Sympathetic Timepiece Assembly for Periodic Winding Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sympathetic clocks and watches face issues with inefficient winding, time setting, and adjustment, leading to unnecessary wear, inaccurate time setting, and limited functionality due to fixed timing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A sympathetic timepiece assembly with a clock and watch connected by two distinct transmission lines, allowing for flexible winding, precise time setting, and additional display functions, including second, minute, hour, date, moon phase, and leap year, with independent shafts for function selection and power transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the watch is placed continuously on the clock for winding, then the winding function is performed, but the automatic barrel undergoes significant wear due to constant rapid winding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic winding action by controlling the clock's winding mechanism to operate at specific intervals (e.g., once or twice daily at predetermined times) rather than continuously. This periodic operation allows the automatic barrel to rest between winding cycles, significantly reducing mechanical wear on the barrel and its components while still maintaining adequate power reserve in the watch.
2Ease of operation
If the watch is stopped when placed on the clock, then it can be stored, but the time setting mechanism is unnecessarily biased due to periodic time setting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control of the time setting mechanism by detecting whether the watch is in a running or stopped state. When the watch is detected as stopped, the time setting function is automatically disabled or deactivated, preventing unnecessary periodic time setting operations. This dynamic adaptation ensures that time setting only occurs when the watch is running, eliminating bias in the time setting mechanism while preserving storage convenience.
3Ease of operation
If the watch is stopped when placed on the clock, then it can be stored, but precise time setting at the exact second cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic state detection and responsive control: when the watch is detected as stopped, the system adapts by disabling time setting functions to prevent inaccurate settings. When the watch is running, the system enables precise time setting operations including second-level accuracy. This dynamic approach reconciles storage flexibility with time setting precision by making the time setting capability contingent on the watch's operational state.
4Extent of automation
If fixed timing mechanisms are used for winding and time setting, then the functions are performed automatically, but the functionality is limited and cannot be easily extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into modular functional blocks: a control unit that detects watch state (running/stopped), a winding control module, a time setting control module, and a display module. This segmentation allows independent control of each function and enables easy addition or modification of functions (such as date, day, month displays) without affecting the core automatic winding and time setting mechanisms, thereby enhancing versatility while maintaining automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for permanent time setting of a sympathetic watch (200) by a sympathetic clock (100) forming a sympathetic assembly (1000) with the watch (200) which includes an hour display (4) and a minute display (5), a reference position of which will be defined, and the time-setting is executed only at request by action of a user on a control means (300) included in the clock (100) or the watch (200), or automatically periodically controlled by the clock (100), and, to perform the time setting, the clock (100) drives the displays (4; 5) of the watch backwards, in the counter-clockwise direction, with a sufficiently long stroke to ensure that the displays (4; 5) pass through the reference position; or the clock controls means of the watch (200) which are disposed so as to ensure the displacement of the displays to the reference position by means of heart-pieces.