G04C ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
Introduced: September 1968
Description
G04C covers timepieces that combine mechanical timekeeping elements with electrical components for regulation, display, or operation. This includes electromechanical watches and clocks where electric power drives the mechanical movement, electromagnets control oscillation or escapement mechanisms, or electrical circuits synchronize mechanical timekeeping functions. Typical technologies encompass stepping motors, electromagnetic balance wheels, and electrically-maintained pendulums used in hybrid analog and digital display systems. Digital-only electronic timepieces and purely mechanical clocks without electrical components are classified elsewhere.
IPC and CPC are identically structured here. All 13 subcodes exist in both systems.
5 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.
Child Classifications
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- G04C 10/00 Arrangements of electric power supplies in time-pieces since 1980 IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- G04C 17/00 Indicating the time optically by electric means (G04C19/00 takes precedence) +6 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- G04C 19/00 Producing optical time signals at prefixed times by electric means IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- G04C 23/00 Clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at preselected times or after preselected time-intervals (if restricted to producing acoustic time signals by electrical means G04C21/00) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- G04C 3/00 Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means (clocks driven by synchronous motors G04C15/00) +2 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- G04C 5/00 Electric or magnetic means for converting oscillatory to rotary motion in time-pieces, i.e. electric or magnetic escapements (regulators G04C3/00) +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- G04C 9/00 Electrically-actuated devices for setting the time-indicating means (of secondary clocks G04C13/03) +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- G04C 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass since 2006 IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
Top Applicants
Top Applicants (IPC)
Class G04,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CH 1,570
- ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE CH 1,409
- CASIO COMPUTER COMPANY 1,172
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 1,100
- SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 768
- NIVAROX-FAR CH 750
- MONTRES BREGUET CH 707
- APPLE US 706
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION JP 648
- CITIZEN WATCH COMPANY 578
Top Applicants (CPC)
Class G04,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CH 1,705
- ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE CH 1,443
- SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 1,104
- APPLE US 1,038
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 875
- NIVAROX-FAR CH 781
- CASIO COMPUTER COMPANY 734
- MONTRES BREGUET CH 715
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION JP 715
- OMEGA CH 555