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EP0110112B1 - Electronic clock with a digital display - Google Patents

Electronic clock with a digital display Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0110112B1
EP0110112B1 EP83110559A EP83110559A EP0110112B1 EP 0110112 B1 EP0110112 B1 EP 0110112B1 EP 83110559 A EP83110559 A EP 83110559A EP 83110559 A EP83110559 A EP 83110559A EP 0110112 B1 EP0110112 B1 EP 0110112B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
display panel
display
clock
case
panel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP83110559A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0110112A1 (en
Inventor
Dietrich Lubs
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Braun GmbH
Original Assignee
Braun GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Braun GmbH filed Critical Braun GmbH
Publication of EP0110112A1 publication Critical patent/EP0110112A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0110112B1 publication Critical patent/EP0110112B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G17/00—Structural details; Housings
    • G04G17/08—Housings
    • G04G17/086—Desktop clocks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/7076—Coupling devices for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a table clock with an electronically controlled display device, with a watch case and at least one display field used for the output of alphanumeric characters (numbers and / or letters). Various alphanumeric characters are displayed by highlighting certain elements from a set of display elements attached to each display field.
  • Clocks with such display devices have been known for years as so-called digital clocks, for example from DE-A1-29 22 621, which describes an electronically controlled clock with digital time display and alarm device, each of which has a display field for displaying the time within a clock case and the set alarm time.
  • digital clocks for example from DE-A1-29 22 621, which describes an electronically controlled clock with digital time display and alarm device, each of which has a display field for displaying the time within a clock case and the set alarm time.
  • Different digits are displayed on the two display fields by so-called seven-segment displays, the display elements of which consist of light-emitting segments, such as fluorescent tubes or light-emitting diodes (LED), or of passive electro-optical segments, such as liquid crystal cells (LCD).
  • light-emitting segments such as fluorescent tubes or light-emitting diodes (LED)
  • LCD liquid crystal cells
  • a disadvantage of the previously known watches with an electronically controlled alphanumeric display device is that the display device is either fitted inside the watch case and covered with a translucent plate or is at least firmly connected to the watch case. This has the consequence that an exchange or relocation of the display device for the user of the watch is possible only with unreasonable effort.
  • a module construction for an electronic wristwatch (DE-A1-2 501 234), in which a housing which directly encloses these is to be dispensed with for the watch modules, but in which the watchband in the area in which the modules are to be inserted, is designed as a housing that largely encloses the modules, via which the modules are mechanically connected alone.
  • the advantages of this invention are that it is possible for the user of the watch without further technical knowledge to replace the display device of the watch in a simple manner and in a short time with another display device, or to implement the previous display device in such a way that the viewer originally facing or facing side of the display device can be interchanged.
  • FIG. 1 shows a watch 1 having an electronically controlled display, with a display panel 6 and with an input field 5, which has a plurality of input keys, which are not numbered here.
  • a frame 8 made of electrically insulating material, for example plastic.
  • the time (here 20 "o'clock) is displayed in hours and minutes, separated by a colon, on the display panel 11 using four seven-segment displays.
  • the date here the October 10th
  • an adjustable alarm time here 3:00 am
  • those days of the week here Monday, Tuesday and Friday
  • the set alarm is active
  • the current weekday here Saturday
  • the display panel 6 can be pivoted on the one hand about a horizontal axis A lying below its lower end face, on the other hand it can be lifted off the watch case 2 in the direction designated B in FIG. 2, since the display panel 6 is not fixed, but is mechanically and electrically connected to the clock 1 by means of a plug connection 16.
  • FIG. 3 This shows a partially broken section from the vicinity of the right cheek 3 of the watch case 2 of FIG. 1.
  • the housing-like part of the plug connection 16 consists of a strip 17 made of electrically insulating material, in which several electrical contact devices are embedded, the number of which depends on the number of connections required to operate the display fields 11 to 15.
  • the strip is preferably made of plastic by injection molding, and in the same operation also consists essentially of a partially slotted metal bushing existing contact devices are cast in.
  • Fig. 3 shows such a metal socket 18, which is connected via a soldered at its lower end to a connecting wire 19 with a display driver circuit, not shown here, located within the watch case 2.
