EP0274172A1 - Binäre Anzeigen - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0274172A1
EP0274172A1 EP87300164A EP87300164A EP0274172A1 EP 0274172 A1 EP0274172 A1 EP 0274172A1 EP 87300164 A EP87300164 A EP 87300164A EP 87300164 A EP87300164 A EP 87300164A EP 0274172 A1 EP0274172 A1 EP 0274172A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
array
graphic
graphic displays
arrays
displays
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP87300164A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0274172B1 (de
Inventor
Murry Alexander Norman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to DE8787300164T priority Critical patent/DE3775196D1/de
Priority to EP19870300164 priority patent/EP0274172B1/de
Publication of EP0274172A1 publication Critical patent/EP0274172A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0274172B1 publication Critical patent/EP0274172B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
    • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
    • G09F9/302—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
    • G04G9/08—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques

Definitions

  • This invention relates to binary numbers and has particular application to such numbers providing a measure of time.
  • Such numbers include the time of day (i.e. seconds, minutes or hours), the day of the week, the day of the month, the month of the year, the season of the year and the year itself.
  • apparatus for expressing a measure of time in binary notation, the apparatus including at least one array comprising at least three graphic displays perceivable each as having a place-value in the binary system, timing means for generating signals at regular time intervals and means responsive to the signals to alter or reorientate each graphic display or to cause each graphic display to move or disappear so that it is thereby perceived in one of two alternate states and hence the or each said array is caused to indicate a binary number representing one of the following namely seconds, minutes, hours, weekdays, monthdays, months, seasons or years.
  • each graphic display is elongate and the graphic displays in an array are disposed so as to make up at least one geometrical figure. In one aspect at least three of the displays in an array are disposed so as to make up a triangle. In an alternative form of the invention, the graphic displays in each said array are similar one to the other but different to the graphic displays in the other said arrays. In one aspect the displays are of pictorial form. In another aspect, all of the graphic displays are substantially similar one to the other.
  • the apparatus includes means for marking the location of each graphic display in its array.
  • each location in one array is aligned with a location another said array and the means for marking the aligned locations is common to the said arrays.
  • the means for marking the said location comprises a graphic indicium of pictorial form.
  • the graphic displays in each said array are different one from the other. In one aspect the graphic displays in each array are also different from the displays in the other array.
  • the term 'graphic' includes such matter as can be perceived by the sense of touch in the case of, for example, a blind person.
  • FIG. 1 there are shown two groups of three symbols labelled 1, 2 and 4 (in the first or right hand group) and 8, 16 and 32 (in the second or left hand group).
  • the symbols represent in the present case two groups of three LCD (liquid crystal display) elements, the elements in each group being arranged in the pattern of equilateral triangle.
  • the symbols could represent a wide variety of alternative elements such as fluorescent light tubes or rib-like protuberances in a flat surface.
  • LCDs in the energised form each element can be seen but when not energised it cannot be seen.
  • Other visible elements might, for example be a certain colour in one form and another colour in the second form. Where the elements are to be perceived by the sense of touch, they might in one form be raised above the surrounding surface and in the second form be retracted flush with the surface.
  • each LCD element can be seen not only as being 'on' or 'off' but also as being disposed in one of three orientations in either triangle.
  • a person who is familar with the array shown in Figure 1 can even though there is no other frame of reference, by its orientation, assign a value to any one of the LCD elements which is 'on' even though all the others may be 'off'.
  • each LCD element labelled 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32, switched 'on' with all the others 'off' will always represent the decimal numbers 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 respectively and occupy the 2nd,3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th from right hand columns in the binary array.
  • groups of the elements switched 'on' can be read as other decimal numbers.
