US3587223A - Electronic wrist watch - Google Patents

Electronic wrist watch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3587223A
US3587223A US28159A US3587223DA US3587223A US 3587223 A US3587223 A US 3587223A US 28159 A US28159 A US 28159A US 3587223D A US3587223D A US 3587223DA US 3587223 A US3587223 A US 3587223A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
crystal
watch
electronic
wristwatch
wrist watch
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
US28159A
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English (en)
Inventor
Norman Charles Zatsky
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.)
Timex Group USA Inc
Original Assignee
Timex Corp
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 Timex Corp filed Critical Timex Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3587223A publication Critical patent/US3587223A/en
Assigned to CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE reassignment CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FREDERIKSPLEIN HOLDING 1970 B.V., TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP., TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP., TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP., TIMEX ENTERPRISES, INC., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX GROUP LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX MEDICAL PRODUCTS LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX N.V.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
    • G04F5/00—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards
    • G04F5/04—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards using oscillators with electromechanical resonators producing electric oscillations or timing pulses
    • G04F5/06—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards using oscillators with electromechanical resonators producing electric oscillations or timing pulses using piezoelectric resonators
    • G04F5/063—Constructional details
    • 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
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/008—Mounting, assembling of components

Definitions

  • An electronic wrist watch includes a watch case having three compartments. One side compartment contains a quartz crystal, the central compartment contains a balance wheel movement including a dial train drive and time indicating hands, and the other side compartment contains electronic circuitry. A clear glass or plastic crystal is positioned over the central compartment.
  • the present invention relates to horology and more particularly to the construction of an electronic wristwatch.
  • Such wristwatches include a battery cell as its source of power, an electronic circuit, an electromechanical transducer such as a tuning fork or a balance wheel, a dial train drive consisting of a number of wheels, and a time indicating mechanism, using revolving hands, the hands being rotated by the dial train drive.
  • an electromechanical transducer such as a tuning fork or a balance wheel
  • a dial train drive consisting of a number of wheels
  • a time indicating mechanism using revolving hands, the hands being rotated by the dial train drive.
  • a high frequency time base such as piezoelectric crystal oscillator
  • the time base would provide a controlled and accurate frequency to an electromechanical transducer, either directly through a countdown circuit or indirectly through a synchronization circuit.
  • a wristwatch compared to a stationary clock, is very small. In order for it to be accepted by the public, a wristwatch cannot exceed a generally acceptable size either in diameter or height. In addition, to be acceptable, such a wristwatch cannot be greatly in excess of the weight of a conventional mechanical wristwatch.
  • the problem of designing a wristwatch of an acceptable size and weight is particularly acute in thosepiezoelectric crystal Wristwatches in which the crystal time base is utilized to synchronize an electromechanical transducer.
  • the electromechanical transducer must be of a certain minimum size in order to have a natural frequency which is reasonably close to the final timekeeping frequency, so that a large amount of synchronization energy is not required.
  • both a tuning fork and a balance wheel require a certain minimum space in order to properly function.
  • Dial train drives have been studied in connection with mechanical Wristwatches for many years in an attempt to reduce their size.
  • the piezoelectric crystal likewise presents a problem in regard to the reduction of its size. lts natural frequency bears a direct relationship to its physical size. To have a time base utilizing a crystal of a certain predetermined frequency, using the present technology of crystal-making, requires that the crystal be of a certain minimum size.
  • a wrist watch in which the power source is a small battery cell.
  • the power source is utilized to drive a high frequency piezoelectric quartz crystal oscillator, which is the primary time base of the watch.
  • the power source also drives an electronic circuit which is utilized to impulse an electromechanical transducer.
  • the electromechanical transducer is preferably a balance wheel which cooperates with one or more magnets.
  • the balance wheel carries a coil which is impulsed by the circuit, the path of the moving coilbeing adjacent one or more fixed magnets.
  • the balance wheel may carry one or more magnets and the coil may be fixed.
  • the watch body is divided into three compartments, with the compartments containing l) the piezoelectric crystal, (2) the'oscillator and countdown circuits, and (3) the balance wheel, dial train drive and hands.
  • a clear crystal is removable at the face of the movement and covers the hands and dial.
  • a single removable backing plate covers the back of the three compartments.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wristwatch of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the watch partly broken away.
  • FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2.
  • the watch 10 includes a bezel 11 having a first pair of protruding lugs 12 and a second pair of protruding lugs 13.
  • the lugs each have a hole to receive a spring-loaded pin, the pin being enfolded by the end of a watch band.
  • a crystal 14, of glass or a suitable clear plastic resin, is fixed on the face of the watch 10.
  • the crystal preferably is of a slightly flexible plastic resin so that it may be removed and replaced using a special tool.
  • the body 15 of the case 10 has two seats 16 and 17 forming compartments and a central round seat 18 forming a central compartment.
  • the electronic circuitry consists of a number of integrated circuits and associated discrete components mounted on a small circuitry board 19. Alternatively, they may be encapsulated.
  • the board 19 is removably attached to seat 16, for example, by screws.
  • the balance wheel and the dial train drive may be the to those or similar to those used in a conventional electronic watch movement.
  • the dial train drive is a series of toothed meshing wheels, with the first wheel being driven, either directly or through a fork, by the balance wheel.
  • the wheels are connected to three hands, namely, the hour, minutes and seconds hands, which revolveover a dial having time indicia thereon.
  • That movement 20 is removably fixed on the seat 18.
  • the movement uses a balance wheel carrying a coil, three magnets of alternate polarity fixed to the plate, and an impulsing circuit. The details of a suitable movement are described in Zemlas US. Pat. No. 3,046,460.
  • the movement 20 also includes the output impulsing portion of the electronic circuit, although that circuit portion could alternatively be fixed on the circuitry board 19.
  • the quartz crystal 21, within its can or case, is removably fixed to seat portion 17.
  • a metal back cover 22 is removably attached to the case.
  • a flange 23 around the circumference of the back 22 fits into a groove 24 around the compartments. The flange tends to move outward and grips the outer wall of the groove.
  • the back 22 may be alternatively have a separate removable battery cover.
  • the cover would screw onto the back 22 and cover the battery cell within the central compartment.
  • the circuitry board or encapsulated circuitry is formed so that it is about the same size and shape as the can of the quartz crystal.
  • the crystal can and the circuit board are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of the central compartment.
  • Each one of the elements, for example, the crystal can, may be separately removed from its compartment and replaced in the event of a malfunction.
  • the watch when viewed toward its face, presents an attractive appearance and, due to the placement of its elements, is of an acceptable size and shape.
  • a wristwatch comprising a case having three compartments, the first compartment containing a piezoelectric crystal enclosed in a can; the second compartment containing .an electromechanical transducer, a dial train drive and time indicating means moved by said dial train drive; and including a dial having time indicia thereon, said dial being covered with a clear crystal removably connected to said case; the third compartment containing electronic circuitry for the synchronization of the transducer; wherein said second compartment is positioned between said first and third compartment when seen in a bottom plan view.
  • a watch as in claim 1 wherein a single cover plate covers the rear of the three compartments and is removably attached to the case.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US28159A 1970-04-06 1970-04-06 Electronic wrist watch Expired - Lifetime US3587223A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US2815970A 1970-04-06 1970-04-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3587223A true US3587223A (en) 1971-06-28

Family

ID=21841897

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US28159A Expired - Lifetime US3587223A (en) 1970-04-06 1970-04-06 Electronic wrist watch

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3587223A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE765204A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA927113A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (2) CH497771A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2116896A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2085879B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1283018A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7104533A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3999369A (en) * 1974-04-18 1976-12-28 Valroger Pierre Albert Marie D Electromechanical watch movement
US4367050A (en) * 1978-09-21 1983-01-04 Ebauches S.A. Very thin electromechanical watch
US4382690A (en) * 1979-09-06 1983-05-10 Ebauches, S.A. Ultra-flat electronic watch

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3999369A (en) * 1974-04-18 1976-12-28 Valroger Pierre Albert Marie D Electromechanical watch movement
US4367050A (en) * 1978-09-21 1983-01-04 Ebauches S.A. Very thin electromechanical watch
US4382690A (en) * 1979-09-06 1983-05-10 Ebauches, S.A. Ultra-flat electronic watch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH534385A (de) 1972-11-15
BE765204A (fr) 1971-08-30
NL7104533A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-10-08
CA927113A (en) 1973-05-29
FR2085879A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-12-31
GB1283018A (en) 1972-07-26
DE2116896A1 (de) 1971-10-21
CH497771A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-11-15
FR2085879B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-04-05

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP.;TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP.;TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004181/0596

Effective date: 19830331