Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Timex Corporation

Victor E Shiff

Jonathan David Friedman

Monique Chatterjee

Neil Scott Fishman

Chris A Murzanski

Daniel L Odell

Carlos Manzanedo

William J Selph

David L French

Christopher C L Tham

Bruce H Kamens

Norman Sherman

Philip S Brzezinski

Walter Helm

Concepts for forming an electrical connection between devices are disclosed. A cord for transferring electrical power and signals can be provided to connect a first device to a second device. One or more magnetic couplings can be provided to exert magnetic forces between the cord and the first device and/or between the cord and the second device. The one or more magnetic couplings can allow transfer of electrical power and signals therethrough.

Electrical connection between devices

A number of device interfaces that may use magnetic forces to secure different devices together are disclosed. The device interfaces may include magnetic material positioned in between parallel rows of electrical contact elements in the devices. Magnetic forces may be exerted on and from the electrical contact elements to cause mutually cooperating elements from the devices to be substantially attracted and drawn towards each other. Once the contact elements make contact and are engaged, their mutual attractive forces may cause them to resist being separated. Additionally, the distal ends of the contact elements may have mutually cooperating male and female engagement surface configurations.

Device interfaces with non-mechanical securement mechanisms

Fastening mechanisms are disclosed for engaging and disengaging device components while maintaining electrical connections among engaged components. A male fastening mechanism may include a front male head portion with a larger circumference than a relatively narrower lower male body portion. A female fastening mechanism may include an opening in a housing structure for receiving the front male head portion. A clip or spring may be arranged in the female housing surrounding portions of the opening. Moreover, the spring's terminating portions may be unconnected and protrude into the opening. The spring may be displaced to accommodate the front male head portion as it enters the female housing opening between the spring's terminating portions. The spring may retract or snap back inwards towards the relatively narrower lower male body portion as it passes through the opening and past the spring's terminating portions to engage the mechanisms and secure device components together.

Fastening mechanisms maintaining electrical connections among fastened components

Described herein is a system for transferring a binary data stream in a serial edge-based transmission format between a computer and a portable device such as the Timex.RTM. Data-Link.TM. watch. In the edge-based format expected by the Data-Link.TM. watch, individual data bits have first and second binary values which are represented by the presence or absence of signal edges at mark times which occur at a pre-selected bit rate. The system includes a computer having a digital output line which can be turned on and off by the computer at any time. The computer also has an internal timer which is programmed to generate timing signals at a frequency which is an integer multiple n of the pre-selected bit rate. An LED is operably connected to the digital output line so that the computer can switch the LED on and off at any time through the digital output line. An application program runs on the computer. The application program monitors the timing signals to transmit individual data bits of the binary data stream at corresponding n.sup.th timing signals. Specifically, the application program turns the LED on to create an optical signal edge at a particular n.sup.th timing signal if and only if the data bit corresponding to said particular n.sup.th timing signal has a `0` value. The application program then monitors the timing signals to turn the LED back off at an intermediate timing signal which occurs after said particular n.sup.th timing signal but before the next n.sup.th timing signal. The disclosed embodiment of the system includes a light wand having a distal end which is shaped to register against the face of the receiving watch. This aids the user in aligning the LED with the receiving sensor of the watch.

Optical transmission system for generating first-edge-based serial data

A system and method is provided for remotely and optically programming a portable information device, such as a programmable watch, using a visual display device, such as a CRT monitor. The monitor displays a sequence of changing optical patterns used to optically transmit a serial stream of data. The optically programmable watch has an optical sensor which detects the sequence of optical patterns to optically receive the data stream. The optical patterns transmit machine-readable information that can be detected by the optical sensor, but no meaningful information to a user. The visual display device therefore also displays a human-readable image that explains to a user the sequence of optical patterns being used to transmit the data stream. The human-readable image is displayed in a manner that renders it undetectable by the optical sensor of the programmable watch.

System for remotely programming a portable information device using

A drive circuit having a converter that provides current pulses that charge a capacitive electroluminescent (EL) lamp to produce light, a switching circuit that switches successive current pulses for progressively charging the EL lamp and an adjustable circuit that permits external control of the switching circuit to provide a plurality of different predetermined numbers of the current pulses to the EL lamp is disclosed.

Adjustable drive circuit for capacitive electroluminescent lamps

A selecting apparatus for a multimode electronic wrist instrument. A microcomputer in the wrist instrument is programmed to sequentially actuate selecting indicia similar to a cursor horizontally and/or vertically on the display to indicate a selectable function for the timepiece. At least four directional switches are operated by movement of an operator's finger with respect to a central reference position. The microcomputer is further programmed to select the selectable operating function displayed when a selecting switch is operated. In one embodiment of the invention, the manual actuating means comprises four separate directional actuators arranged about a central actuator which operates the selecting switch. In another embodiment, the manual actuating means is a single member adapted to movement in at least four directions corresponding to movement of the selecting indicia on the display and also adapted to be depressed in the center to operate the selecting switch. The functions selected may comprise operating modes of the wrist instrument or may comprise alphanumeric characters and/or mathematical operators.

Selecting apparatus for a multimode electronic wrist instrument

A strap for holding a wristwatch has a pair of separable flexible strap ends adapted to curve around the wrist and to overlap one another to provide an overlapped section. At least one strap end of thermoplastic material has particles of permanently magnetizable material embedded in the thermoplastic material and magnetized to provide rows of alternating magnetic poles. The strap ends have surfaces contacting one another throughout the overlapped section and mutually nesting uniformly spaced interlocking teeth, whereby the magnetized particles provide a holding force resisting separation of the strap ends, while the nested teeth prevent sliding disengagement movement between strap ends.

Magnetic clasp for wristwatch strap

A first device having a segmented display for normally displaying information in numeric or alphanumeric form is provided with means to aid the setting of a bank of externally accessible switches on a second device so that they correspond with internal switching data contained in the first device. Segments or groups of segments on the display of the first device are selected in pairs to represent a position of a respective switch on the second device. One of each pair of segments or groups of segments is activated so that the appearance of the display corresponds to the desired appearance of the properly set switches in the bank of switches. This aids in setting the switches to the proper positions. For example, each pair of vertically aligned segments in a segmented numeric display represents a switch position. The switch is set on or off depending upon whether the upper or lower segment of each vertical pair is activated. Although not so limited, the invention finds application in setting the external bank of switches in a radio receiver to correspond to a transmitted code signal in a radio transmitter, where the transmitter code switch setting may not otherwise be visible.

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Wolcott, CT, United States of America

Victor E Shiff