U.S. patent number 3,834,152 [Application Number 05/287,201] was granted by the patent office on 1974-09-10 for time correction device for electronic timepieces.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha. Invention is credited to Izuhiko Nishimura, Akio Shimoi.
United States Patent |
3,834,152 |
Nishimura , et al. |
September 10, 1974 |
TIME CORRECTION DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC TIMEPIECES
Abstract
In an electronic timepiece having a plurality of display
elements, a primary manually operable switch member is provided for
selecting at least one of the display elements for independent
setting or correction and a second manually operated switch element
is provided for setting or correcting said selected one or more
display elements.
Inventors: |
Nishimura; Izuhiko (Suwa,
JA), Shimoi; Akio (Suwa, JA) |
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha
(Tokyo, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
26410754 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/287,201 |
Filed: |
September 7, 1972 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 8, 1971 [JA] |
|
|
46-69575 |
Sep 10, 1971 [JA] |
|
|
46-70116 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
368/188; 368/224;
968/817; 368/201; 368/321; 968/450; 968/916 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G04C
3/005 (20130101); G04F 5/00 (20130101); G04G
5/043 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G04F
5/00 (20060101); G04C 3/00 (20060101); G04G
5/00 (20060101); G04G 5/04 (20060101); G04c
003/00 (); G04b 019/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;58/23R,23A,33-35,5R,85.5 ;200/51.07 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Jackmon; Edith Simmons
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Blum, Moscovitz, Friedman &
Kaplan
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic timepiece comprising oscillator circuit means for
producing a high frequency time standard signal; multi-stage
frequency divider means for dividing said high frequency time
standard signal to produce a low frequency timing signal at each of
a plurality of said divider stages; display means for the digital
display of time including a display element for each digit of time
to be displayed; means driving each of said display elements in
response to a timing signal of one of said divider stages; and time
correction means including a manually operable selector switch
means having a movable contact and at least two fixed contacts,
each of said selector switch means fixed contacts being connected
to at least one of the divider stages producing said time keeping
signals, and a manually operable secondary switch means for
applying a correction signal through said selector switch means to
the selected divider stage for correcting the display element
associated with the selected divider stage, said selector switch
means and said secondary switch means having a common switch member
displaceable in a rotational direction to operate said selector
switch means and displaceable in a longitudinal direction to
operate said secondary switch means.
2. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said
selector switch means is a rotary switch having a rotary switch
element having said movable contact mounted thereon for rotation
thereby, said fixed contacts being circumferentially spaced in the
path of said movable contact, at least a portion of said rotary
element defining said switch member and being longitudinally
displaceable for actuating said secondary switch means.
3. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 2, wherein said
secondary switch means has a fixed contact and a movable contact,
said secondary switch means movable contact being mounted on said
switch member for engagement against said secondary switch means
fixed contact upon the longitudinal displacement of said switch
member.
4. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 3, said rotary
switch element including a contact holding element formed with a
shaped central aperture therethrough and bearing said selector
switch means movable contact and said switch member, said switch
member being formed with a portion shaped for receipt within said
contact holding element central aperture so that said switch member
may be longitudinally displaced independent of said contact holding
element and may carry said contact holding element with it when
rotatably displaced.
5. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said
selector switch means movable contact is mounted on said switch
member for displacement therewith, said selector switch means fixed
contacts being circumferentially space about said selector member,
said switch member being rotatably displaceable to align said
movable contact with one of said fixed contacts, said switch member
being longitudinally displaceable to bring said movable contact
into operative engagement with said aligned fixed contact, thereby
defining said secondary switch means.
6. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 5, including
indexing means for positioning said switch member in a plurality of
discrete rotary orientations, one of said orientations being
aligned with each of said fixed contacts.
7. An electronic watch as recited in claim 6, including indexing
means for longitudinally positioning said switch member at at least
two positions.
8. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 7, wherein said
longitudinal indexing means includes a pair of spaced
circumferential grooves, a corresponding pair of fixing buttons,
and spring means for biasing said fixing buttons against said
circumferential grooves.
9. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 8, wherein said
circumferential grooves serve to longitudinally position said
switch member at a first position at which said movable contact is
out of engagement with the aligned fixed contact and a second
position at which the movable contact engages the aligned fixed
contact.
10. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 8, wherein both of
said pair of grooves and fixing buttons serve to position said
switch member so that said movable contact is out of engagement
with said fixed contact, one of said grooves and fixing buttons
being positioned so that said movable contact engages said fixed
contact when said switch member is longitudinally displaced just
passed said groove, said fixing button cooperating with a wall of
said groove when said switch member is released to automatically
reposition said switch members so that said movable contact is out
of engagement with the aligned fixed contact.
11. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein at least
two of said fixed contacts are coupled to only one of said divider
stages, another of said fixed contacts being coupled to all of said
divider stages, for the simultaneous return-to-zero thereof.
12. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 11, wherein still
another of said fixed contacts is coupled to the divider stage
associated with the 1 second and 10 second timing signal for the
simultaneous return-to-zero of said 1 second and 10 second divider
stages without regard to the setting of the other of said divider
stages.
13. An electronic timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said
correction signal is an intermediate frequency signal taken from
one of said divider stages.
14. An electronic timepice comprising oscillator circuit means for
producing a high frequency time standard signal; multi-stage
frequency divider means for dividing said high frequency time
standard signal to produce a low frequency timing signal at each of
a plurality of said divider stages; display means for the digital
display of time including a display element associated with each
divider stage producing a time signal to be displayed; means
driving each of said display elements in response to a timing
signal of one of said divider stages; and a time correction switch
including a manually operable selector switch means having a
movable contact and at least two fixed contacts, each of said fixed
contacts being connected to at least one of said divider stages
producing said timekeeping signals and a manually operable
secondary switching means for selectively applying a correction
signal through said selector switch means to the selected fixed
contact of said selector switch means for correcting the display
element associated with the selected divider stage, whereby the
time standard signal applied to said divider means by said
oscillator means and said timing signals applied to said display
elements by said divider stages are not interrupted during the
selective application of said correction signal by said secondary
switch means.
15. In an electronic timepiece, a time correction switch comprising
a manually operable selector switch means having a movable contact
and at least two fixed contacts and a manually operable secondary
switch means for applying a correction signal through said selector
switch means to the selected fixed contacts, said selector switch
means and said secondary switch means having a common switch
member, wherein said switch member is rotatably displaceable to
operate said selector switch means and longitudinally displaceable
to operate said secondary switch means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electronic timepieces having digital
display systems, wherein the time indicated by said digital display
system is manually correctable. Such digital display systems are
generally provided with separate displays for at least 1 minute, 10
minute, and 1 hour digits, and require means for independently
correcting each of said digits and for the simultaneous
return-to-zero correction of all of the digits. Electronic
timepieces of this type are generally formed from solid state
devices and do not include mechanical or movable members in their
functional components. Such watches are driven solely by electronic
circuitry. Substantial effort has been devoted to improving such
digital display electronic timepieces, with most of the effort
being devoted to accuracy, energy source, life and the like.
However, little effort has been devoted to ease of use of the
timepiece and the accuracy and quickness with which setting and
correction can be achieved. The complex electronic circuitry
required in the functioning components of such electronic
timepieces inevitably results in complex and difficult to operate
time correcting circuitry. Where separate push-button switches are
provided for the correction of each digit of the time display
system, a substantial space must be provided for the required
switches while the provision of a large number of switches makes
the operation complicated, leading to mistakes in time
correction.
By providing fewer and more readily used time correcting switch
elements, the foregoing difficulties have been avoided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an electronic
timepiece is provided having a plurality of display elements and
time keeping and driving circuit means associated with each of said
display elements. A primary manually operable switch means is
provided having a common displaceable contact selectably alignable
with each of a plurality of fixed contacts, each of said fixed
contacts being operatively coupled to at least one of said time
keeping and driving circuit means, for selecting between at least
two of said display elements to be corrected. A secondary manually
operable switch member is provided for selectively applying a
setting or correction signal to the time keeping and driving
circuit means associated with the display element to be
corrected.
Said primary switch member may be a rotary switch having a
rotatably mounted shaft bearing said movable contact, said fixed
contacts being spaced circumferentially about said shaft in the
path of said movable contact. Indexing means may be provided for
positioning said movable contact in registration with each of said
fixed contacts. Said shaft may be axially displaceable to move said
movable contact into and out of engagement with the aligned fixed
contact to define a portion of said secondary switching member,
said secondary switching member also including means for applying
said setting and correction signal to said fixed contact. Further
axial indexing means may be provided to axially position said
shaft.
The electronic timepiece in accordance with the invention may be
provided with oscillator circuit means for producing a high
frequency time standard signal and frequency divider circuit means
consisting of a plurality of stages for sequentially dividing said
high frequency time standard signal to low frequency time keeping
signals at a selected group of said stages. Each stage of said
selected group of stages of said frequency divider circuit means is
coupled to a separate display element through driving circuit
means. Means including manually operable switch means is provided
coupling at least one of said selected stages with an intermediate
stage for the selective separate application of said intermediate
frequency signal to one or more of said selected stages for the
setting thereof. Each of said selected stages may be provided with
a corresponding auxiliary divider circuit, means including setting
switch means for selectively applying a setting signal to said
auxiliary divider circuits for permitting the setting of said
auxiliary divider circuits at a selected value by the manual
manipulation of said setting switch means, and gate means coupled
to said divider stage and its associated auxiliary divider circuit
for detecting the respective states thereof and connected to
receive the signal from the prior stage, said intermediate
frequency signal and a correction mode signal. The gate means is
adapted, in response to said correction mode signal, to apply said
intermediate frequency signal to said divider stage until said
divider stage and the associated auxiliary divider circuit are in
the same state, and to thereafter prevent the application of said
intermediate frequency signal and the signal from the prior stage
to said divider stage. Said gate means is also adapted to permit
said divider stage to return to normal operation upon opening of
the switch means applying said intermediate frequency signal and
the removal of said correction mode signal.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide means for
improving the operability of the time correction devices for
electronic timepieces.
A further object of the invention is to provide time correcting
switch means which minimize the number of components and simplify
time correction.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a time
correcting device for an electronic watch which permits accurate
quick-feed correction, as well as permitting periodic automatic
correction.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be
obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
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 block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic
timepiece incorporating a conventional push button time correcting
arrangement;
FIG. 2 is a detailed circuit diagram of the dividing circuit,
decoder circuit, driver circuit and display element of one stage of
the electronic watch of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a display element in accordance with
the invention formed from a seven bar array;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic watch
in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views of one embodiment of the
primary and secondary switch members in accordance with the
invention at three respective positions thereof;
FIG. 8 is an end view of the switch element of FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 5;
FIGS. 10 and 11 are sectional views of a further embodiment of a
switch member in accordance with the invention shown at two
positions thereof;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view of still a further embodiment of a
switch member in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an electronic timepiece having a
manually operated quick-feed correcting circuit in accordance with
the invention;
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a circuit for preventing over count
during time correction;
FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an electronic timepiece incorporating
the circuit for preventing over count of FIG. 14 and having an
automatic quick-feed correcting circuit;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a portion of a switch member in
accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 17 is a partially perspective partially sectioned view of
further components of the switch member of FIG. 16.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, an electric timepiece including a time
correcting circuit based on the One-Step method utilizing
conventional push-button switches is depicted. In said electronic
watch, a high frequency time standard signal is generated by a high
precision standard oscillator (OSC) which may be formed from a
crystal vibrator, a tuning fork vibrator or the like. Said high
frequency time standard signal is converted into a pulse signal of
one second frequency by divider circuit DIV formed from a plurality
of flip-flop stages. The 1 second signal thus produced is applied
to a decimal divider circuit 1 which produces a pulse signal once
every 10 seconds. The 10 second signal is applied to a 1/6 divider
circuit 2 which produces a pulse signal once every minute. The 1
minute signal is applied into a decimal divider circuit 3 which
produces a pulse signal once every 10 minutes. The 10 minute signal
is applied to a 1/6 divider circuit 4 which produces a pulse signal
once every hour. The 1 hour signal is applied to a 1/12 divider
circuit 5 which produces a pulse signal once every 12 hours. The
respective 1 second, 10 second, 1 minute, 10 minute and 1 hour
signals enter a decoder, driver and display circuit module 7-0.
Said module includes display elements 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4 and 7-5,
each representative of a single digit of digital time indication,
and each being driven by one of the respective 1 second, 10 second,
1 minute, 10 minute and 1 hour signals. Said display elements are
preferably of the seven bar array type and may be formed from
luminous diodes, liquid crystal materials, EL, or the like. The
respective display elements are driven by decoder and driver
circuits in accordance with the state of the respective divider
circuits 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
One column of the decoder, driver and display circuitry associated
with one digit, specifically with the one second digit, is
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The seven bar display, which permits
digital display of numbers from 0 to 9 in accordance with input
signals applied thereto is depicted in FIG. 3. The numeral 2 is
displayed in the drawing. The decoder circuit selects the segments
to which voltage is applied to render them visible in response to
the state of the associated divider stage, the voltage being
applied to the selected segments by the driver circuit. The output
of each divider stage is a binary coded signal, which is decoded by
said decoder circuit. In FIG. 2, gate circuit 7-a represents a
decoder circuit, switch circuit 7-b represents the driver circuit,
while block 7-c represents the display element consisting of
segments L.sub.a, L.sub.b, L.sub.c, L.sub.d, L.sub.e, L.sub.f and
L.sub.g, as further illustrated in FIG. 3. Block 1--1 of FIG. 2
represents the decimal decoder stage which receives the 1 second
signal and produces the 10 second signal at the last Q output
thereof. Said decimal divider stage consists of four binary
circuits FF.sub.1, FF.sub.2, FF.sub.3 and FF.sub.4. The binary
coded output from said decimal divider circuit enters the decoder
circuit 7-a. Each of the binary circuits FF.sub.1, FF.sub.2,
FF.sub.3 and FF.sub.4 is a delay flip-flop having a logical
expression Q.sub.n.sub.+1 =D.sub.n.sub.+1 -1=D.sub.n where n
represents the operating condition of the circuit before the input
pulse (time signal P.sub.in) enters, and n+1 represents the
operating condition after the input pulse enters. Accordingly, each
binary flip-flop circuit is constructed by connecting the Q and D
terminals together. Gate circuit G.sub.1 transforms each output of
the binary circuits FF.sub.1, FF.sub.2, FF.sub.3, and FF.sub.4 into
0, 0, 0, 0 (0 in decimal numeration) when each output is 1, 0, 1, 0
(9 in decimal numeration) as a resetting operation, thereby also
producing the 10 second signal.
R is a reset signal which resets dividing circuit 1--1. S is a
correcting signal which sets the display element at a desired time
indication. G.sub.o is an exclusive type gate for receiving
correcting signal S and time signal P.sub.in.
At normal operating conditions, correcting signal S is set at a low
(0) and input signal P.sub.in is applied to the divider circuit
without modification. When the time is to be corrected, the number
of input pulses increases by the number of pulses of the correcting
signal S, each additional pulse indexing the divider circuit to
permit time correction. Each of the divider stages receiving the 10
second, 1 minute, 10 minute and 1 hour signals can similarly be
corrected.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the time correction portion of the
electronic timepiece depicted is designated as S.sub.0. As used
herein, the term "correct" refers to both the return-to-zero
correction of all of the columns (1 second, 10 seconds, 1 minute,
10 minutes and 1 hour) and the separate and individual setting of
each column to a desired time indication. R is the reset signal for
resetting all of the columns simultaneously, and further resets the
divider circuit DIV when push-button switch R.sub.s is closed,
thereby performing return-to-zero correction.
To set each display element to a desired time, the push-button
switch S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3, S.sub.4, or S.sub.5 coupling the
correcting signal S to the respective one of divider circuits 1, 2,
3, 4 or 5 is closed once for each pulse to be added to the
respective divider circuit. Thus, the user operates each of the
switches S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3, S.sub.4, and S.sub.5 until all
of the display elements display the desired time. However, the
arrangement of FIG. 1 offers disadvantages when incorporated in a
wrist watch due to the space required for the push-button switches
and the large number of switches required. Further, the use of so
many switches complicates the operation of the watch and makes it
easy to err in time correction.
Referring now to FIG. 4, an electronic timepiece in accordance with
the invention is depicted. As in the case of the circuit of FIG. 1,
a precision standard oscillator OSC produces a high frequency time
standard signal which is applied to a dividing circuit DIV and
which produces a signal every second. Divider stages 11, 12, 13, 14
and 15 are respectively decimal, 1/6, decimal, 1/6 and 1/12 divider
circuits for respectively driving 1 second, 10 second, 1 minute, 10
minute and 1 hour digits of a digital display. The decoder, driver
and display circuit 7-00 correspond in construction to the
corresponding elements depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. The time
correction device of the circuit of FIG. 4 includes a switch
S.sub.w which selects the column or digit to be corrected, or
whether the return-to-zero correction operation is to be performed,
said switch being manually operable and of the rotary type. Switch
S.sub.s is a signal switch for transmitting the signal S-R to the
column selected by switch S.sub.w. Fixed contact S.sub.r of switch
S.sub.w is a reset contact, and when engaged by the moving contact
and when switch S.sub.s is closed, resets each of dividing circuits
11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 simultaneously, thereby performing the
return-to-zero correction function. Fixed contact S.sub.a is a
reset contact for second correction only, and when engaged by the
movable contact, and when switch S.sub.s is closed, resets only the
1 second and 10 second display elements regardless of the setting
of the 1 minute, 10 minute and 1 hour display elements, an
alternate return-to-zero correction function. Gate G.sub.00 serves
to separate the simultaneous reset of all of the columns from the
reset of the 1 second and 10 second columns only.
Contacts S.sub.13, S.sub.14 and S.sub.15 of switch S.sub.w are
respectively connected to divider stages 13, 14 and 15 for the
separate and individual correction of the 1 minute, 10 minute and 1
hour digits. When the moving arm engages one of contacts S.sub.13,
S.sub.14 and S.sub.15, the associated display element can be
corrected in accordance with the One-Step method by turning switch
S.sub.s on an off.
An embodiment of a rotary type switch in the nature of a
winding-crown incorporating both switches S.sub.w and S.sub.s as
depicted in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. This switch includes a winding
crown or shaft 27 formed with two axial grooves 28 and 30 therein
which cooperate with spring loaded fixing button 29 to
longitudinally fix the winding crown in one of two positions
respectively depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. The switch section consists
of a movable contact 25 which rotates with the winding crown and
five fixed contacts 21 corresponding respectively to contacts
S.sub.a, S.sub.r, S.sub.13, S.sub.14, and S.sub.15 of FIG. 4, as
more particularly depicted in FIG. 8. To maintain the rotatably
mounted winding stem 27 so that the movable contact 25 is in
registration with one of the fixed contacts 21, the central region
of winding crown 27 is cut into a star shape 33 as depicted in FIG.
9. A spring loaded fixing button 32 engages said star shaped
portion 33 for maintaining the rotative stability of the winding
crown. A conductive brush 24 is mounted on movable contact 25 for
conducting current from said rotating movable contact through ring
23 to the source of signal S-R.
When the time is to be corrected, the column to be corrected is
selected as by aligning movable contact 25 with one of fixed
contacts S.sub.13, S.sub.14 and S.sub.15 or the second correcting
or reset functions are selected, such selection being achieved by
rotatably positioning winding crown 27. Further, the winding crown
is displaced to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 to the position
depicted in FIG. 6 with fixing button 29 engaged in annular groove
30. Movable contact 25 and the aligned fixed contact 21 are brought
closer together, but not in engagement. By pulling the winding
crown to the right a further incremental distance, as depicted in
FIG. 7, portion 25a of movable contact 25 engages the aligned fixed
contact 21, thereby producing a signal switch function. When the
winding stem is released, the bias force of fixing button 29
against the side wall of groove 30 displaces the winding crown to
the left as viewed in FIG. 7 back to the position depicted in FIG.
6. Thus, the pulling and releasing of the winding crown serve to
operate the switch. Insulating members 20 and 26 are provided for
supporting the respective contacts and conductive ring.
A further switch member embodiment in accordance with the invention
as depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11. The embodiment of FIG. 10 is
similar to the embodiment of FIG. 5 and differs therefrom only in
that movable contact 25 engages the aligned fixed contact 21 when
the winding stem 27 is positioned so that fixing button 29 rests in
annular groove 30. The gentle slope on the wall of groove 30 of
FIG. 5 is not required in the embodiment of FIG. 10.
A separate push-button may be used for switch S.sub.s, as depicted
in FIG. 12. The switch of FIG. 12 is a push-button switch wherein
push-button 34 has a conductor 37 mounted for engagement against
conductor 36 as the push-button is suppressed. The push-button is
normally biased in the off position by spring 35. Switch S.sub.s
may also be represented by a torque switch which turns on when
rotated clockwise and turns off when rotated counter clockwise.
The correcting switch arrangement in accordance with the invention
substitutes one or two manually operable switch members for the
plurality of push-buttons used in the conventional watch
arrangement, thereby minimizing the space required for the switch
mechanisms in the watch. Further, mistake in operation of the time
correction arrangement is less likely to occur due to accidental
engagement of the push-button due to the provision of the
longitudinal indexing arrangement represented by grooves 28 and 30
and the fixing button 29.
Referring now to FIG. 13, a further improvement in the time
correcting arrangement in accordance with the invention is depicted
utilizing the quick-feed method of time correction.
In the circuit of FIG. 13, the oscillator-divider chain represented
by oscillator OSC, divider DIV and divider stages 41, 42, 43, 44
and 45 corresponds in structure and function to the
oscillator-divider chain of FIG. 1. Similarly, the decoder, driver
and display circuits 7-00, having separate display segments 7-41,
7-42, 7-43, 7-44 and 7-45 correspond in structure and operation to
the decoder, driver and display circuits of FIG. 1. The time
correcting arrangement of the circuit of FIG. 13 includes a reset
switch R.sub.s which serves to simultaneously reset divider stage
circuits 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 by application of reset signal R
when said reset switch is turned on. In this manner, return-to-zero
correction is achieved. Switch S.sub.a is provided for second
correction and serves to reset only the 1 second and 10 second
stages 41 and 42 without regard to the setting of the 1 minute, 10
minute and 1 hour stages 43, 44 and 45. Switch S.sub.a applies a
reset signal SEC-ADJ to divider stages 41 and 42 through OR gate
G.sub.00, the reset signal R from switch R.sub.s also being passed
through said OR gate. It is noted that return-to-zero operations
are performed since setting to the desired time is more easily
accomplished after such return-to-zero operation. Switches
S.sub.f3, S.sub.f4 and S.sub.f5 are respectively coupled to the 1
minute, 10 minute and 1 hour divider stages 43, 44 and 45 for
selectively applying a correcting signal S of an intermediate
frequency derived from a stage of divider circuit DIV. The time on
the 1 minute, 10 minute and 1 hour display elements can be
separately corrected by quick-feed when the switch associated with
the display element to be corrected is turned on.
However, one difficulty with the circuit of FIG. 13 is the danger
that the time indication at a particular digit may be advanced
beyond the desired time if a hand operated quick-feed device is
utilized. For example, the time may be set to 12:20:00 when the
desired time is 12:00:00. This possible defect is eliminated in the
embodiment of FIGS. 14 and 15 wherein the intermediate frequency
signal stops automatically at the moment that the desired time is
displayed. Referring first to FIG. 15, the electronic watch
depicted is provided with an oscillator-divider chain including
oscillator OSC, divider DIV and divider stages 61, 62, 63, 64 and
65 corresponding to the oscillator-divider chain of FIG. 1 in
function, but differing in structure as will more particularly be
described below. The decoder, driver and display circuit 7-00
incorporating display elements 7-61, 7-62, 7-63, 7-64 and 7-65
correspond in structure and operation to the decoder, driver and
display circuits of FIG. 1. The electronic circuit of FIG. 15
includes a time correcting device K.
Referring now to FIG. 14, the structure of the modified 1-second
divider stage is depicted A,B,C and D represent a binary flip-flop
chain representative of the main decimal divider stage. An
auxiliary decimal divider consisting of flip-flop chain a, b, c,
and d is also provided, structured to correspond to the main
divider stage chain. When the 1 second digit is to be corrected
separately, the desired figure is set in the auxiliary divider
circuit a, b, c and d by a One-Step process by the pulsing of
correcting signal S.sub.b. Thus, if a reading of 5 seconds is
desired, the output of flip-flops a, b, c and d must be
respectively set to 0, 1, 0, 1 (5 in decimal numeration). A
correcting signal S.sub.c is then applied to the main dividing
chain A, B, C, D through gate G.sub.y. When each output of
flip-flops A, B, C and D corresponds to the corresponding outputs
of flip-flops a, b, c and d as previously set, the respective
outputs of gates G.sub.a, G.sub.b, G.sub.c, and G.sub.d become high
and the output of AND gate G.sub.w becomes high. A correction mode
signal S.sub.a representative of the performance of the time
correction function is applied to a gate G.sub.x so that when
signal S.sub.a is high, the output of gate G.sub.x is high and the
output of gate G.sub.z is low regardless of the other input signal
to said gate, said other input signal being the output of gate
G.sub.y. The other input to gate G.sub.x is from the output of AND
gate G.sub.w and is high when the states of the auxiliary and main
divider circuits are identical.
To render divider stage 61 operational again, the correcting signal
S.sub.c is first turned off, and next, the correcting mode signal
S.sub.a is turned off to show the end of the correction operation.
Due to the presence of the gate G.sub.x, when the correcting mode
signal S.sub.a is turned off, gate G.sub.z is rendered conductive
and the main divider stage A, B, C and D is rendered responsive to
the input signal P.sub.in from the previous stage. The decoder,
driver and display element circuits depicted in FIG. 2 would be
connected to the main divider stage A, B, C, D.
Referring again to FIG. 15, switches S.sub.b , S.sub.b , S.sub.b ,
S.sub.b and S.sub.b couple the correcting signal S.sub.B
selectively to the corresponding auxiliary divider circuits of
divider stages 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 for setting said auxiliary
divider circuits. Correction mode signal S.sub.A is made high
during the correction process. Switches S.sub.c , S.sub.c , S.sub.c
11 , S.sub.c , and S.sub.c are quick-feed correcting switches for
selectively applying the intermediate frequency correcting signal
S.sub.C from divider circuit DIV and the corresponding divider
stages 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65. The provision of the circuit of FIGS.
14 and 15 avoids over counting due to the presetting provision of
the auxiliary divider circuits. Signals S.sub.A, S.sub.B, and
S.sub.C of FIG. 15 correspond to signals S.sub.a, S.sub.b, and
S.sub.c of FIG. 14.
The circuit of FIGS. 14 and 15 permits automatic time correction by
means of using a correct-time broadcasting signal as the correction
signal S.sub.B applied to the auxiliary divider circuit.
Furthermore, the circuit of FIGS. 14 and 15 can be used in a stop
watch to measure lap time since the output of the main divider
stage always changes coincidently with the output of the auxiliary
divider if a clock pulse is used as the S.sub.B input and only
switch S.sub.b is turned on.
Still a further time correction switching arrangement is depicted
in FIGS. 16 and 17. In said arrangement, a winding crown 77 is
provided with a rotary switching mechanism depicted in FIG. 16, and
a push-type switch mechanism as depicted in FIG. 17. Winding crown
77 is provided with a squared portion 76 which is received within a
square window 70 in the rotary switch element. A movable contact 84
is displaced relative to circumferentially spaced fixed contact 71,
72, 73, 74 and 75 by rotating winding crown 77 in the direction of
arrow 83.
Fixed contacts 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 may correspond, for example,
to switches S.sub.b , S.sub.b , S.sub.b , S.sub.b and S.sub.b .
When crown 77 is longitudinally displaced in the direction of arrow
82, after a desired column is selected by rotating the crown, end
member 81 engages movable contact 80 against fixed contact 79 to
close an electrical circuit. Movable contact 80 and fixed contact
79 are mounted on insulating base 78 and would have leads connected
thereto. The switch defined by contact 79 and 80 may be connected
to divider DIV to provide the quick-feed correction signal S.sub.C
to the switches represented by contacts 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 and
84.
The arrangement in accordance with the invention permits the
selective correction of each display element through the use of
only one winding crown. At one rotary position of the winding
crown, all of the display elements are set to zero, or at other
rotary positions of the winding crown, separate display elements
may be separately corrected, with the respective display elements
being quickly corrected in a step wise manner. Two separate crowns
may be utilized if desired.
The arrangements in accordance with the invention reduces erroneous
time corrections and simplifies the performance of the time
correction functions as compared with the One-Step method.
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.
* * * * *