CH717974B1 - Set for measuring the degree of relative humidity inside a watch case. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (1) for measuring a degree of relative humidity inside a watch (2), comprising said watch (2) provided with a movement (10) and a determination device (4) of the degree of humidity present in the enclosure of a case (3) of this watch (2), the determination device (4) comprising: – a receiver module (6a, 6b, 6c) of at minus an acoustic signal coming from a watch component (11) of said movement (10), and – a control unit (7) connected to said receiver module (6a, 6b, 6c), said control unit (7) being configured to execute a model for evaluating a level of water vapor present in a gaseous fluid included in said enclosure from said at least one acoustic signal received by the receiver module (6a, 6b, 6c).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an assembly for measuring the degree of relative humidity inside a watch case.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The water resistance of a watch is measured in bars (the bar is a unit of pressure, 1 bar equivalent to 1 atmosphere (atm). The degree of water resistance of a watch is often indicated in meters (m) Watches designated as waterproof are intended for everyday use which must guarantee water resistance, in activities such as swimming, or more simply in the shower. So-called diving watches must meet higher standards. strict, and guarantee waterproofing to a minimum depth of 100 m according to the current standard.

[0003] To guarantee watertightness, watches are generally provided with a set of seals positioned in the assembly points of certain parts of the watch, such as the crystal, the bezel and the back of the watch. watch, as well as moving elements such as the crown and push buttons. With time and use, the mechanical properties of the seals change and the water resistance of the watch can sometimes deteriorate. The watch then becomes more permeable to water or water vapor. The consequences can be condensation phenomena on the inside of the watch crystal, or worse, oxidation of certain metal components or degradation of certain polymer components. There is thus a need to be able to monitor the degree of relative humidity in the watch from time to time without necessarily having to open it, opening the watch case requiring a systematic change of the seals and involving a watchmaker, which is costly. Excess water vapor in the watch may indeed indicate that one or more seals must be replaced in the short or medium term.

[0004] In order to meet this need, watches are known comprising a device for measuring the degree of relative humidity inside the watch. Such a measuring device is in the form of an electronic module capable of measuring and recording values of different environmental parameters, including relative humidity. Due to the reduced size of such an electronic module, the latter can be arranged inside a watch case and measure, via a dedicated sensor, the degree of relative humidity inside the watch case . It is then possible to transmit the measured relative humidity values to a watch docking station wirelessly, typically by infrared or radio frequencies. The signal, for example infrared, emitted by the electronic module then passes through a transparent portion of the watch case, typically the crystal, and is received by an infrared sensor of the docking station. A user of the watch can then view the relative humidity values measured via a computer connected to the docking station and equipped with dedicated software or a smartphone.

[0005] However, a disadvantage of such an electronic measuring device is that it requires a battery or a battery to be able to power the various electronic components. Such a device is therefore very unsuitable for mechanical watches in particular. In addition, for electronic watches, it may penalize the autonomy of a product or require the use of a larger capacity battery and therefore increase the volume of the watch.

Another disadvantage is that such a device is relatively bulky and not very discreet inside the watch. In addition, such an electronic measuring device is relatively expensive and therefore impacts the manufacturing cost of the watch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention therefore aims to provide an assembly for measuring the degree of relative humidity present inside a watch case, thus making it possible to detect in particular a watertightness defect in such a case and this , from monitoring the degree of relative humidity in this box without having to open it. Such a measurement assembly is economical, simple to implement, and allows reliable and rapid measurement of the degree of relative humidity inside the watch case.

The invention relates to an assembly for measuring a degree of relative humidity inside a watch, comprising said watch provided with a movement and a device for determining the degree of humidity present in the watch. enclosure of a case of this watch, the determination device comprising: – a receiver module for at least one acoustic signal coming from a watch component of said movement, and – a control unit connected to said receiver module, said control unit being configured to execute a model for evaluating a level of water vapor present in a gaseous fluid included in said enclosure from said at least one acoustic signal received by the receiver module.

[0009] In other embodiments: – the receiver module comprises a pressure microphone or a pressure gradient microphone; – the receiver module includes an optical microphone; – the optical microphone comprises a source of electromagnetic radiation, reflective elements such as mirrors, at least one detector of this electromagnetic radiation and an interferometer; – the measuring assembly comprises a transmitter module provided with a source of light radiation capable of emitting light beams towards the movement of the watch; – the source of light radiation is a laser source; – the measuring assembly comprises a transmitter module provided with a source of acoustic radiation capable of sending an acoustic signal into the watch in particular towards the movement of this watch; – the transmitter module is connected to said control unit; – the control unit includes in its memory elements a learning algorithm for evaluating a degree of relative humidity inside a watch based on sound signature/identity characteristics resulting from signal processing acoustics received by the receiver module; – the control unit is configured to determine an input value of this model which is here a value of the acoustic signal measured by the receiver module; – the control unit is configured to obtain an output value resulting from the execution of the model with the input value, said output value comprising the rate of water vapor present in the gaseous fluid included in the enclosure of the case; – the gaseous fluid is air comprising water vapor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] The aims, advantages and characteristics of this assembly for measuring a degree of relative humidity inside a watch will appear better in the following description on the basis of at least one form of execution not limitation illustrated by the drawings in which: – Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an assembly for measuring the degree of relative humidity inside a watch, according to one embodiment of the invention; – Figure 2 is a schematic view of a first variant of the relative humidity degree measuring assembly comprising a pressure microphone and/or a pressure gradient microphone, according to the embodiment of the invention; – Figure 3 is a schematic view of a second variant of this measuring assembly comprising the device for determining the degree of humidity comprising an optical microphone, according to the embodiment of the invention, and – Figure 4 is a schematic view of a third variant of this measuring assembly comprising a transmitter module provided with a source of light radiation and/or a source of acoustic radiation, according to the embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Figures 1 to 4 represent several variants of a set 1 for measuring a degree of relative humidity inside a watch 2. Here we understand by “degree of relative humidity” the ratio between the partial pressure of water vapor contained in the air and the saturated vapor pressure (or vapor pressure) at the same temperature. In other words, measuring the degree of relative humidity corresponds to a measurement of the ratio between the water vapor content of the air and its maximum capacity to contain it under the same temperature conditions.

This measuring assembly 1 comprises the watch 2 and in particular the case 3 of watch 2, as well as a device 4 for determining the degree of humidity present in the enclosure 9 of this case 3 of watch 2. Such a measuring assembly 1 is capable of determining the degree of relative humidity inside the watch 2 from an acoustic signal coming from at least one watch component 11 of a movement 10 of the watch. This watch component 11 may comprise a single watch element capable of generating a sound wave or at least two watch elements capable of generating a sound wave by cooperating together within the framework of the operation of the movement 10. This watch component 11 when it comprises several elements watchmakers can be called “watch mechanism”. In this context, it may be, for example, an escapement mechanism of a watch, a minute repeater mechanism or even a stepper motor of a quartz watch. .

[0013] In this measurement set 1, the watch 2 can for example be a mechanical watch or even an electronic watch, in particular a connected watch.

The determination device 4 of this measuring assembly 1 comprises a receiver module 6a to 6c of at least one acoustic signal coming from said at least one watch component 11 of the movement 10 arranged in the enclosure 9 of the case 3. This determination device 4 also includes a control unit 7 connected to this receiver module 6. In an alternative and as we will see later, such a determination device 4 can also include a transmitter module 5 also connected to the control unit 7 and which is provided with a source of light radiation and/or a source of acoustic radiation. It will be noted that the source of acoustic radiation is able to send an acoustic signal into the watch from the environment outside it.

[0015] Such a transmitter module 5 may include a device capable of striking the watch, in particular the case of the latter. In particular, such a device may comprise a mechanism capable of activating at least one hammer so that it hits the case 3 of the watch 2 in order to generate an acoustic signal towards the movement of this watch 2. In this context , we understand that such a hammer is configured to strike this housing 3 without damaging it.

