US4148184A — Electronic timepiece utilizing main oscillator ci…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 251 words

An electronic timepiece comprising in combination a main oscillator means including a first time standard having a first temperature characteristic, said oscillator means being adapted to produce a first high frequency time standard signal having a first predetermined frequency rate determined, at least in part, by the temperature characteristic of said first time standard, said first time standard having an inflection peak at a specific temperature, a second oscillator means including a second time standard having a second temperature characteristic that is distinct from the temperature characteristic of said first time standard, said second oscillator means being adapted to produce the second high frequency time standard signal having a second predetermined frequency determined, at least in part, by the temperature characteristic of said second time standard, phase detection means for producing a phase detection signal in response to detecting a predetermined difference in phase between said first high frequency time standard signal and said second high frequency time standard signal when the temperature is one of at least 10° higher or lower than the specific temperature at which the first time standard has its inflection peak, divider means for producing a low frequency time standard signal, display means for displaying actual time in response to said low frequency time signal applied thereto, and frequency adjustment means coupled intermediate said phase detection means and said divider means for adjusting the frequency of said low frequency time signal produced by said divider means in response to said phase detection signal being applied thereto.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 251 words

An electronic timepiece comprising in combination a main oscillator means including a first time standard having a first temperature characteristic, said oscillator means being adapted to produce a first high frequency time standard signal having a first predetermined frequency rate determined, at least in part, by the temperature characteristic of said first time standard, said first time standard having an inflection peak at a specific temperature, a second oscillator means including a second time standard having a second temperature characteristic that is distinct from the temperature characteristic of said first time standard, said second oscillator means being adapted to produce the second high frequency time standard signal having a second predetermined frequency determined, at least in part, by the temperature characteristic of said second time standard, phase detection means for producing a phase detection signal in response to detecting a predetermined difference in phase between said first high frequency time standard signal and said second high frequency time standard signal when the temperature is one of at least 10° higher or lower than the specific temperature at which the first time standard has its inflection peak, divider means for producing a low frequency time standard signal, display means for displaying actual time in response to said low frequency time signal applied thereto, and frequency adjustment means coupled intermediate said phase detection means and said divider means for adjusting the frequency of said low frequency time signal produced by said divider means in response to said phase detection signal being applied thereto.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the ratio of the vibratory frequencies of said first and second high frequency time standards minus 1 equal to more than 5×10 -4 , within a temperature range of 15° C. to 30° C.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 63 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second time standards are quartz crystal vibrators having a frequency of vibration between a temperature range of -50° C. and 80° C. and wherein the respective quadratic coefficient of said first and second vibrators is in the range of -2.0×10 -8 /° C. 2 to -4.5×10 -8 /° C. 2 .

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 54 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vibrators have a vibratory frequency between 300 KHz and 1,000 KHz and an inflection point between -50° C. and 80° C., said respective vibrators having a quadratic coefficient within the range of -2.0×10 -8 /° C. 2 to -4.8×10 -8 /° C. 2 .

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibratory frequencies of both time standards are equal to each other, at least within a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 5, wherein said time standards are characterized by having a temperature characteristic wherein the inflection peak of at least one of said time standards is in the range of 5° C. to 40° C.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 96 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said phase detection means includes timer means for selecting a predetermined time interval, said predetermined time interval being at least equal to the time required for the predetermined difference in phase between said first high frequency time standard signal and said second high frequency time standard signal to occur when the temperature is more than 10° C. lower and/or higher than said specific temperature so that said phase detection means produces said phase detection signal when said predetermined difference in phase occurs during said predetermined time interval.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 101 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said divider means is adapted to produce said low frequency time signal in response to a high frequency time standard signal applied thereto, and including manually operated inversion means adapted to be disposed in a first mode and a second mode, said manually operated inversion means being disposed intermediate said respective oscillator means and said divider means for applying said first high frequency time standard signal to said divider means in a first mode and for applying said second high frequency time standard signal to said divider means in a second mode.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 278 words

An electronic timepiece comprising in combination a main oscillator means including a first time standard having a first temperature characteristic within a temperature range of -50° C. to 80° C., said oscillator means being adapted to produce a first high frequency time standard signal having a first predetermined frequency rate determined, at least in part, by the temperature characteristic of said first time standard, said first time standard having a quadratic coefficient in the range of -2.0×10 -8 /° C. 2 to 4.8×10 -8 /° C. 2 , a second oscillator means including a second time standard having a second temperature characteristic with a temperature range of -50° C. to 80° C. that is distinct from the temperature characteristic of said first time standard, said second oscillator means being adapted to produce the second high frequency time standard signal having a second predetermined frequency determined, at least in part, by the temperature characteristic of said second time standard, said second time standard also having a quadratic coefficient within the range of -2.0×10 -8 /° C. 2 to 4.8×10 -8 /° C. 2 , phase detection means for producing a phase detection signal in response to detecting a predetermined difference in phase between said first high frequency time standard signal and said second high frequency time standard signal, divider means for producing a low frequency time standard signal, display means for displaying actual time in response to said low frequency time signal applied thereto, and frequency adjustment means coupled intermediate said phase detection means for adjusting the frequency of said low frequency time signal produced by said divider means in response to said phase detection signal being applied thereto.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 278 words

An electronic timepiece comprising in combination a main oscillator means including a first time standard having a first temperature characteristic within a temperature range of -50° C. to 80° C., said oscillator means being adapted to produce a first high frequency time standard signal having a first predetermined frequency rate determined, at least in part, by the temperature characteristic of said first time standard, said first time standard having a quadratic coefficient in the range of -2.0×10 -8 /° C. 2 to 4.8×10 -8 /° C. 2 , a second oscillator means including a second time standard having a second temperature characteristic with a temperature range of -50° C. to 80° C. that is distinct from the temperature characteristic of said first time standard, said second oscillator means being adapted to produce the second high frequency time standard signal having a second predetermined frequency determined, at least in part, by the temperature characteristic of said second time standard, said second time standard also having a quadratic coefficient within the range of -2.0×10 -8 /° C. 2 to 4.8×10 -8 /° C. 2 , phase detection means for producing a phase detection signal in response to detecting a predetermined difference in phase between said first high frequency time standard signal and said second high frequency time standard signal, divider means for producing a low frequency time standard signal, display means for displaying actual time in response to said low frequency time signal applied thereto, and frequency adjustment means coupled intermediate said phase detection means for adjusting the frequency of said low frequency time signal produced by said divider means in response to said phase detection signal being applied thereto.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 46 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 9, wherein the absolute value of the ratio of the vibratory frequencies of said first and second high frequency time standards minus 1 equals no more than 5×10 -4 , within a range of 15° C. to 30° C.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 54 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 9, wherein said vibrators have a vibratory frequency between 300 KHz and 1,000 KHz and an inflection point between -50° C. and 80° C., said respective vibrators having a quadratic coefficient within the range of -2.0×10 -8 /° C. 2 to -4.8×10 -8 /° C. 2 .

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 9, wherein the vibratory frequency of each time standard is equal to each other at least within a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 9, wherein said time standards are characterized by having a temperature characteristic wherein the inflection peak of at least one of said time standards is in the range of 5° C. to 40° C.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-04-09	1982-10-09	1983-04-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-04-09	1986-10-09	1987-04-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-04-09	1990-10-09	1991-04-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electronic timepiece utilizing main oscillator circuit and secondary oscillator circuit

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