GB2472212A

GB2472212A - Integrated circuit comprising a stimulus reactive audible announcer

Info

Publication number: GB2472212A
Application number: GB0913105A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Boaz Mina; Yoash Idy Mina
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-28
Filing date: 2009-07-28
Publication date: 2011-02-02
Also published as: GB0913105D0

Abstract

A unitary integrated circuit (UIC) 10 comprises: a memory (24) for storing announcing data, a sensor module (27) for detecting a physical quantity such as temperature, light or a chemical; a timer (32); and at least one announcing module which includes a speaker (28). The UIC 10 further includes a processor (20) which is used for at least controlling the sensor module (27), announcing module, timer (32) and memory (24). An electric energy supply means, such as a battery or solar cell (30), is used for supplying energy to the UIC 10. When the sensor module (27) detects a physical quantity the speaker (28) produces an announcement. The UIC may be attached to the inner side of items such as newspapers, books, toys, food packets 92, bottles, jars or other packaging such that when the item is opened to reveal the UIC the sensor (27) activates the announcing module.

Description

INTELLECTUAL

. .... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No. GB09 13105.3 RTM Date:26 November 2009 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Panasonic Kinder Ferrero Sony Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk

STIMULUS REACTIVE ANNOUNCER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to announcing electronic devices, in particular the present invention relates to light and chemical reacting electronic announcing devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices which include an integrated circuit and various other electric components employed as sound-generating and light detector are well known.

Such devices are addressed for example in W02008/404375 and US2001001 1495. International application, W02008/404375 describes a flame-producing device, particularly a candle having a body of combustible material and a wick further includes an optical fiber which extends along the wick to a sensor and carries light from the flame for detection by the sensor. The sensor activates a sound-generator embodied in an integrated circuit (chip) to produce a series of signals which are converted by a speaker into an audible melody, so that the lighting of the candle will result in operation of the sound-generating device operating continuously until the candle is extinguished. The chip and various other components of the electric circuitry of the sound-generating device are situated in a casing which is located at the lower region of the candle. The optical fiber is of a material which melts when exposed to the heat of the flame and forms a lenticulate end portion that concentrates the light emitted by the flame into the optical fiber.

US patent application US200I 0011495 describes a music box that plays music or another sound only when the lid is opened. The music is stored in a S memory device. This can allow for a selection of various songs or sounds, as well as selections of longer duration than typically found in standard mechanical music boxes. Likewise, the output from this memory device is triggered by a light sensitive sensor. The sensor can be located on either the box or its id, but it is located so that it is obscured from light when the lid is closed.

Devices which include a chip and various other electric circuitry components capable of generating sound, as well as a light detector arrangement as described above are used for a specific implementation.

It is thus at least one of the objects of the present invention to provide a unitary integrated circuit which includes an integrated light I chemical detector(s) and integrated sound generator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to announcing electronic devices, in particular the present invention r&ates to light and chemical reacting electronic announcing devices.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a unitary integrated circuit (UIC) for providing announcements. The UIC includes, a memory for storing announcing data, a sensor module reactive to physical and chemical stimuli, a timer; at least one announcing module. The UIC further includes a processor which is used for at least controlling the sensor module, announcing module, timer and memory. An electric energy supply means is used for supplying energy to the UIC. Whereupon detecting physical quantity, by the sensor module, a speaker of said at least one announcing module produces an announcement.

BRtEF DESCRtPTON OF THE DRAWtNGS The invention may be understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Fig. I is a schematic block diagram showing the main components of a unitary integrated circuit of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an isometric view, showing one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an isometric view, showing another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is an isometric view, showing of the unitary integrated circuit of the invention positioned within a bag of food snack; The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or darity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers wifi be used throughout the drawings and the foflowing

description to refer to the same and like parts.

S DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to Fig. 1 there is shown a schematic block diagram showing the main components of physical and/or chemical reactive announcing unitary integrated circuit (UIC) 10 of the present invention. UIC 10 ndudes processor 20, which controls memory 24, announcing module (e.g. display 26 and/or speaker 28) sensor modules 27 (e.g light, temperature and chemical sensor modules), and timer 32. An analogue to digital converter, not shown, is used to convert the analogue out put signal of sensor modules 27 to digital data to be further processed by processor 20. A digital to analogue converter, not shown is used to convert processor's 20 audible digital data to analogue data to be received by speaker 28 for producing audible sound. Electric energy supply means for example battery and/or solar cell 30 provide electrical energy to the components of integrated circuit 10 of the present invention. In situations in which the solar cell is not exposed to light, battery 30 can provide energy to UIC 10.

Memory 24 stores announcing data which can be modified for example by introducing new announcing multimedia data to memory 24. Sensor modules 27 (light and chemical sensor modules) when exposed to light and/or a specific chemical respectively, processor 20 implements a procedure for controlling timing the announcing data to be sent to speaker 28 and/or display 26.

