Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Combined with disparate device
Patent
1994-02-08
1997-04-08
Miska, Vit W.
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Combined with disparate device
368 29, 368 73, 368187, 368223, G04B 4700, G04B 1924, G04B 4500
Patent
active
056194773
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clock comprising at least one display means for indicating the actual time, at least one input unit for entering at least one settable, possibly date bearing target time which may be stored in a memory and at which, if reached, an event may be triggered, and at least one display means for indicating the target time(s).
The entry of specific times of future events in clock, watch or timer systems, which also signal the occurrence of such events by reminding or alarm signals or which, when the selected target times are reached, trigger technological programme functions, firstly regions a clearly readable operating means which is easy to handle, and secondly results in the wish to have a maximum number possible of options available for entering additional information identifying the target time or an event.
On account of the ever-increasing miniaturization in the fields of mechanical engineering, electronics and the great variety of potential modes of visually displaying information, it is easy to respond to the requirement mentioned last. However, here the problem arises that the operation of the numerous input means becomes complex and less clearly recognizable. Frequently the noting of reminder dates, the setting of some industrial controller or household appliance of any kind whatsoever, already requires extreme skills. The great number and variety of the systems is so enormous that many users are no longer willing to accept these difficulties, which often results in a total rejection on the users' part.
This rejection is not only due to the often very great visual and ergonometric problems in handling the great number of figures and in operation of the buttons which are frequently difficult to activate, but also to the fact that the input systems do not full consider our personal, natural, analog, dynamic experience of time.
Whenever a person takes the well-considered decision to do something at a specific time in the future that person has already arrived at that point of time in his or her imagination, specifically he or she skipped to that particular hour on that day, having already concrete ideas of his or her activities.
There is often the wish to define or describe this activity by a catchword and to have oneself reminded in an appropriate manner at the appropriate time. To arrive at this aim, however, a long way must be covered.
PRIOR ART
Three different, even though very common "target time setting methods" will be described for illustrating the problems in handling so-called timers, which are similar in many appliances of every-day use both in the private and the professional sector, as well as in data processing and mainly in the so-called time management programmes--no matter whether they are designed for individuals or for networks. For the sake of simplicity we are going to start out from today's date, Wednesday, October 7, 10:08 a.m., in a description of these three setting methods and in the statements set forth hereinbelow. We will try to set several appointments, starting out from that point of time, in particular, however, target times in the very next future (i.e. times within three hours from now at maximum), a target time in the evening, e.g. 20:30 or 8:30 p.m., respectively, as well as a few target times on days in the future, e.g. tomorrow, 10:30 a.m., by way of examples.
The first widely spread target time setting method is based on approaching the target in small increments by brief depression of buttons, first by a single increment at a time, then by keeping the button depressed so as to trigger a sequence of numbers, in order to aim at a fairly remote target. In this manner it is possible to take aim at a specific date, an hour and a minute. The problem now resides in the aspect that it is entirely unnatural to race toward the target first in the most minute steps, and then at an ever-increasing standardized, mostly breath-taking, speed by minute increments. The problem is common. Often the operator goes beyond the t
REFERENCES:
patent: 4456385 (1984-06-01), Hattori
patent: 4712923 (1987-12-01), Martin
patent: 4769796 (1988-09-01), Levine
patent: 4896307 (1990-01-01), Marx et al.
patent: 5199009 (1993-03-01), Svast
patent: 5365494 (1994-11-01), Lynch
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