Abstract: An electro-optic passive display device comprising a pair of plates having, as an active component between the plates, a mixture comprising a nematic liquid crystal possessing negative dielectric anisotropy, dichroic molecules and a chiralic compound capable of providing a helical structure to the active component, the chiralic compound concentration being selected to produce a pitch of the helix between 0.9d and 3d, "d" being the distance between plates, critical to ensure the formation of a helical structure only under the effect of an electric field and to provide a high contrast display.

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: Electro-optic passive display cell constituted by a layer of a mixture of a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, an optically active compound and dichroic molecules. The inner faces of the plates of the cell are covered with alignment layers such that, in the area situated outside the display zones or segments, the layer of the mixture has a homeotropic structure in its whole thickness. Opposite the segments the cell is arranged in such a way that the layer of the mixture has a helicoidal structure so that incident light is absorbed in these zones when the segments are not activated and that the layer of the mixture is orientated according to a homeotropic structure under the action of an electric field. Thus, when the cell is at rest, all its segments are visible. The display is effected by "cancelling" or "effacing" the segments which must not appear, so that only the non activated segments remaining visible in dark on a clear or transparent background.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece has a variable capacitor for adjustment of the rate of the timepiece by varying the oscillation frequency of an oscillator of the timepiece. One of the electrodes of the variable capacitor is constituted by an area of one of the conductive tracks of a printed circuit of the timepiece. The other electrode of this capacitor is constituted by a layer of a conductive material carried by an insulating pellet secured to the end of a metal arm pivotally mounted on the printed circuit substrate and which is electrically connected to the earth or "ground" of the timepiece circuit. The capacitance of the capacitor formed in this manner varies with the position of the pellet with respect to said area providing said one electrode.

Abstract: A resilient member for connecting a crystal to a watch casing in which the crystal is used for generating acoustic signals. The member is of generally annular configuration with an inner portion rigidly connected to the circumference of the crystal, an outer peripheral portion connected to a supporting member of the watch casing, and a free portion extending between the inner portion and the outer peripheral portion. The free portion has a width and a thickness which permits flexing in a direction normal to the plane of the crystal so that the crystal can vibrate in a direction normal to its plane and act as an acoustical transmitting member.

Abstract: An electro-acoustic device for an alarm watch includes a lever moved by an oscillating electromagnetic field created by an electromagnet to vibrate a moving element or glass of the watch and produce a sound. The glass is elastically mounted on a sealing ring of the watch. The lever is mounted by one end to the watch and includes a tapered part adjacent the one end which is elastically deformable thereat so that a free end of the lever opposite the one end may vibrate and its fundamental frequency in response to the oscillating electromagnetic field. The free end of the lever carries a stem coupling the lever to the glass and transmitting the oscillating motion of the lever to the glass, which vibrates on the elastic ring to produce the sound.

Abstract: An electromechanical calendar timepiece has a date display provided by two indicators carrying the "units" and tens data, respectively. The motor which drives these indicators can rotate at a normal speed or at a considerably higher speed. The units data comprise two consecutive figures "1" intended to display, respectively, the unit of the thirty-first of the months having thirty-one days and the first of each month, and one or the other of which displays the units of the eleventh and twenty-first of each month. The motor rotates at said higher speed on the one hand at the end of the months having less than thirty-one days and on the other hand twice each month, i.e. each time the "1" of the units data is displayed at the beginning of the second and the third decades.

Abstract: Touch sensitive key switches of an electronic watch which control functions of the watch such as time setting, are gated to reduce the power consumption of the watch. The key switches are capacitive and are fed signals derived from the time standard oscillator of the watch. A change in the key switch signals when the switches are touched by the user activate the time setting functions. Gates are provided coupling the signals derived from the oscillator to the key switches so that the signals are applied to the key switches either under control of the user or during repetitive time periods, reducing the time the signals are applied to the key switches and the power necessary to continuously supply such signals to the key switches.

Abstract: A time resetting operation in an electronic timepiece requires blocking of the stepping motor 1, and block of the mechanical type is avoided by the invention. A STOP switch 10 actuated by a time resetting stem of the timepiece sets to state "1" a flip-flop 11 which blocks gates 12 and 13 for controlling the passage of the pulses which drive the motor 1 through a feed circuit 2. The circuit 2 then passes a continuous current in the same direction as the last drive pulse. Thus, triggering of the continuous current leaves the position of the rotor unchanged. A counter 14 counts 1-second pulses and then resets the flip-flop 11, which causes the motor to resume normal operation. This avoids excessive discharging of the battery of the electronic timepiece if the user forgets to return the stem to its initial position after a time resetting operation.

Abstract: Display elements of an electrochromic display device are formed of two lines of electrochromic material separated by a zone devoid of such material. The areas of the lines of every element are equal to produce equal contrast effects in response to equal activation charges applied thereto.

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: Electronic timepiece having an electro-optic passive display cell comprising an oscillator used as a time base and an electronic control circuit of its several functions. The electronic circuit is operable by means of a stationary key or switch, having a capacitive action, carried by the glass or crystal of the timepiece. The stationary key is fed by the oscillator through a fixed or non-variable condenser. A conductive element is interposed between the stationary key and the display cell, the conductive element constituting one of the electrodes of the fixed condenser. The purpose of this arrangement is to eliminate the influence of a parasitic condenser constituted by the electrodes of the display cell and the electrode of the stationary key.

Abstract: A seven segment display device for forming a centered number 1. Six of the segments are disposed on the sides of a quadrangular surface. Each of two long sides of the surface are provided with a pair of segments, with each of the pair of segments including a longitudinal portion lying on the long side of the surface and a transverse portion pointing toward the center of the surface. The transverse portions are arranged adjacent each other at approximately the middle of the long sides. The transverse portions of each pair of segments are extending towards but spaced from the transverse portions of the other pair of segments. Each of the short sides of the surface are provided with a segment. The seventh segment is provided on the longitudinal axis of the surface between said transverse portions.

Abstract: Two alignment films are deposited on a liquid crystal substrate. Each film is deposited at an angle of about 5.degree. with respect to the substrate surface. The projection on the substrate of one deposition beam forms an angle of 180.degree. with the projecton on the surface of the other deposition beam. The resultant liquid crystal cell has a sharp threshold with good contrast, particularly for multiplexing applications.

Abstract: A method for the display of information by means of a multi-element passive display device, the elements being separately activated, matrixially arranged and at least two elements required to be activated for display of information. The type of display involves use of a liquid crystal cell formed of electrodes and counter-electrodes carried by two glass plates respectively and the said elements are parts of said electrodes and counter-electrodes.The method comprises the election for activation of elements which are adjacent in any direction, that is, either those superposed, or side by side or diagonally arranged. This method enables use of conventionally shaped characters of greater individual size than heretofore available and is useful for display of dates and/or days of the week on electro-optic watches.

Abstract: An electro-optic device comprising a transparent conductive layer, an electrochromic layer applied on the said transparent layer, these two first elements constituting together a first electrode, a counter-electrode maintained at distance from the said first electrode, and an electrolyte ensuring an ionic binding between the electrode and the counter-electrode. Preferably, the electrolyte is a polymer of linear molecules such as polystyrene sulfonic acid including a pigment.A combination cell of a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane and polystyrene sulfonic acid is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a phase-shifting circuit for providing a signal out of phase by an amount .DELTA..PHI. digitally predetermined with respect to the phase of a reference signal and which can be any function of time or another variable or a constant. The circuit comprises a digital divider receiving an input reference signal and delivering an output signal whose phase is measured by a number detected at the set of outputs of the divider, this number being fed to the input of a digital arithmetic circuit to be therein added to a signal delivered by a binary number generator which determines the phase-shift .DELTA..PHI.. The output of the arithmetic circuit is a signal out of phase of an amount .DELTA..PHI. with respect to the signal at the output of the divider circuit.

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment film is deposited on the inner surfaces of two plates of an electro-optic passive display cell. The film is vacuum evaporated on the plates at an incidence of 5.degree. and at least one plate is rubbed in only the direction of deposition. A helicoidal nematic liquid crystal is disposed between the two plates of the cell, and is aligned by the film.

Abstract: An improved shock absorber for a watch movement and a method of making the same. The watch has a molded casing and a movement with a molded baseplate. A plurality of shock absorbers permanently mount the movement in the casing. Each shock absorber has a first portion molded in the watch casing, a second portion molded in baseplate of the watch movement, and an elastically deformable shock absorber connecting portion extending between the first portion and the second portion free of the casing and the baseplate. The method includes molding the first portion in the casing and molding the second portion in the baseplate with the connecting portion free of the baseplate and casing and the baseplate and casing free from one another.

Abstract: A touch sensitive device for controlling a function of a timepiece is formed with a condenser having a capacity independent of the area of the device touched. A conductive stem is fixed in a timepiece case and is electrically insulated from the case by a mounting member. A head is fixed on an end of the stem adjacent the outside of the timepiece to form one of the condenser electrodes. A thin layer of insulating material covers the outside of the head and forms the condenser dielectric. A layer of conductive material is fixed on a side of the dielectric material opposite the head and forms the second condenser electrode. When the second electrode is energized by the touch of the user, the entire second electrode is energized independent of the area touched by the user, giving the condenser a capacity independent of the area of the second electrode touched.