DE102004058245A1 - Analog / digital time indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a time indicator comprising a substrate (17) containing a display surface (3); Means for visually highlighting discrete dots (1) of the display area to provide a time display and a controller for driving the highlighting means as a function of time, the highlighting means being arranged to display at least two of: a digital representation of the time; display analog representation of time and display a closed-analog representation of time; further comprising means (19 ', 19 ") for switching between the at least two representations.

Description

The The invention relates to an analogue / digital time indicator.

The usual measurement the length one day is based on 24 hours, each containing 60 minutes, which again have 60 seconds. Also known, though less common, is the time after the decimal system, after which one day in 20 Decimal hours is divided, each 100 decimal minutes which in turn have 60 decimal seconds.

The Representation of the time is usually by means of the well-known linear-analog, closed-analog or digital Display modes. In the known optical representations of the time The time of day is usually represented by the 24 hours or 20 decimal hours of a day, or the day in two halves of the day divided, with each half of the day 12 hours or 10 decimal hours. For differentiation the day halves becomes common used a separate ad that announces whether the displayed time refers to the time before or after noon.

to Acoustic announcement of the time, the bell stroke is known the number of elapsed hours by the corresponding Number of bells usually one day in two halves of the day divided into 12 hours each. For further detailing the Time announcement will usually be the past quarter of an hour by the corresponding Number of bells announced every quarter of an hour of the corresponding hour.

in the Contrary to the acoustic time indication are in the closed-analog Representation the possible Result values on a scale geometrically arranged so that the last possible result value in spatial Proximity to first available Result value is displayed and thus an interruption-free Displaying successive results is possible.

at The linear-analog representation, the possible result values on a linear scale with spatial separated start and end points, whereby in the Representation of successive result values of the display element after reaching the last possible Result value for the first possible result value displayed at the starting point of the scale is relocated more or less leaps and bounds.

For example, from the published patent application DE 2339871 from 1995 simultaneous or by means of the known Wechselschaltvorrichtungen selectable displays that indicate the time in both a closed-analog and in a digital representation, with separate display means are used for the different types of displays.

Farther is known when displaying several time intervals, such as hours, Minutes and seconds, simultaneous use closed-analog or digital displays, by a selection of time intervals closed-analog and another selection of time intervals is displayed digitally, being for the different types of display also each separate display means Find use.

It is known from published patent application WO 88/02507 from 1988 that digitally displayed time intervals, for example the hours, are out of focus in their outlines by using additional highlighting means. From the publication DE 2736358 from the year 1977 is for display in radio and television sets of time, date, channel and the like. the use of the horizontal segments of a digital, formed by bar elements numeric display for displaying linear-analog values by means of bar code known. This ad has proven to be inapplicable to represent sufficiently many possible results linear-analog.

The known analog displays show the duration of the elapsed time by directly referring to a route. The system the arrangement of hours on the dial at an analogue Time display, especially with closed scale, for example so well known to the viewer that there are many suggestions partially or completely for watches to dispense with a number on the dial. The position the pointer on the dial alone allows the user to do the same appraisal the displayed time value. Therefore analogue displays are also known, instead of specifying numeric characters on the dial use other, non-numeric symbols.

to sufficiently accurate digital time representation is so far exclusively the Use of numeric symbols known. The well-known indication the time by means of common understanding Terms such as "morning", noon "or" evening "or" breakfast "," lunch "or" dinner "is for one thing only in very rough intervals possible, and partly because of the different individual habits the user only about and therefore not exactly accurate.

The known time displays are monofunctional in that they Show just the time, and more functions in Connection with the time display are not yet known. While are also known watches that are decorated with gemstones and thereby also aesthetic Meet requirements, but even with such watches is the Time display recognizable as such. Because the "view to the clock" is a frequent and recurring one activity represents in everyday life and is unambiguous for the above reasons he is now a body language Signal is usually interpreted as a sign of impatience.

A The object of the invention is to provide a time display, the only one restricted user group with a specific one Knowing the time sufficiently precise and unambiguous, for not this group of users relatives but can not be recognized as a time indicator. Another task The invention is to provide a time display, which sufficient accuracy with the same display elements a plurality of provides different, alternative display modes.

These Tasks are solved by a time indicator according to one of the independent claims.

Under In a first aspect, the invention provides a time indicator the means for visually highlighting discrete points of a display area for Providing a time display, wherein the emphasis means are designed to, by means of a switch between at least two from digital displays, linear-analogue displays and closed-analogue Displays are switchable.

Under In a second aspect, the invention provides a time indicator the means for visually highlighting discrete points of a display area for Providing a time display, wherein the emphasis means comprise a plurality of gemstones and at least one light source, which is adapted to supply the gemstones individually light.

Under In a third aspect, the invention provides a time indicator the means for visually highlighting discrete points of a display area for Providing a time display, wherein the emphasis means a plurality of transparent display elements and at least one Include light source, which is adapted to the display elements individually to supply light, and wherein a controller is adapted to the display elements so to provide that they provide an encrypted time indication, at the one of the time to be displayed corresponding numerical value represents a symbol from a sorted non-numeric symbol group becomes. Here is under a "sorted non-numeric symbol group "one Group of symbols that are related to each other in certain, to the initiate of known sequence, but himself there are no numbers. An example of this are music scales whose Sound sequence do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti Every musician is known. Another example is the chemical Elements or their symbols, their sequence H-He-Li-Be-B-C-N-O-F-Ne-Na-Mg etc. in the periodic system of elements known to the chemist. the represented as a result an illustrated musical note, or an illustrated chemical symbol, clearly a certain number, and thus an hour or minute a time to be displayed. For who is not a member of the particular initiate group but this ad incomprehensible, and in particular not recognizable as a time display; this less so if over it In addition, gemstones are used as display elements, so that the time indicator according to the invention by uninitiated for a pure piece of jewelry with no time display function, and a look at this is therefore not as "look to the clock "interpreted. The term "symbol" is to be understood as that, for example, names or events should also be included; so also by stating the name of a US president, or a pope a number corresponding to the order of precedence symbolized, or by specifying a process step such as the "compression" in gasoline engine one certain, namely second quarter hour is indicated.

Under In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a time indicator of the two different, namely each digital, linear-analog or closed-analog or other Way represented intervals in two arrays of display elements.

Further Details and advantages emerge from the dependent claims, the Description and the figures. Show

1 - 3 an arrangement of thirty display elements in the form of two rectangles for alternative analog and digital display of the hours and minutes;

4 - 6 an array of forty-five display elements in the form of three rectangles for alternative analog and digital display of hours, minutes and seconds;

7 - 12 an array of sixty display elements in the form of four rectangles for alternative analog and digital display of time or day;

13 - 14 an arrangement of seventy-two display elements for alternately displaying analogue and digital hours and minutes;

15 an arrangement of forty-five display elements in the form of three rectangles for alternative display of the moon phase and the month;

16 - 17 an arrangement of fifteen display elements in the form of a rectangle for analog display of the hours, minutes or seconds;

18 an array of sixty display elements in the form of four rectangles within a surrounding larger array of inactivable highlighting means;

19a -D exemplary forms and arrangements of highlighting means;

20a , b further exemplary shapes and arrangements of highlighting means;

21 a chemically encoded digital time display;

22 a chemically encoded analog / digital time display;

23 a musically coded digital time display;

24 a musically coded graphic display of hours and minutes;

25 a musically coded graphic display of hours, minutes and seconds;

26 another musically coded graphic display of hours and minutes;

27 another musically coded graphic display of hours and minutes using the example of the handle image of a recorder;

28 the ad as in 27 with additional digital display of the note value;

29 the ad as in 27 with additional digital display of time;

30 the ad as in 3 , with additional single-element display of the handle image;

31 an inventive indicator with a display according to the 1 - 3 ; and

32 a cross-sectional view of an indicator according to the invention with transparent crystals.

In the 1 an embodiment is shown in which thirty display elements 1' . 1'' in two rectangular groups with three rows of five elements each in one display area 3 are arranged. This arrangement is driven, in a first mode of operation, such that each group of rectangles of elements in a closed-analog manner represents a pointer position of a time to be displayed. The left group represents an hour hand, in the example shown 6 hours; the right group represents the minutes in five-minute steps, in the example 15 minutes, namely the third element 1'' is activated clockwise. Taken together, the time is 6:15 clock displayed.

In the 2 is shown as in a second mode of operation, the thirty elements 1' . 1'' be controlled so that the number of activated elements corresponds to the number of hours or minutes to be displayed. The left group shows just 12 hours, namely twelve activated elements, the right group shows 30 minutes, namely six activated elements 1'' at five minutes; together at 12:30. The continuous activation takes place here from left below line by line to the top right; in a variant, it takes place in successive lines alternately left-right and right-left, or even beginning at the top left column by column.

In the 3 is shown as in a third mode of operation, the thirty elements 1' . 1'' be controlled so that the activated elements 1'' indicates the hours or minutes (or seconds); for the complete time display, the display of the hour and the minute number changes. In the case shown, the number "30" shown is clearly assigned to the minutes. In one variant, this number stands for the day of the month and alternates with a month.

in the The following are similar parts with the same function Numbers, but to distinguish with different lowercase letters designated.

In the 4 are in a similar way as in 1 in a display area 3a three element groups 1a ' . 1a ' provided to display the seconds, the latter again in steps of 5; the closed-analog displayed time is thus 6:15:35 clock. In 5 are, similar to 2 , again three element groups shown, but to the linear ana time display, namely to display the time 12:30:05 clock.

In the 6 is a combination of a closed-analog hour display with a digital numeric display of the minutes. The left group of fifteen elements represents 11 hours; the middle and right groups represent 30 minutes, together 11:30.

In the 7 is a display area 3b with four groups of fifteen elements 1b ' . 1b '' represented, wherein the three right groups the in 4 shown correspond. In addition, here is a left group provided by means of which the half of the day is displayed, namely here the second half of the day by the letter "P" as pm (= afternoon). In a similar way shows 8th an ad like the one in 5 but again preceded by a fourth set of elements, in this case showing "A", for morning (am).

9 shows an operating mode in which four element groups are controlled so that together they represent two two-digit numbers that stand for the hours or the minutes. The two left groups show here 12 hours, the two right groups show 38 minutes; together so the time 12:38 clock. In a variant as a stopwatch, the left groups show minutes, the right groups seconds, so in this example a duration of 12 minutes 38 seconds.

In the 10 become the sixty display elements 1b ' . 1b '' a four-by-fifteen-element array driven linear-analogue, beginning at the bottom left column by column, so that each activated element 1b '' stands for one minute (or second). The example shows just 23 minutes (or seconds). In one variant, the minute display changes every second with an hour indication; for distinction, the hours are displayed starting from the bottom right column by column, with either an activated element 1b '' represents one hour or an entire column represents one hour. In the 11 become the same display elements 1b ' . 1b '' so driven that they indicate the month and the day, the month by letter "JL" for July, and the day as a number "13", together so "July 13". In the 12 another operating mode is shown in which the left two groups of elements represent the day of the week ("MO" for "Monday"), the right two again the day.

In the 13 a further embodiment is shown in which in a display area 3c in addition to a sixty-element arrangement as in 10 another line of three times four, so together twelve elements is controlled so that it represents the hours in a linear-analogous manner. All seventy-two elements 1c ' . 1c '' Together, therefore, in this example, the time is 8:23 clock. In the 14 will be the same arrangement as in 13 controlled so that only the hours are analog, but the minutes and seconds are displayed digitally, ie 8:05:47.

The 15 shows another operating mode for a display area 3a with three element groups of fifteen elements 1a ' . 1a ' , where in the left field the moon phase is displayed (last quarter) and in the right two fields the month ("FE" for "February").

16 shows a display area 3d with fifteen display elements 1d ' . 1d '' as a standalone ad or as a supplemental ad as part of a composite ad. The time representation in this example is closed-analog and thus represents 6 hours, 30 minutes and 60 seconds respectively. 17 Fig. 12 similarly shows a linear-analogue display with a display area 3d with fifteen display elements 1d ' . 1d '' , in continuous line by line activation starting at the bottom left. Here you can see 11 hours, 55 minutes and 55 seconds respectively.

In 18 is an arrangement of four display surfaces 3e each with fifteen display elements in a larger field 5 from a variety (here 15 × 20) elements 7 embedded. However, the surrounding elements 7 not used for emphasis, but are inactive; only the sixty elements of the actual time display can be activated. The left two active fields show the number "12", ie 12 hours; the two active fields on the right show the number "30", ie 30 minutes, together 12:30.

In a variant is the arrangement of the driven arrays, as well the way of their activation, by means of the known programming and input techniques freely programmable. In this case are from all in principle activatable display elements only one selection each for display provided of which in turn only those for the representation of the currently to be displayed Sign required indeed activated, so for example be lit up. Is preferred Furthermore the optional shutdown of the light source for all, some or an array, for example, an array provided for seconds. Especially Preferably, this is optional shutdown when using Gemstones as display elements.

In the 19a to 19d are various alternative shapes and arrangements of the display elements 1f - 1i in display areas 3f - 3i shown, namely square ( 19a ), rectangular ( 19b ), equilateral-triangular ( 19c ) as well as right-angled triangular ( 19d ). In the ( 19b gives the array of fifteen rectangular elements 1g together a square display field 3g , In the 20a are fifteen round display elements 1j shown, but not as previously in a rectangular shape, but in parallelogram in a display area 3y are arranged. Furthermore, in the 20b an array of seventeen display elements 1k in a display area 3k shown in which the right and left column are bent outwards, thus making room for two more elements. The array as a whole has hexagonal or, in a variant with slightly displaced outer elements, a circular shape.

• – geschlossen-analog die Repräsentationen zweier Werte von Zeitabständen, beispielsweise der Stunden sowie der Minuten in 5er-Schritten,
• – linear-analog die Repräsentationen der Werte zweier Zeitabstände, beispielsweise der Stunden sowie der Minuten in 5er-Schritten, bzw. ein Zeitabstand mit bis zu 30 Anzeigeelementen bzw. mit bis zu 6 oder 10 Anzeigereihen, oder
• – digital ein Zeitabstand einstellig bzw. zweistellig, beispielsweise der Stunden sowie der Minuten, oder zwei Zeitabstände je einstellig, beispielsweise die numerische Wiedergabe des Wochentags und die Dezimal-Stunde

angezeigt. Bei Verwendung von drei Anzeigegruppen werden wahlweise

• – geschlossen-analog die Repräsentationen der Werte dreier Zeitabstände, beispielsweise der Stunden, Minuten und Sekunden in 5er Schritten;
• – linear-analog die Repräsentationen der Werte dreier Zeitabstände, beispielsweise der Stunden, Minuten und Sekunden in 5er Schritten, bzw. ein Zeitabstand mit bis zu 45 Anzeigeelementen bzw. mit bis zu 9 oder 15 Anzeigereihen, bzw. einer Kombination aus Anzeigepunkten und Anzeigereihen; oder
• – digital ein Zeitabstand bis zu dreistellig, beispielsweise der 100stel Sekunden bei einer Stoppuhr, oder ein Zeitabstand einstellig und ein Zeitabstand zweistellig, beispielsweise die numerische Wiedergabe von Dezimal-Stunden und Dezimal-Minuten, wobei 100 durch Null angezeigt wird

angezeigt. Bei Verwendung von vier Anzeigegruppen werden wahlweise

• – geschlossen-analog die Repräsentationen der Werte vierer Zeitabstände, beispielsweise der Monate eines Jahres, der Stunden sowie der Minuten und Sekunden in 5er Schritten;
• – linear-analog die Repräsentationen der Werte vierer Zeitabstände, beispielsweise der Monate, der Stunden sowie der Minuten und Sekunden in 5er Schritten, bzw. ein Zeitabstand mit bis zu 60 Anzeigeelementen bzw. mit bis zu 12 oder 20 Anzeigereihen, bzw. einer Kombination aus Anzeigepunkten und Anzeigereihen; oder
• – digital ein Zeitabstand bis zu vierstellig, beispielsweise der 1000stel Sekunden bei einer Stoppuhr, oder zwei Zeitabstände zweistellig, beispielsweise die numerische Wiedergabe von Stunden und Minuten

angezeigt.As described above as the first aspect, when using two display groups optionally include

• Closed-analog representation of two values of time intervals, for example the hours and the minutes in steps of five,
• Linear-analogue representations of the values of two time intervals, for example the hours and the minutes in steps of 5, or a time interval with up to 30 display elements or with up to 6 or 10 display rows, or
• Digitally a time interval of one digit or two digits, for example the hours and the minutes, or two time intervals per digit, for example the numerical representation of the day of the week and the decimal hour

displayed. When using three display groups are optional

• - closed-analog representations of the values of three time intervals, for example the hours, minutes and seconds in steps of 5;
• Linear-analog representations of the values of three time intervals, for example the hours, minutes and seconds in steps of 5, or a time interval with up to 45 display elements or with up to 9 or 15 display rows, or a combination of display points and display rows; or
• Digitally a time interval up to three digits, for example the 100th of a second with a stopwatch, or a time interval one digit and a time interval of two digits, for example the numerical representation of decimal hours and decimal minutes, where 100 is indicated by zero

displayed. When using four display groups are optional

• - closed analogue representations of the values of four time intervals, for example the months of a year, the hours and the minutes and seconds in steps of 5;
• Linear-analog representation of the values of four time intervals, for example, the months, the hours and the minutes and seconds in steps of 5, or a time interval with up to 60 display elements or with up to 12 or 20 rows of displays, or a combination of Display points and display lines; or
• Digitally a time interval up to four digits, for example the 1000th of a second with a stopwatch, or two time intervals with two digits, for example the numerical representation of hours and minutes

displayed.

• – die Anzeige von Buchstaben des Alphabets, beispielsweise zur Kenntlichmachung der Tageshälfte vor bzw. nach der Mittagsstunde durch Anzeigen der hierfür üblichen Abkürzungen wie "A" bzw. "P" oder "AM" bzw. "PM"
• – die Anzeige von zeitbezogenen Symbolen, beispielsweise der Mondphase oder Sternzeichen,
• – die Anzeige von geschehnis- oder gerätebezogenen Symbolen, beispielsweise entsprechen dem Ladezustand der Stromversorgung der Betriebseinheit,
• – die Anzeige von Buchstabenkombinationen bis hin zur Bildung allgemeinverständlicher Wörter und Wortnachrichten, insbesondere solcher, die von einer beispielsweise in das Substrat aufgenommenen Empfängereinheit empfangen werden, und
• – die zusätzliche oder alternative Anzeige von zeitunabhängigen Zahlen oder Zahlenkombinationen, beispielsweise von Telefonnummern.

It has also proven useful in the use of one or more display panels in particular

• - The display of letters of the alphabet, for example, to identify the half-day before or after the noon hour by displaying the usual abbreviations such as "A" or "P" or "AM" or "PM"
• The display of time-related symbols, for example the moon phase or zodiac sign,
• The display of event-related or device-related symbols, for example, correspond to the state of charge of the power supply of the operating unit,
• The display of letter combinations up to the formation of generally understood words and word messages, in particular those which are received by a receiver unit, for example, received in the substrate, and
• - the additional or alternative display of time-independent numbers or combinations of numbers, such as telephone numbers.

The present invention provides for the enlarged individual representation of the time display method or individual numbers, letters or symbols before the use of multiple display fields and a corresponding switching device, by means of which between reduced and enlarged representation can be optionally changed. According to the invention, the various modes of representation or modes of operation can be programmed externally by means of the known programming techniques and input means on the substrate or housing or by means of the known data transmission techniques with cable or without cable connection from the outside. Furthermore, according to the invention, the equipment of the substrate is provided with a receiver and / or transmitting device, by means of which, for example, incoming telephone calls from mobile phones to the substrate by means of numbers or symbol information on one or more of the used or a separate display panel and / or signals are sent For example, to a mobile phone to thereby deny the call or the ringer suppress. According to the display type is used with their spatially separated display elements in addition to flat on three-dimensionally shaped or moldable, namely flexible surfaces, especially when used on jewelry objects.

The invention provides in the second aspect as display elements and those which are designed for light-emitting, light-reflecting, light-transmitting and color changes, or a combination thereof, such as diamonds or / and and brilliants or crystals, glass crystals and Rhinestone or LEDs and the like electro-optical display elements or a combination thereof. The invention provides for the use in particular in pieces of jewelry, for example in diamond bands with mesh structures, wherein not every used for the formation of the jewelry item or on the network structure display element must be designed to be controllable; rather, inactive display elements are also possible (see 18 ). Especially in this embodiment, and especially when using on / off devices, the time display appears out of the center of the gems. Furthermore, the invention also provides for the additional arrangement of known displays, in particular for use in jewelery, in particular for the display of time intervals not shown by the invention or for the structurally desirable additional display by the invention shown time intervals. Another advantage resulting from the invention according to its second aspect is the particular aesthetic effect resulting from the use of highly refractive materials, in particular gemstones, as display elements. As a result, the jewelry character is much better advantage and comes to the fore as if, for example, only a conventional time display peripherally decorated with gems or covered with such a decorated cap. The gemstones mentioned give namely no indication of their inventive, additional time-indicating function. In suitably guided, eg only from a certain angle recognizable lighting this function is recognizable only to the user.

In the 21 is in the display area 31 in addition to the digital display of the number "8" as an hour indication 91 a display "Na" represented, which stands for the periodic table of the elements for sodium, the atomic number 11 is and thus when using the minutes display 11l in 5-steps 55 minutes on, or at exactly the minute display 11 Minutes. In the 22 is the ad 9m "Well," the same as the ad 11l in 21 , but stands here for 11 hours, whereas the minute display 11m closed-analog, so in this example shows about 40 minutes; the displayed time is 11:40.

In the 23 is in a display area 3n a display showing the hour as the key "G major" and the minutes as a tone. In G major being the first of twelve scales, this display represents the first hour, while "Ais" is the fourth note of a chromatic twelve-note G major scale, and thus, when measuring minutes in steps of five, Represented 20 minutes. Taken together, the display "G-Dur: Ais" shows 1:20. The 24 shows the same time purely graphically: The hour is marked here by means of the clef 9o ' , the staff lines 13o and the key mark 9o '' , the minute through the displayed note 11o , In the 25 is the ad according to the 24 supplemented by a numeric indication of the clock 11p , This indicates the time signature 11p for the minutes, and the sound 13p for the second in steps of 5 Taken together, the time is shown here 1:37:20. In the 26 Another display mode is shown in which the hours as in the 25 as a key 9q ' . 9q '' but the quarter hours as one of four triads 11q are indicated. The twelve tones of the scale, in this case G major corresponding to the first hour, are divided into four triads so that each sound belongs exactly to a triad. In a first variant, each triad is formed of three consecutive tones, that is, the first triad of G + # G + A (see 26 In a second variant (without representation), each triad is indicated as a major chord, the first as G + C + E, the second as # G + # C + F etc. In both cases, the first triad stands for the completed first quarter of an hour, together with the key for 1:15.

The 27 shows another representation, namely a time display by highlighting the operable for generating a particular sound controls a musical instrument, here a recorder. The open circles make open holes 1r ' the full circles closed holes 1r '' , The tone played on the indicated holes would again be the Ais or #A, that is the fourth note, starting from a G major scale, corresponding to the fourth hour or, if this display represents the minutes in steps of 5, 20 minutes. In 28 are key "G major" and tone "Ais" in an additional digital display 15s with, so that 1:20 is given in a clear way. In 29 the time is additionally indicated numerically. The ad in the 30 is the ad in 28 similar, but here is the display of the grip image in eight individual ads 1u ' . 1u '' dissolved. These individual ads 1u ' . 1u '' are on the musical instrument in question, in special near the respective controls 2 arranged.

In the 31 is shown as the display elements 1 in the example of 1 to 3 on a display surface 3 are arranged so that the substrate 17 for the uninitiated looks like a piece of jewelry. In addition, switches are 19 ' . 19 '' indicated by means of which can be switched between a selection of operating modes. A power supply for the indicator is in the substrate 17 housed, or in an alternative in the bracelet, not shown in its closure. The latter arrangement is particularly advantageous because of the achieved weight compensation, which leads to a higher wearing comfort, otherwise there would be a tendency of the indicator to slip on the inside of the wrist.

32 illustrates in a cross-sectional view how transparent crystals 21 such as rhinestone in a on the substrate 17 arranged surface layer 25 are edged so that the crystals are slightly out of the display area 3 protrude. Under the crystals 21 are light emitting diodes 23 in the substrate 17 accommodated so that the light emitting parts 27 the diodes 23 her beam straight through the crystals 21 emit, provided they are from the controller 29 to be controlled. As a result of the crystal grinding, some refraction and refraction effect occurs, which may be superimposed on total internal reflection of the crystals. Especially when using spectrally broadband or white luminous diodes, this results in colored light refraction effects with a decorative effect. Not shown are variants in which the display elements are formed by LCD elements, or between crystals or glass bodies and luminous bodies like those in 32 arranged with regard to their transmission controllable LCD elements are arranged. An embodiment with respect to the color impression caused by the emitted light to change controllable elements, such as dichroic micro-mirrors, is not shown separately. Also without illustration is a variant in which the light is supplied to the crystals or glass bodies by optical fibers, so for example glass fibers, whereby the actual light sources can be arranged elsewhere in the substrate or outside the substrate. In particular, a single light source which emits its light into a fiber bundle is sufficient, light entry ends of the individual fibers being equipped with controllable LCD elements in order to realize an individually controllable access of light and thus also light emission from the crystal in the vicinity of the other fiber end.

In according to the third Aspect described embodiments, which can be combined with those of the first and second aspects to the discrete, i. therefor Uninitiated not determinable or hard to determine the quantitative Value of at least one of the time intervals required optical time Identification features used in intimate circles for the determination other than physical time display, and not numerically represented phenomena and the initiate to quantify the time indicated can therefore assign unique numerical values, because the used Identification features are associated with a clear classification system and thus able to replace the known, numerical order system. Periods not shown in accordance with the present invention, be by any of the known or by a combination of shown the known time displays. The invention also looks beyond the possibility before, by means of the known mechanical or electronic controls optionally additionally displaying one of the known, generally understandable time displays. The present invention thus includes a learning and teaching function for the used by the user the detection means displayed detection means via the daily Using the time display can optically learn or repeat. According to the invention by means of the known mechanical or electronic switching mechanisms of the time-indicating function to a pure teaching or learning function be changed so that the underlying symbol group on a specific signaling individually or in the manner of a Fast run total or to a search command individually or displayed according to individually programmable criteria in meaningful contexts becomes.

The present invention enables For example, a coded time display according to the 12 system, the exclusively be recognized by connoisseurs of the music theory of note that the clear determination of, for example, the hours the corresponding one Scales from the 12 known scales, and to determine the Minutes in 5-minute increments one of the 12 sounds the corresponding chromatic scale is displayed. The second can be, for example, additionally by announce the indication of the clock. The present invention allows this as well as the visual display by the alphanumeric representation the corresponding scale and the sound or the representation the key and pitch on staves.

A further embodiment of the present invention using the example of the time indication by means of the tone values provides the instrument-related representation of the corresponding tone value, for example defined by the corresponding scale and tone height before, in which the keys to be played a keyboard instrument or to be played louvers of a wind instrument or the strings to be played a string instrument are indicated visually recognizable. As a result, the time display becomes more discreet in that only connoisseurs of the musical instruments specifically shown recognize the time displayed or even recognize that a time is displayed.

The The aforementioned learning and teaching function allows, for example, in conjunction with an also acoustic reproduction of the entered sounds, the Playing music pieces and the simultaneous tracking of the corresponding instrument operation as well as possibly the simultaneous note tracking of the played Piece. Furthermore, the present invention uses the known touch-screen techniques as a learning and teaching function, for example by playing one Sound is digitally specified and the user the appropriate instrument operation takes place, whereby it by means of the known optical highlighting techniques the correct input is reported, or the incorrect, what he is shown the correspondingly correct instrument operation. Particularly advantageous in terms of learning and teaching function is the free programmability, by means of the well-known programming and Input techniques, the selection and the sequence of the items to be displayed Symbols.

The present invention for displaying time with its teaching functions especially in physical Connection with real musical instruments proven by the optical highlighting close attached to the instrument controls or on the instrument and thus the practitioner at the instrument the displays accessible be made.

As related to the 21 and 22 1, an embodiment of the invention provides for the use of the periodic system of the elements, for example, the 1st to the 60th minute by the indication of the formula character of the element according to its atomic number at the corresponding point of the periodic table.

A another embodiment The present invention provides the use as detection means grammatical forms of a language by, for example, that the usual six Forms of the present (I you he she it, we, her, you) indicate the first six hours of a 12-hour half-day, and the six forms of present-gerund Show the second six hours of the day half. For additional Display of the minutes in steps of 5, for example, the corresponding Forms of imperative and imperative gerund displayed.

A another embodiment of the present invention provides the graphical representation of the function determining Phases of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, in order by the display brought intake to indicate the 1st quarter of an hour, wherein the compression process the 2nd, the combustion process the 3rd and the ejection process representing the fourth quarter hour. Again, the teaching content the display according to the invention for the Given to the initiated.

Further Examples consist in the indication of geological epochs, the For example, stating various stages of development of homo sapiens to indicate a second time interval (e.g., minutes in 5's Steps) is combined. Likewise, indications are more typical Movement forms, for example, from the field of sports at the time. Thus, e.g. the course of a pole vault after the initiate known phases of the movement.

Has proven the display according to the invention in the use of historical, clearly time-hierarchical operations for example, by the initiate known chess games, such, that a visually represented move clearly the numeric Position of the depicted turn within the totality of completed moves is assigned. For the digital indication of the moves leave according to the invention also two Represent units by, for example, the moves of the white chess pieces hours, black chessmen minutes in 5s Specify steps, especially when using separate Ads for the white or black chess pieces.

According to the invention, the time can be specified by the naming example beipielsweise of 1st and 2nd winners at 100m finals of the Olympic Games of modern times. Here, the 1st winner stands for the hours, the 2nd winner for the minutes in steps of 5; the name of the 1st winner of the 1st Olympic Games is thus the 1st hour, the name of the 2nd winner of the 5th Olympic Games is 25 minutes, so for the time of 1:25. Similarly, with the succession of presidents of, for example, the United States of America, the hours can be clearly indicated and the minutes in increments of 5 by naming the vice-presidents. (For two terms by the same person, the respective term is displayed.) According to the alphabetical order of the names of the twelve apostles, for example, can clearly specify the 12 hours, and by naming one of the first twelve emergency workers (out of a total of 14) clearly the minutes in 5 steps. In egg ner embodiment with 24 hours displayed, the present invention allows the use of the 24 books of the Tanach to the hour and the naming of the twelve little prophets for minutes in 5-steps.

Has proven also the use of alphanumeric characters corresponding to their hierarchical position in the alphabet clearly a numerical value is assigned so that, for example, uppercase letters indicate the hours, while lowercase letters Show the minutes in increments of 5, so that, for example, "A: c" shows 1:15.

According to the invention free choice between display hierarchies kept in the known storage media or symbol groups or / and their specific terminology and / or the known time indicating method. The invention also sees the change the display hierarchies or symbol groups and their specific ones Terminology by means of the known programming techniques, in particular by means of the known remote transmission techniques of electronic Data by cable or Radio connection and the like, as well as the direct programming on Time indicator itself.

Claims (19)

Time indicator, comprising: A substrate, including a display area; - Medium for visually highlighting discrete points of the display area for Providing a time display; and - one Control for driving the emphasis means in dependence from the time, wherein the emphasis means are formed to at least two of a) a digital representation show the time, b) a linear-analog representation show the time, and c) a closed-analog representation show the time, further comprising means for switching between the at least two representations. Time indicator, in particular according to claim 1, comprising: A substrate, including a display area; - Medium for visually highlighting discrete points of the display area for Providing a time display; and - one Control for driving the emphasis means in dependence from the time, wherein the highlighting means comprises a plurality of arrays comprising display elements, where the time display is a Display of a first time interval and a second time interval includes, and wherein the controller is adapted to the To control emphasis means such that the first time interval and the second time interval in each different one of the arrays different representations are displayed with the various representations selected from digital displays, linear-analogue displays and closed-analogue Show. Time indicator, in particular according to claim 1 or 2, full - one Substrate comprising a display surface; - means of visual highlighting discrete points of the display area to provide a time indication; and - one Control for driving the emphasis means in dependence from the time, wherein the time display is designed such that a numerical value of a time to be displayed in each case by a symbol represented from a sorted non-numeric symbol group becomes. A time indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the highlighting means comprise a plurality of transparent display elements, wherein a Material of the display elements is selected in particular from the group out: natural Gemstones, machined gemstones and synthetic gemstones. A time indicator according to claim 4, wherein the highlighting means comprise at least one light source adapted to individually supplying light to the display elements, in particular the display elements to light up. Time indicator, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: - one Substrate comprising a display surface; - means of visual highlighting discrete points of the display area to provide a time indication; and - one Control for driving the emphasis means in dependence from the time, wherein the highlighting means comprises a plurality of transparent ones Include display elements, wherein a material of the display elements selected is from the group consisting of natural gemstones, machined Gemstones and synthetic gemstones, and where the highlighting comprise at least one light source adapted to individually supplying light to the display elements, in particular the display elements to light up. A time indicator according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the highlighting means are arranged to display at least two of a) a digital representation of the time, b) indicate a linear-analog representation of the time and c) display a closed-analog representation of the time, further comprising a switch for switching between the at least two representations. Time indicator according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the material Rhinestone is. Analog / digital time indicator according to one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the display elements in the form of at least one, in particular two or three, arrays are arranged, wherein the at least an array in particular a rectangle, hexagon, parallelogram or Circle is. An analog / digital time indicator according to claim 9, wherein the at least one array three rows each with five display elements includes. Analog / digital time indicator according to claim 2, 9 or 10, wherein the arrangement of the display elements four in particular comprises similar arrays. Analog / digital time indicator according to one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the controller is adapted to the outer display elements the individually supply at least one array of light, so that the number or / and the position of the illuminated display elements represents the time to be displayed. Time indicator according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the controller is adapted to the display elements of at least one array rows or columns individually light to feed, so that the number of illuminated display elements to be displayed Represents time. Time indicator according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the controller is adapted to the display elements of individually supply at least one array such that light the illuminated display elements together at least one digit the time to be displayed or at least one time to be displayed representing Letters or at least one representing the time to be displayed Symbol symbolize. The time indicator of claim 14, wherein the controller is adapted to the display elements of at least one other Arrays individually such light supply that the illuminated Display elements together at least one analog representation provide the time to be displayed. The time indicator of claim 14, wherein the controller is designed to the display elements of particular four Arrays individually such light supply that the illuminated Display elements together two two-digit numbers of the to be displayed Represent time. Time indicator according to one of claims 2 to 16, wherein the highlighting means comprise light guiding means, in particular are arranged so that the light supplied to the display elements by the light guide on at least one surface the display elements is totally reflected. Time indicator according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the emphasis means are further adapted to yours representation of the day, the weekday, the week, the month, the calendar month, the Moon phase, the position of the sun in relation to the ecliptic, the season, of the year or / and calendar year. Use of the time indicator according to claim 3 or one of Claims dependent on claim 3, for Learn or teach the symbol group or its sorting.