Abstract: A wrist instrument has an expandable strap for use in securing the instrument about a wearer's wrist. The expandable strap has a strap casing or a sheath on each end and an interconnecting member attached to the strap casings. The interconnecting member includes a non-expandable section and at least one elastic member housed in one of the strap casings. The elastic member is attached to both the strap casing housing it and the non-expandable section of the interconnecting member such that when a pulling force is exerted on the interconnecting member, the elastic member expands within the strap casing to allow the strap to accommodate different wrist sizes without exposing the elastic member to view.

Abstract: A system for transferring data from a CRT (cathode ray tube) video display monitor on a personal computer to a portable information device such as a multifunction electronic wristwatch. The CRT video display has a video signal generator providing raster scanning of the screen and a program for formatting the binary coded data into blocks of serial data bits, with start bit and stop bit. The blocks of data are supplied to the video signal generator in synchronism with raster scanning of the screen so as to provide an integral number of one or more blocks of data for each vertical frame, and modulated to vary the brightness of the screen and provide scan line segments providing light pulses corresponding to presence or absence of binary coded transmitter pulses. The scan line segments commence at selected screen coordinate locations, such that each successive scan line segment representing a data bit commences at a different temporal position along the scan line than the preceding scan line segment.

Abstract: An illuminated date ring for a calendar wristwatch for viewing the date at night through a window in the dial, employs an electroluminescent (EL) lamp beneath a transparent date ring. The EL lamp electrodes extend around the ring, and flexible spring members make sliding contact with the electrodes as the ring rotates in the movement.

Abstract: A wristwatch is set by optically transmitting time of day information from a wall clock or table clock to an optical sensor in the wristwatch. The time information is optically transmitted as sequential light pulses by controlling a light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED) in the wall clock or table clock.

Abstract: An electroluminescent lamp constructed by screen printing, in succession on a rigid metal plate in the shape of a watch dial, a first of barium titanate, a second layer of phosphor particles in a polymerizable binder, a light transmissive third layer of indium tin oxide, and a conductive peripheral ring of silver epoxy. A transparent dial overlay of Mylar.TM. film with timekeeping indicia fits within the conductive ring. The conductive ring and the substrate serve as the electrodes for the lamp, which illuminates the dial overlay.

Abstract: Crown setting device for an alarm setting crown and/or a time setting crown in an analog wristwatch uses a rotatable top ring mounted on the watch case, having gear teeth on its underside which mesh with gear teeth on the crown(s) to rotate the crown(s). This serves to set the time and/or alarms with less time and effort than conventional crown setting. Preferably involute gear teeth are used, but a simple version employs the conventional crown knurling as "teeth".

Abstract: An electroluminescent watch dial is provided with silhouette images on the dial. A transflective film covers an opaque image layer applied to a conventional electroluminescent watch dial. Timekeeping indicia are applied over the transflective film. The image is not seen in ambient light but is visible when the electroluminescent lamp is actuated.