WO2005069088A1

WO2005069088A1 - Color clock

Info

Publication number: WO2005069088A1
Application number: PCT/DE2005/000068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Axel Viebig
Original assignee: Axel Viebig
Priority date: 2004-01-19
Filing date: 2005-01-19
Publication date: 2005-07-28
Also published as: DE112005000656D2; DE102004002697A1; WO2005069088B1

Abstract

A color clock for alternately displaying the time in hours and minutes with the aid of colors, consisting of a star-shaped (1) or a rhomboid-shaped arrangement of seven to nine light-emitting color fields. The three (12, 4, 8) or four outer color fields of said arrangement symbolize the figures twelve, four and eight which are located in a corresponding position of a conventional clock face. Each of the inner color fields represents two (11/1, 3/5, 7/9) or three (2/6/10) of the remaining clock figures. Each color field has four states which can be realized by two colors alone and which are continuously illuminating or flashing.

Description

colors watch

The present invention relates to an apparatus for displaying time and the corresponding method for determining the time in hours and minutes.

Patent specification CH 683664G A3 describes a color clock in which twelve different colors are assigned to the twelve hours of the conventional 360 ° clock circle, or represent one of the corresponding 5-minute sections of the 60 minutes of the same clock circle. For this purpose, the colors are applied in sections in 30 ° steps on the periphery of the 360 ° clock circle and form the so-called orientation ring, which should serve as a reference for the actual time reading. The time is then read from two horizontal bars arranged in parallel within the orientation ring. The upper bar consists of only one segment and shows the hours. The lower bar consists of five segments and shows the minutes. The color of the respective bars identifies one of the twelve hour or 5 minute sections on the orientation ring, the exact number of minutes within the 5 minute interval is indicated by the number of illuminated segments of the minute bar. In addition, this color clock has a second display, which is realized by a colored pointer or by a circular arrangement of 60 elements outside the orientation ring, with each field representing a second value.

Patent specification WO 99/57614 describes a color clock which, like the color clock from patent specification CH 683664G A3, has an orientation ring, which is referred to here as a reference ring. In contrast to the orientation ring in patent specification CH 683664G A3, which is divided into twelve sections, this reference ring has a continuous color gradient, with each color occurring only once. Due to the continuous color gradient, the 360 ° clock circle can be resolved higher than in 30 ° steps. For example, the 0 ° reference value is assumed for the 12 o'clock position. In the center of the reference ring is the hour color reference in the form of a single-colored circular disc, the variable color of which can be found at a specific position on the reference ring, thus enabling a variable angle S to be read from the reference ring. There is also a minute color reference in the form of a second monochrome concentric ring, the radius of which can be larger or smaller than the radius of the reference ring and whose current color also enables an angle M to be read from the reference ring. The current time is calculated as hours = 12 * Ξ / 360 and minutes = 60 * M / 360. The colors of the reference ring can be varied at any time, only the colors at the hour and minute position on the reference ring must be reproduced by the hour disc and the minute ring at the time of reading.

The patents DE 2712558 AI, DE 2718535 AI and the utility model GM 7328506 relate to the protection of the time display arrangement known as the "Berlin clock", which can also be regarded as a color clock because of the use of colors. The time is displayed by means of a four-line arrangement of colored fields that shine or do not shine depending on the time displayed The colors of the fields have no influence on the time value shown, the only thing that matters is whether a field does not shine.

The top two lines represent the hours within a 24-hour period, the bottom two lines the minutes from 0-59. The first line contains four fields, each illuminated field representing five hours. The second line also contains four fields, with each activated field representing one hour. The third line contains eleven fields, each activated field representing five minutes. The fourth line contains four fields, each activated field represents one minute. The luminous fields of the individual lines are always left-aligned as a continuous bar, color can be used for better reading, for example, every third field ("15 minutes") of the third line can be executed in a different color. The time can be calculated by adding the time values represented by the illuminated fields.

It should be noted that the Berlin clock needs 23 color or luminous fields for the hour and minute display, whereby the coloring obviously fulfills an ergonomic function. Two states - glowing or not glowing - are sufficient for this time display. The time display device described here does not necessarily have to be a color clock.

All the devices mentioned have in common that they either require more than three colors for the time display (at least twelve colors are necessary for CH 683664G A3 and WO 99/57614) or have more than nine display elements (Berlin clock requires at least 23 display elements). The apparatus from the patent specification CH 683664G A3 consists of one circular and two bar-shaped elements, the circular element being segmented into twelve differently colored sections, and the one bar-shaped element consisting of five sections.

The apparatus from patent specification WO 99/57614 consists of a circular element which has a continuous color gradient and has a different color value at each angular position within the 360 ° degree. The hour and minute display is performed by single-color concentric color rings or disks, the color values of which correspond to a color value of the continuous color gradient, and thus enable hour and minute readings to be displayed via two angles.

A disadvantage of all of the apparatuses mentioned is that, in the case of a realization from stationary color elements, they are of complex construction, primarily because of the large number of display elements required. In the apparatus of the patent specifications WO 99/57614 and CH 683664G A3, the required, very differentiated color rendering represents an additional hurdle. The effect of the time display by means of laser or video projectors is also associated with a high level of expenditure.

The amount of information to be transmitted visually may also be confusing due to continuous color gradients, a large number of colors to be distinguished or a large number of display elements to be counted. In addition, with the constructions of the patent specifications CH 683664G A3 and WO 99/57614 it is questionable to what extent color blind people are able to read the time.

The present invention seeks to avoid all of these disadvantages.

The object of the present invention is to implement a clock with hour and minute display with as few colors and fields as possible. A limitation to only two colors with a number of seven to nine luminous color fields is possible if the third and fourth states required for the time display are realized by flashing one or the other luminous color.

This offers the advantage that this limitation to only seven to nine display elements and only two colors means that the design effort is kept low, both technically and economically. Few display elements also reduce the probability of failure for the display and reduce energy consumption.

At the same time, the amount of information to be transmitted visually is reduced, so that it can be better captured. The lower the number of colors used, the better they can be differentiated. This is particularly important if color blind people should also be able to read the color clock. The above object is achieved with a clock according to claim 1. The preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the attached drawings:

Figure 1 shows the color clock according to this invention in the preferred embodiment (1) with a star-shaped arrangement of seven color fields, the color fields being labeled with the respective clock circle numbers of the known 360 ° clock circle.

Figure 2 shows the color clock according to the invention in a further embodiment (2) with an arrangement of eight color fields in the form of two nested rhombuses, the color fields being labeled with the clock circle numbers of the known 360 ° clock circle assigned to them.

Figure 3 shows the color clock according to the invention in a further embodiment (3) with an arrangement of nine color fields in a star shape with an internal triangle, the color fields being labeled with the clock circle numbers of the known 360 ° clock circle assigned to them.

Figure 4 shows the block diagram of the technical implementation of said color clock according to claim 1

Figures 5-8 show examples of the time displayed by the arrangement (1) according to Figure 1

Figures 9-12 show examples of the time displayed by the arrangement (2) according to Figure 2

Figures 13-16 show examples of the time displayed by the arrangement (3) according to Figure 3

The control of the color fields as a visualization component (64) of the color clock, which can be constructed, for example, from multicolored LEDs (light-emitting diodes) or lamps, is preferably carried out by a programmed microcontroller, which uses a quartz-stabilized time base (60) with counting registers for seconds (60 ), Minutes (61) and hours (62). Realization with conventional digital logic or with appropriately programmed CPLDs or FPGAs would also be possible. Although almost irrelevant these days, digital mechatronics could also take over the control, and changing color fields could be achieved by mechanically changing colored materials in solid or liquid form.

The generation of the display states from the time information (60, 61, 62) is implemented by the conversion component (63), most simply using a lookup table. Program logic would also be possible, for example, but is more complex to implement. Several buttons are connected to the conversion component (63), which can be used to set the time and other operating parameters.

In Figures 1-3, the embodiments of said color clock are disclosed, i.e. a star-shaped arrangement (1) of seven color fields (preferred embodiment), a further arrangement of eight color fields in the form of two nested diamonds (2), and a further embodiment in Shape of a star-shaped arrangement with an internal triangle (3), consisting of nine color fields. The totality of the color fields of each embodiment of the color clock (1, 2, 3) symbolizes all twelve clock circle numbers one to twelve according to the labels next to the color fields in Figure 1-3, wherein a color field can symbolize at least one and a maximum of three clock circle numbers. Each color field can glow or blink in orange or blue. Only the orange colored fields and the flashing color field reproduce the entire time information, the constantly blue color fields only form the background. The display of the color clock alternates every three or five seconds between hour and minute display.

In the color clock of the preferred embodiment (1) in Fig. 1, seven color fields are arranged in a star shape. The three color fields on the outer clock circle (20) symbolize the clock circle numbers twelve, four and eight. Each of the three color fields lying on the inscribed concentric clock circle (30) symbolizes two clock circle numbers (11/1, 3/5 and 7/9), whereas the color field (10/2/6) in the center (50) even three clock circle numbers, namely ten, two and six, symbolized.

During the display of the current number of hours, all color fields light up permanently blue or orange and no color field flashes. All orange-colored fields symbolize a complete chain of clock circle consecutive clockwise numbers. This chain consists of at least one and a maximum of four orange fields. It always begins in an orange field on the first clock circle (20), and extends in the direction of the next field, which is also on the first clock circle (20), which, however, cannot be part of the chain because it has a maximum length of four ,

The current number of hours is equal to the clock circle number of the color field at the end of the chain. The chain therefore always begins in a color field on the outer clock circle (20), so that the relevant value can be recognized for color fields that represent several clock circle numbers.

The display of the current number of minutes is characterized by the fact that, as well as during the display of the number of hours, all color fields glow blue or orange, however, exactly one blue or orange color field always flashes in on-off rhythm. Here, too, all orange-colored fields sybolize a seamless chain of clockwise successive clock circle numbers, which consists of at least one and a maximum of five orange-colored fields. It always begins in an orange field on the first clock circle (20) and extends at most to the next field on the same clock circle (20).

The flashing color field is also within the specified maximum extent of the chain. The current number of minutes is equal to the sum of the fourfold clock number in the last field of this chain and the clock number in the flashing field.

This is illustrated by the examples for the time display, as shown in Fig. 5-8.

Fig.5: In the hour display, only one color field lights up orange, which also represents the last color field in the chain of orange clock numbers and symbolizes the clock number twelve, thus twelve or zero o'clock. When the minutes are displayed, the field with the clock circle number four flashes orange and is also the last field in the chain of orange clock circle numbers. The sum of four times the number of clock circles in the last field in the chain of orange-colored fields plus the number of clock circles in the flashing field is 20 minutes. The time of 00:20 or 12:20 is shown here.

Fig.6: In the hour display, the color field symbolizing the clock numbers three and five lights up as the last color field in the color field of the clock number twelve starting chain in a clockwise direction without gaps between successive fields. The result of this is that the number of hours three is shown here, since the five is not in the chain: three or three o'clock. In the minute display, the maximum range of a chain of orange fields at this time is between the eight and twelve clock numbers, and here the last orange field represents the nine clock number and the flashing blue field the eleven clock number. The number of minutes results from 9 x 4 + 11 = 47. The time 03:47 or 15:47 is shown here.

Fig.7: In the hour display, the color field symbolizing the clock numbers seven and nine lights up as the last color field of a chain starting in the color field of the clock number four, clockwise successive fields without gaps. It follows that the number of hours seven (for explanation see description of Fig. 6), that is seven or 7 p.m. is shown here. In the minute display, the maximum range of a chain of orange fields at this time is between eight and twelve o'clock, and here the last orange field represents ten and the blinking orange field (the same field) ten. The number of minutes results from 10 x 4 + 10 = 50. The time 07:50 or 19:50 is shown here.

Fig.8: In the hour display, the color field symbolizing the clock circle numbers two, six and ten lights up as the last color field of a chain starting in the color field of the clock circle number eight in a clockwise sequence of consecutive fields. This means that the number of hours ten (for explanation see description of Fig. 6), i.e. ten or 10 p.m., is shown here. In the minute display, the maximum range of a chain of orange fields at this point is between the eight and twelve clock numbers, and here the last orange field represents the twelve clock number and the flashing orange field the eleven clock number. The number of minutes results from 12 x 4 + 11 = 59. The time 10: 59 or 22: 59 o'clock is shown here.

In the color clock in another embodiment (2) in Fig. 2, eight color fields are arranged in the form of two nested diamonds. The four color fields on the outer clock circle (20) symbolize the clock circle numbers twelve, three, six and nine. Each of the four colored fields on the concentric inscribed clock circle (30) symbolizes two clock circle numbers (11/1, 2/4, 5/7 and 11/1).

During the display of the current number of hours, all color fields light up permanently blue or orange and no color field flashes. All orange-colored fields symbolize a complete chain of clock circle consecutive clockwise numbers. This chain consists of at least one and a maximum of three orange fields. It always begins in an orange field on the first clock circle (20), and extends in the direction of the next field, which is also on the first clock circle (20), which, however, cannot be part of the chain, since it has a maximum length of three ,

The display of the current number of minutes is characterized by the fact that, just as during the display of the number of hours, all color fields glow blue or orange, however, exactly one blue or orange color field always flashes in on-off rhythm. Here, too, all orange-colored fields sybolize a complete chain of clockwise successive clock circle numbers, which consists of at least one and a maximum of four orange-colored fields. It always starts in an orange color Field on the first clock circle (20), and extends at most to the next field on the same clock circle (20).

This is illustrated by the examples for the time display, as shown in Fig. 9-12.

Fig.9: In the hour display, only one color field lights up orange, which also represents the last color field in the chain of orange clock numbers and symbolizes the clock number twelve, i.e. twelve or zero o'clock. When the minutes are displayed, the field with the clock circle number four flashes orange, and is also the last field of the chain of orange clock circle numbers beginning in the field of three clock circle numbers. The sum of four times the number of clock circles in the last field in the chain of orange-colored fields plus the number of clock circles in the flashing field is 20 minutes. The time of 00:20 or 12:20 is shown here.

Fig.10: In the hour display, only one color field lights up orange, which also represents the last color field in the chain of orange clock numbers and symbolizes the clock number three, i.e. three or three o'clock. In the minute display, the maximum range of a chain of orange fields at this time is between the clock numbers nine and twelve, and here the last orange field represents the clock number nine and the flashing blue field the clock number eleven. The number of minutes results from 9 x 4 + 11 = 47. The time 03:47 or 15:47 is shown here.

Fig.ll: In the hour display, the color field symbolizing the clock numbers five and seven lights up as the last color field of a chain starting in the color field of the clock number six in a clockwise sequence of consecutive fields. The result of this is that the number of hours seven, seven or seven o'clock is shown here. In the minute display, the maximum range of a chain of orange fields at this time is between the clock numbers nine and twelve, and here the last orange field represents the clock number ten and the flashing orange field (the same field) the clock number ten. The number of minutes results from 10 x 4 + 10 = 50. The time 07:50 or 19:50 is shown here.

Fig.12: In the hour display, the color field symbolizing the clock numbers eight and ten lights up as the last color field of a chain beginning in the color field of the clock number nine in a clockwise sequence of successive fields. The result of this is that the number of hours ten, that is ten or ten o'clock is shown, since the number eight does not lie between the number nine and twelve. In the minute display, the maximum range of a chain of orange fields at this point is between the clock numbers nine and twelve, and here the last orange field represents the clock number twelve, and the orange flashing field represents the clock number eleven. The number of minutes results from 12 x 4 + 11 = 59. The time 10:59 or 22:59 is shown here.

In the color clock in another embodiment (3) in Fig. 3, nine color fields in the form of a star with an inner triangle are arranged. The three color fields on the outer clock circle (20) symbolize the clock circle numbers twelve, four and eight. Each of the three color fields on the inscribed concentric clock circle (30) symbolizes two clock circle numbers (11/1, 3/5 and 7/9). The three color fields on the innermost concentric clock circle (40) symbolize the clock circle numbers two, six and ten. During the display of the current number of hours, all color fields light up permanently blue or orange and no color field flashes. All orange-colored fields symbolize a complete chain of clock circle consecutive clockwise numbers. This chain consists of at least one and a maximum of four orange fields. It always begins in an orange field on the first clock circle (20), and extends in the direction of the next field, which is also on the first clock circle (20), which, however, cannot be part of the chain, since it has a maximum length of four ,

This is illustrated by the examples for the time display, as shown in Fig. 13-16.

Fig.13: In the hour display, only one color field lights up orange, which also represents the last color field in the chain of orange clock numbers and symbolizes the clock number twelve, i.e. twelve or zero o'clock. When the minutes are displayed, the field with the clock circle number four flashes orange and is also the last field in the chain of orange clock circle numbers. The sum of four times the number of clock circles in the last field in the chain of orange-colored fields plus the number of clock circles in the flashing field is 20 minutes. The time of 00:20 or 12:20 is shown here.

Fig. 14: In the hour display, the color field symbolizing the clock circle numbers three and five lights up as the last color field of a chain beginning in the color field of the clock circle number twelve, clockwise successive fields. It follows that the number of hours three is shown here, since the five is not in the chain: three or three o'clock. In the minute display, the maximum range of a chain of orange fields at this time is between the eight and twelve clock numbers, and here the last orange field represents the nine clock number and the flashing blue field the eleven clock number. The number of minutes results from 9 x 4 + 11 = 47. The time 03:47 or 15:47 is shown here.

Fig.15: In the hour display, the color field symbolizing the clock numbers seven and nine lights up as the last color field of a chain beginning in the color field of the clock number four in a clockwise sequence of successive fields. This means that the number of hours seven (for an explanation, see the description in Fig. 14), i.e. seven or 7 p.m., is shown here. In the minute display, the maximum range of a chain of orange fields at this time is between eight and twelve clock numbers, and here the last orange field represents ten and the blinking orange field (the same field) ten. The number of minutes results from 10 x 4 + 10 = 50. The time 07:50 or 19:50 is shown here. Fig.16: In the hour display, the color field symbolizing the clock number ten lights up as the last color field of a chain starting in the color field of the clock number eight, clockwise from successive fields without gaps. This means that the number of hours ten (for explanation see description in Fig. 14), i.e. ten or 10 p.m., is shown here. In the minute display, the maximum range of a chain of orange fields at this time is between eight and twelve o'clock, and here the last orange field represents twelve o'clock and the blinking orange field represents eleven o'clock. The number of minutes results from 12 x 4 + 11 = 59. The time 10: 59 or 22:59 is shown here.

Claims

Expectations:

1. Color clock for time representation, characterized in that it consists of seven, eight or nine color fields, and the said fields can shine or flash in the colors orange or blue and the said color fields either in the periphery of concentric circles (20, 30, 40 ) or in the center (50) and the display of said color clock can periodically alternate between hour and minute display

2. Color clock according to claim 1, characterized in that seven color fields are arranged in a star shape, and three of these color fields (12,4,8), which symbolize the clock circle numbers twelve, four and eight, at the positions twelve, four and eight o'clock a first clock circle (20), and a color field symbolizing the clock circle numbers eleven and one (11.1) is at the position twelve o'clock of a concentric second clock circle with a half radius (30), and a color field symbolizing the clock circle numbers three and five ( 3.5) is at the four o'clock position of the second clock circle (30), and a color field (7.9) symbolizing the clock circle numbers seven and nine is at the eight o'clock position of the second clock circle (30), and that the clock circle numbers two, six and ten symbolizing color field (2,6,10) is in the common center (50) of the clock circles (20,30)

3. Color clock according to claim 1, characterized in that eight color fields are arranged in the form of two nested diamonds, and four color fields symbolizing the clock circle numbers twelve, three, six and nine (12, 3, 6, 9) are at positions twelve, three, six and nine o'clock are on a first clock circle (20), and a color field (11.1) symbolizing the clock circle numbers eleven and one is at the position twelve o'clock of a concentric second clock circle with a half radius (30), and one is the clock circle numbers two and four symbolizing color fields (2, 4) are located at the three o'clock position of the second clock circle (30), and a color field (5, 7) symbolizing the number of clock numbers five and seven is located at the six o'clock position of the second clock circle (30) , and a color field (8, 10) symbolizing the clock circle numbers eight and ten is located at the nine o'clock position of the second clock circle (30)

4. Color clock according to claim 1, characterized in that nine color fields are arranged in the form of a star with an inner triangle and three the clock circle numbers twelve, four and eight symbolizing color fields (12, 4, 8) are at the positions twelve, four and eight o'clock a first clock circle (20), and a color field symbolizing the clock circle numbers eleven and one (11.1) is at the position twelve o'clock of a concentric second clock circle with a half radius (30), and a color field symbolizing the clock circle numbers three and five ( 3.5) is at the four o'clock position of the second clock circle (30), and a color field (7.9) symbolizing the clock circle numbers seven and nine is at the eight o'clock position of the second clock circle (30), and one is the clock circle number two symbolizing color field (2) is located in the middle between the color field symbolizing the clock numbers eleven and one (11.1) and the color field symbolizing the clock number three and five (3.5) , and a color field (6) symbolizing the clock number six is located in the middle between the color field (3.5) symbolizing the clock number three and five and the color field (7.9) symbolizing the clock number seven and nine, and a color field symbolizing the clock number ten (10) is located in the middle between the color field symbolizing the clock circle numbers seven and nine (7.9) and the color field (11.1) symbolizing the clock circle numbers eleven and one

5. Color clock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed as a table clock

6. Color clock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed as a wall clock

7. Color clock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed as a pocket or wristwatch

8. Color clock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed as a wall-projectable laser clock

9. Color clock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed as a TV test clock

10. Color clock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is programmable by a computer

11. Color clock according to claims 2-4, characterized in that the arrangement of the color fields is rotated by an arbitrary angle around the center.

12. Color clock according to claims 1-18, characterized in that the color fields can have more than three states

13. Color clock according to claims 1-18, characterized in that other or additional colors, flashing rhythms or graphic patterns are used to represent the states

14. Color clock according to claims 1-18, characterized in that the representation of changing color fields is achieved by the mechanical change of colored materials in solid or liquid form.

15. Color clock according to claim 1, characterized in that it is controlled by quartz, mains frequency or by another frequency standard.

16. Method for time display of hours and minutes with a color clock according to claims 1-15, characterized in that each of the twelve clock circle numbers of the 360 ° clock circle is assigned exactly one color field and here each color field is assigned up to three clock circle numbers, and each color field has four states, whereby the first state is represented by an orange light, the second state by a blue light, the third state by an orange flashing color field, and the fourth state by a blue flashing color field and only the orange colored fields and the flashing color field are Play back all the time information, whereby the current number of hours is displayed by all color fields lighting up permanently blue or orange and none flashing, and all orange colored fields are a continuous chain of clockwise successive clockwise sequences

Represent clock circle numbers, this chain consisting of at least one orange-colored field, and this chain, of an orange-colored field on the first clock circle

(20) starting in the direction of the following, lying on the same clock circle (20)

Field extends, where the current number of hours is equal to the clock circle number of the color field at the end of the chain and the display of the current number of minutes takes place in that all color fields glow blue or orange, as with the hour display, with the

Difference, that exactly one of these fields flashes blue or orange on-off, and all orange-colored fields a gapless chain of successive clockwise

(20) starting, at most up to the following field lying on the first clock circle (20), and within the stated maximum extent of the

Chain is also the flashing color field, the current number of minutes being four times the number of the clock in the last field of this chain plus the number of clocks in the flashing field

17. Color clock according to the preceding claims, characterized in that this color clock (1,2,3) has a conversion component (63) which the time signal generated by the clock (60) for the control of the seven to nine color fields with an alternating Representation of minutes (61) and hours (62) prepared, and which also has a visualization component (64) connected to the conversion component (63), with which the arrangement of seven to nine color fields can be made visible.