With Reset Means Patents (Class 368/112)
  • Patent number: 10831158
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a motor control unit driving a motor for driving an indicating hand, based on an instruction signal, and a control unit receiving an instruction confirmation signal corresponding to a drive state of the motor in response to the instruction signal from the motor control unit, and determining whether or not the motor is driven in accordance with the instruction signal, based on the instruction confirmation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Kazumi Sakumoto
  • Patent number: 10809670
    Abstract: The invention provides a timing apparatus that can generate timing information regarding a plurality of regions without performing a complex calculation that uses software and without causing a significant increase in electric current consumption. The timing apparatus includes: a lower counter that generates a count value that indicates a time in seconds; a first group of upper counters that generates a first group of count values that indicate a time in minutes, hours, days, months and years by performing a count operation in synchronization with the count operation performed by the lower counter; and a second group of upper counters that generates a second group of count values that indicate a time in minutes, hours, days, months and years by performing a count operation in synchronization with the count operation performed by the lower counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9509471
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. A method for transmitting channel state information (CSI) by a user equipment in a wireless communication system includes receiving a CSI-reference signal (CSI-RS), determining overhead of a common reference signal (CRS) resource element based on the same antenna port number as an antenna port number associated with the CSI-RS, and transmitting the CSI calculated based on the CSI-RS and the overhead of the CRS resource element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyungtae Kim, Jonghyun Park, Kijun Kim, Eunsun Kim
  • Patent number: 8923096
    Abstract: Methodologies and constructions of displaying elapsed time on a wristworn device, which include among other things, having at least two display hands one of which that will rotate faster or stop so that they become coincident with each other, then rotate together and then reassume their normal and accurate positions. Such is particularly important with respect to one of the hands that is preferably a seconds hand that might otherwise be displaying seconds of the time of day (“TOD”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Timex Group USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Stotz, Louis M. Galie
  • Patent number: 8698443
    Abstract: A stepping motor control circuit and an analog electronic timepiece which can detect a rotation state including intermediate stopping more accurately are provided. A rotation detection circuit, in detecting whether or not an induction signal generated by the rotation of a stepping motor exceeds a predetermined reference threshold voltage during a detection period having a plurality of sections, detects whether or not the induction signal with inverted polarity exceeds a predetermined reference threshold voltage during a predetermined section, and a control unit immediately performs a drive control of the stepping motor with a correction drive pulse when it is determined that there is a sign of intermediate stopping of the stepping motor based on a result of detection by the rotation detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Takanori Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8545093
    Abstract: A switch structure has an elastic switch lever portion and a rigid support lever. The elastic switch lever portion has an elastic contact portion and an arm portion provided with a pressing force receiving portion from which the elastic contact portion extends. The rigid support lever is mounted for undergoing movement relative to the pressing force receiving portion. The rigid support lever has a rigid substrate portion and a rigid support wall portion that is connected to the rigid substrate portion and that supports the pressing force receiving portion so as to receive a pressing force from the pressing force receiving portion and to guide displacement of the pressing force receiving portion when a pressing force is applied to the pressing force receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Masayuki Kawata
  • Patent number: 8540417
    Abstract: In a chronograph timepiece of a construction in which chronograph hands are electrically drive-controlled and mechanically zero-restoring-controlled, even when backlash is generated due to zero-restoring, the chronograph hands are normally moved at the time of the next time measurement start. A chronograph timepiece includes a drive control unit starting a time measurement operation in response to a start operation of a start/stop button, electrically hand-movement-driving chronograph hands by driving a chronograph hand movement motor according to the time measured, and resetting the time measurement operation in response to a reset operation of a reset button, and a mechanical structure mechanically zero-restoring and setting the chronograph hands in response to the reset operation, wherein the drive control unit drives the chronograph hand movement motor by a predetermined amount even after the reset operation has been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Takanori Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8491181
    Abstract: A chronograph timepiece includes heart cams, a start-stop button, a reset-to-zero button, and a start-stop lever and a reset-to zero instruction lever operated by the start-stop button and the reset-to-zero button, respectively, for undergoing rotation around a common rotation center. A hammer operating lever rotates in a first direction when the start-stop lever rotates and rotates in a second direction when the reset-to-zero instruction lever rotates. When the hammer operating lever rotates in the second direction, a hammer lever causes the heart cams to be reset to zero by bringing hammer portions of the hammer lever into engagement with respective ones of the heart cams. When the hammer operating lever rotates in the first direction, the hammer lever causes the hammer portions to be disengaged from the heart cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Fujiwara, Tamotsu Ono, Shigeo Suzuki, Masayuki Kawata
  • Patent number: 8295131
    Abstract: In a chronograph timepiece in which the chronograph hands are electrically rotated by a motor drive pulse and are mechanically zero-restoring-controlled, a basic drive control unit controls a motor so as to drive the chronograph hands when it is detected by a contact portion and a setting releasing detection portion that the setting of the chronograph hands by a setting mechanism has been released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kato, Akira Takakura, Kenji Ogasawara, Saburo Manaka, Kazumi Sakumoto, Hiroshi Shimizu, Tomohiro Ihashi, Keishi Honmura, Takanori Hasegawa, Kosuke Yamamoto, Eriko Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8289816
    Abstract: Disclosed is a chronograph timepiece whose chronograph hands are electrically drive-controlled and mechanically zero-restoring-controlled, wherein it possible to perform a normal operation at the time of start operation and reset operation. After a mechanical control unit releases the setting of chronograph hands in response to the start operation of a start/stop button, a contact portion is placed in a start state, and an electrical control unit starts a time measurement operation to electrically hand-movement-drive the chronograph hands, and, after a contact portion is placed in a reset state in response to a reset operation of a reset button and the electrical control unit electrically resets the time measurement operation, the mechanical control unit mechanically zero-restores and sets the chronograph hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kato, Akira Takakura, Kenji Ogasawara, Saburo Manaka, Kazumi Sakumoto, Hiroshi Shimizu, Tomohiro Ihashi, Keishi Honmura, Takanori Hasegawa, Kosuke Yamamoto, Eriko Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8215827
    Abstract: When it is judged that a chronograph second counter and a chronograph minute counter have measured a maximum measurement time, a maximum measurement control unit controls a drive pulse generation circuit so as to drive and stop a motor such that chronograph hand stops at predetermined positions. When, in this state, a restarting operation is performed on a start/stop button, a normal chronograph measurement operation is restarted. At this time, a mechanical structure has been restored to a reset state, so that even at the time of restarting after the measurement of the maximum measurement time, the load at the starting operation is the same as that of the normal operation, thus generating no sense of incongruity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kato, Akira Takakura, Kenji Ogasawara, Saburo Manaka, Kazumi Sakumoto, Hiroshi Shimizu, Tomohiro Ihashi, Keishi Honmura, Takanori Hasegawa, Kosuke Yamamoto, Eriko Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8213268
    Abstract: Disclosed is a chronograph timepiece in which it is possible to prevent a non-rotation state at the time of first driving when chronograph measuring operation is reset during motor drive and restarting is effected. When a resetting operation is performed on a reset button during the driving of a motor and a rotation detection circuit detects non-rotation, a drive control unit controls a drive pulse generation circuit such that the control is completed without reversing the polarity of a motor drive pulse output from the drive pulse generation circuit, and that the motor is driven by a drive pulse of the same polarity as that at the time of the previous resetting in response to a starting operation performed on a start/stop button, driving the motor by the drive pulse of the same polarity at the time of restarting after the resetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kato, Akira Takakura, Kenji Ogasawara, Saburo Manaka, Kazumi Sakumoto, Hiroshi Shimizu, Tomohiro Ihashi, Keishi Honmura, Takanori Hasegawa, Kosuke Yamamoto, Eriko Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8102246
    Abstract: A power reset module may reset an automatic shut-off module of a target device by momentarily disrupting power to the automatic shut-off module at a determined interval and automatically restoring power after a time period of up to two minutes. In multiple embodiments, the power reset module comprises an activation switch with an activation switch output coupled to a frequency module. The frequency module may output a frequency module signal on a determined interval via a frequency module output coupled with a reset module. The reset module momentarily transitions a reset switch to a reset state periodically at the determined interval for up to two minutes prior to automatically transitioning the reset switch to a non-reset state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Grover C. Davidson, II
  • Publication number: 20110267928
    Abstract: Chronograph hands are made not to start driving at an inappropriate position in a case where a sleep mode is cancelled in a chronograph timepiece in which driving of each of the hands is electrically performed by motors and reset-to-zero of the chronograph hands is performed by mechanical mechanisms. An operation mode setting portion forbids a chronograph measurement operation if only a start and stop button is operated after a sleep mode is cancelled by an amount of power generated by a solar cell exceeding a predetermined amount, and, if a reset button is operated after the sleep mode is cancelled, performs a control such that the chronograph measurement operation is started by a start operation using the start and stop button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Kazumi Sakumoto
  • Publication number: 20110249536
    Abstract: For a chronograph timepiece that chronograph hands are mechanically reset to zero and electrically driven, the chronograph hands are prevented from being electrically driven while being mechanically locked. A chronograph timepiece that is mechanically reset to zero includes a chronograph motor for driving a chronograph hand, a drive unit configured to drive the chronograph motor according a time measurement operation in response to a starting operation by an operating section, and a control unit configured to control the drive unit. The control unit has a rotation detecting circuit for detecting a rotation status of the chronograph motor. When the rotation detecting circuit detects that the chronograph motor is not rotated after the chronograph motor has been rotated a predetermined time period, driving the chronograph motor by the drive unit is stopped for resetting the time measurement operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Kenji Ogasawara, Akira Takakura, Saburo Manaka, Keishi Honmura, Takanori Hasegawa, Kosuke Yamamoto, Kazumi Sakumoto, Hiroshi Shimizu, Kazuo Kato, Eriko Noguchi, Tomohiro Ihashi
  • Publication number: 20110235473
    Abstract: A switch structure of a chronograph mechanism of an electronic timepiece includes: a terminal plate equipped with a plate-like main body portion and elastic switch lever portions, each switch lever portion being equipped with an arm portion which is and bent with respect to the outer peripheral edge portion of the plate-like main body portion at one side of the proximal end portion thereof, and which extends in a direction along the outer peripheral edge portion of the plate-like main body portion, and which is equipped with an elastic contact portion further extending from the pressing force receiving portion; and an elastic switch lever supporting rigid support lever which is movably provided behind the pressing force receiving portion in order to receive a pressing force behind the pressing force receiving portion and to guide displacement of the pressing force receiving portion when a pressing force is applied to the pressing force receiving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Masayuki Kawata
  • Publication number: 20110194382
    Abstract: To provide a chronograph timepiece which takes up a minimal region and which enables a related lever to return to an original position when a chronograph action instruction button is not pressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Fujiwara, Tamotsu Ono, Shigeo Suzuki, Masayuki Kawata
  • Publication number: 20110128826
    Abstract: In a chronograph timepiece of a construction in which chronograph hands are electrically drive-controlled and mechanically zero-restoring-controlled, even when backlash is generated due to zero-restoring, the chronograph hands are normally moved at the time of the next time measurement start. A chronograph timepiece includes a drive control unit starting a time measurement operation in response to a start operation of a start/stop button, electrically hand-movement-driving chronograph hands by driving a chronograph hand movement motor according to the time measured, and resetting the time measurement operation in response to a reset operation of a reset button, and a mechanical structure mechanically zero-restoring and setting the chronograph hands in response to the reset operation, wherein the drive control unit drives the chronograph hand movement motor by a predetermined amount even after the reset operation has been performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Takanori Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20110122734
    Abstract: Disclosed is a chronograph timepiece whose chronograph hands are electrically drive-controlled and mechanically zero-restoring-controlled, wherein it possible to perform a normal operation at the time of start operation and reset operation. After a mechanical control unit releases the setting of chronograph hands in response to the start operation of a start/stop button, a contact portion is placed in a start state, and an electrical control unit starts a time measurement operation to electrically hand-movement-drive the chronograph hands, and, after a contact portion is placed in a reset state in response to a reset operation of a reset button and the electrical control unit electrically resets the time measurement operation, the mechanical control unit mechanically zero-restores and sets the chronograph hands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Kazuo Kato, Akira Takakura, Kenji Ogasawara, Saburo Manaka, Kazumi Sakumoto, Hiroshi Shimizu, Tomohiro Ihashi, Keishi Honmura, Takanori Hasegawa, Kosuke Yamamoto, Eriko Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20110026372
    Abstract: Disclosed is a chronograph timepiece in which it is possible to prevent a non-rotation state at the time of first driving when chronograph measuring operation is reset during motor drive and restarting is effected. When a resetting operation is performed on a reset button during the driving of a motor and a rotation detection circuit detects non-rotation, a drive control unit controls a drive pulse generation circuit such that the control is completed without reversing the polarity of a motor drive pulse output from the drive pulse generation circuit, and that the motor is driven by a drive pulse of the same polarity as that at the time of the previous resetting in response to a starting operation performed on a start/stop button, driving the motor by the drive pulse of the same polarity at the time of restarting after the resetting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Kazuo Kato, Akira Takakura, Kenji Ogasawara, Saburo Manaka, Kazumi Sakumoto, Hiroshi Shimizu, Tomohiro Ihashi, Keishi Honmura, Takanori Hasegawa, Kosuke Yamamoto, Eriko Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7693008
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, for each GOP, frames from an I frame present at a leading position of GOP to an I frame contained in a succeeding GOP and B frames referencing the I frame contained in the succeeding GOP are managed as a new GOP. For each new GOP, video frames from a leading I frame to a last I frame are subjected to a decoding process in order of increasing PTS value. For each new GOP with the last I frame of the video frames discarded, the video frames are subjected to video display in order of decreasing PTS value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Satoshi Akimoto
  • Patent number: 7614782
    Abstract: A chronograph watch, which makes it possible to perform accurate zero-reset of a plurality of elapsed time display sections, and to reduce the number of components thus simplifying the structure, can be provided. Means for Solving the Problem The chronograph watch 1 according to the present invention includes an hour counting wheel 25, a second counting wheel 40, and a minute counting wheel 60 distant from each other in a planar direction, and is provided with a hammer 160 for substantially simultaneously and mechanically zero-resetting the hour counting wheel 25, the second counting wheel 40, and the minute counting wheel 60, the hammer 160 being composed of a hammer body 161 and a minute hammer 170.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Hiraya, Kazunari Agesawa
  • Patent number: 7322741
    Abstract: A setting device for a timepiece comprising a second-indicating element (1) and at least one other time-indicating element comprises a first manual control element (2) that can occupy a neutral position and a position for setting the other time-indicating element or elements, and a mechanism (3) for resetting the second-indicating element (1) to zero, connected to the first manual control element (2). The reset mechanism (3) comprises a second manual control element (6) and is configured so that actuating the second manual control element (6) resets the second-indicating element (1) to zero when the first manual control element (2) is in the position for setting the other time-indicating element or elements and has no effect on the second-indicating element (1) when the first manual control element (2) is in the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Chopard Manufacture SA
    Inventor: Karl-Friedrich Scheufele
  • Patent number: 7184370
    Abstract: Underwater pace clock allows competitive and recreational swimmers the benefit of being able to observe training times without having to stop to observe a pool area clock. This invention will be solar and/or battery operated with a reset mechanism allowing synchronization with pool area clocks for benefit of instructional staff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Rogacki, Francis X. Graney
  • Patent number: 7130247
    Abstract: A watch with an analog time display has at least one minute hand and one hour hand. This watch is moreover equipped with a fly back hand mechanism which has at least one minute fly back hand and/or hour fly back hand located coaxially to the hands of the normal time display. In the normal mode, the fly back hand or hands is/are moved synchronously with the hands of the normal time display and relative to them in an overlapping position. They can be stopped in a timer mode for marking of any instant of time and after expiry of any time interval, for again synchronously running with the hands of the normal time display. The actuated coupling of the fly back hand mechanism is located preferably non-coaxially to the axis of the motion work of the watch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Richemont International SA
    Inventors: Pius Brida, Denis Zimmermann, Stefan Ihnen
  • Patent number: 7092317
    Abstract: A chronograph timepiece has a movable crown, a start button operable to start and stop measurement of a time period in a chronograph mode using at least one chronograph hand, and a reset button operable to reset the chronograph hand to a zero position. A control circuit controls operation of the start button and the reset button in a plurality of reset modes to return the chronograph hand to the zero position in accordance with whether the reset button has already been operated when the crown is operable from one position to another position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 7027358
    Abstract: A system for pressure ulcer prophylaxis and treatment includes an annunciator which is attached to the outer face of the door or to the doorway of a patient's room and a bedside patient position sequence indicator. The annunciator includes a timing device with settable cycle duration and provides both visual and audible signals to indicate that a prescribed patient turning regimen cycle now requires repositioning of the patient. The annunciator generates a first signal when the cycle duration enters an expiry window and generates a different, intensified signal after the cycle has ended without being reset by a caregiver. The patient position sequence indicator includes a visual display which advises a caregiver of the position in which the patient was last placed and the next sequential position to which the patient is to be moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Prevention Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Roy A. Esposito, Steven Antokal
  • Patent number: 6987712
    Abstract: An analog chronograph timepiece has a main plate and a setting stem for correcting time information. Defined at the main plate are a reference vertical axis line passing through the rotational center of the main plate and disposed parallel to a central axis line of the setting stem, and a reference horizontal axis line passing through the rotational center of the main plate and disposed orthogonal to the main plate reference vertical axis line. The main plate has regions disposed relative to the reference vertical and horizontal lines and in which a time coil block and first and second chronograph coil blocks are selectively arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Ono, Mamoru Watanabe, Yuichi Shino, Kei Hirano
  • Patent number: 6625089
    Abstract: A setting structure of electronic timer, its constitution includes a main body and a reveal able faceplate, a LED display is provided on the faceplate, a recess is provided on the main body there under, several keys are provided in the recess; setting position is via faceplate displayed by means of controlling and operating the keys; a projection is further provided under the faceplate, and a key is provided on main body of a relative position with the projection, the key can be indirectly depressed by depressing faceplate in order to achieve a function ON/OFF therein; a structure of timer with larger displaying faceplate and wider interval between keys is achieved by above-mentioned structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: All-Time Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Stekelenburg
  • Patent number: 6614726
    Abstract: A stopwatch has a measuring section for measuring a primary physical quantity, a memory section for previously storing as a target value the value of the primary physical quantity at a point where a time is to be recorded, and recording sections for recording a measured value of time at a time point when the value measured by the measuring section becomes equal to the target value, after initiation of measurement of time. The target value is, for example, a value actually recorded before initiation of measurement of time by the measuring section at the point where time is to be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignees: Seiko Instruments Inc., Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaharu Yamasaki, Curtis Milander
  • Patent number: 6545952
    Abstract: Ordered units and methods of multichronographic time sequences are provided which are operable to up count and down count such time sequences by using a single control element for each such type of count. These single control elements are manipulated in a unique series of momentary single, double and relatively long activations during the respective types of counts, thereby rendering more simplified and memorable the performance of such chronographic sequences using the single control element alone, one for each type of chronographic time count. These units and methods are provided in wristwatches which also exhibit digital displays of real time and include a further control element that is operable to switch the display in either direction between an ongoing chronographic time sequence and real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Equitime, Inc.
    Inventor: Berj A. Terzian
  • Patent number: 6466518
    Abstract: A time measurement device includes a first motor (1300) for indicating standard time, a second motor (1400) for indicating a chronograph, a generator (1600) which generates driving power for driving the first and second motors by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, and a zero reset mechanism (1200) for mechanically resetting the chronograph to zero. A compact time measurement device, operable from a low power, is thus provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Akahane, Kenichi Okuhara, Akihiko Maruyama, Nobuhiro Koike
  • Patent number: 6370087
    Abstract: In a time measurement device (1000) having, at least, both a function of measuring standard time and a function of measuring any elapsed time, when a predetermined amount of time passes from a temporary suspension of a watch hand in position in the middle of the measurement of the elapsed time, the suspension of the watch hand is automatically released and the watch hand is driven to a watch hand position indicating the elapsed time. Provided thereby is the time measurement device which automatically releases the temporary suspension state in time measurement after the predetermined amount of time, thereby shortening the temporary suspension time and reducing power consumed to drive the watch hand to an originally expected watch hand position at the release of the temporary suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Akahane, Kenichi Okuhara, Akihiko Maruyama, Nobuhiro Koike
  • Patent number: 6357746
    Abstract: A gaming chip with built-in timer includes a circular cylindrical body with an upper surface, a lower surface, and a continuous sidewall. Additionally, the gaming chip with built-in timer may have a diameter and a thickness that are approximately the same as the diameter and thickness of a standard sized casino gaming chip, which may allow it to be stored in a standard size chip tray. Incorporated into the body of the gaming chip may be a timer, a start button, a stop button, and a reset button. During use, a single gaming chip with built-in timer may be used to mark a seat vacated by a gambler on a break. If more than one gambler vacates his or her seat during a break more than one gaming chip with built-in timer may be used to reserve the empty seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Craig Sadowski
  • Patent number: 6351435
    Abstract: A display having at least one hand which can be driven by an electric drive, it being possible for the hand or the hands to execute rotations of more than 360° in a first direction, wherein it is provided that the hand or the hands (Z) can be rotated in a second direction (CCW) which is counter to the first direction (CW), that the hand or one of the hands (Z) can be rotated in the second direction(CCW) only up to a certain position (P) and, in this position, assumes a reference position, and that there is a detecting device (V) which detects the inability of the hand (Z) to rotate further in the second direction (CCW).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Klaus Kronenberg, Walter Rüb, Peter Schäfer, Erwin Sedlaczek, Mike Theis
  • Patent number: 6062985
    Abstract: A golf play pacing device that is contained in the flag stick itself. The device includes an orientation sensing switch in the flag stick that is activated when the stick moves through an arc of approximately 45.degree., and reactivated when the stick is returned to perpendicular. The orientation switch controls circuitry that measures the time expired since the last reset of the device, and activates an alarm mechanism when that time is expired. The alarm mechanism includes visual alarms for the golfers and alarm capability for third parties. A sequence to monitor the putting time of players on the green can also be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Kathleen Rege
  • Patent number: 5784342
    Abstract: The control mechanism for displaying hours and minutes includes a tilting member (15) biasing against, under the effect of a return spring and via a pawl (18), a spirally shaped cam (12) located at the center of the movement, and which makes a full rotation in one hour. The tilting member (15) is lifted progressively by the action of the cam (12) to fall back instantly, once each hour. During this instantaneous falling back motion of the tilting member (15), a toothed sector (23) carried by the same drives, via a train of gears (24, 25, 26), a central pinion (27) carrying the minute hand. Thus, once at each hour, the minute hand is instantly reset to its initial position. The tilting member (15)carries a pawl (30) cooperating, at each of the instant falling back motions of the tilting member, with a star wheel with twelve branches, which rotates at the center of the movement and which carries a disk indicating hours, of which the display it thus of the so-called "incremental" type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Gerald Genta S.A.
    Inventor: Gerald Genta
  • Patent number: 5751664
    Abstract: In an electronic watch, a hand wheel gear 109b in a gear train has a tooth 124 having a profile K so as to prevent the backward movement of a hand 104. During initialization, the gear train is rotated backward such that the hand 104 is turned to the backward movement preventing position, which serves as an initializing position, and a reference position during detection of a hand position. Usually, a backward movement command is issued when the hand 104 is supposed to be at the reference position. The hand 104 is judged to be out of the reference position when its backward movement is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Higuchi, Noritoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5657305
    Abstract: An optical head for an opto-magnetic information recording and reproducing apparatus having stable characteristics. The optical head has a forward path optical system including a polarization beam splitter for reflecting a linearly-polarized light beam in the form of a divergent light beam from a light source, and an objective of a finite imaging system for converging the reflected light beam on an opto-magnetic recording medium, and a backward path optical system in which the reflected light beam from the recording medium is converged by the finite-imaging objective, and in which the converged light beam passes through the polarization beam splitter and is further reflected by a total reflection surface for reflecting this light beam to be led to detection means. A phase difference created in the convergent light beam when the light beam passes through a polarized light separating surface of the polarization beam splitter is compensated for by the total reflection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasaki, Koichiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 5255248
    Abstract: A watch is disclosed herein having a case mounting a time-keeping mechanism with hour and minute hands movable across the face of a numbered dial. A time line hand is included, settable by pushbutton to a start position superimposed with the position of the minute hand whereby angular displacement of the minute hand as it moves away from the time line hand establishes elapsed time of an event. A rotatable bezel is coaxially disposed with respect to the watch dial which carries an index arrow and a figure thirty situated 180 degrees apart. The time line hand is selectively operable with the arrow marking of the bezel for reading "count down" time for an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Inventor: Steven L. Goodmon
  • Patent number: 5253236
