US3810355A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic circuit for quartz crystal watch
Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-17
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Granted: 1974-05-14
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Expires: 1992-03-17
Abstract
Abstract A watch movement constructed as an electronic circuit provided with an oscillating circuit having a quartz oscillator or resonator and a capacitor roughly adjusting the frequency of the oscillator with a variable capacitor for finally adjusting the frequency of a time base output thereof. The oscillating circuit is temperature compensated. The oscillator output is received by a fourteen-stage frequency-dividing circuit having complementary MOSFETS arranged as binary circuits with a wave-shaping circuit reducing the frequency of the oscillations to about one Hz. The frequency-divided signal is applied to driving circuitry that develops in conjunction with pulse-generating circuitry oppositegoing pulses applied to a transducer that converts the pulses to rotary motion using a driving gear wheel of a second hand of a watch and of a gear train thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 K Ito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:05
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C13/00; G04C13/08; G04C13/10; G04C3/00; G04C3/14; G04F; G04F5/00; G04F5/04; G04F5/06; G04G; G04G3/00; G04G3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A watch movement for a watch comprising, an oscillating circuit developing an output having a selected frequency and representative of a time base signal, frequency-dividing means receptive of the time base signal for dividing its frequency and for developing an output signal having a substantially lesser frequency, means receptive of said output signal for developing driving pulses, transducer means receptive of the driving pulses and having means developing as an output mechanical driving force; and switch means for manually selectively inhibiting said frequency-dividing means from developing said output signal at will and for manually selectively enabling said frequencydividing means to develop said output signal at will to manually selectively stop the watch movement and to manually selectively restart the watch movement instantaneously at a desired time; whereby the watch movement may be manually stopped and restarted instantaneously at a desired time to accurately correspond to an external time reference wherein said frequency-dividing means has inhibit means responsive to a first signal having a first voltage value applied thereto enabling said frequency dividing means to develop said output signal and responsive to a second signal having a second voltage value applied thereto for inhibiting said frequency-dividing means from developing said output signal, and wherein said switch means has means connected to said inhibit means for selectively applying thereto in response to said first signal and said second signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A watch movement for a watch comprising, an oscillating circuit developing an output having a selected frequency and representative of a time base signal, frequency-dividing means receptive of the time base signal for dividing its frequency and for developing an output signal having a substantially lesser frequency, means receptive of said output signal for developing driving pulses, transducer means receptive of the driving pulses and having means developing as an output mechanical driving force; and switch means for manually selectively inhibiting said frequency-dividing means from developing said output signal at will and for manually selectively enabling said frequencydividing means to develop said output signal at will to manually selectively stop the watch movement and to manually selectively restart the watch movement instantaneously at a desired time; whereby the watch movement may be manually stopped and restarted instantaneously at a desired time to accurately correspond to an external time reference wherein said frequency-dividing means has inhibit means responsive to a first signal having a first voltage value applied thereto enabling said frequency dividing means to develop said output signal and responsive to a second signal having a second voltage value applied thereto for inhibiting said frequency-dividing means from developing said output signal, and wherein said switch means has means connected to said inhibit means for selectively applying thereto in response to said first signal and said second signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A watch movement according to claim 1, in which said frequency-dividing means comprises a circuit having means to reduce said time base signal to a frequency of about one Hz.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A watch movement according to claim 1, in which said transducer means comprises a second gear driven rotationally in one direction by said driving force.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A watch movement according to claim 3, in which transducer means developing a mechanical force comprises a coil receptive of said pulses, a pawl oscillatable under control of said pulses driving said gear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A watch movement according to claim 4, including a second hand driven accurately from said second gear, and means connecting said second hand and gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A watch movement according to claim 1, in which said oscillating circuit comprises a quartz resonator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A watch movement according to claim 6, in which said frequency-dividing means comprises a circuit having a plurality of frequency-dividing stages, each stage comprising complementary MOS transistors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A watch movement according to claim 7, in which said stages comprise 14 stages, and a wave-shaping circuit dividing the frequency of the time base signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A watch movement according to claim 1, wherein said first voltage comprises a positive voltage and said second voltage comprises a negative voltage.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-13 | 1977-11-12 | 1978-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-13 | 1981-11-12 | 1982-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-13 | 1985-11-12 | 1986-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |