US3643418A - Time-setting device for an electronic watch - Google Patents

Time-setting device for an electronic watch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3643418A
US3643418A US34928A US3643418DA US3643418A US 3643418 A US3643418 A US 3643418A US 34928 A US34928 A US 34928A US 3643418D A US3643418D A US 3643418DA US 3643418 A US3643418 A US 3643418A
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United States
Prior art keywords
setting
time
watch
control member
fact
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Expired - Lifetime
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US34928A
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English (en)
Inventor
Herbert S Polin
Gustavo Kuhn
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Individual
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Individual
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G5/00—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication
    • G04G5/02—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication by temporarily changing the number of pulses per unit time, e.g. quick-feed method
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/001—Electromechanical switches for setting or display
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
    • G04F5/00—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G5/00—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication
    • G04G5/02—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication by temporarily changing the number of pulses per unit time, e.g. quick-feed method
    • G04G5/022—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication by temporarily changing the number of pulses per unit time, e.g. quick-feed method quick-feed method
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G5/00—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication
    • G04G5/02—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication by temporarily changing the number of pulses per unit time, e.g. quick-feed method
    • G04G5/022—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication by temporarily changing the number of pulses per unit time, e.g. quick-feed method quick-feed method
    • G04G5/025—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication by temporarily changing the number of pulses per unit time, e.g. quick-feed method quick-feed method the time-counters first being reset to zero

