EP0744675B1 - Instrument horaire notamment une montre-bracelet électrique du type analogique - Google Patents

Instrument horaire notamment une montre-bracelet électrique du type analogique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0744675B1
EP0744675B1 EP96810326A EP96810326A EP0744675B1 EP 0744675 B1 EP0744675 B1 EP 0744675B1 EP 96810326 A EP96810326 A EP 96810326A EP 96810326 A EP96810326 A EP 96810326A EP 0744675 B1 EP0744675 B1 EP 0744675B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
time
indicator
charge
display
indication
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96810326A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0744675A1 (fr
Inventor
René Besson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rolex SA
Original Assignee
Montres Rolex SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Montres Rolex SA filed Critical Montres Rolex SA
Publication of EP0744675A1 publication Critical patent/EP0744675A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0744675B1 publication Critical patent/EP0744675B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C17/00—Indicating the time optically by electric means
    • G04C17/005—Indicating the time optically by electric means by discs
    • G04C17/0058—Indicating the time optically by electric means by discs with date indication
    • G04C17/0066—Indicating the time optically by electric means by discs with date indication electromagnetically driven, e.g. intermittently
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C10/00—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces
    • G04C10/04—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces with means for indicating the condition of the power supply

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a time instrument, in particular a wristwatch, of the analog type supplied by an electrical energy source and comprising at least one recursive cycle indicator driven by a motor dedicated and an electronic circuit arranged to control all of the functions of the time instrument and in particular the movement of said indicator recursive cycle, this circuit comprising at least one voltage reference or internal resistance and a comparator designed to detect at least one level of predetermined load defined by the voltage or internal resistance of said source of electrical energy.
  • the display includes a symbol becoming apparent as soon as the critical level is detected by measuring the internal voltage or resistance of the battery. We know that when the battery nearing the end of its life, its blood pressure drops and its internal resistance increases and the measurement of detection of the passage of their value below or beyond thresholds predetermined to detect the approach of the end of battery life.
  • a death means is described in the Swiss patent n ° 616 046 in the name of CITIZEN WATCH CO Ltd, and includes an electronic circuit which causes "limping" or irregular oscillation of the second hand which advances four seconds every four seconds.
  • a complicated electromechanical mechanism including a symbol attached to the end of a needle and which becomes apparent through a window arranged in the dial called the date window and which is brought above the disc of date when the battery approaches its end of life.
  • Swiss Patent No. 616,046 in the name of Ebauches S.A. proposes to display the end of battery life by a disc placed below a specially designed dial window provided for this function, this disc being moved integrally with the kinematic chain of the analog display, the polarity of the quiescent state of the engine to be modified when displaying end of battery life.
  • Some provide a sometimes complex complementary mechanism for display a signal indicating the end of battery life.
  • the application is limited because the display is directly linked to the main kinematic chain of the watch.
  • Some systems are dependent on mechanical engineering parameters difficult to modify which does not allow adaptation of the duration of operation before a battery change, i.e. they cannot integrate technical progress in terms of increased longevity average of batteries and generalized reduction in consumption of movements.
  • the object of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art and to propose a watch comprising means for indicating the imminent end of battery life without additional devices and easy to implement in usual constructions of watch movements.
  • This goal is achieved for a time instrument as defined in the preamble and characterized in that said electronic circuit is arranged to control a moving the recursive cycle indicator such as the apparent indication provided by this indicator in normal mode occupies a first position constant and that the apparent indication provided by the indicator in case of detection of a charge level lower than said predetermined charge level, occupies a second position offset from said first position constant.
  • the offset of said second position relative to said first position remains constant.
  • the apparent indication when it occupies said second position, may be accompanied by the additional display of a symbol.
  • the offset of said second position relative to said first position is progressive and increases with the decrease in voltage or increase in internal resistance of the source of electrical energy.
  • the shifting of the second position is carried out in stages, each stage corresponding to a predetermined threshold of voltage or internal resistance of the source of electrical energy.
  • the shifting of the second position is carried out in stages, each stage corresponding to a separate indication which is automatically displayed in a predetermined time after detection of said predetermined charge level.
  • each offset level corresponds to the complementary display of a different symbol and said symbol is associated with the indication carried by the recursive cycle indicator, placed on this indicator offset from the indication, in the direction of movement of the indicator.
  • the electronic circuit is arranged for control the movement of the recursive cycle indicator so that reversible, the indication display being shifted in the event of detection of a charge level lower than said predetermined charge level and becoming again normal if a return to a charge level higher than this is detected predetermined charge level.
  • the watch shown diagrammatically includes a electric power source 10 consisting of a battery which powers a electronic circuit and, through this circuit, two electric motors 11 and 12 which operate the hour hands 13, minutes 14 and seconds 15 for motor 11 and a date disc 16 for which is motor 12.
  • the date disc has the numbers 1 to 31 arranged for example on a circle centered on the axis of the needles and each number corresponding to a day of the month, appears successively in a window 17 provided in the dial 18 of the watch.
  • the electronic circuit mainly comprises a quartz oscillator 21 associated with a microprocessor 22 of the watchmaking type which controls directly the two motors 11 and 12, as well as a circuit 23 for controlling the voltage of the battery.
  • This control circuit essentially comprises a comparator 24, a special circuit 25, known per se, for example from Swiss patent application no. 651,999, British publication 2,111,223 or Swiss Patent No. 672,391 arranged to store for example a reference voltage threshold, or a internal resistance threshold and two resistors 26 and 27 called respectively resistance of the divider bridge and resistance of the bridge.
  • These two resistors 26 and 27 are connected by one of their common terminals 28 to a positive input 29 of comparator 24.
  • the other terminal of resistor 27 is connected to ground T.
  • the other terminal of the resistor 26 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery.
  • the negative input 30 of the comparator 24 is connected to the special circuit 25 which is also connected to ground T by its other terminal. Comparator output 31 24 is connected to microprocessor 22.
  • the recursive parameter is the date. It might be replaced by any other recursive parameter such as for example the day, the week, month or year.
  • the disc with the indication of this parameter recursive is driven by an independent motor by a kinematic chain which his own.
  • the movement of information to contiguous information is generated by the motor which is supplied by a number of + N or -N not. This number is preferably between 10 and 300.
  • the control circuit 23 is arranged to detect the voltage U of the battery or its internal resistance Ri and to compare it with a predetermined threshold value. When the effective value of the internal voltage or resistance reaches these respective threshold values, the circuit 23 transmits appropriate information to the microprocessor 22 which controls the motor 12 by a number of pulses + M or -M distinct from the number + N or -N corresponding to normal mode. In practice, if N is for example equal to 100 pulses, M will be equal to Nn where n is advantageously equal to 10 pulses.
  • the offset may, where appropriate, be accompanied by a symbol or sign particular which has the function of attracting even more the attention of the wearer on the information already implicitly contained in the display offset.
  • FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the display of a date 40, in this case on the 15th day, in window 17, when the watch is running in normal mode.
  • Figure 3 shows this display when the battery reaches the end of its life. Firstly the date 40 is shifted upwards, and on the other hand, under the 15th day of month appears a line 41 which is hidden in normal mode. In this case, the displacement of the date disc corresponds to N - n not, the number n of no missing being responsible for the observed lag.
  • the visualization or signaling of the end of life of the battery is transmitted to the watch user by two complementary signs: one is the date shift which is considered the main sign, the other is line 41 which could also be replaced by any other sign or ideogram at the choice of the manufacturer.
  • FIG. 4 represents the evolution of the voltage U p of the battery of a watch and of its internal resistance R i as a function of time t.
  • the curve 50 which corresponds to the voltage varies over time. This voltage is substantially constant and has a value U 0 during a time interval which can be several years. It decreases more and more quickly when the battery approaches its end of life, that is to say when it reaches the end of charge.
  • On this curve are for example identified two thresholds U A and U B which are reached respectively at time t A and at time t B separated by a time interval ⁇ t1.
  • There are in fact several approaches leading to the display of the end of life of the battery may consist in detecting the first threshold U A and in carrying out a display as described with reference to FIG. 3.
  • Another approach consists in detecting the first threshold U A and in proceeding as above, then detecting the threshold U B to reinforce this display, for example by increasing the date shift.
  • a third approach may consist in detecting other thresholds U C , U D , etc. and to increase the offset each time and possibly to complete each offset by displaying a sign or an ideogram.
  • a fourth approach may consist in detecting only a single threshold U A and in displaying a first offset, whether or not accompanied by a sign at time t A corresponding to this detection, then in displaying one or more progressive offsets also whether or not accompanied by signs after time intervals ⁇ t1, ⁇ t'1, ⁇ t "1 etc. these time intervals may be equal or preferably decreasing.
  • the same observations apply to the internal resistance R i which is substantially constant and equal to R i0 as long as the battery is charged as shown in curve 51 of FIG. 4 and which increases when the battery approaches its end of life.
  • a threshold R iA of this internal resistance can be increased when a second threshold R iB is detected .
  • the detection of the two thresholds is separated by a time interval ⁇ t2 which could also serve as a basic reference for determining when the offset of the date display must be increased.
  • the number of detected thresholds is not limited to two and the offset as well as the display of signs can be progressive.
  • Figure 5 displays the day inside a window 52. It can be seen that the day displayed, in this case LUNDI is not centered laterally inside the counter and it is also accompanied by a point 53. We find in this realization of both the offset and the complementary sign.
  • Figure 6 shows the offset display of the day, in this case the fifteenth day of the month shifted in window 17. It is accompanied by a point 53 similar to that of figure 5.
  • FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D illustrate a progressive shift in the display of the date and a progressive variation in the display of complementary signs.
  • Figure 7A shows the window 17 in which the calendar "29" appears perfectly centered. The battery is charged, the watch operates in normal mode.
  • Figure 7B shows the window 17 in which the date "30" appears offset and accompanied by a sign 60 having the shape of a first rectangle. This offset display corresponds to the detection of a threshold U A or R iA of the voltage or of the internal resistance of the battery.
  • Figure 7C shows the window 17 in which the date "13" appears offset, the offset being amplified relative to that of the date 30 of Figure 7B, and accompanied by a second rectangle 61 adjacent to rectangle 60 and larger than this latest.
  • This display can correspond to the detection of a second voltage threshold U B or of a second internal resistance threshold R iB . However, it can also appear at the end of a time interval ⁇ t1 or ⁇ t2 equal for example to 14 or 15 days which separate the date "30" from the date "13" of the following month.
  • Figure 7D shows the window 17 in which appears the date "20" even more strongly offset and accompanied by a third rectangle 62 attached to the previous ones and larger than the two rectangles 60 and 61.
  • This display may be the result of detecting a third voltage threshold or internal resistance or appear automatically after a time interval predetermined after the previous offset display.
  • the electronic circuit is designed so that the pulses offset are compensated. For example, if the display offset was generated by a number n of missing pulses, the total number of pulses supplying the corresponding motor 11 being N-n, it would be necessary supply this motor with N + n pulses so that the next step is carried out with the required offset compensation.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
EP96810326A 1995-05-24 1996-05-22 Instrument horaire notamment une montre-bracelet électrique du type analogique Expired - Lifetime EP0744675B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH01538/95A CH687727B5 (fr) 1995-05-24 1995-05-24 Instrument horaire notamment une montre-bracelet electrique du type analogique.
CH1538/95 1995-05-24

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0744675A1 EP0744675A1 (fr) 1996-11-27
EP0744675B1 true EP0744675B1 (fr) 1998-12-02

Family

ID=4212766

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96810326A Expired - Lifetime EP0744675B1 (fr) 1995-05-24 1996-05-22 Instrument horaire notamment une montre-bracelet électrique du type analogique

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5790478A (ja)
EP (1) EP0744675B1 (ja)
JP (1) JPH09105787A (ja)
CH (1) CH687727B5 (ja)
DE (1) DE69601048T2 (ja)
ES (1) ES2124622T3 (ja)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998019221A1 (fr) * 1996-10-31 1998-05-07 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Montre electronique
EP1026559B1 (en) * 1998-08-31 2010-11-24 Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd. Electronic watch with generating function
JP2002257955A (ja) 2000-12-25 2002-09-11 Seiko Epson Corp 通信機能付腕時計装置、情報表示方法、制御プログラム及び記録媒体
US7027362B2 (en) * 2003-12-11 2006-04-11 Timex Group B.V. Multifunctional rotating ring in a timepiece
DE102004028580A1 (de) * 2004-06-15 2006-01-12 Junghans Uhren Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Einstellung einer Datumsanzeige bei einer Uhr, insbesondere einer Funkuhr, nach einem Batteriewechsel
CH707467B1 (fr) 2005-09-13 2014-07-15 Lvmh Swiss Mft Sa Montre avec affichage multifonctionnel.
US20080049557A1 (en) * 2006-08-24 2008-02-28 Tai-Her Yang Common drive device for date/am/pm display
CH702592A1 (fr) * 2010-01-27 2011-07-29 Frederic Jouvenot Mécanisme d'affichage de la réserve de marche.
CN102298432B (zh) * 2010-06-23 2015-04-01 鸿富锦精密工业（深圳）有限公司 电池座
RU2525465C1 (ru) * 2013-06-14 2014-08-20 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Константин Чайкин" Устройство позиционной индикации для часов и часы с устройством позиционной индикации
EP2887159B1 (fr) * 2013-12-18 2018-10-31 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Dispositif d'affichage multifonctions optimisé
KR102285148B1 (ko) * 2016-08-22 2021-08-04 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 배터리 충전 방법 및 이를 이용하는 배터리 충전 장치
CN208848488U (zh) * 2018-07-16 2019-05-10 邓作淳 永久万年历
JP7425402B2 (ja) * 2020-01-21 2024-01-31 セイコーエプソン株式会社 電子時計

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5210775A (en) * 1975-07-15 1977-01-27 Seiko Instr & Electronics Ltd Electronic watch
JPS5413378A (en) * 1977-07-01 1979-01-31 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electronic watch
US4236237A (en) * 1977-08-12 1980-11-25 Citizen Watch Company Limited Electronic wristwatch
JPS5434274A (en) * 1977-08-22 1979-03-13 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electronic watch having state display device
JPH0390888A (ja) * 1989-09-01 1991-04-16 Seiko Instr Inc アナログ電子時計
CH688462B5 (fr) * 1993-04-20 1998-04-15 Isa France Sa Mouvement d'horlogerie comprenant un dispositif indicateur de fin de vie de pile.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5790478A (en) 1998-08-04
JPH09105787A (ja) 1997-04-22
CH687727GA3 (fr) 1997-02-14
DE69601048T2 (de) 1999-06-24
ES2124622T3 (es) 1999-02-01
CH687727B5 (fr) 1997-08-15
DE69601048D1 (de) 1999-01-14
EP0744675A1 (fr) 1996-11-27

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