Abstract: A timepiece receives an externally transmitted radio signal corresponding to an accurate time of day. Disposed within the timepiece is a detecting mechanism for detecting the time of day being displayed by the timepiece. The signals are compared to determine the accuracy of the timepiece. The detection mechanism comprises an optoelectrical system which includes an emitter for directing a beam of radiation toward the sensor. The wheels of the gearworks intersect the beam ahead of the sensor to normally block the beam from the sensor. The wheels include orifices which, when aligned with the beam, permit the beam to reach the sensor, thereby providing an indication of the position of the wheels, and thus of the time being displayed.

Abstract: An electromechanical short interval timer has an actuating dial which can be manually rotated from a rest position to establish a time-elapse period. An electric motor returns the dial to its rest position. A timing circuit delivers electric pulses to drive the motor. A frequency selector switch is connected to or within the timing circuit whereby the pulse frequency can be varied. In this way, the time elapse period which is set by a given amount of dial rotation can be varied in a simplified manner. The dial activates a signal emitter before reaching its rest position, and simultaneously activates a timer circuit to continue returning the dial to its rest position. The dial engages a movable stop at both ends of its 360 degree travel stroke which assumes that the dial travels exactly 360 degrees.

Abstract: A stator comprises a one-piece U-shaped stator sheet having a pair of elongate parallel legs. The legs form pole shoe bridges at their front ends for their reception of a driven motor. At least one of the pole shoe bridges interconnects the legs adjacent their front ends. A coil-carrying bobbin is mounted on one of the legs, the length of the wound coil being longer than its diameter. A separate yoke sheet is fastened to the legs adjacent rear ends thereof to secure the bobbin on the leg. The stator is formed by first stamping-out a stamping which includes the parallel legs and the yoke, with the yoke being integrally attached to the legs by means of webs. After the stamping undergoes the usual pretreatment, the yoke sheet is separated from the legs, whereupon the coil bobbin is slipped onto the leg from the rear. Then, the yoke sheet is secured to the rear ends of the legs to prevent removal of the coil bobbin.

Abstract: A clock movement comprises front and rear housing shells. A support plate is mounted within and between the shells. A gear movement is mounted on a rear side of the support plate and faces the rear shell. A hands movement is arranged on a front side of the support plate and is drivingly connected to the gear movement. A circuit board is connected to the support plate. A motor for the gear movement comprises a stator sheet and a coil bobbin. The stator sheet is fastened in engaging relationship to a rear side of the support plate adjacent a rotor opening in the stator sheet. The coil bobbin is mounted on the stator sheet and includes a plurality of pins which define coil terminals. The pins are soldered to a circuit of the circuit board. The circuit board is disposed in front of the support plate in spaced relationship therewith and is of arc-like configuration such that legs of the arc straddle the minute and hour wheels of the hands movement.

Abstract: Additional fields of application are provided for an electronic clock striking mechanism. In particular, a modular unit for a clock striking mechanism comprising an operating device, together with a clock circuit, and optionally a battery space, is built into a living room phono installation and connected by means of a selector circuit with a speaker. This arrangement makes possible the emission of acoustic time information synchronously with the time display of quartz-stabilized living room clocks that are potentially present, without the need for synchronization with the clock circuit in the clock striking mechanism which is also stabilized by quartz vibrations.

Abstract: In a circuit for the actuation of a stepping motor for battery-operated instruments, in particular watches, the length of motor drive pulses is altered for the purpose of saving energy. In the process, different loads on the stepping motor and variable battery voltages are taken into consideration. This feature is accomplished by measuring a signal proportional to the current flowing through the field coil of the stepping motor and interrupting the drive pulse to the motor when a predetermined change occurs in the signal. The drive pulses are further limited as to both minimum and maximum length. Advantageously, the stepping motor is actuated and the signal processed by means of a digital circuit technology, in order to provide for complete integration of the circuit.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical pulse generator for producing electronic pulses to set or correct the readout of an electronic digital display. Two contact assemblies rotatable relative to one another cooperate to close at least two pairs of electric contact elements to produce at least two pulses. The pulses have a phase shift relative to one another which is dependent upon the direction of relative rotation of the contact assemblies and a frequency which is proportional to the speed of rotation. Control logic determines the phase shift of one pulse relative to another, i.e. lead or lag, and causes an UP-DOWN counter to produce an up-count or down-count accordingly.

Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer is disclosed which includes a stator, a rotor, and at least one excitation coil winding. The stator includes two substantially geometrically identical stator sections. Each stator section includes an arm having a portion which lies in a plane offset from the plane of the stator. The offset portions of the arms of the stator sections overlap each other to form a magnetic junction for the stator.

Abstract: A time-controlled tone signal is produced by electronic clock circuitry for a clock having chimes and/or an alarm system. In order to provide fully electronic storage and release of tone signal sequences, their data, such as tone frequencies and tone lengths, are stored in digital form in a memory circuit. The data is recalled from the memory with regard to time and is transformed by means of an electro-acoustic transducer into the desired sequence of tone signals.

Abstract: A clock is disclosed comprising a housing which includes mounts for supporting clockhands, and a clockwork for driving the hands. The clock also includes a motor, an electronic circuitry for conducting electrical power to the motor, and a circuit board. The motor includes a coil, a stator, and a rotor. The circuit board includes means for carrying the electronic circuitry, coil and stator externally of the housing to form a pre-assembled module which can be pushed into the housing into contact with respective retaining parts on the housing.

Abstract: An electronic clock with a chime system has exclusively electronic processing for production of a variety of tone signal sequences consisting of known melodies or portions thereof and time-identifying sequences of strokes. The characteristic values of these tone signal sequences are loaded into a ROM memory and can be recalled, as required, by electronic control and release circuits at each quarter, half, three quarter or full hour. The amplitude of the audio output signals is automatically controlled in accordance with the time of day.

Abstract: A bipolar stepping motor includes, a single stator sheet, an air gap between the ends of the stator sheet, a rotor between the ends of the stator sheet, and a coil which encompasses a portion of the stator sheet. The stator sheet is of essentially annular configuration and is surrounded over a substantial portion of its periphery by a coil carrier. The coil is applied on the carrier in the form of a ring core winding. A carrier plate is attached to the stator sheet in the vicinity of the air gap. This plate carries a shaft of the rotor and serves as means for attaching the motor to another structure.

Abstract: An electric alarm clock includes a digital display mechanism and an alarm device. First and second individually actuable switches are connected to master circuitry of the clock. The first switch is operable to select types of wake-up displays, such as hours, minutes, etc. for adjustment. The second switch is operable to select types of time-of-day displays, such as hours, minutes, etc. for adjustment. A switching mechanism is provided for gating-in the wake-up time on the display mechanism in response to actuation of the first swtich and/or the alarm control switch.