The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 01, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 20, 2000
Hiroyuki Kihara, Tokyo, JP;
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
When the stem of an electronic watch such as one using a quartz oscillator circuit is pulled out, a switch operates so that the hands stop while the oscillation continues, thereby reducing the current consumption. The watch may be stored in this condition and, to achieve an even further power savings, a counting circuit is provided counts and, when a given amount of time has elapsed after the stem is pulled out, a signal is output, so as to stop both oscillation and frequency dividing. Additionally, a pull-down resistance connected to the switch is made by two transistors having a large and a small resistance values, with the above-noted signal being used to cause conduction through only the transistor with the large resistance value when in the power-saving condition, so that current in that part is small. Alternately, a circuit is provided for storage while in the power-saving condition, in which the transistor of the pull-down resistance is made non-conducting, so that current does not flow, with the switch being provided with a center contact that, when the stem is pushed in, operates so as to erase the memory and to cause the transistor to conduct, thereby resulting in a return to normal operation.