U.S. patent application number 10/544245 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-06 for display apparatus.
Invention is credited to Vincent Douglas.
Application Number | 20060146514 10/544245 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9952523 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060146514 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Douglas; Vincent |
July 6, 2006 |
Display apparatus
Abstract
A display apparatus (10) comprises a display band (14) and a
control unit (12). The display band (14) is flexible and is
dimension for wrapping round the wrist or other part of the user.
In preferred forms, the control unit (12) includes a timing circuit
and the display band (14) includes a digital time display, the
apparatus thus functioning as a watch. Also preferred is the use of
a malleable display band (14) allowing the apparatus to be applied
to the wrist or the like without use of a buckle or catch. A
variety of display bands (14) nay be used interchangeably with a
single control unit
Inventors: |
Douglas; Vincent;
(Hampshire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Family ID: |
9952523 |
Appl. No.: |
10/544245 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
February 6, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB04/00468 |
371 Date: |
August 2, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/84 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 3/005 20130101;
G06F 1/163 20130101; G06F 1/1652 20130101; A44C 5/0053 20130101;
A44C 5/0015 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/084 |
International
Class: |
F21V 9/16 20060101
F21V009/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 6, 2003 |
GB |
0302690.3 |
Claims
1. A display apparatus comprising a flexible display member and a
control unit provided at one end of the display member, the display
member being in the form of a strip of a size suitable to be
positioned around a limb of a user.
2. A display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the display
member is malleable.
3. A display apparatus according to claim 2, in which the malleable
display member is sufficiently stiff as to retain its shape without
the need for a latch or other retainer.
4. A display apparatus according to claim 3, in which the malleable
display member is a strip or band of thin metal or plastic and
which is initially axially straight and transversely concave.
5. A display apparatus according to claim 2, in which the display
member comprises an electro-luminescent display bonded to a
malleable strip.
6. A display apparatus according to claim 5, in which the display
member comprises a rubber backing, a strip of thin steel forming
said malleable strip, said electro-luminescent display, a filter
layer, and an anti-moisture covering.
7. A display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the control
unit can be secured to a distal portion of the display member by a
buckle or clasp.
8. A display apparatus according to claim 1, in which controls are
provided on the display member.
9. A display apparatus according to claim 8, in which said controls
are in the form of touch-sensitive areas on the display member.
10. A display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the control
unit comprises a timing circuit and the display member is adapted
to display time indicia, whereby the apparatus functions as a
watch.
11. A display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the control
unit comprises means for generating visual patterns on the display
member, whereby the apparatus functions as an electronic
bracelet.
12. A display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the display
member is removably attached to the control unit, whereby the
display member can be detached and replaced with an alternative
design or size to suit the individual.
13. A display apparatus according to claim 3, in which the display
member comprises an electro-luminescent display bonded to a
malleable strip.
14. A display apparatus according to claim 4, in which the display
member comprises an electro-luminescent display bonded to a
malleable strip.
15. A display apparatus according to claim 2, in which the control
unit comprises a timing circuit and the display member is adapted
to display time indicia, whereby the apparatus functions as a
watch.
16. A display apparatus according to claim 2, in which the control
unit comprises means for generating visual patterns on the display
member, whereby the apparatus functions as an electronic
bracelet.
17. A display apparatus according to claim 2, in which the display
member is removably attached to the control unit, whereby the
display member can be detached and replaced with an alternative
design or size to suit the individual.
18. A display apparatus according to claim 7, in which the control
unit comprises a timing circuit and the display member is adapted
to display time indicia, whereby the apparatus functions as a
watch.
19. A display apparatus according to claim 7, in which the control
unit comprises means for generating visual patterns on the display
member, whereby the apparatus functions as an electronic
bracelet.
20. A display apparatus according to claim 7, in which the display
member is removably attached to the control unit, whereby the
display member can be detached and replaced with an alternative
design or size to suit the individual.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to display apparatus,
particularly, but not exclusively, display apparatus which is used
as personal jewellery or wrist watches.
[0002] Most people own a wristwatch and they can be found in a
number of guises to suit personal taste and disposable income. They
all have the same basic features, however, of a central section
which provides the time and display (be it analogue or digital) and
also contains the watch's mechanism, a strap or bracelet which
surrounds the wearer's wrist and a clasp or buckle to secure the
whole arrangement to the wearer's wrist.
[0003] The present invention is directed to a display apparatus for
personal wear.
[0004] The present invention provides a display apparatus
comprising a flexible display member and a control unit provided at
one end of the display member, the display member being in the form
of a strip of a size suitable to be positioned around a limb of a
user.
[0005] In one form of the invention, the display member is
malleable, the malleable display member preferably being
sufficiently stiff as to retain its shape without the need for a
latch or other retainer. This allows a given product to fit a wide
range of users, and makes the product easier to use.
[0006] The term "malleable" is used herein to mean capable of being
shaped or moulded by the application of hand pressure to a shape
which is retained until the shape is again altered by hand
pressure. One form of malleable member contemplated in this
invention is a strip or band of thin metal or plastic and which is
initially axially straight and transversely concave. An alternative
is to use a strip or band of a low yield point, such as a soft
alloy.
[0007] The display member may comprise an electro-luminescent
display bonded to a malleable strip; and in a preferred form the
display member comprises a rubber backing, a strip of thin steel
forming said malleable strip, said electro-luminescent display, a
filter layer, and an anti-moisture covering.
[0008] In an alternative form of the invention, the apparatus can
be secured by a buckle or clasp.
[0009] In either form, controls are preferably provided on the
display member, most suitably in the form of touch-sensitive areas
on the display. This simplifies construction, and makes it easier
to seal the apparatus against water.
[0010] The control unit preferably comprises a timing circuit and
the display member is adapted to display time indicia, whereby the
apparatus functions as a watch. Additionally, or alternatively, the
control unit may comprise means for generating visual patterns on
the display member, whereby the apparatus functions as an
electronic bracelet.
[0011] Preferably also, the display member is removably attached to
the control unit, whereby the display member can be detached and
replaced with an alternative design or size to suit the individual.
Thus, the apparatus can readily be adapted to different styles and
appearances according to the desires of the user and his/her social
milieu at a given time.
[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a display apparatus according to
the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in
which the apparatus has been moulded into a loop;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1
showing the details of the construction of the apparatus;
[0016] FIG. 3a is a cross-section of part of FIG. 3 to an enlarged
scale; and
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic of an alternative circuit
arrangement.
[0018] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1 there is
shown a watch according to the present invention generally referred
to as 10. The watch 10 comprises two main elements, a control unit
12 and a malleable display band or sprung band 14. The control unit
12 and the sprung band 14 are not permanently connected and can be
readily interchanged.
[0019] The control unit 12 contains all of the required mechanisms
and the power source for the watch. It consists of a rear cover 26
and a top cover 28 which clip securely together and house a battery
12a and electronics 12b.
[0020] In this case the watch uses a standard quartz circuit and an
ordinary watch battery.
[0021] The sprung band 14 is constructed from several layers which
are shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, and which are held together
by double-sided LSE clear 3M adhesive between adjacent layers.
[0022] The bottom layer 16 is a 500 .mu.m thick natural rubber
section. Above that is a layer 18 composed of a 50 .mu.m plastic
coated hardened and tempered steel. Above that is a 100 .mu.m thick
electro-luminescent display layer 20 on top of which is a 50 .mu.m
polyester deep dyed filter layer 22. Finally, there is a 100 .mu.m
anti-moisture ingress coating 24. All five layers form a composite
sandwich to make up the sprung band 14.
[0023] The steel layer 18 has the transverse shape shown in FIG.
3a, that is curved in a gentle arc, when the sprung band 14 extends
in a straight path. When the apparatus is applied to the wrist and
wrapped around it, the transverse curve straightens out and the
tension in the layer 18 acts to maintain the band in its wrapped
condition until peeled off.
[0024] The four layers apart from the electroluminescent layer 20
terminate first inside the control unit 12. The electroluminescent
layer 20 continues further into the control unit 12 and adopts its
shape. The layer 20 has a beryllium-copper surface-mounted
connector similar to the mounting of an LCD in a mobile phone. This
allows the user to have several displays of differing colours and
layouts driven from a common driver circuit and battery.
[0025] The sprung band 14 also contains touch sensitive buttons
(not shown). These are used to control the functions of the watch
such as setting the time. Buttons may also be included which alter
the display properties of the band, for example to increase
luminescence or to change a decorative pattern on the watch.
[0026] It will be appreciated that the display must be flexible. In
addition to electroluminescent displays, other forms of flexible
display may be used such as organic light emitting diode, light
emitting polymer, and organic liquid crystal display.
[0027] In use the watch 10 is placed over the wearer's wrist in its
initial flat form. The wearer then applies pressure to the ends of
the watch 10. The sprung band 14 yields to the pressure and moulds
around the wearer's wrist as described above. Once a desired fit is
attained, the wearer discontinues the application of pressure. The
watch 10 is left in a moulded position around the wearer's wrist.
The watch 10 in this form can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2.
[0028] The watch 10 does not require any latch mechanism to hold it
in this position, as the malleability of the sprung display band 14
retains it around the wearer's wrist until the wearer wishes to
remove it.
[0029] Since the watch 10 has a malleable property, it can be
readily moulded into a number of shapes or sizes. Standard lengths
of display bands 14 can fit a variety of wearers with differing
wrist sizes. Alternatively a single wearer can deploy the watch on
another limb; the leg for example.
[0030] Since the control unit 12 and display band 14 are
interchangeable, the wearer can alternate shapes and designs of
display band to suit mood or occasion.
[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates a more sophisticated control arrangement.
In FIG. 4, a display 40 is controlled by a microprocessor 42 via a
display driver circuit 44. For use as a watch, accurate time
reference is given by a reference crystal 46. Control inputs to the
microprocessor 42 are provided by touch-sensitive inputs 48. The
apparatus is powered by a battery 50, which is preferably a
rechargeable battery (most suitably using lithium ion technology)
which can be recharged via power inputs 52, or by an inductive
arrangement. For example, recharging could be by an existing cell
phone charger via a suitable adaptor.
[0032] Alternatively, the battery may be recharged by a solar cell
or by a thermoelectric cell using the body heat of the wearer.
[0033] As a further alternative, a lithium ion polymer battery
could be used; since these are conformable, the battery could be
included in the wrists trap rather than the control unit.
[0034] Power consumption may be reduced by providing a light sensor
and controlling the display illumination in accordance with ambient
light.
[0035] The example of FIG. 4 is suited for use where the display 40
is in the form of a pixel array. In this case, the display can be
controlled to display the time together with fixed or dynamic
graphics, which may be pictorial or abstract, and monochrome or
colour. Also, since the arrangement of FIG. 4 is microprocessor
based, it would be simple to include a radio frequency link, for
example using Bluetooth technology, and to use the control inputs
48 for remote control of other devices.
[0036] A number of modifications are envisaged without departing
from the scope of the invention.
[0037] The invention may be provided as an item of adornment only,
not containing a time displaying function. The invention could
therefore display an attractive design for aesthetic purposes only.
This design could also be changeable via the control unit
alternating between several designs.
[0038] The invention may include means to program the device to
alternate the displayed design at a set frequency, or to strobe or
produce other interesting or eye-catching effects.
[0039] All this can be separate from or in conjunction with a
display of the time.
[0040] The apparatus may be double sided, such that it can be
wrapped around the wrist in either direction. One side might then
display the time and the other side a graphic display. Either side
or both may be animated.
[0041] The apparatus may include an external plastic casing
enclosing the whole apparatus.
[0042] Furthermore, the invention may include a sound sensor linked
to the display feature. Therefore if the invention is exposed to a
sound source, for example if the wearer is in a nightclub, the
invention would provide an attractive display which flashes or
illuminates selectively in response to the tempo of the music.
[0043] Although it is preferred to have the display band readily
detachable from the control unit, it would be possible to mount the
control circuitry directly onto the display substrate, possibly but
not necessarily a rigid portion.
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