Small electronic apparatus having function display

• US 6,185,158 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd. (Citizen Electronics Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Limited (Citizen Electronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ito, Yukio, Kitazawa, Isao, Okigami, Tomio
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US09/066,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 368/28, 368/37, 368/38, 401/15
• US Class Current: 368/37
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/25353 driven or released stepwise by the clockwork movement
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 17/0066 electromagnetically driven, e.g. intermittently clocks incorporating a stepping motor G04C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/146 incorporating two or more stepping motors or rotors

Abstract

A small electronic apparatus provided with a functional display unit is formed of function driving device for generating function driving signals corresponding to a plurality of functions, a plurality of functional display devices corresponding to the functions and including first and second display devices, and a single motor electrically connected to the function driving devices and operated according to the function driving signals from the function driving device. A driving device transmits a driving force to the first functional display device, and an intermittent driving device is connected to the driving device to operate in association therewith. The intermittent driving device rotates the second display device intermittently. A clocking device is electrically connected to the function driving device. When a function of the first display device is completed, the clocking device sends a signal to reset the first display device to have a desired positional relation between the driving device and the intermittent driving device.

Claims

1. A small electronic apparatus provided with a functional display unit comprising:

function driving means generating function driving signals corresponding to a plurality of functions;

a plurality of functional display means provided so as to correspond to the functions and including first and second display means;

a single motor electrically connected to the function driving means and operated according to the function driving signals from the function driving means;

driving means which transmits a driving force to the first display means from the single motor;

intermittent driving means connected to the driving means to operate in association therewith, said intermittent driving means rotating the second display means intermittently; and

clocking means electrically connected to the function driving means, said clocking means, when a function of the first display means is completed, sending a signal to reset the first display means to have a desired positional relation between the driving means and the intermittent driving means.

2. The small electronic apparatus provided with a functional display unit according to claim 1, wherein the intermittent driving means is intermittently driven by means of a geneva mechanism.

3. The small electronic apparatus provided with a functional display unit according to claim 1, wherein the function driving means generates a function driving signal for driving only at least one display means.

4. The small electronic apparatus provided with a functional display unit according to claim 1, wherein the function driving means returns to a prescribed display condition the second display means which was driven in connection with the first display means.

5. The small electronic apparatus provided with a functional display unit according to claim 1, wherein the first and second display means are time lapse display means and calendar display means.

6. The small electronic apparatus provided with a functional display unit according to claim 1, wherein said clocking means resets the first display means to an original position before operation thereof.

7. The small electronic apparatus provided with a functional display unit according to claim 1, wherein said driving means operates the intermittent driving means so that the second display means is actuated after a completion of the first display means.

8. The small electronic apparatus provided with a functional display unit according to claim 7, wherein said first display means includes a hand, said second display means being actuated after the hand rotates more than 360 degrees.