Abstract:
An electronic timepiece includes a power generator that generates electric energy, a power storage that stores the electric energy, a capacity detector that detects remaining capacity of the power storage, an operation unit, an operation detector that detects a measurement display operation for instructing the operation unit to display a measurement time, and a capacity display operation for instructing the operation unit to display the remaining capacity, an indicating hand that is used in displaying the measurement time and the remaining capacity, a drive unit that drives the indicating hand, and displays the remaining capacity after moving the indicating hand so as to indicate a preset reference position.
Abstract:
A radio-controlled timepiece includes an oscillator circuit of which an oscillation condition can be varied by an oscillation condition adjustment circuit that adjusts an oscillation frequency, a frequency divider circuit that divides the oscillation frequency and generates a time measurement reference timing signal, a frequency adjustment circuit that adjusts the period of time measurement reference timing signal, a local oscillator circuit that uses the oscillation frequency as a reference frequency and outputs a local oscillation frequency, and a control circuit. The control circuit, when the radio-controlled timepiece is performing reception operations, causes the oscillation condition adjustment circuit to operate whereby the oscillation frequency is adjust to an optimal frequency for the local oscillator circuit and the variation setting value of the frequency adjustment circuit is set such that time measurement reference timing signal has a fixed period for normal operations and for reception operations.
Abstract:
A method is provided to authenticate a watch. The watch includes at least one processing and control circuit provided with a time base, hands to indicate a time, the hands being driven by a motorized device controlled by the processing and control circuit, and a device to store identification data. The method includes enabling at least one activation member of the watch, which is connected to the processing and control circuit, to change into watch authentication mode. The method includes operating an indicator device of the watch, which includes the hands, after enabling the activation member so that at least one of the hands is driven by the motorized device to be moved in succession into time indicating positions on a time-indicating dial to indicate successive digits or numbers of an identification code of at least one of a brand and a serial number of the watch to be authenticated.
Abstract:
The timing system for GPS has a week counter that recycles at intervals of about 20 years. The first recycling will occur on Aug. 22, 1999, producing a time ambiguity in GPS signals. The invention employs a count of leap seconds to resolve the ambiguity and extends the useability of GPS in its present format by more than a century.
Abstract:
A low power timekeeping system utilizes a state machine to first read seconds stored in a RAM and update seconds and then determine if the minutes requires updating. If the minutes do not require updating then the sequencer stops operation until the next update cycle. Similarly, the minutes, hours, days of the week, date of the month, month, and year are updated only as needed in each update cycle thereby lowering the power requirement needed by the timekeeping system.
Abstract:
A multiphase motor including a facially magnetized rotor having N/2 pairs of poles per face. The motor also includes a stator for each phase. Each stator has a first and second pair of polar pieces, each pair of polar pieces including internal and external substantially coplanar polar pieces interpositioned one within the other. The internal stator pieces of one phase of the motor are constructed with fractional stator poles, whereas all remaining stator poles are full. Each phase includes a core piece which has a first end connected to the internal polar pieces, and a second end connected to external polar pieces. Each core of each phase has a coil wound thereon. A motor constructed according to the invention prevents loss no magnetic flux from the magnetized rotor. This allows the motor to be highly energy efficient, and compact in size.
Abstract:
A compact, energy efficient motor having a rotor including N/2 pairs of rotor poles located about the periphery of the rotor, the rotor poles having alternating opposite polarities. The rotor is surrounded by a stator including stator poles concentric to the rotor. The motor is a multiphase motor, each phase including two polar pieces, an internal polar piece and an external polar piece, the polar pieces being interpositioned one within the other. One phase of the motor includes a polar piece having fractional stator poles. A motor constructed according to the invention has no loss of magnetic flux, because the magnetic flux generated by the magnetized rotor poles is always closed upon itself. This increases the efficiency of the motor, and allows high power output with compact size.
Abstract:
A method of controlling the operation of a recording apparatus for recording video and/or audio signals received in a television and/or radio receiver wherein a data carrier having one or more command tracks associated with a time track and preferably one or more information tracks, is marked by the user in the command tracks to identify programs to be recorded, and the data carrier is scanned along the or each command track in conformity with elapse of time during the day to generate signals for switching on the receiver and selecting the appropriate receiver channel. The invention also includes provision of a data carrier having said tracks. The invention also includes an apparatus comprising scanning means having sensors for sensor user markings in respective command tracks, and switch circuit means responsive to sensor output to switch on the receiver and select appropriate channels.
Abstract:
An electro-magnetic motor for a timepiece wherein the stator is formed of two pole pieces contacting the ends of a core traversing a coil. Both ends of the core and one end of each pole piece have notched portions with cross sections of the notched portions of the core being at least equal to the cross section of core as it passes through the coil and cross sections of the notched portions of the pole pieces being substantially equal to the cross sections of the notched portions of the core, so that the notched portions do not produce an increase in the resistance to the passage of magnetic flux through the core and pole pieces.
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.