EP0130150B1 - Electronic chronograph, especially in a watch - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an analog electronic chronograph with timed time counter, in particular an analog electronic chronograph watch with timed time counter, comprising a display device equipped with a minute hand of timed time, a second hand of timed time and means for displaying timed time units of duration less than one second, electronic time counting means, a stepping motor for moving at least said second hand of the timed time in synchronism with the means for counting and a control device comprising several manual organs capable of controlling at least the starting of the chronograph counting, its stopping, the taking and display of an intermediate time, as well as the catching up of the display of the timed time.

In the field of time counter chronographs and digital display chronograph watches, a very large number of models have already been produced, provided with a wide variety of functions. On the other hand, in the field of electronic chronographs and chronograph watches with analog display by hands, little has been proposed so far. Various parts are known comprising several stepping motors, the timer devices which link two hands kinematically being expensive as regards setting the time, as is the catch-up function or the reset function for chronograph hands. A certain number of timekeepers would however prefer to be able to work with chronographs with analog display by hands, because these give a more intuitive vision of the advance of time. The particularities and advantages demanded today of a chronograph or a chronograph watch are above all that they allow a great diversity of functions, while remaining convenient to use, and that they are a practical job for timing competitions or training for competitions. An interesting performance would be the presence of a certain number of memories making it possible to memorize different times, combining in different ways, and which can if necessary be recalled afterwards for re-registration or control. It would be particularly interesting to be able to control, with a single digital electronic chronograph, the arrival times of a dozen, or even dozens of runners who sometimes follow each other very closely. A piece that can be produced in a wristwatch format which makes it easy to “split (that is to say, to take the exact time)” from a very rapid succession of runners' passages, then to read successively all of these times, in an analog form, would certainly find an interest marked with timekeepers, typically for sports timekeeping, but also for other types of timekeeping.

Among the previous publications cited - all as "technological background" - the closest is publication GB-A-2,005,875. It concerns an electronic chronograph with digital display comprising several motors. There are however no means to memorize different times. timed and make them reappear at will in the form of the position of the different hands. The prior art shows that the problem of nesting the different functions of a chronograph, functions with which the display must naturally cooperate, is not very simple as soon as an analog display is desired. The prior art had not provided for an arrangement for memorizing different timed times in the case of an analog display, it being understood that the bringing into place of different hands, in different positions which may be very divergent, cannot not be done as instantaneously as changing an electronic digital indication.

The object of the present invention is to provide an analog electronic chronograph, in particular in the form of an analog electronic chronograph watch, making it possible to achieve the desirable performances, in particular the performances relating to the memorization of different timed times combined with an analog display arrangement. . The invention thus aims to combine in a very flexible and diversified manner in terms of use but remaining very simple in terms of manufacturing, the advantages of electronic storage of the timed times and of the analog display thereof, d '' in a reliable way and allowing verification reminders. The proposed chronograph or chronograph watch must be adaptable with flexibility to the different types of timing that may occur.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the presence of the characters set out in the first appended claim.

The dependent claims define particularly advantageous embodiments, firstly as regards the possibilities of function and the handling devices, and then as regards the constitution of the diagrams which allow numerous functions, often very nuanced, by means of a relatively few elements, achievable as integrated circuits.

• la fig. 1 est une vue de face d'une montre-chronographe conforme à l'invention sous le format d'une montre-bracelet,
• les fig. 2A, 2B, 2C et 2D forment ensemble, de la manière illustrée à la fig. 2E, le schéma logique et électronique de la montre-chronographe en question, et les fig. 3 et 4 sont des schémas détaillés respectivement, d'un bloc compteur-comparateur représenté par un cadre à la fig. 2B, et des mémoires similairement montrées à la fig. 2C.

The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, an embodiment of the subject of the invention; in this drawing:

• fig. 1 is a front view of a chronograph watch according to the invention in the format of a wristwatch,
• fig. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D form together, as illustrated in FIG. 2E, the logic and electronic diagram of the chronograph watch in question, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are detailed diagrams respectively, of a counter-comparator block represented by a frame in FIG. 2B, and briefs similarly shown in fig. 2C.

In fig. 1, it can be seen that, viewed from the outside, the chronograph watch comprises a housing 1, containing an electronic assembly for actuating the hands for measuring the current time and the hands of the different chronograph function variants. The current time is displayed, in a conventional manner, by an hour hand 2, central, a minute hand 3, also central, and a second hand 4, in the “six o'clock” position, as has often been done. The hands of the chronograph function consist of a timed time hour hand 8, a timed time minute hand 7, located at "twelve o'clock and" nine o'clock respectively. On the other hand, the most important hands for timing, i.e. the hand 6 of the seconds of timed time and the hand 5 of the hundredths of a second of timed time are also central hands, the hand of the hundredths of seconds of timed time working on an entirely external scale of a circular dial on which a unit of a hundredth of a turn can easily be read.

As will be seen below, the watch comprises a series of timed time memories, and the contents of these memories can be selectively displayed, a digital display field 13 typically with liquid crystal, providing the indication of that of the memories. the hands of the chronograph function indicate the content. In a way that has already been proposed, but only. in the case of chronograph watches, for small hundredths of a second hands, the hundredths of a second hand 5 is not permanently moved but it is brought afterwards to the desired value, electronically recorded, once the time to be measured has been apprehended. In operation, the hundredths of a second hand 5 remains stationary as long as the time is being counted and the display of a timed time has not been called up.

We know that in timing, we differentiate between different types of function, the simplest being the START-STOP function, or the “RALLYE” function for time laps not being then to be performed. When a certain number of times are to be timed, two functions are known which are respectively called SPLIT, and LAP (or LAP RESET).

The SPLIT function is the typical, most common function, which allows intermediate time scores throughout a course or crossing scores of different runners during the same basic timing. At the desired moment, a press on a push-button 10 started counting the chronograph, and one or more new presses on this button will make it possible to note intermediate times, even a final time. On the other hand, the counting of time bases will continue until it is ended by a STOP function using a push button 11. Once a first press on this button - pusher stopped counting, i.e. stopped the seconds, minutes and hours of timed time and caused the needle to pass the hundredths of a second, in the blink of an eye, on the desired value, a further press on this push-button 11 returns all these needles to the zero position. If, during the continuous operation of the basic time counting started with the push button 10, you want to record intermediate times, you use the push button 10 again. The chronograph hands then stop ( the hundredths of a second hand is positioned correctly) and you can read the split time. If several intermediate times are recorded at very short intervals, only the first is displayed first, the others, memorized, which must then be called up, this being done using a third push-button 12. We will see below the details of this operation.

Note that on the other hand in LAP function, each press by which the time of a passage is noted does not interrupt the operation of the basic counter but instantly resets it to zero, which means that a new count begins. This LAP system is used for example for racing circuits when you want to know each time the time taken by a racer to complete a lap. Thus, the timing of the end of the previous lap coincides with the timing of the timing of the next lap.

