ES2278868T3 - PIECE OF EVENTS PLANNING WATCH. - Google Patents

Abstract

The electronic watch includes liquid crystal display (4) and/or an analogue display (5). A control circuit (6) with a memory (7) contains data relating to a number of planned events and their starting times. This information may be remotely loaded, and one of a series of indicators (D1 - D6) is then activated to at the time of the event. The electronic watch includes a time base (1) comprising an quartz oscillator (2) and a frequency division chain associated with a clock signal generator. This provides primary and secondary time indications (IH1, IH2), the first of which corresponds to local time and the second of which corresponds to GMT. The first information is supplied to a liquid crystal display (4) and/or an analogue display (5). The second information is supplied to a control circuit (6) including a memory (7) containing data relating to a number of planned events and their starting times. This information may be remotely loaded using radio signals or infrared signals, from a computer network site. A comparator (8) receives data from the memory (7) and the time base to determine when an event is about to start. One of a series of indicators (D1 - D6) is then activated to show this.

Description

Clockwork planning part of events

The present invention is related to a piece of electronic watchmaking, wristwatch type, which allows provide information regarding a demonstration comprising a plurality of planned events, such as for example the Olympic Games, the Football World Cup, or also holidays in the world.

In the prior art, it is known by the document DE 199 11 008 a wrist watch, shown in figure 1, with a circular watch case 101, a circular crown 102, and a crystal, being fixed by the crown. A sphere 104 is located under the watch glass, held by a highlight Conical trunk 105, on which the hours of "1" to "12". In the center of the sphere 104, it is arranged an opening through which the four trees that pass they carry hands of which only the outer tree 106 is visible in the figure. The trees are attached to the movement of watchmaking, not shown, located below sphere 104. Each one of the four trees supports one of the four hands, the the 107 hour hand, the 108 minute hand, the second hand 109, and additional needle 110 rotating in the Reverse direction of the hands of a clock.

Crown 102 is divided into 12 parts, in each of which contains an indication of one of the months. The indication of the month of January is between 11 and 12 hours, the indication of the month of February is located 10 and 11 hours, and this until the indication of the month of December that is located between 12 hours and 1 hour.

The additional hand 110 is actuated by the clock movement of the clock so as to make a lap of sphere 104 in a year going through 52 positions, which corresponds approximately one shift per week.

In sphere 104, the 17 days corresponding to the 17 Grand Prix of Formula 1 of the year 1999 are represented, as well as the country in which the Grand Prix are held. The different indications referring to the countries are registered radially to the periphery of the sphere 104 in front of the days, the indications relating to the days are inscribed in boxes also represented on the periphery of the sphere.

So, during the week during which a Great Prix is held the additional hand 110 indicates the country and the day, the user can thus verify if the date of the day corresponds to the indicated day and know accordingly if the Grand Prix has place on the day in question, celebrating the Formula 1 Grand Prix always on Sunday, the user can also check the day of week. For this type of information the indication of the additional hand 110 a week or so is thus enough.

As no Grand Prix takes place during the month of November to February, it is planned to use this sector of the sphere 104 left virgin to inscribe "Formula One 1999".

The case 101 of the watch comprises a crown 111 ready at 3 o'clock, especially for the regulation of time, and a push button 112 set at 2 o'clock, for the adjustment of the additional hand 110 to the correct date.

Such a watch however presents several inconvenience Indeed, it is important to mention that the needle additional first provides a temporary indication, which is in correspondence with some inscriptions referring to example place of the event. This is why the position of the additional hand depends only on the date, and very Especially of the current week. So the extra hand just can indicate a single inscription, for example a country, so true It does not allow or indicate several events simultaneous, or indicate several indications of the same nature referring to an ongoing event.

The idea that would consist of using several Additional needles have no advantage knowing that there is a direct correspondence between the position of the additional needle and the current week. Thus, in order to indicate two events using two additional needles, it would be necessary to provide a different temporal indications what the reading would do almost impossible.

In addition, it should also be mentioned that the additional needle indicates only the arrival of an event at One week seen. The user must then compare the day indicated by the hand additional to the current day for verify the effective arrival of the indicated event. Being so, the user, if he wants to know the start time of the indicated event to be able to follow it, for example, a Live TV broadcast, you must know the start time in the place where it occurs. This needs to know the start time of the event in the country in which it is celebrated and the difference time between the place where the event is celebrated and the place where the user is. It is therefore not easy to use this watch to get accurate information regarding the Arrival of an event.

Finally, such a watch is only usable for a season of Formula 1. In effect from one year to another, the days they change for each Grand Prix, and the calendar order may suffer some modifications, as well as the addition or deletion of Certain Grand Prix

The invention is especially aimed at provide a watch piece that is likely to indicate a plurality of simultaneous events precisely.

Indeed, the electronic watchmaking piece according to the invention it is remarkable because it allows palliating the above mentioned inconveniences.

For this the present invention relates to a electronic watch piece according to claim 1.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the piece of electronic watchmaking is characterized in that said base of time provides a second independent time information of the time zones, and because said plurality of events It is planned based on this second time information.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the electronic watchmaking piece is characterized because it comprises also means for receiving external signals to load said data relating to the planning of said plurality of events from a specific site of a computer network extended.

The invention will be explained below in detail for embodiments given by way of example only, these embodiments are illustrated by the accompanying drawings in the which:

Figure 1, already described, represents a clock "Formula 1" according to the prior art;

Figure 2 represents a principle scheme of a watch piece according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figures 3A and 3B represent a piece of watchmaking according to first and second variants according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 depicts a piece of watchmaking according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 represents a clockwork piece according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 represents a clockwork piece according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 represents a principle scheme of an electronic watch piece according to an embodiment Preferred of the invention. The watch piece comprises in particular a time base 1 comprising an oscillator of quartz 2 and a frequency division chain associated with a time signal generator forming a set 3 allowing provide first IH1 and second IH2 hourly information. The first IH1 corresponds to the local time for the user of the watch piece The second IH2 time information corresponds to universal time information such as GMT time (Greenwich Meridian Time), or also an hour of the type "Internet Time ". In this regard, application EP 0 984 342 A1 deposited at name of Swatch AG entitled "Electronic watchmaking part comprising a time indication based on a system decimal ", discloses the means of generating this information universal time based on a decimal system, called also "Internet Time", represented to figures 4 to 6 of this request.

The first IH1 time information is provided to means of indication that may be an indication of liquid crystals and / or an analog indication 5 by hands indicating the hours, minutes and eventually seconds.

The watch piece also includes a control circuit 6 especially comprising a memory 7 likely to contain data relating to a plurality of planned events and a means of comparison 8 that They receive the second IH2 time information at the entrance compared to Data stored in memory. The data relating to a plurality of planned events, stored in memory 7 understand for each event, the arrival time of this event in a universal time system, GMT or Internet Time, as well as the indications related to this event.

Stored data can be preprogrammed. in memory 7, but preferably they are downloaded by acoustic receiver 9, or a classic radio frequency receiver or infrared, from an extended computer network site.

The operating detail of a receiver acoustic is given in the application WO 01/09689 deposited in the name of present applicant especially as regards the scheme electrical of an acoustic signal converter circuit represented to figure 3 of this application.

The use of such an acoustic receiver for download data from a site over an extended computer network,  It is detailed in EP application No. 01201271.2 deposited in the name of Swatch AG and entitled "procedure and system allowing access information and / or data available from a computer network extended ". In particular the access system to these information and / or data is represented in figure 1 of this request, as well as the associated access procedure.

Typically, data relating to a plurality of planned events are regrouped in form of a downloadable file in memory 7, this being file available in the site or sites associated with the plurality of events

The comparison means 8 allow comparing the Second IH2 time information with the arrival time of each event stored in memory, and in case of correspondence activate indicator means 10 arranged in correspondence with indications / symbols 11 (D1 ... D6) located on the dial of the watchmaking piece. It is equally possible to foresee a user in case of correspondence to indicate the arrival of one or various events, by activation by the means of comparison 8 of warning means, formed for example by a piezoelectric crystal 12.

Figures 3A and 3B represent first and second variants according to a first embodiment of the invention, where the plurality of planned events is refers to the different tests played during an Olympiad regrouped by disciplines. The data related to this plurality of events are scheduled, telecharged on the Memory of the watchmaking piece.

According to a first variant represented to the Figure 3A, watch piece 21 comprises means hourly indicators comprising indication means analog 22 and / or digital indication means 23, by example of the LCD type ("Liquid Crystal Display"). Besides, the dial 24 of the watch piece especially comprises 25 non-time symbols of the same nature related to plurality of events, these symbols being arranged preferably at the periphery of the sphere 24. In this first mode of realization, these symbols represent the different sports disciplines of the Olympic Games.

The sphere 24 also comprises means indicators 26 preferably fixed and annularly placed in front of the symbols 25 representing the disciplines. These indicator means can be for example luminescent diodes or LEDs, represented in the form of white or black tablets. A white pill indicates that the corresponding luminescent diode it is off or deactivated, instead a black pill indicates that the corresponding light emitting diode is on or activated.

The sphere is also capable of understanding numeric indication means 27 capable of providing information such as the date and time remaining before beginning or end of the plurality of planned events, being this plurality of events united between them, in the framework of a larger demonstration such as the Games Olympic In a particular way, the watch piece is provided with an RF antenna and signal processing means received by this antenna, the numerical indication means 27 additional are then used to indicate the information obtained by radiofrequency transmission, such as the o the places where the event (s) are held, or the evolution of the score of the event or events in course.

In the first variant represented to the figure 3A, it is visible that depending on the content of the memory and the Universal time calculated by the internal circuit, the means 26 indicators corresponding to the 25 symbols of the disciplines in progress are activated - black pills - and this anyone who be the local time of the user's geographical position. Indeed, data relating to the plurality of events planned, stored in memory especially comprise as information, the arrival of each of the events in function of a universal time, for example the Internet Time, and the watchmaking piece comprises a time base that allows to generate universal time information of the same type as used to define the arrival of events. So the comparison between the two information does not depend on the local time of the geographical position of the user.

According to a second variant of the first mode of embodiment depicted in Figure 3B, the watch piece 21 It comprises digital time display means 23. The dial 24 presents unlike the symbols of the first variant of Figure 3A, non-hour indications of the same nature, relative to the plurality of events. These indications 25 they are preferably located at the periphery of the sphere 24. These indications represent in this example the different disciplines of the Olympic Games. They meet again if not the same elements, especially the indicator means 26 with fixed preference and located along a circle opposite the indications 25 representing the disciplines.

\hbox{conocer los
partidos que quedan a jugar.}

Figure 4 represents a second embodiment according to the invention, where the plurality of planned events refers to the different countries participating in an international competition of the World Cup type. Since all the matches of such competition are known in advance, it is foreseen to pre-program, be it to download from an extended computer network site, the information referring to all the matches, namely the universal schedule of each match, the name of the teams that play against each other and eventually other information such as the meeting place. As regards the matches after the elimination of certain equipment, it is also planned to be able to download, or enter the result of the preceding matches to

 \ hbox {know the
matches left to play.} 

The watch piece 31 comprises means 23 hour indicators, for example of the LCD type ("Liquid Crystal Display "). Dial 24 of the watch piece It especially includes indications or timetables 25 thereof nature, relative to the plurality of events. In this second embodiment, these indications 25 represent the different countries participating in a World Cup. Must mention that it is possible to consider replacing the indications 25 by some symbols, such as the flags of the different countries

The framework also includes means indicators 26, preferably fixed and located along a circle in front of indications 25 representing countries. These indicator means can be for example diodes luminescent or LEDs, represented in the form of white arrows or Black in the drawing. A white arrow indicates that the diode corresponding luminescent is off or off, an arrow black indicates that the corresponding light emitting diode is on or on, black and white arrows surrounded by line of dots indicate that the corresponding luminescent diodes they flash to indicate alternately the name of the different teams playing at the same time, particularly when two Matches are held at the same time.

The sphere 24 further comprises means for hide the 25 non-hour indications resulting not necessary, for example the countries whose national teams have been eliminated of the competition. These means to hide these indications 25 preferably comprises a reflective liquid crystal cell arranged between the sphere 24 and the crystal, not shown, of the watch piece 21. This cell comprises segments 28 addressed appropriately. According to the national team of countries indicated in indications 25 whether eliminated or not, reflective segments 28 are respectively actuated in a manner to let the light through, the country being visible then, or not letting pass the light, then the country is hidden.

The sphere 24 may further comprise means of digital indication 27 that allow to provide information such as the state of progress of the competition and the place of the meeting in progress In addition, the watchmaking piece comprises some control bodies 30 allowing information such as results of the matches already played, in order to allow, in in particular, update the data related to the plurality of events stored in the memory of the timepiece. It is also possible to download this information directly from a specific site of an extended computer network.

Figure 5 represents a third mode of embodiment according to the invention, where the plurality of planned events refers to the different days One-year holidays for a certain number of selectable countries. The data related to this plurality of events are either preprogrammed, be teleloaded into the memory of the piece of watchmaking

The watch piece 21 comprises means hourly indicators comprising indication means analog 22 and / or digital indication means 23, by example of the LCD type ("Liquid Crystal Display"). In addition, a Reflective liquid crystal cell is arranged on the periphery of the dial 24 of the watch piece. This cell it comprises segments 28 appropriately directed, liable to indicate, depending on the data stored in the memory, 25 non-hour indications and / or symbols, no represented, of the same nature relative to the plurality of events In this third embodiment, the 25 indications represent the two-letter code of the states Contracting to the European Patent Convention. Segments 28 when they let the light through, they indicate the two codes letters, and when they don't let the light through, they hide these codes.

We will mention that by way of variant, it is equally possible to use a liquid crystal display reflective arranged above the sphere and in particular above the periphery of the sphere, and define the areas that must pass the light and therefore leave visible the indications to indicate in these areas, and the areas that should not let the light pass and so hide the indications corresponding to these areas.

According to a fourth advantageous embodiment of The invention, shown in Figure 6, is intended to provide indications and / or symbols 25 no schedules of the same nature relative to a plurality of planned events are not arranged in the dial 24 of the watch piece 21, if not the crown 31. Preferably, a removable crown is used allowing to change the indications and / or symbols 25 during the reprogramming or during the download of a new plurality of planned events. Indeed, it is preferable and very economical to modify these indications or symbols 25 by changing simply crown 31 instead of having to change clock or to change the dial, or to have a watch piece provided with indications or programmable symbols indicated by a cell of liquid crystals. In order to position correctly the new removable crown during a change, we will mention that it is provided to provide, for example, the case of the watch piece of a signal, for example of a triangular mark 32, to which a similar mark 33 corresponds to the new crown. We will also mention that digital indication means 23 they can serve to specify the tests of the disciplines corresponding to the ongoing events.

Finally, it is important to mention that the indication of the current event (s) between the plurality  of events concerned, whatever the mode of embodiment, can be carried out either continuously, or with a energy saving concern, only after the activation of a control organ of the push button, crown type, touch glass, etc.

In addition, it may be planned to integrate some annexed functionalities of the countdown type before a event, interrogation of the planning of the events, etc.

It is equally important to mention that all combinations of the features presented above, and in particular means hourly and non-hourly indicators are possible without leaving the framework of the invention defined by the annexed claims.

Claims (13)

1. Electronic watch piece understanding - a time base (1) to provide a first time information (IH1), - first indicating means (4, 23, or 5, 22) of said first hourly information and a plurality of non-hourly indications / symbols (11, 25) having the same nature and relating to a plurality of events planned and linked together within the framework of a larger manifestation, characterized in that it comprises: - a few second indicator means (10, 26, 28) capable of simultaneously indicating several indications not schedules related to one or more ongoing events between said plurality of planned events, - a control circuit (6) comprising some storage means (7) in which data is stored relating to the planning of said plurality of events and means of comparison (8) to compare said stored data with a time information, activating said command circuit said second indicating means in response to a command signal coming from said means of comparison. 2. Electronic watch piece according to claim 1, characterized in that said second indicator means are formed by a plurality of fixed indicators (26, 28) each corresponding to said non-hourly indications / symbols (25). 3. Electronic watch piece according to claim 2, characterized in that said non-hourly indications / symbols (25) are arranged at the periphery of the dial (24) and that said fixed indicators are light emitting diodes (26) arranged in a ring opposite these indications / symbols. 4. Electronic watch piece according to claim 2, characterized in that said non-hourly indications / symbols (25) are arranged at the periphery of the dial and that said fixed indicators are formed by a reflective liquid crystal cell comprising a plurality of segments ( 28) arranged in a ring above said indications / symbols. 5. Electronic watch piece according to claim 2, characterized in that said non-hourly indications / symbols (25) are arranged on a removable crown (31) and that said fixed indicators are luminescent diodes (26) arranged in a ring in front of said indications / Symbols 6. Electronic watch piece according to claim 1, characterized in that said non-hourly indications / symbols (25) are arranged at the periphery of the dial (24) and that said second indicating means are formed by a reflective liquid crystal display arranged above of the sphere, susceptible to hide or not each of said information. 7. Electronic watch piece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said time base (1) provides a second universal time information (IH2), and that said plurality of events is planned based on this second time information. 8. Electronic watch piece according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises warning means (12) for warning a user that one or more events between said plurality of planned events begin. 9. Electronic watch piece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises means for receiving (9) external signals to load said data related to the planning of said plurality of events. 10. Electronic watch piece according to claim 9, characterized in that said reception means (9) are means for receiving modulated acoustic signals and that the data relating to the planning of said plurality of events are loaded from a specific site of a extended computer network. 11. Electronic watch piece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises control elements (30) for activating said second indicating means (26, 28) corresponding to one or more ongoing events between said plurality of planned events . 12. Electronic watch piece according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a continuous mode of operation during which said second indicator means (26, 28) corresponding to several ongoing events between said plurality of planned events are automatically activated and deactivated, a beginning to the end of each event respectively. 13. Electronic watch piece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises discount means for indicating the time remaining before an event.