The back cover of the case is provided with positioning means which determine more or less precisely the location where means external to the case must be placed in order to actuate each control mechanism. Such positioning means may for example take the form of grooves at the bottom of each of which is located a control mechanism and into which may be introduced a portion of the securing element of the bracelet. It might likewise comprise protuberances or portions in relief or cavities of more complex form, the remaining parts forming guide means for guiding the external actuating means toward such positioning means. This invention concerns electronic watches having a system of operating controls located in the back cover of their cases. The term "system of operating controls" here designates all or part of the mechanisms or components which are available to the user in order to permit him to accomplish time setting of the watch and eventually to exercise control over supplementary functions which such watch may be capable of accomplishing, as for instance that of a calendar or alarm. Naturally this definition does not exclude cases where the system is limited to a single mechanism. This may happen when the watch is of a simple nature and intended to indicate only hours and minutes, or because it is capable of responding differently according to whether one actuates the mechanism during a very short interval or relatively long interval, or more or less frequently during a predetermined time interval.

An improved command and/or set switch for digital type electronic watches which require operation of the command switch to view the display or operation of the set switch for setting the time, comprises a conducting pin extending through an opening in the side of the watch casing towards the interior module contact. A single O-ring provides a seal for the pin within the opening. A spring conductor in the form of a flat band is disposed internally of the casing and makes continuous electrical contact with the casing, this spring also biasing the pin outwardly or away from the internal module contact. With this arrangement, depression of the pin into the casing causes the inner end of the pin to electrically engage the module contact and complete a circuit from the contact through the pin and spring to the casing. The spring not only serves as the conducting medium but also as a shock absorber for the module of the casing.

A digital watch having an elastomer spacer block which houses the watch batteries, the oscillator crystal, and the substrate with its electronics and optical display elements mounted thereon; all in the same cavity. Said digital watch also has a flexible printed circuit which contacts the batteries and electrically connects them to the watch electronics. The flexible printed circuit is also used to turn on and to set the time by grounding the contact on the printed circuit to the case.

A recessed push button in the back of an electronic watch is sealed and returned to its normal position by a resilient O-ring gasket, and retained in a recessed opening in the watch case by a spring retaining clip. The clip has a keyhole slot transversely slidable around a groove in the push button stem, with a retaining tab locking the clip in position. A first conductive member maintains contact with the clip, holding it in position, and a second conductive member is spaced from and contacted by the clip when the push button is depressed.

A miniature electronic device, an example of which being an electronic watch, includes a printed circuit board which is mounted in a case and which has an aperture. A battery extends into the aperture forming a substantially coplanar assembly of exceptionally small thickness. The printed circuit board also features the use of circuit paths disposed on the peripheral edge to connect selected circuit paths which are disposed on upper and lower surface of the printed circuit board. An alternative embodiment of the printed circuit board features the use of a digit drives chip mounted directly on top of an integrated circuit watch clip with wire bonds leading from selected pads on the digit drives chip to selected pads on the integrated circuit watch chip and to selected circuit paths on the printed circuit board.