Abstract: The invention concerns a chronograph watch made of precious metal including a case (1), closed by a crystal (12) and a back cover (13) resting on a rigid middle part-bezel (20) having a recess (19) opening towards the center of the case and wherein are provided through passages (3, 25) for a time-setting stem (4) and for guide sleeves (50) for at least two push buttons (2), and a chronograph movement (5) with its display device (6, 7, 8) positioned in said case by a casing ring (40) arranged between said movement (5) and said middle part-bezel (20), characterized in that the guide sleeves (50) include a tube (55) threaded on the outside and which ends in a collar (56) and in that at least two separated segments (30) shaped substantially like the recess (19) and pierced with a threaded hole (35) are arranged facing the push button (2) sleeves (50) to assure, by screwing from the exterior, both that said segments (30) are firmly positioned and that said sleeves (50) are sealed by crushing a metal ring (26) of t

Abstract: A register having a predetermined set value is provided in parallel with a counter for counting a basic signal generated from a crystal oscillator. The register and the counter are connected to a comparator for inputting a count signal into a time-counting circuit every time when the count value of the basic signal in the counter has reached the set value in the register. A signal based on the time-counting signal is sent from the time-counting circuit to a display which indicates time based on the signal. The time indicated on the display is compared with the standard time indicated by a television or the like. In this case, when there is a time difference between the display time and the standard time, a correction value, in terms of the number of seconds, corresponding to the time difference is input through an input unit. The input correction value is calculated in a computing circuit, and is set as a new set value in the register.

Abstract: Residual battery capacity is calculated in an electronic apparatus having an ultrasonic motor driven by a battery based on the revolution speed of the ultrasonic motor. This permits residual capacity to be calculated extremely close to actual battery life with a simplified circuit structure. An electronic watch having an ultrasonic motor as a driving source of a calendar display mechanism is provided with a residual battery capacity display device having a revolution speed detector for detecting a revolution speed of the ultrasonic motor, a memory for storing comparison representing a relationship between detected revolution speed and battery life, and a CPU for determining residual battery life based on the detected revolution speed and the comparison data. An alarm is generated when the battery life is over.

Abstract: The present invention provides a timepiece having a light-receptive/emitting device such as a solar cell and an EL device in which a parting portion can be set freely and the timepiece can be adapted to various design requests. The timepiece has a dial for displaying a time, a timepiece movement incorporating driving units, a light-receptive/emitting device provided between the timepiece movement and the dial, and an armoring member for housing the timepiece movement, in which a portion or a whole of the dial is formed to have a light-transmitting property so as to supply outside light to the light-receptive/emitting device or to allow the light-receptive/emitting device to emit light to an outside, the light-receptive/emitting device is fixed to one side of the timepiece movement, and the dial is mounted to the armoring member by engaging a first portion formed at the dial with a second portion formed at the armoring member.

Abstract: An Interactive Voice Recognition and Speech Synthesis Clock Radio wherein the voice recognition circuitry is trained to recognize a number of predetermined phrases spoken by one or more specific users. The speech synthesis circuitry includes a number of predetermined phrases generated in response to verbal utterances by a user.

Abstract: A microminiature timer having an optical readout is disclosed. The timer can be formed by surface micromachining or LIGA processes on a silicon substrate. The timer includes an integral motor (e.g. an electrostatic motor) that can intermittently wind a mainspring to store mechanical energy for driving a train of meshed timing gears at a rate that is regulated by a verge escapement. Each timing gear contains an optical encoder that can be read out with one or more light beams (e.g. from a laser or light-emitting diode) to recover timing information. In the event that electrical power to the timer is temporarily interrupted, the mechanical clock formed by the meshed timing gears and verge escapement can continue to operate, generating accurate timing information that can be read out when the power is restored.

Abstract: A wristwatch to aid cigarette smokers to gradually decrease the number of cigarettes smoked per day over a period of time. The face displays an area which indicates the permissibility or lack of permissibility of smoking. A display area indicates the number of cigarettes smoked during the current day. Another display indicates the number of days the watch has been on the same smoking countdown. A fourth display indicates the time remaining in a non-smoking period. Buttons placed around the rim for the watch activate the lack of smoking display and the smoking countdown time display. Additional buttons are pressed to start the timing for the number of days the watch has been on the same smoking countdown, to increase the displayed number of days the watch has been on the same smoking countdown, to change the display showing the number of cigarettes smoked during the current day, and to change the length of time the watch will show a non-smoking display.

Abstract: A timepiece for exactly indicating the approximate time, has a timepiece face without a minute hand and an indicator for indicating the approximate time in conversational terms. The indicator may be visual or oral. The conversational terms either never indicate the exact numeric time correct to the minute or indicate the exact numeric time correct to the minute only on integral multiples of 15 minutes.

Abstract: In an attempt to improve balance in size between a dial and a watch case, while securing sufficient power generated by thermoelectric elements, and also achieving miniaturization of a wrist watch having thermoelectric generator, the watch case which is closed is manufactured by fixedly attaching an insulating body to a metal case body, and securely fixing a case back made of metal to the underside of the insulating body, further, the dial, a movement, and the thermoelectric elements are housed in the watch case, and an end face of the thermoelectric elements is brought into contact with the metal case body while the other end face thereof is brought into contact with the case back.

Abstract: A compact medication dispensing unit is disclosed consisting of a body forming a chamber with an open first end, a closed second end, a front, a back and at least two sides. A lid is hinged, preferably at the front of the body, to prevent access to the chamber. Dividers, either integral or removable, create multiple sub-chambers to separate medications. A securing member, such as a spring bias clip or a semi-rigid J-shaped clip, is affixed to the back of the body proximate the first end to maintain the vertical alignment of the ends. Programmable notification and display means enable a user to enter data and subsequently notify and display the entered data to the user. In another embodiment the interior chamber contains vertically oriented modules. The modules are rotatable within the interior chamber to open for accessibility and are preferably separated by rigidly affixed separators. The can rotate through use of a pivot member or a hinge.

Abstract: A timepiece dial plate comprises an upper plate (1) provided with holes (2, 4) and positioning legs (3) projecting from its lower surface so as to position the upper plate (1) relative to a movement; and a lower plate (11) provided on its upper surface with solid indices (12) to be fitted in the holes (2) of the upper plate (1) so as to protrude from an upper surface of the upper plate (1), and provided with holes (13) through which the positioning legs (3) of the upper plate (1) are extended. The upper plate (1) and the lower plate (11) are superposed so that the solid indices (12) of the lower plate (11) are fitted in the holes (2) of the upper plate (1), respectively, and protrude from the upper surface of the upper plate (1), and the positioning legs (3) of the upper plate (1) extend through the holes (13) of the lower plate (11), respectively.

Abstract: A time-setting mechanism for a clock movement with perpetual Julian date comprising a device for driving a date indicator including driving means for moving forward said indicator by one jump every twenty-four hours. The movement has an adjusting device for automatically moving said indicator by a number of steps taking into account months with 28, 29 or 30 days, said device comprising a rotary cam driven by at least one step every twenty-four hours, said cam having a profile for steering a sensor bringing about: the oscillating movement of a moving mechanism provided with a pawl system for moving forward the date indicator by the required additional number of adjusting steps; and for moving forward said cam by a number of steps equal to the number of said indicator adjusting steps so as to make it move one complete cycle per year.

Abstract: The timing of a tide is calculated depending on a user-selected geographic region and calendar date. Tide data is stored in memory for each geographic region available for selection by the user. The timing of a tide is calculated by determining first and second tide level data using a tide level estimating equation. The first tide level data is dependent on the selected calendar date and the stored tide data that corresponds to the selected geographic region. The second tide level data having a time interval that is shorter in duration than a time interval of the first tide level is determined data again using the tide level estimating equation. The timing that a tide corresponding to the selected geographic region and calendar date occurs is then calculated dependent on the second tide level data. Thus, an accurate calculation of the timing of a desired tide is obtained for the user-selected geographic region and calendar date.

Abstract: A golf bag timepiece is incorporated into a golf bag for providing a readily accessible indication of time of day and the event time of a round of golf. The timepiece is held in a pocket attached to or integral with the golf bag. The pocket has a transparent cover and fits snugly over the face of the timepiece so that control buttons on the timepiece may be manipulated through the cover without removing the timepiece from the pocket.

Abstract: Quadribalanced digital time displays and methods comprising increasing digital minutes displayed on the right flank of centrally positioned digital present hours, in relatively upper and lower positions during the first and second quarter hours, followed by decreasing digital minutes displayed on the left flank of digital next hours, in relatively lower and upper positions during the third and fourth quarter hours, are enhanced by simultaneously displaying markers in one or more of the three quarter hour minute positions not containing digital minutes at any one time to inform the viewer that such marked positions are functional elements of the display but not activated due to the current time being displayed in another of said minute positions at that time. A single displaceable crown control is also provided for facilitating the operation of a timepiece embodying such enhanced quadribalanced time displays and methods.

Abstract: A transmitter includes a time measuring unit. The transmitter also includes a time information storage unit for storing information on the time measured by the time measuring unit when a specified process was performed. The transmitter is responsive to an instruction of transmission to transmit to a receiver information on the time difference between the time measured by the time measuring unit and the time whose information is stored in the time information storage unit. The receiver calculates the time when the specified process was performed by the transmitter on the basis of the information on the received time difference and information on the current time obtained by a time measuring unit. Thus, although the transmitter has no current time measuring unit, the receiver is capable of specifying the time when the specified process was performed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber plate (elastic) (FIG.1) which, when soldered at its edges (FIG. 1A) to the inside of the body (case) of a watch (or other object) (FIG. 3A), totally seals it against water and dust. At the same time, in view of the fact that it is soldered at its sides (edges), its central part remains totally free, thus permitting the movement of the outside control buttons (FIG. 4C, D and 6A) and activating the mechanism, whether it is electronic (FIG. 3D) or mechanical (FIG. 5 and 7) (digital or analog). When the external controls are pressed, the corresponding function is switched on internally (FIG. 4E, F). A single plate (FIG. 3A) can be used for various controls (FIG. 3B, C) or one plate for each control (FIG. 4A, B), depending on the distance between them and the space available in the watch-case.

Abstract: In order to provide a sensor-mounting structure which is applicable to various apparatuses, such as electronic apparatuses and portable apparatuses, and which reduces the number of components, simplifies assembly operation, prevents tampering from outside, and the reduces the cost of manufacturing, a pressure sensor 23 is inserted into a mounting pipe 22 from the inside and is pressed and supported by a pressing plate from the back. An engaging end 25b formed on the upper end of the pressing plate 25 engages with an engaging rib 20c, and a fixing plate 25d formed on the lower end is fixed to a fixing surface 21c by a fixing screw 26.

Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus and a control method for an electronic apparatus that detects the power-generating state of a power generating unit in a power-saving mode and to positively switch to a normal operation mode. The power-generation voltage of a power generating unit is detected in a power-generation-voltage detection process (steps S2 and S12), and the operation mode of a unit to be driven is switched between a normal operation mode and a power-saving mode according to the power-generating state of the power generating unit or according to the manipulation state of manipulation means in an operation-mode control process (steps S3 to S7, and S10 to S15). In a limiter control process (step S8), the operation of a limiter is disabled when the operation mode of the unit to be driven is the power-saving mode.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automatically updating timepieces as time zone boundaries are crossed. Time zone boundaries are identified on mapping software and combined with location information from a GPS receiver to determine when a time zone boundary is crossed. In another approach, information about current time transmitted to a timepiece for update from transmitter(s) located at one or more locations frequented by travellers, such as airports, railroad and bus terminals, ports of call and hotels.