US4067187A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic timepiece
Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
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Filing: 1976-03-22
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Granted: 1978-01-10
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Expires: 1996-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A set of digital indicators in an electronic display unit of a timepiece are actuated by driving pulses transmitted thereto through respective stages of a multistage frequency divider. A switching mechanism is manually operable to advance certain of these stages, independently of the driving pulses and at a faster rate, to adjust the display. A timer discriminates between short-term and long-term switch reversals to differentiate between a gating signal, giving passage to a train of high-rate stepping pulses, and (a) selection signals identifying an indicator to be stepped or (b) manually produced pulses for adjustment at a slower rate. A protective circuit may be inserted between the switching mechanism and the display-controlling circuitry for preventing the transmisson of indication-modifying signals to the display unit in the absence of a special unblocking signal, generated separately, which trips an electronic relay such as a flip-flop into an off-normal condition for the emission of an enabling signal; the flip-flop may be automatically reset to normal, after a predetermined period, in the absence of a manually generated blocking signal. Stationary digital indicators, such as those registering the triggering time of an alarm circuit, may be similarly adjusted.
Inventors
- 👤 Fukuo Sekiya
- 👤 Shigeru Morokawa
- 👤 Yasushi Nomura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:16
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G5/00; G04G5/02; G04G5/04; G04G5/041; G04G5/043; G04G5/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
In an electronic timepiece, in combination: chronometric display means including a plurality of pulse-actuatable digital-indicators; a single display-setting switch with an OFF position and an ON position manually operable in a plurality of indicator-identifying setting modes and a control mode, said setting modes comprising short-term reversals of said switch for periods less than a predetermined threshold interval, said control mode comprising a maintenance of said switch in said ON position for a time exceeding said threshold interval; discriminator means connected to said switch for detecting any of said setting modes and distinguishing same from said control mode, said discriminator means including a counter for registering the number of switch reversals and a timer for measuring the duration of each switch reversal; selector means connected to said discriminator means for establishing a stepping circuit to an indicator identified by a detected setting mode; a source of stepping pulses for advancing said indicators at an accelerated rate; and control circuitry operable by said discriminator means for connecting said source to said stepping circuit to advance the indicator so identified upon a changeover of said switch from any of said setting modes to said control mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
In an electronic timepiece, in combination: chronometric display means including a plurality of pulse-actuatable digital-indicators; a single display-setting switch with an OFF position and an ON position manually operable in a plurality of indicator-identifying setting modes and a control mode, said setting modes comprising short-term reversals of said switch for periods less than a predetermined threshold interval, said control mode comprising a maintenance of said switch in said ON position for a time exceeding said threshold interval; discriminator means connected to said switch for detecting any of said setting modes and distinguishing same from said control mode, said discriminator means including a counter for registering the number of switch reversals and a timer for measuring the duration of each switch reversal; selector means connected to said discriminator means for establishing a stepping circuit to an indicator identified by a detected setting mode; a source of stepping pulses for advancing said indicators at an accelerated rate; and control circuitry operable by said discriminator means for connecting said source to said stepping circuit to advance the indicator so identified upon a changeover of said switch from any of said setting modes to said control mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said threshold interval is on the order of seconds, said stepping pulses having a cadence of 1 pulse per second.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
In an electronic timepiece, in combination: chronometric display means including a plurality of pulse-actuatable digital indicators; a single display-setting switch with a normal position and an alternate position manually operable in a plurality of indicator-identifying setting modes and a control mode differing from one another by the number and duration of switch reversals; discriminator means connected to said switch for detecting any of said setting modes and distinguishing same from said control mode, said discriminator means including a counter for registering the number of said switch reversals and a timer for measuring the duration of each switch reversal; selector means connected to said discriminator means for establishing a stepping circuit to an indicator identified by a detected setting mode; a source of stepping pulses for advancing said indicators at an accelerated rate; and control circuitry operable by said discriminator means for connecting said source to said stepping circuit to advance the indicator so identified upon a changeover of said switch from any of said setting modes to said control mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
170 words
In an electronic timepiece, in combination: chronometric display means including a plurality of pulse-actuatable digital indicators; a single display-setting switch with a normal position and an alternate position manually operable in a plurality of indicator-identifying setting modes and a control mode differing from one another by the number and duration of switch reversals; discriminator means connected to said switch for detecting any of said setting modes and distinguishing same from said control mode, said discriminator means including a counter for registering the number of said switch reversals and a timer for measuring the duration of each switch reversal; selector means connected to said discriminator means for establishing a stepping circuit to an indicator identified by a detected setting mode; a source of stepping pulses for advancing said indicators at an accelerated rate; and control circuitry operable by said discriminator means for connecting said source to said stepping circuit to advance the indicator so identified upon a changeover of said switch from any of said setting modes to said control mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said control circuitry comprises gating means inserted between said source and said selector means for normally blocking the passage of stepping pulses thereto, said gating means having an enabling input connected to said timer for giving passage to said stepping pulses in response to said control mode of said switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said discriminator means includes restoring means for resetting said counter in response to a return of said switch to said normal position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said timer is provided with a first output connected to said enabling input and with a second output connected to said restoring means for unblocking the passage of said stepping pulses upon a stay of said switch in said alternate position for a time exceeding said threshold interval and for resetting said counter upon a stay of said switch in said normal position for a time exceeding another predetermined interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
The combination defined in claim 3, further comprising a supply of driving pulses for said display means including frequency-dividing means with a plurality of cascaded stages controlling respective indicators, namely a one-minute stage, a ten-minute stage and at least one lower-ranking stage preceding said one-minute stage, said lower-ranking stage being connected to said source for advancement by said stepping pulses with transfer of a carry from any preceding stage to the immediately succeeding stage, said 1-minute, 10-minute and 1-hour stages being provided with dual inputs connected on the one hand to the immediately preceding stages and on the other hand to said selector means for respectively receiving said carry and said stepping pulses therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination defined in claim 7, further comprising inhibiting means in the inputs of said ten-minute and one-hour stages connected to said selector means for blocking the transfer of a carry thereto during the transmission of said stepping pulses to the immediately preceding stages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said stages include a one-second stage and a ten-second stage, said one-second and ten-second stages being provided with resetting inputs connected to said selector means for returning their respective indicators to zero in response to operation of said switch in a setting mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
In an electronic timepiece, in combination: chronometric display means including a plurality of pulse-actuatable digital indicators; switch means including a single display-setting switch with a normal position and a alternate position manually operable in a plurality of indicator-identifying setting modes and a control mode differing from one another by the number and duration of switch reversals, said switch means being operable to generate an unblocking signal independent of said setting and control modes; discriminator means connected to said display-setting switch for detecting any of said setting modes and distinguishing same from said control mode, said discriminator means including a counter for registering the number of said switch reversals and a timer for measuring the duration of each switch reversal; selector means connected to said discriminator means for establishing a stepping circuit to an indicator identified by a detected setting mode; a source of stepping pulses for advancing said indicators at an accelerated rate; control circuitry operable by said discriminator means for connecting said source to said stepping circuit to advance the indicator so identified upon a changeover of said display-setting switch from any of said setting modes to said control mode; and protective circuitry inserted between said switch means and said control circuitry for preventing any operation of the latter by said discriminator means in the absence of said unblocking signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
221 words
In an electronic timepiece, in combination: chronometric display means including a plurality of pulse-actuatable digital indicators; switch means including a single display-setting switch with a normal position and a alternate position manually operable in a plurality of indicator-identifying setting modes and a control mode differing from one another by the number and duration of switch reversals, said switch means being operable to generate an unblocking signal independent of said setting and control modes; discriminator means connected to said display-setting switch for detecting any of said setting modes and distinguishing same from said control mode, said discriminator means including a counter for registering the number of said switch reversals and a timer for measuring the duration of each switch reversal; selector means connected to said discriminator means for establishing a stepping circuit to an indicator identified by a detected setting mode; a source of stepping pulses for advancing said indicators at an accelerated rate; control circuitry operable by said discriminator means for connecting said source to said stepping circuit to advance the indicator so identified upon a changeover of said display-setting switch from any of said setting modes to said control mode; and protective circuitry inserted between said switch means and said control circuitry for preventing any operation of the latter by said discriminator means in the absence of said unblocking signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said protective circuitry includes electronic relay means trippable by said unblocking signal into an off-normal condition and by a blocking signal from said switch means into a normal condition, said relay means generating in said off-normal condition an enabling signal making said control circuitry responsive to said discriminator means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination defined in claim 11, wherein said protective circuitry further includes timing means for restoring said relay means to said normal condition, independently of said blocking signal, a predetermined period after the occurrence of said unblocking signal.
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) | 1981-01-09 | 1981-07-11 | 1982-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-09 | 1985-07-11 | 1986-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-09 | 1989-07-11 | 1990-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |