Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
  • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
  • G04C3/14—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating a stepping motor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for displaying on a watch dial, in particular a wristwatch with analog display and comprising a single electric motor for driving the hands, at least one information on a stored hourly basis.
• a watch in particular a wristwatch with analog display and comprising a single electric motor, of the stepping type with two directions of rotation for driving the hands, means for memorizing at least one time-based information. and means for displaying this stored information on a dial.
• Wristwatch-type mounts are already known which are provided with a ringing device and with a memory for storing the expected time for the ringing to start. The user is frequently required to check this memorized time, in particular if it is the alarm time. The only way to find out the stored time is to display it on the watch face. To do this, known watches simply use their hour and minute hands, moving simultaneously in accelerated mode.
• the duration of the simultaneous movement of the two hands can be relatively long. In fact, if it is eight o'clock, and if the memorized time for activating the alarm ringtone l is for example ten minutes past seven, the hour hand must make an almost complete turn, and the hand of the minutes must simultaneously complete eleven full turns. The time required for this maneuver is important, especially since the return takes place according to the same process. On average, the number of revolutions that the minute hand must make is twelve regardless of the direction of travel of these hands, namely forward, reverse or alternately the two directions of travel. In practice, with known watches having a single drive motor actuating the minute and hour hands, the procedure is as follows, starting from the normal indication of the hour and the minute:
• the present invention proposes to overcome the various drawbacks mentioned above, by developing a method and by making a watch equipped to display memorized information very quickly without resorting to sophisticated technical means.
• the hands of the watch are moved by rotating the motor at accelerated speed to bring, in less than one revolution, the fastest hand in a position indicating the stored time base information, and in that the hands are returned to their normal position at accelerated speed.
• the fastest needle is kept in this position for a predetermined time interval.
• the fastest needle is oscillated around said position during a predetermined time interval.
• the minute hand of the watch is used.
• the seconds hand of the watch is used.
• a needle is used to supplement the watch which is neither the minute hand nor the seconds hand.
• the time-based information displayed is advantageously the time when the alarm rings.
• the time-based information is the time of a predetermined place located in another time zone.
• one proceeds in at least two phases, a first phase during which the hand indicates the hour, and a second phase during which the hand indicates the minutes.
• This operating mode allows to achieve a very precise display.
• the watch according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises an electronic circuit for controlling the needle drive motor, arranged to control on demand the accelerated movement of the hands and to bring, in less than one revolution, the fastest hand in the position indicating the stored time base information, and to return these needles at accelerated speed to their normal position.
• the electronic control circuit is arranged to maintain the fastest needle in this position for a predetermined period of time.
• the electronic control circuit is arranged to oscillate the fastest hand around said position • for a predetermined time interval.
• the hand used can be the minute hand, the second hand or an additional watch hand which is neither the minute hand nor the second hand.
• the information on the stored hourly basis is advantageously the time at which the ringing signal is activated.
• the stored time information is advantageously this time calculated at said predetermined place.
• the watch may include an electronic control circuit arranged to move said hand in at least two phases, - a first phase during which the hand indicates the time and a second phase during which the hand indicates the minutes of said stored information.
• time-based information can be displayed simultaneously or successively.
• the watch according to the invention essentially comprises a dial 10, an hour hand 1 1, and a minute hand 12, respectively driven via a gear train 13 by a stepping motor 1 with two directions of rotation.
• An electronic circuit 1 5 controls the motor 1 4.
• a source of electric current 1 6 is directly connected to the electronic circuit 1 5 and to the motor 1 4.
• the electronic circuit 1 5 has an input 1 7 allowing the introduction of the 'hourly information to memorize and various other inputs 18 intended to intervene on different functions of the watch.
• these inputs can be embodied by function keys mounted on the watch case or by a crown or by any other device known per se (not shown).
• the user When the user wants to enter time-based information in memory such as, for example, the time at which the alarm 19 rings, he appropriately manipulates the device (not shown) connected to the input 17 of the electronic circuit. 15. Thereafter, if he wants to know the time information which has been memorized by the electronic circuit 1 5, he appropriately handles one of the function keys corresponding to one of the inputs 1 8 of the electronic circuit 1 5. Following this intervention, the electronic circuit transmits to the drive motor 14 rapid pulses which have the effect of preferably moving the minute hand in a position indicating, on the dial 10 of the watch, at least approximately 1 'hour corresponding to this stored time information.
• the minute hand traveling at an accelerated speed When the minute hand traveling at an accelerated speed has arrived in the desired position, it preferably oscillates two or three times around this position, which provides the user with a visual indication, in general sufficiently precise, of the memorized time information, then returns to its normal position at accelerated speed.
• other needles could also be used such as for example the second hand 20 or an additional hand 21 provided for this purpose.
• the advantage of using the minute hand is that it provides a particularly precise indication that a step corresponds to four minutes, which makes it possible to obtain sufficient display precision.
• the display could be carried out in two phases:
• the time-based information is not limited to the time of activation of a wake-up ring.
• This time-based information could also be the time calculated at any point on the globe located in a time zone different from that in which the user of the watch is located.
• the electronic circuit memorizes the time difference.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)
• Calculators And Similar Devices (AREA)
• Time Recorders, Dirve Recorders, Access Control (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9350489

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (2)

Citations (5)

• 1987
  • 1987-04-22 FR FR8705886A patent/FR2614447B1/fr not_active Expired
• 1988
  • 1988-04-08 WO PCT/FR1988/000174 patent/WO1988008557A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1988-04-08 JP JP63503490A patent/JPH02503230A/ja active Pending
  • 1988-04-08 DE DE8888903279T patent/DE3864144D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1988-04-08 BR BR888807470A patent/BR8807470A/pt unknown
  • 1988-04-08 EP EP88903279A patent/EP0357633B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1988-04-08 AT AT88903279T patent/ATE66077T1/de active
  • 1988-04-21 CN CN88102308A patent/CN1017755B/zh not_active Expired
  • 1988-12-22 KR KR1019880701712A patent/KR890700861A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1992
  • 1992-07-09 HK HK493/92A patent/HK49392A/xx unknown

Patent Citations (5)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events