Wearable electronic device with multiple display functionality

• US 7,113,450 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Timex Group USA Incorporated (Tanager Group BV)
• Original Assignee: Timex Group BV (Tanager Group BV)
• Inventors: Stotz, Gerhard, Galie, Louis M., Plancon, Michel G., Schwartz, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US10/441,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 368/110, 368/10, 368/11, 368/223, 368/47, 368/46, 368/52, 368/80, 733/790.9, 600/528
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/02 Divers' equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/082 varying from the normal closed scale
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/23 by means of additional hands or additional pairs of hands simultaneous indication on several dials G04B19/025; indicating devices giving several simultaneous indications G04B19/048
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/008 combined with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/06 with attached measuring instruments, e.g. pedometer, barometer, thermometer or compass in combination with a tachometer which winds up the clockwork G04B5/206
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/065 with a compass compasses G01C17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 17/00 Indicating the time optically by electric means G04C19/00 takes precedence; by mechanical means G04B19/00, G04B19/20
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/146 incorporating two or more stepping motors or rotors
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 7/08 Watches or clocks with stop devices, e.g. chronograph
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
• 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

A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.

Claims

1. A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand rotatable about an axis, wherein the wearable electronic device includes a dial having a dial side and an actuation mechanism side, and the display hand is positioned on the dial side of the dial, wherein the information is transmitted via a signal being transmitted by a transmitter over a wireless link, the transmitter being physically separated from the wearable electronic device, wherein the wearable electronic device comprises:

a receiver for receiving the signal from the transmitter;

a controller, operatively coupled to the receiver, for receiving and processing the signal;

an actuation mechanism, operatively coupled to the controller, for rotating the at least one display hand in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in predefined increments, wherein the increments and direction of the rotation of the at least one display hand are based at least in part on the signal being received by the receiver and transmitted by the transmitter;

wherein the positioning of the display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in predefined increments conveys information relating to the signal being received by the receiver; and

wherein the transmitter is located in a cheststrap, and wherein the signal being received is a function of a heartrate being measured by a sensor in the cheststrap, and wherein the display hand rotates in one of the clockwise and counterclockwise direction and in predefined increments as a function of the heartrate being measured.

2. A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at laser in part by the use of at least one display hand rotatable about an axis, wherein the wearable electronic device includes a dial having a dial side and an actuation mechanism side, and the display hand is positioned on the dial side of the dial, wherein the information is transmitted via a signal being transmitted by a transmitter physically separated from the wearable electronic device, wherein the wearable electronic device comprises:

a receiver for receiving the signal from the transmitter;

a controller, operatively coupled to the receiver, for receiving and processing the signal;

an actuation mechanism, operatively coupled to the controller, for rotating the at least one display hand in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in predefined increments, wherein the increments and direction of the rotation of the at least one display hand are based at least in part on the signal being received by the receiver and transmitted by the transmitter;

wherein the positioning of the display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in predefined increments conveys information relating to the signal being received by the receiver; and

wherein the wearable electronic device has a center stem about which rotates at least an hour hand and a minute hand, wherein the display hand is mounted on the center stem, and wherein the wearable electronic device includes indicia relating to heartrate, and wherein the positioning of the display hand on the dial is indicative of the heartrate being measured.

3. A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand rotatable about an axis, wherein the wearable electronic device includes a dial having a dial side and an opposing side, and the display hand is positioned on the dial side of the dial, wherein the information is conveyed via a signal being transmitted by a transmitter located in a cheststrap and physically separated from the wearable electronic device, wherein the wearable electronic device comprises:

a receiver for receiving the signal from the transmitter, wherein the signal being received is a function of a heartrate being measured by a sensor in the cheststrap;

a controller, operatively coupled to the receiver, for receiving and processing the signal;

means, operatively coupled to the controller, for rotating the at least one display hand in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in predefined increments, wherein the increments and direction of the rotation of the at least one display hand are based at least in part on the signal being received by the receiver and transmitted by the transmitter;

wherein the positioning of the display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in predefined increments conveys information relating to the signal being received by the receiver.

4. The wearable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electronic device is a timepiece.

5. A system for conveying information to a user, the system comprising:

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a signal, wherein the transmitter is located in a cheststrap, and wherein the signal being received is a function of a heartrate being measured by a sensor in the cheststrap; and

a wearable electronic device physically separated from the transmitter for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand rotatable about an axis, wherein the wearable electronic device includes a dial having a dial side and an actuation mechanism side, and the display hand is positioned on the dial side of the dial, wherein the information is conveyed via the signal being transmitted by the transmitter, wherein the wearable electronic device comprises;

a receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted signal from the transmitter;

a controller, operatively coupled to the receiver, for receiving and processing the signal;

an actuation mechanism, operatively coupled to the controller, for rotating the at least one display band in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in predefined increments, wherein the increments and direction of the rotation of the at least one display hand are based at least in part on the signal being received by the receiver and transmitted by the transmitter;

wherein the positioning of the display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in predefined increments conveys information relating to the signal being received by the receiver.