CH719271A2 - Portable electronic object. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable electronic object (1) comprising a box (3) provided with a covering element (2) forming in whole or in part a tactile interface of said electronic object (1), said covering element comprising a hollow body containing a substrate (5) on which are made an antenna circuit (10) of a communication module (6) of said object (1) and a touch control circuit (13) of a touch control device (8) of this object (1).

Description

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a portable electronic object comprising a trim element forming all or part of a touch interface and comprising an antenna circuit of a communication module of said object.

Technology background

[0002] Many portable electronic objects are known in the state of the art capable of being connected to communication networks such as electronic watches which are provided with touch interfaces conventionally arranged in the crystals of the latter. Such tactile interfaces are generally used to improve the interactivity of watches and to simplify handling thereof, in particular when the latter offer a substantial number of menus and functions.

[0003] In order to be able to connect to communications networks such as networks of the Bluetooth type or else in connection with geolocation, such electronic objects comprise means of communication conventionally integrating an antenna. It is known that the optimum size of such an antenna depends directly on the wavelength of the transmitted/received signal. Indeed, an antenna of optimal length makes it possible to send/receive a signal in full and at full power.

[0004] In electronic objects such as watches, the available space being limited, an antenna must have a design adapted to be integrated into the case of the watch. And if the watch incorporates a means of radio communication that operates on radio frequencies (such as 2.4 GHz or 1.5 GHz), the size of the product becomes critical in relation to the wavelength (120 mm and 200 mm).

[0005] Furthermore, other constraints must also be taken into account due to the fact that electronic objects such as watches have many metal parts and that an antenna must be isolated from them.

[0006] In this context, it is understood that there is a need to find a solution, in particular which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

Summary of the invention

[0007] One of the aims of the invention is to have a portable electronic object such as a watch, comprising a touch interface and incorporating an antenna circuit having an optimum length for sending/receiving a signal in full and at full power and coming to be integrated into the case of this watch whose reception volume is limited.

Another object of the invention is to obtain a portable electronic object whose aesthetics, energy consumption and manufacturing costs are not impacted or only slightly impacted by the integration of a touch interface and an antenna circuit in a covering element of this object.

[0009] For this purpose, the invention relates to a portable electronic object comprising a case provided with a covering element forming in whole or in part a tactile interface of said electronic object, said covering element comprising a hollow body containing a substrate on which are made an antenna circuit of a communication module of said object and a touch control circuit of a touch control member of this object.

[0010] In other embodiments: the substrate comprises a main part and first and second connection parts each intended to be folded with respect to this main part; - the substrate comprises an upper face on which the antenna circuit and the tactile control circuit are made; – the antenna circuit comprises first and second strands made on a first portion of the upper face comprised in the main part of the substrate, said first and second strands each having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending in parallel between their proximal and distal ends, the first and second strands being connected at their distal ends as well as at their proximal ends; - the tactile control circuit comprises at least one electrode produced on a second portion of the upper face comprised in the main part of the substrate, said electrode being formed of a layer of at least one conductive material applied to said upper face; – the upper face of the main part of this substrate is preferably positioned in an enclosure defined in the hollow body of the covering element opposite a wall of this enclosure which constitutes an external face of this covering element ; – the substrate is made of flexible plastic; - the antenna circuit comprises a microcircuit connected to the first and second strands via a connection track made on the upper face of the substrate; - the control circuit comprises a microcontroller connected to said at least one electrode via at least one connection track made on the upper face of the substrate; - the covering element is made of at least one dielectric and/or electrically non-conductive material; – the object comprises a watch, in particular a connected watch comprising the covering element which is a bezel provided with the enclosure in which said substrate is arranged; – the communication module is configured to communicate according to a Bluetooth type protocol.

Brief description of figures

[0011] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description which follows, made in conjunction with the appended figures listed below: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a portable electronic object comprising a covering element forming in whole or in part a tactile interface of said object according to one embodiment of the invention; – Figure 2 is a representation of a substrate capable of being included in an enclosure of the trim element, said substrate comprising an antenna circuit of a communication module of said object and a touch control circuit d a tactile control device for this object according to the embodiment of the invention; - Figure 3 is a representation of a variant of the substrate comprising the antenna circuit and the touch control circuit, according to the embodiment of the invention, and - Figure 4 shows a bezel forming the element of dressing comprising the substrate when the portable electronic object is an electronic watch according to the embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to Figure 1, the invention relates to a portable electronic object 1 or a portable electronic device. In the present embodiment of this invention, such an electronic object 1 is preferably an electronic watch 1 such as for example a connected watch. It will be noted alternatively that this electronic object 1 can also be a smartphone, a mobile GPS device, a laptop computer, a touch pad, a sports watch, a fitness tracker, a heart rate meter device or even a music player .

In this context, such a portable electronic object 1 is provided with a box 3 comprising a covering element 2 forming in whole or in part a touch interface of said electronic object 1 through which a wearer of said object can interact with it. This case 3 also comprises a middle part which can be made of metal (for example steel, preferably stainless steel), of a synthetic material (for example of a composite material comprising a polymer matrix filled with fibres, typically of carbon) or ceramic or even at least one dielectric and/or electrically non-conductive material. The case 3 also comprises a back and a crystal which participate in forming, with the middle part, an enclosure of this case 3. In such an enclosure, are arranged in particular a display device 7 and an electronic device 4 of said electronic object 1.

[0014] The display device 7 includes display elements that can be analog like needles and/or digital like an LCD, LED or even OLED screen. Such a display device 7 is located between the crystal and the electronic device 4, a spacer or flange being able to be arranged between the crystal and this display device 7.

With regard to the electronic device 4, it is configured to provide at least one piece of information to be displayed on this display device 7. This electronic device 4 comprises, in a non-exhaustive and non-limiting manner, a communication module 6, a control module of the portable electronic object 1, an electrical energy accumulator in particular a battery as well as various sensors such as for example sensors participating in the determination of a geolocation, an altitude or a temperature of a place or even in the determination of physiological, biometric, vital and/or behavioral parameters of the wearer of the electronic object 1.

It will be noted that in this configuration, the control module allows the wearer of such an electronic object 1 to be able to interact with the latter, in particular by being able to activate/deactivate/select different functions likely to be implemented by this object. electronics 1. This control module comprises a tactile control member 8 and in alternatives other control members such as pushers or buttons arranged on the middle part.

In the electronic device 4, the communication module 6 includes an antenna circuit 10 connected to a microcircuit 11, and the touch control unit 8 includes a microcontroller 12 connected to a touch control circuit 13. as we will see later, the antenna circuit 10 and the control circuit 13 are arranged on a substrate 5 included in the covering element 2, the latter forming in whole or in part a tactile interface of said electronic object 1.

[0018] Such a trim element 2 is preferably fixed to the middle part of the case 3. This trim element 2 can be a part that is removably fixed to the middle part or else a part made in one piece with this middle part. It may be a one-piece part or, conversely, a part formed from two parts interconnected in a reversible and/or leaktight manner. The trim element 2 comprises a hollow body comprising an enclosure in which is located the substrate 5 provided with the antenna circuit 10 and the tactile control circuit 13. In order that this antenna circuit 10 and this control circuit 13 operate efficiently and/or optimally, this covering element 2 is made of at least one dielectric and/or electrically non-conductive material. Said at least one material makes it possible to contribute to the achievement of the capacitive effect of the tactile control member 8. This material also participates in not damaging the radiation of the antenna circuit 10, in increasing its electrical length and in improve its performance in relation to its physical size. Such a material may for example be a polymer, titanium or a ceramic, or any other synthetic material. It will be noted that it is possible that the entire body of this covering element 2 is not made of this type of material but that only portions of this body in which the antenna circuit 10 and the control circuit are arranged 13 are made of this material.

[0019] When the portable electronic object 1 is an electronic watch, the covering element 2 can be a bezel visible in FIG. 4. Such a bezel 2 is then located at the middle part and encloses the crystal. It can be a rotating bezel or a fixed bezel. The bezel 2 can also be arranged in the case 3 so as to form a single piece with the caseband, that is to say a caseband-bezel. The middle part and the bezel 2 have an outer face which is the face visible to the wearer of this watch. The bezel 2 may include a scale on its outer face. In the example illustrated, the graduation comprises figurative indexes 24 which are in the form of numbers (preferably Arabic). It will also be noted that in such a context the electronic device 4 is for example an electronic watch movement.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the substrate 5 included in this covering element 2 is advantageously made in the form of a flexible printed circuit (commonly called "flex"). Such a substrate 5, also called a "support" or a "plate", is preferably made of flexible high-performance plastic material. This plastic material can be a polymer such as polyimide known as KaptonTM or even a polyester. This substrate 5 comprises a main part 17a having an essentially circular shape and first and second connection parts 17b, 17c defined on an outer edge 23a (visible in figure 2) or on an inner edge 23b (visible in figure 3) of the main part 17a of the substrate 5 extending radially from this said edge 23a, 23b. These first and second connection parts 17b, 17c are in the form of an outgrowth of the substrate 5. Such a substrate 5 comprises upper 16 and lower faces which are flat and parallel to each other. The shape of the main part 17a of the substrate 5 is similar or substantially similar to that of the enclosure of the bezel 2 in which the substrate 5 is intended to be positioned. In this configuration, the upper face 16 of the main part 17a of this substrate 5 is preferably arranged in this enclosure opposite a wall of this enclosure which constitutes/forms an external face of this covering element 2. acting as first and second connection parts 17b, 17c, they are each intended to be folded with respect to the upper face 16 in order to be connected respectively to the microcontroller 12 of the control unit 8 and to the microcircuit 11 of the communication module 6 To this end, the covering element 2 can comprise openings giving access to a printed circuit 14 of the electronic device 4 comprising the microcontroller 12 of the control member 8 and the microcircuit 11 of the communication module 6. Such openings made in the body of this covering element 2 are likely to be crossed by these first and second parts 17b, 17c.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the control unit 8 comprises the microcontroller 12 which is connected to the touch control circuit 13. Such a touch control circuit 13 comprises electrodes 22 deposited on the main part 17a of the substrate 5 included in the trim element 2. Each electrode 22 may be in the form of a layer of conductive materials forming a connection point. Such an electrode 22 has a circular or parallelepiped or even triangular shape. In this configuration, the control circuit 13 also comprises at least one connection track 20 included on the upper face 16 of the substrate 5. This said at least one connection track 20 is capable of cooperating with at least one electrical track 15b of the circuit printed 14 of the electronic device 4 comprising the microcontroller 12. In this way, each electrode 22 is thus connected to the microcontroller 12 from this said at least one connection track 20 and from said at least one electrical track 15b. Thus said at least one connection track 20 is included on the upper face 16 of the substrate 5 extending from the electrode 22 to the free end of the first connection part 17b. Finally, it will be noted that the tactile control circuit 13 preferably comprises as many connection tracks 20 as the main part 17a comprises electrodes 22.

In the present embodiment visible in Figures 2 to 4 in which the object 1 is an electronic watch, the touch control member 8 comprises six electrodes 22 distributed on the upper face 16 of the main part 17a of the substrate 5. More precisely, these electrodes 22 are applied/deposited on this upper face 16 of the substrate 5 so as to define/form two distinct tactile zones 18a, 18b on the external face 25 of the bezel 2, these two tactile zones 18a, 18b forming the tactile interface of said electronic object 1. The first tactile zone 18a comprises three electrodes 22 arranged respectively under the indexes 24 two, three and four defined on the external face 25 of the bezel 2. The second tactile zone 18b also comprises three electrodes 22 arranged respectively under indexes 24 five, six and seven defined on this outer face 25 of bezel 2. In this configuration, the first touch zone 18a allows the wearer of the watch to interact with the latter by performing a movement in particular a “vertical displacement” (referenced Dv in FIG. 4) of an accessory such as a stylus or else of an end of one of its limbs such as a finger on this first zone 18a. With regard to the second tactile zone 18b, it allows the wearer of the watch to interact with the latter by performing a movement, in particular a “horizontal movement” (referenced Dh in FIG. 4) of such an accessory or even of the end of one of its members on this area 18b. The vertical displacement describes a trajectory which is substantially parallel or parallel to an axis of symmetry A of the bezel 2 and the horizontal displacement describes a trajectory which is for its part substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to this axis A or to the trajectory described by the displacement vertical. Such an axis A separates the bezel 2 into two equal parts by connecting the indexes 24 twelve and six present on the external face 25 of this bezel 2.

In the electronic device 4, the communication module 6 is able to allow the connection of the portable electronic object 1 to a Bluetooth type communication network. In other words, the communication module 6 is configured to communicate according to a Bluetooth type protocol. Alternatively, this communication module 6 can be able to allow the connection of the portable electronic object 1 to a GNSS (Geolocation and Navigation Satellite System) satellite location network, such as for example the GPS (Global Positioning System) , Glonass or Galileo. This communication module 6 comprises the antenna circuit 10 connected to the microcircuit 11. Such an antenna circuit 10 is included on the upper face 16 of the substrate 5. This antenna circuit 10 comprises first and second strands 19a, 19b each having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending in parallel between their proximal and distal ends. In this antenna circuit 10, the architecture with two strands in parallel makes it possible to widen the frequency band (100 MHz), necessary for example to communicate on a communication network of the Bluetooth type (2.4 GHz). In this antenna circuit 10, the first and second strands 19a, 19b are connected by their distal ends as well as at their proximal ends. In this configuration, the antenna circuit 10 essentially extends along an arcuate trajectory comprising two strands 19a, 19b arranged in parallel on the substrate 5 which follows this trajectory. This antenna circuit 10 also comprises a connection track 21 connected to these proximal ends which is included on the upper face 16 of the substrate 5. This connection track 21 is capable of cooperating with at least one electric track 15a of the printed circuit 14 of the electronic device 4 comprising the microcircuit 11 of the communication module 6. In this way, the antenna circuit 10 is connected to this microcircuit 11 from said at least one connection track 21 and from said at least one electrical track 15a. In addition, this connection track 21 is included on the upper face 16 of the substrate 5 extending from the proximal ends of the first and second strands 19a, 19b to the free end of the second connection part 17c of the substrate 5 .

As we have seen, the antenna circuit 10 and the tactile control circuit 13 are wholly or partly produced on separate portions of the upper face 16 of the main part 17a of the substrate 5. More precisely , this upper face 16 of the main part 17a comprises two portions having substantially the same surface or the same surface. This first portion comprises the first and second strands 19a, 19b as well as part of the connection track 21 of the antenna circuit 10. The second portion comprises the electrodes 22 and part of the connection tracks 20 of the circuit command 13.

It will also be noted that the control circuit 13 and the antenna circuit 10 can be screen printed with silver on the substrate 5 of polyester or can be screen printed with copper on a substrate 5 of polyimide.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and that various modifications and simple variants can be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. Portable electronic object (1) comprising a case (3) provided with a covering element (2) forming in whole or in part a tactile interface of said electronic object (1), said covering element comprising a hollow body containing a substrate (5) on which are made an antenna circuit (10) of a communication module (6) of said object (1) and a touch control circuit (13) of a touch control member (8) of this object (1). 2. Object (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the substrate (5) comprises a main part (17a) and first and second connection parts (17b, 17c) each intended to be folded with respect to this main part (17a). 3. Object (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the substrate (5) comprises an upper face (16) on which the antenna circuit (10) and the tactile control circuit ( 13). 4. Object (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the antenna circuit (10) comprises first and second strands (19a, 19b) made on a first portion of the upper face (16) included in the part main (17a) of the substrate (5), said first and second strands (19a, 19b) each having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending in parallel between their proximal and distal ends, the first and second strands (19a , 19b) being connected at their distal ends as well as at their proximal ends. 5. Object (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the tactile control circuit (13) comprises at least one electrode (22) made on a second portion of the upper face (16) comprised in the main part (17a) of the substrate (5), said electrode (22) being formed of a layer of at least one conductive material applied to said upper face (16). 6. Object (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the upper face (16) of the main part (17a) of this substrate (5) is preferably positioned in an enclosure defined in the hollow body of the covering element (2) opposite a wall of this enclosure which constitutes an external face of this covering element (2). 7. Object (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the substrate (5) is made of flexible plastic. 8. Object (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the antenna circuit (10) comprises a microcircuit (11) connected to the first and second strands (19a, 19b) via a connection track (21) made on the upper face (16) of the substrate (5). 9. Object (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the control circuit (13) comprises a microcontroller (12) connected to said at least one electrode (22) via at least one connection track (20) made on the upper face (16) of the substrate (5). 10. Object (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering element (2) is made of at least one dielectric and/or electrically non-conductive material. 11. Object (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a watch, in particular a connected watch, comprising the covering element (2) which is a bezel provided with the enclosure in which is arranged said substrate (5). 12. Object (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication module (6) is configured to communicate according to a Bluetooth type protocol.