US3788060A - Watch with an electronic buzzer - Google Patents

Watch with an electronic buzzer Download PDF

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Publication number
US3788060A
US3788060A US00308763A US3788060DA US3788060A US 3788060 A US3788060 A US 3788060A US 00308763 A US00308763 A US 00308763A US 3788060D A US3788060D A US 3788060DA US 3788060 A US3788060 A US 3788060A
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United States
Prior art keywords
watch
back cover
piezoelectric element
driving circuit
transistor
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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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US00308763A
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English (en)
Inventor
Y Kawamura
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP10188771A external-priority patent/JPS5311871B2/ja
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
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Publication of US3788060A publication Critical patent/US3788060A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G13/00—Producing acoustic time signals
    • G04G13/02—Producing acoustic time signals at preselected times, e.g. alarm clocks
    • G04G13/021—Details

Definitions

  • a driving circuit for actuat- [58] Field of Search 58/38, 57.5 ing or energizing the piezoelectric element is disposed in the watch case releasably from the back cover and [56] References Cited the piezoelectric element.
  • This invention relates generally to watches, and more particularly to a watch with an electronic buzzer wherein a piezoelectric element functions as a vibrating means employed to produce a buzz sound.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a watch with an electronic buzzer in which a piezoelectric element serves as a vibrating element and is employed to eliminate mechanically driven members and a driving electromagnet thereby allowing construction of a watch of small size.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a watch with an electronic buzzer from which a full sound effect is obtained and watertightness is assured by employing a double-constructed back cover comprising an inner back cover and an outer back cover provided with one or a plurality of sound emission or sound escape openings.
  • a watch with an electronic buzzer comprises a watch case accommodating a watch movement.
  • a back cover is mounted on the case and vibrating means are mounted on the back cover.
  • the vibrating means is a piezoelectric element.
  • a driving circuit actuates the vibrating means to produce a buzz sound at a predetermined time.
  • the driving circuit is disposed releasably from the back cover and the vibrating means, and means for connecting the vi brating means to the driving circuit.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a back cover of a watch with an electronic buzzer according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-section view taken on section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a back side elevation view of a watch according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view and a circuit diagram ofan overall construction of a watch with an electronic buzzer according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part of FIG. 4 illustrating means for connecting vibrating means to a driving circuit.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown an embodiment of a back cover of a watch case comprising a dished outer back cover 1 on an inclined or dished surface portion la on which are provided a plurality of small openings lb to 1i spaced angularly equally and an inner back cover 2, the marginal peripheral portion of which is secured to the outer cover 2.
  • a piezoelectric element 3 is attached to a central portion of the inner cover 2 with an electrically conductive adhesive.
  • the piezoelectric element 3 has on its back or top surface electrodes; one of which is electrically connected, through the inner back cover 2 and the outer back cover 1, to a frame plate 10 and the other of which is also connected through a lead conductor 6 to a terminal pin 5 mounted on a seating means 4 which is electrically insulated from the inner cover 2 and, therefore, from the outer cover 2 and the frame plate 10 (See FIG. 5).
  • FIG. 4 is an overall construction view with a circuit diagram illustrating the embodiment of the electric buzzer according to the present invention.
  • a circuit 9 for sounding a buzzer is disposed in an internal space of the watch case defined by the inner surface of the inner back cover 2 and the frame plate 10, and a case band 7 mounted on the outer back cover I.
  • a watch crystal or glass 11 is mounted on the case band 7 in a fluid-tight condition.
  • the circuit 9 for energizing the buzzer comprises a transistor Tr the collector of which is connected in series to a switch SW actuated in response to a timer mechanism (not shown) and a battery B having, for example, a voltage value of 1.5.
  • the negative terminal of the battery is grounded to the plate 10.
  • a diode D is connected to a base of the transistor, and a resistor R is connected between the input terminal of the diode and the collector of the transistor.
  • a capacitor C is connected between the input terminal of the diode and ground.
  • Another capacitor C is connected to the base of transistor Tr and to the spring 13.
  • a coil L which is divided into two portions La and Lb.
  • the emitter of the transistor Tr is connected to the centertap of the, coil L.
  • the capacitor C is connected through the spring 13, the terminal pin 5 and the lead wire 6 to one electrode of the piezoelectric element 5.
  • the piezoelectric element 3 is connected across the coil L.
  • the capacitor C is charged with a current flowing from the battery B through a resistor R when the switch SW is closed at the predetermined time associated with the timer mechanism.
  • the charging time thereof is determined by the time constant of the capacitor C and the resistor R.
  • a predetermined value for instance 0.6V when a silicon diode is employed
  • the voltage is applied to the base of the transistor Tr to bias the transistor Tr, whereby the current flows from the collector.
  • the coil L is divided into two parts La and Lb and connected to the emitter, the current change in the collector circuit causes a voltage change in the coil La.
  • an induced voltage is produced in the coil Lb and then fed back through the capacitor C to the base of the transistor.
  • the circuit begins to oscillate with the resonance frequency determined by the coil L and the capacitor C The oscillation continues until the complete discharge of the condenser C is finished. When the discharge is completed, the transistor is turned off to stop the oscillation. When the capacitor C is charged again, the circuit begins to oscillate in the same way as mentioned above, so that intermittent oscillation occurs with the repeated charge and discharge ofthe capacitor C
  • the piezoelectric element 3 connected across the coil L vibrates intermittently in response to the oscillation of the circuit. In order to obtain the maximum sound effect, the oscillatory frequency of the circuit should conform to the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric element.
  • the driving circuit employed in the invention brings about many advantages as follows: the consumption of the electric power is low due to the use of the transistor-switching circuit; the maximum sound effect of the vibrator may be obtained with small consumption of electric power because the vibrating means is resonant with the oscillating frequency of the circuit; the life of the circuit is substantially permanent because the circuit is contactless except for the switch actuated by the timing mechanism; no re-adjustment of the frequency is required, so that maintenance is easy and without trouble; and it is particularly suitable for use in portable apparatus, such as a watch the inner space of which is extremely limited.
  • the watch with the electric buzzer has many advantages as follows: the watertightness of the watch case is positively assured by the inner back cover of the double-constructed back cover; case band and glass; the sound effect of the buzzer is readily heard because the vibrating sound of the piezoelectric element is transmitted through the angularly spaced openings provided on the outer back cover; the piezoelectric element employed as the vibrating means has no mechanical por tions and therefore requires no readjustment and difficult adjustment for the frequency; the piezoelectric element is thin in form so that it is particularly suitable for use in a small watch; and the back cover of the watch case is easily assembled or disassembled because the piezoelectric element adhesively fixed to the inner back cover is electrically connected to the vibrating circuit by means of the terminal pin provided on the inner back case and the terminal spring provided on the watch movement.
  • a watch with an electronic buzzer comprising, a watch case for accommodating a watch movement, a back cover mounted on said housing, vibratable means capable of producing a mechanical sound when a voltage is applied thereto and mounted on said back cover, a driving circuit for actuating said vibratable means to produce a mechanical buzz sound at a predetermined time, means connecting said driving circuit releasably to said back cover and said vibratable means, means for connecting said vibratable means to said driving circuit, said driving circuit comprising a power source, a transistor having a collector connected in series with said power source and a timing switch; a time-constant circuit including a first capacitor and a resistor connected in parallel with said transistor; and an oscillating circuit including a second capacitor connected to a base of said transistor and a coil having one end connected to said second capacitor and the other end connected to said power source, said coil having a centertapped portion to which an emitter of said transistor is connected, and means connecting said vibratable means across said coil.
  • a watch with an electronic buzzer comprising, a watch case for accommodating a watch movement, a back cover mounted on said watch case, a piezoelectric element capable of producing a mechanical sound when a voltage is applied thereto mounted on said back cover, a driving circuit for actuating said piezoelectric element to produce a mechanical buzz sound at a predetermined time, means connecting said driving circuit releasably to said back cover and said piezoelectric element, and additional means for connecting said piezoelectric element to said driving circuit.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US00308763A 1971-12-09 1972-11-22 Watch with an electronic buzzer Expired - Lifetime US3788060A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP11611271 1971-12-09
JP10188771A JPS5311871B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-12-17 1971-12-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3788060A true US3788060A (en) 1974-01-29

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ID=26442659

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00308763A Expired - Lifetime US3788060A (en) 1971-12-09 1972-11-22 Watch with an electronic buzzer

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US3788060A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (2) CH1793872A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1378400A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
HK (1) HK15177A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3879931A (en) * 1972-12-27 1975-04-29 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electronic watch with an electronically operated sound producer
US3940919A (en) * 1973-10-03 1976-03-02 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic wristwatch with electronic sound emitter device
US4004409A (en) * 1975-01-30 1977-01-25 Gebruder Junghans Gmbh Watch having a piezo electric buzzer mechanism
US4045954A (en) * 1975-01-30 1977-09-06 Gebruder Junghans Gmbh Safety mechanism for a watertight watch having a piezo electric buzzer
US4068461A (en) * 1976-04-15 1978-01-17 Frontier Inc. Digital electronic alarm watch
US4321699A (en) * 1976-09-17 1982-03-23 Ricoh Watch Company, Limited Wrist watch with alarm
US4459037A (en) * 1980-03-13 1984-07-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Wristwatch with piezoelectric buzzer
US4523856A (en) * 1980-06-04 1985-06-18 Societe Suisse Pour L'industrie Horlogere Management Services Electronic timepiece including an electro-acoustic transducer
US4918674A (en) * 1985-11-14 1990-04-17 Seikosha Co., Ltd. Alarm timepiece
US4985878A (en) * 1988-09-12 1991-01-15 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Electronic timepiece with analog time display unit and electrooptic data display unit

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3341841A (en) * 1964-08-18 1967-09-12 Fontainemelon Horlogerie Electronic buzzer
US3577876A (en) * 1968-06-17 1971-05-11 Paolo Spadini Watertight alarm wristwatch
US3638418A (en) * 1968-06-17 1972-02-01 Paolo Spadini Alarm wristwatch
US3733804A (en) * 1971-09-29 1973-05-22 Timex Corp Electronic alarm watch

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3341841A (en) * 1964-08-18 1967-09-12 Fontainemelon Horlogerie Electronic buzzer
US3577876A (en) * 1968-06-17 1971-05-11 Paolo Spadini Watertight alarm wristwatch
US3638418A (en) * 1968-06-17 1972-02-01 Paolo Spadini Alarm wristwatch
US3733804A (en) * 1971-09-29 1973-05-22 Timex Corp Electronic alarm watch

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3879931A (en) * 1972-12-27 1975-04-29 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electronic watch with an electronically operated sound producer
US3940919A (en) * 1973-10-03 1976-03-02 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic wristwatch with electronic sound emitter device
US4004409A (en) * 1975-01-30 1977-01-25 Gebruder Junghans Gmbh Watch having a piezo electric buzzer mechanism
US4045954A (en) * 1975-01-30 1977-09-06 Gebruder Junghans Gmbh Safety mechanism for a watertight watch having a piezo electric buzzer
US4068461A (en) * 1976-04-15 1978-01-17 Frontier Inc. Digital electronic alarm watch
US4321699A (en) * 1976-09-17 1982-03-23 Ricoh Watch Company, Limited Wrist watch with alarm
US4459037A (en) * 1980-03-13 1984-07-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Wristwatch with piezoelectric buzzer
US4523856A (en) * 1980-06-04 1985-06-18 Societe Suisse Pour L'industrie Horlogere Management Services Electronic timepiece including an electro-acoustic transducer
US4918674A (en) * 1985-11-14 1990-04-17 Seikosha Co., Ltd. Alarm timepiece
US4985878A (en) * 1988-09-12 1991-01-15 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Electronic timepiece with analog time display unit and electrooptic data display unit
US5050138A (en) * 1988-09-12 1991-09-17 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Electronic wrist watch having a sound producing unit and an electrooptic data display unit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH599617B5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-05-31
GB1378400A (en) 1974-12-27
CH1793872A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-07-29
HK15177A (en) 1977-04-07

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