US4095405A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic watch
Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1976-09-23
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Granted: 1978-06-20
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Expires: 1996-09-23
Abstract
Abstract An all electronic watch has an analog minute and hour display comprising two concentric circles of radially disposed LEDs which are energized sequentially in a manner to simulate the movement of the minute and hour hands of a mechanical watch, and a centrally located digital display of date. The circuitry for energizing the LEDs of the analog minute and hour display and the digital date display comprise up-down counters. Amendment of time in a forward direction or in a backward direction is effected by switches actuated by the crown of the watch to feed fast pulses to the counters to operate the counters in a forward direction or in a backward direction as desired. The crown has two operational positions and is rotatable selectively in opposite directions in the manner of a mechanical watch to effect time and date amendment forwardly or backwardly.
Inventors
- 👤 Kojiro Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:27
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G9/00; G04G9/0005; G04G9/0011; G04C; G04C3/00; G04C3/001; G04C3/007; G04G5/00; G04G5/02; G04G5/022; G04G9/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
An electronic timepiece comprising a case, an electronic analog time display unit for displaying hours and minutes, said analog time display unit comprising a base plate and a circular series of display segments arranged radially on a peripheral portion of said base plate, a digital date display unit in a center portion of said base plate for displaying the date, a minute counter providing output signals to said analog display unit to activate said display segments sequentially to indicate minutes, said minute counter comprising an up-down counter, an hour counter providing output signals to said analog display unit to activate selected ones of said display segments sequentially to indicate hours, said hour counter comprising an up-down counter, a day counter providing output signals to said digital display unit to indicate date, said day counter comprising an up-down counter, a crown on said case having two operational positions and rotatable in opposite directions, modification switch means controlled by said crown, said switch means comprising means for supplying high feed rate pulses selectively to said minute counter and to said day counter and means for selectively switching said counters to an up-counting mode and to a down counting mode so that said high feed rate pulses amend said time display and said date display selectively in a forward direction or in a backward direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
An electronic timepiece comprising a case, an electronic analog time display unit for displaying hours and minutes, said analog time display unit comprising a base plate and a circular series of display segments arranged radially on a peripheral portion of said base plate, a digital date display unit in a center portion of said base plate for displaying the date, a minute counter providing output signals to said analog display unit to activate said display segments sequentially to indicate minutes, said minute counter comprising an up-down counter, an hour counter providing output signals to said analog display unit to activate selected ones of said display segments sequentially to indicate hours, said hour counter comprising an up-down counter, a day counter providing output signals to said digital display unit to indicate date, said day counter comprising an up-down counter, a crown on said case having two operational positions and rotatable in opposite directions, modification switch means controlled by said crown, said switch means comprising means for supplying high feed rate pulses selectively to said minute counter and to said day counter and means for selectively switching said counters to an up-counting mode and to a down counting mode so that said high feed rate pulses amend said time display and said date display selectively in a forward direction or in a backward direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, in which each said up-down counter comprises an up-down ring counter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, in which said base plate is translucent and constitutes the front face of said timepiece, said base plate having on its inner face recesses in which said display segments of said analog display unit and said digital display unit are disposed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, in which said crown when in one operational position is rotatable in one direction to amend time forwardly and is rotatable in the opposite direction to amend time backwardly and when in another operational position is rotatable in one direction to amend the date forwardly and is rotatable in the opposite direction to amend the date backwardly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
An electronic timepiece according to claim 4, in which said crown has a stem and in which said switch means comprises two switch units disposed side-by-side and cam means on said stem for operating said switch units, said stem being movable axially to bring said cam means selectively into one position for operating one of said switch units and into another position for operating the other of said switch units.
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) | 1981-06-19 | 1981-12-19 | 1982-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-19 | 1985-12-19 | 1986-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-19 | 1989-12-19 | 1990-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |