DE102016211503B3 - Solar clock with a mechanical, a spring drive having automatic movement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to solar watches with a mechanical spring drive having an automatic movement with a rotor for lifting the spring as a spring store of the spring drive. The solar watches are characterized in particular by their very long life. For this purpose, the spring of the spring drive to the elevator via a stepper motor either directly or via at least one electrical energy storage to a solar module as components of the solar clock is coupled so that the solar module forms the electrical energy source and the spring is the sole drive of the movement. The solar module forms the converter of incident light energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation into electrical energy.

Description

The invention relates to solar watches with a mechanical, a spring drive having automatic movement with a rotor for winding the spring as a spring store of the spring drive.

Known, purely mechanical watches have a so-called spring mechanism as a mechanical energy storage. In an embodiment in a high material quality, there is hardly a lifetime limit, such as due to material fatigue or material fracture. However, the power reserve as energy storage capacity of such a spring accumulator of a wound up clock is very small at about two to four days. By means of so-called automatic watches, the operating time is increased when moving the clock. In this case, the spring accumulator is automatically raised during movements, for example by arm movements of the wearer, by a rotor in small steps. The mounted rotor remains stationary during movements of the watch case due to its inertia and gravity. Thus, a torque acts on the elevator mechanism. The power reserve of such a clock is not increased by this. No movement does not lead to a lift of the spring accumulator. To circumvent this situation, so-called watch winders are known. These are expensive, cumbersome and usually require a mains power supply, alternative battery operation leads to high battery consumption.

Known electronic clocks have buffer memory in the form of accumulators or double-layer capacitors and arranged in the region of the dial solar cell array.

Through the publication DE 197 80 948 B4 is a combined electronic clock known. In this, an analog time display and a digital time display are integrally combined. The solar element generates the electrical energy necessary to operate the time displays. In addition, an energy storage is provided in the form of a storage battery. The charge of the energy storage is monitored, so that if necessary an external charger can be connected.

Through the publication US 4 901 295 A is a solar watch with an automatic movement with a spring drive, a rotor for lifting the spring and a stepper motor for mounting the spring on the rotor known. The rotor is coupled directly to a solar module as an electrical energy source and an electrical energy storage. The spring is the drive of the automatic movement.

The publication US Pat. No. 3,724,200 includes a low power electronic clock with photoelectric cells. For this purpose, a capacitor of relatively high capacity is connected in parallel with the feed current source in the form of the photoelectric cells. The drive of the movement takes place by an electrodynamic pulse motor during the illumination periods of the photoelectric cells. A sufficient mechanical power reserve stores the drive movements of the electro-dynamic pulse motor during the lighting periods. The elevator of the mechanical power reserve memory is prevented by the electro-dynamic pulse motor depending on the memory state. The electro-dynamic pulse generator is also connected in the output of an astable multivibrator working.

Through the publication US Pat. No. 7,626,892 B2 is an automatic watch in hybrid design with an electrical energy storage and an electromagnetic drive unit known.

The publication WO 2011 092 405 A1 discloses a mechanical automatic watch additionally comprising a micromotor for mounting the spring. The power source for operating the micromotor is an accumulator.

The problem with electronic watches with solar cells or solar elements is the use of electrochemical-based rechargeable energy stores, which have a typical lifetime of about five to twenty years. This type of watch is therefore not completely maintenance free. Added to this is the problem of disposal of the secondary elements as accumulators as hazardous waste.

Another problem is the susceptibility of the electronics to high ion currents and electromagnetic radiation, which is especially significant in components with minimized power consumption.

The specified in claim 1 invention has for its object to provide a solar watch with a very long life.

This object is achieved with the features listed in claim 1.

The solar watches with a mechanical, a spring drive having automatic movement with a rotor to the elevator of the spring as a spring storage of the spring drive are characterized in particular by their very long life.

For this purpose, the spring of the spring drive to the elevator via a stepper motor either directly or via at least one electrical energy storage to a solar module as components of the solar clock so coupled, that the rotor of the stator and the rotor having a stepping motor and the rotor are connected to the elevator of the spring accumulator via a coupling device. The coupling device has a movement in three axes measuring acceleration sensor, with which the coupling is deactivated when moving in the direction of rotation of the rotor above a certain threshold. Furthermore, the solar module forms the electrical energy source and the spring is the sole drive of the automatic movement.

The solar module forms the converter of incident light energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation into electrical energy.

The solar clock can be designed as a mobile as well as a stationary solar clock. The solar clock represents a combination of electronic solar clock and mechanical automatic clock, but the sole drive of the pointer movement as a display device of the solar clock is the spring. The elevator of the spring can be continuous or periodic. The accuracy of the movement is advantageously ensured even with fluctuating energy inputs from the solar module. The lifetime is thus almost infinite.

• – ein hochwertiges mechanisches Automatikuhrwerk mit geringem Energiebedarf, hoher Robustheit und Präzision,
• – die Feder als Federspeicher mit einer hohen Gangreserve von mindestens zwei Tagen, um Phasen geringer Lichteinstrahlung zu überbrücken,
• – en mit dem Solarmodul gekoppelten Schrittmotor zum Aufzug der Feder,
• – ein leistungsfähiges Solarmodul mit Solarzellen, die auch bei niedrigen Lichtintensitäten die Mindestleistung für den Betrieb des Uhrwerks liefern und
• – eine einfache Steuereinrichtung zur Ansteuerung des Schrittmotors auf.

The solar clock has a simple and robust and radiation-resistant realization

• - a high-quality mechanical automatic movement with low energy requirement, high robustness and precision,
• - The spring as a spring store with a high power reserve of at least two days to bridge phases of low light irradiation,
• A stepper motor coupled to the solar module to the elevator of the spring,
• - a powerful solar module with solar cells, which provide the minimum performance for the operation of the movement even at low light intensities and
• - A simple control device for controlling the stepping motor on.

The automatic movement is known to have the rotor to the elevator of the spring of the spring drive. In addition to the electromagnetic light energy, the solar clock can be additionally raised by movements of the solar clock. These components together form a hybrid drive in the solar clock. The rotor is a flywheel or provided with a flywheel.

The stepper motor may be a reluctance stepping motor, a permanent magnet stepping motor or a hybrid motor.

The stepper motor can be coupled directly to the solar module so that advantageously no memory components are needed. The limited operating range of drive voltage and drive current, which varies between minimum start-up current / minimum start-up voltage of the stepping motor and maximum solar power / maximum solar voltage, can be overcome with a minimum of light to be ensured. The light irradiation can be located, for example, in a range in each case including 1000 lux, minimum light irradiation - the starting current is overcome - and 20 klux, maximum light irradiation - maximum solar voltage is reached - are located. In addition, the solar power and the solar voltage can be electronically limited, if required by the stepper motor or the electronics.

In addition, the stepper motor can be coupled to the solar module via an energy store. Thus, a periodic, pulse-shaped control current for operation of the stepping motor can be obtained, which is generated from the at least one capacitor as energy storage. The capacitor may advantageously be a ceramic capacitor or a plastic foil capacitor having a virtually unlimited lifetime. In addition, a double-layer capacitor can be used as a capacitor to achieve a smaller size or when using larger period lengths. The advantage over a continuously operated electric motor is the higher efficiency, since the stepper motor is operable at the same operating point, ideally at the point of maximum efficiency. Only the distance of the drive pulses is proportional to the drive power dependent.

Furthermore, a control device which periodically activates the stepping motor is provided. By means of this, the capacitor is charged with a rising voltage edge in accordance with the charging current generated from the solar module within a unit time. At a certain voltage as the upper switching threshold, the capacitor is connected to the stepping motor by means of the control device via a switch, whereby a discharge of the capacitor is caused up to a voltage as the lower switching threshold. The amount of energy removed is W = 1/2 C · (U ₁ ² - U ₂ ² ). The period can be in the range of 0.1 s to several minutes. The control device can for this purpose have an electronic voltage detector with a defined hysteresis. The hysteresis is based on the difference between the voltages of the upper switching threshold and the lower switching threshold.

The coupling device has the acceleration sensor, with which, when moving in the direction of rotation of the rotor above a certain threshold, the coupling is disabled. This ensures that with adequate kinetic energy, the rotor is not braked by the stepper motor. The acceleration sensor is to the movements in three axes measuring acceleration sensor.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the claims 2 to 9.

The rotor of the stepping motor, wherein the stepping motor has a stator and the rotor, according to the embodiment of claim 2 at the same time the rotor to the elevator of the spring accumulator. This gives a very compact design.

The rotor of the stepping motor, wherein the stepping motor has a stator and the rotor is spaced above the other according to the embodiment of claim 3. Furthermore, the rotor of the stepping motor and the rotor are in each case coupled to the spring accumulator via a slip clutch which prevents the spring accumulator of the spring drive from overwinding at full elevation. Here, the stepper motor and the rotor of the automatic movement act independently on the spring accumulator as the sole drive of the solar clock.

The rotor and the rotor are arranged one above the other according to the embodiment of patent claim 4 spaced. The rotor is coupled via a hollow shaft and a overrunning of the spring accumulator of the spring drive at full lift preventing slip clutch with the spring accumulator. Furthermore, the rotor is connected to a shaft in the hollow shaft. In this case, the shaft can be advantageously stored in the hollow shaft.

The coupling device is according to the embodiment of claim 5, an electromagnet whose coil is centrally embedded in the watch case, so that the entire rotor of the stepping motor runs in its magnetic field. The runner has latching holes. In the rotor, a permanent magnet is resiliently mounted, so that at current flow in the coil, the permanent magnet at least partially engages in a latching hole.

The coupling of the coupling device is activated according to the embodiment of claim 6 from exceeding a certain light irradiation. This provides a safe lift of the spring accumulator under sufficient lighting conditions.

In the electrical connection of the stepping motor and the solar module, a connection separating or connecting switch is connected according to the embodiment of claim 7. An actuator of the switch is further coupled to the spring accumulator directly or via a sensor detecting the end stop of the spring. This is an easy way to stop the movement of the motor when the spring is raised. When the spring is pulled on the connection between the solar module and the electrical energy in kinetic energy converting device is simply separated. This can also be done without contact by means of a sensor for detecting an area or a component of the spring or its position. For this purpose, a touch-responsive sensor or a light barrier can be used either as a reflex coupler or fork coupler.

The electrical energy storage device according to the embodiment of claim 8 is an electrical energy source for operating at least one electrical device. In continuation, the electrical device according to the embodiment of claim 9 may advantageously be a measuring / sensor device, a display device, a transmitting / receiving device, a control / monitoring device, a lighting device, an audio device or another mechanical actuator.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in principle in the drawings and will be described in more detail below.

Show it:

1 a solar clock,

2 a solar clock with an electric energy storage,

3 Voltage / current diagrams of the watch operation,

4 Stepper motor with rotor of the automatic movement in a plan view,

5 a rotor of a stepping motor and a rotor of the automatic movement in a side view and

6 a coupling between a rotor of a stepping motor and the rotor of an automatic movement.

A solar clock essentially consists of a mechanical automatic movement 1 with a spring drive, a stepper motor 4 and a solar module 2 ,

The 1 shows a solar clock in a schematic representation.

The automatic movement 1 with the spring drive has a spring as a spring accumulator 3 , The spring store 3 is to the elevator via the stepper motor 4 directly to the solar module 2 as components of the solar clock so coupled that the spring accumulator 3 the sole drive of the automatic movement 1 which is a rotor 8th to the elevator of the spring accumulator 3 having the spring drive. The control of the stepper motor 4 via a control device, which is electrically powered by the solar module.

The stepper motor 4 is over an overspeeding of the spring accumulator 3 the spring drive at full elevation preventing slipping clutch with the spring accumulator 3 coupled to the spring drive.

Instead of the slip clutch can in the electrical connection of the electric motor 4 and the solar module 2 a connection disconnecting or connecting switch be connected, wherein an actuating device of the switch with the spring accumulator 3 of the spring drive directly or via the end stop of the spring accumulator 3 Detecting sensor is coupled.

The 2 shows a solar clock with an electrical energy storage 5 in a schematic representation.

In one embodiment, the spring accumulator 3 of the automatic movement 1 to the elevator with the stepper motor 4 via at least one electrical energy store 5 to the solar module 2 so coupled that the spring-loaded 3 the sole drive of the automatic movement 1 is.

The stepper motor 4 and the solar module 2 can with at least one capacitor as electrical energy storage 5 be connected. In this case, a periodic control of the stepper motor takes place 4 via the control device.

The control device has an electronic voltage detector with a defined hysteresis. The capacitor is connected to a rising voltage edge corresponding to that from the solar module 2 Charge current generated within a unit of time charged. At a certain voltage as the upper switching threshold, the capacitor is connected to the stepping motor by means of the control device via a switch 4 connected, causing a discharge of the capacitor up to a voltage as the lower threshold. The amount of energy removed is W = 1/2 C · (U ₁ ² - U ₂ ² ). The period can be in the range of 0.1 s to several minutes.

The 3 shows voltage / current diagrams of the clock operation in basic representations.

In the 3a As a diagram of the voltage over time are exemplified a period with slow charging .DELTA.t ₁ (ie, low solar power I) and a period .DELTA.t ₃ with rapid charging (ie high solar power II) of a capacitor shown as a buffer. The discharge time Δt _{2 of} the capacitor (drive pulse) is fixed by the capacitor capacity and the electronics and always remains the same. The difference between the turn-off voltage U ₁ and the turn-on voltage U _{2 of} the voltage detector is the hysteresis, the voltage curve is called sawtooth voltage.

The presentation of the 3b shows the currents flowing here as a diagram of the currents over time. In this case, I _{sl is} the low charging current and I _sh , the high charging current from the solar module 2 into the capacitor as well as I _k , the discharge current from the capacitor into the stepper motor 4 ,

The 4 shows a stepper motor 4 with rotor 8th of the automatic movement 1 in a basic plan view.

The stepper motor 4 in particular, a reluctance stepper motor 4 be. This is a synchronous motor with an unexcited runner 7 with external soft iron core and circumferential toothing. At the circumference of the stand 6 are concentrated electromagnets arranged with the corresponding field windings.

The 5 shows a runner 7 a stepper motor 4 and a rotor 8th of the automatic movement 1 in a schematic side view.

The rotor 8th of the automatic movement 1 as a flywheel is in a first embodiment of the rotor 7 or in a second embodiment spaced from the rotor 7 of the reluctance stepper motor 4 arranged.

In the first embodiment are the rotor 8th and the runner 7 connected to each other and rotatably supported by a shaft. This shaft is still a gear transmission to the spring accumulator 3 coupled. At the same time has the spring accumulator 3 a slip clutch, allowing over-rotation of the spring accumulator 3 is prevented.

In the second embodiment, the runner 7 of the reluctance stepper motor 4 over a hollow shaft 9 rotatably mounted. The rotor 8th of the automatic movement 1 is about one in the hollow shaft 9 arranged wave 10 rotatably mounted. At least the hollow shaft 9 is via a gear transmission 11 with the spring accumulator 3 connected. The runner 7 and the rotor 8th are connected to each other via a coupling mechanism.

The 6 shows a coupling between a runner 7 a stepper motor 4 and the rotor 8th an automatic movement 1 in a schematic representation.

The coupling device is based on an electromagnet whose coil 12 Centrally embedded in the watch case, so that the entire runner 7 of the stepper motor 4 in its magnetic field is running. The runner 7 of the reluctance stepper motor 4 has snap-in holes 13 on. In the rotor 8th is a permanent magnet 14 spring-mounted, so that when current flows in the coil 12 the permanent magnet 14 at least partially into a snap-in hole 13 intervenes. The 6a shows no coupling and the 6b the coupling between runners 7 and rotor 8th each in basic representations.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 automatic movement

2

 solar module

3

 spring

4

 stepper motor

5

 energy storage

6

 stand

7

 runner

8th

 rotor

9

 hollow shaft

10

 wave

11

 gear transmission

12

 Kitchen sink

13

 detent

14

 permanent magnet

Claims (9)

Solar clock with a mechanical, a spring drive having automatic movement ( 1 ) with a rotor ( 8th ) to the elevator of the spring as spring accumulator ( 3 ) of the spring drive, wherein the spring of the spring drive to the elevator via a stepping motor ( 4 ) either directly or via at least one electrical energy store ( 5 ) to a solar module ( 2 ) is coupled as components of the solar clock so that the runner ( 7 ) of a stand ( 6 ) and the runner ( 7 ) having stepping motor ( 4 ) and the rotor ( 8th ) to the elevator of the spring accumulator ( 3 ) are connected to each other via a coupling device, the coupling device comprises a movement in three-axis measuring acceleration sensor, with which during movements in the direction of rotation of the rotor ( 8th ) above a certain threshold, the coupling is deactivated, and the solar module ( 2 ) forms the electrical energy source and the spring is the sole drive of the automatic movement ( 1 ). Solar clock according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor ( 7 ) of a stand ( 6 ) and the runner ( 7 ) having stepping motor ( 4 ) at the same time the rotor ( 8th ) to the elevator of the spring accumulator ( 3 ). Solar clock according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor ( 7 ) of a stand ( 6 ) and the runner ( 7 ) having stepping motor ( 4 ) and the rotor ( 8th ) to the elevator of the spring accumulator ( 3 ) are arranged one above the other and that the runner ( 7 ) of the stepper motor ( 4 ) and the rotor ( 8th ) in each case via an over-rotation of the spring accumulator ( 3 ) of the spring drive at full elevation preventing slip clutch with the spring accumulator ( 3 ) are coupled. Solar clock according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor ( 7 ) and the rotor ( 8th ) are arranged one above the other so that the runner ( 7 ) via a hollow shaft ( 9 ) and an over-rotation of the spring accumulator ( 3 ) of the spring drive at full elevation preventing slip clutch with the spring accumulator ( 3 ) and that the rotor ( 8th ) with a wave ( 10 ) in the hollow shaft ( 9 ) connected is. Solar clock according to claim 4, characterized in that the coupling device is an electromagnet, that the coil ( 12 ) of the electromagnet is located in the housing of the solar clock that the runner ( 7 ) of the stepper motor ( 4 ) Snap-in holes ( 13 ) and that in the rotor ( 8th ) a permanent magnet ( 14 ) is resiliently mounted, so that when current flows in the coil ( 12 ) the permanent magnet ( 14 ) at least partially into a latching hole ( 13 ) intervenes. Solar clock according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling of the coupling device is activated from a certain light irradiation. Solar clock according to claim 1, characterized in that in the electrical connection of the stepping motor ( 4 ) and the solar module ( 2 ) a connection disconnecting or connecting switch is connected and that an actuating device of the switch with the spring accumulator ( 3 ) is coupled directly or via a sensor which detects the end stop of the spring. Solar clock according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical energy storage is an electrical energy source for the operation of at least one electrical device. Solar clock according to claim 8, characterized in that the electrical device, a measuring / sensor device, a display device, a transmitting / receiving device, a control / monitoring device, a lighting device, a Audio device or another mechanical actuator is.

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