CH717360B1 - Display mechanism for a corresponding timepiece, timepiece movement and timepiece. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information display mechanism comprising c display mobiles (54) each for controlling at least one display member J,85 and changing it from an inactive state to an active state, and conversely, the number of display members being in an active state corresponding to an integer value i to be displayed, a drive mechanism arranged to drive at least one display mobile (54) to be able to change the state of the or display members corresponding to each change in the value i to be displayed, the drive mechanism having first and second sequential display cycles, each of which is associated with a group of i display mobiles ( 54) predefined for each value i to be displayed, in such a way that only the corresponding display members are in their active state, and at least one predefined group of the first display cycle, associated with a value i, being different from the group predefined second cycle d display which is associated with this same value i.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a display mechanism for a timepiece, intended to allow the display of predefined information in the form of successive display cycles of integer values i, with a ≤ i ≤ b, the display mechanism comprising c display mobiles, with c ≥ b, each of which is intended to control at least one display member to change it from a first state, inactive, to at least a second state, active, and vice versa, the number display elements that are in an active state at a given instant corresponding to the value i to be displayed, a drive mechanism, intended to be connected to a drive wheel of a watch movement and arranged to drive at least one of the c display wheels in order to be able to change the state of the corresponding display member(s) (s) at each change of the value i to display.

[0002] The invention also relates to a timepiece movement and a timepiece comprising such a display mechanism.

State of the art

[0003] Various display mechanisms meeting the above characteristics are already known, in particular for producing a display of the current time.

[0004] By way of illustration, the patent CH705806B1 describes such a display mechanism intended to be implemented in a wristwatch in connection with a watch movement adapted to ensure its operation. More specifically, this display mechanism comprises a peripheral crown driven by a basic watch movement to ensure the driving of twelve mobile displays for the current time, distributed in a manner identical to that of the conventional indexes for indicating the current time. Each current time display mobile carries a display member so as to be able to rotate it between a first, active state, in which it has a first face, and a second, inactive state, in which it has a second side. At each instant, only one display member at a time is in its active state to indicate the current time by a conventional reading of the position of this active display member. At each time change, the drive crown actuates the current time display mobiles to modify the display member which is in its active state.

[0005] This display mechanism uses the general principle of displaying the current time by an hour hand and it remains desirable to produce an original display mechanism based on a principle of displaying predefined information. departing more clearly from commonly used principles.

[0006] Patent application EP 2365406 A2 presents another type of display mechanism which, in addition to the display of the current time over twelve hours, makes it possible to distinguish the hours extending from noon to midnight from the hours extending from midnight to noon. For this purpose, this display mechanism comprises twelve sectors distributed radially around the dial in the conventional directions for indicating the hours. The mechanism is arranged to be able to rotate the sectors by 180 degrees in turn, in their longitudinal direction, when passing from one hour to the next, to display one or the other side of the different sectors depending on the time to display. Indeed, each sector has a light side, used for example to display the hours extending between midnight and noon, and a dark side, to display the hours extending from noon to midnight. Thus, in a certain way, each sector carries two time display organs, one light and one dark, swapped in turn, every twelve hours, to make one of the display organs pass from from an inactive position, in which it is invisible, to an active, visible position, and vice versa.

[0007] However, this display mechanism can be disturbing for the user insofar as, most of the time, certain inactive display members are hidden while other inactive display members remain visible, which makes the reading of the corresponding information confusing. Thus, for example, if we consider the example illustrated in FIG. 2 of this document, corresponding to the thirteen o'clock display, a single dark display member is in its active position while eleven display members are also visible, whereas the indication of the time is carried out by the only dark display member, the light display members being visible for the sole purpose of preventing the dark display members associated therewith to be themselves visible. The display members being linked in pairs, each of them can therefore have an invisible position, associated with an inactive state, and two different states in its visible position, either it is actually active, or it is visible without be active for all that, but for the sole purpose of masking the other display device to which it is linked.

[0008] Consequently, despite its repetitive mode of operation, such a display mechanism requires significant adaptation time and may not be suitable for all users, since out of twelve permanently visible display elements, regardless of time, only some are actually active to display the current time value. This requires having differentiated display members, in order to be able to distinguish the value of the information displayed from the number of display members appearing to be in their active state at a given instant, this number then being greater than the value actually displayed.

Disclosure of Invention

[0009] A main object of the present invention is to propose a mechanism for displaying predefined information for a timepiece allowing a less conventional display of this information than the known display mechanisms, while offering a mode of easy reading.

To this end, the present invention relates more particularly to a display mechanism of the type mentioned above, characterized in that that the drive mechanism comprises a programming device arranged to give rise to at least first and second sequential display cycles, each of which is associated with a group of i predefined display mobiles for each value i to be displayed, such that only the corresponding display members are in their active state, and that at least one of the predefined groups of the first display cycle, associated with a given value i, is different from the predefined group of the second display cycle which is associated with this same given value i.

[0011] Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to produce a timepiece having an original display of the predefined information, giving watchmakers greater freedom in the arrangement of the corresponding display mobiles than with the mechanisms of the prior art, the display according to the invention thus being capable of being clearly distinguished from conventional displays.

It will be noted that, according to the present invention, different display mobiles are requested during two successive display cycles, thus giving rise to a significant variation in the corresponding display. Differently in the construction of the application EP 2365406 A2 mentioned above, the same display mobiles are requested to display a given value i during successive display cycles, each display mobile controlling the position of two organs of display whose respective states are linked to each other, since they are necessarily opposed at each instant. It will also emerge from the following description that, within the scope of the present invention, all the display members remain visible even when they are in their inactive state, unlike this prior display mechanism. It is thus easy for the user to distinguish how many display members are active at each instant to determine the displayed value. In addition, the display members according to the present invention are advantageously arranged in such a way that each of them has a projection in the plane of the dial (or in a plane corresponding to a hypothetical dial plane in the absence of a dial ) distinct from the projections of the other displays. Thus, the active or inactive state of each display member according to the invention is dictated solely by the programming device and is not dependent on the state of the other display members as is the case in the earlier display mechanism, thereby providing more flexibility in display appearance. In other words, the present invention is further distinguished, in practice, from the prior mechanism mentioned above by the possibility of having at least two given display members which would present the same state (active or inactive) for a given value i during of a first display cycle and which would present different states (one active and the other inactive) for this same value i during another display cycle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the programming device is arranged to present at least one, optionally at least two additional sequential display cycles, each of which is associated with a group of i predefined display mobiles for each value i to display, in such a way that only the corresponding display members are in their active state. According to this embodiment, provision is then advantageously made for at least one of the predefined groups of each of the additional display cycles, associated with a given value i, to be different from the predefined group of each of the other display cycles which is associated with this same given i value.

It is understood that, if a basic principle of the display mechanism according to the present invention is to present at least two sequential display cycles, providing an impression of display diversity for an observer, when the number of different sequential display cycles increases the impression of diversity can turn into an impression of random display, in any case pseudo-random. This impression will of course also depend on the number of values i to be displayed per display cycle, on the duration of each display cycle, and on the number of display members.

In general, when the programming device is arranged to give rise to at least two sequential display cycles, provision can be made for each of the predefined groups of the first display cycle to be different from the corresponding predefined group of the second cycle. display, for i > 0 and, for i < b when c = b.

[0016] When more sequential display cycles are implemented, provision can advantageously be made for the programming device to be arranged to present a maximum of b display cycles, and for each of the predefined groups of each of the cycles of display is different from the corresponding predefined group of each of the other display cycles, for i > 0 and, for i < b when c = b.

[0017] According to additional preferred features of the present invention, provision may also be made for the programming device to comprise at least one cam capable of occupying a plurality of different angular orientations, each of which is associated with one of the cycles of sequential display and to one of the values i to be displayed in the corresponding display cycle, this cam being arranged to cooperate with the c display mobiles and to drive at least one of the display mobiles, on each change of the value i to display, in order to be able to change the state of the corresponding display device(s).

[0018] Provision may be made for the display mechanism to comprise one cam per cycle or for the cam or cams to be associated with several cycles at the same time, preferably all of them in this case.

Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the programming device comprises at least two cams, each of these cams being capable of occupying a plurality of different angular orientations, each of which is associated with one of the cycles of sequential display and to one of the values i to be displayed in the corresponding display cycle, each of these cams being arranged to cooperate with at least one of the c display mobiles and drive it to be able to change the state of the display member(s) corresponding to each change in the value i to be displayed, the set of cams being arranged to drive the set of c display mobiles.

[0020] In both cases, provision can also be made for the display mechanism to comprise at least one rocker associated with each of the cams, each rocker comprising a feeler arranged to cooperate with the periphery of the corresponding cam and a toothing having a connection kinematics with at least one of the display mobiles.

In general, the display mechanism according to the present invention can be implemented in relation to predefined information of the periodic type, each of the sequential display cycles then corresponding to a period of this predefined information.

[0022]According to a preferred variant embodiment, the drive mechanism then comprises at least one trigger wheel arranged to be able to be actuated periodically from the watch movement and to drive at least one of the display wheels. each time the value i to display changes.

[0023] According to this preferred embodiment, the mobile trigger has a particularly advantageous construction. The latter is part of a trigger device which can be adapted to trigger any other timepiece mechanism than the display mechanism according to the present invention.

The present invention also relates to a watch movement comprising an energy source arranged to supply energy to a mobile drive arranged to ensure the operation of a display mechanism according to the preceding characteristics, as well as a timepiece provided with such a display mechanism.

According to a preferred embodiment, the timepiece comprises at least twelve display members, controlled by the display mechanism as described above, to display the current time.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which : FIG. 1 represents a simplified front view of part of a timepiece comprising a display mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 2a and 2b represent simplified perspective views of part of the timepiece of FIG. 1, respectively from a first face and from the opposite face; FIGS. 3a and 3b represent simplified front views of part of the display mechanism of the timepiece of FIG. 1, respectively from a first face and from the opposite face, while FIGS. 3c and 3d represent simplified views, respectively in perspective and in cross-section, of a construction detail of this same display mechanism, and that figure 3e represents a simplified perspective view of a construction detail of the illustrations of figures 3a to 3d , and FIGS. 4a and 4b represent simplified perspective views of a construction detail of the display mechanism of the timepiece of FIG. 1, respectively from a first face and from the opposite face.

Embodiment(s) of the Invention

[0027] Figure 1 shows a simplified front view of part of a timepiece 1 comprising a display mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The exact nature of the timepiece 1, whether it is for example a wristwatch or a pocket watch, is of little importance for the implementation of the present invention, so the covering components are not illustrated on Figure 1 for the purpose of simplification.

[0028] The timepiece 1 comprises a box (not visible) in which is arranged a watch movement 2 (Figure 2a), which will be partially described later, with which cooperates in particular a time-setting stem 4 , and possibly reassembly, by way of non-limiting illustration.

The watch movement 2 is surmounted by a dial 6, itself being surmounted by a plurality of display members 8 whose movements are controlled by the watch movement 2, as will be explained below.

The display members 8 are intended to display the current times at any time and are twelve in number in the timepiece 1 shown in Figure 1, by way of illustration. It will subsequently be understood that more than twelve display members 8 could be provided to display the current times without departing from the scope of the present invention. Each of the display members 8 here has the shape of a flower with five petals 10 by way of non-limiting illustration. The display mechanism according to the preferred embodiment makes it possible to control the display members 8 in such a way that their petals 10 can move, preferably simultaneously, between a first position defining an active state of the display 8 and a second position defining an inactive state of the display member 8. Thus, in FIG. 1, five display members 8 represent an open flower associated with the active state, while each of the seven other members display represents a closed flower associated with the inactive state. The display mechanism therefore indicates that it is five o'clock in the configuration illustrated in figure 1.

[0031] It appears that, according to the preferred embodiment illustrated, all the display members 8 remain permanently visible, whatever their state, active or inactive.

[0032] It is also understood that each of the display members 8 has a projection in the plane of the dial 6 which is distinct from the projections of the other display members 8.

[0033] Alternatively, the position of the petals of each display member can be controlled independently and the flowers, as display members, can have several active states so that each active state has a different number of petals in the open position. In this way, if for example the display members each have six petals, the state of at least one of the active display members can also indicate the tens of minutes. For example, at 5:10 a.m. we find ourselves with five display members in an active state with all their petals open and a sixth display member in an active state with one petal open, this sixth display member successively transforming into a active state with another petal opened every 10 minutes. According to this variant, the petals can also be considered themselves as display organs.

[0034] Of course, the display members 8 could have any other nature or shape suitable for displaying predefined information such as current times. Furthermore, it can be seen here that the flowers represented in FIG. 1 are not all of the same species. A person skilled in the art will encounter no difficulty in choosing alternative display members meeting his own needs or, when the display members represent flowers, in implementing a different number of petals, or even in implementing different numbers of petals from one flower to another, without departing from the scope of the present invention. By way of example, the display members could take the form of a bird or an insect (such as a butterfly) with pivoting or moving wings where each member is in an active state when its wings are spread. .

As will become apparent from the remainder of this presentation, the petals 10 are here arranged to pivot when the corresponding display member 8 passes from one state to another. It is possible to provide other types of movement of the petals as an alternative such as, for example, an oscillating movement of translation.

[0036] Figures 2a and 2b represent views in slight simplified perspective of a part of the timepiece 1 without its dial 6. More specifically, Figure 2a represents the timepiece 1 in a view from the side dial, while FIG. 2b represents the timepiece 1 in a view from the bridge side, with a few fewer components than in the view of FIG. 2a, these two figures making it possible to expose the construction of the drive mechanism making it possible to control the behavior of the display devices 8.

[0037] In general, the illustrations are simplified for greater clarity and to facilitate understanding. Thus, in particular most of the components not directly involved in the implementation of the invention are not represented.

[0038] The time-setting stem 4 is kinematically connected to a basic watch caliber, partially shown, in a conventional manner and it preferably also makes it possible to recharge the spring of a barrel 20 fulfilling the function of energy source mechanics of the mechanical watch movement 2.

The drum of the barrel 20 is arranged in engagement with a roadway 22 connected to a toothed peripheral crown 24 of the minutes, via two transmissions 26 and 28, so that the crown 24 makes a turn on itself. even in an hour. Three screws 30, each associated with a washer, ensures the axial retention of the crown 24 with reference to the rest of the watch movement 2, that is to say in the direction of the thickness of the watch movement 2.

[0040] By way of example, provision may be made for crown 24 to carry an index intended to ensure the display of the current minutes when crown 24 rotates, possibly in relation to graduations carried by dial 6 or the case of the timepiece 1. In variants, the crown 24 can rotate at a slower speed, completing one revolution in N hours, for example in four hours. In this case the crown 24 can comprise N sets of minute graduations, only one being visible at a time in a window made in the middle part of the watch case and cooperating with a fixed minute mark.

The display mechanism according to the present invention further comprises a winding mobile 32 whose winding wheel 34 is arranged in engagement with the toothing of the crown 24 of the minutes to ensure the drive of the organs of display 8.

[0042] For this purpose, the mobile winding 32 has a kinematic connection, via its pinion 36 integral in rotation with the winding wheel 34, with a periodic triggering device 38 which will be described later in relation with Figures 4a and 4b. This periodic tripping device is arranged to drive a control wheel 40 once per hour, following a fraction of a turn.

[0043] On the one hand, the control wheel 40 meshes with a conventional speed regulation train 42, here comprising an inertial speed regulation wheel 44, in such a way that its speed of rotation is regulated when the trigger device periodic 38 causes it to rotate once an hour.

On the other hand, the control wheel 40 meshes with the wheel 46 of a mobile distribution whose pinion 48 is simultaneously meshed with the respective large wheels 50 of two actuating mobiles 52, each of which is arranged to control six display mobiles 54 (FIGS. 3a and 3b), via a suitable programming device, as will be explained in more detail now, in connection with FIGS. 3a and 3b.

Figures 3a and 3b show simplified front views of the end part of the display mechanism, on the side of the display members 8, in respective views on the bridge side and on the dial side.

Each actuating wheel 52 comprises a second wheel 56, smaller than the corresponding large wheel 50 while being integral with the latter in rotation, and has a kinematic connection with the six corresponding display wheels 54 by the intermediary of two dispensing mobiles 58, each of which is connected to three display mobiles 54.

[0047] Each distribution wheel set 58 comprises a pinion 60, engaged with the large wheel 50 of the corresponding actuating wheel set 52, and a wheel 62 meshed with the second, smaller wheel 56 of the same actuating wheel set 52 .

[0048] Figures 3c and 3d represent simplified views, respectively in perspective and in section, illustrating the construction of each dispensing wheel set 58.

The pinion 60 is secured to a barrel 64 which is also secured to a star 66 with nine branches substantially sawtooth and truncated end.

The star 66 rests on a shoulder 68 of the barrel 64, making it possible to define a central portion 70 of the barrel on which is engaged a ring 72 carrying, jointly, the wheel 62 and a cam 74 intended to define the state, active or inactive, of the three display members 8 controlled by the corresponding display mobiles 54 . Ring 72 is free to rotate on barrel 64.

[0051] Figure 3e shows a simplified perspective view of the cam 74 according to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of non-limiting illustration.

[0052] The cam 74 comprises a central hole 76 allowing its attachment to the barrel 64 and has substantially the general shape of a disc in which recesses of variable angular extent are formed, so as to define two different radii for its periphery, a large radius R for the non-recessed portions and a small radius r for the portions located at the bottom of the recesses. The non-recessed portions are connected to the recessed portions by slightly curved substantially radial junctions.

It emerges from the foregoing that the cam 74 is driven in rotation from the second wheel 56 of the actuating mobile while the star wheel 66 is driven from the large wheel 50 of this same mobile, here with gear ratios such that cam 74 makes one revolution on itself in thirty-six hours and star 66 makes one revolution on itself in nine hours.

It appears more particularly from Figure 3c that each distribution wheel 58 cooperates with three rockers 80 comprising a feeler 82 at one end and a toothed rake 84 at the other end. Each rocker 80 is associated with a return spring 86 (FIG. 3a) arranged to act on it so as to keep its feeler 82 bearing against the periphery of the corresponding cam 74.

Each rake 84 cooperates with a first wheel 88 of a mobile display 54, the latter comprising a second wheel 90, integral with the first wheel 88 and arranged in engagement with five petal wheels 92, as illustrated in the Figures 3a and 3b, each of which carries a petal 10.

Thus, when the cam 74 turns, by one step every hour, it acts on the rockers 80 to make them pivot between two extreme positions, if necessary, one of which is associated with the active state of the corresponding display member 8 and the other in its inactive state, by rotation of the petals 10 in one direction or the other.

It will be noted that according to the present preferred embodiment, each probe 82 has a sufficient thickness to cooperate simultaneously with the cam 74 and with the star 66. The branches of the star 66 are thus shaped and arranged in such a way that they can guide the movement of each feeler 82 with which they cooperate, during each jump from a portion of large radius R to a portion of small radius r of the periphery of the cam 74, so that the transition from the closed configuration towards the open configuration of the flowers, that is to say from the inactive state towards the active state of the display members 8, takes place more gradually than the reverse change. After a transition, the feelers 82 are preferably bearing against the periphery of the cam 74 and not on the star 66.

It emerges from the foregoing that three sequential or successive display cycles, of twelve hours each, are provided, since the cam 74 makes a complete turn in thirty-six hours. Of course, another number of cycles can be provided, for example five cycles with a sixty-hour cam. It is also noted that each display cycle is associated with a group of i display mobiles 54 for each value of i to be displayed. Each portion of the periphery of the cam 74 associated with a twelve-hour display cycle being different from the two other twelve-hour portions, it appears that at least one of the groups of a given display cycle, associated at a given value i, is different from at least one of the groups of the two other display cycles which is associated with this same given value i.

In concrete terms, this means that for at least one given hour value, three different groups of display elements 8 are in their active state during three successive display cycles of twelve hours. In other words, the display of current hours here presents a period of thirty-six hours instead of the conventional twelve hours. Thus, for example, for the indication of daytime hours, the flowers open at a given time will only be the same every other day.

[0060] It will be noted that if the timepiece 1 comprises twelve display members 8, a single group is defined to display twelve hours. It is however possible to provide that the timepiece 1 comprises more than twelve display members 8 and, in this case, it is possible to define several different display groups on the successive cycles even to display twelve hours.

FIGS. 4a and 4b represent simplified perspective views, respectively from a first face and from the opposite face, of a preferred construction detail of the display mechanism of the timepiece 1, namely of the device trigger 38.

[0062] The trigger device 38 comprises a mobile load 100 comprising a pinion 102 arranged simultaneously with the pinion 36 of the mobile winding 32 and with a load wheel 104 of a mobile trigger 106, including a pinion 108 is engaged with the control wheel 40 to act on the display elements 8.

[0063] The mobile load 100 further comprises a wheel 110 engaged with a mobile locking cam 112. The mobile locking cam 112 also comprises a double cam 114 with two stages, each of which has substantially the general shape of a half -disk.

[0064] The load wheel 104 of the trigger mobile 106 is integral with a first end of a spiral spring 116, the second end of which is indirectly integral with the pinion 108.

[0065] Furthermore, the mobile trigger 106 comprises a locking wheel 118 with four teeth 120, 122, also integral in rotation with the pinion 108. Two teeth 120, diametrically opposed, are located at the same level of height as the floor bottom (in the view of FIG. 4a) of the double cam 114 of the blocking cam wheel set 112, while the other two teeth 122, also diametrically opposed, are located at its upper stage.

When the load wheel set 100 is driven in rotation by the winding wheel set 32, it rotates both the load wheel 104 of the trigger wheel set 106 and the double cam 114 of the blocking cam wheel set 112 , with differentiated gear ratios.

In the configuration illustrated in Figure 4a, a tooth 120 is arranged to bear against a locking portion of the lower stage of the double cam 114, of substantially constant radius, ensuring a locking of the pinion 108, i.e. a locking of the second end of the spiral spring 116. The locking wheel 118 is then in a locking position. Thus, the rotation of the load mobile 100 causes a progressive load of the spiral spring by causing the first end of the latter to rotate with the load wheel 104.

After one hour, here, when the mobile blocking cam 112 has performed a half-turn on itself under the effect of the drive of the mobile load 100, the periphery of the double cam 114 has a free portion, of radius less than that of the locking portion, and releases the tooth 120. The locking wheel 118 becomes free to rotate under the effect of the action of the spiral spring 116 which then tends to discharge. The locking wheel 118 thus rotates until the next tooth 122 abuts against the periphery of the upper stage of the double cam 114, that is to say against its locking portion, to again lock the pinion 108 during a new half-turn of the locking cam mobile 112, defining a new locking position of the locking wheel 118. This cycle is thus repeated indefinitely, resulting in a modification of the state of at least one member display 8 at each release, that is to say at each half-turn of the mobile blocking cam 112.

[0069] Note that the mobile trigger 106 further comprises a non-return pinion 124, sawtooth, cooperating with a right spring (reference 126 in Figure 2a) and secured to the shaft 128 of the mobile trigger 106, to allow time setting in the direction of counter-clockwise rotation without the spiral spring 116 being able to discharge.

[0070] Thanks to this construction, the periodic triggering device 38 is particularly energy efficient due to the nature of the contact implemented between the teeth 120 and 122 of the locking wheel 118 and the periphery of the double cam 114. Furthermore, this construction is particularly compact.

[0071] It will be noted that the construction of the trigger device 38 can advantageously be implemented in association with any other horological mechanism than the display mechanism according to the present invention, which constitutes only one particular example of application. without limitation, the trigger device 38 making it possible to control the triggering of a timepiece mechanism of any type in response to the occurrence of a particular predefined event.

[0072] According to the variant embodiment illustrated without limitation, each stage of the double cam 114 is defined by a cam having a single locking portion of constant radius, intended to cooperate with two of the teeth of the locking wheel 118, and a single free portion of radius less than that of the locking portion in such a way that it is located out of reach of the teeth of the locking wheel 118. However, other embodiments are possible, such as for example by providing a number of teeth on the locking wheel, a different number of locking portions and free portions on each cam of the double cam or by having more than two stages and levels for the cam (which would therefore no longer be a double cam but a cam block) and the locking wheel (for example a cam block comprising three stages of cams cooperating with a locking wheel comprising three levels of teeth). Similarly, the trigger wheel set 106 and the blocking cam wheel set 112 are driven here by one and the same wheel set 100, but it is possible for these two sets to be driven by two separate sets of wheels.

[0073] Thanks to the characteristics which have just been described, it is possible to produce a timepiece comprising an original display mechanism, flexible from the point of view of its design, in particular the location of the display members. corresponding, and likely to present a new kinematics giving an impression of random display or almost.

The foregoing description sets out to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and, the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular characteristics which have just been described, such as, for example, the nature and the entire construction of the mechanism for driving the display members, or even the form illustrated and described for the display members.

[0075] In general, it will be noted that the invention is not limited by the nature of the information displayed and therefore by the number of corresponding display members. Furthermore, it is important to remember that the number of display members used is not necessarily limited to the number of different values that the information to be displayed is likely to take. Thus, in the case of the preferred embodiment which has been described and illustrated, it is conceivable to provide for the display mechanism to drive more than twelve display members to indicate the current times, and the person skilled in the art will not encounter no particular difficulty in adapting the present teaching according to one's own needs without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0076] The distribution of all the display members into different subsets is not essential either to take advantage of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can also adapt the number of cycles provided on the cams triggering the change of state of the display members according to its own needs without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be noted for example that the maximum number of feelers associated with a given cam will also depend on the dimensions of this cam, which may influence the implementation or not of a possible distribution of all the display members into different subsets . Furthermore, it will be noted that those skilled in the art will be able to implement various alternative constructions without departing from the scope of the invention as regards the programming device. Thus, for example, a single cam may be provided to control all of the display members, or even a cam may be provided for each of the sequential display cycles, a mechanism making it possible to change the cam by passing from one sequential display cycle to the next. Furthermore, at least one programming wheel or star comprising irregularly distributed teeth or teeth of different heights could be used instead of a cam to control the states of the display members.

In general, the display mechanism according to the present invention can be integrated directly into a watch movement or be designed as an additional module cooperating with a standard basic watch caliber without departing from the scope of the invention as defined. by the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1. Display mechanism for a timepiece (1), intended to allow the display of predefined information in the form of successive display cycles of integer values i, with a ≤ i ≤ b, the mechanism d display comprising c mobile display (54), with c > b, each of which is intended to control at least one display member (8) to change it from a first state, inactive, to at least a second state, active , and conversely, the number of display elements (8) being in an active state at a given time corresponding to said value i to be displayed, a drive mechanism, intended to be connected to a drive wheel of a watch movement (2) and arranged to drive at least one of said display wheels (54) to be able to change the state of the display elements (8) corresponding to each change of said value i to be displayed, characterized in that said drive mechanism comprises a programming device arranged to give rise to at least first and second sequential display cycles, each of which is associated with a group of i display mobiles (54) predefined for each value i to be displayed, in such a way that only the corresponding display members (8) are in their active state, and in that at least one of said predefined groups of said first display cycle, associated with a given value i, is different from the predefined group of said second display cycle which is associated with this same given value i. 2. Display mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said programming device is arranged to present at least one additional sequential display cycle, each of which is associated with a group of i display mobiles (54) predefined for each value i to be displayed, in such a way that only the corresponding display members (8) are in their active state, and in that at least one of said predefined groups of said at least one additional display cycle, associated with a given value i, is different from the predefined group of each of the other display cycles which is associated with this same value i given. 3. Display mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said predefined groups of the first display cycle is different from the corresponding predefined group of said second display cycle, for i>0 and, for i<b when c = b. 4. Display mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that said programming device is arranged to present a maximum of b display cycles, and in that each of said predefined groups of each of said display cycles is different from the corresponding predefined group of each of the other display cycles, for i > 0 and, for i < b when c = b. 5. Display mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said programming device comprises at least one cam (74) capable of occupying a plurality of different angular orientations, each of which is associated with one of said sequential display cycles and to one of said values i to be displayed in said corresponding sequential display cycle, said at least one cam (74) being arranged to cooperate with said display mobiles (54) and to drive the at least one of said display mobiles (54), on each change of said value i to be displayed, in order to be able to change the state of the corresponding display element(s) (8). 6. Display mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said programming device comprises at least two cams (74), each of said cams (74) being capable of occupying a plurality of angular orientations each of which is associated with one of said sequential display cycles and with one of said values i to be displayed in said corresponding sequential display cycle, each of said cams (74) being arranged to cooperate with at least one of said c display mobiles (54) and drive it, in order to be able to change the state of the display member(s) (8) corresponding to each change of said value i to be displayed, all of said cams ( 74) being arranged to drive all of said display mobiles (54). 7. Display mechanism according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one rocker (80) associated with each of said cams (74), each rocker (80) comprising a feeler (82) arranged to cooperate with the periphery of the corresponding cam (74) and a toothing having a kinematic connection with at least one of said display mobiles (54). 8. Display mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said predefined information is periodic, each of said sequential display cycles corresponding to a period. 9. Display mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that said drive mechanism comprises at least one mobile trigger (106) arranged to be able to be actuated periodically from the watch movement (2) and ensure the drive of at least one of said c display mobiles (54) each time said value i to be displayed changes. 10. Display mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said display mobiles (54) are arranged to be able to control display members (8) of the corresponding timepiece intended to be positioned in such a way that each of the display members (8) has a projection on a plane substantially parallel to a dial plane distinct from the projections of the other display members (8). 11. Watch movement (2) comprising an energy source (20) arranged to supply energy to a mobile drive arranged to ensure the operation of a display mechanism according to one of the preceding claims. 12. Timepiece (1) comprising a display mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 10. 13. Timepiece (1) according to claim 12, in which said display mechanism is arranged to control the movements of display members (8) positioned in such a way that each of the display members (8) presents a projection on a plane substantially parallel to a dial plane distinct from the projections of the other display members (8). 14. Timepiece (1) according to claim 12 or 13, comprising twelve display members (8) of the current time controlled by said display mechanism. 15. Timepiece (1) according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein said display mechanism is arranged to control the movements of display members (8) in such a way that they remain visible in permanently, whatever their state, active or inactive.