Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) receiver may be integrated with a tide display device. The GPS receiver receives satellite signals and determines the precise time and geodetic position by trilateration. The precise time and geodetic position is used by the tide display device to determine the appropriate tide information to display. The tide display device displays the tide information to a surfer on a graph display with the ordinate axis representing tide height and the abscissa axis representing time.

Abstract: A method for providing a digital compass function and a portable terminal adapted to the method are disclosed. The cardinal points, north, south, east and west, are calculated based on the celestial body, such as the sun, the moon, a constellation, a particular star, etc. using the current time information and information of a location where the portable terminal is currently located. The direction of Mecca is calculated based on the calculated cardinal points and the current location information and displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: The invention concerns a watch equipped with means for determining a location longitude and a device for determining the sun's altitude above the horizon. Said watch comprises a mobile element (16) doing one full rotation in 12 hours and bearing a hour hand (24), and a dial (32). It comprises for this purpose a rotating ring (44) for reading longitude, bearing an index mark (47) and, therefrom, a scale (45) in degrees, extending from 0° to 90° on either side of the index mark and covering the ring (44) over its whole periphery. Moreover, the dial (32) is provided with a circular scale (33) for selecting a time zone, with a median point (35) corresponding to the dial top point and a graduation from 0 to +6 hours or ?6 hours depending on the rotational direction.

Abstract: A mechanical device converts one time base to another without using gears to do so. A mechanical adder adds a constant into an accumulator at regular intervals. The interval is generated by the overflow of the accumulator. In the case where a signal is to be generated once every solar year from a wheel that rotates only once per day, the fractional number 1/365.242198 is added to the accumulator each day by the rotation of a day wheel. Whenever the accumulation overflows, the one-year signal is generated. The fractional portion of the accumulated sum remains in the accumulator, such that round-off errors do not accumulate over time. The preferred adder is digital, such that this computation may be carried out to any desired level of precision. Additionally, the same design, but with a different constant, may be used to generate other intervals (e.g. for lunar months).

Abstract: A clock is formed by a front frame (11) for forming a clock body, a back frame (35) fixed with the former, a transparent dial plate (17) fixed with the front frame and having scale marks on the periphery for representing month and day, a constellation disc (15) rotatably held by the dial plate and having an annular toothed member (63) on the circumference thereof, a support member (71, 79) provided on the back surface of the dial plate for rotatably guiding and supporting the constellation disc, and a drive mechanism (75) provided on the back surface of the dial plate for driving the annular toothed member of the constellation disc while engaging with the toothed member.

Abstract: A compass wherein positional information regarding a predetermined terrestrial location is stored; present time, corresponding to the terrestrial location whose positional information is stored, is measured and displayed; and constellation data is stored. A geomagnetism-detector is provided for detecting the direction of geomagnetism and for deriving azimuthal data therefrom. A constellation data display device is provided for reading out stored constellation data in accordance with the derived azimuthal data, the stored positional information, and the measured present time, and for displaying the readout constellation data.

Abstract: This invention concerns a compass watch as well as a bezel specifically intended to fit out such a watch. The invention comprises at least one time indicating element (4) kinematically driven in rotation by a mechanical or electromechanical horometric movement, and particularly intended to be pointed towards the sun, and direction indicating means (N, S, W, E) arranged on said watch enabling one to know, as a function of the orientation of said indicating means (4), the direction of at least one of the cardinal points, and is characterized in that it includes correction means (52; 16, M) for the positioning of the cardinal points, adapted to take into account the equation of time and to correct any variation between true solar time and the legal or local time of day. The invention is applied to a watch, preferably of the mechanically or electromechanically driven type.

Abstract: A multiple function, multiple digit meter includes a light directing structure (18) for providing uniform illumination to digits (14) of display (12). A block (20) of clear plexiglass has a surface (22) facing the display (12). Edges (24, 26) of the block (20) have notches (27, 28) for receiving incandescent bulbs (30) to direct light into the block (20). The block (20) has a back surface (32) which curves upward moving away from the bulbs (30) toward the center (34) of the block (20). Surface (32) is reflective to direct light toward the display (12). The configuration of the surface (32) causes an increasing percentage of light received at the surface (32) from the lamps (30) to be reflected toward the display (12), with increasing distance from each lamp (30). The panel meter (40) has a first manually actuated means (70) for selecting one of the multiple functions of the meter (40) and a second manually actuated means (72) for changing a displayed value of a selected function.