Safety feature for function control circuit

Claim 2

A function control circuit comprising in combination, function selecting means for producing one of a first and second function selecting signal, a multi-position switch means coupled to said function selecting means, said multi-position switch means being maintained in a quiescent position and being adapted to be displaced in a first direction to effect producing of a first function selecting signal by said function selecting means, and being further adapted to be displaced from a quiescent position in a second direction opposite to said first direction to effect producing of a second function selecting signal by said function selecting means, and inhibit means coupled to said multi-position switch means and said function selecting means, said inhibit means being disposed in response to displacement of said multi-position switch means in said first direction to inhibit producing of a second function selecting signal, said inhibit means in response to the return of said multi-position switch means from said first displaced direction being adapted to inhibit producing of said second function selecting signal until a predetermined interval of time after said multi-position switch means is returned from said first displaced direction.

Claim 3

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inhibit means includes delay means coupled to said multi-position switch means, said delay means coupled to said multi-position switch means, said delay means being reset in response to a displacement of said multi-position switch means in said first direction and applying an inhibit signal to said function selecting signal producing means to inhibit a change in function selecting signal produced thereby, said delay means, in response to a return of said multi-position switch means from displacement in said first direction, terminating application of said inhibit signal to said function selecting means a predetermined interval of time after said switch means is returned from said first displaced direction.

Claim 4

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multi-position switching means is a push pull switch, said first displacement direction being a pulled out direction, and said second opposite direction being a pushed in position.

Claim 5

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multi-position switching means includes a member adapted to be displaced in a first direction by pulling same and effecting rotation in a first rotational direction, and being displaced in the opposite direction by being pulled out and rotated in the opposite rotational direction.

Claim 6

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said delay means includes timing means for producing a time based signal and a plurality of series-connected divider stages adapted to receive said time based signal and be reset in response to displacement of said multi-position switch means in said first direction, said series-connected divider stages being adapted to terminate application of said inhibit signal at a predetermined interval of time after said multi-position switch means is returned from said first displaced direction.

Claim 7

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said inhibit means further includes set-reset means disposed intermediate said series-connected divider stages and said function selecting means, and in response to said displacement of said switch means in said first direction being reset to apply an inhibit signal to said function selecting means to inhibit application of any further signals thereto, and in response to said signal produced by said delay means a predetermined interval of time after said multi-position switch means is returned from said first displaced direction, being set and in response thereto terminating application of said inhibit signal to said function selecting means.

Claim 8

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein said function selecting means includes flip-flop means adapted to effect a change of the function selecting signal produced thereby in response to each signal applied thereto, and gate means intermediate said set-reset means and said flip-flop means and in response to application of said inhibit signal thereto, preventing application of signals to said flip-flop means.

Claim 9

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 7, and including two manually operated two position switches for applying function control signals, first control means coupled to said first and second manually operated switches and further coupled to said function selecting means, and second control means coupled to said switches and also coupled to said function selecting means, said first control means being adapted to produce control signals in response to actuation of said manually operated switches in response to the producing of a first function selecting signal by said function selecting means, and said second control means being adapted to produce control signals in response to actuation of said manually operated switches in response to producing of a second function selecting signal by said function selecting means.

Claim 10

In an electronic timepiece including timekeeping means for producing timekeeping signals and display means for displaying time in response to said timekeeping signals, the improvement comprising first and second function control means, function selecting means coupled to said first and second function control means and producing one of a first and second function control selecting signal, a multi-position switch means coupled to said function selecting means, said multi-position switch means being maintained at a quiescent position and being adapted to be displaced in a first direction to effect producing of a first function control selecting signal by said function selecing means, and being further adapted to be displaced from a quiescent position in a second direction opposite said first direction to effect producing of a second function control selecting signal by said function selecting means, and inhibt means coupled to said multi-position switch means and said function selecting means, said inhibit means being disposed in response to displacement of said multi-position switch means in said first direction to thereby inhibit producing of said second function control selecting signal, said inhibit means in response to said multi-position switch means being returned from said first displaced direction inhibiting producing of said second function control signal until a predetermined interval of time after said multi-position switch means is returned from said first displaced direction.

Claim 11

In an electronic timepiece including timekeeping means for producing timekeeping signals and display means for displaying time in response to said timekeeping signals, the improvement comprising first and second function control means, function selecting means coupled to said first and second function control means and producing one of a first and second function control selecting signal, a multi-position switch means coupled to said function selecting means, said multi-position switch means being maintained at a quiescent position and being adapted to be displaced in a first direction to effect producing of a first function control selecting signal by said function selecing means, and being further adapted to be displaced from a quiescent position in a second direction opposite said first direction to effect producing of a second function control selecting signal by said function selecting means, and inhibt means coupled to said multi-position switch means and said function selecting means, said inhibit means being disposed in response to displacement of said multi-position switch means in said first direction to thereby inhibit producing of said second function control selecting signal, said inhibit means in response to said multi-position switch means being returned from said first displaced direction inhibiting producing of said second function control signal until a predetermined interval of time after said multi-position switch means is returned from said first displaced direction.

Claim 12

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 9, wherein said inhibit means includes delay means coupled to said multi-position switch means, said delay means being reset in response to displacement of said multi-position switch means in said first direction and applying an inhibit signal to said function control selecting signal producing means to inhibit a change in the function control selecting signal produced thereby, said delay means in response to a return of said multi-position switch from displacement in said first direction terminating application of said inhibit signal to said function selecting means a predetermined interval of time after said multi-position switch means is returned from said first position.

Claim 13

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 9, wherein said multi-position switch means is a push pull switch, said first displacement direction being a pull out direction, and said second opposite direction being a push in position.

Claim 14

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 9, wherein said multi-position switch means includes a member to be displaced in a first direction by pulling same and effecting rotation in a first rotational direction, and being displaced in the opposite direction by being pulled out and rotated in the opposite rotational direction.

Claim 15

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 10, wherein said timekeeping means includes an oscillator means for producing a high frequency time standard, and a divider means for producing an intermediate frequency signal in response to said high frequency time standard signal, said delay means including a plurality of series-connected divider stages adapted to receive said intermediate frequency signal and be reset in response to displacement of said multi-position switch means in said first direction, said series-connected divider stages being adapted to terminate application of said inhibit signal at a predetermined interval of time after said multi-position switch means is in returned from said first displaced direction.

Claim 16

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 13, wherein said inhibit means further includes set-reset means disposed intermediate said series-connected divider stages and said function selecting means, and in response to said displacement of said switch means in said first direction being reset to apply an inhibit signal to said function selecting means to inhibit application of any further signals thereto, and in response to said signal produced by said delay means a predetermined interval of time after said multi-position switch means is returned from said first displaced direction, being set and in response thereto terminating application of said inhibit signal to said function selecting means.

Claim 17

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 14, wherein said function selecting means includes flip-flop means adapted to effect a change of the function control selecting signal produced thereby in response to each signal applied thereto, and gate means intermediate said set-reset means and said flip-flop means and in response to application of said inhibit signal thereto, preventing application of signals to said flip-flop means.

Claim 18

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 15, said timekeeping means also including timekeeping divider means coupled to said first mentioned divider means and in response to signals produced thereby producing low frequency timekeeping signals representative of present time, said timekeeping means further including chronographic divider means coupled to said first-mentioned divider means and in response to signals produced thereby producing chronographic timekeeping signals representative of elapsed time, and display control means coupled to said timekeeping divider means and to said chronographic divider means, and in response to said low frequency timekeeping signals and said elapsed time signals applied thereto, applying one of said timekeeping signals and elapsed time signals to said digital display means.

Claim 19

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 16, wherein said display control means is coupled to said function selecting means and is adapted to apply to said digital display means said low frequency timekeeping signals in response to said first function selecting signal and to apply said elapsed time signals to said display means in response to said second function control selecting signal produced by said function selecting means.

Claim 20

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first function control means is coupled to said timekeeping divider means, and said second function control means is coupled to said chronographic divider means, and further including two manually operated two position switches, first timekeeping control means coupled to said first function control means, said first and second manually operated switches and said function selecting means, and second chronographic control means coupled to said second function control means, said manually operated switches, and said function selecting means, said first timekeeping control means being adapted to apply timekeeping control signals to said first function control means in response to actuation of said manually operated switches in response to the producing of a first function control selecting signal by said function selecting means, and said second chronographic control means being adapted to apply chronographic control signals to said second function control means in response to actuation of said manually operated switches in response to producing of said second function control selecting signal by said function selecting means.

Claim 21

A function control circuit for preventing inadvertent function selection comprising multi-position manually operated switch means displaceable from a quiescent position to one of a first and second function selecting position, and function selecting circuit means coupled to manually operated switch means for selecting no function when said manually operated switch means is in a quiescent position and one of a first function and second function in response to said displacement of said switch means from a quiescent position to one of said first and second function selecting positions, respectively, said function selecting circuit means including inhibiting means for inhibiting said function selecting circuit from selecting said second function until a predetermined interval of time after said manually operated switch means is returned to said quiescent position from said first function selecting position.

Claim 22

A function control circuit for preventing inadvertent function selection comprising multi-position manually operated switch means displaceable from a quiescent position to one of a first and second function selecting position, and function selecting circuit means coupled to manually operated switch means for selecting no function when said manually operated switch means is in a quiescent position and one of a first function and second function in response to said displacement of said switch means from a quiescent position to one of said first and second function selecting positions, respectively, said function selecting circuit means including inhibiting means for inhibiting said function selecting circuit from selecting said second function until a predetermined interval of time after said manually operated switch means is returned to said quiescent position from said first function selecting position.

Claim 23

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the said multi-position manually operated switch means includes a switching member displaceable in first and second opposite directions from said quiescent position for selecting a first function selecting position and second function selecting position respectively.

Claim 24

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 19, wherein said inhibit means includes delay means coupled to said multi-position switch means, said delay means in response to a displacement of said multi-position switch means to said first displaced position being reset to thereby apply an inhibit signal to said function selecting circuit means to inhibit a change in the function selected thereby, said delay circuit in response to the return of said multi-position switch to said quiescent position from displacement to said first position terminating application of said inhibit signal to said funtion selecting circuit means after said predetermined interval.

Claim 25

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 20, wherein said first and second directions are defined by pushing and pulling said switching member.

Claim 26

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 20, wherein said first and second directions are opposite rotational directions.

Claim 27

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein said delay means includes timing means for producing a time based signal and a plurality of series-connected divider stages adapted to receive said time based signal and be reset in response to displacement of said multi-position switch means in said first direction, said series-connected divider stages being adapted to terminate application of said inhibit signal at a predetermined interval of time after said multi-position switch means is returned to said quiescent position from said first displaced position.

Claim 28

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 24, wherein said inhibit means further includes set-reset means disposed intermediate said series-connected divider stages and said function selecting circuit means, and in response to said displacement of said manually operated switch means to said first displaced position being reset to apply an inhibit signal to said function selecting circuit means to prevent application of any further signals thereto, and in response to said signal produced by said delay means a predetermined interval of time after said multi-position switch means is returned to said quiescent position from said first displaced direction, being set, and in response thereto terminating application of said inhibit signal to said function selecting means.

Claim 29

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 25, wherein said function selecting circuit means includes flip-flop means adapted to effect a selection of a different function in response to each signal applied thereto, and gate means intermediate said set-reset means and said flip-flop means and in response to application of said inhibit signal thereto, preventing application of signals to said flip-flop means.

Claim 30

A function control circuit as claimed in claim 26, and including two manually operated two position switches for applying function control signals, first control means coupled to said first and second manually operated switches and further coupled to said function selecting circuit means, and second control means coupled to said switches and also coupled to said function selecting circuit means, said first control means being adapted to produce control signals in response to actuation of said manually operated switches in response to the selecting of a first function by said function selecting circuit means, and said second control means being adapted to produce control signals in response to actuation of said manually operated switches in response to said function selecting circuit means selecting a second function.