US3762157A - Time-setting and time-correcting device for a digital clock - Google Patents

Time-setting and time-correcting device for a digital clock Download PDF

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Publication number
US3762157A
US3762157A US00305688A US3762157DA US3762157A US 3762157 A US3762157 A US 3762157A US 00305688 A US00305688 A US 00305688A US 3762157D A US3762157D A US 3762157DA US 3762157 A US3762157 A US 3762157A
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United States
Prior art keywords
time
indicating
switch
setting
automatically
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00305688A
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English (en)
Inventor
K Kitai
Y Takazawa
S Nagaoka
M Koyama
S Kato
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Seiko Koki KK
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Seiko Koki KK
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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
    • G04C3/001—Electromechanical switches for setting or display

Definitions

  • Kichioka Yuzuru 'llakazawa, Tokyo; Shinji Nagaoka, Yotsukaido, all of Japan [73] Assignee: Seiko Koki Kabushiki Kaisha,
  • ABSTRACT A device for making time settings and time corrections in a digital clock.
  • the time-indicating elements other than the last time unit indicating element are preliminarily set to a time that is to be set in the clock.
  • clock driving circuit is prepared by manually opening a switch for disenabling thereof automatically when the least time unit time-indicating element assumes a selected position.
  • the position of the least time unit elementvis sensed by a sensor and when it arrives at the selected position a second switch in parallel with the firstmentioned switch is automatically opened by the sensor so that the driving circuit is disenabled and the time indicated on the clock least time unit time'indicating element is retained.
  • the driving circuit is enabled by manually controlling or closing of the first-mentioned switch upon coincidence of real time, as indicated by a time standard signal, with the time set into the clock.
  • the time is generally set while the driving elements are moving, and consequently the time-indicating elements are driven.
  • the settings for the hour and minute settings are set in accordance with a time standard before the exact or correct time exists.
  • the setting of the time-indicating elements to the exact time has heretofore been impossible because when the correct time is indicated, for example by the sound of a radio signal timed with a time standard, the seconds time indication generally does not coincide with the exact time and the time-indication elements continue to be driven.
  • the corrected time setting set in timepieces, including digital clocks is generally off from the exact time by at least seconds.
  • Another object of the present invention is provision of a device whereby the time-indicating element in a timepiece indicating the least timeunit is precisely set to the exact time units possible to be indicated by the timepiece.
  • a least time unit time-indicating element is driven by an electrical cir cuit.
  • the time-setting and time-connecting device comprises manual means for selectively preparing the electrical circuit to bedeenergized and when a precise real time is reached automatic means disenable the circuit so that timeindicating elementsdriven by the electrical circuit temporarily indicate time at the time of disenablement thereof/The means for preparing the electrical circuit is then used to enable the circuit at a precise time signal indicated by a time standard.
  • a least time unit time-indicating element of a digital clock is rotatably driven in conjunction and coincident with a sensor wheel 2 having a peripheral notch 3.
  • the time-indicating wheel I and sensor wheel 2 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 4 on which are rotationally mounted other timeindicating wheels, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, that indicate hours, tens of minutes and minutes.
  • the time-indicating wheels are those of a digital clock and the wheels indicate on a panel twelve hours and forty-three minutes.
  • the seconds wheel has the time indicia shown diagrammatically.
  • the rotation of the sensor wheel 2 is sensed as later described and is used to prepare the digital clock for disenabling thereof automatically at a precise time indicated thereon.
  • real time corresponds to the time indicated on the timepiece, it is enabled manually and accordingly the time correction or setting made thereon corresponds precisely with the real time.
  • the timepiece is provided with an electrical circuit as shown.
  • the circuit comprises a pair of sensor elements constructed as switches A and B in parallel.
  • the switches have paired flexible conductive contacts 5, 6, and 7, 8 normally closed.
  • One switch has a position sensor 9 constructed as a cam follower roller sensing the profile ofa profiled sensor wheel 2. It can be seen that so long as the follower rides on theperiphery of the position sensor wheel 2 the switch B is maintained closed.
  • the spring contact 5 of this switch is biased to maintain the position sensor 9 in contact with the position sensing wheel 2.
  • the notch 3 presents itself to the cam follower 9
  • the follower enters the peripheral notch and the switch B is openedql'iowever, since the switch A is closed, the driving circuit of the timepiece continues energized.
  • the device includes a time-setting knob 11] on an axially displaceable setting shaft I2 extending through a side of the digital clock, not-shown in detail.
  • the shaft 112 is biased by a spring 13 toward a position for opening the closed switch A.
  • the spring 13 bears against the side It) and a first collar 14 on the shaft.
  • a second collar I5 is spaced axially from the first collar.
  • a tapered or conical tip element 16 made of an electrically insulative material is mounted at the inner end of the setting shaft 112.
  • This tip I6 is configured to enter between the flexible contacts 7, h of the switch A, which have their free ends flared, as shown, to receive the tip I6 therebetween when it is actuated to the position shown in broken lines.
  • the tip 16 When the tip 16 is inserted betweenthe flared ends, it deflects-the contacts 7, 8 of the switch A outwardly and separates them sufficiently to open the switch.
  • a stop 117 determines the extent that the shaft 12 may be axially withdrawn.
  • the innermost or second collar ll5 bears against a flexible and resilient stop or click [8 that retains the shaft 12 from being biased to a position where the tip 16 opens the electrical driving circuit in which a driving motor 19 is connected and energized from a source of power, not shown, for driving the least time unit time-indicating wheel 1.
  • the digital clock is set, for example, in accordance with a time standard signal transmitted by radio or TV. Before the exact real time signal is transmitted the real time that the signal will correspond to is generally announced.
  • the circuit is prepared for setting of the time in the clock by manually actuating the knob 11 toward a direction M illustrated by a double arrow MM'.
  • the flexible stop or click 18 is configured so that the second collar cams it downwardly and it allows the shaft to be moved axially for inserting the tip into the switch A and disenabling it.
  • the stop 18- being resilient restores itself as the innermost collar moves past it and it is recieved in a space between the two collars l4, 15 so that the shaft 12 is held axially maintaining the switch A disenabled or open.
  • the circuit is enabled by manually drawing the knob 11 outwardly in the direction M so that tip 116 is retracted and the flexible or resilient contacts 7, 8 restore themselves to a closed condition.
  • the clock 18 allows the collar 15 to again cam it downwardly and then restores itself holding the shaft 12 in a retracted position.
  • the enabling, by drawing the setting shaft outwardly, takes place when the time standard signal is received and heard. It can be seen that if the notch 3 corresponds to a position at which the least time timeindicating wheel 1 is stopped at a zero setting, i.e., a zero seconds time indication, the time set in the clock is the exact real time.
  • the clock may be provided with known means, not shown, for preliminarily setting the time-indicating elements to a time-indicating position in which the time to be exactly set in the clock is preset. Then the circuit is disenabled as before described so the time preliminarily set in the time-indicating elements, for example, the hour and minutes time-indicating wheels in the present example as before described, is indicated. The circuit is enabled when the real time corresponds exactly with the time preliminarily set on the clock.
  • the seconds indicating wheel 1 is driven and the sensor wheel 2 driven synchronously therewith is driven.
  • the circuit restores itself automatically closing the automatically controlled open switch B.
  • the circuit is then in readiness for the sequence of manual automatic manual operations necessary to efi'ect a precise time connection and setting in the-digital clock provided with the invention.
  • the drive from the motor 19 to the least time unit indicating wheel 1 is from a gear 1' that is coupled to the motor thorugh the necessary coupling means, for example, gears not shown. Since the motor is de-energized, the driving is interrupted and there need be no declutching means provided. Furthermore, the drive between the motor 19 and the least time unit indicating wheel may be friction wheels and the like.
  • a time-setting and time-correcting device for a timepiece comprising, a driven time-indicating and time-setting element, an electrical circuit comprising means electrically energized for driving said element, means for selectively preparing said electrical circuit for disenabling thereof and to selectively enable it when disenabled, means for automatically disenabling said electrical circuit only after preparation for disenabling thereof and when said element reaches a given position corresponding to a selected unit of time indication.
  • a time-setting and time-correcting device for a timepiece in which said circuit comprises two parallel switches opened to disenable it and in which said means for selectively preparing the circuit for disenabling thereof comprises means for opening a first parallel circuit, and said means for automatically disenablingsaid circuit comprises means for opening a second of the parallel switches while the first parallel switch is open.
  • a time-setting and time-correcting device for a timepiece according to claim 3 in which said timeindicating element comprises a driven wheel for indicating the least unit of time indicated by the timepiece.
  • a digital timepiece a plurality of driven timeindicating elements indicating different time units, one of said elements being a least time unit time-indicating element, an electrical circuit having drive means for driving said time-indicating elements and two parallel switches closed for energizing said drive means, manual means for manually opening a first switch of said switches at will, automatic means automatically opening the second switch of said switches when said least time unit time-indicating element assumes a given position, means detecting said position, and said manual means including means for closing the first switch at will, said automatic means automatically maintaining the second switch closed when said drive means is energized and said least time unit time-indicating element is driven.
  • said means detecting said position comprises a sensor driven synchronously with said least time unit time-indicating element and sensing means sensing the sensor.
  • said manual means comprises a setting shaft operable to two operative positions for controlling opening and closing of said first switch.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
  • Time Recorders, Dirve Recorders, Access Control (AREA)
US00305688A 1971-11-22 1972-11-13 Time-setting and time-correcting device for a digital clock Expired - Lifetime US3762157A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP46093066A JPS4858871A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-11-22 1971-11-22

Publications (1)

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US3762157A true US3762157A (en) 1973-10-02

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ID=14072126

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00305688A Expired - Lifetime US3762157A (en) 1971-11-22 1972-11-13 Time-setting and time-correcting device for a digital clock

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3762157A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4858871A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2257282A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2160904B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1380290A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6418827B1 (en) * 1994-04-13 2002-07-16 Bussey, Iii Harry Perforating machine
US20080223167A1 (en) * 2007-03-14 2008-09-18 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Apparatus and method for jogging transmission neutral switch

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS53119970U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1977-03-01 1978-09-25

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2651167A (en) * 1948-07-09 1953-09-08 Ibm Direct read secondary clock and correction mechanism therefor

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2651167A (en) * 1948-07-09 1953-09-08 Ibm Direct read secondary clock and correction mechanism therefor

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6418827B1 (en) * 1994-04-13 2002-07-16 Bussey, Iii Harry Perforating machine
US20080223167A1 (en) * 2007-03-14 2008-09-18 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Apparatus and method for jogging transmission neutral switch
US7814806B2 (en) * 2007-03-14 2010-10-19 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Apparatus and method for jogging transmission neutral switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2160904B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-04-08
FR2160904A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-07-06
GB1380290A (en) 1975-01-08
DE2257282A1 (de) 1973-05-24
JPS4858871A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-08-17

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