US4050234A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic timepiece hand-return mechanism
Assignee: Suwa Seikosha KK
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Filing: 1974-08-30
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Granted: 1977-09-27
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Expires: 1994-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A hand-return mechanism for an electronic timepiece wherein at least one hand is returned to a predetermined position and the motor rotating same is correspondingly adjusted. The timepiece includes a display hand mechanically coupled to a positionable gear, the rotational position of the gear determining the rotary position of the hand. An oscillator circuit produces a high frequency time standard signal and a divider circuit produces an alternating polarity pulse of a predetermined low frequency in response to the high frequency time standard signal. An electro-mechanical converter is adapted to rotate the gear by means of a rotor in response to the period of the alternating polarity pulse applied thereto. A manually operated reset mechanism is adapted to be displaced from a rest position to a reset position, the reset mechanism being mechanically coupled to the gear and electrically coupled to the divider circuit, the resetting mechanism effecting a mechanical positioning of said gear and rotor to a predetermined position and a resetting of the divider circuit to stop and then restart the electro-mechanical converter in coordination with the position of said rotor upon the return of the manually operated reset mechanism to a rest position which releases the gear.
Inventors
- 👤 Mori Toshio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:42
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
In a hand display electronic timepiece having a gear mechanically coupled to at least one of said hands, the rotational position of the gear determining the time indication position of said hand, an oscillator circuit for producing a high frequency time standard signal, divider circuit means for supplying an alternating polarity pulse signal of a predetermined low frequency in response to said high frequency time standard signal, said divider means being adapted to supply a pulse signal including first and second predetermined pulses in sequence immediately after resetting thereof, electro-mechanical converter means coupled to said divider circuit means to receive said pulse signal and including a rotor mechanically coupled to said gear to rotate said gear in response to said pulse signal, the improvement comprising manually operable resetting means mechanically coupled to said gear and electrically coupled to said divider means, said resetting means effecting a positioning of said gear and rotor to predetermined respective positions corresponding to 10n second positions of said hand, where n = 1, 2, 3, and resetting of said divider means so that the first pulse applied to said electro-mechanical converter means after release of said gear and rotor is adapted to retain said rotor at its predetermined position, the second pulse advancing said gear and said rotor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
In a hand display electronic timepiece having a gear mechanically coupled to at least one of said hands, the rotational position of the gear determining the time indication position of said hand, an oscillator circuit for producing a high frequency time standard signal, divider circuit means for supplying an alternating polarity pulse signal of a predetermined low frequency in response to said high frequency time standard signal, said divider means being adapted to supply a pulse signal including first and second predetermined pulses in sequence immediately after resetting thereof, electro-mechanical converter means coupled to said divider circuit means to receive said pulse signal and including a rotor mechanically coupled to said gear to rotate said gear in response to said pulse signal, the improvement comprising manually operable resetting means mechanically coupled to said gear and electrically coupled to said divider means, said resetting means effecting a positioning of said gear and rotor to predetermined respective positions corresponding to 10n second positions of said hand, where n = 1, 2, 3, and resetting of said divider means so that the first pulse applied to said electro-mechanical converter means after release of said gear and rotor is adapted to retain said rotor at its predetermined position, the second pulse advancing said gear and said rotor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said manually operable resetting means includes a cam concentrically joined to said gear, and a hammer adapted to position said cam in at least one predetermined position in response to a displacement of said hammer from a rest position to a reset position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 2, wherein said manually operable reset means includes a hammer spring and a manually displaceable actuation member coupled to said hammer, said hammer spring maintaining said hammer in a rest position in the absence of a force applied to said actuation member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 3, including stop means for limiting the displacement of said hammer to prevent damage to said cam and gear during resetting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cam is heart-shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electro-mechanical converter means is a step motor having a rotor adapted to be stepped in response to the alternate polarity pulses applied to said step motor, the rotation of said rotor effecting a corresponding rotation of said gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cam and gear are coupled by an eccentric coupling member, said eccentric coupling member being adapted to adjust the relative rotational orientation of said cam and rotor to adjust said predetermined position of said rotor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 7, wherein said electro-mechanical converter means is a step motor having a rotor adapted to be stepped between rest positions in response to the alternating polarity pulses applied thereto, each said predetermined position of said rotor being such a rest position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 8, wherein said manually operable resetting means includes reset switch means coupled to said divider means and actuated by said hammer, said first pulse after disengagement of said hammer from said reset switch means being of a polarity such that said rotor is held in said rest position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hand is a second hand, and at least one of said predetermined positions of said gear is a zero second display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cam has more than one predetermined position for positioning said hand in one of a corresponding number of positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cam has six sides and is adapted to be positioned by said hammer in one of six predetermined positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 12, wherein said cam is shaped like a six point star, and said hammer is adapted to position said cam in one of six predetermined positions in said rest position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a hand display electronic timepiece including at least one hand and having a gear mechanically coupled to said hand, the rotational position of the gear determining the rotary position of said hand, an oscillator circuit producing a high frequency time standard signal, divider circuit means for supplying an alternating polarity pulse of a predetermined low frequency in response to said high frequency time standard signal, electro-mechanical converter means adapted to intermittently rotate said gear through a specific increment in response to the period of said alternate polarity pulse supplied thereto, the improvement comprising camming means concentrically mounted to said gear and having at least one predetermined orientation, the camming means being adapted to rotatably position said gear at predetermined positions corresponding to 10n second positions of said hand, where n = 1, 2, 3, and manually displaceable reset means for engaging said camming means to effect a rotation of said gear to one of said predetermined positions in response to the displacement of said reset means from a rest to a reset position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a hand display electronic timepiece including at least one hand and having a gear mechanically coupled to said hand, the rotational position of the gear determining the rotary position of said hand, an oscillator circuit producing a high frequency time standard signal, divider circuit means for supplying an alternating polarity pulse of a predetermined low frequency in response to said high frequency time standard signal, electro-mechanical converter means adapted to intermittently rotate said gear through a specific increment in response to the period of said alternate polarity pulse supplied thereto, the improvement comprising camming means concentrically mounted to said gear and having at least one predetermined orientation, the camming means being adapted to rotatably position said gear at predetermined positions corresponding to 10n second positions of said hand, where n = 1, 2, 3, and manually displaceable reset means for engaging said camming means to effect a rotation of said gear to one of said predetermined positions in response to the displacement of said reset means from a rest to a reset position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a hand display electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 14, wherein said reset means includes a hammer adapted to be pivoted between a rest and reset position at which said hammer engages said camming means, rotation of said hammer into a reset position effecting a positioning of said cam to a predetermined position.
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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) | 1980-09-26 | 1981-03-28 | 1981-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-26 | 1985-03-28 | 1985-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-26 | 1989-03-28 | 1989-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |