Patent US4407587A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4407587A
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Electronic timer
Assignee: SEIKOSHA C Ltd
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Filing: 1982-07-30
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Granted: 1983-10-04
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Expires: 2002-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of liquid crystal display elements are radially arrayed, display elements corresponding to preset time are kept turned on, and lapse of time is successively and selectively displayed, so that the remaining time and the lapse of time can be quickly recognized from a mutual relation between the lapse of time and the preset time. Furthermore, the display elements are divided into two in the radial direction so that the preset time and the lapse of time can be displayed by the display elements which have been divided. Moreover, the time display unit displays the time in a flashing manner, such that the lapse of time and the like can be recognized more easily.
Inventors
- 👤 Masanori Fujita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:08
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G9/00; G04G9/02; G04G9/06; G04F; G04F1/00; G04F1/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
An electronic timer, comprising: a display comprised of a plurality of elongate segment electrodes arranged side by side in a generally circular array with the respective segment electrodes disposed extended radially of said array, a plurality of sector-shaped common electrodes arranged in two concentric rings and positioned opposite and concentric with said generally circular array of segment electrodes, said sector-shaped common electrodes dimensioned to oppose equal numbers of segment electrodes for defining groups of equal numbers of inner and outer display elements each comprised of a common electrode and a segment electrode, insulating means for insulating said segment electrodes from said common electrodes, and an electro-optical display medium disposed between said segment and common electrodes for responding to electrical signals applied to pairs of said electrodes defining display elements to change visual appearance so as to display information; electrically conductive circuit paths connecting corresponding ones of said segment electrodes within each group of segment electrodes facing a different common electrode; storage means for storing signals representing any desired preset time; counting means for counting the lapse of time and for generating output signals representing the counted lapse of time; display driving means responsive to selection signals for applying voltage pulses to said display elements for turning on and off respective ones of said display elements selected according to the selection signals; first selection means responsive to the content of said storage means for applying to said display driving means selection signals effective to operate respective ones of said display elements for displaying the preset time represented by the contents of said storage means; and second selection means responsive to the count developed by said counting means for applying to said display driving means selection signals effective to operate respective ones of said display elements for displaying a lapse of time relative to the preset time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
An electronic timer, comprising: a display comprised of a plurality of elongate segment electrodes arranged side by side in a generally circular array with the respective segment electrodes disposed extended radially of said array, a plurality of sector-shaped common electrodes arranged in two concentric rings and positioned opposite and concentric with said generally circular array of segment electrodes, said sector-shaped common electrodes dimensioned to oppose equal numbers of segment electrodes for defining groups of equal numbers of inner and outer display elements each comprised of a common electrode and a segment electrode, insulating means for insulating said segment electrodes from said common electrodes, and an electro-optical display medium disposed between said segment and common electrodes for responding to electrical signals applied to pairs of said electrodes defining display elements to change visual appearance so as to display information; electrically conductive circuit paths connecting corresponding ones of said segment electrodes within each group of segment electrodes facing a different common electrode; storage means for storing signals representing any desired preset time; counting means for counting the lapse of time and for generating output signals representing the counted lapse of time; display driving means responsive to selection signals for applying voltage pulses to said display elements for turning on and off respective ones of said display elements selected according to the selection signals; first selection means responsive to the content of said storage means for applying to said display driving means selection signals effective to operate respective ones of said display elements for displaying the preset time represented by the contents of said storage means; and second selection means responsive to the count developed by said counting means for applying to said display driving means selection signals effective to operate respective ones of said display elements for displaying a lapse of time relative to the preset time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electronic timer according to claim 1, further comprising third selection means for applying to said display driving means selection signals effective for operating said display means to enable at least one display element to indicate that time remaining to the preset time is zero.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electronic timer according to claim 1, wherein: said first selection means comprises means for applying to said display driving means selection signals effective to operate said display driving means to enable at least one of said inner and outer display elements to display the preset time; and said second selection means comprises means for generating selection signals effective to operate said display driving means to turn on respective ones of said inner display elements for operating an inner area of said display corresponding to the time remaining to the preset time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
An electronic timer according to claim 1, wherein: said first selection means comprises means for generating selection signals to operate said display driving means to enable at least one of said inner and outer display elements to display the preset time; and said second selection means comprises means for generating selection signals to operate said display driving means to turn on respective ones of said outer display elements for operating an outer area of said display corresponding to the time remaining to the preset time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electronic timer according to claim 1, wherein: said first selection means comprises means for generating selection signals to operate said display driving means to enable at least one of said inner and outer display elements to display the preset time; and said second selection means comprises means for generating selection signals to operate said display driving means to turn on respective ones of said inner display elements and respective ones of said outer display elements for operating inner and outer areas of said display corresponding to the time remaining to the preset time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronic timer according to claim 5, wherein: said second selection means comprises means for generating selection signals effective to operate said display driving means to display remaining minutes with said inner display elements and to display remaining seconds with said outer display elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
292 words
An electronic timer, comprising: a display comprised of a plurality of elongate segment electrodes arranges side by side in a generally circular array with the respective segment electrodes disposed extending radially of said array, a plurality of sector-shaped common electrodes arranged in two concentric rings and positioned opposite and concentric with said generally circular array of segment electrodes, said sector-shaped common electrodes dimensioned to oppose equal numbers of segment electrodes for defining groups of equal numbers of inner and outer display elements each comprised of a common electrode and a segment electrode, insulating means for insulating said segment electrodes from said common electrodes, and an electro-optical display medium disposed between said segment and common electrodes for responding to electrical signals applied to pairs of said electrodes defining display elements to change visual appearance so as to display information; electrically conductive circuit paths connecting corresponding ones of said segment electrodes within each group of segment electrodes facing a different common electrode; counting means for counting the lapse of time and for generating output signals representing the counted lapse of time; storage means for storing signals representing any desired preset time; selecting means for alternately selecting signals stored by said storage means representing a preset time and counting means output signals representing the counted lapse of time; first driving means responsive to the signals selected by said selecting means for applying voltage pulses to respective segment electrodes and common electrodes for turning on display elements to display the times represented by said selected signals; and second driving means responsive to the signals selected by said selecting means for applying voltage pulses to respective segment electrodes and common electrodes for turning off display elements not necessary to display the times represented by said selected signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
292 words
An electronic timer, comprising: a display comprised of a plurality of elongate segment electrodes arranges side by side in a generally circular array with the respective segment electrodes disposed extending radially of said array, a plurality of sector-shaped common electrodes arranged in two concentric rings and positioned opposite and concentric with said generally circular array of segment electrodes, said sector-shaped common electrodes dimensioned to oppose equal numbers of segment electrodes for defining groups of equal numbers of inner and outer display elements each comprised of a common electrode and a segment electrode, insulating means for insulating said segment electrodes from said common electrodes, and an electro-optical display medium disposed between said segment and common electrodes for responding to electrical signals applied to pairs of said electrodes defining display elements to change visual appearance so as to display information; electrically conductive circuit paths connecting corresponding ones of said segment electrodes within each group of segment electrodes facing a different common electrode; counting means for counting the lapse of time and for generating output signals representing the counted lapse of time; storage means for storing signals representing any desired preset time; selecting means for alternately selecting signals stored by said storage means representing a preset time and counting means output signals representing the counted lapse of time; first driving means responsive to the signals selected by said selecting means for applying voltage pulses to respective segment electrodes and common electrodes for turning on display elements to display the times represented by said selected signals; and second driving means responsive to the signals selected by said selecting means for applying voltage pulses to respective segment electrodes and common electrodes for turning off display elements not necessary to display the times represented by said selected signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic timer according to claim 7, wherein said counting means comprises means for operating in a count down mode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4246650A
Cited
US4209974A
Cited
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-03 | 1987-04-04 | 1987-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-03 | 1991-04-04 | 1991-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-03 | 1995-04-04 | 1995-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |