EP0621519A2 - Zeitmessvorrichtung mit Angabe des Ablaufs der Batterielebensdauer - Google Patents

Zeitmessvorrichtung mit Angabe des Ablaufs der Batterielebensdauer Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0621519A2
EP0621519A2 EP94106045A EP94106045A EP0621519A2 EP 0621519 A2 EP0621519 A2 EP 0621519A2 EP 94106045 A EP94106045 A EP 94106045A EP 94106045 A EP94106045 A EP 94106045A EP 0621519 A2 EP0621519 A2 EP 0621519A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
timepiece
indicator
display means
charge
display
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Withdrawn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
EP94106045A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0621519A3 (de
Inventor
Gabriel Mossuz
Pascal Puthod
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.)
ISA France SA
Original Assignee
ISA France SA
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 ISA France SA filed Critical ISA France SA
Publication of EP0621519A2 publication Critical patent/EP0621519A2/de
Publication of EP0621519A3 publication Critical patent/EP0621519A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C10/00—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces
    • G04C10/04—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces with means for indicating the condition of the power supply

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to timepieces equipped with an exhaustible energy source such as a battery.
  • the invention relates to such a timepiece in which means are provided for indicating the passage of the charge level of the energy source below a predetermined level judged to be that below which this source must either be recharged or replaced. These means are commonly designated by the expression “end of battery life indicator”.
  • timepiece should be understood in its most general sense, watches, alarm clocks and the like being particularly targeted.
  • end of battery life indicators are known so far.
  • certain types of watches use one of the hands, preferably the seconds, to mark the end of the battery's life, the needle being caused to execute a particular movement when the electronic circuit of the watch detects an insufficiency of the battery charge.
  • a typical case is, in this respect, a watch in which, in this situation, the second hand makes a movement of two steps at the same time every two seconds.
  • Another device for indicating the end of battery life uses the hour markings on the dial formed by as many counters therein, to show a sign representative of the insufficient state of charge of the battery. More specifically, in this document, an indicator ring can move under the hour markings on the dial and can be driven when the time comes by the date ring of the watch, thanks to a coupling which is actuated at this instant and which is interposed between the two rings. It is clear that this device relates to a watch of a very particular type, the aesthetics of which is limited to the nature of the hour markers in the form of a window.
  • this device takes up space not only in height because of the coupling, but also in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the needles due to the fact that the ring indicating the end of battery life is located the outside of the date ring.
  • This prior device therefore has certain drawbacks.
  • JP 57.233 / 87 Another device indicating the end of battery life is known from Japanese patent application JP 57.233 / 87.
  • This is a timepiece in the form of an alarm clock including a date indicator which appears in a window in the dial of the room. Behind this window is also placed a sliding shutter which, in the event of insufficient battery charge, hides the date indicator and places a sign in the window warning the user that the battery must be changed.
  • This prior device therefore makes, in a way, a "default" use of the date indicator since it comprises a member (the flap) which masks this indicator at the appropriate time.
  • this device is also bulky and hardly suitable for use in an alarm clock or in a table clock.
  • the object of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art and to propose a timepiece fitted with a space-saving end-of-life indicator device which is easy to adapt to the usual constructions of watch movements.
  • the end of life of the timepiece battery can be indicated by an indicator, such as the date indicator or the day of the week indicator, which is already present in the piece. watchmaking industry, and to which it suffices to add an additional display position to which a pictogram can be provided, for example, representing the exhaustion of the battery.
  • This device for indicating the end of battery life therefore requires no additional mechanical member to fulfill this particular function.
  • the indicator device easily adapts to existing watch movements insofar as they already have a drive independent of their calendar day indicator (s) and where a control circuit programmed in consequence is incorporated into it.
  • the level of charge to which said detection and control circuit must react to move the indicator to its excess position should be fixed at a value such that the energy source still has the amount of energy necessary to make it pass the number of steps required for the indicator.
  • this amount of energy is advantageously increased so that the timepiece can still operate to indicate the time for a predetermined period giving its user time to change the battery.
  • FIG. 1 a curve of the voltage U of a battery, usual in watchmaking, is shown as a function of time t, the scale of the abscissa being very spread out at the end of the life of the battery.
  • the battery has a maximum voltage at full charge U1. During the use of the battery, this voltage gradually decreases to reach at a time t1 a value U2 at which it is considered necessary to trigger the operations for indicating the end of the battery life.
  • a third voltage value U3 reached at time t2 corresponds to the exhaustion of the battery to the point where it is no longer capable of supplying the circuit of the timepiece.
  • the voltages U1, U2 and U3 are respectively 3.1 V, 2.7 V and 2.5 V
  • the period t2-t1 can be equal to two weeks of the timepiece.
  • the period of time until time t1 naturally depends on several factors, such as the consumption of the timepiece or the capacity of the battery.
  • the voltage U2 must be chosen in such a way that the battery still has enough energy to drive the calendar days indicator towards its position for indicating the end of life of the battery, as we will see later.
  • FIG. 2 represents a simplified diagram of a timepiece according to the invention, which comprises a battery 1, the discharge curve of which is roughly that of FIG. 1.
  • This timepiece also includes a microprocessor 2 programmed in a manner known per se to first ensure the timepiece function which is controlled by a quartz 3.
  • the microprocessor develops control pulses, for example at the right of one per second to excite first display means 4 of analog type formed here by a stepping motor 5 driving, by a train symbolized by a dotted line 6, the hands 7, 8 and 9 respectively of the hours , minutes and seconds of the timepiece.
  • first display means can be of digital type.
  • An example of a commercial microprocessor suitable for fulfilling the functions of that shown at 2 in FIG. 2 is of the four-bit type and is chosen from the "MARC 4" family manufactured by the company "Eurosil".
  • the timepiece according to the invention also comprises second display means 10 of analog type which comprise a stepping motor 11 receiving its control pulses from the microprocessor 2 at the appropriate times, that is to say each time the transition by midnight from one calendar day to another occurs.
  • the motor 11 is mechanically coupled, by a gear train or a direct drive 12, to a date ring 13 bearing the numbers of the date of the month (1 to 31), as well as to a position excess, a 14 end-of-battery sign.
  • the inscriptions on the ring 13 can appear, according to a recursive cycle, behind a window 15 made in the dial of the timepiece. In this case, the recursive cycle is therefore formed by the days of the month.
  • Another variant of the invention consists in using a hand as an indicator of time units, this hand having an excess position to display the end of life of the battery.
  • the timepiece according to the invention also comprises a detection and control circuit partially materialized by the microprocessor 2 and also by a comparator 16 which appears on the left in FIG. 2 and which is intended to compare the voltage of the battery with a reference voltage U2 and to develop a binary end-of-life signal which can be interpreted by the microprocessor 2.
  • the battery 1 is connected to a voltage divider formed by two resistors 18 and 19.
  • the junction of the resistors 18 and 19 is connected to the inverting input of a voltage comparator 20.
  • the non-inverting input of this comparator is connected to a reference source 21 with a voltage equal to U2xR19 / R19 + R18 , U2 being the tension of figure 1.
  • the output of the comparator 20 is connected to an input of the microprocessor 2.
  • the battery voltage becomes less than U2
  • the voltage at the junction between the resistors 18 and 19 becomes less than the voltage of the reference 21, the logic level at the output of the comparator changes state.
  • FIG. 3 represents a flow diagram of part of the program materialized in the microprocessor 2 so that it can ensure the progression of the date ring during the normal operation of the timepiece (battery with a sufficient charge level) or to indicate the end of battery life.
  • a test is carried out at A to ensure that the hour, minute and second counters of the timepiece circuit materialized in microprocessor 2 are at zero. As long as this condition is not fulfilled, the program jumps through B in order to be able to perform the normal time functions of the first display means 4.
  • test in A proves to be affirmative (that is to say at midnight)
  • the program proceeds to another test in C where it is noted if the date counter materialized in the microprocessor 2 is on one of the date indication positions. If the test proves negative (that is to say the disc indicates the pictogram of end of life of the battery) the program performs the jump B as previously.
  • the microprocessor 2 reads the logic level of the output of the voltage comparator 20.
  • This level is tested in E. If it corresponds to that indicating a good level of charge in battery 1 (U> U2), the program goes to an operation in F during which the date counter is advanced by unit. Then, by another operation at G, the microprocessor 2 sends a pulse to the motor 11 so that it advances the date ring 13 by one step.
  • the microprocessor can also by operation L make the necessary corrections at the end of the month (months of 28, 29 and 30 days).
  • the microprocessor 2 controls the motor 11 at M so as to place the date ring 13 in its excess position for indication of end of life of the battery, in which the corresponding pictogram appears behind the window 15.
  • Another operation N sets the date counter to zero and the program switches to ordinary time functions.
  • the indicator is a star of the days or an indicator of the months of the year, things happen "mutatis muntandis" on a cycle of seven or twelve steps respectively; the surplus position not included.
  • the invention provides a timepiece making it possible to indicate the end of battery life with minimal modifications to be made to conventional timepiece movements thanks to the use of a usual time unit indicator.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
EP94106045A 1993-04-20 1994-04-19 Zeitmessvorrichtung mit Angabe des Ablaufs der Batterielebensdauer. Withdrawn EP0621519A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH01199/93A CH688462B5 (fr) 1993-04-20 1993-04-20 Mouvement d'horlogerie comprenant un dispositif indicateur de fin de vie de pile.
CH1199/93 1993-04-20

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0621519A2 true EP0621519A2 (de) 1994-10-26
EP0621519A3 EP0621519A3 (de) 1995-03-01

Family

ID=4204828

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94106045A Withdrawn EP0621519A3 (de) 1993-04-20 1994-04-19 Zeitmessvorrichtung mit Angabe des Ablaufs der Batterielebensdauer.

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US5446702A (de)
EP (1) EP0621519A3 (de)
CH (1) CH688462B5 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0735442A1 (de) * 1995-03-28 1996-10-02 Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches Analoges elektronischen Uhrwerk mit multifunktionellem Tagescheibe
EP0744675A1 (de) * 1995-05-24 1996-11-27 Montres Rolex Sa Zeitmessinstrument insbesondere elektrische Armbanduhr analoger Art
WO2005124473A1 (de) 2004-06-15 2005-12-29 Junghans Uhren Gmbh Verfahren und vorrichtung zur einstellung einer datumsanzeige bei einer uhr, insbesondere einer funkuhr, nach einen batteriewechsel
EP2128722A1 (de) * 2007-02-22 2009-12-02 Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd. Funkuhr
US7889602B2 (en) 2005-09-13 2011-02-15 Lvmh Swiss Manufactures Sa Watch with a multifunctional display

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE69637519D1 (de) * 1995-09-26 2008-06-19 Citizen Holdings Co Ltd Elektronische Uhr
JP3726852B2 (ja) * 1996-11-22 2005-12-14 セイコーエプソン株式会社 時計装置
WO2000013066A1 (fr) * 1998-08-31 2000-03-09 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Montre electronique ayant une fonction de generation d'electricite
WO2002023285A1 (fr) * 2000-09-13 2002-03-21 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Appareil horaire electronique
JP5025070B2 (ja) * 2000-09-27 2012-09-12 シチズンホールディングス株式会社 電子時計
FR2815729B1 (fr) * 2000-10-24 2003-03-28 Isa France Sa Dispositif d'indication de l'etat de piles, destine a equiper une montre
JP4222480B2 (ja) * 2001-06-13 2009-02-12 Ｓｄｃテクノロジーズ・アジア株式会社 被覆用組成物と該組成物を塗布した物品
US7027362B2 (en) * 2003-12-11 2006-04-11 Timex Group B.V. Multifunctional rotating ring in a timepiece
WO2006018157A1 (fr) * 2004-08-16 2006-02-23 Asulab S.A. Montre affichant la date et une indication astronomique
US7492671B2 (en) * 2007-02-06 2009-02-17 Seiko Instruments Inc. Analog radio-controlled timepiece

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2158915A1 (de) * 1971-11-27 1973-05-30 Kieninger & Obergfell Quarzuhr mit netzunabhaengiger speisung, vorzugsweise durch trockenbatterie
US3928846A (en) * 1973-12-14 1975-12-23 Copal Co Ltd Operation condition detecting and displaying device
JPS58195177A (ja) * 1982-05-10 1983-11-14 Seikosha Co Ltd アナログ時計の電池寿命表示装置

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3998043A (en) * 1973-12-26 1976-12-21 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electric timepiece for displaying the operating condition thereof
CH617057B (fr) * 1977-09-27 Berney Sa Jean Claude Piece d'horlogerie electronique.
US4290129A (en) * 1978-07-27 1981-09-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electronic watch with supplemental function display
JPS55106383A (en) * 1979-02-09 1980-08-15 Seiko Instr & Electronics Ltd Electronic watch with alarm
CH678908B5 (de) * 1990-04-04 1992-05-29 Rolex Montres
CH681673B5 (fr) * 1990-12-14 1993-11-15 Rolex Montres Montre-bracelet à affichage dissimule.

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2158915A1 (de) * 1971-11-27 1973-05-30 Kieninger & Obergfell Quarzuhr mit netzunabhaengiger speisung, vorzugsweise durch trockenbatterie
US3928846A (en) * 1973-12-14 1975-12-23 Copal Co Ltd Operation condition detecting and displaying device
JPS58195177A (ja) * 1982-05-10 1983-11-14 Seikosha Co Ltd アナログ時計の電池寿命表示装置

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 8, no. 42 (P-256) 23 Février 1984 & JP-A-58 195 177 (SEIKOUSHIYA K. K.) *

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0735442A1 (de) * 1995-03-28 1996-10-02 Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches Analoges elektronischen Uhrwerk mit multifunktionellem Tagescheibe
CH688362GA3 (fr) * 1995-03-28 1997-08-29 Ebauchesfabrik Eta Ag Pièce d'horlogerie électronique analogique à disque de quantième multifonctionnel.
EP0744675A1 (de) * 1995-05-24 1996-11-27 Montres Rolex Sa Zeitmessinstrument insbesondere elektrische Armbanduhr analoger Art
CH687727GA3 (fr) * 1995-05-24 1997-02-14 Rolex Montres Instrument horaire notamment une montre-bracelet électrique du type analogique.
US5790478A (en) * 1995-05-24 1998-08-04 Montres Rolex S.A. Time-keeping instrument, in particular an analog-type electric wrist watch
WO2005124473A1 (de) 2004-06-15 2005-12-29 Junghans Uhren Gmbh Verfahren und vorrichtung zur einstellung einer datumsanzeige bei einer uhr, insbesondere einer funkuhr, nach einen batteriewechsel
US7889602B2 (en) 2005-09-13 2011-02-15 Lvmh Swiss Manufactures Sa Watch with a multifunctional display
EP2128722A1 (de) * 2007-02-22 2009-12-02 Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd. Funkuhr
EP2128722A4 (de) * 2007-02-22 2010-05-26 Citizen Holdings Co Ltd Funkuhr
CN101617278B (zh) * 2007-02-22 2011-06-29 西铁城控股株式会社 电波修正表
US8295128B2 (en) 2007-02-22 2012-10-23 Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd. Radio-controlled timepiece

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH688462GA3 (fr) 1997-10-15
EP0621519A3 (de) 1995-03-01
CH688462B5 (fr) 1998-04-15
US5446702A (en) 1995-08-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0621519A2 (de) Zeitmessvorrichtung mit Angabe des Ablaufs der Batterielebensdauer
EP0762243B1 (de) Uhr mit Gangreserveanzeige
EP0822470B1 (de) Elektronisches Uhrwerk, das einen Generator enthält, der von einer Zugfeder getrieben wird
EP0231451B1 (de) Elektronische Uhr mit zwei Motoren, die einen ewigen Kalender enthält
EP0589353A1 (de) Analoguhr mit der Möglichkeit zur Anzeige von Zusatzinformationen
EP0048217A1 (de) Elektronische Uhr
EP0173230A1 (de) Weltzeituhr
EP2887158A1 (de) Einstellvorrichtung für Armbanduhr
EP1739511B1 (de) Verfahren zur Synchronisierung einer analogen Anzeige und eines flüchtigen Zähler in einer Uhr
EP0744675B1 (de) Zeitmessinstrument insbesondere elektrische Armbanduhr analoger Art
WO1994003845A1 (fr) Montre avec dispositif de quantieme
CH704948B1 (fr) Montre chronographe électromécanique à affichage rétrograde.
EP0515611B1 (de) Verborgene zeitanzeige
EP0589465B1 (de) Analoguhr mit Warnungsmitteln für eine Betriebsartänderung
EP0161438B1 (de) Uhrwerk das wenigstens eine Chronograph-Funktion enthält
EP0267440B1 (de) Analog-Uhr mit zwei Motoren, die einen ewigen Tageszähler enthält
FR2630229A1 (fr) Montre electronique a affichage analogique du temps
CH688461GA3 (fr) Pièce d'horlogerie à affichage analogique présentant au moins un mode d'affichage universel de l'heure.
CH672222B5 (de)
EP0203330B1 (de) Elektronisches Uhrwerk mit Detektion für den Ablauf der Lebensdauer der Batterie
EP3299906A1 (de) Elektronische uhr mit zwei zeigern vom analogen typ
CH673555B5 (de)
EP4105738A1 (de) Armbanduhr mit einer hilfsfunktion zur anzeige der sekunden
EP1184751A1 (de) Elektronische Uhr mit Datumanzeige durch ein grosses Fenster
CH712944A2 (fr) Pièce d'horlogerie électronique à deux aiguilles du type analogique.

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

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19950720

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19960717

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

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: 19980908