Abstract: A ballpoint pen of conventional size and shape has a movable ball point that is pressed upwardly in the direction of the housing of the pen when a mark is made. Means is provided for normally biasing the ballpoint outwardly of the housing. However, when the ballpoint is pressed against a writing surface, the refill cartridge having the ball at the lower end thereof is moved upwardly to close a normally open switch which connects a solar cell array in circuit with an electronic counter that counts each time the switch is closed. Controlled by the counter is a liquid crystal display that visually indicates the total number of counts. A second switch is actuated by gravity to reset or clear the counter in preparation for counting a succeeding group of marks.

Abstract: A small electric device powered by solar cells and by a capacitive charge storage element has stable actuation assured during startup with an as yet uncharged capacitor. Startup problems are avoided by control of the power supply with a threshold value circuit that allows power to be supplied to device components when the components' minimum actuating voltage level has been attained at the capacitor. A deactuating voltage value of the threshold value circuit that is lower than the actuating voltage level prevents interruptions of operation similar to relaxation oscillation behavior due to temporarily increased actuating power requirements by causing deactivation of the components only if the capacitor voltage has dropped below a predetermined operational minimum.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece which indicates time with a plurality of hands driven by a plurality of motors respectively, has an electric source comprised of energy supplementary means such as solar batteries and accumulating means such as secondary batteries. At least one of the motors is stopped when the remaining energy of the accumulating means becomes lower than a predetermined value, and the timepiece is corrected and driven to indicate the present time by correcting the suspended time when the driving of the motor restarts. Thus, time thereby measurement can be conducted for a long time, restraining the consuming amount of electricity.

Abstract: A large clock with a dial plate having short and long hands driven by a solar cell. The clock is provided with a sealed box-like long hand and a circular chain around the dial plate. The long hand slowly progresses around the circular chain which is engaged by a pinion protruding from the foremost tip of the long hand and driven by a D.C. motor energized by the solar cell. It is found that a small amount of energy is sufficient for driving the long hand by its outer end than by its inner end positioned at the center of the dial plate.

Abstract: A solar timepiece comprises a drive unit including a commercially available battery clock mechanism mounted to the back of a support plate for the solar cells. The clock mechanism includes hands arbors which pass through an opening in the support plate. The support plate is angularly adjustable about the axis of the hands arbors so that the longitudinal extent of the solar cells can be made to coincide with the decoratively adapted orientation of light passage areas in the dial face located directly in front of it.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece including timekeeping circuitry and a primary power source for converting externally applied energy to electrical energy for powering the timekeeping circuitry. The electronic timepiece also includes a secondary power source for storing energy from the primary power source and powering the timekeeping circuitry. A power controller, coupled to the timekeeping circuitry, primary power source and secondary power source controls the source of power of the timekeeping means so that upon the application of external energy to the primary power source, when the timepiece is not operating in the secondary power source and cannot power the timekeeping circuitry the timepiece begins operating substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: An output voltage of a solar cell is supplied to a voltage converter. The voltage converter converts the input voltage into a predetermined voltage, and supplies it to a capacitor. The capacitor is charged by the output current of the voltage converter. The capacitor has a relatively large capacitance. A second voltage converter converts an input voltage from the capacitor into a voltage which is lower than the charged voltage of the capacitor and higher than a minimum operating voltage of a load. The load performs a predetermined operation using the output voltage of the second voltage converter.

Abstract: A thin electronic apparatus comprises as its primary structural components a substrate carrying key counter contacts and a first wiring pattern thereon, and an elastic sheet carrying key symbols on one surface thereof and a second wiring pattern on the other surface thereof. The thin electronic apparatus consists primarily of the substrate bonded to the elastic sheet and electronic components housed in cavities in the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solar cell-powered calculator or the like which features an integrated unit comprising solar cells and a protective filter which provides easier handling and minimum damage to the solar cells during handling processes. Such a solar cell-powered appliance easily implements electrical connection either between the solar cells themselves or between solar cells and peripheral electronic parts merely by placing the cell-filter integrated unit inside the cabinet in a simple process. In addition, such an advantageous configuration makes it possible to replace the solar cells using an extremely simple process.

Abstract: A timepiece operated by solar cells wherein the timepiece includes a base plate defining thereabove a base with a time indicator. Mounted on the base plate is a driver for driving the time indicator. A plurality of circumferentially spaced solar cells are also mounted on the base plate for energizing the driver to drive the time indicator. The solar cells employed are respectively flat-shaped ones, each having a light sensitive surface on its one of two major surfaces, and are spaced circumferentially in a loop within a plane parallel with the base plate. A light guide is mounted on the base plate for transmitting incident light to the light sensitive surface of each solar cell through a deviated or deflected path for the purpose of giving greater design flexibility in the arrangement of the solar cells within a limited space of the timepiece, while retaining maximum light collecting efficiency.

Abstract: A charge control circuit has an excess charge detecting circuit for preventing the excess charge of a secondary battery responsive to the voltage of the secondary battery, and a switching circuit responsive to the output of the excess charge detecting circuit. The switching circuit and the excess charge detecting circuit are operated by the electromotive force of a solar cell without the power dissipation of the secondary battery.

Abstract: A d-c converter for inclusion in a miniature electronic device, such as an electronic wristwatch having a d-c supply source, the converter functioning to increase or decrease the voltage of this source. The converter includes a transformer whose primary is connected to the source through a periodically-actuated chopper to produce an alternating voltage, the secondary of the transformer being connected to a rectifier circuit having at least one controllable switch element whose on-off state is governed in synchronism with the chopper whereby the switch element acts to rectify the secondary voltage.

Abstract: A photoluminescent dye is suspended in a transparent medium. When exposed to light, the dye re-emits light in a narrow frequency range. Photovoltaic cells responsive to the re-emitted light are arranged around the sides of the collector medium, and are electrically connected to a low power demand device, such as a calculator. A reflective surface is placed next to the collector medium and kept a slight distance away such that an air gap is formed between the collector and the reflective surface. This gap increases the efficiency of the collector to the point that the collector will operate a small calculator even though exposed to low light levels such as are normal in an office environment.

Abstract: A charger, which is useful to power a variety of compact type electronic appliances such as an electronic wristwatch, includes one or more solar batteries as a primary battery, and a sealed type silver oxide battery as a secondary battery. Both the amount of charging current amplitude and of charging voltage are limited to protect the sealed silver oxide battery from its own expanse phenomenon.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece including a primary battery as a power source, and a solar battery for charging the primary battery is provided. The electronic timepiece includes a solar battery for producing a charging current in response to solar light being incident thereon, a primary battery adapted to be charged by the charging current and a detecting circuit disposed intermediate the solar battery and the primary battery to detect the state of charge of the primary battery and in response thereto selectively decouple the solar battery from the primary battery. The solar battery can be formed of a plurality of equal area solar cells forming a dial having a non-circular configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device for charging an accumulator from an electric energy source, more particularly one or more solar cells, intended in particular for an electronic wristwatch. The device represents the equivalent of an ideal diode inserted between the source of electrical energy and the battery.A solar cell (1) feeds a charging current to the accumulator (2) via a transistor (3) and, if desired, a diode (7) in parallel with the transistor (3). The conduction state of the transistor (3) is monitored by a differential amplifier (4) which has an off-set voltage (U.sub.off), the value and polarity of which are determined by a generator (5). This off-set voltage (U.sub.off) defines the voltage drop between the energy source and the accumulator (2) which is selected to be between 20 and 50 millivolts.

Abstract: A solar battery timepiece has a structure of a module, a base plate on the module, a solar battery cell on the base plate, an insulating flexible sheet provided with a print wiring and interposed between the base plate and the solar battery cell, and a dial ring attached to the peripheral edge of the base plate whereby the solar battery timepiece may be made with a reduced thickness, small in size, simple in construction, shock resistant and reliable in operation.

Abstract: A wristwatch includes a module, and a display section overlying the module. The module has a recess which surrounds the display section and which accommodates a solar cell unit having a window therein for accommodating the display section. The unit is located by the co-operation of the edge of the window with projecting portions on the module. The upper surfaces of the display section and the solar cell unit are substantially flush. Support members for supporting the display section are electrically connected with a battery of the watch and have spring portions which are electrically connected to the solar cell unit.

Abstract: A voltage detection integrated circuit including a voltage regulation circuit for controlling the operation thereof is provided. The voltage detection integrated circuit includes a reference voltage circuit for producing a predetermined reference voltage, a voltage converter for converting a detected voltage for measurement and a comparator circuit for comparing the level of the reference voltage to the level of the converted voltage and for producing a comparison signal representative of the difference in voltage levels compared thereby. The voltage regulation circuit is coupled to the comparator circuit and the reference voltage circuit and/or voltage conversion circuit for selectively adjusting the level of the reference voltage produced by the reference voltage circuit and/or the converted voltage produced by the voltage converter, to thereby control the comparison signal produced by the comparator circuit.

Abstract: A solar battery powered electronic timepiece of the type wherein a watch glass and a base plate supporting a solar battery are secured in an annular recess in a watch case. The base plate is positioned on a bottom surface of the recess and secured in position by a resilient packing which is preferably made from a resin material. The packing extends around the base plate and has a portion which overlines the outer periphery of the base plate and on which is positioned the watch glass. Another portion of the packing extends between the outer periphery of the watch glass and a side wall of the recess to secure the watch glass in position. A structure of this type is particularly suitable for securing a base plate of a material such as epoxy resin to which fastening legs cannot easily be attached.