Patents by Inventor Gerhard Stotz

Gerhard Stotz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9125460
    Abstract: A wristworn device having a releasable coupling mechanism for releasably coupling a first strap section and a second strap section about a user's wrist. The wristworn device includes an elongated member that is positioned within a channel of one of the strap sections and which has an actuation section that extends from the channel. A directional force upon the actuation section of the elongated member causes a slidable locking plate in the releasable coupling mechanism to move in a direction and disengage from a locking member, whereby separation of the sections of the releasable coupling mechanism is facilitated upon the disengagement of the slidable locking plate from the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Timex Group USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Olsen, Bernhard Kaiser, Gerhard Stotz
  • Patent number: 9075393
    Abstract: Methodologies and constructions of displaying elapsed time on a wristworn device, which include among other things, having at least two display hands one of which that will rotate faster or stop so that they become coincident with each other, then rotate together and then reassume their normal and accurate positions. Such is particularly important with respect to one of the hands that is preferably a seconds hand that might otherwise be displaying seconds of the time of day (“TOD”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Timex Group USA, Inc., Middlebury
    Inventors: Gerhard Stotz, Louis M. Galie
  • Publication number: 20150117165
    Abstract: Methodologies and constructions of displaying elapsed time on a wristworn device, which include among other things, having at least two display hands one of which that will rotate faster or stop so that they become coincident with each other, then rotate together and then reassume their normal and accurate positions. Such is particularly important with respect to one of the hands that is preferably a seconds hand that might otherwise be displaying seconds of the time of day (“TOD”).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Gerhard Stotz, Louis M. Galie
  • Publication number: 20150040611
    Abstract: A wristworn device having a releasable coupling mechanism for releasably coupling a first strap section and a second strap section about a user's wrist. The wristworn device includes an elongated member that is positioned within a channel of one of the strap sections and which has an actuation section that extends from the channel. A directional force upon the actuation section of the elongated member causes a slidable locking plate in the releasable coupling mechanism to move in a direction and disengage from a locking member, whereby separation of the sections of the releasable coupling mechanism is facilitated upon the disengagement of the slidable locking plate from the locking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Timex Group USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Olsen, Bernhard Kaiser, Gerhard Stotz
  • Patent number: 8926465
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) driving arrangement comprising a driven wheel comprising (n) teeth about an outer periphery thereof, an actuator ring around the driven wheel, itself comprising (n)+(x) teeth about an inner periphery thereof, wherein the (n)+(x) teeth of the actuator ring progressively engage and disengage subsets of the (n) teeth of the driven wheel; a driving actuation assembly, coupled to the actuator ring, for driving the actuator ring in a hysteresis-type motion so as to cause rotation of the driven wheel, wherein after one full cycle of engagements and disengagements between selective subsets of the (n) teeth of the driven wheel with selective subsets of the (n)+(x) teeth of the actuator ring, the driven wheel rotates by (x) teeth corresponding to [(360)(x)/(n)]°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Timex Group USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerhard Stotz
  • Patent number: 8923096
    Abstract: Methodologies and constructions of displaying elapsed time on a wristworn device, which include among other things, having at least two display hands one of which that will rotate faster or stop so that they become coincident with each other, then rotate together and then reassume their normal and accurate positions. Such is particularly important with respect to one of the hands that is preferably a seconds hand that might otherwise be displaying seconds of the time of day (“TOD”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Timex Group USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Stotz, Louis M. Galie
  • Publication number: 20140250637
    Abstract: A spring bar assembly having a tubular member and a first end member at a first end of the tubular member. A first axial pin extends from the first end of the tubular member. A second end member is provided at a second end of the tubular member. A second axial pin extends from the end of the second end member. A biasing member positioned within the tubular member biases the axial pins towards each other, and a retractor is provided and connected to either the tubular member or the second end member (but not through the tubular member) for facilitating the urging of the axial pins toward each other, The second end of the tubular member and the second end member are cooperatively shaped to prevent the second end member from uncoupling from the tubular member when the spring bar assembly is decoupled from between first and second lugs of a wristworn device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Timex Group USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerhard Stotz
  • Publication number: 20140194241
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) driving arrangement comprising a driven wheel comprising (n) teeth about an outer periphery thereof, an actuator ring around the driven wheel, itself comprising (n)+(x) teeth about an inner periphery thereof, wherein the (n)+(x) teeth of the actuator ring progressively engage and disengage subsets of the (n) teeth of the driven wheel; a driving actuation assembly, coupled to the actuator ring, for driving the actuator ring in a hysteresis-type motion so as to cause rotation of the driven wheel, wherein after one full cycle of engagements and disengagements between selective subsets of the (n) teeth of the driven wheel with selective subsets of the (n)+(x) teeth of the actuator ring, the driven wheel rotates by (x) teeth corresponding to [(360)(x)/(n)]°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: TIMEX GROUP USA, INC.
    Inventor: Gerhard Stotz
  • Publication number: 20130322218
    Abstract: A wearable timepiece having at least one rotateable elongated member, preferably a ring, under the dial, having a plurality of time zone indications thereon, wherein a controller controls the rotation of the at least one elongated member and causes an indicator to rotate in response to a selected time zone indication positioned in a viewing window in the dial, wherein the indicator points to indicia on the dial assembly that indicates to a user the time indicated by the selected time zone indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkhardt, Roland Burghausen, Louis M. Galie, Siegfried Grau, Gerhard Stotz
  • Patent number: 8144547
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Louis M. Galie, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz, Ronald S. Lizzi
  • Publication number: 20110069589
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Louis M. Galie, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz, Ronald S. Lizzi
  • Patent number: 7821878
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Louis M. Galie, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz, Ronald S. Lizzi
  • Publication number: 20100220559
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information using one or more display indicators, wherein the electronic device comprises a housing; a nest positioned in the housing; a plurality of independently insertable and removable modules coupled to the nest, wherein each module comprises (i) a gearing arrangement comprising at least one rotateable gear and (ii) a stepper motor, the stepper motor comprising a rotor rotateably coupled to the at least one rotateable gear; a controller operatively coupled to the stepper motor of each module, for causing the rotation of the rotor of each module; wherein each of the plurality of modules has associated therewith and mechanically coupled thereto one or more display indicators; whereby the positioning of the one or more indicators conveys information by referring to particular indicia. In a specific embodiment, the wearable electronic device is a wristwatch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Louis M. Galie, Wolfgang Burkhardt, Gerhard Stotz, Hans G. Schnell, Roland Burghausen
  • Patent number: 7515508
    Abstract: An indicator assembly for a wearable electronic device having a dial, a slotted opening therein and surface indicia to which an indicator can point and convey information thereby, wherein the indicator assembly comprises a track assembly comprising a first track and a second track spaced apart and aligned parallel thereto, wherein each track includes teeth running along at least a respective portion thereof, wherein the teeth of the respective tracks are in facing alignment; a track assembly gearing assembly that meshingly engages the teeth of the first and second tracks and the gears of a gear assembly so that the track assembly moves linearly; an indicating assembly coupled to the track assembly and extending through the slotted opening in the dial, wherein the linear movement of the track assembly causes the indicating assembly to move linearly in the slotted opening; whereby an indicator of the indicating assembly conveys information by referring to particular surface indicia on the dial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventor: Gerhard Stotz
  • Publication number: 20090040879
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner, wherein a controller is operable in a first mode and at least a second mode, the dial assembly is operatively coupled to the controller, and is a liquid crystal display assembly, and preferably a cholesteric liquid crystal display, wherein the dial assembly displays informational indicia corresponding to the mode in which the electronic device is operating, and wherein the informational indicia is changeable based on the mode in which the wearable electronic device is operating; and wherein the positioning of the display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in the predefined increments conveys the information by referring to particular informational indicia, and wherein the controller operatively controls the positioning of the hand so that the hand can convey the information in the analog manner for each of the at least two modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Louis M. Galie, Wolfgang Burkhardt, Gerhard Stotz
  • Patent number: 7463557
    Abstract: A display assembly for a wearable electronic device. The display assembly is disposed within a housing of the wearable electronic device. The electronic device is constructed to receive at least a first and second dial assembly each of which is adapted to provide a different display configuration. The display assembly comprises a liquid crystal display assembly comprising at least two display sections, driving means for providing driving signals to the respective display sections; and a controller, operatively coupled to the driving means, for signaling the driving means to provide the driving signals; wherein the display configuration of the wearable electronic device is changeable based on the dial assembly operatively coupled within the housing, wherein the first dial assembly provides for the viewability of at least the first display section and the second dial assembly provides for the viewability of at least the second display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Louis M. Galie, Wolfgang Burkhardt, Gerhard Stotz, Hans G. Schnell, Roland Burghausen
  • Patent number: 7420880
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a controller having an integrated circuit operable in at least a first and second mode, and a dial having a window through which at least one indicator is visible, wherein the electronic device comprises a mode indicator positioned on an actuation mechanism side of the dial, wherein the mode indicator has at least a first indicator and a second indicator each respectively representative of one of the at least two modes within which the electronic device is operable; a gearing assembly comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the mode indicator so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotation of the mode indicator; an actuation mechanism, rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the actuation mechanism causes the rotation of the mode indicator; wherein the integrated circuit controls the actuation of the actuation mechanism so as to initiate the rotation of the mode indicator; and ac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkhardt, Gerhard Stotz, Hans Schnell, Martin Dietrich, Ulrich Kalmbach, Michel G. Plancon
  • Patent number: 7406003
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes functionality to perform at least two functions, a first of which may be timekeeping and the other of which is at least a function other than the first function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkhardt, Louis M. Galie, Michel G. Plancon, Helmut Zachmann, Herbert Schwartz, Roland Burghausen, Gerhard Stotz
  • Publication number: 20080084794
    Abstract: A display assembly for a wearable electronic device. The display assembly is disposed within a housing of the wearable electronic device. The electronic device is constructed to receive at least a first and second dial assembly each of which is adapted to provide a different display configuration. The display assembly comprises a liquid crystal display assembly comprising at least two display sections, driving means for providing driving signals to the respective display sections; and a controller, operatively coupled to the driving means, for signaling the driving means to provide the driving signals; wherein the display configuration of the wearable electronic device is changeable based on the dial assembly operatively coupled within the housing, wherein the first dial assembly provides for the viewability of at least the first display section and the second dial assembly provides for the viewability of at least the second display section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Louis M. Galie, Wolfgang Burkhardt, Gerhard Stotz, Hans G. Schnell, Roland Burghausen
  • Publication number: 20080062818
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Michel Plancon, Louis Galie, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz