Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Combined with disparate device
Patent
1982-11-01
1985-04-23
Roskoski, Bernard
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Combined with disparate device
368 12, 368 14, 368 28, 33355R, G04B 4700, G04B 4706
Patent
active
045126674
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a portable, e.g. pocket sized, information device. Such devices, based on micro-chip technology, are now commonplace and include calculators, alarm clocks, calendars, memo holders and so forth.
The invention is particularly concerned with a device which can give an output related to natural physical events, the times of which vary with geographical location on the earth's surface. Such output may be required for many purposes but the invention has been developed particularly, though not exclusively, to meet the requirements of those who practise the Moslem faith, of whom there are about 750 million.
In the proper observance of the practices of the Moslem faith there is a clearly defined duty to pray at prescribed times during the day, and such prayers must be said while facing in the direction of the Kaaba at Mecca. In addition, the Moslem year contains a number of Holy.Days whose occurrence is based on the Lunar calendar, and consequently is not fixed in terms of secular dates. These and other important events do not necessarily coincide in different countries. This presents problems for Moslem travellers who need to know the times for prayers and the direction of Mecca in relation to their own position. The timing of prayers varies with the position on the Earth'surface, depending generally on the times of sunrise and sunset. There is also a problem for those who wish to contact Moslems by telephone or the like, for example if it is wished to avoid making a call shortly before or during prayer time. Tables of prayer times are published, but enormous numbers would be required to cover all regions of the world.
The Moslem prayer times are determined in accordance with sunrise and sunset, but there may be other reasons for wishing to know the local time of these or other natural physical events such as movements of the stars or planets or phases of the moon. An object of the invention is to permit a person to be made aware when such an event is to occur at any particular geographical location.
Thus, according to the invention there is provided a portable information device comprising means for establishing a time base; means for entering information identifying any one of a plurality of geographical locations; means associated with the time base establishing means and the location entering means for deterining one or more points in time having a predetermined temporal relationship to the occurance at the location entered of one or more natural physical events the time of which is dependent on geographical location; and means for providing an output at the time determined.
The natural physical events could be sunrise and sunset at the location entered, and the point, in local time, could be the actual time of one of these events, a point mid-way between them, a point spaced a particular time from one of them and so forth. For use by Moslems, the device will be capable of determining a number of times throughout the day.
It could for example, automatically remind the user of the appropriate prayer times which occur five times throughout the day, e.g. Morning (Fajr), Noon (Zuhr), Afternoon (Asr), Sunset (Mahgrib) and Evening (Isha). Pre-warning of prayer times could be given at say 5 minute intervals for 20 minutes.
In general, the geographical location will be a specific zone and defined by co-ordinates of both latitude or longitude. There may however be circumstances in which only one variable needs to be considered, i.e. latitude or longitude.
The means establishing a time-base may be, for example, a prime generator clock, such as a quartz crystal oscillator or the equivalent, or a tied generator adapted to be re-set by existing timing means, e.g. time signals broadcast by a radio station or wire system.
The output may simply be in the form of alerting signals to the user at the predetermined times or may consist of predetermined subject matter at one or more times during that period. The indication may be visual and/or audible. Where visual indication is given, it may be in the fo
REFERENCES:
patent: 3197880 (1965-08-01), Rice et al.
Chapman Robert A.
Doulton Romm
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