Patent Publication Number: US-6711101-B2

Title: Segmented display and timepieces using same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/305,991, Filed Jul. 16, 2001. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     None 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates generally to displays and time keeping, and in particular to artful displays which can include the time of day. 
     2. Prior-Art 
     Many displays and ornaments are known in the field of jewelry, but these mainly have been limited to the use of fixed gemstones, colored glass (paste), and the like. Electronic displays are known but these are generally flat and relatively prosaic. 
     Numerous decorative methods for displaying the time of day have been employed in the past. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,987 (1978), Schickendanz teaches a watch comprising a series of display element segments dispersed all over the surface of a bangle. Individual segments display images or characters representative of the time of day, the day of the week, the date, and so forth. Information is displayed all around the circumference of Schickendanz&#39;s device. In some cases, this requires the user to look at more than one point around the circumference in order to tell the time of day. This is a distinct disadvantage when compared with other timepieces which deliver all information at a glance. 
     Coleman, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,559 (2001), teaches a medical identification charm bracelet to which are affixed individual display devices, or charms. Each charm contains an electronic circuit which, upon activation, draws attention to the bracelet and provides information about a particular medical condition of the wearer. Each charm is individually activated. If more than one charm were activated at a time, two or more charms would deliver their information simultaneously, resulting in confusion on the part of the user. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,971 (2001) Ohlund teaches an illuminated piece of jewelry. Batteries supply power to a light source positioned near a transparent, ornamental element. The batteries are located in a case at the back of the wearer&#39;s neck. The ornament hangs from a pair of flexible conductors which extend from the battery case, around each side of the wearer&#39;s neck, terminating at the light source on the ornament. While this piece of jewelry creates interest by being illuminated, it does not provide information such as the time of day. 
     Clark, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,283 ((1980) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,515 (1984), shows timepieces (a pedestal clock and an earring watch) with sequentially activated chiming or visible indications for hours, tens of minutes, and minutes, but these timepieces have relatively low aesthetic attractiveness. Their disclosures are incorporated by reference. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide improved decorative items of jewelry, and an improved timekeeping device which reveals the time of day at a glance, which contains a plurality of elements which deliver information cooperatively, and which provides useful information in addition to optionally being illuminated and attractive. 
     Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description thereof. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present invention, a method, apparatus, and system are provided for providing three-dimensional, curved, active electronic displays, including those for indicating the time of day. Individual elements which display seconds, minutes, and hours are assembled into a decorative bracelet or necklace. The time of day is determined by noting the hours on one element, the tens of minutes on a second element, the minutes on a third element, and the seconds on a fourth element. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 and 1B show a frontal view of a necklace with twelve beads, indicating the 1 o&#39;clock and 2 o&#39;clock hours, in accordance with the invention. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B show perspective views of a single bead display element in the ON, or light-emitting, and OFF, or dark states, respectively. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B show an alternative bead display element in the ON and OFF states, respectively. 
     FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a display bead and circuit used in the previous embodiments and others. 
     FIG. 5 shows a bracelet comprising twelve bead display elements, at the 3 o&#39;clock hour with three beads in the ON state and the remainder in the OFF state. 
     FIGS. 6A-6E show an alternative bead displaying seconds in {fraction (2/10)}-second increments as a moving segment. 
     FIGS. 7A-7E shows a second alternative bead displaying seconds at {fraction (2/10)}-second increments as a bar graph. 
     FIG. 8 shows four beads for a bracelet or necklace and arranged in a row for telling the time of day. 
     FIG. 9 shows four beads comprising displays with numeric indicators. 
     FIG. 10 shows four beads comprising colored displays. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 DRAWING FIGURE REFERENCE NUMERALS 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 105 
                 Display bead ON 
               
               
                 110 
                 Display bead OFF 
               
               
                 115 
                 Flexible joint member 
               
               
                 120 
                 Non-display bead, power source 
               
               
                 122 
                 Bead with timekeeping circuit 
               
               
                 125 
                 Leads 
               
               
                 130 
                 Light ray 
               
               
                 200 
                 Display bead 
               
               
                 205 
                 Display portion 
               
               
                 210 
                 End bell 
               
               
                 300 
                 Alternative bead design 
               
               
                 405 
                 Lead 
               
               
                 410 
                 Lead 
               
               
                 415 
                 Lead 
               
               
                 417 
                 Integrated circuit 
               
               
                 420 
                 Lead 
               
               
                 425 
                 Lead 
               
               
                 430 
                 Lead 
               
               
                 435 
                 Lead 
               
               
                 440 
                 Lead 
               
               
                 445 
                 Display segment 
               
               
                 450 
                 Display segment 
               
               
                 455 
                 Display segment 
               
               
                 460 
                 Display segment 
               
               
                 465 
                 Cover 
               
               
                 505 
                 Display bead ON 
               
               
                 510 
                 Display bead OFF 
               
               
                 600 
                 Segmented display bead 
               
               
                 605 
                 Display segment 
               
               
                 610 
                 Display segment 
               
               
                 615 
                 Display segment 
               
               
                 620 
                 Display segment 
               
               
                 700 
                 Bar graph display bead 
               
               
                 705 
                 Display portion 
               
               
                 805 
                 Hours display bead 
               
               
                 810 
                 Tens of minutes display bead 
               
               
                 815 
                 Minutes display bead 
               
               
                 820 
                 Seconds display bead 
               
               
                 905 
                 Hours display bead 
               
               
                 910 
                 Tens of minutes display bead 
               
               
                 915 
                 Minutes display bead 
               
               
                 920 
                 Seconds display bead 
               
               
                 1005  
                 Hours display bead 
               
               
                 1010  
                 Tens of minutes display bead 
               
               
                 1015  
                 Minutes display bead 
               
               
                 1020  
                 Seconds display bead 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Preferred Embodiment—FIG.  1   
     In accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention, a necklace, shown in FIG. 1 comprises a power source such as a battery in a non-displaying bead  120 , another non-displaying bead  122  containing a timekeeping circuit, and twelve beads comprising binary (ON or OFF) display stations  105  (ON) and  110  (OFF) to indicate the hours one through twelve. The power source and timekeeping circuitry are well-known to those skilled in the art of electronic timepieces. Beads  120  and  122  also serve as a fastener to close the loop of the necklace. 
     ON bead  105  and OFF beads  110 , comprising individual timekeeping display stations, are electrically and mechanically connected with flexible joint members  115 . Electrical power and timekeeping signals are conveyed to beads  105  and  110  via cable or lead  125 , containing three flexible conductive leads  405 ,  410 , and  415  (FIG. 4) which complete the loop of the necklace. The three leads of cable  125  are twisted or braided decoratively (not shown) or are covered by an attractive sheath (not shown). As will be apparent, each bead can move with respect to its adjacent beads and the string of individual beads is flexible and bendable. Upon receiving an electrical signal from the timekeeping circuitry, beads  105  and  110  change appearance, as described below in connection with FIGS. 2A through 4. 
     Operation—FIGS.  1  and  1 B 
     The necklace of FIG. 1 is configured to display the hour of the day by causing one additional bead at a time to have an appearance which is different from the remaining beads. In FIG. 1A, first bead  105  is in an ON condition, while the remaining eleven beads  110  are in an OFF condition. The necklace thus indicates that the time-of-day is in the one o&#39;clock hour. During the two o&#39;clock hour, two beads are in the ON condition, as shown in FIG. 1B, and so forth. Thus the wearer of the necklace, or anyone nearby, can easily tell the hour by counting the number of beads that are ON; i.e., the number of ON beads equals the hour of the day. (Alternatively, since the first bead can be readily identified, the necklace can be arranged to cause only one bead at a time to be different, so that the hour can be determined by counting up to the differently illuminated bead.) 
     Description—Display Beads—FIGS.  2 A through  4   
     FIGS. 2A,  2 B,  3 A, and  3 B show two different shapes of binary display beads which can be used in the necklace of FIG. 1 in ON and OFF conditions. FIGS. 2A and 2B show one of the beads of FIG. 1 in detail. It comprises a cylindrical display portion  205 , two end flanges or bells  210  rigidly attached to the ends of display portion  205 , and at least one spherical joint and spacing member  115 , rigidly attached to the outside of right end bell  210 . Joint member  115 , which permits the necklace to bend, preferably is a solid sphere which has a through hole (not shown) to accommodate cable  125  (FIG. 1) which mechanically and electrically connects the beads. 
     Display portion  205  comprises a liquid crystal (LC) with an optional internal lamp, a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), an electroluminescent (EL) device, or other optically sensible display modality which is responsive to electrical stimulation. These display technologies are well-known to those skilled in the art of electronics. 
     Upon receiving an activating signal from the timekeeping electronics, display portion  205  changes appearance. It preferably changes between dark (FIG. 2B) and light (FIG.  2 A), but may also change between one color and another, flashing to non-flashing, and so forth, depending on the design and technology chosen. Light rays  130  (FIGS. 1 and 2A) indicate the ON state or condition of a luminant display bead or portion thereof. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B show an alternative bead design  300  in the ON and OFF conditions, respectively. The bead of FIG. 3 has no flanges, but instead has rounded or curved end portions which do not lighten and darken. When the bead is ON, its cylindrical central portion is light in color or light-emitting (FIG. 3A) while when OFF (FIG. 3B) the bead is dark. These roles can be reversed if desired. Due to their rounded ends, no spherical spacer beads ( 115  in FIG. 4) need be used between adjacent beads in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 4 shows the construction of another alternative display bead comprising four display segments  445 ,  450 ,  455 , and  460 . Although four segments are shown, fewer or more are used, as required. In the beads shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, only a single segment is used. Display segments  445 ,  450 ,  455 , and  460  are preferably LC devices, but may alternatively be LED, OLED, EL, or another display modality. The multiple layers which constitute an LC, LED, OLED, or EL are not shown but are well known and are curved and are contained within a transparent protective cover  465 . 
     A lamp  407 , which can be either an incandescent or solid-state lamp, is used when the display type is transmissive, as in the case of a transmissive LC display. Reflective LC displays are viewed in ambient light and require no additional illumination. LEDs, OLEDs, and EL displays emit light and therefore require no additional illumination. 
     Conductors  405  and  415  carry power and power return, respectively, from non-displaying bead  120  Conductor  410  carries timekeeping signals from non-displaying bead  122 . The return paths for timekeeping signals and power share return conductor  415 . Leads  405 ,  410 , and  415  convey power and signals to all indicating parts of the necklace. In this embodiment, timekeeping signals are conveyed on conductor  410  by a serial communications protocol, well-known to those skilled in the art of electronics. These signals are applied to an integrated circuit (IC)  417  in each bead. The serial data actuate each IC  417  individually, according to the address of the bead. The timekeeping circuit in bead  122  provides power, ground, and a serial data signal on leads  405 ,  410 , and  415 , respectively, to all display heads. Within each display bead, the outputs  420 ,  425 ,  430 ,  435 , and  440  of IC  417  selectively energize lamp  407 , if present, and each of display segments  445 ,  450 ,  455 , and  460 . Timekeeping signals transmitted along data line  410  cause individual ICs  417  to activate display segments  445 ,  450 ,  455 , and  460  via leads  420 ,  425 ,  430 ,  435 , and  440  (and power return  415 ) and lamp  407  (if present) according to a code which displays the time of day. Time-of-day displays are discussed in more detail below. 
     In the case of the necklace of FIG. 1, leads  405 ,  410 , and  415  supply power, signal, and ground to all beads. Each bead contains only one display element, similar to element  445  (FIG.  4 ), which occupies the entire display space of the bead (not shown). At the start of the one o&#39;clock hour, the timekeeping circuitry in bead  122  transmits a serial communications signal on data line  410  which selects IC  417  within bead  105 , FIG.  1 A. IC  417  in bead  105  energizes display element  445  through leads  420  and  425 , causing it to change color or to emit light. Alternatively, lamp  407  may be energized by IC  417 , depending on the display type used. The remaining IC  417 s in beads  110  are each selected one at a time, and caused to keep their associated display elements in a de-energized state. Thus, the electronic signal will cause bead  105  to be different in appearance from beads  110 . 
     At the start of the two o&#39;clock hour, the timekeeping circuitry in bead  122  transmits a serial communications signal on data line  410  which selects IC  417  within first and second beads  105 , FIG. 1B, energizing the display elements within those beads. The signals select the remaining IC  417 s in beads  110  one at a time, causing them to keep their associated elements in a de-energized state. Thus, during the two o&#39;clock hour two beads  105  differ in appearance form the remaining beads  110 . This progression continues until all twelve beads are energized, whereafter, at 1:00, only the first bead is again energized. 
     Other serial protocols are available. Again, these protocols are well known to those skilled in the art of electronics and need not be discussed in detail here for an artisan to fully understand the present invention. 
     Description—Second Preferred Embodiment—FIG.  5 —Bracelet 
     FIG. 5 shows a bracelet that is constructed in a manner similar to the necklace of FIG.  1 . The power source and timekeeping circuitry, described above, for the bracelet are contained within one or more of beads  505 - 510 . 
     Operation—Second Preferred Embodiment—FIG.  5 —Bracelet 
     The bracelet contains twelve beads to indicate the hours one through twelve. As with the preferred arrangement of the necklace of FIG. 1, the number of beads which are differently illuminated is used to provide the hour indication. In this example, three beads  505  are ON, the remaining nine beads  510  are OFF, thus indicating the 3 o&#39;clock hour. (As with the embodiment of FIG. 1, if the bracelet has a reference point, such as a clasp or differently colored bead, then only one bead can be illuminated for each hour and the numeric position of the differently illuminated bead can be counted to determine the number of the hour.) 
     Description—Alternative Display Bead Designs—FIGS.  6 A through  7 E 
     FIGS. 6A through 6E show an alternative design of a segmented bead  600  using the circuit of FIG.  1 . Display bead  600  has three circumferential lines which define four segments or bands  605 ,  610 ,  615 , and  620  which can be individually addressed by the timekeeping circuitry to form a moving band display. FIG. 6A shows display  600  at the beginning or zero th  increment of a second of time; all segments  605 ,  610 ,  615 , and  620  are in the OFF condition. The bands are illuminated progressively, one at a time, so that in FIG. 6B, at 0.2 second, band  605  is in the ON condition and bands  610 - 620  are OFF. In FIG. 6C, at 0.4 second, band  605  is OFF, band  610  is ON, and bands  615  and  620  are OFF, and so forth in FIGS. 6D and 6E. At the end of the one second interval, the appearance of display  600  repeats, resuming at FIG.  6 A. Fractional seconds are used in this example, but a similar progression can also be used for the other parameters of the time of day, including the tens of minutes and hours. 
     FIGS. 7A through 7E show another alternative bead  700  comprising a bar-graph display that fills progressively in steps from one end to the other. Bead  700  is similar to bead  600 , but has no circumferential lines. FIG. 7A shows display  705  of bead  700  at the zero th  increment of a second of time with all portions of display  705  OFF. In FIG. 7B, at 0.2 second, one-fourth of display  705  is in the ON condition, while three fourths are OFF. FIG. 7C shows display  705  at 0.4 second with half of display  705  ON and half OFF. FIG. 7D shows display  705  at 0.6 second with three-fourths of display  705  ON and one-fourth OFF. Finally, FIG. 7E shows display  705  at 0.8 second, with all portions ON. At the end of the one-second interval, the appearance of display  700  repeats, resuming in the state shown in FIG.  7 A. As above, fractional seconds are used in this example, but a similar progression can also be used for the other parameters of the time of day, including the minutes and hours. 
