Electronic Timepiece Crown Position Correction Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic timepieces face challenges in providing intuitive and efficient input operations, particularly when correcting time zones or chronograph hands, due to variable correction quantities and a lack of clear feedback, leading to poor usability and inconvenience in manual settings without satellite signals.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a movement mechanism that distinguishes between zero and first stage positions of the crown, allowing for intuitive recognition of input operations through resistance feedback, and a control unit that selects between single and continuous correction modes based on crown operation, enabling precise and efficient time zone and chronograph hand adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the crown is pulled out to correct display information, then the correction operation can be performed, but the measurement condition of rotation signal becomes variable and correction quantity becomes variable depending on crown position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of crown axial position by defining multiple pull-out stages (first stage and second stage) to create distinct operational modes. At the first stage, single-step correction is enabled, while at the second stage, continuous correction is enabled. This parameter change allows the system to adapt the correction behavior based on crown position, resolving the contradiction between operational flexibility and measurement consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic operational modes that change based on crown position. The control unit dynamically switches between single-step correction mode and continuous correction mode depending on whether the crown is at the first stage or second stage pull-out position. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize correction operations for different scenarios while maintaining consistent measurement conditions through mode-specific detection parameters.
2Reliability
If the crown is at zero stage position, then input operation is prevented, but the user cannot perform correction operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the crown operational range into multiple stages: zero stage (pressed into case), first stage (pulled out once), and second stage (pulled out twice). Each stage has distinct functional characteristics - the first stage enables single-step correction while the second stage enables continuous correction. This segmentation allows the system to provide different levels of correction accessibility while maintaining reliable input control through stage-specific enablement.
3Measurement precision
If the correction quantity is fixed for all crown positions, then the measurement condition is consistent, but delicate correction satisfying user intention cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic correction quantities that adapt to crown position. When the crown is at the first stage pull-out position, the system uses a first correction quantity suitable for single-step adjustments. When at the second stage, it uses a second correction quantity suitable for continuous corrections. This dynamic adjustment maintains measurement consistency within each mode while enabling delicate correction capabilities across different operational scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the correction quantity parameter based on crown axial position. The control unit selects different correction quantities corresponding to different crown pull-out stages, allowing the system to optimize the correction behavior for each operational mode. This parameter change enables delicate correction satisfying user intentions while maintaining consistent measurement conditions within each stage-specific mode.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic timepiece has a display device that displays display information, a drive mechanism that drives the display device, a crown that can perform a rotary operation, and a control device that corrects the display information displayed on the display device by the rotary operation of the crown. The control device has a single correction mode and a continuous correction mode which are selected by the rotary operation of the crown. In the single correction mode, a single correction signal is output to the drive mechanism so that the display device is corrected as much as a single correction quantity. In the continuous correction mode, a continuous correction signal is output to the drive mechanism so that the display device is corrected as much as a continuous correction quantity. The continuous correction quantity is set depending on types of the display information to be corrected in the continuous correction mode.