• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    Portable electronic device (10) having an analog display and a digital display. The device may include a receiver for receiving, from a remote source, current time information data representative of a current time; a control device operatively coupled to the receiver, the control device processing the current time information data received from the remote source and supplying the current time information data to be displayed by said at least one digital indicator on the 'digital display as current time; and a rotary analog time indicator arrangement for rotating said at least one analog time indicator until said at least one analog time indicator is aligned with said at least one digital indicator; aligning said at least one analog time indicator with said at least one digital indicator indicating that said at least one analog time indicator is synchronized with the correct time information.
    公开号:CH713335B1
    申请号:CH00562/18
    申请日:2016-09-15
    公开日:2020-06-15
    发明作者:Schneider Stephanie
    申请人:Timex Group Usa Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    The present invention relates to portable electronic devices generally, and in particular, a portable electronic device which comprises an analog display for displaying time information using one or more indicators (for example, needles) and a display digital having one or more digital indicators to display at least the current time on the digital display, in which the digital display makes it easier to synchronize the indicators of the analog display.
    In general, in many analog electronic watches of a first type, it is not always true that the microcontroller "knows" precisely where the indicators are located (for example the hour hands and / or minutes). Watches of this first type are generally analog quartz watches. Well-known example of the perception of this "problem": watches of this first type, in which a user pulls on a mechanical crown to (for example) adjust the hands. From the moment the crown is pulled and / or rotated to adjust the position of the hour and minute hands (i.e. adjust the displayed time), the microcontroller does not „Knows“ more where the needles are. Thus, with conventional analog watches of this type and of this analog quartz design, there can be no signaling, by means of an internal or external signal or the like, for the watch to bring its hands at 3:00 p.m. from from an initial position if the watch does not already accurately display the correct time when it receives an instruction or a signal of this nature. Thus, for example, if the microcontroller "thinks" that the hands are at 2:00 pm, when they have been manually adjusted at 1:30 pm, advancing the watch hands by one (1) hour until 3:00 pm would that the hands would always be incorrectly adjusted, that is to say with an offset of half an hour.
    In other words, the distinction is important between "setting the time" and "synchronizing the hands", the examples of the first type being more widespread in the prior art. Thus the "time setting" can only be precise on condition that the hands of the watch of this first type are positioned exactly where the microcontroller supposes it (ie the hands indicate the 'exact time). In other words, the current state of the art does not take sufficient account of the situation in which the microcontroller inside the watch of this first type assumes that the time is X, while the actual position of the hands indicate a time Y (X and Y corresponding to different hours). In the latter case, a "needle synchronization" according to the present invention is necessary so that the hands are synchronized to the exact time.
    On the other hand, there are watches of a second type, with which the indicators in the form of needles are always electronically coupled to the microcontroller, for example with watches of the type “electroset.” Such watches do not suffer not always of this apparent deficiency.
    Analog radio-controlled watches can be considered as watches of a third type. Here, the microcontroller “knows” where the hands are and periodically the watch receiver can get the local time. With watches of this third type, the difference in position of the hand can thus be corrected periodically. Watches of this type can thus allow synchronization between the watch and the real time.
    Combined digital and analog watches are also known from the type illustrated in FIG. 14, although, for obvious reasons, these watches are also incapable of guaranteeing the ease of synchronization of the hands as defined here.
    Although the present invention mainly relates to the synchronization of the hands of an analog display of a watch of the first type, the present invention is applicable to watches of these other types, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
    More specifically, it is believed that other advances in the state of the art are both desirable and achievable. In particular, it is desirable to provide watches with a hand synchronization functionality to more easily and more precisely provide current time information as well as the possibility of setting the time with an analog display. It is also desirable to provide methodologies for achieving the above functionality.
    The present invention therefore proposes as an objective to overcome the deficiencies perceived in the prior art.
    Specifically, an objective of the present invention is to provide the user with a needle synchronization function in a portable electronic device which allows the synchronization of analog hands at a specific time.
    Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide methodologies for performing and / or facilitating the above operation.
    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent on examination of the drawings and the description which follows.
    The invention therefore includes the construction features, combination of elements, arrangement of parts and sequence of steps which will be illustrated in the construction, the illustration and the description set out below, and the scope of the The invention will be indicated in the claims.
    Therefore, to overcome the shortcomings perceived in the prior art and to achieve the objectives and advantages set out above and below, a preferred embodiment of the present invention generally relates to a portable electronic device comprising (i ) an analog display for displaying time information by at least one analog time indicator and (ii) a digital display having at least one digital indicator for displaying at least the current time on the digital display; a receiver for receiving, from a remote source, current time information data representative of the current time; a controller operatively coupled to the receiver, wherein the controller processes the current time information data received from the remote source and provides the current time information data to be displayed by said at least one digital indicator on the digital display as current time; a rotary analog time indicator arrangement for rotating said at least one analog time indicator until said at least one analog time indicator is aligned with said at least one digital indicator; aligning said at least one analog time indicator with said at least one digital indicator indicating that said at least one analog time indicator is synchronized with the correct time information.
    According to another preferred embodiment, a portable electronic device can comprise (i) an analog display for displaying time information by at least one analog time indicator and (ii) a digital display having at least one indicator digital to display at least the current time on the digital display; a controller, wherein the controller maintains the current time information and provides the current time information data to be displayed by said at least one digital indicator on the digital display as current time; a rotary analog time indicator arrangement for rotating said at least one analog time indicator until said at least one analog time indicator is aligned with said at least one digital indicator; aligning said at least one analog time indicator with said at least one digital indicator indicating that said at least one analog time indicator is synchronized with the correct time information.
    In a preferred embodiment, the electronic device is a timepiece in the form of a wristwatch.
    The characteristics set out above and other characteristics of the invention will emerge better in the description which follows of the preferred embodiments, in combination with the appended drawings, in which:<tb> <SEP> Figure 1 illustrates a portable electronic device in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the digital display assembly is provided above the analog display assembly;<tb> <SEP> Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the portable electronic device constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of Figure 1;<tb> <SEP> Figure 3 is a perspective view of an example of gears and motors in a motion assembly for a portable electronic device constructed in accordance with all of the embodiments described herein;<tb> <SEP> FIG. 4 shows an example of actuation mechanism and gear for rotary analog time indicators, said example of actuation mechanism and gear assembly being applicable to all the embodiments and in which the gear assembly is illustrated in a linear fashion, but those skilled in the art clearly know how such an assembly would be formatted to create the display according to, for example, Figures 1 and 8;<tb> <SEP> Figures 5 to 7 are block diagrams showing, among other things, a control device for use in portable electronic devices constructed in accordance with all of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;<tb> <SEP> Figure 8 illustrates a portable electronic device in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the digital display assembly is provided below the analog display assembly;<tb> <SEP> Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the portable electronic device constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of Figure 8;<tb> <SEP> Figures 10-13 illustrate portable electronic devices constructed in accordance with all embodiments of the present invention showing a sequence of steps for performing the needle synchronization functionality and the methodology described herein with the Figures 10, 12 showing the portable electronic device as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 while Figures 11, 13 show the portable electronic device as illustrated in Figures 8, 9; and<tb> <SEP> Figure 14 is an example of a combination of an analog and digital watch of the prior art.
    Identical reference numbers in the figures are intended to indicate similar parts, although all the elements of each figure may not be referenced with a reference number.
    It must first be understood that Figures 1 and 2 are somewhat specific to a first preferred general embodiment of the present invention, in which the portable electronic device comprises a digital display assembly provided above the analog display assembly. Figures 8-9 are somewhat specific to a preferred general embodiment of the present invention in which the digital display assembly is provided beneath the analog display assembly. Figures 3-7 illustrate features, functionality, and constructions that are common to all of the embodiments described herein, while Figures 10-13 show characteristics of methodologies also common to all of the embodiments herein.
    We will first refer to Figures 1 and 2, which illustrate a portable electronic device, generally indicated in 10, constructed according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the digital display assembly is provided above the analog display assembly. According to this embodiment, the electronic device 10 comprises a digital display assembly, generally indicated at 20, comprising a digital display 24, which is preferably of the LCD or OLED type, by way of example and not limiting. An analog display assembly, generally indicated at 30, is provided in a housing or housing 32. An analog display, generally indicated at 34, is part of the analog display assembly 30. The analog display 34 of the present invention is part of a watch of the aforementioned first type, that is to say generally of an analog quartz type watch, but this is by way of example and not limiting.
    In the embodiment where the digital display assembly 20 is arranged above the analog display 34, it is both desirable and possible to easily display the time information using the analog display while being able to turn the digital display on and off at desired times to allow needle synchronization according to the present invention. It is believed that the functionality of providing a digital display which offers the user the possibility of seeing, through the digital display assembly 20, an analog display is described in US Pat. No. 6,671,231 , which is incorporated by reference as if it were fully exposed here. However, for the convenience of the reader, it is worth clarifying the following.
    Referring to Figure 2, the electronic device 10 comprises a digital display 24, an intermediate analog display 34 and a glass 22. In a preferred embodiment, the digital display 24 preferably covers the entire surface of a dial 35 of the analog display 34. The digital display assembly 20 is arranged so that the digital display 24 can be transparent in a first switching state to make the time information displayed by the display visible. analog display assembly 30, that is to say the needles 36, 38. On the other hand, the digital display assembly 20 is arranged so that the digital display 24 can also display one or more digital indicators (for example the digital hour and / or minute hands 26A, 26B) in a second switching state while allowing the display of the analog display. Optionally, the digital display can also be configured to allow complete blocking of the analog display if desired, although the latter state is not significant for the present invention.
    The transition from digital display 24 between the first state to the second state where the digital hands can be visible while the analog display below remains visible (and vice versa among the states) is achieved by a microcontroller, generally indicated at 100, the operational coupling with the digital display 24 being carried out by conventional connectors to provide it with an appropriate control voltage and signaling.
    According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the digital display 24 can be a liquid crystal cell of twisted nematic type. The digital display assembly 20 may also include a transparent front substrate, a transparent rear substrate and a sealing frame and a closed cavity in which is a layer of liquid crystals. For example, opposite faces of substrates can comprise transparent electrodes produced for example from indium tin oxide. It goes without saying that the digital display 24 may be of another type provided that in a first switching state, the digital display 24 is transparent, and that in a second switching state, the hands 26A, 26B of the digital display 24 are opaque and reflective or diffusing. It is well known in the art to program and cause the microcontroller 100 to control the digital display of time on the digital display 24. Again, another state in which the digital display 24 completely blocks the analog display would also be known to those skilled in the art.
    In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the needle synchronization characteristic is obtained with respect to the time information (eg "time of day"), but other time information can be displayed by the digital display 24 and the methodologies presented here are also applicable. In addition, indications of heart rate, lunar phase and altitude or other types of information that can be displayed by digital display 24 can also be provided here, with functionality to synchronize the indicators (for example the hands) of the analog display 34 with the current or current value or the indices displayed on the digital screen.
    Regarding the analog display assembly 30, its construction should also be known to those skilled in the art. For example, a preferred design of the analog display assembly 30, including the analog display 34, is described in US Patent No. 7,113,450, entitled "Wearable Electronic Device With Multiple Display Functionality," which is also fully incorporated by reference in this application. Consequently, the present disclosure omits, for the sake of brevity, certain basic and very well known concepts concerning the design of mechanical timepieces. For example, the basic construction and arrangements of gears and / or gear trains to rotate a plurality of "standard" hands all supported on a central rod, such as an hour hand and a minute hand , are omitted insofar as the person skilled in the art knows all these elements perfectly.
    However, to respond to a concern for detail, reference may be made to the following. In order to achieve all the functionalities stated and / or envisaged here, the portable electronic device 10 may be provided with one or more sub-assemblies, each of which may include at least one actuation mechanism and one or more rotary gears engaged with the actuation mechanism, in which the engagement of the actuation mechanism causes the rotation of the gear (s). As illustrated in the figures, the preferred actuation mechanisms are stepper motors. As will be understood, the rotation of a minute hand and an hour hand requires only one stepping motor (for example M1). The figures illustrate additional motors simply according to a design choice, and which can be used to rotate additional indicators, needles, rings or the like. As will also be understood in the state of the art, the specific location of such motors is a choice of design among others dictated by constraints such as the spacing, power and torque requirements and the positioning desired hands and / or display rings, as applicable. As positioned, the respective motors rotate respective pinions as will be understood in the art. It should therefore now be understood, as illustrated here by way of example, that the motor M1 is designed to rotate at least the hour hand 36 and the minute hand 38 in a known manner. Figures 3, 4 also illustrate a gear train for transmitting the rotational activity generated by the rotor of the motor M1 to the needles 36, 38, the configuration of Figure 4 being understood by those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the needles 36, 38 could be individually rotated by separate motors, for example M1 and M2, respectively, if desired.
    Figures 5-7 illustrate many additional features in accordance with the present invention, including details of the microcontroller 100 to provide the appropriate, precise control, positioning and rotation of the analog display needle (s). Many details of the microcontroller 100 can be found in US Patent No. 7,113,450 mentioned above with reference to the control device or microcontroller 100, and the microcontroller 100 of the present invention preferably includes all of the functional features described herein to achieve the objectives and characteristics of the present invention. Additional functionality particular to the present invention is also described here.
    For example, Figures 5 to 7 illustrate inter alia interface connections with the motor M1, additional motors (for example M2, M3 and M4) and pushers, which are shown schematically in the form of switches S1 -S5. However, it is understood that the switches are also intended to indicate generically the two lateral / upper mounted pushers 160, as well as the rotary crowns mounted laterally, and thus respond to the actuation operation (i.e. say traction and / or thrust).
    Figures 6 and 7 illustrate block diagrams, including microcontroller 100. Special reference is made to the motor control circuit 109, which receives a "next number of pulses" controlled from the CPU 101 core and generates the pulsed and in-phase signals necessary to operate a desired motor (e.g. M1) by a desired amount and in a desired direction. The pulse outputs of the motor control circuit 109 are buffered by the motor drivers MD1-MD4 and applied to the respective motors M1, M2, M3, M4, as appropriate. An input / output control circuit 110 can control any actuation of crown / stem and / or push button S1-S5 and supply such signaling information to the central processing unit CPU 101.
    As will be understood in the art and by way of example in the figures, the actuating mechanism or mechanisms (for example stepping motor M1, M2, M3 and / or M4) comprise a rotor, and are operatively coupled to the microcontroller 100, wherein the stepper motor generates steps in at least one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in predefined increments in response to commands from the microcontroller 100, wherein the rotor of the stepper motor pitch is operatively coupled to said at least one analog time indicator, and wherein rotation of the rotor causes said at least one analog time indicator to rotate in at least one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions and in predefined increments.
    In a preferred embodiment, the portable electronic device 10 further comprises a receiver 50 for receiving, from a remote source, current time information data representative of a current time. In envisaged embodiments, the remote source may consist of one or more of the following elements: cell phone towers, cell phones, base stations or satellites, by way of non-limiting example. Receiver 50 receives time information data from one or more remote sources in a manner that would be understood by those skilled in the art, and similarly if not exactly to time information data received by smartphones or similar.
    The portable electronic device 10 also allows a functional coupling of the microcontroller 100 with the receiver 50. The microcontroller 100 processes the current time information data received from the remote source and provides the current time information data to be displayed by the or the digital indicators 26A, 26B on the digital display 24 as the current time (for example the real time in the geographical location in which the device 10 is located).
    The portable electronic device 10 also includes a rotary indicator arrangement for causing the rotation of said at least one analog time indicator (for example the needle 36 and / or 38) until said at least one time indicator analog is aligned with said at least one digital indicator 26A and / or 26B. In this way, the alignment of said at least one analog time indicator (for example a hand 36 and / or 38) with said at least one digital indicator indicates that said at least one analog time indicator is synchronized and correctly indicates the time.
    In a preferred embodiment, the rotary indicator arrangement comprises a rotary rod 60 and one or more rotary gears, as is generally illustrated in Figure 4 in a linear view but which is understandable by humans in the art, which are operatively coupled to a rotary rod 60 and to at least one analog time indicator (for example, hand 36 and / or 38). In this way, the rotation of the rod 60 causes the rotation of the needle 36 and / or 38. The rotary indicator arrangement of this specific embodiment would be obtained by mechanically pulling the rod 60 which thus disengages the needles 36 and / or 38 of the microcontroller 100.
