Abstract: A click mechanism for a timepiece winding stem comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves axially spaced along the length of the winding stem, and a detent spring resiliently engageable within respective ones of the grooves to retain the winding stem in the desired axial operating position and enabling manual axial movement of the winding stem between different operating positions with a click action. The detent spring has an elongate portion which extends in side-by-side relationship along the length of the winding stem, and a detent portion connected to the elongate portion for engagement with the winding stem grooves. The thickness of the detent spring is no greater than the thickness of the winding stem and by arranging the two in side-by-side relationship, a thinner timepiece can be formed than would be possible if the detent spring extended above or below the winding stem.

Abstract: A dual display timepiece employs a stepping motor capable of rotation in sense for driving hour and minute hands in an analogue display and an electronic digital display for displaying other information (second, date, chronograph, etc.). In order to facilitate hour hand corrections a logic circuit is provided which permits the user to enter the nature (positive or negative) and the amount of correction desired into the digital display. Following such entry the hour hand is corrected automatically by application of N.times.Y higher than normal frequency signals to the analogue display, where N corresponds to the number of signals required to effect a one hour or half hour correction and Y corresponds to the correction entered by the user.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece circuit including a data memory for storing time information and display information, and an operating circuit which renews the data stored in the data memory circuit. A program memory circuit stores a sequential program for determining generation of control signals supplied to the data memory circuit and the operating circuit. Two different command data systems are stored in the program memory circuit. One command data system consists of controlling commands which carry out time counting, time setting and display functions, and for pointing addresses in the data memory circuit. The other command data system consists of commands for judging conditions, for pointing addresses of the data memory and for pointing the jump address of the programs stored in the program memory circuit.

Abstract: A wristwatch movement has a back cover formed with a battery replacement hole, and a base plate formed with a battery compartment in a substantially axial alignment with the battery replacement hole. An actuating lever has one end selectively engageable with a setting lever engaging with a winding stem extending through a radial bore of the base plate, and another end formed with a handling portion extending toward the battery compartment such that the handling portion can be manipulated through the battery replacement hole to cause the one end of the setting lever to disengage from the winding stem, to allow the winding stem to be pulled out of the radial bore.

Abstract: A function selection circuit for multi-function timepiece which has a timekeeping circuit, a display device to display output data from the timekeeping circuit, and a function circuit to provide a plurality of functions which can be selected by an external control member in a predetermined sequence. The function selection circuit has a circuit means controlled by the external control member to provide an output to enable a selection of time correction mode from said plurality of functions in the predetermined sequence.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having an intermittent driving means for rotating the second hand step by step, in which the second hand may be driven in two or more ways, one of by a large step as driving the second hand at the rate of one step per second and the other is by a small step such as driving the second hand at the rate of ten steps per second. There is provided a large step driving pulse producing circuit, a small step driving pulse producing circuit, a transducer for transducing the pulse into the rotating motion, a large step transmitting means, a small step transmitting means, a train for transmitting the rotating motion to the second hand, and means for changing the pulses applied to the transducer and for changing the transmitting means.

Abstract: A time adjusting device for an electronic timepiece utilizes a manually rotatable mechanism which generates pulses corresponding in frequency and number with the speed and extent of rotation thereof. Each pulse which is generated is thereafter converted into a plurality of pulses. A manually actuatable switch applies either the normal periodic time pulses to a time counter or the plurality of pulses to the time counter upon actuation to adjust the time count therein.

Abstract: A system for automatically time setting and message setting or programming of a cased digital watch or a watch module and including both an external setting unit and a serial interface control circuit inside the cased digital watch. The system in accordance with the invention is compatible with either watches that require time setting or watches that require both time setting and message programming and is applicable to any type of manually controllable watch. The time and message set system has a data entry unit that includes a keyboard, a display, a reference time module, a memory, a light source such as a light emitting diode or an LED array as an output and a processor which provides central control of the other functional units. The LED array output supplies coded messages to a light or energy responsive device or phototransistor in position under the face of the watch. The watch includes a novel circuit for responding to the phototransistor and provides time setting and message setting.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece in which a higher frequency signal from a frequency standard is divided down to a lower frequency drive signal by a frequency converter. The drive signal is applied through a driver circuit to an electro-mechanical transducer which actuates time-representing members to indicate time. A control means is coupled to intermediate stages of the frequency converter and produces higher frequency drive signals. At least one contact plate made of flexible, electrically conductive material is adapted to be depressed from outside the watch case through a recess formed therein whereby the control means is connected to the driver circuit to apply the higher frequency drive signals to the electro-mechanical transducer thereby rapidly advancing the time-representing members.

Abstract: A hand-indication type electronic timepiece is disclosed which has a vibrator such as a quartz crystal vibrator, an electronic circuit including an oscillator, a frequency divider, a driver, and a motor for operating hands, and other components, said electronic circuit comprising a plurality of pulse control circuits for different functions such as a pulse generator for normal hand operation, a fast feed pulse forming circuit, a pulse output stop circuit, and a circuit for producing output pulses for said normal hand operation after some specific periods of time with external control signals applied thereto as input signals, said pulse control circuits being selectively operated by external operating means, so that said motor for operating hands may be controlled by multiple steps by said external operating means.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece control circuit for facilitating the selection of a preferred function in a multi-functional electronic timekeeping circuit wherein each function can also be selected cyclicly in sequence, is provided. The timekeeping circuit is adapted to be disposed in at least three timekeeping functional modes to perform at least one distinct timekeeping function in each functional mode in response to a function control signal being applied thereto. Mode select circuitry is coupled to the timekeeping circuit for cyclicly selecting, in sequence, each timekeeping functional mode of the timekeeping circuit in response to each mode select signal applied thereto. A judgment circuit is coupled to thetimekeeping circuit and is adapted to return the timekeeping circuit to a predetermined timekeeping functional mode in response to a mode select signal and a function control signal being coincidentally applied thereto.

Abstract: Electronic timepiece delivering an acoustic signal to signalize to the user a particular state of working mode. The invention applies more particularly to timepieces with a digital display for indicating the time and the date, the same display being used to indicate the time of alarm. In such a timpiece, it is necessary to be able to make corrections of the time and the date in the watch correcting mode as well as corrections of the time of alarm in the alarm correcting mode. It is this alarm correcting mode which, in the described example, is signalized by an acoustical signal.The timepiece includes an oscillator, a frequency divider, at least one display unit, an alarm device, a memory and a comparator for the time of alarm, a control logic circuit and a first and a second control means.