Abstract:
In accordance the embodiments of the present invention there is provided an alarm apparatus for transmitting an alarm tone to a user at a predetermined time so as not to disturb other persons in the nearby vicinity. The timer alarm apparatus comprises a timer set assembly and an alarm assembly configured to be disposable in the user&#39;s auditory passage. The alarm assembly includes a timing circuit, a power source, and an alarm tone generation assembly. The alarm assembly may be configured to form an earplug, an ear clip, or be incorporated into various types of hearing assist devices. The alarm assembly may be provided with an alarm set indicator and volume adjusting structure. The timer set assembly may include a time of day readout, set controls for hour, minute, time set, and optionally volume. The timer set assembly may resemble a small portable device capable of being carried by the user in a purse or pocket. The timer set assembly may also take the form of an alarm clock or alarm clock radio.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to alarm devices, and more particularly to an alarm device capable of being worn in the ear and a method for same.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Alarm devices are commonly used by persons desiring to receive an alert after a preset time expires or at a particular time of the day. One such device is an alarm clock, which many people use to wake them in the morning at a predetermined time of day. Another such device is a timer coupled with an alarm. The timer/alarm is preset with a predetermined amount of time that counts down and sounds an alarm or alert tone when completed.  
           [0003]    The alarm (alert) tones produced by these devices must be sufficiently loud to gain the attention of the user. For example, the alarm tone must awake a user who is asleep. When many such users are within a close proximity to each other and desire to be alerted at differing times, the resulting multiple alarm tones generated by multiple alarm devices will disturb many of the users to whom the particular alarm does not pertain. Hence, there is a need to provide an alarm device that is perceptible by a user and that will not disturb other persons in the nearby vicinity.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,821,247 and 6,067,006 disclose an ear-mounted alarm clock and a personal audible alarm respectively. These devices are intended to be worn by an individual user. At the time the alarm is set, an audible signal is presented into the user&#39;s ear canal, thus alerting the user. Because of its location in the user&#39;s ear, the volume of the alarm tone can be much less than the volume of an alarm that broadcasts its tone into the environment. Such an alarm tone will not disturb persons in the nearby vicinity. The ear device control functions allow the user to set the predetermined amount of time in terms of the time for the alarm to sound. Volume and a clock time readout are also present. Because the alarm device is small enough to be used in the ear of the user, the control functions are necessarily miniaturized and placed in close proximity to each other. Such small and cramped controls can present ergonomic difficulties for many users. Moreover, due to the presence of these controls in the earpiece, further miniaturization of the controls exacerbates these ergonomic problems.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,720 discloses a portable timer alarm with ear attachment. The alarm device is provided with multiple switches. The user actuates the switches to enter a desired predetermined amount of time before an alarm sound is generated. Each switch corresponds to a certain time interval. There is no dial or display, thereby presenting a minimum number of controls so as to improve the ergonomics of this device. However, this ear device has limited functionality choices due to its small number of controls. Thus, there is a need to provide a personal ear mounted alarm device that has the full functionality of a traditional alarm while enjoying the benefits of an alarm that can be worn in a user&#39;s ear.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,455 discloses an alarm clock system with ear insert, wherein a base unit transmits an alarm signal to a receiver in the user&#39;s ear. The receiver, in turn, sounds an alert tone. This design eliminates the ergonomic and control problems present in the one piece personal alarm design. The remote ear piece is merely a receiver capable of receiving an alert signal produced by a base transmitting unit. The base unit may resemble a traditional alarm clock. The signal is transmitted from the base transmitter to the ear piece receiver via radio waves. Thus, when the alarm is on, the ear receiving piece must be in an on condition to receive any signals transmitted by the base unit. The constant on condition causes the receiver to have a high power consumption and thus require a larger power source. Additionally, in certain applications the radio frequency waves may pose interference problems with the surroundings, such as on airplanes. The base unit must also be within a close proximity to the receiver due to the low power of the radio frequency transmission.  
           [0007]    Therefore, there is an ongoing need to provide an ear-mounted personal alarm device having improved ergonomics and control functions and that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an alarm apparatus for transmitting an alarm tone to a user at a predetermined time so as not to disturb other nearby persons. The alarm apparatus may also eliminate, or minimize, ambient sounds from being heard by the user. The present timer alarm apparatus includes a timer set assembly and an alarm assembly. The alarm assembly may be configured to be at least partially disposed in the user&#39;s auditory canal. The alarm assembly may include a timing circuit, a power source, and an alarm tone generation assembly and may be configured to form an earplug, or an ear clip, or may be incorporated into various types of hearing assist devices. The alarm assembly of one embodiment may be provided with an alarm set indicator and volume adjustment means. The timer set assembly may include a time of day readout and set controls for hour, minute, time set, and optionally volume. The timer set assembly may resemble a small portable device capable of being carried by the user in a purse or pocket or may take the form of an alarm clock, an alarm clock radio, or a hearing assist device control.  
           [0009]    Additional objects, advantages, and features of various embodiments of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention without undue experimentation. The objects and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an alarm assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention in the form of an ear plug;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alarm assembly earpiece according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of this invention, in which a hearing aid incorporating the alarm assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is depicted;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 a  is an external view of an alarm assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention shown partially inserted in a user&#39;s ear;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 b  is a cross sectional view of a user&#39;s ear showing the present alarm assembly partially inserted therein;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a timer set assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a timer set assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 a  is a perspective view of a timer set assembly incorporated into a portable alarm clock according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 b  is a bottom view of the timer set assembly of FIG. 7 a;    
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alarm clock radio incorporating the timer set assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is an electrical component schematic of the timer set assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a detailed electric component schematic of the layout of FIG. 9;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is an electrical component schematic of one embodiment of the alarm assembly earpiece of this invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a detailed electrical component schematic of the layout of FIG. 11;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is an electrical schematic showing inductive couplings incorporated into the present timer set assembly and alarm assembly;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 is a layout of a timer set assembly of an embodiment of the present timer set assembly with hearing aid functions incorporated therein; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 15 is a schematic layout of a hearing aid incorporating alarm functions according to the present invention. 
     
    
       [0027]    It is understood that the above-described figures are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not contemplated to limit the scope thereof.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    Any references to such relative terms as front, back, right, left, top, bottom, upper, lower, horizontal, vertical, or the like, are intended for convenience of description and are not intended to limit the present invention or its components to any one positional or spatial orientation. Moreover, all dimensions of the components in the attached figures may vary with a potential design and the intended use of an embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the present invention includes an alarm assembly and a timer set assembly. The alarm assembly may be configured to be operably inserted into a user&#39;s ear and may include an internal timing mechanism, an alarm sound generating mechanism, and structure for receiving and processing a signal from the timer set assembly. The processed signal includes instructions for the length of a time interval. The alarm assembly also includes structure for determining when the time interval (period) has elapsed and structure for actuating the alarm sound in response to the elapsed time interval. The timer set assembly includes structure of determining the length of the time interval and for generating a signal to be transmitted to the alarm assembly. The alarm assembly and timer set assembly have structure to receive and transmit the signal, the structure configured for infrared, hardwired, electronic, radio frequency, electromagnetic, or inductive magnetic transmission.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 1, 2, and  3  depict three embodiments of the present alarm assembly at  50 . In the context of FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 , the present alarm assembly may also be referred to as the earpiece  50 . Referring to FIG. 1, the earpiece  50  is molded into the shape of an earplug  52 . The earplug  52  includes an elongated section  54  with a plurality of noise suppression ribs  56  therearound and a base  58 . The elongated section  54  defines an aperture  60  through which the alarm sound is transmitted into the user&#39;s auditory canal.  
         [0031]    When inserted, at least partially, into the user&#39;s auditory canal, the earplug  52  is configured to eliminate, or minimize, transmission of ambient noise into the user&#39;s auditory canal, so that the user will be undisturbed by these sounds, e.g., while sleeping. In one embodiment, an indicator light  64  and a volume adjustment apparatus  66  are disposed in the base  58 . The indicator light  64  may be a light emitting diode (LED), which indicates to the user that the alarm assembly  50  has been successfully set with a predetermined amount of time and that an alarm therein will sound after of the predetermined amount of time has elapsed. The LED may flash for a period of a few seconds when the predetermined amount of time has been “loaded” into the alarm assembly  50 . Alternatively, the LED may flash intermittently or may stay illuminated throughout the timing period. The volume adjusting apparatus  66  may be a single depressible button. When depressed, the volume adjusting apparatus  66  progressively increases or decreases the volume of the emitted alarm tone when heard by the user.  
         [0032]    The earplug  52  and other alarm assemblies of this invention may be constructed of suitable moldable synthetic resins or rubber, resulting in a substantially rigid or semi-rigid structure so as to allow for insertion, removal and user comfort. The noise suppression ribs  56  may be soft flexible rubber or an equivalent, thereby allowing a snug, preferably comfortable, fit to suppress transmission of ambient noises into the user&#39;s auditory canal.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the present alarm assembly  50  is depicted as an external mount earpiece  70 . In this embodiment, the external mount earpiece  70  includes an elongated housing  72 , which displays a first surface  74 , an opposite second surface  76 , and respective opposite longitudinal third and fourth surfaces  78  and  79 . A sound transmission tube  80  is mounted to the elongated section  72  at a first end  81  in this embodiment. The sound transmission tube  80  also terminates in a second end  82 , at which a fitting  83  is joined thereto and through which a bore  84  is defined. The fitting  83  is sized to be snugly accommodated in the user&#39;s auditory canal. The bore  84  also extends through the tube  80  to the housing  72 . In operation, the alarm tone is transmitted from the housing  72 , through the bore  84 , to the user&#39;s auditory canal. The externally mounted earpiece  70  is configured to be secured next to the user&#39;s ear when the tube  80  and fitting  83  are in place in the user&#39;s auditory canal. When worn on the user&#39;s left ear, the housing first surface  74  rests against the user&#39;s head and the housing second surface  76  and fourth surface  79  rest against the backside of the user&#39;s ear. When worn on the user&#39;s right ear, the first surface  74  and fourth surface  79  rest against the backside of the user&#39;s ear and the second surface  76  rests against the user&#39;s head.  
         [0034]    The housing third surface  78  of the external mount earpiece  70  may accommodate a volume adjustment device  86  and an indicator light  88 . The volume adjustment device  86  may be a wheel, which can be rotated to increase or decrease the volume of the alarm tone generated within the earpiece  70 . The indicator light  88  may be an LED, which illuminates to alert the user that the earpiece  70  has been set with a predetermined amount of time and that the alarm will sound when the predetermined amount of time has elapsed and as more fully described herein.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the present alarm assembly  50  is depicted as a hearing aid  100 . The hearing aid  100  may display a contoured surface  102  and a base  104  and may include a base plate  106 , a handle  108 , and a handle tip  110 . The contoured surface  102  is dimensioned and configured so that the hearing aid  100  is insertable into the user&#39;s auditory canal and snugly fits the contours present therein. The base plate  106  is mounted to the base  104 . The handle  108  may be unitary (or otherwise integral) with the base plate  106 . The tip of the handle extension  110  allows the user to easily and more securely grip and manipulate the hearing aid  100 . Obviously, the hearing aid  100  may be utilized in the absence of a handle  108  or handle extension  110  and still be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0036]    The base  104  and/or the base plate  106  of the hearing aid  100  may be provided with an indicator light  114  to indicate an “armed” (loaded) condition of the present alarm assembly as discussed above. An armed or loaded condition is considered to occur whenever the present alarm assembly is loaded with a predetermined amount of time (time interval) from the present timer setting assembly and set in a countdown-type mode so that an alarm tone sounds at the conclusion of the predetermined amount of time. The hearing aid  100  defines a bore  116  therethrough. Sound waves are transmitted through the bore  116  to the user&#39;s auditory canal.  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b , a user&#39;s ear  388  is shown with the alarm assembly  50  as described above. The alarm assembly  50  has been operably inserted into an auditory canal  390  of the user&#39;s ear  388 . The noise suppression ribs  56  flex to conform to the contours present in the user&#39;s auditory canal  390  for a snug, preferably comfortable fit. The noise suppression ribs  56  eliminate or greatly reduce transmission of ambient sound waves from the user&#39;s environment into the user&#39;s auditory canal  390 .  
         [0038]    FIGS.  5 - 8  depict embodiments of timer setting assemblies of the present invention. Referring specifically to FIGS. 5 and 6, respective timer setting assemblies  130  and  131  display a top surface  132 , a bottom surface  134 , and a longitudinal (side) surface  136 . The timer setting assembly  130  resembles a cylinder and the timer set assembly  131  resembles a parallelepiped in shape. The timer set assemblies  130  and  131  are provided with a digital display  140  for displaying a time interval as discussed above. The timer setting assemblies  130  and  131  may further include a plurality of functional devices, e.g., a minute set device  146 , an hour set device  148 , an alarm-arming device  150 , and a volume adjusting device  152 . The functional devices in this embodiment may be depressible switches. These timer setting assemblies may be dimensioned so that they are easily carried, e.g., in a user&#39;s pocket or purse during travel.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 7 a  and  7   b  depict another embodiment of the present timer setting assembly, partially configured as a portable alarm clock  160 . This embodiment is battery powered for enhanced portability. A battery cover  162 , proximate a lower surface  163 , allows the user to access the battery powering the timer setting assembly. Also in this embodiment, the timer setting assembly  160  includes a volume adjusting device  164  controlling the volume of the alarm emitted. This embodiment is further provided with a speaker grate  168  to allow an internal speaker to emit an audible alarm tone. Other functional devices provided are a digital display  170 , respective hour and minute setting devices  172  and  174 , and an alarm-setting device  176  (denoted as “ARM”). These functional devices have similar functions to similar devices discussed below.  
         [0040]    Referring to FIG. 8, yet another embodiment of the present time setting assembly is partially configured as an alarm clock radio  180 . This embodiment is powered by house current and connected thereto by a power cord  182 . Radio frequency tuning is accomplished by operating a tuning knob  184  and visually indicated by a tuning indicator  186 . An alarm-on indicator  188  indicates that this embodiment is set to emit an alarm at the end of a predetermined time interval as indicated by a digital display  190 . In some embodiments the digital display  190  indicates the time when not being used to upload a time interval to the present alarm assembly. The alarm on the indicator  188  may be an LED. The time setting assembly  180  is further provided with a band select device  192  for switching between amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) radio frequency bands. An alarm volume adjustment knob  194  and a radio volume adjustment knob  195  may adjust the volume of the alarm sound and the radio sound. Alarm tones and music may be emitted by an internally mounted speaker, which emits sound waves through the top face  196  of the alarm clock radio  180 , via a speaker grate  197 . A snooze switch  198  stops this embodiment from emitting an alarm sound and resets it to emit an alarm sound at the end of a delay period, e.g., 10 minutes. Functional features for uploading a time interval to the present alarm assembly include respective hour and minute setting devices  199  and  200  and an arm device as more fully discussed below.  
         [0041]    Electrical diagrams for the present timer set assembly are depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10 generally at  202 . A battery  203  is connected to a voltage regulator  204 . The voltage regulator  204  maintains a stable voltage value suitable to operate the circuit components of the present timer setting assembly. In one embodiment, the voltage regulator  204  is a 7805-type voltage regulator known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Power is provided by the battery  203  through the voltage regulator  204  to a microcontroller  206 , a serial-parallel converter  208 , a display  210 , and an output transducer  212 . The user actuates a plurality of input devices, such as an hour set device  214 , a minute set device  216 , and a loaded transmission (or arming) device  218  to program a predetermined time interval into the present timer set assembly to be uploaded into the alarm earpiece of this invention. The hour set device  214  allows the user to input a desired number of hours; the minute set device  216  allows the user to input a desired amount of minutes; and the loaded transmission device  208  allows the user to activate the time uploading assembly (means) for transmitting the determined time interval to the earpiece.  
         [0042]    The input devices  214 ,  216 , and  218  maybe electrically connected (or otherwise in electrical communication) with the microcontroller  206 , which accepts data input from these input devices for processing. The microcontroller  206  may be a commercially available PIC12C508 model microcontroller. However, other suitable equivalents are known to those of ordinary skill the art. The microcontroller  206  accepts and converts the input data to a form suitable to drive the digital display  210 . The digital display  210  includes a plurality of individual units (digits)  211  for displaying a time interval length, e.g., hours and minutes. The microcontroller  206  additionally formats the input data to serially transmit the formatted input data to the serial-parallel converter  208 .  
         [0043]    The formatted data from the microcontroller  206  are transmitted to the serial-parallel converter  208 . The serial-parallel converter  208  accepts the formatted data as a serial stream and converts the formatted data to a parallel stream, as required by the display  210  in this embodiment. The output transducer  212  is a circuit portion converting the serial data into a form for wireless transmission to the earpiece. The wireless transmission form can be infrared optical, magnetic induction, modulated radio frequency, or other equivalents known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the specific structure of the output transducer  212  will vary, depending on the wireless transmission form employed. Moreover, those of ordinary skill the art will recognize that the term “transducer” is generic for any circuit portion transforming one type of signal to another type of signal.  
         [0044]    Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, one embodiment of an electrical component diagram of the present alarm assembly is depicted generally at  230 . The alarm assembly  230  may include an input transducer  232 , which is electrically connected to a microcontroller  234 . The alarm assembly  230  may further include an audio transducer  236  and a power source such as a battery  238  for powering these components.  
         [0045]    In operation, the electrical circuit for the present timer setting assembly (shown in FIG. 10) receives signal input from the input devices  214 ,  216 , and  218 , representing respectively hours, minutes, and loaded status. These input signals “pull low” the ports  240  of the microcontroller  206  when the user depresses the devices  214 ,  216 , and  218 . The switch  214  allows the number of hours to be incremented; the switch  216  allows the number of minutes to be incremented; and the switch  218  is used to initiate data transmission to the present earpiece alarm assembly. In other embodiments, a different type of input device, such as a knob or a rotary encoder, could be used to initiate data transmission.  
         [0046]    The microcontroller  206  is normally in a “sleep” mode with minimal power consumption from the battery  203 . The state change on an input port  240 , effected by operating an input device  214 ,  216 , and  218 , “wakes up” the microcontroller  206 . The “awakened” microcontroller  206  “accepts” the input commands from the input devices  214  and  216  and produces a data stream. The data stream is fed to the serial-parallel converter  208 , causing the display  210  to indicate the chosen time, e.g., in terms of hours and minutes, on the display  210  on the digits  211 .  
         [0047]    When a load transmit device  218  is depressed, the display  210  is cleared and a serial data line  256  operates a first transistor switch  258 , which may prompt an infrared LED  260  to flash accordance with the serial data. The serial data are formatted by the microcontroller  206  for transmission to a receiving portion  232  of the present earpiece alarm assembly (FIG. 12). During normal serial transmissions from the microcontroller  206  to the serial-parallel converter  208 , the first port  240  remains at a “high” condition and a second transistor switch  264  prevents operation of the first transistor switch  258 . During data transmission, the first port  240  goes to a “low” condition, which clears the serial-parallel converter  208  and the display  210  and which turns off the second transistor switch  264 , thereby allowing the first transistor switch  258  to operate.  
         [0048]    After a predetermined period of inactivity, the microcontroller  206  returns to the “sleep state” until a new command is introduced by the user via input devices  214 ,  216 , and  218 . The battery depicted in FIG. 10 may be a 9-V battery because of its convenience, cost, and wide availability from retail sources. The circuits represented by microcontroller  206 , serial-parallel converter  208 , display  210 , and output transducer  212  may require 5 V for operation. Hence, the voltage regulator  204  may provide the desired voltage to these circuits.  
         [0049]    When the present earpiece alarm assembly is being programmed by the present timer setting device, the alarm assembly and timer setting devices are brought into close proximity so that output emissions can be transferred therebetween. Infrared or magnetic output emissions from the present timer set assembly are sensed by the input transducer. The output transducer  212  of FIG. 10 is an output LED  260 . The first transistor switch  268  sets a threshold for sensing the voltage changed in the output LED  260 , so that the voltage corresponding to the infrared pulses is unambiguous at the drain terminal  268  of the first transistor switch  258  and is, hence, acceptable to the microcontroller  234 . By requiring close proximity during programming and by setting a high threshold, the present earpiece alarm assembly will not be susceptible to interference from ambient electromagnetic (e.g., infrared) energy, either during programming or during the remainder of its function.  
         [0050]    The microcontroller  234  of the present alarm assembly in FIGS. 11 and 12 is normally in a “sleep” mode with very low power consumption. When voltage transitions occur at port GP3  241 , due to received data, the microcontroller  234  “wakes up.” The received data are processed in the microcontroller  234  to determine the endpoint of a counter. Upon receiving this data, the microcontroller  234  stores the data until the hour set device  214  is depressed. The microcontroller  234  then starts counting cycles of an oscillator, which is an internal function of the microcontroller  234 . At the programmed end of the count, the microcontroller  234  produces a signal at ports  243  (GP0) and  242  (GP1). This signal is in the form of an approximately sampled sine wave and causes the audio transducer  236  to emit a tone into the user&#39;s ear.  
         [0051]    The set device, or volume set,  237  on the present earpiece alarm assembly may serve two purposes. For example, pressing the set device  237  a first time begins a countdown as described above. When the alarm is sounding, pressing the set device  237  turns the set device  237  off and returns the microcontroller  234  to the sleep state. Additionally, the set device  237  can be configured to allow the user to perform volume adjustment of the audio transducer as described above. Preferably, as the user presses the set device or volume set  237 , the volume will increase by a predetermined, stepped amount to a maximum value. Pressing the set device or volume set  237  a second time will cause the volume to decrease by the same stepped amount to a minimum value.  
         [0052]    The input transducer  232  of the alarm assembly  230  is the reciprocal of the output transducer  212  of the timer setting assembly  202 . The input transducer  232  receives signals generated by the output transducer  212  and transfers the received signals to the microcontroller  234 . The microcontroller  234  is configured to set the time interval for countdown purposes. When the time interval reaches zero, the microcontroller  234  generates an electrical signal, e.g., with a sine waveform as described above. The electrical signal is sent to the audio transducer  236  to produce a mechanical vibration generating an audible alarm sound for transmission to the auditory canal of the user. The circuit  230  is powered by a battery  238 , which may be a 3-V lithium battery.  
         [0053]    A resistor R4  270  and capacitor C2  271  may be the timing components for the internal oscillator. The resistor R4  270  and capacitor C2  271  are chosen to operate the microcontroller  234  at a low clock frequency, such as 32 kHz, thereby greatly reducing power consumption. Internal comparator thresholds of the oscillator are proportional to the battery voltage, as is the current through the resistor R4  270 . The result is that the gradual decline in the battery voltage with use does not seriously degrade the timing accuracy. The audio transducer  236  of this embodiment is a typical “ear bud” or hearing aid type of loudspeaker device known to those of skill in the art.  
         [0054]    The time interval signal upload from the timer set assembly  202  to the alarm assembly  230  may be accomplished via magnetic induction. FIG. 13 depicts this alternate embodiment as additional circuit portions  276  and  278 . Circuit portions  276  and  278  are integrated into the circuits described and disclosed in FIGS.  9 - 12 . In this embodiment, a switch  280 , a diode D 1   282 , a diode D2  283 , and an output inductor  284  replace the first transistor switch  258  of FIG. 10. Serial data from the microcontroller  206  produces magnetic pulses rather than, e.g., infrared energy pulses. When the switch  280  is turned on, the output inductor  284  is energized and sets up a surrounding magnetic field. When the switch  280  is turned off, the magnetic field collapses. Any energy not collected by the receiving inductor in the present earpiece alarm assembly results in leakage inductance. The diodes  282  and  283  direct this unwanted energy away from the switch  280 , thereby preventing its damage or destruction. The energy stored in the leakage inductance is dissipated in the diode D1  282 .  
         [0055]    When the present timer set assembly and earpiece are brought into close proximity, pulsing magnetic fields from the output inductor  284  in the timer set  276  assembly induce a variable voltage across the receiving inductor  288  in the earpiece circuit portion  278 . These voltage pulses are compared to two thresholds (one threshold rising, one threshold falling) in the Schmidt Trigger Circuit  290 . This comparison “cleans up” the data stream, which is then sent to the microcontroller of the earpiece.  
         [0056]    Those of ordinary skill on the art will recognize that other methods exist for transmitting the data from the timer set assembly to the earpiece. These alternative methods include, but are not limited to, radio frequency and direct electrical connection.  
         [0057]    Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is incorporated into a hearing assist/alarm device and controller. A hand set  300  for setting and controlling a hearing assist/alarm (described below), the hearing aid incorporating the alarm assembly, is shown at a component layout level. The hand set  300  includes user input controls  302 , which are electrically connected to a microcontroller  304 , a display  306 , an encoder  308 , a transmitter  310 , and an emitter  312 . The user inputs  302  include such parameters as time (e.g., hour, minute) interval settings, gain (volume) and equalization (tone quality).  
         [0058]    The user input controls  302  are processed by the microprocessor  304 , which presents the results of the user input on the display  306 . The microprocessor  304  also produces a stream of digital data, which will be used to control functions in the present hearing assist/alarm device. The encoder  308  maybe imbedded in the microprocessor  304 , or may optionally be a separate circuit element. The encoder  308  prepares the data from the user control inputs  302 , via the microcontroller  304 , for transmission to the present hearing assist/alarm device. The transmitter  310  sends the encoded data to an earpiece receiver (see below) by emitting a signal from the emitter  312  to be received by an ear piece receptor (see below). Radio frequency, infrared, or magnetic induction may be used as modes of transmission, for example, an antenna for radio frequency, an infrared light emitting diode for infrared, or a coil for magnetic induction. The embodiment depicted may employ the infrared emitter  312  and an earpiece receptor (see below). However, those of ordinary skill the art will recognize that radio frequency transmission and a magnetic field may be used as well.  
         [0059]    Referring to FIG. 15, an electrical component layout for an exemplary hearing assist/alarm device (earpiece)  330  is shown. A receptor  332  is electrically connected to a receiver  334 , a decoder  336 , and a microcontroller  338 . Additionally, a microphone  340  is connected to a conditioning amplifier  342 , a summing circuit  344 , a gain adjustment circuit  346 , an equalization circuit  348 , a power amplifier  350 , and an audio transducer  352 . The microcontroller  338  is also electrically connected to the summing circuit  344 , the gain adjustment circuit  346 , and the equalization circuit  348 . The power source for the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 14 and 15 is not indicated. However, those of ordinary skill the art will readily recognize that a variety of suitable power sources, such as lithium batteries at appropriate voltages, maybe included without undue experimentation.  
         [0060]    A device suitable for functioning as the receptor  332  for the earpiece  330  may be determined by the chosen communication method, e.g., radio frequency, infrared, or magnetic induction. The receiver  334  converts the receptor signals received by the receptor  332  from the emitter  312  to an electrical form suitable to be decoded by the decoder  336 . The decoder  336  may be explicitly provided, or may be embedded in the microprocessor  338 . The decoder  336  converts the received signals to a form which may be interpreted by the microcontroller  338  in order to control the internal functions of the earpiece  330 . The microcontroller  338 , based on the data received from the hand piece  300 , produces output signals. The output signals are used to control the audio functions of the earpiece  330 , e.g., gain and equalization.  
         [0061]    The microphone  340  is provided to receive ambient sounds desired to be heard by the user. The conditioning amplifier  342  is provided to condition a signal from the microphone  340 , so that the signal is usable to the gain circuit  346  and the equalization circuit  348 . The summing circuit  342  gain adjustment circuit  346 , and equalization circuit  348  are be controlled by the controller  338  in one embodiment. The power amplifier  350  increases the magnitude of the audio signal as perhaps required to operate the audio transducer  352 . In one embodiment, the audio transducer  352  is an electro-dynamic transducer that converts the electrical signal from the power amplifier  350  to an acoustical signal, which may be heard by the user.  
         [0062]    The hand piece of FIG. 14 can be further modified to function as a timer set assembly of this invention by adding a plurality of time set input devices, such as those described with respect to FIGS. 9 and 10. The microcontroller  304  may contain additional programming to accept the time interval control inputs and convert these inputs to control codes, as perhaps required by the earpiece  330 . The display  306  may display the selected time interval entered by the user, in addition to other information. The microcontroller  338  of the earpiece  330  may contain additional programming, e.g., to count down the prescribed time interval upon receipt of a time interval command from the hand set  300 . At the required moment, the microcontroller  338  may output an electrical signal, which, when converted to an acoustical signal by the audio transducer  352 , will have an alerting or alarming quality to the user. This signal may persist for a preset period of time, optionally determined by the user as well. In one embodiment, the signal can be terminated by the user by actuating a set device, as described above.  
         [0063]    The summing circuit  344 , described with respect to FIG. 15, maybe included in the electrical connection between the amplifier  342  and the gain adjustment circuit  346 . In one embodiment, the summing circuit  344  allows the alarm signal (described above) to be combined with, or added to, the normal audio signal of the present hearing aid.  
         [0064]    Because numerous modifications of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.