US 2024/0337984 A1Published application

Speed-regulating device for a rotating wheel set of a timepiece

AssigneeThe Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

InventorsJean-Jacques BORN, Pierpasquale TORTORA, Baptiste HINAUX, Cédric NICOLAS

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Abstract

A timepiece with, in order to regulate the speed of rotation of a rotating wheel set, a regulating device including a microgenerator and an LED powered by the microgenerator without storage of electrical energy and arranged such that, for a range of functional speeds of the rotating wheel set, the corresponding range of frequencies of rotation of the rotor of the microgenerator generates, in its coils, an induced voltage range whose maximum voltage value for the maximum frequency is greater than a threshold voltage, preferably also the minimum voltage value for the minimum frequency, the motor device which drives the rotating wheel set being arranged to have a useful motor torque range allowing the rotating wheel set to be driven within the functional speed range. Also a related method.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A timepiece (2000) comprising a rotating wheel set (1), a motor device (200) arranged to be able to drive the rotating wheel set, and a regulating device (1000) for regulating the speed of rotation of the rotating wheel set, the regulating device including a microgenerator (100) which includes a stator (20) and a rotor (10) mechanically coupled to the rotating wheel set (1), the stator (20) carrying permanent magnets (25) or coils and the rotor carrying coils (11) or permanent magnets respectively,

wherein the regulating device further comprises at least one light-emitting diode (31, 32) which is powered, directly or indirectly, by the microgenerator,
wherein, in the case of said at least one light-emitting diode being indirectly powered by the microgenerator, said at least one light-emitting diode is connected to the microgenerator via an electrical and/or electronic circuit without any substantial electrical energy storage component,
wherein the microgenerator (100) and said at least one light-emitting diode are arranged in such a way that, for a functional speed range of the rotating wheel set between a minimum speed (Vmin) and a maximum speed (Vmax) that is strictly greater than the minimum speed, the corresponding frequency range of the rotation of the rotor (10), between a minimum frequency (Fmin) and a maximum frequency (Fmax), generates, in the coils (11), a range of induced voltage whose maximum induced voltage value, occurring for said maximum frequency (Fmax), is greater than a threshold voltage (Us) of said at least one light-emitting diode (31, 32), and
wherein said at least one light-emitting diode and, where appropriate, said electrical and/or electronic circuit without any substantial electrical energy storage component constitute substantially the only electrical energy-consuming device incorporated in the regulating device, the motor device being arranged in such a way that it has a useful motor torque range allowing the rotating wheel set to be driven substantially within said functional speed range.

1 more element

A method for regulating the speed of rotation of a rotating wheel set (1) of a timepiece (2000), in a functional speed range of the rotating wheel set (1) between a minimum speed (Vmin) and a maximum speed (Vmax) that is strictly greater than the minimum speed, the rotating wheel set (1) being driven by a motor device (200) included in the timepiece (2000), the method implementing a device (1000) for regulating the speed of rotation of the rotating wheel set (1) which is formed by a microgenerator (100) comprising a rotor (10) mechanically coupled to the rotating wheel set (1), the rotor being movable about an axis of rotation (D) relative to a stator (20) carrying permanent magnets (25) or coils, the rotor carrying coils (11) or permanent magnets respectively;

wherein the coils (11) are connected, directly or indirectly, to at least one light-emitting diode (31, 32),
wherein the features of the microgenerator (100) and of said at least one light-emitting diode (31, 32), which together with, where appropriate, an electrical and/or electronic circuit without any substantial electric current storage component arranged between the coils, constitute the only device consuming electrical energy and reducing the ratio of the regulating device (1000) between the rotating wheel set (1) and the rotor (10), are determined in such a way that, for the functional speed range of the rotating wheel set (1), the corresponding frequency range of the rotation of the rotor (10), between a minimum frequency (Fmin) and a maximum frequency (Fmax), generates in the coils an induced voltage range whose maximum induced voltage value, occurring for said maximum frequency (Fmax), is greater than a threshold voltage (Us) of said at least one light-emitting diode (31, 32), and
wherein the motor device (200) is arranged so that its useful motor torque range has a minimum torque (CMotMin) driving the rotating wheel set (1) at said minimum speed of the functional speed range, and a maximum torque (CMotMax) driving the rotating wheel set (1) at the maximum speed of the functional speed range.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/606,399Filed 15 Mar 2024
Priority: EP 23167065.46 Apr 2023
Published: 10 Oct 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G04B 17/30
Mechanisms for stabilising frequency: rotating governors, e.g. centrifugal governors, fan governors
G04C 3/10
Wherein movement is regulated by a mechanical oscillator other than a pendulum or balance, e.g. by a tuning fork , e.g. electrostatically: driven…
G04B 19/30
Indicating the time by visual means: illumination of dials or hands
G04C 10/00
Arrangements of electric power supplies in time-pieces