Patent ID: 6639874
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: G04C

Abstract:
A pointer electronic timepiece, comprising:a plurality of step motors; a plurality of pointers driven by the step motors, the plurality of pointers at least including a primary timepiece pointer for indicating current time and an alarm pointer for indicating an alarm setting time; a plurality of external operation members; a current time counter for counting the current time; an alarm counter for storing the alarm setting time; an alarm beeper; and an alarm controller for controlling the alarm pointer and the alarm beeper; wherein the external operation members include a winding crown for operating the primary timepiece pointer and at least one control switch in addition to the winding crown, said winding crown being capable of changing position thereof to at least three positions including a zero stage, a first stage and a second stage; wherein the alarm controller switches among an alarm beeping mode, an alarm time setting mode, and an alarm current time adjusting mode in accordance with the three positions of the winding crown, said alarm beeping mode being effective for beeping an alarm when the current time coincides with the alarm setting time, said alarm time setting mode being effective for setting the alarm setting time, and said alarm current time adjusting mode being effective for adjusting the alarm pointer to the current time; and wherein when the alarm controller is switched to said modes in accordance with the position of the winding crown, the alarm controller is operated in the respective modes by said control switch as follows: when the alarm controller is in the alarm beeping mode as determined from the position of the winding crown, the control switch is effective for stopping the beeping of the alarm; when the alarm controller is in the alarm time setting mode as determined from the position of the winding crown, the control switch is effective for setting the alarm setting time; and when the alarm controller is in the alarm current time adjusting mode as determined from the position of the winding crown, the control switch is effective for adjusting the alarm pointer to the current time.