Analog Watch Hand Fast-Forward Control for Function Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Analog electronic watches face difficulties in clearly indicating which function is being displayed using hands, as mode hands are often smaller and easily obscured, and switching between functions is cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

The watch includes a rotatable hand and a control unit that performs fast-forward operations differently based on whether the display object is time-type or period-type, allowing easier switching between display contents by determining the type of display object and optimizing hand movement to indicate the selected function.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a mode hand is provided to indicate function-related display, then the function indication capability is improved, but the mode hand is smaller than time hands and gets covered up, making it difficult to see

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction indication capabilityVSAvoidvisibility of mode hand

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes by using a luminous layer that emits light in a specific color (e.g., green or blue) for the mode hand, while time hands have different luminous colors or no luminous layer. This color differentiation makes the mode hand visually distinguishable and visible even when overlapped by time hands, resolving the contradiction between providing function indication and maintaining visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Loss of information

If display contents are switched by using hands, then the visual indication is improved, but switching between functions becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual indication of display contentVSAvoidtime required for switching

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies skipping by enabling the mode hand to rapidly skip through multiple positions corresponding to different functions when a button is continuously pressed or held. This rapid skipping allows users to quickly navigate through functions and achieve switching in a much shorter time compared to manual rotation, resolving the contradiction between visual indication and switching speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Device complexity

If one of time hands is used as a mode hand to temporarily display function, then the number of hands and stepping motors is reduced, but switching to display related to the selected function becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of hands and stepping motorsVSAvoidfunction switching capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing the mode hand to serve multiple functions: it can indicate the currently selected function, display function-related information, and be rapidly switched between different functions. This multi-functional design allows a single hand to replace what would otherwise require separate components, resolving the contradiction between reducing device complexity and maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10372084B2Analog electronic watch

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

An analog electronic watch includes a hand and a control unit. The hand is configured to be rotatable. The control unit fast-forwards the hand to perform a fast-forward operation in different ways according to whether a type of a display object after switching is a time type or a period type, in a case where display contents are switched by using the hand.