Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Chronological – With power monitor
Patent
1998-05-05
2000-10-24
Roskoski, Bernard
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Chronological
With power monitor
368204, G04B 900
Patent
active
061377481
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electronic timepiece equipped with a calendar function, and, especially, to an electronic time piece equipped with a system for automatically executing the month-end amendment for a calendar when a battery is replaced.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
Conventionally, a number of electronic wrist watches provided with a calendar function is on the market. These watches include commercial products in which a microcomputer is used to amend a calendar. Initial data, specifically, the month, day, and time at the start of operation of a watch is set by operating a plurality of buttons. Also, the number of days from the start of operation is counted to discriminate which type of month is, specifically, a 31-day month or a month with thirty or less day at the end of the month, thereby amending the displays of the month and day.
In these electronic timepieces, replacement of a battery is inevitable. When a battery is removed for replacement, the time information which has been stored up to that time is cleared. In this case, it has been proposed to adopt a system used in many electric devices in which a secondary power source differing from the primary power source operates to store the time information and the like which must not be lost, the secondary power source is always replenished by a charge from the primary power source, and the secondary power source operates to maintain the memory during replacement of the primary power source. However, it is difficult to incorporate such a system into devices such as electronic timepieces, particularly electronic wrist watches, which are made more convenient by a reduction in size.
In addition, there is the case where watches in the condition that a battery runs out are allowed to stand for over several weeks or several months. Even if the aforementioned system in which the time information is protected using the secondary power source could be realized, such a system would not meet the requirements of this case. There is, among other measures, one in which a non-volatile substance is used to memorize the time information just before a battery runs out and driving hands are suspended. Even such measures are of no use if the period of time during which the watch is allowed to stand is long.
Because of the aforementioned reasons, the above electronic timepieces in which a calendar is corrected using a microcomputer prevail in the market at present.
However, in such an electronic timepiece, as mentioned above, not only a very complicated operation is required to set the initial data when replacing a battery but also the watch must be provided with a number of operating buttons. This causes the decorative shape of the watch to be restricted. Also, since the life of the battery is very long, there is the problem that one may forget how to operate buttons for amending the calendar when the battery is replaced next time.
In view of this situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic timepiece equipped with a calendar function in which the initial data when a battery is replaced can be set exactly by a simple operation without the necessity for a button attached to the casing of the watch for executing this operation.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The above objects can be attained in the present invention by the provision of an electronic timepiece equipped with a calendar function comprising a time counter for counting time reference signals, a calendar hand driving device for moving hands in accordance with to the count content of the time counter, a cover open/close switch for sensing opening/closing of a timepiece cover and time information setting means for setting time calendar information when the timepiece cover is opened, wherein the time counter counts time reference signals by using the time information set by the time information setting means as the reference.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the time information setting means includes an electrode code plate
REFERENCES:
patent: 5889736 (1999-03-01), Fujita et al.
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
Roskoski Bernard
LandOfFree
Electronic timepiece equipped with calendar function does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electronic timepiece equipped with calendar function, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electronic timepiece equipped with calendar function will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1971697