     Alternative Display Embodiments—FIGS.  8  through  10 —Necklace or Bracelet 
     FIG. 8 shows a timepiece comprising four display beads. Timepiece  800  can be part of a necklace, a bracelet, or can be a complete piece of jewelry, such as a brooch or pendant. Display bead  805  contains twelve bands, one for each hour of the day. Bead  810  contains five bands, one for each ten-minute increment of an hour. Bead  815  contains nine bands, one for each minute. The display on each of beads  805 ,  810 , and  815  progresses as described above in connection with FIG.  6 . Alternatively, the display on each of beads  805 - 815  can progress as shown in FIG.  7 . The time displayed in this example is 3:36:00 o&#39;clock. The beads of FIG. 8 each contain their own dedicated IC (not shown), similar to IC  417  of FIG. 4, but with either 12, 6, 10, or 5 leads, or another number, as required for the particular display used. 
     Seconds are displayed by bead  820 . The seconds display can optionally alternate between ON and OFF conditions, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or a more detailed display can be used such as with beads  805 ,  810 , and  815 . 
     The timepiece in FIG. 9 is similar to that in FIG. 8, except that the bands on display beads  905 ,  910 ,  915 , and  920  are inscribed with temporal numbers which indicate the hour, tens of minutes, and seconds. Because of space, only some of the hour, tens of minutes, and minutes need be shown. Bead  920  can be made in a similar fashion, or simply alternate between ON and OFF conditions, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The time displayed in this example is 4:36:00 o&#39;clock. 
     The timepiece in FIG. 10 employs bands of color. Display beads  1005 ,  1010 ,  1015 , and  1020  display bands in repeating patterns of black, red, green, and white bands on a gray background. Bead  1005  contains 12 segments. At 1:00, left-most bead  1006  is black and all remaining bands on bead  1005  are gray. At 2:00, left-most bead  1006  is black, adjacent bead  1007  is red, and the remaining 10 bands are gray, and so forth. Bead  1010  employs the same repeating pattern to display tens of minutes, and bead  1015  employs the same repeating pattern for minutes. Bead  1020  can optionally employ the same color pattern for seconds, or simply change colors once each second. The beads of FIGS. 9 and 10 are driven and wired similarly to FIG.  8  and the previous figures. The beads of FIG. 10 are preferably made of glass or plastic and the different bands are colored by the action of the display medium. 
     SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     It is thus seen that the present method and apparatus provide a system for timekeeping that is novel, attractive, and decorative. The time of day can be told at a glance from any of the embodiments, no confusion results from having a plurality of display beads active at the same time, and substantial information is available from a display modality which can optionally be illuminated. Depending on the design used, the apparatus can be viewed with or without ambient light. 
     While the above description contains many specificities, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to these and can be practiced with other parameters and materials. Numerous other bead designs can be employed. Bead shapes and cross-sections can be rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, irregular, and so forth. Display modalities can be mixed within a bead or within a timepiece. The beads of FIGS. 1 and 5 can be numbered with the hours of the day and 24 beads can be provided to indicate time in the military-European format. For example OLEDs can be used with LCs and LEDs. Instead of displaying the time of day, the system can be used to display temperature or other information. Instead of being worn as a necklace or bracelet, the apparatus can be worn as an armband, headband, waistband, leg band, anklet, or pendant. Display beads can be rigidly joined, made in different sizes, or spaced by non-displaying beads. Instead of only three interconnecting wires, more or fewer can be used and a Universal Serial Bus, an RS-232 bus, and various other serial connections and protocols can be used. Instead of a serial connection, a parallel connection can be used. Instead of an integrated circuit in each bead, a single integrated circuit (IC) can be used in the timekeeping bead, with wires interconnecting the single IC and each display bead. The necklace or bracelet can also be made to provide an audible indication. Instead of a timepiece, the inventive principle can be implemented in non-horologic jewelry, i.e., multiple curved LC display stations can be dynamically and sequentially activated without displaying any numeric information and without any timekeeping function. The mere sequential dynamic activation of the beads will create an attractive, decorative, and unique jewelry effect. 
     Accordingly the scope of this invention should be determined, not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.