Abstract: An electronic data storage and retrieval system, particularly embodied in an electronic watch instrument interrogated and controlled by a timed sequence of voltage pulses generated by the user's actuation of a switch or by his tapping or otherwise impacting an electroacoustic transducer such as a small earphone. For audible readout the instrument circuitry, when interrogated, drives the transducer to produce a coded sequence of tones easily learned by the user. The instrument may include an optical readout capability. Register means are provided for auxiliary data and for an alarm capability, and suitably coded user-produced voltage pulses serve to set a desired time in the alarm register, to arm or disarm the alarm, to read out the alarm time, to reset the basic time of the instrument, and to arm or disarm a periodic time readout.

Abstract: A watch with a calendar display and a hand setting device actuated by a setting shaft for correction measures as a function of the instantaneous position of the setting shaft is disclosed. For this purpose, a coupling element is rotatably coupled with the setting shaft. The coupling element is displaceable from an intermediate position into one of two preparatory positions dependent upon the direction of rotation of the setting shaft in a first axial position. By moving the setting shaft into a second axial position, the coupling element is transferred by a reversing lever and a slotted link from the preselected preparatory position into a corresponding one of two stable working positions. In the working positions, a rotatable connection is established between the setting shaft and one of the calendar display disks.

Abstract: In an electronic timepiece the digital display of time functions is corrected by the manipulation of a multi-contact rotary switch. Rotation of the switch in one direction corrects one displayed function, e.g., hours and minutes, and rotation of the switch in the other direction corrects another displayed function, e.g., day and date. The rate of display correction is responsive to the rate of switch rotation. Rotational direction is electronically determined by detecting which contact in the rotary switch is the first to close. Rate of switch rotation is determined by measuring the time required in cyclic actuation of the rotary switch contacts.

Abstract: A single external stem member of an electronic timepiece operates independent switches by push-pull motions and by a rotary operation. Many functions are controlled or adjusted with signals generated by particular sequential combinations of stem member operations in the push-pull and rotary modes. In an alarm timepiece, the rotary switch controls the alarm time setting, and the push-pull switch determines whether an audible alarm and hour markers are to sound, no sounds are to be emitted, or only the alarm is to sound.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece including timekeeping means, an electro-optical time display, and a circuit for setting the display is disposed within an electrically conductive case and an electrically conductive, optically transmissive face cover. A battery is coupled to energize the timekeeping means continuously and the display setting circuit selectively. The electrically conductive face cover and the electrically conductive case are insulated from one another and constitute electrodes of a switching circuit for selectively connecting the battery to energize the display circuit. The battery is electrically connected in series with the conductive case and display circuit, and the display circuit is electrically connected in series with the conductive face cover and battery, whereby the display circuit may be selectively energized by simultaneously contacting the exterior conductive surfaces of the face cover and case with a conductive body disposed outside of the case.

Abstract: A digital watch including a clocking signal generator is disclosed wherein a control circuit provides phasing signals for multiplexing data representing seconds, minutes, hours, and data information in successive cycles to a visual display panel. In the normal mode of operation of the watch, minutes and hours are displayed. The watch further includes circuitry for selectively displaying seconds and date information as well as for setting the hours, minutes, and date. The aforementioned functions require the utilization of only three functional switches which may be incorporated into a stem of the watch. By selectively closing and opening one switch, as for example, pushing in and releasing the stem, seconds information is first displayed and then the date information is momentarily displayed for a predetermined interval after which the watch returns to a normal mode of operation of displaying hours and minutes.

Abstract: In a digital electronic timepiece in which days of the week, hours and minutes are displayed on a display device and the displayed days of the week, hours and minutes can be corrected with a correction switch, a time correction switch is used to also correct a displayed day of the week.

