Electronic Timepiece Bezel Exception Position for Flexible Time Zone Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic timepieces face design limitations and reduced extensibility due to the need to accommodate numerous time zones on a small device, which restricts flexibility and diversity in time zone display.
Innovation Solution
An electronic timepiece with a bezel featuring multiple location markers, a moving hand, and a memory system associating time difference information with each marker, including an exception indication position for non-corresponding time zones, allowing the hand and bezel to be positioned accordingly, enabling flexible time zone display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all time zones are covered with markers on the bezel, then complete time zone information is provided, but design diversity and extensibility are limited due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The bezel serves multiple functions: it displays location markers for time zone setting, shows the currently set time zone position, and provides an exception indication position for cases where no marker corresponds to the set time zone. This multi-functionality allows the same physical structure to adapt to various time zone configurations without requiring additional components for each possible time zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the relationship between the hand and bezel based on the set time zone. The controller moves the hand and/or bezel to different relative positions depending on whether a corresponding marker exists, enabling the display to adapt flexibly to different time zone scenarios without physical reconfiguration.
2Device complexity
If a fixed number of location markers are provided on the bezel, then the device structure is simplified, but the ability to accommodate changing time zones is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The exception indication position is pre-configured on the bezel during manufacturing, but its actual usage is determined dynamically based on the set time zone. This preliminary preparation of the exception position allows the system to handle future or changing time zones without requiring physical modifications to the bezel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the bezel-hand relationship based on the set time zone. By adjusting the relative positioning and interpretation of the markers versus the exception position, the same physical structure can accommodate different time zone configurations and changes over time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an exception indication position is added to the bezel, then flexibility in time zone display is improved, but the bezel structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The exception indication position is merged into the existing bezel structure as an additional functional element rather than a separate component. By integrating this exception indicator into the same rotational system and visual display mechanism as the location markers, the system achieves enhanced flexibility without proportionally increasing overall structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic timepiece includes: a bezel having location markers for indicating positions of the world; a second hand moving relative to the bezel; a memory storing time difference information in which each location marker is associated with information relating to a time zone to which a position indicated by each location marker belongs; and a controller performing operation control for moving the second hand relative to the bezel, and the bezel has a set exception indication position representing non-correspondence to any time zone associated with each location marker by being in a predetermined positional relationship with the second hand, and the controller causes the second hand and the exception indication position to be in the predetermined positional relationship when there is no location marker associated with a set time zone, during display relating to the set time zone for a date and time to be displayed.