DE102010017110A1 - Watch-winder for use in mechanical watch, has controller controlling drive, and data line provided between controller and watch carrier and/or watch, where controller communicates with watch carrier and/or watch by data line - Google Patents

Abstract

The watch-winder (1) has a watch carrier (40) for holding a watch, and a drive for moving the watch. A controller (10) controls the drive, and a data line is provided between the controller and the watch carrier and/or the watch. The controller communicates with the watch carrier and/or the watch by the data line. The data line comprises an antenna (20) for reading radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders (30), and information about the watch is stored in radio frequency identification transponders. The carrier comprises a shield. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling a drive of a watch-winder.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a watch winder according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

Watch winder usually have at least one watch carrier for holding a clock and a drive for moving at least one held on the watch holder Uhr.

So-called automatic watches are mechanical watches that extract their driving energy from the kinetic energy of a person wearing the watch. In addition, automatic watches have an eccentric mass, which accumulates a spring accumulator. The spring accumulator usually has a power reserve of about 20 to 30 hours, d. H. after placing an automatic watch, it typically stops after about 20 to 30 hours. If the watch is left for a long time, it will have a detrimental effect on the life and accuracy of the watch. In addition, the clock must be reset, which in particular if the clock next displays for hour, minute and possibly second has so-called complications such as date, moon phase or the like, can be very complex. Therefore, there are so-called watch winder, in which an automatic watch can be stored. The watch winder moves the clock, so that the Excentermasse draws the spring accumulator regularly. The movement to be performed depends on the type of clock, some must be turned clockwise and others clockwise. The rotational speed should also be adapted to the clock.

In the DE 20 2008 003 821 U1 a watch winder is described with a bidirectional radio interface to a control computer. The watch winder can be programmed for a specific watch via the control computer.

Presentation of the invention

The invention is based on the observation that watch winder often have several watch holder for each at least one o'clock. The movement of these watch carriers must be individually adapted to the respective clock or a clock type. If a watch is put on a watch carrier not programmed for the corresponding watch type, then the watch may suffer, eg. B. because she is not raised and stops.

The invention has for its object to enable automatic detection of the presence of a clock on a watch carrier and also the watch type.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The watch winder according to the invention has at least one watch carrier for holding a clock, at least one drive for moving at least one holder supported on the watch holder and at least one control for the drive. In addition, the watch winder has at least one data link between the controller and the watch carrier and / or the watch over which the controller communicates with the watch carrier and / or the watch. Over the data link, the controller can read at least one piece of information, eg. B. whether the watch carrier holds a clock and / or how this must be moved and / or which clock is held on the watch carrier. Accordingly, the watch carrier and / or the clock has an information carrier which can be read out over the data link.

The watch carrier may in particular have a so-called watch cushion, can be mounted on the clock. Preferably, the watch cushion is removable from the watch winder. Then the clock outside the watch winder can be conveniently attached to the pillow. Subsequently, the cushion is inserted with the clock in a corresponding holder of the watch carrier.

Through the data link, the controller can read from the clock and / or the clock carrier at least one piece of information about the clock from an attached to the clock carrier and / or the clock information store and drive the drive according to the read information. If neither the watch carrier nor the watch responds to data sent to the watch carrier and / or the watch via the data link, the controller switches off the engine or switches it off. In addition, the controller can send the information about the presence of a clock or the absence of a clock on the watch carrier to a control center connected to the control, for example, an alarm center.

The information store stores initally at least one piece of information about a corresponding clock. The information store then carries information necessary to control the engine and in this sense is linked to the watch whose information it carries. This results in comparison with the solution known from the prior art, the advantage that the watch winder can be self-sufficient. The use of the watch winder is greatly simplified, because the user after putting the clock in the watch winder this does not have to put awkward on a computer terminal in operation. It suffices the clock together with the information store in the watch winder use. Its controller then reads the necessary information from the information carrier and controls the drive accordingly.

Particularly preferably, the data link has at least one wireless section. This greatly simplifies the handling of the watch carrier and / or watch because the user does not have to disconnect or connect cables when removing or inserting a watch from the watch winder.

For example, the data link can have at least one antenna, in particular for reading out RFID transponders. At least one information about the clock can be stored in at least one RFID transponder and which can be read out via the data link. At least one of the following information may be stored in the RFID transponder: model name, manufacturer of the watch, date of purchase, rotational frequency, running direction, periods for breaks, engine power, date of the last revision and / or an identification number assigned to the watch. The controller can also read out the movement parameters over the data path from the watch carrier and / or the watch. The controller controls the motor according to the movement parameters. Thus, the watch winder can also drive without connection to a database, the engine according to the content on the watch holder gehalterten clock. Alternatively, the controller could read the associated motion parameters such as rotation frequency, rotation intervals, running direction, pauses, etc., from a database based on information identifying the watch such as model name and / or identification number.

The watch carrier and / or the watch may, for example, have an RFID transponder as an information store. If the watch carrier or the watch is inserted into the watch winder, the controller can read at least one piece of information about the watch over the data link and control the drive as a function of the information.

RFID transponders are assemblies which have an antenna, an analog circuit for receiving and / or transmitting signals, a digital circuit and a memory. An RFID reader emits electromagnetic radiation and thus induces a current in the antenna, which is usually coil-shaped. The power feeds the digital circuit, which then communicates with the RFID reader via the analog circuit and the antenna. For example, information can be retrieved from the memory and transmitted to the RFID reader. With some RFID transponders, data can be stored in the memory via the RFID reader. In this sense, an RFID transponder is an information carrier.

Suitable locations for the arrangement of the RFID transponder are z. B. a watch cushion of a watch carrier or a bracelet of the clock, in which the RFID transponder is preferably invisible incorporated from the outside.

Even if neither watch pendant nor watch has an RFID transponder, the controller can tell from the change in the impedance of the antenna that a watch has been inserted. Even if only the watch carrier has an RFID transponder, the controller can detect, based on the change in the impedance of the antenna, whether the watch carrier is holding a watch or whether a watch has been removed. At least one information about the clock is stored in the RFID transponder of the watch carrier and can be read out if necessary. This has the advantage that the RFID transponder does not have to be attached to the clock, which is often not accepted by the watch makers of mechanical watches.

In addition or as an alternative to the antenna, the controller may be connected to a capacitive sensor element for detecting a clock on the watch carrier. The connection between the sensor element and the controller can also be made via the data link between the controller and the watch carrier and / or the clock. If the watch holder retains a watch, this can be detected with the capacitive sensor element.

In particular, when the watch carrier has an RFID transponder, it is advantageous if the watch carrier or a part of it in at least two positions and / or alignments with the drive is coupled, wherein in at least a first position and / or orientation at least one information about the data link is readable, z. B. the RFID transponder can be read by the controller, and in at least one further position and / or orientation no information is read out, for. B. the RFID transponder is not readable. Then, the watch carrier may be inserted in the first position or orientation when holding a watch and deployed in the wider position or orientation when not holding a watch. The watch carrier preferably has a mark, z. As a label for which clock he is provided, which is only visible when the watch carrier was used in the other position. The user can then use the watch carrier for his watch based on the marker, z. As a lettering with the type of clock, select, fix the clock on the watch carrier and bring the clock with the first position or orientation. Now the controller can read at least one piece of information about the clock via the data link and control the drive according to the information. If a user removes the previously inserted clock, then it is sufficient to bring the empty clock carrier into the further position or alignment in order to stop the drive. Then the controller can not read the transponder and leaves the drive switched off.

In particular, when the watch carrier has an RFID transponder, it is advantageous if the watch carrier has a shield which does not shield a connected to the RFID transponder antenna in a first angular range relative to the controller and shields in a second angular range. The first angular range preferably corresponds to the above-mentioned first position or orientation, d. H. If the watch carrier is inserted into the watch carrier in the first position or orientation, the RFID transponder and the controller are not shielded from one another and can communicate with each other via the data link between the transponder and the controller, in particular the controller can transmit at least one piece of information via the watch Read RFID transponder. The further angular range preferably corresponds to the above-mentioned further position or orientation, RFID transponders and the controller are shielded from each other and can not communicate with each other.

Preferably, the watch winder has at least one switch and / or button in the open position interrupts the data path, z. B. separates the RFID transponder from its antenna and connects in the closed position. This button or switch is preferably arranged so that it is closed when placing a clock on the watch carrier and is open when the watch carrier does not hold a clock. This makes it very easy to detect a clock.

The watch winder preferably has a sensor for monitoring the position and / or orientation of the watch carrier relative to a reference point of the watch winder and / or sensor for determining the rotational frequency. Such a sensor can, for. B. be realized by an optocoupler in the form of a fork or reflex light barrier. The sensor is connected to the controller so that it can monitor the movement of the clock and thus also the drive. In addition, the sensor allows the controller to bring the watch carrier for removing or inserting a clock in a predetermined position and / or orientation.

Preferably, the watch winder via at least one data bus, z. B. a fieldbus to EIB (European installation bus) or KNX (EIB successor) standard with at least one central, z. B. connected to an alarm center. As a result, on the one hand, the information about a removal of a clock from the watch winder be sent from the controller to the control center and on the other hand, the control center of the information that the drive is shut down to avoid false alarms, z. B. when the repository for the watch winder is monitored for movement. For example, the control panel may be part of a home control that turns on a light source to illuminate a clock when a watch is inserted in the watch winder.

The method according to the invention for controlling the drive of a watch winder with at least one watch carrier for holding at least one watch has at least the following steps:
Check whether the structure of a preferably contactless data link between a first antenna and a second antenna succeeds, wherein the first antenna is connected to the control of the clock winder and the second antenna with an information watch carrier on the watch carrier and / or the clock, and at least read an information from the memory in the controller over the data link, if the construction of the data link succeeds.

Preferably, the controller sends at least the information about the structure of the data link via a data bus to at least one alarm center. This allows the alarm center to detect a removal of the clock and to trigger an alarm in case of an unauthorized removal.

Preferably, the controller signals and / or stores the information "no clock used" if a communication over the data link z. B. with the watch carrier and / or the clock does not succeed.

Description of the drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example without limitation of the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

1 shows a device according to the invention,

2 shows a block diagram of a clock winder,

3 shows a block diagram of a system of several watch winder, and

4 shows a block diagram of a converter.

1 shows very simplified and only schematically a watch winder 1 , The watch winder has a pedestal 5 in which a controller 10 is housed. The control 10 is with an antenna 20 connected. The control 10 and the antenna 20 are arranged here by way of example on a common board. The controller controls a drive of a motor 18 having. The motor 18 is about a here only hinted belt drive with a rotatable watch carrier 40 connected to power him.

The watch carrier 40 has a cup-shaped holder 42 for a watch pillow 45 on. On the clock cushion 45 Can a watch attached and with the watch cushions 45 in the cup-shaped holder 42 be used. If the controller 10 to the engine 18 a supply voltage applied, then rotates the watch carrier 40 with a clock on it (not shown).

For energy supply of the watch carrier has a connection U. In addition or alternatively, a battery compartment may be provided so that the watch winder is also used for mobile, z. B. as part of a watch case.

In the lower part of the watch cushion 30 is an RFID transponder 30 arranged (dashed). In the RFID transponder 30 At least one piece of information about a specific clock can be stored and then read out of it again. This is the clock cushion 45 with the RFID transponder 30 down into the holder 42 of the watch carrier 40 used as by arrow 47 indicated. The RFID transponder 30 is now within range of the antenna 20 and the controller 10 can via a wireless data link with the watch carrier, ie with the RFID transponder 30 communicate.

The transmission power of the antenna 20 is chosen so that the controller can communicate with the RFID transponder over the data link only if the watch cushions 30 with the transponder down into the holder 40 was used. However, if the watch cushion is rotated by 180 °, ie the RFID transponder 30 points upward (not shown), then the controller can not communicate with the RFID transponder. The control 10 recognizes this and turns off the engine 18 off, or leaves him off. A user can therefore by choosing the orientation of the watch cushion 35 Select whether the controller reads at least one piece of information from the RFID transponder over the data link and possibly starts the engine or not.

Preferably, the watch cushion 45 a shield (not shown) disposed so as to shield the antenna 20 remote side of the RFID transponder is arranged when the clock cushion 45 in a first orientation in the holder 42 is used. If the watch cushion in a further orientation, z. B. rotated 180 °, is inserted into the holder, then the shield between the RFID transponder and the antenna 20 arranged and shields the antenna from the RFID transponder. The above-described method for detecting a clock based on the position and / or orientation of the watch pad functions particularly reliably with the shield.

For example, via a control that as a start-stop switch 19 is symbolized, the drive can be switched off to remove a clock. Receives the control with the engine running 18 a shutdown signal from the control, then the carrier is placed in a predetermined position and / or orientation and the motor 18 then switched off. To align the bracket values evaluate the controller 10 Signals from a position sensor off. As a result, the watch can be brought to the previously determined position or orientation, in which it is preferably well presented to the user and can be easily removed.

If a watch is attached to the watch pad and inserted into the holder, then the metal of the watch changes the impedance of the antenna 20 compared to an empty clock cushion 45 in the holder 42 , This change in impedance can control 20 to detect the presence of a clock.

If the controller detects a clock, the controller reads at least one piece of information about that clock over the data link. Depending on this information, the controller controls the drive and thus the movement of the clock.

The control 10 the clockwinder 1 has an interface with which it can communicate with other watchmakers or a central office (cf. 2 ). Here the interface is an example of an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface). The controller communicates via an RS232 bus 10 with an RFID antenna module 25 which is the antenna 20 and often referred to as an RFID reader. The control 10 is via a driver circuit 17 with current limiting with the motor 18 connected to him to drive. The driver circuit 17 monitors the current consumption of the motor 18 and turns off the engine 18 when the current exceeds a predetermined value to prevent damage to the controller and / or the drive when the drive is blocked. When a user removes a watch from the watch winder during operation, it brakes the drive and the power consumption of the motor 18 increases. This is done by the controller 10 detected by the driver circuit and the motor 18 is turned off so that the user can easily remove the clock.

The control 10 with a position sensor 15 connected, the example here as an optocoupler 15 is shown. With the optocoupler 15 can on the watch carrier 40 or possibly on a belt or pulley of the belt drive attached markings (not shown) can be detected on the principle of a reflex light barrier. The control 10 evaluates the signals of the optocoupler 15 off to the speed and / or position of the watch carrier 40 determine.

Several watch winders 1 can be put together as modules to a watch winder system with multiple watch carriers. A corresponding block diagram shows 3 , There are several watch winder 1 , which are exemplified by # 1, # 2 and # 8, via an interface (here exemplified SPI) with a converter module 70 (here by way of example # 1, #n) connected. About the converter modules 70 are the to the appropriate converter module 70 connected watch winder 1 with a fieldbus, z. B. KNX or EIB connected. About the fieldbus 80 can the watch winder with other bus subscribers z. B. a control and / or alarm center preferably communicate bidirectionally. In the example shown, the individual watch winder 1 (# 1 to # 8) about the bus address of the converter 70 to which the connected are addressed, the fieldbus address of the converter 70 to distinguish the watch winder another identifier, in the simplest case, for example, the number (# 1 to # 8) to be addressed clock winder added.

The power supply (here 5 V example) of the watch winder 1 takes place via the converter modules 70 , which in turn have a connection U for a supply voltage of 24 V exemplified here. Alternatively or optionally, the converter modules 70 also be powered by at least one battery.

4 shows a block diagram of a converter module 70 , The converter module has the function of a sub-center. It supplies power to watch winders connected to it and connects the watch winders with a field bus. The converter module has the same effect 70 an input for a power supply (in this example 24 V) and can also be powered by a battery (not shown). A voltage transformer 80 adjusts the supply voltage of the converter module 70 to the supply voltage for the watch winders (5 V for example here) and is connected on the secondary side with a voltage output. The voltage converter 80 also supplies a control module 88 and a fieldbus module 85 , The fieldbus module 85 is connected to an interface for a fieldbus, here by way of example EIB. The fieldbus signals are from the fieldbus module 85 converted to RS232 and the control module 88 fed. The control module 88 communicates via a data bus (in this example, SPI) with the clock movers connected to it 1 (see. 3 ). Via the RS232 interface and the fieldbus module 85 the control module communicates 85 with a central office (not shown). The individual watch winder is monitored via the control panel.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

winder

5

base

10

control

19

Control element (start-stop switch)

30

RFID transponder

40

clock peddler

42

bracket

45

watch cushions

70

converter module

80

DC converter

85

Feldbusbaustein

88

control block

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 202008003821 U1 [0004]

Claims (14)

Watch winder ( 1 ) comprising: - at least one watch carrier ( 40 ) for holding a clock, - at least one drive for moving at least one on the watch carrier ( 40 ) retained clock, - at least one controller ( 10 ) for the drive, characterized in that the watch winder ( 1 ) at least one data link between the controller ( 10 ) and the watch carrier 40 and / or the clock through which the controller ( 10 ) with the watch carrier ( 40 ) and / or the clock communicates. Watch winder ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the data path has at least one wireless section. Watch winder ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data link at least one antenna ( 20 ) for reading out RFID transponders ( 30 ) having. Watch winder ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the watch carrier ( 40 ) at least one RFID transponder ( 30 ), in which at least one information is stored at least one clock. Watch winder ( 1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the watch carrier ( 40 ) can be coupled to the drive in at least two positions and / or orientations, wherein in at least one position and / or orientation the RFID transponder ( 30 ) by the controller ( 10 ) can be read out via the data link and can not be read out in at least one further position and / or orientation of the RFID transponder. Watch winder ( 1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that the watch carrier ( 40 ) has a shield, the one with the RFID transponder ( 30 ) connected antenna in a first angular range against an antenna ( 20 ) of the controller ( 10 ) shields and does not shield in a second angular range. Watch winder ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the watch winder ( 1 ) has at least one switch and / or button, which in the open position, the RFID transponder ( 30 ) separates from its antenna and connects in closed position. Watch winder ( 1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the switch and / or button by a on the watch carrier ( 40 ) attached clock is closed and otherwise open. Watch winder ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the watch winder ( 1 ) a position sensor ( 15 ) for monitoring the position of the watch carrier ( 40 ) relative to a reference point of the clock winder ( 1 ) having. Watch winder ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the watch winder ( 1 ) is connected via at least one data bus with at least one alarm center. Method for controlling the drive of a clock winder ( 1 ) with at least one watch carrier ( 40 ) for holding at least one clock, comprising at least the following steps: - checking whether the establishment of a contactless data link between a first antenna ( 20 ) and a second antenna succeed, wherein the first antenna ( 20 ) with the control of the clock winder and the second antenna with an information carrier ( 30 ) on the watch carrier ( 40 ) and / or the clock is connected, and - reading at least one piece of information from the information carrier ( 30 ) into the controller ( 10 ) over the data link if the construction of the data link succeeds. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the controller ( 10 ) at least sends the information about the structure of the data link via a data bus to at least one alarm center. A method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the controller signals the information "no clock used" and / or stores if the construction of the data link does not succeed. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized by moving the clock in dependence of the information read out over the data link.

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