CH718725A2 - Watch comprising an auxiliary function making it possible to control a collinear disposition of the hands. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a watch (10) with analog display comprising an electronic watch movement comprising a first and a second electric motor (13, 14) kinematically connected respectively to an hour hand (15) and to a minute hand (16) , said electric motors being supplied with energy by an electric accumulator (12), said watch movement also comprising an integrated circuit (17) connected to said motors and to a control member (18), the watch (10) being characterized in that the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to control, when the control member (18) is requested by a user, the first and the second electric motor (13, 14) to drive the hour hands (15) and minutes (16) rotating at an angular displacement rate of six degrees per second, and in such a way that they are arranged so as to be collinear and superimposed on each other.

Description

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and in particular electromechanical watches, that is to say comprising electronic watch movements, with analog display.

More particularly, the invention relates to a watch comprising an auxiliary function, that is to say that the analog display of the watch is adapted to provide information to the user other than the current time. This auxiliary function advantageously makes it possible to indicate the seconds.

Technology background

[0003] Watches comprising an electromechanical watch movement with analog display, supplied with electrical energy by an electric accumulator are well known in the state of the art.

[0004] The analog display consists of two hands respectively indicating the hours and minutes of the current time, and possibly a third hand indicating the seconds.

These needles can be moved by electric motors, for example stepper motors, which are specific to them, so that the stroke of said needles is independent of one another. Such an arrangement finds its advantage, in particular, in order to be able to drive said needles in order to fulfill a particular auxiliary function.

[0006] For example, document EP0644468 describes a watch comprising an hour hand and a minute hand arranged to be driven in rotation independently of each other, in which said hands carry alphanumeric characters or parts of characters alphanumeric. These hands are intended to display messages to the user as a function of time and as a function of their arrangement relative to each other.

[0007] Another known auxiliary function fulfilled by such an arrangement is the display of several time zones.

The present invention pursues this objective of providing an analog display watch with at least two hands, in which the hands can perform auxiliary functions.

Summary of the invention

To this end, the present invention relates to an analog display watch comprising an electronic watch movement comprising a first and a second electric motor kinematically connected respectively to an hour hand and a minute hand, said electric motors being powered by energy by an electric accumulator, said watch movement also comprising an integrated circuit connected to said motors and to a control member. The integrated circuit is configured so as to control, when the control member is requested by a user, the first and the second electric motor to drive the hour and minute hands in rotation at an angular displacement speed of six degrees per second, and in such a way that they are arranged so as to be collinear and that they are superimposed on each other.

[0010] By the terms “collinear” and “superimposed”, it is meant that the longitudinal axes of the hour and minute hands are parallel and that said hands are oriented in the same direction and in the same direction. In other words, the hour and minute hands occupy the same angular position and simultaneously present the same indication, so that the reading of the information is made particularly easy for the user.

[0011] In particular embodiments, the invention may also comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the integrated circuit is configured to, at the end of a predetermined period, drive the first and the second electric motor so as to move the hour and hour hands respectively. collinear and superimposed minutes, so that they respectively indicate the hours and minutes of the current time.

[0013] In particular embodiments of the invention, the integrated circuit is configured to, when the control member is again requested, drive the first and the second electric motor so as to respectively move the hour hands and collinear and superimposed minutes, so that they respectively indicate the hours and minutes of the current time.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the watch comprises a third motor connected to a seconds hand, the integrated circuit being configured to drive said third motor to stop the travel of said seconds hand when the organ order is requested.

[0015] In particular embodiments of the invention, the watch comprises a third motor connected to a seconds hand, the integrated circuit being configured so as to drive, when the control member is requested, said third motor to drive the seconds hand in rotation at an angular displacement rate of six degrees per second, and in such a way as to be collinear with the hour and minute hands and that they are superimposed on each other.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the watch comprises a third motor connected to a seconds hand, and the integrated circuit is configured so as to drive the first, second and third electric motors in order to respectively move the hour, minute and second hands, so that during the first minute following a request from the control member, they are all collinear and superimposed and driven in rotation at an angular displacement speed of six degrees per second, and that from the 61st second following said request, the minute hand indicates the number of minutes elapsed since said request, and that from the 3601st second following said request, the hour hand indicates the number of hours elapsed since the request.

[0017] In particular embodiments of the invention, the watch comprises a third motor connected to a seconds hand, and the integrated circuit is configured so as to control, when the control member is requested, the third motor electric in order to drive the seconds hand at an angular displacement speed of more than 360 degrees per second, for example 720 degrees per second or 3600 degrees per second.

[0018] In particular embodiments of the invention, the watch comprises a third motor connected to a seconds hand, and the integrated circuit is configured so as to control, when the control member is requested, the third motor to move the seconds hand to indicate a particular location on the dial designating the function taken by the collinear and superimposed hour and minute hands.

[0019] In particular embodiments of the invention, the integrated circuit is configured so as to control the first and the second electric motor so that the hour and minute hands are collinear and superimposed on each other. in a common position located equidistant between the positions that said hands occupied before being moved to be collinear and superposed.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the integrated circuit is configured so as to control, when the control member is requested, the first or the second electric motor to respectively move the hour hand or that minutes from the position it occupies in an initial state in which it respectively indicates the hours or the minutes of the current time, to the position occupied by the other hand, so that they are collinear and superimposed to each other.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the control member is constituted by a single element.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the control member corresponds to a time-setting crown.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawing: FIG. 1 schematically represents, in block diagram and partially, a watch according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the hour and minute hands are collinear and superimposed.

Detailed description of the invention

[0024] In the present description, all the components of an electromechanical watch with analog display, as well as their arrangement, which are well known to those skilled in the art, are only described in a simplified manner.

The watch 10 according to the present invention comprises a case to which are fixed a crystal and a bottom together defining an internal volume.

In this internal volume are housed components partly shown schematically in Figure 1, including a dial 11, an electric accumulator 12 intended to supply energy, through an electronic circuit, two electric motors 13 and 14 for driving in rotation respectively an hour hand 15 and a minute hand 16 via gear trains. Optionally, watch 10 may include a third motor connected to a seconds hand (not shown in the figure).

More particularly, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the watch 10 has only two hands, a first electric motor 13 being kinematically connected to the hour hand 15 and a second electric motor 14 being connected kinematically at the 16 minute hand.

The electronic circuit further comprises, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, a quartz oscillator (not shown in the figure) associated with an integrated circuit 17, for example formed by a microcontroller. Advantageously, the integrated circuit 17 knows at all times the current time and the angular position of each of the hands.

[0029] A control member 18 intended to be manipulated by a user is connected to the integrated circuit 17.

[0030] The control member 18 is preferably constituted by a single moving element, and for example formed by any component suitable for this purpose, for example by a rotating bezel, a push button, a touch surface of the case or crystal , etc. Preferably again, the control member 18 corresponds to a crown, for example with a pusher, forming a time-setting crown.

The integrated circuit 17 is configured so as to enslave, when the control member 18 is requested, for example pushed or pulled by a user, the first and second electric motors 13 and 14 in order to arrange the hour hands 15 and minutes 16 in a co-linear fashion and to superimpose them on one another, as shown in FIG. 1, to perform a predetermined function.

[0032] By the terms "collinear" and "superimposed", it is meant that the longitudinal axes of the hour and minute hands are parallel and that said hands are oriented in the same direction and in the same direction.

[0033] More particularly, the integrated circuit 17 is configured to drive the first and the second electric motor 13 and 14 in order to respectively move the hour hand 15 and the minute hand 16 in order to arrange them collinearly and so that they are superimposed on one another, when the control member 18 is acted upon by a user, and to drive said collinear and superposed needles in rotation at a predetermined speed.

The hour 15 and minute 16 hands are thus moved from an initial state in which they respectively indicate the hours and minutes of the current time, to an intermediate state, in which they are collinear and superimposed and rotated at a predetermined speed.

[0035] Thus, the user visually perceives only a single needle in motion, which facilitates the reading of the information provided by the latter.

Advantageously, the drive speed of the hour 15 and minute 16 hands corresponds to an angular displacement of six degrees per second. The hand perceived visually by the user therefore indicates the seconds.

This function is particularly advantageous in the case of a watch 10 comprising an analog display composed of only an hour hand 15 and a minute hand 16.

[0038] Indeed, in this case, this feature allows the user, benefiting from an indication of the seconds, to be able to measure time intervals more precisely.

[0039] If the watch 10 includes a seconds hand, the race thereof can be stopped, or else said seconds hand can be arranged collinearly and superimposed with the hour 15 and minute 16 hands, said hands hours 15, minutes 16 and seconds being superimposed on each other, and can be driven in an angular displacement of six degrees per second, when the control member 18 is acted upon.

[0040] The control member then advantageously allows the simultaneous control of all the electric motors and therefore the simultaneous movement of all the needles.

[0041] Alternatively or in addition, the integrated circuit 17 can be configured so as to perform a chronograph function when the control member 18 is requested. More specifically, the integrated circuit 17 is configured so as to control the first, second and third electric motors in order to move the hour 15, minute 16 and second hands respectively, so that during the first minute following a request from the control member, they are all collinear and superimposed and driven in rotation at an angular displacement speed of six degrees per second, and that from the 61 <th> second following said request, the minute hand 16 indicates the number of minutes elapsed since said request, and that from the 3601 <th> second following said request, the hour hand 15 indicates the number of hours elapsed since the request.

Still alternatively, it is possible that the integrated circuit 17 is configured so as to control, when the control member 18 is requested, the third electric motor in order to drive the seconds hand at an angular displacement speed more than 360 degrees per second, for example 720 degrees per second or 3600 degrees per second. Thus, the seconds hand can indicate fractions of seconds when the hour 15 and minute 16 hands indicate seconds.

[0043]Alternatively again, the integrated circuit 17 is configured so as to drive, when the control member 18 is activated, the third electric motor in order to move the seconds hand to indicate a particular location on the dial, for example bearing a specific marking designating the function assumed by the collinear and superimposed hour 15 and minute 16 hands, for example the indication of the seconds or a chronograph function.

[0044] Since the seconds hand is generally the longest hand, the indication it provides is very readable for the user.

[0045] Advantageously, the integrated circuit 17 can be configured so as to perform one or more of the aforementioned functions, for example after a certain delay of a continuous solicitation of the control member 18, or positioning by the user of the hour 15 and/or minute 16 hands in a given position, for example so as to indicate a dedicated place on the dial, etc.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, when the control member 18 is activated, the first and second electric motors 13 and 14 move the hour hand 15 and the minute hand 16, so that they are collinear and superimposed on each other, so that they reach a common position located equidistant between the positions they respectively occupied in the initial state.

In other words, the common position reached by the hour 15 and minute 16 hands before being rotated at a predetermined speed defines one of the bisectors of the angles formed by the position of said hour 15 and minute hands. 16 when they are in their initial state.

Alternatively, when the control member 18 is activated, the first or the second electric motor 13 or 14 respectively moves the hour hand 15 or the minute hand 16 from the position they respectively occupy in their initial state. , to the position occupied by the other hand so that they are collinear and superimposed on each other.

It goes without saying that, in the case where the watch 10 includes a seconds hand, the latter can be moved by the third electric motor, when the control member 18 is urged, so as to reach the position joint described above or corresponding to the position of the hour 15 and minute 16 hands, so that the hands are all collinear and superimposed on each other.

[0050] The driving of the collinear and superimposed hour 15 and minute 16 hands is interrupted at the end of a predetermined period, for example a few seconds or tens of seconds, or after a new request from the control member. 18.

[0051] The integrated circuit 17 is then configured to, at the end of the predetermined period or when the control member 18 is again requested, drive the first and the second electric motor 13 and 14 so as to respectively move the hour 15 and minute 16 hands so that they occupy a final state in which they respectively indicate the hours and minutes of the current time.

In other words, the final state of the hour 15 and minute 16 hands would correspond to their initial state if they had not been moved into the intermediate state.

Claims (12)

1. Watch (10) with analog display comprising an electronic watch movement comprising a first and a second electric motor (13, 14) kinematically connected respectively to an hour hand (15) and to a minute hand (16), said motors being supplied with energy by an electric accumulator (12), said watch movement also comprising an integrated circuit (17) connected to said motors and to a control member (18), the watch (10) being characterized in that the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to control, when the control member (18) is requested by a user, the first and the second electric motor (13, 14) to drive the hour (15) and minute ( 16) rotating at an angular displacement rate of six degrees per second, and in such a way that they are arranged so as to be collinear and that they are superimposed on one another. 2. Watch (10) according to claim 1, in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured to, after a predetermined period, control the first and the second electric motor (13, 14) so as to move respectively the hour (15) and minute (16) hands colinear and superimposed, so that they respectively indicate the hours and minutes of the current time. 3. Watch (10) according to claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit (17) is configured to, when the control member (18) is again requested, drive the first and the second electric motor (13, 14) so as to respectively move the collinear and superimposed hour (15) and minute (16) hands, so that they respectively indicate the hours and minutes of the current time. 4. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a third motor connected to a seconds hand, and in which the integrated circuit (17) being configured to drive said third motor to stop the stroke of said hand seconds when the control member (18) is activated. 5. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a third motor connected to a seconds hand, and in which the integrated circuit (17) being configured so as to drive, when the control member ( 18) is activated, said third motor to drive the seconds hand in rotation at an angular displacement speed of six degrees per second, and in such a way as to be collinear with the hour (15) and minute (16) hands and that they are superimposed on each other. 6. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a third motor connected to a seconds hand, and in which the integrated circuit (17) being configured so as to drive the first, second and third electric motors in order to respectively move the hour (15), minute (16) and second hands, so that during the first minute following a request from the control member, they are all collinear and superimposed and driven in rotation at a angular displacement speed of six degrees per second, and that from the 61 <th> second following said request, the minute hand (16) indicates the number of minutes elapsed since said request, and that from the 3601 <th> second following said request, the hour hand (15) indicates the number of hours elapsed since the request. 7. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a third motor connected to a seconds hand, and in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to drive, when the control member ( 18) is requested, the third electric motor in order to drive the seconds hand at an angular displacement speed of more than 360 degrees per second, for example 720 degrees per second or 3600 degrees per second. 8. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a third motor connected to a seconds hand, and in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to drive, when the control member ( 18) is activated, the third electric motor to move the seconds hand to indicate a particular location on the dial designating the function taken by the collinear and superimposed hour (15) and minute (16) hands. 9. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to control the first and the second electric motor (13, 14) so that the hour hands (15 ) and minutes (16) are collinear and superimposed on each other in a common position located equidistant between the positions that said hands occupied before being moved to be collinear and superimposed. 10. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to control, when the control member (18) is requested, the first or the second electric motor (13, 14) to respectively move the hour hand (15) or the minute hand (16) from the position it occupies in an initial state in which it respectively indicates the hours or the minutes of the current time, to the position occupied by the other needle, so that they are collinear and superimposed on each other. 11. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control member (18) consists of a single movable element. 12. Watch according to claim 11, in which the control member (18) corresponds to a time-setting crown.