EP0198576A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Input device for an electronic timepiece
Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1986-02-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-02-13
Abstract
Abstract 57 An electronic timepiece on whose case (2) there is mounted an indicia-carrying member (1) which may be moved relatively to the case (2) so as to bring a selected indicium (6) on the indicia-carrying member 1 to a predetermined indicating position (5), an electrical circuit comprising a plurality of switch pins (8a, 8 b, 8c) engageable with the indicia-carrying member (1) or means (7) secured thereto, and an electronic device (21), controlled by said electrical circuit, responsive to the position of the indicia-carrying member (1) characterised in that the indicia-carrying member (1) or means (7) secured thereto has a pattern of electrically conductive and non-conductive areas over which the switch pins (8a, 8b , 8c) pass when the indicia-carrying member (1) is moved over the case (2), at least one portion (7a) of said pattern having a shape which differs from that of the other portions thereof so that, when a switch pin (8a, 8b, 8c)is in contact with said one portion (7a), the electrical signals which are sent to the electronic device (21) can be distinguished thereby from the electrical signals which are sent thereto when there is no switch pin (8 a, 8b, 8c) in contact with said one portion (7a).
Inventors
- 👤 Yuichi Inoue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:35
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C3/00; G04C3/001; G04C3/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
An electronic timepiece on whose case (2) there is mounted an indicia-carrying member (1) which may be moved relatively to the case (2) so as to bring a selected indicium (6) on the indicia-carrying member 1 to a predetermined indicating position - (5), an electrical circuit comprising a plurality of switch pins (8a, 8 b, 8c) engageable with the indicia-carrying member (1) or means (7) secured thereto, and an electronic device (21), controlled by said electrical circuit, responsive to the position of the indicia-carrying member (1) characterised in that the indicia-carrying member (1) or means (7) secured thereto has a pattern of electrically conductive and non-conductive areas over which the switch pins (8a, 8b , 8c) pass when the indicia-carrying member (1) is moved over the case (2), at least one portion (7a) of said pattern having a shape which differs from that of the other portions thereof so that, when a switch pin (8a, 8b, 8c) is in contact with said one portion (7a), the electrical signals which are sent to the electronic device (21) can be distinguished thereby from the electrical signals which are sent thereto when there is no switch pin (8 a, 8b, 8c) in contact with said one portion (7a).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
An electronic timepiece on whose case (2) there is mounted an indicia-carrying member (1) which may be moved relatively to the case (2) so as to bring a selected indicium (6) on the indicia-carrying member 1 to a predetermined indicating position - (5), an electrical circuit comprising a plurality of switch pins (8a, 8 b, 8c) engageable with the indicia-carrying member (1) or means (7) secured thereto, and an electronic device (21), controlled by said electrical circuit, responsive to the position of the indicia-carrying member (1) characterised in that the indicia-carrying member (1) or means (7) secured thereto has a pattern of electrically conductive and non-conductive areas over which the switch pins (8a, 8b , 8c) pass when the indicia-carrying member (1) is moved over the case (2), at least one portion (7a) of said pattern having a shape which differs from that of the other portions thereof so that, when a switch pin (8a, 8b, 8c) is in contact with said one portion (7a), the electrical signals which are sent to the electronic device (21) can be distinguished thereby from the electrical signals which are sent thereto when there is no switch pin (8 a, 8b, 8c) in contact with said one portion (7a).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the indicia-carrying member (1) or the means (7) secured thereto has a plurality of projections (7') each of which is provided with a respective conductive area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A timepiece as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that one (7a) of said projections (7') is larger than the others.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the indicia-carrying member - (1) is rotatably mounted on the case (2), the conductive areas being angularly spaced apart.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that resilient means (9) are provided for urging the switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c) into engagement with the said pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the electronic device (21) is arranged to memorise the position of the indicia-carrying member (1) on the case (2) and its direction of movement over the latter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A timepiece as claimed in claim 6 characterised in that there is a first memory circuit (F10, F12, F14) for memorising existing switch data, a second memory circuit (F11, F13, F15) for memorising previous switch data, and output means (B7-B9, C1, C2, C6-C9) for outputting to said electronic device (21) electrical signals from said first and second memory circuits which are representative of said position and direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A timepiece as claimed in claim 7 characterised in that there are setting means (C3-C5) for setting said electronic device (21) to a particular value by means of a switching signal which is produced when a switch pin (8a, 8b, 8 c) engages the said one portion (7a).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A timepiece as claimed in claim 7 or 8 in which each of the first and second memory circuits includes a flip-flop (F10, F12, F14 and F11, F13 and F15).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the electronic device comprises an up-down counter (21).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
191 words
An electronic timepiece having a rotary annular dial (1) on a timepiece case (2); an electrical pattern (7) disposed on said rotary annular dial, said electrical pattern having an irregular portion (7a); a plurality of switch pins (8a, 8b , 8c) for electrically making contact with said electrical pattern (7); an input circuit (20) receiving an electrical signal derived from said switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c) and said electrical pattern (7), said input circuit (20) having a position memory means (21) for memorizing the position andthe direction of rotation of said rotary annular dial; a first memory circuit (F10, F12, F14) for memorizing switch data of said switch pins (8a, 8b , 8c): a second memory circuit (F11, F13, F15) for memorizing prior data of said switch pins; output means (B7 -B9, C1, C2, C6 -C9) for outputting a direction of rotation signal and a position signal relating to said rotary annular dial (1) to said position memory means (21), and setting means (C3-C5) for setting said position memory means (21) to a particular value by a switching signal derived from said portion (7a) and said switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
191 words
An electronic timepiece having a rotary annular dial (1) on a timepiece case (2); an electrical pattern (7) disposed on said rotary annular dial, said electrical pattern having an irregular portion (7a); a plurality of switch pins (8a, 8b , 8c) for electrically making contact with said electrical pattern (7); an input circuit (20) receiving an electrical signal derived from said switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c) and said electrical pattern (7), said input circuit (20) having a position memory means (21) for memorizing the position andthe direction of rotation of said rotary annular dial; a first memory circuit (F10, F12, F14) for memorizing switch data of said switch pins (8a, 8b , 8c): a second memory circuit (F11, F13, F15) for memorizing prior data of said switch pins; output means (B7 -B9, C1, C2, C6 -C9) for outputting a direction of rotation signal and a position signal relating to said rotary annular dial (1) to said position memory means (21), and setting means (C3-C5) for setting said position memory means (21) to a particular value by a switching signal derived from said portion (7a) and said switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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