The power generated by a power generating means (1) of a power-generating type electronic clock is measured by a first power generating sensing means (101) and a second power generating sensing means (102). The power generation level required when the operation is changed from a normal mode to a power-saving mode and the power generation level required when the operation is changed from the power-saving mode back to the normal mode are made different to prevent the phenomenon that the operation ...

When a time keeping apparatus is in a power saving mode, performing time display is stopped, and the apparatus periodically receives a time data from outside and sets the data to a second time counter 98 and an hour-and-minute time counter 99. When the operation mode of the time keeping apparatus is switched from the power saving mode to the display mode, the apparatus resumes to display the current time based on the counted values in the second time counter 98 and the hour and minute time count...

An electronic module for regulation of a watch movement with mechanical winding includes a generator (1) permitting converting the mechanical energy supplied by the mechanical watch movement into a measuring signal (G+;G-) and an electronic circuit (11) supplied by the generator. The electronic circuit includes an energy dissipation circuit (9) permitting applying at least two separate braking couples more than zero to the generator (1). The electronic circuit (11) also includes a counter to con...

Watch movement in which the rotor of a generator (10, 11, 13) is driven by a spring over a plurality of wheels (51, 61, 71) and pinions (50, 60, 70), the operation of the generator being regulated by an electronic regulating circuit (81). Said wheels and pinions are all electrically grounded to avoid spark discharges which can be produced by the charging of voltages through frictional electricity.

A watch is disclosed that includes a color changing feature that is created by using two polarized lenses, one of which is stationary, the other of which would rotate around a central axis. The presence of the two polarized lenses would create a display of color that would change depending on the orientation of one lens to the other. This design, with its central axis and circular shape, lends itself to be readily used on the face of a watch. This watch would then have the unique feature of a co...

An electronic device in which a braking torque can be increased while reduction in power generation is suppressed, and in which a rotor is prevented from stopping or rotating at an excessive speed. Such an electronic device includes a generator which is driven by an mechanical energy source and a rotation controller which controls the rotational period of the generator. The rotation controller includes two switches which connect both terminals of the generator in the form of a closed loop, a cho...

An analog electronic timepiece has a rotor mounted to undergo rotation. A first indicator wheel has a first cylindrical portion and undergoes rotation in accordance with rotation of the rotor. A second indicator wheel is coaxial with the first indicator wheel and undergoes rotation in accordance with rotation of the first indicator wheel. The second indicator wheel has a second cylindrical portion extending through the first cylindrical portion of the first indicator wheel. A third indicator whe...

A power-generation detection circuit for detecting a power-generation state by an AC voltage supplied from a power-generation device including a capacitor, and switching element, a resistor, and an inverter circuit which controls the charging of the capacitor by a power-generation device. The switching element is switched by the AC voltage from the power-generation device. The voltage of the capacitor is detected by the inverter circuit thereby performing power-generation detection.

To provide an electronic unit which can prevent brake control from stopping a generator. An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece, which is an electronic unit, includes a generator 2 driven by a coil spring 1 to generate electric power, and a rotation control unit 50 driven by electric energy of the generator to control the rotation period of the generator 2. The rotation control unit 50 is provided with a brake control unit 55 for comparing a reference signal fs with a rotation-detecti...

A coupling device (1) between a source of mechanical energy (2) and a generator of electrical energy (3) comprises an arbor (4) driven by said source of mechanical energy, a cylindrical element (5) fixedly and coaxially mounted on the arbor, a tube (6) surmounting said cylindrical element arranged to rotate freely about said arbor and drive said generator. A helical spring (7) is friction-fitted on the cylindrical element and on the tube by its first turns (8) and last turns (9) respectively. A ...