EP0670532B1 - Watch displaying meteorological forecasting - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a part horology, and in particular a watch, comprising a pressure sensor and can indicate any variation in atmospheric pressure.

EP-A-O 345 929 describes a watch "multimode" comprising such a sensor. This watch further includes a first analog display indicating the time and a second digital display at liquid crystal may indicate pressure atmospheric measured. In addition, this second display can indicate the pressure variation between two measurements consecutive. However, this indication is made by a small arrow which indicates only if the pressure has increased (arrow pointing up), if pressure has decreased (arrow pointing down) or if pressure has not not changed (the two arrows together). This arrangement does not gives no forecast of weather. Moreover, the reading and the aesthetics of such a watch indicating in at the same time several information on several displays do not seem optimal.

US patent US-A-4 257 112 describes a part of watchmaking, and among others a watch, which includes a sensor reacts to atmospheric pressure and to give a barometric indication to the carrier. An arrow system is also used here to display the barometric trend on a device digital liquid crystal display. This system can indicate five different trend conditions and is therefore more extensive than the document indication system mentioned above, but the indications are not still not optimal clarity. Furthermore, said watch gives no indication relating to the forecast of time.

Document DE 36 03 073 describes a part timepiece capable of measuring atmospheric pressure absolute and temperature. Pressure values measured periodically are stored in a memory with the measurement time. Thanks to control means, the user can display all these values one after another. It is thus possible to deduct a weather forecast. However, the forecast itself is not displayed. In addition, this piece is complex and so expensive because of the large memory required for store all this information.

It is also known from document FR 2 404 250 display, using hour hands and minutes, other parameters. In particular, this document describes a timepiece allowing the display of the date by one of said hands which first indicates the name of the parameter to display and then the value of this setting. However, this document does not indicate the possibility to display two different parameters by two needles. In addition, no mention of a measure any is given.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these disadvantages by offering a timepiece analog can indicate any pressure variation atmospheric, this room comprising at least two needles to provide time information, a clockwork to drive said hands, and a pressure sensor to measure the variation of atmospheric pressure, and conversion means electrically connected to said pressure sensor and said watch movement to provide said movement clockwork indications of pressure variation atmospheric, this part being characterized in that a said needles is driven by the movement for indicate the pressure variation as a function of said indications of atmospheric pressure variation, while that another of said needles is driven by the movement to indicate a forecast at the same time meteorological as a function of said measured variation.

Advantageously, the forecast of the weather can be calibrated so that this indication conforms to time meteorological observed, i.e. so that the wearer of such a timepiece could correct the forecast indication if it does not seem to him correct.

• La figure 1 représente de façon schématique une montre selon l'invention dans une étape d'affichage classique de l'heure;
• La figure 2 représente de façon schématique la montre selon l'invention lorsqu'elle affiche la variation de pression et la prévision du temps y afférente;
• La figure 3a représente une première possibilité de corriger l'indication de prévision du temps;
• La figure 3b représente une deuxième possibilité d'effectuer une telle correction;
• La figure 4 est un exemple d'un relevé barométrique sur une durée de deux semaines,
• La figure 5 représente une vue en coupe de la montre selon l'invention conformément à un premier mode de réalisation, et
• La figure 6 représente une vue en coupe de la montre selon l'invention conformément à un deuxième mode de réalisation.

The invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the drawings in which:

• Figure 1 schematically shows a watch according to the invention in a conventional time display step;
• FIG. 2 schematically represents the watch according to the invention when it displays the pressure variation and the forecast of the time related thereto;
• FIG. 3a represents a first possibility of correcting the indication of weather forecast;
• FIG. 3b represents a second possibility of carrying out such a correction;
• Figure 4 is an example of a barometric reading over a period of two weeks,
• FIG. 5 represents a sectional view of the watch according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment, and
• Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the watch according to the invention in accordance with a second embodiment.

Figure 1 shows schematically a room of watchmaking according to the invention. Timepiece 1 which in the example shown is a wristwatch includes an analog time display consisting of hour hand 2 and minute hand 3. Of course, watch 1 can also include other hands for example a second hand (not shown). The capacity of this analog display not being limited to the provision of current time, but may extend to other time information which include the date, day, month, year, etc. Watch 1 also includes a movement timepieces 12 of classic design (Figures 5 and 6) connected to a crown 4 (figure 1), via a non-stem referenced. By pressing the crown 4, you can set the displayed time. This can be done in one way classic by pulling out crown 4 which then actuates the rod and by turning the stem-crown assembly. The dial 5 of watch 1 is not wearing only the various indications of the watches usual, such as hour markings, minutes and / or seconds, and the like, but it also carries a display 6 for the indication of the variation of a pressure, here atmospheric pressure. Watch 1 includes a bezel 7 which is mounted on the middle of the watch in a known manner, and on which various time indications can be displayed meteorological. Said telescope can be mounted fixed or mobile way as will be explained below.

We will describe below the construction of the watch according to the invention, in accordance with a first mode of production. In this first mode, represented in the figure 5, watch 1 includes a pressure sensor, the latter being a quartz sensor referenced 13.

The principle of a quartz sensor as used here is known from patent EP-B-0 099 330. This patent describes a pressure measurement sensor using an element pressure sensitive. This sensitive element includes a tuning fork made of piezoelectric material, for example quartz, which delivers pressure information in the form of a frequency. Said tuning fork is provided with electrodes for vibrate his arms. Indeed, in the case where such tuning fork is excited in bending, that is to say in the case where his arms vibrate, the natural frequency variation of the resonator is a function of pressure. So the frequency of this resonator varies depending on the atmospheric pressure if the resonator is exposed to Ambiant air.

It is therefore possible to use this phenomenon to obtain an indication of the barometric situation.

Watch 1 comprises, in a known manner, a glass of watch or glass 9 adjusted in a middle-bezel 10 of a watch case 1 to protect hands 2 and 3 and the dial 5. The middle-bezel 10 therefore supports the crystal 9 and its bezel, and a back 18, to protect the movement 12 of the watch. Movement 12 is placed on a circle casing 22 which is itself placed on an internal bottom 16. Indeed, the back of the watch according to the invention consists of a double bottom, i.e. a first internal back 16 which is housed and held in the middle -glasses 10 and in a second pierced external bottom 18 which is secured to the outside of this middle part. Between the first internal bottom 16 and the middle-bezel 10 there is a seal 14. The second bottom external 18 is drilled, to allow passage, by several small passages 19, the ambient air being offered for measurement. In the first internal bottom 16 is arranged, on its upper surface, a housing 26 in which is placed the pressure sensor 13 and its housing 11 conforming to sensor housing described in said patent EP-B-0 099 330. Preferably, the case is held in place and protected by an epoxy resin 17.

The sensor 13 comprises means (not shown) to vibrate his arms and to collect the frequency clean of oscillation of said tuning fork under the effect of ambient air pressure. This sensor 13 further comprises means not shown, to convert variations of said frequency into a pressure indication, such as this has been explained above with reference to the patent European EP-B-0 099 330. These conversion means can also convert said pressure variation into a weather forecast, as mentioned above.

Said conversion means are therefore linked electrically to the electronic control of said movement, for example by a contact tab 24 to drive correspondingly the hands of watch 1 and indicate the variation in atmospheric pressure as well as weather forecast based on this variation.

The internal bottom 16 is provided in its surface bottom of an opening 15 made under the pressure 13 which allows ambient air to enter received from outside the box, via the external bottom 18.

The sensor is sensitive to the molecular mass of gas to be measured, here this gas therefore being the ambient air. For ensure a molecular mass of invariant gas, a variable volume chamber is created by the housing 11 of the pressure sensor 13, opening 15 at the bottom internal 16 and the membrane seal 20. This volume encloses a gas whose pressure is identical, due to the mobility of the membrane seal 20, at external ambient pressure. In case overpressure, for example when the user of a watch according to the invention made of scuba diving, the membrane seal 20 comes to rest on the internal bottom 16 around opening 15 to avoid the deterioration of the membrane seal 20. Said housing 16b is placed lower than the bottom surface of the first bottom 16 and is formed by a circular collar 23 which extends towards the outer bottom 18. On the collar 23 is fixed a membrane support 21.

We will now refer to Figure 6 which represents a second embodiment of the watch according to the invention. We see that this watch is of a construction similar to that of the first mode of realization, except for the sensor of pressure and the first internal bottom 16 which contains it.

In this second embodiment, the pressure is either a capacitive sensor or a sensor piezoresistive. The operation of such sensors being known to those skilled in the art, it will not be described in detail below.

As the construction for these two sensors is identical, we will describe below only the mode of embodiment which includes a capacitive sensor.

The capacitive sensor referenced in Figure 6 by the reference 13a is formed by two electrodes delimiting a dielectric volume. The first electrode is formed a flexible insert allowing external pressure to vary the dielectric volume, and therefore the capacitance, and the second electrode is of a construction classic. With this type of sensor, it is possible to be directly in contact with the ambient air. It is so possible to make the first internal bottom 16a less thicker than the bottom 16 of the first embodiment, the membrane seal can be removed. It is enough here attach the sensor to said first bottom 16a and surround it with a material 31, for example a gel of silicone, for sealing. The electrodes are each linked by connection wires 29 to the means of conversion 30 to convert the information received (analog) to useful information (digital), these means being comparable to the means of conversion of the quartz sensor. These means 30 can consist of a integrated circuit which is preferably placed as close of the sensor as possible so that the connecting wires remain very short. This avoids influences capacitive wires, important in case the signal information is very weak. To protect the wires from connection and conversion means 30 to ensure sealing, we can surround this arrangement with material such as gel 31.

The conversion means 30 are then linked electrically at movement 12, for example via wires connection linked to a pad 33 surrounded by a resin protection 32 (for example an epoxy resin) and a contact tab, analogous to the first mode of achievement described above, which is subject to movement 12 and rests on the pad 33.

The operation of the watch is as follows.

As seen in Figure 2, when you push on crown 4, a needle, in this example the needle 2 hours, indicates in conjunction with display 6 the pressure variation measured by the pressure 13, 13a. At the same time, another needle, in this example the minute hand 3, indicates the forecast weather weather for the current day function of the variation of this measured pressure. In another embodiment, the hour hand 2 can indicate the weather forecast in reverse function of the pressure variation which can be about indicated by the minute hand 3; one of these indications which, according to yet another mode of achievement be displayed by the second hand (no shown in Figures 1 and 2), or by a additional needle.

As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the display 6 indicating the pressure variation has five levels different from barometric pressure trend, i.e. a first for a strong drop in pressure (-), a second for a slight decrease (-), a third for stable pressure (o), a fourth for low increase (+) and a fifth for a strong increase (++). In function of the variation in atmospheric pressure measured by the pressure sensor 13, 13a which is actuated by the movement 12 at which the variation information of pressure has been supplied and which forms the indicator of this variation (here the hour hand) will position itself in look of the corresponding mark of the display 6 of the dial. The other hand, here the minute hand 3 forming the weather weather indicator will receive a forecast information from conversion media 30 and will indicate in conjunction with the display of forecast 8 the weather forecast that matches the better at the pressure variation measured. In this example, display 8 of the weather forecast includes four different forecasts, represented by symbolic way to indicate rain, overcast, a few sunny spells and the sun. Since the hands can provide display by range analog, they can also indicate intermediate conditions; it is therefore not provided only a few fixed conditions, but a whole range between these conditions. On bezel 7 we find, in this example, display 8 with several indications a forecast of the weather; in general we can say that a strong pressure increase (indicated by "++" on the dial) corresponds to an improvement in time, a sharp drop (indicated by "-") corresponds to a deterioration of the time, and that a stable pressure (indicated by "o") corresponds to a situation where the weather does not change. Well heard, the weather forecast display can be found on the dial instead of on the bezel 7.

However, if the wearer of watch 1 according to the invention moves in such a way that its displacement influence the measurement - for example if between two measurements consecutive where the height at which the wearer is changed a lot - the weather forecast does not will be more correct.

It is therefore desirable that the wearer can correct this forecast so that it matches the meteorological conditions observed on the day of the measurement. This is made possible in a first example (see Figure 3a) by the fact that the bezel 7 is mounted on the middle of the watch in a rotating fashion. So the wearer can correct the forecast indication by turning the bezel 7 comprising the display 8 of the meteorological accuracy until the needle indicates the forecast estimated to be correct. Figure 3b shows a second embodiment allowing such correction. Here, the telescope 7 is fixedly mounted on the middle and display 8 of the weather forecast found on dial 5. The wearer can move the indicator, namely the needle 3 itself, the display 8 being fixed, in the position which he considers to be correct. We understand that this movement can be done in turning crown 4 when the watch indicates the pressure variation, in the same way as the movement of the hand to set the time. So, the wearer can calibrate watch 1 as well as its sensor pressure at any time and he can get a complete independence of the indications from where we are.

The display is, as already mentioned, analog and is driven by, for example, a stepper motor bidirectional engaging with needles. He can too understand two driving forces, in the mode of shown embodiment, respectively the needle of minutes 3 and the hour hand 2. In the case of a single engine, of course you need to have a declutching system, to break the kinematic link between the two needles at least during the phase display. Such an arrangement is known from skilled in the art and will not be explained in detail here.

The pressure variation measured will therefore cause actuation of a number of steps of the driving motor the needle which indicates this variation. The forecast of time is a function of this pressure variation expressed by the formula K.Δp. So the other needle, which indicates the weather forecast here needle 3, goes be driven by this motor with a number of steps N corresponding to K.Δp, K being a determined constant of experimentally, and Δp being the variation measured.

Figure 4 is an example of a barometric reading taken over a period of two weeks. We can see that the atmospheric pressure fluctuations which influence the weather are those which have a period more or less equal to 24h. This parameter is used in the watch according to the invention for the measurement of the barometric trend: this is determined by a comparison, made over a time interval large enough to allow a correct measurement, here this interval is 24 hours. We measure and record ΔP _{j, j-1} which is the difference in atmospheric pressure between 2 successive measurements, respectively on day "d" and on day "j-1". It is therefore possible, for example, to carry out an automatic measurement cycle, once every 24 hours. This measurement should preferably be carried out overnight, for example at 2:00 am, to have more stable measurement conditions.

Of course, the wearer himself can carry out a measure, for example by pushing crown 4. Under certain conditions, a measurement with an interval less than 24 hours, for example 6 hours, is also possible. This is to give more information direct to the user. However, in such a case, the minimum time interval between two measurements should be fixed (for example 3 to 4 hours), otherwise there is a risk of interference between the measurements and therefore a unreliable result.

Claims (7)

1. Analogue timepiece (1) capable of indicating an atmospheric pressure variation and comprising :

   at least two hands (2, 3) for providing a time information,

   a watch movement (12) for driving said hands, and

   a pressure sensor (13, 13a) for measuring the atmospheric pressure variation and conversion means (30) being electrically connected to said pressure sensor (13, 13a) and to said watch movement (12) for providing indications of atmospheric pressure variation to said watch movement (12),

   characterized in that

   one of said hands (2, 3) is driven by said watch movement (12) to indicate the pressure variation as a function of said indications of atmospheric pressure variation,

   while another one of said hands (3, 2) is driven by said watch movement (12) to indicate at the same time a weather forecast as a function of said measured variation.
2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a movable bezel (7) mounted on the middle of said watch and on which weather forecast indications are displayed, said bezel (7) being turnable to correct the forecast indication.
3. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that said hand (3) indicating the forecast may be adjusted to correct said forecast indication.
4. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sensor (13, 13a) is a quartz sensor.
5. Timepiece according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said sensor is a capacitive sensor.
6. Timepiece according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said sensor is a piezo-resistive sensor.
7. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a first internal back cover (16) comprising the sensor and a second external pierced back cover (18) to allow the to be measured surrounding air to pass.

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