Patent US3921385A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3921385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Watch having positioned controlled display actuator with delay
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-19
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-03-19
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a solid state watch having an electro optical display which is selectively actuated by a gravity switch contained in the watch casing and positioned such that upon a displacement from a horizontal of the watch the display is actuated. A preferred embodiment utilizes a triangular-shaped cavity having a ball-shaped conductor movably contained therein for engaging a pair of electrical contacts within the cavity for coupling power to the display. Furthermore, the displacement of the watch from horizontal must also be within a selected orientation range. To prevent inadvertant actuations, a delay circuit is included such that the display is not actuated unless and until the gravity switch remains actuated for a first predetermined period of time. Further provided is a de-actuation circuit for de-actuating the display a predetermined period of time after the display has been actuated. An alternative to the de-actuation embodiment renders the display actuated only until the gravity switch is de-activated.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne M Harding
- 👤 Neal M Williams
- 👤 Andrew D Lecocq
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:13
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G9/00; G04G9/08; G04G9/10; G04G9/107; G04C; G04C3/00; G04C3/001; G04C3/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An electronic watch comprising: a. a watch housing including a window; b. electro-optical display means within said housing for visually displaying time through said window in accordance with coded time indicative signals applied thereto; c. an electronic timekeeping circuit having display enable means, said timekeeping circuit being mounted within said housing and coupled to said display means for generating said coded signals to energize said display means in response to enable signals applied to said enable means; d. position actuated switch means selectively positioned within said watch housing for generating actuating signals when said watch housing is oriented in a predetermined position; and e. delay means coupling said switch means to said enable means and responsive to said actuating signal for selectively applying enable signals to said enable means in response to said watch housing being in said predetermined position to actuate said switch means at both the beginning and end of a predetermined delay period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
An electronic watch comprising: a. a watch housing including a window; b. electro-optical display means within said housing for visually displaying time through said window in accordance with coded time indicative signals applied thereto; c. an electronic timekeeping circuit having display enable means, said timekeeping circuit being mounted within said housing and coupled to said display means for generating said coded signals to energize said display means in response to enable signals applied to said enable means; d. position actuated switch means selectively positioned within said watch housing for generating actuating signals when said watch housing is oriented in a predetermined position; and e. delay means coupling said switch means to said enable means and responsive to said actuating signal for selectively applying enable signals to said enable means in response to said watch housing being in said predetermined position to actuate said switch means at both the beginning and end of a predetermined delay period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electronic watch according to claim 1 wherein said delay means includes means for applying said enable signals to said enable means only upon the condition that said switch remains actuated with said watch housing in said predetermined position for the duration of said predetermined period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electronic watch according to claim 1 wherein said delay means includes means for producing said enable signals for the duration of a second predetermined delay period regardless of further changes in the state of said position actuated switch means during said second predetermined delay period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The electronic watch according to claim 3 wherein said delay means further includes means responsive to the acTivation of said switch means at the end of said second predetermined delay period for generating further enable signals to said enable means for further delay period of equal duration to said second predetermined delay period.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electronic watch according to claim 1 wherein said delay means energizes said display in response to the state of actuation of said switch means after said predetermined period.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electronic watch according to claim 5 wherein said delay means includes means for producing said enable signals for so long as said watch housing is in said predetermined position to continually actuate said switch means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
The electronic watch according to claim 1 including: a. bi-stable flip-flop means; b. means coupling said enable means to said flip-flop means for setting said flip-flop means in a first state in response to enable signals applied to said enable means; c. manual switch means coupled to said flip-flop means for setting said flip-flop means to a second state upon actuation of said manual switch means; and d. means in said delay means coupled to said flip-flop means and responsive to said flip-flop means being in said first state for producing said enable signals for the duration of a second predetermined delay period regardless of further changes in the state of said position actuated switch means during said second predetermined delay period and means in said delay means coupled to said flip-flop means and responsive to said flip-flop means being in said second state for producing said enable signals for so long as said watch housing is in said predetermined position to continually actuate said switch means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electronic watch according to claim 1 including a manually operated switch means coupled to said enable means for manually controlling the energization of said display independent of said position actuated switch means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The electronic watch according to claim 1 wherein said watch housing includes means for positioning said switch means at a displacement angle from the horizontal such that said switch is actuated only upon said housing being angularly displaced from the horizontal at an angle greater than said displacement angle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The electronic watch according to claim 9 wherein said position actuated switch means is comprised of a member having a cavity, a single set of electrical contact terminals positioned with said cavity, and a gravity responsive mass of electrical conductor movably contained within said cavity for making electrical contact between said terminals upon engagement thereof.
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) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |