Analog Strap Watch Activity Display via Hand Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional analog strap watches face challenges in effectively displaying user physical activity information due to inadequate readability of bar graphs and integrating additional data with classical hands.
Innovation Solution
The use of a third hand, typically the seconds hand, is repurposed to display physical activity information through a conventional analog gauge, complemented by digital displays and user-selectable modes, allowing for improved readability and continuous access to activity data via intuitive gestures or button interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If bar graphs are used to display physical activity information on analog watches, then information can be displayed, but readability becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using conventional bar graphs to display activity information, the patent inverts the approach by using the existing analog hand mechanism to indicate activity levels through angular position. The hand's rotation around the dial creates a visual representation where the angle corresponds to activity quantity, transforming the display problem into a utilization of the existing analog scale's spatial relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the analog hand serve multiple functions: it continues to indicate time (its primary function) while simultaneously representing physical activity levels through its angular position. This multi-functionality allows the watch to display activity information without adding separate display elements, thereby maintaining readability through the familiar analog interface.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If additional analog displays are added to show activity data, then activity information can be displayed with good readability, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the existing analog hand mechanism to perform dual functions: time indication and activity level display. By utilizing the hand's rotational freedom and the dial's angular scale, the system displays activity information without requiring additional display components, thus avoiding increased device complexity while maintaining good readability through the analog format.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the activity display function with the existing time-display analog mechanism. The hand that originally served solely to indicate time is now combined with activity tracking, where its angular position encodes activity levels. This merging eliminates the need for separate display elements and reduces overall device complexity.
3Loss of information
If digital displays are used to show activity information, then information can be displayed continuously, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by updating the hand position only when activity data changes or at scheduled intervals, rather than continuously driving a digital display. The hand moves to reflect current activity levels periodically, providing continuous information availability while consuming minimal power since the hand mechanism only activates when data updates occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The analog hand display is self-service in that it passively indicates activity levels through its position without requiring active illumination or continuous power-driven updates. The hand's angular position naturally reflects the data state, eliminating the need for power-intensive digital rendering while maintaining continuous information availability to the user.
Data Source
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AI summary
Strap watch (10) comprising a first hand (1) normally indicating the hours, a second hand (2) normally indicating the minutes, where appropriate an additional hand (3;30), where appropriate at least one accelerometer (7), and an electronic control unit (8) which is configured so that it normally causes the time to be indicated by the hands, calculates at least one individual activity amount representative of a physical activity of the user based on information collected by the accelerometer, and displays the activity amount by means of at least one of the hands, whereby the user can very simply view one or more amount (s) relating to his or her physical activity on a compact and conventional analog watch interface.