A multistage counter 3, 5, 7, 10 normally counts seconds pulses from a frequency divider 2. Counters 5 and 7 are units and tens minutes counters and are set by shifting a counter 21 by button B to provide a "1" on output 21d. When a button A is then held down the seconds pulses pass through gates 17 and 22 and count the units counter 5 up to the numeral 0. A flip-flop 19, 26 is then set to disable gate 22 and enable gate 23 so that the units counter stays at the numeral 0 and the tens counter advances to the desired value, when button A is released, which resets the flip-flop. Button A is pressed again to count the units counter from the numeral 0 to the desired value. The invention in one embodiment simplifies the setting of a digital watch and reduces the time (number of pulses) needed to preset the units and tens of minutes counters. The invention can be extended to more than two counters and used for counters other than in clocks and watches.

An electronic timepiece having a pair of touch-sensitive electrostatic capacitance switches which must be actuated in a predetermined sequence to enable setting of time, etc. to be performed. Setting and selection of quantity to be set are thereafter conducted by actuating said switches.

A method and circuit for selecting a function of a watch. A predetermined number and a predetermined sequence of electrical code signals are user generated by two switches which are located on the watch. The code signals correspond to at least one function of the watch. The sequence of code signals is stored and the code signals occurring within a predetermined time period are counted. The count of the code signals occurring within the predetermined time period is compared to the predetermined number and the stored sequence of code signals are decoded only when the count of the code signals equals the predetermined number within the predetermined time period.

A portable electronic device with calculation and timekeeping functions, equipped with a keyboard for calculation and time setting purposes, means for producing scanning signals when a key is actuated, these signals being applied to switching elements connected to rows of keyboard contacts. When a key is depressed, the resultant high level signal potential applied to the corresponding contact row causes the row position to be detected and stored in a first memory circuit, which produces a signal causing the corresponding contact column to be detected and stored in a second memory circuit. Actuation of an external control member causes a signal to be stored by a reset signal in a first stage memory circuit which produces an output signal to be subsequently stored in a second stage memory circuit in synchronism with a timing signal. The low frequency and low duty cycle of the scanning signals and reset signal ensure minimized power consumption and suppression of switch bounce effects.

In a stopwatch of this invention, when a lap switch is operated after time measurement is started, a lap time from the immediately preceding lap switch operation to the current lap switch operation is stored and compared with a measurement time after the current lap switch operation. Since an alarm tone is generated if the measurement time after the current lap switch operation coincides with the stored lap time, the immediately preceding lap time can be used as a target time of the time measurement. The stopwatch can be conveniently used when a running speed is increased or decreased in each lap in a track race or the like.