Abstract: The invention provides a feed arrangement enabling the detection of the rr position of a stepping motor in relation to polarity of the motor pulses and to apply a series of long duration pulses should the polarity be considered to be wrong. The detector includes means for sampling the induced voltage generated by the motor at a predetermined moment the motor being then open circuited, comparing said voltage with a reference signal and using the result of the comparison to determine whether or not the long duration pulses should be applied to the motor. The invention is intended for use with micromotors as used in timepieces.

Abstract: The timepiece includes a low frequency oscillator serving as time base and rranged to feed a first chain of frequency dividers having an adjustable division rate in order to display the time and a high frequency oscillator feeding a second chain of frequency dividers. During an imprecise period established by the first chain (3) reference pulses from the second chain (7) are counted thereby to establish a binary value (HF-DF) representing the amount of imprecision of the first chain in respect of the reference. This value is transferred into a memory in order to correct directly or indirectly the division rate of the first divider chain. There is thus obtained an oscillator having the stability of a high frequency oscillator but with energy consumption only slightly exceeding that of a low frequency oscillator.

Abstract: For an electronic timepiece arranged and adapted to give reminders there is rovided a method for comparing a timekeeping state (1) with the contents of a register (2), a circuit (3) for applying the method and a utilization of such circuit.A programmable register (2) releases a signal whenever the contents of at least one counter (1) coincide with the contents of a portion of the register (2). In another portion of the register (2) is programmed the code of a state (-) which corresponding counters (1) will never attain under normal operations and the comparison (3) between the state of these counters (1) and that of said other portion of the register (2) is validated whatever may be the state. The comparison circuit (3) may be obtained from the arithmetic and logic units of a microprocessor as employed in a reminder giving timepiece.

Abstract: A static pick-up may comprise a sapphire substrate of which the upper sure bears at least two metallic electrodes and a dielectric and the lower surface is metallized in a manner to receive directly an electronic circuit adapted to detect the position of a finger placed on the pick-up. The electrodes are coupled to the lower surface metallization by means of metallized passages. The pick-up may be employed as a control means for introducing and correcting data as displayed by a timepiece.

Abstract: The invention concerns a miniature pushbutton for a timepiece and includes head portion (1) associated with a socket (2) force fitted into a caseband (15). Considered in isolation it constitutes a dormant corrector since it lacks a return spring thus permitting a considerable reduction in its dimensions. The head portion including stem is fashioned in a manner to permit assembly and disassembly from the timepiece exterior thus facilitating these operations. A retention system is provided which prevents inadvertent separation of the head-stem portion from the socket. Such pushbutton may be advantageously employed in extra thin timepieces.

Abstract: The invention provides a positioning mechanism for a center wheel in a tiiece enabling precision positioning for the seconds or minutes hand relative to the dial divisions. It comprises a jumper spring (1) friction mounted onto the base plate and cooperating with the teeth (3) of the center wheel (4) and a wheel member (29) interposed between the center wheel (4) and the motor pinion (14). The wheel member includes a pinion (17) meshing with the center wheel as well as a gear (16) friction mounted relative to said pinion and meshing with the motor pinion. The positioning method consists of immobilizing the motor pinion then turning the center wheel to bring the end of the jumper spring into coincidence with a tooth space thereof. The invention is employed to position exactly the seconds or minutes hand of an electronic timepiece having a stepping motor.

Abstract: An electronic wrist-watch of greatly reduced thickness has extremely thin me indicating discs for which a special driving and guiding system is employed. Further, a single-phase motor is provided with at least two stator windings for reducing the watch's thickness. A watch case comprises an integral case band in order to assure greater rigidity of this thin watch structure.

Abstract: The invention comprises a single phase bipolar stepping motor in which the otor may rotate in both senses. A stator is provided having two windings. When these are connected in series and fed with a first type of alternating polarity pulses, the rotor turns in a preferred sense. When the windings are connected in parallel and fed by a second type of alternating polarity pulses of opposite phase to the first type the rotor turns in the opposite sense. The motor is applied to advantage in time setting arrangements for analog display timepieces.

Abstract: An analog display timepiece includes an hours hand and a minutes hand. A control in association with electronic means enables transformation of the minutes hand into a seconds hand and the hours hand into a minutes hand which advances through an angle of 30.degree. per minute. In one version a first operation of the control positions the hands at noon and stops them. A second operation starts the timing operation with a span of 12.times.60 seconds. A third operation stops the timing and a fourth operation returns the hands to display the actual time of day following which operation is normal.

Abstract: The invention concerns an interface device for the entry of data into an trument of small volume such as a timepiece and comprises a static touch responsive sensor formed by a plurality of juxtaposed electrodes. An electronic logic circuit on the one hand receives signals emitted by the sensor representing the position of a finger on the sensor and on the other hand provides output clock pulses to a first and a second counter. Switching means in the electronic logic circuit enable the switching of the clock pulses to the first counter if the finger is moved over the sensor at a speed v.sub.1 less than a threshold speed v.sub.2 or to the second counter if the finger is moved over the sensor at a speed v.sub.3 greater than the threshold speed v.sub.2. The invention may be employed in small timepieces for time setting for example.

Abstract: The invention comprises an arrangement which permits placing a timepiece o a state of minimum energy consumption for storage purposes. It includes a manual control arranged to act on an electronic circuit. When the manual control is briefly actuated the minutes hand may be set to the minute, with a longer actuation causing the hands to advance through one time zone. Should the control be actuated while the hands are in motion during time zone adjustment the hands are stopped and the timepiece is in order for storage. The arrangement is applicable to timepieces which must be stored during a certain period and serves to conserve energy as well as to stop the hands in a uniform position for a collection on display.

Abstract: A feed arrangement enabling detection of the movement of a stepping motor d providing such motor with a series of long duration pulses in the event of failure to step responsive to a short duration pulse. The detector comprises means for sampling a first signal developed by the current in the motor winding and generating a second signal which is the integral of the first, in order to detect whether or not the motor has stepped. The invention is intended for use with micromotors as found in timepieces.

Abstract: A signal generator having a digital temperature compensation circuit contains high and low frequency quartz oscillators (HF and NF), the low frequency oscillator being used for temperature compensation. Both oscillators are manufactured such that the descending portion of the temperature dependent parabolic frequency curve of the low frequency oscillator passes through the temperature inversion point of the parabola of the high frequency oscillator.The frequencies of both oscillators are first adjusted such that the ratio thereof is inversely proportional to the ratio of the parabolic temperature coefficient, i.e., f.sub.1 :f.sub.2 =.beta..sub.2 :.beta..sub.1. Subsequently two substantially identical reference frequencies are adjusted and, by feeding back the output frequency, combined in such a manner that an output frequency independent of temperature is produced which is determined substantially by the high frequency oscillator.

Abstract: A signal generator includes a high frequency oscillator such as a quartz crystal oscillator at a frequency of 4.19 MHz, a low frequency quartz oscillator with a frequency of 32 kHz, a beat frequency generator for producing a correction signal which is transmitted to a programmable frequency divider, and an electronic switch for periodic switching of the high frequency quartz oscillator. By periodically switching-on the high frequency quartz oscillator, comparing its frequency curve with that of the low frequency quartz oscillator and and appropriately adjusting the programmable frequency divider, the advantages of long term stability, temperature of behavior and aging of a high frequency oscillator are combined with the low current consumption characteristics associated with the low frequency quartz oscillator, whereby the life of a battery powering the signal generator can be substantially extended.

Abstract: The invention refers to a manipulating device, particularly for industrial obots, comprising an articulated gripping arm located and extending from a support, of the kind in which the articulated gripping arm comprises a lever system with at least a first, a second and a third member pivotally connected with the pivot axes parallel to each other, the first member being pivotally connected at the support. Such manipulating devices are equipped with at least two drive units to move a driven member to a predetermined angular relationship with respect to a preceding member or to the support as the case may be. A gripper or tool is located at the free end of the last (outermost) member. The invention particularly concerns manipulating devices for the purposes of the watch industry where relatively small parts must be precisely manipulated.

Abstract: A single phase bipolar stepping motor is described wherein the rotor is cble of bidirectional rotation. The rotor is so dimensioned that a combination of its moment of inertia J, its volume V and the number of pole pairs p satisfy the relation J/(V.multidot.p.sup.1,4).gtoreq.5.multidot.10.sup.-3 kg/m. Such a rotor will reliably step in the sense opposite to the preferred sense when the motor winding receives a first pulse of short duration followed by a second pulse of longer duration the polarity of which is inverted relative to that of the first pulse. The invention may find application to timepieces having hours and minutes hands.

Abstract: The invention provides a feed arrangement for a stepping motor which enables step detection and responsive to failure to step applies a series of wide (long duration) pulses in place of the normal short duration pulses. The detector includes sampling means for a first signal developed by the voltage induced in the motor winding during a predetermined period and there are means to generate a second signal which is the integral of the first signal, the amplitude of the second signal indicating whether or not the motor has stepped. The invention may find use with a timepiece micromotor.

Abstract: A stepping motor causes a driving pinion to rotate by steps of 90.degree., he stopping position being such that a driven pinion is blocked with a very small backlash by the pressure of a tooth of the driven pinion against the top face of one of the teeth of the driving pinion. Both pinions have simple teeth with conventional profiles capable of being cut by means of a worm-hob. The pitch of the driving pinion is between one and two times that of the driven pinion, and the layouts of the teeth are such that the arc along which a tooth of the driving pinion engages the teeth of the driven pinion includes a portion tranversed freely and a portion along which the driving pinion rotates the driven pinion by one step of its toothing.

Abstract: To attach the dial to the timepiece movement it is proposed to use a magnc circuit comprising at least one permanent magnet which cooperates with a soft ferromagnetic material. The latter may be a component of the dial while the magnet is placed within the movement. The magnetic attraction which exists between both elements holds together the dial and the movement.

Abstract: A simultaneous analog digital timepiece display comprises two superposed passive electro-optical cells one of which provides analog information and the other digital information. The timepiece is arranged and adapted such that the two types of information displayed are never directly superimposed. Such result is obtained through the provision of three zones for the digital display cell wherein one only of said zones is activated at any one time, such activated zone being chosen so as not to coincide with the position of the analog display hands.