Hand Position Detection Control for Watch Battery Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand position detecting devices for timepieces consume excessive battery power due to repeated attempts to detect the positions of seconds, center, and hour hands when these positions cannot be determined accurately.
Innovation Solution
A hand position detecting device that includes an optical detection unit, a position detecting unit, and an optical detection controlling unit, which stops the detection process after a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts, preventing unnecessary power consumption by ceasing detection until a specified time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the position detecting unit repeatedly attempts to detect hand positions, then the detection reliability is improved, but the battery power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection controlling unit implements periodic detection by stopping the position detecting unit after a predetermined number of unsuccessful detection attempts. Instead of continuous repeated detection, the system performs detection at specific intervals, allowing the detection process to be suspended for predetermined time periods when hand positions cannot be determined, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining necessary detection reliability
2Measurement precision
If the detection process continues repeatedly when hand positions cannot be detected, then the system ensures thorough position verification, but useless power consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection controlling unit extracts and removes the harmful repeated detection process after a predetermined number of failures. By separating the detection control logic from continuous operation, the system eliminates useless power consumption while preserving the essential position detection function, allowing the detection unit to be stopped when further attempts would be futile
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents useless battery power consumption by halting the detection process when hand positions cannot be determined, ensuring efficient energy use and prolonging battery life.
Implementation Method 1
an optical detection unit configured to detect passage of light through a plurality of light-passing apertures in the plurality of hand wheels
Data Source
AI summary
A hand position detecting device stops optical detection of the respective rotational positions of seconds, center and hour hands when such detection is impossible. When it is determined that the respective positions of the hands have not been detected successively a predetermined number of times, the detection of the hand positions is stopped until a predetermined time, for example 5 minutes before 11 o'clock or 55 minutes past 10 o'clock. This prevents unnecessary repetition of detection of the hand positions and hence useless consumption of battery energy which would otherwise occur.