US3913312A - Solid state electronic timepiece - Google Patents
Solid state electronic timepiece Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3913312A US3913312A US427941A US42794173A US3913312A US 3913312 A US3913312 A US 3913312A US 427941 A US427941 A US 427941A US 42794173 A US42794173 A US 42794173A US 3913312 A US3913312 A US 3913312A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- electronic
- switch
- safety switch
- time
- correction
- 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
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
- G04G5/00—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication
- G04G5/04—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication by setting each of the displayed values, e.g. date, hour, independently
- G04G5/043—Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication by setting each of the displayed values, e.g. date, hour, independently using commutating devices for selecting the value, e.g. hours, minutes, seconds, to be corrected
-
- 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
- G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
- G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
- G04G9/0023—Visual time or date indication means by light valves in general
- G04G9/0029—Details
- G04G9/0047—Details electrical, e.g. selection or application of the operating voltage
- G04G9/0052—Details electrical, e.g. selection or application of the operating voltage using means to adjust the display in accordance with the ambient light, e.g. switching or controlling a supplementary light source
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to small-sized electronic timepieces having liquid crystal displays and especially to an electronic wristwatch having a light source for lighting the liquid crystal display and a switch for switching the light source so as to render the display visible in the darkness.
- One such digital display is a reflective type wherein time is read by reflecting light from an outside source such as the sun or an electric lamp.
- an outside source such as the sun or an electric lamp.
- a watch utilizes such reflective display elements, it is impossible to read such display in the dark.
- Such a disadvantage has been overcome by electronic timepieces utilizing light emitting elements for the digital display thereof.
- light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes are utilized, the elements are energized and therefore can be read in the darkness.
- the power consumption of such light emitting elements is excessive.
- the size of batteries utilized in Wristwatches are extremely limited, the use of such energy consuming display elements shortens the battery life.
- an electronic timepiece having a digital display comprised of light emitting elements must be switched on to read the time even when an outside light is available in order to make the digits readable. Accordingly, it is desired to provide an electronic timepiece having a digital display which is readable in the dark but which does not suffer from the above mentioned disadvantages.
- an electronic wristwatch having an oscillator for producing a high frequency time standard signal, an electronic divider circuit for receiving the high frequency time standard signal and providing low frequency timing signals, a liquid crystal digital display for displaying time in response to such low frequency timing signals, is provided with a light source for illuminating the display during darkened conditions.
- Manually operated correction switches are coupled through a switching circuit to the electronic divider circuit for correcting the time displayed by the digital display.
- a safety switch is coupled through the switching circuit to the light source. When the safety switch is in a first mode, a manually operated correcting switch is adapted to light the light source to thereby illuminate the liquid crystal display, said safety switch protecting against inadvertent correction of the time displayed.
- the time correcting safety switch is in a second mode, the manually operated correction switches operate to correct the digits displayed by the digital display.
- Another object of this invention is to provide an improved digital display electronic timepiece wherein the same switch is used to correct the time displayed and to effect illumination of the digital display.
- Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved electronic wristwatch having lightreflection or light premeation digital display elements.
- FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of an electronic wristwatch in accordance with the instant invention.
- FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the switching circuit depicted in FIG. I.
- an electronic timepiece having a conventional liquid crystal digital display 10 comprised of light reflectionor light .permeation type elements for displaying numerals representative of hours, minutes and seconds is depicted.
- Each digit of the display may, by way of example, take the form of a seven bar display.
- An oscillating circuit 1 which includes a quartz crystal vibrator, is coupled to an electronic divider circuit 5 for applying high frequency time standard'signals thereto.
- the electronic divider circuit 5 consists of a multi-stage divider chain capable of counting seconds, minutes and hours and producing, as an output, timing signals representative of present time as reflected by the count in the respective divider stages.
- the electronic divider circuit would include suitable decoder and driving circuits so that the timing signals are capable of driving display 10.
- the output of the electronic divider circuit 5 is supplied to digital display 10 for the digital display of time.
- a switching circuit 3 consisting of a logic switching circuit particularly illustrated by way of example in FIG. 2, and capable of being actuated by a manually operated switch is coupled to the electronic divider circuit for applying signals thereto and is further coupled to a light source 4 which is disposed proximate to the digital display for illuminating same.
- Manually operated correction switches 7, 8 and 9 are coupled, at first terminals thereof, to the electronic divider circuit 5 through switching circuit 3, said switches being respectively connected by said switching circuit to the divider stages in the electronic divider circuit 5 which produced the second, minute and hour signals for the separate correction of said divider stages to selectively correct the second, minute or hour time indication displayed by the display l0.
- the correction may be achieved by indexing the count of the associated divider stages by one upon each operation of the manually operated switches 7, 8 and 9.
- a safety switch 6 is coupled, at a first terminal, to the second terminals of manually operated switches 7, 8, 9, which other terminal is also connected to power source 2 and is further coupled at both terminals to the switching circuit 3.
- Power source 2 preferably a battery, is coupled to the oscillating and electronic divider circuits to provide energy therefor.
- the safety switch'6 is used both as a lock for preventing inadvertent operation of the correcting switches and to change over one of the manually operated correction switches 7 to a switch for energizing the light source 4.
- a time correcting signal is applied to the electronic divide r stage corresponding thereto and the associated digit is indexed by 1.
- the manually operated switch 7 is coupled through the switching circuit 3 to the light source 4 and upon actuation thereof illuminates the light source to render the display visible in darkness.
- An electronic timepiece having a liquid crystal digital display and comprising oscillator means for generating a relatively high frequency time standard signal; electronic divider means coupled to said oscillator means and adapted to supply low frequency signals to said digital display that are representative of present time in response to said high frequency time standard signal, a light source proximate to the display for illuminating same; safety switch means coupled to said electronic divider circuit and said light source, at least one manually operated correction switch selectively coupled through said safety means to said electronic divider means at a first mode of said safety switch means to effect time correction and being further coupled through said safety switch means to said light source at a second mode of said safety switch means to energize same.
- An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 2 having at least one further correction switch coupled through said switching circuit means tosaid divider circuit means, each of said first mentioned and further correction switches being adapted to correct different digits of time, said switching circuit means being adapted to operatively couple said further correction switch to said divider circuit means only in said first mode thereof.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electric Clocks (AREA)
- Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP73359A JPS5548272B2 (cs) | 1972-12-25 | 1972-12-25 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3913312A true US3913312A (en) | 1975-10-21 |
Family
ID=11471603
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US427941A Expired - Lifetime US3913312A (en) | 1972-12-25 | 1973-12-26 | Solid state electronic timepiece |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3913312A (cs) |
JP (1) | JPS5548272B2 (cs) |
CH (2) | CH1805773A4 (cs) |
DE (1) | DE2364166C3 (cs) |
FR (1) | FR2211691B1 (cs) |
GB (1) | GB1424846A (cs) |
MY (1) | MY7800076A (cs) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4020626A (en) * | 1974-05-14 | 1977-05-03 | Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha | Electronic timepiece |
US4044544A (en) * | 1975-02-05 | 1977-08-30 | Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha | Electronic timepiece |
DE2710716A1 (de) * | 1976-03-11 | 1977-09-15 | Seiko Instr & Electronics | Elektronische uhr |
US4090350A (en) * | 1975-05-06 | 1978-05-23 | Citizen Watch Co., Limited | Electronic timepiece |
US4330877A (en) * | 1979-03-28 | 1982-05-18 | Barnes Robert W | Electrically illuminated wrist watch dial |
US4348751A (en) * | 1977-06-20 | 1982-09-07 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Electronic device and method of fabricating the same |
US4995016A (en) * | 1988-10-17 | 1991-02-19 | Seikosha Co., Ltd. | Timepiece with light emitting device |
US20090020967A1 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2009-01-22 | Tory Weber | Heating arrangement for ice skate blades |
US20090066042A1 (en) * | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-12 | Tory Weber | Electrically heated ice skates |
US9416901B2 (en) | 2007-07-20 | 2016-08-16 | Scorched Ice Inc. | Ice skate blade and blade heating arrangement |
Families Citing this family (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS5118173U (cs) * | 1974-07-26 | 1976-02-09 | ||
JPS5756709B2 (cs) * | 1974-09-09 | 1982-12-01 | Sharp Kk | |
JPS5843712B2 (ja) * | 1974-12-20 | 1983-09-28 | カシオケイサンキ カブシキガイシヤ | エキシヨウトケイソウチ |
JPS5819996B2 (ja) * | 1975-06-23 | 1983-04-21 | シチズン時計株式会社 | 照明装置付き電子時計 |
JPS6042281Y2 (ja) * | 1976-11-02 | 1985-12-25 | 萬世工業株式会社 | 液晶時計付き電池ライタ−のスイツチ操作装置 |
JPS5749831Y2 (cs) * | 1978-03-10 | 1982-11-01 | ||
JPS58868Y2 (ja) * | 1978-03-10 | 1983-01-08 | カシオ計算機株式会社 | 報知機能付電子時計 |
JPS5696289A (en) * | 1980-10-16 | 1981-08-04 | Sharp Corp | Electronic clock |
JPS57158584A (en) * | 1981-03-26 | 1982-09-30 | Sharp Corp | Voice timepiece |
JP2524178B2 (ja) * | 1987-12-21 | 1996-08-14 | 株式会社精工舎 | 世界時計 |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3747322A (en) * | 1971-05-20 | 1973-07-24 | Hmw Industries | Light control for timing displays |
US3768247A (en) * | 1971-02-06 | 1973-10-30 | Suwa Seikosha Kk | Control switches to watch having a digital display |
US3783607A (en) * | 1972-06-12 | 1974-01-08 | Feurer Bros Inc | Pusher for electronic digital watch |
-
1972
- 1972-12-25 JP JP73359A patent/JPS5548272B2/ja not_active Expired
-
1973
- 1973-12-07 GB GB5679873A patent/GB1424846A/en not_active Expired
- 1973-12-21 CH CH1805773D patent/CH1805773A4/xx unknown
- 1973-12-21 DE DE2364166A patent/DE2364166C3/de not_active Expired
- 1973-12-21 CH CH1805773A patent/CH600415B5/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1973-12-21 FR FR7346088A patent/FR2211691B1/fr not_active Expired
- 1973-12-26 US US427941A patent/US3913312A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1978
- 1978-12-31 MY MY197876A patent/MY7800076A/xx unknown
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3768247A (en) * | 1971-02-06 | 1973-10-30 | Suwa Seikosha Kk | Control switches to watch having a digital display |
US3747322A (en) * | 1971-05-20 | 1973-07-24 | Hmw Industries | Light control for timing displays |
US3783607A (en) * | 1972-06-12 | 1974-01-08 | Feurer Bros Inc | Pusher for electronic digital watch |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4020626A (en) * | 1974-05-14 | 1977-05-03 | Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha | Electronic timepiece |
US4044544A (en) * | 1975-02-05 | 1977-08-30 | Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha | Electronic timepiece |
US4090350A (en) * | 1975-05-06 | 1978-05-23 | Citizen Watch Co., Limited | Electronic timepiece |
DE2710716A1 (de) * | 1976-03-11 | 1977-09-15 | Seiko Instr & Electronics | Elektronische uhr |
US4348751A (en) * | 1977-06-20 | 1982-09-07 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Electronic device and method of fabricating the same |
US4330877A (en) * | 1979-03-28 | 1982-05-18 | Barnes Robert W | Electrically illuminated wrist watch dial |
US4995016A (en) * | 1988-10-17 | 1991-02-19 | Seikosha Co., Ltd. | Timepiece with light emitting device |
US20090020967A1 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2009-01-22 | Tory Weber | Heating arrangement for ice skate blades |
US7866673B2 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2011-01-11 | Therma Blade Hockey Corp. | Heating arrangement for ice skate blades |
US9416901B2 (en) | 2007-07-20 | 2016-08-16 | Scorched Ice Inc. | Ice skate blade and blade heating arrangement |
US20090066042A1 (en) * | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-12 | Tory Weber | Electrically heated ice skates |
US7866674B2 (en) | 2007-09-07 | 2011-01-11 | Thermablade Hockey Corp. | Electrically heated ice skates |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
FR2211691A1 (cs) | 1974-07-19 |
MY7800076A (en) | 1978-12-31 |
JPS5548272B2 (cs) | 1980-12-04 |
DE2364166A1 (de) | 1974-06-27 |
CH600415B5 (cs) | 1978-06-15 |
CH1805773A4 (cs) | 1977-08-15 |
JPS4988561A (cs) | 1974-08-23 |
DE2364166C3 (de) | 1978-08-31 |
GB1424846A (en) | 1976-02-11 |
DE2364166B2 (de) | 1978-01-05 |
FR2211691B1 (cs) | 1977-06-10 |
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