Asymmetric Electrode Arrangement for Centered Digital Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital displays in timepieces, particularly those using seven-segment digits, face issues with displaying single-digit dates (1-9) as they appear off-center and are considered outdated and unattractive, especially when viewed through a watch dial aperture.
Innovation Solution
An asymmetrical arrangement of electrodes in a display with two juxtaposed groups of segments, where the left digit is substantially modified to include additional electrodes, allowing for centered display of single-digit numbers and enhanced alphanumeric representation, including letters, while maintaining conventional addressing for the right digit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional seven-segment display with two identical digits is used, then the display structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but single-digit dates (1-9) appear off-center and the display is considered outdated and unattractive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the left digit (20) structurally different from the right digit (22). The left digit includes additional electrodes (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b) arranged asymmetrically to enable centered display of single-digit numbers, while the right digit maintains the conventional symmetric seven-segment structure. This asymmetric design allows the display to adapt to both single-digit and double-digit date displays, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and display versatility.
2Device complexity
If only the rightmost digit is used to display single-digit dates, then the display structure remains simple, but the date appears off-center in relation to the window
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric electrode arrangement in the left digit (20) with additional electrodes (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b) positioned at specific locations enables the creation of centered single-digit displays. By activating specific electrode combinations, single-digit dates can be displayed in the center of the two-digit display area, eliminating the off-center appearance while maintaining relatively simple device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If a matrix display is used to improve display quality and centering, then the display becomes more attractive and precise, but the number of segments increases significantly and multiplexed addressing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only the left digit (20) structurally different from the conventional right digit (22). The left digit includes additional electrodes (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b) with specific local arrangements to enable centered display functionality, while the right digit maintains the simple conventional structure. This localized modification achieves improved display precision and centering capability without requiring a complete matrix display structure, thus avoiding the complexity increase associated with multiplexed addressing.
Data Source
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AI summary
Electrode arrangement for a two-digit side-by-side display, the display comprising a left digit (20) and a right digit (22), the right digit (22) comprising an upper electrode (36), a middle electrode (38), and a lower electrode (40), the middle electrode (38) extending between the upper electrode (36) and the lower electrode (40), the right digit (22) also comprising a left upper lateral electrode (42a) and a left lower lateral electrode (44a), as well as a right upper lateral electrode (42b) and a right lower lateral electrode (44b), the left digit (20) comprising an upper electrode (24), a middle electrode (26), and a lower electrode (28), the middle electrode (26) extending between the upper electrode (24) and the lower electrode (28), the left digit (20) also comprising a upper left lateral electrode (30a) and a lower left lateral electrode (32a),as well as a right upper lateral electrode (30b) and a right lower lateral electrode (32b), the electrode arrangement being characterized in that, in the left digit (20), the upper electrode (24), the middle electrode (26), and the lower electrode (28) are each formed of a first and a second dot-shaped electrode (24a, 24b; 26a, 26b; 28a, 28b), and in that a first additional electrode (34) is provided between the left upper lateral electrode (30a) and the right upper lateral electrode (30b) of the left digit (20), the first additional electrode (34) being adjacent to the right upper lateral electrode (30b), while a second additional electrode (35) is provided between the left lower lateral electrode (32a) and the right lower lateral electrode (32b), the second additional electrode (35) being adjacent to the lower right lateral electrode (32b).