JPH03289215A - Voice timer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily recognize a remaining time till the end of time count by allowing an elapsed time informing means to notice the elapsed time after the start of time count in voice at every prescribed time. CONSTITUTION:A timer counter 34 makes time count in the unit of 1/10sec based on a clock signal outputted from an oscillator 33 and outputs a time counting time (elapsed time) T1 to a control section 31/A voice informing section 36 outputs a voice informing a remaining time T2 or the like from a speaker based on a voice data outputted from the control section 31. Thus, a 'peep' tone is outputted from the speaker second and the elapsed time T1 is notified in voice every minute. Thus, the operating state of the timer is confirmed and the elapsed time T1 from the start of count is easily recognized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a voice timer that notifies elapsed time by voice.

(Prior Art) Various types of timers have been known in the past, but these timers sound a buzzer or light a lamp to notify the end of timekeeping when the timer has finished counting the set time. was.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, the conventional timer described above has a problem in that it is not possible to know the elapsed time after starting time measurement.

For example, in a household where the fire in the bathtub is extinguished by the timer's completion notification, if the housewife of the household has to look outside for a short time while the bath water is being boiled. It is natural to extinguish the fire in the bathtub when you go out. In such cases, when returning from a day out, the user often ends up boiling the water too much because he or she does not know how long to boil the water for the bath.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an audio timer that notifies the user of the elapsed time after the start of time measurement by audio. Another object of the present invention is to provide an audio timer that allows the user to easily select a language that the user understands or a language that suits the user's preferences, and that also provides audio notification of the elapsed time in this language.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a time setting means for setting a time to be measured, and a time setting means for setting a time to be measured, and a time setting means for setting a time to be measured. To propose an audio timer equipped with a timekeeping end notifying means for occasionally notifying the end of timekeeping, and an elapsed time notifying means for notifying by voice the elapsed time after starting timekeeping at every predetermined time.

Further, in claim (2), a time setting means for setting a time to be measured; an information selection means for selecting one linguistic information source from a plurality of different types of linguistic information sources; elapsed time notifying means for notifying the elapsed time after the start of timekeeping by voice at predetermined intervals based on the language of the selected language information source; and ending timekeeping when the time set by the time setting means has elapsed. To propose an audio timer equipped with a timing completion notification means for notifying the user.

(Function) According to claim (L) of the present invention, the time setting means sets the time to be measured, and the elapsed time reporting means notifies the elapsed time from the start of time measurement every predetermined time by voice. .

Further, when the time set by the time setting means has elapsed, the time measurement end notification means notifies that the time measurement has ended.

According to claim (2), the time setting means sets the time to be measured, and the information selection means selects one language information source from a plurality of different types of language information sources. Further, the elapsed time notifying means notifies the elapsed time from the start of time measurement by voice at every predetermined time based on the language of the language information source selected by the information selecting means. Further, the time measurement end notification means notifies that the time measurement has ended when the time set by the time setting means has elapsed.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a voice timer main body (hereinafter referred to as main body), which is shaped like a prismatic bottle and has a cap 11 projecting upward on its top surface, and a momentary button switch on the front surface. A time setting switch 12, a start switch 13, and a liquid crystal display 14 are provided. A variable resistor VR fixed to the main body 10 is disposed below the cap 11, and the resistance value of the variable resistor VR can be changed by rotating the cap 11. Further, a speaker 15 is disposed at the lower part of the front inner side of the main body 10 so that sound can be output to the outside. Furthermore, a connector 16 is disposed at the inner lower part of the rear surface of the main body 10, and an audio memory card 20 can be inserted through a card insertion slot 17 formed at the upper end of the rear surface. (not shown) can be fitted into the connector 16.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electrical circuit in one embodiment. In the figure, 31 is a control unit, which is a CPU.

It is constituted by a ROM, etc., and all controls are performed by a control program stored in the ROM.

32 is a time setting section, analog/digital (hereinafter referred to as A/
It consists of a converter 32a (referred to as D), a resistor R, the aforementioned variable resistor VR, and a time setting switch 12. The resistor R and the variable resistor VR are connected in series and a positive voltage Vc is applied thereto.

Furthermore, the voltage V1 across the variable resistor VR is converted into a digital value by the A/D converter 32a, and
1 is output. Here, the timer time can be set from 0 to 30 minutes in 1 minute increments in accordance with the resistance value of the variable resistor VR. 33 is an oscillator that generates a clock signal of a predetermined frequency. A time counter 34 measures time in units of 1/10 second based on the clock signal output from the oscillator 33 and outputs a measured time (elapsed time) TI to the control section 31. In addition, the clock counter 3
4 becomes an initial state when a reset signal is input from the control unit 31, and starts counting from 0. A display control section 35 outputs a display signal for displaying the remaining time T2 obtained by subtracting the elapsed time T1 from the set time T on the liquid crystal display 14 based on the control signal from the control section 31. Reference numeral 36 denotes an audio notification unit, which transmits audio to the speaker 15 to notify the remaining time T2, etc. based on the audio data output from the control unit 31.
Output from. Power is supplied to each of the aforementioned electric circuits and the audio memory card 20 from a battery (not shown) housed within the main body 10.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electrical circuit of the audio memory card 20 in one embodiment. In the figure, 21 is a memory consisting of a ROM having a storage capacity of 1 Mbyte, 22 is a control circuit, 23 is a power supply control circuit, and 24 is a connector.

The memory 21 stores word segments necessary for audio notification of time and the like, and its data output terminal and address terminal are connected to the connector 24.

The control circuit 22 includes a connector 24 and the aforementioned connector 16.
Control signal C1 and address AD are sent from the control unit 31 via
, and based on these signals, create a control signal C2 that controls the memory 21.
2 is output to the memory 21.

The power supply control circuit 23 receives the power supply +V and the ground signal G from the above-mentioned battery via the connector 16.24, and supplies the memory 21 and the control circuit 22 with the power supply V.

The connector 24 connects the aforementioned signals, power, etc. to the connector 1.
6, the controller 31 has a terminal connected to the control unit 31 and the battery. Furthermore, the connector 24 has two terminals PI and P2 that output electrical signals for specifying a reading routine corresponding to the language type of the word segment stored in the memory 21, such as Japanese, English, French, etc. have. That is, when reading out a word segment for audibly announcing, for example, "15 minutes have passed" from the memory 21 in which Japanese word segments are stored, "juu,""go,""fun," and "keika" are read out. ” ``Shimasu'' must be read out. On the other hand, when reading a word segment for audibly announcing "15 minutes have passed" from the memory 21 where English word segments are stored, the words "fifteen" and "bust" are read out. All you have to do is read out the fragments. In this way, the number of word segments to be read, the presence or absence of word segments that are always used, the order of hours and minutes, etc. differ depending on the type of language, so the number of word segments that are stored in the memory 21 corresponds to the language type. Therefore, the procedure for reading word segments by the control unit 31 must be changed. However, it may be possible to use the same reading procedure even for different languages. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control program of the control unit 31 is provided with three different reading routines, and nine types of audio memory cards 20 corresponding to the languages of the nine countries are provided, so that the time can be read in the nine languages. Audio notifications can be made in any language.

Therefore, the language of the word segment stored in the memory 21 of the voice memory card 20 is transmitted from the voice memory card 20 to the control unit 31 by an electrical signal to which of the three reading routines described above corresponds. The connector 24 is provided with terminals PI and P2 for type confirmation.

In this embodiment, Japanese, Chinese, etc. are used as the first class language corresponding to the first reading routine, English, etc. are used as the second class language corresponding to the second reading routine, and English, etc. are used as the third class language corresponding to the second reading routine. German and other languages are assigned as corresponding third-class languages. Furthermore, the terminal P1 of the connector 24 is set to LSB.

The terminal P2 is set as MSB, and the above-mentioned languages of the first to third classes are made to correspond to each of the binary numbers 0 to 2. For example, in the case of the voice memory card 20 that stores word segments of a second class language, the terminal P1 is connected to the power supply V through the resistor R1 to set it to a high level, and the terminal P2 is connected to the power supply V through the resistor R1.
2 to ground and set to low level. As a result, an electric signal of binary 1 is output from the terminals Pi and P2 of the connector 24, indicating that the word segment stored in the memory 21 is a language of the above-mentioned second class.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration will be explained in FIG.
) (b) will be explained based on the control flowchart.

When using the voice timer, the user inserts the voice memory card 20, which stores word segments in a language that the user understands or a language that suits his/her preferences, into the connector 16 through the card insertion slot 17.

Next, after turning on a power switch (not shown), the user presses and turns on the time setting switch 12, and then turns the cap 11 to change the resistance value of the variable resistor VR and set the time. At this time, the time corresponding to the resistance value of the variable resistor VR is displayed on the liquid crystal display 14, and the time when the time setting switch 12 is turned off is the set time T.
It is said that Thereafter, when the start switch 13 is pressed and turned on, the voice timer starts operating, and the elapsed time is notified by voice every minute, for example. If the start switch 13 is pressed again during operation to turn it on, the voice timer is reset and the operation is stopped.

That is, after the power is supplied, the control unit 31 initializes the set time T to 0 (SPI). Next, it is determined whether or not the time setting switch 12 is on (5P2), and if it is on, the set time T is input from the A/D converter 32a (5P2).
SF3), and display this on the liquid crystal display 14 (S
F3).

If the result of the determination in SP2 is that the time setting switch 12 is off, it is determined whether the set time T is O or not.5P5
), when it is 0, the process moves to the above-mentioned SP2. Also,
If the set time T is not 0, it is determined whether the start switch 13 is turned on (S P 6). As a result of this 0 determination, if the start switch 13 is not turned on, the process moves to SP2, and if it is turned on, the time counter 34 is reset and starts counting from 0 (S
F3).

Next, the control unit 31 calculates the measured time T1 from the time counter 34.
Input (SF3). The remaining time T2 is calculated by subtracting the measured time T1 from the set time T (SF3), and this is displayed on the liquid crystal display 14 (S P10). After this, it is determined whether the 1/10 second digit S' of the clocked time T1 is O or not (SpH). If it is not 0, the process moves to the above SP8, and if it is O, the clocked time T1 is set. It is determined whether it is equal to time T (S P 12). As a result of this determination, if the measured time T1 is equal to the set time T, a buzzer sound is output from the speaker 15 for a predetermined period of time via the audio notification section 36 (SPI3), and then the process shifts to the process of SP2.

As a result of the determination in 5P12, the measured time T1 is the set time T.
is not equal to , the control section 31 switches the start switch 1
3 is turned on (S P 14). As a result of this determination, when the start switch 13 is turned on, the time measurement is stopped and the process moves to the process of SP2. Also,
When the start switch 13 is not turned on, it is determined whether both the 10 second digit S1 and the second digit S2 of the clocked time T1 are O (5P15), and if either or both of these are not 0, the process will be described later. The process moves to step 5P17. Further, when both the 10 seconds and second digits Sl and S2 are O, it is determined whether or not the audio memory card 20 is inserted into the connector 16 (S P 16). This determination is made based on whether a specific terminal of the connector 16 is at a low level. As a result of this determination, connector 1
If the audio memory card 20 is not inserted in the
After outputting a "beep" sound from the speaker 15 via the audio notification unit 36 (SPI7), the process moves to the process of SP8.

As a result of the determination in 5P16, if the voice memory card 20 is inserted into the connector 16, the language type of the word segment stored in the memory 21 is read from the terminals PL and P2 of the connector 24 (SPI8). Next, it is determined whether the type of the read language is a language of the first category (SPI9). As a result of this judgment, if the language is in the first category, the first reading routine described above should be selected.
20), the process moves to 5P24, which will be described later. In addition, if the type of language read is other than the first category language,
Determine whether the language is in the second category (SP21)
. As a result of this judgment, if the language is in the second category, the above-mentioned second
Please select the reading routine of 5P22), which will be described later.
The process moves to P24. Also, if the language is not in the second category, select the third reading routine described above (SP
23).

Next, the control unit 31 stores the elapsed time (clocked time) T from the memory 21 of the audio memory card 20 based on the clocked time T1.
Read out the word segments necessary to vocalize I (SP
24). At this time, the read routine selected in the processing of steps 5P19 to 5P23 is used. Thereafter, the control unit 31 transfers the audio data to the audio notification unit 36 based on the word segment read from the memory 21 of the audio memory card 20.
After outputting the elapsed time T1 to the voice notification (SP25)
, proceed to the processing of SP8.

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, a beep sound is output from the speaker 15 every second, and the elapsed time T is output every minute.
1 is announced by voice, it is possible to confirm that the timer is operating, and it is also possible to easily know the elapsed time T1 since the timer started counting. Furthermore, the elapsed time T
1 can be easily selected as the language for voice notification, a language that the user can understand or a language that suits his/her preference.

In this embodiment, nine types of voice memory cards 20 corresponding to the languages of the aforementioned nine countries and three readout routines are provided, but it is also possible to provide voice memory cards 20 corresponding to the languages of other countries. It goes without saying that the number of reading routines may be increased.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connector 2 of the audio memory card 20
The reading routine corresponding to the language of the word segment stored in the memory 21 is selected by reading the electrical states of specific terminals Pi and P2 of the memory 21, but the present invention is not limited to this. Never. For example, memory 2
Data for selecting the read routine may be stored at one specific address.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to claim (1) of the present invention, the elapsed time notifying means notifies the elapsed time from the start of timekeeping every predetermined time by voice, so the timer does not operate. In addition to being able to confirm that the clock is running, it is also possible to easily know the remaining time until the end of the time measurement.

According to claim (2), in addition to the above effects, the elapsed time is announced by voice based on the language of the language information source selected by the information selection means, so that the elapsed time is announced in a language that the user can understand or This has the excellent effect of allowing you to easily select a language that suits your preferences.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit in one embodiment, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of an audio memory card in one embodiment, and FIG. Figures (a) and (b) are control flowcharts in one embodiment. 10...Body, 11...Cap, 12...Time setting switch, 13...Start switch, 14...
・l Product display, 15...Speaker, 16...
- Connector, 17... Card insertion slot, 20... Audio memory card, 31... Control section, 32... Time setting section, 33... Oscillator, 34... Time counter, 35
...Display control section, 36... Audio notification section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A time setting means for setting the time to be measured; a time measurement end notification means for notifying the end of time measurement when the time set by the time setting means has elapsed; An audio timer characterized by comprising: an elapsed time notification means that provides audio notification. (2) a time setting means for setting a time to be measured; an information selection means for selecting one linguistic information source from a plurality of different types of linguistic information sources; and a linguistic information source selected by the information selection means. elapsed time notifying means for notifying the elapsed time after the start of timekeeping every predetermined time based on the language of the user; and timekeeping end notifying means for notifying the end of timekeeping when the time set by the time setting means has elapsed. A voice timer comprising: