Digital timepiece having chronometric display

摘要

In an improved digital timepiece having a chronometric display in which a digital timing means provides chronometric timing signals thereto, includes first condition responsive means responsive to an enabling signal for activating the chronometric display to provide a chronometric display from the timing signal, the improvement comprises electronic means responsive to human touch for providing the enabling signal. PPThe electronic means comprises a resistive sensitive voltage divider switch means which provides a resistive impedance path to ground in response to human touch thereof, and second condition responsive means which provides the enabling signal to the first condition responsive means initially in response to the resistive impedance path to ground being provided. Delay means are operatively connected between the second condition responsive means output and the first condition responsive means input which is responsive to the provision of the resistive impedance path for maintaining the first condition responsive means input signal as the enabling signal for a predetermined delay interval while the human touch responsive means is still providing a resistive impedance path to ground, the delay means thereafter changing the first condition responsive means input signal from the enabling signal to a different input signal while the enabling signal is still being provided from the second condition responsive means output to revert the first condition responsive means to its initial condition which deactivates the chronometric display. Instead of being responsive to human touch, he electronic means can have a controlled sensitivity so as to be solely responsive to conductive touch which provides a conductive voltage of less than the voltage at which water is substantially conductive with the electronic means in such instance comprising at least a pair of spaced apart conductive touchable means connected between the power source and the second condition responsive means whereby the provision of the chronometric display is insensitive to the conductively bridgeable touch of conductive contaminants between the spaced apart conductive touchable means pair which provides a conductive voltage equal to or greater than the voltage at which water is substantially conductive.