Abstract:
The device for announcing prayer times provides for announcement of Muslim prayer times by recitation of athan throughout a large but localized area, e.g., a large office building or structure, a school or hospital, or a public transportation terminal, stadium, mall, etc. The device includes a single geographically fixed central unit initially programmed according to local geographical area and calendar to provide accurate output of the specific times for Muslim prayer, which are based upon the angle of the sun. While the sun angles for prayer remain constant, prayer times vary according to calendar. The central unit transmits cable or wireless audio signals to a geographically fixed auxiliary unit that transmits signals to one or more remote speakers. The central unit includes a clock display, and may include a radio and/or television receiver and/or DVD player providing output to a video screen to display various programs and messages.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of my prior application Ser. No. 13/252,094, filed Oct. 3, 2011, now pending. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to audio and video annunciator and notification systems, and particularly to a device for announcing prayer times that combines an automated call to prayer for Muslims with an audio and video player for presentations over a geographically fixed localized area. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The term “athan” means the traditional periodic call to prayer for devout Muslims, and particularly an Islamic text used to call Muslims to prayer. This word may have alternative spellings in the English language, e.g., “adhan,” “azan,” or similar spellings. The term “athan” is used consistently herein, but it will be understood that other spellings having essentially the same intended meaning are equivalent. The athan is an important part of the observant Muslim&#39;s life. Devout Muslims are obligated to pray at certain times during the day, and are expected to note the appropriate times accordingly. The five daily prayers include an early morning prayer, a noon prayer, a mid-afternoon prayer, a sunset prayer, and an evening prayer. The specific times for these prayers will vary in different geographic regions and with the time of the year according to the position of the sun, which makes it even more difficult for the devout Muslim to observe these times accurately. 
     Traditionally, in Muslim countries, a muezzin (a person who issues the call to prayer) would ascend the minaret, which is a tall tower incorporated into or adjoining a mosque, and recite the athan to call Muslims to prayer shortly before the designated time of prayer. Although muezzins still exist, often the call to prayer is announced by a recording broadcast by loudspeakers mounted on a minaret or the top of a multi-story building so that the call to prayer sounds out over the rooftops. In non-Muslim countries, reliance is placed on printed prayer charts, computer programs, and Muslim Web sites that provide the precise prayer times for any date and location. Nevertheless, such devices are not always reliable. Computer programs, for example, require that the computer be powered on at all times, and are subject to failure from power outages, power surges, and other events that may stop or interrupt execution of the Athan software program. 
     Thus, a device for announcing prayer times solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The device for announcing prayer times is configured to provide an athan, or Muslim call to prayer, throughout a relatively large but geographically fixed localized area, such as a public transportation terminal, an office building or structure, a mall, a school or hospital, etc. The system includes a programmable central or base unit having a database programmed specifically for the local geographic area and calendar. The central unit also contains programming to determine the specific times for prayer according to the local geographic area and the date, as the prayer times are based upon the angle of the sun and the times vary depending upon the specific geographical location and date. Since the system is intended to remain essentially permanently in the same location once it has been installed, there is no need for continuing input of geographic location (e.g., via UPS, etc.) after the system has been programmed with such geographic location data at the time of installation. A clock display is also provided. A backup power supply provides the required reliability. 
     The central or base unit communicates with an auxiliary unit displayed upon a wall sconce or the like as a decorative display. The communication may be by means of an electrical cable or wireless signal, or some combination thereof. The auxiliary unit communicates with one or more (preferably several) remotely located speakers distributed throughout the area or structure to provide the necessary audible notification. The speakers may be powered from the local electrical power grid, or may contain independent electrical battery power and means for recharging from the grid. The signal from the central unit may be transmitted to the remote speakers by cable or wireless means (e.g., Bluetooth®). Where a wireless system is used, the antennae may take the form of miniature minarets atop the central unit. A video display screen may also be provided for displaying religious or other messages as desired. The system may include a DVD player or the like, and/or a radio and/or television receiver having speakers and/or a video display screen used to broadcast programming from the DVD, radio receiver, and/or television receiver. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of the central or base unit of a device for announcing prayer times according to the present invention, illustrating various features thereof. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the central or base unit of  FIG. 1 , illustrating further features thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the auxiliary unit of the device for announcing prayer times according to the present invention, illustrating various features thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the auxiliary unit of  FIG. 3 , illustrating further features thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the device for announcing prayer times according to the present invention, illustrating its various components and their relationships to one another. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The device for announcing prayer times provides for broadcasting athan, or announcement of Muslim prayer times, throughout a fixed, localized geographical area. The system may also include audio and video players and/or radio and television receivers as well. The system includes a single, centralized base unit that sends out appropriate signals to one or more remotely situated speakers to provide athan throughout the local area. 
       FIG. 1  of the drawings provides a front view of the geographically fixed base unit  10 , showing various features on the front face thereof. The base unit  10  includes a computer or other programmable electronic device (a microcontroller circuit, a digital signal processor circuit, a programmable logic controller, etc.) disposed within the base unit  10 , the computer or other programmable electronic device being a conventional programmable unit. As the computer is conventional, no further detail need be shown and described. The computer is initially programmed with the fixed local geographic location of the base unit  10 , e.g., latitude and longitude or other means of defining the specific location of the base unit  10 . As the local times of sunrise, sunset, and various predetermined angular elevations of the sun vary according to geographic location, the programming of the internal computer of the base unit  10  with its fixed and unvarying geographic position eliminates this variable that affects athan. The computer is also programmed with georeference data relating to the relative elevation of the sun at various times of the year, as the time of sunrise, sunset, and various predetermined elevations of the sun will vary according to the season. In this manner, the internal computer of the base unit  10  is capable of determining the local time when certain predetermined elevations of the sun occur, and provide a signal of the corresponding athan time. 
     The front face or panel of the base unit  10  includes a clock and programming display  12  thereon, with this display normally displaying the local time. The clock or time display may include both digital and analog indications, as desired. The display  12  is also used for programming the device according to the date and time, with the appropriate data being displayed during the programming operation as is conventional in the art. When the programming has been completed, the display reverts to a display of the local time. 
     The base unit  10  also includes a pair of audible annunciators or speakers  14  therewith, for providing athan to persons within hearing distance of the device. The audio speakers  14  are actuated by the internal computer of the device, according to the programming described further above. While only a single speaker or annunciator  14  may be provided, the provision of two such speakers  14  in a laterally symmetrical array is more esthetically pleasing as well as providing better sound distribution. Additional speakers or annunciators are remotely disposed from the base unit  10  and communicate therewith, as described further below. 
     The base unit  10  serves as the master control unit for the system. Accordingly, the base unit  10  includes a number of programming and other controls therewith. Beginning near the top of the base unit  10 , the unit includes a series of flash drive receptacles or ports  16  to permit geographical, seasonal, temporal, and perhaps additional data to be input to the conventional internal computer without need for laboriously entering the data by means of a keyboard or the like. A field of decorative lights  18  (LEDs, etc.) may be provided across the upper portion of the front face of the base unit  10 , if so desired. Alternative programming means is provided by a series of controls  20  (pushbuttons or knobs, etc.) disposed between the two speakers or annunciators  14 , below the lights  18 . 
     A CD or DVD player or deck is provided immediately below these alternative controls  20 , with the player having a disc insertion slot or receptacle  22  and a series of dedicated controls  24  (e.g., track, volume, bass and treble, balance, etc.) therewith. The CD or DVD player enables the audio and/or video output of the system to be customized as desired, e.g., religious messages or programming, relatively non-volatile information such as transportation schedules, safety messages, etc. as desired. 
     Finally, a series of controls  26  (e.g., pushbuttons, etc.) and input jack receptacles  28  are provided adjacent to and to either side of the clock display  12 . A logo or other symbol  30  may also be provided in this area for decorative and/or identification purposes, if so desired. 
