Electronic Moon Phase Display Using Hour Hand and Occulting Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional mechanical watches lack precision in representing the phase of the moon due to differences in lunation duration and user location, as they do not account for geographical hemispheres and require regular corrections.
Innovation Solution
An electronic watch display device using the hour and minute hands to represent the moon phase, with a control unit that adjusts the position of moon and occulting elements based on time, date, and user location, allowing for dynamic and accurate lunar phase representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional mechanical disc mechanism is used to indicate moon phase, then the representation is continuously visible on the dial, but the precision is insufficient due to lack of accounting for user location and lunation duration differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical disc mechanism with an electronic display system that uses electronic components (display unit, control unit, processor) to calculate and show moon phase information. This substitution enables precise calculation based on lunation duration and user location while avoiding the complexity of mechanical correction mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic display system serves multiple functions: it displays time, date, and moon phase information, and can adapt to different user locations (Northern or Southern hemisphere). This multi-functionality allows a single system to provide accurate moon phase representation globally without requiring location-specific mechanical designs.
2Reliability
If a dedicated space on the dial is allocated for moon phase indication, then the moon phase can be clearly displayed, but the watch design becomes more complex and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the moon phase indication with the existing time display elements (hour and/or minute hands). The display unit is integrated into the hand structure, allowing the moon phase to be shown alongside time information without requiring separate dedicated space on the dial.
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit serves dual purposes: it functions as part of the time indication mechanism (hour/minute hand) and simultaneously displays moon phase information. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated display space while maintaining clear moon phase indication.
3Measurement precision
If regular corrections are made to the mechanical disc position, then the moon phase representation can be maintained, but the operation becomes cumbersome and requires user intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic system automatically calculates and updates moon phase information based on stored lunation duration data and the current date. The control unit continuously maintains accurate moon phase representation without requiring user intervention for corrections, making the system self-servicing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses internal feedback mechanisms where the processor continuously compares the current date with lunation duration data to automatically adjust and maintain accurate moon phase indication. This closed-loop approach eliminates the need for manual correction by the user.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (100) for displaying the moon for a timepiece on demand. The display device (100) including a first movable indicator member (110) and having a representation of the moon (111). This representation of the moon (111) is completely or partially occulted by an occulting element (121) that is located on a second movable indicator member (120) when the user so requests and in particular via a control unit.