US4028880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Life display device of a cell incorporated into an electronic timepiece
Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1975-12-19
•
Granted: 1977-06-14
•
Expires: 1995-12-19
Abstract
Abstract An electronic timepiece powered during use by a cell comprises an oscillating circuit for generating a high frequency output signal and a multi-stage divider circuit for receiving the high frequency output signal and dividing it at successive stages to lower frequency output signals and providing at its last stage standard pulses suitable as a time standard. A first gate circuit receives the divided signals and gates therethrough higher frequency pulses than that of the standard pulses. A control pulse generating circuit generates a given number of control pulses having a predetermined pulse width in successive predetermined periods, and a second gate circuit receives at its input both the higher frequency pulses and the control pulses and gates therethrough a number of higher frequency pulses corresponding in number to the predetermined period within the duration of the predetermined pulse width. A timing device responds to pulses applied thereto for indicating time, and a voltage detecting circuit detects the cell output voltage and provides one signal when the cell voltage is above a predetermined voltage level and another signal when the cell voltage drops below this level. A third gate circuit connected to the voltage detecting circuit responds to the one signal and gates the standard pulses to the timing device and responds to the other signal and gates the higher frequency pulses to the timing device. The timing device indicates the time in the normal manner in response to the standard pulses and in a periodic abnormal manner in response to the higher frequency pulses thereby signifying to the user that the cell is near exhaustion and needs replacement.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Ueda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:18
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C10/00; G04C10/04; G04C3/00; G04C3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
In an electronic timepiece powered during use by a cell: an oscillating circuit for generating a high frequency output signal; a multi-stage divider circuit connected to said oscillating circuit for receiving therefrom the high frequency output signal and dividing it at successive stages to lower frequency output signals and providing at its last stage standard pulses suitable as a time standard; first gate circuit means connected to the stages of said multi-stage divider circuit for receiving the divided signals therefrom and gating therethrough higher frequency pulses than that of said standard pulses; control pulse generating circuit means for generating a given number of control pulses having a predetermined pulse width in successive predetermined periods; second gate circuit means connected to receive at its input both the higher frequency pulses and said control pulses and operative to gate therethrough a number of higher frequency pulses corresponding in number to said predetermined period within the duration of said predetermined pulse width; a timing device responsive to pulses applied thereto for indicating time; voltage detecting circuit means connected to the cell for detecting the cell output voltage and providing one signal when the cell voltage is above a predetermined voltage level and another signal when the cell voltage drops below said predetermined voltage level; and third gate circuit means responsive to said one signal for gating said standard pulses to said timing device and responsive to said another signal for gating said higher frequency pulses to said timing device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
In an electronic timepiece powered during use by a cell: an oscillating circuit for generating a high frequency output signal; a multi-stage divider circuit connected to said oscillating circuit for receiving therefrom the high frequency output signal and dividing it at successive stages to lower frequency output signals and providing at its last stage standard pulses suitable as a time standard; first gate circuit means connected to the stages of said multi-stage divider circuit for receiving the divided signals therefrom and gating therethrough higher frequency pulses than that of said standard pulses; control pulse generating circuit means for generating a given number of control pulses having a predetermined pulse width in successive predetermined periods; second gate circuit means connected to receive at its input both the higher frequency pulses and said control pulses and operative to gate therethrough a number of higher frequency pulses corresponding in number to said predetermined period within the duration of said predetermined pulse width; a timing device responsive to pulses applied thereto for indicating time; voltage detecting circuit means connected to the cell for detecting the cell output voltage and providing one signal when the cell voltage is above a predetermined voltage level and another signal when the cell voltage drops below said predetermined voltage level; and third gate circuit means responsive to said one signal for gating said standard pulses to said timing device and responsive to said another signal for gating said higher frequency pulses to said timing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic timepiece according to claim 1; wherein said timing device comprises analogue display means for indicating the time in analogue form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
An electronic timepeice according to claim 2; wherein said analogue display means includes a movable second hand, and means for rotationally driving said second hand in an incremental manner in response to pulses applied to said timing device such that said second hand moves a numer of increments equal to said number of higher frequency pulses gated through said second gate circuit means within the duration of said predetermined pulse width and thereafter remains stationary until said second gate circuit means again gates higher frequency pulses therethrough thereby indicating to the user that said cell is near exhaustion and needs replacement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
189 words
A cell consumption display device for a power cell incorporated into an electronic timepiece comprising: an oscillating circuit comprised of quartz crystal vibrator or the like; a divider circuit having a plurality of divider stages which divide output signals from said oscillating circuit and operative to generate a time standard pulse train; a timing device connected to receive said time standard pulse train and indicate present time; a cell which supplies electric energy to said circuits and said device; a first gate circuit connected to said divider circuit and operative to transmit a higher frequency pulse train higher than that of said time standard pulse train; a control pulse generating circuit including a counter and operative to generate control pulses having a predetermined pulse width in every predetermined period; a second gate circuit operative to transmit a number of higher frequency pulses corresponding to said predetermined period within the duration of said predetermined pulse width; and a third gate circuit operative to selectively transmit said time standard pulse train or said higher frequency pulse train to said timing device in dependence upon the output voltage level of said cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
189 words
A cell consumption display device for a power cell incorporated into an electronic timepiece comprising: an oscillating circuit comprised of quartz crystal vibrator or the like; a divider circuit having a plurality of divider stages which divide output signals from said oscillating circuit and operative to generate a time standard pulse train; a timing device connected to receive said time standard pulse train and indicate present time; a cell which supplies electric energy to said circuits and said device; a first gate circuit connected to said divider circuit and operative to transmit a higher frequency pulse train higher than that of said time standard pulse train; a control pulse generating circuit including a counter and operative to generate control pulses having a predetermined pulse width in every predetermined period; a second gate circuit operative to transmit a number of higher frequency pulses corresponding to said predetermined period within the duration of said predetermined pulse width; and a third gate circuit operative to selectively transmit said time standard pulse train or said higher frequency pulse train to said timing device in dependence upon the output voltage level of said cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A cell consumption display device of a cell incorporated into an electronic timepiece according to claim 4; said third gate circuit having means connected to receive both the output signal of said second gate and said time standard pulse train and operative to transmit said time standard pulse train to said timing device when the output voltage level of said cell is above a predetermined level and to transmit said higher frequency pulse train to said timing device when the output voltage level of said cell drops below said predetermined level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A cell consumption display device of a cell incorporated into an electronic timepiece according to claim 5; wherein said timing device includes analogue display means including a movable second hand which moves an amount of five seconds and thereafter remains stationary during the following four seconds when the voltage of said cell drops below said predetermined level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3898790A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-13 | 1980-12-13 | 1981-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-13 | 1984-12-13 | 1985-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-13 | 1988-12-13 | 1989-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |