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Title: Wrist watch incorporating a thermoelectric generator
Claims: We claim: 1. An electric wrist watch comprising a case, a display device, a time-keeping unit, an electrical energy storage device and a thermoelectric generator, said wrist watch including at least two parts separated from each other by a thermally insulating joint and connected to the thermoelectric generator, the said at least two parts being arranged to be at least temporarily at different temperatures from one another and comprising portions of said case, the first of said parts forming a thermal exchanger serving as a cold source and positioned to be in contact with the ambient air when the wrist watch is worn, the second of said parts forming a thermal exchanger serving as a hot source and positioned to be in contact with the wrist of the wearer when the wrist watch is worn, the watch further including means within said case defining a ring-shaped space, said thermoelectric generator being mounted within the ring-shaped space, one surface of said thermoelectric generator being in thermal contact with an upper part of said case, the other surface of said thermoelectric generator being in thermal contact with the lower portion of said case. 2. An electric wrist watch in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric generator comprises a plurality of Peltier-type thermoelements arranged in at least one circle, said thermoelements being connected in series and each thermoelement being approximately perpendicular to the surfaces of contact of said thermoelectric generator and said thermal exchangers. 3. An electric wrist watch in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric generator comprises at least one series of thermoelements arranged radially flat on an annular surface of a thermal insulating element. 4. An electric wrist watch comprising a case, a display device, a time-keeping unit, an electrical energy storage device and a thermoelectric generator, said wrist watch including at least two parts thermally insulated from each other and connected to the thermoelectric generator, the said at least two parts being arranged to be at least temporarily at different temperatures from one another, one of said at least two parts being a thermal exchanger comprising said case and including insulating means for thermally insulating said case from the wearer's wrist when the wrist watch is worn, and the other of said at least two parts being a thermal exchanger comprising a mass having thermal inertia and acting as a delay source, said mass being mounted within said case and including insulating means for thermally insulating said mass with respect to said case. 5. An electric wrist watch in accordance with claim 4 wherein said mass comprises at least one metal plate in contact with one of the surfaces of said thermoelectric generator. 6. An electric wrist watch in accordance with claim 4 wherein said mass comprises said time-keeping unit and said electrical energy storage device, and wherein said insulating means thermally insulates said time-keeping unit and said electrical energy storage device from said case. 7. An electric wrist watch in accordance with claim 4 wherein said thermoelectric generator comprises two superposed stages, said stages connected in series, each stage having a surface in contact with said case and having another surface in contact with said mass having thermal inertia, the thermoelements of said thermoelectric generator being oriented perpendicularly in relation to the contact surfaces. 8. An electric wrist watch comprising a case, means mounting within said case a display device, a time-keeping unit, an electrical energy storage device and a thermoelectric generator, a thermal insulating joint separating said case into two portions thermally insulated from one another, one of said case portions being an upper portion forming a thermal exchanger serving as a cold source and positioned to be in contact with the ambient air when the wrist watch is worn, the other of said case portions being a lower portion forming a thermal exchanger serving as a hot source and positioned to be in contact with the wrist of the wearer when the watch is worn, said thermoelectric generator generating an electric power in response to a temperature difference between said upper and lower portions of said case. 9. An electric wrist watch comprising a case, means mounting within said case a display device, a time-keeping unit, an electrical energy storage device and a thermoelectric generator, said case comprising a first thermal exchanger and including insulating means for thermally insulating said case from the wearer's wrist when the wrist watch is worn, a second thermal exchanger comprising a mass having thermal inertia, means mounting said mass within said case and insulating means thermally insulating said mass from said surrounding case, and both said first and second thermal exchangers being thermally connected to said thermoelectric generator, whereby said thermoelectric generator generates electric power in response to temporary temperature differentials between said two thermal exchangers. Other info: Inventors: Martin, Jean-Claude (Neuchatel, CH) Piguet, Christian (Neuchatel, CH) Application Number: 683949 Filing Date: 1976-05-06 Publication_date: 1978-08-15 Assignee: Centre Electronique Horloger S.A. (Neuchatel, CH) Primary Class(es): 368/64 368/203, 968/503, 968/889, 968/DIG1 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Schaefer, Robert K. Assistant Examiner: Miska, Vit W. Attorney: Cushman, Darby & Cushman |
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