Automatic display illumination for a multimode wristwatch

In a multistate electronic wrist instrument having a display, a lamp for illuminating said display, a plurality of manually actuated switches, and an integrated circuit programmed to provide a plurality of states, said integrated circuit also being programmed in a first logic sequence to light said lamp in response to actuation of a first switch, to change states in response to actuation of a second switch and to change information displayed in a state in response to actuation of a third switch, the improvement comprising:

• transfer logic means responsive to a preselected manner of actuation of one of said switches adapted to alter said first logic sequence into a second logic sequence substantially similar to said first sequence, but for actuation of said lamp, wherein actuation of either of said second or third switches will automatically light said lamp for a predetermined time in addition to duplicating the action of said second or third switches in said first logic sequence.