USER INTERFACE FEATURES FOR A WATCH

• US 20110122732A1
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Ishihara, James Alec, Burton, Maximillian P., Prstojevich, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,125,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 10/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electric means

Abstract

A watch provides a chronographic function while the watch is in a “sport” mode. If a user activates a button relating to the chronographic function, such as a “start/lap” button, then the light for the watch will automatically activate. The light may remain active for a significantly long time, such as a period of six seconds or more. Alternately or additionally, if a user activates a button while the watch is in a “performance” or “sport” mode, then the light will automatically activate regardless of the button being activated. Still further, the chronographic function of the watch may be configured to not measure a lap time that is lower than a preset threshold value, such as, for example, three seconds.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting operation of a performance mode of a watch, wherein the performance mode is configured to monitor athletic performance data;

receiving input to a function executing while the watch is operating in the performance mode; and

in response to receiving the input, causing, by a processor, illumination of a display of the watch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is illuminated for a preset time of six or more seconds.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing a second input to cause the watch to operate in a second mode other than the performance mode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the processor causes illumination of the display for a longer period of time in the performance mode than in the second mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor causes illumination of the display only in response to receiving the input to the function and not in response to other inputs.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the function corresponds to monitoring completion of a lap.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the function corresponds to a split time.

8. A method comprising:

receiving input for a function of a watch;

in response to receiving the input, causing, by a processor, the watch to operate according to a performance mode that is configured to monitor athletic performance data and causing, by the processor, illumination of a display of the watch.

9. The method of claim 8, where the light is illuminated for a preset time of six or more seconds.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising processing second input to cause the watch to operate in a second mode other than the performance mode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the processor causes illumination of the display for a longer period of time in the performance mode than in the second mode.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the processor causes illumination of the display only in response to receiving the input to the function and not in response to other inputs.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the function corresponds to monitoring completion of a lap.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the function corresponds to a split time.

15. A watch comprising:

a display;

a light configured to illuminate the display;

an illumination control module configured to control the operation of the light;

a control button; and

a mode determination module configured to;

detect activation of the control button to change between a performance mode and a second mode, wherein the performance mode is configured to monitor athletic performance data, and

in response to detecting activation of the control button, cause the watch to operate according to the performance mode and cause the illumination control module to illuminate the light.

16. The watch of claim 15, wherein the illumination control module causes the light to illuminate for six or more seconds.

17. The watch of claim 15, wherein the mode determination module is configured to process second input to cause the watch to operate in the second mode.

18. The watch of claim 15, wherein the mode determination module instructs the illumination control module to activate the light for a longer period of time in the performance mode than in the second mode.

19. The watch of claim 15, wherein the function corresponds to monitoring completion of a lap.

20. The watch of claim 15, wherein the function corresponds to a split time.