Radio controllable clock

• US 6,965,543 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2000
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kienzle Time HK Limited
• Original Assignee: Kienzle Time HK Limited
• Inventors: Chan, Wan Sang, Shum, Wai Ki
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/695,571
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 368/47, 368/84, 368/228, 368/238, 368/242, 368/76, 368/52, 368/51, 368/239, 368/112, 368/80, 368/89, 368/73, 368/204, 368/223
• US Class Current: 368/47
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/146 incorporating two or more stepping motors or rotors
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/00 Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal

Abstract

A radio controllable clock includes an analog display having a plurality of clock hands each fastened to a uniquely associated one of a plurality of clock hand shafts that each rotate about a common axis. The clock also includes a plurality of rotary gears each uniquely associated with one of the clock hand shafts, for rotating the clock hand shafts. Each rotary gear has a face perpendicular to the common axis, wherein each of the rotary gears includes a protrusion extending substantially perpendicular from the face. A microcontroller provides a plurality of drive command signals and the rotary gears are driven responsive to the drive command signals. A reset claw is operably positioned to engage at least one of the protrusions to stop the rotation of the clock hand shaft associated with the protrusion in order to position the clock hand associated with the protrusion at a datum position.

Claims

1. A radio controllable clock, comprising:

an analog display having a plurality of clock hands each fastened to a uniquely associated one of a plurality of clock hand shafts that each rotate about a common axis;

a plurality of rotary gears each uniquely associated with one of said clock hand shafts, for rotating said clock hand shafts, each rotary gear having a face perpendicular to the common axis, wherein each of said rotary gears includes a protrusion extending substantially perpendicular from said face;

a microcontroller that provides a plurality of drive command signals;

means responsive to said drive command signals, for driving said rotary gears; and

a reset claw operably positioned to engage at least one of said protrusions to stop the rotation of said clock hand shaft associated with said protrusion to position said clock hand associated with said protrusion at a datum position.

2. The radio controllable clock of claim 1, wherein said means for driving said rotary gears comprises a stepper motor.

3. The radio controllable clock of claim 2, comprising an alarm hand shaft, an alarm hand stepper motor and an alarm hand rotary wheel, wherein said alarm hand stepper motor drives said alarm hand rotary wheel to rotate said alarm hand shaft.

4. The radio controllable clock of claim 1 wherein said reset claw comprises a plurality of arms, wherein each of said arms engages an associated one of said protrusions to stop the rotation of said rotary gear associated therewith to position said clock hands at said datum position.

5. The radio controllable clock of claim 4, wherein said plurality of clock hands comprises a second hand, a minute hand and an hour hand and said plurality of arms comprises:

a first arm that engages a first protrusion on a first of said plurality of rotary gears that is associated with said second hand;

a second arm that engages a second protrusion on a second of said plurality of rotary gears that is associated with said minute hand; and

a third arm that engages a third protrusion on a third of said plurality of rotary gears that is associated with said hour hand.

6. The radio controllable clock of claim 5, wherein said microcontroller generates pulses to rotate said minute hand at least one and a quarter rotation, wherein said minute hand is driven by said stepper motor through a plurality of cooperating rotary gears comprising (i) said second of said plurality of rotary gears, (ii) a minute hand centre wheel-idler, (iii) a minute hand intermediate wheel, (iv) a minute hand transmission wheel, and (v) a rotor.

7. The radio controllable clock of claim 4, wherein each of said arms is movable.

8. The radio controllable clock of claim 7, wherein each of said arms pivots about a common axis.

9. The radio controllable clock of claim 4, wherein each of said arms is configured and arranged to be positioned in a first position and a second position, wherein while in said first position said arm is in the path of rotation of said protrusion, and in said second position said arm is outside the path of rotation of said protrusion.

10. The radio controllable clock of claim 5, wherein said microcontroller generates pulses to rotate said second hand at least one and a quarter rotation, wherein said second hand is driven through a plurality of cooperating rotary gears comprising (i) said first of said plurality of rotary gears, (ii) a second hand centre wheel-idler, (iii) a second hand intermediate wheel, (iv) a second hand transmission wheel, and (v) a rotor.

11. The radio controllable clock of claim 5, wherein said microcontroller generates pulses to rotate said hour hand at least one and a quarter rotation, wherein said hour hand is driven through a plurality of cooperating rotary gears comprising (i) said third of said plurality of rotary gears, (ii) an hour hand centre wheel-idler, (iii) an hour hand intermediate wheel, (iv) an hour hand transmission wheel, and (v) a rotor.

12. The radio controllable clock of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller generates pulses sufficient to drive each of said plurality of clock hand shafts to rotate said each of said plurality of clock hands associated therewith at least one complete revolution.

13. The radio controllable clock of claim 1, comprising a flat panel display for displaying time and date information.

14. The radio controllable clock of claim 1, comprising a reset knob for manually commanding said microcontroller to issue said plurality of drive command signals.

15. A radio controllable clock, comprising:

a plurality of clock hands each fastened to a uniquely associated one of a plurality of clock hand shafts;

a plurality of rotary gears each uniquely associated with one of said clock hand shafts, for rotating said clock hand shafts, each rotary gear having a face, wherein each of said rotary gears includes a protrusion extending substantially perpendicular to said face;

a controller that provides a plurality of drive command signals;

motors responsive to said drive command signals, for driving said rotary gears to rotate a selected one of said clock hands; and

means, operably positionable to engage said protrusion at a selected rotary position of said rotary gear, for stopping clockwise or counter clockwise rotation of said associated rotary gear to position said associated clock hand at a datum position.

16. The radio controllable clock of claim 15, wherein said motors comprise a stepper motor.

17. The radio controllable clock of claim 15, wherein said motors comprise torque motors.

18. The radio controllable clock of claim 15, wherein said means for stopping comprises a reset claw including a plurality of arms, wherein each of said arms engages a uniquely associated one of said protrusions to stop the rotation of said associated rotary gear and thus position said associated clock hand at the datum position wherein each of said arms is configured and arranged to be positioned in a first position and a second position, wherein while in said first position said arm is in the path of rotation of said protrusion, and in said second position said arm is outside the path of rotation of said protrusion.

19. A radio controllable clock, comprising:

a plurality of clock hands each fastened to a uniquely associated one of a plurality of clock hand shafts;

a plurality of rotary gears each uniquely associated with one of said clock hand shafts, for rotating said clock hand shafts, each rotary gear having a face, wherein each of said rotary gears includes a protrusion extending substantially perpendicular to said face;

a controller that provides a plurality of drive command signals;

a least one motor responsive to said drive command signals, for driving said rotary gears to rotate a selected one of said clock hands; and

a pivotal arm, operably positionable to engage said protrusion at a selected rotary position of said rotary gear, for stopping clockwise or counter clockwise rotation of said associated rotary gear to position said associated clock hand at a datum position.