Patent ID: 7102964
Filing Date: 2006-09-05
Classification: G04G

Abstract:
1. A time keeping apparatus comprising: a generator unit that generates electricity using external energy; a storage unit that stores the electricity; a time display unit that displays time by using the electricity supplied from the storage unit; a generation state detecting unit that detects an operation state of the generator unit and that outputs a detected generation state signal; a mode switching unit that, responsive to the detected generation state signal, switches an operation mode of the time display unit between a normal operation mode in which the time display operation is performed and a power saving mode in which the time display operation is stopped; a receiver unit for receiving external time information during the normal operation mode and the power saving mode; and a current time counting unit that updates current time information by referring to the time that corresponds to the time information received by the receiver unit; and, wherein the mode switching unit is responsive to the detected generation signal to switch the operation mode from the normal operation mode to the power saving mode when the state of the generator unit is detected to be in a non-generation state.