Abstract: The compass is composed of a glass plate constituting a transparent outer component and of a thin plate constituting an inner transparent component. Two bearings are fixed in holes in these plates, one bearing being situated near the upper face and covered by a disk. An arbor can thus be machined with a maximum length and can support the compass needle with the greatest possible precision. The compass unit, comprising a setting ring which holds the two plates in place, may be driven with a gasket into the radial wall of the case body in lieu of the usual watch glass.

Abstract: An altimeter device employs a solid state pressure sensor having a strain-sensitive element directly in a silicon diaphragm, which is connected at one side to a closed vacuum chamber. The entire device is very compact and may be in the form of a wristwatch. A display indicates altitude or relative altitude above or below a reference point to the user, and electronics associated with the device provide for accumulation of vertical change in one direction, regardless of intervening changes in the opposite direction. In this way, a skier, hiker or biker, for example, may determine total vertical drop or vertical rise encountered in a selected period, without regard to offset from movements in the opposite direction. At the same time, the user may also determine his altitude at any given point, and in a preferred form the altimeter device includes a clock and a time-averaging feature, for calculating and displaying rate of climb or descent, both instantaneous and average over a selected interval.

Abstract: Electronic equipment has, in its case, a flux gate magnetic sensor with an excitation coil and a sensing coil wound around an annular magnetic core made of high permeability material, an integrated circuit including a magnetic field detector, cooperating with the magnetic sensor for detecting an external magnetic field and an operation circuit for operating the geomagnetic direction, a display device for displaying at least the geomagnetic direction, and a power source battery. The flux gate magnetic sensor is arranged along the inner surface of the case and the battery is arranged within the annular magnetic core of the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: A pocket sized portable information device provides an alarm indicating Moslem prayer times. Means are provided for entering information identifying geograpical location, from which the hours of sunrise and sunset are calculated and then the prayer times. The device includes an oscillator driving a clock calendar and an interrupt time both of which are linked to a microprocessor. Codes identifying geographical locations are input via suitable key pads, resulting in geographical co-ordinate information being supplied to the microprocessor from a location ROM. By means of suitable algorithms the microprocessor calculates sunrise, sunset and the prayer times, and at the appropriate times provides an audible alarm through an amplifier and a transducer (T). The device is also provided with a compass identifying the direction towards magnetic north. Using the information from the location ROM the microprocessor calculates the deviation from magnetic north to the direction towards Mecca for the location concerned.

Abstract: A timepiece is provided which in addition to indicating information concerning the time and the date furnishes information relating to the direction and sense of the terrestrial magnetic field. The display is provided with an arrow which may be permanent or displayed at the will of the user and which indicates in which sense the display must be turned in order to align a fixed axis with the direction of the terrestrial field. An azimuth indication may appear giving the angle between the direction north and the route followed. A built in static detector picks up indications of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A time-keeping method and device, especially useful as a novelty device for astrologers, that divides a day into twelve equal periods of time. Each period of time is further sub-divided into one-hundred equal sub-periods of time. Each sub-period of time may further be sub-divided into one-hundred equal intervals of time. The time-keeping method and device includes counter-clockwise motion of one revolution per day, which motion is synchronized to begin at a reference point on the face of the time-keeping device that corresponds to the conventional three o'clock position. The time-keeping method includes synchronizing this motion so that it begins at this reference point at a time corresponding to the mean time of the rising of the sun. The time display may be analog and/or digital. The points of the compass may also appear on the clock face, thereby allowing the counter-clockwise motion associated with the device to depict the position of the sun relative to the set of compass points.