Abstract: The wrist watch comprises essentially a battery (10), two electric motors (11, 12) which moves the hands (13, 14, 15) on the one hand and a disk of dates (16) on the other hand, an electronic circuit (23) and a watch-type microprocessor (22). When there is a determination by the electronic circuit (23) of the end of the life of the battery, the microprocessor powers the motor (12) in such a manner that the date displayed in the window (17) of the watch is displaced with respect to its normal position.

Abstract: An electronic watch having an electronic circuit to perform advanced features that is able to distinguish between a first case in which an access code for entry into a programming mode has been correctly entered and the programming operation has been correctly done, from a second case in which the access code has not been correctly entered and/or the programming has not been done correctly. Access to a programming mode of a perpetual calendar feature built into the watch is controlled by requiring at least one manipulation of a time-setting rod in view of its attribution to at least one function other than the functions of correction of the date and day, and to control the watch in the manner of an ordinary watch in the second case and to attribute, in this case to at least one manipulation of the rod, the functions of correction of date and day.

Abstract: The wristwatch displays the date through a window in the dial. To achieve this, the watch comprises a rotatable disc (13) bearing a first series of numbers corresponding to some of the days of the month, and a second series of numbers corresponding to the remaining days, said series being arranged in two concentric circles. To ensure that the date numbers pass the hatch in chronological order, the disc is rotatably driven by a motor (70) combined with an endless screw (71), and translatably driven by a motor (72) combined with an endless screw (73) to pivot a circle sector (74) about a spindle (75). Both said motors are controlled by an electronic circuit (76).

Abstract: The device for implementing the method for the automatic initialisation of the date display of a perpetual calendar electronic watch comprising a face fitted with a window and a date disk permits, every time the watch stops, at the moment the electronic circuit is reconnected, the automatic identification of the date appearing in the window, by optically analysing a code attributed to this date and by memorizing this data by means of the electronic circuit. This optical device (10) comprises a source (11) emitting a beam of light (12), reflective surfaces (13) fixed onto the date disk (15) and a receiver (14). The beam (16) reflected by a surface (13) is intercepted by the receiver (14) which supplies a signal to the electronic circuit (17) which controls an electronic motor (18) driving the disk (15) by a system of reduction gears (19, 20).

Abstract: The device for performing the method for detecting the zero position of a hand of a quartz watch with analogue display enables a beam of light to be generated and directed onto a reflective surface integral with a moving part bearing the hand, the reflected beam to be received on a detector and the position for which the output signal of the detector is maximal to be determined to make it correspond to the zero position of the hand when assembling the watch. This device comprises a source (1) emitting a beam of light (2) and a receiver (3) which intercepts the reflected beam (4) returned by a very reflective area (5). This area is integral with a surface of a moving part (6), for example the wheel bearing the second hand and, depending on the position of this wheel, the reflective surface may occupy a position (5) or an adjacent position (5') staggered by less than one step.

Abstract: This device is specified for a wrist watch, comprising at least one bi-directional electric motor, at least one mechanism coupled to this motor to drive a day disk (12) and a date disk (10), and at least one electronic circuit designed to transmit control impulses to this motor. This mechanism comprises a drive wheel (11) coupled to the motor and two date fingers (14, 15) pivoting respectively on two axes (16, 17) borne by said drive wheel (11) to increment, and decrement respectively, the date disk (10). The drive wheel (11) also bears a control wheel (22) for a day star (13) designed to increment, or respectively decrement, the day disk (12) by means of said day star (13). The control wheel (22) for the day star is concentric with the drive wheel (11) and integral with the latter when it rotates in one direction or the other.

Abstract: A process for programming the perpetual calendar of a watch with analog time display is effected using elements incorporated in the watch. The hand of the watch and the position of the hand is used to indicate the steps of the programming. The operation of the stem places the watch in the program mode. If it is required to program three parameters, namely, the number of the year in a four year cycle, the number of the month of the year and the day of the month; and if the watch has a hand setting stem with three positions, each parameter to be programmed is allocated to a position of the stem and the parameters to be programmed are read from the second hand by allocating to the latter real steps corresponding to stopping positions and non allowable steps corresponding to non stopping positions.

Abstract: The chronometer comprises a face (11) having a first sector (14) which bears reference marks (12A) and a second sector (15) bearing reference marks (12B). A single hand is designed to move at a first speed between the starting point M of reference marks (12A) and the final point 30 of these reference marks and at a second speed between the starting point 30 of reference marks (12B) and the final point 0 of these reference marks. The displacement of the hand over the first sector lasts exactly nine minutes and thirty seconds. The displacement of the hand over the second sector lasts thirty seconds. This chronometer is specially designed to control the preparation time preceding the start of regattas.

Abstract: A device for controlling or correcting the readout of the day of the week or date for an analog watch, comprising a crown cogged on the inside and integral with a date or day disk, a bi-directional drive motor and a drive wheel coupled to the drive motor, the drive wheel having two opposite spring-loaded clicks and an arcuate slot in which a fixed stud is engaged, the stud cooperating with the edges of the slot to limit the travel of the drive wheel. The drive mechanism of the date or day disk can thus be recentered automatically after the watch has stopped while simultaneously compensating the rated steps of the motor.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is the realization of a motor assembly formed from a stepping motor and its control circuit capable of operating at a maximum speed substantially greater than that obtainable with comparable existing assemblies.This is effected by substituting for the single coil or for each coil of a known motor two or more windings and adopting a control circuit which connects the windings in series or parallel according to whether motor drive pulses of low or high frequency are applied thereto. The total number of winding turns and the sum of the resistances of the windings are preferably chosen to be equal respectively to the number of turns and the resistance of the coil which they replace in order to avoid basic modification of the characteristics and performances of the motor when operating at low speed.When the windings are connected in parallel their resistance and equivalent self-inductance are less than that of a single coil.

Abstract: A watch comprising at least a minute hand, an hour hand and a knobbed shaft which can occupy an extended axial position known as a correcting position.Minute-by-minute correction or correction by whole time zones is operated with the knobbed shaft in the same extended position by the selection of the speed at which the knob is rotated. Time zone correction always uses as point of reference the real time at the moment of actuation of the knob into the extended position, and the watch includes means operative to cancel any step-by-step correction of the minute hand which may have preceded the time zone correction.

Abstract: The invention provides an electronic watch having an analog display with time indicating hands, a digital display and control means including a crown adapted to act on contacts arranged so as to provide signals representing rotary and axial displacements of said crown to an electronic selection and correction circuit.Responding to movements of the crown, the electronic circuit determines the operating mode of the watch and modifies the indications given by the displays. In a special synchronizing mode the two displays are set to indicate the same information and the analog form thereof may be adjusted to coincide with the digital form.

Abstract: The device includes two driving circuit (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) each of which includes six power transistors (T.sub.11 -T.sub.16, T.sub.21 -T.sub.26) that are connected in pairs into three parallel circuit branches. A first coil (B.sub.11) of one of the motors and a first coil (B.sub.21) of the other are, on the one hand, both connected to the junctions of the transistors of one of the branches of one of the driving circuits (C.sub.1) and, on the other hand, respectively connected to the junctions of the transistors of the two other branches of this circuit. The same applies for the second coils (B.sub.12, B.sub.22) of the motors and the other driving circuit (C.sub.2). The various transistors are controlled so that the two coils of the same motor simultaneously receive the current pulses which are needed to make it turn but by preventing the simultaneous application of current pulses to a coil from one of the motors and to a coil from the other.

Abstract: For performing a very precise detection of the position of at least one hand, the watch is provided with an electro-optical detection device.The detection device comprises a wheel 8 carrying a mirror 26. The wheel 8 is intermittently driven by the driving member 6 for defining n angular positions of the mirror 26. The member 6 is meshing with the gear train 12 of the watch. It further comprises a light emitter 30 and a light receiver 32 which receives a light beam when the mirror 26 is in an angular position corresponding to the reference position of the hand. The number n is inferior to the number of steps performed by the hand during a complete revolution of said hand.

Abstract: A watch which comprises movable analog display members, a dial and a digital display cell surrounded by said dial. The watch is further provided with means that can be controlled by the user of the watch, for making the digital display device visible or invisible, as desired.The digital display cell is of the twist nematic type.A liquid crystal layer 60a is positioned between two polarizers 60b and 60c. Polarizer 60c can be rotated about an axis 12 perpendicular to its plane by actuating means 13a, 14, 15, 17 which is accessible from the outside of the casing of the watch. The cell can be made substantially invisible by rotating the movable polarizer 60b in order to position its polarizing plane either parallel or perpendicular to the polarizing plane of the other polarizer 60c, depending on whether the color of the dial around the cell is dark or light respectively.

Abstract: An electronic watch comprising a stepping motor for driving a mechanism for displaying the time information, a quartz oscillator, a frequency divider with an adjustable division factor, a circuit for adjusting the division factor, a memory containing data relating to the magnitude of said adjustment and a logic circuit which, in response to an interrogation signal, produces a measuring signal which is supplied to the coil of the stepping motor and which comprises pulses whose distribution is representative of the division factor and the frequency of the oscillator and whose duration is sufficiently short so as not to cause the motor to turn and sufficiently long to cause a magnetic stray field of the coil of the motor which can be detected by an external apparatus for measuring the rate of the watch.

Abstract: Reduces the consumption of an electronic time piece equipped with a motor 4 driving a display unit 5. A quartz oscillator 1 feeds a supply circuit 3 through a frequency divider 2. The supply circuit 3 of the motor and its control circuit 9 periodically decrease the pulse energy supplied to the motor in response to a reference signal 8.2 provided by a reference counter say every 60 seconds. The energy then supplied to the motor is regulated as a function of the presence or absence of a signal delivered by a detection switch 7 operated by the display unit. If the detection switch does not close, compensating pulses are fed to the motor to catch up the lost seconds and the pulse energy is stepped up.

Abstract: A resilient member for connecting a crystal to a watch casing in which the crystal is used for generating acoustic signals. The member is of generally annular configuration with an inner portion rigidly connected to the circumference of the crystal, an outer peripheral portion connected to a supporting member of the watch casing, and a free portion extending between the inner portion and the outer peripheral portion. The free portion has a width and a thickness which permits flexing in a direction normal to the plane of the crystal so that the crystal can vibrate in a direction normal to its plane and act as an acoustical transmitting member.

Abstract: Touch sensitive key switches of an electronic watch which control functions of the watch such as time setting, are gated to reduce the power consumption of the watch. The key switches are capacitive and are fed signals derived from the time standard oscillator of the watch. A change in the key switch signals when the switches are touched by the user activate the time setting functions. Gates are provided coupling the signals derived from the oscillator to the key switches so that the signals are applied to the key switches either under control of the user or during repetitive time periods, reducing the time the signals are applied to the key switches and the power necessary to continuously supply such signals to the key switches.

Abstract: A method for the display of information by means of a multi-element passive display device, the elements being separately activated, matrixially arranged and at least two elements required to be activated for display of information. The type of display involves use of a liquid crystal cell formed of electrodes and counter-electrodes carried by two glass plates respectively and the said elements are parts of said electrodes and counter-electrodes.The method comprises the election for activation of elements which are adjacent in any direction, that is, either those superposed, or side by side or diagonally arranged. This method enables use of conventionally shaped characters of greater individual size than heretofore available and is useful for display of dates and/or days of the week on electro-optic watches.