U.S. patent application number 11/607193 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-05 for wearable electronic device with multiple display functionality.
This patent application is currently assigned to Timex Group B.V.. Invention is credited to Louis M. Galie, Michel G. Plancon, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz.
Application Number | 20070153633 11/607193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33449983 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070153633 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Plancon; Michel G. ; et
al. |
July 5, 2007 |
Wearable electronic device with multiple display functionality
Abstract
A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an
analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display
hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable
electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information
that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by
sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism,
preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in
the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined
increments to convey the information.
Inventors: |
Plancon; Michel G.;
(Bejancon, FR) ; Galie; Louis M.; (Newtown,
CT) ; Schwartz; Herbert; (Wurmberg, DE) ;
Stotz; Gerhard; (Eisingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Arthur G. Schaier, Esq.;Carmody & Torrance LLP
P.O. Box 1110
50 Leavenworth Street
Waterbury
CT
06721-1110
US
|
Assignee: |
Timex Group B.V.
|
Family ID: |
33449983 |
Appl. No.: |
11/607193 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11523504 |
Sep 18, 2006 |
7215601 |
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11607193 |
Nov 30, 2006 |
|
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10441417 |
May 20, 2003 |
7113450 |
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11523504 |
Sep 18, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
368/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G04C 17/00 20130101;
G04C 3/146 20130101; G04B 19/23 20130101; G04B 47/06 20130101; G04G
9/0064 20130101; G04B 47/008 20130101; G04B 19/082 20130101; G04G
21/02 20130101; B63C 11/02 20130101; G04B 47/065 20130101; G04F
7/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
368/011 |
International
Class: |
G04B 47/06 20060101
G04B047/06 |
Claims
1-41. (canceled)
42. A wearable multimode electronic device of the type wherein
information is conveyed in an analog manner at least in part by the
use of at least one display hand, wherein the wearable electronic
device includes a dial having a dial side and an opposite side,
wherein the dial has at least one window, and the display hand is
positioned on the dial side of the dial, wherein the wearable
multimode electronic device comprises: an actuation mechanism,
operatively coupled to the at least one display hand, for rotating
the at least one display hand in at least one of a clockwise and
counterclockwise direction in predefined increments; a controller,
operable in a first mode and at least a second mode and operatively
coupled to the actuation mechanism, for causing the actuation
mechanism to rotate the at least one display hand in at least one
of the clockwise and counterclockwise direction in the predefined
increments; and a display that is operatively coupled to the
controller, positioned on the opposite side of the dial side of the
dial and viewable through the at least one window in the dial,
wherein the display displays informational indicia corresponding to
the mode in which the electronic device is operating, and wherein
the informational indicia is changeable based on the mode in which
the wearable electronic device is operating; wherein the
positioning of the display hand as it rotates in the one of the
clockwise and counterclockwise directions in the predefined
increments conveys the information by referring to particular
informational indicia, and wherein the controller operatively
controls the positioning of the hand so that the hand can convey
the information in the analog manner for each of the at least two
modes.
43. The wearable multimode electronic device as claimed in claim
42, wherein the electronic device comprises: at least an hour hand
and a minute hand for conveying time of day information and
rotatable about an at least essentially center axis and wherein the
display hand is rotatable about an axis other than the center axis;
and wherein the controller causes the actuation mechanism to rotate
the at least one display hand in at least one of the clockwise and
counterclockwise direction in the predefined increments based at
least in part on data stored in the controller; wherein the
positioning of the display hand as it rotates in the one of the
clockwise and counterclockwise directions in the predefined
increments conveys information relating to the stored data.
44. The wearable multimode electronic device as claimed in claim
42, wherein the display is an LCD display.
45. The wearable multimode electronic device as claimed in claim
43, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a stepper motor that
itself comprises a rotor, the stepper motor operatively coupled to
the controller, for stepping in at least one of a clockwise and
counterclockwise direction in predefined increments based at least
in part on the data stored in the controller; wherein the rotor of
the stepper motor is operatively coupled to the at least one
display hand, and wherein the rotation of rotor causes the rotation
of the at least one display hand in at least one of the clockwise
and counterclockwise directions and in the predefined
increments.
46. The wearable multimode electronic device as claimed in claim
42, including a receiver and memory for respectively receiving and
storing data from an external source.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to wearable electronic
devices, such as timepieces, and in particular, to an electronic
device, such as for example and not limitation, a watch, that has
multiple display functionality. More specifically, the electronic
device of the present invention provides unique constructions and
methodologies for displaying information with the use of hands,
such as that found in analog watches (i.e. in an "analog
manner").
[0002] Originally, watches were typically viewed merely as a device
for telling time or providing other time related information. Over
the years, watches have become the means by which information,
other than time information, could be presented to the wearer.
[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,521 ("Amano") describes a
watch with a multifunction analog display particularly designed to
display time information and biorhythms. Described therein are the
use of "small watches" that are able to display the features of the
biorhythm along with the display of the current time, and a
separate condition display scale and condition display hand is
provided therefor. In a related patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,054
("Truini") describes the use of separate analog displays that
correspond to one's intelligence, emotion and body cycles, and the
hands for these separate displays are described as being "enacted"
by the watch movement. It can thus be seen that Truini, as well as
conventional chronograph watches, do not describe or suggest
rotation of the smaller displays based on "stored data," but rather
merely only upon the passage of time. As will become clear below,
this is a perceived deficiency in the prior art.
[0004] Most displays of non-time related information has been
incorporated into the digital watch. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,299,126 describes an electronic tide watch comprising a memory
for storing a table of tide times, heights, and geographic offsets,
an input circuit for entering times, dates, and geographic offsets,
a processing circuit for identifying stored tide information
corresponding to a specified time and date, and a display for
showing selected tide times and heights.
[0005] The use of watches to digitally display information to a
user regarding external conditions are also known. For example,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,246 describes an electronic wrist watch with
water depth measuring capability including an LCD panel and display
screen for presenting time and water depth, and a display area that
illuminate static arrows to indicate depth variations along with
the direction of variation.
[0006] Another example is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,058,
which describes a "health watch" for digitally displaying a
plurality of information, such as time, atmospheric temperature,
body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.
[0007] At least one patent has described the use of a wristwatch
with interchangeable sensors for sensing and conveying to a user,
through a digital display, information regarding external
parameters. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,295 describes a
miniature portable physiological parameter measuring system with
interchangeable sensors, in which the system can be incorporated
into a wrist-worn device having the general configuration of a
wristwatch. Through the use of remote sensors, the '295 patent
appears to describe the desirability to enable a wrist-worn device
to monitor heart rates, or other parameters such as lung capacity,
temperature, and respiration.
[0008] The prior art also describes the use of remotely located
sensors that wirelessly transmit heartrate information to a watch.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,007, describes the transmission of
an encoded digital signal from the chestworn transmitter to the
wristworn receiver. The receiver receives unit-specific information
from the transmitter, which is displayed in the form of a digital
number representing the wearer's heart rate. In a similar manner,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,856 describes a system for measuring the speed
of a person while running or walking along a surface. An
acceleration sensor located in or on the wearer's shoe provides an
acceleration signal which is processed and then transmitted by
means of an RF transmitter and received by an RF receiver in a
watch. The information, which can include average speed, maximum
speed, total distance traversed, calories expended, and heart rate,
is then digitally displayed by the runner or walker.
[0009] As therefore can be seen, the prior art generally recognizes
that a timepiece, such as a wristwatch, can be used to convey
non-time related information to a user.
[0010] However, the prior art provides such information in a less
than desirable format. For example, many of the aforementioned
devices display such non "time of day" information digitally.
Accordingly, it is extremely difficult to visually appreciate
fluctuations in such parameters as they are being displayed.
Furthermore, not all users need to have such exacting information,
but rather may merely want to ensure they are within a specified
range, etc. (e.g. such as a heartrate). For this reason, it is more
desirable and effective to use a hand for the display of such
information, so that a user can quickly see where his/her heart
rate is relative to a chart or scale, especially when the precision
of digital representation is unnecessary. Furthermore, studies have
shown that, in certain situations, use of a hand to display
information may be more desirable than using digital readouts.
Still further, at least U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,521 uses a hand that is
mounted on the center axis. Such a limitation prohibits more
versatile and widely functional display potentials, and impedes the
ability, in some constructions, of viewing the time of day
simultaneously with the viewing of other displayable information.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,054 appears to describe separate
displays that are not independently driven but rather "enacted" by
the watch movement, thereby also contributing to the deficiencies
in the prior art. As stated above, such a device only describes the
movement of the separate display hands based on the passage of
time, not on any information stored in the device. Such is also
true for conventional chronograph watches.
[0011] Accordingly, it can be seen that further advancements in the
art are desired. It is believed that the functionality and
methodologies to provide the foregoing advantages and achieve the
aforementioned objectives, as well as those set forth below, are
provided by the present invention.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is thus an objective of the present invention to overcome
the perceived deficiencies in the prior art.
[0013] It is another objective and advantage of the present
invention to provide an electronic device that clearly displays,
and makes easily comprehensible, information relating to data
stored in the controller of the device, whether the information be
time-based or nontime-based information, and whether or not the
information is received from an external source, such as via a
telephone link, computer link, wirelessly, or the like.
[0014] It is another objective and advantage of the present
invention to provide an electronic device that clearly displays,
and makes easily comprehensible, information relating to external
parameters, as well as time-based or nontime-based information that
may be programmed into or otherwise stored in the electronic
device.
[0015] It is yet another objective and advantage of the present
invention to provide an electronic device that can incorporate a
wide range of sensor circuits and arrangements for measuring
external parameters and have such measurements clearly displayable
and easily comprehensible, and to provide an improved method,
approach and thus construction to display whatever inputs it
receives from sensors.
[0016] It is yet another objective and advantage of the present
invention to provide an electronic device that can incorporate one
or more interconnectable sensors to display various functions and
parameters of the human body.
[0017] It is still another objective and advantage of the present
invention to provide an electronic device that provides a master
platform for receiving incoming information from a family of remote
sensors and displaying such information in an easy to read
manner.
[0018] It is a further object and advantage of the present
invention to provide a universal platform for displaying
information sensed by a host of remote parameter measuring sensors,
internal sensors and/or internally stored data in the
controller.
[0019] It is still a further set of objectives and advantages to
provide an improved electronic device that has the rotation of the
display hand by not being dependent upon the time of day, such as
by providing a display hand that is not mechanically coupled to the
hour or minute hands. In this way, the display hand can rotate
independently of any rotation of the hour and minute hand. In a
specific objective, the data stored may be non-time related data,
such as displaying how many pills a user has to still take.
[0020] It is a yet another object and advantage of the present
invention to provide all of the foregoing in an electronic device,
such as a wearable electronic device, such as a timepiece and a
wristwatch in particular, that displays the information using hands
that are coupled to actuation mechanisms, such as stepper
motors.
[0021] Further objects and advantages of this invention will become
more apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing
description.
[0022] The invention accordingly comprises the features of
construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts that
will be exemplified in the disclosure hereinafter set forth, and
the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
[0023] To overcome the perceived deficiencies in the prior art and
to achieve the objects and advantages set forth above and below,
the present invention is, generally speaking, directed to wearable
electronic devices, such as electronic timepieces.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the electronic timepiece
comprises at least an hour hand and a minute hand for conveying
time of day information and rotatable about a center axis; a dial
having a dial side and an actuation mechanism side; and at least
one display hand rotatable about an axis other than the center axis
and positioned on the dial side of the dial; at least one sensor
for sensing at least one parameter external to the electronic
timepiece; a controller, operatively coupled to the sensor, for
receiving and processing information based on the at least one
parameter sensed by the at least one sensor; an actuation
mechanism, operatively coupled to the controller, for rotating the
at least one display hand in at least one of a clockwise and
counterclockwise direction in predefined increments, wherein the
increments and direction of the rotation of the at least one
display hand are based at least in part on the at least one
parameter being sensed by the sensor; wherein the positioning of
the display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and
counterclockwise directions in predefined increments conveys
information relating to the at least one parameter being sensed. In
a preferred embodiment, the actuation mechanism comprises a stepper
motor that itself comprises a rotor, the stepper motor operatively
coupled to the controller, for stepping in at least one of a
clockwise and counterclockwise direction in predefined increments
based at least in part on the at least one parameter being sensed
by the sensor.
[0025] In a related embodiment, a wearable electronic device is
provided and comprises a dial having a dial side and an actuation
mechanism side; and at least one display hand having a first end
and a second end, wherein the first end of the display hand rotates
about a pivot point spaced apart from a center point of the dial by
a fixed distance, and the second end of the display hand sweeps
across a portion of the dial side of the dial, wherein the display
hand can sweep about an arc; and wherein the display hand has a
length from the pivot point that is one of (a) shorter than the
fixed distance and (b) longer than the fixed distance; at least one
sensor for sensing at least one parameter external to the
electronic device; a controller, operatively coupled to the sensor,
for receiving and processing information based on the at least one
parameter sensed by the at least one sensor; an actuation
mechanism, operatively coupled to the controller, for rotating the
at least one display hand in at least one of a clockwise and
counterclockwise direction in predefined increments, wherein the
increments and direction of the rotation of the at least one
display hand are based at least in part on the at least one
parameter being sensed by the sensor; wherein the positioning of
the display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and
counterclockwise directions in predefined increments conveys
information relating to the at least one parameter being sensed.
Here again, in a preferred embodiment, the actuation mechanism
comprises a stepper motor that itself comprises a rotor, the
stepper motor operatively coupled to the controller, for stepping
in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in
the predefined increments are based at least in part on the at
least one parameter being sensed by the sensor.
[0026] In yet another related embodiment, the wearable electronic
device comprises means, operatively coupled to the controller, for
rotating the at least one display hand in at least one of the
clockwise and counterclockwise direction in predefined
increments.
[0027] In yet another embodiment, the wearable electronic device
conveys information in an analog manner, where the information is
transmitted via a signal being transmitted by a transmitter. Here,
the wearable electronic device preferably comprises a receiver for
receiving the signal from the transmitter; a controller,
operatively coupled to the receiver, for receiving and processing
the signal; an actuation mechanism, operatively coupled to the
controller, for rotating the at least one display hand in at least
one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in predefined
increments, wherein the increments and direction of the rotation of
the at least one display hand are based at least in part on the
signal being received by the receiver and transmitted by the
transmitter; wherein the positioning of the display hand as it
rotates in the one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions
in predefined increments conveys information relating to the signal
being received by the transmitter. Here too, in a preferred
construction, the actuation mechanism comprises a stepper motor. A
system that comprises the transmitter and the wearable electronic
device, is also provided.
[0028] In yet another embodiment, a wearable electronic device that
conveys information in an analog manner may comprise at least an
hour hand and a minute hand for conveying time of day information
and rotatable about an at least essentially center axis; a dial
having a dial side and an opposite side; and at least one display
hand rotatable about an axis other than the center axis and
positioned on the dial side of the dial; an actuation mechanism,
for rotating the at least one display hand in at least one of a
clockwise and counterclockwise direction in predefined increments;
a controller, operatively coupled to the actuation mechanism, for
causing the actuation mechanism to rotate the at least one display
hand in at least one of the clockwise and counterclockwise
direction in the predefined increments based at least in part on
data stored in the controller; wherein the positioning of the
display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and
counterclockwise directions in the predefined increments conveys
information relating to the stored data. Preferably, the rotation
of the display hand by the actuation mechanism is not dependent of
the time of day. With the rotation of the display hand not
dependent on the rotation of the hour or minute hands, the
actuation mechanism can rotate the display hand independent of the
time of day. If hour and minute hands are coupled to a gearing
arrangement, the actuation mechanism will rotate the display hand
independently of any rotation of the hour and minute hand. Similar
to the other embodiments, the actuation mechanism preferably
comprises a stepper motor, which are preferably bidirectional.
[0029] In a related embodiment, the wearable electronic device can
receive and store data from an external source, and further, can
convey information relating to the stored data in an analog
manner.
[0030] In yet another embodiment, a wearable multimode electronic
device is provided and comprises an actuation mechanism,
operatively coupled to the at least one display hand, for rotating
the at least one display hand in at least one of a clockwise and
counterclockwise direction in predefined increments; a controller,
operable in a first mode and at least a second mode and operatively
coupled to the actuation mechanism, for causing the actuation
mechanism to rotate the at least one display hand in at least one
of the clockwise and counterclockwise direction in the predefined
increments; and a display that is viewable through the at least one
window in the dial, wherein the display displays informational
indicia corresponding to the mode in which the electronic device is
operating, and wherein the informational indicia is changeable
based on the mode in which the wearable electronic device is
operating; wherein the positioning of the display hand as it
rotates in the one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions
in the predefined increments conveys the information and wherein
the controller operatively controls the positioning of the hand so
that the hand can display the information in the analog manner for
each of the at least two modes. In a specific embodiment, the
display hand is rotatable about an axis other than the center axis.
Preferably, the display is an LCD display and the actuation
mechanism comprises a stepper motor. In a specific embodiment, the
wearable multimode electronic device includes a receiver and memory
for respectively receiving and storing data from an external
source.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The above set forth and other features of the invention are
made more apparent in the ensuing Description of the Preferred
Embodiments when read in conjunction with the attached Drawings,
wherein:
[0032] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an electronic device
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the movement side of the
module in the electronic device of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram for an electronic device
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a controller, constructed in
accordance with the present invention for use in an electronic
device constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing certain other features and
construction of an electronic device constructed in accordance with
the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a wristwatch illustrating an
exemplary sensor circuit that is coupled to the module of the
present invention;
[0038] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a sensor circuit for measuring
an external parameter, such as altitude and/or barometric
pressure;
[0039] FIGS. 8A-8D are top plan views of electronic devices
constructed in accordance with specific embodiments of the present
invention;
[0040] FIGS. 9A-9B are top plan views of electronic devices
constructed in accordance with other specific embodiments of the
present invention;
[0041] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of yet another electronic device
constructed in accordance with a specific embodiment of the present
invention;
[0042] FIG. 11 is yet another top plan view of an electronic device
constructed in accordance with still a further specific embodiment
of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the gear train for one of the
non-center mounted display hands, such as display hand 24 or 26
illustrating a preferred construction for implementing an
autocalibration feature; and
[0044] FIG. 13 is a transparent perspective view showing an
alternative embodiment of a construction that can be used in
combination with a preferred methodology to carry out the
autocalibration feature.
[0045] Identical reference numerals in the figures are intended to
indicate like parts, although not every feature in every figure may
be called out with a reference numeral.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
1. General Overview
[0046] Reference is first made generally to FIG. 1, which
illustrates an exploded view of an electronic device, generally
indicated at 10, constructed in accordance with the present
invention. In the preferred construction and as illustrated in FIG.
6, electronic device 10 is a timepiece, such as a wristwatch,
generally indicated at 1, which itself will thus comprise other
features and parts, namely for example and not limitation, a wrist
strap for securing electronic device 10 to a wrist. However, the
wrist strap, generally indicated by numeral 5, forms no part of the
present invention. Preferably, electronic device 10 is wearable on
or about the body.
[0047] Generally speaking, electronic device 10 comprises a module,
generally indicated at 15, which itself includes a housing 17, in
which are disposed many components, the material ones of which
pertain to the present invention being hereinafter disclosed.
However, it should be understood that the present disclosure will
omit, for purposes of brevity, certain basic and very well known
concepts regarding the construction of an analog or chronograph
watch. For example, the basic construction and arrangements of
gears and/or gear trains to rotate a plurality of "standard" hands
all supported on a center stem 19, such as an hour hand 18, a
minute hand 20 and a "seconds" hand 21, will be omitted as being
well within the purview of one skilled in the art. Similarly,
disclosure of the manual setting of such hands and the
incorporation and construction of a preferred date wheel, are
omitted herein as they form no part of the present invention,
although reference may be had to application Ser. Nos. 10/334,025;
10/331,827; and 10/342,512, assigned to the present assignee and
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, for a
description of preferred setting mechanisms and date wheel
constructions. However, for purposes of supporting the claims and
providing an enabling disclosure, certain parts of such well-known
mechanisms will be referenced throughout.
[0048] Therefore, the focus of the remaining portions of the
specification will be to the best mode known to the inventors and
the disclosure necessary to completely enable one skilled in the
art to construct an electronic device that incorporates the
features and objectives of the present invention.
[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 1, electronic device 10 comprises a
dial, generally indicated at 30, made of Mylar or another suitable
plastic. Dial 30 preferably has numerals, such as 1-12
corresponding to "hours" designations, printed, silk-screened or
otherwise formed thereon. Other indicia to assist in telling time
may also be provided on dial 30.
[0050] For purposes of describing the present invention, dial 30
may be thought of as being divided into quadrants. In this way, the
electronic device construction illustrated in FIG. 1 can be seen to
be provided with at least two other displays, the first being
generally indicated at 40 and generally located in quadrant II,
while another display area being generally indicated at 50 and
generally located in quadrant IV. However, the locations of such
display 40, 50 is one of design choice and only limited by the
needed spacing for stepper motors and associated gear trains, since
such displays could also be provided in opposing quadrants I &
III, or in adjacent ones as well.
[0051] Yet another display may be provided on dial 30. This display
is illustrated in FIG. 1, but more particularly illustrated in FIG.
11, and uses indicia provided on and about dial 30, such as for
example, around the periphery thereof. This display will be denoted
display 45, and is exemplary illustrated in FIG. 1 as being
associated with compass directions, namely "N," "S," "E" and "W,"
and in FIGS. 9A-9B as being associated with a heart rate range from
40-200.
[0052] Preferably, each display 40, 45 and 50 has its own scale or
other information indicia printed, silk-screened or otherwise
provided on dial 30, and the demarcations of such scales are one of
design choice and a function of the parameter(s) being measured or
otherwise displayed, as discussed in greater detail below.
[0053] As can also be seen in FIG. 1, electronic device 10 may
comprise one or more "display hands" aside from the conventional
hour, minute and "seconds" hand. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates
(i) a hand 22 also mounted on center stem 19 and associated with
display 45, (ii) a "dash1 hand" indicated by the numeral 24 that is
mounted on a stem 25 and associated with display 40 and (iii) a
"dash2 hand" indicated by the numeral 26 that is mounted on a stem
27 and associated with display 50. As will become clear below, not
all hands 22, 24 and 26 need to be provided in each specific
embodiment.
[0054] For reference, it can be seen that the hour hand and minute
hand conveys time of day information and are rotatable about a
center axis, and display hands 24 and 26 are rotatable about an
axis other than the center axis. For additional reference, it can
also be seen that each display hand 24, 26 has a first end and a
second end, wherein the first end of each display hand rotates
about a pivot point spaced apart from a center point of the dial by
a fixed distance, and the second end of the display hand sweeps
across a portion of the dial side of the dial, wherein the display
hand can sweep about an arc; and wherein the display hand has a
length from the pivot point that is one of (a) shorter than the
fixed distance and (b) longer than the fixed distance (not shown,
but is clear understood as passing through the center point of the
display). This reference is important to clearly articulate that
display hands 24, 26 are not mounted on the center stem, but rather
point inwardly on the dial. This mounting permits the use of
additional displays without the need to utilize any of the
center-mounted hands, such as the hour and/or minute hands.
2. Hand Movement System
[0055] Reference will now also be made to FIG. 2, wherein the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 will comprise four stepper motors,
each respectively and generally indicated by M1, M2, M3 and M4. One
skilled in the art would recognize that varying the number of
displays and display hands can vary the number of needed stepper
motors, all of which is within the scope of the present invention
and disclosure.
[0056] As positioned in module 15, motor M1 is provided to rotate
hour hand 18, minute hand 20 and "seconds" hand 21 all in a known
manner. Specifically, hour hand 18, minute hand 20 and "seconds"
hand 21 are coupled to a gear train, generally indicated at 61, for
conveying the rotational activity generated by the rotor of motor
M1.
[0057] In a similar manner, hand 22 is rotated by stepper motor M2,
and a gear train generally indicated at 62 is provided to convey
the rotational activity generated by the rotor of motor M2 to hand
22. Likewise, hands 24, 26 are each respectively rotated by stepper
motors M3 and M4, and a gear train generally indicated at 63 is
provided to convey the rotational activity generated by the rotor
of motor M3 to hand 24, while a gear train generally indicated at
64 is provided to convey the rotational activity generated by the
rotor of motor M4 to hand 26. The construction of the respective
gear trains 61-64 are well within the purview of one ordinarily
skilled in the art, although certain details thereof are disclosed
below and illustrated in FIGS. 12-13 in connection with an
autocalibration feature.
[0058] Preferably, motors M2, M3 and M4 are bi-directional stepper
motors thus being able to rotate in either direction, with as many
as two rotor steps per revolution (or 180.degree. per rotor step),
and the construction of acceptable stepper motors to functionally
operate in this manner are widely commercially available and well
within the understanding of those skilled in the art. Preferably,
motors M2-M4 are identically constructed. It should also be
understood that it is well within the skill of the designer to
design an appropriate gearing ratio to provide for the desirable
display rotation or movement of display hands 22, 24, 26. That is,
it may be desirable for the incremental rotation of the hands to be
quire small, thus providing for precise increments and display
measurements. For example, in the embodiment, which provides for
display hand 22 to measure directional headings (i.e. a compass
hand), it is desirable to have very precise movement of hand 22,
such as in 1.2.degree. increments. Thus the ratio of the gear train
from its associated motor to display hand 22 may be 150. In other
examples, such as in the other embodiments disclosed herein with
regard to the accuracy of display hands 24 and 26, the ratio of the
gear train from the respective motors may be 180, thus providing
movement of the display hands in increments of 1.degree.,
especially, if by way of example and not limitation, a display
scale of 1000 degrees is used.
3. Circuit Composition
[0059] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which illustrates a circuit
diagram for a preferred construction of electronic device 10.
Generally speaking, controller 100 is preferably an integrated
microcontroller typically used with electronic watches which, as
will be more particularly disclosed below with reference to FIG. 4,
integrates onto a single chip, a CPU core, a motor hand control
circuit, an input/output control circuit, addressing and decoding
functionality, memory and motor drivers.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 3, electronic device 10 includes,
among other things, a battery 90, a resonator 91 to provide basic
timing, a filter capacitor 92 and interface connections to motors
M1-M4 and switches S1-S5. A parallel sensor interface is provided
for receiving digital signals from a sensor embedded in electronic
device 10 and a serial sensor interface is provided for receiving
data from a tethered sensor or wireless (remote) sensor, although
in any one preferred embodiment, both interfaces are not required.
In addition, a well-understood circuit, generally indicated at 93,
is provided for alarm activation, and may include among other
components a piezoelectric buzzer which may be attached to the back
cover of the watchcase.
[0061] By way of background, switches S1-S5 are intended to
generically indicate both side/top mounted pushers, as well as side
mounted rotatable crowns, and thus respond to the actuation (i.e.
pulling and/or pushing) action thereof. In the case of crowns, the
pulling and or pushing actuations may be provided for setting hands
18, 20 and 21, setting alarm(s) and or actuating backlighting
capabilities. In the case of side mounted pushers, start/stop
functions, mode selections and calibration of hands 22, 24 and 26
can be effectuated. Of course combinations of the foregoing are
within the purview of one skilled in the art. Details of such side
pushers or crown actuations/constructions are not material to the
present invention, and therefore disclosure thereof is omitted.
[0062] Reference is now particularly made to FIG. 4 for a
description of a preferred construction of controller 100. As
illustrated, controller 100 comprises a core CPU 101 which itself
comprises an ALU, a calculation register, a stack pointer, an
instruction register and an instruction decoder. Controller 100
utilizes a memory mapped I/O bus 200 to communicate with hand
control circuit 109, input output control circuit 110 and sensor
circuits that will be discussed in further detail below.
[0063] A ROM memory block 102 in cooperation with an address
encoder 103 provide access to electronic device control software
and fixed data. The methodology for the programming for directing
CPU 101 on the steps and logic necessary to keep track of and
determine subsequent motor positions, as discussed further below,
is also coded into ROM 102. Reference may also be made to copending
application Ser. No. 10/090,588, the subject matter of which is
incorporated by reference as if set forth herein, for a disclosure
of a preferred construction for driving and controlling a plurality
of stepper motors.
[0064] A RAM memory block 104, in cooperation with an address
decoder 105, provides storage for intermediate calculation values
and also is used to hold current position of the various electronic
device hands, such as hands 18, 20, 21, 22, 24 and 26, and to store
changeable information such as pill schedules, tide tables, etc.,
that may be downloaded into controller 100 through a port,
generically indicated by 112, which may be an IR port, a keyboard
input, a port for optical transmission, LEDs, RF, or through a
computer interface, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,488,571, coowned by the present assigned and incorporated by
reference as if fully set forth herein.
[0065] Controller 100 includes oscillator circuit 106 which
oscillates at a frequency determined by resonator 91, and in the
preferred embodiment, this frequency of oscillation is 32768 Hz. A
frequency divider circuit 107 divides the output of oscillator
circuit 106 to generate appropriate timing signals for timekeeping,
motor control and data acquisition functions.
[0066] A motor hand control circuit 109 receives a commanded "next
number of pulses" from CPU core 101 and generates the pulsed and
phased signals necessary to move a desired motor (M1-M4) a desired
amount and in a desired direction. Pulse outputs of the motor hand
control circuit 109 are buffered by motor drivers MD1-MD4 and
applied to motors M1-M4.
[0067] An input/output control circuit 110 controls the crown
actuations and pushbutton switches of FIG. 3 and provides such
signaling information to CPU 101.
[0068] An interrupt control circuit 111 is connected to frequency
divider circuit 107, motor hand control circuit 109 and
input/output control circuit 110, and outputs timer interrupts,
motor control interrupts, and key interrupts to CPU 101.
[0069] Reference is thus now made to FIG. 5, which is an overall
block diagram of the circuitry of electronic device 10 and includes
circuit elements to interface electronic device 10 to "the outside
world."
[0070] In particular and as indicated above, controller 100
directly or indirectly controls the movement of the respective
hands to display chronological data, analog representations of data
stored in ROM and/or RAM, and analog representations of parameters
measured through sensors. In this regard, electronic device 10 may
comprise one or more sensor circuits for measuring external
parameters, and providing information to be displayed on electronic
device 10. Such external parameters include, but are not limited to
ambient temperature, altitude, body temperature, heart rate, and
compass headings.
[0071] Preferred embodiments of the invention may include an
embedded sensor circuit 120a that is integral with the body of
electronic device 10 for measuring altitude or compass headings,
for example; a tethered sensor circuit 120b that may be
electrically connected to electronic device 10 but is remote from
the electronic device 10 for measuring parameters such as body
temperature or blood pressure, for example; and a remotely located
sensor circuit 120c, such as in a cheststrap (i.e. a heartrate
monitor) that is wirelessly connected through a radio link.
[0072] As shown in FIG. 5 sensor circuit 120a is "hard wired"
through parallel connections to the memory mapped I/O bus 200.
Sensor circuit 120a is discussed further below but it is noted here
that sensor circuit 120a, being an altitude sensor circuit in a
preferred embodiment, includes an analog portion for sensing a
physically measurable value that varies with altitude and an A/D
subcircuit with associated preamplification, filtering and sample
and hold for converting the measured value into a digital number.
The output of the A/D subcircuit, which may be a digital number
proportional to the measured value, is applied directly to memory
mapped I/O bus 200.
[0073] On the other hand, sensor circuit 120b, which in the
preferred embodiment is a body temperature sensor, also includes an
analog portion and an A/D subcircuit with associated
preamplification, filtering and sample and hold for converting the
analog measured value into a digital number. For sensor circuit
120b however, the invention preferably uses a serial link to
connect sensor circuit 120b and electronic device 10, so that in
addition to the A/D portion which has a parallel output format, a
parallel to serial converter portion is preferably used and a UART
205 is used to convert back to parallel format for application to
the memory mapped I/O bus 200.
[0074] Lastly, sensor circuit 120c may be a heartrate monitor and
is wirelessly connected to electronic device 10. In addition to a
basic heartrate sensor, sensor circuit 120c includes a radio
transmitter for sending data to an RF receiver 115 in electronic
device 10. The output of receiver 115 is thus also connected to the
memory mapped 110 bus 200.
[0075] We note that in alternate embodiments a delta sigma type A/D
converter may be used to simplify the processing of the generally
low-level sensor signals.
[0076] It should be noted that although FIG. 5 depicts a highly
integrated design wherein all timing and display functionality is
controlled in controller 100, alternate embodiments could separate
the timekeeping functions from those processing and displaying
stored or sensed data. For example, hands 18, 20 and 21 may be
controlled by controller 100 or through a timekeeping section,
while hands 22, 24 and 26 are controlled by controller 100 based on
data stored in the data memory and/or information received from one
or more sensor circuits.
4. Hand Control
[0077] All of the foregoing makes clear that in an embodiment that
may not utilize sensors to measure external parameters, controller
100 will have in its memory (or will be able to receive from an
external source (such as via a telephone link, computer link,
wirelessly, or the like) for storage in such memory) all the
necessary data representative of the stored information such as
tide or "pill-taking" information, by way of example, and in an
electronic device that comprises one or more sensors, controller
100 will receive the necessary data representative of the measured
parameter(s) via one or more of sensor circuits 120a, 120b and/or
120c.
[0078] As noted, analog hands 18, 20 and 21 are preferably used to
indicate time and hands 22, 24 and 26 are preferably used to
display either values stored in ROM 102, values stored in RAM 104
or current data collected by sensors 120a, 120b or 120c. Since the
display of time information using stepper motors is known to one
skilled in the art, the following discussion will address display
of stored information and "live" information collected from sensors
120a, 120b and 120c.
[0079] Advantageously, and as is also known to those skilled in the
art, a stepper motor will remain in its last position unless pulsed
to move. Therefore to smoothly display continuously varying
information with an analog hand driven by a stepper motor, the
preferred embodiment delivers to the stepper motor the necessary
number of pulses to move the rotor of the stepper motor between a
desired position at t=0, for example, and a position desired after
some small time interval later.
[0080] As indicated above, the preferred embodiment will utilize
sensors with A/D conversion to facilitate computation and interface
to the memory mapped I/O. Therefore to determine the number of
pulses and direction to move a rotor of a stepper motor to its next
position it is necessary to know where the rotor is in terms of a
number of pulses, subtract that from the new sensor value converted
to pulses, and based on the magnitude and sign of the difference,
pulse the stepper motor the number of pulses needed to move the
rotor the desired amount and in the desired direction.
[0081] In an alternate embodiment the calculations above can be
performed using converted sensor values in digital format and then
by applying the appropriate scale factors, develop the number of
pulse determined above.
[0082] More specifically, in the case of an embedded sensor 120a
that measures altitude, altitude values are expected to change
slowly so that in the preferred embodiment an interval of for
example, 10 seconds, may be appropriate. Clearly, selection and
implementation of smaller or larger time intervals between sampling
is well within the knowledge of one skilled in the art. In this
example, if the electronic device is not moving the altitude is not
changing, the subsequent subtraction of current altitude values (or
a signal proportional to the value) from a next value calculated in
controller 100 gives a result of zero, which is sent to motor hand
control circuit 109 so that the respective stepper motor is not
pulsed to move.
[0083] On the other hand, if a value calculated in controller 100
by subtracting a new A/D conversion value (or signal proportional
thereof) is greater than the resultant value determined at the
previous A/D conversion step, controller 100 will signal motor hand
control circuit 109 to step the respective stepper motor a
predetermined number of steps in a direction to indicate an
increased value (if the new measurement is greater than the
previous measurement) or in the opposite direction if the new
measurement is less than the previous measurement.
[0084] Each sensor sample may require an A/D conversion to take
place. Well-known programming techniques then require the
controller to determine whether the resultant value from each
subsequent A/D conversion is greater than, less than or equal to
the resultant value determined at the previous A/D conversion step.
In the case where the resultant values are equal, the controller
will not signal motor hand control circuit 109 to step the
respective stepper motor and control of the routine will pass back
for another sensor sample. On the other hand, if the resultant
value from this subsequent A/D conversion is greater than the
resultant value determined at the previous A/D conversion step,
controller 100 will signal motor hand control circuit 109 to step
the respective stepper motor a predetermined number of steps, in
one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, representative of
the increase in the resultant values. A similar (albeit in the
opposite direction) procedure occurs in the event that the
subsequent resultant value is less than the resultant value from
the previous A/D conversion step.
[0085] Although the preferred construction is the use of stepper
motors as disclosed herein, it should be understood that the
present application is not so limited. For example, other types of
actuation mechanisms, may be used in place of the stepper motors
disclosed herein, while still remaining within the scope of the
present invention.
[0086] Accordingly, in these embodiments, it should be understood
that an actuation mechanism would be operatively coupled to the
controller and would rotate the at least one display hand in at
least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in
predefined increments.
5. Sensors
[0087] a. Altitude or Compass
[0088] As noted, in a preferred embodiment, sensor circuit 120a may
measure altitude or compass headings. Such a sensor circuit may be
disposed within module 15, or may be physically coupled thereto, as
illustrated in FIG. 6, with a covering 2 to protect it.
[0089] The basic construction of an altitude sensor circuit 120a
for measuring altitude and/or barometric pressure is shown
generally as a block diagram in FIG. 7, and described more fully in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,059, the subject matter of which pertaining to
the configuration of the sensor circuits is incorporated by
reference as if fully set forth herein. By way of general
description, circuit 120a comprises a barometric pressure sensor
121, an analog signal processor 122 for processing the output
signal from pressure sensor 121, an analog to digital converter 123
for converting the output signal from the analog signal processing
circuit to a digital signal, a barometric pressure information
generator 124 for generating barometric pressure information based
on the output signal from the analog to digital converter and an
altitude information generator 125 for generating altitude
information based on the output signal from the analog digital
converter.
[0090] In the present invention and as illustrated in FIG. 10,
barometric pressure information is not displayed, but as will be
apparent from the ensuing description, the present invention
contemplates that both pressure and altitude information are
displayable, either simultaneously, individually, or alternatively,
as desired.
[0091] As would be well-known to those skilled in the art, altitude
information generator 125 preferably comprises circuitry, such as a
temperature compensating circuit and compensating circuit for
processing and compensating the altitude information, as well as
memory for storing calendar information, temperature coefficients,
a sea level temperature processing circuit for generating
compensation data, and memory for storing and providing regional
information such as latitude information and altitude compensation
data. Likewise, such a circuit may be distributed, such that ROM
102 or RAM 104 stores the needed data.
[0092] As alluded to above, the pressure measured by the pressure
sensor in the pressure sensor unit is converted by the A/D
converter 123 into a value representing the pressure. Altitude
information generator 125 serves as a processor for calculating an
altitude at the standard atmosphere and converting the value of the
pressure converted by A/D converter 123 into an altitude assuming
the standard atmosphere and utilizing well-known algorithms, such
as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,059. Memory is provided
for storing regional information for processing the temperature at
sea level at a certain place and at a certain month, since
temperature coefficients of the temperature at sea level in
accordance with month and area as regional information are needed
for accurate calculations.
[0093] If barometric pressure is also to be displayed, pressure
information generator 124 is additionally provided. Here a pressure
variation information generator circuit may be provided for
generating information relating to variations in pressure based on
the information data output from the pressure information generator
124. Generally speaking, the barometric pressure sensor would
provide a barometric pressure signal proportional to a barometric
pressure which converts the obtained pressure into an electrical
signal utilizing a pressure sensor. Here again, A/D converter 123
would convert the signal from a sample-and-hold circuit and output
the signal as converted data, while a pressure information
generator would process the converted data output from A/D
converter 123, to convert the data into sensor information data,
i.e., pressure information.
[0094] The actual pressure sensor may be any kind of conventional
pressure sensor, well-known in the art.
[0095] b. Temperature or Blood pressure
[0096] Instead of a sensor circuit being provided within module 15,
the sensor circuit may also be essentially tethered to module 15
and indicated schematically as sensor circuit 120b, such as that
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,058 or 4,407,295, the subject
matter of which pertaining to the construction and coupling of the
sensors to the module being incorporated by reference as if fully
set forth herein. Here, the signal produced by the sensor may
likewise be fed into a modulator and converted into a digital
signal utilizing an A/D converter as disclosed above, and would now
be understood from a reading of the present disclosure.
[0097] Using such a tethered sensor circuit 120b, parameters such
as body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, or other
physiological parameters using noninvasive techniques can be
measured, including lung capacity, through the use of a remote
sensor containing a piezo-resistive element or a thermistor. The
sensor could then be placed either in the mouth or in the nose and
the duration of expulsion of air could be measured and displayed in
accordance with the present invention. In each of the foregoing
examples, the sensor circuit contains the appropriate circuitry, as
implemented through employment of microelectronics, to take the
sensed parameter and convert it into an information signal which is
relayed through connector 206 (FIG. 5) into electronic device 10
for subsequent processing and display.
[0098] c. Remote Sensor (Wireless)
[0099] As illustrated in FIG. 5, sensor circuit 120c may be
remotely located from electronic device 10, such as in a chest
strap, and in the preferred embodiment, the parameter being
measured is a person's heartrate. Wireless transmission may be over
one or more frequency ranges, although the transmitter of the chest
unit is preferably frequency matched to the receiver in the wrist
unit so that the digital signal wirelessly transmitted from the
chest unit 12 will be received by the wrist unit 14. In a preferred
embodiment, the wireless transmission is an RF signal.
[0100] It is within the discretion of the designer to decide what
information gets processed in the transmitter and what information
gets processed in the receiver (i.e. electronic device 10). For
example, in a preferred embodiment, the conversion of an ECG signal
from a heartbeat to a digitized signal in the form of a digital
number representative of the heart rate is computed in sensor
circuit 120c, and then transmitted to complementary receiver 115.
Alternatively, the digital number representative of the heart rate
may be calculated in the electronic device 10.
[0101] The signal being transmitted from the chest strap can
represent a full heartbeat rate, or just a portion of it, for
example, the number of ECG pulses in a multi-second interval can be
represented and multiplied by the appropriate scaling factor (i.e.
a 10 second interval is then multiplied by 6). Again, the
calculations can be done in electronic device 10 or in the
transmitter unit (i.e. sensor circuit 120c) if the full heartbeat
rate is to be transmitted to receiver 115. In a preferred
embodiment, the digital signal representing the person's heartbeat
is received and displayed by one or more display hands, and in the
preferred embodiment, hand 22 (See FIGS. 9A, B).
[0102] One skilled in the art would clearly be able to design an
appropriate transmission protocol for acquiring and processing data
from the transmitter to the electronic device for subsequent
display, and therefore, details thereof will be omitted for
purposes of brevity.
[0103] It should be understood that the foregoing measurement of
heart rate is by way of example and not limitation, as it should be
readily appreciated by those of skill in the art that a signal
indicative of other physical conditions could be monitored. For
example, an acoustical sensor can detect a pulse or a thermometer
sensor can detect a temperature. It can also be seen that such
parameters such as heartrate, as but one example, can also be
measured with the appropriately configured sensor circuits 120a and
120b.
6. Examples
[0104] With the foregoing having provided a disclosure on how
parameters are measured and how representative data (stored or
measured), is inputted to controller 100 for communicating with
motor hand control circuit 109 to cause the appropriate degree and
direction of rotation of the rotors for stepper motors M2-M4,
reference is now made to the remaining figures and disclosure for
an understanding of certain preferred specific embodiments of the
present invention. It should also be understood that all the
following figures only illustrate the necessary features and
construction that distinguish them from other specific embodiments
disclosed herein. That is, FIGS. 8-11 do not illustrate entire
electronic devices, but rather only customized dials and features
thereof to construct the present invention and appreciate the
versatility thereof. But in the interest of caution, it should be
understood that the features and advantages of the invention that
will hereinafter be disclosed are preferably incorporated into an
electronic device, such as that disclosed and illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 6.
[0105] a. Microcontroller Based
[0106] Reference is thus made first to FIGS. 8A-8D in connection
with the following for a disclosure of a specific preferred
embodiment of the present invention. Generally speaking, this first
specific embodiment is one that needs not rely on the use of
sensors to provide information regarding external parameters, and
displays information, in an easily readable manner, that has been
previously stored in controller 100, and it should be reemphasized
that the present disclosure provides the platform by which any
number of informational parameters can be displayed by electronic
device 10.
[0107] For example, FIG. 8A illustrates an electronic device for
displaying tide information along the California coast, such as
whether the tide is high or low, and the geographic location
pertaining thereto. In particular, hand 22 may be used to display
the height of the tide, while one of the display areas is used
(here by example, display area 40) to display various locations
pertaining thereto. Hand 24 will point to the particular location.
Moon phases or other related information could also be
simultaneously displayed (such as on display 50, not shown in this
figure). One or more pushers S1-S5 may be used to cycle through
various locations so that with each successive actuation of the
pusher, hand 24 moves one position to point to a different
location, with hand 22 thus working in connection to indicate the
tide at that different location. One skilled in the art would
clearly know how to program controller 100 to receive the pusher
actuations and change the positioning of hand 24, at least based in
part on the foregoing disclosure regarding hand movement. If
display 40 incorporates the advantages of FIG. 8D (discussed
below), pusher actuations could actually be used to change the
displays so that a user could view any desired location merely by
scrolling through a set of geographic locations. U.S. Pat. No.
5,299,126 describes an embodiment wherein memory stores the
applicable table of tide times, heights and geographic offsets,
which would be helpful in constructing a tide watch that utilizes
the features and construction of the present invention.
[0108] On the other hand, FIG. 8B illustrates an electronic device
display for displaying medical information, such as when medicine
should be taken, and how many pills at each time interval. Here for
example, hand 26 may be used to display time intervals (12 o'clock,
3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, 12 o'clock) with hand 24 being
used to display the number of pills (1-5) to be taken at each
interval.
[0109] Similarly, FIG. 8C illustrates the use of display 40 being
used as a count-down timer, with hand 24 being used to display the
number of minutes left. In connection with this FIG. 8C, electronic
device controller 100 would be appropriately programmed to permit a
user to set the desired number of minutes for the countdown timer.
Again, such information could be inputted through the use of a side
pusher. The number of actuations of the side pusher would cause
controller 100 to cause motor hand control circuit 109 to step the
appropriate rotor, here the rotor for motor M3, the proper number
of steps to indicate an additional minute was selected for the
countdown timer. Clearly, a different pusher could be used to
decrement the timer display in a similar manner.
[0110] Another contemplated advantageous feature is that hand 24
may oscillate at some frequency, such as 1 Hz, when operating in
the countdown timer mode to allow the user to know that the
electronic device is actually in the countdown timer mode. Such a
feature would be implemented by rotating the rotor of stepper motor
M3 the appropriate number of pulses in the forward and reverse
direction at the desired frequency while the timer is operational,
all the while ensuring that controller 100 maintain information on
the rotor position so that the proper rotation of the rotor can be
effectuated after each minute of elapsed time.
[0111] The use of the foregoing constructions and arrangements to
display tide/moon information, pill taking and timers should be
considered exemplary and not in a limiting sense, as one skilled in
the art should be able to envision many other advantageous uses of
the present invention, all while remaining within the scope of the
claims.
[0112] In accordance with a modification of the present invention,
another feature of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8D wherein
dial 30 is provided with windows 41 and 42, respectively in display
areas 40 and 50. In this specific embodiment, one or more LCD
panels, generally indicated at 43, are provided behind dial 30 and
aligned with the respective windows 41, 42. The use of such an LCD
window is quite old in the art, and incorporated within watches
coined "combo" watches. An exemplary construction of such an
"analogldigital" or "combo" watch is described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,691,962, coowned by the present assignee and incorporated by
reference as if fully set forth herein.
[0113] In this embodiment of FIG. 8D, the LCD display can display
various scales that are particular to the desired displayable
information. In this way, a single electronic device can be
manufactured with all of the aforementioned modes being selectively
displayable on one display and in one electronic device.
Additionally, the mode can easily be displayed in the windows 41
and/or 42 of the dial 30, thus allowing the user an ability to see
the modes through which he/she is cycling. In a similar manner, the
scales for a single mode can vary as well, since one skilled in the
art would know how to excite the appropriate LCD crystals to have a
scale, grid or other measuring design appear on the LCD panels 43.
Controller 100, knowing the mode, the scale appearing on LCD panels
43, and the position of the rotors for motors M3 and/or M4, could
coordinate the display such that any mode could be displayed by the
use of differing displayable scales. As alluded to above, in the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8A, a user could selectively cycle
through a plurality of cities/locations for display in window 41
since the city names that would appear in window 43 of display 40
would change with each actuation of a side pusher, for example.
[0114] Accordingly, it can be seen that the foregoing examples
illustrate and disclose embodiments wherein the wearable electronic
device, which may be an electronic timepiece, such as a watch, may
include at least an hour hand and a minute hand for conveying time
of day information and rotatable about an at least essentially
center axis and at least one display hand rotatable about an axis
other than the center axis and positioned on the dial side of the
dial. The actuation mechanism, being a stepper motor by way of
example and not limitation, rotates the at least one display hand
in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in
predefined increments. The controller is operatively coupled to the
actuation mechanism and causes the actuation mechanism to rotate
the at least one display hand in at least one of the clockwise and
counterclockwise direction in the predefined increments based at
least in part on data stored in the controller, wherein the
positioning of the display hand as it rotates in the one of the
clockwise and counterclockwise directions in the predefined
increments conveys information relating to the stored data.
[0115] In the embodiments disclosed, the rotation of the display
hand by the actuation mechanism (such as the stepper motor) is not
dependent of the time of day, and thus, is patentably
distinguishable from a chronograph display and biorhythmic
displays. More specifically, the rotation of the display hand is
not dependent on the rotation of the hour or minute hands, and thus
the actuation mechanism can rotate the display hand independent of
the time of day. Again, with the actuation mechanism of the display
hands 24, 26 not being mechanically coupled to the movement of the
hour and minute hands as in the prior art, significant restraints
upon the limitations of what can be displayed on the dial are
removed, as disclosed above. That is, while the hour and minute
hands are coupled to a gearing arrangement, the actuation mechanism
can rotate the display hands (i.e. hands 24 or 26) independently of
any rotation of the hour and minute hand. For completeness, it
should now be seen that in the preferred embodiment, the actuation
mechanism comprises a stepper motor that itself comprises a rotor,
the stepper motor operatively coupled to the controller, for
stepping in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise
direction in the predefined increments. Preferably, the stepper
motors are bi-directional.
