Patent Publication Number: US-2015078142-A1

Title: Environment-resolution correlated timer

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Various embodiments relate generally to timing devices, and specifically to multiple-resolution timers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Timers are used in a great many applications. Some timers, such as cooking timers are count-down timers. Other timers, such as stop-watches are elapsed-time or count-up timers. Elapsed-time counters may begin operation automatically, such as when a computer signal is received and others may require an operator to initiate the timer. Elapsed-time counters may be remotely located from the object that is being timed. For example, a cook may have a casserole and bread simultaneously cooking in the oven. An oven timer may be set to count-down until the bread is done cooking. But the cook may not remember which item is being timed. Furthermore, the cooking time required for the bread may vary depending on environmental conditions. For example, a different cooking temperature may require longer or shorter cooking time. Different humidities or altitudes, for example, may also affect the cooking time. 
     Some temporal hazards may be associated with different climate environments. For example, food perishes at different times, depending upon the climate environment. Dairy products, for example have a limited shelf life at room temperature conditions. But if refrigerated, dairy products may last for days, and perhaps even weeks. Some dairy products, such as cheese, milk, or butter, may be frozen. Frozen dairy products may have a long shelf life before spoiling. Spoilage of dairy products has a temporal hazard that varies with environmental conditions. 
     SUMMARY 
     Apparatus and associated methods relate to a timer having multiple time resolutions corresponding to multiple environmental climates. Climates may include, for example, temperature, humidity, pressure, or any of these taken alone or in combination. Climates may include, for example, carbon monoxide content, oxygen content, toxic gases, or any of these taken alone or in combination. The resolutions and climates may be particular to selected applications, including but not limited to, perishable foods, chemicals (e.g. alcohol, cement, pharmaceuticals), or perishable evidence (e.g. crime scene materials). In one embodiment, a breast-milk timer may have three times scales, an hourly scale corresponding to room-temperature environment, a daily scale corresponding to refrigeration, and a monthly scale corresponding to a freezer environment. As time elapses, the timer may automatically transition from the hourly scale to the daily scale and then to the monthly scale. Such a timer may quickly communicate breast milk freshness. 
     Various embodiments may achieve one or more advantages. For example, some embodiments may permit the use of a single timer for multiple climate environments. A timer may be removably attached to a perishable food which may be stored at room temperature, refrigerated, or stored in a freezer. In some embodiments, colored LEDs may indicate the elapsed time with the color indicative of temporal proximity to expiration. In some embodiments, the multiple time resolutions may be separated on the face of the timer device to facilitate ease of identification. Some exemplary environment-resolution correlated timers may provide the functionality of multiple timers. Some embodiments may provide a visual safe storage indicator without requiring an action by the user. Various exemplary elapsed-time counters require no math of the user. In some embodiments, the timers may be sealed facilitating cleaning. 
     In various embodiments, the timers may be used for multiple different products. Exemplary attachment devices may present a single timer coupling interface, which may make facilitate their use. For example, a milk container screw top attachment device may replace standard mild container screw tops and permit the timing of fresh milk storage. Users may require instruction for only one timing device for timing multiple temporal hazards. 
     The details of various embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary storage timing application of an exemplary perishable-food timer. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timer. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timer. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a plan view of an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timer. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timer. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of exemplary baby-bottle timers on baby-bottle caps. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary attachment band for an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timer. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a multiple-time-scale timer. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a state diagram of an exemplary multiple-time-scale device. 
         FIG. 10  depicts a block diagram of an exemplary time-scale programmable wireless timing system. 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     To aid understanding, this document is organized as follows. First, an exemplary application of an exemplary perishable-food timer is briefly introduced with reference to  FIG. 1 . Second, with reference to  FIGS. 2-5 , the discussion turns to exemplary embodiments that illustrate various aspects of exemplary multi-environmental-climate food timers. Then, with reference to  FIG. 6 , exemplary timer attachment mechanisms will be discussed. Discussion then turns to exemplary system embodiments of multiple time-span timing systems. With reference to the block diagram of  FIG. 7 , a survey of system architectures will be discussed. Then with reference to  FIG. 8  an exemplary control system will be detailed by way of a state diagram. Finally, with reference to  FIG. 9  an exemplary wireless implementation of a programmable multi-resolution timer will be described. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary storage timing application of an exemplary perishable-food timer. In this figure, a kitchen  100  includes a refrigerator  105  and a counter-top  110 . A woman  115  is reaching for baby bottle  120  on the counter-top  110 . The baby bottle  120  has an attached exemplary perishable-food timer  125 . The attached perishable-food timer  125  has a display face  130 . As the woman  115  reaches for the baby bottle  120 , a flashing colored Light Emitting Diode (LED)  135  may indicate the storage condition of the bottle&#39;s contents. A flashing green colored LED located in an “Hours” section  140  of the display face  130 , for example, may immediately communicate to the woman  115  that the contents of the bottle  120  have been stored for a safe storage time associated with room-temperature storage, such as being stored on the counter-top  110 . The display face  130  may have a section corresponding to refrigeration as well. Inside the refrigerator  105  is another baby bottle  145  which also has an attached perishable-food timer  150 . Should the woman  115  open the refrigerator  105  and see the perishable-food timer  150 , she may immediately know whether the stored contents of the baby bottle  145  may be safe from spoilage by the color and location of a flashing LED. Each perishable-food timer  120 ,  150  may begin counting elapsed time when a control button  155  in the center of the display face  130  is depressed. The perishable-food timers  120 ,  150  may begin by flashing the “1 Hour” LED, and then sequence through the other LEDs as the time elapses. The “1 Day” LED may begin to flash immediately after five hours of elapsed time which may coincide with the time when the “5 Hours” LED terminates flashing. And the “1 Month” LED may be activated after five days have elapsed which may coincide with when the “5 Days” LED terminates flashing. In this way, all three time scales, “Hours,” “Days,” and “Months” are initiated simultaneously with the push of the control button  155 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timer  200 . In the  FIG. 2  embodiment, an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timer  200  is depicted both before attachment and after attachment to a baby bottle  205 . The multiple-environmental-climate timer  200  attaches to the baby bottle  205  using an elastic band  210 , in this exemplary embodiment. The elastic band  210  may circumscribe the circumference of the baby bottle  205 . A display face  215  of the multiple-environmental-climate timer  200  may communicate the elapsed time of storage. The multiple-environmental-climate timer  200  is depicted with the display face  215  having three different environmental climate zones  220 ,  225 ,  230 . Each of the environmental climate zones  220 ,  225 ,  230  has a plurality of elapsed-time indicators  235 . In some embodiments, the elapsed-time indicators  235  may be ordered from a first elapsed-time indicator  240  to a last elapsed-time indicator  245 . Each elapsed-time indicator  235  may be associated with a time span. For example, the first elapsed-time indicator  240  may be associated with a time span starting upon timer activation (e.g. zero hours), and ending when the elapsed time is one hour. The next elapsed-time indicator may be associated with a time span beginning at one hour of elapsed time and ending at two hours of elapsed time. In some embodiments, the first of two adjacent-in-time elapsed-time indicators may be associated with a time span having an ending elapsed time which is equal to a beginning elapsed time of a time span associated with the second of two adjacent-in-time elapsed-time indicators. In some embodiments, the time spans may have different durations and/or different units. Each time span may be defined by a beginning elapsed time and an ending elapsed time. 
     In various embodiments, after the elapsed time becomes greater than the ending elapsed time of the time span associated with the last timing indicator of the first environmental climate zone, the first timing indicator of the second timing zone may become active. In this way, the multiple-environmental-climate timer  200  may automatically transition from timing the hazard associated with one environmental climate zone to timing the hazard associated with another environmental climate zone. This transition may not require a user to perform any operation on the multiple-environmental-climate timer  200 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timer. The  FIG. 3  embodiment depicts the timer display both detached and attached to a connecting device  305 . The connecting device shown in  FIG. 3  may connect the timer to a baby bottle, for example. Other connecting devices may connect the timer to food products having different shaped containers. For example, a milk timer may have a milk-container screw-cap attachment device which may replace the standard milk container&#39;s screw cap. An egg timer may have an attachment device that attaches to a standard-sized egg carton, for example. Such connecting devices may present a common means for connecting a timer to the connecting device. In this way, a timer may be used for multiple perishable food objects. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timer  400 . In this figure, an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timing device  405  is depicted both attached to and separated from an exemplary attachment band  410 . The multiple-environmental-climate timing device  405  may be releasably attached to the attachment band  410 . When the multiple-environmental-climate timing device  405  is released from the attachment band  410 , for example, a user may be able to replace a battery. The multiple-environmental-climate timing device  400  may be removed from the attachment band  410  for cleaning purposes, for example. Some exemplary embodiments of multiple-environmental-climate timing devices  405  may be sealed which may facilitate cleaning of the multiple-environmental-climate timing devices  405 . 
     In the  FIG. 4  embodiment, an exemplary display face  415  has two different environmental-climate regions  420 ,  425 . Each of the environmental-climate regions  420 ,  425  may have a different time-scale associated with it. For example, a high-altitude environmental climate environment may have one time scale and a sea-level environmental climate may have another time scale. A high-humidity environment may have a different time-scale, for example, than that of a low-humidity environment. 
     In the  FIG. 4  embodiment, the attachment device  410  is depicted as having a buckle  430 . Various embodiments may use different means for attaching a timer to an object. Some embodiments may one of a variety of different buckle mechanisms to attach the timer to the object. Some embodiments may permit the attachment device to attach to different sized objects by implementing an attachment mechanism that accommodates different objects having different dimensions. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a plan view of an exemplary multiple-resolution timer. In this figure, an exemplary breast-milk timer  500  is shown in a plan view. The depicted breast-milk timer  500  has an exemplary display face  505 . In the depicted embodiment the display face  505  has three regions  510 ,  515 ,  520 , an hour region  510 , a day region  515  and a month region  520 . The hour region  510  may be associated with the safe storage times for room-temperature storage of breast milk, for example. The day region  515  may be associated with the safe storage times for refrigerated storage of breast milk, for example. The month region  520  may be associated with the safe storage times for frozen storage of breast milk, for example. Different numbers of regions may be used in different embodiments. For example, some timers may have two different display face regions. One may be associated with a refrigerated environment, for example. One of the display face regions may be associated with a frozen storage environment, for example. Some embodiments may have four or more environmental regions on the display face. 
     In the  FIG. 5  embodiment, the hour region  510  has five hourly timing indicators  525 ,  530 ,  535 ,  540 ,  545 . The exemplary display face  505  also has a control button  550  in the center. In some embodiments, the control button  550  may be pushed to signal a begin-count signal to a multiple-resolution timer  500 . The multiple-resolution timer  500  may respond to the begin-count signal by flashing a first timing indicator labeled “1,”  525  in the “HOURS” region  510  of the display face  505 . After one hour elapses, the timing indicator labeled “1”  525  may stop flashing and the timing indicator labeled “2”  530  in the “HOURS” region  510  may begin to flash. Then after two hours have elapsed, the timing indicator labeled “2”  520  may stop flashing and the timing indicator labeled “3”  535  in the “HOURS” region  510  may begin to flash. After another hour has elapsed, the timing indicator labeled “3”  535  may stop flashing and the timing indicator labeled “4”  540  in the “HOURS” region  510  may begin to flash. Again after four hours have elapsed since the begin-count event, the timing indicator labeled “4”  540  may stop flashing and the timing indicator labeled “5”  545  in the “HOURS”  510  region may begin to flash. In this way, the flashing indicator sequences through the timing indicators. 
     Note that in this exemplary display, the first three LEDs  525 ,  530 ,  535  labeled “1,” “2,” and “3” in the “HOURS” region  510  are green colored, while the LED labeled “4”  540  in the “HOURS” region  510  is yellow and the LED labeled “5”  545  in the “HOURS” region  510  is red. These colors may represent the temporal proximity to spoilage when breast milk is stored at room temperature, for example. A red colored LED may indicate that the breast milk may be close to the safe time-limit of storage in this environment, for example. A yellow may indicate a more remote temporal-distance from the spoilage of the breast milk, for example. And green LEDs may indicate an even more remote temporal-distance from spoilage. 
     After five hours of elapsed time, the timing indicator labeled “5”  545  in the “HOURS” region  510  of the display face  505  may stop flashing and the timing indicator labeled “1”  550  in the “DAYS” region  515  of the display may begin to flash. The timing indicators in the “DAYS” region  515  may sequence in a similar fashion to those of the “HOURS” region  510 , but with a daily transition instead of an hourly transition. The then after five days have elapsed, the first timing indicator labeled “1”  555  in the “MONTHS” region  520  of the display face  505  may begin to flash. Again the color of the timing indicators may indicate the temporal proximity to spoilage, but with regard to a different time resolution corresponding to a different climate and/or environment. 
     Some embodiments may have multiple time resolutions within a single display region. For example, a timing indicator in the “HOURS” region  510  may be labeled “4-5,” which may indicate that the elapsed time is greater than 3 hours but less than 5 hours. In some embodiments, instead of having three separate green LEDs labeled “1,” “2,” and “3,” a single green LED may be labeled “1-3” for example. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of exemplary baby-bottle timers on baby-bottle caps. In the  FIG. 6  embodiment, baby-bottle timers  600  are on the flat external face of the baby-bottle caps  605 . In some embodiments, the baby-bottle timer  600  may begin timing when shaken, such as for example when formula is mixed in a capped bottle. In some embodiments, the baby-bottle timer  600  may have an integral temperature sensor. The baby-bottle timer  600  may use the temperature sensor to calculate the spoilage rate at the measured temperature. The baby-bottle timer  600  may then adaptively adjust spoilage indicators on the face of the baby-bottle timer  600  to indicate how close to spoilage the contents may be. 
       FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary attachment band for an exemplary multiple-environmental-climate timer. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the means for attaching the multiple-environmental-climate timer  700  is shown to be a snap-band. A snap-band  705  may be simply snapped to the bottle for attachment. In this exemplary figure, the snap-band  705  is depicted as being attached to a wrist  710 . An end  715  of the snap-band  705  may be pulled to remove the multiple-environmental-climate timer  700  from a bottle, for example. Other attachment means may be used in other embodiments. For example, some embodiments may use disposable cable ties for attachment. Some embodiments may use adhesives for attaching a timer to a timed object. Magnets may be used to attach a timer to a metal container. Metal disks with adhesive backs may attach to a product and then the magnetic timer may simply affix to the disk which is affixed to the product to be timed. 
       FIG. 8  depicts a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a multiple-time-scale timer. In the  FIG. 8  embodiment, an exemplary multiple-time-scale timer  800  includes a user input device  805  connected to a Programmable Logic Device (PLD)  810 , via an input buffer  840 . A battery  815  provides power for the multiple-time-scale timer  800 . A timer circuit  820  generates a clock signal on node  825 . The clock signal is then received as an input to the PLD  810  at an Input buffer  830 . A timing capacitor  835  connects to the timer circuit  820 . The capacitance value of the timing capacitor  835  may be used in determining the frequency of the clock signal. The PLD  810  provides drive signals for an indicator bank  850  on an array of drive nodes  845 . The input buffers  830 ,  840  buffer the clock signal and the user input signal, respectively, and provide these signals to a control circuit  855 . The control circuit receives multiple time span settings from internal memory locations,  860 ,  865 ,  870 . The control circuit generates signals for the output drivers  875  using the various inputs. 
       FIG. 9  depicts a state diagram of an exemplary multiple-time-scale device. In  FIG. 9 , a state diagram  900  may represent the operation of the control circuit  855  of the exemplary multiple-time-scale timer  700  depicted in  FIG. 7 . Upon power-up, the control circuit may be in a reset state  905 . The control circuit may transition to state  910  which may illuminate a first LED if a count command is issued by a user, for example by pressing a button. In state  1 , a counting of the clock pulses may initiate. The control system may then transition to state  915  if the clock count exceeds a first-time-span count. In state  915 , a second LED may be illuminated and the first LED turned off. The control system may then transition to state  920  if the clock count exceeds two times the first-time-span count. In the state  920 , a third LED may be illuminated and the second LED turned off. This sequencing of states may continue to the (M+1) state  925 , which may result when the clock count exceeds M times the first-time-span count. In this state, an (M+1) th  LED may be illuminated and an M th  LED may be turned off. 
     The control system may then transition from state  925  to state  930  when the clock count exceeds a second-time-span count. In the state  930 , an (M+2) th  LED may be turned on and the (M+1) th  LED turned off. This newly illuminated LED may represent the first LED located in a new region of a display face, for example. The LEDs located in this new region may transition with a period of the second-time-span count, rather than those previously illuminated LEDs which transitioned with a period of the first-time-span count. Finally, a third series of LEDs may be illuminated when the control system enters state  935 . To transition from the last state in which the last LED located in the third series to a reset condition, a user must issue a reset command 
       FIG. 10  depicts a block diagram of an exemplary time-scale programmable wireless timing system. In the  FIG. 10  embodiment, a system for performing multiple-time-scale timing  1000  includes a wireless device  1005  and a wireless multiple-resolution timer  1010 . The wireless device  1005  may be a handheld device, for example. In some embodiments, the wireless device  1005  may be a wireless phone. In some embodiments the wireless device  1005  may be a computer tablet device. The wireless device  1005  may run an application (APP) which may provide programmability to the wireless multiple-resolution timer  1010 . In this figure, the wireless device  1005  is communicating to the wireless multiple-resolution timer  1010  via a cloud  1015 . In some embodiments, the wireless device  1005  may directly communicate with the wireless multiple-resolution timer  1010 . For example the two devices  1005 ,  1010  may establish a direct communications link using Bluetooth. In some embodiments the two devices  1005 ,  1010  may establish a direct communications link using Wi-Fi. Wireless USB may be used for one or more communications links, for example. The wireless device  1005  may receive timing parameters from user input. The timing parameters may include the number of time spans. Other programmable timing parameters may include the timing duration of each of the time spans. The sequence of the time spans may be programmable. 
     The wireless device  1005  may then transmit the timing parameters to the wireless multiple-resolution timer  1010  via an antenna  1020 . The wireless multiple-resolution timer  1010  may then receive the signal via an antenna  1025 . The wireless multiple-resolution timer  1010  may then process the communications using an FPGA  1030 . The FPGA  1030  may have a soft processing core  1035  for processing program instructions, for example. The processor  1035  within the FPGA  1030  may use the received timing parameters and begin timing operation. As each programmed time span event is counted, the FPGA  1030  may transmit an event response to the wireless device  1005 . The APP on the wireless device  1005  may generate an audible signal for the user in response to the received event response. 
     Although various embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, other embodiments are possible. For example, some embodiments may use low power timing circuits such as low-power CMOS implementations of the 555 timer. In some embodiments, low power PLDs may be used. IGLOO devices are one such exemplary low-power PLD device. In some embodiments, FPGAs may be used to perform one or more of the timing operations. Some FPGA devices may employ Voltage Controlled Oscillators to generate the timing signals. Other FPGA devices may use Phase Lock Loops (PLLs) to generate a clock operation, for example. Some embodiments may generate a clock with an astable self-oscillating circuit. In some embodiments the oscillation frequency may be determined by the selection of a capacitor. In some embodiments, a resistor value may be used in determining the timing frequency of a circuit. 
     In some embodiments multiple control input devices may be used. In some embodiments only a single control input device may be included. Various embodiments may permit a user to begin the timer by using the control input device or devices to signal to the timer a begin-count signal. For example, in some embodiments a simple push of a button my designate begin-count to a timer. In some embodiments a subsequent push of the button may designate a light-indicate signal. Such a signal may designate a control processor to illuminate an active LED, for example. In some embodiments, if the user pushes and holds a control button, a reset-timer signal may be issued to a processor. Other control signals may be used in various embodiments. And other means for generating signals may be used in various embodiments. For example, some embodiments may have two control buttons. For example, if a user pushes both control buttons simultaneously, the timer may be issued a reset-timer signal. In some embodiments, a switch may control power, for example. 
     Some embodiments may employ different types of display elements. For example, a mechanical display hand may sweep through each of a plurality of display regions in a serial fashion. In an exemplary embodiment, a display face may have an LCD element. The LCD element may display a virtual display hand sweeping through each of the display regions for, example. In an exemplary embodiment, the virtual display hand may change colors as the hand sweeps through one or more of the display zones. 
     Various embodiments may use various methods of supplying power to a timing device. In some embodiments, a battery may be used for this purpose. For example, alkaline batteries may be used. In some embodiments, lithium batteries may be used. In an exemplary embodiment a silver oxide battery may be used. Some embodiments may include a watch battery for as a power source. An exemplary embodiment may permit recharging of a battery, or a super-capacitor for operable power. Some embodiments may permit a user to charge the device by simply shaking the timer. In some low-power embodiments, an RF receiver may couple stray RF signals and use these received signals as a power source. 
     Various embodiments may include a non-timing sensor. Some embodiments may use the non-timing sensor as the metric for controlling the display. For example, a toxic gas sensor may have three different display regions, an acute exposure region, a daily exposure region, and a life-time exposure region. Display indicators in each of the regions may show accumulated exposure to the toxic gas, instead of elapsed time. An exemplary toxic gas timer may indicate concentration of toxic gas for different exposure regions. For example a small concentration of toxic gas may be safe when compared with the acute threshold, moderately when safe compared with the daily exposure threshold, but unsafe when compared with the chronic exposure level, for example. Some embodiments may have a carbon monoxide sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, an Arsine sensor may be included. 
     An exemplary embodiment may have a radiation detector. Again, the timer may have the different display regions of the toxic gas monitor: an acute exposure region, a daily exposure region, and a life-time exposure region, for example. Some applications may have asphyxiation hazards. For example, although carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen are not toxic, if an atmosphere has too much of these gases and too little oxygen, a person could be injured or killed. Various embodiments may have a carbon dioxide detector, for example. Some embodiments may have a nitrogen detector. Some embodiments may simply use an oxygen detector to determine the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere. 
     In some embodiments, the non-timing sensor may be used to supplement the timer. For example, a temperature sensor may be used to select which display region is active. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor reading below the freezing temperature of water may cause the timer to use the display indicators located in a frozen environmental section of the display face, for example. In such an embodiment, the timer may still govern which of the multiple display indicators in the frozen section is active, for example. 
     In some embodiments, an oxygen sensor may be used in conjunction with storing an open bottle of wine. After a bottle of wine is opened, the wine may begin to oxidize. Some wines may improve with some oxidation. Some wines may go bad after too much oxidation. The timing face may have a series of indicators corresponding to the quality of the wine as a function of exposure time to oxygen. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor may be included in the timer. The oxidation rate may vary with temperature. There may be a number of different wine profiles stored in a memory of the timer. A user may select the wine profile desired to begin the timer, for example. The timer face may indicate the drinkable life of the wine, for example. The timer may be attached to an after-open wine cap, for example. The timer may control an air valve to control the exposure of the wine to oxygen, in some embodiments. Some spirits, such as for example Vintage Ports may have a long drinkable lifetime after opening. Such a timer may permit a person have confidence in drinking the spirit long after initial opening. 
     Various embodiments may be used for indicating the safe storage time for pharmaceutical products, for example. Medicine bottles may have a timer that begins running at the time of pharmaceutical manufacture. The medicine bottle may indicate the condition of the medicine when a user pushes a button, for example. If the medicine is temperature sensitive a temperature sensor may be included in the timer. If the medicine is humidity sensitive, a humidity sensor may be included in the timer. The timer may have a medicine profile in a memory. The timer may indicate the remaining usable lifetime of the medicine on a display, for example. 
     In some embodiments, the timer may be used in conjunction with a chemical process. For example, the curing of cement may be timed. In some embodiments various humidity environments may change the curing time of cement. Many chemical processes may have a timing requirement for proper cure. A chemical timer may have a simply adhesive to affix the timer to near the chemical reaction, for example. 
     Another embodiment may include a pressure transducer. Divers may have different time-span hazards associated with diving depths, for example. In various embodiments, the timer may have data relating to dissolved nitrogen as a function of pressure, which may correlate to diving depth. The timer may simply begin automatically at a predetermined pressure, for example. The timer face may blink green when the diver begins to ascend. The timer face may change color to indicate to the diver that the diver should slow or stop. For example, a yellow LED may indicate for the diver to slow the ascent, and a green LED may indicate for the diver to stop the ascent. The timer may then change to green when it is safe for the diver to ascend again. This may continue until the diver reaches the surface. 
     Some embodiments may be used as interval timers for athletic training, for example. In such an embodiment, the time spans may vary between long time spans and short time spans, for example. An athlete may use a programmable multi-time-span timer to programming a training regime, for example. The timer may indicate alternately time a 75 second span for a runner to run a quarter mile and a 60 second rest time, for example. 
     Some aspects of embodiments may be implemented as a computer system. For example, various implementations may include digital and/or analog circuitry, computer hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof. Apparatus elements can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device, for execution by a programmable processor; and methods can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions of various embodiments by operating on input data and generating an output. Some embodiments can be implemented advantageously in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and/or at least one output device. A computer program is a set of instructions that can be used, directly or indirectly, in a computer to perform a certain activity or bring about a certain result. A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. 
     Suitable processors for the execution of a program of instructions include, by way of example and not limitation, both general and special purpose microprocessors, which may include a single processor or one of multiple processors of any kind of computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including, by way of example, semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits). In some embodiments, the processor and the member can be supplemented by, or incorporated in hardware programmable devices, such as FPGAs, for example. 
     In some implementations, each system may be programmed with the same or similar information and/or initialized with substantially identical information stored in volatile and/or non-volatile memory. For example, one data interface may be configured to perform auto configuration, auto download, and/or auto update functions when coupled to an appropriate host device, such as a desktop computer or a server. 
     In some implementations, one or more user-interface features may be custom configured to perform specific functions. An exemplary embodiment may be implemented in a computer system that includes a graphical user interface and/or an Internet browser. To provide for interaction with a user, some implementations may be implemented on a computer having a display device, such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor for displaying information to the user, a keyboard, and a pointing device, such as a mouse or a trackball by which the user can provide input to the computer. 
     In various implementations, the system may communicate using suitable communication methods, equipment, and techniques. For example, the system may communicate with compatible devices (e.g., devices capable of transferring data to and/or from the system) using point-to-point communication in which a message is transported directly from the source to the receiver over a dedicated physical link (e.g., fiber optic link, point-to-point wiring, daisy-chain). The components of the system may exchange information by any form or medium of analog or digital data communication, including packet-based messages on a communication network. Examples of communication networks include, e.g., a LAN (local area network), a WAN (wide area network), MAN (metropolitan area network), wireless and/or optical networks, and the computers and networks forming the Internet. Other implementations may transport messages by broadcasting to all or substantially all devices that are coupled together by a communication network, for example, by using omni-directional radio frequency (RF) signals. Still other implementations may transport messages characterized by high directivity, such as RF signals transmitted using directional (i.e., narrow beam) antennas or infrared signals that may optionally be used with focusing optics. Still other implementations are possible using appropriate interfaces and protocols such as, by way of example and not intended to be limiting, USB 2.0, Firewire, ATA/IDE, RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, 802.11 a/b/g, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, IrDA, FDDI (fiber distributed data interface), token-ring networks, or multiplexing techniques based on frequency, time, or code division. Some implementations may optionally incorporate features such as error checking and correction (ECC) for data integrity, or security measures, such as encryption (e.g., WEP) and password protection. 
     A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modification may be made. For example, advantageous results may be achieved if the steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different sequence, or if components of the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner, or if the components were supplemented with other components. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.