Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
~.~?~ t~
MULTI-FUNCTIONAL DIGITAL TIME DISPLAYS
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to time keeping and, more
particularly, to the use of digital time displays for
general purpose time keeping. The term "general purpose",
as applied to digital time displays or digital time keep-
ing in context of the ensuing description, is used
qualitatively to refer to the general time keeping needs
and practices of ordinary individuals oc~upied with
their usual activities on a day-to-day basis, as dis-
tinguished from specialized time monitoring procedures
used in particular circumstances, e.g., scientific
experiments, computer operations, games and sporting
events, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
._ .
General purpose digital time displays have been
available to consumers over the past several years in
a variety of products, e.g. wrist watches, clocks,
clock-radios and numerous other articles. Such displays
generally consist of a horizontal array of hour and
minute digits separated by a colon, with the hour digits
positioned to the left and the minute digits to the
right, and with the minute digits being driven to count
values up from 01 to 59 and, one minute later, to reset
to 00, with a simultaneous increase in the value of the
hour digits to that of the next hour. On occasion, with
liquid crystal type displays, second digits are also
provided, positioned to the right of the minute digits
and also driven to count seconds up from 01 to 59, with
~2~3~9
resetting to 00 one second later, when the value of the
minute digits is increased to the next minute. In other
instances, such as with light emitting diode type dis-
plays, switching is employed to display second digits
alone, counted as described above but without a simul-
taneous display of hour and minute digits.
Although such displays and products have been
commercially successful, they have not displaced com-
pletely, or even to a major extent, their analog counter-
parts and competition. The latter are based upon the
conventional twelve-hour dial face with hour, minute
and, optionally, second hands rotating through 360 to
indicate the time by the progressive positions of the
hands relative to spaced markings applied along the
dial perimeter. Many consumers, both prospective and
actual, have found currently available general purpose
digital time displays to be inconvenient, awkward,
difficult to use or otherwise objectionable in compari-
son to analo~ time displays, and often because of poorly
perceived or definable reasons.
Although it appears to be commonly accepted that
conventional general purpose digital time displays ex-
cel in informing the user of the present time at the
moment of the readout, it is also recognized that burden-
some mental calculations are required to translate that
readout in the viewer's mind into grosser time contexts,
e.g. the position of the precise time relative to a
larger interval such as an hour or half hour, or how
much time remains before the next hour or hal~ hour,
or how much time has passed or is to pass in relation
to the occurrence of other exact times as previous or
6~
future references. Thus, conventional general purpose
digital time displays suffer from the basic drawback
of isolating the present time without also providing
rapidly comprehendible indications of ~he larger time
contexts which individuals ordinarily rely upon to
carry out their general activities and for which analog
time displays are far superior because of the graphic
overall picture of gross time presented by their hand
positions relative to the dial face markings. These
and like problems in the usP of conventional digital
time displays have been described specifically, for
example, in a survey reported in the November 1976
issue of Consumer Reports (Vol. 41, No. 11), a well
known consumer products evaluation journal.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides balanced, quadri-
balanced and compact, multi-functional digital time dis-
play systems and methods which avoid or alleviate the
above-described disadvantages of conventional general
purpose digital time displays. The invention is based
upon a recognition of the fundamental character of analog
time displays as superior for informing the viewer of
gross time contexts because of the symmetry or balance
that is inherent in their geometries, together with the
realization that substantial advantages and improvements
can be achieved if analogous balance is incorporated in
digital time displays.
In one of its broad aspects, the invention pro-
vides a display of the digit value of the present hour
in a relatively leading readout position and of increasing
digit values of minutes in a relatively trailing position
::.
.
5~3
at the commencement of each hour, followed by an increase
of the hour digit value to that of the next hour in a
relatively trailing readout position accompanied by
decreasing digit values of minutes in a reversed rela-
tively leading readout position during a subsequent por-
tion of the same hour and before the actual commencement
of the next hour. This basic principle may be combined
with the refinement of simultaneously displaying in-
creasing digit values of seconds during a first portion
of each minute and thereafter displaying decreasing
digit values of seconds during a subsequent portion of
the same minute to inform the viewer at a glance of
the positional relationship of any exact time readout
to the larger time contexts of each current minute,
half hour and hour.
In another of its broad aspects, the present
invention also provides quadri-~balanced digital time
display systems and methods which provide an additional
advantage of distinguishing the current quarter hour
from amongst the four quarters of an hour and thereby
making evident the relationship between any exact
present time and the current quarter hour, suGh being
denoted by the designation "quadri-balanced".
This advantage is achieved by the use of digital
time displays in which, during the first quarter of a
present hour, minute digits are positioned in a relative-
ly upper area trailing hour digits and operated to count
increasin~ digit values of minutes, e.g~ from 01 to 15.
Next, during the second quarter hour, minute digits
are positioned in a relatively lower area trailing the
hour digits and operated to count further increasing
digit values of minutes, e.g. from 16 to 30. Thereafter,
during the third quarter hour, the hour digits are in-
creased to the value of the next hour, and minute digits
are reversed and positioned in a relatively lower area
leading the hour digits and operated to count decreasing
digit values of minutes, e.g. from 29 to 15. Finally,
during the fourth quarter hour, minute digits are re-
versed and positioned in a relatively upper area leading
the displayed next hour digits and operated to count
further decreasing values of minutes, e.g. from 14 to 00.
1'his cycle is repeated for each successive hour.
The foregoing results in the sequencing of four
sets of rninute digits in a clockwise rotation around
hour digits, synchronized with the progress of time
rom start to end of each hour. Since these sets are
geometrically distinguished from each other and in
direct correspondence with the quarter-hour positions
traversed by a conventional analog minute hand during
its hour-long 360 rotation, the viewer:is given, at
a glance, an immediately comprehendible picture of the
present quarter hour, without having to read the actual
values of the displayed hour and minute digits. This,
in turn, makes evident the relationship between any
exact time readout represented by those actual values
and the intervals of the present quarter hour and the
present half hour. The quadri-balanced systems and
methods of this invention thus enable digital time dis-
plays, without loss of digital precision, to simulate
the graphics of progressively larger current time in-
tervals, in a manner analogous to the operation of often
preferred analog time displays.
Some of the balanced and~quadrl-balanced systems
disclosed herein comprise a minimum of~five or six 7-
element or 10-element arrays of digital time display
elements arranged in a horizontal row, each array being
selectively energizable to display digits of value O to
9. Use of such groups of five or six arrays results
in the appearance of vacant spaces in nearly half or
more of the display background as the arrays undergo
the various changes in digit formats, values and read-
out positions to display balanced or quadri-balanced
digital time. The appearance of such spaces has the
advantage of reinforcing in the viewer's mind the time
significance of the shifting geometries presented by
the displays, as described herein.
In still another of its broad aspects, the pre-
sent invention provides a solution for those instances
in which it may be desired to implement balanced or
quadri-balanced digital time keeping, without the
above-mentioned vacant spaces. In this regard, the
invention comprises broadly a 13-element array of
digital time display elements which may be selectively
energized to display relatively large hour digits of
value O to 9, or relatively small minute digits of -
value O to 9 in either a relatively upper or a relative-
ly lower position.-
This three-way functionality enables grouping
three of the 13-element arrays with two vertical line
display elements in an ordered horizontal alignment to
carry out balanced or quadri-balanced digital time
keeping, substantially without the vacant spaces re-
ferred to above. Moreover, by eliminating the need
~L~2~
for two 0-9 digit displaying arrays, compared to the
minimum number of five used in the other systems re-
ferred to above, the minimum horizontal width of the
arrangement of the present invention is substantially
reduced to provide a more compact, multi-functional
display.
The new 13-element array also may be used in
a horizontal group of Eour to obtain a display which
is capable of carrying out balanced, quadri-balanced
or chronographic digital time keeping, with the last
being unambigously distinguished by its geometry from
the first two. This multi-functional group of four
arrays is also more compact than the previously-
described minimum number of five, due to elimination
of the need for one 0-9 digit displaying array.
The principles of balance and immediate com-
prehendibility of both gross and exact time contexts
provided by the new digital time displays described
herein are further apparent in preferred emkodiments
of the invention. Accordingly, other features and
advantages of the invention will be evident from the
ensuing detailed description, taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a front view of energizable digital
display elements arranged for balanced digital time
displays in accordance with one embodiment of the inven-
tion.
FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the FIG. 1 em-
bodiment in a representative display during the first
half of an hour.
--7~
FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the FIG. 2
embodiment in a representative display during the
second half of the same hour.
FIG. 4 is a front view of energizable digital
display elements arranged for quadri--balanced digital
time displays in accordance with another embodiment
of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the FI~. 4
embodiment in a representative display during the first
quarter of an hour.
FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the FIG. 4
embodiment in a representative display during the
second quarter of the same hour.
FIG. 7 is a similar view showing the FIG. 4
embodiment in a representative display during the third
quarter o~ the same hour.
FIG. 8 is a similar view showing the FIG. 4
embodi~ent in a representative display during the fourth
quarter of the same hour.
FIG. 9 is a front view of a compact, multi-
functional digital time display using three 13-element
arrays in accordance with another embodiment of the
invention.
FIG. 10 is a similar view showing the FIG. 9
embodiment in a representative first quarter or first
half hour display.
FIG. 11 is a similar view showing the FIG. 9
embodiment in a representative second quarter hour dis-
play.
FIG. 12 is a similar view showing the FIG. 9
embodiment in a representative third quarter hour display.
-8-
~L~?~6~3
FIG. 13 is a similar view showing the FIG. 9
embodiment in a representative fourth quarter or
second half hour display.
FIG. 14 is a front view of another embodiment
of the invention using four 13-element arrays.
FIG. 15 is a similar view showing the FIG. 14
embodiment in a chronographic timing mode.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to FIG. 1, illustrated there is a
horizontally oriented background 10, bordered by the
opposite side perimeters 12 and 13, and upper and lower
perimeters 14 and 16. Arranged on this background are
four pairs of energizable display elements 18a and b,
22a and b, 24a and b, and 26a and b. These pairs con-
sist of two 7-segment arrays oE light emitting diode
or li~uid crystal display elements, each array being
selectively energizable to display each of the digits
from O to 9, thereby presenting in each array pair the
tens and ones units of digital time values to the viewer.
The display element pairs 18 and 24 are of the
same overall size and positioned at the left and right
sides of the background 10. The display element pair 22
is of smaller overall size than the pairs 18 and 24, and
is positioned at the center of the background 10, between
the pairs 18 and 24. The display element pair 26 is the
smallest in overall size compared to pairs 18, 22 and 24,
and is also positioned at the center of the background
10, perpendicularly below pair 22. An energizable
horizontal line display element 28 is positioned between
the centrally located display element pairs 22 and 26.
,. .
An energizable arrowhead display element 30 is positioned
adjacent the right end of the horizontal line display
element 28, pointing toward the ~lement pair 24.
Above the upper perimeter 14 is another horizontal
background 32, substantially narrower than background 10,
and on which is arranged a set of three groups of
energizable display elements 34a, b and c, which may be
selectively energized in conventional manner to display
the first three letters of the days of the week. To
the right of the elements 34 is another pair of 7-segment
arrays of energizable display elements 36a and b,
similar to the pairs 18, 22, 24 and 26, which may be
selectively energized to display the date of each day
of the month in conventional manner. The element pair
36 is the smallest in overall size, compared to the
pairs 18, 22, 2~ and 26.
Referring to FIG. 2, illustrated there is
energization of the array of elements 18b to display
the digit "9", the pair of elements 22a and b to dis-
play the digits "18", the pair of elements 26a and b
to display the digits l'25", and the horizontal line ele-
ment ~3,`all of the other energizable elements within
the background 10 of FIG. 1 being de-energized and
thereby blanked. Accordingly, the FIG. 2 display in-
forms the viewer that the present time is eighteen
minutes after the ninth hour (A.M. or P.M.), and more
precisely, that twenty-five seconds of that eighteenth
minutes have elapsed or remain, depending on whether the
values of seconds are increasing or decreasing.
This instantaneous time can be readily compre-
hended without confusion or ambiguity in view of several
--10--
. ~:
factors. First, the sizes of the digits are graduated,
hours being largest, minutes intermediate, and seconds
smallest in overall size, thus presenting appearances
having direct correspondence with the magnitudes of
the time intervals being displayed by the respective
digits. Secondly, there is no interruption presented
to the viewer's vision between the leading hour digits
18b and the trailing minute digits 22a and b, whereas
the latter are purposely separated by the horizontal
line 28 from the second digits 26a and b. These
geometries are maintained throughout the operation of
the illustrated balanced digital time displays, there- ~
by retaining visually recognizable features in the
sizes and positions of all the digits despite the
reversals of the relative lead:ing and trailing positions
of the hour and minute digits during respective first
and second halves of each hour. Also, in accordance
with the invention, the second digits 26 are being
driven to count up to and down from a peak value of 30
and if the display is read for at least two consecutive
seconds, the increasing or decreasing progression in
the values of the second digits will be immediately
apparent, further distinguishing such values from those
of the adjacent hour and minute digits. The end result
is that the format of the display itself promotes
immediate recognition and understanding of the time
values and significances of the respective digits.
In adaition, the display elements 34a, b and
c, and 36a, and b, in the upper narrower background 32,
have been energized to inform the viewer of the day of
the week "MON" and the date of the day of the month "24",
1~.2~6~9
thus providing along with the time all the other in-
formation generally useful for carrying out ordinary
daily activities.
Referring to FIG. 3, illustrated there is the
display arrangement of FIG. 1 energized in such manner
that the pair of elements 24a and b display the digits
"10", the pair of elements 22a and b display the digits
"06", the pair of elements 26a and b display the digits
"09", the horizontal line element 2~ and the arrowhead
element 30 display an arrow pointing to the right, all
other display elements within the background 10 of FIG.
1 being blanked. Thus, reading the display from left
to right, the viewer is informed immediately that the
time is six minutes before the next approachin~ hour
(10 o-clock~, and even more precisely, where values
of seconds are decreasing, that there are nine seconds
of the sixth minute remaining before that hour. The
arrow ~ormed by elements 28 and 30 emphasizes the
significance in the readout of the leading position
of the minute digits relative to the hour digits,
vlz. that the minute values on display are those
which remain and are decreasing before the arrival of
the next hour. Furthermore, this reversal of position
immediately distinguishes the display from the opposite
mode shown in FIG. 2, so that there can be no confusion
or ambiguity in reading the two modes during the first ;
~ and second halves of each hour.
; In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the position of
the hour digits alternate at successive half hour
intervals, between left and right sides of minute and
second digits maintained in stationary position at the
center of the display, to establish the leading and
trailing positions of hours relative to minutes re-
quired for the balanced digital time displays described
herein. The converse of this arrangement also may be
used by maintaining the hour digits in fixed position
at the center of the display and by alternating the
position of the minute digits between the left and right
sides thereof at half hour intervals to establish the
necessary balanced leading and trailing relationships.
For example, the arrays 18 and 24 of FIG. 1 may be
altered to the size and relatively upper level of arrays
22 to serve as such alternating minute digits, the arrays
22 may be increased to the size and level of arrays 18
to serve as the stationary hour digits, with the arrays
26 for display of seconds tif used) lowered to provide
room for the larger stationary hour digits, in analogous
~".~
manner to the seconds display of FIG. 4.
The above modification will achieve a closer
analogy, in the balanced digital display, to the path
of the minute hand in conventional analog time displays,
wherein the minute hand, during the first half of each
- hour, traverses a semicircle to the right of and
~ trailing the 12-o-clock-6-o-clock axis, and
~`:
conversely during the second half of each hour,
the minute hand sweeps through a semicircle to the
right of and leading that axis. Because the
alternately transposed trailing and leading minute
digits relative to central stationary hour digits
undergo similar position changes and relationships,
the above described modification of the embodiment
of FIGS. 1-3 may be regarded as preferable.
Referring to FIG. 4, illustrated there is a
horizontally oriented display background 110 outlined
by side perimeters 112 and 114, and upper and lower
perimeters 116 and 118. At the center of background
110 is an energizable vertical line element 120 and,
to its right, a 7-segment array of energizable elements
122. The elements 120 and 122 consist of light
emitting diode or liquid crystal display elements
which may be energized to display hour digit values
ranging from 1 to 12.
Below the elements 120 and 122 is another pair
of 7-segment arrays of energizable display elements
124a and b, of suostantially smaller size than elements
120 and 122 and positioned in a smaller background 126
defined by the U-shaped extension 128 projecting down-
wardly from lower perimeter 11~. The elements 124a
and b may be energized to display digits counting
seconds from 01 to a peak value of 30 and, thereafter,
from 29 to 00.
To the ri~ht of elements 120 and 122 is a pair
of 10-segment ladder-like arrays of energizable elements
130a and b. Each array is composed of four equi-spaced
horizontal line elements (analogous to ladder steps)
and three pairs of equi-spaced interspersed vertical
line elements (analogous to ladder side rails). This
arrangement enables use of the uppermost seven elements
(three horizontals and two pairs of interspersed
verticals) to display digits ranging from 0 to 15 in a
relatively upper area to the xight of elements 120 and
122, i.e. an upper part of the space or readout position
trailing those elements. Conversely, energization of
-14-
the lowermost seven elements (again three horizontals
and two pairs of interspersed verticals) will enable
display of digits from 16 to 30 shifted in position to
a relatively lower area to the right of the elements
120 and 122, i.e. a lower part of the space or readout
position trailing those elements. The central two
horizontal and two vertical elements of each ladder
array are thus shared during the total count from 01
to 30
Since the overall height of the ladder arrays
130a and b is the same as that of elements 120 and 122,
and since the horizontal elements of the arrays 130a
and b are equally spaced, it will be evident that the
above described digits positioned in relatively upper
or lower areas will, in either case, be about 2/3 the
size of those displayed by elements 120 and 122, but
also considerably larger than those displayed by ele-
ments 124a and b. Also, when the ladder arrays 130a
and b display digits in the relatively upper area to
the right of elements 120 and 122, the remaining 1/3
area below them will be vacant, whereas the converse
will occur when the digits are in the relatively lower
area, leaving the remaining 1/3 area above empty.
Another pair of ladder-like arrays of display
elements 132a and b, identical in size and general
function to 130a and b, is positioned to the left of
elements 120 and 122. Elements 132a and b may be
energized to display digits from 29 to 15 in a re-
latively lower area, i.e. a lower part of the space
or readout position leading elements 120 and 122,
followed by a shift to digits ranging from 14 to 00
: .
: . :'
~Z~'3
positioned in a relatively upper area, i.e. an upper
part of the space or readout position leading elements
120 and 122, with 1/3 upper and lower areas respectively
unoccupied, in analogous manner to the operation of
arrays 130a and b.
Referring to FIG. 5, illustrated there is the
arrangement of FIG. 4 energized in a manner such that
the elements 122 display the digit "9", the elements
130a and b display the digits "14", and the elements
124a and b display the digits "25". This display
informs the viewer that the exact present time is
fourteen minutes past the ninth hour (A.M. or P.M.)
and, more precisely, that twenty-five seconds of that
fourteenth minute have elapsed or remain, depending
on whether seconds are increasing to or diminishing
from the peak value of thirty.
Since the minute digits are in a relatively
upper readout position trailing the hour digit, the
viewer is also informed that the present time is within
the first quarter hour of the prese~t hour, without
having to read the values of the digits. Since the
intermediate-sized minute digits are trailing the
larger centrally-positioned hour digit in a relatively
upper area comprising the uppermost 2/3 of the height
of the hour digit (with the remaining 1/3 of the trail-
ing space empty~, this is sufficient to make immediately
known the existence of the first quarter of the present
hour, independently of digit values. The geometry of
the display thus simulates that of a conventional analog
minute hand positioned in the first quarter of the com-
plete circle it traverses during the course of an hour.
-16-
Referring to FIG. 6, illustrated there is the
arrangement of FIG. ~energized in a manner such that
the elements 122 display the digit "9", the elements
130a and b display the digits "23", and the elements
124a and b display the digits "13".
This display informs the viewer that the exact
present time is twenty-three minutes past the ninth
hour and that thirteen seconds of that twenty-third
minute have elapsed or remain, depending upon the
current direction of the seconds count up to or down
from the peak value of thirty. The geometry of the
display also makes immediately known the fact that
the present time is within the second quarter of
the current hour, independently of digit values,
because the minute digits have shifted in position
to the lowermost 2/3 o~ the space trailing the hour
digit, leavi ng the remaining 1/3 space above empty.
The FIG. 6 display thus simulates the positioning of
a conventional analog minute hand in the consecutive
second quarter of the complete circle it traverses
during the course of an hour. This means that at a
glance and without having to read the digit values,
the viewer is informed by such geometry that the
present time is within the second quarter of the
current hour.
ReEerring to FIG. 7, illustrated there is the
arrangement o FIG. 4 energized in a manner such that
the elements 120 and 122 display the digits "10",
the elements 132a and b display the digits "18", and
the elements 124a and b display the digits `'05".
In this display, the minute digits have been
.. , ~
reversed to lead the hour digits relative to the left-
to-right readout direction, and the value of the hour
digits has been increased to that of the approaching
next hour. Therefore, the d-splay informs the viewer
that the exact present time is the eighteenth minute
before the on-coming tenth hour and that five seconds
of that minute have elapsed or remain, depending again
on whether seconds are increasing or decreasing re-
lative to the peak value of thirty.
The switching of the minute digits to a position
leading the hour digits in FIG. 7, and the resultant
emptying of the entire trailing space occupied by the
now de-energized elements 130a and b, immediately
signifies, independent of the digit values, that the
first half of the current hour has elapsed and less
than the second half remains. As earlier mentioned,
this simulates a conventional analog minute hand
crossing from right to left sides of the 12-o-clock-6-
o-clock axis between the equal halves of the complete
circle it traverses during the course of an hour.
This effect is reinforced by the increase of the value
of the hour digits to that of the next hour, which
simulates the positioning of a conventional analog
hour hand closer, after the half hour point, to the
dial mark which represents the next approaching hour.
Moreover, the relatively lower position of the minute
digits, comprising the lowermost 2/3 part of the
space adjacent to and leading the hour digits, signi-
fies that the present time is within the third quarter
of the current hour, simulating the positioning of a
conventional analog minute hand in the consecutive
-18-
3~
third quarter of the complete circle it traverses during
the course oE an hour.
Referring to FIG. 8, illustrated there is the
arrangement of FIG. 4 energized in a manner such that
the elements 120 and 122 display the digits "10",
the elements 132a and b display the digits "06"~ and
the elements 124a and b display the digits "19".
This display informs the viewer that the
exact present time is the sixth minute before the
:
on-coming tenth hour and that nineteen seconds of that
minute have elapsed or remain, depending upon whether
the seconds count is increasing or decreasing. Also,
the minute digits have shifted to a relatively upper
!::
area comprising the uppermost 2/3 part of the space
adjacent to and leading the hour digits, leaving the
remaining 1/3 part below empty. This signifies, at
a glance and independent of the digit values, that
the present time is within the last quarter of the
current hour, simulating the positioning o~ a con-
ventional analog minute hand in the consecutive
fourth quarter of the complete circle it traverses
during the course of an hour.
Referring to FIG. 9, illustrated there is a
horizontally oriented background 210 outlined by side
perimeters 212 and 214, and upper and lower perimeters
216 and 218. Substantially filling background 210 are
two energizable vertical line display elements 220a
and b, and three 13-element arrays of energizable dis-
play elements 222a, b and c, aligned horizontally in
the order 220a, 222a, 222b, 220b and 222c.
The lower perimeter 218 includes a central,
--19--
downwardly projecting U-shaped extension 224 which de-
flnes a smaller, lowermost display background 226. In
it is a pair of 7-element arrays of energizable display
elements 228a and b, each array of which may be selec-
tively energized to display digit values from 0 to 9,
so that the pair can be used to display digit values
of seconds from 01 up to 30 and then down from 29 to
00 during each minute interval.
Referring to the first of the 13-element arrays
222a, as illustrative of all three, 222a, b and c, it
includes five horizontal display elements, one, desig-
nated "u", in an uppermost position and anothar, desig~
nated "d", in a lowermost position, the vertical distance
in between comprising the overall height of the array.
Two of the remaining three horizontal elements are
positioned in between the outermost elements u and d,
one, designated "um", above the horizontal mid-line
of the vertical distance between u and d, and the other,
designated "dm", below the mid-line. Elements um and
dm are preferably spaced approximately equal from each
other and from, respectivel~ the outermost elements u
and d, so that they divide the vertical distance between
the latter into approximately equal one-third parts.
The fifth horizontal element, designated "m", is
positioned preferably at the mid-line of the distance
between the outermost elements u and d, which posi~ion
also coincides with the mid-line of the distance
between the internal horizontal elements um and dm in
the illustrated embodiment.
The left ends of the horizontal elements u, um,
m, dm and d are in substantial vertical alignment and
-20-
bridged by a set of four vertical elements designated
from top to bottom as "vl", "v2", "v3" and "v4".
Similarly, the right ends of the horizontal elements
are in substantial vertical alignment and bridged by
a set of four vertical elements designated as "vrl",
"vr2", "vr3" and "vr4". A small rightward mis-alignment
of all the elements from true vertical is preferably
incorporated to achieve digit displays slanting verti-
cally to the right for a more attractive appearance.
The adjoining ends of the horizontal and verti-
cal elements are separated by narrow spaces, as
illustrated, to isolate and permit each element to be
electrically energized independently of the others.
In this connection, all the joints between the proxi-
mate ends of the horizontal e]ements u, um, dm and d
and of the vertical elements v1-4 and vrl-4 adjoining
thereto are mitered. In contr.ast, the proximate ends
of the horizontal element m and of the vertical elements
v2, v3, vr2 and vr3 adjoining thereto are squared off
to form butt joints. This is preferred in order to
present maximum visual continuity through the vertical
elements when the array is energized to display digits,
without loss of significant horizontal continuity when-
ever the horizontal element m is energized to display
large hour digits, as will be evident from further
description below.
The 13-element array 222a can function in three
ways. First, the horizontal elements u, m and d and
all the vertical elements v1-4 and vrl-4 can be
selectively energized in combinations to display hour
digits of value O to 9 having a height corresponding
-21-
to the distance between elements u and d, and thus
being relatively large.
Second, the horizontal elements u, um and dm
and vertical elements v1-3 and vrl-3 can be selective-
ly energized in combinations to display minute digits
of value 0 to 9 having a height corresponding to the
distance between elements u and dm, which also com-
prises the upper two-thirds o the distance between
elements u and d. Thus, these minute digits are re-
latively smaller than the hour digits and in a relative-
ly upper position.
Third, the horizontal elements um, dm and d and
vertical elements v2-~ and vr2-4 can be selectively
energized in combinations to display minute digits of
value 0 to 9 having a height corresponding to the
distance between elements um and d, which also com-
prises the lower two-thirds oE the distance between
elements u and d. Thus, these minute digits are
relatively smaller than the hour digits and in a
relatively lower position.
The above description of the 13-element array
222a and its unctional capabilities applies equally
to the identical arrays 222b and 222c.
In addition to the three 13-element arrays
322a-c, the FIG. 9 embodiment includes the vertical
line display elements 220a and b, which have a height
substantially equal to the distance between the hori-
zontal elements u, d and which are used to display the
tens unit values in the hour digits 10 r 11 and 12.
These vertical line display elements, although each a
single element electrically energizable across its
-22-
i;t~
entire height at a yiven time, are preferably provided
with the illustrated indentations, designated "i",
positioned at the levels corresponding to the vertical
positions of elements um and dm in the adjacent 13-
element arrays 222a and 222c, and shaped to complement
the appearance of the mitered joints of the latter when
hour digits of 10 or higher are displayed.
FIGS. 10-13 illustrate the extergization of the
specific elements of FIG. 9 to achieve representative
balanced or quadri~balanced digital time displays, as
previously described in connection with FIGS. 1-8.
FIGS. 10 and 13 are representative of the use of FIG.
9 for balanced digital time displays during the con-
secutive first and second halves o each hour, as pre-
viously explained. FIGS. 10-13 are representative of
the use of FIG. 9 for quadri-balanced time displays
during the consecutive four quarters of each hour, as
previously explained.
The displays of FIGS. 9-13 achieve all the
important features of the previously described balanced
and quadri-balanced digital time displays. In addition,
the displays of FIGS. 9-13 at all times substantially
fill the display background without the appearance of
large vacant spaces. Thereore, they may be implemented
in smaller physical dimensions, especially in the hori-
zontal direction of readout, to provide more compact
appearances which ntay be esthetically more attractive
to consumers.
In this connection, the butt joints between the
proximate ends of the central horizontal element m and
of the adjoining vertical elements v2,3 and vr2,3 are
6~5~
highly desirable, since this mlnimizes the appearance
of apparent vertical discontinuities in all digits in-
corporating these joints and, at most, can only show
incompletely cornered joints when the element m is dis-
played in the hour digits 2,4,5,6 and 9. However,
since those hour digits are relatively large in compari-
son to the minute digits (in which all joints are always
mitered or completely butted~, esthetic objection to the
slightly discontinuous joints at the extremities of ele-
ment m in the specified hour digits should be minimal.
Still another advantage of the displays illustrated
in FIGS. 9-13 is that the identical FIG. 9 arrangement of
display elements can be used to carry out either balanced
or quadri-balanced digital time keeping. This permits
the manufacturer to incorporate in one product, e.g.
wrist watch, clock, clock radio, etc., appropriate
switching between the respective energizing circuitry
to give the user the option to choose between either
timing system at any desired time.
Referring tQ FIG. 14, illustrated there is
another embodiment of the present invention which is
based upon the use of four 13-element arrays 230a,b,c
and d, each identical in constiuent elements and func-
tional capabilities to the arrays 222a,b and c of FIG.
9. Also in common with the FIG. 9 embodiment is a
pair of 7-element arrays 232a and b for display of
seconds in the same manner as described for the array
228a and b.
The array group 230a-d provides at least the
three 13-element array group of FIG. 9, with other
sets of vertical display elements also available.
-24-
~3 ~
Therefore, it will be obvious that the FIG. 14 embodi-
ment also may be energized to display balanced or
quadri-balanced digital time keeping, in analogous
manner to the description of FIGS. 9-13.
In addition, the FIG. 1~ embodiment is provided
with an uppermost horizontal strip display background
234 in which energizahle display elements are included
for showing vertically-oriented abbreviated names of
the days of the week, in "SUN" to "SAT" horizontal order.
Background 23~ further includes a vertical line display
element 236 which may be energized to partition the
remainder of the background from the portion containing
the abbreviated days of the wee}c. In that remaining
portion is an uppermost pair of 7-element arrays 238a
and b, each array being independently energizable to
display digits of value 0 to 9. Within the internal
unoccupied spaces of array 238a are provided ener~i-
zable vertically-oriented letter displays "HR" as
an abbreviation of hour. Within the main display back-
ground 210 and above the arrays 230a and b are provided
the energizable letter displays "MIN" as an abbreviation
of minutes. Similarly, within the uppermost unoccupied
spaces of and between the arrays 230c and d are placed
energiæable letter displays "SEC" as an abbreviation
of seconds. ~n energizable dot display element 240 is
included at the bottom of the unoccupied space between
arrays 232a and b.
During general purpose balanced or quadri-
balanced time keeping with FIG. 14, the display elements
in the uppermost display background 234 are selectively
energized to display each day of the week separately
-25-
(the others being respectively blanked), and the arrays
238a and b are energized to display the corresponding
date of the month. Accordingly, the line display ele-
ment 236, the letter display elements "HR", "MIN" and
"SEC", and the dot display element 240, are all de-
energized and blanked during such operation. Background
234 then serves to inform the user of the current day,
its position in the week-long period simulated by the
calendar-like strip background 234 and its date in the
current month.
FIG. 15 illustrates the conversion of the FIG.
14 embodiment from its above-described general purpose
time keeping condition to another appearance suitable
for chronographic time keeping. This conversion is
achieved by de-energizing and blanking the displays
of the day-name and month-date in the uppermost back-
ground 234, as well as array 232a in the lowermost
background 226, and by simultaneously energizing arrays
230a and b to display relatively large leading zero
digits, arrays 230c and d to display relatively smaller
trailing zero digits, array 232b to display a relative-
ly still smaller zero digit below the zero digit of
array 230c, dot element 240 to display a decimal point
before the zero digit of array 232b, vertical line ele-
ment 236 to partition background 234 into a relatively
small segment to the right, and the letter elements to
display the abbreviations "HR", "MIN" and "SEC" in the
illustrated positions.
The above-described conversion immediately dis-
tinguishes the appearance of the FIG. 15 display ~rom
the general time keeping condition of FIG. 14. The
-26-
s~
uni~ue appearance in FIG. 15 of the zero digits, the
decimal point, the partition line, and the letter abbre
viations for hour, minute and second, and the simultan-
eous disappearance of the day-name and month-date and
array 232a, make it impossible to confuse the time
significances of the two appearances.
Moreover, the FIG. 15 display presents an ad-
vantageous appearance having a logical order in the
scale of time magnitudes for chronographic digital
time keeping. In particular, FIG. 15 incrementally
steps the viewer's vision down rom displays of hours,
to minutes, to seconds, to tenths of seconds, with the
sizes of the latter three digits being graduated in
the same order. The partitioned segment at the top
reserved for display of hours is maintained blank
without a zero digit, since in most instances chrono-
graphic time keeping is completed in less than an hour
and the distraction of an unnecessary zero digit is,
therefore, avoided. In the event of longer intervals,
the display of accumulated hour digits in a partitionad
segment outside the field containing the minute, second
and tenth second digits ~backgrounds 210 and 226~ also
avoids confusion or distraction from the higher fre-
quencies and usually more significant time intervals
of the latter three digits in chronographic timing.
Thus, FIG. 15 provides a display for carrying
out improved chronographic time keeping in such known
ways as accumulated elapsed time, accumulated lap
times, accumulated elapsed time with pauses, and count
down of a preset time interval, without confusion with
general purpose time keeping and with more readily com-
prehendible time significances of the chronographic display.
-27-
For purposes of clarity, it is pointed out
that in the claims, the five horizontal elements of
the 13-element arrays illustrated in FIGS. 9-15 are
recited in terms defined, respectively, as follows: ~ -
Element Claim
"u" "highest"
"um" "second highest"
"m" "central"
"dm" "second lowest"
"d" "lowest"
The invention has now been described in terms
of its fundamental operating principles and specific
preferred embodiments thereof. One of the principal
advantages of the disclosed balanced, quadri-balanced
and compact, multi-functional digital time displays
is their capability o informing the viewer at a
glance, and without having to read the values of any
displayed digits, whether the presellt time is within
the first or second half of the existing hour, or the
first, second, third or fourth quarter of the existing
hour. Since the formats of the display modes geometri-
cally distinguish these respective half hour or quarter
hour intervals, such information is immediately compre-
hendible from the display and enables the viewer much
more readily to appreciate the significance and relation-
ship of the present exact time, represented by the hour-
minute digit values, to the larger quarter hour, half
hour and hour time intervals of interest in general
time keeping throughout the day.
A similar advantage is achieved with regard to
the interval of each minute by coun-ting and displaying
seconds up from 01 to a peak value of 30 and back down
to 00, in synchronism with the total minute interval.
-28-
This enables the viewer by mere observation, in two
seconds, of the upward or downward progression of such
values to comprehend whether present time is within the
first or second half of the current minute. By reading `~
the specific instantaneous value of such digits, the
viewer also is able readily to determine precisely when
the current minute will reach or has passed its half
way point, or will come to its end.
Other important advantages of the balanced or
quadri-balanced digital time displays of the present
invention are the substantial reduction of digit values
and the overall system simplification which are presented
to the viewer. Since minutes and seconds are counted
only up to a peak value of 30, the range of digit values
required is reduced to half that of conventional displays
(i.e. 00-30 vs. 00-59). Combined with the fact that such
narrower range is traversed in equal increasing and de-
creasing paths during each minute and hour, the net
effect is manifest simplification of the system derived
from fewer and smaller numbers displayed in balanced
progressions which visibly distinguish between equal
halves of each hour and which are more compatible with
the genèral time keeping needs of individuals engaged
in day-to-day activities.
The foregoing translates into particularly
tangible benefits when having to make determinations
of future time inter~als which approach or bridge
across the next hour from a specific present time.
Referring, for example, to FIG. 7, a viewer wishing
to make an appointment forty minutes later than the
-29-
so-displayed present time need only subtract the dis-
played minutes value from the forwardly-projected
forty-minute period to determine that the time of
the appointment will be twenty-two minutes past
11 o-clock (40-18=22). Or, if the viewer is requested
to meet another person at fifteen minutes past 11
o-clock, a simple addition will determine that he has
thirty-three minutes in which to keep the appointment
(18+15=33). Such simplification alleviates the burden-
some mental calculations which individuals have hereto-
fore considered objectionable in the use of conventional
digital time displays.
It will be evident to those skilled in the art
that the illustrative preferred embodiments described
above may be modified in a variety of ways without
departing from the fundamental principles of the in-
vention. For example, while all of the embodiments
display ~oth minutes and seconds, the seconds display
can be eliminated where that degree of precision is
not required or desired, and the remaining hour and
minute displays will provide all of the other ad-
vantages and benefits previously described.
Although some of the illustrative embodiments
have been described as displaying the 00 minute digit
value marking the start of an hour in the upper lead-
ing readout position shown in FIG. 8, if desired the
smallest minute digit value in that position can be
terminated at 01, and the 00 value transferred for
display in the upper trailing positions, e.g. FIGS.
5 and 10, in order to begin each hour in a more
familiar manner to the viewer.
-30-
.i6.5~9
Similarly, the viewer can be given the option
to switch the display during the second half of any
hour in such manner as to return the value of the dis-
played hour digits to that of the current hour and to
convert the value of the displayed minute digits to
total elapsed minutes of the current hour. This may
be considered desirable when checking or resetting the
displays in comparison to conventional telephone or
radio announcements of accurate time signals, or in
other situations encountered in general day-to-day
activities.
In the illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 1-3,
the display of second digits i5 shown to be within
the overall display background with the hour and
minute digits. Such second digits may be alternatively
displayed in a central, downwardly projecting U-shaped
background as illustrated in the subsequent embodiments.
If desired, the separating elements 28 and 30 may then
be deleted as unnecessary. Alternatively, the line
element 28 may be used together with additional shorter
sloping line elements, oriented upwardly adjacent the
leading end and downwardly adjacent the trailing end
of element 28, relative to the readout direction, to
underscore displayed minute digits and simultaneously
signify that the values thereof are increasing and
decreasing, respectively, during the first and second
halves of each hour.
In the illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 4-8,
the tops and bottoms of the two pairs of 10-segment
ladder-like-arrays are level with the tops and bottoms
-31-
SI.~
of the hour display elements 120 and 122 for stream-
lining and compactness. However, other proportions
of minute digits relative to hour digits can be
implement~d. For example, the total vertical height
of the ladder arrays can be expanded with retention
of the equal spacing between the horizontal elements,
whereby in use the relatively upper and lower posi-
tioned minute digits will extend beyond the tops and
bottoms of the hour digits to enhance the impression
of quarter hour time intervals progressing clockwise
around the hour digits. Alternatively, the ladder
arrays may be substituted on each side of the hour
display elements with two separate pairs of conven-
tional 7-segment display arrays aligned vertically
over each other. This wil]. en~ble shifting the
positions of the minute digits between the upper and
lower halves of the trailing and leading spaces
flanking the hour digits, with the other halves
correspondingly empty, thereby simulating in more
analogous proportions the quarter circle traverses of
a conventional analog minute hand.
Also, although the illustrative embodiments
have been described in specific terms of electrically
energizable display elements, such as the light emitting
diode or liquid crystal displays currently used in con-
ventional digital time displays, it is evident that
the invention may be implemented as well with mechanical
display elements such as rotating wheels or tapes pre-
senting incremental digit values on their surfaces for
viewing through open or shuttered apertures or windows.
Generally, all forms of display elements which are
-32-
Z'~6~5~3
operable to display digits in formats r value sequences
and readout positions conforming to the principles of
the invention may be used to achieve the advantages
and improvements which have been described.
Accordingly, it will be understood that the
invention is not limited to the illustrative pre~erred
embodiments but encompasses the subject matter
delineated by the appended claims and all e~uivalents
thereof.
-33-
