Analog display timepiece

• US 4,702,615 A
• Filed: 03/26/1987
• Issued: 10/27/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc. (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Karel Havel
• Inventors: Havel, Karel
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US07/030,470
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/11, 368/82-84, 368/223, 368/228, 368/239-242, 340/701, 340/702
• US Class Current: 368/82
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/04 by controlling light sources, e.g. electroluminescent diodes G04G9/0058 takes precedence

Abstract

A timepiece includes a variable color display for providing an analog indication of time in a color in accordance with the relation of the indicated time to predetermined time limits.

Claims

1. A method of simultaneously indicating a measured value of time and its relation to a predetermined time limit, on a single variable color analog display means, by causing an analog indication of time to be exhibited on said display means and by controlling the color of said indication in accordance with the relation of said value of time to said time limit.

2. A timepiece comprising:

timekeeping means;

variable color analog display means for providing an analog indication of a value of time; and

color control means for controlling the color of said analog indication in accordance with the relation of said value of time to a predetermined time limit.

3. A method of simultaneously indicating a measured value of time, a predetermined time limit, and the relation of said value of time to said time limit, on a single variable color analog display means, by causing said time limit to be exhibited on said display means in a first color and by causing an analog indication of the value of time to be exhibited on said display means either in a second or in a third color in accordance with the relation of said value of time to said time limit, said first, second and third colors being respectively different.

4. A timepiece comprising:

timekeeping means;

variable color analog display means for providing an analog indication of a value of time;

means for exhibiting a predetermined time limit on said display means in a first color; and

color control means for illuminating said analog indication either in a second or in a third color in accordance with the relation of said value of time to said time limit, said first, second and third colors being respectively different.

5. A timepiece comprising:

timekeeping means;

variable color analog display means for providing an analog indication of a value of time;

means for exhibiting predetermined low and high time limits, defining an acceptable time field, on said display means in a first color; and

color control means for illuminating said analog indication either in a second color when said value of time does not lie within the bounds of said low and high time limits or in a third color when said value of time lies within the bounds of said low and high time limits, said first, second, and third colors being respectively different.

6. A timepiece as defined in claim 5 wherein said third color is obtained by blending said first and second colors.

7. A timepiece comprising:

timekeeping means;

variable color analog display means for providing an analog indication of a value of time;

memory means for storing data representing values of time limits;

limit control means responsive to said memory means for selectively exhibiting time limits on said display means in a first color; and

color control means for illuminating said analog indication either in a second or in a third color in accordance with the relation of said value of time to said time limits, said first, second, and third colors being respectively different.

8. A timepiece according to claim 7 wherein said memory means stores data representing a field between predetermined low and high time limits;

and

said limit control means exhibits on said display means said field in said first color.

9. A timepiece comprising:

timekeeping means;

analog display means including a plurality of variable color display elements regularly arranged along a circle, each said display element including a first light source for emitting upon activation light signals of a first primary color, second light source for emitting upon activation light signals of a second primary color, and means for combining said signals in each said display element to obtain a composite light signal of a composite color;

memory means for storing data representing values of predetermined low and high time limits;

limit control means responsive to said memory means for selectively activating certain of said first light sources corresponding by positions in said circle to a field between said low and high time limits, for illuminating said field in said first primary color;

value control means for providing on said display means an analog indication of a value of time by selectively activating a single one of said second light sources corresponding by a position in said circle to the value of time, for iluminating it in said second primary color;

whereby said analog indication is illuminated either in said second primary color when said value of time does not lie within the bounds of said high and low limits or in said composite color when said value of time lies within the bounds of said high and low time limits.