Abstract: In a sandwich type electro-optic display device which includes a transparent conductive substrate, an electrochromic layer (e.g. tungsten oxide applied to the substrate), a counterelectrode spaced from the electrochromic layer and a conductive medium, e.g. an acidic liquid ion conductive medium (sulfuric acid-glycerine solution) located in the space between the two electrodes; a protective layer deposited in situ on the electrochromic layer resulting from the doping of the liquid electrolyte with a salt of a cation having an ionic radius no less than 0.99 Angstrom units according to the classification of Pauling. Soluble isopolytungstic acid is formed at the interface between the electrochromic layer and the conductive medium as an "interfacial layer". The great cation salt selected is Ba.sup.

Abstract: An electronic watch is set to the proper time by correction of the content of counters of the watch through the actuation of one or both of two switches. The actuation of the first one of the switches selects whether the content of the counters is to be incremented or decremented at a first speed. The subsequent actuation of the other switch performs the correction at a second higher speed in the sense selected by actuation of the first switch.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical watch for advancing the uncorrected watch indicating members to their correct time indicating positions, after a correction period during which one of the indicating members is adjusted and the advancement of the uncorrected members is interrupted. In regular operation, a pulsed signal at a normal frequency from a watch frequency divider drives a stepping motor to advance the indicating members. At the beginning of the correction period, the pulsed signal is switched from the stepping motor to a pulse counter which counts the pulses occurring during the correction period. After the correction period, the pulsed signal is switched back to the stepping motor and a number of signal pulses at a higher than normal frequency, equal to the count of the pulse counter are applied to the stepping motor to advance rapidly the uncorrected indicating members to their correct time indicating positions.

Abstract: A control device for controlling the display of an electronic watch capable of providing two different types of information. The control device enables selection of the information to be displayed and differentiation between the two types of display available.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing a date indicator of an electromechanical calendar watch. An hour indicator is driven through two normal operating revolutions of twelve hours each while keeping the date indicator fixed. The hour indicator then is driven through at least one more revolution at a speed much greater than the two normal operating revolutions to advance quickly the date indicator one day through a gearing connecting the hour indicator to the date indicator.

Abstract: A device for automatically correcting the date indicator of an electro-mechanical timepiece to the first date of the next month at the end of each month. A pulse driven motor advances the date indicator one date in response to a plurality of pulsed drive signals with the motor advancing one step for each drive signal pulse, and at a speed corresponding to the drive signal frequency. A fixed number of drive signal pulses are applied to the motor each month to advance the date indicator through the dates of each month to the first date of the next month. A predetermined number of the drive signal pulses, corresponding to the number of dates of each month, are applied to the motor at a normal advance frequency normally to advance the date indicator.

Abstract: A method and circuit for selecting a function of a watch. A predetermined number and a predetermined sequence of electrical code signals are user generated by two switches which are located on the watch. The code signals correspond to at least one function of the watch. The sequence of code signals is stored and the code signals occurring within a predetermined time period are counted. The count of the code signals occurring within the predetermined time period is compared to the predetermined number and the stored sequence of code signals are decoded only when the count of the code signals equals the predetermined number within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: An electro-optic display device having a partially transparent display cell and a semi-transparent mirror located behind said cell and arranged to transmit light waves within a first wave length band and to reflect light waves within a second wave length band. An electro-optic component is located behind the semi-transparent mirror and operates in a third wave length band which overlaps at least partially the first wave length band. The electro-optical component may be a plurality of photo cells used for recharging an accumulator for the display device and/or a light source transmitted across a light plate of frosted or clear glass to illuminate the display cell. The display cell is illuminated by either the reflected light waves or the light waves emitted from the light source.

Abstract: A binary frequency divider stage comprises eleven insulated gate field effect transistors and a capacitor, all of which may be fabricated as an integrated circuit. The stage has an input, an output, two supply lines, and two clock lines for receiving two sets of out-of-phase clock pulses. Pulses are supplied to the input synchronously with one of the sets of clock pulses and the divider stage produces at its output pulses of half the frequency of the input pulses.

Abstract: An electro-optic device comprising a transparent conductive layer and an electrochromic layer applied thereon together constituting an electrode, a counter-electrode spaced from said electrode and an intermediate electrolyte; the electrolyte containing a reductant capable of forming, during operation of the device, an electrochemical couple whose potential is more anodic than the oxidation potential of the electrochromic layer to prevent an increase of the potential during bleaching of the electrochromic layer markedly reducing deterioration of the electrolyte.

Abstract: An electric switch for connecting one or more of a plurality of leads on one side of an insulating substrate to a lead on the other side of the substrate. The switch includes a conductive contact member having a pin rotatably engaged in a hole in the substrate. The pin having a first end extending out of the first side of the substrate and having a head eccentrically connected thereto. The pin of the contact member is electrically connected to a lead on a second side of the substrate. Means are provided on the contact member for rotating the contact member head between the plurality of leads selectively to contact one or more of the leads on the first substrate side with the head to electrically connect the selected lead through the pin with the lead on the second substrate side.

Abstract: A wrist carried instrument includes a rechargeable electric energy source for providing power to the instrument. The energy source is recharged by a pair of generators, both operatively coupled to the source and generating complementary recharging currents from different physical phenomena. The first generator may be a photo-electric cell generating a recharging current in light such as exists from the sun in summer, while the second generator may be a thermoelectric element generating a recharging current from a temperature gradient such as exists in the dark or winter.

Abstract: Method for pretreating a plastic substrate prior to metallization thereof by electroless metal deposition by applying a brush discharge thereto, the current density of which is higher than 0.5 mA/cm.sup.2, the tension of which being less than the breakdown tension of the substrate and the total charge of energy applied being no higher than 20mC/cm.sup.2 ; the treatment comprising plural short spaced exposures of said substrate to said discharge. Various masking means are employed to provide selectively treated and untreated portions on the substrate.

Abstract: In an electronic watch, the content of the memory associated with the adjusting circuit of the division ratio of the frequency divider is modified at each correction of the display to compensate for the frequency error of the crystal oscillator and to thereby reduce the running error of the watch. Such electronic watches use a crystal oscillator whose frequency is not optimum. To compensate for the frequency variations due to manufacturing tolerances, age and temperature, correction circuits are incorporated into such watches. When an operator acts on a switch on the case of the watch to correct the time display indication, the content of the memory is modified to correct for the frequency error of the crystal oscillator.

Abstract: A rotatable member to be driven step-by-step having a set of grooves, each of the grooves having two circular portions offset from one another and joined by a connecting portion. A driving rotatable disc has a first protrusion, having a radius of trajectory equal to the radius of the circular portions, which engages the first circular portion without driving the rotatable member. The protrusion follows the first circular portion as it rotates until it reaches the connecting portion where it drives the rotatable member forward one step until the protrusion is aligned with the second circular portion. The protrusion then follows the second circular portion without moving the rotatable member. A second protrusion can be provided on the driving rotatable disc to follow a third circular portion of a different radius so the rotatable member is locked in position except when the first protrusion is in the connecting portion.

Abstract: An internal correction circuit is provided to correct the timepiece error caused by the crystal oscillator frequency changes. The timepiece operates by frequency dividing the oscillator frequency to obtain a predetermined operating frequency. The correction circuit is operated by the user on any initialization point, such as the start of any minute from a reference time source to generate a first input signal. The user at any following minute of the reference time source generates a second input signal.The correction circuit counts a first and second number of time units of different lengths between the first and second input signals. The circuit then forms a division ratio from the first and second numbers. That ratio is used to change the frequency divider division ratio to adjust the watch for the crystal frequency error just calculated.

Abstract: An electro-optic passive display cell with a transparent plate having an inner face and a transparent electrically insulating coating applied to said inner face. Electrically conductive electrodes and leads are formed in the coating by ion implantation. The coating is electrically insulating within the cell except in the locations in which said electrodes and leads are formed.

Abstract: An electro-optic passive display device displays information in dark characters on a light background during the day, and in light characters on a dark background during the night. The device has a polarizer, an electro-optic display cell, a quarter-wave plate, a chloesteric liquid crystal cell and an illuminator arranged in superposition on each other. These elements control the polarization of light transmitted through the device which polarization causes the changing of the displayed information from dark characters on a light background to light characters on a dark background.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece provides photo-electric cells disposed behind a passive electro-optic display cell for recharging a storage battery. The timepiece includes in its display a polarizer, a passive electro-optic device such as a liquid crystal, a quarter-wave plate, a cholesteric liquid crystal reflector and photo-electric cell arranged in superposition upon each other. Ambient light passing through the cholesteric reflector is used to energize the photo-electric cells which recharge the storage battery. Ambient light reflected by the cholesteric reflector is used to indicate the displayed information.

Abstract: Piezoelectric microresonators with suspension arms, oscillating according to a vibration resulting from the superposition of a principal extensional mode of oscillation, of a first shear coupled mode of oscillation and of a second extensional coupled mode of oscillation. The suspension arms are attached to the active part of the resonator in a place which is the intersection of a nodal plane of the vibration resulting of the superposition of the principal mode and of the first coupled mode of oscillation. The other end of the arms is fixed on a stiff support in a location which coincide with a node of their vibration.