FR2646534A1 - Process for the electro-optical display of the time in analog form and electronic device enabling its implementation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the electro-optical display of the time in analog form, indicating on a clock dial the relative positions of the units of time on concentric circles. According to the invention, this process consists in associating: - two concentric circles H and M, the smaller H of which contains h luminous spots distributed uniformly and excited in succession in order to symbolise the relative position of the hours and the larger M of which contains m luminous spots uniformly distributed and excited in succession in order to symbolise the relative position of the minutes; - with a circular sector S containing s luminous spots distributed over several radii R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, the said radii of spots s being excited in succession in a pendular motion, in order to symbolise time intervals which elapse and correspond to seconds. The invention also relates to an electronic device making it possible to ensure the operation of this display process. Applications: electro-optical display of the time in analog form.

Description

METHOD OF ELECTRO-OPTICAL TIME DISPLAY IN ANALOGUE FORM AND
ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING IT
The present invention relates to a method of electro-optic display of time, in analog form, with electronic pendulum movement, of interest to the field of watchmaking.

 Since antiquity, man has been passionate about measuring time. Benefiting from simple observations - observation - of the shadow through a directional sundial -, significant technical developments - mechanical clock -, or technological upheavals - electronic miniaturization -, he showed permanent creative imagination in the design and development of objects symbolizing the passage of time.

 Nowadays, the rapid evolution of electronics, more particularly that linked to semiconductors and their derivatives, and the relative simplicity of its implementation, both from a manufacturing point of view and from a view of operating reliability, made the designers of said objects forget for a while the charm of their conventional or classic forms, in favor of more modern creations and new lines.

 Thus, the digital display of the time, embodied by the combination of several digits of the decimal system, themselves produced by the coded association of several segments of light-emitting diode or Liquid crystal, åpparaSt in many often too rectilinear realizations ; The overly rectangular shape of the displays themselves, leaving little choice.

 This system also only offers a limited display of the time which elapses, changing only one figure per unit of time considered.

 The more classic system with a relative position directly visible from two needles, puts much more clearly the concept of elapsed time, by analogy to the semi-circular movement of the earth around the sun.

 Sensitive to the revival attraction in this area, for old forms and symbolizations, based on The technical contribution of modern and reliable electronics, the applicant proposes an original creation, directly applicable to the aesthetic concept of a clock .

 Several researches in this field have been carried out by many designers from different countries. Asians, already very competitive in the digital watch and clock industry, have developed analog display methods based on the excitement of sectors with liquid crystal technology, of different sizes, to better symbolize needles, or in shape of points distributed on concentric circles, to symbolize only the ends of said needles.

 These processes symbolize on a single hourly dial, the three conventionally representative time units that are hours, minutes and seconds. From this system, there is inevitably a visual confusion difficult to control in the simultaneous representation of the three units.

Taking stock of this state of affairs, the applicant imagined a new concept of electro-optical time display in analog form of the type of that indicating on a time dial the position of time units on concentric circles. According to the invention, this method is remarkable in that it consists in combining:
- two concentric circles, the smallest of which has h uniformly distributed light points which are successively excited to symbolize the position of the hours, and the largest of which has m uniformly distributed light points which are excited successively to symbolize the relative position of the minutes,
- a circular sector comprising s light points distributed over several rays, said rays being successively excited in a pendulum movement, to symbolize the seconds.

 According to the invention, the proposed method is remarkable in that it faithfully creates the image, in other dimensions, of a conventional mechanical clock with pendulum, offering in a manner both ancient , but very clear, the symbolization of passing time.

 According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the proposed method is remarkable, unlike those using liquid crystals, in that the light points h, m and s are of the same constitution, but can be of different colors.

 Besides the clarity concerning the relative position of its different time units, one can look for a clock, that it is also an element of decoration.

 To add to the reproduction fidelity of an old pendulum clock, and according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the circular sector of light points s is arranged outside the two concentric circles, and below of the latter so that the center point of the above concentric circles is vertical to the fixed point of the pendular pseudo-movement.

 The invention also relates to an electronic device making it possible to operate this method of electro-optical time display in analog form.

 Indeed, it is useful to specify that the various electronic devices ensuring an analog display of time are generally based on the excitation of several sectors or light points, and involve a so-called multiplexing electronics, the principle of which is a sufficiently high frequency. so that your eye has the impression of a permanent excitement of all the sectors considered at the same time. These devices require complex electronics, requiring switching of the control signals from said sectors, at a rate generated by so-called clock circuitry.

 The electronic device of the invention ensuring the operation of the electro-optical time display method is different because it implements simple electronics which, while being adaptable to particular cases, is particularly suitable for manufacture in a limited series with usual market components.

According to the invention, this device is remarkable in that it comprises
- three electronic counting and decoding modules capable of interpreting logic signals in the form of pulses and of exciting the first, the h light points distributed over the smallest concentric circle of the time dial, the second module the m light points distributed over the largest concentric circle of the time dial and the third module, the s light points distributed over the radii of the circular sector of the time dial,
- an electronic frequency divider sub-assembly, capable of controlling the three electronic counting and decoding modules by sending adequate signals directly interpretable by themselves, or through a time reset sub-assembly ,
- an electronic oscillator sub-assembly, capable of generating a fixed frequency signal, directly interpretable by the above-mentioned frequency divider sub-assembly,
- And an electronic power supply sub-assembly, capable of synchronizing the above-mentioned oscillator sub-assembly and generating continuous energy, the electronic components necessary for the operation of the entire device.

 The invention having just been mentioned above in its most basic form, other characteristics and other advantages will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting and intended to illustrate the fundamental concepts of the invention.

This description is annexed to drawings on which
Figure 1 is a front view of a time dial implementing the electro-optical time display method in analog form.

 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic device ensuring the operation of the electro-optical time display method, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

 As illustrated in the drawing in FIG. 1, the time dial using the electro-optical time method consists of two concentric circles H and M on which light points h and m are distributed respectively, which points are formed by light-emitting diodes, preferably of different coloring.

 The luminous points h, twelve in number, are distributed uniformly on the circle H of smaller diameter to symbolize the relative positions of the twelve hours of a half-day.

The excitation (diode represented in black) of one of these twelve diodes h by the electronic device which will be developed a little further on, will make it possible to visualize thus, according to its relative position on the circle 11, the number of hours passed since the start of the day, the zero point meaning noon or midnight.

 The luminous points m, sixty in number, are distributed uniformly over the circle M of larger diameter to symbolize the relative positions of the sixty minutes of an hour. The excitation diode represented in black) of one of these sixty diodes m by the electronic device, will make it possible to visualize thus, according to its relative position on the circle M, the number of minutes elapsed compared to the last hour symbolized by the diode h excited.

 The numbers of diodes h and m can also be multiples or submultiples of 12 and 60 respectively. Thus, for example, the device of the invention can be produced from twenty-four diodes h symbolizing the relative positions of the hours and half-hours of a half-day and by twelve diodes m which do not symbolize the relative positions minutes passed which are multiples of five.

 The electro-optical time display time dial of the invention also comprises a circular sector S on which are distributed radially light points s also constituted by light-emitting diodes.

These light points s are distributed over five rays R1, RZ, R3,
R4, R5 of the circular sector S and are excited (diodes of a ray represented in black) successively ray by ray according to a pendulum movement so that the time interval between five rays of points s excited, symbolizes a second elapsed.

 This circular sector S of five rays R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 of light-emitting diodes s is arranged outside the concentric circles H and M, so that the fixed point P of the pendular pseudo-movement of said vertical sector S is vertical to the center point C of the concentric circles H and M so that the combination of the excitations of the light-emitting diodes h, m, s of the whole of the electro-optical time display device is comparable to the kinematic movements of a clock with needles and with pendulum.

In the drawing, the progressive shades of gray filling the diodes are intended to symbolize the kinematic movements of the seconds, minutes and hours that are passing,
The object of FIG. 2 is to illustrate, by a block diagram, the electronic operation of the electro-optical time display method described above.

 According to the invention, the device for exciting the light points h and m controls said light points through a first electronic module il for the h light points, a second electronic module 12 for the m points, and a third electronic module 13 for the Light points, said light points being excited simultaneously using simple electronics.

 The two electronic modules 11 and 12 each involve the association of two decimal counter-decoder circuits, the outputs of which are connected in a matrix of h points for the first electronic module 11, and in a matrix of m points for the second electronic module. 12, the above two counter-decoder circuits being capable of interpreting logic signals in the form of pulses.

 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first electronic module 11 is activated by one step, when the m steps of the second electronic module 12 have been traversed, therefore when an hour has passed.

 According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, this time change is exploited through a generator 14, producing an audible or visual signal retransmitted by a sound transducer 14a, in the manner of old clocks chimes at each full hour.

The group of light points s distributed over the five rays R1,
R2, R3, R4, R5 of the circular sector S to simulate the movement of a pendulum (see Figure 1) is controlled by the third electronic module 13.

According to the invention, this electronic module 13 consists of a counter-decoder circuit, the outputs of which are connected in pairs so that the output 1 is connected to the output 10, the output 2 to the output 9, the output 3 at output 8, output 4 at output 7 and output 5 at output 6. Each of these coupled outputs 1-10, 2-9, 3-8, 4-7, 5-6, is connected with light-emitting diodes s of a radius Ri,
RZ, R3, R4, R5 respectively, so as to create an electronic pendulum describing an arc of a circle, in the manner of a pendulum animated by an oscillatory movement, and this always using simple electronics. indeed, the output 1 of the electronic module 13 will control the excitation of the diodes s of the radius R1 of the circular sector
S of the electro-optical display time dial of FIG. 1, the output 2 the radius R2, the output 3 the radius R3, the output 4 the radius
R4, the exit 5 the ray R5, the exit 6 will keep the ray R5 excited, the exit 7 the ray4, the exit 8 the ray R3, the exit 9 the ray R2 and the exit 10 the ray R1, and the exit 1 to again maintains the excitation of the radius R1 to start the same pendulum oscillatory cycle again.

 According to the electronic device for implementing the invention, the three electronic modules 11, 12 and 13 are controlled by a sub-assembly 15 formed by the association of several frequency dividers judiciously arranged for sending adequate signals directly interpretable by modules 11, 12 and 13 or through a time reset subset 16 for the first module 11.

 According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, this time reset sub-assembly 16 is constituted by two push-button contacts connecting the output signals of the frequency divider sub-assembly 15, through a circuit performing a logical "OR" function, on the one hand with the first electronic module 11 for the hours, and on the other hand with the second electronic module for the minutes. These two contacts are controlled manually, independently of one another, from two push-buttons visible on the front of the electro-optical display device but not shown in the drawing in FIG. 1.

 It is understood that the push-button contacts make it possible to scroll manually and independently of the passage of time, the luminous points h and m in order to be able to place them in a good position, called "set time".

 On the other hand, the frequency divider sub-assembly 15 receives a fixed frequency signal generated by the oscillator of a sub-assembly 17 which is itself synchronized by the frequency of a power supply sub-assembly 18 necessary for the operation of all the electronic components of the entire electronic device of the invention. The energy supply of the sub-assembly 18 can be supplied by the public electrical network and / or by a battery to compensate for unexpected cuts in the electrical network.

 It is understood that the electro-optical time display method and the device making it possible to implement it, which have just been described and represented above, have been for the purpose of a disclosure rather than a limitation. Of course, various arrangements, modifications and improvements could be made to the example above, without however departing from the scope of the invention taken in its broadest aspects and spirit.

 In order to allow a better understanding of the drawings, a list of references with their legends is listed below.

 h Luminescent diodes symbolizing the hours.

 m Luminescent diodes symbolizing the minutes.

s Light-emitting diodes distributed over the rays
R7, R2, R3, R4, R5.

R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 ... Rays of diodes s symbolizing the seconds.

H Concentric circle on which are distributed
the diodes h.

M Concentric circle on which are distributed
the diodes m.

S Circular sector with R radii of
diodes s.

C Point between concentric circles H and M.

P Fixed point of circular sector S.

It First electronic module of
hour counting and decoding h.

12 Second electronic module of
counting-decoding of minutes m.

13 Third electronic module
counting-decoding of seconds s.

14 Sound generator.

14a Generator sound transducer 14.

15 Frequency divider sub-assembly.

16 Time reset sub-assembly.

17 Oscillator sub-assembly generating a signal
fixed frequency.

18 Power supply sub-assembly.

Claims (12)

 1. Electro-optical time display method in analog form indicating on a time dial the relative position of the time units on concentric circles, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it consists in associating  - two concentric circles (H and M) of which the smallest (H) comprises h uniformly distributed light points and excited successively to symbolize the relative position of the hours and of which the largest (M) comprises m light points, uniformly distributed and successively excited , to symbolize the relative position of the minutes,  - to a circular sector (S) comprising s luminous points distributed over several rays CR1, R2, R3, R4, R5), said rays of points s being excited successively in a pendulum movement, to symbolize intervals of time which elapse and corresponding to seconds.  2. Method according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the aforesaid light points h, m and s are of the same constitution, but of different colors.  3. Method according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it consists in placing the aforesaid circular sector (S) of light points (s) outside, of the two concentric circles (H and M), and below the latter so that the center point (C) of said circles (H and M) are vertical to the fixed point CP) of the pendular pseudo-movement of the rays (R) of said circular sector (S).  4. Method according to claims 1, 2 and 3, CHARACTERIZED IN THIS THAT the south luminous points (h, m and s) are constituted by light-emitting diodes.  5. Method according to your claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 taken together, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it consists in manually and independently scrolling the relative positions of the light points h, and the relative positions of the light points m, in order to place them on the time dial to a good position called reset time.  6. Electronic device for implementing the electro-optical display method according to claims 1 to 5 taken together, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it comprises  - three electronic counting and decoding modules (11, 12 and 13) capable of interpreting logic signals in the form of pulses and of exciting the first (11), the h light points distributed over the smallest concentric circle (H ) of the time dial, the second (12) the m light points distributed over the largest concentric circle (M) of the time dial and the third (13) the s light points distributed over the rays (R1, R2, R3, R4, RS) of the circular sector (S) of the time dial,  - an electronic sub-assembly (15) frequency divider, capable of controlling the three electronic counting and decoding modules (11, 12 and 13) by sending adequate signals directly interpretable by themselves, or through a time reset sub-assembly (16),  - an electronic oscillator sub-assembly (17), capable of generating a fixed frequency signal, directly interpretable by the above-mentioned frequency divider sub-assembly (15),  - And-an electronic sub-assembly (18) supply, capable of synchronizing the above-mentioned oscillator sub-assembly (17) and of generating continuous energy the electronic components of the entire device.  7. Device according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforesaid electronic module (11) controlling the excitation of the light points h distributed over the concentric circle (H) of the hours, is constituted by the association of two decimal counter-decoder circuits connected in h matrix outputs, allowing the connection of the h light points.  8. Device according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the above-mentioned electronic module (12) controlling the excitation of the light points m distributed on the concentric circle (M) of the minutes, is constituted by the association of two decimal counter-decoder circuits connected by m matrix outputs, allowing the connection of the m light points.  9. Device according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the above electronic module (13) controlling the excitation of the light points distributed over five rays (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5) of the circular circle (S) of the seconds, is constituted by a decimal counter-decoder circuit, of which the outputs are connected two by two allowing the connection on the five wired coupled outputs, of the five rays R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 of light points s in order to control the excitation of the five rays of light points, successively from left to right, then from right to left in a pendulum oscillating movement.  10. Device according to claims 6, 7 and 8, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforesaid electronic module (12) controlling the excitation of the light points m activates by one step the above electronic module (11) controlling the excitation of the light points h, each time that the m points of the first module ( 12) have been covered and corresponding to the one hour interval.  11. Device according to claims 6, 7, 9 and / or 10, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforesaid electronic module (12) controlling the excitation of the light points m activates a generator of an audible or visual signal (14) each time the m steps of said electronic module (12) have been traversed.  12. Device according to claims 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 taken together, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforesaid time reset sub-assembly (16) consists of two contacts which, actuated by push buttons visible on the time dial, link the output signals of the frequency divider sub-assembly (15), through a circuit performing a logic "OR" function, one with the electronic module (11) controlling the excitation of light points h and other with the electronic module (12) controlling excitation of light points m.