Abstract: In an electronic clinical thermometer comprising a temperature oscillating circuit having a temperature sensor for detecting the body temperature; a body temperature measuring circuit for making data on the body temperature in response to an output signal of the temperature oscillating circuit; a digital display device having seven-segment digital patterns for displaying the body temperature in response to a signal of the body temperature measuring circuit; and a battery voltage detecting circuit for detecting a voltage drop of a battery, a first additional pattern and a second additional pattern are provided between two adjacent digital patterns of the digital display device and also an additional pattern decoder for driving the first and second additional patterns is provided, and the additional pattern decoder and decoders provided for driving the two digital patterns are controlled by an output signal of the battery voltage detecting circuit, whereby a battery life warning mark having the shape of the bat

Abstract: A timepiece has a stepping motor for intermittently rotating hands to indicate the time, a solar cell for temporarily generating electric charge and capacitors for storing the generated electric charge to supply an operating voltage. A drive circuit repeatedly applies a combination of first and second consecutive driving pulses having electric powers proportional to the operating voltage to the stepping motor, while a detector detects the operating voltage. A control circuit is connected between the drive circuit and the detector for controlling the detector to effect the operating voltage detection after the application of the first driving pulse and before the application of the following second driving pulse. When decrease of the operating voltage is detected after the application of the first driving pulse, the operating voltage is increased before the application of the following second driving pulse so as to ensure the rotation of the hands.

Abstract: An electronic analog timepiece with voltage checking function, which detects the power source condition, and which informs the user of the necessity of charging operation by changing the magnitude of the power source voltage into the distance by which the hand is carried or the amount by which the hand is moved upon operation from external side.The hand is stopped from moving for a predetermined period of time in the first time only in which the voltage checking operation is carried out.

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: In an indication hand type stopwatch energized by a battery having a second indication hand, a minute indication hand and an hour indication hand, a battery lifetime display has a battery lifetime detective section for monitoring a voltage of the battery and a battery lifetime display circuit means connected to the battery lifetime detective section and for controlling the driving of the minute indication hand serving as a battery lifetime indication hand for displaying a battery lifetime while the stopwatch is in a non-counting mode.In the case that the battery voltage is over the predetermined voltage, the minute indication is driven by 15 steps clockwise in response to the operation of an external operation switch and in the case that the battery voltage is below the predetermined voltage, the minute indication is driven by 3 steps.

Abstract: The timepiece comprises an oscillator (1), a frequency divider (2), a control circuit (3), a stepping motor (4), a seconds hand (5), a circuit (7) for detecting steps missed by the motor, an up-down counter (15) having a capacity N, and a flip-flop (16). At each missed step the detecting circuit (7) generates a tally pulse (S.sub.7) which increments the counter (15). The latter is also decremented by periodic pulses appearing on the B output of the frequency divider (2).When a cell supplying the timepiece is nearly exhausted, the number of steps missed per unit of time is high and the counter (15) is, on balance, incremented. When passing from state N-1 to state N the counter issues on its Q.sub.h output a pulse that causes the Q output of the flip-flop (16) to go high. The control circuit (3) produces, in response to this high state of the flip-flop, a signal warning of the imminent end of the cell's life in the form of an irregular motion of the seconds hand (5).

Abstract: A power source off delay timer generates an off delay output after passage of a determinate time delay period from when an input power source is switched off. This timer includes a main body, a liquid crystal display mounted to the main body so as to display the operational condition of the timer, and a liquid crystal display drive unit for driving the liquid crystal display during the time that the power source is on and also during the determinate time delay period between the time instant at which the power source is switched off and the subsequent time instant at which the timer generates the off delay output. Thereby, the position of the liquid crystal display may be substantially arbitrarily selected, and also the position of the keep relay may be arbitrarily chosen.

Abstract: Programmable alarm clock apparatus includes seven on/off switches, representing each day of the week, which may be selectively turned on or off. Visual indications of the day of the week and the time of the day are also provided. A power failure warning system is included which alerts the user of the apparatus that there has been an interruption of the power and that the entire system needs to be reset.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises means for manually entering information relating to the battery and means for informing the exchange time of the battery in relation to said manual entry means.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a stepping motor includes a power source, an oscillating circuit, a dividing circuit connected to the oscillating circuit, and a wave shaping circuit receptive of a plurality of output signals produced from the dividing circuit to produce a plurality of controlling signals. A controlling circuit receives the controlling signals and controls a driving circuit. The power source is connected to a detecting voltage circuit by which the variation of the supply voltage of the power source is detected, and a normal waveform or an intermittent waveform is selectively applied to the stepping motor according to the variation of the supply voltage. As a result, the power consumption of the steppng motor is controlled at a constant level, even if the supply voltage of the power source is higher than the optimum voltage of the stepping motor and even if the supply voltage varies.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece comprising a power source, an electronic circuit, a stepping motor, and a detecting device for detecting a rotor movement after the stepping motor is driven. The electronic circuit includes a power source voltage detecting circuit and driving power controlling device which intermits driving pulses of the stepping motor according to an output of the voltage detecting circuit so that the driving force is substantially constant and the power consumption is decreased.

Abstract: A plug-in electronic clock being operated either by a commercial power source in a normal state or by a D.C. power source in case of a power failure, said electronic clock having means for generation of a pulse train used for a computation of time information in case of a power failure and means for stopping generation of the said pulse train in a case where the commercial power is active so as to prevent interference noise against radio receivers or television receivers, with a correct time information computation being assured when the commercial power source is recovered.

Abstract: The timepiece comprises a first motor (8) driving the seconds hand (s) independently from the other hands indicating the minutes and the hours which are driven by a second motor (4). A logic circuit (5) is capable of controlling the first motor (8) in response to the actuation of control elements (C,S1, S2) external to the electronic circuit of the timepiece or by means (6) internal to this electronic circuit and in response to time base signals delivered by a frequency divider (2) so that the seconds hand indicates informations which are different from the ones for the display of which it is normally provided.

Abstract: A talking timepiece which has two operating modes is disclosed. In a first mode, a power supply provides power to a computer and speech processing circuitry and the computer responds to the switching of a keyboard voice/tone switch for controlling either the speech processing circuitry to produce voice messages at predetermined times or tone alarm generator circuitry to produce tone sounds at predetermined times. In a second or power supply failure mode, a battery backup, which is connected in parallel to the power supply, provides power to only the computer and not the speech processing circuitry when the power supply fails. During this second mode, a switching circuit bypasses the keyboard voice/tone switch and the computer automatically controls only the tone alarm generator circuit. The tone alarm generator circuit is independent of the speech processing circuitry.

Abstract: Energy is conserved and the life of a lithium battery is extended in a timepiece by using a voltage reduction circuit for normal operation and a voltage regulating circuit during periods of heavy current drain, e.g., alarm or lamp function. A no-clock detector indicates the functional status of the timekeeping standard signal generator and voltage is raised to enable self-starting when oscillator signals are absent. A timer holds the regulated voltage on-line until operations stabilize after a period of heavy load and capacitors used in the voltage reduction circuit bolster the regulated voltage output during high load periods.

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: In an electronic timepiece powered by a lithium battery, a voltage control system is provided whereby a supply voltage of approximately one half of the battery voltage is supplied to certain portions of the timepiece circuit under normal operating conditions, but whereby cessation of operation by the timebase oscillator circuit of the timepiece due to some abnormal state such as excessively low ambient operating temperature is automatically detected and a changeover is made to supply of the full battery voltage to all of the timepiece circuitry. Upon recovery of operation of the timebase oscillator circuit, changeover to the low voltage supply state is performed.

Abstract: An energy system for powering an electronic watch having a digital or analog time display, the system comprising a primary power source, such as a thermoelectric generator or solar cell, whose output is fed to an energy converter to produce an operating voltage for the electronic circuits and time display of the watch. The system further includes a buffer accumulator that is charged by the energy converter and acts to maintain the operation voltage when the primary source is inactive, thereby providing an uninterrupted supply of operating voltage. The watch also includes a status indicator which senses the prevailing condition of the energy system to produce a signal indicative thereof perceptible to the user of the watch.

Abstract: A charging control circuit for an electronic timepiece has a power source circuit including a charging device and a secondary battery, an electronic timepiece circuit, a drive signal change-over circuit for changing an alarm signal and warning signal for excessive charge, and a buzzer driving circuit for driving a buzzer.The buzzer sound for indicating excessive charge to the secondary battery is different from that of time alarm.

Abstract: The degenerating condition of the power source in an electronic timepiece, that is, a diminished battery voltage, is indicated to the user by unusual performance of the watch bands. Short periods of accelerated or decelerated hand movements alert the user to the battery condition. Persistent though intermittent unusual hand behavior distinguishes the battery life signals from malfunctions or poor timekeeping. A voltage detector circuit monitors the power source and on low voltage initiates the warning signals which are derived from the divider network of the timepiece. Mechanically resetting the hands to remove the visible effects or erratic hand movement, serves to reset the battery life detector circuits and repeat the warnings.

Abstract: A battery-driven clock with a timing stage which emits a control signal of a certain frequency to an electromechanical or electronic indicator stage, and a warning stage establishing the end of the service life of the battery. In the warning situation the warning stage influences the frequency of the control signal in the sense of advancing the clock.

Abstract: In an electronic watch having a stepping motor, a battery voltage detecting circuit, a rotation detecting circuit for indicating rotation or non-rotation of the stepping motor and a motor driving power control circuit for applying a higher power drive pulse to the motor than a normal drive pulse upon detection of non-rotation, the operation of the rotation detecting circuit is inhibited upon indication of a low battery voltage condition and the motor is driven continuously with the higher power drive pulses for the extent of the battery low voltage condition. In this way, the electronic watch can be operated stably when the battery is at the end of its life and operated with lower power consumption during the time when the battery is operated at full voltage.

Abstract: A detecting circuit for a power source voltage comprises a reference voltage generating circuit for generating a reference voltage, a voltage dividing circuit for dividing the power source voltage, and a voltage comparing circuit having one input terminal connected to receive the reference voltage from the reference voltage generating circuit and another input terminal connected to receive the divided voltage from the voltage dividing circuit. In one embodiment, the reference voltage generating circuit comprises at least two MOS-transistors having different threshold voltages and having the same polarity, one of the MOS-transistors having its gate and drain connected together with the drain being connected to the gate of the other MOS-transistor, the drain and source of the other MOS-transistor each being connected to a resistor, and the drain of the other MOS-transistor being connected to one input terminal of the voltage comparing circuit.

Abstract: An MOS low voltage detector circuit includes a comparator which compares an internally generated reference voltage with an internally generated non-linear voltage. Both the reference voltage and the non-linear voltage are derived from a supply voltage, and the comparator generates an output whenever the divided down non-linear voltage falls below the reference voltage. This output is supplied to a series of regularly biased MOS inverter stages which not only amplify the comparator output but also amplify the inherent offset error in the comparator itself. Voltage compensating means may also be included in the comparator.

Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an indication on the face of an electronic wristwatch that battery voltage has diminished to a prescribed level and provide the same indication regardless of battery voltage by actuation of an external member. Multiple functions are activated by the same external member or members. The desired mode of operation is detected by the circuits dependent upon the position, sequence of operation and time duration in a selected position of an external member. In addition to a battery voltage operating mode, an alternative embodiment permits adjustment of minutes and hours without loss in second-hand accuracy. A counter memorizes elapsed time required for hand setting, and the second hand rapidly moves to its correct position after the hour and minute hands are set. The added function circuits are small, consume negligible power and have no adverse effect on battery life or design complexity.

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: An electronic timepiece having a battery lifetime detection mechanism is provided with a control circuit and external operation member the suitable manipulation of which permits a battery lifetime warning indication, produced in response to a signal from the detection mechanism, to be temporarily displayed in the normal time display mode, transferred to an permanently displayed in another display mode, or converted to an audible warning tone if suitable acoustic means are provided.

Abstract: A watch comprises an electronically controlled digital display of the month, day of the month, day of the week, or other information, in addition to a time-indicating analog display system. A single control circuit, using integrated circuit technology, controls the operation of the two display systems. A synchronizing arrangement for the synchronous control of the two display systems and a battery-condition control circuit to monitor the state of the watch battery are also included. The combination of these features provides the user with a watch which can be set and corrected in a simple manner, which insures a synchronous link between all of the data being displayed, and which provides a timely warning when a battery change is necessary.

Abstract: A system for signalling the termination of the lifetime of a battery for an electronic timepiece is disclosed. The system includes a hand display device, an electro-optical display device, a battery voltage detecting circuit adapted to produce a signal when voltage of the battery lowers below a predetermined value, and means for modulating the time display pulse to be applied to one of the display devices in response to the signal generated in the battery voltage detecting circuit, thereby to modifying the time display for informing the end of the battery lifetime.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece with analog display by seconds, minutes, and hours hands driven by a bidirectional stepping motor, in which the seconds hand can be used to display information different from the seconds count, the time displayed by the minutes and hours hands being conserved and the passage from one information mode to the next being made by a rapid bidirectional catching up. The electronic circuit comprises means for comparison (10) comparing the information delivered by counting means (16, 18) synchronous with the seconds hand and the information to be displayed, delivered by selection means (5, 9, 12). The state of the output of the comparison means (10) acts by control means (FF6, 7) on the stepping motor, so that the seconds hand displays the desired information.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece indicates a change in one of the working parameters of the timepiece, such as the battery nearing its end of life, by changing a rest position of a user viewable indicating member. The timepiece includes a stepping motor driven by drive pulses produced from a timebase. The indicating member is rotated a certain amount by each step of the stepping motor and has two rest positions. The first indicates no change in the working parameter and the second indicates a change in the working parameter. The indicating member normally stops in the first rest position. A circuit responsive to a change in the working parameter causes an additional drive pulse to be applied to the motor, changing the normal stopping of the indicating member to the second rest position to indicate the changed working parameter.

Abstract: In an electronic wristwatch having a digital type of photo-electric display and powered by a battery, a battery life warning system is provided whereby the battery voltage is checked at periodic intervals and the photoelectric display is caused to flash on and off repetitively to indicate the approach of the end of the battery life. The timing of sampling pulses applied to a voltage detection circuit is controlled such that a temporary drop in battery voltage does not cause a display warning signal to be generated.

Abstract: A battery monitoring circuit for an electronic wristwatch that avoids an inadvertent indication of battery failure when a sudden, but temporary, load is placed upon the battery is provided. The invention is characterized by a monitoring circuit that produces an indication signal of impending failure of the battery in response to a detection signal being applied thereto. The detection signal is produced by a battery detection circuit when the voltage of the battery falls below a predetermined level. An inhibit circuit is coupled intermediate the voltage detection circuit and the monitoring circuit and detects when a temporary load is placed upon the battery and, in response thereto, inhibits the detection signal from being applied to the monitoring circuit to thereby prevent an indication signal, representative of imminent battery failure, from being produced as a result of an additional load being temporarily placed upon the battery.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having time indicating hands driven by a stepping motor, means for detecting an internal condition such as battery voltage, pulse generating means for generating one or more pulses which are added to the time unit signal pulses applied to the stepping motor if the detected condition changes, and an indication disk which is periodically rotated by the stepping motor and which displays a pattern through a viewing aperture which varies depending upon whether additional pulses have been applied to the stepping motor or not.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece which makes use of a lithium battery having a high electric power capacity is disclosed. The timepiece comprises in combination a voltage converter and a voltage detection circuit. The output signal delivered from the voltage detection circuit causes the output voltage from the voltage converter to change in response to the battery voltage so as to reduce electric power consumed by electric circuits.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a reversible stepping motor to actuate time-indicating hands to provide a time display, which comprises a driver circuit to produce driving current pulses composed of compound pulses appearing each time unit. A rotor of the stepping motor rotates a plurality of steps during each time unit to cause one of the time-indicating hands to advance through unequal intervals to provide a modulated display.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a voltage conversion circuit for providing a different supply voltage from the timepiece battery voltage, detection means for detecting a condition in which a drive signal of relatively high voltage must be applied to an electromagnetic transducer of the timepiece, which is driven intermittently, switching means controlled by the detection means for selecting either the battery voltage or the converted voltage, and a circuit containing a capacitor which is charged by the output voltage of the switching means while the electromagnetic transducer is not being driven, and is discharged by supplying power to the transducer when the latter is driven, so that drive power is supplied to the transducer from, in effect, a low impedance source.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece equipped with a battery life warning system, in which an output voltage of a battery are detected under a heavy load condition and a light load condition. In a first preferred embodiment, a time indicating means effects a display of time in a first predetermined more to provide an initial warning of the battery life when the output voltage drops below a first predetermined level during the heavy load condition and also effects of the display of time in a second predetermined mode to provide a second warning of the battery life when the output voltage of the battery drops below a second predetermined level lower than the first predetermined level.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic timepiece including a system for detecting the end of useful battery life. This system is based on a circuit for detecting the length of the driving pulses for the stepping motor, associated with a circuit for shortening the driving pulses. The detector circuit comprises two counters, the output logic levels of which coincide when the voltage of the battery has dropped to a value such that the stepping motor is at its limit of operation, in which case the duration of the driving pulses is at a maximum.

Abstract: A digital electronic timepiece having a multi-digit digital display for displaying the time count in a time counter which receives a divided down time signal from a time base signal generator. At least one settable time counter for storing a count corresponding to a desired time period is provided which is receptive of a time signal for decrementing the count thereof to zero. A plurality of display driving signals, each corresponding to one digit of display are generated wherein the display signals of successive digits are phase delayed with respect to each other and the frequency thereof is sufficiently low to produce visible flickering of display. Upon the sensing of the zero count in the timer counter, the display which is normally non-flickering, is driven with the display driving signals to produce a sequential flickering of the digits of the time display to provide a visual indication of the lapse of the desired time period.

Abstract: In a battery operated electric timepiece operated by a battery of the type including a time display, such as a second hand, when the voltage of the battery decreases below a predetermined value, the movement of the second hand is modified to give an alarm that the life of the battery has terminated.