A TIMEPIECE DISPLAY WHICH SUPERIMPOSES DIGITS AND GRAPHICS

Abstract: This watch or clock display shows hours as large digits and the minutes past the hour as the incremental filling of a familiar or regular figure. The digits and the partially filled figure are superimposed to make maximum use of the space available for the display. At the new hour, and for a predetermined number of minutes thereafter (say 5 or 7.5), only the hour number is shown in the center of the display. Then, the first of successive segments of the figure are displayed. As the hour progresses, the figure becomes more nearly filled by increments. Usually, people are only interested in the approximate rather than the exact time, and the approximate time can be more easily and quickly discerned from this display than from conventional timepiece displays.

Description: A TIMEPIECE DISPLAY WHICH SUPERIMPOSES DIGITS AND GRAPHICS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide an easier way of tellincj the time. We have timepieces which display revolving hands because historically clock al-ers worked with motors and qeared shafts. We learn to tell time fairly well on these analog ao?'j. riespjte the requisite mental worl of converting the anqular positions of hands to numbers. Sometimes people even have to pause to decide which number the "little hand" is closer to. More modern timepieces have digital displays because silicon devices keep time with integers! and their most efficient means of output is to 7-segment LED or LCD devices. Again we can tell time despite the requisite mental wort- of roundinq * numbers to the nearest multiple of five * fifteen, or whatever. But people rarely care whether it is ":31" or ":3E" minutes past the hour. Most new rJocl faces modify one of these two common displays with e::tra numbers, windows, colors, etc. Some are novelt displays, more for decoration than for telling time. A few redesign digital displays to resemble the hands of the traditional analog display. Some patents teach clocks with linear scales, perhaps because measuring time produces a point so easily marked on one or more number lines. But none reduces the requisite mental work described above; and many desiqns increase the mental work required to tell the time. Prior art also shows the time at multiple display stations or sections, leaving the user to combine the two readings bo get a single expression of the time. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,919, issued June 21, 1988, Lloyd Llarl places hour digits to the left of a straight line of "discrete" or "binary" lights counting five-minute intervals of the hour. Enlarging the hour digits is good, but ascertaining the minutes requires some additional mental worl . Either the user must ' 1 ) count from the first to the most recently activated light, or (2) he or she must find the end point of all the lights, on or off, and estimate the portion of that line which is activated (and it is a brol en line at that). Using a straight line to represent minutes instead of an area also makes Clark's display unsuitable for a watch. The present invention combines digital and graphic elements at a single location. The hour digits are easier to read because they are as large as the total size of the display, clock or watch, will allow. The minute indicator can be read in the same glance at the same location becuase t s an area superimposed in the same space as the digits. This display represents time to the degree of accuracy people generally use in their time expressions without the added compJ xity and inconverueπrp of unneeded accuracy. SUMMARY Or THE INVENTION This t imepiece design improves thr- way we tell time by redu ing the mental wurl required bo convert the appearance of a displciv into an expression of the time. The display is achie e » d bv usinq existing fnaπfactiiπng techniques n a new lavnitt. Thr-> ic-.uύl dis la of digits is improved by super imposing a graphic upon the further bje and advantages will become apparent, from ■=» consideration of the foJ ] oinMi ι1r".,π if> JOn. 'JJHLI the hoiii number ι_ always wanterl in ci > expression of I imr . 1,11j ε invention show? the hour as one or more- Jcirqe iliqiA in thr- center of e display. The remainder of a time ι->xpre«sιnn onecr n^ the fraction f the current hour which hat-- pld s d . Me near Iv ml ays sav, "A little before ..." or "quartd-r pa*-t - .. ", or wr round to the cl d diaJ i'-t i II iiiim r'i tr , r ι. Mi. ... κ . ' Xι. Thiij chspJri.' represents; fractions f n hour as the frac ional ttisdmrj ol a i ami liar (<ι requlΛr fiqure. When a gre ter IrMrti n of the hour has pasce , a greater fraction of the ftqurt- I< s ad . The f actional shading is done m seqmpnt? or i i ions, each division re esenting the numerical increment to which the user would wish to round off the minutes-part of his or her expression of the time. For instance, Fiq. 5<d ) represents both "12:31" and "12:32". The display is the same because usually both times would be rounded to a single expression, such as "half-past IΞ" or "12:30". Two features of 1he 1 ami liar or regular figure are important: Λ (3 ) The fjqure contain 1 ., some area which may be partially shaded so that the actual "weiqht" or quantity of "color" pre p ent represents thn desired fraction. In other words, the fiqure must have more than one dimension. iά' ) The fjqure must be familiar or regular so that a partially' shaded fiqui e is easily completed in the user's mind t e i ntio of the shaded versur, unshaded areas is quit I I',' perceived. The hour iiti bei and I hr fraction of ari hour together r o i- i i tutf- the t 4 ,:pr( • - ■• -<=•j on of a sinqie time instant. These e bu i-nt « -- ' ■ -iφei t poH ttie nu br.ι Λnύ the shading, af inq maximum tfrP of the =υ K availabl for the i epie e diε-play and ιι rμc.?ιιιu ι endab i I i I •.' n ei other timepiece faces l the r - me Jarqπr than wi h a mn am] diqit.il i e piere nnri bec use t hp «-.egment ... are of i ..ιb A r. J ~:E- WJ th the number«- ■ », no fine detail i r 3 finp1oved to rhow the tiiiit-. Thi 1 -- rlisplπv i f mort- rfail when the ambient J itt level is J on or ay' bo fi ted wi h ..-. le « |i wπr-ι.ι.iιisιιιiιing barf light. Two models will be dest.i ib d, the 5- 10--P modr-] which divides the hour into twelfths <5 minutes per division), and the 0- S3 mode] which divides the houi into c-iqhths (7.5 minutes per division . ttoth show quarters of an hour identically. The ϋϊ-Jo-cO model divides the quarter into three divisions (5, 10. 15, PO, etc.), showirig the time more exactly. The 8--2H model divides the quarter into two divisions (7.5. L'J, P8.!A r-tc.), being read by some users a little more quid Iv anti certainly. Of course models with different numbers of div L i n*, er hour are readily made with these same techniques. PRTL ' F DCSC IPTION Or THE DRAWINGS F- ' iα- I Layout of electro-oplical display for r.upci imposi g digits and r.eqments , Ξ-l -20 model. H3, Hό, arid Hll ^rr' three runners requiring special comment. Portions of runners \V find H9 also require special comment. The words "Set seconds..." etc. indicate setting modes. Fiq. P Wiring diagram for electro-optical display of Fig. 1 showino all twenty-four runnerr,. F q. J ' Templatr for drawi g supe mposed digits and dt/i 1 ions on an i11 -points, addressable graphic displav, -83 mndeJ . ri."-R " are eight Radial Li es dividing the fiqurr In eiriht increments. Fig. ''t E " ϊiample r - of telling i e-. 5-10-Ho model, showing the l mr><-. : X) J •'>'.,, < ) J : >, U: .' J :J5, (d) 1 :£ » < " >, ■ o) R: f,„ ■ f) fj.'Vi, • ιX 8:55, <h> '->:<HI. Γ U. ^ F,:amf)]ρ-s of tc-13 i nπ time a- PD model with -n ici* •. [fir" 'l.c.w... lhe A es an--: (A) K?:(>7.5. '.h ) 12:15, 'tA AAAA, -.(I) 3,J:.-('.'. OESCRIF-TIOM OF THfc FF.EFFRRED EMBODIMENTS Some le tr --optica I displays are called "7-segment" rijppla s because any digit may be formed by lightinq two or more nf seven predetei mined areas of the display. When referring to such i ectro-optical devices, I will call these areas "members" and the display a "7-member" display. I reserve the word "segment " foi an area of an/ type displ y showing part of <ι familiar or regular figure. If all the "segmentF" were Jjt, th<~> total figin o would be visible. If all the "members" aι e lit, the digi 9 appeai s. A "familiar or regular figure" is a simple form or svmbol that is familiar to the user. \ ~ or purposes of partial display, i t i « i divided into two or more divisions. When only a few of the divisions n f lled, the f mil ri y and regulari of the figui r* allow the user to easily complete the figure in his or her m nd. This figure may be selected from the group consisting of circles, ellipses, polygons, star « =, ci cs.es, descents, heart'-;, shields, airplanes, ships, c -ιr=, htu ldinqs, hour- lasses, f lowers, humans, animals, rartoon f igures, or cartoon head'-:, etc. My drawings use a r'-ctanq lr- - d a circle ,ιs the familiar or reqular fiqure. n'/ ins an ιιι>' ombod ments display one or two digits and -ero or more segments surrounding and superimposed wi th the di qi t \ s ' . I s- nw the hour 1 . 1 as Arabic numerals, hut my indention could as easi ly employ Ro ari niimeralsi, bmai v digits. Chinese characters, i some other means of counting lo ϊhow I he hour nu bei . The following desc ipti ns will show τl ] 11 ed in LCD f brica ion or in microprocessor proiji rim i g how to m=d e an (-_',:amp1e of this new display. Two ernbodimerit s will be described: < 1 > the lrtyout of ele tro-opti al hπrdware o produce- a n- 1 o- ? > d i s 1ay, and <P> an algorithm used to drive an al 1— oints-addressable display to produce- the H-P3 display. Setting the time: Thouqh the tune shown b this display is approximate, its setting must be e::act. As the user is instructed: "You may find that setting your new timepiece 15- 5 seconds fast is most suitable. The concept of showing time in increments falters when there is perceived 'lfιwneκ L in the new inrrement appearing. Other clocks vou will encounter dui ing the day &ro usually a little- f st, or a lit le olow. The easiest way to compensate is to set yours 15-45 seconds fast. You can determine throuqh use e actly how fast, vou want to set your new β watch. " Of course some users may want to set the timepiece an fiit j rc cJJ ^ ε on '.'5 co 7.5 minute. 1 ?. ' fast. " I wo oi th ee common buttons or controls are provided on ihf r.a«rr» for sπttiπq this d splav to the nearest second. The "sι-M. nijs" contr l ••-cquoncεs the ti epiece- from run mode Ihrouqh the three? setting modes of set-hour, set-minute, and -■fl second. l-Jhen so swi tched, the two digi s, which not mall/ 'i ow hp hour, now show minutes or second's. The "increment" oi "decreme t" controls change the numbers as desired. wTiiJp tn one of the settings modes, the regular flqure s not filled, and an indicator to identify- th settings mode .ψpears ' "Set G conds" , etc. Fiq. 1 ),. The obvious order of set mu modes s hour, minutes, then seconds. but one imprtivt'inent s to re-peat uυme modes in this order: hour. ininutps, seconds, minutes, t en houi . Ttus eliminiates some u ' " rorifusioii about, "lias the watch running while J t- settinq it - " " The cle.-u nidicβtion f sett ng modes, whethρ»ι b/ word".-, cii-:, in F " ι<j. J or by 1 tic Iraditional indicatoi under a word priiitud on the case, males this iiiiproveme t possible. Any model of this timepiece may be fitted with an audio component such as a chime. pιe:o burne . or music-synthesis electronics. The timepiece* can be set. at the user's option, to produce an audio siqnal when the number of divisions displayed chanqes. ELECTRO-OPTICAL HARDWARE LAYOUT When desiqninα an electro- optιc«l display incorporat ng this invention, (tie r--lu-f-".ι model is the more- difficult because it contains more members and segments. Therefore, that model is shown here. The 8-£3 model may be constructed i the* same way but is less compJe:: be ause it uses fewer mem er=. and s g e ts and therefore has fewer runners. Tranc-pareπt pJe tro e pattern*: for the hour digits are coated on the Transparent substrate in the? common way, e::cept tor the number r»f members. Instead of seven, each digit contains 16 membe s, ao-qi'.> in Firj. I. To form the regular figure of a rectangle, ad itional electrode patterns are r.oAed in the ai eas labeled 1 .3< " > ιtι Fig. | . The selective ac /ati n or istor ion of these areas, along with the selective activation of the members forming the digits, .rfc ε?« the appearance of filled segments arid digits being supc-i imposed as shown in Fiq. a)-<h>. The segments numbered 1—11 i n Fig. 1 also identify the ele en divisions into which the hour s divided in the i-jO-ro modeJ . The seg e s labeled 1P—.-To identify addi 1 DII 1 electrodes, each ot which is logical lv part of one of 11K- 1 f r'. : l 11 <l vi « ■ - J ons. For i s ance, whrπeve-ι segment 1 ι- art vatr-d. hen «-.egmen1 \ must -nl o hK- on. If seαπifnt ?! s fin, then segment'-- 13 and J 'i mu t cilso switch on; and \=o forth until segments P? and 3' " > follow segment 11. To desc ibe the members comprising the digits, 1 start with the standard nomeuclatu e for -member LED devices where "a" throuqh "f" identify f> clod wise from the top, and "g" the center area. Subdi i i ns of the standard areas are further named wi th a number to show in which of the 11 divisions the member appear 1 -,. That, is, al names the portion of "a" lying jn division 1 and aP the portion in division S. The two parts of "b" ctrα MOT called bl and bE, but rather bS and liD because- thr>y 1 i n divisions i? and 3. Naming continues m the same wav rt ll around the face. Members n b< " ' arc the portions of the tens-posi tion "a" and "b" which accompany no segment, the area between segments 11 and 1 never being filled. The 62 segments and members in the of Fig. I are dπvt-n by tune-d vision multiplexing means from common digital t ιm -l eeping electronics (MX-CLP ) as wired in Fig. ,?. That s. a strobe signal is seguent ally applied to the scan i nw. ! (Hl-1'ι). and data signals are applied to the vertical ι urineI ^ (Vl-Juj. Activation f a single seament or memhe-i OL ii r when its data signal is "on" and its scan ■- rinnj is h gh. Convet sel y. a segmen or member not receiving both data arid fc.n signals is "off". With two p :cr>ρ tions. runnr-r^ are wired to the ςF-qmentε and members so s to isolati- 1 iridivιdu-.ιl areas for individual control. " Ihe f-::cr-ptji T-i are segments IP and Pl which are activated i de en ently. When HP is strobed and VA s on, both segment I t-uid se iiicn IP activate-, -.md strobe HV rt nd data V9 activate hotti -iriiJ 111 , s «hown in Fiq. P. for <:-,:aιiιpIF , to πtiow L -,ny i e between l:i.>5 and Is l'i, members tn-', b3. r<ι, πiid r.7 ) and seg entr 1 and IP are energ red. as shown in Pig. '+<«). The multiple;:f?r shown in in F- g. P. accomplishes this with selective activation of certain runners. With V on, HP is strobed; and with VR on, H<+, PIS, H7, and HS am strobed. In shew 1PS3'> ( as n F g. 5(di). the members in Fig. J labeled b , bll. blO. c?, c8. r.7. segments I-ft, 1S-E1, and members fl, f , f ' 3, ct, and Ti must tn? o —Z?7 total . The multi lexer of Fig. P achieves this by setting A-i on and str bi g Ml . set ing VO- arid Vώ, wi h HP.i setting Vfo, '-.'7, and V , w th H i setting V5, Vώ, V7, and V9 with Pt5; setting V and V5 with H6; setting V5. V6. V7, and VS wi h H7 ; settinq Vώ, V7. and VΘ with HΘ 5 settinq VI o with HIO; settniij VΑ V . .n.d V rj with hill; and This leave 3 .? πiembprE at. aS . b£2. L3. q3. g'+» 'l . e5. e6. d6. a il ri-ri "off" so that the digit "?" appears superimposed on the frartional ly shaded I lqure (as n Fiq 5(d)). AH HI designing conventlonal 7-member LCD displays, attention iiiust be paid to the f.:aι:t physical distance between aiiifti ent vegments .. Th s distance must be qreat enouqh to --tr iHv ? r.-lerti-ical isola ion, but near enouqh tr> ϊ.imul tr-.- "isiiti] r ntinuity. Tn my disμlav tho distance between segments 1 and ϊ must be g eat enouqh In allow passage of runner H3. Runnr r HΛ ύi - ι\κ-<= r.c÷qmont 3 from <ι and member b3 from A The r --,aπιt-' s trur- for <-:eqmenfcs αrJiSicent to the portions of HH and H r '> shown mi tin- t nsr ne.it to Mil. 'These runners are i owii as us^v J in!"- r ι< thfv wil J r: >fcarιd cut on the drawing. On the εubrh"ritr thov -ii f. 1 DctumLl.' w/ straight to conserve spate and nut I ouch thr unintended segments.) Therefore these distanr.es ore the minimum required between adjacent electrode area 11 ,; and the distances between other adjacent areas arc? IUCI eased somewhat to give the whole display an appearance f uniformity. F'ort ons nl runners M6 and Hll are shown at t <_» renter of the dispJ v. The seqments of this embodiment appear to mee ait a point in the center of the display, but the presence of tho&f two runners requires tempe ing the pointed-ness and h prc iiiiiity of seqments 1, 6. and 7 at that loca ion. In i s settinq m e?:, this display lights no segments but un]v members;. Runners V3. . V5 and HI'+ . Fig. 2. are (iiuUiplP'ied with other members ' ' runners -t d splav the numbers and the approμrj atr> mode indicator ("Set hour". "Set minute", ni "Set seconds." in Fiq. 1). An additional run mode JΞ possible 1 with this same display in which hours are shown in Military time -format. 0-P3. Ho ievt-.T , in normal run mode (showinη the t me in non-l'ti ] I tary forni.it.) onlv the b< " >, bll, bio and c9, c£). r7 members of -the let t dicn r used. The remaminr) me e s are only 1 it i ndeperidr-irt I ✓ durinq one of the settinq modes? that is. the iiJnr. ifipinboi-'i tin uqh al.1 usually follow the state of eqme t'- 7 throuqh It. Ut iuusly . additional intortiiat.ion may be displayed (for j n « - tαm.ι» ,-ιm, piii. alarm indjcators) by ad ing additional eler trod<-.-<= ι <i adding ure i unnt-r 1 : and connections to the *--"tπr -ιl f I prtro i c irr.iuirv. Inιlιu.ι may be disp1 ayr-d in 1.1if- ^ o i'<r<v. ι.ιr E-hr-wn on the coutaimnrj c. A . Si ce this disp i i iinqps ].» £= frequent 1 ^ than a t rstli I inn-. I digital, tun picc , the r: si-- tune of the.- eJr-n - i o--r.pt l caJ f•! r-^ment s ( j 1 j seco ds required 1 r. switch from "off" to "on" ) J:, not as critical. This maker, it possible to develop new types of displays that, provide botter appearance with lower fiowei consumption. e s to explore include <1 ) altei nate formulas for the multure of J iqmd crystal and less commonly used materials. (2) other techniques such as ele tro-chromic displays (tungsten n;:ιde for e::ampleJ. and ( 3 ) Flower scan rates where- more powe. is. initially delivered to each seg ent which then require- less ( requcn rnfreshinn. ALGORITHM TO DRIVF AN ΛLL-FOINTS-ADDRESSABLE DISPLAY This ime iece may nlsro be implemented using a microprocersor πnd a conventi nal, al 1-points-addressable el ect o-opt j ceil display (ruch as a clod face produced on a graphic i oriiputer screen ) . The pseudo-code given in Appendix A pr ilucfis a displa y equivalent to the hardware im lem e ntation already described, except showinq the S-E3 model . Appendι;: A referenres Fiq. 3. Code for the 5- Jυ-EO mo * I m ΓΛSI I be ex apolated from this pseudo-code by ad i mi more coordJ natea to define additional divisions (in the F'.idi 3 J --L l UPR-Table , Appendix A) and addmq more r.oii J t l cn-ι« to Lhf- func ion which isplay * figure segment 1 -!. Ih pi oqrnni contain? Λ ma n procedure hich calls three subroutines. The incun procedure continually queries the E Ftrni (ru the Lurrent l imp. [f mu111-1a■. I \nq were ci aJ J .AJ f ι , <-t timer L ter rupt handler could replace ttus pol tnu. l-'hen n appropriate crement (not necessarily one mjnHt(-) has f.a'-c-E-'d « thr mai procedure cal ls subrrnituiBs, to (lifpt -i.' 'lit I L'ITM 1 c Lenient & of ttie t imepiecr? -face. Tn a IIIPΪL-Γ-IΠI ΓHJ operat ing c -"--t rn, -these c-tl ls would be- made under th( prnee i ng o) a Tinier message. One subroutine is l y anv indicia desired around the ircumference of said l iqure (for instance. IND in Fiq 5. ) . anothr-r <~πbι out ΠL J outl n s the hour digits, and a third the partially Tilled fαnuliai or i eqular figure. The actual code ■ for SOIIID basic ct p '.fro iitstanco. clearing the screen, drawing and 1 til i g areas wi h color) will depend upon the bciEic fun ions provided h\ the s ppoi tmrj hardware. I not pi vidc-d bv the target f vstem, thev re easi 1 ' written using <. (ιfιnm.1)iJ I π wn altj(') i tlιm<=. l . this eiiiLjodlment . the portion of the regular figure to tip f j 3 ed J '- drawn w th the minimum number of lines. That l -i onlv two of the radial lines shown in Fig. 3 are 1-M.tιιnlly drawn at any one time (RLo «nd the RL line showing ma;;lmum advance clockwise). Any two adjacent members, if f1ra"in< Actually touch. Therefore, all the areas needinq ( j 111 q ϋrp discretely outlined. T is is in contrast to Fiq. j chf- » rr a] ] the. J nes shown ai alw ys present in the if ln . Olio, whe e; F-iq. t has up to 3" segments for f j 1 J j nq e ι jqur<», fjq,, usually has only one at any given m * .: th art-.i houn ed by L , the cui rent radial 1 in . the per jιiι'1or of the rf»cιular figure', and the outside edges of any me bεr -, drawn. Uheu cei t aJ n members are a l drawn, forming loops in the dirj c 6. , or '?, then those* additional must bo exp ic t filled. riu<- J mplcmeπ. aI,j on uses n common F J 11 function which. qw---u uiv p int i ci p a πl ready drawn r lowed outline, ( ills IIid. .-I e -t -jj In c-olor up to 1 hr v outli e-. ltn-- irnhi (nit ln "t>1tip I.e. I iq i"e--sf-:-qrιιen 1 " (see-- Fipp nd i . A) ''i ciiti r thr j mpr e-ϊ- s on of <-,upe-r i posi 1 on by choosing which ii-c otr- a> P?E ro - ll . Consider the current radial line as the- nd y ric J nq edq of the minutes indicator. Behind the liiir-. segments IUWZ be -filled and members left empty. Beqment. ( <A ore filled ntfir tiπq from a fιrst-fι 11-point (FFF. Fiq. 3 ) . Ahead of the l ne, segments are empty and members * f led. Therefor.", ahe.id of the J inr members are filled starting from the Grid of the member always ahead of anv line i-'hich splits the membr-.r . In this way the current radial l ne always delimits- the fill action m segmen s to the rear and membPi ■■ > tr. the rro l , and the fill subroutine ' is not conce ned with e>:;actlv which l dial line is currently i εp J y d . The Map variable specifies which members: are- outlined and the variable :-Secs-past--hotiι specifies how advanced the current radial ine in. Superimposition IΞ ey to the embodiment and the code for "Display figure-segments" is shown i ri detail for the H-23 model. When thi device is dedicated to the timepiece, then setting is a compli hed with common buttons or control Is as μip » Hiiιc]i' described. When m a setting mode, additional call'.- -.ire made-- to draw anv of the five additional members n t "•zh ihi in F J q . 