Abstract: An electronic watch adapting a matrix drive display system. An electronic watch comprises a single voltage level power source serving as the energy source for a circuit of the watch, a matrix drive type liquid crystal display device providing digital indications of times by means of line and column electrodes, a crystal oscillator producing a time reference signal, a frequency divider circuit dividing said time reference signal into time unit signals, a time keeping counter counting the time unit signals to provide a time keeping signal, matrix drive circuit means converting said time keeping signal into drive signals for said line and column electrodes and pitch measurement signal transmission means act on the matrix drive circuit means to momentarily supply at least some of the wave forms of outputs of the time line and column electrode drive signals.

Abstract: An electro-optical time-indicating system displays the time by simulating a clock using dial hands. The electrodes of a liquid crystal display are formed by radial track segments and the backing electrodes are subdivided into inner and outer electrodes. The driving of the track segments to indicate hours, minutes and seconds is accomplished by a time division multiplex technique. In order to keep the number of electrode terminals for the track segments to a minimum, the track segments are combined into L track segment cascades with L input terminals. The track segments are arranged in K twin sets such that, as viewed in the clockwise direction, an n.sup.th track segment (where n ranges from 1 to L) of one set of the twin sets is always connected with the L+1-n.sup.th track segment of the other set of a twin set. The inner backing electrodes are subdivided into M inner blocks with one terminal each, and the outer backing electrodes are divided into N outer blocks with one terminal each.

Abstract: An inspection circuit for use in an electronic timepiece is provided. The inspection circuit is characterized by the use of a gating circuit intermediate the timekeeping circuit of an electronic timepiece and certain counters that apply timekeeping signals to the digital display digits. The gating circuit is adapted to be selectively disposed into an inspection mode and thereby simultaneously apply to certain of the counters producing timekeeping signals a predetermined frequency inspection signal thereby reducing the time required to inspect the performance of the timepiece.

Abstract: A watch module construction including a digital display device composed of a liquid crystal display cell and an analog display device composed of time indicating hands. A cell support frame is disposed on one side of each of a base plate and a circuit board aligned substantially on the same plane as the base plate. The cell support frame has a first recess in which the liquid crystal display cell is disposed, and a second recess in which the time indicating hands are disposed. An IC chip is mounted on the other side of the circuit board in substantially axial alignment with the display cell, and a wheel train mechanism is disposed on the other side of the base plate in substantially axial alignment with the time indicating hands.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece, in particular, a battery-operated quartz wristwatch including a housing in which there is arranged an analog display mechanism as well as a liquid crystal display unit which facilitate a display of different time magnitudes. The display surface of the liquid crystal display is practically as large as the watch dial surface of the analog display mechanism. The liquid crystal display unit is arranged in the housing of the watch in front of so as to superimpose the analog display mechanism. Preferably, the liquid crystal display is transparent and constructed as a replacement for the usual watch crystal as the generally viewed protective cover for the watch housing.

Abstract: A digital watch including a clocking signal generator is disclosed wherein a control circuit provides phasing signals for multiplexing data representing seconds, minutes, hours, and date information in successive cycles to a visual display panel. In the normal mode of operation of the watch, minutes and hours are displayed. The watch further includes circuitry for selectively displaying seconds and date information as well as for setting the hours, minutes, and date. The aforementioned functions require the utilization of only three functional switches which may be incorporated into a stem of the watch. By selectively closing and opening one switch, as for example, pushing in and releasing the stem, seconds information is first displayed and then the date information is momentarily displayed for a predetermined interval after which the watch returns to a normal mode of operation of displaying hours and minutes.

Abstract: A chronometric indicator for a watch has concentric arrays of angularly equispaced electrodes and analog display segments. The electrodes are staggered relative to the display segments so that each electrode overlaps halves of two adjacent segments, so that by selective energization of the electrode and the segments any half can be optically activated. In addition a digital display is provided within the two annular arrays, with each digit segment of the display being connected to a respective analog segment. A common connection for this digital display can be energized simultaneously with any of the outer analog segments to cause the corresponding digit segment to glow. The overlapping arrays of electrodes and analog display segments are energized to indicate the hour and minute, and the digital display is energized to indicate the second.

Abstract: An electronic digital timepiece having standard timekeeping, stopwatch, and timer functions, and a weekdays display section composed of a plurality of display segments selectively activated to indicate the day of the week in the standard timekeeping display mode, and which are rapidly and sequentially activated in a predetermined direction when operation is performed in a stopwatch mode, and are rapidly and sequentially activated in the opposite direction when operation is performed in the timer mode of operation, to indicate the type of operation mode.

Abstract: A watch module construction including a liquid crystal display cell of a polygonal profile in plan, with one internal angle of the profile being in the range 180 degrees to 360 degrees, and an analog display device including time indicating hands. A cell support frame is disposed on one side of each of a base plate and a circuit board aligned substantially on the same plane as the base plate. The cell support frame has a first recess in which the liquid crystal display cell is disposed, and a second recess in which the time indicating hands are disposed. An IC chip is mounted on the other side of the circuit board in substantially axial alignment with the display cell, and a wheel train mechanism is disposed on the other side of the base plate in substantially axial alignment with the time indicating hands.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having liquid crystal or light-emitting diode display elements provides a logic network for flickering a part or all segments of the display element at a plurality of repetition rates and duty cycles, whereby additional intelligence associated with the repetition rate and duty cycle is conveyed by the display element. The logic network gives priority of display to any one preselected supplemental flickering intelligence function when there is a coincident demand for more than one supplemental function for display. Flickering draws attention to the supplemental intelligence contained in an otherwise continuous display.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece comprises an oscillator, a frequency divider for frequency dividing the output signal of the oscillator to generate 100 Hz output pulse signals, time count circuits having a plurality of counters cascade-connected to count the output pulse signals of the frequency divider, a decoder circuit for decoding the output signal of the time count circuits to generate a display signal and a display device for displaying data corresponding to the output display signal of the decoder circuit, in which a stopwatch display mode and a normal time display mode may be selected by the operation of a switch. The electronic timepiece further includes a control circuit connected between the decoder circuit and display device and adapted to inhibit normal time display data from being supplied to the display device in response to the operation of the switch which sets the electronic timepiece into the stopwatch display mode.

Abstract: An electronic watch construction which comprises a casing, a watch glass supported by the casing, a module fixedly held in the casing and having a recess facing the watch glass, and a liquid crystal display cell at least a portion of which is disposed in the recess of the module, the display cell being fixedly mounted on one side of the module. An illumination device is disposed in the recess of the module below the liquid crystal display cell to illuminate the liquid crystal display cell.

Abstract: A digital display for an electronic timepiece having first visual indication display segments peripherally disposed around numerical display digits for selectively indicating predetermined integral time zones corresponding to the time displayed by the numerical display digits and further visual indication display segments for discriminating time zones that are not integrally related to the time zones indicated by the first indication display segments is provided. The display is characterized by a bezel surrounding the plurality of visual indication display segments, the bezel having a plurality of first distinct indicia disposed therearound. Each of the first indicia are disposed proximate to the position of the first visual indication display segments to identify the predetermined global time zone selectively indicated thereby. At least one second indicia is disposed on the bezel intermediate a pair of first indicia.

Abstract: Electronic circuits especially adapted for driving an electro-optic representation of a conventional mechanical analog watch, such circuits providing improved signal multiplexing for activating the display.

Abstract: An illumination device for an electronic timepiece equipped with an electro-optical display device and a battery as a power source, which comprises: an electro-luminescent sheet disposed at the lower surface of said electro-optical display device; a booster circuit for converting the battery voltage to an AC voltage; and an illumination switch for operating said booster circuit in response to the manipulation of an external control member; whereby said electro-optical display means is illuminated when said electro-luminescent sheet is rendered light emissive in response to manipulation of said illumination switch.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, especially, for use in a liquid crystal display watch is disclosed, which is provided with a liquid crystal display element and a reflector comprising a luminescent phosphor, and only in a limited partial area of the reflector corresponding to a specified display portion which should be visible in the dark or at night in the whole time display area of the liquid crystal display element, the luminescent phosphor includes a radioactive nuclide such as promethium (.sup.147 Pm) or tritium (.sup.3 H).