EP1383015B1 - Timepiece having a game mode - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, comprising a game mode using the means for displaying the time. The invention also relates to a method of using an electronic timepiece to practice such a game.

There are known electronic watches with one or more modes of operation as a game. For example, the patent application GB 2,205,180 describes a watch with a digital display capable of displaying a table of numbers such as those of a lotto game, and performing and displaying a random draw among these numbers. By acting on the control buttons of the watch, the user can control the game and further preselect parameters such as the range of numbers to be considered and the number of numbers to shoot.

In the patent CH 684 456 there is described an electronic chronograph watch provided with a similar lottery mode and having an analog display for indicating the time and a digital liquid crystal display for displaying in particular the numbers of a lottery draw. The chronograph pushers also serve as control means for introducing data in game mode.

Although the game of lotto is very popular, its implementation in a watch is much less interesting than the actual lotto game practiced collectively, because it is this collective practice that allows high profits constituting the main attraction of this game. Game.

The present invention aims to incorporate into a timepiece, especially a wristwatch, a game of interest even if it is practiced by a single player. A particular purpose is to use for the game some of the organs for the normal functions of the timepiece, so as to incorporate the game in an electronic watch with the least possible additional components.

The document EP0715233 the plaintiff concerns a watch provided with a calculator, which however uses the time display needles to confirm values entered by the user and not to display a sequence that the user is supposed to reproduce as part of a game. The document US5079726 furthermore, a memory game that uses an LCD screen for displaying sequences of digits to be reproduced by the user, so that no synergy can be envisaged with an analog display watch.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic timepiece according to claim 1.

The idea of integrating such a memory game into a personal object such as a watch is advantageous in that one can practice this game both individually and several players without the game losing interest. Insofar as the game consists of storing time values, that is to say numbers that can be displayed by the ordinary display members of a timepiece, an additional display member is not essential. Similarly, when the watch is already equipped with several control members as is the case in chronograph watches and multifunction watches, integration of the game in the watch can be done without additional control member. In the best case, the integration of the game in the timepiece can be done simply by incorporating a specific software in the microprocessor that manages the functions of the electronic timepiece.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of using an electronic timepiece according to claim 12.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'une montre-bracelet multifonctions dans laquelle la présente invention est mise en oeuvre selon un mode de réalisation préféré, les moyens d'affichage de la montre étant représentés dans un mode d'affichage de l'heure,
• les figures 2 à 8 représentent différents états de l'affichage de la montre au cours du jeu de mémoire,
• la figure 9 est un schéma fonctionnel des principaux organes de la montre qui sont utilisés pour mettre en oeuvre le jeu de mémoire,
• la figure 10 est un schéma des étapes d'un mode de réalisation du jeu de mémoire, et
• la figure 11 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, illustrant une variante.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following description of a preferred embodiment and a variant, presented as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a top view of a multifunctional wristwatch in which the present invention is implemented according to a preferred embodiment, the display means of the watch being represented in a time display mode,
• the Figures 2 to 8 represent different states of the display of the watch during the memory game,
• the figure 9 is a functional diagram of the main organs of the watch which are used to implement the memory game,
• the figure 10 is a diagram of the steps of an embodiment of the memory game, and
• the figure 11 is a view similar to the figure 1 , illustrating a variant.

The electronic wristwatch 1 represented in figure 1 is a multifunctional watch provided with an analog display and a digital display which are arranged below the window 2 of the watch. The analog display has an hour hand 3 and a minute hand 4 which are driven individually, each by an electric motor with two directions of rotation. The hands 3 and 4 turn in front of a dial 5 carrying a graduation 6 completed by hour indices 7, which are six in this example and correspond to 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours respectively, and symbols operating mode 8 which, in this example are also six in number and are each formed by the English name of the corresponding mode. The digital display comprises an alphanumeric liquid crystal display (LCD) cell 9 placed in a window of the dial 5.

The control means of the watch 1 comprise three push buttons 11, 12 and 13, which can be arranged in a conventional manner on the middle of the case of the watch, and seven control keys 14 to 20 which, in this example, are formed by transparent electrodes applied under the ice 2. The six keys 14 to 19 are arranged above the six hour markers 7 and six mode symbols 8 juxtaposed thereto, so that the user knows that the pressing one of these keys corresponds to the index or symbol visible behind this key. The seventh key 20 is in the center of the ice 2, above the axis of the needles 3 and 4.

The keys 14 to 20 are capacitive type keys, which the user actuates by placing the end of a finger on the outer face 2 of the window 2 opposite the selected key, the watch containing a circuit capable of detecting the variation of capacity thus created between the electrode of the key and the mass. For a detailed description of such a control system with capacitive keys, the reader may refer for example to patent publications CH 607 872 , US 4,257,115 , EP 674 247 and EP 1 122 620 . Note however that, in the context of the present invention, these keys may be replaced by other control members arranged in correspondence of the indexes 7, for example buttons or buttons placed on the bezel 22 of the watch case, such as provided for example in the patent application GB 2 315 709 .

The figure 9 shows schematically how the display and control means described above are connected to a microprocessor 24 provided with storage means 25. The microprocessor 24 is associated with a time base 26 such as a quartz resonator to form the guard -time of the watch. It contains software allowing it to manage not only the time functions, but also all the other functions of the watch 1. It is connected to the seven electrodes 14 to 20 by a set of transparent conductive tracks 27 applied under the ice 2 and a set electrical links 28 connecting the ice to the microprocessor in the watch case. Each of the pushers 11 to 13 is connected to the microprocessor 24 by a pair of conductors. The microprocessor 24 controls the two motors 30 and 31 actuating the needles 3 and 4, as well as the digital display 9 and an electro-acoustic transducer 32, through respective pilot circuits 33, 34, 35 and 36.

The six operating modes represented by the symbols 8 are as follows: TIME 1: displaying the time of the local time zone by the hands. TIME 2: additional display of the time of a second time zone on the LCD display. CHRONO: Chronograph mode. ALARM: alarm mode. DATE: indication of the date by the LCD display. GAME: game mode.

The first five aforementioned modes are well known in multifunctional electronic watches. Some of them are implemented, for example, in the watch marketed under the trademark Tissot T-Touch®, which includes the structure illustrated by the figure 9 .

The addition of the game mode in this watch only requires the recording of specific software in the microprocessor, affixing the symbol GAME on the dial and possibly changing the LCD display 9 and its pilot circuit 34 to expand the area of the game. alphanumeric display.

We will now describe the course of the memory game with reference to the diagram of steps of the figure 10 and the different states of the display devices represented in Figures 1 to 8 .

It is assumed that before the game the watch is in its standard mode TIME 1 and that the capacitive control keys 14 to 20 are inactive. Step 41 consists of pressing the middle pusher 12 to activate these keys, so that they are monitored cyclically by the microprocessor 24 by means of the detection circuit mentioned above. The display does not change except that a flashing symbol is added on the LCD 9 to indicate that the keys are active.

In step 42, the player places his finger next to the GAME symbol, which actuates the corresponding key 14 and puts the watch in play mode. As shown in FIG. figure 2 , needles 3 and 4 give the receipt of this command by placing itself in superimposed position opposite the symbol GAME, which is at noon in this example. The LCD display 9 then displays a drop-down menu that indicates different ways of playing and that the player scrolls by pressing the key 14 several times. Some of the terms in this menu include parameters of the game, such as for example the number of players. , the degree of difficulty of the game, the engagement or triggering of an acoustic device, etc., and the player can select values of these parameters by means of the push-buttons 11 and 13. The acoustic device uses the electro-acoustic transducer 32 incorporated in the watch and can issue different notes corresponding for example to each index 7 and the associated key 14 to 19. Thus, the microprocessor 24 can be programmed to control the emission of a sequence of different sounds that correspond to the different time values of a sequence during the display of this sequence, so that the memory game is both visual and musical.

To simplify the description, the example presented here is a one-player game and the range of numerical values, in this case hourly values, that the watch displays and that the player must repeat includes only the values 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 which are symbolized on the dial by the six indexes 7 and are indicated by the two needles 3 and 4 superimposed opposite the corresponding index.

The menu includes a START command that automatically starts the game when it has been displayed for more than three seconds. This automatic start is step 43, where the microprocessor 24 randomly generates and stores in its memory 25 a first sequence of time values. This first sequence may comprise one or more time values, depending on the parameters selected by the player. It is assumed here that the first sequence comprises three time values. Of course, a sequence may contain several times the same value.

In step 44, the microprocessor 24 temporarily and sequentially displays all the values of the sequence by means of the superimposed hands 3 and 4 as shown by FIGS. Figures 3, 4 and 5 , where we see that these three values are 2-10-8 by considering the graduation of the hours of the dial. The PLAYER 1 message on LCD 9 shows the player's number. Then, the needles are placed horizontally to indicate that the sequence is finished, as shown in figure 6 , and the LCD display gives the ANSWER message to prompt the player to respond.

In step 45, the player gives a sequence of responses by putting his finger 39 successively on those keys 14 to 19 which correspond to the values of the sequence that the watch has just displayed. The hands signal the acquisition of each response by placing itself in front of the corresponding index 7. At the same time, the microprocessor 24 compares in step 46 each response with the corresponding value recorded. If the entire response sequence is correct, the microprocessor proceeds to step 47 of drawing one or more additional hourly values, according to the degree of difficulty chosen, and storing them after those of the preceding sequence to form the following sequence , while the LCD display gives an OK message as shown in the figure 7 to indicate that the response sequence was correct. The game then returns to step 44 of displaying the sequence. The game continues as for the previous sequence.

As soon as the player gives a false answer, the microprocessor 24 stops the game in step 48 and displays the state represented in FIG. figure 8 , where the LCD display indicates a score that is the number of values contained in the last fair sequence of responses.

The display provided in step 48 is timed. In step 49, if the player during this duration a command on the key 14 corresponding to GAME, the microprocessor returns to step 43 to restart the game automatically. During the time delay, the player may actuate another key or a key. push to switch to another mode of the watch. If no command is made, the microprocessor proceeds to the final step of returning to the initial mode of the watch.

The reader will understand that the very simple game mode described above can be the subject of more complicated variants, for example if the game uses the twelve usual hourly indexes of a watch with twelve corresponding keys, and / or if the values Game times are given in hours and minutes using both hands 3 and 4, as the conventional time display. The introduction of the response sequences can then be carried out in any appropriate manner, for example by means of a touch screen or pushbuttons, as is usually done to introduce an alarm time in the multi-function watches with display digital. Of course, the indexes may consist of numbers.

Note also that the alphanumeric display 9 described above is not essential, as its indications could be displayed by particular combinations of positions and / or movements of the needles 3 and 4 and possibly additional needles. For example, one of the needles 3 and 4 could point to a function symbol applied to the dial, while the other hand would oscillate to indicate that such a function is proposed. The drive of the needles by two independent bidirectional motors allows multiple variants of this kind.

The figure 11 illustrates a variant which differs from the previous example by its display means, the digital display 9 being removed, and by its control means, the push buttons 11, 12 and 13 being replaced by a multifunctional control rod .

As in the previous example, the watch 51 represented in figure 11 comprises, below the window 52 of the watch, a hour hand 53 and a minute hand 54 which are driven individually by electric motors with two directions of rotation. The hands 53 and 54 turn in front of a dial 55 bearing a time scale 56 supplemented by indexes 57, 58, 59 and 60, in this case the numbers 3, 6, 9 and 12 representing the four values (hourly or not) which will be used in the game. In this example, the indexes 57 to 60 are applied on the ice rather than on the dial.

The dial 55 also bears function symbols 62 and 63 intended to represent the two main phases of the game. The symbol 62 (LOOK) indicates to the player that he must observe the sequence of values displayed by the watch during the first phase of the game. The symbol 63 (PLAY) indicates to the player that he must give a sequence of answers.

The dial 55 also carries mode symbols 64 to 69. The symbols 64 and 67 (SLOW) indicate a slow play mode, while the symbols 65 and 68 (FAST) indicate a fast play mode. The symbol 66 placed between the two symbols 64 and 65 means that the game modes represented by the latter comprise the emission of different sounds during the game, by means of an electro-acoustic transducer similar to the transducer 32 described in the example. previous. On the contrary, the strikethrough symbol 69 indicates that the two symbols 67 and 68 represent play modes without sound emission. Thus, the symbols 64, 65, 67 and 68 respectively represent four different game modes.

The control means of the watch 51 comprise, as in the previous example, capacitive control keys 71 to 74 which are formed by non-transparent electrodes applied under the window 52, below the four indexes 57 to 60. electrodes can be made by means of a conductive paint. The pushers of the previous example are replaced here by a push rod 75 of electrical control, having a ring outside the watch case and rotatable and occupy four axial positions. When the rod 75 is pushed from its neutral position, it closes an electrical contact, then returns to the neutral position by the effect of a spring. A first position drawn from the rod 75 puts the two needles 53 and 54 in superposition and makes it possible to move them together by rotation of the rod, in particular to select a game mode. A second position drawn from the rod makes it possible to set the time . The arrangement of such a four-position control rod for controlling an electronic watch is well known and allows further control of other functions by different combinations of actions on the rod.

The diagram of the electronic means of the watch 51 may be similar to that of the figure 9 , by removing the elements 9 and 35 and replacing the contacts of the pushers 11 to 13 by contacts actuated by the appropriate movements of the rod 75.

We will now describe a way of practicing the memory game on the watch 51 represented in figure 11 . The watch is initially in a time display mode, the player must first select a game mode by putting the rod 75 in its first drawn position, so that the two needles 53 and 54 are superimposed and are positioned for example at 6 o'clock. The player selects one of the game modes represented by the symbols 64, 65, 67 and 68 by rotating the rod 75 until the superimposed hands are next to the desired symbol. It then pushes the rod to the neutral position, then activates the capacitive keys 71 to 73 by briefly pushing the rod. The game then starts automatically and runs as in the previous example, except for the display.

During the first phase where the microprocessor generates, stores and displays a sequence of values corresponding to some of the indexes 57 to 60, for example 6-9, the hour hand 53 points to the function symbol 62 (LOOK), while that the minute hand 54 temporarily and successively points to the symbols 58 and 59 to indicate to the player the sequence to be memorized. The display by the hands is then as shown in the figure 11 . If a sound mode has been selected, the display of each value is accompanied by the emission of a corresponding note by the electro-acoustic transducer (buzzer). Then the hour hand 53 points to the function symbol 63 (PLAY) to indicate the entry into the response phase. The player tries to reproduce the sequence by placing a finger on the keys 72 and 73 corresponding to the values 6-9. If the response sequence is correct, the watch returns to the first phase by adding a value to the sequence, which becomes, for example, 6-9-6, and the game continues. If the answer is false, the two needles are superimposed and indicate temporarily on the scale 56 a score between 0 and 59, corresponding to the number of successful sequences during this game, then the watch returns to the display mode of the game. hour. During the entire game, the watch returns to the time display mode if the player does not act on the control means during a given period, for example 10 seconds.

Of course, the watch 51 could include other game modes in addition to or in place of the four modes described above, for example a mode where each sequence would be different from the previous sequence.

In a variant not shown, the numerical hour indices 57 to 60 of the watch 51 could be replaced by any type of graphic elements such as drawings or symbols, or by visible marks formed by projections on the ice . They could also be deleted insofar as the electrodes of the capacitive keys 71 to 74 can be visible, for example colored, and serve as an index to identify the visual indications constituted by the respective positions of the needle 54 in front of the electrodes.

