Abstract:
A device for indicating elapsed time by way of the state of indicators is disclosed, such indicators being arranged in at least four groups such that the first two groups taken together indicate elapsed hours and the second two groups taken together indicate elapsed minutes. The indicators are switchable between a first and second state, such as illuminated or not illuminated. The number of indicators in a first state, such as illuminated, indicate the value of a digit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is related to devices for timekeeping, and more particularly to clocks and the like which convey time of day information by symbolic indication rather than position of rotating hands.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     There exists today an extremely wide variety of devices for keeping time. Such devices may measure the quantity of time that has elapsed from the occurrence of an event, such as the start of a race, or measure the time that has elapsed from some local reference such as midnight or noon for a local time zone (for example, 2:35 p.m. indicates two hours and 35 minutes after 12:00 noon for that time zone). The measure of elapsed time may be indicated in a variety of ways. For example, elapsed time may be indicated by position of a rotating long pointer (hand) to indicate elapsed minutes and a rotating short pointer (hand) to indicate elapsed hours (i.e., traditional mechanical clocks). The face of such clocks are commonly divided up circumferentially into 12 equally-spaced positions, one for each elapsed hour, and the circumferential space between each hour location divided into 5 equally-spaced positions, one for each elapsed minute; There are myriad variations to this design, motivated by reducing cost and complexity, aesthetics, available technology, ease of use, improved accuracy, whimsy, etc.  
         [0005]     Of relevance here are designs in which the physical hands indicating hours and minutes are replaced with alternative methods of indicating elapsed time. Perhaps the most prevalent design alternative to the traditional hand-design for clocks are what are commonly known as “digital clocks”, those in which time is indicated by the display of the numerical digits for hours and minutes. However, there are many other hand-free designs known, such as those simulating hands, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,489, and those indicating elapsed time by displaying a series of indicia, such as dots or line segments, not arranged in hand-like patterns. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,692 provides three concentric rings of light emitting diodes (LEDs), with one ring of 60 LEDs indicating elapsed seconds, one ring of 60 LEDs radially inward from the first indicating elapsed minutes, and one radially inner-most ring of 12 LEDs indicating elapsed hours. The large number of indicators renders this design expensive to manufacture, relatively difficult to read, and prone to failure. Perhaps motivated by these challenges, another example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,034, reduces the total number of required LEDs by providing a main display area with a reduced number of minute indicators, each indicating 2.5 elapsed minutes, and an auxiliary display portion for indicating elapsed individual elapsed minutes. A variation on this design is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,068, in which minutes are indicated by a first group of indicators in increments of 5 minutes, and by a second group of indicators in increments of 1 minute. The indicators in each of these examples are arranged in a generally circular pattern, employing the familiarity and experience users have with traditional hand-based based clocks.  
         [0006]     Another set of devices are designed to forego this familiar circular design and any other similarity to traditional clocks. Illuminated indicia are most often used to provide a count, in one form or another, of elapsed hours, minutes, and seconds. Elapsed time is often displayed in a code or unique sequence of indicators. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,384 displays time in three rows of indicators using a binary code system. For example, minute indicators are provided for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 minutes, and actual minutes elapsed are represented by combinations of the illumination of these indicators. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,348, which discloses three groups of indicators, the first group consisting of 12 indicators, one for each elapsed hour, the second consisting of 5 indicators, one for each 10 minutes elapsed, and the third group consisting of 9 indicators, one for each elapsed minute. Hours are read by counting the number of indicators illuminated in the first group. Minutes are read by multiplying the number of indicators in the second group by 10, then adding the number of indicators illuminated in the third group.  
         [0007]     While each of the aforementioned devices for indicating elapsed time meet a particular need or interest, some have shortcomings which motivate the search for new and improved designs. Whether for practical or aesthetic reasons, curiosity, or a combination of each of these, there is perpetually a need and interest for novel ways of indicating time. The present invention, described in detail below, addresses this need and interest.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Accordingly, the present invention concerns a novel design of a device for indicating elapsed time by way of the state of indicators, such indicators being arranged in at least four groups such that the first two groups taken together indicate elapsed hours and the second two groups taken together indicate elapsed minutes. The indicators are switchable between a first and second state, such as illuminated or not illuminated. The number of indicators in a first state, such as illuminated, indicate the value of a digit.  
         [0009]     According to one aspect of the invention in which four groups of indicators are employed, each group is functionally similar to a digit found on a standard digital clock. Two groups of indicators cooperatively serve to indicate an elapsed number of hours or minutes. For example, if a single indicator in the first group of hour indicators is in a first state, and two indicators in the second group of hour indicators are also in the first state, then the elapsed number of hours is indicated as “1 ” “2” or 12. It will be appreciated that the minimum number of indicators in the first group of hour indicators is 1 for a 12-hour display and 2 for a 24-hour display. The minimum number of indicators in the second group of hour indicators is nine for either 12- or 24-hour display. Likewise, the minimum number of indicators in the first group of minute indicators is 5, and the minimum number of indicators in the second group of minute indicators is 9, each for either a 12- or 24-hour display.  
         [0010]     According to another aspect of the invention, indicators for indicating elapsed seconds may also be provided. Such an arrangement requires two additional groups of indicators, with the first group of these seconds indicators comprising a minimum of 5 indicators, and the second group of seconds indicators comprising a minimum of 9 indicators.  
         [0011]     According to still another aspect of the present invention, the first state of each group of indicators may be illumination of the indicators in a selected color. The colors for the indicators within each group may be the same or may be different. Likewise the color of each group of indicators may be the same as or different from the color of each of the other groups. For example, when in the first state, the groups of indicators for hours may be a first color, and the groups of indicators for the minutes be a second color different than the first. Alternatively, the color of illumination of indicators in a first state may be randomly assigned by group. As a further alternative, indicators for a group being a first color may indicate a first state, and those of that group being a second color may indicate a second state.  
         [0012]     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, periodically the state of the indicators in each group may change while the total number of indicators illuminated in that group remains constant. An interest-capturing changing pattern of indicators may thus be provided while not affecting the indication of elapsed time.  
         [0013]     The groups of indicators according to the present invention may be arranged in one of a variety of patterns. For example, indicators may be grouped in rectangular regions spaced apart from one another so a user can visually differentiate the groupings of indicators. Alternatively, the indicators may be grouped in circular, triangular, columnar or other geometric or randomly-shaped regions, again each region spaced apart from one another so a user can visually differentiate the groupings of indicators.  
         [0014]     While the device for indication of elapsed time according to the present invention lends itself to a variety of configurations, its arrangement and design overcome a number of the limitations of prior timepieces. For example, the number indicators required is reduced, both overall and within any grouping of indicators, as compared to similar prior designs. Lower cost of manufacture, improved reliability (fewer devices to fail), and easier reading of elapsed time are key benefits of this improvement. The indicators may be grouped in any of a wide variety of patterns to permit ease of viewing and allow for aesthetic design. Finally there is a correspondence between a familiar digital clock (in this case a digital clock) and the scheme for indicating elapsed time, thus providing a context for use without requiring that users learn a new paradigm or code for deciphering the indication of elapsed time. While these are many of the key features and advantages of the present invention, a more complete understanding of its design and operation will be had with reference to the following detailed description and referenced figures, and the array of features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated when considered in terms of the claims provided herein below.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     In the following Detailed Description of the Invention reference is made to the appended drawings in which like reference numerals denote like elements between the various drawings. The drawings are not drawn to scale. These drawings comprise:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1 , which is a perspective view of a device for indicating elapsed time according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away cross sectional view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of a circuit which illustrates the basic components and interconnection of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a functional diagram for the various components of the circuit illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a state diagram, indicating the use of a two-button control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown therein an embodiment of a device  10  for indication of elapsed time according to the present invention. Device  10  consists of an enclosure  12  having a face  24  on which are disposed a plurality of groups, e.g., groups  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , of indicators  22 . Disposed within enclosure  12 , but not shown in  FIG. 1 , may be circuitry, interconnections between circuitry and indicators, interconnections between circuitry and a power supply, and optionally, alarm functionality, such as a speaker, power supply such as a battery, power transformer, etc., Disposed on the back or other surface of device  10 , and interconnected to the circuitry disposed therein, are mechanisms for setting, starting and stopping, and controlling functions of the device  10 .  
         [0022]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , each group  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  is provided with a number of indicators  22  selected according to the function of that group and for aesthetics. For example, first group  14  consists of 3 indicators  22 . Second group  16  consists of 9 indicators  22 . Third group  18  consists of 6 indicators  22 . Fourth group  20  consists of 9 indicators.  FIG. 1  shows the indicators in each group arranged in rectangular patterns, although other arrangements of the groups, and numbers of indicators in each are clearly contemplated by this disclosure.  
         [0023]     Each indicator  22  has two possible states. The first state may be, for example, illuminated, and the second state may be not illuminated. Alternatively, a first state may be illuminated a first color, and the second state may be illuminated a second color different than the first. Other alternatives for first and second states include differing patterns within each indicator or within a group of indicators, indicator strobe or blink rate, indicator sizes (or perceived size) or other visible variable attributes. Each group  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  may posses a unique attribute (e.g., color of indicator) in either the first or second state. For example, in a first state in which certain indicators are illuminated, those illuminated indicators of group  14  may all be red, those illuminated indicators of group  16  may all be green, those illuminated indicators of group  18  may all be blue, and those illuminated indicators of group  20  may all be yellow. Of course this particular color selection is arbitrary, but represents the broader idea of differing colors from one group to the next. Such an arrangement assists in the visual separation of the groups from one another, and aids a user in reading elapsed time. Optionally, within a group, the individual indicators may all posses different attributes or the attributes may change randomly or pursuant to a predetermined pattern when in a first or second state, as the design of the device warrants.  
         [0024]     First group of indicators  14  is used to indicated the first digit in the elapsed number of hours. For example, in  FIG. 1  group  14  is shown with indicators is two different states. Indicator  22   a  is, for example, illuminated (and shown shaded in  FIG. 1 ), while indicators  22   b  and  22   c  are not illuminated (and shown with no shading in  FIG. 1 ). According to the teachings of the present invention, the number of indicators  22  in the first state in first group  14  represents the first of two digits in the number of elapsed hours. Thus, the first digit in elapsed hours represented in  FIG. 1  is “1”. Similarly, the number of indicators  22  in second group  16  in the first state represents the second of the two digits in the number of elapsed hours. Thus, the second digit in elapsed hours represented in  FIG. 1  is “2”. Accordingly, the digits of the elapsed hour depicted in  FIG. 1  are “1” and “2”, thus the elapsed number of hours is twelve (similarly, for example, a “0” and “3” represent three elapsed hours, a “0” and a “9” represent nine elapsed hours, etc.) In the case of a 24-hour clock, the number of elapsed hours are between zero and twenty three, thus a “1” and “7” indicate seventeen elapsed hours, a “2” and “3” indicate twenty three elapsed hours, etc. Finally, in the case of a count-up or count-down timer for timing an event or the like, the number of elapsed hours may not be limited other than by the size of device  10 , the indicators  22 , the target application, etc., and may for example have first and second groups each with nine indicators, allowing for elapsed times read as “4” and “6”, or forty six elapsed hours, “8” and “1” as  81  elapsed hours, etc.  
         [0025]     Likewise, the number of indicators  22  in the first state in third group  18  represents the first of two digits in the number of elapsed minutes. Thus, the first digit of the elapsed minutes represented in  FIG. 1  is “3”. Similarly, the number of indicators  22  in fourth group  20  in the first state represents the second of the two digits in the number of elapsed minutes. Thus, the second digit of the elapsed minutes represented in  FIG. 1  is “7”. Accordingly, the digits representing the elapsed minutes depicted in  FIG. 1  are “3” and “7” and thus the elapsed number of minutes is “37”. The time of day indicated in  FIG. 1  is therefore 12:37.  
         [0026]     One variation of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 1  is to add additional groups of indicators (not shown) to indicate elapsed seconds—a fifth group (e.g., of at least 5 indicators) for a first digit in seconds and a sixth group (e.g., of at least 9 indicators) for a second digit in seconds. Still another variation is to provide an indicator (not shown) for ante-meridian (a.m.) and post-meridian (p.m.)  
         [0027]     While certain indicators  22  are shown in a first state (i.e., shaded) in  FIG. 1 , their selection for the purposes of this example was purely random. Any set of indicators within each group may be in the first state to indicate elapsed hours or minutes (or seconds). Indeed, which particular set of indicators  22  in the first state may change periodically, while the number of indicators in the first state in the group remains constant (until the minutes or hours increment) for visual effect. The change may be random or follow a predetermined pattern. The time interval between pattern changes may also be random or preset. And the decision to change patterns, change them randomly or according to a preset pattern, and how often to change them may be made available to the user by means of a selection device such as a switch or other mechanism (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), for example located at the back of enclosure  12 .  
         [0028]     It should be noted that three indicators are provided in first group  14 . However, if elapsed time is indicated in units of 12 hours, only one of the indicators  22  are required, and if elapsed time is indicated in units of 24 hours (so-called “military time”) only two of the indicators  22  are required. Likewise, six indicators are provided in third group  18 . However, the most that are actually required to indicate the maximum number of elapsed minutes (i.e.,  59 ), is five. The extra indicators  22  may be provided for aesthetic reasons, to help balance the look of the face  24  of device  10 . Furthermore, in the mode of operation wherein the indicators periodically change patterns, the additional indicators provided added visual interest to the dynamically changing display of elapsed time.  
         [0029]     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown therein a cut-away side view of device  10 . Shown in  FIG. 2  are a number of indicators  22 , secured at openings  26  in face  24  of enclosure  12 . According to one embodiment, indicators  22  comprise an appropriately sized light emitting device  28 , such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLEDs), compact fluorescent or similar gas discharge lamp, and a lens  30 , which may take the form of a diffuser, color filter, patterned template, stencil, etc., or a combination thereof, for providing a desired light pattern, color or intensity from each individual indicator  22 . According to one embodiment, each indicator  22  may emit light which is filtered by lens  30  to a selected color which is transmitted to a viewer, and the aforementioned color differences between groupings of indicators is provided by the selection of lenses  30  for each indicator. According to another embodiment, lenses  30  may be colored, patterned, etc., so that the differences between the first state and the second state are at least in part provided by the lenses.  
         [0030]     Each indicator  22  is interconnected to a control circuit  32 , for example an integrated circuit controller, discrete circuitry controller on a printed circuit board, etc. One or more switches  34  are also provided in the rear of enclosure  12 , for setting time, display options, etc., the operation of which is described further below.  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of a circuit  48  which illustrates the basic components and interconnection of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Microcontroller  50  controls the operation of the indicators  22 , and responds to various user controls for setting the time, and controlling other features of the device  10 . According to one embodiment, microcontroller  50  may be an 8-bit flash microcontroller such as model PIC16F628 from Microchip Technology, Inc. (Chandler, AZ). In the case of AC operation, microcontroller  50  operates on a supply of 5 volts DC provided by rectifier  52 . A clock signal is obtained from the AC source supplying rectifier  52 , which operates at either 50 or 60 Hz, depending on the location of use of device  10  (typically, 60 Hz in North America, and 50 Hz elsewhere). The output of rectifier  52  may also be used to provide power to a display device  54  comprising an array of light sources forming indicators  22 . Microcontroller  50  drives display  54  with row and column data, which update the display in a raster fashion at a rate above the visual acuity of the viewer. Time set and other display control instructions are provided to microcontroller  50  by mode button  56  and increment button  58 .  
         [0032]     In the event of DC operation, timing (clocking) functionality may be provided by microcontroller  50  or by another oscillator or similar component (not shown) provided in circuit  48 . The voltage provide will be coordinated with the voltage requirements of the microcontroller, display, and other elements forming circuit  48 , as will be understood in the art.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a functional diagram for the various components of circuit  48  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in the timing diagram of  FIG. 4 , the rate at which the display pattern is modified may be varied in terms of 1 (or more) second per refresh based on the division of the frequency of the AC source by 60 (or 50, if using 50 Hz AC), to get 1/sec. Updating of the minutes counter is based on the further division by 60 to get 1/min., and updating of the hours counter is based on the further division by 60 to get 1/hr. Once updated, the display positions for the specific indicators can be randomized if desired.  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a state diagram, indicating the use of a two-button control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The mode button ( 56  as shown in  FIG. 3 ) is used primarily for setting the time. It selects the digit to be set. In the default run mode, the pattern of indicators stops changing and all indicators of the two hours indicator groups flash and the number of indicators in those fields return to their original states. The increment button ( 58  in  FIG. 3 ) now allows the user to increment the number of indicators which are in a desired first state (e.g., on) for the hours indicator groups. When the mode button  56  is pressed again the 10&#39;s of minutes indicator group flashes and then returns to its previous state. The increment button now allows the user to increment the number of indicators which are in the desired first state in the 10&#39;s of minutes indicator groups. When the mode button  56  is pressed again the 1&#39;s of minutes indicator group flashes and then returns to its previous state. The increment button now allows the user to increment the number of indicators which are in the desired first state in the  1 &#39;s of minutes indicator groups. Pressing the mode button  56  a final time zeros an internal seconds counter and returns the clock to its default run mode.  
         [0035]     As previously mentioned, the pattern of indicators in a first state for indicating elapsed time may be static, and change only as time elapses, or may vary for visual interest within the intervals during which indicated time does not change. The user may be provided control over this feature, including the rate at which the display. pattern changes, using the aforementioned mode button  56 . If the mode button  56  is held down for longer than a distinct period of time, such as at least 2 seconds, in the default run mode, the mode changes to setting the pattern change or update rate. Increment button  58  then provides selection between, for example, 1 second, 4 second, and 1 minute update rates.  
         [0036]     Other aspects of control over the display may also be provided. For example, increment button  58  may be programmed such that if is activated without an associated prior activation of mode button  56  (i.e., in the default run mode), the display may be made to cycle through 4 brightness levels. Additional buttons or controls may be provided (not shown) to start, stop, and reset the device when employed as a count-up or count-down timer, to set and activate/deactivate an alarm mode, etc.  
         [0037]     While a plurality of preferred exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be understood that a vast number of variations exist, and these preferred exemplary embodiments are merely representative examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. For example, while the display of the elapsed time is provided on the face of the device described, such a display could just as easily be projected by the device onto a wall, ceiling or other surface by substituting projecting lenses in place of the diffusers described above. Therefore, the foregoing detailed description provides those of ordinary skill in the art with a convenient guide for implementation of the invention, and contemplates that various changes in the functions and arrangements of the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention more particularly defined by the claims thereto.