DE20209582U1 - Electronic clock with face display of hour, minute and seconds on screen using DVD information - Google Patents

Abstract

The display of a clock on a video screen or projector surface uses information on a digital versatile disc, DVD. The disc contains images that change with in a 60 second period to represent one minutes display. The image then changes to update the minute count.

Description

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Dipl. Ing. (FH) Lars Wagner
Heß-Strasse 88
80798 Munich
Phone: 089-20009223

Annex to the notification of 9 June 2002

Description

Electronic clock for viewing on screens or video projectors

Clocks of the usual design have a dial, hands and movement (mechanical or electronic) or a digital display of the time. In order to display the time on a screen or via a video projector (e.g. for display in public areas or at events), the use of a computer system with appropriate software is currently necessary.

The disadvantage of a computer system for displaying the time on screens or video projectors is the complex installation, operation and maintenance of the system and the high susceptibility to failure (risk of the computer crashing). It is precisely the susceptibility to failure, which leads to failures in the display of the time and can only be remedied by appropriately trained personnel, that is problematic: a clock must function reliably without interruption, otherwise it does not fulfill its actual purpose.

The invention specified in claim 1 is based on the problem of creating a clock for viewing on screens and video projectors, which can be used without a computer system and is characterized by an extremely low susceptibility to failure as well as simple operation and maintenance.

This problem is solved by the features set out in claim 1, namely the creation of a clock on DVD.

The invention means that the time can be displayed on any commercially available DVD player and a screen or video projector connected to it. Extremely low susceptibility to faults and simple operation and maintenance are guaranteed when using the invention. Examples of commercial applicability include the display of a clock at public events in the appearance desired by the organizer, such as a football match where the time is displayed during the match with the club colors and crest of the host football club. Another example of use is the use of the DVD clock by the end user at home. This way, the TV is not perceived as an annoying, black screen but as a functional part of the furnishings. Depending on personal style and taste, clock designs can be created to suit the individual environment.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained below. The basic requirement for using the invention is a commercially available DVD player with a connected screen or video projector, see Figures 1 and 2. This is expressly not a "filmed" clock. Based on the DVD specification, the function of a clock is created by storing still images with representations of the time on the DVD in such a way that the image of a running clock is displayed when the DVD is played.

Figure 3 shows the schematic structure of the DVD as a flow chart, so that a DVD clock can be created by a specialist without any inventive steps of their own: The first screen content that appears after inserting the DVD into the DVD player is a short video sequence (title sequence with copyright notice); this ensures that the DVD is correctly recognized by all commercially available drives. The next element required is a "DVD menu" that allows the user to set the desired time. This menu must be structured in such a way that one of 12 hour hand positions and then one of 60 minute hand positions can be selected. The DVD then starts playing the time at the still image selected in this way. In each of the 12 slide shows, 60 images are stored one after the other with the continuous images of the minute and hour hands. Each image must be displayed for 60 seconds and then jump to the next image. When the last image of a slide show with the minute display "xx:59" has been played, playback jumps to the next slide show. The DVD therefore consists of 12x60 = 720 individual images and the settings menu. The slide shows can also be provided with a soundtrack so that when the hour is reached, a corresponding audio signal, such as a "bell chime", is played. The seconds can also be played - for example by a continuous "ticking".

The clock is operated using the standard controls on the DVD player or remote control: you just have to insert the DVD and start it, and then select the desired time once in the settings menu. The time will then be played on the DVD in a continuous loop until the DVD is stopped.

The advantages of the invention compared to clocks that are displayed by computer systems are: easy operation and low susceptibility to failure. This ensures a reliable display of the time with little maintenance: the clock only needs to be reset if the power supply is interrupted.

In general, the invention offers advantages in terms of the design of the dial and the hands: graphic elements (such as company logos), photographs or moving images can be integrated into the design. This allows the watch to be individually adapted to the customer's wishes. It is also possible to offer the watch in conjunction with music or films on special DVDs.

Dipl. Ing. (FH) Lars Wagner
Heß-Strasse 88
80798 Munich
Phone: 089-20009223
lars. wagner@ web. de

Claims (1)

Electronic clock for viewing on screens or video projectors, characterized in that the clock is available on DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) and can be viewed through a DVD player with a connected screen or video projector.