Background of the invention

The invention relates to a signal producing device and a method for producing a signal.

Signal producing devices produce e.g. warning and/or instruction signals. Often, signal producing devices only produce simple signals and updating and modifying the devices are awkward.

Brief description of the invention

The object of the invention is to develop a novel type of a signal producing device and a method for producing a signal. The arrangement according to the invention is characterised by what is disclosed in the independent claims. Some embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

In the presented solution, the signal producing device includes means for producing an audio signal and first means for receiving an external control command. The means for producing an audio signal are arranged as a response to the external control command to start producing a first audio signal. The external control command can be entered to the signal producing device e.g. from an external server, from a motion-detecting sensor being separate from the signal producing device or from some other sensor or from another signal producing device. The audio signal can be e.g. speech which reveals information on matters related to the surroundings of the signal producing device and/or which describes the alternatives of how to use the device. The signal producing device presented in this specification can comprise data processing devices, such as processors, memory etc., where it is possible to enter program code such that the signal producing device is arranged to implement the desired functions.

According to an embodiment, the first means for receiving the external control command comprise a motion sensor, whereby the external control command is a motion detected by the motion sensor. Thus, the signal producing device can operate quite independently.

According to an embodiment, the motion sensor is arranged to detect a motion from a specific first direction, whereby the production of a first audio signal is arranged to start as a response to the motion that is detected by the motion sensor from said first direction. Therefore, the specific audio signal only starts e.g. when approaching the signal producing device or a target related to it but not e.g. when leaving the target.

According to an embodiment, the motion sensor is also arranged to detect a motion from a second direction different from the specific first direction, whereby the production of a second audio signal is arranged to start as a response to the motion that is detected by the motion sensor from the second direction. Then, for e.g. a person approaching the target can be produced the first audio signal which can be a welcome message. When the person leaves the target, it is possible to produce them the second signal which can be e.g. a farewell message.

According to an embodiment, the device includes second means, such as a push button or a touch screen, for receiving a second external control command. Then, the means for producing an audio signal are arranged as a response to a second external control command to start producing an additional audio signal. The first audio signal can contain a prompt to use the second means. By using the second means, the production of the additional signal is started, which can comprise e.g. supplementary instructions. The additional audio signal is thus only produced if the person having come close to the signal producing device actively wants to hear more information. The second means can be such that they require touching them or they can be a touchlessly operating switch which is activated when a motion or some other activation comes to its vicinity, e.g. at the distance of less than 10 cm, that the switch can detect.

According to an embodiment, the second means for receiving the second external control command are arranged to identify at least two different inputs. Then, the means for producing an audio signal can be arranged as a response to a first input of the second external control command to start the production of the additional audio signal and as a response to a second input of the second external control command to start the production of a second additional audio signal. The first audio signal can contain a description of the first input and the second input. The first input can be e.g. on push of a button and the second input can then be e.g. two pushes of a button. The additional audio signal can contain e.g. supplementary instructions in one language, such as in Finnish. The second additional audio signal can contain e.g. corresponding supplementary instructions in another language, such as in English.

According to an embodiment, the device includes means for detecting the sound volume level of the surroundings and means for adjusting the volume of the produced audio signal as a response to the detected sound volume level of the surroundings. Then when e.g. the noise of traffic impedes audibility in the surroundings, the signal producing device adjusts the volume level to reasonably high. When e.g. in the evening or at nigh the sounds in the surroundings are quieter after the traffic has decreased, the signal producing device adjusts the volume level to reasonably low. Therefore, the signal producing device does not cause disturbing noise to the surroundings.

According to an embodiment, the device includes means for producing an audio signal synthetically from text data, whereby the changing of the audio signal is possible to implement by changing the text data in question. This enables the easy changing of the audio signal e.g. by means of an external server.

According to an embodiment, the device includes means for connecting the device to an external server for controlling the device from the external server and/or for transmitting data contained by the device to the external server. In this way, the device can be controlled, or its settings selected easily from the external server. Similarly, data from the signal producing device can be transmitted to the external server and from there further e.g. for analysing or reporting. The signal producing device can include e.g. a counter which registers passers-by. The counter can utilise e.g. data produced by an infrared sensor. The number of passers-by can thus be found out and the data can be easily transmitted further. From the external server, data related to the signal producing device can be easily reported and transmitted to necessary interested parties, such as a system administrator or associated companies or equivalents.

According to an embodiment, the device includes a battery and/or a solar cell for power supply. Therefore, the signal producing device can also be easily located even to such places where power supply cannot be arranged in a simple way.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is now described in closer detail in connection with some embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows an arrangement for producing signals.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 shows a signal producing device 1. The signal producing device 1 is fastened to a column 2. If desired, the signal producing device 1 can also be fastened e.g. to a wall, a structure of an information board, a structure of a traffic stop shelter or some other suitable structure. The signal producing device 1 can include a speaker 3. By means of the speaker 3 is formed an audio signal which is heard in the vicinity of the signal producing device 1. In addition to or instead of the speaker 3 in the physical structure of the signal producing device 1, the signal producing device 1 can include a speaker 3’ functionally connected to it, which speaker can be located at a distance from a frame structure of the signal producing device 1. Then, the speaker 3’ can be easily located to a place as advantageous as possible in terms of sound reproduction. The signalling unit 1 thus includes means for producing an audio signal.

The signal producing device 1 can include a sensor 4, such as a motion sensor operating by means of infrared. The sensor 4 can e.g. detect a person approaching the signal producing device 1 and then give information on this to a control command receiving unit 5. The control command receiving unit 5 transmits the information further to a control unit 6. The control unit 6 again controls the speaker 3 to produce a first audio signal.

In addition to or instead of the sensor 4, the external control command can be entered to the control command receiving unit 5 of the signal producing device e.g. from an external server 8, a sensor 9 being separate from the signal producing device, or from a second signal producing device 1’. The signal producing device 1 can then include data transmission means 7 for connecting the second signal producing device 1’, the server 8 and/or the sensor 9 to the signal producing device 1 by means of a wired or wireless data transmission connection 14, 15, 16.

It is then possible to control the signal producing device 1 to produce an audio signal by remote control. Then, it is possible e.g. to produce the audio signal in many places simultaneously, if there is a need to inform e.g. about a dangerous situation. For example when starting a plant at an industrial area, it is possible to give information about the situation by entering a control command from the server 8. The sensor 9 can again be e.g. arranged to a vehicle and the signal producing device 1 can include a sensor that identifies the sensor 9 approaching the signal producing device 1 and then gives a control command to produce an audio signal. On the other hand, the location data of the sensor 9 can also be transmitted to the server 8 which, when detecting the sensor 9 being at a specific distance, gives the control command in question.

The audio signal can be e.g. speech which reveals information on matters related to the surroundings of the signal producing device 1 and/or which describes the alternatives of howto use the device. In order to form the audio signal, it is possible to form e.g. a description in text format of the surroundings of the signal producing device 1 which description includes e.g. the main services and directions to them. Such a description in text format can be called a word map. The signalling unit 1 can include means for producing an audio signal from text data. Then, the word map texts can be used to produce speech synthetically. Changing the audio signal can be then done simply by changing the text data. The changing of the text data is again easy and simple to implement e.g. by using the external server 8.

The signal producing device 1 can comprise data processing devices, such as processors, memory etc., where it is possible to enter program code such that the signal producing device 1 is arranged to implement the desired functions. The parts of the signal producing device 1, such as the control command receiving unit 5, the control unit 6, the data transmission means 7 and other equivalent parts and devices can be functional units which can physically be integrated or separate.

The control command to produce the audio signal can be formed dependent on the moving direction of the object approaching the target. Then, it is possible to do so that the specific audio signal only starts e.g. when approaching the signal producing device 1 or a target related to it but not e.g. when leaving the target. For example, the sensor 4 can be arranged to detect a motion from a specific first direction, whereby the production of the first audio signal is arranged to start as a response to the motion that is detected by the sensor 4 from said first direction.

Furthermore, for e.g. a person approaching the target can be produced the first audio signal which can be a welcome message. When the person leaves the target, it is possible to produce them the second signal which can be e.g. a farewell message. This can be implemented for example such that the sensor 4 identifies the motion direction. When the sensor 4 detects motion from the first direction, a command is given to produce the first audio signal. When the sensor 4 detects motion from the second direction, a command is given to produce the second audio signal. Furthermore, different motion directions can be identified by separate sensors or some other manner suitable for the purpose, such as by monitoring the location and motion direction of a sensor 9 by e.g. a GPS system.

The signal producing device 1 includes a switch 10 which can be used to give a second external control command to the control command receiving unit 5. The switch 10 can be e.g. a push button or a touch screen. The switch 10 can also be e.g. a touchlessly operating switch which is activated when a motion or some other activation comes to its vicinity, e.g. at the distance of less than 10 cm, that the switch 10 can detect. When the switch 10 is activated, an additional audio signal is produced by the signal producing device. The first audio signal can contain a prompt to use the switch 10. By using the switch 10, the production of the additional signal is started, which can comprise e.g. supplementary instructions. The additional audio signal is thus only produced if the person having come close to the signal producing device actively wants to hear more information.

The switch 10 can be arranged to identify at least two different inputs. The first input can be e.g. on push of a button and the second input can then be e.g. two pushes of a button. When the switch 10 is pushed once, the production of the additional audio signal starts and, when the switch is pushed twice, the production of the second additional audio signal starts. The first audio signal can contain a description of the first input and the second input. The additional audio signal can contain e.g. supplementary instructions in one language, such as in Finnish. The second additional audio signal can contain e.g. corresponding supplementary instructions in another language, such as in English.

The signal producing device 1 can further include means, such as a microphone 11, to observe the sound volume level of the surroundings. Furthermore, the signal producing device 1 can then include means for adjusting the volume of the produced audio signal as a response to the observed sound volume level of the surroundings. Then when e.g. the noise of traffic impedes audibility in the surroundings, the signal producing device 1 adjusts the volume level to reasonably high. When e.g. in the evening or at nigh the sounds in the surroundings are quieter after the traffic has decreased, the signal producing device 1 adjusts the volume level to reasonably low. Therefore, the signal producing device does not cause disturbing noise to the surroundings.

The signal producing device 1 can include means for connecting the device to the external server 8, to control the device from the external server and/or to transmit the data contained by the device to the external server. In this way, the device can be controlled, or its settings selected easily from the external server. Similarly, data from the signal producing device 1 can be transmitted to the external server 8 and from there further e.g. for analysing or reporting. The signal producing device 1 can include e.g. a counter which registers passers-by. The counter can utilise e.g. data produced by the sensor 4. The number of passers-by can thus be found out and the data can be easily transmitted further. From the external server 8, data related to the signal producing device 1 can be easily reported and transmitted to necessary interested parties, such as a system administrator or associated companies or equivalents.

The signal producing device 1 can include a battery 12 and/or a solar cell 13 for supplying power. Therefore, the signal producing device 1 can be easily located even to such places where power supply cannot be arranged in a simple way. Power supply can then come from an external source if the external power supply can be reasonably arranged. Furthermore, e.g. such an embodiment is possible where the signal producing device 1 includes a battery 12 which provides the signal producing device 1 with power and the battery 12 is charged as necessary. The signal producing device 1 can be installed e.g. in connection with a lighting column and then the charging of the battery 12 can occur utilising the power supply of the lighting. The connection for charging can be done e.g. such that charging current is received when the lighting is on.

The arrangement presented in the specification can be applied into connection with e.g. tramway traffic or other public transport. There can be a connection to an external server from e.g. a tramcar or some other means of transport such that the server contains data on the location, motion direction and motion speed of the vehicle. The signal producing device 1 can be arranged into connection with a traffic stop and, when the vehicle approaches the stop, the server 8 can control the signal producing device 1 to produce the desired audio signal(s). Also, such an arrangement is possible where the vehicle includes a sensor 9. The signal producing device 1 can identify the approaching of the sensor and start the production of the audio signal as a response to the observed approach of the sensor.

An equivalent arrangement can also be implemented to e.g. a railroad crossing. Along a railway, there can be e.g. a sensor 9 which identifies the approach of the train and preferably also its motion direction. As a response to observing the train by the sensor 9, the signal producing device 1 starts the production of the audio signal.

Those skilled in the art will find it obvious that, as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.