Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Special application – Change of inclination or of rate of motion responsive
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-04
2003-04-15
Scott, J. R. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Special application
Change of inclination or of rate of motion responsive
C200S188000, C200S220000, C200S224000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06548771
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an attitude detection device capable of detecting with high precision an attitude of a machine or equipment in which it is used.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Conventional Attitude Detection Device
A conventional attitude detection device disclosed in JP-A-6-307805, for example, has a hollow outer spherical body and an inner spherical body rigidly secured in a hollow portion of the outer spherical body with a predetermined layer space therebetween, wherein a fluid conductor is arranged between a first conductive area including an electrode formed over the entire inner side of the outer spherical body and a second conductive area including a plurality of electrodes formed in a dotted pattern on the outer side of the inner spherical body. In this conventional attitude detection device, the fluid conductor can move in the layer space between the first conductive area and the second conductive area to bring one of the electrodes in the second conductive area into electrical contact with the electrode of the first conductive area to detect the attitude of the equipment.
Mainspring Torque and Deflection Angle of Balance in Conventional Mechanical Watch
Generally, conventional mechanical watches do not have an attitude detection device. In such a conventional typical mechanical watch, as shown in
FIG. 30
, the mainspring torque decreases as the spring unwinds from a completely wound state (fully wound state) with the elapse of the operating time. In the case of
FIG. 30
, for example, the mainspring torque is about 27 g.cm in a fully wound state. The mainspring torque decreases to about 23 g.cm 20 hours after the mainspring is fully wound, and further to about 18 g.cm 40 hours from the fully wound state.
Generally, in a conventional typical mechanical watch, as shown in
FIG. 31
, as the mainspring torque decreases, the deflection angle of the balance also decreases. For example, in the case of
FIG. 31
, when the mainspring torque is 25 g.cm,-28 g.cm, the deflection angle of the balance is about 240-270 degrees; and when the mainspring torque is 20 g.cm-25 g.cm, the deflection angle of the balance is about 180-240 degrees.
Instantaneous Watch Error of Conventional Mechanical Watch
FIG. 32
shows a tradition of an instantaneous watch error (value representing the accuracy of a watch) as related to the deflection angle of the balance in a conventional typical mechanical watch. Here, the “instantaneous watch error” refers to a “value representing an amount gained or lost by a mechanical watch per day by assuming that the mechanical watch has been left to stand for one day while maintaining the state and environment, such as the deflection angle of the balance, as they were when the watch error was measured.” In the case shown in
FIG. 32
, when the deflection angle of the balance is 240 degrees or more, or 200 degrees or less, the instantaneous watch error loses.
For example, in the conventional typical mechanical watch, when the deflection angle of the balance is about 200-240 degrees, the instantaneous watch error is about 0-5 seconds/day (it gains about 0-5 seconds a day). When the deflection angle of the balance is approximately 170 degrees, the instantaneous watch error is approximately −20 seconds/day (it loses about 20 seconds a day).
FIG. 27
shows a transition over time of the instantaneous watch error in a conventional typical mechanical watch as the spring unwinds from the fully wound state. In the conventional mechanical watch, the “watch error” indicating the amount gained or lost by the watch per day is obtained by integrating over 24 hours the instantaneous watch error indicated by a thick line in
FIG. 27
which is related to the time it takes for the spring to unwind from the fully wound state.
Generally, in the conventional mechanical watch, as the spring unwinds from the fully wound state with the elapse of the operating time, the mainspring torque decreases and the deflection angle of the balance also decreases, which in turn causes the instantaneous watch error to lose. Hence, in the prior art mechanical watch, it is a conventional practice that, to allow for the slowdown that will occur 24 hours of the operating time later, the instantaneous watch error when the spring is fully wound is advanced beforehand such that the “watch error” indicating the amount gained or lost by the watch in one day will be positive.
For example, in the conventional typical mechanical watch, as shown by a thick line in
FIG. 27
, the instantaneous watch error is about 5 seconds/day (the watch gains about 5 seconds a day) in a fully wound state. But the instantaneous watch error decreases to about −1 second/day (the watch loses about 1 second a day) 20 hours after the mainspring is fully wound, and further to −5 seconds/day (it loses about 5 seconds a day) 24 hours from the fully wound state. When 30 hours pass from the fully wound state, the instantaneous watch error becomes approximately −15 seconds/day (the watch loses about 15 seconds a day).
Attitude and Instantaneous Watch Error of Conventional Mechanical Watch
Further, in a conventional typical mechanical watch, the instantaneous watch error when the watch is in a “horizontal attitude” and in a “inverted horizontal attitude” is faster than the instantaneous watch error when it is in a “vertical attitude.”
For example, when a conventional typical mechanical watch is in a “horizontal attitude” and in an “inverted horizontal attitude”, although the instantaneous watch error in the fully wound state is about 8 seconds/day (the watch gains about 8 seconds a day), as indicated by a thick line in
FIG. 33
, the instantaneous watch error decreases to about 3 seconds/day (it gains about 3 seconds a day) 20 hours from the fully wound state, to about −2 seconds/day (it loses about 2 seconds a day) 24 hours from the fully wound state, and to about −12 seconds/day (it loses about 12 seconds a day) 30 hours from the fully wound state.
In the “vertical attitude”, on the other hand, the conventional typical mechanical watch has the instantaneous watch error of about 3 seconds/day (the watch gains about 3 seconds a day) in a fully wound state, as indicated by a thin line in FIG.
33
. The instantaneous watch error, however, decreases to about −2 seconds/day (the watch gains about 2 seconds a day) 20 hours after the mainspring is fully wound, to about −7 seconds/day (it loses about 7 seconds a day) 24 hours from the fully wound state, and further to about −17 seconds/day (it loses about 17 seconds a day) 30 hours from the fully wound state.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an attitude detection device capable of detecting with high precision an attitude of a machine or equipment in which it is used.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a small attitude detection device with high precision that can be used in small precision devices such as mechanical watches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is characterized by the attitude detection device which comprises: a case having a hexahedral shape; electrodes arranged one on each inner surface of the case; and a conductive fluid accommodated in the case; wherein the electrodes are insulated from one another.
In the attitude detection device of the invention, it is preferred that the conductive fluid be arranged to assume a state in which it contacts five of the electrodes, a state in which it contacts four of the electrodes, and a state in which it contacts three of the electrodes.
In the attitude detection device of the invention, it is preferred that the electrodes be almost square in shape and their shapes be almost identical.
In another embodiment, the present invention is characterized by an attitude detection device which comprises: a case having a hexahedral shape; electrodes arranged two or more on each inner surface of the case; and a conductive fluid accommodated in the case; wherein the electrodes are insulated
Adams & Wilks
Scott J. R.
Seiko Instruments Inc.
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