CH654715GA3 - Electronic watch - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement of the watch is such that the moving of the crown (101) from the position (101a) to the position (101c) locks the seconds hand (102) and enables the hour hand and the minute hand to be moved by rotating the crown. On returning the crown from the position (101c) to the position (101a), the seconds hand and the gearing are once again driven by the motor. Another mode of operation of the control device consists in pressing on the button (103). In this case, the seconds hand adopts an abnormal movement. If during this preparatory state the crown is pulled out to position (101c), the seconds hand is locked and the position of the hour hand and of the minute hand can be corrected, but when the crown is pushed back to position (101a) the seconds hand then begins by making up the time for which it was stationary and the motor resumes its normal mode of advance once the elapsed time has been made up. <IMAGE>

Description

** ATTENTION ** start of the DESC field may contain end of CLMS **.

CLAIMS 1. Electronic watch comprising a battery, a time base, a frequency divider, circuits for developing a normal time signal and an abnormal time signal, a display device capable of being actuated by either of said time signals and capable of performing a timepiece function and at least one additional function, and a control device which comprises at least one external control member and circuit elements associated with this member, and which has at least two different modes of action capable of being implemented at will by the user, characterized in that the said circuit elements are arranged so as to perform simultaneously, in response to the setting implementation of a first of said modes of action, a state of preparation for said additional function, and the activation of the display device under the effect of the abnormal time signal, said additional function being effectively performed p ar an implementation of a second mode of action of the control device subsequent to the implementation which establishes the state of preparation.

2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device comprises two external control members, and in that the said modes of action correspond one to an operation of one of the said members and the another to an operation of the other organ.

3. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device comprises a single external control member and in that said modes of action correspond to different operations, of said member.

4. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said circuit elements are arranged so that the implementation of said second mode of action without prior implementation of the first mode of action establishes a function different from the timepiece function and the additional function.

5. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the circuits are arranged so that said additional function consists of a voluntary correction function of the displayed time indication with memorization of the time elapsed during the correction.

6. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the circuits are arranged so that said additional function consists of a rapid advance function of a seconds hand.

7. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the circuits are arranged so that said additional function consists of a function of recording an alarm time.

The present invention relates to an electronic battery watch, which comprises on the one hand circuits ensuring a timepiece function and at least one additional function and on the other hand a display device which can operate according to a normal mode or a mode unnatural.

Devices are known which, for example, signal the approach of the end of the stack by causing a display mode different from the normal mode. The abnormal display consists, for example, in that the second hand advances in steps of two seconds, every two seconds, as in patent no. 631,466. The prior documents US 4,175,377 and GB 1,512,591 also describe arrangements giving abnormal operation to a display means.

The general concept of the invention consists in using a particular mode of the display, for example the advance in jumps of 2 seconds which normally indicates the exhaustion of the battery to signal another function, for example reminder of the special operation, under the action of a control member.

This general concept can materialize in several different ways, in one of the chronograph watches, with control devices making it possible to display different times, in counters, watches with alarm devices, etc.

Thus, cases are known where needles fulfill two functions. For example, The second hand indicates either seconds or an alarm time. The movement of the hands serves to perform one function and another function is fulfilled by diodes. etc.

The object of the present invention is an electronic watch comprising a battery, a time base, a frequency divider, circuits for processing a normal time signal and an abnormal time signal, a device for display capable of being actuated by one or the other of said time signals and capable of performing a timepiece function and at least one additional function, and a control device which comprises at least one external control member and circuit elements associated with this member, and which has at least two different modes of action capable of being implemented at will by the user, characterized in that said circuit elements are arranged so as to produce simultaneously, in response to the implementation of a first of said modes of action, a state of preparation for said additional function, and the activation of the display device under the effect of the abnormal time signal, the said additional function ntaire actually being carried out by implementing a second mode of action of the control device subsequent to implementation which establishes the state of preparation.

The appended drawing represents, by way of examples, various embodiments all arising from the general concept of the invention.

In the attached drawing: fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention, fig. 2 an explanatory diagram of the operation of the control rod, fig. 3 is a detailed diagram of the circuits of FIG. 1, in a first embodiment of the invention, fig. 4 is a table of times, fig. 5, 6a and 6b illustrate alternative embodiments, fig. 7a to 7e illustrate different functions of a watch according to the invention, controlled by a control rod, fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment, and fig. 9 is the corresponding time table.

Let's go back to figs. 1 to 4. A signal created by the oscillator 1, which forms a time base, for example quartz, is divided by the divider 2 which is produced in integrated technology. The output signal of the divider is transformed in a drive circuit 3 into a wave which is introduced into the coil of a motor 4. The drive circuit 3 turns the motor 4 and the time indication, for example by hours, minutes and seconds, is displayed on the device 10.

Although the drive means 3 and the display means 10 of this embodiment are analog display means, they could also be digital type display means.

The watch described comprises (fig. 2) a control ring 5 which can take 3 different axial positions designated by 5a, 5b, 5c. Position Sa is the usual position, corresponding to normal operation of the

watch. As will be seen below, the position of the crown 5 influences the electronic circuit. A counter 6 counts the time during which the crown is in its position 5c and a second counter 7 counts a predetermined period, for example 10 seconds after the crown is returned to position 5a, if the duration counted by the counter 6 is less than a given limit, for example a second.

The circuit 9 controls, when energized, an abnormal operation of the circuit 3 so that the motor 4 takes for example two successive steps every two seconds instead of one step every second. The OR gate 43 connects to circuit 9 either the counter 7, or another excitation element, for example a detector 8 capable of signaling a decrease in the battery voltage.

The date and the day can be corrected by rotation of the rod when the latter is placed in its second position 5b.

When the rod is pulled into its third position 5c, a second control lever (not shown) which is coupled to the rod moves so that the second hand is controlled and the circuit is reset.

The hands can be adjusted in this state of the watch. The second hand leaves just at the same time as the time signal, if the rod is pushed from the third position to the first after setting the time. If the rod is actuated for a short time, this operation is discriminated compared to a usual adjustment of the hands, by a circuit which detects the passage from the first to the second and to the third position, in an extremely short time, for example of a few seconds. If the duration of resetting the circuits to zero is long and exceeds 10 sec, as in a usual time setting, the second hand leaves exactly one second after the rod 5 is pushed from the third to the first position as in the usual reset conditions.

We will now describe in detail the implementation of the functions indicated above. According to the time tables in fig. 4 and 9, the vibrations of the quartz that forms the time base are divided by a circuit formed by a series of flip-flops (FF) designated by 23 to 29 (fig. 3). For example, a 32 KHz oscillator (20, 21, 22) emits a signal which is divided up to 1/2 Hz. The MOS 32 functions as a voltage detector to activate or deactivate the circuit MOS 32 'depending on the supply voltage. The exit QM of the FF 34, connected to the amplifier 33, is at the low level if the tension is normal and at the high level if the tension is reduced. When the rod is pulled in the third position, a lever 35 which controls a gear train and which is articulated on the control rod mechanically operates the train or a motor to move the hands. In addition, it electrically connects a terminal 36 so as to produce the signal at the high level.

The high level signal is introduced into a counter 37. Suppose that this counter counts the seconds. If the reset signal is introduced for more than one second and the hour, minute and second hands must be in place during this time, an AND gate 38 is actuated by the output of the counter and the signal at the high level is produced after one second to recall the FF 26 to 29 of the divider circuit by means of the circuit. The second hand leaves exactly one second after the reset is released, if the control rod is pushed from its third position to the first one at a stroke.

for example at the time of a top second signal, after the position of the hands has been adjusted correctly. In a circuit for driving the motor, the signal at V Hz which passes through the NAND gate 47 is introduced into the coil 55 in the form of an inverted signal for example of 7.8 msec of duration by the FF 48, the inverters 49 , 50, 53, 54 and NOR doors 51 and 52, so that the motor formed by the stator 56 and the rotor 57 rotates at one step per second. It will be assumed that the movement of the control lever 35, articulated to the control rod, takes place at the same time as that of the rod and the lever is pulled into its third position, then pushed back to its first position in one second.

The state of the counter 37, after one second, is processed with a signal from the gate 38 showing whether the circuit is reset or not, in a FF 39 and a gate 40 by the reset pulse created by control dispute 35. An AND gate 41 is actuated in the event that the high-level signal is produced within a short time, for example 10 sec. in a counter 42. When the QM output of the FF 34 which produces the high level output signal or an output signal of the counter 42 is introduced in a state such that the battery voltage is reduced, a control signal which passes through gate 43 exits in QM in FF 45 with a delay equal to half of the 8 Hz period, ie 64 msec. In fact, the NAND door 44, a F.F. 45 type D and a door 46 produce this result. Consequently, the movement of the hands differs from that which it produces under normal conditions. Indeed, for example the second hand moves twice in succession by jumps and remains stationary for about 2 seconds since, as shown in fig. 4 in IIIa or IIIb, the output wave S 55 of the coil is not that which corresponds to one step per second.

The wave of the coil 55 which excites the motor and the actuation of the control rod will be explained with reference to FIG. 4. Ia represents a normal period during which the hands advance one step per second. It is a period during which the rod is in the third position and the needle is operated for more than a second. The circuit is reset so that no output signal appears. The hands can then be set to the time, and at the start of period Ib the hand starts correctly one second after the reset is released. During a period IIb, the rod is pulled outward to its third position, then pushed back in less than a second. Under these conditions, the circuit is not reset. During a period IIIa, which follows the return of the crown 5 to the normal position, the needle moves abnormally, e.g. ex. in steps of 2 seconds every 2 seconds, and a circuit has a predetermined period, p.

ex. 10 seconds after which the period Ic begins and the watch automatically returns to the normal situation.

Thus a certain delay, such as 10 sec., Has been reported.

The period Illb could correspond to the setting in the excitation state of a circuit detecting the voltage state of the battery.

Fig. 5 shows another way of producing the measurement effect of a predetermined period which has just been described.

According to this variant, as seen in FIG. 5, the function corresponding to phase llb of FIG. 4 is not provided.

Simply, after a phase IIa, the attention of the user is drawn to the fact that during a certain period IIIa, The needle operates abnormally, in response to a start of counters after the rod is pushed from the third position to the first.

Figs. 6a and 6b show yet another embodiment. The movement of the needle differs depending on the position of the rod. The first position 5a, the second position 5b and the third position 5c are provided. In the first position 5a, the needle moves normally.

In the second position 5b. the lever 61 articulated on the rod is also in the second position and touches a spring 62 connected to the circuit. A signal is sent to circuit 2 so that the needle moves abnormally. When the rod is in its third position, circuit 2 is reset to zero and the train is controlled. The hours, minutes and seconds can be adjusted under these conditions. The movement then works according to the user's desire.

In summary, the oscillator 1, the divider 2, the drive circuit 3, the external control member 5, the counters 6 and 7, the detector circuit 8. the control circuit 9 and the display 10 are the main elements of the object described.

Period IIIa (figs. 4 and 5) corresponds to the time during which the battery voltage is normal but the display moves in abnormal mode. Period IIIb corresponds to the time during which the battery voltage is reduced and the display moves in an abnormal mode.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory view of the operation and the utility of another embodiment, the block circuits of which are visible in FIG. 8 and of which fig. 9 shows the time table. Figs. 7a and 7b show the reset and adjustment functions which are used in a conventional quartz crystal watch in which a quartz oscillator is used to obtain a precise time setting. These functions are explained briefly below.

In the case where the watch is set to the time by synchronization with an external signal, for example a time signal, the crown 101 is pulled from the first normal position 101a to the third position 101 c, at the precise moment when the seconds hand 102 comes to the midday position. Usually, in the second position of the crown 101, its rotation in one direction or the other causes a correction of the date or the day of the week.

A lever which is mechanically articulated on the external control member which carries the crown adjusts part of the train and resets the electronic circuit to zero.

By turning the crown 101 to its third position 101c so as to put the hour and minute hands in the correct position and then pushing it into the first position 101a at the exact time of the time signal as seen in fig. 7b the setting of the gear train and the resetting to zero of the electronic circuit are released and the second hand 102 starts to move correctly. The time setting of the hands is then complete.

According to the invention, an additional function is added to the above functions. The hours and minutes can be corrected without deactivating the second hand.

In fig. 7c a signal is introduced into the electronic circuit by pushing the button 103 and the second hand moves in a different way from normal. The second hand can be controlled to advance once every two seconds. In this case, for example, the movement of this hand takes the same form as when it signals the drop in battery voltage. It could also advance in 10-second jumps. We can still imagine other movements, for example three jumps per second. While the second hand is moving in this way, part of the train or the motor itself can be adjusted by pulling the crown out to its third position 101c, as shown in fig. 7d.

The second hand is then stopped. but the electronic circuit does not immediately return to zero, as it does in conventional watches, when the crown is actuated while in its external position. When the second hand describes its special movement due to the action on the button 103, the period of time during which the crown remains in its third position is memorized in a memory. The electronic circuit is not reset as soon as the button is pushed back as in a conventional watch.

For example, it is assumed that the watch is moved one hour ahead to correct a time difference and that the correction takes 15 seconds. Fig. 7th shows the situation of the watch immediately after the crown has been pushed to the first position from the third.

The function which is then implemented is that the second hand advances rapidly over the period of time during which the crown 101 has been in the pulled out position. Consequently, the time necessary for the correction of the time difference, that is to say the time during which the crown remained in the third position, is caught up. It is therefore possible to correct the time difference without putting the second hand at variance with the synchronism. Although we have shown in fig. 7th an embodiment which uses another button, other methods are still possible. To apply the signal to the electronic circuit so that the second hand performs its abnormal movement, the crown can be pressed from the first position, or the signal can be applied to the electronic circuit only when the crown is placed in the third position twice during a predetermined period. Such methods are possible in the sense that an electronic circuit responsive to these signals can be easily designed. The same is true of the mechanism. In the case of a watch that does not have seconds hands, it is also possible to apply the principle described above. So for example, when such a watch is in the state of preparation for correcting the displayed time, without losing the time count, The minute hand will be moved in an abnormal movement, signaling the state of preparation; on the contrary, the moment the user, after establishing the state of preparation, brings the crown to the setting position. time, the engine will be blocked and the count memorized as indicated above.

Figs. 8 and 9 show concrete examples of electronic circuits. In fig. 8, there is an oscillator 111 to create a time base signal, for example a quartz crystal or the like. The divider 112 is formed by integrated flip-flops (F.F.) like the drive circuit 113. The train 114 and the motor 115 are active parts of the display which displays the hours, the minutes, etc. A switch 110, mechanically articulated to the crown, is also visible.

A switch 103 is actuated by an auxiliary button.

The circuits 119 and 126 are circuits to avoid vibrations of the switches. 127 is a time counter, 123 a counter that controls the circuit, 128 a rising and falling counter, 116 a circuit for detecting the battery voltage, 118 a circuit for applying irregular signals and 117, 120, 124, 125 , 129 and 132 are doors.

The operation is as follows: in the normal mode, a signal appearing every second is introduced into the circuit 113 by the divider 112 as an output signal and the second hand, which is a part of the display 115, is actuated. When the time is corrected, the switch 110 articulated on the crown is actuated to set the divider circuit 112 to zero. The watch is therefore in the reset time position when the crown is in its third position and it is released when the crown is returned to the first position. After being released from the time setting position, the second hand starts and moves with precision. The signal from the switch circuit 127 which is usually at the high level goes to the low level by pushing the switch 103 articulated to another button. This constitutes the abnormal operating mode according to the invention.

The signal from circuit 116 which detects the drop in battery voltage is usually low and goes high as the battery voltage drops. For example, at the time of the normal movement of the hands the output pulse is reversed every second. However, when one of the outputs of the switch circuit 127 and the signal of the detector circuit 116 are at the high level, the wave of irregular shape which leaves the circuit 118 applies a signal whose pulse reverses for 15.6 msec every two seconds.

The second hand of display 115 advances two seconds once every two seconds. Thus, in the event that the battery voltage drops during the end of the battery life or in the event that the switch 103 is actuated, the user is warned by the fact that the second hand performs an abnormal movement . In the description given above, it is mentioned that the same movement of the second hand shows the drop in battery voltage and the actuation of the switch 103. However, in fact, these two operations can be shown by different movements.

After the switch 103 has been pushed, when the time setting starts by actuating the switch 110 with the crown in its third position, a control circuit 123 sends in a line 131 discrimination signals d on the one hand when the switch 110 is engaged and on the other hand when it is reset. With the activation of this switch, a counter 128 capable of counting up or down is turned on and begins to count in one direction or the other as indicated by the circuit 123. The counter 128 counts towards up when the time signal 121 is applied as the clock signal at the time of operation up, and counts down when the fast forward signal 122 is applied as the clock signal at the time of counting down In case of counting down, the fast forward signal is maintained as an output signal to the drive circuit 113 until the content of counter 128 becomes zero. The switch signal circuit 127 is arranged to return to zero at the low level when the content of the high-low counter 128 is at zero.

However, taking into consideration the case where the crown is not actuated, even if the switch 127 is pushed using a one to five minute counter as the switch signal circuit, the second hand does not a movement differentiated from the usual movement only during the time when the counter is activated. By this method, the user can be made aware that the watch is in a special state for a fixed period of time.

Fig. 9 is a table of times which appear in FIG. 8. The correspondence with the states of the watch is shown at the bottom of the figure. This means that an unusual movement of the second hand during period (e) gives the user a clear indication that the correction of a time difference is possible.

Claims (7)

1. Electronic watch comprising a battery, a time base, a frequency divider, circuits for developing a normal time signal and an abnormal time signal, a display device capable of being actuated by either of said time signals and capable of performing a timepiece function and at least one additional function, and a control device which comprises at least one external control member and circuit elements associated with this member, and which has at least two different modes of action capable of being implemented at will by the user, characterized in that the said circuit elements are arranged so as to perform simultaneously, in response to the setting implementation of a first of said modes of action, a state of preparation for said additional function, and the activation of the display device under the effect of the abnormal time signal, said additional function being effectively performed p ar an implementation of a second mode of action of the control device subsequent to the implementation which establishes the state of preparation. 2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device comprises two external control members, and in that the said modes of action correspond one to an operation of one of the said members and the another to an operation of the other organ. 3. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device comprises a single external control member and in that said modes of action correspond to different operations, of said member. 4. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said circuit elements are arranged so that the implementation of said second mode of action without prior implementation of the first mode of action establishes a function different from the timepiece function and the additional function. 5. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the circuits are arranged so that said additional function consists of a voluntary correction function of the displayed time indication with memorization of the time elapsed during the correction. 6. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the circuits are arranged so that said additional function consists of a rapid advance function of a seconds hand. 7. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the circuits are arranged so that said additional function consists of a function of recording an alarm time. The present invention relates to an electronic battery watch, which comprises on the one hand circuits ensuring a timepiece function and at least one additional function and on the other hand a display device which can operate according to a normal mode or a mode unnatural. Devices are known which, for example, signal the approach of the end of the stack by causing a display mode different from the normal mode. The abnormal display consists, for example, in that the second hand advances in steps of two seconds, every two seconds, as in patent no. 631,466. The prior documents US 4,175,377 and GB 1,512,591 also describe arrangements giving abnormal operation to a display means. The general concept of the invention consists in using a particular mode of the display, for example the advance in jumps of 2 seconds which normally indicates the exhaustion of the battery to signal another function, for example reminder of the special operation, under the action of a control member. This general concept can materialize in several different ways, in one of the chronograph watches, with control devices making it possible to display different times, in counters, watches with alarm devices, etc. Thus, cases are known where needles fulfill two functions. For example, The second hand indicates either seconds or an alarm time. The movement of the hands serves to perform one function and another function is fulfilled by diodes. etc. The object of the present invention is an electronic watch comprising a battery, a time base, a frequency divider, circuits for processing a normal time signal and an abnormal time signal, a device for display capable of being actuated by one or the other of said time signals and capable of performing a timepiece function and at least one additional function, and a control device which comprises at least one external control member and circuit elements associated with this member, and which has at least two different modes of action capable of being implemented at will by the user, characterized in that said circuit elements are arranged so as to produce simultaneously, in response to the implementation of a first of said modes of action, a state of preparation for said additional function, and the activation of the display device under the effect of the abnormal time signal, the said additional function ntaire actually being carried out by implementing a second mode of action of the control device subsequent to implementation which establishes the state of preparation. The appended drawing represents, by way of examples, various embodiments all arising from the general concept of the invention. In the attached drawing: fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention, fig. 2 an explanatory diagram of the operation of the control rod, fig. 3 is a detailed diagram of the circuits of FIG. 1, in a first embodiment of the invention, fig. 4 is a table of times, fig. 5, 6a and 6b illustrate alternative embodiments, fig. 7a to 7e illustrate different functions of a watch according to the invention, controlled by a control rod, fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment, and fig. 9 is the corresponding time table. Let's go back to figs. 1 to 4. A signal created by the oscillator 1, which forms a time base, for example quartz, is divided by the divider 2 which is produced in integrated technology. The output signal of the divider is transformed in a drive circuit 3 into a wave which is introduced into the coil of a motor 4. The drive circuit 3 turns the motor 4 and the time indication, for example by hours, minutes and seconds, is displayed on the device 10. Although the drive means 3 and the display means 10 of this embodiment are analog display means, they could also be digital type display means. The watch described comprises (fig. 2) a control ring 5 which can take 3 different axial positions designated by 5a, 5b, 5c. Position Sa is the usual position, corresponding to normal operation of the ** ATTENTION ** end of the CLMS field may contain start of DESC **.