NZ505360A

NZ505360A - Wrist watch with both analogue and digital time display

Info

Publication number: NZ505360A
Application number: NZ505360A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Carla Louise Carr; Diarmuid John St Colum Bland; Jeffrey Keith Bruneau; William Warren Morgan
Original assignee: Fossil Inc
Priority date: 1998-11-05
Filing date: 1999-07-30
Publication date: 2002-08-28
Also published as: WO2000028387A1; EP1046086A4; CA2316861A1; BR9906725A; IL137154A0; TR200001808T1; AU5135199A; ES2249022T3; JP2002529748A; HK1031141A1; ID26959A; CA2316861C; EP1046086B1; DE69928221T2; ATE309560T1; DE69928221D1; EP1046086A1

Abstract

A timepiece comprises a watch case (101) with a back (118) and a display area (102) with a transparent crystal (104). The analogue display has an interior bezel (110) upon which are a plurality of markings (110c) aligned with an hour hand (108) and a minute hand (109), all of which may be luminescent. The analogue display overlaps the digital display (106) of passing seconds, the digital display being approximately the same size as the total display area of the timepiece.

Description

LEDs. but these displays typically had an unacceptably short lifetime The first LCDs also had contrast problems that limited users to fairly narrow viewing angles Advances in electronics, display, and battery technology have resolved many of these problems, making current electro-optical displays much more practical for body-worn timepiece applications.

However, although currently available digital displays are far more serviceable for watch applications than were their predecessors, consumers' preferences have changed. As electronic watches became readily and cheaply available in the market, their "prestige" wore off Consumers also came to realize that while a digital display was convenient in some respects, it was inconvenient in many others Generally speaking, it is easier to tell the time by glancing at an analog clock face than by reading a relatively small set of numbers Moreover, consumers are thought to prefer analog displays to quickly assess time intervals, i.e., how much time has elapsed since a specified time or how much time remains before a specified time For example, if it is currently 2:25 and one has an appointment at 3:00, consumers may find it easier to determine from an analog display that the appointment is 35 minutes away.

For these reasons, electronic wnstwatches that contain complimentary analog and digital displays have become popular A number of these types of wnstwatches actually do not contain analog components, but rather, utilize an electronic display that simulates an analog display The following U.S Patents all disclose dual electronic displays where the analog-like portion of the display (i.e., a radial display similar to a clock face that is intended to convey the time of day in hours and minutes) does not include a conventional, motor-driven hour hand and mmute hand: US. Patent No 4,198,810, issued on April 22, 1980 to Fahrenschon; U.S. Patent No. U.S. Patent No 4,077,032, issued on February 28, 1978 to Volkman; U.S. Patent No. 4,095,405, issued on June 20,1978 to Tanaka; and U.S. Patent No 4,320,484, issued on March 16, 1982, to Burdet.

On the other hand, U.S' Patent No. 3,911,665, issued on October 14, 1975 to van Berkum, discloses a wnstwatch having complimentary mechanically-dnven analog and electncally-dnven digital displays. However, van Berkum's alphanumenc digital display is limited to the on-command display of the date At the user's command, passing seconds can be electronically displayed via a "seconds marker," descnbed as a single LED or a relatively small group of LEDs that flash at the rate of 1 Hz US Patent No. 4,436,435, issued on March 13,1984 to Ushikoshi, discloses a wnstwatch having comphmentary analog and digital 9 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) displays, where the digital display is located above (or in approximately the same plane) as the analog watch dial, thus allowing for a thin overall design. The wnstwatch disclosed by Ushikoshi provides a conventional analog display that may or may not include a second hand, and a complimentary digital display that indicates hours and minutes m alphanumeric format. The digital display may or may not also include an alarm indicator and a flashing colon between the hours and minutes that indicates passing seconds In Ushikoshi's wnstwatch, both displays are dnven by a single battery and a single time standard and timing circuit.

