Horological Generator Assembly Using Rotor-Coil Class Matching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Timepieces with generators face a trade-off between power reserve and production cost due to the need for tight manufacturing tolerances to achieve optimal power supply voltage, which increases costs and reduces power reserve if relaxed.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the classification of rotors into classes based on magnetic coupling factors to optimize voltage ranges, allowing for larger manufacturing tolerances while maintaining efficient power supply within a given range, thereby reducing production costs and enhancing power reserve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tight manufacturing tolerances are imposed on generators to ensure power supply voltage remains above minimum voltage, then reliability of power supply is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of manufacturing tolerances from tight to loose, and compensates by adjusting the classification and matching parameters of magnetic coupling factors. This allows generators to be manufactured more cheaply with larger tolerances while still ensuring reliable power supply through statistical matching of rotor-stator pairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by classifying rotors and stators into different groups based on their magnetic coupling factors, and then matching them in specific combinations. This ensures that each generator assembly has the appropriate local magnetic coupling characteristics needed to maintain power supply voltage above minimum levels, even with loose overall manufacturing tolerances.
2Ease of manufacture
If manufacturing tolerances are relaxed to reduce production cost, then ease of manufacture is improved, but power supply voltage may fall below minimum voltage reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by measuring the magnetic coupling factor of each rotor-stator combination and using this information to classify and match components. This feedback mechanism ensures that even with relaxed manufacturing tolerances, the final assembled generators have magnetic coupling characteristics that guarantee power supply voltage remains above minimum voltage levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by classifying rotors and stators into different groups based on their magnetic coupling factors before assembly. This preliminary classification ensures that when components are assembled, they are matched in combinations that will produce the desired power supply voltage characteristics, preventing voltage from falling below minimum levels.
3Duration of action of moving object
If power consumption is reduced to increase power reserve, then duration of action is improved, but power supply voltage may drop below minimum operating voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of magnetic coupling factor optimization to maximize power output for a given mechanical input. By carefully selecting and matching rotor-stator pairs with optimal magnetic coupling factors, the system achieves maximum electrical power output, allowing the electronic circuit to operate at minimum voltage with reduced power consumption, thereby extending power reserve.
4Manufacturing precision
If classification and matching of rotors based on magnetic coupling factor is implemented, then manufacturing precision requirements are relaxed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of tight manufacturing tolerances with a measurement and classification system. Instead of relying on precise mechanical manufacturing, the system uses magnetic coupling factor measurements to classify components and match them appropriately, substituting measurement and information processing for mechanical precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the production of generators with a high power reserve and low production costs by optimizing the magnetic coupling factor ranges, ensuring efficient power supply to electronic circuits while minimizing electrical power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the rotor and the stator being arranged so as to allow a magnetic coupling which induces at least at each revolution of the rotor a voltage induced in said at least one coil
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a plurality of generators, each intended to power supply an electronic circuit operating in a given power supply voltage range, includes a step of manufacturing coils distributed in N pluralities of coils, similar within the same plurality and different from one plurality to another, and a step of manufacturing a plurality of rotors which is carried out with tolerances limiting the cost of production. The plurality of rotors is classified into N classes of rotors which are associated respectively with the N pluralities of coils to form N pairs allowing the assembly of N groups of generators. The generators of each of the N groups of generators have magnetic coupling factors between their rotor and their stator which are located in a corresponding optimised value range, which is at least partially superimposed on the others of the N optimised value ranges relating to the N generator groups.