Batteryless, oscillatorless, binary time cell usable as an horological device with associated programming methods and devices

A method for measuring time with an horological device, the method comprising:

• discharging a stored electrostatic charge in a charge storage element in a time cell in the horological device using a discharge process with a predetermined discharge rate, wherein the charge storage element comprises an internal medium for storing an electrostatic charge and an insulating medium for insulating the internal medium that substantially surrounds the internal medium, and wherein the time cell transitions from a non-time-measuring state to a time-measuring state in the horological device upon receiving the electrostatic charge;
• and
• detecting a current level of electrical potential at the charge storage element using conductive leads connected to the time cell within an elapsed time period after storing the electrostatic charge.

A computer program product on a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system for measuring time with an horological device, the computer program product comprising:

• instructions for receiving a time measurement request for the horological device;
• and
• instructions for detecting a current level of electrical potential at a charge storage element in a time cell in the horological device using conductive leads connected to the time cell within an elapsed time period after storing an electrostatic charge in the charge storage element, wherein the charge storage element comprises an internal medium for storing an electrostatic charge and an insulating medium for insulating the internal medium that substantially surrounds the internal medium, and wherein the time cell transitions from a non-time-measuring state to a time-measuring state in the horological device upon receiving the electrostatic charge, and wherein the stored electrostatic charge discharges from the charge storage element using a discharge process with a predetermined discharge rate.

A method for measuring time comprising:

• discharging a stored electrostatic charge in a floating gate in a first floating gate field effect transistor, wherein the first floating gate field effect transistor comprises a floating gate and an insulating region of insulating material adjacent to the floating gate, wherein the floating gate discharges through a second floating gate field effect transistor, wherein a portion of the floating gate is common to the first floating gate field effect transistor and the second floating gate field effect transistor, wherein a discharge rate of a discharge process that discharges an electrostatic charge stored within the programmed floating gate is inversely related to a thickness of the insulating region, and wherein the thickness of the insulating region is selected such that a threshold voltage of the second floating gate field effect transistor has a predetermined decay rate after programming the floating gate;
• and
• performing a read operation on the second floating gate field effect transistor to determine its current threshold voltage.

A reading device comprising:

• coupling means for coupling, to the reading device, an article of manufacture, wherein the article of manufacture comprises an analog time cell and conductive leads connected to the analog time cell;
• and
• reading means for reading the article of manufacture.