For Reciprocating Or Oscillating Element Patents (Class 368/157)
  • Patent number: 11556093
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a light smart watch includes: providing an FPC soft board under a dial, a size of the FPC soft board matching a size of the dial, the FPC soft board is divided into a plurality of partitions, each partition is insulated from other partitions, and each of watch hands and each partition form a capacitor in turn when the watch hands run; detecting a capacitance change amount of each partition, determining positions of partitions where the watch hands are currently located, and determining a current time indicated by the watch hands, according to the positions of partitions where the watch hands are currently located; comparing the current time indicated by the watch hands with a current time of a mobile terminal to determine a time error; and adjusting the watch hands, according to the time error to run in sync with the time of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: GOERTEK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xun Liu
  • Patent number: 11175747
    Abstract: An optical processing apparatus and a light source luminance adjustment method adapted to detect a rotational displacement and a pressing state are provided. The optical processing apparatus includes a light source unit, a processing unit, and an image sensing unit, wherein the processing unit is electrically connected to the light source unit and the image sensing unit. The light source unit provides a beam of light. The processing unit defines a frame rate, defines a plurality of time instants within a time interval, and sets the light source unit to a luminance value at each of the time instants. A length of the time interval is shorter than the reciprocal of the frame rate. The luminance values are different and are within a range. The image sensing unit captures an image by an exposure time length at each of the time instants, wherein the exposure time lengths are the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Chung-Ting Yang, Ching-Lin Chung
  • Patent number: 11175631
    Abstract: There is provided an analog electronic timepiece including a stepping motor in which a rotor magnetized in two poles is rotationally driven in a stator connected to a driving coil, a drive circuit for applying a drive pulse to the driving coil, the drive pulse being a pulse for driving the rotor, and a control unit for controlling application of the drive pulse by the drive circuit, in which when an induced voltage induced in the driving coil by rotation of the rotor satisfies a predetermined condition related to the induced voltage, the control unit controls the drive circuit so that the drive pulse is applied to the driving coil before free vibration of the rotor is settled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Akihito Okumura
  • Patent number: 10579019
    Abstract: A watch including: a first drive mechanism including a hand having a rotational axis along a first direction, a wheel train, and a drive power source; and a second drive mechanism including a hand having a rotational axis along a second direction different from the first direction, a wheel train, and a drive power source, wherein the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism are mounted separately. Each of the first direction and the second direction is defined along a normal direction to dial at a position of a rotational axis of the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Kitajima, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Kyohei Miyajima, Yuichi Naito
  • Patent number: 10416035
    Abstract: A power management system and method including a normally-open switch, an on/off circuit, a microprocessor, and at least one sensor to monitor a condition. The on/off circuit includes an on/off control gate-controlled switch device such as a PMOS device for system power, a flip/flop switch to respectively activate and deactivate the on/off control PMOS device, and a transition detection circuit connected to the normally-open switch. A single DC power source establishes a source voltage to power the on/off circuit and the normally-open switch. The transition detection circuit generates an “on” signal when the user initially activates the normally-open switch, and supplies the “on” signal to the flip/flop switch to change it to an “on” state to activate the on/off control PMOS device. While activated, the on/off control PMOS device enables system power from the power source to be provided to at least the sensor and the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: MIJA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jorge Rubinstein, Robert M. Manning, John J. McSheffrey
  • Patent number: 10228658
    Abstract: A motorization group including power and control devices, and a motor module for watches, with a motor with a coil driving an output wheel set on an output arbor, this motor module includes main mechanical and electrical connectors to a structure or another motor module, and flat links cooperating with another motor module, each coil being electrically connected to two main connectors or to two flat links, more particularly, the flat links of the motor modules are arranged for an electrical connection, a main motor module carrying a main arbor parallel to each output arbor, electrically connected by main connectors or flat links, either to the structure, or to another motor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Pascal Lagorgette, Raphael Balmer
  • Patent number: 10203664
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a first switch connected to a signal line, a second switch, and a one-shot pulse signal generation circuit. The first switch is inserted into the signal line. One end of the second switch is connected to the signal line at a rear stage of the first switch, and the other end of the second switch is connected to a power source. The one-shot pulse signal generation circuit generates a one-shot pulse signal by using a reference clock signal, and the second switch is controlled by the one-shot pulse signal. The timepiece device can reduce currents flowing in a pull-down resistor or a pull-up resistor when a crown switch is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Kazumi Sakumoto, Kotaro Watanabe, Minoru Sano
  • Patent number: 9939785
    Abstract: An object is to provide a pointer driving motor unit which can easily control driving of a pointer of a time piece by a stepping motor, a multifunctional electronic device, and a control method of a pointer driving motor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Koyama
  • Patent number: 9904252
    Abstract: Whether a bright state or a dark state is established is determined each time a motor is driven one step, based on a presence or absence of a passing of light through a detection hole disposed in a detection wheel that rotates associated with rotations of a hand wheel coupled with the motor. A switching position X is identified at which the dark state is switched to the bright state when the dark state is determined and thereafter the bright state is determined. A position one step after the identified switching position X is set to be a reference position X+1 of the hand wheel. The reference positions X+1 and X?1 can thereby be set after a driving mechanism is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Kato, Kazuya Imamura, Shoichiro Morita, Yuji Yano
  • Patent number: 9319022
    Abstract: A resonator element includes a base section, a pair of vibrating arms projecting from the base section in a +Y-axis direction, and arranged in an X-axis direction intersecting with the Y-axis direction with a distance in a plan view, and a support arm disposed between the pair of vibrating arms and projecting from the base section in the +Y-axis direction. The base section includes a first shrunk-width portion disposed on an opposite side to the side on which the support arm projects taking the center of the base section as a boundary, and within a range of the distance, and having a length in the X-axis direction gradually decreasing with a distance from the support arm in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akinori Yamada
  • Patent number: 9190941
    Abstract: A rotation detection circuit detects an induced current flowing through a drive coil of a stepping motor in a detection section divided into a plurality of sections, and detects a rotation state of the stepping motor on the basis of a pattern indicating whether or not the induced current exceeds a predetermined reference value in each of the sections. A control unit selects a drive pulse corresponding to the rotation state detected by the rotation detection unit, and supplies a drive current to a drive coil to rotatably drive the stepping motor. The rotation detection unit carries out detection by selecting a detection direction of the induced current in the sections after the first section on the basis of whether or not the induced current exceeding each of a plurality of reference values is detected plural times in the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Saburo Manaka, Kenji Ogasawara, Kazumi Sakumoto, Keishi Honmura, Kosuke Yamamoto, Satoshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 9076136
    Abstract: A bicycle rental system and automated station that may be integrated with an automobile parking payment and management system. Users may pay for parking and/or rent and pickup bicycles at the station. The station has a meter, bicycle docks, and power plant. Transaction formalities for parking payment and rental may be handled at the meter. The bicycle docks each are adapted to secure a bicycle. The power plant uses a solar panel to collect power and stores it in energy storage device. Low-power operation may be achieved by placing some electronics in a low-power mode. Each bicycle dock may have a trigger mechanism that when activated powers on associated electronics. The bicycle docks may be divided among a number of bicycle modules. The bicycle modules provide flexibility and modularity so that the number of bicycle docks at a station may be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: 8D Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Isabelle Bettez, Jean-Sebastien Bettez
  • Publication number: 20140198626
    Abstract: A piezoelectric motor includes a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer, and a first and a second electrodes, the first electrode provided on one surface side of the piezoelectric layer, and the second electrode provided on the other surface side of the piezoelectric layer; a piezoelectric actuator having a vibrating member anchored to the first electrode of the piezoelectric element; and a rotational shaft with which the vibrating member makes contact and is rotated thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Miyazawa, Yasuharu Hashimoto, Akihito Matsumoto, Akira Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 8483017
    Abstract: The electrostatic motor includes an electrostatic actuator (10) and a pulse generator (7, 8) for actuating said actuator with sufficient energy to drive the motor, the pulse generator is adapted to determine a pulse voltage level (UD) and a shortened pulse duration that is a function of the determined voltage level (UD) and the electric energy necessary for driving the motor and a function of parasitic capacitances (CP) and the maximum capacitance (Cact—m) of the actuator in order to reduce electrostatic losses in the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogére Suisse
    Inventor: Martin Bisig
  • Patent number: 8259537
    Abstract: The time base device for a watch includes at least one electric motor coil (30), an electronic module (1) that has at least one time base oscillator circuit mounted in a case of the module, and an electric power source (8). The electric motor coil (30), the electronic module (1) with an oscillator circuit and the voltage source (8), which is preferably a battery, are connected to each other mechanically and electrically without the use of a printed circuit board to form a compact unit. The electronic module includes four connection terminals (14, 15, 16, 17) on an external surface for connecting the voltage source on one side and the wires (31, 32) of a winding of the coil (30) on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Daniel Koch
  • Patent number: 8223594
    Abstract: Disclosed is a chronograph timepiece in which it is possible to prevent the chronograph drive timing and the magnetic field detection timing from overlapping each other to unnecessarily effect driving with correction drive pulses. A processing unit controls drive circuits so as to drive a time indication motor and a chronograph indication motor with a predetermined timing based respectively on timekeeping information obtained and chronograph measurement information obtained, and effects control such that a magnetic field detecting unit detects a magnetic field with a predetermined timing; when the drive timing for the chronograph indication motor and the magnetic field detection timing for the magnetic field detecting unit overlap each other, the processing unit changes the magnetic field detection timing for the magnetic field detecting unit so that the drive timing for the chronograph indication motor and the magnetic field detection timing for the magnetic field detecting unit may not overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ihashi, Kenji Ogasawara, Kazuo Kato, Kazumi Sakumoto, Hiroshi Shimizu, Akira Takakura, Eriko Noguchi, Takanori Hasegawa, Keishi Honmura, Saburo Manaka, Kosuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8213268
    Abstract: Disclosed is a chronograph timepiece in which it is possible to prevent a non-rotation state at the time of first driving when chronograph measuring operation is reset during motor drive and restarting is effected. When a resetting operation is performed on a reset button during the driving of a motor and a rotation detection circuit detects non-rotation, a drive control unit controls a drive pulse generation circuit such that the control is completed without reversing the polarity of a motor drive pulse output from the drive pulse generation circuit, and that the motor is driven by a drive pulse of the same polarity as that at the time of the previous resetting in response to a starting operation performed on a start/stop button, driving the motor by the drive pulse of the same polarity at the time of restarting after the resetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kato, Akira Takakura, Kenji Ogasawara, Saburo Manaka, Kazumi Sakumoto, Hiroshi Shimizu, Tomohiro Ihashi, Keishi Honmura, Takanori Hasegawa, Kosuke Yamamoto, Eriko Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8139445
    Abstract: A stepping motor control circuit includes a rotation detecting means which detects an induced signal generated by rotation of a rotor of a stepping motor, and detects a rotation state of the stepping motor according to whether the induced signal exceeds a predetermined reference threshold voltage in a predetermined detection section, and a control means which controls driving of the stepping motor by using any one of a plurality of main driving pulses having energies different from each other or a correction driving pulse with energy higher than energy of each main driving pulse according to a detection result of the rotation detecting means. The detection section is divided into a first section immediately after driving by the main driving pulse, a second section after the first section and a third section after the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Keishi Honmura, Saburo Manaka, Kosuke Yamamoto, Akira Takakura, Kenji Ogasawara, Kazumi Sakumoto, Kazuo Kato, Takanori Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8064294
    Abstract: The present invention can rotationally drive a motor with main drive pulses corresponding to loads with the simple constitution without using a counter circuit. A control circuit, in driving a motor with a second main drive pulse, when a rotation detection signal which is indicative of the rotation of the motor is detected by a rotation detection circuit after a predetermined reference time elapses, continues rotational driving of the motor with the second main drive pulse, when the rotation detection signal is detected before the predetermined reference time elapses, changes the rotational driving of the motor with a first main drive pulse having a shorter pulse width than the second main drive pulse, and when the rotation detection signal is not detected, forcibly rotationally drives the motor with a correction drive pulse having a largest pulse width and, thereafter, rotationally drives the motor with the first main drive pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Saburo Manaka, Kenji Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 7977909
    Abstract: A stepping motor driving apparatus of an analog electronic clock, in which, when the rotation of a rotor is not detected after a pulse is supplied to a coil of a stepping motor, a first switching control section switches the pulse supplied to the coil to a pulse having a larger effective value, and when the rotation of the rotor is detected continuously for a predetermined period or a predetermined number of times, a second switching control section switches the pulse supplied to the coil to a pulse having a smaller effective value, wherein the apparatus further includes a third switching control section that switches a driving pulse to a pulse having a smaller effective value when the rotation of the rotor is not detected for two times continuously, even after the first switching section increases the effective value of the driving pulse for two times continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoo Kasuo, Fumiaki Ochiai, Yohei Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 7944778
    Abstract: A motor drive control circuit that operates using a primary power supply and controls driving a motor has a drive circuit that drives the motor, a power supply circuit that is disposed between the primary power supply and the drive circuit, and uses electrical energy supplied from the primary power supply to supply a drive voltage to the drive circuit, and a power supply control circuit that controls operation of the power supply circuit. The power supply control circuit monitors the drive voltage, stops the power supply circuit and stops supplying the drive voltage when the drive voltage is greater than or equal to a prescribed constant voltage, and activates the power supply circuit and supplies the drive voltage when the drive voltage is less than the prescribed constant voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Nakamiya
  • Patent number: 7929382
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer that excites longitudinal vibration has a piezoelectric element, and a reinforcing member that is laminated with and affixed to the piezoelectric element and has a first void part. The first void part includes the center part of a location where strain produced by longitudinal vibration in the piezoelectric transducer or the reinforcing member or piezoelectric element is greatest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7782718
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic watch including analogue display means formed of at least one hand (10) driven by a stepping motor (12), at least one time base (24, 26) for providing time data (h. m) to means (16) for controlling and driving said stepping motor, a main power source (20), means (22) for detecting a lack of sufficient power from said main power source, non-volatile storage means (32) powered by an additional power source (28), for containing said time data when a lack of sufficient power is detected, and characterized in that said non-volatile storage means are further provided for containing the stepping motor position data (?pas) when said lack of sufficient power is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Laurent Gallet, Martin Strahm, Xavier Tinguely
  • Patent number: 7738323
    Abstract: The invention proposes an arrangement for the mechanical interfacing of a micromotor of the MEMS type with a toothed wheel in which the micromotor is produced in the upper layer of a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material and comprises at least one actuator which drives a rotor in rotation, characterised in that a pinion, coaxial with the rotor and arranged above the rotor, is connected in rotation to the rotor by means of at least one pin which is received in an associated housing and in that the pinion meshes with the toothed wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Jean-Philippe Rebeaud, André Zanetta, Fabien Blondeau, Martin Bisig, Pierre-André Meister, Nicolas Golay
  • Patent number: 7701807
    Abstract: Impact detecting resistors (141), (143) of an impact detecting circuit (104) detect a counter electromotive force of a step motor (105) generated due to an impact. This counter electromotive force is amplified applying a predetermined period and a predetermined chopper-width by a chopper-amplifying waveform shaping circuit (118). Therefore, even a light impact can be detected. Inverters (145), (146) compare these impact detecting signals (S22), (S23) with a threshold value and detect an impact when the signals exceeds the threshold value. A controlling circuit (102) provides a lock pulse to the step motor (105) through signal lines (AA), (BB) when an impact is detected, brakes rotation of a rotor (162) thereby preventing a deviation of the time displayed with a second hand (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Kitazawa, Akiyoshi Murakami, Haruhiko Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7663978
    Abstract: In an electronic device 1 comprising a battery 200 and a piezoelectric actuator A, a power source voltage before drive control is started is maintained by a sample holding circuit 102, a reference voltage is set by a reference voltage generating circuit 103 on the basis of the power source voltage, and a control circuit 106 stops driving when the power source voltage falls below a drive stop voltage as compared by a second comparison circuit 105, and begins driving the piezoelectric actuator A again when the power source voltage exceeds the reference voltage as compared by a first comparison circuit 104. Therefore, the device can be more easily reduced in size by using a small power source, and the driving time can be markedly reduced using an intermittent driving procedure that corresponds to the conditions of the battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kawaguchi, Joji Kitahara, Makoto Okeya
  • Patent number: 7636277
    Abstract: A drive device formed by etching a wafer. The drive device includes a drive element that can sequentially mesh with a driven element and an actuating element that can displace the drive element according to a hysteresis movement thereby driving the driven element. Placement of the drive element on an outer edge of the wafer enables an interfacing of the drive element with a driven element placed opposite therefrom. A clockwork mechanism including a drive device of the aforementioned type and an input gear that can be rotationally driven by the drive device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Silmach
    Inventors: Patrice Minotti, Gilles Bourbon, Patrice Le Moal, Eric Joseph
  • Patent number: 7606116
    Abstract: The present invention can rotationally drive a motor with main drive pulses corresponding to loads with the simple constitution without using a counter circuit. A control circuit, in driving a motor with a second main drive pulse, when a rotation detection signal which is indicative of the rotation of the motor is detected by a rotation detection circuit after a predetermined reference time elapses, continues rotational driving of the motor with the second main drive pulse, when the rotation direction signal is detected before the predetermined reference time elapses, changes the rotational driving of the motor with a first main drive pulse having a shorter pulse width than the second main drive pulse, and when the rotation detection signal is not detected, forcibly rotationally drives the motor with a correction drive pulse having a largest pulse width and, thereafter, rotationally drives the motor with the first main drive pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Saburo Manaka, Kenji Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 7583564
    Abstract: To provide a piezoelectric actuator whereby impact resistance can be greatly improved without complicating the design or causing a reduction in drive efficiency. When a piezoelectric actuator 31 is incorporated into a main plate 14, an arm part 513 of a vibrator 50 is disposed across from a protrusion 144 via spaces SP1, SP2 having specific dimensions. With the presence of these spaces SP1, SP2, a free end FR moves freely within the spaces SP1, SP2 during driving, but a vibrating part 511 is captured at the free end FR by the protrusion 144 when external impact is applied, and the vibrating part 511 can therefore be prevented from moving beyond the dimensions of the spaces. Resistance against impact from falling can thereby be easily and greatly improved without reducing the drive efficiency, and the usual difficulty of reconciling both drive efficiency and impact resistance can be resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Joji Kitahara, Akihiro Sawada
  • Patent number: 7505373
    Abstract: The invention proposes a MEMS micromotor produced in a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material, in particular based on silicon, which comprises a lower layer forming a substrate, and an upper layer in which at least one actuator and a rotor is etched, the actuator driving the rotor in rotation about a shaft (64), characterized in that the shaft (64) is connected to the plate, in that the shaft (64) extends axially through a hole of the plate, and in that the shaft (64) is clamped in the hole and centered in the hole by means of elastic fixing structures which are produced by etching in the substrate and which are arranged on the circumference of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogére Suisse
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Wilfried Noell, Jean-Philippe Rebeaud, Nicolas Golay, Yves Petremand, André Zanetta, Fabien Blondeau, Pierre-André Meister
  • Publication number: 20080316871
    Abstract: A drive device formed by etching a wafer. The drive device includes a drive element that can sequentially mesh with a driven element and an actuating element that can displace the drive element according to a hysteresis movement thereby driving the driven element. Placement of the drive element on an outer edge of the wafer enables an interfacing of the drive element with a driven element placed opposite therefrom. A clockwork mechanism including a drive device of the aforementioned type and an input gear that can be rotationally driven by the drive device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Patrice Minotti, Gilles Bourbon, Patrice Le Moal, Eric Joseph
  • Patent number: 7447119
    Abstract: The invention proposes a drive module intended to engage with a clock wheel having a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material comprising a lower layer, which forms a substrate, and an upper layer, into which an MEMS type of micromotor is etched, wherein the micromotor has at least one actuator rotatably driving a rotor, characterized in that a pinion arranged coaxially to the rotor is rotatably connected to the rotor and disposed above the rotor, said pinion being provided to engage with the clock wheel in an engagement zone located close to an outer peripheral edge of the plate, that the rotor is disposed on the plate in order to minimize the distance between the outer peripheral edge of the rotor and the outer peripheral edge of the plate corresponding to the engagement zone, and that the diameter of the pinion is larger than that of the rotor so as to protrude relative to the plate into the engagement zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, André Zanetta, Pierre-André Meister, Yves Petremand, Nicolas Golay, Fabien Blondeau, Wilfried Noell
  • Publication number: 20080111449
    Abstract: The invention proposes an arrangement for the mechanical interfacing of a micromotor of the MEMS type with a toothed wheel in which the micromotor is produced in the upper layer of a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material and comprises at least one actuator which drives a rotor in rotation, characterised in that a pinion, coaxial with the rotor and arranged above the rotor, is connected in rotation to the rotor by means of at least one pin which is received in an associated housing and in that the pinion meshes with the toothed wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Jean-Philippe Rebeaud, Andre Zanetta, Fabien Blondeau, Martin Bisig, Pierre-Andre Meister, Nicolas Golay
  • Patent number: 7333400
    Abstract: The invention concerns a control system for a servomechanism comprising a control member that can move between first and second positions defining a variable electric quantity respectively between a minimum quantity and a maximum quantity, characterized in that the control system further comprises low voltage powering means, voltage increase means connected to the terminals of the low voltage powering means and delivering a high voltage at output, means for measuring a value of the variable electric quantity, powered by the low voltage powering means when the high voltage is being generated, and means for regulating the voltage increase means arranged to increase the high voltage delivered for a variation in the measured electric quantity value lower than a variation threshold determined by the servomechanism, respectively to decrease the high voltage delivered for a variation in the measured electric quantity values higher than the determined variation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Fabien Blondeau, Emmanuel Fleury, Pierre-André Meister, André Zanetta
  • Publication number: 20070268786
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic watch including analogue display means formed of at least one hand (10) driven by a stepping motor (12), at least one time base (24, 26) for providing time data (h. m) to means (16) for controlling and driving said stepping motor, a main power source (20), means (22) for detecting a lack of sufficient power from said main power source, non-volatile storage means (32) powered by an additional power source (28), for containing said time data when a lack of sufficient power is detected, and characterized in that said non-volatile storage means are further provided for containing the stepping motor position data (?pas) when said lack of sufficient power is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: MICROCOMPONENTS AG
    Inventors: Laurent Gallet, Martin Strahm, Xavier Tinguely
  • Patent number: 7283428
    Abstract: To make it possible by a simple constitution to perform a forcible rotation drive by a correction drive pulse and obtain a demagnetization effect. In a case where a control circuit has judged on the basis of a detection signal from a rotation detection circuit 106 that a motor has not rotated by a drive by a 1st normal drive pulse of a predetermined energy, after it has forcibly rotation-driven the motor by a correction drive pulse whose energy is larger than the 1st normal drive pulse, it rotation-drives the motor by a 2nd normal drive pulse whose polarity differs from the correction drive pulse and whose energy is larger than the 1st normal drive pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 6940786
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece that maintains the mounting integrity of an electronic circuit substrate and an electronic circuit component mounted on the electronic circuit substrate. In a movement 1 including a main plate 2 composed of an electric insulting material, a stepping motor 10, a wheel train 4, and a wheel train bridge for supporting the wheel train 4, an electronic circuit substrate 20, on which an electronic circuit component 22 for controlling the rotation cycle of the stepping motor 10 is mounted, is attached to an end portion of an coil magnetic core 12 of the stepping motor 10, and the relatively large electronic circuit component 22 is positioned by being superimposed on the coil magnetic core 12 in a plane. Accordingly, the electronic circuit substrate 20 formed of a synthetic resin film and the like can be reliably attached to the coil magnetic core 12, and the mounting integrity the electronic circuit component 22 can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 6914855
    Abstract: A circuit for selectively driving n motor coils associated with a plurality of stepping motors, wherein only (n+1) motor coil drivers are needed. A timepiece that utilizes such a circuit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Gerhard Stotz, Helmut Zachmann
  • Patent number: 6879068
    Abstract: Protrusions (260) for adjusting the cogging torque of a rotor (21) are formed on a stator (22) in a small-size power generator (20). Since the protrusions (260) are formed on an inner periphery of a rotor accommodation hole (230) within an angular range of ±45° around a magnetic flux direction of a first magnetic circuit (100) having a smaller magnetic reluctance at a rotation center of the rotor (21), the cogging torque can be effectively reduced. Accordingly, even when the size of components such as an oscillating weight and a power spring is reduced for making a thin timepiece, rotation startability of the rotor can be improved, thus improving power generation efficiency of the small-size power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kinya Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 6831446
    Abstract: Protrusions (260) for adjusting the cogging torque of a rotor (21) are formed on a stator (22) in a small-size power generator (20). Since the protrusions (260) are formed on an inner periphery of a rotor accommodation hole (230) within an angular range of ±45° around a magnetic flux direction of a first magnetic circuit (100) having a smaller magnetic reluctance at a rotation center of the rotor (21), the cogging torque can be effectively reduced. Accordingly, even when the size of components such as an oscillating weight and a power spring is reduced for making a thin timepiece, rotation startability of the rotor can be improved, thus improving power generation efficiency of the small-size power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kinya Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 6829199
    Abstract: An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece, which is an electronic apparatus, includes a generator driven by a mainspring to generate electrical energy, and a rotation controlling unit driven by the electrical energy to control the rotation rate of the generator. The rotation controlling unit includes a brake controlling unit that compares a rotation detection signal indicative of the rotation rate of the generator with a reference signal to control braking on the generator, and a generator halting unit that applies a brake and halts the generator if the braking amount applied to the generator in a predetermined time is smaller than, or equal to, a first predetermined braking value. Because the generator is halted if a predetermined amount of cumulative brake applications are applied within the predetermined time, the generator is not halted in response to temporary disturbances while it is assuredly halted when the rotation becomes slow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eisaku Shimizu, Kunio Koike, Hidenori Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040233793
    Abstract: In order to provide an electronic timepiece having high transfer efficiency and a compact and thin structure, there are provided a plate-like piezoelectric actuator 341, a driven body 343 driven with a vibration of the piezoelectric actuator 341, and a time-indicating mechanism 5 operating with a drive of the driven body 343 via a transfer mechanism 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Akihiro Sawada, Akihiko Maruyama, Joji Kitahara
  • Publication number: 20040233794
    Abstract: A timing device having a generator unit, a storage unit, and a drive unit is provided. The generator unit has a generating coil and converts kinetic energy into electric energy by utilizing electromagnetic induction. The storage unit stores the electric energy. The drive unit has a piezoelectric actuator, a mechanical structure, and a time display unit. The piezoelectric actuator is supplied with the electric energy from the storage unit and is caused to oscillate according to signals from the communication unit. The mechanical structure is provided with a time display unit and is driven by the piezoelectric actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Maruyama, Joji Kitahara, Akihiro Sawada
  • Publication number: 20040233792
    Abstract: A clock is described having an hour hand and a first stepper motor with a first rotor for rotating the hour hand, the first rotor being rigidly connected to the hour hand. The clock also includes a minute hand and a second stepper motor with a second rotor for rotating the minute hand, the second rotor being rigidly connected to the minute hand. A controller controls the first and second stepper motors. A second hand can also be included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Evertz Microsystems Ltd.
    Inventor: David Andrew Alleway
  • Patent number: 6714487
    Abstract: Watch movement in which the rotor of a generator (10, 11, 13) is driven by a spring over a plurality of wheels (51, 61, 71) and pinions (50, 60, 70), the operation of the generator being regulated by an electronic regulating circuit (81). Said wheels and pinions are all electrically grounded to avoid spark discharges which can be produced by the charging of voltages through frictional electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Conseils et Manufacture VLG S.A.
    Inventors: Konrad Schafroth, Eric Maerki
  • Publication number: 20040001390
    Abstract: To be able to detect the presence or absence of rotation of a rotor in early stages. When a drive pulse is supplied from a driving circuit to a stepping motor for driving a chronograph hand, a rotor rotates, producing an induction voltage in a rotor-driving coil of an hour hand-driving stepping motor. A rotation detection circuit outputs a rotation detection signal indicating that the rotor has rotated when the number of zero cross points of the induction voltage during the period when a drive pulse is being supplied is more than a given number or a given time. When the number of the zero cross points does not reach the given number or a certain time comes, the circuit outputs a non-rotation detection signal indicating non-rotation to the control circuit. The control circuit receives the non-rotation detection signal from the rotation detection circuit and controls the driving circuit to drive the motor again with a higher-energy drive pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventor: Saburo Manaka
  • Publication number: 20030198142
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece that maintains the mounting integrity of an electronic circuit substrate and an electronic circuit component mounted on the electronic circuit substrate. In a movement 1 including a main plate 2 composed of an electric insulting material, a stepping motor 10, a wheel train 4, and a wheel train bridge for supporting the wheel train 4, an electronic circuit substrate 20, on which an electronic circuit component 22 for controlling the rotation cycle of the stepping motor 10 is mounted, is attached to an end portion of an coil magnetic core 12 of the stepping motor 10, and the relatively large electronic circuit component 22 is positioned by being superimposed on the coil magnetic core 12 in a plane. Accordingly, the electronic circuit substrate 20 formed of a synthetic resin film and the like can be reliably attached to the coil magnetic core 12, and the mounting integrity the electronic circuit component 22 can be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Toshiaki Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 6515941
    Abstract: An electronic watch which can be small-sized even with an additional mechanism such as a calendar mechanism. In the electronic watch, a rectangular piezoelectric oscillator 32 acting as a piezoelectric actuator is forced at its end face to contact with a beam portion 35, which is mounted on a date ring 31 acting as a second indication member, thereby to drive the date ring 31 directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Akihiro Iino
  • Patent number: RE38197
    Abstract: A multifunction electronic analog timepiece includes a face and a plurality of indicators positioned on the face for displaying at least two time keeping functions. At least two step motors are provided for driving the plurality of time keeping function indicators. The time keeping function indicators are arbitrarily disposed about the face dependent upon the number of step motors and position of step motors required to drive the indicators. A microcomputer is provided and includes a program memory for storing software instructions for controlling the step motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Sakamoto, Akihiko Maruyama, Tatsuo Moriya, Hiroshi Yabe, Takashi Kawaguchi, Masato Yoshino
  • Patent number: RE40370
    Abstract: An electronic watch 400 which comprises a power supply 401 and a watch circuit 402.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Citizens Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Sato, Fumio Kanno