GB2114326A - Improvements in or relating to watch modules - Google Patents

Abstract

A module for an electronic liquid crystal display watch comprises a housing 52 accommodating crystal timing means 54, a liquid crystal display element 56, a semiconductor chip 64, and a battery 58. The housing has a profile defined by a first pair of opposed transverse radial arcs 52A, 52B, and a second pair of opposed longitudinal radial arcs 52E, 52F, and upper and lower pairs of straight lines 52D extending from the ends of the transverse arcs and intersecting the ends of the longitudinal arcs at cusps 52G, 52H. The module further includes switching means 62, 66, 68 for selectively energizing and setting the display element. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to watch modules The invention relates to horological instruments and parts therefor, and more particularly to electronic modules for liquid crystal display watches.

The history of timekeeping is, of course, quite ancient and indeed goes back to biblical times. We are also aware of the long evolution of horology, including many different types of clocks and watches. Among these major developments have been the sun dial, the church clock tower, free-standing grandfather clocks, mantel-sized "bonnet" clocks, wall clocks, wind-up mechanical wrist watches, self-winding watches, light-emitting diode (LED) digital watches, analog quartz-operated devices and liquid crystal display ("LCD) digital watches. Clearly, this evolutionary process has moved through significant trends and design changes, together with the gradual advancement of the corresponding technology. Thus, even in the abbreviated summary presented above, it can be noted that the time pieces were responsive to the sun, gears and wheel, springs, diodes, quartz crystals and semiconductor chips.While extremely attractive and expensive watches resulted from the analog mechanical phase of design, those watches were destined to give way, in many respects, to the electronic watches of today.

In the more recent era of watch development, emphasis was naturally placed on consumer "convenience", especially relating to relieving the user from winding the watch. This was achieved with both quartz crystals, powered by small disc-like batteries, and LED's, also battery-powered, However, initially, the quartz crystals were relatively "large" (at least in thickness or diameter), and the LED's caused a high current drain; in either case, coupled with the display elements themselves, the resultant large battery sizes which sought to avoid frequent battery changes, led to uncomfortably thick watch modules and cases.

It was not long before the LED watches faded almost completely from the industry, and attention became focussed primarily on other types of digital watches, including quartz-driven analog watches.

But even these analog watches were not able to immediately take advantage of the reductions in size of the watch's basic components; similarly, these improvements did not come especially quickly to the digital LCD watches. Since these LCD watches were apparently quite likely to assume a large portion of the mass-marketed share of the watch business, it was important for the industry to pay attention to this segment and to appiy the available technology to it. But despite these motivating factors, the LCD watches did not experience the design growth they seemingly should have had.

During the initial stages of general digital watch research, heavy emphasis was placed upon the creation of a functioning LCD module. That having been fairly readily accomplished, research and de velopment throughout the industry began to stress the investigation of special features and the feasibility of multi-functional modules. Thus, up until the most recent past, the development of horological technology has primarily been focussed upon the actual functioning of the LCD module, i.e., that the module could "work" reliably and exhibit certain consumer-oriented features. For example, the inclusion of musical alarms, chronographs, games and the like in digital modules graphically illustrates that the thrust of much recent technology watch development has been in electronic gadgetry.When most of the noveity features had been exploited and the so-called bells and whistles possibilities had been exhausted, watch manufacturers brought considerable economic weight to bear on the problem of design. Throughout the industry, the emphasis turned to making the modules as thin as possible.

Structurally, the size of the module is dictated by its four major components: the quartz crystal, the liquid crystal display element, the semiconductor chip and the battery. If a module is to be made thinner, dimensional reductions had to be made in these components. The dimensions of the quartz crystals have been radically decreased down to today's size. Currently, the quartz crystal is usually cylindricai and measured approximately 6 millimeters long and about 2 millimeters in diameter.

Correspondingly the liquid crystal display has also been radically reduced in size. An existent simple 3 1/2 digital display measures roughly 12.5 millimeters long, 7.5 millimeters wide and 1 millimeter thick.

Another important development was in the semiconductor chip itself which provided the subminiature circuitry and conductive paths for the entire electronic watch. As the chip was made smaller and far more compact, and the manner, composition and technology of making the chip improved, the electrical consumption of the chip was reduced so drastically that the battery size needed to operate the watch for a period of 12-18 months was in turn reduced. Whereas normal current consumption was 3-5 microamps, the average today is well below 1 microamp; therefore, the necessary capacity of a battery cell was lessened and the overall size was reduced. These industry-wide achievements led to the production of an improved thin, square watch module.

The one flaw or omission in this whole evolutionary process was the actual dimensions of the module itself. While obtaining the "thin look", the module, being either square or round, was confining in that it did not allow for an expanded range of styling. Since this was the ultimate goal of the watch industry (being, of course, an integral part of the jewellery business as a whole), it became imperative to seek a solution to the problem of combining size and styling.

While it had been known from earlier analog watches, in both the mechanical and electronics eras, to employ a watch module combining a variety of curved and straight peripheral edges, it had not been thought feasible or even possibly desirable, to utilize this so-called "6 x "8" shape in the LCD design field. Among the apparent reason for this design gap were the technological problems discussed above and their diverting impact, the lack of design foresight in the industry and the failure to recognize the importance of cosmetic appearance of watches to many consumers.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a module for an electronic liquid crystal display watch utilizing crystal timing means, a liquid crystal display element, a semi-conductor chip and a battery, comprising a main housing having a plurality of enclosures for accommodating the crystal timing means, the display element, the chip and the battery, the housing having an outer configuration defined by a first pair of opposed transverse radial arcs, a second pair of opposed longitudinal radial arcs, upper and lower pairs of straight lines extending from each end of each of the transverse radial arcs and intersecting each end of each of the longitudinal radial arcs ro define cusps thereat, and switching means for selectively energizing and setting the display element.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a module for an electronic liquid crystal display watch arranged to be universally accommodate within a pluraiity of differently configured watch cases, the module including mounting enclosures for a quartz crystal, a liquid crystal display element, a semiconductor chip and a battery, the module comprising a main housing for the enclosures, a printed circuit board with side and rear surfaces and integrally coupled with the housing, the housing including an outer edge surface having a configuration defined by a first pair of opposed convex arcs transversely of the module, a second pair of opposed convex arcs longitudinally of the module, a pair of opposed straight line extensions connecting one end of each of the first pair of arcs with a corresponding end of each of the second pair of arcs, and a second pair of opposed straight line extensions connecting the other end of each of the first pair of arcs with a corresponding end of each of the second pair of arcs, the connections defining two pair of cusps on opposed longitudinal ends of the outer edge surface, command switch means mounted along the outer edge surface of the housing and the side surface of the printed circuit board for pivotal movement to selectively complete a circuit between the battery and the printed circuit board and set switch means mounted in a portion of the case for the module and arranged to be selectively depressed to complete a circuit on the printed circuit board.

It is thus possible to provide a digital "6 x 8" module which is capable of allowing extensive styling variations in the outer cases. The shape of the module, combined with its thinness, gives the capability of oppering an infinite number of stylish jewellery time-pieces heretofore impossible to achieve in the LCD field. Such a module thus fulfills a void by creating an endless array of fashion/style possibilities.

It is also possible to provide a wide variety of stylistic watch designs of the LCD type.

It is further possible to utilize a "6 x "8 watch module design in an LCD watch.

It is also possible to furnish an LCD watch having all the important technological advantages currently available and also exhibiting a pleasing cosmetic appearance.

Thus, a universally shaped electronic module is utilized to form the principal housing component for an LCD watch. The module acts to retain the cylindrical quartz crystal, the substantially square or rectanguiar liquid crystal display and the disc-like battery in separate compartments or enclosures within the outer dimensions of the unit. A printed circuit board, which carries the conductive tracks to activate the circuitry in the semiconductor chip and to receive time signals from the quartz crystal and power from the battery, is congruently attached through the housing portion of the module, which acts as the "front", whereas the printed circuit board is the "back".

The module configuration is defined by pairs of longitudinal and transverse convex curves, with each of the opposed edges of the module having equal radial dimensions. While particular radii for these convex curves may be preferred, a range of the radii can be utilized and still achieve the universality of shape that is desired for the module. Where the upper longitudinal radial arc meets straight line extensions of the left and right transverse radial arcs, intersectional cusps are established, with the same cusps being present at corresponding points at the bottom of the module. The curvilinear dimensions of the module, including the radii, lines and cusps mentioned previously, provide an outline for the overall shape of the module which yields the many cosmetic and design advantages alluded to previously.

In addition, the module permits location of the "command" switch contact on the side of the module, whereas the "set" switch contact may be uniquely placed through an aperture at the rear of the watch case, giving access to the appropriate printed circuit board track segment by a manually operated conductive rubber element. The command button, provided for switching between different displays, may be operated through the case by a button located on the side of the case. When that button is depressed, a flexible portion of the command contact switch completes a circuit with the printed circuit board, transmitting a pulse to the control chip to change the liquid crystal display from hours and minutes to months and days and to achieve any of the other functions which may have been designed into that particular chip element.

Instead of making a cumbersome additional button and contact arrangement on the side of the watch, thereby possibly confusing the user or at least making the design density somewhat more difficult, a "set" switch arrangement may be operated from the back of the watch. By providing a port through the rear of the case, a small rubberized insulating button may partially project through the hole and give sufficient access for the user, via a pencil or other suitable instrument, to depress that button. While the button provides for complete moisture and dust protection from the outside, the depression of the button causes an internal conductive rubber element to contact the underlying printed circuit board track and thereby complete a circuit between the set terminal and positive battery power.

By so doing, the set circuit is energized and the user then has the capability of changing any of the individual display components at will, i.e. hour, minute, month, date, seconds, etc., depending upon the particular display configuration utilized.

There is thus provided an LCD watch module which utilizes a special configuration to allow extensive styling variations.

The quartz crystal, liquid crystal display element, semiconductor chip and the batter of an LCD module may be compactly arranged in a thin structure to permit use of a universal overall configuration.

Separately located command and set switches may be used in an LCD watch module, with the seat switch being placed on the back of the module. The set switch located on the back of the module, is energized by the depression of a resilient contact element projecting through the back of the watch case, thereby providing access to the appropriate internal circuitry, while at the same time insulating the watch against the outside atmosphere.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1-4 show differently shaped prior art watch cases which can be utilized to accommodate the relatively thick round watch module of Figure 5; Figure 5 shows a thick round LCD modle of the prior art which could be inserted in the watch cases of Figures 1-4; Figure 6shows a thinner LCD module in a round configuration, forming part of the prior art; Figure 7shows a typical squarish watch case of the prior art, having bevelled corners, which could accommodate the round disc-like module of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows the thin square module of the prior art, used for LCD watches heretofore; Figure 9 shows a typical squarish prior art watch case into which the square module of Figure 8 is adapted to fit;; Figures 10-12 show differently shaped oval, curved and squarish watch cases, all of which could accommodate the particularly configured module of this invention; Figure 13 is a front perspective view of an LCD module constituting a preferred embodiment of this invention, illustrating the main operative components and the side command contact; Figure 14 is a partly broken away rear view of the module of Figure 13, showing the crystal, semiconductor chip and battery, together with the side command switch and a fragment of the rear of the watch case indicating the access afforded therethrough to the set switch circuitry; Figure 15 is a side sectional view through the module taken along the plane 15-15 of Figure 14 in the direction of the arrows;; Figure 16 is a fragmentary and enlarged sectional view of the set switch contact arrangement, taken along the plane 16-16 of Figure 14 in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the manner by which the set switch contact has access to the printed circuit board through the case; Figure 17 is an isolated perspective view of the command switch contact element; and Figure 18 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the printed circuit board track which is completed when the set switch contact, which projects through the watch case back, is depressed.

The evolutionary process which led up to the present invention will first be described. Thus, considering the various views of Figures 1-9, there is illustrated a variety of watch cases and modules which all represented some type of advantage or improvement, but which, nevertheless, did not provide the industry or the consumer with the desired cosmetic variations furnished by the present invention coupled with the fashionable thin look. For example, the watch cases of Figures 1-4 indicate differently shaped outlines into which the rather bulky and overiy thick module of Figure 5 can be inserted. In Figure 1,watch case 20 includes a square outer face 20A with a display window 20B. All of the operative contacts 20C are located on the side of the case, and the rather substantial overall thickness of the case is illustrated at T1.Similarly, the prior art case of Figure 2 is illustrated at 22, with a roundedoff face 22A surrounding the square display window 22B, with contacts 22C on the side and an overall and quite substantial thickness T2 being illustrated. The case 24 shown in Figure 3 includes a round face 24A, a square window 24B, contacts 24C on the usual right side and a thickness dimension of Ts. The variation illustrated in Figure 4, also available in the prior art, is a case 26, with an oval face 26A surrounding the square window 26B, contacts 26C and thickness dimension T4.

All of these somewhat varying, but uncomfortably thick, watch cases (Figures 1-4), were constructed that way in order to accommodate the prior art electronic LCD module illustrated in Figure 5. That identified by reference numeral 28, has a basic round outline 28A, but includes a square display window 28B, thus accounting for the windows of a similar shape in Figures 1-4. The openings in the module housing 30 on the right side provide access to command, set, and illumination contact elements 28C' and the various contacts (20C,22C,24C,26C) shown in Figures 1-4 can activate the contacts 28C' at the appropriate times.In this view, there are also illustrated quartz crystal 32 and a resultant thickness of the module itself of T. Although the crystal 32 had started to become somewhat smaller, the display element and the battery (not shown in Figure 5) were still required to be rather thick, thus necessitating the bulk of module 28 in Figure 5. In addition, the set switch contacts were included among the side contacts 28C', thus creating the problems referred to earlier.

As the art deveioped further, one pleasing result was the generation of the thin disc-like electronic module of Figure 6. That module 34 includes a round outer face 34A, a square display window 34B and command and set switch contacts 34C, at a much reduced thickness Te, thus helping to solve at least one of the major prior art problems, namely that of excessive buik in the watch case. This module could be inserted into the case 36 illustrated in Figure 7, which was a relatively thin (see dimension T7) watch with a substantially rectangular window 36B within an overall squarish front 36A and with command and set switch contact holes 36C on the right side.

Only a relatively minor variation in the prior art of Figures 6 and 7 was required to lead to the thin square module 38 in Figure 8. While the technology permitted a compact and thin module to result, with outer face 38A and display window 38B, as well as contacts 38C on the right side and grounding contact 38D on the bottom, and thickness T8, a typical case as illustrated in Figure 9 was all that could accommodate the square module of Figure 8. Moreover, as with the display 34B of module 34 of Figure 6, the display element 38B had to be located somewhat offcentre as the modules became increasingly thin.

In examining the case 40 of Figure 9, it can be appreciated that its outer face 40A, its display window 40B, its contacts 40C and its attachment to strip 40E, with an overall thickness dimensions of Tg, were not terribly different from the prior art versions previously discussed.

It remained for the present invention to provide the necessary latitude for watch case design, while at the same time giving all of the technological achievements an opportunity to be utilized to their maximum extent, both asto design and operation.

The watch cases of Figures 10-12 illustrate this development. The watch case 42 of Figure 10 has a vertically oriented oval design face 42A, with a square window 42B and a single aperture 42C for the command contact; a thin overall structure (dimensions T1O) results. Similarly, case 44 of Figure 11 shows a rounded corner configuration 44A, with the display window 44B and contact aperture 44C being somewhat the same as in Figure 10 with a relatively thin depth or thickness T1 1.And the case 46 shown in Figure 12, attached to a possible watch strap 46E, is another variation, utilizing a squared-off front 46A, a square window 46B, a contact opening 46C and a small thickness dimension T12. But what is particularly significant is that not only can each of the watch cases of Figures 10-12 receive preciselythe same internal electronic watch module, namely the universally shaped LCD watch module of this invention, but that a fashionably thin watch structure will result.

The watch module of this invention is illustrated most prominently in the front perspective view of Figure 13 and the rear detailed view of Figure 14.

Considering these two views together, and commencing primarily with Figure 13, the module 48 includes the printed circuit board 50 which is affixed in a congruent fashion to a main containing or housing portion 52, which can conveniently be made of a suitable rigid plastics material. The quartz crystal 54 is retained in an appropriate enclosure therefor at the upper part of the housing 52, while the liquid crystal display element 56 is visible through the main central portion of module 48. The disc battery 58 is held within a circuiar retaining enclosure, and in the view of Figure 13, the battery's negative terminal 58N is shown, contacted by circuit clip 60A. Adjacent and to the left of the battery 58 is a screw-adjustable trimmer capacitor 61.Along the right edges of housing 52 and printed circuit board 50 is an exposed cutout region to allow the "command" contact element 62 to project out, ultimately to be depressed by a manually operable button or switch, to give the various displays capable of being generated by the circuitry provided.

In analyzing the operational aspects of the module 48, Figure 14 illustrates the rear of the module and includes the entire back surface of the printed circuit board 50, illustrating certain selected "track" elements 50T. The complete circuitry of the printed circuit board is not illustrated, and much of that circuitry will be found on the reverse surface of board 50, which is in contact with housing 52 and therefore in conductive relationship with the quartz crystal 54, the display 56, battery 58 and the underlying chip 64. (These specific connections are not illustrated and can be ascertained for any particular electronic watch configuration and performance by those skilled in the appropriate art.) From the rear (Figure 14), command switch contact 62 is shown at the left, with the centre of the module occupied by semiconductor chip 64 cemented into plae.To the left of chip 64 is a portion of a printed circuit track 66 (shown in greater detail in Figure 18), and which is arranged to have its normally open circuit completed by an appropriate manual operation by the user. This is the "set" switch contact circuit and will permit the user to establish the various digital entries for the different functions subject to the control by the command switch contact 62.

The set switch is identified as element 68 and is shown in Figure 14 as projecting rearwardly through a fragmentary portion of watch case back 70. This rubberized contact element 68 is arranged to be depressed manually and to thereby complete a circuit between the spaced elements in track region 66 to thereby activate the "set" circuit. Finally, the four principal screws which hold the printed circuit board 50 into fixed and engaging contact with housing element 52 are illustrated at 72, and clip 60B is in contact with positive battery terminal 58P of battery 58.

The overall shape of the module 48 of Figures 13 and 14 is significant and corresponds to a configuration heretofore unknown in LCD watches. Thus, the "6 x 8" watch module configuration, which took its name from the French dimensions of 6 3/4 x 8 "lignes" (equivalent to 15.2 x 17.9 millimeters) for the overall width and height measurements of the module, is illustrated here as containing LCD watch components and functioning as such. The availability of miniaturized elements such as quartz crystal 54, chip 64 and the resultant liquid crystal display element 56 associated therewith, and battery 58, all contribute to the feasibility of permitting a 6 x 8 module to even be considered for an LCD watch. But further engineering and refinements were required before this invention could arrive at the utilization of a 6 x 8 module for an LCD watch. This configuration is best illustrated in Figure 14.

Shown in Figure 14 are the longitudinal and transverse curve radial dimensions, the first being illustrated as R1 and the second as R2. Emanating from hypothetical centre point C of the module, radial line R1 defines the left and right central curved portions of module 48, identified as 52A and 52B respectively. These radial dimensions continue for a portion of the arcs illustrated at 52A and 52B and then are aligned with straight line portions which fill the remainder of the left and right module edges, identified as 52C and 52C, respectively. The angle between the horizontal and straight line portions 52C and 52D can be designed to accommodate several different 6 x 8 configurations, but may illustratively assume a 60 angle in a preferred case.

In the longitudinal direction, radius R2 defines the curve exhibited by upper and lower module edges 52E and 52F respectively, and these portions in tersectthe straight line dimensions 52C and 52C at cusp points 52G and 52H in the upper portion of module 48, and at corresponding (unnumbered) cusps at the lower section. Thus, what is defined by the geometrical configuration best illustrated in Figure 14 are (a) a pair of opposed transverse curve portions 52A and 52B, as defined by radius R1, (b) straight line portions 52C and 52D extending directly from arcs 52A, 52B at 600 to the horizontal, (c) connection points between arcs 52A, 52B and lines 52C, 52D, at cusps 52G and 52H, and (d) another pair of opposed longitudinal curved arcs 52E and 52F which are defined by radial dimensions R2.While a certain range of radii R1 and R2 can be utilized and still result in a 6 x 8 configuration having the universality of this invention for LCD watches, one preferred dimension for R1 is 7.6 millimeters, whereas a similarly preferred dimension for R2 is 8.95 millimeters.

Dealing once again with the operating aspects of the electronic watch module 48, it is appropriate to consider the geometric arrangement of the basic component parts and their interaction as illustrated in Figures 15-18. The side sectional view of Figure 15 shows the placement of quartz crystal 54 within housing 52 and integrally connected with printed circuit board 50. Display element 56 is at the left, connected through appropriate conductive layers to semiconductor chip 64. Both the negative and positive terminals 58N and 58P respectively of battery 58 are shown at the bottom of Figure 15, with the negative battery terminal being contacted by clip portion 60A and the positive portion 58P being contacted by clip 60B.

The view of Figure 16 gives a graphic presentation of the manner in which the set circuit is an LCD watch module is made operabie. The case back 70 of a typical LCD watch employing this module is provided with hole or bore 70B in case back body 70A. Into this bore is mounted set switch contact element 68, which consists of an insulating rubber portion 68A having an inner flange 68B which is affixed to the inner surface 70C of case back 70.

Cemented into the central portion of contact 68 is a conductive rubber plug 68C, which is electrically conductive and which is capable of completing an appropriate circuit when contact therewith is made.

Arrayed opposite contact element 68, and particularly opposite conductive rubber portion 68C, is track portion 66, on the outer (rearwardly directed) surface 50R of printed circuit board 50. Directly aligned with conductive rubber portion 68C is a gap 66A in the set switch circuitry, as shown in enlarged form in Figure 18. It can there be appreciated that track region 66 provides two conductive elements separated to define gap 66A, which, when bridged, will connect the set switch circuitry "S" (coupled to chip 64) and the positive power region indicated by the symbol In actual operation, there are two contact switches which function in the LCD watch module of this invention, namely, command switch contact 62 and set switch contact 68.Referring initiallyto Figures 13, 14 and 17, and considering the operation of command switch contact 62, that contact is made up of a one piece element shown best in Figure 17 and having a main curved arm 62A, linked to a central mounting portion 62B. Aperture 62C permits contact 62 to be mounted and held by the screw 72 illustrated at the lower left in Figure 14, the same screw which functions as the base terminal for battery clip 60B. When that screw 72 passes through hole 62C, thus fixing the rotational position of contact 62, any subsequent movement of that contact is by virtue of the flexible bending of arm 62A, with its contact portion 62E being a projecting tab at its upper end.At the same time, following mounting as illustrated in solid and hidden lines at the left of Figure 14, shoulder contact portion 62D is in engagement with the upper left portion of positive battery terminal 58P, as also illustrated in hidden lines in Figure 14.

When it is desired to "command" the liquid crystal display element to give its various functional displays, the exposed portion (see Figures 13 and 14) of contact 62 is manually depressed, for example by the pressure of a user on a cylindrical button which passes through an aperture in the side of a watch case; such apertures are shown at 42C, 44C and 46C in the suitable watch case designs illustrated in Figures 10-12 respectively. When tab portion 62E of contact 62 comes into conductive engagement with the underlying portion of printed circuit board 50 containing the track thereon, a circuit is completed from the positive battery terminal 58B, through shoulder portion 62D and a track (not shown) on the printed circuit board 50 which is in contact with central portion 62B of the contact.This energizes the chip 64 and causes display element 56 to change, for example, from the "normal" display of hours and minutes, to the next selected display, such as month and date. A further depression of command switch contact 62 can also cause other displays to be visible on surface 56, such as a running count of seconds or other suitable display parameter. Releasing of command contact 62 permits the normal resiliency of the contact to return it to the position illustrated at the left in Figure 14, thus breaking contact with the underlying printed circuit board track and returning the display to the original digits.

As noted heretofore in this application, it is rather conventional for electronic watches to have the command switch located on the same edge of the module as the "set" switch. For example, in the module illustrated in Figure 15, this would mean placing the set switch at the lower edge of housing 52, i.e., somewhere beneath contact 62. It might also be possible to locate both of these contacts on the top of housing 52 or conceivably on the opposite edge. However, a new and innovative approach is provided by placing the set switch contact on the rear of the module, with access being had thereto through the back of the watch case. This achieves a unique accessibility and yet a protection against inadvertent setting of the watch functions which is highly desirable.

Considering the view of Figures 14 and 16 together, this design characteristic is achieved by having contact element 68, being made illustratively of a resilient rubberized composition, project partialliy through the aperture 70B in case 70 of the watch. It can be appreciated from the view of Figure 16 that while access can be had to the rear (i.e. the right) edge of contact 68, that edge does not project beyond the rear surface 70D of the watch case 70; accordingly, it is virtually impossible for a user to accidentally cause the set switch to be operated and thereby mistakenly change the setting of any of the LCD display parameters.

When it is, however, desired to change a particular display, that display is brought up on the display screen element 56 by operation of either the command switch contact 62 or set switch contact 68, as desired. This particular cycle will, of course, depend on the circuitry in an individual semiconductor chip 64 and may vary in accordance with well-known operational principles. But, for example, should it be desired to change the reading of the "hours" digit whose main display is currently reading "6:40" to the correct "7:40", it might illustratively be accomplished by initially depressing set switch contact 68.

When the contact 68 is depressed by pressing against rubberized portion 68A (Figure 16), this causes conductive rubber portion 68C to be moved to the left and ultimately to come into contact with the two portions of track 66 which are separated at gap 66A. The ultimate contact thereacross of conductive rubber plug 68C bridges that gap and completes a circuit between the "S" portion of the circuitry of chip 64 and the track region marked "(+)" in Figure 18. When this circuit has been completed momentarily, the display on element 56 will change from the usual hours and minutes and will display only the hours digit, in this case the digit "6", Then, a single depression of command switch contact 62, thereby bringing tab portion 62E into contact with the appropriate printed circuit portion underlying that tab, will advance the displayed digit by discrete unitary amounts.A single depression of command switch contact 62 will therefore advance the hours digit from "6 to "7", thereby achieving the desired setting.

Since the appropriate change has now been made, the user would then continue to depress set switch 68, thereby changing the display to individual elements which, in this hypothetical example, do not require changing. Thus, the next subsequent depression of set switch contact 68, which makes contact between conductive portion 68C and track 66 and then completes the circuit acrosss 66A, will cause the "minutes" portion of the display to be visible. Since no change is required here, another depression of set switch contact 68 brings up a digital representation of the particular month, while still another depression of the set switch contact 68 will present the digital representation of the date.

Assuming just a four part setting cycle, a final depression of set switch contact 68 will return the display to the hours and minutes after the initial correction discussed above has been made. Accordingly, this display will now read "7:40", the desired display setting.

Thus, there is provided, within a universally sized and configured electronic watch module, an LCD watch having the appropriate display elements and suitably miniaturized power and time drivers, but with carefully engineered command and set switch contacts which are conveniently separated and yet electronically linked through the power and printed circuit elements. The particular advantage of having the 6 x 8 style of module available in an LCD watch permits the many stylistic and cosmetic variations, only illustrated in small parts in Figures 10-12,to be utilized in the watch cases in this industry. At the same time, the separation of the command and set switch contacts allows for careful and precise setting of the various displayed digital parameters, thus ensuring that no inadvertent changes are made in the display except upon the careful and intentional wishes of the user.

Claims (14)

1. A module for an electronic liquid crystal display watch utilizing crystal timing means, a liquid crystal display element, a semiconductor chip and a battery, comprising a main housing having a plurality of enclosures for accommodating the crystal timing means, the display element, the chip and the battery, the housing having an outer configuration defined by a first pair of opposed transverse radial arcs, a second pair of opposed longitudinal radial arcs, upper and lower pairs of straight lines extending from each end of each of the transverse radial arcs and intersecting each end of each of the longitudinal radial arcs to define cusps thereat, and switching means for selectively energizing and setting the display element.

2. A module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer configuration is of the "6 x 8" type.

3. A module as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the transverse radial arcs are defined by a radius between 7.5 and 9 millimeters.

4. A module as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal radial arcs are defined by a radius between 8.5 and 10 millimeters.

5. A module as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transverse radial arcs are defined buy a radius of 7.6 millimeters, the longitudinal radial arcs are defined by a radius of 8.95 millimeters, and the straight lines extend at an angle of 60 from the transverse axis of the module.

6. A module as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switching means includes a command means for activating the chip to cause the display element to display predetermined timid displays under the control of the crystal timing means, and a setting means for modifying respective ones of the predetermined timed displays.

7. A module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the outer configuration of the module includes an edge surface for accommodating the command means, and wherein the main housing includes a printed circuit board affixed thereto, the board having a conductive track thereon forming a part of the setting means.

8. A module as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the command means includes a command switch contact mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the edge surface of the module, arranged for normally maintaining contact with a portion of the battery, and arranged to be selectively pivoted so as to complete the electrical circuit from the battery to the printed circuit board.

9. A module as claimed in claim 7 arranged to be accommodated within a case for the watch, the case having means for allowing access to the rear of the module therethrough, wherein the setting means includes a resilient contact member mounted in the access means of the case for selectively making contact with the conductive track.

10. A module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the conductive track includes at least two conductive elements with a gap therebetween and the resilient contact member includes a first insulating portion exposed through the access means for selective operation and a second conductive portion mounted for movement in conjunction with the first insulating portion for selectively closing the gap between the two conductive elements.

11. A module for an electronic liquid crystal display watch arranged to be universally accommodated within a plurality of differently configured watch cases, the module including mounting enclosures for a quartz crystal, a liquid crystal display element, a semiconductor chip and battery, the module comprising a main housing for the enclosures, a printed circuit board with side and rear surfaces and integrally coupled with the housing, the housing including an outer edge surface having a configuration defined by a first pair of opposed convex arcs transversely of the module, a second pair of opposed convex arcs longitudinally of the module, a pair of opposed straight line extensions connecting one end of each of the first pair of arcs with a corresponding end of each of the second pair of arcs, and a second pair of opposed straight line extensions connecting the other end of each of the first pair of arcs with a corresponding end of each of the second pair of arcs, the connections defining two pairs of cusps on opposed longitudinal ends of the outer edge surface, command switch means mounted along the outer edge surface of the housing and the side surface of the printed circuit board for pivotal movement to selectively complete a circuit between the battery and the printed circuit board and set switch means mounted in a portion of the case, for the module and arranged to be selectively depressed to complete a circuit on the printed circuit board.

12. A module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first pair of arcs has a radius of between 7.5 and 9 millimeters, the second pair of arcs has a radius of between 8.5 and 10 millimeters, the first and second pairs of opposed straight line extensions are arranged at acute interior angles of 60C to a transverse axis between each of the first pair of opposed convex arcs, the circuit on the printed circuit board being on the rear surface and having a normally open gap therein, the portion of the case having an aperture aligned with the gap, and the set switch means including a resilient contact member having a first insulating portion projecting into the aperture and a second conductive portion integral with the first portion and a arranged to selectively close the gap to complete the circuit on the printed board.

13. A module for an electronic liquid crystal display watch, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 10 to 18 of the accompanying drawings.

14. An electronic liquid crystal display watch including a module as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.