EP1519457A1 - Adaptor for a portable electronic device and transmission system between these elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has an adaptor (100) including support with a cavity (102) to receive an instrument. The instrument is controlled by a control unit having a contact unit. The cavity has housing (110) to receive another contact unit. The housing is dimensioned to receive the control unit such that the contact units are brought into contact, when the instrument is placed in the cavity. The adaptor establishes an electrical connection with the portable electronic instrument and transmits electrical signals.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates, in general, to a system of transmission of electrical signals between a portable electronic instrument and a adapter, such as between a watch and a charger, or between a watch and a communication interface connected to a communication unit external, such as a personal computer. The invention relates more particularly to means for establishing an electrical connection between the electric instrument portable and adapter for the transmission of electrical signals from and / or the portable instrument.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

It is known in the prior art, in particular documents EP 1 109 084 and EP 1 134 630, means for recharging the accumulator and respectively for load or extract information from a portable electronic instrument, such as a watch. In both documents, the watch includes a housing containing a electronic module controlled by means of at least one control having electrical contact means accessible from outside the housing. The control member is likely to occupy a first non-depressed position in which no electrical connection is established between the means of electrical contact and the electronic module and a second position embedded in which an electrical connection is established between the electrical contact means and the electronic module.

In the document EP 1 109 084, the watch is powered by an accumulator rechargeable battery and includes two control devices to control watch functions, each of the control members being connected to a respective pole of the accumulator after pressure on these organs.

In the document EP 1 134 630, the watch comprises an electronic unit internal and at least one control member for controlling a watch function, the controller is also used to transmit and / or receive data with an external communication unit such as a personal computer.

In the two documents mentioned above, no mention is made when the means of adaptation used to make the interface between the watch and the charger or the personal computer.

It is known in the prior art, in particular from US 6,319,034, the use of a communication interface between a portable electronic instrument and an external communication unit. This communication interface includes a support having a cavity for receiving the portable instrument. The cavity is wider than the instrument and has, on one side, an elastic surface and, on the other side, a movable element manually operable to compress the portable instrument between the elastic surface and the movable element. In order to transmit between the communication interface and the portable instrument, the element mobile is provided with connection elements coming into terminals of instrument specifically provided for this purpose.

Such a communication interface nevertheless has some disadvantages. Thus, the use of a manually operable movable element requires, on the one hand, actuating means of this movable element which prove to be complex and costly and, on the other hand, a special attention of the user to make sure that the electrical connection between the interface communication and the portable instrument. It will be noted that the elements of connection being supported by the movable element, it is necessary to arrange the connection terminals in the same zone, which creates constraints for expensive manufacturing for the instrument.

In addition, as mentioned above, the connection terminals used are specifically intended for communications between the portable instrument and the interface, which imposes, on the one hand, constraints on the layout of the traditional control organs and which poses, on the other hand, problems additional sealing at the housing of the portable instrument. A solution which would consist in using the control devices as described in the documents EP 1 109 084 and EP 1 134 630 is not desirable insofar as this would require to provide an even more complex mobile element see several movable elements according to the distribution of the control members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. It is why, a general purpose of the present invention is therefore to propose a system of transmission of electrical signals between a portable electronic instrument and a adapter to ensure a simple electrical connection, not requiring particular construction at the level of the portable instrument, while ensuring a simple and inexpensive adapter construction, requiring no means of mobile connections or arranged on a mobile element, to make this connection electric.

The present invention thus relates to a transmission system of electrical signals of the aforementioned type, the characteristics of which are stated in claim 1.

Another subject of the invention is an adapter for such a system, the features are set forth in claim 6.

Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The proposed solution for the transmission system is to provide, portable instrument capable of transmitting electrical signals via its conventional control elements and, on the other hand, an adapter presenting a fingerprint sized to receive the portable instrument so that control devices used to transmit electrical signals are in depressed position while providing an electrical connection between the instrument and the adapter, when the instrument is placed in the impression.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the footprint of the adapter comprises one or more housings sized to receive the control members of the portable instrument. These housings advantageously have from top to bottom, a guide surface for bringing the watch into position, a bearing surface for bring the controls into their depressed position and the means of electrical contact, preferably in the form of an arranged flexible metal blade in a cavity, to contact the electrical contact means of the body of command accessible externally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure la représente une vue de dessus d'un adaptateur selon un premier mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention ;
• la figure 1b représente une vue de dessus d'un instrument électronique portable, se présentant ici avantageusement sous la forme d'une montre-bracelet comprenant une pluralité d'organes de commande de type bouton-poussoir, compatible avec l'adaptateur de la figure 1a selon le premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2a représente une vue en coupe partielle des figures 1a et 1b, selon l'axe d'actionnement X-X d'un organe de commande, avant l'introduction de l'instrument portable dans l'empreinte de l'adaptateur ;
• la figure 2b représente une vue en coupe partielle des figures 1a et 1b, selon l'axe d'actionnement X-X d'un organe de commande, après l'introduction de l'instrument portable dans l'empreinte de l'adaptateur ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue de face d'un des logements de l'empreinte de l'adaptateur selon une variante de réalisation particulière ;
• la figure 4 représente une vue de dessus d'un adaptateur selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention given solely by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

• Figure la shows a top view of an adapter according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 1b represents a view from above of a portable electronic instrument, which is advantageously in the form of a wristwatch comprising a plurality of push-button type control members, compatible with the adapter of the FIG. 1a according to the first embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 2a shows a partial sectional view of Figures 1a and 1b, along the axis of actuation XX of a control member, before the introduction of the portable instrument in the footprint of the adapter;
• Figure 2b shows a partial sectional view of Figures 1a and 1b, along the axis of actuation XX of a control member, after the introduction of the portable instrument in the footprint of the adapter;
• Figure 3 shows a front view of one of the recesses of the footprint of the adapter according to a particular embodiment;
• FIG. 4 represents a view from above of an adapter according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention proceeds, as already mentioned, from the general idea of connecting a portable electronic instrument (eg a wristwatch) to a external electrical or electronic device via at least one organ control of the user interface of which the electronic instrument is equipped portable. By "transmission of electrical signals", we shall include in particular the application of electrical signals for the purpose of recharging a accumulator in electrical energy as well as data communication to destination and / or from the portable electronic instrument. The external device can so be an electric charging device for accumulator or an interface of communication with an electronic communication device, such as example a personal computer. In the remainder of this description, name this electrical charging device and / or this communication interface, adapter, to the extent that the charger and / or the communication interface allow the portable electronic instrument to be adapted for use other than the one was initially planned.

In the context of the present invention, it will be understood that the organ or organs of the portable electronic instrument are configured to fill two functions, namely their primary function of command for the selection of functions of the portable electronic instrument (selection of modes of operation or information, update of data or parameters of the electronic instrument portable, e.g. time and / or date, etc.) and the additional function of means of transmission of electrical signals via contact means accessible from the outside of the watch.

It will be further understood that the transmission of electrical signals (for example for charging an accumulator and / or data communication) is established when the control device or controls configured for this purpose are brought into the depressed position. The connection of the portable electronic instrument to external electrical or electronic device will be established through an adapter arranged to bring the relevant control members in the depressed position.

The present invention will be described with reference to a transmission system between a timepiece which is advantageously in the form of a wristwatch and an adapter advantageously in the form of a support for wristwatch. The invention however applies in an identical manner to any portable electronic instrument whether or not it fulfills a watch function as well as any adapter that it fulfills or not the support function.

Figure 1a shows a top view of a designated adapter globally by the numerical reference 100, according to a first embodiment preferred embodiment of the invention. As mentioned earlier, this adapter 100 is advantageously in the form of a support 101 for a wristwatch defining on its upper part a footprint 102 sized to receive the wristwatch (shown in Figure 1b). Impression means: a cavity preventing movement or rotation in the main plane of the instrument portable, once positioned in the cavity.

According to the illustrated example, the support 101 is provided with two openings 103 and 104 disposed on either side of the footprint 102, so as to let the watch strap. The impression preferably has a circular excavation 105 in which the bottom-middle of the wristwatch comes to fit. The footprint 102 also has two side surfaces 106 and 107 comprising respectively two and three dwellings, designated respectively by the references numbers 108, 109, 110, 111 and 112, intended to each receive one of five control organs of the wristwatch. Note, however, that the number of control organs of which the wristwatch is provided, is given solely to example, and the number of corresponding dwellings provided for in footprint 102, the latter having to include at least one housing to receive the control organ (s) of the watch.

Each of the dwellings, 108, 109, 110 and 112, corresponding to an organ of command configured to perform two functions, has contact means electrical to ensure the electrical connection between the adapter 100 and the wristwatch, means of contact, examples of which will be detailed later.

It will also be noted that the support 101 comprises inside the device electric charging and / or electronic communication interface with a personal computer (both not shown in this figure).

Preferably, the adapter 100 is provided with means indicating its state Operating. For example, an indication of the state of charge of the accumulator of the watch can be provided by means of a first diode 113 electroluminescent of a first color when the watch is charging and a second diode of a second color to indicate that the charge is complete (the watch being positioned on the support). As an alternative, one can provide a single diode 113 in a blinking or extinguishing mode to indicate the end charge, or a two-color diode. An indication of the transfer status can be provided by means of a diode 114 which is lit when data are exchanged between the computer and the watch via the interface of communication of the adapter (the watch being positioned on the adapter).

For the case of an adapter that can serve both as a charger and communication interface, it is intended to affix to each of the diodes indicators, 113 and 114, a sign representing the mode of operation corresponding. In the example shown, the sign 115 corresponding to the mode of charge is a battery and the sign 116 corresponding to the transfer mode of data is a two-way arrow. In the remainder of this description, adapter 100 will be presented as both a charger and an interface for communication. Nevertheless, it will be understood that the following is also applicable an adapter that can perform only one of the two functions.

Figure 1b shows an overall plan view of a wristwatch intended to cooperate with the adapter of Figure 1a. The wristwatch is designated overall by the reference numeral 200. It includes a housing 201 delimited in this example by a lower part 202 forming middle and bottom, which comes to fit as mentioned previously in the excavation 105 practiced in the footprint 102 of the adapter, and an upper portion 203 forming a bezel which also carries an ice cream 204. The bezel 203 is adjusted in a conventional manner on the middle 202, a seal being interposed between these elements to ensure the tightness of the housing 201.

The middle 202 is traversed in this example by five control members push button type designated respectively by the numerical references 208, 209, 210, 211 and 212. It goes without saying that this example is given purely illustrative only and that it is sufficient, in order to implement the present invention, that the instrument comprises at least one control member configured as will be described below. The five control members 208 to 212 together form a user interface with which the carrier can interact to select various functions of the 200 wristwatch.

The control members 208 to 212 are placed here laterally on the 202 in typical locations for a wristwatch, namely substantially at 2, 3, 4, 8 and 10 hours respectively. It goes without saying that the control devices 208 to 212 could be arranged in other places.

In this example, the control members 208, 209, 210 and 212 present a similar configuration, the control member 211 being on the other hand configured as a conventional control organ to fulfill only its role of ordered. This control member 211 could also be configured as a classic crown rod for setting the time of the watch.

According to a preferred embodiment, two control members 208 and 209 are used to be connected to the two charging terminals of the accumulator when in the depressed position. Two other members 210 and 212 are used to establish a communication with a two-wire bus, one serving as a clock terminal and the other data terminal, also when in the depressed position. The last member 211 remains unused. Obviously this last organ can be used when needed.

Figures 2a and 2b each show a partial sectional view of the figures 1a and 1b, taken at the control member 210 along its axis of actuation designated X-X and the housing 110 corresponding to this organ, representing the watch 200 respectively before and after its introduction into the footprint 102 of the adapter 100.

At first, we will focus on the adapter 100. The latter is essentially formed by the support 101 of the wristwatch 200 having a 102 footprint sized to receive this wristwatch. The cut of the adapter 100 is shown at the housing 110, an example of which Preferred embodiment is described below.

The housing 110 comprises, in its upper part, means of guided in the form of a flared portion 117 to bring into position the shows 200 and in particular the corresponding control member 210. It will be noted this effect advantageously the side walls 106 and 107 of the cavity 102 also have a flared portion to guide the watch during its introduction into the imprint.

According to a variant not shown, the flared portion 117 presents to its lower end a shoulder serving as a means of retaining the organ of command 210 and so the watch once introduced into the footprint 102. For the implementation of this variant, it is important to ensure, on the one hand, that the 210 is in its depressed position (i.e. the electrical connection is established), once the watch 200 entered in the imprint 102, while ensuring on the other hand that sufficient clearance is left at the stroke of the control member 210 in order to be able to disengage the watch 200 without excessive mechanical stress.

The flared portion 117 is followed by a bearing surface 118 against which comes to rest the upper part of the thrust face 213 of the body of control 210, when the watch 200 is in the imprint 102. The depth of the housing 110, i.e. the distance from the lateral surface 107 of the impression (not visible on this section) to the bearing surface 118, is dimensioned so that the control member 210, once the watch is inserted into the impression, is in its depressed position.

It will be noted for this purpose that the dwellings 108, 109, 110 and 112 corresponding to the control members 208, 209, 210 and 212, are arranged so that the bearing surface 118 of each of these housings also serves as the retaining surface of the watch in the impression, in the event that the organs of control are provided with return means 222 from their depressed position towards their position not depressed. Indeed, in this case, each support surface compensates the action of the control member coming to bear on the opposite bearing surface.

Under the bearing surface 118, in correspondence with the lower part of the thrust face 213 of the control member 210 after introduction of the watch in the cavity, electrical contact means 119 are arranged in a cavity 120 practiced in the lower part of the housing 110. These means of contact electric are preferably made by means of a flexible metal blade 119 having a restoring force opposite to that of the control member 210. blade 119 present in the area facing the lower part of the face of thrust 213 of the control member a bent portion 121 slightly protrusion relative to the vertical plane defined by the bearing surface 118. Alternatively this angled portion can be replaced by a stamped portion in the form of boss as shown in Figure 3. This arrangement of the blade 119 in the housing 110 not only ensures good electrical contact with the part conductor of the control member accessible externally, for example the face thrust 213, but also to avoid the application of strong mechanical stresses on the blade 119 when introducing the watch into the footprint.

FIG. 3 represents a front view of the housing 110 according to a variant of FIG. preferred embodiment. We find the flared portion 117 under which is located the bearing surface 118 serving as a retaining surface for the control member corresponding to the portable instrument. The dots surrounding the support surface 118 illustrates the thrust surface 213 of the control member when the instrument is placed in the imprint. The blade 119 is positioned in the cavity 120. This blade electrically conductive, according to this variant, a portion stamped in boss shape 121, or equivalently a bent portion as previously mentioned in FIGS. 2a and 2b, making electrical contact with the thrust surface 213 of the control member.

According to another embodiment variant of the housing 110 (not represented), the bearing surface 118 comes into contact with the entire thrust face 213 of the control member 210, bringing the control member into position when the watch 200 is inserted into the imprint 102. In order to ensure the electrical connection, the bearing surface is then covered with a metallization layer acting as electrical contact means. Nevertheless, according to this variant, a friction is imposed between the thrust face 213 of the control member and the metallization layer, which can alter the quality of the contact after use say again.

Referring again to FIGS. 2a and 2b, there is as mentioned previously the bottom of the cavity advantageously having an excavation 105 whose cutting lines are preferably similar to those of the bottom-middle 202 of the watch, which allows to nest the latter stably when its introduction in the imprint. However, it will be understood that the bottom of the impression may have other cutting lines, provided that at least one stop surface is provided to hold the vertical stroke of the watch so as to that the control members are in contact with the contact means arranged in the dwellings.

The support 101 of the adapter further comprises the elements enabling to provide the function of charger and / or communication interface. To ensure the charger function, the adapter 100 is conventionally provided with a transformer 122 likely to be connected to the home network to which we will associate preferably a current control circuit 123 in order to avoid any overload of the accumulator of the watch. Alternatively, the transformer may be part of network connector of the power cable as this is well known for small portable devices connected to the network.

To provide the communication interface function, the adapter is provided with an interfacing module 124 between a communication bus and a port of communication (parallel, serial ...) of a personal computer. We can use example, a two-wire bus, where a transmission line is used to transmit a clock signal and where the other transmission line is used to transmit data signals. Alternatively, the first line can be used to transmit signals from the portable instrument and the other line to receive signals from outside the instrument. Each of these transmission lines is connected to the communication module of the watch via a body of order from the latter. A solution advocating the use of a USB bus and a USB communication port has the advantage of being able to use the power supply the USB bus to perform the charging operations, no adapter to the mains externally no longer necessary.

The electrical contact means 119 arranged in the housing 110 are electrically connected to the transformer 122 and / or the communication interface 124, for example by welding, via a printed circuit board 125, or PCB, supporting these elements.

We will now be interested in the wristwatch 200 and more particularly to the control member 210. The control member 210 is movably mounted in a mounting hole 214 formed in the middle part 202 so as to have a stroke of translation along the axis of actuation X-X. The control member 210 is actuated by pressure, like a conventional pusher, to be brought from a position not depressed, i.e. before its introduction in the footprint 102 of the adapter, as shown in Figure 2a, to a so-called depressed position, i.e. its introduction into the cavity 102 of the adapter, illustrated in Figure 2b.

The control member 210 consists mainly of a rod 215, elongated form, made of an electrically conductive material, advantageously made of metal. This rod 215 preferably, but not exclusively, has a shape cylindrical and through the middle part 202 from one side to the other. A first end of the stem 215 thus opens into the cavity formed by the middle part 202 while the second end of the rod 215 opens out of the middle part 202. The seal is conventionally provided by one or more O-rings 216 housed in one or more grooves 217 formed on the rod 215.

On its second end, the rod 215 is terminated by a head 218 more large diameter, having an external thrust surface 213. In this example, the rod 215 and the head 218 of the control member are made in one piece electrically conductive thereby ensuring a means of electrical contact accessible from outside the housing. To fulfill the desired function of transmission of electrical signals, it will be understood that it should in any case to ensure electrical access to the rod 215 from the outside.

The middle part 202 is also made according to a variant of a material electrically conductive, the rod 215 being accordingly isolated from this middle part 202 by an insulating sleeve 219. In this preferred example, the middle part 202 is elsewhere, during normal use independent of the adapter, at a determined electrical potential, here the mass potential of the portable instrument. The insulation sleeve 219 advantageously has a generally tubular shape with a shoulder 220 arranged to bear, from outside the middle part 202, on a corresponding shoulder 221 formed in the mounting hole 214. This insulating sleeve 219 is thus introduced into the mounting hole 214 from the outside and is preferably secured to the middle part 202, for example by driving, screwing or gluing.

An elastic return means 222 formed in this example of a spring helical, is placed between the shoulder 220 of the insulating sleeve 219 and the head 218 of the control organ. When pressing on the control member, this means of reminder 222 is compressed between the shoulder 220 and the head 218 as illustrated in FIG. 2b, exerting in this way a restoring force tending to bring the organ 210 from its depressed position to its unpressed position, illustrated in FIG. Figure 2a. Note that the shoulder 220 of the insulating sleeve also ensures that the head 218 of the control member, here conducting, does not come into contact electric with the middle part 202.

The control member further comprises a retaining element 223 adapted for axially retaining the rod 215 of the control member. For this purpose, the element of retained 223 is secured to the rod 215 and is placed on the inner side of the middle 202 to counteract the action of the return means 222 which tends to extract the control member of its mounting hole 214. The retainer 223 is advantageously configured as a traditional retaining key that is introduced into a groove 224 formed on the rod 215. This retaining element 223 can also be made of an electrically conductive material.

It will also be noted that middle part 202 defines an interior cavity in which takes place, conventionally, an electronic communication module 205 (shown partially in FIG. 2a) comprising in particular a wafer of printed circuit board 206, or PCB, carrying various electrical and electronic components (not shown) including a data processing unit (eg a microcontroller or a microprocessor), storage means (eg EEPROM, FLASH or similar) and other components for the implementation of the functions of the wristwatch 200. Watch components (time base, frequency divider, analog and / or digital display means, etc.) are in particular classically provided in this example to fulfill various horological functions including including the time display. Reference 207 indicates an optional element forming a spacer arranged on the upper surface of the PCB 206 and which supports in particular the display means of the electronic instrument. We still have partially represented a source of electrical energy 226, to supply especially the electronic module 205 mentioned above. It can be a pile traditional battery or a rechargeable battery (which can be recharged be operated through at least one of the control organs, such as already mentioned).

Thus, in this first embodiment, it will therefore be understood that on the 2a, i.e. in the not depressed position, the retaining element 223 bears on the 202, at the periphery of the mounting hole 214. In this way, in the non depressed, a grounding of the control member is ensured, the rod 215 being electrically connected to the middle part 202.

In contrast, in FIG. 2b, i.e. in the depressed position, the rod 215 is no longer electrically connected to the middle part 202 due to the axial displacement of the element of retaining 223 that accompanies the movement of the rod 215, making possible the transmission of electrical signals via the rod 215 then connected electrically to the communication module 205 of the watch. It will be noted that in this depressed position, the control member is likely to function as a classic pusher, which is achieved by means of a first electrical contact conventional and as a device for transmitting electrical signals, which is achieved by means of a second electrical contact. An example of realization of these two electrical contacts is detailed below.

The first electrical contact is conventionally made in the form of a electrical contact blade 225 comprising a base integral with the electronic_module 205 (this base is here maintained between the PCB 206 and the spacer 207) and a flexible extension which cooperates with the end of the rod 215, this end being electrically insulated from the contact blade 225 by an insulating sheath 227 can be made of a material similar to that of the insulating sleeve 219. The flexible extension of the contact blade 225 is arranged to be brought classically in contact with the other part of the first electrical contact (no shown in Figures 2a and 2b). In the case in point, this is a metallization formed on the edge of the PCB 206. Thus in the depressed position, the flexible extension of the contact blade 225 comes into contact with the metallization on the PCB 206.

The second electrical contact is made thanks to the retaining element 223 secured to the rod 215 and to a second electric contact blade 228 arranged tangential to the rod 215 near its end covered by the sheath 227. This electric contact blade 228 is also maintained by its base between the PCB 206 and the spacer 207. In this way, in an unpressed position (FIG. 2a), the electrical contact blade 228 is in contact with the insulating sheath 227 and, in the depressed position (FIG. 2b), the electrical contact blade 228 is in contact with the rod 215.

In order to dissociate the use of the control members 208 to 212 in the normal operating mode and in the operating mode as an organ transmission of electrical signals, various solutions can be adopted. A advantageous solution is to provide automatic detection, for example by the communication module 205, a simultaneous pressure on all the organs of command for a predetermined period of time, which appears essentially when the electronic instrument is placed on the adapter 100. Alternatively, an activation function of a communication mode could be predefined in the range of functions of the electronic instrument and this function could be called and selected through the user interface of the instrument. Alternatively again, the presence of the portable electronic instrument on the adapter can be detected through setting to a certain potential of one of the transmission lines via one of the control members.

