Horology: time measuring systems or devices – With calendar indicator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-03
2001-07-24
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
With calendar indicator
C368S157000, C368S255000, C310S323010, C310S323030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266296
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an actuator of a type using a vibrating plate, and to a timepiece and a notification device using the actuator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a structure for amplifying vibrations of the vibrating plate so as to output them as vibrations in an in-plane direction.
2. Background Art
In a calendar display mechanism for displaying a date, a day, and so forth in a wristwatch or the like, it is common for the rotational driving force from a step motor to be intermittently transmitted to a date indicator or the like through a watch-hand-driving train wheel so as to intermittently advance the date indicator or the like.
In addition, a sound producer is mounted in a so-called portable electronic device, such as a pager and a mobile phone, and receipt of a message is notified to a user by producing an audible sound from the sound producer. Since it is not adequate for the device of this type to produce the audible sound in some circumstances, a vibration generator (vibrator) is mounted therein, and the receipt of a message is notified to the user by sensible vibrations generated from the vibration generator.
However, in order to achieve a reduction in the thickness of a wristwatch, it is necessary to achieve a reduction in the thickness of a mechanism for calendar advancement; however, a conventional mechanism cannot achieve such a reduction in thickness. In addition, in recent years, actuators using piezoelectric elements have been used for camera shutters, ink-jet heads of printers, etc. Since these conventional actuators amplify and output bending vibrations of the piezoelectric elements in an out-of-plane direction as vibrations in the out-of-plane direction, it is necessary to arrange various types of components in the out-of-plane direction of the piezoelectric elements. Accordingly, it is difficult to achieve a further reduction in thickness in the conventional actuators.
In addition, in order to standardize mechanical systems of a timepiece with a calendar display mechanism and a timepiece without such a display mechanism, it is necessary to construct the calendar display mechanism on the side of a dial; however, it is impossible for an electromagnetic step motor to achieve a reduction in thickness to such an extent that the calendar mechanism can be constructed on the side of the dial.
Further, in order to automatically perform the date correction associated with a month with 30 days or fewer, a 31-day month, and a leap year, changeover of a mechanism section is required. However, since it is difficult for a thin timepiece main body to contain such a changing mechanism, there has been an inconvenience in that the date correction must be performed manually.
In addition, since the conventional sound producer and vibration generator mounted in the portable electronic device, such as a pager and a mobile phone, include a vibrating member and an exciting means, respectively, they occupy a large space in the portable electronic apparatus, and constitute a considerable portion of the weight. Accordingly, mounting both the sound producer and the vibration generator in the device of this type causes a problem of preventing a further reduction in size and weight of the portable electronic device.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an actuator of a new type which amplifies and outputs vibrations of a vibrating plate as vibrations in an in-plane direction, and to provide a timepiece and a notification device using the same.
In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide an actuator which exhibits different functions with a single vibration source, thereby enabling a reduction in size and weight of a device having the actuator mounted therein, and to provide a timepiece and a notification device using the same.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
To solve the above-mentioned problems, an actuator according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a vibrating plate at least one end portion thereof being displaced by vibrations in an in-plane direction as a movable end for transmitting displacement; an exciting means for allowing the vibrating plate to cause vibrations; and a vibration output system connected to the movable end so as to amplify and output displacement of connection between the vibration output system and the movable end in an in-plane direction as vibration in the in-plane direction.
In the present invention, when the exciting means actuates the vibrating plate, at least one end portion of the vibrating plate is displaced by vibrations thereof as a movable end for transmitting displacement. Here, the vibration output system is connected to the movable end for transmitting displacement, and the vibration output system amplifies and outputs the displacement of the movable end in the in-plane direction as vibration in the in-plane direction. Accordingly, the actuator of the present invention is of a new type which takes out vibrations of the vibrating plate as vibrations in the in-plane direction, can be constructed using few components, and can be formed in a narrow space across the thickness where the vibrating plate vibrates.
In the present invention, the displacement of the connection between the vibration output system and the movable end in the in-plane direction is vibration displacement in the in-plane direction associated with flexural vibrations of the vibrating plate in an out-of-plane direction. In addition, the displacement of the connection between the vibration output system and the movable end in the in-plane direction may be vibration displacement in the in-plane direction associated with longitudinal vibrations of the vibrating plate.
In the present invention, the vibrating plate may include the movable end connected to the vibration output system only at one end portion thereof, and the other end portion may be a stationary end.
In addition, in the present invention, the vibrating plate may include the movable end at both end portions thereof, and the vibration output system may be connected to movable ends of both end portions, respectively, as a first vibration output system and a second vibration output system. In addition, in the present invention, the vibrating plate may include the movable end connected to the vibration output system only at one end portion thereof, and the other end portion may be a free end. When the other end portion is a free end, a weight may be preferably attached thereto so as to prevent the vibrating plate from being vibrated accidentally by disturbance. In addition, if the weight is attached to the other end portion, there are advantages that the resonance frequency can be set to a low level, and the frequency can be adjusted by cutting the weight. Further, the vibrating plate may have a length longer than a width. This structure has advantages that the longitudinal vibrations (in the in-plane direction) are preferentially generated on the vibrating plate, and difficult-to-control generation of flexural vibrations can be prevented.
In the present invention, as the exciting means, a means including a piezoelectric element formed on at least one surface of the vibrating plate, and a driving circuit for the piezoelectric element may be used. Here, any type of unimorph, bimorph or stacked piezoelectric element may be used as the piezoelectric element. In addition, if the piezoelectric element is formed on the vibrating plate, the strength thereof can be maintained even if the piezoelectric element is thinned, and the capacity can be easily increased, so that electrical energy can easily enter into the actuator. In addition, since the piezoelectric element is merely stacked on the vibrating plate, this is suitable for reduction in thickness of the actuator.
Further, when the piezoelectric element is formed on at least one surface of the vibrating plate, a disturbance-monitoring means may be formed for detecting vibrations of the vibration output system caused by di
Miska Vit
Seiko Epson Corporation
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