Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.

Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.

Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.

Abstract: A display assembly for displaying information in an electronic device comprising a first rotateable ring having a first occurrence indicator thereon; a second rotateable ring having a second occurrence indicator thereon; means for rotating the first rotateable ring so as to selectively position the first occurrence indicator; and rotating the second rotateable ring so as to selectively position the second occurrence indicator; whereby the position of the first occurrence indicator corresponds to a scheduled occurrence of a first occurrence and the position of the second occurrence indicator corresponds to a scheduled occurrence of a second occurrence.

Abstract: A method for tracking total usage time of an electronic device comprising the steps of evaluating a predetermined usage increment timer until a predetermined time period expires, incrementing a total-usage counter, resetting the timer to measure a next occurrence of the predetermined time period, repeating the aforementioned steps and outputting the value representing the total usage time of the device. A multi-mode electronic device that carries out the aforementioned method is also provided. Still further, the present invention provides a method of and device for tracking total usage time or number of activations of any feature or mode within the device.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising a display assembly comprising a dial having a viewing window, the electronic device comprising a first rotateable ring having a plurality of dates thereon; a second rotateable ring having an extending portion that overlies the first ring, wherein the extending portion has a plurality of dates thereon; means for rotating the first rotateable ring so as to cause a selected subset of the plurality of dates to be positioned within in the viewing window; and rotating the second rotateable ring so as to cause a selected subset of the plurality of dates to be visible in the viewing window; wherein the overlying of the extending portion of the second rotateable ring over the first rotateable ring causes dates of the first rotateable ring positioned in the viewing window to be non-viewable in the viewing window; and selected rotation of the first and second rotateable rings causes different subsets of the respective plurality of dates on the respective rotateable rings to be positionabl

Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, and a rotatable ring positioned on the opposite side of the dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the coordination of the display hand(s) and the ring to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hand and ring in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information. In the preferred embodiment, the wearable multimode electronic device is a wristwatch.

Abstract: A timepiece having a display for displaying a digit provided on a ring which itself has a plurality of digits provided thereon, wherein the timepiece comprises an integrated circuit operable in at least (i) a date display mode and (ii) a counting mode; a gearing assembly comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the ring so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotation of the ring; a motor, the motor rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the gearing assembly, wherein the motor has a rotatable member such that the rotation thereof causes the ring to rotate; and mode selecting means for selecting between at least the date display mode and the counting mode; wherein when in the date display mode the ring rotates at a first rate and when in the counting mode the ring rotates at a second rate different from the first rate.

Abstract: A method for indicating that a wearable electronic device is operating in a selected mode, wherein the wearable electronic device comprises at least one hand operatively coupled to an actuation mechanism. The method comprises the steps of (a) moving the hand from a first position to a second position, wherein the movement of the hand is through a predetermined sweep angle; (b) moving the hand from the second position back to the first position through the predetermined sweep angle; and (c) repeating at least step (a) and if necessary, repeating step (b); whereby the hand oscillates between the first position and the second position while the wearable electronic device is operating in the selected mode. A wearable electronic device that comprises the foregoing methodology is also provided.

Abstract: A method for tracking total usage time of an electronic device comprising the steps of evaluating a predetermined usage increment timer until a predetermined time period expires, incrementing a total-usage counter, resetting the timer to measure a next occurrence of the predetermined time period, repeating the aforementioned steps and outputting the value representing the total usage time of the device. A multi-mode electronic device that carries out the aforementioned method is also provided. Still further, the present invention provides a method of and device for tracking total usage time or number of activations of any feature or mode within the device.

Abstract: A method for tracking total usage time of an electronic device comprising the steps of evaluating a predetermined usage increment timer until a predetermined time period expires, incrementing a total-usage counter, resetting the timer to measure a next occurrence of the predetermined time period, repeating the aforementioned steps and outputting the value representing the total usage time of the device. A multi-mode electronic device that carries out the aforementioned method is also provided. Still further, the present invention provides a method of and device for tracking total usage time or number of activations of any feature or mode within the device.

Abstract: A method for enabling or disabling mode functions in a multimode electronic device is provided. The method comprises the steps of selecting a mode enabling/disabling mode from a plurality of modes by initiating activation of the mode selecting mechanism until the mode enabling/disabling mode is exhibited, causing the integrated circuit to enter the mode enabling/disabling mode, exhibiting at least mode function indicators for at least one of the exhibited mode functions within the plurality of modes as the mode selecting mechanism is cycling through the display of mode functions, and selecting the mode function for which enabling or disabling is desired and initiating the switching of the mode function from one of disabled to enabled if the mode function was disabled or one of enabled to disabled if the mode function was enabled. An electronic device that can carry out the foregoing methodology is also provided. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic device is a timepiece and specifically, a wristwatch.

Abstract: A method of setting a multimode electronic device operable in a current mode, a mode setting mode and a next mode. If a predetermined number of electrical signals are generated prior to the expiration of a predetermined period of time, the electronic device exits the current mode and enters the next mode. Locking conditions are also provided to assist in ensuring the device remains in a “home,” such as the time-of-day, mode. In one embodiment, the switching mechanism includes a rotating setting stem and the electronic device is a watch.

Abstract: A pager configured for storing and displaying a plurality of messages, each of the plurality of messages having associated therewith a message slot number, wherein the pager displays each one of the plurality of messages and the message slot number associated therewith and flashes the associated message slot number when the respective message that is displayed has not been read.

Abstract: A multimode electronic device having a plurality of manually actuated buttons for selecting between a plurality of modes and functions wherein at least one of the modes has at least two second level functions. The device can cycle among the modes upon the repeated activation of a first button and can cycle among the functions upon the repeated activation of a second button. The multi-level hierarchy including both modes and functions provides for a more improved user interface with improved functionality.

Abstract: A device such as a watch, pager or combination pager/watch that can iteratively display status information messages for set predetermined periods of time at a predetermined location on the display. In normal operation, the device is displaying a variety of standard information. Upon the detection of a status condition, the device will alternately display the standard information and status information messages corresponding to the status condition to more effectively alert the user to the existence of the status condition.

Abstract: A liquid crystal calendar display device, especially suitable for an electronic timepiece, presents a full calendar month for all possible monthly calendars. Sunday, or any other selected day of the week, appears in the leftmost displayed column, regardless of the day which is the first date in the presented month. The area occupied by the date numerals is reduced by interleaving the date numerals.

Abstract: A multimode electronic timepiece includes a display, a plurality of manually actuated switches, and an integrated circuit having memory locations. The integrated circuit is programmed to keep time and to provide a plurality of modes, including time-of-day and at least one alternate time zone. The integrated circuit is further programmed to permit an operator of the multimode electronic timepiece to set the time-of-day and the alternate time zone in response to actuation of selected switches, and to store the time-of-day and the alternate time zone data in the memory locations. The improvement comprises a flag means which will copy the contents of the memory location storing the time-of-day data to the memory location for the alternate time zone data when the time-of-day has been set and the alternate time zone has not been set by the operator.

Abstract: A system and method for storing and retrieving fixed-width and compressed characters of at least one font, which includes memory having a plurality of memory addresses for storing instructions and encoded character font data representing fixed-width and compressed characters, wherein the encoded character font data for a fixed-width character of any given font is identical to the encoded character font data for a compressed character for the same font. The system addresses the plurality of memory addresses so as to read out the encoded character font data and then, depending upon the value of a control signal generated by the system's control unit, decodes the encoded character font data through a decoder as either a fixed-width or compressed character. The fixed-width or compressed character is then displayed on a dot-matrix display. Each memory address commonly contains a plurality of bits which represents a column of said character.