Abstract: In a generator 120 in an electronic-controlled mechanical timepiece, the winding core 133b of a coil 134 arranged nearer to the perimeter of a base plate 2 is made shorter than the winding core 123b of a coil 124 arranged more inside. Accordingly, it is possible to make the area of an opening 2c can be made smaller in comparison with the prior art, and make the timepiece more small-sized by making smaller the outer diameter of the base plate 2 as keeping the distance D1 between the corner part of the opening 2c and the perimeter of the base plate 2 to the same degree as the prior art and thereby securing the strength of the base plate 2.

Abstract: A thermoelectric power generating timepiece (1) comprises a dial (30), a movement (40), and a heat conduction sheet (50), provided within an enclosed space, defined by a case (10) made of metal, with a glass (20) fixedly attached thereto, and a case back (70), and further comprises a thermoelectric element (60), housed in a gap between the heat conduction sheet (50) and the case back (70). The case back 70 is made of two kinds of materials each having a thermal conductivity differing from that of the other. The case back (70) is made up of a heat conducting part (71) made of material, such as metal, and the like, having a high thermal conductivity, and formed in a shape larger in outer size than the thermoelectric element (60), so as to be disposed opposite to the thermoelectric element (60), and a heat insulating part (72) made of material having a low thermal conductivity such as plastics, and the like, and formed so as to be disposed on the outside of the heat conducting part (71).

Abstract: The control method allows execution of various functions in an electronic diary watch, which includes, in a case closed by a crystal, a time-keeping circuit and/or a watch movement powered by an energy source, and a dial on which the time is displayed in a digital and/or analogue manner. A determined number of sensors (C1 to C7) are provided with touch sensitive pads arranged on an inner or outer face of the crystal. These sensors are provided for carrying out the various controls of the method when they are individually activated by a user's finger. In order to consult data or parameters, the method includes a first series of steps consisting in displaying different menus (102 to 106) of the diary function on at least one liquid crystal display by activating at least one sensor (C4, C5) of a group of sensors (C4 to C7), and in selecting the menu or record to be consulted (107 to 111) by activating a validation sensor (C1).

Abstract: A watch winder includes a watch carrier that is freely supported on a rest for ease in mounting and removing the carrier and for reversing the direction of winding by simply turning the watch carrier end-to-end. The watch carrier includes a cylinder and a watch holder insertable into the interior of the cylinder. The rest is adapted to support the cylinder in a horizontal position, and includes first and second support sections having parallel longitudinal axes spaced from each other at a distance less than the diameter of the cylinder. Each section includes a housing having rollers or other support surfaces adjacent the ends of the housing, with at least one of the rollers being driven by an electric motor to rotate the cylinder at predetermined times when the cylinder is supported on the rollers. A feature of the cylinder may be detected to stop rotation at a predetermined orientation.

Abstract: To effectively prevent positional deviation of a battery. A hook-shaped member of a spring electrode terminal, and hook-shaped members of a spring electrode terminal are arranged in respective apices of a regular triangle to restrict movements of a battery in a direction along a cross section against the bias of a spring electrode terminal, which abuts against a negative surface of the battery. Battery abutments are arranged in respective apices of a substantially regular triangle to permit the bias of the respective spring electrode terminals to bias the battery toward the battery abutment, thus restricting positional deviation of the battery in a horizontal plane. When the battery is to be removed, a battery removal tool arranged near the hook-shaped member is inserted into a tool insertion portion to remove the battery.

Abstract: A radio controllable clock includes an analog display having a plurality of clock hands each fastened to a uniquely associated one of a plurality of clock hand shafts that each rotate about a common axis. The clock also includes a plurality of rotary gears each uniquely associated with one of the clock hand shafts, for rotating the clock hand shafts. Each rotary gear has a face perpendicular to the common axis, wherein each of the rotary gears includes a protrusion extending substantially perpendicular from the face. A microcontroller provides a plurality of drive command signals and the rotary gears are driven responsive to the drive command signals. A reset claw is operably positioned to engage at least one of the protrusions to stop the rotation of the clock hand shaft associated with the protrusion in order to position the clock hand associated with the protrusion at a datum position.

