EP0990960B1 - Montre contrôlée par radio - Google Patents

Montre contrôlée par radio Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0990960B1
EP0990960B1 EP98116528A EP98116528A EP0990960B1 EP 0990960 B1 EP0990960 B1 EP 0990960B1 EP 98116528 A EP98116528 A EP 98116528A EP 98116528 A EP98116528 A EP 98116528A EP 0990960 B1 EP0990960 B1 EP 0990960B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
shaft
clock
wheel
hand
radio
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98116528A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0990960A1 (fr
Inventor
Ivan W.K. Shum
W.S. Chan
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.)
Kienzle Time HK Ltd
Original Assignee
Kienzle Time HK Ltd
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 Kienzle Time HK Ltd filed Critical Kienzle Time HK Ltd
Priority to DE69829049T priority Critical patent/DE69829049T2/de
Priority to EP98116528A priority patent/EP0990960B1/fr
Publication of EP0990960A1 publication Critical patent/EP0990960A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0990960B1 publication Critical patent/EP0990960B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/14—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating a stepping motor
    • G04C3/146—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating a stepping motor incorporating two or more stepping motors or rotors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04R—RADIO-CONTROLLED TIME-PIECES
    • G04R20/00—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a radio controllable clock according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • radio controlled clocks capable of automatically adjusting the time after successfully receiving the radio time signal and decoding the signal to drive the hand shafts of an associated analog clock to an exact time position.
  • the second shaft, minute shaft, hour shaft and optionally the alarm shaft have to start at an absolute position whenever the system is reset, so that the micro-controller can calculate how many pulses must be generated for each shafts for a respective rotation.
  • photoelectric barriers are used according to FR-A-2639727. More precisely, light sources are used to transmit light rays that can pass orifices in gear wheels or can be reflected by reflection layers. According to the passage or blocked of light ray corresponding gear wheel position can be determined.
  • the EP 0 720 073 A2 shows a hand rotating mechanism for electronic watches in which the rearward movement of a gear wheel is prevented by rearward movement preventing means. If, at a certain position of a particular gear wheel, this gear wheel is blocked despite driving the gear wheel in a rearward direction, the gear wheel is assumed to be in a correct position. However, if, at this position, a rearward movement of the gear wheel is possible, this movement is detected by a further mechanism. Such detection corresponds to a wrong position of this particular gear wheel. Upon detection of a gear wheel being in a wrong position it can then be readjusted to its correct position. Overall, this procedure is comparatively complicated and requires the use of many elements and of motors that can drive the gear wheels in both directions, which requires precise bearings to avoid bearing play and respective tolerances of the respective hand position.
  • the EP 0 651 301 A2 describes an electronic watch, which facilitates the setting of the time. This document refers to enabling an user to set the time displayed by analogue hands by providing a corresponding input device.
  • the EP 0 372 432 discloses another radio controllable clock. It comprises a movement preventing mechanism that implies stopping the drive itself of the hands.
  • this objective is solved for radio controllable clock as indicated above by a means to mechanically stop the rotations of said hand shafts after respective predetermined rotations initiated by said micro-controller unit (9).
  • said hand shafts being rotatable by respective independent stepper motors, whereas these stepper motors are controllable by a micro-controller unit generating independently respective pulse signals.
  • said means to mechanically stop the rotations of said hand shafts consisting of reset claw being adapted to abut respective protrusions associated to said hand shafts for second, minute and hour.
  • said micro-controller unit being adapted to control said stepper motors such said upon the receipt of a respective signal to reset that hand shafts to the 12:00 o'clock position the first stepper motor rotates the second hand shaft until an abutment, then the second stepper motor rotates the minute hand shaft until an abutment, and then the third stepper motor rotates the hour hand shaft until an abutment.
  • a fourth stepper motor rotates the alarm hand shaft until an abutment.
  • said micro-controller unit In order to reliably ensure a precise reset of the respective hands to the 12:00 o'clock position it is advantageous when said micro-controller unit generates pulses for one and a quarter rotation so that the second hand shaft being drivable by a second wheel and an axis rotor to make a respectively required rotation, whereas said second wheel is stoppable by said reset claw at the 12:00 o'clock position.
  • said hour hand shaft being drivable by a center wheel-shaft, a center wheel-idler, an intermediate wheel, a transmission wheel and a rotor to make one and a respectively required rotation.
  • said alarm hand shaft which is drivable by a center wheel-shaft, a center wheel-idler, an intermediate wheel, a transmission wheel and a rotor to make one and a respectively required rotation.
  • a keypad for manually adjusting time and calendar which may be indicated by an LCD-display.
  • the second shaft is driven by a second wheel and an achse rotor to make a respectively required rotation.
  • the second wheel rotates until it is stopped by the reset claw. Then, it is defined as the 12:00 o'clock position of second.
  • the minute shaft is driven by a centre wheel-shaft, a centre wheel-idler, an intermediate wheel, a transmission wheel and a rotor to make a respectively required rotation.
  • the minute shaft rotates until it is stopped by the reset claw. Then, it is defined as the 12:00 o'clock position of minute.
  • the operations sequence of hour shaft and alarm shaft are similar as minute shaft. When all the 4 shafts rotations are completed, then, all of them are defined at the 12:00 o'clock position ready for adjusting after successful reception of radio time signal.
  • the reset claw is activated by the reset knob.
  • the MCU halts the whole system and is reset to 12:00 o'clock, LCD display is updated simultaneously.
  • the MCU generates pulse signals to the four stepper motors to rotate the hand shafts respectively.
  • the second shaft is driven by a second wheel and an achse rotor to make a respectively required rotation.
  • the second wheel rotates until it is stopped by the reset claw. Then, it is defined as the 12:00 o'clock position of second.
  • the minute shaft is driven by a centre wheel-shaft, a centre wheel-idler, an intermediate wheel, a transmission wheel and a rotor to make a respecitvely required rotation.
  • the minute shaft rotates until it is stopped by the reset claw. Then, it is defined as the 12:00 o'clock position of minute.
  • the operations sequence of hour shaft and alarm shaft are similar as minute shaft. When all the four shafts' rotations are completed, then, all of them are defined at the 12:00 o'clock position ready for adjusting after successful reception of radio time signal.
  • said radio controllable clock is adapted to be incorporated into a computer, e. g. personal computer, to ensure that said computers are providable with the exact time regardless of power supply malfunctions and the like.
  • said micro-controller unit functions as a master for said analog clock, which is the slave, without the need to receive radio signals for controlling same.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically a diagram illustrating the circuit design of the radio controllable clock.
  • the radio controllable clock 100 among others comprises a micro-controller unit 9 which receives various signals via an antenna 102 and a radio receiving means 104.
  • Said micro-controller unit 9 is connected to first through fourth stepper motors 5, 6, 7 and 8, which in turn are connected to a second shaft or second hand shaft 1, a minute shaft or a minute hand shaft 2, an hour shaft or hour hand shaft 3, and an alarm shaft or alarm hand shaft 4.
  • FIG. 2 is plan view showing the essential part of Embodiment 1, while FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the same.
  • the analog rotation of second shaft ( 1 ), minute shaft ( 2 ), hour shaft ( 3 ) and optionally alarm shaft ( 4 ) are driven by said four independent stepper motors ( 5 ), ( 6 ), ( 7 ) & ( 8 ), respectively, which are controlled by digital pulse signals generated from a micro-controller SKC-RDS01 ( 9 ), hereafter say MCU.
  • Manual adjusting time and calendar is carried out by digital input via the rubber keypad ( 10 ).
  • the MCU ( 9 ) When time is adjusted manually in digital input on LCD display ( 11 ) or after successful reception of radio time signal, simultaneously, the MCU ( 9 ) generates pulse signals to the stepper motors ( 5 ), ( 6 ), ( 7 ) & ( 8 ) to drive the second shaft ( 1 ), minute shaft ( 2 ), hour shaft ( 3 ) and alarm shaft ( 4 ), respectively, to the corresponding position.
  • the MCU (9) generates pulses for one and a quarter rotation for each of said hand shafts (1), (2), (3) and (4) in order to ensure that all hand shafts (1), (2), (3) and (4) surely rotate to the 12:00 o'clock position.
  • the respectively required rotation of said hand shafts (1), (2), (3) and (4) is less than one rotation.
  • FIG. 5 is plan view showing the essential part of Embodiment 2 while FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the same.
  • the second shaft ( 1 ) is driven by a second wheel ( 14 ) and an achse rotor ( 15 ) to make the respectively required rotation.
  • the second wheel ( 14 ) rotates until it is stopped by the reset claw ( 13 ). Then, it is defined as the 12:00 o'clock position of second.
  • FIG. 7 is plan view showing the essential part of Embodiment 3 while FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the same.
  • the minute shaft ( 2 ) is driven by a centre wheel-shaft ( 16 ), a centre wheel-idler ( 17 ), an intermediate wheel ( 18 ), a transmission wheel ( 19 ) and a rotor ( 20 ) to make the respectively required rotation.
  • the minute shaft ( 2 ) rotates until it is stopped by the reset claw ( 13 ). Then, it is defined as the 12:00 o'clock position of minute.
  • FIG. 9 and 10 are as same as FIG. 7 and 8 , respectively, but showing in more detail the absolute position of the minute shaft ( 2 ) when it is defined as 12:00 o'clock position.
  • the minute shaft ( 2 ) is driven by a centre wheel-shaft ( 16 ), a centre wheel-idler ( 17 ), an intermediate wheel ( 18 ), a transmission wheel ( 19 ) and a rotor ( 20 ) to make the respectively required rotation.
  • the rib on the minute shaft ( 2 ) touches the arm of the reset claw ( 13 ), therefore, the minute shaft ( 2 ) is stopped at that position. Then, it is defined as the 12:00 o'clock position of minute.
  • FIG. 11 is plan view showing the essential part of Embodiment 4 while FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the same.
  • the hour shaft ( 3 ) is driven by a centre wheel-shaft ( 21 ), a centre wheel-idler ( 22 ), an intermediate wheel ( 23 ), a transmission wheel ( 24 ) and a rotor ( 25 ) to make the respectively required rotation.
  • the hour shaft ( 3 ) rotates until it is stopped by the reset claw ( 13 ). Then, it is defined as the 12:00 o'clock position of hour.
  • FIG. 13 is plan view showing the essential part of Embodiment 5 while FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the same.
  • the alarm shaft ( 4 ) is driven by a centre wheel-shaft ( 26 ), a centre wheel-idler ( 27 ), an intermediate wheel ( 28 ), a transmission wheel ( 29 ) and a rotor ( 30 ) to make a respectively required rotation.
  • the alarm shaft ( 4 ) rotates until it is stopped by the reset claw ( 13 ). Then, it is defined as the 12:00 o'clock position of alarm.
  • a timepiece is capable of automatically setting the second shaft ( 1 ), minute shaft ( 2 ), hour shaft ( 3 ) and alarm shaft ( 4 ), respectively, to an absolute position (12:00 o'clock), ready to receive the radio time signal.
  • the analog rotation of second shaft ( 1 ), minute shaft ( 2 ), hour shaft ( 3 ) and alarm shaft ( 4 ) are driven by the independent stepper motors ( 5 ), ( 6 ), ( 7 ) and ( 8 ), respectively, which are controlled by digital pulse signals generated from a micro-controller SKC-RDS01 ( 9 ).
  • Manual adjusting time and calendar is inputted by digital input via the rubber keypad ( 10 ).
  • the MCU ( 9 ) When time is adjusted manually in digital input on LCD display ( 11 ) or after successful reception of radio time signal, simultaneously, the MCU ( 9 ) generates pulse signals to the stepper motors ( 5 ), ( 6 ), ( 7 ) and ( 8 ) to drive the second shaft (1) , minute shaft (2) , hour shaft (3) and alarm shaft (4) , respectively, to the corresponding position.
  • the second shaft ( 1 ), minute shaft ( 2 ), hour shaft ( 3 ) and alarm shaft ( 4 ) have to start at an absolute position whenever system is reset.
  • the reset claw ( 13 ) is activated by the reset knob ( 12 ).
  • the MCU ( 9 ) halts the whole system and is reset to 12:00 o'clock, LCD display ( 11 ) is updated simultaneously.
  • the MCU ( 9 ) generates pulse signals for one and a quarter rotation to the stepper motors ( 5 ), ( 6 ), ( 7 ) and ( 8 ) to rotate the hand shafts respectively, but less than one rotation.
  • the second shaft ( 1 ) is driven by a second wheel ( 14 ) and an axis rotor ( 15 ) to make the respectively required rotation.
  • the second wheel ( 14 ) rotates until it is stopped by the reset claw ( 13 ).
  • the minute shaft ( 2 ) is driven by a centre wheel-shaft ( 16 ), a centre wheel-idler ( 17 ), an intermediate wheel ( 18 ), a transmission wheel ( 19 ) and a rotor ( 20 ) to make the respectively required rotation.
  • the minute shaft ( 2 ) rotates until it is stopped by the reset claw ( 13 ).
  • it is defined as the 12:00 o'clock position of minute.
  • the operations sequence of hour shaft ( 3 ) and alarm shaft ( 4 ) are similar to the minute shaft ( 2 ). When all the 4 shafts' rotations are completed, then, all of them are defined at the 12:00 o'clock position ready for adjusting after successful reception of radio time signal.
  • said radio controllable clock is capable to be remote controlled, preferably by radio signals, in order to ease the operation of same.
  • said MCU (9) as a master is adapter to control said analog clock as a slave without receiving radio time signals. Therefore, said clock in addition is usable as a normal clock.
  • said radio controllable clock is adapted to be incorporated into computers, e. g. personal computers, in order to always ensure that said computers are providable the exact time.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Horloge radio-commandée (100) comprenant un afficheur analogique comportant des aiguilles fixées à des axes d'aiguilles (1, 2, 3, 4), des moyens pour l'auto-positionnement desdites aiguilles à la position de 12 h 00 pour le réglage de l'heure conformément à un signal horaire ou de réinitialisation radio reçu, une unité de microcontrôleur (9) et des moyens (13) pour arrêter mécaniquement les rotations desdits axes d'aiguilles (1, 2, 3, 4) après des rotations prédéterminées respectives lancées par ladite unité de microcontrôleur (9), caractérisée en ce que les moyens (13) consistent en une fourche de réinitialisation adaptée pour venir en butée contre des protubérances respectives associées auxdits axes d'aiguilles (1, 2, 3) pour les secondes, les minutes et les heures.
  2. Horloge radiocommandée (100) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdits axes d'aiguilles (1, 2, 3, 4) peuvent être mis en rotation par des moteurs pas à pas (5, 6, 7, 8) indépendants respectifs.
  3. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que ladite unité de microcontrôleur (9) est adaptée pour commander lesdits moteurs pas à pas (5, 6, 7, 8) de manière indépendante par des signaux impulsionnels respectifs.
  4. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par un axe d'aiguille d'alarme (4) pouvant être mis en rotation par un moteur pas à pas (8) supplémentaire.
  5. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que ladite unité de microcontrôleur (9) est adaptée pour commander lesdits moteurs pas à pas (5, 6, 7, 8) de sorte que, lors de la réception d'un signal respectif pour réinitialiser lesdits axes d'aiguilles (1, 2, 3, 4) à la position de 12 h 00, le premier moteur pas à pas (5) fait tourner le deuxième axe d'aiguille (1) jusqu'à une butée, ensuite le deuxième moteur pas à pas (6) fait tourner l'aiguille des minutes (2) jusqu'à une butée, et ensuite le troisième moteur pas à pas (7) fait tourner l'axe d'aiguille des heures (3) jusqu'à une butée.
  6. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon la revendication 4 ou 5, caractérisée en ce que le quatrième moteur pas à pas (8) fait tourner l'axe d'aiguille d'alarme (4) jusqu'à une butée.
  7. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite unité de microcontrôleur (9) génère des impulsions pour une rotation un quart de sorte que ledit deuxième axe d'aiguille (1) puisse être entraíné par une deuxième roue (14) et un rotor d'axe (15) pour effectuer une rotation respectivement requise, tandis que ladite deuxième roue (14) peut être arrêtée par ladite fourche de réinitialisation (13) à la position de 12 h 00.
  8. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite unité de microcontrôleur (9) génère des impulsions pour une rotation un quart de sorte que ledit axe d'aiguille des minutes (2) puisse être entraíné par une roue-axe centrale (16), une roue libre centrale (17), une roue intermédiaire (18), une roue de transmission (19) et un rotor (20) pour effectuer une rotation respectivement requise, tandis que ledit axe d'aiguille des minutes (2) peut être arrêté par ladite fourche de réinitialisation (13) à la position de 12 h 00.
  9. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite unité de microcontrôleur (9) génère des impulsions pour une rotation un quart de sorte que ledit axe d'aiguille des heures (3) puisse être entraíné par une roue-axe centrale (21), une roue libre centrale (22), une roue intermédiaire (23), une roue de transmission (24) et un rotor (25) pour effectuer une rotation respectivement requise, tandis que ledit axe d'aiguille des heures (3) peut être arrêté par ladite fourche de réinitialisation (13) à la position de 12 h 00.
  10. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite unité de microcontrôleur (9) génère des impulsions pour une rotation un quart de sorte que ledit axe d'aiguille d'alarme (4) puisse être entraíné par une roue-axe centrale (26), une roue libre centrale (27), une roue intermédiaire (28), une roue de transmission (29) et un rotor (30) pour effectuer une rotation respectivement requise, tandis que ledit axe d'aiguille d'alarme (4) peut être arrêté par ladite fourche de réinitialisation (13) à la position de 12 h 00.
  11. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par un clavier (10) pour régler manuellement l'heure et le calendrier.
  12. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon la revendication 11, caractérisée par un écran à cristaux liquides (11) pour indiquer l'entrée manuelle de l'heure et du calendrier.
  13. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par un bouton de réinitialisation (12) pour activer manuellement lesdits moyens pour arrêter mécaniquement lesdits axes d'aiguilles (1, 2, 3, 4) ou ladite fourche de réinitialisation (13), respectivement.
  14. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite horloge (100) est adaptée pour être commandée à distance.
  15. Horloge radio-commandée (100) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite horloge (100) est adaptée pour être incorporée dans un ordinateur, par exemple, un ordinateur personnel.
EP98116528A 1998-09-01 1998-09-01 Montre contrôlée par radio Expired - Lifetime EP0990960B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE69829049T DE69829049T2 (de) 1998-09-01 1998-09-01 Über Funk steuerbare Uhr
EP98116528A EP0990960B1 (fr) 1998-09-01 1998-09-01 Montre contrôlée par radio

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98116528A EP0990960B1 (fr) 1998-09-01 1998-09-01 Montre contrôlée par radio

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0990960A1 EP0990960A1 (fr) 2000-04-05
EP0990960B1 true EP0990960B1 (fr) 2005-02-16

Family

ID=8232563

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98116528A Expired - Lifetime EP0990960B1 (fr) 1998-09-01 1998-09-01 Montre contrôlée par radio

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0990960B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69829049T2 (fr)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1269060B (de) * 1963-06-10 1968-05-22 Siemens Ag Nebenuhr mit Korrektureinrichtung fuer die Zeitanzeige
FR1495125A (fr) * 1966-09-23 1967-09-15 Siemens Ag Installation de correction pour l'indication de l'heure d'une horloge secondaire
DD277540A1 (de) * 1988-11-30 1990-04-04 Ruhla Uhren Veb K Raederwerk
DE4336549A1 (de) * 1993-10-27 1995-05-04 Braun Ag Elektronische Uhr
JP3489892B2 (ja) * 1994-12-27 2004-01-26 シチズン時計株式会社 電子時計

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Publication number Publication date
EP0990960A1 (fr) 2000-04-05
DE69829049T2 (de) 2005-08-18
DE69829049D1 (de) 2005-03-24

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