Multi-function analog electronic timepiece
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha
InventorKenichi Ushikoshi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The analog electronic timepiece has a plurality of functions, each driven independently by a dedicated step motor. A stem, pullable to three positions and a plurality of pushbuttons control operation. Each indicator hand may be set to zero independently by operation of an external button when the electronic circuits indicate that the respective hand should be at the zero position. A single frequency signal source and divider network provide frequency signals to all functions. Phase shifting circuits assure that driving signals to the independent motors are never concurrent.
Claims17
An analog electronic timepiece having multiple functions comprising:
- a standard frequency signal generator, a divider network receiving the standard signal output of said generator and outputting signals of lower frequency, one said lower frequency signal being a timekeeping signal, an analog display for timekeeping having a timekeeping indicator hand connected to a timekeeping motor, timekeeping motor driving means for receiving said timekeeping signal and outputting timekeeping driving signals to said timekeeping motor, a power source for electrically powering all electrical components of said timepiece;
- at least one supplemental motor, each said at least one supplemental motor being connected respectively to a supplemental indicator hand;
- supplemental motor driving means receiving signals from said divider network and outputting supplemental driving signals respectively to said at least one supplemental motor;
- switch means for independently starting and stopping each said at least one supplemental motor, said timekeeping function being unaffected by operation of said switch means;
- external actuating means for selectively actuating said switch means by selective operation of said external actuating means;
- phase control means for receiving said frequency outputs of said divider and for shifting the phases therebetween, said phase-shifted signals being input to said timekeeping and supplemental motor driving means, respectively, said timekeeping motor never being driven concurrently with any of said at least one supplemental motor, peak current drain from said power source being less than for concurrent motor driving.
An analog electronic timepiece having multiple functions and including a standard frequency signal generator, a divider network receiving the standard signal output of said generator and outputting signals of lower frequency, one said lower frequency signal being a timekeeping signal, an analog display for timekeeping having a timekeeping indicator hand connected to a timekeeping motor, timekeeping motor driving means for receiving said timekeeping signal and outputting timekeeping driving signals to said timekeeping motor, a power source for electrically powering all electrical components of said timepiece;
- at least two supplemental motors, each said at least two supplemental motors being connected respectively to a supplemental indicator hand;
- supplemental motor driving means receiving signals from said divider network and outputting supplemental driving signals respectively to each said at least two supplemental motors;
- switch means for independently starting and stopping each said at least two supplemental motors, said timekeeping function being unaffected by operation of said switch means;
- external actuating means for selectively actuating said switch means by selective operation of said external actuating means;
- and
- means for independently correcting the position of said respective supplemental indicator hands said correction being implemented by operation of said external actuating means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.