US3683613A - Miniaturized movement for an electronic timepiece - Google Patents

Miniaturized movement for an electronic timepiece Download PDF

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Publication number
US3683613A
US3683613A US63732A US3683613DA US3683613A US 3683613 A US3683613 A US 3683613A US 63732 A US63732 A US 63732A US 3683613D A US3683613D A US 3683613DA US 3683613 A US3683613 A US 3683613A
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United States
Prior art keywords
module
coil
movement
plate
resonator
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
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US63732A
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English (en)
Inventor
Werner Richard Baumgartner
Erich Walker
Hans Peter Kaufmann
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Bulova Watch Co Inc
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Bulova Watch Co Inc
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Publication date
Application filed by Bulova Watch Co Inc filed Critical Bulova Watch Co Inc
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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
    • G04C3/08—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

  • This invention relates generally to battery-operated electronic timepieces, and more particularly to a miniaturized electronic watch including a tuning-fork resonator which is sustained in motion by an electrodynamic transducer constituted by a magnetic element borne by the fork and vibrating with respect to a stationary coil coupled to an electronic drive circuit.
  • 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.
  • the structural arrangement has been such as to preclude a reduction in the diameter and other dimensions of the watch movement to a degree making it possible to house the movement within a lady's watch case.
  • watches have been made in relatively large models having masculine appeal, it has not hitherto been feasible to miniaturize the dimensions to a point rendering the watch acceptable to ladies.
  • One of these problems involves optimum exploitation of available space to accommodate the necessary components of the watch.
  • the other problem relates to the ease of assembly and disassembly of certain watch components.
  • the solution to one problem is incompatible with the solution to the other, for if one succeeds in tightly packing the watch components within a very limited space, this usually renders it difficult to carry out assembly and disassembly operations.
  • the transducer In an electronic watch in which the tuning fork is sustained in vibration by an electrodynamic transducer, the transducer is constituted by magnetic elements borne by the fork and cooperating with a stationary coil connected to an electronic drive circuit. It is possible, using modern technology, to package the electronic circuit in an integrated microelectronic module. However, it is important, for purposes of assembly or servicing, to be able to install or remove the module and its associated coil without interfering with or disturbing other parts of the watch movement and without the need to bend or spread apart the tines of the fork in order to put the coil in place or remove it.
  • a tuning fork having two vibrating tines, the vibratory action of the fork being converted into rotary motion to operate the hands of the timepiece.
  • Mounted on the free ends of the tines are C-shaped magnetic elements which define air gaps lying in a plane parallel to the oscillatory plane of the fork, the air gaps accommodating a pancake-shaped coil which is mounted on a removable module incorporating the components of an electronic drive circuit associated with the coil, the entrance to the air gaps being disposed at the free ends of the magnetic elements whereby the coil may readily be introduced or withdrawn therefrom.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of one preferred embodiment of an electronic timepiece movement in accordance with the invention, the dial, the case and the wheels for driving the hands being omitted for purposes of simplicity;
  • FIG. 1A is a plan view of one of the permanent magnets included in the magnetic elements forming part of the structure shown in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 2 is a section taken in the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of another preferred embodiment of an electronic timepiece movement in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a section taken in the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.
  • dial train components supporting the hands of the watch i.e., hour wheel, cannon pinion and center second pinion
  • a geometric axis X passing through the center of the pillar plate all lie above the top surface of battery 4 in the manner disclosed and illustrated in the above-identified copending application.
  • a mechanical resonator in the form of a tuning fork having tines 7 and 8 and a reentrant stem 6 which is attached by a screw 9 to the pillar plate.
  • the fork position is maintained by pins 10 and 11 which penetrate pillar plate 1, the oscillating plane of the fork being parallel to the pillar plate.
  • Times 7 and 8 extend upwardly from the common base of the fork, the tines curving out slightly at their free ends, such that the concave portion of tine 7 complements the curvature of battery 4 which is directly adjacent thereto.
  • the axis of symmetry Y of fork 5 is relatively distant from the geometric axis X passing through the center of pillar plate 1, which geometric axis also passes through battery cell 4.
  • tine 8 Supported on tine 8 is an index finger 12 which engages the teeth of an index wheel 13, the wheel driving the hands of the watch in the manner illustrated in said copending application. Retrograde motion of wheel 13 is prevented by a pawl 14 anchored on the pillar plate.
  • Borne on tines 7 and 8 and vibrating therewith are respective magnetic elements M and M the elements cooperating with a stationary pancake-shaped coil 28 to provide an electrodynamic transducer.
  • This coil which may be made up of drive and sensing windings, is supported from a nose 21 formed on a plastic module which encapsulates the associated electronic assembly.
  • Coil 28 lies in a plane parallel to pillar plate 1 as well as to the plane of oscillation of fork 5.
  • Magnetic elements M and M are each constituted by C-shaped ferromagnetic frames 16 and 17, respectively. As best seen in FIG. 3, mounted on the inner walls of the arms of frame 16 of magnetic element M are permanent magnets 18 and 19 which establish a magnetic field extending perpendicularly through coil 28. Magnetic element M has an identical arrangement.
  • Coil 18 is received in the air gap defined by the permanent magnets borne by magnetic elements M and M As shown in FIG. 1A, the magnets borne by magnetic elements M and M are contoured to encircle the entire coil except for an open segment having about a 90 degree dimension at the free end of the elements.
  • the permanent magnets are fabricated of a material producing strong fields, and this, coupled with the fact that the lines of flux cut through virtually the entire coil, gives rise to an electrodynamic transducer of very high efficiency.
  • plastic module 20 is such that its convex outer border 20A conforms to the curvature of pillar plate 1, whereas its concave inner border 20B follows the related curvature of battery 4 and its end border matches the curvature of magnetic element M
  • the shape of module 20 is constituted by three arcs and is generally triangular.
  • module 20 pivots at its apex about a pin 24 afixed to pillar plate 1.
  • Module 20 is held in its operative position by screw 25 which passes through a notch 22 in the module and a screw 26 which passes through a hole 23 therein.
  • screw 25 which passes through a notch 22 in the module
  • screw 26 which passes through a hole 23 therein.
  • This makes it possible to swing out module 20, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1, thereby separating coil 28 from magnetic elements M and M
  • the arrangement afiords a highly compact package which makes possible the design of miniaturized watches.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown another embodiment of an electronic watch movement which differs from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, mainly in the fact that the operating frequency of the mechanical resonator is regulated by a quartz crystal frequency standard.
  • plastic module 20 is similar to that in FIGS. 1 and is provided with a nose 21 supporting coil 18.
  • Module 20 also carries a container 42 enclosing a quartz crystal 43, the components of the electronic circuit being embedded in the module.
  • Module 20 is held to pillar plate 1 by screws 30 and 31. The module may be removed to occupy the position shown in dotted lines, thereby making possible quick assembly and disassembly.
  • the mechanical resonator includes a relatively stifi oscillating arm 32 which is aflixed to a block 34 by means of elastic reeds 33, the block in turn being mounted on pillar plate 1.
  • the resonant frequency of the resonator is maintained relatively low by means of two weights borne by arm 32.
  • One of these weights is constituted by a C-shaped magnetic element M consisting of a spacer 37 of non-magnetic material, two plates 38 and 39 of magnetically soft alloys, and two permanent magnets 40 and 41.
  • the permanent magnets have the same shape as magnet 18 shown in FIG. 1A and partially cover coil 28, which is disposed in the air gap defined thereby.
  • the permanent magnets have opposite polarities with respect to coil 28 and generate a magnetic field whose lines of flux extend perpendicularly to the plane of coil 28.
  • oscillating arm 32 bears a counterweight 35.
  • the arm and its flexible reeds serve as a lowfrequency resonant vibrator whose frequency is synchronized by pulses derived, after suitable frequency division, from the crystal standard.
  • the low-frequency resonator may be phase-locked with the frequency of the high-frequency crystal standard.
  • the vibratory motion of arm 32 is converted into rotary motion by means of index finger 12 extending from a post 36 affixed to arm 32 and engaging index wheel 13 in such a manner as to the adverse effect of accelerations in the phasing of the index mechanism which also includes pawl 14 to prevent retrograde motion of wheel 13.
  • module 20 As in the case of FIG. 1, all electronic components other than battery 4 are incorporated in module 20 shown in FIG. 3. In order to disassemble the electrical system, it is necessary only to break the connection to the battery, for all other component connections are borne by the module.
  • one terminal of the battery cell is normally connected to the pillar plate, this terminal may be connected to the electronic drive circuit in the module by way of one of screws 30 or 31.
  • the second terminal of the battery may be connected to the electronic circuit by a contact spring (not shown) extending from the module and adapted to engage the second battery terminal, thereby making it possible to readily replace the module. It is also advantageous to design the contact spring so that it is pivoted about its point of connection on the module, thereby facilitating replacement of the battery cell.
  • An electronic timepiece movement provided with a pillar plate which is receivable within a casing, and a battery cell supported on said plate, said movement comprising:
  • an electrodynamic transducer constituted by a C- shaped magnetic element secured to said resonator and having at least one permanent magnet affixed thereto to define an air gap which lies in a plane parallel to said pillar plate, said gap having an entrance at the free end of said element, and a pancake-shaped coil receivable within said air gap, and
  • An electronic timepiece movement provided with a pillar plate which is receivable within a casing, and a battery cell supported on said plate, said movement 6 comprising:
  • an electrodynamic transducer constituted by a C- shaped magnetic element secured to each tine of said resonator and having at least one permanent magnet afiixed thereto to define an air gap which lies in a plane parallel to said pillar plate, said gap having an entrance at the free end of said element,
  • a module removably mounted on said pillar plate and incorporating an electronic drive circuit energized by said cell and associated with said coil to supply pulses thereto to sustain said resonator in vibration, said coil being supported by said module, whereby said module and coil may be removed without interfering with said resonator and,
  • said module profile is formed by three arcs to define a generally triangular body, the outer arc matching the curvature of the pillar plate, the inner are that of the battery and the end arc that of the magnetic element on the adjacent tine.
  • said module also includes a piezoelectric crystal standard to synchronize the operation of the resonator.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US63732A 1969-12-12 1970-08-14 Miniaturized movement for an electronic timepiece Expired - Lifetime US3683613A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1850369A CH528771A (de) 1969-12-12 1969-12-12 Elektronische Kleinuhr

Publications (1)

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US3683613A true US3683613A (en) 1972-08-15

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US63732A Expired - Lifetime US3683613A (en) 1969-12-12 1970-08-14 Miniaturized movement for an electronic timepiece

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US3683613A (de)
JP (1) JPS4838436B1 (de)
CH (2) CH1850369A4 (de)
FR (1) FR2070821B1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* 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
US3916613A (en) * 1974-05-27 1975-11-04 Timex Corp Contacting, locating and exchanging means for energy cells in timepieces
US20100302752A1 (en) * 2009-06-02 2010-12-02 Lg Innotek Co., Ltd. Dual mode vibrator

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS51122429U (de) * 1975-03-31 1976-10-04
CN206412163U (zh) * 2016-08-16 2017-08-15 精进电动科技股份有限公司 一种分体式电磁铁

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3283495A (en) * 1964-02-18 1966-11-08 Centre Electron Horloger Electronic watch
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
CH196864A4 (de) * 1964-02-18 1965-06-15

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3283495A (en) * 1964-02-18 1966-11-08 Centre Electron Horloger Electronic watch
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
US3916613A (en) * 1974-05-27 1975-11-04 Timex Corp Contacting, locating and exchanging means for energy cells in timepieces
US20100302752A1 (en) * 2009-06-02 2010-12-02 Lg Innotek Co., Ltd. Dual mode vibrator
US8461969B2 (en) * 2009-06-02 2013-06-11 Lg Innotek Co., Ltd. Dual mode vibrator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2070821B1 (de) 1973-11-23
CH1850369A4 (de) 1972-05-31
DE2054271A1 (de) 1971-06-16
JPS4838436B1 (de) 1973-11-17
CH528771A (de) 1972-05-31
FR2070821A1 (de) 1971-09-17
DE2054271B2 (de) 1977-04-07

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