Phase of the moon display

Abstract

A moon phase display has: - a display plane in which a current moon phase is displayed; - display elements having a first strip-shaped side on which an illuminated moon segment is depicted and a second strip-shaped side on which a non-illuminated moon segment is depicted; - wherein each of the display elements has a first rotational position in which the first side is arranged in the display plane and a second rotational position in which the second side is arranged in the display plane; - wherein the first strip-shaped sides jointly represent a full moon in a full moon position in which all display elements are in their first rotational position; - a drive which can rotate each individual one of the display elements about its longitudinal axis; and - a controller which is designed to control the drive such that one of the display elements is rotated into the second rotational position in successive steps starting from the full moon position until all display elements are in the second rotational position, thereby displaying a moon which wanes step by step.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a moon phase display with movable display elements. Such moon phase displays are mainly known from watches with a mechanical clockwork. BACKGROUND

[0002] A frequently encountered construction uses a circular disk which rotates once in 59 days. On the front side of the disk two circles are shown symmetrically with respect to the axis of rotation, which circles symbolize the moon each. In a dial plate arranged in front of the disk an opening is formed through which a sector of the disk spanning approximately 180° can be seen. This opening has a special shape in which approximately circular-arc-shaped sections form the opening edges which extend in the radial direction of the sector. By the rotation of the disk one of the two moon representations is pushed out from below one of the opening edges each, so that a crescent moon becomes visible which grows to a full circle until the moon is again obscured in the form of a crescent by the other opening edge. Shortly thereafter the second moon representation appears below the first opening edge. An example of such a moon phase display is described in document EP 3 098 671 A1.

[0003] In a similar way the moon phases can be displayed in such a way that a disk with a special opening is moved in front of stationary moon representations. In order to represent a moon with a smaller diameter. Circular openings can also be formed in the disk and the openings are moved in front of moon representations which are still slightly smaller in diameter. For this purpose more than two moon representations can be distributed over the circumference and the rotational speed can be reduced accordingly.

[0004] From document EP 2 853 957 B1 a further variant is known in which one disk has a plurality of openings and on another disk the moon is shown, wherein the two disks are moved with different rotational speeds.

[0005] All of the above-explained moon phase displays have in common that one display element which is movable or a plurality of display elements which are movable have a large size compared to the achieved display of the moon phases. The known moon phase displays therefore usually form a small, artistic addition to the watch dial. SUMMARY

[0006] Starting from this, it is the task of the invention to provide a moon phase display which enables an attractive, large-area representation of the moon phases with a compact construction.

[0007] The task is solved by a moon phase display having the features according to the invention.

[0008] The moon phase display has:

[0009] - a display plane in which a current moon phase is displayed;

[0010] - a plurality of display elements which are rotatably supported about their longitudinal axes and which have a first strip-shaped side on which an illuminated moon segment is depicted and a second strip-shaped side on which a non-illuminated moon segment is depicted;

[0011] - wherein each of the display elements has a first rotational position in which the first side is arranged in the display plane and a second rotational position in which the second side is arranged in the display plane;

[0012] - wherein the first sides collectively represent a full moon in a full moon position in which all display elements are in their first rotational position;

[0013] - a driver which can rotate each of the display elements individually about their longitudinal axes independently of the remaining display elements; and

[0014] - a controller which is designed to actuate the driver such that one of the display elements is rotated into the second rotational position in successive steps starting from the full moon position until all display elements are in the second rotational position, thereby displaying a waning moon.

[0015] The display elements have an elongated basic shape which comprises a longitudinal axis. The display elements can be cylindrical, i.e. have a constant cross section over the length of the display element. In this case, the two sides have a constant spacing from the longitudinal axis. The two sides are strip-shaped, which sides form the longitudinal sides of the display element, respectively. For example, the display elements can have a rectangular cross section, wherein the two sides are located on the longer sides of the rectangle which are opposite to each other. The first rotational position and the second rotational position then differ by 180°. If the display elements are triangular in cross section, in particular in the form of an equilateral triangle, the angle between the two rotational positions is 120° or 240°. The two sides can have the same shape and size. In particular, the two sides can be rectangular. In the first rotational position, the first side is located in the display plane, and in the second rotational position, the second side is located in the display plane, wherein the second side is then in particular in the same position as the first side in the first rotational position.

[0016] The display elements can be arranged side by side. The longitudinal axes can be arranged parallel in a plane. In the full moon position, the first side faces of adjacent display elements can adjoin one another or almost adjoin one another, so that these first side faces form an approximately closed surface. However, the first side faces can also be arranged at a distance from one another, which can be left free or can be filled or almost filled by a further element. Such a distance can be used as an artistic means in order to emphasize the representation of the moon composed of a plurality of segments.

[0017] The drive can rotate each display element individually about its longitudinal axis and thereby in particular set the first rotational position and the second rotational position. The rotation can be carried out smoothly or stepwise, for example in the case of the use of a stepper motor or a servo motor or a rotary magnet. In particular, each display element can have its own drive, for example with its own stepper motor or servo motor or rotary magnet. However, it is also conceivable to have a central drive with a suitable clutch mechanism.

[0018] An electronic controller, for example driving a stepper motor or a servo motor assigned to the display element, can be used as a controller. However, a purely mechanical controller is also conceivable. The drive can be controlled by the controller in such a way that at a certain time all the side faces arranged in the display plane show the current moon phase. In the full moon position, all display elements are in the first rotational position, so that all first side faces are arranged in the display plane. Each of these side faces shows the illuminated moon segment, which together represent the full moon.

[0019] In order to power the drive and the controller, for example a battery or an accumulator can be present. A power connection is also possible.

[0020] With each step, one of the display elements is brought from the first rotational position to the second rotational position, so that the first side face involved and the illuminated moon segment depicted thereon is no longer arranged in the display plane. The moon therefore wanes step by step. After the last step, all display elements are in the second rotational position, so that no illuminated moon segment is visible any more, which corresponds to the new moon.

[0021] It goes without saying that the controller is preferably designed in such a way that in further steps the individual display elements are set back from the second rotational position to the first rotational position by a further rotation (in the same direction or in the opposite direction), so that the moon waxes step by step until the full moon position is reached again.

[0022] The steps can be executed at fixedly predetermined time intervals, which are determined such that the shown image of the moon at each time corresponds as well as possible to the current moon phase. Here, the length of the time intervals is in particular related to the number of steps required and / or the number of display elements.

[0023] In one design variant, the number of display elements is even and lies in the range from 4 to 60. With an even number, an optimized representation of the half moon can be achieved if the moon segments depicted on half of the display elements present together form a semicircle. Four display elements are already sufficient for a convincing representation of the moon phases, since with this it is already possible to distinguish between new moon, quarter moon, half moon, three-quarter moon and full moon. For a more differentiated representation, a greater number of display elements is required. The greater number of display elements also contributes to a compact size of the moon phase display, since the required construction space for accommodating the display elements or for their rotational movement is dealt with in a smaller depth.

[0024] In one design variant, the number of display elements is 14. This number allows a sufficiently differentiated representation of the moon phases. Furthermore, a complete moon phase cycle, which lasts approximately 29.5 days, is shown in 28 steps, so that the time interval between successive steps can be approximately 24 hours or can be approximately 24 hours. Thereby, the representation changes once a day at a fixed or approximately fixed time, which makes the moon phase display particularly interesting for the viewer.

[0025] When driving the driver, the controller can execute successive steps at fixed time intervals, so that the shown moon phase corresponds as well as possible to the current moon phase. Alternatively, the controller can take into account the current time, for example, so that the steps are always executed at the same time each day; or so that no steps are executed at a predetermined rest time, for example between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. In the latter case, then the steps to be processed can be made up in advance to a time before 10 p.m. or after 8 a.m.

[0026] In one design variant, the longitudinal axes of the display elements extend perpendicularly with respect to the field of view of a viewer who looks at the moon phase display in the position of use. In the case of integration of the moon phase display into a watch, this means that the longitudinal axes are arranged parallel to a line which connects the 12 o'clock position with the 6 o'clock position of a conventional 12-hour dial. In the case of a moon phase display integrated into a floor or wall clock or another moon phase display standing or hanging on a wall, the longitudinal axes extend correspondingly in a vertical direction. With this alignment of the longitudinal axes, a moon representation is achieved which generally corresponds better to the moon as observed in the sky than in the case of a horizontal alignment of the longitudinal axes.

[0027] In one design variant, the controller is designed such that the number of successive steps (from full moon to new moon) corresponds to the number of display elements, wherein in a first step a display element arranged on a first side of the moon phase display is rotated; in a second step a display element directly adjacent to this display element is rotated, and so on, until in a last step a display element arranged on a second side of the moon phase display, opposite the first side, is rotated.

[0028] In one design variant, the controller has a northern hemisphere mode of operation and a southern hemisphere mode of operation, wherein in the northern hemisphere mode of operation the display element whose field of view with respect to the viewer is located furthest to the right is rotated in a first step, and in the southern hemisphere mode of operation the display element whose field of view with respect to the viewer is located furthest to the left is rotated in a first step. Thereby, a representation is achieved which corresponds to the image of the moon as it can be seen in the sky on the respective hemisphere.

[0029] In one design variant, the first side forms a square face in the display plane in the full moon position. This shaping is ideal for a representation of a full moon which is full-area and circular.

[0030] In one design variant, the part face of the first side which adjoins the depiction of the illuminated moon segment has a background colour. The background colour can be chosen to be dark, corresponding to the night sky. Thereby, the moon is shown against a uniform background in the case of a full moon.

[0031] In one design variant, the second side has a background colour. Thereby, the illuminated moon segment is also shown against a uniform background in the case of each partial moon representation.

[0032] In one design variant, on each second side a non-illuminated moon segment is respectively depicted. Thereby, the moon segment which is not directly illuminated by the sun is also visible, as in reality. This relates here to a particular design feature which cannot be achieved with the conventional moon phase display described at the outset.

[0033] In one design variant, the part face of the second side which adjoins the depiction of the non-illuminated moon segment has a background colour. Thereby, the entire moon is shown against a uniform background in each partial moon position.

[0034] In one design variant, the moon phase display has a frame which is arranged in the display plane and which frames the display elements. The frame forms an aesthetically pleasing finish of the face formed by the display elements. At the same time, the frame achieves protection of the movable display elements from damage and can be used to accommodate suitable bearings and / or drives and / or controllers.

[0035] Preferably, the frame remains in the background color. Thereby, a uniform appearance of the moon phase display is achieved. Furthermore, the recognizability of the constructional embodiments of the moon phase display with movable display elements can be completely or partially concealed.

[0036] In one design, the display elements each have a third strip-shaped side face which is arranged in the display plane in a third rotational position. In this case, the cross section of the display elements can be triangular, in particular. By means of the third side face an additional state of the moon phase can be shown. For example, the second side face can be kept completely in the background color, while the third side face can have a depiction of unilluminated moon segments. It is then possible to switch between the two illustrated representation variants.

[0037] In one design, the drive for each of the display elements has a drive unit with a stepper motor or a servo motor or a rotary magnet. Thereby, the rotational position of each display element can be set with the same precision. The drive unit can be screwed with a long hole to the carrying structure of the moon phase display, so that a fine adjustment of the position of the display element is possible. The long hole can be aligned, in particular, such that the position of the display element can be adjusted in the direction of the display plane, i.e. perpendicular to the normal direction of the display plane. On the end opposite to the drive unit, each display element can be supported in a support element, the position of which can be executed in a fine-adjustable manner by a long hole connection in the same way. Thereby, it easily becomes possible to adjust the position of the display elements such that there is a uniform spacing between adjacent display elements.

[0038] In one design, the drive unit of one of the display elements is arranged on the upper end of the respective display element, and the drive unit of the adjacently arranged display element is arranged on the lower end of the respective display element. This can apply to each pair of adjacent display elements. In other words, the drive units are always arranged alternately on opposite ends of the display elements. Each drive unit then has a structure space which is approximately twice as large as the free space present above or below the display element. Thereby, miniaturization of the moon phase display is possible.

[0039] In one design, a safety clutch is arranged between one of the display elements and the drive, which releases the form- or force-lock between the drive and the display element when a predetermined torque is exceeded. In particular, each of the display elements can be equipped with such a safety clutch. In the event of a blocked or obstructed rotational movement, the safety clutch prevents overloading and / or other damage to the drive.

[0040] In one design, the safety clutch has a resilient clutch element which cooperates with a flat (Flachstelle) of a shaft which is fixedly connected to the drive or to the display element. In the blocked or blocked state, the resilient clutch element can be deformed and slip off the flat.

[0041] In one design, the drive is provided with a gap, and the display element is provided with a spring element and a control part which cooperates with the spring element, wherein the control part has a flat for each of the sides of the control part, against which the spring element bears flush if the display element is exactly in the associated rotational position. The spring element and the control part together form a mechanism which ensures the exact alignment of the display element in the set rest position. With the drive provided with a gap, the rest position at standstill of the drive is only fixed within certain limits (for example with a possible deviation of + / - 0.5° to + / - 5°). In combination with the safety clutch, such a rotational gap can be achieved, for example, by a gap (Spalt) between the resilient clutch element and the flat of the shaft of the drive element. The spring element is responsible for the exact alignment, which exerts a spring force onto the flat, which is dependent on the relative rotational position between the spring element and the control part. If the spring element bears flush against the flat, the force acts symmetrically with respect to the rotational axis without exerting a torque. The control part is arranged concentrically to the rotational axis of the display element. The flats can be arranged distributed over the circumference of the control part. The control part can be connected to the display element in a non-rotating manner, i.e. rotates together with the control part. In this case, the control element can be fixedly arranged, for example fastened on the frame of the moon phase display. In particular, the flats can be arranged parallel to the associated side, for example on the "rear side" of the display element opposite the associated one of the sides with respect to the rotational axis. The opposite arrangement is also possible, i.e. the spring element connected to the display element in a non-rotating manner and the control part fixedly arranged, for example on the frame. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0042] The application is explained in more detail in the following with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings:

[0043] Figure 1 showing the moon phase display in a juxtaposed view at different times;

[0044] Figure 2 showing Figure 1 a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the moon phase display of

[0045] Figure 3 showing Figure 1 a perspective rear view of the moon phase display of

[0046] Figure 4 a perspective exploded view of a driver of the moon phase display of Figure 1

[0047] Figure 5 a schematic view of a driver of a display element with a safety clutch; and

[0048] Figure 6 a schematic view of a display element of Figure 5 equipped with a control member for fixing a rest position and a spring element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Figure 1 A moon phase display is shown, which has fourteen display elements 10-36 and a frame 38 surrounding the display elements 10-36. The display elements 10-36 have a first and a second bar-shaped, rectangular side, respectively. The display elements 10-36 are rotatably supported about a vertical longitudinal axis.

[0050] In the case shown on the left in Figure 1 , all display elements 10-36 are in a first rotational position, in which the first sides are arranged in a display plane corresponding to the drawing plane, respectively. The first sides of the display elements 10-36 together almost completely fill a square face of the display plane. The frame 38 also lies in the display plane with its front part. The frame has a square shape and a square cross section, in which the display elements 10-36 are arranged so that they almost completely fill the cross section.

[0051] On each of the fourteen first sides, an illuminated moon segment is depicted, which is shown in white in Figure 1 . The first sides together represent a full moon; the case shown on the left in Figure 1 is the full moon position. The parts of the first sides that adjoin the illuminated moon segments, respectively, remain black in the color forming the background. The frame 38 is also black, so that the full moon appears against an overall uniform background.

[0052] From the full moon position shown on the left in Figure 1 , the display elements 10-36 reach their respective second rotational positions in successive steps, respectively. In a first step, this occurs for the display element 10 arranged at the leftmost side, then for the adjacent display element 12, and so on. After four steps, the case shown in Figure 1 ​The moon is shown in the middle position, where it is already a full quarter (more precisely, four-fourteenths) waning. The four display elements 10, 12, 14, and 16 arranged on the left are now in their second rotational position, where their second sides are arranged in the display plane. Instead of depicting the illuminated lunar segments on the second sides, unilluminated lunar segments, shown in gray, are depicted. The portions of the second sides adjacent to the unilluminated lunar segments remain black against the background color. The diameter of the depicted moon is adapted to the size of the first side in such a way that the surface filled by the display elements 10-36 is almost completely or entirely utilized.

[0053] After three more steps, display elements 18, 20, and 22 are also in their second rotational position. Figure 1 The situation shown on the right side is the crescent position. Here, in... Figure 1 The process shown corresponds to the Southern Hemisphere mode of operation, as it represents the situation observed in the Southern Hemisphere night sky where the moon is waning "from the left." In the Northern Hemisphere mode of operation (not shown), starting from the full moon position, the rightmost display element 36 first rotates to the second rotation position.

