Electronically controlled mechanical watch and method of preventing overcharge
First Claim
1. An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece including a mechanical energy source, a generator, driven by said mechanical energy source, for outputting electrical energy by generating induction power, a storage device for storing the electrical energy output from said generator, and a rotation control device, driven by electrical energy supplied from said storage device, for controlling a rotation period of said generator, said electronically controlled mechanical timepiece further comprising:
- a bypass circuit connected in parallel with said storage device and not in parallel with said generator;
said bypass circuit comprising a bypass circuit switch;
a voltage detection circuit for controlling said bypass circuit switch on and off according to a voltage of said storage device; and
wherein said generator includes two terminals and said rotation control device comprises a circuit opening/closing device for disconnecting said terminals of said generator or for connecting said terminals in a closed loop state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
With respect to a generator (20), a storage device (22) for storing electrical energy output from the generator and a bypass circuit (31) are connected in parallel with each other. A bypass circuit switch (33) of this bypass circuit (31) is controlled on and off according to the voltage of the storage device (22). This makes it possible to reduce the input current into the storage device so as to implement a reduction in the voltage of the storage device, thereby preventing overcharging. Moreover, since a generated waveform corresponding to the rotation period of the generator can be obtained, the rotation period of the generator can be controlled highly precisely and reliably based on this generated waveform, thereby implementing the indication of the correct time.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece including a mechanical energy source, a generator, driven by said mechanical energy source, for outputting electrical energy by generating induction power, a storage device for storing the electrical energy output from said generator, and a rotation control device, driven by electrical energy supplied from said storage device, for controlling a rotation period of said generator, said electronically controlled mechanical timepiece further comprising:
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a bypass circuit connected in parallel with said storage device and not in parallel with said generator;
said bypass circuit comprising a bypass circuit switch;
a voltage detection circuit for controlling said bypass circuit switch on and off according to a voltage of said storage device; and
wherein said generator includes two terminals and said rotation control device comprises a circuit opening/closing device for disconnecting said terminals of said generator or for connecting said terminals in a closed loop state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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- 5. An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece set forth in claim/, wherein a first end of said storage device is connected to a first end of said rectifier circuit connected to said generator, and a second end of said storage device is connected to a second end of said rectifier circuit, and said rectifier circuit and said circuit opening/closing device are connected between said generator and said bypass circuit, and between said generator and said storage device.
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17. An overcharge-prevention method for an electronically controlled mechanical timepiece which includes a mechanical energy source, a generator, driven by said mechanical energy source, for outputting electrical energy by generating induction power, a storage device for storing the electrical energy output from said generator, and a rotation control device, driven by electrical energy supplied from said storage device, for controlling a rotation period of said generator, said overcharge-prevention method comprising:
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connecting a bypass circuit in parallel with said storage device and not in parallel with said generator;
electrically connecting said bypass circuit only when a detected voltage of said storage device exceeds a set value so as to decrease an input current into said storage device; and
controlling a rotation period of said generator by disconnecting two terminals of said generator or connecting said terminals in a closed loop state. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification