WO1992011586A1

WO1992011586A1 - Information display device consisting of a body with moving display elements

Info

Publication number: WO1992011586A1
Application number: PCT/FR1991/001057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raymond Gustave Samuel; Catherine Hélène CARRILLO
Original assignee: Raymond Gustave Samuel; Carrillo Catherine Helene
Priority date: 1990-12-20
Filing date: 1991-12-20
Publication date: 1992-07-09
Also published as: AU9156491A; FR2670938A1; FR2670938B1

Abstract

A device for displaying information comprises a volume body (10) extending around a useable space and including at least one control element (41) coupled to the synchronizing means and at least one information display element (14-15) coupled to the control element (41). Said display element (14-15) enables information to be scrolled and controlled on the volume body (10) according to a closed sequence.

Description

INFORMATION PRESENTATION DEVICE CONSISTING OF A BODY WITH MOBILE DISPLAY ELEMENTS

The subject of the present invention is an information presentation device constituted by a body with mobile display elements, in particular intended for watches or for all types of measuring device.

This device allows an indication of personal or collective information such as results of variable parameters evolving as a function of time, information, various data, etc.

In addition, it can constitute various measuring devices such as display dials, rudder wheels, navigation compasses, in particular aircraft compasses, games, time stamping devices, etc.

However, to illustrate the invention, only a device comprising a toric body constituting a watch bracelet will be retained. Currently, watches include a case and a bracelet that are completely foreign to one another: with or without a strap, the watch works and it is only to wear it on the wrist that a bracelet is added .

The housing is constituted by a bottom which comprises mechanical and / or electronic means of measurement and drive. It is surmounted by a dial which has means of presentation, visualization, information such as the indication of a precise instant, the corresponding time in several cities of the world, the date, etc.

These presentation and display means are of various design and construction, which gives watches various aspects: needle watches, so-called "digital" watches, decorations of all kinds, but always in a plane.

More generally, by including the measuring instruments, the arrangement of the housing and the dial conditions the distribution of the means of presentation and display of the parameters measured. Indeed, it is necessary, by nature, to design these presentation means in a plane and according to a strictly confined distribution within the closed space delimited by the dial.

Thus, for conventional timepieces, the hands are arranged in the center of the plan dial and the marks around this center. Likewise, if the indication of the time is made from electronic means such as liquid crystal screens or photoluminescent diodes, these electronic means are also arranged on an essentially flat dial, that is to say in two dimensions.

Such a distribution of the means of presentation of hours, minutes and seconds does not always allow a easy and fast reading of time and, in particular, it requires reading from a particular angle which forces the user to position himself to make his field of vision coincide with the plane of the dial.

In addition, conventional timepieces require, to allow viewing of the hour, minutes and possibly seconds, to use dials which include markers of various shapes and designs but always at a location fixed.

To overcome these drawbacks, various embodiments of timepieces, and, mainly watches or clocks, are known.

We know, for example, the French patent application FR A-2,303,321 which describes a clock, comprising at least one display unit associated with at least one rectilinear scale divided into units of time, as well as at least one hand can be moved along a ladder on a course closed on itself by means of a drive device, consisting of two end spheres which support pairs of rollers, surrounded by an endless band, which can rotate on an axis common horizontal.

The two strands of the endless band are practically one against the other and bear marks similar to the usual hands for the hours and minutes, the hours and minutes being indicated by means of fixed spheres superimposed in a single column, which correspond to the projection on a line of the hours traditionally appearing on a circle. Thus, the sphere corresponding to 3 o'clock is confused with that of 9 o'clock and so on.

The ambiguity is lifted by the orientation of the hands: when they are on the end of the endless band which moves up and down, the hours to be taken into account are those of the first half-turn, namely between 0 and 6 hours, while when they are on the strand which moves from bottom to top, the hours to be taken into account are those of the second half-turn, namely between 6 and 12 hours.

Although this clock is original compared to watches with a circular dial, everything still happens in a plane because the strands located against each other give "relief" only by their thickness, the clock must necessarily be observed on one side, because it is impossible to read the time from the sides, from above or from below.

The hour hand evokes the movement of the sun during the day because it goes up in the morning until noon and goes down 1 * in the afternoon until 6 am. As a result, this clock corresponds better to the sensitivity of man resulting from the observation of the movements of the sun during the day.

There are also watches which include at least one display unit having at least one rectilinear scale and subdivided into time units.

A watch of this kind is described in US-A-2,221,413. The index is moved along the scale by means of ribbons or cables passing around idler pulleys which are driven by a motor. This watch, due to the complexity of its design and layout, is large which limits its possibilities of use.

Another watch of this type is also known, which is described in patent DE-A-458 233 and with which the indication of the hour, minutes and seconds is obtained by means of luminous elements arranged on a rectilinear scale. .

We can also cite the watch described in patent FR-A-2,450,476 and which comprises at least one display unit having at least one straight scale subdivided into time units. To allow a correct reading of the indication provided, that is to say the time at a precise moment, while being able to be relatively reduced in size, this watch includes an elongated base body having time marks and at least one peripheral part which is provided with a device for displaying time units.

This structure allows the reading of the time only from two edges of the body and when the user looks in the direction of the major transverse axis of said body.

Finally, the watches known from the state of the art have a classic body, that is to say an essentially flat body. The present invention offers a new solution to the production of indicating devices by providing a device for presenting information from mobile display elements according to scrolling on a closed course on itself, displayed information, whatever the angle from which reading is performed.

The device of the invention allows information to be displayed by migrating the display and display means in a coordinated and continuous manner on a support closed on itself and in the three dimensions of the space. Similarly, it allows the display of information in a fixed position relative to a support animated with translational, rotational or any other type of movements.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an information display device characterized in that it comprises a volume body extending around a usable space and which comprises on the one hand at least one control element connected to synchronization means and on the other hand at least one information display element connected to the control element, and allowing the management of the scrolling of information on the volumetric body according to a closed course on itself.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

- The device comprises a volume body of revolution; - the volume body is a torus;

the control element comprises means for processing information of the microprocessor type having at least one memory comprising data suitable for managing and authorizing the synchronized control of the scrolling of the information;

the display element comprises means for processing information of the microprocessor type having at least one memory comprising data suitable for authorizing the scrolling of the information; - The microprocessor of the display element comprises at least one memory for managing data corresponding to values of external parameters;

the microprocessor of the control element comprises at least one memory for managing data, coming from a memory of the control element, corresponding to values of external parameters;

- the volume body has a single display element and has a smooth surface;

- The body comprises at least two display elements and has a surface which is constituted by a polygonal assembly of adjacent facets;

- The end of each facet is connected to each corresponding end of each corresponding adjacent facet by at least one pivot link; - The device comprises a thin display means;

the display means is of the matrix type;

- The display means is of electroluminescent type under stretched field by means of a polycrystalline screen; - The display means is of the liquid crystal type;

- The device comprises at least one key to allow the start-up and at least one key to allow the control and selection of information; - the keys are made of a synthetic material of the synthetic resin type.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description below made with reference to the attached schematic drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are given only by way of an indicative and nonlimiting example.

FIG. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of a watch made up of a solid body of toroidal shape whose surface is smooth which comprises a mobile display representing two motor vehicles.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view in longitudinal section of the volume body of a watch similar to FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a volume body which comprises a peripheral band and three parallel bands for indicating respectively the hour, minutes and seconds.

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a volume body which comprises on the one hand a peripheral strip divided into adjacent boxes inside each of which appears the mention of a city and on the other hand a mobile display representing a globe.

FIG. 5 represents a schematic view in transverse section of an alternative embodiment of a watch made up of a solid body of toroidal shape, the surface of which is produced from an octagonal assembly of eight adjacent facets.

FIG. 6 represents a partial schematic perspective view of a watch similar to FIG. 5. Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the connection between the ends of two adjacent facets.

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the block diagram illustrating the operation of the control element and the display elements.

The invention can be implemented in various applications which allow an indication of the value of a parameter or the display of information and / or information. Thus the device for presenting information of the invention can constitute measuring devices, games, parking meters, etc., which include solid bodies, delimiting a useful central space, possibly of revolution, allowing circulation and scrolling of information on a course closed on itself. Scrolling means information on a closed course on itself means scrolling information on a closed course either physically or logically.

This diversity of bodies makes it possible to produce devices whose volume body and useful space have aesthetic qualities thanks to which they adapt perfectly to the environment for which they are intended, while providing the user with an easy and pleasant reading. information, regardless of the angle from which it observes it.

Referring to the drawing, we see a device applied to the production of a watch.

This is a watch consisting of a toric body 10. This toric shape of the body 10 defines a useful space adapted to allow the passage of a hand like a bracelet.

