Audio output device

Claim 2

An audio output device, comprising: selecting means for selecting among a group of audio functions including user requested time of day; synthesizing means for producing audio data corresponding to the audio function selected; sound volume means for producing a predetermined sound volume control signal corresponding to the audio function selected; and audio output means for producing an audio output at a predetermined level of sound volume based on the audio data and sound volume control signal.

Claim 3

The audio output device of claim 1;, wherein said selecting means includes logic means for selecting among the group of audio functions based on a predetermined order of priority.

Claim 4

The audio output device of claim 1, wherein the synthesizing means includes audio data storage means for storing predetermined patterns of audio data for the audio functions.

Claim 5

The audio output device of claim 2, wherein the synthesizing means includes audio data storage means for storing predetermined patterns of audio data for the audio functions.

Claim 6

The audio output device of claim 1, wherein the sound volume means includes memory means for storing a plurality of predetermined settings, one of said predetermined settings corresponding to the sound volume level of the audio output.

Claim 7

The audio output device of claim 5, wherein the memory means includes a plurality of counters for storing the predetermined settings, each counter corresponding to one of the group of audio functions.

Claim 8

The audio output device of claim 6, wherein the sound volume means further includes setting means for permitting one of said counters to be incremented in its predetermined setting and inhibiting the remaining counters from being incremented in their predetermined settings.

Claim 9

The audio output device of claim 7, wherein the setting means further includes functional selecting means for determining which one of said plurality of counters can be incremented.

Claim 10

The audio output device of claim 5, wherein the sound volume means includes control means for producing the predetermined control signal based on one of said predetermined settings.

Claim 11

The audio output device of claim 7, wherein the sound volume means includes control means for producing the predetermined control signal based on one of said predetermined settings.

Claim 12

The audio output device of claim 9, wherein the selecting means produces an instructing signal representing the audio function selected and the memory means includes logic means for controlling which of the predetermined settings is supplied to the control means based on the instructing signal.

Claim 13

The audio output device of claim 10, wherein the selecting means produces an instructing signal representing the audio function selected and the memory means includes logic means for controlling which of the predetermined settings is supplied to the control means based on the instructing signal.

Claim 14

The audio output apparatus of claim 5, wherein the setting means further includes clock generating means for generating clock signals wherein the predetermined settings of said memory means are based on the number of clock signals generated.

Claim 15

The audio output apparatus of claim 9, wherein the setting means further includes clock generating means for generating clock signals wherein the predetermined settings of said memory means are based on said clock signals.

Claim 16

The audio output apparatus of claim 10, wherein the setting means further includes clock generating means for generating clock signals wherein the predetermined settings of said memory means are based on said clock signals.

Claim 17

The audio output apparatus of claim 5, wherein the audio output means includes additional sound volume means, speaker driving means and speaker means, said speaker driving means providing current to drive said speaker means for generating the audio output and wherein the additional sound volume means is operable for adjusting the current flowing to said speaker means in response to the sound volume control signal.

Claim 18

The audio output apparatus of claim 16, wherein the speaker driving means and speaker means are connected to each other through a plurality of resistors connected electrically in series and wherein the additional sound volume means is connected electrically in parallel with the plurality of resistors.

Claim 19

The audio output apparatus of claim 17, wherein the speaker driving means includes an operational amplifier and wherein the additional sound volume means serves as a feedback loop for the operational amplifier.

Claim 20

The audio output apparatus of claim 8, wherein the audio output means includes additional sound volume means, speaker driving means and speaker means, said speaker driving means providing current to drive said speaker means for generating the audio output and wherein the additional sound volume means is operable for adjusting the current flowing to said speaker means in response to the sound volume control signal.

Claim 21

The audio output apparatus of claim 19, wherein the speaker driving means and speaker means are connected to each other through a plurality of resistors connected electrically in series and wherein the additional sound volume means is connected electrically in parallel with the plurality of resistors.

Claim 22

The audio output apparatus of claim 20, wherein the speaker driving means includes an operational amplifier and wherein the additional sound volume means serves as a feedback loop for the operation amplifier.

Claim 23

The audio output apparatus of claim 11, wherein the audio output means includes additional sound volume means, speaker driving means and speaker means, said speaker driving means providing current to drive said speaker means for generating the audio output and wherein the additional sound volume means is operable for adjusting the current flowing to said speaker means in response to the sound volume control signal.

Claim 24

The audio output apparatus of claim 22, wherein the speaker driving means and speaker means are connected to each other through a plurality of resistors connected electrically in series and wherein the additional sound volume means is connected electrically in parallel with the plurality of resistors.

Claim 25

The audio output apparatus of claim 23, wherein the speaker driving means includes an operational amplifier and wherein the additional sound volume means serves as a feedback loop for the operational amplifier.

Claim 26

The audio output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the synthesizing means includes digital to analog converter means for converting the audio data from a digital to analog signal and shift register means for shifting the audio data in its digital form by at least one superordination bit.

Claim 27

The audio output apparatus of claim 5, wherein the synthesizing means includes digital to analog converter means for converting the audio data from a digital to analog signal and shift register means for shifting the audio data in its digital form by at least one superordination bit.

Claim 28

The audio output apparatus of claim 8, wherein the synthesizing means includes digital to analog converter means for converting the audio data from a digital to analog signal and shift register means for shifting the audio data in its digital form by at least one superordination bit.

Claim 29

The audio output apparatus of claim 11, wherein the synthesizing means includes digital to analog converter means for converting the audio data from a digital to analog signal and shift register means for shifting the audio data in its digital form by at least one superordination bit.

Claim 30

The audio output device of claim 4, wherein the sound volume means includes memory means for storing a plurality of predetermined settings, one of said predetermined settings corresponding to the sound volume level of the audio output.

Claim 31

The audio output device of claim 29, wherein the memory means includes a plurality of counters for storing the predetermined settings, each counter corresponding to one of the group of audio functions.

Claim 32

The audio output device of claim 30, wherein the sound volume means further includes setting means for permitting one of said counters to be incremented in its predetermined setting and inhibiting the remaining counters from being incremented in their predetermined settings.

Claim 33

The audio output device of claim 31, wherein the setting means further includes functional selecting means for determining which one of said plurality of counters can be incremented.

Claim 34

The audio output device of claim 29, wherein the sound volume means includes control means for producing the predetermined control signal based on one of said predetermined settings.

Claim 35

The audio output device of claim 31, wherein the sound volume means includes control means for producing the predetermined signal based on one of said predetermined settings.

Claim 36

The audio output device of claim 33, wherein the selecting means produces an instructing signal representing the audio function selected and the memory means includes logic means for controlling which of the predetermined settings is supplied to the control means based on the instructing signal.

Claim 37

The audio output device of claim 34, wherein the selecting means produces an instructing signal representing the audio function selected and the memory means includes logic means for controlling which of the predetermined settings is supplied to the control means based on the instructing signal.

Claim 38

The audio output apparatus of claim 29, wherein the setting means further includes clock generating means for generating clock signals wherein the predetermined settings of said memory means are based on the number of clock signals generated.

Claim 39

The audio output apparatus of claim 34, wherein the setting means further includes clock generating means for generating clock signals wherein the predetermined settings of said memory means are based on said clock signals.

Claim 40

The audio output apparatus of claim 34, wherein the setting means further includes clock generating means for generating clock signals wherein the predetermined settings of said memory means are based on said clock signals.

Claim 41

The audio output apparatus of claim 32, wherein the audio output means includes additional sound volume means, speaker driving means and speaker means, said speaker driving means providing current to drive said speaker means for generating the audio output and wherein the additional sound volume means is operable for adjusting the current flowing to said speaker means in response to the sound volume control signal.

