EP2584413A1 - Method for attaching a glass to a middle of a watch case - Google Patents

Method for attaching a glass to a middle of a watch case Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2584413A1
EP2584413A1 EP11186181.1A EP11186181A EP2584413A1 EP 2584413 A1 EP2584413 A1 EP 2584413A1 EP 11186181 A EP11186181 A EP 11186181A EP 2584413 A1 EP2584413 A1 EP 2584413A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ice
display device
digital display
watch
circuit board
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP11186181.1A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2584413B1 (en
Inventor
Christian Racine
Raphaël Weyermann
André Kaltenrieder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ETA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse SA
Original Assignee
ETA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ETA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse SA filed Critical ETA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse SA
Priority to EP11186181.1A priority Critical patent/EP2584413B1/en
Priority to KR1020120112128A priority patent/KR101427475B1/en
Priority to US13/654,887 priority patent/US20130098546A1/en
Priority to JP2012231404A priority patent/JP5576920B2/en
Priority to CN201210403312.8A priority patent/CN103057116B/en
Publication of EP2584413A1 publication Critical patent/EP2584413A1/en
Priority to HK13106253.4A priority patent/HK1178487A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2584413B1 publication Critical patent/EP2584413B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04D—APPARATUS OR TOOLS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR MAKING OR MAINTAINING CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04D3/00—Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials
    • G04D3/06—Devices for shaping or setting watch glasses
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G17/00—Structural details; Housings
    • G04G17/02—Component assemblies
    • G04G17/04—Mounting of electronic components
    • G04G17/045—Mounting of the display
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B39/00—Watch crystals; Fastening or sealing of crystals; Clock glasses
    • G04B39/004—Watch crystals; Fastening or sealing of crystals; Clock glasses from a material other than glass
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B39/00—Watch crystals; Fastening or sealing of crystals; Clock glasses
    • G04B39/02—Sealing crystals or glasses

