EP1207439B1 - Electronic watch with capacitive switches on its cover glass - Google Patents

Electronic watch with capacitive switches on its cover glass Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1207439B1
EP1207439B1 EP00204045A EP00204045A EP1207439B1 EP 1207439 B1 EP1207439 B1 EP 1207439B1 EP 00204045 A EP00204045 A EP 00204045A EP 00204045 A EP00204045 A EP 00204045A EP 1207439 B1 EP1207439 B1 EP 1207439B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
watch
capacitive
electrodes
hand
detection device
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Expired - Lifetime
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EP00204045A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1207439A1 (en
Inventor
Pierre-André Farine
Jean-Charles Guanter
Sergio Rota
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Asulab AG
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Asulab AG
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Publication date
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Priority to AT00204045T priority Critical patent/ATE433140T1/en
Priority to EP00204045A priority patent/EP1207439B1/en
Priority to ES00204045T priority patent/ES2327708T3/en
Priority to DE60042333T priority patent/DE60042333D1/en
Publication of EP1207439A1 publication Critical patent/EP1207439A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1207439B1 publication Critical patent/EP1207439B1/en
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    • 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
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/14—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating a stepping motor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electronic watch comprising a housing containing needle display means and provided with a dielectric material ice disposed in front of said needles, and manual control means comprising capacitive keys each provided with a transparent electrode arranged on the inner face of the ice and forming a first armature of a capacitive sensor whose second armature is formed by placing a finger of the wearer of the watch on the outer face of the ice selectively vis-à-vis at least one of the capacitive keys, the control means further comprising detection means for detecting capacitance variations of said sensors and correspondingly producing control signals in the watch.
  • a watch of this kind is described for example in the patent EP 674 247 .
  • the capacitive-key control device makes it possible to replace the usual external control elements such as push-buttons, used to control the various functions of a watch, for example setting the time, switching on and tripping a chronograph or entry into a particular mode of operation.
  • a basic idea of the present invention is to combine the two aforementioned devices in an electronic watch. In addition, the invention achieves this combination in a remarkably simple manner.
  • the invention relates to an electronic watch of the type indicated in the preamble above, characterized in that it comprises means arranged for the capacitive position detection of at least one of the needles, on the basis of variations capacitance between said needle and at least one of the transparent electrodes of the capacitive keys.
  • the invention relates to an electronic watch of the type indicated in the preamble above, characterized in that it comprises means arranged for capacitive position detection of at least one of the needles, said position detection of the needle being effected by means of the detection device associated with the capacitive keys, on the basis of capacitance variations between said needle and at least one fixed electrode.
  • each metal needle whose position is to be detected is generally connected to a fixed potential, in particular the mass of the electric circuits of the watch, just as the wearer's finger acting on the capacitive keys, this particularly advantageous aspect of the The invention involves using the same electronic means to detect the position of the needle or needles and the presence of the finger on a key.
  • the addition of the needle position detection in a capacitive key watch of the kind described in the patent EP 674 247 can be done without substantial modification of the detection electronics.
  • the watch 1 represented in the figure 1 comprises in a conventional manner a sealed housing 2 comprising a metal middle 3, a bottom 4 and an ice 5 of dielectric material, for example mineral glass, organic glass or sapphire.
  • the housing 2 contains an electronic clockwork 6, an electric battery 7 and analogue display means including in particular a minute hand 8 and a hour hand 9 which rotate in an interval defined by a flange 10 between the ice 5 and a dial 11.
  • a printed circuit board 12 carrying one or more integrated circuits 13.
  • the housing 2, as well as the metal needles 8 and 9 are connected to a fixed potential defined by one of the poles of the battery 7 and constituting the electric mass 14. It should be noted that the heights are exaggerated in the figure 1 to clarify the drawing.
  • the watch 1 is equipped with a capacitive button control device based on the principles described in the patent EP 674 247 and actuated by means of a manual control member such as a pusher 15.
  • the capacitive keys are formed by twelve transparent electrodes 21 to 32 shown in FIG. figure 3 and fixed against the inner face of the ice 5, facing the area swept by the minute hand 8.
  • the electrodes 21 to 32 are preferably formed by a layer of a conductive oxide such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), this layer further comprising connection tracks 34 and contact pads 35 for connecting each of the electrodes to the printed circuit board 12 via individual conductors 36 and zebra type monolithic connectors (not shown). ) in the flare 10.
  • the beaches 35 are grouped in two diametrically opposite areas of the ice 5, but they could be in a single zone or in several.
  • the electrodes 21 to 32 have a substantially trapezoidal shape, to cover most of the length of the minute hand 8, and they are separated by intervals 37 in the form of radial strips of constant width, substantially equal or slightly greater than those of the needle 8.
  • the intervals 37 are angularly offset by 30 ° relative to each other and are preferably opposite conventional indexes from one hour to twelve hours of the dial. This allows to accurately detect the position of the needle 8 opposite these indexes, as will be described later.
  • the capacitive keys defined by the electrodes 21 to 32 can be identified by names, numbers or symbols placed for example on the dial, on the ice or on the bezel of the housing.
  • Each of the electrodes 21 to 32 forms one of the armatures of a capacitive sensor whose other armature is formed by a finger 38 of the wearer of the watch when the wearer places this finger on the ice 5, selectively opposite the electrode concerned.
  • the finger 38 is electrically connected to the mass 14 via the housing 2 of the watch.
  • the capacitive sensor the placement of the finger 38 on the key formed by the transparent electrode concerned creates a rather large increase in sensor capacity concerned, compared to the parasitic capacitance existing between the electrode and the housing. This capacitance variation is detected by a detection device 40 represented in FIG. figure 2 and incorporated in one of the integrated circuits 13 of the movement 6.
  • the twelve transparent electrodes 21 to 32 are connected to twelve respective terminals of an analog multiplexer 42 of the detection device 40.
  • the twelve capacitive sensors are connected in parallel between the multiplexer 42 and the ground 14.
  • three of these sensors designated S1, S4 and S6 and respectively comprising the electrodes 21, 24 and 26 are represented.
  • a capacitor S13, also connected between the multiplexer 42 and the ground, serves as a reference and is preferably located on the printed circuit board 12.
  • the detection device 40 comprises a controlled current source 43, powered by a reference voltage V R , a circuit 44 with an amplifier and a voltage limiter, a frequency detector 45 associated with a RAM 46, and an operating circuit 47 intended in particular for delivering control signals SC and detection signals SD.
  • the frequency detector 45 and the power supply circuit 47 may each comprise either a logic circuit or a microprocessor.
  • the circuit 44 whose input 44a is connected to the current source 43 and to the multiplexer 42, forms an oscillator with each of the capacitive elements S1 to S13. Its construction can be of the type described in the patent EP 674 247 , to which the reader will refer for further details.
  • This circuit operates as a voltage-frequency converter, ie a voltage-controlled oscillator.
  • the oscillation frequency of its output signal SF is proportional to the inverse of the capacity of the elements S1 to S13 connected to it by the multiplexer 42.
  • the frequency detector 45 receives the signal SF, measures its oscillation frequency by counting the periods in a predetermined time window, and compares this measurement with a stored value which corresponds to the intrinsic capacitance C 0 of the sensor considered (that is, connected by the multiplexer 42) to determine whether the sensor is activated or not. Said intrinsic capacities have been stored in memory 46 in an initialization sequence of the detection device.
  • the frequency detector 45 also controls the multiplexer 42 and the source of current 43.
  • the reference formed by the capacitance S13 must make it possible, on the one hand, to correctly adjust the charging / discharging current i of the capacitive sensors, and on the other hand to measure the drift of the frequency of the oscillator, drift that the software of the frequency detector can then compensate.
  • the value of the reference capacity must in all cases be greater than the intrinsic capacitance values C 0 of the sensors S1 to S12.
  • the state of the twelve sensors S1 to S12 and the reference capacitor S13 is sequentially determined by scanning with the aid of the multiplexer 42, preferably starting with the reference capacitor.
  • the presence of the minute hand 8 facing one of the transparent electrodes 21 to 32 produces an increase in the capacity of the corresponding sensor.
  • this variation in capacity is much smaller, for example about five to ten times smaller than that produced by the placement of the finger 38 on the ice opposite the same electrode.
  • the detection circuit 45 is arranged to compare these variations with predetermined thresholds, to discriminate the variations in capacity caused by the needle relative to that caused by the finger.
  • the output signals that it delivers to the operating circuit 47 indicate, on the one hand, which of the sensors S1 to S12 is activated and, on the other hand, whether this activation is due to the finger 38 or to the As a result, the operating circuit 47 may output a control signal SC if the activation is due to the finger, or a detection signal SD if the activation is due to the needle.
  • the operating circuit 47 is arranged to signal the passage of the needle 8 from one of the electrodes 21 to 32 to the next, or one of the electrodes at the interval 37 separating it from the electrode next. Since the needle is generally driven step by step, this accurately detects the passage of the needle at predetermined positions, from five minutes to five minutes in the present example.
  • the detection circuit 45 can store in the memory 46 the measured values during a scan and then compare with them the new values measured during the next scan. Since the duration of a complete scan can be quite short, for example between 30 and 200 ms depending on the number of sensors, this circuit can accurately detect the moment when the needle 8 begins to cover one of the electrodes, even if it still partially covers the previous electrode. It is thus possible to reduce the gaps 37 between electrodes and to use relatively large needles, producing relatively high capacitance variations and therefore easy to detect.
  • the needle position detection that the device described above allows can be advantageously used to control the concordance between this position and the contents of an electronic minute counter in the movement of the watch.
  • an automatic correction will be made by a suitable number of steps of the motor which drives this needle.
  • the hour hand 9 is further away from the transparent electrodes 21 to 32 than the minute hand 8. In this example, it has, in the vicinity of the electrodes 21 to 32, an area too small to disturb the position detection of the minute hand.
  • the hour hand 9 can be given a sufficient size and placed close enough to the ice 5 to produce, in the sensors S1 to S12, a variation in capacity sufficient to be detectable. .
  • the detection circuit 45 will then have to use an additional predetermined threshold to discriminate the capacity variations due respectively to the hour hand and the minute hand.
  • Another solution shown schematically in dashed lines in the figure 1 is to detect the position of the hour hand 9 by means of one or more fixed electrodes 51 placed on the dial 11, therefore closer to this needle than the minute hand 8.
  • Each of the fixed electrodes 51 then constitutes , with the needle 9, an additional capacitive sensor that can be connected to the multiplexer 42 and scanned by the detection device 40 following the sensors S1 to S12.
  • the same detection device 40 is capable of signaling the actuation of a capacitive key by the finger 38, the position of the minute hand 8 and the position of the hour hand.
  • this hour hand detection system may be combined with the other embodiments described below and may also be provided to detect the position of another hand of the watch.
  • the detection device 40 is normally inactive. It is activated preferably in two particular circumstances. The first is where the wearer of the watch wishes to actuate one of the capacitive control keys by touching the glass 5. It must first put the watch in a control mode, for example by pressing a pushbutton 15 or by an action on the control rod of the watch. This action delivers an initialization signal SI to the operating circuit 47, which will activate the detection circuit 40 and produce the initialization sequence by the detection circuit 45. From this moment, any actuation of a capacitive key by the finger 38 will be detected. Needle positions can also be detected if necessary. The other circumstance is a periodic check of the position of the needle or the hands of the watch. This control can be initialized either by the control S1 described above, or by a specific signal delivered to the operating circuit 47, for example once or twice a day.
  • the figure 4 represents another embodiment of a transparent electrode 61 usable in place of each of the electrodes 21 to 32 described above, that is to say that twelve of these electrodes 61 may be provided around the periphery of the ice 5, which are separated by intervals 62 having a width substantially equal to or slightly greater than that of the minute hand 8.
  • the electrodes 61 do not cover the area swept by the hour hand 9.
  • the electrode 61 is comb-shaped, with a circumferentially continuous base 63 and five teeth 64 extending radially towards the center and separated by gaps 65 of the same width as the gaps 62.
  • the electrical connection between each electrode 61 and the electronic circuits of the watch is carried out in the same way as in the previous example.
  • the figure 5 represents another embodiment, comprising two different types of transparent electrodes 70 and 71 on the inner face of the ice 5 of the watch 1 described above.
  • Each electrode 71 comprises, outside the field swept by the minute hand 8, an enlarged portion 71a forming a capacitive key intended to cooperate with the finger 38 of the wearer and identified for example by a symbol 72 which corresponds to the function controlled by the capacitive key.
  • Each electrode 71 further comprises a narrow portion 71b which extends radially between the adjacent electrodes 70 and has a strip-like shape thereof.
  • Each of the electrodes 70 and 71 is individually connected to the detection circuit. They together form a circular row comprising, for example, thirty electrodes and thirty intervals 73 to allow sixty positions of the needle 8 to be detected.
  • the arrangement of the transparent electrodes illustrated by the figure 5 is modified to comprise only a circular row of thirty electrodes 80 in the form of radial strips, without the enlarged portions 71a shown in FIG. figure 5 .
  • Each capacitive key is then defined by a group 81 to 86 of several (for example two or three) consecutive electrodes 80 that can be covered together by the wearer's finger.
  • the detection device 40 is then arranged to discriminate the cases where a only electrode 80 is activated, which corresponds to the presence of the needle 8 facing this electrode, and the cases where at least two (or all) of the adjacent electrodes 80 of the same group 81 to 86 are activated, which corresponds to the presence of the wearer's finger opposite this group.
  • the reference 88 indicates, for example, an area covered by the finger and in which the presence of the finger creates a variation of capacitance detected in all the electrodes of the group 81 and in some adjacent electrodes, but not in those of the neighboring groups 82 and 86.
  • Detection device 40 will detect that more or all electrodes of group 81 are activated at the same time. Accordingly, it will indicate it as an activation of the corresponding capacitive key by the finger 38 (and not by the needle 8) and deliver the control signal SC corresponding to this key.
  • the operating method of the detection device 40 comprises two independent or simultaneous modes, which are managed thanks to the software and / or the logical arrangement of the elements 45 and 47 of this device: a mode control device with capacitive keys, that the wearer of the watch deliberately switches by means of a member such as the pusher 15, and a needle detection mode that can be triggered and triggered automatically by the watch movement.
  • the control mode can be triggered either by time delay or by manual control.
  • the needle detection may be limited to a restricted region of the area traversed by the needle, for example to only one of the transparent electrodes or to a region including the last electrode detected by the needle. needle and the adjacent electrodes. This limitation is made by means of the multiplexer 42. It allows either a saving of electrical energy, or an increase in the accuracy of measurement of the oscillation frequency through an enlargement of the window counting periods.

Abstract

There is a circular range of buttons defined by transparent electrodes (21-32) disposed on the interior face of the glass cover (5) of the watch. The electrodes are attached to a detecting to a detecting device through a multiplexer. The buttons are activated through the electrodes at the touch of a finger (38) on the glass. There are also means to detect at least one of the hands of the watch (8,9) though the same detecting device by using the electrodes.

Description

La présente invention concerne une montre électronique comportant un boîtier contenant des moyens d'affichage à aiguilles et pourvu d'une glace en matière diélectrique disposée devant lesdites aiguilles, et des moyens de commande manuelle comportant des touches capacitives pourvues chacune d'une électrode transparente disposée sur la face intérieure de la glace et formant une première armature d'un capteur capacitif dont la deuxième armature est formée par le placement d'un doigt du porteur de la montre sur la face extérieure de la glace sélectivement vis-à-vis d'au moins une des touches capacitives, les moyens de commande comportant en outre des moyens de détection pour détecter des variations de capacité desdits capteurs et produire en conséquence des signaux de commande dans la montre.The present invention relates to an electronic watch comprising a housing containing needle display means and provided with a dielectric material ice disposed in front of said needles, and manual control means comprising capacitive keys each provided with a transparent electrode arranged on the inner face of the ice and forming a first armature of a capacitive sensor whose second armature is formed by placing a finger of the wearer of the watch on the outer face of the ice selectively vis-à-vis at least one of the capacitive keys, the control means further comprising detection means for detecting capacitance variations of said sensors and correspondingly producing control signals in the watch.

Une montre de ce genre est décrite par exemple dans le brevet EP 674 247 . Le dispositif de commande à touches capacitives permet de remplacer les organes de commande externes habituels tels que des boutons-poussoirs, servant à commander les diverses fonctions d'une montre, par exemple la mise à l'heure, l'enclenchement et le déclenchement d'un chronographe ou l'entrée dans un mode de fonctionnement particulier.A watch of this kind is described for example in the patent EP 674 247 . The capacitive-key control device makes it possible to replace the usual external control elements such as push-buttons, used to control the various functions of a watch, for example setting the time, switching on and tripping a chronograph or entry into a particular mode of operation.

Par ailleurs, on connaît des montres ayant un dispositif capacitif pour détecter la position d'une aiguille de la montre, notamment dans le but de vérifier et corriger le cas échéant la concordance entre la position réelle de l'aiguille et sa position théorique enregistrée dans un compteur du mouvement d'horlogerie électronique, ou pour détecter la position d'une aiguille indiquant l'heure d'alarme. Par exemple, les demandes de brevets DE 33 17 463 et JP 8-201537 A prévoient de détecter des variations de capacité entre des aiguilles métalliques, d'une part, et une ou deux séries d'électrodes fixes placées sur le cadran, d'autre part. La demande de brevet JP 10-10243 A prévoit en outre que l'électrode fixe peut être une électrode transparente fixée sous la glace de la montre.Moreover, there are known watches having a capacitive device for detecting the position of a watch hand, in particular for the purpose of checking and correcting, if necessary, the match between the actual position of the needle and its theoretical position recorded in FIG. a counter of the electronic watch movement, or to detect the position of a needle indicating the alarm time. For example, requests for patents DE 33 17 463 and JP 8-201537 A plan to detect capacitance variations between metal needles, on the one hand, and one or two sets of fixed electrodes placed on the dial, on the other hand. The request for JP Patent 10-10243 A further provides that the fixed electrode may be a transparent electrode attached under the ice of the watch.

Une idée de base de la présente invention consiste à combiner les deux dispositifs susmentionnés dans une montre électronique. En outre, l'invention réalise cette combinaison d'une manière remarquablement simple.A basic idea of the present invention is to combine the two aforementioned devices in an electronic watch. In addition, the invention achieves this combination in a remarkably simple manner.

Selon un premier aspect, l'invention concerne une montre électronique du genre indiqué en préambule ci-dessus, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte des moyens agencés pour la détection capacitive de position d'au moins une des aiguilles, sur la base de variations de capacité entre ladite aiguille et au moins une des électrodes transparentes des touches capacitives.According to a first aspect, the invention relates to an electronic watch of the type indicated in the preamble above, characterized in that it comprises means arranged for the capacitive position detection of at least one of the needles, on the basis of variations capacitance between said needle and at least one of the transparent electrodes of the capacitive keys.

On obtient ainsi une combinaison avantageuse des deux systèmes de détection capacitive, grâce à l'utilisation commune d'électrodes transparentes disposées sous la glace, ainsi que des connexions électriques entre ces électrodes et les moyens de détection situés en général dans le mouvement d'horlogerie électronique.An advantageous combination of the two capacitive detection systems is thus obtained, thanks to the common use of transparent electrodes arranged under the glass, as well as electrical connections between these electrodes and the detection means generally located in the watch movement. electronic.

Selon un second aspect, l'invention concerne une montre électronique du genre indiqué en préambule ci-dessus, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte des moyens agencés pour la détection capacitive de position d'au moins une des aiguilles, ladite détection de position de l'aiguille étant effectuée au moyen du dispositif de détection associé aux touches capacitives, sur la base de variations de capacité entre ladite aiguille et au moins une électrode fixe.According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an electronic watch of the type indicated in the preamble above, characterized in that it comprises means arranged for capacitive position detection of at least one of the needles, said position detection of the needle being effected by means of the detection device associated with the capacitive keys, on the basis of capacitance variations between said needle and at least one fixed electrode.

Etant donné que chaque aiguille métallique dont on cherche à détecter la position est généralement raccordée à un potentiel fixe, notamment la masse des circuits électriques de la montre, tout comme le doigt du porteur agissant sur les touches capacitives, cet aspect particulièrement avantageux de l'invention consiste à utiliser les mêmes moyens électroniques pour détecter la position de la ou des aiguilles et la présence du doigt sur une touche. En d'autres termes, l'adjonction de la détection de position d'aiguille dans une montre à touches capacitives du genre décrit dans le brevet EP 674 247 peut se faire sans modification substantielle de l'électronique de détection.Since each metal needle whose position is to be detected is generally connected to a fixed potential, in particular the mass of the electric circuits of the watch, just as the wearer's finger acting on the capacitive keys, this particularly advantageous aspect of the The invention involves using the same electronic means to detect the position of the needle or needles and the presence of the finger on a key. In other words, the addition of the needle position detection in a capacitive key watch of the kind described in the patent EP 674 247 can be done without substantial modification of the detection electronics.

Il va de soi que les deux aspects susmentionnés de l'invention peuvent avantageusement être combinés dans une montre, comme on le décrira plus loin.It goes without saying that the two aforementioned aspects of the invention can advantageously be combined in a watch, as will be described later.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront dans la description suivante d'un exemple de réalisation préféré et de diverses variantes, en référence aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en coupe schématique d'une montre-bracelet selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 est un schéma montrant les moyens de détection utilisés dans la montre de la figure 1,
  • la figure 3 représente en plan schématique un premier mode de réalisation des électrodes transparentes disposées sur la glace de la montre,
  • la figure 4 représente un autre mode de réalisation des électrodes transparentes,
  • la figure 5 représente encore un autre mode de réalisation des électrodes transparentes, et
  • la figure 6 représente encore un autre mode de réalisation des électrodes transparentes.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of a preferred embodiment and various variants, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • the figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a wristwatch according to the invention,
  • the figure 2 is a diagram showing the detection means used in the watch of the figure 1 ,
  • the figure 3 schematically shows a first embodiment of the transparent electrodes disposed on the ice of the watch,
  • the figure 4 represents another embodiment of the transparent electrodes,
  • the figure 5 represents yet another embodiment of the transparent electrodes, and
  • the figure 6 represents yet another embodiment of the transparent electrodes.

La montre 1 représentée à la figure 1 comporte de manière classique un boîtier étanche 2 comprenant une carrure métallique 3, un fond 4 et une glace 5 en matière diélectrique, par exemple en verre minéral, en verre organique ou en saphir. Le boîtier 2 contient un mouvement d'horlogerie électronique 6, une pile électrique 7 et des moyens d'affichage analogique comportant en particulier une aiguille des minutes 8 et une aiguille des heures 9 qui tournent dans un intervalle défini par un rehaut 10 entre la glace 5 et un cadran 11. Dans le mouvement 6, on a représenté de manière schématique une carte à circuits imprimés 12 portant un ou plusieurs circuits intégrés 13. Le boîtier 2, ainsi que les aiguilles métalliques 8 et 9 sont reliés à un potentiel fixe défini par l'un des pôles de la pile 7 et constituant la masse électrique 14. Il faut noter que les hauteurs sont exagérées dans la figure 1 afin de clarifier le dessin.The watch 1 represented in the figure 1 comprises in a conventional manner a sealed housing 2 comprising a metal middle 3, a bottom 4 and an ice 5 of dielectric material, for example mineral glass, organic glass or sapphire. The housing 2 contains an electronic clockwork 6, an electric battery 7 and analogue display means including in particular a minute hand 8 and a hour hand 9 which rotate in an interval defined by a flange 10 between the ice 5 and a dial 11. In the movement 6, there is shown schematically a printed circuit board 12 carrying one or more integrated circuits 13. The housing 2, as well as the metal needles 8 and 9 are connected to a fixed potential defined by one of the poles of the battery 7 and constituting the electric mass 14. It should be noted that the heights are exaggerated in the figure 1 to clarify the drawing.

La montre 1 est équipée d'un dispositif de commande à touches capacitives basé sur les principes décrits dans le brevet EP 674 247 et enclenché à l'aide d'un organe manuel de commande tel qu'un poussoir 15. Dans le cas présent, les touches capacitives sont formées par douze électrodes transparentes 21 à 32 représentées à la figure 3 et fixées contre la face intérieure de la glace 5, en regard de l'aire balayée par l'aiguille des minutes 8. Les électrodes 21 à 32 sont formées de préférence par une couche d'un oxyde conducteur tel que l'ITO (Indium Tin Oxyde), cette couche comprenant en outre des pistes de connexion 34 et des plages de contact 35 pour relier chacune des électrodes à la carte à circuits imprimés 12 par l'intermédiaire de conducteurs individuels 36 et de connecteurs monolithiques de type zébra (non représentés) dans le rehaut 10. Dans la figure 3, les plages 35 sont regroupées dans deux zones diamétralement opposées de la glace 5, mais elles pourraient l'être dans une seule zone ou dans plusieurs.The watch 1 is equipped with a capacitive button control device based on the principles described in the patent EP 674 247 and actuated by means of a manual control member such as a pusher 15. In the present case, the capacitive keys are formed by twelve transparent electrodes 21 to 32 shown in FIG. figure 3 and fixed against the inner face of the ice 5, facing the area swept by the minute hand 8. The electrodes 21 to 32 are preferably formed by a layer of a conductive oxide such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), this layer further comprising connection tracks 34 and contact pads 35 for connecting each of the electrodes to the printed circuit board 12 via individual conductors 36 and zebra type monolithic connectors (not shown). ) in the flare 10. In the figure 3 , the beaches 35 are grouped in two diametrically opposite areas of the ice 5, but they could be in a single zone or in several.

Dans le présent exemple, les électrodes 21 à 32 ont une forme sensiblement trapézoïdale, pour recouvrir la majeure partie de la longueur de l'aiguille des minutes 8, et elles sont séparées par des intervalles 37 en forme de bandes radiales de largeur constante, sensiblement égale ou légèrement supérieure à celles de l'aiguille 8. Les intervalles 37 sont décalés angulairement de 30° les uns par rapport aux autres et se trouvent de préférence en regard des index classiques de une heure à douze heures du cadran. Ceci permet de détecter avec précision la position de l'aiguille 8 en regard de ces index, comme on le décrira plus loin. Les touches capacitives définies par les électrodes 21 à 32 peuvent être identifiées par des noms, numéros ou symboles placés par exemple sur le cadran, sur la glace ou sur la lunette du boîtier.In the present example, the electrodes 21 to 32 have a substantially trapezoidal shape, to cover most of the length of the minute hand 8, and they are separated by intervals 37 in the form of radial strips of constant width, substantially equal or slightly greater than those of the needle 8. The intervals 37 are angularly offset by 30 ° relative to each other and are preferably opposite conventional indexes from one hour to twelve hours of the dial. This allows to accurately detect the position of the needle 8 opposite these indexes, as will be described later. The capacitive keys defined by the electrodes 21 to 32 can be identified by names, numbers or symbols placed for example on the dial, on the ice or on the bezel of the housing.

Chacune des électrodes 21 à 32 forme l'une des armatures d'un capteur capacitif dont l'autre armature est formée par un doigt 38 du porteur de la montre lorsque le porteur pose ce doigt sur la glace 5, sélectivement en regard de l'électrode concernée. Le doigt 38 est relié électriquement à la masse 14 par l'intermédiaire du boîtier 2 de la montre. Dans le capteur capacitif, le placement du doigt 38 sur la touche formée par l'électrode transparente concernée crée une assez forte augmentation de capacité de capteur concerné, par rapport à la capacité parasite existant entre l'électrode et le boîtier. Cette variation de capacité est détectée par un dispositif de détection 40 représenté à la figure 2 et incorporé dans l'un des circuits intégrés 13 du mouvement 6. Les douze électrodes transparentes 21 à 32 sont raccordées à douze bornes respectives d'un multiplexeur analogique 42 du dispositif de détection 40. Autrement dit, les douze capteurs capacitifs sont branchés en parallèle entre le multiplexeur 42 et la masse 14. Dans la figure 2, on a représenté à titre d'exemple trois de ces capteurs désignés par S1, S4 et S6 et comportant respectivement les électrodes 21, 24 et 26. Une capacité S13, branchée également entre le multiplexeur 42 et la masse, sert de référence et se trouve de préférence sur la carte à circuits imprimés 12.Each of the electrodes 21 to 32 forms one of the armatures of a capacitive sensor whose other armature is formed by a finger 38 of the wearer of the watch when the wearer places this finger on the ice 5, selectively opposite the electrode concerned. The finger 38 is electrically connected to the mass 14 via the housing 2 of the watch. In the capacitive sensor, the placement of the finger 38 on the key formed by the transparent electrode concerned creates a rather large increase in sensor capacity concerned, compared to the parasitic capacitance existing between the electrode and the housing. This capacitance variation is detected by a detection device 40 represented in FIG. figure 2 and incorporated in one of the integrated circuits 13 of the movement 6. The twelve transparent electrodes 21 to 32 are connected to twelve respective terminals of an analog multiplexer 42 of the detection device 40. In other words, the twelve capacitive sensors are connected in parallel between the multiplexer 42 and the ground 14. In the figure 2 by way of example, three of these sensors designated S1, S4 and S6 and respectively comprising the electrodes 21, 24 and 26 are represented. A capacitor S13, also connected between the multiplexer 42 and the ground, serves as a reference and is preferably located on the printed circuit board 12.

