CH685142B5 - Chronograph watch comprising two pushers excluding any stem-crown. - Google Patents

Description

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Description

The present invention relates to a chronograph watch comprising first and second hands controlled by motor means comprising first and second rotors capable of driving at least one needle step by step independently of the other, said hands being capable of displaying , in response to the actuation of a control device controlling an electronic circuit, either the time of day indicating the hour and the minute, or a timed time indicating the minute and the second, device using which a origin of the times can be chosen, the watch can be set to the time and the chronograph started, frozen, stopped and reset to zero, and first and second counters capable of memorizing the time of day and the time respectively stopwatch.

A chronograph watch that partially meets the above definition is already known. This includes a dial surmounted by two single hands. Normally, the watch displays the time of day, the hands indicating the hour and the minute. This watch has only one crown stem which, in the pulled position, allows the time to be set by rotating the crown. If the crown is pressed while the hands display the time, the hands will position themselves at noon or at the chronograph zero and immediately start counting the time interval (START). Thus, the hands of the timepiece which indicated the hour and the minute are transformed into chronograph hands which now indicate the minute and the second respectively. Pressing the crown again stops the chronograph (STOP) and allows the timed time to be read. You return to the time of day by pressing the crown again: the hands display the time and the chronograph counter is reset to zero (RESET). If the chronograph hands are allowed to progress, they automatically return to the time of day after counting a time interval of 3 1/2 minutes. In this case, the chronograph counter continues to increment so that pressing the crown shows the total timed time from the moment when the crown was pressed for the first time. The cited chronograph watch therefore includes a first counter capable of memorizing the time of day and a second counter capable of memorizing the timed time. It also includes a device making it possible to fix an origin for the hands, this being necessary at the time of the change of battery supplying the watch or after an impact which would have accidentally displaced the hands.

This chronograph watch however has several drawbacks which have been overcome in the subject of the present invention. One drawback is that it cannot measure cumulative times, that is to say, from the STOP position, restart a new timing. Another drawback is that it does not offer a GEL function which can be defined by stopping the hands and continuously increasing the chronograph counter so that if the chronograph is restarted, the hands progress rapidly that they indicate the timed time that they would have indicated if the GEL function had not been ordered. This is the well-known split-second function of mechanical chronographs. Yet another disadvantage is that, once the chronograph has been started, it cannot quickly return to the time of day. We have seen that this return is only made after 3 1/2 minutes. Finally, another drawback lies in the use of a crown stem which it is desirable to avoid because of its mechanical complexity, this stem being able to be advantageously replaced by a pusher, as described in an article by G. Cart, Chronomé-trie Congress of La Chaux-de-Fonds 1986, communication SC5, pages 31 to 34.

The watch of the invention therefore makes it possible to measure a time interval, to view it by the hands on demand while memorizing the information which is then no longer displayed. The time interval can be possibly extended (cumulative time) or canceled (reset). It is possible to return to the display of the hourly information by the hands either automatically after a few minutes of operation, or by pressing a button. From this moment, the counting of the time interval continues and is memorized. This is the GEL function mentioned above. Pressing the same button then makes it possible to catch the memorized time.

To overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and implement the desired functions, the chrono-graph watch of the invention is characterized in that its control device comprises at least first and second pushers excluding any crown-stem , push-buttons thanks to which either the time of day or the timed time can be viewed at any time on request.

The invention will now be understood in the light of the following description and by means of the drawing which shows, by way of example, an embodiment in which:

- fig. 1 is a front view of the chronograph watch of the invention,

- fig. 2 is a schematic view of a stepping motor with two rotors which can be used to drive the hands of the chronograph watch of FIG. 1,

- fig. 3 is an electrical diagram showing the pushers of the chronograph watch of FIG. 1, these pushers acting on a block having outputs connected in turn to the electrical diagram of FIG. 6,

- fig. 4 is a flowchart explaining the functions of the pushers illustrated in FIG. 1 and 3 in the case of setting the origin of the hands and setting the time of the watch,

- fig. 5 is a flowchart explaining the functions of the pushers illustrated in FIG. 1 and 3 in the case of setting the origin of the hands and setting the time of the watch,

- fig. 6 is a general electrical diagram of the chronograph watch according to the invention, this diagram

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having terminals connected to the outputs of the diagram in fig. 3, and

- fig. 7 is a front view of a variant of the chronograph watch shown in FIG. 1.

The chronograph watch of the invention is shown in fig. 1. It comprises first (1) and second (2) needles controlled by motor means which will be described below. These hands are capable of displaying, in response to the action of a control device comprising here pushers A and B, either the hour of the day indicating the hour and the minute, or a timed time indicating the minute and second. In the example of fig. 1, hands 1 and 2 display 9 hours 15 minutes if the chronograph watch indicates the hour and 46 minutes 15 seconds if it indicates the timed time. As will be seen below, the control device A and B makes it possible to choose an origin of time, to set the watch to the time and to set the chronograph on or off, to stop it or bring it back to zero. The chronograph watch in fig. 1 also includes first and second counters capable of memorizing the time of day and the timed time respectively, as will be clear from FIG. 6.

The invention is mainly characterized by the fact that the control device comprises at least a first pusher A and a second pusher B, to the exclusion of any crown-stem, these plungers making it possible in particular to display at any time and on request, either the hour of the day, or the timed time.

We said above that the motor means driving the needles 1 and 2 comprise first and second rotors capable of driving at least one needle step by step independently of the other. Such an engine is described in document CH-B 675 940. FIG. 2 of this description illustrates this motor which has two rotors 3 and 4, a common magnetic circuit 5, a coil core 6 and a coil 7 magnetically coupled with the rotors 3 and 4. The latter drive two coaxial wheels 11 and 12 integral needles 1 and 2 respectively (not shown). As explained in the cited document, by acting on the shape of the notches 13a, 13b and 14a, 14b for example, it is possible to selectively control the rotors 3 and 4 by means of pulses of different types, for example pulses of the same type. duration but with different hash rates. In the present case, if a full pulse is applied to the coil 7, the two needles 1 and 2 progress by one step at the same time whereas if a chopped pulse is applied, only the needle 1 (that of the minutes) takes a step forward.

The present invention is not limited to the motor described above and it will be understood that the use of two independent motors each driving a needle is also possible, such as for example the use of the arrangement described in the CH patent -B 677 578 (= US-A 4 969 133).

Before explaining the various manipulations to be exercised on the pushers to achieve the desired functions (origin, time setting, chronograph, time indication), we will describe the electrical and electronic organization of the chronograph watch using diagrams shown in fig. 3 and 6.

Quite generally, it is obvious that in order to operate the chronograph watch according to the invention it is necessary to develop a special integrated electronic circuit. It can either be a microcontroller well known in the state of the art, or an integrated circuit specific to the present application, called ASIC. Experience shows that the ASIC solution is preferable here because we are in the presence of a well-defined circuit, not requiring reprogramming and of relatively modest complexity requiring only about 1200 doors. In addition, the surface of the chip hardly exceeds 7 mm2.

The ASIC circuit includes the block diagrams of fig. 3 and 6.

Fig. 3 shows the control device comprising the pushers 1 and 2 which have inputs 8 and 9 respectively of a control circuit 21 at the positive potential of the power when said pushers are pressed. A clock signal is connected to an input 10 of circuit 21, a signal which is used for the formation of pulse trains which will be explained below. The control circuit 21 has six outputs 15 to 20 which are in logic state 1 when they are active and in state 0 otherwise. The active state can be maintained (ORIGIN or CORRECTION / time setting functions) or appear in the form of pulses (reset / reset, ICOR correction pulses). The circuit 21 is arranged so as to carry out the functions explained in the flow diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5, functions which will now be reviewed in detail and where the following symbols are used:

w A, B: short-term double press on button A or B;

V A, B: simple short-term press on push-button A or B;

V-A, B: press and hold on button A or B.

1. ORIGIN of times mode a) two successive short WB presses on push-button B cause the original output 15 to go to logic state 1 and this state is maintained. We enter ORIGIN mode,

b) a short press VB or maintained V ~ B on the push-button B respectively causes a full pulse or a train of full pulses on the output ICOR 17. These pulses are accepted by the rotors 3 and 4 so that the needles 1 and 2 are driven at the same time, either step by step, or continuously at accelerated speed (see above comments on fig. 2). We can thus bring hand 2 to zero hours (ORIGIN),

c) a short-term press VA or maintained V ~ A on the push-button A respectively causes a chopped pulse or a train of chopped pulses on the output ICOR 17. These pulses are not ac-

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only received by the rotor 3 so that only the needle 1 is driven, either step by step, or continuously at an accelerated speed (see above comments on fig. 2). We can thus bring needle 1 to zero (ORIGIN),

d) two successive short-term vvB presses on the push-button B, when the original output 15 is in logic state 1 cause said output to go to logic state 0. At this time, the first hour counter 36, the second chronograph counter 33 and the engine control circuit 38 which will be discussed in connection with FIG. 6 are reset and we exit the ORIGIN mode. To assure the wearer of the watch that this exit has taken place, the two presses can be followed first by a progression of 60 steps of hands 1 and 2, then of a progression of 60 steps of needle 1 alone , which is achieved by the emission of a train of 60 full pulses followed by 60 chopped pulses at the output ICOR 17.

The operations a) to d) above are shown on the left-hand side of the flow diagram of FIG. 4. In summary, if you exert two short presses on the second push-button B, you have the chronograph watch in ORIGIN mode of the times after which the second 2 then the first 1 hand can be placed on the origin chosen, in particular zero hour, by successive presses or maintained on the second B then first A push button respectively, the first and second counters then being reset to zero. We exit the ORIGIN mode by exerting two short presses again on the second pushbutton B.

2. CORRECTION or time setting mode e) two successive short VVA presses on push-button A cause the correction output 16 of circuit 21 of fig. 21 to go to logic state. 1. This state is maintained and you enter the time setting mode,

f) a short press VA or maintained V ~ A on the push-button A respectively causes, on the output ICOR 17, a chopped pulse or a train of pulses composed of a full pulse followed by twelve chopped pulses. In the first case, the first needle 1 alone advances by one step and, in the second case, the second needle 2 advances by one step each time the first needle 1 advances by twelve steps, this progression taking place as long as the '' pressing button A is maintained,

g) a short press VB on push-button B leads to output ICOR 17 a train of pulses composed of 5 full pulses followed by 55 chopped pulses, which results in advancing hands 1 and 2 by one time zone, hand 1 making a full turn and hand 2 a twelfth of a turn,

h) two short-term VVA presses on push-button A when the correction output 16 is in logic state 1 causes this output to change to logic state 0 and the emission of a chopped pulse on output ICOR 17 If these two presses are made at the minute of a time signal, the minute hand 1 advances by one step and the watch is started.

The operations e) to h) above are shown on the right side of fig. 4. To add to this description, it will be added that the double pressing of step e) above also has the consequence of resetting the last stages of the frequency divider 31 shown in FIG. 6 as well as the inhibition of the motor control, any new pulse coming from the time base being stopped (STOP function).

3. Chronograph mode

Buttons A and B are assigned to the operation of the chronograph apart from the operations which have been reviewed above relating to the ORIGIN and CORRECTION modes. Here a so-called chronograph operation is characterized by a simple short-term pressing on one of the pushers, either VA or VB.

We will now refer to FIGS. 3 and 5 to explain the various manipulations to be exerted on the pushers to act on the chronograph.

i) The origin of the time having been set and the watch being set to the time, a short press VA on push-button A instantly starts the chronograph, hands 1 and 2 which indicated the time having been brought to zero then on the time interval elapsed since pressing the button, this at accelerated speed. Note that pressing push-button A causes the START / STOP 18 output shown in fig. 3. The circuit is arranged in such a way that, if after a predetermined period of time T1, for example five minutes, no new press is exerted on push-button A, the time indication is spontaneously restored and hands 1 and 2 display the time of day,

j) a short press VA on push-button A causes the START / STOP 18 output to go to logic state 0. The chronograph is stopped and the value of the time interval can be read. After a predetermined period of time T2, for example six seconds, the time indication is restored. From this stopped situation, the chronograph can be restarted again (step i) by pressing push-button A again, the new timed time being added to the other times (cumulative times),

k) a short press VB on push-button B when the chronograph is in the stopped state for which the START / STOP output is in state 0, causes the reset RESET CHRONO 20 to go to logic state 1 and the chronograph is reset. From this instant, hands 1 and 2 indicate zero and the circuit is arranged in such a way that said hands resume their time function after the short predetermined period of time T2. It will be noted that the time period T1 being long (a few minutes) and the time period T2 being short (a few seconds), the circuit is arranged accordingly so that T1 "T2,

m) a short press VB on push-button B when the chronograph is running and the START / STOP output is in state 1 causes the GEL / SPLIT 19 output to go to logic state 1,

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which has the consequence of placing the chronograph in a GEL function defined by stopping hands 1 and 2 and the continuous incrementing of the second chronograph counter 33 (see fig. 6). The time indication is then restored after a short time T2,

n) a second short-term press VB on push-button B from step m), that is to say when the START / STOP 18 and GEL / SPLIT 19 outputs are in logic state 1, causes the transition to the logical state 0 of the GEL / SPLIT output 19. The hands then progress at high speed until they indicate the timed time that they would have indicated if the GEL function had not been commanded, the time indication is only returned after a long period of time T1. From step n), a third short press VB on push-button B brings the chronograph into GEL function (step m) and the cycle starts again,

p) after step m) above, a short press VA on push-button A causes the START / STOP 18 output to go to logic state 0, which results in stopping the incrementation of the second chronograph counter 33 and the return after a short time T2 of the time indication,

q) a new short-term press VB on the push-button 33 causes the GEL / SPLIT 19 output to go to logic state 0, which results in the display of the state of the second counter 33 by the hands 1 and 2 then, after a short time T2, the display of the time of day. The chronograph is reset to zero by another short press VB on push-button B (step k). The short time T2 aims to provide a certain time during which the reading of a second timed time is possible.

In summary, it appeared above on reading the description which has just been given in the light of the flow diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5 that it is possible to switch from the time indication to the indication of the timed time and vice versa in a few seconds and by simply pressing push-button B.

We will now describe the electrical diagram of FIG. 6 whose square terminals ORIGIN, CORRECTION, ICOR, START / STOP, GEL / SPLIT and RESET CHRONO are connected to the respective outputs 15 to 20 of the control circuit illustrated in fig. 3.

The circuit includes an oscillator-divider 31 connected to an external quartz 44. The 1 Hz output of this divider 31 is connected, on the one hand, to a divider by sixty 32 and, on the other hand, to a chronograph counter 33 The output of the divider 32, delivering one pulse per minute, is connected through switches 34 and 35, on the one hand, to an hour meter 36 and, on the other hand, to a clock 37 intended to control a circuit of control 38 of a motor M. Counters 33 and 36 respectively output a bus A1 and a bus A0. Another bus B also leaves the motor control circuit 38. The state of bus B is compared with the state of one of the buses A0 or A1, chosen by a switch 35 itself controlled by a selector C / H (stopwatch / hour) 39. The comparison of buses A and B takes place in a comparator 40 whose output S controls a switch 41. S takes the logic state 1 if the states of buses A and B are different and the state 0 otherwise. In the case where S is equal to 1, the motor control circuit 38 receives a high frequency fq from the clock 37 and by means of the switch 41. The motor M, by means of a driver 43 , is then driven at accelerated speed. As soon as the states of buses A and B are equal, S = 0, the control circuit 38 receives pulses whose frequency depends on the information displayed by the hands and determined by the selector 39. Logical state 1 of the output of this selector is fixed at a few minutes (time period T1) by a timer 42 which itself receives pulses from the divider by sixty 32. The timer is reset either by the START / STOP 18 output or by the output GEL / SPLIT 19 from block 21 of fig. 3. In CORRECTION mode, the output of the selector 39 is in logic state 0. When the original output of block 21 of FIG. 3 goes to state 1, part of the counters of the oscillator-divider 31, the divider by sixty 32, the counters 33 and 36 are reset. The output of the comparator 40 takes the logic state 1 and the control circuit 38 of the motor receives pulses fq, the needles 1 and 2 rotate at accelerated speed and stop at any position. Pressing either of the pushers A or B causes ICOR pulses which increment the control circuit 38 of the motor and which allow the needles to be brought to zero. When the ORIGIN output of block 21 returns to logic state 0, the motor control circuit 38 is reset to zero by a short pulse.

When the correction output 16 of FIG. 3 is in state 1, the hour meter 36 and the motor control circuit 38 simultaneously receive the ICOR pulses.

The START / STOP 18 output controls the start or stop of the chronograph counter 33 as well as the timer 42 and consequently the selector 39. The hands 1 and 2 then progress until indicating the information contained in the chronograph counter 33.

The GEL / SPLIT 19 output acts on the timer 42. It allows to change the reading mode and to pass from the time information to the chronograph information and vice versa.

The output 20 RESET CHRONO resets the chronograph counter 33 to zero and has the output of the selector 39 in logic state 1, which causes the hands 1 and 2 to rotate at accelerated speed until they are in zero position.

The reader will easily understand that if the two clock hands can indicate according to the invention, in addition to the time of day, a timed time, these hands could indicate other information, for example an alarm time or a second time zone.

These additional functions can be added to the chronograph watch of the invention if an additional button C is added to it, as can be seen in FIG. 7.

In fig. 7, the functions of the pushers A and B are those described above with reference to FIG. 1.

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The other manipulations are as follows:

When hands 1 and 2 indicate the time of day, pressing button C allows you to enter the second time zone mode. Pressing button A twice allows you to enter the time reset mode, but here the dividers are not reset and the STOP function is not performed. Pressing push-button B causes needles 1 and 2 to rotate. Needle 1 makes one complete revolution while needle 2 advances by a twelfth of a revolution, or one hour. Pressing push-button B has no effect here. To exit the second time zone mode, you can either press push-button C or arrange for this exit to occur automatically after a few minutes.

When the two hands 1 and 2 indicate the timed time, pressing button C allows you to enter the alarm mode. Pressing button A twice allows you to enter CORRECTION mode, but here the dividers are not reset and the STOP function is not controlled. Pressing push-button B rotates the two hands 1 and 2 and thus displays the time chosen for the alarm according to the method described above. Pressing push-button A causes rotation of hand 1 only and thus displays the minute chosen for the alarm using the same method. The alarm mode is exited either by pressing button C, or automatically after a few minutes. Subsequently, the state of an alarm counter is compared at all times with the state of the hour counter 36 and at the coincidence of the states, an alarm output is activated by actuating a buzzer.

The summary description of the variant presented in fig. 7 has shown that the addition of a third pusher C has made it possible to add two new functions. As a corollary, a fourth pusher would allow the addition of four new functions.

Claims (1)

Claims 1. Chronograph watch comprising first (1) and second (2) hands controlled by motor means comprising first (3) and second (4) rotors capable of driving at least one hand step by step independently of the other, said hands being capable of displaying, in response to the actuation of a control device (A, B) controlling an electronic circuit, either the time of day indicating the hour and the minute, or a timed time indicating the minute and the second, a device with which an origin of the times can be chosen, the watch can be set to the time and the chronograph started, frozen, stopped and brought to zero, and first ( 36) and second (33) counters capable of memorizing the time of day and the timed time respectively, characterized in that the control device comprises at least first (A) and second (B) pushers excluding any crown stem, pushers thanks to which either the time of day or the timed time can be viewed at any time on request. 2. Chronograph watch according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that if two short-term presses are exerted on the second pusher (B), said chronograph watch is placed in ORIGIN mode of the times after which the second (2) then the first (1) hand can be arranged on the chosen origin, in particular zero hour, by successive presses or maintained on the second (B) then first (A) pushers respectively, the first and second counters being then reset to zero, and that one leaves the ORIGIN mode by again exerting two short presses on the second pusher. 3. Chronograph watch according to claim 1, characterized in that if two short-term presses are exerted on the first pusher (A), said chronograph watch is placed in CORRECTION or time setting mode, after where the hands can be set to the time or shifted by at least one entire time zone when the first (A) or second (B) buttons are pressed respectively, and when one exits from CORRECTION or setting mode hour by exerting two short presses again on the first pusher (A). 4. Chronograph watch according to claim 3, characterized in that if one exerts a long press on the first pusher (A) in CORRECTION or time setting mode, the second hand (2) progresses '' one step each time the first hand (1) progresses by twelve steps, this progression taking place as long as the pressing of the pusher is maintained, and that if a short-term press is exerted on said first pusher (A ), said first needle alone advances by one step. 5. Chronograph watch according to claim 3, characterized in that if one exerts a short press on the second pusher (B) in CORRECTION or time setting mode, the hands (1, 2) are time zone advances. 6. Chronograph watch according to claim 1, characterized in that, the origin of the times having been fixed and the watch set to the time, a short press on the first pusher (A) starts the chronograph, the hands (1, 2) passing from the hourly indication to the chronograph indication (START), the hourly indication being restored after a predetermined period of time T1, then a further short press on said first pusher (A) stops the chronograph, the hands (1, 2) indicating the timed value (STOP), the time indication being restored after a predetermined period of time T2, from which, either the timing can be resumed in addition to the previous timing in pressing the first button (A), i.e. the timing can be reset to zero (RESET) by briefly pressing the second button (B), the hands (1, 2) showing the reset, the indication schedule being returned after a predetermined time period T2, said time periods T1 and T2 being arranged so that T1 "T2. 7. Chronograph watch according to claim 6, characterized in that after having started the chronograph, a first short press on the second pusher (B) arranges the chronograph 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 11 CH 685 142G A3 in a GEL function defined by stopping the hands (1, 2) and the continuous incrementation of the second counter (33), the time indication being restored after a predetermined period of time T2 and a second short press on said second push-button (B) advances the hands (1, 2) at high speed until they indicate the timed time that they would have indicated if the GEL function had not been ordered, the time indication being restored after a predetermined period of time T1. 8. Chronograph watch according to claim 7, characterized in that after having placed the chronograph in GEL function, a short press on the first pusher (A) stops the incrementation of the second counter (33), its content can be made visible if a short press is exerted on the second pusher (B), the time indication being restored after a predetermined period of time T2, the chronograph being reset by pressing again on the second button (B). 9. Chronograph watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor means comprise a single motor equipped with a single coil (7), said motor comprising said first (3) and second (4) rotors. 10. Chronograph watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor means comprise two independent motors equipped respectively with said first and second rotors. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 8