[0016] In this determination device 4, the receiver module 6a to 6c of at least one acoustic signal coming from at least one watch component 11 of the movement 10, comprises at least one electroacoustic transducer which is capable of converting an acoustic signal into an electrical signal. In a first variant, such a receiver module 6a, 6b may comprise at least one pressure microphone 6a or pressure gradient 6b generally provided with a membrane or a piezoelectric element which is capable of deforming and/or move under the effect of an acoustic signal. In a second variant, this transmitter module 6c may comprise at least one optical microphone 6c. Such a microphone 6c which is described in more detail in European patent document EP2338287B1, is a device which is capable of converting an acoustic signal into an electrical signal, using technology based on interferometry. Such a microphone 6c comprises in particular a source of electromagnetic radiation, reflective elements such as mirrors, at least one detector of this electromagnetic radiation and an interferometer such as a Fabry-Pérot interferometer or even a Gires-Tournois arrangement. It will be noted that in another variant of this determination device 4, the transmitter module 6a to 6c may comprise any combination of the following microphones 6a to 6c: at least one pressure microphone 6a, at least one pressure gradient microphone 6b and at least one 6c optical microphone.

[0017] In this determination device 4, the control unit 7 is connected to the receiver module 6a, 6b, 6c and also, where appropriate, to the transmitter module 5. This control unit 7 is configured to evaluate the vapor rate d water present in the gaseous fluid included in said enclosure 9 as a function of said at least acoustic signal received by the receiver module 6a to 6c. This control unit 7 can be a computer and thus include hardware and software resources, in particular at least one processor cooperating with memory elements. This control unit 7 is able to execute instructions for the implementation of a computer program in order to contribute to the determination of the measurement of the degree of relative humidity in the enclosure 9 of the case 3 of the watch 2 .

[0018] Under these conditions, such a control unit 7 includes in its memory elements a learning algorithm known under the English expression “machine learning algorithm”. More particularly, this is a learning algorithm for evaluating a degree of relative humidity inside a watch based on sound signature/identity characteristics resulting from the processing of acoustic signals carried out. by the control unit 7. Such an algorithm may include or implement at least one neural network and/or an analytical function and/or a polynomial regression principle. Such an algorithm is capable of generating a model for evaluating a level of water vapor present in a gaseous fluid included in the enclosure 9 of the housing 3 as a function of at least one acoustic signal measured by the receiver module 6a at 6c. Such a model allows, through its implementation by the control unit 7, to determine a value characterizing a degree of relative humidity inside a watch therefore depending on said at least one acoustic signal measured by the receiver module 6a to 6c.

[0019] This algorithm can be subject to automatic training, also called automatic learning, which is preferably supervised. To do this, the control unit 7 which participates in implementing such training, includes training data for acoustic signal measurements and training data for degrees of relative humidity inside a room. watch. These training data are the result of real measurements carried out for example from a training device comprising, among other things, a humidity probe arranged in the closed enclosure of a watch case similar to that of the present watch described here and an acoustic probe for measuring acoustic signals generated by a source of light radiation and/or a source of acoustic radiation directed toward the housing. Thus this training aims to improve the algorithm and in particular the resulting model in order to minimize the error between “estimate and reality” in the context of evaluating the rate of water vapor present in the enclosure of the housing. 3 from at least one acoustic signal received by the receiver module 6a, 6b, 6c.

[0020] Furthermore, this control unit 7 is capable of controlling the receiver module 6a to 6c in order to participate in the evaluation of the rate of water vapor present in the gaseous fluid included in the enclosure 9 of the housing 3, and is also capable of carrying out processing operations on acoustic signals measured by this receiver module 6a to 6c. These processing operations allow this control unit 7 to carry out an evaluation of the degree of humidity in the enclosure of the housing 3 by executing the model for evaluating a rate of water vapor present in the gaseous fluid included in said enclosure as a function of said at least one acoustic signal received by the receiver module 6a, 6b, 6c. In this context, the control unit 7 is able to determine an input value of this model which is here a value of the acoustic signal measured by the receiver module 6a to 6c in order to obtain an output value resulting from the execution of this model with this input value, said output value corresponding to the rate of water vapor present in the gaseous fluid included in the enclosure of the housing. It will be noted that this control unit 7 is in particular capable of implementing signal processing operations through signal modulation and synchronous detection operations in order to determine this input value.

As we mentioned previously, the measurement assembly 1 can also include a transmitter module 5 which helps to improve the precision of the evaluation of the degree of relative humidity inside the watch. Indeed, the control unit 7 is capable of controlling this transmitter module 5 and the receiver module 6a, 6b, and 6c, in order to obtain an estimate of the degree of relative humidity present in the enclosure 9 of the housing 3 of the watch and this, according to a procedure similar to that previously described.

Such a transmitter module 5 can be provided with a source of light radiation. More precisely, it is capable of emitting light beams 8 towards the enclosure 9 of said housing 3 and in particular towards the movement 10. Such a transmitter module 5 can contribute to improving the precision of the measurement of the degree of humidity at the inside the watch. In this transmitter module 5, the source of light radiation is preferably a laser source. Alternatively, this light radiation source may be an infrared light source. This transmitter module 5 comprises an element for modulating said light radiation source configured to generate at least one acoustic signal in said enclosure 9 of the housing 3 under the effect of the light beams, here laser beams, emitted by the transmitter module 5 In other words, the modulation element 5 of said light radiation source is configured so that said transmitter module 5 emits light beams capable of generating a generation of at least one acoustic signal by the gaseous fluid comprising the vapor of water included in the enclosure 9 of the housing 3. In fact, the molecules of the gaseous fluid, here air comprising in particular water vapor, which are present in the enclosure 9 of the housing 3, are excited to a higher electronic, vibrational or rotational quantum state by absorbing the electromagnetic radiation constituted by these modulated light beams emitted by the transmitter module 5. Generally speaking, the depopulation of this quantum state towards lower states occurs either by fluorescence or by collisions, these latter giving rise to an increase in temperature of the gaseous fluid due in particular to the energy transfer process. This nonradiative relaxation process occurs when the relaxation time can compete with the radiative lifetime of the excited energy levels. Thus, the modulator element of the transmitter module 5 by modulating the radiation source, then contributes to periodically varying the temperature of this gaseous fluid present in the enclosure 9 of the housing 3 which gives rise to a periodic change in pressure in this enclosure 9 which is at the origin of the generation of said at least one acoustic signal in this enclosure 9. It will be noted that the temperature can also modulate a refractive index, which can be detected optically.

Such a transmitter module 5 is capable of emitting femtosecond and/or nanosecond laser pulses. Such femtosecond pulses can be produced from a laser in visible light or near infrared. Such a laser can for example be a YAG laser @1064nm. In particular, it will be noted that the transmitter module 5 is capable of emitting several light beams simultaneously or in series at wavelengths having different absorption coefficients in the gaseous fluid comprising water vapor. In addition, it will be noted that this module 5 is capable of emitting a YAG type laser beam optically pumped by means of flash lamps or laser diodes, or even a dye laser type better known under the name “dye laser” in English. . Note that the transmitter module 5 can also include an optical parametric oscillator also known by the acronym “OPO”. This oscillator is a coherent, monochromatic light source that is preferably used to produce wavelengths where lasers are lacking.

[0024] In this configuration, this control unit 7 ensures the control of the modules 5, 6a, 6b, 6c, in order to participate in the estimation of the measurement of the degree of relative humidity in the enclosure 9 of the housing 3 , and is also capable of determining input values relating to acoustic signals measured by the receiver module 6a to 6c. The control unit 7 is in particular capable of implementing signal processing operations through signal modulation and synchronous detection operations. Thus, the control unit 7 is able to determine output values resulting from the execution of the model with these input values, said output values corresponding to the rate of water vapor present in the gaseous fluid included in the enclosure of the case.

It will be noted that the determination device 4 may include temperature sensors making it possible to measure the temperature of the watch and also that prevailing in the environment in which said watch is located. These sensors are connected to the control unit 7 and participate in the estimation of the degree of humidity in the case 3. Indeed, this estimation is carried out in particular when the temperature of the watch and that of its environment are substantially the same or strictly the same.

[0026] In this assembly 1, the watch is therefore provided with the case 3. Such a case 3 comprises a middle part 14 which is for example of annular shape and which is provided with an upper annular rim on which rests a crystal 15 of this housing 3. This glass 15, also called "glass", can be in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner a mineral glass or even a sapphire glass having a thickness which is configured to at least allow transmission of the light beams from the transmitter module.

In the case 3 of watch 2 taken as an example in Figures 2 to 4, its configuration is substantially circular. However, the invention is in no way limited to such a configuration.

[0028] In the measurement assembly 1, the receiver module 6a, 6b when it comprises a pressure microphone 6a or a pressure gradient 6b can be arranged facing any of the different parts of the housing 3, namely facing the back 13, the middle part 14 or the glass 15. When this receiver module 6c comprises an optical microphone 6c it is then placed facing the glass 15 of the housing 3.

[0029] It will be noted in a variant that the receiver module 6c connected to the control unit 7 can be capable of measuring the vibrations of the middle part 14 in order to participate in the estimation of the degree of relative humidity in the enclosure of the watch case. Furthermore, the determination device 14 can be a portable or mobile device, that is to say a device 14 capable of being carried by a user without requiring a wired connection for its electrical supply.

[0030] Furthermore, this determination device 14 may comprise a display element capable of displaying several distinct visual signals depending on the value of the degree of relative humidity determined by the control unit 7. Each visual signal displayed by the display element then corresponds, depending on the case, to a predetermined relative humidity degree value, or to a predetermined relative humidity differential value. This display element may be a screen provided with light-emitting diodes or may more simply correspond to light indicators with light-emitting diodes, the lighting of a given diode corresponding to a predetermined relative humidity threshold.

Claims (12)

1. Measuring assembly (1) of a degree of relative humidity inside a watch (2), comprising said watch (2) provided with a movement (10) and a determination device (4) of the degree of humidity present in the enclosure (9) of a case (3) of this watch (2), the determination device (4) comprising: – a receiver module (6a, 6b, 6c) of at least one acoustic signal coming from a watch component (11) of said movement (10), and – a control unit (7) connected to said receiver module (6a, 6b, 6c), said control unit (7) being configured to execute a model for evaluating a level of water vapor present in a gaseous fluid included in said enclosure (9) from said at least one acoustic signal received by the receiver module (6a, 6b, 6c). 2. Measuring assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the receiver module comprises a pressure microphone (6a) or a pressure gradient microphone (6b). 3. Measuring assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiver module comprises an optical microphone (6c). 4. Measuring assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the optical microphone (6c) comprises a source of electromagnetic radiation, reflective elements such as mirrors, at least one detector of this electromagnetic radiation and an interferometer. 5. Measuring assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a transmitter module (5) provided with a source of light radiation capable of emitting light beams (8) towards the movement (10) of the watch (2). 6. Measuring assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the source of light radiation is a laser source. 7. Measuring assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a transmitter module (5) provided with a source of acoustic radiation capable of sending an acoustic signal into the watch (2) in particular towards the movement (10) of this watch (2). 8. Measuring assembly (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the transmitter module (5) is connected to said control unit (7). 9. Measuring assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (7) comprises in memory elements a learning algorithm for evaluating a degree of humidity relating to the interior of a watch as a function of sound signature/identity characteristics resulting from the processing of the acoustic signals received by the receiver module (6a, 6b, 6c). 10. Measuring assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (7) is configured to determine an input value of this model which is here a value of the measured acoustic signal by the receiver module (6a to 6c). 11. Measuring assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (7) is configured to obtain an output value resulting from the execution of the model with the input value , said output value comprising the rate of water vapor present in the gaseous fluid included in the enclosure of the housing. 12. Measuring assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gaseous fluid is air comprising water vapor.