EP1211579A1 - Electronic chronograph watch with analog display - Google Patents

Abstract

Chronograph watch has a crown shaft (11) to control the hour and minute hands (3, 4). In addition there are two push buttons (12, 13) for use in controlling the chronograph functions. The two buttons are associated with means for switching to a mode for controlling the position of the hands (8-10) of the chronograph. The means for changing the adjustment mode are operated independently of the crown shaft. An Independent claim is made for a method for controlling the position of the chronograph hands.

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic chronograph watch analog comprising at least a first motor controlling needles for display the current time, at least one second motor controlling at least one chronograph hand, a crown stem for setting the current time and two push buttons for controlling the chronograph functions, the watch with two operating modes for the chronograph, the first of these modes being the current operating mode in which the chronograph fulfills the functions start, stop, reset and measure an intermediate time, the second operating mode being a mode for adjusting the position of rest of the chronograph hand.

A well-known problem with this type of watch is that the additional hands, which perform the functions of the chronograph are likely to shift from the zero position which they should normally indicate when they are at rest. This usually occurs during manufacturing, before the battery is inserted or afterwards when the battery needs to be replaced or simply filed.

Solutions have been proposed in the prior art to remedy this problem, as in patent EP 0 493 613 which describes an electronic watch multifunction, notably having a chronograph function, with analog display. In a variant, this watch has three display hands respectively hours, minutes and seconds of the current hour. The adjustment of the rest position of these needles is effected by a combined use of a crown-stem with several axial positions and push buttons. The crown stem, which includes contacts on its stem, functions as a switch that opens or closes circuits thanks to the contacts when the crown is pulled in its different axial positions. In the extreme axial position, one of the contacts establishes an electrical connection between two parts of a circuit used to perform the correction of the position of the hands. The watch is then in the adjustment of the needle rest position, and of the pressures on a first push-button allow you to adjust the position of a first of these needles, while the the position of the other two needles is adjusted using two other push buttons.

This solution has certain drawbacks, however. In particular, it is necessary to equip the watch with as many push buttons as there are hands to adjust.

Patent CH 685,467 attempts to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a multifunction electronic watch, including a chronograph function, analog display in which the structure has been simplified to the extreme. The watch described in this document only includes two needles that can be used at a time the indication of the current time and the display of timed times according to the operating mode chosen by the user. All functions or modes of the watches are accessible by the manipulation of two push buttons control, including the needle rest position adjustment function when these are in the display mode corresponding to the chronograph. This structure is advantageous given the reduced number of parts it requires, however, it complicates the use of the watch, since only two buttons allow access to all functions. The order of many functions therefore give rise to multiple combinations of pressures short, long or simultaneous on the control buttons. Therefore, in the absence of an excellent memory, the user of such a watch must have recourse to a instructions as soon as he wants to use a function different from the reset classic time.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a chronograph watch electronic with analog display to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above, in particular thanks to a simple construction, of small thickness and little expensive to manufacture, which also makes it possible to simplify its use.

To this end, the invention relates to a watch of the type indicated above. characterized by the fact that the two push buttons are associated with means to access the mode for adjusting the needle rest position chronograph and make said adjustment, and in that said means are set action regardless of the position of the crown stem.

In a particular embodiment, the watch comprises at least three chronograph hands capable of displaying timed times on small separate dials, these chronograph hands are preferably controlled by separate motors.

In a preferred mode, means are provided for a pressure simultaneous operation of the two pushbuttons causes the setting mode to the rest position of the chronograph hands. These means can possibly also be designed so that this transition to setting mode is confirmed by a simultaneous rotation of 360 degrees at an accelerated speed of the three needles.

We can also provide that these two push buttons are sufficient to carry out all the desired operations, using means such as at a first of the buttons is associated with the needle selection function chronograph whose position is to be adjusted, and to the second of them is associated the function for adjusting the position of the selected chronograph hand, by rotation at accelerated speed. We can also facilitate the use of such a watch, providing that the needle just selected rotates 360 degrees at accelerated speed. Thus the user selects without any difficulty the chronograph hand whose position he wants to adjust.

