Abstract: A time keeping device of an electric timepiece comprising one motor that can rotate in the forward direction and the reverse direction, a branch mechanism, and a plurality of wheel trains that are branched by the branch mechanism, wherein the motor is rotated in the forward direction to drive one wheel train thereby to carry out a mechanical display, and is rotated in the reverse direction to drive the other wheel train thereby to carry out another mechanical display. The time keeping device further comprises a merge mechanism in addition to the branch mechanism, and a plurality of wheel trains that are branched by the branch mechanism and are merged by the merge mechanism. The motor is rotated in the forward direction to drive one wheel train thereby to carry out a mechanical display, and is rotated in the reverse direction to drive the other wheel train thereby to carry out another mechanical display.

Abstract: Watch movement with hand display, comprising mobile elements (44, 42), designed to receive the hour (16) and minute (20) hands indicating current time, mounted pivoting to pivot about a first axis (A—A) arranged substantially at the center of the movement and four mobile elements (58b, 60b, 64b, 62b) designed to receive hands displaying complementary functions. According to the invention, the four mobile elements (58b, 60b, 64b, 62b) are mounted pivoting on the movement about second (B—B), third (C—C), fourth (ND) and fifth (E—E) axes arranged on a straight line (X—X) perpendicular to them.

Abstract: The watch is provided with a circular row of capacitive keys defined by transparent electrodes (21 to 32) arranged on the inner face of the crystal (5) of the watch and connected to a detection device via a multiplexer. These keys are activated by the person wearing the watch placing a finger (38) on the crystal facing one of the electrodes. The watch further includes means for detecting the position of at least one of the hands (8, 9) by means of the same detection device, using the electrodes (21 to 32) of the capacitive keys and/or other fixed electrodes (51).

Abstract: A balance watch, a combination of two watches, one measuring hours, the other measuring minutes and/or seconds. Each watch is worn on a separate wrist simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a timepiece such as, in particular, a wristwatch, including a watch movement, a running equation of time device, as well as a date mechanism, this timepiece having a pair of hour (22) and minute (24) hands which indicate the civil time, and an additional minute hand (28) which indicates the true time, the daily position of the true time minute hand (28) with respect to the civil time minute hand (24) being determined by the position of an equation of time cam (32) driven in rotation at the rate of one revolution per year by a date mechanism, characterized in that the true time minute hand (28) is driven by a differential gear (50) which has for respective power take-off a gear train (52) driving the civil time minute hand (24) and a transmission member which co-operates with the equation of time cam (32) to transmit the pivoting movement of said cam (32) to the input of the differential gear.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a display hand in an electronic device.

Abstract: To enable to easily stop a second hand at a 0 second position even in an analog electronic timepiece operating a hand at a high period. A dividing circuit outputs a low frequency pulse signal and a high frequency pulse signal at predetermined frequencies to a control circuit. The control circuit outputs the low frequency pulse signal of 4 pulses per second aligned at equal intervals when it is detected by a detecting circuit that an operating portion is not operated and outputs repeatedly the high frequency pulse signal of consecutive 4 pulses at every second when it is detected by the detecting circuit that the operating portion is operated. A motor driving circuit and a motor normally operate a second hand in response to the low frequency pulse signal and repeats, at a period of 1 second, operation of fast feeding the second hand and thereafter stopping the second hand during a predetermined period of time in response to the high frequency pulse signal.

Abstract: A clock with a twenty four hour display includes a minute hand, a second hand, a minute scale, a date display, and an hour scale on a first conchoid. The first conchoid includes an outer loop for the hours of the day from 6-18 hours and an inner loop for the hours of the day from 18-6. A crossing point of the inner and outer loops is established at the hours of 6 and 18. To achieve unambiguous indication, the hour hand is made variable in length. In a second conchoid offset by a constant amount radially inwards with respect to the first conchoid, which for instance is milled in the form of a groove in the dial, a guiding element is moved azimuthally through the inner part of the hour hand, which receives an overlay of radial movement owing to the shape of the second conchoid. The second conchoid and the guiding element may be covered by a disc joined to the inner part of the hour hand and turning with it.

Abstract: An electronic diving watch (1) with an analog display is described, comprising bidirectional driving means respectively of an hour hand (11) and a minute hand (12). The watch has a diving operating mode in which the display hands of the current time are likewise used in order to display data relating to the dive. More precisely, the hour hand (11) is used for the indication of information which is vital for the wearer of the watch, i.e. either that his body has not been subjected to physiological modifications which are significantly substantial enough for him to be required to observe a decompression stage during the ascent, or the parameters of the stage(s) to be effected, if need be. Liquid crystal screens (14, 15) are furthermore provided in order to display complementary information.

Abstract: A timepiece is provided with a solar cell 8 comprising a power generation unit 39, having a first electrode, a photovoltaic layer, and a second electrode, stacked up in that order on the solar cell substrate 31 so as to be superimposed on each other, and electric power generated by the solar cell 8 is used as an energy source for executing time display on a time display unit by a dial 14 and hands 5, 6 or a liquid crystal display panel 50. The solar cell 8 is constructed such that a plurality of the power generation units 39, and transmitting portions 40 having a transmittance of light, larger than that for the power generation units, are alternately patterned on a solar cell substrate 31, and is disposed on the visible side of the time display unit so as to be superimposed thereon, thereby ensuring satisfactory power generation efficiency of the solar cell without impairing visibility of the time display unit, and without introducing restrictions on the design feature of the timepiece.

Abstract: To reduce power consumption by operating hands only when needed. By operating to depress a mode changeover switch, a second hand is moved selectively to a hand operation start time setting mode (WAKE) position, a hand operation stop time setting mode (SLEEP) and an alarm time setting mode (ALARM) position. Hand operation stop time, hand operation start time and alarm time are set by setting an hour/minute hand to desired time by operating to depress a time setting switch in a state in which the second hand is disposed at the respective setting mode positions. When the hand setting stop time arrives, operation of the time hands is stopped and when the hand operation start time arrives, the time hands are fed fast to regular time and thereafter, normal time indicating operation is carried out.

Abstract: A hand rotational position detection device of a watch includes a light emitting part, a reflection face which is formed on a second support body which faces a first support body in an opposed manner with a gap G defined therebetween and on which light from the light emitting part is obliquely incident, a light receiving part which is mounted at a position spaced apart from the light emitting part so as to receive light obliquely reflected on the reflection face, and a disc like rotary body which is arranged in the gap defined between the first and the second support bodies and includes an opening which opens an incident optical path Pi leading from the light emitting part to the reflection face and a reflection optical path leading from the reflection face to the light receiving part when the disc-like rotary body assumes a first rotational position with respect to the first support body, wherein when the disc-like rotary body is at the first rotational position, an imaginary line which connects the incident

Abstract: To provide a hand motion irregularity suppressed timepiece whose ability has been improved. As to a spring having a flat portion and a bent portion, the flat portion is disposed between a second chronograph wheel and a center wheel, and the bent portion is sandwiched and supported under a pressurized state by a train wheel bridge and a bottom plate. By this, the spring portion prevents a hand motion irregularity of the second chronograph wheel by the fact that the second chronograph wheel is pressure-contacted with the train wheel bridge. Further, by forming a gap between the second chronograph wheel and the center wheel, an accompanying rotation between the second center wheel and the center wheel is prevented.

Abstract: The apparatus includes at least one information storing unit (23), a unit (25) for processing said information, a management and control unit (20) receiving control signals from the processing unit (25) and a supply unit (27) controlled by said management unit and controlling the movement of said two stepping motors (24;26) above a dial bearing markings Ri representative of said information.

Abstract: To provide a hand position detecting apparatus capable of accurately detecting that a hand reaches a predetermined position and an electronic timepiece using the same.

Abstract: To provide a hand position detecting device capable of suppressing the rotation of hand wheels necessary to detect the initial positions of the hand wheels to a minimum, also, an electronic timepiece provided with this device. In a hand position detecting device of a hand position setting device of an electronic timepiece, light from a light-emitting device is made to obliquely hit reflective surface on an hour wheel via an aperture for passage of incident light when a minute wheel and the hour wheel reach given positions, the aperture being in the minute wheel. Reflected light Br produced by oblique reflection of the incident light at the reflective surface is detected by a light-receiving device via an aperture for passage of reflected light, the aperture being in the minute wheel.

Abstract: A timepiece (1) comprises communication means (2) and hand haft control means (19), executes function processing on the basis of information acquired from an external apparatus via the communication means (2), and controls operation of respective hand shaft blocks (28, 29, 30) of the timepiece (1) via the hand shaft control means (19), so that a variety of information can be displayed under various assignments and in a display mode optionally designated by the external apparatus.

Abstract: Watch movement comprising a housing (26, 28, 30, 32, 34) and a gear train, formed from a series of spindles (36, 38, 40, 42), pivotably mounted on the housing, of which a first of said spindles (42) is provided with a shank (42a), for fixing a first hand (16) and a second of said spindles (50) is provided with a cylinder (50b), arranged co-axially to said shank, for fixing a second hand (20). According to the invention, the second spindle (50) is rotationally mounted on said housing (34) by means of a ball bearing (54).

Abstract: Timepiece including an analogue display (12, 36) arranged such that the hour hand completes one revolution in twelve hours. This analogue display is associated with a coaxial disc (10) driven so as to complete one revolution in twenty-four hours in the same direction as the hour hand. The visible surface (14) of the disc visually defines two half-discs arranged to indicate AM-PM or day-night information relating to the displayed time.

Abstract: The apparatus of timepieces which provide an unobstructed central area of a permanent opaque face for enhanced display of artwork, logos, holograms, text, designs and/or pictures which enables the wearer to discern the time.

Abstract: A time keeping device of an electric timepiece comprising one motor that can rotate in the forward direction and the reverse direction, a branch mechanism, and a plurality of wheel trains that are branched by the branch mechanism, wherein the motor is rotated in the forward direction to drive one wheel train thereby to carry out a mechanical display, and is rotated in the reverse direction to drive the other wheel train thereby to carry out another mechanical display. The time keeping device further comprises a merge mechanism in addition to the branch mechanism, and a plurality of wheel trains that are branched by the branch mechanism and are merged by the merge mechanism. The motor is rotated in the forward direction to drive one wheel train thereby to carry out a mechanical display, and is rotated in the reverse direction to drive the other wheel train thereby to carry out another mechanical display.

Abstract: A timepiece is disclosed allowing a reading of a first conventional time information by means of first analogue display means including a dial (5) and hours (4a) and minutes (4b) indicator members driven by a movement of the timepiece, this timepiece including second analogue display means allowing a simultaneous reading of second time information based on a decimal system wherein time is divided at least into thousandths of a day. The second analogue display means include the dial and the minutes indicator member in addition to complementary analogue display means (4a, 7; 4a, 7*; 4a, 8; 4c, 9; 4c, 9*; 4c, 10; 11, 12) indicating at least approximate decimal values (71; 81; 91; 101; 111) of the full hours expressed in thousandths of a day.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece (100) is provided that has indicator hands capable of providing various indications. The electronic timepiece with indicator hands, characterized by comprising a time hand (101, 102) indicative of time, first and second indicator hands (103, 104) separately provided from the time hand (101, 102), and drive means for reciprocally rotating the first and second indicator hands (103, 104) in opposite directions to each other within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A sequential control method for a display assembly including two superposed, respectively top (22; 46) and bottom (24; 48), display devices, the top display device (22; 46) including at least a liquid crystal display cell (26, 28; 50) and being arranged so as to be transparent in a first state to make the bottom display device (24; 48) visible, and so as to display a data item and to be opaque and reflective and to mask at least partially the bottom display device (24; 48) in a second state, control means supplying a control voltage to cause the top display device (22; 46) to pass from the first state to the second state and vice versa, characterised in that the display assembly is made to enter an operating state in which the top display device (22; 46) automatically switches into the state in which it is transparent or into the state in which it is opaque and reflective, so that the display assembly passes alternately from a mode displaying data via the top display device (22; 46) to a mode displaying data

Abstract: A watch has a digital or analogue time display and a device for displaying Chinese depictions by means of a display element. The said display element is provided in particular to display the twelve Chinese life symbols (5) and is designed such that it visually reveals one life symbol in each case for a time period of two hours, the respectively visible depiction (5) correlating with a specific time display.

Abstract: To improve poor operability of attaching and detaching an hour hand when an hour hand having large moment of inertia is attached to a cylindrical portion of an hour wheel, an analog electronic timepiece of the invention is provided with a rotor, a second wheel & pinion decelerated to rotate based on rotation of the rotor, a center wheel & pinion decelerated to rotate based on rotation of the second wheel & pinion and an hour wheel decelerated to rotate based on rotation of the center wheel & pinion. The second wheel & pinion includes a cylindrical portion, the center wheel & pinion includes a cylindrical portion and the hour wheel includes a shaft portion. The second wheel & pinion, the center wheel & pinion and the hour wheel are coaxially rotated.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece with indicator hands (100) having indicator hands capable of providing a variety of indications and capable of preventing unstable operation due to irregular movement of the indicator hand, which comprises: time hands (101, 102) showing time; first and second indicator hands (103, 104) provided separately from said time hands (101, 102); rotation means for reciprocally rotating said first and second indicator hands (103, 104) in directions opposite to each other within a predetermined range; and restricting means for restricting the range in which said first and second indicator hands (103, 104) can move. Where the indicator hands (103, 104) are rotating toward an outside of a restriction range due to impact or the like, the rotation is restricted by the restricting means.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece has an operating member supported to undergo reciprocal movement and a drive mechanism for driving the operating member to undergo reciprocal movement. A restricting mechanism for restricting movement of the operating member in a preselected moving range. A controller controls the drive mechanism to correct a shift in the preselected moving range of the operating member.

Abstract: An internet watch in accordance with the present invention further comprises a beat hand 4 to indicate internet time and a beat dial 5 mounted on the circumferential outside of the watch having an hour hand 1, a minute hand 2, and a second hand 3, thereby the internet watch can indicate internet time in addition to Standard time on the basis of GMT. The beat dial 5 is marked with 1000 beats with a day being divided into 1000 equal parts in internet time. The best dial 5 is assembled to be rotatable so that the internet time can be adjusted when the user travels in a region where a different standard time is applied. The beat hand 4 which rotates once a day and the beat dial 5 on which 1000 beats are marked facilitate to get internet time easily without conversion to the standard time based on GMT, which is variable according to the longitude.

Abstract: A watch (1) allows the identification and the division of three time periods over a day and comprises a dial (2); a hand member (3) having a movable pointing end (15); and a path (12), with respect to wich said movable pointing end (15) is moved, which is provided with an initial position (13; 13a) and a final position (13; 13b), wherein the run time of said path (12), from the initial position (13; 13a) to the final position (13; 13b), of said movable pointing end (15) is of eight hours, said watch (1) comprising identification means (18, 19; 20, 21, 22) of an 8-hour period corresponding to said path (12), capable of displaying three different time states (WT, FT, NT).

Abstract: The invention concerns electronic chronograph watches which include a central hour hand (3), a central minute hand (4) and a small off-central second hand (6) for permanently indicating the current time, chronograph hands (7, 8, 9) for indicating a measured time when the watch is operating in chronograph mode, drive units for driving said hands and generator means responding to manual control means (P1, P2, 10) to apply control pulses to said drive units. According to the invention, the watch also includes a central second hand (5) driven by its own drive unit and the generator means include means for selectively applying the control pulses to this drive unit, so that the central second hand indicates the seconds of the current time, in phase with the small off-center second hand (6), when the watch is operating normally and the measured seconds when the watch is operating in chronograph mode.

Abstract: A timepiece has an ordinary time measuring section including an ordinary time display unit for measuring an ordinary time and time information (i.e., chronograph) measuring sections including chronograph displays for measuring time information other than the ordinary time (i.e., chronograph information). The timepiece is configured such that the ordinary time display unit and the chronograph display units, are disposed on a display surface of the timepiece without overlapping each other.

Abstract: A method for maintaining the accuracy of time while viewing the standard hour, minute and seconds in a direction counter-clockwise to that of all normal clocks and/or watches, comprising the steps of setting the clock time on the normal correct hour and minute initially, with subsequent observation of movement of both the Hour hand, Minute hand and seconds indicator moving from a 12 O'Clock position towards the left positioning of each subsequent chronological time indicating feature, i.e. 1 O'Clock Hour position Mark and back to the 12 O'Clock Hour position mark in a continuous counter-clockwise time-keeping motion. The design of this clock complies with the requirements of a single claim as defined in 37 CFR □ 1.153 and the patent is requested to protect the utility of this article under (35 U.S.C. 101) and its ornamental looks under (35 U.S.C. 171).

Abstract: An electronic timepiece with indicator hands having indicator hands capable of providing a variety of indications and capable of preventing unstable movement of the indicator hands, which comprises time hands (101, 102) for showing a time, first and second indicator hands (103, 104) provided separately from said time hands (101, 102), rotating means for reciprocally rotating said first and second indicator hands (103, 104) in directions opposite to each other within a predetermined range, and restricting means for restricting a movable range and capable of adjusting a restricting position of said first and second indicator hands (103, 104). Jumping of hands or the like of the first and second indicator hands (103, 104) due to impact or the like is restricted by the restricting means. Further, where there is a fear that the first and second indicator hands (103, 104) stop in a non-rotatable range, the restricting means is adjusted to change the movable range of the first and second indicator hand (103, 104).

