Oscillator for a timepiece

Abstract

An improved, compact, impact-resistant quartz crystal oscillator is provided for a timepiece. The oscillator comprises a substantially flat hermetically sealed envelope, a terminal tag provided with a contact pin fixedly mounted in the envelope, and a support therefor comprising a substantially annular support member provided with an annular rib on the periphery thereof defined between opposed elbows therein. One of the elbows provides a groove seat registered with the periphery of an aperture provided in the oscillator envelope. The other elbow provides a groove seat for a bifurcated crystal mounting plate support having elastic characteristics. The mounting plate is resilient in the vibrating direction of the crystal and perpendicularly thereto. Mounted in the oscillator envelope in substantial alignment with weighted tine ends of the crystal is a pair of opposed dampers which enhance the impact-resistance characteristics of the oscillator. Also mounted in the oscillator envelope is a ground pin for preventing a short-circuit thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved oscillator for a timepiece comprising a hermetically sealed oscillator envelope for housing oscillator components therein, a terminal tag mounted in said envelope being carried by a support therefor, contacts fixedly mounted in said terminal tag and extending exteriorly of said envelope housing, a tuning fork-type crystal vibrator mounted in said envelope, and a mounting means therefor carried on said terminal tag support, said means including bifurcations characterized by resilience in the vibrating direction of said crystal and perpendicularly thereto, said terminal tag support comprising a substantially annular support member, an annular rib on the periphery thereof, and a pair of opposed elbows therein, one of said elbows defining a groove having perpendicular abutment surfaces for abutting a continuous edge of an aperture provided in said oscillator envelope and said other elbow defining a groove having perpendicular abutment surfaces for thereby supporting said mounting means, said annular support member having a through hole in which said terminal tag is mounted. 
     
     
       2. The improved oscillator as claimed in claim 1, including a weight member overlying each time of said crystal and proximate the end thereof, each of said weight members being fractionally removable for selectively tuning respective tines of said crystal to a predetermined, selected frequency, said weight members being coplanar and constituted of gold plating, wax, or organic adhesive. 
     
     
       3. The improved oscillator as claimed in claim 2, including a pair of opposed dampers provided on the interior surfaces of respective sections of said hermetically sealed envelope, said dampers being substantially aligned and in substantial alignment with said weight members overlying respective tines of said crystal. 
     
     
       4. The improved oscillator as claimed in claim 2, including a ground pin mounted in said envelope and extending exteriorly thereof, said ground pin being arranged substantially in parallel with said contacts. 
     
     
       5. The improved oscillator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hermetically sealed oscillator envelope includes an underlying and an overlying annular section, each of said sections having a continuous rim along which said sections are engaged for thereby forming a continuous exteriorly extending envelope flange, said engaged sections providing a housing for oscillator components and defining a substantially annular interior cavity wherein components are mounted. 
     
     
       6. The improved oscillator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means has elastic characteristics and a thickness of up to 0.5 mms. 
     
     
       7. The improved oscillator as claimed in claim 6 wherein said crystal vibrator mounted on said mounting means has a thickness of up to 1.5 mms. 
     
     
       8. The improved oscillator as claimed in claim 1, said mounting means comprising a substantially planar plate having a U configuration including a rounded shoulder and a pair of substantially parallel bifurcations, said rounded shoulder having an annulus defined therein by a continuous perimeter of said plate, said annulus being registrable with said annular support member whereby said plate perimeter engages said groove defined by said other elbow for abutting said perpendicular surfaces defined thereby and said plate member overlying said rib of said support for thereby supporting said bifurcated plate on said support, said bifurcated plate being arranged substantially parallel to end walls of said oscillator envelope and a predetermined distance form one of said end walls. 
     
     
       9. The improved oscillator as claimed in claim 8, said mounting means further including an interior configured on slot running therethrough and interiorly through arcuate closed bifurcations thereof, said bifurcations thereby comprising a pair of parallel arcuate continuous ribs provided with arcuate closed ends, said ribs having respective interior sections thereof integrally connected to a substantially flat plate member on which said crystal is carried by said plate. 
     
     
       10. The improved oscillator as claimed in claim 9, said substantially flat plate member including an integrally connected flange substantially perpendicular thereto, said flange having an interiorly located slot for thereby eliminating a bent portion thereof for thereby assuring that its perpendicular section provides a backrest for a continuous end of said crystal. .Iadd. 11. A hermetically sealed quartz crystal tuning fork vibrator assembly particularly for use as a time standard in an oscillator circuit comprising in combination a flexural mode tuning fork quartz crystal vibrator having two substantially opposed planar surfaces and being adapted to vibrate in a first vibratory direction substantially parallel to said surfaces, and a mounting plate having a first portion including a substantially flat surface, the flat surface being secured to one of said opposed surfaces at a non-vibratory portion of said tuning fork vibrator, said mounting plate including a second portion mounted to a reference member, said mounting plate having a resilient portion intermediate said first and second portions, said resilient portion being formed of two substantially U-shaped spring-like elements, a first leg of each element being connected to said second portion and the other leg of each U-shaped spring-like element being adapted to vibrate in said first vibratory direction and to further vibrate in a second vibratory direction at an angle of about 90°  with respect to said first vibratory direction..Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. A hermetically sealed quartz crystal vibrator assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said reference member includes a hermetical terminal having leads and said assembly includes means for electrically coupling said hermetically terminal leads to said vibrator, said hermetical terminal being further formed with an annular projection, said second portion of said mounting plate being shaped as a collar and adapted to be secured around said annular projection, said first leg of each said U-shaped spring elements being connected to substantially diametrically opposite ends of said collar portion. .Iaddend.