Electronic Timepiece Crown Mode Switching

Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic timepieces with limited operation buttons face complexity in conveying their state to users as the number of features increases, particularly in analog-style designs.

Innovation Solution

An electronic timepiece with a reporting unit, a crown that can be pulled out and pushed back to switch between modes, and a processor that detects the crown's state to report the timepiece's state alongside the current time, allowing for additional features without increasing button count.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of features in the electronic timepiece is increased, then the functionality and versatility are improved, but the complexity of operations for conveying the state to the user increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The crown is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a time adjustment mechanism and a mode switching control. By pulling the crown to different positions (first position for time setting, second position for state reporting), a single component handles multiple operations that would traditionally require separate buttons or controls, thereby maintaining simplicity while adding functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The crown transitions between different states (pushed in, pulled to first position, pulled to second position), with each state triggering different operational modes. This dynamic multi-position design allows the same physical component to adapt its function based on its current position, enabling complex functionality without adding operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the number of operation buttons is reduced for design reasons, then the design simplicity and aesthetics are improved, but the ability to convey the state of the timepiece becomes limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutton countVSAvoidstate reporting capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The crown is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a time adjustment mechanism and a mode switching control. By pulling the crown to different positions (first position for time setting, second position for state reporting), a single component handles multiple operations that would traditionally require separate buttons or controls, thereby maintaining simplicity while adding functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by reporting the state of the electronic timepiece (such as battery level, temperature, or other sensor data) to the user through the display when the crown is in the second position. This feedback mechanism ensures that users receive necessary information about the device's status without needing additional buttons

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11209777B2Electronic timepiece and method of reporting state of electronic timepiece

Publication Date: 2021.12.28 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic timepiece includes: a main unit having a reporting unit that reports information to a user; a crown that can be pulled out from and pushed back into a main unit by the user; a sensor that detects a state of the electronic timepiece; and a processor, wherein the processor detects a state of the crown and the state detected by the sensor and switches between a plurality of modes in accordance with the state of the crown, and wherein upon detecting that the crown has been pulled out or pushed back in, the processor causes the electronic timepiece to operate in a state reporting mode in which the reporting unit reports the state detected by the sensor to the user.