Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02905398 2015-09-21
MEDICINE REMINDER APPARATUS USING TWO SOLAR CELLS AND
METHOD THEREOF
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a medicine reminder
apparatus and method,
more particularly, to an apparatus and method for indicating when medicine
should be taken
using two solar cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Generally, medicine works to its full potential when it is taken after
specific intervals
of time and/or specific time of day. In spite of this, many people forget to
take medicine at
the set time, especially seniors who are suffering from memory loss or people
dealing with an
illness that produces symptoms of memory loss.
[0003] The failure to remember to take doses when they are due can lead to
consequences
such as lack of needed supplements to prevent symptoms, overdoses due to
double or triple
doses.
[0004] To ensure that people remember to take their medicine at the due time,
a reminder is
needed so-called a medicine timer.
[0005] However, all prior products do not accommodate convenient and facile
usage while
preserving simplicity and cost-effectiveness. These prior products can be
categorized into
four types.
[0006] First, there are simple medicine holders that have timers that alerts a
user when a pre-
set time has passed and indicates that a dose is due to take such as U.S.
Patent No. 7,054,231
(entitled "C-shaped Medication Reminder Device"), U.S. Patent No. 5,953,288
(entitled
"Container for Medication"), and U.S. Patent No. 4,361,408 (entitled "Timer
and Alarm
Apparatus").
[0007] However, the first type fails to reset a timer on alarming
automatically, which leaves a
I
CA 2905398 2017-05-11
chance for an error of dosing. That is, people can forget to reset, and this
cause to miss their
next dosages.
[0008] Second, there are timer devices that are attached to the original
container cap or
replacing the cap such as U.S. Patent No. 7,408,843 (entitled ''Medicine Cap
Timing
Apparatus"), U.S. Patent No. 7,382.692 (entitled "Add-On Timer for Medicine
Container"),
U.S. Patent No. 7,362,660 (entitled "Add-On Medicine Dispenser Timer"), and
U.S. Patent
No. 6,859,136 (entitled "Device for Alerting Users of Medicine").
[0009] There are three problems that this type of medicine timers presents.
[0010] First, a timer device that replaces the cap of the original container
would only interact
with a specific type of container that matches the timer cap's size and
compatibility.
[0011] Second, the medicine that can be regulated this device would only be
limited to people
that use containers as a storage. Medicine stored in compartments with lifting
covers, plastic
Ziploc bags, or one-use medicine pockets would not be supported with this type
of devices.
[0012] Finally, the automatic stop and reset of the timer would be triggered
by the removal
and insertion of the cap. Therefore, if people forget to put on the cap, or
the cap is inserted
wrong, the timer fails to function.
[0013] Third, there are much complex medicine dispenser devices such as U.S.
Patent No.
7,302,311 (entitled "Cartridge for Dispensing Pill-or-Capsule Form Medications
in Desired
Doses"), U.S. Patent. No. 6,961,285 (entitled "Drug Delivery Management
System"), U.S.
Patent. No. 6,259,654 (entitled "Multi-View Medication Organizer and
Dispenser"), U.S.
Patent. No. 5,838,224 (entitled "Medication Organizer Assembly"), U.S. Patent.
No.
5,706,257 (entitled "Preprogrammed Medication Reminder"), U.S. Patent. No.
5,289,157
(entitled "Medicine Reminder and Storage Device"), and U.S. Patent. No.
4,275,384 (entitled
"Portable Medicine Cabinet with Timer").
[0014] Such devices are unnecessarily expensive and difficult to manage. Such
an intricate
device is not an efficient medicine dispenser, because there are many
alternatives that require
less cost and effort to produce. The above devices are also less portable and
inconvenient for
people constantly moving around.
2
CA 02905398 2015-09-21
[0015] Fourth, there are medicine holders that involve placing the original
medicine container
inside, automatically stopping the timer once the container is taken out of
the holder, and
resetting when it is placed by in with the holder cover shut.
[0016] This type of medicine holders provide solutions for many of the
aforementioned
problems of the other types of medicine timers. However, the problem with this
is that it
leaves the possibility of the timer not resetting when the cover is not
closed.
[0017] To resolve the above-mentioned issues, a medicine holder that can hold
original
medicine containers while having the function of a timer and alarm that resets
the timer is
needed.
[0018] A particular aspect of the medicine timer device should be a sensor
that can detect the
presence of the container or any medication inside the holding compartment.
This sensor
needs to be accurate, while still preserving the device's simplicity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the
above
problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is
to provide a
medicine reminder apparatus and method for indicating when medicine should be
taken using
two solar cells which are capable of generating a start signal or stop/reset
signal to a timer.
[0020] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention to accomplish the
above object,
there is provided a medicine reminder apparatus, including a cabinet; a light
source attached
to a ceiling of the cabinet; a timer configured to set a predetermined time,
and to set off an
alarm when the predetermined time is elapsed; a pull up switch connected to
the timer, and
configured to provide a start signal or a stop/reset signal to the timer; a
first solar cell
connected to a positive polarity of the pull up switch in forward bias, and
configured to
generate a voltage by the light source; and a second solar cell connected to a
negative polarity
of the pull up switch in reverse bias, and configured to generate a voltage by
the light source.
[0021] The second solar cell may be located in the inner area of the cabinet
than the first solar
cell, and a first output voltage of the first solar cell is higher than a
second output voltage of
3
CA 02905398 2015-09-21
the second solar cell.
[0022] The second solar cell may be used for dropping a control voltage of the
pull up switch
below a threshold of logic levels to generate at least one of the start signal
and the stop/reset
signal.
[0023] The first output voltage may be 1.4V and the second output voltage may
by 1.2V, and
the threshold is 0.7V.
[0024] The cabinet may have a size to include a medicine container.
[0025] Insides of the cabinet may be black to prevent light from different
light sources.
[0026] The light source may be a light emitting diode that has a level of
light intensity to
offer a same exposure to light for the first solar cell and the second solar
cell.
[0027] The pull up switch may provide the start signal or the stop/reset
signal to the timer
when the first solar cell is blocked from light, and the second solar cell
generates a voltage so
that a control voltage of the pull up switch drops below a threshold of logic
levels.
[0028] A size of the first solar cell may be different from that of the second
solar cell to
generate different voltages each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will be
more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medicine reminder apparatus in
accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is an open position of a cover of the medicine reminder
apparatus shown in
FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 3 is an inside view from the top of the medicine reminder
apparatus shown in
FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 4 is an inside view from the top blocking two solar cells from a
medicine
container shown in FIG. 1;
4
CA 02905398 2015-09-21
[0.034] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a circuit connection of the medicine
reminder
apparatus;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing a voltage change according to
elapsed time;
and
[0036] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method for reminding medicine taking
time in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] The present invention may be variously changed and may have various
embodiments,
and specific embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to
the attached
drawings.
[0038] However, it should be understood that those embodiments are not
intended to limit the
present invention to specific disclosure forms and they include all changes,
equivalents or
modifications included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0039] The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe
specific
embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.
[0040] A singular expression includes a plural expression unless a description
to the contrary
is specifically pointed out in context.
[0041] In the present specification, it should be understood that the terms
such as "include" or
"have" are merely intended to indicate that features, numbers, steps,
operations, components,
parts, or combinations thereof are present, and are not intended to exclude a
possibility that
one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or
combinations
thereof will be present or added.
[0042] Unless differently defined, all terms used here including technical or
scientific terms
have the same meanings as the terms generally understood by those skilled in
the art to which
the present invention pertains.
[0043] The terms identical to those defined in generally used dictionaries
should be
interpreted as having meanings identical to contextual meanings of the related
art, and are not
CA 2905398 2017-05-11
=
interpreted as being ideal or excessively formal meanings unless they are
definitely defined in
the present specification.
[0044] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with
reference to the
accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention,
the same
reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar elements
throughout the
drawings and repeated descriptions of the same components will be omitted.
[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medicine reminder apparatus in
accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] A medicine reminder apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention
includes a cabinet 100, a cover 110, a timer 120, a first solar cell 130, a
second solar cell 140,
a light source 150, and an arrow sign 160.
[0047] The cabinet 100 is an appropriate size to fit most conventional
medicine containers.
The insides of the cabinet may be black to ensure that the light from the
light source 150 is
the only source of light.
[0048] The cover 110 may be black or dark to block any light from the outside.
[0049] The timer 120 has an ability to countdown, start, stop, and reset time
from a signal.
That is, the timer 120 may be set a predetermined time and set off an alarm
when the
predetermined time is elapsed.
[0050] "I he timer 120 may have logic levels that are compatible with voltages
produced by
the first solar cell 130 and the second solar cell 140.
[0051] The first solar cell 130 and the second solar cell 140 may generate
voltages from the
light source 150. The voltage levels according to the voltages generated by
the first solar cell
130 and the second solar cell 140 are compatible with the logic levels ofthe
timer 120.
[0052] The first solar cell is nearer to a cover of the cabinet than the
second solar cell.
[0053] A size of the first solar cell 130 may be different from that of the
second solar cell 140
so that both may generate different voltages each other.
[0054] The light source 150 may be a light emitting diode that has a level of
light intensity to
offer a same exposure to light for the first solar cell 130 and the second
solar cell 140.
6
I
CA 2905398 2017-05-11
[0055] FIG. 2 is an open position of the cover 110 of the medicine reminder
apparatus shown
in FIG. 1. A medicine container 200 is located in the bottom of the cabinet
100.
[0056] FIG. 3 is an inside view from the top without a medicine container 200
in the cabinet
100, and FIG. 4 is an inside view from the top blocking two solar cells with a
medicine
container 200.
[0057] The arrow sign 160 may point a direction in which the medicine
container 200 is
located.
[0058] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a circuit connection of the medicine
reminder
apparatus.
[0059] A pull up switch 500 is connected to the timer 120 to provide a start
signal or a
stop/reset signal.
[0060] The first solar cell 130 generates an output voltage V1, and is
connected to a positive
polarity of the pull up switch 500 in forward bias. The second solar cell 140
generates an
output voltage V2, and is connected to a negative polarity of the pull up
switch 500 in reverse
bias. The first solar cell 130 is forward biased to a polarity of the timer
120 (an output
= voltage V3).
[0061] The pull up switch 500 may provide the start signal or the stop/reset
signal to the timer
120 when the first solar cell 130 is blocked from light, and the second solar
cell 140 generates
a voltage so that a sum of generated voltages from the first solar cell 130
and the second solar
cell 140 is lower than a predetermined threshold voltage.
[0062] FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing a voltage change according to
elapsed time.
= [0063] The first output voltage VI of the first solar cell 130 may be
higher than a second
output voltage V2 of the second solar cell 140.
[0064] The second solar cell 140 is used for dropping a control voltage of the
pull up switch
500 below a threshold of logic levels to generate at least one of the start
signal and the
stop/reset signal.
[0065] Assuming that V1, V2 and V3 is 1.4V. 1.2V and 1.0V respectively. When
the cabinet
100 is empty, the first solar cell 130 and the second solar cell 140 work and
generate a high
logic level ((1.4V-1.2V)+1.0V = 1.2V).
7
I
CA 2905398 2017-05-11
[0066] At the insertion of the medicine container 200, first of all, the
medicine container 200
covers the first solar cell 130 and blocks from light. This means that only
the second solar
cell 140 is exposed to light and generates negative voltage of V2. Therefore,
the voltage level
of the circuit drops due to the negative voltage (1.0V-1.2V = - 0.2V) at TI.
It drops down
from the high logic level (I.2V) to the low logic level (-0.2V). When the
voltage level of the
circuit drops below the threshold of logic levels (for example, 0.7V), a start
signal is provided
to the timer 120.
[0067] When the medicine container 200 is completely pushed into the position
which blocks
the first solar cell 130 and the second solar cell 140, the voltage results in
1.0V.
[0068] When the pre-set time has elapsed, an alarm is set off alerting the
user. The alarm
stops when the medicine container 200 is taken out for consuming. That is, the
medicine
container 200 is extracted, the second solar cell 140 is exposed to the light
at first.
[0069] When the second solar cell 140 is exposed to light, its negative
voltage causes the
voltage of the circuit to drop below the threshold logic level (for example,
resulting in -0.2V)
at T2, and a stop/reset signal is provided to the timer 120. The reset may
work together with
the start signal.
[0070] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method for reminding medicine taking
time in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0071] First, the light source 150 is turned on in the cabinet 100 at S700,
and a predetermined
time is set so that the timer 120 sets off an alarm when the predetermined
time is elapsed at
S710.
[0072] Thereafter, the medicine container 200 is inserted into the cabinet
100. The medicine
container 200 blocks light going to the first solar cell 130 at S720, and the
start signal is
provided to the timer 120 due to dropping of the voltage level of the circuit
below the
threshold of the logic level at S730.
[0073] Thereafter, the medicine container 200 is inserted further so that the
medicine
container 200 blocks light going to the first solar cell 130 and the second
solar cell 140 at
S740.
[0074] When the timer 120 sets off an alarm, the medicine container 200 is
extracted. At this
8
I I
CA 2905398 2017-05-11
time, the second solar cell 140 is exposed to light first at S750, and the
stop/reset signal is
provided to the timer 120 due to dropping of the voltage level of the circuit
below the
= threshold of the logic level at S760.
[0075] Thereafter, the medicine container 200 is fully extracted from the
cabinet 100 so that
the first solar cell 130 and the second solar cell 140 are exposed to light at
S770.
[0076] In accordance with the present invention having the above
configuration, there is an
advantage that the user may operate the timer and alarm without any action
required. After
the time is set, the timer automatically starts itself when the medicine
container is placed
inside the cabinet, and resets when the medicine container is taken again.
[0077] Further, the efficient detecting ability of the solar cells allows the
apparatus to
recognize the presence of the medicine container, while its simplicity allows
the production of
the apparatus to be an uncomplicated process and cost-efficient.
[0078] As described above, optimal embodiments of the present invention have
been
disclosed in the drawings and the specification. Although specific terms have
been used in
the present specification, these arc merely intended to describe the present
invention and are
not intended to limit the meanings thereof or the scope of the present
invention described in
the accompanying claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate
that various
modifications and other equivalent embodiments are possible from the
embodiments.
Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should be defined by
the technical
spirit of the claims.
9
