US3628323A - Miniaturized electronic watch - Google Patents

Miniaturized electronic watch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3628323A
US3628323A US2819A US3628323DA US3628323A US 3628323 A US3628323 A US 3628323A US 2819 A US2819 A US 2819A US 3628323D A US3628323D A US 3628323DA US 3628323 A US3628323 A US 3628323A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cell
plate
hands
dial
timepiece
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
US2819A
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English (en)
Inventor
Werner R Baumgartner
Hans P Kaufman
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.)
Bulova Watch Co Inc
Original Assignee
Bulova Watch Co Inc
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 Bulova Watch Co Inc filed Critical Bulova Watch Co Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3628323A publication Critical patent/US3628323A/en
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
    • G04C3/008—Mounting, assembling of components
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B33/00—Calibers
    • 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
    • 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
    • G04C3/08—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a mechanical oscillator other than a pendulum or balance, e.g. by a tuning fork, e.g. electrostatically
    • G04C3/10—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a mechanical oscillator other than a pendulum or balance, e.g. by a tuning fork, e.g. electrostatically driven by electromagnetic means
    • G04C3/101—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a mechanical oscillator other than a pendulum or balance, e.g. by a tuning fork, e.g. electrostatically driven by electromagnetic means constructional details

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A miniaturized electronic watch in which a tuning fork resonator is sustained in vibration by a transistorized v drive circuit energized by a single power cell, the vibratory acl5 MINIATURIZEDELECTRONIC WATCH tion being converted into rotary motion to operate a dial train 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Fig which turns the hands of the watch.
  • the watch movement in- 52 U.S.Cl 58/23 BA cludes a Plate which the Power is 5 8 /23 tioned that its periphery coincides at one point with the border [51] GMc 3/00 of the plate, the body of the cell extending to or beyond the [50] 58/23 50 geometrical axis of the hands, which axis is normal to the 6 plate.
  • the tuning fork is disposed to one side ofthe cell below the plate, whereas the dial train is mounted above the cell to provide a highly compact layout.
  • This invention' relates generally to battery-operated electronic timepieces, and more particularly to a miniaturized electronic watch including a tuning fork resonator whose vibrations are converted into rotary motion for operating dial pointers.
  • a battery-energized transistor drive circuit acts to sustain the vibratory motion of a tuning fork. This motion is transferred by a pawl and ratchet mechanism to a rotary movement including a gear train and dial pointers or hands.
  • This single-cell battery which is round and buttonlike, occupies a relatively large portion of the useful volume of a watch movement.
  • the power cell is laterally displaced from the dial train, as a consequence of which a watch movement with a commercially available type of power cell has a diameter of at least 25 millimeters. This diameter is beyond the limits acceptable in ladies-model watches.
  • a significant feature of the invention is that the layout of the dial train, power cell, tuning fork, and the associated electronic assembly, is such as to make possible a movement whose diameter is less than 20 millimeters, such dimensions being suitable for ladiesmodels.
  • a tuning fork electronic watch movement in which the single buttonlike power cell for energizing the electronic drive circuit is placed below the pillar plate with at least one point on its periphery coincident with the border of the plate, the body of the cell extending beyond the geometrical center of the hands.
  • the tuning fork is disposed in side-by-side relationship to the cell below the plate and is operatively coupled to the dial train for turning the hands, which dial train is mounted above the cell.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an electronic watch in accordance with the invention as viewed from the dial side, with the dial, pillar plate, and case omitted to facilitate an understanding of the invention;
  • FIG. .2 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by line 2-2 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electronic circuit of the watch.
  • a miniaturized watch movement in accordance with the invention includes a circular pillar plate 10, above which is mounted a watch dial 11.
  • the movement fits within a case (not shown).
  • the purpose of the invention is to provide a movement of small diameter adapted to fit within a ladies model case of 20 millimeters or less.
  • a buttonlike, round power cell 12 Disposed below pillar plate 10 is a buttonlike, round power cell 12 whose flat top and bottom surfaces are parallel to the plane of pillar plate 10.
  • Cell 12 is tangentially disposed with respect to the border of pillar plate 11, so that point 13 on the circumference of the cell is substantially in line with the border.
  • point 13 on the circumference of the cell is substantially in line with the border.
  • more than one coincidence point is possible.
  • the seconds, minute and hour hands indicated diagrammatically by lines S, M and H, are mounted respectively on arbor 14, cannon 15, and tube 16, respectively, which are coaxially arranged.
  • the axis of arbor 14, which is the geometrical axis X of the hands, coincides with the center of pillar plate 10.
  • the diameter of cell 12 is somewhat greater than the radius of the pillar plate; hence the body of the cell extends well beyond the geometrical axis X of the hands. Therefore, in the embodiment illustrated, the axis X passes through the power cell. In other instances, thecell may come quite close to the axis, or go only slightly beyond it.
  • the electronic watch includes a tuning fork, generally designated by numeral 17, having two tines 17A and 17B, and a reentrant mounting stem 18 which is attached to the underside of the pillar plate by screws 19.
  • the fork is positioned in side-by-side relationship to cell 12, the tines lying in a common plane which is parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the cell.
  • tines 17A and 17B At the free ends of tines 17A and 17B are attached permanent magnets 20A and 208 which cooperate with a stationary pancake-shaped coil 21 having sensing and drive windings 21A and 218 (FIG. 3), the magnetic flux in the airgap of the magnets being perpendicular to the plane of the coil.
  • Coil 21 is supported from a projection 22 formed on a plastic module 23 which houses the electronic assembly, generally designated by numeral 24.
  • This assembly is constituted by a transistor T and a resistance capacitance network RC which is associated with the sensing and drive windings 21A and 218.
  • the manner in which the circuit acts to sustain the tuning fork in vibration is explained in US. Pat. No. 2,971,323, and will, therefore, not be repeated herein.
  • module 23 is convex to conform to the corresponding curvature of the border of the pillar plate on which it is mounted, whereas the inner side is concave to conform to the curvature of cell 12, while the profile of the upper side follows that of the tuning fork.
  • the shape of module 23 permits optimum use of the space between the fork, the cell, and the periphery of the movement.
  • An index finger 25 is attached to tine 17A, the finger 25 having a jewelled tip which engages the teeth of an index wheel 26.
  • a pawl (not shown) cooperates with the wheel to prevent retrograde motion thereof.
  • the pinion 27 of index wheel 26 meshes with the teeth of a wheel 28 whose pinion 29 drives a wheel 30.
  • the pinion 31 of wheel 30 drives an intermediate wheel 32, which in turn drives a pinion 33 mounted on the lower end of the arbor 14 for turning the seconds hand S.
  • a pinion 34 which drives wheel 36.
  • a friction clutch (not shown) is interposed between wheel 36 and cannon 15.
  • Cannon 15 is provided with a pinion 37 which meshes with minute wheel 38, which, by means of pinion 39, drives hour wheel 40 mounted on tube 16.
  • a miniaturized electronic timepiece comprising:
  • C. a button-shaped, single power cell disposed below said plate at a position in which one point on the periphery of said cell substantially coincides with the border of said plate, the body of the cell extending at least to said axis, the flat top surface of said cell being parallel to said plate, D. a mechanical resonator serving as a frequency standard, said resonator being constituted by a tuning fork sustained in vibration by an electronic drive circuit energized by said cell, the fork being disposed below said plate to one side of said cell and having a pair of tines which lie in a plane parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of said cell, and
  • E. means to convert the vibrations of said resonator to rotary motion for turning said hands, said means including a dial train operatively coupled to said hands and disposed above the plane defined by the top surface of said cell.
  • timing hands are constituted by seconds, minute and hour hands, the seconds hand being supported on an arbor lying along said geometrical axis, the minute hand being supported on a cannon coaxially disposed with respect to said arbor, said hour hand being supported on a tube concentric with said cannon, said arbor being operated by a pinion attached to the end thereof, which pinion is hidden by the cell when looking at the movement from the side opposing the dial.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US2819A 1969-02-06 1970-01-14 Miniaturized electronic watch Expired - Lifetime US3628323A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH179869A CH556568A (fr) 1969-02-06 1969-02-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3628323A true US3628323A (en) 1971-12-21

Family

ID=4218843

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US2819A Expired - Lifetime US3628323A (en) 1969-02-06 1970-01-14 Miniaturized electronic watch

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3628323A (fr)
JP (1) JPS4840112B1 (fr)
CH (2) CH179869A4 (fr)
FR (1) FR2030345B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1269885A (fr)
HK (1) HK52776A (fr)
NL (1) NL7001402A (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3748845A (en) * 1971-12-02 1973-07-31 Bulova Watch Co Inc Electronic system module for crystal-controlled watch
US3802179A (en) * 1971-02-12 1974-04-09 Suwa Seikosha Kk Electronic timepiece
US4077199A (en) * 1975-09-16 1978-03-07 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Small sized electronic timepiece movement
EP0216018A1 (fr) * 1985-09-16 1987-04-01 Timex Corporation Pièce d'horlogerie miniature entraînée par un moteur pas à pas

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS52129563A (en) * 1976-04-23 1977-10-31 Seiko Epson Corp Small-sized crystal timepiece
JPS52154673A (en) * 1976-06-18 1977-12-22 Seiko Instr & Electronics Ltd Wheel train mechanism of analog crystal watch

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2900786A (en) * 1956-05-31 1959-08-25 Bulova Watch Co Inc Timepiece arrangement
US3184910A (en) * 1962-07-10 1965-05-25 Lip Sa Electric watches
US3469389A (en) * 1965-12-30 1969-09-30 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electromechanical vibrator assembly for a timepiece

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH314705A (fr) * 1954-04-08 1956-06-30 Baumgartner Freres Sa Montre Roskopf à seconde directe excentrée

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2900786A (en) * 1956-05-31 1959-08-25 Bulova Watch Co Inc Timepiece arrangement
US3184910A (en) * 1962-07-10 1965-05-25 Lip Sa Electric watches
US3469389A (en) * 1965-12-30 1969-09-30 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electromechanical vibrator assembly for a timepiece

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3802179A (en) * 1971-02-12 1974-04-09 Suwa Seikosha Kk Electronic timepiece
US3748845A (en) * 1971-12-02 1973-07-31 Bulova Watch Co Inc Electronic system module for crystal-controlled watch
US4077199A (en) * 1975-09-16 1978-03-07 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Small sized electronic timepiece movement
EP0216018A1 (fr) * 1985-09-16 1987-04-01 Timex Corporation Pièce d'horlogerie miniature entraînée par un moteur pas à pas

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2003045A1 (de) 1970-09-03
FR2030345B1 (fr) 1974-05-03
JPS4840112B1 (fr) 1973-11-28
CH556568A (fr) 1974-11-29
NL7001402A (fr) 1970-08-10
GB1269885A (en) 1972-04-06
FR2030345A1 (fr) 1970-11-13
CH179869A4 (fr) 1970-10-30
HK52776A (en) 1976-08-27
DE2003045B2 (de) 1977-04-07

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