Timex Group B.v.

Timex Corporation

Michel G Plancon

Gerhard Stotz

Herbert Schwartz

Louis M Galie

Wolfgang Burkhardt

Helmut Zachmann

Ronald S Lizzi

Friedrich Mose

Jean P Migeon

Siegfried Grau

Paul Grand Chavin

Jean P Chambon

Georges J Perrin

Ulrich Kalmbach

Roland Burghausen

Paul Grand-Chavin

Hans G Schnell

Martin Dietrich

Michel Bertrix

Jean-Pierre Migeon

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

A movement assembly for controlling at least one display indicator of a first display assembly and at least one display indicator of a second display assembly in a wearable electronic device, wherein the at least one display indicator of the first display assembly is arranged different from the arrangement of the at least one display indicator of the second display assembly, wherein the movement assembly is adapted for individually receiving both the first display assembly and the second display assembly, wherein the display functionality of the wearable electronic device is changeable based on the display assembly operatively coupled to one or more gears in the module and whereby the module can be used to provide differing display functionality based on the display assembly coupled thereto.

Universal electronic device module configuration

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

An improved illuminated watch movement with analog and digital features comprising a frame containing an analog stepping motor and gear train connected to operate timepiece hands located substantially in the center of the movement. The frame has a recess on the dial side of the frame with a liquid crystal display disposed in the recess and having an indicia pattern. The liquid crystal display has a large available surface which covers the lower half of the movement up to the hour wheel, so that a variety of indicia patterns may be displayed. An electroluminescent lamp is disposed beneath said liquid crystal display. An electroluminescent dial is disposed on the dial side of the frame and has a window opening framing the indicia pattern. A circuit with actuators is connected to actuate the electroluminescent lamp and/or the electroluminescent dial. The movement further includes a printed circuit board disposed on the opposite side of the frame from the dial and having contact pads. Yieldable electrical connectors such as spring metal or conductive elastomeric members extend across the frame between the contact pads and the electroluminescent dial and lamp. The movement is adapted to fit a variety of dial shapes with window openings for framing a variety of indicia patterns without significant physical alterations.

Wristwatch with illumination system for multiple digital and analog

An improved reduction gear assembly with friction drive/slip coupling for a timepiece movement, comprising a metal pinion member having a toothed pinion and a coaxial stem extending from an abutment surface on said pinion, including (1) a cylindrical portion, (2) a frustum portion tapering from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter (3) a terminating tapered end portion; and a plastic wheel member having a toothed wheel and first and second coaxial journals extending from opposite sides of the. A central passage in the journals has a constricted section therein with a diameter slightly less than that of said larger diameter of said frustum portion on said metal pinion member with the frustum disposed in said constricted passage with a snap fit, whereby a friction drive/slip coupling is provided between the metal frustum portion of the metal pinion member and the constricted passage of the plastic wheel member.

Wheel and pinion assembly with friction drive/slip coupling for a

Briefly stated, the invention comprises an improved stepping motor and method of making it including locating it in the timepiece frame, the stepping motor including a rotor and a stator. A flat magnetizable stator member defines a central opening with diametrically opposed narrow sections on either side of the opening, a non-magnetic bushing disposed in the opening and secured to the surface of the stator member. The bushing has diametrically opposed cut-out portions aligned with the narrow sections. The narrow sections are severed to separate the stator into two pole shoes which are retained in position by the bushing. The severing is preferably by laser, but may includes sawing or other severing methods. The pole shoes of the stator member are then attached to the timepiece frame plate. The stepping motor rotor is journalled in bores formed in the frame and bushing.

Stator assembly for a timepiece stepping motor

An improved stepping motor rotor assembly comprises a rotor having a shaft and a driving member such as a gear pinion, a centering washer disposed on the shaft and a recess with a short finished cylindrical wall coaxial with the shaft and annular abutment surface at the bottom of the recess, a rare earth permanent magnet having a rough center hole preferably drilled by laser beam defining an annular clearance with the shaft and having a finished outer cylindrical wall extending into the recess with a loose fit to center the magnet with respect to the rotor axis, and a holding washer forming an interference fit with the shaft and pressing the magnet axially against the abutment surface on the centering washer. The centering washer may be restrained in axial position by a light interference fit with the shaft or it may be held by contacting the driving member.

Stepping motor rotor assembly for an electronic timepiece

An electronic analog timepiece is disclosed that utilizes digital storage devices for setting alarm time and when selectively displaying, in response to the activation of a setting member, either alarm time or actual, updated time by the timepiece hands. When setting the alarm time, the minute hand and second hand are positioned on the timepiece display to indicate alarm time in hours and minutes, respectively. Specifically, the minute and second representations of the minute hand and second hand positions on the display are transformed, in a selected storage device, to alarm time hour and minute representations, respectively. When displaying either alarm time or actual, updated time from the other time presently being displayed, the setting member is activated to produce fast rotation of the hands from one time setting to the other.

Electronic setting for analog timepiece

An electronic analog timepiece with hour and minute hand driven by a stepping motor in accordance with low frequency timekeeping signals supplied by a high frequency quartz time reference. The electronic time-setting control circuit is controlled by a single manual push-button switch. The time is adjusted for correction, daylight saving or time zone change at slow, fast and accelerated rate in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Both an automatic single hour time correction with automatic restart, and a manual restart option are incorporated.

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Besancon, France

Michel G Plancon