Timepiece

Abstract: A timepiece comprising at least one step motor (3, 13) which drives a respective display (103-5, 107-8) by way of a respective gear train (5-12, 24, 28, 15-18); and adjustment means (19, 25, 106) for adjusting the or each display (103-5, 107-8) characterised in that the adjustment means (25,106) comprises an electrical control circuit (124) for controlling the operation of the respective display (107-8), the control circuit (124) being provided with a plurality of conductor members (201, 202); and a switch member (118) which has contact portions (118a, 118b) engageable with respective conductor members (201, 202) so as to complete at least one circuit of the control circuit (124) and thereby control operation of the latter.

Description: This invention relates to a timepiece and, although it is not so restricted, it relates more particularly to a multifunction analog electronic timepiece. A multifunction analog electronic timepiece is known which has chronograph, alarm and timer functions. Such a multifunction timepiece is provided with externally operable means which are adjustable to enable functions additional to the usual time display to be provided. A signal can be inputted to an integrated circuit by operating the externally operable means and thus each function can be put into operation. A switch member is operable by the externally operable means, the switch member being mounted on a pin of a conductive base plate or some other element which is kept at the positive potential of the timepiece battery. The switch member, which is made of a conductive material, is thus also at the said positive potential. Therefore, a part of an IC member is also at the said positive potential and a signal is inputted thereto when the switch member contacts one of the copper leaf patterns arranged in the IC circuit block. As above described, in the known construction, since the switch member itself is kept at the said positive potential, the copper leaf pattern which is contacted by the switch member is only one portion of the construction. This construction of the switch member, however, has been of great use because it is easy to keep the switch member at the said positive potential provided that the battery at the periphery of the switch member remains at the positive potential, i.e. is not exhausted. Recently, polymeric materials have come to be used in substitution for metal for the reason that they can be produced at low cost, that they are highly reliable, and that they can be given complicated shapes. Consequently, a polymeric base plate is tending to take the place of the present metal base plate. The use of polymeric material is particularly effective in multifunction timepieces since the latter involve more elements and more complex forms of the base plates than do conventional timepieces. However, since polymeric material is not conductive electrically, it is not possible to keep the switch member at the said positive potential merely by virtue of its contact with a pin or doweled joint in the base plate if the latter is made of polymeric material, and therefore it has been necessary to make the construction of the switch member complicated so that the timepiece movement has become big and thick. In such a multifunction analog electronic timepiece, moreover, the alarm time may be displayed at one particular portion of the dial such as at the 6 o'clock or 9 o'clock position by using a small seconds hand and alarm minutes hand in addition to the usual seconds minutes and hour hands. A supplemental stem switch and button may be used for changing into the multifunction mode and for correcting the multifunction time in addition to correcting the actual time. Such multifunction analog timepieces, however, have not had a construction in which one single setting element operates at least two clutch wheels which are respectively arranged in respective adjustment portions since the adjustment portion which corresponds to each time display has been arranged separately from the or each other. However, since the known analog multifunction timepieces have a separate setting means for each time display portion, they have been big and thick, and this has been a considerable problem. In addition, an analog multifunction electronic timepiece in which each time display is corrected electrically by one mechanical adjustment means and by a button input operation is difficult to use. An analog timepiece is moreover known having an externally operable member which is settable in a plurality of positions, a setting member being connected to the externally operable member. In the adjustment means of this known analog timepiece, in correcting the time, a stem is pulled out so as to move the setting member into an operative position. A yoke is then operated in dependence upon the operation of the setting member, which causes a clutch wheel to be pushed into engagement with the yoke. This enables rotation of the externally operable member to be transmitted to a gear train, and thus it becomes possible to correct the time. In this arrangement, two setting elements, i.e. the setting member and the yoke, are needed since the clutch wheel is mounted on a stem and must be pushed in the opposite direction to the stem when the stem is pulled out. In addition, in the known analog timepiece, the setting portion has needed considerable space since the movement of the stem is transmitted to the clutch wheel by two setting elements, namely a setting lever and the yoke. Furthermore, analog timepieces are often used for dress purposes. However, it is difficult to miniaturize and thin a movement having such a setting portion. Again, among analog multi-function timepieces the market for which has become bigger recently, some have a plurality of setting portions in one movement so that it becomes almost impossible to design a timepiece using a known setting means because of the space problem. In WO-A-83-02340 there is disclosed a timepiece comprising at least one step motor which drives a respective display by way of a respective gear train; and adjustment means for adjusting the or each display, the adjustment means comprising an electrical control circuit for controlling the operation of the respective display, the control circuit being provided with a plurality of conductor members; and a switch member which has first and second contact portions engageable with respective conductor members so as to complete at least one circuit of the control circuit and thereby control operation of the latter. Moreover, in EP-A-0240778 there is disclosed a timepiece provided with a substantially U-shaped switch member one of whose arms carries a contact portion which may be brought into contact with a fixed contact member. According to the present invention, there is provided a timepiece comprising at least one step motor which drives a respective display by way of a respective gear train; and adjustment means for adjusting the or each display, the adjustment means comprising an electrical control circuit for controlling the operation of the respective display, the control circuit being provided with a plurality of conductor members; and a switch member which has first and second contact portions engageable with respective conductor members so as to complete at least one circuit of the control circuit and thereby control operation of the latter, characterized in that the switch member is a substantially U-shaped switch member having a first arm which is provided with the first and second contact portions and a second arm which carries first and second terminal portions of the conductor members, a switch operating member being provided for moving the first arm towards the second arm so as first to establish contact between the first contact portion and the first terminal portion and thereafter, as a result of further pushing, to establish contact between the second contact portion and the second terminal portion. At least one said further display preferably is an actual time display for displaying the actual time, the first display being an alarm time display for displaying the alarm time. The or each said display may comprise an externally operable member which may be set in a plurality of axially spaced apart positions, operation of the switch member being ineffective to adjust the display except when the externally operable member is in a first axial position. The arrangement may also be that, when the externally operable member is in a second axial position, adjustment of the display may be effected merely by rotating the externally operable member. Preferably, the timepiece has a clutch wheel which is slidably mounted on the externally operable member; a setting lever which is arranged to be moved by movement of the externally operable member; and a gear train, the clutch wheel being movable into and out of driving engagement with the gear train, the clutch wheel being directly engageable by the setting lever so as to be moved thereby into the said driving engagement. There are preferably two separate substantially U-shaped switch members, each of the switch members being made out of identically shaped plate members. Each of the substantially U-shaped switch members may mounted on a mounting member, the switch members having arms which extend in opposite directions from the respective mounting members. The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of the movement of a first embodiment of an electronic timepiece in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an external view showing the timepiece of Figure 1; Figures 3(a) and (b) are enlarged plan views of portions of the timepiece of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows the cross-sections of switch members forming part of the timepiece of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of a setting mechanism forming part of the timepiece of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a plan view of a second embodiment of an electronic timepiece in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 is a front view of the timepiece of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a circuit diagram of the timepiece of Figure 6. Figure 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a multifunction electronic watch in accordance with the present invention, the multifunction electronic watch having both an actual or ordinary time display and an alarm time display, and having a pair of step motors and a pair of setting mechanisms. The watch is provided with a special switch construction for adjusting the alarm time. The watch shown in Figure 1 has a base plate 1 formed of moulded resin, and a silver oxide battery 2. A first step motor 3 is used for displaying the actual (i.e. non-alarm) time, the step motor 3 being provided with a magnetic core 3a formed of highly magnetic material; a coil block 3b enclosing a coil which is wound around the magnetic core 3a; a coil lead substrate or support having opposite ends treated to make them conductive; and a coil frame. The step motor 3 has a stator 3c formed of highly magnetic material, and a rotor 4 provided with a rotor magnet. Numerals 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively designate a fifth wheel, a fourth wheel, a third wheel and a second wheel (minute hand assembly wheel). Numeral 9 designates a minutes wheel, and numeral 10 designates an hour wheel (hour hand assembly wheel). Numeral 11 designates a centre seconds hand intermediate wheel which has no reduction ratio for transmitting the movement of the fourth wheel 6 to a centre seconds wheel 12 (seconds hand assembly wheel). With such a wheel train construction, the hours, minutes and seconds of the actual time can be displayed by means of hands mounted centrally of the watch. Numeral 13 designates a second step motor used for displaying an alarm setting time. The step motor 13 is provided with a magnetic core 13a formed of highly magnetic material; a coil block 13b enclosing a coil which is wound around the magnetic core 13a; a coil lead substrate or support having opposite ends treated to make them conductive; and a coil frame. The step motor 13 has a stator 13c formed of highly magnetic material, and a rotor 14 having a rotor magnet. Numerals 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively designate an alarm intermediate wheel, an alarm minutes wheel (alarm minutes hand assembly wheel), an alarm date wheel, and an alarm hour wheel (alarm hour hand assembly wheel). The alarm minute wheel 16 and the alarm hour wheel 18 are arranged in the six o'clock direction of the watch. With such a wheel train construction, the alarm setting time can be displayed by means of hands mounted in the six o'clock direction of the watch. Figure 2 is an external plan view showing the completed analog multifunction electronic watch of the present embodiment. In Figure 2, numeral 100 designates a casing, and numeral 101 designates a dial plate. On the dial plate 101, numeral 102 designates an alarm setting time display portion. The actual time (i.e. the actual time of day or the non-alarm time) is displayed by a seconds hand 103, a minutes hand 104 and an hour hand 105, the seconds hand 103 advancing once every second. Setting mechanisms of the analog multifunction electronic watch are described below with reference to Figures 1 and 5. For correcting the actual time, a first stem 19 can be pulled out from a zero position until it reaches a second step or position. At this moment, the fourth wheel 6 is engaged by an adjustment lever 22 (Figure 1) which is interlocked with means comprising a setting lever 20 and a yoke or rotatably mounted adjustment member 21 so that the seconds hand 103 is stopped. A clutch wheel 23 is positioned by an end portion 21a of the yoke 21, the end portion 21a engaging in a groove in the clutch wheel 23, which is axially slidable on the first stem 19. A first setting lever 20 is interconnected with the first stem 19 and engages a click portion of the yoke 21, the latter being resiliently urged into contact with the setting lever 20. When the first stem 19 is pulled out to its second position, the first setting lever 20 is rotated counter-clockwise and this causes the yoke 21 to rotate clockwise, thereby moving the clutch wheel 23 towards the position in which it engages a setting wheel 24. In such circumstances, when the first stem 19 is rotated, the rotation of the first stem 19 is transmitted to the minutes wheel 9 through the clutch wheel 23 and the setting wheel 24. Since the second wheel 8 has a constant slipping torque, the setting wheel 24, the minutes wheel 9, the second wheel 8 (minutes hand assembly wheel) and the hour wheel 10 can be rotated even when the fourth wheel 6 is so engaged. Therefore, the minutes hand 104 and the hour hand 105 are rotated and time setting can be carried out. When the first stem 19 is pushed back to its zero position, both the first setting lever 20 and the yoke 21 rotate in the direction opposite to that in which they rotated when the first stem 19 was pulled out, thereby disengaging the clutch wheel 23 from the setting wheel 24. Thus the end portion 21a effects movement of the clutch wheel 23 both into and out of its operative position. The switching construction of the alarm time display which will be explained below constitutes one feature of the present invention. The alarm setting time is displayed on the portion 102 on the dial plate 101. When a second stem 25 is in a normal position (zero position), an alarm minutes hand 107 and an alarm hours hand 108 are incremented at the normal rate of the actual time, namely once per minute in this embodiment. In this zero position, the hands are not moved by a button 106, and the alarm function is inhibited. When the stem 25 is pulled out to a first position, a switch (not shown in the drawings) interlocked with the stem 25 is turned on, releasing the alarm function. As soon as the stem 25 is pulled out to its first position, the hands 107, 108 move rapidly to the alarm setting time and then keep the position of the alarm setting time. The alarm setting time is memorized beforehand in a circuit. The coincidence of the alarm setting time and the content of an actual time counter in the circuit causes the alarm sound to operate. In the first step position of the stem 25, the alarm minutes hand 107 and the alarm hour hand 108 are advanced by one minute as often as the switch button 106 is pushed and an alarm setting time counter counts the inputted signals, so that an alarm time in the twelve hours mode (i.e. in contrast to the twenty-four hour mode) can be set afresh. The circuit is described later with reference to Figure 8. When the switch button 106 is continuously pushed, the alarm minutes hand 107 and the alarm hour hand 108 are continuously moved with increasing speed, so that the alarm time can be set within a short period of time. In the second position of the stem 25, to which the stem is pulled out, the time indicated by the hands 104 and 105 can be corrected mechanically by rotating the stem 25, and the actual time counter and the alarm setting time counter are reset. Then when the stem 25 is pushed back to its zero or first position, the actual time counter begins immediately to count time unit pulse signals. A new alarm setting time can be established by pulling the stem 25 to its first position as described above. When the stem 25 is pulled out, a second setting lever 26 interconnected with the stem 25 is also rotated counter-clockwise. When the stem 25 is pulled out to its second position, an edge portion 26a of the setting lever 26 pushes a clutch wheel 27 directly, thereby moving the clutch wheel 27 towards a setting wheel 28. The clutch wheel 26 is slidably mounted on the stem 25 for axial movement thereover. Numeral 26′ shows the moved position of the setting lever 26. When the clutch wheel 27 engages the setting wheel 28, rotation of the stem 25 carries out time correction. When the stem 25 is pushed back to its normal position, the setting lever 26 is disengaged from the clutch wheel 27. Then the clutch wheel 27 is moved back by a spring portion 21b of the yoke 21 which is engaged with a groove in the alarm clutch wheel 27, to disengage the clutch wheel 27 from the setting wheel 28. It is known for a clutch wheel to be moved by a setting lever and a yoke, but in this embodiment, since the setting lever 26 moves the clutch wheel 27 directly, the setting mechanism is simplified. Further, one yoke 21 is utilized to move each clutch wheel 23, 27 of each of the two setting mechanisms, thereby also simplifying the setting mechanisms. As will be appreciated, the portion 21b of the yoke 21 is employed only to move the clutch wheel 27 out of its operative position in which it engages the setting wheel 28, movement of the clutch wheel 27 into its operative position being effected by the setting lever 26. When the alarm time correction is carried out while the second stem 25 is positioned at its second step, the last alarm setting will be cancelled, and the time indicated by the alarm hour and minutes hands becomes the new alarm setting time when the second stem 25 is returned to its zero step. When the alarm setting time is required to be changed, the switch button 106 can be pushed while the second stem 25 is positioned at its first step, so that the required alarm setting time can be set. The alarm setting lever 26 is positioned by a spring 29a of a circuit hold plate 29 with dowel portion 26b of dowel 26a. A click force can be generated therein when the alarm setting lever 26 is moved by the second stem 25. In the present embodiment, since it has been used in an analog multifunction watch, the return spring action of the alarm clutch wheel 27 is carried out by the spring 21b, but it is possible to use some other member for constituting a return spring. The present embodiment is constituted by a multifunction watch having a pair of switching constructions. However, the present invention may also be used in an analog watch having only one switching construction so as to obtain a remarkably efficient effect. Next, the switch portion construction of the embodiment described above will be explained in detail with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a plan cross-sectional view showing on a larger scale a U-shaped switch member 118 which is also shown in Figure 1 and which is used only to render operative the means for adjusting the alarm hands 107, 108. Dowels or pins 1a and 1b projecting from the base plate 1 formed of moulded resin form a mounting for the U-shaped switch member 118, and a circuit support member 125 formed of moulded resin is arranged on the upper side thereof to have a space for operating the switch member 118. A circuit block 124, in which an integrated circuit (not shown) with electrode patterns and other electrical elements are provided, is mounted and positioned by a dowel or pin 124a projecting from the circuit block 124. Although the integrated circuit is not shown in Figure 3, it may be constituted by the CMOS-IC 120 (Figure 6) which is described below. The circuit block 124 has a copper leaf conductor member 201 which is connected to the battery 2. There is also a copper leaf conductor member 202 which is connected to the integrated circuit. The conductor members 201, 202 are provided with overhang contact or terminal portions 201a and 202a respectively which are mounted on a part of the block 124 which projects inwardly of the switch member 188 and are arranged on the upper side thereof so as to be disposed adjacent to but spaced from each other. When the switch button 106 is pushed, a projecting contact portion 118a of the switch member 118 contacts the overhang portion 201a of the copper leaf conductor member 201 of the positive terminal of the battery 2. Moreover, when the switch button 106 is pushed further, a switch member projecting contact portion 118b contacts the overhang portion 202a of the copper leaf switch input conductor member 202, and the switch input member 202 itself is set at the positive potential of the battery through the switch member 118 acting as a conductive member. The contact portions 118a, 118b are provided on one arm 118c of the U-shaped switch member 118, the terminal portions 201a, 202a being provided on the opposite arm 118d thereof. Consequently, a signal is inputted into the CMOS-IC, and the alarm setting time is adjusted by the switch member 118. Similarly, by pushing further switch buttons (not shown), one such switch can carry out starting and stopping of a chronograph function and another such switch can carry out resetting of the chronograph function. As will be seen from Figure 3, each of the arms 118c, 118d engages a respective dowel or pin 1a, 1b, and thus engages a fixed member, at its outer end, the switch member 118 being unsupported except at the outer ends of the arms 118c, 118d. It will also be seen from Figure 3 that the switch button 106 is engageable with the arm 118c at a position adjacent to the contact portions 118a, 118b. In Figures 6, 7 and 8, a multifunction analog watch with an actual time function, alarm function and chronograph function is shown, Figure 7 being a front view of the watch of Figure 6. Numeral 140 designates a watch case. 111, 112 and 114 are a minutes hand, an hour hand and a seconds hand of the ordinary time, respectively. 121 and 131 are a chronograph seconds hand and a chronograph minutes hand, respectively. 138 and 139 are an alarm minutes hand and an alarm hour hand, respectively. 141 is a dial of ordinary time, 142 and 143 are dials of the chronograph, and 144 is a dial of the alarm time. Buttons 124′, 117′ and 118′ correspond to switch members 124, 117 and 118, respectively, of Figure 8. Figure 6 is a plan view of the multifunction watch movement. There are four step motors A, B, C and D, referenced in Figure 6 as 3, 13, 75 and 87. The step motor 3 is for indicating actual or ordinary time and the step motor 13 is mainly for indicating alarm setting time. These two step motors function like the motors 3, 13 shown in Figure 1 and only the step motors 75 and 87 and the relevant parts thereof are added in Figure 6 to the construction of Figure 1. The same reference numerals are used to indicate common parts in Figures 1 and 6. The step motor 75 for chronograph seconds hand indication comprises a magnetic core 75a of high permeability material; a coil block 75b consisting of a coil wound on the magnetic core 75a; a coil lead substrate having opposite ends processed to be conductive and a coil frame; a stator 75c consisting of high permeability material; and a rotor 76 consisting of a rotor magnet and a rotor pinion. The rotation of the rotor 76 is transmitted to the chronograph seconds hand 121 through a chronograph first intermediate wheel 77, a chronograph second intermediate wheel 78 and a chronograph gear 79. The chronograph gear 79 is disposed centrally of the watch. The reduction gear ratio between the rotor 76 and the chronograph gear 79 is 1/150. The rotor 76 rotates two and a half times or 900 times per