EP2059857A2

EP2059857A2 - Timepiece with dynamic, analogue display of the time

Info

Publication number: EP2059857A2
Application number: EP07786382A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hannes Bonhoff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-04
Filing date: 2007-07-27
Publication date: 2009-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-27
Also published as: US8379491B2; EP2059857B1; WO2008028539A3; DE502007006466D1; ATE498152T1; WO2008028539A2; US20100091616A1; DE102006042133B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece with a dynamic, analogue display of the time. The timepiece has a first hand (A) which rotates at a first speed and a second hand (H) which rotates at a second speed, wherein the time is displayed with respect to a time unit when the two hands (A, H) coincide by the angular position of the coinciding indicating the current time of the time unit viewed on a dial.

Description

Clock with dynamic, analogue display of time

The invention relates to a timepiece with a dynamic, analogue display of the time.

The analog time display on a clock is usually on a two- or three-pointer system, with a hand indicating the hour, a hand a minute, and a third hand possibly the second. The basic principle of reading the time is the mental processing of the static, geometric image of the display, as indicated by the two or three pointers of the display at a given time.

However, the reading of time as mental processing of a static, geometric image contradicts the dynamic nature of time, which by its nature does not stand still and is not static.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a clock with a display that gives the user the dynamic nature of the time.

This object is achieved by a clock with the features of claim 1. Embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Thereafter, a clock is provided in which the time is indicated by the meeting of at least two hands rotating at different speeds. A time indication in terms of a unit of time (e.g., hour, minute, or second) occurs whenever a first pointer meets a second pointer. At the time of the coincidence, the common pointer position defines the current time (the unit of time considered) on a dial. Outside the times and angles of the meeting, a meaningful time reading is not possible.

By precisely adjusting the angular velocities of the hands it is achieved that the respective meeting point between two pointers exactly on the current Angular position of the corresponding time unit to be displayed, for example, hour, minute or second, a conventional analog clock is. The time is read by observing the movement and the interaction of the hands.

The two pointers indicating a unit of time during the meeting may be called time-hands and read-pointers. This designation makes sense particularly if there are several time hands and one read pointer, wherein the one read pointer is used for reading the time unit respectively displayed by the time hand.

The clock according to the invention gives the user the dynamic character of the time. To read the current time, the movement of the hands must be observed, so that the respective angular position of two pointers can be detected at the meeting.

Any number of additional time units can be displayed by the meeting of further pointer pairs or other pointers with existing pointers.

In one embodiment, the clock has a third pointer rotating at a third speed, the third pointer indicating the current time relative to another unit of time upon encountering the first pointer, or encountering the second pointer. For example, it can be provided that the second pointer meets the hour and the third pointer when it encounters the first pointer or the second pointer when it encounters the first pointer

Pointer indicating the minute.

In a further embodiment, the clock further comprises a fourth pointer which rotates at a fourth speed, the fourth pointer meeting current with the first pointer or encountering the second pointer or encountering the third pointer Time relative to another time unit indicates. For example, it can be provided that the second is displayed when the fourth pointer meets with the first pointer or one of the other pointers. For the purposes of the present invention, the term "pointer" is to be understood as meaning that it is not necessary for a pointer to be rectilinear or to be essentially one-dimensional In embodiments, the pointer has a disk-shaped geometric shape of any shape or the pointer is one Geometric marking of any shape on a disc-shaped, geometric figure of any shape.A disc-shaped figure may be provided which rotates centrically or eccentrically.

According to the broad understanding of the term "pointer", the term "clash" is to be understood broadly. In embodiments it is provided that the meeting of two pointers takes place by a partial or complete superimposition of the two pointers, by a partial or complete frame or concealment of a pointer by the other, by a meeting of the sides of two pointers or by a combination of the above variants ,

It should also be noted that it is by no means necessary for exactly one read pointer to be provided, which is assigned to several time hands. In embodiments, it may also be provided that one or more of the time pointers have a separate read-out pointer. It can also be provided that a time hand serves as a reading pointer for another time hand.

Read and time hands can run clockwise or counterclockwise. Furthermore, the display according to the invention is in principle applicable to any dials. In addition to the most commonly used dials with clockwise hours,

Minutes and possibly second hands with circulating times of 12 hours, 60 minutes and 60 seconds may e.g. also 24 hours round trip times, counterclockwise scales or even weekday hands can be realized.

The hands can be mechanically formed or displayed as a pattern on an electronically controllable display screen or projected onto a projection surface.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the figures of the drawing with reference to several embodiments. Show it: Fig. 1 - 4 schematically an embodiment of an analog clock display according to the invention with a total of four pointers, wherein in Figures 2 to 4, one of the hands with one of the other pointer is in cover;

Fig. 5-7 schematically an embodiment of an analog clock display according to the invention with a total of three pointers, wherein in the figures 6 and 7 each one of the hands with one of the other hands is in cover;

8-10 schematically an embodiment of an analog clock display according to the invention with three circular hands; and

11 shows the swept angles of a reading pointer, a second hand and a conventional second hand as a function of time in a diagram.

The embodiment in Figs. 1-4 has a conventional right-hand dial with a division in 12 hours, 60 minutes and 60 seconds. In the example shown, the times 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock are represented in a manner known per se by the Roman numerals XII-III-VI-IX. But this is only an example. Any conventional dial can be used.

New to the clock and its display are the pointers used, their angular velocities and interaction. It is a first pointer A is provided, which extends in the radial direction over the entire dial. It is a second one

Pointer H is provided, which extends radially in an inner region of the display. A third pointer M is provided which extends radially in a central region of the display and a fourth pointer S is provided which extends radially around an outer region of the display. The first pointer A is the read pointer, the second pointer H is the hour hand, the third hand M is the minute hand, and the fourth hand S is the second hand.

The hour hand H, the minute hand M and the second hand S are straight, line-shaped, black marks on concentric circular disks educated. The transparent reading pointer A is formed with bordering, black mark. In the coaxial arrangement, the second hand is at the bottom, followed by the minute hand, followed by the hour hand, and at the top of the read pointer.

Instead of being slices, the hands A, H, M, S can also be designed as conventional hands.

The operation of the clock and the time display is shown with reference to Figures 2 to 4. FIG. 2 shows the matching of the reading pointer A with the hour hand H. It should be noted that both hands rotate at different speeds. When the two hands A, H meet, the time with respect to the current hour can be read. It can be seen that the current hour is about 8 o'clock. In FIG. 3, the read-out pointer A is in accordance with the minute hand H, whereby again it is true that both hands A, M rotate continuously at different speeds. In the meeting of the two pointers shown in FIG. 3, a number of minutes of 15 is present. It can therefore already be determined by the two readings that it is 8.15 o'clock.

FIG. 4 shows a meeting of the reading pointer A with the second hand S, whereby again it is true that both hands A, S rotate at different speeds. It is now possible to record the second-precise time, whereby it should be noted that a certain amount of time has already passed since the first reading.

To enable such time reading, the angular velocities of

Reading (A) and time (H, M, S) are each in a certain relationship to each other. For example, it must be ensured that the read pointer and the minute hand meet only at times when the minute hand is currently in a position that corresponds to the current number of minutes on the conventional dial. It should be noted that the minute hand M, as well as the other time hands H, S rotate at speeds that do not correspond to the conventional angular velocities of a conventional clock. It is preferably provided that the ratio of the angular velocities of read-out and time hands is given by the following formula (1).

CO _x = ω ₂ ≥- (1) nn

In this case, α> i indicate the angular velocity of the reading pointer and ω ₂ the angular velocity of the time hand or vice versa. The value ω _T κ indicates the conventional angular velocity of the considered time unit on a conventional clock, where k stands for conventional and T eg for hour, minute and

Second can stand. Sk stands for the conventional angular velocity of the

Second hand of a conventional clock, Mk for the minute and Hk for the hour.

The conventional angular velocities ω _S κ, ω _Mk and COH _K for the conventional second, minute and hour hands are clockwise in the direction of rotation (and thus in the mathematically negative direction of rotation):

2π rad _{Λ r} . , _no . rad ω ^ «-0.10472

60 ^ s

2π rad 2π rad. ..... raJ ω _uk = = «-0.00175 m 60- 60 s 3600 ss

2π rad 2π rad _n _ rad ω = = »-0.00015

^H 12 - 60 - 60 s 43200 ss

Further, in the above formula (1), n may be any natural number greater than or equal to 1, and it must be true that | ω ₂ 1 greater than | ω _Tk I is.

As n increases, the angular velocities of the time hand and the read pointer approximate each other. The number n indicates approximately (ie apart from the term ω _Tk / n of equation (1)) the number of revolutions of the pointer with ω ₂ , in which the pointer with G) ₁ circles the pointer once with ω ₂ .

Two examples are intended to explain the formula (1), wherein initially briefly addresses the SI unit of the angular velocity. In the International System of Units (SI), the unit of angular velocity is defined as radians per second (rad / s). 2πrad correspond to one revolution, ie 360 °. Further, for the angular velocity, ω = 2πf = 2π / T, where T is the round trip time and f is the frequency.

In a first example, the reading pointer A, the hour hand H and the minute hand M are considered. The angular velocities for these pointers are ω _A , ω _H and ω _M.

With the above formula (1), with n = 1 and at a selected angular velocity of the readout pointer of ω _A = πrad / s (ie, 1/2 revolution per second counterclockwise) for the angular velocities ω _H and ω _M of hour hand and minute hand :

Rad 2π rad rad ω _H = 2ω _A - ω _m = 2π + «6.28333

^{HA m} s 12 - 60- 60 ss

Rad 2π rad,. _o ... rfld ω _u = 2ω, - ω _M = 2π h «6.28493 s 60 - 60 ss

Both the hour hand and the minute hand thus turn slightly faster than twice as fast as the common reading pointer. It should be noted that GO _Hk and ω _{Mk run} as angular velocities of conventional clockwise clockwise, and thus in the mathematically negative sense and therefore are negative. Alternatively, a faster-running reading pointer could also be selected.

A second example considers a clock with hour and minute hands of the angular velocities ω _H and CUM. The hour hand is assigned a slow-moving reading pointer with ω _A = πrad / s (ie counterclockwise 1/2 revolution per second), n equals 1. In this example, the hour hand acts as a reading pointer for the minute hand, where ω _{H is} greater than ω _M. The following then apply: rad 2π rad rad ω _H = 2ω _A - ω _Hk = 2π 6.28333

S 12 • 60-60 s S co "tt> _ul . -i, π rad π rad rad

«3.14079

]?, • 60-60 s 60 • 60 s p In the second equation, the angular velocity of the readout pointer ω _A no longer appears because the hour hand for the minute hand serves as a reading pointer. In the second equation, in the above formula (1), OCH was set equal to ω _H and the formula was resolved to CO ₂ (here CO _M ).

The second example is an example that the above formula (1) can be applied in various ways, e.g. if a time hand also acts as a read pointer for another time hand. It is then calculated at the first application of the above formula, the angular velocity of the first time hand. This angular velocity is set in the second application of the formula as the angular velocity of the readout pointer and thus calculates the angular velocity of the second time hand, wherein the first time hand serves as a read pointer for the second time hand.

A possible technical realization of the clock according to the invention is realized as follows. The four hands A, H ₁ M, S of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 are successively placed on the clock shafts of a clockwork. The four clock shafts are driven by four stepper motors, which are controlled electronically. The electronic control is programmed with the above formula (1) so that the time hands H, M, S upon encountering the read pointer A are the current ones

Display angular positions of the corresponding time units hour, minute and second.

A further realization of the clock according to the invention can be done digitally. For this purpose, the hands are generated by a corresponding Grafϊkprogramm on a computer and rotated according to the above formula (1). The generated animation can thus be displayed on a screen or projected onto a projection screen.

Figures 5 to 7 show a further embodiment, but this time only a minute hand M and an hour hand H and the readout A are provided. In principle, there are no changes compared with the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Figures 6 and 7 together indicate the time 10.45 o'clock. Figures 8 to 10 show an analog clock with three pointers, each realized by a circular disc. The hands A, H ₁ M rotate about a common axis, which is positioned centrally with respect to the dial. The common axis of rotation lies in each case outside the center of the respective disc A, H, M.

One of the discs A serves as a reading pointer, the other two discs H, M serve as an hour hand and minute hand. The readout pointer consists of the circular disc A, which eccentrically has a circular recess X. In this case, the circular disk A has a diameter d1 and the circular recess X has a diameter d2, it being natural that d2 is smaller than d1.

The minute hand consists of the circular writing M, which has the diameter d1. The hour hand consists of the circular disc H, which has the diameter d2. The minute hand M, the hour hand H and the reading pointer A are arranged one above the other.

FIG. 9 shows a reading situation in which the read-out pointer and the minute hand meet in the sense that the two circular disks A, M overlap one another in terms of their external dimensions. The number of minutes 15 is displayed.

FIG. 10 shows a reading situation in which the reading pointer and the hour hand meet in that the inner recess X of the reading pointer surrounds the circular disk H. The hourly time is communicated at 6 o'clock, with a time of 6.15 o'clock, together with the display of FIG.

In an alternative embodiment of this embodiment, it can be provided that the read-out pointer A is split into two read-out hands, wherein a disk forms a first read-out pointer corresponding to the outer circumference of the disk A and a disk corresponding to the size of the recess X forms a second read-out pointer. In this variant, each time hand M, H is assigned a read pointer. For example, both reading pointers are transparent and the respective outer circumference is represented by a colored ring. The exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10 represents an example of the fact that the read-out pointer and the time hands do not necessarily have to be designed as conventional hands, but can have any disk-shaped geometric figure or can be embodied as any desired geometric mark on a disk-shaped geometric figure.

In FIG. 11, the angles passing through the respective hands are plotted against time. The continuous angles are shown by way of example for a read-out pointer according to the invention, a second hand according to the invention and a conventional second hand. For a better understanding, first consider the angular range swept by a conventional second hand rotating in a clockwise direction. At time zero, of course, the swept angle is zero. A conventional second hand goes through an angular range of 360 ° within 60 seconds. This means that it passes through one sixth of the angular range of 360 °, ie an angular range of 60 °, within the illustrated time of 10 seconds. This is shown by the dotted line.

The readout pointer according to the invention (solid line) rotates much faster, namely, it passes through the angular range of 360 ° within two seconds. It rotates counterclockwise. The second hand spins counterclockwise even faster, traversing the 360 ° angle range in just under a second. The overlap of the read pointer and the second hand occurs at angular positions which correspond to the angular position of the conventional second hand. The intersections of the reading pointer and second hand are accordingly on the straight line of the conventional second hand.

The timing diagrams for e.g. Hour hand and minute hand can be designed accordingly.

Claims

claims

A clock having a dynamic analog display of time comprising a first pointer (A) rotating at a first speed, and a second pointer (H) rotating at a second speed,

- Wherein a time display with respect to a time unit in a meeting of both hands (A, H) takes place by the angular position of the meeting indicates the current time of the time unit under consideration on a dial.

2. Clock according to claim 1, characterized in darurch that any number of other time units are displayed by the meeting of other pointer pairs or other pointers with existing pointers.

3. Clock according to claim 1, characterized by a third pointer (M) which rotates at a third speed, wherein the third pointer (M) at a

Clash with the first pointer (A) or when encountering the second pointer (H) indicates the current time relative to another unit of time.

4. Clock according to claim 3, characterized in that the second pointer (H) in a meeting with the first pointer (A) the hour and the third pointer

(M) indicates the minute when it encounters the first pointer (A) or the second pointer (H).

5. Clock according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the clock has a fourth pointer (S) which rotates at a fourth speed, wherein the fourth

Pointer (S) in a meeting with the first pointer (A) or in a meeting with the second pointer (H) or in a meeting with the third pointer (M) indicates the current time relative to another unit of time.

6. Clock according to claim 5, characterized in that at a meeting of the fourth pointer (S) with the first pointer (A) or one of the other pointer (H, M) indicates the second.

7. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the considered time unit to which the time is communicated in a meeting of two pointers (A, H, M, S), the hour, the minute or the second.

Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the hands (A) is a read-out pointer and at least one further pointer (H, M, S) is a time hand.

9. Clock according to claim 8, characterized in that at least three pointers are provided, of which exactly one is a read-out pointer (A) and the

Read pointer (A) with each time hand (H, M, S) to indicate the time in terms of a time unit.

10. Clock according to claim 8, characterized in that at least three pointers are provided, wherein one or more time hands each have a separate

Have read pointer.

11. Clock according to claim 8, characterized in that a time hand (H) serves as a reading pointer for another time hand (M).

12. Clock according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that at least one read pointer (A) runs clockwise or counterclockwise.

13. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all the hands (A, H, M, S) rotate about the same axis.

14. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angular velocities of two pointers (A, H, M, S), which provide a time display with respect to a time unit, follow the following formula, n + \ ω _τk <y, = CO ₂ - -, nn where GO ₁ indicates the angular velocity of the one pointer (A) and ω ₂ the angular velocity of the other pointer (H, M, S) or vice versa, the Value Co ™ indicates the conventional angular velocity of the time unit under consideration, n is an arbitrary natural number greater than or equal to 1, and the amount of CO _{2 is} greater than the amount of ω _Tk .

15. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the meeting of a pointer (A) with another pointer (H, M, S) is carried out a) by a partial or complete superposition of the two hands (A, H, M .

S), b) by a partial or complete frame of a pointer by the other (A, H, M, S), c) by the meeting of the sides of two pointers (A, H, M, S) or d) by a combination the three variants mentioned above.

16. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the scale of the dial corresponds to a conventional, clockwise running clock with 12 hours and 60 minutes or 12 hours, 60 minutes and 60 seconds scale.

17. Clock according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the scale of the dial of a conventional, analog clock with arbitrary units of time,

Circular times and directions corresponds.

18. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one pointer (A, H, M, S) has a disc-shaped geometric figure of any shape.

19. Clock according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that at least one pointer (A, H, M, S) is a geometric mark or recess of any shape on a disc-shaped, geometric figure of any shape.

20. Clock according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the disc-shaped figure rotates eccentrically.

21. Clock according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the disc-shaped figure rotates centrically.

22. Clock according to one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that at least one pointer (A, H, M) is designed as a circular disc.

23. Clock according to one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that at least one pointer as a circular recess (X) in a disc-shaped, geometric figure, in particular a circular disc (A) is formed.

24. Clock according to claim 23, characterized in that the reading pointer is formed as a circular disc (A) with a circular recess (X).

25. Clock according to claim 24, characterized in that at least one time hand (H, M) is formed as a circular disc whose diameter is equal to the diameter of the circular disc (A) of the readout or equal to the diameter of the circular recess (X) of the readout is.

26. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the hands (A, H, M, S) is designed as a conventional clock hand.

27. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the meeting of two pointers (A ₁ H, M, S) is carried out by a precise framing or covering one of the hands by the other pointer.

28. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first pointer (A) a geometric mark or figure of at least one other pointer (H, M, S) by a corresponding mark, shape or recess on an otherwise transparent, concentric or eccentric disc of any geometry reproduces and the meeting of the pointer is done by a precise bordering or covering one of the hands.

29. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the pointer (A ₁ H, M, S) has an additional geometric mark, recess or shape towards the edge, which increases the reading accuracy.

30. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pointers (A, H, M, S) are mechanically formed.

31. Clock according to one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that the pointers (A, H, M, S) are shown as a pattern on an electronically controllable display screen or projected onto a projection screen.