Abstract: A clock comprising, a case, a clockwork in the case having a plurality of pointers, a dial face in the case over which the pointers sweep about a common axis, a glass covering the dial and pointers, at least one illuminator for illuminating the dial and pointers and a ring having a face with spaced markings thereon which is mounted between the dial and glass and which can be manually rotated. The ring face is illuminated by the same illuminator which sheds light on the dial since the ring face faces the glass which receives light from the illuminator and illuminates both the dial and the ring face.

Abstract: An alarm device for electronic watches has a memory for storing data representing a specified date. When the user operates a switch on that day, the device sounds an alarm to tell the user the specified date has arrived.

Abstract: In an electronic watch the indication of the time (hours, minutes and possibly seconds) is given in analog form by means of a first passive electro-optic display cell. The display segments of this first display cell are arranged radially with respect to a central point, and the activated segments thereof have the appearance of the conventional hands of an analog watch. The watch comprises a second passive electro-optic display cell furnishing information in digital form, for example indicating the day of the week and the date. So that only the second cell need be provided with an illuminating device, the watch comprises a selector which is manually operable by means of a push-button which, when it is operated, causes the time to be displayed by the second cell at the same time as the illuminating device thereof is operated. This arrangement enables the user to know the time in the dark without it being necessary to provide the first cell with an illuminating device.

Abstract: The dial face of a battery-operated electric wrist watch is illuminated momentarily by manual pressure on a switch connecting a miniature light bulb, mounted between the crystal (lens) and the dial face, to the battery of the watch.

Abstract: In an electronic timepiece having a quartz crystal controlled standard frequency oscillator and a device which temporarily imposes a heavy load on the battery when activated, means are provided for changing a value of a circuit constant in the oscillator circuit, such as capacitance or resistance, when the load device is activated. This change in circuit constant value serves to decrease the value of the minimum battery supply voltage below which the oscillator circuit ceases to function, thereby ensuring reliable operation of the oscillator circuit when the timepiece battery voltage drops due to current being supplied to the load device.

Abstract: An alarm device for electronic watches has a memory for storing data representing a specified date. When the user operates a switch on that day, the device sounds an alarm to tell the user the specified date has arrived.

Abstract: A half-silvered mirror closes off one end of a peripheral housing, in spaced relation behind which half-silvered mirror is a clock face. Lighting means within the space between the half-silvered mirror and the clock face provides for selective illumination of the clock face for visualization through the half-silvered mirror. Sound actuated means is also provided for selective temporary energization of the lighting means to illuminate the clock face for time telling.

Abstract: A solid state electronic timepiece including an intermittent supplemental functional capability, e.g., a lamp to illuminate the display, also includes a circuit for the prevention of an undesirable supply voltage drop due to circuit loading by the supplemental function during performance of a primary intermittent timekeeping function, e.g., shifting the contents of a shift register. The supplemental function is turned off during the primary intermittent timekeeping function. In an alternative embodiment, the initiation of the supplemental function is delayed to follow completion of the primary intermittent timekeeping function.

Abstract: A light fixture which indicates the time of day includes a clock mechanism having a movable hand and an electrically operated illumination device arranged relative to the clock mechanism for casting a shadow of the hand on a surface. A light sensing device senses the ambient light intensity at the fixture location and it is operatively connected to the illumination device to increase the intensity of the illumination device in response to an increase in ambient light intensity and to decrease the intensity of the illumination device in response to a decrease in ambient light intensity.

Abstract: The segments of several 7-segment character displays are defined by elongated light distributors in the form of slots or a series of holes which are in a panel. A large area light source is located on the rear side of the panel. Rotatable opaque disks are interposed between the light source and characters. Each disk has an array of holes for transmitting light to predetermined ones of light pipes which lead to slot segments in one embodiment and which lead to the holes that define segments in another embodiment. When a disk is rotated, different groups of holes in the disks become aligned consecutively with the light pipes where they are used or with the panel holes to thereby illuminate selected character segments so they define a sequence of characters such as the numbers zero to nine. In a digital clock application, a synchronous motor drives a first disk in angular steps to define minutes at their rate of occurrence.

Abstract: A pod which holds the components of an electronic timepiece including the electro-optic display, substrate board and light source for illuminating the display is molded of transparent light transmitting material to pipe the light throughout the portion of the pod behind the display for backlighting the display.

Abstract: An illumination device for an electronic timepiece equipped with an electro-optical display device and a battery as a power source, which comprises: an electro-luminescent sheet disposed at the lower surface of said electro-optical display device; a booster circuit for converting the battery voltage to an AC voltage; and an illumination switch for operating said booster circuit in response to the manipulation of an external control member; whereby said electro-optical display means is illuminated when said electro-luminescent sheet is rendered light emissive in response to manipulation of said illumination switch.

Abstract: A voltage conversion system for an electronic timepiece having a power source, which system generates power at lower voltage level than that of the power source for operating at least one of a frequency standard, a frequency converter, a time counter circuit and a display system. The voltage conversion system comprises an oscillator circuit coupled to the power source to generate output signals, a plurality of capacitors, and a plurality of switching elements responsive to the output signals for alternately setting the capacitors in a parallel connected condition and a series connected condition, whereby an output voltage lower than that of the power source is generated at an output terminal of the system.