GB2023887A - Electronic timepiece - Google Patents

Electronic timepiece Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2023887A
GB2023887A GB7903705A GB7903705A GB2023887A GB 2023887 A GB2023887 A GB 2023887A GB 7903705 A GB7903705 A GB 7903705A GB 7903705 A GB7903705 A GB 7903705A GB 2023887 A GB2023887 A GB 2023887A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
digital
dial plate
display portion
electronic timepiece
analog
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB7903705A
Other versions
GB2023887B (en
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Instruments Inc
Original Assignee
Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seiko Instruments Inc filed Critical Seiko Instruments Inc
Publication of GB2023887A publication Critical patent/GB2023887A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2023887B publication Critical patent/GB2023887B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
    • G04G9/0082—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements and by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the positions of which represents the time, i.e. combinations of G04G9/02 and G04G9/08

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)

Abstract

An electronic timepiece, for example an electronic wristwatch, comprises a selectively energisable digital time display portion (2) arranged to be viewed through a semi-transparent dial plate (1) for displaying, when energised, time information in digital form, and an analog time display portion (6) consisting of at least an hours hand (6a) and a minutes hand (6b) for displaying time information in analog form. The dial plate may be of jewel, coloured glass or coloured resin and may be obscured by an opaque membrane except in the area of the digital display, which uses LEDs. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electronic timepiece This invention relates to electronic timepieces.
Some conventional timepieces are multifunctional and have a digital time display and an analog time display portion, the digital display portion being located in a part of a dial plate. This design is not, however, preferred since the digital display portion and the analog display portion have equal visual prominence as far as the user is concerned.
According to the present invention there is provided an electronic timepiece comprising a selectively energisable digital time display portion arranged to be viewed through a semi-transparent dial plate for displaying, when energised, time information in digital form, and an analog time display portion consisting of at least an hours hand and a minutes hand for displaying time information in analog form.
In the preferred embodiment the digital time display portion is composed of light emitting diodes.
The dial plate may comprise a semi-transparent plate having an opaque membrane thereon except in the area of the digital time display portion.
The digital time display portion may be an alphanumeric display device.
The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1(A) is a plan view of an electronic timepiece according to the present invention; Figure 1(B) is a cross-section of the electronic timepiece of Figure 1 (A); and Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section of part of a dial plate of the electronic timepiece of Figure 1 (A).
Referring first to Figures 1(A) and 1(B), there is illustrated an electronic timepiece, e.g. an electronic wristwatch according to the present invention. The electronic timepiece has a dial plate 1 which is made of a semi-transparent material, a digital time display portion 2 which is located under the dial plate 1 and is composed of light emitting diodes of the "Dot Matrix Display System", and an analog time display portion 6 consisting of an hours hand 6a and a minutes hand 6b.
Figure 2 shows part of the dial plate 1 on a larger scale. The dial plate 1 has a semi-transparent dial plate portion 3 and an opaque membrane 4 for causing the dial plate to appear opaque when used.
Apart of the membrane 4 is removed in the area of a light emitting diode (LED) digital display device 5 so that the display produced by the latter, when energised, may be viewed through the dial plate.
The dial plate, however, is such that the digital display device 5, when not energised, cannot be seen through the dial plate. The dial plate portion 3 may be made of a jewel, a coloured glass or coloured plastics resin.
The illustrated electronic timepiece normally operates and appears similar to a conventional analog timepiece. However, in addition to the analog display portion displaying the time indication in hours and minutes, the digital display portion can be selectively energised to display, for example, any one or more of seconds, months, date, day of the week, "duo time," a stopwatch function, an alarm set time, or perform a time function. The present invention thus enables an electronic timepiece having the combined characteristics of a fashion timepiece and a multi-functional timepiece to be produced.
1. An electronic timepiece comprising a selectively energisable digital time display portion arranged to be viewed through a semi-transparent dial plate for displaying, when energised, time information in digital form, and an analog time display portion consisting of at least an hours hand and a minutes hand for displaying time information in analog form.
2. An electronic timepiece as claimed in Claim 1 in which the digital time display portionis composed of light emitting diodes.
3. An electronic timepiece as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the dial face comprises a semitransparent plate having an opaque membrane thereon except in the area of the digital time display portion.
4. An electronic timepiece as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the digital time display portion is an alphanumeric display device.
5. An electronic timepiece substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
6. Electronic timepiece comprising in combination: a digital formed display member for displaying a time display by a digital display form: an analog formed display member which having at least of minute hand and hour hand for displaying a time display by an analog display form: a semitransparent dial plate for displaying a time display of analog form: said digital formed display member be located under said semi-transparent dial plate: said digital formed display member is not displayed except lighting condition thereof.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electronic timepiece This invention relates to electronic timepieces. Some conventional timepieces are multifunctional and have a digital time display and an analog time display portion, the digital display portion being located in a part of a dial plate. This design is not, however, preferred since the digital display portion and the analog display portion have equal visual prominence as far as the user is concerned. According to the present invention there is provided an electronic timepiece comprising a selectively energisable digital time display portion arranged to be viewed through a semi-transparent dial plate for displaying, when energised, time information in digital form, and an analog time display portion consisting of at least an hours hand and a minutes hand for displaying time information in analog form. In the preferred embodiment the digital time display portion is composed of light emitting diodes. The dial plate may comprise a semi-transparent plate having an opaque membrane thereon except in the area of the digital time display portion. The digital time display portion may be an alphanumeric display device. The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1(A) is a plan view of an electronic timepiece according to the present invention; Figure 1(B) is a cross-section of the electronic timepiece of Figure 1 (A); and Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section of part of a dial plate of the electronic timepiece of Figure 1 (A). Referring first to Figures 1(A) and 1(B), there is illustrated an electronic timepiece, e.g. an electronic wristwatch according to the present invention. The electronic timepiece has a dial plate 1 which is made of a semi-transparent material, a digital time display portion 2 which is located under the dial plate 1 and is composed of light emitting diodes of the "Dot Matrix Display System", and an analog time display portion 6 consisting of an hours hand 6a and a minutes hand 6b. Figure 2 shows part of the dial plate 1 on a larger scale. The dial plate 1 has a semi-transparent dial plate portion 3 and an opaque membrane 4 for causing the dial plate to appear opaque when used. Apart of the membrane 4 is removed in the area of a light emitting diode (LED) digital display device 5 so that the display produced by the latter, when energised, may be viewed through the dial plate. The dial plate, however, is such that the digital display device 5, when not energised, cannot be seen through the dial plate. The dial plate portion 3 may be made of a jewel, a coloured glass or coloured plastics resin. The illustrated electronic timepiece normally operates and appears similar to a conventional analog timepiece. However, in addition to the analog display portion displaying the time indication in hours and minutes, the digital display portion can be selectively energised to display, for example, any one or more of seconds, months, date, day of the week, "duo time," a stopwatch function, an alarm set time, or perform a time function. The present invention thus enables an electronic timepiece having the combined characteristics of a fashion timepiece and a multi-functional timepiece to be produced. CLAIMS
1. An electronic timepiece comprising a selectively energisable digital time display portion arranged to be viewed through a semi-transparent dial plate for displaying, when energised, time information in digital form, and an analog time display portion consisting of at least an hours hand and a minutes hand for displaying time information in analog form.
2. An electronic timepiece as claimed in Claim 1 in which the digital time display portionis composed of light emitting diodes.
3. An electronic timepiece as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the dial face comprises a semitransparent plate having an opaque membrane thereon except in the area of the digital time display portion.
4. An electronic timepiece as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the digital time display portion is an alphanumeric display device.
5. An electronic timepiece substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
6. Electronic timepiece comprising in combination: a digital formed display member for displaying a time display by a digital display form: an analog formed display member which having at least of minute hand and hour hand for displaying a time display by an analog display form: a semitransparent dial plate for displaying a time display of analog form: said digital formed display member be located under said semi-transparent dial plate: said digital formed display member is not displayed except lighting condition thereof.
GB7903705A 1978-05-25 1979-02-02 Electronic timepiece Expired GB2023887B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP7102078U JPS54172766U (en) 1978-05-25 1978-05-25

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2023887A true GB2023887A (en) 1980-01-03
GB2023887B GB2023887B (en) 1982-07-14

Family

ID=13448410

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB7903705A Expired GB2023887B (en) 1978-05-25 1979-02-02 Electronic timepiece

Country Status (2)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS54172766U (en)
GB (1) GB2023887B (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0078237A1 (en) * 1981-10-28 1983-05-04 Asulab S.A. Watch with an analogue display device, of which the dial is formed of a liquid crystal display cell
EP2874024A1 (en) * 2013-11-15 2015-05-20 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Mother-of-pearl dial for concealed display
EP3460591A1 (en) * 2017-09-26 2019-03-27 Gerd Habermann Clock

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7646678B2 (en) 2004-09-24 2010-01-12 Ricoh Elemex Corporation Analog watch
JP2006300916A (en) * 2004-09-24 2006-11-02 Ricoh Elemex Corp Analog watch

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0078237A1 (en) * 1981-10-28 1983-05-04 Asulab S.A. Watch with an analogue display device, of which the dial is formed of a liquid crystal display cell
EP2874024A1 (en) * 2013-11-15 2015-05-20 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Mother-of-pearl dial for concealed display
WO2015071376A3 (en) * 2013-11-15 2015-11-19 The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd Nacred screen for a hidden display
US9915924B2 (en) 2013-11-15 2018-03-13 The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd Mother-of-pearl dial for a hidden display
EP3460591A1 (en) * 2017-09-26 2019-03-27 Gerd Habermann Clock

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS54172766U (en) 1979-12-06
GB2023887B (en) 1982-07-14

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Legal Events

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee