Analog clock

Abstract

To provide analog clocks with a new visual sensibility. [Solution] The configuration is such that the passage of seconds is indicated by a change in the shade of color of the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14, or by a change in the shade of color of the 12 symbols displayed on the dial 16.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to an analog timepiece. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Methods of displaying time in timepieces are broadly classified into "digital type" and "analog type". The digital type, which displays time elements such as hours, minutes, and seconds as numbers, uniquely indicates the current time. On the other hand, an analog type (for example, Patent Document 1), in which hands (hour hand, minute hand and second hand) corresponding to respective time elements rotate with the passage of time, is suitable for displaying not only the current time, but also the duration of time between two points in the flow of time.

[0003] A general analog timepiece has a configuration in which the hour hand (short hand) and the minute hand (long hand) rotate around a common rotation axis, and the time is represented by the positions indicated by each of these two hands. [[Prior Art Literature]] [[Patent Literature]]

[0004] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-148682 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an analog timepiece that provides a new visual sensation. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[0006] To achieve the above object, an analog timepiece according to the present invention is characterized in that the passage of seconds is represented by a change in the shade of color of the hands.

[0007] Further, the analog timepiece according to the present invention is characterized in that the passage of seconds is represented by a change in the shade of color of twelve symbols displayed on a dial. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the passage of seconds is indicated by a change in the intensity of the color of the pointer or the intensity of the color of 12 symbols displayed on the dial. This provides an analog clock with a new visual sensation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This diagram shows the basic configuration of an analog clock according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the operation of an analog clock according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing the operation of an analog clock according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the analog clock according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <First Embodiment> The analog clock 10 according to the first embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as "clock 10") can be applied to various types of clocks such as wristwatches, wall clocks, and desk clocks, as well as clocks displayed on the screens of smartphones, which are a type of computer, and to mobile information terminals such as smartwatches, tablets, and laptops, or to clocks displayed on various electronic devices such as desktop computers, televisions, and digital signage. In this example, the form displayed on the screen of a smartphone will be used as an example.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the clock 10 has a basic configuration similar to that of a known analog clock. That is, the clock 10 displays the time using an hour hand 12 and a minute hand 14. The hour hand 12 and minute hand 14 are pointers corresponding to the hours and minutes of the time element, respectively. The hour hand 12 and minute hand 14 rotate around an axis passing through the center point of the dial 16 as time progresses. Specifically, the hour hand 12 rotates once in a clockwise direction in 12 hours, just like a typical clock. The minute hand 14 also rotates once in a clockwise direction in 60 minutes, just like a typical clock.

[0013] The dial 16 is circular, and around its periphery, marking lines indicating 5-minute intervals, as seen in a typical clock, are displayed on imaginary radial lines extending at equal 30° intervals from the center of the circle. Additionally, short marking lines indicating 1-minute intervals, as seen in a typical clock, are displayed towards the center of the dial 16 on the same imaginary radial lines extending at equal 6° intervals from the center of the circle. Inside the marking lines indicating 5-minute intervals (towards the center of the dial 16), the numbers 1 through 12 are arranged at equal intervals. Each of these numbers (including the marking lines indicating 5-minute intervals in this example) serves as one of 12 symbols representing the starting point of an hourly unit.

[0014] The clock 10 having the above configuration has a completely different display method for the passage of time related to the "seconds" element compared to a typical analog clock. The display method for the passage of "seconds" in the clock 10 will be explained in detail below with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0015] The clock 10 of this embodiment is configured to visually represent the passage of seconds by changing the intensity of the colors of the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14, instead of using a second hand which is a pointer corresponding to the "seconds" element of time. In this example, the passage of seconds is represented by a change in intensity (so-called "grayscale") between the darkest state (black as shown in Figure 1) and the lightest state (white as shown in Figure 2(b)) of the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14. One example of this intensity change is that as seconds pass, the colors of the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14 gradually change from black (Figure 1) to gray (Figure 2(a)), then the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14 become the same color as the dial 16 (white in this example) and essentially disappear and become invisible (Figure 2(b)), and then the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14 reappear, gradually changing from gray to black again. Such changes in the intensity of the colors of the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14 serve as indicators of the passage of seconds.

[0016] The period and pattern of the color intensity changes of the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14 described above are not particularly limited and can be changed according to the user's preference. For example, the period of the color intensity change may be changed within a range of about 10 seconds. Alternatively, a color intensity change pattern may be adopted that transitions from a white state where the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14 are not displayed (Figure 2(b)) to the darkest black state (Figure 1). Furthermore, it is possible to include a period in the color intensity change period during which the color intensity does not change.

[0017] Thus, according to the clock 10, the color intensity of the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14 changes with the passage of seconds, allowing the user to visually grasp the passage of time. On the other hand, the movement of the hour hand 12 and minute hand 14 is exactly the same as that of a typical analog clock, so it is possible to determine the current time without any particular sense of unfamiliarity. This provides an analog clock with a new visual sensibility.

[0018] <Second Embodiment> In the timepiece 10 described above, the configuration is such that the color shading of the hour hand 12 and the minute hand 14 changes as seconds elapse. However, a configuration in which the color shading of the 12 symbols serving as marks indicating the starting point of each 1-hour unit displayed on the dial 16 changes is also acceptable.

[0019] In the timepiece 20 shown in Fig. 2, in addition to the 12 symbols serving as marks indicating the starting point of each 1-hour unit (in this example, the numerals from 1 to 12 and the mark lines indicating 5-minute intervals), the mark lines indicating 1-minute intervals are also configured such that a shading change occurs in their respective colors. In this example, the color of various symbols on the dial 16 indicates the elapse of seconds through a shading change (so-called "grayscale") between the darkest state (black shown in Fig. 1) and the lightest state (white shown in Fig. 3(b)) as seconds elapse. As an example of this shading change, as seconds elapse, the color of the various symbols gradually changes from black (Fig. 1) to gray (Fig. 3(a)), after which the various symbols become the same color as the dial 16 (white in this example), substantially disappear and enter a non-display state (Fig. 3(b)), and then the various symbols are re-displayed while gradually changing from gray back to black. Such a change in shading can be mentioned.

[0020] It should be noted that, similar to the cycle and pattern of the color shading change of the hour hand 12 and the minute hand 14 in the timepiece 10, the cycle and pattern of the color shading change of the various symbols described above are not particularly limited, and the settings can be changed according to the user's preference. For example, the specification may allow the cycle of the shading change described above to be changed within a range of about 10 seconds. Furthermore, a shading change pattern in which the transition is from the white state where various symbols are not displayed (Fig. 3(b)) to the darkest black state (Fig. 1) may also be adopted. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a period in which the color shading does not change within the cycle of the shading change.

[0021] According to the timepiece 20, it is only required that the color shading of various symbols including the 12 symbols serving as marks indicating the starting point of each 1-hour unit on the dial 16 can be changed, so application to timepieces in which the hour hand 12 and the minute hand 14 are rotated by the power of a known movement such as a mechanical type or a quartz type is possible.

[0022] The basic configuration of the analog timepiece according to the present invention has been described above based on an embodiment. It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in modes with various improvements, modifications or alterations added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In addition, the present invention may be implemented in a mode in which any of the invention-specifying matters are replaced with other technologies within a range where the same action or effect is obtained. Description of Reference Signs

[0023] 10: Timepiece 12: Hour hand 14: Minute hand 16: Dial plate

Claims

1. An analog clock in which the passage of seconds is indicated by a change in the intensity of the colors of the hour hand and minute hand.

2. The analog clock according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of the color of the hour hand and minute hand gradually changes as seconds pass.

3. The analog clock according to claim 1, wherein the hour hand and minute hand disappear and then reappear.

4. This analog clock uses 12 symbols on the dial, each representing the start of an hour, to indicate the passage of seconds through changes in the intensity of their colors.

5. The analog clock according to claim 4, wherein the intensity of the colors of the twelve symbols gradually changes as seconds pass.

6. The analog clock according to claim 4, wherein the twelve symbols disappear and are then redisplayed.

Images