Radio-controlled clockwork

Details Radio-controlled clockwork Radio-controlled clockwork

1995-04-26

1997-09-23

Roskoski, Bernard

Horology: time measuring systems or devices

Plural timepiece system or system device

With wireless synchronization

368 80, 368228, G04C 1102

Patent

active

056711921

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a radio-controlled clockwork with at least two pointers, a procedure for setting and using such a clockwork.
In most countries the time is standardized by radio signals, transmitted from a central radio station. In the Federal Republic of Germany the standard time is supplied from an atomic clock of "Physikalisch-technische Bundesanstalt" (federal institution for Physics and Technology), controlling the transmission of time signals via a long-wave transmitter.
Prior art are so-called radio-controlled clocks, which can also be used privately, processing the signals of this long-wave transmitter and therefore always giving the exact time. In general these clocks work with a digital display using light emitting diodes or liquid crystals. For example, such a clock has become prior art by DE 28 02 040 A1.
For some time radio-controlled clocks have become prior art, working in an analog way, i.e. a clockface with two or three pointers is used for display.
In case of such clocks the setting of the time requires a particularly constructive solution, i.e. for the first operation of the clock, e.g. after a battery change, and when setting the clock in case major time differences have to be bridged, as is the case when changing from summer time to winter time and vice versa.
Radio-controlled clocks are controlled by a control device, receiving the time signals from a radio receiving station. In order to move the pointers into the correct position on the basis of the signals received, this control device has to receive an information stating in which position the pointers are at the moment. Therefore arrangements for recognizing the pointer position have to be provided.
In general the pointer position recognition is performed in such a way that in the driving wheels, attributed to the individual pointers, a special position is defined, e.g. by a bore, acting together with an adequate sensor arrangement, e.g. a light barrier. Normally the bores are provided such that the pointers are exactly in the 12 o'clock position when the light of the light barrier meets the bore.
As soon as the clock shall be set anew, these driving wheels will be moved until they reach this defined position and subsequently they will be moved to a pointer position corresponding to the instantaneous time.
From the book "Radio-controlled clocks" by Wolfgang Hilberg (publisher), published in 1983 in Munich and Vienna, pages 104-109, a radio-controlled clock according to the generic term of claim 1 is prior art. In this radio-controlled clock a reflection light barrier is used to determine the pointer position. The procedure described for setting the clockwork provides for a setting procedure started with an electric switching arrangement, moving the pointers until their position has been determined by the reflection light barrier and then the pointers will be moved out of this position at a speed higher than during normal clockwork operation, the number of current impulses being counted, which will be supplied to a driving arrangement for moving the pointers. The setting procedure will be stopped as soon as the number of transmitted impulses corresponds to the number of impulses required for reaching the instantaneous time. This instantaneous time will be determined by evaluating the time signals received by a radio receiver. The clock includes a step motor for the hour pointer and a step motor for the minute pointer.
The setting procedure is relatively unproblematic, if the clock comprises two or three motors as in the embodiment described. However, such clockworks have an expensive design and require much space. In addition they consume a lot of energy. Therefore the use of smaller clocks, e.g. wrist watches, is normally excluded.
In case of clockworks comprising only one motor, the arrangements for recognizing the pointer positions are very expensive with regard to manufacture and space requirements as compared to the remaining design. Another disadvantage in case of clockworks with only one motor is the long set

REFERENCES:
patent: 5077706 (1991-12-01), Ganter
patent: 5231612 (1993-07-01), Allgaier et al.
patent: 5363348 (1994-11-01), Damle

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Radio-controlled clockwork does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Radio-controlled clockwork, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Radio-controlled clockwork will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1940951