3 tor the left digi t. If th s device is also used ( oi thci procesr.siiιq , then « mesn^ of setting the svstem cJorl ι-jjJ eil ready be provided. t have described two embod ments of this display. Two othprs are.- i minor! i ate;-] v apparent: πii eJ ectro-optica display of ttif' '6 -P3 mode?!, .-« id an a11-points addressable displov of l,|,e ' " ,-- j n-f- i model. fithei oπil,or.lunon* s av he- made- w th this c -anιr- -<ι t using arious liri BOUI CPB or 1 lqht --modl f .' I ncj iiiate ■ J al i; to form these same 1 ypec-- of members find egment 1 ".. ι-ilso 1 have illustrated the hour divided into eights and twelfths. (\ similar display could be nde dividing the hour into as few parts as halves or thirds, or into as many parts as i ::te ιith r J, t irty-seconds, rn- some? number in he-tweeπ. add tionall , I have already Listed some of the variety of sha es the reqιd«r or t am l ar fjqure may tat and point out here that, for some 1 embodiments a sub-area of the regular figure coinprJ SJ nq its center may be left always unfilled. Ill other ombod imr-nt . the hour digits may be shown in different c hrirac tiers ( umaπ numerals) as already mentioned. The hour could tie shown m Military time format (numbers 0 to S3 ) . Anothr-r wav r>f d i stingui ahing between a.m. and p.m. 'ι al ernately davlight hours v . riight; hours ) is to i μ f ΓFP foreground and bad ground i-olors for half ttie S't-hour period. i ' nr example, if the presence of color is taken to iiie n the- portiun of the houi which ha*, elapsed ( Figs. - and Α during daylight hours, then ttie reverse—regular figure l>f>qjn filled, portion of the hour which has elapsed is ( lf--M e » d—-cruild re esen night time hours. In this rase, the J Α "pqnif t would be operable-.'. Ihr-refore the scope of this inven ion ϊh uld not b'-* determined bv the embodiments J JJic-ti al d hut A' tii' following r.laιmo=- and their legal APPENDIX A Main i o ine? to display time Ini tidlι:e a the roloi piallet and set coordinate oπgii to point on screen where center of regular figure is desired . Bet current hour, minute, and second from real time clock converting hours to the range 1-19. (Always normalize new time numbers however acquired.) Calculate-" Seconds-past-houi . L OOP FOREVEFC CALL Display indicia around ircumference rif regul ar f iguro. CALL Display houi digits (argument: Current hour, return: Pit-map identifying segments drawn) . Calc ulate Number of figure-Segments to display ( SecR-past-hour seconds-per-segment > . CALL Display figure-segments (arguments: Gecc-past-hour. Nitm-segs, Pi t-map of members draw ) ELSE If a tr.et.tmg5; mode THEN his l- mode indicator ("Set hour ..."> i " .ALL is lay tiour digits (argument: [ irrcnt hour. Cur, e t minute?, or Current second—depen ing on which settings mode, l eturn: ιt--m=-<ρ of segments drawn 1 . CALL Dis lay f iqurr- -segments ' cirgiimr.nts : A '>, It t t -map ) FIND j -f POLLING LOOP ''* ■ F.'emeiin inside this, loop unti l * ■ / /* something occurε requiring a change * / i * of the diεpalv—the- time or <π *"' /* command f ron, the user to change * / / x- settings mode or t increment or ► * decrement a number being set. * ' IF "?pt" button h t THEM Step Rptiiqa mode to ne;:t state END if ( AI lest hou , iiii ute, second -from real 1 HUP cJ oι:k . ' * ■ l %t x inir i <.■- t.oste^d cigams-t Current ' * t i e to '=pp if dispJa nectJ' 1 */ Reset change and clncF flags ITCH <iii B -r r ι,,q .--mode CASE rwn mode Tf Se r -pas -hour advanced to ne,:t division THEN /* change? display */ Set change flag END l I CASE set hours or minutes IE "t" or "-" button tut THEN IF Test; minute wraps to ne;:t hour THEN /* Uεei is probably */ /* using a short */ / * nut between 'JZi ¥ ■ / / n and 5. #/ Do not wrap hour, only i utes END if I r n nt or decrement Test hour or minute Set change and clock flags /* also set clock */ END if CASE, st't seconds, countmα. first button CF " " or "-" button hit THEN Frozen time = Test time Increase or decrease Frozen βecond by modulo amount to required :0 or ;:5 number Get Gre tinqs-mode for frc en state Cuient tunp -- Frozen time t-.;:ιt polling loop END if CASE set seconds, frozen, subsequent button presses IF Froz n minute ' = ■ Test mi ute THEN / 1* I Hep time at the minutes * / / * level even while seconds *•/ /* appear frozen. */ Advance Frozen ti e by ne END i t TF " i " rn " -" button hit THEM Increase or dec ease Frozen ϋecrnui bv multiples of fivf IF Test seconds wraps to another minute THEN /* User JΞ probaLilv * / ■ * ■ usinq i stioi t v- ' /* cut between n5 *-/ ''* and 5. +/ Do not wrap minute, onl s-.ecor,dr END t Lurrnt time -- Frozen l πie E:J t pnJ 11 ng ] oop FND i i L.AGE "A* hit from eet seconds frozen state Test tirm 1 = frozen time Set Bet tinQS-mode for seconds counti nq state Set change and cloct flag END SWJ tch IF change tlaq THEN TF clocr flag THEN Bet syste r.loct from Test; ime END if Current time - Test time /* what gets d sp1 ayeri */ E;:ιt p l 1 ing loop FND if END p 11 nq 1 op Clear the screen. END Loop f(tre t r F D ai n rou 1ne. CTTI'JE STORAGE: ad J a 1-L j nc.-s- Table 1 . An array < f points, one e try for pach diviti n of the- regular figure plus a ctartjiiQ entry (IP entries for the 31 division!?, of the f ~ ._in-.po m el . '-J entries for the 7 tl I visions of the -S.3 model). CRLo-RL.7 in Fjq„ 3) Each entry holds h i.ourrli nates of a point through which a line may be drawn to the origin i center of the regular figure/. The r. cil lect LOII of those radial lines defines the edges of the di is on of the* regular figure. SUriROUT TNG. : Display indicia around <: i rc umferenc e of r gulcir LOOP ce foi earh possible figure i si n. OJ ITrH on the loop counter. Jncludr- thp rases whPi e in icia appear 'cases 1. 3 , TJ » anrl 7 are 'shown n Fiq. 5) lA each r: -iso , ralr.ulatr.- location ( 1 imlicntrii -from Radial -Lines- Tab] e and ■ ■ aluc' for ρeι i meter of t iqnπ.-. Dr w ti i di ator. FND 5u i fch till) of 1 nop OIP (I <r ft lav niriiriii =--ubruut l rn-- UIifrPI JT II IE : Di J av houi d gits .pa meter: Number). ' * ■ riii∑- (.'mtiorliinei it linitirei? charncir-i font of v ' * ">' ni πiliri- I CP -•. . " / i 'tl I lap - '>■> r< ,'ciriciljlr r.on t a i ι u ι ιq hit flags. I Jritf J i- ordr-i (J J Π J t of Nu bei . ,' in! »o low nrric-r b/t" cf Mn I'HILF arm thc-i dig t L.UOP SWITCH on d n it. At each cύ5P< for each member composing tht. digi . CΛl.l. I'Lir t- vertical member .. or CALI Make? horizontal mε'mbei » and Bet ppropr j ate bit j n Map vai ah 3 e- . Foi l nstance ... CASE . CALL Mart- horizontal member with locations for members "a", "q", and "ri". CALL Mar P vortical member with locations lor members "b" and "c->". Set bit*-, in Map foi "a A "b", "d", "e". ami "q". END switch Tsol-iti,' ue.:t di it of Number, point to nr.',:1 byte of Map- and bump member locations to ne::t diqit p o ε 11 J o 11. END loop RFTURH Nap ',-ιr ι«ble. END ri l v houi t-ubro lm SUBROUTINE: Mat e hor i ::ontc-ιl mr-mber ' par ameter : Point ) 'r Stabl offsets fi om given point rJi'termimni] &ι:e- and shape thn hor i ronta] members. In this case '■see Fiq. 3) these offsets arc: Horizontal Length (distance from point 1 bo point <? . Fiq 3) . Horizontal Fleiqtrl ' distant t- from point F. to point ) . and Ilor l -.'urit al Ti lan le Length (distance from point 3 t i line l mnq i ts P and < ) ,. * ■ ' MCIVP o q l veil FT i nt.. Draw line to fu st, verte:: (Point.,: -- Horizontal Tπanqln LenqUn. F'mnl.. - (Horizontal heiqht / P.)) . Dr.-tw line l.o other ertices using similar calculation. EMP inn! r- hurjrontaJ iiiemti.'r c-ubi utme '-ilJHFOUT INK: Nat e- -/ertical member (parameter: Pointj * Stabic of fsets from given point determining size and shapr- of tbp vert ical inembei s. In this rase (=ee F g 3. ) these oi fsets <-.re Vertical Height (distance fi om point fj to point- /-> , Fig A ', Vertical Width ' ist ce from point- (> to pcii t 8) . and Vertical -ianqlε- Height (rlist ncF from point 7 to a line b tueF ' point T i> -->nr1 Fu > Move to g ven F'o nt . Dr -tw line to f ιr?t ert ϋ iF'omt Fomt.v - Vei tical Height) ) . Pi aw line to other '«-rt ce« us-inq similar r a 3 r u I A ion . Fill 1 rml r hoi rontal membπ subroutine ϋUFiRDUriMFi: 1 s. 3 ι- f igurc--secime,i ts (pai rtei ... : F»er r - - t .-ι •-. t - 1 I o u I ι I Ji im - « - eg , Map ) TF fjecft-pas -houi- = 'tSύ THEN /*- at least 7-f5 (inn ha c . passed * ' / « Draw ι vf..|- thing needed foi X :07.5 s »..r more.* Drnw out I j n port irin of requlai f ιquι e- subtended bv angle Rad j a J -I. me-- Tab 1 eLO ] and Raclial-l. l ne-T ab lelNun-seqs J . Fill portion of regular figure-' ly nq outside «πv members drawn starting from point FFF" in F g. 3. IF Map thf'W", Upper Cavity drawn THEN / v- digits tl, r -f * ■ Fi l l from point just inside i tersecti n of members "a" and "f". END J f END if / * ■ Fill individual polygons to complete superιm- * ■ / /K ρoι » tjon, depending upon which of seven riivi- */ ' * sions . being drawn. IF the left "b" is drawn.)'-/ /* f»t least i ls top portion is always filled. * • / TF Ha show-, Ir.At "h" membei drawn THEN fill it from IF r.