Electronic Watch Authentication Using Motorized Hands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for authenticating electronic watches require external devices, making the process complicated and aesthetically unappealing, as they often involve visible codes or separate RFID chips that need external reading tools.
Innovation Solution
An electronic watch authentication method where the processing and control circuit, integrated with motorized hands, displays authentication information on the watch dial by moving hands to indicate digits or numbers of an identification code when activated, allowing users to verify authenticity visually without external instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coded image or RFID circuit chip is provided for authentication, then authentication capability is improved, but device complexity and need for external reading devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the authentication signaling function with the existing time indication hands of the watch. The hands serve dual purposes: indicating time during normal operation and displaying authentication codes when activated. This merging eliminates the need for separate authentication components like RFID chips or external reading devices, while maintaining both timekeeping and authentication capabilities within the existing watch structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The time indication hands are designed to perform multiple functions: they indicate time during normal watch operation and display authentication codes when the watch enters authentication mode. This multi-functionality allows the same components to serve both temporal and security purposes, eliminating the need for dedicated authentication hardware and external reading devices.
2Ease of operation
If authentication codes are displayed on the watch face, then ease of operation is improved, but aesthetic appearance may be worsened during authentication mode
Solution Approach 1:
The watch dynamically switches between two display modes: during normal operation, the hands indicate time in the conventional aesthetic position; during authentication mode, the same hands move to display authentication codes. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the watch to maintain aesthetic appearance during normal use while providing easy visual authentication when needed, with the transition triggered by activation members.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication display operates periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. The watch enters authentication mode temporarily when activation members are manipulated, displays the authentication code, and then returns to normal time indication. This periodic action minimizes the impact on aesthetic appearance while providing necessary authentication functionality.
3Reliability
If multiple activation members are provided for authentication mode, then reliability of authentication is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the activation members with existing watch components such as the crown or push-buttons that are already part of the time-setting mechanism. By reusing existing components for dual purposes (time setting and authentication activation), the system improves authentication security without adding significant structural complexity or new separate components.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
The method relates to the authentication of an electronic watch (1). The watch, which displays the time with hands (6, 7), includes a processing and control circuit equipped with a time base and means for storing personal data and/or identification data of a brand and/or a serial number and/or operating parameters of the watch. For the authentication method, at least one activation element (4, 4') of the watch, which is connected to the processing and control circuit, is activated to enter a watch authentication mode. Once the activation element is activated, a signaling device, which includes, for example, the hour hands, visually indicates watch authentication information. The hands (6, 7) can be moved on the watch dial (5) to indicate each successive digit or number of the identification code to be checked to authenticate the watch.The hands (6, 7) can also be controlled to describe a particular trajectory on the dial to authenticate the electronic watch.