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of fixing an ice on a middle part of a watch case. More specifically, the invention relates to such a method of fixing a watch glass comprising an upper face directed on the side of a user and a lower face opposite to the upper face, a digital display device being stuck on the face lower ice.
  • a first solution for fixing an ice made of an organic material such as a plastic material on a middle part of a watch case also made of plastic is the use of gluing techniques. Indeed, bonding techniques do not induce mechanical stress or thermal stress. However, gluing techniques pose other problems. They do not always guarantee a good seal and pose problems of resistance over time. In addition, it is necessary, after gluing the pieces, to respect a polymerization time, usually twenty-four hours. There is therefore a break in the flow of production, which is penalizing from an economic point of view.
  • the ultrasonic welding technique allows to secure the ice on the middle part of the watch perfectly waterproof and durable over time.
  • the ultrasonic welding technique is not appropriate. This is especially true when elements are sensitive to mechanical and thermal stresses as such is particularly the case when a liquid crystal display device is stuck on the underside of the ice.
  • the applicant has indeed realized that the ultrasonic welding of a watch glass with a liquid crystal cell bonded to the underside of the ice causes agglomeration phenomena spacers distributed in the volume of the cell to liquid crystal and is accompanied by the appearance of black spots in the display area of the cell, which is of course not acceptable. In the opinion of the applicant, these phenomena of aggregation of the spacers in the volume of the cell are due to the mechanical vibrations and to the temperature rise induced by the ultrasonic welding.
  • the applicant therefore intended to overcome the aforementioned problems and to find a new method of fixing a plastic watch ice on a middle of a box also plastic.
  • the present invention relates to a method of fixing a plastic watch glass to a caseband, also made of plastic, which delimits with ice a watch case, this watch glass comprising an upper face directed by side of a user and a lower face opposite to the upper face, a digital display device being stuck on the underside of the ice, this method being characterized in that it consists in welding the ice on the middle part by means of of a laser beam.
  • the present invention provides a perfectly tight and durable mounting method of a plastic ice on a watchband also made of plastic, the ice having the particularity of comprising a digital display device stuck on its surface. lower side.
  • the Applicant has indeed noticed, not without surprise, that the laser welding of such ice does not affect the mechanical and optical properties of the digital display device.
  • the laser welding process allows to avoid the aggregation phenomena of spacers observed with the ultrasonic bonding process, despite the high temperatures involved in laser welding.
  • the laser welding process allows instant assembly of the ice on the middle part of the watch. It is therefore no longer necessary to wait for example that the bonding is polymerized to be able to continue the assembly steps of the watch according to the invention.
  • the laser welding of the bezel provides a solid mounting including excellent resistance to permanent and opposing forces exerted by two flexible connectors as will be better understood on reading the following.
  • the present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea of providing a method of attaching a plastic watch glass to a caseband also made of plastic material of a watch case.
  • the watch glass has the particularity that a digital display device such as a liquid crystal cell is secured by means of an optical adhesive known under the name Optical Clear Adhesive or OCA on the underside of ice, and that the desired fixing method must allow a perfectly sealed and durable mounting of the ice on the middle part of the watch without altering the mechanical and optical properties of the liquid crystal display device.
  • OCA optical Clear Adhesive
  • the Applicant has indeed found that the fixing by ultrasonic welding of such an assembly caused the agglomeration of the spacers in the volume of the display cell and the appearance of black dots in the display area, which of course is not acceptable.
  • the figure 1 attached to this patent application is a partial sectional view of a watch case according to the invention.
  • this watch case is delimited by a middle part 2 closed upwards by an ice cream 4.
  • the middle part 2 and the watch crystal 4 are made of materials able to be welded by laser .
  • the ice 4 is made of polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA, while the middle part 2 is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or ABS.
  • the watch glass 4 comprises two faces, namely an upper face 6 directed on the user's side of the watch and a lower face 8 directed on the side of the watch case 1.
  • the lens 4 bears against a bearing 10 of the middle part 2.
  • a digital display device is attached to the lower face 8 of the lens 4.
  • this digital display device may be a liquid crystal display cell 12 comprising a front substrate 14 and a rear substrate 16 extending parallel and at a distance from one another and joined together by a sealing frame (not visible in the drawing) which delimits a sealed volume for the confinement of the liquid crystal in which spacers are dispersed .
  • the two front 14 and rear 16 substrates are arranged between a first and a second polarizer, respectively 18 and 20, whose polarization directions are crossed.
  • the assembly formed by the two substrates 14 and 16 and the two polarizers 18 and 20 is glued by means of an optical adhesive layer 22 on the lower face 8 of the watch glass 4.
  • the dimensions of the front substrate 14 exceed those of the rear substrate 16. This makes it possible to provide a contact surface 24 on which conductive tracks 26 open for the electrical connection of the control electrodes of the cell. 12 showing with the electronic control components (not shown) of the cell 12. These electronic control components are mounted on a printed circuit board 28 arranged in the watch case 1, under the display cell 12 and remotely of it.
  • the conductive tracks 26 for the electrical connection of the control electrodes of the liquid crystal display cell 12 are connected to corresponding conductive tracks 30 structured on the surface of the printed circuit board 28 by means of an elastomeric connector 32 which extends substantially vertically.
  • an elastomeric connector also known by its zebra connector trade name, is a flexible connector formed of a plurality of conductive sheets separated from each other by elastomeric insulating sheets.
  • the assembly is completed by a light guide 34 which is supported on the printed circuit board 28 and which serves for lighting from the back or backlight of the liquid crystal display cell 12.
  • the light guide 34 comprises a slot 36 for guiding and maintaining vertical zebra connector 32. With this guidance and maintenance, zebra connector 32 can compress vertically without however move laterally, which ensures a perfect alignment between the conductive tracks 26 of the liquid crystal display cell 12 and the corresponding connectors carried by the printed circuit board 28.
  • the lens 4 bears against a bearing 10 of the caseband 2.
  • the attachment of the lens 4 to the caseband 2 is done by laser welding.
  • annular flange 38 on the inner periphery of the middle part 2.
  • This annular flange 38 is provided at the place where the ice 4 bears against the middle part 2.
  • This flange 38 represents a contribution of thermoplastic material which will melt during the laser welding process and allow sealing and permanent connection between the ice 4 and the middle part 2.
  • the collar of hot melt material that will melt during the laser welding could be located under the outer peripheral edge of the ice 4.
  • this variant is however not preferred because this flange located under the surface of the ice 4 would be an inconvenience for the operations of sticking and pressing the liquid crystal display cell 12 so to expel any air bubbles that could be trapped in the optical adhesive layer 22 disposed between the cell 12 and the ice 4.
  • the level of the span 10 relative to the printed circuit board 28 is such that when the ice 4 is laser welded to the middle part 2, the zebra connector 32 is compressed.
  • the compressed portion of the zebra connector 32 is shown in dashed lines in the figure.
  • the present invention finds all its interest.
  • the zebra connector 32 since the zebra connector 32 is compressed between the liquid crystal display cell 12 and the printed circuit board 28, it tends to want to return to its original shape and exerts on the ice 4 a constraint. which tends to take off the ice 4 of the caseband 2.

Abstract

The method involves welding the assembly formed by a watch crystal (4) and a digital display device (12) to the middle portion (2) of watch by using a laser beam. A printed circuit board (28) is arranged inside a watch case (1), underneath the digital display device. The digital display device is electrically connected to the printed circuit board by using a zebra type electrical connector (32). The watch crystal and the middle portion of watch are made up of plastic.

Description

La présente invention concerne un procédé de fixation d'une glace sur une carrure d'une boîte de montre. Plus précisément, l'invention concerne un tel procédé de fixation d'une glace de montre comprenant une face supérieure dirigée du côté d'un utilisateur et une face inférieure opposée à la face supérieure, un dispositif d'affichage numérique étant collé sur la face inférieure de la glace.The present invention relates to a method of fixing an ice on a middle part of a watch case. More specifically, the invention relates to such a method of fixing a watch glass comprising an upper face directed on the side of a user and a lower face opposite to the upper face, a digital display device being stuck on the face lower ice.

Une première solution pour la fixation d'une glace réalisée en un matériau organique tel qu'un matériau plastique sur une carrure d'une boîte de montre également en plastique réside dans l'emploi des techniques de collage. En effet, les techniques de collage n'induisent ni contraintes mécaniques, ni contraintes thermiques. Les techniques de collage posent cependant d'autres problèmes. Elles ne garantissent pas toujours une bonne étanchéité et posent des problèmes de tenue dans le temps. En outre, il est nécessaire, après collage des pièces, de respecter un temps de polymérisation, habituellement de vingt-quatre heures. II y a donc rupture du flux de production, ce qui est pénalisant d'un point de vue économique.A first solution for fixing an ice made of an organic material such as a plastic material on a middle part of a watch case also made of plastic is the use of gluing techniques. Indeed, bonding techniques do not induce mechanical stress or thermal stress. However, gluing techniques pose other problems. They do not always guarantee a good seal and pose problems of resistance over time. In addition, it is necessary, after gluing the pieces, to respect a polymerization time, usually twenty-four hours. There is therefore a break in the flow of production, which is penalizing from an economic point of view.

Dans le cas d'une glace de montre réalisée en un matériau plastique, on préfère donc utiliser la technique des ultrasons pour le soudage d'une telle glace sur une carrure de montre également en matériau plastique. En effet, la technique de soudage par ultrasons permet de solidariser la glace sur la carrure de la montre de manière parfaitement étanche et durable dans le temps.In the case of a watch glass made of a plastic material, it is therefore preferred to use the ultrasound technique for welding such ice on a watch case also made of plastic material. Indeed, the ultrasonic welding technique allows to secure the ice on the middle part of the watch perfectly waterproof and durable over time.

Il existe cependant des cas où la technique de soudage par ultrasons n'est pas appropriée. Ceci est notamment vrai lorsque des éléments sont sensibles aux sollicitations mécaniques et thermiques comme tel est notamment le cas lorsqu'un dispositif d'affichage à cristal liquide est collé sur la face inférieure de la glace. La demanderesse s'est en effet rendu compte que le soudage par ultrasons d'une glace de montre avec une cellule à cristal liquide collée sur la face inférieure de la glace provoque des phénomènes d'agglomération des espaceurs répartis dans le volume de la cellule à cristal liquide et s'accompagne de l'apparition de tâches noires dans la zone d'affichage de la cellule, ce qui n'est bien sûr pas acceptable. De l'avis de la demanderesse, ces phénomènes d'agrégation des espaceurs dans le volume de la cellule sont dus aux vibrations mécaniques et à l'élévation de température induites par le soudage par ultrasons.However, there are cases where the ultrasonic welding technique is not appropriate. This is especially true when elements are sensitive to mechanical and thermal stresses as such is particularly the case when a liquid crystal display device is stuck on the underside of the ice. The applicant has indeed realized that the ultrasonic welding of a watch glass with a liquid crystal cell bonded to the underside of the ice causes agglomeration phenomena spacers distributed in the volume of the cell to liquid crystal and is accompanied by the appearance of black spots in the display area of the cell, which is of course not acceptable. In the opinion of the applicant, these phenomena of aggregation of the spacers in the volume of the cell are due to the mechanical vibrations and to the temperature rise induced by the ultrasonic welding.

La demanderesse avait donc pour objectif de pallier les problèmes susmentionnés et de trouver un nouveau procédé de fixation d'une glace de montre en plastique sur une carrure d'une boîte également en plastique.The applicant therefore intended to overcome the aforementioned problems and to find a new method of fixing a plastic watch ice on a middle of a box also plastic.

A cet effet, la présente invention concerne un procédé de fixation d'un glace de montre en matière plastique sur une carrure, également en matière plastique, qui délimite avec la glace une boîte de montre, cette glace de montre comprenant une face supérieure dirigée du côté d'un utilisateur et une face inférieure opposée à la face supérieure, un dispositif d'affichage numérique étant collé sur la face inférieure de la glace, ce procédé étant caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à souder la glace sur la carrure au moyen d'un faisceau laser.For this purpose, the present invention relates to a method of fixing a plastic watch glass to a caseband, also made of plastic, which delimits with ice a watch case, this watch glass comprising an upper face directed by side of a user and a lower face opposite to the upper face, a digital display device being stuck on the underside of the ice, this method being characterized in that it consists in welding the ice on the middle part by means of of a laser beam.

Grâce à ces caractéristiques, la présente invention procure un procédé de montage parfaitement étanche et durable d'une glace en matière plastique sur une carrure de montre également en matière plastique, la glace ayant la particularité de comprendre un dispositif d'affichage numérique collé sur sa face inférieure. La demanderesse s'est en effet aperçue, non sans surprise, que le soudage par laser d'une telle glace n'affectait en rien les propriétés mécaniques et optiques du dispositif d'affichage numérique. En particulier, le procédé de soudage laser permet d'éviter les phénomènes d'agrégation des espaceurs observés avec le procédé de collage par ultrasons, et ce malgré les hautes températures mises en jeu par le soudage laser. Par ailleurs, le procédé de soudage laser permet un assemblage instantané de la glace sur la carrure de la montre. Il n'est donc plus nécessaire d'attendre par exemple que le collage soit polymérisé pour pouvoir poursuivre les étapes d'assemblage de la montre selon l'invention. Ceci représente un gain de temps appréciable et surtout permet de travailler en flux continu, sans rupture du procédé de fabrication. En outre, le soudage de la lunette par laser permet d'obtenir un montage solide offrant notamment une excellente résistance aux forces permanentes et opposées exercées par deux connecteurs souples comme on le comprendra mieux à la lecture de ce qui suit.Thanks to these features, the present invention provides a perfectly tight and durable mounting method of a plastic ice on a watchband also made of plastic, the ice having the particularity of comprising a digital display device stuck on its surface. lower side. The Applicant has indeed noticed, not without surprise, that the laser welding of such ice does not affect the mechanical and optical properties of the digital display device. In particular, the laser welding process allows to avoid the aggregation phenomena of spacers observed with the ultrasonic bonding process, despite the high temperatures involved in laser welding. In addition, the laser welding process allows instant assembly of the ice on the middle part of the watch. It is therefore no longer necessary to wait for example that the bonding is polymerized to be able to continue the assembly steps of the watch according to the invention. This represents an appreciable saving of time and especially allows to work in continuous flow, without breaking the manufacturing process. In addition, the laser welding of the bezel provides a solid mounting including excellent resistance to permanent and opposing forces exerted by two flexible connectors as will be better understood on reading the following.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront plus clairement de la description détaillée qui suit d'un mode de mise en ouvre du procédé selon l'invention, cet exemple étant donné à titre purement illustratif et non limitatif seulement, en liaison avec le dessin annexé sur lequel:

  • la figure 1 est une vue partielle en coupe d'une boîte de montre selon l'invention.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description which follows of an embodiment of the method according to the invention, this example being given purely by way of illustration and not limitation only, in connection with the appended drawing in which:
  • the figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a watch case according to the invention.

La présente invention procède de l'idée générale inventive qui consiste à procurer un procédé de fixation d'une glace de montre en matière plastique sur une carrure également en matière plastique d'une boîte de montre. La glace de montre a ceci de particulier qu'un dispositif d'affichage numérique tel qu'une cellule à cristal liquide est solidarisé au moyen d'une colle optique connue sous sa dénomination anglo-saxonne Optical Clear Adhesive ou OCA sur la face inférieure de la glace, et que le procédé de fixation recherché doit permettre un montage parfaitement étanche et durable de la glace sur la carrure de la montre sans altérer les propriétés mécaniques et optiques du dispositif d'affichage à cristal liquide. La demanderesse a en effet constaté que la fixation par soudage aux ultrasons d'un tel ensemble provoquait l'agglomération des espaceurs dans le volume de la cellule d'affichage et l'apparition de points noirs dans la zone d'affichage, ce qui bien entendu n'est pas acceptable. De l'avis de la demanderesse, ce phénomène est dû aux contraintes mécaniques et thermiques induites par le soudage aux ultrasons. La demanderesse a donc poursuivi ses efforts et a constaté, non sans surprise, que le soudage par laser, malgré les contraintes thermiques qu'il impose, n'altère nullement les qualités mécaniques et les propriétés optiques de la cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide collée sous la surface de la glace.The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea of providing a method of attaching a plastic watch glass to a caseband also made of plastic material of a watch case. The watch glass has the particularity that a digital display device such as a liquid crystal cell is secured by means of an optical adhesive known under the name Optical Clear Adhesive or OCA on the underside of ice, and that the desired fixing method must allow a perfectly sealed and durable mounting of the ice on the middle part of the watch without altering the mechanical and optical properties of the liquid crystal display device. The Applicant has indeed found that the fixing by ultrasonic welding of such an assembly caused the agglomeration of the spacers in the volume of the display cell and the appearance of black dots in the display area, which of course is not acceptable. In the opinion of the applicant, this phenomenon is due to the mechanical and thermal stresses induced by ultrasonic welding. The applicant has therefore continued its efforts and noted, not without surprise, that laser welding, despite the thermal constraints it imposes, does not alter the mechanical properties and the optical properties of the liquid crystal display cell. stuck under the surface of the ice.

La figure 1 annexée à la présente demande de brevet est une vue partielle en coupe d'une boîte de montre selon l'invention. Désignée dans son ensemble par la référence numérique générale 1, cette boîte de montre est délimitée par une carrure 2 fermée vers le haut par une glace 4. La carrure 2 et la glace de montre 4 sont réalisées en des matériaux aptes à être soudés par laser. A titre d'exemple non limitatif seulement, la glace 4 est réalisée en polyméthacrylate de méthyle ou PMMA, tandis que la carrure 2 est réalisée en acrylonitrile butadiène styrène ou ABS.The figure 1 attached to this patent application is a partial sectional view of a watch case according to the invention. Designated as a whole by the general reference numeral 1, this watch case is delimited by a middle part 2 closed upwards by an ice cream 4. The middle part 2 and the watch crystal 4 are made of materials able to be welded by laser . As a non-limiting example only, the ice 4 is made of polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA, while the middle part 2 is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or ABS.

La glace de montre 4 comprend deux faces, à savoir une face supérieure 6 dirigée du côté de l'utilisateur de la montre et une face inférieure 8 dirigée du côté de la boîte de montre 1. La glace 4 est en appui sur une portée 10 de la carrure 2.The watch glass 4 comprises two faces, namely an upper face 6 directed on the user's side of the watch and a lower face 8 directed on the side of the watch case 1. The lens 4 bears against a bearing 10 of the middle part 2.

Un dispositif d'affichage numérique est fixé sur la face inférieure 8 de la glace 4. A titre d'exemple non limitatif seulement, ce dispositif d'affichage numérique peut être une cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide 12 comprenant un substrat avant 14 et un substrat arrière 16 s'étendant parallèlement et à distance l'un de l'autre et réunis entre eux par un cadre de scellement (non visible au dessin) qui délimite un volume étanche pour le confinement du cristal liquide dans lequel sont dispersés des espaceurs. Les deux substrats avant 14 et arrière 16 sont disposés entre un premier et un second polariseurs, respectivement 18 et 20, dont les directions de polarisation sont croisées. L'ensemble formé par les deux substrats 14 et 16 et les deux polariseurs 18 et 20 est collé au moyen d'une couche de colle optique 22 sur la face inférieure 8 de la glace de montre 4.A digital display device is attached to the lower face 8 of the lens 4. By way of non-limiting example only, this digital display device may be a liquid crystal display cell 12 comprising a front substrate 14 and a rear substrate 16 extending parallel and at a distance from one another and joined together by a sealing frame (not visible in the drawing) which delimits a sealed volume for the confinement of the liquid crystal in which spacers are dispersed . The two front 14 and rear 16 substrates are arranged between a first and a second polarizer, respectively 18 and 20, whose polarization directions are crossed. The assembly formed by the two substrates 14 and 16 and the two polarizers 18 and 20 is glued by means of an optical adhesive layer 22 on the lower face 8 of the watch glass 4.

On voit à l'examen du dessin que les dimensions du substrat avant 14 excèdent celles du substrat arrière 16. Ceci permet de ménager une surface de contact 24 sur laquelle débouchent des pistes conductrices 26 pour la connexion électrique des électrodes de commande de la cellule d'affichage 12 avec les composants électroniques (non représentés) de commande de la cellule 12. Ces composants électroniques de commande sont montés sur une carte de circuit imprimé 28 disposée dans la boîte de montre 1, sous la cellule d'affichage 12 et à distance de celle-ci. Les pistes conductrices 26 pour la connexion électrique des électrodes de commande de la cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide 12 sont reliées à des pistes conductrices correspondantes 30 structurées à la surface de la carte de circuit imprimé 28 au moyen d'un connecteur élastomère 32 qui s'étend sensiblement verticalement. On rappelle qu'un connecteur élastomère, également connu sous sa dénomination commerciale de connecteur zébra, est un connecteur souple formé d'une pluralité de feuilles conductrices séparées les unes des autres par des feuilles isolantes en élastomère. Le montage est complété par un guide de lumière 34 qui prend appui sur la carte de circuit imprimé 28 et qui sert à l'éclairage par l'arrière ou rétro-éclairage de la cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide 12. On notera que le guide de lumière 34 comprend une fente 36 pour le guidage et le maintien vertical du connecteur zébra 32. Grâce à ce guidage et à ce maintien, le connecteur zébra 32 peut se comprimer verticalement sans néanmoins se déplacer latéralement, ce qui garantit un parfait alignement entre les pistes conductrices 26 de la cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide 12 et les connecteurs correspondants portés par la carte de circuit imprimé 28.It can be seen from the drawing that the dimensions of the front substrate 14 exceed those of the rear substrate 16. This makes it possible to provide a contact surface 24 on which conductive tracks 26 open for the electrical connection of the control electrodes of the cell. 12 showing with the electronic control components (not shown) of the cell 12. These electronic control components are mounted on a printed circuit board 28 arranged in the watch case 1, under the display cell 12 and remotely of it. The conductive tracks 26 for the electrical connection of the control electrodes of the liquid crystal display cell 12 are connected to corresponding conductive tracks 30 structured on the surface of the printed circuit board 28 by means of an elastomeric connector 32 which extends substantially vertically. It is recalled that an elastomeric connector, also known by its zebra connector trade name, is a flexible connector formed of a plurality of conductive sheets separated from each other by elastomeric insulating sheets. The assembly is completed by a light guide 34 which is supported on the printed circuit board 28 and which serves for lighting from the back or backlight of the liquid crystal display cell 12. It will be noted that the light guide 34 comprises a slot 36 for guiding and maintaining vertical zebra connector 32. With this guidance and maintenance, zebra connector 32 can compress vertically without however move laterally, which ensures a perfect alignment between the conductive tracks 26 of the liquid crystal display cell 12 and the corresponding connectors carried by the printed circuit board 28.

Comme déjà mentionné ci-dessus, la glace 4 est en appui sur une portée 10 de la carrure 2. Conformément à l'invention, la fixation de la glace 4 sur la carrure 2 se fait par soudage laser. Pour les besoins du soudage laser, on prévoit une collerette annulaire 38 sur le pourtour intérieur de la carrure 2. Cette collerette annulaire 38 est prévue à l'endroit où la glace 4 vient en appui contre la carrure 2. Cette collerette 38 représente un apport de matière thermoplastique qui va fondre durant le procédé de soudage laser et permettre la solidarisation étanche et permanente entre la glace 4 et la carrure 2. Selon une variante du procédé de l'invention, la collerette de matière thermofusible qui va fondre durant le soudage laser pourrait être située sous le bord périphérique extérieur de la glace 4. Cette variante n'est cependant pas préférée car cette collerette située sous la surface de la glace 4 représenterait une gêne pour les opérations de collage et de pressage de la cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide 12 afin de chasser toute bulle d'air qui pourrait être emprisonnée dans la couche de colle optique 22 disposée entre la cellule 12 et la glace 4.As already mentioned above, the lens 4 bears against a bearing 10 of the caseband 2. In accordance with the invention, the attachment of the lens 4 to the caseband 2 is done by laser welding. For the needs of laser welding, there is provided an annular flange 38 on the inner periphery of the middle part 2. This annular flange 38 is provided at the place where the ice 4 bears against the middle part 2. This flange 38 represents a contribution of thermoplastic material which will melt during the laser welding process and allow sealing and permanent connection between the ice 4 and the middle part 2. According to a variant of the method of the invention, the collar of hot melt material that will melt during the laser welding could be located under the outer peripheral edge of the ice 4. This variant is however not preferred because this flange located under the surface of the ice 4 would be an inconvenience for the operations of sticking and pressing the liquid crystal display cell 12 so to expel any air bubbles that could be trapped in the optical adhesive layer 22 disposed between the cell 12 and the ice 4.

Selon l'invention, le niveau de la portée 10 par rapport à la carte de circuit imprimé 28 est tel que lorsque la glace 4 est soudée par laser sur la carrure 2, le connecteur zébra 32 est comprimé. La partie comprimée du connecteur zébra 32 est représentée en pointillés sur la figure. Dans ce cas particulier, la présente invention trouve tout son intérêt. D'une part, du fait qu'une cellule à cristal liquide 12 est collée sur la face inférieure 8 de la glace 4, le fait de souder la glace 4 sur la carrure 2 par laser évite tout risque d'endommagement de la cellule 12. D'autre part, étant donné que le connecteur zébra 32 est monté comprimé entre la cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide 12 et la carte de circuit imprimé 28, il tend à vouloir reprendre sa forme initiale et exerce sur la glace 4 une contrainte qui tend à décoller la glace 4 de la carrure 2. Par conséquent, en l'absence de soudage laser de la glace 4 sur la carrure 2, il faudrait coller et faire polymériser l'ensemble formé par la glace 4 et la carrure 2 pendant au moins vingt-quatre heures sous tension mécanique, ce qui compliquerait les opérations de fabrication et romprait le flux de production.According to the invention, the level of the span 10 relative to the printed circuit board 28 is such that when the ice 4 is laser welded to the middle part 2, the zebra connector 32 is compressed. The compressed portion of the zebra connector 32 is shown in dashed lines in the figure. In this particular case, the present invention finds all its interest. On the one hand, because a liquid crystal cell 12 is bonded to the lower face 8 of the glass 4, the fact of welding the ice 4 on the middle part 2 by laser avoids any risk of damaging the cell 12 On the other hand, since the zebra connector 32 is compressed between the liquid crystal display cell 12 and the printed circuit board 28, it tends to want to return to its original shape and exerts on the ice 4 a constraint. which tends to take off the ice 4 of the caseband 2. Therefore, in the absence of laser welding of the ice 4 on the middle part 2, it would be necessary to stick and make polymerize the assembly formed by the ice 4 and the middle part 2 during at least twenty-four hours under mechanical stress, which would complicate manufacturing operations and disrupt the flow of production.

Il va de soi que la présente invention n'est pas limitée aux modes de réalisation qui viennent d'être décrits et que diverses modifications et variantes simples peuvent être envisagées par l'homme du métier sans sortir du cadre de l'invention tel que défini par les revendications annexées. En particulier, en ce qui concerne la technique proprement dite du soudage laser de deux pièces en matériau plastique, on se réfèrera au document de brevet EP 1 117 502 B2 qui décrit les paramètres du soudage tels que la nature de la source laser, la longueur d'onde, la densité d'énergie, la durée de l'impulsion, la préparation des matériaux et autres. On notera par ailleurs que, bien que la présente invention ait été décrite en liaison avec une cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide, d'autres dispositifs d'affichage numériques appartenant aux familles des cellules OLED ou à encre électronique (encore connues sous la dénomination anglo-saxonne e-ink) peuvent également être envisagés dans le cadre de la présente invention. On préférera cependant des dispositifs d'affichage OLED ou e-ink du type à segments.It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described and that various modifications and simple variants can be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In particular, with regard to the actual technique of laser welding two pieces of plastic material, reference is made to the patent document EP 1 117 502 B2 which describes welding parameters such as the nature of the laser source, the wavelength, the energy density, the duration of the pulse, the preparation of materials and others. Note also that, although the present invention has been described in connection with a liquid crystal display cell, other digital display devices belonging to families of OLED or electronic ink cells (also known as Anglo-Saxon e-ink) may also be considered in the context of the present invention. However, OLED or e-ink display devices of the segment type will be preferred.

Claims (7)

