Electronic timepiece

In a multi-function electronic timepiece having a display device for providing a different visual display for each of a plurality of functions:

• control means for controlling the display device such that when a given function requiring a continuous visual display is selected but is not being executed, visual displays associated with other functions at portions of the display device surrounding the portion used by the given function are enabled, and when the given function is selected and is being executed, the visual displays at the surrounding portions of the display device associated with the other functions are disabled so that only the visual display associated with the selected function is provided on the display device.

In a multi-function electronic timepiece having a display device for providing a different visual display for each of a plurality of functions:

• control means for controlling the display device such that when a given function requiring a continuous visual display is selected but is not being executed, visual displays associated with other functions are enabled, when the given function is selected and is being executed, the visual displays associated with the other functions are disabled so that only the visual display associated with the selected function is provided on the display device, and execution of the given function and a notification is needed in connection with operation of the other function, a visual display providing the notification is provided.

In a multi-function electronic timepiece having a display device for providing a different visual display for each of a plurality of functions:

• control means for controlling the display device such that when a given function requiring a continuous visual display is selected but is not being executed, visual displays associated with other functions at portions of the display device surrounding the portion used by the given function are enabled, when the given function is selected and is being executed, visual displays at the surrounding portions of the display device associated with the other functions are disabled so that only the visual display associated with the selected function is provided on the display device, and when one of the other functions is selected during execution of the given function and a notification is needed in connection with operation of the other function, a visual display providing the notification is provided.

In a multi-function timepiece having a display driver circuit for driving a display panel having plural display portions for displaying information corresponding to a plurality of functions performed by the timepiece:

• wherein the display driver circuit disables one or more display portions corresponding to active functions when a given timekeeping function requiring continuous visual recognition is being executed by the timepiece so that a display corresponding to the function requiring continuous visual recognition may be viewed without distraction by a display corresponding to other functions, and the display driver circuit enables the one or more display portions corresponding to the active functions when the given timekeeping function is selected but is not being executed.

A multi-function timepiece comprising:

• a circuit for performing plural user-selectable functions including one or more timekeeping functions at least one of which requires a continuous visual display during execution thereof;
• a display device;
• and a control circuit for controlling the display device to provide a different visual display for each of the plural functions such that when a function requiring a continuous visual display is selected but is not being executed visual displays associated with the other functions are enabled, and when the given function is being executed visual displays associated with the other functions are disabled.