EP0853265A1 - Mit photovoltaischer Zelle funktionierendes elektronisches Gerät, insbesondere Zeitmesswerk - Google Patents

Mit photovoltaischer Zelle funktionierendes elektronisches Gerät, insbesondere Zeitmesswerk Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0853265A1
EP0853265A1 EP98100113A EP98100113A EP0853265A1 EP 0853265 A1 EP0853265 A1 EP 0853265A1 EP 98100113 A EP98100113 A EP 98100113A EP 98100113 A EP98100113 A EP 98100113A EP 0853265 A1 EP0853265 A1 EP 0853265A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
voltage
transistor
oscillator
signal
accumulator
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP98100113A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0853265B1 (de
Inventor
Pierre-André Farine
Jean-Pierre Wattenhofer
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Asulab AG
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Asulab AG
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Publication date
Priority claimed from CH00033/97A external-priority patent/CH691010A5/fr
Application filed by Asulab AG filed Critical Asulab AG
Publication of EP0853265A1 publication Critical patent/EP0853265A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0853265B1 publication Critical patent/EP0853265B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G19/00—Electric power supply circuits specially adapted for use in electronic time-pieces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus low-power autonomous electric vehicle with a supply device comprising a source of energy working by photovoltaic conversion, a electric accumulator and a voltage booster connected between the power source and the accumulator.
  • the invention relates to food in electrical energy of low energy consumers at using a source using a photovoltaic cell, such as timepieces, in particular a watch or alarm clock, pocket calculator, post miniature radio, infrared remote control or by radio waves, cordless phone, GPS receiver etc., and generally any powered device autonomous electric system including an energy accumulator electric maintained in charge from a source photoelectric energy.
  • a photovoltaic cell such as timepieces, in particular a watch or alarm clock, pocket calculator, post miniature radio, infrared remote control or by radio waves, cordless phone, GPS receiver etc.
  • Photovoltaic sources or cells currently used to feed these little ones energy consumers typically provide voltage of approximately 0.3 to 0.5 V per cell, whether semiconductor or photochemical type. Otherwise, electronic circuits require voltage which can hardly be less than 1 V from so we're used to hooking up many of these cells in series to supply them.
  • the accumulator can be of any type currently available on the market, like accumulators chemical, preferably lithium ion, and the capacities electrochemicals, especially those designated usually by the term “supercapacitors” or “supercap”.
  • the circuit described in the above-mentioned document is capable of maintaining the battery charge at a sufficient voltage for the electronic circuit used, while being able to operate with a single solar cell providing only a voltage of 0.3 to 0.5 V.
  • a particular problem that arises for devices powered by a unit consisting of a cell photovoltaic, an accumulator and a booster tension lies in the fact that the device risks being left in total darkness for a long time. If the device continues to operate in the dark, this which can be the case of a timepiece for example, the battery charge is consumed, without being renewed, so that at some point the device will stop working, the accumulator no longer containing that a residual charge too low to provide the voltage required.
  • the cell will again supply energy, but only at its own voltage of at most 0.5 V.
  • the vital components for the functioning of the device and especially those responsible for ordering the voltage booster cannot operate at such a supply voltage, the device will no longer be able to start and if not must be thrown away, at least be entrusted to a overhaul workshop so that the accumulator can be charged with an external charging device to the device.
  • the invention aims to provide an apparatus electric of the type indicated above whose starting is possible in all circumstances despite the use of a photovoltaic source providing a voltage lower than the minimum operating voltage of the components itself to fulfill its function.
  • the subject of the invention is therefore an autonomous electrical appliance with low energy consumption provided with a supply device comprising an energy source operating by photovoltaic conversion, an electrical accumulator and a voltage booster connected between the source of energy and the accumulator to charge it, said source supplying insufficient voltage to operate at least certain parts of the apparatus vital for it to fulfill its function, said voltage booster being of the type controlled by a pulse signal from predetermined frequency supplied by a generator connected to it, characterized in that said pulse signal generator comprises an oscillator designed to operate at a voltage equal to or less than the voltage supplied by said photovoltaic source.
  • the device can start even if the battery is completely discharged, because the oscillator required to control the elevator voltage will work from the moment the device is placed in an environment in which the illumination is strong enough that the energy source photovoltaic produces its supply voltage.
  • the invention is applied to a part PH watchmaking.
  • the appliance at low energy consumption targeted by the invention which can be any other device that must operate independently at using a photovoltaic energy source charging a accumulator.
  • the PH timepiece conventionally comprises a timepiece circuit 1 generally designated by a rectangle in phantom in the figure.
  • this circuit includes a quartz oscillator 2, preferably at 32768 Hz, a divider 3 represented here by two division stages 3a and 3b to divide the frequency from oscillator 2 until a signal is obtained pulse, 1 Hz for example.
  • This impulse signal is applied to a control circuit 4 of a stepping motor 5 intended to drive a set of needles 6.
  • the PH timepiece is powered by an accumulator 7 formed for example by a lithium ion accumulator or a large capacitor and more particularly by a component that watchmakers call a "supercapacitor” or “supercap “.
  • the voltage present at the terminals of this accumulator 7 is designated by V battery .
  • the accumulator 7 is part of a supply device generally designated by the reference 8.
  • This supply device 8 also comprises a photovoltaic cell 9 formed for example from a single element and supplying a voltage V cp situated between 0, 3 V and 0.5 V, preferably 0.4 V. It can be any photovoltaic cell, semiconductor or photochemical type.
  • a voltage booster comprising in series a self 10 and a Schottky diode 11.
  • coil 10 the stepper motor coil 5.
  • the node 12 between the choke 10 and the Schottky diode 11 is connected to the source-drain path of a first switching transistor TR1 which alternately puts this connection node to the voltage of the accumulator 7 and to ground at a frequency which is that of a pulse control signal applied to the gate of this transistor TR1. It follows from this operation that due to the presence of the choke 10, the node 12 is brought to a voltage much higher than the voltage V cp supplied by the cell 9, sufficient to charge the accumulator 7.
  • the gate of transistor TR1 is connected by through an inverter 13 at the node between a resistance R1 and the source-drain path of a transistor TR2 signal shaping, serial connection of these two components being connected between the positive terminal of the accumulator 7 and the mass.
  • the gate of transistor TR2 is connected to the output of the divider stage 3a of the timepiece circuit 1, this stage providing a signal with a frequency of 8192 Hz in the example described here.
  • the switching transistor TR1 when the accumulator 7 is charged and provides sufficient voltage to supply the vital components of the timepiece circuit 1, and in particular the oscillator 2 and the division stage 3a, the switching transistor TR1 is alternately conductive and not -conductor to the rhythm of the output signal from the division stage 3a. If simultaneously, the timepiece PH is exposed to light, this alternation of the conduction state of the transistor TR1 causes the voltage V cp supplied by the photovoltaic cell to multiply, so that the charge of the accumulator 7 is constantly renewed.
  • the charging device 8 further comprises a second switching transistor TR3, the source-drain path of which is mounted in parallel with that of the transistor TR1.
  • the gate of this transistor TR3 is connected via an inverter 14 to the node located between a resistor R2 and a second signal shaping transistor TR4, the series connection of these two components being connected between the positive terminal of cell 9 (V cp ) and mass.
  • the gate of the transistor TR4 for shaping signal is connected to the output of an oscillator auxiliary 15 providing at its output 18 a signal whose frequency is preferably close to or equal to that at which appears the control signal at the output of division stage 3a.
  • Oscillator 15 is designed to so that it can operate with voltage very low supply, i.e. of equal value or possibly lower than the voltage supplied by the photovoltaic cell 9.
  • Such an oscillator can be designed in any appropriate manner, but preferably its design is that described in the patent application European No 97100261.3.
  • oscillator 15 can be made using three inverters 16a, 16b and 16c mounted in a ring and produced by MOS transistors operating in the low inversion domain and in suitably polarizing the boxes by means of which the MOS transistors are arranged in the substrate.
  • the increase in the voltage supplied by the photovoltaic cell 9 can be achieved by a change in the conduction state, either of the transistor TR1, or of the transistor TR3, because they are both capable of carrying the node 12 alternately to the ground potential and to a voltage composed of the sum of the voltage V ACCU and the voltage on the diode 11.
  • means are provided to allow selective activation of switching transistors TR1 and TR3 as a function of a signal representative of activity of the energy consuming device which is here the timepiece circuit 1 of the timepiece PH.
  • the activity signal is taken at the exit from division stage 3a and shows the operation of the crystal oscillator 2.
  • the activity signal can be picked up elsewhere in the timepiece circuit, for example at the control circuit 4 output, possibly after have been suitably adapted to allow the command switching transistors TR1 and TR3.
  • oscillator 2 and the stage of division 3a only show activity if that their supply voltage is sufficient to make operate the components of which they are made.
  • this voltage can be equal to or greater than 1 V, although this value should not be considered as limiting the invention.
  • the output of the division stage 3a is connected to the input of a voltage booster 17 which can be formed by a circuit known as its designer Dickson.
  • the output of the voltage booster 17 is connected to ground via a resistor R3, to the gate of a first selection transistor TR5 and at the gate of a second selection transistor TR6 which has a conductivity type opposite to that of the transistor TR5.
  • the transistor TR5 is of type N and the transistor TR6 is of type P.
  • the drain-source path of transistor TR5 is connected between ground and a node 18 which is connected to the output of oscillator 15 and the gate of transistor TR4.
  • the drain-source path of transistor TR6 is connected between the gate of transistor TR2 and the positive terminal of the accumulator 7.
  • the timepiece circuit 1 Since the timepiece circuit 1 is not supplied, it does not provide any activity signal, since the oscillator 2 and the division stage 3a are unable to operate.
  • the voltage booster 17 does not supply voltage at its output so that the transistor TR6 is conductive preventing the control of the transistor TR1, and that the transistor TR5 is non-conductive.
  • the cell 9 being lit, it provides energy at a voltage between 0.3 and 0.5 V. A this voltage, oscillator 15 is capable of operating and it is authorized there thanks to the blocking of transistor TR5. Therefore, the transistors TR4 and TR3 are switched to the oscillator frequency 15.
  • the self 10 accumulates energy which is suddenly released with a spike of tension when the transistor TR3 is blocked. Voltage spikes allow charging the accumulator 7 to a voltage greater than that provided by cell 9.
  • the transistor TR4 accompanied by the inverter 14 serves as a buffer between the output of oscillator 15 and transistor TR3 which is relatively large and therefore has an input capacity important. Thus, the battery can be charged.
  • the transistor TR5 transistor makes the TR5 transistor conductive, short-circuiting oscillator 15 which then stops function.
  • the transistor TR6 is made non conductor which releases the control of transistor TR1, via transistor TR2 and inverter 13.
  • the transistor TR1 replaces the transistor TR3 and the battery 7 can continue to charge for the timepiece circuit is operating normally. So, we understand that the transistors TR5 and TR6 work as alternative control means.
  • Voltage booster 17 is desirable for obtain a frank switching of the transistors TR5 and TR6 as soon as oscillator 2 delivers an activity signal to division stage 3a.
  • the oscillator 2 begins to operate as soon as it detects on these supply terminals a sufficient voltage which causes the activity signal to be lost. This means that the switching between the two oscillators 15 and 2 takes place independently of the construction dispersions that may exist between the circuits of the various timepieces. The value of the minimum accumulated voltage V for the operation of oscillator 2 can thus be determined by each circuit individually according to the values of its own components.
  • oscillator 2 and division stage 3a only for driving the circuit timepiece 1, the oscillator 15 being responsible for piloting the voltage booster.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
EP19980100113 1997-01-09 1998-01-07 Mit photovoltaischer Zelle funktionierendes elektronisches Gerät, insbesondere Zeitmesswerk Expired - Lifetime EP0853265B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH33/97 1997-01-09
EP97100238 1997-01-09
CH00033/97A CH691010A5 (fr) 1997-01-09 1997-01-09 Appareil électrique fonctionnant à l'aide d'une source photovoltaïque, notamment pièce d'horlogerie.
CH3397 1997-01-09
EP97100238 1997-01-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0853265A1 true EP0853265A1 (de) 1998-07-15
EP0853265B1 EP0853265B1 (de) 2002-04-24

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EP19980100113 Expired - Lifetime EP0853265B1 (de) 1997-01-09 1998-01-07 Mit photovoltaischer Zelle funktionierendes elektronisches Gerät, insbesondere Zeitmesswerk

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EP (1) EP0853265B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69805011T2 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0908799A2 (de) * 1997-10-07 1999-04-14 Seiko Instruments Inc. Elektronische Uhr mit Stromerzeugungselement

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2142490A (en) * 1980-10-01 1985-01-16 Hitachi Ltd Low power consumption electronic circuit
GB2158274A (en) * 1984-03-29 1985-11-06 Suwa Seikosha Kk Electronic timepiece
EP0293045A1 (de) * 1987-05-29 1988-11-30 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Integrierter CMOS-Kreis mit Substratvorspannungsregler
JPH08107669A (ja) * 1994-10-05 1996-04-23 Sharp Corp 昇圧型チョッパレギュレータ

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2142490A (en) * 1980-10-01 1985-01-16 Hitachi Ltd Low power consumption electronic circuit
GB2158274A (en) * 1984-03-29 1985-11-06 Suwa Seikosha Kk Electronic timepiece
EP0293045A1 (de) * 1987-05-29 1988-11-30 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Integrierter CMOS-Kreis mit Substratvorspannungsregler
JPH08107669A (ja) * 1994-10-05 1996-04-23 Sharp Corp 昇圧型チョッパレギュレータ

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 096, no. 008 30 August 1996 (1996-08-30) *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0908799A2 (de) * 1997-10-07 1999-04-14 Seiko Instruments Inc. Elektronische Uhr mit Stromerzeugungselement
EP0908799A3 (de) * 1997-10-07 2001-08-16 Seiko Instruments Inc. Elektronische Uhr mit Stromerzeugungselement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69805011T2 (de) 2002-12-12
DE69805011D1 (de) 2002-05-29
EP0853265B1 (de) 2002-04-24

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