Patent US2803695A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3962859A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cell replacement indication device
Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1974-08-21
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Granted: 1976-06-15
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Expires: 1994-08-21
Abstract
Abstract An indicating device for use in an electronic watch circuit indicating visually on the dial of the watch that the power cell in the circuit is operating properly and the circuit itself is operating properly. Cessation of the visual signal indicates that the cell should be replaced. The device uses a light-emitting element energized intermittently by pulses generated in the watch's electronic driving circuit. The threshold voltage of the light-emitting element is higher than the voltage necessary to adequately drive the driving circuit for keeping time accurately. A drop of the voltage below this threshold results in absence of light emissions and this indicates the cell is near exhaustion and must be replaced.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuo Ito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/50; H01M6/5044; H01M6/505; G; G04; G04C; G04C10/00; G04C10/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
In a watch having an electronic circuit powered during use by an electric cell and means in said circuit for developing low-frequency pulses, and time-indicating means responsive to said low-frequency pulses for indicating the time: a device separate from said time-indicating means for displaying visually that the operating life of said cell is near exhaustion comprising a light-emitting element having a threshold voltage selected relative to the output voltage of said cell to indicate by light emissions that said output voltage exceeds a certain value and upon termination of light emissions in dependence upon said output voltage being below said certain value indicating that the cell needs replacement, said output voltage value being selected above a potential level for adequately energizing said electronic circuit and sufficiently close to the exhaustion of the cell to allow normal operation for a short remaining limited time before the output is insufficient to adequately energize said circuit, and means connecting said light-emitting element to said circuit for applying said low-frequency pulses thereto for causing said light-emitting element to emit light intermittently as long as the output voltage of said cell exceeds said certain value and thereafter automatically terminating the light emissions from said light-emitting element due to the dropping of the output voltage of said cell below said threshold voltage to thereby visually indicate by the absence of light emissions that the output of said cell is near exhaustion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a watch having an electronic circuit powered during use by an electric cell and means in said circuit for developing low-frequency pulses, and time-indicating means responsive to said low-frequency pulses for indicating the time: a device separate from said time-indicating means for displaying visually that the operating life of said cell is near exhaustion comprising a light-emitting element having a threshold voltage selected relative to the output voltage of said cell to indicate by light emissions that said output voltage exceeds a certain value and upon termination of light emissions in dependence upon said output voltage being below said certain value indicating that the cell needs replacement, said output voltage value being selected above a potential level for adequately energizing said electronic circuit and sufficiently close to the exhaustion of the cell to allow normal operation for a short remaining limited time before the output is insufficient to adequately energize said circuit, and means connecting said light-emitting element to said circuit for applying said low-frequency pulses thereto for causing said light-emitting element to emit light intermittently as long as the output voltage of said cell exceeds said certain value and thereafter automatically terminating the light emissions from said light-emitting element due to the dropping of the output voltage of said cell below said threshold voltage to thereby visually indicate by the absence of light emissions that the output of said cell is near exhaustion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a watch according to claim 1, in which said light-emitting element comprises a light-emitting diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a watch according to claim 1, in which said watch comprises a dial, said dial having a face comprising an aperture through which said light emissions are visible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a watch of the type having an electronic circuit powered during use by a replaceable electric cell: means in said electronic circuit for developing low-frequency pulses; time-indicating means connected to receive the low-frequency pulses and responsive thereto for indicating the time; and means separate from said time-indicating means and responsive to the output voltage of the electric cell for providing a first visual signal whenever the output voltage is above a given level, said given level being a predetermined voltage above that needed to adequately energize said electronic circuit, thereby indicating that the electric cell does not yet need replacement, and for providing a second visual signal when the output voltage falls below said given level thereby indicating that the electric cell is near exhaustion and needs replacement whereby a short time period remains after the appearance of the second visual signal during which the output voltage of the electric cell will be sufficient to adequately energize said electronic circuit to maintain said time-indicating means operative thereby enabling the user of the watch to effect replacement of the electric cell before said time-indicating means becomes inoperative due to exhaustion of the electric cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a watch of the type having an electronic circuit powered during use by a replaceable electric cell: means in said electronic circuit for developing low-frequency pulses; time-indicating means connected to receive the low-frequency pulses and responsive thereto for indicating the time; and means separate from said time-indicating means and responsive to the output voltage of the electric cell for providing a first visual signal whenever the output voltage is above a given level, said given level being a predetermined voltage above that needed to adequately energize said electronic circuit, thereby indicating that the electric cell does not yet need replacement, and for providing a second visual signal when the output voltage falls below said given level thereby indicating that the electric cell is near exhaustion and needs replacement whereby a short time period remains after the appearance of the second visual signal during which the output voltage of the electric cell will be sufficient to adequately energize said electronic circuit to maintain said time-indicating means operative thereby enabling the user of the watch to effect replacement of the electric cell before said time-indicating means becomes inoperative due to exhaustion of the electric cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A watch according to claim 4; wherein said means for providing first and second visual signals comprises a light-emitting element having a threshold voltage corresponding to said given level so that the same emits light whenever the electric cell output voltage is above said given level thereby providing said first visual signal and ceases to emit light when the electric cell output voltage falls below said given level thereby providing said second visual signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A watch according to claim 5; wherein said means for providing first and second visual signals includes means for applying the low-frequency pulses to said light-emitting element to cause the same to emit light in an intermittent, periodic manner whenever the electric cell output voltage is above said given level thereby providing said first visual signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-15 | 1979-12-15 | 1980-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-15 | 1983-12-15 | 1984-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-15 | 1987-12-15 | 1988-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |