Citizen Watch Company, Ltd.

Masamichi Yamauchi

Makoto Yoshida

Yasuaki Nakayama

Hisashi Kawahara

Tadashi Hanaoka

Hideyuki Kawashima

Yoshifumi Mochizuki

Mituo Oooka

Yasuhiro Imai

Choken Suzuki

LCD having light interceptive members for shielding light from external

An illumination level/musical tone converter is described which is suitable for incorporation into a miniature electronic device such as an electronic wristwatch, whereby the pitch of musical notes emitted by an acoustic output device can be varied as desired by the user varying the amount of illumination reaching a light sensor, e.g. by partially shading the sensor using a finger. Melodies can be composed in this way, and means can be provided for memorizing such melodies, which can be subsequently reproduced, e.g. to provide an audible alarm indication.

Illumination level/musical tone converter

An electronic timepiece is provided with a correction signal generating system for producing correction pulses to modify current time or other data. The system includes a rotary switch, coupled to a timepiece crown to be rotated thereby and having a plurality of fixed and movable contacts, with the number of movable contacts being less than the number of fixed contacts, and circuit means for producing a train of correction pulses from either of two output terminals in accordance with the direction of rotation of the timepiece crown. Correction pulses from one of these output terminals serves to increment the quantity being corrected, while correction pulses from the other output terminal serve to decrement that quantity. Gearing may be provided between the crown and the switch rotor, to increase the maximum rate of generation of correction pulses.

Correction signal generating system for an electronic timepiece

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, said display segments serving as means for displaying additional data, and switching means for enabling said second display means to display said additional data.

Digital electronic timepiece

An adjustable circuit for an electronic timepiece including a crystal oscillator, a frequency divider circuit, a display and a controlable means for increasing and decreasing the output frequency of the frequency divider circuit. The increasing and decreasing means includes a digital adder and a digital subtractor and a plurality of controlable gates for enabling the digital adder or subtractor to increase or decrease the output frequency of the frequency divider.

Adjustable circuit for an electronic timepiece

An electronic watch having an illuminating time display is provided with a switch for controlling the illumination which is operable controlled movement of the arm on which the watch is carried. A closed casing in the watch is provided with electrical contacts and a ball which will engage the contacts to close the watch upon predetermined movement of the arm.

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Tanashi, Japan

Masamichi Yamauchi