Abstract: In an active semiconductor backplane for a liquid crystal spatial light modulator, spacers (25) which are distributed over the backplane extend above an array of electrical and/or electronic elements and comprise at least two layers essentially of the same material and occuring in the same order as is found in at least one of the electrical or electronic elements, such as an NMOS transistor (52). The latter is formed from a stack of layers on a silicon substrate (51) comprising polysilicon (56), continuous silicon oxide (57) modified to include gate oxide GOX (55), metallic gate electrode (59), continuous silicon oxide (58) and a metallic drain electrode (60) which is coupled to a spaced mirror electrode over the layer (58). Likewise, spacer (25) comprises the layers (57 and 58) with metallic (67, 68) deposited simultaneously with electrodes (59, 60). The foot of layer (57) is differently modified to include field oxide layer (69) and polysilicon layers thin oxide (71).

Abstract: To provide a portable timepiece having high durability constructed by a constitution capable of promoting operability of attaching and detaching a crown and holding a crown in an unoperated state so as not to rotate the crown unpreparedly. In a winding stem pipe attached to a case body, a crown urged in a direction of separating from the case body by a coil spring (urging member) included in a crown cylinder portion of the pipe is removably provided to a case body outside projected portion of the winding stem pipe. An outer periphery of the case body outside projected portion is formed with a plurality of communicating grooves along a rotational direction of the crown, a plurality of attaching and detaching through grooves communicated to the communicating grooves and opened to an end face of the case body outside projected portion, and a plurality of holding grooves communicated with the communicating grooves and formed in a dead end state and contiguous to the through grooves.

Abstract: A timing device for indicating the passage of a duration of time is disclosed. The timing device and system, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention, comprise an electrochemical component which generates a visual and/or audio indication of the passage of time. The timing device further comprises a compensating element, such as a varistor, a thermistor and/or combinations thereof. The compensating element regulates the response of the device with respect to changes in temperature. The timing device is configured to indicate the passage of a single duration of time or comprises zones that are activated in a range of prescribed times and individually or collectively indicate the passage of time or the passage of a range of times.

Abstract: A distributed system with a timing signal path for increased precision in time synchronization among distributed system clocks. A distributed system according to the present teachings includes a master clock coupled to a timing signal path and a set of slave clocks coupled to the timing signal path. The master clock includes means for generating a timing signal on the timing signal path in response to time events associated with the master clock. The slave clocks include means for adjusting their local time in response to the timing signal received via the timing signal path.

Abstract: The stop second device during precise time-setting of a watch fitted with a tourbillon (1) comprises mobile elements such as levers (14, 15, 16) mounted in the carriage (2) of the tourbillon, each of said mobile elements being returned by a return spring (28, 29, 30). These mobile elements are capable of contacting the periphery of the balance (3) of the tourbillon, to block said balance when action is exerted on at least one of said mobile elements by a shoe (17) arranged outside the carriage (2) and controlled by the time-setting stem (26) of the watch. The outer edges (18, 19, 20) of the levers are located above pillars (4) of the carriage (2), such that the shoe (17) can act on the levers without interfering with said pillars.

Abstract: A timepiece includes first, second, and third clockwise rotating central shafts, a rotary dial joined to the first central shaft, a minute hand joined to the second central shaft, a second hand positioned around the rotary dial and joined to the third central shaft, a second ring, and a time zone ring; the rotary dial has twelve hour graduations, which are marked with respective numerals arranged in counterclockwise order; the second ring having sixty graduations thereon; the time zone ring is positioned around the second ring, and divided into twenty-four subsections; each subsection of the time zone ring has an indicating point on a middle portion of an inward edge, and is printed with names of main cities and countries in a time zone; thus, people can find out current local time in the main cities and countries with the timepiece.

Abstract: The balance-spring is formed by a first assembly, comprising the coils (3) and the outer curve (2), made in a first material such as Elinvar having an elastic torque that is insensitive or almost insensitive to elongation, temperature and magnetic field variations, and by a second assembly secured to the first assembly, comprising in particular the inner curve (4) made of a second material essentially selected for its mechanical properties and for the shapeability of said inner curve (4) along the most favourable contour for concentric expansion of the balance-spring, such as a Grossmann curve (14), said second assembly also being able to comprise a collet (5).

Abstract: Electronic equipment comprises a main body, a front panel and a recording medium receiving unit. The front panel is provided movably between an opened position and a closed position on a front side of the main body. A card-type recording medium is to be loaded or unloaded into or from the recording medium receiving unit. The recording medium receiving unit is concealed and inaccessible in case where the front panel is in the closed position. The recording medium receiving unit is displaced along with movement of the front panel so as to be exposed and accessible when the front panel moves from the closed position to the opened position.

Abstract: The method of synchronizing the analogue display (41) of a timepiece (40), including an electronic time base (64), is achieved using proximity sensors (60, 62) respectively associated with wheels (46, 48) each having an aperture (54, 56) for defining the angular position of the latter. Determination of the angular position of a wheel requires an angular distance of around 60° to 90° to be travelled with this type of proximity sensor. Dependency of the measurement results upon the temperature generates a problem of precision in determining the angular position of the wheels, in particular a wheel secured to the hour indicator, given that an angle of 60° to 90° corresponds to a time interval of 2 to 3 hours.

Abstract: A time indicator assembly including a front part and a back part is disclosed that can easily pass through a printer. The time indicator assembly includes a base substrate forming at least part of the back part having a first surface and a second surface extending between edges. A migrating ink is applied over a portion of the first surface of the base substrate, and a release sheet overlies the migrating ink to prevent migration of the migrating ink toward the front part. In one embodiment, an adhesive is applied over the release sheet and onto the base substrate adjacent at least two of the base substrate edges. The adhesive joins a cover substrate forming at least part of the front part to the base substrate over at least a portion of the release sheet and along the at least two of the base substrate edges. Upon removal of the release sheet, the migrating ink migrates through the adhesive to form an image in the cover substrate.

Abstract: To realize an analog multifunction timepiece capable of realizing plural movement layouts including a fan shape moving hand train wheel by only changing positions of integrating parts without changing dimensions and shapes of the parts of movements. A movement of a multifunction timepiece is provided with a first train wheel rotational center, a second train wheel rotational center, a third train wheel rotational center and a fourth train wheel rotational center. Calendar information can be displayed by a small hand moving to rotate centering on the first train wheel rotational center and the second train wheel rotational center. Calendar information can be displayed by a small hand moving in a fan shape centering on the third train wheel rotational center and the fourth train wheel rotational center.

Abstract: A timing device includes a time display section and a drive unit. The time display section has a dial with a measurement indicator from a zero time position to a maximum measurable time position, and pointers capable of rotating above the dial in a fan-shaped trajectory. The drive unit drives the pointers above the dial from the zero time position to the maximum measurable time position, and stops the pointers above an extra display section in a position past the maximum measurable time after the maximum measurable time has passed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable electronic instrument (1) including a case (2), at least one electronic unit (72, 74) housed inside the case, and at least a first input and/or output terminal (A; B) accessible from the exterior of the case and including an electrically conductive element (100) which is mounted so as to be mobile with respect to the case. The input and/or output terminal is adapted to be electrically connected to an input and/or output terminal (72A, 74A; 72B, 74B) of said electronic unit via a transmission line (I/OA; I/OB) and for allowing transmission of electric signals on the transmission line through the connecting element. The connecting element can occupy a first or second position in which the input and/or output terminal is respectively uncoupled from or coupled to the input and/or output terminal of the electronic unit.

Abstract: An interval timer that is constructed of a polygonal shaped housing which has a time display screen and a pressure activating button within one surface of the housing and another surface of the housing includes a mode selection switch, time increment button and second time increment button. With the mode selection switch in the set position the first time increment button and second time increment button can be operated to produce a selected time value such as in minutes and in seconds to be displayed within the time display screen. Movement of the mode selection switch to a usage position and pressing of the pressable activating button will result in the selected preset time interval to count down a second at a time (or other minimum time increment) to eventually reach zero.

Abstract: A wrist watch that also has a pager function incorporated into it. The wrist watch comprises a flexible band and with a watch unit attached to the flexible band. The watch unit displays the time manually, while a LCD readout located on the flexible band displays the time electronically. The wrist watch also includes an incorporated receiver which can receive pages from pager units, with any message, numerical or otherwise, being viewable on the LCD readout. A mode button allows an individual to choose between viewing the time and viewing a received paged message on the LCD readout. The wrist watch also includes an incorporated LED indicator light that indicates if a page has been received.

Abstract: A component mounting circuit board includes a circuit pattern including a plurality of electrically conductive plates, an inner electrical component electrically connected to the circuit pattern, and a resin molded section made of a resin by way of molding so as to cover the circuit pattern and the inner electrical component. The resin molded section has an opening allowing an outer electrical component located outside the resin molded section to be connected to the circuit pattern through it.

Abstract: Disclosed is a personal organization tool comprising an indicator and an analog display divided into areas representing days of the week to help people organize themselves and remind them of various events or activities. The tool may be used in co-operation with an apparatus for providing information. The tool is particularly useful for people with short-term memory loss who often experience difficulty in keeping track of when they are supposed to do something.

Abstract: In order to display images true to the real appearance of the moon during a lunation, particularly in a watch, there is provided a rotating indicator disc (8) arranged behind a circular aperture of a dial and comprising an annular region (20) subdivided into alternatively light (21–25) and dark (26–30) fields by lines of separation (31–40) having different shapes, which can appear in succession in the aperture. The drive means impart primary movements on the indicator disc (8), each of which is large enough to replace one of the lines of separation by another in the aperture, and smaller secondary movements, to produce small movements of the line of separation inside the aperture. This allows a new image of the moon to be given every day, true to reality, with a restricted number of light and dark fields on the indicator disc and a particularly large aperture in relation to the size of the dial. A version with electric driving is disclosed and a version driven by a mechanical watch movement.

Abstract: Devices comprising a multi-piece housing which move from a first configuration wherein an item is at least partially disposed within a housing to a second configuration wherein more of the item is disposed outside of the housing. Upon the selective actuation of a release, at least two housing portions initially move away from each other while the item moves from the first configuration toward the second configuration, the housing portions then move back toward each other, all in a damped motion. In the second configuration, at least a portion of the item is further away from the hinge-type connection than in the first configuration.

Abstract: A wristwatch including a casing having top and bottom parts and a movement therein, an upper housing, a replaceable watch face and a means for releasably securing the upper housing to the top part of the casing. The upper housing is formed as an integral unit, and includes top and bottom transparent panels, a drive shaft means extending through the bottom transparent panel, the drive shaft means having top and bottom ends, time indicating hands fixed to the top ends of the drive shaft means, and side walls fixed to and maintaining the top and bottom transparent panels spaced apart to define a chamber therein for enclosing the time indicating hands. The replaceable watch face includes a memory element, and a flat panel display disposed over the memory element. The replaceable watch face is situated below the bottom transparent panel and above the casing top part, and the bottom end of the drive shaft means is releasably coupled to the movement.