An electric clock with a quartz oscillator, a frequency divider connected following the latter and an output stage driven by the latter, in the output of the output stage there being disposed a single phase stepping motor which acts on a clockwork gear train driving the hour indicator and the minute indicator, as well as a storage battery supplying the operating voltage and a charging circuit for the battery. The single phase stepping motor and the clockwork gear train form a self-contained construction assembly. The quartz oscillator, the frequency divider, the output stage and the charging circuit are arranged on a single printed circuit board. The printed circuit board and the construction assembly are connected with one another via two electrically conducting pins secured on the excitation coil. The printed circuit board and the construction assembly are secured in common on a carrier plate, the latter having an opening for the hour tube and the minute tube, respectively.
An improved battery powered quartz timing control circuit that drives a stepper motor, featuring a battery heated by a temperature-responsive battery heater which is activated when the ambient temperature in the vicinity of the battery drops below a predetermined temperature.
An improved reduction gear assembly with friction drive/slip coupling for a timepiece movement, comprising a metal pinion member having a toothed pinion and a coaxial stem extending from an abutment surface on said pinion, including (1) a cylindrical portion, (2) a frustum portion tapering from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter (3) a terminating tapered end portion; and a plastic wheel member having a toothed wheel and first and second coaxial journals extending from opposite sides of the. A central passage in the journals has a constricted section therein with a diameter slightly less than that of said larger diameter of said frustum portion on said metal pinion member with the frustum disposed in said constricted passage with a snap fit, whereby a friction drive/slip coupling is provided between the metal frustum portion of the metal pinion member and the constricted passage of the plastic wheel member.
A motor module for an analog display watch comprises a single mounting plate which is preferably formed by the stator 2 of the motor. The rotor 32 is mounted in the plate 2 by way of members 26 and 30 which form bearings for the rotor 32. The spindles 18, 22 and 24 for the hands are also mounted on the stator 2. Finally, the spindle 44 for gears 46, 47 and 48 between the rotor and the spindles for the hands passes through the stator 2.
An electrically driven signal unit is adapted for one-step assembly or injection molding with a device housing to vibrate, flex, beep or emit audio signals, or to sense and provide tactile feedback or control. The signal unit is a package with one or more active areas each containing a layer of ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, connected by inactive areas which may position, align and conduct electricity to the active areas. The active areas may be coupled over a region to transmit compressional, shear or flxural wave energy into the housing, or may contact at discrete regions while bending or displacing elsewhere to create inertial disturbances or impulses which are coupled to create a tactile vibration of the housing. The unit may be assembled such that the housing, the sheet or discrete areas thereof form a bender to provide tactile or sub-auditory signals to the user, or may be dimensioned, attached and actuated to produce audio vibration in the combined structure and constitute a speaker. In other embodiments one or more active regions of piezo material are attached to thin or movable wall regions of the unit to sense strain and, in conjunction with a conditioning circuit, produce electrical switching or control signals for the device. The invention also includes electroactive sheet structures having a polymer block, bracket or functional body formed therearound, which serves as a mounting, coupling or functional operating structure for the driven device.
An electrically driven signal unit is adapted for one-step assembly or injection molding with a device housing to vibrate, flex, beep or emit audio signals, or to sense and provide tactile feedback or control. The signal unit is a package with one or more active areas each containing a layer of ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, connected by inactive areas which may position, align and conduct electricity to the active areas. The active areas may be coupled over a region to transmit compressional, shear or flexural wave energy into the housing, or may contact at discrete regions while bending or displacing elsewhere to create inertial disturbances or impulses which are coupled to create a tactile vibration of the housing. The unit may be assembled such that the housing, the sheet or discrete areas thereof form a bender to provide tactile or sub-auditory signals to the user, or may be dimensioned, attached and actuated to produce audio vibration in the combined structure and constitute a speaker. In other embodiments one or more active regions of piezo material are attached to thin or movable wall regions of the unit to sense strain and, in conjunction with a conditioning circuit, produce electrical switching or control signals for the device. Other embodiments include devices having a tight tolerance between a housing wall and a signal module, and devices having one or more through-holes located on the housing wall. The invention also includes electroactive sheet structures having a polymer block, bracket or functional body formed therearound, which serves as a mounting, coupling or functional operating structure for the driven device.
