CH712176B1 - A method of automatically adjusting the time of a watch. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for adjusting a timepiece (10) comprising a case (10a) provided with a bracelet (10b) in which is arranged a microcontroller (11) supplied with electricity by a power supply unit. (12), said microcontroller (11) comprising a time base and memory areas and is used to send control signals to display means (13) for displaying at least one time information, said method comprising: 'use of a portable object (20) comprising a box in which is arranged an electronic circuit (21) comprising a microcontroller (22), a display module (23), control means (24), a camera ( 25) and a communication module (26), the electronic circuit being powered by a battery (27).

Description

The present invention relates to a method of adjusting a timepiece comprising a case provided with a bracelet, in which is arranged a microcontroller supplied with electricity by a cell or battery, said microcontroller comprising a time base and memory areas and is used to send control signals to display means for displaying at least one time item of information.

PRIOR ART

There are currently two types of watches, mechanical watches comprising no electronics and so-called electronic watches operating with a battery and a microcontroller. However, electronic watches have evolved enormously to become more and more so-called connected watches. These connected watches are fitted with a communication module using an NFC and / or Bluetooth protocol allowing data exchange with another device such as a mobile phone (also called a smartphone) or a laptop or electronic tablet. This data exchange currently allows the transfer of data from a sensor located in the watch to the mobile phone or the electronic tablet, these devices having much greater computing power. This data exchange also makes it possible to send data such as notification or messaging from the phone to the watch so as to warn the user.

These electronic watches can use, for the display of time information such as the time or date, analog means such as hands or disks, or electronic screens using LCD, LED or OLED technologies. However, the use of hands or discs require the use of at least one motor and cogs so that the time is adjusted manually, which can lead to inaccuracies and shifts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a method for adjusting time information on a watch by means of another device which is simple and reliable.

To this end, the invention relates to a method for adjusting a timepiece, for example a watch, comprising a case provided with a bracelet, in which is arranged a microcontroller 11 supplied with electricity by a battery or battery 12, said microcontroller 11 comprising a time base and memory areas and is used to send control signals to display means 13 for displaying at least one time item of information, said method comprising the following steps: • take a portable object comprising a box in which an electronic circuit 21 comprising a microcontroller 22, a display module 23, control means 24, a camera 25 and a communication module 26, the electronic circuit being powered by a battery 27. • testing the accuracy of the displayed time information of said timepiece using the camera of the portable object to compare it with correct time information from t from an external source; • send the correct time information from the external source of the watch via a transmitter means if a difference is detected, the watch comprising a receiver means for receiving this correct time information and is arranged to act on its display means to display this correct time information; • check that the correct information is displayed.

An advantage of this method is to allow automatic adjustment since the method consists in detecting an offset between the displayed time information and reliable correct time information coming from an external source and in sending a correction command to display the time. correct time information.

In a first advantageous embodiment, the sending of said correct time information is done by optical transmission, said transmitter means of the portable object being a light source when the receiver means of the watch is at least one phototransistor.

In a second advantageous embodiment, said transmitter means of the portable object is the display module while the receiver means of the watch is at least one phototransistor.

In a third advantageous embodiment, the display means of the watch are arranged at the level of a dial, said at least one phototransistor also being arranged at the level of the dial, sending the time information consisting of : define on the display module an area whose surface and shape is identical to that of the watch; placing said watch on the display module so that the watch and the defined zone of the display module correspond; vary at least one parameter of the display module in said defined area to generate a light signal transmitted to said at least one phototransistor so that it can generate an electrical signal corresponding to a low logic level or an electrical signal corresponding to a high logic level . • In a fifth advantageous embodiment, said watch comprises two phototransistors arranged at the level of the dial, said defined zone being divided into a first and a second portion allowing each phototransistor to receive a distinct light signal.

In a sixth advantageous embodiment, one of the light signals is a clock signal while the other light signal is a data signal allowing synchronous transmission.

In a seventh advantageous embodiment, the defined zone of the display module further comprises a third portion arranged between the first and the second portion in order to act as a dead portion preventing optical interference.

In an eighth advantageous embodiment, the test of the accuracy of the displayed time information consists of: taking, at a given instant, an image of the display means of the timepiece and an image of correct time information from an external source; processing the image of the display means of the timepiece by comparing the position of the display means with respect to a series of marks to detect the displayed time information; comparing the displayed time information detected with the image of the correct time information from the external source.

In another advantageous embodiment, the verification of the shipment consists of: take, at a given instant, an image of the display means of the timepiece and an image of time information from an external source; processing the image of the display means of the timepiece by comparing the position of the display means with respect to a series of marks to detect the displayed time information; comparing the detected time information with the image of the correct time information from the external source.

In another advantageous embodiment, the sending of data is done by radio waves, said transmitter of the portable object being the communication module then the timepiece comprises a communication unit serving as a receiver.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises a preliminary step of calibrating the detection of the hands of the timepiece consisting of: send to the watch, via their communication circuit, a command to display defined time information; send a command to the display means by the microcontroller so that the display means can display said defined time information. ; using the camera of the electronic portable object to detect displayed time information and compare it with the defined time information, if the detected time information is not identical to the defined time information, making a correction.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises a preliminary synchronization step consisting in: send to the watch, via their communication circuit, a command to display defined time information; sending a command to the display means by the microcontroller so that the display means can display said defined time information; visually checking the displayed time information and comparing it with the defined time information, if the displayed time information is not identical to the defined time information, making a correction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The aims, advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention given solely by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which : FIG. 1 schematically represents an assembly comprising a timepiece and a portable object; Figures 2, 3a, 3b represent the method of adjusting a timepiece FIGS. 4a and 4b represent an asynchronous transmission mode for sending data to the timepiece; FIGS. 5 to 7 represent a synchronous transmission mode to the timepiece;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows an assembly 1 comprising at least one watch 10 and a portable electronic device 20 such as a mobile phone or an electronic tablet.

The watch 10 therefore includes a case 10a provided with a bracelet 10b. In this case, a microcontroller 11 supplied with electricity by a power supply unit 12 such as a cell or a battery, is arranged, said microcontroller 11 comprising a time base and memory areas. This microcontroller 11 is used in order to send control signals to display means 13, these display means 13 possibly comprising needles 13 'or disks. These display means allow the display of temporal information such as the time but can also display the day, the date or the phase of the moon. The microcontroller 11 is also connected with control means 16 which may be a crown, push-buttons or tactile means and a communication unit 14 using a protocol of the Bluetooth or NFC type. The microcontroller 11 can also communicate with a sensor 15.

The portable electronic device 20 comprises a housing in which an electronic circuit 21 is arranged. This electronic circuit 21 carries the microcontroller or processor 22, the display module 23, the control means 24, an optical sensor acting as a camera or a camera 25 and a communication module 26, the whole being powered by a battery 27.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide a method allowing the adjustment of at least one time item of information via the portable electronic device. For this, the first step consists in detecting the presence of a time shift between the information displayed by watch 10 and a reliable source. For this, this first step consists in using the camera 25 to take a photograph of the display means 13 of the watch. This photograph is used by a processing program. This processing program analyzes the position of the display means 13 with respect to marks on the dial. In the case where the display means 13 are hands 13 ', the references are the indexes 13 "of the dial 13'" as visible in FIG. 2.

For this, it is necessary that the positioning increment of the needles is large enough not to have parallax problems. The more 13 'hands there are on the electronic movement and the greater the distance between each 13' hand and the 13 '"dial, the greater the risk of parallax problems appearing. 13 'needle pitch depending on the needle / dial distance.

The processing program will take reference to the indexes 13 ". It will also check the ellipse formed by the dial 13" ', the crystal or the bezel in order to evaluate the parallax. If the ellipse is too “squashed”, it means that there will be too much parallax error. Ideally, the application or treatment program should see a circle. Once the time indication of the display means 13 has been determined, the processing program compares the time information detected with a time source. This time source can come from the internal time base of the portable electronic device 20 or from an external source. This external source can be a radiofrequency signal or come from an Internet type network. Preferably, a photograph of the time source is taken at the same time as the photograph of the display means 13 so that the detected time information is compared with the reliable source, all at the same time.

If the processing program detects an anomaly, that is to say a difference between the time information displayed and the source used, an adjustment operation is carried out.

A second step which is an adjustment operation consists in sending correct time information to the watch 10. This time information is sent from the portable electronic device 20 to the watch 10 which comprises a receiving means. In a preferred embodiment, the time information is sent via optical modulation. For this, the sensor 15 acts as a receiving means and is an optical sensor or phototransistor 15 'capable of detecting a light flux and transforming it into an electrical signal.

This phototransistor 15 'is advantageously located under the dial 13 "', the latter having an opening or a transparent portion or is made of a partially transparent material. Of course, this photoreceptor can be arranged on the bottom of the box or at the edge of this box.

To produce a light signal, the method advantageously uses the display screen 23 of the portable electronic device 20. The use of this screen cleverly makes it possible to form, on the surface of the screen 23, an area 23 'whose shape and surface are substantially identical to the shape and dimensions of the zone at which the photoreceptor is arranged. It is understood by this that in the case where the photoreceptor is arranged at the level of the dial, the zone 23 'will have the shape and the surface substantially identical to those of the dial 13' "of the watch 10. In this way, the user can place the watch 10 on the zone 23 'of the screen of the portable electronic device 20 so that the dial 13' "is facing said screen. This specific zone 23 'will be the zone through which the optical modulation will be operated as visible in FIGS. 3a and 3b. This configuration makes it possible to be certain that the light picked up by the phototransistor 15 'will be the light generated by said display screen 23 and makes it possible to avoid losses of luminosity given that the watch is placed on the display screen. 23.

To transmit information, optical modulation is used, which can be asynchronous. For this asynchronous optical transmission, the zone 23 'of the screen 23, the shape and the surface of which are substantially identical to the shape and the dimensions of the dial 13' "of the watch 10, is controlled to display either black signifying a ' Logic 0 'is a white light signifying a logic' 1 ', the whole forming binary information as visible in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

[0029] In a variant, provision may be made for the synchronous type of data transmission as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. For this, watch 10 must be provided with two phototransistors 15 '. Ideally, they will be arranged in a diametrically opposite way so as to be distant from each other. Indeed, the principle of a synchronous optical transmission consists in having a transmission of a clockwork signal and the transmission of a data signal. The zone 23 'of the display screen 23, the shape and the surface of which are substantially identical to the shape and the dimensions of the dial of the watch is then divided into at least two parts 230, each part 230 allowing the sending of 'watchmaking information or data to phototransistors. Synchronous transmission is characterized by having the transmitter and receiver clocked with the same clock. The receiver continuously receives (even when no bits are transmitted) information at the rate the transmitter sends it. Each part 230 of the screen 23 then becomes white or black in order to send a logical '0' or a logical '1'.

Cleverly, it can be provided that the area 23 'of the display screen whose shape and surface are substantially identical to the shape and dimensions of the dial 13' "of the watch is divided into three parts with two so-called active zones 230, these then become white or black in order to send a logical '0' or a logical '1. A third so-called passive zone 231 is situated between the two active zones 230. This passive zone 231 is used. dead zone in order to avoid optical interference between the two active zones 230. In fact, in the event of imperfect alignment, this dead zone 231 acts as a buffer to prevent the active zones from sending an optical signal to the phototransistor. which is not dedicated to them.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment presented so that in the event of optical transmission, the phototransistor (s) can be arranged at the middle part or the back of the watch. It is also possible that the data transmission takes place by NFC or Bluetooth type signals.

Once the data is transmitted to the watch, the microcontroller 11 thereof sends commands to the display means so that they can display correct information. In the case of needles, the microcontroller 11 sends a command to activate the motors and move the needles.

In a third step, the objective is to verify that the correction has been made. For this, this step consists in using the camera 25 to take a photograph of the display means 13. This photograph is then used by a processing program. This processing program analyzes the position of the display means with respect to marks and will compare the temporal information with respect to a reliable source.

In a variant of this third step, the verification can be done by data transfer via a wireless transmission of Bluetooth type, the watch 10 sending the data of the time information that it displays.

In a first variant, a preliminary step is provided. This preliminary step consists of a step of calibrating the detection of the needles. Indeed, depending on the light conditions, it is possible that there are games of shadows or reflections which can lead to incorrect detection of the time information. This calibration step therefore consists in sending, from the portable electronic device, to the watch 10, via their communication circuit 14, 26, a command to display a defined time information to be displayed, such as 10:10 for example. Following receipt of this command, the microcontroller 11 sends a command to the display means 13 so that the latter can display said defined time information.

Once this information is displayed, the detection process is initiated so that the electronic portable object 20 uses its camera 25 to detect the displayed time information. If the detected time information is equal to the defined time information then no further action is taken and the watch can display current time information again. On the other hand, if the detected temporal information is not equal to the defined temporal information then a correction is made. This correction can take the form of an offset, that is to say of a value to be added to obtain the correct value. This correction can be followed by another test phase consisting in detecting again the displayed time information and seeing if the correction has been taken into account.

It could also be provided in this variant that the synchronization of the display means 13 such as the hands is made. For this, the defined time information is brought to the attention of the user via the display means of the electronic portable object. This defined time information is sent to the watch so that it can be displayed with its display means. It is then easy for the user to check that the defined time information is correct and to modify this display in the event of discrepancies being observed. Preferably, this synchronization of the hands is carried out prior to the calibration of the detection of the needles.

In a second variant embodiment, the watch is equipped with a solar cell in order to ensure a supply of energy for recharging a battery or accumulator. Cleverly, this solar cell is used as a photoreceptor during the transmission of information. In fact, in a solar cell, there is a relationship of proportionality between the flow of light captured by the solar cell and the current produced that it produces (charge current). The current produced / converted by the solar cell can be measured, for example by shorting the solar cell through a shunt resistor. This current gives an image of the flow of light passing through the solar cell.

The relationship between the flow of light captured and the current means that by modulating the size of the active surface of the emitting area of the smartphone, for a fixed light intensity, it is possible to modulate the current converted / produced by the solar cell. From this it is possible to perform a ternary transmission and no longer just binary, using a single optical receiver. The fact of having several current levels makes it possible to use more complex and therefore more reliable codings. For example, a Manchester type encoding.

A first advantage is to be able to combine the clock signal with that of the data, allowing synchronous transmission more reliable than asynchronous transmission.

The second advantage is to use the solar cell as an energy source and alternately as a data receiver.

A third advantage is that the optical transmission becomes independent of the light intensity of the emitter, as long as the latter is stable during transmission. Indeed, the amplitude modulation is done by reducing or increasing the active surface, which makes it easy to adapt from one smartphone to another, whose light intensity settings differ from one to the other. other.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements and / or combinations obvious to a person skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Thus, it will be possible to adjust all the time information of a watch 10. Indeed, it is known watches displaying the time but also the date, the month and the day as well as the leap year or no. Therefore, during a prolonged period of inactivity or during the revision, the present invention allows the adjustment or the update of all the time information delivered by the watch, in one go.

Claims (12)

1. A method of adjusting a timepiece (10), for example a watch, comprising a case (10a) provided with a bracelet (10b), in which is arranged a microcontroller (11) supplied with electricity by a power supply unit (12), said microcontroller comprising a time base and memory areas and being used to send control signals to display means (13) for displaying at least one time information, characterized in that that said process comprises the following steps: • take a portable object comprising a box, in which is arranged an electronic circuit (21) comprising a microcontroller (22), a display module (23), control means (24), a camera (25) ) and a communication module (26), the electronic circuit being powered by a battery (27); • testing the accuracy of the displayed time information of said timepiece using the camera of the portable object to compare it with correct time information from an external source; • send the correct time information from the external source to said timepiece via a transmitting means if a difference is detected, said timepiece comprising a receiving means (15) for receiving this correct time information and being arranged to act on its display means (13) to display this correct time information; • check that the correct time information is displayed. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sending of said correct time information is done by optical transmission, said transmitter means of the portable object (20) being a light source when the receiver means of the watch is at least one phototransistor (15 '). 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said transmitter means of the portable object is the display module (23) while the receiver means of the watch is at least one phototransistor (15 '). 4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the display means (13) of said timepiece are arranged at the level of a dial (13 "'), said at least one phototransistor (15') being also arranged at the level of the dial, the sending of the temporal information consisting of: - defining, on the display module (23), a zone (23 ') whose surface and shape is identical to that of said timepiece; - Plating said timepiece on the display module so that the watch and the defined zone of the display module correspond; - varying at least one parameter of the display module (23) in said defined area to generate a light signal transmitted to said at least one phototransistor so that it can generate an electrical signal corresponding to a low logic level or an electrical signal corresponding to a high logical level. 5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said timepiece comprises two phototransistors (15 ') arranged at the level of the dial, said defined zone being divided into a first and a second portion (230) allowing each phototransistor to receive a separate light signal. 6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that one of the light signals is a clock signal while the other light signal is a data signal allowing synchronous transmission. 7. The method of claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the defined area of the display module further comprises a third portion (231) arranged between the first and the second portion (230) to act as a dead portion preventing optical interference. 8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the test of the accuracy of the displayed time information consists of: - Take, at a given instant, an image of the display means of the timepiece and an image of the correct time information from the external source; - Process the image of the display means of the timepiece by comparing the position of the display means with respect to a series of marks to detect the displayed time information; - compare the displayed temporal information detected with the image of the correct temporal information of the external source. 9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the verification of the shipment consists of: taking, at a given instant, an image of the display means of the timepiece and an image of time information displayed from an external source; - Process the image of the display means of the timepiece by comparing the positions of the display means with respect to a series of marks to detect the displayed time information; - compare the displayed temporal information detected with the image of the correct temporal information of the external source. 10. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the sending is done by radio waves, said transmitter means of the portable object being the communication module (26) while the timepiece comprises a communication unit serving of receiving means (15). 11. The method of claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises a preliminary step of calibrating the detection of hands of the timepiece consisting of: sending said timepiece, via their communication unit, a command to display defined time information; - send a command to the display means (13) by the microcontroller (11) so that the display means (13) can display said defined time information; - using the camera (25) of the portable electronic object (20) to detect displayed time information and compare it with the defined time information, if the detected time information is not identical to the defined time information, make a correction. 12. The method of claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises a preliminary synchronization step consisting in: sending said timepiece, via their communication unit, a command to display defined time information; sending a command to the display means by the microcontroller so that the display means can display said defined time information. ; - visually verify the displayed time information and compare it with the defined time information, if the displayed time information is not identical to the defined time information, make a correction.