Definitions

  • ABS CT The invention concerns a time-setting device for an electronic Aug. 27, 1969 Switzerland ..8127/69 watch This time setting device is origin 31 that it comprises only one control member to set the watch at different setting '8' speeds.
  • this control member is formed by a [58] Field 58/23 34 35 855 pushbutton which is made alike the winding and setting crown i of an ordinary mechanical watch to be immediately familiar to [56] References Cited Ff- UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,579,999 4/1971 Walton ..ss /g3 13 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TIME SETTING b DISPLAY OSClLLATOR "DEVIC r l l COUNTING 2 DEVICE l I 72 I: w 2 f a o /0 ⁇ u 1' W L FREQUENCY a o e o o 7 8 PO WER 7. SOURCE 5.
  • the present invention has for its object a time-setting device for an electronic time indicator and more particularly for an electronic watch.
  • the now available electronic watches or clocks comprise time-setting circuits of two different types. The ones are used to reset once for each 24 hours to the time indicated in a determined position for example 12 oclock. Thus once a day at 12 oclock the time setting is automatically effected which permits to avoid the working errors from one day to the other.
  • Such time-setting devices are not always adapted to portable electronic watches which have to be able to be set at any moment of the day and if possible at one or several setting speeds.
  • time-setting circuit of which comprises two control switches and causing, when actuated, the feeding of the hours counter or of the minutes counter with a signal of a higher frequency than the one corresponding to the normal working of the watch.
  • the present invention tends to remedy to these drawbacks and has for its object a time-setting device of an electronic watch which distinguishes itself by the fact that it comprises only one actuating member controlling the time setting of the watch at two different speeds at least.
  • the attached drawing shows schematically and by way of example two embodiments of the time setting device according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows a block scheme of a first embodiment of the time-setting device.
  • FIG. 2 is a block scheme of a second embodiment of the time-setting device.
  • FIG. 3 is the diagram of the time-setting oscillator used in the first embodiment of the device.
  • FIG. 4 shows the shape of the input voltage and of the output voltage of the oscillator shown on FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 1 shows very schematically an electronic watch comprising a power source 1 feeding permanently a counting device 2 and its display device 3 and temporarily, as will be seen later on, either a time-setting oscillator 4, or a main oscillator 5 as well as a frequency divider 6 fed by the main oscillator 5 and feeding the counting device 2.
  • the time-setting device comprises only one control member, represented in the form of a pushbutton 7, actuating on the one hand two contactors 8 and 9 and on the other hand the sliding contact 10 of a variable resistor 11 of the timesetting oscillator 4.
  • the control member is maintained in rest position shown by means of a return spring 12.
  • the contactor 8 connects the power source 1 to the main oscillator 5 and the frequency divider 6 which are thus fed, whereas the contactor 9 is unactive, and that the variable resistor 11 is at its lower value.
  • the time-setting oscillator 4 is a relaxationtype oscillator using only one unijunction transistor UJT.
  • This oscillator delivers an output signal shown in b at FIG. 4 when the voltage across the variable resistance 11 is the one shown in a on this same FIGURE.
  • This oscillator presents the characteristic of having an output signal the frequency of which depends upon the value of the resistor 11.
  • the value of the different elements of this time setting oscillator 4 is determined so that the frequency of its output signal b be always higher than the frequency of the signal 0 normally delivered by the frequency divider 6 and be variable in a range of at least 1 to 50.
  • the output signal of this time setting oscillator is delivered to the input of the counting device 2.
  • the contactor 9 permits to set to zero, that is to a state corresponding for example to 12 oclock the counting device 2 and its display 3 by connecting certain points of the circuit of these elements to the ground.
  • control member 7 In normal working of the watch the control member 7 is in its rest position shown and the time setting oscillator 4 is not fed whereas the main oscillator 5 as well as the frequency divider 6 are fed by the energy source 1; the watch works normally.
  • This time-setting device is very interesting since it permits setting an electronic watch by means of only one control member which can be realized mechanically so that it looks like the setting crown of a usual watch. In this way a minimum adaptation effort is required from the user.
  • the operator may control the sole control member in such a way that the hours and the minutes are advanced at a speed which can be controlled by the pressure he makes on this member.
  • the time-setting speed that is the advance of the hours and the minutes, may be very progressively.
  • the main oscillator is stopped during the time setting so that the last minute, after the time setting, represents 60 seconds before it springs to the next minute what enables a very precise and exact time setting.
  • the clock or electronic watch comprises also a power source 1 which feeds directly a main generator 5, a frequency divider 6, a counting device comprising a seconds counter 2a, a minutes counter 2b and an hours counter 2c connected in series and feeding a display device 3.
  • the time-setting device comprises also a control member 7, mounted in order to correspond as much as it is possible to the winding crown of a conventional watch, constituted by a pushbutton maintained in a rest position shown by a return spring 12 for which the movable contact 13 of the pushbutton is inactive.
  • a pressure in the direction of the arrow f on the pushbutton 7 enables according to the amplitude of the displacement, to cause the contacts 14a, 14b; 15a, 15b or 16a, 16b to realize the different functions described herebelow.
  • the movable contact 13 By releasing the pushbutton 7 by about one-third of its stoke, the movable contact 13 connects the fixed contacts 15a and 15b causing thus the feeding of the minutes counter 2b with a signal taken between the seconds counter 2a and the frequency divider 6 so that the time setting of the display 3 occurs a speeded up rhythm corresponding to 1 minute for the passage of 1 hour to the next, the signal delivered by the frequency divider being of l c.p.s.; and at one second for the passage of each minute to the following.
  • This second embodiment of the device is more simple than the one described first, mainly due to the fact that it does not necessitate a special generator for the time setting, however this time setting can be effected only at a certain number of predetermined speeds, two in the example shown and corresponding to the use of signals existing in the electronic watch.
  • the number of time-setting speeds may naturally be increased but a continuous variation of this time setting speed can not be obtained.
  • Time-setting device for an electronic watch characterized by the fact that it comprises only one control member to set the watch at at least two different speeds, said control member shunts, according to its position, either the seconds counter or the seconds and minutes counter of the watch.
  • Time-setting device for an electronic watch, characterized by the fact that it comprises only one control member to set the watch at at least two different speeds, said control member causes, depending upon its position, the feeding of a counting device of the watch through signals of different frequency, the frequency of which being higher than the one of the normal working signal, a time-setting generator of a variable frequency, and by the fact that the position of the control member determines the frequency of the output signal of this generator which feeds the counting device, the frequency variation of the output signal of the time-setting generator being continuous in function of the displacement of the control member.
  • the zero setting generator is a relaxation oscillator comprising one unijunction transistor, the voltage of the emitter of which is controlled by a variable resistor the value of which is in its turn determined by the position of the control member.
  • Device further comprising a main generator and a frequency divider, and characterized by the fact that the feeding of the zero setting generator is interrupted during the normal working of the watch whereas during the time setting the main generator and the frequency divider of the watch are not fed.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US34928A 1969-05-29 1970-05-06 Time-setting device for an electronic watch Expired - Lifetime US3643418A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH812769A CH524850A (fr) 1969-05-29 1969-05-29 Dispositif de remise à l'heure d'une montre électronique

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3643418A true US3643418A (en) 1972-02-22

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ID=4335566

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US34928A Expired - Lifetime US3643418A (en) 1969-05-29 1970-05-06 Time-setting device for an electronic watch

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3643418A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE750768A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (2) CH812769A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2025710A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2043759A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1299254A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7007184A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3742699A (en) * 1972-01-14 1973-07-03 Hmw Industries Solid state watch display switch
US3754391A (en) * 1970-12-26 1973-08-28 Suwa Seikosha Kk Driving arrangement for quartz vibrator timepieces
US3768247A (en) * 1971-02-06 1973-10-30 Suwa Seikosha Kk Control switches to watch having a digital display
US3792577A (en) * 1971-11-18 1974-02-19 K Fujita Quartz crystal wrist watch
US3800525A (en) * 1973-08-07 1974-04-02 Time Computer Solid state watch with magnetic setting
US3817021A (en) * 1971-06-15 1974-06-18 Time Computer Solid state watch with magnetic setting
US3823551A (en) * 1971-05-03 1974-07-16 Riehl Electronics Corp Solid state electronic timepiece
JPS4995657A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1973-01-12 1974-09-11
US3871168A (en) * 1971-08-27 1975-03-18 Longines Montres Comp D Electronic circuit for correction of the time display on an electronic timepiece
US3889460A (en) * 1972-06-19 1975-06-17 Suwa Seikosha Kk Method and apparatus for correcting time in an electronic wristwatch
JPS5099775A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1973-12-29 1975-08-07
US3901022A (en) * 1973-07-10 1975-08-26 Suisse Horlogerie Time setting arrangement for an electronic watch
US3935700A (en) * 1973-11-06 1976-02-03 Bulova Watch Company, Inc. Switching mechanism for electronic watch electro-optic display
US3943696A (en) * 1973-07-13 1976-03-16 Ebauches S.A. Control device for setting a timepiece
US4004408A (en) * 1973-04-03 1977-01-25 Kienzle Uhrenfabriken Gmbh Mechanical improvement on an electric alarm clock
USRE29327E (en) * 1972-06-19 1977-08-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Method and apparatus for correcting time in an electronic wristwatch
US4044547A (en) * 1974-12-11 1977-08-30 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Time adjusting system for an electronic timepiece
US4065916A (en) * 1977-01-17 1978-01-03 Texas Instruments Incorporated Electronic timepiece
JPS53127775A (en) * 1978-04-21 1978-11-08 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electronic wristwatch
JPS5411672U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1977-06-27 1979-01-25
JPS5597496U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1978-12-21 1980-07-07
US4749878A (en) * 1986-11-06 1988-06-07 Advanced Micro-Matrix, Inc. Input device for control system

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1490196A (en) * 1974-03-25 1977-10-26 Suisse Horlogerie Electrically driven time-piece
JPS5749877B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1974-05-15 1982-10-25
CH589886B5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1974-10-14 1977-07-29 Centre Electron Horloger
DE2628899C2 (de) * 1976-06-26 1986-02-20 Diehl GmbH & Co, 8500 Nürnberg Elektronische Uhr
GB1510744A (en) * 1975-09-11 1978-05-17 Diehl Electro-mechanical adjustment means for adjusting an electronic digital indicator
DE2726711C2 (de) * 1977-06-14 1984-10-18 Alfons Weiss Kg, Fabrik Feinwerktechn. Erzeugnisse, 7209 Gosheim Einstelleinrichtung für einen mit einer Digitalanzeige zusammenarbeitenden Zähler
DE2856249A1 (de) * 1978-12-27 1980-07-17 Graesslin Feinwerktech Eingabe- und/oder stellvorrichtung
DE10008015A1 (de) * 2000-02-22 2001-08-23 Bsh Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Haushaltsgerät mit einer Zeitschaltereinrichtung

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3258906A (en) * 1964-03-04 1966-07-05 Gen Time Corp Solid state clock
US3576099A (en) * 1969-04-22 1971-04-27 Hamilton Watch Co Solid state timepiece having electro-optical time display

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3258906A (en) * 1964-03-04 1966-07-05 Gen Time Corp Solid state clock
US3576099A (en) * 1969-04-22 1971-04-27 Hamilton Watch Co Solid state timepiece having electro-optical time display

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3754391A (en) * 1970-12-26 1973-08-28 Suwa Seikosha Kk Driving arrangement for quartz vibrator timepieces
US3768247A (en) * 1971-02-06 1973-10-30 Suwa Seikosha Kk Control switches to watch having a digital display
US3823551A (en) * 1971-05-03 1974-07-16 Riehl Electronics Corp Solid state electronic timepiece
US3817021A (en) * 1971-06-15 1974-06-18 Time Computer Solid state watch with magnetic setting
US3871168A (en) * 1971-08-27 1975-03-18 Longines Montres Comp D Electronic circuit for correction of the time display on an electronic timepiece
US3792577A (en) * 1971-11-18 1974-02-19 K Fujita Quartz crystal wrist watch
US3742699A (en) * 1972-01-14 1973-07-03 Hmw Industries Solid state watch display switch
USRE29327E (en) * 1972-06-19 1977-08-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Method and apparatus for correcting time in an electronic wristwatch
US3889460A (en) * 1972-06-19 1975-06-17 Suwa Seikosha Kk Method and apparatus for correcting time in an electronic wristwatch
US3928959A (en) * 1973-01-12 1975-12-30 Seikosha Kk Electronic timepiece
JPS4995657A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1973-01-12 1974-09-11
US4004408A (en) * 1973-04-03 1977-01-25 Kienzle Uhrenfabriken Gmbh Mechanical improvement on an electric alarm clock
US3901022A (en) * 1973-07-10 1975-08-26 Suisse Horlogerie Time setting arrangement for an electronic watch
US3943696A (en) * 1973-07-13 1976-03-16 Ebauches S.A. Control device for setting a timepiece
US3800525A (en) * 1973-08-07 1974-04-02 Time Computer Solid state watch with magnetic setting
US3935700A (en) * 1973-11-06 1976-02-03 Bulova Watch Company, Inc. Switching mechanism for electronic watch electro-optic display
JPS5099775A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1973-12-29 1975-08-07
US4044547A (en) * 1974-12-11 1977-08-30 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Time adjusting system for an electronic timepiece
US4065916A (en) * 1977-01-17 1978-01-03 Texas Instruments Incorporated Electronic timepiece
JPS5411672U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1977-06-27 1979-01-25
JPS53127775A (en) * 1978-04-21 1978-11-08 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electronic wristwatch
JPS5597496U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1978-12-21 1980-07-07
US4749878A (en) * 1986-11-06 1988-06-07 Advanced Micro-Matrix, Inc. Input device for control system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH812769A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-03-15
BE750768A (fr) 1970-11-23
CH524850A (fr) 1972-03-15
GB1299254A (en) 1972-12-13
DE2025710A1 (de) 1970-12-10
NL7007184A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-12-01
FR2043759A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-02-19

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