Watch

Abstract

To realize a scale display on a dial of a watch that is easily recognizable by a user.SOLUTION: An altitude display unit 33 of a watch 1 comprises a plurality of scales 33c on a dial 30 that are different from hour marks 32, and a pointer 33a that points to one of the plurality of scales 33c by rotating around a pointer axis O2. Also, the dial 30 also displays numbers 33d corresponding to each of the plurality of scales 33c on an extension line of the adjacent scales 33c.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a watch. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a timepiece has been disclosed that has a power reserve display mechanism in which a scale M is displayed on a face (dial) and numbers are displayed on extensions of the scale lines at specified intervals on the scale M, and the scale M is pointed to by an indicator hand 78 (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-234432 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, because the numbers on the above-mentioned scale M are distributed discretely, if it is used as the scale of an altimeter mounted on a watch, for example, the altitude may be misjudged when checking the altitude in a stressful situation, such as while climbing a mountain.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to realize a scale display on the dial of a timepiece that is easily recognizable by the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a watch comprising: A dial on which a plurality of hour characters and a plurality of scales other than the hour characters are displayed; a first hand that rotates around a first rotation axis to indicate one of the plurality of hour characters on the dial; a second pointer that rotates about a second rotation axis to indicate one of the scales on the dial; Equipped with On the dial, numbers or letters corresponding to each of the plurality of scales are displayed on extensions of adjacent scales among the plurality of scales. It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a scale display on the face of a timepiece that is easily recognizable by the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a timepiece according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the altitude display section, which is part II in FIG. [Diagram 3] 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a pointer on an altitude display unit indicates an altitude scale. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 shows an altitude display section in which numbers or letters are displayed on the extensions of all scale marks. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are subject to various limitations that are technically preferable for implementing the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the timepiece 1. The timepiece 1 is, for example, a wristwatch-type timepiece. The timepiece 1 comprises a housing 2, a display unit 3 having a dial 30 and a number of hands 31 (first hands), and an operation unit 4 including push button switches B1, B2, B3, B4 and a crown C1. The display unit 3 is located inside the housing 2, and the top surface is covered by a transparent windshield glass (not shown). Inside the housing 2 of the timepiece 1 and below the display unit 3, a circuit board (not shown) and a motor, gears, etc. that rotate the hands 31 (second hand 31s, minute hand 31m, hour hand 31h) around a hand axis O1 (first rotation axis) are built in. The bottom surface of the timepiece 1 is sealed by a back cover (not shown). In the following, when the term "hands 31" is used simply, it includes the second hand 3s, minute hand 3m, and hour hand 3h.

[0011] The dial 30 in this embodiment is circular, with hour characters 32 (indexes) and scales arranged along the circumferential direction of the dial 30. An axis O1 for rotating the hand 31 is provided at the center of the dial 30. The hand 31 displays the time by rotating around the axis O1 to appropriately point to the hour characters 32 or scales.

[0012] The dial 30 also has an altitude display section 33, a stopwatch display section 34, and a digital display section 35.

[0013] Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the altitude display unit 33 surrounded by the dashed line indicated by II in Fig. 1. The altitude display unit 33 indicates how much the altitude has changed, with the altitude at which an altimeter (not shown) provided inside the housing 2 is started being taken as 0 (reference altitude). As the altimeter, for example, a barometric altimeter can be used. As shown in Fig. 2, the altitude display unit 33 is provided with a pointer 33a (second pointer), a reference position 33b, multiple scales 33c, numbers 33d corresponding to the scales 33c, and a sign display unit 33e. The multiple scales 33c are separate from the scales such as the hour characters 32 for indicating the time. Note that the numbers 33d include characters such as "OVER" and "UNDER" as shown in Fig. 2. When the altimeter is not activated, the hand 33a points to the reference position 33b. When the altimeter is activated, the hand 33a indicates the altitude by rotating around the axis O2 (second rotation axis) so as to point to one of the scales 33c depending on the current altitude, with the altitude at the time of activation being set to 0.

[0014] When a user is in a stressful situation, such as while climbing a mountain, and checks the altitude on the watch, if there are scale marks without numbers, the user may misjudge the altitude. Therefore, in the altitude display section 33 of the watch 1, numbers 33d corresponding to each of the multiple scales 33c are displayed on the extension line of each of the adjacent scales 33c (on the extension line in the opposite direction from the pointer 33a).

[0015] For example, the altitude display unit 33 shown in Fig. 2 displays 13 scales 33c indicating +2, +4, +6, +8, +10, OVER (+10 or more), -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, and UNDER (-10 or less), with the scale 33c indicating 0 at the center (reference scale). Numbers 33d corresponding to each of the scales 33c, "-8" to "+8", are displayed on the extension lines of adjacent scales 33c indicating -8 to +8. According to this display, for the scales 33c indicating -8 to +8, numbers are displayed on the extension lines of each scale 33c, so that the user can easily recognize the altitude and misreading the altitude can be reduced. In this embodiment, the hour characters 32 are basically rectangular, but the hour characters 32 at the 8 o'clock and 10 o'clock positions are partially cut out. By cutting out the parts of the hour characters 32, space is secured for the altitude display section 33, and it is possible to display characters such as "OVER" and "UNDER" on the extension of the scale 33c.

[0016] Here, the numerical value represented by the interval of the scale 33c can be arbitrarily set by the user, for example, by operating a predetermined push button switch of the operation unit 4, or by using a smartphone, etc. For example, the interval of the scale 33c may be set to 2 m so that the scale 33c changes by 1 every time the altitude changes by 2 m, or the interval of the scale 33c may be set to 100 m so that the scale 33c changes by 1 every time the altitude changes by 100 m.

[0017] In addition, the display area of ​​a watch (wristwatch) dial is generally limited, making it difficult to provide numbers for each adjacent scale marking due to space limitations; however, in the altitude display unit 33 shown in FIG. 2, when the 12 o'clock direction is the upward direction and the 6 o'clock direction is the downward direction, multiple adjacent numbers 33d are displayed in a vertical row from top to bottom (i.e., displayed in a row perpendicular to the direction in which the reference scale extends), so that even in the limited space on the dial 30, it is possible to display the numbers 33d corresponding to each of the multiple adjacent scale marks 33c.

[0018] In the altitude display unit 33, the scale 33c and numbers 33d indicating 0, which is the reference altitude, are displayed in a position that is horizontal (the direction of an imaginary line connecting the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock directions) when the hand 33a points to the scale 33c, and multiple numbers 33d with different signs ("-8" and "8", "-6" and "6", "-4" and "4", "-2" and "2") are displayed symmetrically arranged around the "0" of the number 33d. Therefore, the user can intuitively recognize whether the altitude has increased or decreased relative to the reference altitude, and by how much the altitude has increased or decreased.

[0019] In the altitude display unit 33, the signs "+" and "-" of the numbers 33d are displayed together in a sign display unit 33e, which is a display area separate from the display area in which the numbers 33d with the respective signs are displayed. Specifically, the sign display unit 33e with "+" is displayed in correspondence with the numbers 33d with the sign "+", and the sign display unit 33e with "-" is displayed in correspondence with the numbers 33d with the sign "-". Thus, the numbers with signs can be displayed in an easy-to-read manner even in a limited space. Also, the number 33d indicating 0, which is the reference altitude, is displayed at a position corresponding to the center of the hour character 32 at the 9 o'clock direction (3 o'clock direction if the altitude display unit 33 is provided on the 3 o'clock side) in the arrangement direction of the multiple numbers 33d (the direction of an imaginary line connecting the 12 o'clock direction and the 6 o'clock direction). This makes it possible to secure an area for displaying "+" and "-" in the sign display unit 33e. Also, it becomes possible to intuitively recognize the plus and minus of the numbers 33d.

[0020] 3(a) and 3(b), when the pointer 33a points to any one of the scales 33c, the tip of the pointer 33a overlaps with the scale 33c. This allows the user to easily recognize which scale 33c the pointer 33a is pointing to. 3(a) and (b), when the pointer 33a points to any of the scales 33c, the pointer 33a does not overlap the numbers 33d. This makes it possible to prevent the numbers 33d from becoming invisible.

[0021] Furthermore, in the altitude display section 33, the length of the lines of the scale 33c becomes longer as it moves away (outside) from the scale 33c (reference scale) indicating "0." 3(a) and (b), when the pointer 33a points to the scale mark 33c of "0", the distance between the "0" of the number 33d and the tip of the pointer 33a is different from the distance between the "6" of the number 33d and the tip of the pointer 33a when the pointer 33a points to the scale mark 33c of "+6", the latter being longer. If the scale mark 33c of "+6" is made the same length as the scale mark 33c of "0", then if the scale mark 33c is left-justified, the tip of the pointer 33a will not overlap with the scale mark 33c when it points to the scale mark 33c of "+6", and if the scale mark 33c is right-justified so that the tip of the pointer 33a overlaps with the scale mark 33c, the scale mark 33c of "+6" and the number 33d will be separated, which may make it difficult to understand the correspondence between the scale mark 33c and the number 33d. That is, in the altitude display unit 33 in which the numbers 33d are arranged in a vertical row and the pointer 33a rotates to point to the scale 33c, the length of the lines of the scale 33c increases as it moves away from the reference scale mark indicating "0" (goes outward), so that all the scale marks 33c and the tips of the pointer 33a can overlap, and the correspondence between the numbers 33d and the scale marks 33c can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. Also, because the length of the lines of the scale 33c increases as it moves away from the reference scale mark indicating "0", the user can intuitively recognize whether the current altitude is away from the reference altitude.

[0022] In addition, in the altitude display unit 33, the letters "OVER" and "UNDER" may be displayed in different colors (different from the numbers). This allows the user to easily recognize when the altitude has increased or decreased significantly from the reference altitude. Also, the numbers 33d may be displayed in different colors for each number. This allows the user to easily recognize the altitude even when the numbers are difficult to see due to mental stress, such as when climbing a mountain. Also, the numbers 33d with a + sign and the numbers 33d with a - sign may be displayed in different colors, so that the user can easily recognize whether the altitude is higher or lower than the reference altitude.

[0023] 2 and 3 show an example in which numbers 33d corresponding to each of the scale marks 33c, "-8" to "+8", are displayed on the extension lines of adjacent scale marks 33c indicating -8 to +8. However, as shown in FIG. 4, numbers 33d corresponding to each of the scale marks 33c ("-10" to "10", "OVER", and "UNDER" in FIG. 4) may be displayed on the extension lines of all of the scale marks 33c.

[0024] Returning to FIG. 1, the stopwatch display unit 34 is provided with a pointer 34a, a number of scales 34b, and numbers 34c corresponding to the scales 34b, and displays the measured elapsed time from the start.

[0025] The digital display unit 35 is configured with a display screen such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, etc. The digital display unit 35 displays, for example, the current time, etc.

[0026] The board provided in the housing 2 is, for example, a plate-like member constituting an LSI (Large-Scale Integration), and is equipped with various electronic components for the clock 1 to perform various operations. The board also has electronic circuits (including electrodes) that connect these electronic components. The board is equipped with, for example, a control unit such as a microcomputer, a memory unit (such as a flash memory) in which programs and the like are stored, a large-capacity capacitor, various sensors such as an altimeter, electronic circuits (oscillating circuit, frequency dividing circuit, driving circuit), a quartz oscillator, and the like. The clock 1 oscillates the quartz oscillator using the oscillation circuit, divides the obtained oscillation using the frequency dividing circuit to convert it into an electric signal per second, and transmits this electric signal to a motor using the driving circuit to move a gear, thereby rotating the hands 31 and displaying the time. The control unit obtains the electric signal per second from the frequency dividing circuit, counts the time (which may include date information), and displays it on the digital display unit 35.

[0027] Furthermore, when an instruction to start the altimeter is given by a predetermined operation of the operation unit 4, the control unit starts the altimeter, acquires the altimeter value at the time of startup and stores it in the storage unit as the reference altitude, and drives a gear for rotating the pointer 33a around the pointer axis O2 with a motor to rotate the pointer 33a so that the pointer 33a points to the "0" position on the scale 33c. When the altitude acquired from the altimeter changes, the control unit controls the motor according to the acquired altitude to rotate the pointer 33a so that the pointer 33a points to the scale 33c corresponding to the acquired altitude.

[0028] As explained above, the altitude display unit 33 of the timepiece 1 has a number of scales 33c on the dial 30, and a pointer 33a that points to one of the scales 33c by rotating around the axis O2. In addition, the dial 30 displays numbers 33d corresponding to each of the scales 33c on the extension line of adjacent scales 33c. Therefore, the user can easily recognize the altitude, misreading the altitude can be reduced, and an altimeter scale display that is easy for the user to recognize can be realized on the dial 30 of the timepiece 1.

[0029] Furthermore, when the pointer 33a points to any one of the scales 33c, the tip of the pointer 33a overlaps with the scale 33c, so that the user can easily recognize which scale 33c the pointer 33a is pointing to.

[0030] Furthermore, the pointer 33a is designed not to overlap the numbers 33d corresponding to the scale 33c, so that the numbers 33d are prevented from being obscured by the pointer 33a.

[0031] Furthermore, the numbers 33d corresponding to the adjacent graduations 33c are aligned vertically. Therefore, even in a small space on the dial 30, the numbers 33d corresponding to the adjacent graduations 33c can be displayed. Furthermore, the user can intuitively recognize whether the current altitude has increased or decreased relative to the reference altitude.

[0032] The scales 33c include reference scales corresponding to reference numbers, and the length of each line of the scales 33c increases with distance from the reference scale. Therefore, all scales 33c can overlap with the tip of the pointer 33a, and the correspondence between the numbers 33d and the scales 33c can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. The user can also intuitively recognize how far the current altitude is from the reference altitude.

[0033] In addition, the reference scale is displayed at a position that is horizontal when the needle 33a points to the reference scale, so that the user can easily recognize whether the current altitude is higher or lower than the reference altitude.

