Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TIMER DEVICE FOR USE IN AN AUDIO/VISUAL PRESENTATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of clocks and timers.
More
specifically, the present invention relates to a timing device disposed within
a projector or
within presentation software that aids a presenter and/or audiovisual
personnel in tracking
the elapsed time of a presentation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many conventional devices used for displaying information to an
audience. Examples of an audience may include a group of students seated in a
classroom, a group of business people at a conference, and participants
connected to a
conference via video conferencing equipment. Information presented to the
students and
other audiences, perhaps by a professor or a guest speaker, may be presented
using a
projector, such as an overhead projector or a slide projector. Information
presented to an
audience may also be presented using a personal computer, such as a laptop
computer
connected to a display projection device.
Conventional timing devices, such as clocks and stopwatches, are well known.
In
a typical classroom environment, there is typically a clock located on one of
the
classroom walls that displays the time of day. However, the clock typically
does not
possess stopwatch-type functions, and may not be in the same line of sight as
the
projector screen, making it inconvenient to look at the clock while
maintaining focus on
the subject matter of the presentation. Also, a presenter is not able to
control the timing
functions of a wall clock. There may be occasions during a presentation when
it would
be desirable for a speaker to have control of timing functions, such as during
an
experiment, an exam, or in tracking the total elapsed time of a presentation.
Video conferencing is typically a costly service. Displaying a timer to each
conference participant would aid in the tracking of the total time of the
video conference
so as to make participants aware of the cost of the conference. Displaying the
elapsed
time of a video conference to all participants also aids in reminding the
participants of
how long they have been involved in a conference, in case they have a schedule
to
maintain. Since participants may become very involved in a conference and may
lose
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track of the time, displaying the time to each participant on their individual
screen is an
effective way of providing a constant reminder.
A conventional time tracking approach is provided in U.S. Patent No.
5,590,944,
in which a portable electronic device having a transparent liquid crystal
display is
described. The timing device includes a plastic casing, foldable legs, and is
placed onto
the surface of a projector where light passes through the device and displays
LCD
numerals onto a screen. A disadvantage of the timer of the `944 patent is that
it is not
connected to a projector and may be easily lost, separated, or dropped from
the projector
surface. Since the device of the `944 patent is not integrated into the
projector, it must
also be supplied as a separate piece of equipment. Another disadvantage of the
`944
.timer is that it must be placed onto a flat, horizontal surface, such as that
of an overhead
projector. Many conventional projectors, such as a slide projector, do not
possess a flat
horizontal surface, making the conventional timer of the `944 patent
impossible to use.
An additional disadvantage of the `944 timer is that it interferes with the
working space of
an overhead projector surface, making it troublesome for a presenter to switch
transparencies on the overhead projector without knocking the `944 timer out
of place or
even off of the projector surface onto the floor, where it may be become
damaged.
A second timer approach is provided in U.S. Patent No. 5,905,694, in which a
timing device for coordinating a presentation includes a master timer with a
timing
initiator, a programmable master sensory alarm responsive to the sequencer, a
master
alarm silencer, and a communication transmitter responsive to at least one of
the timing
initiator and the master sequencer. The device of the `694 patent involves a
low power
radio signal transmitted by the communication transmitter. The timing device
of the `694
patent is used for coordinating the timing of a presentation, but does not
include a time
display that may be displayed to the audience. The device involves sending a
signal from
a master controller to a slave timer that alerts a speaker of a time limit.
It is further desirable to have a device that allows a presenter of an
audio/visual
presentation to track the elapsed time of a presentation. It is also desirable
to provide a
time tracking device in which the-presenter can start, stop, and pause the
time tracking
device in a simple manner, without taking time away from a presentation.
Preferably,
such a device would be included within a projector device, thus eliminating
the need for a
presenter to supply such a device for a presentation. It is also preferable
that the time
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displayed on the timing device be capable of being projected by a projector to
the viewing
audience in an easy to read and interference free manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a time tracking device
disposed
within a projector for the purpose of tracking presentation time and
displaying the
presentation time to an audience. The time tracking device may be disposed
within any
type of projector device, examples of which may include an overhead projector,
as is
often used in an educational classroom environment, a slide projector, a
projector
operably connected to a laptop computer, or any other type of projector
device. The time
tracking device may include features such as start, stop, pause, reset, etc.
The present
invention solves the problems associated with the conventional time tracking
devices
described above by providing a time tracking device that is incorporated into
the projector
housing, eliminating the need for a time tracking device to be supplied by a
presenter.
The device of the present invention may be operated by a presenter and/or by
audiovisual
personnel. The present invention also provides an easy to use device that does
not
interfere with the use of its associated projector.
The time tracking device of the present invention may include keys operable
for
controlling the functions of the device, such as a start key, a stop key, a
reset key, a pause
key, an on/off key, a display key, a mode key, or any other additional key
that may be
assigned a specific function. The time tracking device further includes a
timer display,
either analog or digital, that may be displayed to an audience via the
projector light source
and projector lens. In an alternative embodiment, the display may be displayed
only to
the presenter. The time tracking device display may include a liquid crystal
display or
any other type of display capable of being projected onto a screen viewed by
the
audience.
In a further embodiment, the time tracking device may be incorporated into the
presentation hardware of a projector. In one example, the functions of the
time tracking
module may be controlled using the remote control unit associated with a
projector
device.
The time tracking device of the present invention eliminates the need for a
presenter to supply his/her own time tracking device.
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The time tracking device has a low power requirement which may be satisfied by
solar panels, a battery, a connection to the circuitry of the associated
projector, or a
combination of any of the preceding.
In a broad aspect, the present invention relates to a time tracking device
comprising: a time display device incorporated into a portion of the light
stage of a
projector, the light stage positioned in a housing surface of the projector
and including
usable space for the displaying of images, wherein the time display device
displays a
readout, and wherein the readout of the time display device is capable of
being projected
by the projector; a control pad incorporated into a housing of the projector,
wherein the
control pad controls the readout and the functions of the time tracking
device; and a power
source, wherein the power source supplies power to the control pad and display
device.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a time tracking
device
comprising: a time display device incorporated into a portion of a light stage
of an
overhead projector, the light stage positioned in a housing surface of the
projector and
including usable space for the displaying of images, wherein the time display
device
displays a readout, wherein the readout of the time display device is capable
of being
projected by a light source from within a housing of the projector, and
wherein the light
source emits light that directly passes through the time display device; a
control pad
incorporated into a housing of the projector, wherein the control pad controls
the readout
and the functions of the time tracking device; and a power source, wherein the
power
source supplies power to the control pad and display device.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to an overhead
projector
incorporating a time tracking device comprising: a housing surface, wherein
the housing
surface comprises a light stage for the displaying of images; a time display
device
incorporated into the portion of a light stage of the overhead projector,
wherein the time
display device displays a readout, wherein the readout of the time display
device is capable
of being projected by a light source from within a housing of the projector,
and wherein the
light source emits light that directly passes through the time display device;
a control pad
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incorporated into a housing of the projector, wherein the control pad controls
the readout
and the functions of the time tracking device; and a power source, wherein the
power
source supplies power to the control pad and display device.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be
set forth
in part in the description which follows, and in part will become more
apparent to those
skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by
practice of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a time tracking device incorporated into an
overhead projector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the time tracking device of FIG. 1
incorporated
into a slide projector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present
invention.
Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a video conferencing set-up including a
time
tracking device incorporated into presentation software in accordance with an
exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, however,
it is
to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the
invention
that may be embodied in alternative forms. Specific structural and functional
details
disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a
representative basis
for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like elements
throughout the several figures, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating one
embodiment of the time
tracking device 10 of the present invention disposed within an overhead
projector 12. The
time tracking device 10 may be disposed within the projector housing 14,
preferably within
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one corner of the housing surface 16, so as not to interfere with the bulk of
the usable
space of the housing surface 16. In alternative embodiments, the time tracking
device 10
may be disposed within any other portion of the projector housing 14.
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The device display 18 may consist of an analog or a digital display. The
display
18 is incorporated into the light stage 20 of the housing surface 16. The
device display 18
is transparent, such that the light source from within the overhead projector
12 can pass
light through the device display 18 and project the analog or digital display
of the timer
readout onto the screen 22. The display may consist of a liquid crystal
display (LCD)
providing adequate visibility to the presenter and the audience. The
presentation timer
control pad 24 may be disposed within the opaque portion of the projector
surface 16,
such that light does not pass through the timer control pad 24. The
positioning of the
timer control pad 24 separates the heat sensitive components of the time
tracking device
10 from the heat generated by the projector light source. In one embodiment,
the timer
control pad 24 may include light emitting diodes in the function keys 26 so
that a
presenter can easily see the function keys 26 in a darkened room.
The timer control pad 24 consists of a plurality of function keys 26. The
function
keys 26 allow a presenter and/or AV personnel to control the functions of the
timer,
including turning the timer on/off, starting, stopping, pausing, resetting,
stopwatch,
turning the display on/off, selecting various timer modes, etc. The various
timer modes
include displaying the elapsed time of a presentation, a countdown of the time
remaining,
displaying any one of the hours, minutes, seconds, displaying the time of day,
etc. The
function keys 26 may consist of any of several well-known types of switches,
such as
pushbutton switches, toggle switches, etc. The function keys 26 illustrated
consist of
pushbutton switches. It is preferable to have switches that lie flush with the
housing
surface 16 so as not to interfere with any papers or transparencies placed on
the housing
surface 16, or interfere with the workspace of the projector 12. It is also
preferable to
have a device display 18 that lies flush with the light stage 20 so that the
device display
18 does not interfere with the working surface of the projector 12.
The time tracking device 10 has a low power requirement. In one embodiment,
the time tracking device 10 may be connected to the circuitry of the projector
12. In a
second embodiment, the device 10 is equipped with a solar panel 28 on its
surface. The
solar panel 28 may be located on the device display 18, or on the control pad
24.
Positioning the solar panel on the device display 18 exposes the solar panels
28 to more
light due to the light source of the projector 12 emitting light directly onto
the solar panel
28 surfaces. Because of the lower power requirement of the time tracking
device 10, it is
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not necessary that the solar panels 28 be located on the display portion.
Light from the
room during periods when the room is not darkened may power the timer device
10 and
all of its associated functions. In a third embodiment, the time tracking
device 10 may be
powered using a battery. The solar panels 28, battery, and projector power
source may all
be used alone or in combination to power the time tracking device 10.
The time tracking device 10 may be cooled using the cooling mechanism of the
projector 12, typically a fan motor. The light source of a projector typically
produces
heat which can easily damage the components of the time tracking device 10.
The fan
motor assembly forces air over the light source and other internal components
of the
projector in order to maintain optimal operating temperatures and prevent
overheating.
Solar panels 28, batteries, and LCD displays are all sensitive to heat
exposure. The fan
motor also cools the projector surface 16, particularly the light stage 20.
The timer
control pad 24 is exposed to a lesser amount of heat because it is disposed
within the
opaque portions of the housing 14, as compared to the light stage 20 in which
the device
display 18 is located.
Referring to FIG. 2, the time tracking device of the present invention may be
incorporated into a slide projector 30. The location of the timer control pad
24 and the
device display 18 of the time tracking device 10 may be similar to that of the
overhead
projector 12. The timer readout is displayed to the audience via the lens 32
of the slide
projector 30. Slide projectors typically include a remote control unit 36
operable for
controlling the functions of the projector 30. In one embodiment, the function
keys 26
may be located on the slide projector housing 34. In an alternative
embodiment, the
function keys 26 may be located on the remote control unit 36, making the
functions of
the slide projector 30 and the time tracking device 10 controllable using the
remote
control unit 36 alone. The timer control pad 24 may be connected to the
circuitry of the
remote control unit 36, providing power and a remote connection to the
projector 30 and
the display 18.
As stated above, the time tracking device 10 may be controlled by a presenter
and/or AV personnel. The timer readout is projected to the audience using the
light
source and lens of the projection device. The function keys 26 include a
"display"
function key that is operable for turning the display on or off. Turning the
display
"on/off' provides a presenter the option of being the only person able to view
the timer
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readout. This may be useful in an exam situation in which a timer may be a
distraction to
test takers. In other situations, it may desirable to display the timer
readout to the
audience as well as the presenter, such as during an exam in which the
audience is
allowed to a view a slide for a pre-determined amount of time, then the
projector moves
onto the next slide and the timer resets and a new countdown begins.
In one embodiment, the time tracking device 10 may consist of a programmable
microcomputer in which a presenter can program the timer to reset each time a
new slide
is selected, avoiding the need to manually reset and restart the timer for
every new slide.
The timer tracking device may also include a memory, which is well known in
the art.
An audible, visual, and combination alarm may be a component of the control
pad
portion of the time tracking device 10. An alarm may be used to cue a
presenter that a
certain amount of time has elapsed. In one example, students could be taking a
timed
exam from transparencies placed onto an overhead projector. When the exam
begins, the
time tracking device 10 is activated and a countdown of thirty minutes begins.
The timer
readout is projected onto the screen and appears in the lower left hand corner
of the
screen, large enough to be visible by the audience, but not large enough to
distract the
audience from the subject matter of the transparencies. When five minutes is
remaining,
the visual alarm of the timer may cause the readout to flash on and off,
alerting the
students of five minutes remaining. When the time has completely expired, an
audible
alarm, such as a "beep" may be sounded, alerting the students and the
presenter that time
has expired. The audible alarm may persist until it is shut off by the
presenter, or may
shut off after a certain time period, five seconds for example. Visual and
audio alarms
may be set to activate at any time period determined by the presenter.
In another embodiment, the time tracking device may be connected to the power
circuitry of the projector alone, or in combination with the solar panels, or
a battery, such
that the time tracking device is capable of cutting the power supply to the
illumination
device in the projector. In such an embodiment, the time tracking device could
turn the
power off to the illumination device in the projector after a predetermined
time so that the
moderator is not the 'bad guy' and the machine is.
In an additional embodiment, the time tracking device 10 of the present
invention
may be incorporated into presentation software, such as in a video
conferencing
application. A computer may be connected to a display monitor. There may be up
to n
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number of conference participants included in a video conference, where n is a
number
larger than two, that may visually and aurally communicate with one another. A
typical
video conferencing set-up is illustrated in FIG. 3 and includes a plurality of
terminals. In
one example, a plurality of monitors 40 linked together over a network enable
conference
participants to view video footage of other participants. Telephones 42
connected
together, for example over a public switched telephone network (PSTN), may be
used to
provide participants with an audio connection. Each conference participant is
able to
view the conference from his/her own terminal, with the terminals being
located
anywhere in the world. The time tracking device 10 may be incorporated into
the
conference presentation software so that the timer readout is displayed onto
each
participant's terminal.
Timer function control may be handled by the leader of the conference or by
any
other participant. Timer functions may be performed using an input device,
such as a
keyboard, mouse, remote control unit, or like device. There are many possible
programming variations of the time tracking device including the positioning
of the
display on the monitors, display size, and all of the timer functions
discussed above.
The present invention has been described by way of example, and modifications
and variations of the exemplary embodiments will suggest themselves to skilled
artisans
in this field without departing from the spirit of the invention. The
preferred
embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive
in any way.
The scope of the invention is to be measured by the appended claims, rather
than by the
preceding description, and all variations and equivalents which fall within
the range of the
claims are intended to be embraced therein.
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