DC-DC converter in watch system

Claim 2

A solid state electronic watch comprising an oscillator providing a relatively high frequency signal, frequency divider means coupled to said oscillator for providing a plurality of relatively low frequency signals including a one Hertz signal, a plurality of interconnected counters responsive to said one Hertz signal for providing a plurality of time signals representative of time information, a liquid crystal display coupled to said counters having a plurality of digits for displaying time information and powered by a relatively high DC supply voltage, and a voltage converter coupled to receive a relatively low DC supply voltage and responsive to one of said low frequency signals for generating relatively high DC supply voltage to said liquid crystal display, said voltage converter being comprised of one shot multivibrator means coupled to a switching regulator, said one shot multivibrator means being responsive to said one low frequency signal and said switching regulator providing said relatively high DC supply voltage.

Claim 3

The system according to claim 1 wherein said another one signal is a 64 Hertz signal.

Claim 4

The system according to claim 2 wherein said one shot multivibrator includes timing means for providing said controlled pulse widths of substantially 150 microseconds.

Claim 5

The watch according to claim 1 wherein said liquid crystal display is further responsive to said one of said low frequency signals for providing AC drive thereto.

Claim 6

The watch according to claim 1 wherein said switching regulator includes temperature compensation feedback means for modifying said relatively high DC supply voltage in accordance with changes in ambient temperature and liquid crystal display temperature characteristics.

Claim 7

The watch according to claim 1 wherein said voltage converter comprises a switching regulator having its output fed back to its input via temperature compensation means for adjusting said relatively high DC supply voltage in accordance with temperature change characteristics of said liquid crystal display.

Claim 8

The watch according to claim 6 wherein said temperature compensation means comprise series connected P-N junction devices.

Claim 9

The watch according to claim 5 wherein said switching regulator includes (a) first transistor means having its base coupled to the output of said one shot multivibrator means, its emitter coupled to said temperature compensation feedback means, and its emitter coupled to a timing network, and (b) second transistor means and third transistor means having commonly coupled emitter terminals connected to said output of said one shot multivibrator means, the base of said second transistor means connected to said collector of said first transistor means.

Claim 10

The watch according to claim 8 and further including (a) inductor means, (b) output transistor means having its collector-emitter terminal path serially connected to said inductor means, and (c) means coupling the base of said output transistor means to said third transistor means.

Claim 11

An electronic watch system comprising: a. one shot multivibrator means responsive to an oscillatory input signal for generating a series of one shot signals having controlled pulse widths, b. a switching regulator coupled to said one shot multivibrator means and adaptive to receive a supply voltage of a first magnitude for generating a DC output voltage of magnitude substantially greater than said first magnitude, said regulator including a serially connected inductor, diode, and capacitor combination such that the field of said inductor cyclically charges and collapses in response to said series of signals, and said capacitor charges in response to the collapse of said inductor field to provide said DC output voltage, c. temperature compensation feedback means coupling said capacitor to the input of said switching regulator for adjusting said output voltage in accordance with temperature changes d. electronic timing circuitry comprising a high frequency oscillator and frequency divider means coupled thereto for providing a plurality of low frequency signals. e. a plurality of interconnected counter means responsive to at least a selected one of said low frequency signals for providing time information, and f. visual display means comprised of liquid crystals for displaying said time information, another one of said low frequency signals coupled to said one shot multivibrator as said oscillatory input signal.

Claim 12

An electronic watch system comprising: a. one shot multivibrator means responsive to an oscillatory input signal for generating a series of one shot signals having controlled pulse widths, b. a switching regulator coupled to said one shot multivibrator means and adaptive to receive a supply voltage of a first magnitude for generating a DC output voltage of magnitude substantially greater than said first magnitude, said regulator including a serially connected inductor, diode, and capacitor combination such that the field of said inductor cyclically charges and collapses in response to said series of signals, and said capacitor charges in response to the collapse of said inductor field to provide said DC output voltage, c. temperature compensation feedback means coupling said capacitor to the input of said switching regulator for adjusting said output voltage in accordance with temperature changes d. electronic timing circuitry comprising a high frequency oscillator and frequency divider means coupled thereto for providing a plurality of low frequency signals. e. a plurality of interconnected counter means responsive to at least a selected one of said low frequency signals for providing time information, and f. visual display means comprised of liquid crystals for displaying said time information, another one of said low frequency signals coupled to said one shot multivibrator as said oscillatory input signal.