Abstract: An electronic timepiece is provided with a device for automatically adjusting month-end calendar dates capable of reading dates simply, quickly, and reliably. A date detection pattern 71 composed of reflective and non-reflective sections is formed on the rear surface of a date dial 70. When the date dial 70 rotates, a change in the boundary between the reflective part and the non-reflective part is read by a photo sensor 81, the necessary number of dates is determined by a control circuit 20 by use of a perpetual calendar circuit, driving a date dial driving mechanisms 51 and 52.

Abstract: The invention is related to a watch case equipped with a decoration piece (50) which has the particularity of being difficult to machine and having moreover dimensions of rather wide tolerances, namely plus or minus about a tenth of a millimeter around a reference dimension, whereas the manufacturers of the watch cases are able to ascertain usually a precision in the order of a hundredth of a millimeter. This handicap is overcome in providing a clearance between the decoration piece and the adjacent elements (20, 30), namely the middle of the watch and the bottom, and thanks to means (60, 70) ascertaining the maintenance of these clearances, these means exerting at the same time the functions of tightness and of shock dampening where the shocks occur on the clockwork-movement (10) or on the decoration piece (50), or on both.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cap for a hermetically sealed container, said cap providing a visually observable indication of elapsed time from the opening of the seal of said container, said cap including means for releasing a chemical which effects a color change in a chamber formed therein, said chamber being provided with a transparent section for viewing the contents thereof and said released chemical effecting a cumulative color change of said section with time, the arrangement being such that manipulation of said cap to open said container and said seal effects activation of said releasing means.

Abstract: A gap h between a rotor inertia disk 12c and stators 123 and 133 is set so that the load torque between the components due to air viscosity resistance is equal to or less than 1/10 of the maximum output torque at a rotor. Since the load torque is thereby sufficiently reduced, it is possible to limit energy loss of a mainspring, and to extend the period of operation of a timepiece.

Abstract: To reduce electric power consumed during the operation of adjusting the indication of time and reduce the time required for the time adjusting operation. Using a second hand driving motor and a hour/minute hand driving motor both capable of rotating in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the indication of time is adjusted by driving the second hand driving motor and the hour/minute hand driving motor at times different from each other. The hand driving method (hand driving direction) is determined on the basis of the time elapsed during the power saving mode measured by a time information adjusting part such that the hands are driven in a direction which results in a reduction in the power consumption or the adjusting time.

Abstract: In a time measurement device (1000) having, at least, both a function of measuring standard time and a function of measuring any elapsed time, when a predetermined amount of time passes from a temporary suspension of a watch hand in position in the middle of the measurement of the elapsed time, the suspension of the watch hand is automatically released and the watch hand is driven to a watch hand position indicating the elapsed time. Provided thereby is the time measurement device which automatically releases the temporary suspension state in time measurement after the predetermined amount of time, thereby shortening the temporary suspension time and reducing power consumed to drive the watch hand to an originally expected watch hand position at the release of the temporary suspension.

Abstract: An alarm clock comprises a seat, a switch, a light emitter, a light guiding plate, a light shielding layer, a timer, a transparent mask, a frame, and a power source. The timer is installed in the seat and drives a rotary shaft to pass out through the light shielding layer and the light guiding plate to be connected to indicators. The surface of the light guiding plate is arranged with scales and numeral indicators. A frame is fixed at a periphery of the seat, and after the light guiding plate and the light shielding layer are positioned, a transparent mask is connected to the inner side of the frame. The seat supports a light emitter and a light emitter switch which are connected with one another. The switch is connected to a power source. Pressing the lateral side of the transparent mask operates the light emitter switch.

Abstract: Timepieces, in a single-housed, single-crystal design, constructed to provide an unobstructed central area of the face for enhanced display of artwork, logos, holograms, designs and/or pictures.

Abstract: An emergency response system wristwatch having upper and lower case sections connected by a hinge is combined with a removable interference bracket disposed between the two case sections. The upper case section has opposing rear and front surfaces, where the front surface includes a dial face. The upper case section is operable to pivot on the hinge between open and closed positions. The lower case section has an activation button that is exposed when the upper case section is in the open position. When the upper case section is in the closed position, the rear surface of the upper case section is disposed adjacent the activation button. Without the removable interference bracket between the upper and lower case sections, the rear surface of the upper case section is operable to move toward the lower case section and press upon the activation button if pressure is applied to the dial face.

Abstract: A display having at least one hand which can be driven by an electric drive, it being possible for the hand or the hands to execute rotations of more than 360° in a first direction, wherein it is provided that the hand or the hands (Z) can be rotated in a second direction (CCW) which is counter to the first direction (CW), that the hand or one of the hands (Z) can be rotated in the second direction(CCW) only up to a certain position (P) and, in this position, assumes a reference position, and that there is a detecting device (V) which detects the inability of the hand (Z) to rotate further in the second direction (CCW).

Abstract: A small electronic equipment with a vibration alarm has, as a drive source, a flat stator type bipolar stepping motor, which has a rotor having high durability, can be assembled easily, requires low power consumption, is started constantly stably, and can be rotated at a high speed. In this electronic equipment with the vibration alarm, a rotor (1) is rotated by a rotary drive system including a drive pulse generating means (112, 113, 114), a drive circuit (110), a flat stator (6), a counter electromotive voltage detection coil (306), and a magnetic pole position detection means (107, 115, 116), so that an eccentric weight (2) fixed to the rotor is rotated, thereby generating vibration. The drive pulse generating means outputs a pulse signal for driving the stepping motor on the basis of an alarm signal output at alarm time. The drive circuit supplies a drive current to a drive coil (305) on the basis of the pulse signal from the drive pulse generating means.

Abstract: A tooth brushing timer apparatus disposed within a tooth-configured housing which presents a visual representation of the time elapsed for the brushing of teeth. Following activation, the user-adjustable timing indicator provides a visual display of the elapsing tooth brushing time, further providing an audible signal upon reaching the end point. In addition, the timer apparatus may stand alone or be movably mounted on a stationary support.

Abstract: Power reserve indicator mechanism for a timepiece movement of the type provided with a power source formed of a motor spring (26), including a frame (10, 12, 14, 16), a power reserve indicator and a differential gear (30) with a first input (44) connected to a wheel (29) driven in rotation when the motor spring is wound, a second input (42) connected to a wheel (20) driven in rotation when the motor spring is let down, and an output (36a) connected to said indicator, wherein the indicator is capable of covering a given angle comprised between two end positions, defined by a stop (78). According to the invention, an intermediate wheel (32) is inserted between the output of the differential gear and said indicator and includes a resilient member (64) arranged so that the differential gear rotates freely while the indicator remains in abutment.

Abstract: A sensor includes a plurality of weight portions which swivel, support parts each of which supports at one end a corresponding one of the plurality of weight portions in the same direction, and a driving part which supplies driving power to the support parts to swivel the plurality of weight portions. The driving part swivels at least one weight portion of the plurality of weight portions in a first direction and a remaining weight portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the angular velocity about an axis parallel to a predetermined swivel locus of the at least one weight portion, excluding an acceleration component in the direction of the axis, can be detected from the difference between a deviation of a swivel locus of the at least one weight portion from the predetermined swivel locus and a deviation of a swivel locus of the remaining weight portion from a predetermined swivel locus thereof.

Abstract: With facsimile apparatuses wherein color image data is coded, a facsimile on a calling side codes image data by replacing the image data with a codeword indicative of a white run-length or a black run-length, represents color information by combining specific codewords among the codewords and represents image data including color image only by codewords by combining the coded image data and the color information. A facsimile on a called side receives transmitted image data, determines color information represented by a combination of specific codewords among the codewords in the received image data, and outputs image data as specific color image when the color image is determined.

Abstract: An wristwatch contains a time register mechanism within a watch case and an intervening member which contains a signal reception detecting/reporting device that detects/reports a signal received at a portable terminal. When there is a received signal at the portable terminal 1, respective lamps are turned on/off in accordance with a predetermined pattern. A device body which contains the signal reception detecting/reporting device, may be provided with a connector which is engaged at opposite ends with the device body.

Abstract: To the spindles of the mechanism (1) of a wall clock or a table clock are mounted, in substitution of the hands, two couples of cams (8, 9 and 6, 7) which transmit respectively to hands (11 and 12) of the minutes and the hours rotating around a spindle (18), an anti-clockwise direction movement different from the ones of the mechanism (1) on a 120° circular sector instead of on a clock-face. The sector is graduated in order to indicate the hours along an arc of twelve hours and 60 minutes.

Abstract: An output of an oscillation circuit is inputted to a frequency dividing circuit, and through the signals divided by the frequency dividing signal circuit 104, an interrupt signal circuit 104 starts to operate to generate an interrupt signal to a CPU. The CPU reads the data programmed in a ROM and performs various arithmetic operations. A flag management circuit outputs a determination flag for collectively determining either a plurality of conditional branch operations or a portion of the branch condition operations.

Abstract: An audible alarm device is mounted in a body, and a pair of contact leads are connected to the alarm device, and a contact plate is connected to one of the leads. A dial, mounted on the body of the device, is rotated by a timing device. A plurality of time selector pins are mounted on the dial, and can be selectively positioned inward or outward. When a particular selector pin is in the inward position, the pin will push the contact plate into contact with the second contact lead and activate the alarm device. The alarm can be manually reset by pressing a deactivating piston. As the piston is pressed down, it will push a rod downward with it. The rod will pull downward on a rocker arm, causing the rocker arm to pivot. A second rod is connected to the rocker arm, and will move upward when the rocker arm pivots. The second rod is connected to the contact plate, and will pull the contact plate upward over the selector pin.

Abstract: The method consists in subdividing each driving pulse into a certain number of elementary periods of the same duration, in calculating directly or indirectly, at each elementary period, the value of an effective chopping rate He such that He=n1/n2 where n1 is the number of elementary periods during which the coil of the motor was connected to an electric power source from the beginning of the driving pulse and n2 is the total number of these elementary periods from the beginning of the driving pulse, in comparing this effective chopping rate He to the desired chopping rate Hc and, according to whether He≦Hc or He>Hc, in connecting or not connecting the motor coil to the power source from the beginning of the following elementary period. The device includes the means necessary for implementing this method. This method and this device allow the number of distinct rates available for chopping the driving pulses to be increased in a much simpler way than with known methods and devices.