[0116] It should be appreciated that utilizing a receiver and
memory in the controller, such as that disclosed above, the
wearable electronic device or timepiece of these microcontroller
driven embodiments can receive and store the data from an external
source, and thereafter, can convey information relating to the
stored data in the analog manner as disclosed above.
[0117] With reference to the embodiment of FIG. 8D, it should be
appreciated that the present invention provides a unique multimode
electronic device. Here, the controller is operable in a first mode
and at least a second mode and the display is viewable through the
at least one window in the dial, wherein the display displays
informational indicia corresponding to the mode in which the
electronic device is operating, and wherein the informational
indicia is changeable based on the mode in which the wearable
electronic device is operating; wherein the positioning of the
display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and
counterclockwise directions in the predefined increments conveys
the information and wherein the controller operatively controls the
positioning of the hand so that the hand can display the
information in the analog manner for each of the at least two
modes. In a specific embodiment, the display hand is rotatable
about an axis other than the center axis of the dial. Although
preferred, it is not required that the display be an LCD
display.
[0118] b. Sensor illustrations
[0119] Reference is now made to FIGS. 9A-9B in connection with the
following for a disclosure of another specific preferred embodiment
of the present invention. Generally speaking, this next specific
embodiment is one that incorporates the use of one or more sensors
disclosed above, and it should now be understood that the
measurement of heartrate, for example, can be accomplished with
sensor circuit 120b or sensor circuit 120c.
[0120] In FIG. 9A, hand 22 may be used to rotate and point to the
particular heart rate of the user, as the display, generally
indicated by 45, shows a scale of heart rates ranging from 40
beats/min. to 200 beats/min. Still further, FIG. 9B illustrates an
electronic device display also for displaying heartrate information
as in FIG. 9A, although this FIG. 9B additionally illustrates the
capability of displaying additional information, such as blood
pressure, with the use of display 40, and hand 24, in particular.
In the particular embodiment, the systolic pressure is displayable.
However, using the inventive feature noted above, namely, providing
windows 41 and/or 42 with an LCD panel 43 therebehind, other
related parameters, such as the diastolic measurement, is also
selectively displayable (again using pushbuttons and easily
programming methodologies for changing the display scales and
measurements). In a similar manner, display 40 may be a countdown
timer, or selectable between a countdown timer and a blood pressure
display. Clearly, a separate countdown timer could be added to FIG.
9B in display 50, thus taking advantages of at least two
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0121] FIG. 10 on the other hand, illustrates a dial 30
particularly configured for displaying altitude and air temperature
information. Here, the preferred configuration is to have hand 22
and hand 26 work together to illustrate altitude, with display 45
displaying a x100 scale and display 50 using an x1000 scale, all
the while hand 24 displays temperature in both degrees Fahrenheit
and Celsius. In this embodiment, multiple sensors would preferably
be needed. Another U.S. patent that describes a device for
measuring altitude and barometric pressure is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,224,059, the subject matter regarding the measuring of
altitudes and barometric pressure being incorporated by reference
as if fully set forth herein.
[0122] Here again, with the incorporation of LCD panels 43 and one
or more of sensor circuits 120a and 120b, the scales of the
displays could vary based on the sensed parameter readings, i.e.
the higher one goes, the scales change to provide the user with a
more accurate hand indication. In a divers watch for example, the
scale of depth on a panel 43 in a display window could vary from
1-10 feet, to 1-100 feet, to 1-1000 feet, as the sensor recognizes
that the diver is increasing his/her depth.
[0123] Lastly, FIG. 11 illustrates a dial particularly configured
for displaying direction headings (i.e. a compass watch), with
display 45 having directional indicia thereon. In this specific
embodiment, electronic device 10 will preferably include a sensor
circuit 120a that is positioned in or coupled to module 15.
Directional information will be received by controller 100, and
through motor hand control circuit 109, hand 22 will rotate
accordingly based on the pulsing scheme provided by controller 100
to circuit 109, as in the manner disclosed above.
[0124] The foregoing embodiments illustrate and disclose a wearable
electronic device, such as an electronic timepiece that conveys
information in an analog manner. Certain of the foregoing
embodiments include various combinations of features, such as at
least one display hand that is rotatable about an axis other than
the center axis and positioned on the dial side of the dial; at
least one sensor for sensing at least one parameter external to the
electronic timepiece; a controller, operatively coupled to the
sensor, for receiving and processing information based on the at
least one parameter sensed by the at least one sensor; an actuation
mechanism, operatively coupled to the controller, for rotating the
at least one display hand in at least one of a clockwise and
counterclockwise direction in predefined increments, wherein the
increments and direction of the rotation of the at least one
display hand are based at least in part on the at least one
parameter being sensed by the sensor; wherein the positioning of
the display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and
counterclockwise directions in predefined increments conveys
information relating to the at least one parameter being
sensed.
[0125] Another convenient way to express the location of the
display hand, such as hand 24 or 26 is to consider that the display
hand has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the
display hand rotates about a pivot point spaced apart from a center
point of the dial by a fixed distance, and the second end of the
display hand sweeps across a portion of the dial side of the dial,
wherein the display hand can sweep about an arc, wherein the
display hand has a length from the pivot point that is one of (a)
shorter than the fixed distance and (b) longer than the fixed
distance.
[0126] Here again, it should be pointed out that the preferred (but
not the required) embodiment is the use of a stepper motor as
disclosed above.
[0127] If the particular embodiment is a watch, the wearable
electronic device may include at least an hour hand and a minute
hand for conveying time of day information and rotatable about the
center axis.
[0128] In the embodiment where an external transmitter is provided,
the wearable electronic device conveys information that is
transmitted via a signal being transmitted by a transmitter. As
such, the wearable electronic device will thus comprise a receiver
for receiving the signal from the transmitter and a controller,
operatively coupled to the receiver, for receiving and processing
the signal, wherein the actuation mechanism rotates the at least
one display hand in a clockwise and/or counterclockwise direction
in predefined increments based at least in part on the signal being
received by the receiver and transmitted by the transmitter.
[0129] It should thus also be understood that the present invention
also includes a system that would comprise the transmitter for
transmitting the signal, and a wearable electronic device for
conveying information in an analog manner, wherein the information
is conveyed via the signal being transmitted by the
transmitter.
[0130] It will thus be seen that the present invention is both
patentably different from and a significant improvement over the
cited prior art timepieces. Specifically, the present invention
provides a unique way to clearly display, and makes easily
comprehensible, information relating to external parameters, as
well as time-based or nontime-based information that may be
programmed into or otherwise stored in the timepiece. Additionally,
the present invention can incorporate a wide range of sensor
circuits and arrangements for measuring external parameters and
have such measurements clearly displayable and easily
comprehensible, and provides an improved method, approach and thus
construction to display whatever inputs it receives from the
sensors. A platform for using one or more interconnectable sensors
to display various functions and parameters of the human body, as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,295 or 6,314,058, is also thus
provided.
[0131] Furthermore, other features can be incorporated into the
present invention, to make it even more versatile and advantageous
than other devices found in the prior art. For example, because of
the present invention's versatility in displaying multiple
parameters on one display, the present invention incorporates
unique auto calibration algorithms and constructions to ensure that
the display hands are always positioned correctly.
[0132] For example, reference is now made to FIGS. 12-13 for a
disclosure of a preferred autocalibration methodology and
corresponding preferred constructions to effectuate such
autocalibration of one or more of the display hands 22, 24 and
26.
[0133] Specifically, reference is first made to FIG. 12, which is
an enlarged view of preferred gear train 63 for display hand 24. An
identical gear train is utilized for gear train 64. As illustrated,
gear train 63 comprises a first gear 63a, an intermediate gear 63b
and a third gear 63c, which itself preferably includes stem 25 onto
which display hand 24 is mounted. As would be well understood by
one skilled in the art from a review of FIG. 12, but provided
herein for completeness, the rotor of stepping motor M3, by way of
a rotor gear 63d, meshes with the outer teeth (and thus causes the
rotation) of first gear 63a. On the underside of first gear 63a is
a pinion (not shown) which meshes with the outer teeth (and thus
causes the rotation) of intermediate gear 63b. Similarly, a pinion
(not shown) on the underside of intermediate gear 63b meshes with
the outer teeth (and thus causes the rotation) of third gear 63c.
