Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Chronological – With electro-optical display
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-06
2001-07-03
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Chronological
With electro-optical display
C368S239000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256265
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a time display and, more specifically, to a time display for legibly indicating the time in an esthetically pleasing manner.
2. Description of Related Art
Time measurement technology has had steady progress in accuracy and efficiency, especially since the advent of electronics. Time display technology, however, has had no corresponding progress. The traditional clock face, having hour and minute hands progressing about a circular path, has been in continuous use for several hundred years. The traditional clock face is universally recognized, but is incongruous in certain contemporary settings, such as a offices and homes decorated in certain modern styles. Digital displays are also universally recognized, but are also incongruous in certain settings.
Various types of alternate time displays have been proposed. A problem with many of these alternate displays, however, is difficulty of interpretation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a time display for legibly indicating the time in an esthetically pleasing manner.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a clock system comprises a first display part with positions for indicating the hours 1-6, including a first position for indicating the hour 1, the first display part defining a first line; a second display part with positions for indicating the hours 7-12, respectively the second display part defining a second line substantially parallel to the first line, wherein a distance between the first position and the positions of the second display part is a decreasing function of the time corresponding to the positions of the second display part; and a signal generator coupled to the first display part and to the second display part.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a method of operating a clock system including a first display part with a first position for indicating the hour 1, the first display part defining a first line, a second display part with positions for indicating the hours 7-12, the second display part defining a second line substantially parallel to the first line. The method comprises the steps of generating a first signal to cause the first display part to indicate the hours 1-6; and generating a second signal to cause the second display to indicate time, such that a distance between the first position and the positions of the second display part is a decreasing function of the time corresponding to the positions of the second display part.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a clock system comprises: a first display part with a first position for indicating the hour 1, the first display part defining a first line; a second display part with positions for indicating the hours 7-12, the second display part defining a second line substantially parallel to the first line; means for generating a first signal to cause the first display part to indicate the hours 1-6; means for generating a second signal to cause the second display to indicate time, such that a distance between the first position and the positions of the second display part is a decreasing function of the time corresponding to the positions of the second display part.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a clock system comprises a plurality of first display areas for displaying minutes, each first display area defining a first polygon; and a plurality of second display areas for displaying second, each second display area defining a polygon overlapping one of the first polygons.
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Jackson Jerome D.
Miska Vit
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