A timed chime system wherein the minute timer of a clock mechanism generates a start chime signal every half hour. The start chime signal is applied to turn on a power switch to apply power to the elements of the chime system and to set system components to begin a chime cycle. In response to the start chime signal, the hour timer of the clock mechanism operates a coder to generate a BCD count signal corresponding to the position of the hour hand of the clock. The BCD count signal is then applied to set a particular hour count in a programmable counter and a chime tone circuit is activated to generate a number of Bim-Bam audio tones. As each Bim-Bam audio tone is generated, the programmable counter is decremented by one and, when the counter is decremented to zero, the chime system is reset. After a particular time delay, the power switch is operated to turn off system power.

An actuating element for the manual adjustment of a clock comprises a rotating collar face which is arranged around the time indicating device of the clock. In a mechanical or electromechanical clock, the rotating movement of the rotating collar face is transmitted through gearing to the dial train of the clock. In an electronic clock pulse-producing elements are arranged on the collar and pulse-receiving elements are fixed in the clock to produce individual pulses or pulse trains which can be counted in according to the backward counting input of the time storage which is in operative connection with the indicating element of the clock.

An analogue electronic alarm timepiece has a dial on which time is displayed by the usual hour, minute and second hands. The time for which the alarm is set is displayed digitally in an aperture provided in the dial. The digital display of the alarm time is effected by means of a rotatable hour wheel having hour indicia thereon and a rotatable minute wheel having minute indicia. The hour wheel and minute wheel are selectively rotatable by manual operation of an external stem. The hour wheel and minute wheel are magnetically and electronically coupled with alarm time memory means. Time counting means is electronically connected with a dividing circuit which divides a standard signal produced by an oscillator and to which a motor for driving the hands is also connected. The alarm is activated by a coincidence circuit when the time of the time counting means coincides with the time for which the alarm time memory means is set. Means is provided for synchronizing the time counting circuit with the hands.

An analogue alarm electronic timepiece has electronic circuitry for controlling the drive of the time-indicating hands by a reversible stepping motor to selectively position the hands at desired alarm time and display time settings. Externally operable switches control the operation of the electronic circuitry and enable re-positioning of the hands by the motor to the previously set alarm time so that the user of the timepiece may confirm the alarm time setting. The electronic circuit includes a first settable memory means for storing the time difference between the alarm time and the present time, and a second settable memory means for storing the time difference between the present time and the display time. First means are provided for detecting coincidences between the alarm time and the present time. Second means are provided for detecting coincidence between the present time and the display time.

An electronic timepiece has an optical display device for displaying time in digits and an alarm time indicator for setting an alarm time in terms of the position of a pointer. The position of the pointer is electronically detected and is applied as alarm time data to a time counting circuit. When current time is coincident with the alarm time set by the pointer, the alarm is given.