US3908355A - Electrooptical timepiece display with conventional hour and minute hands - Google Patents

Electrooptical timepiece display with conventional hour and minute hands Download PDF

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Publication number
US3908355A
US3908355A US547277A US54727775A US3908355A US 3908355 A US3908355 A US 3908355A US 547277 A US547277 A US 547277A US 54727775 A US54727775 A US 54727775A US 3908355 A US3908355 A US 3908355A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
hands
counter electrode
substrate
display
hour
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
US547277A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Leo Wiesner
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.)
Timex Group USA Inc
Original Assignee
Timex Corp
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to DE19612600487 priority Critical patent/DE2600487A1/de
Application filed by Timex Corp filed Critical Timex Corp
Priority to US547277A priority patent/US3908355A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3908355A publication Critical patent/US3908355A/en
Priority to CH22776A priority patent/CH614095B/xx
Priority to JP51013878A priority patent/JPS5814635B2/ja
Priority to FR7603884A priority patent/FR2301045A1/fr
Assigned to CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE reassignment CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FREDERIKSPLEIN HOLDING 1970 B.V., TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP., TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP., TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP., TIMEX ENTERPRISES, INC., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX GROUP LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX MEDICAL PRODUCTS LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX N.V.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • G04G9/06—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 using light valves, e.g. liquid crystals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/15—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on an electrochromic effect
    • G02F1/153—Constructional details
    • G02F1/155—Electrodes

Definitions

  • a fully electronic watch having a substantially conventional appearing hour and minute hand movement.
  • the hour and minute hands each extend to the center of the dial and are formed on opposite plates of an electrochromic display such that a realistic simulation of the passage of one hand over the other is obtained.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art wristwatch
  • the time indicating hands 1', 2' are formed as electrodes on a single layer or substrate, i.e., bounding on one side of a liquid crystal layer.
  • the minute hands 1 are formed on an outer circle and the hour hands 2' formed on an inner circle.
  • the display hands 1, 2' therefore, appear in one plane which does not permit the hands 1 on the outer circle to extend to the center of the dial or the perception of a depth relationship between the hands 1, 2, or the simulation, for example, of the passage of the minute hand 1' over the hour hand 2'.
  • minute and hour hands 1, 2 are provided on the inner surfaces of the two opposite electrochromic plates or substrates such that when the hands 1, 2 are sequentially actuated they will give the appearance of a mechanical watch face movement of hands, i.e., hands that extend to the center of the dial on two planes which, thereby, enables the appearance of the passage of one hand, for example, the minute hand 1, over the other.
  • the lower substrate 3 is formed for example from an opaque ceramic or a transparent material such as NESA glass coated with a reflective or light opaque finish on its outside surface.
  • the inner surface is coated or overlaid with a transparent conductive layer, for example of tin oxide, to form a pattern of electrodes in the form of 12 hour hands 2.
  • the l2 hour hands 2 are electrically insulated from each other and are each separately connected to hour drive signals from the timepiece by means of transparent conductors 4.
  • deposited on or over the hour hands 2 is a layer of electrochromic material 5.
  • the counter electrode 7 is formed such that an electrical connection or contact is possible to a conductive substance, for example, a liquid conductive electrolyte, which is scaled within the display 19.
  • An electrical connection 8 is made to the counter electrode 7 for applying an electrical potential to the counter electrode 7 by the electric timepiece.
  • a second gasket 9 Overlaying and in contact with the counter electrode 7 is a second gasket 9 which is formed similarly as was the first gasket 6, hcreinbefore described.
  • the inner surface of the upper substrate 10 has formed thereon 60 electrodes, for example, formed from tin oxide, in a pattern of 60 minute hands 1.
  • the 60 minute hands 1 are not connected together electrically, but are each connected to minute drive signals from the electric timepiece by means of conductors l1.
  • Deposited on or over the minute hands 1 is a layer of electrochromic material 12, for example, of tungsten oxide.
  • the two substrates 3, 10, are assembled in a sandwich-like arrangement in which the tungsten oxide layers are positioned opposite and in face-to-face arrangement in a cell cavity provided by the spacer effect of the insulators 6, 9 and the counter electrode 7.
  • a conductive electrolyte is provided within the cavity, for example, of dilute sulfuric acid.
  • the counter electrode is insulated from the hands on the upper and lower substrates by insulating means disposed between the upper substrate and the counter electrode and between the lower substrate and the counter electrode.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Nonlinear Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US547277A 1975-02-13 1975-02-13 Electrooptical timepiece display with conventional hour and minute hands Expired - Lifetime US3908355A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19612600487 DE2600487A1 (de) 1975-02-13 1961-01-31 Elektronische uhr
US547277A US3908355A (en) 1975-02-13 1975-02-13 Electrooptical timepiece display with conventional hour and minute hands
CH22776A CH614095B (de) 1975-02-13 1976-01-09 Elektronische uhr.
JP51013878A JPS5814635B2 (ja) 1975-02-13 1976-02-10 エレクトロクロミツク表示装置を備えた電子時計
FR7603884A FR2301045A1 (fr) 1975-02-13 1976-02-12 Mouvement d'horlogerie electronique avec cadran simulant les mouvements des aiguilles classiques

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US547277A US3908355A (en) 1975-02-13 1975-02-13 Electrooptical timepiece display with conventional hour and minute hands

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3908355A true US3908355A (en) 1975-09-30

Family

ID=24184053

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US547277A Expired - Lifetime US3908355A (en) 1975-02-13 1975-02-13 Electrooptical timepiece display with conventional hour and minute hands

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3908355A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5814635B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH614095B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2600487A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2301045A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4138626A (en) * 1975-05-28 1979-02-06 Fujitsu Limited Gas discharge display apparatus
USD252859S (en) 1976-11-15 1979-09-11 Les Must De Cartier-France Watch
US4213294A (en) * 1977-04-12 1980-07-22 Freeman Alfred B Analog displays for electronic timepieces
US4219809A (en) * 1978-07-17 1980-08-26 Times Corporation Compensation scheme for electrochromic displays
US4247855A (en) * 1977-07-29 1981-01-27 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Segmented bargraph display by an electrochromic display device
US4310909A (en) * 1979-05-28 1982-01-12 Kabushiki Kaisha Seikosha Analog electronic timepiece
US4459034A (en) * 1981-12-24 1984-07-10 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Time display apparatus
US4467323A (en) * 1981-12-04 1984-08-21 Bear Automotive Service Equipment Company Engine analyzer with simulated analog meter display
USD278986S (en) 1983-03-30 1985-05-28 Timex Corporation Electro-optic display for a timepiece
US5734628A (en) * 1993-10-29 1998-03-31 Kabushiki Kaisha Hattori Seiko Watch dial plate structure
WO1998013724A1 (en) * 1996-09-26 1998-04-02 Monsanto Company Electrochromic display laminates
US20110182151A1 (en) * 2007-05-25 2011-07-28 Michael Geyer Electronically controlled watch
US8879367B2 (en) 2012-10-08 2014-11-04 Andrew Breckman Synchronized watches that work in tandem to tell time

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2523734A1 (fr) * 1982-03-17 1983-09-23 Commissariat Energie Atomique Attenuateur electrolytique de flux lumineux

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3451741A (en) * 1966-06-15 1969-06-24 Du Pont Electrochromic device
US3540209A (en) * 1968-07-31 1970-11-17 Timex Corp Horological time display
US3626410A (en) * 1969-07-11 1971-12-07 Gen Time Corp Moving indicator electrochemical display
US3823549A (en) * 1973-03-08 1974-07-16 Transparent Conductors Inc Electronically actuated liquid crystal watchface with conventional time format
US3839857A (en) * 1971-06-03 1974-10-08 American Cyanamid Co Electrochromic information displays

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3451741A (en) * 1966-06-15 1969-06-24 Du Pont Electrochromic device
US3540209A (en) * 1968-07-31 1970-11-17 Timex Corp Horological time display
US3626410A (en) * 1969-07-11 1971-12-07 Gen Time Corp Moving indicator electrochemical display
US3839857A (en) * 1971-06-03 1974-10-08 American Cyanamid Co Electrochromic information displays
US3823549A (en) * 1973-03-08 1974-07-16 Transparent Conductors Inc Electronically actuated liquid crystal watchface with conventional time format

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4138626A (en) * 1975-05-28 1979-02-06 Fujitsu Limited Gas discharge display apparatus
USD252859S (en) 1976-11-15 1979-09-11 Les Must De Cartier-France Watch
USD252858S (en) 1976-11-15 1979-09-11 Les Must De Cartier-France Watch
US4213294A (en) * 1977-04-12 1980-07-22 Freeman Alfred B Analog displays for electronic timepieces
US4247855A (en) * 1977-07-29 1981-01-27 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Segmented bargraph display by an electrochromic display device
US4219809A (en) * 1978-07-17 1980-08-26 Times Corporation Compensation scheme for electrochromic displays
US4310909A (en) * 1979-05-28 1982-01-12 Kabushiki Kaisha Seikosha Analog electronic timepiece
US4467323A (en) * 1981-12-04 1984-08-21 Bear Automotive Service Equipment Company Engine analyzer with simulated analog meter display
US4459034A (en) * 1981-12-24 1984-07-10 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Time display apparatus
USD278986S (en) 1983-03-30 1985-05-28 Timex Corporation Electro-optic display for a timepiece
US5734628A (en) * 1993-10-29 1998-03-31 Kabushiki Kaisha Hattori Seiko Watch dial plate structure
WO1998013724A1 (en) * 1996-09-26 1998-04-02 Monsanto Company Electrochromic display laminates
US20110182151A1 (en) * 2007-05-25 2011-07-28 Michael Geyer Electronically controlled watch
US8588032B2 (en) * 2007-05-25 2013-11-19 Michael Geyer Electronically controlled watch
US8879367B2 (en) 2012-10-08 2014-11-04 Andrew Breckman Synchronized watches that work in tandem to tell time

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2301045A1 (fr) 1976-09-10
JPS51107170A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1976-09-22
JPS5814635B2 (ja) 1983-03-19
CH614095B (de)
DE2600487A1 (de) 1976-08-26
FR2301045B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1981-12-31
CH614095GA3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1979-11-15

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP.;TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP.;TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004181/0596

Effective date: 19830331