Device for improving the accuracy of a mechanical watch

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an accuracy improvement device that achieves high accuracy comparable to that of a quartz clock and solves the accuracy problems of conventional mechanical clocks without significantly changing the existing clock structure. 【Means for solving the problem】 A mechanical clock is built-in with an external transmitter separate from the balance wheel, and its pulsation is converted into mechanical vibration by a piezo element, and the vibration energy is transmitted to the balance wheel. As a result, mechanical vibration is transmitted to the balance wheel of the mechanical clock, and the balance wheel is resonated by utilizing the pulling-in phenomenon. Due to this resonance, the vibration of the balance wheel is forcibly synchronized with the frequency of the quartz transmitter, and the accuracy is significantly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for significantly improving the accuracy of mechanical watches. In particular, it relates to an accuracy improvement device for obtaining quartz-level accuracy by incorporating a high-precision external oscillator (e.g., a quartz oscillator) inside a mechanical watch while retaining the escapement and the balance, converting its oscillation signal into a mechanical vibration, and transmitting it to the balance.

Background Art

[0002] Mechanical watches have continued to be supported by the high-end watch market and enthusiasts due to their aesthetics and the charm of traditional mechanisms. However, due to the characteristics of their structure, it is difficult for mechanical watches to achieve the same high accuracy as quartz watches. Despite many efforts, the accuracy limit of general mechanical watches is considered to be several seconds to dozens of seconds per day. On the other hand, quartz watches can achieve timekeeping within several seconds per day, and in some cases, even higher accuracy, by using a stable reference frequency based on an internal crystal oscillator.

[0003] Conventionally, various attempts have been made to improve the accuracy of mechanical watches. For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 3006593) discloses a "spring drive" method that controls the rotation period with electronic control means while using a mechanical energy source (mainspring). However, this method virtually eliminates the escapement and equalizes the mainspring drive with a unique control system, making it difficult to maintain the structure and aesthetics unique to the escapement, which is a symbolic element of conventional mechanical watches.

[0004] On the other hand, as described in Non-Patent Document 1 (the article "How watchmakers try to make two balances better than one" on the Hodinkee website), as a purely mechanical approach, technologies such as averaging errors using two balances are also known. Although such technologies improve accuracy through resonance and synchronization phenomena between mechanical elements, the improvement is still within the mechanical limit, and it is difficult to achieve the stability and accuracy of quartz watches.

[0005] Therefore, in order to impart quartz-like accuracy to a mechanical watch while retaining the template and escapement, a new approach is required in which an electronic high-precision reference signal is appropriately introduced into the mechanical elements to forcibly synchronize and control the template.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Documents

[0007]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] The present invention solves the above problems, and provides an accuracy improvement device that realizes high accuracy comparable to that of a quartz watch by maintaining the template and escapement in a mechanical watch, maintaining the traditional structural beauty and the unique mechanical dynamic feeling, and utilizing the reference frequency of an external transmitter (for example, a quartz transmitter).

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] In a first aspect of the present invention, an external transmitter that operates separately from the mainspring is incorporated in a mechanical watch, the pulsation thereof is converted into mechanical vibration by an actuator, and the vibration energy is transmitted to the mainspring. A device, wherein the frequency and waveform of the template and the oscillation interval, frequency, and waveform of the external transmitter are adjusted or set in advance or dynamically so that forced synchronization occurs due to the pulling-in phenomenon There is provided a device for improving the accuracy of a watch, which is characterized by the above. Here, the actuator may be at least one selected from a piezo element, a transducer other than the piezo element, and a micromachine.

[0010] The above By synchronization, the vibration of the mainspring coincides with the oscillation signal of the external transmitter serving as an external reference signal, and it becomes possible to obtain the accuracy at the quartz transmitter level.

[0011] The pulsation of the external transmitter may be transmitted at intervals that are an integral multiple of the period of the mainspring.

[0012] The pulsation of the mainspring may be detected using a vibration sensor attached to the mechanical watch to detect a detuned state, and based on the result of the detection, the frequency of the actuator, the waveform of the actuator, or the oscillation interval of the external transmitter may be feedback-controlled.

[0013] The power source of the device may be any one or a combination of a primary battery, a secondary battery, a supercapacitor, a vibration generator, an incense box generator, and a solar panel.

[0014] In order for the actuator and the mainspring to efficiently achieve synchronization, the actuator and the mainspring may share a highly rigid mount. Alternatively, in order for the actuator and the mainspring to efficiently achieve synchronization, the actuator and the mainspring may be connected by a vibration transmission arm.

[0015] Further, in order to promote resonance between the actuator and the template, it may have a structure that insulates the total inertia of the vibrating parts of the template unit including the actuator and the template from the inertia of the entire watch. By preparing an environment advantageous for resonance, such as insulating the template unit from the inertia of the entire watch in this way, smooth pulling-in to the external transmitter is supported. At this time, the natural resonance frequency of the actuator itself and the orientation with respect to the template are also optimized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Without significantly changing the structure of an existing mechanical watch, the object of achieving high accuracy comparable to that of a quartz watch is realized by incorporating an external transmitter separate from the template of the watch to be installed, converting its pulsation into mechanical vibration by a piezo element, and adding a device that transmits the vibration energy to the template.

Example

[0018] FIG. 1 is an image diagram showing a state in which the accuracy improvement device of the present embodiment is incorporated into a mechanical watch body. The accuracy improvement device is configured as a system built into the mechanical watch body 1001 from the controller 1002, the piezo element 1004, the vibration sensor 1005, the quartz oscillator 1006, the secondary battery 1007, the incense box generator 1008 that controls the rotation of the incense box to generate electricity, the vibration generator 1009, and the solar panel 1010. The controller 1002 is electrically connected to other components to receive detection signals, transmit control signals, and supply power.

[0019] The template unit 1003, which is a component of the mechanical watch itself to be incorporated, has a piezo element 1004 and a vibration sensor 1005 attached thereto. The piezo element 1004 is an actuator that generates mechanical vibrations upon receiving a drive signal and power supply from the controller 1002. The vibration sensor 1005 measures the vibration of the template and transmits the frequency and waveform to the controller 1002. The controller performs demodulation detection from the transmitted frequency and waveform of the template and performs feedback control.

[0020] The quartz oscillator 1006 is an external oscillator that incorporates an oscillator that vibrates separately from the template that constitutes the mechanical watch, and transmits its oscillation signal to the controller 1002. The controller drives the piezo element 1004 with a drive signal generated according to the oscillation signal, and controls to generate mechanical vibrations with the frequency and waveform of the oscillation signal.

[0021] The transmission operation of the quartz oscillator 1006 is at intervals that are an integer multiple of the period of the template. Thereby, power savings can be achieved.

[0022] Here, a quartz oscillator is adopted as an external oscillator that operates separately from the template, but the external oscillator that can be adopted in the present invention is not limited to this, and any high-precision oscillator can be adopted as appropriate.

[0023] The mechanical watch body 1001 is further incorporated with a secondary battery 1007, an incense box generator 1008 that controls the rotation of the incense box to generate electricity, a vibration generator 1009, and a solar panel 1010 that generates electricity upon receiving sunlight or the like 1011.

[0024] Here, a primary battery, a supercapacitor, etc. may be additionally incorporated or modified and built into the watch body. A plurality of power sources can be appropriately selected, and any one or a combination of a primary battery, a secondary battery, a supercapacitor, a vibration generator, an incense box generator, and a solar panel can be adopted. In this way, by comprehensively using a plurality of power sources, the flexibility of environmental adaptation can be enhanced. That is, an optimal power source can be utilized according to specific situations and applications.

[0025] Figure 2 is a detailed diagram showing the components around the template including the template unit. The template unit 1003 is attached to the mechanical watch body 1001 via a template unit damper 2001. The template unit 1003 is composed of a piezo element 1004, a vibration sensor 1005, a template receiver 2002 to which a bearing 2003 is attached, a bearing 2003, and a template 2004 supported by the bearing 2003.

[0026] The piezo element 1004 installed on the template receiver 2002 receives, via a controller, the pulsation which is an oscillation signal from a quartz oscillator 1006 that vibrates separately from the template, converts the pulsation into mechanical vibration, and transmits the vibration energy to the template 2004 via the template receiver 2002 and the bearing 2003. In the present invention, a high-precision oscillator such as a quartz oscillator is used as an external oscillator that operates separately from the template, and the piezo element is driven at its frequency. The mechanical vibration generated by the drive is transmitted to the template of the mechanical watch, and is adjusted in advance or dynamically so as to resonate the template by utilizing the pull-in phenomenon. Due to this resonance, the vibration of the template is forcibly synchronized with the frequency and waveform of the quartz oscillator, and the accuracy is greatly improved. Here, the adjustment includes fine-tuning the moment of inertia of the template and the rigidity of the hairspring to bring the natural vibration frequency of the template closer to the output frequency of the external transmitter, so as to make the natural vibration frequency of the template coincide with the frequency of the external transmitter, or shaping the waveform of the external transmitter into a form suitable for the operation of the template. In addition, for the control of the external transmitter, in order to reduce the energy consumption such as power, a method of controlling the pulsation of the external transmitter at intervals that are integer multiples of the period of the template is adopted.

[0027] As shown here, the template receiver 2002 is shared as the mount of the piezoelectric element, and has a structure that promotes the resonance between the template and the piezoelectric element. Furthermore, as a result of this resonance, the vibration of the template and the pulsation of the external transmitter are synchronized. Here, the titanium alloy is adopted as the high-rigidity material for the mount, but the high-rigidity materials applicable in the present invention are not limited to this, and stainless steel, ceramics, etc. can be appropriately adopted.

[0028] Here, the method of attaching the piezoelectric element to the template receiver is adopted, but the attachment method of the piezoelectric element of the present invention is not limited to this, and any attachment method that can efficiently transmit the vibration energy near the template to the template can be appropriately adopted. Also, a piezoelectric element is adopted as the actuator driven by the pulsation of the external transmitter, but the actuator of the present invention is not limited to this, and other transducers or micromachines, etc. can be adopted.

[0029] Spring isolation is adopted for the template unit damper 2001, and it has a structure that insulates the total inertia of the vibrating parts of the template unit 1003 including the template 2004 from the inertia of the entire clock. Here, spring isolation is adopted as the template unit damper, but the template unit dampers applicable in the present invention are not limited to this, and bearing isolation, roller isolation, slip isolation, etc. can be appropriately adopted.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the attachment of the actuator. A piezoelectric element 1004 serving as an actuator is attached to an actuator receiver 3002 attached to a mechanical watch body 1001 via an actuator unit damper 3001. The piezoelectric element 1004 and the template 2004 are connected by a vibration transmission arm 3004 connected to the template 2004 via a bearing 2003. The material of the vibration transmission arm is assumed to be a titanium alloy, which is a high-rigidity material, in order to improve vibration transmission. Although a titanium alloy is adopted as this high-rigidity material, the high-rigidity materials applicable in the present invention are not limited to this, and stainless steel, ceramics, etc. can be appropriately adopted. As a result of improving vibration transmission, resonance between the actuator and the template is promoted, and synchronization with an external transmitter is promoted.

[0031] (Configuration of Template and Escapement) FIG. 4 is an image diagram showing the interlocking between the template and the escapement of a mechanical watch incorporating the accuracy improvement device of the present embodiment. The escapement includes a lever 4001 not shown in FIG. 1 and a cannon pinion 4002 not shown in FIG. 1 in its configuration, generates regular vibrations using the vibrations of the template 2004, converts the energy transmitted from the mainspring into a constant rhythm suitable for time measurement, and adjusts the force for advancing the hands of the watch.

[0032] The piezoelectric element 1004 attached to the template receiver 2002 is driven at its frequency by a high-precision transmitter such as a quartz transmitter as an external transmitter that operates separately from the template 2004 of the mechanical watch. The mechanical vibrations generated by the drive are transmitted to the template 2004 and resonate the template by the pulling-in phenomenon. The vibrations of the template 2004 are forcibly synchronized with the frequency and waveform of the quartz transmitter, and furthermore, the vibrations of the escapement generated using the vibrations of the template are also synchronized with the frequency and waveform of the quartz transmitter, so that the accuracy of the mechanical watch is greatly improved.

[0033] By providing an accuracy improvement device as described above, it becomes possible to improve the accuracy to a level comparable to that of a quartz watch without removing the templates and escapements of existing mechanical watches. Also, it is possible to significantly improve convenience and reliability without impairing the aesthetics and traditional mechanisms of the watch.

Industrial Applicability

[0034] The present invention is applicable in the watch industry, the luxury watch industry, the fashion industry, or the hobby watch industry.

Explanation of Signs

[0035] 1001 Mechanical watch body 1002 Controller 1003 Template unit 1004 Piezo element 1005 Vibration sensor 1006 Quartz transmitter

Claims

1. A device in which an external oscillator that operates separately from the balance is built into a mechanical watch, the beat of the external oscillator is converted into mechanical vibration by an actuator, and the vibration energy of the mechanical vibration is transmitted to the balance, A device for improving the accuracy of a timepiece, characterized in that the frequency and waveform of the balance and the oscillation interval, frequency and waveform of the external oscillator are adjusted or set in advance or dynamically so that forced synchronization occurs through the entrainment phenomenon.

2. 2. The timepiece accuracy improving device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is at least one selected from a piezoelectric element, a transducer other than a piezoelectric element, and a micromachine.

3. 2. The timepiece accuracy improving device according to claim 1, wherein the external oscillator transmits beats at intervals that are an integral multiple of the period of the balance.

4. The device for improving the accuracy of a timepiece as described in claim 3, characterized in that a vibration sensor attached to the mechanical timepiece is used to detect the beat of the balance wheel and detect a state of out-of-step, and based on the result of the detection, the frequency of the actuator, the waveform of the actuator, or the transmission interval of the external oscillator is feedback-controlled.

5. 2. The device for improving accuracy of a timepiece as described in claim 1, characterized in that the power source of the accuracy improvement device is any one or a combination of a primary battery, a secondary battery, a supercapacitor, a vibration generator, a barrel generator, and a solar panel.

6. 2. A timepiece accuracy improving device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said actuator and said balance share a rigid mount to efficiently achieve synchronization between said actuator and said balance.

7. 2. The timepiece accuracy improving device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator and said balance are connected by a vibration transmission arm so as to efficiently achieve synchronization between said actuator and said balance.

8. 8. A device for improving the accuracy of a timepiece as described in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it has a structure that isolates the total inertia of the vibrating parts of the balance unit, including the actuator and the balance, from the inertia of the entire timepiece, in order to promote resonance between the actuator and the balance.

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