Abstract: An analog hand mechanism having hands in a watch case, and a plate-like luminescent device in the watch case, to illuminate the analog hand mechanism. A metallic layer or a metallic ink layer, for giving a feeling of metallic gloss by receiving illumination of light emitted from the surface of the luminescent device, is disposed on at least a side of the upper surface and the lower surface of the luminescent device.

Abstract: An illuminated date ring for a calendar wristwatch for viewing the date at night through a window in the dial, employs an electroluminescent (EL) lamp beneath a transparent date ring. The EL lamp electrodes extend around the ring, and flexible spring members make sliding contact with the electrodes as the ring rotates in the movement.

Abstract: An illuminating timepiece includes: a casing having a plurality of hour numerals circumferentially disposed on a chapter ring of a dial of the casing, a plurality of stator illuminators each formed on each hour numeral on the dial, a first pointer or an hour hand rotatably mounted in the casing having at least a first rotor illuminator formed on the first pointer, a second pointer or a minute hand rotatably mounted in the casing having at least a second rotor illuminator formed on the second pointer, and an electric control device secured in the casing for subsequently switching on or off the illuminators in each pre-determined time interval for a clear read-out of time in a night or dark place.

Abstract: An electroluminescent watch dial is provided with silhouette images on the dial. A transflective film covers an opaque image layer applied to a conventional electroluminescent watch dial. Timekeeping indicia are applied over the transflective film. The image is not seen in ambient light but is visible when the electroluminescent lamp is actuated.

Abstract: A three-dimensional watch dial plate structure abundant in ornamental effect is provided fully utilizing the characteristics of an electro-optical display device such as a liquid crystal device or an electrochromic device. A color coat such as a white color and clear lacquer layer is laminated on a metal dial plate base. Successively laminated on the surface of a lower glass substrate are a lower transparent electrode layer, a lower electrochromic layer, a solid electrolyte layer, an upper electrochromic layer and an upper transparent electrode layer. The upper transparent electrode layer is formed on the back face of an upper glass substrate, and a transparent glass plate is bonded to the upper glass substrate. A metal hour scale and a metal minute scale each are formed on the surface of the transparent glass plate.

Abstract: An electroluminescent ("EL") lamp has EL material sandwiched between front and back conductive layers, which are disposed on a transparent substrate. The indiciae are formed from ink or other material deposited on the second surface of the front conductive layer, thereby completely burying the indicia within the EL lamp. The material may be transparent or colored, conductive or insulating, or made with an EL phosphor. The buried indicia provide sufficient contrast, when viewed with the EL lamp in an illuminated or non-illuminated state, to be seen. The present invention also describes a method for fabrication of such EL lamps.

Abstract: A light transmitting type display plate 5 is arranged above a cell 2 such as an EL element or a solar cell or the like, and the display plate 5 is fixed to the support member 4 through the engagement of a positioning section 5b formed on the light transmitting type display plate 5 with a positioning section 4b formed on a support member 4. In the case where the light transmitting type display plate is a transparent plate 5, a spacer 6 or the like forms a gap 7 between the cell 2 and the transparent plate 5.

Abstract: When an electronic instrument has taken a predetermined attitude, an attitude-detecting switch incorporated in the instrument detects the attitude, and outputs a switch signal to a CPU. The CPU, in turn, drives a lighting device for lighting a liquid crystal display device. The lighting device is driven, for example, only when a predetermined number of pulses of the switch signal are generated within a predetermined period of time, or only when the switch signal has continued for a predetermined period of time or more. Thus, there are cases where the lighting device is not driven irrespective of the generation of the switch signal. As a result, the lighting device is prevented from operating so often, and hence the life of its battery is lengthened.

Abstract: A black light illuminated analog watch that contains an ultraviolet light emitting tube. This tube is contained in the inner periphery of a conventional analog watch case. Various components of the watch, including the watch hands, the dial, the watch glass, and others, are coated with a visible light emitting phosphor that is energized by the tube. The phosphors may be selected to glow with different colors. The watch contains circuitry needed to power the tube.

Abstract: An EL panel includes a pair of EL lamps on a common substrate, separated by a predetermined distance along a longitudinal axis. A first flexible, electrically conductive trace on the substrate interconnects the front electrodes of the lamps and a second flexible, electrically conductive trace on the substrate interconnects the rear electrodes of the lamps. The lamps share a common front electrode and the first trace overlies the front electrode between the lamps. One of the lamps is rotated relative to the other to position the lamps one above the other in separate, parallel planes.

Abstract: Timepiece device capable of illuminating an outside object and providing an outstanding illuminating effect. A light-emitting diode of high-luminance and high directivity for illuminating the outside object is provided on the side of an outer case of a timepiece and the light-emitting direction is arranged parallel to a line passing through numerals 6 and 12 on the dial.

Abstract: In a data display radio pager, light emitting diodes (LEDs) for alerting the user of the pager to an incoming call are disposed in a backlight together with LEDs for backlighting a liquid crystal display (LCD) for message display. The alert LEDs effect an alert via the LCD and flash in a striking color different from the color of light to issue from the backlight LEDs. The radio pager is miniature despite that the LCD and alert LEDs are arranged on the front of the casing of the pager.

Abstract: An electroluminescent lamp driver system for driving or powering an electroluminescent lamp to illuminate the display in an electronic watch, such as a quartz analog watch, uses the counter in a CMOS timekeeping chip which counts down the quartz oscillator frequency to one Hz for an analog quartz watch. The counter provides a plurality of pulse trains which are combined in digital logic to provide switching signals. The digital logic is included in the timekeeping chip and is implemented in low voltage bulk CMOS. A high voltage is required to drive the lamp and it is provided in a separate chip containing a high voltage inverter in which current is switch through an inductor in response to the switching signals from the timekeeping chip.

Abstract: An alarm clock has a motion sensor, a time display comprising an electroluminescent dial, a manual alarm actuator with a lip cover and a flashlight actuator. When the manual alarm actuator is set in the ON position, any movement (e.g., waving a hand) in the field of view of the motion sensor causes the electroluminescent dial to become activated to a first brightness level. Furthermore, when the alarm is sounding, any movement in the field of view of the motion sensor silences the alarm for a preselected time interval, before the sounding of the alarm is resumed ("snooze" function). In the OFF position for the manual alarm actuator, the lip cover covers the motion sensor so that motion detection is prevented. When the flashlight actuator is actuated, the electroluminescent dial becomes activated to a second brightness level. The second brightness level is noticeably brighter than the first brightness level.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing electroluminescent timepiece dials having three-dimensional indicia and to timepiece dials produced by this method. A subdial having the indicia projecting therefrom is affixed to the bottom of the electroluminescent dial. Three-dimensional effect is created when the projecting indicia are received by apertures in the electroluminescent dial.

Abstract: An electronic watch, either digital or analog, includes an EL lamp powered by a split chip inverter having a low voltage portion incorporated into a first semiconductor chip and a high voltage portion incorporated in a second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip preferably includes all the other low voltage circuitry of the watch, e.g. timer/divider circuitry and logic for driving a display.

Abstract: A watch has a motion responsive switch having ON and OFF states and a circuit adapted to energize a light, visible on the watch, for a predetermined interval after an OFF to ON transition but then to maintain the light off until the next OFF to ON transition.

Abstract: An electric alarm clock is disclosed which operates from a conventional external AC power source but is able to continue timekeeping in the event power from the external source is interrupted. A dial illumination feature is also operable during a power failure.

Abstract: An electroluminescent dial for an analog timepiece comprising a flexible transparent substrate, an inner layer comprising electrically conductive material adhered to the substrate, an EL layer comprising a mixture of electroluminescent material in a binder adhered to the inner layer, and an outer layer covering the electroluminescent layer comprising electrically conductive material, the substrate and the layers comprising a single flexible laminated assembly and having a hole therethrough for accommodating the rotatable stem, and includes a tab portion comprising the substrate and the inner layer extending beyond the EL and outer layers. A dial support member comprising a rigid plate substantially the size and shape of the electroluminescent dial supports the dial on one side of the frame.

Abstract: An electric timer with a projector comprising a common electric timer, a vaccum fluorescent display connected with the timer to display time, and a projector including a speculum and a convex lens, the speculum reflecting the time displayed in the vaccum fluorescent display, the convex lens magnifying and projecting the reflected time on a ceiling or a wall to be easily seen.

Abstract: A light display comprises a neon or other light source situated between two panels of semi-reflective, semi-transparent material supported in a box-like frame. When the light source is activated, the visual effect of viewing the light source from outside the frame yields a plurality of successively smaller images of the light source, analogous to seeing the shape of the light source being reflected and repeated into infinity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rigid construction hat defining a shell mounting a timepiece for ease of visibility by an individual to minimize accidental injury in the typical wearing of a wristwatch. The timepiece is removably mounted relative to a bottom surface of the brim via magnetic means and includes illumination means to provide light to four quadrants of the timepiece through fiber optic cables.

Abstract: A timepiece comprises a display including a light emitting element. A detector detects ambient light around the timepiece and a switch is switchable into first and second operating modes. When the switch is in the first mode the light emitting element is illuminated at a first brightness level when the detected ambient light is below a predetermined level and the light emitting element is not illuminated when the detected ambient light is above the predetermined level. When the switch is in the second mode, the light emitting element is illuminated at a second brightness level which is greater than the first brightness level.

Abstract: A watch face illuminating device packaged inside a watchband and totally independent of any watch employs a bright and narrow beam of light to illuminate any type of watch by means of reflection of said beam from any reflective surface such as a finger or article of clothing. Electrical circuit means for connecting a battery power source to the light emitter contains a pushbutton switch and a timer for extinguishing the light source after a preset time period and a light emitter current regulator for more constant light emitter output to counter the effects of continuously decreasing voltage over the life of the battery. The device may also be employed in the manner of a small flashlight for illuminating tasks and objects close at hand.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An analog watch for training children to read the current time having a flashlight installed in the watch case. The flashlight power supply is connected to the light emitting flashlight bulb through an electrical circuit which automatically turns the flashlight off after an adjustable time delay to preserve battery power. The watch time indicating face has numbers and dots to represent hours, and numbers and dots that represent minutes. These may be of different colors and may be adapted to glow in the dark after activation by light from the flashlight or from a face illuminating light source. The watch face has dots at half-hour intervals to indicate that the current time is at the half hour. All hour numbers and time-indicative dots may be embossed on the crystal face of the watch so that the minute hand does not pass over and obscure these symbols.

Abstract: A wafer battery has a light-emitting diode attached to its jacket, with one ead of the diode soldered to the battery jacket, and the other lead extending around the battery and overhanging its anode. The combination of diode and battery is encapsulated in a cover of elastomeric material, with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side. The bezel is applied to crystal of an instrument such as a meter, gauge, or the like and illuminates the gauge when a series connection is completed between the battery and light-emitting diode by pressing the cover over the battery anode to make the light-emitting diode lead contact the anode. The bezel is small with respect to the surface area of the crystal to which it is applied, in order that is not obscure the scale, dial, or face of the instrument. An alternate embodiment has one lead of the light-emitting diode soldered to the battery anode and the other lead extending over the side of the battery jacket.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device adapted to serve as the dial of a conventional analog timepiece, with a central aperture for the stem carrying the timepiece hand and inscribed on the upper surface thereof with conventional time-indicating indicia, so that it can be read as a normal watch dial.

Abstract: An electrical conductive circuit for use in a wristwatch and wherein the circuit comprises an elongated flat electrically conductive band formed from a conductive strip having opposed electrical insulating layers. The band also has a component attachment region and a pair of battery terminals. The band is also formed as a flexible band which is adaptable to be configured to fit in a slot area of a wristwatch.

Abstract: A dashboard clock in which a liquid crystal plate for display on a front face, a light source and a controlling electronic circuit are structured in such a way that an opening permits direct illumination and heating of the plate by means of the light source while reducing the length of the connections between the plate and the electronic circuit.Such a clock is conveniently utilized, for example, on board motor vehicles.

Abstract: A portable time piece having a casing for supporting a watch movement therein. A dial face is also disposed in said housing with a time indicator visible from a top side of the dial face whereby to display time. The time piece is characterized by a light diffusing member located above the dial face and extending in a predetermined circumferential area thereof. At least one light source is associated with the light diffusing member so that light is transmitted along and out of the member to illuminate at least the portion of the dial face, and radiate light outwardly of the top side of the casing. A light source within the casing supplies electrical power to the light source.

Abstract: An illumination device (7, 23) for a wristwatch (1), having a completely self-contained power source (15) and illuminating lamp (17, 29) which is carried on the watchband (6). A flexible wall (21, 31) permits contact between lamp terminals (20, 35) and battery terminals to close the circuit when the device is manually actuated. An overhanging portion (8, 26) extends beyond the attachment (28) of the band to the wristwatch, so that the lamp (17, 29) may illuminate the face (4) of the wristwatch.

Abstract: A clock comprising, a case, a clockwork in the case having a plurality of pointers, a dial face in the case over which the pointers sweep about a common axis, a glass covering the dial and pointers, at least one illuminator for illuminating the dial and pointers and a ring having a face with spaced markings thereon which is mounted between the dial and glass and which can be manually rotated. The ring face is illuminated by the same illuminator which sheds light on the dial since the ring face faces the glass which receives light from the illuminator and illuminates both the dial and the ring face.

Abstract: The dial face of a battery-operated electric wrist watch is illuminated momentarily by manual pressure on a switch connecting a miniature light bulb, mounted between the crystal (lens) and the dial face, to the battery of the watch.

Abstract: A self-luminescent light source for a liquid crystal display watch characterized by comprising a fluorescent substance layer which has a light reflectivity and which contains a radioactive substance in at least a part thereof, a reflective layer which is disposed on one surface of the fluorescent substance layer and which serves to reflect and scatter fluorescence from the fluorescent substance layer, a case which is disposed on the side of the reflective layer remote from the fluorescent substance layer and which serves to perform shielding from radiation given out from the radioactive substance, and a cover which is disposed on the side of the fluorescent substance layer remote from the reflective layer and which serves to absorb the radiation given out from the radioactive substance and to transmit the light from the fluorescent substance layer.

Abstract: A half-silvered mirror closes off one end of a peripheral housing, in spaced relation behind which half-silvered mirror is a clock face. Lighting means within the space between the half-silvered mirror and the clock face provides for selective illumination of the clock face for visualization through the half-silvered mirror. Sound actuated means is also provided for selective temporary energization of the lighting means to illuminate the clock face for time telling.

Abstract: A solid state electronic timepiece including an intermittent supplemental functional capability, e.g., a lamp to illuminate the display, also includes a circuit for the prevention of an undesirable supply voltage drop due to circuit loading by the supplemental function during performance of a primary intermittent timekeeping function, e.g., shifting the contents of a shift register. The supplemental function is turned off during the primary intermittent timekeeping function. In an alternative embodiment, the initiation of the supplemental function is delayed to follow completion of the primary intermittent timekeeping function.

Abstract: The segments of several 7-segment character displays are defined by elongated light distributors in the form of slots or a series of holes which are in a panel. A large area light source is located on the rear side of the panel. Rotatable opaque disks are interposed between the light source and characters. Each disk has an array of holes for transmitting light to predetermined ones of light pipes which lead to slot segments in one embodiment and which lead to the holes that define segments in another embodiment. When a disk is rotated, different groups of holes in the disks become aligned consecutively with the light pipes where they are used or with the panel holes to thereby illuminate selected character segments so they define a sequence of characters such as the numbers zero to nine. In a digital clock application, a synchronous motor drives a first disk in angular steps to define minutes at their rate of occurrence.

Abstract: An analog watch or clock is provided with an improved dial illiminator in the form of a molded clear plastic dial cap having a tubular section surrounding and extending axially behind the periphery of the dial and an annular rim section projecting inwardly from the tubular section over and in contact with the dial, and a point light source such as a minature incandescent bulb positioned behind the dial in a recess formed in the tubular section of the dial cap. The rim section of the dial cap typically includes a truncated-conical, light-reflecting outer peripheral surface for reflecting light from the tubular section into the rim section and an inner peripheral surface which defines a central aperture through which the shaft supporting the watch or clock hands passes. In operation, the tubular section of the dial cap functions to distribute light around the entire periphery of the dial while the rim section receives the peripheral light and directs it over the dial toward its center for illumination purposes.

Abstract: A pod which holds the components of an electronic timepiece including the electro-optic display, substrate board and light source for illuminating the display is molded of transparent light transmitting material to pipe the light throughout the portion of the pod behind the display for backlighting the display.

Abstract: A backlight for an electrooptic display, such as a liquid crystal display, serves to diffuse and distribute light from a point source, such as an incandescent bulb, over a broad, flat thin area providing backlighting for the display. The backlight employs a transparent light transmitting member with a slot or recess for the light source, wrapped in a thin transluscent sheet which covers both front and back surfaces and the edges to serve as a transflector.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) digital watch with circuitry which allows the watch user to adjust the amount of time the horological information is displayed and to adjust the brightness of the display.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display electronic wristwatch having a lamp therein to illuminate the liquid crystal display mounted in the watch case beneath the display panel so as to overlap with the display and cover glass in plan view. Wristwatches constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention may be of reduced size without having to reduce the size of the display panel.