EP0878751A1 - Timepiece associated with a compass and a visor - Google Patents

Abstract

The wristwatch (42) has hands and dial (12) for displaying the time and is in addition equipped with an electronic compass which in conjunction with an electronic unit furnishes signals which relate the longitudinal axis of the watch to the North. The signals are modified by settings to the electronic unit made manually using a crown (20) such that lights (54,55,56) give visual indication when the longitudinal axis is at a desired bearing to. North. The watch is equipped with two sighting marks (15,16) along the longitudinal axis and the hour hand (50) may be used to indicate. North or another preset direction.

Description

The present invention relates to a timepiece associated with a compass and a viewfinder. The compass allows to determine the direction of magnetic north or the direction of any course relative to that direction. The viewfinder allows a user to determine with precision selected azimuth direction or heading given.

Several types of viewfinders are known, in particular in the armaments field and in particular for fire arms. Several devices used to determine the heading or azimuth direction of an object or region given are fitted with viewfinders. Likewise, devices used to indicate the direction corresponding to an azimuth given geographic or magnetic are fitted with viewfinders, especially for orienteering.

By sight, we understand a device defining a reference axis which can be arranged relative to a user's eye so that the user can visually determine an object or a geographical area located in the extension of said reference axis in orienting the viewfinder so that said reference axis intercepts the region of his said eye. So a groove longiform of a certain length can be used as a viewfinder. To ensure precise and easy aiming, a viewfinder is generally formed by at least two test patterns arranged so that they can be aligned one behind the other relatively to a user's eye and allow the eye of this user to jointly determine the aimed at a geographic area or an object located more or less far in the extension of the alignment of the two test patterns defining a reference axis.

In classic orientation devices comprising a sight and a compass with magnetic needle, the viewfinder is formed by two separate grooves or notches each other when aiming at a region empty intermediary thus allowing a user align these two grooves or notches one behind each other so that the transverse profile of each two grooves or notches are confused for the eye of the user who can then precisely determine a object or geographic area appearing in the extension of these cross sections for his eye.

It is known from patent CH 346 826 a wristwatch associated with a compass and a viewfinder. More in particular, this document describes a device formed of two modules connected to each other by a articulation, the lower module with which the means for attaching a bracelet comprising a compass formed by a magnetic needle and the upper module forming a case comprising a clockwork movement associated with time display means protected by an ice cream. On the lower module including the needle magnetized is provided a sighting system or a sight comprising two test patterns formed respectively by two diametrically opposite cuts arranged along axis 6 hours-12 hours of the watch, i.e. according to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet. To allow a user to aim, a background is provided mirror to upper module including movement watchmaker. By means of the joint, the upper module can be brought into an angularly offset position about 45 ° relative to the general plan of the module lower, which is parallel to the reference axis defined by the two sights. Thanks to this arrangement, a user can take aim. However, this aiming is carried out visually at through the joint that defines an empty space at this effect between the two modules when the upper module is angularly offset relative to the lower module.

The device described above has several disadvantages. First, its structure is complex and expensive. Then, the superposition of two modules independent including movement respectively watchmaker and the compass is bulky. In addition, it is not not easy to aim through the free space provided between the two modules offset angularly about 45 °, as shown in particular in Figure 1 of this document. Indeed, this free space is limited and disrupts the user's visual field, which prevents him from adapting properly to determine the object or geographic area targeted. The fact that the articulation of the two modules is formed by four arms arranged two by two at the two ends of a bar or axis does not solve the problem significant decrease in the visual field for the eye of the user and his ability to accommodate being given that the upper module is the problem major. So if even the watch movement was introduced in the lower module and that it is planned only an upper cover whose surface interior defines a mirror, the disadvantages resulting from the teaching of document CH 346 826 remain entirely.

Patent CH 324,565 describes a wristwatch with a housing pivotally mounted to allow turn this box so that it appears in the visible upper part of the watch or the display of the hour, or the magnetic needle of a compass. In this Indeed, the case is mounted on a frame comprising the means of attachment to a bracelet. On this frame are arranged two sight sights also formed by two notches whose walls are located just above the surface defined by the glass protecting the needle magnetized compass. This compass watch includes a viewfinder and it does not have a module or articulated mirror arranged above the compass module and the viewfinder, but the aiming device described in this document CH 324 565 is not functional because it does not allow not actually aim as the way this has been defined above. When the user brings up the two test patterns so that the two notches are confused for his eye, that is to say that the cross section of these two notches are superimposed and therefore confused for his eye, the magnetic needle of the compass is no longer visible and thus any precise aim is not possible.

The skilled person is relatively teaching the prior art on parts of watchmaking associated with a viewfinder before a problem major that the present inventors have brought to light, know that one of the devices is absolutely non-functional, while the other device is complex, expensive and not very easy to use, which makes this device not very functional and therefore of doubtful utility.

Having thus brought to light the problem raised by the timepieces of the prior art, in particular the wristwatches, associated with a compass and a viewfinder, the present inventors propose to provide a solution to this problem that mites the disadvantages major mentioned above by providing a piece of watchmaking associated with a compass and a viewfinder which is relatively uncomplicated in construction and particular space-saving, while being perfectly functional for easy aiming, safe and effective.

To this end, the present invention relates to a part timepiece comprising a case and means time display, this timepiece being associated with a compass and a viewfinder allowing jointly determining an azimuth direction selected, characterized in that said compass is an electronic compass and in that there is a electronic unit, electrically connected to said compass and arranged to determine using signals provided by this compass the azimuthal orientation of a reference axis of said timepiece, and warning means controlled by said unit electronics to provide at least one perceptible signal to a user of said timepiece when he takes aim with the viewfinder, said unit electronic being arranged so that said signal is provided to said user when said reference axis is aligned with said selected azimuth direction.

Thanks to the characteristics of the invention, it is easy to aim using the viewfinder expected without the use of a mirror. So, he there is no need to provide a device having two articulated modules or, more simply, having a hinged top cover with mirror bottom as is the case in the prior art cited above. The device according to the invention preferably comprises a sight formed by two sights arranged in the part upper case of the timepiece, in particular at the level of the telescope or the glass forming this case. To allow easy aiming when the timepiece forms a wristwatch worn on the wrist of a user, the reference axis defined by the sight, in particular by two sights forming such viewfinder, corresponds to the 6 o'clock-12 o'clock axis of the case.

According to a first main embodiment of the invention, the warning means are formed by electrically activated sound means, said signal noticeable forming an audible signal.

According to a second main embodiment of the invention, the warning means are formed by electrically activated optical means providing a visual signal that can be perceived by the user when of a sight. According to a preferred variant, the means optics are arranged on the surface of the housing in the region of this case located substantially at 6 o'clock.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un premier mode de réalisation d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une représentation schématique du premier mode de réalisation montrant la pièce d'horlogerie associée à un viseur et une boussole;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention, et
• la figure 4 montre schématiquement l'agencement du deuxième mode de réalisation et son fonctionnement.

Other particular characteristics and other advantages of the present invention will be described in more detail below with the aid of the following description, given with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a timepiece according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the first embodiment showing the timepiece associated with a viewfinder and a compass;
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a timepiece according to the invention, and
• Figure 4 schematically shows the arrangement of the second embodiment and its operation.

Referring below to Figures 1 and 2, we will describe a first embodiment of the invention. The wristwatch 2 includes a case 4 formed of a middle 6, a bezel 8 and a lens 10 covering and protecting display means 12.

On the telescope 8 are arranged two sights 14 and 15 forming a viewfinder. The two grooves or notches 16 and 17 are aligned relative to each other and together define a reference axis whose direction corresponds to the 6 o'clock-12 o'clock axis of watch 2. The watch 2 further comprises a crown 20 and a display LCD 22. In addition, the display means 12 comprise a dial 24 and a set of hands 25 allowing a analog indication of time or other variables, in particular one of the needles in the set of needles 26 can serve to indicate a direction.

Inside the housing 4 is arranged a compass electronic 26 including a permanent magnet 28 mounted free to rotate in the housing 4 and two sensors electromagnetic 29 and 30 known to those skilled in the art and arranged relative to the axis of rotation of the magnet permanent 28 with an angular offset of 90 °. Both electromagnetic sensors 29 and 30 each provide a electrical signal to an electronic unit 32 arranged for process electrical signals received from sensors electromagnetic 29 and 30 so as to determine precisely the direction of the magnetic axis 34 of the permanent magnet 28 in the general plane of the housing 4. The electromagnetic sensors 29 and 30 being integral of the housing 4, the electronic unit 32 can determine using a treatment known to those skilled in the art the azimuthal orientation of the defined reference axis 36 by the two sights 14 and 15. Preferably, for determining the azimuthal orientation of the housing 4 and to take aim with the viewfinder 14, 15, the general plan of the housing 4 is provided horizontal.

According to the invention, an audible alarm 40 is provided. electrically connected to electronic unit 32. Man of the trade knows a vibrator or acoustic device capable of providing perceptible sounds or audible signals by a user of watch 2. The person skilled in the art find descriptions of vibrator layouts or acoustic devices especially in documents EP 0 741 344, EP 0 712 059, US 4 267 849, US 4 330 878 and US 4,373,624, these documents being incorporated herein description by reference.

The electronic unit 32 is arranged to control the warning means, formed by the sound device 40, to provide at least a first sound signal noticeable by a user of watch 2 when he takes aim with the viewfinder 14, 15. More in particular, the electronic unit 32 controls the sound device 40 so the user is informed by any sound signal when the axis of reference 36 is aligned on an azimuth direction selected. To activate the compass mode and allow so a user can take aim, to use the crown or control rod 20 which is electrically connected to the electronic unit 32. Then, to select an azimuthal direction, it is planned for example to introduce a given heading or azimuth in a memory part of the electronic unit 32 by means of the crown or electronic rod 20 in association with the LCD display 22. Once the watch 2 is put in the mode compass, LCD display indicates angular deviation relative to the direction of the North magnetic pole or the North geographic pole according to the planned variant and in particular the possibility of introducing either the position of the user, or to enter the value of the magnetic variation of the north geographic pole relative to the north magnetic point.

A person skilled in the art knows how to arrange the electronic unit 32 to allow either of these introductions to magnetic declination and azimuth values geographic or magnetic depending on the mode of use planned. Thanks to the arrangement described above, a user can therefore select a direction azimuth and then aim precisely in this azimuthal direction selected using the viewfinder 14, 15, while keeping the wristwatch 2 on the wrist.

When aiming, the user does not see the display means 12 but is informed by the device sound 40 when the case 4 of watch 2 is oriented according to the azimuthal direction selected, namely that the axis 6 am to 12 pm corresponding to the axis of reference 36 is aligned with this azimuth direction selected. The space above the viewfinder 14, 15 being completely free, a user can efficient and easy to aim precisely for reach the target or to determine the azimuth magnetic or geographic of an object or area geographic relative to the geographic position where it is located.

Note that to activate watch 32 in a mode compass and for data entry necessary to select a given direction, all means of introduction known to those skilled in the art can be used, including an introduction using a rotating bezel, capacitive or pressure sensors, buttons, pushers or the set of needles 24.

The sound device 40 can have several functions and be used in various ways to provide the necessary signal to the user who performs a sight using the wristwatch 2. In order to give an indication to the user of the deviation of the case 4 relative to the selected azimuth direction, it it is possible to provide various sounds or a sound having a variable frequency and / or variable amplitude. So, for example, the electronic unit 32 is arranged to way to control the sound device so that it provide a signal having a first frequency, in mode compass, when the reference axis 36 does not coincide with the selected azimuth direction, this signal having an increasing or decreasing amplitude depending on whether the angular offset between the direction selected and the reference axis 36 increases or decreases. When the reference axis 36 is aligned with the direction selected, the sound device is controlled so to provide another signal with a different frequency of the non-alignment signal described above. It is also possible to mark such a difference by varying the tone of the sounds provided. Those skilled in the art can predict various variants for operation and control warning means while remaining within the framework of the present invention.

Using FIGS. 3 and 4, a description will be given below. second embodiment of the invention. The references already described in the description of the first mode of achievement will not all be described again here in detail.

The wristwatch 42 includes a case 44 formed a middle part 46, a bezel 48 and a lens 10 covering and protecting time display means 12. On the ice 10 are arranged two sight sights 14 and 15 respectively having two grooves or notches 16 and 17 aligned and together defining an axis of case number 44 parallel to the axis 6 o'clock-12 hours of this case. Inside the case 44 is also arranged an electronic compass 26 whose two electromagnetic sensors 29 and 30 provide each an electrical signal to an electronic unit 52 which, like the electronic unit 32 of the first mode of realization described above, allows to determine the position of the box relative to the north direction magnetic or geographic north according to the standard selected. The electronic unit 52 is therefore arranged to determine the azimuthal orientation of the housing 44, in particular the azimuthal direction defined by the axis of reference defined by the viewfinder 15, 16.

In this second embodiment, the needle of 50 hours is used, when watch 42 is activated in a compass mode, in particular using the crown 20, indicate the direction of magnetic or geographic north or the direction of a given heading or azimuth. Given that the sights 14 and 15 are arranged on the glass 10, it is easy in this embodiment to provide a telescope 48 which is rotating and can thus be used to determine a azimuthal direction given without aiming when the direction to follow should not be known so accurate by the user of the watch 42.

In this second embodiment, the means warning devices to indicate to the operator aiming when the reference axis defined by the viewfinder 14, 15 is aligned with a selected azimuth direction are formed by activated optical means electrically. These optical means are formed in the example given for this second embodiment by three light diodes 54, 55, 56 arranged on the surface of the box 44, more particularly on a surface outer upper of middle part 46 in a region located at 6 o'clock. So when a user performs a sight and that the plane defined by the glass 10 is located substantially at eye level, this user can see diodes 54, 55 and 56 without problem and perceive a or several optical signals supplied by these diodes.

The electronic unit 52 is electrically connected to a power supply 58 of the diodes 54, 55 and 56. The diodes 54, 55 and 56 can be used in various ways according to various variants to warn or inform a user because the reference axis defined by the sight 14, 15 is aligned or not on a direction azimuth selected. For example, when the user must turn the housing 44 counterclockwise, the LED 54 is activated and provides a light signal. By against, when the housing 46 must be turned in the clockwise, diode 56 provides a signal luminous. Once the reference axis is aligned with the azimuthal direction selected, the central diode 55 is activated and provides a light signal or it is possible to provide that the three diodes 54, 55 and 56 are activated. In another variant, it is even possible to foresee that during the correct alignment of the axis of reference on the selected direction, the signal supplied by the diodes consists of an absence of emission of light. The diodes can be of different colors, for example, the colored diodes 54 and 56 red while the central diode 55 is green.

Note that when a user performs a aimed, the direction indicator needle 50 is not visible to this user, hence the full utility and effectiveness of the warning means arranged on the middle 46. The second embodiment with the means visual alarms allow use of the watch 42 as a compass and underwater orientation device, that is to say usable during a dive.

Finally, it will be mentioned that the indicator needle 50, alternately used to indicate the time or a given direction, is powered by a motor 62 powered by a power supply 64 electrically connected to the electronic unit 52 which is arranged to control this motor 62.

Note that those skilled in the art can predict other warning means providing at least one signal perceptible to a user of a room of watchmaking according to the invention when the latter performs a sight by means of the viewfinder associated with this part of watchmaking. As a third embodiment, we will mention a part similar to watch 2 of the first embodiment in which the sound device 40 is replaced by a low frequency vibrator providing a vibration perceptible by the body of the user. The other elements of the invention as described in the first embodiment remain similar.

Claims (10)

Timepiece (2; 42) comprising a case (4; 44) and display means (12) used in particular for the time display, this timepiece being associated with a compass (26) and a viewfinder (14, 15) jointly allowing a determination of a direction azimuthal selected, characterized in that said compass is an electronic compass (28, 29, 30) and in an electronic unit (32; 52), connected electrically to said compass and arranged for determine using electrical signals provided by this compass the azimuthal orientation of an axis of reference (36) of said timepiece, and means horns (40; 54, 55, 56, 58) controlled by said electronic unit for supplying at least one signal noticeable by a user of said room of watchmaking when it performs a sighting by means of said viewfinder, said electronic unit being arranged so that said signal is provided to said user when said reference axis is aligned with said direction azimuth selected. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that said warning means (40) are formed by an activated sound device electrically. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that said warning means are formed by activated optical means (54, 55, 56) electrically by a connected power supply (58) to said electronic unit (52). Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that said optical means are formed by at least one diode (54, 55, 56) arranged on a outer surface of the housing (44) in a region of this case located substantially at 6 o'clock relative to a 12 hour conventional time display. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that said warning means are formed by a vibrator providing a vibration signal noticeable by the body of a user. Timepiece according to one of claims previous, characterized in that said viewfinder is formed by two sights (14, 15) arranged on a telescope (8) of said housing (4) diametrically opposite and according to the 6 o'clock-12 o'clock axis of said timepiece (2). Timepiece according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said viewfinder is formed of two sights (14, 15) arranged on the ice (10) so diametrically opposite and along the axis 6 am to 12 pm of said timepiece (42). Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that said bezel (48) is rotatable. Device according to one of the claims previous, characterized in that a indicator needle (50) for indicating a direction azimuthal given, in particular the direction of north magnetic or geographic. Timepiece according to one of claims previous, characterized in that a electronic crown (20) and display means digital (22) arranged to allow a user to introduce any azimuth direction.

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