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US 7,352,655 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for automatic time correction of a mechanical clock
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorRobert W. Hjelmeland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanical clock arrangement includes a linkage apparatus rotatingly driving an hour hand and/or a minute hand of a mechanical clock. A sensing device senses a time of day displayed by the mechanical clock. A control device is in communication with both the sensing device and a source of an actual time of day. The control device actuates the linkage apparatus to thereby cause the time of day displayed by the mechanical clock to correspond to the actual time of day.
Claims16
A mechanical clock arrangement, comprising:
- a linkage apparatus configured to rotatingly drive at least one of an hour hand and a minute hand of a mechanical clock including a gear coupled to and configured to rotate along with at least one of the minute hand and the hour hand;
- a sensing device configured to sense a time of day displayed by the mechanical clock, said sensing device including a potentiometer coupled to said gear such that an output resistance of said potentiometer is dependent upon a rotational position of said gear, said potentiometer including an arcuate resistive element and a first electrical contact slidingly engaged with said resistive element, one of said resistive element and said contact being configured to rotate along with said gear;
- a source of an actual time of day;
- and
- a control device in communication with both said sensing device and said source of an actual time of day, said control device being configured to actuate said linkage apparatus to thereby cause the time of day displayed by the mechanical clock to correspond to the actual time of day.
2 more elements
A method of operating a mechanical clock, comprising the steps of:
- sensing a time of day displayed by the mechanical clock, said sensing being performed by a sensing device, wherein said sensing step includes measuring an output resistance of a potentiometer coupled to a linkage apparatus, wherein said potentiometer includes an arcuate resistive element, said sensing step including slidingly engaging a first electrical contact with said resistive element;
- receiving an actual time of day in electronic form;
- and
- actuating a linkage apparatus of the mechanical clock to thereby cause the time of day displayed by the mechanical clock to correspond to the actual time of day, said actuating being performed by a control device.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.