Abstract: A process for obtaining sealed electric passages through an insulating body nvolves subjecting a titanium oxide ceramic forming a portion of the insulating body to a reduction process at selected places where the passages are desired. The reduction process involves baking the titanium oxide ceramic in a reducing atmosphere. According to some embodiments of the invention, more of the ceramic portion than is necessary is first subjected to the reduction process and those surface portions that are not intended to be conductive are treated to have metallic traces removed therefrom.

Abstract: A light diffusing surface structure is provided for a light guide in a passive information display wherein the surface geometry of regular texture is formed by portions of circular cylinders having their axes parallel to the general plane of the surface such cylinder portions intersecting one another at angles of 60.degree. or 90.degree. and producing a continuous diffusion at any angle of vision.

Abstract: A countdown device such as a timer employing a digital display is provided ith a plurality of up/down counters, one for each digit column. A single control switch is provided which may be in the form of a push-button and the signal obtained therefrom acts on each counter until a predetermined count is reached and then on the succeeding counter. Thereby digital data may be rapidly introduced, precision of the representation diminishing however as the interval increases.

Abstract: An optical instrument for the gathering and distribution of light comprises cylindrical and a planar body formed of transparent material and optically coupled together. The cylindrical body has an elliptic and circular outer surface covered with inwardly reflecting material and a light source arranged along one focal line for the elliptic surface portion. Light gathered by the cylindrical body is transmitted to the planar body and is diffused thereby over one major surface. The instrument is advantageously applied to the illumination of passive information displays such as found in liquid crystal display timepieces where efficient energy use is extremely important.

Abstract: A timepiece is described having an electromechanical analogue display for rtain information and an electronic digital display for other information. Synchronizing means for the displays may consist of a signal generator associated with the analogue display driving mechanism and arranged so that at predetermined periodic intervals the signal generator may be operated so as to provide a synchronizing signal to the digital display.

Abstract: A yzw 35.degree.0' thickness shear crystal bar is provided with bevels cut n its longest narrow surfaces (b, c) proximate the ends in order to obtain energy trapping of the coupled mode vibrations which may arrive at said ends and thus permit shortening of the bar for a given quality factor.

Abstract: The small-sized electronic timepiece comprises a casing susceptible to turn ntirely on itself in a support in order to expose in a first position an analog display and in a second position a digital display. The support is constituted by a rectangular plate two opposed edges of which have upwardly extending wing portion, the wristband or any other fastening system being fixed in the neighborhood of said wing portions. The casing is adapted to slide parallel to said wing portions from one edge to the other of the plate and to effect its turning movement in at least a third extreme position, the latter permitting an easier replacement of an energy source.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece displaying both the time and the temperature. A tsducer which may take two positions is provided to reach this result: the first position incorporates the transducer within the timepiece and allowing the correction of the frequency drift of the time base which determines the time the second position projecting the transducer out of the timepiece case in order to measure, for example, the temperature of the ambient air. There is also provided an automatic switching system which adapts the transducer to the frequency correction or to the temperature measurement depending on the position of said transducer.

Abstract: An electrically driven timepiece has a high frequency oscillator, a frequy divider and a time display capable of displaying at least minutes and seconds wherein correcting and setting of the display is obtained by means of a single user accessible switch capable of assuming at least two positions including a neutral and an active position and a sequential discriminator circuit which includes a plurality of memory devices, a timing chain and a bistable circuit controlled by the switch so that cycles of impulses applied to the switch within predetermined time periods by the user will result in the addition of a unit count to the seconds display or the blocking of the display advance or the driving of the display at a higher than normal rate in accordance with the cycle pattern employed.

Abstract: A dual display timepiece employs a stepping motor capable of rotation in sense for driving hour and minute hands in an analogue display and an electronic digital display for displaying other information (second, date, chronograph, etc.). In order to facilitate hour hand corrections a logic circuit is provided which permits the user to enter the nature (positive or negative) and the amount of correction desired into the digital display. Following such entry the hour hand is corrected automatically by application of N.times.Y higher than normal frequency signals to the analogue display, where N corresponds to the number of signals required to effect a one hour or half hour correction and Y corresponds to the correction entered by the user.

Abstract: A timepiece having chronograph features has an electronic digital display pable of displaying six digits. In the chronograph operating mode these are normally minutes, seconds and hundredths of seconds. Should the instrument run for more than one hour prior to a stop or split operation, then during such operation a detector and a timer will cause hours alone to be displayed alternating with the remaining information (minutes, seconds, hundredths of seconds). Thus a six digit display may be employed for eight digit information.

Abstract: A unidirectional gear transmission of reduced axial thickness advantageou employed in timepieces is adapted to be driven by a stepping motor. The driving gear is provided with an alternating pattern of teeth having a first thickness and spacing and sets of two teeth having greater thickness and spacing. The driven gear is provided with an alternating pattern of teeth corresponding to the first thickness teeth of the driving gear and two spaces corresponding to the greater thickness teeth of the driving gear separated by a single tooth. Regular stepping rotation in either sense can be transmitted from the driving gear to the driven gear, but transmission of rotation from driven to driving gear is prevented.

Abstract: A gear train enables rotational drive in either sense of a driven member le preventing transmission of rotation in either sense from the driven to the driving member. Each member of the train comprises a pair of discs attached on their faces with each disc having asymmetric teeth on its periphery and each disc of the pair being a reflection about a diametral line of the other. The asymmetrics in each member of the train are different.

Abstract: For detecting false starts and relaying failures in swimming competitions, starting block is provided comprising a fixed base and a movable platform arranged to support a swimmer. The base and platform carry electrical contact terminals, the platform being suspended on the base by means of elastic shock absorbers which enable a displacement of the platform parallel to its swimmer support plane.

Abstract: A time setting and correction circuit is provided for a quartz time stand timepiece in which the use of memory circuits permits the correction of minute hand setting, hour hand setting and internal putting into phase of seconds through actuation of a single switch.

Abstract: An electrically energized timepiece movement is provided with motion work the form of a planetary train entirely supported on the frame of a driving motor. Coaxial planet pinions are excentrically located on a minute wheel, one planet pinion engaging a fixed central gear and the other engaging the hour wheel.

Abstract: An electronic time display is provided with two manual switches and a cour for making time corrections. One switch advances the counter to select either the seconds, minutes, hours, or calendar (day) display for correction. The second switch is then used to effect the correction. In order to reduce power consumption and circuit complexity, provision is made for displaying at any particular time either all or a part of the total information available for display.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided comprising three elongated vacuum chambers arran in line one after another whereby a component carrying means may be transferred successively from one chamber to another. Of these three chambers the first and third comprise air locks and the intermediate chamber contains heat sealing means whereby components undergoing sealing may be soldered under vacuum. By providing a permanent magnet on each end of the component carrying means this may be shifted between vacuum chambers by external application of a magnet. The overall length of the apparatus is reduced since only three chambers are required and the intermediate chamber may be made shorter than would be the case where no such arrangement is provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a solid state timepiece which provides chronograph nctions and in which a single display unit is adapted to display either an elapsed time or the time of day. To distinguish when the chronograph function is being carried out within the timepiece signalling means is provided which may, for instance, take the form of an index symbol on the face of the display and indicates that the chronograph function is in operation even although the display may continue to display the normal time.

Abstract: The invention concerns sports timing systems and in particular connections etween a central processor which determines the performances of the competitors and the peripheral devices which provide such processor with the necessary information such as starting and arrival times, intermediate times and as well as any other information necessary for the identification of the device concerned or of the competitor.