CH715545A2 - Analog information display system for a watch. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an analog information display system for a watch provided with a mechanical movement, said system comprising: a display dial (3) comprising a plurality of counters (11); a movable display piece for supporting graphic representations arranged in such a way that the graphic representations which it carries appear in the plurality of counters (11) in order to generate said information, and an indicator member (5) configured to designate information generated in a window (11) to be reported to the wearer of said watch.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to an analog information display system for a watch and a method of displaying at least one item of information on a watch display dial.

The invention also relates to a watch comprising such a system and a computer program.

Prior art

Analog information display systems existing on mechanical watches, in particular wristwatches, all use, for reasons of space available on moving display parts, very little window, generally one or even two , in order to present information to the wearer of the watch. Due to the space constraint available on the moving parts, the display capacity of information by the watch is then greatly limited and unsuited to the diversity of information that it should be able to display, in particular with the advent of connected watches.

It is understood that there is then a need to find an alternative solution, in particular which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an analog information display system offering the possibility of displaying a variety of information, preferably different from date, time or even phases. of the moon, in a clear and this, while being of a simple implementation.

Another object of the invention is to propose an analog information display system which makes it possible to display a passive notification / alert which consumes little or no energy.

In this design, the invention relates to an analog information display system for a watch provided with a mechanical movement, said system comprising: a display dial comprising a plurality of counters; a moving display support piece for graphic representations arranged in such a way that the graphic representations which it carries appear in the plurality of counters in order to generate said information, and an indicator member configured to designate information generated in a window to be reported to the wearer of said watch.

In other embodiments: at least one window comprises an information formation element arranged above the graphic representation appearing in the corresponding window; said information forming element is a flat part comprising a network of a plurality of openings such as micro-orifices, ridges, slots or a combination of at least two of these types of openings; the element of information formation is an added piece; the information-forming element came integrally with an upper or lower face of the dial in an area of this dial comprising the window or also with a wall of a through opening formed by this window; the system comprises at least one drive element for the movable display part for supporting graphic representations; the movable information carrier display part is a flat part of circular shape such as a disc or a ring; the graphic display support moving part and the display dial are coaxial, and the system includes a calibration element configured to identify a relative position between the moving part and the dial.

The invention also relates to a watch comprising such a system. Advantageously, the watch is a connected mechanical watch.

The invention also relates to a method of displaying at least one item of information on a watch display dial implemented by the system, the method comprising a step of presenting information in a window of the dial comprising a sub-step for positioning both an indicator member in the direction of the window and a graphic representation or part of a graphic representation in front of a through opening of this window.

The invention further relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for the execution of the steps of the method according to the preceding claim when said computer program is executed by a processing unit of a watch.

Brief description of the figures

Other features and advantages will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, for information and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a watch comprising an analog information display system, according to an embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a representation of the watch face, according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a window comprising an information forming element, according to the embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a set of superimposed elements comprising a display dial, a movable display part for supporting graphic representations and a calibration element, according to the embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 5 represents a logic diagram relating to a method for displaying at least one item of information on a display dial, according to the embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

In Figure 1 is shown a watch 100 comprising an analog display system 1 of at least one notification. Such a system 1 is included in watch 100 which is preferably a connected mechanical watch 100 comprising a mechanical movement. This system 1 comprises more precisely in a non-limiting and / or non-exhaustive manner: a processing unit 2 comprising hardware and software resources, in particular at least one processor cooperating with memory elements; a hybrid display dial 3 provided with a first analog display component 10a and a second digital and / or alphanumeric display component 10b; a movable display part 4 for supporting graphic representations; an indicator member 5 such as a needle, configured to designate information presented in a window 11 of the dial 3 to be reported to the wearer of said watch 100; a sound interface 7 such as a speaker; a calibration element 9 such as a light sensor; an activation command 10 for displaying at least one notification such as a push button, a rotary crown or even a touch screen; a communication module 6, and at least one drive element 8 of the movable part 4 and of the indicator member 5.

The processing unit 2 of this system 1, is connected inter alia to the sound interface 7, to the communication module 6, to the calibration element 9, to the activation command 10 and to the drive element 8.

In this system 1, the communication module 6 is able to establish a connection with a system of cellular networks, in particular comprising a SIM card (acronym for "Subscriber Identity Module") or with a system of wireless local area networks WLAN , and is also able to implement communication technologies such as Bluetooth. Under these conditions, the system 1 and therefore the watch 100 is capable of exchanging data with a remote server, a computer or even a computer.

In this system 1, the display dial 3 visible in Figures 2 and 4, includes upper faces 12a and lower 12b, the upper face 12a being the visible face of the dial 3 when it is arranged in the watch 100 and the lower face 12b being that which is arranged opposite the moving part 4. The dial 3 also includes in the first display component 10a a plurality of counters 11 through which information is likely to be presented. Such windows 11 each have a cross section which may have a circular shape or even essentially that of a quadrilateral. These counters 11 are distributed in this dial 3 so as to be able to cooperate distinctly with the indicating member 5 to indicate / signify information to the wearer of the watch 100. This information can be a notification for the attention of this wearer. This notification can be an alert message relating to a function performed by the watch 100, for example a notification relating to: do electronic messaging in this case the information presented in the window 11 may correspond to a number of messages received, for example in FIG. 2, ten messages have been received; an activity tracker in this case the information can correspond to a heartbeat frequency, a number of steps taken, etc. a number of missed telephone calls when the watch 100 is connected to a smartphone; UV index (acronym for ultraviolet); etc ...

The dial 3 is mounted superimposed on the movable piece 4 of support which has a face 13 comprising graphical representations. More precisely, such a moving part 4 is arranged in such a way that the graphic representations which it carries appear in the plurality of apertures 11 of the dial 3 in order to generate information. This movable part 4 which is coaxial with the dial 3, is a part of circular and flat shape such as a disc or a ring.

Note that each window 11 includes a through opening extending longitudinally in this window 11 so as to connect the upper and lower faces 12a, 12b of the dial 3 therebetween.

In the dial 3, at least one window 11 includes a training element 14 of information. This training element 14 is arranged above the graphic representation appearing in the corresponding window 11. More specifically, such a forming element 14 may have come integrally with the upper face 12a or the lower face 12b of the dial 3 in an area of this dial 3 comprising the aperture 11 or also with the wall of the through opening formed by this window 11. Alternatively, this forming element 14 can be an insert which is arranged on an area of the upper face 12a or of the lower face 12b comprising the window 11 or in the through opening formed by this window 11 This information element 14 is a flat part comprising a network / grid of a plurality of openings forming a symbol or a pattern. With reference to FIG. 3, these openings can be, for example, micro-orifices, ridges, slots or a combination of at least two of these types of openings. By way of example, when this training element 14 comprises a network of micro-orifices each micro-orifice can have: a square section whose length on each side is between 200 and 900 µ, preferably 265 µ, or a circular section whose diameter is between 200 and 1000 µ, preferably 374 µ.

Such a training element 14 allows from a graphic representation included on the moving part 4 to generate information. This information as seen above is preferably a notification. In the case of a counter 11 provided with such a training element 14, the information may relate to a rate / percentage, to a state, to an interval of values, of a parameter of a function of the shows 100 or its functioning, or a measurement of a bodily characteristic of the wearer of watch 100 as a physiological characteristic (pulse, blood oxygen saturation, skin impedance, blood pressure, respiratory rate, respiratory arrhythmia, skin temperature, sweating rate, blood oxygen saturation or blood flow).

For example, this training element 14 may include a plurality of openings visible in Figure 3, together forming a pattern such as a stack. This plurality of openings can cooperate with a graphic representation such as a color gradient to generate information relating to the energy charge level of the watch 100. Indeed, as this charge state decreases the pattern in shape the battery then changes color according to the color gradient relative to the graphic representation. This change in color is carried out from low rotations of the moving part 4.

It is understood here that to generate such information relating to the energy load of the watch 100 in a window 11 without such a training element 14, it is necessary that the moving part 4 includes several graphical representations of a battery each showing a different state of charge. In this context, such a configuration of the window without a training element 14 then consumes / requires a lot of space on the face 13 of the moving part 4 and greater rotations of the moving part, which then limits the variety of information which can then be presented in the counters 11.

In another example, the forming element 14 may include a plurality of openings together forming a pattern such as a heart. This plurality of openings can cooperate with a graphic representation such as a color gradient to generate information relating to an interval of heartbeat frequency. Indeed, depending on the interval in which the measurement of the frequency of a heartbeat of the wearer is understood, the color varies according to the color gradient relating to the graphic representation. This change in color is carried out from low rotations of the moving part 4.

Note that the graphic representations intended to be presented in a window 11 without a training element 14, are defined in a portion of the face 13 of the movable part 4; said portion having a surface which is less than that of a cross section of this window 11. Conversely, the graphic representations intended to be presented in a window 11 comprising a forming element 14, are defined in a portion of the face 13 of the moving part 4 which has a surface which is greater than that of a cross section of this window 11.

In this system 1, the movable part 4 and the indicator member 5 are set in motion under the action of at least one drive element 8 such as a motor. The drive element 8 is controlled by the processing unit 2 as a function of the information to be presented in one or more of the counters 11 of the dial 3.

This processing unit 2, being connected to at least one drive element 8 and to a calibration element 9, is also capable of positioning the disk relative to the dial 3 in order to ensure correct display of the representations. graphics in the counters 11. With reference to FIG. 4, in this system 1, when the calibration element 9 is a light sensor, the moving part 4 and the dial 3 both include openings 15a, 15b which can be aligned with the calibration element 9 so that the latter receives light radiation. In particular, the opening 15b extends in an area of the movable part 4 arranged opposite the calibration element 9 when this part 4 is in rotation. This opening 15b is defined throughout this zone with the exception of reduced portions of different lengths of this zone intended to obscure the calibration element 9. These portions make it possible, in particular from their differences, to detect a known position of the moving part 4 relative to the dial 3.

In addition, with reference to Figure 4, the dial 3, the movable part 4 and the calibration element 9 are mounted superimposed in the watch case 100. Note that the calibration element 9 when 'it is a light sensor can measure a UV index which can be information presented in a window 11 of the dial 3 and this, when the calibration element 9 and the openings 15a, 15b are aligned.

Such a system 1 of the watch 100 is capable of implementing a method of displaying at least one item of information on the display dial 3 of the watch 100 visible in FIG. 5.

This method comprises an actuation step 20 of the activation command 10. This command is defined to participate in the presentation of one or more pieces of information. During this step 20, the actuation of the command generates a generation of a signal which is transmitted to the processing unit 2.

The method then provides a step 21 for presenting information in the window 11 of the dial 3. This step 21 includes a positioning sub-step 22 of both an indicator member 5 in the direction of the window 11 and of a graphical representation or part of a graphical representation opposite the through opening of this window 11. To do this, as soon as the processing unit 2 receives the signal from the activation command 10, it generates a control instruction aiming to position the indicator member 5 on / in / towards the window 11 which must present the information by driving the drive element 8. Simultaneously or almost simultaneously, it also positions the graphic representation corresponding or the part of the graphic representation in front of the through opening of the window 11 while also driving the drive element 8 to generate the rotation of the moving part 4. This control instruction is generated by the 'processing unit 2 based on: identifying the information whose display is desired from the processing of the signal from the activation command 10, for example this information may be the state of the energy charge of the watch 100; performing a measurement (for example to measure the state of the energy charge of watch 100) or recovering data from a remote server, a computer or a smartphone (for example recovering the computer of a number of missed calls) relating to the identified information, selection of the window 11 adapted for the presentation of the information and this, as a function of the information identified, definition of the control instructions to be applied to the drive element 8 in order to control the movement of the indicator member 5 and of the moving part 4.

In addition, this method comprises a step 23 for calibrating the position of the moving part 4 relative to the dial 3. Such a step 23 ensures optimal positioning of the graphic representations or parts of these graphic representations in the counters 11 during the implementation of this process. During this step 23, the openings 15a, 15b of the dial 3 and of the moving part 4 are aligned with the calibration element 9 here a light sensor. In this configuration, this light sensor receives light radiation and generates a signal which is then transmitted to the processing unit 2. On receipt of this signal, the processing unit 2 can thus identify the position of the moving part 4 relative to the dial 3 and update, if necessary, configuration data archived in its memory elements comprising this relative position between the moving part 4 and the dial 3 for the operation of the method and of the display system 1. We therefore understand that the alignment of these openings 15a, 15b with the light sensor 9 constitutes a benchmark or an index making it possible to identify the relative position between the moving part 4 and the dial 3.

The invention also relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for the execution of steps 20 to 23 of this method when said computer program is executed by a processing unit of the watch 100.

Claims (13)

1. Analog information display system (1) for a watch (100) provided with a mechanical movement, said system (1) comprising: - a display dial (3) comprising a plurality of counters (11); A movable part (4) for displaying a graphic representation support arranged in such a way that the graphic representations which it carries appear in the plurality of counters (11) in order to generate said information, and - an indicator member (5) configured to designate information generated in a window (11) to be reported to the wearer of said watch (100). 2. System (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one window (11) comprises a training element (14) of information arranged above the graphic representation appearing in the window (11) corresponding. 3. System (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said information forming element (14) is a flat part comprising a network of a plurality of openings such as micro-orifices, striations, slots or a combination of at least two of these types of openings. 4. System (1) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the training element (14) of information is an insert. 5. System (1) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the information forming element (14) came integrally with an upper (12a) or lower (12b) face of the dial (3) in an area of this dial (3) comprising the window (11) or with a wall of a through opening formed by this window (11). 6. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one drive element (8) of the movable part (4) for displaying graphic representation support. 7. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable piece (4) for displaying information carrier is a flat piece of circular shape such as a disc or a ring. 8. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable part (4) for the display of graphic representation support and the display dial (3) are coaxial. 9. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a calibration element (9) configured to identify a relative position between the moving part (4) and the dial (3). 10. Watch (100) comprising a system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. 11. Watch (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is a connected mechanical watch (100). 12. A method of displaying at least one item of information on a display dial (3) of the watch (100) implemented by the system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the method comprising a step of presenting (21) information in a window (11) of the dial (3) comprising a sub-step of positioning (22) both of an indicator member (5) in the direction of the window (11) and a graphical representation or part of a graphical representation opposite a through opening of this window (11) 13. Computer program comprising program code instructions for the execution of steps (20 to 23) of the method according to the preceding claim when said computer program is executed by a processing unit of a watch (100) .