JP3233987U - Time measuring instrument with alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a voice timekeeping device capable of being operated by a visually impaired person. SOLUTION: A time increase setting button 3b, a time decrease setting button 3a, a first protrusion 7c indicating a time increase setting in the vicinity of the time increase setting button, and a time decrease setting in the vicinity of the time decrease setting button are shown. A time measuring device 1 with an alarm having a second protrusion 7d, the first protrusion having a shape indicating a plus, and the second protrusion having a shape indicating a minus, and a time measuring unit for measuring time. , When the time obtained from the timer storage unit that stores the set time, the audio output unit, and the time counting unit reaches the time set in the timer storage unit, the audio output unit will generate an alarm. The control unit sends a signal to the audio output unit to generate an alarm regarding the remaining time up to the set time set in the timer storage unit, and also issues an alarm regarding the elapsed time after the set time has elapsed. Send a signal to generate. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to a time measuring instrument with an alarm. Specifically, the present invention relates to a time measuring instrument with an alarm for the visually impaired.

Conventionally, when a visually impaired person wants to measure time, it is difficult to operate the time measuring instrument without the assistance of a healthy person.

Various time measuring instruments have been disclosed in order to cope with such a problem.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a "clock for the visually impaired". This visually impaired watch is a watch in which the hour hand axis to which the hour hand is attached and the minute hand axis to which the minute hand is attached are provided coaxially with the watch movement. A small diameter disk is attached. The large-diameter disk is provided with a protrusion indicating the position of the hour hand, and the small-diameter disk is provided with a protrusion indicating the position of the minute hand. You will be able to do it.
Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a "voice timer", and according to the voice timer, the elapsed time is notified by voice, it can be confirmed that the timer is operating, and until the end of timing. You can easily know the remaining time.

Utility Model Registration No. 3157236 Gazette Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-289215

However, the timepiece for the visually impaired described in Patent Document 1 is used as a timepiece and does not have a countdown or countup function.
Further, the voice timer described in Patent Document 2 can notify the elapsed time by voice at predetermined time intervals, but cannot appropriately notify the elapsed time.
In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a time measuring instrument that can be operated by a visually impaired person and can easily know a certain elapsed time.

The present inventor has solved the above problems by the following means. That is, the present invention includes the following.
[1] Time increase setting button and
Time reduction setting button and
A first protrusion indicating the time increase setting near the time increase setting button,
A second protrusion indicating the time reduction setting near the time reduction setting button,
The first protrusion has a shape indicating a plus, and the second protrusion has a shape indicating a minus, and is a time measuring instrument with an alarm.
Moreover,
The timekeeping part that measures the time and
A timer storage unit that stores the set time and
Audio output section and
It is provided with a control unit that causes an alarm to be generated from the audio output unit when the time obtained from the timekeeping unit reaches the time set in the timer storage unit.
The control unit sends a signal to the audio output unit to generate an alarm regarding the remaining time up to the set time set in the timer storage unit, and a signal to generate an alarm regarding the elapsed time after the set time has passed. Send, time measuring instrument with alarm.
[2] The time measuring instrument with an alarm according to [1], wherein a plurality of alarms related to the remaining time or the elapsed time can be set.
[3] The time measuring instrument with an alarm according to [2], which generates a voice that counts down from the set remaining time to the set time and also generates a voice that counts up from the set time to the set elapsed time. ..
[4] The time measuring instrument with an alarm according to any one of [1] to [3], which comprises a magnet.

According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited.
[1] The time measuring instrument with an alarm according to the present invention has a first protrusion and a second protrusion in the vicinity of a time increase setting unit for increasing the set time number and a time decrease setting unit for decreasing the set time number, respectively. By providing the protrusion, when setting the alarm of the time measuring device with the alarm, the locations of the time increase setting unit and the time decrease setting unit can be immediately detected with a finger even if the person is visually impaired.
[2] One aspect of the time measuring instrument with an alarm according to the present invention is that the first protrusion has a positive shape and the second protrusion has a negative shape. , It is possible to immediately determine which is the time setting part that increases the time or which is the time setting part that decreases the time, and the shape is familiar to healthy people, so there is no sense of discomfort.
[3] One aspect of the time measuring device with an alarm according to the present invention is to notify the remaining time until the set time of the alarm and to notify the elapsed time after the set time of the alarm has elapsed, so that the time display screen can be displayed. Even for the visually impaired, who cannot recognize it, it is possible to detect how much time has passed since the alarm was set.
[4] In one aspect of the time measuring device with an alarm according to the present invention, since a plurality of alarms related to the remaining time or the elapsed time can be set, even if the alarm of the remaining time or the alarm of the elapsed time is missed once, the following You can know by the alarm. Further, for example, by setting an alarm every 10 seconds, the elapsed time can be notified every 10 seconds.
[5] By generating a voice that counts down from the set remaining time to the set time and a voice that counts up from the set time to the set elapsed time, how much time is left until the set time and It is possible to detect by sound how much time has passed since the set time.
[6] One aspect of the time measuring device with an alarm according to the present invention is to provide a magnet, whereby the time measuring device with an alarm can be attached to a refrigerator, an iron wall, or the like.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a time measuring instrument with an alarm according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a back view showing a time measuring instrument with an alarm according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a time measuring instrument with an alarm according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram of the time measuring instrument with an alarm according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an example of an alarm time set of the time measuring instrument with an alarm according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

An example of the time measuring instrument with an alarm according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the examples.

(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a front view showing the time measuring device 1 with an alarm according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a back view of the time measuring device 1 with an alarm, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the time measuring device 1 with an alarm.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front of the time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm, a display unit 2, a time decrease setting button 3a, a time increase setting button 3b, a function conversion button 4, a voice setting button 5, measurement start and measurement end are displayed. It includes a measurement setting button 6 for receiving, and protrusions 7a to 7d indicating the functions of the respective buttons. Further, the back surface is provided with an opening 8 for emitting an alarm sound to the outside. Further, as for the button of the time measuring instrument with an alarm, not only the button but also a setting means such as a switch and a crown can be used as a time increase setting unit and a time decrease setting unit.
The time measuring device 1 with an alarm may be, for example, an alarm clock (whether a table clock, a wall clock, a wristwatch, or a built-in clock), or a general electronic device with a clock function (mobile phone, photo frame, etc.). It may be mounted on a digital camera, an electronic dictionary, a game machine, etc.).

The time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm can set an alarm. When the function conversion button 4 is pressed and held for 2 seconds on the time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm, the minute setting mode is set and the time can be set. When the time increase setting button 3b is pressed in the minute setting mode, the numerical value for the set amount increases. On the other hand, when the time reduction setting button 3a is pressed, the numerical value to be set is reduced. Press and hold the function conversion button 4 again for 2 seconds to end the minute setting mode and switch to the second setting mode. In the second setting mode, the numerical value of the seconds to be set can be increased or decreased in units of 10 seconds by pressing the time increase setting button 3b or the time decrease setting button 3a. When the function conversion button 4 is pressed and held for 2 seconds again, the second setting mode ends and the time setting is completed. The time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm of the present invention can set an alarm up to 99 minutes and 50 seconds.

Further, when entering the setting mode or setting the numerical value of minutes or seconds, the setting contents can be confirmed even by a visually impaired person by notifying the setting contents by sound from the opening 8. For example, when switching to the second setting mode, the alarm is notified as "second setting", and when the minute is set to 3 minutes, the alarm is notified as "3 minutes".

When the alarm sounds, the time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm can stop the alarm by pressing the measurement setting button 6. The time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm can be set to count up when the alarm sounds and the alarm is not stopped, depending on the setting. That is, after the alarm time, it is possible to count up as a warning "1, 2, 3, ..." and judge how much time has passed from the set time only by sound without using vision. can. The count-up may be a count-up every 1 second, or a count-up every 10 seconds (that is, a warning such as "... 10 seconds, ... 20 seconds ..."). good.

In the vicinity of each button, protrusions 7a to 7d indicating the function of each button are formed. By providing the protrusions 7a to 7d indicating the function of the button, the visually impaired person can know the function of each button from the shape or number of the protrusions by touching the protrusions 7a to 7d. The heights of the protrusions 7a to 7d indicating the function of the button are such that the protrusions can be seen by touch, and are about 1 mm to 5 mm (see FIG. 3). The protrusions 7a to 7d indicating the function of the button can each have a specific shape. For example, the protrusion 7c indicating the function of the time increase setting button 3b has a “+” shape, and the time decrease setting button 3a The protrusion 7d indicating the function of is in the shape of "-".
Further, it is possible to indicate the function of the setting means not only by the shape of the protrusions but also by the number of protrusions. For example, it is provided with one protrusion 7a indicating the function of the function conversion button 4, and is provided with two protrusions 7b indicating the function of the voice setting button 5. The shape or number of protrusions can be changed by the function of the setting means. The protrusions 7a to 7d may be translucent or transparent in color so as to be inconspicuous.

When the setting button 6 for accepting the start of measurement is pressed in the state where the time setting is completed, the measurement is started, and a “piiii” sound is emitted from the opening 8 to notify that the measurement is started. The time of the alarm can be set, or the alarm can be sounded after a predetermined time (for example, an alarm after 3 hours).

The time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm of the present invention has a repeat timer function capable of repeatedly measuring the same time. When the time to be measured is set and the setting button 6 for accepting the start of measurement is pressed and held for 2 seconds, the repeat timer starts and the set time is repeatedly measured.

The time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm can notify the set time (setting contents), the remaining time, and the elapsed time. It is also possible to notify the remaining battery level through the opening 8 other than the measurement time. By pressing the voice setting button 5, the sound emitted from the opening 8 can be set. Specifically, when the voice setting button 5 is pressed and held for 2 seconds, the sound setting mode is set. By pressing the time reduction setting button 3a, the warning sound can be switched on or off. When the voice setting button 5 is pressed again, the type of voice emitted from the opening 8 can be selected from voice or electronic sound.

The time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm of the present invention can be set to notify by vibration depending on the usage scene, and the voice can be turned off. By pressing the voice setting button 5, it becomes possible to set the vibration function on or off, and it is possible to adjust it as necessary. By pressing the voice setting button 5 again, the volume adjustment mode can be set and the volume can be adjusted to a predetermined level.

Next, the system of the time measuring instrument with an alarm of the first embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a system of a time measuring instrument with an alarm according to the first embodiment.

The time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm can be roughly divided into an input unit S2, a storage unit S3, a control unit S4, a display unit S5, a timekeeping unit S6, and an output unit S7.

The input unit S2 is an input user interface such as a keyboard, a touch panel, or a push button. In the present invention, a push button is preferable in order to make it useful for a person who is visually impaired and cannot sufficiently visually recognize characters (hereinafter, visually impaired person). Specifically, a time reduction setting button 3a, time The increase setting button 3b, the function conversion button 4, the voice setting button 5, and the measurement setting button 6 that accepts the measurement start and measurement end (see FIG. 1 and the like).

The storage unit S3 is a non-volatile storage element for storing data such as a repeat alarm or a non-repeat alarm, for example, a hard disk, a silicon disk, a flash memory, or the like. In this figure, the storage unit S3 is drawn as one element, but the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more storage elements may be used. In this case, the storage unit S3 physically becomes two or more storage elements.

The control unit S4 is typically a program control type microcomputer (also simply referred to as a computer), and executes a control program written in advance in a memory (not shown) to execute various types required for the time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm. Controls the operation in an integrated manner. One of the actions is the setting of an alarm (including the residual alarm and the progress alarm), the other one of the actions is the occurrence of the set alarm (notification of the alarm), and further, the time of the display unit S5, It is a display of the alarm time.

The display unit S5 is a flat display device such as a liquid crystal display panel that visualizes and displays various information necessary for the above operation under the control of the control unit S4.

The clock unit S6 generates date and time information, in detail, date information of the date, day of the week information from Monday to Sunday, and time information from 0:00 to 24:00. The clock unit S6 may be one that ticks the time based on an accurate vibration waveform such as a quartz vibrator, or a GPS clock that ticks the time accurately by using radio waves from GPS satellites, or a long wave standard. It may be a so-called radio-controlled clock that receives radio waves and ticks the same accurate time. In terms of accuracy, it is desirable to use a GPS watch or radio clock.

Based on the information of the timing unit S6, the control unit S5 transmits a notification signal for outputting an alarm (sound, vibration, blinking of light, etc.) to the output unit S7 to notify the alarm.

In this embodiment, the control unit S4 causes the output unit S7 to sound an alarm regarding the remaining time up to the set time set in the timer storage unit S3, and also sounds an alarm regarding the elapsed time after the set time has passed. Have.

This content will be described with reference to FIG. In the present invention, when the set time T at which the alarm is generated is set in order to make the time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm useful for the visually impaired, an alarm occurs when the set time T is reached, as in the conventional timepiece. Occurs. In the present invention, in addition to that, an alarm can be generated for the remaining time (T1-T2) at a time (T1) predetermined time before the set time T. Here, the remaining time means the time until the set time T. Although it is difficult for visually impaired people to visually recognize the remaining time, it is extremely useful to notify the remaining time by generating an alarm such as voice. In addition, the time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm can notify the elapsed time (T2-T) from the set time T at the time T2 of the predetermined elapsed time even after the set time T has elapsed. The predetermined residual time T1 and the predetermined elapsed time T2 can be stored in the storage unit S3, respectively.

The remaining time and the elapsed time can be set as times, and the number of seconds before (or after) the set time can be set to sound the alarm. For example, if the alarm is set to sound when the elapsed time stands for 10 seconds, after 10 seconds have passed from the set time, the voice alarm will be "10 seconds have passed from the set time" or simply "10 seconds have passed". And an alarm can be sent.

Furthermore, a countdown alarm and a countup alarm can also be performed. For example, when the remaining time is set to 10 seconds, a countdown such as "10, 9, 8, ... 2, 1" can be performed from 10 seconds before the set time. That is, a countdown can be performed between T and T1 in FIG.
Further, when the elapsed time is set to count up for 10 seconds, it can be counted up as "1, 2, 3 ... 9, 10" from the set time to 10 seconds later. That is, the count-up can be performed between T2-T.
Even if the above settings are not made, pressing the time increase setting button 3b during measurement can notify the remaining time by voice, and turning on the warning sound function will indicate the elapsed time during measurement. Notify every 5 minutes and every 1 minute from 5 minutes ago.

Furthermore, it does not have a function as a timer, but has a function of counting up from the time the button is pressed and notifying the elapsed time by sound by pressing the button. For example, in FIG. 1, when the setting button 6 for accepting the start of measurement is pressed while the set time is 0 minutes and 0 seconds, the count-up function for measuring the elapsed time starts from 0 seconds and starts from the opening 8. A "piii" sound will be heard to inform that the count-up measurement will start. When the time increase button 3b is pressed during measurement, the elapsed time is notified by voice. Further, when the setting means 6 for accepting the start of measurement is pressed during the measurement, the count-up measurement is completed and the measurement time is notified by voice.

The display unit 2 displays the setting contents. Assuming that it will be used by people with low vision, the display on the display unit 2 will be enlarged. Further, the time measuring instrument 1 with an alarm of the present invention can be provided with a magnet 9 according to the application, and can also have a waterproof function so as to be compatible with a wide range of applications.

1 Time measuring instrument with alarm 2 Display 3a Time decrease setting button 3b Time increase setting button 4 Function conversion button 5 Voice setting means 6 Setting means for accepting measurement start 7 Projection 7a Projection 7a Display of function conversion button function Protrusion 7c indicating the function Projection 7d indicating the function of the time increase button Projection 8 indicating the function of the time decrease button 8 Opening 9 Magnet S2 Input unit S3 Storage unit S4 Control unit S5 Display unit S6 Timekeeping unit S7 Output unit

Claims (4)

Time increase setting button and
Time reduction setting button and
A first protrusion indicating the time increase setting near the time increase setting button,
A second protrusion indicating the time reduction setting near the time reduction setting button,
The first protrusion has a shape indicating a plus, and the second protrusion has a shape indicating a minus, and is a time measuring instrument with an alarm.
Moreover,
The timekeeping part that measures the time and
A timer storage unit that stores the set time and
Audio output section and
It is provided with a control unit that causes an alarm to be generated from the audio output unit when the time obtained from the timekeeping unit reaches the time set in the timer storage unit.
The control unit sends a signal to the audio output unit to generate an alarm regarding the remaining time up to the set time set in the timer storage unit, and a signal to generate an alarm regarding the elapsed time after the set time has passed. Send, time measuring instrument with alarm. The time measuring instrument with an alarm according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of alarms related to the remaining time or the elapsed time can be set. The time measuring instrument with an alarm according to claim 2, wherein a voice that counts down from the set remaining time to a set time is generated, and a voice that counts up from the set time to a set elapsed time is generated. The time measuring instrument with an alarm according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a magnet.

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