Abstract:
Different from a standard digital display utilizing separate digits for seconds, minutes and hours, an electronic timepiece which uses tow digits composed of triads of red, green and yellow L.E.D.s. Each L.E.D. color is synchronically sequenced and each period of display is for one-third of a second. Each color L.E.D. is dedicated to a particular element of time, i.e., red represents second, yellow represents minutes and green represents hours.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to electronic digital timepieces and in particular to a digital display multiplexing seconds, minutes and hours on a display panel of moderately large size. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The basic purpose of any timepiece is to provide the observer with information indicating the time of day. Formats available range from the sundial to talking clocks. It should be apparent that some display methods are more legible and/or attractive than others. Conventional digital time-pieces require two digits for the display of each time element, i.e., hours, minutes and seconds. Although easily legible, extended viewing of a virtually static display becomes monotonous. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a moderately large electronic timepiece utilizing two digits to display three time units each; synchronized to real time and displayed for one-third second. It is a further object to provide distinction between time units by displaying each in a dedicated color. 
     The invention makes it possible to provide a wall-mounted electronic timepiece using two digits multiplexed to display color-coded hour, minute and second information in a quick-paced, but easily readable format. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The form, purpose and advantages will be more fully understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example in the attendant drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuitry and display system of an electronic timepiece in accordance with present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of display select 2 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a diagram of the display power switching circuit of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan of the display, Item 4 circuit of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram of the synchronized multiplexer circuit of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of circuitry and digital L.E.D. display device of an electronic timepiece in accordance with the invention. 
     The circuit contains a timekeeping circuit 1 which derives its reference from the 60 hz power line, a dividing circuit to provide 30 hz and 1 hz standard signals. Timekeeping circuitry 1 also provides binary coded decimal outputs representing hour, minute and second data. Operating power is provided by a power supply of standard configuration. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, 30 hz and 1 hz pulse signals are applied from the timekeeping circuit 1 to a synchronized multiplexer 5 one embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 5. As shown in this embodiment, a 30 hz sq. wave 8 is applied to the input terminal of a four-bit B.C.D. counter comprised of FIG. 5 counters 9 through 12. The output of counters 10 and 12 is applied to the inputs of NAND gate 13. Thus, at the start of the eleventh period there will be a low output from NAND gate 13. Connected to the output of gate 13 is one input of NAND gate 14. The output of gate 14 is applied to an inverter 15. Terminal 16 which is the output of inverter 15 is applied to the reset inputs of BCD counters 9 through 12. Therefore, when either input of gate 14 is at a low level there will be a high level at the input of inverter 15 and following inversion there will be at terminal 16 a reset pulse at counters 9 through 12. Therefore, the 30 hz sq. wave from time keeping circuit 1 will be divided by a factor of ten due to the described connection and functions of counters 9 through 15. 
     Timekeeping circuit 1 has an output pulsed low at a 1 hz rate signal 21. This pulse is the real time synchronizer used to synchronize the state of the divider circuit embodied in counters 9 through 12 and multiplexer embodied by counters 17 and 18 with the timekeeping circuit 1. Synchronization of divider counters 9 through 12 is as follows: Signal 21 is applied to one input of gate 14, thus when signal 21 pulses low the output of gate 14 goes to a high level which is applied to the input of inverter 15 where it appears as output 16 which at this time is now low, thus counters 9 through 12 are reset to zero. 
     Reference FIG. 5 with a 30 hz sq. wave 8 applied to BCD counter 9, function of the circuit comprised of BCD counters 9 through 12, NAND gates 13 and 14 and inverter 15 will produce a low pulse at a rate of one every one-third second at the output of inverter 15. 
     This output is connected to the clock input of negative edge triggering counter 17 which will subsequently clock counter 18. The code controlling the time element displayed and corresponding display color is produced by the outputs of counter 17 and 18. The code is as follows: signal A and signal B, low, hours displayed; A high and B low, minutes displayed and A low and B high, seconds displayed. 1 hz signal 21 connected to the reset terminals of BCD counters 17 and 18 assures synchronization of said counters with timekeeping circuit 1. 
     A detailed analysis of the display select circuit 2, FIG. 1 is shown by way of example in FIG. 2 as being composed of eight gate circuits 22A through 22D and 23A through 23D of identical structure. Each comprises three AND gates, each with three inputs. The outputs of said AND gates are connected to a three-input OR gate 37A through 37D and 38A through 38D the output of which constitutes the product of the subject display select circuit. 
     Reference timekeeping circuit 1, hour, minute and second data is each arranged in a four-bit BCD format, A B C D. Each bit of data for each unit of time for each digit is inputted to a dedicated, previously described AND gate. One bit of data, bit A, relevant to the tens position will be exemplified as the other bits B through D are of similar structure. When hours are displayed, signal A and B is low, the output of inverter 24 is high and is connected by line 25 to AND gate 22ah. B-Inverter output 26 will also be high and is connected to gate 22ah by connection to line 27. Thus, AND gate 22ah is enabled to pass hours data through OR gate amo. 
     When minutes are to be displayed, signal A will be high and signal B low. Signal A is connected to gate 22am and therefore maintains an input high. Signal B following inversion by inverter 26 appears at another input of gates 22am through 27. With two inputs high gate 22am is enabled to pass minutes data through gate 22amo. 
     The display of seconds involves the following: Signal A will be low and signal B high. Signal A is inverted by inverter 24 and is connected to gate 22as by line 25. Signal B is connected to another input of AND gate 22as, thus enabling said gate to pass seconds data through to OR gate 22amo. 
     Display decode drive circuit 3, multiplexed hour, minute and second data ATDO--AODO--DODO is applied to B C D to seven segment decoder the outputs of which each drives a power transistor which sinks current from that particular display segment. 
     Referring to FIG. 3 shows by way of example one embodiment of a display power switching circuit 7. The circuit is composed of the following elements: An adjustable voltage regulator 28, power switches 30, 31, 32 and power switch drivers 34, 35. There is also a means to detect signals A and B low and to then produce a high level suitable to drive display 4. 
     When signals A and B are low, NOR gate 39 output will be high. One end of resistor 33D is tied to the output of gate 39. Resistors 33D and 33C form a voltage divider with the base of transistor 33A at their junction. Transistor 33A will therefore conduct to a degree determined by the value of transistors 33D, 33C and emitter resistance 33B. The collector current of transistor 33A will be a constant level, regardless of changes in its source of voltage line 29. The conduction of transistor 33A sinks transistor 30A base current; therefore, causing transistor 30A to conduct. Output transistor 30A has its emitter connected to line 29. Resistor 30B serves to stabilize transistor 30A. The collector of transistor 30A is tied to and is the source of display voltage V1. PSD 2-3 and PS 2-3 are of similar structure and function. 
     Referring to FIG. 4 shows by example a preferred embodiment of the display panel shown in FIG. 1. Tens segment `A` will be explained, only, as segments b-g are of similar construction. The cathodes of green L.E.D.s D1 through D3 are tied together and then connected to the cathodes of yellow L.E.D.s D4 through D6 and to the red L.E.D.s D7 through D9 to form a common terminal that is driven by transistor TR1. The output of the seven segment tens decoder 3 drives TR1. The anodes of L.E.D.&#39;s D1 through D9 are singularly tied to one end of resistors R1-R9. The other end of R1-9 is terminated as follows: 
     R1-3 connects to hour drive source V1 
     R4-6 connects to minute drive source V2 
     R7-9 connects to second drive source V3 
     Thus the energizing and color of any segment requires the conduction of its cathode sink transistor and V 1, 2 or 3 present. 
     The L.E.D.s are arranged in triads composed of red, green and yellow lamps. The triads are then grouped in close proximity to form the impression of a continuous display segment. 
     In the present embodiment, the time units of hours, minutes and seconds are synchronized with real time so that for the first one-third second hours are displayed, during the second one-third minutes are displayed and the final one-third displays seconds. The invention is in no way limited to the embodiment shown in the drawing and herein particularly described. The spirit of the invention exceeds the descriptions and claims herein. As an example, a single L.E.D. with TRI-color capability could be substituted for the L.E.D. TRIAD method used in this embodiment.