WO2018158666A1

WO2018158666A1 - Mechanical wristwatch comprising electronic components

Info

Publication number: WO2018158666A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/051122
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-François RUCHONNET
Original assignee: Griffes Consulting S.A.
Priority date: 2017-02-28
Filing date: 2018-02-22
Publication date: 2018-09-07
Also published as: CH713491A1

Abstract

A mechanical wristwatch comprising a watch case (1, 2, 3) provided with a base (1), a middle (2) and a glass (3), the watch case (1, 2, 3) containing a mechanical movement (4) comprising a barrel, an escapement, a hairspring balance (4A) and a mechanical display device (6). The watch further comprises an electronic monitoring and/or control unit (7, 12) for monitoring the mechanical part (4) of the watch, said electronic unit (7, 12) comprising at least one micro-camera and/or one micro-controller (12) arranged in the watch case (1, 2, 3) for displaying and/or listening to, instantaneously or after a delay, a movable part (10) of the mechanical movement (4), particularly the hairspring balance (4A), the mechanical watch comprising means (8) for activating said electronic unit (7, 12).

Description

MECHANICAL BRACELET WATCH COMPRISING COMPONENTS

ELECTRONIC

The present invention relates to a wristwatch having a mechanical movement and electronic components. Connected watches are becoming more and more popular and all watchmaking players are busy making the watch more interactive. For example, some watches include an electronic module on the bracelet, the module having functions ancillary to the watch.

Other mechanical watches incorporate a tracker of physical activity, the tracker being arranged inside the watch case. Such a tracker has a limited autonomy in time.

Moreover, the reversible wristwatches are already known from the state of the art. CH659167 describes a wristwatch having two different displays on each of its faces and which has a reversibility device. CH138929 discloses a wristwatch having two diametrically opposed pins fixed projecting outside the watch case and on which the fasteners of the bracelet pivot.

CH705105 describes a mechanical watch comprising a device for obtaining an electronic measurement of the proper operation of the mechanical movement. This device, triggerable by push button, is notably composed of a sensor composed of a transmitter and a receiver positioned on either side of the balance. Thus, once the measurement is done, the wearer can refine the setting of his watch via a regulation screw accessible from outside the watch case.

The object of the present invention is to propose a new arrangement for monitoring a mechanical movement of a watch.

According to the invention, a mechanical wristwatch comprises a watch case provided with a bottom, a middle part, and an ice, the watch case containing a mechanical movement comprising a barrel, an escapement, a pendulum -spiral and a mechanical display device. The wristwatch features in addition an electronic supervision and / or control unit for monitoring the mechanical part of the wristwatch. The electronic unit comprises at least one piezoelectric microphone for listening to a part of the mechanical movement, optionally a micro-camera arranged in the watch case to display and / or listen, instantaneously or later, a moving part of the mechanical movement, in particular the sprung balance. The wristwatch further comprises means for actuating said electronic unit.

In one embodiment, the electronic supervision and / or control unit comprises a communication unit for communicating with an external device, for example a smartphone, in particular for displaying images captured from a moving part of the movement by the micro-camera. For example, an action on a push button of a watch triggers the operation of the microcamera that can capture the movement of a moving part of the mechanical movement. The communication unit then makes it possible to transfer the video capture of the micro-camera so that it can be instantly consulted on an external device such as a smartphone, and thanks to a dedicated application, the precision or the state of operation of the monitored component. , for example a balance spring, can be determined. The communication unit not only makes it possible to transmit information to the external device, for example the need for manual intervention on a component but also to receive messages from said external device, such as for example the acknowledgment of a message intervention.

The watch can therefore interact with an external device such as a smartphone via a Bluetooh interface, contactless communication a few centimeters thanks to an NFC chip or a Wifi interface.

In another embodiment, the electronic supervision and / or control unit comprises a control unit for controlling the technical parameters of at least one component of the mechanical movement and a storage unit of the controlled information on the operation of the mechanical movement. The electronic supervision and / or control unit may for example comprise sensors capable of measuring the proper functioning of a particular component. The storage unit makes it possible, for example, to keep the history of the measurements made on one or more components.

In one embodiment, the mechanical watch comprises a geolocation system, in particular using a sensor / transmitter, arranged to locate the watch. Geolocation can help to provide assistance in the logistics sector such as logistical support, or even a traceability system. This geolocation function can also be a protection against theft and allows for example to offer high value objects for renting.

In another embodiment, the components of the electronic supervision and control unit are arranged in the watch case next to the mechanical movement. In this embodiment, the mechanical movement may comprise electronic components arranged in the middle of the mechanical components.

In a variant, the components of the electronic supervision and / or control unit are arranged in the watch case surrounding the mechanical movement. In this variant, the mechanical movement has no electronic component and all the electronics are arranged around the movement, for example in the middle band and / or in a casing ring.

In one embodiment, the electronic components arranged in the watch case, including a power source, are rechargeable by induction.

In one embodiment, a power source for powering said electronic unit is disposed in a clasp circle surrounding the mechanical movement. Autonomy depends a lot on the type of electronic components used.

Charging the power supply may require a microUSB port dedicated to this function, which allows the use of any standard charger. But preferably, power sources have a dedicated dock that allows loading by wire or even wireless, for example by induction. In a variant, the power source, arranged in a watch strap, supplies power to the electronic unit.

The power source can be a battery, an accumulator or a capacitor. The power source can be recharged by induction. The watch is then asked to load on a dedicated charger. The charging is done by induction, so there is no need wired contact between the watch and the charger, and only the charger is connected directly to a power source.

In one embodiment, the mechanical watch comprises means for actuating an alert when the supervision unit has detected a need for intervention on a component of the mechanical movement. This alert can be a message sent to an external device such as a smartphone.

In another embodiment, the watch comprises a mechanical warning means such as a mechanical flag visible on a watch dial or a ring. In one embodiment, the communication unit and / or a control unit and / or a storage unit are one or more programmed microprocessors.

The mechanical watch may include a device for the night display such as an LED. For example, sensors may allow the screen to be turned on only when the user turns his watch towards his eyes.

In another embodiment, the wristwatch may comprise a phosphorescent product which shines strong and long and which also has good resistance over time.

In one embodiment, the mechanical watch includes means for actuating the supervision unit, such as a push button. The supervision unit, for energy consumption problems, can go into standby mode when it is not requested and start up operation only when for example a pushbutton is activated. In one embodiment, the wristwatch comprises a support arranged to be secured to a bracelet of the wristwatch. The watch case comprises on a first face the mechanical display of the time driven by said watch movement and on a second face opposite to said first face, an electronic display controlled by electronic components arranged in the watch case. The watch case is mounted on the support so as to display the first and / or second face. The watch case includes a device arranged to provide a 3D image of the interior of the watch movement or the mechanical display. The device is operable to display on the electronic display said 3D image of the interior of the watch movement or the mechanical display, on command or when the second face displaying the electronic part remains visible beyond a defined time without a user contacting said second face.

According to this embodiment, the wristwatch is arranged to return the watch case to a first rest position where the first face is visible at a second rest position where the second face is visible, along an axis rotation of 6H-12H.

Preferably, still according to this embodiment, the watch case remains secured to the support by a hinge arranged at 6H. In one embodiment, the wristwatch includes a temperature measuring device. The temperature measuring device can measure the ambient temperature of the air, the temperature inside the watch case or the temperature of a component of the watch movement. The temperature measuring device comprises in particular a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may in particular be a thermistor, or an infrared temperature sensor. For example, in the context of an indication of information by a fluid contained in a capillary, the temperature measuring device makes it possible to ensure that the information displayed is very precise, in particular because the fluid is an optimal temperature range. The characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of several embodiments given solely for the purposes of the invention. for example, in no way limiting with reference to the schematic figures, in which:

- Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a wristwatch with a flag on the dial, and an electronic unit for supervision and control;

- Figure 2 shows a front view of a wristwatch with a flag on the dial;

FIG. 3 represents a block diagram of a supervision unit and interactions with other functional blocks;

- Figure 4 shows a schematic front view of a reversible wristwatch on which a first face indicating the time by a mechanical display is visible;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic front view of the reversible wristwatch of FIG. 4 in which the watch case has pivoted so as to display the second face displaying various electronic data;

- Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a reversible wristwatch in which the watch case is raised relative to a support and slightly rotated about an axis of rotation 6H-12H; and

- Figure 7 shows a schematic front view of the reversible wristwatch of Figure 4 in which the watch case displays a 3D image on the second side.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a mechanical watch comprises a casing 1, 2, 3 provided with a bottom 1, a middle part 2, and an ice-cream 3. The watch case 1, 2, 3 contains a movement mechanical 4 comprising in particular a spiral balance 4A and a mechanical display device 6. The watch further comprises an electronic supervision and / or control unit 7, 12 for monitoring the mechanical part 4 of the watch. The electronic unit 7, 12 comprises a micro-camera 12 arranged in the watch case 1, 2, 3 to display, in this example, the sprung balance 4A. The watch comprises a winding crown 8 for actuating the micro-camera 12. The electronic supervision and / or control unit 7, 12 comprises a communication unit 7B for communicating with an external device, for example a smartphone, in particular for displaying images captured from the balance-spring 4A, by the micro-camera 12 The electronic supervision and / or control unit 7, 12 comprises a control unit 7C for controlling the technical parameters of the balance spring 4A and a storage unit 7A controlled information on the operation of the balance spring 4A.

The watch comprises in particular a geolocation system 9, here a gyroscope, arranged to locate the watch. Other non-illustrated sensors, such as for example motion sensors such as pedometers, heart rate monitors or the like, make it possible to add other kinds of applications, especially in the field of sport or health.

In the example illustrated, the components of the electronic supervision and / or control unit 7, 12 are arranged in the middle part 2 and the base 3, surrounding the mechanical movement 4.

The power source 10 for powering said electronic unit 7, 12 is disposed in a casing ring 13 surrounding the mechanical movement 4.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the mechanical watch has a flag 1 1 to alert of a need for intervention on a component of the mechanical movement 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the general operating principle of the watch illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 rests on an electronic unit 7, 12 powered by a source of energy 10 and operable by means 8. The electronic unit 7, 12 scrutinizes the operation of the components 4A, 4B, 4C of the mechanical movement 4 and displays information on the dial of the watch and / or transmits this information to an external device 5.

The purpose of such a watch is to preserve, in the majority of the cases and according to the watch components to put under surveillance, the integrity of a mechanical movement and to integrate an electronic unit such as a computer of edge which gives a precise indication of a particular component. The watch of the present invention brings the user closer to the mechanical movement of the watch and adds an additional interest that lies in the evolution of the uses that users make of their watch through ancillary functions such as applications dedicated to different sports activities: running, cycling , golf ... As illustrated in Figures 4 and 6, the wristwatch has a support arranged to be secured to a bracelet of the wristwatch. A reversible watch case 1, 2, 3 comprising a mechanical watch movement comprises two faces each opposed with a display device. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, only the first face 300 having a mechanical display is visible. The mechanical display is produced using hour and minute hands. The wristwatch has on its first face, a sensor 700 for measuring the heart rate of a user and two pushbuttons 80, 90. The ring 60 is positioned at 12H and serves in particular for setting the time of movement . As illustrated in Figure 6, the reversible wristwatch has a support 100 arranged to be secured to a bracelet of the wristwatch. Once the watch case in the raised position relative to its support 100, it can rotate about an axis represented by the axis 6H - 12H of the wristwatch.

Once the watch case is rotated open, the second face 400 reveals a display containing electronic data. The watch case comprises a device arranged to provide a 3D image of the interior of the watch movement, the device being operable to display on the electronic display said 3D image of the interior of the watch movement, on command by pressing a push button. In this example, when the second face 400 displaying the electronic part remains visible beyond a defined time without a user contacting said second face 400, the display switches to a 3D image of the spiral balance of the movement ( See Figure 7).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the wristwatch is arranged to make it possible to turn the watch case back to a first rest position where the first face 300 is visible at a second rest position or the second face is visible, according to a axis of rotation of 6H-12H, in particular by a hinge 50 arranged at 6H. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the wristwatch is disposed integrally on the support element in a position where its face containing the electronic display device is disposed outside. The crown 60, located at 12H, is used this time to scroll applications displayed on the screen. Screws make it possible to disassemble the watch case and to intervene on the electronic part or on the watch movement.

In the example illustrated in Figure 7, the wristwatch is arranged integrally on the support member in a position where its face containing the electronic display device is disposed outside. The electronic display has been modified to display a virtual 3D image of the display of the mechanical movement corresponding to the opposite face. The device is operable to display on the electronic display said 3D image of the interior of the watch movement, on command or when the second face 4 displaying the electronic part remains visible beyond a defined time without a user In this example, the electronic display shows a display of the mechanical movement, but in another example not shown, it could display all or part of the mechanical movement, for example a sprung balance.

A reversible wristwatch according to the present invention makes it possible to combine a luxury watch and a connected watch while keeping only the best of both.

The displays and control means described in the present application, both for the watch movement and for the electronic part, are given by way of example only, and other configurations are possible.

Claims

Mechanical wristwatch comprising a watch case (1, 2, 3) provided with a bottom (1), a middle part (2), and an ice (3), the watch case (1, 2 , 3) containing a mechanical movement (4) comprising a barrel, an escapement, a balance spring (4A) and a mechanical display device (6), the watch further comprising an electronic unit for supervision and / or control (7, 12) for monitoring the mechanical part (4) of the watch, said electronic unit (7, 12) comprising at least one piezoelectric microphone for listening to a part of the mechanical movement, optionally a micro-camera (12) arranged in the watch case (1,

2

3) to view and / or listen, instantaneously or later, a moving part of the mechanical movement

(4), in particular the sprung balance (4A), the mechanical watch comprising actuating means (8) of said electronic unit (7, 12).

Wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the electronic supervision and / or control unit (7, 12) comprises a communication unit (7B) for communicating with an external device

(5), for example a smartphone, in particular for viewing images captured from a moving part of the movement (4) by the micro-camera (12).

Wristwatch according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the electronic supervision and / or control unit (7, 12) comprises a control unit (7C) for controlling the technical parameters of at least one component mechanical movement (4) and a storage unit (7A) controlled information on the operation of the mechanical movement (4).

Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a geolocation system (9) arranged to locate the watch, in particular by means of a sensor / transmitter.

Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the components of the electronic supervision and / or control unit (7, 12) are arranged in the watch case (1, 2, 3) next to or surrounding the mechanical movement (4).

6. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic components arranged in the watch case (1, 2, 3), including a power source (10), are rechargeable by induction.

7. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a power source (10) for supplying said electronic unit (7, 12), the power source (10) being arranged in a casing ring ( 13) surrounding the mechanical movement (4) and / or in a watch band.

8. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, comprising means for actuating an alert when said electronic unit (7, 12) has detected a need for intervention on a component of the mechanical movement (4).

9. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a mechanical warning means (1 1), including a flag, or a ring.

10. Wristwatch according to the preceding claims, comprising a communication unit (7B) and / or a control unit (7C) and / or a storage unit

(7A) in one or more programmed microprocessors (7).

1 1. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a device for the night display (diode or luminova).

12. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, comprising means (8) for actuating the supervision unit (7, 12).

13. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a temperature measuring device.

14. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a support (100) arranged to be secured to a bracelet of the wristwatch, the watch case (1, 2, 3) having on a first face ( 300) the mechanical display of the time driven by said watch movement and on a second face (400) opposite to said first face (300), an electronic display controlled by electronic components arranged in the watch case, said box of the watch (1, 2, 3) being mounted on the support (100) so as to able to display the first and / or second face (300, 400), the watch case (1, 2, 3) comprising a device arranged to provide a 3D image of the interior of the watch movement or the mechanical display , the device being operable to display on the electronic display said 3D image of the interior of the watch movement or the mechanical display, on command or when the second face (400) displaying the electronic part remains visible beyond a defined time without a user contacting said second face (400).

15. The wristwatch as claimed in claim 14, arranged to allow said watch case (1, 2, 3) to be returned from a first rest position where the first face (300) is visible at a second rest position where the second face (400) is visible along an axis of rotation of 6H-12H.

16. Wristwatch according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the watch case (1, 2, 3) remains integral with the support (100) by a hinge (50) arranged at 6H.