Abstract A highly accurate watch, comprising a quartz crystal time base and a movement controlled by an oscillator regulated to run slightly fast and being periodically connected to the quartz crystal time base. In one embodiment, a pulse counter totals the number of pulses put out by the watch oscillator during its normal operation and activates means to stop the oscillator when a sufficient number of pulses equal to a fixed time period has been reached. A second counter totals the pulses from the quartz cyrstal time reference and reactivates the watch when the number pulses equals the fixed time period thereby wiping out accumulated time errors. In a second embodiment, the output from a balance wheel oscillator and a divided down time base frequency are fed to a flip - flop. The output square wave increases in width due to the frequency difference between the balance wheel and time base and is integrated by an RC circuit. A Schmitt trigger circuit and monostable multivibrator are coupled to the flip - flop so that the trigger circuit is activated for a fixed short time interval and stops the balance wheel through a solenoid. After elapse of the fixed time interval, the balance wheel starts again.
A synchronized watch comprising: a low frequency oscillator for driving the watch, said oscillator being regulated to run normally fast, a high frequency time base, means for dividing down the high frequency time base to provide highly accurate timing pulses, first means for totaling the number of pulses from the low frequency oscillator and second means for totaling the number of timing pulses from the dividing means, and means for halting the low frequency oscillator when the first totaling means reaches a predetermined number of pulses and for releasing the low frequency oscillator when the second totaling means reaches the predetermined number of pulses thereby synchronizing the watch in accordance with the output from the high frequency time base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A synchronized watch comprising: a low frequency oscillator for driving the watch, said oscillator being regulated to run normally fast, a high frequency time base, means for dividing down the high frequency time base to provide highly accurate timing pulses, first means for totaling the number of pulses from the low frequency oscillator and second means for totaling the number of timing pulses from the dividing means, and means for halting the low frequency oscillator when the first totaling means reaches a predetermined number of pulses and for releasing the low frequency oscillator when the second totaling means reaches the predetermined number of pulses thereby synchronizing the watch in accordance with the output from the high frequency time base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A synchronized watch in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the low frequency oscillator comprises a balance wheel, and, the high frequency oscillator comprises a quartz oscillator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A synchronized watch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the means for halting the low frequency oscillator comprises a flip- flop receiving inputs from the first and second totaling means, a solenoid activated and deactivated by the flip - flop, and means responsive to the solenoid to contact the balance wheel to stop said wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A synchronized watch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the means for halting the balance wheel comprises switching means responsive to the first and second totaling means and solenoid means operated by the switching means to contact the balance wheel, and the balance wheel includes a spring finger mounted thereon to contact the solenoid means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A synchRonized watch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the first and second totaling means comprise an up-down counter.