CH708964A2 - Process timing on trend display and associated timepiece. - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable timepiece (1) comprising an hour hand (11) and a minute hand (12) for displaying the current time, rotating about a central barrel (10) next to a telescope (150), and also a chronograph module. The timepiece (1) further comprises a first analog trend indicator (14) with respect to a measured time interval. According to the control and inventive display method, this analog trend indicator (14) displays the difference between a predefined time interval and a timed time interval.

Description

The present invention relates to a control method and display for a portable time measuring device, and more specifically for an electromechanical chronograph.

[0002] Portable electronic timekeepers with digital display have been used for a very long time as part of sports activities to indicate the performances achieved to an athlete or his trainer. Due to the digital nature of their display, the reading of the times is not very intuitive, especially to visualize deviations, since it does not involve any notion of amplitude of movement such as with needles.

[0003] Furthermore, needle chronographs are well known in the field of mechanical watchmaking for measuring time intervals with a precision generally ranging up to one tenth of a second. A second hand is actuated and then stopped by a pusher, and the measured time interval is read opposite the telescope for the seconds, and on other counters for other time units (for example the minutes, the hours, or fractions of a second). A disadvantage of this type of chronographs is that it only allows to measure successive time intervals, or a cumulative overall time interval; it is therefore impossible to visualize several measured times simultaneously.

Also known are watches that incorporate features of elapsed time display or time remaining with respect to preprogrammed events, such as for example the patent EP 1 807 738 designed for astronauts performing space flights. The remaining times for a given future event are then marked as negative, and the elapsed time for a past event indicated as positive. This multifunctional watch allows you to program and view multiple countdowns simultaneously, running against predefined events, but is however not intended to measure or compare fixed time intervals as a standard chronograph. Moreover, the numerical display of the time values does not make it possible to materialize intuitively either the magnitude of temporal gaps.

[0005] There is therefore a need for timed time display methods and devices free of these known limitations.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and a display device for portable device more user-friendly, which allow the user to view and compare more easily intervals of time.

These goals are achieved in particular by a control method and display for portable chronograph which includes the features of the main claim 1 of the method, as well as a portable timepiece, such as a wristwatch, which includes the features of the main feature claim 7. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

An advantage of the present invention is to be legible materialize gaps between measured time intervals and target intervals, and thus facilitate their reading in real time. More particularly, the relative nature of such deviations can be displayed very intuitively.

Another advantage of the present invention is to propose a new relevant indicator of performance for timed events, allowing athletes to easily consult additional information that completes their scoreboard in the race, and provides them with an effective follow-up. to advance planning.

Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description and illustrated by the appended figures in which: <tb> fig. 1 <SEP> illustrates a portable watch provided with a trend indicator according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; <tb> fig. 2 <SEP> illustrates a diagram of the various steps of a control and display method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; <tb> fig. 3 <SEP> illustrates a portable watch provided with two trend indicators and a digital display device, according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; <tb> fig. 4 <SEP> illustrates a block diagram of a portable watch for the implementation of the method according to the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, and which is also compatible in particular with the portable watch according to the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 represents a wristwatch 1 provided with an analog trend indicator 14 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, where it consists of an additional needle rotatably mounted around the central barrel 10 of the hour hand 11 and a minute 11 hand of the movement. The wristwatch 1 comprises a dial 16 surmounted by a telescope 150 provided with a series of graduations 155 on the whole of its circumference to facilitate the reading of the current time, and in which is arranged a window 19 to 4 hours for displaying the date. Furthermore, three pushers P1, P2 and P4 protruding out of the caseband are provided for making time measurements as well as adjustment operations, including reference time intervals for the measurements, as explained below using of fig. 2 next. A control rod T is also provided for setting the current time and for determining different modes of operation. It is preferably axially displaceable in at least 3 distinct positions, at least one of which corresponds to a mode of parameterization of the analog trend indicator 14, and another to the setting of the current time. On the dial 16 are arranged three small needles opposite three corresponding counters: at six o'clock, the small seconds hand 13 of the current time; at two o'clock, the tenth second hand 23 of the tenths of seconds counter 230 of the chronograph module, and at 10 o'clock, the minute counter hand 22 of the minute counter 220 of the chronograph module. The hand of the seconds counter 21 of the chronograph module is itself also rotated conventionally around the central barrel 10. The proposed arrangement thus allows to add the analog trend indicator 14 to a conventional portable watch without having to require modify the display structure usually used for a chronograph.

On the bezel 150 of circular shape are arranged at least two distinct display segments, on either side of midday, that is to say: a first display segment 151 materializing a delay with respect to a predefined time interval, a second display segment 152 embodying an advance by this same predefined time interval. Such an arrangement is particularly intuitive for an instantaneous reading, the midday of a watch - where is the graduation "60" in FIG. 1 - being interpreted in general as the time reference, and chosen as the rest position of the chronograph second counter hand 21. This position will therefore preferably also be chosen as the rest position for the additional needle chosen as the first analogue trend indicator 14, which will intuitively enable the user of the watch to visualize the delay and the advance with respect to this reference. standard to which a neutral value is attributed.

The bezel 150 further comprises a third display segment 153 arranged around noon, and which is intended to indicate the exact correspondence between a predefined time and the time measured using the chronograph module. For this reason, this third angular segment is preferably very small compared to the other segments, which extend in FIG. 1, respectively from 9 am to noon and from noon to 3 am, each about 90 degrees. To reinforce the intuitive nature of the trend display, different patterns or colors can be chosen for each of the display segments, for example red for the delay and green for the advance, and to match the third segment. 153 display at noon trend needle, conferring for example also the same color (blue, yellow) or, alternatively or in a complementary way, a corresponding pattern, such as a triangle pointing down at noon and a triangle pointing up at the end of the first trend indicator.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated, each of the three display segments 151,152,153 comprises a reading scale formed of blocks 154 which are superimposed on the series of graduations 155 of the telescope. The third segment 153 at noon consists preferably of a single block 154 which highlights the midday scale in the middle, and the same goes for each of the other blocks relative to the other graduations of the bezel 150 on the angular sector of trend display, which extends here over 180 degrees, and preferably at most on such an angular range. The reading scale is therefore perfectly homogeneous and allows to reuse advantageously some existing elements of a watch, such as a conventional bezel 150 provided with a series of graduations on the entire periphery to facilitate the reading of the time common.

According to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the additional needle chosen as the first analog trend indicator 14 extends slightly further than the chronograph module seconds counter hand 21 in order to point directly at the reading blocks 154 and that the two needles can not to be confused. According to an alternative embodiment, however, it would be possible to arrange a reading scale opposite the end of the analog trend indicator 14 on a flange or at the periphery of the dial 16, so that, if the watch also includes a graduated telescope 150, the reading of the information relating to a trend on a timing can be completely dissociated from those relating to the current time.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the sequence of steps that can be used to program one or more target time slots and then measure one or more time slots and then display the corresponding gaps. In the remainder of the description, reference will be made to FIGS. 1 and 2 for explaining a preferred embodiment of a watch which contains only one analog trend indicator and where the measurement of time intervals is completely manual, that is, started and stopped by pressing on one of the pushers, and then together with FIGS. 2 and 3 for another preferred embodiment in which the watch contains two separate analog trend indicators, to indicate absolute or relative deviations respectively on a measurement step and on a sequence of measurement steps, and where the measurement of time intervals is partially automatic, that is to say, preferably started by pressing a pushbutton, but stopped without no longer requiring manual intervention of the user.

At the top of FIG. 2, is illustrated a first step E1, which relates to the programming of a predefined time interval T1. Using a portable watch like the one shown in fig. 1, this first programming step may consist of the following sequence for each predefined time interval T1 to be programmed: <tb> (i) <SEP> pressing the third pus P4 to enter a setting mode; <tb> (ii) <SEP> press the first pushbutton P1 to select the time parameter to be set, which can be determined in a predefined order, such as for example first the minutes, then the seconds, then the tenths of seconds; <tb> (iii) <SEP> pressing the second pusher P2 for the actual setting of the chosen time parameter; <tb> (iv) <SEP> short press on the third pusher P4 to validate the time value selected using the second pusher P2; <tb> - <SEP> repeating steps (ii) to (iv) to set and validate each of the time parameters of the first predefined time interval T1; <tb> - <SEP> and finally a long press on the third pus P4, for example for at least a few seconds, to exit the setting mode.

This step sequence is sufficient when it is desired to program only one predefined time interval, for example to train on an athletics track and measure its travel times compared to scheduled reference times for each round. Nevertheless, it may also be desirable to program several distinct predefined time intervals corresponding to different portions of a race, such as for example different portions of a popular race on foot or a cycling time trial with elevation profiles ( flat, climb, descent) and / or very different distances. To do this, instead of exiting the adjustment mode by pressing the third push-button P4 a long time, the first analog trend indicator 14 can be incremented by one unit opposite the graduations 155 of the telescope 150 and indicate that the a second predefined time interval T1 is set when all possible time parameters have been set. It will then be possible to repeat the same sequence of steps (ii) to (iv) described above, and so on for each of the predefined time intervals T1 that it is desired to program.

As indicated on the left of FIG. 2, the first programming sequence S1 of predefined time slots T1 may thus comprise a number of iterations N corresponding to the number of steps to be programmed, that is to say the number of distinct predefined time slots T1 .

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention not using the portable watch 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, but a portable watch illustrated in FIG. 3, preferably comprising a GPS module 49 - illustrated in the block diagram of FIG. 4 only - to automatically detect the passage to predetermined geographical locations. Such a module can be particularly interesting for mountain races, especially ski races, such as the Swiss glacier patrol, where the weather conditions require the use of gloves and thus prevent any easy manipulation of pushers. In this case, it is necessary to associate the programming of each predefined time interval T1 with a corresponding location L1, which must be done during an additional programming step following each last step (iv) of validating the last parameter possible time of a predefined time interval T1 given. Assuming that a specific GPS programming mode has been previously activated, for example by a long pressure on the third pus P4 instead of a short pressure on the same third T4 pusher, it will then be necessary to set coordinates GPS after setting each predefined time interval T1 for example by means of a sequence of additional adjustment steps similar to those of steps (ii) to (iv) described above, namely:

Once this first programming sequence S1 has been performed, it will be possible to set the display of the trend, during the optional parametering step E6, by choosing the granularity of the scale used next to the pointer. forming the first analog trend indicator. Indeed, although it is possible to display absolute time differences, that is to say corresponding to an effective time value, it will be preferred, in the context of the present invention, a relative trend display, c i.e., deviations corresponding to a percentage of the predefined time intervals T1 which have been programmed. According to the preferred embodiments illustrated in FIGS. and 1 and 3, it can be seen that each of the display segments relating to the advance and the delay comprises 15 units, which means that the percentage related to the relative difference is at most 15%. The parameterization step would allow to assign an integer multiple to these unit values, to bring the maximum percentage to for example 30 or 45%. To do this, it is necessary to enter a parameter setting mode for example by changing the axial position of the rod T, pulling it one step outwards. In this axial position of the rod T, a pressure on the third pus P4 increments, for example by successive pressures on the first pusher P1 or the second pusher P2, the value read on the graduations 155 of the bezel 150 opposite the first analog trend indicator 14, the incrementation value being one unit for each successive pressure on the pusher and determining the multiplicative factor. Thus a first pressure would correspond to the normal mode - that is to say with a multiplicative factor of 1 - a second pressure would mean a multiplicative factor of 2, a third pressure a multiplicative factor of 3, etc. The multiplicative factor preferably being limited to a maximum of 5, which would mean that the range of displayed relative deviations would be between -75 and + 75% of the programmed predefined T1 time intervals.

Once the optional parameterization step E6 has been performed, a second sequence S2 of a number N of iterations can be performed, equal to the number of iterations N of the first sequence S1 of the programming of the different time intervals. predefined T1, of the following series of steps:

According to a preferred embodiment, we can start the measurement of time intervals by a pressure on the first pusher P1, while for each of these second stages E2 of time intervals, we will press the pusher P2 , which will stop the chronograph while continuing to count the time elapsed since the beginning. After the fourth step of displaying the deviation D, first analog trend indicator 14 can thus be reset for each next step while the display of the chronograph will rebasculera, preferably after a few seconds, on a display value the time elapsed since the beginning of the measurement.

To permanently stop the chronograph, that is to say, both to complete a measurement step and stop the elapsed time since the beginning of the series of measurement steps, it is preferably pressed on the first pus P1 . According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at the end of the second sequence S2, that is to say after the fourth step E4 of displaying the difference D of the last measurement step, a fifth step Display E5 makes it possible to display a global difference G over all the measurement steps, that is to say for the entire elapsed time. The global difference G is therefore equal to the sum of the differences D over the number N of iterations of measurements. To do this, if a watch with a single trend indicator is used, such as the watch shown in FIG. 1, it is possible firstly to display the deviation D of the last measuring step with the help of the first analog trend indicator needle 14, then to switch, preferably after a few seconds, on the display of the global gap G using this same needle.

FIG. 3 illustrates another preferred embodiment for the invention that uses separate dedicated indicators to be able to display simultaneously, and not alternately, the trend in the timing of each of the measurement steps, when there are several, and the overall trend at the end of the series of measurement steps, at the fifth stage E5 display. In order to simultaneously view, rather than alternately, two pieces of information related to the same trend parameter, ie the difference D corresponding to a specific step, and the overall difference G, a second analog trend indicator is used. in addition to the first analog trend indicator 14. This second analog trend indicator 18 indicates the overall gap G, preferably relative, between a first sum of predefined first time intervals T1 and a second sum of said second measured time intervals. 12, for a number N of measurement iterations. According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the second analog trend indicator 18 is mounted coaxial with the first analog trend indicator 14 around the same central barrel 10 of the movement needles, so that the display values can be read next to the same scale of the first , second and third display segments 151,152, and 153 used by the first analog trend indicator 14, and thus require an additional engine, but no additional space on the bezel. Such an arrangement also facilitates the intuitive nature of the comparison between the two information displayed simultaneously against a common scale. This second indicator, of shorter length, substantially equal to that of the hour hand 11 of the movement, will also be arranged to be always superimposed on the first indicator except when it indicates a global gap G, preferably relative, on a sum of first time intervals T1.

It can be seen that the only other difference of the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 with respect to that of FIG. 1, apart from the addition of the second analog trend indicator 18, concerns the deletion of the small second 13 at six o'clock on the dial 16 and its replacement by a digital display module 17, such as for example of the LCD type (liquid crystal display). This digital display module 17 is used in particular for entering GPS coordinates corresponding to predefined locations L1 associated respectively with the first predefined time intervals T1, as explained above in view of FIG. 2. This digital display module 17 can also provide additional information relating to the number of the current programming step, in the alternative or alternatively to the positioning of a hand indicating a current programming step number - such as the incrementing the first analog trend indicator 14 of a previously described unit for changing from setting a first predefined time interval T1 to a next interval in a first programming sequence S1.

Apart from these differences, all the references in FIG. 3 are identical to those of FIG. 1 and will therefore not be redescribed.

Fig. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic portable watch according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, subdivided into three functional blocks for displaying the timing trend:

The electronic circuit 40 preferably comprises a sensor module 41 - to which a counter module is optionally slaved - for detecting and accounting for the pressures made on the different push-buttons, as well as a controller circuit 42, comprising for example a microcontroller, connected on the one hand to a time division circuit connected to a resonator to provide a time base 45, and on the other hand to a first control circuit 46 of the motors for the analog display members and a second control circuit 47 of the LCD of the digital display module 17. The controller circuit 42 receives signals from the sensor module 41 for navigation and adjustment in different menus; it is also connected to a first memory zone 43 flash or SSD allowing it to perform deviation calculations, relative or absolute, during sequences of measurements of time intervals, and a second memory zone 44, provided for storing the time and possibly location parameters (ie the values of predefined time intervals T1 and the coordinates of the corresponding locations L1).

The electronic circuit 40 finally finally comprises two modules connected to the controller circuit 42 and which are provided for the automatic detection of time measurement, namely a transponder module 48, of the RFID type for example, and a GPS module 49. Due to the high energy consumption of each of these modules, including the GPS module 49, they can be arranged removably in the case of a watch or activate them on demand, knowing that it is better to be able to alternatively enable one of these two modules, but never both at the same time, for the measurement of time intervals, nor to combine them with manual measurement methods with pushers for intermediate times. The advantage of these two modules is to require no pressure to stop the chronograph. While the transponder module 48 has the relative advantage, compared to the GPS module, consume significantly less energy, such a module is nevertheless usable, a priori, in the race where transponder detection devices have already been installed for intermediate times. Thus the transponder module 48 could not be used for example to perform a reconnaissance course or schedule a training, but only to visualize race performance in real time.

Preferably, a series of measurement of time intervals may comprise up to about 20 measurements, and after each measurement, started by pressing the first pusher P1 and stopped by a second pressure on second pusher P2 - or alternatively by detection of a terminal by the transponder module 48 or the geographic coordinate correspondence by the GPS module 49 - the controller circuit 42 sends activation signals to the control circuit of the motors 46 to position the first analog trend indicator 14 from its rest position at noon on the dial 16, visible in FIG. 3, next to the value he calculated. Until the last measurement, preferably determined by pressing the pusher P1, regardless of the detection mode, ie manual or automatic, chosen for the intermediate time measurements, the second analog trend indicator 18 is also positioned by the control circuit of the motors 46, on the same value as that of the first analog trend indicator 14, so as not to disturb the readability of the user by overloading the dial by various angular positions of a plurality separate needles. The two analog trend indicators are therefore potentially dissociated only after the last measurement.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the various preferred embodiments described in the description above are given by way of example without being intended to be interpreted in a limiting manner. Thus other types of analog indicators, slider type, possibly even linear, are also conceivable without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, it will also be understood that it is possible to combine all or part of the features described in the various FIGS. 1 to 4, and in particular that it is possible to use a portable watch 1 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, and which would use an RFID module 48, but no GPS module 49, or a watch provided with an RFID module 48 and a GPS module 49, but which would use a single hand for display of the trend, overall or not.

Claims (13)

A method for controlling and displaying a portable timepiece (1) comprising means for displaying a timed time and at least a first analog trend indicator (14), a control interface (30) and an electronic circuit (40) for activating said analog trend indicator, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: A first step (E1) for programming a first predefined time interval (T1); A second step (E2) of measuring an interval of a second time interval (T2); A third step (E3) of displaying said second time interval (T2); A fourth step (E4) for displaying a difference (D) between said first predefined time interval (T1) and said second time interval (T2), using said first analog trend indicator (14) . 2. Control and display method according to claim 1, characterized in that the displayed value for said deviation (D) is a relative value. 3. control method and display according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first step (E1) programming is performed manually while said second step (E2) measurement is at least partially automatic. 4. Control and display method according to claim 3, characterized in that said first step (E1) for programming a first time interval (T1) is correlated to the programming of a predefined geographical location (L1). . 5. Control and display method according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a first programming sequence (S1) of a number (N) greater than 1 of said first steps (E1) of first predefined time intervals (T1), a second sequence (S2) of said number (N) of second steps (E2) for measuring intervals of second distinct time intervals (T2), characterized in that it comprises a fifth step (E5) of displaying, at the end of said second sequence (S2), a global difference (G) between the sum of said first predefined time intervals (T1) of said first sequence (S1) and the sum of said second time intervals (T2) of the sequence (S2) in analog form. 6. Control and display method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a subsidiary step (E6) of setting the display of deviations. 7. Portable timepiece for the implementation of the control and display method of one of claims 1 to 6, comprising an hour hand (11) and a minute hand (12) for the displaying the current time, rotating around a central gun (10), and also a chronograph module, characterized in that it furthermore comprises a first analog trend indicator (14) with respect to a time interval measured. 8. Portable timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that said first analog trend indicator (14) is an additional needle rotatably mounted around said central barrel (10), and moving facing a telescope (150). ), said bezel (150) further comprising at least a first display segment (151) embodying a delay with respect to said first predefined time interval (T1) and a second display segment (152) embodying an advance relative to at said first predefined time interval (T1), said first and second display segments (151,152) being located on both sides of midday. 9. Timepiece portable according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said bezel (150) comprises a third display segment (153) extending over a very small angular segment (ex = 1 graduation) and materializing a correspondence between said first predefined time interval (T1) and said second measured time interval (T2), said third display segment being furthermore matched to said first analog trend indicator (14). 10. Portable timepiece according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said first segment, said second segment and said third display segment (151,152,153) comprise a reading scale formed of a series of blocks (154). extending over an angular sector of said bezel (150). 11. Portable timepiece according to one of claims 7 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a second analog trend indicator (18) distinct from said first analog trend indicator (14), arranged to indicate the difference between a first sum of said first predefined time intervals (T1) and a second sum of said second measured time intervals (T2). 12. Portable timepiece according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that said first analog trend indicator (14) and said second analog trend indicator (18) are coaxially mounted around the central barrel (10). and arranged to always be superimposed except when said second analog trend indicator (18) indicates an overall gap (G) over a sum of first time intervals (T1). 13. Timepiece portable according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that said control interface (30) comprises three separate pushers (P1, P2, P4), and a rod (T) axially displaceable in the at least three distinct positions, at least one of which corresponds to a parameter mode of said analog trend indicator (14).