INPUT DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRONIC TIMEPIECE

Abstract: An electronic timepiece on whose case (2) there is mounted an indicia-carrying member (1) which may be moved relatively to the case (2) so as to bring a selected indicium (6) on the indicia-carrying member 1 to a predetermined indicating position (5), an electrical circuit comprising a plurality of switch pins (8 a , 8 b , 8 c ) engageable with the indicia-carrying member (1) or means (7) secured thereto, and an electronic device (21), controlled by said electrical circuit, responsive to the position of the indicia-carrying member (1) characterised in that the indicia-carrying member (1) or means (7) secured thereto has a pattern of electrically conductive and non-conductive areas over which the switch pins (8 a , 8 b , 8 c ) pass when the indicia-carrying member (1) is moved over the case (2), at least one portion (7 a ) of said pattern having a shape which differs from that of the other portions thereof so that, when a switch pin (8 a , 8 b , 8 c )is in contact with said one portion (7 a ), the electrical signals which are sent to the electronic device (21) can be distinguished thereby from the electrical signals which are sent thereto when there is no switch pin (8 a , 8 b , 8 c ) in contact with said one portion (7 a ).

Description: The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece. An electronic watch is known from US-A-4,451,159 having a rotatable annular dial marked with indicia, the dial having projections and recesses which cause switch pins to move up and down, so that the switch is turned ON/OFF, as the dial is rotated. In the known watch, the maximum number of modes in which the watch could be used depended upon the number of switch pins and was restricted to the ability to determine the angular position of the annular dial. For example, when there were four switch pins, the mechanism could be used in only up to 12 modes at the maximum. Generally if the number of switch pins is n, the maximum number of modes will be n x (n-1) if n ≧ 3. However, the number of switch pins was limited to four, and it was actually impossible to increase the number of switch pins. Moreover, as the switch pins were moved up and down by the projections and recesses of the dial, it was impossible in practice to provide more than 12 projections and recesses. Therefore, it was impossible to provide more than 12 modes. According therefore to the present invention there is provided an electronic timepiece on whose case there is mounted an indicia-carrying member which may be moved relatively to the case so as to bring a selected indicium on the indicia-carrying member to a predetermined indicating position, an electrical circuit comprising a plurality of switch pins engageable with the indicia-carrying member or means secured thereto, and an electronic device, controlled by said electrical circuit, responsive to the position of the indicia-carrying member, characterised in that the indicia-carrying member or means secured thereto has a pattern of electrically conductive and non-conductive areas over which the switch pins pass when the indicia-carrying member is moved over the case, at least one portion of said pattern having a shape which differs from that of the other portions thereof so that, when a switch pin is in contact with said one portion, the electrical signals which are sent to the electronic device can be distinguished thereby from the electrical signals which are sent thereto when there is no switch pin in contact with said one portion. Preferably, the indicia-carrying member or the means secured thereto has a plurality of projections each of which is provided with a respective conductive area. One of the said projections is preferably larger than the others. The indicia-carrying member may be rotatably mounted on the case, the conductive areas being angularly spaced apart. Resilient means may be provided for urging the switch pins into engagement with the said pattern. Preferably, the electronic device is arranged to memorise the position of the indicia-carrying member on the case and its direction of movement over the latter. There may be a first memory circuit for memorising existing switch data, a second memory circuit for memorising previous switch data, and output means for outputting to said electronic device electrical signals from said first and second memory circuits which are representative of said position and direction. There are preferably setting means for setting said electronic device to a particular value by means of a switching signal which is produced when a switch pin engages the said one portion. The electronic device preferably comprises an up-down counter. Each of the first and second memory circuits preferably includes a flip-flop. Thus in the case of the present invention switching may be effected by contact between an electrical pattern formed directly on an annular dial (or means secured thereto) and switch pins. Consequently ON/OFF operation is not effected by up and down movement of the switch pins. Moreover, switching may be effected without employing projections and recesses on the annular dial and, instead, providing an electrical pattern on the annular dial. The present invention enables the electronic timepiece to have at least 60 modes as a result of the provision of an electrical pattern on the annular dial, this being in contrast to the maximum of 12 modes in the case of the known timepiece. Moreover, only three switch pins are necessary and the position of the switch pins can be established more easily than in the case of the known timepiece. The timepiece of the present invention may have means for avoiding mis-detection of the direction of rotation and the rotational position of the annular dial, this being achieved by providing three positions where the ON/OFF operation of the three switch pins and the position of the annular dial correspond exactly. In this case, even when mis-detection does occur and the value shown by the said up-down counter does not correspond to the position of the annular dial, the position of the annular dial is made to coincide with the value of the said counter when the annular dial passes over one of the three positions. The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view showing an electronic timepiece according to the present invention which is adapted for use as a memo watch, Figure 2 is a broken away sectional view of the watch shown in Figure 2, Figure 3 is a plan view of an annular dial forming part of the watch of Figures 1 and 2, the view showing a patterned member, Figure 4 is a table indicating the ON/OFF condition of switches in relation to the angular position of the annular dial, Figure 5 shows a switch input circuit, and Figure 6 is a timing chart of the switch input circuit. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of an electronic timepiece according to the present invention, the timepiece being used as a memo watch. The timepiece is provided with an annular dial 1 on which there are marked forty-eight equi-angularly spaced apart characters or indicia 6 which are constituted by the numbers 0-9; the letters A-Z; bracket, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and equals signs; and a colon, full stop, comma and query sign. Sufficient characters are thus provided to enable them to be used for the taking of notes. When a user wants to take a note or memo, he can rotate the annular dial and set it successively to the desired characters 6 so as to input a memo. As each character 6 is brought to a position in which it is aligned with an index mark 5 and one of two button switches 3 is operated, a signal is inputted to an input circuit 20 (Figure 5), as described below. The memo may be retrieved and shown on a display portion 4 on operation of one of the button switches 3. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the memo watch of Figure 1. The annular dial 1 is mounted on an outer case 2 of the watch which is provided with the button switches 3 and the display portion 4. The button switches 3 may also be used to adjust the indication provided by the display portion 4. The watch is made water-resistant by a packing 10 which is interposed between the annular dial 1 and a glass 11, and by a further packing 10 a which is interposed between a rear case 15 and the outer case 2. A panel frame 12 is provided with three electrically conductive switch pins 8 (only one of which is shown in Figure 2), each switch pin 8 being always urged by a respective electrically conductive spring 9 with a certain force towards an electrically conductive patterned member 7 carried by the annular dial 1. The patterned member 7 has a pattern of electrically conductive and non-conductive areas over which the switch pins 8 pass when the annular dial 1 is rotated. Each conductive area is provided on a radially inwardly extending projection 7' of the patterned member 7. Each spring 9 presses with a certain pressure against a circuit pattern 16 mounted on a circuit base plate 17, whereby the springs 9 serve as electrical paths between the switch pins 8 and the circuit pattern 16. The circuit base plate 17 is mounted on a battery housing 14 which contains an electric battery 13. When the annular dial 1 is rotated, the switch pins 8 repeatedly make and break contact with the electrically conductive parts of the patterned member 7 on the annular dial 1 so as to effect ON/OFF operation of the circuit pattern 16. Figure 3 is a view of the patterned member 7 provided on the annular dial 1, as seen from above. Figure 3 shows the positions of the three switch pins which are shown as switch pins 8 a , 8 b , 8 c and are also referred to below as switch pins A, B, C respectively. Switch pins A, B, C (i.e. 8 a , 8 b , 8 c ) repeatedly make and break contact with the electrical pattern provided on the annular dial 1 as a result of the rotation of the annular dial 1 so as to effect the ON/OFF operation of the circuit pattern 16. The annular dial 1 shown in Figure 3 is at the position (0) in which the character 0 is aligned with the index mark 5. In this particular position, the switch pins A to C (8 a to 8 c ) are respectively ON, OFF and OFF. Numeral 7 a indicates a position where the patterned member 7 has an irregular projection. That is to say, the projection 7 a extends through the angular spaces occupied by two characters (i.e. the characters "3" and "4") whereas each of the other projections 7' extends through a single such angular space. As a result of this irregular projection 7 a , during one revolution of the annular dial 1, the ON/OFF states of the three switch pins A to C (8 a to 8 c ) depends upon the position of the annular dial 1. In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, the annular dial 1 is divided into forty-eight parts, but if there are three switch pins, it may be divided into any multiple of 3. Also, the switch pins A to C (8 a to 8 c ) need not be disposed at the positions shown in Figure 3, since they can, for example, be provided at any angular position which is spaced by any multiple of 22.5 degrees from the points shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 is a table relating to the various positions of the annular dial 1 and the corresponding ON/OFF state of the switch pins A to C (8 a to 8 c ). As will be seen from Figure 4, when the switch pins 8 a , 8 b , 8 c are out of contact with the irregular projection 7 a , one of the three switches is always ON. When the annular dial 1 is then rotated through one "click" (i.e. through 7.5 degrees), one of the two switches that were OFF turns ON, and the switch which was ON turns OFF. Utilizing this mechanism, the direction of rotation, i.e. whether to the "right" (clockwise) or to the "left" (counter-clockwise), can be determined by the input circuit which is described below. Owing to the existence of the irregular projection 7 a of the patterned member 7, however, when the annular dial 1 is turned to the positions "1", "5", or "9", two of the three switches turn ON and the other one turns OFF, so that the position of annular dial 1 is determined by the ON/OFF condition of the switches. At the positions "1", "5", and "9" of the annular dial 1, the input circuit 20 (Figure 5) sets a 48 step up-down counter 21 to respective values, and the input circuit 20 ensures that the value shown by the counter 21 coincides with the position of the annular dial 1 even when there is an error in detecting the position of the latter. In the input circuit 20 shown in Figure 5 the switches A to C operate as in Figure 4. The input circuit 20 ensures that the value shown by the counter 21 coincides with the position of the annular dial 1 by detecting the direction of rotation and the angular position of the annular dial 1. A clock generator 22 shown in Figure 5 always outputs signals CLl to CL3 as shown in Figure 6, when setting the sampling frequency of switches A to C to 2KHz. Also, the 48 step up-down counter 21 shown in Figure 5 is a counter wherein, when one pulse of active high level is inputted either to its up terminal or to its down terminal, the value of the counter is adjusted by +1 or -1, and when the terminals SET 1, SET 5, SET 9 are at high level, the content of the counter 21 is respectively set to 1, 5, 9. Moreover, F1, F2 are T (trigger) type flip-flops, and F4 to F15 are D (data) type flip-flops, both operating when terminal T or terminal C receives an active low level signal. The explanation of the operation of the circuit shown in Figure 5 referring to the timing chart of Figure 6 is as follows. When switch A, B or C is ON, the output of a NAND gate A4 or A6 or A8 from an R-S latch composed of NAND gates A4 to A9 goes up. Then, a detection circuit operates which consists of F4, F5 and B0, or F6, F7 and B1, or F8, F9 and B2, and the output of NAND gate BO or B1 or B2 is synchronized with the going down of the signal 2KQ. When one of the outputs of BO to B2 starts to go down, flip-flops F1, F2 are reset, and F2 starts to be at the high level "Hi". When F2 becomes "Hi", CL1 to CL3 are outputted to each circuit by AND gates A1 to A3. As a result of the signal CL1, the R-S latch composed of the NAND gates A4 to A9 is reset, and the present ON/OFF data (n) of the switches A to C is latched. Moreover, simultaneously with the start of CL1, the prior data (n-1) latched to the flip-flops F12, F14 is latched to the flip-flops F11, F13, F15. Next, with the start of CL2, the present data (n) latched at the R-S latch composed of the NAND gates A4 to A9 are latched to the flip-flops F10, F12, F14. Then the present data (n) latched at the flip-flops F10, F12, F14 and the former data (n-1) latched at the flip-flops F11, F13, F15 are decoded by a decoding circuit composed of NAND gates B7 to B9, C0 to C7, and then the UP or DOWN signal is outputted to the 48 step up-down counter 21 at the timing of CL3. If the present data (n) latched at the flip-flops F10, F12, F14 are (on, on, off), (off,on, on), (on, off, on), terminal SET 1 or SET 5 or SET 9 receives a signal and compulsorily sets the 48 step up-down counter 21 to 1, 5 or 9. In this case, the UP DOWN signal is not outputted. When SET 1 or SET 5 or SET 9 receives a high level signal, the flip-flops F1, F2 are always reset by the output of a NAND gate B3 through a NOR gate DO and is set to output CL1 to CL3. This is to detect which one of the switches A to C turns on, that is to detect the transition of 1 (on, on, off), 0 (on, off, off) 5 (off, on, on), 4 (off, on, off), or 9 (on, off, on), 8 (off, off, on), by resetting the R-S latch composed of the NAND gates A4 to A9, at CL1. As a result of the above operation, the switch input circuit shown in Figure 5 detects the ON/OFF operation of the switches A to C, and is possible to make the position of the annular dial 1 coincide with the value of the 48 step up-down counter 21. The electronic timepiece of the present invention may have a larger number of modes than known devices, the annular dial 1 being usable for purposes other than time information modes. For example, the electronic timepiece of the present invention can be utilized for character-letter selection of memo watches as shown in Figure 1, or for the data input of alarm time in the case of watches having only usual functions. As only three switch pins are necessary, and the positions of the switch pins can be chosen freely, the electronic timepiece of the present invention can easily be made in a large number of different designs.

Claims: 1. An electronic timepiece on whose case (2) there is mounted an indicia-carrying member (1) which may be moved relatively to the case (2) so as to bring a selected indicium (6) on the indicia-carrying member 1 to a predetermined indicating position (5), an electrical circuit comprising a plurality of switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c) engageable with the indicia-carrying member (1) or means (7) secured thereto, and an electronic device (21), controlled by said electrical circuit, responsive to the position of the indicia-carrying member (1) characterised in that the indicia-carrying member (1) or means (7) secured thereto has a pattern of electrically conductive and non-conductive areas over which the switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c) pass when the indicia-carrying member (1) is moved over the case (2), at least one portion (7a) of said pattern having a shape which differs from that of the other portions thereof so that, when a switch pin (8a, 8b, 8c)is in contact with said one portion (7a), the electrical signals which are sent to the electronic device (21) can be distinguished thereby from the electrical signals which are sent thereto when there is no switch pin (8a, 8b, 8c) in contact with said one portion (7a). 2. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the indicia-carrying member (1) or the means (7) secured thereto has a plurality of projections (7') each of which is provided with a respective conductive area. 3. A timepiece as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that one (7a) of said projections (7') is larger than the others. 4. A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the indicia-carrying member (1) is rotatably mounted on the case (2), the conductive areas being angularly spaced apart. 5. A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that resilient means (9) are provided for urging the switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c) into engagement with the said pattern. 6. A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the electronic device (21) is arranged to memorise the position of the indicia-carrying member (1) on the case (2) and its direction of movement over the latter. 7. A timepiece as claimed in claim 6 characterised in that there is a first memory circuit (F10, F12, F14) for memorising existing switch data, a second memory circuit (F11, F13, F15) for memorising previous switch data, and output means (B7-B9, C1, C2, C6-C9) for outputting to said electronic device (21) electrical signals from said first and second memory circuits which are representative of said position and direction. 8. A timepiece as claimed in claim 7 characterised in that there are setting means (C3-C5) for setting said electronic device (21) to a particular value by means of a switching signal which is produced when a switch pin (8a, 8b, 8c) engages the said one portion (7a). 9. A timepiece as claimed in claim 7 or 8 in which each of the first and second memory circuits includes a flip-flop (F10, F12, F14 and F11, F13 and F15). 10. A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the electronic device comprises an up-down counter (21). 11. An electronic timepiece having a rotary annular dial (1) on a timepiece case (2); an electrical pattern (7) disposed on said rotary annular dial, said electrical pattern having an irregular portion (7a); a plurality of switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c) for electrically making contact with said electrical pattern (7); an input circuit (20) receiving an electrical signal derived from said switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c) and said electrical pattern (7), said input circuit (20) having a position memory means (21) for memorizing the position andthe direction of rotation of said rotary annular dial; a first memory circuit (F10, F12, F14) for memorizing switch data of said switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c): a second memory circuit (F11, F13, F15) for memorizing prior data of said switch pins; output means (B7 - B9, C1, C2, C6 - C9) for outputting a direction of rotation signal and a position signal relating to said rotary annular dial (1) to said position memory means (21), and setting means (C3- C5) for setting said position memory means (21) to a particular value by a switching signal derived from said portion (7a) and said switch pins (8a, 8b, 8c).

Inventors: INOUE, YUICHI
Applicants: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G04G1
IPC codes: G04C3, H01H19, G04G21