Claims
[1] [ Claim 1 1
A watch including a watch display plate, wherein a fixed area type timer display portion, a variable area type timer display portion, and a number- based timer display portion are displayed on the watch display plate, wherein the fixed area type timer display portion displays an area that is kept fixed, regardless of elapse of time, from start to end of all things to be done on a present day, the variable area type timer display portion displays an area that varies as time elapses to indicate remaining time of a timer for each of the things to be done according to a plurality of previously input data, and the number-based timer display portion displays a number to indicate the remaining time of the timer.
[ Claim 2 1
A timer display method wherein an A-type block timer display portion and an AA-type block timer display portion are displayed on a watch display plate, wherein the A-type block timer display portion displays a quantity on a 10-minute basis and the AA-type block timer display portion displays a quantity on a 1-minute basis.
[ Claim 3 1
A timer display method wherein a B-type block timer display portion and a BB-type block timer display portion are displayed on a watch display plate, wherein the B-type block timer display portion displays a quantity on a 5-minute basis and the BB-type block timer display portion displays a quantity on a 1-minute basis. |
Description
AREA-BASED STOPWATCH
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to a watch, and more particularly to a stopwatch having a timer display portion.
Background Art
[2] Conventional stopwatches only have a number-based timer display portion.
Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
[3] A stopwatch needs to allow users to previously input a number of things to be done during the day and to automatically activate respective timers for the things to be done. However, the conventional stopwatch does not meet this need and thus fails to adequately help users achieve high visual timer recognition and psychological stability.
[4] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a watch or stopwatch having a timer display portion that displays blocks whose physical area varies to indicate a timer with high visual recognition.
[5] It is another object of the present invention to provide a watch or stopwatch that allows users to previously store a number of things to be done on each day and that automatically activates respective timers for the things to be done.
Technical Solution
[6] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a watch including a watch display plate, wherein a fixed area type timer display portion, a variable area type timer display portion, and a number-based timer display portion are displayed on the watch display plate, wherein the fixed area type timer display portion displays an area that is kept fixed, regardless of elapse of time, from start to end of all things to be done on a present day, the variable area type timer display portion displays an area that varies as time elapses to indicate remaining time of a timer for each of the things to be done according to a plurality of previously input data, and the number-based timer display portion displays a number to indicate the remaining time of the timer.
[7] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a timer display method wherein an A-type block timer display portion and an AA- type block timer display portion are displayed on a watch display plate, wherein
the A-type block timer display portion displays a quantity on a 10-minute basis and the AA-type block timer display portion displays a quantity on a 1 -minute basis.
[8] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a timer display method wherein a B-type block timer display portion and a BB -type block timer display portion are displayed on a watch display plate, wherein the B-type block timer display portion displays a quantity on a 5-minute basis and the BB-type block timer display portion displays a quantity on a 1-minute basis.
Advantageous Effects
[9] A basic embodiment (examinee watch) and an advanced embodiment
(area-based stopwatch) of the present invention employ a timer display method in which not only a simple number but also a block-based physical quantity are displayed to indicate a timer. This allows users to perform very efficient time management in terms of visual and psychological aspects. Users can also efficiently manage things to be done on the day since respective timers for the things to be done are automatically activated.
Description of Drawings
[10] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[11] FIGS. Ia-Ie illustrate appearances of an examinee watch according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[12] FIGS. 2a-2f illustrate appearances of an A-type area-based stopwatch according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and
[ 13] FIGS. 3a-3f illustrate appearances of a B-type area-based stopwatch according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Best Mode
[14] While the dial of the conventional watch is divided into 60 sections, a (dial) display plate of an examinee watch, which is a basic embodiment (first embodiment) according to the present invention, is divided into 72 sections (or blocks), each indicating 10 minutes. That is, while the 60 sections (each indicating 1 minute) of the dial of the conventional watch are based on the minute hand, the 74 sections of the display plate of the examinee watch are based on the hour hand.
[15] An area-based stopwatch, which is an advanced embodiment (second embodiment) according to the present invention, is classified into two types, an A- type area-based stopwatch and a B-type area-based stopwatch. Both the types are
similar in that each includes a combination of 1-minute blocks to indicate the remaining time more accurately.
[16] The difference is that the A-type area-based stopwatch includes a combination of a number of 10-minute blocks and nine 1-minute blocks while the B-type area- based stopwatch includes a combination of a number of 5-minute blocks and four 1-minute blocks.
[17] FIGS. Ia-Ie illustrate appearances of an examinee watch according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[18] FIG. Ia illustrates the examinee watch that is in a time-of-day mode with 7:55
(55 minutes past 7 o ' clock ) displayed as the time of day (i.e., current time). The examinee watch of FIG. Ia has not yet been switched to a timer mode.
[19] FIG. Ib illustrates the examinee watch with 7:55 displayed on it. When a button for switching into the timer mode is pressed, a fixed area type timer display portion is displayed on the examinee watch as shown in FIG. Ib to display all activities or things to be done on the day. The activities or things to be done are previously input to the examinee watch. The fixed area type timer display portion is kept displayed with the same number blocks (which are shaded in FIG. Ib) from the start to the end of all the things to be done on the day.
[20] FIG. Ic illustrates the examinee watch that is in a timer mode with 89:59 (89 minutes and 59 seconds) displayed as the remaining time of a timer. When a previously input timer activation time is reached, a variable area type timer display portion is displayed as shown in FIG. Ic.
[21] FIG. Id illustrates the examinee watch that has returned to the time-of-day mode with the time of day ' 10:20 ' (20 minutes past 10 o ' clock ) displayed on it.
[22] Only the fixed area type timer display portion is kept displayed while the variable area type timer display portion is not displayed within (idle) time intervals between times at which the timer is scheduled to be activated.
[23] FIG. Ie illustrates the examinee watch that is in the timer mode with ' 70:00 '
(70 minutes and 0 second) displayed as the remaining time of a 100-minute timer. Since 30 minutes of the 100 minutes has already elapsed, 3 blocks among 10 blocks, each corresponding to 10 minutes, of the variable area type timer display portion has disappeared with 7 blocks left. A number-based timer display portion on the watch also indicates that the remaining time is 70:00 (70 minutes and 0 second).
[24] FIGS. 2a-2f illustrate appearances of an A-type area-based stopwatch according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[25] FIG. 2a illustrates the A-type area-based stopwatch when the time of day '
07:55 ' (55 minutes past 7 o ' clock ) is displayed on it before a timer is activated.
[26] FIG. 2b illustrates the stopwatch at the moment when the timer starts. Since a
55-minute duration is stored in the timer of FIG. 2, 5 blocks (50 minutes = 10 minutes x 5) of an A-type block timer display portion are displayed while 5 blocks (1 minute x 5 = 5 minutes) of an AA-type block timer display portion are displayed.
[27] FIG. 2c illustrates the stopwatch when 1 minute has elapsed after the timer starts. Since the remaining time of the timer is 54 minutes, the 5 blocks (50 minutes = 10 minutes x 5) of the A-type block timer display portion are kept displayed while the number of displayed blocks of the AA-type block timer display portion is changed to 4 (4 minutes = 1 minute x 4). This is because the number of displayed blocks of the AA-type block timer display portion is decreased by one per elapsed minute.
[28] FIG. 2d illustrates the stopwatch when 5 minutes have elapsed after the timer starts. Since the remaining time of the timer is 50 minutes, the 5 blocks (50 minutes = 10 minutes x 5) of the A-type block timer display portion are kept displayed while the number of displayed blocks of the AA-type block timer display portion is changed to 0 (0 minute = 1 minute x 0). This is because the number of displayed blocks of the AA-type block timer display portion is decreased by one per elapsed minute.
[29] FIG. 2e illustrates the stopwatch when 6 minutes have elapsed after the timer starts. Since the remaining time of the timer is 49 minutes, the number of displayed blocks of the A-type block timer display portion is changed to 4 (40 minutes = 10 minutes x 4) while the number of displayed blocks of the AA-type block timer display portion is changed to 9 (9 minutes = 1 minute x 9). This indicates that the timer has elapsed 1 more minute since a 10-minute block has disappeared and nine 1-minute blocks have appeared.
[30] FIG. 2f illustrates the stopwatch when 47 minutes have elapsed after the timer starts. Since the remaining time of the timer is 8 minutes, the number of displayed blocks of the A-type block timer display portion is 0 (0 minute = 10 minutes x 0) while the number of displayed blocks of the AA-type block timer display portion is 8 (8 minutes = 1 minute x 8).
[31] All the remaining blocks will disappear 8 minutes later. The stopwatch will be operated in the same manner as described above when the second thing to be done is started after an idle time elapses.
[32] FIGS. 3a-3f illustrate appearances of a B -type area-based stopwatch according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[33] FIG. 3a illustrates the B -type area-based stopwatch when the time of day '
07:55 ' (55 minutes past 7 o ' clock ) is displayed on it before a timer is activated.
[34] FIG. 3b illustrates the stopwatch at the moment when the timer starts. Since a
55-minute duration is stored in the timer of FIG. 3, 11 blocks (55 minutes = 5 minutes x 11) of a B-type block timer display portion are displayed while any block of a BB-type block timer display portion is not displayed.
[35] FIG. 3c illustrates the stopwatch when 1 minute has elapsed after the timer starts. Since the remaining time of the timer is 54 minutes, the number of displayed blocks of the B-type block timer display portion is changed to 10 (50 minutes = 5 minutes x 10) while 4 blocks (4 minutes = 1 minute x 4) of the BB- type block timer display portion are displayed. This indicates that the timer has elapsed 1 more minute since a 5-minute block has disappeared and four 1 -minute blocks have appeared.
[36] FIG. 3d illustrates the stopwatch when 5 minutes have elapsed after the timer starts. Since the remaining time of the timer is 50 minutes, the 10 blocks (50 minutes = 5 minutes x 10) of the B-type block timer display portion are kept displayed while the number of displayed blocks of the BB-type block timer display portion is changed to 0 (0 minute = 1 minute x 0). This is because the number of displayed blocks of the BB-type block timer display portion is decreased by one per elapsed minute.
[37] FIG. 3e illustrates the stopwatch when 6 minutes have elapsed after the timer starts. Since the remaining time of the timer is 49 minutes, the number of displayed blocks of the B-type block timer display portion is changed to 9 (45 minutes = 5 minutes x 9) while the number of displayed blocks of the BB-type block timer display portion is changed to 4 (4 minutes = 1 minute x 4). This indicates that the timer has elapsed 1 more minute since a 5-minute block has disappeared and four 1-minute blocks have appeared.
[38] FIG. 3f illustrates the stopwatch when 47 minutes have elapsed after the timer starts. Since the remaining time of the timer is 8 minutes, the number of displayed blocks of the B-type block timer display portion is 1 (5 minute = 5 minutes x 1) while the number of displayed blocks of the BB-type block timer display portion is 3 (3 minutes = 1 minute x 3).
[39] All the remaining blocks will disappear 8 minutes later. The stopwatch will be operated in the same manner as described above when the second thing to be done is started after an idle time elapses.
[40] The following are features of the present invention.
[41] The electronic watch of the present invention is designed such that the time of day is displayed on the display plate and the control circuit automatically activates a stopwatch (timer) function when a preset time previously stored in memory is reached.
[42] Respective timers for a variety of things to be done on the day are automatically activated as time passes.
[43] The electronic watch according to the present invention includes a stopwatch that displays the stopwatch (timer) function on the display plate using both the number-based timer which changes the number as time passes and the block- based timer which changes the block area (or the number of blocks).
[44] The present invention aims to ensure that examinees who take an examinati on, students who study in an educational institution, or athletes who exercise to can do efficient time allocation (or management).
[45] Two main embodiments of the present invention are an area-based stopwatch
(Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0013094) and an examinee watch (Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0033403). The examinee watch is a basic embodiment of the present invention and the area-based stopwatch is an advanced version of the basic embodiment. The area-based stopwatch is classified into two types, an A-type area-based stopwatch and a B-type area-based stopwatch. The A-type area-based stopwatch includes a combination of an A-type block timer display portion for display on a 10-minute basis and an AA-type block timer display portion for display on a 1-minute basis. The B-type area- based stopwatch includes a combination of a B-type block timer display portion for display on a 5-minute basis and a BB-type block timer display portion for display on a 1-minute basis.
[46] Operations of the present invention will now be described.
[47] Through a control circuit and a time-of-day display circuit, the time of day is transmitted to the display plate to be displayed on the display plate.
[48] When a timer start time corresponding to data input to a stopwatch start storage circuit is reached, a time coincidence detection circuit causes the control circuit to display a timer on the display plate.
[49] When the stopwatch is an A-type area-based stopwatch, the control circuit determines the number of 10-minite blocks of the A-type block timer display portion and the number of 1-minite blocks of the AA-type block timer display portion to be displayed on the display plate and then displays the blocks on the display plate.
[50] When the stopwatch is a B-type area-based stopwatch, the control circuit determines the number of 5-minite blocks of the B-type block timer display portion and the number of 1-minite blocks of the BB-type block timer display portion to be displayed on the display plate and then displays the blocks on the display plate.
[51] When the stopwatch is an A-type area-based stopwatch, the control circuit
continuously calculates the remaining time of the timer through comparison with the time of day of the time-of-day display circuit and changes the number of 10-minite blocks of the A-type block timer display portion and the number of 1-minite blocks of the AA -type block timer display portion to be displayed on the display plate and displays them on the display plate.
[52] In the case of the A-type area-based stopwatch, one (AA-type) 1-minute block disappears per elapsed minute and, when one more minute elapses after all the 1-minute blocks disappear, one (A-type) 10-minute block disappears and nine (AA-type) 1-minute blocks appear. In the case of the B -type area-based stopwatch, one (BB-type) 1-minute block disappears per elapsed minute and, when one more minute elapses after all the 1-minute blocks disappear, one (B-type) 5-minute block disappears and four (BB-type) 1-minute blocks appear.
[53] The following are examples of the number of displayed blocks of the block timer display portions.
[54] (1) When remaining time of timer is 55 minutes
[55] A-type area-based stopwatch: five (A-type) 10-minute blocks and five
(AA-type) 1-minute blocks
[56] B-type area-based stopwatch: eleven (B-type) 5-minute blocks and none of
(BB-type) 1-minute blocks
[57] (2) When remaining time of timer is 50 minutes
[58] A-type area-based stopwatch: five (A-type) 10-minute blocks and none of
(AA-type) 1-minute blocks
[59] B-type area-based stopwatch: ten (B-type) 5-minute blocks and none of
(BB-type) 1-minute blocks
[60] (3) When remaining time of timer is 49 minutes
[61] A-type area-based stopwatch: four (A-type) 10-minute blocks and nine
(AA-type) 1-minute blocks
[62] B-type area-based stopwatch: nine (B-type) 5-minute blocks and four
(BB-type) 1-minute blocks
[63] (4) When remaining time of timer is 8 minutes
[64] A-type area-based stopwatch: none of (A-type) 10-minute blocks and eight
(AA-type) 1-minute blocks
[65] B-type area-based stopwatch: one (B-type) 5-minute block and three
(BB-type) 1-minute blocks
[66] When a second timer start time corresponding to data input to a stopwatch start storage circuit is reached after the timer (or stopwatch) of the first of the things to be done on the day expires, a time coincidence detection circuit causes the control circuit to display a timer for the second thing on the display plate. In
this manner, the stopwatch according to the present invention automatically starts timers for a number of things to be done using previously input data.
Mode for Invention
[67]
Industrial Applicability
[68] As is apparent from the above description, the basic embodiment (examinee watch) and the advanced embodiment (area-based stopwatch) of the present invention employ a timer display method in which not only a simple number but also a block-based physical quantity are displayed to indicate a timer. This allows users to perform very efficient time management in terms of visual and psychological aspects. Users can also efficiently manage things to be done on the day since respective timers for the things to be done are automatically activated.
[69] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
Sequence List Text
[70]
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