EP3985445A1 - Device for illuminating luminescent watch displays - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (100) for illuminating luminescent watch displays with phosphor material, comprising a casing (10) arranged to receive at least one receptacle (1) for receiving at least one watch (200), said device (100 ) comprising illumination means (20) arranged to illuminate said displays of each said watch, characterized in that said illumination means (20) comprise control means (30) and a time base (40), and at least one light source (50) able to excite said phosphor material for a pre-determined charging time or corresponding to a wearing time chosen by the user at the level of a control means (60) that said device comprises ( 100), and automatic watch winding device (1000), comprising at least one such illumination device (100), and universal device (2000) for winding and resetting the time of a watch, comprising a such an automatic watch winding device s (1000).

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for illuminating luminescent watch displays with phosphor material, comprising a housing arranged to receive at least one receptacle for receiving at least one watch, said device comprising illumination means arranged to illuminate said displays of each said watch.

The invention also relates to an automatic device for winding watches, comprising at least one such illumination device.

The invention also relates to a universal device for winding and resetting the time of a watch, comprising such an automatic device for winding watches.

The invention relates to the field of smart devices, such as smart winders, for keeping watches immediately fit for service, displaying the correct time, and with a sufficient power reserve to wear them for a few hours, while avoiding premature wear of the watch by incessant and unnecessary windings.

Background of the invention

The document EP3339984 on behalf of The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd describes an intelligent watch winding device. This device is constantly being improved.

In particular, one of the developments concerns an intelligent winding mechanism, the main purpose of which is to limit the recharging of the automatic barrel of the watch, as well as the correction of the time displayed by subjecting the watch to a modulated movement imparted by an oscillator, continued to a reading of the time by recognition of the hands in relation to the dial.

Reading the time is a technically tricky step, largely because of the wide variety of dial and hand configurations that exist. Currently, only known watches, pre-programmed according to the configuration of their displays relative to their dials, are easily recognizable. Watches whose displays are very different hands from each other in size and proportions can also be recognized by vision systems, provided that no effect parasitic optics does not intervene, for example because of too great a similarity between the decoration of the dial and that of the hands moving in front of or opposite this dial.

Furthermore, the light conditions, during the operation for reading the time by means of vision, are strict in order to avoid reflections on the crystal of the watch.

An effective way to eliminate these reflections is to cap the winding mechanism with a matte white dome, as used on a larger scale by professional photographers, and the combination of such a dome and a ring of light allows to maximize the quality of the images, and to minimize the parasitic reflections. In fact, no outside light must be able to enter the dome, which prevents the user from seeing his watch when the latter is placed on the winder. This is detrimental in the case of a trade which wishes to present a watch to customers while maintaining it in optimum service availability for demonstration purposes.

Any improvement allowing good recognition of the display, while allowing the user to keep the vision on his watch, is therefore welcome.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to improve the conditions for an optical condition check of a watch.

Thus, the invention relates to a device for illuminating luminescent watch displays with phosphor material, according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to an automatic device for winding watches, comprising at least one such illumination device.

The invention also relates to a universal device for winding and resetting the time of a watch, comprising such an automatic device for winding watches.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente, de façon schématisée, et en coupe, un dispositif automatique de remontage de montres, comportant un tel dispositif d'illumination ; ce dispositif automatique de remontage de montres est un dispositif simple, rotatif, portant une montre sur un réceptacle animé d'un mouvement de rotation, et qui convient bien pour une utilisation pour une seule montre ; le réceptacle est dans un boîtier fermé, muni d'un hublot occultable, et une source lumineuse, commandée par des moyens de pilotage, et intégrée à ce boîtier ;
• la figure 2 représente, de façon schématisée, et en vue de face, une montre comportant des afficheurs luminescents en matériau luminophore, ici des index et des aiguilles, telle que visible après rechargement en énergie lumineuse et extinction de toute source d'énergie lumineuse dans le boîtier, et telle qu'elle se présente à un moyen de vision comme une caméra pour le contrôle de son état et de l'heure qu'elle affiche ;
• la figure 3 représente, de façon très schématisée, et en coupe, un dispositif universel pour le remontage et la remise à l'heure d'une montre, comportant un dispositif automatique de remontage de montres selon la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est un schéma-blocs fonctionnel des interactions entre les principaux moyens de pilotage, de commande, et d'acquisition que comportent le dispositif universel pour le remontage et la remise à l'heure d'une montre, le dispositif automatique de remontage de montres, et le dispositif d'illumination ;
• la figure 5 représente, de façon très schématisée, partielle, et en coupe, un détail de la partie inférieure du dispositif automatique de remontage de montres selon la figure 1 ;
• la figure 6 représente, de façon schématisée, un autre dispositif universel pour le remontage et la remise à l'heure d'une montre, comportant un dispositif automatique de remontage de montres qui comporte un tambour porteur de plusieurs montres se présentant successivement devant des moyens d'éclairage et des moyens de saisie acoustique et optique ;
• la figure 7 est une variante du dispositif de la figure 6, d'architecture similaire ;
• la figure 8 représente, de façon schématisée, un autre dispositif universel pour le remontage et la remise à l'heure d'une montre, comportant un dispositif automatique de remontage de montres de type matriciel porteur de plusieurs montres se présentant successivement devant des moyens d'éclairage et des moyens de saisie acoustique et optique ;
• la figure 9 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle, et en perspective éclatée, le dispositif automatique de remontage de montres de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 10 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle, et en coupe éclatée, le dispositif automatique de remontage de montres de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 11 représente, de façon schématisée, et en perspective éclatée le dispositif automatique de remontage de montres de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 12 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle, et en coupe, le dispositif automatique de remontage de montres de la figure 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, where:

• the figure 1 represents, schematically, and in section, an automatic watch winding device, comprising such an illumination device; this automatic watch-winding device is a simple, rotary device, carrying a watch on a receptacle driven by a rotational movement, and which works well for single watch use; the receptacle is in a closed casing, provided with a concealable porthole, and a light source, controlled by control means, and integrated into this casing;
• the figure 2 represents, schematically, and in front view, a watch comprising luminescent displays made of phosphor material, here indexes and hands, as visible after recharging with light energy and extinction of any source of light energy in the case, and as it presents itself to a means of vision such as a camera for checking its state and the time it displays;
• the picture 3 shows, very schematically, and in section, a universal device for winding and resetting the time of a watch, comprising an automatic device for winding watches according to the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 is a functional block diagram of the interactions between the main piloting, control and acquisition means of the universal device for winding and resetting the time of a watch, the automatic watch winding device, and the illumination device;
• the figure 5 shows, very schematically, partially, and in section, a detail of the lower part of the automatic watch winding device according to the figure 1 ;
• the figure 6 represents, schematically, another universal device for winding and resetting the time of a watch, comprising an automatic device for winding watches which comprises a drum carrying several watches which are presented successively in front of lighting means and acoustic and optical input means;
• the figure 7 is a variant of the device of the figure 6 , of similar architecture;
• the figure 8 represents, schematically, another universal device for winding and resetting the time of a watch, comprising an automatic device for winding watches of the matrix type carrying several watches successively presented in front of lighting means and acoustic and optical input means;
• the figure 9 represents, in a schematic, partial way, and in exploded perspective, the automatic watch winding device of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 10 represents, schematically, partially, and in exploded section, the automatic watch winding device of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 11 represents, in a schematic way, and in exploded perspective, the automatic watch winding device of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 12 represents, schematically, partially, and in section, the automatic watch winding device of the figure 1 .

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The invention proposes to produce a device 100 for illuminating luminescent displays 201, 202, of watches, with phosphor material, for its use in an intelligent winder, or in a similar device including a function for reading the state of the watch, and in particular of the time that it displays at a given moment, and to include in this device the energy recharge of the indexes, appliques, hands, and the like, hereinafter gathered under the term displays, which are covered with a phosphor material, in particular "superluminova", by illuminating them, at least momentarily, with a suitable light source, and in particular LEDs, preferably ultraviolet.

It is proposed to use fairly powerful and preferably ultraviolet lighting to initially recharge such a phosphor material, in particular "superluminova", luminescent displays, in particular indexes 202 and hands 201 in the non-limiting example of the picture 2 , then in a second step turn off all the light sources, in order to have, during a shot by a camera 90 or similar, only the signal corresponding to the only indexes 202 and hands 201, as visible on the picture 2 , and thus filter a lot of noise due to the patterns of the dial or the decoration of the watch, or even to other mobiles not coated with phosphor material.

This solution also makes it possible to recharge the phosphor material, in particular “superluminova”, so that the user has a clearly readable watch when he takes it in the morning when he wakes up, for example. An intelligent winder comprising control means connected to a time base can easily follow the events of placing a watch on its winding support, and of removing the same watch from this same support, to determine at what average time the watch is removed from its support (for example “never after 7:30 am”), and anticipating the start of the recharge according to this time, so as to synchronize the maximum energy recharge with the average time of removal. This energy recharge may include the recharge of sources driving energy of the watch, barrels or the like, and the recharging of the light energy sources which are the subject of the present invention.

The picture 2 thus illustrates the appearance of a watch previously illuminated in white light, in the state where it is no longer subjected to any lighting, with, only visible, the elements such as hands 201, indexes and appliques 202, having phosphor material such as "superluminova" or the like, previously recharged to the maximum in light energy.

Thus, the invention relates to a device 100 for illuminating luminescent displays 201, 202, of watches with phosphor material.

This illumination device 100 comprises a housing 10, which is arranged to receive at least one receptacle 1 for receiving at least one watch 200.

The device 100 comprises illumination means 20, which are arranged to illuminate the displays 201, 202, of each watch 200.

According to the invention, these illumination means 20 comprise control means 30 and a time base 40, and at least one light source 50 able to excite the phosphor material for a pre-determined charging time, or corresponding to a duration of wear chosen by the user at the level of a control means 60 that comprises the device 100.

More particularly, this device 100 comprises at least one camera 90 for taking an image of a watch 200 placed on such a receptacle 1.

More particularly still, the control means 30 are arranged to prepare an image capture at a given instant on a watch 200 by such a camera 90 placed in the case 10 or in front of a window 70 which the case 10 comprises. And these means 30 determine the luminescent displays 201, 202, to be illuminated, and define their duration of activation by illumination by this at least one light source 50, before this image capture, to ensure selectivity and detection of their position respectively.

More particularly, the light source 50 emits ultraviolet radiation.

The figure 1 illustrates the positioning of such a light source 50, in particular a ring of white and/or ultraviolet light, allowing the energy recharging of the luminescent displays.

More particularly, the case 10 comprises a closed and light-tight enclosure, with the exception of a porthole 70 opposite each receptacle 1 for viewing a watch 200 by the user.

More particularly, each porthole 70 is equipped with a shutter 75, which is movable to prevent the introduction of light into the housing 10 at will. More particularly still, the closing or opening of this shutter 75 is controlled by the means steering 30.

In an alternative, the shutter is fixed, and comprises in particular an optical valve passing from a transparent mode to allow the user the leisure to see his product, to an opaque mode to significantly reduce the introduction of stray light, and for example displaying an image of the product or the brand logo, for example. This configuration makes it possible, in a closed state, to significantly reduce or even prevent the introduction of light into the case 10, and, if desired, to display a logo or an image of a watch 200 visible through the window 70, and in another visualization state, to allow the visualization of the watch 200.

More particularly, the light source 50 is substantially annular.

More specifically, a light source 50 surrounds each porthole 70 to illuminate the corresponding receptacle 1.

More particularly, the case 10 internally comprises a matt dome 80, or one comprising an anti-reflective treatment, to prevent the presence of reflections when an image is taken on a watch 200 by a camera 90 placed in the case 10 or in front of a porthole 70.

More particularly, the control means 30 are arranged to prevent any light emission when an image is taken on a watch 200 by a camera 90 placed in the case 10 or in front of a window 70.

More particularly, the control means 30 are arranged to prohibit any image capture on a watch by a camera 90 when a shutter 75 is open.

More particularly, the control means 30 are arranged to control the closing of each shutter 75 during an image capture on a watch by a camera 90.

More particularly, the device 100 comprises a camera 90 for taking an image of a watch placed on a receptacle 1.

The invention also relates to an automatic watch winding device 1000, in particular and not limited to rotary movement, comprising a base 9 carrying a motor 2 for driving, in particular and not limiting in rotation, at least one receptacle 1 movable relative to the base 9. This receptacle 1 is arranged to receive a mechanical watch or electronic watch with a mechanical energy source in a winding position, and comprises at least one upper watch holder 7 comprising a reception surface for direct contact with a watch 200 fixed to the receptacle 1.

More particularly, the device 1000 comprises at least one such illumination device 100, which is arranged to illuminate each watch 200 placed on a receptacle 1 that the device 1000 comprises.

The invention also relates to a universal device 2000 for winding and resetting the time of a watch 200 comprising an oscillating resonator 210 arranged to generate an oscillation at a nominal frequency N0.

This universal device 2000 comprises means for rewinding and correcting the state of the watch 200, comprising such an automatic device for winding watches 1000.

This universal device 2000 comprising state measurement means 300 for measuring the state of the watch 200, relative to a reference clock 400 to which the state measurement means 300 refer.

These state measurement means 300 comprise a vision system 600 comprising at least one camera 90 of the illumination device 100. The time base 40 of the illumination device 100 is also coupled to the reference clock 400.

More particularly, the universal device 2000 comprises stopping monitoring means 500, which are arranged to ascertain the stopping or running of an oscillating resonator 210 of a watch 200, and main piloting means 900, with which are interfaced the control means 30 of the illumination device 100. These main control means 900 control all of the monitoring, acquisition and control means of the universal device 2000. They are in particular arranged for, during a stoppage report made by the stoppage monitoring means 500, identifying, according to information transmitted by the state measurement means 300, the stoppage time displayed by the watch 200 in its stop position. The main control means 900 then calculate the duration remaining time until synchronization between the real time indicated by the reference clock 400 and the stop time, so as, at the expiration of the remaining time, to activate the automatic watch winding device 1000 to the recharging with driving energy, also called rearming, of the energy storage means of the watch 200.

More particularly, at least one receptacle 1 comprises at least one microphone 310 for listening to a watch 200, and at least one on-board electronic circuit 320 housed in the receptacle 1 for processing the signal from each microphone 310. And the device automatic watch winder 1000 comprises, for the power supply of each on-board electronic circuit 320, at least a first coil 3 fixed to the base 9 or to the motor 2, and powered by a static power source carried or relayed by base 9, and at least one second coil 4 on board receptacle 1 and arranged to cooperate with at least one first coil 3 and arranged to transmit energy to each on-board electronic circuit 320, including at least one electronic circuit board 320 is arranged to exchange information with at least one static electronic circuit 330 housed at the base 9.

The universal device 2000 thus brings together all of the means for accommodating a running adjustment device and/or a state adjustment device.

For the adjustment of the rate, the universal device 2000 can integrate a servo device, for the adjustment of the rate of a watch comprising a usual oscillator arranged to generate an oscillation at a nominal frequency N0, with an initial difference DI of walking error. This servo device comprises a master oscillator arranged to generate an excitation oscillation at an excitation frequency NE, constituting a reference, which is equal to the nominal frequency N0, or to an integer multiple of the nominal frequency N0, with a master difference AM of rate error with respect to a reference, which is lower than the initial difference DI of rate error. And this servo device is arranged to subject the watch to an excitation oscillation generated by the master oscillator and/or to a modulated movement generated by the master oscillator, until they are synchronized.

For the state adjustment, the universal device 2000 can integrate a state correction device for the state correction of a similar watch. The state correction device comprises a state correction oscillator, which is arranged to generate an oscillation at a correction frequency NC, and is arranged to subject the entire watch or respectively the entire movement to an oscillation generated by the master oscillator and/or to a modulated movement generated by the state-correcting oscillator, until 'on reaching the required display state.

Claims (16)

