Method and apparatus for correcting time in an electronic wristwatch

Claim 1

An electronic timepiece comprising oscillator means for producing a high frequency time standard signal, divider means for producing low frequency timing signals from said high frequency time standard signals including a plurality of seriesconnected divider stages, certain of said divider stages corresponding to seconds display, means for the digital display of time in response to said timing signals, said digital display means displaying at least seconds and minutes, said seconds divider stages providing a substantially square-wave output signal having a period of 1 minute to the next divider stage, and correction means for applying a reset signal to said certain divider stages which correspond to the incorrect time displayed, said correction means being adapted to set the second digital display to zero without affecting the minute digital display when said reset signal is applied to said certain dividers during the first half cycle of said output signal when the seconds digital display means is 30 or less and to set the second digital display to zero and increase the minute digital display by one when said reset signal is applied to said certain dividers during the second half cycle of said output signal when said seconds digital display read more than 30.

Claim 7

A method for correcting errors of minus 30 seconds or less in an electronic timepiece having oscillator means for producing a high frequency time standard signal, divider means for producing low frequency timing signals from said high frequency time standard signal including a plurality of series-connected divider stages, certain of said divider stages producing a square wave timing signal to the next divider stage and means for the digital display of time including at least a seconds and a minutes display in response to said timing signals, the method comprising the steps of, at the nearest correct minute indication, in response to the second half cycle of the square wave timing signal resetting the divider stages producing the timing signals associated with the digital display of seconds to zero and increasing the count of the next divider stages producing timing signals associated with the digital display of minutes by one.

Claim 8

A method for correcting errors of minus 30 seconds or less in an electronic timepiece having oscillator means for producing a high frequency time standard signal, divider means for producing low frequency timing signals from said high frequency time standard signal including a plurality of series-connected divider stages, certain of said divider stages producing a square wave timing signal to the next divider stage and means for the digital display of time including at least a seconds and a minutes display in response to said timing signals, the method comprising the steps of, at the nearest correct minute indication, in response to the second half cycle of the square wave timing signal resetting the divider stages producing the timing signals associated with the digital display of seconds to zero and increasing the count of the next divider stages producing timing signals associated with the digital display of minutes by one.