Optical Data Transfer from Mechanical Watch to Electronic Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical watches cannot communicate physical activity data to electronic devices without electronic components, limiting the ability to display and process additional parameters related to physical activity, such as steps taken, distance traveled, or calories burned, due to their mechanical nature.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a mechanical sensor in a wristwatch to measure physical activity, displaying data on the watch face with analog indicators, capturing images with a camera, analyzing the image to determine the indicator's position, and processing this data with portable electronic equipment to provide more accurate and comprehensive physical activity metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a mechanical watch is used to measure physical activity data, then the watch maintains simplicity and elegance without electronic components or battery recharging, but the ability to communicate and process additional physical activity parameters is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical copying to transfer data from the mechanical watch to electronic devices. A camera captures images of the analog indicator positions on the watch dial, creating a digital copy of the mechanical data. This allows the mechanical watch to communicate its measurements without requiring electronic components or wireless communication capabilities in the watch itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components are added to the mechanical watch to enable data communication, then the ability to transmit and process physical activity data improves, but the simplicity and elegance of the mechanical watch is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides functionality between two separate components: the mechanical watch retains its simple timekeeping and measurement function, while the electronic device handles data capture, processing, and communication. The camera and processing algorithms are segmented into the electronic device, keeping the mechanical watch free of electronic components.
3Ease of manufacture
If optical communication is used to transfer data from the mechanical watch, then electronic components in the watch are avoided, but the process requires image capture and analysis which adds processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously capturing images of the watch dial and pre-processing the visual data in real-time. The image analysis algorithm is prepared and waiting, so when data transfer is needed, the processing can begin immediately without delay. The camera can capture multiple frames in advance, reducing the effective processing time when actual data transfer occurs.
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
Enables the display of precise physical activity data on electronic devices, correcting mechanical limitations and providing additional processed data like distance traveled or calories burned, without the need for electronic components in the watch, offering improved accuracy and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
image capture of said dial by means of a camera in a portable electronic device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for measuring and displaying data linked to a person's physical activity, comprising: measuring data linked to the person's physical activity using a mechanical sensor in a wrist watch worn by the person; displaying the measured data on the watch face; taking an image of the watch face using a camera in an electronic device; analysing the image in order to determine the data; processing the data so as to process the analysed data; and displaying the processed data on a screen of the electronic device.