1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an information indicating system in which plural-character words can be represented by a humanly-sensible code of sequential indicia, such as a series of tones.
2. Prior Art
Sequential sensible readouts have been used in various fields. For example in horology, coded sequential audible indicia (sounds) have been periodically made by chiming clocks, grandfather's clocks, ship bell clocks, cuckoo clocks, alarm clocks, etc. Non-sequential audible indicators also have been used to indicate that a certain stage in a process has been achieved, such as a sound that indicates when a prescribed period of time has passed, a temperature has been reached, etc.
However no audible indicators were available to indicate precise information, such as, in horology, the exact time during the period between quarter-hour intervals. The other audible indicators gave indications only at specific stages in the process being monitored. Using these conventional audio indicators, it was not possible to know, for example, the temperature of an oven before the alarm point was reached. Similarly, a device for sounding an alarm after a period of time has elapsed (a kitchen timer, for example) could not indicate the time prior to the end of the set time period.
Accordingly it is one object of my invention to provide a sensible indicator which can provide far more precise and complete information about a process or changing data.
In may earlier U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,777 Dec. 9, 1975, there is taught a multiple character word indicating system in which the characters of the word are indicated sequentially at a single section. While this system is desirable and advantageous and provides a more economical readout, or a larger readout, it is not usable by the sightless or by persons with extremely limited version. Also it requires a relatively complex transducer capable of indicating plural characters at a single station.
Accordingly other objects of the present invention are to provide a character indicating system which can be used by the sightless or by persons with extremely limited vision, to provide such a system which requires a far simpler readout device, and to provide an information indicating system which is susceptible of being sensed audibly, palpably or visibly. Further objects and advantages will become apparent from consideration of the ensuing description thereof.