Examples of data announcing timing and control scenarios are descrthed below: A. Upon detecting physical quantity such as light and/or a spedflc chemical, by the sensor module, speaker 28 produces an audible announcement and/or display 26 displays a displayable announcement.

B. Upon detecting light and/or a specific chemical, by the sensor module, S speaker 28 produces a different audible announcement and/or display 26 displays a different displayable announcing for every exposure in a sequence of exposures.

C. Timer 32 enables to play audib'e and/or displayable announcements at pre-defined time periods after sensor module responsiveness e.g. to light exposure.

D. Upon detecting light and/or a specific chemical, by the sensor module, during the exposure to light and/or specific chemical, several different displayable and/or audible announcements are played as predetermined and implemented by processor 20.

E. a different audible announcement is produced for every exposure to a different physical quantity.

Preferably, UIC 10 is small and thin owing to the miniature components employed in the make-up of the device. For example micro speaker Panasonic electronic device (PED) which is a thin-type electrodynamics micro speaker with measures 2 cm x 1 cm and 1.5mm thick is used. In some embodiments of the present invention UIC 10 uses instead of memory 24 and processor 20 or in addition to, a miniature RFID chip which is typica'ly manufactured using a Silicon-on-Insulator process. In other embodiments of the present invention, optical RFID (ORFID) chip are used and with such implementation the antenna of an RFID can be replaced with photovoltaic components and IR-LEDs on the ORFID. Typical optical RFID operates in the electromagnetic spectrum between the frequencies of 333 THz (3.33x 1014 hertz, 900 nm wavelength), 380 THz (788 nm) and 750 THz (400 nm wavelength).

S The light and/or chemical reactive announcing unitary integrated circuit of the present invention can be used in various implementations. Below, a description of some selected examples of such implementations is given.

Example 1:

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention UICIO is attached to the inner side, normally concealed sector of a newspaper, a magazine or a book. In operation, when a user opens for example a book or a newspaper, if the page on which the unitary integrated circuit is attached is exposed, sensor module 27 being exposed to light intensity and as a resuft processor 20 controls memory 24, micro-speaker 28, timer 32 and display 26 to produce an audible and/or a displayable announcement. The aforementioned examples of data announcing timing and control scenarios can be applied also to the book/magazine/newspaper applications. The announcing data could be for example audible advertisements, sound of a particular character in the book etc.

Example 2:

In accordance with some other embodiments of the present invention UIC 10 is attached to the inner side of a toy or a package of toys such as a kinder egg and package of cards respectively. A kinder egg (also known as a kinder surprise) is a confection manufactured by Italian company named Ferrero. It has the form of a hollow chocolate egg containing a sma toy in the lumen, usuaUy to be assembled. In operation, when the inner side of a toy or package of a toy is exposed to light, an audible and/or displayable announcing is produced for example as described in example 1.

S Example 3:

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention UIC 10 is attached to the inner side of pack of solid food (e.g. corn flakes) or liquid (e.g. milk, juice etc.). In other embodiments of the present invention the UIC 10 is attached to the inner sidewall of a lid of a bottle, jar or a can.

In operation, when the inner sidewall of such pack or the inner side wall of the lid is exposed to light, an audible and/or displayable announcement is produced for example as described in example 1. In some other embodiments of the present invention chemical sensor 27, for example a pH meter which measures the level of acidity is used to sense the smell of a specific food to determine if the food (or other perishable items such as medicine) is suitable for consumption or not. If the food is not suitable for consumption an appropriate audible and/or displayable announcing will be announced. In cases in which UIC 10 is installed within a lumen of a pack which includes liquid, UIC 10 is covered with transparent material such as silicon which seals integrated circuit 10 hermetically, preventing access of liquid. In some other embodiments of the present invention liquid -resistant micro speaker is used. Referring now to Fig. 2 there is shown one embodiment of the present invention in which UIC 10 is attached to the inner sidewall of lid 34 of jar 36 by glue for example. Another attaching means of UIC 10 to the inner side of lid 34 is transparent disc 37 typically made of plastic that is secured by plurality of prongs 38 protruding from the inner side wa of lid 34. When the inner sidewa of lid 34 is exposed to light above some threshold of intensity, an audible and/or displayable announcement is made. Referring now to Fig. 3 there is shown another embodiment of the present invention in which a solar cell 42 is attached to the outer surface of an S object, e.g. lid 34 and is used for supplying electrical energy to UIC 10.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention UIC lOis attached to the inner sidewall of a package for example of cigarettes, medicines, e'ectronic products, cosmetics, ice cream, perfumes etc. When UIC is exposed to light, micro speaker can produce special sound alerts, audib'e warnings, audible guidance (e.g. guidance as to how to assemble parts stored within a package and usage instructions) and audib'e statement which states that a purchased product is an origina' product (e.g. "thank you for purchasing Sony's original product").

Referring now to Fig. 4 a reaUstic view, showing a hand 90 holding torn -open bag 92 of food snack particles 94 among which particles is located discoid UIC 10 within the bag. In operation, when the inner side of bag 92 is opened and exposed to light, an audib'e and/or displayable announcement is produced by UC 10.

In some embodiments of the present invention UIC 10 is normally exposed to light, for example as a resu't of attaching it to the outer surface of an object and not to the inner side of the object's surface for example as described in the aforementioned exemplary embodiments. Upon UIC 10 non-exposure to light for example by a cover which block light from reaching to the UIC announcing data is introduced to display 26 and/or speaker 28. In some embodiments of the present invention the U IC's light sensor is covered wfth a detachable cover, not shown. When the detachable cover s detached from UIC the light sensor is exposed to ight and announcing data is introduced to display 26 and/or speaker 28.

S It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and that there are various embodiments of the present invention that may be devised, mutatis mutandis, and that the features described in the above-described embodiments, and those not described herein, may be used separately or in any suitable combination; and the invention can be devised in accordance with embodiments not necessarily described above.

Claims

CLAtMS 1. A unitary integrated circuit (UIC) for providing announcements, comprising: * a memory for storing announcing data; * a sensor module; * a timer; * at least one announcing module; * a processor for at least controffing said sensor module, announcing module, timer and memory; * an electric energy supply means for supp'ying energy to said UIC; and, whereupon detecting physical quantity, by said sensor modu'e, a speaker of said at least one announcing module produces an announcement.
2. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said sensor module is selected from the group consisting at least one of temperature sensor, chemical sensor and light sensor.
3. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 2, wherein said chemical sensor is a pH meter.
4. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said speaker is a micro-speaker type.
5. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said announcing module comprises a display for displaying said announcing data.
6. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said UIC is attached to the inner side, normal'y concealed sector of a newspaper, a magazine or a book, whereupon opening of said newspaper, magazine or a book and exposing said UIC, an announcement s produced.
7. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said electric energy supply means is a battery.
8. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said electric energy supply means is a solar ceU.
9. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said UIC is attached to the inner side of a pack of solid food or liquid.
10. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said UIC is attached to the inner sidewall of a lid of a bottle, jar or a can.
11. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein upon said non-exposure to ight of said UIC, an announcing data is introduced to said display and/or said speaker.
12. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said UIC is covered with a transparent material which seals said UC hermetically, preventing access of liquid.
13. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim 4, wherein said micro-speaker is a liquid -resistant micro speaker.
14. The unitary integrated circuit according to claim I wherein said timer enables to play audible and/or displayable announcements at pre-defined time periods after sensor module responsiveness to said sensor module exposure.
15. The unitary integrated circuit according to daim 1 wherein said UIC further comprises optical RFID.
16. The unitary integrated circuit according to daim 1, wherein a different audib'e announcement is produced for every exposure in a sequence of exposures, upon detecting physica' quantity by said sensor modu'e.
17. The unitary ntegrated circuit according to c'aim 1, wherein a different S audib'e announcement is produced for every exposure to a different physca quantity.
18. The unitary integrated circuit according to c'aim 1, wherein said UC is attached to the inner side of a toy and/or the package of said toy.
19. The unitary integrated circuit according to daim 1, wherein said UC is attached to the inner side of a package of an dectronic product.
20. The unitary integrated circuit according to daim 1, wherein said UC tight sensor is covered with a detachab'e cover.Amended claims have been filed as follows:-STIMULUS REACTIVE ANNOUNCERCLAIMS1. A method for providing announcements regarding the properties of material packaged in a pack, in which at least a light sensitive sensor associated with a processor, said method comprising the steps of: exposing said light sensitive sensor to light; said processor receiving data of said sensor a speaker associated with said processor producing an audible sound, related to the time of a clock associated with a timing of a timer; and wherein said announcement is different than an announcement produced before, at a previous exposure, and wherein said material is any type of material selected from a group consisting of: medicine, cosmetics and food.2. A method for providing announcements regarding the properties of material packaged in a pack as in claim 1 and wherein said announcement produced at a previous exposure was an announcement relating to the originality of a product within said pack.3. A method for providing announcements regarding the properties of material packaged in a pack as in claim 2, and wherein said material packaged in said pack is a medicine.4. A method for providing announcements regarding the properties of material packaged in a pack as in claim 1 and wherein for a given exposure an audible warning is produced relating to a time within a predefined time period.5. A method for providing announcements regarding the properties of material packaged in a pack as in claim 1 and wherein in addition to said light sensitive sensor, a senor of pH detects a certain pH quantity.6. A method for providing announcements regarding the properties of 0) is material packaged in a pack as in claim 1 and wherein in addition to said light sensitive sensor, a senor of temperature detects a certain temperature quantity