Abstract: The present invention concerns a portable object such as, in particular, a timepiece (1), including means (16) for displaying at least one data item and a case (2) formed of a top portion including a crystal (14) covering the display means (16) and a bottom portion delimited by a back cover (6) located below said display means (16), this object including a piezoelectric transducer (32) generating an electric voltage when mechanical pressure is exerted on said top portion, the voltage generated by the piezoelectric transducer (32) being applied to a first electronic circuit which will generate a logic signal in response to the pressure exerted, this electronic circuit being arranged inside said case (2), characterized in that said piezoelectric transducer (32) is arranged in the bottom portion of said case (2) and is rigidly connected to said case (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece allowing the display of at least one first time related data item (H1) conventionally based on the Hour-Minute-Second system, and at least one second time related data item (H2) based on a decimal system in which the time is divided at least into thousandths of a day. For this purpose the timepiece according to the present invention includes generating means (14) which, from auxiliary control pulses (IL) originating from the time base (2), allow second control pulses (I2) to be supplied allowing said second time related data item (H2) to be formed and displayed.

Abstract: A clock with a twenty four hour display includes a minute hand, a second hand, a minute scale, a date display, and an hour scale on a first conchoid. The first conchoid includes an outer loop for the hours of the day from 6-18 hours and an inner loop for the hours of the day from 18-6. A crossing point of the inner and outer loops is established at the hours of 6 and 18. To achieve unambiguous indication, the hour hand is made variable in length. In a second conchoid offset by a constant amount radially inwards with respect to the first conchoid, which for instance is milled in the form of a groove in the dial, a guiding element is moved azimuthally through the inner part of the hour hand, which receives an overlay of radial movement owing to the shape of the second conchoid. The second conchoid and the guiding element may be covered by a disc joined to the inner part of the hour hand and turning with it.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a reference wheel and a target wheel each having one or more reflective members for reflecting a light generated from a light emitting device. The position of the reference wheel may be determined when receiving a starting code, in order to align an orifice of the reference wheel with the light emitting device, for allowing the light to be reflected by the reflective member of the target wheel. The reflective members of the target wheel are arranged in a binary code sequence for determining the position of the target wheel relative to the reference wheel.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a light emitting device for generating a light, and one or more rotary wheels having one or more light receiving orifices, and one or more reflective members attached onto the sides of the rotary wheels for reflecting the light generated by the light emitting device and emitted through the orifices of the rotary wheels. The orifices may be easily and precisely formed in the rotary wheels while forming the rotary wheels, and the reflective members may be easily attached onto the rotary wheels without precisely positioning relative to the rotary wheels.

Abstract: Thermal energy is converted into a mechanical energy by a thermal converter that includes a phase change material whose phase changes between solid and liquid as a result of temperature changes in the operating environment. Because the phase change material does not change to the gas state during operation, good thermal conductivity can be achieved within a normal operating temperature range and sufficient mechanical energy can be obtained, thereby enhancing the conversion efficiency of the thermal converter. Also, because the case in which the phase material is contained is not required to be at a high pressure, the case can be easily manufactured and a compressing means such as a strong spring is not required, thus reducing a size of whole device.

Abstract: A device for protecting a wristwatch being worn on a user's wrist. The device slips around and secures itself over the watch body and watch band. A cover flap is provided to removably cover the watch face. A secured storage pocket is also provided, allowing the user to store small items.

Abstract: The method of dramatically speeding up the time it takes for sand, mercury, or water, or other like substances to flow from the upper compartment to the lower compartment of an hour-glass, usually in an hour but not specifically required in this method, entails the use of a premolded clear flexible polymer or any component similar, with the same flexibility properties, molded in the basic shape of an hour-glass, in which one can open the flow canal, which is a hole located in the center of the hour-glass, through the application of applying pressure directly to the above said flexible premolded polymer shape. The process of flexing this premolded form will permit the sand or other like substance to run between the upper and lower compartments of the hour-glass, allowing the above said substances to run through a wider and larger flow canal, from the upper compartment to the lower compartment. Thus, making the hour-glass work more efficiently.

Abstract: To make calibration of temperature compensation etc. of individual sensor timepieces straightforward, to carry out measurements of physical quantities by each type of sensor in a highly precise manner, to make setting of a time and date for implementing the original timepiece function of the sensor timepiece easy, and to reduce the number of erroneous settings. A sensor timepiece equipped with a pressure sensor 1 comprises calibration control means for controlling writing of detection values of the pressure sensor 1 to a storage unit 3 in synchronism with external environmental setting control means for controlling an external environment corresponding to physical quantities measured by the pressure sensor 1.

Abstract: A personalized alarm clock allows a user to receive a predetermined audio and/or image signal, or to place a predetermined telephone call to a selected telephone number at a predetermined time. The personalized alarm clock is generally configured in the form of a portable entertainment device, such as a portable AM/FM radio and/or CD/DVD device. The personalized alarm clock includes at least one input device, at least one output device, at least one input port, at least one output port, at least one telephone jack, an automatic telephone dialer, a central processing unit, at least one memory device, and a power supply. The personalized alarm clock is configured with upper and lower housings connected together by a hinge.

Abstract: A method for tracking total usage time of an electronic device comprising the steps of evaluating a predetermined usage increment timer until a predetermined time period expires, incrementing a total-usage counter, resetting the timer to measure a next occurrence of the predetermined time period, repeating the aforementioned steps and outputting the value representing the total usage time of the device. A multi-mode electronic device that carries out the aforementioned method is also provided. Still further, the present invention provides a method of and device for tracking total usage time or number of activations of any feature or mode within the device.

Abstract: The reversible watch includes first (1) and second (2) cases mounted back-to-back and each having a back cover and securing elements for securing it to the other case in a way which the user can dismantle. In a particular embodiment, each of the cases includes horns (5) through which bars (8, 9) pass. The bars are also used as means for securing the first case to the second and as means for securing each of the ends (12, 13) of the wristband (15) to the assembly formed by said first and second cases. In another embodiment, the back covers of the two cases include elements for securing them to each other, and the assembly of the two cases is mounted in a reversible manner on a support secured to a non-reversible wristband.

Abstract: When a frequency measurement unit measures the frequency of a temperature-sensing oscillation test signal and the frequency of a driving-pulse signal transmitted from an electronic apparatus via an coil electromagnetically coupled with a motor coil, a temperature-compensation data generation unit creates temperature-compensation data based on the frequency of the temperature-sensing oscillation test signal and the frequency of the driving-pulse signal. This temperature-compensation data is transmitted to an analog electronic timepiece via the coil. That is, a state of the analog electronic timepiece is measured in a non-contact manner and the temperature-compensation data obtained based on the measurement result is transmitted, whereby the analog electronic timepiece is adjusted in a state of being incorporated in an external casing.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus for use in a wristwatch radio communication device equipped with, for example, a PHS is provided. The antenna apparatus includes a loop conductor and a feed. The loop conductor has a given length and connects electrically at one end to a ground plate installed in the wristwatch radio communication device. The feed is disposed between the other end of the loop conductor and the ground plate. This provides a higher horizontal pattern average gain both during conversation and waiting times of radio communication.

Abstract: A wrist band comprising a band for the wrist having a major longitudinal axis along a substantial portion of the length of the band and having two ends, the two ends each having a minor axis which is disposed at an angle to the major longitudinal axes, the ends further forming a substantially perpendicular intersection with the minor axes, the band being adapted to connect to an object to be attached between the ends to be worn at the wrist, whereby the angle between the minor axes at the ends is less than 180°. In another embodiment, the band has an approximate frusto-conical shape when worn.

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 wristwatch includes in its case a resistive piezo-electric pressure and temperature sensor (26) exposed to a pressure chamber (42) communicating with the outside environment, for measuring ambient pressure. In order to provide individual calibration as a function of temperature followed by a permanent correction of the sensor pressure signals, the latter is fixed to the lower surface of a printed circuit board (30) bearing the electronic circuits (35) processing the sensor signals. The calibration parameters are stored in a non-volatile memory (36) of said circuits. A rigid and sealed separating wall (43) forms an internal bottom separating the pressure chamber (42) from the watch sealed part.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a plurality of coaxially mounted disks which are driven with different periods, at least some of the disks having a time indicator area which is visible through one or more transmissive areas on one or more disks which lie over it. In a preferred embodiment, one of the disks is provided with three concentric annular zones and is driven with a period of sixty seconds. The outermost zone has discrete reflective areas which are visible through discrete transmissive areas in an overlying annular zone. The inner zones have discrete transmissive areas through which discrete reflective areas in two concentric annular zones on two respective lower disks are visible. The lowermost disk is driven with a period of twelve hours and is visible through a central transparent area of an intermediate disk which is driven with a period of sixty minutes.

Abstract: A data transmission/reception system for wrist-type electronic timepiece. The data transmission/reception system for electronic timepieces comprises a data transmission device for generating data signals, and an electronic timepiece that receives data signals from the data transmission device by utilizing a coil for driving the hands, wherein the electronic timepiece is provided with a timing signal-generating means which generates a timing signal, and the data transmission device is provided with a timing signal-receiving means which receives the timing signals output from said hand-driving coil and transmits data signals in synchronism with the timing signals that are received. The data are transmitted and received in an ordinary hand-moving state without halting the timepiece while the functions are being operated. Therefore, there is no need of adjusting the time after the operation of the functions.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a digital timepiece is provided with a mode of operation which presents a time message indicative of the approximate time. The mode can be implemented by adding to a digital timekeeping circuit, a digital conversion circuit to generate the messages. A visual display on the timepiece face displays the message. In a preferred embodiment the precise time can be displayed as an alternative mode.