Watch Circuit Segmentation for Low Power Analog Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic watch circuits face challenges in minimizing battery power consumption while supporting various peripheral functions and maintaining flexibility for analogue hand control or other time display methods.
Innovation Solution
An electronic watch circuit comprising a first integrated circuit with control logic connected to non-volatile memory and a quartz crystal, along with a separate microcontroller, allows for autonomous operation with reduced power consumption by using serial or parallel interfaces for bidirectional data exchange, enabling control of analogue hands and other low-power functions without a CPU, and includes condition control means for wake-up and sleep modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a processor is used to control watch functions and execute instructions, then the watch can support various peripheral functions and display options, but the electrical power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two segments: a passive control logic unit that handles basic timekeeping and hand control with minimal power consumption, and an active processor that is only engaged when peripheral functions require complex processing. This segmentation allows the watch to support versatile peripheral functions while maintaining low power consumption during basic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor operates periodically rather than continuously, being activated only when specific peripheral functions require processing and returning to a low-power state afterward. This periodic activation pattern enables the system to support multiple peripheral functions while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous processor operation.
2Ease of operation
If a processor is continuously active to handle peripheral communications and control, then responsive control is achieved, but the battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The processor is activated periodically only when peripheral functions require processing, rather than running continuously. This periodic operation maintains control responsiveness when needed while dramatically extending battery life by minimizing the time the high-power processor is active.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive control logic unit handles basic timekeeping and peripheral coordination autonomously without requiring continuous processor intervention. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain operational responsiveness while the processor remains in a low-power state, thereby extending battery life.
3Loss of information
If digital display is used instead of analogue hands, then information display capability is improved, but the aesthetic appeal and traditional watch character are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges traditional analogue hand display with digital display capabilities into a single integrated timepiece. The analogue hands provide aesthetic appeal and traditional watch character, while the digital display adds enhanced information display capability. Both display modes coexist and can be used independently or together, resolving the contradiction between aesthetics and information display.
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 achieves lower power consumption and flexibility in supporting peripheral functions, allowing for efficient operation of analogue watches with reduced power usage and integration of smart features, while maintaining traditional watch functionality and design aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
a quartz crystal providing the clock base frequency to the ASIC
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic watch circuit for controlling the operation of a watch having analogue hands has an integrated circuit which contains data values to be transmitted to registers and transmitted to peripheral members of the watch. The electronic watch circuit further has a quartz crystal providing the clock base frequency to the integrated circuit and a connecting device arranged for enabling the peripheral member controllers, the quartz crystal, and the processor to communicate data relating to the operation of the watch to each other. The electronic circuit further has a microcontroller including a processor connected to a programmable memory. The integrated circuit has an interface, the microcontroller has a further interface, and the microcontroller is connected with integrated circuit by the interfaces allowing bidirectional exchange of data between the microcontroller and the integrated circuit.