Reflective Visual Timer With Encoder for Quiet Accurate Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing visual timers suffer from loud working noise, inaccurate timing, high failure rates, limited viewing angles, high power consumption, and insufficient timing ranges, especially for extended periods like 90 or 120 minutes.
Innovation Solution
A visual timer with a color display screen using a reflective coating and a reflective film, combined with an encoder and adjusting knob, that converts mechanical displacement into electrical signals for precise timing, and a low-power design with a natural light source, allowing intuitive visual effects and adjustable timing up to 120 minutes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a traditional mechanical gear structure is used for timing, then the timer can be manufactured with simple structure, but it produces loud working noise and has inaccurate timing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical gear structure with an electronic timing system using a crystal oscillator and integrated circuit. The crystal oscillator generates precise timing signals, and the IC processes these signals to control the display and alarm functions, eliminating mechanical noise while achieving accurate timing.
2Illumination intensity
If a color screen visual timer with backlight is used, then the display is bright and visible, but it consumes high power and has high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a reflective color display screen that utilizes ambient light instead of requiring an active backlight. The display reflects surrounding light to show the visual timer information, thereby eliminating the high power consumption associated with backlight illumination while maintaining visibility.
3Device complexity
If the display uses fixed viewing angle liquid crystal display, then the structure is simple, but it requires close-range viewing and fixed viewing angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a reflective color display screen that displays visual information through color patterns rather than relying on liquid crystal display viewing angles. The color-coded visual feedback (e.g., green for remaining time, red for elapsed time) provides intuitive information that is visible from various angles and distances, improving viewing convenience.
4Device complexity
If the timing range is limited to 60 minutes, then the timer structure is simple, but it cannot meet the needs of students with examination time of 90 or 120 minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic timing range that can be adjusted from 1 minute to 120 minutes through electronic control. The system uses an adjustable preset value stored in memory, allowing users to configure the timing duration according to different needs such as short breaks or extended examination periods, thereby achieving adaptability without significantly increasing structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A visual timer includes a back shell, a PCB board, an encoder, a color display screen, an adjusting knob, a knob sleeve and a lens. The PCB board is arranged on the front of the back shell, the encoder is arranged at the bottom of the front of the PCB board, the color display screen is arranged on the front of the PCB board, the adjusting knob is arranged on the front of the encoder, the knob sleeve is arranged on the front of the adjusting knob, and the lens is arranged on the front of the color display screen. The timer has the characteristics of time visualization, low efficacy and convenient time adjustment by the adjusting knob, and the maximum timing range can be switched to 120 minutes and 60 minutes.