The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 1976
Filed:
May. 30, 1974
Yasuhiko Nishikubo, Iruma, JA;
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JA;
Abstract
An electronic timepiece with a crystal-controlled oscillator includes a multistage frequency divider and a CMOS switching circuit inserted between the oscillator and the first divider stage. The switching circuit comprises two complementary MOSFETs, with insulated gates connected in parallel to an output lead of the oscillator, and at least one further MOSFET in series with the other two, the latter having an insulated gate connected to another output lead of the oscillator for energization in staggered relationship with the former to bring about simultaneous conduction for one brief instant per half-cycle of the generally sinusoidal oscillator voltage. With an oscillator operating at a frequency on the order of megahertz, the divider stages may form part of an upstream and a downstream frequency divider connected in cascade; the upstream divider may consist of nonbinary stages with individual step-down ratios of 3:1 or higher to minimize overall power consumption.