Patent US3562613A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3562613A
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Timepiece driven by nuclear energy
Assignee: Baumgartner Freres SA
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Filing: 1969-04-11
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Granted: 1971-02-09
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Expires: 1989-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A timepiece driven by nuclear energy, wherein the radiation of a radioactive source serves at the same time for producing the electric power for energizing a counting circuit and for control of a counting frequency or recombination frequency determining the advance of the timepiece.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl Adler
- 👤 Georges Ducommun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:18
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04F; G04F5/00; G04F5/16; G04C; G04C10/00; G04C10/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A timepiece driven by nuclear energy, comprising a radioactive energy source with Beta -radiation, a nuclear battery for direct conversion of this Beta -radiation into electrical energy, a window in said battery allowing passage of a beam of Beta -radiation, an electric pulse detector in said beam of radiation, and a timekeeping electric circuit controlled and eneRgized by said radioactive energy source through said detector and battery respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A timepiece driven by nuclear energy, comprising a radioactive energy source with Beta -radiation, a nuclear battery for direct conversion of this Beta -radiation into electrical energy, a window in said battery allowing passage of a beam of Beta -radiation, an electric pulse detector in said beam of radiation, and a timekeeping electric circuit controlled and eneRgized by said radioactive energy source through said detector and battery respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a semiconductor detector and an electric circuit adapted for selection of the recombination frequency of said semiconductor detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a radioactive energy source having an energy level of at least approximately .2 to 1 MeV., for instance Ni 63.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a radioactive source of at least approximately 20 mc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
A timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a secondary-emission battery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A timepiece according to claim 5, comprising MgO having a thickness of at least approximately .4 mm. as a secondary-emission medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a diaphragm disposed between said window and said detector for regulating the intensity of said beam of radiation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A timepiece according to claim 2, wherein said radioactive source is a layer disposed between two plates of secondary-emission medium, and a collector electrode is associated with each of said plates of secondary-emission medium, said beam passing through windows covering each other of one of said plates of secondary-emission medium and one of said collector electrodes, a diaphragm being disposed between said windows and said semiconductor detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A timepiece according to claim 2, wherein said semiconductor detector is a PN-counter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A timepiece according to claim 2, comprising an oscillating circuit for selection of the recombination frequency.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A timepiece according to claim 2, comprising a frequency divider for reduction of the recombination frequency.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A timepiece according to claim 2, comprising an RC-circuit series-connected with the semiconductor element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A timepiece according to claim 12, wherein said RC-circuit comprises a variable condenser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A timepiece according to claim 2, comprising a coil series-connected with said semiconductor detector, said coil being adapted for driving a stepping pawl.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a secondary-electron battery having a PN-junction, the radioactive energy source being located between mixed crystals selected from the group consisting of PN-type and NP-type crystals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
A timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a high-voltage battery series connected with said pulse detector, a condenser adapted to be charged by each pulse released by said detector, said condenser being connected to the control input of a trigger, said trigger being released whenever the potential of said condenser has reached a predetermined value, whereby said condenser is discharged and a driving pulse is transmitted to an electromechanical driving system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A timepiece according to claim 16, comprising a potentiometer series-connected with said detector, the tapping of said potentiometer being connected to said condenser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A timepiece according to claim 17, comprising a diode connected between said tapping and said condenser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A timepiece according to claim 16, comprising an electrostatic driving system having condenser plates of which at least one is displaceable and is coupled with a stepping pawl.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A timepiece according to claim 19, wherein said displaceable condenser plate is a part of a mechanical oscillator tuned to the frequency of the driving pulses.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A timepiece according to claim 19, wherein said pulse detector is a counting tube series connected with said high-voltage battery and with said electrostatic driving system including a condenser, this condenser being part of a RC-circuit series-connected with the counting tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A timepiece according to claim 19, wherein said electrostatic driving system has switch contacts short-circuiting and discharging said condenser plates whenever the condenser has been fully charged and contracted by its charge.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-08 | 1974-08-10 | 1975-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-08 | 1978-08-10 | 1979-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-08-10 | 1983-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |