Electronic timepiece

Abstract

An electronic timepiece which includes a time .[.reference.]. .Iadd.base .Iaddend.signal generator, which generates a signal which is used to count time, and is compensated in its frequency in order to have the predetermined frequency value regardless of variations in ambient temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic timepiece which is provided with a time reference signal having an output signal time count unit signal generator, a time counting mechanism and a time display mechanism, the electronic timepiece further comprising: a temperature signal generator for generating a temperature signal.[.said generator.]..Iadd., said temperature signal generator being timed to oscillate intermittently by the output signal of said timekeeping means and .Iaddend.including an oscillator circuit having an output different from that of said time reference signal generator, wherein the ratio of output oscillation frequencies changes with temperature variation;   means for transmitting said temperature signal intermittently .Iadd.in response to the output signal of said timekeeping means.Iaddend.;   memory means for storing the temperature signal generated by said temperature .Iadd.signal .Iaddend.generator .[.until a subsequent temperature signal is generated and for delivering said stored temperature signal when the subsequent temperature signal is received by the memory.]..Iadd., said memory means being controlled by the output signal of said timekeeping means so as to keep the temperature signal until a subsequent temperature signal is supplied; .Iaddend.   a signal converter for generating a temperature compensating signal .Iadd.in response to the temperature signal stored in said memory means.Iaddend., wherein said compensating signal compensates for the variations of the output frequency of said time reference signal generator caused by temperature variations; and   a time reference signal frequency variable controller for synthesizing the output signal of said time reference signal generator and that of said signal converter by compensating for the changes of the output frequency of said time reference signal generator caused by the temperature variations and for delivering a resultant signal to said time unit signal generator.   
     
     
       2. .[.The electronic timepiece of claim 1, wherein.]. .Iadd.An electronic timepiece which is provided with a time base signal generator, having a given output signal frequency, a time unit signal generator, a timekeeping means coupled to the output of said time unit signal generator and a time display means coupled to the output of said timekeeping means; the electronic timepiece further comprising: a temperature signal generator for generating a temperature signal, .Iaddend.said temperature signal generator .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.timed to oscillate intermittently by the output signal of said time count unit signal generator .Iadd.and including an oscillator circuit having an output signal of a frequency different in frequency from that of said time base signal generator, wherein the output oscillation frequency of said temperature signal generator changes with temperature variation;   means for transmitting said temperature signal intermittently in response to the output signal of said time unit signal generator;   memory means for storing the temperature signal generated by said temperature signal generator until a subsequent temperature signal is generated and for delivering said stored temperature signal when the subsequent temperature signal is received by the memory;   a signal converter for generating a temperature compensating signal in response to the temperature signal stored in said memory means, wherein said compensating signal compensates for variations of the output frequency of said time base signal generator caused by temperature variations; and   a time base signal frequency variable controller for synthesizing the output signal of said time base signal generator and that of said signal converter by compensating for changes of the output frequency of said time base signal generator caused by temperature variations and for delivering a resultant signal to said time unit signal generator. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       3. .[.The electronic timepiece of claim 1, wherein.]. .Iadd.An electronic timepiece which is provided with a time base signal generator, having a given output signal frequency, a time unit signal generator, a timekeeping means coupled to the output of said time unit signal generator and a time display means coupled to the output of said timekeeping means; the electronic timepiece further comprising: a temperature signal generator for generating a temperature signal, said generator including an oscillator circuit having an output signal of a frequency different in frequency from that of said time base signal generator, wherein the output oscillation frequency of said temperature signal generator changes with temperature variation;   means for transmitting said temperature signal intermittently;   memory means for storing the temperature signal generated by said temperature signal generator until a subsequent temperature signal is generated and for delivering said stored temperature signal when the subsequent temperature signal is received by the memory;   a signal converter for generating a temperature compensating signal in response to the temperature signal stored in said memory means, wherein said compensating signal compensates for variations of the output frequency of said time base signal generator caused by temperature variations; and   a time base signal frequency variable controller for synthesizing the output signal of said time base signal generator and that of said signal converter by compensating for changes of the output frequency of said time base signal generator caused by temperature variations and for delivering a resultant signal to said time unit signal generator; .Iaddend.   said temperature signal generator .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.timed to oscillate intermittently by the output signal from a timing control mechanism, which is driven by inputs from the time count unit signal generator and the time counting mechanism.Iadd.;   said means for transmitting said temperature signal intermittently in response to the output signal from said timing control circuit.Iaddend..   
     
     
       4. The electronic timepiece of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.3.Iaddend., wherein said time .[.reference.]. .Iadd.base .Iaddend.signal generator and said temperature signal generator are crystal oscillators including crystal vibrator elements, which differ from each other in frequency output caused by the temperature variations, .[.which results in changing frequency ratios.].. 
     
     
       5. The electronic timepiece of claim 4, wherein the vibrator elements of said crystal oscillator used as the time .[.reference.]. .Iadd.base .Iaddend.signal generator and of said crystal oscillator used as said temperature signal generator are enclosed in a common casing. 
     
     
       6. The electronic timepiece of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.3.Iaddend., wherein frequencies of two modes of oscillation are derived from a single reference vibrator element; one of the frequencies being used as a reference vibrator element of said time .[.reference.]. .Iadd.base .Iaddend.signal generator and the other as the reference vibrator of said temperature signal generator. 
     
     
       7. The electronic timepiece of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.3.Iaddend., wherein said temperature compensating signal generator includes EXCLUSIVE-OR gate which .[.intermittently.]. enables said time .[.count.]. unit signal generator. .Iadd. 8. An electronic timepiece having a time base signal generator to provide a time base signal of given frequency and having a given temperature-frequency characteristic, means for generating an output signal in response to said time base signal, a time unit signal generator, a timekeeping means coupled to the output of said time unit signal generator and time display means coupled to the output of said timekeeping means; the electronic timepiece further comprising: a temperature signal generator for generating a temperature signal, said temperature signal generator including an oscillator circuit having a predetermined temperature-frequency characteristic different from that of said time base signal generator and providing said temperature signal different in frequency from said time base signal, wherein an output oscillation frequency of said temperature signal generator changes with temperature variation;   compensating signal generating means for generating a compensating signal in response to said temperature signal; and   algebraical adding circuit means comprising logical circuit means for algebraically adding a frequency of said compensating signal to a frequency of said output signal to compensate for changes in a frequency of said time base signal caused by the temperature variations. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. An electronic timepiece according to claim 8, in which said temperature signal generator comprises a temperature sensing oscillator. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. An electronic timepiece according to claim 9, in which said temperature sensing oscillator comprises a temperature sensing filter circuit and an amplifier connected thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. An electronic timepiece according to claim 10, in which temperature sensing filter circuit comprises a band-pass filter. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. An electronic timepiece according to claim 10, in which said temperature sensing filter circuit comprises a phase shifting element. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. An electronic timepiece according to claim 9, in which said temperature sensing oscillator comprises a band-cut filter and an amplifier connected thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. An electronic timepiece according to claim 9, in which said temperature sensing oscillator comprises a resistor and a condenser connected thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. An electronic timepiece according to claim 9, in which said temperature sensing oscillator comprises a mechanical resonance element having an electro-mechanical transducing function, and an amplifier connected to said mechanical resonance element. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. An electronic timepiece according to claim 15, in which said mechanical resonance element comprises a ceramic resonator. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. An electronic timepiece according to claim 15, in which said mechanical resonance element comprises a quartz crystal resonator. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. An electronic timepiece according to claim 8, in which said compensating means comprises an algebraical frequency adding circuit for algebraically adding the frequency of said oscillator circuit to the frequency of said time base signal. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 19. An electronic timepiece according to claim 18, in which said frequency adding circuit comprises an EX-OR gate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. An electronic timepiece according to claim 17, in which said time base signal generator comprises a quartz crystal controlled oscillator. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. An electronic timepiece according to claim 9, further comprising a timing control unit for providing a timing control signal to control an oscillating operation of said temperature sensing oscillator so as to cause said temperature sensing oscillator to intermittently operate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. An electronic timepiece according to claim 21, in which said temperature sensing oscillator comprises a gate circuit to control starting and stopping operations of said temperature sensing oscillator in response to said timing control signal. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. An electronic timepiece according to claim 22, further comprising a memory circuit for storing said temperature signal until a next temperature signal is stored. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24. An electronic timepiece according to claim 9, in which said time base signal generator and said temperature sensing oscillator comprise a common reference vibrator element, and first and second oscillator circuits connected to said common reference vibrator element. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. An electronic timepiece according to claim 9, in which said time base signal generator and said temperature sensing oscillator comprise vibrator elements, respectively, which are enclosed in a common casing. .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. An electronic timepiece according to claim 8, in which said compensating signal generating means comprises a frequency difference detection circuit for detecting a frequency difference between said time base signal and said temperature signal and providing a frequency difference signal as said compensating signal. .Iaddend.