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EP0603815B1 - Montre électronique indépendante du réseau de courant - Google Patents

Montre électronique indépendante du réseau de courant Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0603815B1
EP0603815B1 EP93120601A EP93120601A EP0603815B1 EP 0603815 B1 EP0603815 B1 EP 0603815B1 EP 93120601 A EP93120601 A EP 93120601A EP 93120601 A EP93120601 A EP 93120601A EP 0603815 B1 EP0603815 B1 EP 0603815B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
energy source
clock
time
special function
output voltage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP93120601A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0603815A2 (fr
EP0603815A3 (fr
Inventor
Frank Wohlrabe
Manfred Kaiser
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Braun GmbH
Original Assignee
Braun GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Braun GmbH filed Critical Braun GmbH
Publication of EP0603815A2 publication Critical patent/EP0603815A2/fr
Publication of EP0603815A3 publication Critical patent/EP0603815A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0603815B1 publication Critical patent/EP0603815B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C10/00—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces
    • G04C10/04—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces with means for indicating the condition of the power supply

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a mains-independent electronic watch with an electrical circuit which, in addition to the time-keeping function when a definable condition is fulfilled, is capable of executing a special function that is only activated for a comparatively short period of time but requires a comparatively high load current, such as, for example, the emission of an acoustic signal Alarm signal, and with a device for monitoring the energy content of its electrical energy source, the energy content being monitored by measuring the output voltage of the energy source.
  • Electricity-independent, i.e. battery or accumulator-operated electronic clocks are generally known today, both in the form of so-called small clocks, that is, primarily wristwatches, and in the form of so-called large clocks, that is, wall, table and alarm clocks.
  • small clocks that is, primarily wristwatches
  • large clocks that is, wall, table and alarm clocks.
  • the quartz-controlled Braun alarm clock AB 30 is known, which is operated as an energy source either with a so-called "mignon cell” with an operating voltage of 1.5 volts or with a corresponding accumulator, whereby it the latter is mostly nickel-cadmium batteries that have a capacity of approximately 500 mAh at a voltage of 1.2 volts.
  • a disadvantage of all such clocks is the fact that their users are largely left in the dark about the energy content of their energy source. With an average lifespan of between 1 and 3 years, the exhaustion of such energy sources is only announced by the fact that either the clock is running or, in the case of alarm clocks, the acoustic signal emitted by an electroacoustic transducer is being output garbled is or completely fails, especially in the case of digital clocks, or only a dull or no light is emitted by an often available device for electrically illuminating the time display. In all of these cases, it may already be too late for the user of the watch to immediately procure new batteries that should not be kept in stock due to their aging, even without power consumption.
  • the voltage drop associated with the depletion of the energy source is very different for different types of energy sources.
  • the voltage drop in batteries with a relatively high capacity, such as mercury, silver or lithium batteries is very flat for a long time and only accelerates drastically towards the end of their service life.
  • Conventional medium-capacity batteries initially have a significantly larger voltage drop, but do not drop so drastically with their output voltage at the end of their service life.
  • the internal resistance of the energy source also plays an important role. a light source for illuminating the display field of the watch, causes an additional voltage drop.
  • inexpensive zinc-carbon batteries have a relatively high internal resistance. With them it can happen that the voltage would be sufficient for a long time only with the function that only keeps time, but drops so much when the lighting is switched on that the time-keeping function of the clock is also disturbed.
  • US Pat. No. 4,024,415 describes a circuit which can also be used in an electronic watch and which has at least one pair of MOS transistors which are connected in such a way that at least one of these transistors is brought into its conductive state when the output voltage of the energy source falls below a definable threshold.
  • a display element signaling the voltage drop is activated by means of a complementary MOS inverter.
  • a quartz clockwork controls the seconds hand of the clock via an electromagnetically driven step mechanism, which is switched on for a second at normal output voltage of the energy source. If the output voltage falls below a certain threshold value, the second hand is advanced by two seconds every two seconds.
  • a battery-operated electronic watch is known from EP 0 203 330 B1, which likewise has an electromagnetically driven stepping mechanism. Switch-on impulses to the step-by-step mechanism, which are not carried out by it, are fed to a counter and increase its counter reading. A warning signal is set when a certain counter reading is reached.
  • test pulses F are generated on the one hand when the battery is only lightly loaded, and on the other hand test pulses E when the battery is heavily loaded (cf. D3 p 15).
  • the test pulse is used to determine the state of charge of the battery based on the voltage drop caused by the load.
  • the test pulses E will not find a test either. ie under heavy load instead.
  • This battery status display consequently has the disadvantage that the battery voltage can collapse just when the special function is to be carried out again for a long time, and the special function therefore no longer functions reliably.
  • the watch is also only measured when the function that consumes a high current is triggered, the voltage of the battery is measured and, if necessary, a warning is generated. If, for example, the special function is not operated for a long time, it is also not possible to determine whether the battery will maintain the voltage required for the special function in the event of future heavy use by the special function.
  • Patent Abstract of Japan vol. 7, no.231 (P-229) October 13, 1983 (D2) teaches to test the battery at regular intervals, but this test also only takes place when at least the alarm switch 6 is closed, i.e. at the set alarm time.
  • a disadvantage of all known clocks with a device for monitoring the energy content of their energy source is the fact that the energy content has already dropped so far can that special functions to be carried out relatively rarely by the clock and requiring a comparatively high load current cannot or at least no longer be carried out properly. And this, although the previous monitoring during the execution of the time-keeping function has not yet resulted in insufficient energy content.
  • the special functions mentioned can be, for example, the emitting of an acoustic wake-up signal or the switching on of a light source for reading the time display.
  • the device for monitoring the energy content of the energy source does not yet detect inadequate energy content during the execution of the time-keeping function, although the energy source would no longer be able to deliver a relatively high load current, such as that for lighting or for an acoustic alarm signal is required.
  • the watch according to the invention has the advantage that the user is made aware in good time by issuing the warning signal that the watch does keep its time Function can still be maintained, but that the energy content of their energy source has already dropped to such an extent that special functions requiring comparatively high load currents, such as lighting the time display or emitting an acoustic alarm signal, can no longer or no longer be carried out properly by the clock.
  • the output of the warning signal is particularly advantageous in the event that the special function of the watch is the alarm function, that is to say the output of an acoustic alarm signal.
  • the user of the watch according to the invention is protected against unpleasant surprises which can be caused by the fact that the energy content of the energy source is no longer sufficient to emit the acoustic warning signal for a sufficiently long time or even at all.
  • the clock according to the invention according to claim 1 is of particular advantage for its users if it is only rarely operated with a high load current and the special function is activated at a time when the output voltage of the energy source is only insignificantly greater than that for the time-keeping Function is required at least.
  • the electrical circuit of the clock which in any case controls the special function in question, is used to check the output voltage of the energy source when the special function in question is carried out, the circuit complexity for the device itself can be considerably reduced.
  • the periodic activation of the electrical circuit ensures that the special function, the implementation of which inevitably leads to a further reduction in the energy content in the case of an energy source which is already only slightly charged, only at constant time intervals.
  • the period is chosen to be as large as possible, the upper limit being determined by the amount of current consumed by the clock in time-keeping operation and thus by the expected reduction in the energy content of the energy source in the period.
  • a development of the clock according to claim 3 has the advantage that the energy loss associated with checking the output voltage only occurs when there is actually a need for checking. However, this is not the case if the special function of the clock has already been carried out by the device within the period.
  • the development contained in claim 4 offers the advantage that the warning signal is emitted until the user reacts to the low energy content of the energy source by removing it from the watch.
  • the watch according to claim 5 is equipped with a light source, then there is a special function whose automatic activation from time to time to check the energy content is hardly noticeable to the user of the watch.
  • the features of claim 6 advantageously ensure that no further electrical energy is unnecessarily wasted when the threshold voltage is undershot, so that the residual energy is only used for the clock to continue to run. This ensures that the watch runs under all circumstances until the battery is almost completely depleted. It is not necessary to periodically switch on the load - or a substitute load.
  • the device for monitoring the supply voltage must react very quickly to voltage dips and it must go without going through the electrical circuit Switch off special function. Standard voltage detectors can be used as the device.
  • the warning signal remains permanently switched on.
  • the flashing warning signal can in particular be carried out by an LCD display which is very energy efficient.
  • Switching on the light source is particularly not considered disruptive if the clock according to claim 8 is equipped with a light-sensitive sensor, which ensures that the light source is switched on for the purpose of checking the output voltage only during the day or with comparatively bright lighting. Under these conditions, the user of the watch cannot be disturbed by briefly switching on the light source automatically, which could be the case in dark rooms.
  • the light source is connected to the energy source only at times of the day at which daylight usually prevails.
  • a further development of the clock according to claim 10 also achieves the above advantages, with the further advantage that the incandescent filament in the non-glowing state, as a so-called PTC thermistor, has a higher current requirement than in the glowing state.
  • the special function "illumination of the dial" to be carried out by the circuit therefore presupposes a lower energy content of the energy source than is the case when the device only activates it briefly.
  • sufficient output voltage in any case ensures that the energy content of the energy source is sufficient to carry out the special function even in the event of operation (activation of the special function by the circuit).
  • FIGS. 1 to 4 each show a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, corresponding switching elements being provided with the same reference numerals in all three figures.
  • an electrical circuit 1 is supplied with voltage by an energy source 2 and controls a display 12 (LCD or pointer mechanism) in accordance with its time-keeping function.
  • the electrical circuit 1 activates a special function 3, which has a high current requirement, when a definable condition is met.
  • a special function for an alarm clock e.g. the brief illumination of the clock face at the start of the wake-up process is conceivable.
  • the special function 3 loads the energy source 2.
  • the special function 3 can, apart from the electrical circuit 1, also be activated from time to time by the device 4 for voltage monitoring, without the relevant definable condition being fulfilled.
  • the device 4 compares whether the output voltage of the energy source 2 is greater or less than a threshold voltage 42. If the voltage of the energy source 2 is lower than that of the threshold voltage 42, a warning signal 41 is emitted.
  • the threshold voltage can e.g. are at 2.6 V.
  • an electrical circuit 1 is in turn supplied with voltage by an energy source 2 and controls it according to its time-keeping function Display 12 (LCD or pointer movement).
  • the electrical circuit 1 actuates a signal transmitter 33 as a special function if the actual time matches the set alarm time.
  • the signal transmitter 33 can be activated in addition to the electrical circuit 1 by an actuator 5.
  • a device 4 checks the voltage of the energy source 2. If the voltage of the energy source 2 is lower than that of the threshold voltage 42, a warning signal 41 is emitted.
  • the threshold voltage can be 2.6 V, for example.
  • an electrical circuit 1 is in turn supplied with voltage by an energy source 2 and controls a display 12 (LCD or pointer mechanism) in accordance with its time-keeping function.
  • the electrical circuit 1 can activate the special function 3, which draws a relatively high current from the energy source 2 for a short time.
  • the device for voltage monitoring 4 can activate an additional so-called reactive load 44, the current requirement of which corresponds to that of special function 3.
  • the device 4 compares whether the output voltage of the energy source 2 is greater or less than a threshold voltage 42. If the voltage of the energy source 2 is lower than that of the threshold voltage 42, a warning signal 41 is emitted.
  • the threshold voltage can e.g. are at 2.6 V.
  • the electrical circuit 1 is supplied with voltage by the energy source 2.
  • the special function 3 loads the energy source 2 and can, apart from the electrical circuit 1, also from time to time, without the relevant definable condition being met, by the monitoring device 4 for voltage monitoring can be activated, but only if the switching element 5 clears the way to the special function.
  • Special function 3 can be triggered as long as there is still sufficient energy in energy source 2 from time to time. If the monitoring device 4 detects that the energy source drops below a predetermined threshold value, the switching element 5 is actuated and the special function 3, namely the light source, is permanently separated from the energy source 2. It is now only possible to emit a warning signal 41, preferably as a flashing signal, via the circuit 1, which indicates to the user that the battery needs to be changed.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Details Of Television Scanning (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Control Of Stepping Motors (AREA)
  • Control Of Charge By Means Of Generators (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Horloge électronique autonome avec un circuit électrique de commutation (1), lequel peut non seulement assurer une fonction d'indication du temps mais aussi, lorsqu'une condition définissable est satisfaite, remplir une fonction spéciale (3) activée pour un laps de temps comparativement bref mais requèrant un courant de charge comparativement élevé, et avec un dispositif (4) destiné à surveiller le niveau en énergie de sa source d'énergie électrique (2), cette surveillance consistant à mesurer la tension de sortie de la source d'énergie (2) et à émettre un signal d'avertissement optique ou acoustique (41) lorsque la tension de sortie mesurée est inférieure à une tension de seuil (42) définissable,
    caractérisée en ce
    que le dispositif (4) active automatiquement de temps en temps et pour un bref laps de temps la fonction spéciale (3) de l'horloge ou une charge réactive (44) dont la consommation de courant correspond à celle nécessaire pour l'activation de la fonction spéciale, et ce de manière à vérifier la tension de sortie de la source d'énergie et sans que la condition définissable pertinente soit remplie.
  2. Horloge selon la revendication 1
    caractérisée en ce
    que la fonction spéciale (3) est activée sous l'effet du dispositif (4) qui amorce le circuit électrique de commutation (1) de manière à ce que celui-ci puisse exécuter la fonction spéciale (3), et ce même lorsque la condition définissable pertinente n'est pas remplie.
  3. Horloge selon la revendication 1
    caractérisée en ce
    que le dispositif n'active périodiquement la fonction spéciale (3) que lorsque celle-ci n'a pas déjà été exécutée par le circuit de commutation (1) en cours de fonctionnement de l'horloge et pendant la durée de période.
  4. Horloge selon la revendication 1
    caractérisée en ce
    que le dispositif (4) émet le signal d'avertissement jusqu'à ce qu'on enlève la source d'énergie (2).
  5. Horloge selon la revendication 1
    caractérisée en ce
    qu'elle présente comme fonction spéciale (3) une source lumineuse servant par exemple à éclairer l'affichage de l'heure et que le dispositif (4) connecte de temps en temps avec la source d'énergie (2) à des fins de vérification de la tension de sortie.
  6. Horloge selon la revendication 5
    caractérisée en ce
    que le dispositif (4) n'émet pas seulement le signal d'avertissement (41) mais empêche également la remise sous tension de la source lumineuse (3) au moyen d'un élément de circuit (5) lorsque la tension de sortie de la source d'énergie (2) est inférieure à la tension de seuil (42) au moment de la vérification.
  7. Horloge selon la revendication 6
    caractérisée en ce
    que le signal d'avertissement (41) est un signal optique et qu'il est allumé en permanence par le circuit de commutation électrique (1) lorsque le dispositif (4) a bloqué la mise sous tension de la source lumineuse (3) par l'intermédiaire de l'élément de circuit (5) et qu'il est ensuite incité à clignoter lorsque la tension est inférieure à la tension de seuil et ce même sans que la source lumineuse (3) soit allumée.
  8. Horloge selon la revendication 5
    caractérisée en ce
    que l'horloge est pourvue d'un capteur photosensible qui est exposé à la lumière incidente sur celle-ci et qui amorce le dispositif (4) de manière à ce que la source lumineuse (3) ne se branche sur la source d'énergie (2) que lorsque l'intensité de la lumière incidente sur le capteur dépasse une valeur définissable.
  9. Horloge selon la revendication 5
    caractérisée en ce
    que le dispositif (4) ne connecte la source lumineuse (3) à la source d'énergie (2) qu'à des heures auxquelles normalement la lumière du jour brille encore selon l'heure indiquée par le circuit de commutation.
  10. Horloge selon la revendication 9
    caractérisée en ce
    que la source lumineuse (3) est une lampe présentant un filament boudiné et que la durée respective pendant laquelle la lampe est branchée sur la source d'énergie est suffisament courte pour que le filament ne vienne pas à incandescence.
EP93120601A 1992-12-24 1993-12-21 Montre électronique indépendante du réseau de courant Expired - Lifetime EP0603815B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4244163 1992-12-24
DE4244163A DE4244163A1 (de) 1992-12-24 1992-12-24 Netzunabhängige elektronische Uhr

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0603815A2 EP0603815A2 (fr) 1994-06-29
EP0603815A3 EP0603815A3 (fr) 1995-02-22
EP0603815B1 true EP0603815B1 (fr) 1997-10-08

Family

ID=6476589

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93120601A Expired - Lifetime EP0603815B1 (fr) 1992-12-24 1993-12-21 Montre électronique indépendante du réseau de courant

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0603815B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE159106T1 (fr)
DE (2) DE4244163A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5889736A (en) * 1995-09-26 1999-03-30 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic watch
JP3742155B2 (ja) * 1996-08-30 2006-02-01 シチズン時計株式会社 電子時計

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4219999A (en) * 1977-03-03 1980-09-02 Citizen Watch Company, Limited Electronic timepiece equipped with battery life display
JPS5941553B2 (ja) * 1977-04-26 1984-10-08 セイコーエプソン株式会社 電子時計
JPS5526481A (en) * 1978-08-17 1980-02-25 Casio Comput Co Ltd Electronic watch
JPS5529728A (en) * 1978-08-22 1980-03-03 Seiko Epson Corp Battery life display unit of electronic watch
CH642808B (fr) * 1981-01-05 1900-01-01 Rolex Montres Procede pour determiner l'etat de decharge d'une pile electrique et dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procede.
JPS58120186A (ja) * 1982-01-11 1983-07-16 Seikosha Co Ltd 時計の電池寿命検出装置
JPS5987386A (ja) * 1982-11-11 1984-05-19 Seikosha Co Ltd 電池寿命報知機能付時計
DE3702993A1 (de) * 1987-02-02 1988-08-18 Peter Uhren Gmbh Quarzuhr

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE59307500D1 (de) 1997-11-13
DE4244163A1 (de) 1994-06-30
EP0603815A2 (fr) 1994-06-29
ATE159106T1 (de) 1997-10-15
EP0603815A3 (fr) 1995-02-22

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