US3693343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wrist watch with a piezoelectric crystal as time-keeping oscillator
Assignee: Gebrueder Junghans GmbH
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Filing: 1969-11-14
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1989-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A wrist watch using a piezoelectric crystal as the time-keeping oscillator. The time-keeping oscillator has its output fed to a number of frequency divider stages so as to reduce the ultimate frequency to some low value, e.g., below 5 cps. By reducing the frequency to this low value, the moving device can directly engage the second-wheel thereby minimizing the size and friction losses in the wheel mechanism. Two exemplary moving devices are disclosed, one of which utilizes a rotating coil assembly which has a shift finger to engage the toothing on the second-wheel. The other disclosed example utilizes a driving fork fastened to the shaft of an oscillating magnetic system with the arms of the driving force engaging the toothing on the second wheel. The basic frequency divider also includes a number of various electronic circuits for reducing the width of the driving pulses so as to minimize power losses and maximize the effective battery life.
Inventors
- 👤 Friedrich Assmus
- 👤 Wolfgang Ganter
- 👤 Hans Flaig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:47
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04F; G04F5/00; G04F5/04; G04C; G04C3/00; G04C3/14; G04G; G04G3/00; G04G3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism comprising: a tuning fork piezoelectric crystal element operable to produce output electrical pulses; frequency division means electrically connected to said tuning fork piezoelectric crystal element for dividing the frequency of the output electrical pulses; a second wheel; and, electromagnetic drive means including a moving coil arrangement connected to said frequency division means and said second wheel for rotating said second wheel in response to electrical pulses from said frequency division means, said moving coil arrangement comprising a centrally located, stationary permanent magnet core, a coil rotatable about the core, and a shift finger directly engaging the second wheel and supported by said coil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism comprising: a tuning fork piezoelectric crystal element operable to produce output electrical pulses; frequency division means electrically connected to said tuning fork piezoelectric crystal element for dividing the frequency of the output electrical pulses; a second wheel; and, electromagnetic drive means including a moving coil arrangement connected to said frequency division means and said second wheel for rotating said second wheel in response to electrical pulses from said frequency division means, said moving coil arrangement comprising a centrally located, stationary permanent magnet core, a coil rotatable about the core, and a shift finger directly engaging the second wheel and supported by said coil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the shift finger consists of two parts each of which is provided with a driving surface which advances the second-wheel by half a tooth pitch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the shift finger is glued to a moving coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 1, and further comprising; an adjustable stop positioned beneath said shift finger against which the coil is made to rest by return springs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the moving coil consists of aluminum wire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the ends of the moving coil are conductively connected to insulated axle journals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 6, wherein said coil has inactive sides and including oblong holes for receiving the axle journals parallel to the coil wires.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 7, wherein the axle journals are glued into the oblong holes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 7, wherein the axle journals are fastened to the oblong holes by spraying synthetic resin around the coil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein a magnetic return element surrounding the coil is provided.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said shift finger is fashioned from a material of low specific weight and sufficient abrasive resistance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said tuning fork and said moving coil arrangement are essentially parallel to each other and their longitudinal axes are parallel with said second-wheel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism comprising: a. a tuning fork piezoelectric crystal element operable to produce output electrical pulses; b. frequency division means electrically connected to said tuning fork piezoelectric crystal element for dividing the frequency of the output electrical pulses; c. a second wheel; d. electromagnetic drive means connected to said frequency division means and said second wheel for rotating said second wheel in response to electrical pulses from said frequency division means; and, e. means connected between said frequency division means and said electromagnetic drive means for narrowing the output pulses of said frequency division means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism comprising: a. a tuning fork piezoelectric crystal element operable to produce output electrical pulses; b. frequency division means electrically connected to said tuning fork piezoelectric crystal element for dividing the frequency of the output electrical pulses; c. a second wheel; d. electromagnetic drive means connected to said frequency division means and said second wheel for rotating said second wheel in response to electrical pulses from said frequency division means; and, e. means connected between said frequency division means and said electromagnetic drive means for narrowing the output pulses of said frequency division means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 13, wherein the oscillating plane of the tuning fork is perpendicular to the said second-wheel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein said electromagnetic drive means includes: a movable magnet arrangement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 15, wherein said movable magnet arrangement comprises a four-pole magnet device with magnet poles pointing outward in radial direction, a stationary magnetic return surrounding the magnetic device while leaving an airgap, and a coil arrangement mounted in the airgap and energizing the magnet poles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 16, wherein said magnet device supports a driving fork which directly engages said second-wheel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 16, wherein said magnet return for producing a return force which acts upon the rotary magnet device comprises: a partly open ring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 18, wherein said open ring which forms the return is rotatable for the purpose of adjustment of the position of rest of the rotary magnet arrangement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 13, wherein said frequency division means comprises a plurality of stages and said means for narrowing the output pulses of said frequency divider means comprises: a flip-flop circuit turned on by a last frequency divider stage and turned off by a preceding frequency divider stage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 13, wherein said frequency division means comprises a plurality of stages and said means for narrowing the output pulses of the frequency divider means comprises: a NAND gate to which current is fed from a last frequency divider stage as well as from several preceding frequency divider stages.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A wrist watch drive mechanism as defined in claim 21, and further comprising: a reversing stage connected to the output side of the NAND gate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3282042A
Cited
FR1539922A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |