Timepiece with multi-functional actuator

• US 8,439,559 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Luk, Tai Wai, Zeng, Quang Yin
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W
• Application Number:
  US12/729,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20110235471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 368/69, 368/185, 368/190, 368/206, 368/308, 368319-321
• US Class Current: 368/308
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/005 Multiple switches G04C3/004 takes precedence

Abstract

An analog timepiece includes a casing, a time displaying device, an electronic device received in the casing, a main control unit (MCU) communicated with the time displaying device and the electronic device for selectively controlling an operation of the time displaying device and sad electronic device and a multi-functional actuator. The multi-function actuator includes an actuator button movably provided on the casing to selectively move between an idle position, a time adjustment position and a triggering position, wherein in the idle position, the actuator button disengages with the MCU to allow normal operation of the electronic device, wherein in the time adjustment position, the actuator button is moved from the idle position to allow adjustment of the time displaying device, and wherein in the triggering position, the actuator is moved to engage with the MCU for triggering an operation of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An analog timepiece, comprising:

a casing having a receiving cavity, and comprises an inner supporting frame defining a triggering slot, and a conductive element, having a fixed and portion and a loose end portion, mounting at said inner supporting frame at a position in a vicinity of said triggering slot;

a time displaying device which comprises a time core assembly and an adjustment stem extended from said timepiece core assembly for indicating time information;

an electronic device received in said casing;

a main control unit (MCU) received in said easing and communicated with said electronic device for selectively controlling an operation of said time displaying device and said electronic device, wherein said MCU comprises a central processor and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) electrically connecting said central processor with said electronic device, wherein said PCB has a signal port provided at a position aligning with said conductive element; and

a multi-functional actuator which comprises an actuator button movably provided on said casing to selectively move between an idle position, a time adjustment position and a triggering position, wherein in said idle position, said actuator button disengages with said MCU to allow normal operation of said electronic device, wherein in said time adjustment position, said actuator button is moved from said idle position to allow adjustment of said time displaying device, and wherein in said triggering position, said actuator is moved to actuate an operation of said electronic device, wherein said conductive element is arranged to be selectively driven to trigger an operation of said electronic device when said actuator button is at said triggering position, wherein said conductive element has a predetermined amount of resilient ability such that said conductive element is normally retained to disengage from said electronic device, wherein when said actuator button is pushed to said triggering position, said actuator button is driven to move said conductive element to electrically communicate with said electronic device so as to trigger an operation thereof, wherein when said conductive element is pushed by said actuator button at said triggering position, said conductive element is arranged to be in physical contact with said signal port of said PCB so as to generate an actuation signal for said main processor of said MCU to actuate said electronic device,

wherein said actuator button comprises a stem driving member securely connected with an outer end of said adjustment stem of said time displaying device, an enlarged crown member for allowing a user to manually drive said actuator button to move between said idle position, said time adjustment position and said triggering position for selectively handling time adjustment and actuation of said electronic device, and a pusher cap operatively connecting between said crown member and said stem driving member, wherein said crown member has a substantially circular cross section and defines a crown cavity therewithin, wherein said pusher cap has an outer receiving portion received within said crown cavity of the crown member, and an inner engaging portion, integrally and coaxially extended out of said crown cavity, wherein said pusher cap has an elongated structure and an external circular cross section extended from said crown member to securely engage with said stein driving member, in such a manner that when said pusher cap is driven to move inwardly, an inner end of said inner engaging portion is arranged to inwardly push said conductive element to physically contact with said signal port of said PCB for triggering an operation of said electronic device, wherein said fixed end portion of said conductive element is affixed at a predetermined position of said inner supporting frame, wherein said loose end portion is movably extended to contact with said inner end of said inner engaging portion of said pusher cap, and is normally arranged to disengage with said PCB, and when said pusher cap is driven to move inwardly, said loose end portion is slightly pushed to deform to move to contact with said signal port of said PCB,

wherein said multi-functional actuator further comprises a resilient element received in said pusher cap, which is cylindrical in shape having a pusher cavity extended along an entire longitudinal length thereof and defined by six surrounding sidewalls for forming a hexagonal pusher cavity, wherein said resilient element is received therein for normally exerting an outward urging force towards said crown member so as to normally retain said actuator button at said idle position.

2. The analog timepiece, as recited in claim 1, wherein said pusher cap further has a locking latch integrally and inwardly extended from an inner side edge of said inner engaging portion, wherein said stem driving member has an inner driven portion and an outer driving portion having a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of said inner driven portion to define a locking shoulder at an intersection between said inner driven portion and said outer driving portion, wherein said locking shoulder is arranged to align with said locking latch of said pusher cap so that when said pusher cap is outwardly pushed with respective to said casing, said outward movement of said pusher cap is blocked by engagement between said locking shoulder and said locking latch.

3. The analog timepiece, as recited in claim 2, wherein said stem driving member further has six outer surfaces formed at said inner driving portion for forming a corresponding hexagonal outer contour, wherein said hexagonal contour is arranged to fittedly and slidably receive in said inner engaging portion so that said pusher cap is capable of being inwardly moved to drive said conductive, element yet is prevented from moving outwardly to pass said locking shoulder, wherein relative rotational movement, between said pusher cap and said stem driving, member is prevented by said hexagonal engagement between said outer surfaces of said stem driving member and said surrounding sidewalls of said pusher cap.

4. The analog timepiece, as recited in claim 3, wherein said multi-functional actuator further comprises guider element provided between said crown member and said pusher cap for guiding a sliding movement of said crown member with respective to said casing.

5. The analog timepiece, as recited in claim 2, wherein said multi-functional actuator further comprises a sealing ring provided on said pusher cap for sealing said multi-functional actuator from external environment.

6. The analog timepiece, as recited in claim 3, wherein said multi-functional actuator further comprises a sealing ring provided on said pusher cap for sealing said multi-functional actuator from external environment.

7. The analog timepiece, as recited in claim 4, wherein said multi-functional actuator further comprises a sealing ring provided on said pusher cap for sealing said multi-functional actuator from external environment.

8. An analog timepiece, comprising:

a casing having a receiving cavity, and comprises an inner supporting frame defining a triggering slot, and a conductive element mounting at said inner supporting frame at a position in a vicinity of said triggering slot;

a time displaying device which comprises a time core assembly and an adjustment stem extended from said timepiece core assembly for indicating time information;

an electronic device received in said casing;

a main control unit (MCU) received in said casing and communicated with said electronic device for selectively controlling an operation of said time displaying device and said electronic device, wherein said MCU comprises a central processor and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB electrically connecting said central processor with said electronic device, wherein said PCB has a signal port provided at a position aligning with said conductive element; and

a multi-functional actuator which comprises an actuator button movably provided on said casing to selectively move between an idle position, a time adjustment position and a triggering position, where in said idle position, said actuator button disengages with said MCU to allow normal operation of said electronic device, wherein in said time adjustment position said actuator button is moved from said idle position to allow adjustment of said time displaying device, and wherein in said triggering position, said actuator is moved to actuate an operation of said electronic device, wherein said conductive element is arranged to be selectively driven to trigger an operation of said electronic device when said actuator button is at said triggering position, wherein said conductive element has a predetermined amount of resilient ability such that said conductive element is normally retained to disengage from said electronic device, wherein when said actuator button is pushed to said triggering position, said actuator button is driven to move said conductive clement to electrically communicate with said electronic device so as to trigger an operation thereof, wherein when said conductive element is pushed by said actuator button at said triggering position, said conductive element is arranged to be in physical contact with said signal port of said PCB so as to generate an actuation signal for said main processor of said MCU to actuate said electronic device,

wherein said actuator button comprises a stem driving member securely connected with an outer end of said adjustment stern of said time displaying device, an enlarged crown member for allowing a user to manually drive said actuator button to move between said idle position, said time adjustment position and said triggering position for selectively handling time adjustment and actuation of said electronic device, and a pusher cap operatively connecting between said crown member and said stem driving member, wherein said crown member has a substantially circular cross section and defines a crown cavity therewithin, wherein said pusher cap has an outer receiving portion received within said crown cavity of the crown member, and an inner engaging portion, integrally and coaxial extended out of said crown cavity, wherein said pusher cap has an elongated structure and an external circular cross section extended from said crown member to securely engage with said stem driving member, in such a manner that when said pusher cap is driven to move inwardly, an inner end of said inner engaging portion is arranged to inwardly push said conductive element to physically contact with said signal port of said PCB for triggering, an operation of said electronic device,

wherein said pusher cap further has a locking latch integrally and inwardly extended from an inner side edge of said inner engaging portion, wherein said stern driving member has an inner driven portion and an outer driving portion having a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of said inner driven portion to define a locking shoulder at an intersection between said inner driven portion and said outer driving portion, wherein said locking shoulder is arranged to align with said locking latch of said pusher cap so that when said pusher cap is outwardly pushed with respective to said casing, said outward movement of said pusher cap is blocked by engagement between said locking shoulder and said locking latch.

9. The analog timepiece, as recited in claim 8, wherein said stem driving member further has six outer surfaces formed at said inner driving portion for forming a corresponding hexagonal outer contour, wherein said hexagonal contour is arranged to fittedly and slidably receive in said inner engaging portion so that said pusher cap is capable of being inwardly moved to drive said conductive element yet is prevented from moving outwardly to pass said locking shoulder, wherein relative rotational movement between said pusher cap and said stem driving member is prevented by said hexagonal engagement between said outer surfaces of said stem driving member and said surrounding, sidewalk of said pusher cap.

10. The analog timepiece, as recited in claim 9, wherein said multi-functional actuator further comprises guider element provided between said crown member and said pusher cap for guiding a sliding movement of said crown member with respective to said casing.

11. An analog timepiece, comprising:

a casing having a receiving cavity, and comprises an inner supporting frame defining a triggering slot, and a conductive element mounting at said inner supporting frame at a position in a vicinity of said triggering slot;

a time displaying device which comprises a time core assembly and an adjustment stem extended from said timepiece core assembly for indicating time information;

an electronic device received in said casing;

a main control unit (MCU) received in said casing and communicated with said electronic device for selectively controlling an operation of said time displaying device and said electronic device, wherein said MCU comprises a central processor and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) electrically connecting said central processor with said electronic device wherein said PCB has a signal port provided at a position aligning with said conductive element; and

a multi-functional actuator which comprises an actuator button movably provided on said casing to selectively move between an idle position, a time adjustment position and a triggering position, wherein in said idle position, said actuator button disengages with said MCU to allow normal operation of said electronic device, wherein in said time adjustment position, said actuator button is moved from said idle position to allow adjustment of said time displaying device, and wherein in said triggering position, said actuator is moved to actuate an operation of said electronic device, wherein said conductive element is arranged to be selectively driven to triggering an operation of said electronic device when said actuator button is at said triggering position, wherein said conductive element has a predetermined amount of resilient ability such that said conductive element is normally retained to disengage from said electronic device, wherein when said actuator button is pushed to said triggering position, said actuator button is driven to move said conductive element to electrically communicate with said electronic device so as to trigger an operation thereof, wherein when said conductive element is pushed by said actuator button at said triggering position, said conductive element is arranged to be in Physical contact with said signal ort of said PCB so as to generate an actuation signal for said main processor of said MCU to actuate said electronic device,

wherein said actuator button comprises a stem driving member securely connected with an outer end of said adjustment stem of said time displaying device, an enlarged crown member for allowing a user to manually drive said actuator button to move between said idle position, said time adjustment position and said triggering position for selectively handling time adjustment and actuation of said electronic device, and a pusher cap operatively connecting between said crown member and said stem driving member, wherein said crown member has a substantially circular cross section and defines a crown cavity therewithin, wherein said pusher cap has an outer receiving portion received within said crown cavity of the crown member, and an inner engaging portion, integrally and coaxially extended out of said crown cavity, wherein said pusher cap has an elongated structure and an external circular cross section extended from said crown member to securely engage with said stem driving member, in such a manner that when said pusher cap is driven to move inwardly, an inner end of said inner engaging portion is arranged to inwardly push said conductive element to physically contact with said signal port of said PCB for triggering an operation of said electronic device,

wherein said multi-functional actuator further comprises a resilient element received in said pusher cap, which is cylindrical in shape having a pusher cavity extended along an entire longitudinal length thereof and defined by six surrounding sidewalls for forming a hexagonal pusher cavity, wherein said resilient element is received therein for normally exerting an outward urging force towards said crown member so as to normally retain said actuator button at said idle position,

wherein said pusher cap further has a locking latch integrally and inwardly extended from an inner side edge of said inner engaging portion, wherein said stern driving member has an inner driven portion and an outer driving portion having a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of said inner driven portion to define a locking shoulder at an intersection between said inner driven portion and said outer driving portion, wherein said locking shoulder is arranged to align with said locking latch of said pusher cap so that when said pusher cap is outwardly pushed with respective to said casing, said outward movement of said pusher cap is blocked by engagement between said locking shoulder and said locking latch.

12. The analog timepiece, as recited in claim 11, wherein said stem driving member further has six outer surfaces formed at said inner driving portion for forming a corresponding hexagonal outer contour, wherein said hexagonal contour is arranged to fittedly and slidably receive in said inner engaging portion so that said pusher cap is capable of being inwardly moved to drive said conductive element yet is prevented from moving outwardly to pass said locking shoulder, wherein relative rotational movement between said pusher cap and said stem driving member is prevented by said hexagonal engagement between said outer surfaces of said stem driving member and said surrounding sidewalls of said pusher cap.

13. The analog timepiece, as recited in claim 12, wherein said multi-functional actuator further comprises guider element provided between said crown member and said pusher cap for guiding a sliding movement of said crown member with respective to said casing.