Display device having a scale

• US 5,214,624 A
• Filed: 10/30/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Friedrich Von Braun
• Original Assignee: Christoph R. Siebrasse
• Inventors: Siebrasse, Christoph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US07/784,970
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 368/79, 368/82-84, 368/223, 368/228, 368/239-242
• US Class Current: 368/82
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/12 Graduation
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/00 Indicating the time by visual means indicating the time optically by electric means G04C17/00, e.g. by electric lamps G04C17/02; display arrangements in general G09F

Abstract

A substantially linear display device including a substantially linear scale and a pointer which marks an area of the scale to be indicated. The display device may be used to indicate time and can be incorporated into a wrist watch. The display device may incorporate an LCD module with segments to indicate time being controlled by a controlled pulse generator having a quartz control.

Claims

1. A time display device comprising:

an elongated case having opposed spaced apart first and second ends and parallel side extending between the ends;

an hour scale disposed on the case parallel to the sides and having hour indicia corresponding to each of twelve consecutive hours;

a minute scale disposed on the case parallel to the sides and having minute indicia corresponding to selected intervals of minutes in an hour;

an hour time display having first through twelfth electro-optical emitters consecutively disposed between the respective first and second ends of the case in a linear array, each said emitter being operative to selectively display either of first and second hour colors;

a minute time display having a plurality of electro-optical emitters disposed between the respective first and second ends of the case in a linear array substantially adjacent and parallel to the hour time display, each said emitter of the minute time display being operative to selectively display either of first and second minute colors; and

electrical control means disposed in the case and connected to the electro-optical emitters for generating timed signals for selectively changing the colors of the emitters so as to define an hour boundary between emitters of the first and second hour colors and a minute boundary between emitters of the first and second minute colors, the signals being operative to move the minute boundary from the first end of the case toward the second end of the case at selected minute intervals for sequentially aligning the minute boundary with the respective minute indicia, the signals further being operative to move the hour boundary from the first end of the case toward the second end at hourly intervals for sequentially aligning the hour boundary with the respective hour indicia, the signals further being operative to move the minute boundary from the second end of the case to the first end at the end of each hour interval and to move the hour boundary from the second end of the case to the first end at the end of each of said twelve consecutive hours.

2. A time display device as in claim 1, wherein the hour indicia defines the numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively for identifying time between 6 a.m.--6 p.m. and 6 p.m.--6 a.m.

3. A time display as in claim 1, wherein the watch case defines a width aligned transverse to the first and second time displays, the first and second time displays each defining widths, the sum of the widths of the first and second time displays being substantially equal to the width of the watch case, such that the first and second time displays occupy substantially the entirety of the width of the watch case.

4. A time display device as in claim 1, wherein the electro-optical emitters of the hour time display are obliquely aligned to the sides of the case such that the hour boundary defines a pointer aligned with a selected indicia on the hour scale.

5. A time display device as in claim 1, wherein the electro-optical emitters of the minute time display are obliquely aligned to the sides of the case such that the minute boundary defines a pointer aligned with a selected indicia on the minute scale.

6. A time display device as in claim 1 further comprising a flexible band, said case being attached to the flexible band such that the case and the flexible band define a continuous loop, the case extending less than completely around said loop.

7. A time display device as in claim 1, wherein the watch case includes a second scale disposed on the case parallel to the sides and having second indicia corresponding to selected intervals of seconds in a minute.

8. A time display device comprising:

an elongated case having opposed spaced apart first and second ends parallel sides extending between the ends;

a flexible band, said case being attached to the flexible band such that the case and the flexible band define a continuous loop, the case extending less than completely around said loop;

an hour scale disposed on the case parallel to the sides and having hour indicia defining the numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively for identifying time between 6 a.m.--6 p.m. and 6 p.m.--6 a.m.;

a minute scale disposed on the case parallel to the sides and having minute indicia corresponding to selected intervals of minutes in an hour;

an hour time display having first through twelfth electro-optical emitters consecutively disposed between the respective first and second ends of the case in a linear array, each said emitter being operative to selectively display either of first and second hour colors, the electro-optical emitters of the hour time display being obliquely aligned to the sides of the case to define pointers aligned with a selected indicia on the hour scale;

a minute time display having a plurality of electro-optical emitters disposed between the respective first and second ends of the case in a linear array substantially adjacent and parallel to the hour time display, each said emitter of the minute time display being operative to selectively display either of first and second minute colors; and

electrical control means disposed in the case and connected to the electro-optical emitters for generating timed signals for selectively changing the colors of the emitters so as to define an hour boundary between emitters of the first and second hour colors and a minute boundary between emitters of the first and second minute colors, the signals being operative to move the minute boundary from the first end of the case toward the second end of the case at selected minute intervals for sequentially aligning the minute boundary with the respective minute indicia, the signals further being operative to move the hour boundary from the first end of the case toward the second end at hourly intervals for sequentially aligning the hour boundary with the respective hour indicia, the signals further being operative to move the minute boundary from the second end of the case to the first end at the end of each hour interval and to move the hour boundary from the second end of the case to the first end after 6;

00 a.m. and after 6;

00 p.m.

9. A time display device as in claim 8, wherein the watch case includes a second scale disposed on the case parallel to the sides and having second indicia corresponding to selected intervals of seconds in a minute.