US3817021A - Solid state watch with magnetic setting - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a solid state electronic wristwatch with no moving parts. The watch electronics are hermetically sealed in the watch case to be free of dust and moisture 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 magnets, the demand magnet operating with a demand pushbutton. The setting magnet may be stored in the watch bracelet.

Description

United States Patent ['19] Bergey SOLID STATE WATCH WITH MAGNETIC SETTING [75] Inventor: John M. Bergey, Lancaster, Pa. [73] Assignee: Time Computer, Inc., Lancaster, Pa. [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 396,009

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser No. 162,8!3. July 15, 1971, Pat. No, 3,789,601, which iS a division 0f Ser. N0. 138,557. April 29, 1971, Pat. NO. 3,782,102.

[52] U.S. Cl. 58/50 R, 58/855 [51] Int. Cl. G04b 19/30, G04b 27/00 [58] Field of Search 58/23 R, 50 R, 85.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,129,557 4/1964 Fiechter 58/23 R X [111 I 3,817,021 June 18, 1974 3,485,033 12/1969 Langley 58/50 R 3,576,099 4/1971 Walton 58/23 R X 3,643,418 2/1972 Polin et al 58/855 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Edith Simmons Jackmon Attorney, Agent, or Firm LeBlanc & Shur 5 7] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a solid state electronic wristwatch with no moving parts. The watch electronics are hermetically sealed in the watch case to be free of dust and moisture 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 magnets, the demand magnet operating with a demand pushbutton. The setting magnet may be stored in the 7 watch bracelet.

3 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUIHS m4 3817021 sum 10r 9 FIG. I

PWNIEDJIIII 10 I914 I54 MINUTE V V s sIIEEI II 0? DISPLAY DISPLAY I48 I50 I52 I i 7 DECODER m DECODER DEcoDER DRIVER DRIVER DRIVER A I I I A LI A I1 I26 I28 I30 j 5 -:-I0 +6 -:-I2

A64 l66 LIGHT 2' sEIVsDRs "VF/8 I60 5 LIGHT DISPLAY I CONTROL CONTROL cIRcuII, DRIvERs HOURS I II I 2'0 I98 3 I68 224 .202 I 2 a: eg DEMAND BUTTON Lu READ 5% I92 -l88 I86 SWITCH I84 7 L, MINUTE II2 fiakg I96Q 2 204 I W194 L H 2HZ(DUR|N6 SETTING) 'sET- HOLD 'g HOURS 5 200 CIRCUIT SET CIRCUIT @226R 206 22D 5K BHZ'mmlmm 18 an SHEU 6BF 9 PATENTEBJuu 18 m4 SHEEI 7BF 9 gmgmuu 18 m I saw 3BF 9 FIG. H

. v 1 SOLID STATE WATCH WITH MAGNETIC SETTING This is a division of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 162,813 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,601 filed July 15 1971 and which is a division of my copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 138,557, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,102 filed Apr. 29, 1971 for Solid State Watch with MAGNETIC SETTING.

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 consumption and small size and weight are achieved through the use of complementary MOS circuits to produce what is in essence a miniaturized fixed program computer. In particular, the present invention is directed 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 switchmagnetic setting arrangement.

Battery-powered Wristwatches and other small portable timekeeping devices for various types are well known and are commercially available. The first commercially successful battery-powered wristwatch is of the type shown and described in assignees U.S. Reissue Pat. No. RE 26,187, reissued Apr. 4, 1967, to John A. Van Horn et al. for ELECTRIC WATCH. Electric watches of this type employ a balance and a hairspring driven by the interaction of a current-carrying coil and a magnetic field produced by small permanent magnets.

In recent years, considerable effort has been directed toward the development of a wristwatch which does not employ an electromechanical oscillator as the master time reference. In many instances, these constructions have utilized a crystal-controlled high frequency oscillator as a frequency standard in conjunction with frequency conversion circuitry to produce a drive signal at a suitable timekeeping rate. However, difficulties have been encountered in arriving at an oscillatorfrequency 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 assignees U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,998, issued Feb. 2, 1971, a crystal-controlled oscillator type watch construction using low power complementary MOS circuits. The oscillator-frequency converter combination of that patent is described as suitable for driving conventional watch hands over a watch dial or, alte'rnatively, for selectively actuating the display elements of an optical display in response to the drive signal output of the converter.

In assignees U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,099, issued Apr. 27, 1971, there is disclosed an improved watch construction in which the optical display takes the form of a plurality 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 incorporating solid state circuits and integrated circuittech- 2 niques is disclosed in assignees copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 35,196, filed May 6, 1970 now US. 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 invention consists of three major components, namely, a quartz crystal time base, a miniature time computer module, and a power supply or battery. These microminiature components are packaged in a conventional size wristwatch chassis or case. A tiny quartz slab is precisely cut to predetermined dimensions so that it vibrates at 32,768 Hz when properly stimulated by pulses from an electronic oscillator. The high frequency from the crystal time base is divided down to one pulse per second 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 appropriate signals at display stations.

Situated on the front of the watch adjacent the display is a pushbutton demand switch which, when pressed, instantly activates the appropriate visual display stations. Minues and hours are programmed to display for 1% 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 computer module. Computation of the precise time is continuous and completely independent of whether or not it is displayed.

The watch display consists of a television screenlike colored filter which passes the cold red light from gallium arsenide phosphide GaAsP) light-emitting diodes. Preferably a 7 segment array forms each individual number at the appropriate moment at a brightness determined by a specially constructed dimmer or display intensity control circuit. This dimmer circuit utilizes 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 magnetically 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 interrogation, active components of the watch may be hermetically 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 components 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 unlimited life.

It is therefore oneobject of the present invention to provide an improved electronic wristwatch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wristwatch which utlizes no moving parts for performing the timing function.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a solid state watch in 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 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 nomoving parts having improved operating characteristics and reduced cost.

These and further objectsand advantages of the invention will be more apparent upon reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a front view of a conventional size mans wristwatch constructed in accordance with the present invention; I

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 a7 bar segment construction 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 substantially 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.

1; e FIG. .7 is a crosssection taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

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 99 of FIG. 1;

FIG. l0is an enlarged plan view of the demand button assembly of the watch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a cross section through the demand button assembly taken along line 11-11 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a cross section perpendicular to that of FIG. ll takenalong line l2l2,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.lland 12.

Referring to the drawings, the novel watch of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1..

button 18, by means of which the display may be ac- 4 tuated when the wearer of the wristwatch l0 desires to ascertain the time.

In normal operation, time is continuously being kept but is not displayed through thewindow 16. That is,no

time indication is visible through the window and this is the normal condition which prevails in order to conserve battery energy in the watch. However, even through the time is not displayed through thewindow 16, it is understood that thewatch 10 continuously keeps accurate time and is capable of accurately displaying this time at any instant. When the wearer desires to ascertain the correct time, he depressed thepushbutton 18 with his finger and the correct time is immediately displayed at 20 through thewindow 16. The hours and minutes are displayed through thewindow 16 for a predetermined length of time, preferably 1% seconds, irrespective of whether or not thepushbutton 18 remains depressed'The exact time of the display is chosen to given the wearer adequate time to consult the display to determine the hour and minute of time. Should the minutes change during the time of display, this change is immediately indicated byadvancement of the minute reading to the next number as the watch is being read. If thepushbutton 18 remains depressed, 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 thewindow 16 immediately below'the hours and minutes display 20. The ad- -vancing seconds cycling from 0 to 59 continue to be displayed throughwindow 16 untilpushbutton switch 18 is released. 9

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of the principal components of thewatch 10 of FIG. 1. The circuit comprises a time base or frequency standard 26 including a piezoelectric crystal to provide a very accurate frequency such that the frequency standard or oscillator oscillates at 32,768 Hz. This relatively high frequency is supplied by a lead 28 to afrequency converter 30 in the form of a divider which divides down the frequency from the standard so that the output from theconverter 30 appearing onlead 32 is at a frequency of 1 Hz. Thefrequency converter 30 preferably comprises a binary counting chain of complementary MOS transistors of the type shown and described in as signees U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,998, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The 1 Hz signal is applied bylead 32 to adisplay actuator 34 which in turn drives thedisplays 20 and 22 of thewatch 10 by way ofelectrical lead 36.

FIG. 3 shows adisplay station 38 forming one of the numerals of the hours and minutes display 20 and theseconds display 22. Each of these display stations (with the exception of thehours tens display as more fully described below) is preferably in the form of a 7 bar segment array of light-emitting diodes. of the type shown and described in detail in assignees U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,099, issued Apr. 27, 1971, the disclosure of which ,is incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 3shows 7 bar segments of light-emittingdiodes 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, and'52, all of elongated shape and arranged so that by lighting an appropriate combination of the bars or segments any of thenumbers 0 through 9 may be displayed.

FIGS. 4, 4a, and 4b show the electrical circuit of the watch of the present invention. Reference'may be had to assignees copending an overall block diagram of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 35,196, filed May 6, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,155, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, for a detailed 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 comprises anoscillator 96 which is controlled by a crystal to produce an output onlead 98, i.e., a pulse train on that lead having a pulse repetition rate of 32,768 Hz. The crystal output passes through a complementarysymmetry MOS counter 100 of the type shown and described in assignees U.S. Pat. 7 No. 3,560,998, which acts as a divider, dividing the output by 2 i.e., a seven stage counter, to produce an output onlead 102 having a pulse repetition rate of 256 Hz. This signal is divided by 2'in counter 104, by 2 again incounter 106, by 8 (2 incounter 108, and by 4 2 incounter 110.

An 8 Hz output onlead 112 fromcounter 108 is applied to a set-hold circuit 114 where the 8 Hz repetition rate pulse train appearsas an output onlead 116. The 8 Hz signal onlead 116 is applied to acounter 118 where it is divided by 8 (2 to produce a 1 Hz output pulse train onlead 120. The 1 Hz pulse train is divided by 10 incounter 122, divided by 6 incounter 124, divided by 10 again incounter 126, divided by 6 incounter 124, divided by 10 again incounter 126, divided by 6 again incounter 128, and the output of this counter is finally applied to counter 130 which divides by 12. The output ofcounter 122 appearing onleads 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 fromcounter 124 by way of seconds decoder-driver 146. Similar decoder-drivers 148, 150, and 152 actuate the tens digits of the minutes display at 154, the ones digits of the minutes 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 theirrespective counters 124, 126, and 128 in the same manner'as decoderdriver 140 is actuated fromcounter 122.

As previously stated, in order to conserve energy, the light-emitting diodes are only energized on demand, i.e., when thepushbutton 18 of P10. 1 is depressed by the wearers finger. Even when the button is depressed, the lights are not always continuously lit but instead, in order to conserve power, are intermittently lighted during less than full daylight conditions at a frequency sufficiently 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 adisplay control driver 160 which applies the ON-OFF pulses by way oflead 162 to the seconds decoderdrivers 140 and 146. Similar intermittent pulses from thedisplay control drivers 160 are applied bylead 164 to the minutes decoder-drivers 148 and 150 and bylead 166 to thehours 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 determinedby alight control circuit 168 which supplies alight control signal over lead 170 to displaycontrol drivers 160. The light control signal is either DC (full daylight) or a combination of a 64 Hz signal supplied fromcounter 106 by way of lead 172, a 128 Hz signal supplied by counter 104 by way oflead 174, and a 256 Hz signal supplied from the output of counter by way oflead 176. These signals are combined in thelight control circuit 168 in a manner determined by the output signal onlead 178 to the light control circuit from ambientlight 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 conditions and less illumination from the diodes under nighttime or reduced light conditions. In the preferred embodiment,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 theread switch 184 in FIG. 4 to close, causing the positive side of the power supply to be connected by way ofleads 186 and 188 to thedisplay control drivers 160. Energization of these drivers permits passage through them of the signal from thelight control circuit 168 which is passed on to the decoder-drivers causing the minutes and hours displays to be'illuminated. No output from thedisplay control diodes 160 appears onlead 162 at this time and the seconds displays are not illuminated. Closure of the readswitch 184 also applies B-lby way oflead 190 to set-hold circuit 114 which immediately resets adisplay timer 192 by way oflead 194.Display timer 192 is a divide by 10 counter and has applied to its input the 8 Hz pulse train onlead 112. This timer divides the 8 Hz pulse by 10 and after 1% seconds produces an output pulse onlead 196 which is applied to displaycontrol driver 160. This pulse causes the display control driver to change state, removing the output fromleads 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 invention lies in the fact that the hours may be set independently of the minutes and seconds and at a very rapid rate. Closure of hours-setswitch switch 198 grounds one input of an hours-set circuit 200 by way ofleads 202 and 204. Hours-set circuit 200 receives a 2 H2 pulse train from counter by way oflead 206 and actuation of the hours-set circuit by closure of hours setswitch 198 causes the hours-set circuit 200 to pass the 2 Hz signal onlead 206 to counter by way oflead 208. Hours-setswitch 198 is also connected to the display control drivers to cause an output to appear onleads 164 and 166 assuring that the hours and minutes are displayed whenthe hours are being reset during closure ofswitch 198;. A minute-setswitch 212 is connected byleads 214 and 216 to a minute-set circuit 218. As before, actuation of this circuit causes it to pass a 2 Hz pulse train onlead 220 fromcounter 110 by way of lead222 'to the divide .bycounter 126 driving the minutes display. Minute-setswitch 212 is likewise connected bylead 224 to displaycontrol drivers 160, again to insure an output onleads 164 and 166 during resetting.

In the watch of the present invention, actuation of the minute-setswitch 212 automatically zeros the seconds display. The reason for this is that most time signals, 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 afurther lead 226 to set-hold circuit 114. Energization of this circuit fromlead 226 produces an output pulse onoutput lead 228 which is applied to the reset terminals ofcounters 118, 122, and 124 byway ofleads 229, 231, and 233, resetting these counters to zero and causing the seconds display to be automatically zeroed. Depressingread switch 184 unlocks the set time and begins the real time counting sequence.

FIG. 5 shows a modified embodiment of the solid state watch of the present invention, generally indicated at 230. In FIG. 5, like parts bear like reference numerals, andthe overall construction of the watch in FIG. 5 is generally similar to the embodiment previously described. The principal modification incorporated in the embodiment of FIG. 5 is that the vast majority of the electrical components are formed from one or morelarge-scale integrated circuits, as indicated by the largeintegrated circuit block 232 in FIGS. Reference may be had to assigneescopending US. Pat. application Ser. No. l38,547, filed Apr. 29, 1971 now US. Pat. No. 3,7l4,867, and entitled SOLID STATE WATCH INCORPORATING LARGE-SCALE INTE- GRATED CIRCUITS, in the name of Bruno M. Dargent, for a detailed description of the large-scaleintegrated circuit 232, the disclosure of that copending application being incorporated herein by reference.

In FIG. 5, thecrystal oscillator 96 is of the type previously described and includes apiezoelectric crystal 234, avariable trimming capacitor 236, and abias resistor 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 largescaleintegrated circuit 232. As in the previous embodiment, the oscillator preferably operates at a frequency of 32,768 Hz. The entire watch is powered from a conventional watch battery or power supply, indicated at- 240, andthedemand switch 184, the minute-setswitch 212 and the hour-setswitch 198 are all connected from the positive side of the battery 240 to the other or grounded sideofthe battery through therespective resistors 242, 244, and'246. i r y The modified embodiment in FIG. 5 includes a modified dimmer or display intensity control circuit comprising a capacitor248, aresistor 250, a lightsensitive resistor 252, asecond resistor 254, and asecond capac itor 256. These components in effect form a multivibrator which is triggered at a frequency of 64 Hz, which trigger signal is derived from an intennediate stage of the divider orfrequency converter 30 incorporated in the large-scaleintegrated circuit 232. The pulse width of the multivibrator and therefore the duty cycle of the output from the multivibrator: depends primarily on the able lightsensitive resistor 252. For decreasing amounts of ambientlight impinging uponresistor 252,

as indicated by thearrow 258, the duty cycle of the multivibrator output is reduced and this output signal is applied to thedisplays 20 and 22 so as to vary their intensity with the amount of ambient light, i.e., the intensity is increased when theambient 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 integratedcircuit 232 by a pair ofbipolar switches 260 and 262, labeledS and S respectively. These, transistors connect the cathodes of the light-emitting diodes of the display to the negative side of the battery 240, i.e., to ground, so that the circuit to the light-emitting diodes is completed when thetransistors 260 and 262 are in conduction. These transistors have their bases connected to the large-scaleintegrated circuit 232 throughrespective resistors 264 and 266. It is understood that when one of the switches S or S is turned on, the other is off and vice versa so that all displays are not simultaneously on. When switch S, (260) is turned on, this completes the circuit to the hours and minutes displaydiodes 20. If the demand button remains depressed, afterIAseconds switch 260 is turned off by the large- 'scale-integrated circuit 232'and-switch 262 is simultaneouslyturned 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-scaleintegrated circuit 232 through the connecting leads generally indicated at 268.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the watch and FIG. 7 is a crosssection through thewatch of the present invention taken along line 7-7'of FIG. 1. Thewatch case 12 comprises afront plate 270, aninner cover 272, and aremovable back plate 274. These three plates are preferably made from a non-magnetic metal material, such as that sold under the trade name Havar. Betweeninner cover 272 andback plate 274 is the power supply in the form of a pair of 1.5 voltdry 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 carries a plurality of mountingsprings 280 withprojections 282 which snap into corresponding recesses in thefront plate 270 for ready attachment and removal of the back plate so that access may be gained to thebattery cells 276 and 278. The back plate is sealed by an annular rubber O-ring 28 4.

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 99 of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the assembly fordemand button 18, The battery cells are separated fromback plate 274 by annular insulatingwashers 284 but have their negative side connected to the back plate and therefore grounded to the case by an electricallyconductive cell connector 286. A similar cell connector 288 (FIG. '9)

connected to the positive side of the power supply is electrically connected to apositive cell lead 290 which passes through asuitable glass seal 292 to establish electrical connection to the electronic circuit indicated generally at 294 mounted oncircuit substrate 296.]

Trimmingcapacitor 236 and thepiezoelectirc crystal 234 are also mounted on thesubstrate 296. Placed in the viewing window over the light-emitting diodes is alight filter 298. The filter is fabrictrd from a ruby to insure relative scratch and break resistance. A solderable metal material is deposited along the edge of the filter to aid in the soldersealing of the filter to thefront 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 transmits most of the 6,500 Angstrom wavelength light from the light-emitting diodes carried by theelectronic substrate 296.Inner cover 272 is soldersealed tofront plate 270 around its edge, as indicated at 302 in FIG. 9, and this inner cover carries four mounting posts, two of which are illustrated at 304 in FIG. 9. These posts or studs are welded toinner cover 272 and thesubstrate 296 is held against these shoulder studs by means ofscrews 306. Both sides of the substrate rest against a resilient shockabsorbent material 308 and 310 to provide maximum protection against severe shocks encountered when dropping the watch. The crystal can 234 and trimmingcapacitor 236 are all similarly protected by soft potting compound between the substrate and their assembled position as indicated at 312 and 314, respectively.

As can be seen, theelectronics 294 is hermetically sealed all the way around betweeninner cover 272 andfront plate 270. This hermetic seal acts as protection to the electronics and also prevents condensation of water vapor on thefilter 298. The hermetically sealed cavity is provided by solder-sealing the filter to the front plate and soldersealing the inner cover to this plate. The battery compartment is outside this cavity and is protected from the outside world by the case back or backplate 274 and the O-ring gasket 284. Electrical connections of the battery to the electronics are provided by glassto-metal sealed feedthrough connectors as indicated at 292.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the read ordemand switch 184, the minute-setswitch 212, and the hour-setswitch 198 are all magnetically operated in such a way that theelectronics 294 remains hermetically sealed. These three switches are shown in dashed lines in FIG. 8 and are preferably in the form of reed switches. There are several significant advantages in utilizing a permanent magnet operated reed switch to perform the hours, minutes and demand readout functions in the watch. First, the miniature switches are glass encapsulated, hermetically sealed devices which have a proven history of high reliability, in this type of application. Se-

I condly, nothrough-holes are required in the watch case so true hermetic sealing is simplified. Also, actuation of the switches requires a deliberate activity on the part of the wearer so that inadvertent operation is minimized. These switches are positioned in the watch as illustrted in FIG. 8 and attached to thesubstrate 296 by a soft potting compound, as illustrated, for example, at 316 in FIG. 9 for the hours-set switch I98. These switches are preferably of the type identified as MINI-2 switches manufactured by Hamlin, Inc. of Lake Wills, Wisconsin, or equivalent. A switch pull sensitivity of between and ampereturns is desirable for the demand switch, while 35 to 40 ampereturns is desirable for both the hour and minutes set switches.

As best seen in FIG. 8, thefront plate 270 of the watch case is provided with a firstelongated setting slot 318 adjacent hour-setswitch 198 and asecond setting slot 320 adjacent the minute-setswitch 212. A portion of thesetting slot 318 is illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 9. It is understood that the minute-set switch slot orrecess 320 is of similar construction. These two recesses or slots, one adjacent the hour-set switch and the other adjacent the minute-set switch are dimensioned so that a long cylindrical or square magnet can be placed into this recess when a change in setting time is desired. In the preferred embodiment, the setting magnet takes the form of a permanent magnet made from Alinco V material with dimensions of 0.500 inch long by 0.062 inch square. This produces a field of about 700 gauss.

Asbestseen inflfi. 7, thedemand switch 184 is supported from thesubstrate 296 in a manner similar to the other switches, i.e., by a soft potting compound as illustrated at 322. FIG. 10 is a plan view of thepushbutton assembly 18, FIG. 11 is a cross section through the pushbutton assembly taken along line l1ll in FIG. 10, FIG. 12 is a cross section at right angles to that ofFIG. ll taken along line 12-l2 ofFIG. 10, and FIG. 13 shows the flat pushbutton spring before it is formed into a curved spring shape.

The pushbutton assembly is constructed so as to retain the hermetic seal about the electronic components of the watch. The pushbutton assembly comprises an elongated pushbutton proper 324 slidably received through asuitable aperture 326 in thefront plate 270 of the watch case. Press fit into a circular recess in the center of thepushbutton 324 in apermanent magnet 328 formed in the shape of a right circular cylinder.Recess 326 is stepped to form ashoulder 330 which cooperates with anannular flange 332 on the lower end ofpushbutton 324 to limit the upward or outward movement of the pushbutton. Theplate shoulder 330 andannular flange 332 are preferably separated by anannular gasket 334 made of silicone.

The inner end ofaperture 326 is closed off by a flatrectangular plate 336 made of brass or other suitable non-mangetic material.Brass plate 336 is soldered for a hermetic seal all the way around its edge to theinner surface 338 offront plate 270 as indicated at 340 in FIGS. 11 and 12. In this way, thepushbutton 324 andmagnet 328, while mounted on the front plate, are sealed externally of the chamber carrying the watch electronics. Resting on top ofbrass plate 336 is a substantially rectangular arched orcurved spring 342 which urges thepushbutton 324 and themagnet 328 carried by it upwardly or outwardly in the direction of thearrow 344 in FIG. 11.Spring 342 is preferably made of Havar or other suitable non-magnetic metallic material and, while its ends 346 and 348 rest on top ofbrass plate 336, it is symmetrically curved or arched about thecenterline 350 of the pushbutton assembly so that its center is spaced approximately 0.030 inch from the top ofbrass plate 336. FIG. 13 shows theHavar spring 342 in plan view while it is flat and before it is formed into the arched or curved configuration illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. By way of example only, the spring may have a thickness of approximately 0.0024 inch. Thedemand magnet 328 which is press fit into the recess inpushbutton 324 is about 0.070 inch long and about 0.090 inch in diameter and utilizes cobalt platinum (CoPt) to produce a field of about 1,300 gauss.

It is apparent from the above that the present invention provides an improved timepiece construction and particularly a timepiece having sufficiently small size,

ll weight and power consumption for use as a conventional man s wristwatch. important features of the present invention include a resilient shock-free mounting arrangement, a completely hermetically sealedassembly so that the electronics, display and other major components are completely sealed from atmospheric effects, a magnetically operated demand or read switch, and a pair of magnetically operated setting switches for setting the watch time. The setting pennanent magnet may conveniently be stored in a suitable recess inv the watch bracelet when not in use or may otherwise be carried on or adjacent the watch or in a suitable recess provided in the watchcase. If desired,

it is possible to paint the substrate and light reflecting materials in the vicinity of the light-emitting diodes a dark flat black. This improves readout visibility by providing maximum contrast ratio between the lightits own hermetically sealed vacuum can to reduce its series resistance, improved its activity for any given drive current, and to minimize the natural aging effects of the crystal. In the preferred embodiment, the power supply is formed of two silver oxide cells in a standard size container operating at a nominal voltage of about 3 volts, but it is understood that any conventional wristwatch power supply may be utilized. As illustrated in FIG. 7, theelectrical cells 276 and 278 are preferably is understood thatthe display can assume any one of emitting diodes and their background. The piezoelectric crystal for the oscillator is preferably contained in' formed using such well known devices as miniature in candescent bulbs, other types of light-emitting diodes, or the well known liquid crystals, as well as lesser known devices, such as ferro-electric crystals or electro-luminescent displays and others. If desired, the electrical signals may be connected through a suitable electromechanical transducer or motor to drive conventional watch hands.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A wristwatch comprising a watch case made of non-magnetic material, timekeeping means in said case including a liquid crystal time display and a magnetic field responsive switch for setting said display, said case including a recess adjacent said switch whereby said switch may be actuated by the insertion of a permanent magnet into said recess from outside said case.

2. A wristwatch according to claim 1 including a second magnetic field responsive setting switch in said case, said case having a second recess adjacent said second switch.

3. A wristwatch according to claim 1 wherein said timekeeping means includes a magnetic field responsive demand switch in said case for activating said display upon demand, and a permanent magnet movably mounted on said case adjacent said demand switch.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent; No, D d June 18, 1974 Inventofls) JOHN M. BERGEY It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

'Col. 1,line 26, "for various" should read --of various; line 32', "balance" should read --balance wheel-- Col. 5', line 58,

"decoderdrivers" should read --decoder-drivers--.

Col. 9 line 56, "illustrted"'should read -illustrated.

Col; l0 line, 52, "While" should read --while-- Col. 11, line 21, "improved" should read --improve-- Signed" and sealedfzhis 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer c. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents Po-ww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 6g CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NC 3,817,021 V Dated June 18, 1974 Inventor(s) JOHN B Y It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Col. 1,line 26,."'for various" should read --of various-;

line 32, "balanc e".should read --balance Wheel-.

Col. 5 line58, decoderdrivers" should read --decoder-drivers--.

Col. 9 line 56, "illustrted" should read -illustrated-.

Col;l0 line 52, "while" should read --while-- Col. 11, line 21, "improved" should read --improve--.

Signed" and sealed this 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest McCOY M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (3)

1. A wristwatch comprising a watch case made of non-magnetic material, timekeeping means in said case including a liquid crystal time display and a magnetic field responsive switch for setting said display, said case including a recess adjacent said switch whereby said swItch may be actuated by the insertion of a permanent magnet into said recess from outside said case.

2. A wristwatch according to claim 1 including a second magnetic field responsive setting switch in said case, said case having a second recess adjacent said second switch.

3. A wristwatch according to claim 1 wherein said timekeeping means includes a magnetic field responsive demand switch in said case for activating said display upon demand, and a permanent magnet movably mounted on said case adjacent said demand switch.

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