The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, compnses a dual-display electronic wnstwatch that incorporates a novel arrangement of the analog and digital displays, and utilizes separate battenes, time standards, and dnving circuits for each display. Rather than displaying the same time-of-day information in two separate formats, or related time/date information, as disclosed in the above-descnbed prior art, the present invention displays time-of-day information in analog format and passing seconds in alphanumenc format. Thus, the present invention is both a timepiece and a chronometnc instrument, enablmg the user to readily ascertain the both the time-of-day and the elapsed time between successive events with reasonable precision. Finally, the present invention provides a particularly unique and appealmg appearance.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a timepiece for mdependently displaying the time of day and passing seconds, said timepiece compnsmg. a case defining a case intenor and having a display opening substantially defined by a penphery of a first side of said case; a transparent crystal coupled to said case at said case opening and covering said display opening; an analog watch movement including a first timing circuit retamed within said case mterior, said analog movement coupled to an hour hand and a minute hand for displaying the time of day in hours and minutes, and a digital display circuit retamed within said case mtenor, said digital display circuit including a digital display coupled to a second timing circuit for indicating passmg seconds, wherein said second timing circuit is independent from said first timing circuit and said digital display is positioned below said hour and minute hands whereby a viewer can simultaneously see said passing seconds on said display element and said hour and minute hands through said transparent crystal.

In accordance with a second aspect of die present invention there is provided a timepiece and chronometer that displays the time of day using an analog display superimposed over passing seconds displayed on a digital display, compnsmg: a watch case comprising a case back, a display opening, and an intenor, said display opening compnses the total display area of said timepiece; a transparent crystal coupled to said watch case covermg said display opening; a digital LCD display substantially the same size as said total display area of said timepiece, said digital LCD display couples to said mtenor of said watch case I \LIBRARY\ALC\SPECS\426169 NHG 3 beneath said crystal, said digital LCD display indicates passing seconds by incrementally displaying alphanumeric digit, said digital display further compnses a center aperture; an analog display comprising an hour hand, a minute hand, and in interior bezel, said interior bezel is symmetncally ahgned with said display opening and said center aperture in said digital LCD display and overlaps said digital display in plan view, said mterior bezel further comprises a plurality of markings that facilitate reading the time mdicated by the position of said hour hand and said minute hand; an analog watch movement within said watch case underneath said digital display, said analog watch movement compnses a first battery, timing circuitry, a hand-moving assembly, and a stem and crown assembly, said hand-moving assembly extends from said analog watch movement through said center aperture in said digital display and couples to said hour hand and said minute hand of said analog display; a digital display dnver compnsing a second battery, an electronic timing standard, and electronic circuitry, said digital display dnver couples to and provides signals that drive the digital LCD display.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a display system that simultaneously displays the time of day in analog format and passing seconds in alphanumenc digital format using two separately-dnven, overlapping displays, compnsmg: a watch case compnsmg a case back, a display opening, and an mtenor, said display opening compnses the total display area of said timepiece; a transparent crystal coupled to said watch case covering said display opening; a digital LCD display substantially the same size as said total display area of said timepiece, said digital LCD display couples to said interior of said watch case beneath said crystal, said digital LCD display indicates passing seconds by incrementally displaying alphanumeric digit, said digital display further comprises a center aperture; an analog display compnsmg an hour hand, a minute hand, and an mtenor bezel, said mtenor bezel is symmetrically aligned with said display openmg and said center aperture m said digital LCD display and overlaps said digital display m plan view, said mtenor bezel further compnses a plurality of markings that facilitate reading the time mdicated by the position of said hour hand and said mmute hand; an analog watch movement within said watch case underneath said digital display, said analog watch movement comprises a first battery, timing circuitry, a hand-moving assembly, and a stem and crown assembly, said hand-moving assembly extends from said analog watch movement through said center aperture m said digital display and couples to said hour hand and said minute hand of said analog display; a digital display dnver compnsmg a second battery, an electronic timing standard, and electronic circuitry, said digital display dnver couples to and provides signals that dnve the digital LCD display I \UBRARY\ALC\SPECS\426169 NHG 3a

Claims

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making a timepiece and chronometer that displays the time of day usmg an analog display superimposed over passing seconds displayed on a digital display, comprising providing a watch case compnsmg a case back, a display opemng, and an mtenor, said display opening comprises the total display area of said timepiece; couplmg a transparent crystal to said watch case to cover said display opening; providing a digital LCD display substantially the same size as said total display area of said timepiece, said digital LCD display couples to said intenor of said watch case beneath said crystal, said digital LCD display mdicates passmg seconds by incrementally displaying alphanumeric digits, said digital display further comprises a center aperture; providing an analog display compnsmg an hour hand, a mmute hand, and an mtenor bezel, said interior bezel is symmetncally ahgned with said display opening and said center aperture in said digital LCD display and overlaps said digital display in plan view, said mterior bezel further compnses a plurality of markings that facilitate readmg the time mdicated by the position of said hour hand and said minute hand; couplmg an analog watch movement to said analog display, said analog watch movement further compnses a first battery, timing circuitry, a hand-moving assembly, and a stem and crown assembly, said hand-moving assembly extends from said analog watch movement through said center aperture in said digital display and couples to said hour hand and said minute hand of said analog display; couplmg a digital display dnver compnsmg a second battery, an electronic timing standard, and electronic circuitry to said digital LCD display, said digital display dnver provides electncal signals to said digital LCD display. In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present mvention there is provided a method of usmg a timepiece and chronometer that simultaneously displays the time of day and elapsed seconds with an analog display superimposed over passing seconds displayed on a digital display, compnsmg. providing a watch case compnsmg a case back, a display openmg, and an mtenor, said display opening comprises the total display area of said timepiece, providing a transparent crystal coupled to said watch case to cover said display opening, providing a digital LCD display substantially the same size as said total display area of said timepiece, said digital LCD display couples to said mterior of said watch case beneath said crystal, said digital LCD display indicates passing seconds by incrementally displaying alphanumenc digits, said digital display further compnses a center aperture; providing an analog display compnsmg an hour hand, a minute hand, and an mtenor bezel, said mtenor bezel is symmetncally aligned with said display openmg and said center aperture m said digital LCD display and overlaps said digital display m plan view, said mtenor bezel further compnses a plurality of markings that facihtate reading the time mdicated by the position of said hour hand and said minute hand; providing an analog watch movement coupled to said analog display, said analog I \LIBRARY\ALC\SPECS\426169 NHG 3b watch movement further comprises a first battery, timing circuitry, a hand-moving assembly, and a stem and crown assembly, said hand-moving assembly extends from said analog watch movement through said center aperture m said digital display and couples to said hour hand and said minute hand of said analog display, providing a digital display dnver compnsmg a second battery, an electronic timing standard, and electronic circuitry to said digital LCD display, said digital display driver couples to and provides electncal signals to said digital LCD display, and setting the displayed time by arranging said hour hand and said minute hand to display the time of day, as mdicated by the position of said hour hand and said minute hand relative to said plurality of markings located on said mtenor bezel. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention and Summary The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, is a timepiece and chronometer that displays the tune of day m an analog display format superimposed over passmg seconds alphanumencally displayed on an LCD digital display. The timepiece compnses a watch case with a display openmg that, for the purposes of this disclosure, is designated as the display area, a transparent watch crystal, an electncally-dnven digital LCD display that is substantially the same size as the display area, an electncal digital display dnver, a conventional electncal analog watch movement, and an analog display compnsmg an hour hand, mmute hand, and an mtenor bezel. The digital LCD display indicates passmg seconds by incrementally displaying either digits 00 through 59 or digits 01 through 60 for one second each, either m dark numerals over a light background, or vice versa. The analog display, which may mclude luminescent surfaces on one or more of its components, is superimposed over the digital display, and arranged such that the digital LCD display is viewed through the opening of the intenor bezel. The hands of the analog display are dnven by an electncal analog watch movement located beneath the LCD display that compnses a battery, a timing standard such as a quartz crystal oscillator, timing circuitry, a conventional stem and crown assembly, and a hand moving I \LIBRARY\ALC\SPECS\426169 NHG 3c WO 00/28387 PCT/US99/I7228 assembly that extends upward through the LCD display and couples to the analog watch hands. The digital display dnver, also located behind the LCD display, couples to the digital LCD display and compnses a battery, a timing standard such as a quartz crystal oscillator, and timing and display dnving circuitry. The analog movement and the digital display dnver may share the same electncal ground, but otherwise are electncally isolated from one another. The timepiece may also include markings on the intenor bezel that facilitate reading the time of day from the analog display, and/or one or more outer bezels coupled to the watch case outside the display area that are marked with analog time indications. The watch case may also include a curved rear surface to insure a comfortable fit at the wrist. Brief Description of the Drawings To further aid in understanding the invention, the attached drawings help illustrate specific features of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the following is a bnef description of the attached drawings: FIG.l is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention in a wnstwatch application, showing the analog display supenmposed over the digital display, as it would appear to a wearer. FIG.2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention m a wnstwatch application, showing the arrangement of the displays, analog movement, and digital display dnver within the watch case. FIGs. 3 A and 3B show the front and rear sides of the digital display dnver of the present invention according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 shows the digital LCD display according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of digits of the digital LCD display, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is rear view of one embodiment of the present invention, showing the arrangement of the analog movement and analog movement battery, and the digital display dnver and digital display dnver battery. Disclosure of the Invention A preferred embodiment of the present invention compnses a dual-display electronic timepiece that incorporates a novel arrangement of the analog and digital displays, and utilizes separate battenes, time standards, and dnving circuits for each display. Rather than displaying the same time-of- day 4 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/28387 PCT/US99/I7228 information m two separate formats, or related time/date information, as disclosed in the above-described prior an, the present invention displays time-of-day information in analog format and passing seconds in alphanumenc format. Finally, the present invention provides a particularly uniuuc and appealing appearance. This disclosure descnbes numerous specific 5 details that include specific structures and circuits in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. One skilled in the an will appreciate that one may practice the present invention without these specific details. In addition, while this disclosure focuses on the application of the present invention to wnstwatches, one skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can be also be applied in the context of any horological 10 instrument. FIG 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention 100 in a wristwatch embodiment, as it would appear to a wearer. As shown in FIG. 1, timepiece 100 includes a watch case 101. Looking through the transparent crystal 104 (not shown m FIG. 1) and the display opening 102 in watch case 101. the wearer sees the digital display 105 and its alphanumenc digits 106 15 Supenmposed over the digital display 105, the wearer sees an hour hand 108. a minute hand 109, and an intenor bezel 110 that compnse the analog display. Intenor bezel 110 is symmetrically aligned with display opening 102. and further compnses an inner edge 110b that defines the inner opening of the intenor bezel 110 and markings 110c that facilitate the reading of the time of day indicated by the position of the hour hand 108 and the minute hand 20 109. Alphanumenc digits 106 displayed on digital LCD display 105 are sized such that they can be viewed through the inner opening of intenor bezel 110, without being blocked by interior bezel 110 In the embodiment shown m FIG. 1, interior bezel markings 110c compnse long segments radially dispersed at approximate 15 degree intervals, and short segments radially 25 dispersed between the long segments at approximate 3 degree intervals. While FIG. 1 shows short and long segments that indicate conventional hour and minute positions on a clock, one skilled m the art will recognize that intenor bezel markings 110c could comprise a variety of other indications such as Roman, Arabic, or other alphanumenc characters, alone or combined with segments, dots or other markings or indications intended to facilitate the determination 30 of the time of day indicated by the positions of hour hand 108 and minute hand 109. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a luminescent matenal or coating may be applied to the viewing surface of hour hand 108. minute hand 109. and either mterior bezel SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/28387 PCT /US99/17228 markings 110c, or the surface of intenor bezel 110, thus enabhng the wearer to easily read the analog display m low ambient lighting conditions. Hour hand 108 and minute hand 109 are set as m a conventional timepiece using stem and crown assembly 119. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a wnstwatch embodiment of the present invention, showing the arrangement of the vanous components within the mtenor 103 of the watch case 101 and case back 118 As shown m FIG 2, watch crystal 104 covers display openmg 102 in watch case 101 Watch crystal 104 is retained by outer bezel 114, which may or may not be marked with indications intended to facilitate reading the time-of-day from the position of watch hands 108 and 109 Immediately beneath watch crystal 104, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of mmute hand 109, hour hand 108, and mtenor bezel 110. Analog hands 108 and 109 are coupled to and rotate about hand moving assembly 112, which extends upward from analog watch movement 111 through center aperture 107 in LCD digital display 105. Center aperture 107 is symmetncally aligned with intenor bezel 110 and display opening 102. Analog hands 108 and 109 can be manually positioned usmg stem and crown assembly 119 (not shown m FIG 2) Analog watch movement 111 is a quartz crystal or other self-contained, battery-powered electronic analog watch movement well known in the art, such as a Citizen 2026 or other readily available watch movements, and is thus not descnbed in detail here. Analog watch movement 111 includes a conventional stem and crown assembly 119 and a conventional analog hand moving assembly 112 that ordmanly would extend through a conventional watch face to couple to an hour hand 108 and a minute hand 109. FIG. 2 shows LCD display dnver 113 in cross-section, adjacent to analog watch movement 111. LCD display driver 113 is electrically coupled to LCD display 105 via zebra connector 117. FIG. 2 also shows the relative positions of the edges of display opening 102, interior bezel 110, and LCD display 105 in a preferred wnstwatch embodiment. Intenor bezel 110 is sized such that the outer edge 105c of LCD display 105 is hidden from view through the watch crystal 104 In other words, outer edge 110a of intenor bezel extends beyond the outer edge 105c of LCD display 105 Inner edge 110b of intenor bezel 110 is smaller than outer edge 105c of LCD display 105. Display opening 102 in watch case 101 is sized such that outer edge 110a of intenor bezel 110 is hidden from the wearer's view. One skilled m the art will recognize that although the wnstwatch embodiment of the present invention dcscnbed 6 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/28387 PCT/US99/17228 in this disclosure depicts a circular design for watch case 101, display opening 102, intenor bezel 110, and LCD display 105, the present invention may be practiced in timepieces with other physical shapes (such as square, rectangular, oval, etc.) without departing from the present invention. Moreover, although not shown in FIG. 2, watch case 101 may also include a curved rear surface to insure a comfortable fit at the wnst. FIGs. 3A and 3B show the front and rear sides of digital display dnver 113. Digital display dnver 113 includes the timing standard and electronic circuitry necessary to drive the LCD display 105 at a rate of 1 Hz. In the embodiment described in this disclosure, digital display dnver 113 compnses a double-sided pnnted circuit board with the following surface-mounted CMOS electronic components: display dnver integrated circuit 120, electronic timing standard 121, and chip capacitors 122-125, all shown in FIG. 3B. Timing circuitry using an electronic timing standard such as a quartz crystal oscillator and electronic LCD display dnving circuitry for horological applications are both well known m the prior art and thus no further detail regarding the specifics of display dnver 113 is necessary or provided in this disclosure. FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of digital LCD display 105 Features of digital LCD display 105 shown in FIG. 4 include outer edge 105c, two alphanumenc displays 106, each of which are comprised of 7 uniquely-configured and separately-illuminated segments 115, display background 116 and center aperture 107. Digital LCD display 105 may be configured with an ordinarily-dark background 116 and ordmanly-dark segments 115. When segments 115 are energized by display driver 113 they become light, thus producing light alphanumenc characters 106 on a dark background 116. Alternatively, digital LCD display 105 may be configured with an ordinarily-light background 116 and ordmanly-light segments 115. In this embodiment, when segments 115 are energized by display dnver 113, they become dark, thus producing dark alphanumenc characters 106 contrasted with a light background 116. FIG 5 shows the appearance of dark alphanumeric characters 106 on a light background 116 in an embodiment of the present invention wherein digital LCD display 105 displays alphanumeric characters 00 through 59. One skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative embodiments of the present invention may display alternate characters, such as 01 through 60, 0 through 59 (wherein digits 0-9 are not displayed with a leading 0), or 1 through 60 (wherein digits 1-9 are not displayed with a leading 0). Similarly, embodiments that display only a subset of characters 00-59 or 01-60, at a rate slower than 1 Hz will not depart from the present 7 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/28387 PCT/US99/17228 invention. In other words, an embodiment compnsmg a digital LCD display that displays alphanumenc characters 00,10,20, 30,40, and 50 for approximately 10 seconds each, but m all other respects identical to this disclosure, would not depart from the present invention. The latter embodiment is not a preferred embodiment, however, because such an embodiment would render the chronometnc function of the present invention less useful. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a wnstwatch embodiment of the present invention from the rear, with the case back 118 removed. FIG. 6 shows the relative positions of analog movement 111 with analog movement battery 126. and digital display driver 113 with digital display dnver battery 127. Other than possibly sharing the same electrical ground through watch case 101, analog movement 111 with analog movement battery 126 is electrically isolated from digital display dnver 113 and digital display dnver battery 127. Consequently, m this embodiment of the present invention, display driver 113 or display driver battery 127 may fail without causing analog movement 111 or analog movement battery 126 to fail and without impacting the ability of the user of the present invention to determine the time of day from the analog display. In sum, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a timepiece and chronometer that displays the tune of day in an analog display format supenmposed over passing seconds displayed alphanumerically on an LCD digital display. The timepiece comprises a watch case with a case back and a display opening that, for the purposes of this disclosure, is designated as the display area, a transparent watch crystal, an electncally-driven digital LCD display that is substantially the same size as the display area, an analog display compnsmg an hour hand, minute hand, and mtenor bezel, an electrical analog watch movement, and a digital display dnver. The digital LCD display indicates passing seconds by incrementally displaying either digits 00 through 59 or digits 01 through 60 for one second each, either in dark numerals over a light background, or vice versa. The analog display, which may include luminescent surfaces on one or more of its components, is supenmposed over the digital display, arranged such that the digital LCD display is viewed through the inner opening of the interior bezel. The hands of the analog display are driven by an electncal analog watch movement located beneath the LCD display that compnses a battery, a timing standard such as a quartz crystal oscillator, timing circuitry, a stem and crown assembly, and a hand moving assembly that extends upward through the center aperture of the LCD display and couples to the analog watch hands. The digital display driver, also located behind the LCD display, couples to the 8 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/28387 PCT/US99/17228 digital LCD display and compnses a second battery, a timing standard such as a quartz crystal oscillator, and timing and display dnvmg electronic components and circuitry. The analog movement and the digital display dnver may share the same electncal ground, but otherwise are electncally isolated from one another The timepiece may also mclude markings on the intenor bezel that facilitate reading the time of day from the analog display, and/or one or more outer bezels coupled to the watch case outside the display area that may be marked with analog time indications. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after considenng this specification or practicing the disclosed invention. The specification and examples above are exemplary only, with the true scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims. 9 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/28387 PCT/US99/17228 CLAIMS We claim the following invention.

1 A timepiece and chronometer that displays the time of day using an analog display supenmposed over passing seconds displayed on a digital display, compnsing: a watch case compnsing a case back, a display opening, and an intenor, said display opening comprises the total display area of said timepiece; a transparent crystal coupled to said watch case covenng said display opemng, a digital LCD display substantially the same size as said total display area of said timepiece, said digital LCD display couples to said intenor of said watch case beneath said crystal, said digital LCD display indicates passing seconds by incrementally displaying alphanumenc digit, said digital display further compnses a center aperture; an analog display compnsmg an hour hand, a minute hand, and an interior bezel, said intenor bezel is symmetncally aligned with said display opening and said center aperture in said digital LCD display and overlaps said digital display in plan view, said intenor bezel further comprises a plurality of markings that facilitate reading the time mdicated by the position of said hour hand and said minute hand; an analog watch movement within said watch case underneath said digital display, said analog watch movement compnses a first battery, timing circuitry, a hand-movmg assembly, and a stem and crown assembly, said hand-moving assembly extends from said analog watch movement through said center aperture m said digital display and couples to said hour hand and said minute hand of said analog display, a digital display dnver comprising a second battery, an electronic timing standard, and electronic circuitry, said digital display driver couples to and provides signals that drive the digital LCD display.

2. The timepiece of Claim 1, wherein one or more of the following components of said analog display further compnses a luminescent surface: said hour hand, said minute hand, said intenor bezel, or said plurality of markings located on said intenor bezel.

3. A display system that simultaneously displays the time of day in analog format and passing seconds in alphanumenc digital format using two separately-dnven, overlapping displays, comprising- a watch case compnsing a case back, a display opening, and an interior, said display opening compnses the total display area of said timepiece; 10 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/28387 PCT/US99/17228 a transparent crystal coupled to said watch case covering said display opening, a digital LCD display substantially the same size as said total display area of said timepiece, said digital LCD display couples to said mtenor of said watch case beneath said crystal, said digital LCD display indicates passing seconds by incrementally displaying alphanumenc digit, said digital display further comprises a center aperture; an analog display compnsing an hour hand, a minute hand, and an intenor bezel, said mtenor bezel is symmetrically aligned with said display openmg and said center aperture in said digital LCD display and overlaps said digital display in plan view, said intenor bezel further compnses a plurality of markings that facilitate reading the time indicated by the position of said hour hand and said mmute hand; an analog watch movement withm said watch case underneath said digital display, said analog watch movement comprises a first battery, timing circuitry, a hand-movmg assembly, and a stem and crown assembly, said hand-moving assembly extends from said analog watch movement through said center aperture in said digital display and couples to said hour hand and said minute hand of said analog display; a digital display driver comprising a second battery, an electronic timing standard, and electronic circuitry, said digital display driver couples to and provides signals that dnve the digital LCD display

4. The display system of Claim 3, wherein one or more of the following components of said analog display further compnses a luminescent surface: said hour hand, said minute hand, said intenor bezel, or said plurality of markings located on said intenor bezel.

5. A method of making a timepiece and chronometer that displays the time of day using an analog display superimposed over passing seconds displayed on a digital display, comprising: providing a watch case comprising a case back, a display opening, and an interior, said display opening compnses the total display area of said timepiece; coupling a transparent crystal to said watch case to cover said display opening, providing a digital LCD display substantially the same size as said total display area of said timepiece, said digital LCD display couples to said intenor of said watch case beneath said crystal, said digital LCD display indicates passing seconds by incrementally displaying alphanumeric digits, said digital display further compnses a center aperture; providing an analog display compnsing an hour hand, a minute hand, and an intenor 11 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/28387 PCT/US99/17228 bezel, said intenor bezel is symmetncally ahgned with said display opening and said center aperture in said digital LCD display and overlaps said digital display in plan view, said interior bezel further compnses a plurality of markings that facilitate reading the time indicated by the position of said hour hand and said minute hand; coupling an analog watch movement to said analog display, said analog watch movement further compnses a first battery, timing circuitry, a hand-moving assembly, and a stem and crown assembly, said hand-moving assembly extends from said analog watch movement through said center aperture in said digital display and couples to said hour hand and said minute hand of said analog display; coupling a digital display dnver comprising a second battery, an electronic timing standard, and electronic circuitry to said digital LCD display, said digital display driver provides electncal signals to said digital LCD display 6 The method of Claim 5, further comprising providing a luminescent surface on one or more of the following components of said analog display, said hour hand, said minute hand, said intenor bezel, or said plurality of markings located on said intenor bezel. 7. A method of usmg a timepiece and chronometer that simultaneously displays the time of day and elapsed seconds with an analog display supenmposed over passing seconds displayed on a digital display, comprising. providing a watch case compnsing a case back, a display opemng, and an intenor, said display opening compnses the total display area of said timepiece; providing a transparent crystal coupled to said watch case to cover said display opening, providing a digital LCD display substantially the same size as said total display area of said timepiece, said digital LCD display couples to said intenor of said watch case beneath said crystal, said digital LCD display indicates passing seconds by incrementally displaying alphanumeric digits, said digital display further compnses a center aperture; providing an analog display compnsing an hour hand, a minute hand, and an interior bezel, said intenor bezel is symmetrically aligned with said display opening and said center aperture in said digital LCD display and overlaps said digital display in plan view, said interior bezel further compnses a plurality of markings that facilitate reading the time indicated by the position of said hour hand and said minute hand; providing an analog watch movement coupled to said analog display, said analog 12 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)