Solar-Civil Time Display With Dynamic Sun And Horizon
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing timekeeping devices fail to accurately represent the natural movement of the sun and earth, leading to inaccuracies in time representation and disassociation from natural solar movements, lacking integration of civil and solar time, sunrise and sunset times, and seasonal indicators in a single display.
Innovation Solution
A system that integrates a representation of a sun revolving once per solar day, a horizon that oscillates vertically, and hour indications that adjust for longitude and equation of time, providing a single display for civil time, solar time, sunrise and sunset, and seasonal indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical clock with 12-hour dial is used, then the time display is simplified and easy to read, but the connection to natural solar movements and sunrise-sunset timing is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The clock face is divided into two independent 12-hour cycles: one for civil time (clock time) and one for solar time (sun position). This segmentation allows each cycle to function independently - the civil time cycle provides simple, conventional time reading while the solar time cycle maintains accurate representation of sun movement and natural timing cues.
2Ease of operation
If the sun icon rotates once per civil day, then the time display matches conventional clock time, but it fails to accurately represent the actual solar day variation throughout the year
Solution Approach 1:
The solar time indicator is made dynamic by allowing it to rotate at a variable rate that accounts for the equation of time. This dynamic adjustment ensures the sun icon accurately reflects the actual position of the sun in the sky at solar noon, compensating for the variation in solar day length throughout the year while maintaining its function as a time indicator.
3Device complexity
If the horizon remains stationary on the display, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot represent the seasonal variation in sunrise and sunset times
Solution Approach 1:
The horizon line is made dynamic by allowing it to rotate vertically around the display center throughout the year. This vertical rotation of the horizon accurately represents the seasonal change in the sun's path - higher arcs in summer and lower arcs in winter - enabling the display to adapt to different times of year while maintaining a relatively simple structural implementation.
4Ease of operation
If the display shows only civil time, then the reading is straightforward and unambiguous, but it provides no information about solar time, sunrise, or sunset
Solution Approach 1:
The display merges two separate time systems into a single integrated interface: the civil time system (conventional clock time) and the solar time system (sun-based time). Both time systems are represented simultaneously on the same display face, allowing users to read conventional time clearly while also obtaining accurate solar time information and natural timing cues from the sun icon and horizon position.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus may include a display for visually representing solar time and civil time simultaneously. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a representation of a horizon extending across the display, an icon of the sun corresponding to a solar time by its position relative to the representation of the horizon and to a top portion of the display, the icon of the sun configured to revolve once per solar day about a center portion of the display, and a plurality of hour indications corresponding to civil-time hours of a day, the plurality of hour indications set circumferentially around the display. The angular position of the plurality of hour indications may be rotatable, thereby enabling the civil time of solar noon to appear at the top portion of the display.