Note that the number of memories that such a watch can contain can be relatively high, relatively simple pieces can have six to eight memories, other pieces, more professional, can count twenty, thirty, even fifty or more. In the display field 13 of FIG. 1, a two-digit display has been provided, which at most would correspond to ninety-nine memories.

We may also want to use the watch only to temporarily memorize the times that we could not register immediately, and then free the memories as soon as the time is noted on a sheet of paper, for example; one can also use the watch, in particular if it is provided with a large number of memories, to memorize the arrival times, for example of the twenty or thirty runners of a sports race.

We also note, in fig. 1, the presence of a part 9 having the shape of a winding crown; this allows, after printing, the reset of the hands indicating the current time. At the same time, the drawing of this crown 9 blocks the seconds hand of the current time, either by leaving it where it is or, alternatively, by making it return to zero by conventional means.

We will now briefly describe the different functions, or possibilities of operation, of the chronograph part. It is assumed that at the start the chronograph is in the reset position (RESET), hands 5, 6, 7 and 8 being on zero. The following functions can be recognized:

1. START-STOP-RESET function

Pressing push-button 10 starts the time counter, hands 6, 7 and 8 rotate.

Pressing the pusher 11 stops the time counter, the hands 6, 7 and 8 stop, the needle 5 receives a number of pulses corresponding to the number of hundredths of a second measured.

A second press on the push button 11 resets the counter to zero, that is to say that the four hands 5, 6, 7 and 8 are brought back to zero. In this function, the digital display 13, representative of the rank of the memory whose content is displayed, remains at zero.

2. START-STOP-START-STOP-RESET (RALLYE) function

The function is the same as above, except for the fact that, following the first pressure on the push-button 11, a new pressure is applied on the push-button 10 so that the hands 6, 7 and 8 start again, while the hundredths of a second hand stays where it was. Then, the next pressure on the pusher 11 again stops the needles, and the process can be repeated as much as desired. At the end, when the pusher 11 has been pressed twice in succession, the second pressure on the pusher brings all the needles to zero. The digital display 13 also remains at zero in this function.

3. START-SPLIT-RATTRAPANTE-STOP function

Pressing push-button 10 starts counting the time, hands 6, 7 and 8 turn. Pressing push-button 10 again performs a "SPLIT", that is to say that the time counter does not stop, but the first memory stores the time of the SPLIT. At the same time, the device determining which memory is read, causes the reading of the first memory, so that the hands 6, 7 and 8 stop at the time corresponding to the instant when one pressed on button 10, and at the same time hand 5, hundredths of a second, joins the memorized value. The digital display then indicates "1", which means that the content of the first memory is displayed.

When the pusher 12 is pressed, the hands 6, 7 and 8 join the time value of the time counter, more precisely they join the value of the following memory, which is itself synchronized with the time counter. The needle 5 remains in place; display 13 will mark “2” suggesting that we could take a second SPLIT, but we admit here that there is only one. Then, pressing the button 11 stops the time counter, the hands 6, 7 and 8 stop on the measured time, the needle 5 returns to the position corresponding to the number of hundredths measured.

Pressing the pusher 11 again resets all the needles to zero, and the display field 13 again indicates zero.

4. START-SPLIT-n SPLIT-RATTRAPANTE function

Pressing push-button 10 starts the time counter, hands 6 and 7 rotate. Then, a first press of SPLIT, again on push-button 10, causes the time thus detected to be memorized in a first memory, but the basic time counter does not stop. On the other hand, the hands 6, 7 and 8 stop at the positions corresponding to the time thus memorized and the needle 5 rejoins the memorized value. The digital display 13 indicates 1 1 ". Then, for example, if a certain number of runners arrive very quickly at the aiming point, press the pusher 10 again. The time values are successively memorized, each time in a subsequent memory. The digital display, however, always indicates the value "1 •, and the hands remain positioned on the indications of the first recorded time. When this has been noted, pressing the push-button 12 switches the display to the second memory, the digital display 13 indicates “2 a, and hands 5, 6, 7 and 8 are quickly brought to the value stored in the second memory, that is to say say that they indicate the time of the second “SPLIT.” The latter can be noted, then a further press on push-button 12 similarly displays the time recorded in the third memory, while digital display 13 indicates 3 3 ". It is thus possible to continue calling up the times successively stored in the different memories. If it happens that we pass on a memory which has not yet recorded a time, hands 6, 7 and 8 start to turn again, because this memory is still synchronized on the basic counter. When the next runner arrives, pressing the pusher 10 again records the corresponding time in the memory in question, the hands 6, 7 and 8 stop turning while the needle 5, which has remained stationary until then, wins the position corresponding to the stored hundredth of a second value. At any time, one can, if desired, perform a RATTRAPANTE function, or more exactly a resynchronization function of all the memories. For this, it is first necessary to press on push-button 12, then, while the latter is pressed, also press on push-button 11. This has the effect of resynchronizing all the memories on the basic time counter, in at the same time as the display of the memory read, in the digital field 13, is reset to zero. This "RATTRAPANTE" or RESYNCHRONIZATION function is useful mainly when, after having loaded all memories, there is still time to collect, that is to say that the number of runners is greater than the number of memories. We can then start again to take times (SPLITS) which will come back successively in memories 1, 2, etc. To call up the display of the next memory, pressure is exerted on the push-button 12. It should be noted that, at the time of the first SPLIT while the digital display 13 is still at zero, the change to "1" is made automatically, and the hands are positioned on the value memorized in the first memory, without it being necessary to act on the push-button 12. When all the times have been written in memories, that is to say when all the runners have passed, you can stop the counting, by pressing push-button 11, after which you can, if you wish, reset the base counter to zero, at the same time as all the memories are resynchronized on this counter base itself to zero, the counting operation thus being completed. Before resetting all the memories to zero, it is however advisable to call up, using the push-button 12, all the contents of memorized memories. If you go to a memory that has not recorded any time, this memory, still synchronized with the base counter, will cause the hands to be positioned at the time when you stopped counting. Pressing push-button 12 again later automatically returns the memory reading to “0 •, because the cycle of the count calls is automatically limited to a position beyond the number of memories that have been loaded.

As long as the whole counter has not been reset to zero, by two successive presses on push-button 11, and as long as there has not been carried out either a RETURN or RESYNCHRONIZATION function as previously indicated (at using push-button 12 and push-button 11), it is possible, if desired, to cycle through the memory cycle in order to possibly check that the different times have been noted. The function of successively calling up the contents of the memories, using the push-button 12, continues to be achievable in the stopped state of the counter, as long as the latter has not been reset.

5. START-n FUNCTION STORED ARRIVALS

A first press on the pusher 10 starts the counter, the hands 6, 7 and 8 rotate. Then, a first time-taking pressure again on the pusher 10 causes the display of the first time thus memorized in the first memory, the digital display 13 indicates "1". We can then continue the whole process as explained above, under 4, by stopping the counting using push button 11 (stop), when all the times have been apprehended. In these circumstances, all the times remain in memory and their successive exploration is done using push-button 12. To reset the entire chronograph to zero, a second press on push-button 11 must be made.

It should be noted that when the counter is running, pressing the pusher 11 stops it, and when the counter is stopped, pressing the pusher 11 resets the chronograph to zero. It does not matter whether these two presses, the first of STOP and the second of RESET, were carried out just one after the other, or on the contrary that a certain number of memory display calls using pusher 12 has intervened in the meantime. The important thing is that the RESET function is carried out by pressing push-button 11 when the counter is stopped.

It should be noted that, depending on whether one or the other of two variants will be explained which will be explained in connection with the diagram, the function RATTRAPANTE, RESYNCHRONISATION may either be possible only when the counter is running, or may also be possible when the counter is stopped. To perform this function, always first press push-button 12, which prepares the action, then push-button 11, which resynchronizes all the memories on the basic counter. If it is stopped, all memories will re-synchronize to the value at which the base counter is stopped. On the other hand, because the pusher 11 is pressed while the pusher 12 is also being pressed, this pressure on the pusher 11 does not cause a reset (or RESET).

6. START-LAP- (RATTRAPANTE) function _- LAP or n LAP, etc.

The various functions which we have just seen and which made it possible to store intermediate times without stopping the counter (SPLITS), can be performed simultaneously as a LAP function (or LAP-RESET). For this, the times are apprehended using the pusher 10, as has been seen previously, but, prior to actuation of the pusher 10, the pusher 12 is pressed which prepares the LAP function or place of the SPLIT function. In this case, the time is memorized and the counter does not stop but is instantly reset to zero to start from zero. Hands 6, 7 and 8 stop and the hundredths of a second hand is positioned correctly; digital display 13 indicates "1". If the RATTRAPANTE, RESYNCHRONIZATION functions are not performed in the meantime, a new LAP can then be performed in the same way, however the time will be recorded in the second memory. To make this second reading, push button 12 once must be pressed, in order to display the contents of the second memory. If this measurement was made before the second LAP, the hands 6, 7 and 8 will start to rotate again (pseudo-split-second function), and the hundredths of a second 5 hand will remain fixed. When the second LAP will be done using the pusher 10, while the pusher 12 has been previously pressed, the second LAP time will be stopped, that is, the hands 6, 7 and 8 will stop while needle 5 will gain the desired position. We can by example in this way successively time the exact time that a motor car will have taken each time to complete a lap in a motor race. The first memory will memorize the time of the first lap, the second memory the time of the second lap, the third memory the time of the third lap, etc. If you have to memorize a number of lap times greater than the number of available memories, you can use the SHIFT, RESYNCHRONIZATION function exactly as seen above; naturally the lap times memorized prior to the RESYNCHRONIZATION are lost, that is to say that the memories are discharged and made free for the next memorizations.

It should be noted that, depending on the constitution of an input counter for SPLIT or LAP 39, which will be considered below, it is possible to provide that, once the last memory has been loaded, the next SPLIT or the next LAP reloads the first memory again. At this time, assuming that there are 25 memories and that 27 SPLITS or LAPS had to be memorized, the first two memories will memorize times 26 and 27, while memories 3 to 25 will still memorize times 3 to 25. This possibility is however only a variant which depends on the constitution of a counter in the electronic circuit.

7. Temporary date indication function

During chronograph operation, the digital display field 13 displays the rank of the memory whose content is displayed. When the chronograph is not in use, this display field shows the date. However, it may happen that during timing, one wants to quickly check the date, without abandoning the timing status. This can be done by a long-lasting pressure on the push-button 12. In fact, if, while the field 13 displays the rank of a memory, the push-button 12 is pressed for more than about 3 sec, a circuit time delay causes that, after approximately 3 sec, the control of display 13 changes and the date appears in this field. This appearance of the date remains as long as the pusher 12 is pressed; as soon as it is released, the memory rank read is displayed again. Such pressure on the pusher 12, to temporarily display the date, does not cause the otherwise usual action of a pressure on the pusher 12, that is to say the advancement of a step of the rank of the memory whose contents are displayed.

Having now considered the different possibilities of combinations of possible functions with the described chronograph watch, we will, in conjunction with FIGS. 2 (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D), 3 and 4, examine the internal constitution of the watch, from an electronic and logical point of view.

It should first be noted that the four figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D form a whole, in the manner which is illustrated in FIG. 2E. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the counter-comparator 51 of FIG. 2B, whose rather particular structure deserved to be represented in more detail. Fig. 4 is a detailed diagram of a memory such as memories 66, 67, 68 _1-n of FIG. 2C. It will also be noted that, in order to more easily find the elements, reference signs have been taken between 20 and 39 for FIG. 2A, between 40 and 59 for fig. 2B, between 60 and 79 for fig. 2C and between 80 and 110 for fig. 2D. The reference signs of fig. 3 are between 110 and 120, those of FIG. 4 between 130 and 140.

We will first consider the diagram as it appears in all of Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D. In general, we note that the diagram is itself relatively "speaking for an experienced electronics engineer, and that certain details which may not have been explained in the text may very well be understood simply by sight. figures.

An oscillator 21, controlled by quartz, provides a high frequency which is divided up to 100 Hz in a frequency divider 22. Since then, there is, for the current time display function, a second frequency divider 23 providing a frequency of 1 Hz. This is applied to an AND gate 24, the other input of which is applied a level "1", unless an SO switch (second to zero) is operated and applies a zero level on this other entry. This switch is closed (on) when the crown 9 for resetting the mechanical time of the hands 2, 3 and 4 indicating the current time is operated. In this case, the pulses at 1 Hz can no longer pass through the door 24 and the stepping motor which actuates the seconds hand of the current time is stopped. Alternatively, a mechanical or electronic device could be provided which not only stops the second hand but resets it to zero. Normally, pulses at 1 Hz exit from the door 24 and are applied to a circuit 25 which proceeds to the desired shaping of the pulses intended to advance a motor every 36 seconds. This motor 36 actuates, as seen in 37a, a second hand, which, by a conventional gear mechanism, drives a minute hand which itself drives the hour hand. A contact H (see fig. 2B lower left) is actuated twice a day by the hour hand of the current time, for counting the date. For setting the time using the crown 9, there is conventionally a lanterning device.

This display of current time is conventional and does not require more detailed explanation.

The output at 100 Hz of the frequency divider 22 is also applied to a gate 30 which constitutes the control gate of the basic time counter for the chronograph function. When the other input of this door 30 carries a level “1 •, pulses at 100 Hz are emitted by the door 30 and operate the chronograph counter (timed times), on the other hand, when the level on this other input is "0", the pulse at 100 Hz is not transmitted and the basic counter of the function chronograph is stopped.

It can be seen that the push-button 10 acts first of all on a shaping stage 26, the output signal of which puts a flip-flop 29 in the working state. The output Q of the latter is applied to the second entry of the AND gate 30, so that the basic counter of the chronograph function operates when the flip-flop 29 is in the working state while it is stopped when this flip-flop is in the state of rest. By the arrangement, in a known manner, of two REVERSE gates 31 and 32, a second flip-flop, 28, follows in its tilting the flip-flop 29, but with a delay equal to the duration of the pulse which acts on the flip-flop 29. In fact, as soon as the chronograph counter is in operation, that is to say that the door 30 is on, a new actuation of the push button 10 causes a SPLIT function. However, it must be avoided that the first actuation of this push-button, which starts the counter, does not already cause a SPLIT, which is why the authorization of the SPLIT function only intervenes when the flip-flop 28 has also passed. in its working state, that is to say when the pulse delivered by the pulse former 28 has disappeared.

To return the flip-flop 29 to the rest state, the push-button 11 is actuated and its pulse is shaped by a circuit 27. This pulse is applied to an AND gate 37 whose other input receives the signal from the output Q of the flip-flop 28, and of which yet another input receives a signal C which is at level "1 when the push-button 12 is not pressed and which passes to level" 0 ", when the latter is pressed In this way, if the push button 11 is operated while the push button 12 is pressed, the STOP function cannot be carried out. If this is not the case and if the counter is in operation, it that is to say that the flip-flops 28 and 29 are in the working positions, pressing the push-button 11 brings a level signal "1 to the exit of the door 37, and the flip-flop 29 is immediately returned to the idle state. As the signal leaving the shaping circuit 29 is also applied to the second input of the REVERSE OR gate 32, the ba return flow of the flip-flop 28 follows that of the flip-flop 29 only when the push-button 11 has been released.

In fact, a second manipulation of the push button 11 causes a reset function (RESET) via an AND gate 38, one input of which receives the signal from the pulse generator 27 and one of which another input receives the signal from the output Q of the flip-flop 28. In this way, the reset necessarily requires two manipulations of the pusher 11, which must first have been released to rock the flip-flop 28 back, before that a new manipulation can cause the reset function through the door 38. The latter also receives the signal C, which has the same effect as has just been explained concerning the door 37.

Depending on the state of the flip-flop 29, the door 30 is therefore on or off, and the base counter of the chronograph function is either running or stopped.

Considering fig. 2C, it can be seen that the output signal from gate 30, by a line CT, is first applied to a pulse formatter 51 which delivers a pulse every hundredths of a second. This pulse is applied to the clock input of a memory counter 65 _o which counts according to a cycle of 100, (preferably two quartetts BCD in series) and which provides the information of hundredths of a second of chronograph. We will return later to the exact constitution of this memory counter. This information is provided on a line formed by a plurality of conductors, which is why the connection is drawn in thick lines. The conductor with the highest weight switches once per cycle and is taken from the output information from the memory counter 65 _o to be applied to a pulse formatter 62 which delivers a signal at one pulse per second. Similarly, this signal activates a memory counter 66 ₀ , which counts to 60 and which provides the indication of seconds on a line comprising a plurality of conductors. Again the information of the driver having the highest weighting is taken from this information to be applied to a pulse trainer 63 which delivers one pulse per minute, which is applied as clock pulse to a memory counter 67 _o which count the minutes. The latter delivers the minute information on a multi-conductor line, and the highest weighting signal is taken to be applied to a pulse-forming stage 64 which delivers one pulse per hour to a memory counter 68 ₀ delivering time information on a multi-conductor line.

The set of memory counters 65 ₀ , 66 _o , 67 _o and 68 ₀ constitutes the basic counter for the chronograph function.

The four multiple pieces of information output from these counters, namely the information of the hundredths of a second of the chronograph, the information of the seconds of the chronograph, the information of the chronograph minutes, and the information of the chronograph hours, are delivered on bus lines which are applied respectively to the positioning inputs E of a whole series of memories 65 ₁ -65 _n for hundredths of a second, 66 ₁ -66 _n for seconds, 671-67n for minutes and 68 ₁ -68 _n for hours. Thus, there are groups of four memories, each group being however considered to be a time information memory, ranging from hundredths of a second to hours. Thus, we will then speak of memory no 1, for the group formed of (partial) memories 65 ₁ , 66 ₁ , 67 ₁ , 68 ₁ , of memory no 2 for the group formed of the following (partial) memories, etc. .. up to memory no n, for the group made up of (partial) memories 65 _n , 66 _n , 67 _n , 68 _n .

Each (partial) memory shown in fig. 2C can advantageously have the structure shown in FIG. 4. We see that it consists of a memory element proper 135, the input of which is controlled by a multiple door 134, which lets pass or not the multiple information located on the input E. Likewise the output of the memory element 135 is applied to an output circuit 136 which comprises a multiple AND gate circuit 136a, and a group of output stages 136b. Again the information leaving the memory element 135 can be transmitted or stopped according to the command supplied to the multiple door 136a. In fig. 4, only one of the output stages has been shown, and it can be seen that it is formed by a transistor 137 working on a resistor 138. Such a configuration of output stages makes it possible to easily parallel the stages counterpart output from all memories the same. weighting, this direct galvanic connection of all outputs on a conductor automatically establishing an OR function. It is noted that the resistance 138 can be extremely high, given the fact that there will be a large number of them in parallel. One can also provide for having a resistor 138 only for example on the outputs of the last memories, of rank n, the others being simply deleted.

An input Ts controls the multiple output gate 136a, and there is only ever one memory, the first, the second or the n-1 th, or the n th, whose output is on. Indeed, as we will see, there is only one of the memories (complete ranging from hundredths of a second to hours) which receives a signal of level "1 on its input Ts. The inputs Ts of the different memories are supplied by the lines A _o -A _n , which correspond to the different outputs of the counter-comparator 51 which will be considered below. Note that the memory counters 65 _o -68 _o include the same output circuit 136a, which makes it possible to control their output exactly like that of simple memories, also by a TS input. Regarding these memory counters, it should also be said that they include two outputs, one (MCO, MSO, MMO, MHO) to permanently supply the corresponding information, for the subordinate memories and another output S , controlled by a circuit similar to circuit 136 of FIG. 4, and which delivers information only when it is desired to display the information even contained in the memory counters, that is to say the basic counter of the chronograph function.

The opening or closing of the multiple door 134, at the entry of each (partial) memory is controlled by a flip-flop 132 which is put in the working position on reception of a BL pulse (blocking), passing through a shaping stage 130, and which is put in the rest position by an impulse on an input Sy (Synchronization) via the shaping stage 131. This is the information of the output Q of the flip-flop 132 which controls the multiple door 134, however passing through an OR gate 133. In fact, the blocking pulse, arriving through the stage 130, puts the flip-flop 132 in the working state and therefore establishes a zero level at the output Q. However, during the very pulse, given the connection between the input s of the flip-flop 132 and the second input of the OR gate 133, the level applied to the multiple gate 134 is always level "1 •. Thus, if the door was previously passing, the BL pulse makes it non-passing, but only from the moment of its disappearance. If on the other hand, a BL pulse is applied while the flip-flop 132 is already in the working state, that is to say that the door 134 is already busy, a level "1" appears at the entry of this gate 134 only during the very short duration of the pulse delivered by the pulse forming stage 130, which means that, for a brief instant, the information present on the input E can pass on the memory element 135. Thus, several successive BL pulses have the effect of repositioning the memory element 135 on a new blocking position. Furthermore, resynchronization is done by a signal applied to the input Sy, which, by l 'impulse-forming stage 131, acts on the input r of the flip-flop 132. The output to of the latter then goes to level "1 and the gate 134 becomes permanently on again, so that the memory element 135 follows exactly the evolution of the corresponding memory counter (65 _o -68 _o ).

Note that the memory counters are provided with a reset input; the memories themselves are not; to reset them, they are simply resynchronized on the memory counter while the latter is itself reset. On the other hand, both the memory counters ("basic counter" or "zero counter") and the various memories (memories no 1, memory no 2 ... memory no n) include the input Ts which allows the delivery of output information for display.

Returning to fig. 2A, it can be seen that when the counter is in operation (flip-flops 28 and 29 in the working state) and that the pusher 10 is manipulated, a door 35 is made passable and delivers a SPLIT pulse. This pulse is applied to the clock input of a counter 39 having n positions, plus a zero position. At the start, this counter was reset to zero by a pulse on its input r. It is a counter of the type either online or in ring. In the zero position, none of the outputs B ₁ to B _n carries a signal. When a SPLIT pulse is applied, this counter advances by one row and its output B ₁ carries a level “1 a. As can be seen in fig. 2C, this level is applied to the input BL of the partial memories of memory no 1. This memory is then locked in the position that the basic counter has just at this time. Therefore memory no 1 is loaded with time information, that of the first SPLIT. When a second press of the push button 10 occurs, the counter 39 advances by one row and it is similarly the memory no 2 which is blocked on the state that the basic counter of the chronograph function presents at this time. the. The same process continues and, each time the pusher 10 is manipulated, a new memory takes care of the information that the time counter presents just at that time. In fig. 2A, it can be seen that the output of the gate 35 is applied to an input of an AND gate 36, the other input of which receives a signal from the push button 12 (fig. 2B). This has the effect that when the pusher 10 is manipulated while the pusher 12 is pressed, the SPLIT function becomes a LAPRESET function, that is to say that the pulse which then appears at the output of gate 36, via an OR gate 34, instantly resets the memory counters 65 _o to 68 ₀ , that is to say the basic counter of the memory, but the very counting of time is not stopped, it simply starts from zero. We then have the LAP function, which was previously explained.

We have already seen what were, via the AND gates 37 and 38, the effects of a pressure on the pusher 11, that is to say first of all stopping the counter, then resetting it to zero , via gate 38 and gate 34.

In fig. 2B, there is a comparator counter 51, the details of which are shown in FIG. 3 and will be considered later. This counter has n positions, plus a zero position. It advances by one step each time it receives, on its clock input, a pulse which comes from a pulse former 44. The latter is controlled by the push-button 12, in such a way that it s now is to consider.

The push-button 12 can have either its intrinsic function, which of advancing the counter 51 by one step, or an auxiliary function, which is to modify the effects of a pressure on the push-buttons 10 or 11. In this case, its function intrinsic is inhibited. For this, after passing through a pulse-forming stage 41, the pusher 12 puts a flip-flop 50 in the working position. The output of the latter is applied to an input of an AND gate 43 from which the other input receives the output of an inverter 42, itself also controlled by the push-button 12. Thus, the door 43 does not turn on when the output Q of the flip-flop 50 goes to level “1 •. It is only when the pressure is released on the pusher 12 that the level "1" will return to the output of the inverter 42 and that, if the flip-flop 50 is still in the working state, the door 43 will deliver at its output a signal to the pulse generator 44, supplying the clock input of the counter 51. If, however, in the meantime, a pulse has been applied to the reset input r of the flip-flop 50, the gate 43 will not become any through and no signal will be delivered by the circuit 44. This reset input r of the flip-flop 50 is connected to the output of an OR gate 45, with four inputs. Two of these inputs are respectively signals A and B coming from the pulse-forming stages 26 and 27, themselves controlled by the pushbuttons 10 and 11. If therefore, in the meantime, one of these two buttons- buttons has been manipulated, the intrinsic function of push button 12 is not performed. Furthermore, if the switch 12 is released without one of the switches 10 or 11 having been actuated in the meantime, the signal emitted by the circuit 44, also applied to the OR gate 45, resets the flip-flop 50 to zero, whereupon this signal automatically ceases, its duration is therefore short, but in no case too short.

We also notice that the output Q of the flip-flop 50 activates a uni-vibrator which establishes between its input and its output, a delay of approximately 3 sec for the transition to state "1", the transmission from the transition to the 'state' 0 'being instantaneous. In this case, if the switch 12 is pressed for more than 3 sec, a signal appears at the output of this uni-vibrator 52, and a flip-flop 53 is put in the working position. Its output goes to level "0", and blocks an AND gate 47, which controls a selection 57 of the analog display. In one position, this selector causes the display in field 13 of the chronograph watch, represented at 59 in FIG. 2B, from the rank of the memory whose content is displayed, in the other position of this selector, this display indicates the date. Thus, pressing the switch C for more than 3 seconds causes, during the time it remains pressed beyond these 3 seconds, a temporary switching of the selector 57, which shows the indication of the date instead indication of the rank of the memory whose content is displayed, this being useful for timekeepers. At the same time, the output Q of the flip-flop 53 is applied to an input of the OR gate 45, so that it returns the flip-flop 50 to the rest state before the switch 12 is released, this which results in the intrinsic function of the latter (advance of one step of the counter-comparator 51) being inhibited.

This counter 51 is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. It can be seen in particular that it comprises a “0-n / BCD” converter 120 which delivers information to the aforementioned selector 57, which actuates the digital display 59 via a “BCD / 7 SEGM • 58 converter By the way, we notice that the other input of the selector 57 receives a BCD signal which comes from a cycle counter of "3", 55, itself receiving a signal from a divider by two 54 which receives, by a switch H, a pulse at each revolution of the hour hand of current time (in 37 fig. 2A).

Note also that the selector 57 is controlled permanently by a flip-flop 56 which is put in the working position each time either the switch 10 operates (START or SPLIT) or each time the switch 12 operates so as to perform its intrinsic function (output from circuit 44). Furthermore, the flip-flop 56 is returned to the rest state either by the RESET function, resetting all the chronograph circuits, or by the STOP function, provided that at that time the counter- comparator 51 is in the zero position, that is to say controls the display of the basic time counter of the chronograph function and not the display of one of the memories. This reset function of the flip-flop 56 is carried out via an AND gate 40 and an OR gate 40a.

In fig. 2B, it can be seen that the counter-comparator 51 also receives the pulses from SPLIT, just as it receives reset pulses (RESET) or also the pulses from the RESYNCHRONIZATION of the memory, originating from the. AND gate 46. Furthermore, this counter receives information from the state of counter 39, previously considered and used to direct the SPLITS to the various memories.

The n + 1 outputs of the counter-comparator 51 are applied to the n + 1 groups of inputs TS of the basic counter-memories (zero memories) and of the various memories 1, 2, ... n -1, n. So this is what counter 51 which determines from which memory counter or memory the display will display the content.

It is time to examine, in fig. 3, the constitution of this counter-comparator 51.

We see that it includes an input register 111 which simply stores the information received from the counter 39. It also includes an output register 112, which provides the outputs A _o ... A _n of the counter 51. The input ci of clock pulses each time this counter 112 advances by one step, while the reset input (RZ), as well as the resynchronization input (RM), cause through d 'OR gate 113, resetting this counter 112. This latter comprises a zero position plus n positions, from 1 to n. The input register 111 also includes n positions plus a zero position, although its zero position is only rarely used.

Apart from the converter circuit 120, already mentioned, the counter-comparator 51 of FIG. 3 includes different doors having different functions. First of all, an AND gate 119 receives the SPLIT pulses, just as it receives, delayed by a timer stage 118, the output signal from the zero stage of the counter 112. Thus therefore, when the latter is on its position zero, if a SPLIT appears, a level signal “1 appears at the exit of door 119. This, by means of a series of doors 114 _o to 114 _n has the effect of causing the setting of the counter register 112 at the position where the entry counter 111. The latter always includes the information of the rank of the memory having received the last information, if the counter 112 is on zero, a pulse of SPLIT does so automatically move to the position which corresponds to the memory where precisely this SPLIT has just entered a timed time. Thus, from zero, the passage of the counter 51 to the position 1 is done automatically without requiring pulses on the clock input cl. The same applies if, after having read for example four or five memories, already recorded, the counter 51 returns to its zero position and if, for example, a sixth SPLIT intervenes at that time. This sixth SPLIT, which will register in the sixth memory, will move the counter 112 to its position 6, which will automatically cause the display of the information contained in the memory no 6, at the same time as the digital display ( 13, 59) will display the number "6".

The counter 51 makes it possible to repeat a cycle in order to check recorded timed time values. Its cycle is n + 1. However, if only a small number of splits are recorded, its cycle is shortened so that, to review, for example, six or seven timed times, it is not necessary to pass each time by twenty-five positions of which nearly twenty would be empty. This is why we have the AND gates 115 _o.2 , 115 ₁ , ₃ , ... 115 _{n ― 3} , _{n ― 1} , 115 _{n ― 2} , _µ . The outputs of all these doors are connected by an OR gate 116, which, via a timer 117, acts on the OR gate 113 for resetting to zero. So therefore, if while we have already memorized a certain number of timed times, we want to pass a memory further, we can, we will simply have the running of the hands according to the position of the next memory, still synchronized with the basic counter of the chronograph function. We can stay in this position, to wait for the next SPLIT which will position the hands in correspondence with its time, we can also try to go one more row further in the counter 51 of row of memories read, but then we will have one of the doors 115 which will turn on, and the level signal “1 • at the exit of door 116, extended, to avoid trouble, a few very brief moments by the timer 117, will cause the counter register 112 to be reset to zero. as well as the cycle of the counter 51 is automatically adapted to the number of splits already recorded, however leaving a reserve upwards, and providing for a return to the zero position where it is always the information of the basic counter of the function stopwatch that is displayed.

The function of memory resynchronization should now be mentioned again. This function would be in some way dangerous if it interfered with other functions, for example the function of memorizing n arrivals and if it resulted from a simple manipulation of the switch 12. Indeed, this function erases the contents of the memories. However, it is done here in a way that eliminates this danger. On condition that the switch 12 is previously pressed and that the switch 11 is subsequently pressed, the door 46 may become passable, provided that the output of a comparator 48 which will be studied below provides a level "1" . In addition, in a variant called OV, an input of gate 46 still receives the signal Q, coming from output Q of flip-flop 28, which means that then the function of "memory resynchronization can only take place if the counter is working. In the other variant, if the QV connection, drawn in dotted lines, is not made, the corresponding input of gate 46 is considered to be in the state "1 _' , and" memory resynchronization is also possible when the counter is at rest. This “resyn _chr onisatio _n memories resynchronizes all memories 1 to n on the basic counter of the chronograph function (counter zero) but on the other hand, contrary to the function“ reset to zero (or RESET), this function of "Resynchronization of memories" does not reset the base counter to zero. As can be seen by following the figures, the output of gate 46, then passing through OR gate 35, resets, by RS link, all memories being synchronized, by applying a pulse on their Sy input.

The comparator 48 compares the state of the memory display control counter 51 and the state of the counter 39 for controlling the entry of SPLITS into the memories (or of addressing SPLITS into the memories). If the state of the counter 51 is at least as high as the state of the counter 39, this means that all of the stored information has been read at least once and the memories can therefore be resynchronized. If the state of the counter 51 is lower than the state of the counter 39 (if we have for example stored six SPLITS while only four memories have been read), the comparator 48 does not deliver a level signal "1 to at its output, which prevents the operation of the door 46 and therefore prohibits the function of "memory resynchronization". This prevents the risk that timed times will be recorded and lost before being read.

It remains to be seen, considering fig. 2D, how the different motors driving the hundredths of a second, seconds, minutes and hours hands of the chronograph function are controlled. At the top of fig. 2D, we see that the respective information inputs of hundredths of a second (TC), seconds (TS), minutes (TM), and hours (TH). The three pieces of information for seconds, minutes and hours are directly applied respectively to each of three comparators, 82, 83, 84. On the other hand, the information of hundredths of a second is first applied to an inhibitor circuit 106, at the same time it is applied, by a differentiator 108, to a delay circuit, of the uni-vibrator type, which, for returning to the rest state, exhibits a delay of at least 0.04 sec from the output compared to the entrance. This means that as long as the information of hundredths of a second TC is "in motion", that is to say changes at its rate of one pulse per hundredth of a second, the output of the delay circuit 105 will be permanently at level "1" and this level, applied to the inhibitor circuit 106, will cause the information of the hundredths of a second not to be transmitted to the corresponding comparator 81. As soon as, however, the information of the hundredths of a second is at rest (reading a blocked memory or the base counter stopped), circuit 105 will return to the idle state after 0.04 sec, and inhibitor circuit 106 will cease to act, so that the information of hundredths of a second will be applied to comparator 81. Thus, during counting, comparator 81 does not receive a signal, while it receives the signal of hundredths of a second when the latter is permanent. For the desired positioning of each of the hands, the comparators 82, 83, 84 compare the setpoint information they receive (TS, TM, TH) with real situation information which they receive from a counter respectively 93, 94, 95. This counter receives a reset pulse when the corresponding needle passes through zero, by mechanical means, by means of contacts R _z , R ₃ , R ₄ . They then receive as many pulses as the motor, which means that their state will be representative of the position of the corresponding needle. If an impulse were to miss its purpose and did not turn the motor rotor, this fault would be quickly eliminated, on the next turn, by the zero crossing contact. The comparators thus compare the real position of the needle with the position that the needle should take, and as long as there is no identity, they give a signal of level "1 on their output Q, which makes pass a carries respectively 85, 86, 87, moreover receiving on another input a clocked signal coming from a timing divider 33 supplied by the frequency divider 22. The frequency of the timing divider will be adapted to the possibilities of the motors, also taking into account inertia of the needles; a frequency of the order of 30 to 50 Hz should be suitable. In normal operation, the setpoint information advances only by one unit at a time, i.e. only one pulse is sent by the corresponding gate, 85, 86, 87, after which the comparator finds already reestablishing coincidence. On the other hand, when it comes to gaining a distant position, the gates 85, 86, 87 send a series of pulses. It can also be seen in the figure that the shaping circuits 97, 98 and 99 put the signals into the shape desired for the actuation of the motors, respectively 102, for the seconds, 103 for the minutes and 104 for the hours.

This is practically analogous to the motor actuating the hundredths of a second hand, by means of a motor 101 controlled by a pulse former 96. The position of the second hand is also recognized by a circuit 92 operating, in cooperation with a zero-crossing contact R _i , exactly like the previously mentioned circuits 93, 95, 97. The only difference in the case of the hundredths of a second counter is that, in normal operation, the comparator 81 receives a signal “0000 •. If he acted like the other comparators, he would therefore return the hundredths of a second hand to the zero position each time. This way of doing things could have its charm and can be envisaged as an interesting variant, especially if we assume that the hundredths of a second hand is somewhat bulky, depending on where it is blocked. For this variant, the dotted connection ZV must be deleted. However, according to the intended execution, the inverse of the output signal of the timer 105 is applied by an inverter 107 to a third input of the gate 88 which receives the signal of the output Q of the comparator 81 of the hundredths of a second ( dotted connection ZV in circuit). In this case, even when this comparator in itself would authorize the pulses to pass through the AND gate 88, the level signal “0 leaving the inverter 107 prohibits the sending of these pulses, so that the needle of hundredths second always remains stationary when the hundredths of a second scroll at a rate of 100 Hz. The motor does not move and the comparator always finds a non-coincidence between the signal delivered by the circuit 92 and the signal "0000 delivered by the circuit d inhibition 106, but, the gate 88 remaining blocked, this non-coincidence has no effect. It is only when the timer 105 ceases to act, that the inhibitor circuit 106 transmits the desired information and that the inverter 107 ceases to block the door 88. At this time, the positioning of the needle hundredths of a second occurs exactly like that of other hands.

It is noted that if the TC information of hundredths of a second is given by two cascaded BCD circuits, it will suffice to take, for the timer circuit 105, the signal of the lowest weighted stage of the first group BCD, which will switch twice per hundredth of a second. However, it may be that when the information is stopped, this signal is at the high level (if the number of hundredths second is odd). This is the reason why the differentiator circuit 108 has also been provided on the input of the timer 105, this circuit 108 transmitting only the positive jump pulses, so that, as soon as the signal stops making jumps, level “0” reappears at the entry of circuit 105 and that thus even the odd hundredths of a second does not risk keeping circuit 105 blocked.

Concerning the counter 39 for addressing SPLITS (or LAPS) in the memories, it is noted that two executions are possible. This counter 39 can be an “online” counter which, starting from zero, goes step by step to its last position “n”, then stops, new pulses on its input cl then remaining without effect. In another embodiment, this counter could be of the “ring” type, in the sense that a new pulse appearing on the input cl when the counter is already in its last position “n causes the counter to return on position "1 _" (but in no case on position "0").

With the first above-mentioned embodiment of the counter 39, a number of SPLITS equal to the capacity “n” of the counter can be recorded, after which the SPLITS (or LAPS) are no longer recorded, unless in the meantime a “memory resynchronization” function was performed, erasing the content of all the memories and bringing the counter to “0”. In the second embodiment of this counter, the recording of a number of SPLITS (or LAPS) greater than the capacity of the counter (corresponding to the number of memories) is possible; assuming for example that there are twenty-five memories and that the 25th memory is already loaded, the next SPLIT (or LAP) will revert to memory no 1, the old content of which will be erased. Thus, the timed times n + 1, n + 2, n + 3, etc., will automatically take the place of the old timed contents 1, 2, 3, etc., without it being necessary to carry out a manipulation in the meantime of "resynchronization".

Both variants have their advantages and disadvantages, the choice between them will be a question of opportunity.

An arrangement which is not shown in the drawing but which, being conventional, can very well be imagined, could also provide the chronograph or the chronograph watch according to the invention. It is an arrangement for detecting the end of life of the battery ”. Such an arrangement includes a circuit which accurately measures the remaining voltage of the battery supplying the chronograph or the chronograph watch, this voltage undergoing a slight decrease as it approaches its end of life. To signal this end-of-life approach, means which it is not necessary to describe in more detail, as they are known to those skilled in the art, will bring the digital display into field 13 (display of the date or memory row read) to blink instead of being provided permanently.

Although- shown in fig. 1 in the form of a chronograph watch in bracelet format, the chronograph or the chronograph watch according to the proposed design can also advantageously be produced in the format of a pocket watch. In this case, the dial is larger and the various small inner dials, on which the second hand of current time 4, the hand of timed minute 7 and the hour hand of timed time work, would have advantage. to be further from the center than they are in the wristwatch-shaped part shown in fig. 1. For this purpose, it has been provided that, for driving the needles in question, a modular arrangement will be used, comprising the stepping motor, the necessary reduction gears and the axis of the needle, forming the point of constructive view a separate subset. This modular arrangement will allow without great difficulty to arrange the aforementioned small dials at a greater or lesser distance from the center depending on whether it will be a piece of wristwatch format or a piece of pocket watch format.

This is how the chronograph watch works, the external shape of which is shown in FIG. 1. The proposed design is however not limited to what has been described, and in particular, other embodiments would be conceivable, in particular with other means for displaying hundredths of a second. We could very well have the series of seconds, minutes, and hours hands of the chronograph function actuated in the manner described or in a similar manner, and have the hundredths of a second appearing for example in digital form.

It should also be said that many of the functions which have been described could possibly be eliminated, for example one could dispense with the hour hand of the chronograph function. We could also do without the date display or the possibility of obtaining the temporary date display in chronograph operation.

It should also be noted that the watch could very well be produced in the format of a pocket watch or another format.

Finally, concerning electronics and in particular counters, registers, and memories, it is very clear that many methods are available to perform similar functions, and that it is above all the combination of functions that allows external operation. convenient, efficient and flexible chronograph which particularizes the proposed design. An embodiment that does not include indications of the current time, that is to say a simple chronograph or time counter would also correspond to the design proposed by the invention.

Claims (19)

1. Analog electronic chronograph counting measured durations of time, especially analog electronic chronograph-watch counting measured durations of time, comprising a display device equipped with a measured-time minute hand (7), a measured-time seconds hand (6), and means (5) for displaying units of measured time of a duration of less than a second, electronic time-counting means (21, 22, 23, 61-64, 650 68₀), a stepping motor (102) for moving at least the said measured-time seconds hand in synchronism with the counting means, and a control device comprising several manual components (10, 11), capable of controlling at least the starting of the chronograph counting, its stopping, the recording and the display of an intermediate time, as well as the fly-back of the display of the measured time, characterized in that it comprises several memories connected to the electronic counting means and to the control device in such a way that at the time of a repetitive actuating of the latter, after starting, the successive counts of the counting means at the moments of actuation are each stored in one of the memories, the control device being further capable of acting upon the display device (6, 5, 7) for giving it at will successive positions each indicating one of the intermediate times thus stored.

2. Chronograph according to claim 1, wherein the said means for displaying units of measured time of a duration of less than a second comprise a hundredths-of-seconds-of-measured-time hand (5) including, in addition to the said stepping motor (102) for moving the measured-time seconds hand, another stepping motor (101) for moving the hundredths-of-seconds-of-measured-time hand, the said manual components (10, 11) being arranged for controlling the starting of the chronograph function, from which starting the measured-time seconds hand is moved by the stepping motor allotted to it, and for controlling measured-time recordings, in such a way that starting from their actuation as time-recording component, the measured-time seconds hand is stopped, and the hundredths-of-seconds-of-measured-time hand is moved by the stepping motor allotted to it in order to reach a position indicating the state of counting at the time of the time-recording actuation, characterized in that the said memories (65₁-68₁, 65₂-68₂, ... 65_n-68_n) are capable of recording, each in succession, a measured time corresponding respectively to each of the states of measured-time counting, at the moments of actuation of the time-recording component, a manual component (12) for controlling the polling of the stored measured durations of time making it possible to cause successively the positioning of the measured-time-indication hands (6, 5, 7) on positions each indicating measured durations of time thus stored.

3. Chronograph according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a memory-comparing counter (51) which actuates a digital display (59) indicating what the rank is of the memory which is being read and hence that of the corresponding measured duration of time which is being displayed.

4. Chronograph according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a third stepping motor (103) for moving the measured-time minute hand (7).

5. Chronograph according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a measured-time hour hand (8).

6. Chronograph according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a fourth stepping motor (104) for moving the measured-time hour hand (8).

7. Chronograph according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it constitutes a chronograph-watch and comprises in addition hands (2, 3, 4) indicating the time of day, moved by a stepping motor (36) specific to that function.

8. Chronograph according to claim 7, characterized in that the digital display (13, 59) of the rank of the memory being read furnishes a date-indicator function when the chronograph function is not being used.

9. Chronograph according to claim 2, characterized in that the said manual component (12) for controlling the polling of the stored measured durations of time actuates a memory-rank counter (51) indicating what the rank is of the memory which is being read and hence that of the corresponding measured time which is being displayed, this manual component (12) for controlling the polling likewise being arranged for modifying the function of the manual component (10) for controlling starting and time-recording, in such a way that the function of this component (10) for controlling starting and time-recording is a SPLIT function if at that moment the manual component (12) for controlling the polling is not pressed, and a LAP RESET function if at that moment the manual component (12) for controlling the polling is being pressed, the intrinsic function of the manual component (12) for controlling the polling otherwise being inhibited if the LAP RESET function has been carried out by the component (10) for controlling starting and time-recording while this polling-control switch (12) was actuated.

10. Chronograph according to claim 9, wherein one of the said manual components, controlling the measured-time recordings (11), effects a STOP function which stops the counting when the latter was operating, then, if it is manipulated a second time, effects a RESET function, returning the counter to zero if it was already stopped, characterized in that the said manual component (12) for controlling the polling likewise conditions the operation of the manual time-recording component (11) in the sense that if the manual component (12) for controlling the polling is not pressed, the said manual time-recording component (11) carries out its aforementioned functions, whereas if the said manual component (12) for controlling the polling is pressed while the said manual time-recording component (11) is manipulated, the function of the latter becomes a memory-resynchronization function, i. e. fly-back for all the memories, the totality of which are then resynchronized with the time-standard counter, the intrinsic function of the polling-control switch (12), which normally acts upon the memory-rank counter (51), then being inhibited.

11. Chronograph according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a counter (39) for counting the addressing of successive splits in the memories, said memory-rank counter (51) comprising a register (112) advancing step by step in response to the polling-control switch (12) and determining each time which memory is read, at the same time as it furnishes, via a converter (120), the display data of the rank of the memory whose contents are displayed.

12. Chronograph according to claim 11, characterized in that the said memory-rank counter (51) is connected to the said counter (39) for addressing splits in the memories, in such a way that the cycle of the memory-control counter is reduced to a value of at most two units higher than the number of memories already loaded, stored in the split-addressing counter (39).

13. Chronograph according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized in that said memory-rank counter (51) comprises a zero position in which it causes the display of the base counter and from which the arrival of a SPLIT pulse automatically causes its said register (112), and hence its output data (B_i-B_n). to pass to the memory in which this SPLIT pulse has just stored a time, in such a way that this time is automatically displayed without any particular manipulation of the manual component (12) for controlling the polling for polling the correct memory.

14. Chronograph according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises gate means (46) which enable the said function of resynchronization of all the memories only if the count of the rank-of-read- memories counter (51) is equal to or greater than the count of the counter (39) of splits registered, i. e. of memories loaded, a comparator (48) being disposed for that purpose between the two aforementioned counters (51, 39) and acting upon the said gate means (46).

15. Chronograph according to claims 3, 8, 9, and 10, characterized in that the display of either the date or the read-memory rank in the display field (13, 59) is selected by a selector (57) controlled by a flip-flop (56), the latter passing to the state in which it causes the display of the date when pressure upon the manual time-recording component (11) causes the occurrence of a STOP function, or a RESET function, this on condition, however, that the counter (51) of read-memory rank is simultaneously at zero position, this flip-flop (56) being put in the position in which it causes the display of the rank of memories at the time of a START function by means of the first manual control component (10) or likewise at the time of a manipulation of the polling component (12) acting upon the memory-rank counter (51).

16. Chronograph according to claim 15, characterized in that, with the aid of delay means (52) and of a flip-flop (53), the temporary display of the date may likewise be applied in the case of pressure on the manual component (12) for controlling the polling for a period greater than a term of at least 3 seconds, the date then appearing starting from this term as long as this manual switch component remains pressed, after which the display of the memory rank reappears without this manipulation of the manual component (12) for controlling the polling having caused the memory counter (51) to advance.

17. Chronograph according to one of the claims 1 to 16, constituting a chronograph-watch, characterized in that it has the size of a wrist watch.

18. Chronograph according to claim 17, characterized in that the two respective measured-time seconds hand (6) and hundredths-of-seconds-of-measured-time hand (5) are central hands relative to a large circular dial, both these hands furnishing their indications on respective graduations situated near the periphery of this large circular dial.

19. Chronograph according to one of the claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the elements which form the drive of the hands, mainly of the hands which move in a small inner dial, are produced in a modular form which comprises, as a modular subassembly, the stepping motor, the necessary reduction gears, and the arbor intended to bear the hand.

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