EP0674247B1 - Clock with manual control - Google Patents

Clock with manual control Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0674247B1
EP0674247B1 EP95103730A EP95103730A EP0674247B1 EP 0674247 B1 EP0674247 B1 EP 0674247B1 EP 95103730 A EP95103730 A EP 95103730A EP 95103730 A EP95103730 A EP 95103730A EP 0674247 B1 EP0674247 B1 EP 0674247B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
watch
glass
capacity
frequency
manual control
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EP95103730A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0674247A1 (en
Inventor
Yvan Terés
Joachim Grupp
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Asulab AG
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Asulab AG
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    • 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
    • G04B25/00—Indicating the time by other means or by combined means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G21/00—Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
    • G04G21/08—Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C23/00—Clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at preselected times or after preselected time-intervals

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to watches comprising a device for manual control and, more particularly, to watches comprising a sensor capacitive, a first frame of which is arranged on the inner face of the glass the watch, a first capacitor being formed between the first electrode and the mass formed by the case when a wearer of the watch places a finger on the outside face of the watch.
  • Such a device is described in patent CH 607 872 and in the application DE-A-2 749 512 which corresponds to it.
  • a conductive layer is placed on the inside of the watch glass to form a capacitive sensor.
  • This sensor forms with a capacitor independent a capacitive divider.
  • a high frequency alternating voltage is applied to this divider by a generator.
  • a detection device detects the potential between the independent capacitor and the capacitive sensor. Depending on whether a finger is placed or not on the glass, this detected voltage varies between two values.
  • a comparator compares this detected potential to a reference voltage and by therefore provides a control signal having either a logic state high, or a logical state low depending on whether the finger is present or not.
  • U out U in (VS ref )/(VS p + C d + C ref )
  • U in the voltage applied to the capacitive divider by the generator
  • C p the parasitic capacitance
  • C d the capacitance of the capacitive sensor
  • C ref the capacitance of the independent capacitor
  • the capacitances C d and C ref must be significantly greater than the parasitic capacitance, which leads to a high current consumption, notably reducing the service life of the watch battery.
  • the comparator which compares the potential detected by the capacitive divider with a reference voltage is an analog component which must, in order to present the required precision, include a complex arrangement of transistors.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a watch fitted with a device manual control which at least partially remedies these drawbacks.
  • the present invention thus relates to a watch comprising a case forming a mass, a glass and at least one manual control device which is connected to an operating circuit intended to execute a predetermined function of the shows under the action of said manual control device, the latter comprising a capacitive sensor comprising a first armature disposed on the face interior of the glass, and the other frame of which is selectively formed by the positioning of a finger of a user of said watch on the external face of the glass, this capacitive sensor thus being intended to form a first capacitance, said watch also having a second capacity which has a common junction with said first frame, characterized in that said second capacity is a parasitic capacitance between said first frame and the case which is connected in parallel with said first capacity, and in that said device for manual control also includes a voltage-frequency converter, the input is connected directly to said common junction between said first armature and the second capacitor, and a frequency detector connected between said converter and said operating circuit, so that said capacitive sensor and said parasitic capacitance determines the
  • the present invention makes it possible to create a control signal the detection of which logical states can be made by digital means whose realization is simpler than that of an analog circuit used in the prior art.
  • the converter voltage-frequency of the watch according to the invention is preferably produced under the form of an astable multivibrator, but it can possibly take the form of a voltage controlled oscillator.
  • Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a watch 1 comprising a case 2 and a glass 3.
  • An electronic circuit 4 is arranged in the case 2.
  • a conductive electrode 5, preferably transparent, is arranged on the face inside 6 of the watch glass 1.
  • the electrode 5 is connected to the electronic circuit 4 by a conductor 7.
  • a battery or other source of electrical energy 8 is also disposed in the housing 2 and is connected to the positive pole of the electronic circuit 4 by a driver 9.
  • the electrode 5 forms one of the armatures of a sensor capacitive 20, the other armature 21 of this capacitive sensor 20 being formed by finger 10 of the wearer of watch 1 when, in order to carry out a predetermined order in the watch, it touches the outside of the glass 3 to the location of the electrode 5.
  • the wearer's finger 10 is connected to earth 11 of the electronic circuit, like all body of the wearer, through the housing 2 which is in contact with the wrist of it and which is connected at the negative poles of electronic circuit 4 and of the battery 8.
  • FIG. 2 represents the diagram of a device for manual control 22 used in watch 1 of the figure 1 and which generates a control signal in response to the activation of the capacitive sensor 20.
  • This device 22 is connected to a DF frequency detector and in turn connected to a CE operating circuit which allows to execute, in a manner known per se, the function of the watch that the user wishes to order.
  • the control device 22 comprises a capacitive sensor 20 while a stray capacitance C p is by construction present between the electrode 5 and the case 2 of the watch 1.
  • This stray capacitance is represented in FIG. 2 by a capacitor 23.
  • the capacitive sensor 20 and the capacitor 23 are connected in parallel between the ground 11 and the inverting input of an operational amplifier 24.
  • the manual control device 22 comprises also resistors 25, 26 and 27 all connected in series between amplifier output 24 and ground 11.
  • the non-inverting input of amplifier 24 is connected to a junction between resistors 26 and 27.
  • the amplifier 24 and the resistors 25, 26 and 27 form a Schmidt flip-flop which provides its output 28, that is to say at the junction between the resistors 25 and 26, a signal having, depending on the relative values of the voltages present at the inputs inverting and non-inverting amplifier 24, either a high logic level or a low logic level.
  • Two zener diodes 29 and 30 mounted head to tail are connected between output 28 and earth 11, in order to stabilize the voltages defining respectively these logical levels.
  • the manual control device 22 further comprises a resistors 31 connected between output 28 and the inverting input of amplifier 24.
  • This resistor 31 is part, with the capacitive sensor 20 and the capacitor 23, of a low-pass filter which integrates the voltage at the output of the Schmidt rocker.
  • the potential of the armatures of capacitors 20 and 23 is applied to the input reversing amplifier 24.
  • the control device manual 22 works as a voltage-frequency converter, in other words a voltage controlled oscillator.
  • the voltage-frequency converter was designed as an astable multivibrator because it creates a periodic signal having two quasi-stable states while oscillating freely.
  • it can also be designed as any generator periodic signal and in particular, as already indicated above, in the form of a voltage controlled oscillator.
  • the arrangement illustrated on the Figure 2 is particularly advantageous because of its simplicity of construction and that no high precision electronic components are required.
  • T 2R 31 VS early In (1 + (2R 26 ) / R 27 )
  • R31, R26 and R27 are respectively the values of the resistors 31, 26 and 27, and Ctot is the total capacity between the inverting input of the amplifier 24 and the ground 11.
  • the frequency of oscillation of the voltage-frequency converter varies depending on the presence or absence of the user's finger on the outside of the glass. If the finger 10 of the watch wearer 1 is not placed on the crystal 3, the armature 21 of the capacitive sensor 20 is therefore absent from the circuit shown in FIG. 2.
  • the total capacity C tot is in this case equivalent to the stray capacitance C p between the electrode 5 and the ground 11.
  • the frequency of oscillation of the output signal of the control device 22 is then proportional to the inverse of the stray capacitance C p .
  • the frame 21 is formed and, consequently, the capacitive sensor 21 effectively acts on the control device 22.
  • the total capacity C tot is equivalent to the inverse of the sum of the capacities C d and C p .
  • the oscillation frequency of the output signal from the control device 22 is proportional to the inverse of the sum of the capacities C d and C p .
  • the desired information in the signal output is contained in its frequency, instead of being in the absolute value of its amplitude, it suffices to use digital means designed in a simple way to shoot it.
  • digital means designed in a simple way to shoot it. These means can be achieved, by example, by a pulse counter which is set runs during a fixed operating period. The frequency, and therefore the presence or absence of the finger on the outside face of the watch glass is shown directly by the number of pulses received during this fixed period.
  • FIG. 3 is a graph which shows that the resolution and the power consumption of the present invention are better compared to those obtained in the prior art.
  • C p / C d On the horizontal axis of this graph is plotted the relationship C p / C d , that is to say the relationship between the parasitic capacity established between the fixed electrode 5 of the capacitive sensor and the housing 2 and the capacity C d of the capacitive sensor 20.
  • the relative resolution of the manual control device has been taken, in other words the relationship between the low logic state and the high logic state of its output signal.
  • the curve 40 represents, in the case described in patent CH 607 872 cited above, the relative difference V pr / V ab between the two voltage values detected by the comparator, respectively in the presence and in the absence of the finger of the user.
  • the value of the capacity C ref was taken as being equivalent to the value of the capacity C d .
  • Curve 40 shows that there is a large difference between the levels of the analog voltages of the prior device, and that a high resolution is therefore reached, if the relationship C p / C d is comparatively small. But under these conditions, the capacitance C d of the capacitive sensor must be significantly greater than the stray capacitance C p , which will increase the consumption of the manual control device. Conversely, a relation C p / C d which is comparatively large decreases the resolution of the manual control device, but a lower energy consumption is obtained, since then the capacity C d is smaller.
  • the curve 41 of FIG. 3 represents, in the case of the invention, the difference between the two frequency values F pr and F ab generated at the output 28 of the control device 22, respectively when the finger of a wearer of watch 1 is placed on glass 3 and is absent from this glass, always as a function of the ratio C p / C d .
  • the capacitance C d must be at least twice as large as the stray capacitance C p , which represents a considerable increase in the energy consumption of the watch battery compared to what is obtained for the same resolution in the case of the invention.
  • the invention also relates to watches with handwriting recognition comprising a plurality of manual control devices of the kind of FIG. 2 in order to follow the position of the finger on the glass of a wearer of the watch and therefore allow the recognition of a number or letter written by the carrier on the glass.
  • the DF frequency of all manual control devices can be connected to the CE operating circuit of the shows, while the electrodes 5 of their sensors capacitive form a suitable pattern on glass 3 of it.
  • the device manual control can include several sensors capacitors of the type defined above, the junctions common between the first frame and the second capacity of each of these capacitive sensors being all connected to the input of a multiplexer. In this case output of the multiplexer is connected to the input of the detector frequency of the control device.
  • the capacitance C d of the capacitive sensor shown in FIG. 2 can vary according to the precise positioning of the user's finger on the watch glass.
  • the frequency of the oscillator of the voltage-frequency converter can gradually change when a finger placed on the glass approaches or moves away from the first frame of the capacitive sensor.
  • This sensitivity threshold can be different for each capacitive sensor forming the manual control device, and the values of all these thresholds can be stored in a memory in the operating circuit.
  • the position of a user's finger can be detected by analyzing the frequency change caused by each capacitive sensor. So the change of frequency caused by the position of the finger on the glass of the watch will be more pronounced for a capacitive sensor located near the finger and will be less pronounced for capacitive sensors further away from the finger. By analysing frequency changes of all sensors capacitive, the position of the finger can be determined.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)

Description

La présente invention est relative aux montres comportant un dispositif de commande manuelle et, plus particulièrement, aux montres comportant un capteur capacitif dont une première armature est disposée sur la face intérieure du verre de la montre, une première capacité étant formée entre la première électrode et la masse constituée par le boítier lorsqu'un porteur de la montre pose un doigt sur la face extérieure de la montre.The present invention relates to watches comprising a device for manual control and, more particularly, to watches comprising a sensor capacitive, a first frame of which is arranged on the inner face of the glass the watch, a first capacitor being formed between the first electrode and the mass formed by the case when a wearer of the watch places a finger on the outside face of the watch.

On connaít déjà des montres comportant des dispositifs de commande manuelle destinés à remplacer les moyens de commande externes habituels tels que des boutons-poussoirs, utilisés pour commander les diverses fonctions d'une montre comme la mise à l'heure ou l'enclenchement et le déclenchement d'un chronographe. Certains de ces dispositifs sont constitués par au moins une électrode transparente disposée sur la face intérieure du verre de la montre, cette dernière comprenant un circuit agencé de manière à exploiter les signaux qui sont engendrés lorsque le porteur de la montre pose son doigt sur le verre en regard de cette électrode.We already know watches with control devices manual intended to replace the usual external control means such as as push buttons, used to control the various functions of a shows like setting the time or switching on and off a chronograph. Some of these devices consist of at least one transparent electrode placed on the inside of the watch glass, this last comprising a circuit arranged so as to process the signals which are generated when the wearer of the watch places his finger on the glass opposite this electrode.

Un tel dispositif est décrit dans le brevet CH 607 872 et dans la demande DE-A-2 749 512 qui lui correspond. Dans l'agencement décrit dans ces documents, une couche conductrice est disposée sur la face intérieure du verre de la montre afin de former un capteur capacitif. Ce capteur forme avec un condensateur indépendant un diviseur capacitif. Une tension alternative de fréquence élevée est appliquée à ce diviseur par un générateur. Un dispositif de détection détecte le potentiel entre le condensateur indépendant et le capteur capacitif. Selon qu'un doigt est posé ou non sur le verre, cette tension détectée varie entre deux valeurs. Un comparateur compare ce potentiel détecté à une tension de référence et par conséquent fournit un signal de commande ayant, soit un état logique haut, soit un état logique bas selon que le doigt est présent ou non.Such a device is described in patent CH 607 872 and in the application DE-A-2 749 512 which corresponds to it. In the arrangement described in these documents, a conductive layer is placed on the inside of the watch glass to form a capacitive sensor. This sensor forms with a capacitor independent a capacitive divider. A high frequency alternating voltage is applied to this divider by a generator. A detection device detects the potential between the independent capacitor and the capacitive sensor. Depending on whether a finger is placed or not on the glass, this detected voltage varies between two values. A comparator compares this detected potential to a reference voltage and by therefore provides a control signal having either a logic state high, or a logical state low depending on whether the finger is present or not.

Or, une capacité parasite est toujours présente entre la couche conductrice disposée sur le verre de la montre et la masse constituée par le boítier. Cette capacité est branchée en parallèle au capteur capacitif. Le potentiel Uout détecté par le comparateur peut donc être exprimée par la relation Uout = Uin (Cref)/(Cp + Cd + Cref) où Uin est la tension appliquée au diviseur capacitif par le générateur, Cp est la capacité parasite, Cd est la capacité du capteur capacitif et Cref est la capacité du condensateur indépendant.However, a parasitic capacitance is always present between the conductive layer disposed on the watch glass and the mass formed by the case. This capacity is connected in parallel to the capacitive sensor. The potential U out detected by the comparator can therefore be expressed by the relation U out = U in (VS ref )/(VS p + C d + C ref ) where U in is the voltage applied to the capacitive divider by the generator, C p is the parasitic capacitance, C d is the capacitance of the capacitive sensor and C ref is the capacitance of the independent capacitor.

De tels dispositifs présentent l'inconvénient que, pour leur donner une résolution acceptable, les capacités Cd et Cref doivent être nettement plus grandes que la capacité parasite, ce qui conduit à une consommation élevée de courant diminuant notablement la durée de vie de la pile de la montre. De plus, le comparateur qui compare le potentiel détecté par le diviseur capacitif à une tension de référence est un composant analogique qui doit pour présenter la précision requise comporter un agencement complexe de transistors.Such devices have the disadvantage that, to give them an acceptable resolution, the capacitances C d and C ref must be significantly greater than the parasitic capacitance, which leads to a high current consumption, notably reducing the service life of the watch battery. In addition, the comparator which compares the potential detected by the capacitive divider with a reference voltage is an analog component which must, in order to present the required precision, include a complex arrangement of transistors.

Ces inconvénients se font particulièrement sentir dans le cas d'une montre comportant un grand nombre de dispositifs de commande manuelle. Ceci est le cas, par exemple, des montres dites "à reconnaissance d'écriture" qui peuvent recevoir des commandes lorsque le doigt de l'utilisateur "écrit" un signe, par exemple alphanumérique, tel qu'un chiffre sur le verre de la montre. Celle-ci doit alors être équipée de plusieurs dizaines de dispositifs de commande ayant chacun un capteur capacitif disposé sur la surface du verre afin de permettre la reconnaissance de la position instantanée du doigt sur la face extérieure du verre. La consommation de chaque dispositif de commande représente alors un facteur important pour déterminer la durée de vie de la pile de la montre.These disadvantages are particularly felt in the case of a watch comprising a large number of manual control devices. This is the case, for example, so-called "handwriting recognition" watches who can receive commands when the finger of the user "writes" a sign, for example alphanumeric, such as a number on the glass of the shows. This must then be equipped with several dozens of control devices each having a capacitive sensor placed on the surface of the glass in order to allow recognition of the instant position of the finger on the outside of the glass. The consumption of each control device then represents an important factor for determine the life of the watch battery.

La présente invention a pour but de fournir une montre munie d'un dispositif de commande manuelle qui remédie tout au moins en partie à ces inconvénients.The object of the present invention is to provide a watch fitted with a device manual control which at least partially remedies these drawbacks.

La présente invention a ainsi pour objet une montre comportant un boítier formant masse, un verre et au moins un dispositif de commande manuelle qui est relié à un circuit d'exploitation destiné à exécuter une fonction prédéterminée de la montre sous l'action dudit dispositif de commande manuelle, ce dernier comprenant un capteur capacitif comprenant une première armature disposée sur la face intérieure du verre, et dont l'autre armature est formée sélectivement par le positionnement d'un doigt d'un utilisateur de ladite montre sur la face extérieure du verre, ce capteur capacitif étant ainsi destiné à former une première capacité, ladite montre présentant également une seconde capacité qui a une jonction commune avec ladite première armature, caractérisée en ce que ladite seconde capacité est une capacité parasite entre ladite première armature et le boítier qui est branchée en parallèle avec ladite première capacité, et en ce que ledit dispositif de commande manuelle comprend en outre un convertisseur tension-fréquence dont l'entrée est connectée directement à ladite jonction commune entre ladite première armature et la seconde capacité, et un détecteur de fréquence branché entre ledit convertisseur et ledit circuit d'exploitation, de manière que ledit capteur capacitif et ladite capacité parasite déterminent la fréquence d'oscillation dudit convertisseur en fonction de la présence ou de l'absence du doigt de l'utilisateur sur ladite face extérieure du verre.The present invention thus relates to a watch comprising a case forming a mass, a glass and at least one manual control device which is connected to an operating circuit intended to execute a predetermined function of the shows under the action of said manual control device, the latter comprising a capacitive sensor comprising a first armature disposed on the face interior of the glass, and the other frame of which is selectively formed by the positioning of a finger of a user of said watch on the external face of the glass, this capacitive sensor thus being intended to form a first capacitance, said watch also having a second capacity which has a common junction with said first frame, characterized in that said second capacity is a parasitic capacitance between said first frame and the case which is connected in parallel with said first capacity, and in that said device for manual control also includes a voltage-frequency converter, the input is connected directly to said common junction between said first armature and the second capacitor, and a frequency detector connected between said converter and said operating circuit, so that said capacitive sensor and said parasitic capacitance determines the frequency of oscillation of said converter in depending on the presence or absence of the user's finger on said face glass exterior.

Ainsi, pour obtenir une résolution du dispositif de commande manuelle comparable à celle du dispositif du brevet suisse précité, on peut réduire la capacité du capteur capacitif par rapport à celle du capteur utilisé dans cet art antérieur.
Ceci a pour conséquence que la charge qui doit être placée sur le capteur capacitif peut être nettement plus faible d'où résulte une consommation d'énergie plus faible, chaque fois que l'utilisateur veut exécuter une commande. On peut ainsi prolonger la durée de vie de la pile de la montre.Thus, to obtain a resolution of the manual control device comparable to that of the device of the aforementioned Swiss patent, it is possible to reduce the capacity of the capacitive sensor compared to that of the sensor used in this prior art.
This has the consequence that the load which must be placed on the capacitive sensor can be significantly lower, resulting in lower energy consumption, each time the user wants to execute a command. This can extend the life of the watch battery.

En outre, en utilisant le capteur capacitif et la capacité parasite de la montre comme éléments déterminant la fréquence du convertisseur tension-fréquence, la présente invention permet de créer un signal de commande dont la détection des états logiques peut être faite par des moyens numériques dont la réalisation est plus simple que celle d'un circuit analogique utilisé dans l'art antérieur. In addition, using the capacitive sensor and the stray capacity of the watch as elements determining the frequency of the voltage-frequency converter, the present invention makes it possible to create a control signal the detection of which logical states can be made by digital means whose realization is simpler than that of an analog circuit used in the prior art.

D'autre part, pour des raisons qui apparaítront par la suite le convertisseur tension-fréquence de la montre selon l'invention est de préférence réalisé sous la forme d'un multivibrateur astable, mais il peut éventuellement prendre la forme d'un oscillateur commandé en tension.On the other hand, for reasons that will appear later the converter voltage-frequency of the watch according to the invention is preferably produced under the form of an astable multivibrator, but it can possibly take the form of a voltage controlled oscillator.

Or, il est fréquent d'associer une touche capacitive ou, plus généralement un capteur capacitif, à un circuit oscillateur ou d'intégrer un capteur de ce genre dans un tel circuit pour obtenir un signal en fréquence permettant de déterminer si le capteur est touché par un doigt ou un autre élément et ceci aussi bien dans le domaine de l'horlogerie, comme c'est le cas dans la demande de brevet japonais No. 55-138683, que dans d'autres applications industrielles comme le montrent le dispositif de commande manuel décrit dans le brevet suisse No 631582 ou le détecteur de niveau de liquide qui fait l'objet de la demande internationale WO 93/06572.However, it is frequent to associate a capacitive key or, more generally a capacitive sensor, to an oscillator circuit or to integrate such a sensor into such a circuit to obtain a frequency signal making it possible to determine whether the sensor is touched by a finger or other element and this as well in the watchmaking, as in the Japanese patent application No. 55-138683, than in other industrial applications as shown by manual control device described in Swiss patent No 631582 or the liquid level detector which is the subject of the international application WO 93/06572.

Toutefois, il est bien clair que cela ne suggère rien qui pourrait conduire à l'invention.However, it is quite clear that this does not suggest anything that could lead to the invention.

Cela dit, d'autres caractéristiques et avantages de cette dernière apparaítront au cours de la description qui va suivre, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple et faite en se référant aux dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • la figure 1 représente schématiquement une vue en coupe de l'agencement d'un capteur capacitif dans une montre conforme à la présente invention;
  • la figure 2 représente le schéma d'un mode préféré de réalisation d'un dispositif de commande manuelle destiné à être utilisé dans une montre conforme à la présente invention; et,
  • la figure 3 est un graphique représentant en fonction de la capacité de leurs capteurs capacitifs la résolution atteinte par une montre selon la présente invention et par une montre de l'art antérieur.
That said, other characteristics and advantages of the latter will appear during the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 schematically shows a sectional view of the arrangement of a capacitive sensor in a watch according to the present invention;
  • FIG. 2 represents the diagram of a preferred embodiment of a manual control device intended to be used in a watch according to the present invention; and,
  • Figure 3 is a graph representing as a function of the capacity of their capacitive sensors the resolution reached by a watch according to the present invention and by a watch of the prior art.

La figure 1 représente une vue en coupe d'une montre 1 comportant un boítier 2 et un verre 3. Un circuit électronique 4 est disposé dans le boítier 2. Une électrode conductrice 5, de préférence transparente, est disposée sur la face intérieure 6 du verre de la montre 1. L'électrode 5 est reliée au circuit électronique 4 par un conducteur 7. Une pile ou autre source d'énergie électrique 8 est également disposée dans le boítier 2 et est reliée au pôle positif du circuit électronique 4 par un conducteur 9. Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a watch 1 comprising a case 2 and a glass 3. An electronic circuit 4 is arranged in the case 2. A conductive electrode 5, preferably transparent, is arranged on the face inside 6 of the watch glass 1. The electrode 5 is connected to the electronic circuit 4 by a conductor 7. A battery or other source of electrical energy 8 is also disposed in the housing 2 and is connected to the positive pole of the electronic circuit 4 by a driver 9.

