DE8914917U1 - Electronic clock - Google Patents

Description

The innovation relates to an electronic watch with a power source such as a battery in a watch case, which supplies an electrical circuit in which electronic components or a microprocessor are arranged to determine and display parameters such as time.

Corresponding clocks, which can be designed as digital or analog clocks, are well known. In electronic clocks, mechanical elements are replaced by electronic components. Liquid crystal displays or LED displays can be used. Such clocks work on the basis of quartz clocks, whose oscillation standard consists of an oscillating quartz. In clocks with several points in addition to the time display, microprocessors are used nowadays.

Due to manufacturing reasons, corresponding electronic watches are delivered with an active circuit, i.e. the battery already supplies the circuit that controls the functions. In analogue watches, the hands can be switched off by pulling the crown, but the electronics are not supplied with power ("battery saver"). Consequently, the current flows

29439/15.12.1989/bn'··'

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STREET & FABRIC RAIN Palf &igr;!■■ in**ff - European Patent Attorneys

This can lead to the disadvantage that watches that have been stored for a long time have their batteries so worn out that a customer has to replace them after just a few months. Replacing the battery or the cost of a battery is disproportionate to the cost of purchasing the watch itself, especially for LCD watches in the lower price range.

The aim of this innovation is to develop an electronic clock, in particular a wristwatch of the type mentioned above, in such a way that the clock is only supplied with power at a desired time without this being done by inserting a battery or opening the clock. This should ensure that an uncontrolled interruption of the circuit is no longer possible after the clock is switched on.

According to the innovation, the task is essentially solved by the fact that, in order to switch on the circuit, a switching element is present which can be detected from the outside of the watch case and which, when the circuit is switched on, is aligned with the outside of the watch case or is recessed into it.

With other models, a push button or a sliding element is used, which protrudes above the watch case or is arranged in a recess and is accessible there when the circuit is still interrupted. This has the advantage that the watches are delivered without a closed circuit after they have been manufactured and can therefore be stored as required without the battery power decreasing due to power consumption. Only when the watch is sold, for example, can the circuit be switched on by pressing the push button or moving the sliding element. When the circuit is switched on, the switching element is arranged in relation to the case in such a way that the switching element can no longer be detected, i.e. the circuit can no longer be interrupted from the outside of the watch. This ensures that an uncontrolled interruption of the circuit and thus a malfunction of the watch cannot occur.

29439/15.12.1989/bn "

STREET & FABRIC RAIN European PaMnI Attorney«

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Preferably, the switching element only acts indirectly on the circuit. The switching element can therefore act on a toggle switch that is arranged directly in the circuit.

Finally, the switching element can be locked into the circuit in the activated position, thus providing additional security that the switching element cannot be pulled out from the outside of the watch when the circuit is closed in order to interrupt the circuit.

Important details, advantages and features of the innovation arise not only from the protection claims, the features derived from them - individually and/or in combination - but also from the following description of the preferred embodiments shown in the drawing.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic
Wristwatch and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an electronic wristwatch,
partially broken away.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an LCD watch (10), which comprises a watch case (12), a display (14) and a bracelet consisting of sections (16) and (18) as essential components. A microprocessor (20) is arranged in the watch case (12), which is activated by a battery (22). The microprocessor (20) generates the necessary functions for displaying the time or for displaying other functions such as temperature, air pressure or similar.

The microprocessor is located in a circuit (24) in which the battery (22) is arranged.

29439/15.12.1989/bn*··'··"■'·· ^: ··'·" ^:

STREET &bgr;. FABRIC REQ Patents·«· European Patent Attorney»

In order to conserve the battery (22), the circuit (24) is only closed when the watch (10) is to be used. For this purpose, the circuit (24) has a switch (26) which in turn is operated via a push button (28). This push button (28) protrudes from the outside of the watch case (12) and can be pressed or pushed into the inside of the watch case. As soon as the button (28) - in the exemplary embodiment with its extended section (30) - is flush with the outside of the watch case, the switch (26) is operated, which in turn closes the circuit (24). At this moment the battery (22) supplies the microprocessor (20) or _similarly acting electronic components so that, for example, the time can be displayed digitally (Fig. 1) or analogue (Fig. 2).

As soon as the push button (28) is in a flush position with the surface of the watch case, it can no longer be grasped from the outside. This in turn means that the electrical circuit (24) can only be interrupted by pushing the push button (28) outwards after the watch case (12) has been opened. This measure ensures that a user of the watch (10) cannot switch it off uncontrollably from the outside.

The innovative design of the watch (10) provides the advantage that a customer receives the watch with full battery power, so that the guaranteed battery life of at least one year or more is ensured. But not only the customer, but also the seller has the advantage that premature apparent warranty cases do not lead to an undesirable burden.

29439/15.12.1989/bn"

Claims (1)

1. Electronic watch with a power source such as a battery in a watch case that supplies a circuit in which electronic components or a microprocessor are arranged for determining and displaying parameters such as time, characterized,
that for switching on the circuit (24) there is a switching element (28) which can be grasped from the outside of the watch case and which is flush with the watch case or recessed in it when the circuit is switched on. 2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized, that the switching element (28) extends beyond the outside of the watch case protrudes. 3. Watch according to claim 1, characterized,
that the switching element (28) is arranged in a recess in the watch case. 29439/15.12.1989/bn' STREET & FABRIC RAIN *· Eurt^Mn PaMnI Attorneys 4. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching element (28) is a push button. 5. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching element (28) is a slide. 8th. Watch according to claim 1. characterized, JaB the switching element (28) on a circuit (24) closing switch (26). Clock according to at least claim 1, characterized in that the switching element (28) is spring-loaded. Clock according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching element (28) is locked into the circuit (24) in the activated position. • · · &igr; >>■*· ■ ■ 29439/15.12.1989/bn " "