Ebauches Electroniques S.a.

Ebauches S.a.

Claude Mutrux

Jean-Claude Fatton

Jean-Pierre Calame

An electronic timepiece comprising a rate correction circuit for modifying the number of time base pulses received by the frequency divider during a predetermined period of time by a predetermined number of correction pulses. The rate correction circuit is arranged to divide said period of time into a given number of sub-periods and to distribute correction pulses substantially and equally over these sub-periods.

Electronic timepiece having a digital frequency correction circuit

The watch comprises an oscillator, a frequency divider, display means capable of displaying at least hours and minutes, and a correction circuit controlled by a rotary time setting stem which is capable of assuming at least two axial positions, one being a rest position which is occupied by the stem when the watch is functioning normally and an operative position for jointly correcting the minutes display and the hours display. The correction circuit is so arranged as to provide for correction of hours display alone in response to a particular rotary movement of the stem in its rest position. This particular rotary movement may comprise, in regard to the stem, rotating at least through a minimum angle in a time interval which is less than a predetermined period, for example at least two revolutions in less than two seconds. The minutes and hours displays are changed and the hours display is corrected in the forward direction or the backward direction depending on the direction of rotation of the stem.

Electronic watch

The invention relates to an electronic timepiece in which an input terminal of the integrated circuit is used as an output terminal. During the manufacturing of the timepiece it is important to check the running of the frequency of the oscillator and the operation of at least part of the frequency divider chain. However, in a timepiece, the places available for obtaining measurements could be very limited, and the timepiece does not generally have an output terminal adapted to connect the signal to be measured to an external counter. The purpose of the invention is to utilize an already existing input terminal as an output terminal for permitting a precise and rapid checking of the frequency of the oscillator by measuring, on that terminal, a signal of intermediate frequency delivered by the frequency divider chain. A decoupling circuit permits the terminal to be utilized as an output terminal because it is arranged such that a logic signal delivered to its input is transmitted to its output to the exclusion of the signal of intermediate frequency.

Electronic timepiece in which an input terminal of the integrated

The invention relates to an electronic timepiece provided with an electroacoustic transducer for transmitting acoustic signals to indicate a time of alarm, and also for receiving information in the form of acoustic signals to control different functions of the timepiece. Coded acoustic information is delivered to the transducer, for example, by a special apparatus intended for that purpose, and serve to control different functions of the timepiece through a watch and transducer control logic network. The logic network is interconnected with the frequency divider chain, a display control circuit, and a transducer. The logic network includes a selector which connects the transducer either to the output of an alarm logic circuit for delivering alarm signals to the transducer at the time of alarm, or to a transducer detector for transmitting the electrical signals delivered by the transducer acting as a microphone to a watch logic circuit. The watch logic circuit, in turn, controls the alarm logic circuit, the frequency divider chain, and the display control circuit of the timepiece.

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Cernier, Switzerland

Claude Mutrux