Dynamically changing liquid crystal display timekeeping apparatus
AssigneeBoit Incorporated
InventorsDonald R. Brewer, Michael Jarcho
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dynamically changing, multi-color liquid crystal display for electronic watches or other design apparel items is provided. The liquid crystal displays incorporated within the watch or designer apparel item can be adapted to provide various colored images such as geometric images, animation images, customized images, designer labels, logos, etc. on colored backgrounds or alternatively provides a color changing capability that is aesthetically pleasing and fashionable. Moreover, the dynamically changing watch or other designer apparel item allows for the electronic control of the color appearance of the liquid crystal displays as well as electronic control of the liquid crystal display images, such images being generally independent of the time of day.
Claims23
A dynamically changing, multi-color liquid crystal display electronic timepiece comprising:
- a multi-color liquid crystal display including at least one liquid crystal display segment and further having an aperture;
- a sealing means for hermetically sealing the liquid crystal display around the aperture;
- an electronic timepiece having time indicating hands for analogically representing the time, the time indicating hands extending from the aperture and operatively associated with the electronic timepiece;
- and
- a means for electronically controlling the liquid crystal display segments to dynamically change between an active state and an inactive state by generating prescribed voltages applied across the liquid crystal display segments in a predetermined sequence independent of the time of day indicated by the electronic timepiece;
- wherein the at least one liquid crystal display segment produces a first color when the liquid crystal display segment is placed in the inactive state and a second color when the liquid crystal display segment is placed in the active state, and wherein the color of the liquid crystal display thereby changes in a predetermined fashion independent of the time of day.
A dynamically changing, multi-color liquid crystal display for designer apparel items comprising:
- two generally parallel substrates having interior facing surfaces;
- a plurality of transparent electrodes disposed on the interior faces of the substrates that define liquid crystal display segments;
- a liquid crystal material disposed between the two substrates;
- at least one dye incorporated in the liquid crystal material;
- and
- a means for electronically controlling the liquid crystal display segments to dynamically change between an active state and an inactive state by applying prescribed voltages across the liquid crystal display segments in a predetermined fashion independent of the time of day;
- wherein the liquid crystal display segments exhibit selected color changes between a first color and a second color in response to prescribed voltages applied across selected liquid crystal display segments by the controlling means.
A dynamically changing, multi-color liquid crystal display for electronic timepieces comprising:
- two generally parallel substrates having interior facing surfaces;
- a plurality of transparent electrodes disposed on the interior faces of the substrates that define liquid crystal display segments;
- a liquid crystal material disposed between the two substrates;
- at least one dye incorporated in the liquid crystal material;
- and
- a means for electronically controlling the liquid crystal display segments to dynamically change between an active state and an inactive state in a predetermined sequence independent of the time of day by applying prescribed voltages across the liquid crystal display segments in the predetermined sequence;
- wherein the liquid crystal display segments dynamically exhibit selected color changes between a first color and a second color in response to prescribed voltages applied across selected liquid crystal display segments by the controlling means.
A watch having a multi-colored watch face comprising:
- a liquid crystal display (LCD) watch face made from at least one multi-color LCD segment, said watch face having a sealed aperture therethrough;
- a timepiece that provides an indication of the time of day;
- time-indicating hands operatively associated with the timepiece through the sealed aperture such that movement of the time-indicating hands provides an indication of the time of day;
- control means for dynamically controlling the color of the LCD watch face so that color changes occur in at least a portion of the watch face independent of the time of day;
- and
- a power source for providing operating power to the electronic timepiece and control means.
The watch as set forth in claim 20 wherein the control means includes means for controlling the color changes that occur in at least a portion of the LCD watch face so that such color changes occur in a predetermined sequence that provides a dynamically changing animated image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.