US3759030A - Digital clock - Google Patents

Digital clock Download PDF

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Publication number
US3759030A
US3759030A US00188256A US3759030DA US3759030A US 3759030 A US3759030 A US 3759030A US 00188256 A US00188256 A US 00188256A US 3759030D A US3759030D A US 3759030DA US 3759030 A US3759030 A US 3759030A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
bulbs
switches
drums
indication
digital clock
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00188256A
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English (en)
Inventor
Y Wakabayashi
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2753271A external-priority patent/JPS5322460B1/ja
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
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Publication of US3759030A publication Critical patent/US3759030A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
    • G04G9/08—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques
    • G04G9/10—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques by controlling light sources, e.g. electroluminescent diodes

Definitions

  • the drums have control areas, such as grooves formed thereon which [56] References Cited areas dserve tohactuate or dezctgate the switch means accor in to t e rotation o t e rums to turn on or of UNITED STATES PATENTS the assoc iated bulbs for providing digital indication of 3,410,082 11/1968 Taylor et a1 58/23 R ma 3,015,094 12/1961 Reynolds 340/338 Giersiepen 58/395 X 9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. 1645410 #44/(45/1 VA 81 Patented, Sept. 18, 1973 FIG 10 3 Sheets-Sheet FIG.11
  • the present invention relates to a digital clock with an indication section for giving indication of numerals by lighting lamps arranged in a predetermined pattern, which indication section is controlled by a control section of simple construction to indicate the time.
  • the present invention is intended to overcome the above difficulties and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a digital clock comprising an insulating drum which is repeatedly rotated and halted accurately according to the transition of the time and a number of switches disposed in contact with the drum and actuated by the drum, said switches being used to turn on and off selected bulbs according to the time to provide electrically illuminated numerals for affording clean and bright digital indication of the time.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital clock embodying the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view ofa seven-segmented numeric indicator with seven lamps which forms an indication section;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a control bodying the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a control section further embodying the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram showing the wiring between the numeral indicator of the indication section and switches of the control section;
  • FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram showing the connection of auxiliary switches for time difference operation with the circuit shownin FIG. 4;
  • FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatical views showing the relationship between the switches and the drum in operational steps
  • FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of an interlink mechanism between the indication section and the control section.
  • FIG. 11 shows an electric circuit diagram for actuating a lamp, such as fluorescent lamp, energized by an external power supply.
  • a digital clock comprising an indication section for indicating numerals representing time provided with at least four electric lamp type numeral indicators each including a plurality of segmented electric bulbs adapted to be selectively turned on or off to compose any one of figures 0 to 9; and a control section including a plurality of switch means each electrically connected with the respective electric bulbs for forming the electric lamp type numeral indicator and drums provided for respective electric lamp type numeral insection emdicators; each drum having a plurality of control areas.
  • Character A represents an indication section and character B represents a control section.
  • the indication section A has, as described later, four electric lamp numeric indicators 1 incorporated therein 30 and the control section B has a radio receiver set and a switching arrangement 2 incorporated therein which is also described later.
  • the electric lamp indicator 1 is of seven-segmented structure in which seven segment indicators la, lb, 1c, 1d, le, if and lg, each constructed mainly of an electric bulb, are arranged in the shape of figure 8" as shown in FIG. 2. By lighting some of the segment indicators, for example'the segment indicators la, 1d, le, If and lg, the figure 3" is indicated.
  • FIG. 5 shows an electric circuit diagram of the switches 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2fand 2g in the switching arrangement 2 for operating respective segment indicators 1a through 1g of the electric lamp numeric indicator 1.
