Abstract:
A mobile wake-up device responds to a snooze-button in an alarm clock. The mobile wakeup device includes a mechanism for making the device mobile, a controller for directing the movement of the device and responding to input, and an alarm off input. When the alarm clock&#39;s alarm goes off and an individual activates the snooze button, the mobile wake-up device moves forward, drops from a table to the floor, and moves to a remote location. While moving, the device may use sensors to avoid objects in its path. After the mobile wake-up device has reached the remote location, the alarm signals again. To turn off the alarm, the individual must get out of bed and locate the mobile wake-up device.

Description:
RELATED-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicabale.  
       REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING  
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the invention  
         [0005]     The invention relates to alarm clocks and more particularly to techniques used in alarm clocks to ensure that the user of the alarm clock is really awake when the user shuts off the alarm.  
         [0006]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0007]     Most everyone has experienced problems waking up in the morning. In response to this need the alarm clock was developed to produce an audible signal to rouse an individual from their slumber. The original alarm clocks were mechanical in nature and caused a bell in the alarm clock to ring when a specified time was reached. Improvements in clock technology over time resulted in digital alarm clocks in which time was determined by electronic circuitry and displayed by a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) or other electronic display. The use of such electronic circuitry permitted further developments, among them the “snooze alarm”. The object of the snooze alarm is to allow the alarm to be temporarily suspended while the individual catches a last few minutes of sleep.  
         [0008]     The drawback to the snooze alarm is its abuse by its user. An individual who has been waked up by an initial alarm activates the snooze alarm and falls back to sleep. When the alarm is triggered a second time, the individual repeats the process by activating the snooze button again. This process can continue to repeat itself until the individual has slept past the time needed to get up to attend some important event. In attempting to prevent this, the individual can move the alarm clock to a new position across the room. The drawbacks in so doing are that the snooze button becomes useless, the alarm clock may be too far away to be readable, and the individual has to go to the clock to reset the time or the alarm.  
         [0009]     It is an object of the invention to provide a wakeup device which may be located near the sleeper but requires the sleeper to get out of bed to turn the wakeup device off.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The object of the invention is achieved by means of a mobile wake-up device. The mobile wake-up device responds to an alarm event in a clock having an alarm. The mobile wake-up device includes an input device that receives input that causes an alarm off event, a controller, and a mobility device. The mobility device operates under control of the controller. The controller responds to the alarm event by causing the mobility device to move the mobile wake-up device to a location that is remote from the mobile wake-up device&#39;s location upon occurrence of the alarm event. At the remote location, the controller causes the alarm to go off and responds to the alarm off event by causing the alarm to cease going off. The alarm event may include the alarm itself going off or the user activating a snooze button. The remote location reached can be based on a pattern or chosen randomly.  
         [0011]     In another aspect of the invention, sensors can be used to make the mobile wake-up device aware of its internal condition or conditions external to the mobile wake-up device. Information from such sensors can be used to determine the presence of an object in the mobile wake-up device&#39;s path and to further avoid the object by changing direction or upon colliding with the object, cause the device to backup and change direction.  
         [0012]     In another aspect of the invention, the mobile wake-up device has a docking station. The docking station providing a means for charging the battery internal to the mobile-wake up device. It is a further aspect of this invention, that the docking station portion of a mobile wake-up device contain the time display of the alarm clock, allowing the time to be viewed easily by the individual.  
         [0013]     Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the arts to which the invention pertains upon perusal of the following Detailed Description and drawing, wherein: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a mobile alarm with clock apparatus;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic for one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of the operation of a mobile alarm device;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  shows a mobile alarm device that separates from a charging base;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  shows a mobile alarm device changing direction in response to striking an object; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  shows several other ways of propelling a mobile alarm 
     
    
       [0020]     Reference numbers in the drawing have three or more digits: the two right-hand digits are reference numbers in the drawing indicated by the remaining digits. Thus, an item with the reference number  203  first appears as item  203  in  FIG. 2 .  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a presently-preferred embodiment  101  of a mobile alarm device. Mobile alarm device  101  is a mobile alarm clock. Like most alarm clocks, device  101  is placed on a nightstand next to the user&#39;s bed. Mobile alarm device  101  has an exterior body  103  that contains and protects the internal workings of the clock. On the front of the clock is a Liquid Crystal Diode or Light-Emitting Diode (LCD/LED)  105  for displaying the time. An on/off switch  109  activates or deactivates the alarm clock&#39;s alarm. A snooze button  107  turns off the alarm for a predetermined period of time. Not shown, but included in most alarm clocks are buttons for choosing whether a time value or and alarm time value is to be set and buttons for advancing the values of the alarm time value or time value. Mobile alarm device  101  further contains a pair of wheels  111 . These wheels allow mobile alarm device  101  to be propelled forward in response to an alarm event such as the snooze button being activated. Wheels  111  are slightly larger than the body of the alarm clock  103  to allow mobile alarm device  101  to move. Wheels  111  are also larger to allow for the absorption of shock when mobile alarm device  101  rolls off the nightstand onto the floor. Springs may be added to the axle holding wheels  111  to further absorb shock from the fall. The case  103  has the parts of the clock within situated as to create a low center of gravity. This arrangement keeps the orientation of the mobile alarm device such that the LCD/LED  105  remains visible. After moving forward and dropping off the nightstand onto the floor, mobile alarm device  101  moves to another point in the room. When mobile alarm device  101 &#39;s alarm goes off again, the user can only turn off the alarm by getting out of bed and finding mobile alarm device  101 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic of the internals of a presently-preferred embodiment of mobile alarm device  101 . Schematic  201  contains a controller  203  that controls the logic of mobile alarm device  101 , including the time, alarm, and propulsion functions. Power to mobile alarm device  101  is supplied by battery  205 . Time is displayed on LCD/LED  105 . LCD/LED  105  can also display the time at which the alarm should go off. The alarm can be set using switch  213  to have LCD/LED  105  display the alarm time. The time displayed on LCD/LED  105  can be set using advance button  207 . Advance button  207  can also be used to advance the time of the alarm clock when switch  213  is not set. In a preferred embodiment, the alarm is audible and is provided via speaker  211 ; in other embodiments, the alarm may be any physical manifestation that is capable of awaking the user.  
         [0023]     When the alarm sounds, the user may either turn the alarm off or activate snooze button  107 . In the latter case, controller  203  responds by turning off the alarm and setting the alarm so that it will go off again after a snooze period has elapsed. Additionally, controller  203  activates motor controller  215  that directs motors  217  connected to wheels  111  to propel mobile alarm device  101  forward, so that it falls from the nightstand where it has been placed. Internal circuit board  201  is designed to help absorb the shock of falling from the nightstand. After landing on the floor, mobile alarm device  101  continues to move. Controller  203  may vary the times and directions of motion such that each time the user activates the snooze button, the mobile alarm device stops at a different location. Controller  203  may change the direction of mobile alarm device  101  by independently varying the speed of each of the motors  217  that drive wheels  111 . If one wheel  111  is turning faster than another wheel  111 , mobile alarm device  101  will turn around the slower wheel. Wheels  111  can also be moved in opposite directions to make mobile alarm device  101  pivot.  
         [0024]     After a predetermined time has elapsed, mobile alarm device  101  comes to rest. When the snooze period expires, the alarm goes off again. The individual who activated the snooze button must now get up and locate mobile alarm device  101  in order to deactivate the alarm by activating switch  109 . Now that the individual is out of bed, the alarm clock has completed its function.  
         [0025]     Logic in controller  203  can cause mobile alarm device to become mobile in response to any kind of alarm event for which becoming mobile is desirable. In addition to the pressing of the snooze button, the alarm event could be the first instance of an alarm being signaled, a second instance of the snooze button being pressed, or a pre-programmed time, to name a few examples. In an alternate embodiment, controller  203  can include a microprocessor. The microprocessor may be capable of downloading new programs, and if it is, the user can change the kind of alarm event mobile alarm device  101  responds to and the way the device responds to the alarm event by downloading a new program for the device.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart  301  of how controller  203  responds to an alarm event. Flowchart  301  starts when the clock&#39;s alarm has been set ( 303 ). Audible alarm  211  is signaled ( 305 ) when a the time to which the alarm was set is reached ( 305 ). The user either switches the alarm off using switch  109  or depresses snooze button  107  ( 307 ). Either action turns off audible alarm  211  ( 309 ). If the alarm has been switched off, then proceed to end ( 319 ). If snooze button  107  has been depressed, move mobile alarm device  101  forward for a first predetermined period of time ( 313 ). The period of time chosen is long enough for mobile alarm device  101  to reach the edge of a nightstand and fall to the floor. Continue to move after mobile alarm device  101  is on the floor. Controller  203  uses randonmly-generated parameters which it provides to motor controller  215  to determine the direction of movement, its speed, and the length of time it continues in a given direction. The movement continues for a second predetermined period of time ( 315 ). Mobile alarm device  101  moves in the directions specified by the direction parameters until the second time period has elapsed; at that point, mobile alarm device  101  comes to rest ( 317 ). When the snooze period has elapsed, ( 321 ), the alarm is sounded ( 305 ).  
         [0027]     The manner in which mobile alarm device  101  behaves may be improved by adding components that make mobile alarm device  101  aware of itself and its environment. Counters that record the rotation count of wheels  111  can be used to determine whether mobile alarm device  101  has stopped moving forward. A slow change indicates that mobile alarm device  101  is making no forward movement. Counter rate increase to a steady state indicates forward movement. The counters could also be used to determine if mobile alarm device  101  is in mid-air as it would be when dropping off a nightstand. During the period of the fall, wheels  111  would spin at a higher rate. Watching the higher counter rate could allow the controller  203  to determine when to start changing the direction of movement of mobile alarm device  101  When the manner in which wheels  111  are rotating indicates that no forward movement is occurring, mobile alarm device  101  can evade the obstacle by reversing direction, turning, and moving on in the new direction. Sensors that make mobile alarm device  101  aware of its external environment can also be used. Proximity sensors could let the alarm device know how close it is to another object, allowing it to turn before hitting the object. There are many types of proximity sensors: sonic sensors, radio wave sensors, magnetic sensors, or photo-beam sensors, to name a few. The kind of sensor used will of course depend on factors like cost and the kind of environment mobile alarm device  101  is to be used in.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a mobile alarm avoiding an object in its path in response to a sensor. In a first instance  503  the alarm device  101  is proceeding forward across the floor of a room towards an object  505 . In instance  507  the alarm device  101  strikes the object  505 . Collision sensor  513  detects a physical collision or a potential collision. That a collision or potential collision has been detected is relayed to controller  203 . Controller  203  causes motor controller  215  to have motors  217  reverse direction. This in turn causes mobile alarm device  101  to reverses direction ( 509 ) and proceed away from the object ( 511 ). The sensitivity of mobile alarm device  101  to its environment will vary with the sophistication of its sensors and the amount of computing power and memory it has. To give an extreme example, if mobile alarm device  101  can detect the presence of objects either by running into them or by using photonic or sonic sensors, mobile alarm device  101  can be placed on the floor and be permitted to “explore” its surroundings. As it does so, it can make a map of the surroundings. It can then use the map to determine the route it will take when it is moving in response to an alarm event.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a several views of a mobile alarm device with docking station. Mobile alarm device  401  is in a docking station  405  that contains a mechanism for charging battery  205  held in the body of mobile alarm device  103 . Mobile alarm device  401  contains a set of wheels  407  for propelling mobile alarm device  401  from its docking station  405 . Mobile alarm device  403  separates itself from the docking station  405  after snooze button  107  has been depressed.  
         [0030]     The time display need not be part of mobile alarm device  101 , but can instead remain on the nightstand, where it can be easily viewed by the sleeper. The minimal requirements for mobile alarm device  101  are that it be mobile, start moving in response to an alarm event, and have a switch which turns off the alarm. If the alarm is in mobile alarm device  101 , the switch can turn off the alarm directly; otherwise mobile alarm device  101  can generate a signal in response to the switch that in turn causes the time display on the night stand to turn off the alarm. The time display and the mobile alarm device  101  can contain communications equipment such that they can share information by radio or infrared. If there is a docking station, the time display can be part of the docking station.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows several different ways of making the mobile alarm mobile. Tracks instead of wheels allow mobile alarm device  601  to cross more varied terrain such as a deep shag carpet where a wheeled mobile alarm device  101  may become bogged down. A tracked mobility unit with arms allows alarm device  603  to climb over objects in its path or ascend or descend stairs. A mobility unit with legs like an insect allows alarm device  605  to walk across its terrain. Alarm device  605  is weighted so that it always falls on its back. Like an insect, it can right itself. The mobility units shown in  FIG. 6  are illustrative and exemplary only; any device which makes it possible for mobile alarm device  101  to move out of reach of the sleeper may be employed in place of the wheels used in mobile alarm device  101  or of any of the mobility units shown in  FIG. 6 .  
       CONCLUSION  
       [0032]     The foregoing Detailed Description has disclosed to those skilled in the relevant technologies how to make and use a mobile alarm device and has further disclosed the best mode presently known to the inventor for implementing the mobile alarm device. It will however be immediately apparent to those skilled in the relevant technologies that the mobile alarm device may be implemented in many other ways. For example, mobility units that pull, winch, or vibrate could be used; many different kinds of alarm events can cause the mobile alarm device to begin moving, and many techniques can be used to define how the mobile alarm device moves. These techniques may include varying the behavior of the mobile alarm device in response to sensors. Users may be able to vary the behavior of a mobile alarm device by programming it themselves or by downloading a preexisting program. At the other technological extreme, mobile alarm devices with simple behaviors can even be implemented in mechanical clockwork.  
         [0033]     For all of the foregoing reasons, the Detailed Description is to be regarded as being in all respects exemplary and not restrictive, and the breadth of the invention disclosed herein is to be determined not from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted with the full breadth permitted by the patent laws.