Analog clock, time display method, and time display program

Abstract

To provide a new and innovative way of displaying time in analog clocks. [Solution] The hour hand 16 is configured to move back and forth within a 30° angle range clockwise from the starting point of a one-hour unit. This makes it easy to determine what hour it is. To know the exact time, one simply needs to check the position indicated by the minute hand 18, so it is possible to know the current time just like with a conventional analog clock. The back-and-forth movement of the hour hand 16 also serves as an indicator of the passage of seconds, making the functioning of the clock 10 visible through its movement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an analog clock, a time display method, and a time display program.

Background Art

[0002] The methods of displaying time on a clock are generally classified into a "digital type" and an "analog type". The digital type, which displays time elements such as hours, minutes, and seconds as numbers, uniquely shows the current time. On the other hand, the analog type, in which hands (hour hand, minute hand, and second hand) corresponding to each time element rotate according to the passage of time, is suitable not only for displaying the current time but also for displaying time (the interval between two points in the flow of time).

[0003] In a general analog clock, the hour hand, minute hand, and second hand all rotate in the clockwise (clockwise) direction. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a clock in which the second hand rotates in the counterclockwise (counterclockwise) direction opposite to the hour hand and the minute hand.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel time display method for an analog clock.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, the analog clock and the time display method according to the present invention are characterized in that the hour hand reciprocates within an angular range of 30° in the clockwise direction from the starting point of each one-hour unit.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention is a time display program that displays the passage of time on a computer display, characterized in that it causes the computer to execute a time display method having the above-described configuration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, in an analog clock, the hour hand moves back and forth within a 30° angular range clockwise from the starting point of a one-hour unit, making it easy to determine what hour it is. Furthermore, if you want to know the exact time, you can simply check the position indicated by the minute hand, just as with conventional analog clocks. In addition, the back-and-forth movement of the hour hand also serves as an indicator of the passage of time (seconds), making the clock's function visible through its movement. Moreover, because the hour hand is always moving back and forth, there is no chance of mistaking the hour hand for the minute hand. Thus, the analog clock according to the present invention makes it possible to provide a completely new and different way of displaying time compared to conventional display methods. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows a schematic configuration of an analog clock according to an embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of an analog clock, a time display method, and a time display program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] The analog clock 10 according to this embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as "clock 10") is displayed on the screen of a smartphone, which is a type of computer.

[0012] The smartphone used in this embodiment can employ various commercially available devices that are widely used by the general public. This smartphone includes basic components such as a CPU, memory and storage, a communication module for communicating with external devices, a battery, a display, and a touch panel.

[0013] Smartphones typically come equipped with a clock function. When a mobile phone network is available, this clock function automatically corrects the time to the correct time based on a standard called NITZ (Network Identity and Time Zone). Furthermore, even in environments where a mobile phone network is unavailable, the system is configured to automatically correct the time to the correct time using NTP (Network Time Protocol) under a communication environment such as an internet connection. Therefore, in this embodiment, we have devised a way to display the time information based on this clock function.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the clock 10 is displayed on the smartphone's display, which functions as a time display surface 12. In this example, the paper in Figure 1 is used to represent the smartphone's display and the time display surface 12 is shown, but the display may also show other elements besides the time element (for example, date elements such as a calendar or app icons).

[0015] The clock 10 displayed on the time display surface 12 has the same basic configuration as a known analog clock. That is, the numbers 1 to 12 are arranged in order at equal intervals along the periphery of the circular dial 14, and the time is displayed by an hour hand 16 and a minute hand 18 that rotate according to the passage of time. The hour hand 16 and the minute hand 18 are pointers corresponding to the time elements corresponding to hours and minutes, respectively.

[0016] Inside the circular dial 14, marking lines indicating hourly and five-minute intervals, as in a typical clock, are displayed on virtual radial lines extending radially from the center point of the circle at equal intervals of 30°. Furthermore, marking lines indicating one-minute intervals, as in a typical clock, are displayed as short lines from the periphery of the dial 14 toward the center point, on virtual radial lines extending radially from the center point of the circle at equal intervals of 6°.

[0017] In the clock 10 of this embodiment, the movement of the hour hand 16 is completely different from that of a conventional analog clock. The movement of the hour hand 16 and the way the time is displayed in the clock 10 will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0018] In this embodiment, the clock 10 is configured such that, instead of a second hand which is a pointer corresponding to the "seconds" of the time element, the hour hand 16 repeatedly moves back and forth within a certain angular range. Specifically, the hour hand 16 moves back and forth within an angular range of 30° clockwise (rightward) from the starting point of a one-hour unit (the position where the hour hand 16 points to the marking lines indicating one-hour and five-minute intervals in a typical clock). For example, in Figure 1(a), the starting point is when the hour hand 16 points to 6 o'clock, and 30° clockwise from there is the position where the hour hand 16 points to 7 o'clock. In other words, the clock 10 is configured so that the hour hand 16 moves back and forth within the angular range that the hour hand passes through during the passage of one hour in a typical analog clock (the angular range shown by hatching in Figures 1(a) and 1(b)).

