Abstract: In an electro-optical display device having a persistence property, a driving voltage is immediately applied to each display element after both electrodes of the display element are short-circuited in anticipation of a driving operation intended to reverse the state of a display.

Abstract: A set of digital indicators in an electronic display unit of a timepiece are actuated by driving pulses transmitted thereto through respective stages of a multistage frequency divider. A switching mchanism is manually operable to advance certain of these stages, independently of the driving pulses and at a faster rate, to adjust the display. A timer discriminates between short-term and long-term switch reversals to differentiate between a gating signal, giving passage to a train of high-rate stepping pulses, and (a) selection signals identifying an indicator to be stepped or (b) manually produced pulses for adjustment at a slower rate.

Abstract: A driver circuit for an electrochromic display device having segment electrodes and a common electrode adapted to display information in response to a display information signal. The driver circuit comprises a storage means for generating first and second output signals delayed in phase from the display information signal. A bleaching signal generating means is responsive to the first output signal, and a coloration signal generating means is responsive to the second output signal. First and second switching means are coupled to receive a bleaching signal and a coloration signal, causing an electric current to flow each of the segment electrodes in directions to induce bleaching and coloration, respectively. An auxiliary signal is applied to the first and second switching means to cause a segment to remain in its previously activated state for an extended period of time.

Abstract: A driver circuit for driving an electrochromic display device having switching elements connected between a power source and the electrodes of the electrochromic display device. The driver circuit includes a data controller which converts a display information signal to a signal indicating a state of non-display in response to a display erase signal applied to a control terminal. A drive signal generator is responsive to the signal from the data controller to produce a bleaching signal by which a display of the electrochromic display device is erased.

Abstract: A set of digital indicators in an electronic display unit of a timepiece are actuated by driving pulses transmitted thereto through respective stages of a multistage frequency divider. A switching mechanism is manually operable to advance certain of these stages, independently of the driving pulses and at a faster rate, to adjust the display. A timer discriminates between short-term and long-term switch reversals to differentiate between a gating signal, giving passage to a train of high-rate stepping pulses, and (a) selection signals identifying an indicator to be stepped or (b) manually produced pulses for adjustment at a slower rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving an electrochromic display device in which an electric current is applied only to one of display elements for which non-coincidence exists between an initially applied display information signal and a subsequently applied display information signal. In one preferred embodiment, a driver circuit comprises a latch circuit for storing a display information signal, a non-coincidence detection circuit for detecting non-coincidence between a subsequently applied display information signal and an initially applied display information signal stored in the latch circuit, and a signal generating circuit responsive to a non-coincidence signal from the detection circuit for generating an output signal for a display element for which non-coincidence is detected.

Abstract: An inverting amplifier is provided with a high impedance input resistor connected at one end to an input terminal of the amplifier and connected at the other end to a first voltage source constituting a first binary logic level. The input terminal is also connected through a switch to a second voltage source constituting a second and opposite binary level. An MOS-FET has source and drain electrodes connected to the input terminal and the first voltage source respectively and a gate electrode connected to an output terminal of the amplifier. When the switch is closed, the second voltage is applied to the input terminal and the inverted output of the amplifier turns off the MOS-FET. When the switch is open, the first voltage is applied to the input terminal through the resistor and the inverted output of the amplifier turns on the MOS-FET. The low impedance of the MOS-FET in the turned on condition increases the stability of the amplifier under high humidity conditions.

Abstract: An input line carrying a square-wave voltage is connected through a capacitor to the drain and via an inverter to the gate of a MOSFET acting as a diode, the relative magnitudes of the drain and gate pulses being so chosen that the FET conducts during alternate half-cycles of the square wave whereby the capacitor is charged during nonconductive half-cycles and is fully discharged to the potential of the source of the FET during conductive half-cycles. If the source is biased by a constant voltage, a square wave in a higher voltage range is available at the drain. If the source is connected to potential through another capacitance, a d-c voltage is available at that electrode. Complementary MOSFET/diodes can be connected in push-pull or in cascade to amplify the input voltage; they may also be combined with supplementary voltage boosters including cascaded stages composed of ordinary diodes and capacitors. The MOSFET/diode may be part of an electronic clock drive.

Abstract: An electronic device, having a liquid crystal display cell, includes a driving circuit for changing the state of the liquid crystal cell in accordance with the energized state of the cell thereby preventing the cell from deteriorating due to the energization by a direct current.

Abstract: An electronic device for use with a battery driven electro-optical display, wherein the device includes circuitry for detecting an increase in the rate of electric power consumption of the display, and generates a signal upon detecting the increase. The device includes an alarm which operates, when the signal is received and includes circuitry, which stops power supply to the display when the signal is received. Surplus power consumption of the electric cell is thereby eliminated.

Abstract: A pulse generator provides a first and a second train of pulses, the triggering edges of the second pulses occurring within the inactive period of the first train pulses. The first train pulses are coupled to a reset terminal of an S-R flip-flop and to a control terminal of a solid state switching device to establish a low impedance conduction path during the inactive periods of the first train pulses between a voltage source via a normally open switch and a set terminal of the S-R flip-flop. The Q output of the flip-flop is connected to a data input terminal of a data type flip-flop (D flip-flop). The second train pulses are applied to a clock input terminal of the D flip-flop to trigger the same at the triggering edges thereof. An output pulse will be delivered at the Q output of the D flip-flop when the switch is closed.

Abstract: To excite a liquid-crystal display element, a square wave is applied to opposite electrodes of that element by a source of alternating voltage through a switching circuit which briefly short-circuits the display element, during every change of polarity of the voltage source, by connecting both electrodes to the same potential via a low-impedance path. As the display element discharges over that path, the source is open-circuited whereby energy consumption is reduced.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece, used as a pager watch, has a speaker for emitting an alarm sound at a preset time and also for reproducing an external call signal intercepted by a receiver for incoming electromagnetic waves. The receiver may be maintained normally inactive, being periodically activated for short time intervals under the control of a frequency divider in the output of a crystal oscillator serving to drive an electro-optical display. Sensors responsive to abnormal ambient conditions, e.g. temperature or blood pressure of the wearer, may also operate the speaker.