Altitude Scale Positioning to Prevent Hour Hand Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
In timepieces that display altitude variations, the legibility of numerical values indicated by an additional hand is compromised when the hour hand overlaps the reference value of 0, making it difficult for users to distinguish between positive and negative values.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a first indicating hand with a scale where 0 is positioned as a reference, and the hour hand's rotatable range does not overlap the first scale, ensuring that the user can easily read positive or negative values by recognizing the hand's position relative to a virtual straight line, with enhanced color contrast between the indicating hand and the background for improved visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a first indicating hand is added to display altitude variation while time is continuously displayed, then the timepiece can indicate numerical values different from time, but the legibility of numerical values near 0 becomes poor when hidden behind the hour hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the first indicating hand and its scale in a different spatial dimension (angular position) relative to the hour hand. By placing the scale at a specific angular position where it does not overlap with the hour hand's rotation path, the design creates a two-dimensional separation that allows both the time display and altitude variation display to coexist without mutual interference, thus maintaining legibility of numerical values near 0.
2Area of stationary object
If the hour hand and first indicating hand share the same rotation center, then the display unit is compact, but the hour hand obscures the reference value 0 on the first scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the angular positioning of the first scale relative to the hour hand. Instead of symmetric placement that would cause overlap, the scale is positioned at an asymmetric angle where the hour hand's rotation does not obscure the reference value 0. This asymmetric arrangement allows both hands to share the same center while maintaining visibility of critical numerical values.
Data Source
AI summary
In a plan view in an axial direction of an indicating hand axle of a small second hand, three arrangement relationships described below are satisfied between a 10 o'clock side information display unit and an hour hand. According to a first arrangement relationship, respective numbers of a scale are disposed line-symmetrically with respect to a virtual straight line connecting a scale and the indicating hand axle to each other. According to a second arrangement relationship, the indicating hand axle is located at a position which does not overlap an indicating hand axle of the hour hand. According to a third arrangement relationship, a portion of a rotatable range of the hour hand overlaps a rotatable range of the small second hand, and does not overlap the scale.