EP2059857B1 - Timepiece with dynamic, analogue display of the time - Google Patents

Abstract

Time is displayed dynamically and in analog through a clash of all rapidly rotating hour- (H), minute- (M) or second- (S) hands with a read-off hand (A) rotating roughly half as fast. Using a scale of conventional two- and three-hand clock faces as well as precise balancing of the angular speed of the clock hands creates each meeting point between read-off and time clock hands.

Description

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 hand 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.

document EP 1003085 discloses a display device comprising a plurality of rings and a disc which are interlaced. These elements are excentrically movable relative to one another, with the value indications being given by the respective positions of the points of contact between the elements.

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 pointers and one read-out pointer, wherein the one read-out pointer is used to read 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 indicates the hour and the third pointer in a meeting with the first pointer or the second pointer 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.

The term "pointer" for the purposes of the present invention is to be understood as meaning. In particular, it is not necessary for a pointer to be straight or substantially one-dimensional. In embodiments, the pointer has a disc-shaped geometric figure of any shape or the pointer is a geometric marker of any shape on a disc-shaped, geometric figure of any shape. In this case, 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 ,

In a further embodiment, at least one pointer is formed as a circular disc or as a circular recess in a disk-shaped, geometric figure, in particular a circular disc. In particular, it can be provided that the reading pointer is formed as a circular disc with a circular recess, in particular that at least one time hand is formed as a circular disc whose diameter is equal to the diameter of the circular disc of the reading pointer or equal to the diameter of the circular recess of the reading pointer.

It can further be provided that at least one of the hands is designed like a conventional clock hand.

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 clock hands with clockwise hours, minutes and possibly second hands with round trip times of 12 hours, 60 minutes and 60 seconds, 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.

Fig. 1 - 4

schematisch ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen analogen Uhrenanzeige mit insgesamt vier Zeigern, wobei in den Figuren 2 bis 4 einer der Zeiger mit jeweils einem der anderen Zeiger in Deckung ist;

Fig. 5 - 7

schematisch ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen analogen Uhrenanzeige mit insgesamt drei Zeigern, wobei in den Figuren 6 und 7 jeweils einer der Zeiger mit einem der anderen Zeiger in Deckung ist;

Fig. 8 - 10

schemat_isch ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen analogen Uhrenanzeige mit drei kreisförmigen Zeigern; und

Fig. 11

die durchlaufenen Winkel eines Ablesezeigers, eines Sekundenzeigers und eines konventionellen Sekundenzeigers in Abhängigkeit von der Zeit in einem Diagramm.

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 - 4th

schematically an embodiment of an analog clock display according to the invention with a total of four pointers, wherein in the FIGS. 2 to 4 one of the hands is in registration with one of the other hands;

Fig. 5-7

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

Fig. 8 - 10

Schematic _i sch an embodiment of an analog clock display according to the invention with three circular hands; and

Fig. 11

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 Fig. 1-4 has a conventional, clockwise running dial with a subdivision 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. A second pointer H is provided which extends radially in an inner area 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 based on the FIGS. 2 to 4 shown. The 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 the FIG. 3 is the read pointer A in accordance with the minute hand H, again that both hands A, M rotate continuously with different speeds. In the in the Fig. 3 shown meeting of the two pointers is a minute count of 15 ago. It can therefore already be determined by the two readings that it is 8.15 o'clock.

The Fig. 4 shows a meeting of the reading pointer A with the second hand S, again 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.

In order to enable such time reading, the angular speeds of read-out (A) and time-hands (H, M, S) must each be 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). $${\omega }_1=\frac{n+1}{n}{\omega }_2-\frac{{\omega }_{\mathit{Tk}}}{n}$$

In this case, ω ₁ gives the angular velocity of the reading pointer and ω ₂ the angular velocity of the time hand or vice versa. The value ω _Tk indicates the conventional angular velocity of the time unit under consideration on a conventional clock, where k stands for conventional and T can stand, for example, for hour, minute and second. Sk stands for the conventional angular velocity of the second hand of a conventional clock, Mk for the minute and Hk for the hour.

$${\omega }_{\mathit{Mk}}=-\frac{2\pi }{60\cdot 60}\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}=-\frac{2\pi }{3600}\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}\approx -0.00175\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}$$

$${\omega }_{\mathit{Hk}}=-\frac{2\pi }{12\cdot 60\cdot 60}\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}=-\frac{2\pi }{43200}\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}\approx -0.00015\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}$$

The conventional angular velocities ω _Sk , ω _Mk and ω _Hk for the conventional second, minute and hour hands are clockwise in the direction of rotation (and thus in the mathematically negative direction of rotation): $${\omega }_{\mathit{sk}}=-\frac{2\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="60"\; label="\pi "\; filenames="imgf0011.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">\pi </figure-callout>}}{60}\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}\approx -0.10472\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}$$

$${\omega }_{\mathit{mk}}=-\frac{2\pi }{60\cdot 60}\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}=-\frac{2\pi }{3600}\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}\approx -0.00175\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}$$

$${\omega }_{\mathit{Hk}}=-\frac{2\pi }{12\cdot 60\cdot 60}\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}=-\frac{2\pi }{43200}\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}\approx -0.00015\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}$$

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 | greater than | ω _Tk | is.

As n increases, the angular velocities of the time hand and the read pointer approximate each other. The number n gives 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 ω ₁ the pointer with ω ₂ once.

Two examples are intended to explain formula (1), with first a brief discussion of the SI unit of 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

$${\omega }_{\mathit{M}}=2{\omega }_{\mathit{A}}-{\omega }_{\mathit{Mk}}=2\pi \frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}+\frac{2\pi }{60\cdot 60}\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}\approx 6.28493\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}$$

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 : $${\omega }_{\mathit{H}}=2{\omega }_{\mathit{A}}-{\omega }_{\mathit{Hk}}=2\pi \frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}+\frac{2\pi }{12\cdot 60\cdot 60}\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}\approx 6.28333\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}$$

$${\omega }_{\mathit{M}}=2{\omega }_{\mathit{A}}-{\omega }_{\mathit{mk}}=2\pi \frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}+\frac{2\pi }{60\cdot 60}\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}\approx 6.28493\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}$$

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 ω _Hk and ω _{Mk run} as angular velocities of conventional clockwise clock hands, and thus in a mathematically negative sense and are therefore negative. Alternatively, a faster-running reading pointer could also be selected.

$${\omega }_{\mathit{M}}=\frac{{\omega }_{\mathit{H}}}{2}+\frac{{\omega }_{\mathit{Mk}}}{2}=\left(\pi +\frac{\pi }{12.60\cdot 60}\right)\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}-\frac{\pi }{60\cdot 60}\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}\approx 3.14079\frac{\mathit{rad}}{s}$$

A second example considers a clock with hour and minute hands of the angular velocities ω _H and ω _M. The hour hand is assigned a slower running read pointer with ω _A = πrad / s (ie counterclockwise 1/2 turn per second). N is equal to 1. In this example, the hour hand acts as a read hand for the minute hand, where ω _{H is} greater than ω _M is. Then apply: $${\omega }_{\mathit{H}}=2{\omega }_{\mathit{A}}-{\omega }_{\mathit{Hk}}=2\pi \frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}+\frac{2\pi }{12.60\cdot 60}\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}\approx 6.28333\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}$$

$${\omega }_{\mathit{M}}=\frac{{\omega }_{\mathit{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="H"\; filenames="imgf0011.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">H</figure-callout>}}}{2}+\frac{{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="\omega \; mk"\; filenames="imgf0011.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">\omega \; </figure-callout>}}_{\mathit{mk}}}{2}=\left(\pi +\frac{\pi }{12.60\cdot 60}\right)\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}-\frac{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="60"\; label="\pi "\; filenames="imgf0011.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">\pi </figure-callout>}}{60\cdot 60}\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}\approx 3.14079\frac{\mathit{wheel}}{s}$$

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), ω _{1 was set} equal to ω _H , and the formula was solved for ω ₂ (here ω _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, M, S of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 are successively put on the clock shafts of a clockwork. The four clock shafts are driven by four stepper motors, which are controlled electronically. The electronic controller is programmed with the above formula (1) so that the time pointers H, M, S indicate the current Winkeistellungen of the corresponding time units hour, minute and second in the meeting with the reading pointer A.

A further realization of the clock according to the invention can be done digitally. For this purpose, the pointers are generated by a corresponding graphics program 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.

The FIGS. 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. Basically, there are no changes compared to in relation to the FIGS. 1 to 4 described embodiment. The FIGS. 6 and 7 together give the time 10.45 clock.

The FIGS. 8 to 10 show an analog clock with three hands, each realized by a circular disk. The hands A, H, 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.

The FIG. 10 shows a reading situation in which the read pointer and the minute hand meet in the sense that the two circular discs A, M cover each other in terms of their outer dimensions. The number of minutes 15 is displayed.

The FIG. 9 shows a reading situation in which the read pointer and the hour hand meet inasmuch as the inner recess X of the reading pointer surrounds the circular disc H. It is communicated the hourly time 6 o'clock, whereby together with the indication of the FIG. 10 gives a time of 6:15.

In an alternative embodiment of this embodiment, it can be provided that the read-out pointer A is split into two read-out hands, one disk forming a first read-out pointer corresponding to the outer circumference of the disk A and one disk corresponding to the size of the recess X forming 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 embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrates an example that the read pointer and the time hand need not necessarily be designed as a conventional pointer, but may have any disc-shaped geometric figure or may be formed as any geometric mark on a disc-shaped geometric figure.

In the Fig. 11 the angles passing through the respective hands are represented as a function of 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 (14)

1. A timepiece with dynamic, analogue display of the time, including a first hand (A) rotating at a first speed, and a second hand (H) rotating at a second speed, wherein both hands (A, H) rotate about the same axis,
   characterized in that
   a display of time in terms of a time unit is only effected when the two hands (A, H) coincide, in that the angular position of the coincidence indicates the current time of the time unit viewed on a dial, while outside the times and angles of the coincidence of the hands (A, H) an appropriate reading of time is not possible.
2. The timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that any number of further time units are displayed by the coincidence of further pairs of hands or further hands with already existing hands.
3. The timepiece according to claim 1, characterized by a third hand (M) which rotates at a third speed, wherein the third hand (M) indicates the current time based on a further time unit, when it coincides with the first hand (A) or when it coincides with the second hand (H).
4. The timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that the second hand (H) indicates the hour when it coincides with the first hand (A), and the third hand (M) indicates the minute when it coincides with the first hand (A) or with the second hand (H).
5. The timepiece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the hands (A) is a reading hand and at least one further hand (H, M, S) is a time hand.
6. The timepiece according to claim 5, characterized in that at least three hands are provided, of which exactly one is a reading hand (A), and the reading hand (A) coincides with each time hand (H, M, S) to indicate the time in terms of a time unit.
7. The timepiece according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one reading hand (A) runs in clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
8. The timepiece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angular velocities of two hands (A, H, M, S), which provide a display of time in terms of a time unit, satisfy the following formula: $${\omega }_1=\frac{n+1}{n}{\omega }_2-\frac{{\omega }_{\mathit{Tk}}}{n},$$

   

   
   wherein ω₁ indicates the angular velocity of the one hand (A), and ω₂ indicates the angular velocity of the other hand (H, M, S), or vice versa, the value ω_Tk indicates the conventional angular velocity of the time unit viewed, n is any natural number ≥ 1, and it applies that the amount of ω₂ is greater than the amount of ω_Tk.
9. The timepiece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coincidence of the one hand (A) with a further hand (H, M, S) is effected

   a) by partial or complete overlapping of the two hands (A, H, M, S),

   b) by partial or complete framing of one hand by the other hand (A, H, M, S),

   c) by a coincidence of the sides of two hands (A, H, M, S), or

   d) by a combination of the three variants mentioned above.
10. The timepiece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one hand (A, H, M, S) has a disk-shaped geometric figure of any shape.
11. The timepiece according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one hand (A, H, M, S) is a geometric mark or recess of any shape on a disk-shaped, geometric figure of any shape.
12. The timepiece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coincidence of two hands (A, H, M, S) is affected by a precise framing or concealing of one of the hands by the other hand.
13. The timepiece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first hand (A) reproduces a geometric mark or figure of at least one further hand (H, M, S) by a corresponding mark, shape or recess on an otherwise transparent, concentric or eccentric disk of any geometry, and the coincidence of the hands is effected by a precise framing or concealing of one of the hands.
14. The timepiece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the hands (A, H, M, S) has an additional geometric mark, recess or shape towards the edge, which increases the reading accuracy.

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