Crown switching mechanism

• US 6,203,190 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Timex Group USA Incorporated (Tanager Group BV)
• Original Assignee: Timex Corporation (Tanager Group BV)
• Inventors: Stotz, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US09/327,769
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 368/319-321, 368/190, 368/188, 368/196
• US Class Current: 368/320
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/005 Multiple switches G04C3/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/007 Electromechanical contact-making and breaking devices acting as pulse generators for setting

Abstract

A switching mechanism is provided for a multimode electronic timepiece having a casing, a device for indicating a time-of-day and an integrated circuit operable in a plurality of modes. The switching mechanism includes a setting stem mounted for rotational movement and positionable in a plurality of axial setting positions. The setting stem includes at least one tooth. The switching mechanism also includes a switch arm having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion engages the tooth of the setting stem. The switching mechanism further includes a first and a second electrical contact. When the setting stem is in at least one of the axial setting positions and while the timepiece is operating in at least two of the modes, the intermediate portion cooperates with the tooth to intermittently form, in response to a rotation of the setting stem, an electrical connection between the second end and, when the setting stem is rotating in a first direction, the first electrical contact to produce an intermittent first electrical pulse. Alternatively, when the setting stem is rotating in a second direction, an electrical connection is intermittently formed between the second end and the second electrical contact to produce an intermittent second electrical pulse. In one embodiment, the intermittent first and second electrical signals are inputs to setting functions performed within at least one of the modes of the timepiece.

Claims

1. A switching mechanism for a multimode electronic timepiece of the type having a casing, a frame, means for indicating a time-of-day, and an integrated circuit providing at least the time-of-day, the integrated circuit is operable in a plurality of modes a first of which is to set the time-of-day, the switching mechanism comprising:

a setting stem mounted in an opening through the case and the frame, the setting stem being rotationally moveable and operatively positionable in a plurality of axial setting positions in response to axial movement of the setting stem, the setting stem having at least one tooth disposed thereon;

a single switch arm spaced apart from and parallelly aligned with the setting stem, the switching arm having a first end fixedly coupled within a cavity of the frame, a second end and an intermediate portion between the first and the second ends for engaging the at least one tooth of the setting stem;

a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact spaced apart from the first electrical contact;

wherein when the setting stem is in a first of the plurality of axial setting positions, the electronic timepiece is in the first mode and the intermediate portion is intermittently engagable with the at least one tooth;

wherein when the setting stem is in a second of the plurality of axial setting positions, the electronic timepiece is in at least a second mode and the intermediate portion is intermittently engagable with the at least one tooth;

and wherein when said setting stem is in one of the first and the second axial positions and rotated in a first direction, the intermediate portion intermittently engages the at least one tooth causing deflection of the second end of the switch arm in a first deflected direction thereby causing intermittent electrical connections between the second end and the first electrical contact, and when the setting stem is rotated in a second direction, the intermediate portion intermittently engages the at least one tooth causing deflection of the second end of the switch arm in a direction opposite to the first deflected direction thereby causing intermittent electrical connections between the second end and the second electrical contact;

whereby the intermittent electrical connections between the second end and the first electrical contact produces corresponding intermittent first electrical pulses and the intermittent electrical connections between the second end and the second electrical contact produces corresponding intermittent second electrical pulses.

2. The switching mechanism as in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit is responsive to each electrical connection of the second end of the switch arm with the first electrical contact for incrementing the time-of-day exhibited on the means for indicating of the timepiece and responsive to each electrical connection of the second end of the switch arm with the second electrical contact for decrementing the time-of-day exhibited on the means for indicating of the timepiece.

3. The switching mechanism as in claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion of the switch arm includes at least one protruding portion and the at least one tooth of the setting stem is sufficiently elongated so as to intermittently engage the at least one protruding portion when the setting stem is in at least the first and the second axial setting positions.

4. The switching mechanism as in claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion of the switch arm includes at least one protruding portion and the setting stem includes at least two sets of teeth disposed over a length of the setting stem and spaced apart by at least one smooth portion, and wherein when the setting stem is in at least one axial setting position the at least one protruding portion intermittently engages one of the at least two sets of teeth thereby producing one of the first and the second electrical pulses, and when the setting stem is in at least one other axial setting position the at least one protruding portion cooperates with the at least one smooth portion to prevent production of the first and the second electrical pulses.

5. The switching mechanism as in claim 4, wherein the at least two sets of teeth are comprised of n sets of teeth and the at least one smooth portion is comprised of n-1 smooth portions, and wherein n is an integer in a range of about 2 to 4.

6. The switching mechanism as in claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion of the switch arm includes at least one protruding portion sufficiently elongated so as to intermittently engage the at least one tooth when the setting stem is in at least the first and the second axial setting positions.

7. The switching mechanism as in claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion of the switch arm includes at least two protruding portions spaced apart by a smooth portion, and wherein when the setting stem is in at least one axial setting position the at least one tooth intermittently engages one of the at least two protruding portions, and when the setting stem is in at least one other axial setting position the at least one tooth cooperates with the smooth portion to prevent engagement between the at least one tooth and one of the at least two protruding portions.

8. The switching mechanism as in claim 1, wherein the setting stem includes a plurality of teeth disposed thereon for engaging the intermediate portion of the switch arm.

9. The switching mechanism as in claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are rigid electrical contacts disposed on the circuitry.

10. A switching mechanism for a multimode electronic timepiece of the type having a casing, a frame, means for indicating a time-of-day and an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being operable in a plurality of modes, the switching mechanism comprising:

a setting stem mounted in an opening through the case and the frame, the setting stem being rotationally moveable and operatively positionable in a plurality of axial setting positions in response to axial movement of the setting stem, the setting stem having at least one tooth disposed thereon;

a single switch arm spaced apart from and parallelly aligned with the setting stem, the switch arm having a first end fixedly coupled within a cavity of the frame, a second end and an intermediate portion between the first and the second ends for engaging the at least one tooth of the setting stem;

a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact spaced apart from the first electrical contact;

wherein when the setting stem is in a first of the plurality of axial setting positions the electronic timepiece is operating in a first mode, and when the setting stem is in at least a second of the plurality of axial setting positions the electronic timepiece is operating in at least a second mode; and

wherein when in the first mode the intermediate portion cooperates with the at least one tooth to intermittently generate an intermittent first electrical pulse in response to a rotation of the setting stem in a first direction as the second end is caused to deflect in a first deflecting direction and contact the first electrical contact, and when in the second mode the intermediate portion cooperates with the at least one tooth to intermittently generate an intermittent second electrical pulse in response to a rotation of the setting stem in a second direction as the second end is caused to deflect in a direction opposite the first deflecting direction and contact the second electrical contact.

11. The switching mechanism as in claim 10, wherein the integrated circuit is responsive to the first and the second intermittent electrical pulses during setting functions of at least one of the plurality of modes.

12. The switching mechanism as in claim 10, wherein the setting stem includes a plurality of teeth integrally formed thereon for engaging the intermediate portion of the switch arm.

13. A switching mechanism for a multimode electronic device of the type having a casing, a frame, and an integrated circuit operable in a plurality of modes a first of which is an information setting mode, the switching mechanism comprising:

a setting stem mounted in an opening through the case and the frame, the setting stem being rotationally moveable and operatively positionable in a plurality of axial setting positions in response to axial movement of the setting stem, the setting stem having at least one tooth disposed thereon;

a single switch arm spaced apart from and parallelly aligned with the setting stem, the switch arm having a first end fixedly coupled within a cavity of the frame, a second end and an intermediate portion between the first and the second ends for engaging the at least one tooth of the setting stem;

a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact spaced apart from the first electrical contact;

wherein when the setting stem is in a first of the plurality of axial setting positions, the electronic device is in the first mode and the intermediate portion is intermittently engagable with the at least one tooth;

wherein when the setting stem is in a second of the plurality of axial setting positions, the electronic device is in at least a second mode and the intermediate portion is intermittently engagable with the at least one tooth;

and wherein when said setting stem is in one of the first and the second axial positions and rotated in a first direction, the intermediate portion intermittently engages the at least one tooth causing deflection of the second end of the switch arm in a first deflected direction thereby causing intermittent electrical connections between the second end and the first electrical contact, and when the setting stem is rotated in a second direction, the intermediate portion intermittently engages the at least one tooth causing deflection of the second end of the switch arm in a direction opposite to the first deflected direction thereby causing intermittent electrical connections between the second end and the second electrical contact;

whereby the intermittent electrical connections between the second end and the first electrical contact produces corresponding intermittent first electrical pulses and the intermittent electrical connections between the second end and the second electrical contact produces corresponding intermittent second electrical pulses.

14. A switching mechanism for a multimode electronic device of the type having a casing, a frame, and an integrated circuit operable in a plurality of modes, the switching mechanism comprising:

a setting stem mounted in an opening through the case and the frame, the setting stem being rotationally moveable and operatively positionable in a plurality of axial setting positions in response to axial movement of the setting stem, the setting stem having at least one tooth disposed thereon;

a single switch arm spaced apart from and parallelly aligned with the setting stem, the switch arm having a first end fixedly coupled within a cavity of the frame, a second end and an intermediate portion between the first and the second ends for engaging the at least one tooth of the setting stem;

a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact spaced apart from the first electrical contact;

wherein when the setting stem is in a first of the plurality of axial setting positions the electronic device is operating in a first mode, and when the setting stem is in at least a second of the plurality of axial setting positions the electronic timepiece is operating in at least a second mode; and

wherein when in the first mode the intermediate portion cooperates with the at least one tooth to intermittently generate an intermittent first electrical pulse in response to a rotation of the setting stem in a first direction as the second end is caused to deflect in a first deflecting direction and contact the first electrical contact, and when in the second mode the intermediate portion cooperates with the at least one tooth to intermittently generate an intermittent second electrical pulse in response to a rotation of the setting stem in a second direction as the second end is caused to deflect in a direction opposite the first deflecting direction and contact the second electrical contact.