GB2213965A - Analog display on an electronic timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

An analog display type digital timepiece having a first signal output section for producting a first signal representative of seconds, a second signal output section for producing a second signal representative of minutes, and a third signal output section for producing a third signal representative of hours. The signals from said output sections energise analog indicators such as LCD's representing hands (T1, T2 and T3) or points (P1, P2, P3). In a preferred embodiment, twelve numerals and four auxiliary numerals are provided on the display surface of a display section (D), divided into sixteen zones, while the three primary color lights (P1, P2, P3) are preliminarily allotted to the indications of seconds, minutes, and hours, so that the elapse of time can be indicated by the color changes in each of the numerals illuminated or irradiated by each of the particular colors or the combination of colors generated by color generating means in accordance with the signals produced from each of the signal output sections. The timepiece comprises gating means between the unit and ten counters of each output section for time information signals in order to block certain signals such that 132 output signals which are necessary for time indicated are produced from the output signal sections. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD OF DISPLAYING THE ELAPSE OF TIME IN AN ANALOG MATER OF A DIGITAL TIMEPIECE AND ANALOG DISPLAY TYPE DIGITAL TIMEPIECE UTILIZING THE METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner of a digital timepiece and an analog display type digital timepiece utilizing the method.

(2) Description of the Prior Art Conventional watches and clocks essentially belong to either analog type ones having the hour hand, minute hand, and second hand respectively and mechanical portions including gears and rotary shafts for rotating those hands described above, or digital type ones which directly display on displaying means such as liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, any numerical values corresponding to hours, minutes, and seconds. There have been no timepieces up to date which go beyond the conventional watches and clocks.

In the analog type timepieces, gears and rotary shafts are indispensable in order to rotate each of the hands associated with the indication of hours, minutes and seconds. Accordingly, mechanical portions associated with the ultimate rotations of each hand remain unchanged from olden times to nowadays either in pure mechanical analog type timepieces or even in electronic analog timepieces to which modern electronic techniques are applied. As a result, it is normal that the thickness and size of these analog timepieces cannot generally help increasing in the light of their costs.

Furthermore, the development of precision working techniques of late enables ultra-thin analog watches to be manufactured. In this case, however, there is a problem of cost,. On the other hand, in the conventional digital watches as shown in Fig.1 where the most simplified digital timepiece circuit is shown by omitting frequency dividers and othei circuits are included in each of the signal output sections, here. See, e.g., a Japanese patent Specification 57-67885 laid open in 1982. time is diplayed on a LCD display 500 in accordance with signals representative seconds, minutes, hours from second, minute and hour signal output sections 200, 300, 400 respectively, based on an oscillation output signal from an oscillator 100.

In these digital timepieces, almost all portions can be realized by electronic elements and circuits. Since no mechanical portions such as gears and rotary shafts for rotating the gears and hands are required, the cost of these digital timepieces has become extremely cheap due to highy advanced techniques in the electronics field, of late.

In these digital timepieces, however, since the display 500 for indicating time in digital values is rather small compared with the total size of the timepiece respectively, it presents imbalance in its form. In addition, the display of numerals corresponding to hours, minutes, and seconds per se in the digital timepieces is prosaic and is not an interesting one, compared with that of the analog timepieces. Particularly, in the digital timepieces of the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) type, there is a drawback in that the numerals corresponding to the time elapsed are often hard to see depending upon the angle of sight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner of a digital timepiece, the display surface of which can be easily seen just as an analog timepiece and which has a more friendly atmosphere and appearance in its display function while maintaining the characteristics of the digital timepiece itself.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner of the digital timepiece in which the elapse of time consisting of seconds, minutes, and hours, can be indicated bp the use of sixteen numerals and a plural set of unique display points.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method of displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner of a digital timepiece in which the elapse of time can be indicated on a display by the variations in the three primary light colors irradiated on the unique combination of fixed sixteen numerals.

It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a method of displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner of a digital timepiece in which the elapse of time can be indicated by the unique combination of fixed sixteen numerals and musical sounds generated by sound generating means, with each of particular musical sounds in the first and second octaves being preliminarily allotted to the sixteen numerals.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method of displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner of a digital timepiece in which the elapse of time can be tactually recognized by the unique combination of fixed sixteen numerals and display points which can be either protruded above the display surface when energized or retracted below the display surface when not energized by energizing means.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an analog display type digital timepiece utilizing any one of the methods of displaying the elapse of time of a digital timepiece in an analog manner.

It is yet still a further object of the present invention to provide an analog display type digital timepiece having a first signal output section for producing a first signal representative of seconds, a second signal output section for producing a second signal representative of minutes, and a third signal output section for producing a third signal representative of hours, in which the elapse of time can be displayed on each display surface by the color variations of the three primary color lights emitted through light emitting means in accordance with the signals representative of seconds, minutes, and hours from the signal output sections and irradiating the unique combination of sixteen arabic numerals on each display zone.

It is yet a still further object of the present invention to provide an analog display type digital timepiece in which the display surface of the display section is divided into sixteen independently separated display zones, each display zone connected with each other through electrical lead wires, each of twelve main numerals plus four auxiliary numerals is formed on each of the display zones, and rearrangement of the independently separated display zones permits one to create one's own timepiece having different unique time indications as well as displaying the elapse of time on each of the display zones by the color variations of primary color lights emitted from color light emitting means and irradiated on the sixteen numerals in accordance with the signals representative of seconds, minutes, and hours from signal output sections of the digital timepiece.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention with-reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a brief construction of the digital timepiece according to the prior art, Fig. 2 is a basic concept of the analog type time displaying system utilizing a digital timepiece, according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is a second embodiment of the analog type time displaying system utilizing a digital timepiece, according to the present invention, Fig. 4 is a third embodiment of the analog type time displaying system of a digital timepiece, according to the present invention, Fig.5 is a fourth embodiment of the analog type time displaying system, according to the present invention, Fig.6 is a fifth embodiment of the analog type time displaying system in a triangular shape, according to the present invention.

Fig.7 is a partially enlarged portion of the display having different display points of Fig, 4, Fig 8(a), (b) and (c) show respectively other embodiments of the display points of Fig. 7, Fig.9 is another embodiment of the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention, Fig.10 is a partially enlarged portion of a housing type display numerals made of plastic material having an opaque milky color, storing a set of three display elements therein respectively, Fig.11 is a color analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention, Fig.12 is still another embodiment of the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention having the independently separated display zones, and a power supply and control portion, Figs.13 to 16 show other embodiments of the analog display type digital timepieces similar to Fig. 12, according to the present invention, and Fig.17(A) and (B) show the different shapes of the display zones of the display surface of the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention.

Fig.18 shows the circuit construction of gates and gate switches for the counters in the second signal output section or minute signal output section, Fig.19 shows the circuit construction of gates and a gate switch for the counters in the hour signal output section, and Figs 20 (A) (B) and (C) show the detailed circuit construction of each gate switch of Figs. 18 and 19.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Fig.2, a basic concept of an analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention is shown.

In this embodiment, on the frame F of the surface of the digital timepiece, there is provided twelve arabic numerals 1 to 12 which belong to an analog timepiece and which may be either painted or attached on the display surface thereof. In the latter case, the numerals made of such as wood, plstic, or metal and the like may be embossed on the surface of the digital timepiece.

On the inner surface of the frame F, there is formed liquid crystal display (LCD) elements in such a manner that a plurality of display segment lines Ll,L2,L3,... to be displayed when energized are formed on the display surface, instead of digital numerals of a normal digital timepiece.Consequently, when the liquid crystal display elements are energized according to the known principle, the LCD image hands T1,T2, and T3 which correspond to the hour hand, minute hand, and second hand of an analog timepiece are displayed and they are rotated or advanced in the clockwise direction, with the second display hand T3 being advanced preferably for every one second along the latent display segment lines Ll,L2,L3 Ln in accordance with signals representative of seconds, minutes, and hours, generated respectively by the second signal output section, the minute signal output section, and hour signal output section of the known digital timepiece such as shown in Fig.1. In this case, however, when it is difficult to form the display segment lines at so short distance, it may be possible to display the second hand image T3 for every two seconds, or three seconds, etc.

Furthermore, although the digital timepiece shown in Fig.2 appears to be an analog timepiece on the face of it, it is nevertheless a digital timepiece to be sure. Hence, it may also be constructed in such a manner that the minute hand T2 is moved only when it reaches from fifty nine seconds to sixty seconds while the hour hand TI remains at the ten o'clock position until it reaches to the final one second from fifty nine minutes and fifty nine seconds, i.e., (59:59) in Fig.2.

This will enable us to watch hours, minutes, seconds, more easily than those of the analog timepiece.

In these manners as described the indication of time can be carried out in an analog form by displaying and rotating each of the display segments T1,T2,T3 corresponding to the hour, minute and second hands of an analog timepiece by the signals representative of seconds, minutes, and hours from each of the signal output sections of the digital timepiece respectively.

Fig.3 shows another embodiment of the analog display type digital timepiece in a rectangular shape according to the present invention. In this embodiment, since the function of the digital timepiece is the same as that of the embodiment of Fig.2, a more detailed description will not be necessary.

Fig.4 shows another embodiment of the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention to which the display system of Fig. 2 has been applied. In the foregoing embodiment shown in Fig.2, the center portion of the digital timepiece is formed as a liquid crystal display. It is not necessary, however, that all of the center portion of the LCD display be formed as a display section, but it is sufficient to indicate only the extreme end of each of the second, minute, and hour hands in order to know what time it is now. Accordingly, in the embodiment of the timepiece shown in Fig.4, the center of the frame F is formed vacant, with each of the display indicia or points P1,P2,P3 being provided with a predetermined distance spaced apart respectively, so as to only turn on the particular display points P1,P2,P3 corresponding to the actual positions of the hour, minute, and second hands of the timepiece and to move them in accordance with the time elapsed.

In the timepiece shown in Fig.4, it indicates an instananeous time of ten, five, twenty five (10:5:25). The shape of the display points may be arbitrarily formed as shown in Fig.7 with each set of the marks (A), (B), or (C), which is partially enlarged segment of the timepiece shown in Fig.4.

In Fig.7, P1,P2,P3 indicate the hour, minute, and second display points, respectively.

Figs.5 and 6 indicate each of another embodiment according to the present invention in rectangular and triangle shapes respectively, with the center of the timepieces being formed vacant.

In the embodiments shown in Figs.4 through 7, each of the display points P1 to P3 is shown as being arranged in the radial direction respectively. In practice, however, these display points P1,P2 and P3 in different shapes may preferably be formed in the lateral direction adjacent to each other beneath each numeral as shown in Figs.8(A),(B) and (C) so as to reduce the width of the frame F of the face of the timepiece.

Fig.9 shows another embodiment of the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the display surface D of a digital timepiece is divided into 16 equal display areas or zones and each of the main twelve arabic numerals 1 through 12 which correspond to the normal time displaying numerals for an analog timepiece and four auxiliary numerals 0,1/2,3/4, and 5 are provided on each display zone thus divided. Each of these numerals may preferably be made of wood or metal in embossed work or they may be formed in a housing shape in an opaque milky color if they are made of plastic material as shown in Fig.10, for the reason which will be described later. Each of the numerals may of course be painted on the display surface.A first set of display points P1,P2,P3 made of, for instance, light emitting elements are provided around and adjacent to each of the numerals 1 to 12, while a second set of the display points P2,P3 are provided around and adjacent to each of the auxiliary numerals of 0.1/2, 3/4,5 as shown in Fig.9. Each of the display points P1,Pl,P1...

indicates hours, each of the display points P2,P2... indicates minutes, and each of the display points P3,P3... indicates seconds respectively when energized. These display points may be LED (light emitting diodes, elements, LCD elements, plasma display elements, or lamps. The display points may also be mechanical elements respectively, which can protrude above the display surface when'energized and which can retract when deenergized according to the well-known art so that a blind person can perceive either energized or deenergized cpnditions of the mechanical elements by the sense of touch.

Each of the display points P3 is successively turned on for every one second by the output signal indicative of seconds from the second signal output section of the digital timepiece as shown in Fig. 1 and its energization is moved in a step by step manner respectively. Each of display points P2 is successively turned on for every one minute by the output signal indicative of minutes from the minute signal output section of the digital timepiece, and its energization is moved in the step by step manner similarly as described. Likewise, each of the display points P1 is successively turned on for every one hour by the output signal indicative of hours from the hour signal output section and its energized condition remains for one hour at a particular display point P1 thus turned on.

The arabic numerals belonging to the display points thus turned on indicate current seconds, minutes, or hours at every moment.

Table I shows how 12 hours, 60 minutes, and 60 seconds can be displayed by the combination of the display elements P1, P2, P3 on the display surface having the sixteen numerals in total. For instance, up to the time indications of 1 to 12 o'clocks, 1 to 12 minutes, and 1 to 12 seconds, it can be indicated by each of the corresponding display points Pl, P2, P3, i.e., the LED elements in this case, which are to be turned on without the necessity of any auxiliary numerals. In Fig. 9, the black dots indicate the energized conditions or ONconditions of the LED elements and it indicates that it is now two seconds, five minutes past ten o'clock (10:5:2) of the digital timepiece.

TABLE I P1 : Hour Display Point (P1 = ON, advanced for every one hour) P2 : Minute Display Point (P2 = ON, advanced for every one minute) P3 : Second Display Point (P3 = ON, advanced for every one second) Expressions of Hours, Minutes, Seconds

(Example) 2 (two o'clock) L (two min.) 2(two sec.) P1 Lp2 P3

Indication of hours Use of arabic numerals l to 12 1 - 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Indications of The twelve arabic numerals + 0, 1/2, minutes and seconds 3/4, 5 (auxiliary numerals) 0 0 1 - 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 - 19 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 20 2 0 21 - 29 2 1/2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30 3 0 31 - 39 3 1/2 3/ 4 5 6 7 8 9 40 4 0 41 - 49 4 1/2 3/4 5 6 7 8 9 50 5 0 51 - 59 5 1/2 3/4 5 6 7 8 9 TABLE II Auxiliary Numerals 0 1/2 3/4 5 l'a ~~~~ - la do/re me/fa so

Indication of Relationship between the numerals and hours musical scale 1-12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 do re me fa so la te do re me fa so Indications of minutes and seconds 0 0 la 1 - 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 do re me fa so la te do re me fa so 13 - 19 1 i 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 do me fa so la te do re 20 2 0 re la 21 - 29 2 1/2 3 4 5 7 8 9.

re do/re me fa so la te do re 30 3 4 me la 31 - 39 3 1/2 3 4 5 6 7 8 me do/re me fa so la te do re 40 4 1 0 fa la 41 - 49 4 1/2 3/4 5 6 7 8 fa fa do/re me/fa so la te do re 50 5 0 so ra 51 - 59 5 1/2 3/4 5 6 7 8 9.

so do/re me/f a so la te do re Note: Mark (9) indicates scales of the second octave.

Moreover, when it is to carry out an instantaneous time indication of one second, one minute past one o'clock (1: 1: 1, AM or PM), all of the LED elements P1, P2, P3 belonging to the same numeral 1 are turned on at the same time. The time indication of seconds and minutes which exceed numerals 12 becomes the combination of two numerals.

For instance, the time indication of 13 seconds is performed as follows; The LED element P3 belonging to the numeral 1 and the LED element P3 belonging to the numeral 3 are turned on at the same time.

It should be noted, however, that the time indications by the display points and the numerals corresponding to hours, minutes, and seconds must always be circulated successively in one direction and any time indications in the reverse direction by the numerals are not permitted.

For this purpose, therefore, the four auxiliary numerals 0, 1/2, 3/4, and 5 are provided in the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 9. Namely, since numerals 21,- 31, 32, 41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53, and 54 for the indication of minutes and seconds cannot be distinguished from 12, 13, 23, 14, 24, 34,- 15, 25, 35, and 45, any one of the numerals 2, 3, 4 and 5 and any one of the auxiliary numerals 1/2 and 3/4 are combined to be used as shown in table I.

In addition, when it is desired to indicate 20, 30, 40, and 50, the combination of each of the numerals 2, 3, 4, and 5 and the auxiliary numeral 0 are combined to be used as shown in the table I. With this combination, the necessary 132 numerals (12+60+60) in total required for the arbitrary time indications of up to 1 to 12 hours, 0 to 59 minutes, and 0 to 59 seconds can sufficiently be indicated by the sixteen numerals according to the present invention.

This means that the simplified display system according to the present invention enables any time indications within twelve hours to be realized by the 132 combinations by the sixteen numerals in an analog form.

Now, in the present invention, the term "analog display type" or "display in an analog form" is used. This terminology will be reasonable because the output signals representative of hours, minutes and seconds from the hour, minute, and second signal output sections are not used to directly display the decimal numbers as in the conventional digital timepieces but they are used only to turn on or energize each of the display points at predetermined positions corresponding to the hour, minute, and second hands of an analog timepiece.

It might also appear that the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention shown in Fig. 9 looks like a digital display type timepiece on the face of it. It is to be noted, however, that the analog display type digital timepiece shown in Fig. 9 is in practice truly an analog display type timepiece itself, since the output signals representative of seconds, minutes, and hours are not used for directly displaying decimal numbers by any means but are used for illuminating or energizing only the display points P1, P2, P3.

In the embodiment of Fig. 9, the LED elements are used as display points. It is however also possible that lamps may also be used as the display points. Moreover, in the embodiment in Fig. 9, each of the LED elements representative of hours, minutes, and seconds may be different color light emitting diodes or color lamps for emitting lights such as red light for the indication of hours, green for minutes, and blue for seconds, other than using single color light emitting diodes or lamps, respectively.

Fig. 10 shows another embodiment of the display surface of Fig. 9 in which a set of three LED elements or color lamps for emitting red, green, and blue color lights are housed in each of the housing type numerals in each display zone at the positions Pl, P2, P3 therein. If each of the numerals on the display surface is made of plastic having its outer surface having an opaque milky. color, it will produce a more aesthetic effect, because of the principle of the primary color effects.

Fig. 11 shows another embodiment of the analog display type digital timepiece in which the numerals per se are displayed in colors, instead of the display points. In this embodiment, the display surface is also divided into sixteen display zones, with partition walls between adjacent borders of the zones and the primary color lights are emitted by known means such as color LED elements, color LCD elements or plasma display elements in accordance with the time output signals representative of seconds, minutes, and hours from the second, minute, and hour signal output sections of a digital timepiece as shown in Fig. 1.

Either the numerals themselves are irradiated with the color lights thus emitted when the color LCD elements or the plasma display elements are used or the background of the numerals may be illuminated by the color lights thus emitted in accordance with the time signals produced from the time signal output sections.

For instance, red light is preliminarily allotted for the time indications of hours, green light for minutes, and blue light for seconds. Then, the instantaneous time of hours, minutes, and seconds can be distinguished by the colors of light.

In the example of the color indications shown in Fig.

11, when the number "10" of hour indication is irradiated in red, the number "5" of minute is irradiated in green, and the number "2t' of secdnd irradiated in blue, it indicates that it is now two seconds, five minutes past ten (10: 5: 2) on the digital timepiece.

The time indication in this color display system according to the present invention is striking in its aesthetic effects, when the numbers are irradiated by the three primary colors and when they are superimposed with each other. For instance, at the instantaneous time of (5: 5: 1), the number "5" irradiated by the red light indicative of hours and the same number "5" irradiated by the green light indicative of minutes are in this case superimposed with each other, thereby resulting in the yellow color indication for the number "5". This condition will last a predetermined time within a minute, while the number "1" is irradiated by the blue light for one second and,- then the next number "2" is irradiated in blue after the elapse of one second and so on.After the predetermined time of one minute has elapsed, the number "5" now returns to the red light irradiation while the next number "6" now representative of minutes is irradiated by the green light. According to the present invention, since the elapse of time of twelve hours, sixty minutes, and sixty seconds are indicated by the very limited numbers of sixteen numerals, not only the irradiated colors of the 16 numerals for seconds and minutes, but also for hours often change within the duration of one minute, in accordance with the elapse of some seconds when the numbers are superimposed with each other.

In such a manner as described, when the green light color for minutes and the blue for seconds are superimposed, for instance, at the instantaneous time of four seconds, four minutes past three o'clock, i.e., (3: 4: 4:), the number "4" representative of minutes and seconds is irradiated in cyan first, then the numeral "4" automatically returns to green and the next numeral "5" is now irradiated in blue which is representative of seconds.

Interalia, when the three primary colors are superimposed at the same time, for instance, at the instantaneous time of (1: 1: 1), only the numeral "1" is irradiated in white for one second. Then, one second later, the numeral "1" is turned into yellow due to the superimposion of the red light representative of hours and the green light representative of minutes for a predetermined time within one minute, while the next numeral "2" is irradiated by the blue light color. After the elapse of the predetermined time e.g., one minute, the numeral "1" representative of hours in this case is irradiated in red, the numeral "2" representative of minutes is irradiated in green and the numeral "9" supposing that this numeral is representative of seconds is now irradiated in blue.Since the irradiated numerals change in colors at every moment in accordance with the elapse of time, the color indication of time becomes very beautiful.

Table III shows one example of the actual color indications of the main and auxiliary numerals according to the present invention. The time indication is started from (7: 6: 44) and goes to (7: 7: 27). As will be appreciated from the table, at the beginning of the indication, the hour numeral |7 "7" is irradiated in red and the minute numeral "6" irradiated in green, while the second numerals "4" and "/4" are irradiated in blue. However, three minute later at 7: 6: 47), the hour numeral "7" being irradiated in red now changes its color into magenta due to the superimposition of the numeral "7" of the second at numeral. Nine seconds after this change i.e. i.e.,^(7: 6: 56), the minute numeral "6" being irradiated in green now changes its color into cyan due to the effect of the second numeral "6".

One second later from this change i.e., at (7: 6: 57), the hour numeral "7" is again affected by the second numeral"7" (superimposition) and its color changes from red to magenta.

The superimposition between the hour and second numerals "7" is released one second later and each color returns to its own color respectively; red, green and blue.

However three seconds later from the last chane, i.e., from (7: 6: 59) to (7: 7: 0), the minute indication now moves to the-numeral "7" and a superimposition of the hour and minute numerals occurs at the numeral "7". As a result, from the principle of the primary colors of light, the hour numeral "7" now changes its color into yellow, while the color of the second numeral remains unchanged.After seven seconds from this change, when (7: 7: 7) is indicated, the TABLE III HOUR 7 7 77 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 COLOR R R R M R R R R R R R R R M COLOR R R R M R R R R R R R R R M MINUIT 6 .6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 COLOR G G C G G G G G G G G G C G SECOND 4 /4 4 5 4 6 4 7 4 8 4 9 5 0 5 1/ 5 /2 5 /3 5 /4 5 5 5 6 5 7 COLOR B B B B B C B M B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B C B M HOUR 7 7 7 77 7 7 7 7 77 7 7 7 COLOR R R Y Y Y Y Y Y Y W Y Y Y Y MINUIT 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 COLOR G G Y Y Y Y Y Y Y W Y Y Y Y SECOND 5 8 5 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 COLOR B B B B B B B B B B B W B B B B HOUR 7777 7 7 7 7 77 7 7 7 7 7 COLOR Y Y Y Y Y W Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y W MINUIT 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 COLOR Y Y Y Y Y W Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y W SECOND 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 COLOR B B B B B B B B BW B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B BW (Notes) R = red M = magenta W = white G = green C = cyan B = blue Y = yellow hour, minute and second numerals "7" are superimposed with each other, only the single numeral "7 is now irradiated white because of the principle of the primary colors of light. One second after this change, the color of the numeral "7" returns to yellow again while the next second numeral "8" is now irradiated into its own color, blue, and so on.

In addition, the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention will be used not only for looking at time but also for seeing and enjoying the color changes on the display surface of the digital timepiece. As a result, the concept of the timepiece according to the present invention will be changed drastically.

In order to irradiate the numerals on the display surface of the digital timepiece according to the present invention, color LED elements, color LCD elements or plasma color display elements have been used in the foregoing embodiments. However, a more simple way to realize the color time indications of the numerals is to use for each a set of color lamps, or lamps with color filters, such being provided behind each of the display zones, so as to produce better color effects.

The more effective color display elements having a more powerful light power respectively are developed, the stronger the aesthetic effects of the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention will become, together with the essential characteristic of the digital timepiece.

Fig. 12 shows another embodiment of the color analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention. In this embodiment, each of the display portions Wl to W16 of the digital timepiece is independently separated from one another and they are connected by an electric cablenincluding lead wires. Each of the independently separated display zones is powersupplied and controlled by a power supply and control portion PC which is essentially a digital timepiece itself.

Each display zone may be made as a display panel or it may be made as a cubic shape so as to stack them. In the former case, the display portions can be arranged with a suitable connection of the electric lead wires among each of the display portions Wl to W16 and the power supply and control portion PC so as to hang on the wall. On the other hand, when each of the display portions of the digital timepiece according to the present invention is made as a cubic shape respectively, they can be relocated and stacked so as to form a desired shape.

Figs. 13 and 15 show respectively the embodiments of the display portions of the analog display type digital timepieces thus assembled, according to the present invention. In these embodiments, the power supply and control portion PC is not shown as it is hidden behind each of the display portions, respectively. In each of these embodiments, since the numerals may only be color-displayed in a predetermined direction in accordance with the order of sequence of the numerals in the present invention, i.e., in the order of 1, 2, 3, 4 , 11, 12, 0, 1/2, 3/4, 5, rearrangement of the numerals can also be enjoyed by users of the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention as long as the predetermined circulative sequence of the time display is maintained, unlike the conventional analog or digital timepieces. Yet, the time indications will become more flexible and will vary from person to person as they use the timepiece according to the present invention shown in each of Figs.

13, 14, and 15, in addition to producing the same color effects as described in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 shows still another embodiment of the color analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the numeral display portions W1 to W16 are made in a small cubic shape respectively, with each display portion being connected by a cord which includes necessary electrical lead wires to a power supply and control portion PC; that is, in a necklace style. When the color light emitting techniques have progressed in the near future, stronger and more beautiful color lights can be produced, which can more effectively irradiate the display numerals in each of the display zones, thus enabling one to enjoy 'time-finding and aesthetic effects of the timepiece according to the present invention.

Figs.17(A) and (B) show, respectively each of another embodiment of the analog display type digital timepieces of the present invention, similar to those shown in Fig.11 and Fig.12, in which each of the numeral displaying surfaces or zones is formed in a circular (a spherical shape as the case may be) or a triangle shape, respectively.

Fig.18 and 19 show one embodiment of a basic electrical control circuit for realizing the analog type display by a digital timepiece according to the present invention.

In Fig.18 which indicates the construction of the second output section 200, GI to G21 indicates each of AND gates connected between the particular output lines of a unit counter 600 and ten-position counter 700 in the second signal output section 200, h1 indicates a first gate switch, and W2 indicates a second gate switch, each of the detailed circuit constructions of 1 and W2 is indicated in Fig.20 (A) (B) respectively.

The operation of the circuit shown in Fig.18 is as follows; Each of the second ouput signals .0.. to 9 is successively produced from the unit counter 600 in the second signal output section 200, every time one clock pulse is input thereto.

Accordingly, the gate switch W1 is opened, with its set input 5 supplied with the "0" output signal, thereby passing the output signals from "0" to o signals through the sr, itcll zit to the display D according to the present invention. As a result, the output signals from "0 to "9" permit applying to each display point P3 of the arabic numerals 1 to 9 of the display surface D, e.g., shown in Fig.8 successively.

Since the output signal "0" from the ten-position coulter 700 is not used, no change occurs due to this signal. When a carry signal is produced from the counter 600 at ten seconds, it is applied to the reset inputs R of the gate switches W1 and W2, thus closing the paths for "0" to "5" of the gate switches.

During this time period, each of the logical products between the "1" output signal from the counter 700 and the "0","l""2" signals from the counter 600 is carried out by the AND gate G1 to G3 successively, thereby producing "10" to "12" signal outputs.

At 12 seconds, the output signal from the AND gate G3 pns the gate switches i-1 and W2, so that the time indication from 13 to 19 are carried out by the subsequent "3" to "9" output signals from the unit counter 600 and the "1" output signal from the counter 700.

The time indication from 20 to 29 seconds is carried out as follows; the gate snitch W1 is closed by a carry signal from the counter 600 at next ten seconds, which is applied to the reset input R of the gate switch W1, thereby preventing the "0" to "D" output signals from the counter 200 being applied to the display. Under this condition, since the output signal "2" from the ten-position counter 700 and the output signals 0 to "2" of the unit counter 600 are combined to make each of the logical products through the AND gates G4 to G6 respeclivel- so as to produce the output signals for the auxiliary numerals 0,1X,JL uhicii results in the time indication of "20","21" arid "22".

At 22 seconds, the output from the AND gate 06 opens the gate switch ki, tlie subsequent output signals "3" to "9" are directly applied to the display D, which results in the tinie indication of "23' to "29" seconds together with the output signal "2" of the 700 counter. In the similar manner, the output signals necessary for the time indication from "0" to "59" seconds on the display surface D having the fixed arabic numerals from 1 to 12, 0, 1/2, 3/4, 5 can be successively obtained by the control circuit of Fig.18.

Since the construction and its operation about the minute signal output signal section 300 are just the same as those of the section 200, its detailed explanation will not be necessary.

In Fig.19 which indicates the construction of the hour signal output section 400,G22,G23, and G24 indicate AND gates connected between the" 1" output signal line of the ten-position counter 900 and each of the output signal lines of "0"," 1" and "2" of the unit counter 800, W3 indicates a gate switch having the set input S and the reset input R, which are connected to the 1 output line and the carry line, respectively (See.

Fig.20(C)).

In operation, the gate switch W3 is first set by the generation of the 1 output signal from the unit counter 800 and the gate switch is opened, thereby successively applying each of the output signals "1" to "9" to each of the display points directly. At ten hours or ten o'clock, a carry signal is produced from the counter 800, which closes the gate switch W3.

As a result, no output signals are directly applied to the display points for the arabic numerals of 1 and "2". Instead, each logical product is taken successively through the AND gates G22, G23, G24 between the "1" output signal from the counter 900 and the output signals from "0'' to "2" for the time indication of 10 to "12" o'clock respectively on the display surface I having the fixed sixteen numerals.

In each of the circuits shown in Figs.20 (A) ) (C), since the particular gate outputs alld/or the particular output frau each counter are applied to the set input S of a flip-flop FF through an OR gate or directly, the the 1 output of the flip-flop turns on each of the transistors Trl,Tr2,... which opens each of the path to the display, respectively. On the other hand, since the reset input R is connected to the carry signal line of each unit counter of each of the output sections, each of the gate switches closes each of the particular paths to the display when the carry signal is produced.

As described in the foregoing description, it is apparent that the addition of rather the small number of gate elements to the existing counter circuits of a digital timepiece from the IC circuit point of view enables to realize the various analog type time display systems according to the present invention.

Accordingly, this kind of the slight modification of the existing counter circuits of the digital timepiece easily enables the gate elements G1 to G24 and the gate switches \ç1 to W3 to be integrally incorporated in an IC circuit of the counters or somewhere in each of the second1 minute, and hour signal output sections.

When the control circuit is used in tie embodiments of the different color time indication systems as shown in Figs.ll to )6, all of the output signals (0 to 9) produced from the second signal output section 200 can be assigned to generate the blue light and all of the output signals (0 to 9) produced from the minute signal output section 300 assigned to generate the green light while all of the output signals from the hour signal output section 400 assigned to generate the red light.As a result, each of the light emitting means may be made of three comllloll color emitting materials. Accordingly, when a material has been developed which enables the thiec primary colors of red, green and blue to be emitted by each of the output signals directly on the materials like a color CRT more effective time indication b colors will become possible by existing battery power used in the present-day wrist watches. Also, in even nowadays techniques, it is possible to generate the effective color lights by small power when each set of the three color LED elements for radiating each numeral are integrated in each unitary LED element in an IC circuit.

As described in the foregoing embodiments, especially in the embodiments of the color analog display type digital timepieces shown in Figs.11 and 12, since a number of decimal numerals, such as 132 numerals (=12 +60 + 60) are denoted by only the limited number of only 16 numerals (more exactly 18 numerals when the supplemental numbers of 1/2 and 3/4 are counted as independent numbers), a number of superimposed conditions occur among the sixteen numerals during the color indications of these numerals.Accordingly, the red light representative of hours which is otherwise supposed to remain irradiated at a certain numeral for one hour, is often affected by the movement or the elapse of time of the green and blue lights representative of minutes and seconds within a minute, so that the colors of the numerals frequently change as a whole, thus increasing the enjoyment of seeing the elapse of time in addition of knowing actual time.

However, since the red light for irradiating hour numerals remains at a particular numeral during an hour although it is affected b other light colors and its color frequently changes from the red light to the other colors, it is easily perceivable that it is the hour numeral by the occasional appearance of the red light at the particular same hour figure, while the blue indication of other particular numerals representative of seconds is successively moved for every one second.

On the other hand, since the green light for irradiating minute numerals remains at a particular numeral or numerals during one minute, it is easily perceivable that it is the minute numeral although it is also affected by the other lights, because known mixed color of green and other color or colors remains at the same numeral during one minute.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 11 to 15, the numerals representative of time are displayed by the three primary colors of light. It is however also possible to allot each of particular sounds to each numeral and to generate sounds by known sound generating means, so as to produce almost an infinite number of melody sounds as particular numerals are superimposed with each other with elapse of time as shown in the attached table II.

Each of the chords which are produced when any two numerals are superimposed respectively is known, so that one can perceive the elapse of time even in seconds as well as minutes and hours by merely hearing sounds in this embodiment according to the present invention. This will help blind people and handicapped people as well in their search for a way to new vacational opportunities. In this embodiment, if it is troublesome to hear the sounds, the provision of a switch will solve the problem. Namely, the switch for sound generating means is normally turned off to stop generating sounds and when one wants to know the elapse of time from the musical sounds at every moment, the switch for the sound generating means can be turned on.

Moreover, when the day of the month, the month of the year and/or year are indicated by the combination of the numerals and a color or colors together with the time (seconds, minutes, and hours) on the displays of the timempieces shown in Figs. 11 to 16 according to the present invention, more color variations as well as the pleasure of finding the time can be enjoyed.

As described in the foregoing embodiments, the analog display type digital timepieces utilizing the analog type time display methods according to the present invention have the unique features which will drastically change the concept of the timepieces of various kinds according to the prior art; such as easiness of seeing the display surface, familiality, and easy changeability in the time indications by colors. In other words, the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention, is beautiful and enjoyable and the elapse of time can be perceived every seconds, minute and hour audio-visually and tactually.

The following is the effects of the invention.

(1) The numerals on the display face are easy to look at as the display surface is an analog type display although it is certainly a digital timepiece, (2) The necessary number of 132 numerals can be denoted by a less limited number of 16 decimal numbers in the analog display type digital timepiece. Accordingly, in the color time display system according to the present invention, since same numerals are frequently used for displaying seconds, minutes and hours, a wide variety of color changes for the numerals on the display can be enjoyed.

(3) In the digital timepieces according to the prior art, the numerals in the unit of hour do not change for at least one hour and the l0-position numerals of minutes change only five times between ten minutes to fifty minutes, whereas in the color time display system according to the present invention, since the irradiated colors of the numerals in minutes and hours are affected by the colors of the numerals in seconds, its aesthetic beauty can be enjoyed.

(4) In one embodiment according to the present invention, as the numerals to be displayed on the display can be independently rearranged, decorative amusements can be enjoyed together with the color indications with respect to the numerals.

(5) In another embodiment according to the present invention, critically changing melodies can be generated by a well known tone generator by allotting each of the particular sounds to the display numerals and these melodies are all different ones and can not be the same for twelve hours, since there appear no same combinations of time numerals for twelve hours.

(6) In the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention, the elapse of seconds and minutes as well as hours can be perceived by sounds at every moment.

(7) In the still another embodiment according to the present invention, the predetermined number of decimal numerals are preliminarily fixed on the display face of the timepiece while particular different color lights are preliminarily allotted to seconds, minutes, and hours so that the elapse of time can be perceived by the color changes in each of the decimal numbers illuminated or irradiated by each of the particular colors or the combination of colors generated by color generating means.

The color patterns about the numerals on the display of the analog display type digital timepiece according to the present invention change for every one second and the same color patterns never occur within twelve hours.

(8) Since the decimal numbers for the time indications can be fixed on the display surface, they can be made of wood, and opaque plastic or glasses which are more decorative materials, unlike the LCD display elements of the conventional digital timepieces. As a result, when the decimal numerals for the time indications are irradiated by the primary color lights, the elapse of time beyond that shown by any kinds of the conventional timepieces can be enjoyed by the changes in colors on the display surface, according to the present invention.

(9) In the another embodiment of the present invention, the numerals for displaying the elapse of time maybe formed in a raised configuration respectively on the display surface and the display elemens Pl, P2, P3 ... may be formed as protrusions which can be protruded on the display surface when energized while they can be retracted under the display surface when not energized.

Consequently, a blind person having the timepiece according to the present invention can perceive the elapse of time at every moment by touching the display surface and can know what time it is now, even as to seconds. In this embodiment, it is to be noted that since the raised decimal numerals shown in Fig. 9 are arranged in a basic order from 1, 2, 3, 4 , 10, 11, 12, 0, 1/2, 3/4, 5, the mere touching of the display surface centering around the display points to see whether they are protruded or not, will enable one to easily know what time it is now from the positional relationship on the display numerals, when he has got used to it. In other words, the elapse of time can easily be perceived by a person who has lost his sight and sense of hearing, by the touching of the display surface.

As described in the foregoing embodiments of the analog display type digital timepieces according to the present invention, the elapse of time can be indicated beautifully and enjoyed audio-visually as changes in colors and/or changes in sounds, and it can also tactually be perceived accurately by the touch of hands (or feet) of handicaped people even from seconds, so that they will become the ultimate digital timepieces.

Claims (30)

1. A method of displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner of a digital timepiece having a first signal output section for producing a first signal representative of seconds, a second signal output section for producing a second signal representative of minutes, a third signal output section for producing a third signal representative of hours and a display section for displaying the time wherein the method comprises the steps of:: forming the external appearance of the display surface of the display section of the digital timepiece similar to that of an analog timepieces; arranging twelve numerals 1 to 12 for the analog timepieces on the periphery of the display surface similar to an analog timepiece; providing a multiple of display segments in the radial direction on the display surface so as to permit on the display surface line images to appear, which correspond to each of second, minute, and hour hands of the analog timepiece in accordance with the second, minute, and hour signals produced from each of the signal output sections; and rotating each of the line images at each of predetermined time intervals respectively in accordance with the elapse of the time of the digital timepiece.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the line image corresponding to the second hand is stepped forward for every predetermined seconds while the line images to the minute and hour hands are stepped forward for every one minute and for every one hour, respectively.

3. A method of displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner of a digital timepiece having a first signal output section for producing a first signal representative of seconds, a second signal output section for producing a second signal representative of minutes, a third signal output section for producing a third signal representative of hours and a display section for displaying time wherein the method further comprises the steps of:: dividing the display surface of said display section having a particular shape into the predetermined number of display zones; arranging in a predetermined order, the main twelve numerals 1 to 12 for an analog timepiece and the predetermined number of auxiliary numerals on each of the display zones thus divided; providing each first set of display points for indicating seconds, minutes and hours at predetermined positions on the display surface in the vicinity of the main twelve numerals within each display zone while providing each second set of display points for indicating seconds and minutes at predetermined positions thereon in the vicinity of the auxiliary numerals within each display zone; and energizing said display points successively in a predetermined order in accordance with the first, second and third signals representative of seconds, minutes, and hours produced from each of the signal output sections; whereby the main and auxiliary numerals are commonly used for indicating seconds, minutes, and hours so as to display the elapse of time in an analog manner from the energized conditions of each set of display points at the predetermined positions by being determined by whether or not particular display points thus energized belong to the numerals for the indication of seconds, minutes, or hours, respectively.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the auxiliary numerals are 0, 1/2, 3/4, and 5.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the method further comprises the step of forming said display points by lamps, LED elements or LCD elements.

6. A method of displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner of a digital timepiece having a first signal output section for producing a first signal representative of seconds, a second signal output section for producing a second signal representative of minutes, a third signal output section for producing a third signal representative of hours, and a display section for displaying the time wherein the method further comprises the steps of:: (a) dividing the display surface of said display section having a particular shape into the predetermined number of display zones; (b) arranging, in a predetermined order, the main twelve numerals 1 to 12 for an analog timepiece and the predetermined number of auxiliary numerals on each of the display zones thus divided; (c) providing within each display zone of the main numerals, each first set of light emitting means for emitting at least three different colors of light so as to irradiate the main numerals and within each display zone of the auxiliary numerals each second set of light emitting means for emitting at least two different colors of light so as to irradiate the auxiliary numerals;; (d) allotting a first color of light emitted from one of said light emitting means for the indication of seconds, a second color of light emitted from the other of said light emitting means for the indication of minutes and a third color of light emitted from the remaining light emitting means for the indication of hours; (e) irradiating each of the main and auxiliary numerals by the different colors of lights emitted from said light emitting means in synchronization with each of the first, second, and third signals representative of seconds, minutes and hours produced from each of the signal output sections, respectively; and (f) stepping forward the irradiation of the color.

lights on each of the main and auxiliary numerals in a predetermined order in accordance with the elapse of time of the digital timepiece, thereby enabling one to know the elapse of time from the different light colors and their variations as well as from the particular numerals thus irradiated by the different colors of light.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the auxiliary numerals are 0, 1/2, 3/4, and 5.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first color of light is blue,- the second color of light is green, and the third color of light is red.

9. The method as claimed in claim 3 or claim 6 wherein the predetermined number of display zones are sixteen.

10. The method of displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner of a digital timepiece as claimed in claim 3 or 6 wherein eight musical sounds of the first octave and the first four sounds of the second octave are allotted to the main twelve numerals and the next one musical sound of the second octave plus the same first five musical sounds of the first octave are allotted to the auxiliary numerals and each of the musical sounds and its combined sounds are generated from sound generating means in synchronization with the signals representative of seconds, minutes, and hours, from each of the signal output sections of the digital timepiece, while indicating the elapse of time on the display section.

11. An analog display type digital timepiece having a first signal output section for producing a first signal representative of seconds, a second signal output section for producing a second signal representative of minutes, and a third signal output section for producing a third signal representative of hours, respectively wherein the digital timepiece further comprises:: a display section for displaying the elapse of time ill an analog manner, the display surface of said display section having a particular shape being divided into the predetermined number of display zones; the main twelve numerals for an analog timepiece and the predetermined number of auxiliary numerals arranged in a predetermined order on each of the display zones thus divided;; each first set of display points for indicating seconds) minutes, and hours arranged at predetermined positions on the display surface in the vicinity of the main twelve numerals within each display zone and each second set of display points for indicating seconds and minutes arranged at predetermined positions therefore in the vicinity of the auxiliary numerals within each display zone respectively so as to successiveln erlergize each of said display points in the predetermined order in accordance with tile first, second, and third sigrlals jepresentative of seconds, minutes, and hours, produced from each of the signal output sections; whereby the main and auxiliary numerals are commonly used for indicating seconds7minutes, and hours so as to display the elapse of time in an analog manner from the energized conditions of each set of the display points from the fact of whether or not the particular display points thus energized belong to the numerals for the indication of seconds, minutes, or hours respectively.

12. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 11 wherein said auxiliary numerals are 0, 1/2, 3/4, and 5.

13. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 11 wherein said display points are lamps, LED elements or LCD elements.

14. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 11 wherein said display points are for emitting a single color of light respectively.

15. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of the numerals is formed in a housing shape made of plastic material having an opaque milky color so as to accomodate therein each set of display points.

16. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of said display points is made of a protrusion which is protruded from the display surface when energized and which is retracted under the display surface when not energized.

17. The analpg display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of the display points for indicating seconds is a light emitting means for blue, each of the display points for indicating minutes is a light emitting means for green, and each of the display points for indicating hours is a light emitting means for red.

18. An analog display type digital timepiece having a first signal output section for producing a first signal representative of seconds, a second signal output section for producing a second signal representative of minutes, and a third signal output section for producing a third signal representative of hours, wherein the digital timepiece further comprises: a plurality of light emitting means for emitting at least three different colors of light for the indication of time, the first color of light emitted from said light emitting means being allotted for the indication of seconds, the second color of light emitted from said light emitting means being allotted for the indication of minutes, and the third color of light emitted from said light emitting means being allotted for the indication of hours:: a display section for displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner, the display surface of said display section being divided into the predetermined number of display zones; and the main twelve numerals for an analog timepiece and the predetermined number of particular auxiliary numerals, arranged in a predetermined order on each of the display zones thus divided;; whereby each of the particular numerals on the display surface is irradiated by the first color light representative of seconds, the second color light representative of minutes, and the third color light representative of hours in synchronization with each of said first, second and third signals produced from each of the signal output sections of the digital timepiece and is stepped forward in a predetermined sequence in accordance with the elapse of time of the digital timepiece, so as to enable one to know the elapse of time from different light colors and their variations and from the particular numerals thus irradiated by the light colors.

19. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 18 wherein said first color of light is blue, said second color of light is green, and said third colour of light is red.

20. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 18 wherein said light emitting means are color lamps, color LED elements, color LCD elements or color plasma, display elements.

21. An analog display type digital timepiece having a first signal output section for producing a first signal representative of seconds, a second signal output section for producing a second signal representative of minutes, a third signal output section for producing a third signal representative of hours, respectively and a display section for displaying the elapse of time in an analog manner wherein the digital timepiece further comprises:: The display surface of said display section being divided into the predetermined number of independently separated display zones, each being connected with each uther by electrical lead wires the main twelve numerals for an analog timepiece and the predetermined number of auxiliary numerals arranged in a predetermined order on each of the independently separated display zones thus divided;; a plurality of sets of light emitting means for emitting at least three different colors of light for the indication of time, the first color of light emitted from a first light emitting means being allotted for the indication of seconds, the second color of light emitted from a second light emitting means being allotted for the indication of minutes, and the third color of light emitted from a third light emitting means being allotted for the indication of hours; and a power supply and-control portion as a digital timepiece for supplying power and for controlling each of said independently separated display zones through said lead wires; whereby each of the particular numerals on the display zones is irradiated by the first color of light representative of seconds, the second color of light representative of minutes, and the third color of light representative of hours, in synchronization with each of the first, second, and third signals produced from each of the signal output sections of the digital timepiece and is stepped forward in a predetermined sequence in accordance with the elapse of time shown from different colors of light and their variations and from particular arabic numerals thus irradiated by the light colors.

22. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 18 or 21 wherein each of said display zones is a square shape respectively.

23. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 21 wherein each of said display zones is a cubic shape respectively.

24. The analog display type digital time piece as claimed in claim 18 or 21 wherein each of said display zones is circular.

25. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 21 wherein the first color of light is blue, the second color of light is green, and the third color of light is red.

26. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claims 11, 18 or 21 wherein the predetermined number of the divided zones is sixteen.

27. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 18 or 21 wherein the display surface thus divided is made of plastic material having an opaque milky color so as to produce the primary light color effects when color lamps or color LED elements are used.

28. The analog display type digital timepiece as claimed in claim 18 or 21 wherein each of said display zones is a triangular shape.

29. An analog display type digital timepiece produced by the method as claimed in any of claims 1 through 10.

30. An analog display type digital timepiece having a first signal output section for producing a first signal representative of seconds, a second signal output section for producing a second signal representative of minutes, and a third signal output section for producing a third signal representative of hours, respectively wherein the digital timepiece further comprises:: a plurality of gate means consisting of more than one gate steps provided between unit and ten-position counters of each of said output sections, first and second gate switches provided at paths to a time display section for blocking the output signals from "0" to D from said unit counter and also for bloclcing the output signal 1" of the ten-position counter about the second and minute counters, and a third gate switch provided at the paths to the display section for blocking the output signals "1" and "2" from the unit counter about the clock counter, each of said gate switch being closed by each carry signal from the unit counter while the first and second gate switches being opened by any one of the output' signals from the final gate means of each gate step in such that at least 132 output signals necessary for the time indications can be produced from said signal output sections.