US3810355A - Electronic circuit for quartz crystal watch - Google Patents

Electronic circuit for quartz crystal watch Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3810355A
US3810355A US00235640A US23564072A US3810355A US 3810355 A US3810355 A US 3810355A US 00235640 A US00235640 A US 00235640A US 23564072 A US23564072 A US 23564072A US 3810355 A US3810355 A US 3810355A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
frequency
watch movement
circuit
dividing
signal
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
US00235640A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
K Ito
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.)
Seiko Instruments Inc
Original Assignee
Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seiko Instruments Inc filed Critical Seiko Instruments Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3810355A publication Critical patent/US3810355A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
    • G04F5/00—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards
    • G04F5/04—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards using oscillators with electromechanical resonators producing electric oscillations or timing pulses
    • G04F5/06—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards using oscillators with electromechanical resonators producing electric oscillations or timing pulses using piezoelectric resonators
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G3/00—Producing timing pulses
    • G04G3/02—Circuits for deriving low frequency timing pulses from pulses of higher frequency

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A watch movement constructed as an electronic cir- 'cuit provided with an oscillating circuit having a quency-divided signal is applied to driving circuitry that develops in conjunction with pulse-generating circuitry opposite-going pulses applied to a transducer that converts the pulses to rotary motion using a driving gear wheel of'a second hand of a watch and of a gear train thereof.
  • Complicated electronic circuits used in watches are generally integrated circuits and MOS transistors are advantageously miniaturized in these electronic circuits.
  • An advantage of MOS transistors is that in a complementary configuration when one of the P or N-type- MOS transistors isin an on state, the other transistor .having a common drain therewith, is in an off state and has a high resistance or impedance. Therefore, complementary configurations of MOS transistors'consume very little power.
  • an electronic circuit for a watch comprises an oscillator or oscillating circuit developing an output having a selected frequency and representative of a time base signal.
  • the oscillating circuit has a, quartz oscillator or "resonator and its frequency is roughly adjusted -by a capacitor and is settable to a fine frequency adjustment by a variable capacitor.
  • the oscillating circuit is compensated for ambient temperature by a capacitor.
  • the time base signal is received in a frequency-dividing arrangement constituting a plurality of frequency-dividing circuits connected in cascade. These frequency-dividing circuits constitute fourteen stages of MOS transistors arranged in complementary binary circuits.
  • the frequency of the output of the final stage is one Hz and is received in a wave-shaping circuit which constitutes a one stage binary circuit of MOS transistors in a complementary arrangement.
  • a reset switch is provided connected to the frequencydividing circuitry and responsive to a'manual force applied thereto to inhibit the output of the frequency-dividing circuits for accurately setting the watch and including the setting of the second hand of a watch with a reference time standard.
  • the divided frequency signal is applied as pulses to a driving circuit and a pulse-generating circuit which generate oppositely travelling pulses which are appliedto a coil of a transducer that converts these'pulse signals to'rotary motion for accurately driving the second hand of a watch and a gear of a rgear train thereof.
  • the electronic circuit according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises an oscillator 1 developing a predetermined frequency signal corresponding to a time base signal applied to a frequency-dividing circuit 2 reducing the frequency of the oscillator output.
  • a reset switch 3 is connected to the frequency-dividing circuit to allow setting of the watch with reference to atime standard.
  • the time base signal with reduced frequency is applied to a driving circuit 4 and a pulsegenerating circuit 5 which, as well as the other circuits, is connected to a power source or battery 6.-Oppositely applied pulses are delivered by the pulse-generating circuit and driving circuit and applied to a'transducer, shown in FIG.
  • the oscillating circuit I has a quartz oscillator or resonator la to which is connected a fixed capacitor C for compensating for temperature variations of the oscillator and a second fixed capacitor C which establishes a rough adjustment of the frequency of the oscillator. A fine adjustment is set with a variable capacitor C likewise connected to the resonator as illustrated.
  • a transistor T is connected in series with a resistor in a voltage dividing arrangement across the 6 for driving the quartz resonator.
  • the frequency-dividing circuit 2- is constructed as an integrated circuit illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • an input terminal correnected to the negative voltage terminal of thebattery.
  • An output terminal 2d corresponds to the output terminal labeled Out' and a terminal 2e corresponds to a reset circuit terminal R. All of the points in FIG. 2 having the reference are connected to the terminal R although the equivalent connections are not shown in the block diagram in FIG. 1. The points of the circuit in FIG. 2 having a reference V are connected to the positive terminal of the power source.
  • the oscillating frequency signal output of the oscillator appears at the input terminal Q5 and has a frequency of 16384 Hz produced by the quartz resonator.
  • the input terminal 4) is connected to two diodes one of which is connected to the power source as illustrated and theother grounded and through complementary MOS transistors in an inverter configuration into a frequency-dividing stage DIV Al where the output appears at O O In this first state the frequency is divided and the output base value of 8192 Hz which is power source I 3 one half of the input frequency and the signal at 6 is inverted.
  • the frequency-dividing circuit arrangement constitutes fourteen stages of binary circuits connected in cascade and denoted DIV Al DIV A9,
  • the circuits labeled DIV A have complementary MOS transistors of the configuration of the circuit DIV A1 and those labeled DIV B have the circuit configuration of DIV B2.
  • the inputs are labeled Q, and 6,, and the outputs are labeled Q 6] 014614-
  • the bars over the reference letters indicate the signal inversions taking place within the frequency-divider.
  • the time base signal applied to the frequencydividing circuitry is reduced in frequency in the fourteen stages.
  • the frequency is 4096 Hz at the output of the secondstage DIV A2 and is one HZ at the output of the fourteenth stage DIV B5.
  • the signal having a frequency of one HZ is appliedto a wave-shaping circuit WS constituting complementary MOS transistors in a binary circuit arrangement.
  • the output signal of the 14 stages in the frequency-dividing circuit has a frequency of one Hz and has a pulse width or duration of app'roximately 500 msec. This is applied to the waveshaping circuit WS which reduces the pulse width to eight msec., and the output signal of the frequency-divider has this eight msec. pulse width at the output terminal Out.
  • the wave-shaping circuit WS is connected through MOS transistors to a junction between the eighth and ninth dividing circuits DIV A8 DIV A9 and to the twelfthstage DIV B3 as illustrated.
  • the reset circuit 3 constitutes a switch having two movable contacts 3a, 3b operable under the control of the crown stem or winding stem, not shown, of the watch in which the circuit is employed.
  • One movable contact 3a makes connection with a fixed contact 30 connected to the positive terminal of the power source as illustrated and in series with a second fixed contact 3d likewise connected to the positive-terminal and with which the other movable contact 3b makes electrical contact in the position illustrated which corresponds to a condition in which the crown stem is in an In position.
  • the two movable contacts act as a back-up for each other so that in the event that there is trouble at one switch contact the other establishes the-circuit since both movable contacts are' connected in series to a common terminal 2e of the frequency-dividing circuit.
  • a third fixed contact 3f is connected to the negative terminal of the power source as illustrated and the second movable contact 3b makes contact with it when the crown stem is pulled to an *Out" position for purposes of setting the hands of the watch, not shown.
  • the hands including the second hand, are stopped but the circuit continues energized.
  • a positive potential is applied to the reset terminal 2e when the watch is in operation and a negative potential is applied to this reset terminal 2e when the movable contact 3b is actuated by the crown stem in its Out position to make contact .with' the fixed contact 3f.
  • the circuit thus is constantly energized. 1
  • the driving circuit 4 has an input transistor T, with its base connected to the output terminal 2d of the integrated circuit 2 through a resistor and has its collector connected through a resistor to the base of a transistor T which has its collector connected to a collector of a third transistor T having its emitter connected to the emitter of the input transistor T
  • the collector of the input transistor is connected to the collector of a fourth transistor T having an emitter connected to the emitter of the second transistor T and a base connection through a resistor to the collector of the third transistor which has its base connected to the emitter of a fifth or output transistor T having a collector connected as illustrated through a junction connection between the collectors of the input and fourth transistors as illustrated.
  • the connection between the emitters of the second and fourth transistors is connected to the positive terminal of the battery and the connection between-the emitters of the input and third transistors is connected to the negative terminal.
  • a coil L is connected between the collectors of the input and third transistor as shown and is part of a transducer described below.
  • the fifth or output transistor T of the driving circuit '4 is connected to an input transistor T of the pulsegenerating circuit 5 by having its base connected to the collector thereof.
  • the pulse-generating circuit 5 has a monostable mu'ltivibirator configuration having a second transistor T and the time constant of which is controlled by a resistor R and a capacitor C
  • the multivibrator transistor T is connected to a diode D connected to a junction connected with the output terminal of the integrated circuit;
  • the pulse output of the integrated circuit 2 having an eight msec. pulse width is applied to the base of the input transistor T. from the output terminal 2d rendering the input transistor T and the second transistor T conductive so that they are in an On" state. Consequently a current flows in the driving coil L in the direction indicated by an arrow labeled a.
  • the pulse generating circuit 5 is triggered by a reverse pulse generated at the output terminal 2d due to the direction of the diode D.
  • the transistor T turns off-during the period determined by the time constant of the circuit while the input transistor T is in an on" condition. Consequently a current flows in the driving coil L in an opposite direction shown by the arrow b since the transistors T T and T of the driving circuit are-then in an on condition.
  • the pallet is constructed to oscillate and engage peripheral teeth of a second gear wheel 10 mounted on an axis 11 on which is coaxially disposed a second gear wheel 12 and a second hand 13.
  • the pallet 8 When the pulse current flows in the coil in one direction, the pallet 8 is attracted by the attractive force between a magnetic pole of the magnetic material and the permanent magnet 9 and when the pulse current flows in an opposite direction, the magnetic pole of the magnetic material is oppositely magnetized. Accordingly,
  • the pallet is urged to rotate in an opposite direction so that it oscillates and carries out its oscillation within a period of one second.
  • the wheel is rotated in a same :direction half a pitch.
  • the second hand 13 is kept stable during the absence of a pulse in the coil, by a stop spring 14 which cooperates with peripheral teeth on the other wheel 12. These teeth are twice in number as the number of peripheral teeth on the second wheel so that the second hand is held stabilized for each half pitch movement of the second gear wheel.
  • the circuit according to the invention provides a compact watch movement constructed as a miniaturized circuit and more particularly miniaturized complementary MOS I binary circuits in integrated form. This configuration increases the life of the battery since the circuit consumes only a very little electrical power. Moreover, the time can be accurately set because the second hand, which is stopped when the crown stem is retracted, can
  • a threshold voltage less than 0.8V can be'.
  • a watch movement for a watch comprising, an oscillating circuit developing an output having a selected frequency and representative of a time base signal, frequency-dividing means receptive'of the time base signal for dividing its frequency and for developing an out- 'put signal having a substantially lesser frequency,
  • said frequency-dividing means comprises a circuit having means to reduce said, time base signal to a frequency of about one Hz.
  • transducer means developing a mechanical force comprises a coil receptive of said pulses, a pawl oscillatablev a second hand driven accurately from said second gear,
  • said frequency-dividing means comprises a circuit having a plurality of frequency-dividing stages, each stage comprising complementary MOS transistors.
US00235640A 1971-03-20 1972-03-17 Electronic circuit for quartz crystal watch Expired - Lifetime US3810355A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP46015669A JPS5217745B1 (fr) 1971-03-20 1971-03-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3810355A true US3810355A (en) 1974-05-14

Family

ID=11895135

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00235640A Expired - Lifetime US3810355A (en) 1971-03-20 1972-03-17 Electronic circuit for quartz crystal watch

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3810355A (fr)
JP (1) JPS5217745B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE2213132A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2130451B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1350721A (fr)
HK (1) HK14876A (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3937003A (en) * 1973-11-28 1976-02-10 Vdo Adolf Schindling Ag Electric clock
US4043109A (en) * 1973-01-11 1977-08-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electronic timepiece
US4112670A (en) * 1975-03-04 1978-09-12 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electronic timepiece
US4150536A (en) * 1976-01-28 1979-04-24 Citizen Watch Company Limited Electronic timepiece
US5596554A (en) * 1993-06-04 1997-01-21 Hagadorn; Hubert W. Set operation in a timepiece having an electrooptical display

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3212252A (en) * 1963-06-04 1965-10-19 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Vibratory motor and controlled circuit for a small timepiece
US3540207A (en) * 1968-09-20 1970-11-17 Timex Corp Electronic watch counting circuit
US3576099A (en) * 1969-04-22 1971-04-27 Hamilton Watch Co Solid state timepiece having electro-optical time display
US3597634A (en) * 1967-03-09 1971-08-03 Junghans Gmbh Geb Two or more transistor device to energize a driving coil
US3608301A (en) * 1970-04-30 1971-09-28 Quasar Microsystems Inc Digital clock having automatic indication of power failure
US3616638A (en) * 1970-03-19 1971-11-02 Bulova Watch Co Inc Crystal-controlled mechanical resonator
US3664118A (en) * 1970-09-09 1972-05-23 Hamilton Watch Co Electronically controlled timepiece using low power mos transistor circuitry
US3665697A (en) * 1969-11-20 1972-05-30 Suisse Pour L Ind Horlogere Sa Driving mechanism for electronically controlled timepiece

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3363410A (en) * 1966-01-25 1968-01-16 Suwa Seikosha Kk Apparatus for adjusting electric timepieces

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3212252A (en) * 1963-06-04 1965-10-19 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Vibratory motor and controlled circuit for a small timepiece
US3597634A (en) * 1967-03-09 1971-08-03 Junghans Gmbh Geb Two or more transistor device to energize a driving coil
US3540207A (en) * 1968-09-20 1970-11-17 Timex Corp Electronic watch counting circuit
US3576099A (en) * 1969-04-22 1971-04-27 Hamilton Watch Co Solid state timepiece having electro-optical time display
US3665697A (en) * 1969-11-20 1972-05-30 Suisse Pour L Ind Horlogere Sa Driving mechanism for electronically controlled timepiece
US3616638A (en) * 1970-03-19 1971-11-02 Bulova Watch Co Inc Crystal-controlled mechanical resonator
US3608301A (en) * 1970-04-30 1971-09-28 Quasar Microsystems Inc Digital clock having automatic indication of power failure
US3664118A (en) * 1970-09-09 1972-05-23 Hamilton Watch Co Electronically controlled timepiece using low power mos transistor circuitry

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4043109A (en) * 1973-01-11 1977-08-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electronic timepiece
US3937003A (en) * 1973-11-28 1976-02-10 Vdo Adolf Schindling Ag Electric clock
US4112670A (en) * 1975-03-04 1978-09-12 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electronic timepiece
US4150536A (en) * 1976-01-28 1979-04-24 Citizen Watch Company Limited Electronic timepiece
US5596554A (en) * 1993-06-04 1997-01-21 Hagadorn; Hubert W. Set operation in a timepiece having an electrooptical display

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2130451B1 (fr) 1974-12-13
FR2130451A1 (fr) 1972-11-03
DE2213132A1 (de) 1972-10-12
JPS5217745B1 (fr) 1977-05-17
GB1350721A (en) 1974-04-24
HK14876A (en) 1976-03-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3855781A (en) Step motor mechanism for electronic timepiece
US3928959A (en) Electronic timepiece
US3643418A (en) Time-setting device for an electronic watch
US3560998A (en) Electronically controlled timepiece using low power mos transistor circuitry
US3742699A (en) Solid state watch display switch
US3664118A (en) Electronically controlled timepiece using low power mos transistor circuitry
US3676993A (en) Electronic watch
US3760584A (en) Integrated circuit solid state watch
US3871170A (en) Solid state watch display switch
US3714867A (en) Solid state watch incorporating largescale integrated circuits
JP2001249192A (ja) 計時装置及び計時装置の制御方法
US3815354A (en) Electronic watch
US3810355A (en) Electronic circuit for quartz crystal watch
GB2138975A (en) Analog electronic timepiece
US3721084A (en) Solid state watch incorporating large-scale integrated circuits
US3728855A (en) Crystal controlled movement with frequency dividing circuitry
US3838566A (en) Solid state watch having coarse and fine tuning
US3780522A (en) Alarm timepiece
US3925978A (en) Time correcting arrangement for electronic wrist watches
JPS6112554B2 (fr)
US3906256A (en) Drive pulse generator for use in electronic analog display clock apparatus
GB1574870A (en) Electronic timepiece
US3979899A (en) Digital display type electronic time keeper
US3566601A (en) Crystal oscillator watch
JPS6243147B2 (fr)