DE2837426A1 - ELECTROOPTICAL DISPLAY DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

In a display device, for an electronic digital watch, having an indicating layer which can be varied optically by electric fields, e.g. liquid crystal between two carrier plates, the outer carrier plate is transparent and carries transparent electrodes which are selectively controlled to produce an alpha-numeric display of time and calendar data and in addition, to produce reference symbols e.g. 50, 51, 52, 30a-30c (Fig. 3). The symbols indicate the current function or mode selected (e.g. geographical time, alarm time, chronograph) and the nature of the information in the alpha-numeric displays. <IMAGE>

Description

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Elekt r o.opt is marriage. Number of eigevor.ric.ht.ung

The present invention relates to a display device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Today it is widely criticized that electronic digital wristwatches , mostly with liquid crystal display, make operation difficult to understand. Already at simple, previously known designs, which only provide the normal time information, the straightening is often only with Possible with the help of an instruction manual. Buyers without basic technical training often do not even dare, according to established Make changes to the time deviation, as such clocks no longer display the current time after improper use of the control elements. Seeks a If such a confused watch owner goes to a specialist watch dealer, there is no guarantee that the Watchmaker knows the logic of all the models on the market. These difficulties are particularly pronounced for multifunctional watches with stopwatch operation, world times and several alarm options.

As an example of a known clock logic, refer to the data sheet for the integrated circuit MJ 6, 6 digit / 5 function LCD Watch Circuit from Philips Elcoma, 8027 Zurich, Switzerland. This is a circuit for a digital clock of medium complexity, which simultaneously displays hours, minutes, seconds or hours, Representing minutes, date. By pressing the switch A there, you can switch between the two types of display and can be switched here. The second switch B is normally used to operate the night lighting by means of a Micro incandescent lamp, if the wearer comes after a long period of use

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time to have to change the clock setting (for example after a trip to a country with other time zone), without a user manual or a good memory, the start of the Right sequence not possible because it is the simultaneous operation the two switches A and B did not try. If he succeeds in the beginning, the next one arises immediately Difficulty: The puncture of the separately operated switches A and B is no longer the original one as described above. wrote. That switch A leads from one directional mode to the other and switch B leads to the setting in the selected mode changed, can only be found out through experiments without operating instructions. The wearer does not do this by chance correct operations, he unintentionally misrepresents the valid ones Timing data.

The operation of complex · multifunctional watches becomes even more arduous. For this, reference is made to the well-known version of Citizen, model 40-l. Find in this execution Even technical specialists cannot cope without operating instructions. The associated instructions include Pages. To make things easier, the information currently displayed on the numeric displays is represented by suitable symbols identified. For example, a sporty runner indicates that a stopwatch is in use. Symbols for the same purpose are e.g.

also with the well-known liquid crystal displays, type LC 201960-000 from BBC Aktiengesellschaft Brown, Boveri &; Cie., Baden, Switzerland or from DE-OS 26 46 already known.

Nevertheless, the operation of the mentioned Citizen watch, model 40-1, is by no means easy. Suffice it to say that at the same time when displaying the normal time information

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Symbols for alarm and stopwatch operation may appear, not to mention the operations to change the different settings.

There is therefore a clear need to be able to operate such displays by means of explanatory notes on the To facilitate viewing. A step in this direction was taken when, on the periphery of the The face of the Citizen watch, model 40-1, shows the main possible operations of the individual controls were printed. However, this information is not clear, as not all options are available for reasons of space can be printed and the user does not know which of the information applies at the moment.

The solution known from DE-OS 25 01 973 goes one step further. Here the desired function or the desired straightening mode communicated by a mechanical rotary dial via electrical sensors of the watch electronics. The selection can be made unambiguously. However, it is a complex electromechanical one Solution that does not fit well into the concept of fully electronic clocks. There is also the response time in stopwatch mode or setting the seconds after an acoustic time signal probably unbearably long. However, be it in this one Relation also referred to the improvement known from CH-PS 3337/70 with an additional push button.

Further approaches are from DE-AS 2 432 390 and from DE-OS 2 646 169 known. In DE-AS 2 432 390 the The sequence of straightening states specified by the electronics is made recognizable by means of additional display symbols. In 4 of this document different points appear,

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to identify the directional mode. Be with this solution however, the punctures of the two snap fasteners are not clear explained. In the normal time display state, button A is also used to toggle between hours, minutes and date, Seconds used. During the straightening, the different punctures of A and B are not, without, visible that attempts are made. In DE-OS 2 646 169, the representation of 3 memory contents for alarm times is through each identified a display symbol. Electronically controlled However, there are no references to the current puncture of the 3 actuators.

It is the object of the present invention to be exhausted the possibilities of electro-optical displays for the clear representation of the currently valid functions of the control elements with the help of suitable logical control, only the information on the display that is relevant in the selected state and so the user in the sense of a dialogue between the possibilities of the watch electronics and the user's decision respectively. In the normal state of the display of the local time, the display should be limited to the essentials remain, i.e. the additional controllable information on the display should be in this state as far as it makes sense remain suppressed in order not to make the most important data difficult to read.

This problem is solved by the features of the main claim.

If the user wishes a change, a first variant only the selection options are displayed on actuation of any operating element. If the user does nothing, i.e. will not do anything If the change option is made, the notices will appear after

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after a period of time specified by the electronics. If, however, a change leading to several logical decisions has been initiated during this ongoing display by further actuation of an operating element (e.g. right sequence for local time ) _s , the selection options are continuously displayed in every state that requires a further decision _s. In a second variant, the selection options are displayed after actuation of an operating element and at the same time the puncture assigned to the actuated operating element is carried out. Both variants can of course be implemented in one and the same design ₃ by, for example, punctures with permanent changes to the stored data such as setting the local time or the alarm time according to the first variant, while temporarily effective punctures such as night lighting or switching to the date display after the second variant are executed.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

Show:

_{1-2 schematic plan views of} a first exemplary embodiment, see FIG

3 shows a schematic plan view of a second exemplary embodiment,

4-6 schematic plan views of a third embodiment «,

7 shows a schematic plan view of a fourth exemplary embodiment,

ö 9 / Q 5 & O

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Pig. 8 is a schematic plan view of a fifth exemplary embodiment ,

9 shows a block diagram of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 2,

10 shows a block diagram of the exemplary embodiments

of Figs. 4, 5 , 6 and 7-.

The exemplary embodiments described below would with parallel control, i.e. one external electrical connection per individually controllable display segment require an excessively large number of control connections. Through suitable cell technology to generate a low angle of attack of the liquid crystal molecules in the outer layers, for which e.g. on the Swiss Patent application CH 1026/76 or to DE-OS 2 605 690 is referred to, and by optimizing the liquid crystal mixtures, however, can also be time-division multiplexed sequentially operated liquid crystal displays can be realized. A particularly suitable control method for Liquid crystal displays are described in Swiss patent application CH 13197/77 or in DE-PS 2 752 602 by the same applicant. Due to the matrix-like arrangement of the display segments on which it is based, the number of external connections can be drastically reduced. With this technology, much more complex displays can be realized with a larger number of display segments « The current limit is around 80 external connections on the two long sides of the liquid crystal wristwatch displays (40 each on one side), which is a con-

. Cycle grid of approx. 0.6 mm conditional. Most of them today

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The zebra elastomer contact strips used, this grid for reliable contact is at the lower limit. In addition, the path guidance on the electronic substrate is correspondingly demanding. The cost of contact also grows tation between IC chip and electronic substrate in wire bond technology with the number of connections.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is a very complex one Digital display 22 is shown, which all important time data 25 and notes 40-42, 43-45 at the same time electro-optically able to display. The one in Pig. I controlled segments show a possible state with the following meaning :

The local time in time zone 2 is: 28th day, 10 a.m., 41 minutes, 53 seconds. The arrows 30a, 30b, 30c associated side switches A, B, C designed as push buttons have the following functions:

A) "Selec" = selection of others, not identified here

Functions such as stopwatch operation or alarm.

B) "Disp'l" = selection of local time 1.

C) "Set T2" = initiation of setting the local time 2.

In this example, the digits from 7 segments and the letters from 14 segments are so-called "Starburst" patterns, such as for example from DE-OS 2 409 191 * Fig. 3) known, constructed. If you add the additional symbols and annunciators, you can calculate:

8 digits each 7 segments. - 56 15 letters each 14 segments = 210 additional characters approx. '"= 20

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Total individually controllable segments. = 286

This number is very high, even if you have limited time division multiplexing takes help. However, it is possible to reduce this number significantly if you change the letters not designed to be fully controllable in general. For this purpose, the intended abbreviations 40-45 are compiled, unnecessary display segments are omitted and only commonly used segments are electrically connected. In the aforementioned DE-OS 2 409 191, such simplification variants are found for the representation of weekday abbreviations. Any hints for identification however, the actuators are absent from this patent application.

The display of Fig. 1 can also be done with the help of a special Pixel matrix can be reduced to fewer external connections. Essentially three lines of information can be formed for this purpose. Each line consists of 7 to 9 lines of pixels. For example, a resolution of 5 pixels arranged horizontally next to one another is required for each character used, so that essentially e.g. 10 χ 5 vertical columns of pixels arise. The basic picture elements are normally square or almost circular overlapping areas of row and column electrodes. In In exceptional cases, however, the overlapping areas can have almost any shape in order to allow the special display symbols of FIG. 1 to be realized. In such clearly matrix-like arrangements, sequential control is required inevitable.

For the embodiment according to FIG. 1, there are new possibilities the status sequences e.g. the alignment sequence. Without Ge =

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Due to confusion, more than one time specification can be made adjustable in the same straightening mode using different switches A ₁ B _{3 C.} FIG. 2 shows such a straightening state as can occur, for example, after the switch C in FIG. 1 has been actuated. The hours 31 and seconds 33 flash, as well as the arrows 3Ob ₅ 30c to B and C. To make the assignment even clearer ^ hours 31 and C arrow 30c on the one hand and seconds 33 and B arrow 30b on the other hand can be alternated for each eg 0 _s 5 s. If this straightening state is no longer required, switch A ₃ is actuated to go to the next straightening state, in which, for example, the date 34 and the minutes 35 can be changed at the same time. In a further right state, the year and month would then have to be judged, whereby references in the form of 40-42 or 43 ~ 45 would simultaneously identify the year and month appearing in the fields of date 34 and second 33 . In this last state, for example, "DISP ^t: 2" appears at A. Note that for the complete readjustment of the local time 2 only 3 standard states have to be run through _s while normally about twice the number of steps are necessary _s as is necessary, for example, for the version described on the mentioned data sheet MJ 6 from Philips.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is somewhat extensive, especially for wristwatches, because _{there is not enough space for 8 easily legible digits on a time 5} as provided here for the time data 25. Therefore solutions with up to 6 digits on one line are more suitable for this application. The reference words 40-45 on the pushbuttons A ₃ B ₃ C, on the other hand, do not need to be of the same size and legibility as, for example, the digits 31 » 35 for hours and minutes.

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FIG. 3 shows an embodiment that can be easily implemented in terms of the required area. In the normal state, the 6 digits 3I _{3 show} 35, 33 hours, minutes and seconds. The abbreviation for the information on pushbutton functions consists of 3-6 characters, in the example shown five 9-segment characters 28 and 3 additional controllable letters A, B and C (provided with item number 29 in Fig. 3), which in combination with An arrow 30a, 30b, 30e and associated controllable letters A, B and C, which are also designated by 30a, 30b, 30c in FIG. 3, indicate the corresponding pushbuttons. In addition, operating status symbols 50, 51, 52 for time zone, alarm and stopwatch operation can be activated. In the normal state, the message "DATE A" can appear continuously together with "A arrow", whereupon the corresponding data month, day and alphanumeric weekday appear when the A key is pressed. Alternatively, all messages can be suppressed in the normal state. The embodiment according to FIG. 3 can also be designed according to the above-mentioned first variant, so that if any of the switches A, B, C designed as pushbuttons is actuated, it only triggers indications for the further possible procedure, but not yet a change in information. For example, the indications “DATE A”, “ALARM B” and “CHRON C” can appear together for one second each with the corresponding arrows 30a, 30b, 30c. If one of the 3 buttons at A, B, C is then pressed, the message sequence is immediately interrupted and the desired information is displayed with the other options.

Another advantageous solution is shown in FIG. Note line 60 is used here to indicate the local time to display the alphanumeric weekday and date. Compared to the solution of FIG. 3, there is the advantage that at the same time all -important data of the local time for display

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to be brought. Of course, this embodiment according to FIG. 4 can also be designed according to the above-mentioned first variant. If you press any key A, B, ₃ C in this case, the day of the week and the date would disappear and the abbreviations of information appear sequentially on the same line 60 together with the corresponding arrows 30a, 30b, 30c for the pushbuttons A, B, C. The additional letters A ₃ B ₃ C in FIG. 3 have been omitted. They are not absolutely necessary. The assignment of hint word 60 and arrow can be made clear by appropriate flashing operation.

Fig. 5 shows for the embodiment according to Fig. 4 a state of the local time zone 2 with the time indication 26th day, Wednesday, 9 p.m., 35 minutes, 19 seconds.

Fig. 6 shows a state in the chronometer operation. The blinking symbol chronometer 5 ^ together with the letter L identifies the displayed information as an intermediate time "lap time". The note 46 "Stop" with arrow 30a indicates the function of the key at A. The chronometer can be stopped with the key at A. The other possible functions such as "SPLIT" with arrow 30b and "DISP ¹ N" with arrow 30c are also indicated cyclically. If you press the button at A at any point in time (even if another message is currently being displayed), the chronometer is stopped. During a period of 2 seconds, for example, the 1/10 and 1/100 seconds of the stopped time appear in the field of the indicator 46. The information on the fraction of a second is then automatically deleted and the information on the new selection options appear. A display according to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 consists of approximately 100 individually controllable ones

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Segments. If time-division multiplex operation with 50 % pulse duty factor j is used, the number of external connections is approx. 50, which does not cause any technical difficulties.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment without Arrows as reference symbols »In this sense, could also be in the embodiments according to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 to the 3 arrows are omitted if, for example, the letters 20 on the dial edge 21 of the push buttons 23 A, B and C would be printed on it. In the information label 60, the following information would appear one after the other, for example: A'LITE, B'SET, CMODE.

The printed label is designated by 20 in FIG. 7, with 21 the dial frame and with 22 the electro-optical Display area. With 23, the pushbutton switches at A, B and C and with 24 are activated Reference word for the switch C denotes. The line for the time data is denoted by 25 and the line is denoted by 26 Operating status symbol for the alarm time 2.

A simplest form of application of the inventive concept is shown in FIG. This is an advertisement 22, which e.g. in combination with the integrated CMOS circuit on the mentioned data sheet MJ 6 from the company Philips can be used with parallel control. The hints 47j 48, 49 are not made up of 9-segment characters with a capital Flexibility built up, but there are announcers, i.e. predetermined words etched into the electrode layer of the display. The individual words "SET", "DATE", "CHANGE", "NEXT" form electrical units and each have only one external connection on. Around the words "SET" and. "SEC" at A saves space summarize, the last letter is divided into 3 parts

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divides which, in suitable combinations, result in the letters C and T. As a special feature of the corresponding directional logic the straightening sequence is initiated by pressing the buttons at A and B at the same time. Used during normal Time display the button at B is pressed, the two arrows and the word "SET" are displayed for approx. 2 seconds to indicate this possibility.

In the case of digital displays as in FIGS. 1 to 7, it makes sense to store the vocabulary of the words to be used in a "read-only memory ROM" (read-only memory) if the clock electronics are constructed accordingly. Since 1977 clock circuits have been in production which work like a microporcessor, for example from the data sheet from Eurosil, June 1977 ₃ "e 1159 Mask-programmable universal clock circuit with microprocessor structure", and the data sheet DGC (1978), p. 227 = 233 known. The block diagram on page 231 of this publication can be applied to the exemplary embodiments cited here. However, no time-division multiplex operation of the liquid crystal display is provided in this publication.

Fig. 9 shows a possible circuit for the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. With A, B, C are the operating elements the clock. 1, 2 and 3 represent debounce circuits, each of which is both direct and via the OR gate 4 with the operating state control logic 5 are connected. From the operating status control logic 5 leads one output to a counter 6 for time zone 1 and one to a counter 8 for time zone 2. Outputs from each of these counters 6 and 7 lead to data selection 10 for display. From the operating status tax logic 5 also lead to an output each to the alarm

