EP2527930B1 - Timepiece comprising a mechanism for displaying an animation - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a watch for displaying an animation.

State of the art

The usual watches include a dial for displaying different time information.

In order to give a particular appeal to each watch manufacturers have multiplied the displays of different functions.

Particularly in the 1900s, several manufacturers created automatic watches. These allow the animation of one or more figurines placed above the dial and each fixed on an axis connected to the movement of the watch and crossing the dial.

This type of animation has already been described in various documents of the prior art. This is particularly the case of the pendular type displays well known in the state of the art and described in ancient documents such as Swiss patents CH32172 and CH40797 .

The patent CH32172 presents animated characters placed above the dial and driven in oscillation by the movement of the watch.

The document JP61239190 describes a watch having a dial disk on which is represented a succession of images. When the disk is driven at a high speed by means of a stepper motor, the scrolling images gives the impression of an animated movement. The watch does not have a window and all the images are visible simultaneously.

The patent CH40797 presents an animated pattern driven in oscillation by the escapement fork of the movement of the watch.

The patent US2891378 describes a watch having two adjacent disks, each disk being linked to a pinion. The two pinions mesh with each other so as to turn in the opposite direction. A window in the dial allows the user to see a portion of the two discs at the point of contact. Each disc has a succession of portions of images; the portions of the lower disk form with the portions of the upper disk a complete image. The rotation of the two discs produces the illusion of an animated movement, in a way that resembles cartoons.

In this solution, the two discs are directly driven by the movement. Although the description of this patent evokes a jerky movement produced by the escapement of the watch, these saccades are hardly noticeable to the naked eye. The patent speaks indeed of disks performing one revolution per minute and a Roskopf exhaust, that is to say an exhaust that typically performs 3.5 or 4 alternations per second, or more. The movement is not jerky and the image on each disc is almost never motionless behind the counter; instead, this image moves in a way that seems continuous between a large number of intermediate positions, which is detrimental to the quality of the animation.

WO2006058925 describes an animated timepiece in which a shooting star carried by a disc passes every six minutes in front of a display disc of the phases of the moon. More recent documents also describe watches with similar animations.

The document EP1664941 describes a watch movement, of mechanical type, comprising a visible animation mobile, simulating a pendulum movement. The mobile is driven by an animation train engaged with a finishing train periodically driven in rotation by a motor member. The animation proposed in this document is however limited to a pendulum movement.

These documents present animations displayed above the dial of a watch whose movement is jerky. The animation is limited to oscillating a pattern.

In addition, there are watches with animation due to the rotational drive of a sequence of distinct patterns.

For example, the display of the dates can be achieved by the rotation of a ring located on the periphery of a watch face.

In this type of watch, the date is most often visible through a window.

In the case of the display of the date, a possible embodiment consists in rotating a ring bearing a sequence of numbers ranging from 1 to 31. The drive is provided by the movement of the watch with a rotation frequency d a ride in 24 hours.

As examples, documents CH661171 and CH648449 describe a display of the dates inscribed on a peripheral ring rotating by means of a Maltese cross. The rotation frequency of such a display type is one revolution per 24 hours.

The rotation movement of the mobiles performing the animation of the calendars is a discontinuous movement. However, the frequency of Rotating patterns is too weak to produce a real impression of animation.

There is therefore a need for a watch displaying an animation that avoids at least one of the disadvantages of known devices mentioned.

Brief summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a watch displaying an animation free from the limitations of known watches.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in particular by means of a watch according to claim 1, and a method according to claim 12.

The watch according to the invention thus offers the possibility of displaying an animation produced by the jerky scrolling of a sequence of distinct images carried by an animation mobile through the window of the watch.

The expression "printing an animated image" refers to the cinematographic domain where the succession of the projected images is carried out at a particular speed also called scrolling speed. In this area, this frame rate is generally 18 to 24 frames per second.

In the context of the invention, the scrolling frequency corresponds to the speed at which an image displayed through the window is replaced by the next image of the sequence of distinct images. This scrolling is done thanks to the jerky movement of the mobile animation in front of the wicket.

The scrolling frequency will preferably be greater than 2 frames per second, which is already sufficient to give an impression of animation certainly very jerky.

Preferably, this scrolling frequency will be between 2 and 24 frames per second.

A shutter can be provided to increase the number of frames per second and thus improve the animation impression. When the animation mobile is jerked by the training device, it results in a scrolling of the separate images carried by the mobile animation. This scrolling image presents a continuous evolution that creates the impression of an animated image. If the frequency is high, the phenomenon of retinal persistence produces the impression of a quasi-continuous movement.

This continuous evolution is obtained in particular by the scrolling of successive different images representing the different stages of a movement giving the illusion of this movement.

The watch according to the invention thus has the advantage over the known prior art of producing a real animation effect similar to that of a cartoon. This gives a spectacular character to the watch.

The use of a mechanical device which transforms the continuous rotation movement of the mechanical movement into a jerky rotation movement of the animation mobile makes it possible, in particular, to immobilize each image of the mobile for a relatively long duration behind the aperture, and then to replace this image as quickly as possible by the following image.

The mechanical device thus makes it possible to reduce the total time during each cycle during which the images are not aligned behind the window.

• le mobile est immobile dans une première position permettant d'afficher une première image derrière le guichet;
• le mobile tourne de manière à passer directement dans une deuxième position permettant d'afficher une deuxième image derrière le guichet;
• le mobile est immobile dans la deuxième position,

et ainsi de suite jusqu'à ce que toutes lesdites images aillent été affichées à tour de rôle derrière le guichet.The mechanical device can be arranged to produce a jerky motion of the animation mobile in which:

• the mobile is stationary in a first position to display a first image behind the window;
• the mobile rotates to go directly to a second position to display a second image behind the window;
• the mobile is motionless in the second position,

and so on until all the said images have been displayed in turn behind the wicket.

In this text, the expression "continuous movement" must be interpreted in a relative manner. Most mechanical movements have an escapement that generates a jerky movement. However, the frequency of modern movements is such (typically 28,800 vibrations per hour, or more) that this jerky movement is almost not noticeable, and that the needles or possible mobiles directly driven by the gear seem to move from continuously, especially since the immobilization phases at each alternation of the escapement are extremely short.

A goal of the mechanical device is to transform a continuous movement (or perceived as continuous by an observer) in a much more jerky movement.

An aim of the mechanical device is also to transform the continuous movement (or perceived as continuous by an observer) of the basic movement into a movement with relatively long immobilization phases, in order to display the images immobile behind the aperture, and shorter displacement phases, to move faster from one image to the next. The mechanical device thus makes it possible to transform a continuous movement, or a movement perceived as continuous because it has very short and / or numerous immobilization phases, in a visibly jerky movement which has longer immobilization phases than the initial movement.

The mechanical device produces a motion of the mobile in which the duration of the periods of immobilization is preferably greater than the duration of the phases of displacement between two successive immobilization positions.

A purpose of the mechanical device is also to transform the continuous movement (or perceived as continuous by an observer) of the basic movement into a movement in which the mobile moves directly from an immobilization position to the next immobilization position. "Directly" here means that the moving body moves from one image immobilization position to the next immobilization position without stopping in an intermediate position, or at least without stopping perceptibly to the eye.

In the context of the invention, the term "moving mobile carrying a sequence of distinct images" refers to any rotatable part having a succession of distinct images. The jerky motion of this mobile creates "the impression of an animated image" described above.

This animation mobile can be located in a parallel plane or coincident with the plane of the dial of the watch, especially in the case of a disk or a ring. In the case where the mobile animation is a ring, it preferably has an internal peripheral teeth to enable it to be driven by the drive device.

In the case where the mobile animation is a disk, it can be driven by the drive device by its axis of rotation or by an external peripheral toothing according to its diameter.

This mobile animation can also be located in a plane not parallel to the plane of the dial of the watch, especially in the case of a drum, a coil, a pulley, etc.

The images carried by the mobile animation can be formed by enamelled patterns, screen-printed, engraved or cut on the mobile. They can be in black and white or in color, abstract or figurative, etc.

Generally the animation mobile carries images in two dimensions, however three-dimensional images can also be used. In particular, objects such as sculptures may be attached to the animation mobile without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also possible to replace the mobile animation with a mobile with other reasons. The user will be able to display several animations on his watch.

In the context of the invention, the watch may have a first dial intended for displaying at least hourly information and at least one additional dial allowing at least the display of an animation. This allows in particular to make watches with various shapes.

The animation obtained by scrolling the image sequence is observable through a window through which only one image is visible at a time.

In the context of the invention, the term "window" corresponds to an opening for seeing an image among a sequence of images. The window makes it possible to isolate an image to be observed from the other images of the image sequence.

In one case, the window can be placed so that said other images are hidden. For example, the wicket will be constituted by an opening in the dial of the watch. It then leaves only one image among the sequence of images carried by the mobile animation.

In another case, said other images may however remain visible. In this case, the scrolling of all the images in the image sequence is visible. The opening allows the user to have a global view of the sequence of images in rotation and when he focuses his attention on the window, he observes only one image at a time and has the impression of an animated image.

A magnifying glass can be provided to facilitate the observation of the animation. In particular, it may be placed in the counter or in the glass of the watch next to said window. This counter can be arranged in the dial of the watch. Images other than the one appearing in the window may still be visible.

The training of the mobile animation can be provided by a basic movement of the watch. The basic movement can determine how the watch works. The basic movement can be constituted by an auxiliary module superimposed on a main movement which determines the running of the watch, and driven by this main movement.

The training of the mobile animation is provided by the basic movement through a mechanical device including a Maltese cross.

When the mobile animation is driven by a Maltese cross, it is driven by the basic movement of the watch, discontinuously. The Maltese cross is coaxial and mounted in rotation with a pinion. They can for example be welded to each other. The pinion meshes a peripheral toothing of the mobile animation. Thus the movement of the Maltese cross is transmitted to the mobile animation.

The basic movement driving the mobile can be constituted by an additional module superimposed on a main movement. The additional module may include a power source and a regulating organ of its own and the mobile animation. One could for example use a mechanism of repetition-minute, or the force of the ringing of the stamps to make scroll the images.

In this case, the additional module comprises its own regulating organ which will determine the running speed of the animation mobile. The watch also has a clean regulating organ.

The regulating member of the additional module can be simplified with respect to the regulating member of the movement of the watch. Indeed, it is not necessary to have a level of precision equivalent to that of the basic movement of the watch to obtain a moving image impression.

However, when the mobile animation is located on an additional module, it can also be driven by the main movement determining the running of the watch.

The operation of the mobile animation, when it is located on an additional module, can also be determined by the regulating organ of the basic movement of the watch.

The animation mobile can be periodically triggered automatically, for example every hour.

The mobile animation can also be triggered manually by the user. In this case, the trigger can be performed using a push button, a crown, a minute-repeat lock or any other trigger device applicable to a watch.

In the method of claim 12, the time interval corresponding to the immobilization of an image in front of the window is between 0.5 seconds and 0.04 seconds. This interval corresponds to the scrolling speed of the separate images.

The duration of the repetition of the steps allowing the scrolling of the distinct images through the window is generally less than 60 seconds. It depends on the size of the spring and the size of the barrel.

In the context of the invention, the scrolling of all the images of the image sequence through the window, called the cycle, can be performed once or repeated several times. When a cycle ends, the displayed image must be the first frame of the cycle to start each cycle again at the same frame.

Brief description of the figures

• La figure 1 illustre une vue de la face avant d'une montre selon un premier mode de réalisation.
• La figure 2 illustre une vue de dessus présentant le mobile d'animation et son entrainement.
• La figure 3 illustre une vue de détail illustrant le fonctionnement de la Croix de Malte.
• La figure 4 illustre une vue de dessus d'une montre selon un deuxième mode de réalisation.

Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which:

• The figure 1 illustrates a view of the front face of a watch according to a first embodiment.
• The figure 2 illustrates a view from above showing the mobile animation and training.
• The figure 3 illustrates a detailed view illustrating the operation of the Maltese Cross.
• The figure 4 illustrates a top view of a watch according to a second embodiment.

Example (s) of embodiment of the invention

The figure 1 illustrates a watch 11 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

This watch 11 has in particular a window 4 through which an image 3 among a sequence of images is visible. The window 4 is arranged in the dial 10 and allows scrolling a succession of separate images 3. A push button or lock 12 allows manual triggering by the user of the mobile animation 1.

In another embodiment, not shown, the watch 11 according to the invention may have a manual release of the mobile animation 1 by means of a watch bezel, the crown, or any other body.

The figure 2 illustrates an example of an animation mobile 1 and the training device associated therewith according to an embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of simplification, the basic movement of the watch 11 is not shown.

The animation mobile 1 represented in this figure is formed by a ring 1 on which are represented distinct images 3.

The ring 1 has an internal peripheral toothing 2 meshing with a pinion 9. The pinion 9 is coaxial and rotatably fixed with a Maltese cross 5. The Maltese cross 5 and the pinion 9 are jerkily driven by a wheel of FIG. drive 6 to one or more pivots. The drive wheel 6 is rotated continuously and at a constant speed by the basic movement of the watch 11. The speed constant watch is provided by a regulator. The operation of the Maltese cross will be described more precisely with reference to the figure 3 .

The jerky motion applied to the ring 1 allows the scrolling of the distinct images 3.

The window 4 not shown on the figure 2 allows to see only one image 3 at a time among the plurality of images in the image sequence 3.

The size of the images 3 is chosen so that each image 3 is entirely visible in turn in the window 4. Each image 3 represents a step of a movement. Thus the scrolling of the successive images 3 corresponds to the scrolling of the different stages of the movement thus creating the illusion of the movement.

The scrolling speed is therefore chosen so as to cause this illusion of motion or animated image printing. This concept of animation refers to the cinematic domain where the succession of projected images is carried out at a particular frequency. In the context of the invention, that is to say for the scrolling of distinct images 3 in a watch 11, a scrolling speed greater than 2 frames per second will be sufficient. Preferably, the scrolling speed will be between 18 and 24 frames per second.

In another embodiment, the number of frames per second may be increased by a shutter.

In another embodiment, not shown, the animation mobile 1 consists of a drum located in a plane perpendicular to the dial. The drum rotates along an axis located in a plane parallel to or coincident with the plane of the dial. The drum presents a multitude of facets bearing distinct images, each facet bearing a single image.

In another embodiment, not shown, the animation mobile 1 consists of a disc 1 of diameter less than or equal to that of the dial 10 of the watch and fixed at its center coaxially with the center of the movement of the watch. base of the watch. The drive of the disc 1 will be done by means of a central pinion, driven in a jerky way by a Maltese cross 5. The disc does not have peripheral toothing.

In another embodiment, not shown, the animation mobile 1 consists of a disc eccentric to the center of the base movement of the watch 11 and smaller in diameter than the dial of the watch. Preferably the disc has an external peripheral toothing on which meshes the pinion driven by the Maltese cross.

The figure 3 illustrates more precisely the operation of the training device comprising a Maltese cross 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A drive wheel 6 driven by the base movement of the watch (not shown) rotates continuously with a steady speed. This drive wheel carries two pivots 7 penetrating the grooves 8 of the Maltese cross, thus causing its rotation a quarter turn. The drive wheel 6 may also carry only one pivot. The pivot 7 then leaves the groove 8, the drive wheel 6 continues its course while the Maltese cross remains motionless. The central portion of the drive wheel 6, partially recessed, is complementary to the rounding of the Maltese cross 5 in order to stabilize the position of the device when one of the pivots 7 is not engaged in one of the grooves 8.

The figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the watch consists of two dials 10 and 12. The dial 10 has a window 4 through which an image 3 is visible. The dial 12 has a brief display of hours and minutes.

On either of these dials 10 or 12, additional information may be displayed although not shown in this figure. By way of nonlimiting example, examples of additional information to be displayed are the seconds, the date, the power reserve or chronograph data, etc.

According to another embodiment, the watch 11 presents an animation on an additional dial while the time information is presented on a main dial.

According to yet another embodiment, it is possible to provide several complementary dials.

According to yet other embodiments, the animation mobile can be placed above the dial, or even out of the box, for example in the telescope; etc.

The invention has been described for a watch but it could be applied to larger devices having the above features taken in combination or independently of each other.

For example, a clock having a display of an animation operating using a Maltese cross mechanism, allows in particular to use a larger image sequence. The content of the images can be more detailed and present a higher aesthetic appearance compared to a simpler pattern, because smaller, displayed on a watch. Such a clock has an attractive and spectacular character.

Reference numbers used in the figures

1. 1. Mobile animation
2. 2. Dentition of the animation mobile
3. 3. Image carried by the animation mobile
4. 4. Box office
5. 5. Maltese Cross
6. 6. Training wheel
7. 7. Pivot
8. 8. Groove
9. 9. Pinion
10. 10. Dial
11. 11. Watch
12. 12. Push button

Claims (13)

1. Timepiece (11) comprising a mechanical movement, an animation disc (1) driven by said movement and a window (4):

   wherein the animation disc (1) comprises a sequence of distinct images (3),

   wherein the window (4) enables a single image (3) borne by said animation disc (1) to be displayed,

   wherein said timepiece further comprises a mechanical device arranged for transforming a rotation movement of the mechanical movement into a jerky rotation movement of said animation disc (1) so as to give the impression of an animated image through said window (4);

   characterized in that said mechanical device comprises a Maltese cross (5) driven in rotation in a discontinuous manner.
2. Timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical device is arranged to produce one said jerky movement of said animation disc (1) wherein
   said disc is immobile in a first position enabling a first said image to be displayed behind said window;
   said disc turns so as to pass directly into a second position enabling a second said image to be displayed behind said window;
   said disc is immobile in the second said position,
   and so forth until all said images have been displayed in turn behind said window.
3. Timepiece according to claim 2, wherein said device is arranged for immobilizing said disc for durations greater than the time for switching from one position to the following position.
4. Timepiece (11) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the Maltese cross (5), which is coaxial and mounted integrally in rotation with a pinion (9) is driven by said mechanical movement and the pinion (9) meshes with an inner peripheral teething (2) of the animation disc (1).
5. Timepiece according to one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the mechanical device comprises a drive wheel (6) provided with at least one pivot (7) adapted for penetrating into the slits (8) of the Maltese cross to drive it in rotation in a discontinuous manner.
6. Timepiece (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the scrolling speed of the distinct images (3) borne by the animation disc (1) is of at least 2 images per second.
7. Timepiece (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the animation disc (1) is formed of a ring having an inner peripheral teething (2) and situated in a plane parallel to the timepiece's dial.
8. Timepiece (11) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, wherein said mechanical movement determines the running of the timepiece.
9. Timepiece (11) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the animation disc is located on an additional module to the base movement of the timepiece, wherein said additional module comprises an energy source and a regulating member of its own.
10. Timepiece (11) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the animation disc (1) is located on an additional module driven by the base movement of the timepiece.
11. Timepiece (11) according to any of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the animation disc (1) is located on an additional module whose running is determined by the regulating member of the base movement of the timepiece (11).
12. Animation method on the mechanical-movement wristwatch characterized by one of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the method comprises a repetition of the following steps:

    a) displaying through a window (4) a first image borne by an animation disc (1), driven by an additional mechanical device comprising a Maltese cross (5), in a first position,

    b) immobilizing said first image during a time interval,

    c) moving the animation disc (1), driven by said additional mechanical device comprising said Maltese cross, which passes directly into a second position in order to replace the first image by a second image, and so on, in order to give the impression of an animated image.
13. Animation method according to claim 12, on a timepiece wherein said time interval is comprised between a half-second and a fifth of a second.

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