Le dispositif de détection 40 comporte une source de courant commandée 43, alimentée par une tension de référence VR, un circuit 44 à amplificateur et limiteur de tension, un détecteur de fréquence 45 associé à une mémoire RAM 46, et un circuit d'exploitation 47 destiné notamment à délivrer des signaux de commande SC et des signaux de détection SD. Le détecteur de fréquence 45 et le circuit d'alimentation 47 peuvent comporter chacun soit un circuit logique, soit un microprocesseur.The detection device 40 comprises a controlled current source 43, powered by a reference voltage V R , a circuit 44 with an amplifier and a voltage limiter, a frequency detector 45 associated with a RAM 46, and an operating circuit 47 intended in particular for delivering control signals SC and detection signals SD. The frequency detector 45 and the power supply circuit 47 may each comprise either a logic circuit or a microprocessor.

Le circuit 44, dont l'entrée 44a est raccordée à la source de courant 43 et au multiplexeur 42, forme un oscillateur avec chacun des éléments capacitifs S1 à S13. Sa construction peut être du type décrit dans le brevet EP 674 247 , auquel le lecteur se référera pour plus de détails. Ce circuit fonctionne comme un convertisseur tension-fréquence, autrement dit un oscillateur commandé en tension. La fréquence d'oscillation de son signal de sortie SF est proportionnelle à l'inverse de la capacité de celui des éléments S1 à S13 qui lui est relié par le multiplexeur 42.The circuit 44, whose input 44a is connected to the current source 43 and to the multiplexer 42, forms an oscillator with each of the capacitive elements S1 to S13. Its construction can be of the type described in the patent EP 674 247 , to which the reader will refer for further details. This circuit operates as a voltage-frequency converter, ie a voltage-controlled oscillator. The oscillation frequency of its output signal SF is proportional to the inverse of the capacity of the elements S1 to S13 connected to it by the multiplexer 42.

En fonctionnement, le détecteur de fréquence 45 reçoit le signal SF, mesure sa fréquence d'oscillation par comptage des périodes dans une fenêtre de temps prédéterminée, et compare cette mesure à une valeur mémorisée qui correspond à la capacité intrinsèque C0 du capteur considéré (c'est-à-dire relié par le multiplexeur 42) pour déterminer si le capteur est activé ou non. Lesdites capacités intrinsèques ont été mémorisées dans la mémoire 46 dans une séquence d'initialisation du dispositif de détection. Le détecteur de fréquence 45 commande en outre le multiplexeur 42 et la source de courant 43. La référence constituée par la capacité S13 doit permettre d'une part d'ajuster correctement le courant i de charge/décharge des capteurs capacitifs, et d'autre part, de mesurer la dérive de la fréquence de l'oscillateur, dérive que le logiciel du détecteur de fréquence pourra alors compenser. La valeur de la capacité de référence doit dans tous les cas être supérieure aux valeurs de capacité intrinsèque C0 des capteurs S1 à S12. L'état des douze capteurs S1 à S12 et de la capacité de référence S13 est déterminé de manière séquentielle par balayage à l'aide du multiplexeur 42, en commençant de préférence par la capacité de référence.In operation, the frequency detector 45 receives the signal SF, measures its oscillation frequency by counting the periods in a predetermined time window, and compares this measurement with a stored value which corresponds to the intrinsic capacitance C 0 of the sensor considered ( that is, connected by the multiplexer 42) to determine whether the sensor is activated or not. Said intrinsic capacities have been stored in memory 46 in an initialization sequence of the detection device. The frequency detector 45 also controls the multiplexer 42 and the source of current 43. The reference formed by the capacitance S13 must make it possible, on the one hand, to correctly adjust the charging / discharging current i of the capacitive sensors, and on the other hand to measure the drift of the frequency of the oscillator, drift that the software of the frequency detector can then compensate. The value of the reference capacity must in all cases be greater than the intrinsic capacitance values C 0 of the sensors S1 to S12. The state of the twelve sensors S1 to S12 and the reference capacitor S13 is sequentially determined by scanning with the aid of the multiplexer 42, preferably starting with the reference capacitor.

La présence de l'aiguille des minutes 8 en regard d'une des électrodes transparentes 21 à 32 produit une augmentation de la capacité du capteur correspondant. Cependant, comme la surface de l'aiguille est relativement petite, cette variation de capacité est beaucoup plus petite, par exemple environ cinq à dix fois plus petite que celle produite par le placement du doigt 38 sur la glace en regard de la même électrode. Le circuit de détection 45 est agencé pour comparer ces variations à des seuils prédéterminés, pour discriminer les variations de capacité causées par l'aiguille par rapport à celle causées par le doigt. En conséquence, les signaux de sortie qu'il délivre au circuit d'exploitation 47 indiquent, d'une part, lequel des capteurs S1 à S12 est activé et, d'autre part, si cette activation est due au doigt 38 ou à l'aiguille 8. En conséquence, le circuit d'exploitation 47 peut délivrer un signal de commande SC si l'activation est due au doigt, ou un signal de détection SD si l'activation est due à l'aiguille.The presence of the minute hand 8 facing one of the transparent electrodes 21 to 32 produces an increase in the capacity of the corresponding sensor. However, as the surface of the needle is relatively small, this variation in capacity is much smaller, for example about five to ten times smaller than that produced by the placement of the finger 38 on the ice opposite the same electrode. The detection circuit 45 is arranged to compare these variations with predetermined thresholds, to discriminate the variations in capacity caused by the needle relative to that caused by the finger. Consequently, the output signals that it delivers to the operating circuit 47 indicate, on the one hand, which of the sensors S1 to S12 is activated and, on the other hand, whether this activation is due to the finger 38 or to the As a result, the operating circuit 47 may output a control signal SC if the activation is due to the finger, or a detection signal SD if the activation is due to the needle.

De préférence, le circuit d'exploitation 47 est agencé pour signaler le passage de l'aiguille 8 d'une des électrodes 21 à 32 à la suivante, ou encore d'une des électrodes à l'intervalle 37 la séparant de l'électrode suivante. Comme l'aiguille est généralement entraînée pas à pas, ceci permet de détecter avec précision le passage de l'aiguille à des positions prédéterminées, de cinq minutes en cinq minutes dans le présent exemple. Le circuit de détection 45 peut stocker dans la mémoire 46 les valeurs mesurées lors d'un balayage et ensuite comparer à celles-ci les nouvelles valeurs mesurées lors du balayage suivant. Comme la durée d'un balayage complet peut être assez courte, par exemple entre 30 et 200 ms selon le nombre des capteurs, ce circuit peut détecter avec précision l'instant où l'aiguille 8 commence à couvrir l'une des électrodes, même si elle couvre encore partiellement l'électrode précédente. Il est ainsi possible de réduire les intervalles 37 entre électrodes et d'utiliser des aiguilles relativement larges, produisant des variations de capacité assez élevées et donc faciles à détecter.Preferably, the operating circuit 47 is arranged to signal the passage of the needle 8 from one of the electrodes 21 to 32 to the next, or one of the electrodes at the interval 37 separating it from the electrode next. Since the needle is generally driven step by step, this accurately detects the passage of the needle at predetermined positions, from five minutes to five minutes in the present example. The detection circuit 45 can store in the memory 46 the measured values during a scan and then compare with them the new values measured during the next scan. Since the duration of a complete scan can be quite short, for example between 30 and 200 ms depending on the number of sensors, this circuit can accurately detect the moment when the needle 8 begins to cover one of the electrodes, even if it still partially covers the previous electrode. It is thus possible to reduce the gaps 37 between electrodes and to use relatively large needles, producing relatively high capacitance variations and therefore easy to detect.

Un homme du métier comprendra que la détection de position d'aiguille que permet le dispositif décrit ci-dessus peut être utilisée avantageusement pour contrôler la concordance entre cette position et le contenu d'un compteur électronique de minutes dans le mouvement de la montre. Lorsque la position de l'aiguille n'est pas conforme à la valeur du compteur, une correction automatique sera effectuée par un nombre de pas approprié du moteur qui entraîne cette aiguille.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the needle position detection that the device described above allows can be advantageously used to control the concordance between this position and the contents of an electronic minute counter in the movement of the watch. When the position of the needle does not conform to the counter value, an automatic correction will be made by a suitable number of steps of the motor which drives this needle.

En général, l'aiguille des heures 9 est plus éloignée des électrodes transparentes 21 à 32 que l'aiguille des minutes 8. Dans cet exemple, elle présente à proximité des électrodes 21 à 32 une superficie trop petite pour perturber la détection de position de l'aiguille des minutes. Toutefois, dans d'autres réalisations on peut donner à l'aiguille des heures 9 une taille suffisante et la placer assez près de la glace 5 pour qu'elle produise, dans les capteurs S1 à S12, une variation de capacité suffisante pour être détectable. Le circuit de détection 45 devra alors utiliser un seuil prédéterminé supplémentaire pour discriminer les variations de capacité dues respectivement à l'aiguille des heures et à l'aiguille des minutes.In general, the hour hand 9 is further away from the transparent electrodes 21 to 32 than the minute hand 8. In this example, it has, in the vicinity of the electrodes 21 to 32, an area too small to disturb the position detection of the minute hand. However, in other embodiments, the hour hand 9 can be given a sufficient size and placed close enough to the ice 5 to produce, in the sensors S1 to S12, a variation in capacity sufficient to be detectable. . The detection circuit 45 will then have to use an additional predetermined threshold to discriminate the capacity variations due respectively to the hour hand and the minute hand.

Une autre solution, représentée schématiquement en traits interrompus dans la figure 1, consiste à détecter la position de l'aiguille des heures 9 au moyen d'une ou plusieurs électrodes fixes 51 placées sur le cadran 11, donc plus près de cette aiguille que l'aiguille des minutes 8. Chacune des électrodes fixes 51 constitue alors, avec l'aiguille 9, un capteur capacitif supplémentaire pouvant être raccordé au multiplexeur 42 et balayé par le dispositif de détection 40 à la suite des capteurs S1 à S12. En d'autres termes, le même dispositif de détection 40 est capable de signaler l'actionnement d'une touche capacitive par le doigt 38, la position de l'aiguille des minutes 8 et la position de l'aiguille des heures 9. Bien entendu, ce système de détection de l'aiguille des heures peut être combiné avec les autres formes de réalisation décrites ci-dessous et peut aussi être prévu pour détecter la position d'une autre aiguille de la montre.Another solution, shown schematically in dashed lines in the figure 1 is to detect the position of the hour hand 9 by means of one or more fixed electrodes 51 placed on the dial 11, therefore closer to this needle than the minute hand 8. Each of the fixed electrodes 51 then constitutes , with the needle 9, an additional capacitive sensor that can be connected to the multiplexer 42 and scanned by the detection device 40 following the sensors S1 to S12. In other words, the same detection device 40 is capable of signaling the actuation of a capacitive key by the finger 38, the position of the minute hand 8 and the position of the hour hand. Of course, this hour hand detection system may be combined with the other embodiments described below and may also be provided to detect the position of another hand of the watch.

Pour limiter la consommation d'énergie électrique, le dispositif de détection 40 est normalement inactif. Il est activé de préférence dans deux circonstances particulières. La première est celle où le porteur de la montre désire actionner l'une des touches capacitives de commande en touchant la glace 5. Il doit d'abord mettre la montre dans un mode de commande, par exemple par pression sur un poussoir 15 ou par une action sur la tige de commande de la montre. Cette action délivre un signal d'initialisation SI au circuit d'exploitation 47, qui va activer le circuit de détection 40 et produire la séquence d'initialisation par le circuit de détection 45. Dès cet instant, tout actionnement d'une touche capacitive par le doigt 38 sera détecté. Les positions des aiguilles peuvent également être détectées le cas échéant. L'autre circonstance est un contrôle périodique de la position de l'aiguille ou des aiguilles de la montre. Ce contrôle peut être initialisé soit par le contrôle SI décrit ci-dessus, soit par un signal spécifique délivré au circuit d'exploitation 47, par exemple une ou deux fois par jour.To limit the consumption of electrical energy, the detection device 40 is normally inactive. It is activated preferably in two particular circumstances. The first is where the wearer of the watch wishes to actuate one of the capacitive control keys by touching the glass 5. It must first put the watch in a control mode, for example by pressing a pushbutton 15 or by an action on the control rod of the watch. This action delivers an initialization signal SI to the operating circuit 47, which will activate the detection circuit 40 and produce the initialization sequence by the detection circuit 45. From this moment, any actuation of a capacitive key by the finger 38 will be detected. Needle positions can also be detected if necessary. The other circumstance is a periodic check of the position of the needle or the hands of the watch. This control can be initialized either by the control S1 described above, or by a specific signal delivered to the operating circuit 47, for example once or twice a day.

La figure 4 représente une autre forme de réalisation d'une électrode transparente 61 utilisable à la place de chacune des électrodes 21 à 32 décrite plus haut, c'est-à-dire qu'on peut prévoir douze de ces électrodes 61 sur le pourtour de la glace 5, qui sont séparées par des intervalles 62 ayant une largeur sensiblement égale ou légèrement supérieure à celle de l'aiguille des minutes 8. Par contre, les électrodes 61 ne recouvrent pas la zone balayée par l'aiguille des heures 9. L'électrode 61 est en forme de peigne, avec une base 63 continue en direction circonférentielle et cinq dents 64 s'étendant radialement en direction du centre et séparées par des intervalles 65 de même largeur que les intervalles 62. La connexion électrique entre chaque électrode 61 et les circuits électroniques de la montre s'effectue de la même façon que dans l'exemple précédent. Grâce à cet agencement des électrodes transparentes, il est possible de détecter avec précision cent vingt positions de l'aiguille des minutes 8, correspondant aux soixante dents 64 et aux soixante intervalles 62 et 65. Ces positions sont comptées à partir d'une position de référence, définies par exemple par la première dent 64 de la première des électrodes 61.The figure 4 represents another embodiment of a transparent electrode 61 usable in place of each of the electrodes 21 to 32 described above, that is to say that twelve of these electrodes 61 may be provided around the periphery of the ice 5, which are separated by intervals 62 having a width substantially equal to or slightly greater than that of the minute hand 8. By cons, the electrodes 61 do not cover the area swept by the hour hand 9. The electrode 61 is comb-shaped, with a circumferentially continuous base 63 and five teeth 64 extending radially towards the center and separated by gaps 65 of the same width as the gaps 62. The electrical connection between each electrode 61 and the electronic circuits of the watch is carried out in the same way as in the previous example. With this arrangement of the transparent electrodes, it is possible to accurately detect one hundred twenty positions of the minute hand 8, corresponding to sixty teeth 64 and sixty intervals 62 and 65. These positions are counted from a position of reference, defined for example by the first tooth 64 of the first of the electrodes 61.

La figure 5 représente une autre forme de réalisation, comportant deux types différents d'électrodes transparentes 70 et 71 sur la face intérieure de la glace 5 de la montre 1 décrite plus haut. Chaque électrode 71 comporte, en dehors du champ balayé par l'aiguille des minutes 8, une partie élargie 71a formant une touche capacitive destinée à coopérer avec le doigt 38 du porteur et identifiée par exemple par un symbole 72 qui correspond à la fonction commandée par la touche capacitive. Chaque électrode 71 comporte en outre une partie étroite 71b qui s'étend radialement entre les électrodes 70 adjacentes et présente comme celles-ci une forme de bande. Chacune des électrodes 70 et 71 est raccordée individuellement au circuit de détection. Elles forment ensemble une rangée circulaire comportant, par exemple, trente électrodes et trente intervalles 73 pour permettre de détecter soixante positions de l'aiguille 8.The figure 5 represents another embodiment, comprising two different types of transparent electrodes 70 and 71 on the inner face of the ice 5 of the watch 1 described above. Each electrode 71 comprises, outside the field swept by the minute hand 8, an enlarged portion 71a forming a capacitive key intended to cooperate with the finger 38 of the wearer and identified for example by a symbol 72 which corresponds to the function controlled by the capacitive key. Each electrode 71 further comprises a narrow portion 71b which extends radially between the adjacent electrodes 70 and has a strip-like shape thereof. Each of the electrodes 70 and 71 is individually connected to the detection circuit. They together form a circular row comprising, for example, thirty electrodes and thirty intervals 73 to allow sixty positions of the needle 8 to be detected.

Dans une autre forme de réalisation représentée à la figure 6, l'agencement des électrodes transparentes illustré par la figure 5 est modifié pour comporter uniquement une rangée circulaire de trente électrodes 80 en forme de bandes radiales, sans les parties élargies 71a représentées à la figure 5. Chaque touche capacitive est alors définie par un groupe 81 à 86 de plusieurs (par exemple deux ou trois) électrodes 80 consécutives pouvant être couvertes ensemble par le doigt du porteur. Le dispositif de détection 40 est alors agencé pour discriminer les cas où une seule électrode 80 est activée, ce qui correspond à la présence de l'aiguille 8 en regard de cette électrode, et les cas où au moins deux (ou la totalité) des électrodes adjacentes 80 d'un même groupe 81 à 86 sont activées, ce qui correspond à la présence du doigt du porteur en regard de ce groupe. La référence 88 indique par exemple une zone couverte par le doigt et dans laquelle la présence du doigt crée une variation de capacité détectée dans toutes les électrodes du groupe 81 et dans quelques électrodes voisines, mais pas dans celles des groupes voisins 82 et 86. Le dispositif de détection 40 détectera que plusieurs ou toutes les électrodes du groupe 81 sont activées au même moment. En conséquence, il l'indiquera comme une activation de la touche capacitive correspondante par le doigt 38 (et non par l'aiguille 8) et délivrera le signal de commande SC correspondant à cette touche.In another embodiment shown at figure 6 , the arrangement of the transparent electrodes illustrated by the figure 5 is modified to comprise only a circular row of thirty electrodes 80 in the form of radial strips, without the enlarged portions 71a shown in FIG. figure 5 . Each capacitive key is then defined by a group 81 to 86 of several (for example two or three) consecutive electrodes 80 that can be covered together by the wearer's finger. The detection device 40 is then arranged to discriminate the cases where a only electrode 80 is activated, which corresponds to the presence of the needle 8 facing this electrode, and the cases where at least two (or all) of the adjacent electrodes 80 of the same group 81 to 86 are activated, which corresponds to the presence of the wearer's finger opposite this group. The reference 88 indicates, for example, an area covered by the finger and in which the presence of the finger creates a variation of capacitance detected in all the electrodes of the group 81 and in some adjacent electrodes, but not in those of the neighboring groups 82 and 86. Detection device 40 will detect that more or all electrodes of group 81 are activated at the same time. Accordingly, it will indicate it as an activation of the corresponding capacitive key by the finger 38 (and not by the needle 8) and deliver the control signal SC corresponding to this key.

On notera encore la possibilité de compléter les agencements d'électrodes selon les figures 3 à 6 par d'autres électrodes transparentes servant de touches capacitives sans jouer de rôle dans la détection de position d'une aiguille, par exemple une électrode située au centre de la glace 5.Note also the possibility of completing the electrode arrangements according to the Figures 3 to 6 by other transparent electrodes serving as capacitive keys without playing a role in the detection of position of a needle, for example an electrode located at the center of the ice 5.

Dans tous les exemples décrits ci-dessus, le procédé de fonctionnement du dispositif de détection 40 comporte deux modes indépendants ou simultanés, qui sont gérés grâce au logiciel et/ou à l'agencement logique des éléments 45 et 47 de ce dispositif : un mode de commande par touches capacitives, que le porteur de la montre enclenche volontairement au moyen d'un organe tel que le poussoir 15, et un mode de détection d'aiguille qui peut être enclenché et déclenché automatiquement par le mouvement d'horlogerie. Le mode de commande peut être déclenché soit par temporisation, soit par une commande manuelle. Tant que le mode de commande est déclenché, la détection d'aiguille peut être limitée à une région restreinte de l'aire parcourue par l'aiguille, par exemple à une seule des électrodes transparentes ou à une région comprenant la dernière électrode ayant détecté l'aiguille et les électrodes voisines. Cette limitation est opérée au moyen du multiplexeur 42. Elle permet soit une économie d'énergie électrique, soit une augmentation de la précision de mesure de la fréquence d'oscillation grâce à un élargissement de la fenêtre de comptage des périodes.In all the examples described above, the operating method of the detection device 40 comprises two independent or simultaneous modes, which are managed thanks to the software and / or the logical arrangement of the elements 45 and 47 of this device: a mode control device with capacitive keys, that the wearer of the watch deliberately switches by means of a member such as the pusher 15, and a needle detection mode that can be triggered and triggered automatically by the watch movement. The control mode can be triggered either by time delay or by manual control. As long as the control mode is triggered, the needle detection may be limited to a restricted region of the area traversed by the needle, for example to only one of the transparent electrodes or to a region including the last electrode detected by the needle. needle and the adjacent electrodes. This limitation is made by means of the multiplexer 42. It allows either a saving of electrical energy, or an increase in the accuracy of measurement of the oscillation frequency through an enlargement of the window counting periods.

La description qui précède démontre qu'il est possible de compléter le dispositif de commande à touches capacitives décrit dans le brevet EP 674 247 par des moyens remarquablement simples, pour détecter la position d'une ou plusieurs aiguilles de la montre afin d'exploiter cette information dans le mouvement d'horlogerie électronique.The foregoing description demonstrates that it is possible to complete the capacitive key control device described in the patent EP 674 247 by remarkably simple means for detecting the position of one or more hands of the watch in order to exploit this information in the electronic timekeeping movement.

Claims (12)

  1. Electronic watch including:
    - a case (2) containing display means with hands (8, 9) and provided with a crystal (5) made of dielectric material arranged in front of said hands, and
    - manual control means including capacitive keys each provided with at least a transparent electrode (21 to 32, 61, 71, 80) arranged on the inner face of the crystal and forming a first plate of a capacitive sensor whose second plate is formed by placing a finger (38) of the person wearing the watch on the external face of the crystal selectively opposite at least one of the capacitive keys, the control means further including a detection device (40) for detecting capacitance variations in said sensors and consequently generating control signals in the watch,
    characterised in that it includes means arranged for the capacitive detection of position of at least one of the hands (8, 9), on the basis of variations in capacitance between said hand and at least one of the transparent electrodes (21 to 32, 61, 71, 80) of the capacitive keys.
  2. Watch according to claim 1, characterised in that said hand (8, 9) is electrically connected to a fixed potential and in that said hand position detection is achieved by means of the detection device (40) associated with the capacitive keys.
  3. Electronic watch including:
    - a case containing display means with hands (8, 9) and provided with a crystal (5) made of dielectric material arranged in front of said hands, and
    - manual control means including capacitive keys each provided with at least a transparent electrode (21 to 32, 61, 71) arranged on the inner face of the crystal and forming a first plate of a capacitive sensor whose second plate is formed by placing a finger (38) of the person wearing the watch on the external face of the crystal selectively opposite at least one of the capacitive keys, the control means further including a detection device (40) for detecting capacitance variations in said sensors and consequently generating control signals in the watch,
    characterised in that it includes means arranged for the capacitive detection of position of at least one of the hands (8, 9) on the basis of variations in capacitance between said hand and at least one fixed electrode (21 to 32, 51, 61, 70, 71), said hand position detection being achieved by means of said detection device (40) associated with the capacitive keys.
  4. Watch according to claim 3, characterised in that said fixed electrode (51, 70) is distinct from the transparent electrodes (21 to 32, 61, 71) of the capacitive keys.
  5. Watch according to claim 2, characterised in that the detection device (40) is arranged to distinguish relatively strong variations in capacitance, caused by placing a finger (38) opposite one of the transparent electrodes, from smaller variations in capacitance, caused by the passage of a hand (8) in proximity to said transparent electrode.
  6. Watch according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transparent electrodes (21 to 32, 61, 70, 71) are separated from each other by spaces (37, 62, 73) in the shape of radial strips.
  7. Watch according to claim 6, characterised in that said spaces (37) are located facing the hour symbols of the dial.
  8. Watch according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transparent electrodes (21 to 32, 61, 70, 71) are substantially comb-shaped with teeth directed radially towards the centre of the watch.
  9. Watch according to claim 4, characterised in that said fixed electrodes (70) are formed of radial strips arranged in a circular row on the inner face of the crystal (5) and in that each transparent electrode (71) of the capacitive keys includes a narrow part (71 b) in the shape of a radial strip, extending into said row of fixed electrodes, and an enlarged part (71 a) arranged outside said row.
  10. Watch according to claim 4, characterised in that said fixed electrode (51) is placed on the watch dial (11).
  11. Watch according to claim 2, characterised in that a capacitive key includes a group (81 to 86) of said transparent electrodes (80), the detection device (40) being arranged to distinguish variations in capacitance caused by placing a finger (38) opposite several adjacent electrodes of said group, from the variation in capacitance caused by the passage of the hand (8) in proximity to any of the electrodes of said group.
  12. Watch according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the detection device (40) includes a control mode, intended to detect a finger (38) placed opposite one of the capacitive keys, and a hand detection mode, intended to detect the position of at least one of the hands (8, 9), the detection device being capable of operating either simultaneously in both modes, or in a single mode at a time.
EP00204045A 2000-11-17 2000-11-17 Electronic watch with capacitive switches on its cover glass Expired - Lifetime EP1207439B1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT00204045T ATE433140T1 (en) 2000-11-17 2000-11-17 ELECTRONIC CLOCK WITH CAPACITIVE BUTTONS ON ITS COVER GLASS
EP00204045A EP1207439B1 (en) 2000-11-17 2000-11-17 Electronic watch with capacitive switches on its cover glass
ES00204045T ES2327708T3 (en) 2000-11-17 2000-11-17 ELECTRONIC WATCH THAT INCLUDES CAPACITIVE BUTTONS ON YOUR CRYSTAL.
DE60042333T DE60042333D1 (en) 2000-11-17 2000-11-17 Electronic clock with capacitive buttons on its cover glass

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00204045A EP1207439B1 (en) 2000-11-17 2000-11-17 Electronic watch with capacitive switches on its cover glass

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1207439A1 EP1207439A1 (en) 2002-05-22
EP1207439B1 true EP1207439B1 (en) 2009-06-03

Family

ID=8172282

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00204045A Expired - Lifetime EP1207439B1 (en) 2000-11-17 2000-11-17 Electronic watch with capacitive switches on its cover glass

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1207439B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE433140T1 (en)
DE (1) DE60042333D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2327708T3 (en)

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JP2004178584A (en) 2002-11-26 2004-06-24 Asulab Sa Input method of security code by touch screen for accessing function, device or specific place, and device for executing the method
EP1424658B1 (en) * 2002-11-26 2006-03-08 Asulab S.A. Security code input method using a touch screen for accessing a function, an apparatus or a specific area, and device therefor
EP1457865B1 (en) 2003-03-12 2017-11-08 Asulab S.A. Substrate with transparent electrodes and corresponding fabrication process
DE10326684A1 (en) * 2003-06-03 2004-12-23 Ego Control Systems Gmbh + Co. Kg sensor device
DE60322549D1 (en) 2003-12-01 2008-09-11 Asulab Sa Transparent substrate with invisible electrodes and devices with this substrate
FR2884939A1 (en) * 2005-04-21 2006-10-27 Thales Sa Electronic clock e.g. foldable table alarm clock, has tactile display screen divided into juxtaposed zones, and microcontroller detecting touching of displayed zone with finger and movement of finger to adjacent non-displayed zone
EP1734422A1 (en) * 2005-06-14 2006-12-20 Asulab S.A. Assembly of a touch-sensitive glass on a case
EP1734423B1 (en) * 2005-06-14 2009-10-14 Asulab S.A. Fitting of a tactile glass on a watch case
ATE414292T1 (en) 2005-06-14 2008-11-15 Rado Montres Sa HOUSING CLOSED BY A GLASS WITH INVISIBLE CONNECTION OR WITH DECORATION POSSIBILITY, AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF
WO2007145594A1 (en) * 2006-06-12 2007-12-21 Twin-Act Connection Pte Ltd Timer device
EP2884352A1 (en) * 2013-12-16 2015-06-17 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Electromechanical or digital watch comprising a dial and method for manufacturing such a dial
CN106773631B (en) * 2017-01-12 2023-03-28 余喜云 Can prevent that metal pointer mistake from touching intelligent wrist-watch of bright screen
TWI636349B (en) * 2017-10-20 2018-09-21 巨擘科技股份有限公司 Wristwatch and method applicable to wristwatch for inputting a password

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JPS61111485A (en) * 1984-11-06 1986-05-29 Seiko Epson Corp Electronic timepiece
JPS62222183A (en) * 1986-03-25 1987-09-30 Seiko Epson Corp Hand display type electronic time-piece
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FR2759792B1 (en) * 1997-02-17 1999-04-16 Centre Electron Horloger WATCHMAKING PART COMPRISING A NON-CONTACT DETECTION DEVICE

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EP0674247B1 (en) * 1994-03-24 2002-02-13 Asulab S.A. Clock with manual control

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1207439A1 (en) 2002-05-22
ES2327708T3 (en) 2009-11-03
DE60042333D1 (en) 2009-07-16
ATE433140T1 (en) 2009-06-15

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