Display apparatus

The present invention relates to display apparatus known for instance, from <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO0059327A"><text>WO-A-0059327</text></patcit>, particularly, but not exclusively, display apparatus which is used as personal jewellery or wrist watches.

Most people own a wristwatch and they can be found in a number of guises to suit personal taste and disposable income. They all have the same basic features, however, of a central section which provides the time and display (be it analogue or digital) and also contains the watch's mechanism, a strap or bracelet which surrounds the wearer's wrist and a clasp or buckle to secure the whole arrangement to the wearer's wrist.

<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO0059327A"><text>WO-A-00 59327</text></patcit> discloses a bracelet comprising a flexible display member and a control unit provided at one end of the display member, the display member being in the form of an active display that can be worn around the wrist of a user. <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US5515247A"><text>US-A-5 515 247</text></patcit> discloses an electroluminescent strap including a web of a flexile material having ends securable to one another using a buckle member containing a battery. <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="FR2670092A"><text>FR-A-2 670 092</text></patcit> describes a collar that is produced from a strip forming a blade spring which is curved in its median longitudinal plane. <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US2001008074A"><text>US-A-2001 008074</text></patcit> describes a bracelet comprising at least one electronic display unit having a plurality of display elements arranged in a sequence lying along the length of the bracelet. The bracelet has control units to control the display element so that the characters displayed by the display element appear to move along the sequence of display elements with time. <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="DE4029223"><text>DE-4029223</text></patcit> discloses a wrist watch having a watch case that is installed on an arm fixture in the form of an elastic open ring or helically wound strap slidable over the forearm of the watch wearer and fixed by clamping.

The present invention is directed to a display apparatus for personal wear.

The present invention provides a display apparatus comprising a flexible display member and a control unit provided at one end of the display member, the display member being in the form of a strip of a size suitable to be positioned around a limb of a user, wherein the display member is removably attached, and not permanently connected, to the control unit, whereby the display member is malleable and sprung.

In one form of the invention, the malleable display member is preferably sufficiently stiff as to retain its shape without the need for a latch or other retainer. This allows a given product to fit a wide range of users, and makes the product easier to use.

The term "malleable" is used herein to mean capable of being shaped or moulded by the application of hand pressure to a shape which is retained until the shape is again altered by hand pressure. One form of malleable member contemplates in this invention is a strip or band of thin metal or plastic and which is initially axially straight and transversely concave. An alternative is to use a strip or band of a low yield point, such as a soft alloy.

The display member may comprise an electro-luminescent display bonded to a malleable strip; and in a preferred form the display member comprises a rubber backing, a strip of thin steel forming said malleable strip, said electro-luminescent display, a filter layer, and an anti-moisture covering.

In either form, controls are preferably provided on the display member, most suitably in the form of touch-sensitive areas on the display. This simplifies construction, and makes it easier to seal the apparatus against water.

The control unit preferably comprises a timing circuit and the display member is adapted to display time indicia, whereby the apparatus functions as a watch. Additionally, or alternatively, the control unit may comprise means for generating visual patterns on the display member, whereby the apparatus functions as an electronic bracelet.

Having the display member removably attached to the control unit means that the apparatus can readily be adapted to different styles and appearances according to the desires of the user and his/her social milieu at a given time.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a plan view of a display apparatus according to the present invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is a perspective view of the apparatus of <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> in which the apparatus has been moulded into a loop;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a perspective view of the apparatus of <figref idref="f0001">Fig.1</figref> showing the details of the construction of the apparatus;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3a</figref> is a cross-section of part of <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> to an enlarged scale; and</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> is a schematic of an alternative circuit arrangement.</li></ul>

Referring to the drawings and initially to <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> there is shown a watch according to the present invention generally referred to as 10. The watch 10 comprises two main elements, a control unit 12 and a malleable display band or sprung band 14. The control unit 12 and the sprung band 14 are not permanently connected and can be readily interchanged.

The control unit 12 contains all of the required mechanisms and the power source for the watch. It consists of a rear cover 26 and a top cover 28 which clip securely together and house a battery 12a and electronics 12b.

In this case the watch uses a standard quartz circuit and an ordinary watch battery.

The sprung band 14 is constructed from several layers which are shown in greater detail in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref>, and which are held together by double-sided LSE clear 3M adhesive between adjacent layers.

The bottom layer 16 is a 500µm thick natural rubber section. Above that is a layer 18 composed of a 50µm plastic coated hardened and tempered steel. Above that is a 100µm thick electro-luminescent display layer 20 on top of which is a 50µm polyester deep dyed filter layer 22. Finally, there is a 100µm anti-moisture ingress coating 24. All five layers form a composite sandwich to make up the sprung band 14.

The steel layer 18 has the transverse shape shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3a</figref>, that is curved in a gentle arc, when the sprung band 14 extends in a straight path. When the apparatus is applied to the wrist and wrapped around it, the transverse curve straightens out and the tension in the layer 18 acts to maintain the band in its wrapped condition until peeled off.

The four layers apart from the electroluminescent layer 20 terminate first inside the control unit 12. The electroluminescent layer 20 continues further into the control unit 12 and adopts its shape. The layer 20 has a beryllium-copper surface-mounted connector similar to the mounting of an LCD in a mobile phone. This allows the user to have several displays of differing colours and layouts driven from a common driver circuit and battery.

The sprung band 14 also contains touch sensitive buttons (not shown). These are used to control the functions of the watch such as setting the time. Buttons may also be included which alter the display properties of the band, for example to increase luminescence or to change a decorative pattern on the watch.

It will be appreciated that the display must be flexible. In addition to electroluminescent displays, other forms of flexible display may be used such as organic light emitting diode, light emitting polymer, and organic liquid crystal display.

In use the watch 10 is placed over the wearer's wrist in its initial flat form. The wearer then applies pressure to the ends of the watch 10. The sprung band 14 yields to the pressure and moulds around the wearer's wrist as described above. Once a desired fit is attained, the wearer discontinues the application of pressure. The watch 10 is left in a moulded position around the wearer's wrist. The watch 10 in this form can be seen more clearly in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>.

The watch 10 does not require any latch mechanism to hold it in this position, as the malleability of the sprung display band 14 retains it around the wearer's wrist until the wearer wishes to remove it.

Since the watch 10 has a malleable property, it can be readily moulded into a number of shapes or sizes. Standard lengths of display bands 14 can fit a variety of wearers with differing wrist sizes. Alternatively a single wearer can deploy the watch on another limb; the leg for example.

Since the control unit 12 and display band 14 are interchangeable, the wearer can alternate shapes and designs of display band to suit mood or occasion.

<figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref> illustrates a more sophisticated control arrangement. In <figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref>, a display 40 is controlled by a microprocessor 42 via a display driver circuit 44. For use as a watch, accurate time reference is given by a reference crystal 46. Control inputs to the microprocessor 42 are provided by touch-sensitive inputs 48. The apparatus is powered by a battery 50, which is preferably a rechargeable battery (most suitably using lithium ion technology) which can be recharged via power inputs 52, or by an inductive arrangement. For example, recharging could be by an existing cell phone charger via a suitable adaptor.

Alternatively, the battery may be recharged by a solar cell or by a thermoelectric cell using the body heat of the wearer.

As a further alternative, a lithium ion polymer battery could be used; since these are conformable, the battery could be included in the wrists trap rather than the control unit.

Power consumption may be reduced by providing a light sensor and controlling the display illumination in accordance with ambient light.

The example of <figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref> is suited for use where the display 40 is in the form of a pixel array. In this case, the display can be controlled to display the time together with fixed or dynamic graphics, which may be pictorial or abstract, and monochrome or colour. Also, since the arrangement of <figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref> is microprocessor based, it would be simple to include a radio frequency link, for example using Bluetooth technology, and to use the control inputs 48 for remote control of other devices.

The invention may be provided as an item of adornment only, not containing a time displaying function. The invention could therefore display an attractive design for aesthetic purposes only. This design could also be changeable via the control unit alternating between several designs.

The invention may include means to program the device to alternate the displayed design at a set frequency, or to strobe or produce other interesting or eye-catching effects.

All this can be separate from or in conjunction with a display of the time.

The apparatus may be double sided, such that it can be wrapped around the wrist in either direction. One side might then display the time and the other side a graphic display. Either side or both may be animated.

The apparatus may include an external plastic casing enclosing the whole apparatus.

Furthermore, the invention may include a sound sensor linked to the display feature. Therefore if the invention is exposed to a sound source, for example if the wearer is in a nightclub, the invention would provide an attractive display which flashes or illuminates selectively in response to the tempo of the music.