Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Regulating means – For setting
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-19
2003-08-12
Miska, Vit (Department: 2841)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Regulating means
For setting
Reexamination Certificate
active
06604851
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to setting methodologies for electronic devices, such as, but not limited to wrist-worn watches, and in particular, to an improved setting methodology for an electronic device that includes a rotatable setting stem and a crown coupled thereto, wherein the method provides for the prevention of unintended and/or undesirable mode, information and/or display changes, notwithstanding that the crown and/or setting stem may inadvertently or undesirably rotate.
Many conventional watches are known in which a setting stem and a crown coupled thereto can be rotated to adjust or select information on the display on the watch. In a conventional analog watch for example, the rotation of the crown, when the setting stem is in a “neutral” position, may not necessarily cause a change in the displayed time. This is most likely due to the conventional design thereof in which the crown must first be pulled from its “neutral” position to a second position before the watch hands would be movable due to a rotation of the crown. In one improved construction, of which the present assignee is the owner, the top ring of the watch can be used to rotate the crown. This construction, disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,565, describes how the setting stem, while in the “neutral” position, need not change the hands that tell time notwithstanding the fact that it is rotating.
In recent years, a rotating setting stem and/or crown construction has been used as a means to adjust the time or other information and/or change modes or the like in digital watches, thus eliminating the use of multi-function pushers, and hence making such watches more “user friendly”. Two such examples of such a crown setting mechanism for use in a digital watch are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,209,976 and 4,419,018.
As would be expected, watch designers are continuously constructing electronic devices, such as watches, to be more and more “user friendly”. One such attempt at simplifying the setting of such a timepiece is to eliminate the need to first “pull” the setting stem before any mode setting can occur. However, the decision to have the watch able to change information or modes (for example) while the setting stem is in what is considered the “neutral” position gives rise to certain problems, one of which is that accidental or inadvertent rotation of the setting stem while it is in the “neutral” position may frustrate or annoy the user since the mode or information being displayed could be subject to undesirable change.
Another perceived deficiency in the prior art is that a user must be precise when setting such watches. For example, after setting the alarm or date, the user would typically want to put the watch back in the “TIME” mode where the time is displayed. Often, this requires the user to cycle through the plurality of modes until the TIME mode appears. Such a procedure often takes concentration so as not to pass the TIME mode inadvertently, since passing it would require the user to recycle through the modes a second time. To require precise setting is undesirable since such need be precise is difficult for those with less than perfect hand/eye coordination or finger dexterity or for those where speed is of the essence such as in high performance athletics.
As it is now known to cause the rotation of the setting stem by rotation of the crown or a top ring, it is desirable to provide a electronic device construction that is both “user friendly” as described above, while at the same time incorporates setting methodologies that eliminate the frustrating and annoying potential results due to undesirable or inadvertent crown, top ring and thus setting stem rotation. It is also desirable to provide an electronic device that allows a user to more easily set it (such as by more easily and quickly allowing a user to have the device return to the “HOME” or “TIME” mode). The present invention achieves the aforementioned and below mentioned advantages.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved setting methodology for multimode electronic devices and, in particular, for digital and combination analog and digital timepieces, such as wristwatches, that overcomes the foregoing and other problems.
It is another object and advantage of this invention to provide an improved setting methodology for such electronic devices that eliminates the effects of unintended or undesirable crown or top ring movement if such movement is operatively coupled to the rotation of the setting stem.
It is yet another object and advantage of this invention to provide an improved setting methodology that permits a still further simplified mechanical construction so as to provide a more “user friendly” digital and/or combination analog and digital timepiece, such as a watch.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
The foregoing and other problems are overcome and the objects and advantages are realized by methods in accordance with embodiments of this invention, wherein improved setting methodologies for a multimode electronic device are disclosed.
Generally speaking, a method of setting a multimode electronic device, of the type having a switching mechanism that generates intermittent electrical signals when the switching mechanism is displaced in either a first or second direction and an integrated circuit operable in at least a current mode, a mode setting mode and a next mode and operatively coupled to the switching mechanism, is disclosed. In accordance with a first embodiment, the method comprises the steps of detecting a first electrical signal generated by the switching mechanism, determining whether a predetermined number of electrical signals are generated prior to the expiration of a predetermined period of time, and if so, causing the electronic device to exit the current mode and enter the next mode.
In another embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of, while the electronic device is in the current mode, detecting an electrical signal generated by the switching mechanism, causing the electronic device to exit the current mode and enter a next mode, determining whether the next mode is the “home” mode and if so, not permitting the electronic device to exit the “home” mode and enter a next mode for a predetermined period of time. This embodiment allows a user for example, to set another function (such as the alarm or date), and cause the device to more quickly and easily allow the user to return to the HOME mode, such as the TIME mode, where the time is displayed. Such an embodiment is advantageous in the situation where the user has less than perfect hand/eye coordination or finger dexterity or where speed in setting the device is of essence.
In yet a third aspect of the invention, the method comprises the steps of determining whether a crown lock condition is locked, and if so, preventing the electronic device from exiting the current mode and entering the next mode until a predetermined number of electrical signals are generated prior to the expiration of a predetermined period of time. The method may also include the steps of unlocking the crown lock condition, starting a Lock Timer, determining whether an electrical signal is detected prior to the expiration of the Lock Timer, and if not, locking the crown lock condition. Still further, after the step of locking the crown lock condition, the method may include the steps of detecting a first electrical signal generated by the switching mechanism, determining whether a predetermined number of electrical signals are generated prior to the expiration of a predetermined period of time, and if so, causing the electronic device to exit the current mode and enter the next mode.
In the preferred embodiment, the switching mechanism includes a rotating setting stem and the electronic device is a watch.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4209976 (1980-07-0
Ciervo Richard D.
Daly Edward J.
Demarchi Robert
Garalapuraiaha Manjunath
Garay John L.
Carmody & Torrance LLP
Goodwin Jeanne-Marguerite
Miska Vit
Timex Group B.V.
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