Patent Publication Number: US-2004052161-A1

Title: Mechanical clock having wireless manipulation and adjustment function

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a mechanical clock having wireless manipulation and adjustment function and, more particularly, to a mechanical clock, whose setting can be wirelessly adjusted using a remote controller to facilitate the manipulation thereof.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The utmost function of a common mechanical desk clock or wall clock is to provide accurate time display, or to further provide time-telling at exact hours and time-prompting by alarm ring. How to provide a prompt and accurate time is very important for users.  
       [0003] It is necessary for a user himself to adjust the alarm ring setting of a common desk clock or wall clock. An adjustment knob of an alarm ring timing hand is generally disposed at the back of the desk clock or wall clock. However, the distance between the user and the desk clock may be too large, or the wall clock may be hung high on the wall, resulting in trouble and inconvenience of the adjustment for the user.  
       [0004] Accordingly, the above conventional mechanical desk clock or wall clock has inconvenience and drawbacks in practical use. The present invention aims to propose a mechanical clock having wireless manipulation and adjustment function to resolve the problems in the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical clock having wireless manipulation and adjustment function so that a user can manipulate adjustments of the mechanical clock with a remote controller without directly adjusting the setting of a mechanical desk clock or wall clock, thereby facilitating adjustments of the mechanical clock.  
       [0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a mechanical clock having wireless manipulation and adjustment function, which comprises a remote controller and a mechanical clock. The remote controller is used to emit a wireless signal. The mechanical clock has a reception circuit board, a motor, and a gear set. The reception circuit board receives the wireless signal emitted by the remote controller to drive the motor, which then jointly drives the gear set to lead a hand of the mechanical clock to rotate.  
       [0007] The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;  
     [0009]FIG. 2 is an internal structure diagram of the present invention;  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a remote controller of the present invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a reception circuit board of the present invention; and  
     [0012]FIG. 5 is an operational flowchart of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a mechanical clock having wireless manipulation and adjustment function, which uses a remote controller  1  to remotely control related settings (e.g., the alarm ring) of a mechanical clock  2 . Several keys  11  are disposed on the remote controller  1 . Pressing the keys  11  performs wireless signal instructions for the alarm ring switch setting, alarm ring time setting, and relayed alarm ring setting. The mechanical clock  2  shown in the figure is a desk clock (a wall clock is also feasible). Key switches  21  for setting alarm ring and a reception window  22  for receiving the signal of the remote controller  1  are disposed at the outside of the mechanical clock  2  (Other keys and knobs are not shown in the figure). A reception circuit board  31 , a motor  32  connected to the reception circuit board  31 , a gear set driven by the motor  32 , and a battery set  34  providing power for the mechanical clock  2  are disposed in the mechanical clock  2 . The gear set  33  is used to drive a hand (e.g., a hour hand  23 , a minute hand  24 , or an alarm ring timing hand  25 ) on the panel of the mechanical clock  2  to rotate. A time adjustment rod  35  for manually adjusting the hour hand  23  and the minute hand  24  and a timing hand adjustment rod  36  for adjusting the alarm ring time are disposed on the gear set  33 .  
     [0014] After the remote controller  1  emits out a related wireless signal for adjusting the alarm ring, the reception circuit board  31  in the mechanical clock  2  receives the wireless signal and then drives the motor  32  to rotate. The motor  32  then jointly drives the timing hand adjustment rod  36  in the gear set  33  to lead the alarm ring timing hand  25  of the mechanical clock  2  to rotate, thereby achieving the object of wirelessly adjusting the alarm ring timing hand  25 .  
     [0015] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the remote controller  1  comprises a wireless emission chip U 1 , a plurality of keys S 1  to S 3 , resistors R 1  to R 3 , a transistor Q 1 , and a light-emitting diode D 1 . The reception circuit board  31  comprises a wireless reception chip U 2 , a plurality of resistors R 4  to R 8 , transistors Q 2  to Q 3 , and other components.  
     [0016] The functions of the keys S 1  to S 3  are for the alarm ring switch setting, alarm ring time setting, and snooze setting, respectively. The light-emitting diode D 1  emits out an infrared wireless signal to be received by the wireless reception chip U 2 . Switches S 4  to S 7  are used to set time parameters of the alarm ring (e.g., the time interval of the alarm ring). A buzzer SP is used to give out alarm rings. A panel lamp is used to provide illumination for time display. An “ON” lamp D 2  and an “OFF” lamp D 3  are used to display the on and off states of the alarm ring switch, respectively.  
     [0017] When the keys S 1  to S 3  of the remote controller  1  are pressed, the wireless emission chip U 1  emits out an instruction for the alarm ring switch setting, alarm ring time setting, or snooze setting. After the wireless reception chip U 2  of the reception circuit board  31  receives the infrared signal emitted by the remote controller  1 , it responds with corresponding actions (e.g., the alarm ring switch, alarm ring time, or snooze) according to the instruction.  
     [0018] In other words, after the reception circuit board  31  receives an instruction for the alarm ring switch setting, the alarm ring switch is turned on to start timing or the alarm ring switch is turned off to stop timing. Or after the reception circuit board  31  receives an instruction for the alarm ring time setting, the transistor Q 3  drives the motor  32  to rotate so as to adjust the time setting of the alarm ring timing hand  36  through the gear set  33 . Or after the reception circuit board  31  receives an instruction for the relayed alarm ring setting, the transistor Q 2  drives the panel lamp of the mechanical clock  2  to illuminate for 5 seconds and then go out. The present alarm ring action is also halted for a period of time and then continued.  
     [0019] As shown in FIG. 5, the “ALARM ON/OFF” represents a key for the alarm ring switch, the “ROTATE ALARM PIN” represents a key for adjusting the alarm ring time, and the “SNOOZE LIGHT” represents a key for snoozing alarm ring. A user can uses the keys on the remote controller  1  to set the alarm ring of the mechanical clock  2 . When the user presses the “ALARM ON/OFF” key for the first time (Step  51 ), the “ON” lamp will blink for 5 seconds and then go out (Step  52 ). The timing action of the alarm ring timing hand then starts (Step  53 ). The alarm ring function starts to give out alarm rings when the set time is arrived (Step  54 ). The alarm ring is automatically stopped when the time exceeds 8 minutes (Step  55 ). During the process of the alarm ring, if the user presses the “SNOOZE LIGHT” key (Step  56 ), the lamp will illuminate the clock panel for 5 seconds and then go out (Step  57 ). Next, the alarm ring is halted for 4 minutes and then restarts (Step  58 ). When the “SNOOZE LIGHT” key is pressed for the second time (Step  59 ), the lamp will illuminate the clock panel for 5 seconds and then go out (Step  60 ). The alarm ring is halted for 3 minutes and then restarts (Step  61 ). When the “SNOOZE LIGHT” key is pressed for the third time (Step  62 ), the lamp will illuminate the clock panel for 5 seconds and then go out (Step  63 ). The alarm ring is halted for 2 minutes and then restarts (Step  64 ). When the “SNOOZE LIGHT” key is pressed for the fourth time (Step  65 ), the lamp will illuminate the clock panel for 5 seconds and then go out (Step  66 ). The alarm ring is halted for 1 minutes and then restarts (Step  67 ). When the “SNOOZE LIGHT” key is pressed again (Step  68 ), the lamp will illuminate the clock panel for 5 seconds and then go out (Step  69 ). Subsequently, the alarm ring continually acts (Step  70 ). The “ALARM ON/OFF” key can be pressed to stop all the alarm ring actions (Step  71 ). The “OFF” lamp will then blink for 5 seconds and then go out (Step  72 ). Otherwise, the alarm ring is automatically stopped when the time exceeds 5 minutes (Step  73 ).  
     [0020] When the “ROTATE ALARM PIN” is pressed (Step  81 ), the time for alarm ring is adjusted (Step  82 ). After the “ROTATE ALARM PIN” key is released (Step  83 ), the “ON” lamp will blink for 5 seconds and then go out (Step  52 ).  
     [0021] When the “ALARM ON/OFF” key is pressed for the second time (Step  84 ), all the alarm ring actions are stopped, and the “OFF” lamp will blink for 5 seconds and then go out (Step  85 ).  
     [0022] When the “SNOOZE LIGHT” key is pressed (Step  86 ), the lamp will illuminate the clock panel for 5 seconds and then go out (Step  87 ).  
     [0023] To sum up, in the present invention, the conventional way of manually adjusting the clock is replaced with a wireless remote-control way to have better controllability. Users can thus quickly finish the manipulation and setting of wall clocks.  
     [0024] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.