Circuitry for synchronizing a mechanical resonator

Claim 1

A controlled oscillating device comprising a resonator in the form of a balance-wheel type oscillating unit having a position of rest and being angularly oscillatable therefrom, a permanent magnet on said resonator and having a path of movement established thereby, magnetic poles adjacent said path, an interceptor coil associated with said poles and excited when the resonator passes through said position of rest, means elastically repelling said resonator when its angle of oscillation tends to exceed a predetermined angle of oscillation relative to its rest position to raise the frequency thereof from f - Delta f to f + Delta f, means to produce a voltage of a frequency n.f, a semiconductor switch including a voltage dropping element and controlled by the latter said means so that the switch is alternately opened and closed during each succeeding half period of the voltage of frequency n.f, an actuating coil associated with said interceptor coil and poles, and a control circuit for the actuating coil and including a semi-conductor element coupled to said interceptor coil, said switch being connected to the control circuit of the actuating coil so that the voltage applicable to said actuating coil is controllably equal to V and V - Delta V due to the operation of said voltage dropping element during each said half period whereby to change the energy received by the resonator in terms of its phase shift.