clock

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece (100), in particular a wristwatch, comprising a clockwork (1) with a balance wheel (11), an arrangement (2) for generating a reference clocking, a sensor device (3) for determining the clocking of the clockwork (1), an electronic device (4) and a correction device (5). The electronic device (4) is configured to compare the clocking determined for the clockwork (1) with the reference clocking. The correction device (5) is configured to modify the frequency of the balance wheel (11) depending on the comparison between the clocking of the clockwork (1) and the reference clocking.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a (mechanical) clock with clockwork for displaying the time. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, mechanical timepieces with manual or automatic winding are well known in the art. These timepieces are generally controlled by the oscillation of a balance wheel that is part of the clockwork. However, the clockwork consists of moving parts whose movement is not very precise, so the time display cannot always be performed accurately. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, that is as precise as possible. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The solution to this problem is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims contain advantageous developments and embodiments of the invention.

[0005] A timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, comprises a clockwork, an arrangement, a sensor device, an electronic device and a correction device. The clockwork comprises a balance wheel. The arrangement is configured to generate a reference clocking and the sensor device is configured to determine the clocking of the clockwork. The electronic device is configured to compare the determined clocking of the clockwork with the reference clocking. The correction device is configured to change the frequency of the balance wheel in response to the comparison of the (determined) clockwork clocking with the reference clocking.

[0006] The present invention proposes a mechanical timepiece that transmits the precision of a reference clock generating arrangement. In particular, it enables a mechanical timepiece with a balance wheel and escapement, in which the balance wheel clocks the escapement of the clockwork but retains the precision of the reference clock generating arrangement. In other words, the present invention allows clockworks whose clocking is controlled based on a reference clocking. In this way, errors inherent in mechanical timepieces, resulting from influences such as the movement or position (horizontal or vertical) of the timepiece, can be corrected. In particular, the present invention makes it possible to produce mechanical timepieces that are significantly more precise than watches with mechanical oscillators that are braked or accelerated with each movement of the wearer's wrist. The degree of tension of the clockwork's drive spring influences the escapement and, therefore, the clocking of the tandem balance wheel / escapement, and its position influences the oscillation behavior of the balance wheel. The process of changing the balance wheel's oscillation frequency can be preferably performed at predetermined time intervals so that the timepiece remains energy-efficient despite the increased precision. The proposed timepiece also has the advantage of a simple construction, since it does not require complex reconfigurations of the clockwork.

[0007] From the results of the above comparison of the clockwork determined with the reference clock, it is advantageously determined whether the clockwork of the clock has a deviation from the standard clock. It should now be understood that the correction device is preferably configured to change the frequency of the balance wheel only when such a deviation is determined.

[0008] It is advantageous if the reference clock generating arrangement has a higher accuracy than the balance wheel, which means in particular that, especially when both the balance wheel and the reference clock generating arrangement are incorporated into a timepiece, the potential deviation of the clocking of the balance wheel from the standard clocking is greater under the same operating conditions, especially temperature conditions, than the potential deviation of the reference clocking of the reference clock generating arrangement from the nominal reference clock.

[0009] Particularly preferably, the configuration may have a constant reference clocking. A substantially constant reference clocking may also be understood as a constant reference clocking. Preferably, within the scope of the present invention, a substantially constant reference clocking is preferably 3.7×10 -5 The reference clock has a deviation (i.e., actual value of the reference clock) from the nominal reference clock (i.e., nominal value of the reference clock) of a maximum of %.

[0010] Preferably, the sensor device is configured to determine the clocking of the balance wheel or another moving part of the clockwork. In other words, this means that the sensor device for determining the clocking of the clockwork is preferably configured to determine the clocking of the balance wheel or another moving part of the clockwork. Determining the clocking of the clockwork through determining the clocking of the balance wheel has the advantage of a simpler form of clock, since determining the corresponding correction value for changing the frequency of the balance wheel does not require as many calculations as determining the clockwork clocking through determining other moving parts of the clockwork, and the corresponding correction value for changing the frequency of the balance wheel is based on the clocking determined for another moving part. On the other hand, determining the clockwork clocking through determining other moving parts has the advantage of a more flexible design of the clock, since the clockwork clocking does not have to be determined through determining the clocking of the balance wheel.

[0011] In the context of the present invention, clockwork advantageously refers to the entire inner mechanism of the timepiece responsible for displaying the time. In an advantageous example, the clockwork may comprise a drive, in particular a drive spring, and / or a mechanical timepiece display and / or an escapement and / or a balance wheel and / or a gear train. All of these parts are movable. The above-mentioned other movable parts, whose clocking is determined by the sensor device to determine the clocking of the clockwork, may be one of these parts or correspond to one of these parts. These parts are described below.

[0012] Advantageously, the balance wheel comprises a balance ring and a balance spring, and clocks the time display of the watch through its oscillations. In particular, the balance wheel is to be understood as an oscillating system in which the balance spring and the balance ring oscillate. The clocking of the balance wheel, in particular its frequency (number of oscillations), can therefore also be understood as the timing of the balance spring, in particular its frequency (number of oscillations).

[0013] Advantageously, the escapement comprises a stop piece and an escape wheel to connect the balance wheel to the gear train. The escapement may in particular be formed as an anchor escapement, the stop piece being formed as an anchor. The escapement wheel may also be called an escape wheel.

[0014] The gear train preferably comprises at least one gear. Preferably, the gear train also comprises a seconds wheel and / or a minutes wheel and / or an hour wheel, and in particular a third wheel disposed between the seconds wheel and the minutes wheel. The gear train is connected to a mechanical timepiece display.

[0015] The mechanical timepiece display preferably comprises an hour hand and / or a minute hand and / or a second hand.

[0016] The drive serves to drive the gear train and preferably comprises a drive spring, which in the context of the present invention may also be called a winding spring. Tensioning of the drive spring can be achieved in various ways, for example by a manual crown with an associated winding mechanism (manual winding) or, advantageously, by an oscillating weight driven by the movement of the entire watch case with an associated winding mechanism (automatic watch, automatic winding).

[0017] Thus, for example, to determine the clocking of the clockwork, the clocking of a component of the clock display, for example the second hand, can be determined by the sensor device, and the correction device is set to change the frequency of the balance wheel depending on a comparison between the clocking of the component of the clock display and a reference clocking.

[0018] Advantageously, the comparison of the clockwork's determined clocking with the reference clocking serves to determine whether the clockwork's determined clocking has a deviation from the standard clocking. Preferably, the reference clocking can also be used as a timing element for determining the deviation of the clockwork's determined clocking from the standard clocking. The timing element can be provided / defined by a predetermined amplitude / frequency of the reference clocking within a specific time period. In particular, it can be checked whether the predetermined amplitude / frequency of the clockwork's clocking during a specific period determined by the predetermined amplitude / frequency of the reference clocking corresponds to the expected amplitude / frequency of the clockwork or the reference amplitude / frequency. In other words, the expected amplitude / frequency of the clockwork is the amplitude / frequency of the clockwork that a person determines corresponds to the predetermined amplitude / frequency of the reference clocking at a specific time period.

[0019] In particular, the comparison of the clocking determined for the clockwork with a reference clocking may mean that the difference between the amplitude / frequency of the balance wheel or other moving part of the clockwork determined by the sensor device and the reference amplitude / frequency of the reference clocking generating arrangement is compared with a predetermined difference over the (same) time period.

[0020] The predetermined difference preferably corresponds to the (absolute) difference between the standard amplitude / frequency of the clockwork balance wheel or other moving part and the reference amplitude / frequency of the reference clocking generating arrangement. It should be understood here that the correction device is configured to change the frequency of the balance wheel only when the difference between the amplitude / frequency of the clockwork balance wheel or other moving part and the reference amplitude / frequency of the reference clocking generating arrangement as determined by the sensor device is larger or smaller, i.e. not equal to, the predetermined difference.

[0021] When the reference clocking generating arrangement has a reference clocking or frequency of, for example, 32,768 Hz, it will have a reference amplitude / frequency per day equal to 28,311,552,000 oscillations / vibrations (= 32,768 oscillations / vibrations per second × 86,400 seconds per day). When the clockwork balance wheel or other moving part has a standard clocking or frequency of, for example, 5 Hz, the standard amplitude / frequency is equal to 432,000 oscillations / vibrations per day (= 5 oscillations / vibrations per second × 86,400 seconds per day). However, if after one day of operation of the watch the balance wheel or other moving part has, for example, only 431,950 oscillations / vibrations, the electronic device, through a comparison of the clocking determined for the clockwork balance wheel or other moving part with the reference clocking, will determine that the watch is missing 50 oscillations / vibrations of the balance wheel or other moving part, or 10 seconds in time representation. Based on this, the correction device can change the frequency of the balance wheel. In this example, the difference between the amplitude / frequency of the balance wheel or other moving part determined by the sensor device and the reference amplitude / frequency of the reference clocking generating arrangement is equal to 2831155200 amplitude / vibrations, and the predetermined difference is equal to 2831155200 amplitude / vibrations. As a result of comparing these two values ​​which are not equal, the correction device will change the frequency of the balance wheel.

[0022] In other words, the comparison of the clocking determined for the clockwork with the reference clocking may particularly mean checking whether the amplitude / frequency determined for the balance wheel or other moving part of the clockwork at the time specified by the reference amplitude / frequency of the reference clocking generating arrangement corresponds to the expected amplitude / frequency.

[0023] In the above example, this means that it is checked whether the determined amplitude / frequency of the balance wheel or other moving part of the clockwork corresponds to a standard amplitude / frequency of 432,000 oscillations per day, with a reference amplitude / frequency of 2,831,155,200 oscillations per day being designated as one day. This, in turn, means that the reference clocking represents the timing element. Through comparison, the error of the balance wheel relative to the reference clocking can thus be determined and the frequency of the balance wheel can be altered.

[0024] It should be noted that the standard clocking of a clockwork, in particular the balance wheel or other moving part of a clockwork, is the predetermined clocking at which the clockwork must move, in particular the balance wheel must move, in particular oscillate, or at which other moving part must move, in order for the time to be displayed correctly by a clock equipped with that clockwork for a particular clock.

[0025] Within the scope of the present invention, the balance wheel may also be referred to as the first moving part of the clockwork, and the other moving parts as the second moving parts.

[0026] The clockwork, and therefore also the watch, may at some point exhibit a gain or loss. In this respect, the electronic device is preferably configured to determine a loss and / or gain of the clockwork based on a comparison between the determined clocking of the balance wheel and a reference clocking, and to subsequently correct this loss or gain at least partially, particularly preferably completely, by means of a correction device. "Subsequently" means that the electronic device corrects the loss or gain after it has occurred. Here, the aforementioned change in the frequency of the balance wheel is preferably performed by subsequently correcting the determined loss or gain.

[0027] Preferably, a post-correction of the determined lead or lag is performed by adjusting the balance wheel.

[0028] Preferably, to compensate for the determined delay, the correction device may have a setting to adjust the balance wheel so that the balance wheel moves over a first predetermined time period at a clocking that is faster / shorter than the standard clocking of the balance wheel. In particular, to compensate for the delay, the correction device may have a setting to additionally adjust the balance wheel so that the balance wheel moves over a second predetermined time period at a clocking that is slower / longer than the standard clocking of the balance wheel.

[0029] Preferably, to correct for lead, the correction device may have a setting to adjust the balance wheel in such a way that the balance wheel moves over a first predetermined time period at a clocking slower than the standard clocking of the balance wheel. Additionally, to correct for lead, the correction device may have a setting to adjust the balance wheel in such a way that the balance wheel moves over a second predetermined time period at a clocking faster than the standard clocking of the balance wheel.

[0030] A balance wheel clocking faster / slower than the standard balance wheel clocking means that the balance wheel frequency is greater / less than the standard balance wheel frequency.

[0031] The lead or lag can be determined by comparing the clocking of the balance wheel determined by the sensor device with a reference clocking. Referring to the example given above, where the reference clocking generation configuration has a reference clocking of, for example, 32768 Hz and the balance wheel has a standard clocking of 5 Hz, through the comparison described, a lag of 10 seconds after one day is determined.

[0032] Preferably, the electronic device is designed to change the frequency of the balance wheel by means of the correction device to correct the loss or gain, and to at least partially, in particular completely, reverse the change. Advantageously, the extent to which the change in the frequency of the balance wheel is reversed can be determined based on a comparison of the clockwork's clocking after the loss or gain correction with a reference clocking. Through the at least partial reversal of the frequency change, it is possible to prevent the balance wheel from continuing to oscillate at the changed frequency, thereby preventing a loss of precision in the timepiece.

[0033] Preferably, the correction device comprises an adjusting drive and an adjusting device adjacent to and / or against which the balance spring abuts, wherein the adjusting drive is arranged to adjust the position of the adjusting device in order to change the frequency of the balance spring and therefore also the frequency of the balance wheel, the position of which can preferably be achieved by translational and / or rotational movement of the adjusting device.

[0034] The adjustment drive preferably comprises at least one electric motor, in particular a stepper motor. According to an advantageous variant, the adjustment drive comprises a single electric motor configured to rotate in a first rotational direction and in a second rotational direction, the first and second rotational directions being opposite to each other. The electric motor may be bidirectional in this case. Alternatively, the electric motor may be configured to rotate only in the first rotational direction, and the adjustment drive may comprise a gearing for reversing the rotational direction. According to an alternative advantageous variant, the adjustment drive may comprise a first electric motor and a second electric motor, the first electric motor configured to rotate in the first rotational direction and the second electric motor configured to rotate in the second rotational direction.

[0035] Preferably, the adjusting device comprises at least one check pin that is displaceable by the adjusting drive. The displaceability of the check pin means, in particular, that its position can be adjusted, thereby changing the clocking of the balance spring. The balance spring is preferably supported on at least one check pin in a timepiece of this design. Depending on the position of the check pin relative to the balance spring, the balance spring's oscillation length increases or decreases, so that it has a different clocking or frequency. Preferably, a first end of the balance spring is fixed to the balance ring. A second end of the balance spring is preferably fixed to or rests against a stud.

[0036] Particularly preferably, the adjusting device comprises two stop pins, in which case the balance spring is arranged in such a way that a portion of the balance spring is located between the stop pins, so that the balance spring can oscillate between the stop pins and is alternately rested or supported on them.

[0037] At least one restraining pin limits the oscillating part of the balance spring, with the actual oscillation of the balance spring occurring behind the restraining pin (in the extension direction of the balance spring).

[0038] For example, if a watch equipped with a regulating device with two check pins is 4.75 seconds slower on a particular day, the regulating drive can displace the check pins in such a way that the balance spring's frequency, and therefore the watch's speed, increases by 24 seconds per day for five hours. The regulating drive can then displace the check pins so that the balance wheel runs 12 seconds slower per day than normal for half an hour. This eliminates the 4.75-second deviation again. After the correction, the balance spring can return to its standard mode. This means that the regulating drive is set to displace the check pins in such a way that, after the correction, they return to their original position before the correction and / or to their standard position (the position that results in normal clocking of the balance spring). This cancels the change in the balance spring's frequency.

[0039] Alternatively or additionally, the adjusting device comprises a stud, which is displaceable by means of an adjusting drive, through which the oscillating part of the balance spring that is not limited by the at least one restraining pin can be adjusted in a manner similar to the displacement of the at least one restraining pin.

[0040] Preferably, the sensor device includes an acoustic sensor device and / or an optical sensor device and / or a magnetic sensor device and / or an electronic sensor device for determining the clocking of the balance wheel. In particular, the acoustic sensor device may comprise at least one microphone, preferably a plurality of microphones. The at least one microphone may be small enough to fit into the case of the watch. Preferably, the at least one microphone may have a maximum dimension of less than 1 mm. The optical sensor device may, for example, comprise a light barrier with a light source (light emitter) and an opto-electric sensor (light receiver). For example, the light source may be formed as a light-emitting diode, and the opto-electric sensor as a photodiode. The clockwork balance wheel or another moving part may be arranged between the light source and the opto-electric sensor in such a way that the clockwork balance wheel or another moving part interrupts the light beam in a timed manner. Any interruption may then be recorded by the electronic device. In particular, when the clocking of the clockwork balance spring or other moving part is determined by the light barrier, the clockwork balance spring or other moving part oscillates back and forth between the light source and the opto-electrical sensor, thus blocking the light beam of the light source in a clock-controlled manner.

[0041] Preferably, the arrangement for generating the reference clocking may comprise a piezoelectric vibrating crystal, which may in particular be a tourmaline vibrating crystal or a quartz crystal, in which case the reference clocking may advantageously correspond to a reference frequency at which the piezoelectric vibrating crystal may vibrate or when vibrating.

[0042] Alternatively, or in addition to a piezoelectric vibrating crystal, the arrangement for generating the reference clocking may comprise a vibration system including an optical waveguide arrangement, an electro-optical converter, and an opto-electrical converter. In this case, it is advantageous if the reference clocking corresponds to the clocking / oscillation frequency of the vibration system. The optical waveguide arrangement preferably comprises at least one optical waveguide. The electro-optical converter, also called an electro-optical converter, is configured to transmit a clock-controlled optical signal (optical signal) to the optical waveguide arrangement, in particular to at least one optical waveguide. The opto-electrical converter, also called an optical-electrical or photoelectric converter, is configured to receive the optical signal from the optical waveguide arrangement and generate an electrical signal based on the received optical signal.

[0043] The reference clock is based on the propagation speed of light (speed of light) in the optical waveguide array. The time difference between the light entering the optical waveguide array and the light exiting on the other side of the optical waveguide array depends only on the distance the light travels in the optical waveguide array and the propagation speed of light (speed of light) in the optical waveguide array. With a known length and known physical properties of the optical waveguide array, a clock signal with a constant frequency or period time can be generated. This means that the optical waveguide array is the frequency-determining element of the vibration system.

[0044] Alternatively, or in addition to the piezoelectric vibrating crystal and / or the described vibrating system, the arrangement for generating the reference clocking may comprise an electronic oscillator, in particular an RC oscillator.

[0045] In the context of the present invention, an electronic oscillator is understood to be a purely electronic oscillator, i.e. an oscillator that comprises only electrical and / or electronic components for generating a reference clock. This means in particular that within the scope of the present invention, an oscillator with a piezoelectric vibrating crystal is not an electronic oscillator. The electronic oscillator may preferably be a low-frequency oscillator (for example 10 kHz).

[0046] Preferably, the electronic device is adapted to change the frequency of the balance wheel by adjusting the configuration (for generating the reference clock) and / or the environment of the configuration (for generating the reference clock). It is designed to take temperature into account.

[0047] To detect this temperature, the watch may preferably further comprise a temperature sensor. Based on a comparison of the detected temperature with a predetermined temperature, a corrected reference clocking may preferably be determined and / or calculated, and the electronic device is configured to compare the determined clocking with the corrected reference clocking for the clockwork.

[0048] The correction device is therefore configured to correct the clockwork in response to a comparison of the determined clocking of the clockwork with a corrected reference clocking, which may be determined / calculated in particular from a look-up table containing associated values ​​of the reference clocking and / or temperature values ​​with associated correction values ​​for correcting the reference clocking and / or by a predetermined formula for the detected temperature.

[0049] Alternatively or additionally, the temperature of the configuration (for generating the reference clock) and / or the environment of the configuration (for generating the reference clock) may be determined by the electronic device based on a comparison of the generated reference clock with a predetermined reference clock, i.e., the reference clock at a predetermined temperature.

[0050] Preferably, the electronic device may be configured to compare the clockwork's determined clocking with a reference clocking in time segments that include pauses. This allows for a change in the balance wheel's frequency to be achieved in response to a comparison of the clockwork's clocking with the reference clocking in time segments that include pauses. This allows for an energy-efficient yet precise timepiece, since the electronic and / or correction devices that consume electrical energy only operate in time segments that include pauses. Preferably, the comparison and / or correction may be performed only at predetermined time intervals, for example every 24 hours, or several times per hour, day, or week.

[0051] Preferably, the arrangement may be a first arrangement and the reference clocking may be a first reference clocking, the watch further comprising second arrangements for generating a second reference clocking.

[0052] Here, the electronic device is configured to compare the first reference clock with the second reference clock. The correction device is configured to additionally change the frequency of the balance wheel in response to the comparison of the first reference clock with the second reference clock. "Additionally" means that in this design of the invention, the correction device is configured to change the frequency of the balance wheel in response to the comparison of the clockwork-determined clock with the reference clock and in response to the comparison of the first reference clock with the second reference clock. In particular, based on the comparison of the first reference clock with the second reference clock in a manner corresponding to the comparison between the clockwork-determined clock with the first reference clock, it can be determined whether the first reference clock has a deviation from the target reference clock and / or whether the first configuration has a lead or lag, and this is then taken into account in changing the frequency of the balance wheel. In particular, the determined deviation and / or the determined lag or lead can be taken into account in the comparison of the balance wheel-determined clock with the first reference clock.

[0053] In an advantageous example, the first configuration may be modified through a comparison of the first reference clocking and the second reference clocking.

[0054] The second configuration may in particular consume more power than the first configuration.

[0055] Preferably, the second configuration has higher accuracy than the first configuration. For example, the accuracy of clock generation by the first configuration may have a deviation of up to 5% from the predetermined clocking. However, it is also possible for the second configuration to have lower accuracy than the first configuration. In an advantageous example, the second configuration may have a predetermined second reference clocking. "Predetermined" here means that a desired reference clocking is first selected, and then the second configuration is configured to have the desired reference clocking (second reference clocking). For example, the second reference clocking may be 888 KHz.

[0056] The first arrangement, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, may comprise or be formed as a piezoelectric quartz crystal. The piezoelectric quartz crystal may be natural or synthetic. In particular, the piezoelectric quartz crystal may have a reference clocking (reference frequency) of 32768 Hz. This means, in particular, that the first reference clocking is 32768 Hz. The second arrangement preferably comprises or is formed as a piezoelectric tourmaline oscillating crystal. According to an alternative and advantageous variant of the invention, the second arrangement may comprise or be formed as an oscillating system comprising an optical waveguide arrangement, an electro-optical converter and an optical-electrical converter.

[0057] According to a further alternative and advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first arrangement may comprise or be formed as an electronic oscillator.

[0058] According to a first advantageous variant, the second arrangement can comprise or be formed as a piezoelectric tourmaline oscillating crystal, and according to a second advantageous variant, the second arrangement can comprise or be formed as a oscillating system comprising an optical waveguide arrangement, an electro-optical converter and an optical-electrical converter.

[0059] The description given above of the oscillation system of the timepiece, which comprises an oscillation system comprising an optical waveguide arrangement, an electro-optical converter and an optical-electrical converter for generating a reference clocking, can also be used for these embodiments of the timepiece.

[0060] Within the scope of the present invention, the first configuration for generating the first reference clocking may also be referred to as a first reference clocking generation configuration, and the second configuration for generating the second reference clocking may also be referred to as a second reference clocking generation configuration.

[0061] Preferably, the first arrangement is configured to continuously generate the first reference clock, and the second arrangement is configured to generate the second reference clock at time intervals including pauses. This means that the generation of the second reference clock can be stopped at time intervals. To this end, the electronic device can be configured to stop the generation of the second reference clock at time intervals. This allows for saving electrical energy, which is particularly advantageous when the second arrangement consumes a large amount of energy.

[0062] In an advantageous example, the second arrangement is configured to generate a second reference clocking at predetermined time intervals.

[0063] Preferably, the second configuration is configured to generate the second reference clocking based on the first reference clocking of the first configuration (only) when the electronic device switches on / activates the second configuration during time periods including pauses. The expression "based on the first reference clocking of the first configuration" means in particular that it is advantageous for the first configuration to specify the time points at which the second configuration is activated to generate the second reference clocking.

[0064] Advantageously, the predetermined time interval for generating the second reference clocking may be generated by frequency division in the first arrangement.

[0065] Advantageously, the predetermined time interval for performing the balance wheel clocking determination and / or reference clocking detection may be generated by frequency division in the first configuration.

[0066] In the following, an example of a watch having a first configuration and a second configuration is described.

[0067] For example, the second arrangement of the clock may comprise an oscillating system with a second reference clocking of 10 MHz, including an optical waveguide arrangement, an electro-optical converter, and an optical-electrical converter. This means, among other things, that the electro-optical converter must operate 10 million times per second, and 10 million times per second, the optical-electrical converter at the other end of the optical waveguide must record the optical signal emitted by the electro-optical converter, convert it into an electrical signal, amplify this electrical signal 10 million times, and send it back to the electro-optical converter, etc. Similarly, for example, a pulse counter provided in the clock must record counting operations to count the electrical signal 10 million times per second, etc.

[0068] These processes result in such a second arrangement consuming high power. This high power may also be due to the decrease in the signal strength of the electro-optical transducer over the travel distance of the optical waveguide arrangement. The first arrangement of the clock, on the other hand, may include a piezoelectric quartz crystal with a frequency of 32,768 Hz, which is highly energy-efficient due to its structure and mode of operation. It is also possible for the first arrangement of the clock to be equipped with an electronic oscillator, particularly an RC oscillator, with a similar low frequency. Thus, in order to save electrical energy, the first arrangement can generate the first reference clock continuously (permanently), in contrast to the second arrangement, which may generate the second reference clock at intervals, preferably at predetermined time intervals, including pauses.

[0069] In particular, the precise deviation of the balance wheel's clocking from the standard clocking can be determined via the first reference clocking of the piezoelectric quartz crystal based on a comparison performed at certain time intervals, for example, every 24 hours, between the first reference clocking and a clocking determined for a balance wheel having a standard clocking (standard frequency) of, for example, 5 Hz. For example, if the piezoelectric quartz crystal has an amplitude / vibration of 28,311,552,000 vibrations per day (= 32,768 vibrations per second × 86,400 seconds per day) and the balance wheel has only 431,950 mechanical vibrations (amplitude / vibration) instead of 432,000 mechanical vibrations (= 5 vibrations per second × 86,400 seconds per day), it can be determined that the watch is missing 50 vibrations of the balance wheel, or 10 seconds in the time representation. As already described, the correction device can be configured to change the frequency of the balance wheel based on the comparison between the first reference clocking and the clocking determined for the balance wheel. In particular, the correction device can set the balance wheel to its standard clocking, so that the balance wheel, and therefore the clockwork and the clock, will run 10 seconds faster the next day. Furthermore, to compensate for the 10 seconds slower, in other words to make up for the lost 10 seconds, the correction device can be set to adjust the clock over a predetermined period of time to run 10 seconds faster.

[0070] A new comparison after 24 hours will again result in a loss, possibly positive or negative, of the balance wheel's complete amplitude / total number of oscillations compared to the amplitude / frequency of the quartz crystal. Based on this loss, the correcting device will again correct the clockwork and in particular reset the balance wheel.

[0071] In this way, the frequency of the balance wheel can be continuously changed based on the quartz crystal, so that the balance wheel acquires the accuracy of the quartz crystal.

[0072] By providing a first reference clock generation arrangement and a second reference clock generation arrangement, the balance wheel may however have the accuracy of the oscillator system, and to this end, the electronic device may compare the first reference clock of the quartz crystal with the second reference clock of the oscillator system, just as the electronic device may compare the clock determined for the balance wheel with the reference clock of the quartz crystal.

[0073] However, it is advantageous if this comparison is not performed by a permanent counting of the second reference clock, but rather the electronic device activates the second reference clock generating arrangement at predetermined time intervals to operate the first reference clock generating arrangement for generating the first reference clock and the second reference clock generating arrangement for generating the second reference clock in parallel for a predetermined time period from which the electronic device derives the comparison.

[0074] Since the oscillating system vibrates 100 million times in 10 seconds, and the quartz crystal vibrates 327,680 times, and since the individual amplitudes / vibrations of the quartz crystal can be measured so precisely that by further dividing each amplitude / vibration into different divisions, the number of vibrations of the quartz crystal can be determined to a decimal point, a very precise comparison can be made. In addition, the quartz crystal vibrates so frequently that the number of vibrations can be permanently recorded. Thus, a comparison over 100 seconds can be made every 10 hours.

[0075] Now, because the oscillating system and the quartz crystal oscillate at different frequencies and with different precision, this comparison again yields different results. In this example, the oscillating system operates more precisely than the quartz crystal. However, when it is more important that the second reference clock generating configuration has a unique structure or unique second reference clock, for example, a tourmaline oscillating crystal with a unique frequency of 888 KHz or an ultra-low power design, it is possible that the second reference clock generating configuration has lower precision than the reference clock generating configuration.

[0076] Now, the difference between the second reference clock of the oscillating system and the first reference clock of the quartz crystal is calculated, so that the first reference clock can be corrected accordingly. This means that the electronic device realizes that the reference clock of the first configuration is missing or has too much amplitude / vibration by a certain amount, and takes this difference into account when adjusting the difference between the first reference clock and the clock determined for the balance wheel. This therefore corresponds in particular to a direct comparison of the clock detected for the balance wheel with the second reference clock of the oscillating system.

[0077] The timepiece preferably further comprises an energy supply device for supplying energy to the arrangement for generating the reference clocking, and / or a sensor device, and / or an electronic device, and / or a correction device. The energy supply device preferably comprises an energy harvesting device and a rechargeable battery. Preferably, the energy harvesting device comprises a solar cell and / or a thermoelectric generator. Particularly preferably, the solar cell can also be formed as a dial. In other words, the solar cell dial can be used as a watch dial. In particular, the solar cell dial has a size of at least 4 cm. 2 may have an area of

[0078] However, it is also possible that the energy supply device comprises a battery in addition to or as an alternative to the energy harvesting device and the rechargeable battery.

