US3745760A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic switch for timepieces
Assignee: Timex Group USA Inc
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Filing: 1972-01-10
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1992-01-10
Abstract
Abstract An electronic switch to provide a long storage life for the battery used in timepieces such as quartz watches is disclosed. The switch includes a transistor connected between the oscillator divider and power supply and a delay circuit coupled across the output from the oscillator-divider and controlling the aforesaid transistor. When the balance wheel is held off normal, the delay circuit opens the series switch transistor after a predetermined time interval to minimize battery drain. In a second embodiment, a shunt mode of operation is provided wherein the output driver transistor is controlled by a second transistor from the delay circuit. A third transistor in the oscillator input is similarly controlled by the delay circuit. When the balance wheel is held off normal, the delay circuit turns on the second and third transistors thereby minimizing battery drain.
Inventors
- 👤 E Keeler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:26
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G19/00; G04G19/12; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
In a battery-operated timepiece having an oscillator-divider circuit providing pulses to a driver to synchronize an electromechanical motor, the combination comprising: a delay circuit connected to the driver output and the oscillator-divider battery input, and switch means in the oscillator-divider battery input controlled by the delay circuit to open the battery connection when the electromechanical oscillator is stopped for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
In a battery-operated timepiece having an oscillator-divider circuit providing pulses to a driver to synchronize an electromechanical motor, the combination comprising: a delay circuit connected to the driver output and the oscillator-divider battery input, and switch means in the oscillator-divider battery input controlled by the delay circuit to open the battery connection when the electromechanical oscillator is stopped for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A timepiece according to claim 1 wherein: the delay circuit comprises a circuit which is reset by pulses from the driver to the electromechanical motor but, if no pulses are received for a predetermined time interval, the circuit opens the switch means to prevent battery drain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A timepiece according to claim 1 wherein: the switch means comprises a transistor connected in series between the battery and the oscillator-divider circuit and having its input connected to the delay circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A timepiece according to claim 1 wherein: the electromechanical motor includes a balance wheel oscillator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a battery operated timepiece having a high frequency oscillator circuit and a multiplicity of frequency divider stages providing pulses to an output driver stage to synchronize an electromechanical oscillator in series therewith, the combination comprising: first transistor means in the input to the oscillator a delay circuit connected to the first transistor means to prevent oscillations of the high frequency oscillator when the electromechanical oscillator is stopped for a predetermined time interval by cutting off the first transistor means and, second transistor means in the output of the driver to prevent the driver from being in the conducting state at the same time, said second transistor means being connected to the output of the delay circuit and operated thereby.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a battery operated timepiece having a high frequency oscillator circuit and a multiplicity of frequency divider stages providing pulses to an output driver stage to synchronize an electromechanical oscillator in series therewith, the combination comprising: first transistor means in the input to the oscillator a delay circuit connected to the first transistor means to prevent oscillations of the high frequency oscillator when the electromechanical oscillator is stopped for a predetermined time interval by cutting off the first transistor means and, second transistor means in the output of the driver to prevent the driver from being in the conducting state at the same time, said second transistor means being connected to the output of the delay circuit and operated thereby.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A timepiece according to claim 5 wherein: the delay circuit comprises a circuit which is intermittently reset by drive pulses to the electromechanical oscillator but if the pulses are stopped for a predetermined interval, said circuit completes its timing cycle to stop the high frequency oscillator by opening the second driver transistor in the oscillator input.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A timepiece according to claim 5 wherein: the oscillator and divider circuits, include semiconductor components of the CMOS type so that the current drain from the battery is limited to the quiescent requirements of the CMOS circuitry when the electromechanical oscillator is stopped.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a battery-powered quartz watch having an oscillator-divider circuit and an output driver transistor to provide synchronizing pulses through an intermittent contact to a balance wheel, the combination comprising: a series switch transistor having its source-drain circuit between the battery and the oscillator-divider circuit, and a delay circuit connected between the output driver transistor and the gate of the series switch transistor to sense the motion of the balance wheel and disconnect the battery if the balance wheel is stopped for a predetermined time interval in order to prevent battery drain.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a battery-powered quartz watch having an oscillator-divider circuit and an output driver transistor to provide synchronizing pulses through an intermittent contact to a balance wheel, the combination comprising: a series switch transistor having its source-drain circuit between the battery and the oscillator-divider circuit, and a delay circuit connected between the output driver transistor and the gate of the series switch transistor to sense the motion of the balance wheel and disconnect the battery if the balance wheel is stopped for a predetermined time interval in order to prevent battery drain.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
91 words
The method of minimizing battery drain in a timepiece having a high frequency oscillator and driver circuit to provide synchronization pulses through a contact to an electro-mechanical oscillator or motor comprising the steps of: providing a switch in series between the battery and the high frequency oscillator, and counting the divider output pulses and opening the switch if a predetermined number of pulses are counted indicating that the electro-mechanical oscillator has been stopped with the contact open, said counting means being normally reset by each pulse through the intermittently closed contact.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
91 words
The method of minimizing battery drain in a timepiece having a high frequency oscillator and driver circuit to provide synchronization pulses through a contact to an electro-mechanical oscillator or motor comprising the steps of: providing a switch in series between the battery and the high frequency oscillator, and counting the divider output pulses and opening the switch if a predetermined number of pulses are counted indicating that the electro-mechanical oscillator has been stopped with the contact open, said counting means being normally reset by each pulse through the intermittently closed contact.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
117 words
The method of minimizing battery drain in a timepiece having a high frequency oscillator and series connected divider and a driver circuit to provide synchronizing pulses through a contact to an electromechanical oscillator comprising the steps of: providing a first switching means in the high frequency oscillator input from the battery to control the oscillator, providing a second switching means in the input to the driver to open the driver under predetermined conditions, and counting the divider output pulses and closing the first and second switching means if a predetermined number of pulses are counted indicating that the mechanical oscillator has been stopped, said counting means being normally reset by each pulse through the intermittently closed contact.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
The method of minimizing battery drain in a timepiece having a high frequency oscillator and series connected divider and a driver circuit to provide synchronizing pulses through a contact to an electromechanical oscillator comprising the steps of: providing a first switching means in the high frequency oscillator input from the battery to control the oscillator, providing a second switching means in the input to the driver to open the driver under predetermined conditions, and counting the divider output pulses and closing the first and second switching means if a predetermined number of pulses are counted indicating that the mechanical oscillator has been stopped, said counting means being normally reset by each pulse through the intermittently closed contact.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a battery operated timepiece having a high frequency oscillator circuit and a multiplicity of frequency divider stages providing pulses to an output driver stage to synchronize an electromechanical oscillator, the combination comprising: a delay circuit connected to the driver output and the oscillator divider battery input and controlled by the delay circuit to open the battery connection when the electromechanical oscillator is stopped for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a battery operated timepiece having a high frequency oscillator circuit and a multiplicity of frequency divider stages providing pulses to an output driver stage to synchronize an electromechanical oscillator, the combination comprising: a delay circuit connected to the driver output and the oscillator divider battery input and controlled by the delay circuit to open the battery connection when the electromechanical oscillator is stopped for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
A timepiece according to claim 11 wherein: the delay circuit comprises a circuit which is reset by the drive pulses to the electromechanical oscillator but, if the pulses are stopped for a predetermined time the circuit opens the battery connection to prevent battery drain.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |