Abstract:
A wrist watch and bracelet assembly in which the case is of bipartite construction and is formed by a base section adapted to accommodate a watch movement and an ornamental face section that is readily replaceable by a face section having a different ornamental display, whereby the decorative appearance of the watch may readily be changed. The base section is provided at either end with a pair of pierced ears that project forwardly from the corners, while the face section which is seated on the base section is provided at either end with an array of equi-spaced lugs having holes therein which register with those in the ears so that by inserting a cross pin through the holes to bridge the ears and the lugs, the two sections are then interlocked. Each component of the bracelet terminates by a tail formed by an array of equi-spaced links which intermesh with the related lugs of the face section, the links having holes therein which register with those of the lugs, whereby the inserted pin also functions to pivotally join each bracelet component to the watch case.
Abstract:
A mechanical oscillator for periodically swinging an optical or other load element. The oscillator includes an erect torsion rod anchored to a base, the load element being attached to the free end of the rod. The rod is sustained in torsional vibration by a motor constituted by an armature secured to the rod at a point adjacent the base and an electromagnet cooperating with the armature, the motor being energized by a drive signal whose frequency substantially corresponds to the resonant frequency of the oscillator. In order to dampen the oscillator and thereby broaden its mechanical bandwidth, the rod is designed so that the spring constant of the section thereof above the armature point approaches that of the rod section below this point.
Abstract:
An MOS gain block constituted by a pair of like MOS transistors operating in the weak inversion region and serially-connected to a low-voltage supply. One transistor acts as an active element whereby an input voltage applied to the gate produces an output voltage at the drain thereof. The other transistor whose gate is coupled to the drain of the active element, acts as a load element with respect to the active element, the stage load resistance varying to compensate for changes in the transconductance of the active element resulting from changes in supply voltage, thereby maintaining the gain of the block at a substantially constant level despite changes in supply voltage.
Abstract:
A crystal mounting assembly provided with a hermetically sealed and evacuated envelope in which a crystal unit is supported on a rigid ceramic substrate by means of strain-free leads connecting the crystal electrodes to contacts plated on the substrate. The substrate contacts are connected to terminal pins projecting from the envelope, the inner ends of the pin passing through holes in the substrate and then being crooked before being joined to the contacts to provide a resilient suspension for the substrate whereby the lead-supported crystal is mechanically isolated from and unaffected by stresses imposed on the pins and whereby the pins are isolated from the vibrating crystal.
Abstract:
An electronic clock making use of an electromagneticallyactuated tuning fork whose vibrations are converted into rotary motion for driving the gear train of the clock. The conversion is effected by an indexing mechanism including two oppositely directed V-shaped indexing elements whose ends are attached to the tines of the fork. The vertex of each element is flattened to define a rectangular tongue whose edge engages the ratchet teeth of an index wheel whereby as the tines vibrate, the tongues reciprocate in phase opposition in a rectilinear path at right angles to the direction of vibration. In the course of each cycle, as the tines move together, one tongue acts to push the wheel as the other tongue retracts, and when the tines move away from each other, the other tongue acts to pull the wheel as the one tongue retracts.
Abstract:
An electronic clock making use of an electromagnetically actuated tuning fork whose vibrations are converted into rotary motion for driving the gear train of the clock by means of a motion transformer including a V-shaped indexing element. The ends of the indexing element are attached to the tines of the fork at corresponding points thereon, and the vertex thereof is flattened to define a rectangular tongue whose edge engages the ratchet teeth of an index wheel whereby as the tines vibrate, the tongue reciprocates in a rectilinear path at right angles to the direction of vibration. The index wheel is joined to a worm gear coupled to the first wheel in the gear train, the worm gear being supported for rotation between a fixed pivot and a spring-biased pivot, whereby sufficient friction is introduced to prevent retrograde motion of the index wheel.
Abstract:
A magnetic-particle clutch constituted by a stator surrounding a rotor assembly having an input member and an output member which are intercoupled when the stator coil is excited. The input or drive member is a cylindrical body having an annular cavity for containing magnetic particles, the output or driven member being formed by a shaft coaxially disposed within the input member and rotatably supported therein, a cylindrical particle-trap rotor being mounted on said shaft and being positioned to rotate within the annular cavity. The particle-trap is formed by a circular cage of alternately polarized parallel bars which create an internal magnetic field to retain the magnetic particles in the interstices of the cage in the unexcited state of the clutch. When the stator coil is excited to produce an external magnetic field, the particles are reoriented to bind the cage to the input member, thereby coupling the drive and driven members.
Abstract:
A watch provided with a time-zone-setting mechanism which is manually adjustable to incrementally shift the position of a local time hour hand in either direction, the various hands of the watch being otherwise settable by a general purpose crown. The watch also includes a date calendar or other indicator, a special purpose crown being provided which, in one axial position, adjusts the time-zone-setting mechanism and, in another position, adjusts the date calendar or other indicator.