Transparent Touch Screen Watch with Solar Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional high-class watches lack smart functionality while smart watches fail to replicate the classical appearance and brand value of traditional timepieces, necessitating a combination of both aesthetics and smart features in a single device.
Innovation Solution
A watch design incorporating a transparent touch screen and a driving system that allows for rotatable pointers, enabling a classical appearance in conventional mode and smart functionality in touch-responsive mode, along with integrated solar cells for power and a flexible solar cell on the strap for extended battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a traditional watch design is used, then classical appearance and brand value are achieved, but smart functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The watch face dynamically switches between transparent and display modes. The transparent touch screen can transition from a transparent state that reveals the mechanical dial and pointers below (classical appearance) to a display state that shows smart interface content (smart functionality). This dynamic state change allows the same physical structure to serve both aesthetic and functional purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent touch screen serves multiple functions: it acts as a protective cover for the mechanical components, provides a touch interface for smart operations, and can display information when needed. The mechanical driving system simultaneously drives the pointers for time display and can trigger smart functions through specific operational patterns, achieving multi-functionality in a unified design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a smart watch design is used, then smart functionality is achieved, but classical appearance and brand value are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The watch employs local quality by making only the necessary portions opaque. The transparent touch screen maintains transparency in areas where the mechanical dial should be visible, while displaying content only in specific regions when smart functionality is activated. This localized approach preserves the classical aesthetic while providing smart features.
Solution Approach 2:
The display content and transparency state dynamically adjust based on operational mode. When in classical mode, the screen remains transparent to showcase the mechanical components. When smart functions are activated, the screen transitions to display mode showing digital information, thus adapting to different usage scenarios while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a transparent touch screen is used, then compatibility of traditional and smart watch is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transparent touch screen with the mechanical watch structure. The touch screen is integrated as the front cover of the watch case, combining the protective function with the touch interface function. The mechanical driving system and smart control system are merged into a unified control architecture that can operate in both classical and smart modes, reducing overall system complexity despite the dual functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving system is designed with universal functionality, where the same mechanical components that drive the pointers can also trigger smart functions. The transparent touch screen serves as both a protective cover and an interactive display interface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems, thereby managing complexity while achieving compatibility.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If solar cells are integrated, then battery life is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible thin-film solar cells that can be integrated into the watch structure. These thin-film solar cells are deposited on flexible substrates, allowing them to conform to the watch case and strap surfaces. This flexible film approach simplifies manufacturing compared to rigid solar cell integration, as the thin films can be applied using conventional coating techniques and integrated into existing manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The solar cells are integrated on multiple surfaces of the watch, including the watch case and the strap. By utilizing the three-dimensional surface area of the watch rather than just a single flat surface, the patent maximizes power generation capacity without increasing the footprint. This multi-surface integration approach distributes the manufacturing complexity across different components that are already part of the watch assembly process.
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
The watch achieves a balance between traditional aesthetics and smart functionality, offering compatibility with both classic and smart watch demands, while the solar cells enhance battery life and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a solar cell located on a side of the display screen facing the dial
Data Source
AI summary
A watch including: a rear cover; a dial fixedly connected with the rear cover, the dial and the rear cover defining a first cavity; a transparent touch screen located on a side of the dial facing away from the rear cover and fixedly connected with the dial, the transparent touch screen and the dial defining a second cavity; at least one pointer located in the second cavity and being rotatable relative to the dial; and a driving system located in the first cavity and configured to drive the at least one pointer to rotate and the transparent touch screen to operate.