[0019] Next, the way the time is displayed in the clock 10 will be explained. Figure 1(a) shows an example of the state a few seconds after 6:00. In the clock 10, as described above, the hour hand 16 repeatedly moves back and forth between the position pointing to 6 o'clock and the position pointing to 7 o'clock (within the angular range shown by the hatching) from 6:00 to 7:00. It is desirable to set the movement of the hour hand 16 to a speed that allows for quick recognition of its movement (for example, a speed of about 10 seconds per cycle). Then, when the time becomes 7:00, the angular range in which the hour hand 16 moves back and forth shifts 30° clockwise, as shown in Figure 1(b). That is, the hour hand 16 changes to move back and forth between the position pointing to 7 o'clock and the position pointing to 8 o'clock (within the angular range shown by the hatching). In this way, the clock 10 is configured so that the angular range in which the hour hand 16 moves back and forth shifts 30° clockwise every hour that has passed, based on the starting point of a one-hour unit. On the other hand, the minute hand 18 rotates once every 60 minutes in a clockwise direction, just like a typical analog clock.

[0020] The operation of the clock 10 having the above configuration, that is, the time display method according to the embodiment, is realized by the smartphone's CPU executing a time display program stored in memory. Specifically, the elements of the above configuration, excluding the hour hand 16 and minute hand 18, mainly the dial 14, are displayed on the smartphone's display as the basic screen. Time information is also acquired using the clock function built into the smartphone. Based on the acquired time information, the hour hand 16 and minute hand 18 are displayed at rotation angles corresponding to the passage of time. Within an angle range corresponding to the "hour" of the current time, the hour hand 16 is displayed to repeatedly move back and forth at a speed period set by the user. In this way, the time display method according to the embodiment is executed by making the smartphone function as a time display means for displaying the time display surface 12 of the clock 10.

[0021] Thus, according to the time display method of this embodiment, in the clock 10, by repeating the reciprocating movement of the hour hand 16 within an angular range of 30° in the clockwise direction from the start point of each one-hour unit, it is possible to easily grasp which hour range the current time is in. Also, when it is desired to accurately know the current time, it is only necessary to check the position indicated by the minute hand 18, so it is possible to know the current time as in the case of a conventional analog clock. Furthermore, the reciprocating movement of the hour hand 16 also serves as an indicator representing the passage of time (seconds), and the fact that the clock 10 is functioning is visualized as this movement. In addition, since the hour hand 16 is constantly making a reciprocating movement, there is no mistake in confusing the hour hand 16 with the minute hand 18. Thus, according to the clock 10, it is possible to provide a new and novel time display method that is completely different from the conventional display methods.

[0022] As described above, the analog clock, time display method, and time display program according to the present invention have been described based on the embodiments. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described forms, and for example, it may be implemented in a modified form as follows.

[0023] <Modification Example> (1) In the above embodiment, the case where the hour hand 16 repeats the reciprocating movement within an angular range of 30° in the clockwise direction from the start point of each one-hour unit was exemplified. However, as long as it reciprocates within this angular range, the movement pattern of the hour hand 16 is not particularly limited. For example, the hour hand 16 may make a reciprocating movement within an angular range smaller than 30°, or a movement pattern may be adopted in which the angular range in which the hour hand 16 reciprocates changes according to the passage of time (for example, setting the start point of the reciprocating movement to the position of the hour hand in a general analog clock).

[0024] (2) In the above embodiment, the shape of the dial 14 was circular, but it is not limited to this, and other shapes such as a quadrilateral, other polygons, or an ellipse may be used.

[0025] (3) In the embodiments and modifications described above, the examples used were clocks displayed on smartphone screens. However, the methods are not limited to these, and can also be applied to clocks displayed on mobile information terminals such as smartwatches, tablets, and laptops, or to electronic devices such as desktop computers, televisions, and digital signage. Naturally, they can also be applied to various types of clocks, such as wristwatches, wall clocks, and desk clocks.

[0026] (4) Although the embodiments and modifications described above have been explained on the premise that a time display program is standardly incorporated into a mobile information terminal, various electronic devices, a watch, etc., it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if it is implemented as an application program provided to the user via the internet.

[0027] The present invention can be implemented in various forms with improvements, modifications, or alterations based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, without departing from its spirit. Furthermore, the invention may be implemented in a form in which any of its defining features is replaced with other technologies, as long as the same function or effect is achieved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 10: Clock 14: Dial 16: Hour hand 18: Minute hand

Claims

1. The hour hand moves back and forth within a 30° angle range clockwise from the starting point of a one-hour unit. An analog clock characterized in that the angular range in which the hour hand moves back and forth shifts 30° clockwise each time an hour passes.

2. The hour hand moves back and forth within a 30° angle range clockwise from the starting point of a one-hour unit. A method for displaying time, characterized in that the angular range in which the hour hand moves back and forth shifts 30° clockwise each time an hour has elapsed.

3. A time display program that displays the passage of time on a computer display, A time display program that causes the computer to execute the time display method described in claim 2.

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