Preferably, stem 25 is formed on the underside of third gear
63c.
[0134] In accordance with the particulars of a first embodiment of
the autocalibration feature, it can be seen that part of housing 17
includes a raised tab 3 extending therefrom and into an arcuate
channel 4 formed in third gear 63c. Channel 4 need only have a
length sufficient to permit display hand 24 to sweep fully through
the arc of the provided display (i.e. display 40). For example,
FIG. 1 illustrates displays 40, 50 that would require about a
.+-.70' arc through which a display hand would need to sweep to be
able to indicate information at the extremes (i.e. the minimum and
maximum) of the display.
[0135] The objective is therefore to provide a methodology to
ensure that display hand 24 (or display hand 26 as the case may be)
can be "parked" at a particular position, thereby providing the
ability to recalibrate the position of the display hand, thus
ensuring accurate displaying of information and providing the
controller an easy way to "know" the location of the display hands,
especially after calibration.
[0136] Specifically, it is preferable to rotate third gear 63c
sufficiently to ensure that the edge of channel 4 is "pinned"
against and abutting tab 3. Ensuring this sufficient rotation and
"pinning" of channel 4 against tab 3 is achieved by rotating, and
attempting to overrotate to some extent, third gear 63c. Doing so
is achieved by trying to overrotate rotor gear 63d by several
steps. It should be understood that trying to rotate rotor gear 63d
when third gear 63c is already "pinned" will not damage the motor,
i.e. motor M3. It should also be understood by those skilled in the
art that once "pinned" by the methodology below, with bi-polar
stepping motors it is advantageous to supply a defined number, such
as at least two impulses for two steps in the forward direction.
Then the motor is in a free rest position and the hand is in a
defined position (e.g. zero position).
[0137] Before turning to the preferred methodology, it should be
understood that several values must be stored in memory, such as in
controller 100. For example, the maximum number of steps needed
from a zero position on the display to the maximum value on the
display shall be stored in memory and shall be represented by the
value of "s." This value of "s" represents the maximum number of
steps that the rotor would have to make so that the display hand,
should it be pointing to the maximum value of the display, could
sweep back to the zero position. The number of steps needed from
the zero position on the display to the position such that channel
4 in third gear 63a would be "pinned" up against tab 3 shall also
be stored in memory and shall be represented by the value of "n." A
mere precautionary predetermined number of additional steps, such
as several, shall be stored and represented by the value of "p."
Accordingly, it can be seen that the total number of steps,
represented by the quantity "K," represents the total number of
steps that it is desirable to rotate rotor gear 63d of motor M3 to
ensure that third gear 63a has been rotated fully to its "end stop"
position. Thereafter, as will be seen below, the rotor of motor M3
and hence third gear 63c, can be rotated in the opposite direction
"n" steps to ensure that the hand is now at the zero position.
[0138] Specifically, with the counter value "count" initialized,
the rotor of motor M3 is stepped a predetermined number of steps,
such as 1. The counter is then incremented by one, and it is
determined whether the counter is still less than the value of "K."
If it is still less than "K", it is desirable to again step the
rotor of motor M3 the predetermined number of steps, increment the
counter by one, and again determine whether the counter is still
less than the value "K." Until the counter value is equal to "K,"
the rotor of motor M3 will continue to be stepped.
[0139] On the other hand, once "count" equals "K" it can be assumed
that the channel edge of channel 4 is pinned against tab 3, and
gear 63c can rotate no further in the "zeroing" direction.
Thereafter, the rotor of motor M3 is rotated in the opposite
direction "n" steps to place display hand 24 at the zero position
(see FIG. 1), at which point the autocalibration of a display hand
would be complete. Again, for bidirectional motors with rotors that
make 180.degree. rotations per step, after having third gear 63c
"pinned," it is advantageous to step the rotor 2 steps to ensure
that the rotor is thereafter able to freely rotate.
[0140] The foregoing construction is most advantage when the
rotation of the gear at issue, such as third gear 63c, is somewhat
restricted, such as the aforementioned .+-.70.degree. of rotation.
With such a limited rotational sweep, channel 4 need not be too
long and is quite easy to form therein. However, in the event that
the display hand can sweep through a larger arc (such as in the
case of a heartrate monitor where display hand 22 sweeps from about
the 7:00 position to the 5:00 position (about 330.degree.)), the
channel and tab configuration of FIG. 12, although adequate, is
less than preferred.
[0141] In this situation, with reference being made to FIG. 13, a
more practical approach is to provide a tab 6 on the gear, such as
gear 7, that rotates display hand 22. Such a tab may be formed of
an upwardly bent piece of gear 7 itself. Since gear 7 is preferably
made of metal, a simple bending of a corner thereof is quite easy.
A corresponding stopper 8 may be formed on an extending member,
such as brace member 9, or other stationary member in the module,
which, at the end position, as defined above, would likewise "stop"
the rotation of gear 7. As would now be understood, gear 7, part of
the gear train that rotates display hand 22, can only rotate about
a confined 330.degree. since the edges of stopper 8 prevent further
rotation thereof. The aforementioned methodology is equally
applicable to this embodiment, since the same principles apply, the
only difference being whether a tab and stopper arrangement is used
or a tab and channel, as disclosed. Clearly however, both of the
embodiments of FIGS. 12 and 13 will work for either gear, namely
63c or 7, the only difference being the desirability and/or
practicality of forming an elongated channel around essentially the
entire gear 7, especially when it is preferably made of metal.
[0142] It can thus be seen that such an autocalibration feature is
quite advantageous and novel over the known prior art, in which a
display hand, such as a chronograph hand for example, needs to be
calibrated by manual movement of the hand to the desired "0"
position. The present invention overcomes this deficiency by
providing autocalibration (or "zeroing" of the hand with one push
of a button, or the like).
[0143] Still further, such as with the heart rate monitor
embodiment of FIGS. 9A and 9B, a replay function is possible where
a user could, at a later time, replay a running or other exercise
event while the device was being worn. In this case, electronic
device 10 would have a memory mode to store the parameter readings
for later replay. In such a multimode/display embodiment, a user
could, after the exercise activity was over, simultaneously view
his/her heartrate (i.e. with hand 22 on display 45), while viewing
his/her blood pressure or respiration (i.e. with hand 26 on display
50) during a time period of the run/event (i.e. with hand 24 on
display 40).
[0144] Yet further, the subject matter of coowned U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,305,291 and 5,742,565 which is thus incorporated by reference as
if fully set forth herein, could be integrated with the present
invention to provide yet additional advantages. For example, a
turning bezel could be implemented with the heart rate monitor
disclosed herein, such that present invention could be providing an
audible alarm when the user's heart rate was outside of the target
zone that the user set. One implementation of this feature would be
to permit the turning bezel ring to move markers that would make
contact with display hand 22. Another embodiment would have the
turning bezel ring drive a mechanism so as to communicate its
position to the controller, thus providing a wide range of options
using the bezel ring to provide information to the controller.
Another embodiment would include a target zone setting mode, where
the user could turn the bezel ring or crown and display hand 22
would move to indicate and set the zone limits.
[0145] Additionally, even if not operatively coupled to the
controller, a rotating bezel may be advantageous in the embodiments
wherein display hand 22 is used, since, it can be used for pointing
to informational indicia on the bezel. For example, in the
heartrate monitor, the bezel may be used to indicate a target heart
rate zone. The user could turn the bezel to set his/her zone and
then see, at a glance, what his/her heart rate is relative to that
zone. In the embodiment where display hand is indicating direction,
turning the bezel allows the user to have the compass hand point to
north or to set a desired heading at 12 o'clock, as would be done
for a handheld compass. For the electronic device that measures
altitude, the bezel may be used for relative altitude. The user can
turn the bezel until the altimeter hand points to zero and then
track his change in altitude from that point.
[0146] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and
details may be made therein without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention.
[0147] For example, the multipurpose platform disclosed herein is
applicable to the display of a wide range of additional parameters
using a wide range of additional sensors, such as but not limited
to, water pressure, water depth and oxygen left in a diver's tank
(i.e. a diver's watch); air pressure and moisture (i.e. a weather
watch); object finder (i.e. to find one's car or way back to a
starting location); blood/sugar levels (a glucometer); speed and
distance (a runner's watch); displaying how much money is in a
debit account; and any combination of the foregoing, since the
novelty lies in the multidisplay capabilities of the present
invention. As set forth above, multiple sensors can provide for a
plurality of displays, while multipurpose displays (such as an LCD
screen) expand the number of displays possible in one display area
(i.e. in display area 40, 45 and/or 50).
* * * * *