Systems and methods to facilitate sleep are described. In on example, a cognitive alarm clock system for children learns sleep patterns and activities towards recommending sleep schedules and teaching independence. The system may detect the cognitive state of a child based on voice or cry pattern recognition, a time of day or night, scheduled activities, and social context, among other factors. The system may initiate actions to facilitate sleep in response to the cognitive factors. For example, the system may adjust lighting or push back a wakeup time. In another example, the system may use the cognitive analysis to teach children good sleeping habits by making recommendations to facilitate a good night's rest and encourage independence.

A system for tracking the time allotted to and the time spent by a first player and a second player playing a two-person game is provided. The system includes a first and second display for use by the first player and a third and fourth display for use by the second player. The first and fourth displays each display the amount of time remaining for the first player to make his/her moves during the duration of the game, and the second and third displays each display the amount of time remaining for the second player to make his/her moves during the duration of the game. In this way, each player has use of one display that displays his/her remaining time, and one display that displays his/her opponent's remaining time. The system also includes control mechanisms for each player to pause his/her time countdown after his/her turn and to subsequently begin his/her opponent's time countdown at the beginning of his/her opponent's next turn.

A system for tracking the time allotted to and the time spent by a first player and a second player playing a two-person game is provided. The system includes a first and second display for use by the first player and a third and fourth display for use by the second player. The first and fourth displays each display the amount of time remaining for the first player to make his/her moves during the duration of the game, and the second and third displays each display the amount of time remaining for the second player to make his/her moves during the duration of the game. In this way, each player has use of one display that displays his/her remaining time, and one display that displays his/her opponent's remaining time. The system also includes control mechanisms for each player to pause his/her time countdown after his/her turn and to subsequently begin his/her opponent's time countdown at the beginning of his/her opponent's next turn.

An electronic visible light sensor is employed to detect the presence or lack of sunlight. The simple, digital light/dark data from the sensor is fed to electronic circuits which control security and other devices dependent upon day and night status. These circuits are directed and controlled in turn by associated electronic circuits that gather data which measures the length of the solar night, that is, between dusk and dawn, and by deduction, the length of the day. Given that these time periods vary daily and in a regular fashion, the result will necessarily differ by a few minutes each and every day during the 365 day solar year. The resulting day/night time data is used to estimate, with say, a four to ten minute accuracy, taken against the Universal Coordinated Time System, to establish start/stop times, durations and cycles of security and other devices dependent upon the presence or lack of sunlight relative to UCT designated within the universally accepted twenty-four day. These results are fed to the security control circuitry to define control of data to security and other devices.

A clock comprises an alarm clock housing having a front face, a clock display occupying at least a portion of the front face, a control on the housing for activating a shade positioning function, and a processor within the housing. The processor is responsive to the control for generating at least one shade positioning command to be transmitted to at least one motorized window shade, so as to cause the motorized window shade to move to one or more position at one or more corresponding predetermined interval relative to an alarm time.

A clock comprises an alarm clock housing having a front face, a clock display occupying at least a portion of the front face, a control on the housing for activating a shade positioning function, and a processor within the housing. The processor is responsive to the control for generating at least one shade positioning command to be transmitted to at least one motorized window shade, so as to cause the motorized window shade to move to one or more position at one or more corresponding predetermined interval relative to an alarm time.

According to an aspect, there is provided a light apparatus, the light apparatus comprising an outer housing comprising a translucent portion; a main light source positioned inside the outer housing for generating light, wherein light generated by the main light source is incident on the translucent portion; and a display light source positioned inside the outer housing for projecting information onto a part of the translucent portion on which light is incident from the main light source.

According to an aspect, there is provided a light apparatus, the light apparatus comprising an outer housing comprising a translucent portion; a main light source positioned inside the outer housing for generating light, wherein light generated by the main light source is incident on the translucent portion; and a display light source positioned inside the outer housing for projecting information onto a part of the translucent portion on which light is incident from the main light source.

An energy conserving time display device and a method thereof. The present invention discloses an energy saving time display device and a method for energy conservation. The energy saving time display device includes an hour hand and a minute hand for indicating the time, at least one micro motor for driving the hour hand and the minute hand to characterize the time, a scheduler coupled to the micro motor to schedule the movement of the hour hand and the minute hand, a time observance unit configured to keep track of the current time and an actuator coupled to the micro motor to actuate the micro motor from a first state to a second state. The method includes the step of scheduling a schedule of the first state and the second state of the micro motor by the scheduler and executing the schedule set by the scheduler. The micro motor is configured to function for a user specified period of time.

A system and method for the controlled dispensation of cigarettes including a container with a logic control unit and an unlocking button by means of which an unlocking request is sent to the logic control unit so that the logic control unit switches a clamping device to an unlocked mode if the unlocking request occurs during one dispensation time interval.