Electromechanical Watch Coil Layout for Shock Step Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromechanical watches are vulnerable to shocks due to unwanted steps caused by high impedance in the coil, leading to delayed or insufficient reaction, increased energy consumption, and reduced battery life, as existing solutions either fail to dampen unwanted movements or generate excessive blocking pulses.
Innovation Solution
The electromechanical watch incorporates a stator with two coils, where one coil is connected to a voltage detection circuit and the other is short-circuited during intervals between drive pulses, allowing for passive blocking of unwanted steps and efficient energy use, with switches controlled by an electronic control circuit to manage coil configurations for optimal shock detection and resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the coil is connected to a voltage detection circuit during intervals between drive pulses to detect unwanted steps, then shock detection capability is improved, but the coil impedance must be kept very high which prevents current flow and eliminates passive damping of unwanted rotor movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coil system into two separate coils (first coil and second coil) instead of using a single coil for both detection and damping functions. The first coil is connected to the voltage detection circuit for shock detection, while the second coil is short-circuited to provide passive damping through eddy currents, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection precision and damping reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The electromechanical motor system is designed to perform multiple functions: the first coil serves for detection while the second coil provides damping, allowing the system to simultaneously achieve both shock detection capability and passive damping without compromising either function
2Speed
If blocking pulses are generated rapidly with low detection threshold to prevent unwanted steps, then response speed is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The second coil is pre-configured in a short-circuited state during intervals between drive pulses, creating a passive damping field before shocks occur. This preliminary action allows the system to respond to shocks more effectively without needing to generate high-energy blocking pulses, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining fast response capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of unwanted rotor movements during shocks into a beneficial damping effect by short-circuiting the second coil, which generates eddy currents that naturally oppose and reduce unwanted movements, thereby reducing the need for energy-intensive blocking pulses
3Reliability
If the coil is short-circuited to provide passive damping during intervals between drive pulses, then resistance to shocks is improved, but the ability to detect unwanted steps via induced voltage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coil functions into two separate coils: the first coil remains connected to the voltage detection circuit for detecting unwanted steps, while the second coil is short-circuited to provide passive damping. This segmentation allows both shock resistance and detection precision to coexist without interfering with each other
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 configuration significantly reduces unwanted steps during shocks, ensures timely detection and correction, and enhances the watch's resistance to shocks while minimizing energy consumption and extending battery life.
Implementation Method 1
detect any voltage induced in this first coil during intervals of time occurring between the drive pulses supplied to the motor
Implementation Method 2
short-circuit the second coil during at least the major part of each of these intervals of time
Data Source
AI summary
An electromechanical watch including an electromechanical motor (4) mechanically coupled to an analogue display (AD) and formed by two coils (B1, B2) through which the magnetic circuit (10) of the stator passes. A first of the two coils is connected to a voltage detection circuit (CD1, CD2) arranged to be able to detect any voltage induced in this first coil during intervals of time occurring, in a stepping functioning mode of the motor, between drive pulses to detect whether an unwanted step is made by the rotor (18) during these intervals of time. The electromechanical watch includes at least one switch (T1, T2, T3) that is controlled by an electronic control circuit (CEC) to short-circuit the second coil during each of said intervals of time, in order to passively hold the rotor in the idle position in which it is situated momentarily between the drive pulses.