GB2245723A - Self contained electronic game timer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A self contained electronic timer in the form of a thick playing card is activated by the sensing of ambient light when it is turned over. Musical tones indicate the passage of time and expiration of the timed interval. A photocell 2 and buzzer 3 are provided on one face and the card contains the appropriate control ROM and tone generator. <IMAGE>

Description

Self Contained Electronic Game Timer Apparatus The present invention relates to a device to monitor the timing of board games. In traditional board games, if the game play required that some moves be completed within a limited time, a small sand timer was provided.

Sand timers had the disadvantages that they were breakable and had to be watched to know when the time interval was complete. Several sorts of timers for playing chess incorporate audible signals when the time interval is complete, but they are physically large and too expensive to be applied to board games. Similar problems render kitchen and appliance timers unsuitable to tbe application.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reasonable quality timer at low cost and in a physical form compatible with board games that will give an audible indication when a fixed time interval has elapsed. It is a further object of the invention to provide audible signals indicating progressive passing of time to heighten the excitement of having to complete a move within the fixed time interval. It is a further object of the invention to provide a means of activating the timer that is more interesting than simply pressing a button.

Applicant calls attention to the following United States patents known to him: 3,961,473 - Electronic Chess Timer 4,681,463 - Differential Timer (Chess Timer) 3,428,861 - Photo-Electric Timer Control 4,431,313 - Game timer 4,470,056 - Timing Mechanism 4,775,801 - Timer Electronic chess timers such as patent 3,961,473 are indicative of timing performed by pressing a button. Board games have traditionally used sand timers or a timer built into the game apparatus in contrast to the self contained timer disclosed. The timer of patent 4,470,056 discloses a mechanical apparatus to achieve the sense of urgency which is an objective of the present invention.

None of the above reference the disclosed self contained timer apparatus.

The present invention provides a device to indicate audibly the passage of time and the expiration of a fixed interval.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game timer according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic game timer.

Reference is made to Fig. 1 which shows an overall view of the timer showing the main body (1) in the form of a playing card with applied graphics (4) indicative that the timer is active when this side is up. The reverse side may be printed with a "STOP" sign to indicate that the timer is stopped when that side is up. In the preferred embodiment, a photosensor (2) is mounted to receive ambient light through a hole in the active side of the timer card. Light will be excluded from the sensor (2) when the card is turned over and laid on a table or other surface. A thin sound transducer (3) such as a piezo disc transducer is provided to give an audible indication of the expiration of a fixed time interval.

Fig. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of the timer in the preferred embodiment. The photosensor (2) typically a CdS cell, is used to activate a melody chip (10) such as a UM3161 available from United Microelectronics Corporation of Taiwan.

The presence of light reduces the resistance of sensor (2) which causes control circuit (11) to begin a counting sequence to address internal ROM (12). The data ROM (12) represents pitches of tones that are generated by tone generator (13). Melody chip (10) includes an output amplifier to directly drive a piezo disc speaker (3). In typical usage the ROM (12) is programmed to give a series of alternating tones of steadily rising pitch during the timing interval. It will then give a fast series of beeps to act as an "alarm" tone to indicate expiration of the timed interval. Control circuits (11) include circuitry to return the electronics to a low power "sleep" mode after the beeps are completed to conserve battery (14). The control circuit also resets into "sleep" mode if at any time photosensors (2) indicates an absence of light.I have made timers according to this invention to time fixed intervals from 15 seconds to three minutes.

Use of a photosensor to activate the timer has the additional advantage that the timer may be reset by covering the sensor with a hand or other object. It also has an advantage over gravity and switch activated timers in that there is no possibility of being falsely activated in shipping or storage when it is removed from light by the game package.

While the invention has been particularly taught and described with reference to the preferred embodiment, those versed in the art will appreciate that minor modifications in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Particularly, there are numerous forms of electronic circuitry that can accomplish the function of generating audible tones in response to an activation. Accordingly, all such modifications are embodied within the scope of this patent as properly come within my contribution to the art and are particularly pointed out by the following claims.

Claims (8)

1. A timer comprising: a housing adapted to be hand-held and shaped so that it can be set on a flat surface in either a first stable position or a second stable position; a photosensor mounted to the housing such that it faces the flat surface and is not exposed to ambient light in the first stable position and faces away from the flat surface and is exposed to ambient light in the second stable position, the photosensor providing a run signal in response to light; a timer coupled to the photosensor and activated in response to the run signal, the timer providing an alarm signal in response to the detection of the run signal for a pre-set period of time, and resetting in the absence of the run signal; and a sound generator coupled to the timer for providing a first sound in response to the alarm signal.

2. A timer as in claim 1 wherein the sound generator is coupled to the photosensor and provides a second sound in response to the run signal.

3. A timer as in claim 2 wherein the housing is thin and substantially flat.

4. A timer as in claim 3 wherein the second sound includes a steadily rising pitch.

5. A timer comprising: a houseing adapted to be hand-held; a photosensor mounted to the housing such that it can be selectively exposed to ammbient light depending on the position of a user's hand, the photosensor providing a run signal in response to exposure to light; a timer coupled to the photosensor and activated in response to the start signal, the timer providing an alarm signal in response to the detection of the run signal for a preset period of time, and resetting in the absence of the run signal; and a sound generator coupled to the timer for providing a first sound in response to the alarm signal.

6. A timer as in claim 5 wherein the sound generator is coupled to the photosensor and provides a second sound in response to the run signal.

7. A timer as in claim 6 wherein the housing is thin and subtantially flat.

8. A timer as in claim 7 wherein the second sound includes a steadily rising pitch.