The body 10, in alternative embodiments, may have various volume forms, possibly but not necessarily of revolution. For example, we can design cylinders, trunks of cones, ellipsoids etc.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the outer surface 11 of the body 10, considering the torus, is made of a transparent or translucent synthetic material while the inner surface 12 is opaque so that the signs can be observed. This difference can be observed, either by using two materials, or by applying an opaque coating on the internal part 12.

The choice of materials used depends in particular on criteria depending on the subsequent conditions of use of the watch (impact resistance, water resistance, etc.) as well as aesthetic considerations and production costs.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the body 10 has a smooth external surface 12 and a smooth internal face 12.

This body 10 here comprises, on the one hand a control element called "master element" and on the other hand a display element called "slave element" represented by the assembly 13 (FIG. 2).

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the master element is constituted by mechanical members of the pinion type which are mechanically connected by an arrangement suitable for synchronization means such as a clockwork mechanism.

This master element is mechanically connected to at least one rack integral with the display element which includes means for presenting information. The mechanical drive of this display element by the master element allows the scrolling of said information over a closed course on itself around the body which delimits a useful space.

In order to obtain the scrolling of the information over a closed route, one can have recourse, in other embodiments, to any other arrangement which includes mechanical and / or electronic means which authorize a relationship between a master element and a slave element.

In addition, it is conceivable that the scrolling of information is carried out by supports associated with drive device means which cooperate with rollers according to differential drives.

In a preferred embodiment, the master element is constituted by a microprocessor which comprises a memory having data which allow the management of the command and the scrolling of information as well as data which make it possible to follow the evolution of parameters and measure time. These data are transmitted, by means of connection of a conventional and perfectly known type, to at least one slave element which has a microprocessor having a memory which makes it possible to manage this data. From this data, the microprocessor authorizes the display of display means of the liquid crystal type consisting of clear, opaque or colored dots regularly distributed on a display matrix.

This display matrix is arranged on a support such as a thin plate.

The display matrix is protected by a thin layer of synthetic material of the transparent resin type which perfectly matches the shape of the watch.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display of the points allows the representation of two motor vehicles 14 and 15. It is understood that the choice of the pattern represented is purely fanciful and decorative and that it is entirely possible to represent other patterns illustrating real or imaginary objects of various shapes. The microprocessor memory also contains appropriate data which makes it possible to manage the distribution of the lit points. This distribution of the lit points allows the mobility of the display of information which thus scrolls over the entire circumference of the watch. This will be better explained below, with regard to Figure 8.

Advantageously, this scrolling of the information presented, on a course closed on itself, that is to say

10 to say on a course which starts from a determined point to return to this starting point, allows a reading of this information whatever the angle from which the user looks at them.

In order to facilitate this reading of information,

| 5 there are provided markers 16 arranged on the peripheral edge of the body 10.

Here, these marks 16 are constituted by lines of different lengths. The longest lines 17 are twelve in number and each indicate an interval of

20 times corresponding to one hour. The smaller lines 18 arranged in each interval formed between two long lines 17 are four in number and each indicates a time interval corresponding to fifteen minutes.

Referring to FIG. 1, it is exactly six 5 hours and thirty three minutes or eighteen hours and thirty three minutes assuming that the lowest representation of the motor vehicle 14 is intended to allow the indication of the hours and that the representation of the highest motor vehicle 15 is intended to allow the indication of the minutes.

The scrolling of the representation of the motor vehicle 15 is faster than that of the representation of the motor vehicle 14 as in all conventional clockwork mechanisms, since these 5 representations of motor vehicles 14 and 15 replace the hands intended to indicate the hours and the minutes respectively.

Besides the functional aspect of indicating the value of time at a precise instant, the watch has a very pleasant aesthetic appearance. It is important to note that this aesthetic aspect is considerably increased thanks to the removal of the housing in accordance with the invention.

Naturally, the watch could also, in alternative embodiments, be provided with any other type of markers of varied shape and design.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the watch comprises an outer peripheral band 20 which is transparent or translucent here and opaque and an inner band 21 inside which are placed three mobile display patterns 22, 23 and 24 each made up by a number comprising at least one digit and at most two digits.

These three patterns 22, 23, and 24 are distributed in a judicious arrangement in which the pattern 22 is located against one of the borders 25 of the peripheral band 20, the pattern 23 is located against the other border 26 of the peripheral border 20 and the pattern 24 in the median space 27 of the internal band 21.

For greater clarity and in an aesthetic spirit, it is possible to design, in another embodiment, bracelets 11, the peripheral band 20 of which is produced in a color different from the color of the internal band 21.

The number 22 indicates the value of the hour, the number 23 indicates the value of the minutes and the number 24 that of the seconds. Thus, in the example shown in Figure 3, it is exactly 14 hours, 16 minutes and 45 seconds. For a mobile display of the hours, minutes and seconds, it is also conceivable to provide that the body has an internal strip which is subdivided into three parts which each delimit a strip 28, 29 and 30.

Each of these strips 28, 29 and 30 includes a pattern such as a number which allows the indication of the value of time at a precise instant. In such a wristwatch, it is also possible to design strips of different colors and / or shades.

For the mobile display of the hours, minutes and seconds, it could also be provided in an alternative embodiment that each strip comprises a succession of adjacent rectangular boxes whose color varies in gradual gradation from a different shade for each strip. , from an identical reference box or even that the color of the boxes of these three strips varies in gradual gradation according to a color distribution similar to that of the chromatic circle of colors.

Here, the indication of the value of time at a precise instant is carried out by a mobile display of the figures in the different boxes. It will easily be understood that, in order to facilitate the reading of these figures, they appear in the corresponding box in colors or hues which make it possible to differentiate them from that of the color or hue of this box.

To allow rapid identification of these three different figures, they appear on each of the corresponding strips according to the distribution which has been described previously.

In Figure 4, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the watch. This watch has an O-ring body which has a peripheral band 31 which has a series of boxes 32 of substantially shaped parallelepiped. These boxes 32 each include a mention of the name of a large city and / or a capital 33.

The internal strip 34 here comprises a mobile display pattern representing a terrestrial globe 35. This representation of the terrestrial globe 35 comprises a longitudinal strip 36 arranged in its equatorial part 37 which allows the simultaneous digital display of several time values, c ' that is to say, the indication of the hour, minutes and seconds at a precise time in the capitals whose name appears in the boxes 32 with which this equatorial part 37 is facing. For example, in this figure, we can see gue, when it is exactly 12 hours 43 minutes and 6 seconds in New York, it is 21 hours 43 minutes and 6 seconds in Tokyo. One can easily imagine the advantage of such a display since it allows the indication of the time to be given quickly in various places on earth, taking into account the existing time difference.

It should also be noted that in another embodiment, the display of the information presented could be achieved by means of other types of display such as an electroluminescent display under a field stretched by means of a screen. polycrystalline. This type of display allows information to be viewed by means of a mirror which reflects the images coming from the electronic display circuits and from a diffuser.

To allow the various electronic means to operate, an electrical energy supply is provided. These electrical power supply means consist of a small battery which is arranged in a housing provided in the bracelet and closed by a removable snap-on cover. This battery is of a conventional type and it is in contact with conductive metal surfaces connected to the various electronic elements by connections of a type. classic. For this purpose, these metal surfaces are connected to the microprocessor of the master element by welds.

This battery ensures sufficient autonomy for the use of the watch and is easily interchangeable when necessary.

Quite naturally, this watch could also be provided with another source of energy supply constituted for example by solar cells connected to an accumulator. This supply could, of course, be used either as the main supply or as the secondary supply in combination with a conventional supply of the battery type.

To authorize the control and selection of the information presented, keys made here in a synthetic material such as synthetic resin are provided.

The problems posed by the mobile display of information by electronic display means of the liquid crystal type have been resolved by the production of wristwatches such as that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

This wristwatch is constituted by an O-ring body 10 which has a smooth internal surface 11 and an octagonal external surface 12 constituted by the assembly of eight adjacent facets 40.

More specifically, in this embodiment, this body comprises a master element 41 disposed in one of the facets 40 while each of the other seven facets 40 comprises a slave element 42.

The block diagram, represented in FIG. 8, illustrates the operation of these different electronic organs and in particular the relations between, on the one hand the master element 41 and each slave element 42, and on the other hand the relations between the slave elements 42 and 10

the exterior by constituting an interface.

The master element 41 comprises a microprocessor 50 having a memory comprising data which control the various slave elements 42 and the coordination and synchronization of the scrolling of the information over a path closed on itself. In addition, this microprocessor 50 includes a memory intended to receive data on the value of external parameters.

Each slave element 42 comprises a microprocessor 51, having a memory comprising data, which authorizes the display of different patterns and their scrolling over a path closed on itself and another memory which allows the acquisition of data resulting from the measurement of external parameters. The operation of this watch strap is explained below.

