hour in his room, the time lapse display device 1 is programmed for one hour. This can be done by setting on the setting section 10 or rotary switch 103 and / or on the display / touchscreen 112. Once the time lapse display device 1 has started, light is emitted until the target event is reached, the wavelength and / or the brightness of the emitted light varying automatically in a programmed manner.

It has been found that children quickly know the colors of the rainbow and how they are sorted. This is also the case with the elderly. As is well known, the wavelengths / colors change from violet to blue, turquoise, green, yellow, orange to red or the other way around, depending on the starting color. Children know this quickly and thus the color or wavelength can be used as an indicator for the remaining time until the target event. This is carried out under the control of the microprocessor 102 in the time lapse display device 1 presented here.

Since no colored representations are possible in patent literature, they show Figures 3a to 3d , the lapse of time to a target event with indicated different brightnesses of the emitted light. The darker the display section 11 lights, the closer the target event is. The light transmitted by the housing jacket 110 of the display section 11 is emitted radially from the longitudinal axis L, that is to say in several spatial directions around the display section 11, while the light wavelength varies over time.

If the color of the light emitted by the lighting means 111 is varied, a color variation from violet to blue, yellow to red would take place here. A child cannot read the time, but knows that the target event is closer when the light emitted is yellow than when the light is green. Or the order is reversed so that the wavelength varies from red to purple. The time to be waited for is irrelevant, as the time variation is programmed accordingly. For sufficient hand washing of 30 seconds or the brushing of teeth for two minutes, the time lapse display device 1 can be set just as easily as the time from two hours to the next break during a car trip. How long it will take to reach the target event can be seen by the user from the emitted wavelength and / or the brightness of the light.

A target event is entered by turning and / or pulling / pressing the rotary switch 103, which can in particular be designed as a contactless rotary switch 103. If the rotary switch 103 is formed by the setting section 10, the input is made accordingly by actuating the setting section 10. A target event, for example the end of brushing your teeth in 2 minutes or the end of a break in one hour, are configured. The respective status of the time lapse display device 1 can be read on the display 112. After completing the entry, the process is started up to the target event stored in the near future.

Depending on the progress, defined light animations are started, which are visible on the housing jacket 110, since minimum portions of the light shine through the housing jacket 110. The broadcast changes Light, as mentioned above, depending on the remaining time until the set target event.

Once the target event has been reached, the user is informed visually and / or acoustically.

The status of the stored target events can be displayed at any time by moving the time lapse display device 1. The time lapse display device 1 or the electronics 100 switch to sleep mode after a defined time in order to keep the energy consumption as low as possible.

List of reference symbols

1

Timing indicator (programmable)

10

Adjustment section

100

Electronics / circuit board / board

101

Real-time clock

102

microprocessor

103

Switch / rotary switch

104

Accelerometer

105

speaker

106

Through hole / eyelet

11

Display section

110

Housing jacket

111

Light source / light cylinder

112

Display or touchscreen

113

Light sensor / photo resistor

12th

Foot section

120

Energy supply (batteries)

121

Programming interface

L.

Longitudinal axis

Claims (15)

Multi-part timing display device (1) comprising a housing jacket and at least one display section (11) in the course of the timing display device (1) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), the display section (11) being designed to be sufficiently transparent so that light in the visible spectral range can be emitted from the display section (11) is,
characterized in that
the multi-part timing display device (1) is designed as a hollow cylinder or a hollow truncated cone,
an electronic system (100) which has at least one real-time clock (101), a microprocessor (102), a memory and a switch (103) and
the electronics (100) with lighting means (111) arranged in the interior of the display section (11) are operatively connected in such a way that the time lapse display device (1) as a software-controlled device emits light that varies in brightness and / or light wavelength (λ) over time by a microcontroller (102 ) controlled software to the outside of the multi-part timing display device (1) radially away from the longitudinal axis (L), enables a light animation process up to a target event with emitted light of ascending wavelength, coupled to the remaining time to the target result and an optical and / or acoustic Information of the user when the target event is reached is programmed and controlled by a microcontroller. Multi-part time lapse display device (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one LED strip (111) is selected as the lighting means (111), which is located in the interior of the display section (11) from Housing jacket (110) is arranged so as to be enclosed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) of the time lapse display device (1). Multi-part time lapse display device (1) according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of LED strips (111), in particular RGB-LED strips (111), is selected as the lighting means (111). Multi-part time lapse display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the time-variable emitted wavelength (λ) changes from violet to blue, turquoise, green, yellow, orange to red depending on the remaining time up to a target event, i.e. the wavelengths increase over time and at least a proportion of 30% of the emitted light penetrates through the housing jacket (110). Multi-part timing display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a setting section (10) of the timing display device (1) is connected to the switch (103) as a rotary switch (103) or forms the rotary switch (103) so that settings of the electronics (100) by rotational movements about the longitudinal axis (L) of the adjustment section (10) are possible. Multi-part time lapse display device (1) according to claim 5, wherein a through hole (106) through the setting section (10) is arranged on the setting section (10), so that the time lapse display device (1) can be suspended. Multi-part time lapse display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a display (112) is arranged along an outer surface of the display section (11), which is preferably designed to be touch-sensitive as a touchscreen (112) and can also be used for operation. Multi-part timing display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an acceleration sensor (104) is part of the electronics (100) and can be used to unlock the electronics (100) and / or to program the microprocessor (102) or to set a sequence program. Multi-part time lapse display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an internal replaceable power supply (120) in a foot section (12) of the time lapse display device (1), on a side of the time lapse display device (1) opposite the setting section (10), in the form of batteries or batteries is arranged. Multi-part time lapse display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing jacket (110) of the display section (11) is made of polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate. Multi-part time lapse display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the setting section (10) or a foot section (12) and the display section (11) are detachably connected to one another by screw locks or bayonet locks. Multi-part time lapse display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a loudspeaker (105) is arranged on or in the setting section (10) connected to the electronics (100), which provides haptic feedback or acoustic signals during programming or during the time lapse up to Target event supplies. Method for setting a target event and for operating a time lapse display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by the steps: - Enter the target event by turning and / or pulling / pressing the switch (103) or rotary switch (103) or the setting section (10), - Start the light animation process and - Expiry to the target event, with the remaining time still to be expired being displayed with light of ascending wavelengths, - Optical and / or acoustic information for the user when the programmed time interval has elapsed at the time of the target event. A method for setting a target event and operating a timing display device (1) according to claim 13, wherein the current status of the timing display device (1) is possible at any time by moving the timing display device (1) on the display (112). Method for setting a target event and for operating a time lapse display device (1) according to one of Claims 13 or 14, the emitted brightness of the light emitted by the illuminants (111) being automatically adjusted after measuring the intensity of the ambient light by means of a light sensor (113) .

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