Sequential Hand Movement in Electronic Timepiece Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic timepieces face challenges in allowing users to easily verify mode switches while minimizing current consumption during high-speed advance operations of indicating hands.
Innovation Solution
An electronic timepiece with a mode hand that initiates mode switching operations, followed by other indicating hands in ascending order of motor drive pulses, ensuring non-overlapping high-speed advance periods and sequential movement to reduce current consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple indicating hands are moved simultaneously in high-speed advance action during mode switching, then the mode switching is completed quickly, but current consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the simultaneous movement of multiple indicating hands into sequential segments. The mode hand moves first to indicate the mode switch, followed by other indicating hands moving in sequence. This segmentation reduces the overlap period of high-speed movements, thereby lowering current consumption while still completing the mode switching efficiently.
2Ease of operation
If the mode hand moves first among multiple indicating hands during mode switching, then user verification of mode change is quick and easy, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by making the mode hand move first before other indicating hands during mode switching. This preliminary movement of the mode hand provides immediate visual feedback to the user about the mode change, making verification easy. The control section is designed to automatically execute this sequence, so while the control logic is enhanced, the user interface remains simple.
3Use of energy by moving object
If indicating hands are moved in sequential non-overlapping periods, then current consumption is reduced, but the total time for mode switching increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by moving indicating hands in distinct time periods rather than continuously or simultaneously. The mode hand moves in the first period, followed by other hands in subsequent non-overlapping periods. This periodic sequencing reduces current consumption by avoiding simultaneous high-power operations while keeping the total switching time acceptable through efficient period management.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic timepiece has a plurality of modes and includes a plurality of indicating hands including a first indicating hand as a mode hand that indicates each mode, an operation section that allows mode switching operation that instructs switching among the modes, and a display control section that moves the plurality of indicating hands to be moved on the basis of the mode switching operation in such a way that periods for which the plurality of indicating hands move in high-speed advance action do not overlap with one another. The display control section first moves the first indicating hand among the plurality of indicating hands.