Patent Application
20080068930
The invention relates to a method for setting the calendar work of a clock, particularly a radio-controlled clock, after the battery has been changed, in accordance with the preamble of patent claim 1, as well as to a device for setting the calendar work of a clock, particularly a radio-controlled clock, after the battery has been changed, in accordance with the preamble of claim 10.
In a battery-operated clock, e.g., a wristwatch, a kitchen clock, or the like, it is often very laborious, after changing the battery (or batteries), to set the current time and, particularly, to set the current calendar date. This applies both to clocks with an analogue display and, all the more so, to clocks with a digital display, e.g., those with a liquid-crystal display. Even so-called radio-controlled clocks, which set the current time and the calendrical date automatically after receiving a radio signal, frequently require a long period of time before the correct date and date can be read from the display.
While a variety of methods and devices are known for quickly setting the clock time, these known methods and devices seldom result in a rapid setting of the date display.
The goal of the invention, consequently, is to propose a method and a device for setting a calendar work on a clock, such that the calendar work can very quickly display the current calendrical date after the battery has been changed.
The invention achieves this goal with a method for setting the calendar work of a clock exhibiting the features of patent claim 1, and with a device exhibiting the features of patent claim 10.
Advantageous embodiments and elaborations of the invention are indicated in the secondary claims.
The method according to the invention comprises the following successive steps:
In order to execute this method, a device with the following individual components is required:
It is known that the battery voltage decreases with an increasing discharge. The need to change the battery is indicated, e.g., when the battery voltage has fallen below a predetermined voltage value. According to the invention, therefore, the means for determining the need to change the battery include a measuring device which measures the battery voltage when the battery is subjected to a load. If it is determined that the battery voltage lies below a predetermined value, this status is communicated to a central control unit, which causes the calendar work (e.g., a mechanically turning wheel with the days of the months indicated by numbers “1” to “31” or the days of the week indicated by “Mon, Tu, Wed, Th, Fr, Sat, Sun”) to be switched to a predetermined reference position.
For example, in the case of a clock with an analogue display exhibiting a motion work controlled by one or more step motors, information on the charge status of the battery is given by the tracking accuracy of the hand, as based on the control pulses required of the step motor(s) to move the hand. With an increasing discharge, a larger number of control pulses for correcting the hand position, or of control pulses with a variant pulse form, is needed to bring the hands of the clock into the desired position. Therefore, an analysis of the motor(s) driven to control the hands, or to operate one or more of these hands, is useful in determining the need to change the battery.
Thus, in place of or in addition to the voltage monitoring device described above, the means provided by the invention for determining the need to change the battery may include an evaluating device which evaluates the control pulses required by a motor drive. If the control pulses suggest growing problems in the correct positioning of the hand, this circumstance is signaled to the central control unit, which causes the calendar work to be switched to the predetermined reference position.
The invention provides a memory (electronic or mechanical), in which the predetermined reference position is stored.
In order to ensure that the time and date are reset only after a battery change and not while the old battery is still in place, it must be determined (ideally, determined with certainty) that the old battery has been replaced by a new one. The determination that the inserted battery is a new one can again be reached by measuring the charge state of the inserted battery.
In accordance with the invention, the means for determining that the battery has been changed include a device which measures the battery voltage under a load. Further details on the evaluation and the control process are given below.
Alternatively or in addition, the means for determining that the battery has been changed may also include an device which evaluates control pulses necessary for a motor drive. Why this kind of evaluating device is suitable for determining the charge state of the battery was described in detail above; details were also given on evaluation and control.
There are various possibilities for setting the date on the calendar work after the battery has been changed. If the clock is a so-called radio-controlled wristwatch, the means for determining the current date to be set on the calendar work will advantageously include a receiving device, which receives a time signal transmitted by a time signal transmitter (e.g., the DCF77 time signal transmitted by the Federal Technical Institute for Physics in Braunschweig; DCF77 is composed of the letters D for Germany, C to indicate a long-wave transmitter, and F for proximity to Frankfurt: the Mainflingen transmitting point is located close to Frankfurt). The current date can be ascertained, and then set on the clock, on the basis on this received time signal, which also gives the current date.
For clocks without the receiver described above, and also for radio-controlled clocks, at least one actuating element may be provided for the case in which there is deficient or disrupted reception of the time signal; the actuating elements allows the user to input or set the current date on the calendar work.
In order to permit the user to set or input the given date, the invention provides a display device which is controlled by at least one actuating element and which reproduces (preferably in optical fashion) the date being set.
There can be an electronic display device in the form of a flat display, particularly a liquid crystal, LED, or electroluminescent display.
The mechanical display device can be realized by bringing one hand of the clock, particularly, e.g., the second hand, into a certain position by means of at least one actuating element (e.g., a clock crown, a push-button, or a switch), such that the position indicates a particular date by pointing to the clock dial. Thus the hand can be brought, e.g., to a position within the scale of minutes (“1” to “31”) to indicate a day of the month. It is also possible for certain positions to be assigned to the days of the week “Mon” to “Sun”.
The invention is next described in greater detail on the basis of the drawings. Shown are:
In an equally conventional design, a clock crown 9 is provided to adjust the position of the hands 6, 7, 8 and the calendar work 10, 11. In place of the clock crown 9, a push-button or other kind of adjusting device could be employed to set the hands 6, 7, 8 and the calendar work 10, 11 to the desired time and date.
Positioned inside the clock housing 12 is an electronic control device 17 of the type shown in
The electronic control device 17 shown in
The electronic control device 17 of the invention operates according to the following schema:
The battery voltage meter 2 and the motor pulse evaluating device 3 monitor the charge state of the battery, directly in the case of the battery voltage meter and indirectly in the case of the motor pulse evaluating device. If, e.g., the battery voltage meter 2 establishes that the battery voltage of the battery 1 lies a certain amount below the nominal battery voltage, this battery voltage meter 2 signals the need to change the battery to the setting device 14. As an alternative, or in addition, the motor pulse evaluating device 3 evaluates the current pulse necessary for the movement of the motors 18. If the motor pulse evaluating device 3 determines, e.g., that the number of current pulses needed for a certain motor movement exceeds a predetermined nominal number of pulses, the motor pulse evaluating device 3 passes this information to the setting device 14.
When the electronic components have established that the battery's voltage is deficient, the setting device 14 will cause the calendar work 10, 11 to move to a predetermined position. This position is stored in the memory 15. The calendar work 10, 11 will now remain in this position until the battery has been changed.
A change in battery can be established, e.g., by the battery voltage meter 2, specifically when said device 2 determines that the battery voltage remains above a threshold value even when the battery is subject to a load. This threshold value may, e.g., be a given amount above the nominal voltage of the battery 1.
As an alternative, or in addition, the battery change can be ascertained when the motor pulse evaluating device 3 detects that the number of the current pulses needed to move the hands 6, 7, 8 and/or the calendar work 10, 11 remain below a predetermined threshold value.
In the present exemplary embodiment, both pieces of information are transmitted to the setting device 14.
If a time signal is then received by the antenna 16 and the corresponding receiver, the calendar work 10, 11 is moved from the reference position, which was already set after being stored in the memory 15, to the correct calendrical display.
Naturally it is possible to set the correct calendar date via actuating elements with displays using liquid crystal displays or second hands. After the input of information, the calendar work 10, 11 will move from the reference position to the correct date.
1 battery
2 battery voltage meter
3 motor pulse evaluating device
4 clock face
5 scale of minutes
6 minute hand
7 hour hand
8 second hand
9 clock crown
10 day-of-week display
11 day-of-month display
12 clock housing
13 clock
14 setting device
15 memory
16 electronic control device
17 motor(s) for clock hands
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2004 028 580.2 | Jun 2004 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP05/02318 | 3/4/2005 | WO | 11/29/2006 |