  • Table 2 Simplified information from Table 1 is given in Table 2 in which in the right hand column the permutations of the LCD elements 1,2 and 4 making up the group in right hand triangle are given together with the decimal value equivalent of each; and similarly in the left hand column the permutations of the elements 8, 16 and 32 are given together with the decimal value equivalents thereof. It will perhaps be somewhat clearer from Table 2 that any (decimal) number between 0 and 63 can be obtained by adding a decimal number from the left hand column to a number in the right hand column, it being assumed of course that the number 0 is represented by all of the elements in both triangles being 'off'. Any decimal number so arrived at is represented by placing together the equivalent permutation of LCDs in each column.
  • Figure 3 shows how four arrays of graphic displays of the type shown in Figure 1 can be grouped on the face of a wristwatch or clock.
  • the upper array 100 in this example represents the hour of the day (in decimal from 0 to 24).
  • the next array 102 represents the minute of the hour (in decimal from 0 to 59).
  • the next array 104 represents the second of the minute (again from 0 to 59 in decimal).
  • the lower array 106 represents the day of the month (in decimal from 1 to 31). It is necessary to provide a timing device (clock) and electronic circuitry to cause the LCD elements in the four arrays to switch on and off as appropriate.
  • clock timing device
  • Figure 3 shows, by way of example, what would be seen on the watch face when the watch registers the time to be 12.24 and 48 seconds on the 6th day of the month.
  • a clock face is shown containing four arrays of graphic displays of the type illustrated in Figure 1 and one array comprising three LCD elements only.
  • the arrays 110, 112 and 114 on the left hand side represent respectively the hour, minute and second of the day.
  • the array 116 on the right hand side, comprising three elements only, represents the day of the week. The reason for this is that three elements are sufficient to cover the group of numbers from 1 to 7 inclusive.
  • the second array 118 on the right hand side represents the day of the month.
  • the clock face contains an upper array for the day of the week, a middle array for the month of the year and a lower array for the day of the month.
  • Figures 6 and 7 show a design for the face of a pictorial calendar clock.
  • the graphic displays are again made up of LCD elements LCDs but these are shaped to represent simple objects being in the example clouds, birds, sailing boats and fishes. It will be observed that there are five clouds 120, six birds 122, four sailing boats 124 and six fishes 126. The position of the element in its row is in this case significant but since each element becomes invisible when it is 'off' thereby becoming ineffective as a frame or reference it is useful to provide another frame of reference or indicium.
  • This other frame of reference is constituted by the illustration of waves. It will be noted that there are six wave crests 128. A fish is located below each crest and one sailing boat, bird and cloud are located above each crest.
  • the waves are in permanent depiction. They may be painted on the screen forming the front of the clock or they may be in the form of an LCD element which is permanently 'on'. In any case the observer can easily judge from the waves the position of any of the elements in any of the rows.
  • the clouds represent the day of the month, the birds represent the minute of the hour, the sailing boats represent the hour of the day and the fishes represent the second of the minute.
  • Figure 6 all of the elements are shown as being 'on', a situation which would not in practice occur. It is shown by way of explanation only.
  • Figure 7 shows an example of a real time situation and according to the example it is thirty five minutes and three seconds past ten on the twentieth day of the month.
  • Figures 8 to 12 show a similar arrangement for a calendar where there are four cloud elements for the month of the year and five bird elements for the day of the month.
  • the branch 140 with its thorns is in permanent depiction and is the frame of reference.
  • a twig 142 depicted in LCD elements comprising (as can be seen in Figure 8) a blossom 144 (used to indicate the spring), two fresh leaves with a berry 146 (used to indicate the summer), and two dried leaves 148 (for the autumn).
  • the winter is indicated by the twig without any leaves, the blossom or the berry.
  • the calendar is intended for use in the northern hemisphere.
  • Figures 13 and 14 show a calendar which might appeal to a child.
  • the jars being in permanent depiction, are the frame of reference.
  • the LCD elements representing the candies are present or absent to indicate numbers.
  • the upper row represents the month of the year and the lower row represents the day of the month. In Figure 14 it is July 22.
  • the wigwams 160 are in permanent depiction and provide the frame of reference.
  • the trees 162 are merely for decoration.
  • the smoke columns indicate the month of the year and the warriors indicate the day of the month. In Figure 16 it is March 14.
  • Figure 17 depicts an alternative design for a watch face.
  • the four LCD elements 170 in the column on the left indicate the hour of the day and the six elements 172 in the column on the right indicate the minute of the hour.
  • the frame of reference is the thin vertical line 174 between the columns intersected by the horizontal cross lines.
  • the diamonds 176 below the left hand column would beat out the seconds.
  • Figure 18 shows an elongate clock with four arrays of squares separated by diamonds 180.
  • the right hand array of six squares represents seconds; the second from right array, also of six squares, represents minutes; the second from left array of four squares represents hours; and the left hand array of five squares represents the date.
  • An optional indicium for identifying the place value of each square in an array is constituted by a dot in the centre of each square.
  • Figure 19 shows a clock with an elliptical face and having four arrays of squares arranged in similar fashion to those shown in the clock of Figure 17. There are four squares in row 184 (all being visible); six squares in row 186 (three of which squares are visible); six squares in row 188 (three of which again are visible); and four squares in row 189 (one square being visible).
  • one or more arrays are provided, each array comprising a number of elements which are again perceived as graphic symbols distinguishable one from another by their form.
  • each array comprising a number of elements which are again perceived as graphic symbols distinguishable one from another by their form.
  • any group of letters seen together represents a specific number in binary and also in decimal.
  • the letters AX seen by themselves represent 000011 in binary and thus 3 in decimal
  • the letters FZX seen by themselves represent 010101 in binary and thus 21 in decimal; and so on. It is important that the letters in the array are different from one another. It should also be clear that it is not necessary that letters be used; the widest variety of graphic symbols may be used as long as the symbols in any array are different from one another. Letters are however useful as any combination will come to be read as a quasi-word rather than as individual letters especially if they are carefully chosen. It is considered that the letters making up the array IFOZAX are for this reason a good combination especially as when read as a word they have an attractive quality.
  • a clock will include, say, three or four arrays comprising the word IFOZAX, although the arrays representing hours and the date respectively might only comprise the words OZAX and FOXAX; i.e. subsets of the six letters. In this way users who have sufficient familiarity with the clock will cease to think of the time in decimal number terms but rather in terms of words and subwords in the same way as 12.00 o'clock is thought of as 'noon' or 'midnight'.
  • Figure 20 shows an example of a clock using the words IFOZAX, OZAX and FOZAX.
  • arrays of letters are EZOPIA, OFZLIA, UFOZLI and SETOYA.
  • Figure 21 shows an example of a clock with two arrays of pictorial symbols, the upper array representing hours and the lower array representing minutes. In this case all of the symbols are different one from the other and the user will need to learn the place-value in each array which each symbol has.
  • the graphic displays could be arranged to be switched from a state in which they are still to a state in which they are perceived to be in motion.
  • the birds in Figures 6 and 7 could be arranged to be perceived as still or alternatively flapping their wings. This would have the advantage that the birds themselves would also serve as a frame of reference for establishing the place value of the other graphic displays.
  • Figure 22 The purpose of Figure 22 is to illustrate a modification to a clock incorporating the same principles as the clocks described above.
  • the house is provided with rows of windows at different levels which indicate the time and date in the same manner as described in the other examples.
  • the windows at the lower level shown with the blinds drawn are merely the indicia for indicating the place-value of the windows thereabove.
  • the clock is provided with extra displays in the form of a bat and a ghost in the doorway, shown at 190 and 192 respectively.
  • the electronic circuit is arranged to switch the displays 190 and 192 on and off at random times for short random periods. It is thought that this will provide a feature of added interest and excitement especially for a child.
  • Clearly more than one array would usually have to be provided for most time pieces or calendars.
  • Fibre optics might be employed whether or not of the same colour; they might for example be mounted in a bracelet or a wand.
  • the elements might be constituted by protuberances which are mechanically arranged to stand proud, or be retracted flush with, a surface.
  • the elements might be constituted by discs or blocks manually inserted or withdrawn from holes in a box. This would be used, not for timing, but simply to learn to perceive numbers in binary notation although the holes in the box might be grouped so as to constitute a calendar.
  • the elements could also be in the form of advertising symbols.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
EP19870300164 1987-01-08 1987-01-08 Binäre Anzeigen Expired EP0274172B1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE8787300164T DE3775196D1 (de) 1987-01-08 1987-01-08 Binaere anzeigen.
EP19870300164 EP0274172B1 (de) 1987-01-08 1987-01-08 Binäre Anzeigen

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19870300164 EP0274172B1 (de) 1987-01-08 1987-01-08 Binäre Anzeigen

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0274172A1 true EP0274172A1 (de) 1988-07-13
EP0274172B1 EP0274172B1 (de) 1991-12-11

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ID=8197745

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EP19870300164 Expired EP0274172B1 (de) 1987-01-08 1987-01-08 Binäre Anzeigen

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DE (1) DE3775196D1 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0327787A1 (de) * 1988-01-19 1989-08-16 René Linder Binäre Uhr
WO1999021064A1 (de) * 1997-10-21 1999-04-29 Volker Hepp Vorrichtung zur zeiterfassung
DE10003980A1 (de) * 2000-01-29 2001-08-09 Stefan Rautenhaus Anzeige für eine Zeit, die Uhrzeit und/oder das Datum
DE102004058245A1 (de) * 2004-12-02 2006-06-08 Städtler, Marc-Michael, Dipl.-Ing. Analog-/Digital-Zeitanzeiger
DE102014012128A1 (de) 2014-08-14 2016-02-18 Andreas Ehlerding Anordnung und Verfahren zum Betrieb von Anzeigeelementen einer Uhr

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3744235A (en) * 1970-12-09 1973-07-10 S Kratomi Timepiece indicating time by generated images in sets
US3750384A (en) 1971-08-13 1973-08-07 A Miller Electric chronometer with binary readout
US3841082A (en) 1972-01-13 1974-10-15 H Jones Binary clock
US3974444A (en) * 1975-02-24 1976-08-10 Whitaker Ronald O Combined display and range selector for use with digital instruments employing the binary numbering system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3744235A (en) * 1970-12-09 1973-07-10 S Kratomi Timepiece indicating time by generated images in sets
US3750384A (en) 1971-08-13 1973-08-07 A Miller Electric chronometer with binary readout
US3841082A (en) 1972-01-13 1974-10-15 H Jones Binary clock
US3974444A (en) * 1975-02-24 1976-08-10 Whitaker Ronald O Combined display and range selector for use with digital instruments employing the binary numbering system

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"Wireless World", vol. 86, August 1980, pages: 65
WIRELESS WORLD, vol. 86, no. 1535, August 1980, pages 65,66, Sussex, GB; J.M. OSBORNE: "Binary clock" *

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0327787A1 (de) * 1988-01-19 1989-08-16 René Linder Binäre Uhr
WO1999021064A1 (de) * 1997-10-21 1999-04-29 Volker Hepp Vorrichtung zur zeiterfassung
US6449219B1 (en) 1997-10-21 2002-09-10 Volker Hepp Time sensing device
DE10003980A1 (de) * 2000-01-29 2001-08-09 Stefan Rautenhaus Anzeige für eine Zeit, die Uhrzeit und/oder das Datum
DE102004058245A1 (de) * 2004-12-02 2006-06-08 Städtler, Marc-Michael, Dipl.-Ing. Analog-/Digital-Zeitanzeiger
DE102014012128A1 (de) 2014-08-14 2016-02-18 Andreas Ehlerding Anordnung und Verfahren zum Betrieb von Anzeigeelementen einer Uhr

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3775196D1 (de) 1992-01-23
EP0274172B1 (de) 1991-12-11

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