Electronic coaster

An electronic coaster is configured to respond to pressure and sound. The electronic coaster contains a case that includes a flexible top. The flexible top is configured to deflect upon receiving pressure on the flexible top. A circuit board is attached to the case and configured to receive power from a power source and an audio signal from an audio cable. The circuit board is configured to engage a plurality of photodiodes when pressure is applied to the flexible top and an audio signal is played through the circuit board.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to drink coasters.

Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention, drink coasters did not create a light display driven by an audio input source. Embodiments of the disclosed invention solve these problems. The prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,711 issued to McCoy, U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,524 issued to Lewis, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,113 issued to Ditto.

McCoy teaches a device for illuminating a liquid drink for use at a party or a social event to give the appearance of an illuminated liquid. Lewis teaches an advertising article with an automatically activated indicator assembly attached to the article including a piezoelectric sensor, a printed circuit board including a triggerable signal generator, and an LED or speaker. Ditto teaches a device for illuminating a liquid drink for use at a party or a social event to give the appearance of an illuminated liquid.

However, none of these teach are able to coordinate operating lights in a low ambient light environment with the pressure of a drinking vessel while there is an audio input signal. In particular, none of these use a triple band pass filter to divide the incoming audio signal and coordinate photodiodes such as light emitting diodes.

SUMMARY

An electronic coaster can be configured to respond to pressure and sound. The electronic coaster can contain a case that includes a flexible top. The flexible top can be configured to deflect upon receiving pressure on the flexible top. A circuit board can be attached to the case and configured to receive power from a power source and an audio signal from an audio cable. The circuit board can be configured to engage a plurality of photodiodes when pressure can be applied to the flexible top and an audio signal can be played through the circuit board.

In some embodiments, the circuit board can further comprise a three way bandpass filter electrically coupled to a switching circuit and a power circuit. The switching circuit further comprises pressure circuit that operates a variable resister within switching circuit. The switching circuit can be open when either there can be insufficient pressure on a pressure sensor in the pressure circuit or there can be an either no signal in a range in the three way bandpass filter.

In some embodiments, the three way bandpass filter can further comprise a first band filter, that includes a first band filter resister, which can be varied by first band filter variable resister and electrically coupled to a first band filter resister, a first band filter capacitor, a first band filter capacitor and a first band filter resistor are connected to a first band filter gate. The first band filter gate can be electrically coupled to a first band filter capacitor, a first band filter resister, a first band filter diode, a first band filter capacitor, a first band filter resister and a first band filter switch. When a first band filter condition in first band filter resister can be satisfied then the first band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to first band filter set of photodiodes.

In some embodiments the three way bandpass filter can further comprise a second band filter, further comprising: a second band filter resister, which can be varied by second band filter variable resister and electrically coupled to a second band filter resister, a second band filter capacitor, a second band filter capacitor and a second band filter resistor are connected to a second band filter gate. The second band filter gate can be electrically coupled to a second band filter capacitor, a second band filter resister, a second band filter diode, a second band filter capacitor, a second band filter resister and a second band filter switch, when a second band filter condition in second band filter resister can be satisfied then the second band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to second band filter set of photodiodes.

In some embodiments the three way bandpass filter can further comprise a third band filter, further comprising: a third band filter resister, which can be varied by third band filter variable resister and electrically coupled to a third band filter resister, a third band filter capacitor, a third band filter capacitor and a third band filter resistor are connected to a third band filter gate. The third band filter gate can be electrically coupled to a third band filter capacitor, a third band filter resister, a third band filter diode, a third band filter capacitor, a third band filter resister and a third band filter switch. When a third band filter condition in third band filter resister can be satisfied then the third band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to third band filter set of photodiodes.

In some embodiments, the pressure circuit can further comprise a voltage source, electrically coupled to a first pressure circuit resistor, a second pressure circuit resister, a first pressure circuit capacitor, a pressure circuit gate, which can be further electrically coupled to a pressure sensor. When a pressure sensor circuit condition can be met, the pressure circuit closes and electricity flows through the switching circuit.

In some embodiments, the switching circuit can further comprise a switch. When the pressure circuit condition can be met the switch closes and electricity flows through the switching circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

By way of example, and referring toFIG. 1, a user desires to have a coaster respond with lights when container C containing fluid F is placed upon electronic coaster10. Electronic coaster10solves this problem as explained in more detail below.

Electronic coaster10comprises case12mechanically coupled to circuit board16. Case12has a flexible top that is configured to slightly deflect upon some pressure being placed on the flexible top. Circuit board16is electrically coupled to external audio device22with audio cable18. Circuit board16is further electrically coupled to a power supply with power supply cable20. In some embodiments, audio cable18is a mono cable, in other embodiments it can be a stereo cable. In some embodiments, power supply cable20is configured to carry direct current power which can be toggled into circuit board16with switch28.

