US3841087A - In-operation indicating device for clocks - Google Patents

In-operation indicating device for clocks Download PDF

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Publication number
US3841087A
US3841087A US00344082A US34408273A US3841087A US 3841087 A US3841087 A US 3841087A US 00344082 A US00344082 A US 00344082A US 34408273 A US34408273 A US 34408273A US 3841087 A US3841087 A US 3841087A
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Prior art keywords
light
emitting diode
transistor
terminal
clock
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00344082A
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English (en)
Inventor
T Kikuchi
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Nidec Precision Corp
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Nidec Copal Corp
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C10/00—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces
    • G04C10/04—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces with means for indicating the condition of the power supply

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to clocks and, more particularly to an in-operation indicating device which can be favourably used for a digital indication type clock.
  • the principal object of the present invention is to provide an in-operation indicating device for a clock which enables to check easily whether the clock is operating or not even at a dark place and from a comparatively distant position.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide said kind of inoperation indicating device which can be housed in a comparatively narrow space and which operates with high reliability.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide said kind of in-operation indicating devicewherein a light-emitting diode is used as the in-operation indicating member and which is arranged to make the lightemitting diode emit light of high intensity even with a low source voltage.
  • reference symbol D designates a light-emitting diode
  • reference symbol C designates a capacitor with a capacity about 10 ,uF
  • reference symbol R designates a resistor with a resistance value about 1,000 k0
  • reference symbol SW designates a switch which is opened and closed intermittently by a part of a clock device not illustrated
  • reference symbol E designates a power source battery.
  • FIG. 2 shows an example of the mechanism to intermittently open and close the switch SW
  • numeral 1 designates a rotary shaft connected to the drive motor of the clock device not illustrated here.
  • Numeral 2 designates an electro-insulating rotary disk which is mounted to the rotary shaft 2.
  • Numeral 3 designates plurality of electro-conductive foils provided radially on the rotary disk 2 being spaced from each other.
  • Reference symbols 4 and b designate contact pieces arranged to contact one of conductive foils at the same time. Therefore, when the clock is running, i.e., when the rotary disk 2 is rotating, the switch SW is opened-and closed intermittently.
  • FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the switch mechanism which is different from that shown in FIG. 2.
  • same numerals and reference symbols are given to those parts which have the same functions as those parts shown in FIG. 2.
  • teeth 2a are formed with roots of a suitable width for fitting in the tip of one contact piece (for example, the contact piece a) of the switch SW
  • the electro-conductive disk 3 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the rotary disk 2 so that the contact piece a can electrically contact the circumference of the conductive disk 3 only when the contact'piece a engages in the root between teeth 2a.
  • the central portion of the conductive disk 3 is'cut out leaving the tongue portion 3a.
  • the tip of the tongue portion 3a is electrically connected to the rotary shaft 1 and substantially serves as the other contact piece (for example, the contact piece b) of the switch SW,. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the contact piece a intermittently engages in the root of teeth 2a when the rotary disk 2 is rotating, and consequently, the switch SW is opened and closed intermittently.
  • the on-off frequency of the switch SW is same as the light-emitting frequency of the light-emitting diode D Therefore, for one light emission per second, rotating speed of the rotary disk 2 has to be made 1 rpm and 60 copper foils 3 or 60 teeth 2a are required.
  • the light-emitting diode D has a characteristic that the response speed is very high so that it can respond even to a frequency about 1 MHz and emits clear red light of about 6,500 A when a voltage about 1.6 V to 1.7 V is imposed in regular direction. To achieve a light intensity sufficient to confirm light emission from a certain distance in this case, the required current is about 10 mA.
  • the driving current value is about 500 A on the average in case of 3 V power source because it is necessary to keep the clock in operable condition for one or two years by one or two batteries.
  • the current value which can be used for other purpose than to drive the clock is about ;1A at the maximum. Therefore, in case of an ordinary electric clock for which a battery is used as the power source, a separate battery for the light-emitting diode is required to make the light-emitting diode D, emit light satisfactorily.
  • the power source for driving the clock can be used in common to the power source for the lightemitting diode by making the duty cycle short.
  • the response of the light-emitting diode D is very quick, it has beenapproved as a result of experiments that light emission can be confirmed from a considerably distant position even when the light-emitting time is about 1 msec.
  • the capacitor C When the switch SW, is opened after that, the capacitor C, is charged again through the resistor R, and its terminal voltage becomes close to the battery voltage E gradually.
  • the switch SW is then closed again, the light-emitting diode D emits light at the same moment.
  • the light-emitting cycle time of the light-emitting diode is decided by the time constant which is decided by the resistor R, and capacitor C,.
  • the adequate light-emitting cycle time is one to two seconds.
  • FIG. 4 shows another embodiment in which a transistor T, is used in order to make the capacity of the capacitor C for charging and discharging small. This embodiment is arranged to make the transistor T, conductive, at the moment when the switch SW, is turned on, in order to make the light-emitting diode emit light.
  • the switch SW is used to detect the motion of the rotary disk.
  • FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show embodiments incorporating an electronic switch.
  • the capacitor C is charged by making the transistor T conductive only when a voltage is induced at the pick-up coil L by rotation of the clock driving device (for example, a motor or the like). Besides, discharge from the capacitor C, is carried out by making the transistor T conductive only when a pulse signal is imposed from outside on the input terminals d and d of the transistor T,,.
  • a pulse signal of l 2 pulses/sec is suitable and can be generated by a signal generating device S such as a multivibrator.
  • said signal generating device can be arranged by a combination of a crystal oscillator and frequency divider.
  • the pick-up coil L may-be positioned near the rotor magnet M of the motor to make it generate an induced voltage.
  • a voltage is intermittently imposed on the base of the transistor T,,, when the motor is running, and the transistor T becomes conductive.
  • the capacitor C is charged through the resistor R, and the light-emitting diode D emits light only when the input pulse (1 2 msec) is given to the base of the transistor T
  • the resistor R is not always required.
  • the light-emitting diode D is arranged to emit light when the capacitor discharges in cases of the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 and when the capacitor C is charged in case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 shows an embodiment arranged in said way.
  • suitable input pulses as illustrated are imposed on the input terminals f and from a signal generator as shown in FIG. 5.
  • the transistor T becomes conductive by these pulses, the capacitor C, is charged through the passage marked (l) and the lightemitting diode D emits light at the same time.
  • the transistor T becomes conductive by said pulses, the charge already charged to the capacitor C, is discharged through the passage marked (2) and the lightemitting diode D emits light.
  • An in-operation indicating device for a clock comprising a disk member periodically moved by a clock device, a power source battery for driving said clock device, a switch device positioned adjacent to said disk member and operatively coupled thereto for effecting periodically its switching action by the rotation of said disk member, a light-emitting diode connected to said power source battery through said. switch device, and a capacitor connected in parallel to a series circuit of said switch device and light-emitting diode and charged by said power source battery when said light-emitting diode is disconnected from said power source battery by said switch device and discharged to make said lightemitting diode emit light for an extremely short time at the moment when said switch device is closed.
  • An in-operation indicating device for a clock according to claim 1, in which said disk member comprises a rotary shaft and said switch device comprises an electro-insulating rotary disk being fixed to said rotary shaft, plurality of electro-conductive foils radially arranged on said rotary disk and a pair of contact pieces capable of contacting electro-conductive foils.
  • An in-operation indicating device for a clock in which said disk member comprises a rotary shaft and said switch device comprises an electro-insulating rotary disk fixed to said rotary shaft and having plurality of teeth on the peripheral surface, an electro-conductive disk mounted to said rotary disk and electrically connected to said rotary shaft, and a contact piece arranged engageably with said teeth and having a tip portion that contacts the peripheral surface of said electro-conductive disk only when being fitted in the root of said teeth.
  • An in-operation indicating device for a clock comprising a disk member periodically moved by a clock device, a switch device positioned adjacent to said disk member and operable to effect periodically its switching action by the rotation of said disk member, a lightemitting diode connected to said switch device, a transistor having the collector electrode connected to one terminal of said light-emitting diode, a capacitor and resistor connected in parallel between said switch device and the base electrode of said transistor, and a power source battery having one terminal connected between said switch device and the other terminal of said light-emitting diode and having the other terminal connected to the emitter electrode of said transistor.
  • An inoperation indicating device for a clock comprising a magnet member periodically moved by a clock device, a power source battery for driving said clock device, a switch device including a pick-up coil positioned adjacent to said magnet member for generating an induced voltage in response to motion of said magnet member for effecting periodic switching action by the rotation of said magnet member, a light-emitting diode coupled to said power source battery through said switch device, said switch device further including a first transistor having a collector electrode connected to one terminal of said light-emitting diode, an emitter electrode connected to one terminal of said power source battery, and a base electrode connected to said pick-up coil, a second transistor having a collector electrode, connected to the other terminal of said lightemitting diode, and an emitter electrode connected to the other terminal of said power source battery, a signal generating device connected to the base electrode of said second transistor, and a capacitor connected in parallel to a series circuit of said light-emitting diode and said second transistor.
  • An in-operation indicating device for a clock comprising a magnet member periodically moved by a clock device, a power source battery for driving said clock device, a switch device including a pick-up coil positioned adjacent said magnet member for generating an induced voltage in response to motion of said magnet member for effecting periodic switching action by the rotation of said magnet member, said switch device further including a first transistor having a collector electrode, said first transistor having an emitter electrode connected to one terminal of said power source battery and a base electrode connected to said pick-up coil, a second transistor having an emitter electrode connected to the collector electrode of said first transistor and said second transistor having a collector electrode connected to one terminal of a first lightemitting diode, a second light-emitting diode having one terminal connected to the other terminal of said first light-emitting diode, a third transistor having a collector electrode connected to the other terminal of said second light-emitting diode, and an emitter electrode coupled to the power source battery, a signal generating device having an output coupled to the base electrodes

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Indicating Or Recording The Presence, Absence, Or Direction Of Movement (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US00344082A 1972-03-29 1973-03-23 In-operation indicating device for clocks Expired - Lifetime US3841087A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3143672A JPS5326501B2 (xx) 1972-03-29 1972-03-29

Publications (1)

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US3841087A true US3841087A (en) 1974-10-15

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US00344082A Expired - Lifetime US3841087A (en) 1972-03-29 1973-03-23 In-operation indicating device for clocks

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US (1) US3841087A (xx)
JP (1) JPS5326501B2 (xx)
DE (1) DE2315234C3 (xx)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3948036A (en) * 1973-12-24 1976-04-06 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic timepiece
US3983690A (en) * 1975-05-19 1976-10-05 Mcsohmer Corporation Digital timepiece having chronometric display
US3998043A (en) * 1973-12-26 1976-12-21 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electric timepiece for displaying the operating condition thereof
US4003197A (en) * 1975-06-09 1977-01-18 Haber Terry M Watch monitor
US4011557A (en) * 1973-08-23 1977-03-08 Ebauches S.A. Device in a time piece for feeding an electro-luminescent display
US4043112A (en) * 1975-01-29 1977-08-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Electronic timepiece having a battery voltage monitor
US4119892A (en) * 1975-11-13 1978-10-10 Seiko Koki Kabushiki Kaisha Light emitting indicating circuit for a timepiece
USRE30588E (en) * 1972-12-29 1981-04-21 Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. Electric timepiece for displaying the operating condition thereof
US6264538B1 (en) 1998-10-02 2001-07-24 Industrial Tool Works, Inc. Edge-finishing machine

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1510744A (en) * 1975-09-11 1978-05-17 Diehl Electro-mechanical adjustment means for adjusting an electronic digital indicator
JPS5337635Y2 (xx) * 1975-11-28 1978-09-12

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2542021A (en) * 1946-07-16 1951-02-20 Fox Benjamin Electronic display system
US3534354A (en) * 1966-07-01 1970-10-13 Gen Electric Discharge indicator for rechargeable batteries
US3550105A (en) * 1967-08-08 1970-12-22 Warwick Electronics Inc Battery condition indicator
US3672155A (en) * 1970-05-06 1972-06-27 Hamilton Watch Co Solid state watch

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS522460U (xx) * 1975-06-24 1977-01-08

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2542021A (en) * 1946-07-16 1951-02-20 Fox Benjamin Electronic display system
US3534354A (en) * 1966-07-01 1970-10-13 Gen Electric Discharge indicator for rechargeable batteries
US3550105A (en) * 1967-08-08 1970-12-22 Warwick Electronics Inc Battery condition indicator
US3672155A (en) * 1970-05-06 1972-06-27 Hamilton Watch Co Solid state watch

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE30588E (en) * 1972-12-29 1981-04-21 Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. Electric timepiece for displaying the operating condition thereof
US4011557A (en) * 1973-08-23 1977-03-08 Ebauches S.A. Device in a time piece for feeding an electro-luminescent display
US3948036A (en) * 1973-12-24 1976-04-06 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic timepiece
US3998043A (en) * 1973-12-26 1976-12-21 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electric timepiece for displaying the operating condition thereof
US4043112A (en) * 1975-01-29 1977-08-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Electronic timepiece having a battery voltage monitor
US3983690A (en) * 1975-05-19 1976-10-05 Mcsohmer Corporation Digital timepiece having chronometric display
US4003197A (en) * 1975-06-09 1977-01-18 Haber Terry M Watch monitor
US4119892A (en) * 1975-11-13 1978-10-10 Seiko Koki Kabushiki Kaisha Light emitting indicating circuit for a timepiece
US6264538B1 (en) 1998-10-02 2001-07-24 Industrial Tool Works, Inc. Edge-finishing machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2315234B2 (de) 1975-01-16
JPS5326501B2 (xx) 1978-08-02
JPS4898878A (xx) 1973-12-14
DE2315234A1 (de) 1973-10-18
DE2315234C3 (de) 1975-08-28

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