Time display system, method and device
First Claim
1. A method for conveying the current time of day in hours and minutes comprising the steps of:
- alternately displaying time in one of two different time display modes, said two time display modes being selected from the group consisting of a color-dependent time display mode and a color-independent time display mode;
providing a manual switching mechanism whereby a user can choose between said two time display modes;
indicating the current hour of the day either (i) by a color-dependent hour indicator where each hour of the day is indicated by a different color or (ii) by a color-independent hour indicator in which the color has no role in indicating each hour, according to the time display mode chosen by the user; and
indicating the current minute by a color-independent minute indicator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A time display device (“TDD”)—equally adaptable to watches, clocks, computers, phones, and vehicles—indicates the current hour of the day by displaying a color that refers an observer to the disclosed color-to-hour matrix, thereby eliminating the traditional hour hand or digit altogether. Alternately adaptable to months, the system may be used with both mechanical and electronic displays. Various disclosed minute indicators provide minute indication by shape, complexity, company logo, air bubbles, or other novel methods. Environmental sensors allow switching between functions. TDD appearance is user-customizable via Internet. Birthstones, gemstones, and precious metals are alternately used as stand-alone time indicators.
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Citations
73 Claims
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1. A method for conveying the current time of day in hours and minutes comprising the steps of:
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alternately displaying time in one of two different time display modes, said two time display modes being selected from the group consisting of a color-dependent time display mode and a color-independent time display mode; providing a manual switching mechanism whereby a user can choose between said two time display modes; indicating the current hour of the day either (i) by a color-dependent hour indicator where each hour of the day is indicated by a different color or (ii) by a color-independent hour indicator in which the color has no role in indicating each hour, according to the time display mode chosen by the user; and indicating the current minute by a color-independent minute indicator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for conveying the current time of day in hours and minutes comprising the steps of:
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alternately displaying time in a color-dependent mode and a color-independent mode; providing a switching mechanism whereby a user can choose between said two time display modes; displaying a first hour indicator in a different color each hour in the color-dependent mode, said first hour indicator being of a different size than the size of a second hour indicator in the color-independent mode; and indicating the current minute. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A device for conveying the current time of day in hours and minutes comprising:
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a display suitable for indicating the hour of the day in a color-dependent mode and a color-independent mode, wherein said color-dependent mode comprises a larger hour indicator than said color-independent mode; said display for displaying a different color each hour to indicate the hour of the day; a manual switch whereby a user can choose between said two time display modes; and a minute indicator. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A time display device for conveying the time of day comprising:
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timekeeping means for at least the hours and minutes of the time of day; electronic digital display comprising no more than two numerical digits for indicating minutes; and means for changing the color of the numerical digits to a different color each hour of the day for indicating the hours by reference to a color-to-hour matrix, whereby the minutes are indicated digitally and the hours are indicated by a color change of the numerical digits. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for conveying the current time of day in hours and minutes comprising the steps of:
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indicating minutes by means of no more than two numerical digits of an electronic display; and indicating the hours of the day by changing the color of the numerical digits to a different color each hour of the day by reference to a color-to-hour matrix, whereby the minutes are indicated digitally and the hours are indicated by a color change of the numerical digits. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for conveying the current time of day in hours and minutes comprising the steps of:
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displaying a minute indicator against a background so as to indicate simultaneously the current minute and the current hour; indicating the current minute by said minute indicator and the current hour by color reference to a color-to-hour matrix; changing, each hour, at least one of either the color of said minute indicator or the color of said background; and changing at least once during the display of an hour, both the color of said minute indicator and the color of said background so that readability of said minute indicator is maintained. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A time display device for conveying time of day comprising:
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an electronic display for displaying a minute indicator against a background so as to indicate simultaneously the current minute and the current hour wherein; the current minute is indicated by said minute indicator and the current hour is indicated by displaying a color so as to refer a viewer to a color-to-hour matrix; means for changing each hour, at least one of either the color of said minute indicator or the color of said background; and means for changing at least once during the display of an hour, both the color of said minute indicator and the color of said background so that readability of said minute indicator is maintained. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A device for conveying the current time of day in hours and minutes comprising:
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an electronic display for alternately displaying time in one of two different time display modes, said two time display modes being selected from the group consisting of a color-dependent time display mode, in which a first hour indicator indicates the current hour of the day by color reference to a color-to-hour matrix, and a color-independent time display mode, in which a second hour indicator indicates the current hour of the day by color-independent means; a switching mechanism whereby a user can choose between said two time display modes; at least one of said two hour indicators; and a color-independent minute indicator. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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Specification