US4242747A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Analog-digital chronometric display
Assignee: Braun GmbH
•
Filing: 1978-07-06
•
Granted: 1980-12-30
•
Expires: 1998-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A chronometric indicator for a watch has concentric arrays of angularly equispaced electrodes and analog display segments. The electrodes are staggered relative to the display segments so that each electrode overlaps halves of two adjacent segments, so that by selective energization of the electrode and the segments any half can be optically activated. In addition a digital display is provided within the two annular arrays, with each digit segment of the display being connected to a respective analog segment. A common connection for this digital display can be energized simultaneously with any of the outer analog segments to cause the corresponding digit segment to glow. The overlapping arrays of electrodes and analog display segments are energized to indicate the hour and minute, and the digital display is energized to indicate the second.
Inventors
- 👤 Kurt Fahrenschon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:58
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G9/00; G04G9/02; G04G9/022; G04G9/0082; G04G9/0094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A chronometric indicator comprising: an array of generally angularly equispaced electrodes each having a respective electrode connection; an array of generally angularly equispaced analog display segments each having a respective segment connection and each having one half overlapping one respective electrode and another half overlapping another respective electrode; and means connected to said connections and operable in a first phase to energize two of said segment connections and one of said electrode connections to indicate the hour by activating two of said halves, and in a second phase to energize a single one of said segment connections and a single one of said electrode connections to indicate the minute by activating one of said halves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A chronometric indicator comprising: an array of generally angularly equispaced electrodes each having a respective electrode connection; an array of generally angularly equispaced analog display segments each having a respective segment connection and each having one half overlapping one respective electrode and another half overlapping another respective electrode; and means connected to said connections and operable in a first phase to energize two of said segment connections and one of said electrode connections to indicate the hour by activating two of said halves, and in a second phase to energize a single one of said segment connections and a single one of said electrode connections to indicate the minute by activating one of said halves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The indicator defined in claim 1 wherein said electrodes number thirty and said segments also number thirty.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The indicator defined in claim 2 wherein said arrays are concentric.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The indicator defined in claim 1, further comprising a digital display having at least two digits each formed by a plurality of digit segments each in turn connected to a respective one of said analog segments, and having a common digit connection, said means being connected to said common digit connection also for simultaneous energization thereof with energization of a plurality of said segment connections for optically activating some of said digit segments in a third phase and thereby indicating the second.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The indicator defined in claim 4, further comprising a connection ring connected to every other electrode connection and another connection ring connected to the remaining electrode connections, whereby the electrodes connected to the one ring alternate with the electrodes connected to said other ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The indicator defined in claim 5 wherein said one ring lies inside said arrays and said other ring lies outside said arrays.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The indicator defined in claim 4, wherein said analog segments include liquid-crystal material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
A chronometric indicator comprising: an array of generally angularly equispaced electrodes each having a respective electrode connection; an array of generally angularly equispaced analog display segments each having a respective segment connection and each having one half overlapping one respective electrode and and another half overlapping another respective electrode; a multidigit display having at least two digits each formed by a plurality of digit segments each in turn connected to a respective one of said analog segments, and having a common digit connection, whereby simultaneous electrical energization of said common digit connection and one of said segment connections of an analog segment connected to a digit setment will optically activate the respective digit segment; and means connected to said connections for selectively energizing same and thereby optically activating said halves by simultaneous energization of the respective electrode and segment connections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
A chronometric indicator comprising: an array of generally angularly equispaced electrodes each having a respective electrode connection; an array of generally angularly equispaced analog display segments each having a respective segment connection and each having one half overlapping one respective electrode and and another half overlapping another respective electrode; a multidigit display having at least two digits each formed by a plurality of digit segments each in turn connected to a respective one of said analog segments, and having a common digit connection, whereby simultaneous electrical energization of said common digit connection and one of said segment connections of an analog segment connected to a digit setment will optically activate the respective digit segment; and means connected to said connections for selectively energizing same and thereby optically activating said halves by simultaneous energization of the respective electrode and segment connections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The indicator defined in claim 8 wherein said multidigit display lies within said arrays.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3258906A
Cited
US3626410A
Cited
US3756013A
Cited
US3772874A
Cited
US3823549A
Cited
DE2410527A1
Cited
US3992875A
Cited
US3959963A
Cited
US3911665A
Cited
US3987617A
Cited
US3958409A
Cited
US4095405A
Cited
US4077032A
Cited
US4081953A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-30 | 1984-06-30 | 1984-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-30 | 1988-06-30 | 1988-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-30 | 1992-06-30 | 1992-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |