DE4229400A1 - Electric quartz or radio quartz clock with waking up alarm unit - contains electric current supply for quartz movement also analogue or digital time indicator or both and hand operated winder which drives electric generator - Google Patents

Abstract

The clock has an energy storage unit designed as a max capacitive capacitor charged by the electric generator(3). The stored power is supplied to the quartz movement controlled over a longer time. The capacitor has a capacitance up to 22 Farad. A step-up gear unit(2) is arranged between the winder mechanism(1) and the generator(3). The generator is connected with an electronic charger(4), the output of which is connected to the capacitor(5). ADVANTAGE - Electric clock works without battery.

Description

The invention relates to an electric quartz or radio quartz watch Wake-up device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such watches have become known in various forms, whereby All versions have in common that they are electrical Need power supply in the form of a battery.

However, such a battery has several disadvantages. For one thing, must they are renewed at certain intervals, which is costly is connected and on the other prepares the disposal of a used one Battery problems because of the potential associated with them Harmful to the environment. Incidentally, replacement batteries are not always and available everywhere, especially not in third world countries.

The invention is therefore based on the object of an electric watch of the type mentioned in such a way that they without a battery is working.

To achieve the object, the invention is based on the technical Teaching of claim 1 characterized.

An essential feature of the present invention is that the electrical Power supply is no longer formed by a battery, but through a manually operated winding mechanism with which a  Energy storage is charged, which - especially not - as a battery is trained. Such an energy store can be, for example be the most capacitive capacitor from that generator is charged. Such capacitors already exist with one Capacity in the range of two farads to 22 farads and more, so that in such a capacitor stores a relatively high amount of energy can be. The advantage over a mechanical alarm clock is that the Clock according to the invention works completely noiselessly or quietly and shows the time very precisely.

Experiments have shown that with a one-minute operation the Wind-up mechanism of the electrical energy store so far charged can be that the clock according to the invention with alarm clock can be operated for a period of at least two days.

It is preferred if between the winding mechanism, the z. B. can be designed as a simple winding key, and the generator a transmission gear is arranged. So that the generator in the Kind of a dynamo operated at high mechanical speed, thus to achieve a correspondingly high output power.

Instead of the winding mechanism described here with a key or a rotating ring it is also possible to use a spring-back button corresponding stroke movements to actuate the mechanical Gearbox and thus to drive the generator.

The gearbox is then used either for speed adjustment or Conversion of the lifting movements into corresponding rotary movements.

The generator converts the injected kinetic energy into the corresponding one electrical energy and can be used either as DC or as AC dynamo.

If it is designed as an AC dynamo, it is necessary to in  to arrange a rectifier for the downstream charging electronics. The Charging electronics charge the downstream electrical energy store (Capacitor) controlled on, with the aim of using it in no time the largest possible amount of charge.

It can be provided that the capacitor provides feedback of its state of charge to the charging electronics, in order to To form a control loop.

The energy storage then works on a discharge electronics appropriate voltage regulation so that controlled with minimal permissible current the quartz or radio quartz clockwork is driven.

This movement can be an analog or a digital or a Have a combination of both display options.

It is also provided that the clockwork with an alarm device is connected to use the new clock as an alarm clock.

With the electric clock according to the invention, therefore, a battery avoided, and there is no need for replacement, used batteries. Environmental problems are also eliminated because a - otherwise to be disposed of - battery not required. The capacitor has practical unlimited life. There is a waste disposal Such clock no environmental problems, because such a capacitor in consists essentially of activated carbon and gold.

The subject matter of the present invention does not arise only from the subject of the individual protection claims, but also from the combination of the individual protection claims.

All in the documentation - including the summary - Disclosed information and features, especially those in the drawings Spatial training shown are bean essential to the invention  speaks, insofar as they are individually or in combination with the state of the Technology are new.

In the following the invention is based on only one Execution path illustrating drawing explained in more detail. Go here from the drawing and its description other essential features and advantages of the invention.

A block diagram of the shown new clock.

A manually operated winding mechanism 1 works on a reduction gear 2 so that the generator 3 flanged onto the gear 2 can be operated at a relatively high speed. The electrical output of the generator 3 is connected to a charging electronics 4 , the aim of which is to charge the downstream energy store 5 ( capacitor) in the shortest possible time with a large amount of charge.

If the generator 3 is designed as an alternating current generator, it is necessary to arrange a rectifier part in the charging electronics 4 .

Via line 11, the energy store 5 reports its state of charge back to the charging electronics 4 , so that a closed control loop is thereby formed.

At the output of the energy store 5 is a discharge electronics is turned on 6 which includes a voltage regulator, so that is discharged with a constant over the duration of the discharge voltage of the energy storage. 5 This voltage is applied to the downstream electrical clockwork 7 , which is driven thereby.

This movement contains a quartz crystal in a manner known per se, so that it works with high precision.  

It is within the scope of the present invention, this quartz movement too to train as a radio quartz plant, so that it is from external radio signals is synchronized.

A wake-up device 8 is switched on at the output of the clockwork 7 . The alarm device 8 is controlled in a manner known per se by an alarm device in the clockwork 7 .

In addition, it is preferred if the charging electronics are connected to the wake-up device via line 10 , in order to report a fully charged energy store 5 to the user by starting the wake-up device 8 .

In a preferred embodiment it is additionally provided that an electrical load 9 is switched on via the lines 12 , 13 between the charging electronics 4 and the generator 3 . This electrical load 9 increases the mechanical elevator torque of the generator 3 in order to offer the user tactile feedback from the fully charged energy store 5 .

In a further development of the present invention, it can be provided that the energy store 5 is additionally supplied by a solar cell module, not shown in the figure.

This solar cell module then also works without an accumulator to retain the advantages according to the innovation.

Drawing legend

1 winding mechanism
2 gears
3 generator
4 charging electronics
5 energy storage
6 discharge electronics
7 electr. clockwork
8 alarm device
9 electr. load
10 line
11 line
12 line
13 line

Claims (10)

1. Electrical quartz or radio quartz clock with alarm, containing an electrical power supply for the quartz movement, and an analog and / or digital time display, characterized in that the electrical power supply is formed by a manually operated winding mechanism ( 1 ), which one drives an electric generator ( 3 ), which charges an energy store ( 5 ) which, in a controlled manner, releases its stored energy to the quartz movement. 2. Clock according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy store ( 5 ) is designed as a highly capacitive capacitor. 3. Clock according to claim 2, thereby characterized in that the capacitor has a capacitance up to 22 farads. 4. Clock according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that a transmission gear ( 2 ) is arranged between the winding mechanism ( 1 ) and the generator ( 3 ). 5. Clock according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the generator ( 3 ) is connected to a charging electronics, at the output of which the energy store ( 5 ) is connected. 6. Clock according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the energy store ( 5 ) delivers its charge to a discharge electronics ( 6 ), at the output of which the electrical quartz movement ( 7 ) is connected. 7. Clock according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the quartz movement ( 7 ) is connected to an alarm device ( 8 ). 8. Clock according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the generator ( 3 ) is connected to a pull-up of the generator ( 3 ) inhibiting load ( 9 ) which is controlled by the charging electronics ( 4 ). 9. Clock according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that for reporting a fully charged energy store ( 5 ), the charging electronics ( 4 ) is connected to the alarm device ( 8 ). 10. Clock according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the energy store ( 5 ) is additionally chargeable by a solar cell.