Abstract: A functional commemorative timepiece to memorialize an event such as a birth, marriage or the like has a first and second set of pointers. The first set of pointers are under a crystal and move across a dial for indicating the current time of day. The second set of pointers are stationary and are attached to the crystal for indicating the hour and minute at which the event to be memorialized occurred. There is a bezel around the crystal with a legend indicating the event being memorialized and a festoon may be provided with markings correlated with the legend.

Abstract: A wearable mobile computing device/appliance (e.g., a wrist watch) with a high resolution display that is capable of wirelessly accessing information from the network and a variety of other devices. The mobile computing device/appliance includes a user interface that includes software mechanisms for enabling watchface orientation in either of: circular and elliptical modes, and further to enable the further display of textual content in remaining portions of the display when in either circular and elliptical mode.

Abstract: In an electronic device having a solar cell and a unit driven by a power generated by the solar cell, the solar cell 10 includes a transparent substrate 12; a plurality of conductive portions 14a to 14d provided around the transparent substrate 12 and connected in series; and a plurality of photocells 18, each having a thin-line shape, formed at proper intervals on the transparent substrate 12 and connected to the conductive portions 14a to 14d. By forming a transparent electrode film 80 on the transparent substrate 12 and by connecting the transparent electrode film 80 to the ground, an adverse influence of static electricity is prevented.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a timepiece such as, in particular, a wristwatch, including a watch movement, a running equation of time device, as well as a date mechanism, this timepiece having a pair of hour (22) and minute (24) hands which indicate the civil time, and an additional minute hand (28) which indicates the true time, the daily position of the true time minute hand (28) with respect to the civil time minute hand (24) being determined by the position of an equation of time cam (32) driven in rotation at the rate of one revolution per year by a date mechanism, characterized in that the true time minute hand (28) is driven by a differential gear (50) which has for respective power take-off a gear train (52) driving the civil time minute hand (24) and a transmission member which co-operates with the equation of time cam (32) to transmit the pivoting movement of said cam (32) to the input of the differential gear.

Abstract: The invention concerns a timekeeping clock wherein on the axis of a mobile counter completing a cycle in 11 seconds is mounted a transparent disc (42) bearing (11) radial markers (44). The dial positioned beneath the disc (41) provides a marking in the form of a marker circle (40) with (10) radial markers (41) numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. At each step of the mobile disc successive alignments occur between a marker of the disc (42) and a marker of the ring (40) thereby enabling tenths of seconds elapsed to be displayed anticlockwise.

Abstract: An electronic watch with a meter function, capable of a multifunctional display, wherein the dial of the watch is divided into a data display region and a mode display region and the area for displaying the mode, and the area for displaying functional quantities are increased to make the graduations easier to read, with one hand indicating a data display region for data corresponding to physical quantities, and one hand indicating the mode region.

Abstract: To reduce power consumption by operating hands only when needed. By operating to depress a mode changeover switch, a second hand is moved selectively to a hand operation start time setting mode (WAKE) position, a hand operation stop time setting mode (SLEEP) and an alarm time setting mode (ALARM) position. Hand operation stop time, hand operation start time and alarm time are set by setting an hour/minute hand to desired time by operating to depress a time setting switch in a state in which the second hand is disposed at the respective setting mode positions. When the hand setting stop time arrives, operation of the time hands is stopped and when the hand operation start time arrives, the time hands are fed fast to regular time and thereafter, normal time indicating operation is carried out.

Abstract: The invention provides a self-powered timepiece including a housing; a lenticular panel mounted in the housing; a high-efficiency, battery-powered drive means having a cam; time-indicating means movable by the drive means, and a lightweight indicia carrier disposed inside the housing in close proximity to the panel, the carrier being displaceable by the cam in relation to the panel. The invention further provides a self-powered timepiece including a housing; a high-efficiency, battery-powered drive means; a lenticular panel coupled to the drive means; time-indicating means movable by the drive means, and a lightweight indicia carrier disposed inside the housing in close proximity to the panel, the panel being displaceable by the drive means in relation to the indicia carrier.

Abstract: A first (5) of the indicators and a first pipe (1) form part of an angular position indicating moving part (MR1) carrying a plate (9) co-operating with a first sensor (11) for generating a position signal for said indicator as a result of discontinuities in the material of said plate. A second display indicator (6) coaxial to said first indicator is coupled to a second angular position indicating moving part (MR2). The latter, which is mounted at a distance from the first moving part, is in a meshing relationship with a second pipe (2) carrying said second indicator. This second moving part carries a second plate (18) co-operating with a second sensor (20), for generating a position signal for said second indicator as a result of discontinuities in the material of said second plate.

Abstract: A timepiece is disclosed allowing a reading of a first conventional time information by means of first analogue display means including a dial (5) and hours (4a) and minutes (4b) indicator members driven by a movement of the timepiece, this timepiece including second analogue display means allowing a simultaneous reading of second time information based on a decimal system wherein time is divided at least into thousandths of a day. The second analogue display means include the dial and the minutes indicator member in addition to complementary analogue display means (4a, 7; 4a, 7*; 4a, 8; 4c, 9; 4c, 9*; 4c, 10; 11, 12) indicating at least approximate decimal values (71; 81; 91; 101; 111) of the full hours expressed in thousandths of a day.

Abstract: A center wheel & pinion of a wheel train is formed so that high load is applied to the wheel train when a minute hand stands at twelve o'clock. A pulse control circuit outputs a normal driving pulse. When a motor does not rotate by the normal driving pulse, the pulse control circuit outputs a first auxiliary driving pulse. Further, when the motor does not rotate by the first auxiliary driving pulse, the pulse control circuit outputs a second auxiliary driving pulse. The motor 6 normally rotates by the normal driving pulse or the first auxiliary driving pulse or rotates by the second auxiliary driving pulse when the high load is applied to the wheel train, i.e., when the minute hand stands at twelve o'clock. A pointer position detecting circuit judges that the minute hand stands at twelve o'clock when it receives the P3 output signal from the pulse control circuit, i.e., when the second auxiliary driving pulse is outputted from the pulse control circuit.

Abstract: In a time measurement device (1000) having, at least, both a function of measuring standard time and a function of measuring any elapsed time, when a predetermined amount of time passes from a temporary suspension of a watch hand in position in the middle of the measurement of the elapsed time, the suspension of the watch hand is automatically released and the watch hand is driven to a watch hand position indicating the elapsed time. Provided thereby is the time measurement device which automatically releases the temporary suspension state in time measurement after the predetermined amount of time, thereby shortening the temporary suspension time and reducing power consumed to drive the watch hand to an originally expected watch hand position at the release of the temporary suspension.

Abstract: To reduce electric power consumed during the operation of adjusting the indication of time and reduce the time required for the time adjusting operation. Using a second hand driving motor and a hour/minute hand driving motor both capable of rotating in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the indication of time is adjusted by driving the second hand driving motor and the hour/minute hand driving motor at times different from each other. The hand driving method (hand driving direction) is determined on the basis of the time elapsed during the power saving mode measured by a time information adjusting part such that the hands are driven in a direction which results in a reduction in the power consumption or the adjusting time.

Abstract: Timepieces, in a single-housed, single-crystal design, constructed to provide an unobstructed central area of the face for enhanced display of artwork, logos, holograms, designs and/or pictures.

Abstract: A watch having a watch face comprising an analog 12-hour display which displays a 24-hour day in an ambiguous manner using an hour hand and a minute hand, and an additional display which is used to determine the time indicated by the hour and minute hands and has two distinguishable symbols which are visible in said additional display separately from each other and change approximately every 12 hours. The invention is characterized in that the distinguishable symbols are configured as day and night symbols in such a way that they can be unambiguously interpreted as such by anyone and that the change-over from the night symbol to the day symbol occurs at 6 a.m. and the change-over from the day symbol to the night symbol at 6 p.m. either suddenly and precise to the second or over a period of time which can be observed dynamically so that there is never any doubt as to the time being shown.

Abstract: A multifunction electronic analog timepiece includes a face and a plurality of indicators positioned on the face for displaying at least two time keeping functions. At least two step motors are provided for driving the plurality of time keeping function indicators. The time keeping function indicators are arbitrarily disposed about the face dependent upon the number of step motors and position of step motors required to drive the indicators. A microcomputer is provided and includes a program memory for storing software instructions for controlling the step motors.