[0034] Moreover, the plurality of numbers 33d includes 0 and a plurality of numbers with different signs, and the plurality of numbers with different signs are arranged symmetrically with respect to 0. Therefore, the user can easily recognize whether the current altitude has increased or decreased with the reference altitude being 0.

[0035] In addition, the positive and negative signs are displayed together in a display area separate from the display area of ​​the numbers 33d in association with the numbers 33d to which the signs are assigned. Therefore, even in a small and limited space on the dial 30, the numbers with signs can be displayed in an easily legible manner.

[0036] In addition, the numbers or letters of the number 33d are displayed in different colors, so that the user can recognize the altitude at a glance even if the numbers or letters cannot be seen.

[0037] In addition, in the arrangement direction of the numbers 33d, the number 0 33d is displayed at a position corresponding to the center of the hour character 32 at the 9 o'clock or 3 o'clock direction. Therefore, an area for displaying the "+" or "-" of the sign display section 33e can be secured. Also, it becomes possible to intuitively recognize the plus and minus of the numbers 33d.

[0038] The description of the above embodiment is merely a suitable example of the timepiece 1 according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this.

[0039] For example, in the above embodiment, the display unit 3 of the timepiece 1 to which the present invention is applied is an analog display unit that displays time and altitude by rotating the hands 31 and 33a in response to the rotation of gears, but the entire display unit 3 may be composed of a liquid crystal display, EL, or the like, and the display unit 3 of the timepiece 1 to which the present invention is applied may digitally display the time as shown in Fig. 1 and the altitude as shown in Fig. 2 to 4. That is, the control unit in the housing 2 may display on the screen of the display unit 3 the axis O1, hands 31, hour characters 32, and scales on the dial 30 shown in Fig. 1, and the axis O2, hands 33a, reference position 33b, scale 33c, numbers 33d, and sign display unit 33e of the altitude display unit 33 shown in Fig. 2 to 4, thereby displaying the time and altitude.

[0040] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the present invention is applied to the display of an altimeter installed in watch 1, but the present invention may also be applied to the display of values ​​acquired by other sensors that acquire specified information, such as an air pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a direction sensor.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the numbers 33d are preferably arranged in a vertical line, but the arrangement direction of the numbers 33d is not limited.

[0042] Additionally, the detailed configuration and operation of the timepiece 1 may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0043] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but is defined based on the claims. Furthermore, the technical scope of the present invention also includes equivalent ranges that are made by adding modifications that are not related to the essence of the present invention from the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1. Watch 2. Chassis 3 Display section 30 Dial 31 Guidelines 32 Tokiji O1 pointer shaft 33 Altitude display 33a Guidelines 33b Reference position 33c scale 33d numbers 33e Code display section O2 pointer shaft 34 Stopwatch display 34a Guidelines 34b Scale 34c numbers 35 Digital display

Claims

1. A dial on which a plurality of hour characters and a plurality of scales other than the hour characters are displayed; a first hand that rotates around a first rotation axis to indicate one of the plurality of hour characters on the dial; a second pointer that rotates about a second rotation axis to point to any one of the scales on the dial; Equipped with On the dial, numbers or letters corresponding to each of the plurality of scales are displayed on extensions of adjacent scales among the plurality of scales. A watch characterized by

2. When the second pointer points to any one of the scales, a tip of the second pointer overlaps the scale.

2. The watch according to claim 1 .

3. The second pointer is configured not to overlap the numbers or the letters when pointing to any of the scales.

2. The watch according to claim 1 .

4. The numbers or letters corresponding to the adjacent multiple scales are displayed in a line.

2. The watch according to claim 1 .

5. The plurality of scales include reference scales corresponding to reference numbers, the length of each line of the plurality of scale marks increases as the scale marks move away from the reference scale marks; 5. The watch according to claim 4.

6. the reference scale is displayed at a position that is horizontal when the second pointer points to the reference scale.

6. The watch according to claim 5.

7. The numbers or letters are displayed in a line perpendicular to the direction in which the reference scale extends.

6. The watch according to claim 5.

8. The plurality of numbers includes 0 and a plurality of numbers having different signs, and the plurality of numbers having different signs are displayed symmetrically with respect to 0. A watch according to any one of claims 4 to 7.

9. Each of the codes is displayed in a display area separate from the display area of ​​the plurality of numbers in association with the plurality of numbers to which the code is assigned.

9. The watch according to claim 8.

10. When the numbers or letters displayed in a row are aligned in a row along an imaginary line connecting the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock directions, the "0" is displayed at a position corresponding to the center of the hour character at the 9 o'clock or 3 o'clock direction.

9. The watch according to claim 8.

11. The numbers or letters are displayed in different colors.

2. The watch according to claim 1 .

12. A sensor for acquiring predetermined information is provided, The scale indicates a value obtained from the sensor.

2. The watch according to claim 1 .

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