CH711297B1 - Watch module and electromechanical watch comprising such a watch module. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a watch module (10) comprising a printed circuit board (12), a first ring (14) forming a plate comprising a bottom wall (142) and a side wall (143) of cylindrical shape delimiting a housing ( 141), said side wall (143) extending in a direction orthogonal to the bottom wall (142) and being equipped with first locking elements (1431), and a second ring (16) equipped with second locking elements (1631), wherein the printed circuit board (12) is adapted to be retained in said housing (141) when the first locking elements (1431) cooperate with the second locking elements (1631) in a locked position.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a watch module, in particular a watch module carrying the elements of a watch movement, as well as an electromechanical watch comprising such a module.

State of the art

[0002] There is generally for electromechanical watches a printed circuit board (or PCB for "Printed Circuit Board") carrying part or all of the electronic and electrical components, such as motors, which allow to set in motion and adjust the watch movement and in particular the hands.

Generally, this printed circuit board is fixed on the plate of the watch and it is specific to each model of watch. In the event that the watch fulfills several functions, several printed circuit boards are generally used, each printed circuit board possibly being dedicated to a particular function of the watch.

[0004] Thus, the documents US2004240323, US2006140065, US5446703 and US2010220559 present a system for fixing the printed circuit board using screws on fixing pads.

[0005] Document EP1211578 also contains a system for fixing the printed circuit board by compression on fixing studs. Also, document DE202014008505U1 describes a system for fixing the printed circuit board using a snap-fastening system using hooks comprising an elastically deformable arm.

[0006] In these different systems, the removal and the change of the printed circuit board is carried out by manipulation most of the time requiring the use of a dedicated tool. In addition, in the case of using screws, there is the risk of losing these screws, in particular in the housing, and in the case of elastic portions, there is a risk of them breaking, thus making their reuse impossible. This results in the loss of the part which carries these broken elastic portions, and in particular of the printed circuit board when it carries these elastic portions.

Brief summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a watch module with a printed circuit board free from the limitations of such known watch modules.

Another object of the invention is to provide a watch module with a printed circuit board whose removal or change of printed circuit board is easy, and if possible without special tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a watch module with a single printed circuit board for carrying the watch movement, making the watch module adaptable to a large number of configurations, in particular to different configurations of the watch movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a watch module with a single printed circuit board for carrying the watch movement, making the watch module capable of fulfilling several functions.

[0011] According to the invention, these aims are achieved in particular by means of a watch module comprising a printed circuit board (PCB), a first ring forming a plate comprising a bottom wall and a side wall of cylindrical shape delimiting a housing , said side wall extending in a direction orthogonal to the bottom wall and being equipped with first locking elements, and a second ring equipped with second locking elements, in which the printed circuit board is adapted to be retained in said housing when the first locking elements cooperate with the second locking elements in a locked position.

It is understood that the first ring and the second ring form, when they cooperate in the locked position, a cage, in the sense of an enclosure with openings, enclosing and retaining the printed circuit board. Indeed, in this locked position, the printed circuit board is trapped in the housing formed between the first ring and the second ring: the printed circuit board is retained immovably in this housing as long as the first locking elements are engaged with the second locking elements in the locked position. Then, to release the printed circuit board, it suffices to disengage the first elements of the second locking elements, whereby the first ring and the second ring are separable and the printed circuit board is able to come out of the housing, to be replaced, repaired or reconfigured (change of components carried by the printed circuit board).

In the locked position, the first ring and the second ring leave free access to at least one of the two faces of the printed circuit board, and preferably to both faces of the printed circuit board. In addition, advantageously, the configuration is such that it is the major part of the surface of one (or both) faces of the circuit board which is available to carry the required components, since it is not covered by the first ring. and the second ring.

This solution has the particular advantage over the prior art of not using a portion of the printed circuit board to attach the printed circuit board to a support. In this way there is no risk of damaging the printed circuit board during its removal / replacement and moreover the location or locations previously used for the fixing elements are freed, which increases the surface area and the possibilities of arrangement of the mounting elements. 'items on the printed circuit board.

Preferably, the watch module comprises a single printed circuit board (PCB). This single printed circuit board can advantageously carry all the elements of the watch movement. This single printed circuit board can advantageously fulfill all the functions of the electromechanical watch provided with the watch module according to the invention.

The first locking elements and the second locking elements preferably form a reversible bayonet type locking system.

In this way, the locking / unlocking maneuver between the first locking elements and the second locking elements, therefore between the first ring and the second ring, takes place by a relative movement between the first ring and the second ring, which can be manual or automatic, without any special tool. Indeed, this relative movement allowing the locking / unlocking between the first ring and the second ring comprises a relative rotation between the first ring and the second ring about their axis of radial symmetry.

Advantageously, said printed circuit board is reversible in that it can be mounted in said housing with one or the other of its faces directed towards the bottom wall of the first ring, in said locked position . This provides a significant advantage since, thanks to this arrangement, the same printed circuit board can be used with the assembly formed by the first ring and the second ring, not only in the configuration where it is one of its two faces. (recto use) which receives and carries the components, in particular electronic, and in particular those of the watch movement, but also in the configuration where it is the other of its two faces (reverse use) which carries receives and carries the components.

[0019] According to a preferred arrangement, the bottom wall of the first ring comprises at least a first positioning element and the printed circuit board comprises at least one second positioning element able to cooperate with said first positioning element in order to maintain the first ring and the printed circuit board in a predetermined relative angular position. In this way, one ensures the correct angular placement, and the maintenance in this correct angular position of the printed circuit board in the housing, and therefore of the printed circuit board with respect to the first ring.

Preferably, the first positioning elements and the second positioning elements comprise either notches or tabs. In a first case, the first positioning elements are notches and the second positioning elements are tabs. In a second case, the first positioning elements are tabs and the second positioning elements are notches. In other cases, some of the first positioning elements are tabs and others are notches and some of the second positioning elements are tabs and others are notches. Each time, the nature of each of the elements among the pair comprising a first positioning element and a second positioning element, is chosen so that the tongues cooperate with the notches by complementarity of shape, that is to say a tongue housed in a notch. Thus, the radial position (polar coordinates) of the notch allows the reception of the corresponding tongue. Preferably, the extent of the notch allows the reception of the corresponding tongue, with a possibility of relative movement between the tongue and the notch almost zero or very limited. In particular, the angular extent of the notch allows the reception of the corresponding tongue, with a possibility of relative angular movement between the tongue and the notch almost zero or very limited (less than 5 °).

The second positioning elements can be located along the edge of the printed circuit board. In this way, the entire surface of the printed circuit board is kept available for other uses.

The present invention also relates to an electromechanical watch comprising a watch module as described in the present patent application.

Brief description of the figures

Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which: FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a timepiece module according to the invention, in projection from above; FIG. 2 shows in exploded perspective the watch module of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows in exploded perspective the printed circuit board of the watchmaking module of FIG. 1 and the components carried by this printed circuit board; FIGS. 4 to 6 show three variants of a support for a motor, intended to be mounted on a printed circuit board; Figure 7 shows the watch module of Figure 1 from above completed by calendar dials; and FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, for another arrangement of the watch module of FIG. 1.

Example (s) of embodiment of the invention

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, showing a watch module 10 according to the present invention, respectively assembled and disassembled. It comprises a printed circuit board 12 intended to carry the components of a watch and in particular all the electrical or electronic components, but also the elements of the watch movement if it is a watch module for an electromechanical watch. The elements of the watch movement include, among others, the hands, calendar dials and / or other mechanisms capable of being included in a watch movement.

A first ring 14, forming a plate, is disposed below and around the periphery of the printed circuit board 12. In other words, the printed circuit board 12 is received in a housing 141 delimited by the first ring 14. More specifically, the first ring 14 comprises an annular bottom wall 142 and a side wall 143 of cylindrical shape and of circular section. Thus, the printed circuit board 12 is able to come to be placed on the bottom wall 142, being surrounded by the side wall 143 (see FIG. 2).

The watchmaker module 10 further comprises a second ring 16, intended to cover the printed circuit board 12, while being partially disposed in the housing 141, namely with the side wall 143 of the first ring 14 which encircles the second ring (see figure 1). This second ring 16 is annular and comprises a side wall 163 of generally cylindrical shape of circular section, extended at one of its ends in the radially internal direction by an end wall 162 in the form of a collar.

Thus, in the mounted position, the side wall 163 of the second ring 16 is located inside the side wall 143 of the first ring 14, forming a ring whose lower face corresponds to the bottom wall 142 of the first ring 14 and the upper face of which corresponds to the end wall 162 of the second ring 16.

To allow locking, reversible, between the first ring 14 and the second ring 16, and thus make the printed circuit board 12 prisoner of the housing 141, a locking system is used. More precisely, the side wall 143 of the first ring 14 comprises first locking elements 1431 turned in the radially internal direction. In the illustrated embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 2, these first locking elements 1431 comprise tabs extending over an angular sector of a few degrees. In addition, the side wall 163 of the second ring 16 has second locking elements 1631 turned in the radially outward direction. In the illustrated embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 2, these second locking elements 1631 comprise grooves extending over an angular sector of a few degrees.

A preferential locking system is bayonet, namely that the first locking elements 1431 cooperate with the second locking elements 1631 to achieve a reversible locking, according to a relative rotational movement between the first ring 14 and the second ring 16, once the first ring 14 is mounted in the second ring 16. This is the case with the locking system shown in FIG. 2 in which the tongues cooperate by formally complementing the grooves, or more generally the first ones. Locking elements 1431 cooperate in form with the second locking elements 1631. In an alternative embodiment, the first locking elements 1431 comprise grooves and the second locking elements 1631 comprise tongues.

As emerges from the figures, and in particular from Figure 2, the first ring 14 and the second ring 16 have radial symmetry, their central axis, respectively A1 and A2, forming the radial axis of symmetry, being coaxial between them in the locked position. In addition, in the locked position, the bottom wall 142 of the first ring 14 and the end wall 163 of the second ring 16 are spaced from one another, on either side of the housing 141.

According to one embodiment, and as seen in Figure 2, the bottom wall 142 of the first ring 14 comprises a compression element 1421 against which the printed circuit board 12 (PCB) is supported in said locked position. A single compression element 1421 can be provided as in the case shown, or at least one compression element 1421 or several compression elements 1421. Thanks to this compression element 1421 which bears on the underside of the circuit board printed 12 (PCB), the latter is blocked in the axial direction (direction parallel to the axes A1 and A2) in the housing 141. This compression element 1421 is for example a compression pin, and therefore serves to ensure the locking force and limit the play of the assembly.

The angular position of the printed circuit board 12 in the housing 141 is kept fixed. To this end, the transition zone between the bottom wall 142 and the side wall 143 of the first ring carries several first positioning elements 1422 each able to cooperate with one of several second positioning elements 121 of the border of the card. printed circuit 12 (PCB), in particular by shape complementarity. In the illustrated embodiment, as it appears in Figures 2 and 3, the first positioning elements 1422 are projections and the second positioning elements 121 are notches suitable for receiving one of said projections.

The printed circuit board 12 is therefore blocked in the housing 141 in the locked position of the rings 14 and 16 (see Figures 1, 7 and 8). For this purpose, as indicated above, the printed circuit board 12 is also blocked vertically (in the axial direction considering the direction of the axis of the needles) between the bottom wall 142 (and in particular resting on the element of compression 1421) of the first ring 14 and the second ring 16.

Also, the side wall 143 of the first ring 14 is provided with at least one opening 1432 for the passage of a rod of an operating member, such as a push button or a winder. Depending on the height of the side wall 163, of the second ring 16, the latter can also be provided with a lateral opening 1632 for the passage of a rod of an operating member, in correspondence with the lateral opening 1432 of the first ring 14.

The bottom wall 142 of the first ring 14 is annular and defines an opening 1423, advantageously adapted to receive a battery 18. In this way, said battery 18 is in physical and electrical contact with the underside of the card. printed circuit 12, when the latter is disposed in the housing 141 in the locked position between the first ring 14 and the second ring 16.

Advantageously, as it partially appears in Figures 1 to 3, 7 and 8, the printed circuit board (PCB) 12 carries the elements of a watch movement. Preferably, the printed circuit board (PCB) 12 carries all the elements of a watch movement.

To this end, at least one bidirectional motor 20a is mounted on the printed circuit board (PCB) 12. Such a motor 20a makes it possible to set in motion a movable element of the watch movement, in particular according to a rotational movement around d 'a vertical axis. Preferably, at least two bidirectional motors 20a, 20b are mounted on the printed circuit board (PCB) 12.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, 7 and 8, three bidirectional motors 20a, 20b and 20c each make it possible to set in motion one of three hands not shown (hour hand, minute hand and seconds hand). In these embodiments, two other bidirectional motors 20d and 20e make it possible to set in motion two other hands, not shown and constituting calendar hands (respectively day and month).

To facilitate the mounting of the bidirectional motors 20a to 20e, the watch module 10 further comprises at least one support 21, 22 or 23 receiving said or one of the bidirectional motors (or more bidirectional motors), this support 21, 22 or 23 being mounted on said printed circuit board 12. According to a first variant visible in FIGS. 1 to 4, said support 21 has the shape of a star with three branches, preferably forming 120 ° between them. According to a second variant visible in FIG. 5, said support 22 has a shape with two branches which form a V (the two branches forming between them preferably 120 °). According to a third variant visible in Figures 1 to 3 and 6, said support 23 has the shape of a tongue (shape with a single branch).

These different possible shapes for the support, make it possible to support as many bidirectional motor as there are branches, and thus allow multiple arrangements to be made between these supports 21 and / or 22 and / or 23, distributed on the surface of the card of printed circuit 12, with one or more supports. For example, a three-branched support 21 can be assembled together with one, two or three single-branched supports 23. According to another possibility, two supports 22 with two branches can be assembled together. According to yet another possible arrangement, a two-branch support 22 can be assembled together with one, two, three or four single-branch supports 23. According to yet another possible arrangement, one can mount together from one to six supports 23 to a branch.

Preferably, at least a first support is arranged on the printed circuit board and carries at least one bidirectional motor for the control of a first function and at least a second support is arranged on the printed circuit board and carries at least one bidirectional motor for controlling a second function. According to another preferred possibility, a first support is arranged on the printed circuit board and carries at least one bidirectional motor for controlling a first function and a second support is arranged on the printed circuit board and carries at least one motor. bidirectional for controlling a second function. Thus, in this case the watch module 10 according to the invention allows the use of a multifunction watch.

Thus, for example, the first function is the indication of the time and the second function is a calendar.

If one refers to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, 7 and 8, it is a watch module 10 or 10 'comprising a single support 21 with three branches with two supports 23 to a branch. The three-branched support 21 forms a star centered in the middle of the printed circuit board 12 and which is dedicated to the control of three hands rotating around the central axis of the watch module (controlled by the bidirectional motors 20a, 20b and 20c ). This three-branched star shape delimits three free zones on the surface of the printed circuit board 12, one between each pair of branches of the support 21. In FIGS. 10 and 10 ', two of these three zones are occupied by a support. 23 with a single branch, each for a bidirectional motor 20d and 20th controlling a calendar hand.

In the arrangement of the watch module 10 of Figure 7, the support 21 with three branches is arranged with two branches in the upper part of the dial delimited by the clock module 10 and the two supports 23 with one branch are arranged in the lower part of the dial delimited by the watch module 10: in this way, the calendar function is housed in the lower part of the dial delimited by the watch module 10.

In the arrangement of the clock module 10 'of Figure 8, the support 21 with three branches is arranged with two branches in the lower part of the dial delimited by the clock module 10 and the two supports 23 with one branch are arranged in the upper part of the dial delimited by the watch module 10: in this way, the calendar function is housed in the upper part of the dial delimited by the watch module 10 '.

To allow such versatility of mounting the supports 21 and / or 22 and / or 23 on the printed circuit board 12, the latter is equipped with a multiplicity of fixing holes 12 (see Figure 3) allowing the 'attachment of these supports 21 and / or 22 and / or 23, themselves drilled, for example by means of fixing screws 123.

Reference numbers used in figures

10 Watchmaker module 10 'Watchmaker module 12 Printed circuit board (PCB) 121 Second positioning elements 122 Fixing holes 123 Fixing screws 14 First ring 141 Housing 142 Back wall 1421 Compression element 1422 First positioning elements 1423 Opening 143 Side wall 1431 First locking elements 1432 Side opening 16 Second ring 162 flanged end wall 163 Side wall 1631 Second locking elements 1632 Side opening 18 Battery 20a-20e Bi-directional motor 21 Support in the form of a three-pointed star 22 Two-branch support (V-shape) 23 Single-branch support (tongue shape) A1 Central axis of the first ring A2 Central axis of the second ring

Claims (15)

1. Watch module (10) comprising a printed circuit board (12) a first ring (14) forming a plate comprising a bottom wall (142) and a side wall (143) defining a housing (141), said side wall ( 143) extending in a direction orthogonal to the bottom wall (142) and being equipped with first locking elements (1431), and a second ring (16) equipped with second locking elements (1631), wherein the printed circuit board (12) is adapted to be retained in said housing (141) when the first locking elements (1431) cooperate with the second locking elements (1631) in a locked position. 2. Watch module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first locking elements (1431) and the second locking elements (1631) form a reversible bayonet type locking system 3. Watch module (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said printed circuit board (12) is reversible in that it can be mounted in said housing (141) with either side facing the bottom wall (142) of the first ring (14), in said locked position. 4. Watch module (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom wall (142) of the first ring (14) comprises at least a first positioning element (1422) and the printed circuit board (12) comprises at least one second positioning element (121) able to cooperate with said first positioning member to hold the first ring (14) and the printed circuit board (12) in a predetermined relative angular position. 5. Watch module (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein said first positioning member (1422) and said second positioning member (121) include either notches or protrusions. 6. Watch module (10) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein said second positioning elements (121) are located along the edge of the printed circuit board (12). 7. Watch module (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one bidirectional motor (20a-20e) is mounted on the printed circuit board (12). 8. Watch module (10) according to the preceding claim, which further comprises at least one holder (21; 22; 23) for said bidirectional motor (20a-20e), mounted on said printed circuit board (12). 9. Watch module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom wall (142) of the first ring (14) comprises a compression element (1421) against which the printed circuit board (12) (PCB) bears in said locked position. 10. Watch module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the side wall (143) of the first ring (14) is provided with at least one side opening (1432) for the passage of a rod of an operating member. 11. Watch module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom wall (142) is annular and defines an opening (1423) suitable for receiving a battery (18). 12. Watch module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the printed circuit board (12) further carries the elements of a watch movement. 13. Electromechanical watch comprising a watch module (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12. 14. Electromechanical watch according to the preceding claim, comprising a watch module (10) according to claim 8, wherein at least a first support (21; 22; 23) is arranged on the printed circuit board (12) and carries at least one bidirectional motor (20a-20e) for controlling a first function and at least a second support (21; 22; 23) is arranged on the printed circuit board (12) and carries at least one bidirectional motor (20a-20e) for controlling a second function. 15. Electromechanical watch according to the preceding claim, wherein the first function is the indication of the time and the second function is a calendar.