Chronograph Timepiece Lever Mechanism for Consistent Start Feel
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chronograph timepieces fail to maintain distinct operational feels for starting and stopping chronograph measurements, leading to confusion when resuming measurement after reaching the maximum measurement time.
Innovation Solution
A chronograph timepiece with a mechanical structure and control mechanism that differentiates the operational feel between starting and resetting operations, using a lever system to ensure consistent feel during restarts after maximum measurement time, employing a control means to manage the chronograph hand movement and zero-restoring functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the chronograph measurement is electrically automatically stopped at maximum measurement time, then the measurement function is protected, but the operational feel becomes inconsistent with normal stop operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely electrical automatic stop mechanism with a hybrid system that includes a mechanical lever means. The lever means mechanically distinguishes between start and stop operations by creating different operational feels (heavy click for start, light click for stop), while the control means electronically manages the maximum measurement time limit. This combination resolves the contradiction by providing both measurement protection and operational consistency.
2Reliability
If the lever is maintained in the chronograph measurement state after maximum time, then the measurement stop state is achieved, but the starting operational feel is lost upon restart
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operational states into distinct phases managed by different mechanisms. The lever means handles the mechanical state segmentation (start state vs. zero-restored state), while the control means handles the measurement state segmentation (running vs. stopped at maximum time). This segmentation allows the system to maintain measurement stop state reliability while restoring starting operational feel through proper state management.
Solution Approach 2:
The control means provides feedback to the lever means about the measurement state. When maximum measurement time is reached, the control means signals the lever means to return to the zero-restored state, creating the appropriate heavy click feel for subsequent start operations. This feedback mechanism ensures operational feel consistency while maintaining measurement protection.
3Ease of operation
If the operating portion provides different click feels for start and stop, then user awareness of operation phase is improved, but confusion occurs after maximum measurement time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the mechanical lever means to preserve operation phase information that would otherwise be lost. The lever's physical position (engaged or disengaged) serves as a mechanical memory of the current state, ensuring that even after maximum measurement time stops the chronograph, the next start operation will produce the correct heavy click feel, preventing user confusion.
Data Source
AI summary
When it is judged that a chronograph second counter and a chronograph minute counter have measured a maximum measurement time, a maximum measurement control unit controls a drive pulse generation circuit so as to drive and stop a motor such that chronograph hand stops at predetermined positions. When, in this state, a restarting operation is performed on a start/stop button, a normal chronograph measurement operation is restarted. At this time, a mechanical structure has been restored to a reset state, so that even at the time of restarting after the measurement of the maximum measurement time, the load at the starting operation is the same as that of the normal operation, thus generating no sense of incongruity.