Tuning Fork Mechanical Oscillator for Clock Movement
AssigneeThe Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
InventorIlan Vardi
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a wristwatch comprising a mechanical clock movement with a tuning fork resonator. The oscillator preferably comprises a material A with a low internal friction. In the oscillator of the invention, the unwanted symmetrical oscillations are avoided, for example, by the choice of the materials from which the tuning fork is manufactured. According to preferred embodiments, the rod and/or fastening of the oscillator comprises a material having greater internal friction than that of said material A, such that the quality factor Q2 of the symmetrical oscillations is reduced, in contrast to the quality factor Q1 of the anti symmetrical oscillation mode.
Claims16
Timepiece having a mechanical clock movement comprising:
- a tuning fork oscillator, wherein said oscillator comprises an assembly having two prongs and a base connecting said prongs, wherein said oscillator comprises a rod connected to said base, the oscillator being connected by its rod to a fastening member connected to the movement, wherein said assembly comprises or consists of a material A, said material A being characterised by low internal friction, wherein said movement comprises a mechanical impulsion element able to act on one of the two prongs so as to induce and sustain oscillation of said oscillator, wherein said oscillator is able to oscillate both in a desired antisymmetrical mode and in an unwanted symmetrical mode, wherein the quality factor Q2 of the symmetrical oscillation mode of said oscillator is reduced in relation to the quality factor Q1 of the antisymmetrical oscillation mode.
Tuning fork oscillator, wherein said oscillator comprises an assembly having two prongs and a base connecting said prongs, wherein said oscillator comprises a rod connected to said base, the oscillator being connected by its rod to a fastening member connected to a support, wherein said assembly is formed of a material A, wherein said material A is a first material and wherein said oscillator comprises a second material B, wherein said material B is in contact with said material A such that transversal oscillation of said rod is damped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.