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selector 8 and the stopwatch counter 9, which in turn have outputs for data selection 10 for the display. The output of the data selection 10 for the display leads via a data converter binary / segment code 11 to the display driver stages 12, which then lead to the time display. Further address outputs lead from the operating state control logic 5 to a so-called "read only memory" memory (ROM) in which the codings for certain reference words are stored. 3 further outputs of the operating state control logic each lead via an AND gate 14, 15 , 16 to the buffer memory 17. The second input of these AND gates 14, 15, 16 is each connected to the "read only memory" memory 13. An output of the operating state control logic 5 leads directly to the intermediate memory U, from which the three outputs each lead to a note via the display stages 12a to display the notes 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 10 shows a further possible circuit for the embodiments of FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7. As in FIG. 9 the switches labeled A, B and C set the

2Ό are the operating elements of the clock. 1, 2 and 3 represent debouncing circuits each of which both directly and via the OR gate 4 with the operating state control logic 5 are connected. An output from the operating state control logic 5 leads to a counter 6 for time zone 1, one for a counter 7 for time zone 2, one for the alarm preselector 8 and one to the stopwatch counter 9 · The counter 6 for time zone 1, the counter 7 for time zone 2, the Alarm selection 8 and the stopwatch counter 9 are all in turn connected to data selection 10 for display.

;. Furthermore, the operating state control logic 5 is directly connected to the Data selection 10 for display, connected. The operating status-St Your logic 5 is also via the buffer

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17 connected to the data selection 10 for the display. The operating state control logic 5 also has an output on j which leads to the 1 of 3 selector 18 for the cyclical activation of various indications. This 1 out of 3 selector 18 is provided with a ring loop and has three outputs, all of which are connected to the "read only memory" memory 13 (ROM) for addressing. The “read only memory” memory 13 is itself also directly connected to the operating state control logic 5. The output of the “read only memory” memory 13 leads via the intermediate memory 17i, the output of which leads directly to the data selection 10 for the display. The data selection 10 for the display 12 is _Λ which lead via the data converter binary / code segment 11 to the display driver stages turn, directly to the display.

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Claims (10)

106/78 BBC Public Company Cb / dh Brown ₃ Boveri & Cie.
Baden (Switzerland) . P a t. e .η t. a η s p. r. ü e. h e ί 1.J Display device with a display layer that can be optically changed by means of electrical fields between two carrier plates, whereby at least the carrier plate facing the observer is transparent and has a multi-part transparent electrode on its inside for applying electronically selectable local electric fields, so that digits, Letters, characters or symbols can be displayed, with partial display areas being provided as explanatory notes on the main information displayed or on operating elements, characterized in that, as explanatory notes, electro-optically controllable note symbols (30a, 30b, 30c, 29 ₃ 40-49), which are indicated by their location or their similar designation each uniquely identify a control element (A, B, C), it is provided that from a large number of controllable explanatory notes (30a, 30b, 30c, 29, 40-49) those reference symbols, reference symbols and reference abbreviations are selected which explain the current function of the control elements (A, B, C). 2. Display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the explanatory notes without actuation of any operating element {k ₃ B, C) are suppressed during the display of the main information (25) in the initial state, 3. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that upon actuation of any operating element <A, B ₁ C) in the initial state according to claim 2, the explanatory notes ent- Q30009 / -0S4S BBC Baden - 2 - 106/78 can neither be displayed briefly and deleted again for each control element (A ₃ B, C) in sequence, nor are all notes displayed simultaneously for a time limited to a few seconds. 4. Display device according to claim 3, characterized in that when a control element (A ₃ B ₃ C) is actuated for the first time, only the explanatory notes appear for triggering a permanent change in the displayed puncture and the change in puncture only appears when the corresponding control element is actuated again ( A ₃ B ₃ C) takes place during the notification period. 5. Display device according to one of the preceding claims _3, characterized in that in those states of the electronic display (22) which require an additional actuation of at least one operating element, the explanatory notes are displayed either periodically or continuously. 6. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the purpose of distinguishing between two different options alternately one time synchronous control of the related notes and pieces of information is provided. 7. Display device according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the explanatory notes by a logical OR function of the debounced electronic Signals from all control elements are triggered for a limited time of seconds. 0 3Qt) 09 / ΰ 5 48 BBC Baden - 3 - 106/78 8. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, to reduce the number of contacts, the control is carried out by sequential Time division multiplex operation takes place. 9 · Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the use of programmable CMOS logic with integrated circuit technology is intended to control the display. 10. Use of the display device according to one of the preceding Claims for the manufacture of quartz-controlled clocks, in particular wristwatches. 030009 / 054S