A WATCH

Abstract: A watch for a smoker comprises an alarm device and control means arranged to operate the device at pre-determined intervals which can be programmed to increase from one interval to a later interval. Moreover, the increments of the intervals can themselves increase from one interval to a later interval; the user can enter into the control means the length of the first interval (6); he can render the alarm device temporarily inoperative; he can pre-set a time of day at which the first operation of the alarm device is to occur (1); the control means can make that time of day later day-by-day; an indicator can indicate whether the user may light a cigarette (5); the user can cause the alarm to operate immediately; and/or the user can cause the intervals to become constant (7).

Description: 'A WATCH' According to the present invention, there is provided a watch, comprising an alarm device and control means arranged to operate said alarm device at pre-determined intervals, the lengths of which vary from one interval to a later interval. In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in whichj- Figure 1 shows an elevation of a face of a watch, and Figure 2 shows a modified version of the face. A watch incorporates, in addition to the conventional timing system and an LCD display, an alarm device which is preferably of the audio type. The watch also incoporates a microcomputer which, according to a programme, controls the intervals at which the alarm device is operated. For a smoker who is trying to reduce his consumption of cigarettes, the programme is such that, day after day, the alarm device is operated at a particular time in the morning and at regular intervals throughout the remainder of the day, but the length of the intervals would increase gradually day-by-day, the smoker wearing the watch being supposed to allow himself one cigarette every time the alarm device sounds. The watch may also include an "enter into the programme" facility, which allows the smoker to enter automatically into a series of alarm soundings that will suit that particular smoker. To determine his initial time interval, the smoker places 6 cigarettes in a cigarette packet. On lighting the first cigarette he presses a " start" button on the watch and on lighting the sixth cigarette he presses a "stop" button. This enters the initial time interval into the programme. The microcomputer will now cause the alarm to sound throughout the remainder of the day, in periods equal to the average time period between lighting cigarettes. If, for example, it takes a smoker 88.17 minutes to smoke the five cigarettes, then the alarm would be activated every 17.63 minutes throughout the remainder of the day. This period will hereinafter be called "P". This facility could be incorporated with a conventional stop-watch system in the watch. OMPI There are of course many programmes that could be used. One that is suitable for the purpose required is as follows:- Day of operation How much the period Period between soundings, of the watch. between soundings (in minutes) is increased by. (in minutes) 1 0 P 2 0.005 P+0.005 3 0.01 P+0;015 4 0.015 P+0.03 5 0.02 P+0.05 6 0.025 P+0.075 7 0.03 P+0.105 8 0.035 P+0.14 9 0.04 P+0.18 14 0.065 P+0.455 21 0.1 P+1.05 55 0.17 P+2.975 50 0.245 P+6.125 100 0.495 P+24.75 This programme of alarm soundings would continue indefinitely until another facility were caused to operate. Furthermore, the watch can include a manual control member which can be actuated to render the alarm device inoperable until the desired time in the morning, so as not to interrupt the smoker's sleep, for example, so providing a "sleep" facility. This watch could also incorporate a "constant/variable, first sounding" facility, which would only become operable if the "sleep" facility were to be used. It allows the watch user to decide, at what time of the day, on any day, the alarm is to be first activated. This can be at the same time each " day, or it can become later, day-by-c!ay, by a constant amount of 1, 2 or 3 minutes. It would be advisable to have the first sounding of the alarm, for the following day, to be visible on the watch facia, followed by a number denoting no change, or any constant daily change, i.e., 0, 1, 2 or 3. This is referred to as the "first sounding advance." Referring to Figure 1, on the face: 1 is the time of day, shown in hours, minutes and seconds; 2 is the time the alarm will first sound on the following day, provided the "sleep" facility is used, and shown in hours and minutes; 3 is a figure denoting that the first sounding will become 2 minutes later day-by-day. If the "sleep" facility is not used, then the alarm will be continually activated according to the programme, and it is suggested that the daily increase in alarm sounding periods should take place at midnight. If however, the "sleep" facility is used, then the programme would continue after the first sounding, so that the period between the first sounding and the second sounding is in fact the full period between soundings for that particular day and not just a straight "pick-up" of the programme. The watch could further include a "daytime alarm mute" facility. This is an extension of the "sleep" facility and the same button on the watch could be used. It allows the user to be able to mute the alarm in "no smoking" areas, or where the sound of the alarm would be undesirable. The same button could again be used to re-activate the alarm, whereby the alarm soundings would continue according to the programme. •A "YES/NO" smoking facility in the watch would allow the user to observe visually on the watch face if it is permissible to smoke. It is suggested that the word "YES" appears on the watch face for a period of five minutes, after each alarm sounding, thereafter to be replaced with the word "NO", until the next alarm sounding. This would be of use in a place where it is permissible to smoke, but the sound of the alarm is undesirable. OKF The watch can also incorporate a "programme re-adjustment" facility. This facility allows the user to cause the alarm to become operative immediately, whereby subsequent alarm soundings will be re-adjusted to follow this action and will not be a straight "pick-up" of the programme. This will be of use to a smoker who has not, for some reason, been smoking, when according to the programme, it would have been permissible. For example, he may have been in a "no smoking" area or perhaps have taken an afternoon sleep. A "programme freeze/unfreeze" facility in the watch would allow the user to "freeze" the alarm period soundings at any point; so that they remain the same day after day. This would be of use to a smoker wishing to reduce consumption of cigarettes to a more acceptable level. For example, a person smoking 60 cigarettes a day may not wish to give up smoking altogether, but would be happier so king 30 cigarettes a day. In such a case, the programme could be frozen when consumption was reduced to the required level. It should also be possible to revert to the normal programme situation, by usirjg a "programme unfreeze" facility. Alternatively, the user may wish to revert to a new programme by re-starting the "enter into the programme" facility. This "programme freeze" facility should work independently of the "first sounding" facility and should show on the watch face as "PF". Referring to Figure 2, on the watch face: 1 to 3 are as in Figure 1; 4 is the date; 5 is the "YES/NO"; 6 is the "enter into the programme"; 7 is the "programme freeze/unfreeze".

Claims: 1. A watch, comprising an alarm device and control means arranged to operate said alarm device at pre-determined intervals, the lengths of which vary from one interval to a later interval. 2. A watch according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises programmed memory means arranged to pre-determine the variation of said lengths. 3. A watch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said lengths increase from said one interval to said later interval. 4. A watch according to claim 3, wherein the increments of said lengths increase from said one interval to said later interval. 5. A watch according to any preceding claim, wherein said control means comprises input means whereby a user can enter into said control means a first interval length. 6. A watch according to any preceding claim, wherein a user can render said alarm device temporarily inoperative. 7. A watch according to any preceding claim, wherein a user can pre-set a time of day at which the first operation of said alarm device is to occur. 8. A watch according to claim 7, wherein said control means makes said time of day later from one day to a subsequent day. 9. A watch according to any preceding claim and further comprising indicating means controlled by said control means and arranged to indicate whether said alarm device has operated within a pre¬ determined immediately earlier time period. 10. A watch according to any preceding claim, wherein a user can cause the first operation of said alarm device to occur immediately. 11. A watch according to any preceding claim, wherein a user can cause said lengths to become constant.

Inventors: WEBB-JONES ANTHONY PHILIP, WEBB-JONES, ANTHONY, PHILIP
Applicants: WEBB JONES ANTHONY PHILIP, WEBB-JONES, ANTHONY, PHILIP
Application year: 1982
Main classification: G04G13
IPC codes: G04G11, G04G13