EP0476425B1 - Pièce d'horlogerie pouvant être portée de différentes manières - Google Patents

Pièce d'horlogerie pouvant être portée de différentes manières Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0476425B1
EP0476425B1 EP91114881A EP91114881A EP0476425B1 EP 0476425 B1 EP0476425 B1 EP 0476425B1 EP 91114881 A EP91114881 A EP 91114881A EP 91114881 A EP91114881 A EP 91114881A EP 0476425 B1 EP0476425 B1 EP 0476425B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
time reference
hands
adjustment means
timepiece according
hand
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91114881A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0476425A1 (fr
Inventor
Joel Bonvin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG
Original Assignee
Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG
Eta SA Fabriques dEbauches
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG, Eta SA Fabriques dEbauches filed Critical Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG
Publication of EP0476425A1 publication Critical patent/EP0476425A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0476425B1 publication Critical patent/EP0476425B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B37/00—Cases
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B27/00—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means
    • G04B27/005—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means stepwise or on determined values
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B37/00—Cases
    • G04B37/14—Suspending devices, supports or stands for time-pieces insofar as they form part of the case
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B45/00—Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electronic timepiece with analog display which can be worn in various ways, in particular as a wrist watch for right or left handed, or as a pocket watch.
  • Patent CH-56635 describes a pocket watch whose control rod, provided with a buckle, is at 12 o'clock and which comprises at 6 o'clock a sliding allowing to mount this watch on a bracelet crossing this loop and this flowing.
  • a similar construction, with the control rod at 6 o'clock, is described in patent CH-220795.
  • a wristwatch which can be worn either on the left wrist or on the right wrist is also known, in particular from document CH-548633.
  • the watch case is mounted on a false back to which the bracelet is fixed, and this box can be rotated relative to the false back.
  • a very similar device is described in document CH 499 816 relating to a watch case with a rotating middle part, incidentally comprising a pivoting bezel. Such a mechanical device would make it possible to correctly adjust the superposition of the hands and a determined time reference, but would have the disadvantage of imposing an unusual value on the angle formed by the control member and said time reference.
  • the invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and to provide a watch which can actually be worn on the left wrist or right wrist, or used as a pocket watch and which, in each case, displays the time correctly.
  • the invention relates to an electronic timepiece with analog display comprising an hour hand, a minute hand, a clockwork movement for driving said hands, a printed circuit, and an external control member.
  • a determined position to mark a determined time reference which is characterized in that it comprises an adjustment means for defining the position, relative to the control member, of this predetermined time reference, said adjusting means (22) being constituted by a microprocessor microprogrammed of the printed circuit.
  • the adjustment means is made active by a particular manipulation of the control member and, in this mode, the position of the determined time reference can be indicated by one or both needles superimposed.
  • this time reference is 12 o'clock (read on the dial - fixed - of a watch intended to be worn normally on the left wrist) so that the time either read normally when the watch is worn on the left wrist, at 6 o'clock (read on the same dial) so that the time is read normally when the watch is worn on the right wrist, and at 3 o'clock (read on the same dial) so that the time is read normally when the watch is used as a pocket watch.
  • FIG. 1 shows a timepiece according to the invention in the form of a block diagram.
  • This timepiece includes in series a quartz oscillator 2, a division chain 4 delivering a signal at 1 Hz, a seconds counter 6 and a minutes counter 8. It also includes a divider by twelve 10, receiving the signal of the second counter 6, and an hour counter 12 whose input is connected to the output of the divider 10.
  • the counters 6, 8 and 12 are counters by sixty which define, in normal mode, the position of the second, minute and hour hands relative to the hour turn of the timepiece dial.
  • the timepiece is provided, in the embodiment shown, with two motors 14, 16 controlled respectively by power circuits 18, 20 for driving the minute hand and the hour hand respectively.
  • the circuits 18, 20 receive, in normal mode, the pulses applied respectively to the inputs of the minute counters 8 and hours 12.
  • the timepiece comprises an adjustment means 22 making it possible to modify the position of a time reference.
  • This adjustment means 22 comprises inputs MN and H for receiving the contents of the minute counters 8 and hours 12, an activation input EN and an input D of movement data of the hands.
  • the signals applied to the inputs EN and D are supplied by an interpretation circuit 24 as a function of the position and the displacement (direction and speed) of the control rod.
  • the adjustment means 22 also includes two outputs Mmn and Mh for delivering pulses to the motors 14 and 16, and a control output C for managing the state of two switches 26, 28 arranged at the input of the power circuits 18, 20 and arranged to transmit to them, either the pulses applied to the inputs of the minute counters 8 and 12 hours, or the pulses delivered by the adjustment means.
  • the adjustment means can advantageously be produced in the form of an integrated circuit comprising a microprogrammed processor.
  • the adjustment means In normal time display mode, the adjustment means is inactive and the motors 14, 16 receive the pulses applied to the inputs of the minute and hour counters 8, 12.
  • the activation of the adjustment means 22 is obtained, for example, by a particular manipulation of the control rod which causes the emission by the interpretation circuit 24 of an activation signal towards the input EN of the means adjustment 22.
  • the adjustment means 22 then successively executes an initialization phase, an adjustment phase and a display phase according to the flow diagram of FIG. 2.
  • the adjustment means 22 emits a signal on its output C to place the switches 26 and 28 in state b, that is to say block the pulses applied to the counters 8 and 12 and, simultaneously, reads the contents of counters 8 and 12 to know the position of the minute and hour hands. It then emits the number of pulses required on the outputs Mmn and Mh to bring the hands back to the position corresponding to the predetermined time reference (this does not affect the operation of the counters 6, 8 and 12). For example, if the time reference is noon, the hands are returned to the position they would have if the contents of counters 8 and 12 were equal to zero.
  • the user defines the new position of the time reference by marking, using the hands, the position chosen for this time reference.
  • the movement of the hands is controlled by the control rod, the movement of the latter being interpreted by the circuit 24 which sends corresponding pulses to the input D of the adjustment means 22 which, in turn, emits on its outputs Mmn and Mh of the control pulses to the motors 14 and 16.
  • the needles remain constantly superimposed.
  • the adjustment means 22 or the user sends the same pulses to the two motors 14 and 16. This allows the user to better realize that the timepiece is in adjustment.
  • the adjustment means 22 When the user has marked the new position desired for the time reference, he exits the adjustment mode with a special handling of the control rod.
  • the adjustment means 22 then reads the content of the minute counters 8 and hours 12, which define the current time, and sends the appropriate number of pulses to the motors 14 and 16 to move the hands from the position of reference to the display position of the current time.
  • time reference is noon or midnight (which corresponds to the value zero in counters 8 and 12)
  • it suffices to move each hand a number of steps equal to the content of the associated counter for the time is displayed normally with respect to the new position which marks midday or midnight.
  • FIG 3a there is shown a wrist watch intended to be worn on the left wrist.
  • the control rod is therefore on the right.
  • the dial is fitted with four different indexes at 12, 3, 6 and 9.
  • the minute and hour hands each make 60 steps per revolution of the dial.
  • noon and midnight are marked by the superposition of the two hands at 12 o'clock. This time is chosen as the time reference.
  • the current time is therefore 16h 18 mn.
  • the content CPmn of the minute counter is thus equal to 18, and the content CP H of the hour counter is 21.
  • the new position of the time reference is at 6 o'clock. This means that, at noon or midnight, the hands are in the position shown in Figure 3c.
  • the adjustment means moves the hands (display phase) so that they display the current time, taking into account the new position of the time reference.
  • the time reference is noon or midnight
  • just advance each hand a number of steps equal to the content of the corresponding counter (see Figure 3d).
  • the wristwatch can now be worn on the right wrist with the control rod on the left. Adjusting the position of the time reference allows the two hands to be superimposed when it is noon or midnight.
  • the wristwatch is intended to be worn on the left wrist, with the control rod on the right.
  • the two hands move until they are in the position marking the time reference (initialization phase), that is to say that they overlap at 12 noon (see Figure 4b).
  • the adjustment means reposition the hands to display the current time, taking into account the new position of the time reference (cf. FIG. 4d).
  • the time reference is indicated by the position of the superposed hands in the adjustment phase. It is clear that in order to be able to superimpose the hands and move them together, the timepiece movement must include one motor per hand.
  • the position of a determined needle can be used to mark the position of the time reference.
  • the adjustment means can be provided with a table containing a limited number of positions authorized for the time reference.
  • This table is preferably filled in the factory by the manufacturer of the timepiece.
  • the possible positions are the four positions which in a normal watch indicate 3h, 6h, 9h and 12h.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
EP91114881A 1990-09-19 1991-09-04 Pièce d'horlogerie pouvant être portée de différentes manières Expired - Lifetime EP0476425B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH3031/90 1990-09-19
CH3031/90A CH680892B5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1990-09-19 1990-09-19

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0476425A1 EP0476425A1 (fr) 1992-03-25
EP0476425B1 true EP0476425B1 (fr) 1994-11-30

Family

ID=4247080

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91114881A Expired - Lifetime EP0476425B1 (fr) 1990-09-19 1991-09-04 Pièce d'horlogerie pouvant être portée de différentes manières

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US5177715A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
EP (1) EP0476425B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JP3195393B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
KR (1) KR100191841B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CN (1) CN1025079C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA2050752C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH680892B5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE69105423T2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH684862B5 (fr) * 1992-09-25 1995-07-31 Ebauchesfabrik Eta Ag Pièce d'horlogerie analogique comportant des moyens d'avertissement d'un changement de mode.
CH684044B5 (fr) * 1992-09-25 1995-01-13 Ebauchesfabrik Eta Ag Pièce d'horlogerie analogique pouvant afficher des informations supplémentaires.
CH684143B5 (fr) * 1992-10-08 1995-01-31 Ebauchesfabrik Eta Ag Pièce d'horlogerie apte à recevoir des messages radiodiffusés affichés par ses aiguilles.
ES1035333Y (es) * 1996-10-14 1997-10-01 Merida Marin Francisco Reloj de pulsera perfeccionado.
EP1407511B1 (en) 2001-07-05 2007-10-03 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Wrist-worn electronic instrument with antenna
EP2128719A1 (fr) 2008-05-29 2009-12-02 Frédéric Crettex Dispositif d'affichage
GB2492437B (en) * 2012-04-05 2014-04-02 Richard George Hoptroff Left-handed watch movement
US20160223990A1 (en) * 2015-02-02 2016-08-04 Seiko Instruments Inc. Electronic timepiece, electronic timepiece system and method of controlling electronic timepiece

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH1758568A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1968-11-26 1970-06-15
DE2111657A1 (de) * 1971-03-11 1972-09-28 Kuechler Dieter Walter Armbanduhr mit umsteckbarem Zifferblatt
US4236239A (en) * 1979-07-06 1980-11-25 Societe Suisse Pour L'industrie Horlogere Management Services S.A. Electronic timepiece comprising two different displays
CH646569GA3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1982-05-11 1984-12-14
DE8515600U1 (de) * 1985-05-28 1985-08-01 Roth, Kurt, 3520 Hofgeismar Wasserdichte Uhr, insbesondere Armbanduhr

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1025079C (zh) 1994-06-15
KR100191841B1 (ko) 1999-06-15
HK1007200A1 (en) 1999-04-01
JP3195393B2 (ja) 2001-08-06
CN1059973A (zh) 1992-04-01
DE69105423D1 (de) 1995-01-12
DE69105423T2 (de) 1995-06-22
CH680892A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1992-12-15
KR920006820A (ko) 1992-04-28
CA2050752C (en) 2002-12-10
EP0476425A1 (fr) 1992-03-25
CH680892B5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1993-06-15
JPH04264288A (ja) 1992-09-21
US5177715A (en) 1993-01-05
CA2050752A1 (en) 1992-03-20

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