       FIG. 2  of the drawings provides a rear elevation view of the base unit  10 . The upper portion of the rear panel, i.e., the area directly behind the various controls  20  on the front face or panel, includes a series of speaker output jack receptacles  32 . These provide for hard wired connections to a corresponding series of remotely located audio speakers, with the arrangement being generally in accordance with  FIG. 5  and discussed further below. Alternatively, the remote speakers may receive their audio signals by means of a wireless signal, if so desired. Such an arrangement is discussed further below. 
     The rear panel of the base unit  10  may include additional controls, input and output receptacles, access, etc., as required. Additional controls  34  (e.g., pushbuttons, etc.) may be provided in the area of the lower left corner of the rear panel, with another logo  30  adjacent thereto. An access door or hatch  36  is provided in the lower center of the rear panel of the base unit  10 , for battery access and other purposes as needed. A receptacle  38  for conventional AC power is provided to the lower right portion of the rear panel, generally opposite the controls  34 . Additional input receptacles  40  (flash drive, RS-232, etc.) are provided adjacent the AC power receptacle. Finally, an area is provided for a model and/or serial number  42  on the rear panel or surface of the base unit  10 . 
       FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of the auxiliary unit  44  that is located remotely from the base unit  10 . The auxiliary unit  44  communicates electronically with the base unit  10  by conventional means, i.e., hard wire or wireless connection. The auxiliary unit  44  is also geographically fixed in reasonably close proximity to the base unit  10 , with their mutual proximity providing practical cable or wireless communication between the two units. The auxiliary unit  44  is mounted on a sconce, which may in turn be mounted on an appropriate wall surface. The sconce includes a substantially horizontal base plate  46  and a substantially vertical back plate  48  extending upwardly from the base plate  46 . The back plate  48  may include various astronomical and/or astrological signs  50 , or other embellishments as desired. 
     The auxiliary unit  44  provides for the transmission of wireless audio signals to the remote speakers, if the speakers are not hard wired to the output receptacles  32  provided in the back of the base unit  10 . The auxiliary unit  44  includes at least one, and preferably two, selectively extendible and retractable transmitter towers  52  extending from the top or upper surface. The transmitter towers  52  are preferably in the form of miniature minarets, serving as a visual symbol of the minarets associated with mosques and traditionally used to call Muslims to prayer. Each of the transmitter towers  52  includes a small transmitter antenna  54  thereon, providing for wireless signal transmission to the remotely located speakers illustrated in  FIG. 5  and discussed further below. Conventional extension and retraction mechanisms (not shown), e.g., spiral screw jacks, cable and pulley, pneumatic telescoping cylinders, etc., may be used to selectively extend and retract the transmitter towers  52 , as indicated by the generally vertical movement arrows adjacent the towers. Preferably, the extension and retraction mechanisms are driven automatically according to the athan time program, to extend automatically at the appointed time and retract after the transmission has been completed. An additional central transmitter unit  56  also selectively extends and retracts from the top of the auxiliary unit  44  by means of a conventional mechanism, examples of which were cited above for the transmitter towers  52 . The central transmitter unit  56  provides low power signals (either hard wired or wireless) to the two transmitter towers  52 , with the towers  52  amplifying the signal and transmitting it to the more distant remote speakers. 
     The front panel of the auxiliary unit  44  includes additional controls and annunciators. A series of lights  58  (LEDs, etc.) may be provided along the upper surface of the auxiliary unit  44 , along the lower front surface or other area of the central transmitter unit  56 , and/or along the front surface of the auxiliary unit  44 , as desired. These lights  58  may be continuously illuminated, or may be dormant except during athan, as desired. A clock and programming display  60  is provided in the front face of the auxiliary unit  44 , for use in programming the device as well as for displaying athan times or other displays as desired. The auxiliary unit  44  may be programmed by conventional means, e.g., pushbuttons  62  or other controls disposed upon the front face, or other means as described immediately below. An on/off switch  64  (e.g., pushbutton, etc.) is also provided on the front face or panel of the auxiliary unit  44 . 
     The opposite rear panel of the auxiliary unit  44  is illustrated in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. The rear panel of the auxiliary unit  44  includes additional controls and features, e.g., pushbuttons or other controls  66 , additional flash drive and/or RS-232 ports  68  or the like, and additional displays  70  for use during programming of the device, e.g., displays of output signal strength, wireless connection to remote speakers and to the base unit  10 , etc. Ordinarily these displays  70  are not visible during normal operation of the system, but they would be visible to an operator setting up or adjusting the system. 
       FIG. 5  provides an overview of an exemplary installation of the device for announcing prayer times in accordance with the present invention. The base unit  10  is shown in the lower portion of  FIG. 5 , and communicates with the auxiliary unit  44  in the central portion of the Fig. by means of a cable  72 . Alternatively, the two units  10  and  44  may communicate electronically with one another by wireless means, with cables or cords being needed only for the provision of electrical power to the two units  10  and  44 . A series of remotely disposed audio speakers  74  are also shown in  FIG. 5 . These speakers  74  are separate and distinct from the two speakers or annunciators  14  disposed with the base unit  10 . The multiple speakers  74  are preferably located within the same structure or complex as the base and auxiliary units  10  and  44 , but remotely at some distance therefrom in order to spread their message throughout the area, e.g., in separate rooms or halls, etc. The speakers  74  receive their electrical power conventionally, but receive their audible signals by wireless means from the transmitters of the auxiliary unit  44 . Alternatively, one or more of the speakers  74  may receive their signals by means of wire cables, cords, or the like, in the event that those speakers  74  are located where wireless communication is not practicable from the auxiliary unit  44 . 
     A large scale electronic video display screen  76 , e.g., a conventional LED or plasma flat screen, etc., is preferably provided with the system. The video screen  76  is preferably of sufficient size to be visible at some distance away in a large hall or auditorium by a large number of people. The video display screen may be used to provide video output from the DVD player of the base unit  10  (see the disc slot  22  for the base unit  10 , in  FIG. 1 ). The video screen  76  may receive its required electrical power and its signal by means of a hard wire cable or cord  78  from the auxiliary unit  44 , which in turn receives its power (and signal, if no wireless signal is provided) by means of the cable  72 . Alternatively, the screen  76  may receive its power conventionally by means of the cable or cord  78  (or other conventional electrical power source), with its signal being provided by wireless means from the auxiliary unit  44 . 
     The system may be used to provide radio and/or television broadcast output to persons in the area, if so desired. A conventional television broadcast receiver and tuner (not shown) may be disposed with the base unit  10 , with the base unit  10  and auxiliary unit  44  adjusted to provide video output to the display screen and audio output to at least the speakers  14  of the base unit  10 . The receiver may be configured to receive satellite and/or cable broadcast signals as well, if so desired. Alternatively, additional video screens may be installed in remote areas along with the speakers  74 , with the audio signal portion of the broadcast being played through the adjacent speakers  74  where a remote video screen is provided. It will be seen that the system may include a conventional radio receiver (AM and/or FM) in addition to or in lieu of the television receiver noted above, if so desired. The audio or radio signals may be transmitted to the remotely disposed speakers  74  as described further above for the athan announcements and/or other such audio output. 
     In many instances it is likely that both the base unit  10  and its auxiliary unit  44  will be located in relatively inaccessible areas. This may be due to the need to protect the devices from tampering, and/or due to their being located somewhat inaccessibly in order to provide the required signal transmission to the remotely located speakers  74  and/or video screen  76 . As such inaccessible positioning of the base unit  10  and/or its auxiliary unit  44  results in at least some inconvenience for the operator in programming the system, the operator may be provided with a conventional remote programming and control unit  80 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The remote unit  80  may communicate electronically with the base unit  10  and/or the auxiliary unit  44  by hard wire cable or wireless signal (RF, infrared, ultrasonic, etc.), as desired. 
     Accordingly, the device for announcing prayer times provides an extremely versatile system capable of providing very accurate athan times in order to meet the needs of devout Muslims anywhere. The system also provides for the local area broadcast (audio and/or video) of various programming, e.g., specialized religious or other announcements and information, commercial broadcast, etc. The system thus fulfills the needs of Muslims and others in innumerable locations throughout the world. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.