Abstract: Systems and methods of low power clocking of sleep mode radios are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a crystal oscillator is purposefully mistuned to achieve lower power consumption, and then synchronized using a high frequency crystal oscillator. In an alternative embodiment, the input offset voltages of the comparator in an RC oscillator are cancelled, which allows low power operation and high accuracy performance when tuned to the high frequency crystal. A lower power comparator may be used with higher input offset voltages but still achieve higher accuracy. The RC circuit is switched back and forth on opposite phases of the output, cancelling the offset voltage on the inputs of the comparator.

Abstract: For linear array display, a method encodes a logic design as a linear array that includes a plurality of logic states. Each logic state includes one or more binary output variables, one or more binary input variables, one or more minterms of the one or more binary input variables, one or more maxterms of the one or more minterms, one or more present state values, and one or more next state values. The method displays the linear array as a combination map comprising a plurality of fields. Each field represents a corresponding logic state.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic watch capable of, even if an indicating hand having a large moment of inertia is used, accurately determining success and failure of rotation. The electronic watch detects rotation by using a first detection mode determination circuit (12) and a second detection mode determination circuit (13). In the electronic watch, a timing counter (14) for measuring a time after an output of a normal drive pulse is followed by a detection pulse selection circuit (151) provided as changing means for changing a width or a frequency of a detection pulse in accordance with an output time of the detection pulse. The detection pulse detects the rotation and simultaneously serves as an electromagnetic brake for a rotor (10). The electromagnetic brake for the rotor (10) is controlled by changing the width or the frequency of the detection pulse in a predetermined period, thereby achieving an accurate rotation detection.

Abstract: A video signal recording apparatus for recording a video signal on a recording medium comprises a memory for temporarily memorizing the video signal, a synchronizing separating circuit for separating a synchronizing signal from the video signal, a write control signal generating circuit for generating a write control signal used to write the video signal in the memory in response to the synchronizing signal from the synchronizing separating circuit, a recording circuit connected to the memory for recording the video signal read out from the memory on the recording medium, a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal relating to a driving state of the recording medium, and a read control signal generating circuit for generating a read control signal used to read the video signal memorized in the memory on the basis of the timing signal.

Abstract: The method includes applying to the coil (3) of the motor (2) driving pulses having alternately a first and a second polarity, supplying the coil (3) with a determined quantity of electric energy during each driving pulse, detecting, after each driving pulse, the rotation or non rotation of the rotor of the motor (2) in response to said driving pulse, and adjusting said determined quantity of electric energy as a function of said detection.In order to further reduce the quantity of electric energy consumed by the motor, the method is characterised in that the adjustment of the quantity of electric energy supplied to the coil (3) is effected separately for the driving pulses having the first polarity and for the driving pulses having the second polarity.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for an electronic timepiece includes at least one semiconductor nonvolatile memory device. Reference data can be checked across a pair of output terminals prior to being stored in at least one EPROM to check the accuracy and acceptability of the reference data for driving a motor of the timepiece. The reference data once written into the EPROM serves as control data. Both the reference data and control data are used for controlling at least one function of the timepiece. The control data also can be checked across the output terminals to determine its accuracy and acceptability for driving the motor. Testing of the reference data and control data can be performed on a faster than real time basis.

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.

Abstract: A switching control device having a plurality of displaceable fingers programmable for controlling a sequence of switching operations in a time-controlled system has a magnetic element for exerting a magnetically retentive force on displaced fingers to hold the displaced fingers in displaced or programmed position, and permitting easy release of a displaced finger upon cancellation of a program so that the finger can return to an unprogrammed neutral position. The fingers may be mounted in a control disc having a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, the control disc functioning as a magnetic yoke, or the fingers themselves may be magnetic.

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: The present invention comprises measuring, upon application of a drive pulse to the actuating coil 5 of the stepping motor, the variation in the magnetic induction flux in the stator of the motor, and interrupting the drive pulse when the variation in flux reaches a predetermined value. Measurement of the variation in flux may be effected, for example, by detecting the current in the actuating coil and integrating the difference between the supply voltage of the actuating coil and the product of the current by the d.c. resistance of the coil, or by providing an auxiliary detection coil 71 and integrating the voltage induced therein in an integrator 73, 74. When the integrator outputs exceeds the magnitude of either a positive or negative reference voltage, a comparator circuit 78, 79, 81 provides the signal to a circuit 13 to terminate the drive pulse.

Abstract: In order to determine the adjustment precision .DELTA.T of a timepiece provided with an oscillator (1) and an adjustable frequency divider chain (3-18; 18-20) on which an adjustment unit (15) acts, initially the real period TQ of the oscillator is measured with the adjustment unit disconnected following a first actuation of a time setting circuit (21). A second actuation of said circuit then effects running of the display at a rate n times above the normal and the adjustment unit is connected. Following a time T/n representing the adjustment cycle the period TQ is measured as corrected by the amount n.DELTA.T, thus TQ+n.DELTA.T. The first measured value obtained is subtracted from the second thus giving n.DELTA.T which when divided by n gives the adjustment precision .DELTA.T.

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: 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: In an electronic timepiece, a motor is driven by a pulse having a shorter pulse width than the conventional driving pulse and afterwards, a detection pulse is applied to the motor coil so as to determine rotation of the rotor. If the rotor fails to rotate a correction is effected by driving the motor by a pulse having a pulse width greater than the normal driving pulse.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a time-piece comprising a system for detecting the non-rotation of a stepping motor and for making-up lost steps.The detection system comprises a device for measuring the current delivered to the motor, the logic level of the measured signal being used for controlling a correction circuit delivering additional pulses to the stepping motor. The measuring device comprises a short duration measuring pulse generator, a reference signal source, and a comparator having an output which controls the correction circuit.

Abstract: A satellite disseminated time and date code is received and converted into local time signal and displayed. The ground stations scan a frequency spectrum for signals from geosynchronous satellites. Once found, the position and time information from the satellites is used to compute the correct local time.

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 of the type of a so-called analog hand display is disclosed which displays the time by means of hands and is capable of changing the calendar display of a calendar mechanism within very short period of time by means of a reversible motor. Additionally the electronic timepiece is automatically corrected at the end of every month.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece including a dividing circuit for developing different output pulse signals having different respective pulse repetition rates, a stepping motor and a drive circuit responsive to control signals for driving the stepping motor at a normal rate and for applying a correction pulse to the stepping motor according to the control signals. A pulse combining circuit combines the different output pulse signals from the dividing circuit for generating control signals and for applying the control signals to the drive circuit. The pulse combining circuit normally generates a control signal effective to drive the stepping motor at a normal rate, and the pulse combining circuit is responsive to a correction signal to control the drive circuit to apply a corrective pulse to the stepping motor. A detection circuit detects rotation and non-rotation of the stepping motor rotor and generates a detection voltage signal indicative of the state of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a frequency standard, a frequency converter, a control circuit responsive to a low frequency time unit signal to provide first and second output signals, and a driver circuit responsive to the first and second output signals to provide first and second drive signals, which timepiece comprises a reversible electro-mechanical transducer rotatable in a clockwise direction in response to the first drive signal and in a counter-clockwise direction in response to the second drive signal, first and second wheel trains driven by the electro-mechanical transducer independently from each other, and first and second time indicating means actuated by the first and second wheel trains, respectively.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece circuit is provided with an oscillator for producing a reference signal and a frequency dividing circuit which frequency-divides the reference signal from the oscillator to produce a signal with given time intervals. Clock data stored in the memory is read out therefrom by a timing signal corresponding to the output signal from a given stage of the frequency dividing circuit and is loaded into a shift register where it is stored temporarily. The clock data stored in the memory is read out therefrom at given time intervals by a control signal obtained in accordance with the output signal from a given stage of the frequency dividing circuit, and the read out clock data, together with the clock data read out to the shift register, is subjected to a given operation, with the result that the clock data is updated. The updated clock signal is loaded into the memory by a control circuit.

Abstract: Electric clock with an oscillator, particularly a quartz oscillator, a frequency divider connected to the quartz oscillator and a control stage connected following the frequency divider, via which control stage a stepping motor, which stepping motor is coupled with the dial train, is able to be applied with pulses of the same or alternating polarity. Each pulse is formed from a number of individual pulses, the pulse duty cycle of the individual pulses reducing toward the end of the first mentioned pulses.

Abstract: A time data processing circuit for an electronic timepiece comprises a common line; a signal generator for generating time data signal and first, second, third and fourth control signals; first and second shift register circuits; an arithmetic operation circuit for processing the time data signal and the output signal of the first shift register circuit; a first input/output circuit for coupling, in response to the first control signal, the output terminal of the arithmetic operation circuit to the common line and the input terminal of the first shift register circuit and coupling, in response to the second control signal, the common line to the input terminal of the first shift register circuit; and a second input/output circuit for coupling, in response to the third control signal, the output terminal of the second shift register circuit to the input terminal of the second shift register circuit and the common line and coupling, in response to the fourth control signal, the input terminal of the second shif

Abstract: A system for performing frequency division of a high frequency signal by intermittent operation of a frequency dividing counter circuit and by a phase lock loop circuit, in which phase lock is periodically achieved with an output of the counter circuit. Phase lock loop circuit is of novel design which provides exact phase lock without cyclic variations from the reference phase.

Abstract: A watch movement construction has a time dial and a base plate having its one surface fixedly supporting the time dial and including a central region and first and second marginal regions. A wheel train mechanism is disposed in the central region of said base plate substantially in the same plane as the base plate. An electro-mechanical transducer is disposed in the first marginal region of the base plate substantially in the same plane as the wheel train mechanism. An electronic circuit section includes a circuit substrate and a plurality of electronic components disposed in the second marginal region of the base plate substantially in the same plane as the wheel train mechanism and the electro-mechanical transducer.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a stepping motor having a coil and a rotor. Circuitry is provided for generating and applying alternating pulses to the motor coil to effect forward stepwise rotation of the motor rotor in a forward direction and for generating and applying alternating pulses to the motor coil to effect reverse stepwise rotation of the motor rotor in a reverse direction. The reverse rotation is achieved by sets of three alternating pulses with the first pulse of each set effecting incremental angular movement of the motor rotor in the forward direction followed by the second and third pulses which effect greater icremental angular movement of the motor rotor in the reverse direction to thereby obtain for each pulse set a net angular movement of the motor rotor in the reverse direction.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a high frequency oscillator with a high level of frequency stability and an electronically controlled low frequency oscillator. The phase of a high frequency signal from the high frequency oscillator is compared with a signal from the low frequency oscillator, and a digital signal is produced in accordance with the phase difference. The digital signal alternately controls the frequency of the low frequency signal to be slightly greater than an exact submultiple of that of the high frequency signal and slightly less that an exact submultiple of the high frequency signal, so that with respect to a relatively long time interval the frequency of the low frequency signal is an exact submultiple of that of the high frequency signal, the low frequency signal being thereby utilizable as a timebase signal for the timepiece.

Abstract: In an electronic watch a non-operation detecting circuit detects the non-operative condition of the stepping motor of the watch and produces a non-operation signal each time the stepping motor fails to operate in response to the standard pulse which drives the same. A counter counts the number of non-operation signals and stores the count for later use. A rotation detecting circuit detects the resumption of operation of the stepping motor in response to the standard pulse from the non-operative condition and a quick feed control circuit quickly advances the stepping motor in response to an input from the rotation detection circuit by thereafter supplying, instead of the standard pulses, the quick feed pulses to the drive circuit for the motor equal in number to the number of the non-operation signals counted in the counter.

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: An electronic timepiece includes a frequency supply for providing a relatively high frequency time base signal, a frequency converter responsive to the relatively high frequency time base signal to provide a timing signal, a clock signal, and a time unit signal. A timekeeping circuit is responsive to the time unit signal to provide a time information signal, and at least one of the timing signal, clock signal, and time information signal is chopped into periodic bursts to effect transfer of the at least one of the timing signal, clock signal, and time information signal from one part to another part in the timepiece. The time in response to the time information signal is displayed.

Abstract: A step motor driving control mechanism for use in an electronic timepiece for reducing the current consumption thereof is provided. Load detection circuitry detects the load condition of the step motor and selectively produces a load condition signal representative of a predetermined load condition thereof. Driving and control circuitry is provided for receiving a low-frequency timekeeping signal produced by a divider circuit and a load detection signal when same is selectively produced by the load detection circuitry. In response to the presence or absence of a load detection signal applied thereto, the drive and control circuitry is adapted to vary the duration of the pulse width of a drive signal applied to the step motor to effect a driving of same.

Abstract: A system for automatically time setting and message setting or programming of a cased digital watch or a watch module and including both an external setting unit and a serial interface control circuit inside the cased digital watch. The system in accordance with the invention is compatible with either watches that require time setting or watches that require both time setting and message programming and is applicable to any type of manually controllable watch. The time and message set system has a data entry unit that includes a keyboard, a display, a reference time module, a memory, a light source such as a light emitting diode or an LED array as an output and a processor which provides central control of the other functional units. The LED array output supplies coded messages to a light or energy responsive device or phototransistor in position under the face of the watch. The watch includes a novel circuit for responding to the phototransistor and provides time setting and message setting.

Abstract: Time adjusting means for electronic timepiece which detects change in the generation condition of pulses generated in response to a manual operation speed and generates a predetermined number of pulses in accordance with the detection output as the time-adjusting pulses. The time adjusting means enables a rapid time adjustment of an electronic timepiece at a high speed. When the manual operation speed exceeds a predetermined speed, the time adjusting means stops the time-adjusting pulse so as to prevent erroneous operation.

Abstract: An electronic alarm watch including an oscillator for developing a repetitive time standard signal, a dividing circuit for dividing the time standard signal to develop repetitive output signals, and a counting circuit receptive of one of the repetitive output signals of the dividing circuit for counting the same to develop a count representing passage of time. A first waveform shaping circuit receives the output signal of the counting circuit and a higher repetition rate output signal of the dividing circuit for developing a pulse signal at a repetition rate equal to that of the counting circuit output signal and having a pulse width equal to that of the dividing circuit output signal. A coincidence detector detects when the count of the counting circuit and an alarm time signal coincide and develops an output signal in response to this condition.

Abstract: A digital electronic timepiece comprises oscillator means for generating reference clock-pulse signals, a plurality of counter means of successive stages for successively counting the reference clock-pulse signals and respectively producing output signals for displaying numerals at respective digit positions for seconds, tens of seconds, minutes, tens of minutes, hours, and tens of hours, means for digitally displaying time in response to signals for output display of the counter means, and means for supplying a time correction reset signal to the counter means for producing as output signals for display at the digit positions respectively for seconds, tens of seconds, minutes, and tens of minutes. The time correction reset signal resets the counter means for seconds, tens of seconds, minutes, and tens of minutes so that the output signal thereof becomes a signal for "O" display.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece equipped with an oscillator for producing a time base, a freuqency divider and time display means drive in response to output signals supplied by the frequency divider, which timepiece includes correction system characterized in that a single switch is provided for rapidly correcting the time display means, wherein time corrections are alternatively accomplished in an advancing and retarding direction each time the switch is depressed.