Wrist-worn instrument face with indicating icons for programming

• US 6,443,614 B1
• Filed: 08/28/1997
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bell Sports Incorporated (Easton-Bell Sports Incorporated), Bell Sports Corporation (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Robert Read
• Inventors: Read, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US08/968,735
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 368/187, 368/189, 368/69, 368/70, 368/185, 368/281, 368/282
• US Class Current: 368/281
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14

Abstract

Embodiments of a wrist-worn instrument face display that has dot matrix indicating icons for programming or prompting the instrument. The icons may be single or combinations of symbols, numbers and text. In particular, the icons indicate a function of the instrument, and “point” to a specific function key located near the instrument face to indicate which key is to be pressed, and how many times it is to be pressed, and/or what plurality of keys are to be pressed and in what order, in order to obtain an identified, desired read-out on the instrument face or display. This way, operation of several functions, even ones requiring multiple keystrokes, may be easily accomplished by the user without referring to the operations manual.

Claims

1. A body-worn instrument comprising:

an instrument face with a perimeter, a plurality of operating keys dispersed around the outside of, but near, said perimeter; and

a programming screen within said instrument face, said programming screen having a display wherein a function of the instrument is selectively displayed in a dot matrix display, and an indicator arrow also in said dot matrix display pointing to one of said operating keys, wherein the instrument is programmed so that the function displayed is being prompted for, and the indicator arrow tells which key to push next.