US 4,290,129 AGranted

Electronic watch with supplemental function display

AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha

InventorKenichi Ushikoshi

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Abstract

Electronic circuits provide an indication on the face of an electronic wristwatch that battery voltage has diminished to a prescribed level and provide the same indication regardless of battery voltage by actuation of an external member. Multiple functions are activated by the same external member or members. The desired mode of operation is detected by the circuits dependent upon the position, sequence of operation and time duration in a selected position of an external member. In addition to a battery voltage operating mode, an alternative embodiment permits adjustment of minutes and hours without loss in second-hand accuracy. A counter memorizes elapsed time required for hand setting, and the second hand rapidly moves to its correct position after the hour and minute hands are set. The added function circuits are small, consume negligible power and have no adverse effect on battery life or design complexity.

Claims23

Dependent claims

In an electronic watch including a time-standard frequency-signal-generating means;

a divider network dividing down said standard frequency signal and outputting a timekeeping signal of lower frequency;
display means for indicating timekeeping functions;
driving means, said driving means receiving said timekeeping output of said divider network and outputting signals to actuate said display means;
an electrical power source for energizing the elements of said watch including said signal-generating means, said divider network, said display and driving means;
the improvement therein comprising:
control means, said control means when enabled being adapted to pass a supplemental signal to said driving means said supplemental signal being outputted from said divider network;
detecting circuit means responsive to the voltage level of said power source, said detecting circuit means enabling said control means to pass said supplemental signal and causing said display means to output abnormal indications of said timekeeping functions when said source voltage drops below a prescribed level;
selectively actuatable preview circuit means, said preview circuit means being adapted to enable said control means and cause said abnormal indications of said timekeeping functions to occur in response to the actuation thereof when said source voltage exceeds said prescribed level.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.