Abstract: A contact arrangement for a battery-operated instrument, especially a battery-operated clock, having a housing made of synthetic material. Two contact elements are provided for making connection between the two terminals of a battery and two respective paths of a circuit board. One of the contact elements includes a bus portion fastened to the housing, and a pair of legs. A first leg makes contact with one terminal of the battery and the second leg makes contact with a path of the circuit board. The second leg is designed in the form of a knife-edge contact, one portion thereof bearing against a wall of the housing, and another portion thereof bearing against the circuit board. The second leg thus holds the circuit board in its inserted position by mechanical force. The contact element further includes a third leg which electrically contacts as well as mechanically clamps a small bulb when the latter is inserted into the housing.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a frequency supply for providing a relatively high frequency time base signal, a circuit including a frequency converter responsive to the time base signal to provide a relatively low frequency time unit signal, and a time-keeping register responsive to the time unit signal to produce a time information signal. An input means includes an external control to provide an actuation signal when actuated, and an input signal is generated in response to the actuation signal, provision being made for selectively rendering the input signal generating means inoperative. An enabling signal is generated in response to the input signal and the time information signal, and a control responsive to the enabling signal controls the circuit means to correct the time information signal.

Abstract: An electronic module for a timepiece and comprises a display cell and an electric control circuit including contact means for operation by at least one push-button. The contact means includes at least one contact and release spring in order to close a control circuit by acting on a circuit board forming part of said circuit. The contact spring is constituted by a single piece of a metallic frame of the display cell, the spring a cut-out of such frame which is electrically connected to one pole of a source of electrical energy.

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: An electronic timepiece having a minute hand and an hour hand which are controlled by a control circuit of the timepiece to display and to program, in addition to their own parameters, other parameters such as date, month, second, alarm time, or other, non time-related, parameters, which can be selected by push-button or pull-switch control means.

Abstract: An analog quartz timepiece having a manually operated external control member, and a correction signal generation circuit controlled by the external control member to generate low speed and high speed correction signals when the external control member is actuated for a short period of time and for a predetermined time interval, respectively, by which a stepping motor is driven at a selected speed to perform time correction. The timepiece also includes a click mechanism operative to shift an hours hand step-wise from any optional position without affecting a minutes hand and a seconds hand. The timepiece further includes a seconds zero-reset mechanism operative to reset the seconds hand to zero.

Abstract: Touch sensitive key switches of an electronic watch which control functions of the watch such as time setting, are gated to reduce the power consumption of the watch. The key switches are capacitive and are fed signals derived from the time standard oscillator of the watch. A change in the key switch signals when the switches are touched by the user activate the time setting functions. Gates are provided coupling the signals derived from the oscillator to the key switches so that the signals are applied to the key switches either under control of the user or during repetitive time periods, reducing the time the signals are applied to the key switches and the power necessary to continuously supply such signals to the key switches.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a control circuit for controlling operation of the timepiece circuit, and an input switching circuit. The input switching circuit includes a plurality of manually operable switches, and a programmed logic array for receiving signals from the manually operating switches and for developing output signals applied to the control circuit for controlling the control circuit. The input switching circuit further includes a memory having an input for receiving output signals from the programmed logic array, and an output for applying memory output signals to the input of the programmed logic array. The memory has a delay for delaying control of the control circuit, in response to actuation of the manually operable switches, for an interval sufficient to allow an operation being performed by the timepiece circuit to be completed without being interrupted by actuation of the manually operable switches.

Abstract: A switch structure for an analog quartz crystal timepiece having a watchglass plate, a time dial to display time in an analog mode, and a digital display device, which switch structure comprises a plurality of transparent electrically conductive electrode films provided on the watchglass plate at positions corresponding to numerical display indicia on the time dial to permit generation of input signals corresponding to the numerical display indicia, respectively.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a pair of touch-sensitive electrostatic capacitance switches which must be actuated in a predetermined sequence to enable setting of time, etc. to be performed. Setting and selection of quantity to be set are thereafter conducted by actuating said switches.

Abstract: A time data processing circuit for an electronic timepiece comprises a common line; a signal generator for generating time data signal and first, second, third and fourth control signals; first and second shift register circuits; an arithmetic operation circuit for processing the time data signal and the output signal of the first shift register circuit; a first input/output circuit for coupling, in response to the first control signal, the output terminal of the arithmetic operation circuit to the common line and the input terminal of the first shift register circuit and coupling, in response to the second control signal, the common line to the input terminal of the first shift register circuit; and a second input/output circuit for coupling, in response to the third control signal, the output terminal of the second shift register circuit to the input terminal of the second shift register circuit and the common line and coupling, in response to the fourth control signal, the input terminal of the second shif

Abstract: A portable electronic device equipped with timekeeping circuit means for providing at least units of seconds and tens of seconds of time information, and display means for displaying said time information in digital form, which comprises first external control member for inputting numeric data signals, a control circuit for selecting at least said tens of seconds of said time data for correction, second external control member for inputting control signals to actuate said control circuit, first gate means for applying said numeric data signals to said timekeeping circuit means to effect correction of at least said tens of seconds of time information, second gate means for automatically resetting said units of seconds of time information to zero in response to correction of said tens of seconds of time information.

Abstract: A digital electronic timepiece which comprises an oscillator circuit providing a relatively high frequency signal, a frequency divider dividing down the relatively high frequency signal to provide a first low frequency signal representative of the count of one second and a second low frequency signal higher in frequency than the first low frequency signal and representative of the count less than one second, a first counter responsive to the first low frequency signal to provide time and calendar information signals; and an additional data signal a second counter responsive to the second low frequency signal to provide output signals representative of the count less than one second, first display means for displaying time and calendar data in response to the time and calendar information signals, second display means composed of a plurality of display segments for displaying data representative of the count less than one second in step-wise fashion in response to the output signals from the second counter, sa

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: The disclosed is an electronic timepiece which has storage circuits for respectively storing data regarding a variety of times such as an alarm time for different operating modes, stop watch, timer, etc., a data processing circuit commonly provided for all the storage circuits for executing various time processes, and a control circuit for controlling a mutual transfer of the data between the respective storage circuits and the data processing circuit to selectively process the various times. Accordingly, this timepiece can process a large number of times without increasing the number of the time processing circuits.

Abstract: A miniature electronic device, an example of which being an electronic watch, includes a printed circuit board which is mounted in a case and which has an aperture. A battery extends into the aperture forming a substantially coplanar assembly of exceptionally small thickness. The printed circuit board also features the use of circuit paths disposed on the peripheral edge to connect selected circuit paths which are disposed on upper and lower surface of the printed circuit board. An alternative embodiment of the printed circuit board features the use of a digit drives chip mounted directly on top of an integrated circuit watch clip with wire bonds leading from selected pads on the digit drives chip to selected pads on the integrated circuit watch chip and to selected circuit paths on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Electronic timepiece having an electro-optic passive display cell comprising an oscillator used as a time base and an electronic control circuit of its several functions. The electronic circuit is operable by means of a stationary key or switch, having a capacitive action, carried by the glass or crystal of the timepiece. The stationary key is fed by the oscillator through a fixed or non-variable condenser. A conductive element is interposed between the stationary key and the display cell, the conductive element constituting one of the electrodes of the fixed condenser. The purpose of this arrangement is to eliminate the influence of a parasitic condenser constituted by the electrodes of the display cell and the electrode of the stationary key.

Abstract: The invention is a digital electronic watch housed within the same casing as a writing instrument. Terminals are disposed in proximity to the metallic pocket clip to provide an electrical contact to initiate the digital readout display which is housed in a section of the casing having a window for the readout display. The internal components of the writing instrument are constructed in a way to provide an unobstructed axial passage in the writing instrument for the writing and a retraction mechanism of the instrument to be used. The relationship of the means for energizing the display to the pocket clip are such that inadvertent actuation is avoided when carrying the writing instrument in a pocket.