Electric and electronic timepiece

Claim 2

An electronic circuit for an electric or electronic timepiece comprising at least one transistor having an emitter, collector and base; a source of current connected to said transistor so that said base is polarized; a driving circuit connected to said transistor; a control circuit connected to said transistor base for control of the operation thereof; and switch means connected in series with said control circuit and transistor base for reducing the current from said source of current by means of cutting off the base current of said transistor when said switch means is open, as compared with the current from said source of current when said switch means is closed.

Claim 3

An electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, including a driving coil having first and second portions connected in series by a junction terminal, said driving coil being connected in series with the emitter-collector path of said first-mentioned transistor and said source of current, said control circuit including a further transistor having a base, collector and emitter, said further transistor being connected for the control of said first transistor, a detecting coil, and a charging circuit means connected in series with said detecting coil between the base of said further transistor and the junction between said driving coil and said collector-emitter path of said first-mentioned transistor, said switch means being connected in series with the emitter-collector path of said further transistor and the junction terminal between said portions of said driving coil.

Claim 4

An electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, including a driving coil connected in series with the emitter-collector path of said first-mentioned transistor and said source of current; said control circuit including a detecting coil; a coupling condenser connected in series with said detecting coil between said transistor base and the junction between said driving coil and said source of current, and a base bias resistor connected between said junction and said transistor base, said switch means being connected between said junction and said transistor base in series with said base bias resistor.

Claim 5

An electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said switch means includes a fixed and a movable contact, said timepiece including a winding stem, and means for operatively connecting said winding stem to said movable switch member for selectively opening and closing said switch means in response to the displacement of said winding stem.

Claim 6

An electronic circuit as recited in claim 4, wherein said timepiece includes a plate for supporting said movable contact member, said source of current including a battery having a positive terminal electrically connected to said plate.