CH713968A2 - Watch glass comprising a near field communication device NFC and watch equipped with such a glass. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a watch glass (1) which comprises a NFC near-field communication device (3) which contains at least one microcircuit (3.2) connected to an antenna (3.1) with an expandable and / or reducible corrugated structure and / or curly spiral. The invention also relates to a watch equipped with such a device.

Description

Description: [0001] The invention relates to a watch glass which comprises a NFC near-field communication device which contains at least one microcircuit connected to an antenna with an expandable and / or reducible structure of corrugated and / or curly type, and than a watch equipped with such a device. The essential features of the definition of the invention are contained in claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a watch glass which comprises a NFC near-field communication device which contains a microcircuit connected to an antenna with an expandable and / or reducible structure of corrugated and / or curly type in a spiral form. which is constructed to obtain a performance gain for radiofrequency data exchange with the NFC reader, by virtue of the surface extent from the extensible and / or reducible structure of the wavy and / or looped antenna, and thanks to its corrugated and / or curved forming resulting in a better inductance.

It is known in the state of the art to equip a watch with a NFC near-field communication device, in order to improve its monitoring throughout its lifetime or to fight counterfeits of which it may be subject to, or to offer, services and functions for the wearer of the watch, such as, for example, contactless payment, personal identification, or physical or digital access control. The NFC near-field communication device is adapted to connect to an external NFC reader which is also often integrated in a smartphone or tablet or PC, when it is located at a very short distance from said NFC near-field communication device, and can transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal relating to information and / or data concerning the watch or the person wearing the watch. In general, in the state of the art, such a NFC near-field communication device is disposed in components of the watch such as the dial, the case, the movement, the crown, the dial face, the hands, the joint, the middle part, the bracelet buckle, the bracelet, the bezel or the ice. However, disadvantages of such a device thus arranged currently exist in the watch. A major disadvantage is related to the fact that the NFC communication device suffers from a lack of reliability of reading and / or writing by the external reader. Indeed, the metal parts in a watch cause electromagnetic disturbances due to the effects of shielding, Faraday cage and / or eddy currents for example. These disturbances result from reflections and / or removals of the signals emitted by the communication device connected with NFC reader. These disturbances greatly impede the comfort of use by the wearer of the watch equipped with NFC and are likely to cause unpredictable malfunctions in the context of restoring a connection with the NFC player or even cuts or lack of maintenance of this connection, causing a lack of reliability and a lower quality of said device in its operation. To overcome this drawback, a state of the art NFC near field communication device comprising a large antenna and often adding a protection by ferrite. However, the integration of a large antenna (with or without ferrite protection) in the watch and in particular in its components is a complex and difficult implementation and often made impossible by the small size of the watch and these components. The metal components of a watch make the integration of a functional NFC antenna difficult and often the construction of the watch must be adapted to the needs of a large NFC antenna using specially adapted watch components made of dielectric materials and electrically non-conductive, such as plastic, ceramic or other synthetic materials. Another major disadvantage that results is the high cost of setting up such a NFC near-field communication device in the watch. Given the large number of different types and models of watches and watch components available on the market, the cost reduction by simplifying and standardizing the construction of said NFC near-field communication device is made almost impossible, each watch requiring a specific solution in NFC according to its construction and materials used metallic or non metallic. The state of the art does not offer a solution to the problem of integrating an NFC module with a reliable large antenna in the watch, especially if it is metallic, because it is the metal components in the watch. and the small size of the watch itself which makes the integration of said NFC device difficult and expensive. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing to provide a watch glass which comprises a NFC near-field communication device which contains an extensible structure antenna and / or or reducible or large spiral wavy or curly type which is constructed to obtain a gain in reception and transmission performance of said NFC device with the external NFC reader, by optimizing the operation of the space of the antenna in the watch glass by a larger antenna and a better inductor. This watch glass provided with the inventive NFC near-field communication device contains at least one microcircuit (IC) connected to an antenna and which is easily and quickly integrable into the watch, which is simple to manufacture, and which can be manufactured in a fashionable manner. industrialized and standardized in large numbers for different types of watch models at an economical cost. For this purpose, the invention relates to a watch glass made of sapphire crystal material, mineral or organic, characterized in that it comprises a groove machined in the vertical surface of said glass, wherein a near-field NFC communication device is arranged, said NFC device containing a microcircuit connected to an antenna composed of an inventive copper coil which thanks to its corrugated or looped structure design which increases the radiation range of the antenna by its greater circumference while allowing auditing NFC device to be placed easily in its final position in the groove of the largest number of possible watch glasses with different thicknesses and diameters. In a first advantageous embodiment, the antenna composed of a copper coil of said NFC device, which is corrugated horizontally or vertically with respect to the plane of the surface of the groove machined in the vertical face of the watch glass, and which is smaller than the circumference of the groove, is threaded into the groove by stretching it. Despite its smaller circumference, said antenna will find its place in the groove thanks to its inventive corrugated shape, which allows it to be relaxed and which once placed in the groove will shrink to press against the inner vertical wall in the groove. In a first variant of the first embodiment, the copper coil is vertically corrugated with respect to the plane of the surface of the groove. In a second variant of the first embodiment, the copper coil is corrugated horizontally with respect to the plane of the surface of the groove.

In a second advantageous embodiment, the antenna composed of a copper coil of said NFC device, which is wound on itself in the form of a loop, and which is smaller than the circumference of the groove, is threaded. in the groove by stretching it. Despite its smaller circumference, this antenna will find its place in the groove thanks to its intimate curly shape, which allows it to be relaxed and which once placed in the groove will shrink back to its original shape and to press against the wall internal vertical in the groove. In a variant of the second embodiment, the copper coil is only sequentially looped, the coil can be alternated by segments shaped smooth turns and coil segments wound on themselves and looped, as required. The antenna may then have 1.2 or more looped segments to provide the desired extensibility of said antenna, but also to increase the antenna radiating surface.

In another variant of the first embodiment and / or the second embodiment, the inner walls of the groove are coated with a veneer or a glaze or an enamel layer or an opaque or covering color or any other covering covering, to conceal the near-field NFC communication device of the look and make it not visible to the naked eye.

In another variant of the first embodiment and / or the second embodiment, the NFC near-field communication device is associated with a magnetic screen including a ferrite protection.

In another variant of the first embodiment and / or the second embodiment, the NFC near-field communication device is overmoulded and / or filled with a dielectric material such as, for example, the polymer, the epoxy, the organic resin or synthetic one or more components, or ceramic, filling said groove.

In another variant of the first embodiment and / or the second embodiment, the NFC near-field communication device is associated with a magnetic screen, in particular a ferrite shield, and is overmolded and / or filled with a dielectric material such as for example, the polymer, the epoxy, the organic or synthetic resin with one or more components, or ceramic, filling said groove. The invention furthermore relates to a watch equipped with such an NFC near-field communication device integrated into the watch glass.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The objects, advantages and characteristics of watch glass and / or watch according to the present invention will become more clearly apparent in the following detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention given solely to As a nonlimiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a simplified view of the watch according to the present invention; fig. 1.1 shows a simplified view of the watch glass according to the present invention; fig. 1.2 shows a simplified view of the NFC near-field communication device of the prior art according to the present invention; fig. 1.3 is a schematic view of the inventive NFC near-field communication device according to the present invention; figs. 2 and 2.1 show the first embodiment of the invention according to the present invention; fig. 2.2 represents an alternative of the first embodiment of the invention according to the present invention; figs. 3 and 3.1 show the second embodiment of the invention according to the present invention; fig. 3.2 represents an alternative of the second embodiment of the invention according to the present invention; figs. 4, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 represent variants for the first embodiment or the second embodiment of the invention according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0005] The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea of providing a Near Field Communication (NFC) near-field communication device that is more reliable, more efficient, simpler and more economical to mount in a watch. respectively the watch glass. To simplify the text of the detailed description below, the term "NFC near-field communication device" will be referred to as "NFC device".

[0006] FIG. 1 shows a watch 2 such a wristwatch or a connected watch or a smartwatch according to the invention, this watch 2 comprises a watch glass 1. FIG. 1.1 shows a watch glass 1 which can be made of a sapphire or mineral or organic material or other optically transparent dielectric material. Fig. 1.2 shows an NFC device 3 of the prior art. Fig. 1.3 shows an inventive NFC 3 device. The difference between the structure and shape of the prior art antenna and that of the present invention is readily apparent. Fig. 1.3 shows an NFC device 3 with a circular antenna with a structure of the copper coil with corrugated turns, while FIG. 1.2 shows an NFC device 3 with a circular antenna, but with a structure of the copper coil with flat and smooth turns typically known from the prior art.

Figs. 2 and 2.1 show a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 schematically shows the inventive NFC 3 near-field communication device, composed of at least one microcircuit 3.2 which may be an integrated circuit (Cl) or a microprocessor and a copper wound antenna 3.1 connected to said microcircuit 3.2. In fig.

2 we recognize the circular shape and the corrugated structure of the antenna 3.1 which is composed of a copper coil with one or more turns wound on themselves to form the copper coil. The copper coil comprising enameled or unglazed thin copper wire, generally with a diameter between 0.02 mm and 0.25 mm to create the induction coil with several turns, in general between one and several windings of turns for form the copper coil. The NFC device 3 with its antenna 3.1 and the microcircuit 3.2 will be placed in the groove 1.1 machined in the watch glass 1, for example by a CNC grinding or milling method or by the laser, which are specially machining technologies. suitable for hard and fragile materials as are sapphire and / or mineral glass. Fig. 2.1 shows how the NFC device 3, which is smaller than the periphery (circumference) of the groove, is inserted into said groove 1.1 by threading the antenna 3.1 into the groove by stretching it. Despite its smaller circumference, said antenna 3.1 will find its place in the groove 1.1 thanks to its inventive corrugated shape, which allows it to be relaxed and which once placed in the groove 1.1 will shrink to press against the inner vertical wall in the groove 1.1. In this first embodiment, the copper coil is corrugated horizontally with respect to the plane of the surface of the groove 1.1. In a second variant of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2.2, the copper coil is vertically corrugated with respect to the plane of the surface of the groove 1.1. It is readily understood that the antenna 3.1 may have the same size as the antenna of the prior art, but in fact, once relaxed and / or stretched, (because extensible and / or reducible by its vertical corrugated structure or horizontal), it develops its circumference larger than that of the prior art. Those skilled in the art understand that more than the antenna 3.1 is large by its circumference and more it will be efficient and reliable with better magnetic coupling for reliable induction with the copper coil of the antenna of the external NFC reader. Hence the advantage of the present invention which offers a physically larger antenna solution 3.1 because of its greater circumference, but which thanks to its horizontal or vertical corrugated structure, can reduce its footprint once integrated into the component. a watch 2 which is the watch glass 1. Another advantage is that the corrugated structure considerably increases the magnetic induction in the wavy segments which form very small inductive loops and thereby allow a better distribution of the electrical energy, allowing the copper coil better magnetic coupling with the antenna of the near field NFC external reader. Another advantage of such an antenna 1.1 is to be able to equip watch glasses 1 of different thicknesses and diameters, since the antenna 1.1 can adapt thanks to its expandability to different diameters of a watch glass 1. Given the large number of watch glasses 1 that are manufactured in the watch industry by a gap or graduation of a tenth of a millimeter in diameter (for example 29.5 mm, 29.6 mm, 29.7 mm etc. .), the antenna 1.1 can be used for glasses 1 in a standardized and universal way. Here is an example only: the antenna with a diameter of 30 mm in its shrunken state, would be 33mm in its state of maximum extension; the antenna could therefore be placed in a watch glass with a diameter of either 31 mm, 31.1 mm, 31.2 ... see 32 mm, thanks to the extension of said antenna. Thanks to this inventive solution the manufacturing costs and the reduced storage of watch glasses 1 equipped with NFC technology become possible. It should be noted that in the field of near-field radio frequency (NFC) radio technology, the antenna can also be printed, but the present invention will be limited to the realization of a copper coil shaped antenna, as it provides a better magnetic induction for the purposes of the present invention in the watch glass. This NFC 3 device uses short-range and high-frequency wireless communication technologies of the NFC type (acronym for "Near Field Communication" in the English language meaning "near field communication"). This NFC 3 device operates in the high frequency frequency bands at 13.56 MHz. The NFC technology (ISO 14 443, ISO 15 693, etc.) thus makes it possible for the watch 2 equipped with the lens 1 with the NFC device 3 to be able to exchange information and data at short distances, with other associated peripherals such as by example the mobile phone (smartphone) equipped with an NFC reader. Such distances may be between about 0 and 20 cm, and preferably between 0 and 2 cm. This NFC device 3 can be of the passive type with an energy supplied to it by the radio frequencies emitted by each associated device which is the NFC reader of the smartphone for example. Such short distances between the watch 2, respectively the glass 1 equipped with the NFC device 3 and each external NFC reader, make it possible to avoid any unintentional activation of connection establishment between the latter and contribute to limiting the risks of unauthorized connection result in acts of piracy and / or abuse.

Figs. 3 and 3.1 show a second embodiment of the invention. This second embodiment differs with the first embodiment only on the fact that the antenna is composed of a copper coil is wound on itself in the form of a loop. Fig. 3 schematically shows the NFC 3 near-field communication device, composed of at least one microcircuit 3.2 which may be an integrated circuit (Cl) or a microprocessor and a copper wound antenna 3.1 connected to said microcircuit 3.2. In fig. 3 we recognize the circular shape and the looped structure of the antenna 3.1 which is composed of a copper coil with one or more turns wound on themselves to form the looped copper coil. The copper coil comprising enameled or unglazed thin copper wire, generally with a diameter between 0.02 mm and 0.25 mm to create the induction coil with several turns, in general between one and several windings of turns for form the copper coil. The NFC device 3 with its antenna 3.1 and the microcircuit 3.2 will be placed in the groove 1.1 machined in the watch glass 1, for example by a CNC grinding or milling method or by the laser, which are specially machining technologies. suitable for hard and fragile materials as are sapphire and / or mineral glass. Fig. 3.1 shows how the NFC device 3, which is smaller than the periphery (circumference) of the groove, is inserted into said groove 1.1 by threading the antenna 3.1 into the groove by stretching it. Despite its smaller circumference, said antenna 3.1 will find its place in the groove 1.1 thanks to its intimate curly shape, which allows it to be relaxed and which once placed in the groove 1.1 will shrink to press against the inner vertical wall in the groove 1.1. In this second embodiment, the copper coil is looped in a spiral fashion. A second variant of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 3.2. In this possible variant of the second embodiment, the copper coil is only sequentially looped in a spiral shape, the coil being alternated by segments with smooth shaped turns and coil segments wound on themselves and looped in spiral form. , according to the need. The antenna may then have 1, 2 or more curly segments in spiral shape to provide the desired extensibility of said antenna, but also to increase the antenna radiating surface.

FIG. 4 shows a possible variant of the first embodiment and / or the second embodiment. Fig. 4 shows a section in the watch glass 1 with the groove 1.1 machined in the vertical face of said watch glass 1. The inner walls of the groove 1.1 are coated with a veneer 1.2 or a glaze 1.2 or a layer enamel 1.2 or an opaque or covering color 1.2 or any other coating covering 1.2, to conceal the near-field NFC communication device of the gaze and thus make it invisible to the naked eye. It is noted that this coating can also be made in a metallization layer, for example silver or gold or aluminum or nickel, metallization which is electrically conductive, and to avoid any risk of creating a short circuit with the coil of copper antenna 3.1 metallization would be covered with an insulating dielectric layer and / or passivator between the coating with metallized layer 1.2 and the antenna 3.1. On the other hand, this metallized coating may, if necessary, be split to create an amplifying antenna effect for better magnetic coupling between the NFC device 3 and the external NFC reader.

FIG. 4.1 shows another possible variant of the first embodiment and / or the second embodiment. Fig. 4.1 shows a section in the watch glass 1 with the groove 1.1 machined in the vertical face of said watch glass 1. The near field communication device NFC 3 is associated with a magnetic screen 3.4 including a protection by ferrite.

FIG. 4.2 shows another possible variant of the first embodiment and / or the second embodiment. Fig. 4.2 shows a section in the watch glass 1 with the groove 1.1 machined in the vertical face of said watch glass 1. The NFC 3 near-field communication device is overmoulded and / or filled with a dielectric material 3.5 such as for example the polymer , the epoxy, the organic or synthetic resin with one or more components, or ceramic, filling said groove 1.1 partially or completely.

FIG. 4.3 shows another possible variant of the first embodiment and / or the second embodiment. In fig. 4.3 the NFC 3 near-field communication device is associated with a magnetic screen 3.4, in particular a ferrite protection, and is overmolded and / or filled with a dielectric material 3.5 such as, for example, the polymer, the epoxy, the organic or synthetic resin to one or more components, or ceramic, filling said groove 1.1 partially or completely.

FIG. 1 shows a watch 2 equipped with such a near-field communication device NFC 3 integrated in the watch glass 1.1. Said watch may be of the type of wristwatch or connected watch or smartwatch.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements and / or combinations obvious to those 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.

Claims (11)

claims 1. Watch glass (1) which comprises a NFC near-field communication device (3) which contains at least one microcircuit (3.2) connected to an antenna (3.1), characterized in that said antenna (3.1) is of a shape circular and which is extensible and / or reducible due to its corrugated structure and / or looped spiral. 2. Watch glass (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of mineral material, sapphire, organic or synthetic and in that it comprises a groove (1.1) machined in the vertical surface of said glass ( 1) and wherein the NFC near-field communication device (3) is arranged. 3. Watch glass (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the antenna (3.1) in its entirety is extensible and / or reducible. 4. Watch glass (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the antenna (3.1) is extensible and / or reducible on one or more segments of the copper coil. 5. Watch glass (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the microcircuit (3.2) is an integrated circuit (Cl) or a microprocessor. 6. Watch glass (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (3.1) is corrugated horizontally or vertically with respect to the plane of the surface of the groove (1.1) machined in the face vertical of the watch glass (1). 7. Watch glass (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the antenna (3.1) is made of a curved structure in spiral shape and positioned in the groove (1.1) machined in the face vertical of the watch glass (1). 8. Watch glass (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner walls of the groove (1.1) are coated with a coating (1.2) such as a metallization or a plating or coating or a glaze or an enamel layer or an opaque or covering paint or other covering covering to conceal the near-field NFC (3) communication device from the gaze and render it non-visible to the naked eye. 9. Watch glass (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the groove (1.1) machined in the vertical face of the watch glass (1) in which the NFC near-field communication device (3). is arranged, includes a magnetic shield (3.4) such as ferrite or a ferrite-based material. 10. Watch glass (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the groove (1.1) machined in the vertical face of the watch glass (1) receiving the NFC near-field communication device (3) is overmoulded and / or filled with a dielectric material (3.5) such as for example the polymer or the epoxy or the ceramic or the organic or synthetic resin or any material with one or more components filling said groove (1.1) partially or completely. 11. Watch (1) comprising a lens (1) comprising a NFC near-field communication device (3) according to claims 1 to 10.