second on electrical signals from CMOS-IC 120, so that the chronograph gear 79 rotates 6 times per second, thereby indicating 60 chronograph seconds per revolution. The step motor 87 for chronograph minutes hand indication comprises a magnetic core 87a of high permeability material; a coil block 87b consisting of a coil wound on the magnetic core 87a; a coil lead substrate having opposite ends processed to be conductive and a coil frame; a stator 87c consisting of high permeability material; and a rotor 88 consisting of a rotor magnet and a rotor pinion. The rotation of the rotor 88 is transmitted to the chronograph minutes hand 131 through a chronograph minute intermediate wheel 89 and a chronograph minute wheel 90. The chronograph minute wheel 90 is disposed to rotate on an axis which is eccentric to the watch face and the 12 o'clock position of the hour hand 112. The reduction gear ratio between the rotor 88 and the chronograph minute gear is 1/30. The rotor 88 rotates once per minute on electrical signals, from the CMOS-IC 120, thus producing a chronograph minutes indication of 30 minutes. By combining the indications of the chronograph hands 121 and 131, a chronograph indication is produced with 1/5 seconds as a minimum reading unit and 30 minutes as a maximum. Numeral 73 is a second wheel engaging with a fifth wheel 5 for indicating the seconds of the actual or ordinary time. A spring 65 presses the axes of the second wheel 73, the chronograph wheel 79, the chronograph second intermediate wheel 78 and an alarm minute wheel 16 to prevent displacement thereof. Switch member A of switch 124 (Figure 8) is used for starting and stopping the chronograph function, switch member B of switch 117 is used for splitting the chronograph function, and switch member C of switch 118 is used for putting on the alarm setting time as mentioned above. The switch structure of the switch member 117 is substantially the same as that of the switch member 118. Figure 8 is a circuit connection diagram of CMOS-IC 120 with other electrical elements. In Figure 8, 2 designates a silver oxide battery; 3b designates a coil block of the step motor A (i.e. the step motor 3); 75b is a coil block of the step motor B (i.e. the step motor 13); 124 is a switch A; 117 is a switch B; 118 is a switch C; 87b is a coil block of the step motor C (i.e. the step motor 75); 13b is a coil block of the step motor D (i.e. the step motor 87); 155 and 156 are buzzer driving elements, 155 being a boosting coil and 156 being a mini-mold transistor with protective diode; 157 is a 1µF chip capacitor for suppressing a voltage fluctuation of the constant voltage circuit incorporated in the CMOS-IC 120; 158 is a micro tuning fork type crystal oscillator working as an oscillation source of the oscillator circuit incorporated in the CMOS-IC 120; 21c is a switch formed on one portion of the yoke 21 (Figure 5); 26b is a switch formed on one portion of the second setting lever 26 (Figure 5); and 164 is a piezo-electric buzzer applied to a back cover of a watch case which is not indicated in Figure 6. The switches 124, 117, 118 are of the push-button type which can be closed only at the time of pushing. The switch 21c is that of the yoke 21 which interlocks with the first stem 19. The switch 21c is constructed to close with an RA1 terminal at a first pulled out position of the first stem 19 to close with a RA2 terminal at a second pulled out position, and to open at a normal position. The switch 26b is that of the setting lever 26 which interlocks with the second stem 25. The switch 26b is constructed to close with a RB1 terminal at a first pulled out position of the second stem 25, to close with a RB2 terminal at a second pulled out position of the second stem 25, and to open at a normal position. The combination of switch terminals A, B, C, D, RA1, RA2, RB1 and RB2 makes it possible to provide many kinds of functions. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 1, switches A and B are not used because a chronograph function is not provided and there are no step motors B 75 and C 87. When the switch 26b interlocked with the setting lever 26 is an open condition, the CMOS-IC 120 supplies a driving signal every minute to the step motor D 13b. When the second stem 25 is pulled out to a first step position so that the switch 26b contacts the terminal RB1, then the CMOS-IC 120 supplies a high frequency driving pulse so that the alarm hands show the alarm setting time based on the memory in the circuit. Additionally, the input of switch C 118 advances the alarm hand, and the new alarm setting time is memorized in the circuit. The coincidence between the ordinary time and the alarm setting time makes the buzzer 164 operate. When the second stem 25 is pulled out to its second step position so that the switch 26a contacts the terminal RB 2, the ordinary time counter and the alarm setting counter in the circuit are reset. In the embodiment of Figure 6, the input signal from the switch 124 makes the chronograph start and the CMOS-IC 120 driving signal operates the step motors B and C. Next the input signal from the switch 124 makes the chronograph hands return. The input signal from the switch B in running the chronograph makes the driving signals stop, and the next input signal makes the driving signals start. Figure 4 is a plan cross-sectional view showing a switch member 117, for stopping the chronograph function, and the switch member 118. Figure 4 is a simplified drawing in which a number of the parts shown in Figure 3, eg. the parts 1b, 201a, 202a, are omitted. The switch members 117, 118 are formed by reversing the bending direction of the copper leaf pattern contacting portion, and the switch constructions of the members 117, 118 are formed similarly. That is to say, switch members having similar form are used on both sides by reversing the bending direction only. As will be seen from Figure 4, the switch members 117,, 118 are constituted by separate switch members each of which is made of an identically shaped plate member. Each of the switch members 117, 118 is mounted on a respective dowel or pin 1a, 1c, the switch members 117, 118 having arms 117c, 118c which extend in opposite directions from the dowels or pins 1a, 1c. In the embodiment described above, since the alarm portion of the watch is independent of the basic portion of the watch, the alarm time and the actual time are clearly shown. Consequently, errors when setting the alarm time can be avoided. The alarm time and the actual time can both be selected in a small watch, and since the display can be changed by similar stems, it is capable of being used as a set watch having a basic watch. Therefore, it is very convenient for travel abroad. Further, since the alarm time and the actual time can be corrected by using the respective button and stem, a correction operation can be easily effected and operational errors can be avoided. Since the clutch wheel 23 is directly pushed out by the setting lever 22, a yoke is not required, and the switching construction can be provided in a narrow space. In particular, in a multifunction watch as in the present embodiment, the setting mechanism of the present embodiment can be used even when little space is provided, e.g. when the two stems 19, 25 are substantially in the three and four o'clock positions respectively. The two independent time displays have their own setting mechanisms for correcting the time by means of an externally operable member 19, 25, and one yoke is utilised to displace each clutch wheel assembled in each of the setting mechanisms. Such a construction can be used even where there is a lack of space because the two stems 19, 25 are substantially in the three and four o'clock positions. If a bar is required to be provided in each switching portion, it will cause many disadvantages, such as the fact that space has to be provided for in the design, there is an increase in the cost of the watch caused by an increase in the number of parts, there is an increase in the number of assembly steps, and the disassembling and assembling of the watch during after service becomes complicated. The copper leaf pattern on the circuit block substrate can be employed without the use of another member for establishing contact between the switching member and the battery positive terminal when a battery positive terminal does not exist on the periphery of the switching member. Therefore, a remarkably simple construction can be produced. It is very difficult to provide another member for establishing contact between the switching member and the battery positive terminal in the case in which resin moulded members are used in many movement members such as in the present embodiment. In particular, a multifunction watch is normally provided with many parts as compared with an ordinary watch and the movement construction is complicated. Using a large number of parts in the switching construction causes difficulties during assembly and disassembly, an increase in cost and a decrease in the reliability of the switch conductivity. In a multifunction watch described above, however, the circuit block thereof is provided with a plurality of conductive portions for the step motor and with a conductive portion for various functions. Consequently, it has a larger area than that of an ordinary watch. As a result, it is very easy to arrange the battery positive terminal adjacent to the switching pattern. The initial contact of the pattern conductive portion of the switching member with the battery positive pattern means that the switching member makes a sure contact with the battery positive terminal. Therefore a switching construction having a remarkably high reliability can be realized. If there is contact with the switching input pattern initially, it will cause the disadvantage that the function will not operate upon pushing the switch. Further, merely changing the bending direction of the bent portion of the switching member on both sides will provide many advantages in design, material working and cost.

Claims: A timepiece comprising at least one step motor (3, 13) which drives a respective display (103-5, 107-8) by way of a respective gear train (5-12, 24, 28, 15-18); and adjustment means (19, 25, 106) for adjusting the or each display (103-5, 107-8), the adjustment means (25, 106) comprising an electrical control circuit (124) for controlling the operation of the respective display (107-8), the control circuit (124) being provided with a plurality of conductor members (201, 202); and a switch member (118) which has first and second contact portions (118a, 118b) engageable with respective conductor members (201, 202) so as to complete at least one circuit of the control circuit (124) and thereby control operation of the latter, characterized in that the switch member (118) is a substantially U-shaped switch member (118) having a first arm (118c) which is provided with the first and second contact portions (118a, 118b) and a second arm (118d) which carries first and second terminal portions (201a, 202a) of the conductor members (201, 202), a switch operating member (106) being provided for moving the first arm (118c) towards the second arm (118d) so as first to establish contact between the first contact portion (118a) and the first terminal portion (201a) and thereafter, as a result of further pushing, to establish contact between the second contact portion (118b) and the second terminal portion (202a). A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that each of the arms (118c, 118d) engages a fixed member at its outer end, the U-shaped switch member (118) being unsupported except at the outer ends of its arms (118c, 118d). A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the switch operating member (106) is engageable with the first arm (118c) at a position adjacent to the first and second contact portions (118a, 118b). A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that the timepiece comprises a first step motor (13) which drives a first display (107-8) by way of a respective gear train (15-18); first adjustment means (25,106) for adjusting the first display (107-8), the first adjustment means (25,106) comprising the said control circuit (124) for controlling the operation of the first display (107-8), and at least one further step motor (3;A,B,C,D) each of which drives a further display (103-5; 142-4) by way of a further gear train (5-12,24,28), there being further adjustment means (19; 124′, 117′, 118′) for adjusting the or each further display (103-5; 142-4). A timepiece as claimed in claim 4 characterized in that at least one said further display is an actual time display (103-5) for displaying the actual time, the first display being an alarm time display (107-8) for displaying the alarm time. A timepiece as claimed in claim 4 or 5 characterized in that each said display comprises an externally operable member (19,25) which may be set in a plurality of axially spaced apart positions, operation of the switch member (118) being ineffective to adjust the display except when the externally operable member (19,25) is in a first axial position. A timepiece as claimed in claim 6 characterized in that, when the externally operable member (25) is in a second axial position, adjustment of the display may be effected merely by rotating the externally operable member (25). A timepiece as claimed in claim 6 or 7 characterized in that the timepiece has a clutch wheel (27) which is slidably mounted on the externally operable member (25); a setting lever (26) which is arranged to be moved by movement of the externally operable member (25); and a gear train (28,15-18), the clutch wheel (27) being movable into and out of driving engagement with the gear train (28, 15-18), the clutch wheel (27) being directly engageable by the setting lever (26) so as to be moved thereby into the said driving engagement. A timepiece as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8 characterized in that there are two separate substantially U-shaped switch members (117,118), each of the switch members (117,118) being made out of identically shaped plate members. A timepiece as claimed in claim 9 characterized in that each of the substantially U-shaped switch members (117,118) is mounted on a mounting member (1a, 1c), the switch members (117,118) having arms (117c,118c) which extend in opposite directions from the respective mounting members (1a, 1c). A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim including a battery (2), wherein first contact portion (118a) and terminal portion (201a) act as a first switch and wherein as a result of the further pushing, the contact of contact portion (118b) with second terminal portion (202a) sets the switch input member (202) to the positive potential of the battery (2) through contact portion (118b) acting as a conductive member.

Inventors: AOKI SHIGERU, KOIKE NOBUHIRO, MARUYAMA AKIHIKO, SUZUKI HIROSHI, AOKI, SHIGERU, KOIKE, NOBUHIRO, MARUYAMA, AKIHIKO, SUZUKI, HIROSHI
Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORP, SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G04C9
IPC codes: G04C3, G04C9