Apparatus and method for generating numbers

Abstract

A hand held device includes an oscillator driving a microcontroller having as a part of its program a counter actuable by a user to initiate a program count function, counting through a predetermined range of numbers until the program count function is terminated manually at any moment of the user's choosing. The number in the counter at the moment of termination of the count is visually displayed and/or stored in electronic memory. The microcontroller contains a plurality of game parameter data indicative of the lowest and highest numbers in the range and the number of selections to be made in generating a group of numbers. Switches on the device permit the user to select the active game data, to initiate the first program count function, to terminate the program count function and to reinitiate the program count function following each termination until the requisite number of selections has been made. A further feature permits the base frequency of the oscillator, and thus the counting rate of the counter, to be varied as a function of some external parameter such as a biometric parameter of the user, for example, by detuning the oscillator through a touch pad on the device housing. Visual and/or audible indicia provide a perceptible indication of the relative counting rate. A further, optional feature permits replacement game parameter data to be downloaded from an external source, and stored in nonvolatile memory for use by the microcontroller.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A handheld device for generating one or more numbers, said device comprising: 
 a) an electronic circuit including an electrically powered oscillator, a counter driven by said oscillator, and a microcontroller having a memory wherein is stored at least one set of parametric game data including at least identification of a predetermined set of numbers which may be generated;    b) means on said device manually operable by a user thereof for causing said counter to begin a program count function, continuously and repeatedly counting through said predetermined set of numbers, and for interrupting said program count function at a time of the user's choosing; and    c) indicating means on said device for informing the user of the number in said counter at the moment of interrupting said program count function.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  and further including means for manually and selectively changing said predetermined set of numbers.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  and further including means for automatically resuming said program count function following interruption thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  and further including electronic storage means for storing said number in said counter at the moment of interrupting said program count.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said means for causing said counter to begin said program count function comprise a manually operable switch.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said means for interrupting said program count function comprise said manually operable switch.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said oscillator is constructed to have a base frequency, and further including detuning means operable to vary said base frequency and thereby the counting rate of said counter.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said detuning means is responsive to a biometric parameter of a user holding said handheld device.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  and further including a touch pad on said device for providing an input to said detuning means in response to physical contact of said touchpad by a user holding said handheld device.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  and further including means on said device providing perceptible indicia commensurate with said counting rate.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said indicia are visually perceptible and comprise a plurality of illuminable members arranged in sequence to permit continuous scrolling of illumination at a rate commensurate with said counting rate.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said counter is implemented as firmware in the program of said microcontroller.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  and further including an electrically erasable, electronically programmable memory wherein said program data is stored.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  and further including an interface connection for connecting said device to an external computer for downloading files into said electronically programmable memory.  
     
     
         15 . A handheld device for selecting numbers, said device comprising: 
 a. a programmable microcontroller having a memory containing a predetermined set of numbers;    b. a counter actuable to perform a program count function, iterating repeatedly through said set of numbers;    c. an oscillator supplying a clock input to said microcontroller and said counter;    d. actuating means on said device selectively operable by a user to initiate said program count function; and    e. deactuating means on said device selectively operable by said user for termination of said program count function, thereby selecting the number in said counter at the moment of said termination.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  and further including a casing wherein said microcontroller and said oscillator are housed.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  and further including a battery housed in said casing for supplying electrical power to said microcontroller and said oscillator.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said counter is implemented as firmware in the program of said microcontroller.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15  wherein said actuating means comprises a first operation of a switch and said deactuating means comprises a second operation of said switch.  
     
     
         20 . The device  claim 15  and further including a changeable visual display of a plurality of digits mounted to said casing.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  and further including means for actuating said visual display to display the number present in said counter upon said deactuation thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  and further including electronic storage means for storing the number present in said counter upon said deactuation thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 15  wherein said oscillator has a base frequency, and further including means for varying said frequency and thereby the counting rate of said counter.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23  wherein said varying means comprise detuning means for said oscillator.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24  and further comprising perceptible indicia responsive to said counting rate of said counter.  
     
     
         26 . A method of electronically generating numbers by a handheld device including a casing containing a power source, a microcontroller, and a counter actuable to perform a program count function wherein said counter iterates continuously and repeatedly through a predetermined set of numbers, said method comprising: 
 a. manually initiating said program count function by said counter;    b. manually terminating said program count function at a moment selected by a user of said device; and    c. displaying and/or storing in electronic memory the number present in said counter at said moment of terminating said program count function.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said displaying is effected through a digital display to said casing.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said digital display comprises two digits.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  and further including providing within said casing an oscillator continuously operable to provide operating signals to said microcontroller.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said counter is implemented in firmware in said microcontroller.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said oscillator has a base frequency establishing the counting rate of said counter, and further including the step of altering said base frequency and thereby said counting rate.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said oscillator frequency is varied as a function of a biometric parameter of the user of said device.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  26  and further including changing said predetermined set of numbers.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26  and further including automatically reinitiating said program count function following each manual termination thereof a discrete number of times, thereby generating a plurality of numbers equal to said discrete number of times said program count function is terminated.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  and further including storing in said microcontroller a plurality of parametric game data including at least identification of the numbers in said predetermined set and the number of times said program count function will be automatically reinitiated following each termination thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein a each of said plurality of parametric game data is associated with a unique set of inputs to said microcontroller, and further including manually selecting the one of said game data which is operable.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  and further including changing one or more of said game data stored in said microcontroller.