Rotary Plate Visual Notification Mechanism for Electronic Watches

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic watches only notify users of incoming calls through vibration, without providing visual details of the notification, limiting user awareness of other information such as incoming messages or alarms.

Innovation Solution

An information notifying device for electronic watches that includes a vibrating motor and a rotary plate, which rotates to expose a function display section through a display opening on the hour plate, allowing users to be notified both visually and through vibration of incoming calls, messages, and alarms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If only vibration notification is used, then power consumption is reduced and device remains compact, but user cannot obtain visual details of notification information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification detailsVSAvoiddisplay structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary plate is nested within the hour plate structure, rotating within the boundaries of the display opening. This allows the notification display function to be integrated into the existing watch face without adding external complexity, enabling visual notification details while maintaining a compact design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary plate dynamically rotates to different positions based on the type of notification received. By rotating to specific angular positions, different portions of the rotary plate become visible through the display opening, providing visual notification details without requiring a continuous or complex display structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If a separate display module is added for visual notifications, then notification details become visible, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification informationVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The notification display function is merged with the existing hour plate and rotary plate structures. The rotary plate serves dual purposes: as part of the timepiece mechanism and as a notification display element. This integration eliminates the need for separate display modules, reducing overall device weight while providing visual notification information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary plate is designed to serve multiple functions: it is part of the timekeeping mechanism and simultaneously serves as a notification display element. By making the rotary plate universal, the patent avoids adding dedicated weight for separate notification components while still providing visual information about notifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If continuous display is used for notifications, then all information is always visible, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification visibilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous display, the rotary plate rotates periodically or intermittently to display notification information only when needed. The display is activated on-demand when a notification is received, rotating the plate to the appropriate position, and then remaining static until the next notification event, thereby significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous display operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 users to receive visual notifications of various information types, such as calls and messages, reducing power consumption and maintaining a compact device design while providing clear visual indication of notification details.

Implementation Method 1

a vibrating motor which is placed on a lower side of the hour plate and causes vibration with eccentric rotation of an eccentric rotation section for information notification

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEccentric rotation: Eccentric

Implementation Method 2

a rotary plate which rotates with the eccentric rotation of the eccentric rotation section of the vibrating motor and exposes a function display section from the display opening for information notification

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEccentric rotation: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentUS8787123B2Information notifying device and electronic timepiece

Publication Date: 2014.07.22 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention provides an information notifying device including an hour plate with a display opening, a vibrating motor which is placed on a lower side of the hour plate and causes vibration with eccentric rotation of an eccentric rotation section for information notification, and a rotary plate which rotates with the eccentric rotation of the eccentric rotation section of the vibrating motor and exposes a function display section from the display opening for information notification.