US3869855A - Acoustical sound producer for clocks, especially for wristwatches - Google Patents

Acoustical sound producer for clocks, especially for wristwatches Download PDF

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Publication number
US3869855A
US3869855A US479943A US47994374A US3869855A US 3869855 A US3869855 A US 3869855A US 479943 A US479943 A US 479943A US 47994374 A US47994374 A US 47994374A US 3869855 A US3869855 A US 3869855A
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United States
Prior art keywords
pin
sound producer
watch crystal
wristwatches
clocks
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Expired - Lifetime
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US479943A
Inventor
Walter E Sodler
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Timex Group USA Inc
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Timex Corp
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Assigned to CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE reassignment CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FREDERIKSPLEIN HOLDING 1970 B.V., TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP., TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP., TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP., TIMEX ENTERPRISES, INC., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX GROUP LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX MEDICAL PRODUCTS LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX N.V.
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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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C21/00—Producing acoustic time signals by electrical means
    • G04C21/02—Constructional details

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A sound producer for a watch with a pin of ferromagnetic material attached to the watch crystal and directly excited by an electromagnetic system.
  • the present invention relates to an acoustical sound producer for clocks, especially for Wristwatches, with a pin attached to the watch crystal, said pin being able to be oscillated by means of an electromagnetic system excited by an oscillator.
  • a wristwatch with an electrically driven sound producer of this general type in which a plastic pin is formed to the plastic crystal is already known in US. Pat. No. 3,462,943 issued Aug. 26, I969.
  • the electromagnetic system which is excited by a common, selfstarting oscillator circuit, has an electromagnet arranged on a support between two permanent magnets as well as a tongue which is firmly clamped on one side and capable of oscillating, which projects beyond the poles of the permanent magnets and the electro magnet, and extends roughly at right angles to the pin formed on the watch crystal. If the oscillator excites the electromagnetic system, the oscillating tongue strikes the pin, thus exciting the watch crystal which serves as a resonator.
  • the watch crystal must naturally be excited with its natural frequency. Since, as a result of striking the pin, the tongue does not oscillate sinusoidally, the watch crystal is excited with a frequency spectrum, whose composition depends to an extremely great degree on the amplitude of the tongue. Adjustment of the electromagnetic system relative to the pin, temperatures and the charge of a battery thus significantly influence the exciting frcquencies, so that there is a great danger of the watch crystal no longer being excited with its natural frequency.
  • the object of the invention to create an acoustical sound producer of the type mentioned at the outset in such a manner that the watch crystal is more likely to be excited with its natural frequency than with the known designs.
  • the sound producer be designed in such a manner that the pin is at least partially of ferromagnetic or magnetic material and extends into the alternating magnetic field of the electromagnetic system for direct excitation.
  • the electromagnetic system as a whole must be adjusted relative to the pin of the watch crystal.
  • this pin can be excited so as to produce sinusoidal oscillations, as the excitation is not produced by striking.
  • FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross section through the watch crystal and the other members of the sound producer, with the exception of the excited oscillator circuit
  • FIG. 2 shows a cross section along line 22 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 shows a cross section along line 3-3 in FIG. 1.
  • the drawing shows a watch crystal 10 of plastic. Attached in a projection 12 formed on the watch crystal is an iron pin 14 which, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, has the shape of a strip of sheet metal and is of ferromagnetic or magnetic material.
  • Attached on a plate 16 of the watch, which is otherwise not illustrated, by means of a mounting angle 18 is an electromagnetic system, consisting primarily of an electro magnet 20 and two permanent magnets 22.
  • the electro magnet has a coil 20a, surrounding a core 20b, whose free end forms one of the poles of the electro magnet. All magnets are attached to mounting angle 18, with pole shoes 24 being attached to the poles of permanent magnets 22 which face away from the latter and whereby pin 14 extends into the electromagnetic field between said pole shoes 24.
  • a conventional self-starting oscillator (not shown) which is switched on by the watch at the selected time, excites electro magnet 20 with the aid of mounting angle 18, the electromagnetic system 20, 22 is adjusted relative to pin 14 in such a manner that pin 14 does not adhere to core 20b, whereby watch crystal 10 is excited with its resonance frequency, to which of course the unillustrated oscillator circuit must also be matched.
  • a significant advantage of the sound producer according to the invention is also to be viewed into the fact that with it good feedback of the natural frequency of watch crystal 10 to the exciting oscillator circuit can be achieved.
  • An acoustical sound producer for clocks especially for Wristwatches, comprising a watch crystal, an electromagnet system adapted to be excited by an oscillator, and a pin attached to the watch crystal, said pin being at least partially of ferromagnetic or magnetic material and extending into the alternating magnetic system for direct excitation.
  • said electromagnetic system has an electro magnet arranged between two permanent magnets, pole shoes attached on the poles of the permanent magnets facing said pin with the free end of the pin being located be tween said pole shoes and in front of one pole of the electro magnet.

Abstract

A sound producer for a watch with a pin of ferromagnetic material attached to the watch crystal and directly excited by an electromagnetic system.

Description

United States Patent [191 Sodler ACOUSTICAL SOUND PRODUCER FOR CLOCKS, ESPECIALLY FOR WRISTWATCHES [75] Inventor: Walter E. Sodler, Buchenbronn,
Germany [73] Assignee: Timex Corporation, Waterbury,
Conn.
22 Filed: June 17, 1974 21 Appl.No.:479,943
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 5, 1973 Germany 2334236 [52] HS. Cl. 58/57.5, 340/388 Mar. 11, 1975 [51] Int. CL... G04b 23/12, GO4c 21/34, GlOk 9/00 [58] Field of Search 58/38, 57.5; 340/388 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,462,943 8/1969 Spadini ct a]. 58/575 3,733,804 5/1973 Diersbock 58/575 X Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr.
[57] ABSTRACT A sound producer for a watch with a pin of ferromagnetic material attached to the watch crystal and directly excited by an electromagnetic system.
.3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHW 1 m on Q om 2 liiii:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an acoustical sound producer for clocks, especially for Wristwatches, with a pin attached to the watch crystal, said pin being able to be oscillated by means of an electromagnetic system excited by an oscillator.
A wristwatch with an electrically driven sound producer of this general type in which a plastic pin is formed to the plastic crystal is already known in US. Pat. No. 3,462,943 issued Aug. 26, I969. The electromagnetic system, which is excited by a common, selfstarting oscillator circuit, has an electromagnet arranged on a support between two permanent magnets as well as a tongue which is firmly clamped on one side and capable of oscillating, which projects beyond the poles of the permanent magnets and the electro magnet, and extends roughly at right angles to the pin formed on the watch crystal. If the oscillator excites the electromagnetic system, the oscillating tongue strikes the pin, thus exciting the watch crystal which serves as a resonator.
This known design has various disadvantages: To
provide sufficient volume of the acoustical signal, it is not only necessary to adjust the tongue of the electromagnetic system relative to the magnets, but the tongue, and thus the entire electromagnetic system, must also be adjusted relative to the pin. In addition, the watch crystal must naturally be excited with its natural frequency. Since, as a result of striking the pin, the tongue does not oscillate sinusoidally, the watch crystal is excited with a frequency spectrum, whose composition depends to an extremely great degree on the amplitude of the tongue. Adjustment of the electromagnetic system relative to the pin, temperatures and the charge of a battery thus significantly influence the exciting frcquencies, so that there is a great danger of the watch crystal no longer being excited with its natural frequency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the invention to create an acoustical sound producer of the type mentioned at the outset in such a manner that the watch crystal is more likely to be excited with its natural frequency than with the known designs. For this purpose, it is now proposed that the sound producer be designed in such a manner that the pin is at least partially of ferromagnetic or magnetic material and extends into the alternating magnetic field of the electromagnetic system for direct excitation. Thus, in the design according to the invention only the electromagnetic system as a whole must be adjusted relative to the pin of the watch crystal. Moreover, this pin can be excited so as to produce sinusoidal oscillations, as the excitation is not produced by striking. Thus, in a sound producer according to the invention it is much simpler to excite the watch crystal with its natural frequency.
In the above described known sound producer, there is an air gap both between the tongue and one of the poles of the permanent magnets and one of the poles of the electro magnet. According to the invention, it is possible to achieve even better efficiency with the new signal producer in that pole shoes are attached on the poles of the permanent magnets facing the pin. with the free end of the pin being located between said pole shoes and in front of one pole of the electro magnet.
DRAWING Further characteristics and details of the invention can be seen from the following description and the enclosed drawings of a preferred embodiment of a sound producer according to the invention, in which FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross section through the watch crystal and the other members of the sound producer, with the exception of the excited oscillator circuit;
FIG. 2 shows a cross section along line 22 in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 shows a cross section along line 3-3 in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION The drawing shows a watch crystal 10 of plastic. Attached in a projection 12 formed on the watch crystal is an iron pin 14 which, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, has the shape of a strip of sheet metal and is of ferromagnetic or magnetic material.
Attached on a plate 16 of the watch, which is otherwise not illustrated, by means of a mounting angle 18 is an electromagnetic system, consisting primarily of an electro magnet 20 and two permanent magnets 22. The electro magnet has a coil 20a, surrounding a core 20b, whose free end forms one of the poles of the electro magnet. All magnets are attached to mounting angle 18, with pole shoes 24 being attached to the poles of permanent magnets 22 which face away from the latter and whereby pin 14 extends into the electromagnetic field between said pole shoes 24.
A conventional self-starting oscillator (not shown) which is switched on by the watch at the selected time, excites electro magnet 20 with the aid of mounting angle 18, the electromagnetic system 20, 22 is adjusted relative to pin 14 in such a manner that pin 14 does not adhere to core 20b, whereby watch crystal 10 is excited with its resonance frequency, to which of course the unillustrated oscillator circuit must also be matched.
A significant advantage of the sound producer according to the invention is also to be viewed into the fact that with it good feedback of the natural frequency of watch crystal 10 to the exciting oscillator circuit can be achieved.
It is also practical to excite with a multiple of the resonance frequency of watch crystal 10, whereby a ratio of 2 1 (3000 1500) is especially recommended.
Experiments by the applicant have shown that the current consumption of the sound producer according to the invention can be reduced to 2.5 3 mA while still generating a signal tone of sufficient intensity.
I claim:
1. An acoustical sound producer for clocks, especially for Wristwatches, comprising a watch crystal, an electromagnet system adapted to be excited by an oscillator, and a pin attached to the watch crystal, said pin being at least partially of ferromagnetic or magnetic material and extending into the alternating magnetic system for direct excitation.
2. The sound producer set forth in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic system has an electro magnet arranged between two permanent magnets, pole shoes attached on the poles of the permanent magnets facing said pin with the free end of the pin being located be tween said pole shoes and in front of one pole of the electro magnet.
3. The sound producer set forth in claim I, wherein the entire electromagnetic system is adjustable as a unit relative to said pin.

Claims (3)

1. An acoustical sound producer for clocks, especially for wristwatches, comprising a watch crystal, an electromagnet system adapted to be excited by an oscillator, and a pin attached to the watch crystal, said pin being at least partially of ferromagnetic or magnetic material and extending into the alternating magnetic system for direct excitation.
1. An acoustical sound producer for clocks, especially for wristwatches, comprising a watch crystal, an electromagnet system adapted to be excited by an oscillator, and a pin attached to the watch crystal, said pin being at least partially of ferromagnetic or magnetic material and extending into the alternating magnetic system for direct excitation.
2. The sound producer set forth in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic system has an electro magnet arranged between two permanent magnets, pole shoes attached on the poles of the permanent magnets facing said pin with the free end of the pin being located between said pole shoes and in front of one pole of the electro magnet.
US479943A 1973-07-05 1974-06-17 Acoustical sound producer for clocks, especially for wristwatches Expired - Lifetime US3869855A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2334236A DE2334236C2 (en) 1973-07-05 1973-07-05 Acoustic signal transmitter for clocks, in particular wristwatches

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US3869855A true US3869855A (en) 1975-03-11

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US (1) US3869855A (en)
JP (1) JPS5050072A (en)
AU (1) AU476145B2 (en)
BE (1) BE817298A (en)
CA (1) CA1011562A (en)
CH (2) CH584874A4 (en)
DE (1) DE2334236C2 (en)
DK (1) DK359174A (en)
FR (1) FR2236223B3 (en)
GB (1) GB1432884A (en)
HK (1) HK76676A (en)
NL (1) NL7409142A (en)
SE (1) SE389564B (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5604718A (en) * 1994-07-25 1997-02-18 Asulab S.A. Timepiece Comprising an electro-acoustic transducer
US6476710B2 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-11-05 Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. Electromagnetic sound generator
US20080165630A1 (en) * 2005-03-11 2008-07-10 Richemont International Sa Device For Fixing At Least One Striking Going in Timepiece and Method of Fixing at Least One Striking Gongs in a Timepiece
US20080273426A1 (en) * 2005-03-31 2008-11-06 Yves Corthesy Timepiece Comprising an Alarm
CN101833280A (en) * 2009-03-13 2010-09-15 丹尼尔·罗斯与杰罗德·吉塔高级钟表股份公司 Be used to beat the gong erecting device of repeat watch
CN102566406A (en) * 2010-12-10 2012-07-11 蒙特雷布勒盖股份有限公司 Striking mechanism for a watch or a music box

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5661897A (en) * 1979-10-24 1981-05-27 Hitachi Ltd Display unit
CH632385B (en) * 1979-11-02 Ebauchesfabrik Eta Ag WATCH WITH ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC WARNING DEVICE.
JP2624412B2 (en) * 1991-09-30 1997-06-25 ワイケイケイ株式会社 Warp knitting tape for hidden slide fasteners

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3462943A (en) * 1966-02-17 1969-08-26 Paolo A Spadini Alarm wristwatch
US3733804A (en) * 1971-09-29 1973-05-22 Timex Corp Electronic alarm watch

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3462943A (en) * 1966-02-17 1969-08-26 Paolo A Spadini Alarm wristwatch
US3733804A (en) * 1971-09-29 1973-05-22 Timex Corp Electronic alarm watch

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5604718A (en) * 1994-07-25 1997-02-18 Asulab S.A. Timepiece Comprising an electro-acoustic transducer
US6476710B2 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-11-05 Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. Electromagnetic sound generator
US20080165630A1 (en) * 2005-03-11 2008-07-10 Richemont International Sa Device For Fixing At Least One Striking Going in Timepiece and Method of Fixing at Least One Striking Gongs in a Timepiece
US7545706B2 (en) * 2005-03-11 2009-06-09 Richemont International Sa Device for fixing at least one striking gong in timepiece and method of fixing at least one striking gongs in a timepiece
US20080273426A1 (en) * 2005-03-31 2008-11-06 Yves Corthesy Timepiece Comprising an Alarm
US7742362B2 (en) * 2005-03-31 2010-06-22 Lvmh Swiss Manufactures Sa Timepiece comprising an alarm
US20100214884A1 (en) * 2005-03-31 2010-08-26 Yves Corthesy Timepiece comprising an alarm
US7881161B2 (en) 2005-03-31 2011-02-01 Lvmh Swiss Manufactures Sa Timepiece comprising an alarm
EP2228693A1 (en) * 2009-03-13 2010-09-15 Daniel Roth et Gérald Genta Haute Horlogerie SA Fixing device for the gongs of a sonnerie watch
US20100232262A1 (en) * 2009-03-13 2010-09-16 Daniel Roth & Gerald Genta Haute Horlogerie Sa Gong mounting device for striking watch
CN101833280A (en) * 2009-03-13 2010-09-15 丹尼尔·罗斯与杰罗德·吉塔高级钟表股份公司 Be used to beat the gong erecting device of repeat watch
CN101833280B (en) * 2009-03-13 2013-08-21 丹尼尔·罗斯与杰罗德·吉塔高级钟表股份公司 Mounting device for gongs of striking watch
US8540420B2 (en) * 2009-03-13 2013-09-24 Bulgari Horlogerie S.A. Gong mounting device for striking watch
CN102566406A (en) * 2010-12-10 2012-07-11 蒙特雷布勒盖股份有限公司 Striking mechanism for a watch or a music box
US8559277B2 (en) 2010-12-10 2013-10-15 Montres Breguet Sa Striking mechanism for a watch or a music box
CN102566406B (en) * 2010-12-10 2014-06-04 蒙特雷布勒盖股份有限公司 Striking mechanism for a watch or a music box

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DK359174A (en) 1975-02-24
AU476145B2 (en) 1976-09-09
SE389564B (en) 1976-11-08
BE817298A (en) 1974-11-04
HK76676A (en) 1976-12-17
FR2236223A1 (en) 1975-01-31
DE2334236C2 (en) 1975-07-10
CH590517B5 (en) 1977-08-15
AU7051774A (en) 1976-01-08
CH584874A4 (en) 1977-01-31
DE2334236B1 (en) 1974-11-14
FR2236223B3 (en) 1977-05-06
CA1011562A (en) 1977-06-07
SE7408733L (en) 1975-01-07
GB1432884A (en) 1976-04-22
NL7409142A (en) 1975-01-07
JPS5050072A (en) 1975-05-06

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AS Assignment

Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP.;TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP.;TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004181/0596

Effective date: 19830331