Braun Aktiengesellschaft

Kurt Fahrenschon

Friedrich W Nickol

A display for an electronic timepiece or the like has an analog electro-optical display comprising a plurality of segment electrodes radially disposed about a center point and at least one first counterelectrode each bridging at least two radial segment electrodes and a digital electro-optical display comprising a plurality of digital electrodes which define at least one alphanumeric character and at least one second counterelectrode. By using at least two first counterelectrodes each having a different set of radial segment electrodes associated therewith and electrically connecting at least one radial segment electrode of one set in parallel with one radial segment electrode of the other set and in parallel with one digit electrode, the display may be driven in a time multiplex manner with a minimum number of external display connections.

Display means for chronometers with electro-optical elements

A chronometric indicator for a watch has concentric arrays of angularly equispaced electrodes and analog display segments. The electrodes are staggered relative to the display segments so that each electrode overlaps halves of two adjacent segments, so that by selective energization of the electrode and the segments any half can be optically activated. In addition a digital display is provided within the two annular arrays, with each digit segment of the display being connected to a respective analog segment. A common connection for this digital display can be energized simultaneously with any of the outer analog segments to cause the corresponding digit segment to glow. The overlapping arrays of electrodes and analog display segments are energized to indicate the hour and minute, and the digital display is energized to indicate the second.

Analog-digital chronometric display

A chronometric indicator has a multidigit display each of whose digits is formed by a plurality of individually energizable digit segments having respective digit-segment connections and having a common digit-display connection so that simultaneous energization of the common connection with any of the digit-segment connections will optically activiate the respective digit segments. An annular array of sixty angularly equispaced analog display segments surrounds the multidigit display and has an analog-segment connection for each part and inner and outer rings subdividing the analog display segments into inner and outer parts. Simultaneous energization of the inner or outer rings and one of the analog-segment connections will optically activate the corresponding inner or outer part. Each of the digit-display connections is connected to a respective one of the analog display segments. A sequencer is connected to the rings and all of the connections and in the first part of a three-part cycle energized the outer ring and one of the analog segment connections to display the minute, in the second part it energizes the ring and one of the analog segment connections to display the hour, and in the third part energizes the common connection of the multidigit display and several of the analog segment connections to form a digital display of the second.

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Kelkheim, Germany

Kurt Fahrenschon