CH718430A1 - Watch equipped with luminous hands. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece comprising: a casing housing a timepiece movement comprising a frame (102), an electrical energy supply device (101) housed within, or on, a component of the frame (102) , of the movement or of a casing of the timepiece, an analog display system (100) comprising an indicator (400), fixed to a barrel (300) integral in rotation with a first drive shaft ( 104) arranged to be driven in rotation with respect to said frame (102) of the movement of the timepiece, a first active light source (404), fixed on said barrel (300) or on said indicator (400), a first pair of contact elements (201), said gun (300) comprising a body of which at least the outer surface is made of electrically insulating material as well as a pair of electrically conductive tracks arranged to electrically connect on the one hand said first active light source (404), and on the other hand said device power supply tif (101) by means of said first pair of contact elements (201).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a watch having at least one analog display with an active light-emitting device.

State of the art

[0002] Among watches, it is possible to distinguish analog display watches, which have a needle or disc display, digital display watches, which display numbers and letters using light-emitting diodes or to liquid crystals. Some watches can be described as "mixed" because they have digital and analog displays.

[0003] Among watches having at least one analog display, additional elements allowing reading in the dark may be provided. A simple solution of the prior art consists in applying phosphorescent material to the various elements of the analog display. However, a drawback of this solution is that it requires the phosphorescent elements to be charged beforehand with sunlight or with a source of artificial light so that the latter can then emit, for a limited period, often a few hours, light in a dark environment. The light intensity emitted by this type of solution is generally low and rapidly decreasing.

Another solution consists in integrating active light elements, for example light-emitting diodes, at or near the analog display elements. Various arrangements exist in the prior art, in particular the arrangement disclosed in US 5,751,662. This type of arrangement is relatively constraining at the dimensional level, since it requires in particular a substantial space at the center of the display hands. Another arrangement is disclosed in EP 2 950 168 B1. The power supply of the active light elements takes place via the driving axes of the two needles with the interposition of an insulating layer of electricity between the two axes. This type of arrangement requires that the two axes have a connection with the energy source and as a result this type of arrangement is particularly cumbersome.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece having at least one analog display with an active light-emitting device which makes it possible to avoid or overcome the above drawbacks, or in any case , to offer a better compromise between these disadvantages.

[0006] This is solved by a timepiece comprising: a casing housing a watch movement comprising a frame an electrical energy supply device housed within, or on, a component of the frame of the movement or of a casing of the timepiece an analog display system comprising an indicator fixed to a barrel integral in rotation with a first drive shaft, arranged to be driven in rotation relative to said frame of the movement of the timepiece, a first active light source, fixed on said barrel or on said indicator, a first pair of contact elements, according to the invention said barrel comprises a body of which at least the outer surface is made of electrically insulating material as well as a pair of electrically conductive tracks arranged to electrically connect on the one hand said first active light source, and on the other hand said electric power supply device by means of said first pair of contact elements.

[0007] By these means, a simple and reliable arrangement is obtained. The fact that the barrel comprises a body of which at least the outer surface is made of electrically insulating material as well as a pair of electrically conductive tracks allows great freedom as to the arrangement of the various elements involved in the electrical supply of said first active light source. In particular, the bulk in the center, that is to say at the level of the barrel and of the first drive axis, can be considerably reduced compared to the solutions of the prior art.

Brief description of the drawings

Other details and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description below, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: fig. 1 shows a sectional view of an analog display system for a timepiece according to one embodiment of the invention; fig. 2 shows a partial view of the analog display system for a timepiece according to one embodiment of the invention; fig. 3 represents an exploded view of the elements of FIG. 2; fig. 4 shows a view of a barrel comprising a pair of electrically conductive tracks; ; fig. 5 shows a view of a first indicator mounted on the barrel of fig.4; fig. 6 represents an exploded view of the elements of FIG. 5; fig. 7 shows a view of a second indicator; fig. 8 represents an exploded view of the elements of FIG. 7; fig. 9 represents a schematic view of the electric circuit of an embodiment of the invention;

Embodiments of the Invention

[0009] Figure 1 illustrates an overview of an analog display system 100 for a timepiece comprising a first indicator 400 and a second indicator 500. The time is read in a conventional manner depending the angular position of the indicators 400, 500 relative to a dial 103 or a fixed display element included in the timepiece. Indicators 400, 500 are driven in rotation by a watch movement, preferably mechanical (not shown). Alternatively, other types of movements could be used, quartz for example. The analog display system 100 comprises a first drive shaft 104, for example an hours drive shaft arranged to perform a complete rotation in twelve hours, and a second drive shaft 105 coaxial with the first drive shaft 104, for example a minute drive shaft arranged to perform a complete rotation in sixty minutes. In the illustrated embodiment, the first drive shaft 104 has a hole in the center to allow the second drive shaft 105 to pass. The first and second indicators 400, 500 are here in the form of a first and a second needle plate 410, 510, each of these plates being arranged to be mounted directly or indirectly (via an intermediate piece for example) on its corresponding drive shaft. In particular, the first needle plate 410 is mounted on a barrel 300, said barrel 300 being mounted on the first drive shaft 104 and driven in rotation relative to a frame 102 of the movement (for example a plate or a bridge ) of the timepiece. In particular, the second needle plate 510 is mounted on a support 505, said support 505 being mounted, directly or indirectly, on the second drive shaft 105 and driven in rotation relative to a frame 102 of the movement (for example a plate or a bridge) of the timepiece. The barrel 300 and the first drive pin 104 could be made in one piece and have, for example, a hole in the center to allow the second drive pin 105 to pass.

[0010] In relation to the embodiment of FIG. 1, and in order to allow the time to be read in the dark, the analog display system 100 further comprises a first active light source 404 and a second source of active light 504 powered by an electrical energy supply device 101 housed within, or on, a component of the frame 102 of the movement (for example a plate or a bridge) or of the casing of the timepiece (for example a case middle, a bezel, a back, a bracelet, a casing ring). The electrical energy supply device 101 is mainly composed of a battery or micro-generator type energy source, an electronic circuit and an automatic triggering system (for example a timer or a brightness sensor) or manual (for example a push button). The energy source, the electronic circuit and the triggering system are well known to those skilled in the art, for example in CH30090A or in CH331586A, and will not be described in detail.

Figure 2 and its exploded view, Figure 3, show a partial view of the dial 103, a dial tube 200, contact elements forming a first pair of contact elements 201 and a pair of supply tracks 202. Said first pair of contact elements 201 can be mounted either at the level of the said frame 102 of the movement of the timepiece, for example at the level of the dial tube 200, or at the level of the said barrel 300. In the example illustrated, the dial tube 200, fixed to the dial 103, has machinings, or grooves, making it possible to accommodate the first pair of contact elements 201. In this case, said first pair of elements of contacts 201 is secured to the dial 103 and therefore to the frame 102 of the movement of the timepiece. The dial tube 200 is made of an electrically insulating material, alternatively it can be made of an electrically conductive material but the latter will be coated, totally or partially, with an electrically insulating layer in order to prevent the contact elements do not come into electrical connection with each other. The contact elements are here in the form of spring-wires made of an electrically conductive material, preferably metallic, or in an electrically non-conductive material and having an electrically conductive coating, gilding or copper plating by example. The pair of supply tracks 202 is arranged to create an electrical connection between the electrical power supply device 101 and the first pair of contact elements. The pair of power supply tracks 202 can be produced by a process of saving and electroforming directly on the dial tube 200. Alternatively, the pair of power supply tracks 202 can be produced by supplying and mounting elements previously shaped.

Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the gun 300. The gun 300 comprises a body 301 of electrically insulating material, a first and a second electrically conductive tracks forming a pair of electrically conductive tracks 302. The pair of electrically conductive tracks 302 is connected on the one hand to said first active light source 404 and on the other hand to said electric power supply device 101 by means of said first pair of contact elements 201. According to the invention, at least the outer surface of said barrel body 301 is made of electrically insulating material. Preferably, the barrel body 301 is made of an electrically insulating material, for example a material of the polymer type. Even more preferentially, the barrel body 301 is made of thermoplastic polymer of the PEEK (polyetheretherketone) type. Alternatively, the body of the barrel 301 can be made of an electrically conductive material but the latter will be coated, totally or partially, with an electrically insulating layer in order to prevent the first and second electrically conductive tracks from coming into contact with each other. electrical connection with each other.

[0013] A first step in obtaining the barrel 300 is the shaping of the body of the barrel 301, by injection molding, machining, additive manufacturing or any other process allowing the realization of the different ranges and functional zones of the body of the barrel 301 with the desired details.

A second step consists in coming to form the pair of electrically conductive tracks 302 on the body of the barrel 301. For this, several techniques are possible, we can for example cite masking techniques using photoresist , selective etching and deposition of conductive material. Spraying techniques or direct deposition of conductive material to form the conductive tracks can also be envisaged.

Preferably, the step of forming the conductive tracks is carried out by a laser ablation step followed by a deposition of conductive material. In this case, the barrel body material 301 may include a laser-activatable metal additive or compounds. After laser ablation, the additives or the metal compounds are on the treated surface, which allows better adhesion of the conductive material to form the conductive tracks. In addition to the activation of additives or metallic compounds, the laser forms a micro-rough surface on which the conductive material firmly anchors during its deposition step. The step of depositing the conductive material can make use of chemical deposition and/or vapor phase deposition methods. Preferably, the conductive material will be chosen from metallic materials, in particular the metals commonly used in the field of electronics such as copper, gold and/or nickel.

In Figure 1, we can see that the first pair of contact elements 201 is advantageously arranged to make radial contact with the pair of electrically conductive tracks 302 (best illustrated in Figure 4) with respect to the axis of rotation of the barrel 300, thus allowing better control of the size of the system. In particular, it is easier to provide a smaller contact diameter at the center in the case of a radial contact than in the case of an axial contact. In addition to the smaller size, a smaller contact diameter at the center makes it possible to better control the resistant friction torque generated by the first pair of contact elements 201 on the barrel 300. In addition, this arrangement makes it possible to avoid generate an axial force with respect to the axis of rotation of the barrel 300. Such an axial force can be detrimental as to the holding of the barrel 300 on the first drive axis 104 for example. In FIG. 4, we can see that the barrel 300 includes notches 303 allowing part of the first electrically conductive track to pass behind the second electrically conductive track, and vice versa. This makes it possible not to cross the electrical contacts during the rotation of the barrel 300, in particular when the barrel is arranged to perform one or more complete rotations. With reference to FIG. 3, we can observe that the shape of the contact elements 201 makes it possible to have a plurality of electrical contact points on the corresponding electrically conductive track. In particular, the two rectilinear parts 201A opposite 180° of the contact elements 201 make it possible to have two electrical contact points on the corresponding electrically conductive track. This thus makes it possible to ensure the continuity of the electrical contact during the rotation of the barrel 300 and during the passage of the notch 303 at the level of one of the two electrical contact points.

Figure 5 and its exploded view of Figure 6 show the mounting of the first needle board 410 and the first active light source 404 on the barrel 300. The first active light source 404 can be composed a single or a plurality of light-emitting diodes (for example LEDs, OLEDs, etc.). Preferably, the first active light source 404 is composed of 2 to 10 light-emitting diodes, even more preferably 3 to 7 light-emitting diodes. In the case where the first active light source 404 is composed of a plurality of light-emitting diodes, the assembly of the latter is advantageously carried out in parallel with respect to each other, thus making it possible to ensure the electrical supply of the various diodes electroluminescent despite the failure of one of them.

[0018] Optionally, a first needle cover 405 can be arranged in order to limit the loss of light in undesired directions, for example below the first needle plate 410.

Figure 7 and its exploded view, Figure 8, show the mounting of the second needle plate 510 and the second active light source 504 on its support 505. A tip 507 intended to be mounted by force , both on an inner surface of the support 505 and both on the second drive shaft 105, ensures the mounting of the assembly.

The support 505 has machining, or grooves, for accommodating a second pair of contact elements 508 intended to connect the second active light source 504 to the pair of electrically conductive tracks 302. This connection is made advantageously in radial contact with respect to the second drive axis, thus allowing better control of the size of the system and avoiding the generation of an axial force with respect to the second drive axis. The support 505 is made of an electrically insulating material, alternatively it can be made of an electrically conductive material but the latter must be coated, totally or partially, with an electrically insulating layer in order to avoid an electrical connection within the second pair of contact elements 508. The second pair of contact elements 508 is here in the form of spring-wires made of an electrically conductive material, preferably metallic, or in a non-conductive material. electricity and having an electrically conductive coating, gilding or copper plating for example.

[0021] The second active light source 504 can be composed of a single or a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED or OLED). Preferably, the first and second active light sources 404, 504 are mounted in parallel with respect to each other. Preferably, the second active light source 504 is composed of 2 to 10 light-emitting diodes, even more preferably 3 to 7 light-emitting diodes. In the case where the second active light source 504 is composed of a plurality of light-emitting diodes, the assembly of the latter is advantageously carried out in parallel with respect to each other, thus making it possible to ensure the electrical supply of the various diodes electroluminescent despite the failure of one of them. An example of an arrangement in parallel of the first and second active light sources 404, 504, as well as the arrangement in parallel of a plurality of light-emitting diodes within the first and second active light sources 404, 504 is schematically represented in fig.9. Other arrangements are possible, in particular by choosing an alternating current source instead of a direct current source, while taking care of the mounting direction of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

[0022] Just as for the first needle plate 410, a second needle cover 506 can be arranged in order to limit the loss of light in undesired directions, for example below the second needle plate 510.

In a preferred embodiment, the needle boards 410, 510 are made of transparent or translucent material. Advantageously in materials of the transparent or translucent polymer type (PolyCarbonate, Cyclo Olefin Polymers, etc.) or in materials of the transparent or translucent mineral type (silica glass, quartz, etc.). The active light source can then be arranged to illuminate the underside or the overside of the needle board 410, 510, or be arranged to emit light within the needle board 410, 510. In the latter case, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the first needle board 410 may have a recess 412 and the first active light source 404 may be mounted on the barrel 300 so as to emit in the direction longitudinal direction of the first needle board 410 at the level of the recess 412. A similar arrangement can be provided for the second needle board 510 with the second active light source 504 mounted on the support 505 and emitting in the longitudinal direction of the second needle board 510 at a recess 512 that comprises the second needle board 510.

The needle boards 410, 510 are made either in the traditional way from metallic material, for example copper, steel or gold alloys. In this case, since the material is not transparent, the arrangement of the active light source will be made in such a way as to illuminate the underside or the overside of the needle board in order to allow the time to be read in darkness.

[0025] The needle boards 410, 510 may comprise an addition of luminescent, fluorescent or phosphorescent material, in order to reinforce the aesthetic effect. Grooves 403, 503 (see FIGS. 5 to 8) can be made for this purpose in the needle boards 410, 510. For the needle boards 410, 510 made of transparent or translucent material, it is possible to provide additions of lacquer or metallizations for better visibility of the indicators 400, 500. In the case where the active light source is arranged so as to emit light within the needle plate, the addition of lacquer or the metallization may be partial in order to provide coated areas 401, 501 and uncoated areas 402, 502 from which the light can emerge from the needle board. Addition of mechanical texturing to an area of the needle boards 410, 510, having the function of extracting light, may also be provided, such as surface roughness, pyramidal structures or ridges.

Other constructions can be considered without departing from the scope of the invention. It is for example possible to provide a display equipped with a single luminous indicator, in which case the barrel 300 could be in the form of a simple drive shaft and will not require a hole to be presented in its center in order to allow the second drive shaft to pass. The various luminous indicators have been described with reference to a needle board but other embodiments are possible, for example in the form of a luminous disc driven in rotation.

[0027] A person skilled in the art may also provide that the first needle plate 410 and the barrel 300 are made in one piece.

It is also possible to use other active light sources such as incandescent sources, luminescent sources, or laser-type sources.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the display system would include one or more UV LEDs at the level of the barrel 300 or the indicators 400, 500 and the phosphorescent resin applied, either directly at the level of the needle, or at the dial 103 or any other display element.

Claims (12)

1. Timepiece comprising: – a casing housing a watch movement comprising a frame (102) – an electrical energy supply device (101) housed within, or on, a component of the frame (102) of the movement or of a casing of the timepiece – an analog display system (100) comprising an indicator (400) fixed to a barrel (300) integral in rotation with a first drive shaft (104), arranged to be driven in rotation relative to said frame (102 ) of the movement of the timepiece, – a first active light source (404), fixed on said barrel (300) or on said indicator (400), – a first pair of contact elements (201), characterized in thatsaid gun (300) comprises a body (301) of which at least the external surface is made of electrically insulating material as well as a pair of electrically conductive tracks (302) arranged to electrically connect on the one hand said first source of active light (404), and on the other hand said electric power supply device (101) by means of said first pair of contact elements (201). 2. Timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said pair of electrically conductive tracks (302) and said first pair of contact elements (201) are arranged to make radial contact relative to the axis of rotation. barrel (300). 3. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that said first pair of contact elements (201) is in the form of spring-son. 4. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first pair of contact elements (201) is secured to the frame (102) of the movement of the timepiece. 5. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first active light source (404) comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes connected in parallel. 6. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said barrel body (301) is made of polymer type material. 7. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said indicator (400) comprises a first needle plate (410). 8. Timepiece according to the preceding claim further comprising: – a second needle board (510), intended to be mounted on a second drive shaft coaxial with said barrel (300) – a second active light source (504), for example a diode, attached to said second needle board (510) and connected to said pair of electrically conductive tracks (302) by means of a second pair of contact elements (508). 9. Timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said pair of electrically conductive tracks (302) and said second pair of contact elements (508) are arranged to make radial contact relative to the second drive axis. (105). 10. Timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said second pair of contact elements (508) is in the form of spring-wires. 11. Timepiece according to one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said second active light source (504) comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes connected in parallel with each other. 12. Timepiece according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that said first active light source (404) and said second active light source (504) are mounted in parallel relative to each other.