US 4,067,187 A · Electronic timepiece

Abstract

A set of digital indicators in an electronic display unit of a timepiece are actuated by driving pulses transmitted thereto through respective stages of a multistage frequency divider. A switching mechanism is manually operable to advance certain of these stages, independently of the driving pulses and at a faster rate, to adjust the display. A timer discriminates between short-term and long-term switch reversals to differentiate between a gating signal, giving passage to a train of high-rate stepping pulses, and (a) selection signals identifying an indicator to be stepped or (b) manually produced pulses for adjustment at a slower rate. A protective circuit may be inserted between the switching mechanism and the display-controlling circuitry for preventing the transmisson of indication-modifying signals to the display unit in the absence of a special unblocking signal, generated separately, which trips an electronic relay such as a flip-flop into an off-normal condition for the emission of an enabling signal; the flip-flop may be automatically reset to normal, after a predetermined period, in the absence of a manually generated blocking signal. Stationary digital indicators, such as those registering the triggering time of an alarm circuit, may be similarly adjusted.

Claims12

Dependent claims

In an electronic timepiece, in combination:

chronometric display means including a plurality of pulse-actuatable digital-indicators;
a single display-setting switch with an OFF position and an ON position manually operable in a plurality of indicator-identifying setting modes and a control mode, said setting modes comprising short-term reversals of said switch for periods less than a predetermined threshold interval, said control mode comprising a maintenance of said switch in said ON position for a time exceeding said threshold interval;
discriminator means connected to said switch for detecting any of said setting modes and distinguishing same from said control mode, said discriminator means including a counter for registering the number of switch reversals and a timer for measuring the duration of each switch reversal;
selector means connected to said discriminator means for establishing a stepping circuit to an indicator identified by a detected setting mode;
a source of stepping pulses for advancing said indicators at an accelerated rate;
and
control circuitry operable by said discriminator means for connecting said source to said stepping circuit to advance the indicator so identified upon a changeover of said switch from any of said setting modes to said control mode.

4 more elements

In an electronic timepiece, in combination:

chronometric display means including a plurality of pulse-actuatable digital indicators;
a single display-setting switch with a normal position and an alternate position manually operable in a plurality of indicator-identifying setting modes and a control mode differing from one another by the number and duration of switch reversals;
discriminator means connected to said switch for detecting any of said setting modes and distinguishing same from said control mode, said discriminator means including a counter for registering the number of said switch reversals and a timer for measuring the duration of each switch reversal;
selector means connected to said discriminator means for establishing a stepping circuit to an indicator identified by a detected setting mode;
a source of stepping pulses for advancing said indicators at an accelerated rate;
and
control circuitry operable by said discriminator means for connecting said source to said stepping circuit to advance the indicator so identified upon a changeover of said switch from any of said setting modes to said control mode.

4 more elements

In an electronic timepiece, in combination:

chronometric display means including a plurality of pulse-actuatable digital indicators;
switch means including a single display-setting switch with a normal position and a alternate position manually operable in a plurality of indicator-identifying setting modes and a control mode differing from one another by the number and duration of switch reversals, said switch means being operable to generate an unblocking signal independent of said setting and control modes;
discriminator means connected to said display-setting switch for detecting any of said setting modes and distinguishing same from said control mode, said discriminator means including a counter for registering the number of said switch reversals and a timer for measuring the duration of each switch reversal;
selector means connected to said discriminator means for establishing a stepping circuit to an indicator identified by a detected setting mode;
a source of stepping pulses for advancing said indicators at an accelerated rate;
control circuitry operable by said discriminator means for connecting said source to said stepping circuit to advance the indicator so identified upon a changeover of said display-setting switch from any of said setting modes to said control mode;
and
protective circuitry inserted between said switch means and said control circuitry for preventing any operation of the latter by said discriminator means in the absence of said unblocking signal.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic timepiece

Life of this patent

Electronic timepiece

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12