US4030338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Timepiece testing apparatus
Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
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Filing: 1976-06-10
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1996-06-10
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece comprising a television camera for converting the time displayed into an electrical signal, a means for converting the electrical signal into a digital signal, and a processing means for storing the digital signal and comparing the digital signal to a signal corresponding to a time standard. In operation, the time displayed on the timepiece is compared to the time standard at two different times and the difference between the time standard and the time displayed of the two measurements is compared.
Inventors
- 👤 Heihachiro Ebihara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:12
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04D; G04D7/00; G04D7/002; G04D7/003; G04D7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece comprising: a television camera for converting the time displayed on said timepiece into an electrical signal; a means for converting the electrical signal into a digital signal; and a processing means for determining the time displayed on the timepiece from the digital signal and for comparing the displayed time to a time standard.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece comprising: a television camera for converting the time displayed on said timepiece into an electrical signal; a means for converting the electrical signal into a digital signal; and a processing means for determining the time displayed on the timepiece from the digital signal and for comparing the displayed time to a time standard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 1 wherein said processing means further determines a difference between the displayed time and the time standard and stores the difference.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 2 further comprising a control means for supplying timing signals to said television camera, converting means, and processing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 3 wherein said control means comprises a means for generating a clock pulse, a horizontal synchronization signal of a predetermined pulse frequency and a vertical synchronization signal of a predetermined pulse frequency and a means for counting the number of clock pulses and the number of horizontal synchronization signal pulses and for applying said counts to said processing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 1 wherein said converting means comprises an analog to digital converter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 5 wherein said analog to digital converter comprises a differentiator and a comparator having hysteresis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 1 further comprising a masking means for masking the digital signals applied to said processing means such that only significant digital signals are processed by the processing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 7 wherein said converting means comprises an analog to digital converter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 8 wherein said analog to digital converter comprises a differentiator and a comparator having hysterises.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 9 wherein said control means comprises a means for generating a clock pulse, a horizontal synchronization signal of a predetermined pulse frequency and a vertical synchronization signal of a predetermined pulse frequency and a means for counting the number of clock pulses and the number of horizontal synchronization signal pulses and for applying said counts to said processing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 10 wherein said masking means comprises a memory means addressed by the count of the horizontal synchronization signal pulses, said memory means containing a plurality of numbers which correspond to the count of said clock pulse which correspond to said significant digital signals and a means for comparing said numbers with the count of said clock pulse.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for testing the accuracy of a timepiece comprising: converting the time displayed on said timepiece to an electrical signal with a television camera focused on said timepiece; converting the electrical signal from said television camera to a digital signal; determining the time displayed on said timepiece from said digital signal; comparing the determined time displayed with a time standard to determine the difference between the time displayed and the time standard; and storing the difference between the time displayed and the time standard.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for testing the accuracy of a timepiece comprising: converting the time displayed on said timepiece to an electrical signal with a television camera focused on said timepiece; converting the electrical signal from said television camera to a digital signal; determining the time displayed on said timepiece from said digital signal; comparing the determined time displayed with a time standard to determine the difference between the time displayed and the time standard; and storing the difference between the time displayed and the time standard.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for testing the accuracy of a timepiece according to claim 12 further comprising the step of masking the digital signals such that the time displayed is determined from only significant digital signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3914543A
Cited
US3978322A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |