Timex Corporation

Other

Tom Thinesen

John T Houlihan

Fred Olsen

Judith Reichel

T Fred Olsen

William O Leitzel

A multimode electronic timepiece includes a display, a number of manually actuated switches, and an integrated circuit programmed to keep time, to provide a plurality of operating modes, including time-of-day, in a continuous loop, and to permit an operator of the timepiece to cycle through the operating modes sequentially by selectively and repetitively actuating a first of the switches. The improvement includes at least one preselect function mode which displays information from a preselected operating mode along with information from another operating mode. The preselect function mode(s) is engaged by selective actuation of a second of the switches, and in the preferred embodiment, this switch is also used to cycle through the preselect function modes sequentially (where there is more than one preselect function mode). Upon actuation of another switch, the timepiece shifts between a preselect function mode and the operating mode, other than the preselected operating mode, having its information displayed by the preselect function mode.

Mode preselect function for a multimode electronic timepiece

Improvement in a multimode electronic timepiece having a display, a plurality of manually actuated actuators, including first and second actuators, and an integrated circuit programmed to keep time and to provide a current sequence of a plurality of modes for performing a plurality of timepiece functions, including at least first and second modes, said integrated circuit being programmed to permit an operator to sequentially cycle said timepiece through said plurality of modes, by selectively and repetitively actuating a first of said plurality of actuators, wherein said improvement comprises: first automatic mode selection means, including a program for said integrated circuit adapted to calculate at least first and second values respectively comprising the number of times the respective timepiece functions of said first and a second modes are performed by a timepiece operator in said current sequence, and to provide a next sequence of said plurality of modes, including said first and second modes of said current sequence, said second mode of said current sequence immediately preceding said first mode of said next sequence; and second automatic mode selection means, including a subroutine of said program being adapted to determine the order of said plurality of modes within said next sequence in response to said first and second values.

Automatic mode sequencing to last used mode for multimode electronic

In accordance with the present improvement of the present invention, in a multimode electronic timepiece, actuation of a first actuator while the timepiece is disposed in a 'home' mode will cause to be displayed an alternate mode for a first predetermined period of time. If said first actuator is released prior to the elapse of said first predetermined period of time, the timepiece will be returned to said 'home' mode. However, if the operator continues to actuate said first actuator beyond this first predetermined period of time, the program is adapted upon elapse of said first predetermined period of time, to immediately display on said timepiece display for a second predetermined period of time, a message indicating to the timepiece operator that continued actuation of said first actuator will cause the timepiece to be disposed into a predetermined alternate mode. If the operator releases said first actuator before the elapse of said second predetermined period of time, the timepiece will be returned to the 'home' mode. Continued actuation of said first actuator beyond said second predetermined period of time, however, will cause the timepiece to be disposed in said predetermined alternate mode.

Mode selection option with instructional message for multimode

The operating program of a microcomputer is adapted such that once the operator initially selects a submode, the timepiece is disposed into the first operating state of that selected submode, and actuation of any actuator other than that actuator which cycles the timepiece through its plurality of modes, will dispose the timepiece only into other operating states of the chosen submode. The selected submode's operating states are completely independent of other submode operating states and thus the operator cannot dispose the timepiece into the operating states of another submode from any of the operating states of the initially selected submode. In fact the operator cannot exit the initially selected submode unless he actuates the actuator which cycles the timepiece through its plurality of modes, which will dispose the timepiece completely out of the chronograph/countdown timer mode into its next mode.

Multimode electronic timepiece having a mutually exclusive submode

A multimode electronic timepiece has a display, an audible alarm device, manually actuated switches, and an integrated circuit programmed to provide several operating modes. The modes include a first mode in which an alarm sounding setting is displayed, which is alterable in response to actuation of a selected setting switch. The modes include a second mode in which said alarm sounding setting is not displayed, but in which said audible alarm device may be disabled by actuation of a selected disabling switch. The improvement consists of a display of the alarm setting which pops up when the alarm sounds and allows the user to reset or restart the timing cycle within a preselected time by actuation of at least one selected switch. A timer causes the pop-up display to disappear without alteration of the alarm setting if the switch is not actuated within the preselected time.

Program to alter alarm setting in a multimode alarm timepiece

A multimode electronic timepiece has an electroptic display, an alarm, several pushbuttons and an integrated circuit programmed to keep time. Several timepiece operating modes include a pace mode, wherein audible periodic beeping sounds are produced by the alarm which correspond to the value of a preselected pace of an operator. A first manual actuation of a pushbutton commences a timing event, and second manual actuation of the pushbutton terminates the timing event. An internal program alters the preselected pace and stores an altered pace in response to the time elapsed between first and second actuation of the pushbutton. The program displays the altered pace and causes the alarm to beep at a rate equivalent to the altered pace.

Program to synchronize pace in a multimode alarm timepiece

A multimode electronic timepiece includes a display, an audible alarm device, a plurality of manually actuated switches, and an integrated circuit programmed to keep time and to provide a plurality of modes including time-of-day, alternate time zone and alarm setting modes. The integrated circuit is programmed to permit an operator to set time-of-day in response to actuation of selected switches, to set alternate time zone time in response to actuation of selected switches, and to set alarm set time in response to actuation of selected switches. The integrated circuit has a memory location for time-of-day and is programmed to selectively actuate the audible alarm device when the alarm set time corresponds to time-of-day in said memory location. The improvement comprises a flag selected in response to actuation of one of the switches which will substitute the alternate time zone time for time-of-day, whereby the audible alarm device may be selectively actuated when the alarm set time corresponds either to time-of-day or to alternate time zone time, depending upon setting of the flag.

Alarm setting program for alarm timepiece with alternate time zone

A multimode electronic timepiece has a display, a group plurality of manually actuated switches, and an integrated circuit programmed to keep time and to provide several operating modes including time-of-day mode. The integrated circuit is programmed to permit an operator to sequentially shift the current mode of operation from one mode to the next by selectively and repetitively actuating a first switch. The improved timepiece includes an alternate mode selection when a second switch is temporarily depressed to display the operating condition of a mode other than the current mode. The display returns to the current mode when the second switch is no longer actuated.

Program to display an alternate mode in a multimode timepiece

A digital wristwatch having a case and strap also serves as a computer to display speed, distance, and pedaling cadence when temporarily attached to a holder on the bicycle handlebar. Wheel and sprocket sensors are connected to electrical terminals in the holder. The wristwatch is provided with external electrical terminals connected to a microcomputer in the watchcase which uses signals from the sensors when the watchcase is temporarily retained in the holder. The microcomputer is preprogrammed to provide an improved dual mode circuit which keeps time in a 'watch mode' and which uses the sensor signals to make speed, distance, and cadence computations and display them in a 'bike mode.' The computations may be altered and new constants entered in a 'calibration mode,' through manual actuators. Changes of state within a mode are responsive to manually actuated push-buttons, to lapse of predetermined time periods or to condition of an annunciator.

Bicycle watch - dual mode circuit

A watch case has attachment lugs on opposite ends thereof, a flexible resilient watch band with attachment ends, first means pivotably connecting one attachment end of the watch band to the lugs on the six o'clock end of the watch case, and second means pivotably connecting the other attachment end of the watch band to the lugs on the twelve o'clock end of the watch case and having abutment means limiting pivoting on the twelve o'clock lugs so as to require more resilient flexing of the watch band on the twelve o'clock end than on the six o'clock end as the band curves toward the wearer's wrist, whereby tendency of the more flexed end to unflex displaces the watch case in a preferred direction on the wrist.

Watch attachment

Briefly stated, the invention is practiced by providing a wristwatch with a case having manually actuated switches, a microcomputer in the case responsive to the switches, an annunciator responsive to the microcomputer, and an electrooptic display having a set of first segments arranged to provide digits and a set of second circumferentially spaced radial segments surrounding the first segments. The microcomputer is programmed to provide several modes of operation, such as a time of day mode, a timer mode, a chronograph mode, and a ratio calculation mode. The time of day mode is arranged to display local time of day on the first segments and time in another time zone on the second segments. The timer mode is arranged to display the time remaining in a countdown time period selected by manually actuating one of the switches. The time remaining is displayed on the first segments while local time of day is displayed on the second segments. The timer mode is further arranged in the last stage of the countdown time period to stop displaying time of day on the second segments and to initiate a sequential cumulative actuation of the second segments in a prescribed pattern which indicates imminent start of the race.

Regatta timing watch

A support for an electrical circuit such as that in a flashlight is provided so as to be powered by a four layer carbon-zinc battery of the type that is normally discarded with the rest of the apparatus used in an instant camera. The battery and housing are shaped so that the assembly is about wallet size and so that circuit may be energized simply by reciprocating the battery within the support.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Tom Thinesen