Electronic wristwatch with generator

• US 4,939,707 A
• Filed: 01/25/1989
• Issued: 07/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nagao, Shoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US07/318,212
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 368/64, 368/76, 368/80, 368/203-204, 310/7 SR, 310/7 SA, 310/156, 310/37, 320/2, 320/21, 320/41, 320/42, 320/61, 322/1, 322/3, 322/4, 322/10
• US Class Current: 368/64
• 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

Abstract

An electronic wristwatch having an electric generator contained internally therein is provided. The generator converts energy from mechanical to electrical energy to drive the electronic wristwatch. The oscillation of an oscillating weight produces mechanical energy as it oscillates. A wheel train transmits the mechanical energy to the generator by applying a torque to the generator. A limiter prevents transmission of mechanical energy through the wristwatch when the torque to be applied to the generator exceeds a predetermined value and allows the mechanical energy to be transmitted when the torque to be applied to the generator is less than or equal to the predetermined value.

Claims

1. An electronic wristwatch having an electric generator therein, the generator converting mechanical energy to electrical energy for driving the electronic wristwatch comprising mechanical energy means for producing mechanical energy;

power transmission means for transmitting said mechanical energy to said generator by applying a torque to said generator; and

limiting means for preventing mechanical energy transmission through said power transmission means when the torque to be applied to said generator exceeds a predetermined value and allowing said mechanical energy transmission through said power transmission means when said torque to be applied to said generator is less than or equal to the predetermined value.

2. The electronic wristwatch of claim 1, wherein said mechanical means includes an oscillating weight.

3. The electronic wristwatch of claim 2, wherein said power transmission means includes a wheel train connected to said oscillating weight.

4. The electronic wristwatch of claim 3, wherein said wheel train includes a plurality of wheels, at least one of said wheels comprising a wheel gear and a wheel spindle, said wheel gear being connected to said wheel spindle by a friction fit.

5. The electronic wristwatch of claim 4, wherein one of said wheels is a transmission wheel having a transmission wheel gear and a transmission wheel spindle, the transmission wheel gear being formed to receive said transmission wheel spindle therein and having at least two resilient arms extending across an inner diameter of the transmission wheel gear to provide a friction fit between the resilient arms and the transmission wheel spindle.

6. The electronic wristwatch of claim 2, wherein said generator includes a permanent magnet rotor, a stator surrounding said permanent magnet rotor and a coil disposed so as not to overlap said rotor and said wheel train meshing with said rotor.

7. The electronic wristwatch of claim 6, wherein said stator is formed as a unitary piece having a bore formed therein, said rotor being disposed within said bore.

8. The electronic wristwatch of claim 7, wherein said limiting means includes said rotor, said rotor having a first part and a second part, said first part being connected to said second part by a friction fit so that the first part slips relative to the second part when the torque to be applied to said generator exceeds a predetermined value.

9. The electronic wristwatch of claim 4, wherein one of said wheels is a transmission wheel, the transmission wheel including a transmission wheel gear and a transmission wheel spindle, the transmission wheel spindle being constructed of a magnetic material, a magnet rigidly secured to the wheel gear and the wheel gear loosely engaging with the wheel spindle whereby the wheel gear is secured to the wheel spindle by the attractive force between the magnet and the transmission wheel spindle.

10. The electronic wristwatch of claim 4, wherein said wheel train includes a transmission wheel gear and a transmission wheel spindle, said transmission wheel spindle being fixed to said transmission wheel gear by a friction fit, said limiting means including said transmission wheel whereby the transmission wheel spindle slips relative to said transmission wheel gear when the torque to be applied to said generator exceeds a predetermined value.

11. The electronic wristwatch of claim 1, further comprising circuit means for driving said electronic wristwatch when said oscillating weight moves in either of a first direction or a second direction opposite to said first direction.

12. The electronic wristwatch of claim 11, wherein said circuit means includes a diode bridge and capacitor.

13. An electronic wristwatch having an electric generator therein, the generator converting mechanical energy to electric energy for driving the electronic wristwatch comprising an oscillating weight for producing mechanical energy, a wheel train for transmitting said mechanical energy to said generator by applying a torque to said generator, the wheel train including a transmission wheel having a transmission pinion and a transmission gear wheel, the transmission pinion being affixed to said transmission gear wheel by a friction fit for preventing mechanical energy transmission through said wristwatch when the torque to be applied to said generator exceeds a predetermined value and allowing said mechanical energy transmission when said torque to be applied to said generator is less than or equal to the predetermined value.

14. The electronic wristwatch of claim 13, wherein said generator includes a rotor and a coil magnetically connected to said rotor to generate an induced voltage in response to a rotation of said rotor, said oscillating weight being pivotably supported at the center of said wristwatch and having an outer peripheral portion disposed coplanar with said coil and outside said coil relative to a center of said wristwatch.

15. The electronic wristwatch of claim 14, wherein said oscillating weight is formed with a thick wall portion, said thick wall portion being disposed at said outer peripheral portion.

16. An electronic wristwatch having an electric generator therein, the generator converting mechanical energy to electrical energy for driving the electronic wristwatch comprising an oscillating weight for producing mechanical energy;

a wheel train for transmitting mechanical energy from said oscillating weight to said generator;

said generator including a permanent magnet rotor driven by said wheel train, a substantially planar plate type stator having an opening formed therein, said rotor being positioned in said opening, a coil magnetically connected to said stator for generating an induced voltage in response to rotation of said rotor, said wheel train and said coil being disposed so as not to overlap in plan view, said oscillating weight being pivotably supported at the center of said wristwatch and having an outer peripheral portion disposed coplanar with said coil and outside of said coil relative to the center of said wristwatch.

17. The electronic wristwatch of claim 16, wherein said wheel train includes an oscillating weight wheel integrally formed with said oscillating weight and a transmission wheel, said transmission wheel meshing with said oscillating weight wheel.

18. The electronic wristwatch of claim 16 further comprising a spring portion to ground said wristwatch, said spring forming a ground at a distance from said oscillating weight.

19. An electronic wristwatch having an electric generator therein, the generator converting mechanical energy to electrical energy for driving said electronic wristwatch comprising a main plate;

an oscillating weight for producing mechanical energy pivotably mounted on one side of the main plate;

an indicating wheel train for controlling the display of said wristwatch, a step motor including a rotor, a stator and a coil for driving said indicating wheel train;

a transmission wheel train for transmitting said mechanical energy to said generator by applying a torque to said generator;

said generator including a permanent magnet rotor rotated by said transmission wheel train and a generator coil magnetically coupled to said permanent magnet rotor to generate an induced voltage in response to rotation of said rotor; and

a circuit board arranged to output a signal for driving said step motor and control the output from said generator coil, said indicating wheel train, said transmission wheel train, said coil, said generator coil and said circuit board being disposed within said wristwatch in a dispersed pattern so that these elements do not substantially overlap each other in plan view and said oscillating weight being pivotably disposed on the obverse side of said main plate.

20. The electronic wristwatch of claim 19, wherein said circuit board is flexible.

21. The electronic wristwatch of claim 20, further comprising electric elements for controlling and driving said wristwatch, wherein said electric elements are rigidly connected to the surface of said flexible circuit board which faces said main plate, said main plate being formed with recesses for receiving said electric elements.

22. The electronic wristwatch of claim 21, further comprising a circuit press plate for pressing said flexible circuit board against said main plate.

23. The electronic wristwatch of claim 22, wherein said circuit press plate is formed from a metal sheet.