IP Library Granted Patent US 8,295,128
Granted Patent B2
US 8,295,128 · App. 12/448,910 · Granted Oct 23, 2012

Radio-controlled timepiece

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,295,128
App. No.
12/448,910
Granted
Oct 23, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A radio-controlled timepiece includes an antenna receiving a standard radio wave and a plurality of motors driving indicator portions which indicate information. A fourth motor which is driven at a lowest frequency during the standard radio wave reception of the antenna is disposed closer to the antenna than the rest of the motors.

Claims (37)

1. A radio-controlled timepiece, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive a standard radio wave;

a plurality of motors configured to drive indicator portions which indicate information;

an originating station indicator configured to indicate, with an analog pointer, a mark in association with one originating station selected from a plurality of originating stations which transmit, to different regions from each other, standard radio waves including pieces of time information different from each other; and

an originating station indicator drive motor for driving the originating station indicator;

wherein, among the plurality of motors, the originating station indicator drive motor is driven at a lowest frequency while the antenna is receiving the standard radio wave, and is disposed at a position closer to the antenna than the other motors.

2. A radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a remaining amount detector configured to detect a remaining amount of a drive battery;

a remaining amount indicator configured to indicate, with an analog pointer, the remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detector; and

a remaining amount indicator drive motor configured to drive the remaining amount indicator.

3. A radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 2 , wherein

the remaining amount indicator drive motor and the originating station indicator drive motor are the same motor; and

indication of the remaining amount by the remaining amount indicator and indication of the originating station by the originating station indicator are alternatively switched.

4. A radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a date indicator configured to indicate a date;

an indicator wheel driven by the same motor constituting the remaining amount indicator drive motor and the originating station indicator drive motor; and

an indicator wheel train by the same motor constituting the remaining amount indicator drive motor and the originating station indicator drive motor so as to drive the date indicator.

5. A radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a region indicator configured to indicate, with an analog indicator, a mark in association with one region selected from a plurality of regions with time differences from each other; and

a region indicator drive motor configured to drive the region indicator, wherein

the region indicator drive motor and the originating station indicator drive motor are the same motor; and

indication of the region by the region indicator and indication of the originating station by the originating station indicator are alternatively switched.

6. A radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 5 , wherein

a plurality of regions indicated by the region indicator are arranged in order of magnitude of the time differences.

7. A radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of motors are disposed in order of magnitude of drive frequency during reception of the standard radio wave such that a motor having a higher drive frequency is located further from the antenna than any of the other motors having a lower drive frequency.

8. A radio-controlled timepiece, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive a standard radio wave;

a plurality of motors configured to drive indicator portions which indicate information;

a remaining amount detector configured to detect a remaining amount of a drive battery;

a remaining amount indicator configured to indicate, with an analog pointer, the remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detector;

a remaining amount indicator drive motor configured to drive the remaining amount indicator;

an originating station indicator configured to indicate, with an analog pointer, a mark in association with one originating station selected from a plurality of originating stations which transmit, to different regions from each other, standard radio waves including different pieces of time information from each other; and

an originating station indicator drive motor configured to drive the originating station indicator;

wherein the remaining amount indicator drive motor doubles as the originating station indicator drive motor;

wherein indication of the remaining amount by the remaining amount indicator and indication of the originating station by the originating station indicator are alternatively switched; and

wherein, among the plurality of motors, the remaining amount indicator drive motor is driven at a lowest frequency while the antenna is receiving the standard radio wave, and is disposed to a position closer to the antenna than the other motors.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 25, 2017
From: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
To: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041479/0804 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2009
From: HASUMI, TAKAYUKI; YAMASHITA, MOTO
To: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022985/0775 →