US3898790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Battery-driven watch with battery consumption display alarm
Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
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Filing: 1973-11-08
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1993-11-08
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides an advance alarm means incorporated with an electronic watch driven by a battery and fitted with a digital time display means. There is provided a detector sensing an abrupt voltage drop at the source battery. A selector represents its two states corresponding to the normal operating condition of the battery and to the voltage dropped condition thereof, respectively. This selector controls the feed of two different signal series to at least one electrically illuminatable elements of the digital time display means, depending upon the state of the selector and for providing an advance alarm before occurrence of an unacceptable voltage drop in the source battery.
Inventors
- 👤 Hirotoki Takamune
- 👤 Fujio Ishida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:04
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C10/00; G04C10/04; G04G; G04G9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
In a battery driven electronic watch comprising a watch driver circuit, a battery for feeding current thereto, and a time-indicator operatively connected with said driver circuit, the improvement comprising a binary detector circuit connected to said battery for detecting when the source voltage falls below a predetermined level, a selector and drive circuit connected with the output of said detector, and an electrically illuminatable means connected with said selector and drive circuit, the brightness of said illuminatable means being modified from its normal state when said source voltage drops below said predetermined level in response to the binary logic output of said detector, said electrically illuminatable means being mounted on the front and normally visible surface of said watch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a battery driven electronic watch comprising a watch driver circuit, a battery for feeding current thereto, and a time-indicator operatively connected with said driver circuit, the improvement comprising a binary detector circuit connected to said battery for detecting when the source voltage falls below a predetermined level, a selector and drive circuit connected with the output of said detector, and an electrically illuminatable means connected with said selector and drive circuit, the brightness of said illuminatable means being modified from its normal state when said source voltage drops below said predetermined level in response to the binary logic output of said detector, said electrically illuminatable means being mounted on the front and normally visible surface of said watch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a battery-driven electronic watch comprising a source battery, an electronic watch driver circuit fed current therefrom and a digital time display means comprising a plurality of electrically illuminatable elements driven by said circuit, the improvement comprising a detector for sensing an abrupt voltage drop at the said battery, and a selector for selecting either a first signal series demonstrating the normal operating voltage kept at said battery or a second signal series of a different signal frequency from that of the first signal series and demonstrating a voltage-dropped condition of said battery, depending upon the state of said detector and derived from said driver circuit, at least one of said elements being supplied with either of said both signal series depending upon the state of said selector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a battery-driven electronic watch comprising a source battery, an electronic watch driver circuit fed current therefrom and a digital time display means comprising a plurality of electrically illuminatable elements driven by said circuit, the improvement comprising a detector for sensing an abrupt voltage drop at the said battery, and a selector for selecting either a first signal series demonstrating the normal operating voltage kept at said battery or a second signal series of a different signal frequency from that of the first signal series and demonstrating a voltage-dropped condition of said battery, depending upon the state of said detector and derived from said driver circuit, at least one of said elements being supplied with either of said both signal series depending upon the state of said selector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
Electronic watch as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a sampler coupled with said detector and said selector, for impressing for periodically established short time periods a higher current to said detector than that of the normal operating current derived from said battery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Electronic watch as set forth in claim 3, wherein said sampler comprises two series-connected toggle type flip-flops and an RS-flip-flop arranged downstream thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electronic watch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrically illuminatable means comprises an optical display element which is normally in its non-illuminated state but is caused to illuminate when said source voltage drops below said predetermined level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The electronic watch as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a sampler coupled with said detector and said selector for impressing for periodically established short time periods a higher current to said detector than that of the normal operating current derived from said battery.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3672155A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |