Multifunctional electronic timepiece

Abstract: A multifunctional electronic timepiece which may be operated in a plurality of modes, the timepiece comprising an externally operable member (2); a rotatably mounted member (6) having a drive connection (3-5) with the externally operable member (2) so that it may be rotated by the latter; a contact member (7) which is movable by the rotatably mounted member (6) over a circuit board (10) to select one of the said modes; and a movable display member (15,15a) which is drivingly connected to the rotatably mounted member (6) for movement thereby and whose position indicates the particular mode selected, characterised in that motion control means (16) are provided which are engageable with the movable display member (15,15a) to position the latter.

Description: The present invention relates to a multifunctional electronic timepiece which may be operated in a plurality of modes. A multifunctional electronic timepiece is known in which the rotation of a sliding pinion by an externally operable member is transmitted to a first correction transmitting wheel. The latter effects rotation of a correction transmitting wheel which has second and third correction transmitting gears at one end thereof, the correction transmitting wheel integrally supporting a motion control gear and a contact spring at the other end thereof. A switch for selecting one of the modes in which the timepiece can be operated is provided by a circuit board having a pattern which is electrically connected to the contact spring. Rotation is transmitted to a mode display plate formed integrally with a fourth correction transmitting gear which meshes with the third correction transmitting gear so that a mode display may be effected corresponding to the mode selected by the switch. The third correction transmitting gear is integrally supported by the correction transmitting wheel and is positioned by a motion control spring engaging the motion control gear. Although in the construction described above the mode display plate formed integrally with the fourth correction transmitting gear is positioned by the motion control spring which meshes with the motion control gear, the mode display plate formed integrally with the fourth correcting gear frequently undergoes a shift of position because of the backlash of the third and fourth correction transmitting gears. As a result, letters printed on the mode display plate are liable to be tilted with respect to a display window of a dial. Further, the size of such printed letters is restricted because it is necessary to make the display window of the dial larger than the mode printing letters in order to ensure that, in spite of the said tilting, parts of the letters are not obstructed by the edges of the window. In addition, it is difficult to design easy-to-read letters in such a construction. In Patent Abstracts of Japan, volume 6, No. 38 [P-105] (916), 9th March 1962, and JP-A-56-155,890 (Daini Seikosha K.K.), 2nd December 1981, there is disclosed a multifunctional electronic timepiece which may be operated in a plurality of modes, the timepiece comprising an externally operable member; a rotatably mounted member having a drive connection with the externally operable member so that it may be rotated by the latter; a contact member which is movable by the rotatably mounted member over a circuit board to select one of the said modes; a movable display member which is drivingly connected to the rotatably mounted member for movement thereby and whose position indicates the particular mode selected, and motion control means which are engageable with the movable display member to position the latter. According, therefore, to the present invention, there is provided a multifunctional electronic timepiece which may be operated in a plurality of modes, the timepiece comprising an externally operable member; a rotatably mounted member having a drive connection with the externally operable member so that it may be rotated by the latter; a contact member which is movable by the rotatably mounted member over a circuit board to select one of the said modes; a movable display member which is drivingly connected to the rotatably mounted member for movement thereby and whose position indicates the particular mode selected, and motion control means which are engageable with the movable display member to position the latter, characterised in that the movable display member comprises a mode display transmission gear which is disposed centrally of the timepiece and which carries a mode display plate, said motion control means comprising a spring and end portion of which is engageable with the teeth of the said mode display transmission gear, the mode display plate being mounted beneath a dial having a display window, the mode display plate having indicia which may be brought into alignment with the window, the mode display transmission gear being disposed radially of and being driven by a further gear, both the said further gear and the contact member being mounted on the rotatably mounted member so as to be effectively integral therewith. Preferably, the number of teeth of the said mode display transmission gear is n times the number of modes, where n is a positive integer greater than 1. Further motion control means may be provided for positioning the rotatably mounted member. The further motion control means may comprise a spring which is engageable with the teeth of a motion control gear fixed to the rotatably mounted member. The drive connection may comprise a sliding pinion which in operation is rotated by the externally operable member, there being a transmission gear which meshes with the sliding pinion; the said further gear meshing with the transmission gear. Since the position of the movable display member is controlled, the visibility and designability of the mode display is improved. Letters printed on the display plate will not be shifted with respect to the display window of the dial. The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view, with a mode display plate removed, of a first embodiment of a multifunctional electronic timepiece according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a broken-away sectional view of the timepiece shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view, with the mode display plate present, of the timepiece shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view, with a mode display plate removed, of a second embodiment of a multifunctional electronic timepiece according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a broken-away sectional view of the timepiece shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a plan view, with a mode display plate removed, of a third embodiment of a multifunctional electronic timepiece according to the present invention. In Figures 1-3 there is shown a first embodiment of a multifunctional electronic timepiece according to the present invention in which a guide hole 1a is bored or otherwise formed in a main plate or base plate 1 to rotatably support an externally operable member or stem 2. A cut-away part 2a formed on the externally operable member 2, and a cut-away part 3a on the inner face of a sliding pinion 3, are fitted together. Positive teeth 3b provided on the sliding pinion 3 mesh with a first ring-like correction transmitting gear 4. The first correction transmitting gear 4 meshes with a second correction transmitting gear 5. A cut-away part 6a formed on a rotatably mounted correction transmitting member 6 is fitted into a hole 5a bored or otherwise formed in the second correction transmitting gear 5 so that rotation of the gear 5 causes rotation of the member 6. The correction transmitting member 6 is provided with a contact spring 7 having resilient arms, the spring 7 engaging a cut-away portion 6b at the end of the correction transmitting member 6 opposite to the part of the latter which engages the second correction transmitting gear 5. The parts 5, 6, 7 in effect form an integral structure. A motion control gear 8 is mounted about and fixed to the central part of the correction transmitting member 6. The motion control gear 5 is engageable with a motion control part 9a at the leading end of a resilient arm of a first motion control spring 9. The latter, which is fixed by pins 9b to the base plate 1, serves to position the correction transmitting member 6. When the contact spring 7 secured to the correction transmitting member 6 is brought into contact with a particular one of a plurality of lead patterns 10a provided on a circuit board 10, a mode switching is effected. A pressure plate 11 is fixed in position by a pin 11a which is fixed in the base plate 1. A third correction transmitting gear 12 is disposed immediately beneath the presser plate 11 and has a hole into which the cut-away part 6a formed on the correction transmitting member 6 is fitted. An intermediate wheel 14 is rotatably mounted on the guide pin 11a which is fixed in the presser plate 11 to establish a mode display switching means inside a date gear 13. A fourth correction transmitting gear, or mode display transmission gear 15, which is disposed centrally of the timepiece, is rotatably mounted on a pin 11b fixed in the presser plate 11, is coaxial with the first correction transmitting gear 4 and meshes with the intermediate wheel 14. The mode display transmission gear 15 is disposed radially of and is driven by the second correction transmitting gear 5. The teeth of the third correction transmitting gear 12 and those of the fourth correction transmitting gear 15 are compatibly shaped, and the number of their teeth which are employed in mode display switching is twelve, which is twice the number of modes. In this case, the number of teeth of the correction transmitting gears 12, 15 may be n (n = a positive integer greater than 1) times the number of modes. In order to position a mode display plate 15a which is formed integrally with the fourth correction transmitting gear 15, a second motion control spring 16 is mounted on a pin 11c fixed in the presser plate 11. The spring 16 engages a motion control face 15b of a tooth of the fourth correction transmitting gear 15 so as to position the fourth correction transmitting gear 15 and thus the mode display plate 15a. The mode display plate 15a is provided with a plurality of letters or indicia 15c indicating respectively the various modes which may be selected, namely "TIMER"; "AL. SET" (Alarm Set); "TIME AL ON" (Time Alarm Switched On); "TIME"; "0 ADJ" (Ordinary Time Adjustment); and "STOP W" (Stop Watch). Rotation of the mode display plate 15a enables a selected one of the indicia 15c to be brought into alignment with a display window 17a in a dial 17. In operation, the sliding pinion 3 mating with the externally operable member 2 is rotated by the latter to cause the second correction transmitting gear 5, and consequently the correction transmitting member 6, to rotate as a result of the first correction transmitting gear 4 meshing with the positive teeth 3b of the sliding pinion 3. The motion control gear 8 is therefore rotated so that the apex of the first motion control spring 9 which engages with the motion control gear 8 formed on the correction transmitting member 6 is cleared to allow contact with the following gear tooth of the gear 8, whereby the correction transmitting member 6 is regulated and positioned. At this time, the contact spring 7 is simultaneously rotated so as to effect mode switching. Rotation of the correction transmitting member 6 is transmitted from the third correction transmitting gear 12, which is secured to the correction transmitting member 6, to the fourth correction transmitting gear 15 via the intermediate wheel 14. The mode display plate 15a, which is integrally formed with the fourth correction transmitting gear 15, also rotates, the position of the fourth correction transmitting gear 15 being regulated by means of the second motion control spring 16. The mode selected by the contact spring 7 in the switch unit is displayed by means of the letters or indicia 15c printed on the mode display plate 15a, these letters being visible through the display window 17a (Figure 3) provided in the dial 17. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of a multifunctional electronic timepiece according to the present invention. The difference between the first and second embodiments lies in the fact that, in the second embodiment, a central pin 11b is not used as the axis of the fourth correction transmitting gear 15 for carrying out the mode display, but the fourth correction transmitting gear 15 is an annular gear the tips of whose teeth are movable around and in engagement with the outer periphery of the presser plate 11 which acts as a guide therefor. The fourth correction transmitting gear 15 rotates by virtue of the rotation of the third correction transmitting gear 12 with which it is in mesh, the intermediate wheel 14 of the first embodiment being dispensed with. The mode selected by the contact spring 7 in the switch unit is displayed on the mode display plate 15a formed integrally with the fourth correction transmitting gear 15, using printed letters (not shown). Figure 6 illustrates a third embodiment of a multifunctional electronic timepiece according to the present invention in which the motion control gear 8 and the first motion control spring 9 are omitted and only the second motion control spring 16 is provided. Otherwise, the second and third embodiments are similar to each other. In the embodiments described above, mode switching can be effected while ensuring that the selected mode is indicated at the correct position without shift. Moreover, the embodiments provide a space for mode printing with a large-diameter mode display plate. As a result, the printed letters can be made large, and the display can be made easy-to-read, which enables the design of the timepiece to be improved.

Claims: A multifunctional electronic timepiece which may be operated in a plurality of modes, the timepiece comprising an externally operable member (2); a rotatably mounted member (6) having a drive connection (3-5) with the externally operable member (2) so that it may be rotated by the latter; a contact member (7) which is movable by the rotatably mounted member (6) over a circuit board (10) to select one of the said modes; a movable display member (15,15a) which is drivingly connected to the rotatably mounted member (6) for movement thereby and whose position indicates the particular mode selected, and control means (16) which are engageable with the movable display member (15,15a) to position the latter, characterised in that the movable display member (15, 15a) comprises a mode display transmission gear (15) which is disposed centrally of the timepiece and which carries a mode display plate (15a), said motion control means (16) comprising a spring and end portion of which is engageable with the teeth (15b) of the said mode display transmission gear (15), the mode display plate (15a) being mounted beneath a dial (17) having a display window (17a), the mode display plate (15a) having indicia (15c) which may be brought into alignment with the window (17a), the mode display transmission gear (15) being disposed radially of and being driven by a further gear (5), both the said further gear (5) and the contact member (7) being mounted on the rotatably mounted member (6) so as to be effectively integral therewith. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the number of teeth (15b) of the said mode display transmission gear (15) is n times the number of modes, where n is a positive integer greater than 1. A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that further motion control means (9) are provided for positioning the rotatably mounted member (6). A timepiece as claimed in claim 3 characterised in that the further motion control means comprises a spring (9) which is engageable with the teeth of a motion control gear (8) fixed to the rotatably mounted member (6). A timepiece as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the drive connection (3-5) comprises a sliding pinion (3) which in operation is rotated by the externally operable member (2), there being a transmission gear (4) which meshes with the sliding pinion (3); the said further gear (5) meshing with the transmission gear (4).

Inventors: KOTANAGI SUSUMU C O SEIKO INST, KOTANAGI, SUSUMU, C/O SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
Applicants: SEIKO INSTR INC, SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G04C3
IPC codes: G04C3, G04C9