User-testable thermoelectric watch
AssigneeThe Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
InventorsFrancois GUEISSAZ, Alain JORNOD, Yves THEODULOZ
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermoelectric watch includes a thermoelectric generator; a voltage booster connected to the thermoelectric generator, and an energy management circuit connected to the voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element. The energy management circuit includes an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when the thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when the thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy.
Claims8
1-7. (canceled)
A thermoelectric watch comprising:
- a thermoelectric generator,
- a voltage booster connected to said thermoelectric generator;
- an energy management circuit connected to said voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element, said energy management circuit including an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when said thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when said thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy,
- wherein that the watch further includes at least one capacitor connected to said energy management circuit, coupled to a light emitting diode, and configured to:
- undergo a variation of charge when said output of said energy management circuit changes either from the first state to the second state, or from the second state to the first state,
- supply current to said light emitting diode when said capacitor undergoes said variation of charge, said light emitting diode being configured to emit a light pulse in the visible spectrum when said current flows therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.