U.S. patent number 3,738,099 [Application Number 05/260,685] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-12 for digital electronic watch having calendar display arrangement.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha. Invention is credited to Kojiro Tanaka.
United States Patent |
3,738,099 |
Tanaka |
June 12, 1973 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
DIGITAL ELECTRONIC WATCH HAVING CALENDAR DISPLAY ARRANGEMENT
Abstract
An electronic watch is provided with means for digitally
displaying time and date and day of the week by means of liquid
crystal display elements. The display provides an indication of the
second, minute and hour as well as an indication of whether it is
morning or afternoon. The calendar display includes a plurality of
liquid crystal display elements arranged in matrix form having
seven columns each representing a day of the week and five rows
each representing the weeks of the month. A plate having the days
and dates of the month to be displayed is mounted on said liquid
crystal element matrix by suitable means.
Inventors: |
Tanaka; Kojiro (Tokyo,
JA) |
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha
(Tokyo, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
22990183 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/260,685 |
Filed: |
June 7, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
368/30; 40/107;
968/950; 968/962; 345/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G04G
9/12 (20130101); G04G 9/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G04G
9/12 (20060101); G04G 9/00 (20060101); G04G
9/06 (20060101); G04b 019/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/324M ;40/107
;350/16LC ;58/23R,23A,4R,4A,58,5R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wilkinson; Richard B.
Assistant Examiner: Weldon; U.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital electronic watch comprising a time standard oscillator
for producing a high frequency time standard signal; circuit means
for dividing said high frequency time standard signal into at least
minute and hour display driving signals; liquid crystal display
means for displaying time in response to said minute and hour
driving signals; further circuit means for producing signals having
a frequency of 1 pulse per day and 1 pulse per week from said
first-mentioned circuit means; calendar display means including a
matrix of liquid crystal elements having at least seven columns and
a plurality of rows and means for sequentially actuating selected
ones of said liquid crystal elements located at the intersection of
an actuated row and an actuated column by sequentially actuating
said columns in response to said signal having a frequency of 1
pulse per day and for sequentially actuating said rows in response
to said signal having a frequency of 1 pulse per week.
2. A digital electronic watch as recited in claim 1, including
switching means for the manual resetting of said means for applying
actuating signals to said rows and columns for resetting said
calendar display means.
3. A digital electronic watch as recited in claim 1, wherein said
liquid crystal element matrix includes at least five rows.
4. A digital electronic watch as recited in claim 1, including
overlay means dimensioned for registration with said liquid crystal
element matrix and having the date and days of the week of the
month to be displayed depicted thereon, and means for manually
securing said overlay in registration with said matrix.
5. A digital electronic watch as recited in claim 1, wherein said
minute and hour display means provide digital display of said
minute and hour.
6. A digital electronic watch as recited in claim 5, including
second display means, said second display means including six
liquid crystal display elements, said first-mentioned circuit means
being adapted to produce a 1-second signal, one of said six liquid
crystal elements being actuated once each second in response to
said 1-second signal, the other of said six liquid crystal elements
being sequentially actuated in response to said 1-second signal at
10-second intervals.
7. A digital electronic watch as recited in claim 1, said watch
including first switching means for selectively resetting said
minute and hour display means, and second switching means for
selectively resetting said means for actuating said columns and
rows for resetting the calendar display means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to digital electronic watches, and more
particularly to digital electronic watches having liquid crystal
display elements and the capability of displaying second, minute,
hour, morning and afternoon indications, date and day of the
week.
In the art, light emission diode elements have been employed as the
display elements for digital electronic watches. One drawback of
such use of light emission diode elements is that only the hour and
minute can be displayed since a great amount of electric power is
required to operate the light emission diodes and only a small-size
power source can be included in the limited space of a compact,
modern electronic watch. Further, such prior art watches are
adapted to display time only upon demand of the user, as when the
user presses a suitable actuation button, in order to limit power
consumption.
Where it has been proposed to provide digital electronic watches
incorporating liquid crystal elements, such watches have been
limited to the display of hour and minute due to the poor voltage
response characteristics of such elements. This has made it
difficult to provide digital electronic watches incorporating
displays of the second and calendar information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a digital
electronic watch is provided wherein a 1 Hz signal is produced by
dividing the high frequency time standard signal of a standard
oscillator by means of divider circuitry. Said 1 Hz signal is then
applied to series-connected counters which produce 10-second,
1-minute, 10-minute, 1-hour, 12-hour (morning and afternoon), day
and week signals, which signals are in turn applied to decoder and
driving circuitry for driving liquid crystal displays.
The second display system includes six liquid crystal display
elements, one of which is turned on and off each second, the other
five of which are sequentially turned on every 10-seconds, the
cycle being repeated every minute. The 1-minute, 10-minute and
1-hour digits of the minute and hour displays each are represented
by seven liquid crystal elements arranged in a seven bar display
for full digital display.
The day and date representations of a calendar are provided by a
plurality of liquid crystal display elements arranged in matrix
form having seven columns each representing the day of the week and
five rows each representing the weeks of the month. Means is
provided for receiving a plate having the days and dates of the
month to be displayed arranged thereon in overlapping relation with
said liquid crystal matrix.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a small-sized
electronic digital watch requiring only small amounts of power, and
wherein second, minute, hour, morning and afternoon, date and day
of the week indications are displayed in digital form on a display
panel formed from liquid crystal display elements.
Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic digital
watch where switches are provided for regulating or setting the
second, minute, hour, day and date.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be
obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification and
drawings.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,
combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be
exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the
scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to
the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a digital
electronic watch in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic circuits employed in
the digital electronic watch of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, the digital electronic watch 1 depicted
therein is provided with a display panel 2 having a switching
section 3, a calendar display section 4 and a time display section.
Calendar display section 4 includes a day-of-week display section
11 and a date display section 12. The date display section includes
a plurality of calendar plates having days and dates arranged in
accordance with the months to be displayed, said calendar plates
being manually sequentially mounted, in the proper order, on the
surface of panel 2 as the appropriate month is reached.
Time display section 5 includes a morning-and-afternoon display
section 13, wherein the morning (A.M.) period is indicated by no
indication, and the afternoon (P.M.) period is indicated by a
visual indication of "PM;" a two digit hour display section 14; a
two digit minute display section 15; and a second display section
consisting of elements 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. Second display
element 16 is switched every second, element 17 being switched on
after ten seconds, and elements 18, 19, 20 and 21 being
successively switched on after successive ten second periods.
Second display elements 16 - 20, as well as morning-and-afternoon
display sections 13, hour display section 14 and minute display
section 15 are all formed from nematic liquid crystal material
adapted to become turbid upon the application of an electric
voltage, a state being hereinafter referred to as the "switching"
or "turned on" state. When in this state, the liquid crystal
material is visible, to provide a visible indication of the
material to be displayed.
Upon the elapse of 60 seconds, the second display elements 17, 18,
19, 20 and 21 are all turned off, one minute being added to the
minute display section 15. After 60 minutes elapse, the minute
display section 15 is cleared and 1 hour is added to the hour
display section. After 12 hours elapse, the hour and minute
displays are cleared and the morning-and-afternoon display switches
from no indication to a "PM" indication or from a "PM" indication
to no indication. Further, the elapse of one day causes the date
displayed at the calendar display section 12 to be cleared and the
next date displayed thereon.
The embodiment of the digital electronic watch depicted in FIG. 1
is disposed to display the time of 10 hours, 57 minutes and 30
seconds of the afternoon of the 17th day (Wednesday) of the month
indicated, assuming that the solidly shaded portions of the display
elements are turned on and that second display element 16 has
switched seven times. Since each display section or element is
formed from liquid crystal material, the watch may operate at low
power consumption levels and may be formed so as to be thin.
Switching section 3 includes a switch 7 for setting the minute
indication, a switch 8 for setting the hour indication, a switch 9
for setting the date indication, and a switch 10 for regulating the
calendar. In order to support the watch, a watch band 23 is secured
to the watch case through push pins 22 mounted on projections 21
and 21a.
An electric circuit employed in the digital watch of FIG. 1 is
depicted in FIG. 2. Said circuit consists of a high frequency time
standard oscillator 24 which produces a high frequency time
standard signal of a frequency of 16, 384 Hz which is applied
through line 24a to divider 25, which divides the signal into a
1-second signal (1") (a signal having a frequency of 1 pulse per
second). The thus produced 1-second signal is supplied to divider
26 along line 25a, to driver 28 along line 25b and to logic
circuits 40, 41 and 42 along line 25c. The 1 -second signal applied
to divider 26 is divided thereby to produce on line 26a a 10-second
signal (10") (a signal having shift register 27 through line 26a.
Said shift register is of the 6-bit type so that a signal appears
on line 27a thereof after the first 10-seconds has elapsed (at
which time the first 10-second signal is received from divider 26),
and then appears on successive lines 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e, and 27f,
at successive 10-second intervals in response to the shift pulse
applied to line 26a from divider 26. A predetermined voltage "1" is
always applied to said shift register from line 26b.
Line 25b from the output terminal of divider 25 and lines 27a, 27b,
27c, 27d and 27e, respectively connected to the output terminals of
shift register 27, are connected to second display driver 28. The
signal transmitted from each line is amplified by driver 28 to
produce a voltage on each line 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e and 29f
corresponding respectively to line 25b, 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d and 27e.
Lines 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e and 29f are, respectively, connected
to the corresponding second display elements 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and
35 of the liquid crystal display panel 29. Each element 30-35 of
panel 29 comprises two glass plates between which is inserted a
nematic liquid crystal material in the manner of a sandwich.
Suitable electrodes are deposited on the surface of each of the
plates in contact with said nematic liquid crystal material, at
least one of said electrodes being shaped in the desired display
configuration as depicted in the drawing. Upon the application of a
voltage above the threshold voltage by means of a direct current
power supply 36, each liquid crystal element changes in
reflectivity so as to be visible.
In operation, second display element 30 is switched once each
second to display the digits 0 through 9 since a 1-second signal is
applied thereto through line 29a. After the elapse of ten seconds,
a 10-second signal is produced from divider 26, and is applied to
shift register 27 through line 26a, which signal, after
amplification by driver 28, causes the element 31 to turn on to
provide a 10-second display. Subsequently, the second display
elements 32, 33, 34 and 35 are turned on successively at 10 second
intervals in the same manner as element 31. The inputs of the
elements other than element 30 are actuated from the outputs of
shift register 27, so that each element remains on until all of the
elements are turned off. Thus, at the time of 55 seconds, for
example, elements 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 are on, while element 30
has switched six times.
After the elapse of 60 seconds, a 1-minute signal (1') (a signal
having one pulse per minute) appears on line 27f of shift register
27. Line 27f is connected to a NOR-circuit 37 so as to reset said
shift register, thereby clearing all the output signals of the
terminals 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e and 27f, to switch off the second
display elements 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35. The 1-minute signal is also
applied from line 27f through line 27g to logic circuit 41 for
counting the minute signal.
In order to preset the second display mechanism, a second
regulating switch S.sub.1 (corresponding to the switch 6 shown in
FIG. 1) is provided, which, when pressed, causes the "0" signal to
be applied to a NOT circuit 39. The "1" signal produced by NOT
circuit 39 when switch S.sub.1 is pressed, is applied through lines
39a and 39b to divider 25 and NOR circuit 37, respectively. This
signal momentarily prevents the dividing function in divider 25 and
causes the watch to stop with the second display elements reset and
at the same time with the second display element 30 turned on.
It is noted that the 1-second signal is transmitted through line
25c from divider 25 to the respective gate circuits of logic
circuits 40, 41 and 42 which respectively control the display of
the hour, minute, and morning-or-afternoon functions.
In addition to the above-described second display, time is
displayed in a time display panel 51 formed of liquid crystal
material, and an electronic circuit including logic circuits 40 and
41, counters 43, 44, 45 and 46, decoders 47, 48 and 49 and driver
50. Logic circuit 40 includes three NOR circuits 52, 53 and 54 and
a NOT circuit 55, while logic circuit 41 includes three NOR
circuits 56, 57 and 58 and a NOT circuit 59. The minute setting
switch S.sub.3, corresponding to switch 7 of FIG. 1, is connected
in a neutral state to a source producing a "1" signal having a
predetermined voltage so that NOR circuit 56 receives setting
pulses transmitted from divider 25 through line 56a and said signal
of predetermined voltage transmitted through line 56b. NOR circuit
58, on the other hand, receives the 1-minute signal transmitted
from line 27g and a signal of zero voltage produced by NOT circuit
59 through the inversion of the signal from line 56b. The
application of the 1-minute signal to Nor circuit 58 in the neutral
state where the minute switch S.sub.3 is not pressed, causes the
output signal from the output terminal of NOR circuit 57 to be
applied to decimal counter 43 through line 57a, which in turn
applies a signal to decoder 47, which in turn applies a signal to
drivers 50. Time during the interval between zero minutes and 9
minutes is displayed at the 1 and 10 minute display sections 60 and
61 formed in liquid crystal panel 51. 1-minute section 60 serves to
display the first digit of the minute indication and consists of
seven liquid crystal segments 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d, 60e, 60f and 60g,
which in turn are connected by drivers 50 to corresponding lines
50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e, 50f and 50g. When counter 43 receives the
first 1-minute signal, an output is produced which is decoded by
decoder 47 to actuate drivers 50 so that segment 60b and 60c are
turned on to display 1 minute.
Thus, for example, when counter 43 counts 8 1-minute signals from
line 57a, a voltage is applied to all of lines 50a, 50b . . . ,g by
drivers 50 to turn on all of display segments 60a, b, . . . ,g, so
that the numeral "8" is displayed at the 1-minute digit. On the
other hand, when counter 43 counts 10 1-minute signals from line
57a, a 10-minute signal (10') (having a frequency of one-tenth
pulse per minute) appears on line 43a and is applied to counter 44,
which is of the hexagonary type, through line 44a so that numeral
"1" is displayed by the 10-minute display section 61. Counter 43 is
automatically reset to zero at this tenth count.
When the 60th 1-minute signal is counted by decimal counter 43 and
hexagonary counter 44, a 1-hour signal (1.degree.) (having a
frequency of 1 pulse per hour) appears on line 44b representative
of the last count of counter 44 and is applied to NOR circuit 54.
Counters 43 and 44 clear themselves at the end of their respective
counts so that zero digits are displayed at sections 60 and 61 of
liquid crystal panel 51.
Logic circuit 41 is connected in the same manner as logic circuit
40, so that the application of the 1-hour signal to NOR circuit 54
causes a signal to be applied to the input of decimal counter 45
through line 53a, the output of counter 45 being applied through
decoder 49 and driver 50 to liquid crystal display elements 62
representative of the 1 -hour digits of the time display. The
1-hour digit is also represented by a seven bar display so that any
digit from 0 to 9 is displayed to indicate any time from 1 o'clock
to 9 o'clock. When counter 45 counts 10 1-hour signals, an output
is applied along line 45a representative of a 10-hour signal
(10.degree.) (having a frequency of one-tenth pulse per hour) to
logic circuit 66. Logic circuit 66 consists of an OR circuit 63,
AND circuit 64 and NAND circuit 65, the output of said output logic
being taken at line 46a and applied by said line to a quarnary
counter 46. The 10-hour signal produces an output at lines 46a of
counter 46 which serves to drive the 10-hour digit indicator 67
consisting of a single liquid crystal display element 67a shaped as
the numeral "1". When display element 67a is turned on, counter 45
is automatically reset so that 1-hour display element 62 indicate a
zero setting. After a further 2 hours have elapsed, a 2-hour signal
is produced along line 45b from counter 45 and applied to NAND
circuit 65, the output of which is applied to counter 45 to reset
said counter to zero, and to clear the 1-hour digit display section
62. Counter 46 counts one pulse signal to clear 10-hour display
section 67, and then turns on the liquid crystal segment 68
representing "PM", constituting the afternoon display section
corresponding to section 13 of FIG 1. After a further 12-hour
lapsed time, a day signal (1d) (having a frequency of 1 pulse per
day) is produced at the output of counter 46 on line 46b, at which
time display section 62, 67 and 68 are all cleared. Thus, a 24 abic
counter is formed by decimal counter 45, quarnary counter 46 and
logic circuit 66, a 1 pulse signal appearing on line 46b every
day.
Between hour display section 67 and minute display section 61 there
is provided a pointed mark 85 to separate the hour and minute
display sections. This pointed mark is formed from liquid crystal
material which is continually energized due to the constant
application of a voltage thereto through lines 85a and 85b. It is
noted that minute display sections 60 and 61 correspond to the
minute display section 15 of FIG. 1 and that the hour display
sections 62 and 67 correspond to the hour display section 14 of
FIG. 1.
Switches S.sub.2 and S.sub.3 are provided for setting the minute
and hour displays respectively. When switch S.sub.3 is pressed, it
is connected to the terminal to which "0" voltage is applied. A
1-second signal appears on 57a of the NOR circuit and is applied to
decimal counter 43 irrespective of the signal on line 27g since a
"0" voltage is applied on line 56b and a signal having a frequency
of 1 pulse per second appears on line 25c. Thus, the setting of the
switch S.sub.3 to the "0" voltage terminal results in the counting
by the 1-minute digit of the display at a rate of 1 pulse per
second. On the other hand, when switch S.sub.3 is connected to the
" 1" terminal, the digits are counted at a rate of 1 pulse per
minute for display at section 60. In this manner, the minute
setting may be reset. Similarly, when switch S.sub.2 is connected
to the "0" voltage terminal, the hour display counts digits at the
rate of 1 pulse per second, thereby enabling the resetting of the
hour. Time display panel 51 is operatively connected to DC power
supply 36.
The calendar mechanism in accordance with the invention consists of
a calendar display panel 73 and an electronic circuit including a
7-bit shift register 69, a driver 70, a 6-bit shift register 71 and
a driver 72. Logic circuit 42 is connected in the same way as logic
circuits 40 and 41 and consists of three NOR circuits 74, 75 and 66
and a NOT circuit 77. The 1-day signal produced on line 46b of
counter 46 is applied to NOR circuit 76 through line 76a and
appears on the output terminal of the NOR circuit 75. Said signal
is then applied to shift register 69 through line 75b. The output
terminals of the 7-bit shift register 69 are connected to a driver
70 through lines 69a, b, . . . g, while the output terminals of the
driver 70 are connected through lines 70a, b, . . . g, to the
abscissa 73 of the calendar display panel 73 represented
respectively of the days of the week from Sunday to Saturday.
On the other hand, the ordinate of the panel 73 is connected along
line 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d and 72e to driver 72, each of said lines
being representative of one of the 5 weeks of a month. The input
terminal to drive 72 is connected to the output terminal of 6-bit
shift register 71 for shifting the signal upon reception of a 1
week signal (1w) (having a frequency of 1 pulse per week) received
from line 69g and representing the last output of shift register
69. Thus, shift register 71 is shifted 1 step per week. Lines 72a,
b, . . . ,e and lines 70a, b, . . . g are connected in a
rectangular matrix so that the crossed portion of the lines, to
which the pulse voltages are applied, are actuated to display any
one of the liquid crystal elements arranged on the calendar display
panel 73. Panel 73 is constructed so that a plate on which days and
dates arranged according to the month to be displayed is overlapped
on the liquid crystal elements in a one-to-one relation to the day
and date of the month. This panel 73 is changed by a suitable means
so that the day and dates may be selected in accordance with the
month to be displayed.
When switch S.sub.5 is pressed in order to adjust the calendar, a
"0" reset signal appears on lines 78a and 78b due to NOT circuit 78
in order to reset the 7-bit and 6-bit shift registers 69 and 71
respectively. A "1" signal appears on line 79a and 80a to produce a
signal on line 70a and 72a connected to the first terminals of
drivers 70 and 72 respectively, thus turning on the liquid crystal
element 73a disposed on the cross portion of lines 70a and 72a. A
further 1-day elapse causes the 1-day signal to appear on line 76b,
and then on the output line 75b of NOR circuit 75 to operate shift
register 69. At this point, the signal on line 70a is shifted to
line 70b so that liquid crystal display element 73b st the
intersecting point of lines 70b and 72a is actuated. The lapse of 1
week causes the 1-week signal to appear on line 69g, which signal
is applied to both the 7-bit and 6-bit shift registers 69 and 71
and appears on line 69a of the first column of the abscissa and on
the line 72b of the second row of the ordinate, thereby turning on
element 73c. The fifth and final output terminal of 6-bit shift
register 71 is connected to an OR circuit 81, so that the signal
produced after the passing of 5 weeks is fed back to the input to
produce a voltage on line 72a representing the first week. DC power
supply 36 is connected to each of drivers 82 and 83 to operate
same.
The pressing of switch S.sub.4 in order to set the day causes a
pulse having a frequency of 1 pulse per second to appear on line
75b of the logic circuit to operate the shift register to set the
day.
While a non-digital display 29 of the second indication is
incorporated in the embodiment of the watch in accordance with the
invention, a seven segment liquid crystal element such as is used
in connection with the hour and minute display may be incorporated
to provide a display of the second. The digital electronic watch in
accordance with the invention utilizes liquid crystal display
mechanisms requiring only small amounts of electric power, so that
a plurality of such liquid crystal display elements can be utilized
to display the second, minute, hour, morning and afternoon and
calendar indications. This enables a digital electronic watch to
provide a plurality of time information despite its small size, as
compared with conventional watches wherein light emission diode
elements are used for the display of time.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those
made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently
attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above
constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above
description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended
to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention
herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention
which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall
therebetween.
* * * * *