CH709863B1 - Portable electronic device for displaying information. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable electronic device such as a watch, capable of displaying information which is attached to the wrist, and comprising: a bracelet (10) formed by a semi-rigid element, an electronic assembly (12), display means (13), an energy source. According to the invention, the device comprises control means (15) comprising at least one strain gauge (150) capable, by applying pressure to the strain gauge, of generating a control signal which is applied to said assembly electronic, the direction and the position of the pressure on said strain gauge making it possible to display information and/or to activate a predetermined function.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a portable electronic device capable of displaying at least one piece of information, and more particularly a portable electronic device such as a watch.

Background of the invention

[0002] Generally, such devices make it possible, for example, to display the time by offering a small footprint.

Many data input devices in electronic means intended to process these data are already known. These devices can comprise, for example touch keys, each of the keys being associated with a function. Document EP 1 394 640 discloses such a device comprising means for activating a function such as the triggering of the stopwatch or even the time setting. Such tactile keys advantageously make it possible to replace the usual push buttons.

[0004] However, such a watch has several drawbacks. One of these disadvantages is that the touch keys are very sensitive to touch. It is thus sufficient for the user of the watch to involuntarily touch one of the keys of the keyboard for the character or the operation corresponding to this key to be immediately selected and activated by the electronic data processing circuit.

[0005] In addition, it is necessary for the touch sensors to be constantly supplied with an electric current in order to be able to be used when the time comes, which poses a problem of electricity consumption.

[0006] There are also devices of the wristwatch type having a touch screen. Such a device is disclosed in document EP 2 449 434 and has a digital matrix display, a touch screen provided with a plurality of electrodes as well as a processing circuit intended to interpret the signals from the electrodes to select a function.

[0007] A disadvantage of such a device is that the electronic means incorporated into the watch must develop complex identification strategies, which also poses a problem of power consumption, the device having to be recharged regularly.

[0008] Document EP 1 235 122 discloses a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, a keyboard with tactile keys allowing a user to select one of the functions of the watch, the touch screen being associated with a strain gauge making it possible to confirm the selection of the desired function and/or to activate the latter by applying mechanical pressure to the watch.

[0009] A disadvantage of such a device is that it is tedious to select and activate the desired function. Indeed, the user must handle the watch and perform several operations before being able to activate the desired function.

Summary of the invention

[0010] The object of the invention is in particular to overcome the various drawbacks of these known techniques.

[0011] More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an electronic device which is simple to handle and which makes it possible to dispense with push buttons.

The invention also aims, at least in one particular embodiment, to provide a device which is compact and inexpensive.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear more clearly subsequently, are achieved according to the invention with the aid of a portable electronic device according to claim 1.

[0014] According to optional features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: - said bracelet is in one piece, circular in shape - the electronic assembly differentiates a short pressure from a long pressure exerted on at least one strain gauge or a set of strain gauges; - the electronic assembly detects the pressure force exerted on at least one strain gauge or a set of strain gauges; – confirmation and/or validation of the function sought is performed by pressing one of said strain gauges; – the scrolling of the hours, in particular when setting the time, is more or less rapid depending on the pressure exerted on at least one strain gauge or a set of strain gauges; – a short pressure on a strain gauge corresponds to the activation of the stopwatch and a new pressure on the same strain gauge corresponds to the stopping of the stopwatch; – a long vertical pressure on two strain gauges selects an alarm time; – a long horizontal pressure on two gauges activates said electronic device; - Said control means comprise a flexible body in the form of a flexible strip; - Said at least one strain gauge is bonded to said flexible strip.

Thus, the object of the present invention, through its various functional and structural aspects described above, makes it possible to provide an electronic device that is reliable and simple to use.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of a simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended figures , among : Figure 1 is an exploded view of the electronic device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a detailed view of the electronic device according to the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0017] An electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment will now be described in the following with reference jointly to FIGS. 1 to 3.

As previously mentioned, the general principle of the invention is based on the implementation of a portable electronic device 1, and more particularly a watch, associated with at least one strain gauge making it possible to select a desired function and/or or to activate the latter by applying pressure to the strap of the watch.

In this example, the device 1 is composed of a bracelet 10 formed by a semi-rigid one-piece C-shaped element having a bottom 100 and a peripheral edge 101 so as to form a receptacle capable of receiving the components of the electronic device 1. According to another embodiment, the bracelet has a closed circular shape, the bracelet then being able to be deformed diametrically to place it on the wrist.

The bracelet 10 can be made of a slightly deformable plastic material so as to adapt to the morphology of the user, the use of a metallic material can also be envisaged. It will be understood here that other materials could have been envisaged by those skilled in the art in the context of the present invention.

The receptacle thus formed by the bracelet 10 is capable of receiving an electronic assembly 12, such as a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), with which are associated display means 13, such as a liquid crystal screen, making it possible to display at least one item of information, such as the time or even the date, securing means 14 such as an optical adhesive made of a transparent material and able to be placed on the display means 13 so as to protect the liquid crystal display from scratches, for example.

Means for illuminating the liquid crystal screen can be arranged under the latter so as to illuminate the screen from behind.

[0023] The device also comprises a power source 11 intended to power the electronic assembly 12 and the display means 13. This power source may comprise a rechargeable battery, the battery being thin enough to limit the size of device 1.

The device 1 can thus comprise a micro-USB type connector to connect the device 1 to an electrical source in order to recharge the battery.

According to the invention, the size and the resolution of the screen are sufficient to simultaneously display several pieces of information, for example the current time, the date or even the state of the battery.

[0026] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a luminosity sensor can be arranged so as to adapt the intensity of the screen/of the backlight according to the ambient luminosity.

The control means 15 of the device 1 are in the form of an upper flexible film which is positioned above the display means 13 and covering the electronic assembly 12, an opening 153 being provided for the means display 13. All of the components of the device 1 are held in place in the receptacle of the bracelet 10 by means of the optical adhesive 14 which is positioned on the bracelet 10. Preferably, the optical adhesive is made in a flexible and deformable material so as to be able to deform easily on the strain gauges 150, 151.

According to the invention, the control means 15 comprise at least one set of two strain gauges 150, 151 making it possible to display information and/or to activate a function, the display of information and/or or the activation of the function being performed by applying pressure to at least one of the strain gauges 150, 151 which generates a control signal which is sent to the electronic assembly 12. The device is thus devoid of push buttons to activate a function or display information, and allows the device to remain very thin.

The electronic assembly 12 comprises in particular processing means formed by a microcontroller and a memory, making it possible to interpret the signals coming from the strain gauges 150, 151 and to display on the display means 13 the associated information. to these signals, or to select a function from among several functions available as a function of these signals, the functions being stored in the memory of the electronic assembly 12.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the electronic assembly 12 comprises connectors 120, 121 configured to cooperate with the battery 11 and the strain gauges 150, 151. Such an arrangement of the constituent elements of the device 1 makes it possible to obtain a relatively compact device.

According to the example illustrated, the display means 13 are positioned above the electronic assembly 12 so as to easily connect them to the latter, thus limiting the size of the device 1.

According to the invention, and as illustrated in the figures, the control means 15 are in the form of a flexible strip to which are secured, by gluing for example, the strain gauges 150 and 151, the flexible strip having a recess in its center for the display means 13. Advantageously, each strain gauge 150, 151 is arranged to rest at the level of each strand of the bracelet 10.

According to the invention, the portable electronic device 1 also comprises a strain gauge 152 arranged in the center of the bracelet 10, under the electronic assembly 12, the latter cooperating directly with the electronic assembly 12.

Such an arrangement of the strain gauges 150, 151 and 152 makes it possible to differentiate several directions and positions of the pressure to be exerted on the strain gauges in order to attribute different functions thereto.

According to the invention, the electronic assembly 12 is capable of differentiating a short pressure from a long pressure exerted on at least one strain gauge 150 or a set of strain gauges 150/151, or even 150/152 , 151/152. Such an aspect of the invention makes it possible to increase the number of possible functions for the device.

[0036] According to a particularly simple aspect of the invention, the confirmation and/or validation of the function sought is performed by pressing one of said strain gauges 150, 151, 152.

For example, a short press exerted on one of the strain gauges 150, 151 or 152 can be associated with the activation of the stopwatch and a new short press on the same strain gauge allows the stopwatch to be stopped.

Again according to an example of a possible function, a long pressure in the vertical direction on two strain gauges 150, 152 gives access to the selection of the alarm time. Of course, the pressure exerted on the strain gauges can just as easily be applied horizontally in the direction of the arrows H as vertically in the direction of the arrows V as illustrated in FIG. 3, the activation of the functions depending on the way in which they are these have been programmed.

One can also set up a function according to which a long pressure in the horizontal direction on two gauges 150, 151 makes it possible to activate the electronic device.

A function can also be applied to a single pressure, long or short, on each of the strain gauges 150, 151, 152. Thus, a long pressure on the strain gauge 152 can for example make it possible to activate the illumination of the liquid crystal display.

According to the invention, the electronic assembly 12 detects the pressure force exerted on at least one strain gauge 150, 151, 152 or a set of strain gauges, the detection of the force applied to the gauge(s) constraint 150, 151, 152 can be done by crossing thresholds prerecorded in the memory.

[0042] The detection of the force applied makes it possible to implement other functions such as the scrolling of the hours when setting the time for example. The scrolling of the hours is more or less rapid depending on the pressure exerted on at least one strain gauge or a set of strain gauges 150, 151, 152.

[0043] All the functions known to those skilled in the art can thus be recorded in the memory of the electronic assembly 12 and be easily activated by means of the strain gauges 150, 151 and 152.

The electronic device 1 is mounted as follows. The liquid crystal display 13 and the battery 11 are assembled to the PCB 12 and then fixed to the upper film 15 via the optical adhesive 14. According to the illustrated embodiment, the strain gauges 150, 151, 152 are fixed to the upper film 15 and connected to the PCB 12. This element comprising all the electronics is then glued to the strap 100 all around the upper film 15 and under each strain gauge 150, 151, 152 so as to ensure that the gauges are integral with the bracelet 100 and can measure the deformation of the bracelet 100.

According to another embodiment, not shown in the figures, the strain gauges 150, 151, 152 are fixed to the PCB 12 by means of welding.

A specific glue can be used when assembling the device 1 to make the latter waterproof at least against splashing water.

Thanks to these different aspects of the invention, there is a portable electronic device 1 easy to handle and use for a user, and it is not necessary to handle push buttons to activate the functions.

Of course, other embodiments can be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below.

NOMENCLATURE

[0049] 1. Portable electronic device, 10. Bracelet, 100. Bottom of the bracelet, 101. Peripheral edge of the bracelet, 11. Battery, 12. Electronic assembly, 120, 121. Connectors, 13. Display means, 14. Optical adhesive, 15. flexible top film, 150, 151, 152. Strain gauges, 153. Aperture, H. Pressure in horizontal direction, V. Pressure in vertical direction.

Claims (8)

1. Portable electronic device (1) capable of displaying at least one piece of information, said electronic device (1) being attachable to a part of a user's body, in particular the wrist, said electronic device (1) comprising: – a bracelet having at least one middle part and two side parts, (10) formed by a semi-rigid element having a bottom (100) and a peripheral edge (101), – an electronic assembly (12), – display means (13) making it possible to display at least one item of information, – a power source supplying said electronic assembly and said display means, characterized in that said device (1) comprises control means (15) comprising at least three strain gauges (150, 151, 152), capable by applying pressure to at least one said strain gauge ( 150, 151, 152) to generate a control signal which is applied to said electronic assembly (12), the direction and the position of the pressure on said strain gauge (150) making it possible to display information and/or to activate a predetermined function, and characterized in that at least one said strain gauge (150, 151) is disposed at each side portion of said bracelet (10), and a said strain gauge (152) is disposed at said at least one middle part of said bracelet (10). 2. Electronic device (1) portable according to claim 1, wherein said bracelet (10) is circular in shape. 3. Portable electronic device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic assembly (12) differentiates a short pressure from a long pressure exerted on said at least one strain gauge (150, 151, 152) or a set of said strain gauges. 4. Portable electronic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which confirmation and/or validation of the predetermined function is performed by pressing said at least one strain gauge (150, 151, 152) . 5. Portable electronic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which, when setting the time, the scrolling of the hours is more or less rapid depending on the pressure exerted on at least the one of said strain gauges (150, 151, 152) or a set of said strain gauges. 6. Portable electronic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a short pressure on said strain gauge (150, 151, 152) corresponds to the activation of a stopwatch and a new pressure on the same strain gauge (150, 151, 152) corresponds to stopping the stopwatch. 7. Portable electronic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which a long press on two of said strain gauges (150, 151, 152) on the middle part of the bracelet makes it possible to select an alarm time. . 8. Portable electronic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a long press on the middle parts of the bracelet of the device on two of said gauges (150, 151, 152) activates said electronic device ( 1).