GB2205978A

GB2205978A - Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2205978A
Application number: GB08714028A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Glasgow Rankin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-06-16
Filing date: 1987-06-16
Publication date: 1988-12-21
Also published as: GB8714028D0

Abstract

Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus 2 comprises memory means 4 for receiving and storing a plurality of horoscope forecasts for at least one Zodiac sign, a display panel 6, and actuator means 8 for causing the display panel to receive a horoscope forecast from the memory means and to display that horoscope forecast. The display may be made to flash or scroll. Bio-rhythm forecasts may also be given. The apparatus may be solar or battery powered, with display cancellation after a given period to save power. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRONIC HOROSCOPE FORECASTING APPARATUS This invention relates to electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus.

The signs of the Zodiac and the date periods that they cover are well known. Most daily newspapers contain a daily horoscope forecast and very many persons read their horoscope each day. The daily reading of horoscopes forms an important part of the daily ritual of a large percentage of the considerable number of persons who daily read their horoscopes, usually from daily newspapers. It is not always convenient for such persons to have to acquire a newspaper in order to read their horoscope and many persons would welcome the opportunity of being able to read their daily horoscope without the inconvenience of first having to purchase a daily newspaper.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce this problem.

Accordingly, this invention provides electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus comprising memory means for receiving and storing a plurality of horoscope forecasts for at least one given Zodiac sign, a display panel, and actuator means for causing the display panel to receive a horoscope forecast from the memory means and to display that horoscope forecast on the display panel; Preferably, the electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus only contains a plurality of horoscope forecasts for a single given Zodiac sign. This is because the majority of people are only interested in their own horoscope forecast and they are not really interested in the horoscope forecasts orother persons. If desired however the electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus could contain a plurality of horoscope forecasts for all twelve Zodiac signs.

The memory means may be a read only memory. The memory means may be an E-prom.

The display panel may be such as to give a light emitting diode display or a liquid crystal display.

The display on the display panel may be green, white or any other desired colour.

The actuator means may include address means for addressing the memory means.

The actuator means preferably includes a plurality of input keys each marked with one of the numbers 0 to 90 The input keys will usually be for inputting at least the day of the year that is the current year. Usually, the input means will be for inputting the day and month of the year.

Usually, the electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus will only contain horoscope forecasts for one year so that there would be no need to use the input keys to input the actual year. Obviously, if desired, the electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus could contain horoscope forecasts for more than one year. Similarly, the electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus could contain horoscope forecasts for shorter periods of time, for example for a week or a month.

The electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus may include a facility for giving an extended horoscope forecast covering an extended period. The extended period may be the horoscope forecast for a month, a quarter of a year, a half year or an entire year. The facility for giving the extended horoscope forecast may be afforded by an extended horoscope forecast key.

The input keys will usually be touch sensitive keys. They may however be push in keys if desired.

The electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus may include a housing.

Preferably, the housing is marked with the name of the Zodiac sign and/or the actual Zodiac sign. Thus, for example, the housing could be marked with the name Taurus and/or the sign of a bull.

Generally, it is envisaged that the electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus can be made to be extremely flat and thin. Thus the apparatus can be carried easily in a person's pocket or even in a person's wallet or purse. Although the electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus may be mains powered, it will normally be battery powered or solar powered.

If desired, the electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus may include the facility of giving a bio#rhythm forecast. This will enable persons to receive a forecast when they will be at their peak of fitness for doing a particular intended task.

The electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus may also be such that it can in addition give an audio output.

The audio output may be, for example, the words "happy birthday" which can be obtained by a user pressing the appropriate input keys to give the date of their birthday.

Other audio messages can of course be arranged to be given.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus 2 which is rectangular in shape as shown. The apparatus 2 may physically be 3" long, 2" wide and w" thick (8 cm long, 5 cm wide and 0.2 cm thick).

The entire apparatus 2 may be formed on one or more chips, for example silicon or other types of chips, The apparatus 2 includes memory means 4 for receiving and storing a plurality of horoscope forecasts for a single Zodiac sign. The plurality of horoscope forecasts extends for a predetermined period, for example one year, The apparatus 2 further includes a display panel 6 and actuator means in the form of input keys 8. The input keys 8 are marked 0 to 9 as shown and they are for causing the display panel 6 to receive a horoscope forecast from the memory means 4 and to display that horoscope forecast on the display panel 6. The display panel 6 is formed in a housing 10 and the housing 10 is provided in one corner 12 with the actual Zodiac sign for which the apparatus 2 contains the forecast.

By using the input keys 8 to input the day and month date into the apparatus 2, a daily horoscope forecast can be displayed on the display panel 6.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected, Thus, for example, the entire housing 10 could be in the shape of the particular Zodiac sign for which the horoscope forecasts would be given. In this case, the corner 12 would not contain a representation of the actual Zodiac sign. Where the corner 12 is retained, it could alternatively in addition contain the actual name of the Zodiac sign. If desired, the apparatus 2 could be programmed with horoscope forecasts for all twelve Zodiac signs but this could increase the complexity and therefore the cost of the apparatus 2.

It is envisaged that the apparatus 2 would be made relatively inexpensively and in the above mentioned flat thin condition so that it could easily fit in a persons pocket, wallet or purse. Such persons could easily check their daily horoscope forecast, for example first thing in a morning just after waking up. Many persons would find this satisfying and reassuring.

The horoscope forecasts would advantageously be provided by an eminent astrologer and the name of that astrologer could appear on the apparatus 2. The apparatus 2 could also be provided with a list of the twelve Zodiac signs and the periods for which they apply so that, for example the rear of the housing 10 could be provided with the following list: Gemini May 22 - June 21 Cancer June 22 - July 23 Leo July 24 - August 23 Virgo August 24 - September 23 Libra September 24 - October 23 Scorpio October 24 - November 22 Sagitarius November 23 - December 22 Capricorn December 23 - January 20 Aquarius January 21 - February 19 Pisces February 20 - March 20 Aries March 21 - April 20 Taurus ~ April 21 - May 21 The apparatus 2 can be battery powered or it can be solar powered.The display in the display panel 6 can be arranged to automatically cancel after a given period period of time, thereby avoiding the wastage of battery or solar power as would occur if the display were inadvertently left on. The display will usually be a static display but it could be arranged to flash after a while if desired. For long horoscope forecasts, the display could be arranged to traverse the display panel 6 in scroll form. The actual display could be produced in a variety of languages commensurate with those countries in which the apparatus 2 was to be sold, Variations in general daily forecasts could be obtained on a persons birthday date. Thus, if the person where to input their own birthday date, then this could give rise to a special horoscope forecast. In addition to daily forecasts, the apparatus 2 could offer extended period horoscope forecasts such for example as forecasts for weekly, monthly or yearly periods. In addition, the apparatus 2 could be arranged to give a bio-rhythym forecast,

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus comprising memory means for receiving and storing a plurality of horoscope forecasts for at least one given Zodiac sign, a display panel, and actuator means for causing the display panel to receive a horoscope forecast from the memory means and to display that horoscope forecast on the display panel.
2. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus according to claim 1 and which contains a plurality of horoscope forecasts for a single given Zodiac sign.
3. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the memory means is a read only memory.
4. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the display panel is such as to give a light emitting diode display or a liquid crystal display.
5. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the actuator means includes address means for addressing the memory means.
6. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus according to claim 5 in which the actuator means includes a plurality of input keys each marked with one of the numbers 0 to 9.
7. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a facility for giving an extended horoscope forecast covering an extended period.
8. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and which includes a housing, the housing being marked with the name of the Zodiac sign and/or the actual Zodiac sign.
9. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and which is battery powered or solar powered.
10. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a facility for giving a bio-rhythm forecast.
11. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including means for giving an audio output.
12. Electronic horoscope forecasting apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.