EP0875807A1 - Elektronisches Uhrwerk gespeist von einem Generator, der durch eine mechanische Energiequelle angetrieben wird - Google Patents

Elektronisches Uhrwerk gespeist von einem Generator, der durch eine mechanische Energiequelle angetrieben wird Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0875807A1
EP0875807A1 EP97110538A EP97110538A EP0875807A1 EP 0875807 A1 EP0875807 A1 EP 0875807A1 EP 97110538 A EP97110538 A EP 97110538A EP 97110538 A EP97110538 A EP 97110538A EP 0875807 A1 EP0875807 A1 EP 0875807A1
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EP
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Prior art keywords
rotor
angular position
speed
state
output
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Granted
Application number
EP97110538A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0875807B1 (de
Inventor
Pierre-André Farine
Jean-Jacques Born
Francis Chabloz
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Asulab AG
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Asulab AG
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C10/00—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C11/00—Synchronisation of independently-driven clocks

Definitions

  • timepieces are described, in particular in patent applications EP 0 239 820 and EP 0 679 968.
  • the converter is used simply as a generator for supply the electrical energy necessary for the power supply of the servo circuit in response to energy mechanics provided by the source of the latter.
  • the characteristics of the various components of these timepieces are chosen so that the actual rotation speed of the generator rotor a normally tend to be greater than a speed of setpoint which is the one for which the work of the part is correct, and the servo circuit is intended to control this actual speed of rotation to this set speed.
  • this enslavement is achieved by braking periodically the rotor for a period of time whose duration depends on the advance or the delay of this rotor by relative to its set angular position.
  • this servo-control is achieved by braking the rotor for a time lapse having a fixed duration whenever this rotor is ahead of its angular position of instructions.
  • this limiting torque CL obviously depends mechanical characteristics of the various elements driven by the barrel spring, as well as electrical characteristics of the generator and the circuit powered by the latter.
  • An example of such a limit torque CL has been represented in FIG. 1 by a straight line broken lines D. This straight line D intersects curve B in a point P for which the disarming angle of the spring barrel has an AL value.
  • part E1 of this energy E is used, during the disarming of the spring barrel, to rotate the generator rotor at its set speed and after conversion to energy electric by this generator, to supply the circuit for controlling the speed of rotation of this rotor.
  • This part E1 of the mechanical energy E is equal to the area bounded by the axes A and C, by the line D and by the vertical line of abscissa AL.
  • E2 Another part of the mechanical energy E, designated by E2, is used to accelerate the generator rotor and, after its conversion into electrical energy, for brake this rotor when necessary.
  • This mechanical energy E2 is equal to the area delimited by axis C, line D and curve B.
  • This autonomy can obviously be increased by using a barrel spring providing torque higher and / or having a more total disarming angle tall. But the volume occupied by such a spring of barrel also increases, which can make its difficult, if not impossible, use in a timepiece of low volume such as a wristwatch.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece of the same kind as those which have been described above but whose autonomy is clearly higher than that of the latter, all other things being equal.
  • the part timepieces according to the present invention which is designated by the general reference 1 includes an energy source mechanical constituted by a barrel spring.
  • This barrel spring designated by reference 2 has not been represented only very schematically because it can be same kind as any of the barrel springs well known that are used in timepieces classic mechanics. We will admit that the variation of motor torque supplied by this barrel spring 2 in depending on its disarming angle is that which is shown in Figure 1.
  • This barrel spring 2 is coupled to a manual or automatic winding which has not been shown because it can be similar to any of the well-known winding mechanisms which are also used in mechanical timepieces classics.
  • Barrel spring 2 is mechanically coupled to rotor 3a of an electromechanical converter 3 by through a gear train 4 symbolized by a mixed line.
  • This converter 3 also has a coil 3b, and it will not be described in detail since it may be achieved in various ways well known to specialists.
  • the rotor 3a comprises a bipolar magnet which has was simply symbolized by an arrow representing his magnetization axis.
  • the coil 3b is coupled magnetically to the permanent magnet of rotor 3a, by example via a stator which has not been shown, so as to produce between its terminals B1 and B2, in response to any rotation of the rotor 3a, a voltage alternative Ug whose period is equal to the period of rotation of the rotor 3a, that is to say at the time taken by this rotor 3a for a turn.
  • Terminals B1 and B2 of the coil 3b obviously constitute the terminals of the converter 3.
  • Timepiece 1 also has a circuit rectifier 5 whose inputs 5a and 5b are respectively connected to terminals B1 and B2 of converter 3 and whose outputs 5c and 5d provide a voltage Ua at least substantially continuous in response to alternating voltage Ug produced by the converter 3.
  • This voltage Ua is intended to supply the various electronic circuits which will be described later, via drivers who have not been represented.
  • the rectifier 5 will not be described in detail since it can be similar to any of the rectifiers well known to specialists. We will simply mention that, for a reason which will be made clear later, this rectifier 5 is arranged so that the voltage continuous Ua is greater than the peak value of the alternating voltage Ug.
  • the terminals 5a and 5c of the rectifier 5 are connected to each other and to the terminal B1 of converter 3.
  • the potential of these three terminals 5a, 5c and B1 was chosen arbitrarily as reference potential, or mass, and all voltages which will be mentioned in the remainder of this description will be voltages measured with respect to this potential of reference.
  • the alternating voltage Ug is therefore symmetrical with respect to this reference potential when the rotor 3a rotates at constant speed and the coil 3b is not short-circuited.
  • the timepiece 1 also includes means display of the current time which are constituted in this example by conventional needles, designated by the reference 6, but which can also consist of other well known items such as discs, drums or the like. It can also include one or several ancillary display devices such as a calendar, moon phase or other device. A such an ancillary device has not been shown.
  • Needles 6 and, if applicable, the ancillary devices, are mechanically connected to the spring barrel 2 and to rotor 3a of converter 3 by through a gear train, part of which less may be common with part of the train 4.
  • this gear train connected to needles 6 has not been referenced separately, and it is also symbolized by a mixed line.
  • Timepiece 1 also includes a mechanism setting the hands 6 and, if necessary, correction of the accessory device (s), which has not been shown because it can be similar to any various mechanisms of this kind which are well known to specialists.
  • the elements of the servo circuit 7 which determine the speed of rotation of the rotor 3a and which will be described later, as well as the gear train 4, are arranged so that the needles 6 rotate their normal speeds when the rotor 3a turns at the set speed Vc.
  • this set speed Vc has been set at 4 revolutions per second.
  • the characteristics of the barrel spring 2 and the various elements which it as well as the characteristics of the converter 3, are chosen so that the average speed of rotation of the rotor 3a is greater than the speed of setpoint Vc as long as the engine torque supplied by the cylinder spring 2 is higher than the limit torque CL defined above ( Figure 1), provided that the coil 3b is not short-circuited.
  • these characteristics are chosen so that this average speed of rotation be less than this setpoint speed Vc if the coil 3b is short-circuited, under circumstances which will be described more away, even when the barrel spring 2 is fully wound up and the engine torque it provides therefore has its maximum value.
  • the servo circuit 7 mentioned above includes a comparator 8 whose direct input is connected at terminal B2 of converter 3 and whose reverse input is related to the reference potential, so that the signal produced by its output, which will be called SM signal in the rest of this description, is alternately to state “0" and state "1" depending on whether the voltage Ug supplied by converter 3 is negative or positive.
  • the period of the SM signal is obviously equal to that of Ug tension so that, in particular, this period of signal SM is 250 milliseconds when the rotor 3a of the converter 3 rotates at its set speed Vc which is of 4 turns per second in this example like this was mentioned above.
  • the SM signal goes from its "0" state to its state "1" each time the rotor 3a of the converter 3 goes through a determined angular position, which is that at which the Ug voltage goes through its zero value in croissant.
  • the SM signal is therefore both a measurement signal of the speed of rotation of the rotor 3a and a signal detection of the passage of this rotor 3a by the position determined angle defined above.
  • the servo circuit 7 also includes a source of a reference signal SR, constituted, in this example, by an oscillator 9, which can be a crystal oscillator, and a frequency divider circuit 10 having an output Q1 which provides the SR signal in response to the signal produced by the oscillator 9.
  • a source of a reference signal SR constituted, in this example, by an oscillator 9, which can be a crystal oscillator, and a frequency divider circuit 10 having an output Q1 which provides the SR signal in response to the signal produced by the oscillator 9.
  • This oscillator 9 and this frequency divider 10 do not will not be described in detail as they can be made in various ways well known to those skilled in the art. We will simply mention that this oscillator 9 and this frequency divider 10 are arranged in such a way that the SR signal period is equal to that of SM signal when the rotor 3a of the converter 3 rotates at its speed Vc setpoint, i.e. 250 milliseconds in the this example.
  • oscillator 9 a similar oscillator to the one used in the vast majority of rooms of electronic timepieces and which provides a signal having a frequency of 32,768 Hz, and by realizing the divider of frequency 10 in the well-known form of a series of 13 flip flops often called flips-flops.
  • the frequency divider 10 has a second outlet, designated by Q2, providing a signal SC having a much shorter period, for example of the order of a hundred times shorter, than that of SR signal, the usefulness of which will be made clear more far.
  • this signal SC can be provided by the output of the sixth flip-flop of the frequency divider 10 and thus have an equal period at about 1.95 milliseconds.
  • the servo circuit 7 also includes a reversible counter, or up-down counter, which is designated by the reference 11.
  • the counting input C of this counter 11 is connected to the output Q of the divider of frequency 10 and therefore receives the signal SR, and its input of countdown D is connected to the output of comparator 8 and therefore receives the signal SM.
  • This reversible counter 11 will not be described in detail because it can be achieved in various ways well known. We will simply state that it is sensitive to rising flanks of the pulses it receives, i.e. when changing from state "0" to state "1" of the SR signals and SM. In other words, the content of this counter 11, that is to say the binary number formed by the states “0” or “1" direct outputs of the various flip-flops which form it, is increased by one unit on each flank amount of SR signal pulses and decreased by one at each rising edge of the pulses of the signal SM.
  • This counter 11 further comprises well-known means which allow to remove any ambiguity due to any superimposition in time of the impulses it receives on its inputs C and D.
  • the counter 11 has n flip-flops.
  • the direct exits from the last and the penultimate these flip-flops are respectively designated by Q1 and Q2.
  • the counter 11 since the counter 11 consists of n flip-flops, its content can take any value greater than or equal to zero and less than or equal to 2 n -1.
  • the operation of the counter 11 is cyclic, that is to say in particular that, when its content is equal to zero, this content takes the value 2 n -1 in response to a pulse applied to its down counting input D and that, when this content is equal to 2 n -1, it takes the value zero in response to a pulse applied to its counting input C.
  • the output Q2 of this counter 11 is also in the state "0", while this output Q2 is at l 'state "1" when this content is greater than or equal to 2 (n-2) and less than 2 (n-1) .
  • the output Q1 of the reversible counter 11 is connected to a first entry of an AND gate 12 of which the second input is connected to the output of comparator 8.
  • This door 12 is connected to the input S of a bistable rocker 13 of type R-S whose input R is connected to the output Q of a counter 15.
  • the flip-flop 13 is sensitive to the rising edges of the pulses it receives on its inputs S and R.
  • the direct output Q and the inverse output Q of this flip-flop 13 respectively take the state “1” and the state “0” in response to each rising edge of the signal applied to its input S, and respectively take the state "0” and the state "1” in response to each rising edge of the signal applied to its input R.
  • Counter 15 is a simple counter, no reversible, and in this example it consists of five flip-flops connected in series in a conventional manner so its output Q, which is the output, direct from its fifth rocker, goes from state "0" to state "1" when its content goes from the value fifteen to the value sixteen.
  • the counting input C of the counter 15 is connected to the output Q2 of the frequency divider 10 and therefore receives the signal SC, and its reset input R is connected to the inverse output Q of the flip-flop 13.
  • the counter 15 is sensitive to the rising edges of the signal applied to its counting input C. In addition, its content is kept at zero as long as its input R is at state "1".
  • the servo circuit 7 also includes a electric brake element of rotor 3a of converter 3, which is constituted in the present example by an n-type MOS transistor, designated by the reference 16, whose source and drain are respectively connected at terminals B1 and B2 of converter 3, and whose grid is connected to the direct output Q of the flip-flop 13.
  • a electric brake element of rotor 3a of converter 3 which is constituted in the present example by an n-type MOS transistor, designated by the reference 16, whose source and drain are respectively connected at terminals B1 and B2 of converter 3, and whose grid is connected to the direct output Q of the flip-flop 13.
  • the transistor 16 is blocked or conductive depending on whether its grid is the state "0" or "1" since it is of type n and its source is at the reference potential.
  • the servo circuit 7 also includes a timer circuit 21 having a control input C connected to the output of comparator 8 and therefore receiving the SM signal, as well as a Q output.
  • This timer circuit 21 will not be described in detail because the skilled person will have no trouble in realize knowing that it is intended to provide at its output Q a pulse IC of fixed duration D, during which this output Q is in state "1", this pulse IC starting after a delay time T, also determined, has elapsed since the SM signal passed from state "0" to state "1". This duration D and this delay T will be specified later.
  • the output Q of timer 21 is connected to a first entry of a reverse AND gate having a second input which is connected to the output Q of a flip-flop R-S type 24.
  • the input S of the flip-flop 24 is connected to the output an AND 25 gate, a first input of which is connected to the output Q2 of the reversible counter 11 and including a second input is connected to output Q1 of this counter 11 by through an inverter 26.
  • the input R of the flip-flop 24 is connected directly to the output Q1 of counter 11.
  • the servo circuit 7 also includes a control element constituted in this example by a p-type MOS transistor, designated by the reference 27, whose source is linked to the positive potential, designated by the sign +, of the continuous supply voltage Ua, and whose drain is connected to terminal B2 of coil 3b of the converter 3. The gate of this transistor 27 is connected to the output of door 23.
  • a control element constituted in this example by a p-type MOS transistor, designated by the reference 27, whose source is linked to the positive potential, designated by the sign +, of the continuous supply voltage Ua, and whose drain is connected to terminal B2 of coil 3b of the converter 3.
  • the gate of this transistor 27 is connected to the output of door 23.
  • transistor 27 is blocked to the driver depending on whether its gate is state “1" or, respectively, state “0" since it is of type p and that its source is at positive potential.
  • the servo circuit 7 also includes a storage device 28 for storing and storing restore electrical energy in circumstances which will be described later.
  • the device 28 which has a positive terminal 28a and a negative terminal 28b respectively connected to terminals 5c and 5d of rectifier 5, will not be described in detail because it can be achieved in various ways well known to specialists. We will simply mention that it includes in the present example a conventional accumulator 29, which may be of the same kind as any of the well-known accumulators suitable for this use. The case if necessary, this device 28 may also include a circuit adapting the operating voltage of this accumulator 29 at the voltage Ua. This device 28 can also include a monitoring circuit intended to limit the current of charge of this accumulator 29, to prevent an overcharging of the latter and / or to prevent this accumulator 29 from discharge too deeply.
  • the servo circuit 7 also includes a initialization circuit which has not been shown for don't unnecessarily load figure 2 and that is a circuit well known to specialists. We will mention simply that it is arranged to produce a short initialization pulse at the time the voltage Ua reaches by increasing a threshold value determined, which is equal to or slightly greater than the value for which the various components of the circuit servo 7 start to work properly. This instant will be called initialization instant t0 in the rest of this description.
  • This initialization circuit is connected to the frequency divider 10, to the counters 11 and 15, timer 21 and flip-flops 13 and 24 so that the Q, Q1 or Q2 outputs of all of these components are set to state "0" at this time t0.
  • the pulse produced by the initialization circuit has the effect that the outputs Q1 and Q2 of frequency divider 10, the outputs Q1 and Q2 of the reversible counter 11 and the Q outputs of the counter 15 and timer 21 are put in the state "0".
  • the state "0" of the output Q of the flip-flop 13 puts the transistor 16 in its blocking state, so that the coil 3b of the converter 3 is not short-circuited and that the speed of rotation of the rotor 3a can reach and exceed the set speed Vc.
  • the state "1" of the output Q of flip-flop 13 maintains the content of counter 15 at zero.
  • the accumulator 29 is completely, or at least almost completely discharged when timepiece 1 is stopped.
  • this accumulator 29 begins to charge by absorbing part of the electrical energy supplied by the converter 3, which then works as a generator.
  • This extra energy electric is of course supplied by the spring of barrel 2 and comes from the conversion by the converter 3 of at least part of the energy E2 mechanics defined above.
  • This electrical energy stored by the accumulator 29 is intended for use in circumstances which will be described later.
  • timepiece 1 after time t0 will only be described below in its major lines because the skilled person will have no trouble reconstruct all its details using the explanations already given.
  • the content of the reversible counter 11 is permanently equal to the difference between the number of SR signal pulses produced by the divider of frequency 10 from time t0 defined above and the number of SM signal pulses produced by the comparator 8, which is the number of complete turns performed by the rotor 3a of the converter 3, from the same time t0.
  • This content of the counter 11 is therefore permanently representative of the difference between the angular position actual rotor 3a and its set angular position. Depending on the case, this difference is a delay or an advance and can be, if necessary, of several turns.
  • the content of the counter 11 is greater than zero and less than 2 (n-1) .
  • the content of the counter 11 is less than or equal to 2 n -1 and greater than or equal to 2 (n-1) .
  • timepiece 1 will be now describes starting arbitrarily right after one of the moments tm defined above and admitting that the rotor 3a is then ahead of its position setpoint angle.
  • the output Q1 of the counter 11 is therefore in the state "1".
  • the signal SM then also being in the state "1", the flip-flop 13 takes the state where its outputs Q and Q are in state "1" and state "0" respectively.
  • the transistor 16 becomes conductive and short-circuits the coil 3b of the converter 3.
  • the rotor 3a is therefore braked, and its speed of rotation becomes lower than the set speed Vc.
  • the flip-flop 13 then resumes the state where its outputs Q and Q are in state "0" and state "1" respectively.
  • the transistor 16 is therefore again blocked, so that the rotor 3a is no longer braked and that its speed of rotation may increase again.
  • the output Q2 of this counter 11 is also in the state "0". Consequently, the outputs of gates 12 and 25 and the outputs Q of flip-flops 13 and 24 are also in the "0" state. It follows that the transistors 16 and 27 remain in their off state and, in particular, that the coil 3b is not short-circuited at any time.
  • the speed of rotation of the rotor 3a can stay or tend to become greater than the speed of setpoint Vc.
  • the accumulator 29 is then at least partially charged, so that the device 28 maintains the voltage Ua at such a value that the components of circuit 7 are functioning properly.
  • the electrical energy required for this operation is then supplied, at least partially, by the accumulator 29 of device 28.
  • the rotor 3a therefore begins to take, relative to its position setpoint, a delay which can no longer be corrected as described above.
  • the Q output of the timer 21 produces an IC pulse of duration D after that a delay time T has elapsed since the instant tm which has just been mentioned.
  • the coil 3b therefore receives an impulse, which will be designated by IM, during which it is subjected to the supply voltage Ua.
  • This IM pulse is synchronous with IC pulse, i.e. that it starts with the same delay T as this last with respect to the instant tm mentioned above, and that it has the same duration D as this pulse IC.
  • this electro-magnetic couple must tend to rotate the rotor 3a in the same direction as the mechanical torque supplied by barrel spring 2.
  • the timer 21 is arranged to so that the delay T of the pulse IC with respect to the passage of the voltage Ug by its zero value at the instant tm defined above is less than half a period of this Ug tension.
  • This Ug tension is thus positive when the IM pulse is applied to the coil 3b, and the electromagnetic torque supplied to rotor 3a in response to this IM pulse has the desired meaning.
  • This impulse IM can therefore be described as a motor impulse.
  • the timer 21 is arranged to so that the delay T is substantially equal to a quarter of the period of Ug tension.
  • the driving impulse IM is thus applied to the coil 3b while the voltage Ug a a value close to its peak value.
  • the energy electric supplied to the coil 3b during the pulse motor IM is used most effectively, because the rotor 3a then has an angular position such that the electromagnetic torque to which it is subjected to value substantially equal to its maximum value.
  • the converter 3 therefore works like a motor and converts energy electric received by its coil 3b in mechanical energy.
  • the duration D of this IM pulse which determines the amount of electrical energy received by the coil 3b, is chosen so that the amount of mechanical energy is either sufficient to accelerate the rotor 3a to a speed greater than its set speed Vc.
  • this duration D depends on the characteristics of converter 3 and mechanical elements which are connected to the rotor 3a, that is to say in particular the barrel spring 2 and the time display hands 6. Those skilled in the art will however have no trouble determining this duration D in each particular case, for example by testing.
  • the coil 3b receives a driving pulse IM each time period of Ug or tension, which is the same in the present example, at each revolution of the rotor 3a.
  • This motor impulse IM having the characteristics mentioned above, the rotational speed of the rotor 3a becomes, or remains, greater than its set speed Vc.
  • the number n of flip-flops of the counter 11 can be equal to nine, the total capacity of this counter 11 then being equal to 2 9 , that is to say 512.
  • the driving impulses IM therefore begin to be produced when the content of the counter 11 is equal to 27 , that is to say 128.
  • the rotor 3a therefore has 128 turns of delay, or 128 x 360 °, with respect to its set angular position.
  • the set speed Vc of the rotor 3a being, always in this example, four turns per second, the delay of timepiece 1 is then 32 seconds.
  • the mechanical energy supplied to the rotor 3a during each IM pulse of course comes from the accumulator 29 of the storage device 28.
  • the process of catching up with the delay of the rotor 3a which comes to be described can therefore take place as long as this accumulator 29 is sufficiently charged.
  • timepiece 1 still works properly for a while after the couple mechanical provided by barrel spring 2 has become lower than the limit torque CL defined above.
  • this pair of braking has the effect of increasing the acceleration time of rotor 3a, i.e. the time taken by this rotor 3a to reach and exceed its set speed Vc after the end of the braking process described above.
  • the part of watchmaking according to the present invention is designated by reference 31.
  • the timepiece 31 has a barrel spring mechanically coupled to the rotor of a converter electromechanical and time display means current, and the coil of this converter is connected to a rectifier circuit.
  • These various components of the room watchmaking 31 are designated by the same references as the corresponding components of timepiece 1 and will not be described again here as they may be identical to these.
  • Timepiece 31 also includes a circuit of the actual rotation speed of the rotor 3a at its set speed Vc, which is designated in this case by reference 32.
  • Each component of the servo circuit 32 which is designated by the same reference as one of the components of the servo circuit 7 in FIG. 2 is identical to the latter and works like him. These components of the circuit 32 will therefore not be described again here. In in addition, all these components of circuit 32 are connected between them as the corresponding components of circuit 7, to some exceptions. These exceptions will be described now, along with the few components of the servo circuit 32 which do not exist not in the control circuit 7.
  • the gate of transistor 16 is not connected directly to the output Q of the flip-flop 13 as is the case in the servo circuit 7, but it is connected to the output of an AND gate 33, an input of which is connected at this output Q of flip-flop 13.
  • a second entrance to door 33 is connected to the Q output of a flip-flop 34 of R-S type including input S is connected to the output of an AND gate 35 and whose input R is connected to the output of the inverter 26.
  • flip-flop 34 is sensitive to rising sides signals it receives on its S and R inputs, which means that its output Q takes the state "1" and the state "0" in response to each pass of its input S and, respectively, from its input R from state "0" to state "1".
  • the flip-flop 34 is also connected to the initialization circuit mentioned in the description of timepiece 1, so that its output Q takes state "0" in response to the initialization pulse produced by this circuit.
  • Gate 35 has two entrances which are respectively connected to the output Q1 of the counter 11 and, via an inverter 36, at the output Q2 of this same counter 11.
  • the terminal negative 28b of storage device 28 is not connected directly to terminal 5c of rectifier 5, as it is the case in the servo circuit 7 but it is connected to the drain of a MOS transistor 37, of type n, the source is connected to this terminal 5c and therefore to reference potential.
  • the gate of transistor 37 is connected to the output an OR 38 door having two connected inputs respectively at the output Q1 of the counter 11 and, by via an inverter 39, at the exit of the door 23.
  • transistor 37 is blocked or conductor depending on whether its grid is at state “0" or at state "1" since it is of type n and its source is related to the reference potential.
  • timepiece 31 is in largely identical to that of timepiece 1 of figure 2. Details of the operation of the part timepieces 31 which are not included in the description which will follow can therefore be found in the description of the operation of timepiece 1 that was made above.
  • the outputs Q1 and Q2 of the counter 11 of the timepiece 31 are both in the "0" state when the rotor 3a of the converter 3 is in delay with respect to its set angular position, and that this delay is relatively small since the content of the counter 11 is less than 2 (n-2) .
  • the storage device 28 is again connected to the various components of the servo circuit 32, and in particular the transistor 27.
  • the coil 3b of the converter 3 therefore receives, in response to each pulse IC, a driving pulse IM through transistor 27, and the energy electric supplied to this coil 3b during this driving impulse IM is supplied by the accumulator 29.
  • each IM pulse causes a acceleration of rotor 3a such as the speed of rotation of the latter becomes or remains greater than its speed of setpoint Vc, and the delay of the rotor 3a with respect to its setpoint angular position tends to cancel out although the motor torque supplied by barrel spring 2, i.e. less than the limit torque CL.
  • the output Q1 of the counter 11 of the timepiece 31 is in the state "1" when the rotor 3a of the converter 3 is ahead with respect to at its set angular position. Furthermore, if this advance is relatively small and the content of the counter 11 is greater than or equal to 3.2 (n-2) , the output Q2 of this counter 11 is also in the state "1".
  • the transistor 16 is therefore permanently blocked in this case, although the rotor 3a either ahead of its angular position of instructions.
  • the accumulator 29 of the storage device 28 therefore permanently absorbs a load current of which the intensity is greater the more the quantity of electrical energy contained in this accumulator 29 is low and that the maximum capacity of the latter is high.
  • This charging current of the accumulator 29 is obviously provided by converter 3, by through rectifier 5, and therefore contributes to the creation of the braking torque applied to the rotor 3a.
  • this charge current of accumulator 29 must be greater than a certain limit, which is higher the higher the engine torque provided by barrel spring 2 is large, so that the braking torque applied to rotor 3a requires that last a rotational speed lower than its speed of setpoint Vc.
  • the content of counter 11 therefore decreases, in such a case, and when this content becomes less than 3.2 (n-2) , the output Q2 of this counter 11 goes to state "0", while the output Q1 of this the latter obviously remains in state "1".
  • transistor 16 When transistor 16 is conductive, it short-circuits coil 3a and, as in the case of the part clockwork 1, the braking torque applied to the rotor 3a imposes on the latter a rotation speed lower than its set speed Vc.
  • a room timepieces comprises a storage device capable of storing, in the form electrical energy, part of the mechanical energy contained in its barrel spring, as well as means to use this electrical energy to operate the timepiece after that barrel spring is completely disarmed.
  • the barrel spring of a piece of any kind is generally reassembled many times before the mechanical torque that it provides does not fall below the limit torque CL. It follows that the mechanical energy that is available, after conversion to electrical energy, to charge the accumulator of the room storage device of watchmaking according to the present invention is generally much higher than the mechanical energy E2.
  • the converter of a timepiece according to the present invention may include more than one coil and / or that its rotor may include a magnet permanent multipolar.
  • This rotor can also include several bipolar or multipolar magnets.
  • the period of tension alternative produced by the converter is obviously a submultiple of the rotor rotation period of this converter.
  • the room control circuit watchmaking is then of course preferably arranged so as to provide a driving impulse, when that is necessary, at each period of this tension.
  • the enslavement of the position actual angle of the one-piece converter rotor of watchmaking according to the present invention in its position setpoint angle can be achieved in a different from the one described above, by example of the way that is described in the request for EP patent 0 239 820 already mentioned.
  • Means which produce motor impulses designated by IM in the above description may also be changed.
  • these means can be arranged to so as to produce, when necessary, two motor impulses at each period of tension produced by the converter.
  • one of these motor impulses is positive and be applied to the converter coil when the alternating voltage produced by the latter is close to its positive peak value, as in the examples described above, and that the other of these impulses drive is applied to this coil when this voltage is close to its negative peak value.
  • This last driving impulse must obviously also be negative, so as to also accelerate the rotor of the generator.
  • the number of motor pulses applied to the converter coil in each period of the voltage produced by the converter can also be greater than two.
  • the means producing the motor impulses can also be changed so that the latter are produced under conditions different from those described above.
  • these means can be arranged so that the production of these motor impulses begins and / or ends sooner or later than what has been described.
  • these means can be arranged so that this production is not interrupted only when the value of the comparison signal between the actual angular position of the rotor of the converter and its setpoint angular position is representative of a certain advance of this rotor by relative to this set angular position, not as soon as this value indicates that the rotor delay has canceled as in the examples described above.
  • these means can be arranged so that the motor impulse production begins as soon as the value of the comparison signal is representative of a delay, however slight, of this rotor compared to its setpoint angular position.
  • the control circuit can be arranged so that the braking transistor, that is to say the transistor 16 of this FIG. 3, either made conductive or blocked for values of the comparison signal different from those which have been mentioned above.
  • this servo circuit can be arranged so that this braking transistor is already made conductive when this value is still greater than 3.2 (n-2) , the advance that the rotor of the converter takes when the load current of the storage device accumulator becomes lower than the limit defined above, which can thus be reduced.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
EP19970110538 1997-04-28 1997-06-27 Elektronisches Uhrwerk gespeist von einem Generator, der durch eine mechanische Energiequelle angetrieben wird Expired - Lifetime EP0875807B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH98397 1997-04-28
CH983/97 1997-04-28
CH98397 1997-04-28

Publications (2)

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EP0875807A1 true EP0875807A1 (de) 1998-11-04
EP0875807B1 EP0875807B1 (de) 2002-04-17

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EP19970110538 Expired - Lifetime EP0875807B1 (de) 1997-04-28 1997-06-27 Elektronisches Uhrwerk gespeist von einem Generator, der durch eine mechanische Energiequelle angetrieben wird

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EP (1) EP0875807B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69712034T2 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000029913A1 (fr) 1998-11-17 2000-05-25 Seiko Epson Corporation Montre mecanique a commande electronique et procede permettant d'eviter les surcharges
EP1544692A1 (de) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-22 Asulab S.A. Elektromechanischer Uhr, der mit einem Gangreserveanzeiger ausgerüstet ist
CN112051723A (zh) * 2019-06-06 2020-12-08 斯沃奇集团研究及开发有限公司 在其模拟时间显示装置中包括连续旋转机电换能器的时计的精度的测量

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0239820A1 (de) * 1986-03-26 1987-10-07 Asulab S.A. Umformer von mechanischer in elektrische Energie
DE3903706A1 (de) * 1988-02-09 1989-08-17 Fraunhofer Ges Forschung Uhr mit einem elektronischen uhrenbaustein
EP0679968A1 (de) * 1994-04-25 1995-11-02 Asulab S.A. Uhr mit mechanischem Antrieb und mit elektronischer Steuerung

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0239820A1 (de) * 1986-03-26 1987-10-07 Asulab S.A. Umformer von mechanischer in elektrische Energie
DE3903706A1 (de) * 1988-02-09 1989-08-17 Fraunhofer Ges Forschung Uhr mit einem elektronischen uhrenbaustein
EP0679968A1 (de) * 1994-04-25 1995-11-02 Asulab S.A. Uhr mit mechanischem Antrieb und mit elektronischer Steuerung

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000029913A1 (fr) 1998-11-17 2000-05-25 Seiko Epson Corporation Montre mecanique a commande electronique et procede permettant d'eviter les surcharges
EP1544692A1 (de) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-22 Asulab S.A. Elektromechanischer Uhr, der mit einem Gangreserveanzeiger ausgerüstet ist
US7274624B2 (en) 2003-12-16 2007-09-25 Asulab S.A. Timepiece with power-reserve indication
CN112051723A (zh) * 2019-06-06 2020-12-08 斯沃奇集团研究及开发有限公司 在其模拟时间显示装置中包括连续旋转机电换能器的时计的精度的测量
CN112051723B (zh) * 2019-06-06 2021-12-17 斯沃奇集团研究及开发有限公司 包括连续旋转机电换能器的时计的精度的测量

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DE69712034T2 (de) 2002-11-21
EP0875807B1 (de) 2002-04-17
DE69712034D1 (de) 2002-05-23

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