AUTOMATIC DISPLAY ILLUMINATION FOR A MULTIMODE WRISTWATCH

An improvement in a multimode electronic wristwatch of the type having a display, a lamp for illuminating the display, manually actuated switches and an integrated circuit programmed in a first logic sequence to light the lamp in response to actuation of a first switch, to change modes in response to actuation of a second switch and to change information displayed in each mode in response to actuation of a third switch. The improvement comprises transfer logic responsive to actuating the first switch for more than 2 seconds so as to alter the first logic sequence into a second logic sequence, wherein actuation of either of the second or third switches will automatically light the lamp momentarily in addition to duplicating the first logic sequence. The program returns the watch to the first logic sequence after a period of time, 3 hours in the example shown.