Patent Publication Number: US-9432758-B1

Title: Electronic coaster

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 62/026,233 filed on Jul. 18, 2014, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The embodiments herein relate generally to drink coasters. 
     Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention, drink coasters did not create a light display driven by an audio input source. Embodiments of the disclosed invention solve these problems. The prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,711 issued to McCoy, U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,524 issued to Lewis, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,113 issued to Ditto. 
     McCoy teaches a device for illuminating a liquid drink for use at a party or a social event to give the appearance of an illuminated liquid. Lewis teaches an advertising article with an automatically activated indicator assembly attached to the article including a piezoelectric sensor, a printed circuit board including a triggerable signal generator, and an LED or speaker. Ditto teaches a device for illuminating a liquid drink for use at a party or a social event to give the appearance of an illuminated liquid. 
     However, none of these teach are able to coordinate operating lights in a low ambient light environment with the pressure of a drinking vessel while there is an audio input signal. In particular, none of these use a triple band pass filter to divide the incoming audio signal and coordinate photodiodes such as light emitting diodes. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic coaster can be configured to respond to pressure and sound. The electronic coaster can contain a case that includes a flexible top. The flexible top can be configured to deflect upon receiving pressure on the flexible top. A circuit board can be attached to the case and configured to receive power from a power source and an audio signal from an audio cable. The circuit board can be configured to engage a plurality of photodiodes when pressure can be applied to the flexible top and an audio signal can be played through the circuit board. 
     In some embodiments, the circuit board can further comprise a three way bandpass filter electrically coupled to a switching circuit and a power circuit. The switching circuit further comprises pressure circuit that operates a variable resister within switching circuit. The switching circuit can be open when either there can be insufficient pressure on a pressure sensor in the pressure circuit or there can be an either no signal in a range in the three way bandpass filter. 
     In some embodiments, the three way bandpass filter can further comprise a first band filter, that includes a first band filter resister, which can be varied by first band filter variable resister and electrically coupled to a first band filter resister, a first band filter capacitor, a first band filter capacitor and a first band filter resistor are connected to a first band filter gate. The first band filter gate can be electrically coupled to a first band filter capacitor, a first band filter resister, a first band filter diode, a first band filter capacitor, a first band filter resister and a first band filter switch. When a first band filter condition in first band filter resister can be satisfied then the first band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to first band filter set of photodiodes. 
     In some embodiments the three way bandpass filter can further comprise a second band filter, further comprising: a second band filter resister, which can be varied by second band filter variable resister and electrically coupled to a second band filter resister, a second band filter capacitor, a second band filter capacitor and a second band filter resistor are connected to a second band filter gate. The second band filter gate can be electrically coupled to a second band filter capacitor, a second band filter resister, a second band filter diode, a second band filter capacitor, a second band filter resister and a second band filter switch, when a second band filter condition in second band filter resister can be satisfied then the second band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to second band filter set of photodiodes. 
     In some embodiments the three way bandpass filter can further comprise a third band filter, further comprising: a third band filter resister, which can be varied by third band filter variable resister and electrically coupled to a third band filter resister, a third band filter capacitor, a third band filter capacitor and a third band filter resistor are connected to a third band filter gate. The third band filter gate can be electrically coupled to a third band filter capacitor, a third band filter resister, a third band filter diode, a third band filter capacitor, a third band filter resister and a third band filter switch. When a third band filter condition in third band filter resister can be satisfied then the third band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to third band filter set of photodiodes. 
     In some embodiments, the pressure circuit can further comprise a voltage source, electrically coupled to a first pressure circuit resistor, a second pressure circuit resister, a first pressure circuit capacitor, a pressure circuit gate, which can be further electrically coupled to a pressure sensor. When a pressure sensor circuit condition can be met, the pressure circuit closes and electricity flows through the switching circuit. 
     In some embodiments, the switching circuit can further comprise a switch. When the pressure circuit condition can be met the switch closes and electricity flows through the switching circuit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown in use. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom detail perspective view of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side detail view of an embodiment of the invention shown without item on top. 
         FIG. 4  is a side detail view of an embodiment of the invention shown with item on top and in activated state. 
         FIG. 5  is an electrical schematic view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an electrical schematic view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an electrical schematic view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an electrical schematic view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an electrical schematic view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an electrical schematic view of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 
     By way of example, and referring to  FIG. 1 , a user desires to have a coaster respond with lights when container C containing fluid F is placed upon electronic coaster  10 . Electronic coaster  10  solves this problem as explained in more detail below. 
     Electronic coaster  10  comprises case  12  mechanically coupled to circuit board  16 . Case  12  has a flexible top that is configured to slightly deflect upon some pressure being placed on the flexible top. Circuit board  16  is electrically coupled to external audio device  22  with audio cable  18 . Circuit board  16  is further electrically coupled to a power supply with power supply cable  20 . In some embodiments, audio cable  18  is a mono cable, in other embodiments it can be a stereo cable. In some embodiments, power supply cable  20  is configured to carry direct current power which can be toggled into circuit board  16  with switch  28 . 
     Circuit board  16  contains a plurality of circuits shown in  FIG. 10 . Three way bandpass filter  30  is electrically coupled to switching circuit  40  and power circuit  50 . Switching circuit  40  further comprises pressure circuit  60  which operates a variable resister within switching circuit  40 . When pressure is placed upon the flexible top pressure engages a pressure sensor on pressure circuit  60 . When switching circuit  40  is closed and when a signal travels through bandpass filter  30 , electrical power travels through photodiode  70  causing visible light to be emitted. Each circuit has a slightly differently configured three way bandpass filter  30  in order to engage a different photodiode  70  when a different sound is played from external audio device  22 . 
       FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , show some more details as to how a plurality of circuits operate together. Three way bandpass filters  30  are electrically coupled to audio jack  32 . In some embodiments, a second audio cable  34  enables a user to connect a plurality of three way bandpass filters  30 , perhaps through additional coasters  10 . That plurality of three way bandpass filters  30  allows a single range of signals to pass through a single filters. When aggregated, numerous signals, pass through numerous filters to enable the coaster to light up in different light patterns. However, photodiodes  70  will not light up unless there is adequate pressure on pressure circuit  40 . Both audio signals and pressure are necessary for operation in one mode of operation. 
       FIG. 5  shows three way bandpass filter  30  in more detail. Three way bandpass filter  30  comprises an audio jack electrically coupled to a first gate with capacitor C 7  and resister R 23 . The gate is in parallel with resister R 22 . The first gate is electrically coupled to a first band filter, a second band filter and a third band filter with capacitor C 14 . 
     The first band filter comprises first band filter resister R 24 , which is varied by first band filter variable resister R 1  and electrically coupled to first band filter resister R 7 , first band filter capacitor C 1 , first band filter capacitor C 2  and first band filter resistor R 4  are connected to a first band filter gate. The first band filter gate is electrically coupled to first band filter capacitor C 8 , first band filter resister R 8 , first band filter diode D 1 , first band filter capacitor C 11 , first band filter resister R 13  and first band filter switch Q 1 , when the condition in first band filter resister R 1  is satisfied then the first band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to first band filter set of photodiodes D 4 , D 5 , D 6  and D 7 . 
     The second band filter comprises second band filter resister R 25 , which is varied by second band filter variable resister R 2  and electrically coupled to second band filter resister R 8 , second band filter capacitor C 3 , second band filter capacitor C 4  and second band filter resistor R 5  are connected to a second band filter gate. The second band filter gate is electrically coupled to second band filter capacitor C 9 , second band filter resister R 11 , second band filter diode D 2 , second band filter capacitor C 12 , second band filter resister R 14  and second band filter switch Q 2 , when the condition in second band filter resister R 2  is satisfied then the second band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to second band filter set of photodiodes D 8 , D 9 , D 10  and D 11 . 
     The third band filter comprises third band filter resister R 26 , which is varied by third band filter variable resister R 3  and electrically coupled to third band filter resister R 9 , third band filter capacitor C 5 , third band filter capacitor C 6  and third band filter resistor R 6  are connected to a third band filter gate. The third band filter gate is electrically coupled to third band filter capacitor C 10 , third band filter resister R 12 , third band filter diode D 3 , third band filter capacitor C 13 , third band filter resister R 15  and third band filter switch Q 3 , when the condition in third band filter resister R 3  is satisfied then the third band filter gate closes and electrical power flows to third band filter set of photodiodes D 12 , D 13 , D 14  and D 15 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the power supply circuit  50  in more detail. Direct current power flows from a power source, such as a battery to circuit board  16 . Power is filtered for overcharges by running errant power through power diode D 1  through two capacitors in parallel C 1 , C 2  and then to ground. 
       FIG. 7  shows switching circuit  40  in more detail. There are two switches in switching circuit  40 : pressure switch  42  and light sensor  44 . Pressure switch  42  is open when there is no pressure on pressure circuit  60  and closed when there is pressure on pressure circuit  60 . Light sensor  44  comprises light dependent resistor LD 1  connected to resister R 3 , a diode and another resister. When light is shown on light dependent resistor LD 1 , resistance becomes infinite and the circuit opens. Alternately, when light is not shown on light dependent resistor LD 1 , resistance becomes finite and the circuit closes. Substituting, components can result in the circuit closing when light is present. This is a matter of user preference. Switching circuit  40  is connected to pressure circuit  60  shown below. When the condition of pressure circuit  60  is reached transistor T 1  closes and power flows from +V to +12 VDC. When the switching circuit gate is open, the electrical power flows to ground. 
       FIG. 8  shows pressure circuit  60  in more detail. A voltage source is electrically coupled to a first pressure circuit resistor R 27 , a second pressure circuit resister R 28 , a first pressure circuit capacitor C 15 . These are electrically coupled to a pressure circuit gate, which is further electrically coupled to pressure sensor  42 . When a pressure sensor circuit condition is met the circuit closes and electricity can flow through switching circuit  40 . 
       FIG. 9  shows how photodiode  70  operates when switching circuit  40  closes and when a band in three way band pass filter closes. When both conditions are met, electrical power flows through photodiode  70  to ground lighting up photodiode  70 . 
     Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.