CH704684A2 - Watch e.g. electronic or mechanical watch, has bundle of juxtaposed optical fibers arranged so as to project deformed and colored replacement image on external surface, where bundle enables displaying hidden parts of watch movement - Google Patents

Abstract

The watch has a bundle (1) of juxtaposed optical fibers (10) arranged so as to project a deformed and colored replacement image on an external surface (18) of the bundle. The bundle enables displaying hidden parts of movement (4) of the watch, where the parts are not observed directly without the bundle. A portion of the bundle traverses a dial (6) and/or bridge of the movement. The bundle is colored for replacing an image captured at an end of the bundle by a colored image of a part of the watch.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a watch comprising an optical element formed of juxtaposed optical fibers.

State of the art

[0002] GB1 579 088 discloses a digital display watch comprising a mirror formed of juxtaposed optical fiber. A similar solution is also described in FR 2,381,345.

[0003] EP1 626 316 describes another needle watch whose ice is also formed from a plate constituted by a set of juxtaposed optical fibers. This ice makes it possible to raise the image of the needles or the digital display on the surface of the ice, as if these indications were printed on this surface. This avoids the problems of reflection and parallax of conventional watches in which the display is set back from the surface of the ice. In addition, continuity is obtained between the external surface of the telescope and the projected image of the display elements.

[0004] WO06 119 019 discloses an analog watch having two hands on a dial and a fiber optic image guide whose lower surface is optically coupled to the screen. The image on the dial is thus magnified and visible on the upper surface of the fiber optic image guide. The fiber optic image guide thus makes it possible to obtain a magnifying effect without using a lens.

In these different applications, the optical fibers are rectilinear, parallel or almost parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the dial or ice, so that the image of the dial and hands is projected on the upper surface of the ice . This arrangement is advantageous for moving the image of the dial and the hands closer to the user, possibly by enlarging it. Adding such ice made up of optical fibers thus makes it possible to display a reflection-free image, obtained by a simple translation possibly combined with an enlargement, of the image that would be seen without this ice. Exactly the same image could, however, be seen even without ice, or with conventional ice with antireflection treatment, simply by moving the watch closer to or away from the eye. The image reproduced by the optical fiber bundle thus constitutes a simple projection on the surface of the fiber bundle of the image that would be seen without this bundle.

Brief summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a watch with an improved optical fiber bundle compared to existing watches.

Another object is to provide a watch that offers new display possibilities compared to known watches.

According to the invention, these objectives are achieved by means of a watch comprising the features of claim 1.

In particular, these objectives are achieved in particular by means of a watch comprising a bundle of juxtaposed optical fibers, said bundle being arranged so as to project on its external surface a deformed, colored and / or comprising not visible without said optical element.

The optical fiber bundle can be arranged to display hidden parts of the movement of the watch, it would not be possible to observe or not possible to observe in this angle without this beam. For example, the optical fiber bundle may comprise one or more fibers that circumvent obstacles preventing parts of the watch from being seen, in order to allow observation of these parts.

The optical fiber bundle may be voluntarily colored to replace the image captured at one end of the beam by a colored image of a part of the watch.

The optical fiber bundle may comprise non-rectilinear fibers, for example to observe certain parts of the watch from a different angle, and / or to circumvent a visual obstacle and display part of the watch hidden by this visual obstacle.

The optical fiber, or a group of optical fibers, may be associated with a lens for deforming the replacement image, for example a magnifying lens to enlarge a portion of the watch, or a focusing lens to improve the sharpness. of the displayed image.

The optical element may comprise at least one plurality of optical fibers each provided at its end with an optical lens for deforming the replacement image, for example a magnifying lens or a focusing lens.

The watch may include a switch for moving at least a portion of the optical fiber bundle so as to choose a replacement image from a plurality of alternative images of choice. For example, the switch may move the inner end of the optical fiber bundle toward a first portion or a second portion of the watch to project the image of the first portion or the second portion.

The optical fiber bundle may be part of the watch glass, which may be constituted in whole or in part by this bundle. The optical fiber bundle may also be distinct from the watch ice, and may for example be linked to the dial of the watch, the bottom of the watch, to a flange, or to another element of the case or movement. The optical fiber bundle can also be directly under the monolithic ice of the watch, which can cover the end of the watch.

The optical fiber bundle may extend under the dial of the watch, to display parts of the watch that would otherwise be partially or completely hidden by this dial, and / or the platinum and / or bridges of the watch. movement.

The optical fibers may be non-parallel, and for example divergent so as to display at one end of the beam an enlarged image of that which is captured at the other end of the beam. The section of a first end of the optical fiber bundle may be different from the section of the opposite end of the same bundle.

This solution has the advantage over the prior art of reproducing an image voluntarily different from those that an observer could observe without the optical fiber bundle of the invention. For example the observer can observe a colored or enlarged or distorted image that he would see without this beam. The observer can also observe an image of hidden parts that he could not observe without this beam.

Brief description of the figures

Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the accompanying figures in which.

FIG. 1 illustrates a section through a watch comprising a bundle of optical fibers according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a section through a watch comprising a bundle of optical fibers according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bundle of optical fibers according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bundle of optical fibers according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bundle of optical fibers according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 6 illustrates a bundle of optical fibers according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a bundle of optical fibers according to a seventh embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates a bundle of optical fibers according to an eighth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 illustrates a bundle of optical fibers according to a ninth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a bundle of optical fibers according to a tenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a section through a watch comprising a bundle of optical fibers according to an eleventh embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a section through a watch comprising a bundle of optical fibers according to a twelfth embodiment of the invention.

Example (s) of embodiment of the invention

FIG. 1 illustrates a section through a watch according to the invention. The watch comprises a box 3 with a bottom 30 and an ice 2 to house an electronic or mechanical watch movement 4. Reference 5 denotes the hands and the reference 6 the dial. Other conventional elements in a watch are not shown for the sake of brevity.

The ice 2 is constituted or comprises a bundle 1 of optical fibers 10 projecting on the outer surface 18 (outside the watch) an image corresponding to that which is captured by the inner end 17 of the fibers, c that is, the end facing the inside of the watch. Therefore, the effect of the optical fiber bundle 1 is to translate or more generally to move on the outer surface 18 the image available at the inner end 17; this image seems to "go back" to the surface of the ice.

The outer surface 18 of the ice is formed by the outer ends of the juxtaposed optical fibers 10. A glass, a synthetic glass or a sapphire can be optionally provided to cover this outer surface and protect the end of the fibers. It is also possible to provide antireflection treatment on this outer surface 18.

The beam 1 of FIG. 1comporte a portion 11 formed of optical fibers longer than the other fibers, being extended at their inner end relative to the other fibers. Therefore, the length of the optical fibers 10 is uneven and varies in stages, although all these fibers define an outer surface 18 flat or in any case continuous. The thicker portion 11 passes through at least one opening or a window 60 through the dial 6 and / or through a bridge, and thus allows to observe and bring closer to the outer surface of the ice internal elements of the movement. . The image projected onto the outer surface 18 thus consists of a first portion, defined by the "short" optical fibers and corresponding to the dial and the hands 5, and a second portion defined by the longer optical fibers 11, corresponding to internal elements of the movement. This embodiment therefore makes it possible to project on a continuous surface 18, for example on a single plane, elements which are on or above the dial and second elements which are below the dial or even below. platinum. Advantageously, the inner end 17 of the short fibers and long fibers is at a distance from the objects whose image is to be traced, in order to allow the incident light to illuminate these objects from different directions and not only through the optical fiber itself. The distance between the inner end 17 of each fiber and the object to be displayed is non-zero but sufficiently reduced, to ensure a clear image.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a watch according to another embodiment of the invention. Elements identical or similar to those of FIG. 1 have the same reference numbers. In this embodiment, the ice 2 is formed of a bundle of juxtaposed optical fibers 10 whose outer end defines the outer surface of the ice, identical to the embodiment of FIG. 1. The inner end 17 of these fibers also defines a flat or continuous surface, with the exception of a sub-beam 12 of optical fibers which are extended so as to cross the dial 6 through one or more windows 60, as in the variant of FIG. 1. With respect to this first variant, the extended optical fibers of the sub-beam 17 are nevertheless not parallel to each other and converge so as to pass through a window or other small opening through the dial and / or other elements. some movement. It is thus possible to exploit a small opening through the dial and / or the plate of the movement to pass optical fibers there and to look for an image of a scene wider than this opening under the dial and / or under the platinum. The fibers of the sub-beam may optionally deviate again after passing through the dial, in order to capture the image of a larger area. Again, the inner end of the fibers is advantageously remote from the scene that is to be displayed, to ensure illumination of this scene from different directions, for example illumination from another opening.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bundle 1 or sub-bundle of optical fibers having first external segments parallel to each other, and second diverging segments so as to capture the image of a large area under the inner face 17 of the bundle. The point of inflection of the fibers of the beam or a sub-beam may be for example passing through a window of the dial, or at any other place along the beam.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bundle 1 or sub-bundle of optical fibers having first non-parallel outer segments with each other, and second parallel inner segments so as to reproduce on the outer surface 18 an enlarged image of a small area under the inner face. 17 of the beam. The point of inflection of the fibers of the beam or a sub-beam may be for example passing through a window of the dial, or at any other place along the beam. It is also possible to provide divergent fibers to enlarge an image, without these fibers have a point of inflection.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bundle 1 or sub-bundle of optical fibers having first external segments parallel to each other, and second internal segments oriented in a direction different from the first segments. This beam therefore makes it possible to reproduce on the external face 18 an image captured in any direction not perpendicular to this external surface.

FIG. 6 illustrates a beam 1 or a sub-bundle of optical fibers which splits into two sub-beams 13, 14 separated from each other by a non-zero distance d. This beam thus makes it possible to project on the external face 18 an image reconstituted from two images, or more than two images, zones or distinct elements of the watch. It is also possible to reconstruct an image formed from several captured images in non-parallel directions, for example to simultaneously observe the same element in two directions of different observations.

FIG. 7 illustrates a bundle 1 or an optical fiber sub-bundle having first external segments perpendicular to the dial or the outer surface 18, and second internal segments parallel to this dial or to the outer surface 18. This bundle therefore makes it possible to reproduce on the outer face 18 an image captured in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the movement stage, for example an image of the regulating member or a vortex in a direction perpendicular to the usual direction of observation, or the image an element deliberately placed vertically in order to save space or to observe it from this unusual angle.

All the beams or sub-beams illustrated in the preceding figures may be juxtaposed with each other or with other fiber bundles parallel to each other. For example, in fig. 8, it is possible to provide an optical fiber bundle 1 comprising a first sub-bundle 15 of short fibers, and a second sub-bundle 11 of long optical fibers. The outer surface 18 is continuous (without bearing) while the inner surface 17 has bearings. The distance between the inner end 17 of each fiber and the nearest object whose image is to be captured and not zero, in order to allow illumination of this object from different directions, for example from one opening, from another optical fiber, using an illuminating device, etc. Advantageously, the distance between the end of each fiber and the object closest to this fiber is identical, or at least in the focal range of the fiber, to ensure a clear image of all the elements of which the image is captured by the different fibers.

Other sub-beams of different length, or having curved fibers, not parallel to each other, etc., may also or alternatively be used instead of or in addition to the beams 11, 15.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment in which the inner end of at least some optical fibers 10 of the beam 1 is provided with optical lenses 16, for example convergent lenses, divergent, or any other type of lenses. These lenses make it possible, for example, to modify the focal length, and / or the zoom factor, ie the size of the scene captured by each optical fiber. Other types of lenses, including deforming lenses, color or polarizing filters, etc. may be provided to project new and modified images onto the outer surface 18. It is also possible to provide lenses that cover the inner end of several optical fibers at a time. In one embodiment, certain optical fibers are provided with lenses that make it possible to compensate for the unequal distance between the inner end 17 of the fibers and the closest object whose image is to be captured, in order to ensure a sharp picture regardless of these differences.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment in which the optical fiber bundle 1 can be moved and / or deformed by means of a mechanical switch 7 to move its inner end 17 and to capture images of different portions of the watch according to the position of the switch 7. The switch 7 may for example allow the inner end 17 of the beam 1 to occupy a plurality of discrete positions, or be moved continuously to scan an observation area. In the illustrated example, the switch is constituted by a rotating wheel, allowing the inner end 17 to scan an arcuate area during the rotation of the switch to which the beam is bound. The rotation can either be manual and operated directly or indirectly by the user, for example by means of a control member such as a knob, a crown or rotating bezel for example, or automatic and actuated by the movement of the watch. This embodiment makes it possible to automatically choose or modify the image projected on the dial. For example, it is possible to replace the projected image of a display (eg a date display) with that of another display (for example a chronograph display, tide display, or any other function) by manipulating the switch 7. It is also possible to turn this switch automatically to display on the external surface different portions of an image progressively scanned by the end 17, for example different elements of the movement, or different portions of a stellar map or globe. Other types of mechanical switches, including switches that move the inner end 17 of the beam along a non-planar path, can be imagined. Moreover, it is also possible to rotate or move the entire beam, for example by turning the window 2 with a rotatable watch bezel.

FIG. 11 illustrates a section through a watch movement comprising a conventional glass or crystal ice 2, with the exception of a portion replaced by a bundle 1 of juxtaposed optical fibers. This beam makes it possible to bring closer to the external surface 18 the image captured by the inner end of the beam 1, for example the image of a portion of the date ring under the aperture 60. It is also possible to use a bundle of optical fibers with magnifying effect to enlarge the captured image.

FIG. 12 illustrates a section through a watch movement comprising a conventional glass or crystal ice 2, and a dial 6 traversed by a bundle of optical fibers 1 in order to project on the surface of the dial an image of one or more elements to inside the movement 4.

The optical fiber bundle 10 may also be colored in order to project a colored image of the interior of the movement. Different fibers or groups of fibers can be associated with different colors. It is also possible to change the color of the fibers above the dial, for example by manipulating a button or a crown, to display the dial or a portion of the dial in another color.

It is also possible to use polarizing lenses 16 at the end of the optical fibers 10, and to have them collaborate with a rotating or mobile polarizing filter, in order to display or hide watch elements according to the position. mobile polarizing filter relative to the fixed filters at the end of the optical fibers.

The possibility of displaying through the optical fiber bundle 1 hidden elements by the dial, or other elements, allows to multiply the possibilities of display and design. The motion designer is no longer limited by the need to place near the upper surface of the movement the elements he wants to display, but can place them anywhere else, and carry their image through the beam 1.

The elements of the movement too dark for the beam 1 to capture their image can be illuminated by appropriate means, for example using a window, a window or another opening to the outside the movement and the box. In a variant, a bundle of optical fibers, for example an additional beam (not shown), brings light from the outside of the box to the elements to be illuminated. In another embodiment, adapted to electronic assemblies, an electric lamp, for example a led, illuminates internal parts of the movement. It is also possible to provide optical fibers whose sheath incorporates a photoluminescent material.

Reference numbers used in the figures

[0053] <tb> 1 <sep> Optical fiber bundle <tb> 10 <sep> Optical fiber <tb> 11 <sep> Thicker portion of optical fiber bundle <tb> 12 <sep> Portion of the thicker and curved optical fiber bundle <tb> 13 <sep> First sub-beam of a shared beam <tb> 14 <sep> Second sub-beam of a shared beam <tb> 15 <sep> Thinner portion of optical fiber bundle <Tb> 16 <September> Lens <tb> 17 <sep> Internal end of the beam <tb> 18 <sep> External beam surface <Tb> 2 <September> Ice <Tb> 3 <September> Box <tb> 30 <sep> Box bottom <Tb> 4 <September> Movement <Tb> 5 <September> Needles <Tb> 6 <September> Dial <tb> 60 <sep> Box through the dial <tb> 7 <sep> Mechanical switch

Claims (14)

1. Watch comprising a bundle (1) of juxtaposed optical fibers (10), said bundle being arranged to project on its outer surface (18) a deformed, colored and / or non-visible replacement image without said bundle . 2. The watch of claim 1, wherein said bundle (1) of optical fibers comprises fibers of unequal length (11, 15) so as to project on said outer surface (18) an image consisting of several sub-images taken at different levels of the watch, the distance between the inner end of each fiber and the closest object whose image is captured being non-zero. 3. The watch of one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said optical fiber bundle is arranged to display hidden parts of the movement (4) of the watch that could not be observed directly without said beam (1). 4. The watch of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a portion of said bundle (1) of optical fibers passes through the dial (6) and / or a bridge of the movement. 5. The watch of one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said beam (1) of optical fibers is colored to replace the image captured at one end of the beam by a colored image of at least a portion of the watch . 6. The watch of one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least two of said optical fibers (10) are non-parallel to each other, so as to display on said outer surface (18) an enlarged or narrowed image relative to that captured by the inner end (17) of said beam (1). 7. The watch of one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least some of said optical fibers (10) of the beam (1) are non-rectilinear. 8. The watch of claim 7, wherein at least one of said optical fibers (10) has an outer end (18) oriented in a first direction and an inner end (17) oriented in a second direction not parallel to said first direction. . 9. The watch of one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said beam (1) of optical fibers is divided into several sub-beams (13, 14) whose inner ends (17) are separated by a distance (d) non-zero, 10. The watch of one of claims 1 to 9, comprising an optical lens (16) for deforming said replacement image. The watch of claim 10, wherein at least a plurality of said optical fibers are provided at one end with an optical lens for deforming said replacement image. 12. The watch of one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a mechanical switch (7) for orienting said optical fiber bundle so as to choose an alternative image among a plurality of alternative images of choice. 13. The watch of one of claims 1 to 12, said bundle (1) of optical fibers being part of the watch ice. 14. The watch of one of claims 1 to 13, said bundle (1) of optical fibers being distinct from the watch crystal.