The following disclosure relates to an inventive moon phase display comprising a movable display element.
A frequently encountered design uses a circular disc which rotates once every 59 days. Two circles, which each symbolize the moon, are represented symmetrically to the axis of rotation on the front of the disc. An opening is configured in a dial arranged in front of the disc, through which opening a sector of the disc spanning approximately 180° is visible. This opening has a special form in which approximately circular arc-shaped portions form the opening edges running in the radial direction of the sector. In each case, the rotation of the disk pushes one of the two representations of the moon out from under one of these opening edges, so that a crescent-shaped moon becomes visible, which enlarges to a full circle until it is concealed, in turn, by the other opening edge in a crescent-shaped manner. Shortly thereafter, the second representation of the moon appears under the first opening edge. An example of such a moon phase display is described in the publication EP 3 098 671 A1.
The moon phase can be displayed in a similar way by moving the disc having a special opening in front of a fixed representation of the moon. In order to represent a moon which is smaller in diameter, a circular opening can also be configured in a disk and moved relative to a slightly smaller representation of the moon in terms of the diameter. To this end, more than two representations of the moon can be distributed over the circumference and the rotational speed can be reduced accordingly.
Yet another variant, in which one disk has multiple openings and the moon is represented on a further disk, wherein both disks move at different rotational speeds, has become known from the publication EP 2 853 957 B1.
The common feature of all the moon phase displays explained above is that the movable display element or respectively the movable display elements have large dimensions compared to the display of the moon phase attained. As a general rule, the known moon phase displays therefore form a small, creative addition to a watch dial.
Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to provide a moon phase display which, with a compact design, makes possible an attractive large-area representation of the moon phase.
An embodiment of a moon phase display includes a display plane in which the current moon phase is displayed and multiple display elements which are each rotatably supported about their longitudinal axis and include a first strip-shaped side face on which an illuminated moon portion is depicted. The moon phase display further includes a second strip-shaped side face on which no illuminated moon portion is depicted. Each of the display elements has a first rotational position in which the first side face is arranged in the display plane, and a second rotational position in which the second side face is arranged in the display plane. The first side faces together represent the full moon in a full moon position in which all the display elements are located in their first rotational position. A drive is further included which can rotate each of the individual display elements independently of the remaining display elements about its longitudinal axis and a controller. The controller is configured to actuate the drive so that, starting from the full moon position, each one of the display elements is rotated into the second rotational position in successive steps until all the display elements are located in the second rotational position, so that a gradually waning moon is displayed.
In an embodiment, the display elements have an elongated basic form with a longitudinal axis. The display elements can be cylindrical, i.e., have a constant cross section over their length. In this case, the two side faces are at a constant distance from the longitudinal axis. The two side faces are strip-shaped, they each form a longitudinal side of the display element. By way of example, the display elements can have a rectangular cross section, wherein the two side faces lie on the longer sides of the rectangle opposite one another. The first rotational position and the second rotational position then differ by an angle of 180°. If the display elements are triangular in cross section, in particular in the form of an equilateral triangle, the angle between the two rotational positions is 120° or respectively 240°. Both side faces can have the same form and size. In particular, they can be rectangular. In the first rotational position, the first side face is located in the display plane, in the second rotational position the second side face, wherein the second side face is then in particular in the same position in which the first side face is located in the first rotational position.
In an embodiment, the display elements can be arranged next to one another. The longitudinal axes can be arranged parallel in one plane. In the full moon position, the first side faces of adjacent display elements can adjoin one another or almost adjoin one another, so that they form an approximately closed area. However, they can also be arranged at a visible distance from one another, wherein this distance can remain clear or can be filled or almost filled by another element. Such a distance can be utilized as a creative means in order to emphasize the representation of the moon which is composed of multiple portions.
In an embodiment, the drive can rotate each display element individually about its longitudinal axis and, as a result, in particular set the first and second rotational position. The rotation can be executable smoothly or stepwise, for example using a stepping motor or servomotor or a rotary magnet. In particular, each display element can have its own drive, for example with its own stepping motor or servomotor or a rotary magnet. However, a central drive having a suitable coupling mechanism is also conceivable.
In an embodiment, an electronic controller which actuates, e.g., stepping motors or servomotors assigned to the display elements, can be used as the controller. However, a purely mechanical controller is also conceivable. The drive is controlled by the controller so that all of the side faces arranged in the display plane at a specific point in time display the current moon phase. In the full moon position, all the display elements are located in the first rotational position so that all the first side faces are arranged in the display plane. Each of these side faces shows an illuminated moon portion and, together, they represent the full moon. In an embodiment, a battery or an accumulator, for example, can be provided in order to supply the drive and controller with energy. A mains connection is likewise possible.
With each step, one of the display elements is brought from the first rotational position into the second rotational position, so that the relevant first side face and the illuminated moon portion depicted thereon are no longer arranged in the display plane. Consequently, the moon gradually wanes. After the last step, all the display elements are located in the second rotational position so there is no longer any illuminated moon portion visible, which corresponds to a new moon.
It goes without saying that the controller is preferably configured to reset individual display elements in further steps by rotating them further (in the same direction or in the opposite direction) from the second into the first rotational position, so that the moon gradually waxes until the full moon position is reached again.
The steps can be executed at firmly predefined time intervals, which are dimensioned so that the represented image of the moon corresponds in the best possible way to the current moon phase at any point in time. The length of the time intervals depends in particular on the number of steps required/the number of display elements.
In an embodiment, the number of display elements is an even number and lies in the range from 4 to 60. Thanks to the even number, it is possible to achieve an optimal representation of the half-moon if the moon portions depicted on one half of the existing display elements together form a semicircle. As few as four display elements are sufficient for a meaningful representation of the moon phase, since it is possible to distinguish between a new moon, a quarter-moon, a half-moon, a gibbous moon and a full moon therewith. A larger number of display elements is required for a more differentiated representation. It also contributes to compact dimensions of the moon phase display, because the installation space needed to receive the display elements or respectively for the rotational movement thereof can make do with a smaller depth.
In one embodiment, the number of display elements is 14. This number allows a sufficiently differentiated representation of the moon phase. In addition, a complete moon phase cycle, which lasts approximately 29.5 days, is represented in 28 steps, so that the time intervals between successive steps are approximately 24 hours or can be approximated by 24 hours. The representation changes, as a result, once a day at a fixed or roughly fixed time, which can make the moon phase display particularly attractive to a viewer.
When the drive is actuated, the controller can execute the successive steps at fixed intervals so that the displayed moon phase corresponds in the best possible way to the current moon phase. Alternatively, it can take account of the current time, for example so that the steps are always executed every day at the same time, or so that no steps are executed during predefined rest periods (by way of example at night between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.). In the latter case, a pending step can then either be brought forward to a time before 10 p.m. or caught up on at a time after 8 a.m.
In one embodiment, the longitudinal axes of the display elements run perpendicularly with respect to the field of view of a viewer who is viewing the moon phase display in a usage position. In the case of a moon phase display integrated into a watch, this means that the longitudinal axes are arranged parallel to a line which connects the 12 o'clock and the 6 o'clock position of a conventional 12-hour dial. In the case of a moon phase display integrated into a grandfather or wall clock or another moon phase display either standing or hanging on the wall, the longitudinal axes accordingly run in the vertical direction. As a result of this alignment of the longitudinal axes, a representation of the moon is attained which, as a general rule, corresponds better to the moon observed in the sky than in the case of a horizontal alignment of the longitudinal axes.
In one embodiment, the controller is configured so that the number of successive steps (from full moon to new moon) corresponds to the number of display elements, wherein a display element arranged on a first side of the moon phase display is rotated in the first step, the display element located directly next to it is rotated in the second step, and so on until, in the last step, a display element arranged on a second side of the moon phase display opposite the first side is rotated.
In one embodiment, the controller has a northern hemisphere operating mode and a southern hemisphere operating mode, wherein, in the northern hemisphere operating mode, a display element located on the far right based on the viewer's field of view is rotated in the first step and, in the southern hemisphere operating mode, a display element located on the far left based on the viewer's field of view is rotated in the first step. As a result, the representation attained corresponds to the appearance of the moon which a viewer can see in the sky in the respective hemisphere.
In one embodiment, the first side faces form a square area in the display plane in the full moon position. This shape is ideal for representing a format-filling, circular full moon.
In one embodiment, partial areas of the first side faces, which adjoin the depictions of the illuminated moon portions, have a background color. A dark color can be selected for the background color, corresponding to the night sky. As a result, in the case of a full moon, the moon is represented against a uniform background.
In one embodiment, the second side faces have the background color. As a result, the illuminated moon portions are also represented against a uniform background for each representation of the partial moon.
In one embodiment, an unilluminated moon portion is depicted on each of the second side faces. As a result, as in reality, the portions of the moon which are not directly illuminated by the sun are also visible. This is a special design feature which cannot be realized with the conventional moon phase displays described in the introduction.
In one embodiment, partial areas of the second side faces, which adjoin the depictions of the unilluminated moon portions, have the background color. As a result, the entire moon is represented against a uniform background in each partial moon position.
In one embodiment, the moon phase display has a frame which is arranged in the display plane and frames the display elements. The frame forms an aesthetic finish to the area formed by the display elements. At the same time, it helps to protect the movable display elements from damage and can serve to receive suitable bearings and/or the drive and/or the controller.
The frame is preferably kept in the background color. As a result, a uniform appearance of the moon phase display is achieved. In addition, the recognizability of its structural design can be wholly or partially concealed with movable display elements.
In one embodiment, the display elements each have a third, strip-shaped side face which is arranged in a third rotational position in the display plane. In this case, the display elements can in particular be triangular in cross section. Additional states of the moon phase can be displayed with the aid of the third side faces. By way of example, the second side faces can be kept entirely in the background color and the third side faces can have depictions of unilluminated moon portions. It is then possible to switch over between the two representation variants explained.
In one embodiment, the drive for each of the display elements has its own drive unit with a stepping motor or servomotor or a rotary magnet. As a result, the rotational position of each display element can be set with the same precision. The drive units can be screwed via elongated holes to a bearing structure of the moon phase display so that it is possible to finely adjust the position of the display elements. The elongated holes can be aligned in particular so that the position of the display elements can be adjusted in the direction of the display planes (that is to say perpendicular to the normal direction of the display plane). At the ends opposite the drive unit, the display elements can each be supported in a supporting element, the position of which can be executed in a finely adjustable manner in the same way via an elongated hole connection. This makes it possible to adjust the position of the display elements simply so that there are equal distances between adjacent display elements.
In one embodiment, the drive unit of one of the display elements is arranged at an upper end and the drive unit of an adjacently arranged display element is arranged at a lower end of the respective display element. This can apply to each pair of adjacent display elements. In other words, the drive units are always arranged alternately at opposite ends of the display elements. An installation space is then available to each drive unit, which is approximately twice as large as the free space above or respectively below a display element. As a result, a miniaturization of the moon phase display is possible.
In one embodiment, a safety coupling is arranged between one of the display elements and the drive, which safety coupling releases a positive fit or force fit between the drive and the display element when a predefined torque is exceeded. In particular, such a safety coupling can be assigned to each of the display elements. The safety coupling prevents overloading of the drive and/or other damage in the event of the rotational movement being obstructed or blocked.
In one embodiment, the safety coupling has an elastic coupling element which interacts with a flat spot of a shaft firmly connected to the drive or the display element. In the event of an obstruction or blockage, the elastic coupling element can deform and slide off the flat spot.
In one embodiment, the drive is subject to play and the display element is assigned a spring element and a control part that interacts with the spring element, wherein the control part for each of the side faces of the control part has a flat spot on which the spring element rests in a planar manner when the display element is located exactly in the associated rotational position. The spring element and the control part together form a mechanism which ensures an exact alignment of the display element in the intended resting positions. The fact that the drive is subject to play means that the rest position when the drive is stationary is only fixed within certain limits, e.g., with a possible deviation of +/−0.5° to +/−5°. In connection with the safety coupling mentioned, such a rotational play can be attained, for example, by a gap between the elastic coupling element and the flat point of the shaft of the drive element. The spring element is responsible for the exact alignment, which exerts a spring force on the flat spot, which depends on the relative rotational position of the spring element and the control part. If the spring element rests in a planar manner on the flat spot, the forces act symmetrically to the axis of rotation and no torque is exerted. The control part is arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation of the display element. The flat spots can be arranged distributed over a circumference of the control part. The control part can be connected to the display element in a non-rotational manner, that is to say it can also rotate with the control part. In this case, the control element can be arranged in a fixed manner, e.g., fastened to a frame of the moon phase display. In particular, the flat spots can be arranged parallel to the respectively associated side face, for example on a “rear side” of the display element opposite the associated side face with regard to the axis of rotation. The reverse arrangement is also possible, that is to say a spring element connected in a non-rotational manner to the display element and a control part arranged in a fixed manner, e.g., on a frame.
The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment represented in figures, wherein:
In the situation represented in
An illuminated moon portion, which is represented in white in
Starting from the full moon position shown in
After three further steps, the display elements 18, 20 and 22 are also located in their second rotational position; this situation shown on in
In
A controller 66, which is configured to control the rotational position of each display element 10-36 is likewise only indicated schematically. For this purpose, the controller 66 is connected to drive units 60 (see
The display elements 10-36 (only partially provided with reference numbers in
One of these drive units 60 is shown in an exploded representation. It comprises the two-part holding device 56 having four elongated holes through each of which a screw 58 is guided and screwed into the carrier 52, and a servomotor 62 which is connected to a shaft 64 supporting and driving the associated display element 10-36.
If the rotation of the display element 10 is obstructed, the end portion is deflected outwards and slides off the flat spot 72 so that it rests on the remaining lateral surface of the axis portion 76. Consequently, the flat spot 72 and the elastic coupling element 70 form a safety coupling. After remedying the obstruction, the display element 10 can be realigned so that the flat spot 72 is located on the end portion. This can easily be done by hand, in particular if the friction between the axis portion 76 and the elastic coupling element is less than the self-obstruction of the drive unit 60.
In
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20215658.4 | Dec 2020 | EP | regional |
This application is a national stage application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/086596, filed on Dec. 17, 2021, which claims priority to, and benefit of, European Patent Application No. 20215658.4, filed Dec. 18, 2020, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2021/086596 | 12/17/2021 | WO |