CH686696B5 - Watch with an antenna, including the wristwatch type. - Google Patents

Description

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Description

The present invention relates to a watch of the wristwatch type, comprising a case formed by a middle part, a bezel and a back, and containing a dial and means for receiving and / or transmitting radio signals, these means comprising at least one antenna and a modulation / demodulation and coding / decoding device for these radio signals.

There are currently several watches equipped with an antenna for receiving radio signals, in particular that described in the European patent application published under the number EP-A-0 382 130. This watch is a wristwatch in which an area of the bezel is replaced by a ferrite core around which a wire is wound. This embodiment profoundly alters the aesthetics of the watch.

In another embodiment of a watch of this type, a metal wire constituting an antenna is placed in the crystal of the watch. This achievement is unsightly and complicates the reading of the time.

In the two embodiments described above, the turns of the antenna are visible, so that their number is limited so that the aesthetics of the watch are little altered and the time remains legible. As a result, the antenna can only receive signals of relatively large power and having a high frequency and therefore a short wavelength.

If it is desired to receive signals of low frequency and low amplitude, the antenna must have as large an opening as possible so as to offer the greatest possible surface to the electromagnetic fields. This surface is limited by the dimensions of the watch. This limitation is compensated for by winding a number of turns which is all the more important the lower the frequency at which one works.

There is a type of watch in which the antenna is made in the bracelet. Although in this case the antenna is practically invisible, the ends of the wire constituting the winding must be connected inside the watch, where the received signals are processed. This connection considerably complicates the production of the watch case and practically prevents the strap from being changed. In addition, the antenna connection is fragile and as the bracelet is movable relative to the case, the risk of breakage is present and difficult to eliminate.

The German patent application published under No. DE 3 819 057 describes a case comprising an upper part and a lower part, having the shape of a watch case, provided with a strap, the lower part of the case being closed by a removable plate holding two batteries for supplying a device for transmitting distress signals. This box further comprises several keys arranged to trigger the emission of a distress signal. This document does not describe a watch, but an alarm device comprising a watch-shaped housing, and having the function of emitting a distress signal when the user presses a key. This object is used in particular in specialized treatment or care establishments for the elderly, to replace doorbells or intercoms. Such a device makes it possible to call the nursing staff, even if the user is unable to reach a doorbell or an intercom. This device has the additional objective of operating in a humid environment, for example in a shower. This object is intended to emit a signal at a short distance, in a confined environment, this signal being transmitted to a central via a relay. As the distance between the alarm device is always small, the antenna can consist of a small number of turns, for example a single turn. This device cannot be used to transmit or receive signals over long distances.

To receive signals with relatively low power, the antenna must have a high sensitivity. To this end, the antenna must have as large a diameter as possible and a large number of turns. These dimension requirements have not been resolved in this document.

The Japanese utility model JP-U-1 138 485 describes a watch antenna placed in the lower part of the middle under the dial. This antenna has a magnetic core surrounded by turns. It has a small diameter compared to the size of the watch. To use low frequency signals, a very large number of turns would be required to compensate for the small diameter. The thickness of the coil would then be large, which does not allow a watch having a conventional aesthetic appearance to be produced.

Patent FR-A-2 621 179 describes a receiver in the form of a watch case in which the antenna comprises two elements. One of the elements is isolated from the rest of the watch case and can for example be formed from a single turn of a conductive wire placed in a recess of the watch or embedded in a molded plastic case. Such an antenna does not allow the use of low frequency signals. If one wishes to produce an element comprising a sufficient number of turns to use low frequencies, the aesthetic constraints can no longer be satisfied.

The international application WO 94/09450 describes a disk-shaped data medium which in particular comprises a circuit controlling a liquid crystal display capable of indicating the time or the date. This disc can be inserted like a coin into the slot of a reading station. It can also be placed in a housing comprising a lower part and an upper part in which is formed an annular groove containing an auxiliary antenna in the form of a coil. The subject of this request somewhat resembles a pocket watch, the upper part constituting the backband provided with a recess to accommodate the antenna. The means provided for displaying the time mean that this object can be regarded as a watch of the watch type.

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poached. This watch could not, however, be reduced to the size of a wristwatch and have the possibility of picking up low frequency signals.

The present invention proposes to overcome these drawbacks by producing a watch of the wristwatch type comprising an antenna which is completely invisible when the case is closed, in which the connection is fixed and which is intended to pick up and / or transmit low frequency signals. .

This object is achieved by a watch as defined in the preamble and characterized in that the bezel and / or the middle part are provided in their thickness, with an interior recess having an annular shape, in that the antenna comprises at least one conductive electric wire wound to form a coil, in that said antenna is housed in this interior recess, and in that the antenna is arranged to be mounted in a modular fashion.

The present invention and its advantages will be better understood with reference to the description of embodiments given by way of non-limiting examples and to the appended drawings in which:

- fig. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the watch according to the invention;

- fig. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the watch according to the invention;

- fig. 3 illustrates a view from below of the antenna as used in the watch of FIG. 2;

- fig. 4a to 4d are sectional views of alternative embodiments of an antenna as used in a watch according to the invention.

- fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of an antenna fitted to a watch according to the present invention,

- fig. 6a, 6b and 6c are sectional views of alternative embodiments of watch antennas as used in the present invention, and

- fig. 7 is a partial view of the watch according to the present invention in which the antenna of FIG. 6b.

With reference to fig. 1 and 2, the watch 10 comprises a case 11 formed of a middle part 12 supporting a bezel 13 and a bottom 14. This case contains a movement (defined by its outer contour) causing four indicators such as a hand 15 indicating the hours , a hand 16 indicating the minutes, a hand 17 for the seconds and a disc 17 'indicating the date. A dial 18 is placed above the movement.

The watch further comprises means for receiving and / or transmitting electromagnetic waves arranged to receive, for example, a radio signal containing time information such as signals transmitted by the transmitter TDF (Télédiffusion de France) or to transmit a radio signal. These means consist of an antenna 20 and a modulation / demodulation and coding / decoding device well known to those skilled in the art and produced on an electronic unit 21 powered by a battery or an accumulator 22.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1,

the bezel 13 and the middle part 12 comprise an interior recess 23 of annular shape in which is wound a conductive wire, for example made of copper, forming the antenna 20.

The two ends of the copper wire are connected to two conductive tracks of a flexible circuit 26, arranged opposite two springs 27 which transmit the potential variations to contacts 28 of the electronic unit 21.

As in classic manufacturing watches, the dial 18 is covered with a flange 29 so that the antenna is completely invisible when the different components of the watch are assembled.

In the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3, only the antenna differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1.

This antenna 30 is formed of a support 31 of insulating synthetic material whose cross section has the shape of an L, the shortest branch of this L comprising an annular shoulder 32 perpendicular to this branch. The dial 18 of the watch is arranged between the annular shoulder 32 and the flange 29 so that the antenna is also invisible when the watch case is closed.

Figs. 4a to 4d are sectional views of different embodiments of antennas for a watch according to the invention.

In fig. 4a, the support 41 of the antenna 40 has a U-shaped cross section, which ensures good maintenance of the windings 42 of the coil, allows simple handling before the installation of the antenna in the watch and allows modular mounting of the watch components, including the antenna.

The support 51 of an antenna 50 illustrated in FIG. 4b has a U-shaped cross section, the shortest branch of this U being linked to an annular shoulder 52, perpendicular to this branch and arranged to receive the dial of the watch.

Fig. 4c illustrates an antenna shape 60 whose support 61 has an L-shaped cross section, which makes it possible to easily wind the conductive wire forming the coil of the antenna.

Fig. 4d illustrates another embodiment of an antenna 60 fitted to the watch according to the present invention. This antenna has a support 61 identical to that of FIG. 4c, but two separate windings 62, 63 are wound on this support. Each of these windings has a different number of turns and a different wire diameter. Each winding is intended to receive and / or transmit signals of different frequencies. In this embodiment, the frequency to be picked up or transmitted can be chosen by selecting one of the two windings. This selection can be done manually by means of a pusher, or automatically by determining the winding allowing the best reception.

Fig. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the antenna for a watch according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the antenna 70 comprises a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic core 71

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around which is wound an insulated electric conducting wire 72 forming turns. The core 71 has the shape of a portion of a circle having an angular extension of less than or equal to 180 °. The turns are wound in such a way that when this core is in a horizontal plane, the turns are contained in vertical planes.

This core 71 may have an I-shaped cross section as illustrated in FIG. 6a, or of T as illustrated in fig. 6b.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6c, the antenna 90 comprises a core 91 supporting two different windings 92, 93, which allows the reception of signals of different frequencies.

An antenna of the type illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is arranged in the annular recess made in the middle and / or in the bezel of the watch and its shape is adapted to that of the recess. It is more particularly intended to receive signals while the watch is in the horizontal position while the antenna as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is more particularly intended to receive signals while the watch is in the vertical position.

The antenna as illustrated in figs. 5 and 6 can be produced in several circular sectors so as to allow, for example, the passage of pushers if the watch has a large number thereof. In this case, each sector constitutes an independent antenna, these antennas being electrically connected to each other in the appropriate direction.

Each sector may also include a winding formed of wires of different length and diameter, so that each sector of the antenna is tuned to a different frequency.

Fig. 7 shows an antenna having the shape illustrated in FIG. 6b, as mounted in a watch according to the present invention. This mounting is carried out in the same way as the mounting of the antenna 30 illustrated in FIG. 2.

The watch antenna according to the present invention is particularly practical to use because it can be placed in any watch case in which the bezel and / or the middle have a suitable recess. This allows this type of antenna to be placed in a whole range of existing modular boxes and thus to increase the flexibility of after-sales service.

In addition, the contact between the ends of the copper wire and the printed circuit is particularly easy to make with the means known to those skilled in the art, such as for example with a flexible circuit 26 with conductive tracks and a contact spring 27 , which avoids tedious assembly, saves significant time and facilitates automated assembly.

As the antenna is inside the watch case, the contact between the antenna and the printed circuit is fixed, which ensures a longer service life than in the case of mobile contact. On the other hand, the bracelet change can be carried out without intervening on these contacts, which allows a large choice of bracelets.

This construction makes it possible to produce an antenna with a long length of wire, thus making it possible to receive and / or transmit signals of low frequency or, which amounts to the same thing, of long wavelength, and of low amplitude. The number of turns of the coil and the diameter of the wire can be modified to adapt to the desired frequency.

The antennas according to the invention can easily be produced in other forms than the annular shape. Thus they can be adapted to watches with square, rectangular, polygonal or elliptical case in particular.

Finally, the antenna mounted in the watch can be used for example to reset the watch automatically, receive electronic mail signals, search for people or for transmitting signals that you encounter in proximity switches and radio controls.

Claims (14)

Claims 1. Watch of the wristwatch type, comprising a case formed by a middle part, a bezel and a back, and containing a dial and means for receiving and / or transmitting radio signals, these means comprising at least one antenna and a device for modulating / demodulating and coding / decoding these radio signals, characterized in that the bezel and / or the middle part are provided in their thickness, with an interior recess having an annular shape, in that that the antenna comprises at least one conductive electric wire wound so as to form a coil, in that said antenna is housed in this interior recess, and in that the antenna (20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 , 90) is arranged to be mounted in a modular manner. 2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the middle part (12), the bezel (13) and the base (14) are arranged to be mounted in a modular fashion. 3. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna further comprises an annular support on which is wound said conductive electric wire. 4. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna (60, 90) is formed of several conductive electrical wires having a different length and / or diameter. 5. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that said coil is a thin, monolayer coil comprising several spiral windings, the axes of the windings being parallel to each other. 6. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that said coil is a thick coil comprising several superimposed spiral windings, the axes of the windings being parallel to each other. 7. Watch according to claim 3, characterized in that said annular support (61) has an L-shaped cross section consisting of a long branch serving as a holding member for the windings and a short branch defining the inner wall of the coil. 8. Watch according to claim 3, characterized 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 7 CH 686 696 B5 in that said annular support (41, 51) has a U-shaped cross section consisting of two long branches and a short transverse branch, said long branches serving as a holding member for the windings (42) and the short branch defining the inner wall of the coil. 9. Watch according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the short branch of the annular support (31, 51) has an annular shoulder (32, 52) perpendicular to this branch, arranged inside the coil and arranged for serve as a support member for the dial (18). 10. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal recess (23) has the shape of a cylindrical sector and in that the antenna (70, 90) comprises at least one cylindrical sector dimensioned to be placed in this interior recess. 11. Watch according to claim 10, characterized in that the antenna (70, 90) comprises a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic core (71, 91) and at least one insulated conductive electric wire wound around this core. 12. Watch according to claim 11, characterized in that the core (71, 91) has an angular extension at most equal to 180th. 13. Watch according to claim 10, characterized in that the antenna (70, 90) comprises several ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic ticks (71, 91) and several insulated conductive electric wires, electrically connected to each other, each insulated conductive electric wire having a different length and / or diameter, being wound on a core (71, 91) and constituting an antenna (70, 90). 14. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the diameter of said conductive electric wire constituting the antenna coil (60, 90) and the number of windings are selected so as to correspond to a reception frequency and / or defined antenna transmission. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 6