[0079] The energy supply device is preferably configured to supply electrical energy to said second arrangement for generating the second reference clocking and / or to said temperature sensor.

[0080] The energy supply device is particularly designed to supply all electrical components of the timepiece with electrical energy.

[0081] When a state of non-use of the clock is detected, the electronic device is preferably configured to stop (abort) the generation of the reference clocking by the configuration and / or the comparison by the electronic device of the clockwork determined clocking with the reference clocking and / or the correction of the clockwork in response to a comparison of the clockwork clocking with the reference clocking and / or movement of the clockwork. The electronic device is preferably configured to determine the end of the state of non-use.

[0082] When the configuration for generating the reference clock is a first configuration and the reference clock is a first reference clock, and the timepiece further comprises a second configuration for generating a second reference clock, the electronic device may preferably be further configured to stop (abort) the generation of the second reference clock and / or the comparison between the first reference clock and the second reference clock and / or the additional modification of the frequency of the balance wheel in response to the comparison between the first reference clock and the second reference clock when a non-use state of the timepiece is detected.

[0083] When the first arrangement comprises or is formed as an electronic oscillator, the electronic oscillator can preferably be used to continue operating during periods of non-use and to determine updated usage states at predetermined time intervals. This means in particular that the electronic oscillator is preferably set to check at predetermined time intervals whether a period of non-use has ended or whether a new usage state exists. For this purpose, high time accuracy is not required.

[0084] When the correction device is configured to take into account the temperature of the arrangement and / or its environment when modifying the frequency of the balance wheel depending on a comparison between the clockwork determined for the clockwork and a reference clock, the electronic device may preferably be configured to stop detecting the temperature by the temperature sensor and / or determining the temperature according to the above-mentioned procedure in a detected state of non-use of the watch.

[0085] By stopping the above-mentioned functions (the generation, comparison, correction, and temperature determination / detection of the reference clocking mentioned above), the energy consumption of the clock can be reduced when the clock is not in use, thereby extending the life of the watch's battery or the time before a rechargeable battery needs to be recharged.

[0086] Preferably, the timepiece is set so that at least one of the above-mentioned functions, and in particular all of the above-mentioned functions, stops when the drive spring is subjected to little or no tension. This means that a state in which the drive spring is only slightly or no longer subjected to tension can be understood as a state in which the timepiece is not in use. "Slight tension" in the context of the present invention preferably means that the drive spring has a spring travel that is 30% or less, preferably 20% or less, particularly preferably 10% or less of the maximum spring travel of the drive spring when it is installed in the timepiece.

[0087] By stopping the clockwork when the watch is not in use, as detected, it is possible to ensure that the drive spring still has sufficient tension when the watch is used again. This is because the watch did not stop running due to the complete release of the drive spring, but through intentional stopping of the clockwork after determining that the watch is not in use. In this way, the watch can be used again, for example, one month later. In an advantageous example, before stopping the clockwork, it can be checked whether the drive spring is still at least partially tensioned. According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the mechanism for generating the reference clocking operates continuously, thus generating the reference clocking. This, of course, occurs as long as the energy supply device has sufficient electrical energy. It is advantageous if the correction device is set to change the balance wheel frequency based on the reference clocking when the watch is used again.

[0088] This allows for a mechanical watch to have a long power reserve, perhaps equal to that of a battery-powered quartz watch. In particular, when the energy supply device includes a rechargeable battery and an energy harvesting device, the mechanical watch can have both the power reserve and accuracy of a quartz watch, but still not skip seconds and require no battery replacement. Thus, a watch can combine all the advantages of both types of watch (mechanical and quartz) without the disadvantages of either type. Such a watch does not have the disadvantages of battery replacement and skip seconds of a quartz watch, nor the disadvantages of inaccuracies and a small power reserve of a mechanical watch. The term "power reserve" (also called running time) refers to the time that elapses between the maximum tension and complete release of the drive spring without new mechanical energy being supplied during that time.

[0089] The stopping of the clockwork movement is particularly advantageous when the state of non-use of the timepiece corresponds to the non-operation of the timepiece for a predetermined time. This means, in other words, that the electronic device is preferably set to inhibit the movement of the clockwork if the timepiece has not been running for a predetermined time. When the timepiece is an automatic timepiece, i.e. when the timepiece includes an automatic winding mechanism, the non-operation of the timepiece for a predetermined time may preferably be accompanied by the non-operation of the oscillating weight for a predetermined time. In particular, the predetermined time may be at least 8 hours, in particular more than 24 hours.

[0090] The stopping of the clockwork movement can be carried out in particular through the stopping (abortion) of the movement of a single part of the clockwork. To stop the clockwork movement, an adjusting device, for example an electromechanical device, can preferably be used, which can be formed as a separate device or as part of the correcting device.

[0091] The detection of whether the drive spring is still at least partially under tension or is no longer under tension can preferably be performed directly or indirectly. Direct detection can be performed, for example, through the detection of a change in the position of one part of the drive spring. Indirect detection can be performed, in particular, through the detection of a change in the position of another moving part of the clockwork using a sensor. Depending on the design of the watch, a sensor device previously used to determine the clocking of the moving part can also be used to determine the tension state of the drive spring.

[0092] Preferably, the timepiece further comprises a winding or automatic mechanism for winding or automatic winding of a drive spring configured to drive the timepiece display. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0093] Further details, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings. [Figure 1] 1 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a timepiece formed as a wristwatch according to a first embodiment of the invention; [Figure 2] 1 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a portion of a timepiece according to a first embodiment of the invention; [Figure 3] 1 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a portion of a timepiece according to a first embodiment of the invention; [Figure 4] 2 shows a simplified schematic diagram of part of a timepiece according to a second embodiment of the invention; [Figure 5] 1 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a portion of a timepiece according to a third embodiment of the invention; [Figure 6] 10 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a portion of a timepiece according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0094] A mechanical timepiece 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0095] 1, the clock 100 is configured as a wristwatch and has two lugs 101 for a band 102. However, it is also possible that the clock 100 is a wall clock, a pendulum clock, a table clock, or another type of clock.

[0096] Timepiece 100 comprises a watch case 103 and a watch crystal 104 disposed therein. Timepiece 100 preferably further comprises a dial 105, an hour hand 151, a minute hand 152, and a second hand 153. Hour hand 151, minute hand 152, and second hand 153 are parts of a mechanical timepiece display 15 for displaying time, as shown in FIG.

[0097] It can be derived from Figure 2 that the timepiece 100 further comprises a clockwork 1 comprising a balance wheel 11, an escapement 12, a gear train 13, a drive 14 and the above-mentioned mechanical display 15. The balance wheel 11, the escapement 12, the gear train 13, the drive 14 and the mechanical display 15, together with their respective components, which will be described below, are moving parts of the clockwork 1.

[0098] The balance wheel 11 comprises a balance ring 111 and a balance spring 112, and through its oscillations clocks the time display of the timepiece 100. The balance wheel 11 is shown in more detail in Figure 3. It is clear from this figure that a first end of the balance spring 112 is rigidly connected to the balance ring 111 and a second end of the balance spring 112 is attached to a stud 114.

[0099] Referring again to Figure 2, the escapement 12 comprises a stop piece 121 and an escape wheel 122 and connects the balance wheel 11 to the gear train 13. The stop piece 121 functions to stop the escape wheel 122. In particular, the balance wheel 11, via the stop piece 121 that engages with the escape wheel 122, causes a periodic stop (blocking) of the gear train 13 and thus the clock-controlled operation of the timepiece. The escapement 12 can in particular be formed as an anchor escapement, and the stop piece 121 is formed as an anchor. The escape wheel 122 is also called an anchor wheel.

[0100] In this embodiment, the gear train 13 comprises a second wheel 131, a minute wheel 132, an hour wheel 133, and a third wheel 134 disposed between the second wheel 131 and the minute wheel 132, and is connected to the mechanical clock display device 15 so that an hour hand 151, a minute hand 152, and a second hand 153 are moved to display the time. The second wheel 131, the minute wheel 132, the hour wheel 133, and the third wheel 134 are gears of the clockwork 1.

[0101] The drive device 14 functions to drive the gear train 13 and comprises a drive spring 140. The drive spring 140 is in particular formed as a winding spring. To wind and thereby tension the drive spring 140, the timepiece 100 is provided with a winding device 16. The timepiece 100 can in particular be formed as an automatic timepiece. In this form, the winding device 16 is an automatic winding device in particular formed as a balance weight, so that the drive spring 140 is automatically wound by the movement of the hand of the wearer of the timepiece 100. When tensioned, the drive spring 140 provides the energy required to drive the gear train 104. However, it is also possible for the timepiece 100 to be formed as a hand-wound timepiece. The winding device 16 can be operated manually or by hand.

[0102] It can further be seen from FIG. 2 that the clock 100 further comprises an arrangement 2 for generating a reference clocking, a sensor device 3 for determining the clocking of the clockwork 1, an electronic device 4 and a correction device 5.

[0103] In this embodiment, the arrangement 2 for generating the reference clock comprises a piezoelectric vibrating crystal 21. Preferably, the piezoelectric vibrating crystal 21 is a quartz crystal with a reference frequency of, for example, 32768 Hz. The reference clock of this arrangement corresponds in particular to the reference frequency of the quartz crystal. However, it is also possible that other piezoelectric vibrating crystals can be used. For example, a tourmaline vibrating crystal can be provided as the piezoelectric vibrating crystal 21 of the arrangement 2. It is also possible that the arrangement 2 comprises an electronic oscillator instead of the piezoelectric vibrating crystal 21 for generating the reference clock.

[0104] The sensor device 3 may be configured to determine the clocking of the balance wheel 11, in particular the balance spring 112. By determining the clocking of the balance wheel 11, in particular the balance spring 122, the clocking of the clockwork 1 is determined. The sensor device 3 may comprise an acoustic sensor device and / or an optical sensor device and / or an electronic sensor device. For example, at least one microphone may be provided in the housing, which is configured to capture sounds produced by the movement of the balance wheel 11, in particular the balance spring 112, and to analyze the acoustic signal resulting from this in order to determine the clocking of the balance wheel 11, in particular the balance spring 112.

[0105] The electronic device 4, which may in particular be formed as a chip or a microcontroller, is configured to compare the clocking determined for the balance wheel 11, in particular for the balance spring 112, with a reference clocking, and the correction device 5 is configured to modify the frequency of the balance wheel 11 depending on the comparison between the clocking determined for the balance wheel 11 and the reference clocking.

[0106] In order to change the frequency of the balance wheel 11, the corrector 5 is in particular designed to adjust the balance wheel 11, in particular the balance spring 112.

[0107] However, it is also possible for the sensor device 3 for determining the clocking of the clockwork 1 to be configured to determine the clocking of another moving part of the clockwork 1, in particular from the above-mentioned moving part of the clockwork 1. In this configuration, the electronic device 4 is configured to compare the clocking of the other moving part with a reference clocking instead of the clocking of the balance wheel 11, in particular the balance spring 112. When the sensor device 3 comprises a microphone, this is configured to capture the sound produced by the movement of the other moving part and to analyze the resulting acoustic signal in order to determine the clocking of the other moving part. In order to modify the frequency of the balance wheel 11, the correction device 5 is here configured in particular to modify the frequency of the balance wheel 11 depending on the comparison of the clocking detected for the other moving part with the reference clocking.

[0108] The alteration of the frequency of the balance wheel 11 or the adjustment of the balance spring 112 may be achieved by an electronic device 4 that is configured to determine a loss and / or advance of the clockwork 1 based on a comparison of the clocking of the balance spring 112 with a reference clocking, and then to at least partially correct the loss or advance based on this. The latter means that the electronic device 4 is configured to control the corrector 5 in such a way that the corrector 5 adjusts the balance spring 112 to correct the determined loss or advance.

[0109] For these purposes, it is advantageous for the correction device 5 to comprise an adjusting drive 51 and an adjusting device 52. As shown in FIG. 3, the adjusting device 52 comprises two restraining pins 113 on which the balance spring 112 is supported during oscillation. The restraining pins 113 are displaceable by the adjusting drive 51 to adjust the balance spring 122. This means that their position can be adjusted by the adjusting drive 51. This can be done by a translational and / or rotational movement of the restraining pins 113. For example, the restraining pins 113 can be attached to a rotating and / or sliding element which can be arranged thereon. The rotating and / or sliding element can be considered as part of the adjusting device 52. The adjusting drive 51 can comprise, for example, an electric stepping motor so as to displace the restraining pins 113 by rotating the rotating and / or sliding element. The rotating and / or sliding element can in particular be formed as a gear or crank element which can be rotated by a gear connected to the stepping motor. The stepper motor itself may be made bidirectional so as to displace the restraining pin 113 in both directions. However, it is also possible for the stepper motor to include gears so that the rotating and / or sliding elements can rotate in opposite directions.

[0110] By adjusting the position of the restraining pin 113 relative to the balance spring 112, the oscillating part of the balance spring 112 is thus lengthened or shortened, and therefore the frequency of the balance spring 112 can be changed. The part of the balance spring 112 between the stud 114 and the restraining pin 113 is the so-called dead area of ​​the balance spring 112, which does not take part in or oscillate the oscillations of the balance spring 112.

[0111] In order to take into account the influence of temperature changes on the element 2, in particular on the generation of the reference clocking of the quartz crystal, the timepiece 100 further comprises a temperature sensor 7. The temperature sensor 7 is configured to determine the temperature of the element 2 and / or its environment. The correction device 5 is configured to take the detected temperature into account in setting the balance spring 112, depending on a comparison of the clocking determined for the balance spring 112 with the reference clocking. For this purpose, in particular, the reference clocking can be replaced by a reference clocking corrected for the detected temperature, and the electronic device 4 is configured to compare the clocking of the balance spring 112 with the corrected reference clocking.

[0112] For the energy supply of the sensor device 3, the electronic device 4, the correction device 5 and the arrangement 2 for generating the reference clocking of the temperature sensor 7, the watch 100 is equipped with an energy supply device 6. The energy supply device 6 comprises an energy harvesting device 61 and a rechargeable battery 62 that can be charged by the energy harvesting device 61.

[0113] The energy harvesting device 61 may preferably comprise at least one thermal generator and / or at least one solar cell. The thermal generator may in particular comprise a Peltier element.

[0114] For example, the dial 105 of the watch 100 can be formed as a solar cell. It is also possible for the solar cell to be arranged under the dial 105. In this case, the dial 105 must be made translucent or have a recess at the location of the solar cell. When the thermal generator is provided in the watch 100, it can preferably be attached to the back cover of the watch 100. In this way, electricity can be generated from the difference between the skin temperature of the wearer of the watch 100 and the temperature of the environment of the watch 100 (and therefore the temperature of the rest of the watch). It is also possible for at least one solar cell and / or at least one thermal generator to be integrated into the band 102 of the watch 100.

[0115] In order to save electrical energy, despite the continuous generation of the reference clocking according to the configuration 2, the electronic device 4 can be configured to compare the clocking determined for the balance spring 112 with the reference clocking in time segments including pauses, and based on this the frequency of the balance spring 112 is altered in time segments by the correction device 5 based on this comparison. The comparison and correction process can in particular be repeated at predetermined time intervals, for example every 24 hours.

[0116] For the same purpose, i.e., to reduce the energy consumption of the timepiece 100, when a detected state of non-use of the timepiece 100 is detected, the electronic device 4 is configured to stop the generation of the reference clocking by the arrangement 2 and / or the comparison by the electronic device 4 of the clocking determined for the balance spring 112 with the reference clocking and / or the modification of the frequency of the balance spring 112 in response to the comparison of the clocking determined for the balance spring 112 with the reference clocking and / or the detection of the temperature by the temperature sensor 7. This may occur in particular when the drive spring 140 is only slightly tensioned. In this way, the energy already stored in the rechargeable battery 62 can be prevented from being used up even when the timepiece 100 is not being used. In this way, the timepiece 100 can continue to be used after winding the drive spring 140, thereby extending the time until a recharge of the rechargeable battery 62 is required.

[0117] Furthermore, the electronic device 4 is configured to stop the clockwork 1 when non-use of the timepiece 100 is detected, in particular when the timepiece 100 has not been running for a predetermined time. Since the timepiece 100 is an automatic timepiece, non-operation of the timepiece 100 can be determined by the non-operation of the automatic winding device, in particular the balance weight, for a predetermined time. For this purpose, the timepiece 100 can advantageously be equipped with a non-use detection device. In particular, the sensor device 3 can be used as a non-use detection device and can be configured to determine the non-operation of the timepiece 100. Alternatively, a separate non-use detection device can be provided in the timepiece 100. For example, the predetermined time is at least 8 hours, in particular greater than 24 hours. For this purpose, a correction device 5 can be used, in particular, in that it is configured to fit onto the clockwork 1 and inhibit its movement. Inhibiting the clockwork 1 also makes it possible that the tension stored in the drive spring 140 at the time of inhibiting the clockwork 1 is still available when the timepiece 100 is used again. In this case, clock 100 can continue to be used as normal after adjusting clockwork 1, when clockwork 1 remains inhibited and reference clocking continues to be generated by configuration 2.

[0118] When the timepiece 100 is a manually wound timepiece, the sensor device 3 can advantageously be used to determine the stationary state of the clockwork 1. In this case, the balance wheel 11 is advantageously checked continuously.

[0119] Figure 4 shows part of a timepiece 100 according to a second embodiment of the invention. In particular, Figure 4 shows an arrangement 2 for generating the reference clocking of the timepiece 100 according to the second embodiment, together with an electronic device 4.

[0120] The difference between the timepiece 10 according to the second embodiment and that according to the first embodiment resides in configuration 2.

[0121] 4, configuration 2 does not include a piezoelectric vibrating crystal, but instead includes a vibrating system 22 that includes an optical waveguide configuration 221, an electro-optical converter 222, and an optical-to-electrical converter 223. In optical waveguide configuration 221, an optical signal path 229 is formed from the electro-optical converter 222 to the optical-to-electrical converter 223, and an electrical signal path 230 is formed from the optical-to-electrical converter 223 to the electro-optical converter 222.

[0122] The optical waveguide configuration 221 includes an optical waveguide 224. The electro-optical converter 222 is configured to transmit a clock-controlled optical signal to the optical waveguide configuration 221, particularly to the optical waveguide 224, and the optical-to-electrical converter 223 is configured to receive the optical signal from the optical waveguide 224 and generate an electrical signal based on the received optical signal. The electro-optical converter 222 is controllable based on the electrical signal of the optical-to-electrical converter 223.

[0123] In particular, the electro-optical converter 222 is configured to send optical pulses directly into the optical waveguide arrangement 221, in particular into the optical waveguide 224. The optical-to-electrical converter 223 is thus configured to receive the optical pulses and convert them into electrical current pulses.

[0124] Furthermore, the vibration system 22 comprises a trigger 226 and a monoflop 227. The trigger 226 is arranged after the electrical amplifier 225 in the direction of the electrical signal on the electrical signal path 230.

[0125] The trigger 226 is now configured to control the monoflop 227 by the electrical signal from the optical-to-electrical converter 223, in particular by the amplified electrical signal after the electrical amplifier 225. The monoflop 227 is thereby configured to generate an output pulse for driving the electro-optical converter 222.

[0126] To operate the clock 100, an optical pulse is first sent from the electro-optical converter 222 through the optical waveguide 224. Due to the length of the optical waveguide 224, an optical pulse traveling from the electro-optical converter 222 to the optical-electrical converter 223 requires a certain time to reach the optical-electrical converter 223. In other words, this time is determined by the length of the optical waveguide 224. The optical-electrical converter 223 converts the optical pulse into a current pulse and sends it to the electrical amplifier 225. The electrical amplifier 225 amplifies the current pulse and converts it into a voltage pulse. Via a trigger 226, this voltage pulse controls a monoflop 227, which generates a short pulse of precisely defined duration (approximately 1 ns or less). This pulse controls the driver 228 of the electro-optical converter 222, which causes the electro-optical converter 222 to emit another optical pulse, thus completing the cycle.

[0127] This process is repeated a certain number of times per second. The number of repetitions per second is determined by the length of the optical waveguide 224. At a length of approximately 20 m, the process is repeated 10 million times per second. As a result, a vibration frequency of 10 MHz is generated in the vibration system 22, which can be reported to the electronic device 4 as an electrical signal (pulse sequence) of this frequency between the monoflop 227 and the driver 228.

[0128] Based on the frequency of the electrical signal between the monoflop 227 and the driver 228, a reference clocking is determined which is compared by the electronic device 4 with the clocking determined for the balance spring 112.

[0129] FIG. 5 shows a portion of a watch 100 according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0130] The watch 100 according to the third embodiment differs from that according to the first embodiment in that the watch 100 according to the third embodiment comprises, in addition to the previously described configuration 2, a further configuration for generating reference clocking.

[0131] Here, the previously described configuration 2 is a first configuration for generating a first reference clocking (corresponding to the reference clocking described above), and the further configuration is a second configuration 8 for generating a second reference clocking.

[0132] The second arrangement 8, in this embodiment, comprises the vibration system 22 of FIG. 4 and advantageously has a higher accuracy than the first arrangement.

[0133] Here, the electronic device 4 is configured to compare the first reference clocking with the second reference clocking, and the correction device 4 is configured to additionally change the frequency of the balance wheel 11 depending on the comparison between the first reference clocking and the second reference clocking. In particular, the result of the comparison between the first reference clocking and the second reference clocking can be taken into account when comparing the determined clocking with the first reference clocking, and can therefore be directly used to change the frequency of the balance wheel 11, in particular to adjust the balance spring 112.

[0134] In order to achieve high accuracy of the clock 100 without requiring too much electrical energy, the first arrangement is configured to generate the first reference clock continuously, whereas the second arrangement 8 is configured to generate the second reference clock in time segments that include pauses in particular at predetermined time intervals.

[0135] In addition to stopping the functions described with reference to the first embodiment when a non-use state is detected for the watch 100, the electronic device 4 may further be configured to stop the generation of the second reference clocking and / or the comparison of the first reference clocking with the second reference clocking and / or the additional modification of the frequency of the balance wheel 11 in response to the comparison of the first reference clocking with the second reference clocking when a non-use state is detected for the watch 100.

[0136] In this embodiment, the second reference clocking is derived from the oscillating system 22 described above, but it is also conceivable that instead of the oscillating system 22, the second arrangement 8 comprises a piezoelectric oscillating crystal that differs from the piezoelectric oscillating crystal of the first arrangement in frequency, and in particular in type, and in particular in material. For example, the second arrangement 8 may comprise a tourmaline oscillating crystal.

[0137] It should also be noted that the precise structure of the oscillation system 22 according to Figure 4 included in the second configuration 8 represents only one possible embodiment of the oscillation system 22 comprising the optical waveguide arrangement 221, the electro-optical converter 222 and the optical-to-electrical converter 223 for generating the second reference clocking. Thus, the oscillation system 22 can also be constructed in different ways.

[0138] FIG. 6 shows a portion of a watch 100 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0139] The timepiece 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the invention basically corresponds to the timepiece 100 according to the third embodiment.

[0140] However, in the timepiece 100 according to the fourth embodiment, the first arrangement 2 comprises an electronic oscillator 23, i.e. an oscillator comprising only electrical and / or electronic components, instead of the piezoelectric oscillating crystal 21 in the timepiece 100 according to the third embodiment. The electronic oscillator 23 is arranged to generate a first reference clocking.

[0141] Advantageously, the electronic oscillator 23 is an RC oscillator that is specifically configured as a relatively low frequency oscillator (for example 10 kHz).

[0142] An advantage of the timepiece 100 according to the fourth embodiment is that the power consumption for generating the first reference clocking can be reduced, and in particular minimized, since the electronic oscillator 23 is very energy efficient. This can significantly increase the operating time of the rechargeable battery 62 of the energy supply device 6 before it needs to be recharged.

[0143] In addition to the description of the invention given above, reference is expressly made to the diagrammatic representations of the invention in Figures 1 to 6 for complementary disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0144] 1. Clockwork 2 Configuration for generating reference clocking 3 Sensor device 4 Electronic equipment 5 Correction device 6. Energy supply device 7 Temperature Sensor 8 Second Configuration for Generating Second Reference Clocking 11 Heavenly Wheel 12 Escapement 13 Gear train 14 Drive unit 15 Mechanical clock display device 16 Winding device 21 Piezoelectric Vibration Crystal 22 Vibration System 23 Electronic Oscillator 51 Adjustable Drive 52 Adjustment device 61 Energy Harvesting Device 62 Rechargeable Battery 100 Clocks 101 Rug 102 bands 103 Watch Case 104 Watch Glass 105 Dial 111 Balance Ring 112 Hairspring 113 Suppression pin 114 studs 121 Blocking piece 122 Escape wheel 131 Second wheel 132 Minarin 133 Time Wheel 134 Third Wheel 140 Drive spring 151 hour hand 152 minute hand 153 Second hand 221 Optical waveguide configuration 222 Electro-optical converter 223 Optical-electrical converter 224 Optical waveguide 225 Electrical Amplifier 226 Trigger 227 Monoflop 228 Driver 229 Optical Signal Path 230 Electrical Signal Path

Claims

1. a clockwork (1) with a balance wheel (11); (2) a configuration for generating a reference clocking; a sensor device (3) for determining the clocking of said clockwork (1); an electronic device (4) configured to compare the clocking determined for said clockwork (1) with said reference clocking; a correction device (5) configured to modify the frequency of the balance wheel (11) depending on a comparison between the clocking of the clockwork (1) and the reference clocking; and in particular a wristwatch.

2. 2. The timepiece (100) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device (3) is configured to determine the clocking of the balance wheel (11) or another moving part of the clockwork (1).

3. 3. A timepiece (100) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the electronic device (4) is configured to determine a delay and / or advance of the clockwork (1) based on a comparison between the clocking determined for the balance wheel (11) and the reference clocking, and is additionally configured to at least partially correct said delay or advance afterwards by means of the correction device (5).

4. 4. The timepiece (100) according to claim 3, wherein the electronic device (4) is formed by the correction device (5) which changes the frequency of the balance wheel (11) to correct the loss or gain and, after at least partial correction, at least partially reverses the change.

5. 4. Timepiece (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the correction device (5) comprises a regulating drive (51) and a regulating device (52) adjacent to and / or against which the hairspring (112) abuts, the regulating drive (51) being adapted to set the position of the regulating device (52) in order to change the frequency of the hairspring (112).

6. 6. Timepiece (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that said adjusting device (52) comprises at least one restraining pin (113), said at least one restraining pin (113) being displaceable by said adjusting drive (51).

7. 7. A timepiece (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sensor device (3) comprises an acoustic and / or optical and / or electronic sensor device for determining the clocking of the clockwork (1).

8. 8. A timepiece (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the arrangement (2) comprises a piezoelectric oscillating crystal (21), or an oscillating system (22) comprising an optical waveguide arrangement (221), an electro-optical converter (222) and an optical-electrical converter (223), or an electronic oscillator (23), in particular an RC oscillator.

9. 9. A timepiece (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electronic device (4) is configured to determine the temperature of the component (2) and / or the environment of the component (2) and to take said temperature into account for modifying the frequency of the balance wheel (11).

10. 10. A timepiece (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the electronic device (4) is configured to compare the clocking determined for the clockwork (1) with the reference clocking in time segments including pauses.

11. The configuration (2) is a first configuration, and the reference clocking is a first reference clocking; a clock (100) further comprising a second arrangement (8) for generating a second reference clocking; the electronic device (4) is configured to compare the first reference clocking with the second reference clocking; Additionally, the correction device (5) is configured to change the frequency of the balance wheel (11) in response to a comparison between the first reference clocking and the second reference clocking; Preferably, the first arrangement comprises a piezoelectric vibrating crystal (21) or an electronic oscillator (23), in particular an RC oscillator, and the second arrangement (8) comprises a vibrating system (22) comprising an optical waveguide arrangement (221), an electro-optical converter (222) and an optical-electrical converter (223). A watch (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. 12. The watch (100) of claim 11, wherein the first configuration is configured to generate the first reference clocking continuously, and the second configuration (8) is configured to generate the second reference clocking in time segments that include pauses.

13. 13. A watch (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising an energy supply device (6) for supplying energy to the arrangement (2) for generating the reference clocking, to the sensor device (3), to the electronic device (4), and / or to the correction device (5), wherein the energy supply device (6) comprises an energy harvesting device (61) and a rechargeable battery (62).

14. When the non-use state of the watch (100) is detected, Stopping the generation of the reference clocking according to the configuration (2), and / or Stopping the comparison by the electronic device (4) of the clockwork (1) determined clocking of the moving parts with the reference clocking, and / or Stopping the modification of the frequency of the balance wheel depending on the comparison of the clocking determined for the clockwork (1) with the reference clocking, and / or arresting the movement of the clockwork (1); The electronic device (4) is configured so that In particular, the electronic device (4) is configured to determine the end of the non-use state. A watch (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. 15. A timepiece (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a manual and / or automatic winding of a drive spring arranged to drive a timepiece display.

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