Claim 42

The audio output apparatus of claim 40, wherein the speaker driving means and speaker means are connected to each other through a plurality of resistors connected electrically in series and wherein the additional sound volume means is connected electrically in parallel with the plurality of resistors.

Claim 43

The audio output apparatus of claim 41, wherein the speaker driving means includes an operational amplifier and wherein the additional sound volume means serves as a feedback loop for the operational amplifier.

Claim 44

The audio output apparatus of claim 36, wherein the audio output means includes additional sound volume means, speaker driving means and speaker means, said speaker driving means providing current to drive said speaker means for generating the audio output and wherein the additional sound volume means is operable for adjusting the current flowing to said speaker means in response to the sound volume control signal.

Claim 45

The audio output apparatus of claim 43, wherein the speaker driving means and speaker means are connected to each other through a plurality of resistors connected electrically in series and wherein the additional sound volume means is connected electrically in parallel with the plurality of resistors.

Claim 46

The audio output apparatus of claim 44, wherein the speaker driving means includes an operational amplifier and wherein the additional sound volume means serves as a feedback loop for the operational amplifier.

Claim 47

The audio output apparatus of claim 5, wherein the synthesizing means includes digital to analog converter means for converting the audio data from a digital to analog signal and shift register means for shifting the audio data in its digital form by at least one superordination bit.

Claim 48

The audio output apparatus of claim 32, wherein the synthesizing means includes digital to analog converter means for converting the audio data from a digital to analog signal and shift register means for shifting the audio data in its digital form by at least one superordination bit.

Claim 49

The audio output apparatus of claim 35, wherein the synthesizing means includes digital to analog converter means for converting the audio data from a digital to analog signal and shift register means for shifting the audio data in its digital form by at least one superordination bit.

Claim 50

The audio output device of claim 1, wherein the sound volume means includes means for adjusting the sound volume control signal whereby the predetermined level of sound volume of the audio output is correspondingly adjusted.

Claim 51

The audio output device of claim 5, wherein the sound volume means includes means for adjusting the sound volume control signal whereby the predetermined level of sound volume of the audio output is correspondingly adjusted.

Claim 52

The audio output device of claim 8, wherein the sound volume means includes means for adjusting the sound volume control signal whereby the predetermined level of sound volume of the audio output is correspondingly adjusted.

Claim 53

The audio output device of claim 11, wherein the sound volume means includes means for adjusting the sound volume control signal whereby the predetermined level of sound volume of the audio output is correspondingly adjusted

Claim 54

An audio output device, comprising: selecting means for selecting one of at least two audio announcing functions and producing a first signal and a second signal based on the selected functions, said two audio functions selected from the group of functions consisting of a user request time of day function, an alarm announcing function, a stopwatch audio announcing function, a timer audio announcing function and an automatic speaking announcing function; synthesizing means for producing an audio output signal based on the first signal and corresponding to the selected function; sound volume storage means for storing sound volume data associated with each of the functions; sound volume control means for adjusting the sound volume data from the sound volume storage means in response to the second signal whereby the adjusted sound volume data corresponds to the selected function and producing sound volume setting signals; and audio output means for producing an audio output based on the audio output signal and the sound volume setting signals whereby the audio output is at a predetermined sound volume.

Claim 55

An audio output device, comprising: selecting means for selecting one of at least two audio announcing functions and producing a first signal and a second signal based on the selected functions, said two audio functions selected from the group of functions consisting of a user request time of day function, an alarm announcing function, a stopwatch audio announcing function, a timer audio announcing function and an automatic speaking announcing function; synthesizing means for producing an audio output signal based on the first signal and corresponding to the selected function; sound volume storage means for storing sound volume data associated with each of the functions; sound volume control means for adjusting the sound volume data from the sound volume storage means in response to the second signal whereby the adjusted sound volume data corresponds to the selected function and producing sound volume setting signals; and audio output means for producing an audio output based on the audio output signal and the sound volume setting signals whereby the audio output is at a predetermined sound volume.

Claim 56

The audio output device of claim 53, wherein the sound volume means includes means for adjusting the sound volume setting signals whereby the predetermined level of sound volume of the audio output is correspondingly adjusted.

Claim 57

The audio output device of claim 52, wherein said at least two audio announcing functions includes a user requested time of day function.

Claim 58

The audio output apparatus of claim 52, wherein the audio output means includes additional sound volume control means, driver means and speaker means, the driving means providing current to the speaker means to drive the speaker means for generating the audio output and wherein the additional sound volume means is operable for adjusting the current flowing to the speaker means in response to the sound volume setting signals.

Claim 59

The audio output device of claim 52, wherein the synthesizing means includes shift register means operable for shifting the audio output signal prior to being produced by the synthesizing means by at least one superordination bit in response to the sound volume setting signals.

Claim 60

The audio output device of claim 52, wherein the sound volume data associated with at least two functions correspond to different levels of sound volume.

Claim 61

The audio output device of claim 53, wherein the audio output means includes additional sound volume control means, driver means and speaker means, the driving means providing current to the speaker means to drive the speaker means for generating the audio output and wherein the additional sound volume means is operable for adjusting the current flowing to the speaker means in response to the sound volume setting signals.

Claim 62

The audio output device of claim 53, wherein the synthesizing means includes shift register means operable for shifting the audio output signal prior to being produced by the synthesizing means by at least one superordination bit in response to the sound volume setting signals.

Claim 63

The audio output device of claim 53, wherein the sound volume data associated with at least two functions correspond to different levels of sound volume.

Claim 64

An audio output device, comprising: selecting means for selecting among a group of audio functions including user requested time of day, for producing an instructing signal and including logic means for selecting among the group of audio functions based on a predetermined order of priority; synthesizing means for producing audio data corresponding to the audio function selected and including audio data storage means for storing a predetermined pattern of audio data for each of the audio functions; sound volume means for producing a predetermined sound volume control signal corresponding to the audio function selected and including a plurality of counters for storing a plurality of predetermined settings, each counter corresponding to one of the group of audio functions: setting means for permitting one of said counters to be incremented in its predetermined setting, for inhibiting the remaining counters from being incremented in their predetermined settings and including functional selecting means for determining which one of said plurality of counters can be incremented; and clock generating means for producing clock signals wherein the predetermined settings of the counters are based on the clock signals; and audio output means for producing an audio output at a predetermined level of sound volume based on the audio data and sound volume control signal and including additional sound volume means, speaker driving means and speaker means, the speaker driving means operable for providing current to drive the speaker means for generating the audio output and the additional sound volume means operable for adjusting the current flowing to the speaker means in response to the control signal.

Claim 65

An audio output device, comprising: selecting means for selecting among a group of audio functions including user requested time of day, for producing an instructing signal and including logic means for selecting among the group of audio functions based on a predetermined order of priority; synthesizing means for producing audio data corresponding to the audio function selected and including audio data storage means for storing a predetermined pattern of audio data for each of the audio functions; sound volume means for producing a predetermined sound volume control signal corresponding to the audio function selected and including a plurality of counters for storing a plurality of predetermined settings, each counter corresponding to one of the group of audio functions: setting means for permitting one of said counters to be incremented in its predetermined setting, for inhibiting the remaining counters from being incremented in their predetermined settings and including functional selecting means for determining which one of said plurality of counters can be incremented; and clock generating means for producing clock signals wherein the predetermined settings of the counters are based on the clock signals; and audio output means for producing an audio output at a predetermined level of sound volume based on the audio data and sound volume control signal and including additional sound volume means, speaker driving means and speaker means, the speaker driving means operable for providing current to drive the speaker means for generating the audio output and the additional sound volume means operable for adjusting the current flowing to the speaker means in response to the control signal.