EP1217470A1 - Device for displaying numeric information with two figures - Google Patents

Abstract

The watch has a disk on which are numbers 0 to 9 regularly spaced around it and first and second independent pointers, at least two of the three components rotate. The pointers are respectively arranged at exterior and interior of disk periphery so as to respectively indicate the tens and unit figures of displayed data. The first pointer is fixed and second pointer rotates around a common geometric axis. The disk and its pointers indicate the last two digits of the year . The disk is linked to a first drive which increments a unit every ten years and the second pointer is linked to a drive which increments it by a unit every year.. For month indication the disk may be linked to a first drive which increments it to bring the figures 1,2,3,and 0 in line with the fixed pointer respectively at the end of 9,19,29,30, and as needed 31 days. The second pointer is linked to a second drive which increments it by a unit each day.

Description

The present invention generally relates to a display device digital information and more particularly such a display device for the indication of two-digit numerical information such as the date or last two digits of a year. Such a device is more particularly intended for be integrated into a timepiece such as a wristwatch.

Two-digit digital information displays used in wristwatches, for example to indicate the date, are mainly of two types. A first type comprises an annular disc bearing a series of numbers typically from 1 to 31, which correspond to the 31 calendar days of the month. The disc is driven one step a day by an appropriate mechanism and is visible through a window arranged in a dial. The downside to this type of this device is that the numbers, which are relatively small dimensions, are difficult to read. To remedy this drawback, a second type of display device comprising two discs bearing the unit and tens figures respectively, these two discs being arranged either side by side or concentrically. These devices have a better readability, but are however bulky and their use in wristwatches limits the possibilities of equipping these wristwatches other types of displays.

The main object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art by providing a display device for indication two-digit digital information that is simple and compact while retaining good aesthetics and good readability.

The invention also aims to provide a display device for the indication of two-digit numerical information which can be easily integrated into small objects such as timepieces.

To this end, the invention relates to a display device for indicating two-digit digital information, characterized in that it comprises a disc bearing a series of figures distributed regularly along its periphery, and in this that it further comprises first and second independent pointers, at least two of these three elements being movable in rotation, said pointers being arranged respectively outside and inside the periphery of the disc to indicate respectively the tens digit and the units digit of said information to pin up.

The display device according to the invention allows, thanks to the combination of two pointers and disk, display two-digit numeric information to using a single disc carrying a single series of numbers and this in a way original. The display device obtained is thus very compact.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the series of figures includes the digits 0 to 9, the first pointer is fixed while the disc and the second pointer are rotatable around a common geometric axis.

• la figure 1 montre une vue de face d'une pièce d'horlogerie comprenant un dispositif d'affichage selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 montre une vue partielle en perspective et en coupe selon la ligne II-II du dispositif d'affichage selon l'invention, et
• les figures 3 et 4 représentent des vues de face du dispositif d'affichage de l'invention dans différentes configurations d'affichage de l'année et d'un quantième respectivement.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following description of a preferred embodiment, presented by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a front view of a timepiece comprising a display device according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 shows a partial perspective and sectional view along line II-II of the display device according to the invention, and
• Figures 3 and 4 show front views of the display device of the invention in different display configurations of the year and a calendar respectively.

Referring to Figure 1, we see a front view of a timepiece 1 with calendar, comprising, in addition to devices for displaying the day of the week, the date and month, a display device according to the invention indicating the two last figures of the year, designated by the general reference 2.

In the example illustrated, the display device 2 comprises a disc 4 bearing a series of numbers from 0 to 9 distributed regularly along its periphery. According to the invention these figures will serve as will appear more clearly below to indicate both the units and the tens of the two-digit number to be heard pin up.

The disc 4 moves in rotation above a dial 6 and is driven by any suitable conventional means. The disc 4 moves opposite a first pointer 8, fixed in the example illustrated. The pointer 8 is typically produced by a decal made on the dial or by an insert on it. In this example, the pointer 8 is arranged outside the periphery of the disc 4, according to a axis noon-six o'clock from disc 4 and noon. Pointer 8 indicates in this mode realization, and by convention, the digit of tens of digital information to two digits you want to display. According to a variant, it is understood that the fixed pointer 8 could be located anywhere along the periphery of the disc 4.

As can be seen more particularly from FIG. 2, it will be noted that the disc 4 includes a central recess 10 which defines a ring at its periphery 12. Numerals 0 to 9 are applied at regular intervals on the surface of the crown 12. The disc 4 further comprises a central opening 14 for the passage of a 16 of a second pointer 18.

In the example illustrated, the second pointer 18 is also mobile in rotation and moves relative to the disc 4 opposite the figures carried by this latest. The movable pointer 18 is arranged inside the periphery of the disc 4. In the example illustrated, the moving pointer 18 comprises a disc 20 on which is affixed an index 22. More precisely, the disc 20 has a diameter substantially lower than that of the recess 10 and is arranged in the latter. The disc 20 is connected to the drive shaft 16 which passes through the central opening 14 of the disc 4. Preferably, the upper surfaces of the crown 12 and of the disc 20 are coplanar (Figure 2). In this embodiment and by convention, the pointer 18 indicates by the index 22 the number of information units two-digit numeric you want to display.

If you want to display the last two digits of the year, the disc 4 is associated with first drive means (not shown) which increment it by one every ten years while the moving pointer 18 is associated with second drive means (not shown) which increment it of one unit every year. For example, these drive means can be formed of a gear train driven by mechanical means or by a stepper motor controlled by a microprocessor programmed so appropriate.

In Figure 3, there is shown by way of illustration three configurations of the device display according to the invention indicating the last two digits of the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. For the year 2008, the fixed pointer 8 points towards the number of tens, or 0 while the moving pointer 18 points via the index 22 in the direction of the unit figure, ie the number 8. For the year 2009, the disc 4 remained stationary so that the fixed pointer 8 always points towards 0, the tens figure has not changed. The moving pointer 18 has advanced one step in clockwise to point towards the number 9 representing the number of units. For the year 2010, the fixed pointer 8 now points towards the number 1, that is, disc 4 has advanced one step counterclockwise to bring the fixed pointer 8 opposite the number 1 representing the tens digit, while index 22 of moving pointer 18 points towards the number 0.

According to a second application, the display device according to the invention illustrated in figure 4 the latter can indicate a date. In this case disc 4 is associated with first drive means (not shown) which increment it to bring the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 0 next to the fixed pointer 8, respectively at the end of the 9, 19, 29, 30 and if necessary 31st days, while the second pointer is associated with second training means (not represented) which increases it by one unit per day.

For illustration purposes, the device has also been shown in FIG. 4. display according to the invention in several display configurations of two last digit of a calendar. The reading principle is the same as that described previously in connection with FIG. 3.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiment described above and different variant embodiments can be envisaged. In particular, it will be noted that it can be provided, according to a first variant, that the disc 4 is fixed and that the pointer 8 is carried by a member movable in rotation along the periphery of the disc 4. It is also possible, according to a second variant, for the pointer 18 is fixed, and that the pointer 8 and the disc 4 are both movable in rotation. Of course, the mobile pointers mentioned above and formed by discs may be replaced by needles or any other means of indication appropriate.

Furthermore, in the above description, we have chosen by convention indicate the tens digit by the pointer outside the periphery of disk 4 and indicate the unit digit by the pointer located at inside its periphery and more particularly on the side of the inner edge of the crown 12 but it is understood that the reverse can be envisaged.

It will be understood that other modifications and / or adaptations may be made to the display device which has just been described without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (6)

Display device for indicating two-digit digital information, characterized in that it comprises a disc carrying a series of figures distributed regularly along its periphery, and in that it further comprises a first and a second independent pointers, at least two of these three elements being movable in rotation, said pointers being arranged respectively outside and inside the periphery of the disc to indicate respectively the tens digit and the units digit of said information to display. Display device according to claim 1, characterized in that said series of numbers comprises the numbers from 0 to 9. Display device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first pointer is fixed and in that the disc and the second pointer are movable in rotation about a common geometric axis. Display device according to claim 3 intended for indicating the last two digits of a year, characterized in that the disc is associated with first drive means which increment it by one unit every ten years and in that said second pointer is associated with second drive means which increment it by one unit every year. Display device according to claim 3 for indicating the date, characterized in that the disc is associated with first drive means which increment it to bring the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 0 opposite the pointer fixed respectively at the end of the 9, 19, 29, 30 and if necessary 31st days and in that the second pointer is associated with second drive means which increment it by one unit per day. Timepiece, in particular wristwatch or pocket watch, characterized in that it comprises a display device according to one of claims 1 to 5.

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