Abstract: There is disclosed a wristwatch having a case containing a mechanical watch movement (10) driven by a spring barrel (14) and provided with a mechanical regulator with a balance and balance-spring, which is associated, via electromagnetic coupling, with an electronic regulator driven by a quartz resonator. The rim of the balance (13) is provided with a pair of permanent magnets (38, 39). The electronic regulator includes a fixed coil (12) arranged for cooperating with said magnets via electromagnetic coupling, a rectifier (58) provided with at least one capacitor, and a circuit (60) for enslaving the frequency of the mechanical regulator to the frequency of the oscillator by braking obtained by briefly short-circuiting the coil. In order to enable a common type of mechanical movement to be used, only the balance of which is altered, the electronic regulator is formed by a structural module (11) that is entirely separate from the mechanical watch movement (10).

Abstract: The invention concerns a watch wristband of the type including at least one row of central links (10) of longitudinal axis AA, two rows of pairs of lateral links (11) facing each other symmetrically with respect to the axis in order to connect the central links (10) to each other and a plurality of lugs (24) assembling the central links with the lateral links in an articulated manner. This wristband is characterized in that each central link (10) includes a core (12), a layer of carbon fiber fabric (13) covering the core and two flanges (15) respectively secured to the faces of the core connection to the lateral links.

Abstract: The annual calendar mechanism comprises a drive wheel set (1) fitted with a first finger (2) driving a date disc (4) through one step once a day and a second finger (5) driving a plate (6) secured to an annual wheel (7) arranged coaxially to the date ring at the end of the months of less than thirty one days. An intermediate wheel (8) connects the annual wheel (7) to the date ring (4) at the end of each month. The annual wheel (7) comprises twice as many teeth (30) as there are months in a year and the intermediate wheel (8) comprises a first wheel (40) meshed with the annual wheel (7) and a second wheel (50) fixed to the first wheel, said second wheel being meshed, at the end of each month, with a snug (60) arranged inside the date ring (4).

Abstract: A clock includes a main body having a lower space and provided with a protruding post extended into the lower space, a face plate mounted on the main body and formed with a plurality of holes, a tumbler mounted in the lower space of the main body and rested on the protruding post, a top cover mounted on the main body to form an upper space, and a plurality of rolling balls mounted in the upper space and placed on the face plate. Thus, the clock has a playing function and can produce a figure arrangement variation.

Abstract: A timepiece, includes a Chinese calendar display device indicating lunar date and lunar month, taking account of bissextile months, and: a control lever actuated each day by a drive wheel of the timepiece movement; a lunar month indicator associated with a month star-wheel; a lunar date indicator associated with a date wheel set including a date wheel moved forward one step each day by the control lever, a lunar month length indicator coupled to a selector, having two positions manually controlled and alternately defining two different stop positions for the lever, respectively corresponding to a long month and to a short month, the control lever moves the date wheel forward one extra step at the end of short months; and a month indicator coupled to a bissextile month selector, having two positions manually controlled and that moves the month star—wheel back one step at the start of bissextile months.

Abstract: A vibrational alarm device for use in combination with an alarm clock, includes a receiver for receiving a RF alarm signal transmitted by the alarm clock, an operating circuit for providing an operating signal in response to the receiver receiving the alarm signal, and an electro-mechanical vibrator for vibration in response to the operating signal provided by the operating circuit. A casing houses the receiver, the operating circuit, and the vibrator for vibration by the vibrator to provide a vibrational alarm signal.

Abstract: A multi-functional calendar structure includes a calendar made up of a set of upper and lower layers wherein the upper layer has week elements, day elements, and month elements respectively marked at the front face thereon, and a plurality of empty elements for recording important occasions or favorable/forbidden events in the month sequentially arranged at the bottom of the front face thereon. Each of the day and empty elements is provided with a set of top and bottom dotted tearing lines, a set of transversely U-shaped left and right cut areas disposed at both adjacent edges of the top/bottom dotted tearing lines thereof, an oblique cut opening defining the lower section of the left cut area thereof, and an adhesive portion properly coated at the reverse face thereon and limited within the left/right cut areas thereof. The lower layer is also provided with identical day and empty elements in corresponding positions relative to that of the upper layer thereof.

Abstract: To provide a structure capable of performing a correction which surely and easily turns a date display back by rotating a 1st date indicator and a 2nd date indicator in both positive and reverse directions. A timepiece with a calendar mechanism possesses a 1st date indicator, a 2nd date indicator, and a date intermediate wheel which rotates the 2nd date indicator by a rotation of the 1st date indicator. Calendar shift teeth of the 1st date indicator possess a positive rotation unlocking part and a reverse rotation unlocking part.

Abstract: This mechanism comprises a date runner, a months satellite with five teeth on a pitch for twelve, secured to the date runner, a fixed planetary toothset and a drive member for driving the date runner comprising two drive fingers, the first intersecting the path of the toothset of the date runner, the second intersecting the path of the toothset of the months satellite. The latter is connected to the planetary toothset by a second satellite secured to it and the number of teeth of which is equal to a multiple of twelve, the number of teeth of the planetary toothset being chosen so that one of the five teeth of the months satellite is aligned with the axes of the satellites, of the drive member and of the date runner on the 30th of each month comprising less than 31 days.

Abstract: An oscillating weight for an automatic watch is arranged to carry a bearing defining an axis of rotation (A—A) and is intended to be mounted on the frame of the watch. The mass member of the weight has a center of gravity (G) shifted with respect to the axis of rotation. In this weight, this mass member includes two parts that can be moved one (10, 18) in relation to the other (24), and arranged such that their relative movement causes a radial movement of the center of gravity (G) of the mass member. The mass member also has a securing device (13, 14, 16b) cooperating with the first and second parts, capable of occupying a first state in which the parts can be moved with reference to each other, and a second state in which the parts are rigidly secured to each other.

Abstract: A watch winder can automatically wind numerous kind/brand of self-winding watch and maintains the main-spring in ideal tension range. The watch in winding can always be positioned in its favorable showing orientation. The watch in winding can be mounted or dismounted easily. The noise produced by the winder is reduced significantly to a low level. The winder comprises a rotary bowl with central rectangular recess for receiving a cushion holder inserted on the bowl. An electrical noise-proof motor-gear system drives the rotary bowl. An IC circuitry installed under the panel controls the rotation mode of the motor-gear system. A length-wise retractile cushion holder is inserted in the recess with its width tightly fitted for carrying the watch in place. A switch means is installed on the panel with an indicating means for selecting a respective mode to drive the rotary base.

Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece component comprising a watch movement provided with a main barrel acting as power source for a timekeeping device of the watch movement and an auxiliary barrel designed to supply mechanical power to an additional device, and mechanical control means capable of being manually actuated to trigger said additional device, characterised in that said control means are arranged to simultaneously trigger the additional device and wind the auxiliary barrel.

Abstract: A photoelectric generating means (6) is disposed proximally to the surface of the dial (21) on the back cover (3) side, and the dial (21) is made of a magnetic, optically transparent material. The support substrate (62) of the photoelectric generating means (6) is a nonmagnetic material, and the antenna (5) is located proximally to the surface of the support substrate (62) on the back cover (3) side. Because the support substrate (62) is a nonmagnetic material, external RF signals can pass through the dial (21) and photoelectric generating means (6) to the coil (52) of the antenna (5), and signals can thus be received by the antenna (5). Because the antenna (5) can be contained inside the case member (1), the appearance can be improved.

Abstract: A method for tracking total usage time of an electronic device comprising the steps of evaluating a predetermined usage increment timer until a predetermined time period expires, incrementing a total-usage counter, resetting the timer to measure a next occurrence of the predetermined time period, repeating the aforementioned steps and outputting the value representing the total usage time of the device. A multi-mode electronic device that carries out the aforementioned method is also provided. Still further, the present invention provides a method of and device for tracking total usage time or number of activations of any feature or mode within the device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a portable object such as a timepiece (18) capable of being worn on a user's wrist by means of a wristband, this portable object being supplied with electric power by at least one rechargeable accumulator able to be recharged by induction charging means, these inductive charging means including a primary winding (56) and a secondary winding (2), said portable object being characterised in that the secondary winding (2) is housed in a strand (16, 26) of the wristband.

Abstract: A multi mode alert timer having a timer display, switches for start stop and reset functions and audible, visible, and tactile alert signal selection and a housing where a user may select a timer alert signal including the individual alert signals or any combination thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved interactive television having a timer. The timer alerts a television viewer of the expiration of preset timers. For example, the preset timers may be associated with events not traditionally related to television content, such as a kitchen timer. The exemplary kitchen timer can alert a television viewer that a baking time has expired. Thus, the timer can manage alerts in a non-intrusive manner to enhance the viewer's experience.

Abstract: A time correction system has a timepiece with pointers for displaying the time, and a correction instruction device. The correction instruction device has a timing section for timing reference time data, a time input section for inputting pointed time data corresponding to the time indicated by the pointers, a comparison section for comparing the reference time data and the pointed time data, and a communication section for outputting a correction instruction signal based on the results of this comparison to the pointer type timepiece. The pointer type timepiece has an external signal detection circuit for receiving the correction instruction signal, a drive control section for controlling the driving of the pointers, and a time correction control circuit for matching the readings of the pointers with the reference time data based on the received correction instruction signal.

Abstract: The tri-axial tourbillon comprises a cage (A) containing the balance (1), the escape wheel (2) and the escape pinion (3) rotating around an axis (A1) and mounted in a second cage (B) rotating around an axis (A2), the cage (B) in turn being mounted rotably in a third cage (C) rotating around an axis (A3) that is fixed relative to the timepiece, the three axes (A1, A2, A3) being perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: The power generated by a power generating means (1) of a power-generating type electronic clock is measured by a first power generating sensing means (101) and a second power generating sensing means (102). The power generation level required when the operation is changed from a normal mode to a power-saving mode and the power generation level required when the operation is changed from the power-saving mode back to the normal mode are made different to prevent the phenomenon that the operation changes frequently by imparting hysteresis characteristics to the power generation level which causes a change in the mode, thereby improving the power-saving effect.