Analog type watch and time set method

• US 10,095,189 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2014
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Withings S.A.
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Masserot, Jocelyn, Ting, Victor, Loubiere, Marie, Carreel, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Kayes, Sean
• Application Number:
  US14/303,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20150362893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/146 incorporating two or more stepping motors or rotors
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 5/00 Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/26 the radio signal being a near-field communication signal

Abstract

Interaction methods between a smartphone and a timepiece having two analog-type pointers, each of the pointers being controlled independently by a stepper motor, the timepiece and the smartphone being able to be in communication through a wireless remote short-range communication link, the calibration method comprising the steps of S1—capturing image(s) of the watch with the smartphone, S2—processing the image(s) to determine accurately the displayed angular positions of the pointers, S3—send correction data from the smartphone to the watch, S4—carry out, at the watch, an appropriate correction so that the pointers are caused to display the current absolute time, the absolute time set method comprising the steps of S11—send absolute time reference from the smartphone to the watch, S12—carry out, at the watch, an appropriate correction, to update the internal counters and positions of the pointers so that the pointers display the current absolute time.

Claims

1. Interaction method between on the one hand a smartphone or a tablet and on the other hand a watch having at least two analog-type pointers, controlled by a stepper motor and referenced relative to a zero-position, the watch and the smartphone being able to be in communication through a wireless remote short-range communication link, the method comprising the steps:

S1—

capturing image(s) of the watch with the smartphone,

S2—

processing the image(s) to determine accurately the displayed angular positions of the pointers,

S3—

sending correction data from the smartphone to the watch, said correction data comprising the so-determined displayed angular positions of the pointers, and/or angular deviations from a reference position,

S4—

carrying out, at the watch, an appropriate correction so that the pointers are caused to display the current absolute time,

whereby a possible pointer inadvertent drift can be readily corrected, in which during step S1, an overlay with a special frame is provided on a screen of the smartphone to improve alignment of the watch while shooting image(s) with the smartphone, whereby easing the subsequent processing of the image(s).

2. The interaction method of claim 1, wherein the timepiece is a wristwatch with an hour pointer and a minute pointer arranged coaxially (A).

3. The interaction method of claim 1, wherein the hour pointer and minute pointer are configured to display current time as default function, and configured to display other type of information for a certain period upon user touch activation on the screen of the watch, or upon reception of a notice from the smartphone.

4. The interaction method of claim 1, wherein the wireless remote short-range communication is Bluetooth™

low energy BLE interface.