Abstract: A portable object includes a near-field communication device. The communication device includes an electronic chip provided with two terminals connected to an electrical circuit including an antenna and a filter. The communication device is provided to receive and transmit at a defined frequency corresponding to the resonance frequency of the electrical circuit. The portable object includes a control element which is able to be displaced between two predefined positions, i.e. an active position in which the communication device is activated and a passive position in which the communication device is deactivated. The electrical circuit includes, furthermore, a bypass branch provided with a mechanical switch which is able to switch between an open state and a closed state in response to a displacement of the control element from one to the other of its predefined positions causing a modification in the resonance frequency of the electrical circuit.

Abstract: An interactive watch with analogue time display, including an analogue time display with a display element, a movement configured to drive a rotation of the display element about a rotational axis, which rotation is movement-driven and associated with a time unit, and a read-off element manually rotatably mounted about the rotational axis such that a manual rotation of the read-off element leads to a thereby manually forced rotation of the display element or vice versa, wherein, for the display element, the manually forced rotation overlaps with the movement-driven rotation of the display element, so that in a manually set read-off position for the read-off element and the display element, these, when viewed together, result in the display of a current analogue value for the time unit due to the read-off element and the display element being arranged in associated rotational positions relative to the rotational axis is provided.

Abstract: The invention describes an interactive watch with analogue time display, comprising an analogue time display with a display element, a movement configured to drive a rotation of the display element about a rotational axis, which rotation is movement-driven and associated with a time unit, and a read-off element manually rotatably mounted about the rotational axis such that a manual rotation of the read-off element leads to a thereby manually forced rotation of the display element or vice versa, wherein, for the display element, the manually forced rotation overlaps with the movement-driven rotation of the display element, so that in a manually set read-off position for the read-off element and the display element, these, when viewed together, result in the display of a current analogue value for the time unit due to the read-off element and the display element being arranged in associated rotational positions relative to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A timepiece includes: a frame (10) defining a housing designed to accommodate a timepiece movement; and a dial (14) positioned on the frame and defining a plane, the dial including at least one opening (16) whose dimensions are such as to allow at least one index (18) mounted rotationally on the frame to be seen.

Abstract: A timepiece includes: a frame (10) defining a housing designed to accommodate a timepiece movement; and a dial (14) positioned on the frame and defining a plane, the dial including at least one opening (16) whose dimensions are such as to allow at least one index (18) mounted rotationally on the frame to be seen.

Abstract: A timing device includes a time display section and a drive unit. The time display section has a dial with a measurement indicator from a zero time position to a maximum measurable time position, and pointers capable of rotating above the dial in a fan-shaped trajectory. The drive unit drives the pointers above the dial from the zero time position to the maximum measurable time position, and stops the pointers above an extra display section in a position past the maximum measurable time after the maximum measurable time has passed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display assembly comprising a graphical or alphanumeric display and display source such as a clock or other timepiece; a display housing for retaining the display; self-righting means rotatably coupled to the display and display housing with a predetermined bias; a body; and a connecting means operatively engaging the display housing and body. The connecting means in the form of a Cassegrain assembly allows the display housing to swivel with respect to the body over 360 degrees through a vertical plane and horizontal plane independently. The display, when operatively coupled to the self-righting means, is automatically maintained in a substantially upright position independent of the orientation display housing, thereby allowing the display to be turned to face a viewer at any angle without repositioning the body or leveling the display.

Abstract: A method and device that controls one or more apparatus in relation to the expected time of sunrise and sunset at the location of the apparatus. The operator enters a geographic location identifier, such as a zip code or telephone area code, and the controller computes the expected time of sunrise and sunset at the corresponding geographic location. The controller is configured to translate the entered geographic location code into the offset times, based upon the latitude and longitude of the location. The controller is able to either directly retrieve stored time offsets or it retrieves the latitude and longitude that corresponds to the entered geographic location code and determines the time offset from that latitude and longitude.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display assembly comprising a graphical or alphanumeric display and display source such as a clock or other timepiece; a display housing for retaining the display; self-righting means rotatably coupled to the display and display housing with a predetermined bias; a body; and a connecting means operatively engaging the display housing and body. The connecting means in the form of a Cassegrain assembly allows the display housing to swivel with respect to the body over 360 degrees through a vertical plane and horizontal plane independently. The display, when operatively coupled to the self-righting means, is automatically maintained in a substantially upright position independent of the orientation display housing, thereby allowing the display to be turned to face a viewer at any angle without repositioning the body or leveling the display.

Abstract: A speed-sensing projectile such as for example a baseball includes a generally spherical body. An inertial switch is positioned within the body and is actuable between open and closed conditions in response to accelerations of the body greater than a threshold value. A processor also within the body is responsive to the inertial switch and calculates the average speed at which the baseball is thrown over a fixed distance. A visible display on the body is in communication with the processor and displays the calculated speed.

Abstract: An orientation-sensitive display system, includes a portable housing including a visual display; at least one source of information, such as time and/or temperature, to be displayed; a gravity-sensitive device for sensing the relative position of the housing; and a data processor receiving information from the source of information, and controlled by the gravity-sensitive device, for controlling the visual display in accordance with the orientation of the housing as sensed by the gravity-sensitive device.

Abstract: A device for setting a numeric display (11) comprises a continuously turnable potentiometer (12) by which the setting area can be repeatedly passed through by turning in the same direction. The potentiometer and the display are connected to a computer (10), preferably a microcomputer. The computer is arranged to repeatedly sense the instantaneous resistance value of the potentiometer or a parameter representing said value. Further, the computer is arranged to store the first one (T.sub.1 high) of a series of measurement values and for each subsequent measurement value (T.sub.2 high) in the series to determine if the difference between the present and the first measurement value exceeds a reference value (T.sub.diff), in which case the display (11) is operated to increase or decrease its value by one step of a predetermined magnitude.