US3771347A - Apparatus for analyzing the movement of a timepiece regulating mechanism - Google Patents

Apparatus for analyzing the movement of a timepiece regulating mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
US3771347A
US3771347A US00259316A US3771347DA US3771347A US 3771347 A US3771347 A US 3771347A US 00259316 A US00259316 A US 00259316A US 3771347D A US3771347D A US 3771347DA US 3771347 A US3771347 A US 3771347A
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United States
Prior art keywords
pallets
light
signal
flip
output
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00259316A
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English (en)
Inventor
A Schar
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Greiner Electronic AG
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Greiner Electronic AG
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04D—APPARATUS OR TOOLS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR MAKING OR MAINTAINING CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04D7/00—Measuring, counting, calibrating, testing or regulating apparatus
    • G04D7/12—Timing devices for clocks or watches for comparing the rate of the oscillating member with a standard
    • G04D7/1207—Timing devices for clocks or watches for comparing the rate of the oscillating member with a standard only for measuring
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04D—APPARATUS OR TOOLS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR MAKING OR MAINTAINING CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04D7/00—Measuring, counting, calibrating, testing or regulating apparatus
    • G04D7/12—Timing devices for clocks or watches for comparing the rate of the oscillating member with a standard
    • G04D7/1207—Timing devices for clocks or watches for comparing the rate of the oscillating member with a standard only for measuring
    • G04D7/1214—Timing devices for clocks or watches for comparing the rate of the oscillating member with a standard only for measuring for complete clockworks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04D—APPARATUS OR TOOLS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR MAKING OR MAINTAINING CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04D7/00—Measuring, counting, calibrating, testing or regulating apparatus
    • G04D7/12—Timing devices for clocks or watches for comparing the rate of the oscillating member with a standard
    • G04D7/1257—Timing devices for clocks or watches for comparing the rate of the oscillating member with a standard wherein further adjustment devices are present
    • G04D7/1264—Timing devices for clocks or watches for comparing the rate of the oscillating member with a standard wherein further adjustment devices are present for complete clockworks

Definitions

  • 259316 cal system is arranged for partial interception by the edge portion of the pallets means of the regulating [30] Foreign Application Priority Data mechanism when said pallets means are in at least one June 3,1971 Switzerland 8068/71 end Position of travel, whereby Said light beam is intensity-modulated during oscillatory travel of the [52] US. Cl. 73/6 Pallets means to Produce a generally trapezoidal Signal [51] Int. Cl.
  • G04b 17/00 Voltage J- Circuit means are Provided for P [58] Field of Search 73/6 s Said Signal voltage to provide Output voltages 41 U and/or U U that are a function of the flank 5 References Cited portions of said trapezoidal signal voltage when said UNITED STATES PATENTS pallets means are in the end positions of travel, re-
  • an acoustic watch signal produced by the escapement, is picked-up by a microphone and is amplified and transformed in an auxiliary circuit connected thereto. Finally, after corresponding transformations, the value of the desired quantity of oscillation can be determined from the transformed signal.
  • the rate regulating organ has an electromagnetic automatic control device for the oscillation system.
  • the latter may be provided with small permanent magnets which act mutually and alternately with fixedly arranged control and drive coils.
  • the resulting alternating magnetic field can be detected outside the movement by means of an induction coil and can be further processed in similar manner to the aforementioned microphone signals.
  • the supply current which librates in phase with the watch signals, can also be picked up by galvanic current collectors.
  • the receiving means as the microphone, the induction coil, or the current collectors, in relation to the watch mechanism influencing them, are merely arranged and/or poled in such a position, that the power, which is available for the above mentioned purposes, and is picked up by these means is sufficiently great in absolute value, and, the case given, is distortion-free.
  • the phase of these signals relative to the movements of the oscillator remains disregarded and therefore is at least equivocal in the sense, that a certain section of the signal curve corresponds at least with two parts of the mechanical oscillation.
  • a harmonic analysis of both oscillations would show that the fundamental frequencies differ or are not phaselocked, in the sense indicated above.
  • the present invention relates to a method for determining a quantity of oscillation of a timepiece regulating organ having an oscillator and an automatic control device, wherein a periodic watch signal containing this quantity is obtained from these oscillating components, influences a sensing element of a receiving unit and subsequently is amplified and transformed in an auxiliary circuit.
  • the invention is characterized in that, for the purpose of unequivocal coordination of the oscillation of the transformed signal to that of the regulating mechanism:
  • the watch mechanism, and the sensing element influenced by it are brought into a mutual position which is predetermined in such manner that the particular direction of the regulating organ is unequivocally picked up and reproduced at least once per period by the sensing element, and
  • pick-up and amplification and/or transformation are carried out in such a manner that the transformed signal has the same fundamental frequency as the regulating organ oscillation and is phase-locked therewith.
  • the method in accordance with the invention preferably is carried out by directing a beam of light onto the watch or clock mechanism in such manner that it passes through the range of movement of the pallets means and is modulated thereby during the course of its movementnamely, in such manner that, at least when the pallets means are at a standstill, one part of the beam of light falls onto the pallets means and the other part influences a photoelectrical sensing element.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of the escapement of a lever watch, illustrating in cross section the light beam of a receiving unit;
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view through a pallet-arm and the light beam, illustrating in block diagram form the electrical system associated therewith;
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the output voltages, relative to time, of the circuit portions which are arranged opposite thereto
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the known diagram of the noise of an acoustic type escapement.
  • the escapement of a lever watch includes a pallets means 11 which is in driven engagement with the escape wheel 12, and in driving engagement with a balance of which only the ellipse portion 13 is illustrated.
  • This regulating mechanism is mounted in a known manner either in the clock mechanism or in a supporting unit corresponding thereto.
  • a beam oflight 15 is directed onto the timepiece mechanism in such manner that it passes through the range of movement of the pallets means 11 and is modulated thereby during its course of movement.
  • a photoelectrical receiving unit is brought into a predetermined position in relation to the timepiece mechanism, namely such that the beam of light 15 always falls partly on and is intercepted by the pallets means 1 1, whereas the other part falls on the photosensitive element 10.
  • the edge 14 of the illuminated pallets means accordingly is located within the light beam during the entire oscillation of the balance means, and thereby it travels twice through the path a.
  • the optical system and the mutual positioning of the timepiece mechanism and the receiving unit are preferably so arranged that the light beam falls from the receiving unit onto the side of the bottom plate and into the timepiece mechanism, is reflected on the bridge of the pallets means and leaves the timepiece mechanism again on the side of the bottom plate before it meets the photo-element.
  • the light falling on the photoelectric element controls the latter in such manner as to produce an approximately trapezoidal output voltage U,.
  • This voltage U contains, apart from a direct-current component and in addition to various harmonics, above all, a fundamental oscillation which corresponds with that of the regulating mechanism and is phase-locked therewith.
  • the lower level U of the trapezoidal voltage U in fact corresponds unequivocally to the rest position of the pallets means 11 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the light beam 15 is strongly darkened, the lever bears on the upper banking pin, and the impulse or roller pin of the balance means mainly swings around above.
  • the upper voltage level corresponds unequivocally to the maximum light intensity applied to the element 10 when the lever 11 bears upon the lower banking pin, the impulse or roller pin of the balance wheel 13 being pivoted accordingly.
  • the oscillation of the photoelectrically transformed signal thus-as regards its phase-is unequivocally coordinated with that of the regulating mechanism.
  • the approximately trapezoidal voltage U is differentiated in the high pass filter 20, and the differentiated alternating current signal U is transformed in the amplifier-limiter into pulse groups U one in each case per watch tick.
  • the noise is suppressed so that the flanks of the positive and negative pulses can be picked-up clearly separated:
  • the auxiliary circuit furthermore contains further elements known per se, which have the following functions: as soon as one of the two comparators 41 and/or 42 responds to a signal U this signal is stored in one of the two RESET/SET flip-flop 51 and/or 52; at the same time, the inverting OR-gate 54 and/or 53 of the other path U and/or U is blocked, and a blocking time generator 57 is switched-in via two inverting gates 55, 56. Due to the blocking time, in addition to the first rising flank at t t or all further flanks of each pulse group are rendered ineffective for the triggering. After expiration of the blocking time T, both gates 53, 54 are opened again and are released for the next pulse group.
  • the two signals U U appearing after all these transformations at the output of the auxiliary circuit finally contain, with all the desirable unequivocality, the quantity of movement of the regulating mechanism, in phase locked coordination. In the present example, it is these pulses which could be used, for example, for the desired rapid correction of the out of beat error.
  • the inverting OR-gate 55 in addition to being connected with the inverter gate 56, also is connected with one high pass and an additional circuit 60 which has a rectifier. At the output of said additional circuit 60 there appears, for each timepiece tick, a needle pulse U which straightaway, in place ofa microphone signal, can be passed onwards at the input of a conventional timing machine or of an automatic rate adjusting means.
  • a needle pulse U which straightaway, in place of a microphone signal, can be passed onwards at the input of a conventional timing machine or of an automatic rate adjusting means.
  • further combinations are not shown here.
  • the method likewise is advantageously applicable.
  • the corresponding receiver,- an induction coil is brought into a predetermined position in relation to the regulating means, so that the coordination of its output voltage with the oscillation of the regulating means is unequivocal.
  • the differentiation (U -U can be dispensed with.
  • the method can be adapted to important needs of automation, such as independency of tolerances and versatility.
  • Apparatus for measuring the operation of a timepiece having an oscillatory regulating mechanism including pallets means, comprising a. a stationary light-responsivemember (10);
  • circuit means connected with said light-responsive member for producing distinctive first and second output pulse signals (U U when said pallets means is in said first and second end positions, respectively.
  • the light modulated voltage (U appearing on said lightresponsive member is generally trapezoidal and includes low (U,,) and high (U.,+U voltage levels; and further wherein said circuit means includes high pass filter means for eliminating from said lightmodulated signal said low voltage level thereby to produce a differentiated signal (U limiter means for transforming said differentiated signal into a signal (U of pulse groups the polarities of which correspond with the end positions of said pallets means, respectively; and level comparator means (41, 42) for isolating the peaks of said pulse group signal to produce said first (U41) and second (U output signals, respectively.
  • said "processing means comprising flip-flop means including a pair of RESET/SET flip-flops (51,52), inverting-OR gate means (53, 54) for supplying said first and second output signals to said flip-flops, respectively, and a blocking time generator (57) operable by a pair of inverting output and input gates (55, 56) for alternately setting and

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Transmission And Conversion Of Sensor Element Output (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US00259316A 1971-06-03 1972-06-02 Apparatus for analyzing the movement of a timepiece regulating mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3771347A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH806871A CH535452A (de) 1971-06-03 1971-06-03 Verfahren zur Bestimmung einer Bewegungsgrösse, insbesondere des Abfallfehlers, des Gangreglers von Uhrwerken

Publications (1)

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US3771347A true US3771347A (en) 1973-11-13

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US00259316A Expired - Lifetime US3771347A (en) 1971-06-03 1972-06-02 Apparatus for analyzing the movement of a timepiece regulating mechanism

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US3771347A (cs)
CH (2) CH806871A4 (cs)
DE (1) DE2146602A1 (cs)
FR (1) FR2139793B3 (cs)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140019089A1 (en) * 2012-07-13 2014-01-16 Sicpa Holding Sa Method and system for authenticating a timepiece
EP3096191A1 (fr) * 2015-05-18 2016-11-23 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Dispositif intelligent de remontage de montres

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2024799A (en) * 1930-05-23 1935-12-17 Hamilton Watch Co Method of and apparatus for measuring time intervals
US2231849A (en) * 1937-08-16 1941-02-11 Thomas B Gibbs & Co Timing apparatus for clocks and watches
US2444178A (en) * 1945-11-02 1948-06-29 Tessie Weinberger Stroboscopic apparatus for calibrating time indicating devices

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2024799A (en) * 1930-05-23 1935-12-17 Hamilton Watch Co Method of and apparatus for measuring time intervals
US2231849A (en) * 1937-08-16 1941-02-11 Thomas B Gibbs & Co Timing apparatus for clocks and watches
US2444178A (en) * 1945-11-02 1948-06-29 Tessie Weinberger Stroboscopic apparatus for calibrating time indicating devices

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140019089A1 (en) * 2012-07-13 2014-01-16 Sicpa Holding Sa Method and system for authenticating a timepiece
US10331086B2 (en) * 2012-07-13 2019-06-25 Sicpa Holding Sa Method and system for authenticating a timepiece
EP3096191A1 (fr) * 2015-05-18 2016-11-23 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Dispositif intelligent de remontage de montres
WO2016184736A1 (fr) * 2015-05-18 2016-11-24 The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd Dispositif intelligent de remontage de montres

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2139793A1 (cs) 1973-01-12
CH535452A (de) 1972-12-15
FR2139793B3 (cs) 1974-08-19
CH806871A4 (cs) 1972-12-15
DE2146602A1 (cs) 1972-12-14

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