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US Patent 5477508 - Control of digital watch using menu and thumbwheel
US Patent Issued on December 19, 1995
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
May 31, 2014Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
May 31, 2014Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.AbstractA method and apparatus for control of a digital watch and associated functions, based on a user interface with a menu and thumbwheel. The watch consists of an internal clock, microprocessor, display, rotating cylinder (thumbwheel) operated by the thumb or finger, and a button. The display consists of a matrix of pixels and can display menus or other information with small characters and time and date information in a larger size. Rotating the cylinder results in changing the designated item in a menu, which is typically indicated in reverse video, and pressing the button results in the designated item being selected. In cases where a parameter is modified and the values of the parameter are well known and have a natural order (such as minutes) only the present value of the parameter is displayed, and movement of the thumbwheel causes the displayed value to be incremented or decremented, as appropriate. Pressing the selector button causes the actual value of the parameter to be replaced by the displayed value. The use of a hierarchical set of menus and a thumbwheel allows control of a watch with only a single button and avoids excessive dependence on multiple buttons the function of which is context-dependent and difficult to learn and to remember.Other References
| InventorApplicationNo. 251207 filed on 05/31/1994US Classes:368/189, With pulse blocking means368/69, With manually actuated display368/281Wrist wornField of Search368/280, Of particular material368/281, Wrist worn368/282, With band or bracelet details368/69, With manually actuated display368/70, Operated sequentially for distinct time data368/185, For setting368/186, With rate regulation368/187, By electrical device actuation368/188, With single actuation and plural pulses368/189, With pulse blocking means368/190By winding means (e.g., stem)ExaminersPrimary: Roskoski, BernardUS Patent References3541541, 3835464, 4115993, Digital alarm watchIssued on: 09/26/1978 Inventor: Moriya4257115, Switch structure for electronic timepiece Issued on: 03/17/1981 Inventor: Hatuse , et al.4354260, Personal data bank system Issued on: 10/12/1982 Inventor: Planzo4358837, Time correcting method Issued on: 11/09/1982 Inventor: Yamazaki , et al.4395134, Joystick switch for timepieces Issued on: 07/26/1983 Inventor: Luce4881179, Method for providing information security protocols to an electronic calendar Issued on: 11/14/1989 Inventor: Vincent4905213, Medication reminder Issued on: 02/27/1990 Inventor: Masse, et al.4982388, Apparatus dial and watch Issued on: 01/01/1991 Inventor: Erard5088070, Selecting apparatus for a multimode electronic wrist instrument Issued on: 02/11/1992 Inventor: Shiff5208736, Portable computer with trackball mounted in display section Issued on: 05/04/1993 Inventor: Crooks, et al.5257244Menu display of operating instructions with indicia for multimode electronic timepiece Issued on: 10/26/1993 Inventor: Thinsen International ClassG04C 017/00 |
