Digital display type timepiece

• US 4,064,687 A
• Filed: 08/05/1975
• Issued: 12/27/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Kashio, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackmon, Edith S.
• Application Number:
  US05/602,112
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 58/4 A, 58/23 R, 58/50 R, 58/58, 58/153, 58/127 R, 340/324 R, 340/324 M, 340/336
• US Class Current: 368/28
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/087 provided with means for displaying at will a time indication or a date or a part thereof

Abstract

A digital display type timepiece has a 2-digit decimal numerical figure display section divided in a manner to correspond to an hour and a minute display with a dividing display mark therebetween. A month and date-of-month display can also be made, by switching, on the same decimal display section. A time display is effected on the decimal display section by count outputs of time counters adapted to be driven by reference signals of an oscillator. During the time display, the display mark is flashed in a predetermined second cycle by the reference signal of the oscillator. The date display is made on the same display section by count outputs of date-of-month counters adapted to be driven by carry signals of the time counters. When switching is made from the time display to the date display, the display mark is correspondingly switched into a state different from the flashed state.

Claims

1. A digital display type timepiece comprising:

oscillator means for generating reference signals;

time counting means for counting the reference signals for time display;

means for effecting a date counting by counting carry signals from said time counting means;

means for normally receiving output signals from said time counting means, which signals represent the always changing time, so as to normally effect a time display at a 2-digit decimal numeral figure display section divided in a manner to correspond to an hour and a minute display with a dividing display mark therebetween;

a first control means for visually flashing said dividing display mark at a rate of one cycle per second while said means for normally receiving output signals is effecting the time display;

a manually operable switching means for effecting a switch from a time display to a date display by coupling the output of said date counting means to said decimal display section in place of the output of said time counting means; and

a second control means for switching the complete display mark from its flashing state to another state different from its flashing state during the switching of said manually operable switching means to display the date, so as to visually distinguish between a date display and a time display.

2. A digital display type timepiece according to claim 1 in which said first switching means includes means for effecting a switch from a minute display to a date-of-month display.

3. A digital display type timepiece according to claim 1 in which said first switching means is adapted to effect a switch from an hour and minute display on said display section to a month and date-of-month display.

4. A digital display type timepiece according to claim 1 in which said display mark is provided in the form of a colon on said display section.

5. A digital display type timepiece according to claim 1 in which said display mark is so controlled that, when said manually operable switching means is switched to display the date, it is continuously lighted in its entirety.

6. A digital display type timepiece according to claim 1 in which said display mark is so controlled that, when said manually operable switching means is switched to display the date, it is continously extinguished in its entirety.

7. A digital display type timepiece according to claim 1 in which said display mark is so controlled that, when said manually operable switching means is switched to display the date, it ceases to flicker.