US 6,967,903 B2Granted

Control method for executing functions in a diary watch

AssigneeAsulab S.A.

InventorJean-Charles Guanter

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Abstract

The control method allows execution of various functions in an electronic diary watch, which includes, in a case closed by a crystal, a time-keeping circuit and/or a watch movement powered by an energy source, and a dial on which the time is displayed in a digital and/or analogue manner. A determined number of sensors (C1 to C7) are provided with touch sensitive pads arranged on an inner or outer face of the crystal. These sensors are provided for carrying out the various controls of the method when they are individually activated by a user's finger. In order to consult data or parameters, the method includes a first series of steps consisting in displaying different menus (102 to 106) of the diary function on at least one liquid crystal display by activating at least one sensor (C4, C5) of a group of sensors (C4 to C7), and in selecting the menu or record to be consulted (107 to 111) by activating a validation sensor (C1). In order to enter data, the method includes a second series of steps consisting in activating the validation sensor (C1) for a determined period of time or with a determined application of pressure, entering diary data by activating certain sensors (C2 to C7) each controlling execution of a specific determined function, and validating data entered by action on the validation sensor.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A control method for executing functions in an electronic diary watch, including, in a case closed by a crystal, a time-keeping circuit and/or a watch movement powered by an energy source, a dial on which the time is displayed in a digital and/or analogue manner, at least one liquid crystal display for displaying diary data, a determined number of sensors, one touch sensitive pad of each sensor being arranged on an internal or external face of the crystal, each sensor being able to be activated by a user's finger placed on the crystal in a determined zone of the sensitive pad of the sensor to be activated, and a microprocessor unit programmed to manage the diary function operations so as to consult different menus or stored data, or to enter, modify or delete data and/or parameters by means of the sensors connected to the microprocessor unit, wherein the method includes, in a first diary function consulting mode in which at least one group of sensors is configured by the microprocessor unit so that each activated sensor of said group of sensors is able to carry out a same function, a first series of steps of:

displaying different menus or parameters or data or data records of the diary function menu on the liquid crystal display in ascending or descending order by activating at least one sensor of said group of sensors, and
selecting a menu or data record, of a type from among several types, of the menu to be consulted by activating a validation sensor, and
wherein the method includes, in a second data and/or parameters entry, modification or deletion mode in which each sensor is configured by the microprocessor unit so that each activated sensor is able to control execution of a different specific determined function, a second series of steps of:
activating the validation sensor for a determined period of time or with a determined application of pressure in order to enter the second mode in a desired position of a selected menu, and
entering, modifying or deleting data and/or parameters by activating certain sensors, and
validating the parameters and/or the data entered, modified or deleted by action on the validation sensor.

3 more elements

A control method for executing functions in an electronic diary watch, which includes in a case closed by a crystal, a time-keeping circuit and/or a watch movement powered by an energy source, a dial on which the time is displayed in a digital and/or analogue manner, at least one liquid crystal display for displaying diary data on one or more lines, a determined number of sensors, one touch sensitive pad of each sensor being arranged on an internal or external face of the crystal, each sensor being able to be activated by a user's finger placed on the crystal in a determined zone of the sensitive pad of the sensor to be activated, and a microprocessor unit programmed to manage the diary function operations so as to consult different menus or stored data, or to enter, modify or delete data and/or parameters by means of the sensors connected to the unit, said microprocessor unit being able to configure in a first diary function consulting mode at least one group of sensors, so that each activated sensor of said group of sensors is able to carry out a same function, or to configure separately each sensor in a second data and/or parameters entry, modification or deletion mode so that each activated sensor is able to control execution of a different specific determined function, wherein the method includes a first series of steps, in a data and/or parameter entry, modifying or deletion mode, of:

activating a validation sensor for a determined period of time or with a determined application of pressure in order to enter the data and/or parameter entry, modifying or deletion mode in a desired position of a selected menu;
entering, modifying or deleting data and/or parameters by activating certain sensors, each activated sensor controlling execution of a different specific determined function in this mode, and
validating the parameters and/or the data entered, modified or deleted by action on the validation sensor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.