Electronic timepieces

Claim 1

In an electronic timepiece of the type employing a relatively stable oscillator and associated frequency dividers for providing at outputs thereof respective signals of frequency rates necessary for time keeping operations, said timepiece including a low voltage supply and a liquid crystal display adapted for efficient operation at a given bias level in excess of said low voltage supply, the combination therewith of apparatus for converting said low voltage supply to said given bias level, comprising: a. an inductor having a relatively high quality factor, said inductor having a first terminal coupled to a terminal of said low voltage supply and a second output terminal, b. switching means, having an output electrode, a common electrode and a control electrode, said switching means capable of being in a first state indicative of a low impedence between said output and common electrodes, and in second state indicative of a high impedance between output and common electrodes, said states selected according to the magnitude of a control signal applied to said control electrode, said output electrode of said switching means coupled to said second output terminal of said inductor, c. control means having an input responsive to one of said signals at one of said frequency rates provided by said dividers and an output coupled to said control electrode of said switching means for selectively causing said inductor to conduct current via said low voltage supply through said switch in said first state, and d. utilization means coupled to said second output terminal of said inductor and responsive to said second state to develop any energy previously stored in said inductor during said first state into said given bias level necessary to operate said liquid crystal efficiently.