Patent · US Active

Timepiece comprising a mechanical oscillator wherein the medium frequency is synchronised on that of a reference electronic oscillator

US11687041B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
1References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 2019
Grant dateJun 27, 2023
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 26, 2042

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG04B17/06
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A mechanical oscillator, formed of a mechanical resonator and a device for maintaining oscillation, and an auxiliary oscillator forming a reference time base including a synchronisation device arranged to slave the medium frequency of the mechanical oscillator on that of the auxiliary oscillator. The synchronisation device includes an electromagnetic braking device which is formed of a coil and at least one permanent magnet and arranged such that an induced voltage is generated between the terminals of the coil in each alternation of the oscillation of the mechanical resonator. The synchronisation device is arranged to be able to reduce momentarily the impedance between the terminals of the coil during distinct time intervals, any two successive time intervals exhibiting between the respective starts thereof a time distance substantially equal to a positive whole number multiplied by half of a set-point period for the mechanical oscillator.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.