Mode selection option with instructional message for multimode electronic timepiece

Claim 1

Improvement in a multimode electronic timepiece having a display, a plurality of manually actuated actuators and an integrated circuit programmed to keep time and to provide a plurality of modes, said integrated circuit being programmed to permit an operator to sequentially cycle said timepiece through said plurality of modes, including a home mode and an alternate mode, by selectively and repetitively actuating a first of said plurality of said actuators, wherein said improvement comprises: mode selection means including a program for said integrated circuit responsive to selective actuation by said operator of a second of said plurality of actuators and adapted to temporarily display for a first predetermined time period the status of an alternate mode other than home mode, in order to avoid cycling said timepiece through intervening modes; said program being adapted to display on said timepiece display an instructional message for a second predetermined period of time consecutive to said first predetermined period of time; said instructional message being displayed in response to continued actuation of said second actuator after the elapse of said first predetermined period of time; said program being further adapted to return the timepiece to said home mode in response to the release of said second actuator before the elapse of said second predetermined period of time or to dispose the timepiece into said alternate mode in response to continued actuation of said second actuator after the elapse of said second predetermined period of time.