US3722206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-illuminated liquid crystal timepiece
Assignee: HMW Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-01
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-03-01
Abstract
Abstract The time piece includes seven-bar-segment digital time indicating displays, the segments being selectively actuated by a time indicating source through a logic circuit. In one form, the display face includes a clear front glass, a dark back reflector glass spaced from the front glass, liquid crystals disposed between the glasses and an electrode material formed on the back glass with portions thereof removed while the remaining portions form electrodes for the seven bar segments. Selected energization of the electrodes energizes the liquid crystal segments to provide a light scattering effect whereby light incident to the energized liquid crystal segments is reflected to provide a digital display against a dark background. A nuclear powered light source surrounds the display face to provide light incident to the energized liquid crystals for digital display under dark conditions. In another form, the front glass is coated white except for the segments and a nuclear powered light source is located behind the rear clear glass plate on which the electrodes are carried. In the daytime, the energized bar segments reflect light rendering the same indistinguishable from the white opaque surface whereby the natural dark color of the nuclear light source appears through the nonenergized and transparent liquid crystal bar segments providing a daytime digital time display. For night-time display, the nuclear powered light source transmits light through the nonenergized liquid crystal bar segments to provide the digital time display.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bergey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:35
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G9/00; G04G9/0023; G04G9/0029; G04G9/0035; G04G9/0041; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
15 words
ApParatus according to claim 1 wherein said material fills substantially the entire space between plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the innermost plate of said display face is formed to provide a dark background, said auxiliary light comprising a nuclear light source about at least a portion of said face.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the outermost plate is opaque, said light source including a nuclear light source behind said innermost plate, said information defining means including substantially transparent portions of said opaque plate overlying said material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary source is disposed behind said plates for transmitting light through said material outwardly of said face when said material lies in a quiescent state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said material is a liquid crystal in the nematic state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said auxiliary light source comprises a beta light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
192 words
A timepiece of sufficiently small size for use as a wristwatch and having a display viewable under variable external lighting conditions comprising a watch case including a time display face, material mounted in said watch face having electro-magnetic-optical properties wherein said material is substantially transparent in a quiescent state and has substantial light-scattering properties when an energy field is applied thereto, said material being arranged in bar segments on said face to form a digital time display, a display face having a pair of plates spaced one from the other with said material being disposed between said plates,pairs of electrodes disposed between said plates and arranged to define said information, at least a portion of said material lying between said electrodes, wherein said electrodes are carried by one of said plates, a timekeeping source in said case, means responsive to said timekeeping source for providing energy fields to selected portions of said material for digital time display under a first external lighting condition, and a self-powered light source mounted on said case adjacent said material to provide light incident to said material for digital time display under a second external lighting condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A timepiece according to claim 8 wherein said auxiliary light source is located such that the light therefrom incident to said material is reflected outwardly of said display from the portions of said material subjected to the energy fields.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A timepiece according to claim 8 wherein said auxiliary light source is disposed behind said material for transmitting light outwardly of said display through the portions of said material lying in a quiescent state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A timepiece according to claim 8 wherein said timekeeping source includes a plurality of dividers for obtaining electrical timing signals, and means coupling said electrical timing signals to said bar segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A timepiece according to claim 11 wherein said coupling means comprises a plurality of decoders for transforming the output of said dividers into drive signals for said bar segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
A timepiece of sufficiently small size for use as a wristwatch and having a display viewable under variable external lighting conditions comprising means for displaying information including liquid crystal material having electro-optical properties wherein said material is substantially transparent in a quiescent state and has substantial light-scattering properties when an electric field is applied thereto, a source of electrical timing signals, means for applying said electrical timing signals to at least portions of said material to provide an electric field for displaying timing information under one external lighting condition, a display face having a pair of plates spaced one from the other with said material being disposed between said plates, pairs of electrodes disposed between said plates and arranged to define said information, at least a portion of said materiAl lying between said electrodes, and an auxiliary self-powered light source adjacent said material and providing light incident to said material for displaying timing information under a second external lighting condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said auxiliary light source comprises a nuclear source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said auxiliary light source comprises a beta light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
174 words
A wristwatch having a display viewable under variable external lighting conditions comprising a wristwatch case including a time display face, liquid crystal material mounted on said watch face having electro-optical properties wherein said material is substantially transparent in a quiescent state and has substantial light-scattering properties when an electric field is applied thereto, said material being arranged in bar segments on said face to form a digital time display, the display face having a pair of plates spaced one from the other with said material being disposed between said plates, pairs of electrodes disposed between said plates and arranged to define said information, at least a portion of said material lying between said electrodes, a timekeeping source in said case, means responsive to said timekeeping source for providing electric fields to selected portions of said material for digital time display under a first external lighting condition, and a beta light mounted on said case adjacent said material to provide light incident to said material for digital time display under a second external lighting condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |