Abstract:
A portable, handheld, battery powered signaling device for emitting signals corresponding to a physical sensation being experienced by the user of the device. The device includes a handgrip portion and a novel sensor in the form of a force sensitive resistor, which changes resistance when a gripping force is applied by the user to the handgrip portion of the device. The sensor is operably interconnected with signaling devices in the form of visible and audible signals, which are energized when the user squeezes the handgrip. By exerting greater or lesser forces on the handgrip the user is able to control the visible and audible signals and in this way quantify the degree of the physical sensation being experienced.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to signaling devices. More particularly, the invention concerns a battery powered, handheld device for signaling physical and emotional responses of the user.  
         [0003]     2. Discussion of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     A wide variety of handheld signaling devices used for numerous purposes have been suggested in the past. Many such devices are used in the hospital environment for use by a patient to signal the need for attention. For example, various types of handheld devices are provided adjacent the hospital bed for use by the patient to call for a caregiver or to regulate the delivery of medicaments.  
         [0005]     In addition to the medical field, numerous types of signaling devices have been suggested for use in the industrial environment. For example, handheld signaling devices have been used to start and stop various types of machines, to indicate operational status and to emit distress signals.  
         [0006]     Other common types of handheld signaling devices include vehicle door lock signaling devices, garage door opening devices and various types of personal protection devices.  
         [0007]     However, applicant is unaware of any type of prior art handheld signaling device, such as the device of the present invention, that is specially designed for emitting signals corresponding to physical sensations, such as feelings out of pain and passion being experienced by the user and for quantifying the sensations. By way of nonlimiting example, the devices of the present invention can be used by dental patients during the conduct of dental procedures to indicate to the dentist that pain is being experienced by the patient and to indicate the level of such pain. The devices of the present invention can also be used during intimate encounters to signal to a partner feelings of pleasure and passion and to quantify these feelings by means of visual and audible signals.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable, handheld, battery powered signaling device for emitting signals corresponding to a physical sensation being experienced by the user of the device.  
         [0009]     Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character that enables the user to quantify the degree of the physical sensation being experienced.  
         [0010]     Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in the preceding paragraph in which the physical sensations being experienced by the user of the device can be quantified by the user by exerting greater or lesser forces on the hand grip portion of the device.  
         [0011]     Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described herein which includes a novel hand operated sensor in the form of a force sensitive resistor which changes resistance when a gripping force is applied by the user to the hand grip portion of the device.  
         [0012]     Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described in which both visible and audible signals can be emitted from the device.  
         [0013]     Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in the preceding paragraph in which the visible signals comprise a plurality of illuminable-illuminatable-lights and in which the audible signals emanate from a novel noise generating system housed within the device housing.  
         [0014]     Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described in the preceding paragraphs which is compact, easy to use and readily portable.  
         [0015]     Another object of the invention is to provide a signaling device of the character described in the preceding paragraphs that is of a simple design and one that can be relatively inexpensively produced. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a generally perspective, exploded front view of one form of the hand operated signaling device of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a generally perspective, rear view of the hand operated signaling device shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 , partly broken away to show internal construction.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a left-hand side view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is a generally perspective exploded view of the handle grip portion of the apparatus of the invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 10A  is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the switch and circuit board portions of the apparatus of the invention shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary top plan view of the switch and circuit board portions of the apparatus of the invention and of selective signal lights of the apparatus; and  
         [0028]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  when considered together comprise a generally diagrammatic view of one form of the operating circuit of the apparatus of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , one form of the handheld signaling device for emitting signals corresponding to a physical sensation being experienced by the user is there shown. In the present form of the invention the signaling device comprises a housing  14  made up of cooperating first and second side members  16  and  18 , which are interconnected in the manner shown in  FIG. 3  to define an internal chamber  20  ( FIG. 3 ). Side members  16  and  18  are preferably constructed from a moldable plastic, but could also be formed of other suitable materials.  
         [0030]     Operably interconnected with housing  14  by means of connector pins  22  and  23  ( FIG. 10 ) is gripping means for gripping by one hand of the user. This important gripping means here comprises a uniquely configured gripping member  24  that is provided with a plurality of recesses  26  to accept the fingers of the user. Gripping member  24  is preferably formed from an elastomeric material such as polyurethane and, for a reason presently to be described, is movable relative to said housing between first and second positions.  
         [0031]     Operably associated with the gripping means is a novel sensor means for sensing pressure exerted on the gripping means by the user and for emitting a signal in response thereto. This important sensor means here comprises a pressure sensor  28  having spaced apart sidewalls  28   a  and  28   b  which, as best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5  are disposed between one side of the housing  14  hand of the gripping means, or gripping member  24 . In the present form of the invention, pressure sensor  28  is readily commercially available from Tekscan, Inc. of South Boston, Mass. Details of the construction and operation of this novel sensor can be obtained from the Tekscan Company and are also described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,  936  issued to Oreper et al. The sensor is well suited for use in the signaling device of the present invention, in that it basically comprises a force sensitive resistor that measurably changes its resistance when a force is applied to the sensor and can be adapted to generate and transmit signals corresponding to these changes in resistance  
         [0032]     As indicated in the drawings, signaling means which are carried by housing  24  are operably associated with the sensor means for receiving the signals generated thereby and for emitting visual and audible signals in response thereto. In the present form of the invention the signaling means comprises a plurality of illuminable lights  32  mounted at various spaced apart locations on the housing ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and an audible noise generating device, including a speaker  34  that is disposed within internal chamber  20  of the housing. Lights  32  are here provided in the form of spaced apart, readily commercially available light emitting diodes (LEDs) and are preferably provided in different colors (see  FIGS. 12A and 12B ).  
         [0033]     Also comprising an important aspect of the apparatus of the present invention is electrical circuit means for interconnecting the sensor means and the signaling means. This electrical circuit means is here provided in the form of the circuit shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B  of the drawings. As indicated in these figure drawings, the circuit is comprised of the previously identified force sensor  28 , a microcontroller, here shown as comprising a programmable microchip  31 , the several previously mentioned LEDs  32 , and a conventional, commercially available audio amplifier  33  for driving the speaker  34 .  
         [0034]     The circuit is powered by a conventional 9-volt battery  40 . During operation of the device, the battery voltage is converted by a conventional, readily commercially available voltage regulator  42  from 9 volts down to a constant 5 volts to appropriately power the microcontroller. The raw battery voltage drives the LEDs  32  and the audio amplifier  33  in a conventional manner.  
         [0035]     As previously mentioned, the sensor is in the nature of a “Force Sensitive Resistor” which is a device that changes its resistance when a force is applied. This resistance change is converted in a conventional manner to a voltage by connecting it in one half of a voltage divider. The varying voltage is measured by an internal analog to digital converter, which forms a part of the microcontroller  31 . The variable voltage is then used to generate an audio signal the frequency of which is proportional to the change in the force exerted on the sensor means or handgrip  24  by the device user. During operation of the device, the varying voltage is also used to appropriately power the LEDs  32  and to change their flash rate in proportion to the varying voltage and in proportion to the force exerted on the hand grip by the device user.  
         [0036]     It is to be understood that microcontroller  31  is a complete central processing unit (CPU) which has an internal clock generator, Flash Memory for the program, RAM memory for variables, I/O pins for sensing and control, an Analog to Digital converter for measuring voltage, and a hardware Pulse Width Modulation module. A custom program, which is of a character well understood by those skilled in the art, is stored permanently in the Flash Memory, and controls the complete operation of the circuit. The internal clock controls the speed of all internal operations. The Analog to Digital Converter converts the variable analog voltage input from the Force Sensor to a digital representation, which is then used to control the Pulse Width Modulation module, which outputs the variable frequency audio tone. A software timer controls the flashing speed of the LEDs.  
         [0037]     With the foregoing in mind, during the event taking place, the user turns the signaling device on using the switching means of the invention and grips the device with one hand so that the user&#39;s fingers overlay the gripping member  24 .  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 4 ,  10 ,  11  and  12 A, the switching means here comprises a commercially available switching mechanism generally designated by  45 . While the switching mechanism can be obtained from various sources, a slide switch sold by the Digi-Key Company of Thief Falls, Minn. has proven to be satisfactory for the present application. The switching mechanism here comprises a finger engaging pad  47  that is slidably connected to a support platform  49  that is appropriately connected to the housing  14  and the manner shown in  FIG. 3 . As indicated in  FIG. 10A , by sliding the finger pad from the position shown in the solid lines in  FIG. 10A  to the position shown in the phantom lines, the switch can be moved from an “off” position to a “low” position and finally to a “high” position (see also  FIG. 12A ). With a switch in the “high” position the LEDs illuminate more brightly and the audio signal emitted from the speaker is louder.  
         [0039]     By way of non-limiting example, if the event taking place concerns the performance of a dental procedure, the user would turn the device on and grip the signaling device at the commencement of the procedure. At any time during the conduct of the procedure the user can exert a variable squeezing pressure on the handgrip. This squeezing pressure causes a change in the resistance of the sensor, which, in turn, causes a voltage signal to be sent to the microcontroller  31 . The microcontroller, in response to this signal, causes the LEDs  32  to flash and causes the speaker  34  to emit an audio signal indicating to the dentist that the user is experiencing pain. If, due to an increase in pain, the user exerts a greater pressure on the hand grip, the resistance of the sensor means will change further causing a voltage signal of a different character to be sent to the microcontroller  31 . The microcontroller in response to this varying signal will cause the LEDs to flash at a greater rate and will cause the speaker  34  to emit a louder audio signal. This indicates to the dentist that the user is experiencing a greater pain.  
         [0040]     If, by way of further example, the event taking place is in the nature of an intimate encounter, the user can use the signaling device to discretely indicate to his or her partner varying degrees of passion and pleasure that are being experienced. As in the earlier example, a squeezing pressure exerted on the handgrip will cause a change in the resistance of the sensor, which, in turn, will cause a voltage signal to be sent to the microcontroller  31 . The microcontroller, in response to this signal, will cause the LEDs  32  to flash and will cause the speaker  34  to emit an audio signal indicating to the partner that the user is experiencing a particularly pleasurable sensation. If the user exerts a greater pressure on the hand grip, due to an increase in pleasure, the resistance of the sensor means will change further causing a voltage signal of a different magnitude to be sent to the microcontroller  31 . The microcontroller in response to this different signal will cause the LEDs to flash at a greater rate and will cause the speaker  34  to emit a louder audio signal. This indicates to the partner that the user is experiencing greater passion and pleasure.  
         [0041]     When, because of shyness or inexperience, one or both of the partners in an intimate encounter often find it difficult to audiblize their emotions, the signaling device of the present invention provides an ideal mechanism for discretely, but yet positively, communicating to their partner those actions that they find particularly pleasurable.