US3668442A - Resonators for driving timepiece gear trains - Google Patents

Resonators for driving timepiece gear trains Download PDF

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Publication number
US3668442A
US3668442A US137359A US3668442DA US3668442A US 3668442 A US3668442 A US 3668442A US 137359 A US137359 A US 137359A US 3668442D A US3668442D A US 3668442DA US 3668442 A US3668442 A US 3668442A
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United States
Prior art keywords
blade
resonator
crystal
secured
free end
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Expired - Lifetime
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US137359A
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English (en)
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Gerhard Vosseler
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Individual
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    • 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
    • G04F5/08—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards using oscillators with electromechanical resonators producing electric oscillations or timing pulses using magnetostrictive resonators
    • 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
    • G04C3/12—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 piezoelectric means; driven by magneto-strictive means

Definitions

  • a timepiece 1680mm comprises mechanically connected fi 31 3 318/52 and second oscillating crystals connected respectively in the [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lv 7/00 collector-emitter and Collector-base circuits of a "anSiSwr- A! 58 Field of Search ..3 10/8.
  • This invention relates to resonators, in particular to resonators for driving timepiece gear-trains, and comprising a resonator circuit including mechanically connected crystal oscillators respectively connected in the emitter-collector and base-emitter circuits of a transistor.
  • Such resonators are already described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,176,167 and 3,343,365 and may, in particular, be used directly to drive a timepiece gear train by causing a transmission member secured to the free end of one oscillating crystal to act directly on the first pinion of the gear train in the manner of a driving pawl.
  • an electric resonator in particular for driving timepieces, comprising a resonator circuit comprising a transistor having an emittercollector circuit and a base-emitter circuit, a first crystal oscillator in the emitter-collector circuit, and a second crystal oscillator in 'the base-emitter circuit, means mechanically coupling the first and second crystals for the transmission of mechanical oscillations of one to the other, and a flexible blade having a free end and being clamped to a holder, in which at least said first crystal is secured to said blade adjacent the point of clamping the blade to the holder, and the length of the blade is greater than the largest dimension of said first crystal such that said free end oscillates at a sub-harmonic frequency of the resonant frequency of said resonator circuit.
  • the resonator circuit may be operated at the relatively high frequency of 1,000 Hz or more, which is a normal frequency for crystal oscillators, whereas the free end of the blade oscillates at a substantially lower frequency, below 1,000 Hz, and with an amplitude of a few tenths of a millimeter. This allows a pinion of ordinary size and without specially fine toothing to be used when a transmission member cooperating with the toothing is secured to the end of the blade in the known way.
  • the mass of the oscillating resonator may be suitably increased by modifying the size of the blade, which may be made of an economical, commercially available material, without the need for a large quantity of the relativelyexpensive oscillating crystal material.
  • the blade is advantageously provided in a material with a low temperature coefficient such as the alloy known under the trade mark NlVAROX, a suitable steel alloy,
  • the resonator is very simple to assemble, since the blade may be secured merely by means of screws.
  • Previously crystal oscillators had to be adhesively secured to their holders at the clamping point, which is a very laborious process.
  • the method of securing the transmission member driving the first pinion of a watch gear train is also simplified. This member needno longer be carefully stuck to the crystal, but may be attached in any suitable way to the free end of the blade, the material of which can be machined more easily and more accurately than that of the crystal.
  • FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of resonator with two flexible blades clamped in a common holder and with a crystal oscillator secured to each of them;
  • FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment with two crystal oscillators secured on opposite sides of a blade
  • FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment with an additional blade, independent of the electric resonator circuit, caused to oscillate only via the material of the holder;
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a modified blade with a longitudinal slit in its free end.
  • each of two flexible metal blades 2 and 4 is secured by screws 6 to a holder 5, which may, for example, be a block of metal fixed to a watch frame.
  • a holder 5 which may, for example, be a block of metal fixed to a watch frame.
  • an crystal oscillator l, 3 respectively, with crystal 1 connected in the emitter-collector and crystal 3 in the emitter-base circuit of a transistor T.
  • a battery B in the emitter circuits of the transistor forms a current source.
  • the size of the crystals is a fraction of the length of the blades.
  • Member 7 may, for example, be a wire with a jewel secured to the end engaging in the teeth of gear wheel 8.
  • Crystals l and 3 are mechanically interconnected via the material of blades 2 and 4 and holder 5, the resonator circuit operating in the same way as the known circuit described in US. Pat. No. 3, l 76,l67, except that the free ends of the blades oscillate at a sub-harmonic of the frequency of the resonator circuit.
  • a coil S is connected in parallel to crystal 1, and in series with a diode D. This arrangement may be dispensed with, however.
  • Crystal 3 is electrically connected in parallel to a resistor R.
  • the blades 2 and 4 and holder 5 are of metal and, in addition, if an electrical connection is provided between the blades and the internal electrodes of the crystals, for example by the use of an electrically conductive adhesive, both internal electrodes of crystals 1 and 3 are electrically connected together and to the oscillator circuit via the material of the blades and the holder. It is not, however, absolutely essential to have an electrical connection between the internal electrode of a crystal and the appropriate blade, because, in this case, the existing capacitive coupling is sufficient. If holder 5 is not made of electrically conductive material, a special electrical connection to the blades is, of course, necessary. If the blades are not made of an electrically conductive material, either electric leads to the internal electrodes of the crystals may be provided, or the blades may be metallized where they join the crystals. The same applies to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • two crystal oscillators 11 and 13 are secured to opposite sides of a blade 12, one end of which is clamped by a screw 16 in a holder 15 and the other free end of which carries a transmission member 17 actuating the first gear wheel 18 of a watch gear train.
  • the crystals l1, 13 are respectively connected in the emitter-collector and emitter-base circuits of a transistor T, and each crystal is connected in parallel to a resistor R1 or R2.
  • a flexible blade 22 carrying crystal oscillators 21 and 23 at opposite sides and a further flexible blade 29 are secured to a holder 25, blade 29 forming a driving resonator.
  • Blade 29 is independent of the resonator circuit and, as a result of the mechanical connection via the material of holder 25, which acts as a resonator base, is caused to oscillate and carries a transmission member 27 driving a pinion 28.
  • the time base and the driving component are thus separated, and hence there is virtually no feedback from the gear train to the resonator circuit.
  • crystals 21 and 23 are respectively connected in the emitter-collector and emitter-base circuits of a transistor T.
  • a coil S is connected in parallel to crystal 21 and a resistor R to the crystal 23.
  • the free end of any of the blades may be provided with a longitudinal slit 12a terminating away from the point at which a crystal 11 is secured.
  • a longitudinal slit increases the flexibility and resonance of the oscillating blade.
  • the oscillation frequency of the crystals is about 3 kHz and the amplitude only about 0.01 mm.
  • the free ends of the blades oscillate at a frequency of only 600 to 800 Hz and an amplitude of 0.3 to 0.5 mm.
  • the free ends of the blades oscillate at a frequency of only 600 to 800 Hz and an amplitude of 0.3 to 0.5 mm.
  • the free end of the blade oscillates at a frequency of 400 to 600 Hz and an amplitude of 0.4 to 0.6 mm.
  • the preferred length for the blades is comprised between 12 and 25 mm, while that of the crystals'secured near the clamping point is between 20 and 25 percent of the length of the blades, so that the freely oscillating region of the blade beyond the crystal is at least about 50 percent of its overall length.
  • An electric resonator in particular for driving timepieces, comprising a resonator circuit comprising a transistor having an emitter-collector circuit and a baseemitter circuit, a first crystal oscillator in the emitter-collector circuit, and a second crystal oscillator in the base-emitter circuit, means mechanically coupling the first and second crystals for the transmission of mechanical oscillations of one or the other, and a flexible blade having a free end and being clamped to a holder, in which at least said first crystal is secured to said blade adjacent the point of clamping the blade to the holder, and the length of the blade is greater than the largest dimension of said first crystal such that said free end oscillates at a sub-harmonic frequency of the resonant frequency of said resonator circuit.
  • a resonator as claimed in claim I in which the first and second crystals are secured to first and second flexible blades clamped at a point to a common holder.
  • a resonator as claimed in claim 1 in which a further flexible blade is secured to said holder, said holder forming means for mechanically coupling said flexible blades for the transmission of mechanical oscillations of one to the other, said further flexible blade having a free end carrying a transmission member driving a gear wheel.
  • each crystal-carrying blade and crystal are such that the free end of the blade oscillates at a frequency of below 1,000 Hz and with an amplitude of at least 0.1 mm, the length of the blade being comprised between 12 and 25 mm, the largest dimension of the crystal being comprised between 20 and 25 percent of the length of the blade, and the length from the free end of the blade to the point where the crystal is secured is at least 50 percent the length of the blade.
  • each blade is secured to the holder by means of screws.
  • a resonator as claimed in claim 1 in which a coil, and optionally a diode electrically connected in series to the coil, is connected in said collector-emitter circuit in parallel to the first crystal.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Oscillators With Electromechanical Resonators (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
US137359A 1970-04-27 1971-04-26 Resonators for driving timepiece gear trains Expired - Lifetime US3668442A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH626170A CH530666A (de) 1970-04-27 1970-04-27 Oszillator für ein zeithaltendes elektrisches Gerät, insbesondere eine Kleinuhr

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3668442A true US3668442A (en) 1972-06-06

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US137359A Expired - Lifetime US3668442A (en) 1970-04-27 1971-04-26 Resonators for driving timepiece gear trains

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US (1) US3668442A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (2) CH530666A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2120436A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2086392B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1317081A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2392537A1 (fr) * 1977-05-26 1978-12-22 Seikosha Kk Circuit electrique d'attaque pour un resonateur piezoelectrique
US4661328A (en) * 1985-06-19 1987-04-28 Aluminum Company Of America Alumina from high silica bauxite
US5008580A (en) * 1988-02-03 1991-04-16 Yoshida Kogyo K. K. Piezoelectric vibration generator and vibratory parts feeder incorporating the same
US5561337A (en) * 1995-04-13 1996-10-01 Toda; Kohji Ultrasonic vibrating actuator
US5917271A (en) * 1995-07-31 1999-06-29 Koyo Sangyo Co., Ltd. Piezo-electric driving device
US20050023933A1 (en) * 2000-03-23 2005-02-03 Bjoern Magnussen Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same
WO2022268462A1 (de) * 2021-06-25 2022-12-29 Realization Desal Ag Uhr

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2875353A (en) * 1953-05-29 1959-02-24 Philco Corp Electromechanical reed system
GB1019260A (en) * 1963-08-23 1966-02-02 Kokusai Electric Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to supply arrangements for
US3243951A (en) * 1962-03-28 1966-04-05 Toko Radio Coil Kenkyusho Kk Flexure vibration type electrical vibrator and transistor oscillator utilizing the same
US3437849A (en) * 1966-11-21 1969-04-08 Motorola Inc Temperature compensation of electrical devices
US3441753A (en) * 1966-07-26 1969-04-29 Seiko Instr & Electronics Electric timepiece regulator

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1693806A (en) * 1925-02-28 1928-12-04 Rca Corp Electromechanical system
US2995692A (en) * 1955-10-20 1961-08-08 Philips Corp Rotary system driven by electrical energy
CH460649A (fr) * 1964-03-04 1968-03-29 Ceppi Georges Dispositif d'entraînement du rouage d'une pièce d'horlogerie
FR1424368A (fr) * 1965-02-11 1966-01-07 Centre Electron Horloger Perfectionnements aux montres électroniques
US3462939A (en) * 1965-02-12 1969-08-26 Tokei Kk Mechanical vibrator for timepiece

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2875353A (en) * 1953-05-29 1959-02-24 Philco Corp Electromechanical reed system
US3243951A (en) * 1962-03-28 1966-04-05 Toko Radio Coil Kenkyusho Kk Flexure vibration type electrical vibrator and transistor oscillator utilizing the same
GB1019260A (en) * 1963-08-23 1966-02-02 Kokusai Electric Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to supply arrangements for
US3441753A (en) * 1966-07-26 1969-04-29 Seiko Instr & Electronics Electric timepiece regulator
US3437849A (en) * 1966-11-21 1969-04-08 Motorola Inc Temperature compensation of electrical devices

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2392537A1 (fr) * 1977-05-26 1978-12-22 Seikosha Kk Circuit electrique d'attaque pour un resonateur piezoelectrique
US4661328A (en) * 1985-06-19 1987-04-28 Aluminum Company Of America Alumina from high silica bauxite
US5008580A (en) * 1988-02-03 1991-04-16 Yoshida Kogyo K. K. Piezoelectric vibration generator and vibratory parts feeder incorporating the same
US5561337A (en) * 1995-04-13 1996-10-01 Toda; Kohji Ultrasonic vibrating actuator
US5917271A (en) * 1995-07-31 1999-06-29 Koyo Sangyo Co., Ltd. Piezo-electric driving device
US20050023933A1 (en) * 2000-03-23 2005-02-03 Bjoern Magnussen Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same
US7173362B2 (en) * 2000-03-23 2007-02-06 Bjoern Magnussen Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same
WO2022268462A1 (de) * 2021-06-25 2022-12-29 Realization Desal Ag Uhr
JP2024523498A (ja) * 2021-06-25 2024-06-28 リアライゼーション デサル アーゲー 時計

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2120436A1 (de) 1971-11-11
FR2086392B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-08-19
GB1317081A (en) 1973-05-16
CH530666A (de) 1972-06-30
FR2086392A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-12-31
CH626170A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-06-30

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