The user firstly makes a choice according to his personal tastes or mobile display patterns. He confirms his choice by pressing an appropriate button on the watch strap. This choice is transmitted to the microprocessor 50 of the master element 41 by means of conventional connection which takes it into management and which processes it as a function of data contained in its memory. This microprocessor 50 develops a display and synchronization program for the scrolling of the display pattern over a closed path on itself which is transmitted to each microprocessor 51 of each slave element 42 by conventional connection and connection means.

To allow the transmission of the data of this display program, it is necessary to make a mechanical junction between the different adjacent facets 40 like that shown in FIG. 7.

This mechanical junction comprises a body 53 suitable for allowing the passage of a micro-cable power supply 54 and a data transmission bus 55 connecting the various elements together. This junction is made flexible here by means of four pivots 56 arranged symmetrically two by two on either side of a transverse median plane.

The assembly of the different facets by means of this junction gives the wristwatch a characteristic "chenille" appearance as illustrated in FIG. 6. This program for displaying and synchronizing the scrolling of the patterns is taken care of by each microprocessor 51 of each slave element 42 which comprises a memory having specific data and adapted to its processing.

These microprocessors 51 develop, as a function of this program, data which authorize the display of the elements necessary for the constitution of the pattern or patterns chosen by the user and the coordination and synchronization of the scrolling of the information presented on a course closed on him. even. this scrolling of the information presented is achieved by switching on a series of display means simultaneously with the extinction of another series of display means. Obviously, this on / off synchronization of the display means is provided to allow a continuous vision by the observer of the mobile display pattern (s) and scrolling over the entire wristwatch.

The user can, in other embodiments at any time enter values of external parameters by means of a key. The value of this parameter is then transmitted to a memory of the microprocessor 51 of the slave element 42 to which it is connected by conventional connections.

This microprocessor 51 manages the value of this parameter and it transmits this new data to a memory of the microprocessor 50 of the master element 41. This new data is either stored in this memory, or taken into consideration for the development of a new display and coordination and synchronization program for the scrolling of the mobile patterns and the information presented.

For example, it may be either the stopping of the scrolling of the information at a determined position, or the introduction of the value such as that of the barometric pressure existing in a determined location. If there appears a rapid decrease in the value of atmospheric pressure, the user then sees scrolling this information of atmospheric pressure, on the other hand, as long as this information remains substantially constant, the user only sees the indication displayed of the almost constant value of this pressure.

Likewise, each microprocessor 51 of each slave element 42 indicates to the microprocessor 50 of the master element 41 any operating anomaly. It goes without saying that the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments which have been described above. In particular, we will not depart from the scope of the invention by considering structural modifications of the body of the device for presenting information with a mobile display which allow its application in other fields such as cellular radiotelephony, measuring devices, game machines, time stamps, control devices, etc.

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Claims

1- Information display device characterized in that it comprises a volume body (10) extending around a usable space and which comprises on the one hand at least one control element (41) connected to synchronization means and on the other hand at least one information display element (14-15, 22-23-24, 35) connected to the control element (41), this display element (14- 15, 22-23-24, 35) allowing the scrolling and management of information on the solid body (10) according to a closed course on itself.

2- An information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a volume body (10) of revolution.

3- Information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the solid body (10) is a torus.

4- information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the control element (41) comprises information processing means of the microprocessor type (50) having at least one memory comprising data adapted to manage and authorize the synchronized control of the scrolling of the information.

5- information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the display element (14-15, 22-23-24, 35) comprises information processing means of the microprocessor type (50) having at least one memory comprising data suitable for authorizing the scrolling of information. 6- information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the microprocessor (51) of the display element (14-25, 22-23-24, 35) comprises at least one memory for managing data corresponding to values of external parameters. 7- Information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the microprocessor (50) of the control element (41) comprises at least one memory for managing data, coming from a memory of the element of command, corresponding to values of external parameters.

8- Information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the volumetric body (10) comprises a single display element and has a smooth surface. 9- Information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the body (10) comprises at least two display elements (14-15, 22-23, 34-35) and has a surface which is constituted by a polygonal assembly of adjacent facets (40).

10- Information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the end of each facet (40) is connected to each corresponding end of each facet (40) corresponding adjacent by at least one pivot link (56) .

11- Information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the device comprises a thin display means.

12- Information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the display means is of the matrix type. 13- Information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the display means is of the electroluminescent type under stretched field via a polycrystalline screen. 14- Information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the display means is of liquid crystal type.

15- Information display device according to claim 1 characterized in that the device comprises at least one key to allow the start-up and at least one key to allow the control and selection of information.

16- Information display device according to claim -15 characterized in that the keys are made of a synthetic material of the synthetic resin type.

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