L'électrode 5 forme l'une des armatures d'un capteur capacitif 20, l'autre armature 21 de ce capteur capacitif 20 étant formée par le doigt 10 du porteur de la montre 1 lorsque, afin de réaliser une commande prédéterminée dans la montre, il touche la face extérieure du verre 3 à l'endroit de l'électrode 5. Le doigt 10 du porteur est relié à la masse 11 du circuit électronique, comme tout le corps du porteur, par l'intermédiaire du boítier 2 qui est en contact avec le poignet de celui-ci et qui est relié aux pôles négatifs du circuit électronique 4 et de la pile 8.The electrode 5 forms one of the armatures of a sensor capacitive 20, the other armature 21 of this capacitive sensor 20 being formed by finger 10 of the wearer of watch 1 when, in order to carry out a predetermined order in the watch, it touches the outside of the glass 3 to the location of the electrode 5. The wearer's finger 10 is connected to earth 11 of the electronic circuit, like all body of the wearer, through the housing 2 which is in contact with the wrist of it and which is connected at the negative poles of electronic circuit 4 and of the battery 8.

La figure 2 représente le schéma d'un dispositif de commande manuelle 22 utilisé dans la montre 1 de la figure 1 et qui permet d'engendrer un signal de commande en réponse à l'activation du capteur capacitif 20. Ce dispositif 22 est raccordé à un détecteur de fréquence DF et relié à son tour à un circuit d'exploitation CE qui permet d'exécuter, de façon connue en soi, la fonction de la montre que l'utilisateur désire commander.FIG. 2 represents the diagram of a device for manual control 22 used in watch 1 of the figure 1 and which generates a control signal in response to the activation of the capacitive sensor 20. This device 22 is connected to a DF frequency detector and in turn connected to a CE operating circuit which allows to execute, in a manner known per se, the function of the watch that the user wishes to order.

Le dispositif de commande 22 comprend un capteur capacitif 20 tandis qu'une capacité parasite Cp est par construction présente entre l'électrode 5 et le boítier 2 de la montre 1. Cette capacité parasite est représentée sur la figure 2 par un condensateur 23. Le capteur capacitif 20 et le condensateur 23 sont branchés en parallèle entre la masse 11 et l'entrée inverseuse d'un amplificateur opérationnel 24.The control device 22 comprises a capacitive sensor 20 while a stray capacitance C p is by construction present between the electrode 5 and the case 2 of the watch 1. This stray capacitance is represented in FIG. 2 by a capacitor 23. The capacitive sensor 20 and the capacitor 23 are connected in parallel between the ground 11 and the inverting input of an operational amplifier 24.

Le dispositif de commande manuelle 22 comprend également des résistances 25, 26 et 27 reliées toutes en séries entre la sortie de l'amplificateur 24 et la masse 11. L'entrée non-inverseuse de l'amplificateur 24 est reliée à une jonction entre les résistances 26 et 27. Dans cette configuration, l'amplificateur 24 et les résistances 25, 26 et 27 forment une bascule de Schmidt qui fournit à sa sortie 28, c'est-à-dire à la jonction entre les résistances 25 et 26, un signal ayant, en fonction des valeurs relatives des tensions présentes aux entrées inverseuse et non-inverseuse de l'amplificateur 24, soit un niveau logique haut soit un niveau logique bas. Deux diodes zener 29 et 30 montées tête-bêche sont reliées entre la sortie 28 et la masse 11, afin de stabiliser les tensions définissant respectivement ces niveaux logiques.The manual control device 22 comprises also resistors 25, 26 and 27 all connected in series between amplifier output 24 and ground 11. The non-inverting input of amplifier 24 is connected to a junction between resistors 26 and 27. In this configuration, the amplifier 24 and the resistors 25, 26 and 27 form a Schmidt flip-flop which provides its output 28, that is to say at the junction between the resistors 25 and 26, a signal having, depending on the relative values of the voltages present at the inputs inverting and non-inverting amplifier 24, either a high logic level or a low logic level. Two zener diodes 29 and 30 mounted head to tail are connected between output 28 and earth 11, in order to stabilize the voltages defining respectively these logical levels.

Le dispositif de commande manuelle 22 comprend en outre une résistances 31 reliée entre la sortie 28 et l'entrée inverseuse de l'amplificateur 24. Cette résistance 31 fait partie, avec le capteur capacitif 20 et le condensateur 23, d'un filtre passe-bas qui intègre la tension à la sortie de la bascule de Schmidt. Le potentiel des armatures des condensateurs 20 et 23 est appliqué à l'entrée inverseuse de l'amplificateur 24. Il en résulte que le dispositif de commande manuelle 22 fonctionne comme un convertisseur tension-fréquence, autrement dit un oscillateur commandé en tension.The manual control device 22 further comprises a resistors 31 connected between output 28 and the inverting input of amplifier 24. This resistor 31 is part, with the capacitive sensor 20 and the capacitor 23, of a low-pass filter which integrates the voltage at the output of the Schmidt rocker. The potential of the armatures of capacitors 20 and 23 is applied to the input reversing amplifier 24. As a result, the control device manual 22 works as a voltage-frequency converter, in other words a voltage controlled oscillator.

Dans le mode de réalisation illustré sur la figure 2, le convertisseur tension-fréquence a été conçu sous la forme d'un multivibrateur astable, car il crée un signal périodique ayant deux états quasi-stables tout en oscillant librement. Cependant, il peut également être conçu sous la forme d'un générateur quelconque de signal périodique et en particulier, comme cela a déjà indiqué précédemment, sous la forme d'un oscillateur commandé en tension. L'agencement illustré sur la figure 2 est particulièrement avantageux en raison de sa simplicité de réalisation et du fait qu'aucun composant électronique à précision élevée n'est requise.In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the voltage-frequency converter was designed as an astable multivibrator because it creates a periodic signal having two quasi-stable states while oscillating freely. However, it can also be designed as any generator periodic signal and in particular, as already indicated above, in the form of a voltage controlled oscillator. The arrangement illustrated on the Figure 2 is particularly advantageous because of its simplicity of construction and that no high precision electronic components are required.

La période d'oscillation T du dispositif de commande 22 est donnée par la relation T = 2R31CtotIn(1 + (2R26)/R27) où R31, R26 et R27 sont respectivement les valeurs des résistances 31, 26 et 27, et Ctot est la capacité totale entre l'entrée inverseuse de l'amplificateur 24 et la masse 11. On voit donc que la fréquence d'oscillation du signal de sortie du dispositif de commande manuelle 22 est proportionnelle à l'inverse de la capacité totale Ctot et qu'ainsi la capacité du capteur capacitif en combinaison avec la capacité parasite déterminent la valeur de la fréquence d'oscillation du dispositif de commande manuelle 22.The oscillation period T of the control device 22 is given by the relation T = 2R 31 VS early In (1 + (2R 26 ) / R 27 ) where R31, R26 and R27 are respectively the values of the resistors 31, 26 and 27, and Ctot is the total capacity between the inverting input of the amplifier 24 and the ground 11. We thus see that the oscillation frequency of the signal output of the manual control device 22 is proportional to the inverse of the total capacity C tot and thus the capacity of the capacitive sensor in combination with the parasitic capacity determine the value of the oscillation frequency of the manual control device 22 .

Ainsi, la fréquence d'oscillation du convertisseur tension-fréquence varie en fonction de la présence ou de l'absence du doigt de l'utilisateur sur la face extérieure du verre. Si le doigt 10 du porteur de la montre 1 n'est pas posé sur la glace 3, l'armature 21 du capteur capacitif 20 est par conséquent absente du circuit montré sur la figure 2. La capacité totale Ctot est en ce cas équivalente à la capacité parasite Cp entre l'électrode 5 et la masse 11. La fréquence d'oscillation du signal de sortie du dispositif de commande 22 est alors proportionnelle à l'inverse de la capacité parasite Cp.Thus, the frequency of oscillation of the voltage-frequency converter varies depending on the presence or absence of the user's finger on the outside of the glass. If the finger 10 of the watch wearer 1 is not placed on the crystal 3, the armature 21 of the capacitive sensor 20 is therefore absent from the circuit shown in FIG. 2. The total capacity C tot is in this case equivalent to the stray capacitance C p between the electrode 5 and the ground 11. The frequency of oscillation of the output signal of the control device 22 is then proportional to the inverse of the stray capacitance C p .

Par contre, lorsque le doigt 10 est posé sur le verre 3, l'armature 21 est formée et, par conséquent, le capteur capacitif 21 agit effectivement sur le dispositif de commande 22. Dans ces conditions, la capacité totale Ctot est équivalente à l'inverse de la somme des capacités Cd et Cp. Ainsi, la fréquence d'oscillation du signal de sortie du dispositif de commande 22 est proportionnelle à l'inverse de la somme des capacités Cd et Cp.On the other hand, when the finger 10 is placed on the glass 3, the frame 21 is formed and, consequently, the capacitive sensor 21 effectively acts on the control device 22. Under these conditions, the total capacity C tot is equivalent to the inverse of the sum of the capacities C d and C p . Thus, the oscillation frequency of the output signal from the control device 22 is proportional to the inverse of the sum of the capacities C d and C p .

Puisque l'information désirée dans le signal de sortie est contenue dans sa fréquence, au lieu de l'être dans la valeur absolue de son amplitude, il suffit d'utiliser des moyens numériques conçus d'une façon simple pour la tirer. Ces moyens peuvent être réalisés, par exemple, par un compteur d'impulsions qui est mis en marche pendant une période de fonctionnement fixe. La fréquence, et donc le présence ou l'absence du doigt sur la face extérieur du verre de la montre, est représentée directement par le nombre d'impulsions reçues pendant cette période fixe. Ces moyens ne sont pas décrits d'une manière plus détaillée car ils sont bien connus de l'homme du métier. Since the desired information in the signal output is contained in its frequency, instead of being in the absolute value of its amplitude, it suffices to use digital means designed in a simple way to shoot it. These means can be achieved, by example, by a pulse counter which is set runs during a fixed operating period. The frequency, and therefore the presence or absence of the finger on the outside face of the watch glass is shown directly by the number of pulses received during this fixed period. These means are not described in a in more detail as they are well known to humans of career.

La figure 3 est un graphique qui montre que la résolution et la consommation d'énergie de la présente invention sont meilleures par rapport à celles obtenues dans l'art antérieur. Sur l'axe horizontal de ce graphique est portée la relation Cp/Cd, c'est-à-dire la relation entre la capacité parasite établie entre l'électrode fixe 5 du capteur capacitif et le boítier 2 et la capacité Cd du capteur capacitif 20. Sur l'axe vertical on a porté la résolution relative du dispositif de commande manuelle, autrement dit la relation entre l'état logique bas et l'état logique haut de son signal de sortie.FIG. 3 is a graph which shows that the resolution and the power consumption of the present invention are better compared to those obtained in the prior art. On the horizontal axis of this graph is plotted the relationship C p / C d , that is to say the relationship between the parasitic capacity established between the fixed electrode 5 of the capacitive sensor and the housing 2 and the capacity C d of the capacitive sensor 20. On the vertical axis, the relative resolution of the manual control device has been taken, in other words the relationship between the low logic state and the high logic state of its output signal.

La courbe 40 représente, dans le cas décrit dans le brevet CH 607 872 cité ci-dessus, l'écart relatif Vpr/Vab entre le deux valeurs de tension détectées par le comparateur, respectivement en présence et en l'absence du doigt de l'utilisateur. Le valeur de la capacité Cref a été prise comme étant équivalente à la valeur de la capacité Cd.The curve 40 represents, in the case described in patent CH 607 872 cited above, the relative difference V pr / V ab between the two voltage values detected by the comparator, respectively in the presence and in the absence of the finger of the user. The value of the capacity C ref was taken as being equivalent to the value of the capacity C d .

La courbe 40 montre qu'il y a un grand écart entre les niveaux des tensions analogiques du dispositif antérieur, et qu'une grande résolution est donc atteinte, si la relation Cp/Cd est comparativement petite. Mais dans ces conditions, la capacité Cd du capteur capacitif doit être nettement plus grande que la capacité parasite Cp, ce qui augmentera la consommation du dispositif de commande manuelle. Inversement, une relation Cp/Cd qui est comparativement grande diminue la résolution du dispositif de commande manuelle, mais on obtient une plus faible consommation d'énergie, car alors la capacité Cd est plus petite.Curve 40 shows that there is a large difference between the levels of the analog voltages of the prior device, and that a high resolution is therefore reached, if the relationship C p / C d is comparatively small. But under these conditions, the capacitance C d of the capacitive sensor must be significantly greater than the stray capacitance C p , which will increase the consumption of the manual control device. Conversely, a relation C p / C d which is comparatively large decreases the resolution of the manual control device, but a lower energy consumption is obtained, since then the capacity C d is smaller.

La courbe 41 de la figure 3 représente, dans le cas de l'invention, l'écart entre les deux valeurs de fréquence Fpr et Fab engendrées à la sortie 28 du dispositif de commande 22, respectivement lorsque le doigt d'un porteur de la montre 1 est posé sur le verre 3 et est absent de ce verre, toujours en fonction du rapport Cp/Cd. The curve 41 of FIG. 3 represents, in the case of the invention, the difference between the two frequency values F pr and F ab generated at the output 28 of the control device 22, respectively when the finger of a wearer of watch 1 is placed on glass 3 and is absent from this glass, always as a function of the ratio C p / C d .

Il est à noter que, pour établir une comparaison valable des courbes 40 et 41, on les a tracées en mettant au numérateur la plus petite valeur du rapport des tensions respectivement des fréquences. Or, il se trouve que la plus grande valeur des tensions (pour autant que l'on considère le cas du brevet suisse précité) est engendrée en l'absence du doigt, de même que dans le cas de l'invention.Note that to make a comparison valid for curves 40 and 41, we have drawn them by in the numerator the smallest value of the ratio of frequency voltages respectively. Now it turns out that the greater value of the voltages (as far as we consider the case of the aforementioned Swiss patent) is generated in the absence of the finger, as in the case of the invention.

En faisant une comparaison entre les courbes 40 et 41, on voit qu'on obtient une nette amélioration de la résolution dans le mode de réalisation de la présente invention montré sur la figure 2 que dans le cas de l'art antérieur. Par exemple, dans le cas où la capacité Cd est égale en valeur à la capacité Cp, la résolution est de 25% supérieure à celle de l'art antérieur.By making a comparison between curves 40 and 41, it can be seen that a clear improvement in resolution is obtained in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 than in the case of the prior art. For example, in the case where the capacity C d is equal in value to the capacity C p , the resolution is 25% higher than that of the prior art.

Par ailleurs, pour atteindre une résolution de 0,5 par exemple, il faut dans le cas de l'art antérieur que la capacité Cd soit au moins deux fois plus grande que la capacité parasite Cp, ce qui représente une augmentation considérable de la consommation d'énergie de la pile de la montre comparée à ce que l'on obtient pour une même résolution dans le cas de l'invention..Furthermore, to reach a resolution of 0.5 for example, in the case of the prior art, the capacitance C d must be at least twice as large as the stray capacitance C p , which represents a considerable increase in the energy consumption of the watch battery compared to what is obtained for the same resolution in the case of the invention.

Il est à noter que plusieurs modifications et/ou améliorations peuvent être apportées à la montre selon l'invention sans sortir du cadre de celle-ci. En particulier, l'invention concerne également des montres à reconnaissance d'écriture comprenant une pluralité de dispositifs de commande manuelle du genre de la figure 2 afin de suivre la position du doigt sur le verre d'un porteur de la montre et, par conséquent, permettre la reconnaissance d'un chiffre ou d'une lettre écrit par le porteur sur le verre. Dans ce cas, les détecteurs de fréquence DF de tous les dispositifs de commande manuelle peuvent être raccordés au circuit d'exploitation CE de la montre, tandis que les électrodes 5 de leur capteurs capacitifs forment un motif approprié sur le verre 3 de celle-ci. It should be noted that several modifications and / or improvements can be made to the watch depending on the invention without departing from the scope thereof. In in particular, the invention also relates to watches with handwriting recognition comprising a plurality of manual control devices of the kind of FIG. 2 in order to follow the position of the finger on the glass of a wearer of the watch and therefore allow the recognition of a number or letter written by the carrier on the glass. In this case, the DF frequency of all manual control devices can be connected to the CE operating circuit of the shows, while the electrodes 5 of their sensors capacitive form a suitable pattern on glass 3 of it.

Dans un autre mode de réalisation, le dispositif de commande manuelle peut comporter plusieurs capteurs capacitifs du type défini ci-dessus, les jonctions communes entre la première armature et la seconde capacité de chacun de ces capteurs capacitifs étant toutes raccordées à l'entrée d'un multiplexeur. En ce cas, la sortie du multiplexeur est reliée à l'entrée du détecteur de fréquence du dispositif de commande.In another embodiment, the device manual control can include several sensors capacitors of the type defined above, the junctions common between the first frame and the second capacity of each of these capacitive sensors being all connected to the input of a multiplexer. In this case output of the multiplexer is connected to the input of the detector frequency of the control device.

De cette façon, on n'a besoin que d'un seul convertisseur tension-fréquence qui échantillonne chaque capteur capacitif à une fréquence déterminée par le fonctionnement du multiplexeur. L'homme du métier comprendra que la capacité Cd du capteur capacitif représenté à la figure 2 peut varier selon le positionnement précis du doigt de l'utilisateur sur le verre de la montre. Ainsi, la fréquence de l'oscillateur du convertisseur tension-fréquence peut changer progressivement lorsqu'un doigt placé sur le verre s'approche ou s'éloigne de la première armature du capteur capacitif. Pour permettre la détection de la présence ou l'absence du doigt en face du capteur capacitif, on peut définir un seuil de sensibilité correspondant à un changement de fréquence donné. Lorsque le changement de la fréquence du convertisseur tension-fréquence est plus grand que le seuil de sensibilité, ce changement est détecté par le circuit d'exploitation. Ce seuil de sensibilité peut être différent pour chaque capteur capacitif formant le dispositif de commande manuelle, et les valeurs de tous ces seuils peuvent être stockées dans une mémoire dans le circuit d'exploitation.In this way, only one voltage-frequency converter is needed which samples each capacitive sensor at a frequency determined by the operation of the multiplexer. Those skilled in the art will understand that the capacitance C d of the capacitive sensor shown in FIG. 2 can vary according to the precise positioning of the user's finger on the watch glass. Thus, the frequency of the oscillator of the voltage-frequency converter can gradually change when a finger placed on the glass approaches or moves away from the first frame of the capacitive sensor. To allow the detection of the presence or absence of the finger in front of the capacitive sensor, it is possible to define a sensitivity threshold corresponding to a given frequency change. When the change in frequency of the voltage-frequency converter is greater than the sensitivity threshold, this change is detected by the operating circuit. This sensitivity threshold can be different for each capacitive sensor forming the manual control device, and the values of all these thresholds can be stored in a memory in the operating circuit.

En revanche, dans le cas d'un dispositif de commande manuelle comportant plusieurs capteurs capacitifs, le positionnement du doigt d'un utilisateur peut être détecté en analysant le changement de fréquence provoqué par chaque capteur capacitif. Ainsi, le changement de fréquence provoqué par la position du doigt sur le verre de la montre sera plus prononcé pour un capteur capacitif situé près du doigt et sera moins prononcé pour les capteurs capacitifs plus éloignés du doigt. En analysant les changements de fréquences de l'ensemble des capteurs capacitifs, la position du doigt peut être déterminée.However, in the case of a control device manual with several capacitive sensors, the position of a user's finger can be detected by analyzing the frequency change caused by each capacitive sensor. So the change of frequency caused by the position of the finger on the glass of the watch will be more pronounced for a capacitive sensor located near the finger and will be less pronounced for capacitive sensors further away from the finger. By analysing frequency changes of all sensors capacitive, the position of the finger can be determined.

Claims (5)

  1. Watch (1) comprising a case (2) constituting earth, a glass (3) and at least one manual control device (22), which is connected to a processing circuit (CE) intended to execute a predetermined watch function by the action of said manual control device (22), the latter including
    a capacitive sensor (20) comprising a first armature (5) placed on the internal face (6) of the glass (3), and whose other armature is selectively formed by the positioning of a finger (10) of a user of said watch (1) on the external face of the glass (3), said capacitive sensor (20) being thus intended to form a first capacity (Cd), said watch (1) also having a second capacity which has a common junction with said first armature,
    characterized in that said second capacity is a parasitic capacity (Cp) between said first armature (5) and the case (2) which is connected in parallel with said first capacity (Cd) and in that said manual control device (22) also comprises
    a voltage-frequency converter (22) whose input is connected to the common junction between said first armature (5) and said second capacity (Cp),
    a frequency detector (DF) connected between said converter (22) and said processing circuit (CE),
    so that said capacitive sensor (20) and said parasitic capacity (Cd) determine the oscillation frequency of said converter as a function of the presence or absence of the user's finger on said external face of the glass.
  2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that said voltage-frequency converter (22) is made in the form of an astable multivibrator.
  3. Watch according to claim 2, characterized in that said common junction is connected to the input of an amplifier (24) forming part of said astable multivibrator.
  4. Watch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of manual control devices whose capacitive sensors together form a motif on the watch-glass to enable handwriting on the external face of said glass to be recognised, the frequency detectors (DF) of all the control devices being connected to said processing circuit (CE).
  5. Watch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said capacitive sensors together forming a motif on the watch-glass to enable handwriting on the external face of said glass to be recognised, and in that it also comprises a multiplexor whose output is connected to the input of said voltage-frequency converter, the common junctions between said first armature and said second capacity of each of said capacitive sensors all being connected to the input of said multiplexor.
EP95103730A 1994-03-24 1995-03-15 Clock with manual control Expired - Lifetime EP0674247B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9403480A FR2717917B1 (en) 1994-03-24 1994-03-24 Watch with a manual control device.
FR9403480 1994-03-24

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EP0674247A1 EP0674247A1 (en) 1995-09-27
EP0674247B1 true EP0674247B1 (en) 2002-02-13

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EP (1) EP0674247B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH07280966A (en)
KR (1) KR100319531B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1089914C (en)
DE (1) DE69525381T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2717917B1 (en)
HK (1) HK1012734A1 (en)

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JPS6074014A (en) * 1983-09-30 1985-04-26 Fujitsu Ltd Driving device of coordinate detection panel
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US5287086A (en) * 1990-01-02 1994-02-15 Raptor, Inc. Proximity detection system and oscillator
JPH05288619A (en) * 1992-04-07 1993-11-02 Youji Yamada Capacitance type tactile sensor

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1207439B1 (en) * 2000-11-17 2009-06-03 Asulab S.A. Electronic watch with capacitive switches on its cover glass

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1089914C (en) 2002-08-28
FR2717917B1 (en) 1996-05-03
CN1113577A (en) 1995-12-20
KR100319531B1 (en) 2002-10-25
FR2717917A1 (en) 1995-09-29
HK1012734A1 (en) 1999-08-06
DE69525381D1 (en) 2002-03-21
EP0674247A1 (en) 1995-09-27
JPH07280966A (en) 1995-10-27
KR950033735A (en) 1995-12-26
US5453960A (en) 1995-09-26
DE69525381T2 (en) 2002-12-05

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