GB2436153A

GB2436153A - Electronic clock with percussive audible time signal device

Info

Publication number: GB2436153A
Application number: GB0605280A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Hunt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-14
Filing date: 2006-03-14
Publication date: 2007-09-19
Also published as: GB0605280D0

Abstract

An electronic clock has a quartz movement and an electronic controller which is programmed to actuate a percussive time signal device at intervals in response to amplified signals received from a timing means contained within, or operatively linked to, the controller. Signals are generated by the movement of the hour and minute hands, either by means of electrical contacts which are opened or closed depending on the position of the hands or by means of sensors which detect the position of the hands. The percussive time signal device comprises a solenoid which is energised by the signals, causing a spring-loaded plunger to strike a bell or gong. The controller may be programmed to actuate the percussive time signal device a predetermined number of times in response to each signal, the exact number of times varying according to the time of day.

Description

Electronic Clock This invention relates to an electronic clock striking

on a bell or other percussion device.

Present day electronic clocks with strike andlor chimes currently generate synthetic tones through a loudspeaker. Natural harmonic sound accorded by hammer contact to a bell or gong is available from mechanical clocks but these require regular winding and maintenance, are inherently less accurate and more expensive to manufacture.

The object of this invention is to provide a low cost quartz clock producing natural sound on traditional bells or gongs without supplementary wheels or levers.

The electronic clocks of the invention are as defined in the claims appended hereto and as described below.

The advantages over mechanical striking clocks are: Low manufacturing costs.

Superior accuracy.

Greater reliability.

Maintenance free.

Unrestricted bell placement.

Automatic night silence easily incorporated.

The design principle can be miniaturised or amplified enabling the design to be incorporated into domestic clocks, watches and large public clocks.

The principle of operation will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic diagrams I and 2.

Diagram I For the purpose of this diagram, a standard quartz analogue timepiece movement with sensor means of determining the position of the minute hand is utilised. Each time the minute hand reaches the 12 o'clock position the movement closes electronic contacts completing this circuit each hour at switch input'.

This circuit comprises a multi-controller chip (PlC 12F629) with software programmed to produce one through to twelve electrical pulses in sequence. These pulses are amplified sufficient to activate a sprung solenoid plunger. The plunger momentarily strikes a bell or gong creating the desired percussion sound.

Diagram 2 For the purpose of diagram 2, a standard quartz analogue timepiece movement without electronic contacts is utilised.

This circuit is identical to Diagram I except it makes use of the quartz crystal and associated capacitors shown (XTALI, Cl & C2). Additional software programming switches the start of each pulse sequence without utilising switch input'.

For both diagrams, a manual press button at switch input' triggers and advances the strike sequence enabling the number of strikes and hour hand position to coincide.

Software programming or the addition of a light sensor enables night silence.

Claims

Claims 1. An electronic clock movement comprising an electronic

controller which is programmed to actuate a percussive time signal device at intervals in response to a signal from a timing means contained within, or operatively linked to, the controller.

2. An electronic clock movement according to claim I wherein the timing means comprises timing software contained within the electronic controller.

3. An electronic clock movement according to claim I wherein the timing means comprises a switch which is triggered by movement of an hour or minute hand driven by the electronic clock movement.

4. An electronic clock movement according to claim 3 wherein one or more sensors are provided for determining the position of the hour or minute hand, the switch being triggered at one or more predetermined positions of the hour or minute hand.

5. An electronic clock movement according to claim 3 wherein the switch comprises electrical contacts that are opened and closed by the movement of the hour or minute hand.

6. An electronic clock movement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the electronic controller is programmed to actuate the percussive time signal device a predetermined number of times in response to each signal from the timing means, the said number of times being varied according to the time of day.

7. An electronic clock movement according to claim 6 wherein the said number of times corresponds to the number of the hour.

8. An electronic clock movement according to claim 7 wherein the electronic controller is programmed to produce from one to twelve, or from one or twenty four, electrical pulses in sequence in response to successive hourly signals from the timing means, each pulse being amplified and serving to actuate the percussive time signal device.

9. An electronic clock movement according to claim 8 wherein the electronic controller is programmed to produce from one to twelve electrical pulses in sequence in response to successive hourly signals from the timing means.

10. An electronic clock movement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the percussive time signal device comprises a bell or gong and a striker.

11. An electronic clock movement according to claim 10 wherein the striker is a solenoid plunger.

12. An electronic clock movement according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the striker is actuated directly by an electrically amplified signal from the electronic controller, there being no supplementary wheels or levers disposed between the controller and striker.

13. An electronic clock movement according to any one of the preceding claims which is a quartz clock or watch movement.

14. A quartz clock or watch movement capable of electronically striking the hours in sequence by percussion without supplementary wheels or levers.

15. An electronic clock movement substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A timepiece containing an electronic clock movement as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

17. A timepiece according to claim 16 which is a watch.

18. A timepiece according to claim 16 which is a domestic clock, for example a grandfather, wall, mantel, desk, or alarm clock 19. A timepiece according to claim 16 which is a public clock, for example a town hail, church, or street clock.

S

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. An electronic clock movement comprising an electronic controller which is programmed to actuate a percussive time signal device at intervals in response to a signal from a timing means contained within, or operatively linked to, the controller.

2. An electronic clock movement according to claim 1 wherein the timing means comprises a crystal oscillator with timing software contained within the electronic controller.

3. An electronic clock movement according to claim I wherein the timing means comprises a switch triggered by movement of the minute hand driven by the electronic clock movement.

4. An electronic clock movement according to claim 3 wherein one or more switches are provided for determining the position of the minute hand, the switches being triggered at one or more predetermined positions of the minute hand.

5. An electronic clock movement according to claim 3 wherein each switch comprises electrical contacts that are opened and closed by the movement of the minute hand.

6. An electronic clock movement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the electronic controller is programmed to actuate the percussive time signal device a predetermined number of times in response to each signal from the timing means, the said number of times being varied according to the time of day.

7. An electronic clock movement according to claim 6 wherein the said number of times corresponds to the number of the hour.

8. An electronic clock movement according to claim 7 wherein the electronic controller is programmed to produce from one to twelve, or from one to twenty four electrical pulses in sequence in response to successive signals from the timing means, each pulse being amplified and serving to actuate the percussive time signal device.

9. An electronic clock movement according to claim 8 wherein the electronic controller is programmed to produce from one to twenty four electrical pulses in sequence in response to successive hourly or quarter hourly signals from the timing means.

10. An electronic clock movement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the percussive time signal device comprises a bell or gong and a striker.

11. An electronic clock movement according to claim 10 wherein the striker is a solenoid plunger.

12. An electronic clock movement according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the striker is actuated directly by an electrically amplified signal from the electronic controller, there being no supplementary wheels disposed between the controller and striker.

13. An electronic clock movement according to any one of the preceding claims which is a quartz clock or watch movement.

14. A quartz clock or watch movement capable of electronically striking the hours and quarter hours in sequence by percussion without supplementary wheels or levers.

15. An electronic clock movement substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A timepiece containing an electronic clock movement as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

17. A timepiece according to claim 16 which is a watch.

18. A timepiece according to claim 16 which is a domestic clock, for example a grandfather, wall, mantel, desk, or alarm clock.

19. A timepiece according to claim 16 which is a public clock, for example a town hall, church, or street clock.