Procédé de fixation d'un glace de montre (4) en matière plastique sur une carrure (2), également en matière plastique, qui délimite avec la glace (4) une boîte de montre (1), cette glace de montre (4) comprenant une face supérieure (6) dirigée du côté d'un utilisateur et une face inférieure (8) opposée à la face supérieure (6), un dispositif d'affichage numérique (12) étant collé sur la face inférieure (8) de la glace (4), ce procédé étant caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à souder l'ensemble formé par la glace (4) et le dispositif d'affichage numérique (12) sur la carrure (2) au moyen d'un faisceau laser.Method for attaching a plastic watch ice-cream (4) to a caseband (2), also made of plastic, which delimits with the ice (4) a watch case (1), this watch ice-cream (4) comprising an upper face (6) directed towards a user and a lower face (8) opposite to the upper face (6), a digital display device (12) being adhered to the lower face (8) of the ice cream (4), characterized in that it consists in welding the assembly formed by the ice (4) and the digital display device (12) on the middle part (2) by means of a laser beam . Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que, pour les besoins du soudage laser, la carrure (2) est munie d'une collerette annulaire (38) prévue à l'endroit où la glace (4) vient en appui contre la carrure (2), cette collerette annulaire (38) représentant un apport de matière thermoplastique qui va fondre durant le procédé de soudage laser pour permettre la solidarisation entre la glace (4) et la carrure (2).Method according to claim 1, characterized in that , for the purposes of laser welding, the caseband (2) is provided with an annular collar (38) provided at the place where the ice (4) bears against the middle part (2), this annular flange (38) representing a supply of thermoplastic material which will melt during the laser welding process to allow the bonding between the ice (4) and the middle part (2). Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'une collerette de matière thermofusible qui va fondre durant le soudage laser est située sous le bord périphérique de la glace (4).Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a flange of hot melt material which will melt during the laser welding is located under the peripheral edge of the ice (4). Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif d'affichage numérique (12) est une cellule à cristal liquide.Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the digital display device (12) is a liquid crystal cell. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce qu'une carte de circuit imprimé (28) est disposée dans la boîte de montre (1), sous le dispositif d'affichage numérique (12) et à distance de celui-ci, le dispositif d'affichage numérique (12) étant connecté électriquement à la carte de circuit imprimé (28) au moyen d'un connecteur électrique de type zébra (32), la glace (4) étant en appui sur une portée (10) ménagée dans la carrure (2), la hauteur de la portée (10) par rapport à la carte de circuit imprimé (28) étant telle que, lorsqu'on solidarise la glace (4) sur la portée (10), le connecteur zébra (32) est comprimé entre le dispositif d'affichage numérique (12) et la carte de circuit imprimé (28).Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a printed circuit board (28) is arranged in the watch case (1) under the digital display device (12) and at a distance of the latter, the digital display device (12) being electrically connected to the printed circuit board (28) by means of a zebra-type electrical connector (32), the ice-cream (4) being supported on a bearing (10) formed in the caseband (2), the height of the seat (10) relative to the printed circuit board (28) being such that, when the ice (4) is secured to the bearing surface (10), the zebra connector (32) is compressed between the digital display device (12) and the circuit board printed (28). Procédé selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que le connecteur zébra (32) est guidé et maintenu verticalement, grâce à quoi il peut se comprimer verticalement sans néanmoins se déplacer latéralement, ce qui garantit un parfait alignement entre les pistes conductrices (26) du dispositif d'affichage numérique (12) et les connecteurs correspondants portés par la carte de circuit imprimé (28).Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the zebra connector (32) is guided and held vertically, whereby it can compress vertically without however moving laterally, which ensures perfect alignment between the conductive tracks (26) of the digital display device (12) and corresponding connectors carried by the printed circuit board (28). Procédé selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce qu'un guide de lumière (34) qui sert à l'éclairage par l'arrière ou rétro-éclairage du dispositif d'affichage numérique (12) comprend une fente (36) pour le guidage et le maintien vertical du connecteur zébra (32).Method according to claim 6, characterized in that a light guide (34) which serves for backlighting or backlighting of the digital display device (12) comprises a slot (36) for guiding and maintaining the vertical zebra connector (32).
EP11186181.1A 2011-10-21 2011-10-21 Method for attaching a glass to a middle of a watch case Active EP2584413B1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11186181.1A EP2584413B1 (en) 2011-10-21 2011-10-21 Method for attaching a glass to a middle of a watch case
KR1020120112128A KR101427475B1 (en) 2011-10-21 2012-10-10 Method for fixing a crystal to the middle part of a watch case
US13/654,887 US20130098546A1 (en) 2011-10-21 2012-10-18 Method for fixing a crystal to the middle part of a watch case
JP2012231404A JP5576920B2 (en) 2011-10-21 2012-10-19 How to fix the crystal in the middle of the watch case
CN201210403312.8A CN103057116B (en) 2011-10-21 2012-10-22 Method for installing watch glass to middle part of watch case
HK13106253.4A HK1178487A1 (en) 2011-10-21 2013-05-27 Method for fixing a crystal to the middle part of a watch case

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11186181.1A EP2584413B1 (en) 2011-10-21 2011-10-21 Method for attaching a glass to a middle of a watch case

Publications (2)

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EP2584413A1 true EP2584413A1 (en) 2013-04-24
EP2584413B1 EP2584413B1 (en) 2014-08-13

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EP11186181.1A Active EP2584413B1 (en) 2011-10-21 2011-10-21 Method for attaching a glass to a middle of a watch case

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US (1) US20130098546A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2584413B1 (en)
JP (1) JP5576920B2 (en)
KR (1) KR101427475B1 (en)
CN (1) CN103057116B (en)
HK (1) HK1178487A1 (en)

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KR102040318B1 (en) * 2018-08-08 2019-11-04 삼성전자주식회사 Electronic device and housing structure

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Also Published As

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KR101427475B1 (en) 2014-08-08
HK1178487A1 (en) 2013-09-13
JP2013088435A (en) 2013-05-13
CN103057116B (en) 2015-05-06
US20130098546A1 (en) 2013-04-25
CN103057116A (en) 2013-04-24
JP5576920B2 (en) 2014-08-20
EP2584413B1 (en) 2014-08-13
KR20130044147A (en) 2013-05-02

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