US3889458A - Electronic clock devices - Google Patents

Electronic clock devices Download PDF

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Publication number
US3889458A
US3889458A US341583A US34158373A US3889458A US 3889458 A US3889458 A US 3889458A US 341583 A US341583 A US 341583A US 34158373 A US34158373 A US 34158373A US 3889458 A US3889458 A US 3889458A
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United States
Prior art keywords
output
display
counter means
counter
counting
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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
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US341583A
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English (en)
Inventor
Toshio Kashio
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Casio Computer Co Ltd
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Casio Computer Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2638172A external-priority patent/JPS4894471A/ja
Priority claimed from JP4008672A external-priority patent/JPS5219975B2/ja
Application filed by Casio Computer Co Ltd filed Critical Casio Computer Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3889458A publication Critical patent/US3889458A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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
    • G04G9/02—Visual time or date indication means by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the position of which represent the time, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques
    • G04G9/027—Visual time or date indication means by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the position of which represent the time, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques provided with means for displaying at will a time indication or a date or a part thereof
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
    • G04G9/02—Visual time or date indication means by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the position of which represent the time, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques
    • G04G9/025—Visual time or date indication means by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the position of which represent the time, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques provided with date indication

Definitions

  • An electronic clock device comprises time measuring means for counting hours to produce a carry signal at [581 Field of Search 58/4 50 each 24 hours, seven-step counter means stepp d by the carry signal for counting seven days of the week, and seven display elements for displaying the days of [56] References Cited the week in accordance with the content of the seven- UNITED STATES PAThNTS step COumer means.
  • This invention relates to a clock device. and more particularly to an improved digital clock device capable of efficiently displaying dates and the days of the week.
  • the display of time in a clock is usually accomplished by means of a long hand indicating minutes and a short hand indicating hours.
  • a digital clock has been developed in which the time is displayed digitally. In such a digital clock it is necessary to use as large a display as possible for displaying digits for facilitating the reading of the displayed time.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved clock device capable of efficiently displaying minutes, hours, dates and the days of the week as well as dynamically displaying seconds in a limited space available for display in the clock device.
  • an electronic clock device of the type including electronic counter means for counting the time and time display means for displaying the content of the electronic counter means, characterized in that there are provided seven step counter means operated stepwisely by a carry signal generated by the electronic counter means at each 24 hours for counting 7 days of the week, and seven display means providing unique displays to indicate the 7 days of the week, the displays; corresponding to the contents of the seven step counter means.
  • an electronic clock device of the type including counter means for counting hours and minutes and display means for displaying the content of the counter means, characterized in that there are provided second counter means for counting six values at an interval of seconds, six display means corresponding to the six values, days of the week counter means for counting seven values representing the 7 days of the week, display switching means operated by an operator for switching the six display means for displaying six output values of the days of the week counter means, and means for flickering at each second one display means which corresponds to the particular one value representing a day of the week.
  • FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a clock device embodying this invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit for driving the clock device shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 shows a plan view of another embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a control circuit for driving the clock device shown in FIG. 3.
  • the digital wrist watch shown in FIG. 1 comprises a body 11 which is fastened to the wrist of the user by two bands 12.
  • the dial plate 13 contained in the body 11 is provided with an hour display section I4 and a minute display section 15, each section displaying two letters or displaying digits.
  • Above these display sections I4 and 15 are arranged seven display elements, for example, luminous elements 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f and 16g which are arranged along a straight line.
  • luminous elements 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f and 16g which are arranged along a straight line.
  • words, Sunday, Monday, etc. which represent the days of the week may be labelled to these luminous elements 16a to 16g as shown in FIG. I.
  • the hour display section I4 and the minute display section 15 are composed of liquid crystal display members, respectively, which are driven by the outputs from first and second drivers I7 and 18, respectively. If the space available in the body 11 permits, the liquid crystal displaying elements may be replaced by digit display tubes of well known construction.
  • the clock or second signals which are the basic units of the time are generated by a clock signal generator 19, for example, a crystal oscillator having frequency dividers, which generates one pulse per second.
  • the output second signals generated by the clock signal generator 19 are applied to a sixty step counter 20 which operates to generate one carry signal for each sixty second pulses or one minute.
  • the carry signals from the counter 20 are applied to a second sixty step counter 21 which functions to supply minute display signals to a decoder 22 and carry signals to twelve-step counter 23.
  • the decoder 22 functions to convert these signals into other forms of minute display signals suitable for digitally displaying minutes on the liquid crystal displaying members of the section 15 via a driver 18.
  • the counter 23 receives carry signals from counter 21 at a rate of one signal per hour, and the contents of counter 23 are applied to one input terminal of each of the AND gate circuits 24a, 24b, 24c
  • the outputs of these AND gate circuits 24a, 24b, 24c. are applied to a decoder 26 via OR gate circuits 25a, 25b, 25c, and are converted into hour display signals suitable to display digits representing hours by the liquid crystal displaying members. These converted signals are sent to the hour display section 14 through a driver 17 for displaying hours.
  • the output from a date display button 27 is impressed upon the other inputs of AND gate circuits 24a, 24b, 24c via an inverter 28 so that AND gate circuits 24a, 24b, 24c are enabled only when the date button 27 does not produce any output and the display of hours by the hour display section 14 is performed.
  • the carry signal produced by twelve-step counter 23 at a rate of one signal per 12 hours is applied to a binary counter 29. Consequently, the counter 29 produces a carry signal at a rate of one signal per day and the output carry signal thereof is applied to thirty-one-step counter 30 and to a seven-step counter 32.
  • the content of counter 30 which corresponds to the counted number of days is applied to the inputs of AND gate circuits 31a, 31b together with the outputs from the date button 27.
  • AND gate circuits 24a, 24b are enabled to send date display signals from AND gate cir cuits 31a, 31b to driver 17 via OR gate circuits 25a, 25b and decoder 26, thereby displaying the dates on hour display section 14 instead of hours.
  • the contents of the seven-step counter 32 which correspond to the number of the counted days ofthe week are converted into the days of the week signals corresponding to Sunday, Monday Saturday, respectively, by a decoder 33 and the outputs from decoder 33 are applied to seven displaying elements 16a, 16b 16g shown in FIG, 1 via a driver 34.
  • the displaying elements 16a to 16g may be used electric lamps, liquid crystal displaying members which luminously display when they are applied with voltage, etc, for example
  • hours and minutes are displayed digitally and upon depression of the date button 27, the hour display is switched to the date display.
  • the day of the week is displayed by the operation of one of seven display members. In this manner, by using digital display sections which display hours and minutes and very small seven display elements it is possible to display hours, minutes, dates and the days of a week.
  • the invention is especially advantageous for clocks or watches of small size.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 A modified embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 in which elements corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.
  • six display elements 16b to 16g corresponding to from Monday to Saturday, respectively, are arranged at a suitable spacing along a straight line above an hours and dates display section 13, and a display element 16a displaying a Sunday is disposed above the straight line of elements 16! to 16g.
  • the days ofa week are labelled, but on Sunday a single display element [6a is operated and on Monday to Saturday display elements [6b to 16;; aligned on a line are operated sequentially so that even though the days of a week are not displayed by letters, what day of the week can be readily determined.
  • the body ll of the watch is provided with a display switching member in the form of a push button 40, for instance.
  • the second display output from sixty-step counter 20 which counts the second signal produced by clock signal generator 19 is applied to a decoder 41 which functions to send sequentially an output signal to AND gate circuits 42a, 42b, 42c, 42:1. 426 and 42fat a rate of one signal per ten counts or [U seconds. More specifically, when the content of counter 20 equals one to nine, for each ten seconds, the
  • AND gate circuit 42b When the count equals to twenty-one to thirty the output signal is sent to AND gate circuit 420 and so on.
  • the other inputs of AND gate circuits 42a to 42f are connected to a push button 40 via an inverter 43, so that AND gate circuits 42a to 42f operate only when there is no information from push button 40 to energize display elements 16b to 163 through OR gate circuits 44b to 44g and driver 34 for displaying the days of a week.
  • six display elements 16b to 16g are sequentially and cyclically energized at an interval of seconds. For example, when element 16d, that is the third element from left is operating at a given instant, this means that seconds from 21 to 30 are being displayed.
  • the date stepping signal generated by binary counter 29 at a rate of one carry signal per day is counted by a seven-step counter 32 and the contents thereof corresponding to the days ofa week are applied to one input terminal of each of the AND gate circuits 45a to 45g corresponding to Sunday through Saturday, respectively.
  • the other inputs of these AND gate circuits are connected to receive the output from push button 40 so that when push button 40 is operated, AND gate cir cuits 42a to 42f are disabled and the outputs of AND gate circuits 45a to 45g are supplied to driver 34 via OR gate circuits 44a to 44g, Thus, either one of the display elements 16a to 16g is operated by the output of one of OR gate circuits 44a to 44g thus displaying a particular day of the week.
  • the carry signal from counter 29 is sent to a thirty-one-step counter 30 and the content thereof for displaying the date of a month is sent to one input of an AND gate circuit 46 via decoder 26 whereas the content is sent to driver 17 through AND gate 46 and an OR gate 47 when the push button 40 is operated thereby displaying a date on the hour display section 14. Since the other input of OR gate 47 is connected to receive the content of twelvestep counter 23 which displays hours through decoder 48 and AND gate circuit 49, where the push button 40 is not operated the AND gate circuit 49 is enabled by the output of inverter 43 thus displaying hours on the hours display section 14.
  • the output from clock pulse generator 19 is applied to a binary counter 50, the output thereof being applied to one input of an AND gate circuit 51.
  • the other input of this AND gate circuit Sl is connected to receive the output of inverter 43 and the output of AND gate circuit 51 is applied to the other input of OR gate circuit 44a.
  • the output from inverter 43 disappears whereby the display of the seconds is interrupted.
  • the output of driver 17 causes the hours display section to display dates and the output from counter 32 operates one of the display elements 16a to 16g through driver 34 whereby a particular day of a week is displayed.
  • the display of the seconds is effected efficiently and dynamically by the operation of display elements [6a to 16g, and when desired, the date is also displayed.
  • the displays of dates, hours, minutes, days ofa week are performed by the operations of hours and minutes display sections 14 and 15 and of the display elements 160 to 16g, thereby making it possible to use efficiently the dial plate of the limited area of the clock device.
  • the hours display section 14 is switched to also display the dates
  • the minutes display section 15 can also be switched to display the dates.
  • the invention is also applicable to analogue display type clock devices.
  • the invention is also applicable to analogue display type clock devices.
  • the days of a week are displayed by the display elements and by displaying the seconds by the second hand as well as by the flickering of the display elements it is possible to provide a more dynamic display effect,
  • An electronic clock device comprising:
  • a clock signal generator for generating a clock signal having a highly stable frequency
  • first counter means responsive to said clock signals for counting the six values of units of ten-seconds obtained from the clock signal of said clock signal generator at an interval of ten seconds, for generating outputs corresponding to said six values and for generating a stepping output every 60 seconds;
  • second counter means for counting units of minutes which is operated stepwisely by the stepping output of said first counter means and for generating a stepping output every 60 minutes;
  • third counter means for counting units of hours which is operated stepwisely by the stepping output of said second counter means and for generating a stepping output every 24 hours;
  • fourth counter means for counting the seven valves of the days of a week which is operated stepwisely by the stepping output of said third counter means and for generating seven output values which correspond to the respective 7 days of the week; first display means coupled to and displaying the contents of said second and third counter means; second to eighth display means coupled to said fourth counter means providing respective unique displays corresponding to the seven output values of the output of said fourth counter means; and
  • display switching means for displaying the six values of the output of said first counter means by using six display means of said second to eighth display means.
  • An electronic clock device further comprising means for flickering one of said second to eighth display means upon receipt of the output signal of said clock signal generator when the remaining of said second to eighth display means are displaying said six values of the output of said first counter means under the control of said display switching means.
  • said clock signal generator includes a standard high frequency signal source and a frequency divider for dividing said standard high frequency signal into a predetermined frequency signal, said first to fourth counter means being responsive to said predetermined frequency signal.
  • An electronic clock device comprising:
  • a clock signal generator for generating a clock signal having a highly stable frequency
  • first counter means responsive to said clock signals for counting the six values of units of ten-seconds obtained from the clock signal of said clock signal generator at an interval of ten seconds, for generating outputs corresponding to said six values and for generating a stepping output every 60 seconds;
  • second counter means for counting units of minutes which is operated stepwisely by the stepping output of said first counter means and for generating a stepping output every 60 minutes;
  • third counter means for counting units of hours which is operated stepwisely by the stepping output of said second counter means and for generating a stepping output every 24 hours; fourth counter means for counting the seven values of the days of a week which is operated stepwisely by the stepping output of said third counter means and for generating seven output values which correspond to the respective 7 days of the week;
  • first display means for displaying the contents of said second and third counter means
  • second display means having six display sections, for
  • An electronic clock device further comprising third display means for displaying said particular output value from said fourth counting

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US341583A 1972-03-15 1973-03-15 Electronic clock devices Expired - Lifetime US3889458A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2638172A JPS4894471A (fr) 1972-03-15 1972-03-15
JP4008672A JPS5219975B2 (fr) 1972-04-21 1972-04-21

Publications (1)

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US3889458A true US3889458A (en) 1975-06-17

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ID=26364159

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US341583A Expired - Lifetime US3889458A (en) 1972-03-15 1973-03-15 Electronic clock devices

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US (1) US3889458A (fr)
CA (1) CA965245A (fr)
CH (2) CH589888B5 (fr)
DE (1) DE2312742C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2176131B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1431013A (fr)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3982387A (en) * 1973-12-25 1976-09-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Solid state electronic timepiece
US4007583A (en) * 1975-05-22 1977-02-15 Rca Corporation Electronic timepiece
USD245074S (en) * 1975-02-19 1977-07-19 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Digital watch dial
US4067185A (en) * 1974-09-23 1978-01-10 Ebauches S.A. Timepiece
US4077032A (en) * 1976-01-07 1978-02-28 Volkman S Alan Electronic display apparatus
US4148180A (en) * 1976-05-11 1979-04-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electronic timepiece circuit for automatically displaying the day of the week
US4150535A (en) * 1974-10-31 1979-04-24 Citizen Watch Company Limited Electronic timepiece
US4196582A (en) * 1975-01-06 1980-04-08 Ebauches S.A. Control device for an electronic watch
US4212159A (en) * 1978-02-13 1980-07-15 Texas Instruments Incorporated Electronic timepiece
US4254486A (en) * 1975-11-10 1981-03-03 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Display panel for electronic timepiece
US4300204A (en) * 1975-09-05 1981-11-10 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Time and date information correction in a combination timepiece and calculator utilizing a decimal point indicator display
USD435474S (en) * 2000-01-04 2000-12-26 Buddy Ray Benson Watch face

Citations (11)

* 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
US3166742A (en) * 1963-03-22 1965-01-19 American Sign & Indicator Co Control for lamp bank displays
US3276198A (en) * 1964-08-26 1966-10-04 Robert A Barbera Automatic clock-calendar
US3477222A (en) * 1967-04-24 1969-11-11 Lau Chun Leung Calendar clock device
US3574992A (en) * 1969-10-13 1971-04-13 George T Ladas Linear time column
US3597912A (en) * 1968-12-30 1971-08-10 Suwa Seikosha Kk Day-of-the-week indicating mechanism
US3630015A (en) * 1970-01-20 1971-12-28 Kurt Lehovec Light transformation device
US3646751A (en) * 1969-12-05 1972-03-07 Detection Sciences Digital timing system
US3668861A (en) * 1970-11-17 1972-06-13 Suwa Seikosha Kk Solid state electronic watch
US3733810A (en) * 1970-03-06 1973-05-22 Rolex Montres Timepiece with electronically designed digital read-out
US3796037A (en) * 1971-10-28 1974-03-12 K Fujita Display method for solid state electronic timepiece

Patent Citations (11)

* 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
US3166742A (en) * 1963-03-22 1965-01-19 American Sign & Indicator Co Control for lamp bank displays
US3276198A (en) * 1964-08-26 1966-10-04 Robert A Barbera Automatic clock-calendar
US3477222A (en) * 1967-04-24 1969-11-11 Lau Chun Leung Calendar clock device
US3597912A (en) * 1968-12-30 1971-08-10 Suwa Seikosha Kk Day-of-the-week indicating mechanism
US3574992A (en) * 1969-10-13 1971-04-13 George T Ladas Linear time column
US3646751A (en) * 1969-12-05 1972-03-07 Detection Sciences Digital timing system
US3630015A (en) * 1970-01-20 1971-12-28 Kurt Lehovec Light transformation device
US3733810A (en) * 1970-03-06 1973-05-22 Rolex Montres Timepiece with electronically designed digital read-out
US3668861A (en) * 1970-11-17 1972-06-13 Suwa Seikosha Kk Solid state electronic watch
US3796037A (en) * 1971-10-28 1974-03-12 K Fujita Display method for solid state electronic timepiece

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3982387A (en) * 1973-12-25 1976-09-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Solid state electronic timepiece
US4067185A (en) * 1974-09-23 1978-01-10 Ebauches S.A. Timepiece
US4150535A (en) * 1974-10-31 1979-04-24 Citizen Watch Company Limited Electronic timepiece
US4262351A (en) * 1974-10-31 1981-04-14 Citizen Watch Company Limited Electronic timepiece
US4196582A (en) * 1975-01-06 1980-04-08 Ebauches S.A. Control device for an electronic watch
USD245074S (en) * 1975-02-19 1977-07-19 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Digital watch dial
US4007583A (en) * 1975-05-22 1977-02-15 Rca Corporation Electronic timepiece
US4300204A (en) * 1975-09-05 1981-11-10 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Time and date information correction in a combination timepiece and calculator utilizing a decimal point indicator display
US4254486A (en) * 1975-11-10 1981-03-03 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Display panel for electronic timepiece
US4077032A (en) * 1976-01-07 1978-02-28 Volkman S Alan Electronic display apparatus
US4148180A (en) * 1976-05-11 1979-04-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electronic timepiece circuit for automatically displaying the day of the week
US4212159A (en) * 1978-02-13 1980-07-15 Texas Instruments Incorporated Electronic timepiece
USD435474S (en) * 2000-01-04 2000-12-26 Buddy Ray Benson Watch face

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH380973A4 (fr) 1976-12-15
FR2176131A1 (fr) 1973-10-26
DE2312742C3 (de) 1975-09-25
GB1431013A (en) 1976-04-07
CH589888B5 (fr) 1977-07-29
DE2312742B2 (de) 1975-02-06
DE2312742A1 (de) 1973-09-27
FR2176131B1 (fr) 1976-11-05
CA965245A (en) 1975-04-01

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