Figure 4 shows a top view of a designated adapter overall by the reference numeral 300, according to a second embodiment of the invention. This adapter 300 is in the form of a support 301 for wristwatch defining on its upper part a footprint 302 sized to receive the wristwatch (not shown). According to the illustrated example, the support 301 is provided with first and second openings 303 and 304 disposed and other imprint 302 so as to let the wristband of the watch and a third lateral opening 305 capable of receiving a connecting element with an external communication unit, such as the sector or a personal computer, depending on whether the adapter is used as a charger or interface respectively communication.

The impression 302 preferably has a circular excavation 306 in which the bottom-middle of the wristwatch comes to fit. An opening 308 is practiced in the bottom of this excavation, opening 308 through which electrical contact means 309 protrude so as to establish a connection between the communication interface of the adapter and a terminal of the accumulator or the communication module of the watch via the metallic background of the latter. The impression 302 also has a housing 310 similar to that described in the context of Figures 2a and 2b. It should be noted that in the same way, electrical contact means 311, preferably in the form of a blade flexible conductor, are arranged in the housing. This accommodation 310 is preferably located at a position corresponding to 3h on the wristwatch intended for to be introduced into the footprint.

It will therefore be understood that the function of charger or respectively communication interface can be realized using the control and the bottom of the watch as charging terminals of the accumulator or respectively as data transfer terminals.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements evident for those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. In particular, the present invention is not limited only for use in a wristwatch but applies to any other application in a portable electronic instrument.

In place of the control members of the pushbutton type, one can also use any other type of control device to the extent that it present two distinct positions respectively allowing a coupling or a decoupling of the input / output terminals. One can for example think of a stem crown having at least two distinct axial positions. Moving from the connecting element could also follow a displacement other than translation. One can for example think of a control member where the mobile element would suffer a displacement in rotation.

We will finally understand that the nature of the electronic communication unit with which it is desired to establish a link through the input / output terminals can be variable. It can be a processor unit as described, a unit memory or a unit whose characteristics would be adjusted operation (for example a frequency divider circuit, a sensor, etc.).

Claims (18)

System for transmitting electrical signals between a portable electronic instrument (200) and an adapter (100), characterized in that it comprises: the portable electronic instrument comprising a housing (201) containing an electronic module (205) controlled by means of at least a first control member (208 to 212) having first electrical contact means (213) accessible from the outside the housing, said first control member being capable of occupying a first non-recessed position in which no electrical connection is established between the first electrical contact means and the electronic module and a second recessed position in which a connection electrical connection is established between the first electrical contact means and the electronic module and the adapter being adapted to establish a connection with said instrument and to allow the transmission of electrical signals, this adapter comprising a support (101) having a cavity (102) sized to receive said instrument, the cavity comprising at least a first housing ( 108 to 112) in which second electrical contact means (119) are arranged, said first housing being sized to receive said first control member, so that, on the one hand, said first control member is brought into position. depressed position and, on the other hand, said first and second electrical contact means are brought into contact, when the instrument is placed in the imprint. A transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic module is powered by a rechargeable battery (226) having first and second charging terminals and wherein the instrument comprises first (208) and second (209) control members respectively connected, in their depressed position, to one and the other of the two charging terminals, characterized in that the adapter comprises charging means (122) and in that the imprint comprises first (108) ) and second (109) housing corresponding to said first and second control members, establishing, when the instrument is placed in the cavity, an electrical connection between said battery and said charging means to allow the charging of the battery. A transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the instrument comprises first (210) and second (212) controllers connected in their depressed position to said electronic module, characterized in that the adapter comprises a communication interface ( 124) between the electronic module of the instrument and an external communication unit and in that the cavity comprises first (110) and second (112) housings corresponding to said first and second control members, establishing an electrical connection between said electronic module and the external communication unit for transmitting data from and / or to the instrument. A transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic module is powered by a rechargeable battery (226) having first and second charging terminals and wherein the instrument comprises first (208) second (209) respectively connected in their position pressed to one and the other of the two charging terminals, and third (210) and fourth (212) control members connected in their depressed position to the electronic module characterized in that the adapter comprises means for load (122) and a communication interface (124) between the electronic module of the instrument and an external communication unit and in that the fingerprint comprises first (108), second (109), third (110) and fourth (112) housing corresponding to said control members, establishing, when the instrument is placed in the imprint, a first electrical connection between said accumulator and said means of cha rge to allow charging of the accumulator and a second electrical connection between said electronic module and the external communication unit for transmitting data from and / or to the instrument. Transmission system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the instrument comprises means for deactivating the usual functions of the control members, when the instrument is placed in the cavity. An adapter (100; 300) adapted to establish an electrical connection with a portable electronic instrument (200) and to allow the transmission of electrical signals, said instrument being controlled via at least a first control member (208 to 212) having first electrical contact means (213) accessible from outside the instrument, said first controller being capable of occupying a first non-depressed position and a second depressed position, characterized in that the adapter comprises a support (101; 301) having a recess (102; 302) sized to receive said instrument, the cavity having at least one housing (110; 310) in which second electrical contact means (119,311) are arranged; said housing being dimensioned to receive said first control member, so that, firstly, said first control member is brought into the depressed position and, d on the other hand, said first and second electrical contact means are brought into contact when the instrument is placed in the impression. Adapter according to claim 6, for a portable electric instrument in which said first control member comprises return means (222) from the second position pressed towards the first non-depressed position, characterized in that the second electrical contact means are made in the form of a flexible metal blade (119) having a restoring force opposite to that of the control member. Adapter according to claim 7, characterized in that said housing has a bearing surface (118) against which at least a portion of a thrust surface (213) of the control member comes into play when the instrument is placed in the cavity so as to bring the control member into the depressed position. Adapter according to claim 8, for portable electronic instrument in the first electrical contact means comprise said thrust surface, characterized in that said housing has under the bearing surface a cavity (120) in which said blade is arranged which have a an angled (121) or boss-shaped portion protruding from the vertical plane defined by the bearing surface and in that said bent portion is in contact with a portion of said thrust surface when the instrument is placed in the impression. Adapter according to claim 6, characterized in that said housing has a bearing surface (118) against which at least a portion of a thrust surface (213) of the control member comes into play when the instrument is placed in the cavity so as to bring the control member into the depressed position and in that the second electrical contact means are made in the form of a metallization layer affixed to said support surface so as to contact an electrically conductive portion of said thrust surface. Adapter according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that said housing comprises in its upper part guide means (117) for bringing into position the control member (210). Adapter according to claim 11, characterized in that the guide means are in the form of a flared portion. Adapter according to claim 12, characterized in that said flared portion has at its lower end means for retaining the control member, when the instrument is placed in the cavity. Adapter according to one of claims 6 to 13, characterized in that the cavity has at least one abutment surface for retaining the vertical stroke of the instrument so that the control member is in contact with the second electrical contact means. Adapter according to one of claims 6 to 14, characterized in that the bottom of the cavity has an excavation (105; 306) in which the bottom of the instrument comes to fit. An adapter according to claim 15, for a portable electronic instrument having a metal base, characterized in that an opening (308) is formed in said excavation, through which third electrical contact means (309) protrude so as to provide a electrical contact with the bottom of the instrument. Adapter according to one of claims 8 to 10, for an electronic portable instrument comprising at least four control members (208, 209, 210, 212) diametrically opposed in pairs, characterized in that the cavity comprises at least four housings ( 108, 109, 110, 112) corresponding to the control members, and in that the bearing surface (118) of each of these housings also serves as a retaining surface of the control member coming to rest on the surface diametrically opposite support. Adapter according to one of claims 6 to 17, characterized in that the adapter is a support for a wristwatch.

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