Patent Publication Number: US-7906938-B2

Title: Timing device with power winder for driving a mechanical energy storage unit to store mechanical energy in response to detection of a mechanical energy storage status

Description:
This application is a continuation of nonprovisional application Ser. No. 11/414,203, filed May 1, 2006. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to a timing device that utilizes hybrid power, and more particularly to a timing device in which the operation time of the timing device is extended by intermittently connecting a powered wheel train in series with a conventional timer movement. 
     (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     A conventional timing device such as a clock or watch working either by automatic or manual winding usually relies upon a main spring barrel or a potential difference weight to store energy and drive a movement that visually and/or audibly displays the time or to provide other mechanically driven functions. However, if the timing device is left unattended for a long period of time in case of an automatic winding, or is not timely rewound in case of manual winding, the timing device will be forced to stop and the time must be reset once again. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a timing device that utilizes hybrid power to intermittently drive a movement of the timer and that therefore functions as an auxiliary unit for the timing device. To achieve this purpose, electric power from a power supply is timely delivered to an electro-magnetic driving unit through an automatic control unit manipulated by a mechanical energy storage status detection unit to produce mechanical energy. Accordingly, a main spring barrel or a potential difference weight of the kinetics storage unit is driven to further drive a wheel chain of the timing device and automatically suspend driving upon the completion of winding the wheel train. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the construction of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention relates to a timing device that utilizes hybrid power, in which a power winding for a wheel train operates on the power stored from sources including a battery or capacitor, city power, or any other type of power source, or power converted from oscillation potentials created when the timing device is moved; or power converted from ambient temperature and optical energy incident on the timing device and accumulated by means of an energy storage device, such as a rechargeable battery, capacitor, or ultra capacitor. The power is then utilized in any of the following ways:
     (1) A manual control unit is provided to operate a dynamoelectric switch by pressing, pulling, dialing, turning or any other means; a sensor-responsive control is arranged to be activated by means of touch, optics, electromagnetism, or a capacitor detection related electronic switch circuit device; or an audio, optics, or electro-magnetic wave related circuit device is provided for remote control at random of the power winding related mechanism to start or stop power winding; or   (2) A mechanical energy storage status detection unit and an automatic control unit to control a winding wheel train related mechanism are provided to deliver in time the power to enable winding of a main spring barrel or a potential difference weight of a mechanical energy storage unit driven by mechanical energy produced by a electric motor or an electro-magnetic drive unit, and to automatically stop driving upon completion of the winding operation;   (3) Either of the two power winding control structures described in the preceding paragraphs (1) and (2) can be provided at the same time with a conventional manual winding structure or a top actuated automatic winding structure; or with both a manual winding structure and a top actuated automatic winding structure at the same time.   

       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating the construction of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Because the present invention involves dynamo-electric integration, numerous different structures can be employed without changing the system function, which is why a functional block diagram is used to illustrated the invention. In addition to conventional case accessories, the timer movement, and its related accessories, an operational beeper working on mechanical or electric energy, a movable performance device or any other device driven by mechanical power, an electric motor or electro-magnetic force; or a beeping or lighting electronic circuit, or an information, communication, or multi-media A/V and lighting display unit may be provided as desired to accept control by the movement. The present invention includes the following units:
         a power supply unit  101 , which may be a DC electric storage device comprised of a disposable battery, a rechargeable battery, a capacitor, or an ultra capacitor; a solar cell that converts optical power into electric power; a device that converts thermal energy into electric power; or a dynamo-electric device that converts oscillation potential into electric power adapted to a matching electric storage device; or an AC source; and which may also include an optional voltage display unit  1011  as desired, the power supply unit supplying power to execute power winding, and in addition being capable of supplying power to another power-driven load, e.g., or audio, lighting, or information unit, a communication or multi-media A/V device, a lighting display unit, or any other electronic, power motor, or electro-magnetic force driven performance device, or any other device;   a manual control unit  102  which may include a dynamo-electric or a solid-state electronic switch. the dynamo-electric switch being operated by pressing, pulling, dialing, turning or other means; and the electronic switch including a circuit device responsive to a touch, optical, pulsation, or capacity sensor; or arranged to execute remote control by means of an audio, optical, electro-magnetic wave related circuit device, the control unit controlling transport power from the local power supply unit  101  to a electro-magnetically driving unit  104  to be described below, thus to directly drive, or drive through a transmission unit  105  to be described below, a mechanical energy storage unit  106  to be described below to provide power storage for executing or stopping power winding drive function, the manual control unit  102  being necessary when the mechanical storage timing device lacks an automatic control unit  103  to be described below and optional when the mechanical storage timing device allowing power winding includes the automatic control unit  103 ;   an automatic control unit  103 , which may be a dynamo-electric or solid-state electronic device subject to control by a mechanical kinetics storage status detection unit  107  to be described below further controls the operation of the power supply unit  101  on the electro-magnetically driving unit  104  so to drive the mechanical energy storage unit  106  to increase the storage level once the power level drops under a present value and to stop the operation of the electro-magnetic driving unit  104  for stopping the winding, the automatic control unit  103  being provided when an automatic power winding function is to be provided, when the manual control unit  102  is selected for executing manually controlled winding;   an electro-magnetic driving unit  104 , which may be an AC or DC, synchronous or asynchronous, brush or brushless rotating motor or a linear motor that converts electric power into rotational or linear motion, converts electric power into step motion, or that converts electric power into reciprocal motion; a solenoid, step motor, or reciprocally driving electro-magnetic actuation device that converts electric power to mechanical motion, or an electro-magnetic device that is further provided with the function of setting up torque for directly driving the main spring barrel or the weight from the mechanical energy storage unit  106 ;   a transmission unit  105 , which may be a gear, connection rod, or one-way transmission, or a clutch, a torque control device, a transmission direction control device, a mechanical, electro-mechanical, or solid-state electronic power switch that allows torque setup; a mechanical or electro-mechanical clutch that allows torque setup; or any other transmission or mechanism that is capable of transmitting mechanical energy, or varying revolution speed ratio or direction so to increase power storage for the mechanical energy storage unit  106  provided by the mechanical potential energy generated by the electro-magnetic driving unit  104  by varying the revolution speed ratio or direction, by executing clutch control of the transmission, by limiting the torque, or by limiting the direction of transmission to increase the mechanical potential energy of the electro-magnetically driving unit  104  as desired, the transmission unit  105  being an optional item since the electro-magnetic driving unit  104  may alternatively directly drive the mechanical energy storage unit  106 ;   a mechanical kinetic energy storage unit  106  including a main spring barrel or a potential difference weight and its related winding mechanism to release energy to drive a movement  109  to be described below while receiving and converting electric power supplied by the electro-magnetic driving unit  104  to mechanical potential energy by winding the wheel train of the movement  109 , the mechanical energy storage unit  106  being optionally further adapted as applicable to include an automatic winding related mechanism, an automatic winding function related mechanism  110 , and/or a manual winding function related mechanism  111  to be described below.   a mechanical status storage status detection unit  107  made up of a detection unit that includes a mechanical, electro-mechanical, or solid-state electronic device, or any other device that is capable of directly detecting the storage level of the mechanical energy storage unit  106 ; a detection unit that measures angular displacement or linear displacement indicative of the storage status of the mechanical energy storage unit  106 ; or that executes location detection or spring load pressure detection to indirectly detect the storage status of the mechanical energy storage unit  106  before converting the detection results into an analog or digital message of the power level or a potential energy detection message to be fed back to the automatic control unit  103  or displayed by a mechanical energy storage level indicator  108  to be described below, the storage status of the mechanical energy storage unit  106  alternatively indirectly detected by measuring the driving amperage of the electro-magnetically driving unit  104  in the winding drive process in relation to that of the mechanical energy storage unit  106  to enable the detection results to be fed back to the automatic control unit  103  or for display of the mechanical energy storage status, the mechanical energy storage status detection unit  107  being an optional item that may be omitted in case the winding function is subject to the manual control unit  102 ;   a mechanical energy storage level indicator  108  including an optional dynamo-electric, solid-state electronic, or mechanical analog or digital display unit to receive detection signals sent from the mechanical energy storage status detection unit  107  for display of the storage status of the mechanical energy storage unit  106 ;   a movement  109  such as the movement of a clock, pocket watch or wrist watch operating on a main spring barrel or a potential difference weight and arranged to tell, display and set the time; and which may be adapted to include optional control mechanisms for audio time telling, a movable performance device or any other device, the movement  109  being provided with an automatic winding function related mechanism  110  and/or a manual winding function related mechanism  111 ;   a local auxiliary unit  112  including an optional beeping device relying upon mechanical force or electric power as its energy source, or a movable performance device or any other device driven by a mechanical force, electric motor, or electro-magnetic force; or a light, audio and/or video display device controlled by an electronic circuit to emit sound, light, information, communication or multi-media subject to control by the movement, wherein the local auxiliary unit  112  may be a stand-alone unit or one that shares the same construction with the movement  109 .       

     The preferred hybrid power timing device operates as follows: 
     1. In case of actuation by power winding operation: 
     
         
         
           
             (1) The manual control unit  102  is operated by manipulating a dynamo-electric switch by pressing, pulling, dialing or turning; by operating an electronic switch circuit by a touch, optics, electro-magnetic or capacitance sensor; or by remote control utilizing a voice control, optical control or electro-magnetic wave control circuit device to provide remote control at random for driving the electro-magnetically driving unit  104  before directly driving or indirectly driving through the transmission unit  105  the mechanical kinetics energy unit  106  to increase the stored energy by winding the wheel chain of the timing device; or 
             (2) The mechanical energy storage status detection unit  107  comprised of a mechanical, electro-mechanical, or solid-state electronic device allowing location detection to confirm the displacement or pressure value produced by the mechanical energy storage unit  106  when its storage level drops below a preset value, is used to thereby control the automatic control unit  103 , and further to control the electric power from the power supply unit  101  for driving the electro-magnetic driving unit  104  to increase energy storage by winding the wheel train; or 
             (3) The operation is done by combination of two means originated from either of those two winding actuation methods described in the preceding subparagraphs (1) or (2).
 
2. The operation of stopping the power winding is provided as follows:
 
             (1) The electro-magnetic driving unit  104  comprised of a motor that allows torque setup is provided to drive the mechanical energy storage unit  106  to execute a winding drive for increasing energy storage so that once the drive torque required gradually increases when more energy is supplied from the mechanical energy storage unit  106  to the electro-magnetic driving unit  104  to reach a preset torque, the electro-magnetic driving unit  104  stops driving the mechanical kinetics storage unit  106  to avoid excessive winding of the wheel train; or 
             (2) The electro-magnetic driving unit  104  comprised of a motor with its torque and driving current indicating relative variation operates by setting and detecting the drive current when the mechanical kinetics storage unit  106  is driving the wheel train to indirectly detect its torque and stop its drive for preventing excessive winding of the wheel train; or 
             (3) The manual control unit  102  manually controls the dynamo-electric switch, or operates by contacting the contact of an electronic switch device, or by executing remote control by means of a sound, optical or electro-magnetic wave control related circuit to stop the electro-magnetically driving unit  104  and prevent excessive winding of the wheel train; or 
             (4) The transmission unit  105  disposed between the electro-magnetically driving unit  104  and the mechanical kinetics storage unit  106  functions as a mechanical or electro-mechanical clutch that allows torque to set up the clutch to automatically disengage or slide when the torque increases up to the preset value upon completing the winding so to prevent excessive winding of the wheel train; or 
             (5) The mechanical energy storage status detection unit  107  comprised of a mechanical or dynamo-electric or solid-state electronic location detection device cuts off the power supply to stop the drive by the electro-magnetically driving unit  104  when the storage unit moves to where the completion of the winding as detected by the location detection device or the pressure value of the storage device reaches a preset value for the completion of the winding to prevent excessive winding of the wheel train; or 
             (6) The electro-magnetically driving unit  104  executes an open loop, semi-open loop, or closed loop scaling and cuts off the power supplied to the electro-magnetically driving unit  104  when the scaling value reaches the preset value. 
           
         
       
    
     In practice, the operation of stopping the winding of the wheel train may be executed using one or a plurality of those methods described in sub-paragraphs (1) to (6) above. 
     Those operations to actuate winding as described in the preceding paragraph 1, and those operations to stop the winding when the winding is completed as described in the preceding paragraph 2 may be combined as desired to execute power winding and stop the winding. 
     The power winding control construction of the present invention when applied may be further comprised of either or both of the power winding related mechanism and the automatic winding functions and the manual winding structure. 
     To facilitate manufacturing, application and portability, all the associate units and mechanisms of the timing device of the present invention may be integrated in one piece, or in separate structures that allow incorporation by means of coupling transmission devices. 
     The present invention incorporates a power winding mechanical storage timing device to upgrade the performance of the mechanical timing device and is applicable to diversified production families of mechanical timing and quartz timing devices.