Mechanical Timepiece Diode-Free Rectification for Power Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical timepieces face inefficiencies in extracting electric power due to small power generation from magnet motion and voltage drops from full wave rectification using diodes, leading to power loss.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical timepiece design incorporating a permanent magnet, soft magnetic core, and rectifying circuit to efficiently extract electric power through electromagnetic means, with a control circuit for rate adjustment based on detection voltage and frequency, using a hairspring for elastic deformation and a coil for power generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If full wave rectification is performed by means of a rectifier including a plurality of diodes, then the current can be rectified, but a voltage drop corresponding to the number of diodes occurs, resulting in power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the diode components from the rectifier circuit. By removing the diodes that cause voltage drop and power loss, the invention achieves rectification functionality without the harmful voltage drop, directly addressing the technical contradiction between energy loss and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional diode-based rectification mechanism with an alternative rectification method that does not rely on semiconductor diodes. This substitution eliminates the voltage drop inherent in diode operation while maintaining the rectification function, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and circuit complexity.
2Power
If a rectifier including four diodes is used for full wave rectification, then power generation can be achieved, but voltage drop occurs resulting in power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of diode voltage drop into a benefit by designing a rectification system that explicitly avoids diode usage. The invention acknowledges the power loss problem caused by conventional rectifiers and transforms this challenge into an opportunity to create a more efficient power generation system with reduced energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the rectification process by eliminating the diode-based approach. By altering the rectification mechanism from diode-dependent to diode-independent, the system achieves both power generation functionality and reduced power loss, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
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
Efficient extraction of electric power is achieved, enabling effective rate adjustment and power supply in mechanical timepieces, reducing power loss and enhancing energy utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a detection voltage to be caused in the coil by a motion of the permanent magnet accompanying a forward direction motion and a reverse direction motion of the balance wheel
Implementation Method 2
a hairspring to be elastically deformed so as to cause the balance wheel to perform a forward/reverse rotational motion
Implementation Method 3
a soft magnetic core including: a first end portion to be provided along an outer periphery of the permanent magnet; and a second end portion which is to be provided along the outer periphery of the permanent magnet, and is to be arranged so as to be opposed to the first end portion through intermediation of the permanent magnet, the soft magnetic core being configured to form a magnetic circuit together with the coil
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical timepiece includes: a hairspring; a permanent magnet; a soft magnetic core; a control circuit for performing rate adjustment based on a counter-electromotive voltage caused in a coil by a motion of the permanent magnet accompanying a forward direction motion and a reverse direction motion of the balance wheel. The permanent magnet is arranged so that, under a state in which the hairspring is brought to an equilibrium length, a direction of magnetization is directed to the first end portion side or the second end portion side.