EP0028429A1 - Uhr mit elektroakustischer Signalvorrichtung - Google Patents

Uhr mit elektroakustischer Signalvorrichtung Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0028429A1
EP0028429A1 EP80200980A EP80200980A EP0028429A1 EP 0028429 A1 EP0028429 A1 EP 0028429A1 EP 80200980 A EP80200980 A EP 80200980A EP 80200980 A EP80200980 A EP 80200980A EP 0028429 A1 EP0028429 A1 EP 0028429A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
watch
electromagnet
movement
plate
fixed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP80200980A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Norberto Perucchi
Pierre-Alain Vuille
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG
Original Assignee
Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG filed Critical Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG
Publication of EP0028429A1 publication Critical patent/EP0028429A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C21/00—Producing acoustic time signals by electrical means
    • G04C21/02—Constructional details

Definitions

  • One of the problems posed by the production of these timepieces is that of the acoustic generator. This organ must function by consuming as little electrical power as possible, while being able to emit an easily audible sound. In addition, it is advantageous that the sound produced is of good quality, so as to be as pleasant as possible to hear.
  • the means of excitation of these transducers can be of the electromagnetic, piezoelectric, electro-static or electro-dynamic type.
  • the movable member of the excitation means is integral with a vibrating membrane, the natural frequency of which is chosen as low as possible, so that the loudspeaker constantly works at a frequency greater than its natural frequency.
  • a rigid plate forming part of the case of a watch, for example glass as an acoustic generator.
  • the glass is carried by a thin crown of an elastic material fixed to the glass by its internal edge and to another part of the housing by its external edge.
  • Different means of excitation are provided.
  • a ferromagnetic armature is excited by an electromagnet.
  • the vibration of the generator is caused by p ercus- sions.
  • the object of the present invention is to improve the arrangement of a warning device of the latter type so as to improve the production yield sound quality.
  • an object of the invention is to allow the production of a musical sound whose height is predetermined.
  • the subject of the invention is a watch with an electro-acoustic warning device comprising an acoustic generator formed by a rigid plate and by an annular vibrating membrane connecting said plate to a part of the box, excitation means formed by a magnetic armature and by an electromagnet integral, one of said plate and the other of the frame of the movement or of the case, and a control circuit of the electromagnet, characterized in that the armature is an axially symmetrical piece fixed to said plate coaxially with the latter and capable of moving it in the direction of their common axis, in that the control circuit is arranged to transmit excitation pulses to the electromagnet, the frequency is included in a finished band and in that the natural frequency of the acoustic generator is situated outside said band.
  • the alarm watch shown schematically in FIG. 1 comprises the main elements of a conventional watch. These will not need to be described in detail.
  • the watch case consisting of a middle-bezel 1 carrying a glass 2 and a base 3 fixed to the middle-bezel with interposition of a seal 4.
  • the housing carries various control members (not shown). Inside the case is fixed a movement 5 which can be either electronic or mechanical, which is surmounted by a dial 6 and whose display members are constituted by a set of two central hands 7 It is obvious that, in another embodiment, the movement 5 could have more than two hands or be of the type with digital display. In the latter case, the display members would be constituted by a panel showing the figures of the time indication by one or the other of the known methods. Movement 5 is fixed inside the case by means which are not shown and which hold it in place in the desired position.
  • the shape of the watch can be circular, square, rectangular, etc.
  • the watch described is equipped with an electro-acoustic warning device. This is excited at the time of its engagement from a battery (not shown) housed in movement 5. In the case where the time counting is also carried out electrically, this battery can also ensure the supply of the energy required for circuits and display. Part of the horn is mounted on the case and the other part in the movement.
  • the acoustic generator which constitutes one of the parts of the horn will first be described.
  • the crystal 2 is connected to the middle part of the bezel 1 by an annular vibrating membrane 17.
  • This membrane or suspension ring has an internal edge and an external edge, both in the form of a cylindrical shell, and connected to each other by a curved central area. By its outer edge, it is rigidly fixed to the middle part 1, for example by welding or gluing in a groove 18 formed on the periphery of this middle-bezel. By its internal edge, it is likewise rigidly fixed to the periphery of the glass 2.
  • the dimensions and the profile of the membrane 17 as well as the material of which it is made will be chosen so that its elasticity meets the needs of the function that 'she must fill.
  • the crystal 2 which is itself preferably made of mineral glass, of sufficient thickness to be rigid, a p- susce together tible elastically vibrate and having a high natural frequency.
  • the natural frequency will be greater than 5000 Hz.
  • the membrane 17 which constitutes the suspension ring, for example berrylium copper having a hardness of the order of 380 HV.
  • the thickness of the membrane will be a few hundredths of a mm. The elasticity of this membrane determines the qualities of the acoustic generator. It must be adapted to the power dissipated in the excitation means which will be described later, as well as to the external and internal pressure variations.
  • the acoustic generator described is covered and masked by a false bezel 19 mounted on a notch on a peripheral rib 20 of the middle part 1.
  • the shape and the arrangement of the membrane 17 and of the false bezel 19 could be different from what is shown in FIG. l.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 The means of excitation of the horn are shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the hour and minute hands (not shown in fig. 2) are mounted one on one hour wheel 9 and the other on a center wheel 10. These two wheels pivot coaxially one on the other, the barrel of the wheel 10 being engaged on a tube 11 fixed to the plate 8.
  • the drive train comprises a timer wheel 12 which pivots on a tenon 13 driven into the plate 8 ′ and a transmission mobile 14 whose pinion attacks the center wheel 10 and which pivots between the plate 8 and a gear train 15. It results from this arrangement that the central axis movement is free.
  • a straight bar of cylindrical profile 16, which may be made of a ferromagnetic material or a nonmagnetic material, is fixed to the center of the crystal 2 and extends through the tube 11 to the rear of the movement where it ends in an opening in deck 15.
  • the plate 8 On its rear face, the plate 8 has a flat bottom recess in which is housed a magnetic core 21 in the form of a bowl provided with three lateral tabs 22 (fig. 3). These tabs allow the fixing of the core 21 to the reverse of the plate by means of screws 23.
  • the central opening of the core 21 is of a diameter slightly larger than that of the bar 16. It corresponds with the central opening of an insert 24 in the form of a ring made of ferro-magnetic material which is fixed in the bottom of the bowl 21 and with the central opening of an annular magnet 25 fixed to the reverse of the part 24.
  • These two parts 24 and 25 together form a tubular projection in the center of the part 21 and constitute the inner part of the magnetic core.
  • a coil 26 serving to excite the electromagnet is housed inside the bowl 21. It is fixed to this part for example by means of an adhesive.
  • the bar 16 passes axially through the electromagnet described and extends projecting from its reverse. It carries an armature disc 27 made of a magnetic material fixed on the outer part of the bar 16, and the diameter of which corresponds to outside diameter of the bowl 21.
  • connection between the disc 27 and the bar 16 is carried out by a friction fit of these two parts one on the other.
  • these two parts are secured by means of a lock 28 which is fixed to the disc 27 by a pin 29 and which can be moved in rotation around the axis of this pin.
  • the latch 28 At its end facing the bar 16 (fig. 3), the latch 28 has a sharp edge 29a which, when the latch rotates, enters the material of the bar 16 and fixes the disc 27 at the desired height. This height will be adjusted during the fitting of the movement 5 so that the air gap remaining between the frame 27 and the core 21 allows the vibrations of the glass 2 under the effect of the excitation coming from the current pulses sent in the coil 26.
  • the watch circuit finally comprises a control circuit which, when activated, produces current pulses directed into the coil 26.
  • the frequency of these current pulses will be determined by the characteristics of the circuit. It will be chosen so as to be much lower than the natural frequency of the acoustic generator.
  • the control circuit is not a critical element of the present invention and the many possible arrangements will readily appear to those skilled in the art.
  • the conventional circuits of the watch comprise an oscillator and a frequency divider of the well known type. It suffices, for example, to provide one or more outputs at one or more stages of the divider to have signals capable of driving a switch controlling the passage of current from the battery into the coil 26, by providing several intermediate outputs at the divider, which is also known, control the switch with several different frequencies, either simultaneously, which modulates the sound produced, or successively, which allows the alarm signals to be varied.
  • the warning device described here can also be incorporated into a mechanical watch.
  • the control circuit must include an oscillator and a frequency divider specific to the circuit, as well as a battery capable of exciting it.
  • the bridge 15 may have, in the region of the center of the movement, an opening or a notch whose diameter is at least as large as that of the disc 27.
  • the frame 27 vibrates by performing sinusoidal movements and drives the glass so that it behaves like a real vibrating wall diffusing a sound of very good quality with remarkable power. It was possible to verify during a test with a practical embodiment, that the current consumption of the coil does not exceed 50 mAs for a ringing duration of 10 seconds.
  • the electro-acoustic warning device could, in other embodiments, be arranged differently from what has been described above.
  • the electromagnet could be placed on the movement on the side of the glass. It could be embedded in a housing formed between two parts of the display panel. In this case, the bar 16 would not need to cross the entire thickness of the movement. If necessary, it could constitute on its own the armature of the excitation means.
  • An essential condition which must be achieved in all the embodiments envisaged is that the natural frequency of the acoustic generator is outside the band of frequencies used by the excitation means.
  • the arrangement ensures the emission of sound of good quality and with very good efficiency, in a timepiece of small dimensions, for example in a wristwatch.
  • the electrical energy required to produce sound is therefore low.
  • the frequency of the sound emitted can be modified, which allows for example to hear alarm signals in several tones, to order the triggering of several alarms, at different times, or to create a melody of musical quality.
  • the alarms will be identified by the sound emitted.
  • the realization of this high sound power transducer therefore opens the door to entirely new developments in the field of acoustic signaling carried out by a timepiece.
  • the efficiency of the device reaches a very high value, it is partly due to the fact that any acoustic short circuit is avoided. This is due to the fact that the edges of the sound generator are connected to fixed parts of the case such as the middle part, so that any repercussion of the sound pressure waves on the internal face of the vibrating member is avoided.
  • the quality of the sound and the value of the output also depend on the type of movement made by the sound generator. It is important that the rigid plate carried by the annular vibrating membrane moves parallel to itself especially in the case where it is a flat plate.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Electrostatic, Electromagnetic, Magneto- Strictive, And Variable-Resistance Transducers (AREA)
EP80200980A 1979-11-02 1980-10-16 Uhr mit elektroakustischer Signalvorrichtung Withdrawn EP0028429A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH987179A CH632385B (fr) 1979-11-02 1979-11-02 Montre a dispositif avertisseur electro-acoustique.
CH9871/79 1979-11-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0028429A1 true EP0028429A1 (de) 1981-05-13

Family

ID=4356575

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP80200980A Withdrawn EP0028429A1 (de) 1979-11-02 1980-10-16 Uhr mit elektroakustischer Signalvorrichtung

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0028429A1 (de)
JP (1) JPS5674682A (de)
CH (1) CH632385B (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0503132A2 (de) * 1991-03-12 1992-09-16 IWC International Watch Co. AG Uhr
WO2010105377A1 (fr) * 2009-03-19 2010-09-23 Rolex S.A. Boîte de montre
EP2328044A1 (de) * 2009-11-25 2011-06-01 Rolex Sa Armbanduhrgehäuse
EP3644132A1 (de) 2018-10-26 2020-04-29 Blancpain SA Armbanduhr mit schlagwerk oder musik, die mit mindestens einer schallabstrahlmembran ausgestattet ist, und herstellungsverfahren dieser membran

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1517125A (fr) * 1967-02-16 1968-03-15 Perfectionnement aux montres-bracelets-réveils
FR2236223A1 (de) * 1973-07-05 1975-01-31 Timex Corp
FR2408168A1 (fr) * 1977-11-07 1979-06-01 Ebauches Sa Montre comprenant un transducteur electro-mecanique

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5431709B2 (de) * 1972-02-19 1979-10-09

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1517125A (fr) * 1967-02-16 1968-03-15 Perfectionnement aux montres-bracelets-réveils
FR2236223A1 (de) * 1973-07-05 1975-01-31 Timex Corp
FR2408168A1 (fr) * 1977-11-07 1979-06-01 Ebauches Sa Montre comprenant un transducteur electro-mecanique

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0503132A2 (de) * 1991-03-12 1992-09-16 IWC International Watch Co. AG Uhr
EP0503132A3 (en) * 1991-03-12 1993-03-03 Iwc International Watch Co. Ag Clock
WO2010105377A1 (fr) * 2009-03-19 2010-09-23 Rolex S.A. Boîte de montre
CN102356362A (zh) * 2009-03-19 2012-02-15 劳力士有限公司 表壳
EP2738625A1 (de) * 2009-03-19 2014-06-04 Rolex Sa Uhrgehäuse umfassend einen Metallfaltenbalg
CN102356362B (zh) * 2009-03-19 2014-07-16 劳力士有限公司 表壳
US8876371B2 (en) 2009-03-19 2014-11-04 Rolex S.A. Watch case
EP2328044A1 (de) * 2009-11-25 2011-06-01 Rolex Sa Armbanduhrgehäuse
EP3644132A1 (de) 2018-10-26 2020-04-29 Blancpain SA Armbanduhr mit schlagwerk oder musik, die mit mindestens einer schallabstrahlmembran ausgestattet ist, und herstellungsverfahren dieser membran
CN111103783A (zh) * 2018-10-26 2020-05-05 布朗潘有限公司 设有至少一个声辐射膜的报时或音乐手表及制造该膜的方法
US11640142B2 (en) 2018-10-26 2023-05-02 Blancpain Sa Striking or musical watch provided with at least one acoustic radiating membrane and method for manufacturing the membrane

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH632385GA3 (de) 1982-10-15
CH632385B (fr)
JPS5674682A (en) 1981-06-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2463732B1 (de) Schlagwerkmechanismus einer Armbanduhr oder einer Spieluhr
EP0067790B1 (de) Gemischter elektro-akustischer Wandler
EP1906267B1 (de) Uhr mit Schlagwerk
EP2461219B1 (de) Schallabstrahlungsmembran für eine Spieluhr oder eine Armbanduhr mit Schlagwerk
EP0045265A2 (de) Sonde für Echographie mit mechanischer Sektorabtastung
EP2707779B1 (de) Uhr mit akustischem mechanismus
WO2006095244A2 (fr) Dispositif de fixation d’au moins un timbre de sonnerie dans une piece d’horlogerie et procede de fixation d’au moins un timbre de sonnerie dans une piece d’horlogerie
EP2463731B1 (de) Schlagwerkmechanismus einer Armbanduhr
EP3156855B1 (de) Mechanisches armbanduhr, die mit einer elektronischen funktion assoziert ist
EP2461220A1 (de) Schallabstrahlungsmembran für eine Spieluhr oder eine Armbanduhr mit Schlagwerk
EP0028429A1 (de) Uhr mit elektroakustischer Signalvorrichtung
FR2466903A1 (fr) Transducteur piezoelectrique reglable pour montre
FR2516272A1 (fr) Scanographe a ultrasons
EP3163380A1 (de) Armbanduhr mit verbesserter dichtigkeit
CH714635A1 (fr) Pièce d'horlogerie à sonnerie.
EP0899634B1 (de) Vorrichtung zur Verwendung unter Wasser und mit einem Schallwandler
EP0899635B1 (de) Vorrichtung zur Verwendung unter Wasser und mit einem Schallwandler
CH702145A1 (fr) Timbre pour une sonnerie d'une piece d'horlogerie.
WO2021078968A1 (fr) Piece d'horlogerie comprenant un dispositif amplificateur de vibrations
FR2478928A1 (fr) Transducteur electro-acoustique
CH714716B1 (fr) Mécanisme de sonnerie comprenant un dispositif de réglage de fréquence de vibration d'un timbre.
CH712080B1 (fr) Pièce d'horlogerie comprenant une source sonore.
EP3835883A1 (de) Anordnung für die halterung und die schwingungsübertragung einer schallabstrahlungsmembran in einem armbanduhrengehäuse
CH716927A2 (fr) Agencement de maintien et transmission vibratoire d'une membrane de rayonnement acoustique dans une boîte de montre.
CH537032A (fr) Montre-bracelet-réveil

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19810926

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19830331

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: VUILLE, PIERRE-ALAIN

Inventor name: PERUCCHI, NORBERTO