Perpetual calendar for a timepiece

US7027361B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Timex Group B.V. · NL

Inventors

• Wolfgang Burkhardt · Ansbach, DE
• Louis M. Galie · Leander, US
• Michel Plancon · Watertown, US
• Helmut Zachmann · Remchingen, DE
• Gerhard Stotz · Eisingen, DE
• Siegfried Grau · Pforzheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 18, 2003
• Grant date: Apr 11, 2006
• Expiry date: Feb 24, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G04C17/0066
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A timepiece comprising a date display, comprising a date display assembly comprising a date ring, a first gearing assembly being meshingly coupled to the date ring for causing the rotation of the date ring; and a stepping motor comprising a rotor, wherein the rotor of the stepping motor is rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the first gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the rotor causes the date ring to rotate; a date-keeping assembly operatively coupled to the date display assembly, comprising: at least a second gearing assembly comprising at least an hour wheel and a detection wheel assembly, wherein at least certain rotational increments of the detection wheel, and the clockwise or counterclockwise direction thereof, causes the rotor of the stepping motor to rotate so that the date ring can be rotated in one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; whereby the rotation of the hour wheel through a predetermined midnight position results in that the stepping motor causes the date ring to rotate a predetermined number of degrees, thereby advancing either in the forward or backward direction a displayed digit on the date ring representing a valid date…