US3664116A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital clock controlled by voltage level of clock reference signal
Assignee: RCA Licensing Corp
•
Filing: 1970-04-06
•
Granted: 1972-05-23
•
Expires: 1990-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A digital clock circuit particularly suited for monolithic integration wherein the counting rate of the clock is variable from a normal to a faster rate in response to the level of a 60 Hz voltage derived from the power line and applied to a single input terminal as a clock reference signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Gene Emerson
- 👤 Hans Jurgen Thamhain
- 👤 Bruce Cromwell Mcintosh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:52
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G9/00; G04G9/08; G04G9/10; G04G9/107; G04G13/00; G04G13/02; G04G13/025; G04G19/00; G04G19/02; G04G19/06; G04G5/00; G04G5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A digital clock comprising: a. counting means; b. means for generating a reference signal at a first repetition rate; c. conversion means responsive to said reference signal for producing a signal at a second repetition rate; and d. control means responsive to the voltage level of said reference signal for selectively applying signals at said first or second repetition rates to said counting means to control the counting rate thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A digital clock comprising: a. counting means; b. means for generating a reference signal at a first repetition rate; c. conversion means responsive to said reference signal for producing a signal at a second repetition rate; and d. control means responsive to the voltage level of said reference signal for selectively applying signals at said first or second repetition rates to said counting means to control the counting rate thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A digital clock comprising: a. counting means; b. means for generating a reference signal at a first repetition rate and at first, second or third voltage levels; c. conversion means responsive to said reference signal for producing signals at second and third repetition rates; and d. control means selectively responsive to said first, second or third voltage levels of said reference signal to respectively apply signals at said first, second or third repetition rates to said counting means to control the counting rate thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
A digital clock comprising: a. counting means; b. means for generating a reference signal at a first repetition rate and at first, second or third voltage levels; c. conversion means responsive to said reference signal for producing signals at second and third repetition rates; and d. control means selectively responsive to said first, second or third voltage levels of said reference signal to respectively apply signals at said first, second or third repetition rates to said counting means to control the counting rate thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The digital clock defined in claim 2 wherein the application of signals to said counting means at said first, second and third repetition rates respectively defines fast set, slow set and normal counting rates thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The digital clock defined in claim 2 wherein said first repetition rate is 60 Hz, said second repetition rate is 2 per second and said third repetition rate is 1 per minute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The digital clock defined in claim 2 wherein said counting means includes a clock counter and an alarm counter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The digital clock defined in claim 5 wherein said control means includes gating means selectively channelling signals at said first, second or third repetition rates to said clock counter and said alarm counter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The digital clock defined in claim 6 including comparator means responsive to said clock counter and said alarm counter to provide an indication when the counts of said clock counter and said alarm counters are the same.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The digital clock defined in claim 6 including display means responsive to said clock and alarm counters to provide a display of the counts thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The digital clock defined in claim 8 wherein said display means is responsive to said gating means to selectively display the counts of said clock or alarm counters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
The digital clock defined in claim 2 wherein said control means includes: a. first and second voltage dividers having said reference signal applied thereto; b. means responsive to the voltage level at an intermediate point of said first voltage divider to apply a signal at said first repetition rate to said counting means; and c. means responsive to the voltage level at an intermediate point of said second voltage divider to apply a signal at said second repetition rate to said counting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
The digital clock defined in claim 10 wherein: a. said first voltage divider comprises first, second and third serially connected field effect transistors and said intermediate point of said first voltage divider is the junction between said second and third transistors; and b. said second voltage divider comprises fourth and fifth serially connected field effect transistors and said intermediate point of said second voltage divider is the junction between said fourth and fifth transistors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A counter comprising: a. a counting stage; b. conversion means responsive to a reference signal at a first repetition rate for producing a signal at a second repetition rate; and c. control means responsive to the voltage level of said reference signal for selectively applying signals at said first or second repetition rates to said counting stage to control the counting rate thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
A counter comprising: a. a counting stage; b. conversion means responsive to a reference signal at a first repetition rate for producing a signal at a second repetition rate; and c. control means responsive to the voltage level of said reference signal for selectively applying signals at said first or second repetition rates to said counting stage to control the counting rate thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
A digital clock comprising: a. clock counting means, b. alarm counting means, c. means for generating a reference signal, d. control means responsive to said reference signal for selectively establishing the count of said clock counting means and alarm counting means, e. display means responsive to said clock and alarm counting means for providing a display of the counts thereof, and f. said control means including means for displaying the count in said alarm counting means without interferring with the normal counting operation of said clock counting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A digital clock comprising: a. clock counting means, b. alarm counting means, c. means for generating a reference signal, d. control means responsive to said reference signal for selectively establishing the count of said clock counting means and alarm counting means, e. display means responsive to said clock and alarm counting means for providing a display of the counts thereof, and f. said control means including means for displaying the count in said alarm counting means without interferring with the normal counting operation of said clock counting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
A digital clock as defined in claim 13 wherein said reference signal is at a first repetition rate, which further includes conversion means responsive to said reference signal for producing signals at second and third repetition rates and wherein said control means is responsive to said reference signal for selectively applying signals at said first, second or third repetition rates to said clock counting means and for selectively applying signals at said second or third repetition rates to said alarm counting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A digital clock as defined in claim 14 which includes means for providing first, second or third voltage levels for said reference signal and wherein said control means is selectively responsive to said first, second or third voltage levels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA791946A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |