0
`3,789,601
`[11]
`United States Patent
`Bergey
`[45]
`Feb. 5, 1974
`
`
`[19]
`
`[54] SOLID STATE WATCH WITH MAGNETIC
`SETTING
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor:
`
`John M. Bergey, Lancaster, Pa.
`
`[73] Assignee: Time Computer, Inc., Lancaster, Pa.
`,
`[22] F‘led:
`July 15’ 1971
`[21] Appl. No.2 162,813
`
`Related US. Application Data
`[62] Division of Ser. No. 138,557, April 29, 1971_
`,
`[52] US. Cl. .................................. 58/50 R, 58/85.5
`{511
`int. C1. ...................... (2041) 19/30, GO4b 27/00
`[53]
`Field of Search. 58/23 R, 23 BA, 23 A, 34’ 50’
`53/53, 551, 85.5, 90 R; 224/4429/177‘179
`
`[56]
`
`3,672,155
`3,505,804
`
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`‘
`6/1972
`Bergey et al. ....................... 58/50 R
`4/1970 Hofstein ........................... 58/23 BA
`
`3,485,033
`3,509,715
`3,129,557
`
`Langley............................... 58/23 R
`12/1969
`
`5/1970 De Koster...
`...... 58/50 R
`4/1964
`Fiechter ............................... 58/85.5
`
`Primary EEJ‘caminer—Righart; 3- Wilkinsol?
`Assistant xaminer—E ith immons Jac mon
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—LeBlanc & Shur
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`Disclosed is a solid state electronic wristwatch with no
`moving parts. The watch electronics are hermetically
`sealed in the watch case to be free 0f dUSt and mois-
`ture
`and ,the sealed components
`are
`resiliently
`mounted for improved shock resistance. Two setting
`switches and a demand switch within the casing are
`operated from outside the watch by permanent mag-
`nets,
`the demand magnet operating with a demand
`pushbutton. The setting magnet may be stored in the
`watch bracelet.
`
`5 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures
`
`APPLE 1016
`
` 1
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1016
`
`

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`PATENTEDFEB 5 *974
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`1
`SOLID STATE WATCH WITH MAGNETIC
`SETTING
`
`3,789,601
`
`2
`
`This application is a voluntary division of my copend«
`ing application Ser. No. 138,557, filed Apr. 29, 1971
`for SOLID STATE WATCH WITH MAGNETIC SET-
`TING.
`
`5
`
`plication Ser. No. 35,196, filed May 6, 1970, now U.S.'
`Pat. No. 3,672,155.
`The present invention is directed to an improved
`watch construction of the same general type as dis—
`closed in the aforementioned application and patents
`and one which utilizes no moving parts to perform the
`timekeeping function. The watch of the present inven-
`tion consists of three major components, namely, a'
`quartz crystal time base, a miniature time computer
`module, and a power supply or battery. These micro-
`miniature components are packaged in a conventional
`size wristwatch chassis or case. A tiny quartz slab is
`precisely cut to predetermined dimensions so that it vi-
`brates at 32,768 Hz when properly stimulated by pulses
`from an electric oscillator. The high frequency from
`the crystal time base is divided down to 1 pulse per sec—
`ond by utilizing a multi-stage integrated circuit binary
`counter. The time computer module counts the pulse
`train, encodes it into binary form, and then decodes
`and processes the result so as to provide the appropri-
`ate signals at display stations.
`Situated on the front of the watch adjacent the dis-
`play is a pushbutton demand switch which, when
`pressed, instantly activates the appropriate visual dis-
`play stations. Minues and hours are programmed to dis—
`play for one and one-quarter seconds, with just a touch
`of the demand switch. Continued depression of this
`switch causes the minute and hour data to fade and the
`seconds to immediately appear. The seconds continue
`to count as long as the wearer interrogates the com—
`puter module. Computation of the precise time is con—
`tinuous and completely independent of whether or not
`it is displayed.
`The watch display consists of a television screen-like
`colored filter which passes the cold red light from gal-
`lium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) light-emitting di-
`odes. Preferably a 7 segment array forms each individ-
`ual number at the appropriate moment at a brightness
`determined by a specially constructed dimmer or dis-
`play intensity control circuit. This dimmer circuit uti«
`lizes one or more photo-detectors to measure ambient
`lighting conditions so the display intensity provides
`viewing comfort under all day or nighttime lighting
`conditions.
`
`Important features of the present invention include a
`magnetically operated demand or read switch and mag-
`netically operated “hour
`set” and “minute set"
`switches for setting the watch to the appropriate time.
`The hour-set switch rapidly advances the hours without
`disturbing the accuracy of the minutes or seconds. The
`minute-set switch automatically zeros the seconds
`while it advances the minutes to the desired setting.
`The whole procedure, even though seldom required,
`takes a matter of a few seconds.
`Because of the magnetic setting and magnetic inter—
`rogation, active components of the watch may be her-
`metically sealed to produce a unit that is shockproof
`and waterproof, regardless of the environment in which
`it is placed. Since there is no conventional stem for
`winding or setting, the small shaft sealing problem is
`eliminated and no maintenance or repair is normally
`necessary since the active com'ponents’are hermetically
`sealed and inaccessible to influences from the outside
`world. All solid state electronic components, including
`the light-emitting diode displays, have a virtually unlim-
`ited life.
`
`This invention relates to a solid state timepiece and
`more particularly to an electronic wristwatch which
`employs no moving parts. In the present invention, a
`frequency standard in the form of a crystal oscillator
`acts through solid state electronic circuit dividers and
`drivers to power in timed sequence the light-emitting
`diodes of an electro-optic display. Low power con-
`sumption and small size and weight are achieved
`through the use of complementary MOS circuits to pro-
`duce what is in essence a miniaturized fixed program
`computer.
`In particular, the present invention is di—
`rected to a solid state wristwatch of this type in which
`the active components are completely sealed for longer
`life and which incorporates an improved read switch—
`magnetic setting arrangement.
`Battery-powered wristwatches and other small porta-
`ble timekeeping devices of various types are well
`known and are commercially available. The first com-
`mercially successful battery-powered wristwatch is of
`the type shown and described in assi'gnee’s US. Pat.
`No. 26,187, reissued Apr. 4, 1967, to John A. Van
`Horn et al. for ELECTRIC WATCH. Electric watches
`of this type employ a balance wheel and a hairspring
`driven by the interaction of a current-carrying coil and
`a magnetic field produced by small permanent mag—
`nets.
`
`In recent years, considerable effort has been directed
`toward the development of a wristwatch which does
`not employ an electromechanical oscillator as the mas-
`ter time reference. In many instances, these construc-
`tions have utilized a crystal-controlled high frequency
`oscillator as a frequency standard in conjunction with
`frequency conversion circuitry to produce a drive sig-
`nal at a suitable timekeeping rate. However, difficulties
`have been encountered in arriving at an oscillator-
`frequency converter combination having not only the
`required frequency stability but also sufficiently low
`power dissipation and small size to be practical for use
`in a battery-powered wristwatch.
`In order to overcome these and other problems, there
`is disclosed in assignee’s US. Pat. No. 3,560,998, is-
`sued Feb. 2, 1971, a crystal-controlled oscillator type
`watch construction using low power complementary
`MOS circuits. The oscillator-frequency converter com-
`bination of that patent isdescribed as suitable for driV«
`ing conventional watch hands over a watch dial or, al-
`ternatively, for selectively actuating the display ele-
`ments of an optical display in response to the drive sig-
`nal output of the converter.
`In assignee’s US. Pat. No. 3,576,099, issued Apr. 27,
`1971, there is disclosed an improved watch construc-
`tion in which the optical display takes the form of a plu-
`rality of light-emitting diodes which are intermittently
`energized on demand at the option of the wearer of the
`watch. This assures a minimum power consumption
`and an increasingly long life. for the watch battery. An
`improved watch construction of this general type incor.
`porating solid state circuits and integrated circuit tech-
`niques is disclosed in assignee‘s copending US. Pat. ap-
`
`IO
`
`[5
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`

`

`3,789,601 '
`
`3
`It is therefore one object of the present invention to
`provide an improved electronic wristwatch.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`a wristwatch which utilizes no moving parts for per-
`forming the timing function.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`a solid state watchin which the active components of
`the watch are hermetically sealed.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`a magnetically operated “on demand" display system 10
`for a solid state watch.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`a solid state wristwatch incorporating magnetic time
`setting.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`a solid state wristwatch having a digital optical display
`which is virtually shockproof and waterproof.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`a solid state wristwatch with no moving parts having
`improved operating characteristics and reduced cost.
`These and further objects and advantages of the in-
`vention‘will be more apparent upon reference to the
`following specification, claims, and appended draw—
`ings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional size man’s
`wristwatch constructed in accordance with the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of the major
`components of the solid state watch of this invention;
`FIG. 3 shows a display element for the watch of the
`present invention in the form of a 7 bar Segment con-
`struction of light—emitting diodes;
`FIGS. 4, 4a, and 4b, taken together, are an overall
`block diagram of the electrical circuit for the solid state
`watch of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 shows a modified watch circuit in which sub-
`stantially all of the major electrical components of the
`watch are formed using large-scale integrated circuitry;
`FIG. 6 is an exploded View of the wristwatch of FIG. 40
`
`5
`
`IS
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4
`In normal operation, time is continuously being kept
`but is not displayed through the window 16. That is, no
`time indication is visible through the window and this
`is the normal condition which prevails in order to con-
`serve battery energy in the watch. However, even
`though the time is not displayed through the window
`16, it is understood that the watch 10 continuously
`keeps accurate time and is capable of accurately dis-
`playing this time at any instant. When the wearer de-
`sires to ascertain the correct time, he depressed the
`pushbutton 18 with his finger and the correct time is
`immediately displayed at 20 through the window 16.
`The hours and minutes are displayed through the win-
`dow 16 for a predetermined length of time, preferably
`1% seconds, irrespective of whether or not the push-
`button 18 remains depressed. The exact time of the dis-
`play is chosen to give the wearer adequate time to con-
`sult the displayto determine the hour and minute of
`time. Should the minutes change during the time of dis-
`play, this change is immediately indicated by advance-
`ment of the minute reading to the next number as the
`watch is being read. If the pushbutton 18 remains de-
`pressed, at the end of one and one-quarter seconds, the
`hours and minutes of the display are extinguished, i.e.,
`they disappear, and simultaneously the seconds reading
`is displayed through the window 16 immediately below
`the hours and minutes display 20. The advancing sec-
`onds cycling from 0 to 59 continue to be displayed
`through window 16 until pushbutton switch 18 is re-
`leased.
`FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of the principal
`components of the watch 10 of FIG. 1. The circuit
`comprises a time base or frequency standard 26 includ-
`ing a piezoelectric crystal to provide a very accurate
`frequency such that the frequency standard or oscilla-
`tor oscillates at 32,768 Hz. This relatively high fre-
`quency is supplied by a lead 28 to a frequency con-
`verter 30 in the form of a divider which divides down
`the frequency from the standard so that the output
`from the converter 30 appearing on lead 32 is at a fre-
`quency of 1 Hz. The frequency converter 30 preferably
`comprises a binary counting chain of complementary
`MOS transistors of the type shown and described in as-
`signee‘s U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,998,
`the disclosure of
`which is incorporated herein by reference. The 1 Hz
`signal is applied by lead 32 to a display actuator 34-
`which in turn drives the displays 20 and 22 of the watch
`10 by way of electrical lead 36.
`FIG. 3 shows a display station 38 forming one of the
`numerals of the hours and minutes display 20 and the
`seconds display 22. Each of these display stations (with
`the exception of the hours tens display as more fully de-
`scribed below) is preferably in the form of a 7 bar seg-
`ment array of light—emitting diodes of the type shown
`and described in detail
`in assignee's U.S. Pat. No.
`3,576,099,
`issued Apr. 27, 1971,
`the disclosure of
`'which is incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 3
`shows 7 bar segments of light-emitting diodes 40, 42,
`44, 46, 48, 50, and 52, all of elongated shape and ar-
`ranged so that by lighting an appropriate combination
`of the bars or segments any of the numbers 0 through '
`9 may be displayed
`FIGS. 4, 4a and 417 show an overall block diagram of
`the electrical circuit of the watch of the present inven- -
`tion. Reference may be had to assignee’s copending
`U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 35,196, filed May ’6,
`I970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,155, the disclosure of
`
`1;
`
`FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along line 6——6 of FIG.
`
`1;
`
`FIG. 8 is a bottom plan or rear View of the watch of
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 9 is a cross section perpendicular to that of FIG.
`7 taken along line 9—9 of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the demand but-
`ton assembly of the watch of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 11 is a cross section through the demand button 50
`assembly taken along line 11—11 of FIG. 10;
`FIG. 12 is a cross section perpendicular to that of
`FIG. 11 taken along the line 12—12 of FIG. 10; and‘
`FIG. 13_ is a plan view of the flat demand button
`spring before it is formed into the curved shape shown
`in FIGS. 11 and 12.
`Referring to the drawings, the novel‘ watch of the
`present invention is generally indicated at 10in FIG. 1.
`The watch is constructed to fit into a watch case 12 of
`approximately the size of a conventional man's wrist—
`watch. The case 12 is shown connected to a wristwatch.
`bracelet 14 and includes a display window 16 through
`which time is displayed in digital form as indicated at
`20. Mounted on the case 12 is a demand switch push-
`button 18, by means of which the display 20 may be ac-
`tuated when the wearer of the wristwatch 10 desires to
`ascertain the time.
`'
`
`45
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
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`
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`
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`

`

`3,789,601
`
`5
`which is incorporated herein by reference, for a de-
`tailed description of the construction and operation of
`the electrical circuit. Briefly, however, and referring to
`the overall block diagram of FIGS. 4, 4a, and 4b, the
`watch 10 comprises an oscillator 96 which is controlled
`by a crystal to produce an output on lead 98, i.e., a
`pulse train on that lead having a pulse repetition rate
`of 32,768 Hz. The crystal output passes through a com-
`plementary symmetry MOS counter 100 of the type
`shown and described in assignee’s US. Pat. No.
`3,560,998, which acts as a divider, dividing the output
`by 27, i.e., a 7 stage counter, to produce an output on
`lead 102 having a pulse repetition rate 0f256 Hz. This
`signal is divided by 2 in counter 104, by 2 again in
`counter 106, by 8 (23) in counter 108, and by 4 (22) in
`counter [10.
`
`An 8 Hz output on lead 112 from counter 108 is ap-
`plied to a set-hold circuit 114 where the 8 Hz repetition
`rate pulse train appears as an output on lead 116. The
`8 Hz signal on lead 116 is applied to a counter 118
`where it is divided by 8 (2") to produce a 1 Hz output
`pulse train on lead 120. The 1 Hz pulse train is divided
`by 10 in counter 122, divided by 6 in counter 124, di-
`vided by 10 again in counter 126, divided by 6 in
`counter 124, divided by 10 again in counter 126, di-
`vided by 6 again in counter 128, and the output of this
`counter is finally applied to counter 130 which divides
`by 12. The output of counter 122 appearing on leads
`132, 134, 136, and 138 is a binary coded decimal 1248
`code which is applied to the decoder-driver 140 which,
`in turn, energizes the tens digits of the seconds display
`indicated at 142. The ones digits of the seconds display
`indicated at 144 are similarly actuated from counter
`124 by way of seconds decoder-driver 146. Similar de-
`codervdrivers 148, 150, and 152 actuate the tens digits
`of the minutes display at 154, the ones digits of the min-
`utes display at 156, and the hours display at 158.
`Counter 130 has five output leads to decoder—driver
`152 for a purpose more fully described below. The
`other decoder-drivers 146, 148, and 150 are actuated
`by BCD 1248 codes from their respective counters
`124, 126, and 128 in the same manner as decoder—
`driver 140 is actuated from counter 122.
`As previously stated, in order to conserve energy, the
`light-emitting diodes are only energized on demand,
`i.e., when the pushbutton 18 of FIG. 1 is depressed by
`the wearer’s finger. Even when the button is depressed,
`the lights are not always continuously lit but instead, in
`order to conserve power, are intermittently lighted dur-
`ing less than full daylight conditions at a frequency suf-
`ficiently high to give the appearance of continuity due
`to the light retention properties of the human eye. The
`pulses for intermittently lighting or pulsing the seconds
`display are derived from a display control driver 160
`which applies the ON-OFF pulses by way of lead 162
`to the seconds decoder-drivers 140 and 146. Similar
`intermittent pulses from the display control drivers 160
`are applied by lead 164 to the minutes decoder-drivers
`148 and 150 and by lead 166 to the hours decoder
`driver 152. The exact frequency at which the displays
`are turned on and off while always sufficiently high to
`give the impression to the human eye of continuous
`light is determined by a light control circuit 168 which
`supplies a light control signal over lead 170 to display
`control drivers 160. The light control signal is either
`DC (full daylight) or a combination of a 64 Hz signal
`supplied from counter 106 by way of lead 172, a 128
`
`6
`Hz signal supplied by counter 104 by way of lead 174,
`and a 256 Hz signal supplied from the output of
`counter 100 by way of lead 176. These signals are com—
`bined in the light control circuit 168 in a manner deter-
`mined by the output signal on lead 1 78 to the light con-
`trol circuit from ambient light sensors 180. These light
`sensors are in the form of three photo-transistors
`mounted on the face of the watch inside the viewing
`window and act to produce increased illumination from
`the light-emitting diodes during strong daylight condi—
`tions and less illumination from the diodes under night-
`time or reduced light conditions. In the preferred em-
`bodiment, light sensors 180 provide four different light
`levels from the light-emitting diodes so that the watch
`face may be read with equal facility and comfort under
`all possible lighting conditions, while at the same time
`conserving energy at times when less light is needed
`from the diodes to make them visible, such as is the
`case when the watch is read in at least partial darkness.
`As previously stated, the watch face is ordinarily not
`illuminated. The hours and minutes diodes only light up
`when the demand switch is depressed. Actuation of the
`demand button by the wearer causes the read switch
`184 in FIG. 4 to close, causing the positive side of the
`power supply to be connected by way of leads 186 and
`188 to the display control drivers 160. Energization of
`these drivers permits passage through them of the sig—
`nal from the light control circuit 168 which is passed on
`to the decoder-drivers causing the minutes and hours
`displays to be illuminated. No output from the display
`control diodes 160 appears on lead 162 at this time and
`the seconds displays are not illuminated. Closure of the
`read switch 184 also applies B+ by way of lead 190 to
`set-hold circuit 114 which immediately resets a display
`timer 192 by way oflead 194. Display timer 192 is a di-
`vide by 10 counter and has applied to its input the 8 HZ
`pulse train on lead 112. This timer divides the 8 Hz
`pulse by 10 and after 1% seconds produces an output
`pulse on lead 196 which is applied to display control
`driver 160. This pulse causes the display control driver
`to change state, removing the output from leads 164
`and 166 and causing the minutes and hours display to
`be extinguished. At
`the same time,
`the output
`is
`switched to lead 162 causing the seconds display to be
`illuminated simultaneous with the extinguishment of
`the hours and minutes display.
`An important feature of the watch of the present in-
`vention lies in the fact that the hours may be set inde-
`pendently of the ‘minutes and seconds and at a very
`rapid rate. Closure of. hours-set switch switch 198
`grounds one input of an hours-set circuit 200 by way of
`leads 202 and 204. Hours-set circuit 200 receives a 2
`Hz pulse train from counter 110 by way of lead 206 and
`actuation of the hours-set circuit by closure of hours-
`set switch 198 causes the hours-set circuit 200 to pass
`the 2 Hz signal on lead 206 to counter 130 by way of
`lead 208. Hours-set switch 198 is also connected to the
`display control drivers 160‘ to cause an output to ap-
`pear on leads 164 and 166 assuring that the hours and
`minutes are displayed when the hours are being reset
`during closure of switch 198. A minute-set switch 212
`is connected by leads 214 and 216 to a minute-set cir-
`cuit 218. As before, actuation of this circuit causes it
`to pass a 2 Hz pulse train on lead 220 from counter 110
`by way of lead 222 to the divide by 10 counter 126
`driving the minutes display. Minute-set switch 212 is
`likewise connected by lead 224 to display control driv-
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`3O
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`7
`ers 160, again to insure an output on leads 164 and 166
`during resetting.
`In the watch of the present invention, actuation of
`the minute-set switch 212 automatically zeros the sec-
`onds display. The reason for this is that most time sig-
`nals, such as those given over the radio and the like, are
`given on the hour or on the minute and in order to start
`the watch in synchronism with the correct time as given
`by such a signal, it is necessary that the seconds display
`be at zero at the time the radio tone or other time signal
`is heard. In order to accomplish this, the minute-set
`switch 212 is connected by leads 214 and 216 and a
`further lead 226 to set-hold circuit 114. Energization of
`this circuit from lead 226 produces an output pulse on
`output lead 228 which is applied to the reset terminals
`of counters 118, 122, and 124 by way of leads 229,
`231, and 233, resetting these counters to zero and caus-
`ing the seconds display to be automatically zeroed. De—
`pressing read switch 184 unlocks the set time and be-
`gins the real time counting sequence.
`FIG. 5 shows a modified embodiment of the solid
`state watch of the present invention, generally indi—
`cated at 230. In FIG. 5, like parts bear like reference
`numerals, and the overall construction of the watch in
`FIG. 5 is generally similar to the embodiment previ-
`ously described. The principal modification incorpo-
`rated in the embodiment of FIG. 5 is that the vast ma-
`jority of the electrical components are formed from
`one or more large-scale integrated circuits, as indicated
`by the large integrated circuit block 232 in FIG. 5. Ref-
`erence may be had to assignee’s copending US. Pat.
`application Ser. No. l38,547, filed Apr. 29, 1971 now
`Pat. No. 3,714,867, and entitled SOLID STATE
`WATCH INCORPORATING LARGE-SCALE INTE-
`GRATED CIRCUITS, in the name of Bruno M. Dar-
`gent, for a detailed description of the large—scale inte-
`grated circuit 232, the disclosure of that copending ap-
`plication being incorporated herein by reference.
`In FIG. 5, the crystal oscillator 96 is of the type previ-
`ously described and includes a piezoelectric crystal
`234, a variable trimming capacitor 236, and a bias re-
`sistor 238. The active components of the oscillator are
`a pair of complementary MOS transistors connected to
`form an inverter and they are incorporated in the large-
`scale integrated circuit 232. As in the previous embodi-
`ment, the oscillator preferably operates at a frequency
`of 32,768 Hz. The entire watch is powered from a con-
`ventional watch battery or power supply, indicated at
`240, and the demand switch 184, the minute-set switch
`212, and the hour-set switch 198 are all connected
`from the positive side of the battery 240 to the other or
`grounded side of the battery through the respective re-
`sistors 242, 244, and 246.
`The modified embodiment in FIG. 5 includes a modi-
`fied dimmer or display intensity control circuit com-
`prising a capacitor 248, a resistor 250, a light sensitive
`resistor 252, a second resistor 254, and a second capac-
`itor 256. These components in effect form a multivibra-
`tor which is triggered at a frequency of 64 Hz, which
`trigger signal is derived from an intermediate stage of
`the divider or frequency converter 30 incorporated in
`the large-scale integrated circuit 232. The pulse width}
`of the multivibrator and therefore the duty cycle of the
`output from the multivibrator depends primarily on the
`value of fixed capacitor 256 and the value of the vari-
`able
`light
`sensitive
`resistor 252. For decreasing
`amounts of ambient light impinging upon resistor 252,
`
`8
`as indicated by the arrow 258, the duty cycle of the
`multivibrator output is reduced and this output signal
`is applied to the displays 20 and 22 so as to vary their
`intensity with the amount of ambient light, i.e., the in—
`tensity is increased when the ambient light is great and
`the intensity of . the light—emitting diodes is reduced
`when ambient light decreases.
`The displays are controlled from the large-scale inte-
`grated circuit 232 by a pair of bipolar switches 260 and
`262, labeled S, and S2. respectively. These transistors
`connect the cathodes of the light-emitting diodes of the
`display to the negative side of the battery 240, Le, to
`ground, so that the circuit to the light—emitting diodes
`is completed when the transistors 260 and 262 are in
`conduction. These transistors have their bases con—
`nected to the large~scale integrated circuit 232 through
`respective resistors 264 and 266. It is understood that
`when one of the switches S, or 82 is turned on, the other
`is off and vice versa so that all displays are not simulta—
`neously on. When switch S, (260) is turned on, this
`completes the circuit to the hours and minutes display
`diodes 20. If the demand button remains depressed,
`after 1% seconds switch 260 is turned off by the large-
`scale integrated circuit 232 and switch 262 is simulta-
`neously turned on so that the hours and minutes display
`20 disappears and the seconds display 22 immediately
`comes on. These displays receive timing signals from
`the large-scale integrated circuit 232 through the con-
`necting leads generally indicated at 268.
`FIG. 6 is an exploded View of the watch and FIG. 7
`is a cross section through the watch of the present in-
`vention taken along line 7—7 of FIG. 1. The watch case
`12 comprises a front plate 270, an inner cover 272, and
`a removable back plate 274. These three plates are
`preferably made from a non-magnetic metal material,
`such as that sold under the trade name “Havar”. Be-
`tween inner cover 272 and back plate 274 is the power ,
`supply in the form ofa pair of 1.5 volt dry cells 276 and
`278. The cells are preferably silver oxide batteries and
`are connected in series to produce an operating voltage
`of about 2.5 to about 3.2 volts DC. Back plate 274 car-
`ries a plurality of mounting springs 280 with projec-
`tions 282 which snap into corresponding recesses in the
`front plate 270 for ready attachment and removal of
`the back plate so that access may be gained to the bat-
`tery cells 276 and 278. The back plate is sealed by an
`annular rubber O-ring 284.
`FIG. 8 is a bottom plan or rear View of the watch of
`FIG. 1 with portions shown in dashed lines and FIG. 9
`is a cross section at right angles to the cross section of
`FIG. 7 taken along line 9—9 of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is an
`enlarged plan view of the assembly for demand button
`18. The battery cells are separated from back plate 274
`by annular insulating washers 284, but have their nega-
`tive side connected to the back plate and therefore
`grounded to the case by an electrically conductive cell
`connector 286. A similar cell connector 288 (FIG. 9)
`connected to the positive side of the power supply is
`electrically connected to a positive cell lead 290 which
`passes through a suitable glass seal 292 to establish
`electrical connection to the electronic circuit indicated
`generally at 294 mounted on circuit substrate 296.
`Trimming capacitor 236 and the piezoelectric crystal
`234 are also mounted} on the substrate 296. Placed in
`the viewing window over the light-emitting diodes is a .
`light filter 298. The filter is fabricated from a ruby to
`insure relative scratch and break resistance. A solder-
`
`3,789,601
`
`l0
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`

`3,789,601
`
`9
`able metal material is deposited along the edge of the
`filter to aid in the solder-sealing of the filter to the front
`plate 270 as indicated at 300 in FIG. 9. The pink ruby
`is preferably coated with a red dyed clear epoxy paint
`on its inside surface to provide a deep red color which 5
`transmits most of the 6,500 Angstrom wavelength light
`from the light-emitting diodes carried by the electronic
`substrate 296. Inner cover 272 is solder-sealed to front
`plate 270 around its edge, as indicated at 302 in FIG.
`9, and this inner cover carries four mounting posts, two 10
`of which are illustrated at 304 in FIG. 9. These posts or
`studs are welded to inner cover 272 and the substrate
`296 is held against these shoulder studs by means of
`screws 306. Both sides of the substrate rest against a re-
`silient shock absorbent material 308 and 310 to pro- 15
`vide maximum protection against severe shocks en-
`countered when dropping the watch. The crystal can
`234 and trimming capacitor 236 are all similarly pro-
`tec