Oscillating Weight Dual-Function Vibrating Alarm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatically wound timepiece movements with alarm mechanisms require additional power sources and complex structures for silent vibrating alarms, leading to increased size and complexity, as well as limited vibration amplitude.
Innovation Solution
An automatically wound timepiece movement that utilizes the energy stored by the barrel of a basic automatic winding mechanism to power a vibrating alarm mechanism, where the oscillating weight serves as both the energy source and vibrating element, eliminating the need for a dedicated energy source and reducing the number of parts required, thereby simplifying the design and increasing vibration amplitude.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated energy source and specific elements are added for the silent vibrating alarm function, then the alarm function is achieved, but the complexity and size of the structure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating weight is designed to serve dual functions: it acts as both the traditional energy-storing component of the automatic winding mechanism and as the vibrating element for the silent alarm. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for the alarm function, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining alarm capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the energy source function and vibrating element function into a single component - the oscillating weight. By combining these previously separate functions into one element, the overall device complexity is reduced and the number of parts to be assembled is decreased
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated energy source and specific elements are added for the silent vibrating alarm function, then the alarm function is achieved, but the size of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating weight serves multiple purposes including energy storage for the movement and vibration generation for the alarm, eliminating the need for additional dedicated space for alarm components and thus preventing an increase in watch calibre size
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the alarm's vibrating element with the existing oscillating weight, the patent avoids adding separate components that would increase the overall volume of the movement, keeping the watch case dimensions unchanged
3Device complexity
If a conventional vibrating element is used, then the alarm structure is simple, but the vibration amplitude is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating weight, already designed to have significant mass for effective energy storage and wrist motion detection, is utilized as the vibrating element. This provides larger vibration amplitude compared to conventional small vibrating elements while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the vibrating element from a small conventional component to the larger oscillating weight, thereby increasing the vibration amplitude. This parameter change leverages the existing mass and motion characteristics of the oscillating weight to achieve stronger vibration output
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 solution simplifies the design, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances vibration amplitude without increasing the watch's size or requiring additional components, allowing for more space in the watch case for other modules while maintaining the power reserve.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanism which vibrates the timepiece 2 without generating an audible acoustic signal
Data Source
AI summary
Timepiece movement 1 including an energy source 36 coupled to an oscillating weight 2 by a first kinematic chain 3 for automatically winding the movement 1, the timepiece movement 1 being characterized in that the energy source 36 is also coupled to an actuation device 41 and a vibrating element 42 via a second kinematic chain 4 to form a vibrating alarm mechanism that can be released at a predetermined time.