GB1398827A - Electronic timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

1398827 Electronic timepieces - DAINI SEIKOSHA K K 27 June 1973 [10 July 1972] 30519/73 Heading G3T [Also in Division H1] In an electronic timepiece comprising a quartz crystal controlled oscillator 20 Fig. 4, a frequency divider 21 and a logic gate 26 which in normal operation of the timepiece passes pulses from the divider to a driving circuit 22 to operate a time display device 23, logic circuits 24 to 27 are controlled by manually operated switches S 1 , S 2 enabling the time displayed to be corrected by adding pulses to or blocking pulses from output 26a of the gate 26 for driving the display. In normal operation of the watch the switches S 1 , S 2 are open. When switch S 2 is closed a control circuit 27 causes the minus correction gate 26 to block pulses to the driving circuit. Thus the display will be retarded for a predetermined unit of time, e.g. 'n' secs or 'n' mins, which is a function of the period of the timing signal pulses from the divider 21. With S 2 open and S 1 closed, a control circuit 25 enables a plus correcting gate 24 to apply an output signal to the driving circuit in addition to the timing signal passing through the minus gate 26; whereby to advance the display by a predetermined unit of time, which is a function of the period of a pulse of the timing signal. The amount of correction may be a whole number of minutes or seconds. The display may comprise hands or be digital as Fig. 9. In one embodiment Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 (not shown) the switches are operable by means of an axially and angularly moveable stem 1. When the stem is rotated it rotates a pinion 3 via a clutch wheel 2. Integral with the pinion 3 are insulating pawl wheels 4, 5. A contact spring 6, having one end fixed and the other end inserted between teeth (4a) Fig. 3 (not shown) of pawl 4, and a pin 10 constitute the switch S 1 . A contact spring 7, having one end fixed and the other end inserted between teeth (Sa) (Fig.3) of pawl 5, and a pin 11 constitute the switch S 2 . Rotation of the stem in direction A closes switch S 1 and opens switch S 2 and vice-versa when the stem is oppositely rotated. When the stem is moved axially outwards from its time correcting position the clutch is disengaged from pinion 3 and engages with a setting wheel for adjustment of the day and date or minute wheel. Thereby the hour and minutes hands may be corrected in a conventional manner. In a digital watch Fig. 9 also Figs. 10, 11 (not shown) a push-button switch S 3 serves in conjunction with a controller (38) detailed (Fig. 11) to alter the function of correction switches S 4 , S 5 . Thus in one position of S 3 the letters 'HOUR' and 'MIN' are displayed and operation of S 4 , or S 5 causes the hours or minutes respectively to be corrected. In the other position of S 3 the symbols '-1' and '+1' are displayed, and operation of S 4 and S 5 causes adjustment of the time displayed by a unit of time - 1 or +1 respectively. For instance it may be arranged that operation of S 4 causes the time to be delayed by 1 sec while S 5 causes it to be advanced by 1 sec.