  • each of the segment indicators 1a through lg is connected in series with the corresponding one of the switches 2a through 2g, such series connections being, in turn, connected in parallel with a power supply 5.
  • the figure 3 for example, is to be displayed in the electric lamp indicator 1
  • five switches in the circuit shown in FIG. 5, i.e. the switches 20, 2d, 2e, 2fand 2g are simultaneously closed to turn on the segment indicators la, 1d, 1e, If and 1g for indicating the desired figure 3.”
  • each of ten figures i.e. the figures l, 2, 3, 4," 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and can be indicated.
  • seven microswitches 2a through 2g are provided for each of the electric lamp numeral indicators 1. Namely, one set of seven microswitches are provided for a minute indication, another set of seven micro-switches are provided for a l0-minute indication and a further set of seven microswitches for an hour indication. However, only two microswitches are provided for a 10-hour indication because only the figure l is required to be turned on or turned off in the 10-hour indication and such a figure can be indicated by two segment indicator, either 1g and lfor 1b and 1c. For each of the electric lamp numeral indicators 1 is arranged a drum 3 which completes one revolution in a predetermined time period.
  • the drum associated with the microswitches for the minute indication rotates at a rate of one revolution per minute, and the drum associated with the microswitches for the 10s minute-indication is stepped every complete revolution of the drum for the minute indication.
  • the drum associated with the microswitches for the hour indication is advanced by one step every complete revolution of the drum for the 10- minute indication, while the drum associated with the microswitches for the lO-hour indication is advanced by one step every complete revolution of the drum for the hour indication.
  • On the circumferential surface of each drum there are provided a plurality of grooves or control areas 30 in such an arrangement to operate the microswitches and indicate 1 to 2", 2" to 3 and so on successively, every step of the drum.
  • FIG. 3 Although only the assembly for the minute-indication is shown in FIG. 3, other assemblies for the IO-minute indication, the hour indication and the lO-hour indication are also mounted on a common-shaft 4.
  • the shaft 4 is coupled, through a suitable means, to an output shaft of a speed reduction device which, in turn, is rotated at a constant rate by a synchronous motor.
  • FIG. 4 A modification of the foregoing embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 wherein metal strip switches are used in place of the micro-switches 2a through 2g of, the switch arrangement 2 described above.
  • the metal strip switches comprises a plurality of movable strips 21a through 21g, each having its one end fixed to'an insulating board 22, and a fixed contact piece 21 for receiv-- ing free ends of the movable strips.
  • Each of movable strips has a projecting bend at its intermediate portion.
  • the movable strips 21a through 21g and thefixed contact piece 21 are so arranged with respect to the drum that when the projecting bends of the strips fall .into
  • the switching arrangement comprising metal strips (FIG. 4) is more economical and made small-sized more than that using micro-switches as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the drum 31 may be made of conductive material and the land portions thereof may be coated with insulating material for the same purpose.
  • the present embodiment is intended to simultaneously turn on the segments la through lg of the electric lamp numeral indicator 1 at the instant of the time transition.
  • the auxiliary switch 23 is juxtaposed with the segment switches and a separate track of the drum 3, 31 having grooves 31b (as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9) is additionally provided for the switch 23.
  • the grooves 31b for the auxiliary switch 23 are fonned in somewhat different manner from those for the segment switches 20 through 2g or 210 through 21g.
  • a movable contact 230 of the auxiliary switch 23 may be operated to close its fixed contact immediately after all of the segment switches required to form a desired figure have been closed by the grooves on the drum.
  • the auxiliary switch 23 When the indicated figure is to be extinguished, the auxiliary switch 23 is first opened as soon as the drum 3 or 31 has initiated its rotation to open the segment switches, and then the segment switches are opened. Thus, a time difference is provided between the instant when the auxiliary switch 23 is operated and the instant when the segment switches are operated.
  • FIG. 7 shows a movement during the rotation of the drum 3 in a direction indicated by an arrow when the movable contact piece 21a has begun to be operated by the recess 31a on the drum surface and brought into contact with the fixed contact piece 211 while the movable contact piece 23a of the auxiliary switch 23 has not yet brought into contact with the fixed contact piece 21 due to the difference of the shape of the recess 31b.
  • FIG. 8 shows a position at which the drum 3 is stopped after effecting one-tenth of its revolution. In this position both the movable contact pieces 21a and 23a are brought into contact with the contact piece 21 and both the switches are closed.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates the turn-off operation in which the auxiliary switch 23 has been opened as soon as the drum 31 has initiated its rotation from the rest position of FIG. 8 while the movable contact piece 2la is kept in contact with the fixed contact piece 21.
  • FIG. lltl Interconnection between the indication section A and the control section B is described with reference to FIG. lltl, in which numeral 6 represents a casing of the indicator section A. Secured to a bottom plate of the casing by means of screws or the like is a fitting 61 having tubular portion 61a. Numeral 7 represents a casing of the control section B and a sleeve 71 is secured to a top plate of the casing 7 by a nut 72. The tubular portion Ma of the fitting 61 is rotatably fitted in the sleeve '71.
  • the indication section A since the indication section A is rotatably mounted on the control section B, the indication section A may be directed to any desired direction.
  • the tubular portion 61a which lead wires serve to connect the switching arrangement Z in the control section B with the electric lamp digit indicator 1
  • FIG.- 11 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein a lamp, such as a fluorescent lamp, adapted to be lighted by a large current and located outdoors is used to indicate the time.
  • the segment indicators 1a through llg shown in the basic circuit of FIG. 5 are replaced by relays 8a through 8g in FIG. ill.
  • fluorescent lamps 81a through 81g are connected to an A.C. power supply 9.
  • the switching arrangement 2 is the same as in the previous embodiment; the drum 3 or 31 completes its revolution at the predetermined rate, and when selected ones of the switches 2a or 21a, 23 or 21g are closed, selected stages of the relays 8a, 8g corresponding to the closed switches are actuated.
  • the desired stages of the fluorescent lamps 81a, 81g connected to the actuated relays are connected to the power supply 9 to be lighted on. If the fluorescent lamps 81a, 81g are installed outdoors, the assembly of the present invention may be used as an electric lamp type clock.
  • a digital clock comprising an indication section and a control section, said indication section comprising at least four electric lamp numeral indicators arranged for displaying numbers indicating (1) minutesunits, (2) minutes-tens, (3) hours-units and (4) hourstens, the indicators (1), (2) and (3) each consisting of seven elongated electric bulbs substantially defining the sides of two adjoining rectangles having a common side so that by selectively turning on and turning off the bulbs any one of the numbers 0 to 9 can be displayed by each of said indicators (1), 2) and (3), the indicator (4) having bulbs for displaying at least the number said control section including a plurality of switch arrays, one for each indicator, each array including a separate switch for each bulb of its associated indicator, said switches being connected in circuit with a power source and said bulbs for turning on and turning off said bulbs, a plurality of rotatable drums, one for each switch array, each drum having a separate peripheral track for each switch of its associated array, said tracks having control areas for opening and closing said switches in response to rotation of said drums in selected sequence
  • control areas are grooves in the tracks on the periphery of said drums, the grooves in said additional track being of greater width than the grooves in the other tracks so that said auxiliary switch means opens before and closes after said switches.
  • a digital clock comprising an indication section for indicating numerals representing time provided with at least four segment type numeral indicators each including a plurality of segmented elongated electric illumination means adapted to be selectively turned on or off to compose any one of Figures 0 to 9; and a control section including a plurality of switch means each electrically connected with the respective segmented elongate electric illumination means for forming the segment type numeral indicator and at least three drums provided for respective segment type numeral indicators; each drum having a plurality of control areas formed thereon for respective switch means and being rotated at a constant rate, whereby said switch means being actuated or deactuated under the control of said control areas with the rotation of the drums to turn on or off the associated segmented elongate illumination means for providing digital indication of the time.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
US00188256A 1970-11-16 1971-10-12 Digital clock Expired - Lifetime US3759030A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP10018370 1970-11-16
JP2753271A JPS5322460B1 (enExample) 1971-04-28 1971-04-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3759030A true US3759030A (en) 1973-09-18

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00188256A Expired - Lifetime US3759030A (en) 1970-11-16 1971-10-12 Digital clock

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3759030A (enExample)
AU (1) AU462895B2 (enExample)
BE (1) BE774049A (enExample)
CA (1) CA984485A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2150829C3 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2113849B1 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1372564A (enExample)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4290131A (en) * 1978-04-06 1981-09-15 Citizen Watch Company Limited Electronic timepiece
USD278812S (en) 1984-04-19 1985-05-14 Multi-Tech Industries Corp. Combination telephone clock and radio set
USD316821S (en) 1987-10-26 1991-05-14 Seikosha Co., Ltd. Clock
USD328713S (en) 1989-09-26 1992-08-18 Seiko Instruments Inc. Digital clock
USD336615S (en) 1991-01-08 1993-06-22 Pollyflame International B.V. Digital clock
USD363228S (en) 1994-08-08 1995-10-17 Advance Watch Company Digital alarm clock
USD408294S (en) * 1998-03-05 1999-04-20 Frank Burleson Time and date clock with text reminder
USD585306S1 (en) * 2008-04-25 2009-01-27 Daniel Oas Combined desk clock and USB hub
USD845149S1 (en) * 2016-11-30 2019-04-09 Fuzhou Yishang Youpin Electronic Co. Ltd. Electronic alarm clock

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29721287U1 (de) 1997-12-02 1998-01-29 John, Andreas, 46562 Voerde Einrichtung zur optischen Darstellung der Uhrzeit

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1220109A (en) * 1916-09-15 1917-03-20 Heiny Electric Co Electric display system.
US3015094A (en) * 1957-09-06 1961-12-26 Gen Time Corp Lighted numerical time display clock
US3410082A (en) * 1966-02-07 1968-11-12 Olive M. Taylor Time indicating devices
US3613352A (en) * 1969-06-09 1971-10-19 Werner Giersiepen Indicating device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1220109A (en) * 1916-09-15 1917-03-20 Heiny Electric Co Electric display system.
US3015094A (en) * 1957-09-06 1961-12-26 Gen Time Corp Lighted numerical time display clock
US3410082A (en) * 1966-02-07 1968-11-12 Olive M. Taylor Time indicating devices
US3613352A (en) * 1969-06-09 1971-10-19 Werner Giersiepen Indicating device

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4290131A (en) * 1978-04-06 1981-09-15 Citizen Watch Company Limited Electronic timepiece
USD278812S (en) 1984-04-19 1985-05-14 Multi-Tech Industries Corp. Combination telephone clock and radio set
USD316821S (en) 1987-10-26 1991-05-14 Seikosha Co., Ltd. Clock
USD328713S (en) 1989-09-26 1992-08-18 Seiko Instruments Inc. Digital clock
USD336615S (en) 1991-01-08 1993-06-22 Pollyflame International B.V. Digital clock
USD363228S (en) 1994-08-08 1995-10-17 Advance Watch Company Digital alarm clock
USD408294S (en) * 1998-03-05 1999-04-20 Frank Burleson Time and date clock with text reminder
USD585306S1 (en) * 2008-04-25 2009-01-27 Daniel Oas Combined desk clock and USB hub
USD845149S1 (en) * 2016-11-30 2019-04-09 Fuzhou Yishang Youpin Electronic Co. Ltd. Electronic alarm clock

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2150829B2 (de) 1974-12-05
BE774049A (fr) 1972-02-16
DE2150829C3 (de) 1975-07-10
GB1372564A (en) 1974-10-30
CA984485A (en) 1976-02-24
AU462895B2 (en) 1975-07-10
FR2113849B1 (enExample) 1974-08-19
FR2113849A1 (enExample) 1972-06-30
DE2150829A1 (de) 1972-05-25
AU3440271A (en) 1973-04-12

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