  • the connector 16 On the part of the display panel 6, the connector 16 consists of metal pins attached to its lower end face (see metal pin 20 in FIG. 3). With appropriate matching of the diameter of metal pins and metal bushings, a perfect electrical contact is achieved on the one hand, and on the other hand a sufficiently firm mechanical connection between the display panel 6 and the watch case 2 is achieved. Through two of the bar 16 molded U-profile rails 9 and 10, which encompass the frame 8 of the display panel 6 and act as guide rails, the display panel 6 can be inserted simply and quickly due to the then clearly given spatial association between the metal pin and the associated metal socket.
  • Such removal and reinsertion of the display panel 6 can be of interest to the user of the watch 1, for example, if the display panel is identical on one side, for example on its front side 7, passive electro-optical display elements and on the other side, in this case its rear side 21 arranged light-emitting display elements, both of which are suitable for outputting the same information offered by the display driver circuit.
  • the display panel 6 By removing, rotating the display panel 6 by 180 degrees about the axis C (see FIG. 2) and reinserting the display panel, the user of the watch 1 can select the type of display elements facing him.
  • By connecting an additional metal pin attached to the display panel 6 and two associated additional metal sockets it can be ensured that only the respective front side of the display panel 6 is in operation.
  • the user of the watch 1 will only switch from the significantly less power-consuming passive electro-optical display by changing the display panel 6 to the light-emitting display if the illuminance in the area around the watch 1 is no longer sufficient Change electro-optical display. In this way, the power consumption of the watch 1 is therefore kept low despite the presence of light-emitting display elements.
  • the display panel 6 is not only easy to separate from the watch case 2, but is also designed to be pivotable, namely by rotating the bar 17 about the axis A (see FIGS. 1 and 3).
  • Different angles between the front 22 of the watch case 2 and the front 7 of the display panel 6 result from different positions between a plate 23 formed on the bar 17 and a piston axially displaceable in a bore 24 of the right housing cheek 3 25 (see Fig. 3).
  • Both the disk 23 and the piston 25 have an intermeshing spur toothing on their facing surface.
  • the piston 25 is secured against rotation about its longitudinal axis by means of two lugs 26 and 31 which are molded onto it and which engage in corresponding grooves 27 and 28 of the bore 24.
  • a grub screw 32 running in a threaded bore of the housing cheek 3 is molded onto the piston and can be turned by means of a screwdriver or with a coin or the like.
  • the display panel 6 of the clock 1 can be snapped into different, convenient angular positions by the user. If the input field 5 is set back accordingly with respect to the contour of the front 22 of the watch case 2, the display panel 6 can be pivoted so far that it comes to lie parallel to the input field 5 and also completely covers it, with its rear 21 inside the Contour of the front 22 of the watch case 2 comes to rest (see position 6 'in FIG. 2). This angular position is particularly suitable for packing the watch for shipping or when traveling.
  • the design according to the invention of a display panel mechanically and electrically connected by means of a plug connection to a watch case is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above.
  • electro-optical display elements which on the one hand consist of radially arranged, strip-shaped electrodes and the corresponding counter-electrode arrangement and on the other hand consist of the display elements of a seven-segment display.
  • Such a display board which quasianalogically displays hours and minutes and digitally displays the date, can be controlled with relatively few connections (according to DE-A1-28 05 646, for example with 35 connections).
  • the display panel of FIG. 1 can also be exchanged for a display panel, the display elements of which are arranged as a dot matrix, the double set of metal pins and metal bushings being able to be used as in the previous exemplary embodiment.
  • Such dot matrix display elements can then also be used to carry out simple games on the display board which are related to screen games on television sets. The change of the display mode and the start of such games can be done with actuators that are attached to the input field.
  • the type of plug connection between the display panel and watch case embodiment of the invention is the display panel only with a jack plug and an associated strip-side socket, as used for example when connecting headphones to HiFi devices, with the watch case mechanically and with to electrically connect a circuit contained therein.
  • the watch case then only contains the power supply for the watch, while the input field can be attached to the back of the display panel, the front of which has one or more display fields.
  • Such an arrangement has the advantage that the display panel is not only pluggable and pivotable about the axis A, but can also be rotated about the axis C (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2).

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Tischuhr mit elektronisch gesteuerter Anzeigevorrichtung, mit einem Uhrgehäuse und mindestens einem zur Ausgabe von alphanumerischen Zeichen (Ziffern und/oder Buchstaben) dienenden Anzeigenfeld. Die Darstellung verschiedener alphanumerischer Zeichen erfolgt durch Hervorhebung bestimmter Elemente aus einem auf jedem Anzeigefeld angebrachten Satz von Anzeigeelementen.The invention relates to a table clock with an electronically controlled display device, with a watch case and at least one display field used for the output of alphanumeric characters (numbers and / or letters). Various alphanumeric characters are displayed by highlighting certain elements from a set of display elements attached to each display field.

Uhren mit derartigen Anzeigevorrichtungen sind als sogenannte Digitaluhren bereits seit Jahren bekannt, so zum Beispiel aus der DE-A1-29 22 621, die eine elektronisch gesteuerte Uhr mit digitaler Zeitanzeige und Weckeinrichtung beschreibt, die innerhalb eines Uhrgehäuses je ein Anzeigefeld für die Ausgabe der Uhrzeit und der eingestellten Weckzeit aufweist. Die Darstellung verschiedener Ziffern auf den beiden Anzeigefeldern erfolgt dabei durch sogenannte Siebensegment-Anzeigen, deren Anzeigeelemente aus lichtemittierenden Segmenten, wie beispielsweise Fluoreszenzröhren oder Leuchtdioden (LED), oder aus passiven elektrooptischen Segmenten, wie beispielsweise Flüssigkristallzellen (LCD), bestehen.Clocks with such display devices have been known for years as so-called digital clocks, for example from DE-A1-29 22 621, which describes an electronically controlled clock with digital time display and alarm device, each of which has a display field for displaying the time within a clock case and the set alarm time. Different digits are displayed on the two display fields by so-called seven-segment displays, the display elements of which consist of light-emitting segments, such as fluorescent tubes or light-emitting diodes (LED), or of passive electro-optical segments, such as liquid crystal cells (LCD).

Ein Nachteil der bisher bekannten Uhren mit elektronisch gesteuerter alphanumerischer Anzeigevorrichtung besteht darin, daß die Anzeigevorrichtung entweder innerhalb des Uhrgehäuses angebracht und mit einer lichtdurchlässigen Platte abgedeckt ist oder zumindest fest mit dem Gehäuse der Uhr verbunden ist. Dies hat zur Folge, daß ein Austausch oder ein Umsetzen der Anzeigevorrichtung für den Benutzer der Uhr nur unter unzumutbarem Aufwand möglich ist.A disadvantage of the previously known watches with an electronically controlled alphanumeric display device is that the display device is either fitted inside the watch case and covered with a translucent plate or is at least firmly connected to the watch case. This has the consequence that an exchange or relocation of the display device for the user of the watch is possible only with unreasonable effort.

Bekannt ist auch eine Modulkonstruktion für eine elektronische Armbanduhr (DE-A1-2 501 234), bei der für die Uhrenmodule auf ein diese unmittelbar einschließendes Gehäuse verzichtet werden soll, bei der aber das Uhrenarmband im Bereich, in dem die Module eingesteckt werden sollen, als ein die Module größtenteils umschließendes Gehäuse ausgebildet ist, über das allein die mechanische Verbindung der Module erfolgt.Also known is a module construction for an electronic wristwatch (DE-A1-2 501 234), in which a housing which directly encloses these is to be dispensed with for the watch modules, but in which the watchband in the area in which the modules are to be inserted, is designed as a housing that largely encloses the modules, via which the modules are mechanically connected alone.

Es war Aufgabe der Erfindung, eine Tischuhr mit elektronisch gesteuerter digitaler Anzeige zu schaffen, deren Anzeigevorrichtung umsetzbar bzw. austauschbar sein sollte.It was an object of the invention to provide a table clock with an electronically controlled digital display, the display device of which should be implementable or interchangeable.

Die Lösung dieser Aufgabe erfolgt mit den im Patentanspruch 1 genannten Mitteln.This object is achieved with the means mentioned in claim 1.

Die Vorteile dieser Erfindung liegen darin, daß es für den Benutzer der Uhr ohne nähere technische Kenntnisse möglich ist, die Anzeigevorrichtung der Uhr auf einfache Weise und in kurzer Zeit gegen eine andere Anzeigevorrichtung auszutauschen, oder die bisherige Anzeigevorrichtung so umzusetzen, daß die dem Betrachter ursprünglich zu- bzw. abgewandte Seite der Anzeigevorrichtung gegeneinander vertauscht werden.The advantages of this invention are that it is possible for the user of the watch without further technical knowledge to replace the display device of the watch in a simple manner and in a short time with another display device, or to implement the previous display device in such a way that the viewer originally facing or facing side of the display device can be interchanged.

Vorteilhafte Weitergestaltungen der Erfindung können den abhängigen Ansprüchen entnommen werden.Advantageous further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

Nachstehend wird ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung anhand der Figuren 1 bis 3 beschrieben. Es zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 eine Vorderansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Uhr,
  • Fig. 2 eine teilweise aufgebrochene Seitenansicht der Uhr gemäß Fig. 1 und
  • Fig. 3 einen teilweise aufgebrochenen Ausschnitt aus der Fig. 1.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Show it:
  • 1 is a front view of the clock according to the invention,
  • Fig. 2 is a partially broken side view of the clock of FIG. 1 and
  • 3 is a partially broken section from FIG. 1.

Fig. 1 zeigt eine eine elektronisch gesteuerte Anzeige aufweisende Uhr 1 mit einer Anzeigetafel 6 und mit einem Eingabefeld 5, welches mehrere hier nicht näher bezifferte Eingabetasten aufweist. Auf der Vorderseite 7 der Anzeigetafel 6, die von einem Rahmen 8 aus elektrisch isolierendem Material, beispielsweise Kunststoff, eingefaßt wird, sind fünf Anzeigefelder 11 bis 15 angebracht. Auf dem Anzeigefeld 11 wird mit Hilfe von vier Siebensegment-Anzeigen die Uhrzeit (hier 20" Uhr) in Stunden und Minuten, getrennt durch einen Doppelpunkt, ausgegeben. Auf dem Anzeigefeld 12 wird das Datum (hier der 10. Oktober) und auf dem Anzeigefeld 13 eine einstellbare Alarmzeit (hier 3°° Uhr morgens) ausgegeben, bei deren Übereinstimmung mit der Uhrzeit von der Uhr 1 an bestimmten Wochentagen ein Weck- bzw. Alarmsignal abgegeben wird. Diejenigen Wochentage (hier Montag, Dienstag und Freitag), an denen der eingestellte Alarm aktiv ist, das heißt, an denen von der Uhr 1 tatsächlich ein Alarmsignal abgegeben wird, werden auf dem Anzeigefeld 14 ausgegeben, während auf dem Anzeigefeld 15 der augenblickliche Wochentag (hier Samstag) angezeigt wird.1 shows a watch 1 having an electronically controlled display, with a display panel 6 and with an input field 5, which has a plurality of input keys, which are not numbered here. On the front 7 of the display panel 6, which is surrounded by a frame 8 made of electrically insulating material, for example plastic, five display panels 11 to 15 are attached. The time (here 20 "o'clock) is displayed in hours and minutes, separated by a colon, on the display panel 11 using four seven-segment displays. The date (here the October 10th) is shown on the display panel 12 and on the display panel 13 an adjustable alarm time (here 3:00 am) is output, if it matches the time of clock 1 on certain days of the week an alarm or alarm signal is given, those days of the week (here Monday, Tuesday and Friday) on which the set alarm is active, that is, on which an alarm signal is actually emitted by the clock 1, are output on the display panel 14, while the current weekday (here Saturday) is displayed on the display panel 15.

Die Anzeigetafel 6 kann gemäß der Erfindung zum einen um eine unterhalb ihrer unteren Stirnfläche liegende horizontale Achse A geschwenkt werden, zum anderen kann sie in der in der Fig. 2 mit B bezeichneten Richtung vom Uhrgehäuse 2 abgehoben werden, da die Anzeigetafel 6 nicht fest, sondern mittels einer Steckverbindung 16 mechanisch und elektrisch mit der Uhr 1 verbunden ist.According to the invention, the display panel 6 can be pivoted on the one hand about a horizontal axis A lying below its lower end face, on the other hand it can be lifted off the watch case 2 in the direction designated B in FIG. 2, since the display panel 6 is not fixed, but is mechanically and electrically connected to the clock 1 by means of a plug connection 16.

Einzelheiten der Schwenkvorrichtung und der vorgenannten Steckverbindung 16 sind aus der Fig. 3 ersichtlich. Diese zeigt einen teilweise aufgebrochenen Ausschnitt aus der Umgebung der rechten Gehäusewange 3 des Uhrgehäuses 2 der Fig. 1.Details of the swivel device and the aforementioned connector 16 are shown in FIG. 3. This shows a partially broken section from the vicinity of the right cheek 3 of the watch case 2 of FIG. 1.

Der gehäuseartige Teil der Steckverbindung 16 besteht aus einer Leiste 17 aus elektrisch isolierendem Material, in das mehrere elektrische Kontaktvorrichtungen eingebettet sind, deren Anzahl sich nach der zum Betreiben der Anzeigefelder 11 bis 15 benötigten Zahl von Anschlüssen richtet. Die Leiste wird vorzugsweise aus Kunststoff im Spritzgußverfahren hergestellt, wobei im selben Arbeitsgang auch die im wesentlichen aus einer teilweise aufgeschlitzten Metallbuchse bestehenden Kontaktvorrichtungen mit eingegossen werden. Fig. 3 zeigt eine solche Metallbuchse 18, die über eine an ihrem unteren Ende angelötete Anschlußlitze 19 mit einer hier nicht mehr dargestellten, innerhalb des Uhrgehäuses 2 sich befindlichen Anzeigen-Treiberschaltung verbunden ist.The housing-like part of the plug connection 16 consists of a strip 17 made of electrically insulating material, in which several electrical contact devices are embedded, the number of which depends on the number of connections required to operate the display fields 11 to 15. The strip is preferably made of plastic by injection molding, and in the same operation also consists essentially of a partially slotted metal bushing existing contact devices are cast in. Fig. 3 shows such a metal socket 18, which is connected via a soldered at its lower end to a connecting wire 19 with a display driver circuit, not shown here, located within the watch case 2.

Seitens der Anzeigetafel 6 besteht die Steckverbindung 16 aus an ihrer unteren Stirnfläche angebrachten Metallstiften (siehe Metallstift 20 in der Fig. 3). Bei entsprechender Abstimmung der Durchmesser von Metallstiften und Metallbuchsen wird zum einen ein einwandfreier elektrischer Kontakt und zum anderen eine ausreichend feste mechanische Verbindung zwischen der Anzeigetafel 6 und dem Uhrgehäuse 2 erzielt. Durch zwei der Leiste 16 angeformte U-Profilschienen 9 und 10, die den Rahmen 8 der Anzeigetafel 6 umgreifen und als Führungsschienen wirken, kann aufgrund der dann eindeutig gegebenen räumlichen Zuordnung zwischen Metallstift und zugehöriger Metallbuchse die Anzeigetafel 6 einfach und schnell eingesteckt werden.On the part of the display panel 6, the connector 16 consists of metal pins attached to its lower end face (see metal pin 20 in FIG. 3). With appropriate matching of the diameter of metal pins and metal bushings, a perfect electrical contact is achieved on the one hand, and on the other hand a sufficiently firm mechanical connection between the display panel 6 and the watch case 2 is achieved. Through two of the bar 16 molded U-profile rails 9 and 10, which encompass the frame 8 of the display panel 6 and act as guide rails, the display panel 6 can be inserted simply and quickly due to the then clearly given spatial association between the metal pin and the associated metal socket.

Ein solches Herausnehmen und Wiedereinstecken der Anzeigetafel 6 kann für den Benutzer der Uhr 1 beispielsweise dann von Interesse sein, wenn die Anzeigetafel auf einer Seite, beispielsweise auf ihrer Vorderseite 7, passive elektrooptische Anzeigeelemente und auf der anderen Seite, hier also ihrer Rückseite 21, identisch angeordnete lichtemittierende Anzeigeelemente aufweist, die beide zur Ausgabe derselben, von der Anzeigen-Treiberschaltung angebotenen Information geeignet sind. Durch Herausnehmen, Drehen der Anzeigetafel 6 um 180 Grad um die Achse C (siehe Fig. 2) und Wiedereinstecken der Anzeigetafel kann der Benutzer der Uhr 1 den ihm zugekehrten Typ von Anzeigeelementen auswählen. Durch die Beschaltung eines zusätzlichen an der Anzeigetafel 6 angebrachten Metallstiftes und zwei dazugehörigen zusätzlichen Metallbuchsen kann dafür Sorge getragen werden, daß immer nur die jeweilige Vorderseite der Anzeigetafel 6 in Betrieb ist. Bei Uhren, die nur mit Batterien betrieben werden können und kein Netzteil besitzen, wird der Benutzer der Uhr 1 nur bei nicht mehr ausreichender Beleuchtungsstärke in der Umgebung der Uhr 1 von der bedeutend weniger Leistung aufnehmenden passiven elektrooptischen Anzeige durch Umstecken der Anzeigetafel 6 auf die lichtemittierende elektrooptische Anzeige überwechseln. Auf diese Weise wird daher die Leistungsaufnahme der Uhr 1 trotz vorhandener lichtemittierender Anzeigeelemente niedrig gehalten.Such removal and reinsertion of the display panel 6 can be of interest to the user of the watch 1, for example, if the display panel is identical on one side, for example on its front side 7, passive electro-optical display elements and on the other side, in this case its rear side 21 arranged light-emitting display elements, both of which are suitable for outputting the same information offered by the display driver circuit. By removing, rotating the display panel 6 by 180 degrees about the axis C (see FIG. 2) and reinserting the display panel, the user of the watch 1 can select the type of display elements facing him. By connecting an additional metal pin attached to the display panel 6 and two associated additional metal sockets, it can be ensured that only the respective front side of the display panel 6 is in operation. In watches that can only be operated with batteries and do not have a power supply unit, the user of the watch 1 will only switch from the significantly less power-consuming passive electro-optical display by changing the display panel 6 to the light-emitting display if the illuminance in the area around the watch 1 is no longer sufficient Change electro-optical display. In this way, the power consumption of the watch 1 is therefore kept low despite the presence of light-emitting display elements.

Wie bereits oben erwähnt ist die Anzeigetafel 6 nicht nur leicht vom Uhrgehäuse 2 zu trennen, sondern auch schwenkbar ausgeführt, und zwar durch Verdrehung der Leiste 17 um die Achse A (siehe Fig. 1 und 3). Verschiedene Winkel zwischen der Vorderseite 22 des Uhrgehäuses 2 und der Vorderseite 7 der Anzeigetafel 6 (Winkel a in der Fig. 2) entstehen durch verschiedene Stellungen zwischen einer der Leiste 17 angeformten Scheibe 23 und einem in einer Bohrung 24 der rechten Gehäusewange 3 axial verschiebbaren Kolben 25 (siehe Fig. 3). Sowohl die Scheibe 23 als auch der Kolben 25 weisen auf ihren einander zugewandten Deckflächen eine ineinander greifende Stirnverzahnung auf. Der Kolben 25 wird mittels zweier ihm angeformter Nasen 26 und 31, die in entsprechende Nuten 27 und 28 der Bohrung 24 eingreifen, gegen eine Verdrehung um seine Längsachse gesichert. Weiterhin wird der Kolben 25 mittels einer Schraubenfeder 29 und einer Druckplatte 30 gegen die Scheibe 23 gepreßt. Beim Schwenken der Anzeigetafel 6 treten daher verschiedene, stabile Raststellungen auf, deren Winkeldifferenz von der Unterteilung der Stirnverzahnungen auf dem Kolben 25 bzw. der Scheibe 23 abhängt. Zur Justierung der Anpresskraft zwischen Kolben 25 und Scheibe 23 ist dem Kolben eine in einer Gewindebohrung der Gehäusewange 3 laufende Madenschraube 32 angeformt, die mittels eines Schraubenziehers bzw. mit einer Geldmünze oder dergleichen verdreht werden kann.As already mentioned above, the display panel 6 is not only easy to separate from the watch case 2, but is also designed to be pivotable, namely by rotating the bar 17 about the axis A (see FIGS. 1 and 3). Different angles between the front 22 of the watch case 2 and the front 7 of the display panel 6 (angle a in FIG. 2) result from different positions between a plate 23 formed on the bar 17 and a piston axially displaceable in a bore 24 of the right housing cheek 3 25 (see Fig. 3). Both the disk 23 and the piston 25 have an intermeshing spur toothing on their facing surface. The piston 25 is secured against rotation about its longitudinal axis by means of two lugs 26 and 31 which are molded onto it and which engage in corresponding grooves 27 and 28 of the bore 24. Furthermore, the piston 25 is pressed against the disk 23 by means of a helical spring 29 and a pressure plate 30. When pivoting the display panel 6, therefore, various stable latching positions occur, the angular difference of which depends on the subdivision of the spur teeth on the piston 25 or the disk 23. In order to adjust the contact pressure between the piston 25 and the disk 23, a grub screw 32 running in a threaded bore of the housing cheek 3 is molded onto the piston and can be turned by means of a screwdriver or with a coin or the like.

Mit der oben beschriebenen Vorrichtung kann vom Benutzer die Anzeigetafel 6 der Uhr 1 in verschiedene, ihm zusagende Winkelstellungen eingerastet werden. Dabei kann, sofern das Eingabefeld 5 gegenüber der Kontur der Vorderseite 22 des Uhrgehäuses 2 entsprechend zurückversetzt wird, die Anzeigetafel 6 so weit geschwenkt werden, daß sie parallel zum Eingabefeld 5 zu liegen kommt und dieses dabei auch vollständig überdeckt, wobei ihre Rückseite 21 innerhalb der Kontur der Vorderseite 22 des Uhrgehäuses 2 zu liegen kommt (siehe Position 6' in der Fig. 2). Diese Winkellage eignet sich vor allem zum Verpacken der Uhr für den Versand oder auf Reisen.With the device described above, the display panel 6 of the clock 1 can be snapped into different, convenient angular positions by the user. If the input field 5 is set back accordingly with respect to the contour of the front 22 of the watch case 2, the display panel 6 can be pivoted so far that it comes to lie parallel to the input field 5 and also completely covers it, with its rear 21 inside the Contour of the front 22 of the watch case 2 comes to rest (see position 6 'in FIG. 2). This angular position is particularly suitable for packing the watch for shipping or when traveling.

Die erfindungsgemäße Ausführung einer mittels einer Steckverbindung mit einem Uhrengehäuse mechanisch und elektrisch verbundenen Anzeigetafel ist nicht auf das vorstehend beschriebene Ausführungsbeispiel beschränkt.The design according to the invention of a display panel mechanically and electrically connected by means of a plug connection to a watch case is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above.

So ist es mittels einer Steckverbindung zwischen Uhr und Anzeigetafel nicht nur möglich, die Anzeigetafel umzusetzen, um je nach den herrschenden Lichtverhältnissen verschiedenartige elektrooptische Anzeigen zu betreiben. Es besteht weiter auch die Möglichkeit, die Anzeigetafel der Uhr gegen eine andere Anzeigetafel auszutauschen, die nur noch auf einer Seite mit Anzeigeelementen versehen ist. In diesem Fall kann der entsprechend dem vorher beschriebenen Ausführungsbeispiel zweifach vorhandene Satz von Metallstiften bzw. Metallbuchsen dazu ausgenutzt werden, daß eine wesentlich größere Anzahl von Anzeigeelementen ansteuerbar ist. So kann die Anzeigetafel der Fig. 1 gegen eine Anzeigetafel ausgetauscht werden, die neben der Ausgabe von alphanumerischen Zeichen auch noch die quasi-analoge Anzeige einer oder mehrerer Größen ermöglicht. Dies kann mit Hilfe von elektrooptischen Anzeigeelementen geschehen, die einerseits aus radial angeordneten, streifenförmigen Elektroden und der entsprechenden Gegenelektrodenanordnung und andererseits aus den Anzeigeelementen einer Siebensegment-Anzeige bestehen.So it is not only possible to implement the display panel by means of a plug-in connection between the clock and display panel in order to operate various electro-optical displays depending on the prevailing light conditions. There is also the possibility of exchanging the clock display board for another display board which is only provided with display elements on one side. In this case, the set of metal pins or metal bushings, which is duplicated in accordance with the previously described exemplary embodiment, can be used to control a significantly larger number of display elements. 1 can be exchanged for a display board which, in addition to the output of alphanumeric characters, also the quasi-analog display of one or more Allows sizes. This can be done with the aid of electro-optical display elements, which on the one hand consist of radially arranged, strip-shaped electrodes and the corresponding counter-electrode arrangement and on the other hand consist of the display elements of a seven-segment display.

Eine solche, Stunden und Minuten quasianalog anzeigende und das Datum digitalanzeigende Anzeigetafel kann mit relativ wenigen Anschlüssen (gemäß der DE-A1 -28 05 646 beispielsweise mit 35 Anschlüssen) angesteuert werden.Such a display board, which quasianalogically displays hours and minutes and digitally displays the date, can be controlled with relatively few connections (according to DE-A1-28 05 646, for example with 35 connections).

Gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung kann die Anzeigetafel der Fig. 1 auch gegen eine Anzeigetafel ausgetauscht werden, derer Anzeigeelemente als Punktmatrix angeordnet sind, wobei wie im vorstehenden Ausführungsbeispiel wiederum der zweifach vorhandene Satz von Metallstiften und Metallbuchsen ausgenutzt werden kann. Mit solchen Punktmatrix-Anzeigeelementen können dann auch einfache, den Bildschirmspielen an Fernsehgeräten verwandte Spiele auf der Anzeigetafel durchgeführt werden. Der Wechsel des Anzeigemodus und der Start solcher Spiele kann mit Betätigungsvorrichtungen erfolgen, die auf dem Eingabefeld angebracht sind.According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the display panel of FIG. 1 can also be exchanged for a display panel, the display elements of which are arranged as a dot matrix, the double set of metal pins and metal bushings being able to be used as in the previous exemplary embodiment. Such dot matrix display elements can then also be used to carry out simple games on the display board which are related to screen games on television sets. The change of the display mode and the start of such games can be done with actuators that are attached to the input field.

Ein weiteres, die Art der Steckverbindung zwischen Anzeigetafel und Uhrgehäuse betreffendes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung besteht darin, die Anzeigetafel lediglich mit einem Klinkenstecker und einer dazugehörigen leistenseitigen Buchse, wie sie beispielsweise beim Anschluß von Kopfhörern an HiFi-Geräten verwendet werden, mit dem Uhrgehäuse mechanisch und mit einem darin enthaltenen Schaltkreis elektrisch zu verbinden. Das Uhrgehäuse enthält in diesem Fall dann lediglich noch die Stromversorgung der Uhr, während das Eingabefeld auf der Rückseite der Anzeigetafel angebracht sein kann, deren Vorderseite ein oder mehrere Anzeigefelder aufweist. Eine solche Anordnung weist den Vorteil auf, daß die Anzeigetafel nicht nur steckbar und um die Achse A schwenkbar, sondern auch noch um die Achse C drehbar ist (vgl. Fig. 1 und 2).Another, the type of plug connection between the display panel and watch case embodiment of the invention is the display panel only with a jack plug and an associated strip-side socket, as used for example when connecting headphones to HiFi devices, with the watch case mechanically and with to electrically connect a circuit contained therein. In this case, the watch case then only contains the power supply for the watch, while the input field can be attached to the back of the display panel, the front of which has one or more display fields. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the display panel is not only pluggable and pivotable about the axis A, but can also be rotated about the axis C (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2).

Claims (7)

1. A table clock with an electronically controlled display device, having a clock case (2) and at least one display window (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) serving for the output of alphanumeric characters, characterised in that the display window or the display windows (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is or are disposed on a display panel (6, 6') which is mechanically connected to the clock case (2) by means of a plug-in connection (16) by means of metal pins (20) and metal sockets (18) and that the electrical connections, associated with one another, of an electrical switching circuit present inside the clock case (2) and the display panel (6, 6') are also brought into contact with one another by the same plug-in connection (16).
2. A table clock according to claim 1, characterised in that the metal sockets (18) are disposed at sides of the clock case (2) in a moulding (17) and the metal pins (20) are disposed at sides of the display panel (6, 6') on a side face of the display panel (6, 6').
3. A table clock according to claim 2, characterised in that two U-sectioned rails (9, 10) are formed on the moulding (17) and their spacing and dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the frame (8) of the display panel (6, 6').
4. A table clock according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the moulding (17) is rotatable about its longitudinal axis (A) and that in the course of this the display panel (6, 6') can be locked in various angular positions between a first and a second extreme position.
5. A table clock according to claim 4, characterised in that the input panel (5) of the clock (1) is recessed in relation to the contour of the front face (22) of the clock case (2) determined by two side walls (3, 4), that in one of the two extreme positions, the display panel (6) completely covers the input panel (5) of the clock (1) and that the back (21) of the display panel (6') is in alignment with the contour of the front (22) of the clock case (2).
6. A table clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the same display windows (11-15) are provided both on the front (7) and on the back (21) of the display panel (6, 6') and that only light-emitting display elements are provided at one side of the display panel (6, 6') and only passive electrooptical display elements are provided at its other side.
EP83110559A 1982-11-18 1983-10-22 Electronic clock with a digital display Expired EP0110112B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19823242569 DE3242569A1 (en) 1982-11-18 1982-11-18 DIGITAL DISPLAY ELECTRONIC CLOCK
DE3242569 1982-11-18

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0110112A1 EP0110112A1 (en) 1984-06-13
EP0110112B1 true EP0110112B1 (en) 1987-05-20

Family

ID=6178395

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP83110559A Expired EP0110112B1 (en) 1982-11-18 1983-10-22 Electronic clock with a digital display

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Country Link
EP (1) EP0110112B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS59102180A (en)
DE (2) DE3242569A1 (en)
HK (1) HK64789A (en)
SG (1) SG26089G (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0176617B1 (en) * 1984-10-04 1989-01-18 Grässlin Kg Electronic time switch
GB8901819D0 (en) * 1989-01-27 1989-03-15 Stag Electronic Designs A universal socket for the testing of plcc/lcc integrated
DE4405714A1 (en) * 1994-02-23 1995-08-24 Telefunken Microelectron Time measurement system with stop-timer facility and variable display
DE4405715C2 (en) * 1994-02-23 1996-08-22 Telefunken Microelectron Timing system

Citations (1)

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DE2501234A1 (en) * 1974-09-09 1976-03-25 Delta Transnational Inc ELECTRONIC WRISTWATCH.

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US3505804A (en) * 1968-04-23 1970-04-14 Rca Corp Solid state clock
BE791254A (en) * 1971-11-24 1973-03-01 Burroughs Corp DISPLAY ELECTRODE TERMINATION
US4104728A (en) * 1973-06-06 1978-08-01 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic apparatus equipped on a flexible substratum
DE2611339C3 (en) * 1975-03-17 1979-02-08 Sharp K.K., Osaka (Japan) Mirror with information display
US4086655A (en) * 1975-12-22 1978-04-25 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Combination timepiece and calculator including slidable keyboard means
JPS54156543U (en) * 1978-04-24 1979-10-31
DE3023614C2 (en) * 1980-06-24 1987-03-19 Hans Dipl.-Ing. 8300 Landshut Rilling Connector strip for liquid crystal displays
CH640688GA3 (en) * 1980-10-27 1984-01-31 Eterna Sa WATCH WITH ELECTRONIC MOVEMENT AND TWO DISPLAY MEANS.

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2501234A1 (en) * 1974-09-09 1976-03-25 Delta Transnational Inc ELECTRONIC WRISTWATCH.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3371717D1 (en) 1987-06-25
HK64789A (en) 1989-08-18
JPS59102180A (en) 1984-06-13
SG26089G (en) 1989-09-29
EP0110112A1 (en) 1984-06-13
DE3242569A1 (en) 1984-09-27

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