US4459037A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wristwatch with piezoelectric buzzer
Assignee: Suwa Seikosha KK
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Filing: 1983-10-27
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Granted: 1984-07-10
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Expires: 2003-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A wristwatch having a piezoelectric buzzer therein includes a watch case and a case back. The piezoelectric buzzer includes a piezoelectric element mounted on the case back inside the watch case. A driver selectively applies signals having a frequency of about 4 kHz to the buzzer. The case back, acting as the vibration plate for the piezoelectric element, is constructed so that the resonance frequency thereof is between 5.5 kHz and 7 kHz.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitsuru Toyoda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:06
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G13/00; G04G13/02; G04G13/021; G04C; G04C21/00; G04C21/16; G04C21/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
In a wristwatch having a watch case and a case back releasably secured to said watch case, said case back having a lower surface defining an interior side and an opposite exterior side, the exterior side of the lower surface of said case back contacting the wrist of a wearer when said wristwatch is worn, the improvement comprising a piezoelectric element coupled to the interior side of the lower surface of said case back inside said watch case so that the lower surface of said case back acts as a vibration plate means for said piezoelectric element, said case back having a natural resonance frequency when said wristwatch is not worn and an apparent resonance frequency when said wristwatch is worn and in contact with the skin of a wearer, driver means for producing a driving signal for driving said piezoelectric element, the frequency of said driving signal being proximate to the apparent resonance frequency of said case back when said wristwatch is worn, the natural resonance frequency of said case back when said wristwatch is not worn being set to between about 5.5 kHz and 7.0 kHz, said case back being formed so that the apparent resonance frequency of said case back is about 4 kHz whereby the volume of sound from said piezoelectric element and said case back when driven by said driving signal does not substantially vary when said wristwatch is worn and when not worn.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
In a wristwatch having a watch case and a case back releasably secured to said watch case, said case back having a lower surface defining an interior side and an opposite exterior side, the exterior side of the lower surface of said case back contacting the wrist of a wearer when said wristwatch is worn, the improvement comprising a piezoelectric element coupled to the interior side of the lower surface of said case back inside said watch case so that the lower surface of said case back acts as a vibration plate means for said piezoelectric element, said case back having a natural resonance frequency when said wristwatch is not worn and an apparent resonance frequency when said wristwatch is worn and in contact with the skin of a wearer, driver means for producing a driving signal for driving said piezoelectric element, the frequency of said driving signal being proximate to the apparent resonance frequency of said case back when said wristwatch is worn, the natural resonance frequency of said case back when said wristwatch is not worn being set to between about 5.5 kHz and 7.0 kHz, said case back being formed so that the apparent resonance frequency of said case back is about 4 kHz whereby the volume of sound from said piezoelectric element and said case back when driven by said driving signal does not substantially vary when said wristwatch is worn and when not worn.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving signal has a frequency of about 4 kHz.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said case back has a natural resonance frequency between about 5.5 kHz and 7.0 kHz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said case back has a natural resonance frequency between about 5.5 kHz and 7.0 kHz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said driving signal has a frequency of about 4,096 Hz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the interior side of said case back includes a groove cut therein for the regulation of the resonant frequency thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 6, wherein said groove surrounds said piezoelectric element coupled to said case back.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said case back is rectangular, said case back including grooves cut therein on the interior side thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 8, wherein said grooves are triangular, one said groove being cut into each corner of said rectangular case back.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 7, wherein the depth of said groove is more than one fourth of the thickness of said case back.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 9, wherein the depth of each said groove is more than one fourth of the thickness of said case back.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 5, wherein the diameter of said case back is predetermined so that said case back can be releasably secured to said watch case, the thickness of said case back being selected so that the natural resonance frequency of said case back is between about 5.5 kHz and 7.0 kHz.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The wristwatch as claimed in claim 12, wherein the natural resonance frequency of said case back is proportional to the thickness of said case back and is inversely proportional to the square of the radius of said case back.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of driving a piezoelectric buzzer in a wristwatch having a case back wherein said buzzer includes a piezoelectric element coupled to the interior surface of a case back so that said case back acts as a vibration plate for said piezoelectric element, said wristwatch having a watch case of a selected shape and size, comprising the steps of: forming said case back in a size and shape so that said case back can be releasably secured to said watch case, setting the resonance frequency of said case back to between about 5.5 kHz and 7.0 kHz when said wristwatch is not worn, applying a driving signal of about 4 kHz to said piezoelectric element, and selectively adjusting the size and shape of said case back so that the apparent resonance frequency of said case back is about 4 kHz when said wristwatch is worn whereby the volume of sound from said piezoelectric element and said case back does not substantially vary when said wristwatch is worn and when not worn.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of driving a piezoelectric buzzer in a wristwatch having a case back wherein said buzzer includes a piezoelectric element coupled to the interior surface of a case back so that said case back acts as a vibration plate for said piezoelectric element, said wristwatch having a watch case of a selected shape and size, comprising the steps of: forming said case back in a size and shape so that said case back can be releasably secured to said watch case, setting the resonance frequency of said case back to between about 5.5 kHz and 7.0 kHz when said wristwatch is not worn, applying a driving signal of about 4 kHz to said piezoelectric element, and selectively adjusting the size and shape of said case back so that the apparent resonance frequency of said case back is about 4 kHz when said wristwatch is worn whereby the volume of sound from said piezoelectric element and said case back does not substantially vary when said wristwatch is worn and when not worn.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the thickness of said case back is selected so that the natural resonance frequency of said case back is between about 5.5 kHz and 7.0 kHz.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of cutting at least one groove in said case back, the depth of said groove being selected so that the natural resonance frequency of said case back is between about 5.5 kHz and 7.0 kHz.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method, as claimed in claim 15, wherein the depth of said groove is more than one fourth the thickness of said case back.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-10 | 1988-01-09 | 1988-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-10 | 1992-01-09 | 1992-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-10 | 1996-01-09 | 1996-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |