Electronic alarm clock.

The invention relates to an electric alarm clock, in which the alarm is programmable and write reveille sound signals.

Such electric alarm clock as clock radios, which are often still equipped with a cassette player, so that you can be woken up either by the alarm tone or the radio program or a music cassette. When you have put the alarm, so you will be woken up with the last set volume the next morning. When setting the correct volume at night to wake you up the next morning but occur, as shown by the following considerations, some difficulties.

On the one hand the volume must not be set too low, because otherwise the sleeper can sleep through, on the other hand, the volume should not be set too large, so that the sleeper is suddenly torn from sleep or even tremble. It is known that gentle wake a beneficial effect on the psyche and the nervous system of a human being, while sudden awakening to loud noises psyche and nervous system weigh heavily and can even harm. It is between short-term damage, which usually bring a screwed-up day one in such a case, and the more dangerous - to distinguish long-term damage - because insidious. Most primitive peoples, as the Indians have known for ever to these relationships and avoid the it to raise therefore, sleeping people suddenly and rudely.

However, the volume setting is not for every morning optimal, because, unfortunately, is not the hearing sensitivity nor the depth of sleep every day at the alarm time equal. Many factors play a role. Once a set volume can therefore be too loud for the one day, while they may be to blame for another day on oversleeping the person who relied on her clock radio, because you never know in the evening in advance, unfortunately, what volume to wake the next Tomorrow is the right moment.

It is therefore an object of the invention to design an electric alarm clock so that it enables a gentle yet safe Awakening.

The invention solves this problem in that the volume begins with a predetermined initial value and increases to a predetermined final value.

As in the dependent claims 7, 8 or 9 specified, the volume may increase as linear, logarithmic or exponential. You can also increase stair-or sawtooth. Solutions are also possible in which the volume fluctuates, but its mean value increases. For example, the volume may increase according to a function which is formed from the sum of a sine wave and a straight line. However, the invention is not limited to the specified small selection of functions increases.

Because the final value of the volume can be predetermined, it can always be adjusted so that the reveille just necessary loudness is covered. This safe Awakening is ensured on the one hand. but also because of the increase in volume takes place gradually, on the other hand awakened in a gentle way, because if the volume is too large slow and uncomfortable, the sleeper is already awakened and they can turn back to a comfortable level to him.

A particular advantage of a first embodiment lies in the fact that the time in which the volume increases from the initial value to the final value, is also adjustable. This can be set whether to gently awakened more or less. The radio alarm person using, in a further embodiment between several functions increase the volume, her pleasant, choose as a logarithmic function.

therefore particularly sensitive or anxious people need to fall asleep to make no disturbing thoughts more about whether they have now set the volume too loud at the clock radio or too low, because they know that they are gentle yet safe awakened by the alarm clock according to the invention.

Because it but also less sensitive users out there who prefer to be awakened quickly by a loud noise, is in a further embodiment of the invention in addition to the gradual increase in the volume can also be provided the opportunity to the volume of a predetermined initial value to a predetermined maximum level, ie low volume, and to release within a predetermined time period. This method though is quickly and safely, but aroused quite rudely.

A particular advantage of the invention is the fact that it can easily become a device, a so-called Einschlafgerät supplemented, which is to facilitate sleep and promote sleep. For this, the sleep time is programmed, falls from the volume to a predetermined end value within a predetermined time period.

Particularly suitable for this embodiment, hi-fi systems with cassette and CD player, as in hi-fi systems with cassette and CD player, the possibility can be provided to create a music program for the night. For example, one or two cassettes can be played, or as may be played in a desired sequence with arbitrary volume with a CD player magazine Musikstükke of various compact discs. So everyone can put together his own little night music according to individual criteria.

Instead of music or between music tracks can also be heard a cassette of a language course during sleep, for example, difficult to learn vocabulary of a foreign language, so that they adhere more memorable.

A further embodiment is conceivable in which the volume as a function of physiological parameters, such as the pulse and / or respiration rate is controlled. The physiological size can be set via an electrode on the body of the sleeper, for example on the wrist, decrease. However, be exercised in selecting the music or speech for sleep caution because the subconscious spite of sleep these noises - music or language - receives and can be substantially affected.

The embodiments latter can be used as Wekker and Einschlafgerät or only as alarm or only as Einschlafgerät will.

In a further embodiment can be the wake-up times, program the increase or decrease the volume for a week, a month or a year. It is also possible to program these parameters for working days, Sundays and holidays. The electric clock is therefore equipped with a calendar. In addition, let the alarm time, the rise to or decrease the volume for a period that corresponds to the personal biorhythm or the moon phases, program. You will then be repeated periodically after the biorhythm or the lunar cycle.

Further embodiments of the invention, the conversion to the various world times and the automatic switch to summer time and the automatic return to the normal time by means of the built-in calendar.

Because the volume can be increased or decreased at the desired times, it is possible, for example, every hour to hear at a clock radio, the news at a normal volume and to switch to the messages the volume to silent whisper or off the clock radio.

An electric alarm clock can be connected with a further refinement, signaling devices, such as smoke or gas detectors that cause the release of acoustic warning signals in case of smoke or gas leak. If, however, such as a rain detector is connected, can in response of rain sensor to rain the alarm time is shifted by a predetermined time period to a later date when the owner of the alarm clock in rainy weather would like to sleep longer. It may of course be several different signaling devices simultaneously connected to the electric alarm clock.

Finally, another embodiment of the invention can be used as a timer that switched to the alarm time or predetermined time before or after the alarm time desired electrical loads on or off. So ZB can be turned in a desired room, an electric heater.

All described embodiments of the electric alarm clock can be realized in a single device.

Particularly suitable for electric Wekker invention are clock radios with or without cassette part and hi-fi systems with tuner, cassette deck and CD player.