Device (100) for illuminating luminescent watch displays (201, 202) using phosphor material, comprising a casing (10) arranged to receive at least one receptacle (1) for receiving at least one watch (200) , said device (100) comprising illumination means (20) arranged to illuminate said displays of each said watch, characterized in that said illumination means (20) comprise control means (30) and a time base (40), and at least one light source (50) able to excite said phosphor material for a pre-determined charging time or corresponding to a wear time chosen by the user at a control means (60) that said device (100) comprises. Illumination device (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said device (100) comprises at least one camera (90) for taking an image of a watch (200) placed on a said receptacle (1) . Illumination device (100) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said control means (30) are arranged to prepare an image capture at a given instant on a watch (200) by a said camera (90) placed in said housing (10) or in front of a porthole (70) of said housing (10), and determine the said luminescent displays (201, 202) to be illuminated, and define their duration of activation by illumination by the said at least one light source ( 50) before said image capture to ensure selectivity and detection of their respective position. Illumination device (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said light source (50) emits ultraviolet radiation. Illumination device (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the said casing (10) comprises a closed and light-tight enclosure with the exception of a porthole (70) opposite each said receptacle (1) for viewing a watch by the user. Illumination device (100) according to Claim 5, characterized in that each porthole (70) is equipped with a shutter (75), which is movable, to prevent the introduction of light into the said casing (10) at will. . Illumination device (100) according to Claim 5, characterized in that each window (70) is equipped with a shutter (75), which is fixed, in the form of an optical valve in order to reduce significantly or even prohibit the introduction of light into said housing (10) and display a logo or an image of a said watch (200) visible through said window (70), and in another viewing state allow viewing of said watch (200). Illumination device (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the said light source (50) is substantially annular. Illumination device (100) according to Claim 8 and according to one of Claims 3, 5, 6, 7, characterized in that a said light source (50) surrounds each said window (70) to illuminate the receptacle ( 1) corresponding. Illumination device (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the said casing (10) comprises a dome (80) on the inside, matt or comprising an anti-reflection treatment to prevent the presence of reflections during an image taken on a watch by a camera (90) placed in said case (10) or in front of a porthole (70) which said case (10) comprises. Illumination device (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the said control means (30) are arranged to prevent any light emission when an image is taken on a watch by a camera ( 90) placed in said housing (10) or in front of a porthole (70) that said housing (10) comprises. Illumination device (100) according to Claim 2 or 3 and according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the said control means (30) are arranged to prevent any image capture on a watch by a camera (90) when a said shutter (75) is open. Illumination device (100) according to Claim 2 or 3 and according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the said control means (30) are arranged to control the closing of each said shutter (75) during a image on a watch by a camera (90). Automatic watch winding device (1000), comprising a base (9) carrying a motor (2) for driving at least one receptacle (1) movable relative to said base (9), which receptacle ( 1) is arranged to receive a mechanical watch or electronic watch with a mechanical energy source in a winding position, and comprises at least one upper watch holder (7) comprising a reception surface for direct contact with a watch (200) fixed to said receptacle (1), characterized in that said device (1000) comprises at least one illumination device (100) according to one of the claims 1 to 13, arranged to illuminate each watch placed on a said receptacle (1) that said device (1000) comprises. Universal device (2000) for winding and resetting the time of a watch (200) comprising an oscillating resonator (210) arranged to generate an oscillation at a nominal frequency N0, said universal device (2000) comprising means of reset and state correction of said watch (200), comprising an automatic watch winding device (1000) according to claim 14, said universal device (2000) comprising state measuring means (300) for measuring of the state of said watch (200) with respect to a reference clock (400) to which said state measuring means (300) refer, which comprise a vision system (600) comprising at least one camera (90 ) of said illumination device (100), and to which said time base (40) of said illumination device (100) is coupled, characterized in that said universal device (2000) comprises shutdown monitoring means ( 500) arranged to note the stopping or the running of a said oscillating resonator (210) of a watch (200), and main driving means (900), with which said driving means (30) of said illumination device (100) are interfaced, and which are arranged for, when a stoppage is observed by said stoppage monitoring means (500), identifying, according to information transmitted by said state measurement means (300), the stoppage time displayed by said watch ( 200) in its stop position, and to calculate the time remaining until synchronization between the real time indicated by said reference clock (400) and said stop time, and for, at the expiration of said remaining time, activating said automatic watch winding device (1000) to reset the energy storage means of said watch (200). Universal device (2000) according to Claim 13, characterized in that at least one said receptacle (1) comprises at least one microphone (310) for listening to a said watch (200) and at least one on-board electronic circuit ( 320) housed in said receptacle (1) for processing the signal from each said microphone (310), and in that said automatic watch winding device (1000) comprises, for the power supply of each said on-board electronic circuit (320), at least a first coil (3) fixed to said base (9) or to said motor (2) and powered by a source of static energy carried or relayed by said base (9), and at least a second coil (4) embedded on said receptacle (1) and arranged to cooperate with at least one said first coil (3) and arranged to transmitting energy to each said on-board electronic circuit (320), of which at least one said on-board electronic circuit (320) is arranged to exchange information with at least one static electronic circuit (330) housed at the level of said base (9 ).

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