WO2004059105A1

WO2004059105A1 - Digital tomb monument

Info

Publication number: WO2004059105A1
Application number: PCT/HR2003/000063
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ante Sundov
Original assignee: Ante Sundov
Priority date: 2002-12-27
Filing date: 2003-12-17
Publication date: 2004-07-15
Also published as: HRP20021034A2; AU2003286275A1

Abstract

The digital tomb monument enables multimedia presentation (text, sound, photography and short films) of previously recorded data on one or more persons to who the monument is dedicated. The digital monument includes the housing (1), containing the LCD monitor (2) for presentation of the stored data, the solar panel (3) for recharging of the battery, the loudspeaker (5) for reproduction of sound recordings, the hard disc (6) for storage of data and software, the graphic card (7) and the sound card (8) that enable presentation of sound and video, the CD-ROM (10) for presentation of subsequently recorded data, and the battery (11) that can alternatively be connected to an exterior power supply system. The digital tomb monument is placed at the front end of the tomb, in front of the feet, so that the entire tomb surface remains free for floral decoration. The digital tomb monument enables safe storage for new generations of information of great value, of personal, cultural or historic nature.

Description

DIGITAL TOMB MONUMENT

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

1. FIELD OF APPLICATION

The invention relates to tomb monuments fitted with digital devices for multimedial displaying of data previously recorded on CD-ROM, on one or more persons to who the monument is erected.

In the International Patent Classification it is classified as E - Fixed constructions.

E 04 - Building. E 04 H - Buildings or like structures for particular purposes; swimming or splash baths or pools; masts; fencing; tents or canopies, in general.

13/00 - Monuments; Tombs; Burial vaults; Columbaria.

The subject matter of the invention can also be classified as G 11 B - Information storage.

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The problem of tombstones with classical or ordinary monuments are the insufficient or inadequate spaces for presentation and storage, over a longer period of time, of larger volumes of data or information on the person or persons resting in the tomb.

Tombs are normally built of traditional building materials such as stone, marble, cement, metal, glass, etc. However, tombs are among few fields where there is the need and, yet, there is no application of the latest sophisticated information- technology achievements.

The technical problem that is solved by this invention is design and making of tomb monument fitted with electronic, digital devices for multimedial, visual and sound, presentation of a large number of previously recorded data on the person or persons resting in the grave. 3. STATE OF THE ART

The present tomb monuments are made of stone or marble, positioned above the head, and engraved names and years of birth and death of the dead. Some tomb monuments are specially designed, with or without sculptures, and with several textual messages, recalling the dead. Under bad weather conditions, tombs get a dark colour that, due to poor maintenance, further damages the tomb surface, so that the engraved texts become hardly legible.

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The essence of the invention is a tomb monument, placed above the front end of the tomb. The digital tomb monument comprises housing containing digital devices that enable multimedial, visual and sound, presentation of previously recorded data on one or more persons resting in the tomb. For this purpose, in the housing there is placed an LCD monitor, activated by touch, a loudspeaker and a sound card, a hard disc and a CD ROM. The device is supplied with electricity power from a battery that is recharged by solar cells fitted in the monument housing or, alternatively, by connecting to the power supply network.

Digital monuments, by this invention, will create a completely new approach to designing of tombs, regardless of the materials and the electronic components that particular parts and circuits will be made of.

Subject to certain limitation, firstly because of the graveyard piety, e.g. limited sound output, digital monuments will provide perfect possibilities for storage and multimedial presentation of selected data and information of particular value, personal, cultural or historic.

5. ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTIONS

Figure 1. shows the digital tomb monument - front view. Figure 2. shows the digital tomb monument - side view. Figure 3. shows the digital tomb monument - back view. Figure 4. shows the digital tomb monument - cross-section A-A, Figure 1. Figure 5. shows the digital tomb monument - perspective view. Figure 6. shows the digital tomb monument - panoramic view.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN INVENTION EMBODIMENT

The digital tomb monument, as shown in Figures 1, 2., 3. and 4., comprises the housing 1, containing the LCD monitor 2 that displays recorded data and is activated by touch, the solar panel 3 that recharges the batteries, the loudspeaker 5 that reproduces sound recordings, the hard disc 6 that stores the data and the software, the graphic card 7 and the sound card 8 that enable presentation of the picture and the sound, the CD-ROM 10 that presents subsequently recorded data, the batteries 11, the wiring 5, the plug 12 for connecting the batteries to the alternative, external, power supply, and the screws 13 that fix the monument to the foundations. The housing is covered with the lid 9 at its back side. While the monument is turned off, that is, passive, it resembles a classical tomb monument with engraved basic information over a predetermined area at the front side of the housing 1 of the monument.

The digital tomb monument is activated only when so wished, by touching the LCD monitor 2. When activated, aided by the software menus and offered options, the digital device presents in a multimedial manner (by text, sound, photographs or short films) at the monitor 2 the selected information about the person or persons resting in the tomb, previously recorded at the disc 6 or the CD-ROM 10. The digital tomb monument is weather resistant. It can also be powered alternatively - through the external network, by the connection 12. The built in solar panel 3 enables use of the solar energy for recharging the battery 11. The LCD monitor 2 can be provided with a protective cover, to protect it from sunshine and rain. The digital tomb monument is placed opposite of the classical monument, in front of the feet, Figure 6. This way, the visitors do not step on the tomb slab when using the digital monument, the slab thus remaining free for floral decoration. The shape and size of the digital tomb monument are not protected hereby and depend on the appearance of the tomb and its surroundings.

7. INVENTION APPLICATION

The digital tomb monument, provided with the digital devices for multimedial presentation of data previously recorded on the CD-ROM, on one or more persons to who the tomb is dedicated, makes a new technical solution that is going to become part of a computerised graveyard. Ail electronic parts are enclosed and hermetically sealed in the monument housing, thus fully protected from adverse whether conditions. The digital tomb monument can be made of various materials and of various colours, adequate to the rest of the tomb.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Digital tomb monument that enables multimedial, text, sound, photography and short films, presentation of previously recorded data wh e re in , it comprises the housing (1), containing the LCD monitor (2) that is activated by touch and serves presentation of previously recorded textual and video information on one or more persons to who the monument is dedicated; it is provided with the solar panel (3) that enables recharging the battery by solar energy; it is provided with the loudspeaker (5) for reproduction of sound recordings; it is provided with the hard disc (6) for storage of the software that controls the digital monument and of the data; it is provided with the graphic card (7) and the sound card (8) that enable presentation of sound and video; it is provided with the CD-ROM (10) for presentation of subsequently recorded data; it is provided with the electric battery (11) that powers all electronic components; and it is provided with the plug (12) for connecting of the battery to the external power supply.

2. The digital tomb monument, as claimed in Claim 1, wh e re in it is placed at the front end of the tomb, in front of the feet, so that the entire tomb surface remains free for floral decoration.