EP 0285838 B1 19911009 - AUTONOMOUS RADIO-CONTROLLED CLOCK
Title (en)
AUTONOMOUS RADIO-CONTROLLED CLOCK
Publication
Application
Priority
DE 3707728 A 19870311
Abstract (en)
[origin: EP0285838A1] In this clock (11) an energy storage device (25) charged with energy derived from ambient irradiation - preferably by solar cells (26) - is used as the operating power supply. The storage capacity can be made relatively small if all parts providing optional functions, such as additional functions not essential for the time-keeping function (especially those which are in any case hardly effective in the dark or could even be a nuisance) are temporarily disabled until, as the irradiation again increases, there is again an adequate reserve of energy for all functional parts. If, in fact, the drive for one of the time-indicating hands (17) is switched off when the energy reserve is low, it is advisable prior to this to move the hand concerned to an angular position which indicates that it is temporarily out of action. Switching off can be arranged by means of either radiation-controlled and/or voltage-controlled disconnecting switches (29); or, in addition to the main storage device (25) used for functions critical to the time-keeping function of the clock (11), a supplementary storage device (25) of very low capacity which does not place a load on the main storage device can be charged from the radiation generator (solar cell 26) to operate the optional additional functions. <IMAGE>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
G04C 10/02 (2006.01); G04C 13/02 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
G04C 10/02 (2013.01); G04C 13/026 (2013.01)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 0285838 A1 19881012; EP 0285838 B1 19911009; AT E68273 T1 19911015; DE 3707728 A1 19880922; DE 3865341 D1 19911114; DE 8718063 U1 19930325
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 88103778 A 19880310; AT 88103778 T 19880310; DE 3707728 A 19870311; DE 3865341 T 19880310; DE 8718063 U 19870311