DE69314443T2 - ANALOGUE MULTIFUNCTIONAL WATCH WITH REMOVABLE PART - Google Patents

Description

There are currently analogue hand multifunction watches on the market with several stepper motors that drive several gear trains independently of one another. In the simplest version, two motors drive two hands, but you can also have three, four, five motors, each driving one or more hands, as well as combinations with digital displays. These configurations make it possible to display several additional functions simultaneously or in succession in addition to the traditional time functions. However, in the case where, for example, several additional functions are displayed in succession using the same hands, manipulating the watch to control and display these additional functions in succession becomes extremely complex and you often have several scale divisions on the same dial, which makes reading difficult. Furthermore, the user usually only uses a part of the functions and access to those he does use is made difficult by the addition of functions that are of no use to him. Finally, it is very difficult to characterize this type of watch graphically because of its many uses.

Patent US-A-4 623 260 describes a watch with three motors driving six hands to selectively display a stopped time, a countdown time and an alarm time in addition to the real time. The selection, regulation and control of these different functions requires the presence of four push buttons and a crown with three axial positions, which complicates the manufacture of this watch and affects its aesthetics. Furthermore, nothing clearly indicates to the user of this watch which of these different positions, which can be very annoying.

The aim of the present invention is to remedy these problems by adding to the watch a removable part that allows it to be identified with a specific function or group of precise functions. The same watch can be adapted to several functions in succession by replacing the removable part. This watch with a housing, with measuring and display means for real time and an additional function, comprising at least two stepping motors which drive at least two hands for the analog display of real time and the additional function, with selection means for the additional function and with control means for the additional function, is characterized in that it further comprises a removable part with graphic elements and with means for fastening the removable part to the housing, that the means for fastening are coupled to the selection means in such a way that the additional function is selected or not depending on whether the removable part is fastened to the housing or not, and that a section of the graphic elements forms a section of the measuring and display means.

Watches with a removable part are already known. For example, an advertisement published on the page of the magazine "Popular Mechanic" in June 1961, as well as the patent CH-A-339 586, describe a timer that includes at least one removable ring arranged around its dial. The utility model DE-G-9015324 also describes a watch with interchangeable rings, each of which has the name of a day of the week inscribed on it. But these watches all have only one function, so that no additional function is selected depending on whether one or the other of the rings is present or not.

Figures 1, 1a and 1b show, by way of example, a watch according to the invention with a removable part related to a "football" function.

Figures 2, 2a and 2b show, by way of example, certain details of the removable part.

Figures 3a and 3b show, by way of example, two watches according to the invention, the removable parts of which are related to the "tennis" and "multichronograph" functions, respectively.

Figure 4 shows, by way of example, the block diagram of the electronic part of a watch according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows an example of an analog multifunctional clock (1) with 6 hands driven by 5 motors.

The first motor drives the hour hand (2) and the minute hand (3) for conventional time display.

The second motor drives the pointer (4) which makes 60 steps per revolution and acts on a scale of 60 positions (5) divided into five sectors graduated from 1 to 5.

The third and fourth motors drive two pointers (6 and 7) that interact with two scale divisions of 10 positions (8 and 9).

Finally, the fifth motor drives the hand (10), which makes 60 steps per revolution and acts on a conventional scale of seconds and minutes (11).

The fact that hands 4, 6, 7 and 10 are driven independently of each other makes it possible to display several functions in succession. These additional functions are controlled externally by means shown in Figure 1a, such as the hand setting crown (12) or the pushers (13 and 14). In certain cases, the crown (12) also enables the activation of an electromechanical selector of the additional functions with means for indicating the selected function (15).

Watches using such configurations currently exist on the market and we describe in the following figures only the elements that distinguish the watch according to the invention from existing watches.

The watch according to the invention shown in Figures 1 and 1a has a completely conventional configuration of a watch with a chronograph. The hands (2, 3 and 4) permanently indicate the hour, minute and second of the real time. The hands (6 and 7) indicate respectively the tens of the minutes and the minutes of the chronograph, while the hand (10) indicates the second. The setting of the hands is carried out by the crown (12), while the chronograph function is controlled by the pushers (13 and 14).