Abstract: According to this method the units and tens numerals are placed onto respective indicator runners (1, 2). Two drivelines are formed, one being a daily driveline between the clock movement and the indicator runners, for moving the units indicator runner (1) selectively step by step by one step every 24 hours, and for moving the tens indicator runner (2) by one step for every ten steps of the units indicator runner (1), in order to move on from one multiple of ten to the next, and for moving the tens indicator alone by one step to move on from “31” to “01” on a 31-day cycle, and an annual driveline between the clock movement and the tens indicator runner, which driveline is programmed to move the tens indicator runner (2) by one step at the same time as the units indicator runner (1) is moved by the daily driveline, to move on from “30” to “01” at the end of the months which comprise less than 31 days.

Abstract: An electronically controlled timepiece includes an analog circuit (160) driven by a power source (22), a logic circuit (170) driven by a constant voltage regulator circuit (161) forming part of the analog circuit, an oscillator circuit (51) driven by the constant voltage regulator, a power source switch (162) for cutting off the supply of power to the analog circuit other than the constant voltage regulator circuit from the power source during a time correction operation, and a clock cutoff gate (171) for cutting off a clock input from the oscillator circuit to the logic circuit. During the time correction operation, power consumption is reduced because only the oscillator circuit and the constant voltage regulator circuit are operative. The oscillator circuit is not suspended, and an error in time display is eliminated.

Abstract: The invention concerns a watch equipped with means for determining a location longitude and a device for determining the sun's altitude above the horizon. Said watch comprises a mobile element (16) doing one full rotation in 12 hours and bearing a hour hand (24), and a dial (32). It comprises for this purpose a rotating ring (44) for reading longitude, bearing an index mark (47) and, therefrom, a scale (45) in degrees, extending from 0° to 90° on either side of the index mark and covering the ring (44) over its whole periphery. Moreover, the dial (32) is provided with a circular scale (33) for selecting a time zone, with a median point (35) corresponding to the dial top point and a graduation from 0 to +6 hours or ?6 hours depending on the rotational direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular clock assembly comprising a body portion having a clock face and an exterior surface extending peripherally around the clock face, a clock mechanism secured to the body portion, a clock magnet affixed to the exterior surface of the body portion, a moveable member having a plurality of member surfaces, and at least one member magnet affixed to a member surface so that the moveable member is attachable to the exterior surface of the body portion by aligning the member magnet with the clock magnet.

Abstract: The mechanism for transmission of axial and rotative movements between two portions of a stem with offset axes, includes a movable assembly movable axially. The section portion of the stem carries a second pinion and is pivoted on said movable assembly but it is axially secured to, this movable assembly. The first portion of the stem is pivoted on the movable assembly but axially secured to this latter and is secured to a first pinion, one or an uneven number of reverser(s), pivoted on the movable assembly kinematically connects the first pinion to the second pinion.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece that maintains the mounting integrity of an electronic circuit substrate and an electronic circuit component mounted on the electronic circuit substrate. In a movement 1 including a main plate 2 composed of an electric insulting material, a stepping motor 10, a wheel train 4, and a wheel train bridge for supporting the wheel train 4, an electronic circuit substrate 20, on which an electronic circuit component 22 for controlling the rotation cycle of the stepping motor 10 is mounted, is attached to an end portion of an coil magnetic core 12 of the stepping motor 10, and the relatively large electronic circuit component 22 is positioned by being superimposed on the coil magnetic core 12 in a plane. Accordingly, the electronic circuit substrate 20 formed of a synthetic resin film and the like can be reliably attached to the coil magnetic core 12, and the mounting integrity the electronic circuit component 22 can be maintained.

Abstract: A programmable alarm clock system, method of operation and program product therefor with sleep analysis to identify and wake a person during non-REM sleep patterns, resulting in less subsequent drowsiness and better day-to-day functioning. The programmable alarm clock system includes at least one brain activity sensor attachable to a head of a sleeper. Brain activity signals from the sensor(s) are sent to a receiver at a local computer. The user, before retiring inputs a wake up time and attaches the sensor(s). The local computer sends brain activity signals to a remotely connected sleep analyzing server which analyzes the brain activity and identifies REM sleep periods and non-REM sleep periods. The labeled brain activity periods are returned to the local computer which waits for the wake up time. Then, the local computer sets an alarm time by adjusting the wake up time to coincide with a non-REM sleep period, if necessary and if possible.

Abstract: A super-thin hanging clock includes a housing, a transparent cover, and a core that has a first shell, a second shell fitted with the first shell and having a swingable lid to hide the battery and a through hole for the button to pass through, a stator, a PC board with a control circuit, an electrically time-adjusting button, an electronic battery and a transmitting gear system consisting of a rotor, a transmitting gear, a minute gear, a front hour gear and an hour gear, whereby a coil of the stator is powered to rotate the rotor to rotate the transmitting gear provided with a toothed shaft engaging the minute gear provided with a toothed shaft engaging the front hour gear provided with a toothed shaft engaging the hour gear provided with a shaft connected to a shaft of a needle unit, thus making up the super-thin hanging clock.

Abstract: The present invention provides a clocking system such that the magnetic sensor can detect the external magnetic field from the magnetic member that is rather far apart therefrom without increasing the sensitivity of the magnetic sensor excessively and without making the magnet constructing the magnetic member strong excessively.

Abstract: Automatic watches use the movements of the wrist to re-wind the barrel spring and thus supply the necessary energy for the correct functioning of the watch. When the user cannot wear the watch it is proposed to place it on an automatic re-winding device. The device according to the invention is compact and modular. Furthermore, in order to avoid any error of manipulation, the starting and stopping of the re-winding device is done automatically by means of a detection of the presence of the watch (3). The passing of the strap in the detachable base (2) produces the tension of the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece comprising a time train, a 31-toothed wheel, a wheel of units of 30 teeth plus a space corresponding to a tooth which is used to drive a star-wheel of units and a four-toothed wheel for driving a star-wheel of tens, a year cam which is solidly connected to a wheel, and drive means for driving said 31-toothed wheel by one revolution per month and the year cam by one revolution per year. The aforementioned 31-toothed wheel is solidly connected to a corrector element. The drive means comprise a cam which is solidly connected to a wheel, a driving yoke, elastic means which are used to press said yoke against the cam, a corrector yoke, a feeler which is arranged to detect the position of the year cam and elastic means in order to connect said yokes to one another.

Abstract: A wristwatch has a case containing a movement. The case has a strap attaching portion having a rear surface having a recessed portion. A wrist strap is attached to the case and has a case attaching portion having a rotation stop face on front surface thereof confronting the strap attaching portion of the case. The rotation stop face has a projection engageable with the recessed portion at the rear surface of the strap attaching portion to prevent rotation of the wrist strap relative to the case.

Abstract: In an electronic timepiece 1 having a main plate 10, a drive circuit 36, a stepper motor 33, a train wheel, a dial plate, a power supply 15, and an insulation sheet 12, the insulation sheet 12 covers at least the vicinity of the power supply 15 as well functioning as a guide to position an hour wheel 11 in an axial direction. Since the insulation sheet 12 has a predetermined size, it is neither dislocated nor removed when it is attached, whereby the insulation sheet 12 can reliably perform insulation, and an assembly property is improved thereby. Further, the insulation sheet 12 can achieve the dual roles of insulation and assembly guide, which can reduce cost and ease an assembly job.

Abstract: The mode selecting assembly comprises a flexible hand, coupled to a frame in the casing, that has extending therefrom fingers that are sufficiently deflectable so as to deflect from first positions where they are not in contact with associated pads on a circuit board to second positions where they are in contact with their associated pads on the circuit board. A setting stem comprises an annular ring for selectively contacting and deflecting the fingers from their respective first positions to second positions, wherein the integrated circuit is operable in a selected modes depending on which finger is in the second position.