Electronic appliance equipped with sensor capable of visually displaying sensed data

• US 5,583,830 A
• Filed: 06/24/1994
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Okuyama, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/265,662
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 368/9, 368/10, 368/11, 368/76, 368/80, 368/82, 368/223, 368/239, 340/612, 340/614, 340/626, 364/556, 364/558, 364/561, 73/37, 73/37.5, 73/37.6, 73/290 R, 73/299, 73/300, 73/301, 73/426, 73/427
• US Class Current: 368/11
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/02 Divers' equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2011/021 Diving computers, i.e. portable computers specially adapted for divers, e.g. wrist worn, watertight electronic devices for detecting or calculating scuba diving parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/002 giving both analog and numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/04 using a separate indicating element for each variable
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature

Abstract

In an electronic appliance equipped with an electronic wristwatch equipped with a sensor, a trend in various variations such as temperatures, altitude and waterdepths can be visually and intuitively recognized. In the electronic appliance, measurement data constructed of plural digits are acquired in response to output signals from the sensor. The upper digit data among the plural digits of measurement data are digitally displayed by way of an electronic/optical digital display unit, e.g., an LCD display, whereas the lower digit data among the plural digits of measurement data except for the plural digits are displayed by way of either a pointer type display unit, or an electronic/optical analog display unit, e.g., a meter.

Claims

1. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor for successively outputting sensor data, the appliance comprising:

converting means for converting sensor data output from the sensor to obtain measurement data having a plurality of digits;

electronic/optical digital display means for digitally displaying upper digit data including upper digits of the plurality of digits of the measurement data obtained by said converting means;

pointer type display means having a movable pointer, for displaying with the movable pointer lower digit data including lower digits of the measurement data obtained by said converting means except for the upper digits included in the upper digit data displayed on said electronic/optical digital display means;

memory means for storing a large number of measurement data which are obtained by said converting means at a preselected time interval;

difference calculating means for calculating a difference between two measurement data among said large number of measurement data stored in said memory means; and

display control means for controlling said pointer type display means so as to display the difference calculated by said difference calculating means with the movable pointer.

2. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 1, wherein:

said electronic/optical digital display means includes display control means for adding 1 to the least significant digit of said upper digit data to obtain added data, and for digitally displaying said added data; and

said pointer type display means includes display control means for displaying complement data on said lower digit data with said movable pointer.

3. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 1, wherein:

said movable pointer of said pointer type display means is rotatably provided within a predetermined rotation angle; and

said electronic/optical digital display means displays said upper digit data at a substantially central portion within a rotatable range defined by said predetermined rotation angle.

4. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 1, wherein:

said pointer type display means includes electronic/optical scale display means for digitally displaying a value of data pointed out by said movable pointer when said pointer is located at a specific position corresponding to a position where said movable pointer is movable.

5. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 1, wherein:

said converting means produces a plurality of types of measurement data having a plurality of digits based on the sensor data output from said sensor, said plurality types of measurement data being represented in different units respectively; and

said electronic appliance further comprises selectively designating means for designating one of said plural sorts of measurement data,

whereby said upper digit data among the measurement data designated by said selectively designating means is digitally displayed by said electronic/optical digital display means, and said lower digit data among the measurement data designated by said selectively designating means is displayed by said pointer type display means.

6. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 1, further comprising:

at least a second sensor for measuring a different subject from that to be measured by said sensor, and for outputting second sensor data; and

selectively designating means for selectively designating one of said sensor and said second sensor, and wherein

said converting means converts sensor data output from said sensor and sensor data output from said second sensor to obtain measurement data each including a plurality of digits, and

said electronic/optical digital display means digitally displays said upper digit data among the measurement data of the sensor designated by said selectively designating means, and

said pointer type display means displays said lower digit data among the measurement data of the sensor designated by said selectively designating means.

7. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 1, further comprising:

time interval designating means for designating a second time interval; and

second calculating means for calculating difference data between first and second measurement data among the plurality of measurement data stored in said memory means, said first and second measurement data being obtained substantially every second time interval designated by said time interval designating means; and

wherein

said pointer type display means includes display control means for displaying said difference data calculated by said second calculating means with said movable pointer.

8. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 1, further comprising:

time counting means for counting a present time; and

time display means for displaying the present time counted by said time counting means.

9. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 1, further comprising:

a case for containing said electronic appliance, and wherein said case includes a strap for attaching said case to an operator.

10. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor for outputting sensor data, said appliance comprising:

converting means for converting sensor data output from the sensor to obtain measurement data having a plurality of digits;

electronic/optical digital display means for digitally displaying upper digit data including upper digits of the plurality of digits of the measurement data obtained by said converting means, a least significant digit of which upper digits is added with 1;

pointer type display means having a movable pointer for displaying complement data of lower digit data including lower digits of the plurality of digits of the measurement data obtained by said converting means except for the upper digits included in the upper digit data displayed on said electronic/optical display means;

memory means for storing a plurality of measurement data which are obtained by said converting means at a preselected time interval;

difference calculating means for calculating difference data between two measurement data among said large number of measurement data stored in said memory means; and

display control means for controlling said pointer type display means so as to display the difference calculated by said difference calculating means with the movable pointer thereof.

11. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 10, wherein:

said movable pointer of said pointer type display means is rotatably provided within a predetermined rotation angle; and

said electronic/optical digital display means displays data obtained by adding 1 to the least significant digit of said upper digit data at a substantially central portion within a rotatable range defined by said predetermined rotation angle.

12. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 10, wherein:

said pointer type display means includes electronic/optical scale display means for digitally displaying a value of data pointed out by said movable pointer when said movable pointer is located at a specific position corresponding to a position where said pointer is movable.

13. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 10, wherein:

said converting means produces a plurality of types of measurement data having a plurality of digits based on the sensor data output from said sensor, said plurality of types of measurement data being represented in different units respectively; and

said electronic appliance further comprising;

selectively designating means for selectively designating one of said plurality of types of measurement data, and wherein

said electronic/optical digital display means digitally displays data obtained by adding 1 to the least significant digit of said upper digit data among the measurement data designated by said selectively designating means, and

said pointer type display means displays complement data of the lower digit data among the measurement data designated by said selectively designating means.

14. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 10, further comprising:

at least a second sensor for measuring a different subject from that to be measured by said sensor, said at least second sensor outputting second sensor data; and

selectively designating means for selectively designating one of said sensor and said second sensor, and wherein

said converting means converts sensor data output from said sensor and sensor data output from said second sensor to obtain measurement data each including a plurality of digits, and

said electronic/optical digital means digitally displays data obtained by adding 1 to the least significant digit of said upper digit data among the measurement data of the sensor designated by said selectively designating means, and

said pointer type display means displays complement data of said lower digit data among the measurement data of the sensor designated by said selectively designating means.

15. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 10, further comprising:

time interval designating means for designating a second time interval; and

second calculating means for calculating difference data between first and second measurement data among the plurality of measurement data stored in said memory means, said first and second measurement data being obtained at substantially every time interval designated by said time interval designating means; and

wherein

said pointer type display means includes display control means for displaying said difference data with said movable pointer.

16. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 10, further comprising:

time counting means for determining a present time; and

time display means for displaying the present time determined by said time counting means.

17. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 10, further comprising:

a case for containing said electronic appliance, said case having straps for securing said case to an operator.

18. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor for outputting sensor data, said appliance, comprising:

converting means for converting sensor data output from the sensor to obtain measurement data having a plurality of digits;

electronic/optical digital display means for digitally displaying upper digit data including upper digits of the plurality of digits of the measurement data obtained by said converting means;

electronic/optical analog display means having a plurality of pointer display members adapted for activation;

first display control means for selectively activating the plurality of pointer display members in accordance with lower digit data, the lower digit data including lower digits of the plurality of digits of the measurement data obtained by said converting means except for the upper digits included in the upper digit data displayed on said electronic/optical digital display means;

memory means for storing a plurality of measurement data obtained by said converting means at a preselected time interval;

difference calculating means for calculating a difference between first and second measurement data among said plurality of measurement data stored in the memory means; and

second display control means for selectively activating said plurality of pointer display members of said electronic/optical analog display means in accordance with the difference calculated by said difference calculating means.

19. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 18, wherein:

said electronic/optical digital display means includes means for adding 1 to a least significant digit of said upper digit data of the measurement data to obtain added data, said electronic/optical digital display means digitally displaying said added data; and

said display control means including means for controlling said electronic/optical analog display means to display complement data of said lower digit data with said plurality of pointer display members.

20. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 18, wherein:

said electronic/optical digital display means displays said upper digit data at substantially the center of said plurality of pointer display members of said electronic/optical analog display means.

21. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 18, wherein:

said electronic/optical analog display means includes a scale display member for digitally displaying a value of data represented by a specific pointer display member among said plurality of pointer display members.

22. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 18, wherein:

said converting means produces a plurality of kinds of measurement data having a plurality of digits based on the sensor data output from said sensor, said plurality of kinds of measurement data being represented in different units respectively; and

said electronic appliance further comprising;

selectively designating means for selectively designating one of said plurality of kinds of measurement data produced by said converting means, and wherein

said electronic/optical digital display means digitally displays said upper digit data of the measurement data designated by said selectively designating means, and wherein

said electronic/optical analog display means displays the lower digit data of the measurement data designated by said selectively designating means with said plurality of pointer display members.

23. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 18, further comprising:

at least a second sensor for measuring a different subject from that to be measured by said sensor, said at least second sensor outputting second sensor data; and

selectively designating means for selectively designating one of said sensor and said second sensor, and wherein

said converting means converts sensor data output from said sensor and said second sensor to obtain measurement data each including a plurality of digits,

said electronic digital means digitally displaying said upper digit data among the measurement data of the sensor designated by said selectively designating means, and

said electronic/optical analog display means displaying said lower digit data among the measurement data of the sensor designated by said selectively designating means with said plurality of pointer display members.

24. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 18, further comprising:

time interval designating means for designating a second time interval; and

second calculating means for calculating difference data between first and second measurement data among the plurality of measurement data stored in said memory means, said first and second measurement data being obtained during substantially every second time interval designated by said time interval designating means; and

wherein

said display control means includes means for controlling said electronic/optical analog display means to display said difference data calculated by said second calculating means with said plurality of pointer display members.

25. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 18, further comprising:

time counting means for determining a present time; and

time display means for displaying the present time determined by said time counting means.

26. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 18, further comprising:

a case for containing said electronic appliance, said case having straps for securing said case to an operator.

27. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor for outputting sensor data, said appliance comprising:

converting means for converting sensor data output from the sensor to obtain measurement data having a plurality of numeral digits;

electronic/optical digital display means for digitally displaying upper digit data including upper digits of the plurality of numeral digits of the measurement data, said upper digits being added with 1;

electronic/optical analog display means having a plurality of pointer display members adapted to be activated;

first display control means for selectively activating the plurality of pointer display members in accordance with lower digit data, the lower digit data including lower digits of the plurality of digits of the measurement data obtained by said converting means except for the upper digits included in the upper digit data displayed on said electronic/optical digital display means;

memory means for storing a plurality of measurement data obtained by said converting means at a preselected time interval;

difference calculating means for calculating a difference data between first and second measurement data among said plurality of measurement data stored in the memory means; and

second display control means for selectively activating said plurality of pointer display members of said electronic/optical analog display means in accordance with the difference calculated by said difference calculating means.

28. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 27, wherein:

said electronic/optical digital display means displays said upper digital data, the least significant digit included in said upper digital data being added with 1 in correspondence with a substantial center of said plurality of pointer type display members of said electronic/optical analog display means.

29. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 27, wherein:

said electronic/optical analog display means includes a scale display member for digitally displaying a value of data represented by a specific pointer display member among said plurality of pointer display members.

30. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 27, wherein:

said converting means produces a plurality of kinds of measurement data having plural digits based on the sensor data output from said sensor, said plurality of kinds of measurement data being represented in different units respectively;

said electronic appliance further comprising;

selectively designating means for selectively designating one of said plurality of kinds of measurement data produced by said converting means, and wherein

said electronic/optical digital display means digitally displaying said data obtained by adding 1 to the least significant digit of said upper digit data of the measurement data designated by said selectively designating means, and said electronic/optical analog display means displays complement data of the lower digit data of the measurement data designated by said selectively designating means with said plurality of pointer display members.

31. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 27, further comprising:

at least a second sensor for measuring a different subject from that to be measured by said sensor, said at least second sensor outputting second sensor data; and

selectively designating means for selectively designating one of said sensor and said second sensor, and wherein

said converting means converts sensor data output from said sensor and said second sensor to obtain measurement data each including a plurality of digits, and

said electronic/optical digital display means digitally displaying data obtained by adding 1 to the least significant digit of said upper digit data of the measurement data of the sensor designated by said selectively designating means, and

said electronic/optical analog display means displaying complement data of said lower digit data among the measurement data of the sensor designated by said selectively designating means with said plurality of pointer display members.

32. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 27, further comprising:

time interval designating means for designating a second time interval; and

second calculating means for calculating difference data between first and second measurement data among the plurality of measurement data stored in said memory means, said first and second measurement data being obtained during substantially every second time interval designated by said time interval designating means; and

wherein

said display control means includes means for controlling said electronic/optical analog display means to display said difference data calculated by said second calculating means with said plurality of pointer display members.

33. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 27, further comprising:

time counting means for determining a present time; and

time display means for displaying the present time determined by said time counting means.

34. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor as defined by claim 27, further comprising:

a case for containing said electronic appliance, said case having straps for securing said case to an operator.

35. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor for outputting sensor data, said appliance comprising:

converting means for converting sensor data output by the sensor to obtain measurement data having a plurality of digits;

electronic/optical digital display means for digitally displaying upper digit data including upper digits of the plurality of digits of the measurement data;

pointer display means provided with a movable pointer movable within a movable range, said movable pointer having a reference position at substantially a center of the movable range, said movable pointer being capable of moving from the reference position in a first direction when the measurement data obtained by said converting means is larger than the upper digital data displayed by said electronic/optical digital display means, said movable pointer being capable of moving from the reference position in a second direction, when the measurement data obtained by said converting means is smaller than the upper digital data displayed by said electronic/optical digital display means, thereby indicating lower digit data including lower digits among the plurality of digits of the measurement data obtained by said converting means except the upper digits included in the upper digit data displayed by said electronic/optical digital display means, said second direction being substantially opposite the first direction;

judging means for, when a new measurement data is obtained by said converting means, determining whether the new measurement data falls within a display range, the display range being defined by data which can be displayed by said electronic/optical digital display means and a value displayed by said pointer display means;

changing means for changing the upper digital data displayed by said electronic/optical digital display means when said judging means determines that the new measurement data obtained by said converting means is not within the display range; and

pointer control means for moving the movable pointer to a position corresponding to a difference between the upper digital data changed by said changing means and the new measurement data obtained by said converting means.

36. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 35, wherein:

the movable pointer of said pointer display means is rotatable within a predetermined rotatable range; and

said electronic/optical digital display means displays the upper digit data substantially at a central portion of the predetermined rotatable range of the movable pointer of said pointer display means.

37. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 35, wherein:

said pointer display means includes an electronic/optical scale display means for digitally displaying a value of data indicated by said movable pointer when said movable pointer stays at a specified position within the movable range of said movable pointer.

38. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 35, wherein:

said converting means converts sensor data output from the sensor to obtain plural measurement data expressed in different units respectively;

said electronic appliance further comprising;

selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of measurement data obtained by said converting means, and wherein

the measurement data selected by said selecting means is displayed by said electronic/optical digital display means and said pointer display means.

39. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 35, further comprising:

at least a second sensor for measuring a subject different from that to be measured by said sensor to output sensor data; and

sensor selecting means for selecting one of said sensor and said second sensor, and wherein

said converting means converts sensor data output from said sensor and said second sensor to obtain measurement data including a plurality of digits; and

said electronic/optical digital display means cooperates with said pointer display means to display the measurement data obtained by said converting means based on the sensor data of the sensor selected by said selecting means.

40. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 35, further comprising:

a time counter for determining a present time; and

time display means for displaying the present time determined by said time counting means.

41. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 35, further comprising:

a case for containing said electronic appliance, said case having straps for securing said case to a user.

42. An electronic appliance equipped with a sensor for outputting sensor data, said appliance comprising:

converting means for converting sensor data output by the sensor to obtain measurement data having a plurality of digits;

electronic/optical digital display means having a reference value, for digitally displaying upper digit data including upper digits among the plural digits of measurement data obtained by said converting means;

electronic/optical analog display means having first pointer display members for indicating a difference between the upper digital data displayed by said electronic/optical digital display means and the measurement data obtained by said converting means, when said measurement data is larger than said upper digital data, and second pointer display members for indicating the difference, when said measurement data is smaller than said upper digital data, which of the first and second display members are arranged to be selectively turned on to indicate data, said electronic/optical analog display means selectively turning on the first and second pointer display members to display lower digit data including lower digits among the plurality of digits included in the measurement data obtained by said converting means except the upper digits of the upper digit data displayed by said electronic/optical digital display means;

judging means for, when a new measurement data is obtained by said converting means, determining whether the new measurement data falls within a display range, the display range being defined by data which can be displayed by said electronic/optical digital display means and a value displayed by said electronic/optical analog display means;

changing means for changing the reference value of said electronic/optical digital display means when said judging means determines that the new measurement data obtained by said converting means does not falls within the display range; and

display control means for controlling said electronic/optical digital display means to selectively turn on said first and second pointer display members, thereby displaying a difference between the reference value changed by said changing means and the new measurement data obtained by said converting means.

43. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 42, wherein:

said electronic/optical digital display means displays the upper digit data substantially at a center of the first and second pointer display members of said electronic/optical analog display means.

44. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 42, wherein:

said electronic/optical digital display means includes a scale display member for digitally indicating a value of data displayed by at least one of said first and second pointer display members.

45. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 42, wherein:

said converting means converts plural sensor data output from the sensor to obtain plural measurement data represented in different units respectively;

said electronic appliance further comprising;

selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of measurement data obtained by said converting means, and wherein

the measurement data selected by said selecting means is displayed by at least one of said electronic/optical digital display means and said first and second pointer display members of said electronic/optical analog display means.

46. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 42, further comprising:

at least a second sensor for measuring a subject different from that to be measured by said first-mentioned sensor to output sensor data; and

sensor selecting means for selecting one of said first mentioned sensor and said second sensor,

and wherein;

said converting means converts sensor data output from said sensor and said second sensor to obtain a plurality of measurement data each including a plurality of digits; and

said electronic/optical digital display means cooperates with said electronic/optical analog display means to display the measurement data obtained by said converting means based on the sensor data of the sensor selected by said selecting means.

47. An electronic appliance as defined by claim 42, further comprising:

a time counter for determining a present time; and

time display means for displaying the present time determined by said time counting means.

48. an electronic appliance as defined by claim 42, further comprising:

a case for containing said electronic appliance;

said case having straps for securing said case to a user.