JPS6151746B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] The present invention stores arbitrary sounds in advance,
This invention relates to an alarm clock that outputs a memorized sound when the alarm setting time comes.

[Background Art] The alarm of conventional alarm clocks has been triggered by a buzzer, a bell, or by a sound that has been fixedly stored by the manufacturer of the clock. Such alarms are uniform and, for example, when used as an alarm clock, cannot sufficiently meet the preferences of individual consumers, and are therefore not satisfactory in terms of comfortable or reliable wake-up. Ta.

On the other hand, as an improvement on this point, by using a magnetic head as a means for storing (recording) and reading (playing) arbitrary sounds, arbitrary sounds can be stored in advance and the alarm set time can be set. An alarm clock that outputs a memorized sound when the alarm occurs is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 18070-1970.

This device included a movable switch that was turned on when the current time and the alarm setting time matched, and a fixed switch that switched between recording and playback, and the movable switch was turned on in both recording and playback situations. Therefore, a mechanical interlocking member is required between the two switches, which complicates the structure. Also, during playback, the magnetic head must be energized while the movable switch is on, or it must be turned off at a predetermined time. In order to do this, we had to add more parts. In addition, although there is no clear description, a member for resetting the magnetic head after recording to a playback standby state is also required. In other words, it involves various problems when put into practical use.

Further, an alarm clock is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 117170/1983 in which an audio signal is converted into a digital signal and fixedly stored in advance, rather than in a magnetic head. Therefore, although it is possible to replace the magnetic head of the alarm clock disclosed in JP-A-50-18070 with a digital signal storage means, problems not directly related to the magnetic head still remain. .

In recent years, speech synthesis or speech digital conversion technology called PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) has been in the spotlight. This PCM samples an audio signal, which is an analog quantity, at a certain time interval.
D-convert, store this digital amount in memory sequentially, and conversely read out the stored contents of memory sequentially to convert D-
The audio signal can be reproduced by performing A conversion. According to the sampling theorem that the upper limit of the frequency at which speech recognition can be performed is 4KHz, this method is 1/
(2 x 4KHz) = time series information that can be sampled every 125 μS, so it requires large capacity memory, but recent advances in semiconductor technology have led to larger capacity and lower cost memory, and it has been adopted for alarm clocks. I'm starting to see that I can do it.

[Object of the invention] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and
The purpose of this is to simplify the configuration of an alarm clock that stores a desired sound in advance and outputs the stored sound when the alarm setting time arrives, and to create an improved alarm clock that works well. We are here to provide you with a watch.

[Disclosure of the Invention] The present invention organically combines speech synthesis or speech digital conversion technology with a clock.
The above objectives have been achieved.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

1 is the clock means of the alarm clock, which includes a crystal oscillator 2 serving as a time reference frequency source, a count circuit 3 that oscillates together with the oscillator 2 and divides the frequency to count the current time, and a display of the current time and alarm setting time. A time setting circuit 4 that stores mode switching and alarm setting times, a key switch 5 that sets the current time and alarm setting time, a display section 6 that displays the current time and/or alarm setting time, and the contents of the count circuit 3 ( A comparator 7 that compares the memory content (alarm setting time) of the time setting circuit 4 with the current time and outputs a coincidence detection signal when they match, and a comparator 7 that receives the coincidence detection signal of the comparator 7 and issues various control signals. It has a control circuit 8 that starts as soon as possible.

9 is a digital signal conversion means, which includes a microphone 10 that inputs an audio signal, an amplifier circuit 11 that amplifies the analog signal output of the microphone 10, and a sampling circuit that samples the analog signal output amplified by the amplifier circuit 11 at predetermined intervals. 1
2. A-D conversion circuit 13 that converts the analog signal sampled by sampling circuit 12 from analog to digital; power supply circuit 14 that supplies operating voltage to each of these circuits 11, 12, and 13; and sampling circuit 12 and A. - A clock signal generation circuit 17 that supplies a clock signal to the D conversion circuit 13, a timing circuit 16 that determines the operating time of the power supply circuit 14 and the clock signal generation circuit 17, and a timing circuit 1.
6. For example, this timing circuit 16 inputs the voice "It's 6 o'clock. It's time to wake up." and outputs it at a desired time, so the predetermined time is set to 5 seconds.
Further, the clock signal generation circuit 17 generates an 8KHz clock signal to enable speech recognition.

18 is a memory means for storing the output of the digital signal converting means 9, that is, the digital signal output of the A-D converting circuit 13;
It has a capacity of 320Kbit consisting of 20 chips of 21, and has a chip enable signal from the control circuit 8.
The above output is stored in response to an address signal and a read/write designation signal designating a write mode. Here, the audio signal is sampled at 8KHz, and each sampling is converted to a digital amount of 8Kbit, so for example, if the voice saying "It's 6 o'clock. It's time to wake up" is for 4 seconds, 8Kbit x 8
×10 × 4 = 256 Kbit, and if audio is input for the entire 5 seconds, a memory capacity of 320 Kbit is also required.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a sounding means for reading out the memory contents of the memory means 18, converting them from D to A, and outputting an audio signal. Memory 19, 20, ......
21 to an analog signal, an amplifier circuit 24 that amplifies the analog signal output of the DA converter circuit 23, and a speaker that produces sound from the analog signal output amplified by the amplifier circuit 24. It has 25.

As described above, the control circuit 8 in this circuit component is connected so that its output is supplied to the memory means 18 as a chip enable signal, an address signal, and a read/write designation signal, and also starts the timing circuit 16. The control circuit 8 is also connected to be started by the output of the timing circuit 16. Moreover, the control circuit 8 includes the timing circuit 16
When started with only the output of , the write mode of the read/write designation signal is specified, and when started with the coincidence detection signal of the comparator 7, the read mode of the read/write designation signal is specified.

The operation of an alarm clock with such a circuit configuration will be explained. First, when inputting any audio, switch 1
5 and speak into microphone 10.
In other words, the timing circuit 16 that receives the signal from the closing of the switch 15 operates each circuit 8, 1 for only 5 seconds.
Operate 4, 17. Therefore, the power supply circuit 14
The audio signal is converted into a digital signal by an amplifier circuit 11 to which an operating voltage is applied, and a sampling circuit 12 and an A-D converter circuit 13 to which an 8 KHz clock is supplied from a clock signal generating circuit 17. In this case, the control circuit 8 is the timing circuit 1
6, the read/write designation signal specifies the write mode, the chip enable signal sequentially selects each memory 19, 20, ...21, and the address signal selects each memory 19, 2.
Specify an address within 0,...21. However, when a voice saying "It's 6 o'clock. It's time to wake up." is input, the timing circuit 16, the clock signal generation circuit 17, and the memories 19, 20, ......2
One time chart is as shown in FIG. 2, and the sampling state of the audio signal is as shown in FIG. 3, and the digital audio signals are stored in the memories 19, 20, . . . 21.

Next, when it is desired to read out the stored contents as described above at a desired time, for example 6 o'clock, the key switch 5 causes the time setting circuit 4 to read out the alarm setting time 6.
Remember the time.

As a result, the count circuit 3 counts the current time, and when the current time coincides with 6 o'clock stored in the time setting circuit 4, the comparator 7 outputs a coincidence detection signal. Therefore, the control circuit 8 started by the coincidence detection signal starts the timing circuit 16 to operate the power supply circuit 14, the clock signal generation circuit 17, and itself for 5 seconds, and the read/write designation signal designates the read mode. Then, each memory 19, 20, . . . 21 is sequentially selected by the chip enable signal, and each memory 19, 20, .
...Specify the address within 21. Therefore, each memory 1
The stored contents of 9, 20, .

If you want to change the memorized message "It's 6 o'clock. It's time to wake up.", close the switch 15, cover the front of the microphone 10 with your hand, wait 5 seconds, and then switch the switch 15 again. For example, if you close the
It's time. If you don't wake up, you'll be late. ” All you have to do is say.

In the embodiment, a device for storing 5 seconds of audio has been described, but if a memory means with a large memory capacity is used, it is possible to store audio for a longer period of time, and furthermore, the control contents of the control circuit 8 can be changed as appropriate. Then, it is possible to store different sounds at different times.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, by simply closing the switch that starts the timing circuit, any sound can be stored even if there is no coincidence detection signal between the current time and the alarm setting time. You can output the memorized audio when a signal is received, so
Unlike conventional systems, mechanical interlocking members are not required, and the circuit components that operate to store and output audio are operated only for a predetermined time by a timing circuit, so there is no unnecessary power consumption and As a result, an alarm clock that emits an alarm that suits the consumer's taste has a simplified configuration and has a good effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a time chart of its timing circuit, clock signal generation circuit, and memory, and FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the sampling state of the audio signal. Chart. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Clock means, 2... Crystal oscillator, 3... Count circuit, 4... Time setting circuit, 6... Display section, 7... Comparator, 8... Control circuit, 9...
...Digital signal conversion means, 10...Microphone, 12...Sampling circuit, 13...A-D
Conversion circuit, 14... Power supply circuit, 15... Switch, 16... Timing circuit, 17... Clock signal generation circuit, 18... Memory means, 22...
means of pronunciation.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A count circuit that counts the current time based on a signal from a time reference frequency source, a display section that displays the current time, a time setting circuit that stores an alarm setting time, and a count circuit that stores the alarm setting time. A comparator that compares the contents of the time setting circuit with the contents of the time setting circuit and outputs a coincidence detection signal when they match; a clock means having a control circuit that starts when the coincidence detection signal of the comparator is input; and a microphone that inputs an audio signal. a sampling circuit that samples the analog signal output of the microphone at predetermined time intervals; an A-D conversion circuit that converts the analog signal sampled by the sampling circuit from analog to digital; a power supply circuit that supplies an operating voltage to the conversion circuit; the sampling circuit;
- digital signal converting means having a clock signal generation circuit that supplies a clock signal to the D conversion circuit, a timing circuit that determines the operating time of the power supply circuit and the clock signal generation circuit, and a switch that starts the timing circuit; a memory means for storing the digital signal output of the A-D converter circuit; and a memory means for reading the memory contents of the memory means.
The control circuit also starts with the output of the timing circuit, starts the timing circuit with the output, and stores the output in the memory means. The circuit is connected to supply a chip enable signal, an address signal, and a read/write designation signal, and when started only by the output of the timing circuit, the write mode is specified, and when started by the match detection signal of the comparator, the write mode is specified. Alarm clock that specifies read mode.