US3802182A - Timepiece with flickering digital display - Google Patents

Timepiece with flickering digital display Download PDF

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Publication number
US3802182A
US3802182A US00232318A US23231872A US3802182A US 3802182 A US3802182 A US 3802182A US 00232318 A US00232318 A US 00232318A US 23231872 A US23231872 A US 23231872A US 3802182 A US3802182 A US 3802182A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
timepiece
display
frequency
digital display
minute
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Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00232318A
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English (en)
Inventor
K Fujita
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Suwa Seikosha KK
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Suwa Seikosha KK
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Filing date
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Application filed by Suwa Seikosha KK filed Critical Suwa Seikosha KK
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Publication of US3802182A publication Critical patent/US3802182A/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
    • G04G9/0082—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements and by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the positions of which represents the time, i.e. combinations of G04G9/02 and G04G9/08
    • 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
    • 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
    • G04G9/12—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques using light valves, e.g. liquid crystals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
    • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
    • G09F9/302—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements

Definitions

  • the rate at which 340/3091, 336, 249; 350/160 LC the flickering occurs is arranged to be close to one cycle per second, making it unnecessary to wait for [56] References Cited periods as long as one minute in order to determine UNITED STATES PATENTS that the timepiece is functioning. 3,505,804 4/1970 Hofstein 58/50 R X 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures LD/ W05 R 0/ V/DER SHEET 2 0F 2 PAIENTEDAPR 9 m4 e per two seconds.
  • Digital display systems for timepieces can be arranged to show the hour, the minute and the second. Where the timepiece is a wristwatch, space limitations make it desirable that only the hour and the minute be shown. Since, in such a timepiece, the indicated time changes only once per minute, it-may be necessary to watch the timepiece for as long as one minute in order to make sure that the timepiece is functioning. It would be desirable that indication as to the functioning of the timepiece be given more frequently than once per minute. Moreover, it would also be desirable that the timepiece be useful for measuring intervals shorter than a minute.
  • a high frequency oscillator supplies a time standard signal to a chain of frequency dividers.
  • the frequency dividers then supply functioning.
  • FIG. 2 is a digital display in accordance with the present invention showing the hour and the minute with a colon therebetween;
  • FIG. 3 shows the display of FIG. 2 when one of the indicia comprising the colon is caused to flicker
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram indicating the electronic circuitry necessary for operating a timepiece in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of circuitry in accordance with the present invention employing liquid crystals as part of the display device.
  • FIG. 1(a) A digital display in accordance with the prior art is shown in FIG. 1(a) where the display device 6 indicates only the hour and the minute.
  • FIG. 1(b) is shown a
  • the digital display is I based on the use of'liquid crystals.
  • preferred rates of flickering are once per second and once Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved timepiece wherein indication of the functioning of the timepiece is given by flickering of at least a portion of the display at a rate substantially greater than once per minute.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved timepiece wherein flickering of at least a portion of a digital display makes it possible to time periods with an accuracy of one second.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved timepiece wherein a digital ,display is based on the use of liquid crystals.
  • the invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the article possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements, which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
  • FIG. 1 (a) shows a digital display indicating the hour and the minute in accordance with the prior art
  • FIG. 1(b) shows a digital display in accordance with the prior art indicating the hour, the minute and the second;
  • display device 7 in accordance with the prior art in which are shown the hour, the minute and the second.
  • the space occupied by display device 7 is substantially larger than that occupied by display device 6 and requires inaddition, a substantially greater number of electrical connections (for a 7 segment display, 14 additional connections are required) which increases the cost of such a timepiece, and, moreover, where such a timepiece is a wristwatch requires additional space which may be awkward to provide.
  • FIG. 2 shows a display device 8 in accordance with the present invention wherein only the hour and the minute are directly displayed. However, the digits corresponding to the hour are separated from the digits corresponding to the minute by a colon 9.
  • FIG. 3 shows the device of FIG. 2 in which the lower member 11 of the colon 9 is not illuminated. If the rate at which the lower member of colon is flickered on and off is substantially greater than once per minute then it becomes unnecessary to observe the timepiece for as long as 1 minute in order to determine whether the timepiece is functioning.
  • the rate of flicker can range from a submultiple of once per second to several times per second. However, preferable rates are once per second and once per two seconds. Using a rate of once per second, it becomes convenient to'time operations, if so desired, to the nearest second.
  • the circuitry by which the digital display is controlled is shown in block diagram form in FIG. 4.
  • An oscillator 12 driven by a battery (not shown) puts out a high frequency signal which is supplied to a divider 13.
  • the chain of dividers 13, l4, l5 and 16 generates signals at a frequency of one cycle per second, one cycle per minute and one cycle per hour.
  • the minute and hour signals are supplied to decoders l7 and 18 which respectively control the display of minutes and hours on the digital display device 8.
  • a signal is taken from the divider chain to circuit means 21 which causes the flickering of lower member 11 of colon 9.
  • digital display 8 uses upper and lower panels to form chambers containing liquid crystals.
  • the inner surfaces of the panels are coated with a conductor which is inert to the liquid crystals.
  • At least the upper panel and the conductor on the interior surface of the upper panel must be transparent.
  • FIG. 5 Such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 5 where halfsecond pulses at a frequency of one per second are supplied to field effect transistor 21 which alternately activates and deactivates upper electrode 22 on upper panel 23.
  • Lower electrode 24 on lower panel 26 is grounded in the arrangement shown.
  • Upper electrode 22 and lower electrode 24 comprise the lower member 11 of colon 9.
  • an electronic timepiece employing a liquid crystal digital display cell showing digitally only the hour and the minute, the improvement comprising electronic circuitry for causing at least a part of said display to flicker at a selected, controlled frequency said circuitry including oscillator means for supplying a high frequencytime standard signal, a chain of frequency divider means for receiving said high frequency time standard signal and producing low frequency timing signals and an intermediate frequency signal, decoder means for receiving said timing signals from said divider means and actuating said digital display cell, circuit means for receiving said intermediate frequency signal and applying said signal to said part of said display cell to cause same to flicker at said intermediate frequency, said circuit means including at least one pair of complementary field effect transistors.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US00232318A 1971-02-25 1972-02-23 Timepiece with flickering digital display Expired - Lifetime US3802182A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP897771 1971-02-25

Publications (1)

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US3802182A true US3802182A (en) 1974-04-09

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ID=11707734

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00232318A Expired - Lifetime US3802182A (en) 1971-02-25 1972-02-23 Timepiece with flickering digital display

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US3802182A (de)
DE (1) DE2208798B2 (de)
FR (1) FR2186683B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1349209A (de)
HK (1) HK40476A (de)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3855783A (en) * 1972-04-20 1974-12-24 Optel Corp Digital electronic timepiece
US3911665A (en) * 1974-01-14 1975-10-14 Zenith Radio Corp Electronic timepiece having complementary electro-optical and electro-mechanical displays
US3958409A (en) * 1974-09-12 1976-05-25 Solomon Manber Watch display
US3979899A (en) * 1974-04-01 1976-09-14 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Digital display type electronic time keeper
US3998043A (en) * 1973-12-26 1976-12-21 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electric timepiece for displaying the operating condition thereof
US4003197A (en) * 1975-06-09 1977-01-18 Haber Terry M Watch monitor
US4006585A (en) * 1974-01-08 1977-02-08 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic timepiece with electrochromic display element
US4064687A (en) * 1974-08-10 1977-12-27 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Digital display type timepiece
US4074515A (en) * 1975-07-15 1978-02-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Electronic timepiece with battery life display
US4084401A (en) * 1975-07-09 1978-04-18 Hughes Aircraft Company Digital watch with two buttons and improved setting and display control
US4084404A (en) * 1972-10-17 1978-04-18 Ebauches S.A. Electronic watch
US4144704A (en) * 1974-08-30 1979-03-20 Ebauches Sa Safety device for battery-operated watches
US4189725A (en) * 1977-05-10 1980-02-19 Hudson Oxygen Therapy Sales Company Battery powered condition sensing and display apparatus with low battery indication
US4262350A (en) * 1977-11-22 1981-04-14 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Solid state electronic timepiece with lamp
USRE30588E (en) * 1972-12-29 1981-04-21 Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. Electric timepiece for displaying the operating condition thereof
US4397565A (en) * 1979-11-09 1983-08-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electronic timepiece including an animated display
US5703607A (en) * 1996-03-27 1997-12-30 Acer Peripherals, Inc. Drive circuit for displaying seven-segment decimal digit

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5241673B1 (de) 1971-06-09 1977-10-19
JPS5544918B2 (de) * 1972-11-20 1980-11-14
DE2606444C2 (de) * 1976-02-18 1982-11-04 Graetz Gmbh & Co Ohg, 5990 Altena Uhrzeitanzeige für Digitaluhren
JPS5669586A (en) * 1979-11-12 1981-06-10 Casio Comput Co Ltd Electric watch
DE8618090U1 (de) * 1986-07-05 1986-09-25 Dieter Gräßlin Feinwerktechnik, 7742 St Georgen Laufanzeige für digital anzeigende elektronische Uhren

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2542021A (en) * 1946-07-16 1951-02-20 Fox Benjamin Electronic display system
US3505804A (en) * 1968-04-23 1970-04-14 Rca Corp Solid state clock
US3576099A (en) * 1969-04-22 1971-04-27 Hamilton Watch Co Solid state timepiece having electro-optical time display
US3613351A (en) * 1969-05-13 1971-10-19 Hamilton Watch Co Wristwatch with liquid crystal display
US3630015A (en) * 1970-01-20 1971-12-28 Kurt Lehovec Light transformation device
US3664118A (en) * 1970-09-09 1972-05-23 Hamilton Watch Co Electronically controlled timepiece using low power mos transistor circuitry
US3672155A (en) * 1970-05-06 1972-06-27 Hamilton Watch Co Solid state watch

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2542021A (en) * 1946-07-16 1951-02-20 Fox Benjamin Electronic display system
US3505804A (en) * 1968-04-23 1970-04-14 Rca Corp Solid state clock
US3576099A (en) * 1969-04-22 1971-04-27 Hamilton Watch Co Solid state timepiece having electro-optical time display
US3613351A (en) * 1969-05-13 1971-10-19 Hamilton Watch Co Wristwatch with liquid crystal display
US3630015A (en) * 1970-01-20 1971-12-28 Kurt Lehovec Light transformation device
US3672155A (en) * 1970-05-06 1972-06-27 Hamilton Watch Co Solid state watch
US3664118A (en) * 1970-09-09 1972-05-23 Hamilton Watch Co Electronically controlled timepiece using low power mos transistor circuitry

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3855783A (en) * 1972-04-20 1974-12-24 Optel Corp Digital electronic timepiece
US4084404A (en) * 1972-10-17 1978-04-18 Ebauches S.A. Electronic watch
USRE30588E (en) * 1972-12-29 1981-04-21 Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. Electric timepiece for displaying the operating condition thereof
US3998043A (en) * 1973-12-26 1976-12-21 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electric timepiece for displaying the operating condition thereof
US4006585A (en) * 1974-01-08 1977-02-08 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic timepiece with electrochromic display element
US3911665A (en) * 1974-01-14 1975-10-14 Zenith Radio Corp Electronic timepiece having complementary electro-optical and electro-mechanical displays
US3979899A (en) * 1974-04-01 1976-09-14 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Digital display type electronic time keeper
US4064687A (en) * 1974-08-10 1977-12-27 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Digital display type timepiece
US4144704A (en) * 1974-08-30 1979-03-20 Ebauches Sa Safety device for battery-operated watches
US3958409A (en) * 1974-09-12 1976-05-25 Solomon Manber Watch display
US4003197A (en) * 1975-06-09 1977-01-18 Haber Terry M Watch monitor
US4084401A (en) * 1975-07-09 1978-04-18 Hughes Aircraft Company Digital watch with two buttons and improved setting and display control
US4074515A (en) * 1975-07-15 1978-02-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Electronic timepiece with battery life display
US4189725A (en) * 1977-05-10 1980-02-19 Hudson Oxygen Therapy Sales Company Battery powered condition sensing and display apparatus with low battery indication
US4262350A (en) * 1977-11-22 1981-04-14 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Solid state electronic timepiece with lamp
US4397565A (en) * 1979-11-09 1983-08-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electronic timepiece including an animated display
US5703607A (en) * 1996-03-27 1997-12-30 Acer Peripherals, Inc. Drive circuit for displaying seven-segment decimal digit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1349209A (en) 1974-04-03
FR2186683A1 (de) 1974-01-11
HK40476A (en) 1976-07-09
DE2208798A1 (de) 1972-08-31
DE2208798B2 (de) 1976-07-08
FR2186683B1 (de) 1975-10-24

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