Driving arrangement for passive time indication devices

Claim 1

An electronic timepiece comprising oscillator means for producing a high frequency time standard signal; divider circuit means for producing low frequency timing signals in response to said high frequency time standard signal; decoder means for producing display actuation signals in response to said timing signals; passive indication elements actuable in response to said display actuation signals to provide a visual indication of time; double-throw-type switching means having first and second input terminals and an output terminal for selective placement in either of a first switching mode at which said first input and said output terminals are coupled and a second switching mode at which said second input and said output terminals are coupled; terminal means, said passive indication means being connected between said switching means output terminal and said terminal means; and means for applying a first potential to said terminal means, and second and third potentials to said first and second switching means input terminals, respectively, said potentials being selected to have a value such that the difference between said first and second potentials is sufficient to actuate said passive indication means to provide a visual indication, and the difference between said first and third potentials is less than the threshold voltage of said passive indication means at which such visual indication is first produced, said double-throw-type switching means being coupled to said decoder means for selective disposition in one of said first and second switching states in response to said display actuation signals.