With Sun, Earth, And Moon Display Patents (Class 368/16)
  • Patent number: 11036185
    Abstract: Timepiece mechanism for displaying the lunar day and the moon phase. The moon is represented by a sphere mounted on a meridian wheel and includes a first rotating element meshed with a drive mechanism, a second rotating element friction mounted on the first rotating element, a moon wheel set coupling the first rotating element to the meridian wheel, a transmission wheel with a jumper spring, a system for correcting the lunar day display via a first correction wheel bypassing the transmission wheel and including the meridian wheel, a system for correcting the lunar day display via a second correction wheel including the transmission wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Christophe Riedo
  • Patent number: 10365611
    Abstract: A moon phase indicator mechanism, for a timepiece provided with a movement and a dial, the moon phase indicator mechanism including at least one moon disc, and at least one moon phase train driven by the timepiece movement, the moon phase train meshing with a moon phase wheel which carries the moon disc at least indirectly and in a fixed manner, the moon phase wheel taking the form of a toothed ring in order to move the moon disc with the moon phase train about an axis A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Marco Rochat, Clement Barberat
  • Patent number: 10180662
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a first display unit and a second display unit that display time. A receiving unit receives a time modification command including time information for modifying a first time displayed by the first display unit. A control unit outputs a first change command for automatically changing the first time displayed by the first display unit into a modified time different from a second time displayed by the second display unit based on the received time information, and outputs a second change command for changing the second time displayed by the second display unit into the first time displayed by the first display unit before the first time is changed into the modified time. A display drive unit changes the first time and the second time based on the first change command and the second change command, respectively, from the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Ogasawara, Tomohiro Ihashi
  • Patent number: 10078309
    Abstract: Moon phase display mechanism including an input pinion which makes three revolutions, or respectively two revolutions, in 24 hours, and drives a 19-tooth or respectively 29-tooth drive pinion, which drives a 59-tooth lower wheel bearing a moon disc with a two-colored depiction including a lighted area and at least one background sky area and also drives a 57-tooth or respectively 58-tooth, upper wheel, coaxial to this lower wheel and which makes one revolution per day and which includes a sky disc with a depiction of the sun, and an aperture opposite this sun, through which is visible one part of this moon disc illustrating the current appearance of the moon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Edmond Capt, Julien Feyer, Julien Behra
  • Patent number: 9594352
    Abstract: An improved minute countdown clock is provided that depicts the 24-hour day in terms of the number of remaining minutes, rather than in the standard 12-hour cycle. The present clock counts down the number of minutes that are left in the day, unlike a standard clock that depicts the amount of time that has passed in two separate cycles. The present invention may come in either analog or digital varieties. The present invention breaks time into smaller increments in order to reprogram individuals' concept and perception of passing time, to facilitate motivation to accomplish more goals, and finally to create a sense of value and ownership of personal time. Furthermore, the constant countdown creates a sense of urgency by helping people recognize that time is valuable and is lost once it passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventor: Kevin McGrane
  • Patent number: 9594348
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the display of periods which, in succession, form an annual cycle, for a timepiece movement, comprising an indicator member for indicating said periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Mehdi Denden, Marco Rochat
  • Publication number: 20150063077
    Abstract: A timepiece includes: a central pivot; a central disk rotatable in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the central pivot; a stationary 24-hour scale arranged concentric to the central pivot; a sun mark; a large moon disk, the large moon disk being rotatably drivable in the counterclockwise direction at a rate of one revolution per synodic month; a moon view aperture in the large moon disk; and a small moon disk mounted at the large moon disk so as to be rotatable around a moon pivot parallel to the central pivot, the small moon disk carrying a plurality of dark circular areas. The dark circular areas are movable successively into registration with the moon view aperture and successively out of registration with the moon view aperture by the rotational movement of the small moon disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Mario Karsch
  • Patent number: 8885443
    Abstract: An apparatus for making astronomical calculations includes a calculator, mechanism and/or program for determining the time for sunrise and sunset on a specified date and time at a specific longitude and latitude. The apparatus also includes a mechanism and/or program for calculating the moonrise and moonset at the aforementioned date, time and location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor: Rashed Farhan Sultan Marzouq
  • Patent number: 8498179
    Abstract: A mechanism for indication of the lunar phases, in particular for a mechanical watch, including a moon disk and a dial having a substantially semi-circular aperture. The moon disk is rotated in such a way as to display the indications inscribed on the moon disk through the aperture in order to indicate the lunar phases. In addition, the mechanism comprises at least one first occultation disk housed rotatably, at least in part, between the moon disk and the dial, and a gear train which drives the at least first occultation disk in such a way that the indications inscribed on the moon disk are obscured, at least in part, during specific phases of operation of the mechanism in such a manner that the indications appearing through the aperture correspond substantially to the natural appearance of the moon during the entire lunation. The invention also relates to a watch piece comprising such an indication mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Societe anonyme de la Manufacture d'Horlogerie Audemars Piguet & Cie
    Inventors: Johan Montet, Fabrice Deschanel
  • Patent number: 8460004
    Abstract: An educational field chart used for observing the Moon. The two-piece chart has an indicator wheel joined with a background chart that depicts the Sun, Earth and the Moon in orbit. The pieces rotate to locate a moon phase illustration that matches the Moon in the sky. Once set, a user can automatically determine facts and aspects about the Moon during this phase. Information aligns on both pieces to tell the following about the Moon: a) the moon phase name, b) the position of the Moon in orbit going around Earth, c) the rise & set time of the phase, and when it is visible in the sky, and d) the approximate day of the phase in the lunar month. The illustrations on the chart also visually correlate the relationship of the Sun, Earth and Moon during each moon phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Crelin
  • Publication number: 20130070567
    Abstract: An apparatus for making astronomical calculations includes a calculator, mechanism and/or program for determining the time for sunrise and sunset on a specified date and time at a specific longitude and latitude. The apparatus also includes a mechanism and/or program for calculating the moonrise and moonset at the aforementioned date, time and location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Rashed Farhan Sultan Marzouq
  • Patent number: 7859948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a watch provided with time indicators with three dimensions placed at the periphery of the movement of the watch, in the space delimited by the middle, the glass, the base and the movement. The movement of these indicators is provided by various clockwork mechanisms that are either independent or connected to the principle movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: Vincent Plomb
  • Patent number: 7852710
    Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) receiver may be integrated with a tide display device. The GPS receiver receives satellite signals and determines the precise time and geodetic position by trilateration. The precise time and geodetic position is used by the tide display device to determine the appropriate tide information to display. The tide display device displays the tide information to a surfer on a graph display with the ordinate axis representing tide height and the abscissa axis representing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Quiksilver, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Kelly, Alain Marhic, Xaiver Faucher, Jeff Rowley
  • Patent number: 7529156
    Abstract: By enabling its users to see and thus more vividly experience local solar day and local solar night, etc., the Synclecron invention seeks to somewhat alleviate the modern-day problem of human separation from the flows and ebbs of natural time. It does so via providing a way of mapping and displaying the experiential passage of solar and other day and night to conventional displays of conventional time. The Synclecron invention achieves this by two means. First by utilizing waxing & waning, journeying pairs of hieroglyph circles that alternately travel twice a day through a hieroglyph sky around a hieroglyph earth. And, last, by using a rotating “minute-hour” indicator, which displays where the Synclecron invention's user is in local natural time during each “natural” one-twelfth hour of his or her local natural day and natural night.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventor: Yale S. Landsberg
  • Patent number: 7494471
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking and informing about a physical, emotional, or physiological cycle, such as a menstrual cycle, includes at least one definition entry and at least one date indicator. Each definition entry defines indicia such as color to represent a stage of a physical, emotional, or physiological cycle. Each date indicator includes a date section and a tracking section corresponding to each date section. The date section of the date indicator indicates at least one date, wherein the tracking section is capable of being marked so as to indicate indicia corresponding to a definition entry to signify the stage of the physical, emotional, or physiological cycle for each date. According to one embodiment, the date indicators are arranged according to phases of the moon to allow correlation of a user's cycle to the lunar cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Marina Alzugaray
  • Publication number: 20090046539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a watch provided with time indicators with three dimensions placed at the periphery of the movement of the watch, in the space delimited by the middle, the glass, the base and the movement. The movement of these indicators is provided by various clockwork mechanisms that are either independent or connected to the principle movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventor: Vincent Plomb
  • Patent number: 7196973
    Abstract: In order to display images true to the real appearance of the moon during a lunation, particularly in a watch, there is provided a rotating indicator disc (8) arranged behind a circular aperture of a dial and comprising an annular region (20) subdivided into alternatively light (21–25) and dark (26–30) fields by lines of separation (31–40) having different shapes, which can appear in succession in the aperture. The drive means impart primary movements on the indicator disc (8), each of which is large enough to replace one of the lines of separation by another in the aperture, and smaller secondary movements, to produce small movements of the line of separation inside the aperture. This allows a new image of the moon to be given every day, true to reality, with a restricted number of light and dark fields on the indicator disc and a particularly large aperture in relation to the size of the dial. A version with electric driving is disclosed and a version driven by a mechanical watch movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Frédéric Meylan
  • Patent number: 6965801
    Abstract: A method and device that controls one or more apparatus in relation to the expected time of sunrise and sunset at the location of the apparatus. The operator enters a geographic location identifier, such as a zip code or telephone area code, and the controller computes the expected time of sunrise and sunset at the corresponding geographic location. The controller is configured to translate the entered geographic location code into the offset times, based upon the latitude and longitude of the location. The controller is able to either directly retrieve stored time offsets or it retrieves the latitude and longitude that corresponds to the entered geographic location code and determines the time offset from that latitude and longitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventor: Christopher R. Hall
  • Patent number: 6885614
    Abstract: The device includes an indicator (3) in the shape of a plate, moving behind a dial (1) having a circular aperture (2), which represents the lunar disc. The indicator includes an S-shaped line of separation (6) between a dark zone (4) and a light zone (5) representing the non-illuminated part and the illuminated part of the moon in the aperture. The indicator is rotatably mounted at the centre of symmetry C of the line of separation (6) on a rotating support making two revolutions per lunation. An image matching the appearance of the moon in each phase is thus obtained. Such a device can be used particularly in a watch or another timepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Gilles Rey-Mermet
  • Patent number: 6847589
    Abstract: The watch disclosed has a case of ovoidal shape, wherein a circular watch movement (5) is arranged off-center, on the side of the end of the case with the larger radius. On the side of the other end there is a moon phase indicator disc (16) and a power-reserve indicator of the watch. The moon disc is driven step-by-step by the movement (5) via a control lever (35) having a beak (43) that drives an external toothing (44) of the disc. This lever extends at least partly along one edge of the case, where a correction push-button is mounted, that can activate (P) the lever in the same direction as the movement is driving, which prevents any interference between the two actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Nouvelle Lemania SA
    Inventor: Jean Wilmouth
  • Patent number: 6580663
    Abstract: A timepiece and combined astrological display assembly including a casing which may be sized to resemble a wristwatch, PDA or a variety of other structures and including a display assembly mounted on the casing. The display assembly is responsive to a processor mounted on the casing and associated with appropriate storage facilities structured to respectively store and depict different categories of information including, the current time of day at a given geographical location, as well as ephemeris data indicative of the movement and positions of the celestial bodies of the Zodiac, and the angular orientation between two planetary bodies for the determination of “Aspects” and/or a plurality of “Aspect” lines, each of which interconnects a selected pair of planetary bodies and facilitates the forecasting of astrological information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: Keith Whitmore
  • Patent number: 6507536
    Abstract: A moon-phase dial mechanism comprising two overlapping, rotatable discs behind a substantially circular window capable of exhibiting a representation of the phases of the moon in a lunar cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Keatch
  • Patent number: 6449219
    Abstract: A timepiece with a computer based clock (2), in which time is represented on a display (1) in an analog fashion, constructed such that in order to enlarge the scope of time information on the display (1) additional information relating to the progress of time can be shown in a preferably continuous, i.e. dynamic way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventors: Volker Hepp, Joe D. Pradelski, Boris Glass
  • Patent number: 6359839
    Abstract: A watch having a watch face comprising an analog 12-hour display which displays a 24-hour day in an ambiguous manner using an hour hand and a minute hand, and an additional display which is used to determine the time indicated by the hour and minute hands and has two distinguishable symbols which are visible in said additional display separately from each other and change approximately every 12 hours. The invention is characterized in that the distinguishable symbols are configured as day and night symbols in such a way that they can be unambiguously interpreted as such by anyone and that the change-over from the night symbol to the day symbol occurs at 6 a.m. and the change-over from the day symbol to the night symbol at 6 p.m. either suddenly and precise to the second or over a period of time which can be observed dynamically so that there is never any doubt as to the time being shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas C. Schenk, Martin U. Schenk, Johanna Schenk
  • Patent number: 6108277
    Abstract: A timepiece and combined astrological display assembly including a casing which may be sized to resemble a wristwatch and a display assembly mounted on the casing and viewable through a display face. The display assembly is responsive to a processor sized to fit within the casing which includes or communicates with a plurality of databases, each of which is structured and disposed to store and depict different categories of information including, the current time of day at a given geographical location, as well as an ephemeris or other calendar and table which tracks the movement of various planets and celestial bodies, and the angular orientation between two planetary bodies for the determination of "Aspects" and/or a plurality of "Aspect" lines, each of which interconnects a selected pair of planetary bodies and provides forecasting astrological information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Keith Whitmore
  • Patent number: 5344325
    Abstract: An automatic tracking astronomical globe comprising an annular frame disposed on the upper portion of a mount in a vertical position, an azimuth circle secured across a diameter of the annular frame in a horizontal position, and a transparent celestial globe with a concentric, internal terrestial globe, disposed concentrically within the annular frame and azimuth circle by a polar axle. A synchronous motor disposed in the mount and operating through a globe rotation drive mechanism, rotates the celestial globe at the rate of one revolution per sidereal day. A pair of solar and lunar drive mechanism are disposed in two drive boxes secured to the inner wall of the celestial globe at diametrically opposed positions, and engaged with a stationary equatorial gear formed along the equator of the terrestial globe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventor: Zn-Hu Wang
  • Patent number: 5023849
    Abstract: The invention concerns an astronomic timepiece enabling a simple display of the daily value of an astronomic magnitude having an annual cycle. The timepiece comprises a month disc (13), at least a portion of which is visible through an opening (19) provided in the dial (6). The development of the astronomic magnitude is represented in the form of a curve (25) in a frame of reference one coordinate of which indicates the date and the other indicates a value of the astronomic magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Compagnie des Montres, Longines, Francillon, S.A.
    Inventor: Frank Vaucher
  • Patent number: 4825426
    Abstract: In the arrangement of this invention the position of the planets is displayed by means of a disc and rings concentric thereto, the display surfaces of which are arranged substantially in the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Ulysse Nardin S.A.
    Inventor: Ludwig Oechslin
  • Patent number: 4766579
    Abstract: A basic clockwork, initially arranged in such a way as to comprise two supplementary indicators, of the date and of the days of the week, which have been removed, is provided with an additional module carrying supplementary indicators, which can number two, three or even four. These indicators being separate from the basic clockwork, their position can be chosen very freely by a constructor. In order to prevent having to provide the clockwork with one or several supplementary control members, for the correction of said indicators, a correcting mechanism of the basic clockwork, comprising a control stem operating a sliding pinion is used. A shaft of the sliding pinion has been extended up to a frame of the additional module and carries a pinion meshing, according to the sense in which the control stem is operated, either with a wheel belonging to a correcting gear train of one of the supplementary indicators, or with a pinion belonging to a correcting gear train of another supplementary indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Complications S.A.
    Inventor: Jorg Sporring
  • Patent number: 4759002
    Abstract: A clock having a housing which contains two internal disks and a motor for rotation of those disks on a shaft is disclosed. An hour disk is provided having a shaded region representing night and an unshaded region representing day. The hour disk is positioned to appear through a opening in the clock face. The face of the clock may have one or more openings to expose the minute and hour disks. One of the openings has a numerical representation of hours provided on the clock face there around. The clock is arranged so that the line separating the dark and light regions of the hour disk indicates the hour of day by pointing to a number on the face, and also graphically represents the amount of time from and to the previous and next sunrise or sunset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Inventor: Lew A. Cash
  • Patent number: 4711583
    Abstract: A watch designed to display, by means of indicators (7 to 10) several astronomical magnitudes. The indicators are driven by means of a planetary gear train (19) which is rotatingly supported by means of a ball bearing (20) within a support ring (11) of the watch. The drive force as well as the time reference are provided by a work (C) simultaneously driving the planet-wheel carrier (21, 22) of the planetary gear train and the gear clusters mounted thereon. Each of said clusters has a reduction ratio depending on the indicator (8 to 10) it is intended to drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Ulysse Nardin S.A.
    Inventors: Ludwig Oechslin, Urs Giger, Jorg Sporing
  • Patent number: 4684260
    Abstract: An astronomical clock shows on a moon disc diametrically opposed images of the sun and the moon or, respectively, two moons which during twenty four hours appear alternately in a semicircular opening and travel through it. Approximate images of the moon phases are rendered with daily advanced moon phase discs which are attached off-center in a rotating fashion on the moon disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Johann Jackle Metallwarenfabrik, GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Horst Jackle
  • Patent number: 4681459
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying astrological information has a construction in which a first display element simulating a position on the circumference as the direction of the sun on the ecliptic and a second display element displaying the difference of the sun direction on a birthday with respect to the moon direction, that is, an aspect, or fortune information corresponding to the aspect, are coaxially disposed, and one of these display elements is rotated and set to a position by the aid of moon direction setting means so that the relation of the relative positions between the origin of the second display element and the present sun position on the first display element is substantially in agreement with the difference of directions between the present sun direction and the present moon direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nabeyama, Eiichi Sakita
  • Patent number: 4583864
    Abstract: A novelty clock is provided wherein a spherical representation of the earth rotates about the face of the clock as would a second hand. While rotating about the face of the clock, the earth also rotates upon its own axis, thereby providing a more realistic and appealing visual effect. The special motion of the earth is achieved by a motion producing mechanism driven by the rotational force of the shaft which ordinarily drives the second hand of the clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Inventor: Joseph R. Graves
  • Patent number: 4435795
    Abstract: A clock for automatically indicating the time of day, the data of the year, the approximate time of sunrise and sunset, the approximate hours of darkness and daylight, the positions of the sun, Mercury, Venus, the earth's moon and phases of the moon, the sign of the Zodiac and degrees of arc of the sign of the Zodiac which the earth is in, all relative to the earth in a geocentric model. The clock includes a center hub representative of the earth, about which an hour disk rotates one revolution clockwise per day, a superposed data disk, an hour pointer and data pointer for indicating the hour and calendar data. The clock further includes a cam lever that oscillates about a pivot point in response to movement about a stationary cam at one end for automatically rotating Venus and Mercury indicators about a sun indicator, and automatically rotating a moon indicator about the center hub. Sun, Mercury, Venus indicators also rotate about the center hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: A.I.M. Services
    Inventor: John Frank
  • Patent number: 4337530
    Abstract: A time-keeping method and device, especially useful as a novelty device for astrologers, that divides a day into twelve equal periods of time. Each period of time is further sub-divided into one-hundred equal sub-periods of time. Each sub-period of time may further be sub-divided into one-hundred equal intervals of time. The time-keeping method and device includes counter-clockwise motion of one revolution per day, which motion is synchronized to begin at a reference point on the face of the time-keeping device that corresponds to the conventional three o'clock position. The time-keeping method includes synchronizing this motion so that it begins at this reference point at a time corresponding to the mean time of the rising of the sun. The time display may be analog and/or digital. The points of the compass may also appear on the clock face, thereby allowing the counter-clockwise motion associated with the device to depict the position of the sun relative to the set of compass points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Inventor: Leonard L. Toft, Jr.