Mode selecting assembly for a timepiece

• US 6,896,403 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timex Group BV (Tanager Group BV)
• Original Assignee: Timex Group BV (Tanager Group BV)
• Inventors: Grau, Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US10/331,827
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 368/184, 368/185, 368/206, 368/216, 368/187, 368/190, 368/319, 368/320, 368/321, 368/69
• US Class Current: 368/190
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/005 Multiple switches G04C3/004 takes precedence

Abstract

The mode selecting assembly comprises a flexible hand, coupled to a frame in the casing, that has extending therefrom fingers that are sufficiently deflectable so as to deflect from first positions where they are not in contact with associated pads on a circuit board to second positions where they are in contact with their associated pads on the circuit board. A setting stem comprises an annular ring for selectively contacting and deflecting the fingers from their respective first positions to second positions, wherein the integrated circuit is operable in a selected modes depending on which finger is in the second position.

Claims

1. A mode selecting assembly for a timepiece of the type having a casing, a frame in the casing, an integrated circuit disposed in the casing and operable in at least a first mode and a second mode, a circuit board also disposed in the casing and having (i) at least a first contact pad and a second contact pad and (ii) respective signaling paths from each of the at least first and second contact pads to the integrated circuit, the mode selecting assembly comprising:

a flexible hand, coupled to the frame and in the casing, the flexible hand having extending therefrom;

at least a first finger being sufficiently deflectable so as to deflect from a first position where the first finger is not in contact with its associated pad on the circuit board to a second position where the first finger is in contact with its associated pad on the circuit board; and

at least a second finger being sufficiently deflectable so as to deflect from a first position where the second finger is not in contact with its associated pad on the circuit board to a second position where the second finger is in contact with its associated pad on the circuit board;

a setting stem mounted in and extending out of an opening in the casing, the setting stem being positionable in at least a first and a second axial position, the setting stem comprising;

an annular ring for selectively contacting and deflecting the at least first and second fingers front their respective first positions to second positions;

wherein in the at least first axial position, the annular ring contacts and deflects the first finger from its first position to its second position and wherein in the second axial position, the annular ring contacts and deflects the second finger from its first position to its second position;

wherein when the first finger is in the second position the integrated circuit is operable in a first mode, and when the second finger is in the second position the integrated circuit is operable in a second mode;

whereby when the first finger is in the second position the second finger is in the first position, and when the second finger is in the second position the first finger is in the first position.

2. The selecting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible hand comprises at least a third finger and a fourth finger and the circuit board comprises at least a third contact pad and a fourth contact pad and respective signaling paths from each of the at least third and fourth contact pads to the integrated circuit;

wherein each of the third and the fourth fingers are sufficiently deflectable so as to deflect from a respective first position where the respective finger is not in contact with its associated contact pad on the circuit board to a second position where the respective finger is in contact with its associated pad on the circuit board; and

wherein the setting stem is further positionable in at least a third and a fourth axial position, wherein in the at least third axial position, the annular ring contacts and deflects the third finger from its first position to its second position and wherein in the fourth axial position, the setting stem contacts and deflects the fourth finger from its first position to its second position;

wherein when the third finger is in the second position the integrated circuit is operable in a third mode, and when the fourth finger is in the second position the integrated circuit is operable in a fourth mode;

whereby when the third finger is in its respective second position the first, second and fourth fingers are in their respective first positions, and when the fourth finger is in its respective second position the first, second and third fingers are in their respective first positions.

3. The selecting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting stem is rotatably mounted in the casing.

4. A mode selecting assembly for a multimode electronic device of the type having a casing, an electrical signaling arrangement in the casing for creating intermittent electrical signals, an integrated circuit that is responsive to each intermittent electrical signal for at least changing information displayed on a display based thereon, a circuit board in the casing, the circuit board having at least a first and a second pad thereon and respective signaling paths from each of the at least first and second pads to the integrated circuit, the mode selecting assembly comprising:

a flexible hand, coupled to the frame and in the casing, the flexible hand having extending therefrom;

at least a first finger being sufficiently deflectable so as to deflect from a first position where the first finger is not in contact with its associated pad on the circuit board to a second position where the first finger is in contact with its associated pad on the circuit board; and

at least a second finger being sufficiently deflectable so as to deflect from a first position where the second finger is not in contact with its associated pad on the circuit board to a second position where the second finger is in contact with its associated pad on the circuit board;

a setting stem mounted in and extending out of an opening in the casing, the setting stem being positionable in at least a first and a second axial position, the setting stem comprising;

an annular ring for selectively contacting and deflecting the at least first and second fingers from their respective first positions to second positions;

wherein in the at least first axial position, the annular ring contacts and deflects the first finger from its first position to its second position and wherein in the second axial position, the annular ring contacts and deflects the second finger from its first position to its second position;

wherein when the first finger is in the second position the integrated circuit is operable in a first mode, and when the second finger is in the second position the integrated circuit is operable in a second mode;

whereby when the first finger is in the second position the second finger is in the first position, and when the second finger is in the second position the first finger is in the first position.

5. The selecting assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flexible hand comprises at least a third finger and a fourth finger and the circuit board comprises at least a third contact pad and a fourth contact pad and respective signaling paths from each of the at least third and fourth contact pads to the integrated circuit;

wherein each of the third and the fourth fingers are sufficiently deflectable so as to deflect from a respective first position where the respective finger is not in contact with its associated contact pad on the circuit board to a second position where the respective finger is in contact with its associated pad on the circuit board; and

wherein the setting stem is further positionable in at least a third and a fourth axial position, wherein in the at least third axial position, the annular ring contacts and deflects the third finger from its first position to its second position and wherein in the fourth axial position, the setting stem contacts and deflects the fourth finger from its first position to its second position;

wherein when the third finger is in the second position the integrated circuit is operable in a third mode, and when the fourth finger is in the second position the integrated circuit is operable in a fourth mode;

whereby when the third finger is in its respective second position the first, second and fourth fingers are in their respective first positions, and when the fourth finger is in its respective second position the first, second and third fingers are in their respective first positions.

6. The selecting assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the setting stem is rotatably mounted in the casing, and wherein the setting stem has at least one tooth for engaging the electrical signaling arrangement.