    In another preferred embodiment, the rotary indicator arrangement uses both the actuation mechanism (for example the M1 stepper motor) and an adjustment mechanism, such as pushers or features of a rotary rod assembly also operatively coupled to controller 100, wherein actuation of the adjustment mechanism can produce first electrical pulses and second electrical pulses, said first electrical pulses and the second electrical pulses being received by the microcontroller 100 which in turn causes the actuation mechanism to rotate said at least one analog time indicator clockwise or counterclockwise in response to the first electrical pulses and the second electrical pulses. This operation can be carried out using pushers 160 (see FIGS. 1, 5). Alternatively, the use of a rotary rod and its rotation in a first direction may produce first electrical pulses and a rotation in an opposite direction may produce second electrical pulses, said first electrical pulses and the second electrical pulses being received by the microcontroller 100 which in turn causes the actuation mechanism to rotate said at least one analog time indicator clockwise or counterclockwise in response to said first electrical pulses and second electrical pulses. A rotary rod assembly which can be used for this specific embodiment is found in US Patent No. 6,203,190, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference as if it were fully stated herein.
    In yet another preferred embodiment, the portable electronic device 10 may, but need not, include a receiver as described above. Instead, the controller 100 can itself maintain the current time information and provide that the current time information is displayed by the digital indicators on the digital display as the current time. However, like the aforementioned embodiments, such a device 10 will ensure that the rotating indicator arrangement similarly causes the rotation of said at least one analog time indicator until the analog time indicator is aligned with the digital indicator. Thus, and similarly, the alignment of said at least one analog time indicator with the digital indicator indicates that said at least one analog time indicator indicates correct time information.
    That is, in these preferred embodiments, the rotary indicator arrangements may also include a rotary rod 60 and one or more rotary gears which are also operatively coupled to the rotary rod like this. is shown above and illustrated in Figure 4. Alternatively (or alternatively), the rotary indicator arrangement may use the combination of the functionality of the actuating mechanism and the adjusting mechanism, which may also include a or several pushers or a set of rotating rods as indicated above.
    Reference is then made to the first Figures 8-9 which relate to a portable electronic device constructed according to other preferred embodiments of the present invention. For example, FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a portable electronic device, generally indicated in 10 ′, constructed according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the digital display assembly is provided below the analog display assembly.
    According to this embodiment, the electronic display 10 'comprises a digital display assembly, generally indicated at 120, comprising a digital display 124, which is preferably of the LCD or OLED type, by way of example and not limiting. An analog display assembly, generally indicated at 130, is provided in a housing or housing 132. An analog display, generally indicated at 134, is part of the analog display assembly 130. The analog display 134 of the present invention is part of a watch of the aforementioned first type, that is to say generally of an analog quartz type watch.
    In the embodiment where the digital display assembly 120 is located under the analog display 134, it is both desirable and possible to easily display the time information using the analog display while being able to turn the digital display on and off at desired times to allow needle synchronization according to the present invention.
    For example and with reference to Figure 9, the digital display assembly 120 is arranged so that in a first switching state the digital display needles 126A, 126B are not visible and in a second state switching, a digital display 124 can also display one or more digital indicators (for example the digital hour and / or minute hands 126A, 126B).
    The switching of the digital display 124 from the first state to the second state and vice versa is carried out in a similar manner by the microcontroller 100, just as the operational coupling with the digital display 124 is carried out by conventional connectors to provide it appropriate control voltage and signaling.
    The digital display 124 may also include a liquid crystal display cell of the diffusing or reflecting type in the second switching state. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the digital display 124 can also be a liquid crystal cell of the twisted nematic type. Similarly, it goes without saying that the digital display 124 can be of another type provided that in a first switching state, the digital indicators of the digital display 124 are not visible through the dial 135 and in a second switching state the digital indicators 126A, 126B of the digital display 124 are visible through the dial 135. Here too, it is well known in the prior art how to program and cause the microcontroller 100 to control the display digital time display on digital display 124.
    In another alternative embodiment, the dial itself in FIGS. 8 and 9 can constitute the digital display, so that when said at least one analog time indicator is aligned with said at least one digital indicator, said at least one analog time indicator appears superimposed on said at least one digital indicator. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 8, the digital display 124 is the dial 135.
    In the embodiment of the electronic device 10 ′, the analog display assembly 130 is constructed in a similar manner to that of the analog display assembly 30. Similarly, the microcontroller 100 is identical to that of the 10 'electronic device, as well as the functionality of gears, motors and others. Thus, it should be understood that the characteristics of Figures 3-7 are also applicable to this embodiment of the device 10 '.
    The portable electronic device 10 'can also include a receiver 150 whose operation, design and operation are identical to the receiver 50. The microcontroller 100 is also operatively coupled to the receiver 150 in the same manner. Finally, the portable electronic device 10 ′ preferably comprises at least one of the multiple indicator rotary arrangements described above with respect to the device 10. In other words, the portable electronic device 10 ′ can comprise a rotary rod 60 and the same rotary gears operatively coupled to the rotary rod 60 as indicated above, and / or may also comprise the combination of one or more actuating mechanisms (for example stepping motor M1 and / or M2) and an adjustment mechanism, such as pushers or features of a rotating rod assembly, as noted above. Finally, the portable electronic device 10 ′ may alternatively provide that the microcontroller 100 itself manages the current time information and that the current time is displayed by the digital indicators on the digital display as being the current time, as indicated. above.
    We will now describe the operation of the present invention with reference to Figures 10-13, which respectively illustrate the functionality and characteristics of the present invention.
    More specifically, Figure 10 illustrates a portable electronic device 10 with its digital indicators 26A, 26B lit, which will display the current time based on the signals received by the device 10 via the receiver 50 or via the microcontroller 100 itself -even. Similarly, FIG. 11 illustrates a portable electronic device 10 with its digital indicators 126A, 126B on, which display the current time on the basis of the signals received by the device 10 'via the receiver 150 or via the microcontroller 100 itself.
    In order to explain the present invention, it is assumed that "the correct time" is 11:09. We can see further in the example of Figures 10 and 11 that the respective analog hands 36, 38 (136, 138) display 10:09. This error is due to many reasons: the device 10, 10 'enters a new time zone, a user has previously manually set the hands 36, 38 (136, 138) as indicated above or a change of battery caused the posted time to stop, to name a few possibilities.
    However, with the indications of the rotary arrangements of indicators of the present invention, whether in the form of the rotary rod causing the disengagement of the gear assembly for manual adjustment or by using the adjustment mechanism described above in the form of pushers or a rotary type rod to generate pulses, the user can now easily and precisely adjust the analog needles 36, 38 (136, 138) to align them (this is ie synchronize them) with the digital indicator hands, as seen in Figures 10, 11 to 12, 13 respectively, with reference to the arrow "X" in each of the figures representing the rotation of the analog hands. In this way, the analog hands will be synchronized to the correct time. In the preferred embodiments, the motors may be bidirectional stepper motors as appropriate, thereby turning in either direction, and the design of acceptable stepper motors for functional operation in this manner is widely available and well understood by those skilled in the art. Appropriate dials are also well known to those skilled in the art. Those skilled in the art will recognize that varying the number of display needles can vary the number of stepping motors required, all of which are covered by the present invention and disclosed in the applications incorporated herein by reference. .
    Although the preferred embodiments provide that the microcontroller 100 is highly integrated in which all the synchronization and display functions are controlled by the microcontroller 100, other embodiments could separate the timing functions from these processing and other features, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
    As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the location, position and / or size of the display indicators and / or display needles are simply dictated, for example, by the position gears and the position of the respective sub-assemblies, and therefore the illustrations of this are provided by way of example and should not be limiting.
    The gear ratio to ensure the rotation or the desirable display movement of the display needles is a design choice depending on the desired or required incremental rotation of the display indicator. Thus, the number of wheels in any particular gear assembly may be greater or less than that described here, and is truly a matter of design choice for the intended function and depends on a number of known criteria in the art. ordinary designer.
    It can thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved method and construction for synchronizing the analog indicator needles in a portable electronic device, preferably of the analog quartz type, and the present invention provides an improved user interface for this purpose. which is easy to use and which should be well received by users on all types of needle synchronization arrangements in the prior art.
    As mentioned above, the present invention is applicable for synchronizing a wide range of parameters, and not just conventional time information. As mentioned above, indications of heart rate, moon phase and altitude are just some of the information that can be synchronized by the invention described here on the device. As such, the present invention is also applicable to a portable electronic device comprising (i) an analog display for displaying information by at least one analog time indicator and (ii) a digital display having at least one digital indicator to display at least precise and / or current information on the digital display, a receiver for receiving, from a remote source, at least precise and / or current information data representative of current information and / or precise; a controller, operatively coupled to the receiver, wherein the controller processes current and / or precise information data received from the remote source and provides current and / or precise information data to be displayed by said controller at least one digital indicator on the digital display as current and / or precise information; a rotary analog time indicator arrangement for rotating said at least one analog time indicator until said at least one analog time indicator is aligned with said at least one digital indicator; aligning said at least one analog time indicator with said at least one digital indicator indicating that said at least one analog time indicator is synchronized with current and / or precise time information.
    In yet another embodiment, the portable electronic device can comprise (i) an analog display for displaying information by at least one analog indicator and (ii) a digital display having at least one digital indicator for display at least said current and / or precise information on the digital display; a controller, wherein the controller maintains current and / or accurate information and provides current and / or accurate information to be displayed by said at least one digital indicator on the digital display as current information and / or precise; a rotary analog indicator arrangement for rotating said at least one analog indicator until said at least one analog indicator is aligned with said at least one digital indicator; aligning said at least one analog indicator with said at least one digital indicator indicating that said at least one analog indicator is synchronized with current and / or precise information.
    In such additional embodiments, the analog indicators can perfectly integrate rings, needles, moon images or other mechanical indicators, and therefore not necessarily the conventional needles disclosed and illustrated above. Corresponding digital indicators could also be easily configured. Thus, the present invention easily lends itself to precise and / or current synchronization of such information (for example parameters) such as blood pressure, heart rate, altitude and / or moon phases as seen here and / or other time information, such as the date, day of the week and other displayable parameters related to the calendar and time.
    Therefore, the drawings provided here are also applicable to the previous additional embodiments. For example, in relation to displays applicable to heart rate and / or altitude, only the surface indices on the dial or the bezel must be modified to adapt to the scale or parameter displayed, the functionality under -jacent to the display of these parameters being understood by those skilled in the art, it suffices to refer to US Patent No. 7,113,450 mentioned above. For example, even the surface indices of the dials / glasses of FIGS. 10-13 in their current presentation, cover such embodiments. With a display of the lunar phase, similarly, needles or other rings could be used, such as those described in the application US Serial No. 13,782,047, the figures of which are incorporated by reference, in their entirety. The provision of a digital representation of such displays, in order to achieve the functionality, the advantages and the objectives of the present invention, is also within the reach of those skilled in the art. In this way, the analog display indicators (for example 36, 38) could be replaced by the request display indicators number US 13/782 047 and the digital representation of the indicators 26A, 26B could also be replaced by representations digital of these.
    The other characteristics, options and functionalities described above with regard to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-13 are also applicable to the embodiments described above with regard to information which will not necessarily be „ time of day “.
    It will thus be seen that the objectives set out above, among those which emerge from the preceding description, are achieved effectively and, in so far as certain changes can be made to the above constructions without going out of the mind and from the scope of the invention, it goes without saying that all the elements contained in the description above or appearing in the drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.
    To be perfectly clear, the present invention is applicable to a wide variety of devices and applications. That is to say, although the preceding embodiments have been described with reference to analog quartz watches, the scope of the invention is not limited to these embodiments.
    权利要求:
    Claims (13)
    [1]
    1. Portable electronic device (10, 10 ′) comprising an analog display (34, 134) for displaying time information by at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) and a digital display (24 , 124) having at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B, 126A, 126B) for displaying at least the current time on the digital display (24, 124),a receiver (50, 150) for receiving, from a remote source, current time information data representative of the current time;a controller (100) operatively coupled to the receiver (50, 150), wherein the controller (100) processes the current time information data received from the remote source and provides the information data current times to be displayed by said at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B, 126A, 126B) on the digital display (24, 124) to display the current time;a rotary analog time indicator arrangement for rotating said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) until said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) is aligned with said at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B, 126A, 126B);aligning said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) with said at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B, 126A, 126B) indicating that said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136 , 138) is synchronized with the current time.
    [2]
    The portable electronic device (10, 10 ') according to claim 1, wherein the rotary arrangement of analog time indicator comprises a rotary rod (60) and one or more rotary gears which are operatively coupled to the rotary rod (60) and said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138), wherein the rotation of the rod (60) causes said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) to rotate .
    [3]
    3. Portable electronic device (10, 10 ') according to claim 1, in which the rotary arrangement of analog time indicator comprises:an actuating mechanism operatively coupled to the control device (100), wherein the actuating mechanism rotates said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) clockwise or clockwise counterclockwise;an adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to the control device (100), in which the adjustment mechanism selectively produces first electrical pulses or second electrical pulses,wherein said first electrical pulses and said second electrical pulses are received by the control device (100) which in turn causes the actuating mechanism to rotate said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) clockwise or counterclockwise in response to said first electrical pulses and said second electrical pulses respectively.
    [4]
    The portable electronic device (10, 10 ') according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism is a rotary adjustment mechanism, wherein rotation of the adjustment mechanism in the first direction produces the first electrical impulses and rotation of the rotary adjustment mechanism in the second direction produces the second electrical impulses.
    [5]
    5. Portable electronic device (10, 10 ') comprising an analog display (34, 134) for displaying time information by at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) and a digital display having at at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B, 126A, 126B) for displaying at least the current time on the digital display;a controller (100), wherein the controller (100) maintains current time information and provides current time information to be displayed by said at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B, 126A, 126B) on the display digital to display the current time;a rotary analog time indicator arrangement for rotating said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) until said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) is aligned with said at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B, 126A, 126B);aligning said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) with said at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B, 126A, 126B) indicating that said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136 , 138) is synchronized with the current time.
    [6]
    The portable electronic device (10, 10 ') according to claim 5, wherein the rotary analog time indicator arrangement comprises a rotary rod (60) and one or more rotary gears which are operatively coupled to the rotary rod. (60) and said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138), wherein the rotation of the rod (60) causes said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) to rotate .
    [7]
    7. Portable electronic device (10, 10 ′) according to claim 5, in which the rotary arrangement of analog time indicator comprises:an actuating mechanism operatively coupled to the control device (100), wherein the actuating mechanism rotates said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) clockwise or clockwise counterclockwise;an adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to the control device (100), wherein the adjustment mechanism selectively produces first electrical pulses or second electrical pulses, wherein said first electrical pulses and said second electrical pulses are received by the controller (100) which in turn causes the actuating mechanism to rotate said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38, 136, 138) clockwise or counterclockwise in response to said first electrical pulses and said second electrical impulses respectively.
    [8]
    8. A portable electronic device (10, 10 ') according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment mechanism is a rotary adjustment mechanism, wherein rotation of the adjustment mechanism in the first direction produces the first electrical impulses and rotation of the rotary adjustment mechanism in the second direction produces the second electrical impulses.
    [9]
    9. portable electronic device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the digital display is above the analog display (34), and when said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38) is aligned with said at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B), said at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B) appears superimposed on said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38)
    [10]
    10. Portable electronic device (10) according to claim 5, wherein the digital display is above the analog display (34), and when said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38) is aligned with said at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B), said at least one digital indicator (26A, 26B) appears superimposed on said at least one analog time indicator (36, 38).
    [11]
    11. portable electronic device (10 ') according to claim 1, in which the digital display is positioned under the analog display (134), and when said at least one analog time indicator (136, 138) is aligned with said at at least one digital indicator (126A, 126B), said at least one analog time indicator (136, 138) appears superimposed on said at least one digital indicator (126A, 126B).
    [12]
    12. Portable electronic device (10 ') according to claim 5, wherein the digital display is located under the analog display (134), and when said at least one analog time indicator (136, 138) is aligned with said at at least one digital indicator (126A, 126B), said at least one analog time indicator (136, 138) appears superimposed on said at least one digital indicator (126A, 126B).
    [13]
    13. portable electronic device (10 ') according to claim 1, comprising a dial (135), in which the dial (135) itself is the digital display and when said at least one analog time indicator (136, 138) is aligned with said at least one digital indicator (126A, 126B), said at least one analog time indicator (136, 138) appears superimposed on said at least one digital indicator (126A, 126B).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    CN108351617B|2020-03-03|
    EP3350657A4|2019-04-24|
    EP3350657B1|2021-09-08|
    JP6475396B2|2019-02-27|
    US9639064B2|2017-05-02|
    CN108351617B9|2020-04-10|
    JP2018527583A|2018-09-20|
    EP3350657A1|2018-07-25|
    CN108351617A|2018-07-31|
    WO2017048900A1|2017-03-23|
    US20170082978A1|2017-03-23|
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    法律状态:
    优先权:
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