Patents Assigned to Timex Corporation
  • Patent number: 5253532
    Abstract: A pressure transducer apparatus for use with low voltage supply source. A semiconductor piezoresistive strain gauge bridge provides an analog output of pressure variations which includes errors introduced by variations in the ambient temperature. A non-temperature-sensitive resistor across the bridge input is used to decrease the temperature dependent voltage change necessary for temperature compensation of the strain gauge bridge circuit output. Analog temperature adjustment means, provide as an output a current whose value changes concurrently and in direct proportion to the change occurring in the strain gauge bridge circuit current. An analog to digital converter has as its analog input the voltage output of the strain gauge bridge circuit, which is integrated over a first time period, and has as its reference input the temperature-adjusted output current from the analog temperature adjustment means which is integrated over a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce H. Kamens
  • Patent number: 5251189
    Abstract: A wristwatch radiotelephone having a plurality of substantially rigid members connected end to end in a series. The members are shaped and positioned to allow the members to be arranged in an arcuate array when the apparatus is to be worn on the wrist as a wristwatch, or in a more elongated, substantially straight array when the apparatus is to be used as a hand-held radiotelephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher S. Thorp
  • Patent number: 5244134
    Abstract: A strap attachment for a wristwatch has first and second ends adapted to encircle the wrist of a wearer having a first strap end with a wide strap section and a connecting narrow strap section, and a number of adjustment holes along the wide strap section, and a second strap end terminating in an integral buckle frame with a rectangular frame opening and having a short inclined tang for cooperating with a selected adjustment hole, the strap section with the buckle end having a transverse slot spaced from the buckle frame for receiving the narrow strap section. The buckle frame includes a hard high strength plastic insert overmolded by soft flexible plastic strap material. In a modification, the strap attachment to the watch case comprises an integral central strap section in which an overmolded soft plastic material partially encases a rigid plastic watch case, the latter then being assembled with the movement and sealed from the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Judith Riley
  • Patent number: 5235561
    Abstract: A wristwatch radiotelephone having rigid members slidably joined so that the members may be spread apart from a compact unit to an elongated apparatus of appropriate length for use as a radiotelephone. The rigid members house a radiotelephone speaker, microphone, display, dialing buttons, and control buttons. A wristwatch strap joins the free ends of the rigid members so that the rigid members may be worn around a wrist when arranged in a compact unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Richard H. Seager
  • Patent number: 5235560
    Abstract: A wristwatch radiotelephone mechanism has three substantially rigid members connected to one another in a series by connection mechanisms connected between adjacent members in the series. The connection mechanisms allow the members to be arranged either in a C-shaped array when the apparatus is to be worn on the wrist as a wristwatch, or in a more elongated array when the apparatus is to be used as a hand-held radiotelephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Richard H. Seager
  • Patent number: 5228012
    Abstract: A wristwatch radiotelephone has a plurality of arcuate members connected to one another in a series by rotatable connection mechanisms connected between adjacent members in the series. The connection mechanisms allow the arcuate members to be rotated relative to one another so that they either all curve in the same direction (thereby providing a nearly closed C-shaped structure suitable for being worn on the wrist as a wristwatch), or so that alternate members curve in opposite directions (thereby converting the apparatus to a more elongated form suitable for use as a hand-held radiotelephone).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Richard H. Seager
  • Patent number: 5226022
    Abstract: In accordance with the present improvement of the present invention, in a multimode electronic timepiece, actuation of a first actuator while the timepiece is disposed in a "home" mode will cause to be displayed an alternate mode for a first predetermined period of time. If said first actuator is released prior to the elapse of said first predetermined period of time, the timepiece will be returned to said "home" mode. However, if the operator continues to actuate said first actuator beyond this first predetermined period of time, the program is adapted upon elapse of said first predetermined period of time, to immediately display on said timepiece display for a second predetermined period of time, a message indicating to the timepiece operator that continued actuation of said first actuator will cause the timepiece to be disposed into a predetermined alternate mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Tom Thinesen
  • Patent number: 5224076
    Abstract: A wristwatch radiotelephone having a plurality of telescopically arranged substantially rigid members and a flexible strap member joined to the proximal end of the endmost rigid member. The rigid members house a radiotelephone speaker, microphone, display, dialing buttons, and control buttons. When the rigid members are extended, the radiotelephone is accessible and the flexible member is contained within the rigid members. When the rigid members are collapsed, the flexible member may be extended around a wrist to attach the rigid members and radiotelephone to a wrist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher S. Thorp
  • Patent number: 5218577
    Abstract: A wristwatch radiotelephone has a plurality of substantially rigid segments connected to one another in a series by adjustable connection mechanisms connected between adjacent segments in the series. The connection mechanisms allow the segments to be arranged either in an annular array when the apparatus is to be worn on the wrist as a wristwatch, or in a more elongated array when the apparatus is to be used a hand-held radiotelephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Richard H. Seager
