WO2006135190A1

WO2006135190A1 - Timepiece in which the time is read easily

Info

Publication number: WO2006135190A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/002262
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoon-Hyoung Eo; Jang-Sung Choi
Original assignee: Yoon-Hyoung Eo; Jang-Sung Choi
Priority date: 2005-06-14
Filing date: 2006-06-14
Publication date: 2006-12-21
Also published as: KR20060130445A

Abstract

Disclosed therein is an electronic timepiece, which includes: scales divided at uniform angles on the center thereof for dividing time; and at least one time indicator rotating on the center of the timepiece and pointing to or between the scales for indicating time, wherein time indicating symbols of two to four scales nearest to the tip of the time indicator are expressed in a different way from time indicating symbols of the remaining scales. According to the present invention, the (needle) rotating type timepiece providing a user with information of various kinds can indicate time as concise as possible, so that the user can exactly and rapidly read the local time of a region, where the user stays, and a day-and-night state through the hands of the timepiece.

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

[Invention Title]

TIMEPIECE IN WHICH THE TIME IS READ EASILY

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece having an improved time readability, and more particularly, to an electronic timepiece in which the time is read easily by expressing time indicating symbols near to a scale pointed by a time indicator in a different way from time indicating symbols of other scales.

[Background Art]

Timepieces for indicating or measuring time can be classified in various ways according to an operating method, an indicating method or a handling method. The timepieces can be classified into a mechanical type and an electronic type according to the operating method, into a watch and a clock according to the handling method, and into a (rotating) needle type and a numbering type according to the indicating method. The timepieces are classified into a digital type and an analog type according to the operating and indicating method, but the operating and indicating methods are not necessarily in one-to-one relationship between them. That is, an electronic type timepiece may be in the digital type or the analog type, and the rotating type and/or the numbering type.

A timepiece, which will be described in this invention, is an electronic timepiece, which has a display method of the needle type. For instance, the timepiece, which will be described in this invention, is a programmed timepiece displayed on a PC screen in a way that a needle is rotated.

During the recent several decades, development of electronic communication technology and spread of personal portable communication devices have been rapidly increased. Therefore, not a portable mechanical watch (for example, a wristwatch), or a simple portable electronic watch indicating time in number or displaying the hour hand and the minute hand on an LCD but an immaterial digital watch that exists in a portable communicate device or a computer programmatically is demanded.

Additionally, according to diversification and sensitivity of people's desires, a watch of a new concept, that displays time of a specific region not in number but in a form sensed with eyes and body, namely, enabling people to sense the nature as it is, is needed. (Refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No H03-287092, Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-1999- 0018044, 10-2005-30249, and 10-2005-31986)

Such prior arts provide additional information, for instance, for allowing a user to recognize the present time of major cities in the world, to measure latitude and longitude, and to recognize the movement of heavenly bodies. However, the prior arts have a disadvantage in that the user may be confused in recognizing or measuring time since too much information is displayed on the screen. Therefore, an electronic timepiece of a new type, which serves the original function of the timepiece, namely, displaying of time, while providing information of various kinds is needed.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic timepiece, which is easier to read time while providing information of various kinds.

[Technical Solution]

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an electronic timepiece, which includes: scales divided at uniform angles on the center ■thereof for dividing time; and at least one time indicator rotating on the center of the timepiece and pointing to or between the scales for indicating time, wherein time indicating symbols of two to four scales nearest to the tip of the time indicator are expressed in a different way from time indicating symbols of the remaining scales. [Advantageous Effects]

The needle type timepiece providing information of various kinds according to the present invention allows a user to exactly and rapidly read the present time of a zone, where the user stays, through a time indicating needle since the timepiece indicates time as concise as possible.

Furthermore, the electronic timepiece according to the present invention has a 24-hours display system so that the user can immediately recognize whether the on-the-spot time is the forenoon hours or afternoon hours, and displays day-and-night changeable according to seasons and latitude so that the user can visually recognize the day-and-night state on the spot at once.

Additionally, the present invention can allow the user to recognize the on-the-spot time of a wanted city and main information related with the city and to easily read the present time when the user indicates a position of the wanted city on the world map.

In addition, the timepiece providing information of various kinds by indicating the movement of heavenly bodies on the timepiece according to the present invention can allow the user to easily recognize the present time.

[Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of electronic timepieces providing information of various kinds according to a prior art.

FIG. 2 shows an example that the present invention is applied to the electronic timepiece of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an example of electronic timepieces providing information of various kinds according to another prior art.

FIG. 4 shows an example that the present invention is applied to the electronic timepiece of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 shows an example of electronic timepieces providing information of various kinds according to a further prior art.

FIG. 6 shows an example that the present invention is applied to the electronic timepiece of FIG. 5. ******* Explanation of reference numerals *******

10. inner plate 12. sunrise and sunset line

13. date line 20. outer plate

21. scale

22. time indicating symbol (hour)

23. time indicating symbol (minute, second)

24. minute plate 30. time indicator (hour hand)

31. time indicator (minute hand)

32. time indicator (second hand) 40. celestial plate

[Best Mode]

The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece, which includes: scales divided at uniform angles on the center thereof for dividing time; and at least one time indicator rotating on the center of the timepiece and pointing to or between the scales for indicating time, wherein time indicating symbols of two to four scales nearest to the tip of the time indicator are expressed in a different way from time indicating symbols of the remaining scales.

The timepiece according to the present invention may be a simply digitalized actual timepiece or a programmatically displayed timepiece mounted in a mobile phone, a PDA or a personal computer. Hereinafter, the term "Timepiece" used herein means the above-mentioned timepieces.

In the present invention, the scales for indicating time may indicate at least one of hour, minute and second as occasion demands. That is, the timepiece may include only hour scales, hour scales and minute scales, or all of hour scales, minute scales and second scales. At this time, corresponding to the above, the timepiece may include at least one time indicator, namely, an hour hand and/or a minute hand and/or a second hand.

It is preferable that the number of the scales is once to five times twelve at uniform angles if necessary. That is, the scales are divided into twelve parts, twenty four parts or sixty parts at uniform angles on the center thereof, so that a user can exactly read hour, minute and second of a specific time point .

The present invention may be applied not only to a timepiece of a 12- hour system whose hour hand turns around twice a day but also a timepiece of a 24-hour system whose hour hand turns around once a day in the same way.

In the present invention, two to four time indicating symbols nearest to the tip of the time indicator are expressed differently from time indicating symbols of the remaining scales. It means that the two to four hour indicating symbols near to a circumferential pointed out by the hour hand are expressed specially, and/or that the two to four minute indicating symbols near to a circumferential pointed out by the minute hand are expressed specially, and/or that the two to four second indicating symbols near to a circumferential pointed out by the second hand are expressed specially. For instance, if the present time is fifteen thirty-six, 15 and 16 near to the circumferential point pointed out by the hour hand and 35 and 40 near to the circumferential point pointed out by the minute hand are expressed specially. Here, to express specially or differently includes that only the time indicating symbols of the corresponding scales are expressed but the time indicating symbols of other scales are not expressed. Therefore, the user can rapidly recognize the present time only by looking at the timepiece of the present invention. That is, the user may recognize the present time as 15 hours and about 36~37 minutes since the hour hand is located between 15 and 16 and the minute hand is close to 35 between 35 and 40. According to circumstances, the minute indicating symbol or the second indicating symbol may be not expressed (hereinafter, the same).

If necessary, the hour indicating symbol and/or the minute indicating symbol corresponding to the local time of other wanted region may be expressed in another way. For instance, in the case where a Korean user stays in L.A. , U.S.A., the scale pointed out by the time indicator may be expressed in light red and a portion showing the local time of Korea may be expressed in light blue. So, the user can promptly recognize the present time of the sojourn place (L.A.) and the present time of the wanted region (Korea), and sensitively recognize even a time difference between the two regions.

Hereinafter, referring to the drawings, the timepieces of the present invention and the prior art will be compared with each other. In this specification, just a needle type electronic timepiece of the 24-hour system is described, but it would be appreciated that an electronic timepiece of the 12-hour system in the same way and electronic timepieces of other types may be also possible.

(1) Application to an electronic timepiece reflecting the revolution of the earth (FIGS. 1 and 2)

The present invention may be applied to a timepiece (FIG. 1) including: an inner plate displaying a world map of the Southern or Northern Hemisphere, the world map placing the South Pole or the North Pole at the center thereof and describing a date line and day-and-nigh thereon, the inner plate turning around once a day in the same direction as the revolution of the earth; an outer plate having scales divided at uniform angles on the center thereof for indicating time; and a time indicator (at least, hour hand) turning around once a day for indicating time.

In the case of the Northern Hemisphere to which Korea belongs, the inner plate and the hour hand turn around in the same direction to the revolution of the earth, namely, in the counterclockwise direction (turning around from the top to the left). On the contrary, in the case of the Southern Hemisphere, the inner plate and the hour hand turn around in the clockwise direction (turning around from the top to the right).

The timepiece according to the present invention can show the local time and a sunrise or sunset state of the corresponding region at once without additional operation. According to the present invention, the world map displays the sunrise or sunset state with a difference of shadows or colors, so that the user can recognize a day-and-night state, passage of time from the sunrise, and the time left till the sunset at a specific region or all over the world without additional operation.

In addition, the timepiece may additionally include a minute hand turning around once an hour, or a minute hand turning around once an hour and a second hand turning around once a minute.

As you can see from FIG. 1, the above timepiece may cause confusion in recognizing time since it provides much information and is unfamiliar to consumers.

So, to prevent confusion, on the timepiece according to the present invention (FIG. 2), just two time (hour) indicating symbols 11 and 12 nearest to the tip of the time indicator (hour hand) and just two time (minute) indicating symbols 45 and 50 nearest to the tip of the time indicator (minute hand) are expressed. Therefore, the user can recognize that the present time is about eleven forty-nine only by glancing at the timepiece (FIG. 2). In FIG. 2, the time (minute) indicating symbols are 45 and 50, but if necessary, may be 49 and 50 to express more precisely.

(2) Application to another electronic timepiece reflecting the revolution of the earth (FIGS.3 and 4)

The present invention may be applied to a timepiece (FIG. 3) including: a fixed inner plate and displaying a world map of the Southern or Northern Hemisphere, the world map placing the South Pole or the North Pole at the center thereof and describing a date line and day-and-nigh thereon; an outer plate having scales divided at uniform angles on the center thereof for indicating time and turning around once a day in the opposite direction as the revolution of the earth; and a time indicator.

The timepiece according to the present invention may have no hour hand and minute hand, differently from traditional clocks. However, the hour plate having the time scale divided at uniform angles on the center thereof for indicating time indicates time while turning around once a day. At this time, if necessary, additional scales may be subdivided between the scales indicated on the hour plate, so that the user can exactly recognize a specific time in a minute unit just by the hour plate.

In the case of the Northern Hemisphere to which Korea belongs, the outer plate turns around in the opposite direction to the revolution of the earth, namely, in the clockwise direction (turning around from the top to the right). On the contrary, in the case of the Southern Hemisphere, the outer plate turns around in the counterclockwise direction (turning around from the top to the left). Hereinafter, the timepiece on which the map of the Northern Hemisphere is represented will be described.

Furthermore, to more easily display time, the timepiece according to the present invention may further include a minute plate having scales divided in uniform angles on the center thereof for indicating minutes and turning around once an hour in the opposite direction to the revolution of the earth. In the same way, the timepiece may further include a second plate having scales divided in uniform angles on the center thereof for indicating seconds and turning around once a minute in the opposite direction to the revolution of the earth. In a different way, to more easily display time, the timepiece may further include a minute plate having scales divided in uniform angles on the center thereof for indicating minutes and a minute hand turning around once an hour (not shown).

In the above timepiece, the time indicator may be fixed, but preferably, may be rotated by manipulation of the user so as to visually show the local time of a wanted region. It is preferable that the user set the local time of the wanted region by the user's manipulation while rotating the outer plate of the timepiece in a state where the time indicator is fixed.

As you can see from FIG. 3, the above timepiece may cause confusion in recognizing time since it provides much information and is unfamiliar to consumers.

So, to prevent confusion, on the timepiece according to the present invention (FIG. 4), just two time (hour) indicating symbols 9 and 10 nearest to the tip of the time indicator and just two time (minute) indicating symbols 35 and 40 nearest to the tip of the time indicator (minute hand) are expressed. In FIG. 4, the time (minute) indicating symbols are 35 and 40, but if necessary, may be 39 and 40 to express more precisely. Therefore, the user can recognize that the present time is about nine thirty-nine only by glancing at the timepiece (FIG. 4).

The timepiece according to the present invention may further include a minute plate having scales divided into uniform angles on the center thereof for indicating minutes and a minute hand turning around once an hour.

(3) Application to another electronic timepiece reflecting the movement of the heavenly bodies (FIGS. 5 and 6)

The present invention may be applied to a celestial timepiece (FIG. 5) including: a celestial plate rotating 360.99 a day (24 hours), placing the celestial North Pole or the celestial South Pole at the center thereof according to the equatorial coordinates, and describing a constellation; the horizontal line indicated on the celestial plate as a virtual line formed by crossing of the horizontal plane and the celestial sphere at a specific latitude of the earth; an outer plate having scales divided at uniform angles on the center thereof; and a time indicator rotating 360 a day on the center of the celestial plate in the same direction as the rotational direction of the celestial plate.

In the above timepiece, the celestial plate has the celestial North Pole or the celestial South Pole located at the center thereof and describes stars of a predetermined declination as the constellation. At this time, the celestial plate may indicate concentric circles indicating the declination and the right ascension on the celestial sphere or straight lines passing through the center thereof and divided into uniform angles. On the concentric circles and/or straight lines, the corresponding declination and right ascension may be expressed in numbers or symbols. In this case, the user can recognize the declination and the right ascension of a specific star in brief by glancing at the celestial plate.

The rotational speed of the celestial plate can be derived by the following calculation.

The earth moves around the sun about 0.99° (= 360° ÷365 days) a day. Meanwhile, the earth can rotate once on its own axis by moving about 0.99° more (more precisely, 0.9856° in view of the sun. So, the time period that the earth rotates once around a fixed star is about 3.9 minutes (=0.99° 60 minutes ÷ 15° ) faster than the time period that the earth rotates once around the sun. Therefore, the sun rises and sets about 3.9 minutes faster everyday. By the above calculation, it is set that the rotational speed of the celestial plate 10 is about 360.99° for 24 hours.

In the above timepiece, the horizontal line is indicated on the celestial plate as the virtual line formed by crossing of the horizontal plane and the celestial sphere at the specific latitude of the earth. The horizontal line is changed according to the latitude of the earth since it is concerned with the horizontal plane of the specific latitude.

It would be easy to the skilled in this field to automatically or manually determine the change of the horizontal line on the celestial plate according a change of latitude through a proper calculation.

A declination difference between the celestial North (South) Pole and the horizontal line point nearest to the celestial North (South) Pole on the celestial plate of the timepiece becomes the latitude of the position and the altitude of the celestial North (South) Pole at the position.

It is preferable that the number of the divided scales formed on the outer plate is at least 24. Numbers of 0 to 24 or numbers of 0 to 12 and continuously 1 to 11 may be indicated at or between the scales, and to express the forenoon and the afternoon, the numbers of 0 to 12 and the number of 1 to 11 may be indicated in different colors. That is, on the outer plate, hour scales divided into twenty-four parts at uniform angles on the center of the outer plate may be indicated.

The time indicator rotates 360 a day (24 hours) on the center of the celestial plate in the same direction to the rotational direction of the celestial plate. Therefore, the movement of the time indicator in the timepiece according to the present invention is nearly equal to the movement of the actual sun. At this time, the timepiece may include division lines subdivided between the scales of the outer plate as occasion demands, whereby the user can exactly read the hour and minute of the specific time just by glancing at the time indicator. Moreover, the timepiece according to the present invention may further include minute scales divided into twelve at uniform angles on the center thereof, and a minute indicating part rotating 360 an hour on the center of the celestial plate, so that the hour hand (time indicator) and the minute hand (time indicator) can run like general timepieces. Of course, the second hand (not shown) rotating 360 a minute may be further included. At this time, for convenience, to express minutes, numbers of 0, 10, 20, ..., 50 or numbers of 0, 15, 30, and 45 may be indicated at the minute scales.

As you can see from FIG. 5, the above timepiece may cause confusion in recognizing time since it provides much information and is unfamiliar to consumers.

So, to prevent confusion, on the timepiece according to the present invention (FIG. 6), just two time (hour) indicating symbols 7 and 8 nearest to the tip of the time indicator and just two time (minute) indicating symbols 15 and 20 nearest to the tip of the time indicator (minute hand) are expressed. In FIG. 6, the time (minute) indicating symbols are 15 and 20, but if necessary, may be 16 and 17 to express more precisely. Therefore, the user can recognize that the present time is about seven sixteen P.M. only by glancing at the timepiece (FIG.6).

The timepiece of the present invention is linked with a position check system so as to automatically apply a time difference against the standard hour, so that the local time indicated by needles can be automatically set. For example, if the timepiece according to the present invention in which wireless communication means is mounted asks position information of the present position to a GPS (Global Positioning System), the GPS grasps position information through one of various methods, for example, communication with a satellite, and sends position information to the universal timepiece. The timepiece received position information adjusts the one-the-spot time automatically or manually. According to circumstances, the GPS may be manufactured integrally with the timepiece. Such system is very useful when the user travels various regions where the standard hours are different from one another, since the system automatically applies the standard hour of the actual place without additional operation.

In addition, the timepiece of the present invention may indicate information of each region in the world. At this time, "each region in the world" may mean a country, a wide area or a subdivided administrative district of a specific country (for example, America, a state of America, a county of a state of America, Korea, a city of Korea, Gun of a city of Korea, and so on), or a main city of the world. The timepiece of the present invention may have information of each region of the world therein, or be linked with Internet sites containing the up-to-date information of each region of the world, whereby the timepiece can display main information of the corresponding region, such as news of the region, when the user indicates the region on the world map. If necessary, it is possible to provide a path capable of providing further information by linking the main information with other information. The user may indicate the wanted region using a keyboard, a touch screen, a mouse, or other proper inputting means. Actually, it is impossible to indicate all cities of the Northern Hemisphere on the inner plate. Therefore, it is preferable to apply a "tool tip" technique that has been widely known in an Internet programming field. For example, when a user moves an indicator such as a courser to a point of the corresponding region on the world map of the inner plate, the names of the corresponding regions are indicated at points within a predetermined distance from the courser by the tool tip technique. When the user selects the name of a specific region, information of the region is indicated in the form of tool tip. For example, when the user clicks a specific place (point or city) on the inner plate with the courser, information of the name of the corresponding place is extracted by the embedded program, and transmitted to a server through a wire or wireless communication network. The server extracts information of the corresponding region, and transmits it to the timepiece through the wire or wireless communication network. The transmitted information is displayed on a screen of the timepiece.

The user can easily obtain information of the wanted region at any time using such system. At this time, the transmitted information may be information of various categories according to circumstances.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the form, structure, rotational speed, and characteristics of the timepiece, it is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can easily change or modify the present invention in various ways referring to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

[Industrial Applicability]

As described above, according to the present invention, the needle type timepiece providing the user with information of various kinds can indicate time as concise as possible, so that the user can exactly and rapidly read the local time of the region, where the user stays, and a day-and-night state through the hands of the timepiece.

In addition, according to the present invention, the user can obtain the local time and main information related with a wanted city by pointing out an area of the wanted city on the world map described on the timepiece.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1]

An electronic timepiece, which includes: scales divided at uniform angles on the center thereof for dividing time; and at least one time indicator rotating on the center of the timepiece and pointing to or between the scales for indicating time, wherein time indicating symbols of two to four scales nearest to the tip of the time indicator are expressed in a different way from time indicating symbols of the remaining scales. [Claim 2]

The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the scales are divided into once to five times twelve, and wherein the time indicator includes an hour hand turning around twice a day and a minute hand turning around once an hour, or an hour hand turning around twice a day, a minute hand turning around once an hour, and a second hand turning around once a minute. [Claim 3]

The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the scales are divided into once to five times twelve, and wherein the time indicator includes an hour hand turning around once a day and a minute hand turning around once an hour, or an hour hand turning around once a day, a minute hand turning around once an hour, and a second hand turning around once a minute. [Claim 4]

The electronic timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an inner plate displaying a world map of the Southern or Northern, the world map placing the South Pole or the North Pole at the center thereof and describing a date line and day-and-night thereon, the inner plate turning around once a day in the same direction as the revolution of the earth, wherein one of the time indicators is an hour hand turning around once a day. [Claim 5] The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising a fixed inner plate and displaying a world map of the Southern or Northern, the world map placing the South Pole or the North Pole at the center thereof and describing a date line and day-and-night thereon, wherein the scales turn around once a day in the opposite direction to the revolution of the earth, and wherein the time indicator is fixed. [Claim 6]

The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, further comprising: a minute plate having scales divided at uniform angles on the center thereof for indicating minutes; and a minute hand turning around once an hour. [Claim 7]

The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, further comprising: a celestial plate rotating 360.99 a day, placing the celestial North Pole or the celestial South Pole at the center thereof according to the equatorial coordinates, and describing a constellation; and the horizontal line indicated on the celestial plate as a virtual line formed by crossing of the horizontal plane and the celestial sphere at specific latitude of the earth, wherein the time indicator turns once a day on the center of the celestial plate in the same direction as the rotational direction of the celestial plate. [Claim 8]

The electronic timepiece according to claim 7, wherein the number of the scales is once to five times twelve, and wherein the time indicator includes an hour hand turning around once a day and a minute hand turning around once an hour, or an hour hand turning around once a day, a minute hand turning around once an hour, and a second hand turning around once a minute. [Claim 9]

The electronic timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 8, hour indicating symbols or hour and minute indicating symbols corresponding to the local time of other region are expressed in different ways.