Circuit board16contains a plurality of circuits shown inFIG. 10. Three way bandpass filter30is electrically coupled to switching circuit40and power circuit50. Switching circuit40further comprises pressure circuit60which operates a variable resister within switching circuit40. When pressure is placed upon the flexible top pressure engages a pressure sensor on pressure circuit60. When switching circuit40is closed and when a signal travels through bandpass filter30, electrical power travels through photodiode70causing visible light to be emitted. Each circuit has a slightly differently configured three way bandpass filter30in order to engage a different photodiode70when a different sound is played from external audio device22.

FIG. 2,FIG. 3andFIG. 4, show some more details as to how a plurality of circuits operate together. Three way bandpass filters30are electrically coupled to audio jack32. In some embodiments, a second audio cable34enables a user to connect a plurality of three way bandpass filters30, perhaps through additional coasters10. That plurality of three way bandpass filters30allows a single range of signals to pass through a single filters. When aggregated, numerous signals, pass through numerous filters to enable the coaster to light up in different light patterns. However, photodiodes70will not light up unless there is adequate pressure on pressure circuit40. Both audio signals and pressure are necessary for operation in one mode of operation.

FIG. 5shows three way bandpass filter30in more detail. Three way bandpass filter30comprises an audio jack electrically coupled to a first gate with capacitor C7and resister R23. The gate is in parallel with resister R22. The first gate is electrically coupled to a first band filter, a second band filter and a third band filter with capacitor C14.

The first band filter comprises first band filter resister R24, which is varied by first band filter variable resister R1and electrically coupled to first band filter resister R7, first band filter capacitor C1, first band filter capacitor C2and first band filter resistor R4are connected to a first band filter gate. The first band filter gate is electrically coupled to first band filter capacitor C8, first band filter resister R8, first band filter diode D1, first band filter capacitor C11, first band filter resister R13and first band filter switch Q1, when the condition in first band filter resister R1is satisfied then the first band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to first band filter set of photodiodes D4, D5, D6and D7.

The second band filter comprises second band filter resister R25, which is varied by second band filter variable resister R2and electrically coupled to second band filter resister R8, second band filter capacitor C3, second band filter capacitor C4and second band filter resistor R5are connected to a second band filter gate. The second band filter gate is electrically coupled to second band filter capacitor C9, second band filter resister R11, second band filter diode D2, second band filter capacitor C12, second band filter resister R14and second band filter switch Q2, when the condition in second band filter resister R2is satisfied then the second band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to second band filter set of photodiodes D8, D9, D10and D11.

The third band filter comprises third band filter resister R26, which is varied by third band filter variable resister R3and electrically coupled to third band filter resister R9, third band filter capacitor C5, third band filter capacitor C6and third band filter resistor R6are connected to a third band filter gate. The third band filter gate is electrically coupled to third band filter capacitor C10, third band filter resister R12, third band filter diode D3, third band filter capacitor C13, third band filter resister R15and third band filter switch Q3, when the condition in third band filter resister R3is satisfied then the third band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to third band filter set of photodiodes D12, D13, D14and D15.

FIG. 6shows the power supply circuit50in more detail. Direct current power flows from a power source, such as a battery to circuit board16. Power is filtered for overcharges by running errant power through power diode D1through two capacitors in parallel C1, C2and then to ground.

FIG. 7shows switching circuit40in more detail. There are two switches in switching circuit40: pressure switch42and light sensor44. Pressure switch42is open when there is no pressure on pressure circuit60and closed when there is pressure on pressure circuit60. Light sensor44comprises light dependent resistor LD1connected to resister R3, a diode and another resister. When light is shown on light dependent resistor LD1, resistance becomes infinite and the circuit opens. Alternately, when light is not shown on light dependent resistor LD1, resistance becomes finite and the circuit closes. Substituting, components can result in the circuit closing when light is present. This is a matter of user preference. Switching circuit40is connected to pressure circuit60shown below. When the condition of pressure circuit60is reached transistor T1closes and power flows from +V to +12 VDC. When the switching circuit gate is open, the electrical power flows to ground.

FIG. 8shows pressure circuit60in more detail. A voltage source is electrically coupled to a first pressure circuit resistor R27, a second pressure circuit resister R28, a first pressure circuit capacitor C15. These are electrically coupled to a pressure circuit gate, which is further electrically coupled to pressure sensor42. When a pressure sensor circuit condition is met the circuit closes and electricity can flow through switching circuit40.

FIG. 9shows how photodiode70operates when switching circuit40closes and when a band in three way band pass filter closes. When both conditions are met, electrical power flows through photodiode70to ground lighting up photodiode70.