Object recognition timer

Abstract

To provide a timer that can reflect concentration, such as a use time of a smartphone and the number of times of picking up the smartphone during study time, by detecting the movement of the smartphone with an NFC reader, easily without effort.SOLUTION: By combining a single-board computer R3 equipped with an NFC reader R2 with an apparatus that has both timer and stopwatch functions, the apparatus detects the touch and release of a smartphone equipped with an IC chip R1 or an object with an NFC tag, records a leaving time of the smartphone and the number of times of picking up the smartphone, automatically transmits the information via Bluetooth or the Internet to an arbitrary device R4, and sends a notification to return the smartphone onto the timer, thereby allowing a study time to be recorded while increasing concentration on the study with almost no effort required to operate the timer. In addition, the apparatus can be used not only for studying but also for managing objects by attaching NFC tags to the objects that a user wants to manage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a timer that operates by recognizing an object equipped with an IC chip. [Background technology]

[0002] Timers are useful everywhere. They are useful in many places, from cooking and experiments to athletics, and demonstrate excellent performance no matter the place or environment. Nowadays, they can be purchased at a low price, and even if you don't buy one, smartphones and PCs come with a timer or stopwatch function.

[0003] This invention focuses on the use of a timer when studying. Many students study while measuring time with a timer or stopwatch. Measure the time, record it, and check how much you have studied. However, even though the timer is running while studying, you may end up playing with your smartphone, and the actual study time may not be measured. Furthermore, if you are using a smartphone to start the timer, you may often pick up your smartphone to check the time and take a break.

[0004] In addition, if you use a dedicated timer or stopwatch device, you have to enter the time you spend studying into your smartphone every time, which is a hassle. Even if you connect a timer device to your smartphone via Bluetooth, as mentioned above, there is a drawback in that you cannot accurately measure the time you spend taking a break when you pick up your smartphone.

[0005] As an improvement to these problems, there is a method of using a timer equipped with an NFC reader to count only while a smartphone or a device with an NFC tag is placed on the timer. Figure 1 is a relationship diagram showing how this timer and smartphone work together. R1 is a terminal equipped with an IC chip or an NFC tag (Patent Document 1), R2 is an NFC reader that detects the touch or release of an object R1 equipped with an IC chip, and R3 is a single-board computer that processes the information read by the NFC reader R2, displays the screen on the display, plays sound from the speaker, transmits information to the smartphone via Bluetooth or the Internet, and saves the information on an SD card. It also processes input from buttons 2 to 6 in Figure 2. R4 is an arbitrary device that receives information from the single-board computer R3 via Bluetooth or the Internet.

[0006] The information sent via Bluetooth and the Internet is the number of times the timer count was interrupted, i.e., the number of times a specific device was lifted from the timer, the amount of time the device was placed on it, etc. This allows you to check your study time and concentration level later without having to keep a record yourself.

[0007] Figure 2 is a rough design diagram of a timer using this method. In Figure 2, 1 is a single-board computer equipped with an NFC reader (R1 and R2 in Figure 1), 2 is a mode select button, 3 is a button to switch between stopwatch (SW) and timer (TM), 4 is a start and stop button, 5 and 6 are buttons to set the timer time, and 7, 8, and 9 are displays that show the mode, SW or TM, and time, respectively. 10 is a magnetic field emitted by the NFC reader, and when an IC chip passes through this magnetic field, a change in the magnetic field occurs, which is detected by the NFC reader. In other words, NFC reader 1 reads the change in the magnetic field when the IC chip approaches (touch) and moves away (release).

[0008] There are two modes: study and focus. In study mode, the countdown only continues while the object with the IC chip is on the timer, and stops when the object is released. Focus mode has almost the same functions as study mode, but a sound is emitted while the object with the IC chip is released, and after a certain time, a notification is sent to any device R4 to return the object to the timer. By switching to focus mode, a penalty is imposed in the form of a sound being emitted while the smartphone is in hand, and a notification is sent after a certain time has passed, aiming to improve study performance.

[0009] Figure 3 shows an example of use in study mode. Numbers 1 to 10 are the same as in Figure 2. Number 11 is a smartphone equipped with an IC chip. While the smartphone is placed on the touchpad, the touch of the IC chip is detected, but the release has not been detected, so the timer continues to count.

[0010] Figure 4 shows an example of how the IC chip device is released in focus mode. When the IC chip device is released from the device equipped with an NFC reader, the magnetic field changes, which the reader detects and sounds. After a certain period of time, a notification is sent to the smartphone, which is expected to improve study performance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Patent application 2016-095405

[0012] [Patent Document 2] Patent application No. 11-364752 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] The problems to be solved are the difficulty in measuring time accurately when studying, the hassle of operating a timer or stopwatch and recording time, and the difficulty in maintaining concentration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The most important feature of this invention is that it recognizes an object equipped with an IC chip, activates the timer, and sends the information to a smartphone via Bluetooth or the Internet. Effect of the Invention

[0015] The timer of the present invention recognizes objects equipped with an IC chip and activates the timer, so you can activate the timer simply by placing your smartphone on the timer, making it easy to measure accurate study time.

[0016] Furthermore, information such as the time and the number of times the IC chip-equipped object was lifted is sent via Bluetooth or the Internet, so there is the advantage that you can easily check your study time and concentration without having to go through the trouble of recording it. Also, the focus mode, which sounds when the IC chip cannot be detected and sends a notification to the smartphone after a certain period of time, is expected to improve concentration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of how the timer works. (Example 1) [Diagram 2] Figure 2 shows a rough design of the timer. (Example 2) [Diagram 3] Figure 3 shows an example of a timer when the smartphone is placed down. (Example 3) [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of a timer that works when the smartphone is removed. (Example 4) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] By attaching a single-board computer equipped with an NFC reader to a device equipped with a normal timer or stopwatch, we were able to achieve our goal of enabling the timer to start simply by placing a smartphone on it. EXAMPLES

[0019] Figure 1 shows how the timer works. A smartphone with an IC chip or a device with an NFC tag (R1) is detected by the NFC reader (R2) installed in the timer, and the single-board computer (R3) processes the information and sends it to the LCD display, speaker, and SD card, and then sends the time information to the smartphone (R4) via Bluetooth or the Internet. EXAMPLES

[0020] The embodiment in Figure 2 shows the shape of this timer and where the IC chip is detected. The timer is equipped with an NFC reader and single-board computer (1), which generates a magnetic field (10) and processes the information read by the NFC reader on the single-board computer, which then displays the time and mode on the display (7, 8, 9). In addition, when buttons (2-6) are pressed, the single-board computer processes the information, and the user can switch between modes, timers, and stopwatches, set the time, and stop the counting by themselves. EXAMPLES

[0021] Figure 3 shows an example of an actual smartphone (11) placed on the device. 1 to 10 are the same as in Figure 2. The smartphone (11) is recognized by the magnetic field (10) emitted from the NFC reader (1), and the timer or stopwatch starts counting through processing by the single-board computer. EXAMPLES

[0022] Figure 4 shows an example of what happens when the smartphone (11) is released in focus mode. 1 to 11 are the same as in Figure 3. When the smartphone (11) is released in focus mode, the NFC reader (1) detects the release of the IC chip and a sound is emitted by the speaker. After a certain period of time has passed, a notification is sent to the smartphone (11) instructing it to return the smartphone (11) to the top of the timer. [Industrial Applicability]

[0023] Anything that is placed on the timer can trigger the timer, even if it is not a smartphone, as long as it has an IC chip. Also, even if an object does not have an IC chip, it can trigger the timer if it has an NFC tag attached.

[0024] In addition, the uses are not limited to studying. When you want to manage things, you can attach an NFC tag to the object you want to manage, and if the object is released for a certain period of time, a notification will be sent to a smartphone or other device via the Internet or Bluetooth, allowing for more advanced management of the objects. In this way, there are high expectations for a wide range of uses. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] R1 IC chip R2 NFC Reader R3 Single Board Computer R4 Device (smartphone, PC, etc.) 1 Single board computer with NFC reader 2 mode select button 3 Timer / stopwatch switch button 4 Start / Stop button 5 Time setting button 1 6 Time setting button 2 7 mode display 8 Timer and stopwatch display 9 Time Display Magnetic field arising from 10 1 11 Smartphones equipped with IC chips

Claims

1. This timer or stopwatch is equipped with an NFC reader (1) for recognizing an object equipped with an IC chip by a smartphone (11) or an NFC tag, and is activated when the IC chip approaches the NFC reader as a trigger, and stops counting when the IC chip is released.

2. 2. The timer or stopwatch according to claim 1, which transmits information detected by an NFC reader, such as the time the device equipped with an IC chip was placed down or the number of times it was lifted, to any device via Bluetooth or the Internet.

3. The timer or stopwatch according to claim 1, capable of managing objects by sending a notification to an arbitrary device if the device equipped with an IC chip is held up for a long period of time.

4. 2. The timer or stopwatch according to claim 1, wherein a sound or an alarm sounds when the device equipped with an IC chip is picked up.

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