Multi-mode watch and method for operating the multi-mode watch

• US 10,067,354 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kwon, Jae-Joong, Do, Yun-Seon
• Primary Examiner(s): Kayes, Sean
• Application Number:
  US15/406,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20170205636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/281 used for attenuating light intensity, e.g. comprising rotatable polarising elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 17/0091 Combined electro-optical and electro-mechanical displays see provisionally also G04G9/0082
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/00 Visual time or date indication means
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14

Abstract

A watch may include a first display unit, a second display unit, a first polarizer set, and a second polarizer set. The second display unit may be positioned over the first display unit and may transmit light. One of the first display unit and the second display unit may display a time information image that indicates time. The other of the first display unit and the second display unit may display non-time information image, e.g., a user interface element. The first polarizer set may be positioned between the first display unit and the second display unit. The second polarizer set may be positioned on the second display unit. One of the first polarizer set and the second polarizer set may rotate relative to the other for enabling the watch to conceal or show the time information image.

Claims

1. A watch comprising:

a first display unit;

a second display unit positioned over the first display unit and configured to transmit light, wherein at least one of the first display unit and the second display unit is configured to display a time information image that indicates time;

a first polarizer set positioned between the first display unit and the second display unit; and

a second polarizer set positioned on the second display unit, wherein one of the first polarizer set and the second polarizer set is configured to rotate relative to another of the first polarizer set and the second polarizer set, wherein the second polarizer set comprises a quarter wave retardation member and a linear polarizing member, wherein the quarter wave retardation member is positioned between the second display unit and the linear polarizing member, and wherein the second display unit is positioned between the first polarizer set and the quarter wave retardation member.

2. The watch of claim 1, wherein the first polarizer set is configured to rotate between the first display unit and the second display unit.

3. The watch of claim 1, wherein the second display unit is positioned between the first display unit and the second polarizer set, wherein a top area of the second display unit is larger than a half of a top area of the first display unit, and wherein the top area of the first display unit is larger than a half of the top area of the second display unit.

4. The watch of claim 1 comprising:

a controller surrounding a portion of the second display unit, connected to the one of the first polarizer set and the second polarizer set, and configured to control rotation of the one of the first polarizer set and the second polarizer set.

5. The watch of claim 1, wherein the first polarizer set comprises a first linear polarizer and a first quarter wave retardation plate, and wherein the first quarter wave retardation plate is positioned between the first linear polarizer and the second display unit.

6. The watch of claim 5, wherein the second display unit is positioned between the first quarter wave retardation plate and the quarter wave retardation member, and wherein the first quarter wave retardation plate and the quarter wave retardation member are positioned between the first linear polarizer and the linear polarizing member.

7. The watch of claim 1, wherein the first display unit is configured to display the time information image, wherein the first polarizer set has a first polarization axis, wherein the second polarizer set has a second polarization axis, and wherein the second polarizer set is configured to conceal the time information image when the first polarization axis is parallel to the second polarization axis.

8. The watch of claim 1, wherein the first display unit is configured to display the time information image, wherein the first polarizer set has a first polarization axis, wherein the second polarizer set has a second polarization axis, and wherein the second polarizer set is configured to show the time information image with first brightness when the first polarization axis is perpendicular to the second polarization axis.

9. The watch of claim 8, wherein the second polarizer set is configured to show the time information image with second brightness when the first polarization axis is at an acute angle with respect to the second polarization axis, and wherein the second brightness is less than the first brightness.

10. The watch of claim 1, wherein the first polarizer set has a first polarization axis, wherein the second polarizer set has a second polarization axis, and wherein the second display unit is configured to automatically turn on or turn off according to a size of an angle between the first polarization axis and the second polarization axis when the first display unit displays the time information image.

11. The watch of claim 1, wherein the first polarizer set has a first polarization axis, wherein the second polarizer set has a second polarization axis, and wherein the second display unit is configured to automatically turn on in response to a condition that the first polarization axis becomes parallel to the second polarization axis.

12. The watch of claim 1, wherein the first polarizer set has a first polarization axis, wherein the second polarizer set has a second polarization axis, and wherein the second display unit is configured to automatically turn off in response to a condition that the first polarization axis becomes not parallel to the second polarization axis.

13. The watch of claim 1, wherein the first polarizer set has a first polarization axis, wherein the second polarizer set has a second polarization axis, and wherein the second display unit is configured to automatically turn off in response to a condition that the first polarization axis becomes perpendicular to the second polarization axis.

14. A method for operating a watch, the method comprising:

using a first display unit of the watch to display a time information image that indicates time; and

rotating a first polarizer set of the watch to conceal or show the time information image, wherein the first polarizer set comprises a first linear polarizer and a first quarter wave retardation plate, wherein the watch further comprises a second polarizer set, wherein the second polarizer set comprises a second quarter wave retardation plate and a second linear polarizer, and wherein the first quarter wave retardation plate and the second quarter wave retardation plate are positioned between the first linear polarizer and the second linear polarizer.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising:

rotating the first polarizer set of the watch to adjust brightness of the time information image.

16. The method of claim 14 comprising:

showing the time information image by rotating the first polarizer set of the watch to make a polarization axis of the first polarizer set of the watch not parallel to a polarization axis of the second polarizer set of the watch.

17. The method of claim 14 comprising:

using a second display unit of the watch to display a non-time information image that overlaps the time information image; and

rotating the first polarizer set of the watch to trigger the second display unit of the watch to turn off.

18. The method of claim 14 comprising:

using a second display unit of the watch to display a non-time information image that overlaps the time information image; and

triggering the second display unit of the watch to turn off by rotating the first polarizer set of the watch to make a polarization axis of the first polarizer set of the watch perpendicular to a polarization axis of the second polarizer set of the watch.

19. The method of claim 14 comprising:

triggering a second display unit of the watch to turn on and concealing the time information image by rotating the first polarizer set of the watch to make a polarization axis of the first polarizer set of the watch parallel to a polarization axis of the second polarizer set of the watch; and

using the second display unit of the watch to display a non-time information image that overlaps the time information image.

20. A watch comprising:

a first display unit;

a second display unit positioned over the first display unit and configured to transmit light, wherein at least one of the first display unit and the second display unit is configured to display a time information image that indicates time;

a first polarizer set having a first polarization axis and positioned between the first display unit and the second display unit;

a second polarizer set having a second polarization axis and positioned on the second display unit, wherein one of the first polarizer set and the second polarizer set is configured to rotate relative to another of the first polarizer set and the second polarizer set; and

an electronic device configured to automatically turn on or turn off the second display unit according to a size of an angle between the first polarization axis and the second polarization axis when the first display unit displays the time information image.