Abstract: Zero adjustment of second information in an electronic timepiece is carried out upon receiving a command from the operator. "Increment one" is performed upon minute information when the second information is between 24 and 59 seconds when the zero adjustment command is generated. Minute information is not changed when the second information is between 0 and 23 seconds when the zero adjustment command is generated.

Abstract: A mode selection switch is provided for selectively enabling a time information display, namely, a timepiece mode, and a calculator operation, namely, a calculator mode. Function keys for the calculator operation are adapted to select a desired time information section, for example, the date information section, the hour information section, and the minute information section during the timepiece mode, thereby resetting the time information stored in the selected information section to zero. Thereafter, a desired value is introduced into the selected information section through numeral keys for the calculator operation.

Abstract: A thin-film transparent electrode is provided on the front glass of an electronic wristwatch to form a part of a switching mechanism cooperation with a metal frame provided at the back of the wristwatch. The metal frame is maintained in contact with the operator's wrist in an operative condition. When the operator touches the thin-film transparent electrode, the switching mechanism in its ON condition provides a signal for controlling an operation mode of the electronic wristwatch, for example, a display condition.

Abstract: Transparent touch electrodes are formed on a front glass window of an electronic wristwatch at positions near, for example, the hour information digital display section and the minute information digital display section for correcting the time information in terms of hours and minutes, respectively. A safety lock system associated with the touch electrodes is provided to prevent the time information correction when it is not desired. The safety lock system counts an intermittent touch operation effected on the touch electrodes, thereby allowing the introduction of a time information correction command only when the touch operation is repeated over a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time period.

Abstract: In electronic wristwatches employing an array of light emitting diodes (LED) as digital display, an ornamental coating is provided over the rear surface of a front glass sheet except the viewing window region thereof through the use of painting, printing, etc., while a color filter corresponding to the color of the light emitting display is provided at least over the viewing window region. With such an arrangement, the visibility is enhanced with a simplified construction.

Abstract: Zero adjustment of second information in an electronic timepiece is carried out upon receiving a command from the operator through a zero adjust switch. Increment one is performed on minute information when the second information is above a predetermined value, for example, twenty-four seconds when the zero adjustment command is generated. The reference signal frequency is automatically corrected by detecting the second information when the zero adjustment command is generated, in such a manner that the reference signal frequency is increased to render the timepiece faster when the second information is above the predetermined value, and the reference signal frequency is decreased to render the timepiece slower when the second information is below the predetermined value when the zero adjustment command is generated.

Abstract: A front glass sheet having a viewing window and conventionally received within a casing of a solid state wristwatch, is made of electrically conductive glass material which manifests conductivity per se, for serving as one of the principal components of a touch sensitive electrode assembly. In one preferred form, the front glass sheet is made of amorphous (glass) semiconductor such as chalcogenide glass of resistivity less than several hundred K.OMEGA. cm.

Abstract: An electronic wristwatch is provided with a touch type contactless switch structure for the purpose of altering the operational mode thereof, which comprises a pair of switch electrodes one being disposed on the viewing window in the engagement relationship with a portion of the operator body and the other being constituted of the enclosure thereof made of electrically conducting material. The one electrode is a film of transparent conductive material and, has an end area leading to the movement accommodated within the interior of the wristwatch. Both of the electrodes are isolated from each other via an electrically non-conducting member of low-melting point glass disposed therebetween which includes an extension overlaying the one electrode at the peripheral portion of the viewing window for allowing for moisture invasion.

Abstract: In a combination wristwatch and calculator, a key input means for information entry employs a touch sensitive electronic switching circuitry comprising a C-MOS inverter. One electrode for the touch sensitive electronic switching circuitry is provided on the front panel of the combination wristwatch and calculator, whereas another electrode for the touch sensitive electronic switching circuitry is positioned on the rear surface of the combination wristwatch and calculator. The present key input means is equally applicable to a miniature electronic calculator.

Abstract: An upper metal frame or a bezel and a rear metal frame of an electronic wristwatch are electrically isolated from each other by interposing an insulating frame therebetween. The upper metal frame or the bezel is connected to one input terminal of a touch sensitive electronic switching circuitry disposed in the electronic wristwatch, whereas the rear metal frame is connected to another input terminal of the touch sensitive electronic switching circuitry.

Abstract: An information reader for optically reading information recorded in the form of an array of aligned embossments on a card, comprising a slit plate positioned over a card transport table having two slits, one for directing incident light toward the embossed card and the other for leading to a light-sensitive element series light which has passed past the first named slit and then reflected from a planar surface or raised surface of the embossed card. While the information containing card causes reciprocating motion on the card transport table at a fixed rate, light passed past the last named slit is detected in a storage mode by sequentially scanning the multiple light-sensitive elements so that pattern recognition for the recorded information is carried out by measuring the detection light.