Electronic Timepiece Dual Indicator Battery Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic timepieces do not effectively indicate the remaining battery level when switching modes, leading to potential overlook of low battery status.

Innovation Solution

An electronic timepiece with a processor that causes a first indicator and a second indicator to display battery information for a predetermined period when returning to the basic time mode from other modes, enhancing visibility through dual indication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the remaining battery is indicated by a single indicator (e.g., mode hand pointing at remaining battery), then the device complexity is reduced, but the perceivability of remaining battery is insufficient leading to potential overlook of low battery status

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperceivability of remaining batteryVSAvoidindication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple indicators (mode hand and digital indicator) to indicate the remaining battery level simultaneously. The mode hand points to the remaining battery on the dial while the digital indicator displays the battery level numerically, creating a redundant indication system that enhances perceivability and reduces the likelihood of overlooking low battery status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-dimensional indication (mode hand only) to a multi-dimensional indication system by adding a digital indicator. This dimensional expansion provides both analog (hand pointing) and digital (numeric display) representations of battery level, making the information more prominent and harder to miss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the remaining battery is indicated only during mode switching, then the indication duration is short, but the likelihood of overlooking low battery status increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of remaining batteryVSAvoidindication duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the remaining battery indication continuous by maintaining it during mode switching operations. The mode hand continuously points to the remaining battery position, and the digital indicator continuously displays the battery level, ensuring that the information is always visible and accessible to the user throughout the interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary indication of the remaining battery level before mode switching occurs. The mode hand is positioned to indicate the remaining battery, and the digital indicator displays the battery level, so that when the user switches modes, the battery information is already prepared and immediately visible, preventing any gap in information availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250076822A1Electronic timepiece, indication control method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic timepiece includes a dial, a first indicator, a second indicator, and a processor. The first indicator is provided on a region of the dial. The second indicator is provided on a region of the dial different from the region of the first indicator. The processor causes the first indicator and the second indicator to indicate first information at a predetermined timing for a predetermined period.