Abstract:
A portable self contained parameter sensing unit for sensing environmental parameters and communicating such to a user. The unit includes a housing having a transducer for conveying information to the user and an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes an integrated environmental sensor for sensing current predetermined environmental parameters in the analog domain. It also includes a data converter for converting the sensed current predetermined environmental parameters in the analog domain to the digital domain as digital sensed environmental parameters. An integrated memory is provided for storing information in the digital domain with an integrated processing unit for processing the sensed current predetermined environmental parameters in the digital domain in accordance with translation parameters stored in the integrated memory for conversion such that the digital value of the sensed environmental parameters are translated into a translated value that can be provided to a user. An integrated driver drives an external transducer with a signal representing the digital value of the translated sensed environmental parameters. The overall unit has a power source for powering the integrated circuit and the transducer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention pertains in general to single-chip devices that allow audible output of sensed environmental parameters and, more particularly, to a single-chip device that allows an audible output to be provided to a user of the current temperature. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the early 1970&#39;s, a great deal of research was done on synthesized speech. The need for this was in the area of computerized systems that could actually provide audible information in the form of commands, directions, etc. to a listener. This technology found a use in the game market and such companies as Texas Instruments developed algorithms for generating speech, such as the linear predictive coding (LPC) algorithm, a technique for synthesizing audible speech patterns. At this time, memory was quite expensive and the density thereof was inadequate to provide for storage of prerecorded information that was digitized, so a hardware based algorithm was more practical. Some of the early integrated circuits that provided for the output of audible sounds through LPC based algorithms involved such things as “talking greeting cards” wherein a chip and associated battery with an integrated speaker were disposed within a greeting card such that, when the greeting card was opened, a greeting was provided. Some of the original greeting cards had “canned” greetings. With the advent of technology, audible files have been compressed in what is termed as a “WAV” file such that music and voice can be transferred over computer networks such as packet-switched networks. However, one of the limiting factors to incorporating these WAV files into small integrated circuits or hybrid circuits is the requirement for the memory to store the information that is to be played back and the ability to adaptively record such information. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a portable self contained parameter sensing unit for sensing environmental parameters and communicating such to a user. The unit includes a housing having a transducer for conveying information to the user and an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes an integrated environmental sensor for sensing current predetermined environmental parameters in the analog domain. It also includes a data converter for converting the sensed current predetermined environmental parameters in the analog domain to the digital domain as digital sensed environmental parameters. An integrated memory is provided for storing information in the digital domain with an integrated processing unit for processing the sensed current predetermined environmental parameters in the digital domain in accordance with translation parameters stored in the integrated memory for conversion such that the digital value of the sensed environmental parameters are translated into a translated value that can be provided to a user. An integrated driver drives an external transducer with a signal representing the digital value of the translated sensed environmental parameters. The overall unit has a power source for powering the integrated circuit and the transducer. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an overall block diagram of the single-chip speaking thermometer; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of the integrated circuit associated with the single-chip thermometer; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the construction of the single-chip thermometer; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a memory map for the WAV files; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a diagrammatic view of the WAV files that are stored; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a flow chart depicting the overall operation of the system; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an alternate embodiment wherein the single-chip thermometer is summed with another audio source to drive speakers; and 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a flow chart for a continuous running embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a block diagram of a single-chip speaking thermometer  102 . The single-chip speaking thermometer has at the heart thereof a single-chip microcontroller unit (MCU)  104 . This is of a type C8051FXXX, manufactured by Silicon Laboratories Inc. These microcontroller units have disposed thereon, as will be described herein below, memory, processing capabilities, analog-to-digital data conversion capability, digital-to-analog data conversion capability, clock circuitry and timers. The MCU  104  at the chip level has a plurality of potential functions that can be performed thereby. Thus, there are a number of available pin-out configurations that are available. However, for this particular application, the single-chip MCU requires minimal pin-out provisions. There will be required a supply terminal  106 , a ground terminal  108 , a driving terminal  110  and an interrupt or reset input  112 . Additionally, there will be optionally provided the ability to program the MCU  104  through a program interface  114 . As will be described herein below, the MCU  104  contains Flash memory and this is programmed with this particular integrated circuit through a JTAG interface. This requires approximately four outputs. Thus, the single-chip MCU  104  requires only four terminals for the overall functionality and possibly some programming input or interface. However, the MCU  104  could be mask programmed, thus not requiring the program interface. 
   The output node  110  is operable to drive a speaker  120 . This speaker can be a piezoelectric or piezoceramic speaker that operates on relatively low voltage and a low current. These are relatively small and inexpensive speakers used for portable mobile communication products, hearing aids and the such. The output of the speaker depends upon the current driven thereto. In general, the piezoceramic speakers appear as a capacitive load and have a positive terminal  122  and a negative terminal  124 . The positive terminal  122  will typically be connected to the supply terminal  106  and the other terminal, the negative terminal  124 , is connected to one side of an active driving device such as an NPN transistor  126  that is connected between negative terminal  124  and ground. The base of transistor  110  is driven by the driving terminal  110 , which provides an analog voltage on the output thereof. There can be provided bias resistors  130  and  132  to bias the transistor  126 . It should be understood that any type of driving device can be provided to drive the analog output to the speaker  120 . Further, it should be understood that any type of speaker could be utilized, it being understood that the output on terminal  110  is an analog output terminal. Alternatively, a digital output could be used to drive the speaker, but this would provide only a limited amount of audible capabilities and would not provide as high a fidelity output as an analog driving signal. The input reset for interrupt terminal  112  is connected to one side of the transducer  140 . This transducer is operable to generate some type of reset signal, be it a DC reset signal or a change in a voltage level. This can be detected by comparators on board the MCU  104  that will interrupt the operation and indicate to the processing system inside the MCU  104  that a temperature output is requested. 
   There are a number of ways an input signal can be generated for the purpose of providing an input signal to the CPU  202  as an interrupt. One way is to provide two conductive terminals accessible external to the packaged device, as will be described herein below, and connect one terminal the node  112  and the other terminal to ground. A large resistor will then be connected between the terminal  112  and V DD , such that placing a finger across the conductive terminals will provide enough current to “pull” the terminal  112  to ground and change the output state of the comparator  222 . The conductive terminals have to be exposed to the exterior of the housing, however. Another input could be a capacitively coupled off of the collector of the transistor  126 , which will be filtered for input to the terminal  112 . This will allow for an audio input to generate a sufficient signal to trigger the comparator  220 . 
   In one operational mode, the MCU  104  is placed into a Halt mode, wherein reduced power is drawn due to the fact that the digital processing section is not being clocked, i.e., there are no digital transitions occurring. When the processing system receives the interrupt, it then internally measures a temperature dependant voltage of the MCU  104 , determines the temperature from a look up table, looks up an audio file that corresponds to the determined temperature, creates an audio output and outputs that audio output in the analog domain to the speaker. As will be described further herein below, the MCU  104  is a mixed-signal device that allows for processing to occur in the digital domain, but output information in the analog domain and sense analog input parameters. In another mode, the MCU  104  runs continuously and periodically outputs temperature information to the speaker, as will be described herein below. During the interim periods in this continuous mode of operation, the MCU  104  can be powered down to conserve battery life, as the single-chip MCU utilizes an integrated battery, and this integrated battery, in one embodiment is not replaceable, i.e., the entire device is disposable. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated a diagrammatic view of the internal architecture for the single-chip MCU  104 . At the heart of the MCU is a central processing unit (CPU)  202  which is an 8051 type microprocessor. This microprocessor is operable to execute instructional code that is stored in a Flash memory  204  or in other on-board ROM (not shown), all of this memory being non-volatile. The CPU  202  interfaces with the Flash memory  204  through an internal bus  206 . The Flash memory  204  can be programmed with a JTAG interface through a JTAG bus  208 . The CPU  202  operates on a clock  210 , which clock operates at various frequencies. Typically, processing capability having the speed necessary to determine and assemble the necessary audio information for output from the MCU  104  may require a clock speed on the order of 25 MHz. The clock  210  is operable to generate such a clock without the use of a crystal. There is provided an internal precision oscillator that can generate the clock frequency within +/−2% of the correct operating frequency. However, for this application, the accuracy of the clock is not important, it being recognized that this clock frequency will drift somewhat over temperature. The clock circuit  210  has associated therewith timers  216  which can be clocked by the clock  210  and keep track of count values. These timers can provide interrupts out to the CPU on a line  218 . Also, the CPU can generate a command to the clock  210  that will cause the clock  210  to Halt its operation such that it does not draw current, the MCU  104  halted such that the last processing state is maintained intact, such that, upon resumption of the clocking operation thereof, the CPU  202  will begin processing at the last place in its operation. 
   In one mode, only the CPU  202  will be halted, the clock  210  allowed to run and clock the timers  216 . When the timers  216  reach preset threshold, an interrupt can be generated to wake the CPU  202 . In the other mode, where the entire operation is halted, the clock  210  is suspended, the timer  216  is suspended and the CPU  202  is suspended until an external interrupt on a line  220  is received, this being provided by the output of a comparator  222  which senses the output on the terminal  112 . When a reset input or some type of input is provided on the terminal  112 , the comparator  222  compares the received input signal to an internal threshold which is programmable and then returns the CPU  202  to a full operating mode. Typically, the CPU  202  will be placed in a mode such that it retains its last state, i.e., it is still powered, but not undergoing digital transitions. 
   The MCU  104  also includes an input/output section  230 , which provides for various serial interface types such as SPI, I 2 C, and other various serial interfaces. These are not utilized for this application, but they could be utilized although it is not necessary to utilize these serial interfaces for driving an output speaker. There is also provided a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)  232  which provides a single analog output on a line  234 , which is associated with the terminal  110 . This provides the analog output driving signal, i.e., the speaker drive signals. There is also provided an ADC  236 , which is operable to receive an analog input from a multiplexer  238 , which can sample multiple inputs. None of these inputs are interfaced in this application to the exterior of the circuit. Typically, when the system is in a low power mode, the ADC  236  is powered down, i.e., it is not sampling the input. Thus, for a low power operation, it is more desirable to utilize a combinatorial logic circuit such as the comparator  222  for the purpose of determining if a reset or some type of external low power indicator is provided to the part. However, the multiplexer  238  is interfaced with a temperature sensing element  240 , which is basically a PTAT voltage provided on the output of a band gap generator  242 . The band gap generator  242  is a conventional circuit that provides voltage and temperature independent stable voltages for the operation of the integrated circuit. Internal to this is a voltage that is temperature dependent and this voltage has a characteristic that is well known and can be utilized for calculating temperature (or utilizing a look up table (LUT) for such determination). This temperature sensing element is internally connected to one input of the multiplexer  238  for being sampled by the ADC  236 . Therefore, a digital representation of the PTAT voltage can be determined internal to the chip, without requiring a separate input and output pin. This will provide the temperature of the chip. Since the chip draws a variable current, the temperature on startup will reach its operating temperature very quickly and this will constitute a delta above ambient temperature. With pre characterization data and lookup tables, the voltage output from the temperature sensing element  240  can be correlated with the actual temperature. 
   With use of the Flash  204 , there can be provided a significant amount of storage on this single-chip solution that allows for storage of various lookup tables and the such. The storage of these lookup tables allows for storage of characterization tables for the temperature sensing element  240 , WAV files and instruction code for the CPU  202 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a cross-sectional view of the single-chip speaking thermometer as a single integrated unit. There is provided a substrate  302  for mounting the MCU  104  thereon. The substrate  302  can be a resin type substrate, i.e., a PC board. Mounted on the PC board with mounting structures  304  is a piezoelectric piezoceramic transducer  306 , i.e., the speaker. There are a number of speakers that will provide for this functionality, such as the WM-R30B card type piezoceramic speaker manufactured by Panasonic. These are relatively small and provide good fidelity. However, the application herein will drive these speakers with very low voltages and currents and, therefore, the fidelity is not of concern. A battery  308  will be disposed on the lower surface of the substrate  302  and will be connected thereto with power supply contacts  310 . A transducer  312  will also be disposed on the substrate  302 . This transducer  312  can be any type of transducer. It could be a capacitive transducer that senses capacitance and changes the output in response thereto. It could be an optical transducer that will provide an output voltage. However, transducers that utilize pressure or capacitance change are desirable since they will draw the least amount of current. Any type of transducer could be utilized for providing an indication of an external input for requesting a temperature reading. Further, there could be a mechanical switch that is provided that would actually connect the supply voltage to the MCU  104 . The entire structure of  FIG. 3  is enclosed in and enclosure  320 , that could actually be a “potted” enclosure allowing for openings to the pressure surface of the speaker. This would provide for a totally enclosed device wherein the battery could not be changed and it would be disposable. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated a perspective view of the single-chip speaker thermometer of  FIG. 3 . This is illustrated without the resin or enclosure  320 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated a memory map for storage of the information that is provided in Flash memory  204  for the purpose of storing WAV files. WAV files are audio formatted files that allow for the storage of audio information. These are sound files that enable one to hear and play music, providing a compressed audio file. This has generally become a standard PC audio file format for everything from system and game sounds to CD-quality audio. A WAV file is identified by a file named extension of WAV (.wav). In general, this allows content developers to freely use the audio files between flat form for processing, for storage and later reproduction, etc. The WAV file, in addition to providing uncompressed raw audio, also stores information about the file&#39;s number of tracks, sample rate and bit depth. Each of the files, there being multiple files, has recorded therein certain information that can either be recorded from a human voice or it can actually be synthesized. It will be such things as the term “temperature,” the various numbers, etc. Any type of information could be contained in these WAV files for output therefrom. Illustrated are two WAV files  502  and  504  labeled “WAV File0” and “WAV File1” that are each comprised of a plurality of bits disposed in fields  506 . Each of the fields has a certain bit length, depending upon the width of the memory. These bits are output in a streaming format, but could have word boundaries. This, of course, is in accordance with the WAV format. Each WAV file is identified by the pointer to the address at the beginning thereof. Once the WAV file is output, each field  506  is accessed and output therefrom. Therefore, it is only necessary to know the beginning address and the ending address of the WAV file in order to fetch it from memory. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5   a , there is illustrated a block diagram of the operation wherein the CPU  104  accesses two memory locations for the purpose of communicating temperature information. The first is to access a lookup table  510  which provides information as to the output of the band gap generator and temperature. Once the PTAT output voltage of the band gap generator is determined, this voltage can then be associated with a temperature and is utilized to then select one of the WAV files from a WAV storage area  512 . The LUT  510  is operable to contain pre-stored information that is the result of characterization data for the band gap generator. The WAV file  512  is comprised of, as noted herein above, prerecorded information which could be of any length. Although the disclosed embodiment is involved with temperature, it should be understood that any type of information such as an advertisement or the such could be output and the sensed parameters could be any sensed parameters, such as barometric pressure, humidity, etc. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated a diagrammatic view of the memory map for the Flash  204  associated with the WAV files illustrating the content of the WAV files. It can be seen that the type of information that will be recorded would be the spoken forms of the term “temperature,” “degrees,” “centigrade,” and “Fahrenheit.” These will allow a spoken output of, for example, a “TEMPERATURE FIFTY TWO DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.” The numbers are merely assembled from segmented recorded spoken words, such as the numbers 1-10, 11-19, 20, 30, 40, . . . , 90 and 100. These are all the numbers that are required in order to output a temperature value in a spoken form, this being the minimal level. Of course, each temperature or fraction thereof could be recorded in and of itself. This merely would require significantly more memory. For a low cost part, the memory will be minimized. However, the CPU  104  must, after determining the temperature, assemble the particular WAV files, execute the appropriate instructions to output these WAV files in the correct order and at the correct time. Further, as will be noted herein below, the CPU  202  is also operable to control the power management aspect of the part, this being an inherent feature of the part noted herein above. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated a flow chart depicting the overall operation of the MCU  104 . This is initiated at a block  702  and then proceeds to a decision block  704  to determine if the part is to be woken up. Initially, the part will be in a low power mode wherein all of the operating functions are halted or possibly just the oscillator is running for timing considerations. If it is in the low power mode, there will be some external disturbance such as user activation of the transducer through some capacitive change, etc., that will cause an interrupt to be provided to the CPU  202 . When this interrupt is provided to the CPU  202 , the program will flow along the “Y” path to a function block  706  to initially power up the band gap circuit at the least. This will allow the temperature therein to stabilize. However, for the power up operation, the entire chip will be powered up such that the processor is running at processing speed, the clocks are running, etc. The program will then flow to a function block  710  for a predetermined amount of delay. This will allow the entire chip to come to operating temperature and stabilize for the temperature measurement. The program will then flow to a function block  712  in order to measure the band gap voltage, the PTAT voltage. This voltage will be utilized to determine the current temperature through the use of the lookup table  510 . This is noted in a function block  714 . Once the temperature is determined from the lookup table, the program then flows to a function block  716  to assemble the appropriate WAV files. The first WAV file that is output is the spoken word “temperature,” as indicated by a function block  718 . The next WAV file that is output is that associated with the output value which can be an assembly of multiple WAV files. For example, the temperature  125  would actually require the output of the spoken word “one hundred,” followed by the spoken word “twenty,” and that followed by the spoken word “five.” This is indicated by a function block  720 . Once the value is output, then the program flows to function block  722  wherein the WAV file associated with the spoken word “degrees” is output to the speaker. The program then flows to a function block  724  to output the WAV file associated with the term “centigrade” or “fahrenheit.” The program then flows to a function block  726  to power down and go back into the low power mode or power conserving mode. The program then flows to an END block  726  to await the next wake-up signal. It can therefore be seen that a single-chip module having battery power associated therewith in a single enclosure can be provided with a minimal parts count to provide user activated voice output temperature measurement capabilities. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment wherein a set of speakers  802  and  804  are provided in, for example, a headset. These are driven normally by an audio source  806 , which provides music or the such to a user. However, a separate module  808 , the single chip temperature measuring MCU, is provided which is summed with the cord  812  delivering audio from the audio source  806  to the speakers  802  and  804 . This could merely be through a “Y-connector” that can allow summing of the signals. The output of the MCU  808  would have to have the capability to drive the fairly low impedance speakers, these being 8-ohm speakers. The overall power level required to drive such speakers would be relatively low, due to the fact that they are low power speakers. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9  there is illustrated a flow chart depicting an alternate operational mode of the MCU  102 . This is initiated at block  902  and then proceeds to a function block  904 . At block  904 , the MCU  102  remains in a constant loop mode wherein it is always measuring temp and driving the speaker with the appropriate temperature output information. There will be a time delay associated therewith. However, once the module is staffed or powered up and an output provided, the program then flows to a function block  906  to store the temperature. The program then flows to a decision block  908  to determine if there has been a change in temperature. If no change in temperature has occurred, the program will flow along the “N” path. However, if a change in temperature had occurred by a predetermined number of degrees, the program will flow along the “Y” path to the function block  904  to again measure the temperature and drive the speaker. The temperature is continually being measured, however. If there has been no change in temperature, the program will flow from the decision block  908  along the “N” path to a timer decision block  912  wherein it will be determined if a timer has maxed out. If so, the program will flow along a “Y” path to measure the temperature and drive the speaker and, if not, the program will flow along the “N” path back to the input of the block  908 . 
   For power conserving purposes, the MCU  102  can operate in a number of different modes. In one mode, the CPU  104  can be powered down and the clock remain running such that the timer will be incremented. Further, the oscillator can actually run at a lower frequency such as 32 kHz to further conserve power. There will be an alarm function provided in the timer circuitry  218  that, when the count value equals a certain value, an interrupt will be generated to the CPU  202 , initiating the processing of the temperature information and output of WAV files and driving the speaker. In another mode, the analog-to-digital converter can be maintained in a mode wherein it will be operational at certain periods of time to perform sampling to determine temperature. Therefore, the MCU  104  does not need to be powered up entirely to continue taking samples. It can be woken up periodically with a timer to take the samples and determine if there is a change in temperature. Typically, the MCU  104  utilizing the part number C8051FXXX will have multiple timers therein and one could be utilized for a total time-out value such that temperature is output at periodic intervals and also to allow the CPU  202  to wake up and measure for changes in temperature. However, as noted herein above, the MCU  104  could be run continuously, as the power required for such operation is minimal compared to the power required to drive the speaker, this being the primary power draw. 
   Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.