Abstract:
A light emitting diode (LED) base clock includes a clock face and twelve groups of LEDs. The twelve groups of LEDs are arranged as an hourly indicator. Each group of LEDs are arranged as a minutely indicator. The clock further comprising a time signal generator configured for generating time signals and selectively drive corresponding LEDs to light using the time signals to display the time and keep time.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to clocks. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally, clocks can be categorized into two types: analog and digital. Analog clocks display the time through a fixed numbered indicator and a number of moving hands. However, because of the moving parts, most analog clocks are easily worn out and or damaged. Digital clocks display the time by four digits and typically use a seven-segment light liquid crystal display (LCD). However, the clock face of the digital clocks is typically smaller than that of the analog clocks, resulting in unsatisfactory readability of the digital clocks. Also, the readability of the digital clocks is limited by the brightness, the contrast, and the view angle of the LCDs. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is need for improvement in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a clock, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a portion II of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a clock, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a portion IV of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a portion V of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a clock  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment, includes a clock face  10 , a clock signal generator  20 , a counter  30 , and a decoding driver  40 . 
         [0012]    The clock face  10  is circular and includes twelve groups of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  14 . The twelve groups of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  14  are arranged as an hourly indicator (not labeled). In this embodiment, the twelve groups of LEDs  14  are arranged around the inner periphery with a uniform distance between each two adjacent groups. Each group of LEDs  14  includes sixty LEDs  14  (see  FIG. 2 ) which are arranged as a minutely indicator (not labeled). For example, LEDs  14  in each group are arranged in a circle with a uniform distance between each two adjacent LEDs  14 . 
         [0013]    The clock generator  20  is for keeping time and can be a 50 or 60 hertz oscillation of AC power or a crystal oscillator. In this embodiment, the clock generator  20  is a crystal oscillator and configured for generating base clock signals. 
         [0014]    The counter  30  is configured for counting the base clock signals and thereby outputs minute signals. For example, if the interval of the base clock signals is 0.02 s. The counter  30  counts 3000 base clock signals in the interval of the minute signals. 
         [0015]    The decoding driver  40  is configured for receiving and decoding the minute signals, and driving and maintaining a corresponding LED  14  to light until a succeeding minute signal is received. For example, referring to  FIG. 2 , if a received minute signal is decoded as the time 1:15. The decoding driver  40  drives and maintains the fifteenth LED  14  of the first minute-cycle to light until a minute signal indicative of the time 1:16 is received. 
         [0016]    The clock  100  arranges LEDs  14  as indicators. The LEDs  14  can service for a longer time, as compared with those employed mechanical structure, with satisfactory brightness, contrast, and can be read at all angles. Therefore, the clock  100  can provide satisfactory readability while servicing longer time. 
         [0017]    It should be noted that the clock face  10  is not limited to this embodiment. In other alternative embodiments, the clock face  10  can be triangular, rectangular, or any other decorative shapes. 
         [0018]    The twelve groups of LEDs  14  can be arranged on any portion of the clock face  10 , e.g., center, and the other portion of the clock face  10  can be decorated. 
         [0019]    Instead of a circle, for decorative purposes, the twelve groups of LEDs  14  or each group of LEDs  14  can be arranged in other shapes, for example, a rectangle. 
         [0020]    Further, if the accuracy of the clock  100  is not of high requirement, less groups of LEDs  14  or less LEDs  14  of each group can be used. For example, in one alternative embodiment, four groups of LEDs  14 , each of which has thirty LEDs  14 , are employed (not shown) and the accuracy is 6 minutes. 
         [0021]    In other alternative embodiments, different groups of LEDs  14  can employ different color LEDs. For example, the 12-hour group of LEDs  14  can use blue LEDs, the 1-hour group of LEDs  14  can use green LEDs, and the 2-hour group of LEDs  14  can use red LEDs. As such, readers can judge the approximate time merely based upon the color of light emitted from the clock  100 . 
         [0022]    The clock generator  20 , the counter  30 , and the decoding driver  40  are individual elements in this embodiment. However, referring to  FIG. 3 , in an alternative embodiment, the clock generator  20 , the counter  30 , and the decoding driver  40   a  (see below) can be integrated into a single time signal generator  50 . 
         [0023]    The decoding driver  40  is also not limited to this embodiment too. In an alternative embodiment, a decoding driver  40   a  is used. The decoding driver  40   a  is configured for driving all LEDs  14  between the first of the first hour-cycle and one indicative of the time to light. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , all LEDs  14  before the first of the first hour-cycle and the one corresponding to the time 1:15 are all lit. 
         [0024]    While various exemplary and preferred embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. To the contrary, various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are intended to also be covered. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.