[0054] exist Figure 2 Display elements 10, 12, and 14 are schematically shown in cross-section. These display elements each form an equilateral triangle. A first side face 40 is arranged on one side of the triangle, and a second side face 42 is arranged on the second side. In the shown position, the first side face 40 lies in the display plane indicated by the dotted line 44. Adjacent to the first side face 40 of display element 10, a portion of frame 38 can be seen, the front side of which also lies in the display plane. A vertically arranged bracket 46 is located behind frame 38, forming part of the support structure. For each display element 10-36, only the support element 50, schematically indicated, is located on another element of the support structure. Figure 2 On a horizontal support not shown. Also shown is a longitudinal axis 48, about which each of the display elements 10-36 is rotatably supported in a support element 50.

[0055] Also shown only schematically is controller 66, which is configured to control the rotational position of each display element 10-36. For this purpose, the controller is connected to drive unit 60 (see...). Figure 4 The electronic controller 66 and drive unit 60 are connected. The electronic controller 66 and drive unit 60 are powered by a battery (not shown).

[0056] Figure 3A rear view of the moon phase display is shown, in which the rear wall (not shown) has been removed. It can be seen that the rear side of the frame 38 and two of the vertical supports 46 and two of the horizontal supports 52, 54, which form a carrier structure for the display elements 10-36. The frame 38 is fastened on this carrier structure.

[0057] The display elements 10-36 (only some of which are provided with reference numerals in Figure 3 are adjoined at their upper and lower ends respectively to one of the horizontal supports 52, 54. A fixing 56 for accommodating a drive unit is arranged on every second one of the display elements 10-36 on the upper end of the respective display element 10-36 above the horizontal support 52. On the remaining display elements 10-36, such a fixing 56 is located on the lower end of the display element 10-36 below the other horizontal support 54. The drive units themselves are not shown in detail in Figure 3 .

[0058] Figure 4 A perspective view of the moon phase display is shown from the front. It can be seen that some of the display elements 10-36 and the horizontal support 52 arranged above them. For every second display element 10-36, a drive unit 60 with a fixing 56 is arranged above the support 52.

[0059] One of these drive units 60 is shown in exploded view. The drive unit comprises a two-part fixing 56 with four long holes through which a bolt 58 is respectively guided and screwed into the support 52, and a servomotor 62 which is connected with a shaft 64 which bears and drives the associated display element 10-36.

[0060] Figure 5 In the lower part, a partial view of a display element 10 is shown, which is rotatably supported about the axis of rotation 48 by means of a sliding bearing face 74 and driven by a drive unit 60. The drive unit 60 has a turntable 68 on which a resilient clutch element 70 is fastened, which has a laterally displaceable end section which extends parallel to the axis of rotation 48. In the shown rest position, this end section lies at a small distance from a flat 72 which is formed on an otherwise circular shaft section 76 which is arranged concentrically with the axis of rotation 48. On rotation of the turntable 68, the end section comes into abutment with the flat 72 and, on further rotational movement, entrains the display element 10.

[0061] If rotation of the display element 10 is impeded, the end section is offset outward and slides away from the flat 72, so that the end section abuts against the remaining side surface of the shaft section 76. Thus, the flat 72 and the resilient clutch element 70 form a safety clutch. After the obstruction is removed, the display element 10 can be aligned again so that the flat 72 is on the end section. This can be easily and successfully done manually, especially if the friction between the shaft section 76 and the resilient clutch element is less than the self-impedance of the drive unit 60.

[0062] exist Figure 6 The middle shows Figure 6 The lower section of the display element 10. The display element is rotatably supported in the frame member 78 about a rotation axis 48. The control member 80 is arranged concentrically with the rotation axis 48 below the display element 10 and is connected to the display element 10 in a non-rotational manner. The control member has three flat positions 82, which are respectively disposed on the side of the display element 10. The free end of the spring element 84 is face-fitted against one of these flat positions 82, and the spring element is fastened to the frame member 78. When the display element 10 rotates, the free end of the spring element 84 is offset outward away from the rotation axis 48. As a result, the free end applies a torque to the control member 80, which is sufficient to make the display element 10 accurately reach the desired rotational position within the rotational clearance.

[0063] List of reference numerals

[0064] 10-36 display elements

[0065] 38 frame

[0066] 40 First side view

[0067] 42 Second side view

[0068] 44 lines (display plane)

[0069] 46 brackets (vertical)

[0070] 48 axis of rotation

[0071] 50 support elements

[0072] 52, 54 supports (horizontal)

[0073] 56 fasteners

[0074] 58 bolts

[0075] 60 drive units

[0076] 62 servo motors

[0077] 64 axes

[0078] 66 controller

[0079] 68 rotary table

[0080] 70 elastic clutch element

[0081] 72 flat

[0082] 74 sliding bearing surface

[0083] 76 shaft section

[0084] 78 frame part

[0085] 80 control part

[0086] 82 flat

[0087] 84 spring element

Claims

1. A moon phase display, the moon phase display having: - A display plane in which the current lunar phase is displayed; - A plurality of display elements (10-36), each display element being rotatably supported about its longitudinal axis and having: a first strip side (40) on which an illuminated lunar segment is depicted; and a second strip side (42) on which an unilluminated lunar segment is depicted; -in, Each of the display elements (10-36) has: a first rotational position, in which the first side (40) is arranged in the display plane; And a second rotational position, in which the second side (42) is arranged in the display plane; -In this context, the first side (40) together represent the full moon at the full moon position, where all display elements (10-36) are located in their first rotational position; - A driver that enables each individual display element (10-36) to rotate about its longitudinal axis independently of the other display elements (10-36); - Controller (66), configured to drive a driver such that, starting from the full moon position, one of the display elements (10-36) is rotated to a second rotation position in successive steps until all display elements (10-36) are in the second rotation position, thereby displaying a gradually waning moon; and The current lunar phase is displayed on all sides of the display plane at a specific time.

2. The moon phase display according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of display elements (10-36) is even and ranges from 4 to 30.

3. The moon phase display according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of display elements (10-36) is 14.

4. The moon phase display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The longitudinal axis of the display element (10-36) extends perpendicularly to the field of view of a viewer viewing the moon phase display from the position of use.

5. The moon phase display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The controller (66) is configured such that the number of successive steps corresponds to the number of display elements (10-36), wherein in the first step, a display element (10-36) arranged on the first side of the moon phase display is rotated; in the second step, a display element (10-36) located directly next to that display element is rotated, and so on, until in the last step, a display element (10-36) arranged on the second side of the moon phase display opposite to the first side is rotated.

6. The moon phase display according to claim 5, characterized in that, The controller (66) has a Northern Hemisphere operating mode and a Southern Hemisphere operating mode. In the Northern Hemisphere operating mode, the rightmost display element (36) of the reference viewer's field of view is rotated in the first step, and in the Southern Hemisphere operating mode, the leftmost display element (10) of the reference viewer's field of view is rotated in the first step.

7. The moon phase display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first side (40) forms a square face in the display plane at the full moon position.

8. The moon phase display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The portion of the first side (40) adjacent to the illuminated portion of the moon section has a background color.

9. The moon phase display according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second side (42) has a background color.

10. The moon phase display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The unilluminated lunar section is depicted on each of the second sides (42).

11. The moon phase display according to claim 10, characterized in that, The portion of the second side (42) adjacent to the unlit lunar section has a background color.

12. The moon phase display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The moon phase display has a frame (38) arranged in the display plane and framing the display elements (10-36).

13. The moon phase display according to claim 12, characterized in that, The frame (38) remains the background color.

14. The moon phase display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The display elements (10-36) each have a third strip-shaped side surface, which is arranged in the display plane at a third rotational position.

15. The moon phase display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The driver for each of the display elements (10-36) has its own drive unit (60), which has a stepper motor or servo motor (62) or a rotating magnet.

16. The moon phase display according to claim 15, characterized in that, The driving unit (60) of one of the display elements (10-36) is arranged on the upper end of the corresponding display element (10-36), and the driving units (60) of the adjacent display elements (10-36) are arranged on the lower end of the corresponding display elements.

17. The moon phase display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A safety clutch is arranged between one of the display elements (10) and the driver, the safety clutch releasing the form-locking or force-locking between the driver and the display element (10) when a predetermined torque is exceeded.

18. The moon phase display according to claim 17, characterized in that, The safety clutch has a resilient clutch element (70) that engages with a shaft fixedly connected to a drive or display element (10).

19. The moon phase display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The driver is gapped and the display element (10) is provided with a spring element (84) and a control member (80) that cooperates with the spring element (84), wherein the control member (80) has a flat position for each of the sides of the display element (10), and the spring element (84) rests facetably on the flat position if the display element (10) is precisely in its respective rotational position.

Images