WO2008004772A1 - Led display watch and time display method of the same - Google Patents
Led display watch and time display method of the same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2008004772A1 WO2008004772A1 PCT/KR2007/002844 KR2007002844W WO2008004772A1 WO 2008004772 A1 WO2008004772 A1 WO 2008004772A1 KR 2007002844 W KR2007002844 W KR 2007002844W WO 2008004772 A1 WO2008004772 A1 WO 2008004772A1
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- Prior art keywords
- time
- scales
- display
- remaining
- unit
- Prior art date
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- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
- G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
- G04G9/0082—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements and by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the positions of which represents the time, i.e. combinations of G04G9/02 and G04G9/08
- G04G9/0088—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements and by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the positions of which represents the time, i.e. combinations of G04G9/02 and G04G9/08 by controlling light sources, e.g. electroluminescent diodes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
- G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
- G04G9/02—Visual time or date indication means by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the position of which represent the time, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques
- G04G9/04—Visual time or date indication means by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the position of which represent the time, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques by controlling light sources, e.g. electroluminescent diodes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
- G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
- G04G9/08—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques
- G04G9/10—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques by controlling light sources, e.g. electroluminescent diodes
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- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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Abstract
A digital watch is disclosed, which comprises an input unit which consists of two through four buttons and is provided near a time display unit or at a side surface of a watch or on a watch strap and sets and inputs one or all of a current time, a date information, an alarm time, a timer, and a local time; a control unit which includes an auxiliary power device which supplies an auxiliary power to a memory, a CPU and a real time clock (RTC); and a time display unit which includes part or all of AM/FM, alarm, timer and local time recognition units.
Description
Title: LED DISPLAY WATCH AND TIME DISPLAY METHOD
OF THE SAME
Technical Field The present invention relates to a LED display watch and a time display method of the same, and in particular to a digital time and a time display method of the same in which the current time is displayed in such a manner that LED scales corresponding to a day, a hour, a minute and a second sequentially flash or are accumulated and then lighted, and a remaining date/time is displayed in such a manner that hour or minute display LED scales and LED scales corresponding to the remaining dates sequentially flash or are turned off in a reverse sequence of a proceeding direction based on a remaining date/time confirmation setting or turn off.
Background Art A conventional digital watch, which displays time with numerals on a LCD window, is widely used with the advantage of its easy recognition of the current time. When an ordinary person wants to know the current time as well as a lapse time from a certain time or a remaining time until a certain time. According to a conventional digital watch which is displayed with numerals on the LCD window, a time interval is checked by reading the current time and subtracting a certain time from the current time or vise versa. In this method, it is not easy to fast check a certain time interval which may cause errors.
As shown in Figure 1 , when the current time is 07:14:53, it is very easy to check the current time. When it is needed to know how much time has been passed from the start time to 05:30, a subtraction is performed with a six-decimal notation, so a user knows that it took 1 hour 24 minutes. In this case, a wrong result may be obtained. The same result may occur when computing how much
i
time is left until an appointment time.
The conventional LCD watch or analog watch needs an additional light since it is impossible to check the time in a dark place.
A consumer feels boring about a conventional digital watch which displays time only with numerals.
As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the Korean patent publication number 10-
2003-0040247 disclose a conventional LED display watch. As shown in Figure 2A, a minute display LED scale is provided by the unit of 5 minutes, and as shown in
Figure 2B, the time is displayed with bar graphs. In this case, the hour display scales for displaying 12 hours and the minute display scales for displaying 60 minutes are formed with the same heights. In case that the minute display scales are not formed of 60 scales, it is impossible to recognize the correct time or the recognition may be impossible. Since the minute display scales 102 and second display scales 103, which need 60 scales, are arranged at an inner side of the hour display scales 101 corresponding to 12 scales, it is impossible to recognize the time correctly. The above publication '247 is disclosed for roughly recognize the time. Namely, the above conventional LED watch is designed for the purpose of fashion. As shown in Figure 2B, the LED display watch has many problems for more correctly recognizing the current time as compared to the watch in which hour display scales are arranged along an outer surrounding portion of the same.
Since the conventional LED watch is featured with the purpose of decoration, a date input, an alarm function, a time function, a local time display function, etc. are impossible. So, a consumer's demand for a stylish look and advanced function is not satisfied. In the conventional LED watch, it is needed to disadvantageously reset time whenever a battery is changed.
Since the conventional art is not equipped with a function for setting an estimated time for a schedule management and a function for displaying a
remaining time or date until an estimated time, it is impossible to efficiently manage a schedule. In addition, information on an appointment place or an opponent cannot be set and managed.
Disclosure of Invention
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a LED display digital watch which overcomes the problems encountered in the conventional art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a stylish LED display digital watch which is able to easily and fast check the current time as well as a lapse time from a certain time and a remaining time until a certain time.
It is further another object of the present invention to provide a LED digital watch which is able to set one or multiple estimated date/time and is able to display the above remaining date/time information with a hour display scale formed of LEDs for thereby implementing a stylish and faster schedule management function. In addition, an appointment place as well as an opponent's information can be stored for thereby obtaining an efficient schedule management.
It is still further another object of the present invention to provide a LED digital watch which is able to easily set various functions such as a date input, an alarm function, a timer function, a local time display function, etc. and which is not need to reset time when a battery is changed and is able to significantly decrease power consumption.
To achieve the above objects, in a digital watch which includes an input unit, a control unity and a time display unit, there is provided a digital watch which comprises an input unit which consists of two through four buttons and is provided near a time display unit or at a side surface of a watch or on a watch strap and sets and inputs one or all of a current time, a date information, an alarm time, a timer, and a local time; a control unit which includes an auxiliary power device which
supplies an auxiliary power to a memory, a CPU and a real time clock (RTC); a memory which stores a time information from the real time clock and a time information from the input unit with the help of the CPU; and a CPU which processes a time information from the real time clock, a time information from the input unit, a time information obtained from the information stored in the memory, and a time information fed back from the time display unit and generates a control signal including the processed time information and transmits a time information to the time display unit and controls the same; and a time display unit which includes part or all of AM/FM, alarm, timer and local time recognition units and further includes hour display scales formed of 12 LEDs formed at a surrounding portion of a center of the time display unit, minute display scales formed of 59 or 60 LEDs formed with the same center at an outer side of the hour display scales, and second display scales formed of 59 or 60 LEDs with the same center at an outer side of the minute display scales, wherein the hour, minute and second display scales are different in their size, shape and color partially or totally, and the LEDs sequentially flash or are accumulated and lighted in a clockwise direction based on a time information received from the control unit for thereby displaying the proceeding of time.
When an input unit consists of two buttons, one button is used for a setting, input or confirmation and timer stop function, and the other button is used for a direction movement and timer start function. When three or four buttons are provided, the buttons may be used for setting a current time, a date information, an alarming time, a timer, a local time, and the like. So, it is possible to variously and conveniently handle the buttons. An auxiliary power device has a function of supplying an auxiliary power to part of a memory, a RTC, a CPU and a time display unit when a battery, which is a main power supply device, is needed to change. In addition, the auxiliary power
device is designed to allow a watch to operate for a certain time period even when a battery of a main power supply device is fully discharged so that it is not needed to reset the time after the battery is changed.
Here, a real time cloth (RTC) provides the CPY with time information by generating a pulse with a certain interval.
A control unit controls a function of displaying a time which is set to operate with sound or vibration at an alarm time set as an alarm time, time or local time is set via the input unit. The control unit controls a function of allowing a local time on the time display unit based on a time difference in a corresponding area. Part or all of AM/PM, alarm, timer, local time recognition units can be displayed with flashes on the LED or may be displayed using a LED panel, so that it is possible to easily recognize the set states of the above functions.
The hour display scales formed of the LEDs may be formed in a certain shape such as a bar shape, a circular shape, a square shape, etc. and different colors.
The hour display scales may be designed to accumulate and then flash for thereby displaying the current time so that time information can be easily recognized as the time passes. In another method, the hour display scales may be arranged in such a manner that the scales corresponding to the hour, minute, and second of the past time are turned off, and then the next scales sequentially flash so that the power consumption of the LEDs can be saved.
When the minute or second display scales are formed of 60 scales, the scales of the past minute or second display lighting states are turned off one second or one minute after the 60th scale is lighted, and then the first scale is lighted. When the scales are formed of 59 scales, the scales of the past minute or second display lighting states are turned off one second or one minute after the 59th scale is lighted, and then the first scale is lighted. In both 60 and 59 scales,
the next scale in the upper hour display scales are lighted at the same time when 60 seconds or 60 minutes are passed. Namely, in case that the 60 scales are used, the next scale is lighted in the upper hour display scales at the same time when the 60th scale is lighted. However, in case that the 59 scales are used, the next scale is lighted in the upper hour display scales at the same time when the 59th scale is turned off.
In the present invention, the time display unit further comprises a day display scale formed of 6 or 7 LEDs arranged about a center of the time display unit, and the minute display scales are divided into 12 directions and form layers in each direction, and when 5-minute or minute display scales are 59, the scales are arranged in a radial shape for showing 4 minutes in the last 12th direction, and the minute display scales sequentially flash or are accumulated and lighted in an outward direction based on a time information within each direction.
The time display unit further comprises a day display scale formed of 6 or 7 LEDs arranged about a center of the time display unit, and the hour display scales are arranged with bar scales at certain angles about the same center, and the minute or second display bar scales have different colors from the 5-minute or 5- second unit scales and the remaining scales.
Here, the date or hour, minute and second display scales may formed in various shapes such with respect to the same center such as a circular shape, a hexagonal shape, a 12-polygonal shape, a rectangular shape, a semicircular shape or a circle shape of which part of an upper side or lower side is open.
When the LED scales, which present days, are formed of seven scales, it is possible to represent each day, and when they are six scales, Sunday may remain turned-off.
The day or hour display scales may be arranged in thin bar shapes at
certain angles with respect to the same center. In this case, the outer appearance of the time proceeding may look beautiful and stylish.
The minute display scales may be arranged at certain angles with respect to the same center as the hour display scales. They may be divided into 12 directions. When five scales representing 5 minutes for each direction or four scales representing four minutes at the last 12th scale when the minute display scales are 59 may be outwardly arranged in the outward directions. When they are divided into 12 directions, it is possible to more clearly express the arrangements with the unit of 5 minutes or 10 minutes as compared to when all the minute display scales are arranged at regular intervals. So, it is possible to more easily and correctly express the minutes at the current time.
The scales of the units of five minutes or five seconds among the minute or second bar scales may be formed of LEDs having colors different from the remaining minute or second display scales or the colors of the LED upper covers may be different, so that it is easy to recognize by the units of five minutes or five seconds, whereby faster and easier time recognitions are possible.
In the present invention, time display unit comprises a LCD window at a center of the time display unit or at a lower side of the outermost hour display scale, and the LCD window receives an auxiliary power by the auxiliary power device and displays time or date information set and inputted via the input unit and comprises part or all of AM/FM, alarm, timer and local time recognition units.
An LCD window is provided so that the input states of the input unit and the states of the recognition unit can be easily checked. Various information of the recognition displays shown on the LCD window can be fed back to the CPU by providing an auxiliary power to the LCE window even when the battery is changed.
The operation OFF states of the second display scales may be maintained or part of the display states of the other time display units may be maintained in the
operation OFF state based on the setting input of the input unit by providing an OFF function recognition unit at the LCD window. The setting inputs of the other functions may be included, and the states of the above function may be displayed on the LCD window. A block is provided at a rear side of the scale board having day or hour display scales of the time display unit for preventing light from being spread between the scales.
The input unit comprises buttons for setting and inputting one or multiple estimated date or estimated time and for confirming a remaining date/time until an estimated date or estimated time; and the control unit controls an operation that when the input unit confirms a remaining date/time, one or multiple estimated date or time from the current date or current time or one or multiple remaining date/time information, which change depending on a time information from the real time clock and the memory, are displayed on the time display unit; and the time display unit further comprises a remaining date/time recognition unit, and when the remaining hour is displayed on the time display unit, the hour display scales sequentially flash or are turned off in the direction reverse to the current time proceeding direction by one or multiple remaining time information from the control unit, so that one or multiple remaining hours are displayed, and when the remaining dates are displayed on the time display unit, the hour display scales represent the remaining months, and the minute display scaled arranged in a radial shape in 12 directions are divided into 6 directions about the time display unit, so that 5 layers in which two scales are grouped in an outward direction from the inner side within each direction represent the remaining dates, and in case of the minute display scaled which are arranged about the time display unit at certain angles, two scales represent one remaining date, and as one or multiple remaining dates pass, the
scales sequentially flash or are turned off in a direction reverse to the current time proceeding direction; and the LCD window of the time display unit displays one or multiple estimated dates or time inputted via the input unit and comprises an estimated function setting and remaining date/time recognition unit. When the input setting for confirming the remaining date/time is provided, the remaining date/time may be displayed in the direction reverse to the direction of the flow display of the current time. Namely, they may flash or be turned off in the direction reverse to the proceeding direction from the remaining date or time of the current reference to the current time. When the remaining time is displayed, in case of the minute display scales arranged in the radial direction of 12 directions, they may sequentially flash or be turned off in the sequence from the outer side to the inner side within each direction of 12 directions. In the case that the remaining dates are shown, when the minute display scales arranged in the radial direction of 12 directions are divided into 6 directions, they may flash or be turned off from the outer side to the inner side within each direction on every 5 days.
In case that the remaining dates are displayed, 12 hour display scales represent the remaining months, and 59 or 60 minute display scales represent one remaining date for two scales. In particular, in case of the minute display scales which are arranged in the radial direction of 12 directions, they are divided into 6 directions, with two scales being grouped for each direction, so that one of five layers represents one date. So, 30 dates can be expressed in maximum. When exceeding the above limits, it can be expressed with the remaining months and dates based on the reverse calculation method.
When the time obtained by subtracting the current date/time from the estimated date/time is 12 hours or over 24 hours, the remaining date/time display may be controlled so that the time display unit automatically displays the remaining dates or the remaining date or time is displayed via a confirmation by the remaining
date/time recognition unit. The control reference for displaying the remaining date/time may be previously determined or may be determined depending on the setting input of the user. When the remaining time is over 12 hours and is less than 24 hours, in case that the remaining date/time display control reference is 24 hours, the recognition unit, which displays the afternoon of the AM/PM recognition unit, is lighted or displayed, and the time obtained by subtracting 12 hours from the remaining time may be displayed on the hour display scales.
When multiple estimated dates/times are inputted, the number of the same may be displayed on the estimation function setting recognition unit. In this case, when the remaining date/time confirmation is set and inputted, the display scales do not display the remaining date/time in accumulated states, but only the corresponding scales are lighted in multiple numbers and are sequentially lighted in the sequence reverse to the proceeding direction of the current time as the time passes. When multiple remaining times of less than 12 hours or 24 hours are displayed, the lighting states of the time and minute display scales, which display the remaining time of the same content among the hour display scales, may be different. For example, they may have lighted states or flashing states with different intervals, so that multiple remaining times can be confirmed. In this case, it is preferred that the second display scales remain turned off.
When multiple remaining dates are displayed, they may be shown in the same manner as the month scales and the remaining date scales. When the multiple remaining dates are within 30 days, they may be shown with multiple lighting states without flashes. When the scales of the time display unit display the remaining dates/time, the LCD window may display the current time information. On the contrary, the LCD window may display the remaining date/time information, and the scales of
the time display unit may display the current time.
In the present invention, the input unit may be equipped with buttons for setting and inputting an estimation place or an opponent's information. The LCD window of the time display unit may show one or multiple estimated place or opponent's information which are inputted via the input unit.
When the button of the input unit is two, consonant and vowel are stored in the memory, and the estimated place or opponent's information may be inputted with the direction movement function and setting and input function. As the number of the buttons increases, inherent consonant and vowel may be allocated to the buttons. When the buttons are too many, a stylish configuration may not be obtained. Preferably, three buttons for expressing consonants and three buttons for expressing vowels corresponding to sky, earth and people are needed, so that there is not a limit for inputting the place.
According to the present invention, in a time display method of a digital watch which includes an input unit, a control unit and a time display unit, there is provided a time display method which comprises an input step in which the input unit sets or inputs part or all of current time, alarm time, timer and local times; a control step in which a time information obtained from a real time clock and a time information obtained from the input unit are processed by the CPU, and a time information fed back from the memory, a time information from the real time clock, a time information from the input unit and a time information from the time display unit are processed by the CPU, and a control signal including the time information processed by the CPU is generated, and a time information is transmitted to the time display unit; and a current time display step in which the time display unit displays an AM/FM state, and the LEDs forming the hour, minute and second display scales sequentially flash or are accumulated and lighted in a clockwise direction for thereby displaying the current time based on a time information
received from the control unit.
The minute display scales are arranged in a radial shape in 12 directions for thereby displaying 5 minutes for each direction, the LEDs of the minute display scales sequentially flash or are accumulated and lighted from the inner side to the outer side within each direction for thereby displaying the current time information.
The time display unit allows the LEDs corresponding to the day display scales to sequentially flash as the date changes based on the time information received from the control unit. Six or seven day display scales are provided, and the day display step is additionally provided for displaying the current day. In case that six scales are provided, the state that all the scales are turned off may be displayed as Sunday.
There are further provided a schedule input step in which the input unit sets and inputs one or multiple estimated dates, estimated time, estimated place or opponent's information; a remaining date/time confirmation step in which the input unit confirms a remaining date/time after the estimated date or time are set and inputted; a schedule calculation step in which a remaining date/time is calculated from the current time to one or multiple estimated dates or estimated time, which change in accordance with a time information from the real time clock at the same time when the control unit finishes the schedule input step; a schedule control step in which when the input unit confirms a remaining date/time, the remaining time is displayed on the time display unit with hour display scales only when the remaining time is less than 12 hours or 24 hours in accordance with one or multiple remaining date/time information in accordance with a control of the control unit, and the remaining dates are displayed on the time display unit with the display scales only when the remaining time is more than 12 hours or 24 hours; a remaining time display step in which when the input unit confirms the remaining time in the time
display unit, the LEDs forming the hour display scales sequentially flash or are turned off in a direction reverse to the current time proceeding direction based on one or multiple remaining time from the control unit for thereby displaying one or multiple remaining time information; and a remaining date display step in which when the input unit confirms the remaining date in the time display unit, the hour display scales represent the remaining months, and in the minute display scales, two scales represent one remaining day, and the minute display scales arranged in a radial shape in 122 directions are divided into 6 directions about the time display unit, and each of 5 layers grouped with two scales from the inner side to the outer side represents remaining dates in each direction, and the scales sequentially flash or are turned off in a direction reverse to the current time proceeding direction based on a lapse of one or multiple remaining dates for thereby displaying one or multiple remaining date information.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein;
Figure 1 is a plane view illustrating a conventional LCD digital watch; Figures 2A and 2B are plane views illustrating a LED display unit of a double fashion watch disclosed in the Korean patent publication number 10-2003- 0040247;
Figure 3 is a plane view illustrating a time display unit of a LED display watch according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 A is a plane view illustrating a time display unit of a LED display watch according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4B is a plane view illustrating a LCD window provided at a center of a LED display watch according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4C is a plane view illustrating a remaining time display state of a LED display watch according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a LED display wristwatch according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 6A and 6B are perspective views illustrating a LED display desk watch according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 7 is a view illustrating a system of a LED display watch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 3 is a plane view illustrating a time display unit of a LED display watch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
A time display unit 30 comprises a LCD window 40 provided at a center of the same, 12 hour display scales 31 which are arranged at regular angles, 60 minute display scales 32 which are arranged at the outer sides of the scales with the same center at certain regular angles, and 60 second display scales 32 which are provided at the outer sides of the minute display scales at regular angles. The hour display scales are formed of LED bar scales. As shown in Figure 3, the current time is displayed as 07:14:53 and 24th date is displayed on the LCD window 40. The five minute unit scales 32a and the five second unit scales 33a may be formed of the LEDs having lighting colors different from the remaining minute and second display scales for faster recognizing the time information of minute and
second. The covers having different color crystals may be formed on the upper sides of the LEDs.
Figure 4A is a plane view illustrating a time display unit of a LED display watch according to another embodiment of the present invention. The time display units 30a and 30b each comprise a LCD window 40 at the centers of the same, 6 day display scales 34 which are arranged at regular intervals along the nearest surrounding portions from the center of the same and represent from Monday to Saturday, 12 hour display scales 31 which are arranged along the outer circumferential portion of the day display scale 34 at regular intervals, 60 minute display scales 32 which are divided into 12 directions along the outer surrounding portions of the hour display scales 31 and are formed with 5 layers so that they are easily recognized by the unit of 5 minutes and entirely show 60 minutes, and 60 second display scales 33 which are arranged at regular intervals for repressing the seconds along the outer circumferential portions of the minute display scales 32.
The day display scales 34 and the hour display scales 31 , 32 and 33 are formed of the LEDs for thereby displaying the current time depending on the lighting states. As shown in Figure 4A, since all the day display scales 34 are not lighted, it means Sunday. For example, the lighting states of one of the time display units 30a and 30b, which show the current time of 07:14:53 may be the time display unit 30a in which the hour, minute and second display scales 31 , 32 and 33 are accumulated and lighted (35a) or may be the time display unit 30b in which only the hour, minute and second display scales corresponding to the current time are lighted. The minute display scales 32 are divided into 12 directions differently from the hour or second display scales, with each direction representing 5 minutes, so that the user can correctly and easily recognize the time. When the boundary is defined by 10
minutes, namely, 2 directions, the time recognition can be easier. In case of the time display unit 30b in which the current time is lighted by a corresponding time, not accumulation method, the number of the lighting LED decreases, so that the power consumption can be significantly decreased. The shapes of the time display units 30a and 30b may be formed in a rectangular or hexagonal shape. Various shapes are possible.
Figure 4B is a plane view illustrating a LCD window 40 disposed at a center of the time display unit of the LED display watch according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, the LED window 40 may consist with an AM/PM recognition unit 41 , a timer setting recognition unit 42, an alarm setting recognition unit 43, an estimated date/time setting recognition init 44, a remaining date/time recognition unit 45, a local time setting recognition unit 46, an OFF function recognition unit 47 and an input state board/time display board 48. The displays of the above recognition units and the display of the input state board/time display board 48 may be set and inputted by the setting input button 10 of Figure 5 or may be displayed on the LED window 40 in accordance with a control of the control unit. As the displays of the recognition units may be provided with colors, it is possible to recognize that the mode is set. The unset recognition display modes may be not shown on the LCD window 40.
The OFF function recognition unit 47 shows that a user changes part of the function of the present invention to the OFF mode by the setting input of the setting input buttons 10. The setting input buttons 10 can input OFF function settings. The states of the second display scales may be set OFF. Other functions or display states may be adjusted to OFF. As shown in Figure 4C, part of the recognition units may be displayed on the LCD window in accordance with a setting input like the LCD window 40. The estimated place input and non-mentioned functions may be
displayed on the LCD window.
Figure 4C is a view illustrating a time display unit which displays the remaining date/time in the LED display watch according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, when the remaining time is displayed, the hour display scales
31 , 32 and 33 of the time display unit 30c have the function that the hour display scales showing the current time and the same scales have the same time display functions. The lighting directions of the lighting states are reverse to the direction of the current time proceeding in accordance with a control of the control unit, and in case of the minute display scales 32, the light turning off is sequentially performed from the outer side to the inner side within each direction of 12 directions. For example, when the current time shown on the input state board/time display board 48 is 07:14:53, and the estimated time (schedule) is just 12:00 on the same day, there is shown the remaining time of 4 hours, 45 minutes, and 7 seconds. The hour, minute and second display scales corresponding to the remaining time may sequentially flash in the direction reverse to the current time proceeding direction.
In addition, when the remaining dates are displayed, in the time display unit 3Od, the hour display scales showing the current time may be the scales which represent the remaining months and dates. Namely, the hour display scales 32b may be changed to the scales 31b which show the remaining months, and the minute display scales 32 may be changed to the scales 32b which shows the remaining dates. The scales 32b showing the remaining dates are divided into 6 directions, with one layer being defined for two scales for thereby totally forming 5 layers within each direction. Two scales on the same player in the same direction may be set to concurrently light or turn off based on the change of the remaining dates or may be set to sequentially light or turn off for each layer from the outer side to the inner side in each direction depending on the decrease of the remaining
dates based on the remaining time information from the control unit. As 5 dates decrease in all the 6 directions, it may be performed in the direction reverse to the current time proceeding direction. 7 days of the remaining dates are displayed on the remaining time display unit 3Od. The month and date display scales 31b and 32b are not accumulations. Only the display scales corresponding to a corresponding month or date may be lighted and displayed. In this case, a plurality of remaining dates may be shown. In case that the remaining date/time are shown, the minute display scales are divided into 6 directions, with 3 scales being lighted or turned off for each layer within each direction. It is possible to recognize whether the current time is shown by checking the recognition unit 45 which shows the remaining date/time confirmation state on the LCD window 40, for example, by checking whether there is "RES" indication 45 or not. In addition, when the current time displayed on the input state board/time display board 48 of the LCD window 40 is different from the time display scales, the displays of the time display scales may be recognized as the remaining date/time displays.
Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a LED display wristwatch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
There is provided an input unit 10 near the time display unit. Four buttons are provided. The button 10a of the left lower side may be a button for setting modes. The button 10b of the right lower side may be a button for confirming the selected mode or inputting the mode. Two buttons 10c and 10d may be used for direction movements. The buttons 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d may have functions for inputting characters.
Figures 6A and 6B are perspective views illustrating a LED display desk watch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The LED display watch according to the present invention may be adapted to the desk watch of Figures 6A and 6B or may be adapted to other watches such
as a wall-mounted watch.
As shown in Figure 6B, the time display unit 30 may be formed in a circular shape of which part of the lower side is open. In this case, the time display scales 31 , 32 and 33 may be formed in such a manner that hour, minute and second start from the left lower side, and 12 hours or 24 hours, 60 minutes and 60 seconds may be defined from the right lower side. In addition, the LCD window 40 may be positioned at the lower side of the time display unit 30. As shown in Figure 6B, the date information may be provided (for example, 24 days are provided).
Figure 7 is a view illustrating a system of a LED display watch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Here, the control unit 20 comprises a CPU 21 , a memory 22, an auxiliary power device 23, and a RTC 24. The CPU 21 controls a time information from the memory 22, a real time interval information from the RTC 24, a time information from the input unit 10, and a time information fed back from the time display unit 30. The time display unit 30 displays the time information from the control unit 20, and the input unit 10 sets and inputs the current time in case of an initial setting or time change, a date information, an alarm time, a timer, a local time, an estimated date/time, a remaining date/time, etc.
Industrial Applicability
As described above, in the present invention, since it is possible to faster recognize the minute and second display scales, a faster and reliable time recognition are possible as compared to the conventional LED watch.
According to the present invention, a lapse time from a certain time and a remaining time until a certain time can be fast recognized. A more stylish LED display digital watch can be manufactured.
In addition, according to the present invention, one or multiple estimated
dates/time can be set and inputted. One or multiple remaining date/time information are displayed with the time display scales formed of LEDs, so that a
LED digital watch having a stylish and faster schedule management is possible.
Since multiple remaining date/time confirmations can be possible in the present invention, an efficient and comprehensive schedule management may be possible for thereby obtaining an innovative effect. Since an estimated place or opponent's information can be set and inputted, an efficient schedule management is possible.
According to the present invention, a date input, an alarm function, a timer function, a local time display function, etc. can be easily performed. When a battery is needed to exchange, a time resetting operation is not needed. A lower power consumption LED digital watch can be implemented.
As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
Claims
1. In a digital watch which includes an input unit, a control unity and a time display unit, a digital watch, comprising: an input unit which consists of two through four buttons and is provided near a time display unit or at a side surface of a watch or on a watch strap and sets and inputs one or all of a current time, a date information, an alarm time, a timer, and a local time; a control unit which includes: an auxiliary power device which supplies an auxiliary power to a memory, a CPU and a real time clock (RTC); a memory which stores a time information from the real time clock and a time information from the input unit with the help of the CPU; and a CPU which processes a time information from the real time clock, a time information from the input unit, a time information obtained from the information stored in the memory, and a time information fed back from the time display unit and generates a control signal including the processed time information and transmits a time information to the time display unit and controls the same; and a time display unit which includes part or all of AM/FM, alarm, timer and local time recognition units and further includes hour display scales formed of 12 LEDs formed at a surrounding portion of a center of the time display unit, minute display scales formed of 59 or 60 LEDs formed with the same center at an outer side of the hour display scales, and second display scales formed of 59 or 60 LEDs with the same center at an outer side of the minute display scales, wherein the hour, minute and second display scales are different in their size, shape and color partially or totally, and the LEDs sequentially flash or are accumulated and lighted in a clockwise direction based on a time information received from the control unit for thereby displaying the proceeding of time.
2. The watch of claim 1 , wherein said time display unit further comprises a day display scale formed of 6 or 7 LEDs arranged about a center of the time display unit, and said minute display scales are divided into 12 directions and form layers in each direction, and when 5-minute or minute display scales are 59, the scales are arranged in a radial shape for showing 4 minutes in the last 12th direction, and said minute display scales sequentially flash or are accumulated and lighted in an outward direction based on a time information within each direction.
3. The watch of claim 1 , wherein said time display unit further comprises a day display scale formed of 6 or 7 LEDs arranged about a center of the time display unit, and said hour display scales are arranged with bar scales at certain angles about the same center, and said minute or second display bar scales have different colors from the 5-minute or 5-second unit scales and the remaining scales.
4. The watch of one among claims 1 through 3, wherein said time display unit comprises a LCD window at a center of the time display unit or at a lower side of the outermost hour display scale, and said LCD window receives an auxiliary power by the auxiliary power device and displays time or date information set and inputted via the input unit and comprises part or all of AM/FM, alarm, timer and local time recognition units.
5. The watch of claim 4, wherein a block is provided at a rear side of the scale board having day or hour display scales of the time display unit for preventing light from being spread between the scales.
6. The watch of claim 5, wherein said input unit comprises buttons for setting and inputting one or multiple estimated date or estimated time and for confirming a remaining date/time until an estimated date or estimated time; and said control unit controls an operation that when the input unit confirms a remaining date/time, one or multiple estimated date or time from the current date or current time or one or multiple remaining date/time information, which change depending on a time information from the real time clock and the memory, are displayed on the time display unit; and said time display unit further comprises a remaining date/time recognition unit, and when the remaining hour is displayed on the time display unit, the hour display scales sequentially flash or are turned off in the direction reverse to the current time proceeding direction by one or multiple remaining time information from the control unit, so that one or multiple remaining hours are displayed, and when the remaining dates are displayed on the time display unit, the hour display scales represent the remaining months, and the minute display scaled arranged in a radial shape in 12 directions are divided into 6 directions about the time display unit, so that 5 layers in which two scales are grouped in an outward direction from the inner side within each direction represent the remaining dates, and in case of the minute display scaled which are arranged about the time display unit at certain angles, two scales represent one remaining date, and as one or multiple remaining dates pass, the scales sequentially flash or are turned off in a direction reverse to the current time proceeding direction; and the LCD window of the time display unit displays one or multiple estimated dates or time inputted via the input unit and comprises an estimated function setting and remaining date/time recognition unit.
7. The watch of claim 6, wherein said input unit further comprises buttons for setting and inputting an estimated place or opponent's information, and said LCD window of the time display unit displays one or multiple estimated place or opponent's information inputted via the input unit.
8. In a time display method of a digital watch which includes an input unit, a control unit and a time display unit, a time display method, comprising: an input step in which the input unit sets or inputs part or all of current time, alarm time, timer and local times; a control step in which a time information obtained from a real time clock and a time information obtained from the input unit are processed by the CPU, and a time information fed back from the memory, a time information from the real time clock, a time information from the input unit and a time information from the time display unit are processed by the CPU, and a control signal including the time information processed by the CPU is generated, and a time information is transmitted to the time display unit; and a current time display step in which the time display unit displays an AM/FM state, and the LEDs forming the hour, minute and second display scales sequentially flash or are accumulated and lighted in a clockwise direction for thereby displaying the current time based on a time information received from the control unit.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said minute display scales are arranged in a radial shape in 12 directions for thereby displaying 5 minutes for each direction, the LEDs of the minute display scales sequentially flash or are accumulated and lighted from the inner side to the outer side within each direction for thereby displaying the current time information.
10. The method of either claim 8 or claim 9, further comprising: a schedule input step in which the input unit sets and inputs one or multiple estimated dates, estimated time, estimated place or opponent's information; a remaining date/time confirmation step in which the input unit confirms a remaining date/time after the estimated date or time are set and inputted; a schedule calculation step in which a remaining date/time is calculated from the current time to one or multiple estimated dates or estimated time, which change in accordance with a time information from the real time clock at the same time when the control unit finishes the schedule input step; a schedule control step in which when the input unit confirms a remaining date/time, the remaining time is displayed on the time display unit with hour display scales only when the remaining time is less than 12 hours or 24 hours in accordance with one or multiple remaining date/time information in accordance with a control of the control unit, and the remaining dates are displayed on the time display unit with the display scales only when the remaining time is more than 12 hours or 24 hours; a remaining time display step in which when the input unit confirms the remaining time in the time display unit, the LEDs forming the hour display scales sequentially flash or are turned off in a direction reverse to the current time proceeding direction based on one or multiple remaining time from the control unit for thereby displaying one or multiple remaining time information; and a remaining date display step in which when the input unit confirms the remaining date in the time display unit, the hour display scales represent the remaining months, and in the minute display scales, two scales represent one remaining day, and the minute display scales arranged in a radial shape in 122 directions are divided into 6 directions about the time display unit, and each of 5 layers grouped with two scales from the inner side to the outer side represents remaining dates in each direction, and the scales sequentially flash or are turned off in a direction reverse to the current time proceeding direction based on a lapse of one or multiple remaining dates for thereby displaying one or multiple remaining date information.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2009517959A JP2009541772A (en) | 2006-07-06 | 2007-06-13 | LED display clock and time display method thereof |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| KR10-2006-0063467 | 2006-07-06 | ||
| KR1020060063467A KR100740578B1 (en) | 2006-07-06 | 2006-07-06 | Watch with led display and method of time display thereof |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2008004772A1 true WO2008004772A1 (en) | 2008-01-10 |
Family
ID=38498967
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2007/002844 WO2008004772A1 (en) | 2006-07-06 | 2007-06-13 | Led display watch and time display method of the same |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP2009541772A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR100740578B1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2008004772A1 (en) |
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| JP2009300359A (en) * | 2008-06-17 | 2009-12-24 | Akira Kudo | Evacuation light |
| CN105378884A (en) * | 2013-07-18 | 2016-03-02 | 金柱卨 | Programmable timer |
| FR3034211A1 (en) * | 2015-03-24 | 2016-09-30 | Bodet Sa | DIGITAL CLOCK WITH LUMINOUS PLOTS |
| DK201570775A1 (en) * | 2015-06-05 | 2017-01-09 | Apple Inc | Accessing and displaying information corresponding to past times and future times |
| CN107065506A (en) * | 2017-06-13 | 2017-08-18 | 王振仁 | Pointer intelligent digital clock and clock control method |
| CN108427262A (en) * | 2017-02-13 | 2018-08-21 | 卡西欧计算机株式会社 | Time display apparatus, electronic clock, time showing control method and recording medium |
| US10365807B2 (en) | 2015-03-02 | 2019-07-30 | Apple Inc. | Control of system zoom magnification using a rotatable input mechanism |
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| US10620590B1 (en) | 2019-05-06 | 2020-04-14 | Apple Inc. | Clock faces for an electronic device |
| US10739971B2 (en) | 2012-05-09 | 2020-08-11 | Apple Inc. | Accessing and displaying information corresponding to past times and future times |
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| KR101165521B1 (en) * | 2009-12-01 | 2012-07-16 | 안성준 | Method and apparatus for display the time of the reverse timer |
| KR101066073B1 (en) | 2010-02-12 | 2011-09-20 | 김영남 | How to display time information using a light source |
| KR20120011984A (en) * | 2010-07-29 | 2012-02-09 | 박혜경 | Clock using led |
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Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| KR100740578B1 (en) | 2007-07-20 |
| JP2009541772A (en) | 2009-11-26 |
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