EP0569868A1 - Control device for a timepiece suitable to receive radio messages - Google Patents

Abstract

The timepiece includes a timekeeper displaying the hour (4) and the minute (5), a receiver of radio messages capable of being read on a display (7) and a control device (3) including a stem fitted with a crown (10). The stem/crown can be set to three different axial positions, a first stable pulled-out position in which the timekeeper can be set to time by rotating the crown, a second stable neutral position in which the messages received can be displayed one after the other by rotating the crown and a third unstable pushed-in position in which the displayed message can be erased or saved. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a timepiece for displaying at least the hour and the minute, a receiver for radio messages composed of signs, a memory for storing said messages, a cell for displaying at least said messages, an acoustic or mechanical transducer and a control device comprising at least one rod fitted with a crown capable of being actuated manually.

A timepiece meeting the generic definition above has already been described in several documents published in the name of the same applicant. The general arrangement of the antenna confined in the housing is the subject of document EP-B-0 339 482 (US-A-4 884 252). The assembly of the movement, the middle part and the back of such a part is described in document EP-A-0 460 526. Finally, the arrangement of the battery supplying the radio frequency part of the watch is described in document EP- A-0 460 525.

As can be seen from what has been said above, the timepiece in question is doubled with a people search device which will be designated subsequently by its English name "pager". As will be seen below, the pager part is composed of an antenna, a receiver circuit, a decoder, a microprocessor and a memory capable of recording several messages, each of these messages being able, on request, appear on an LCD display cell. The pager is completed by a sound diffuser signaling, for example, the arrival of a message. The pager is essentially present here as a micro-receiver signaling to the user that he is wanted by a third person.

There are pagers that transmit only one or more sound signals. When the signal sounds, the user must then dial an agreed number on a telephone. The pager that will be discussed in this description allows the user to know, at the same time as a sound signal can sound, who the third party is looking for, and this by the appearance of a message on a cell. display message, this message consisting in most cases of displaying a telephone number to call back. To send their message, the third party begins by dialing the pager number to reach on their telephone device, after which a special audible signal sounds in the handset. She then composes her message using the numeric keypad available on her own device and waits for the telephone exchange to announce that her call has been recorded. Once this receipt is received, the handset can be hung up. A period of time later the message sent will appear on the called pager, accompanied by a warning signal if the user so wishes.

Combining a pager with a wristwatch is advantageous by the fact that the device is permanently worn by the user who, therefore, will not forget to take it with him and also by the fact that it is 'A much smaller size than that presented by independent pagers known from the state of the art. However, this combination poses technical problems which are difficult to solve. Some of these problems have already been described in the documents cited above. The present invention aims to solve a problem which had not been mentioned until now and which is that posed by the control device of an apparatus bringing together both a wristwatch and a pager, where it is a question of firstly, to be able to correct the time displayed by the watch and secondly, to be able to scroll, if necessary, to be able to protect or delete the messages received by the pager. These functions are ensured, according to the present invention, by a single crown-stem, the invention being characterized in that the stem can be brought into at least three different axial positions, a first stable position in which the timepiece can set the time by rotating the crown, a second stable position in which the received messages can be displayed at least one after the other by rotating the crown and a third unstable position in which the displayed message can be at least erased or protected by action exerted in the longitudinal direction of the rod.

• la figure 1 montre le mécanisme de tige-couronne dans une première position tirée, stable, de la tige, ce dispositif permettant de commander, selon l'invention, la pièce d'horlogerie comportant la combinaison d'un garde-temps et d'un pager.
• la figure 2 montre le même mécanisme dans une deuxième position neutre, stable, de la tige,
• la figure 3 montre le même mécanisme dans une troisième position poussée, instable, de la tige,
• la figure 4 est une coupe selon la figure IV - IV de la figure 2 du pignon coulant collaborant avec la tige,
• la figure 5 est une vue du pignon coulant selon la flèche V de la figure 4,
• la figure 6 est une vue en plan du mécanisme montré en figure 1,
• la figure 7 est une vue de dessous de la figure 6 où apparaît le système de crantage de la tige,
• la figure 8 est une vue en plan d'un premier mode d'exécution de la montre pager selon l'invention,
• la figure 9 est une représentation agrandie de la zone d'affichage de la montre de la figure 8 représentant les divers graphismes susceptibles d'y être affichés,
• la figure 10 est un schéma bloc présentant la partie électronique de la montre-pager de la figure 8,
• la figure 11 est un diagramme expliquant les fonctions des poussoirs 1 et 2 dont est équipée la montre-pager de la figure 8,
• la figure 12 est un diagramme montrant l'arrangement de la mémoire de la montre-pager de la figure 8, cette mémoire contenant des messages pouvant être manipulés par la tige-couronne 3,
• la figure 13 est un diagramme montrant comment s'y prendre pour déplacer, au moyen de la tige-couronne 3 de la montre-pager de la figure 8, un message dépassant la capacité de la cellule d'affichage,
• la figure 14 est un diagramme expliquant la réception des messages quand la montre-pager est mise en état de veille,
• la figure 15 est une vue en plan d'un second mode d'exécution de la montre-pager selon l'invention,
• la figure 16 est une représentation agrandie de la zone d'affichage de la montre de la figure 15 représentant les divers graphismes susceptibles d'y être affichés,
• la figure 17 est un schéma bloc présentant la partie électronique de la montre-pager de la figure 15,
• la figure 18 est un diagramme expliquant les fonctions de la tige-couronne de la montre de la figure 15, ce diagramme illustrant les états du pager en mode commande,
• la figure 19 est un diagramme expliquant les fonctions de la tige-couronne de la montre de la figure 15, ce diagramme illustrant les états du pager en mode message,
• la figure 20 montre la manipulation à exercer sur la tige-couronne de la montre-pager, de la figure 15 pour protéger un message contenu dans la mémoire,
• la figure 21 montre la manipulation à exercer sur la tige-couronne de la montre-pager de la figure 15 pour effacer un message contenu dans la mémoire, et
• la figure 22 montre la manipulation à exercer sur la tige-couronne de la montre-pager de la figure 15 pour lui attribuer des heures d'enclenchement et de déclenchement déterminées.

The invention will now be explained by means of examples illustrated by the drawing in which:

• Figure 1 shows the stem-crown mechanism in a first drawn, stable position of the stem, this device making it possible to control, according to the invention, the timepiece comprising the combination of a timepiece and a pager.
• FIG. 2 shows the same mechanism in a second neutral, stable position of the rod,
• FIG. 3 shows the same mechanism in a third, unstable pushed position of the rod,
• FIG. 4 is a section according to FIG. IV - IV of FIG. 2 of the sliding pinion collaborating with the rod,
• FIG. 5 is a view of the sliding pinion according to the arrow V in FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 7 is a bottom view of FIG. 6 where the notching system of the rod appears,
• FIG. 8 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the pager watch according to the invention,
• FIG. 9 is an enlarged representation of the display area of the watch in FIG. 8 showing the various graphics likely to be displayed there,
• FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the electronic part of the pager watch of FIG. 8,
• FIG. 11 is a diagram explaining the functions of the pushers 1 and 2 with which the watch-pager of FIG. 8 is equipped,
• FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the memory of the watch-pager of FIG. 8, this memory containing messages which can be manipulated by the crown-stem 3,
• FIG. 13 is a diagram showing how to go about moving, by means of the crown stem 3 of the pager watch of FIG. 8, a message exceeding the capacity of the display cell,
• FIG. 14 is a diagram explaining the reception of messages when the watch-pager is put in standby state,
• FIG. 15 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the pager watch according to the invention,
• FIG. 16 is an enlarged representation of the display area of the watch in FIG. 15 showing the various graphics likely to be displayed there,
• FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the electronic part of the watch-pager of FIG. 15,
• FIG. 18 is a diagram explaining the functions of the stem-crown of the watch of FIG. 15, this diagram illustrating the states of the pager in command mode,
• FIG. 19 is a diagram explaining the functions of the crown-stem of the watch in FIG. 15, this diagram illustrating the states of the pager in message mode,
• FIG. 20 shows the manipulation to be performed on the crown stem of the pager watch, of FIG. 15 to protect a message contained in the memory,
• FIG. 21 shows the manipulation to be carried out on the crown-stem of the pager watch of FIG. 15 to erase a message contained in the memory, and
• FIG. 22 shows the manipulation to be carried out on the crown-stem of the pager watch of FIG. 15 in order to allocate it specific engagement and trigger times.

Figures 8 and 15 are plan views of the first and second embodiments of the pager watch according to the invention. This timepiece includes a timepiece which displays the time of day at least by means of 4 hour and 5 minute hands. The timepiece also includes a pager system, that is to say say a device comprising a receiver of radio messages composed of signs and a memory for storing these messages, these receiver and memory being the subject of a description which will be found below. The messages are picked up by an antenna wound around the middle of the case and which appears, in FIGS. 8 and 15, in the form of wires 6. A description of this antenna can be read in the document EP-B-0 339 482 (US-A-4,884,252). The messages appear on a cell 7, formed for example of a liquid crystal. The two embodiments of the watch-pager also include a control device 3 comprising in both cases at least one rod fitted with a crown 10 capable of being actuated manually and the description of which will follow. A sound diffuser 8, of which only the orifice has been shown in FIGS. 8 and 15, makes it possible to signal, among other things, the arrival of a message. The constructive organization of the entire device is described in document EP-A-0 460 526 to which reference may be made for more details.

In both embodiments and according to the invention, the rod can be brought into at least three different axial positions according to a mechanism which will be explained now with the help of Figures 1 to 7. The first position is a stable position, shown in Figure 1, position for which the timepiece can be set by the rotation of the crown. The second position, also a stable position, is shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the messages received can be at least displayed one after the other by rotation of the crown. Finally, the third position, illustrated in FIG. 3, is unstable and makes it possible to erase or protect the message by exerting an action in the longitudinal direction of the rod.

The stem-crown 3 of Figures 1 to 3 comprises a stem proper 9 fitted at its end by a crown 10 on which can be exerted, either a rotational movement, or a pressure. The rod 9 slides in an opening 11 made in the middle part 12 of the housing and in a hole 13 made in a bent element 14. The rod has a groove 15 in which takes place a lining 16. The rod has yet another groove 17 in which is adjusted a rocker 18 secured to a pin 19. Finally the rod comprises a square 20 capable of sliding in a sliding pinion 21 retained axially in place by the bent element 14 and by another fixed bent element 22. It is also recognized in FIGS. 1 to 3, elements described in document EP-A-0 460 526 already cited, namely the plate 23, the dial 24, the first crystal 25 and the second crystal 26.

The sliding pinion 21 is shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5. As seen in Figure 5, it has two stages 27 and 28 and a hole 29 for receiving the square 20 of the rod 9. Each of the stages has a oblong section as can be seen in FIG. 4 on the hatched part of the stage 27. The stages 27 and 28 are angularly offset from one another by about 45 °. As seen in Figure 2 and Figure 6 which is a plan view from below the Figure 2, elastic conductive blades 29 and 30 respectively support the stages 27 and 28 of the sliding pinion 21, so that when the sliding pinion is rotated by the rod, these blades 29 and 30 alternately come into contact with conductive tracks respectively designated by A and B, these tracks being etched on a printed circuit 31. Figures 1 to 3 show that whatever the axial position of the rod, the sliding pinion 21 remaining in place, there is always contact of the blade 29 on track A and the blade 30 on track B, these contacts taking place alternately, as already said.

Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 6 further show that the rod mechanism includes two other switches. A first switch 32 is formed by a conductive strip 33 capable of coming into contact with a conductive track C formed on the printed circuit 31. A second switch 35 is formed by a conductive strip 36 capable of coming into contact with a conductive track D also formed on the printed circuit 31. When they are driven by the pin 19 the blades 33 and 36 come into contact with the tracks C and D respectively, the pin 19 being in turn driven by the rocker 18 cooperating with the groove 17 of the rod 9, as is apparent in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Figure 1 shows the first stable position drawn from the crown stem. It is the time setting position of the timepiece whatever its mode of execution (according to FIG. 8 or according to FIG. 15). Here the first switch 32 is closed and if the crown 10 is rotated, the first 29 and second 30 conductive strips are driven alternately to come into contact with the first A and second B conductive tracks respectively. A rotation of the crown at an angular speed lower than a determined speed allows the correction step by step, in more or less, of the indication of the minutes according to the direction of rotation of the crown, while a rotation of the crown at an angular speed greater than said determined speed allows the rapid correction, in more or less, of the indication of the hours by time zones whole hours according to the direction of rotation of the crown. The means used for these corrections are described in detail in the document CH-A-643,427 (US-A-4,398,831), these means being used in the two embodiments of the present invention. It will be added that in this first stable position, the correction of the time zone takes as reference the real time which runs from the activation in the position pulled from the crown, means being used to cancel all corrections of the minutes step by step which would have preceded the correction of the time zone, as described in document EP-B-0 175 961 (US-A-4,620,797).

Figure 2 shows the second stable and neutral position of the crown stem. This is the position for which the messages received by the pager can be displayed one after the other when the crown is turned. In this position the first 32 and second 35 switches are open, while the rotation of the rod drives the first 29 and second 30 blades which alternately come into contact with, respectively, the first A and second B conductive tracks.

Figure 3 shows the third unstable and pushed position of the crown stem. This is the position for which the displayed message can be deleted or protected when the crown is pressed. In this position, the second switch 35 is closed.

If we refer again to Figure 6, we see that the blades 29, 30, 33 and 36 are one and the same element having a common base 37. These blades are cut from a metal sheet, then bent at right angles to blades 33 and 36. The four blades are therefore connected to the same electrical potential, ie Vpp as will appear in the diagrams of Figures 10 and 17.

Figure 7 which is a bottom view of Figure 6, shows that the rocker 18, driven by the groove 17 of the rod 9, pivots about a holding axis 38. The rocker is extended by a first nose 39 which cooperates with two notches 40 and 41 formed in a first elastic element 42. The rod of FIG. 7 is shown in the second neutral position where the nose 39 is notched in the notch 40. By pulling on the rod to bring it into first position pulled, the nose 39 will snap into the notch 41. On the other hand, by pressing on the rod 9 from the position it occupies in FIG. 7, the nose 39 rises on a ramp 43 presented by the first elastic element 42, ramp which tends to return the rod to the neutral position when the pressure is interrupted. To further increase the return movement of the rod, the lever 18 has been provided with a second nose 44 which cooperates with a second elastic element 45, the two elastic elements being produced in one piece 46. The same crown-crown, which has just been described, will be used in two embodiments of the pager watch according to the invention, embodiments which will be described in detail now. In summary, we have seen that the functionality of the stem is the same for the two executions in question as regards a) the function of setting the time of the watch, b) the function of scrolling the messages one after the other the others and c) the message erasure or protection function. For the rest, the rod will have different functions depending on whether it is used in one or the other of the executions in question.

1) First mode of execution

Figure 8 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the pager watch according to the invention. In this execution, the watch-pager comprises, in addition to the crown-stem described in detail above, two additional push-buttons 1 and 2. The first push-button 1, located at 8 o'clock, allows the engagement and triggering of the pager. The second push-button 2, located at 10 o'clock, enables the pager to be placed in a standby state for which the received messages are at least stored in the memory without being signaled by the audible warning device 8.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged representation of the display cell referenced 7 in FIG. 8. This cell comprises an area 50 called a message and two areas 51 and 52 said to be of indicators. In zone 50, the messages appear which may consist of numbers and letters. Each sign has an assembly of segments, here a maximum of seven segments. The message can contain a maximum of twelve signs. In the indicator zone 51, there is: at 53, the indication FULL which signals that the protected memory is full; in 54, the numbers 4321 and in 55, the letters ABCD, these numbers and letters being service indications specifying respectively to which address and to which sub-address the message received was sent; in 56, the sign Y indicating the quality of radio reception; in 57, the BAT indication indicating that the pager's battery must be replaced without delay. In the indicators area 52, there is: at 58, a sign indicating that the message has been exceeded on the left of the cell; in 59, the indication PROTECT. signaling that the displayed message has been protected; in 60, the indication ON indicating that the pager is engaged; in 61, the indication SIL signaling that the pager is in standby state; at 62, the indication OFF signaling that the pager has been triggered; in 63, a sign indicating that the message has been exceeded on the right of the cell.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the electronic part of the watch-pager illustrated in FIG. 8. The messages picked up by the antenna 6 are received by a RF receiver circuit 64 (for example of the UAA 2033 type from the company Philips) then decoded by a decoder 65 (for example of the PCF 5001 type from the company of Philips). This decoder is programmable by its Programming line 66 to accept only messages intended for this particular pager, having its own radio identification code (RIC) and responding in this case to the radio call code No 1 of the CCIR ( based on CCIR recommendation 584-1, Dubrovnik, 1986). The decoder 65 has its own quartz clock 67. The pager also includes a RAM memory 68 of special construction and a microprocessor 69 (for example of the SMC 6234 type from the company Seiko). The decoder, the memory and the microprocessor are linked together by buses 70 to 73 as shown in FIG. 10. The microprocessor 69 has an internal driver so that it directly feeds the LCD display cell 7 via the bus 74. The same microprocessor has an output terminal for supplying a buzzer or buzzer 8. Pushers 1 and 2, corresponding to those drawn in FIG. 8, are connected to input terminals of the microprocessor. The watch-pager also includes a watch circuit 75 (for example of the type H 5026 from the company EM Microelectronic-Marin SA), comprising in a known manner a watchmaking quartz 76, a frequency divider and an attacking driver, via line 77 a stepper motor with two directions of rotation, the axis of the rotor of this motor driving a gear train and hour hands 4 and minutes 5. To the watch circuit are connected the conductive tracks A, B and C to which correspond respectively the conductive strips 29, 30 and 33 of the stem-crown mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6. To the microprocessor is connected the conductive track D to which the conductive strip 36 of the same mechanism corresponds. The microprocessor 69 and the circuit shown 75 are linked together by a "pulse" line which carries a signal representative of rotation of the crown 3 and by a line "direction" which carries a signal representative of the direction of rotation of said crown. Here, the angular speed of rotation of the crown is said to be greater than a determined speed (rapid rotation) if at least three pulses are present on the "pulse" line during a period of 200 ms. Likewise, an angular speed of the crown is said to be lower than said determined speed (slow rotation) if less than three pulses are present on the "pulse" line during the same period of 200 ms.

Using FIGS. 11 to 14, we will now describe how to use the pager by acting on the two pushers 1 and 2 and on the crown 3. The symbols used on the figures in question, with their meaning, are The following :

Figure 11 explains the functions of buttons 1 and 2. When the pager is engaged, the ON indicator, reference 60 in Figure 9, is on. To trigger the pager, long press (>> 1) is exerted on the pusher 1 and the OFF indicator, reference 62 in FIG. 9, is lit. To return to the ON position, press once again (>> 1) on push-button 1 and the indication ON appears. If you want to have the pager in standby state indicated on display 7 by the symbol SIL, abbreviation of the word SILence, you are sure to start that the pager is in the ON state, from which a long press (>> 2) is exerted on push-button 2. The SIL indicator is then lit and the pager is in the standby state, from which can be returned to the ON state by pressing the push-button 2 again (>> 2). Figure 11 also shows that if the pager is placed in the SIL state, it can be triggered by pressing (>> 1) on push-button 1. From the triggered state (OFF), it will be necessary to go through the engaged state (ON) to reach the standby state (SIL). The passage from one state to another can be accompanied by an audible receipt emitted by the buzzer 8 (Figures 8 and 10), these passages to the ON, OFF and SIL states can be accompanied by one, two and three beeps respectively. sound.

FIG. 11 also shows that when the battery supplying the pager is changed, when a new battery is connected, a first phase RESET of resetting the electronics of the pager occurs, followed by a second phase INIT d 'initialization, during which all the signs making up this display may appear on the display 7 and this in particular for the purpose of checking proper operation.

FIG. 12 shows how the memory of the pager watch of FIG. 8 is arranged and what are the effects of the rotation and of the pressure of the crown on the stored messages.

The RAM memory, referenced 68 in FIG. 10, comprises a first area 80 capable of storing a limited number N of incoming or unprotected messages. When this first zone is full, the writing of a new message, either the new message received N + 1 in FIG. 12, causes the loss of the oldest message, or message 1 in the figure. The RAM memory also includes a second area 81 capable of storing a limited number P of protected messages when the crown is actuated in a manner which will be explained later, for pass unprotected messages from zone 80 to zone 81 of protected messages. In this case, if the zone 81 is filled, a message from the zone 80 can no longer be protected and this fact will be signaled by the FULL indicator which will light up as indicated in 53 of FIG. 9. It follows from this that protecting a message prevents it from being automatically ejected from memory in the event that said memory is full.

, c'est-à-dire dans le sens antihoraire couronne vue de face, le message 1 disparaît au profit du message 2 qui est affiché. Si au contraire, à partir de l'affichage du message 1, on tourne la tige couronne rapidement dans le sens positif

, c'est-à-dire dans le sens horaire couronne vue de face, le message 1 disparaît au profit du message protégé 01, la vitesse de rotation rapide étant, on le rappelle, une vitesse de rotation supérieure à une vitesse angulaire déterminé. La figure 12 fait comprendre, de la même façon, comment du message protégé P, on passe au message non protégé N et inversement.It is assumed that message 1 is displayed on the cell. If the crown pin 3 is turned quickly in the negative direction

, that is to say counterclockwise crown viewed from the front, message 1 disappears in favor of message 2 which is displayed. If, on the contrary, from the display of message 1, the crown stem is quickly turned in the positive direction

, that is to say clockwise crown viewed from the front, the message 1 disappears in favor of the protected message 01, the rapid rotation speed being, it will be recalled, a rotation speed greater than a determined angular speed. FIG. 12 shows, in the same way, how from the protected message P, we pass to the unprotected message N and vice versa.

ou dans le sens positif

fera apparaître respectivement le message N-1 ou le message 1, le message 2 ayant été transféré de la première zone 80 de la mémoire à la seconde zone 81 en position P + 1. Pour distinguer un message protégé d'un message non protégé, on affecte le message protégé d'un signe particulier. Par exemple si le message est un numéro de téléphone, par exemple 038-20-91-73, le message protégé sera, par exemple, précédé d'un numéro d'ordre par exemple 02 indiquant par là qu'il s'agit du deuxième message protégé de la zone 81, ce message se présentant alors sous la forme 02 = 038-20-91-73.The protection of a message is carried out as follows. It is assumed that message 2 is the message appearing on the display cell and that the pager holder wishes to protect it. For this, it brings the rod into its third unstable position by pressing on the crown 3 (<3) for a period of time less than a determined period, for example during a period of less than one second. At this time, the PROTECT indicator, referenced 59 in FIG. 9 lights up above the message, indicating to the wearer that the message 2 is protected. From there, a rapid rotation of the crown in the negative direction

or in the positive sense

will display message N-1 or message 1 respectively, message 2 having been transferred from the first zone 80 of the memory to the second zone 81 in position P + 1. To distinguish a protected message from an unprotected message, the protected message is assigned a particular sign. For example if the message is a telephone number, for example 038-20-91-73, the protected message will be, for example, preceded by a serial number for example 02 indicating by there that it is about second protected message in zone 81, this message then taking the form 02 = 038-20-91-73.

ou dans le sens positif

fera apparaître respectivement le message O1 ou le message P-1. Il est bien entendu que l'effacement peut aussi être opéré sur un message non protégé, l'essentiel, pour cette opération, étant de faire apparaître sur l'affichage le message qu'on désire effacer.The deletion of a message is carried out as follows. It is assumed that the protected message 02 is the message appearing on the display cell and that the holder of the pager wishes to erase it. For this, it brings the rod into its third unstable position by pressing on the crown (<< 3) for a duration greater than a determined period, for example for a period greater than one second. At this time the displayed message disappears from the cell which becomes neutral. From there, a rapid rotation of the crown in the negative direction

or in the positive sense

will display message O1 or message P-1 respectively. It is understood that the erasure can also be made on an unprotected message, the main thing for this operation being to make appear on the display the message which one wishes to erase.

The arrival of a message (N + 1 in Figure 12) is accompanied by an audible signal composed of a series of beeps emitted for ten seconds, unless the pager is placed in the state of standby (SIL). This signal can be interrupted by a short press on any of the push-buttons 1, 2 or 3.

We have seen that the protection or erasure functions are performed respectively by a short or long press on the crown. To distinguish the short period from the long period, we can follow the short period with a beep, which indicates the wearer must release the pressure and the long period of two beeps, which signals that the erase function has been completed.

The telephone number 038-20-91-73 taken as an example above has 12 signs (the dashes count as signs) and therefore completely fills the available space of the display cell taken as an example in Figure 9. It does however happen that the message is longer and exceeds the capacity of the cell. If it is assumed that this message includes the following words: VERY LONG MESSAGE, only the VERY LONG ME lines can be displayed as shown in Figure 13 which illustrates this example. The exceeding of the message on the right is indicated by the sign 63 and on the left by the sign 58. Being then in the presence of the message referenced by 82, we will scroll it to the left by animating the crown with a slow rotation in the negative direction ∨, that is to say in the counterclockwise direction crown seen from the front, the slow speed of rotation being, as we recall, a speed of rotation less than a determined angular speed. The displays referenced 83 to 87 are obtained by successive rotations of the crown in the negative direction, the displays 83 to 86 showing protrusion to the right and to the left, which is indicated by the signs 63 and 58 respectively. The last display 87 shows the tail of the message since the sign 63 has disappeared and only the sign 58 remains. FIG. 13 shows that from display 87, it is possible to go back to display 82 by animating the crown d 'a slow rotation in the positive direction ∧.

fera apparaître en clair le dernier message reçu (N + R) et ainsi de suite.Figure 14 is a diagram explaining the reception of messages when the watch-pager is in standby state. In the figure, message 1 is displayed and the pager is in the ON state. A long press (>> 2) on push-button 2 places the pager in standby state (SIL). Message 1 disappears from the display (it is however not deleted) which appears without indication, therefore neutral, except for the SIL sign which appears. From this moment, the messages received are at least written into the memory without being audible, and even without any display appearing on the cell. In the example of FIG. 14, however, it has been preferred to assign to each message received in SIL mode, a serial number appearing on the display by 1 CALL, 2 CALLS, etc., which thus indicates the number of messages received in this mode. To make these messages readable (after R CALLS) it is again necessary to return to ON mode by pressing on the rod 2 (>> 2). The display becomes neutral, then a rapid rotation of the crown in the positive direction

will show in clear the last message received (N + R) and so on.

2) Second mode of execution

Figure 15 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the pager watch according to the invention. Compared to the first embodiment, this second mode comprises only one crown stem 3 to the exclusion of any other push-button. Here the ON-OFF and ON-SIL functions described above are fulfilled by the crown pin 3.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged representation of the display cell referenced 7 in FIG. 15. This cell comprises an area 85 called a message and two areas 86 and 87 called an indicator. In area 85, messages appear which can consist of numbers and letters. Each sign has an assembly of segments, here a maximum of seven segments. In the example display, the message can contain a maximum of twelve signs. In the indicator zone 86, there is: at 88, the indication NEW which signals a new message and remains displayed until it has been acknowledged by a short press on the crown; in 89, the indication FULL which indicates that the memory is full; in 90, the indication PROT signaling the message protection function; in 91, the indication LED signaling the erasure function; in 92, the sign Y indicating that the radio coverage is good, therefore that the reception of a message is possible; in 93, the BAT indication indicating that the pager's battery must be changed. In the indicator area 87, there is: at 100, a sign indicating that the message has been exceeded on the left of the cell; in 94, the indication OFF signaling that the pager has been triggered; in 95, the indication ON indicating that the pager is engaged; in 96, the indication AUTO indicating that the pager is engaged and triggered automatically; in 97, the TIME indication allowing the internal time of the pager to be adjusted; in 98, the indication MUTE signaling that the pager is in standby state; in 89, a sign indicating that the message has been exceeded on the left of the display cell.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the electronic part of the pager watch illustrated in FIG. 15. The messages picked up by the antenna 6 are received by an RF circuit 64 (for example of the type UAA 2033 from the company Philips) which is connected to a microprocessor-decoder 101 by a three-wire bus 102. The microprocessor-decoder 101 combines an ordinary microprocessor with a decoder of a similar type described in reference 65 in the diagram of FIG. 10. The decoder is associated with an external EEPROM memory 103 which can be programmed by the two-wire line 104 called programming. As already said about the first mode of execution, the decoder is programmed to accept only messages intended for this particular pager having its own radio identification code (RIC). The microprocessor-decoder 101 has its own quartz clock 67. The microprocessor-decoder 101 is connected by a nine-wire bus 105 to the EEPROM memory already mentioned, this memory being associated with another RAM memory. Messages to appear on the LCD 7 liquid crystal display are controlled by a driver 106 itself connected to the microprocessor 101 by a seven-wire bus 107. To the microprocessor 101 is connected an audible warning device or Buzzer 8. The diagram in FIG. 17 also includes a watch circuit 75 (for example of the type H 5026 from the company EM Microelectronic-Marin SA) comprising a watchmaking quartz 76, a frequency divider and a driver driving, via line 77, a stepping motor with two directions of rotation, the axis of the rotor of this motor driving a gear train and hour 4 and minute hands 5. To the watch circuit 75 are connected the conductive tracks A, B and C to which correspond respectively the conductive blades 29, 30 and 33 of the pin-crown mechanism 3 illustrated in FIGS. 1 , 2, 3 and 6. It is recalled here that when the crown is driven in rotation, tracks A and B are connected alternately to the potential Vpp and when the crown is in the first position pulled out (reset to time) track C is rel permanently linked to the Vpp potential. The microprocessor 101 is connected to the conductive track D to which the conductive blade 36 of the same mechanism corresponds, and it is also recalled that when the crown is in the third unstable pushed position the track D is connected to the potential Vpp. The microprocessor 101 and the watch circuit 75 are connected together by a "pulse" line which carries a signal relating to the fact that the crown 3 is driven in rotation and by a "direction" line which carries a signal relating to the direction of rotation of said crown.

The RAM memory 103 of FIG. 17 is of a more conventional invoice than that used in the first embodiment of the invention. In this second form of execution the messages contained in the RAM memory are stacked one on the other, the oldest at the bottom and the most recent at the top of the stack and an area without message overcomes the most recent message, this area showing a neutral display when it is displayed (see figure 19). Since the RAM memory can only contain a limited number of messages, it is clear that if said memory is full, a new incoming message will cause the loss of the oldest message, if the latter is not protected.

Using FIGS. 18 to 22, a description will now be given of the manner of using the pager by acting on the single crown 3, this manner being substantially different from that of the first mode since there are no longer ON- pushers. OFF and ON-SIL, the functions are now also fulfilled by the crown.

<<

: Pression longue sur la couronne

<

: Pression courte sur la couronne

∧

: Rotation de la couronne dans le sens positif

∨

: Rotation de la couronne dans le sens négatif

   Une pression sur la couronne est longue (<<) lorsque sa durée dépasse une seconde. Cette pression est courte (<) lorsque cette durée est inférieure à une seconde. Les pressions courtes ou longues pourraient être quittancées par un bip sonore.The symbols used in Figures 18 and 19, with their meanings, are as follows:

<<

: Long press on the crown

<

: Short press on the crown

∧

: Rotation of the crown in the positive direction

∨

: Rotation of the crown in the negative direction

Pressing the crown is long (<<) when its duration exceeds one second. This pressure is short (<) when this duration is less than one second. Short or long presses could be acknowledged by an audible beep.

Generally a rotation in the positive or negative direction of the crown makes it possible to select a function, while a short press makes it possible to validate the chosen function and a long press makes it possible to enter a particular phase or menu. All the manipulations of the pager are carried out by means of the crown in the second neutral position, the first drawn position being used only for setting the time of the watch, as has been said above.

FIG. 18 is a diagram explaining the functions of the crown-stem of the watch illustrated in FIG. 15, this diagram illustrating the states of the pager in command mode, these states being indicated by the indicators 94 (OFF) to 98 (MUTE) illustrated in figure 16.

By rotating the crown, the pager is brought into standby mode 110 for which the display is neutral. From there we exert a long press << on the crown 3, which will light all the status indicators from OFF (94) to MUTE (98) with the indication OFF flashing. The OFF state can then be validated by pressing <on the crown. The pager then returns to standby position 112 with the OFF indicator lit. If the ON state is desired, a long press << is exerted on the crown 3, which will light all the status indicators from OFF (94) to MUTE (98) with the indication OFF flashing. The crown 3 is then turned in the positive direction ∧ until the ON 95 indicator flashes. The ON state can then be validated by pressing <on the crown. The pager then returns to standby position 112 with the ON indication lit. As shown in figure 18, the other states AUTO 96, TIME 97 and MUTE 98 can be obtained in the same way, by observing that the selection of the state is obtained by rotation of the crown in the positive direction ∧ until the desired indicator flashes and validation of the flashing state is obtained by short press on the crown. We also observe in Figure 18 that once arrived at the MUTE 98 state, we can return to the OFF state 94 through all the intermediate states, by turning the crown in the negative direction ∨.

FIG. 18 also shows that from the OFF state 94, the MUTE state 98 can be reached directly by rotating the crown in the negative direction ∨. Conversely, from the MUTE 98 state, it is possible to return directly to the OFF 94 state by rotating the crown in the positive direction ∧.

As indicated above, after a long press on the crown, all the indicators appear and one of them is flashing. Another way to do it could consist of only flashing the selected indicator, the other indicators being off.

If the OFF and ON states are self-explanatory, the MUTE, AUTO and TIME states are worth explaining.

The purpose of the MUTE 98 state is to put the pager into the standby state, a state for which the messages received are at least stored in the RAM memory, without an audible signal attracting the attention of the pager bearer. a message has arrived. Normally the arrival of a message is visible on the display cell and is accompanied by an audible signal. In the MUTE state, this audible signal is suppressed. The visible signal, which is that of the appearance of the message on the display cell, could also be deleted or be materialized by a serial number, as explained above with regard to the first mode of execution. from the pager.

The purpose of the AUTO state is to engage and trigger the pager automatically at times preprogrammed by the pager bearer. By selecting the AUTO 96 state by rotating the rod and confirming this state by short pressing on the same crown, you return to standby mode 112 with the hours programmed by default, i.e. those found in a special memory fitted to the pager. The way to set the ON time 113 ON and the OFF time 114 appearing on the diagram in FIG. 18 will now be explained with the help of the manipulation program shown in FIG. 22.

It is pointed out here that in FIGS. 20, 21 and 22 a long press on the crown has been symbolized by a long-tailed arrow which is equivalent to the symbols << in Figures 18 and 19. Similarly a short press on the crown is symbolized in Figures 20, 21 and 22 by a short-tailed arrow, which is equivalent to the symbols <in Figures 18 and 19.

The crown is manipulated to bring up the neutral display on the one hand and the AUTO 96 indicator in the validated state on the other, by proceeding as indicated above. The AUTO indicator will be accompanied by the ON indicator if the time at which these adjustments are made is included in the activation period of the AUTO state. Otherwise the OFF indicator is on. We then enter the hour control phase or menu by a long press 115 on the crown. By exerting a rotation 116 on the crown, the flashing AUTO 96 state is selected, the flashing state being marked by clear letters AUTO in FIG. 22. When the AUTO mode is selected, then appear on the display 117 the switch-on (08:00) and switch-off (18:00) hours. There is again a long press 118 on the crown, which results in entering the AUTO hour setting menu. The switch-on time (08:00) appears alone accompanied by the indication ON. The hours (08) flash. The hours are programmed by rotating the crown 119. The new programming of the hours (07) is validated by pressing 120 on the crown. The validation of the hours causes the minutes (00) of the switch-on time to flash. The minutes are programmed by rotation 121 of the crown. The new programming of the minutes (00) is validated by pressing 122 on the crown. The validation of the minutes results in the appearance of the trigger time (18:00) with the indication OFF and the flashing of the trigger hours (18). The hours are programmed by rotating the crown 123. The new programming of the hours (19) is validated by pressing 124 on the crown, which causes the minutes (00) of the trigger time to flash. The minutes are programmed by rotating the crown 125. The new programming of the minutes (00) is validated by pressing 126 on the crown, this validation causing the return to the neutral display 127 with the inscription AUTO and the inscription ON if the time of day is included in the switch-on period. The TIME 97 status shown in Figure 18 is intended to set the pager to the time of day for correct operation of the AUTO function. This time setting is carried out as follows: the pager is placed in neutral display with the AUTO state lit. You enter a phase or command menu by long press on the crown. By turning the crown, you select the TIME 97 menu, which displays the time of day. A new long press (<< 128) on the crown causes the hours of the day to flash, these hours can then be adjusted by rotating the crown and then validated by short pressure on the said crown. The validation of the hours results in the flashing of the minutes which can be adjusted by rotating the crown and then validated by short pressing on the said crown, this validation <129 causing the return to the neutral display.

In the case where, starting from the TIME 97 state, a short pressure <170 is exerted on the crown instead of exerting the long pressure << 128, we return to the standby position 112 having validated the time already stored in the pager.

Note that the AUTO and TIME states are accessory functions which are not essential for the operation of the pager. In a simplified version of the latter, they may not be present. It will also be mentioned that there is an automatic return to standby mode from any of the selected modes if no manipulation has been carried out for thirty seconds.

FIG. 19 is a diagram explaining the functions of the crown-stem of the watch in FIG. 15, this diagram illustrating the states of the pager in message mode.

To view the messages contained in the memory one after the other, the crown is brought to the second stable neutral position, then it is rotated. A rotation of the crown in the negative direction ∨ 130 makes the displayed message (for example message n) disappear from the cell, an older message (message n-1) replacing the disappeared message. Conversely, a rotation of the crown in the positive direction ∧ 131 makes the displayed message disappear from the cell (for example message n-1), a more recent message (message n) replacing the disappeared message.

In the case where a message, message n for example, exceeds the capacity of the display cell, it is possible to scroll it (shift 132) sign to sign, by exerting a short press <133 on the crown, to reveal the hidden signs.

In the version used here, once all the hidden signs are made visible, the scrolling automatically changes direction. To stop scrolling, short press <134 on the crown again.

The protection of a message is carried out as follows. It is assumed that one wishes to protect the message n-2 in FIG. 19, message appearing under the reference 135 in FIG. 20. For this, one exerts a long pressure << 136 on the crown, which makes it possible to enter a message processing phase or menu in which the PROT 90 and LED 91 indicators appear. The PROT 90 protection option is then selected by default. The desired option is then selected by rotating the crown 138, an operation which in fact is not necessary since the PROT indicator is already flashing. Finally, the message protection status is confirmed by a short press <139 on the crown, a sign P 137 indicating this state. The PROT and LED indicators have disappeared.

The deletion, indicated by the term DELETE or DEL, is carried out in the following manner: it is assumed that one wishes to delete the message n-2 indicated in figure 19, message referenced 135 in figure 21. For this, one exerts a long pressure << 136 on the crown, which allows entering a message processing phase or menu, where the PROT 90 indicator flashes by default as stated in the previous paragraph. The DEL 91 option is selected by rotation ∨ 140 of the crown in the negative direction. The LED indicator 91 flashes. Finally, the erasing state is validated by a short press <141 on the crown, the message 135 then disappearing from the display cell on which the most recent message n-1, referenced 142. now appears. FIG. 19 also shows that from the flashing DELETE option, you can either return to the PROTECT option by rotation ∧ 143 of the crown in the positive direction, or return to message n-2 without being affected by rotation ∨ 144 of the crown in the negative direction.

In this second embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the messages are preceded by a serial number 145, which is not the case in the first embodiment where this number n 'appears only for protected messages. Here, as we have seen, the protected message has a P preceding the serial number.

As can still be seen in FIG. 19, the pager can include provisions for erasing all unprotected messages on request. To carry out this general erasure symbolized at 150 in FIG. 19 by CLR ALL, the crown is rotated ∨ until the first (oldest) message received 151. From there, the rotation ∨ 152 is further exercised. the crown to get the cell to display CLR ALL, a mode that is confirmed by pressing and holding << 153 on the crown. At this moment appears the flashing word YES (yes) referenced by 154. If you then press short <155 on the crown, the CLR ALL function is performed and all unprotected messages are erased at once. It should be noted that during the operation which has just been described, messages could have arrived which have therefore not yet been received. The process described above does not erase this kind of messages. Figure 19 also shows that from the YES 154 function, we can substitute a NO 171 function by driving the rod in the negative direction V 172. If the NO 171 function is validated by short press <173 on the crown, we return to CLR ALL without general deletion. Note that from display NO 171, you can return to YES 154 by driving the rod in the positive direction ∧ 174.

