Electronic Timepiece Hand Damping Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Analog electronic timepieces face limitations in rapidly shifting hands to display new information, requiring users to wait for the updated values due to the restricted rate of hand movement, which can lead to misinterpretation of the time or measured values.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a processor-controlled damping mechanism that causes the hands to reciprocate about the target position, gradually decreasing the amplitude of these movements during rapid shifts, allowing the hands to bounce and eventually settle at the target position, thereby informing the user of the arrival without excessive power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the processor performs rapid shift of the hand to the target position, then the display update speed is improved, but the user cannot perceive when the hand has arrived at the target position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration by causing the hand to reciprocate (bounce) about the target position after rapid shift. This vibration manifests as small oscillations around the destination, providing visual feedback to the user that the hand has arrived. The vibration amplitude gradually decreases until the hand settles at the target position, ensuring the user can perceive the arrival while maintaining rapid overall shift speed.
2Loss of time
If the hand shifts rapidly to the target position, then the time required for display update is reduced, but the hand movement becomes imperceptible to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by introducing a reciprocation mechanism that provides visual confirmation to the user. After the hand completes its rapid shift to the target position, it performs damped oscillations that serve as feedback signal, clearly indicating to the user that the update has been completed. This feedback mechanism resolves the issue of imperceptible rapid movement while maintaining short update time.
3Device complexity
If simple rapid shift is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the rate of hand shift is limited to a certain level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static, simple rapid shift to a dynamic reciprocation mechanism. The hand doesn't just move directly to the target position but performs controlled oscillations with gradually decreasing amplitude. This dynamic approach allows for faster overall shift rates while the control mechanism remains relatively simple, using basic reciprocation logic rather than complex control systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables faster and more intuitive display updates, reducing the risk of misreading by providing a sensory perception of the hands' arrival at the target position, while maintaining efficient power usage.
Implementation Method 1
the processor performs a control of a damping of reciprocation of the hand in which the hand performs a predetermined reciprocation about the target position as a reference position and gradually decreases an amplitude of the reciprocation thereof during the rapid shift
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic timepiece includes a turnable hand and a processor that controls a turn of the hand. When the processor performs a rapid shift of the hand to a set target position, the processor performs a control of a damping of reciprocation of the hand in which the hand performs a predetermined reciprocation about the target position as a reference position and gradually decreases an amplitude of the reciprocation thereof during the rapid shift.