US3766729A - Quartz controlled chronometer - Google Patents

Quartz controlled chronometer Download PDF

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Publication number
US3766729A
US3766729A US00127724A US3766729DA US3766729A US 3766729 A US3766729 A US 3766729A US 00127724 A US00127724 A US 00127724A US 3766729D A US3766729D A US 3766729DA US 3766729 A US3766729 A US 3766729A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
motor
driving
quartz
input line
transistors
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
US00127724A
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English (en)
Inventor
G Diersbock
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
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Timex Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of US3766729A publication Critical patent/US3766729A/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
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C13/00—Driving mechanisms for clocks by master-clocks
    • G04C13/08—Slave-clocks actuated intermittently
    • G04C13/10—Slave-clocks actuated intermittently by electromechanical step advancing mechanisms
    • 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
    • G04C3/14—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating a stepping motor

Definitions

  • the divider output is connected to a polarity changing driver which energizes a polarized motor.
  • the driver changes the polarity of the driving current after every driving impulse and drives the rotor coil of the motor between alternate positions thereby driving the index system directly with quartz accuracy.
  • a magnetic blocking system effectively blocks the indexing system a g when the motor is not operating but releases with a as 1mura....
  • the present quartz controlled chronometers mainly comprise indicating systems driven by mechanical oscillators which are synchronized by the frequency of a quartz controlled oscillator.
  • One of the problems encountered by synchronization systems of this type is that the low frequency mechanical oscillator tends to fall out of synchronization when the wrist movement affects the amplitude.
  • quartz controlled chronometers which include indicating systems for directly indicating the divided quartz frequency, for example one cycle per second or one half cycle per second without synchronization have other disadvantages. These later systems generally have a relatively high power consumption and a blocking arrangement of low efficiency when the motor is not operating.
  • The'present invention relates to a highly accurate timekeeping device including a high frequency time base such as ,a quartz. oscillator which is coupled to a frequency divider which reduces the quartz frequency to one or one half hertz.
  • the divider output is connected to a polarity changing driver which'energizes a polarized rnotonA system is thusprovided which indicates directly the divided quartz frequency'with quartz accuracy. Furthermore, the use of driving pulses of changing polarity results in low power consumption.
  • the drivin'g'circuit is a new arrangement for small timepieces which changes the polarity of the driving current after each driving impulse.
  • the motor which is activated by the driving current comprises one or more symmetrically mounted rotor coils mounted on the index lever staff. The rotor coil is driven back and forth by the alternating pulses while the lever drives an index wheel. A magnetic blocking system is also provided to block the indexing system when the motor is not driving.
  • the polarized motor has the added advantage of being self-correcting since, if the timepiece receives a hard shock, the rotor may be tossed to its opposite rest positiondue to torsional acceleration and advance the index wheel ahead of its pulse. The pulse following will not advance the index wheel. again since the polarity of the driving current for that pulse and the polarity of the magnet in that rest position areattractive. Synchronization between pulse and mechanical switching up to one step out of phase is thereby assured.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved quartz controlled timepiece having'a low power consumption and indicating means being directly driven by the divided quartz frequency.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a quartz controlled timepiece which is self correcting and includes a unique magnetic blocking system in combination with a polarized motor.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the circuit of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the polarity changing driver of FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c show the relationship between the driver input and output pulses
  • FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e show various coil configurations which may be used in the rotor of the timepiece motor
  • FIGS. 5a, and 5b illustrate the blocking system of the present invention
  • FIGS. 6a, and 6b show schematically the motor and the operation thereof.
  • the timepiece of the present invention comprises a quartz oscillator 10 which supplies a high frequency output 11 to the divider 12.
  • the divider 12 reduces the quartz frequency to one or one half hertz on outputs l3 and 14.
  • the driver 16 changes the polarity of the driving current 17 to the motor 18 after each impulse l3 and 14.
  • the motor 18 is directly driven by the divided quartz frequency thereby providing highly accurate timekeeping without the disadvantages present in quartz synchronized systems.
  • One important drawback, which is avoided, is the tendency of the mechanical vibrator to fall out of synchronization when wrist movement affects the amplitude.
  • the quartz oscillator 10 comprises a conventional quartz crystal which is activated to oscillate at its resonant frequency.
  • the quartz frequency which is then fed to the divider 12 as oscillator output 11, generally ranges from approximately 8,000 Hz to 5,000,000 Hz dependingupon crystal selection.
  • the divider 12 is a conventional multi-stage frequency "divider which reduces the quartz output to 1 Hz or one-half Hz on divider outputs 13 and 14. i
  • the driver 16 comprises a current polarity changing unitwhich functions as shown in FIG. 30.
  • the polarity of the. driving current 17 is changed by the driver 16 after each pulse 13 and 14 thereby making it possible to energize apolarized electric motor 18.
  • the driver 16 o'perates'in the following manner.
  • a rising potential on input 13 saturates transistors 10, 21 and 22.
  • ground potential on input 14 to the base 23 cuts off transistors 24,- 26, and 27 driving the current flow in one direction.
  • t capacitor 28 is discharged by resistor 29 and transistors 19, 2 1 and 22 are driven to cutoff. The circuit'is then in a neutral position.
  • the motor 18 which is shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b includes a rotor 33 which may comprise a single coil or a plurality of symmetrically mounted individual coils.
  • a rotor 33 which may comprise a single coil or a plurality of symmetrically mounted individual coils.
  • FIGS. 4a 4e Various suitable coil arrangements are illustrated in FIGS. 4a 4e with the embodiment of FIG. 4d selected for further discussion as the rotor 33 in FIGS. 6a and
  • the center portion of the coil system or rotor 33 is mounted on the index lever staff 34.
  • the coil rotor continuously switches back and forth between two stationary systems of permanent magnets 36 and 37.
  • An alternative approach would be to'use a single magnet system with a shunt.
  • the staff 34 also includes an index lever 38 mounted thereto with arms 39 and 41 for engaging the teeth 42 of an index wheel 43.
  • the lever 38 drives the wheel 43 which is coupled to the'indieating means in a conventional' manner.
  • the wheel 43 includes 30 or 60 circumferentially arranged teeth to be compatible with one or one half hertz driver output frequency.
  • the motor 18 is driven by the driving impulses 17 of opposite polarity such that the first impulse turns the rotor 33 from position A to position B. One second later a second impulse turns the rotor coil 33 back from position B to position A.
  • the motor 18 functions continuously in'this manner with quartz accuracy since the driving pulses come directly from the quartz oscillator via the divider l2 anddriving unit 16.
  • the entire indexing system is blocked by an iron or ferrite core 44 which is positioned .at one or several ends of the coil as shown more particularly in FIGS. 5a and 5b.
  • the iron core 44 positioned in the coil 33 becomes an electromagnet when a driving pulse 17 is received. The polarity of this electromagnet is determined by the current direction of the pulse 17.
  • The. iron core 44 cooperateswith two permanent magnets 46 and 47. With the core 44-initially held by magnet 46, a driving'impulse 17, with the current [in theindicated direction, changes the core '44 into an to overcome the blocking.
  • the system functions simi- 'larly but. in thefother direction with magnet47 as a pulse l7 of opposite polarity is received. 3 t
  • the rotor could be thrown out of position, for example, fromposition A to position B.
  • the watch would, in effect, be gaining one second'but through polarization of the driving currenbthe rotor 33 misses the next driving impulse and is correct once again.
  • the motor 18 is therefore, self-correcting. i
  • the invention as described above has many advantages such as providing a direct indication of the divided quartz frequency with quartz accuracy in a low cost design.
  • a low power consumption results from using driving impulses of changing polarity and very littie power is needed for blocking or releasing of the indicating system.
  • No hairsprings are necessary for electrical motor connections but however, if used, they serve to store potential energy and further reduce power consumption.
  • no mechanical click, blocking or return springs are required.
  • the subject timepiece also readily provides a jump second indication.
  • a timepiece having time indicating means comprising:
  • a frequency divider for reducing the output of the quartz oscillator to a low frequency
  • a polarity changing driver connected to the divider for changing the polarity of the driving current after each driving impulse, the polarity changing driver comprising a first-input line and a second input line, a'first plurality of transistors coupled to the first input line such that rising potential on said first input line'saturates said first plurality of transistors, a second plurality of transistors coupled to said second input line such that ground.
  • each input line cuts ofi said second plurality of transistors while the first plurality of transistors are saturated, and means coupled to each input line for producing a predetermined output pulse upon receipt of an input from the divider, and wherein, the means for producing a predetermined out-put pulse comprises a resistor-capacitor network connected across the first and second input lines,'and, each plurality of transistors comprises a first transistor having it's base connected to a particular input line and second and third transistors, the base of the second transistor being connected tothe collector of the first transistor and the base of the third transistor being connected to the emitterfof the first transistor.
  • a timepiece having time prisingz' I a quartz crystal oscillator having a high frequency t I 'a frequency-divider for reducing the output of the quartz oscillator to a low frequency, a polarity changing driverconnected to the divider for changing the polarity of the driving current after each driving impulse and, 1 a polarized oscillatory vmotor energized by the driver output such that out-of-phase driving pulses fail to drive the motor and'said motor is thereby selfcorrecting, the motor including an index lever staff, a rotor coil mounted thereon and a pair of station ary magnet systems between which the rotor coil is oscillated by the polarized driving pulses when the pulses are in phase, and, I Y indexing means directly coupled to the motor and driven thereby to operate time indicating means. 3.
  • a timepiece in accordance with claim 2 wherein:
  • the rotor coil comprises a plurality of coils symmetrically mounted about the staff.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US00127724A 1971-03-24 1971-03-24 Quartz controlled chronometer Expired - Lifetime US3766729A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12772471A 1971-03-24 1971-03-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3766729A true US3766729A (en) 1973-10-23

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ID=22431613

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00127724A Expired - Lifetime US3766729A (en) 1971-03-24 1971-03-24 Quartz controlled chronometer

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3766729A (sv)
AU (1) AU466534B2 (sv)
BE (1) BE781185A (sv)
CA (1) CA994459A (sv)
CH (2) CH445372A4 (sv)
FR (1) FR2130693B1 (sv)
GB (1) GB1380464A (sv)
IT (1) IT952387B (sv)
NL (1) NL7203885A (sv)
SE (1) SE7203776L (sv)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4266291A (en) * 1977-12-27 1981-05-05 Iida Sankyo Co., Ltd. Electromagnetic swing device
US5479153A (en) * 1993-10-26 1995-12-26 Hankscraft Motors, Inc. Method and apparatus for displaying an object
US20110210817A1 (en) * 2007-08-10 2011-09-01 Osram Gesellschaft Mit Beschraenkter Haftung Light for at least one led and transmitter for generating a radio signal for such a light

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3430119A (en) * 1965-07-22 1969-02-25 Smiths Industries Ltd Oscillating motor for horological instruments
US3509437A (en) * 1966-09-08 1970-04-28 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Timepiece drive
US3555810A (en) * 1969-12-29 1971-01-19 Timex Corp Horological indexing device
US3568017A (en) * 1969-08-04 1971-03-02 Voumard Machines Co Sa Push-pull oscillator for sustaining the oscillations of a resonator
US3597915A (en) * 1968-11-05 1971-08-10 Susumu Aizawa Driving device of electronic watch

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1517115A (fr) * 1966-02-10 1968-03-15 Suisse Horlogerie Montre électronique

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3430119A (en) * 1965-07-22 1969-02-25 Smiths Industries Ltd Oscillating motor for horological instruments
US3509437A (en) * 1966-09-08 1970-04-28 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Timepiece drive
US3597915A (en) * 1968-11-05 1971-08-10 Susumu Aizawa Driving device of electronic watch
US3568017A (en) * 1969-08-04 1971-03-02 Voumard Machines Co Sa Push-pull oscillator for sustaining the oscillations of a resonator
US3555810A (en) * 1969-12-29 1971-01-19 Timex Corp Horological indexing device

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4266291A (en) * 1977-12-27 1981-05-05 Iida Sankyo Co., Ltd. Electromagnetic swing device
US5479153A (en) * 1993-10-26 1995-12-26 Hankscraft Motors, Inc. Method and apparatus for displaying an object
US20110210817A1 (en) * 2007-08-10 2011-09-01 Osram Gesellschaft Mit Beschraenkter Haftung Light for at least one led and transmitter for generating a radio signal for such a light

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7203885A (sv) 1972-09-26
AU466534B2 (en) 1973-09-27
AU4034872A (en) 1973-09-27
CA994459A (en) 1976-08-03
CH445372A4 (sv) 1974-02-15
IT952387B (it) 1973-07-20
GB1380464A (en) 1975-01-15
DE2213699A1 (de) 1972-09-28
SE7203776L (sv) 1972-09-25
BE781185A (fr) 1972-07-17
FR2130693A1 (sv) 1972-11-03
CH552846A (sv) 1974-08-15
FR2130693B1 (sv) 1976-10-29
DE2213699B2 (de) 1975-10-30

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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