Claims (17)

1. Electronic timepiece, particularly a wristwatch (1, 51), including a game mode and having time displaying means comprising hands (3,4,53,54), which are controlled by an electronic unit (24) provided with storage means, the timepiece further including manual control means (11-20, 71-75) allowing a user to enter data into the electronic unit,
   characterised in that the game mode is a memory game mode, wherein the electronic unit (24) is arranged for generating, storing and temporarily displaying one or more visual indications via said hands (3, 4, 53, 54), and for comparing answers provided by the user attempting to reproduce said indications using the manual control means (11-20, 71-75) and the electronic unit (24) compares said answers to said stored indications.
2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterised in that said visual indications are numerical values and in that in the game mode the electronic unit (24) randomly generates at least a first sequence of one or more numerical values and temporarily displays it, then the user provides a sequence of answers consisting in successively reproducing said numerical values of the first sequence, the electronic unit compares the answers to the stored values and displays an indication as to the result of the comparison at least if the sequence of answers is not identical to the sequence of stored values.
3. Timepiece according to claim 2, characterised in that when the result of the comparison indicates that the sequence of answers is identical to the sequence of stored values, the electronic unit (24) generates and stores a next sequence of numerical values, then the user provides a new sequence of answers, the electronic unit compares said answers to the stored values and displays an indication as to the result of the comparison at least if the sequence of answers is not identical to the sequence of stored values, and so on.
4. Timepiece according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the display means include an analogue time display, having hour symbols (7, 57-60) and at least two hands individually driven by distinct motor means (30, 31), and in that the manual control means include control keys (14-19, 71-74) arranged in registration to at least certain of the hour symbols.
5. Timepiece according to claim 4, characterised in that the control keys (14-19, 71-74) are formed by electrodes arranged against a glass (2, 52) of the timepiece and facing the corresponding hour symbols (7).
6. Timepiece according to claim 4, characterised in that it further includes an alphanumerical display (9) used for displaying messages relating to the progress of the game.
7. Timepiece according to claim 4, characterised in that said visual indications are time values and in that the time value display in the game mode is achieved by positioning at least one of the hands (3, 4, 53, 54) facing one of the hour symbols (7, 57-60).
8. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterised in that the display of the time values in the game mode is achieved by means of the hour and minute hands (3, 4) like the conventional time display.
9. Timepiece according to claim 4, characterised in that the display means include function symbols (62, 63), one (53) of the hands being positioned facing one (62) of the function symbols during the temporary display phase of one or more visual indications, then facing another (63) of the function symbols while the user provides a sequence of answers.
10. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterised in that it includes an electro-acoustic transducer (32) controlled by the electronic unit (24) and arranged to emit, during display of said visual indications, various sounds that correspond to the various visual indications displayed.
11. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterised in that the electronic unit (24) is arranged for determining and displaying the results of the memory game for different players.
12. Method of using an electronic timepiece (1, 51) as a memory game, the timepiece including time displaying means comprising hands (3,4,53,54), which are controlled by an electronic unit (24) provided with storage means (25), the timepiece further including manual control means (11-20, 71-75) allowing a user to enter data into the electronic unit,
    characterised in that in a first phase of the memory game, the electronic unit (24) generates, stores and temporarily displays one or more visual indications via said hands (3, 4, 53, 54), then the user provides answers attempting to reproduce said indications using the manual control means (11-20, 71-75) and the electronic unit (24) compares said answers to said stored indications.
13. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that, in the first phase, the electronic unit randomly generates at least a first sequence of one or more visual indications, stores it in the storage means and temporarily display it via said hands (3,4,53,54), then the user provides a sequence of answers consisting in successively reproducing said visual indications of the first sequence with the manual control means, the electronic unit compares the answers to the stored indications and displays an indication as to the result of the comparison at least if the sequence of answers is not identical to the sequence of stored indications.
14. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that when the result of the comparison indicates that the sequence of answers is identical to the sequence of stored indications, the electronic unit (24) generates and stores a next sequence of visual indications, then the user provides a new sequence of answers, the electronic unit compares said answers to the stored indications and displays an indication as to the result of the comparison at least if the sequence of answers is not identical to the sequence of stored indications, and so on.
15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that said next sequence comprises at least one visual indication more than the preceding sequence.
16. Method according to claim 15, characterised in that said next sequence is generated by adding at least one extra visual indication to those of the preceding sequence.
17. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that, during the display of the visual indications, the timepiece emits various sounds which correspond to the various visual indications displayed.

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