EP1094373B1 - Electroluminescent device for dial illumination - Google Patents

Electroluminescent device for dial illumination Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1094373B1
EP1094373B1 EP99120680A EP99120680A EP1094373B1 EP 1094373 B1 EP1094373 B1 EP 1094373B1 EP 99120680 A EP99120680 A EP 99120680A EP 99120680 A EP99120680 A EP 99120680A EP 1094373 B1 EP1094373 B1 EP 1094373B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ring
small dimensions
dial
electroluminescent
dimensions according
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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
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EP99120680A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1094373A1 (en
Inventor
Laurent Kaelin
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ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
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ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
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Priority to EP99120680A priority Critical patent/EP1094373B1/en
Priority to DE69940368T priority patent/DE69940368D1/en
Priority to AT99120680T priority patent/ATE422067T1/en
Publication of EP1094373A1 publication Critical patent/EP1094373A1/en
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Publication of EP1094373B1 publication Critical patent/EP1094373B1/en
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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
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/30—Illumination of dials or hands

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a light-emitting device for illuminating a dial, and more particularly to the circular dial of a small-sized device with an autonomous energy source, such as a timepiece to enable night reading. hourly indices located on the periphery.
  • electroluminescent sheets to illuminate a dial at night.
  • a electroluminescent sheet is cut to the dimensions of the dial of a wristwatch, pierced with a hole in its center for the passage of the axis of the needles, provided with hourly indices by printing or screen printing on the side facing the observer and connected, by flexible connectors welded to each electrode of the electroluminescent sheet, to an electronic circuit provided to provide an appropriate pulsed voltage.
  • connection means which are then formed by a tongue, curved or not, and a bare electrode portion is coated with a conductive ink to avoid or compensate for possible cracking of the electrode to establish at least one contact with the printed circuit.
  • a construction offers the advantage of being relatively simple to implement.
  • it has the drawbacks of having a still high energy consumption, due to the importance of the surface covered, despite the progress made in the design of electroluminescent sheets and excitation circuits, and to restrict the possible aesthetic variations in the dial, variations that are often desired by manufacturers to differentiate their products from those of competitors.
  • the object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art by providing a lighting device by means of a strip-shaped electroluminescent lamp easy to set up and connect to the excitation circuit.
  • the invention relates to a small device comprising a housing in which are housed a movement driving at least one needle facing a scale of a dial, a power source and an electronic circuit capable of supplying a pulsating voltage, said casing being closed by a prolonged dial-side mirror by an annular extension forming a flange, characterized in that a circular clearance is provided inside the base of the flange to receive on the one hand a light-emitting ring formed of a strip having a strip extending beyond the base and a connecting tab, on the other hand a ring of a translucent plastic material mounted in force in the annular clearance to hold the electroluminescent ring at the bottom of the this one.
  • a chronograph watch which comprises conventionally a casing formed by a housing 1, comprising a bottom 2 and a middle part 3 in one piece, closed at its upper part by an ice 4.
  • the bottom comprises a hatch 5 to replace the energy source 6 constituted by a button cell.
  • the caseband comprises a crown 7 and two pushbuttons 8, 9 serving in a conventional manner for setting the time and the chronograph operation, and a third pushbutton 10 for activating the illumination device for night reading Of time. It is obvious that for a watch without chronograph function it would be enough to have a crown and a single push-button, or even just a push-button knowing that there are mechanisms to perform both functions by means of a single control member. Inside the case there is a chronograph movement 14 for driving the needles at the center 12a, 12b, 12c and the counter hands 13a, 13b, 13c, above a dial 11.
  • the chronograph movement is an electronic movement powered by the button cell.
  • the housing 1 also contains an electronic circuit 15 connected to both the energy source 6 and flanges 33, 34 which will make it possible to establish contact with a light-emitting ring 20 by simple assembly.
  • the curved glass 4 has in its portion facing the dial an annular extension forming a flange 17.
  • the flange 17 comprises at its base 18 a small annular shoulder 16 and a substantially rectangular annular clearance 19 and open towards the inside the case 1.
  • the annular clearance 19 comprises against its wall 19a, and all around its periphery, an electroluminescent ring 20 and a ring 30.
  • the ring 20 is obtained by cutting in a light-emitting sheet, such as those available on the market from the company Lumitec (Gais-Switzerland), a strip having substantially the length of the perimeter 19, measured at its wall 19a. The width of this band must be slightly greater than the height of the clearance 19 to form a small strip 21 whose function will be explained later.
  • a tab 22 perpendicular to the strip to enable the connection to be made.
  • this lug 22 is arranged at 1/4 of the length, so as to be able to establish the electrical connection to the 9 o'clock position, where there is no crown or push button, and to have the joining the two ends of the band at the 6h position, which is the least visible in the case of a wristwatch.
  • This tab 22 shown in more detail at figure 5 , has two contact areas 23, 24 formed by the conductive tracks of the electroluminescent sheet. These contact zones 23, 24 are made during the manufacture of a light-emitting sheet, comprising a plurality of imprints having the developed form of the ring 20, removing at the tabs 22 of the structuring steps.
  • the ring 30 After setting up the ring 20 having previously returned the ice 4, operation represented by the arrow 1 on the figure 6 , it is blocked by means of the ring 30 of translucent plastic material, operation represented by the arrow 2.
  • the ring 30 initially has a preform oval, and in the example shown a rectangular section. With particular reference to Figures 3 and 4 it can be seen that the thickness of the ring 30 is such that it is flush with the angle of junction with the window 4 and that its height is slightly smaller than the depth of the annular recess 19.
  • the ice can be manipulated and returned to adjust it to the casing 1, operation represented by the arrow 3 on the figure 6 .

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Details Of Measuring Devices (AREA)
  • Endoscopes (AREA)
  • Eye Examination Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

A watchcase (1) has battery compartment and battery(5,6), an electronic circuit delivering pulses (15), hands (12) and watchglass (4). The watch dial is illuminated by an electroluminescent ring which is secured to the watchglass heel (17) by a pressed fit translucent ring (19) and has tabs which make contact with elastic electrical connections (33,34) from the pulsing circuit

Description

La présente invention a pour objet un dispositif électroluminescent d'éclairage d'un cadran, et plus particulièrement du cadran circulaire d'un appareil de petites dimensions à source d'énergie autonome, telle qu'une pièce d'horlogerie pour permettre la lecture nocturne des indices horaires situés à la périphérie.The present invention relates to a light-emitting device for illuminating a dial, and more particularly to the circular dial of a small-sized device with an autonomous energy source, such as a timepiece to enable night reading. hourly indices located on the periphery.

L'usage de feuilles électroluminescentes pour éclairer de nuit un cadran est bien connu. Dans le document US 4,775,964 une feuille électroluminescente est découpée aux dimensions du cadran d'une montre-bracelet, percée d'un trou en son centre pour le passage de l'axe des aiguilles, pourvues d'indices horaires par impression ou sérigraphie sur la face tournée vers l'observateur et reliée, par des connecteurs souples soudés à chaque électrode de la feuille électroluminescente, à un circuit électronique prévu pour délivrer une tension pulsée appropriée. Les perfectionnements décrits dans le document US 5,265,071 concernent essentiellement la simplification des moyens de connexion qui sont alors formés par une languette, recourbée ou non, et dont une portion d'électrode dénudée est revêtue d'une encre conductrice pour éviter ou compenser d'éventuelles craquelures de l'électrode afin d'établir au moins un contact avec le circuit imprimé. Une telle construction offre l'avantage d'être relativement simple à mettre en oeuvre. Elle présente toutefois comme inconvénients d'avoir une consommation d'énergie encore élevée, en raison de l'importance de la surface recouverte, malgré les progrès réalisés au niveau de la conception des feuilles électroluminescentes et des circuits d'excitation, et de restreindre les variations esthétiques possibles au niveau du cadran, variations très souvent souhaitées par les constructeurs pour différencier leurs produits de ceux des concurrents.The use of electroluminescent sheets to illuminate a dial at night is well known. In the document US 4,775,964 a electroluminescent sheet is cut to the dimensions of the dial of a wristwatch, pierced with a hole in its center for the passage of the axis of the needles, provided with hourly indices by printing or screen printing on the side facing the observer and connected, by flexible connectors welded to each electrode of the electroluminescent sheet, to an electronic circuit provided to provide an appropriate pulsed voltage. The improvements described in the document US5,265,071 essentially concern the simplification of the connection means which are then formed by a tongue, curved or not, and a bare electrode portion is coated with a conductive ink to avoid or compensate for possible cracking of the electrode to establish at least one contact with the printed circuit. Such a construction offers the advantage of being relatively simple to implement. However, it has the drawbacks of having a still high energy consumption, due to the importance of the surface covered, despite the progress made in the design of electroluminescent sheets and excitation circuits, and to restrict the possible aesthetic variations in the dial, variations that are often desired by manufacturers to differentiate their products from those of competitors.

Pour diminuer la consommation d'énergie il est naturellement possible de réduire la surface de la feuille électroluminescente par exemple en limitant sa surface au contour des indices horaires, comme décrit dans le document DE 4 023 693 , ou bien au contraire en découpant dans sa surface des ouvertures représentant lesdits indices horaires, comme décrit dans le document JP-A-02-177290 , ce qui complique le montage des éléments électroluminescents sur le cadran. D'autre part, pour avoir un certain effet esthétique il a également été proposé d'utiliser plusieurs feuilles électroluminescentes de couleurs différentes, par exemple découpées en secteurs ou en anneaux concentriques, comme décrit dans le document JP-A-05-182761 . Là encore la construction, et notamment la connexion, devient compliquée et les variations esthétiques restent limitées.To reduce the energy consumption it is naturally possible to reduce the surface of the electroluminescent sheet for example by limiting its area to the contour of the hourly indices, as described in document DE 4,023,693 , or on the contrary by cutting into its surface openings representing said hourly indices, as described in the document JP-A-02-177290 , which complicates the assembly of electroluminescent elements on the dial. On the other hand, to have a certain aesthetic effect it has also been proposed to use several electroluminescent sheets of different colors, for example cut into sectors or in concentric rings, as described in the document JP-A-05-182761 . Here again the construction, and especially the connection, becomes complicated and the aesthetic variations remain limited.

En fait, pour avoir la plus grande liberté possible au niveau de la décoration du cadran, aussi bien en observation diurne qu'en observation nocturne, il est préférable d'avoir un éclairage indirect à partir du rehaut.In fact, to have the greatest possible freedom in the decoration of the dial, both in daytime observation and night observation, it is better to have indirect lighting from the flange.

De nombreux dispositifs faisant appel à une ou plusieurs diodes, associées ou non à un guide de lumière ont été proposés. A titre d'exemple on peut citer les documents US 4,705,407 ; US 4,908,739 ou EP 0 860 755 qui divulguent différentes formes ou structures de guides annulaires rigides en PMMA destinés à concentrer le mieux possible la lumière sur le cadran et à procurer une illumination uniforme. Il s'avère toutefois à l'usage qu'il est très difficile, voire impossible d'avoir une illumination réellement uniforme.Many devices using one or more diodes, associated or not with a light guide have been proposed. As an example we can mention the documents US 4,705,407 ; US 4,908,739 or EP 0 860 755 which disclose different shapes or structures of PMMA rigid annular guides for optimally focusing the light on the dial and providing uniform illumination. It turns out however to use that it is very difficult, if not impossible to have a truly uniform illumination.

L'objet de l'invention est de pallier les inconvénients de l'art antérieur précité en procurant un dispositif d'éclairage au moyen d'une lampe électroluminescente en forme de bande facile à mettre en place et à connecter au circuit d'excitation.The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art by providing a lighting device by means of a strip-shaped electroluminescent lamp easy to set up and connect to the excitation circuit.

A cet effet l'invention a pour objet un appareil de petites dimensions comprenant un boîtier dans lequel sont logés un mouvement entraînant au moins une aiguille en regard d'une échelle d'un cadran, une source d'énergie et un circuit électronique capable de délivrer une tension pulsée, ledit boîtier étant fermé par une glace prolongée côté cadran par une extension annulaire formant rehaut, caractérisé en ce qu'un dégagement circulaire est prévu à l'intérieur de la base du rehaut pour recevoir d'une part un anneau électroluminescent formé d'une bande ayant une bandelette s'étendant au-delà de la base et une patte de connexion, d'autre part une bague en un matériau plastique translucide montée en force dans le dégagement annulaire pour maintenir l'anneau électroluminescent au fond de celui-ci.For this purpose the invention relates to a small device comprising a housing in which are housed a movement driving at least one needle facing a scale of a dial, a power source and an electronic circuit capable of supplying a pulsating voltage, said casing being closed by a prolonged dial-side mirror by an annular extension forming a flange, characterized in that a circular clearance is provided inside the base of the flange to receive on the one hand a light-emitting ring formed of a strip having a strip extending beyond the base and a connecting tab, on the other hand a ring of a translucent plastic material mounted in force in the annular clearance to hold the electroluminescent ring at the bottom of the this one.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description d'une montre-chronographe prise à titre d'exemple, en référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'une montre-chronographe,
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1,
  • la figure 3 est une vue agrandie de la zone de contact de l'anneau électroluminescent selon la flèche III de la figure 2,
  • la figure 4 est une vue agrandie de l'assemblage de l'anneau électroluminescent en un point quelconque de son pourtour,
  • la figure 5 représente en perspective agrandie la portion de l'anneau électroluminescent au niveau de la patte de connexion, et
  • la figure 6 est une représentation en perspective éclatée, montrant le procédé d'assemblage du dispositif d'illumination dans une montre.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description of an exemplary chronograph watch, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • the figure 1 is a top view of a chronograph watch,
  • the figure 2 is a sectional view along line II-II of the figure 1 ,
  • the figure 3 is an enlarged view of the contact zone of the electroluminescent ring according to the arrow III of the figure 2 ,
  • the figure 4 is an enlarged view of the assembly of the electroluminescent ring at any point of its periphery,
  • the figure 5 represents in enlarged perspective the portion of the electroluminescent ring at the connection lug, and
  • the figure 6 is an exploded perspective representation showing the method of assembling the illumination device in a watch.

En se référant aux figures 1 et 2, on a représenté une montre chronographe qui comprend de façon classique un habillage formé par un boîtier 1, comprenant un fond 2 et une carrure 3 en une seule pièce, fermé à sa partie supérieure par une glace 4.Referring to figures 1 and 2 , there is shown a chronograph watch which comprises conventionally a casing formed by a housing 1, comprising a bottom 2 and a middle part 3 in one piece, closed at its upper part by an ice 4.

Le fond comprend une trappe 5 permettant de remplacer la source d'énergie 6 constituée par une pile bouton.The bottom comprises a hatch 5 to replace the energy source 6 constituted by a button cell.

La carrure comporte une couronne 7 et deux boutons poussoirs 8, 9 servant de façon classique à la mise à l'heure et au fonctionnement du chronographe, ainsi qu'un troisième poussoir 10 permettant d'activer le dispositif d'illumination pour la lecture nocturne de l'heure. Il est bien évident que, pour une montre sans fonction chronographe il suffirait d'avoir une couronne et un seul bouton-poussoir, voire seulement une couronne-poussoir sachant qu'il existe des mécanismes permettant d'accomplir les deux fonctions au moyen d'un seul organe de commande. A l'intérieur du boîtier on trouve un mouvement de chronographe 14 permettant d'entraîner les aiguilles au centre 12a, 12b, 12c et les aiguilles de compteurs 13a, 13b, 13c, au-dessus d'un cadran 11.The caseband comprises a crown 7 and two pushbuttons 8, 9 serving in a conventional manner for setting the time and the chronograph operation, and a third pushbutton 10 for activating the illumination device for night reading Of time. It is obvious that for a watch without chronograph function it would be enough to have a crown and a single push-button, or even just a push-button knowing that there are mechanisms to perform both functions by means of a single control member. Inside the case there is a chronograph movement 14 for driving the needles at the center 12a, 12b, 12c and the counter hands 13a, 13b, 13c, above a dial 11.

De préférence le mouvement de chronographe est un mouvement électronique alimenté par la pile bouton.Preferably the chronograph movement is an electronic movement powered by the button cell.

Le boîtier 1 contient également un circuit électronique 15 relié à la fois à la source d'énergie 6 et à des brides 33, 34 qui vont permettre d'établir un contact avec un anneau électroluminescent 20 par simple assemblage.The housing 1 also contains an electronic circuit 15 connected to both the energy source 6 and flanges 33, 34 which will make it possible to establish contact with a light-emitting ring 20 by simple assembly.

En se référant aux figures 2 à 4 et 6 on voit que la glace 4 qui est bombée présente dans sa partie tournée vers le cadran une extension annulaire formant un rehaut 17. Le rehaut 17 comprend à sa base 18 un petit épaulement annulaire 16 et un dégagement annulaire 19 sensiblement rectangulaire et ouvert vers l'intérieur du boîtier 1.Referring to Figures 2 to 4 and 6 it can be seen that the curved glass 4 has in its portion facing the dial an annular extension forming a flange 17. The flange 17 comprises at its base 18 a small annular shoulder 16 and a substantially rectangular annular clearance 19 and open towards the inside the case 1.

Le dégagement annulaire 19 comprend contre sa paroi 19a, et sur tout son pourtour, un anneau électroluminescent 20 et une bague 30. L'anneau 20 est obtenu en découpant dans une feuille électroluminescente, telles que celles qui sont disponibles sur le marché auprès de la société Lumitec (Gais-Suisse), une bande ayant pour longueur sensiblement le périmètre de dégagement 19, mesuré au niveau de sa paroi 19a. La largeur de cette bande doit être légèrement supérieur à la hauteur du dégagement 19 pour former une petite bandelette 21 dont la fonction sera expliquée plus loin. En un endroit quelconque de l'anneau 20, il est prévu une patte 22 perpendiculaire à la bande pour permettre d'assurer la connexion. Dans l'exemple représenté cette patte 22 est disposée à 1/4 de la longueur, de façon à pouvoir établir la connexion électrique à la position horaire 9h., où il n'existe ni couronne, ni bouton-poussoir, et à avoir la jonction des deux extrémités de la bande à la position 6h., qui est la moins visible dans le cas d'une montre-bracelet.The annular clearance 19 comprises against its wall 19a, and all around its periphery, an electroluminescent ring 20 and a ring 30. The ring 20 is obtained by cutting in a light-emitting sheet, such as those available on the market from the company Lumitec (Gais-Switzerland), a strip having substantially the length of the perimeter 19, measured at its wall 19a. The width of this band must be slightly greater than the height of the clearance 19 to form a small strip 21 whose function will be explained later. At any point in the ring 20, there is provided a tab 22 perpendicular to the strip to enable the connection to be made. In the example shown, this lug 22 is arranged at 1/4 of the length, so as to be able to establish the electrical connection to the 9 o'clock position, where there is no crown or push button, and to have the joining the two ends of the band at the 6h position, which is the least visible in the case of a wristwatch.

Cette patte 22, représentée plus en détails à la figure 5, comporte deux zones de contact 23, 24 formées par les pistes conductrices de la feuille électroluminescente. Ces zones de contact 23, 24 sont réalisées lors de la fabrication d'une feuille électroluminescente, comprenant une pluralité d'empreintes ayant la forme développée de l'anneau 20, en supprimant au niveau des pattes 22 des étapes de structuration.This tab 22, shown in more detail at figure 5 , has two contact areas 23, 24 formed by the conductive tracks of the electroluminescent sheet. These contact zones 23, 24 are made during the manufacture of a light-emitting sheet, comprising a plurality of imprints having the developed form of the ring 20, removing at the tabs 22 of the structuring steps.

Sur la figure 5 on observera également qu'en courbant la bande en forme d'anneau, on rigidifie la patte 22, mais selon un rayon de courbure important ne risquant pas d'endommager les zones de contact 23, 24, et donc sans qu'il soit nécessaire de les protéger avec une peinture conductrice.On the figure 5 it will also be observed that by bending the ring-shaped strip, the lug 22 is stiffened, but with a large radius of curvature that does not risk damaging the contact zones 23, 24, and therefore without being necessary to protect them with a conductive paint.

Après avoir mis en place l'anneau 20 en ayant préalablement retourné la glace 4, opération représentée par la flèche 1 sur la figure 6, on le bloque au moyen de la bague 30 en matériau plastique translucide, opération représentée par la flèche 2. Pour faciliter cette mise en place, notamment dans le cas d'une automatisation des opérations d'assemblage, la bague 30 a initialement une préforme ovale, et dans l'exemple représenté une section rectangulaire. En se référant plus particulièrement aux figures 3 et 4, on voit que l'épaisseur de la bague 30 est telle qu'elle affleure à l'angle de jonction avec la glace 4 et que sa hauteur est légèrement inférieure à la profondeur de l'évidement annulaire 19.After setting up the ring 20 having previously returned the ice 4, operation represented by the arrow 1 on the figure 6 , it is blocked by means of the ring 30 of translucent plastic material, operation represented by the arrow 2. To facilitate this implementation, particularly in the case of automation of assembly operations, the ring 30 initially has a preform oval, and in the example shown a rectangular section. With particular reference to Figures 3 and 4 it can be seen that the thickness of the ring 30 is such that it is flush with the angle of junction with the window 4 and that its height is slightly smaller than the depth of the annular recess 19.

Une fois que l'anneau 20 est bloqué par la bague 30, la glace peut être manipulée et retournée pour l'ajuster sur le boîtier 1, opération représentée par la flèche 3 sur la figure 6.Once the ring 20 is blocked by the ring 30, the ice can be manipulated and returned to adjust it to the casing 1, operation represented by the arrow 3 on the figure 6 .

Comme on le voit sur les figures 3, 4 et 6, entre le cadran 11 et la paroi interne 26 de la carrure 3 il est prévu un passage circulaire 27 dans lequel va s'engager le petit épaulement annulaire 16 de la glace, la bandelette 21 de l'anneau 20, ainsi que la patte de connexion 22 dont les zones de contact 23, 24 vont s'engager entre des brides de contact 33, 34 reliées au circuit électronique 15 prévu pour délivrer une tension pulsée lorsqu'on exerce une pression sur le poussoir 10.As we see on the Figures 3, 4 and 6 between the dial 11 and the inner wall 26 of the caseband 3 there is provided a circular passage 27 in which will engage the small annular shoulder 16 of the ice, the strip 21 of the ring 20, and the connecting lug 22 whose contact zones 23, 24 will engage between contact flanges 33, 34 connected to the electronic circuit 15 provided for delivering a pulsed voltage when exerting a pressure on the pusher 10.

La construction selon l'invention qui vient d'être décrite est donc facile à mettre en oeuvre et peut être adaptée par l'homme de l'art à un grand nombre de produits, sans sortir du cadre de l'invention définie par les revendications. Elle présente l'avantage de permettre la plus totale liberté pour la décoration et, par le choix de la feuille électroluminescente et de la tension pulsée, de permettre de faire varier la couleur et la zone d'éclairage depuis la largeur de l'anneau où sont disposés les indices horaires jusqu'à la totalité du cadran.The construction according to the invention which has just been described is therefore easy to implement and can be adapted by those skilled in the art to a large number of products without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims. . It has the advantage of allowing the utmost freedom for decoration and, by the choice of the electroluminescent sheet and the pulsed voltage, to make it possible to vary the color and the lighting zone from the width of the ring where the hourly indices are arranged up to the entire dial.

Claims (6)

  1. Apparatus of small dimensions including a case (1) in which are housed a movement (14) driving at least one hand (12a, 12b, 12c) with respect to the scale of a dial (11), a power source (6) and an electronic circuit (15) able to supply a pulsed voltage, said case being closed by a crystal (4) extended on the dial side by an annular extension forming a flange (17), characterised in that a circular recess (19) is provided inside the base (18) of the flange (17) to accommodate on the one hand, an electroluminescent ring (20) formed of a strip having a border (21) extending beyond the base and a connecting lug (22), and on the other hand a ring (30) made of translucent plastic material forced into the annular recess (19) to hold the electroluminescent ring (20) at the bottom thereof.
  2. Apparatus of small dimensions according to claim 1, characterised in that the holding ring (30) has an oval pre-shape so as to facilitate the setting in place thereof.
  3. Apparatus of small dimensions according to claim 2, characterised in that the holding ring (30) has a regular rectangular cross-section the height of which is less than the depth of the annular recess.
  4. Apparatus of small dimensions according to claim 1, characterised in that the translucent plastic material forming the holding ring (30) is for example polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).
  5. Apparatus of small dimensions according to claim 1, characterised in that dial (11) has a surface having the same contour as that of the bottom of the annular recess (19), reduced by a value equal to the thickness of the electroluminescent ring (20) so as to arrange a passage (27) for the connecting lug (22) towards elastic contact strips (33, 34) connected to the electronic circuit (15) and to grip the border (21) onto the periphery against the wall (18a) of the annular recess.
  6. Apparatus of small dimensions according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the apparatus of small dimensions is a timepiece in which the movement (14) drives the hands with respect to the scale corresponding to the time symbols.
EP99120680A 1999-10-19 1999-10-19 Electroluminescent device for dial illumination Expired - Lifetime EP1094373B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99120680A EP1094373B1 (en) 1999-10-19 1999-10-19 Electroluminescent device for dial illumination
DE69940368T DE69940368D1 (en) 1999-10-19 1999-10-19 Electroluminescent device for illuminating a dial
AT99120680T ATE422067T1 (en) 1999-10-19 1999-10-19 ELECTROLUMINescent DEVICE FOR ILLUMINATION OF A DIAL

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99120680A EP1094373B1 (en) 1999-10-19 1999-10-19 Electroluminescent device for dial illumination

Publications (2)

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EP1094373A1 EP1094373A1 (en) 2001-04-25
EP1094373B1 true EP1094373B1 (en) 2009-01-28

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ID=8239227

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99120680A Expired - Lifetime EP1094373B1 (en) 1999-10-19 1999-10-19 Electroluminescent device for dial illumination

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EP (1) EP1094373B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE422067T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69940368D1 (en)

Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102015204381A1 (en) * 2015-03-11 2016-09-15 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Pointer instrument for a motor vehicle

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITTO20070783A1 (en) * 2007-11-06 2009-05-07 Massimo Franzosi ANALOGUE CLOCK, IN PARTICULAR WRISTWATCH, WITH AUTOMATIC LIGHTING OF THE DIAL WITH ELETTROLUMINESCENCE

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US4250575A (en) * 1979-07-11 1981-02-10 Timex Corporation Illuminator for analog timepiece dial
US4705407A (en) 1986-11-14 1987-11-10 Andre Brien Portable time piece with light diffuser
US4775964A (en) 1988-01-11 1988-10-04 Timex Corporation Electroluminescent dial for an analog watch and process for making it
US4908739A (en) 1988-09-29 1990-03-13 Andre Brien Light diffusing ring for wristwatch
JPH02177290A (en) 1988-12-28 1990-07-10 Seikosha Co Ltd Electroluminescence character display board
DE4023693A1 (en) 1989-09-20 1991-03-28 Helmut Moser Signal or measuring display with electroluminescent illumination - uses contoured display electrode in conjunction with simple flat construction
JP2657159B2 (en) 1991-12-26 1997-09-24 セイコープレシジョン株式会社 EL element and watch using this EL element
US5265071A (en) 1993-02-02 1993-11-23 Timex Corporation Electroluminescent watch dial support and connector assembly
EP0860755B1 (en) 1997-02-20 2002-06-12 Asulab S.A. Device for uniformly illuminating the dial of a display apparatus

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102015204381A1 (en) * 2015-03-11 2016-09-15 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Pointer instrument for a motor vehicle
DE102015204381B4 (en) * 2015-03-11 2016-11-03 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Pointer instrument for a motor vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1094373A1 (en) 2001-04-25
ATE422067T1 (en) 2009-02-15
DE69940368D1 (en) 2009-03-19

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