    Abstract: A mask is used to remove substantially all of the first order diffraction components of a reflected light beam which are generated as the beam crosses grooved data tracks in an optical media. The mask may comprise a transparent substrate with an opaque layer having a pair of circular apertures or a bow-tie shaped aperture. The apertures are located outside the regions of interference between the diffracted components and the undiffracted component. The layer may be made of a reflective material for reflecting diffracted components of the reflected beam to a tracking error sensor. The layer may be made of a holographic material for deflecting the diffracted components to a tracking error sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Milton R. Latta, Timothy C. Strand, James M. Zavislan
  • Patent number: 5224077
    Abstract: Stopwatch precision enhancement device. The device includes an attachment means, a fluid-actuated, spring-return plunger mechanism, a fluid-filled, flexible, hose, and a thumb plunger mechanism mounted onto a two finger ring. The device facilitates ipsilateral hand stopwatch button depression by connecting any digit via a fluid-filled flexible, hose connecting simultaneously to a fluid-actuated, spring-return plunger mechanism and a thumb plunger mechanism mounted onto a two finger ring.The thumb plunger is situated in the region of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the second digit such that the ipsilateral thumb is positioned to readily depress it, marking intervals of time as desired by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Inventor: Todd D. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 4588305
    Abstract: A motor actuates a wheel train which drives center hour and minute hands as in an ordinary analog-display watch. Another motor actuates a chronograph train which drives a chronograph sweep seconds-hand, a minute-register hand, and an hour-register hand offset toward 6 o'clock. A lever actuates a column wheel which starts and stops the second motor by means of a control lever integral with a stem. A hammer resets the chronograph gears. An electronic circuit comprises a liquid-crystal display element which displays the hundredths of a second when the chronograph is running or the date when the chronograph is not running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Assignee: Nouvelle Lemania S.A.
    Inventors: Albert Piguet, Jean-Daniel Dubois
  • Patent number: 4486847
    Abstract: A microcomputer used in the multi-function watch comprises, in addition to its conventional circuits such as the program memory 1, the data memory 7 and the arithmetic and logic unit 6, a counter 13 with a counting capacity of 100. The counter can be set in operation and stopped by instructions forming part of a manually triggered program of the microcomputer. When it is operating, it counts pulses M1 of a frequency of 100 Hz which are supplied by the time base 10, 11 of the watch. When it reaches its maximum capacity, it is reset to zero and produces a chronographic time base signal T which sets the microcomputer in operation. This microcomputer then carries out a program which processes and causes display of the data relating to seconds, minutes and hours of chronographic time, which are stored in the data memory 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: E.T.A., S.A. Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Jean P. Wattenhofer
  • Patent number: 4389122
    Abstract: The clock comprises an electronic part including a quartz oscillator controlling a motor. The motor drives, through a wheelwork, both continually running hands and stoppable hands. By means of a manually operated actuator, the stoppable hands can be operatively connected to, or disconnected from, the motor, or reset to zero. With the motor running, the continually running hands can be set to a desired time by means of a hand setting actuator. The crystal-controlled drive provides for high accuracy and the analog indication of the time and of the clocked intervals make reading convenient and fast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Revue Thommen AG
    Inventors: Gerald Dubois, Kaspar Kenel
  • Patent number: 4259737
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece with analog display by seconds, minutes, and hours hands driven by a bidirectional stepping motor, in which the seconds hand can be used to display information different from the seconds count, the time displayed by the minutes and hours hands being conserved and the passage from one information mode to the next being made by a rapid bidirectional catching up. The electronic circuit comprises means for comparison (10) comparing the information delivered by counting means (16, 18) synchronous with the seconds hand and the information to be displayed, delivered by selection means (5, 9, 12). The state of the output of the comparison means (10) acts by control means (FF6, 7) on the stepping motor, so that the seconds hand displays the desired information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Assignee: Jean-Claude Berney SA
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Berney
  • Patent number: 4201041
    Abstract: A digital electronic timepiece comprises oscillator means for generating reference clock-pulse signals, a plurality of counter means of successive stages for successively counting the reference clock-pulse signals and respectively producing output signals for displaying numerals at respective digit positions for seconds, tens of seconds, minutes, tens of minutes, hours, and tens of hours, means for digitally displaying time in response to signals for output display of the counter means, and means for supplying a time correction reset signal to the counter means for producing as output signals for display at the digit positions respectively for seconds, tens of seconds, minutes, and tens of minutes. The time correction reset signal resets the counter means for seconds, tens of seconds, minutes, and tens of minutes so that the output signal thereof becomes a signal for "O" display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Jeco Company Limited
    Inventor: Toyonaru Tanaka