-ecs -pa t-houu 9<X> THEM /* not yet 15 mi r- / >' K FJ I J HIP member 1 -, which would be sp] j t h * ■ / '* ■ the 7.5 nun radial line from their *' /► uncriverrd ends. */ IF Nap shows "a" member drawn THEN fill \i from TF Map shows "b" member drawn THEN fill it from bo r toin. IF N p show-, "f" meriibei drawn THEN fill it from buttoIn. ► ■ A < :on, the whole member, if drawn. *•/ '* is fi lled. Win It- nL X:07.5, only \ he * / '* urirov retl portion, up t the radial -*-/ ' ■ »' J J np I', f J ] led . ► ' FND i f IF f rc -pas t-l oui 135'> THEN *- not yet PH.5 HUM «* • / Do the samp for member<-- "c" and "g"- t-,NI> l f TF t ' cs-, -past-hour IBoo THEM / " not yet 3υ min */ Do the sa e for members "d" and "e". FND l f EF- C-.eι:s--past -hour P7nn fHEN .' * not yet <ι5 nun * ' Do tin am foi left "i. " member. EMO l f IF 5t5L-s-pas1 -hr.u. -- 1310 THEN / )»• r'Ll.S nun cr p«',t * ] I- Hnμ "hows L wer (.avity drawn THEN / * ■ igi ts ή t<i a * • fiJ J ι\ from just nside- i nter'ir.c11 on ' "d" Λ. l "i " . TND 11 f-MI> if END displa I tgurr—'-.egiiiei 11, <--,ub nutme-

Claims: 1. <\ method for displaying the time on bimepiece as one or more- digits superimposed with ft familiar or regular figure divided into a plurality or divisions, where the total area of said figure represents the 6>i minutes of an hour and where one- or more of said divisions appears displayed in part. oi ] J of the same- arpa used by one or more of said digits, comp isi g the steps of: < a ) shading edeter ined rc-cia of the display to show said digi ru to represent the hour of he time! <b> r - ailing .i-ro or more of said divisions so that the i n (if ^ai f gurr- apparently shaded at any one time re rF' i -eiits tht- appro,: ate fraction o1 the houi which has passed si ce -ttie houi beqan; and • ) rilling mean r > for showing said digits as discrete • from an-' parts of one o r iiiore shaded divisions with which tht-v superimpose -=o that said digits are easilv read. . u method fro displaying ttie 11 ιτιf J on π time iece -< r n < men c digits in con junc tion wi h <•« familiar or rpgular fiqure. the total u ea c<f which i epresents the 60 minutes c-f an houi . comprisi g the steps of: i a > displaying said digi ts to represent the houi of the 11me: <b> displaying :ero or more filled divisions of said figure so that the area filled at any one time provides an instantly readable representa ion of the approximate fraction of the hour winch has p«ssed since the hour began; and ( c ) diEplciving one or more indicia positioned around said fiqur? so s to indicate- the n mbtr of said divisions which may appear in said figure. 3. The method of claim P. wherein the indicia indicate the approximate number of minutes the filled divisions represent . ». Λ timepiece display for showing the time as one or more digits divided nto a plurality of members, said digits apparently superimposed with a familiar or regular figure divided into a plurality of segments, where the total area of rij liuui I-: ι e resents the &'> minutes of an hour and where one or more of said segmentε> appears to superimpose with one ui more o1 sai members, omp ιsιnq : (a) an electro-op ical display of one or more of said members +o show o e oi moi e of said digits to represent the h ur s !bι an ele tro-optical display of rero or more of said segments κc< that the fraction of said figure apparently displayed represent:- the appro,: imate fraction of the hour which has ass d; and i t > (.nntri 1 ing means for sele tivel a tiv ting the superimp sing members anil segments so that said digits are discretely displayed and easily read. •A n timepiece display for showing the time as one or more digits lepresentmg ttie hour in conjunction with a familiar (t regular figure, the total area of the figure representing ttie 60 minutes of the hour, comprising: (a) an electro-opti al display of one or more digits to represent ttie hour; (b) an plectri'-opbical display of segments which together consti tute divisions of said figure, zero or more of said •r-eo ents being filled nt any one time so that the area fillr-d represents the approximate fraction of the hour which has passed; and 1 r. ) iiicludmq one or more indicia positioned around said figure to indicate the number of said divisions which may ap l i ri said fiqure. 6. The timepiece display of claim Lϊ wherein said indicia indicate the appro:; i mate number of minutes the filled divisions ι epresent.

Inventors: HARRISON HAL M, HARRISON, HAL, M.
Applicants: HARRISON HAL M, HARRISON, HAL, M.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G04C19
IPC codes: G04G9