Universal Moon Phase Display for Watches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional moon phase displays on watches are often approximate and not compatible with users in tropical or equatorial regions, as they are designed primarily for European or temperate zones, making them unsuitable for southern hemisphere users and prohibitively expensive for universal compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A universal moon phase display device for watches that receives geolocation signals and calculates the moon phase based on the current date, using a combination of a first display with a normal moon representation and a second display with a movable horizon, allowing for accurate representation of moon phases in both northern and southern hemispheres through controlled rotation and translation, and optionally includes a red moon representation for total lunar eclipses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional moon phase displays are designed for European or temperate zones, then they provide accurate display for those regions, but they become incompatible for users in tropical or equatorial regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic moon phase display system that automatically adjusts the representation of moon phases based on the user's geographic location detected via GPS. The display rotates and transforms to show the correct moon phase orientation for the detected hemisphere (Northern, Southern, or Equatorial), converting a static, region-specific display into a dynamic, location-adaptive display that maintains accuracy across all geographic regions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the display parameters (rotation angle, orientation, and phase representation) based on the geographic latitude parameter obtained from GPS data. By detecting the user's latitude and hemisphere, the system transforms the moon phase display parameters to match the appropriate regional view, enabling accurate display for temperate, tropical, and equatorial regions using a single device
2Measurement precision
If separate moon phase displays are created for Northern and Southern hemispheres, then each display is accurate for its hemisphere, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal moon phase display that can accurately represent moon phases for both Northern and Southern hemispheres, as well as equatorial regions, using a single device. The system uses GPS to detect the user's hemisphere and automatically adjusts the display orientation and phase representation, eliminating the need for multiple hemisphere-specific versions while maintaining accuracy for all regions
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having separate static displays for different hemispheres, the patent implements a single dynamic display that automatically transforms based on the detected hemisphere. The display can rotate and reorient itself to show the correct moon phase view for the user's location, consolidating multiple hemisphere-specific functions into one adaptable display mechanism
Data Source
Figure 16~16.6
Figure 16.7~16.12
Figure 17~17.6
AI summary
A universal moon phase display device (10) for a watch (1000), comprising first means (1) for calculating or receiving the date, second means (2) for receiving a geolocation signal, and third means (3) for calculating or receiving a lunar calendar (4) with the correlation between the date and the moon phase, position calculation means (5) arranged to transform the moon phase of the day into a first angular position value of a first display (6) included in said device (10) and which includes a representation of a normal moon (11), and further arranged to determine the northern or southern hemisphere in which the device (10) is located, to control the direction of rotation of first drive means (7) included in this device (10) for driving the first display (6), in opposite directions in the northern and southern hemispheres.