Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02497513 2001-O1-12
ENHANCED QUADRIBALANCED DIGITAL'fIME DISPLAYS
This application is a divisional of Application No. 2,395,294 filed
January 12, 2001.
Background of the Iwention
I_ Field of the Invention
This invention relates to timekeeping and, more particularly, to the use of
digital time displays for general purpose timekeeping, as most individuals
typically
undertake in going about their daily activities while watching and keeping
track of the time.
1S
II. Description of the Prior Art
Quadribalanced digital time displays are described in U.S. Patent No.
4,271,497. Those displays comprise centrally positioned current hour digits
flanked on
the right by increasing minu~:e digits which are displayed in upper and lower
positions
relative to the hour digits during the first and second quarter hours.
Thereafter,
incremented next hour digits. are flanked on the left by decreasing minute
digits which are
displayed in lower and upper positions relative to the hour digits during the
third and
fourth quarter hours. In this way the four quarter hours are precisely
defined, balanced
and visually differentiated, while elapsed and future time are viewed during
the
respective first and second halves of each hour.
III. Recognition of Problems in the Prior Art
It has now been discovered that the previous quadribalanced displays have
certain characteristics which .are not the most desirable. In particular, as
the respective
quarter hoots are displayed from the first through the fourth, the
corresponding minute
displays occupy only a limited portion of the total space surrounding the
centrally positioned
hours. Throughout the hour, most of this space remains completely empty, thus
giving
3S some viewers a sense of incompleteness and a contradictory or incorrect
suggestion that
these spaces are not functional in the overall display, at least while they
remain blank.
By way of contrast and example, most conventional dial watches and clocks
are not characterized in the szime way. They usually f~ave from four to twelve
hour digits.
with or without intermediate minute hash marks, positioned around the
periphery of the dial.
thereby making the viewer visually conscious of the fact that the entire area
swept around
the dial by the hour and minute hands has a role in defining the time at one
time or another
CA 02497513 2001-O1-12
during the course of an hour. The lack of similar symbolism and effects in the
quadribalanced displays of C1.S. Patent No. 4,271,497 potentially detracts
from their utility
and appeal to consumers.
Summar~r of the Invention
The present invention significantly improves the conventional
quadribalanced displays discussed above. In the enhanced quadribalanced
displays of the
present invention, one or more of the quarter hour positions not occupied by
digital
minutes at any one time isJarc; provided with markers which serve to inform
the viewer
that such positions are functional parts of the overall display hut not
activated because the
current time is defined by digital minutes being displayed in another part of
the display. In
this way, the emptiness of most of the space around the centrally positioned
digital hours
is eliminated. Instead, preferably, all four of the respective quarter hour
minute positions
are controlled to contain active digital displays comprising digital minutes
in each of the
respective first to fourth quarters and, for purposes of both differentiation
and
completeness, markers in the :respective other three quarter hour positions
which remind
the viewer that those spaces are functional although not then involved in
defining the
current time. The enhancement of the previously described quadribalanced
displays in this
manner provides considerable improvement in the appeal and utility of such
systems for
general purpose timekeeping. Further, a single displaceable crown control is
provided for
facilitating the operation of timepieces embodying such enhanced displays.
Other features and. details of the invention will be evident from the
subsequent
specific description, taken in connection with the drawings.
Brief Des~~~tion of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a copy of FIG. 1 of U.S. Patent No. 4,271,497 with added solid and
dashed line circles around certain inboard corners of the digital minute
elements (relative
to the center of the display).
FIG. 2 is a view of the corners included within the solid line circles of FIG.
1
in detail.
FIG. 3 is a view of the corners included within the solid line circles of FIG
and simultaneously activated to show the resulting markers that are used in
accordance
with an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 4-7 are views of representative time displays that are presented to the
viewer during the four quarter lhours in accordance with the embodiment of
FIG. 3.
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CA 02497513 2001-O1-12
FIG. 8 is a view of the corners included witlun the dashed line circles of
FIG.
in detail, as in FIG. 2, showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the markers formed by the
S alternative embodiment of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of the
invention.
FIGS. 1 lA-11D are 'views of representative quarter hour time displays
presented to the viewer with the embodiment of FIG. 10.
FIGS. 12A-12D a~~e views of another embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 13A-13D are views of quarter hour markers that are presented to the
viewer with the embodiment of FIGS. 12A-12D.
FIG. 14 is a chart ,vhich illustrates a preferred embodiment of a single
displaceable crown adapted four controlling all of the setting functions of a
timepiece that is
programmed to display enhanced quadribalanced digital time pursuant to this
invention,
coupled with a programmable alarm.
escr'lption of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring now to F'IG. 1, digital display elements 10, 12 are at the center of
the
display and activatable to shove hours of values one to twelve, as previously
explained in
U.S. Patent No. 4,271,497.
Flanking the hour <;lements 10, 12 on the right is a pair of 10-segmented
digital display elements 14, 16 which are activatable to show increasing
minutes of values
zero to 30 during the first half hour, in relatively upper and lower positions
generated by
activating the uppermost 7 of the 10 segments during the Frst quarter hour and
the
lowermost 7 of the 10 segment; during the second quarter hour, while the hour
elements
10, 12 are displaying the current hour. Similarly, a second pair of 10-
segmented digital
display elements 18, 20 flanks the hour display elements 10, 12 on the left.
This pair is
activatable to show decreasing minutes of values 29 to zero during the second
half hour, in
relatively lower and upper positions generated by activating the lowermost 7
of the 10
segments during the third quarter hour and the uppern~ost 7 of the 10 segments
during the
fourth quarter hour, while the hour elements 10, 12 are displaying the next
hour.
Finally, digital display elements 22, 24 are located below the centrally
positioned hour elements 10, 12 and are activatable to show incrementing
digital seconds
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of values 0 to 59 during each minute of the first half lour and decrementing
digital
seconds of values 59 to 0 during each minute of the second half hour.
The foregoing is a summary of the disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 4,271,497,
further details of which can be understood by reference to the patent
document.
Referring again to the digital display elements 16 and 20 of FIG. l, it will
be
seen that the uppermost and lowermost inboard corners thereof are enclosed
within solid
line circles. The reason for this will be understood by reference to FIG. 2 in
which the
same corners are shown in detail.
As illustrated, each corner includes the terminal ends of the two
uppermostllowermost horizcmtal and vertical elements most closely adjacent to
each
other on opposite sides of a ~rery small 45 ° slanted gap analogous to
a mitered joint. The
same structure is shown in ttie analogous corners of the display elements 30b
and 32a of
FIG. 1 of U.S. Patent No. 4,?.71,49?. However, in FIG. 2 of this application,
each of the
above-referenced adjacent ends of the circled horizontal and vertical corner
elements are
severed and separated a second time from the remainder of the element, at the
same 45 °
angle, to provide a pair of much smaller segments 26, 28 that can be
separately activated
to serve as markers, in accordance with the present invention.
Such separate activation of all four pairs is portrayed in FIG. 3. As there
seen,
the severed display segments in the four corners form inclined double dashes,
preferably
at substantially 45° angles, and thus oriented in positions which tend
to surround the
central area occupied by the digital hour elements 10, 12. As a result, the
viewer is given
a sense of rotational motion by these markers, analogous to the sweep of the
minute hand
of a conventional dial watch, instead of the emptiness manifested in the
display of the
previously cited patent.
The resulting overrll effects of differentiation and completeness are shown by
the representative quarter hom time displays of FIGS. 4 through 7. In FIG. 4
the current
time is four minutes and 15 seconds past nine during the first quarter hour,
produced by
selective activation of the corresponding elements of the hour, minute and
seconds
display elements in FIG. 1. In addition, the remaining three lowermost and
uppermost
inboard corner segments of the digital minute elements 16 and 20 have been
simultaneously activated to form the three sets of inclined double dash
markers at the
tops and bottom of the spaces where the forthcoming current minutes of time
will be
displayed during the second through fourth quarters of the same hour.
It should be understood that the small marker segments 26, 28 will also be
activated whenever necessary to display the full length of their particular
elements as part
of the digital minute value being displayed. Thus, in FIG. 4, vertical marker
segment 28
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CA 02497513 2001-O1-12
is activated to provide the full length of the corresponding inboard vertical
leg of the
digital minute value 4.
FIG. S displays a representative second quarter hour current time of
twenty six minutes and twenty one seconds past the ninth hour, with the
inclined
double dash marks preferably simultaneously activated in the remaining three
spaces
where current minutes are; normally shown during the first, third and fourth
quarter
hours. Both inboard marker segments 26, 28 are also activated to provide the
full
lengths of the corresponding lowermost horizontal and vertical legs of the
digital
minute value 6.
FIG. 6 displays a representative third quarter hour current time of
eighteen minutes and five seconds before the tenth hour. Simultaneously,
inclined
double dash markers are preferably activated in the spaces where current
minutes are
normally shown during the first, second and fourth quarter hours. As in FIG.
4, the
inboard vertical marker segment 28 is also simultaneously activated to provide
the full
length of the corresponding lowermost vertical leg of the digital minute value
1 in the
tens of minutes position.
FIG. 7 completes the cycle by displaying a representative fourth
quarter time of eight minutes and twenty seven seconds before the tenth hour.
Simultaneously-activated i~.nclined double dash markers preferably appear in
the
spaces where current minutes were earlier normally displayed during the
previous
three quarter hours. Also, both inboard marker segments 26, 28 are
simultaneously
activated to provide the full lengths of the corresponding horizontal and
vertical legs
of the digital minute value 0 in the tens of minutes position. Thus, by
contributing
difFerentiation and completeness of active and inactive quarter hour areas of
the
overall display, the newly ;marked displays exemplified in FIGS. 4-7
demonstrate the
enhancement achieved by the present invention compared to the previous
quadribalanced displays of U.S. Patent No. 4,271,497.
FIGS. 8 andl 9 portray an alternative embodiment of this invention. In
particular, FIG. 8 shows the even more inwardly located inboard corners of the
digital
minute elements 14, 18 which are enclosed within the dashed line circles of
FIG. 1.
These comers are also severed and separated in the manner described for FIG.
2.
However, whereas the severed corners of FIG. 2 result in the inclined double
dash
markers of FIG. 3 having sequences of alternate negative (slanting down from
left to
right) and positive (slanting; up from left to right) slopes during the
respective four
quarter hours, the opposite sequence of positive-negative-positive-negative
slopes are
formed in FIGS. 8 and 9 due to the correspondingly opposite orientations of
the
corners respectively circled. in the solid and dashed lines of FIG. 1. The end
result is
that the alternative markers of FIG. 9 create a spot lighting or highlighting
effect to
the central area of the display, in contrast to the surrounding or
rotationally sweeping
sense of motion generated by the markers of FIG. 3 around the center of the
display.
-5
CA 02497513 2001-O1-12
Another preferred embodiment of digital display elements for practicing this
invention is illustrated in FIG. 10 which includes all of the display elements
of FIG. I in a
modified Form. Therefore, corresponding elements in FIG. 10 have been given
the same
reference numerals as in FIG. 1, preceded with a 100 prefix. e.g., element 10
in FIG. 1 is
referenced as l 10 in FIG. 10, and so forth. In addition, FIG. 10 includes
display elements
130 which are useful for displaying abbreviated first-two-letter names of the
days of each
week. the additional elements 132 are also included for displaying the dates
of the days of
each month.
A principal difference between FIGS. 1 and 10 is that all of the display
I0 elements of the latter have sharp pointed ends, shaped substantially as
symmetrical
arrowheads or spear points, with enclosed angles of substantially 90°.
These pointed ends
are spaced and nested together as closely as possible, such that the spaces
between them are
aligned preferably at substantially 45 ° of inclination. As a result,
alt of the time values
displayed by the elements 110-124 of FIG. 10 gain enhanced symmetry of sizes
and shapes.
I ~ In addition, the severed inboard corners of elements I 16 and 120 in FIG.
10 (markers 1 ?6,
128), analogous to those shown within solid circles in FIG. 1, have a
different shape than
the corresponding corner elements 26, 28 in FIG. 2. The latter comprise four
pairs of
markers, each element of which is shaped substantially as a parallelogram with
two pairs of
parallel opposite sides. In FIG. i0, the analogous markers comprise element
pairs each of
20 which is trapezoidal in shape with only one pair of parallel opposite
sides.
As a result, each of the FIG. 10 markers extends toward the quarter hour
space it marks with diverging sllanted edges at its near ends and with squared
off straight
edges at its opposite far ends. 'hhis creates a distinctive shape that expands
and enlarges
25 toward the empty quarter hour :.pace and at the same time closes off the
space with an
opposite straight-edged boundary that marks the uppermost or lowermost extent
of the
space. This contrasts from the :;harp points that define the near and far ends
of the markers
of FIG. 1 due to the fact that they are shaped as pairs of parallelograms that
lack squared
off, right angled corners as in FI.G. 10.
FIGS. 11A-I ID iillustrate representative time/day/date displays obtained
during respective first through fi~urth quarter hours by activation of the
corresponding
elements of FIG. 10. The differences in the symmetries of element sizes and
shapes, as well
as the different shapes of these markers, can he seen by comparison with the
representative
3j displays of FIGS. 4-7 derived from FIG. 1.
FIGS. 12A-12D illustrate a variation of markers derived from FIG. 10 which
provides a more stylized and streamlined sequence of quarter hour markers 2?6,
?38
compared to FIGS. I 1 A-1 1 D. in FIGS. 12A-12D only the analogous inboard
severed
corners of the FIG. l0 minute elements that generate such markers are shown on
a
somewhat enlarged scale to facilitate comprehension. As can be seen, the
second sets of
severance lines in each of these pairs extend from the sharp points at the
ends of the
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CA 02497513 2001-O1-12
elements, at an acute angle across each element until the inner hori2ontal and
vertical edges
thereof are reached and severed. Therefore, the resulting triangular sections
of these ends of
the minute elements can be seF~arately activated to generate quarter hour
markers having the
shapes shown in FIGS. 13A-13D. Like the markers in FIGS. I lA-l 1D, the
markers in
FIGS. 13A-13D point toward i:he minute positions being marked with diverging
inner edges
at their relatively near ends, but extend back to sharp points at their
opposite relatively far
ends. Such shapes more closely resemble the shapes of the digital minutes
displayed during
the respective quarter hours and therefore may be more preferred as
reminiscent markers
which inform the viewer that such marked positions wilt be used to tell time
at the
appropriate intervals of each hour.
The marker shapes illustrated in FIGS. 13A-I 3D are based on second
severance lines oriented at angha and having lengths which create markers
shaped
substantially as isosceles triangles. However, other angles, lengths and
orientations of such
severance lines can obviously b~e adopted to create generally analogous but
specifically
1 S different shapes and sizes of such markers.
Moreover, the m~~rker shapes in FIGS. 13A-13D, having an overall
appearance of arrowheads, create symbolic suggestions that enhance the graphic
effects
produced by such markers. In particular, during the f rst half hour, the
midpoint of such
period is in between the first and second quarter hours. FIGS. 13A and 13B
correspondingly display divergence and convergence of the backs of the an
owheads, angled
to open toward and close away from quarter hour positions, thus symbolizing
expansion and
contraction of these respective quarter hour intervals. Also, the second
marker, FIG. 13B,
points toward the direction that the remaining third and fourth quarter hours
will be
'S displayed.
Similarly, the mwkers of FIGS. 13C and 13D provide analogous advantages.
The backs of these markers also diverge and converge in angled positions
toward and away
from both quarter hour positions to symbolize expansion and contraction of
these time
periods. Also, the FIG. 13D marker points toward the top of the fourth, i.e.
last, quarter
hour position, which symbolizes the approaching end of the present hour and
the
simultaneous commencement of the displayed next hour.
Accordingly, the rnarkers of FIGS. 13A-13D, when incorporated in
quad~balanced time displays, e.g. as illustrated representatively in FIGS. 11A-
11D, provide
an optimum time display protocol in which the progress of each quarter hour is
visually
differentiated from the others and the exact time within each is instantly
digitally defined,
with complete visual and numerical balance between both the halves and the
quarters of
every hour.
The above-described alternative embodiments demonstrate that many other
choices can be made to form desihn markers of various shapes that may be more
or less
CA 02497513 2001-O1-12
appeasing to the prefereneea of different viewers. Use of conventional dot
matrix display
elements or other high resolution elements in embodying the teachings of this
invention will
enable the markers to be configured in the shapes of one or more dots, dashes,
asterisks,
stars, arrowheads, ramps, triangles, squares, rectangles or other symbols that
will perform
the functions described for the exemplary embodiments discussed above.
It will be appreciated that, preferably, the spaces between the elements 26,
28, 126 and 128, including the corresponding spaces in FIGS. 12A-12D, and
their respective
horizontal and vertical elements, in all cases, should be as narrow as
possible to enable
separate electronic energizing of these elements while maintaining their
closest feasible
visual continuity.
Also, while in the preferred embodiment all four quarter hour areas are
simultaneously activated with the current time and the three non-time-telling
markers
throughout the entire hour, other sequences can be used. For example, the
quarter hour
I ~ showing the current time can be accompanied by one marker in either the
next or previous
quarter hour space, or by a Fair of markers in both the next and previous
quarter hour
spaces.
Referring now to FIG. 14, illustrated there is a chart which depicts the
functional attributes of a single displaceable crown control, of the type
described, for
example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,720,823. This crown control is adapted to
operate, in a
preferred manner, all of the setting functions of an enhanced quadribalanced
timepiece
that is also provided with a programmable alarm.
2S
At the top, thc; crown is depicted in solid and dashed outline which
symbolizes that it may be displaced between alternate positions that are crown
in (solid
outline) and crown out (dashed outline) relative to a wristwatch case, for
example. These
positions are abbreviated in the remaining lower portion of the chart as "CR-
I" and "CR-O",
respectively.
This displaceable crown is also illustrated at the top of the chart as being
rotatable in a forward direction labeled "Turn Crown Forward" (clockwise
arrow) and in an
opposite backward direction .labeled "Turn Crown Back" (counterclockwise
arrow),
3~ preferably for approximately a quarter tum of one full revolution in either
direction, as
taught in U.S. Patent No. 4,7 0,823. These turning motions are abbreviated in
the
remaining lower portion of the chart as "TR-FO" and "TR-BA", respectively.
The displaceable crown is connected vertically to a lower horizontal line in
FIG. l4 that has headings cornprising "Show Equad-T Time, Sec Time", "Light
Display"
and "Set Alarm Time". Two of the functional sequences below the headings,
"Light
Display" and "Set Alarm Time", can be entered without performing a CR-O
operation,
_g_
CA 02497513 2001-O1-12
signifying that these sequences are available with the crown in the CR-I
position. Thos,
under the "Light Display" heading with the crown in CR-I, repeated TR-FO turns
are
programmed to altemate,ly turn on and off a light, that correspondingly does
and does not
illuminate the display to enable viewing the displayed time in the dark.
Accordingly,
alternating TR-FO motions of the crown in the CR-I position are dedicated to
performing
this sole function of lighting and not lighting the display.
Next, undc;r the "Set Alarm Time" heading and with the crown still in the
CR-I position, repeated TR-BA turns are programmed to turn on and off, and
thereby
activate and deactivate, both an alarm symbol in the display and an audible
alarm which
will be heard at a pre-selected time. Thus, alternating TR-BA turns of the
crown in CR-I
position are dedicated to t',he sole function of activating and deactivating
the audible alarm
and its symbol in the display.
Referring next to the heading "Show Equal-Time, Set Time", "Equal-T" is
I ~ an abbreviation for the enhanced quadribalanced time displays of this
invention, as
previously described above. Thus, with the crown in the CR-I position, this is
the type of
time display that is provided to the viewer. Alternatively, when the crown is
displaced to its
CR-O position, as indicated in the first step below the heading,' the display
is programmed
to automatically switch to a display of conventional digital time (abbreviated
"Elap-T")
comprising the centrally lo~rated hour flanked on the right by elapsed minutes
in the upper
right position, with flashing; elapsed seconds below the hour. These time
values are
maintained throughout the entire course of an hour while the crown is in the
CR-O position
to distinguish the time setting mode from the enhanced quadribalanced real
time mode
which is restored when the crown is returned back into the CR-I position,
afrer setting; or
?$ resetting of the time has been completed, pursuant to the teachings of U.S.
Patent No.
5,182,733. Preferably, this contrast is increased by eliminating the markers
ordinarily
included in the second, thir~3 and fourth quarter hour minute positions of
enhanced
quadribalanced time, therer~y reinforcing the viewer's ability to recognize
and
comprehend that the display is in the time setting mode initiated by
displacing the crown
to its CR-O position.
Continuing with the time setting functions depicted in the left column of the
FIG. 14 chart, it will be understood that each successive function is selected
and flashed by
a TR-BA turn of the crown, .and thereafter each such function is set by a TR-
FO turn of the
3$ crown until the correct value has been reached in the display. In addition,
the display can be
returned to real time at any chosen interval of the time setting sequence by
returning; the
crown back to its CR-I position, with automatic restoration of Equal-T time,
as signified by
the arrows labeled CR-I on the right of each function, again in a manner
similar to the
teachings of U.S. Patent No. 5,182,733. Thus, during; the setting process, all
TR-QA turns
All CR-O steps and functions are indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 14.
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CA 02497513 2001-O1-12
are dedicated to flashing sE;lected functions for setting, and all TR-FO turns
are dedicated to
setting the flashing function.
Referring lastly to the heading Set Alarm Time, as previously noted while
the crown is in the CR-I position, repeated TR-BA turns of the crown will
activate and
deactivate the alarm symbol and function. Therefore, as the chart shows, in
order to prepare
to select and set a chosen allarm time, the activated alarm symbol/function is
first established
in the display by a TR-BA itum of the crown. Next the crown is displaced to
its CR-O
position which is programmed to restore in the display the last previously set
alarm time in
Equad-T time, meaning the corresponding enhanced quadribalanced time,
including
preferably the corresponding markers in the three quarter positions not
occupied by the
minutes of the alarm time shown in the relevant fourth quarter position, and
preferably
without any display of seconds which would be superfluous for setting any
alarm time.
Moreover, the hour and minutes of the last previously set alarm time are
preferably not
initially flashed, since there is no need to synchronize such time values with
an announced
1 ~ accurate real time source. Thus, by enabling the setting of alarm times in
terms of such
enhanced quadribalanced displays, the viewer will be provided with an
immediate contrast
from the conventional Elap=T time that is used for the setting or resetting of
the display to
real time, as previously described.
The selection and setting of an alarm time are set forth in the remaining
sequences depicted in the chart below the Set Alarm Time heading. Again, all
TR-BA turns
of the crown select and flash a function for setting, and all TR-FO toms set
the selected
function. At any chosen interval, the display can be returned to Equad-T time
by displacing
the crown to its CR-I position. Preferably, the alarm symbol is kept activated
in the display
2$ whenever there is a return to real time from an alarm setting operation to
assure the viewer
that the alarm will sound at that set time. Thereafter, a TR-BA turn will be
programmed to
turn off both the audible alarm and its symbol, until the same alarm time is
reactivated by
another TR-BA turn to restore the alarm and its symbol in the display, or
until a new alarm
time is chosen and set by the above-described procedure.
The preferred embodiment of a displaceable crown control illustrated in F(G.
14 and described hereinabove: provides substantial advantages due to the
singularities of
logic and procedure embodied in its operation. Notably, with the crown in the
CR-I
position, all repeated forward turns of it will light and extinguish the lit
display, whereas all
repeated backward turns will activate and deactivate the alarm and its symbol.
These
singularities are easily remembered and distinguished from each other.
All setting of the display is achieved by displacing the crown to it CR-O
position, another singularity that is easily remembered (and also reminiscent
of how
conventional dial watches are customarily set). If a CR-O displacement is
performed
without activation of an alarm symbol in the display, the display will enter
into a setting
mode for real time in terms of a conventional digital display. Conversely, if
CR-O is
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CA 02497513 2001-O1-12
preceded by an activated harm symbol, the display will enter into a
contrasting enhanced
quadribalanced setting mode, again providing easily remembered singularities
and
distinctions between these: two types of setting functions. Finally, during
either type of
setting, each function is selected and flashed for setting by TR-BA turns, and
such
respective selected functions are set by TR-FO turns. Such opposite motions
are easily
remembered and distinguished for the distinct operations that each performs.
The use of smaller sized digital zeros with representative digital unit
minutes
is shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 of this application. Further details on the
implementation and
advantages of such displays during the first and last nine minutes of each
hour are described
i0 in U.S. Patent No. 5,805,534. Also, the uppermost six horizontal elements
of the 10-
segmented display elements 18, 20 in FIG. 1 of this application can be flashed
during the
last minute of each hour in the matmer described in U.S. Patent No. 5,757,730.
Furthermore, during the interval from the thirtieth to thirty-first minutes,
preferably an
IS Initial digital minute of value 30 together with digital seconds of values
0 to 30 are
displayed during the first half of the interval, followed by a digital minute
of value 29
together with digital seconds of values 29 to 0 during the second half of the
interval, as
taught in U.S. Patent No. 4,627,737.
20 In conclusion, the present invention has been described above in terms of
its
general principles and specific embodiments. Many variations of such
disclosure will be
obvious to those skilled in die art. Accordingly, it should be understood that
the ensuing
claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications of the specific
illustrative
embodiments which fall within the literal scope of the claims and al!
equivalents thereof.
30
