Battery powered motor drive with temperature-responsive battery heater

• US 4,667,140 A
• Filed: 02/20/1985
• Issued: 05/19/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paragon Electric Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paragon Electric Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Sweetman, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERGMANN, SAUL
• Application Number:
  US06/703,275
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 318/696, 318/685, 368/157, 368/185, 320/21, 320/35, 361/386, 358/153, 307/66
• US Class Current: 318/696
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/00 Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces circuits G04G19/00; mounting, assembling of components of electromechanical watches G04C3/008, of electronic watches G04G17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/14 incorporating a stepping motor G04C3/02 - G04C3/12 take precedence generating timing pulses G04F5/00, G04G3/00; setting G04G5/00; synchronisation G04G7/00; generating commutating pulses in masterclocks G04C13/0463, G04C13/02; slave clocks actuated intermittently by electromechanical step advancing mechanisms G04C13/10; control circuits for stepping motors in general H02P8/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1909 whose output amplitude can only take two discrete values
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An improved battery powered quartz timing control circuit that drives a stepper motor, featuring a battery heated by a temperature-responsive battery heater which is activated when the ambient temperature in the vicinity of the battery drops below a predetermined temperature.

Claims

1. In a battery powered timing control circuit for driving a stepping motor with current pulses, said circuit having a temperature responsive battery heater and a battery charging circuit, improved means for driving the stepping motor, the combination comprising

voltage supply means adapted to rectify an AC voltage signal and produce energizing DC voltage signals;

oscillator means adapted to generate periodic pulse signals;

frequency dividing means for receiving said periodic pulse signals and producing control signals in response thereto;

pulse forming means responsive to said control signals for producing pulsed signals in response thereto;

current driving means responsive to pulsed signals for producing current pulse signals,

stepper motor means coupled to receive said current pulse signals and adapted to produce a corresponding stepping action in response thereto;

battery supply means adapted to supply a substantially constant DC voltage supply signal to said oscillator means, said frequency dividing means, said pulse forming means, said current driver means and said stepper motor means;

pulse width limiting means coupled to receive said pulsed signals from said pulse forming means and coupled to supply pulses to said current driving means, the pulse width limiting means operating to limit the duration of signals received from the pulse forming means so as not to exceed a predetermined duration, whereby the input to the current driving means will be limited to signals that do not exceed said predetermined duration, thereby to prevent a continuous current input to said motor and corresponding continuous drain on said battery, and;

battery recharging means adapted to recharge continually said battery supply means from said AC voltage signal;

control means for monitoring the ambient temperature adjacent said battery means and producing a heating control signal when the ambient temperature drops below a predetermined temperture, and;

heating means for receiving said heating control signal to maintian the ambient temperature in the vicinity of said battery means above said predetermined temperature level, whereby said battery provides a substantially constant D.C. voltage signal to said oscillator means, said frequency divider means, said flip-flop means, said pulse width limiter means, said current driver means, and said stepper motor means.

2. In a battery powered timing control circuit for driving a stepping motor with current pulses, said circuit having a temperture responsive battery heater andd a battery charging circuit, improved means for driving the stepping motor, the combination comprising

voltage supply means adapted to rectify an AC voltage signal and produce energizing DC voltage signals;

oscillator means adapted to generate periodic pulse signals;

frequency dividing means for receiving said periodic pulse signals and producing control signals in response thereto;

pulse forming means responsive to said control signals for producing pulsed signals in response thereto;

current driving means responsive to pulsed signals for producing current pulse signals,

stepper motor means coupled to receive said current pulse signals and adapted to produce a corresponding stepping action in response thereto;

battery supply means adapted to supply a substantially constant DC voltage suply signal to said oscillator means, said frequency dividing means, said pulse forming means, said current driver means and said stepper motor means;

pulse width limiting means coupled to receive said pulsed signals from said pulse forming means and coupled to supply pulses to said current driving means, the pulse width limiting means operating to limit the duration of signals received from the pulse forming means so as not to exceed a predetermined duration, whereby the input to the current driving means will be limited to signals that do not exceed said predteremined duration, thereby to prevent a continuous current input to said motor and corresponding continuous drain on said battery, and;

battery recharging means adapted to recharge continually said battery supply means from said AC voltage signal.