• exercer une pression simultanément sur les deux boutons-poussoirs pour activer le mode de réglage de la position de repos desdites aiguilles de chronographe
• exercer au moins une pression sur un premier bouton-poussoir pour sélectionner l'aiguille de chronographe à régler
• exercer des pressions discrètes ou une pression continue sur le deuxième bouton-poussoir pour faire tourner l'aiguille choisie respectivement pas à pas ou à vitesse accélérée jusqu'à obtenir le réglage souhaité
• recommencer à partir de la deuxième étape pour régler la position de repos des autres aiguilles de chronographe si nécessaire
• attendre quelques secondes ou presser simultanément sur les deux boutons-poussoirs pour désactiver le mode de réglage de la position de repos des aiguilles de chronographe.

Finally, adjusting the position of the chronograph hands can be summarized in the steps of:

• press simultaneously on the two pushbuttons to activate the mode for adjusting the rest position of said chronograph hands
• press at least one first push button to select the chronograph hand to adjust
• exert discrete or continuous pressure on the second push button to rotate the selected needle respectively step by step or at accelerated speed until the desired setting is obtained
• start again from the second step to adjust the rest position of the other chronograph hands if necessary
• wait a few seconds or press the two pushbuttons simultaneously to deactivate the mode for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands.

• la figure 1 est une vue de face d'un mode de réalisation préféré d'une montre-bracelet selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est un schéma simplifié du circuit électrique de la montre selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 est un diagramme présentant la démarche à suivre pour activer le mode d'ajustement des petits cadrans, c'est-à-dire de réglage de la position de repos des aiguilles de chronographe, selon un mode de réalisation préféré, et
• la figure 4 est un diagramme présentant la démarche à suivre, une fois le mode d'ajustement des petits cadrans activé, pour régler la position de repos des aiguilles de chronographe, selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood using the following description of an exemplary embodiment made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a wristwatch according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram of the electrical circuit of the watch according to the invention,
• FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the procedure to be followed to activate the mode for adjusting the small dials, that is to say for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands, according to a preferred embodiment, and
• FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the procedure to be followed, once the mode for adjusting the small dials is activated, for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The chronograph watch 1, according to a preferred embodiment comprises a dial 2 used to indicate the current time using two indicator hands hours 3 and minutes 4. This dial 2 also has three small dials 5, 6 and 7, associated with three small hands 8, 9 and 10 used to display times timed. These small dials are located near the periphery of dial 2, at two o'clock, six o'clock and ten o'clock respectively. They display respectively timed tenths of a second, timed seconds, and minutes timed.

The watch also has a crown stem 11 and two push buttons 12, 13. In a preferred embodiment, the stem-crown 11 allows, by a well-known time setting device using a slippery road, to adjust the position of hands 3 and 4 indicating the current time. The two push buttons 12 and 13 are of the type described in the European patent application filed under the number 00202007.1. They allow the user of the watch to access all functions of the chronograph, by conventional electronic means not described, comprising in particular a microcontroller 37, and controlling three stepper motors not each driving one of the small needles 8, 9 and 10. From operation current, button 12 fulfills the functions of starting, stopping and restarting the chronograph. Button 13 performs time reset functions timed or split time measurement in this mode.

FIG. 2 represents a very simplified diagram of the electrical circuit of the chronograph watch that we have just described, this diagram representing only the elements and functions necessary for understanding the invention.

A quartz oscillator vibrating for example at 32768 Hz and of which only the resonator 14 is shown in Figure 2 provides the time base of the watch to a frequency divider 15. This generates on a line 16 pulses clock intended to control the electronic functions of the watch. The divider 15 also provides pulses of tenths of a second on line 17 and seconds pulses on a line 18. These lines are connected to a unit 19 management of timing functions. Line 20 transmits pulses to 0.05 Hertz, for example, to a motor unit 21. This motor unit is coupled mechanically to a gear train (not shown) to permanently drive the hands 3 and 4 to indicate the current time.

It should be noted that, to illustrate the different roles of watch hands, there are shown, to the right of FIG. 2, several replicas of dial 2 with drawn in each of them, the needle or needles which are driven by a unit independent motor. These are respectively indicated by the references 21 to 24, each unit comprising, as known per se, a driving circuit indicated by "a" and a stepper motor indicated by "b".

Thus, in addition to the motor unit 21 which drives the needles 3 and 4 via cog, the power unit 22 drives the needle 8 tenths of a second, the unit 23, the 9 second hand and the 24 unit, the 10 minute hand.

The motor units 22 to 24 are associated with respective counters 25 to 27 whose states reflect at all times, the angular positions of the hands to which they correspond. Each counter is set to zero on initialization of the hand associated with sixty minutes and it counts each motor impulse transmitted by the timing management unit 19. Thus the counter 25 can count up to ten (tenths of a second), and counters 26 and 27 up to sixty.

An input management unit 28 ensures the shaping and distribution control signals supplied respectively by switches 29 and 30 associated respectively with pushers 12 and 13. An order made by these organs 29 and 30 is, in a manner known per se, to be applied to the management unit 28 the potential of one of the terminals (here Vdd) of a power source (not shown) such as a battery incorporated in watch 1.

Depending on the actions on pushers 12 and 13, unit 28 for managing inputs elaborates a timing start / stop control signal or a signal for changing the operating mode on a line 31, and a signal for reset on line 32, lines 31 and 32 being connected to unit 19 of timing management.

The latter produces respectively on lines 33 to 35 pulses controls for meters 25 to 27. These can also directly be positioned by the input management unit 28 across a line 36.

All the functions performed by the watch just described will be preferably executed by a microcontroller that the skilled person will know program accordingly using the description just made and that which will now follow about the operation of the watch. This microcontroller is generally designated by the reference 37 in FIG. 2.

During running in current time, the watch rotates hands 3 and 4 by the motor unit 21 controlled by the 0.05 Hertz pulses passing over the line 20.

When the watch is put into timing function by pressing on the pusher 12, the timing management unit 19 applies the signals of command appropriate to lines 34 and 35 so that via meters 26 and 27 and motor units 23 and 24 respectively, hands 9 and 10 display the timed seconds and minutes respectively.

Meanwhile, an internal counter of the management unit 19 does not depicted receives pulses of tenths of a second but does not send them immediately at counter 25. The drive unit 22 therefore remains inactive and the hand 8 motionless.

Pressing the pusher 12 again stops the timing. The hands 9 and 10 stop, while the power unit 22 is activated by unit 19 of timing management, via the internal counter and counter 25, so that needle 8 advances to the angular position corresponding to the number of tenths of second counted when timing stops.

When push-button 13 is actuated for resetting, hands 8 to 10 return to their rest position.

Pressing pushbuttons 12 and 13 simultaneously activates the mode for adjusting the small chronograph dials, i.e. the mode for adjusting the the rest position of the needles 8, 9 and 10. In a preferred embodiment, the Chronograph dial adjustment mode can only be activated when the the chronograph is stopped and in the rest position, the counters 25 to 27 being at zero. The transition to this mode is confirmed by the production of control pulses, by the input management unit 28, intended for meters 25 to 27, through the line 31 and the timing functions management unit 19. These pulses of command will cause the activation of the motor units respectively 22 to 24, causing the needles 8 to rotate simultaneously by 360 degrees respectively 10, at accelerated speed. Buttons 12 and 13 then perform functions different. Indeed, a first press on button 13 allows you to select needle 8, which is confirmed by the production of control signals by the unit 28 for input management, via line 31 and the function management unit timing 19, activation of power unit 22 and rotation of a full turn at accelerated speed of said needle. Each subsequent press of button 13 has to select the next needle, by activating the corresponding motor unit via the input management unit 28, line 31 and the functions management unit timing 19, deactivating at the same time the corresponding power unit with the previously selected needle. The pulses thus generated cause the rotation of one revolution of the newly selected needle at full speed. The button 12 has the function of controlling the motor driving the needle selected. Indeed, each press on the pusher 12 causes the production a pulse by the input management unit 28, sent to the counter corresponding to the needle selected via command line 36 doing so operate the corresponding drive unit. Preferably and in a known manner, each short press on the button 12 causes the needle to rotate one step corresponding, while a long press causes the production of a train of pulses and therefore its rotation at accelerated speed. When the watch is in adjustment mode of the small dials, a new simultaneous pressure on the buttons 12 and 13 deactivate this mode and counters 25 to 27, thereby passing the shows in current use mode with, preferably, a simultaneous rotation of 360 degrees of needles 8 to 10, at accelerated speed.

Thus, the method for adjusting the rest position of the hands 8, 9 and 10 makes exclusively use the functions of push buttons 12 and 13 as described above. Therefore, such a structure makes it possible to do without any contact electric at the level of the crown-stem 11. This both saves space in the case, thus representing an important advantage for the manufacture of reduced size watches, and an economy compared to the number of parts used, which represents an important advantage for the manufacture of watches produced in large number of copies.

P12 signifie que l'utilisateur exerce une pression courte sur le bouton 12;

P13 signifie que l'utilisateur exerce une pression courte sur le bouton 13;

PP12 signifie que l'utilisateur exerce une pression longue sur le bouton 12;

Δt₁ représente un intervalle de temps de l'ordre du dixième de seconde; et

Δt₂ représente un intervalle de temps de l'ordre de quelques secondes.

The typical sequence of a sequence for adjusting the rest position of these needles is shown diagrammatically in the diagrams in Figures 3 and 4, where the following notations are used:

P12 means that the user exerts a short press on button 12;

P13 means that the user exerts a short press on button 13;

PP12 means that the user exerts a long press on button 12;

Δt ₁ represents a time interval of the order of a tenth of a second; and

Δt ₂ represents a time interval of the order of a few seconds.

The watch is first of all in current use mode 38, that is to say that it simply indicates the current time by means of hands 3, 4 and the dial 2. In addition, the chronograph hands 8 to 10 are stationary, in their rest position. Suppose that at least one of these needles 8 to 10 has its position rest which is not located at the zero position of the corresponding small dial, so that an adjustment of its rest position is necessary. This can happen, as we have seen above, when the battery is put in place during manufacture or replaced later. This is why it is useful to provide means so that the user can make this adjustment himself, and above all so that disassembly of the watch is not essential. We therefore understand that this system which is practical for all types of electronic chronograph watch with dials additional is all the more so for watches that no longer disassemble one once their construction is completed. We can see in Figure 3 at 39, 40 and 41 that if the user does not press any button, the watch naturally remains in mode in common use.

If the user presses the button 12, which is represented at 42, the chronograph is started and two options are then presented. In reference 43, if it does not press the button 13 in a time window Δt ₁ , preferably of the order of a tenth of a second, this window being determined during manufacture and possibly modifiable subsequently by a repairer, the chronograph continues to rotate, which is represented by the reference 42a. In this case, the two pushbuttons 12 and 13 fulfill the conventional functions, not shown, namely that a new press on the button 12 stops the chronograph and the measured time is displayed, while a press on the button 13 displays a measured split time. Thus, the chronograph continues to operate until the button 12 is pressed again. Once the chronograph is stopped, pressing the button 13 returns the three hands 8, 9 and 10 to their rest position at accelerated speed, which returns the watch to its current mode of use 38 If after the first press on the button 12, the user presses the button 13 in the time window Δt ₁ , at 43, the adjustment mode of the small dials 45 is activated, which confirms a rapid rotation of 360 degrees of the three hands 8, 9 and 10. In this case and according to a preferred embodiment, the chronograph is reset before activating the adjustment mode.

If the user first presses the button 13, which is shown at 41, the adjustment mode 45 is activated on condition that he presses the button 12 in the time window Δt ₁ , which is shown at 44, otherwise nothing happens, 40, and the watch remains in its current use mode 38.

The diagram of FIG. 4 describes in detail the sequence of manipulations to be carried out in order to adjust the rest position of the needles 8, 9 and 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The first step 45 of FIG. 4 therefore corresponds to the last step of FIG. 3. It can be noted that a prolonged inactivity of the user for a time greater than Δt ₂ , that is to say approximately 5 seconds in this embodiment, causes the spontaneous deactivation of the adjustment mode of the small dials and the return of the watch to its current use mode. Note also that this deactivation can occur at any stage of the adjustment sequence, and is signaled to the user by a rapid rotation of one complete revolution of the three hands 8, 9 and 10.

Once the adjustment mode of the small dials is activated, the user must press the button 13 in the time interval Δt ₂ , which is represented at 46, in order to select the small dial 5 and the hand 8, at 48, which is confirmed by the rapid rotation of one complete revolution of said needle. This can then be adjusted, by manipulation of the button 12, which is shown diagrammatically at 49 and 50. In fact, in this mode the needle 8 is controlled by the button 12, via a motor, so that a short pressure causes the needle 8 to rotate by one unit of the small dial 5, while long pressure causes the needle to rotate continuously at an accelerated speed. Once the needle 8 has been adjusted, we are at 51, where the user can either press the button 13 before the expiration of a time Δt ₂ to select another needle, or wait for the spontaneous deactivation of the setting mode if he has no other setting to make. Each time the 13 button is pressed, the switch to the next small dial is made clockwise. The small dial selected is each time highlighted by the rapid rotation of a full revolution of the corresponding hand, this is shown diagrammatically on the diagram by the references 51 to 54. When the adjustment of the rest position is carried out for each needle, we are at 55, and the user can either wait for the time Δt ₂ , or press the buttons 12 and 13 in a time interval shorter than Δt ₁ to deactivate the adjustment mode of the small dials in 47, and return to current use mode 38.

Of course, the above description corresponds to a preferred mode of realization of the invention and can in no way be considered as limiting its scope. One can indeed easily imagine programming sequences different for the microcontroller, so the method of adjusting the position resting needles may be different. We can also provide a different number of small dials for the chronograph, a display of the date of the day whose adjustment is possibly made from the crown stem, in a classic way.

Claims (11)

Analog electronic chronograph watch (1) comprising at least a first motor controlling hands (3, 4) to display the current time, at least a second motor controlling at least one chronograph hand (8, 9, 10), a stem-crown (11) intended for setting the current time and two push buttons (12, 13) intended to control the functions of the chronograph, the watch comprising two operating modes for the chronograph, the first of these modes being the current operating mode (38) in which the chronograph fulfills the start, stop, reset and measurement of an intermediate time functions, the second operating mode being a mode for adjusting (45) the rest position of the chronograph hand, characterized in that the two push-buttons (12, 13) are associated with means (25 to 30, 36) for accessing and performing the mode for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hand setting and in that said means (25 to 30, 36) are put into action independently of the position of the crown rod (11). Analog electronic chronograph watch according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least three chronograph hands (8, 9, 10) capable of displaying the timed times on small separate dials (5, 6, 7). Analog electronic chronograph watch according to claim 2, characterized in that each of said three hands (8, 9, 10) is controlled by its own motor. Analog electronic chronograph watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said means (25 to 30, 36) are also designed so that a simultaneous pressing of the two push buttons (12, 13) causes the mode to switch adjusting (45) the rest position of said chronograph hand (8, 9, 10). Analog electronic chronograph watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises said means (25 to 30, 36) are also designed to rotate said chronograph hand (s) 360 degrees at accelerated speed when said mode for setting the rest position is selected. Analog electronic chronograph watch according to one of claims 2, 3 or 5, characterized in that the means (28, 29, 30) are also designed, when in the mode for adjusting the rest position of said hands, so that to a first of said push-buttons (13) is associated the choice of the needle (8, 9, 10) to be adjusted, and so that to the other push-button (12) is associated the function of adjustment of the rest position of said selected needle. Analog electronic chronograph watch according to claim 6, characterized in that said means (25 to 29, 36) are also designed so that said chosen hand (8, 9, 10) rotates 360 degrees at accelerated speed in response to the actuation of said first push button (13). Method for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands (8, 9, 10) of an analog electronic chronograph watch (1) comprising hands (3, 4) to display the time, at least two hands (8 , 9, 10) of the chronograph, a crown-stem (11) intended for adjusting the hour and the minute and two push-buttons (12, 13) intended to control the functions of the chronograph, the watch comprising two modes ( 38, 45) of operation for the chronograph, the first of these modes (38) being the current operating mode in which the chronograph fulfills the functions start, stop, reset and measurement of an intermediate time, the second mode ( 45) of operation being a mode for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands (8, 9, 10), the method comprising the steps consisting in: press simultaneously on said push-buttons (12, 13) to activate the mode for adjusting the rest position of said chronograph hands (8, 9, 10) exert at least one pressure on a first push button (13) to select the chronograph hand whose rest position is to be adjusted exert discrete or continuous pressure on the other push button (12) to rotate the selected needle at accelerated speed until the desired setting is obtained start again from the second step to adjust the rest position of said other chronograph hands if necessary wait a few seconds or press simultaneously on said two push-buttons (12, 13) to deactivate the mode for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands. Method for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands according to claim 8, characterized in that when the mode for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands (8, 9, 10) is activated, said hands perform a 360-degree rotation at accelerated speed to validate the mode change. Method for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that in the mode for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands (8, 9, 10) each press on said first push button (13) for selecting one of said needles is validated by a rotation of 360 degrees at accelerated speed of the selected needle. Method for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands according to one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the exit from the mode (45) for adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands (8, 9, 10 ) is validated by a rotation of 360 degrees at accelerated speed of said needles.

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