Mode preselect function for a multimode electronic timepiece

Claim 1

An improved multimode electronic timepiece of the type having a display, a plurality of manually actuated switches, and an integrated circuit programmed to keep time, to provide a set of at least three operating modes, including time-of-day, in a continuous loop, and to permit an operator of the timepiece to shift said operating modes sequentially by selectively and repetitively actuating a first of said switches, wherein the improvement comprises: mode preselect function means responsive to selective actuation of a second of said switches, said mode preselect function means comprising a program for the integrated circuit which provides a set of at least one preselect function mode in a continuous loop, each preselect function mode displaying information from a preselected operating mode along with information from another operating mode; said program being adapted to permit the operator of the timepiece to shift sequentially through the set of preselect function modes by selectively, and where there is more than one preselect function mode in the set, repetitively actuating a third of said switches; and said mode preselect function means being further responsive to selective actuation of a fourth of said switches, actuation of said fourth switch causing the timepiece to shift between a preselect function mode and the operating mode, other than the preselected operating mode, having its information displayed by said preselect function mode.