Electric timepiece for displaying the operating condition thereof
First Claim
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1. In an electronic timepiece, wnich includes a battery means for producing a voltage of a predetermined level to drive a customary time display and associated circuitry for transmitting power at a predetermined frequency from the battery means to the customary display, wherein the associated circuitry includes:
- a reference signal source for producing a divisible signal to drive the customary time display;
a counter for dividing the signal produced by the reference signal source, and for producing the signal of a predetermined frequency to drive said customary time display;
an auxiliary signal generator driven by the counter and having an output signal of a first frequency, different from the predetermined frequency;
a modulator including a frequency divider and a logic circuit, wherein said modulator has first and second inputs from the counter and an input from the auxiliary generator, wherein the first input from the counter is applied through the frequency divider, then to the logic circuit;
wherein the second input from the counter is applied to the logic circuit; and
wherein the input from the auxiliary signal generator is applied to the logic circuit;
wherein the logic circuit generates a signal of a second frequency different from said first frequency;
detecting means for detecting, when the battery means produces a low voltage below said predetermined level, and for producing an alarm signal upon detecting said low voltage; and
signal transfer means activated in response to said alarm signal for selecting whether the signal having the predetermined frequency, or the signal having the second frequency will be applied to the display.
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Abstract
In a battery operated electric timepiece operated by a battery of the type including a time display, such as a second hand, when the voltage of the battery decreases below a predetermined value, the movement of the second hand is modified to give an alarm that the life of the battery has terminated.
51 Citations
6 Claims
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1. In an electronic timepiece, wnich includes a battery means for producing a voltage of a predetermined level to drive a customary time display and associated circuitry for transmitting power at a predetermined frequency from the battery means to the customary display, wherein the associated circuitry includes:
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a reference signal source for producing a divisible signal to drive the customary time display; a counter for dividing the signal produced by the reference signal source, and for producing the signal of a predetermined frequency to drive said customary time display; an auxiliary signal generator driven by the counter and having an output signal of a first frequency, different from the predetermined frequency; a modulator including a frequency divider and a logic circuit, wherein said modulator has first and second inputs from the counter and an input from the auxiliary generator, wherein the first input from the counter is applied through the frequency divider, then to the logic circuit;
wherein the second input from the counter is applied to the logic circuit; and
wherein the input from the auxiliary signal generator is applied to the logic circuit;
wherein the logic circuit generates a signal of a second frequency different from said first frequency;detecting means for detecting, when the battery means produces a low voltage below said predetermined level, and for producing an alarm signal upon detecting said low voltage; and signal transfer means activated in response to said alarm signal for selecting whether the signal having the predetermined frequency, or the signal having the second frequency will be applied to the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification