Display Arrangement for Watch Case

Abstract

A display arrangement for a watch case comprising a display module and a substantially transparent cover extending over the display module, wherein the cover comprises a layer forming a substantially opaque area outside the display module. The display arrangement further comprises one or more light emitting devices arranged below the opaque area, wherein the layer comprises a plurality of discontinuities that allows light to be transmitted through the opaque area from the one or more light emitting devices.

Claims

1. A display for a watch case comprising: a display module; a substantially transparent cover extending over the display module, the cover comprising a layer forming a substantially opaque area outside the display module; and one or more light emitting devices arranged below the opaque area, wherein the layer comprises a plurality of discontinuities that allow light to be transmitted through the opaque area from the one or more light emitting devices, wherein the plurality of discontinuities comprises holes in the layer that are between 0.1 and 0.5 mm wide, such that the one or more light emitting devices are hidden from view when not in use.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the opaque area forms a substantially opaque frame surrounding the display module.

3. The display of claim 1, wherein the layer is a printed layer.

4. The display of claim 1, wherein the holes in the layer are about 0.2 mm wide.

5. The display of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discontinuities are formed in a substantially uniform pattern.

6. The display of claim 1, further comprising at least one light guide arranged below the cover to guide light from the one or more light emitting devices to the plurality of discontinuities in the layer of the cover.

7. The display of claim 1, wherein the light is guided so as to pass through the display module before reaching the plurality of discontinuities in the layer of the cover.

8. The display of claim 1, wherein the one or more light emitting devices are arranged next to the display module and mounted on a shared circuit board.

9. The display of claim 1, wherein the one or more light emitting devices comprise LEDs.

10. The display of claim 1, wherein the one or more light emitting devices emit a plurality of different colours of light.

11. A watch case comprising the display of claim 1.

12. The watch case of claim 11, further comprising a transceiver and processor arranged to receive heart rate information from an external heart rate monitor.

13. The watch case of claim 11, further comprising an optical heart rate monitor arranged to measure heart rate information.

14. The watch case of claim 11, further comprising a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver and processor arranged to measure one or more parameters relating to a user's activity, wherein heart rate information is determined indirectly from the one or more parameters.

15. The watch case of claim 11, wherein the one or more light emitting devices are controlled so as to flash at a frequency that is dependent on heart rate information.

16. The watch case of claim 11, wherein the one or more light emitting devices are controlled so that the colour of emitted light corresponds to a predetermined heart rate zone.

17. A fitness watch comprising the watch case of claim 11 and a strap for securing the watch to the arm or wrist of a user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a watch case (or module);

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the watch module of FIG. 1 as viewed from the underside;

[0047] FIG. 3a shows a side sectional view of the watch module of FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 3b shows a close-up of the side sectional view of FIG. 3a;

[0049] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of electronic components of a fitness watch according to a preferred embodiment;

[0050] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the manner in which a fitness watch may receive information over a wireless communication channel; and

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a close-up of the top of the watch module of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0052] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to a fitness or sports watch having access to Global Positioning System (GPS) data. Fitness or sports watches of the type described are often worn by athletes to help them during their runs or workouts, e.g. by monitoring the speed and distance of the user and providing this information to the user. It will be appreciated, however, that the device could be arranged to be carried by a user or connected or docked in a known manner to a vehicle such as a bicycle, kayak, or the like.

[0053] In general, GPS is a satellite-radio based navigation system capable of determining continuous position, velocity, time, and in some instances direction information for an unlimited number of users. Formerly known as NAVSTAR, the GPS incorporates a plurality of satellites which orbit the earth in extremely precise orbits. Based on these precise orbits, GPS satellites can relay their location to any number of receiving units.

[0054] The GPS system is implemented when a device, specially equipped to receive GPS data, begins scanning radio frequencies for GPS satellite signals. Upon receiving a radio signal from a GPS satellite, the device determines the precise location of that satellite via one of a plurality of different conventional methods. The device will continue scanning, in most instances, for signals until it has acquired at least three different satellite signals (noting that position is not normally, but can be determined, with only two signals using other triangulation techniques). Implementing geometric triangulation, the receiver utilizes the three known positions to determine its own two-dimensional position relative to the satellites. This can be done in a known manner. Additionally, acquiring a fourth satellite signal will allow the receiving device to calculate its three dimensional position by the same geometrical calculation in a known manner. The position and velocity data can be updated in real time on a continuous basis by an unlimited number of users.

[0055] FIG. 4 is an illustrative representation of electronic components of a sports watch 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in block component format. It should be noted that the block diagram of the device 200 is not inclusive of all components of the device, but is only representative of many example components.

[0056] The device 200 includes a processor 202 connected to an input device 212, such as a depressible touchpad (or trackpad), and a display screen 210, such as an LCD display. The device 200 can further include an output device arranged to provide audible information to a user, such as alerts that a certain speed has been reached or a certain distance has been travelled.

[0057] FIG. 4 further illustrates an operative connection between the processor 202 and a GPS antenna/receiver 204. Although the antenna and receiver are combined schematically for illustration, the antenna and receiver may be separately located components. The antenna may be of any suitable form, but in preferred embodiments is a GPS patch antenna.

[0058] The device 200 further includes an accelerometer 206, which can be a 3-axis accelerometer arranged to detect accelerations of the user in x, y and z directions. The accelerometer may act as a pedometer for use when/if there is a loss of GPS reception, and/or may act to detect stroke rate when the fitness watch is being used during swimming. Although the accelerometer is shown to be located within the device, the accelerometer may also be an external sensor worn or carried by the user, and which transmits data to the device 200 via the transmitter/receiver 208.

[0059] The device may also receive data from other sensors, such as a foot pod sensor 222 or a heart rate sensor 226. The foot pod sensor may, for example, be a piezoelectric or micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer that is located in or on the sole of the user's shoe. Each external sensor is provided with a transmitter and receiver, 224 and 228 respectively, which can be used to send or receive data to the device 200 via the transmitter/receiver 208.

[0060] The processor 202 is operatively coupled to a memory 220. The memory resource 220 may comprise, for example, a volatile memory, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), and/or a non-volatile memory, for example a digital memory, such as a flash memory. The memory resource 220 may be removable. As discussed in more detail below, the memory resource 220 is also operatively coupled to the GPS receiver 204, the accelerometer 206 and the transmitter/receiver 208 for storing data obtained from these sensors and devices.

[0061] Further, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the electronic components shown in FIG. 4 are powered by a power source 218 in a conventional manner. The power source 218 may be a rechargeable battery.

[0062] The device 200 further includes an input/output (I/O) device 216, such as a plurality of electrical contacts or a USB connector. The I/O device 216 is operatively coupled to the processor, and also at least to the memory 220 and power supply 218. The I/O device 216 is used, for example, to: update firmware of processor 220, sensors, etc; transfer data stored on the memory 220 to an external computing resource, such as a personal computer or a remote server; and recharge the power supply 218 of the device 200. Data could, in other embodiments, also be sent or received by the device 200 over the air using any suitable mobile telecommunication means.

[0063] As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, different configurations of the components shown in FIG. 4 are considered to be within the scope of the present application. For example, the components shown in FIG. 4 may be in communication with one another via wired and/or wireless connections and the like.

[0064] In FIG. 5 the watch 200 is depicted as being in communication with a server 400 via a generic communications channel 410 that can be implemented by any number of different arrangements. The server 400 and device 200 can communicate when a connection is established between the server 400 and the watch 200 (noting that such a connection can be a data connection via mobile device, a direct connection via personal computer via the internet, etc.).

[0065] The server 400 includes, in addition to other components which may not be illustrated, a processor 404 operatively connected to a memory 406 and further operatively connected, via a wired or wireless connection, to a mass data storage device 402. The processor 404 is further operatively connected to transmitter 408 and receiver 409, to transmit and send information to and from device 200 via communications channel 410. The signals sent and received may include data, communication, and/or other propagated signals. The functions of transmitter 408 and receiver 409 may be combined into a signal transceiver.

[0066] The communication channel 410 is not limited to a particular communication technology. Additionally, the communication channel 410 is not limited to a single communication technology; that is, the channel 410 may include several communication links that use a variety of technology. For example, the communication channel 410 can be adapted to provide a path for electrical, optical, and/or electromagnetic communications, etc. As such, the communication channel 410 includes, but is not limited to, one or a combination of the following: electric circuits, electrical conductors such as wires and coaxial cables, fibre optic cables, converters, radio-frequency (RF) waves, the atmosphere, empty space, etc. Furthermore, the communication channel 410 can include intermediate devices such as routers, repeaters, buffers, transmitters, and receivers, for example.

[0067] In one illustrative arrangement, the communication channel 410 includes telephone and computer networks. Furthermore, the communication channel 410 may be capable of accommodating wireless communication such as radio frequency, microwave frequency, infrared communication, etc. Additionally, the communication channel 410 can accommodate satellite communication.

[0068] The server 400 may be a remote server accessible by the watch 200 via a wireless channel. The server 400 may include a network server located on a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN), etc.

[0069] The server 400 may include a personal computer such as a desktop or laptop computer, and the communication channel 410 may be a cable connected between the personal computer and the watch 200. Alternatively, a personal computer may be connected between the watch 200 and the server 400 to establish an internet connection between the server 400 and the watch 200. Alternatively, a mobile telephone or other handheld device may establish a wireless connection to the internet, for connecting the watch 200 to the server 400 via the internet.

[0070] The server 400 is further connected to (or includes) a mass storage device 402. The mass storage device 402 contains a store of at least digital map information. This digital map information can be used, together with data from the device, such as time-stamped location data obtained from the GPS receiver 204 and data indicative of motion of the wearer obtained from the accelerometer 206, footpad sensor 222, etc, to determine a route travelled by the wearer of the device 200, which can then be viewed by the wearer.

[0071] As will be appreciated, the watch 200 is designed to be worn by a runner or other athlete as they undertake a run or other similar type of workout. The various sensors within the watch 200, such as the GPS receiver 204 and the accelerometer 206, collect data associated with this run, such as the distance travelled, current speed, etc, and display this data to the wearer using the display screen 210.

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a watch case (or module) 28 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is in the form of a module that can be inserted into a plurality of different docking solutions. The watch module 28 comprising a display housing 30 and an input device 32 that is spaced apart from the display housing 30. The display housing 30 is of substantially parallelepiped construction and has a substantially planar display 36 for displaying information to the user. The display 36 is framed by an opaque area 48. The input device portion 32 is connected to the display housing 30 by a connecting portion 38. The connecting portion 38 can be seen as a curved flange that extends away from the display housing 30. The curved flange 38 extends away from the display housing 30 such that it curves around a user's wrist when the watch module is mounted to a wrist strap (not shown). The input device 32 is located so as to be arranged on the side of the user's wrist in use. The input device 32 has a substantially planar pressing surface for the user to interact with the watch module 28. The user can thereby press the pressing surface in a direction perpendicular to the pressing surface so as to control the watch module 28, e.g. to select desired functions within the menu system of the watch. In this example the input device 32 takes the form of a four-way button.

[0073] The location of the input device 32 being arranged on the curved flange 38 such that it sits against the side of the user's wrist in use has a number of important advantages. For example, this enables the user to interact with the watch module 28 using only a single finger. More specifically, the user is able to push the pressing surface of the input device 32 with one finger because the user pushes the surface into the user's wrist around which the watch 28 is strapped. This is in contrast to conventional watches wherein buttons are arranged around the peripheral edges of the watch and the user must press the button with on finger and use a thumb on the other edge of the watch to counter-balance the pressing force. As seen in FIG. 1, for example, the plane defined by the substantially planar display 36 is arranged at an angle to the plane defined by the input device 32, the dihedral angle between the two planes being less than 90 degrees, and typically between 20 and 70 degrees.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the watch module 28 from the underside. The curved flange 38 that extends from the display housing 30 has electrical connectors 40 arranged at a distal end thereof. These electrical connectors 40 may be used in order to electrically connect the watch module 28 to a dock in order to recharge a battery within the watch module 28 and/or to extract data from or input data to the watch module 28. As the electrical connectors 40 are arranged at a distal end of the module 28, they are optimally arranged to be inserted into the slot of a docking device that has docking electrical connections for engaging the electrical connectors 40. Alternatively, the electrical connectors 40 can be arranged to connect with a cable, e.g. a USB cable.

[0075] The underside of the display housing 30 may include an optical heart rate (OHR) sensing unit 39 protruding therefrom. The OHR sensing unit 39 comprises a pair of light emitting diodes (e.g. green LEDs) arranged either side of a photodetector, although more LEDs that emit light at different wavelengths could also be included. When the watch module 28 is mounted to a wrist by a strap, the sensing unit 39 sits on the back of the wrist in contact with the skin. The OHR sensing unit 39 may be operatively connected to a processor in the watch module 28 that can process data signals relating to pulse and heart rate. The processor is typically connected to a memory and a power supply, e.g. battery. The battery may be recharged when the module 28 is docked using its I/O port, for example in the form of the electrical connectors 40 described above. The same electrical connectors 40 may also be used to transfer data to/from the processor. In addition to the I/O port, the watch module 28 may include a wireless communications interface, such as a Bluetooth transceiver, that enables the watch module 28 to wirelessly communicate with one or more other devices to receive additional data. For example, other devices that are body-worn (e.g. an external heart rate monitor) or mounted nearby during exercise (e.g. mounted to a bike during cycling activities) may pair with the watch module 28 to transmit additional data. The sensor module's user interface may allow a user to view such additional data on the wrist-mounted device. In some embodiments the watch module 28 could take the form of a fitness watch module, in particular a GNSS, e.g. GPS, watch module.

[0076] The watch module's user interface includes the display 36 and the input device 32 already described above. Of course other user interface components may be provided instead, or as well as, those seen in the figures. Further features of a watch module 28 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 are described in WO 2014/135709 A1, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In particular, it is described therein how such a watch module may be removably mounted to a wrist strap.

[0077] The display 36 seen in FIG. 1 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b. The display 36 comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) 42 mounted below a glass cover 44. The cover 44 includes on its underside a printed layer 46 that forms an opaque area 48 which hides the components below from view. The opaque area 48 defines a frame around the periphery of the display 36. In addition to the information displayed by the LCD 42, a LED 50, such as a tri-colour LED, is included in the watch module to convey heart rate information to a user, e.g. when the LCD 42 is not active. The LED 50 is mounted on the same printed circuit board 52 as the LCD 42. A transparent plastic light guide 54 is arranged to transmit light from the LED 50 to the underside of the LCD 42, so that its light passes through the LCD glass before reaching the printed layer 46. The printed layer 46 above the light guide 54 is interrupted by a pattern of 0.2 mm holes 56 which allows light to be transmitted through the opaque area 48 of the cover 44. The holes 56 can be seen in more detail in FIG. 6. The LED 50 is hidden from view until lit because the inside of the watch module is dark and the holes 56 in the screen printed layer 46 are not noticeable until light is guided from the LED 50 up through the transparent light guide 54, LCD 42 and glass cover 44. In FIG. 3b there are seen arrows that show the approximate light path.

[0078] The LED 50 is controlled by a processor in the watch module 28 to convey information relating to a user's heart rate. In one example, the LED 50 blinks at the approximate frequency of the heart rate, thereby providing for visualisation of the heart rate at a glance. The user's heart rate can be obtained from a heart rate monitor, such as the OHR sensing unit 39 or an external heart rate sensor. In embodiments of the watch module that do not comprise and/or are not connected to a heart rate monitor, then a heart rate can be estimated (or approximated) based on one or more measured parameters indicative of the user's current level of physical exertion. In addition, or alternatively, in another example the colour of the LED 50 represents a particular heart rate zone. The LED 50 may blink according to the following colour scheme:

TABLE-US-00001 HEART RATE ZONE COLOUR 1. Recover Turquoise 2. Fat Burn Blue 3. Endure Green 4. Speed Purple 5. Sprint Red

[0079] The LED 50 can also be used to provide alerts to the user, in addition to, or alternatively from, audio, haptic or other visual alerts. Alerts could be provide by periodically flashing the LED 50 or by activating the LED 50 for a continuous period of time. For example, the LED 50 could flash a particular colour when a GPS connection has been established or lost. The flashing and/or colour of the LED 50 could also be used in interval or zone training, with the flashing of the LED in a particular colour indicating, for example, that the user should start and/or end an interval, that the user is above and/or below a desired training or heart rate zone, etc. The flashing and/or colour of the LED 50 could also be used when competing against a previous completed or simulated exercise or run, with the flashing of the LED in a particular colour indicating, for example, that the user is ahead and/or behind schedule.

[0080] It will be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0081] For example, whilst a preferred embodiment described in the foregoing detailed description relates to a watch module comprising a tri-colour LED, it will be appreciated that one or more LEDs may be employed, which emit one, two, three, four, five or more different colours. Similarly, whilst a preferred embodiment described in the foregoing detailed description relates to a watch module that can be removably mounted to a wrist strap, it will be understood that the module could be integrated with a wrist strap. Furthermore, although the watch module has been described as having an input device, this is an optional component. A suitable watch module may include a battery and a processor connected to one or more of: the display, an optional input device, a memory, a wireless transceiver, and an input/output device such as electrical contacts.

[0082] Lastly, it should be noted that whilst the accompanying claims set out particular combinations of features described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to encompass any combination of features or embodiments herein disclosed irrespective of whether or not that particular combination has been specially enumerated in the accompanying claims at this time.