The subject of the invention is a ring-shaped clockwork, a digital ring-shaped clock placed into a ring, a piece of jewellery, and a procedure for using the clockwork. The clockwork according to the invention is a digital clock that can be switched on by turning the external torus and the ring-clock displays the time accurately using light emission diodes.

According to the state of the art, people wearing a wristwatch use a strap, band, or brace to fasten the clockwork onto their arm. In such cases, the clockwork and the means of fastening can be clearly distinguished from each other.

Japanese publication document No. JP 2000199791 describes a ring-shaped clock. The ring-shaped clock can be worn on a finger. There is a window for displaying the time on the external surface - facing the palm - of the clock-shaped clock, and there is another window on for the solar panel on the other side of the ring. The clock uses digital liquid crystals to display the time. German publication document No. DE 102007063462 Al describes a torus-shaped clock that includes two ring shaped bodies placed onto, and in permanent connection with, each other. A circular cover is connected to the internal ceramics bearing. The clock may be made of ceramics, glass, steel, bright transparent weather-resistant plastic that softens in heat, or any other wear-resistant material. Swiss publication document No. CH 703400 A2 describes a ring-shaped case for clocks. The case housing the clock includes a rotating frame and a fastening ring located on the middle component. Chinese utility model No. CN 202069061 U describes a multi-purpose ring. A digital clock and an MP3 player is placed onto the ring as - or instead of - a piece of jewellery. The digital clock is fixed with a slot on the surface of the ring, and it has a cover. The MP3 player is built into the torus and there is an opening on the torus for plugging the headset.

According to the above solutions, the ring is used to fasten the clockwork. The above-mentioned clocks are not energy efficient as they display the time continuously.

The objective is to create a digital ring-shaped clock that uses light emission diodes in an energy efficient manner and can be used as a piece of jewellery: turning the ring is pleasant, joyful, and amusing. According to the inventive thought, the ring- shaped clockwork consists of two torus rings that can be turned in relation to each other, and an operator unit to charge the clock and to set the time with. The external torus is placed onto the internal torus. Both have an edge, and the edges are facing each other and are slid into each other so that they can be turned. The external torus contains the components operating the ring-shaped clock: the power supply unit, the control unit, and the display unit. The internal torus fastens the external torus on to the finger and includes the magnet producing the inductive voltage required to switch on the clock. When it detects that the two rings were moved in relation to each other, the electronics (coil providing inductive charge) sends a signal to the control unit (micro-controller), which turns on the light emission diodes for a couple of seconds to display the exact time. The power supply unit can be charged with a wireless control unit. Time can be set by pressing the buttons of the operator unit.

The most general implementation of the invention consists of the characteristics of claim 1. The sub-claims describe the advantageous forms of implementation of the ring-shaped clockwork.

The most general form of the procedure for using the ring-shaped clockwork is described in claim 7. The procedural examples are described in the subsequent sub- points.

The invention applies to a ring-shaped clockwork, which includes a ring clock. The external cloak of the ring includes a clockface showing the hours and minutes. There is a light emission diode, a printed circuit controlling the ring clock, and a power supply unit in the body of the ring. The ring clock includes an internal and an external torus. The edges of the internal and external torus are facing each other. The external torus can be turned in relation to the internal torus. There is a clockface on the external cloak of the external torus. Between the clockface and the internal cloak of the external torus, there are light emission diodes on a printed circuit, a power supply unit, a coil providing inductive charge, a micro-controller controlling the light emission diodes, and an integrated circuit. The internal torus includes at least one magnet. An operator unit is connected to the clockwork to set the time and/or to charge the power supply unit. There are number, line, or dot shaped holes on the clockface to display the hours, minutes, and seconds, and light emission diodes are located in three rows below the holes on the printed circuit, and the holes are filled with transparent artificial resin. The micro-controller controlling the light emission diodes is in electronic connection with the coil providing inductive charge, the printed circuit housing the light emission diodes, and the power supply unit. The contact surfaces of the external torus are covered by Teflon or other layer treated with nanotechnological methods to provide nearly frictionless and tractionless movement.

The operator unit used to charge the power supply unit and/or to set the time has buttons marked with plus and minus, arrows, or other signs. It includes an inductive generator controlled by an integrated circuit that is used to charge the ring clock. The external torus is turned to display the time. Thereby voltage is induced in the coil providing inductive charge with the magnet inside the internal torus, and the light emission diodes - controlled by the micro-controller - light up and display the accurate hour and minute according to the signal received from the clock signal generator crystal. As the case may be, the light emission diodes are located below the number, line, or dot shaped hole used to display the appropriate hour, minute, and second. To set the time, the ring clock is placed onto the operator unit, and the time is set by pressing one of the buttons marked with plus and minus, arrows, or other signs. The discharged power supply unit of the ring clock can be charged by using the inductive generator located in the operator unit for charging the battery.

The ring-shaped clockwork and the procedure for using the clockwork according to the invention is presented in more detail on the following drawings, where

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the ring clock,

Figure 2 shows a section of the ring clock,

Figure 3 shows a section of the ring clock,

Figure 4 shows a part of the section of the ring clock,

Figure 5 shows the bottom view of the ring clock,

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the operator unit of the ring clock,

Figure 7 shows a section of the operator unit of the ring clock.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the ring clock 11. The external torus 9 is shown on the internal torus 8 of the ring clock 11 in contact with the finger. There are number, line, or dot shaped holes 2 on the clockface 1 of the external torus 9 to display the hour, minute, and second.

Figure 2 shows a section of the ring clock 11. The turnable external torus 9 is shown between the edges 10 of the internal torus 8. To facilitate turning, a surface treated layer 18 providing nearly frictionless and tractionless movement is installed on the connecting surfaces of the internal torus 8 and the external torus 9. This prevents any contamination from being stuck to the surface and thereby prevents the tori from jamming. There is a coil providing inductive charge 6 and light emission diodes 3 mounted onto a printed circuit 4 between the clockface 1 and internal coat 7 of the external torus 9. The light emission diodes 3 are shown in three rows below the number, line, or dot shaped holes 2 used to display the hour, minute, and second. The "m" depth of the edges 10 of the internal torus 8 and the external torus 9 may be identical.

Figure 3 shows a section of the ring clock 11 clearly. It also shows the light emission diodes 3 placed onto a printed circuit 4 below the holes on the clockface 1 of the ring clock 11. A micro-controller 16, an integrated circuit 17 - managing the Qi or PMA standard -, and a clock signal generator crystal 21 is connected to the printed circuit 4. A coil providing inductive charge 6 is placed onto the internal coat 7 above the internal torus 8. The power supply unit 5 is shown above the coil providing inductive charge 6.

Furthermore, Figure 4 also shows the light emission diodes 3 mounted onto the printed circuit 4 below the holes 2 of the clockface 1. A coil providing inductive charge 6 is placed onto the internal coat 7 above the internal torus 8. The power supply unit 5 is shown above the coil providing inductive charge 6. The micro- controller 16 and the clock signal generator crystal 21 is also connected to the printed circuit 4. The power supply unit 5 is located between the printed circuit 4 and the coil providing inductive charge 6.

Figure 5 shows the bottom view of the ring clock. The magnet 12 is built into the edge 10 of the internal torus 8.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the operator unit 13 of the ring clock. There are buttons 14, 15 on the operator unit 13 for setting the time. Figure 7 shows a section of the operator unit 13 of the ring clock. The inductive generator 19 and the integrated circuit 20 controlling it is shown in the operator unit 13.

In an advantageous implementation form of the ring-shaped clockwork according to the invention, a clockface 1 showing the hours and minutes is implemented on the external coat of the ring clock 11. There are light emission diodes 3, a printed circuit 4 controlling the ring clock 11 , and a power supply unit 5 in the body of the ring clock 11. The edges 10 of the internal torus 8 and the external torus 9 are facing each other. The external torus 9 can be turned in relation to the internal torus 8. There is a clockface 1 on the external coat of the external torus 9. The light emission diodes 3, the power supply unit 5, the coil providing inductive charge 6, the micro-controller 16 controlling the light emission diodes 3, and the integrated circuit 17 are mounted onto the printed circuit 4 located between the clockface 1 and the internal coat 7 of the external torus 9. The internal torus 8 includes at least one magnet 12. An operator unit 13 is assigned to the clockwork for setting the time and/or charging the power supply unit 5. There are number, line, or dot shaped holes 2 on the clockface 1 of the clock for displaying the hours, minutes, and seconds. The light emission diodes 3 are placed in three rows onto the printed circuit 4 below the holes 2, and the holes 2 are filled with transparent artificial resin. The micro-controller 16 controlling the light emission diodes 3 is in electronic connection with the coil providing inductive charge 6, the printed circuit 4 housing the light emission diodes 3, and the power supply unit 5. The connecting surfaces of the external torus 9 are covered with a surface treated layer 18 that ensures nearly frictionless and tractionless movement. The operator unit 13 used for charging the power supply unit 5 and setting the time is fitted with buttons 14, 15 with signs for setting the time, and includes the inductive generator 19 - controlled by the integrated circuit 17 - to charge the ring clock 1 1. The buttons 14, 15 may be marked with arrows, plus and minus signs, or other signs.

The ring clock 1 1 according to the invention is to be used as follows. The external torus 9 is to be turned to show the time. By doing so, voltage is induced in the coil providing inductive charge 6 with the magnet located in the internal torus 8, and the light emission diodes 3 controlled by the micro-controller 16 - and located below the number, line, or dot shaped holes 2 used to display the appropriate hour, minute, and second - light up according to the signal received from the clock signal generator crystal 21. To set the time, the ring clock 11 is placed onto the operator unit 13, and the time is set by pressing one of the marked buttons 14, 15. The depleted power supply unit 5 of the ring clock 11 can be charged with the inductive generator 19 located in the operator unit 13 used for charging.

The ring clock according to our invention has numerous advantages:

- may be worn as a piece of jewellery due to its highly tasteful design,

- may offer a solution for persons with a dislike for wristwatches as the clock is located in a ring worn on fingers,

- the power supply unit is charged through induction, so no cable is needed,

- waterproof,

- requires small space,

- does not require extra illumination in darkness,

- uses the light emission diodes in an energy efficient manner, they are switched on by turning the torus, and are switched off automatically,

- entertaining: turning the ring gives a pleasant and joyful experience,

- as the clock is the ring itself, it does not get caught in anything and is comfortable to wear.

The ring clock according to the invention can be utilized on an industrial scale and may be implemented in numerous other forms within the scope of protection.