Wrist-watch device having communication function, information display method, control program, and recording medium

• US 7,187,908 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Fujisawa, Teruhiko, Chihara, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin; Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, PIERRE LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US10/026,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20020081976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343.2, 455/343.4, 455/343.5, 455/69, 455/68, 455/88, 368/13, 368/46, 368/47, 368/108, 340/5.1, 340/5.61, 340/825, 702/179, 360/10
• US Class Current: 455/88
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/10 inside cases

Abstract

A user can easily identify the content of data (the value or the state of the data), such as a credit balance, stored in a contactless IC module provided in a wrist-watch device having a communication function. A timepiece control unit 14 of a timepiece module 10 transmits a confirmation command for the data, such as the credit balance, to a contactless IC module 60 every determination cycle period TSP, and receives the data stored in the contactless IC module 60. When the value of the stored data (for example, the amount of balance) becomes smaller than a predetermined value, the timepiece control unit 14 causes a second hand to perform an irregular movement noticeably different from the regular timing movement. Accordingly, the user is able to easily identify the data content (for example, insufficient balance).

Claims

1. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function, comprising:

a timepiece module including a mechanically driven time display member that displays the time;

a wireless communication circuit that transmits and receives data to and from an external wireless device by wireless communication, said wireless communication circuit including memory that stores non-display data;

a timepiece control unit that controls said time display member to display non-time information in accordance with said stored data;

a timer that counts a predetermined time period and wherein said timepiece control unit is responsive to said timer counting to an end of said predetermined time period for controlling said time display member to display non-time information in accordance with said stored data;

a comparator unit that compares a value of said stored data with a value of predetermined data, and that generates comparison result data; and

wherein said timepiece control unit controls said time display member to display non-time information in accordance with said comparison result data;

wherein said time display member comprises a second hand and said timepiece control unit controls said second hand to perform an irregular movement in accordance with said comparison result data;

wherein said timepiece control unit controls said second hand to move a predetermined distance in accordance with said stored data; and

wherein said timepiece control unit controls said second hand to restart displaying time after a predetermined period following movement of said second hand said predetermined distance.

2. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 1, wherein said timepiece control unit controls said second hand to move to a predetermined position in accordance with said stored data.

3. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 1, wherein said timepiece control unit controls said time display member to display information in accordance with said comparison result data when the value of said stored data is less than the value of said predetermined data, and said timepiece control unit is responsive to an updating signal transmitted from said external wireless device for updating the value of said predetermined data.

4. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication circuit is responsive to a polling signal from the external wireless device for transmitting a communication enable signal indicating that wireless communication is to be performed with the external wireless device.

5. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 1, further comprising a housing and a switch positioned on said housing and wherein said timepiece control unit is responsive to actuation of said switch for controlling said time display member to display information in accordance with said stored data.

6. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 1, wherein said time display member comprises a first dial that displays at least one of the day of the week and the day of the month and said timepiece control unit controls said first dial to display information in accordance with said stored data.

7. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 1, wherein said time display member comprises a first dial that displays time, and a separate second dial that displays at least one of the day of the week and the day of the month and said timepiece control unit controls said second dial to display information in accordance with said stored data.

8. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 1, wherein said time display member comprises a stop-watch indicator hand and a stop-watch dial that displays measured time, and said timepiece control unit controls said stop-watch indicator hand to display information in accordance with said stored data.

9. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication circuit comprises an IC chip including a communicator that modulates and demodulates data, and a controller that controls individual elements.

10. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication circuit comprises a power supply voltage generator that receives a signal from said external wireless device and that generates a power supply voltage from said received signal, and said timepiece control unit reads data from said wireless communication circuit by using said generated power, and including a battery for powering said time display member to display said non-time information.

11. A wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 1, wherein said memory stores prepaid card data.

12. An information display method for use in a wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function, said wrist-watch device comprising a timepiece module including a mechanically driven time display member that displays the time, and a wireless communication circuit that transmits and receives data to and from an external wireless device by wireless communication, said wireless communication circuit including memory that stores non-time data;

said information display method comprising the steps of;

reading said stored data from said wireless communication circuit in response to an instruction signal;

comparing a value of said stored data with a value of predetermined data;

generating comparison result data; and

controlling said time display member to display non-time information in accordance with said comparison result; and

wherein said time display member comprises a second hand, and further comprising;

controlling said second hand to perform an irregular movement in accordance with said comparison result data;

controlling said second hand to move a predetermined distance in accordance with said stored data; and

controlling said second hand to restart displaying time after a predetermined period following movement of said second hand said predetermined distance.

13. An information display method for use in a wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 12, wherein said wrist-watch device comprises a switch, the method further comprising:

activating said switch; and

controlling said time display member to display information in accordance with said stored data in response to activation of said switch.

14. An information display method for use in a wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function according to claim 12, further comprising:

restarting time display after controlling said time display member to display information in accordance with said stored data for a predetermined period.

15. A computer readable medium for storing a control program executable by a computer for controlling a wrist-watch device having a wireless communication function, said wrist-watch device comprising a timepiece module including a mechanically driven time display member that displays the time, and a wireless communication circuit that transmits and receives data to and from an external wireless device by wireless communication, said wireless communication circuit including memory that stores non-time data;

said control program executing a method comprising the steps of;

detecting an instruction from an external source;

reading said data from said wireless communication circuit based on said instruction;

comparing a value of said stored data with a value of predetermined data;

generating comparison result data; and

controlling said time display member to display non-time information in accordance with said comparison result data; and

wherein said time display member comprises a second hand, and further comprising;

controlling said second hand to perform an irregular movement in accordance with said comparison result data;

controlling said second hand to move a predetermined distance in accordance with said stored data; and

controlling said second hand to restart displaying time after a predetermined period following movement of said second hand said predetermined distance.

16. A computer readable according to claim 15, wherein said wrist-watch device comprises a switch, the method further comprising:

activating said switch; and

said detection of said instruction is in response to activation of said switch.

17. A computer readable according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

restarting time display after controlling said time display member to display information in accordance with said stored data for a predetermined period.