3. General remark

The two embodiments described above are examples among others that one could still imagine. The essence of the invention resides in the fact that from a crown-stem 3 it is possible at the same time: to correct the time of the timepiece by turning the crown, to display any of the messages found in the pager's memory by also turning the crown, and protect or delete one of the messages contained in the pager.

Claims (16)

Timepiece comprising a timepiece for displaying at least the hour (4) and the minute (5), a receiver of radio messages composed of signs, a memory (68,103) for storing said messages, a cell (7) to display at least said messages, an acoustic or mechanical transducer (8) and a control device (3) comprising at least one rod (9) fitted with a crown (10) capable of being actuated manually, characterized in that the rod (9) can be brought into at least three different axial positions, a first stable position (FIG. 1) in which the timepiece can be set by the rotation of the crown (10), a second stable position (figure 2) in which the received messages can be displayed at least one after the other by rotation of the crown (10) and a third unstable position (figure 3) in which the displayed message can be at least erased or protected per share exercised in the longitudinal direction of the rod. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the first stable position (Figure 1) is a pulled position arranged to close a first switch (32) and for which the rotation of the crown (10) alternately causes first (29) and second (30) conductive strips which come into contact with first (A) and second (B) conductive tracks respectively, that the second stable position (FIG. 2) is an intermediate position between the first and the third position, second position for which the rotation of the crown similarly causes said first (29) and second (30) blades which come into contact with said first (A) and second (B) tracks respectively, and that the third unstable position ( Figure 3) is a pushed position arranged for close a second switch (35) when pressure is exerted on the crown. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (3) further comprises a first pusher (1) capable of switching on or off the receiver of radio messages and a second pusher (2) capable of placing said receiver in a standby state for which the received messages are at least stored in the memory without being signaled by said transducer. Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that if the first pusher (1) has been activated to activate the receiver, the incoming message is displayed in clear on the display cell (7) while a signal sounds sound (8) which is interrupted after a determined period and if the second button (2) has been activated to place the receiver in standby state, the incoming message is not accompanied by any sound signal, said cell display showing only the number of messages received during said standby state. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (3) comprises only a single rod (9) fitted with a crown (10) capable of being actuated manually. Timepiece according to claim 3 or claim 5, characterized in that when the rod (9) is brought into its first stable position, a rotation of the crown (10) at an angular speed less than a determined speed allows the step-by-step correction in addition to or less of the indication of the minutes (4) according to the direction of rotation of the crown, and a rotation of the crown at an angular speed greater than said determined speed allows rapid correction in addition and less than the hour indication (5) by entire time zones according to the direction of rotation of the crown. Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that the memory (68) comprises a first zone (80) capable of storing a limited number of incoming or unprotected messages for which, when said first zone is full, the registration of a new message causes the loss of the oldest message and a second zone (81) capable of storing a limited number of confirmed or protected messages. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that when the rod (9) is brought into its second stable position a rotation of the crown (10) at an angular speed lower than a determined speed causes the displayed message to scroll. sign after sign in one direction or the other depending on the direction of rotation of the crown if the content of the message exceeds the capacity of the display cell, and a rotation of the crown at an angular speed greater than said determined speed causes the passage from one message to another in one direction or the other depending on the direction of rotation of the crown, if the memory contains several messages. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that when the rod (9) is brought into its third unstable position by pressing on the crown (10) for a period less than a determined period, an unprotected message appearing on the display cell passes from the first zone (80) of the memory to the second zone (81) and becomes a protected message with a particular sign. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that when the rod (9) is brought into its third unstable position by pressing on the crown (10) for a period greater than a determined period, the message appearing on the cell display, whether protected or not, is deleted from the memory and from said display cell (7). Timepiece according to claim 5, characterized in that the messages contained in the memory (103) are stacked one on the other, the oldest at the bottom and the most recent at the top of the stack, an area (160) without message, forming a neutral display when it is displayed, overcoming the most recent message and the memory can contain a limited number of messages in such a way that if the memory is full a new incoming message will cause the message to be lost the oldest, if this message is not protected. Timepiece according to claim 11, characterized in that if the rod (9) is brought into its second stable position, the rotation of its crown (10) causes the passage of a message to the other in one direction or in the other according to the direction of rotation of the crown if the memory contains several messages and if said rod is brought by pressure on its crown to its third unstable position for a period less than a determined period, the message displayed scrolls sign to sign in one direction then in the other and so on, if the content of the message exceeds the capacity of the display cell, the stop of the scrolling being caused by a new pressure on said crown. Timepiece according to claim 11, characterized in that to protect or erase a message appearing on the display cell, the rod (9) is brought by pressure on its crown (10) to its third unstable position during a period greater than a determined period to enter a phase in which the protection function or the function of erasure by rotation of the crown can be chosen, said selected function appearing on the display and then being able to be validated, for the message displayed , by exercising a new pressure on the crown for a period less than said determined period. Timepiece according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises means (150) arranged to erase on request all unprotected messages. Timepiece according to claim 11, characterized in that from said neutral display (160), the timepiece can be engaged, triggered or brought into a standby state for which the received messages are at least stored in the memory by bringing the rod (9) to its third unstable position by pressing on its crown (10) for a period greater than a determined period to enter a phase in which the engagement, trigger or standby by rotation of the crown, said selected function appearing on the display and can then be validated by exerting a new pressure on the crown for a period less than said determined period. Timepiece according to claim 15, characterized in that it further comprises means (96, 97) for switching it on and off at times of the day chosen by the user.

Images