US3676993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic watch
Assignee: Hamilton Watch Co
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Filing: 1970-08-13
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-08-13
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an electronic wristwatch in which a crystal oscillator drives an electromechanical resonator tuned to the oscillator output. The high frequency oscillator is connected through an integrated circuit divider and driver to the resonator coil so that the coil oscillations are slaved to the frequency of the divider output. A lever, rotatable on an eccentric forming a part of the resonator staff, drives an index wheel, in turn connected through a gear train to the watch hands. Provision is made for rapid calendar setting, automatic calendar drive and an on-off switch breaks the electronic circuit from a 3 volt battery in the watch when the setting arbor is moved to the off position.
Inventors
- 👤 John M Bergey
- 👤 O Le Van James
- 👤 Richard S Walton
- 👤 Louis G Brethauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:31
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C3/00; G04C3/008; G04B; G04B19/00; G04B19/24; G04B19/243; G04B19/247; G04B29/00; G04B29/02; G04C3/04; G04C3/06; G04C3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An electronic timepiece having sufficiently small size for use as a wristwatch comprising an oscillator for producing a series of electrical timing impulses of precise frequency, a divider coupled to the output of said oscillator for reducing the frequency of the timing impulses, an electromechanical resonator coupled to said divider for converting said electrical timing impulses into a mechanical drive, said resonator including a coil coupled to the output of said divider and mounted for oscillatory motion, a mechanical time display coupled to said resonator, and means coupled to said resonator for adjusting its natural frequency to the output frequency of said divider.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electronic timepiece having sufficiently small size for use as a wristwatch comprising an oscillator for producing a series of electrical timing impulses of precise frequency, a divider coupled to the output of said oscillator for reducing the frequency of the timing impulses, an electromechanical resonator coupled to said divider for converting said electrical timing impulses into a mechanical drive, said resonator including a coil coupled to the output of said divider and mounted for oscillatory motion, a mechanical time display coupled to said resonator, and means coupled to said resonator for adjusting its natural frequency to the output frequency of said divider.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A timepiece according to claim 1 wherein said coil is mounted on a resonator staFf rotatably supported by bearings at each end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A timepiece according to claim 2 including a hairspring coupled to said resonator staff for sustaining the oscillations of said coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A timepiece according to claim 3 wherein said coil oscillates between about + or - 90* and + or - 145* from its rest position during normal operation of said timepiece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electronic timepiece having sufficiently small size for use as a wristwatch comprising a crystal controlled oscillator for producing a series of electrical timing impulses, an integrated circuit frequency divider coupled to the output of said oscillator for reducing the frequency of the timing impulses, an electromechanical resonator including a coil coupled to said divider for converting said electrical timing impulses into a mechanical drive, a mechanical time display coupled to said resonator, said coil being mounted for oscillatory motion, a hairspring coupled to said coil for sustaining the coil oscillations, and a regulator coupled to said hairspring for tuning the natural frequency of said resonator to the frequency of the divider output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electronic timepiece having sufficiently small size for use as a wristwatch comprising a crystal controlled oscillator for producing a series of electrical timing impulses, an integrated circuit frequency divider coupled to the output of said oscillator for reducing the frequency of the timing impulses, an electromechanical resonator including a coil coupled to said divider for converting said electrical timing impulses into a mechanical drive, a mechanical time display coupled to said resonator, said coil being mounted for oscillatory motion, a hairspring coupled to said coil for sustaining the coil oscillations, and a regulator coupled to said hairspring for tuning the natural frequency of said resonator to the frequency of the divider output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A timepiece according to claim 5 wherein said resonatOr is tuned to a natural frequency of about 16 Hz.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A timepiece according to claim 5 wherein said resonator is tuned to a natural frequency of about 32 Hz.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A timepiece according to claim 5 wherein said oscillator includes a variable capacitor for tuning the output frequency of said oscillator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A timepiece according to claim 5 wherein said regulator comprises a pair of regulator pins adjustable along the length of an outer turn of said hairspring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A timepiece according to claim 5 including a resonator staff rotatably mounted at each end and carrying said coil, said hairspring being coupled to said staff and establishing electrical connection to one end of said coil, and a second hairspring coupled to the other end of said resonator staff and establishing electrical connection to the other end of said coil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A timepiece according to claim 10 wherein said hairspring coupled to said regulator is substantially stronger than said second hairspring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electronic timepiece according to claim 5, wherein said time display comprises a plurality of watch hands, said resonator including an eccentric, an index wheel, a lever pivoted at one end to said eccentric and having a jewel at its other end driving said index wheel, and a gear train coupling said index wheel to said watch hands.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A timepiece according to claim 12 including a pawl bridge, a pawl mounted on said bridge and engaging said index wheel, and means for adjusting said pawl bridge about the rotational axis of said index wheel to balance the stroke of said lever.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A timepiece according to claim 12 including an index lever guide having a bifurcated end received over said lever to restrain said lever against excessive lateral movement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A timepiece according to claim 12 wherein said hands comprise a sweep second hand, a minute hand and an hour hand, said watch train including a fourth wheel coupled to said second hand, a center wheel coupled to said minute hand and an hour wheel coupled to said hour hand.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
A timepiece according to claim 15 wherein the drive through said watch train is from said index wheel to a sixth wheel, from said sixth wheel to a fifth wheel, from said fifth wheel to said fourth wheel, from said fourth wheel to a third wheel, from said third wheel to said center wheel, from said center wheel to a minute wheel and from said minute wheel to said hour wheel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electronic timepiece having sufficiently small size for use as a wristwatch comprising a crystal controlled oscillator for producing a series of electrical timing impulses, an integrated circuit frequency divider coupled to the output of said oscillator for reducing the frequency of the timing impulses, an electromechanical resonator including an oscillatory coil and a hairspring foR converting said electrical timing impulses into a mechanical drive, a mechanical time display coupled to said resonator, a regulator coupled to said hairspring, and a printed circuit board mounted in said timepiece, said printed circuit board carrying said oscillator and said integrated circuit divider and including printed circuit leads establishing electrical connection between the oscillator and divider.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electronic timepiece having sufficiently small size for use as a wristwatch comprising a crystal controlled oscillator for producing a series of electrical timing impulses, an integrated circuit frequency divider coupled to the output of said oscillator for reducing the frequency of the timing impulses, an electromechanical resonator including an oscillatory coil and a hairspring foR converting said electrical timing impulses into a mechanical drive, a mechanical time display coupled to said resonator, a regulator coupled to said hairspring, and a printed circuit board mounted in said timepiece, said printed circuit board carrying said oscillator and said integrated circuit divider and including printed circuit leads establishing electrical connection between the oscillator and divider.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A timepiece according to claim 17 including a driver coupling said divider to said resonator coil.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A timepiece according to claim 18 wherein said oscillator, divider and driver each include integrated circuit components contained in a common integrated circuit package mounted on said printed circuit board.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A timepiece according to claim 19 wherein said integrated circuit components comprise complementary pairs of MOSFET transistors.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A timepiece according to claim 17 including a battery, a fixed contact on said circuit board electrically coupled to said oscillator and divider, and a manually movable switch coupling said battery to said fixed contact.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A timepiece according to claim 21 wherein said switch comprises a switch spring having one end resiliently engaging one side of said battery.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
61 words
A timepiece according to claim 22 including a setting arbor, said switch spring having a second end with a contact movable into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, and means coupling said arbor to said second end of said switch spring whereby said second end of said switch spring is moved in accordance with the position of said arbor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A timepiece according to claim 23 wherein said contacts are open when said arbor is in its outermost position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A timepiece according to claim 24 including a clutch and clutch lever coupled between said arbor and said spring, said movable contact being actuated by said clutch lever.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
A timepiece according to claim 25 including a watch train coupling said resonator to said display, and a setting wheel coupling said clutch to said train whereby the display may be adjusted by rotation of said arbor in said outermost position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A timepiece according to claim 26 including a brake spring movable with said clutch lever for engagement with said train when said arbor is in said outermost position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3212252A
Cited
US3526088A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |