Title: Wearable electronic device with mode operation indicator
Abstract: A method for indicating that a wearable electronic device is operating in a selected mode, wherein the wearable electronic device comprises at least one hand operatively coupled to an actuation mechanism. The method comprises the steps of (a) moving the hand from a first position to a second position, wherein the movement of the hand is through a predetermined sweep angle; (b) moving the hand from the second position back to the first position through the predetermined sweep angle; and (c) repeating at least step (a) and if necessary, repeating step (b); whereby the hand oscillates between the first position and the second position while the wearable electronic device is operating in the selected mode. A wearable electronic device that comprises the foregoing methodology is also provided.
Patent Number: 6,975,562 Issued on 12/13/2005 to Lizzi
| Inventors:
|
Lizzi; Ronald S. (Bethany, CT)
|
| Assignee:
|
Timex Group B.V. (NL)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
730200 |
| Filed:
|
December 5, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
368/69; 368/80; 368/223; 368/228 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G04C 017/00; G04B 019/04; G04B 025/00 |
| Field of Search: |
368/76,80,223,228,232,69
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4421420 | Dec., 1983 | Ushikoshi.
| |
| 5119349 | Jun., 1992 | Muto et al.
| |
| 5379281 | Jan., 1995 | Koch.
| |
| 5440527 | Aug., 1995 | Okamoto.
| |
| 5619478 | Apr., 1997 | Mutoh.
| |
| 5673238 | Sep., 1997 | Berney.
| |
| 5724317 | Mar., 1998 | Kubota et al.
| |
| 6327226 | Dec., 2001 | Russi.
| |
| 6490230 | Dec., 2002 | Sakuyama et al.
| |
| 6580665 | Jun., 2003 | Kamiyama et al.
| |
| 6580666 | Jun., 2003 | Yamaya.
| |
Primary Examiner: Miska; Vit W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Carmody & Torrance LLP
Claims
1. A method for indicating that an electronic device is operating in a selected
mode, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one hand operatively coupled
to an actuation mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) moving the hand from a first position to a second position, wherein the movement
of the hand is through a predetermined sweep angle;
(b) moving the band from the second position back to the first position through
the predetermined sweep angle; and
(c) repeating at least step (a) and if necessary, repeating step (b), wherein
the hand oscillates between the first position and the second position while the
electronic device is operating in the selected mode;
(d) calibrating the hand so that the second position becomes a new first position;
(e) moving the hand from the new first position to a new second position, wherein
the movement of the hand is through a predetermined sweep angle;
(f) moving the hand from the new second position back to the new first position
through the predetermined sweep angle; and
(g) repeating at least step (e) and if necessary, repeating step (f), wherein
the hand oscillates between the new first position and the new second position
while the electronic device is operating in the selected mode.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand repeatedly sweeps through
an arc that is less than π/2 radians.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of calibrating the hand
so that the second position becomes a new first position occurs after the passage
of an interval period of time.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the interval period of time is one
(1) minute.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of moving the hand from
the new first position to a new second position occurs after the passage of an
interval period of time.
6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of moving the hand between
the new first position and the new second position occurs at about every one second.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of moving the hand from
the new second position back to the new first position occurs after the passage
of the interval period of time.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the interval period of time is 0.5 seconds.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand oscillates between the
first position and the second position at a predetermined oscillation rate.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises
a dial on which there are numerical indicating indicia, and the second position
is greater in numerical value than the first position, the method comprising the
steps of:
providing that if the selected mode is a countdown mode, then:
the numerical value associated with the first position is greater than the numerical
value associated with the second position; and
providing that if the selected mode is a count up mode, than:
the numerical value associated with the first position is less than the numerical
value associated with the second position.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of:
terminating a timer and moving the hand to the first position if the hand was
previously positioned at the second position.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, including the steps of:
determining that the electronic device is no longer operating in the selected
mode; and
parking the hand at the first position.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of parking the hand at
the first position comprises the step of:
moving the hand from the second position back to the first position if the hand
is not at the first position when the electronic device is determined to no longer
be operating in the selected mode, or
maintaining the hand at the first position if the hand is at the first position
when the electronic device is determined to no longer be operating in the selected mode.
14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein steps (b) and (c) occur without
actuations of a pusher or a crown by a user.
15. An electronic device that is operable in a plurality of modes one of which
is a selected mode, wherein the electronic device includes at least one indicating
hand for indicating that the electronic device is operating in the selected mode,
wherein the electronic device comprises:
a selector for selecting the selected mode,
a dial having a dial side and an actuation mechanism side; and the indicating
hand is movable about an axis and positioned on the dial side of the dial;
means for:
controlling the frequency of oscillation of the at least one indicating hand;
moving the hand from a first position to a second position through a first predetermined
sweep angle, moving the hand from the second position back to the first position
through the first predetermined sweep angle and again at least moving the hand
from the first position to the second position, wherein the hand oscillates between
the first position and the second position while the electronic device is operating
in the selected mode;
calibrating the hand so that the second position becomes a new first position; and
moving the hand from the new first position to a new second position through
a second predetermined sweep angle, moving the hand from the new second position
back to the new first position through the second predetermined sweep angle and
again at least moving the hand from the new first position to the new second position,
wherein the hand oscillates between the new first position and the new second position
while the electronic device is operating in the selected mode;
whereby the movement of the indicating hand indicates that the electronic device
is operating in the selected mode.
16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means comprises
a stepper motor that itself comprises a rotor, the stepper motor operatively coupled
to the controller, for stepping in clockwise and counterclockwise directions in
predefined increments while the electronic device is operating in the selected mode;
wherein the rotor of the stepper motor is operatively coupled to the at least
one indicating hand, and wherein the rotation of the rotor causes the movement
of the at least one indicating hand.
17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the indicator hand
has a gear train operatively coupled thereto, wherein the rotational activity generated
by the rotor of the stepper motor is conveyed to the gear train which in turn causes
the rotation of the indicating hand.
18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the means comprises
a motor hand control circuit and a central processing unit, and wherein the motor
hand control circuit receives commands from the central processing unit regarding
the number of increments and direction of rotation, and wherein the motor hand
control circuit generates pulsed and phased signals for moving the rotor of the
stepper motor a desired amount and in a desired direction.
19. The elect tonic device as claimed in claim 15, comprising:
at least an hour hand and a minute hand for conveying time of day information; and
wherein the indicator hand rotates about an axis other than a center axis of
the dial.
20. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the electronic device
is a wristwatch.
21. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the stepper motor for
moving the at least one indicator hand is not mechanically coupled to the hour
hand or minute hand;
whereby the stepper motor can rotate the indicator hand independent of the time
of day.
22. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the stepper motor is
bi-directional and the first predetermined sweep angle is at least essentially
equal to the second predetermined sweep angle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to wearable electronic devices, such as timepieces,
and in particular a watch, that comprises unique constructions and methodologies
for indicating that the wearable electronic device is operating in a selected mode.
Generally speaking, the indication that the electronic device is in the selected
mode is carried out by "waggling" or "oscillating" an indicator hand. The present
invention is particularly applicable in, and advantageous when incorporated into,
an electronic device of the type that displays information, such as time, with
the use of hands, such as that found in analog watches (i.e. in an "analog manner").
In this application, the term "oscillate" shall be synonymous with "waggle."
By way of example and not limitation, the present invention is especially applicable
to inform a user (or wearer of the device) when the device is in one or more selected
modes, such as a timer mode, and as a particular example, such as a countdown or
count-up timer mode. Such timer modes, whether they count down (15:00, 14:59, 14:58,
14:57, etc.) or up (i.e. 0:01, 0:02, 0:03, 0:04, . . . ), are particularly desirable
to athletes in general and runners, cyclists and rowers in particular, since they
allow the user to time their events or activities. Typically, such users use what
are typically called "digital" watches, due to their incorporation of a LCD that
can provide for immediate feedback on the operability of the device. Feedback on
the operability of the watch or other device is usually achieved by actually seeing
the displayed values change (e.g. "00:00"→"00:01"). In an analog watch,
a user is likewise able to quickly glance at the display to see one or more hands
move, which is the case, for example, on a chronograph mode, where the hand indicating
seconds or fractions of a second is rotating relatively quickly.
That is, prior art methodologies in the same general field of endeavor can be
found in chronograph watches, in which one or more of the smaller display hands
rotate when in a timer mode, for example. Similarly, the second hand of a conventional
watch can be seen to rotate in the clockwise direction in one-second intervals
when in a normal run mode. What is important however is that the prior art is deficient
in providing a suitable analogous indicator in an analog electronic device in which
the timer indicator has a low resolution (e.g. one minute).
Moreover, in electronic devices that further the state of the art, such
as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/441,417, the mere use
of a chronograph hand or a second hand would be less than satisfactory. For example,
if the display hand is off to the side, as disclosed below, 360° rotation
of the indicator hand may not be possible because of the construction and position
thereof. Therefore, it is desired to provide yet an improved methodology and construction
to indicate, by the use of one or more hands, that an electronic device is in a
particular (e.g. selected) mode.
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
It is thus an objective of the present invention to overcome the perceived deficiencies
in the prior art.
Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
indicator, using a hand, that conveys to a user of an electronic device that the
device is in a selected mode.
Another object of the present invention to provide an indicator, using a
hand, that conveys to a user of an electronic device that the device is in a selected
mode in a very user-friendly and fast manner.
Yet another object of the present invention to provide a user of an electronic
device with immediate visual feedback that the device is in a selected mode, such
as a timer mode, including information such as when the timer is started, in operation,
and/or stopped.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device,
such as a timepiece, that provides a user with suitable feedback of the operability
of the device in a selected mode, when the hand movement has an otherwise low resolution.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent
from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination
of elements, arrangement of parts and sequence of steps that will be exemplified
in the disclosure hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be
indicated in the claims.
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 electronic devices, such as electronic timepieces in general and wristwatches
in particular.
In a preferred embodiment, the method for indicating that a the electronic device
is operating in a selected mode, wherein the wearable electronic device comprises
at least one hand operatively coupled to an actuation mechanism, comprises the
steps of: (a) moving the hand from a first position to a second position, wherein
the movement of the hand is through a predetermined sweep angle; (b) moving the
hand from the second position back to the first position through the predetermined
sweep angle; and (c) repeating at least step (a) and if necessary, repeating step
(b); whereby the hand oscillates between the first position and the second position
while the wearable electronic device is operating in the selected mode. In specific
features of the preferred embedment, the hand repeatedly sweeps through an arc
that is less than π/2 radians. The method may also comprise the steps of
(d) calibrating the hand so that the second position becomes a new first position;
(e) moving the hand from the new first position to a new second position, wherein
the movement of the hand is through a predetermined sweep angle; (f) moving the
hand from the new second position back to the new first position through the predetermined
sweep angle; and (g) repeating at least step (e) and if necessary, repeating step
(f); whereby the hand oscillates between the new first position and the new second
position while the electronic device is operating in the selected mode.
In a preferred construction, an electronic device is provided that is operable
in a plurality of modes one of which is a selected mode, wherein the wearable electronic
device includes at least one indicating hand for indicating that the electronic
device is operating in the selected mode. Here the wearable electronic device preferably
comprises a dial having a dial side and an actuation mechanism side; and the indicating
hand is movable about an axis and positioned on the dial side of the dial; a controller
for controlling the frequency of oscillation of the one indicating hand; an actuation
mechanism, operatively coupled to the controller, for moving the indicating hand
back and forth from a first position to a second position and from the second position
back to the first position at the frequency, wherein the indicator hand oscillates
between the first position and the second position while the electronic device
is operating in the selected mode; whereby the movement of the indicating hand
indicates that the wearable electronic device is operating in the selected mode.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an electronic device constructed in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a wearable electronic device constructed in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the electronic device illustrated
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for an electronic device constructed in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 5 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;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing certain other features and construction of
an electronic device constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7A is a top plan view of an electronic device constructed in accordance
with a specific embodiment of the present invention, and 7B illustrates
another exemplary timer display for the device depicted in FIG. 7A; and
FIGS. 8A-8D are flowcharts of the preferred methodology for carrying out the
present invention.
Identical reference numerals in the figures are intended to indicate like
parts, or steps, as the case may be, although not every feature or step in every
figure may be called out with a reference numeral.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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. Many of the details of FIG. 1 will be omitted
for purposes of brevity, but the reader is invited to read U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/441,417 owned by the present assignee, which provides a description
of all the details thereof. As this application Ser. No. 10/441,417 also provides
many other non-essential details related to the present invention, the entire disclosure
of this application Ser. No. 10/441,417 is incorporated by reference as if fully
set forth herein.
In a preferred embodiment, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, electronic device 10
is a wearable electronic device, such as but not limited to a wristwatch, generally
indicated at 1, which itself will thus comprise other features and parts,
namely for example and not limitation, a wrist strap 5 for securing electronic
device 10 to a wrist.
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.
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.
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.
Yet another display may be provided on dial 30. This display is illustrated
in FIG. 1, but more particularly illustrated in FIG. 7, 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 FIG. 7 as being associated with a heart rate range from 40-200.
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.
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 hand indicated by the numeral
24 that is mounted on a stem 25 and associated with display 40
and (iii) a hand indicated by the numeral 26 that is mounted on a stem 27
and associated with display 50. Not all hands 22, 24 and 26
need to be provided in any specific embodiment.
For reference, it can be seen that the hour hand, the minute hand, the second
hand and hand 22 are rotatable about a center axis, and display hands 24
and 26 are rotatable about an axis other than the center axis. This hand
configuration 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.
In accordance with a modification of the present invention, dial 30 may
be provided with windows (not shown) in display areas 40 and 50.
In such an embodiment, one or more LCD panels may be provided behind dial 30
and aligned with the respective windows. 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 "analog/digital" 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.
In such an embodiment, the LCD can display various scales that are particular
to the desired displayable information. In this way, a single electronic device
can be manufactured with many modes, and more pertinent to the present invention,
the scales for a single mode (such as a timer mode as discussed herein) 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. The controller as disclosed below, can be programmed as would be known
by one skilled in the art to maintain information regarding the mode, the scale
appearing on LCD panel(s), and the position of the rotors for the respective stepping
motors (as disclosed below), thereby coordinating control of the display and hand(s)
such that any mode could be displayed by the use of differing displayable scales.
Reference is briefly made to FIG. 3, to more particularly illustrate the
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.
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. 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.
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° 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 preferred embodiments,
where display hands 22, 24, 26 may need to move in precise
increments, it is desirable to have very precise movement thereof, such as in 1.2°
increments. Thus the ratio of the gear train from its associated motor to the display
hands may be 150. In other examples, the ratio of the gear train from the respective
motors may be 180, thus providing movement of the display hands in increments of 1°.
Reference is made briefly to FIG. 4-6, which illustrates circuit diagrams
for a preferred construction of electronic device 10, details of which may
be found in application Ser. No. 10/441,417. 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. 5, integrates
onto a single chip, and comprises a CPU core, a motor hand control circuit, an
input/output control circuit, addressing and decoding functionality, memory and
motor drivers.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, 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-S3, although more switches may be added as would be understood
by one skilled in the art. A serial sensor interface may be provided for receiving
data from a tethered sensor or wireless (remote) sensor. In addition, a well-understood
circuit, generally indicated at 93, is provided for alarm activation.
By way of background, switches S1, S2, and S3 are intended
to generically indicate both side/top mounted pushers, as well as side mounted
rotatable crowns (see generic indications in FIG. 2), 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 such as for the below mentioned
timers, 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.
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 the sensor circuits.
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, 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.
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
that may be downloaded into controller 100 through a port, generically indicated
by 112.
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.
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.
An input/output control circuit 110 controls the crown actuations and pushbutton
switches of FIG. 3 and provides such signaling information to CPU 101.
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.
Controller 100 directly or indirectly controls the movement of
the respective hands including those for carrying out the objectives set forth
herein. Electronic device 10 may also comprise one or more sensor circuits
for measuring external parameters, and providing information to be displayed on
electronic device 10. Such external parameters include, among others, heart
rate, probably the most applicable to use in connection with the present invention.
Again, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/441,417 describes and illustrates the particulars
of the circuitry for appreciating such sensor functionality.
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 120
a, 120
b or
120
c. 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.
FIG. 7 illustrates the use of display 40 being used as a timer, which
could be a count-up timer or a countdown timer, with hand 24 being used
to display the number of minutes elapsed or left, as the case may be. However,
as alluded to above, the present invention provides for the programmability so
that a user can set the desired number of minutes and/or scale for the countdown
timer or count-up timer. Such information could be inputted through the use of
one or more side or top pushers. A changing LCD can allow for multiple displays,
with the controller being able to adjust the motor controls to accommodate differing
scales and ranges of the timer display. For example, the number of actuations of
a 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 additional minutes were selected for the countdown timer.
Therefore, turning to the specifics of the present invention, an advantageous
feature is that one or more hands, such as hand 22, hand 26 or in
the present illustrations, hand 24, may oscillate at some frequency, such
as 1 Hz, when operating in the timer mode, to allow the user to know that the electronic
device is actually operating in the timer mode (whether countdown or count up).
Such a feature is achieved by rotating the rotor of the respective stepper motor,
again, in the present illustration, 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 maintains
information on the rotor position so that the proper rotation of the rotor can
be effectuated after each minute of elapsed time.
Thus turning now specifically to FIGS. 8A-8D and FIG. 7B in connection with
the following disclosure, the particulars of the present invention will now be described.
Generally speaking, the present invention is directed to a method for indicating
that the electronic device is operating in a selected mode, and in the presently
illustrated embodiment, it is hand 24 which will provide such indications.
Specifically, the method is carried out by the steps of (a) moving the hand from
a first position to a second position, wherein the movement of the hand is through
a predetermined sweep angle, shown in FIG. 7B as ω; (b) moving the hand from
the second position back to the first position through the predetermined sweep
angle ω; and repeating at least step (a) and if necessary, repeating step
(b). In this way, while in the selected mode, the hand, here hand 24, oscillates
between the first position and the second position while the electronic device
is operating in the selected mode.
Using the particular example of FIG. 7B, one can see that the timer has been
set for five (5) minutes, again whether it being a count up timer or a countdown
timer is not material to the invention at this point. Important is the fact that
one can customize the duration as desired (compare this five (5) minute setting
to the twenty (20) minute setting of FIG. 7A). In any event, an object of the invention
is to provide a method of indicating that a selected mode, here the timer mode,
is operating. Without such an indication, a user would not know that the timer
mode is operating until hand 24 moved another increment, such as a one-minute
increment. Therefore, in accordance with the invention, an objective is to "waggle"
or "oscillate" hand 24 at some rate to allow a user to easy and quickly
see that the device is actually operating.
Therefore, reference is now made to FIG. 8A, which illustrates a preferred
instruction sequence executed by controller 100 when the timer is started,
typically by a switch actuation, such as the actuation of one or more switches
S1-S3. Controller 100 includes means, through software and/or
hardware, for periodically executing a sequence of instructions, which is represented
by the "periodic interrupt" indication in FIG. 8A. Preferably, the interrupt is
provided to update the indicating hand (e.g. hand 24) position at a frequency
sufficient to convey to the user that the timer is running with a brief glance,
as is an object of the invention, especially since the movement of hand 24
from the first position (e.g. "0" minutes) to the second position (e.g. "1" minute)
would not otherwise occur for 1 minute, thereby being at a resolution too low for
a quick glance to appreciate. FIG. 8B illustrates the instruction sequence executed
by controller 100 when the periodic interrupt occurs, while FIG. 8D illustrates
the instruction sequence executed by controller 100 when the timer is stopped,
either manually, by switch actuation, or automatically by the timing circuitry
of controller 100.
Reference will now be made in particular to FIG. 8C, which illustrates
a preferred instruction sequence executed by controller 100 when updating
the hand position in accordance with the present invention.
Specifically, after the selected function has been initiated (see "Timer
Start" step in FIG. 8A) and it is necessary to update the hand position (see "Update
Hand Position" step in FIG. 8B), control will pass to step 10 of FIG. 8C
where the First Position is set. In the illustration of FIG. 7B, the initial First
Position may be the zero ("0") position (count up) or the five ("5") position (countdown).
As will become clear in a moment, the First Position is preferably updated by dividing
the Timer Time (i.e. how long the timer has been functioning) by the Increment
Period, determined and defined by the desired intervals on the display scale. In
the exemplary embodiment, the Increment Period is sixty seconds (i.e. one (1) minute).
Control next passes to step 15 where it is determined whether the
timer (as this is the selected mode in the preferred embodiment) is in a count-up
mode or a countdown mode. Although where this step occurs is not material to the
invention; its determination is important so the display can accurately illustrate
whether the timer is counting up in minute increments, or counting down, such as
from three (3) minutes to two (2). If the timer is counting up, then control would
pass to step 20, while if the timer was counting down, control would pass
to step 22. It should thus be understood that in a countdown mode, hand
24 is oscillating from the "3" position to the "2" position, and back and
forth, and after expiration of the third minute, the hand will then move between
the "2" position to the "1" position, as will be explained momentarily. On the
other hand, if the timer is counting up, hand 24 is oscillating from the
"2" position to the "3" position, and back and forth therebetween, and after expiration
of the third minute, the hand will then move between the "3" position to the "4"
position. FIG. 8C sets out the methodology for each alternative.
For example, control will then pass to step 25, where the "Second Position"
is determined. At this point, it should be understood that during the first sixty
(60) seconds of the count-up timer, First Position=0 (because until the Timer Time=60
seconds (assuming that the Increment Period=sixty (60) seconds)), and step 20
will maintain the First Position as equal to zero. However, step 25 will
equate the Second Position equal to 1, since the Increment Period is one minute.
Thus with the timer being determined to be running (step 30) and in a
count up mode, hand 24 will move to the Second Position (step 40)
if it is at the First Position (i.e. from the "0" position to the "1" position),
and will move back to the First Position (step 42) if it is at the Second
Position (i.e. from the "1" position to the "0" position). At this point, the interrupt
routine of FIG. 8C would terminate.
However, one skilled in the art will readily see that the interrupt routine
of FIG. 8C will be entered again as long as the timer is still running. To be clear,
once the Timer Time is greater than the Increment Period (as an example, the Timer
Time equals 61 seconds), step 20 (in a count up timer) would set the new
First Position as being the "1" position, while step 22 (in a countdown
timer) would set the new first position as the "2" position.
In summary, one skilled in the art can see that for a count-up timer, hand 24
will oscillate between the "0" position and the "1" position until the expiration
of the first Interval Period (e.g. 60 seconds), and thereafter oscillate between
the "1" position and the "2" position until the expiration of the second Interval
Period (e.g. the second minute). This routine will repeat (i.e. going next between
the "2" position and the "3" position, etc.) until the Timer is terminated (e.g.
using the switches).
On the other hand, in the countdown timer, hand 24 will oscillate between
the "5" position and the "4" position until the expiration of the first Interval
Period (e.g. 60 seconds), and thereafter oscillate between the "4" position and
the "3" position until the expiration of the second Interval Period (e.g. the second
minute), etc. Likewise, this routine of moving downwardly between the positions
will repeat until the Timer terminates.
Lastly, if it is determined at step 30 that the timer is terminated,
the preferred methodology moves the indicator hand to the First Position, thus
placing the indicator hand to the position that best represents the current time
elapsed when it is stopped. In this way, the methodology terminates the timer and
moves the hand to the first position if the hand was previously positioned at the
second position. Therefore, the method includes the steps of determining that the
electronic device is no longer operating in the selected mode, and parking the
hand at the first position. The step of parking the hand at the first position
comprises the step of moving the hand from the second position back to the first
position if the hand is not at the first position when the electronic device is
determined to no longer be operating in the selected mode, or maintaining the hand
at the first position if the hand is at the first position when the timepiece is
determined to no longer be operating in the selected mode.
In the preferred embodiment, the indicator hand (e.g. hand 24), repeatedly
sweeps through an arc that is less than π/2 radians. That is, the hand is
preferably oscillating in small increments, and not, as performed in chronograph
watches, around and around through 360°.
It can also be seen, from the example set forth above, that at the end of the
Increment Period (e.g. one minute), the preferred methodology (d) calibrates the
indicating hand so that the second position becomes a new first position (i.e.
step 10); (e) moves the hand from the new first position to a new second
position, wherein the movement of the hand is through a predetermined sweep angle,
which may be the same as the prior angle ω; (f) moves the hand from the new
second position back to the new first position through the predetermined sweep
angle; and (g) repeats at least step (e) and if necessary, repeats step (f). Here
again, the hand will now oscillate between the new first position and the new second
position while the wearable electronic device is operating in the selected (e.g.
timer) mode.
Whether in a count-up mode or a countdown mode, the step of calibrating the
hand so that the second position becomes a new first position preferably occurs
after the passage of the Interval Period. Likewise, the step of moving the hand
from the new first position to a new second position preferably occurs after the
passage of the Interval Period, such as one (1) minute.
Similarly, the indicator hand 24 preferably oscillates between
the first position and the second position at a predetermined oscillation rate,
which in a preferred embodiment, is at a 1 Hz rate, although other faster or slower
rates are certainly within the purview of one skilled in the art and are only limited
by design choice and or the constraints of the particular components (such as the
rotation rate of the rotor).
Lastly, provided that the electronic device comprises a dial on which there
are numerical indicating indicia, and the second position is greater in numerical
value than the first position, the method comprises the steps of: providing that
if the selected mode is a countdown mode, then the numerical value associated with
the first position is greater than the numerical value associated with the second
position; and providing that if the selected mode is a count up mode, than the
numerical value associated with the first position is less than the numerical value
associated with the second position.
Accordingly, it can be seen that the present invention provides the
ability to indicate that the electronic device is in any one of a plurality of
selected modes by "waggling" or oscillating an indicator hand. As can be seen herein
by example and not limitation, the present invention is particularly applicable
in electronic devices, such as analog watches, that have one or more timer modes
wherein the resolution of the timer hand is otherwise very low (e.g. one minute
intervals). Specifically, by using the present invention, an indicator hand can
effectively convey to a user of a wearable electronic device that the device is
in a selected mode, such as a timer mode. Additionally, using the present invention
provides a way to convey to the user that the device is in a selected mode in a
very user-friendly and fast manner. Further, the present invention achieves the
objective of providing immediate visual feedback that the device is in a selected
mode, such as a timer mode, including information such as when the timer is started,
in operation, and/or stopped which would otherwise not be shown by a hand that
would otherwise only be moving every one minute, or in another relatively slow increment.
Lastly, it can be seen that the present invention can be provided by way
of methodology and construction. That is, in its broadest sense, the preferred
method comprises the steps of: (a) moving the hand from a first position to a second
position, wherein the movement of the hand is through a predetermined sweep angle;
(b) moving the hand from the second position back to the first position through
the predetermined sweep angle; and (c) repeating at least step (a) and if necessary,
repeating step (b); whereby the hand oscillates between the first position and
the second position while the wearable electronic device is operating in the selected
mode. Similarly, an electronic device that is operable in a plurality of modes
one of which is a selected mode, wherein the wearable electronic device includes
at least one indicating hand for indicating that the wearable electronic device
is operating in the selected mode, is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the
electronic device comprises a dial having a dial side and an actuation mechanism
side; and the indicating hand is movable about an axis and positioned on the dial
side of the dial; a controller for controlling the frequency of oscillation of
the one indicating hand; an actuation mechanism, operatively coupled to the controller,
for moving the indicating hand back and forth from a first position to a second
position and from the second position back to the first position at the frequency,
wherein the indicator hand oscillates between the first position and the second
position while the wearable electronic device is operating in the selected mode;
whereby the movement of the indicating hand indicates that the wearable electronic
device is operating in the selected mode. In a specific embedment, the electronic
device is a timepiece such as a wristwatch.
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. For example, in the preferred embodiment,
the hand moves back and forth one position (e.g. in one minute demarcations) while
the timer is running. It should be understood that the hand could move back and
forth more than one position (larger ω), as would be advantageous if the
movement of one position were not very noticeable by the user. Lastly, the frequency
of oscillation can easily be varied from the preferred one (1) second intervals
to a greater or lesser frequency.
*
