GB1504822A - Time display apparatus for an electronic timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

1504822 Alpha numeric and matrix display DAINI SEIKOSHA KK 8 Sept 1976 [12 Sept 1975 16 Sept 1975] 37217/76 Heading G5C [Also in Division G3] An electro-optical display for an electronic timepiece uses a first polar array of elements h to indicate the hours and a second polar array of elements m which, together with the elements h, are used to indicate minutes, and each of the elements lies in a respective recess 7 in one face of a substrate 6. The elements are arranged in concentric rings, an aligned pair of elements being energized to simulate a minute hand, and an inner element only for the hour hand. As shown a two-digita date display using elements D, 10D is provided within the rings. The use of liquid crystal elements or lamps is envisaged, but the elements shown are LEDs mounted in the substrate by moulding material 8 (which may have a different refractive index from that of the substrate) or by their terminals (Fig. 7, not shown). The recesses may be corrugated as shown or lined with fluorescent paint (Fig. 5, not shown). Multiplexed circuitry for the display elements is described. In the digital date display, the units and tens arrays have respective common connections which are alternately connected to ground under control of a flip-flop (80, Fig. 11, not shown). Some of the segment connections are connected together, both within and between the arrays, and the segment signals are fed to a driver (77) by a time sharing circuit (76) controlled by the flip-flop (80). In the polar arrays, each array is divided into six groups of ten elements, each group having a common connection and the corresponding elements in each group being connected together (Fig. 10, not shown).