The present invention relates generally to timepieces, such as wristwatches, and in particular, to novel constructions and methodologies for indicating morning (e.g. “AM”) and afternoon (e.g. “PM”).
At least several ideas and constructions exist in the prior art for indicating whether the time is prior to noon (e.g. morning) or after noon (e.g. afternoon/evening). For example, in digital watches, the LCD may reserve display space for an “AM” or “PM” indicator. Use of display hands for indicating “AM” or “PM” are also known, but typically require its own display hand and gearing mechanism (e.g. stepping motor and gearing assembly).
The present inventors believe that improvements and advancements in the state of the art of indicating “AM” and “PM” in an analog type watch are achievable.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an electronic device, e.g. a timepiece/wristwatch with an improved “AM” and “PM” indication construction that is more aesthetically pleasing, functionally easy to use and read, and improves the constructability of the device itself (e.g. easier and/or less expensive to manufacture) than that found in the prior art, especially when implemented in an “analog type” watch. Other objectives of the present invention are set forth below.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an analog type timepiece with an improved “AM/PM” indicator and which overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art.
Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved analog type timepiece comprising a date and/or day display with an “AM/PM” indicator that does not require substantial additional space on and/or in the dial.
Another object of the present invention to provide an improved “AM/PM” indication that does not require a separate motor or other actuation mechanism.
Another object of the present invention to provide an improved analog timepiece comprising an “AM/PM” indicator that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to read and adjust, if necessary.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an easier and faster way to set the “AM” or “PM” indicator in a timepiece that displays such information, especially in an analog timepiece.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved timepiece comprising a date and/or day display that optimizes space constraints.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, arrangement of parts and sequence of steps which will be exemplified in the construction, illustration and description hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
Generally speaking, the present invention is directed to a wearable electronic device comprising a rotateable member for indicating the day of the week, wherein each day of the week is displayable with an AM indicator and a PM indicator, an actuation mechanism, operatively coupled to the rotateable member, for rotating the rotateable member in at least one of the clockwise and counterclockwise direction; and a controller, operatively coupled to the actuation mechanism, for causing the rotation of the rotateable member after at least essentially 12 hours so as to shift between indicating a day indicator with the AM indicator and (ii) the day indicator with the PM indicator. The rotateable member is preferably one of a day ring, merely an elongated member or a display hand. After essentially 12 hours the rotateable member again rotates so as to shift between displaying in the window (i) the day indicator with the PM indicator and (ii) a successive day indicator with the AM indicator. Other specifics of the present invention are provided hereinafter.
The above set forth and other features of the invention are made more apparent in the ensuing Description of the Preferred Embodiments when read in conjunction with the attached Drawings, wherein:
Identical reference numerals in the figures are intended to indicate like parts, although not every feature in every figure may be called out with a reference numeral.
Reference shall first be made to
Device 10 comprises a module, generally indicated at 15, constructed in accordance with the present invention. In fact, a suitable module for use in the present invention and further details of the construction of such a module can be found in coowned and copending application Ser. Nos. 11/174,095 and 10//441,417, the subject matters of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. In the preferred construction, module 15 is part of an electronic device, which is preferably a timepiece and a wristwatch in particular, having the configuration and construction as set forth in
Reference is briefly made to
In a completed assembly and to carry out normal (e.g. hour/minute timekeeping and/or date) functionality, module 15 is provided with one or more subassemblies, each of which comprises at least one actuation mechanism and one or more gears rotateably engaged with the actuation mechanism, wherein actuation of the actuation mechanism causes the rotation of the one or more gears. The preferred actuation mechanisms are stepper motors designated generally in the figures as M1, M2, M3 and M4 all of which are disposed in module 15. As would be understood in the art, their specific location is one of design choice and dictated by constraints such as spacing, power and torque requirements.
As positioned in module 15 and relevant to the present invention, motor M4 is provided to rotate pinion 17, which itself may be part of an additional gear/wheel, and the rotation of the rotor of motor M4 imparts rotation of pinion 17 via a gear train, generally indicated at 19. The purpose of motors M1, M2 and M3 are not material to the present invention, although details thereof can be found in the aforementioned '441 application. With module 15 constructed as set forth, namely with pinion 17 extending from module 15, varying display assemblies can provided thereon. To the extent further details of varying constructions are desired, reference may specifically had to the '095 application.
Reference is again made to
This positioning of the day indicator between an “AM” and a “PM” indicator can take one of at least two configurations. For example, in a first configuration, each of the day indicators has associated therewith its own “AM” indicator and “PM” indicator. This configuration is illustrated most clearly in
Alternatively, day ring 30 may have a configuration (although not shown) whereby instead of an “AM SUNDAY PM AM MONDAY PM AM TUESDAY PM AM WEDNESDAY PM . . . SATURDAY PM” display (i.e.
To rotate the day ring of this first embodiment, gearing assembly 19 comprises one or more wheels. Gearing assembly 19 is meshingly coupled to day ring 30 so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotation of the day ring. Specifically, pinion 17 is intended to be included in gearing assembly 19, and a gear 21 may be provided on pinion 17 and meshingly coupled to the day ring. Specifics of how a stepping motor may be operatively coupled to a gearing assembly and in turn coupled to day ring 30 may also be seen in coowned and copending application Ser. No. 11/221,031, the subject matter of which is also incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
As such, actuation mechanism M4, rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of gearing assembly 19, provides the rotation of day ring 30.
A controller 100, operatively coupled to actuation mechanism M4, is provided for causing the rotation of the day ring to rotate in a manner to be hereinafter disclosed.
However, prior to disclosing the specific manner of rotation of day ring 30, reference is first generally made to
Particular reference is also made to motor control circuit 109, which receives a commanded “next number of pulses” from CPU core 101 and generates the pulsed and phased signals necessary to move a desired motor (e.g. M4) a desired amount and in a desired direction. Pulse outputs of motor control circuit 109 are buffered by motor drivers MD1, MD2, MD3, and MD4 and applied to respective motors M1, M2, M3, M4.
By appropriate configuration and programming of controller 100 it is thus possible to ensure that the functionality, operation and proper stepping (e.g. of stepping motor M4) is achieved. Also, those skilled in the art will know how to program controller 100 so that it may be customized or changed to properly control the particular display indicator (e.g. a day ring or a display hand).
Although the preferred embodiment provides that controller 100 is highly integrated wherein all timing and display functionality is controlled in controller 100, alternate embodiments could separate the timekeeping functions from other processing functions, as would be understood by one skilled in the art.
Lastly, signaling to controller 100 when it is time to rotate day ring 30 may be achieved by a gearing interface between the hour/minute wheels (e.g. incorporating the ideas and embodiments as set forth in coowned and copending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/342,512) or in accordance with an embodiment such as that disclosed in coowned and copending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/716,011; the subject matter of both of these '512 and '011 applications being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Returning to
In accordance with the present invention and with the day ring of
Again, alternatively, in the latter mentioned day ring configuration (i.e. AM SUNDAY PM MONDAY AM TUESDAY PM WEDNESDAY . . .“SATURDAY PM), controller 100 likewise causes the rotation of day ring 30 such that essentially 12 hour after the day ring has rotated so as to display a day indicator with the PM indicator, the day ring rotates so as to shift between displaying in the window (i) the day indicator with the PM indicator and (ii) a successive day indicator with an “AM” indicator. However, in this specific embodiment whereby the day indicators are merely positioned between an “AM” and “PM” indicator (as opposed to having its own associated “AM” and “PM” indicator), more rotation of day ring 30 is required when rotating from midnight on one day to morning on a successive day. Therefore, the specific embodiment illustrated in
Reference is now made to
Being properly programmed and using known techniques, controller 100 can be properly designed to step motor M4 in the proper direction and amount so after at least essentially 12 hours (e.g. at or about noontime) display hand 70 is rotated between indicating a day indicator with the “AM” indicator (i.e. as illustrated in
Likewise, essentially about 12 hour after display hand 70 has rotated so as to indicate a day indicator with the “PM” indicator, display hand 70 rotates so as to shift between displaying in the window (i) the day indicator with the “PM” indicator and (ii) a successive day indicator with the “AM” indicator. For example, essentially 12 hours after rotation of display hand 70 so as to display the “MONDAY” and the “PM” indicator, display hand 70 again rotates between indicating the “MONDAY” day indicator with the “PM” indicator and the “TUESDAY” indicator with the “AM” indicator. Similarly, this latter rotation occurs at or about midnight (i.e. 12:00 am.).
It should be understood that the present disclosure will omit, for purposes of brevity, certain basic and very well known concepts regarding such electronic devices, such as for example, the basic construction and arrangements of gears and/or gear trains to rotate a plurality of “standard” hands, such as an hour hand and a minute hand (as part of an analog watch), as being well within the purview of one skilled in the art, although reading the disclosures set forth above, greater detail can be easily found. Again, the construction of these respective gear trains are also well within the purview of one ordinarily skilled in the art.
In the preferred embodiment, motor M4 is a bi-directional stepper motor thus being able to rotate in either direction, and the construction of acceptable stepper motors to functionally operate in this manner are widely available and well within the understanding of those skilled in the art. Suitable dials are also well within the purview of the skilled artisan.
As should be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the location, position and/or size of the day ring and/or display hand are merely dictated, for example, by the position of pinion 17 and the position of the respective subassemblies and thus the illustrations herein are shown by example and not limitation.
The gearing ratio to provide for the desirable display rotation or movement of the display hands or discs/rings would be one of design choice depending on the desired or required incremental rotation of the display indicator, an example of which is provided in the '417 application. Thus the number of wheels in any particular gearing assembly may be more or less than that disclosed herein, and are really one of design choice for the intended function and based upon a number of criterions known to the ordinary designer.
Also, the functionality of the controller can be modified to accommodate the varying embodiments disclosed herein by software-programming techniques or differing controllers, both of which is well within the purview of the skilled artisan.
It will thus be seen that the present invention is both patentably different from and a significant improvement over known devices. Specifically, the present invention provides a unique way to provide an “AM and PM” indication on an electronic device, such as a wristwatch that displays information in an analog manner. For example, the present invention provides an improved “AM/PM” indicator which overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art, that does not require substantial additional space on and/or in the dial, does not require a separate motor or other actuation mechanism, that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to read and adjust, if necessary. Other objectives and advantages afforded by the present invention are set forth above.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, in place of a day ring, an elongated member may be used with the controller recalibrating the position of the ring at the beginning of each week.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/754,852, filed Dec. 29, 2005.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60754852 | Dec 2005 | US |