Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal tuning fork vibrator assembly particularly for use as a time standard in an oscillator circuit comprising in combination a flexural mode tuning fork quartz crystal vibrator having two substantially opposed planar surfaces and being adapted to vibrate in a first vibratory direction substantially parallel to said surfaces, and a mounting plate having a first portion including a flat surface, said flat surface being secured to one of said opposed surfaces at a non-vibtatory portion of said tuning fork vibrator, said mounting plate including a second portion mounted to a reference member, said mounting plate having a resilient portion intermediate said first and second portions, said resilient portion being adapted to vibrate in said first vibratory direction at an angle of about 90° with respect to said first vibratory direction, said resilient portion being formed of two substantially U-shaped spring-like elements, a first leg of each said element being connected to said second portion and the other leg of each U-shaped spring-like elements being connected to said first portion, each leg of each element being formed with a Z-shaped bend away from said opposed surface to which said flat surface is secured so that said other leg of each U-shaped spring-like element connected to said flat surface is in overlapping relationship along the lengthwise extent of said vibrator with said opposed planar surface when said opposed planar surfaces are viewed in plan view to thereby reduce the lateral dimension of said tuning fork vibratory assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal tuning fork vibrator assembly particularly for use as a time standard in an oscillator circuit comprising in combination a flexural mode tuning fork quartz crystal vibrator having two substantially opposed planar surfaces and being adapted to vibrate in a first vibratory direction substantially parallel to said surfaces, and a mounting plate having a first portion including a flat surface, said flat surface being secured to one of said opposed surfaces at a non-vibtatory portion of said tuning fork vibrator, said mounting plate including a second portion mounted to a reference member, said mounting plate having a resilient portion intermediate said first and second portions, said resilient portion being adapted to vibrate in said first vibratory direction at an angle of about 90° with respect to said first vibratory direction, said resilient portion being formed of two substantially U-shaped spring-like elements, a first leg of each said element being connected to said second portion and the other leg of each U-shaped spring-like elements being connected to said first portion, each leg of each element being formed with a Z-shaped bend away from said opposed surface to which said flat surface is secured so that said other leg of each U-shaped spring-like element connected to said flat surface is in overlapping relationship along the lengthwise extent of said vibrator with said opposed planar surface when said opposed planar surfaces are viewed in plan view to thereby reduce the lateral dimension of said tuning fork vibratory assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reference member includes a hermetical terminal having leads and said assembly includes means for electrically coupling said hermetical terminal leads to said vibrator, said hermetical terminal being further formed with an annular projection, said second portion of said mounting plate being shaped as a collar and adapted to be secured around said annular projection, said first leg of each of said U-shaped spring elements being connected to substantially diametrically opposed ends of said collar portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electric coupling means is a resilient lead plate adapted to vibrate in both said first and second vibratory directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said resilient lead plate has a thickness no greater than .5 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second portion of said mounting plate is mounted to said hermetical terminal by solder plating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said reference member further includes packaging means adapted together with said hermetical terminal to seal said vibrator and mounting plate in said package, said packaging means including a vibration limiting means positioned to engage said vibrator at an essentially non-vibratory portion thereof during large displacements of said vibrator and said first portion of said mounting plate to prevent engagement of vibratory portions of said vibrator against said lid during such displacements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said vibration limiting means is integrally formed as an inward projection on said packaging means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said packaging means includes an upper lid and a lower lid, said lower lid including an aperture therein, said aperture supporting said hermetical terminal, said upper and lower lid being adapted to be secured together to effect a vacuum therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flat surface includes an aperture therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tuning fork vibrator is respectively dimensioned to a length, width and thickness of about 6.0 mm, about 1.35 mm and about 0.5 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said mounting plate is formed of one of the group of flexible metals consisting of spring steel, berylium copper, and phosphorous bronze.