FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[1] This invention involves the display of time. Specifically, it is a kind of time display method and its device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[2] At present, there are currently two major kinds of time display methods. The first method is by mechanical hands. This method is normally used in the time display device with mechanical mechanism, such as mechanical clocks and watches. The other method uses digital display method. This method is normally used in the electronic time display devices, such as electronic clocks and watches.

[3] While using the mechanical hands time display method, the time display device needs to set up the time dial and time hands which turn forward. It normally includes an hour hand and a minute hand to display time. While using the digital time display method, the time display device needs to set up a time display screen and display time through the change of the digit.

[4] These two time display devices and methods have been popularly used for quite a long time. People are familiar with them and they can hardly bring people any novel and modern sense. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[5] This invention addresses the technical issue of providing a kind of time display method, using a novel method to display time.

[6] The second technical issue that this invention addresses is to provide a time display device. A time display method that uses the described time display method is novel, unique and fashionable.

[7] The technical solution used in this invention to solve the technical issue is: to provide a kind of time display method. Its feature is to use dot matrix to display time. Multiple illuminated small digit display blocks are used to present one or more groups of large digit blocks in order to display the time. [8] In the described time display method of this invention, the described small digit indicate second, minute, hour, year, month or date. The described large digit indicate second, minute, hour, year, month or date. [9] In the described time display method of this invention, the described small digit display blocks illuminate in sequence. [10] In the described time display method of this invention, the described sequence is clockwise, counterclockwise, from left to right, from right to left , from up to down or from down to up. [11] In the described time display method of this invention, it also includes the time display when setting up the time. While setting up the described large digit, the upper half, the lower half or the whole of the small digit display blocks that compose the large digit illuminate together. [12] In the described time display method of this invention, the described dot matrix can be crystal dot matrix, 7-segment dot matrix, pattern dot matrix or LED dot matrix. [13] The technical solution used in this invention to solve the technical issue is: to build up a time display device, including a display screen and a circuit board. Its feature is that the described display screen is a dot matrix display screen, including multiple small digit display blocks for displaying the small digit and composing the large digit. [14] In the described time display device of this invention, the described small digit displayed by the small digit display blocks indicate second, minute, hour, year, month or date. The described large digit composed by small digit blocks indicate second, minute, hour, year, month or date. [15] In the described time display device of this invention, the described small digit display blocks illuminate in sequence. [16] In the described time display device of this invention, the described dot matrix display screen can be a crystal dot matrix display screen, 7-segment dot matrix display screen, pattern dot matrix display screen or LED dot matrix display screen.

[17] By implementing the time display method and its device of this invention, following effects can be achieved: to provide a novel time display method and device, using dot matrix to display time. Multiple illuminated small digit display blocks are used to present one or more groups of large digit blocks in order to display the time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[18] Provided below are the further explanations about this invention, in combination with the attached figures and the preferred embodiment. Among the attached figures:

[19] Figure 1 is the time display sketch of the preferred embodiment of the time display method in this invention;

[20] Figure 2 is the date display sketch of the preferred embodiment of the time display method in this invention;

[21] Figure 3 is the sketch that shows the illumination sequence of the minute display block of the preferred embodiment of the time display method in this invention;

[22] Figure 4 is the front view of the preferred embodiment of the time display device in this invention;

[23] Figure 5 is the A-A cutaway view of Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[24] In the time display method of this invention, we use multiple illuminated small digit display blocks to present one or more groups of large digit blocks in order to display the time. The small digit indicate second, minute, hour, year, month or date. The large digit indicate second, minute, hour, year, month or date.

[25] As shown in Figure 1, the preferred embodiment of this invention, the small digit indicates minute and the large digit indicates hour. For example, for display the time "12:01", multiple small digit display blocks are used for displaying the large digit "12", two small digit display blocks for displaying small digit "01" illuminate in sequence as a group. The illuminating sequence in this preferred embodiment is shown as the arrow in Figure 3. The time display method in this invention also includes the display of date, as shown in Figure 2. Month is displayed by the digit pattern of the large digit of month composed by the small digit display blocks for displaying the small digit of date. For example, the display of "Jan.1" (01-01) uses multiple small digit display blocks for displaying small digit "01" to compose the digit pattern of the large digit "1". To distinguish with the display of time, while displaying date, the small digit display block for displaying the small digit of date do not illuminate. When setting up the time, if in hour setup mode, all small digit display blocks of minute that compose the large digit pattern of hour illuminate together, if in minute setup mode, the small digit display blocks of minute that compose the upper half of the digit pattern of the large digit of hour illuminate together, the small digit display blocks of minute that compose the lower half of the digit pattern of the large digit of hour do not illuminate. It's also possible that the upper half does not illuminates but the lower half does.

[26] The preferred embodiment of the time display method in this invention adopts the

12-hour display mode. Morning and afternoon are distinguished as "AM" and "PM" in the dot matrix. It can also adopt the 24-hour display mode, but compared with the 12-hour display mode, it needs larger dot matrix display screen to display the same- sized digit.

[27] The dot matrix used in the time display method of this invention can be crystal dot matrix, 7-segment dot matrix, pattern dot matrix or LED dot matrix.

[28] In the preferred embodiment of the time display method of this invention, the illumination sequence, in addition to the one shown in Figure 3, can also be clockwise, counterclockwise, from left to right, from right to left , from up to down or from down to up.

[29] As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, in the preferred embodiment of the time display device of this invention, the time display device includes a front case 1, a crystal display screen 2, a circuit board 3, a battery 4 and a rear case 5. The display dot matrix on the crystal display screen 2, besides displaying the dot matrix of the digit, also displays the "PM" character dot matrix which stands for afternoon, "DATE" character dot matrix which stands for date, "M" character dot matrix which stands for month and "D" character dot matrix which stands for date. These dot matrixes are illuminated when displaying relevant contents. When displaying time, the device uses multiple minute's small digit display blocks to compose the digit pattern of the hour's large digit in order to display the hour. The small digit display blocks of minute illuminate in a certain sequence. When displaying date, multiple small digit display blocks of date compose the digit pattern of the large digit of month in order to display the month, the display blocks of date do not illuminate. When setting up the time, if in hour setup mode, all small digit display blocks of minute that compose the large digit pattern of hour illuminate together, if in minute setup mode, the small digit display blocks of minute that compose the upper half of the digit pattern of the large digit of hour illuminate together, the small digit display blocks of minute that compose the lower half of the digit pattern of the large digit of hour do not illuminate. It's also possible that the upper half does not illuminates but the lower half does.

[30] The preferred embodiment of the time display device in this invention adopts the

12-hour display mode. Morning and afternoon are distinguished as "AM" and "PM" in the dot matrix. It can also adopt the 24-hour display mode, but compared with the 12-hour display mode, it needs larger dot matrix display screen to display the same- sized digit.

[31] The display screen of the time display device in this invention can also be 7-segment dot matrix display screen, pattern dot matrix display screen, LED dot matrix display screen or other dot matrix display screen.

[32] The invention provides a kind of novel time display method and device. It uses multiple dot matrixes for displaying minute to compose the digit pattern of hour in order to display hour. It is simple and novel. It brings people the feeling of everything new and fresh.

[33] Above is the description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, in combination with the attached figures. However, the invention is not limited to the above implementation. Ordinary technicians in this field, with the inspiration from this invention, may have many other forms of implementation methods. As long as the methods are within the scope of the objective and protection of this invention, they are all protected under this invention.