US3789599A - Correction of errors occurring in electronic timepieces - Google Patents

Correction of errors occurring in electronic timepieces Download PDF

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Publication number
US3789599A
US3789599A US00299327A US3789599DA US3789599A US 3789599 A US3789599 A US 3789599A US 00299327 A US00299327 A US 00299327A US 3789599D A US3789599D A US 3789599DA US 3789599 A US3789599 A US 3789599A
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United States
Prior art keywords
gear train
electrode surfaces
electrode
vanes
coupling portion
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00299327A
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English (en)
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P Dome
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Soc Suisse Pour L Ind Horlogere Sa ch
SUISSE POUR L IND HORLOGERE SA
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SUISSE POUR L IND HORLOGERE SA
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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
    • G04C3/14—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating a stepping motor
    • G04C3/143—Means to reduce power consumption by reducing pulse width or amplitude and related problems, e.g. detection of unwanted or missing step

Definitions

  • An error detector circuit 31 2 can be used to detect errors in the gear train position by comparing signals derived from the time base with [56] References Ci d signals dependent upon the value of the variable ca- UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,928,793 10/1933 Poole 58/35 R 17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures D I VI 0 E R 5 E020 EC2
  • the disclosed timepiece is provided with a correction device comprising means for periodically detecting any deviation in the position of the hour indicating means relative to a reference position corresponding to that position which the hour indicating means are required to occupy at the instant of detection on the basis of the counting of the signals issuing from the divider.
  • the timepiece also includes means for forming a signal for discriminating the direction of the said positional deviation of the hour indicating means, means for momentarily connecting the hour indicating device to an intermediate stage of the divider, when the said discrimination signal corresponds to a delay in the hour indicating means, in such manner as to accelerate the operation of the said device in order to make up for the said delay, and means for momentarily interrupting any connection between the divider and the hour indicating means, when the discrimination signal corresponds to an advance of the hour indicating means, in such manner as to cancel the said advance by stopping the said device.
  • the detection means of the correction device described in the aforementioned British Pat. No. 1,177,523 are constituted by a variable capacitor which takes the form of a rotary support which is connected to the hour indicating means and which is designed to effect an angular displacement through 180 in the period of time separating two successive control signals, whereas hour indication corresponds to that which it should in fact be on the basis of the divided frequency signals issuing from the divider.
  • the said rotary support comprises two diametrically opposed electrodes which are displaced opposite two fixed electrodes provided for scanning the rotary support electrodes.
  • the said fixed electrodes each extend along a portion of the circular path followed by the electrodes of the rotary support, each along a travel path corresponding to at least two successive intermittent displacements of the electrodes of the rotary support and in a relative position such that they are diametrically opposed at one of their ends and are directed in angularly opposite directions from that end.
  • the rotary support is angularly positioned in such manner that, when it rotates, its electrodes each pass into position opposite an associated fixed electrode when they receive the control signal and that the indication of the hour corresponds to that which it should in fact be on the basis of the counting of the signals which are issued from the divider. Any other position of the electrodes of the rotary support relative to the fixed electrodes at the instant at which they receive the control signal signifies that the indication is incorrect.
  • the space available for a variable detection capacitor is of the order'of a few millimetres.
  • the mobile support effects one revolution every 64 seconds, the angular extent of the fixed electrodes is very reduced.
  • a timepiece indicator gear train having a rotatable element and means for sensing the angular position of said element, said means comprising:
  • relatively movable electrode surfaces which have a first relative position in which a movable one of said surfaces lies against another of said surfaces;
  • a dielectric layer provided on at least one of said one and said another surface
  • biasing means which urge said electrode surfaces to said first relative position
  • an electronic timepiece comprising:
  • timebase coupled to said drive means to operate said drive means in dependence upon periodic signals issued by said timebase at a predetermined frequency
  • an error detection circuit coupled to said means for sensing the angular position of said element and also to said timebase, said error detector circuit being operable to detect error in the angular position of said element in dependence upon a comparison between signals from said timebase and from said means for sensing the angular position of said element.
  • the electrode surfaces may be applied against each other with interpositioning of the dielectric layer has the result that it makes it possible to obtain a particularly high capacity between these surfaces. Furthermore, the capacity between the surfaces varies suddenly as soon as the electrode surfaces are separated to a small extent, so that the arrangement has been found to be particularly suitable for industrial utilisation within the framework of a correction device such as that disclosed in British Pat. No. 1,177,523.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of an error detector of a gear train
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram of a first error detector and corrector circuit in conjunction with the variable capacitor of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram of a second error detector and corrector circuit
  • FIG. 4 shows explanatory waveform diagrams
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the possible variation of the capacity of the variable capacitor shown in FIG. 1.
  • the timepiece indicator gear train a portion of which is shown in FIG. 1 is intended to be mounted in an electronic timepiece, for example a timepiece of the type described and illustrated in British Pat. No. 1,177,523.
  • an electronic timepiece for example a timepiece of the type described and illustrated in British Pat. No. 1,177,523.
  • the following text will be restricted to a description of the constructional features of the gear train and of the circuits with which the said gear train is connected.
  • the gear train comprises (FIG. 1) an element constituted by a disc 1 which is provided, at its periphery, with eight projections in the form of stops or lugs 2 and which is secured on the arbor 3 of an escape wheel (not shown) of the gear train driven step-by-step in rotation Y in the direction of the arrow F, at a rate of, for example,
  • a variable detector capacitor C4 is mounted on the housing (not shown) of the timepiece, near the disc I.
  • the said capacitor comprises a pivotable electrode 5 secured to a shaft 6 mounted for pivoting in the frame or housing, parallel to the arbor 3 of the disc 1.
  • the electrode 5 has six radially extending arms or vanes enclosing equal angles.
  • the surface of the electrode 5, which is made preferably from aluminium, is covered with an insulating layer of aluminium oxide which has been produced by any known means and the thickness of which is of the order of a few microns. This layer constitutes the dielectric of the capacitor in the position wherein the electrode surfaces thereof (provided by'the vanes) are close together, as will be discussed later in this text.
  • the dielectric could also be formed by a layer of some other insulating material.
  • the fixed electrode of the variable capacitor C4 is constituted by a disc 7 fixed to the frame or casing (not shown) of the timepiece and provided with six vanes 7a uniformly distributed about the pivoting arbor 6 of the electrode 5.
  • Each vane 7a extends parallel to a diametral plane extending through the axis of the arbor 6, each vane 7a extending at a distance from the corresponding diametral plane equal to half the thickness of an arm of the mobile electrode 5. Consequently, when the electrode 5 occupies the angular position shown in full lines in FIG. 1, one face of each of the arms of the electrode 5 contacts one face of an associated vane 7a.
  • an end piece or ferrule 8 serving for securing the inner end of a spiral recoil spring S the outer end of which is secured to the frame or housing of the timepiece by an eye-bolt 10 constituting the terminal of the electrode 5 of the variable capacitor (FIGS. 2 and 3).
  • the spring S is wound-up slightly to act as resilient biasing means urging the arms of the electrode 5 against the vanes 70 of the fixed armature 7.
  • a lever 11, acting as an entrainment finger, is secured on the arbor 6 and extends radially towards the disc 1, in substantially coplanar position relative to the latter. Furthermore, the free end of the lever 11 intersects the circular trajectory described by the respective ends of the stops 2 on the disc 1 in the two angular positions shown in FIG. I. These two positions correspond to two successive positions of the escape wheel driven step-by-step and on the arbor 3 on which the disc 1 is secured. As FIG.
  • the free end of the arm 11 is entrained by a stop 2 during an angular displacement of the stop which is slightly larger than one step of the escape wheel, in such manner that, since the indication or display repetition period is one second in the example considered, the electrode 5 will remain spaced away from the vanes 7a of the fixed electrode for a time duration corresponding to that period.
  • the time interval separating two successive detection operations is dependent on the number e of the stops 2 on the disc 1, on the number Z of teeth on the seconds wheel of the gear train and on the period T of entrainment of the indicating means of the timepiece.
  • the dependency is such that the time interval referred to equals
  • the period T has been selected to be equal to 1 second.
  • the electrode 5 thus travels away once from the vanes 7a of the fixed armature.
  • the detection capacitor C4 may be connected either in the circuit shown in FIG. 2, which is designed to permit delay correction, or in the circuit of FIG. 3 which is intended to effect advance corrections.
  • FIG. 2 shows only the two last stages-EC 20 and EC 21 of an electronic divider for the signals issuing from the time base of the electronic timepiece.
  • the timebase may be constituted by a quartz oscillator, notably one of extremely high frequency.
  • the electronic circuit has two auxiliary divider stages EC 22 and EC 23.
  • the signal issuing from stage EC 20 has a frequency of 2 cycles per second, whereas the frequency of that emanating from the following stage, EC 21, is 1 cycle per second. Since the divider stages EC 22 and EC 23 are stages capable of dividing by 2, the frequency applied to them or, respectively, the signal issuing from stage EC 23 has a frequency of one-fourth cycle per second.
  • the disc 1 Since the disc 1 is driven at the velocity of l revolution every 32 seconds, and since the disc 1 comprises eight stops 2, it follows that the disc 1 triggers the periodic rocking of the lever 11, out of the position shown in full lines (FIG. 1) into the position shown in broken lines, once every 4 seconds.
  • all the transistors utilised in the circuit are field effect transistors having an insulated control electrode of the type known as isolated gate field effect transistors.
  • the correction circuit shown in FIG. 2 comprises a circuit R6, T26, C16, T24, T23 for driving an electromechanical converter (not shown) of the timepiece, the said converters being in every respect identical with those shown in FIG. 8 of British Pat. No. 1,177,523 for example. Reference should be made to this specification if more details are required.
  • the electrode for controlling the transistor T23 is connected to output b of the divider stage EC 20, whereas that of the transistor T24 is connected to output a21 of the stage EC 21.
  • a transistor T is connected in parallel with the capacitor C16 between the negative pole of a dc. source P and the input of the transistor T26.
  • the circuit comprises furthermore a transistor T27 connected in series on the one hand to the electrode for controlling the transistor T27 and on the other hand to a capacitor C17 across'the output a20 of the stage EC 20.
  • the electrode for controlling the transistor T27 is connected to the terminal 10 of the electrode 5 of the variable capacitor C4.
  • the control electrode of transistor T27 is also connected to one of the electrodes of an fixed capacitor C40.
  • the circuit also comprises a transistor T29 connected, via a capacitor C18 to the negative pole of the dc. source P, the transistor T29 being furthermore connected at point 9 to the second electrode of the unvariable capacitor C40.
  • the transistor T28 is connected between the negative pole of the source P and a point 0 to which are connected the capacitor C18 and the transistor T29.
  • the control electrode for the transistor T28 is connected to the output 023 of the divider stage EC 23.
  • a capacitor C19 is connected between the negative pole of the source P and the control electrode for the transistor T29. Furthermore, two transistors T and T31 are connected in series across the source P, the output of the transistor T31 being connected to the electrode for controlling the transistor T29. Finally, the circuit comprises a transistor T32 connected in series with a capacitor C20 across the output a21 of the divider stage EC 21, the output of the transistor T32 being connected to the electrode for controlling the transistor T30, whereas the electrodes for controlling the transistors T31 and T32 are connected in common to the output a23 of the divider stage EC 23.
  • Control of the position of the gear train is effected by a signal V9 which is taken off at point 0 in the circuit (FIG. 2) and applied to the capacitor C40. The duration of this signal determines the period of error detection and correction.
  • Vg' represents the voltage in the general feed line (not shown) of the stages EC of the divider
  • Vb20 represents a voltage taken off at a point b20 on the circuit of stage EC 20
  • Vm represents the voltage at point m.
  • the capacitor C18 is discharged, this bringing the points 0 and 9 to the negative potential of the source P (formation of the pulse front V9 FIG. 4).
  • the capacitor C19 is discharged.
  • the transistor T29 is unblocked, the potential at point 0 drops to Zero and the capacitor C18 is charged, so that the electrode of the capacitor C40 connected to the point 9, which had been maintained at the negative potential of the source P, is maintained at zero potential.
  • the alternating charging and discharging of the capacitors C18 and C19 has thus permitted the formation of a voltage pulse constituting the signal V9, of duration corresponding to the period of repetition of the pulses of signal Va21, in this case one second, the period of repetition of the signal V9 corresponding to that of the signal Va23, i.e., to 4 seconds in the example described.
  • the capacitive value of the fixed capacitor C40 and the maximum capacitive value of the detection capacitor C4 are selected to be approximately equal, the sudden diminution in the capacitive value of the capacitor C4 will result in a substantial increase in the voltage at the point 10, at the instant at which thepulse front V9 is formed.
  • the value of the voltage at point 10 is higher than the threshold voltage of the transistor -T27 and its duration is equal to that of the signal V9.
  • the transistor T27 is conductive and the pulses of signal Va20, which appear twice per second at the output a20 of the stage EC 20, are not able to reach the electrode controlling the transistor T25. The latter remains blocked, so that the pulse for correcting the signal Va20 which follows the pulse for normal entrainment of the signal Va2l does not contribute to the entrainment of the relay R6.
  • the circuit shown in FIG. 2 is essentially intended to effect detection and correction of errors revealed in indication or display of the hour when the said errors involve a delay or lag.
  • the circuit triggers, as to be described hereinbelow, the momentary connection of the entrainment circuit T23, T24, T25, T26, C16, R6 to the point a20 on the divider in such manner that, during the entire duration of such connection, the said circuit is triggered by a signal of double frequency relative to the signal issuing from point a21.
  • the circuit of FIG. 2 detects that there is a delay in operation of the gear train when the value of the capacity of the variable capacitor C4 is a maximum (this taking place when the arms are directly applied on the vanes 70) and when, simultaneously with this, the circuit receives the pulses of the signals Va2l and V1123.
  • the transistor T is connected in a manner equivalent to the transistor T24, i.e., in parallel with the capacitor C16, and so the transistor 25 is able to trigger discharge, of the capacitor C16, as is the transistor T24 when it becomes conductive.
  • the circuit constituting the subject of FIG. 3 is essentially intended for the detection of possible advances in the operation of the timepiece and for the correction of such errors.
  • amplifier T21, C14 is connected, at its input, to the point 10 in the circuit, and at its output to the electrode for controlling the transistor T22 and in parallel with the capacitors C4 and C40.
  • a further amplifier T22, C15 is connected at its output to the electrode for controlling or triggering the transistor T24 and is also connected to point 021 via its capacitorClS.
  • the circuit components controlling the potential at point 10 constitute an error detector circuit coupled to capacitor C4, whilst the circuit components preventing the pulse of signal Va21 constitute correcting means.
  • Vs (C40/C40 C4) V9 We should also point out, finally, that detection of advances and delays in the gear train position could readily be obtained by utilising two variable capacitors similar to the capacitor C4 and alternatingly actuated by the indicator gear train.
  • a timepiece indicator gear train having a rotatable element and means for sensing the angular position of said element, said means comprising:
  • relatively movable electrode surfaces which have a first relative position in which a movable one of said surfaces lies against another of said surfaces;
  • biasing means which urge said electrode surfaces to said first relative position
  • said rotatable element comprises at least one projection which is disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotatable element, said rotatable element being rotatable to periodicallyabut said coupling portion of said one electrodesurface thereby periodically to move said electrode surfaces apart against the action of said biasing means during rotation of said element.
  • said surface upon which is provided said dielectric layer is of aluminium, and said dielectric layer itself comprises an oxide of aluminium.
  • An electronic timepiece comprising: a. a timepiece indicator gear train having a rotatable element and means for sensing the angular position of said element, said means comprising: relatively movable electrode surfaces which have a first relative position in which a movable one of said surfaces lies against another of said surfaces;
  • biasing means which urge said electrode surfaces to said first relative position
  • a time base coupled to said drive means to operate said drive means in dependence upon periodic signals issued by said time base at a predetermined frequency
  • an error detector circuit coupled to said means for sensing the angular position of said element and also to said time base, said error detector circuit being operable to detect error in the angular position of said element in dependence upon a comparison between signals dependent upon said timebase and signals from said means for sensing the angular position of said element.
  • said rotatable element comprises at least one projection which is disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotatable element, said rotatable element being rotatable to periodically abut said coupling portion of said one electrode surface thereby periodically to move said electrode surfaces apart against the action of said biasing means during rotation of said element.
  • said correcting means includes means for preventing periodic drive signals being fed to said drive means in the event that said error is an advance.
  • said correcting means includes means for feeding additional periodic drive signals to said drive means in the event that said error is a lag.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US00299327A 1971-10-25 1972-10-20 Correction of errors occurring in electronic timepieces Expired - Lifetime US3789599A (en)

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CH1548471A CH556051A (US07608600-20091027-C00054.png) 1971-10-25 1971-10-25

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JP (1) JPS4858877A (US07608600-20091027-C00054.png)
CH (2) CH1548471A4 (US07608600-20091027-C00054.png)
GB (1) GB1400730A (US07608600-20091027-C00054.png)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3916612A (en) * 1972-10-02 1975-11-04 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electronic timepiece
DE2542605A1 (de) * 1974-09-24 1976-04-08 Suwa Seikosha Kk Elektronische uhr
US3952497A (en) * 1973-10-24 1976-04-27 Heinz Jauch Method and apparatus for synchronizing andoscillating system which is driven by an energy storage device
US3998044A (en) * 1973-12-19 1976-12-21 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic timepiece

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101976035B (zh) * 2010-10-14 2012-10-03 烟台持久钟表集团有限公司 一种时钟钟针位置检测装置及检测方法

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1928793A (en) * 1930-09-29 1933-10-03 Arthur F Poole System and method for indicating time
US3451210A (en) * 1966-07-01 1969-06-24 Benrus Corp System for maintaining oscillations in an electric timing mechanism having an oscillatory element
US3553957A (en) * 1966-02-10 1971-01-12 Peter Dome Electronic timepiece
US3564838A (en) * 1966-12-13 1971-02-23 Centre Electron Horloger Electronic clock
US3609957A (en) * 1969-03-27 1971-10-05 Gen Time Corp Drive arrangement for timekeeping system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1928793A (en) * 1930-09-29 1933-10-03 Arthur F Poole System and method for indicating time
US3553957A (en) * 1966-02-10 1971-01-12 Peter Dome Electronic timepiece
US3451210A (en) * 1966-07-01 1969-06-24 Benrus Corp System for maintaining oscillations in an electric timing mechanism having an oscillatory element
US3564838A (en) * 1966-12-13 1971-02-23 Centre Electron Horloger Electronic clock
US3609957A (en) * 1969-03-27 1971-10-05 Gen Time Corp Drive arrangement for timekeeping system

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3916612A (en) * 1972-10-02 1975-11-04 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electronic timepiece
US3952497A (en) * 1973-10-24 1976-04-27 Heinz Jauch Method and apparatus for synchronizing andoscillating system which is driven by an energy storage device
US3998044A (en) * 1973-12-19 1976-12-21 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic timepiece
DE2542605A1 (de) * 1974-09-24 1976-04-08 Suwa Seikosha Kk Elektronische uhr

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JPS4858877A (US07608600-20091027-C00054.png) 1973-08-17
CH1548471A4 (US07608600-20091027-C00054.png) 1974-03-15
GB1400730A (en) 1975-07-23
CH556051A (US07608600-20091027-C00054.png) 1974-11-15

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