Horology: time measuring systems or devices – With calendar indicator – Movable ring or disk
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-30
2001-02-06
Roskoski, Bernard (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
With calendar indicator
Movable ring or disk
C368S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185158
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a small electronic apparatus having a plurality of functional display means, and, more particularly, to an electronic device having a plurality of functional display means for displaying various types of times, dates, using a driving means such as a plurality of motors and display means such as hands and rotating plates.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
In hand display type electronic watches which display time using hands, many multifunctional watches using a plurality of motors and possessing various functions as well as a time display function are conventionally manufactured as commercial products. Such a multifunctional watch is at present indispensable as one type of wrist watches. However, the wrist watch must have excellent portability and be compact, light, and inexpensive. Therefore, there is a certain limitation to the multifunctional provision of using a certain motor for a certain functional display.
There is a known structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 41071/1976 for driving, each time as required, a date plate for displaying the date, which is one of the functions.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 41071/1976 discloses a structure in which, in the case of date feed only, the standard drive of constantly rotating hour and minute train wheels and the like is switched to a geneva system to drive the date plate and thereby achieve efficiently such a function as that of a date plate which is driven once a day.
In such a structure for driving the date plate in connection with motors for driving hour, minute, and second hands, however, a complex structure is required to convert the momentum for turning seconds equivalent to one day into the momentum for advancing the date by one day. This is unsuitable for the specifications of the watch. Therefore, the date plate is usually isolated from the motors for driving hour, minute, and second hands and is driven by a separate forced driving means.
A method in which the date plate is driven by an independent motor is a simple method for promoting multifunctionalization. This method requires a motor and train wheels used exclusively for the date plate, which causes further circuit complexity and increases the number of parts. Therefore, it is difficult to assemble a watch in a limited space giving rise to the problem wherein the watch is large or thick.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a functional display unit which can display many functions using a reduced number of motors thereby enabling a multifunctional display without making the electronic device large or thick, in small electronic apparatus such as timepieces possessing a plurality of display functions.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The above object can be attained by the provision of a functional display in a small electronic apparatus comprising:
function driving means generating function driving signals corresponding to a plurality of functions;
a plurality of functional display means which are so provided as to correspond to the plurality of functions; and
a driving means which transmits driving forces to the functional display means simultaneously in accordance with the function driving signals from the function driving means.
In the embodiments, the plurality of functional display means comprises a first display means with sequentially varying display conditions in connection with the driving force from the driving means and a second display means with intermittently varying display conditions in connection with the driving force from the driving means; and the function driving means comprise a first function driving means for generating a functional driving signal by which only the first display means normally operates and the second function driving means by which only the second display means normally operates.
In the small electronic apparatus provided with the functional display unit of the present invention structured in this manner, a plurality of functional displays can be attained and a small electronic apparatus can be made more compact and thinner.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4261046 (1981-04-01), Ono et al.
patent: 4695168 (1987-09-01), Meister et al.
patent: 5274614 (1993-12-01), Yamazaki
patent: 5384755 (1995-01-01), Ferenczy
patent: 5473580 (1995-12-01), Gilomen
patent: 5956294 (1999-09-01), Tatizawa et al.
patent: 54-67470 (1979-05-01), None
patent: 54-112677 (1979-09-01), None
patent: 59-56185 (1984-03-01), None
patent: 61-76978 (1986-04-01), None
patent: 63-124683 (1988-08-01), None
patent: 6-12987 (1994-02-01), None
patent: 6-28780 (1994-04-01), None
Ito Yukio
Kitazawa Isao
Okigami Tomio
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
Roskoski Bernard
LandOfFree
Small electronic apparatus having function display does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Small electronic apparatus having function display, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Small electronic apparatus having function display will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2570848