GB2193821A - Sound activated timepiece device - Google Patents

Abstract

A sound-activated timepiece device with a voice-synthesised readout or current time comprises: a timepiece body (100) having a time display unit (101); a sound control circuit with a sound receiving means (M) for being activated by sound through the sound receiving means (M) and producing output control signals; and a circuitry arrangement composed of a clock circuit, a synthetic voice circuit and an amplifier circuit for driving a speaker (50) and activated by control signals from the sound control circuit; whereby, a synthetic voice speaking the current time can be broadcasted at any time when a sound such as clapping or whistling generated by a user is received. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sound activated timepiece device The present invention relates to a time indicating clock and more particularly to a time broadcasting clock which can be activated by sound produced by a user such as the sound of clapping or whistling, Most conventional clocks are hung on the wall for displaying the time. Recently, electronic digital clocks have become popular and all often placed on a user's desk for the user to easily know the current time. Some oi the electronic clocks can produce alarm signal at a preset time, and still other kind of digital clocks can serve different purposes to attract the attention of the user. It is noted that there are several disadantages to a conventional clock.

If the clock is placed at a remote location, we usually can not easily see the exact time.

Also, if the room is not light enough, the user will not be able to read the time from the clock. Furthermore, a blind person can not find out the time unless the clock can send out a sound telling him what time it is.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a timepiece which can automatically broadcast the present time so as to obviate the disadvantages of the conventional clocks.

The main feature of the present invention resides in a sound activated switch provided on a timepiece device which can be activated by a sound of clapping or whistling within a short distance. Upon activation, the timepiece device will automatically broadcast the time in a synthetic voice.

Another feature of the present invention resides in a sound control circuit built in the timepiece device for controlling the activation of the time broadcasting.

Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of a sound activated timepiece device of the present invention comprises a timepiece body having a time display unit provided thereon, a sound receiving means installed on said timepiece body, a sound control circuit means provided in said timepiece body to be activated by a sound received by the sound receiving means to produce a control signal, a clock circuit means for producing the time signal which is displayed on the time display unit, a synthetic voice circuit means receiving the control signal and activated thereby to produce a synthetic voice according to the present time, and a speaker means to produce a synthetic voice broadcasting time.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a sound activated timepiece device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of a sound control circuit adopted in the timepiece device of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram composed of a clock circuit, a synthetic voice circuit, and an amplifier circuit adopted in the timepiece device of the present invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1 which shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the timepiece device according to the present invention, which timepiece device comprises a timepiece body 100 having a time display unit 101 provided on a front panel of the timepiece body 100. There is a sound receiver M, a speaker 50 and a plurality of time setting knobs 102 respectively provided on the timepiece body 100.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown a circuit diagram of a sound control circuit associated with the sound receiver M, which can be a microphone for receiving a sound caused by the user such as a sound of clapping or whistling. The received sound signal is converted into an electric signal by the sound receiver M and is fed into the base of a first transistor Q1 so as to be amplified by the first transistor Q1 for triggering a second transistor Q2 electrically coupled with the first transistor Q1. The power from the second transistor 02 then charges the capacitor C3 connected to the emitter of the second transistor Q2, thus causing the terminals A and B coupled with the positive terminal of the capacitor C3 to have a positive potential level output therefrom.

Referring now to Fig. 3 which shows an illustrative circuit diagram adopted in the timepiece device of the present invention, the circuit diagram comprises a clock circuit 20, a synthetic voice circuit 30 and an amplifier circuit 40, which collectively form an operating circuit of the timepiece device. The three circuits 20, 30 and 40 are integrated circuits manufactured by the OKI Electric Industrial Company and are commercially available known as model number MSM5075, MSM6202 AND MSC1161 respectively. The control signal output from the sound control circuit 10 is fed to the switch SW in the clock circuit 20 for activating the clock circuit 20 as weil as synthetic voice circuit 30.The synthetic voice circuit 30 has embedded therein a voice synthesis software which causes the production of synthetic sounds simulating the voice of a human being. The resulted synthetic sound signals are fed into the amplifier circuit 40 for being amplified by the same. The sound signals are then broadcasted through the speaker 50. It is to be noted that the sound intensity produced by clapping or whistling is an important factor for designing the sound control circuit 10 and that only when the intensity exceeding a cer tain level will the timepiece device be activated to broadcast the present time.

The theory and practice of the voice synthesis technology is well known in the art, therefore, it shall not be detailed herein.

Althouth the voice activated timepiece device of the present invention has been described and illustrated by way of a preferred embodiment, it is to be noted that possible changes and modifications may suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (3)

1. A sound activated timepiece device characterized by: a timepiece body having a time display unit provided thereon for displaying and broadcasting the curient time; a sound receiving means provided in said timepiece body for receiving an activating sound and converting said sound into a corresponding electric signal; a sound control circuit means provided in said timepiece body and electrically associated with said receiving means for receiving said electric signal and generating an output control signal therefrom; a clock circuit means disposed in said timepiece body and electrically coupled with said sound control circuit means for generating the present time signals to be displayed by said time display unit to be controlled by said output control signal; ; a voice synth-esis circuit means electrically connected to said clock circuit means and also controlled by said output control signal to produce a synthetic voice broadcasting the present time; and a speaker means electrically associated with said voice synthesis circuit means for broadcasting the synthetic voice of the current time.

2. A sound activated timepiece device as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising an amplifying circuit means electrically coupled between said voice synthesis circuit means and said speaker means so as to amplify the resulting voice and then feed the same to said speaker means.

3. A sound activated timepiece device as substantially hereinbefore described and shown with reference to the accompanying drawings.