Timex Group B.v.

Timex Corporation

Timex Group Usa, Inc.

Timex Group Usa, Inc., Middlebury

Gerhard Stotz

Louis M Galie

Michel G Plancon

Herbert Schwartz

Wolfgang Burkhardt

Helmut Zachmann

Adolf Sedlak

Ronald S Lizzi

Hans G Schnell

Roland Burghausen

Fred Olsen

Siegfried Grau

Ulrich Kalmbach

Bernhard Kaiser

Martin Dietrich

Jean-Pierre Skwarek

Adlof Sedlak

A wristworn device having a releasable coupling mechanism for releasably coupling a first strap section and a second strap section about a user's wrist. The wristworn device includes an elongated member that is positioned within a channel of one of the strap sections and which has an actuation section that extends from the channel. A directional force upon the actuation section of the elongated member causes a slidable locking plate in the releasable coupling mechanism to move in a direction and disengage from a locking member, whereby separation of the sections of the releasable coupling mechanism is facilitated upon the disengagement of the slidable locking plate from the locking member.

Wristworn device with a releasable locking arrangement

Methodologies and constructions of displaying elapsed time on a wristworn device, which include among other things, having at least two display hands one of which that will rotate faster or stop so that they become coincident with each other, then rotate together and then reassume their normal and accurate positions. Such is particularly important with respect to one of the hands that is preferably a seconds hand that might otherwise be displaying seconds of the time of day ('TOD').

Method of displaying elapsed time on a wristworn device and wristworn device displaying same

A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) driving arrangement comprising a driven wheel comprising (n) teeth about an outer periphery thereof, an actuator ring around the driven wheel, itself comprising (n)+(x) teeth about an inner periphery thereof, wherein the (n)+(x) teeth of the actuator ring progressively engage and disengage subsets of the (n) teeth of the driven wheel; a driving actuation assembly, coupled to the actuator ring, for driving the actuator ring in a hysteresis-type motion so as to cause rotation of the driven wheel, wherein after one full cycle of engagements and disengagements between selective subsets of the (n) teeth of the driven wheel with selective subsets of the (n)+(x) teeth of the actuator ring, the driven wheel rotates by (x) teeth corresponding to [(360)(x)/(n)]&#xb0;.

Bidirectional MEMS driving arrangement

A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.

Wearable electronic device with multiple display functionality

An indicator assembly for a wearable electronic device having a dial, a slotted opening therein and surface indicia to which an indicator can point and convey information thereby, wherein the indicator assembly comprises a track assembly comprising a first track and a second track spaced apart and aligned parallel thereto, wherein each track includes teeth running along at least a respective portion thereof, wherein the teeth of the respective tracks are in facing alignment; a track assembly gearing assembly that meshingly engages the teeth of the first and second tracks and the gears of a gear assembly so that the track assembly moves linearly; an indicating assembly coupled to the track assembly and extending through the slotted opening in the dial, wherein the linear movement of the track assembly causes the indicating assembly to move linearly in the slotted opening; whereby an indicator of the indicating assembly conveys information by referring to particular surface indicia on the dial.

Indicator assembly for a wearable electronic device

A display assembly for a wearable electronic device. The display assembly is disposed within a housing of the wearable electronic device. The electronic device is constructed to receive at least a first and second dial assembly each of which is adapted to provide a different display configuration. The display assembly comprises a liquid crystal display assembly comprising at least two display sections, driving means for providing driving signals to the respective display sections; and a controller, operatively coupled to the driving means, for signaling the driving means to provide the driving signals; wherein the display configuration of the wearable electronic device is changeable based on the dial assembly operatively coupled within the housing, wherein the first dial assembly provides for the viewability of at least the first display section and the second dial assembly provides for the viewability of at least the second display section. A method of customizing the display of a wearable electronic device is also provided. In a specific embodiment, the wearable electronic device is a wristwatch.

Electronic device with changeable display configurations

An electronic device comprising a controller having an integrated circuit operable in at least a first and second mode, and a dial having a window through which at least one indicator is visible, wherein the electronic device comprises a mode indicator positioned on an actuation mechanism side of the dial, wherein the mode indicator has at least a first indicator and a second indicator each respectively representative of one of the at least two modes within which the electronic device is operable; a gearing assembly comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the mode indicator so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotation of the mode indicator; an actuation mechanism, rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the actuation mechanism causes the rotation of the mode indicator; wherein the integrated circuit controls the actuation of the actuation mechanism so as to initiate the rotation of the mode indicator; and actuation means, operatively coupled to the controller, for selecting the mode within which the integrated circuit is operable, wherein the mode within which the integrated circuit is operating is visible through the window in the dial; wherein the mode in which the integrated circuit is operating is indicated by the indicator visible in the window.

Multimode electronic device with calibrating/setting mechanism

An electronic device that includes functionality to perform at least two functions, a first of which may be timekeeping and the other of which is at least a function other than the first function. The electronic device comprises a multilayered module comprising a frame having a frame surface; at least two physically separable printed circuit boards, the first of which includes means related to at least the timekeeping and the second of which includes means related to at least the function other than timekeeping, wherein the first printed circuit board is intermediate the frame surface and the second printed circuit board; a battery compartment dimensioned for receiving a battery, wherein the battery compartment is asymmetrically positioned within the module thus creating a region above the first printed circuit board and proximate the battery compartment; and wherein the second printed circuit board is securable within the module and in the region; wherein the functionality of the electronic device can be changed and/or modified by a removal of the second printed circuit board and a replacement with another printed circuit board having means at least in part different from and/or in addition to the means of the second printed circuit board; whereby the first printed circuit board need not be removed to provide for such additional and/or different functionality provided by the replacement printed circuit board.

Multifunctional timepiece module with application specific printed circuit boards

A method of calibrating a display hand in an electronic device. The preferred method comprises the steps of initializing a counter; stepping the rotor of the stepping motor a predetermined number of steps in a first direction and incrementing the counter; determining whether the counter is less than a predefined value representing at least the total of (i) the maximum number of steps needed from a zero position on the display to the maximum value on the display; and (ii) the number of steps needed from the zero position on the display to the position such that a channel formed in one of the one or more gears would abut against a tab; and if so, stepping the rotor of the stepping motor the predetermined number of steps in the first direction, incrementing the counter and again determining whether the counter is less than the predefined value; and if not, rotating the rotor of the motor in a direction opposite the first direction the same number of steps needed from the zero position on the display to the position such that the channel would abut against the tab. Several calibration assembly constructions are also provided.

Method and construction for autocalibrating an actuation mechanism in an electronic device

A timepiece comprising a date display, comprising a date display assembly comprising a date ring, a first gearing assembly being meshingly coupled to the date ring for causing the rotation of the date ring; and a stepping motor comprising a rotor, wherein the rotor of the stepping motor is rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the first gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the rotor causes the date ring to rotate; a date-keeping assembly operatively coupled to the date display assembly, comprising: at least a second gearing assembly comprising at least an hour wheel and a detection wheel assembly, wherein at least certain rotational increments of the detection wheel, and the clockwise or counterclockwise direction thereof, causes the rotor of the stepping motor to rotate so that the date ring can be rotated in one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; whereby the rotation of the hour wheel through a predetermined midnight position results in that the stepping motor causes the date ring to rotate a predetermined number of degrees, thereby advancing either in the forward or backward direction a displayed digit on the date ring representing a valid date. Methodologies for setting and adjustment are also provided.

Perpetual calendar for a timepiece

In an electronic device, a method of measuring an external field and displaying indicia related to the measurement, wherein the electronic device generates a first internal field and at least a second internal field, wherein the method includes the steps of measuring the external field when the electronic device is generating the first internal field; and only displaying indicia related to measurements taken while the electronic device is generating the first internal field. In the preferred embodiment, the first internal field is generated by a rotor of a stepping motor being in a first orientation, and the at least second internal field is generated by the rotor of the stepping motor being in a second orientation, wherein the method includes the steps of determining whether the rotor is in the first orientation before measuring the external field; and if not, causing the rotor to rotate into the first orientation prior to measuring the external field.

Growing community of inventors

Eisingen, Germany

Gerhard Stotz