EP0955611A1 - Rückwärtszählende Zeitgebervorrichtung - Google Patents

Rückwärtszählende Zeitgebervorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0955611A1
EP0955611A1 EP98810417A EP98810417A EP0955611A1 EP 0955611 A1 EP0955611 A1 EP 0955611A1 EP 98810417 A EP98810417 A EP 98810417A EP 98810417 A EP98810417 A EP 98810417A EP 0955611 A1 EP0955611 A1 EP 0955611A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
countdown
countdown timer
timer according
minutes
beeper
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98810417A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Peter C Stas
Herbert Dercksen
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.)
Frederique Constant SA
Tack & Gybe International Bv
Original Assignee
Frederique Constant SA
Tack & Gybe International Bv
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 Frederique Constant SA, Tack & Gybe International Bv filed Critical Frederique Constant SA
Priority to EP98810417A priority Critical patent/EP0955611A1/de
Priority to JP11126935A priority patent/JP2000235089A/ja
Publication of EP0955611A1 publication Critical patent/EP0955611A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B45/00—Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects
    • G04B45/0007—Light-, colour-, line-, or spot-effects caused by parts or pictures moved by the clockwork
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/06—Dials
    • G04B19/08—Geometrical arrangement of the graduations
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
    • G04F3/00—Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals with driving mechanisms, e.g. dosimeters with clockwork
    • G04F3/02—Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals with driving mechanisms, e.g. dosimeters with clockwork with mechanical driving mechanisms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C1/00—Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people
    • G07C1/22—Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people in connection with sports or games
    • G07C1/24—Race time-recorders

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a countdown timer according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Countdown timers are known, where a second hand, i.e. a hand indicating the seconds left before an expected event takes place, as well as other indicators such as minute counters, allow the user to evaluate the time left before an event such as the start of a race. Such a second hand usually moves clockwise.
  • the counter-clockwise movement of the second hand immediately tells the user that the timer function is activated; moreover, the countdown timer according to the invention allows the user, in the process of initialization of the timer, to choose conveniently between various modes by just reading the indication of the center second hand.
  • the user chooses between the different available modes by repeatedly pressing a pusher that is placed on a usual four o'clock position of the dial of the countdown timer. For instance, a first push on the pusher selects the ten-minutes mode; a second push on the same pusher selects the five-minutes mode; additional pushes select six or three-minutes modes, according to the newest sailing competition rules.
  • the selection of a mode during initialization of the timer is considered effective after a temporisation delay.
  • the countdown mode is then blocked, unless the user decides to change the mode by an explicit manoeuvre.
  • the advantage of this embodiment is that the very last minutes before a sailing race starts are very important for the competitors, e.g. to choose the best spot to cross the start line.
  • the start line in some cases is drawn by the presence of two floating bodies like buoys, and circumstances like the changing direction of the wind can make it more advantageous to cross the start line close to one of the two floating objects. There are some cases where a skilled competitor has good reasons to change his mind on where to cross the start line.
  • the timer function according to this embodiment can be deactivated.
  • Such deactivation can be commanded by maintaining the pressure on the four-o'clock pusher, or by any other explicit manoeuvre.
  • a typical duration that commands the return to selection mode is one second and a half. It is clear that an accidental contact does not result in a maintained pressure of 1.5 seconds, so the timer function cannot accidentally be deactivated.
  • the countdown timer is equipped with a beeper that emits warning sounds.
  • warning sounds are known in themselves; in the sailing race environment, they allow the skipper to be constantly updated on the growing imminence of the race start, without having to even take a glimpse at the countdown timer.
  • the countdown timer is equipped with a visual repeater of the number of minutes that are left before the race starts.
  • a visual repeater can consist, in a known manner, of a sequence of regularly spaced balls that can change in colours, the combination of colours depending on the imminence of the race start.
  • the balls spacing can be linear, e.g. in the case of a digital display involving a square or rectangular dial.
  • the balls can also be angularly spaced, in a more common style of visual repeaters that match a circular dial of a classic wristwatch.
  • the sequence of the colour change of the balls matches the counter-clockwise movement of the second hand.
  • the beeper then emits three short beeps.
  • the beeper then emits three short beeps.
  • the beeper then emits three short beeps.
  • the beeper then emits three short beeps.
  • the beeper emits two short beeps, reminding the user of the remaining two minutes.
  • the beeper emits one short beep. During the last minute and particularly the last ten seconds, the beeper can further keep the user informed as follows:
  • Figures 12 to 15 illustrate the user-friendliness of the initialization of the timer according to the invention.
  • the center second hand 1 has a different function during the selection of the mode. As the user browses through the sequence of different available modes, by repeatedly pressing the four-o'clock pusher, the center second hand 1 symbolically points to a visual help on the timer dial.
  • Figure 12 shows the center second hand 1 pointing to a number 10, indicating to the user that if he leaves the four-o'clock pusher as it is, the 10-minutes mode will be chosen.
  • Figure 13 shows the center second hand 1 pointing to a number 6, indicating to the user that if he leaves the four-o'clock pusher as it is, the 6-minutes mode will be chosen.
  • Figure 14 shows the center second hand 1 pointing to a number 5, indicating to the user that if he leaves the four-o'clock pusher as it is, the 5-minutes mode will be chosen.
  • Figure 15 shows the center second hand 1 pointing to a number 3, indicating to the user that if he leaves the four-o'clock pusher as it is, the 3-minutes mode will be chosen.
  • the visual repeater can also indicate fractions of minutes to the user, if the colours are carried by a rotating disc under the dial, the balls being holes in that dial.
  • such indication is of course less precise that the center second hand, which moves counter-clockwise as an indication of the timer function.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Predetermined Time Intervals (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)
EP98810417A 1998-05-07 1998-05-07 Rückwärtszählende Zeitgebervorrichtung Withdrawn EP0955611A1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98810417A EP0955611A1 (de) 1998-05-07 1998-05-07 Rückwärtszählende Zeitgebervorrichtung
JP11126935A JP2000235089A (ja) 1998-05-07 1999-05-07 カウントダウンタイマー

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98810417A EP0955611A1 (de) 1998-05-07 1998-05-07 Rückwärtszählende Zeitgebervorrichtung

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0955611A1 true EP0955611A1 (de) 1999-11-10

Family

ID=8236074

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98810417A Withdrawn EP0955611A1 (de) 1998-05-07 1998-05-07 Rückwärtszählende Zeitgebervorrichtung

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0955611A1 (de)
JP (1) JP2000235089A (de)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR545459A (fr) * 1921-12-31 1922-10-12 Avertisseur auditif
FR1326515A (fr) * 1962-03-28 1963-05-10 Compteur pour communications téléphoniques
US3980868A (en) * 1975-04-04 1976-09-14 Thompson Francis T Digital yacht racing timing system
US4238847A (en) * 1977-06-03 1980-12-09 Ebauches Electroniques Sa. Electronic watch for yacht races
DE29609082U1 (de) * 1996-05-21 1996-08-14 Widmaier, Dieter, 71229 Leonberg Zeigeruhr

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR545459A (fr) * 1921-12-31 1922-10-12 Avertisseur auditif
FR1326515A (fr) * 1962-03-28 1963-05-10 Compteur pour communications téléphoniques
US3980868A (en) * 1975-04-04 1976-09-14 Thompson Francis T Digital yacht racing timing system
US4238847A (en) * 1977-06-03 1980-12-09 Ebauches Electroniques Sa. Electronic watch for yacht races
DE29609082U1 (de) * 1996-05-21 1996-08-14 Widmaier, Dieter, 71229 Leonberg Zeigeruhr

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2000235089A (ja) 2000-08-29

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