Analog display wearable device

Abstract

 A connected portable device with a first analog display, whereby the connected portable device is further enabled to exploit business related information. The connected portable device comprises a second analog display; a status indicator enabled to indicate at least either one of a positive status or a negative status; a wireless communication means enabled to receive the business related information from a source located outside of the connected portable device; a controller means enabled to read the received business related information and output a first signal to the second analog display, the first signal causing the second analog display to display a value corresponding to the received business related information; and a second signal to the status indicator, the second signal causing the status indicator to indicate one of the positive status or negative status according to the received business related information. The connected portable device further comprises an analog movement enabled to display time on the first analog display by means of at least a second hand and a third hand.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to an analog display wearable device, and a system comprising such an analog display wearable device and further means to provide information to and control the analog display wearable device. Such an analog display wearable device may for example be a connected smart watch.

Background art

[0002] The omnipresence of information on the network and the profusion of portable connected devices make it easy for users to access virtually any information independent from time and location. For portable connected devices the information may conveniently be transmitted from a network or from a dedicated local server to the portable connected devices via radio means. Depending on the connectivity features of the concerned portable connected device, the radio means may involve a cellular phone network, a wifi network, a bluetooth connection, any other radio transmission as appropriate or a combination of 2 or more or these.

[0003] An example of such a portable connected device is a smartphone that receives information over a cellular network, via wifi or bluetooth depending on the availability of such services. The smartphone may receive and display the information in its raw format or process the information before displaying it. While the smartphone offers seamingly infinite possibilities to process and display information, its size makes it relatively bulky to have at hand and visualize instantly. In addition the amount of information can easily become too large to easily grasp, due to the relatively large amount of display real estate.

[0004] A further example of such a portable connected device is the poliowatch as disclosed on the web at the url http://www.poliowatch.com/. Referring to figure 1, the poliowatch is an analog display wearable device that may be used as an analog watch 1 that displays the time using two hands 2. The poliowatch is controlled by an internal micro-computer (not shown in figure 1) which enables to display in addition to the time also the progress of a fundraising campaign. The latter is displayed on the face of the watch using 2 discs, one which symbolises the polio virus, the other disc our world as a globe 3. As the fundraising progresses, the polio virus disc will gradually disappear by means of the other disc progressively covering it, thereby revealing the polio-free globe 3 revolving on its axis. The internal micro-computer also contains a bluetooth module (not shown in figure 1) which enables the watch to communicate with a smatphone or a computer app (also not shown in figure 1) which has been specially designed for the watch and which transmits the information concerning the progress of fundraising, the latter information being for example downloaded from the internet. As compared to the smartphone, the poliowatch ist comparatively compact and always easy to visualize on the wrist of its user. However the amount of information displayed in addition to the time is very scarce and is so configured to reflect a single type of information.

[0005] The invention aims at improving the manner in which information may be displayed on a relatively small sized portable connected device, such as a watch. The invention further aims an an efficient integration of information display with analog wearable devices in the form of portable connected devices.

Disclosure of the invention

[0006] In a first aspect, the invention provides a connected portable device with a first analog display, whereby the connected portable device is further enabled to exploit business related information. The connected portable device comprises a second analog display; a status indicator enabled to indicate at least either one of a positive status or a negative status; a wireless communication means enabled to receive the business related information from a source located outside of the connected portable device; a controller means enabled to read the received business related information and output a first signal to the second analog display, the first signal causing the second analog display to display a value corresponding to the received business related information; and a second signal to the status indicator, the second signal causing the status indicator to indicate one of the positive status or negative status according to the received business related information. The connected portable device further comprises an analog movement enabled to display time on the first analog display by means of at least a second hand and a third hand.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment the second analog display comprises a first pointer and pointer adjusting means for positioning relatively to each other the first pointer and scale measures displayed on the second display and thereby point the first pointer to a determined location on the scale measures; and the first signal causes the pointer adjusting means to point the pointer to the determined location of the scale measures corresponding to the received business related information.

[0008] In a further preferred embodiment the second analog display comprises a fixed mark and a rotatable circular display carrying a plurality of scale values represented thereon, whereby the rotatable circular display is enabled to position any one of its scale values relatively to the fixed mark and there point the fixed mark to a determined location on the scale values; and the first signal causes the rotatable circular display to make the fixed mark coincide with the determined location of the scale values corresponding to the received business related information.

[0009] In a further preferred embodiment the connected portable device is an analog display watch.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment the second analog display and the status indicator are located in a perimeter of the first analog display.

[0011] In a further preferred embodiment the second analog display is a circular display and the pointer adjusting means rotatably point the first pointer to the determined location on the scale measures.

[0012] In a further preferred embodiment, the scale measures on the second display represent a scale with value from 0 to 100.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment the status indicator comprises a light source enabled to emit different colors for either one of the positive status or the negative status.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment the status indicator comprises a hand and a display to represent either one of the positive status or the negative status.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment the status indicator comprises an aperture and a disc with a plurality of color surfaces representing either one of the positive or the negative status, the disc being arranged to be visible through the aperture.

[0016] In a second aspect the invention provides a system for displaying business related information on a connected portable device according to the first aspect. The system comprises a smartphone which comprises in turn a second wireless communication means enabled to exchange wireless signals with the wireless communication means of the connected portable device, processing means adapted to process information retrieved from the internet and output the business related information via the second wireless communication means, and a user interface adapted to allow interaction between the processing means and a user for selecting information retrieved from the internet intended to be output as business related information.

[0017] In a third aspect the invention provides a method for displaying business related information on a connected portable device, comprising at least the steps of, on a smartphone, retrieving information from the internet; processing the retrieved information and displaying the processed information on a display of the smartphone; providing a user interface adapted for a user to select information on the display of the smartphone; outputing the selected information as business related information; and emitting the business related information to the connected portable device. The method comprises additional steps consisting in, on the connected portable device, receiving the business related information; and displaying the business related information in an analog circular display by positioning a first pointer relative to a determined one of scale measures on an analog display corresponding to the received business related information.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment the step of providing the user interface further comprises providing a list of scaling values, selecting one scaling value from the list of scaling values. The step of processing the retrieved information further comprises applying the selected scaling value to the retrieved information, hence obtaining a rescaling of the retrieved information.

[0019] Despite the relatively small size of the portable connected device, the invention enables to bring and display to the user a virtually infinite diversity of types of data. This is made possible despite the little surface available to display information on the portable connected device, the limited resource of power, and the absence of an alphanumeric display to display the information.

Brief description of the drawings

[0020] The invention will be better understood in light of the description of preferred embodiment and in reference to drawings, wherein same reference signs are used to reference same or similar objects throughout the description.

Figure 1 illustrates a connected portable device with an analog display according to prior art;

figure 2 illustrates an embodiment example of a connected portable device with an analog display according to the invention;

figure 3 illustrates an example of an analog display according to the invention;

figure 4 shows an example of an analog movement used in the connected portable device according to the invention;

figure 5 is a schematic illustration showing an example of a data and signal exchange of the connected portable device according to the invention;

figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a system comprising a smartphone and a connected portable device according to the invention;

figure 7 illustrates a displayed output of an application executed on the smartphone;

figures 8-12 illustrates further displayed outputs of the application executed on the smartphone;

figure 13 illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment example of the connected portable device according to the invention;

figure 14 represents a colored disk for realizing an example of the status indicator according to the invention;

figure 15 represents a colored ring for realizing an example of the status indicator according to the invention; and

figure 16 represent an embodiment example for an analog display according to the invention.

Mode(s) for carrying out the invention

[0021] Figure 2 shows a connected portable device 4 with an analog display according to an embodiment example of the invention, which corresponds to an analog wrist watch. The analog character of the connected portable device 4 emanates from the manner in which it displays the time using the hands 2 (hereafter called second and third hands) as opposed to a digital display (not represented in figure 2).

[0022] The analog display comprises a circular display 5, which in turn comprises two hands, one of which will be called first pointer 6 herein after. The first pointer 6 may be positioned relatively to scale values represented on the circular display 5. In the illustrated example the first pointer 6 is a hand that is enabled to rotate. While this example will continued to be described throughout the following description, it is understood that the first pointer may well be realized in a different manner while remaining in the scope of the invention.

[0023] For example, as shown in figure 16, the first pointer may be realized as a fixed mark 25 cooperating with a rotatable circular display 26, whereby the latter is enabled to position any one of its scale values relatively to the fixed mark 25. This example is not represented in figure 2.

[0024] In another example the circular display 5 may be an analog ring display with scale values printed on a ring positioned inside the wristwatch and visible only through a window operated on a lateral side of the wristwatch's casing (not illustrated in figure 2). A fixed mark, having the same function as the first pointer, would be arranged to appear in the window and indicate which scale value is currently selected. The ring would be enabled to rotate such that any scale value printed on it may be positioned relatively to the fixed mark, coincide with the fixed mark and be readable as a selected value.

[0025] Figure 3 contains a more detailed representation of the analog display from figure 2, in which the hands 2 and the pointers/hands of the circular display 5 are not represented. The analog display is circular and a status indicator 7 is located slightly offset from the center of the analog display. The circular shape of the analog display is provided as an non-limiting example only and many other shapes may be adopted without departing from the invention. The analog display comprises minute track signs comprising scale marks and numbers 5, 10, 15, 30, 25, 30, ..., 60.

[0026] The circular display 5 is also embodied in a circular shape albeit smaller in diameter than the analog display. The circular display 5 may well adopt other shapes in variations that do not depart from the scope of this invention. The circular display 5 comprises a plurality of numbers representing the scale value measures. In the present example, the numbers start at 10 and finish at 100 by going in increments of 10. The circular display 5 is overlaid by a date disc 8 of a smaller diameter that represents calendar dates 1 to 31 in increments of 1. Such a date disc 8 is well known in the art and will not be described herein in further detail.

[0027] The status indicator 7 is enabled to indicate at least either one of a positive status or a negative status.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment the status indicator is realized as a light source illuminating an aperture of the status indicator from inside the portable connected device. The light source may for example emit either green or red light, whereby the green light corresponds to a positive status and the red light corresponds to a negative status. Of course in further examples the status indicator may well be enabled to emit further colors such as for example yellow and super green.

[0029] The status indicator 7 may also be realized by a rotating disc onto which colors are printed and visible through an aperture in the dial of the wristwatch. Such a disc is illustrated in figure 14, wherein different colors are represented by surface zones of different textures 18-20, e.g., zone 18 represents a red surface, zone 19 represents a blue surface, and zone 20 represents a green surface. When the disc rotates, different colors of the zones 18-20 are positioned in front of the aperture and may be seen through the aperture by the user, thereby indicating different statuses.

[0030] While figure 3 illustrates a determined location and manner of realizing the status indicator, many other realizations are possible and accessible as variations that fall under the scope of the present invention. For example, the status indicator may have its own analog display on which one scale measure indicates the positive status and a further scale measure indicates the negative status. The indication of either status is done by a dedicated hand mounted in conjunction with the analog display of the status indicator. Instead of scale measures, it is also possible to have color zones 21-23 as represented in the further preferred embodiment illustrated in figure 15, wherein a ring having surface zones represented with different textures representing possible colors-for example zone 21 for red, zone 22 for blue and zone 23 for green. A status hand 24 may be rotated to point to either one of zones 21-23.

[0031] Figure 4 contains an embodiment example for a quartz analog movement that can be used to actuate at least the hands 2 of the connected portable device 4 both shown in figure 2. Such quartz analog movement or any other movement to be used is mounted on a circuit board that is also connected to a wireless communication means (not represented), for example one according to the bluetooth low energy standard.

[0032] Figure 5 contains a logical representation of the connected portable device 4 with the analog display, which comprises the circular display 5, the status indicator 7, the wireless communication means 9 previously discussed in relation to figure 4 but represented here for the first time, and a controller means 10. All these features and the relations between them will now be discussed.

[0033] The wireless communication means 9 are enabled to receive business related information from a source 11 located outside of the connected portable device, as represented by a dotted line connecting the source 11 an the wireless communication means 9.

[0034] The controller means 10 is enabled to read the received business related information as indicated by the bi-directional arrow 12. Upon reading the received business related information, a first signal 13 is output to the circular display 5, this causing pointer adjusting means (not represented) of the circular display 5 to rotatably point the first pointer 6 (not represented) to a determined one of scale measures corresponding to the received business related information. For example, if the received business related information translates to the value 40%, the first pointer 6 is pointed to the scale measure 40.

[0035] The controller means is further enabled, upon reading the received business related information, to output a second signal 14 to the status indicator 7, this causing the status indication to be set to an appropriate status. For example if the previously mentioned value of 40% in the business related information is to be understood as a positive value (by opposition to a negative value) the status may be set to a green color that indicates the status positive. A red color could be used to indicate the status negative. In such case the user would know to interpret the value on the circular display 5 as -40%.

[0036] Figure 13 contains a schematic and simplified view of an embodiment example of the connected portable device. The controller means is embodied as a micro controller that is arranged to control fours motors (motor 1-motor 4), a buzzer, an accelerometer and an antenna balun. A firmware program (not shown in the figure) is loaded into a Ram and Flash memory (not shown in the figure) of the micro controller and is running to process a bluetooth stack (not shown in the figure) related to the antenna balun), and connected components. The components shown in figure 13 are embedded in the connected portable device.

[0037] Figure 6 show an embodiment example of a system comprising the connected portable device 4 and an analog display, a smartphone 15 which is configured to transmit via double arrow 12, i.e., over wireless radio signals business related information to the connected portable device 4. The double arrow connection may for example be realized using the widespread Bluetooth Low Energy standard, but any other standard that may be installed in the connected device may be implemented as an alternative without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0038] The smartphone 15 is also connected to the internet 16 as represented by double arrowed dotted line 17.

[0039] In addition to sending business related information, the system may in a preferred embodiment be adapted to transmit from the smartphone 15 to the connected portable device 4 any one of a list of commands that can be interpreted and executed by the control means. Such command may be any one of the non-exhaustive following list:

• CMS : Calendar Mode Service
• FMS : Function Mode Service
• IMS : Init Motor Service
• MMS : Move Motor Service
• MPS : Motor Position Service
• MSMS : Move Single Motor Service
• SMPS : Single Motor Position Service
• BAS : Battery Service.

[0040] Such commands may for example correspond to bluetooth services according to a well established standard.

[0041] The smartphone is only an example of a computer used to obtain and process information before transmitting it to the connected portable device. Other computer devices may just as well be used depending on the needs of the user.

[0042] The internet 16 is also only an example of network from which information may be retrieved. Alternatively the information may also provide from a local network, a company own and protected environment or any other network.

[0043] In an even further preferred embodiment, a dedicated application may be executed on the smartphone 15 to retrieve information from the internet 16, possibly process the retrieved information to obtain the business related information, and eventually transmit the business related information to the connected portable device 4.

[0044] Figure 7 represents an example of an output display produced by the dedicated application on the smartphone 15. The information displayed comprises

• a value: 11.3 %
• a field entitled Indicator and containing the value NYSE
• a field entitled Period and containing the value TODAY
• a filed entitled Scale and containing the value x2

[0045] The values in the field Indicator may be any one of the following:

Index

Share

Exchange Rate

Business KPI

[0046] The values in the field Period may be any one of the following:

Today

Week

Month

Year

[0047] The values in the field Scale result may be any one of the following:

/20

/10

/5

/4

/3

/2

1

x2

x3

x4

x5

x10

x20

[0048] The values in the various fields may be set by the application or by the user using the graphical user interface (GUI) interaction provided by the smartphone. The value in the various fields give a meaning to the value of 11.3 % displayed in large font on the screen.

[0049] Eventually the smartphone 15 transmits the value of 11.3 % to the connected portable device 4 such that it may be displayed using the circular display 5 and the first pointer 6 as explained herein above.

[0050] Figure 8 shows an example of an output display produced by the dedicated application on the smartphone 15, in which the type of information to be selected and sent to the connected portable device 4 may be selected by the user by means of the GUI. The example choice of information comprises:

Stock Indexes
Real time update on % change of a share or stock index.

Portfolio
Real time update on % change of a portfolio of shares.

Exchange Rates
Real time update on % change of a currency exchange rate

Business KPIs
Real time update on % realization versus target for selected KPI, I.e. Sales, Production Volume.

Motion
Activity and Sleep monitor I.e. Steps, Calories.

Friends
Share with friends via major social media platforms.

Settings
Personal information. Language, units settings. Selection and pairing of device. Set time, initialize hands. Manage connected apps.

Webstore
Frederique Constant connected watches and accessories.

[0051] Figure 9 shows an example of an output display produced by the dedicated application on the smartphone 15, in which the type of information selected is a list of stock indexes. Using the GUI the user may select any one of the stock indexes offered for subsequent transmission and display on the connected portable device.

[0052] Figure 10 shows an example of an output display produced by the dedicated application on the smartphone 15, in which the type of information selected is a list of stocks. Using the GUI the user may select any one of the stocks offered for subsequent transmission and display on the connected portable device.

[0053] Figure 11 shows an example of an output display produced by the dedicated application on the smartphone 15, in which the type of information selected is a list of exchange rates. Using the GUI the user may select any one of the exchange rates offered for subsequent transmission and display on the connected portable device.

[0054] Figure 12 shows an example of an output display produced by the dedicated application on the smartphone 15, in which the type of information is news. This type of information is intended for display on the smartphone 15 only.

[0055] While the described embodiments described herein above make use of business related information to be displayed, the business related information is not limited to stock values, stock index, exchange rates...

[0056] The present description explicitly states that the business related information may include other type of financial data, or even

• health tracking data;
• activity tracking data;
• weather data;
• combinations of data types described herein.

[0057] Further examples of types of data to be included for possible display are specificaly related to a corporate environment:

Production figures (volume, cycle time, ...)

Quality figures (Yields, Scrap$, return rate, ...);

Sales figures (sales global, sales for one selected region, sales per rep, sales per product line,...);

Supply Chain figures (customer fulfillment rate, purchasing budget, inventory level,...);

Financials (productivity,...);

HR (% of absenteeism, ...).

[0058] The manner in which data is displayed on the scale of the circular display may be influenced by attributing determined minimum and maximum values on a circular, sectorial or linear scale. For example:

0-100 on a 360° scale

0-100 on a 120° scale

0-100 on a linear scale

0-120 on a 360° scale

0-120 on a 120° scale

0-120 on a linear scale

+10% -10% on a 360° scale

+10% -10% on a 120° scale

+10% -10% on a linear scale.

Claims

1. A connected portable device (4) with a first analog display, whereby the connected portable device (4) is further enabled to exploit business related information, comprising
a second analog display (5);
a status indicator (7) enabled to indicate at least either one of a positive status or a negative status;
a wireless communication means (9) enabled to receive the business related information from a source (11, 15) located outside of the connected portable device (4);
a controller means (10) enabled to read the received business related information and to output
a first signal (13) to the second analog display, the first signal causing the second analog display to display a value corresponding to the received business related information; and
a second signal (14) to the status indicator, the second signal causing the status indicator to indicate one of the positive status or negative status according to the received business related information; and
an analog movement enabled to display time on the first analog display by means of at least a second hand and a third hand (2).

2. The connected portable device of claim 1,
wherein the second analog display (5) comprises
a first pointer (6) and
pointer adjusting means for positioning relatively to each other the first pointer (6) and scale measures displayed on the second display and thereby point the first pointer to a determined location on the scale measures; and
wherein the first signal causes the pointer adjusting means to point the pointer to the determined location of the scale measures corresponding to the received business related information.

3. The connected portable device of claim 1,
wherein the second analog display comprises a fixed mark (25) and a rotatable circular display (26) carrying a plurality of scale values represented thereon, whereby the rotatable circular display is enabled to position any one of its scale values relatively to the fixed mark (25) and there point the fixed mark to a determined location on the scale values; and
wherein the first signal causes the rotatable circular display to make the fixed mark coincide with the determined location of the scale values corresponding to the received business related information.

4. The connected portable device of claim 1, wherein the connected portable device is an analog display watch.

5. The connected portable device of claim 1, whereby the second analog display (5) and the status indicator (7) are located in a perimeter of the first analog display.

6. The connected portable device of claim 2, wherein the second analog display is a circular display and the pointer adjusting means rotatably point the first pointer to the determined location on the scale measures.

7. The connected portable device of any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein the scale measures on the second display represent a scale with values from 0 to 100.

8. The connected portable device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the status indicator comprises a light source enabled to emit different colors for either one of the positive status or the negative status.

9. The connected portable device of claim 1, wherein the status indicator comprises a hand and a display to represent either one of the positive status or the negative status.

10. The connected portable device of claim 1, wherein the status indicator comprises an aperture and a disc with a plurality of color surfaces representing either one of the positive or the negative status, the disc being arranged to be visible through the aperture.

11. A system for displaying business related information on a connected portable device of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising
a smartphone (15) which comprises
a second wireless communication means enabled to exchange wireless signals with the wireless communication means (7) of the connected portable device (4),
processing means adapted to process information retrieved from the internet and output the business related information via the second wireless communication means, and
a user interface adapted to allow interaction between the processing means and a user for selecting information retrieved from the internet intended to be output as business related information.

12. A method for displaying business related information on a connected portable device, comprising at least the steps of
on a smartphone
retrieving information from the internet;
processing the retrieved information and displaying the processed information on a display of the smartphone;
providing a user interface adapted for a user to select information on the display of the smartphone;
outputing the selected information as business related information; emitting the business related information to the connected portable device;
on the connected portable device
receiving the business related information;
displaying the business related information in an analog display with a value corresponding to the received business related information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of displaying the business related information in an analog display comprises positioning a first pointer relative to a determined one of scale measures on an analog display corresponding to the received business related information.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of providing the user interface further comprises providing a list of scaling values, selecting one scaling value from the list of scaling values, and
wherein the step of processing the retrieved information further comprises applying the selected scaling value to the retrieved information, hence obtaining a rescaling of the retrieved information.

Drawing