  • Patent number: 5214623
    Abstract: A combined wristwatch and radiotelephone has a plurality of substantially rigid link members disposed side by side in a series. Adjacent link members in the series are pivotally connected to one another about pivotal axes, all of which are substantially parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the user's wrist when the apparatus is worn as a wristwatch. A main body member, which may contain or include such components as a display and a telephone dialing keypad, is disposed at an intermediate location in the series. An end member is disposed at each end of the series. One end member contains a radiotelephone microphone, and the other end member contains a radiotelephone speaker. A mechanism is associated with the series of link members for causing the link members to pivot relative to one another so that the apparatus can be placed in either a curved wristwatch configuration or a more elongated radiotelephone configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Richard H. Seager
  • Patent number: 5210722
    Abstract: Analog timepiece movement adapted for a large diameter, thin energy cell, the movement comprising a molded frame of insulating material having a top central wall, and having depending peripheral side wall portions. A flat bridge of insulating material divides the movement into an inner cavity. A stepping motor and gear train are disposed in the inner cavity and a quartz crystal is disposed outside of the cavity. One of the wheel assemblies is of non-magnetic material and extends through a hole in by the stepping motor stator. The peripheral wall portions and the bridge together define a circular envelope in the outer cavity adapted to locate and contain said energy cell. The movement is substantially elliptical in shape, the ellipse having a minor axis slightly greater than that of the energy cell, and the quartz crystal is disposed on one end of the elliptical frame alongside the energy cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Herbert Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5206639
    Abstract: A single antenna, dual frequency transponder is provided. The transponder includes the antenna, first and second capacitors, a microprocessor/coder for generating a first and second control signals, and a logic circuit which uses the two control signals as inputs and depending on the state of the second control signal either provides an open circuit or a frequency signal at its output node. When the second control signal is a dormant (inhibit) signal, an open circuit is provided. As a result, the capacitors and the antenna provide a first tuned LC circuit which will receive an incoming signal at a desired first frequency. The incoming signal thereby resonates the LC circuit which provides a wake-up signal to the microprocessor/coder. In turn, the microprocessor/coder generates the first control signal of a desired second frequency. In turn, the logic circuit provides a related signal of the same second frequency as an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce Kamens
  • Patent number: 5155712
    Abstract: An improved reduction gear assembly with friction drive/slip coupling for a timepiece movement, comprising a metal pinion member having a toothed pinion and a coaxial stem extending from an abutment surface on said pinion, including (1) a cylindrical portion, (2) a frustum portion tapering from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter (3) a terminating tapered end portion; and a plastic wheel member having a toothed wheel and first and second coaxial journals extending from opposite sides of the. A central passage in the journals has a constricted section therein with a diameter slightly less than that of said larger diameter of said frustum portion on said metal pinion member with the frustum disposed in said constricted passage with a snap fit, whereby a friction drive/slip coupling is provided between the metal frustum portion of the metal pinion member and the constricted passage of the plastic wheel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventors: Friedrich Mose, Michel Plancon, Herbert Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5155711
    Abstract: A movement subassembly adapted for use in either a two hand timepiece or a three hand timepiece, the subassembly having a first set of elements common to both timepieces adapted to cooperate with a second set of components, including at least one intermediate wheel assembly to make up a three hand timepiece movement, the first set also adapted to cooperate with a third set of components, using a different wheel assembly to make a two hand timepiece. The second set components includes a seconds wheel assembly, an intermediate wheel assembly, a third wheel assembly and a once-per-second pulsing integrated circuit. The subassembly frame includes bearings for journaling all of said aforementioned wheel assemblies using a common subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Herbert Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5140563
    Abstract: The operating program of a microcomputer is adapted such that once the operator initially selects a submode, the timepiece is disposed into the first operating state of that selected submode, and actuation of any actuator other than that actuator which cycles the timepiece through its plurality of modes, will dispose the timepiece only into other operating states of the chosen submode. The selected submode's operating states are completely independent of other submode operating states and thus the operator cannot dispose the timepiece into the operating states of another submode from any of the operating states of the initially selected submode. In fact the operator cannot exit the initially selected submode unless he actuates the actuator which cycles the timepiece through its plurality of modes, which will dispose the timepiece completely out of the chronograph/countdown timer mode into its next mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Tom Thinesen
  • Patent number: D324340
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Houlihan
  • Patent number: D324341
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Houlihan
  • Patent number: D328871
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Houlihan
  • Patent number: D330166
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Woon W. Park
  • Patent number: D338160
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Houlihan