Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
  • G04C17/00—Indicating the time optically by electric means
• • 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
  • G04C3/146—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating a stepping motor incorporating two or more stepping motors or rotors

Definitions

• the watch according to the invention comprises:
• an electronic movement comprising a control circuit and a motor driven by said circuit, and • time display means comprising a dial and at least two hands driven by the engine and moving in front of the dial to indicate the hours and minutes.
• This watch is characterized in that it further comprises a second motor controlled by the control circuit, and an additional hand driven by this second motor.
• the control circuit is arranged in such a way that the second motor makes this needle go through a complete cycle in one week, in alternation of stop periods and display of a time between two given instants.
• the week has five days of work and two days of rest.
• the dial is divided into five sectors, the control circuit then being arranged to run the additional needle through one sector per day from Monday to Friday and then to leave it at rest on Saturday and Sunday. Even if certain days are more particularly intended for rest, watch wearers wish to see their name displayed.
• the dial is divided into seven sectors, the control circuit then being arranged to make the additional needle run through one sector per day from Monday to Sunday.
• the display sectors For rest days, it is not absolutely necessary that the display sectors be subject to a slow movement, making it possible to indicate the passage of time. Also, the sectors corresponding to Saturday and Sunday may be smaller than the other five.
• the control circuit is preferably arranged so that the sectors from Monday to Friday are traversed between two instants defining respectively the start and the end of the working day and that, on Saturday and Sunday, the additional needle remains stationary on the corresponding sector.
• the time devoted daily to work can vary considerably depending on the profession and the country. This is why it is desirable to allow the wearer of the watch to enter the information relating to his schedule himself.
• the watch according to the invention thus advantageously comprises means for allowing the user to introduce, into the control circuit, the instants of start and end of work which automatically determine the. starting and stopping the additional needle.
• the watch may advantageously include means to allow the user to determine himself the instants for starting and stopping the additional hand and / or means for introducing into distance in the control circuit the instants of start and end of work which automatically determine the start and stop of the additional needle.
• the watch includes means for providing the user with an indication of the total hours worked over a given period and / or means for providing the user with an indication of the difference between the total hours of work performed over a given period and a number of reference hours.
• Figures 1 and 2 respectively illustrate the display means and the diagram of the electronic circuit of a watch according to a first embodiment
• FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively represent the front face and the diagram of the electronic circuit of a watch according to a second embodiment
• Figure 7 is a logic control diagram of the watch of Figures 1 and 2.
• the display means of the watch according to the invention comprise a dial 10 and three coaxial hands 12, 14 and 16.
• the dial 10 includes a central scale 18 for indicating, in a conventional manner, the hours and minutes of the current time by means of the hands 12 and 14.
• the dial also comprises, at its periphery, a scale 20, of pentagonal shape, which bears, at its peaks, the numbers 8, 16, 24, 32 and 40 and, in the middle of the sides, the names of the working days of the week.
• This scale serves as a reference to the third hand 16 which is periodically driven to indicate the time spent on work during a week. In this example, training is done 8 hours a day, 8 to 12 hours and 13 to 17 hours. The rest of the time, the needle 16 remains stationary.
• Such a movement is intended for people working on a regular schedule of eight hours a day. Its control is done by means of the circuit shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2. This comprises, in a conventional manner, a time base 22, a frequency divider 24, a time counter 26, a motor 28 and a train of gears 30 driven by the motor
• a control contact 40 is, moreover, arranged so as to be activated by one of the mobiles of the gear train 30 at a particular time of the day, for example at noon and at midnight.
• the second motor 38 drives a train 42, one of the mobiles of which carries the needle 16 and which controls a control contact 44, arranged so that at a particular time of the week, it is closed, for example the Friday at the end of the day.
• the time base 22 generally a quartz resonator
• the time base 22 delivers an electrical signal of stable frequency, reduced by the divider 24 until pulses are obtained at a frequency of the order of 1 Hz.
• These pulses increment the counter 26, so that the time in seconds, minutes, hours and days of the week is thus memorized.
• the microprocessor 32 gives the order, for example every twenty seconds, to advance the motor 28 by one step, from the information contained in the counter 26.
• the watch is provided with a program which will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 7.
• This program controls the microprocessor 32 and is recorded in memory 33 at the same time as the instants at which the motor 38 must start (start of working time) and stop (end of working time) and the days of the week (Monday to Friday) on which this must occur.
• the program also includes the information allowing the gear train 30 to be put in phase with the counter 26 and the gear train 42 to be controlled by the contact 44.
• microprocessor 32 In operation, when microprocessor 32 detects that the state of the counter 26 corresponds to an instant and a day, contained in the memory 33, at which the motor 38 must start, it addresses to the latter the orders which make it advance in steps, as will be explained with reference to FIG. 7.
• the motor drive will then stop as soon as the microprocessor 32 detects that the state of the counter 26 corresponds to an instant and a day, contained in the memory 33, to which the motor 38 must stop.
• the microprocessor 32 is programmed to control the motor 38 so that it drives the cog 42 linked to the needle 16 for 5 days a week, Monday to Friday, at eight hours a day, for example from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• the user sets his watch by pressing simultaneously on the two pushers 34 and 36.
• the time correction is then done by means of these same pushers, which respectively control the advance and the retraction of the needles 12 and 14 and, simultaneously, the increment and the decrementation, of the counter 26.
• the latter is brought into phase with the needles 12 and 14 each time that the contact 40 is closed during the rotation of the train of gears 30.
• the user presses two consecutive times and simultaneously on the two pushers 34 and 36.
• the correction is then made by means of these same pushers, which control respectively the advance and the retraction of the needle 16.
• the user brings the needle 16 opposite the day during the week.
• the microprocessor 32 checks the agreement between the day of the week indicated by the counter 26 and that designated by the hand 16, using the information received from the contact 38 and, if there is an offset, ensures the phasing.
• the microprocessor 32 automatically adjusts the position of the needle 16 in the current day, so that it occupies a position corresponding to the time elapsed between the start of the working time as recorded in the memory 33 and the current time.
• a further simultaneous press on pushers 34 and 36 interrupts the correction.
• the result is the same when the pushers are no longer activated for a certain time, for example 20 seconds.
• the watch could be equipped with means making it possible to vary the daily drive time of the hand 16. It has for this purpose an additional switch, accessible from the rear of the movement and which, when activated, makes it possible to bring the hour hands 12 and minutes 14 into the position corresponding to the desired daily working time. Pressure on pushbuttons controlling the two switches 34 and 36 ensures the recording of this working time in the memory 33. In this case, the figures of the working hours associated with the scale 20 are deleted, the transition from a peak to the other of the pentagon corresponding exactly to the daily working time.
• the needle 16 would start at the exact time when work should start according to the company program and would stop automatically at the end of work time.
• the scale 20 is of heptagonal shape, with five long sides 20a allowing the display of the five usual working days and two short sides 20b opposite which the indications appear. Saturday and Sunday.
• the motor 38 drives the needle 16 every day but, on Saturday and Sunday, the latter is positioned, at the start of the morning, in the middle of the sides 20b.
• This modification can, without other, be obtained by a modification of the microprocessor program.
• each day of the week corresponds to one side of a heptagon forming the scale 20.
• the needle 16 can move every day, in a few hours, opposite the segment which corresponds to him. It is also possible that this slow movement is only made on working days, the needle passing from one day to the other in a single jump on rest days.
• the watch in FIG. 5 makes it possible to manage the working time under such conditions. It also includes a dial 10 in front of which the 12 hour, 14 minute and working time 16 hands are arranged. The dial carries a current time scale 18, located at 9 o'clock and a working time scale 20 occupying the entire periphery of the dial.
• FIG. 5 there is also shown a case 46, four pushers 48, 50, 52 and 54 arranged respectively at 2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock on the periphery of the case 46 and a time-setting crown 56 placed at 3 o'clock.
• a third scale 58 arranged at 9 o'clock, is associated with a hand 60, intended to display the time in advance or in delay relative to the average working time required.
• this watch is done by the circuit shown schematically in Figure 6, on which are found all the components of Figure 2. It further comprises two counters 62 and 64, a third motor 66, all connected to the microprocessor 32, a train 68, driven by the motor 66, and a control contact 70 activated by the train 68 and the signal of which is addressed to the microprocessor 32.
• Four switches 72, 74, 76 and 78 are respectively controlled by pushers 48, 50, 52 and 54.
• the counters 62 and 64 are respectively intended to measure the time worked and the difference with the time due. Their content corresponds to the position of needles 16 and 60. They are brought into phase by means of contacts 44 and 70. This watch differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the needle 16 is not automatically brought into works every working day, but by order of the user.
• the functions associated with displaying the current time are completely identical. They will therefore not be described.
• Such a watch requires prior adjustment, consisting in entering into the memory 33 the working time to be carried out each week by the user.
• This operation begins by pressing the pusher 54, called programming. All the hands then zero.
• a pressure on the pusher 48 controls the drive of the hands 12 and 14. The pressure is maintained until they arrive at the display of the time corresponding to the work due daily. If this time is exceeded, pressing the pusher 50 allows the needles to be moved back. When the correct time is displayed, pressing the pusher 54 again commands its recording in the memory 65.
• the actuation of the pusher 48 then makes it possible to move the needle 16 to the day of the current week. During this manipulation, the needle advances to the start of the day considered. In other words, the microprocessor sends a train of pulses to the motor 38 corresponding to the angle traveled by the needle 16 in one full day.
• pressing the push-button 52 controls the counters 62 and 64 to zero.
• the display of the current time can, of course, be adjusted, by means of the crown 56, which, by turning in one direction or in the other, control switches 34 and 36.
• the watch is initialized, its wearer can then use it.
• he presses the button 48, which controls the starting of the counter 62 and the drive of the motors 38 and 66.
• the Microprocessor 32 decrements, at each change of minute, the content of counter 64 and controls the drive of motor 66, in reverse.
• the microprocessor 34 When the user stops his work, he presses the button 48 again. The microprocessor 34 then records that the two counters must no longer be incremented. If this pressure is applied after the period of decrementation of the counter 64, the two needles 16 and 60 then remain stationary. If, on the contrary, it is carried out during the decrementing period, only the needle 16 stops, while the needle 60 moves back.
• the counter 64 is decremented; it is incremented as soon as this time is reached, and until work is stopped.
• the user constantly knows the time during which he has worked during the current week, thanks to the indication given by the hand 16, the position of which corresponds to the content of the counter 62. It also knows the advance or the delay taken in relation to the time due, this information being given by the needle 60, the position of which corresponds to the content of the counter 64.
• the needle 16 moves to the "noon" position before starting its normal rotation. In other words, a new count begins. Through against, the needle 60 keeps its position, the missing or excess time being carried over.
• the function of the contact 70 which is controlled by the gear train 68, is, like the contacts 40 and 44, to ensure a phasing of the electronic meters and of the mechanical display means.
• the scale 58 relates to ⁇ 10 hours. This corresponds substantially to the generally accepted difference between the time due and the time actually worked.
• the counter 64 is decremented during the day, without it being incremented. This amounts to saying that the time worked in excess is reduced by the time due corresponding to one day. This is done automatically.
• this embodiment can also be the subject of numerous variants. It is thus easily conceivable to produce a watch in which the start and stop are respectively controlled when entering and leaving the company.
• the watch is provided with a transponder which receives a signal from a transmitter placed at the entrance of the building and sends, in return, an identification signal.
• the transponder receives a signal from a transmitter placed at the entrance of the building and sends, in return, an identification signal.
• the latter can send to his watch all the necessary information, in particular the time actually worked and the advance or delay compared to the work plan. This information can then be compared with the counters 62 and 64 which are put in phase and, with them, the hands 16 and 60.
• the scales 20 and 58 could advantageously be adjusted according to the situations each, for example, using a liquid crystal display cell as the dial. It would then be possible to modify the number of days of the scale 20, or even the number of hours of offset, in more or less, that it is authorized to have, which then modifies the scale 58.
• FIG. 7 shows an example of logic that can be used to control the microprocessor 32.
• the cycle begins with a signal, for example from the counter 26, called the clock signal.
• the microprocessor 32 firstly determines, at 100, whether the current day is between 1 and 5. This means, then, that this day is open and that consequently the device according to the invention must be used. If the answer is negative, the current day is a holiday and the microprocessor 32 receives, at 102, an order asking it to put itself on hold. After this waiting time, it starts again by performing the interrogation operation in 100.
• the microprocessor 32 examines in which hourly range of the day is the current time t. These ranges are defined by the instants T 0 and Ti, which correspond respectively to the start and the end of the morning work, and T 2 and T 3 , which correspond to the start and the end of the afternoon work.
• the microprocessor 32 checks at 104 that the current time is greater than T 0 . If it is not the case, it is put on hold in 106. If the current time is greater than T 0> it checks, then in 108, that it is smaller than T ⁇ As long as it is the In this case, the microprocessor 32 gives, at 110, the order to the motor 38 to advance by one step. The microprocessor 32 then goes on standby, at 112, for a time corresponding to the angle traveled by the needle 16. When the time Ti is reached, this means that the midday break has arrived. The microprocessor 32 then checks, at 114, that the current time is greater than T 2 . As long as this is not the case, the microprocessor 32 is put on hold at 116 before interrogating itself again.
• the watches corresponding to the other embodiments mentioned above can be ordered according to the same principles, the logical questions defining the start and stop of the hand 16 being modified according to the options chosen.
• the hand 16 could, for example, be used to display a timed time.
• the addition of an audible indicator would indicate, for example the start and end of working time.
• By a simple function selection operation it would then also be possible to use the hand 16 as an alarm time indicator.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)
• Calculators And Similar Devices (AREA)

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• 2000
  • 2000-06-15 EP EP00930963A patent/EP1290505B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-06-15 AT AT00930963T patent/ATE255236T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-06-15 DE DE60006862T patent/DE60006862T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-06-15 WO PCT/CH2000/000327 patent/WO2001096966A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-06-15 AU AU2000249086A patent/AU2000249086A1/en not_active Abandoned

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