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`US005612931A
`[Ill Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,612,931
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`United States Patent r19i
`Sato et al.
`
`[54] SWITCH DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC
`INSTRUMENTS EQUIPPED WITH THE
`SWITCH DEVICE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Hiroshi Sato; Masayoshi Okuyama;
`Nobuhiro Aoki, all of Tokyo, Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo,
`Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 498,171
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`[30]
`
`Jul. 5, 1995
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`4,775,964 10/1988 Alessio et al ..
`4,912,688
`3/1990 Syfert .
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1540562
`2449071
`2828566
`
`7/1977 England .
`4/1976 Germany .
`1/1979 Germany .
`
`Primary Examiner-Bernard Roskoski
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman,
`Langer & Chick
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`When an electronic instrument has taken a predetermined
`attitude, an attitude-detecting switch incorporated in the
`instrument detects the attitude, and outputs a switch signal
`to a CPU. The CPU, in tum, drives a lighting device for
`lighting a liquid crystal display device. The lighting device
`is driven, for example, only when a predetermined number
`of pulses of the switch signal are generated within a prede(cid:173)
`termined period of time, or only when the switch signal has
`continued for a predetermined period of time or more. Thus,
`there are cases where the lighting device is not driven
`irrespective of the generation of the switch signal. As a
`result, the lighting device is prevented from operating so
`often, and hence the life of its battery is lengthened.
`
`10 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`[JP]
`[JP]
`
`Japan .................................... 6-180579
`Japan .................................... 6-304882
`
`Jul. 7, 1994
`Dec. 8, 1994
`Int. CI.6
`..................................................... G04B 19/30
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl . ............................................... 368/67; 368/227
`[58] Field of Search ........................................ 368/67, 227
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,963,885
`4,003,197
`4,095,408
`4,135,067
`
`6/1976 Brien ....................................... 368/227
`1/1977 Haber ........................................ 368/67
`6/1978 Kashio .
`1/1979 Bitko .
`
`1 j
`
`3
`
`2
`
`4
`
`12-2S
`1 n-59 S"
`u
`
`I U·
`
`0
`
`ONE
`SECOND
`
`TWO
`SECONDS
`
`THREE
`SECONDS
`
`ATTITUDE
`DETECTING
`SWITCH
`
`LIGHTING (3 SECONDS)
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 1 of 15
`Sheet 1 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`5,612,931
`
`1
`
`/
`
`12-2S
`11-,-rr:, n
`ll..l-=a1=,Su
`
`
`
`2
`
`4
`
`FIG.1
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0002
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 2 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`17
`
`16
`
`13
`
`ROM'
`
`RAM
`
`14
`
`LCD
`
`DISPLAY
`DRIVER
`
`LIGHTING
`DEVICE
`
`__,..21
`
`CPU
`
`DRIVER
`
`-----20
`
`ATTITUDE
`DETECTING
`SWITCH
`
`~19
`
`KEY INPUT
`SECTION
`
`18
`
`FREQUENCY
`DIVIDER
`
`12
`
`OSCILLATOR
`
`11
`
`FIG.2
`
`14a-
`
`14b----
`
`DISPLAY
`REGISTER
`
`CLOCK
`REGISTER
`
`14c ___,..
`
`TIMER
`
`N
`
`-----14d
`
`FIG.3
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0003
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 3 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`4
`
`/
`
`Al
`,
`s-o·cLOCK
`1- - - - - ; i i . - DIRECTION
`
`12-o·cLOCK
`DIRECTION ...........
`..........-.-............... ........
`
`4-
`
`41a
`
`42a I
`41 A~ 42b 44b
`FIG.4
`
`42b
`
`9-0 1CLOCK
`DIRECTION ..,..__
`
`.--A
`
`45a
`~ - , - - , .+ - - •• B
`41
`
`3-0'CLOCK
`.., DIRECTION
`
`44a 43a
`
`42a
`
`FIG.5
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 4 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`FIG.6
`
`FIG.7
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 5 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`41
`
`44a
`
`.44b
`
`FIG.8
`
`44a
`
`FIG.9
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 6 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`START
`
`S1
`
`SWITCH DETECTION
`
`S4
`
`YES
`
`INCREMENT
`COUNTER VALUE BY+1
`
`NO
`
`S3
`
`START TIMER
`
`YES
`
`S6
`
`PROCESSING FOR
`LIGHTING PREDETERMINE
`PERIOD OF TIME
`
`YES
`
`CLEAR COUNTER
`
`RESET TIMER
`
`END
`
`SB
`
`S9
`
`FIG.10
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 7 of 15
`Sheet 7 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`5,612,931
`
`€)DNILHDIT
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`en
`C z
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`o en
`
`(f)
`
`HOLIMS
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0008
`
`z
`LL 0
`LL
`0
`
`NO
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`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0008
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 8 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`S2
`
`s1--(cid:173)
`
`s3
`
`51 j
`
`12-2S
`
`FIG.12
`
`52
`
`19
`
`S4
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0009
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 9 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`LCD
`
`/1
`
`DISPLAY
`DRIVER
`
`LIGHTING
`DEVICE
`
`CPU
`
`DRIVER
`
`ATTITUDE
`DETECTING
`SWITCH
`
`KEYINPUT
`SECTION
`
`21
`
`20
`
`19
`
`18
`
`FREQUENCY
`DIVIDER
`
`12
`
`17
`
`16
`
`15
`
`13
`
`ROM
`
`RAM
`
`14
`
`SPEAKER
`
`60
`
`OSCILLATOR
`
`11
`
`FIG.13
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0010
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 10 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`DISPLAY REGISTER
`
`63
`
`M
`
`PRESENT TIME
`REGISTER
`
`LO
`
`L1
`
`3-HOUR
`TIMER
`
`ALARMING
`TIME
`
`F
`
`G
`
`STOP-WATCH
`REGISTER
`DETECTION ACCUMULATION 2-SECOND
`R
`TIMER
`NUMBER
`
`66
`
`68
`
`61
`
`62
`
`64
`
`65
`
`FIG.14
`
`DD' ,-, lt"B' D
`fililDL1.·oo ~ D
`~
`____....______.
`- - - - - - - - - - - - ~
`li li'• li l i ' ~ ) ) ) { }
`B:DD-DDBB
`
`SPLIT
`
`X
`
`21a
`
`y
`
`STW
`
`RECALL
`
`FIG.15
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0011
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 11 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`so
`
`S2
`
`KEYINPUT
`
`S1
`
`KEY
`PRESENT TIME-MEASURING TIMING PROCESSING
`
`PRESENT TIME
`MEASURING
`PROCESSING
`
`NO
`
`NO
`
`S3
`
`S4
`
`S8
`
`INCREMENT
`3-HOUR TIMER BY+1
`
`TIME MEASURING
`PROCESSING
`
`NO
`
`ALARM
`PROCESSING
`
`NO
`
`NO
`
`No- 0
`
`LIGHT EL
`
`S13
`
`INCREMENT
`2 SECOND TIMER BY+1
`
`DETECTION
`PROCESSING
`
`------~----1A
`
`NO
`
`DISPLAY
`PROCESSING
`
`S19
`
`S14
`
`S16
`
`CLEAR
`DETECTION NUMBER/
`ACCUMULATION
`
`FIG.16
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0012
`
`

`

`li-■l
`~
`\C
`....
`t,.J
`li-■l
`~
`....
`Ul
`
`Ol
`~
`
`0 ...,
`N
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`~ .....
`00 =-~
`
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`\C
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`,..
`00
`~
`
`~ = ~
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`(ID = f"t'-
`~ = f"t'-
`
`e •
`
`•
`00
`
`I
`
`PROCESSING
`OTHER KEY
`I EXECUTE
`
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`S46
`
`(LIGHT EL)
`G-1
`
`I
`
`S45
`
`YES
`
`~ NO (S4, S5)
`
`ll'C
`
`S44
`
`FIG.17
`
`I
`NO I S42~ NO I
`
`I
`
`INVERT F
`
`S43"' ~s
`
`I
`
`END
`
`~cc
`
`S37,
`
`___l__
`
`S36"
`
`I S41
`f S40
`
`S39
`
`NO
`
`NO ~ S33 ~c~
`
`.
`
`NO
`
`~YS2?
`
`S32
`
`1
`
`M -M+1
`
`S38
`
`NO
`S31
`
`1
`
`3-HOUR TIMER
`
`CLEAR
`
`I
`
`INVERT No
`
`YES f
`
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`S35
`
`S34
`
`I
`
`r
`
`f
`
`No-1
`
`N1 -No
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0013
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 13 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`START
`
`COUNT
`DETECTION NUMBER
`
`COUNT ACCUMULATED
`TIME (R)
`
`S51
`
`S52
`
`S53
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`S54
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`G +- 1
`
`S55
`
`END
`
`FIG.18
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0014
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 14 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`
`USUAL ST ATE OF CLOCK
`
`-1-1 - (cid:173)
`1 -1
`- - -
`- LL1
`IL L_l/ 1,
`
`S1
`
`~S1
`
`STOP WATCH
`
`i
`,, ,,, ,, ,," ,, ,-,
`LAP LI LI LI LI LI LI
`ITTII
`ti *
`~
`II II II II _!;ll~
`SPLIT
`L7:LI LI LI LI LILI
`
`t
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`r--- B
`
`STW
`
`ALARM
`
`[BJ
`
`D
`11
`
`I
`L
`
`r------- C
`
`FIG.19
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0015
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`Sheet 15 of 15
`Sheet 15 of 15
`
`5,612,931
`5,612,931
`
`LHOM$$_________f
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`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0016
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0016
`
`

`

`5,612,931
`
`1
`SWITCH DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC
`INSTRUMENTS EQUIPPED WITH THE
`SWITCH DEVICE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`2
`of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention
`may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumen(cid:173)
`talities and combinations particularly pointed out in the
`appended claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`15
`
`25
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to a switch device suitable to an
`electronic instrument to be mounted on a wrist, such as a
`wristwatch, and the electronic instrument itself.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Recently, wristwatches which can digitally indicate time,
`date, etc. on a liquid crystal display panel have been widely
`spread. In such wristwatches, data displayed on the liquid
`crystal display panel can be seen with ambient light in the
`daytime, but cannot be seen in the nighttime if there is no
`illumination. Therefore, some wristwatches are equipped
`with built-in lighting devices for lighting their liquid crystal
`display panels. In general, a lighting device of this type is
`turned on by operating a lighting switch. Further, also in the 20
`case of an analog watch which indicates time by hands, an
`EL (Electroluminescence) device, for example, is provided
`on the dial of the watch for lighting the dial when it has been
`turned on by a switching operation.
`However, the conventional lighting switch built in a
`wristwatch is hard to operate and is liable to be erroneously
`operated since it is usually operated in the darkness in the
`nighttime.
`In particular, in the case of a sports type wristwatch
`equipped with many functions including a stopwatch func(cid:173)
`tion, and hence with many operation switches for executing
`the functions, it is possible that some switch is mistaken for
`a lighting switch and wrongly operated, to thereby alter
`indicated data unintentionally.
`Moreover, the lighting device is liable to be unintention(cid:173)
`ally turned on, with the result that power consumption may
`increase and the battery built in the wristwatch may have its
`service life shortened.
`
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`10 and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently
`preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with
`the general description given above and the detailed descrip(cid:173)
`tion of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to
`explain the principles of the invention.
`FIG. 1 is a plan view, showing an appearance of a digital
`electronic wristwatch according to the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram, showing the circuit of the
`digital electronic wristwatch of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a view, showing the structure of a RAM
`appearing in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view, showing an attitude
`detecting switch;
`FIG. 5 is a view, taken along lines A-A of FIG. 4;
`FIG. 6 is a view, showing a state in which the digital
`electronic wristwatch of FIG. 1 mounted on a wrist of a
`person is being swung forward and backward;
`FIG. 7 is a view, showing a state in which the digital
`30 electronic wristwatch of FIG. 1 mounted on a wrist of a
`person are repeatedly inclined such that 12-o'clock and
`6-o' clock direction sides of the wristwatch are situated in the
`lowest position;
`FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view, showing that state of a
`switch device incorporated in the wristwatch which is
`assumed when the wristwatch is inclined such that 6-o'clock
`is situated in the lowest position;
`FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view, showing that state of the
`40 switch device which is assumed when the wristwatch is
`inclined such that 12-o' clock is situated in the lowest
`position;
`FIG. 10 is a flowchart, useful in explaining lighting
`control processing performed by a CPU shown in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 11 is a view, showing conditions for detecting that
`On-signal output from the attitude detecting switch which is
`processed in the lighting control processing of FIG. 10;
`FIG. 12 is a front view, showing an appearance of a
`wristwatch according to a second embodiment of the inven-
`tion;
`FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the circuit of the
`second embodiment;
`FIG. 14 is a view, showing the structure of a register
`55 employed in a RAM shown in FIG. 13;
`FIG. 15 is a view, showing an LCD 17 shown in FIG. 13;
`FIG. 16 is a flowchart, useful in explaining the overall
`operation;
`FIG. 17 is a flowchart, useful in explaining key processing
`60 shown in FIG. 16;
`FIG. 18 is a flowchart, useful in explaining detection
`processing shown in FIG. 16;
`FIG. 19 is a view, useful in explaining the state of
`indication; and
`FIGS. 20A and 20B are views, showing detection signals
`of an attitude detection switch 19.
`
`35
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`50
`
`It is the object of the invention to provide a switch device
`capable of operating various devices built in an electronic
`instrument in a reliable manner and reducing the power 45
`consumption, and the electronic instrument itself with the
`switch device.
`To attain the object, there is provided an electronic
`instrument, comprising:
`display .means for displaying data;
`attitude-detecting switch means for detecting the attitude
`of the instrument itself and outputting a switch signal when
`the instrument has assumed a predetermined attitude;
`a lighting device responsive to the switch signal from the
`attitude-detecting switch means for lighting the display
`means; and
`control means for validating or invalidating the operation
`of the lighting device based on the switch signal.
`In the invention constructed as above, the switch device
`can operate in a reliable manner without being unintention(cid:173)
`ally turned on and off. Further, since unintentional turning
`on and off of the lighting device is prevented, the power
`consumption of the electronic instrument can be saved.
`Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be 65
`set forth in the description which follows, and iri part will be
`obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0017
`
`

`

`3
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`5,612,931
`
`20
`
`First Embodiment
`FIG. 1 is a plan view, showing an appearance of a digital
`electronic wristwatch 1 (hereinafter referred to simply as
`"wristwatch 1"). The wristwatch 1 includes a case 2, a liquid
`crystal display 3 ( corresponding to an LCD 17 which will be
`described later) mounted on the case 2 for digitally indicat-
`ing time and date thereon, and an attitude switch 4 contained
`in the case 2 for detecting an inclination of the wristwatch
`1 and performing a switching operation.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram, showing the circuit of the
`wristwatch 1. 10 As is shown in FIG. 2, the wristwatch 1
`comprises an oscillator 11, a frequency divider 12, a ROM
`13, a RAM 14, a CPU 15, a display driver 16, an LCD 17,
`a key input section 18, an attitude detection switch 19, a
`driver 20 and a lighting device 21.
`The oscillator 11 oscillates a fundamental clock signal of
`e.g. 32.768 kHz for generating operation timing clock sig(cid:173)
`nals for each section in the wristwatch 1, and outputs the
`fundamental clock signal to the frequency divider 12.
`The frequency divider 12 frequency-divides the funda(cid:173)
`mental clock signal to produce a timing signal of a prede(cid:173)
`termined frequency and a clock signal of a predetermined 25
`frequency, and supplies the signals to the CPU 11 and other
`circuits.
`The ROM (Read Only Memory) 13 stores micro pro(cid:173)
`grams to be executed by the CPU 15, such as a clock
`processing program, a display processing program and an 3o
`illumination control program.
`The RAM (Random Access Memory) 14 has, as shown in
`FIG. 3, a display register 14a for storing display data, a clock
`register 14b for storing present time data, a timer register
`14c for setting a detection point of time at which the 35
`detection signal of the attitude detection switch 19 is to be
`detected, and a counter register 14d for counting the number
`of occasions in which the detection signal of the switch 19
`is detected, and storing the counted value N.
`The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 15 controls each 40
`section in the wristwatch 1 in accordance with the control
`programs stored in the ROM 13. Specifically, upon receiving
`a time-measuring clock signal output from the frequency
`divider, the CPU 15 performs clock processing and display
`processing, thereby supplying the present time data regis- 45
`tered in the clock register 14b of the RAM 14, to the display
`register 14a of the same, outputting time/date data to the
`display driver 16, and causing the LCD 17 to display the
`time/date data. The CPU 15 further performs various pro(cid:173)
`cessing other than the above in accordance with various 50
`instruction signals input from the key input section 18.
`Moreover, the CPU 15 executes illumination control
`processing, which will be explained later, thereby outputting
`a control signal to the driver 20 to turn on the lighting device
`ll
`•
`The display driver 16 drives the LCD 17 to display
`time/date data, in accordance with display data obtained as
`a result of the clock processing and the display processing in
`the CPU 15, and display data obtained as a result of the
`processing in the CPU 15 according to the key operation of
`the key input section 18.
`The key input section 18, which comprises a time setting
`key, a date setting key, etc., supplies the CPU 15 with an
`instruction signal obtained by a key operation.
`The attitude detection switch 19, which has an attitude
`detection function, corresponds to the attitude detection
`
`4
`switch 4 contained in the case 2 of the wristwatch 1.
`Referring then to FIGS. 4 and 5, the attitude detection switch
`4 will be explained.
`The attitude detection switch 4 is contained in the wrist-
`5 watch 1 such that its right and left directions (in FIG. 4)
`correspond to 12-o'clock and 6-o'clock directions of the
`wristwatch 1, respectively. Further, an upper portion of the
`detection switch 4 is positioned in an upper portion of the
`wristwatch 1 parallel to the upper surface of e.g. the case 2,
`10 while a lower portion of the switch 4 is positioned in a lower
`portion of the wristwatch 1 parallel to the lower surface of
`e.g. the case 2.
`The attitude detection switch 4 has a housing 41 of a
`synthetic resin and first and second conductive stationary
`15 contacts 42 and 43 opposed to each other and received in a
`hole 41a which is formed in the housing 41. More specifi(cid:173)
`cally, the first stationary contact 42 is provided on that side
`end of the hole 41a which is located in the 12-o'clock
`direction of the wristwatch 1, and the second stationary
`contact 43 is provided on that side end of the hole41a which
`is located in the 6-o'clock direction of the wristwatch 1.
`The first stationary contact 42 has an extension 42a
`extending in the 6-o'clock direction of the wristwatch, while
`the second stationary contact 43 has an extension 43a
`extending in the 12-o'clock direction of the wristwatch 1
`and opposed to the extension 42a. The extension 42a of the
`first stationary contact 42 has an inclined end portion 42b
`obliquely extending toward the extension 43a of the second
`stationary contact 43.
`Metallic caps 44a and 44b are provided on the outer
`surfaces of the stationary contacts 42 and 43, respectively.
`The caps 44a and 44b are connected to a circuit board (not
`shown) by means of solder, thereby electrically connecting
`the first and second stationary contacts 42 and 43 to the CPU
`15.
`As is shown in FIG. 5 taken along lines A-A of FIG. 4,
`the housing 41 has an inclined inner surface 41b inclined to
`the extension 42a of the first stationary contact 42.
`Conductive ball members 45a and 45b of the same size
`are movably contained in the hole 41a. These ball members
`have a diameter smaller than the distance between the
`extensions 42a and 43a and larger than the distance between
`the end of the inclined end portion 42b and the extension
`43a.
`The operation of the attitude switch 4 will now be
`explained.
`The wristwatch 1 is mounted on a wrist of a person as is
`shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In a usual state as shown in FIG.
`6 wherein the wrist with the wristwatch 1 is regularly swung,
`the attitude detection switch 4 is inclined such that a
`3-o'clock direction side of the wristwatch 1 is situated in a
`lowest position.
`In this state, in the attitude detection switch 4, the con(cid:173)
`ductive ball members 45a and 45b move in the 3-o'clock
`direction of the wristwatch 1 by their own weights, and the
`first and second stationary contacts 42 and 43 are electrically
`disconnected from each other as indicated by the broken line
`A in FIG. 5.
`At this time, the inclined end portion 42b, which is formed
`as a distal end of the extension 42a, displaces the conductive
`ball member 45a toward the second stationary contact 43 as
`indicated by the broken line Bin FIG. 5. However, since the
`wristwatch 1 inclines such that the 3-o'clock direction side
`65 of the wristwatch 1 is situated in the lowest position, the ball
`member 45a and hence the first stationary contact 42 is
`prevented from contacting the second stationary contact 43.
`
`~
`
`60
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0018
`
`

`

`5,612,931
`
`5
`Thus, the attitude switch 4 is kept in the Off-state.
`Further, where the arm is bent as shown in FIG. 7 such
`that the wristwatch 1 is situated in front of the eyes, and the
`6-o'clock direction side of the wristwatch 1 is situated in the
`lowest position, the ball members 45a and 45b of the attitude 5
`detection switch 4 move by their own weights in the
`6-o' clock direction of the wristwatch 1, as is shown in FIG.
`8.
`
`25
`
`6
`In the above processing, the lighting device 21 is lighted
`after the On-signal is input from the attitude detection switch
`19 more than 5 times (i.e. the signal is input 6 times). FIG.
`11 shows the relationship between the On-signal and the
`detection time. In the FIG. 11 case, the lighting device 21 is
`lighted for e.g. 3 seconds.
`On the other hand, if it is determined in the step S5 that
`the count value N is lower than the reference value of 5, it
`is determined in a step S7 whether or not the value of the
`timer has reached a predetermined value, i.e. whether or not
`the value of the timer register 14d exceeds 3 seconds. If the
`timer value does not reach the predetermined value, the
`program returns to the step Sl and the processes in the steps
`Sl to S6 are repeated. If, on the other hand, the timer value
`reaches the predetermined value, the count value of the
`15 counter register 14d is cleared in the step S8, thereby
`resetting the timer in the step S9 and terminating the
`processing.
`In summary, the lighting device 21 can be lighted for a
`predetermined time period (e.g. 3 seconds) only when the
`20 On-signal from the attitude detection switch 4 has been
`detected six times within the predetermined time period, as
`a result of repeatedly inclining the wristwatch 1 in the
`6-o'clock and 12-o'clock directions of the wristwatch 1.
`Therefore, the lighting device 21 is prevented during walk-
`ing from being turned on and off unintentionally, and can be
`lighted in a reliable manner without erroneous operations of
`other switches.
`As a result, unintentional lighting of the lighting device
`can be avoided, thereby saving the power consumption of
`the wristwatch 1 and lengthening the life of the built-in
`battery.
`Although in the above embodiment, the lighting.device 21
`is lighted when the On-signal from the attitude detection
`35 switch 19 is detected six times within 3 seconds, the
`conditions for lighting the device 21 may be altered in
`various manners.
`Further, although the lighting device 21 consists of the EL
`(Electroluminescence) device located below the LCD 17, it
`may be formed of a lamp, a LED, etc.
`Second Embodiment
`FIGS. 12 to 15 show a second embodiment of the inven(cid:173)
`tion.
`As is shown in FIG. 12, a wristwatch 51 according to the
`second embodiment includes a case 52, a liquid crystal
`display 53 mounted on the case 52 for digitally indicating
`time and date thereon, and an attitude switch 19 contained
`in the case 52 for detecting an inclination of ~ wristwatch
`1. A lighting device consisting of an electroluminescence
`device, etc., explained later, is provided on the reverse
`surface of the liquid crystal display 53. Further, two switches
`S3 and S4 are mounted on the upper surface of the case 52,
`and three switches Sl to S3 are mounted on the peripheral
`surface of the case 52.
`The switch Sl is a mode switch to be operated to switch
`the operation mode. The switch S2 is provided for switching
`the operation mode between an EL auto-off mode for
`keeping the lighting device in the Off-state even if an
`On-signal is supplied from the attitude detection switch 19,
`and an EL auto-on mode for automatically turning on the
`lighting device when the On-signal has been supplied from
`the switch 19. The switch S3 is provided for manually
`lighting the lighting device. The switches S4 and S5 are
`provided for correcti_ng time, etc.
`FIG. 13 is a blo.ck diagram, showing the circuit of the
`wristwatch 52. The FIG. 13 circuit differs from the FIG. 2
`
`10
`
`When the conductive ball member 45a positioned close to
`the second stationary contact 43 has moved toward the
`second stationary contact 43, it is guided to the extension
`43a of the second stationary contact 43 by means of the
`inclined end portion 42b of the first stationary contact 42,
`and brought into contact with the extension 43a. As a result,
`the inclined end portion 42b of the extension 42a of the first
`stationary contact 42 is electrically connected to the exten(cid:173)
`sion 43a of the second stationary contact 43 via the ball
`member 45a, thereby turning on the attitude detection
`switch 4.
`Further, the conductive ball member 45b positioned close
`to the first stationary contact 42 moves by its own weight
`toward the second stationary contact 43, thereby urging the
`conductive ball member 45a between the extension 42a of
`the first stationary contact 42 and the extension 43a of the
`second stationary contact 43. Thus, the first and second
`stationary contacts 42 and 43 are securely connected.
`On the other hand, where the arm is bent such that the
`12-o'clock direction side of the dial of the wristwatch 1 is
`situated in the lowest position, the ball members 45a and
`45b of the attitude detection switch 4 move by their own 30
`weights in the 12-o'clock direction of the wristwatch 1, as
`is shown in FIG. 9.
`When the conductive ball member 45a positioned close to
`the second stationary contact 43 has moved from the
`inclined end portion 42b to the extension 42a, the first and
`second stationary contacts 42 and 43 are again separated
`from each other.
`When the wristwatch 1 has been repeatedly inclined in the
`6-o'clock and 12-o'clock directions, the attitude detection
`switch 4 is repeatedly turned on and off. When the On-signal 40
`indicative of the on-state of the switch 4 has been repeatedly
`output to the CPU 15, the CPU 15 executes illumination
`control processing, which will be explained below, thereby
`outputting a control signal to the driver 20. As a result, the
`driver 20 turns on the lighting device 21 to illuminate the 45
`LCD 17.
`Referring then to FIG. 10, the illumination control pro(cid:173)
`cessing executed by the CPU 15 will be explained.
`When the 6-o'clock direction side of the wristwatch 1 50
`mounted on the wrist has been situated in the lowest position
`as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the On-signal is supplied from
`the attitude detection switch 19 to the CPU 15 and detected
`by the same (step Sl). In the next step S2, it is determined
`whether or not a timer for successively adding the values of 55
`the timer register 14c of the RAM 14 with the passing of
`time operates. If the timer does not operate, the timer is
`started to operate (step S3). In a step S4, the value N of the
`counter register 14d of the RAM 14 is incremented by +1.
`Subsequently, it is determined in a step S5 whether or not 60
`the incremented count value N is higher than a predeter(cid:173)
`mined reference value NO (e.g. 5). If the count value N is
`higher than the reference value of 5, a control signal is
`supplied to the driver 20 to light the lighting device 21 for
`a predetermined time period (step S6), thereby clearing the 65
`count value of the counter register 14d (step S8), resetting
`the timer (step S9) and terminating the processing.
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1017, 0019
`
`

`

`5,612,931
`
`15
`
`7
`circuit only in that the former employs a speaker 60 driven
`by a signal from the CPU 15. Therefore, the other elements
`in FIG. 13 are denoted by corresponding reference numerals,
`and explanation will be abbreviated. The key input section
`18 includes the switches Sl to S5, and the RAM 14 includes 5
`various registers which will be explained below with refer(cid:173)
`ence to FIG. 14. The LCD 17 includes a display segment
`which will be explained later with reference to FIG. 15. The
`CPU 15 stores a microprogram for executing processing as
`indicated by the flowcharts of FIGS. 16 to 18.
`FIG. 14 shows the structure of registers in the RAM 14.
`The RAM 14 includes a display register 61 which stores
`display data for displaying data on the LCD 17, a present(cid:173)
`time register 62 for storing data indicative of present date
`and time, a three-hour timer 63 for measuring a period of
`time elapsed after automatic tum-on of the lighting device,
`an alarm time register 64 for storing a set alarm time, a
`stop-watch register 65 for storing a period of time for which
`the stop-watch function is executed, an occasion number
`register 66 for storing the number of occasions in which a
`predetermined attitude is held for a predetermined time
`period (e.g. 2 seconds), an accumulated-time register 67 for
`storing an accumulated value of time periods for which the
`predetermined attitude is held, and a 2-second timer 68 used
`to measure 2 seconds.
`Moreover, the RAM 14 includes a mode register M for
`storing values corresponding to operation modes, a register
`LO storing data indicative of whether the lighting device is
`to be automatically turned on or off, a register Ll for
`temporarily storing the value of the register LO, a flag F 30
`indicative of whether or not the stop-watch function is being
`executed, and a flag G indicative of whether or not the
`lighting device 21 is being lighted.
`The mode register M stores "0" when the operation mode
`is a clock mode, "I" when it is the stop-watch mode, and "2" 35
`when it is an alarm set mode. The register LO stores "0"
`when the EL auto-off mode is set, and "I" when the EL
`auto-on mode is set. The value of the flag Fis "I" while the
`stop-watch function is executed, and "0" while the stop(cid:173)
`watch function is not executed. The value of the flag G is "I" 40
`while the lighting device 21 is in the On-state, and "0" while
`it is in the Off-state.
`FIG. 15 shows the display segment of the LCD 17. During
`the stop-watch function being executed, for example, a lap
`time is displayed on an upper portion X, and a time period 45
`for which the stop-watch function is executed is displayed
`on a lower portion Y. Further, when the EL auto-on or -off
`mode is set, an EL auto display mark 21a is lighted to inform
`the user of the mode.
`The attitude detection switch 19 has a structure similar to
`that of the switch shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, and hence its
`explanation will be omitted.
`The operation of the second embodiment will be
`explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 16 to 18.
`Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 16, the CPU 15 is
`usually in a halt state as in a step SO. When a point of time
`at which time detection is to be started has been reached, the
`program proceeds to a step S2, where the present time is
`measured. When, on the other hand, key input has been 60
`detected, the program proceeds to a step Sl, where key
`processing is performed.
`Referring then to the flowchart of FIG. 17, the key
`processing in the step Sl will be explained.
`First, it is determined in a step S31 whether or not a key
`Sl is being operated. If it is determined that the key Sl is
`being operated, i.e. if the answer to the question of the step
`
`8
`S31 is Yes, the program proceeds to a step S32, where the
`value of the mode register Mis incremented by "I". In the
`next step S33, it is determined whether or not the value of
`the mode register Mis "I", i.e. whether or not the present
`operation mode is the stop-watch mode. If it is determined
`that the stop-watch mode is set, the program proceeds to a
`step S34, where the value of the register LO is transmitted to
`the register Ll, and "I" i