The watch described in Figure 1 also includes a "football" function which can be selected by means of the function selector. This "football" function requires very specific graduations and it would be difficult to integrate them into the normal dial of the watch. It therefore includes a removable part (16) shown in Figure 1b which is fixed to it. This removable part is recessed in such a way that the hand position (12) and the pushers (13 and 14) are easily accessible. It includes graduations corresponding to a first half (17), a second half (18) and two possible overtimes (19 and 20). This removable part is much cheaper than the watch itself and can be replaced at low cost, for example on the occasion of special events. This removable part can therefore bear graphic elements which to this event (21), or to a person or group of persons (22).

If the "football" function is correctly selected, the functions of the hands 4, 6, 7 and 10 are changed as follows. The points of each team are recorded by appropriately pressing the buttons and are displayed by hands 6 and 7. The elapsed playing time is displayed by hand (10) on a suitable scale in the sector corresponding to the time period of the current game, and by hand (4), which then completes one revolution every five minutes.

By mounting the removable part on the watch itself, you can thus obtain a second watch, which includes all the elements necessary for easy use of the additional function selected. You can also add special decorative elements to this additional function, elements that can be replaced or omitted at any time by replacing the removable part. Finally, if the user wants to return to a more classic watch, he only has to remove the removable part to get back to a chronograph watch with the usual look.

It is of course possible to introduce several additional functions that can be selected one after the other, corresponding to as many different removable parts. However, there is a risk that the user may inadvertently insert a removable part that does not correspond to the selected function.

To avoid this type of situation, it would be desirable for the additional function corresponding to the attached removable part to be activated automatically.

Figures 2, 2a and 2b schematically show, by way of example, various combinations of removable part/control means which make it possible to fulfil this condition.

In Figure 2, the lower part of the removable part comprises on one side a part (30) with two points (31 and 32) and on the other side two hooks (33 and 34). These two points and these two hooks fit into recesses in the case (35) arranged in such a way that the removable part is properly secured. The case (35) also comprises two contact systems (36 and 37) connected to the inside of the watch and interacting with the two points (31 and 32).

In Figure 2, these two contact systems are shown very schematically for better understanding. In practice, the actual mechanical construction of these contacts is much more complicated and can, for example, be in the form of metallic grids molded into a plastic housing (35).

It can be seen from the figure that the tips (31 and 32) can have two different lengths. If the tip is short (31), it does not act on the contact system (36) and the latter is closed (ON). However, if the tip is long (32), it moves the two tongues away from the contact system (37) and the latter is open (OFF).

The removable part can therefore be arranged in such a way that it acts on the combinations of the contacts by setting the length of the two tips. Four combinations are possible:

These three options can correspond to three different detachable parts with different tip lengths, where these three different detachable parts in turn correspond to three different additional functions.

By incorporating these additional contacts (36 and 37) into the control means which already comprise the hand setting (12) and the pushers (13 and 14), it is thus possible to automatically activate the additional function inside the watch corresponding to the removable part fitted onto the case.

The functional diagram of the watch according to the invention is given in Figure 4 and will thus be described later. Before that, two possible variants of the internal configuration of the removable part are given by the details 2a and 2b.

In the example described above, the removable part only acts mechanically on the control means of the watch by activating or not activating the contacts (36 and 37).

In Figure 2a, the tip (32) is arranged in the manner of a "socket" and the two terminals of the contact (37) are electrically connected to the interior of the removable part by two conductive tongues (38 and 39) located opposite a pusher (40) which makes it possible to establish contact between the two tongues (38 and 39) by pressure. It is thus possible to incorporate into the removable part an electrical circuit connected to the control means of the watch and making it possible not only to activate the desired additional function, but also to also in a more active manner by acting on the push button (40).

It should be noted that one could proceed in the same way with the contact (36) and that one could introduce a second additional pusher, integrated into the removable part.

Finally, it should be noted that the contacts controlled by the additional pushbuttons can be of the working type, as shown in Figure 2a, or of the resting type.

Since electrical connections connected to the control means of the watch can be brought inside the removable part, it is possible to incorporate other electrical or electronic elements into this removable part. Figure 2b shows an integrated circuit 41 incorporated in the removable part 16 and connected to the contacts 36 and 37 not shown in this figure 2b. This integrated circuit can comprise active elements relating to the additional function corresponding to the removable part in which it is incorporated. Of greatest interest is the case in which a memory circuit is integrated containing information relating to the functioning of the additional function, this information being able to be read and transmitted inside the watch through the contacts (36 and 37). The possibilities offered by the incorporation of a memory circuit in the removable part are interesting in that it is possible to adapt the functioning of an additional function to parameters that are variable in time, simply by changing the information contained in the memory circuit.

Figures 3a and 3b show two examples with different removable parts which correspond to parts of a "tennis" function and a "multichronograph" function. The base watch can be recognized by its hands 4, 6, 7 and 10, which allow the display of additional functions.

In Figure 3a, the removable part corresponding to a "tennis" function includes an additional push-button (50) to initiate the start of the game, a graduation (51) allowing the number of points in the current exchange to be displayed, and graphic elements (52) allowing certain specific situations in the tennis game to be displayed, such as deuce, advantage, tie break, etc. These various parameters are displayed by means of the pointer (10), while the pointers (6 and 7) display the number of games played by players A and B respectively. The pointer (4) also displays the second of real time.

In Figure 3b, the removable part corresponds to a "multichronograph" function. It is in fact a chronograph that allows several intermediate times to be stored and read. To this end, the removable part, which comprises two additional pushers (53 and 54), has a graduation (55) corresponding to the various readable memories. The stopped time is displayed by means of hands 6, 7, 10 and 4, which respectively display the tens of minutes, the minutes, the seconds and the fifth of a second. By appropriate manipulation of the pushers (53 and 54), the hand (10) is placed on the graduation corresponding to the memory position that one wishes to read, which allows the contents of this memory to be read instantly. Finally, the removable part shown includes an inscription relating to an important sporting event (56) and a sporting personality (57). These graphic elements enable the product to be identified precisely in relation to the additional function chosen.

Of course, the removable parts are arranged in such a way that they act on the control means of the watch to automatically trigger the activation of the additional functions corresponding to each removable part. Thus, the user can freely transform his watch into a football, tennis, multi-chronograph watch, or return to the traditional original version by replacing the removable parts without risk of error.

It is also clear that, even if the examples given here relate to sport, all kinds of additional functions can be performed by the watch according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows, by way of example, the block diagram of the electronic part of a watch according to the invention.

The electronic circuit comprises a block (60) which includes all the basic functions, namely an oscillator (61) using a quartz resonator; frequency dividers for generating signals of precise frequency, counters for carrying out the various time functions, and circuits for adjusting the position of the various hands and for controlling the motors 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 which drive the hands. The functions of this block (60) will not be described in detail because there are now numerous watches on the market which use this type of function and these elements are known to those skilled in the art.

The circuits of this type of clock are generally made with programmed logic integrated in microprocessors. This makes it possible to have program blocks dedicated to special additional functions, which can be accessed when the desired function is activated from outside the clock by appropriate manipulation of the control means, the hand setting crown, pushers (13 and 14), etc. are put into operation.

In the case of the watch according to the invention, the additional functions are automatically activated when the removable part corresponding to the desired function is placed on the watch. Furthermore, additional pushers for controlling these additional functions can be incorporated into the removable part.

In the example of Figure 4, it has two such pushers, where the pusher (40) interacts with a working contact connected to the contact (37) which is connected to the inside of the watch as described in Figure 2, and the pusher (40') interacts with a resting contact connected to the contact (36).

This contact (36) is connected to the input D (67) of a flip-flop D (68) and to the first input of an "exclusive inverse-OR" gate (69), the second input of which is connected to the output (70) of the flip-flop (68). Without pressing the pushbutton (40'), the normally closed contact is closed and the input D (67) of the flip-flop (68) is at 1. As a starting point, we assume that the output (70) of this flip-flop is also at 1. This output leads to the reset input (71) of a timer circuit (72), which is thus kept in a switched-off state.

When the push button (40') is pressed, the normally closed contact opens and the D input (67) and the first door input (69) go to 0. The door output (69) and the reset input (71) of the timer (72) also go to 0 and the timer is then activated. Let us assume that the timer has a time constant of 15 seconds. No signal therefore appears on its output (73) until this time has elapsed. If the push button (40) is pressed for less than 15 seconds, nothing happens. If, on the other hand, this pressure lasts longer than 15 seconds, the timer (72) sends a signal to the "Clock" input (74) of the flip-flop (68). Since the D input (67) of this flip-flop is at 0, the latter goes to 0. Its output (70) goes to 0 and the output of the door (69) goes to 1, putting the timer (72) in its off state.

When you release the button (40'), the reverse process occurs and you must wait 15 seconds for the flip-flop (68) to return to 1.

However, in practice, the pressures exerted on the pushbuttons are of short duration and the flip-flop (68) will only change state if there is a permanent change in the state of the contact, i.e. if the removable part is replaced. It is therefore possible to distinguish the replacement of the removable part from normal pressures exerted to control the additional functions.

The same configuration is used with the flip-flop (75), the exclusive inverse OR gate (76) and the timer (77) to analyse the signals coming from the contact (37) and the pushbutton (40). As this pushbutton acts on a normally open contact, the D input of the flip-flop (75) is at 0, as is its output when the pushbutton is not acted on.

By adding other removable parts with different contact combinations, you get the four variants described above.

In order to ensure the activation of the additional function corresponding to the attached removable part, the outputs of the flip-flops (68 and 75) are connected to the inputs (78 and 79) of a program block selector (80) which selects the desired program block with the basic circuit (60). In our case, there are four program blocks corresponding to the four possible combinations, namely a block (81) corresponding to the "simple chronograph" function, a block (82) corresponding to the "football" function, a block (83) corresponding to the "tennis" function and a block (84) corresponding to the "multichronograph" function.

The door outputs (69 and 76), which change to 1 when the pushbuttons (40' and 40) are pressed, can be used in the same way as the contacts controlled by the pushbuttons (13 and 14) to control the additional functions from the outside. The action of these various control means can be modified depending on the additional function in operation. There can therefore be a section within each program block (81 to 84) that controls the pushbutton/function interaction.

Finally, as described in Figure 2b, it is possible to incorporate an electronic circuit in the removable part, in particular a memory (41) connected to the contacts (36 and 37). The reading of this memory is ensured by means of a circuit (85) which makes it possible to establish the connection between the memory circuit of the removable part (41) and the program blocks (81 to 84) in such a way that parameters and/or information relating to the functioning of the additional functions contained in the memory (41) of the removable part are transmitted inside the watch.

Of course, it is not possible to describe all the functions of the electronic circuit of the watch according to the invention, but they are known configurations accessible to those skilled in the art.

Claims (10)

1. Small watch with a housing (35), with measuring and display means (2 to 11, 17 to 20; 2 to 11, 51; 2 to 11, 55) of the real time and an additional function, comprising at least two stepping motors which drive at least two hands (2 to 4, 6, 7, 10) for the analog display of the real time and the additional function, with selection means (80) for the additional function and with control means (13, 14; 13, 14, 50; 13, 14, 53, 54) for the additional function, characterized in that it further comprises a removable part (16) with graphic elements (17 to 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) and with means (31 to 34) for fastening the removable part (16) on the housing (35), that the means for fastening (31 to 34) are coupled to the selection means (80) in such a way that the additional function is selected or not depending on whether the removable part (16) is fastened to the housing or not, and that a section (17 to 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) of the graphic elements (17 to 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) forms a section of the measuring and display means (2 to 11, 17 to 20; 2 to 11, 51; 2 to 11, 55). 2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the section (17 to 20; 51; 55) of the graphic elements (17 to 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) comprises a scale division of at least one parameter related to the additional function. 3. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the section (17 to 20; 51; 55) of the graphic elements (17 to 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) comprises at least one scale division for counting a time related to the additional function. 4. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the portion (17 to 20; 51; 55) of the graphic elements (17 to 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) comprises at least one scale division for counting points related to the additional function. 5. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the section (17 to 20; 51; 55) of the graphic elements (17 to 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) comprises at least one scale division for the identification of situations related to the additional function. 6. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that another part (21, 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) of the graphic elements (17 to 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) is designed in such a way that a relationship is established with at least one event related to the additional function. 7. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that another part (21, 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) of the graphic elements (17 to 22; 51, 52; 55 to 57) is designed in such a way that a relationship is established with at least one person related to the additional function. 8. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (13, 14, 50; 13, 14, 53, 54) for controlling the additional function comprise manual control means (13, 14) arranged on the case (35), and in that the removable part (16) comprises a recess for facilitating access to the manual control means (13, 14). 9. Watch according to claim 8, characterized in that the removable part (16) comprises an electrical circuit (38 to 40) and that the fastening means (31 to 34) comprise electrical connection means between the electrical circuit (38 to 40) and the means (13, 14, 50; 13, 14, 53, 54) for controlling the additional function. 10. Watch according to claim 9, characterized in that the electrical circuit (38 to 40) comprises a pusher (40; 53, 54).