Automatic Watch Holder Orientation Control for Clock Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic watches stop functioning when not regularly worn, requiring manual winding and time setting, and accumulate significant time discrepancies due to clock drift.
Innovation Solution
An accessory with a three-axis gimbal system and sensors to adjust the watch's orientation dynamically to minimize clock drift and maintain accurate timekeeping, using actuators to rotate the watch about multiple axes and sensors to monitor and compensate for running speed and time discrepancies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a watch winder is used to prevent the automatic watch from stopping, then the watch remains running, but the time accuracy deteriorates due to clock drift accumulating to minutes over weeks
Solution Approach 1:
The watch holder is made dynamically adjustable through actuators that rotate it about multiple axes (first rotational axis and second rotational axis). The orientation is continuously or periodically adjusted to optimize the running speed of the watch, thereby minimizing clock drift accumulation while maintaining continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical orientation parameters of the watch holder (angular positions about first and second rotational axes) to optimize watch performance. By adjusting these orientation parameters, the running speed of the automatic watch is optimized to minimize time deviation from reference time.
2Measurement precision
If the watch holder orientation is adjusted to minimize clock drift, then time accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple actuators and rotational axes
Solution Approach 1:
The watch holder system serves multiple functions: it holds the automatic watch, provides winding motion through rotation, and actively controls orientation to minimize clock drift. The same actuator system that positions the watch for optimal running speed also serves the winding function, reducing the need for separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation control is segmented into independent rotational movements about a first rotational axis and a second rotational axis. This segmentation allows each actuator to control a specific degree of freedom, simplifying the control logic and making the complex orientation adjustment manageable through modular, independent actuation systems.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If manual winding is performed to restart the stopped watch, then the watch resumes operation, but time setting and calendar adjustment are required which consumes additional time
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service by automatically winding the watch through motor-driven rotation of the watch holder. The actuators continuously or periodically rotate the watch holder about the first and second rotational axes, keeping the automatic watch wound and running without requiring manual intervention, thereby eliminating time loss to manual winding and setting operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
An accessory (100) for an automatic watch (200) is provided. The accessory comprises a watch holder (120) carried by a first gimbal (130) in a manner to be rotatable about a first rotational axis A-A. The watch holder (120) is further rotatable about a second rotational axis B-B and rotation about the first rotational axis A-A and the second rotational axis B-B is caused by a first actuator (132) and a second actuator (122), respectively.