HK1012731B - Time piece with analogue display having means for selecting numerical information - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an analogue displayed watchpiece with position sensors fitted on the watchpiece for selection of predetermined digital information, means of input of each selected digital information and means of processing of said digital information. The invention may be used in a watch equipped with a calculator, a system for dialing telephone numbers or another device which requires selection and entry of digital information. The invention will therefore be disclosed in connection with one of these particular applications. However, it is quite clear that the invention is not limited to this application.

The arrangement of an analog display watch with position sensors built around its periphery is already known (GB-A-2 207 262). Such an arrangement is used in the case of a watch that, in addition to a time display, includes a non-time display device, such as a calculator. In this case, position sensors are used for the selection and input of the numerical information which are the digits 0 to 9 and the functions ×, ö, +, - and =. Each position sensor is incorporated with a different digital information. The activation of a position sensor, for example by applying a pressure capture to its surface, allows the user to select the resulting digit from the display or associated function.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an analogue display watch part with position sensors which allows the selection of digital information in a clear, legible and intelligible manner to ensure that the user can handle the watch part easily and without risk of error.

The purpose of the invention is also to provide an analogue displayed watch with position sensors of simple construction and operation. Another purpose of the invention is to provide a watch that is both reliable, inexpensive and capable of processing one or more digital information that is selected through these position sensors.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a watch part with analogue display, comprising at least a stepper motor actuating hands for displaying time information, means of controlling the stepper motor, position sensors located in angular sectors defined on the part, the activation of each of these position sensors allowing the selection of a predetermined digital information, means of input of the selected digital information and means of processing the said digital information, characterised by the fact that the said means of control are arranged so that at least one of the angular caps is so constrained that it indicates the corresponding sector of the position of the controller to confirm the digital selection of said information.

The invention is based on these characteristics and enables the manufacture of a watch part with position sensors which gives the user a visual confirmation of the selected digital information which is clear and simple and which facilitates the handling of the watch part.

Depending on the particular method of manufacture, the position sensors on the part are mistaken for the indications of a conventional time display.

In another particular embodiment, position sensors combined with the 1h to 9h indicators allow the digits 1 to 9 respectively to be selected.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be shown in the following description, given only as an example, and made by reference to the attached drawings on which: Figure 1 is an example and schematic representation of a watchpiece with analogue display according to the present invention;Figure 2 is an example and schematic representation of the working pattern of a position meter incorporated in the diagram in Figure 1;Figure 3 is a top view showing a watchpiece according to a particular embodiment of the invention; andFigures 4a and 4b are a table or organizational chart of the different functions performed by a watchpiece according to the present invention, this part incorporating the block diagram in Figure 1.

A clockwork, e.g. a watch, is thus shown in Figure 1 as a block diagram, which is a method of implementation of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1, the watch part according to the invention consists, in series, of a quartz oscillator 2, a division chain 4 giving a signal at 1 Hz, a second counter, referenced 6, and a minute hand position counter, referenced 8.

It also includes a 10-referenced 12-digit dialer receiving the signal from the 6-second position meter and a 12-referenced 12-hour position meter, the input of which is connected to the 10-diver's output. The 6, 8 and 12 are 60-digit dials whose mode of operation is shown schematically in Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 2, pulses to count are supplied to the counters (left arrow on the drawing). These successive pulses are counted by a binary register of at least six bits, which they increment. The state of this register can be read at any time (down arrow on the drawing). At each increment, the register is tested by a circuit to see if the number it contains is equal to sixty. If so, a pulse is emitted by the test circuit and this pulse causes the register to reset.

The meters 8 and 12 (Figure 1) show, in normal operation, i.e. in the hour-flow mode, the position, defined in 60 steps, of the minute and hour hands in relation to the dial of the watch movement.

This watch is also equipped with two motors 18 and 20 which can be independently controlled by power circuits 14 and 16 respectively to drive the minute hand MN and the hour hand H respectively (Figure 3).

Circuits 14 and 16 receive, in normal time-mode, the pulses applied to the minute and hour hand position 8 and 12 meter inputs respectively.

The arrangement of the motors and gears of this watch part will not be described here, as we already know of clock movements with several motors for the individual operation of the hands.

The above elements explain the operation of this essentially analogue watch part for the normal display of time, but according to the present invention the analogue watch described herein may also be used to select, input and process digital information and then to control the operation of a non-clockwise device incorporated in the watch.

The elements in Figure 1 which will now be described, enable these specific functions to be fulfilled.

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The signals applied to the AN, EN, D+ and D- inputs are provided by a control rod 28 interpreting circuit for position and movement of a control rod, referenced T and shown in Figure 3. The operation of the T control rod and the interpreting circuit 28 will not be described in detail here as the craftsman is already familiar with such devices.

The control means 24 also have two outputs Mmn and Mh to deliver pulses to the motors 18 and 20, and a control output C to manage the state of two switches 30, 32 arranged at the input of the power circuits 14, 16 and arranged to transmit to them either the pulses applied to the minute hand and hour hand position meter inputs when the switches are in a first position 8 and 12 referred to a in Figure 1, or the pulses delivered by the control means 22 when the switches are in a second reference position b.

The electronic means of control 22 can be advantageously implemented in the form of an integrated circuit with a programmed microcontroller.

In normal time display mode, the controls are inactive and engines 18 and 20 receive the pulses applied to the minute and hour hand position 8 and 12 meter inputs respectively.

Referring now to Figure 3, a method of making the watch part according to the invention, and in particular its means for selecting and entering digital information for processing by electronic control means 22 in non-working hours, will be described below.

The watch part 1 has a classic B box and a T control rod, of which only the crown is shown here.

The watch part 1 also has a C dial on which is displayed a classic time (not referenced) with indications 0 (on the classic position 12h) to 9, inscribed in the clockwise direction on the C dial. In addition, the watch part 1 has a first hand, here the hour hand H, and a second hand, here the minute hand MN.

In addition, watchpiece 1 has position 51-62 sensors. The positioning of a finger of a watchpiece 1 user on one of the position 51-62 sensors causes the signal to be emitted by this sensor to the digital information processing means. The details of the construction and operation of the position 51-62 sensors will not be described in detail here as the professional is already familiar with such sensors.

As shown in Figure 3, the position sensors 51 to 62 are respectively located in angular sectors S1 to S12 defined on the watch part 1.

The C dial has indications 0 to 9 which are respectively confused with the indications 12h (mark 0) to 9h of the conventional time display.

Watch movement 1 also has two pushers PS1 and PS2, which are arranged in a traditional way on both sides of the T-bar.

In addition, watch part 1 has an AF display device for displaying digital information. The AF display device can be made, for example, in the form of a liquid crystal display.

In the example shown, the sensors in positions 51 to 62 are conveniently located on the box B around dial C, and not limited to a bezel, preferably fixed.

The table or organigram in Figures 4a and 4b contains ten drawings or steps (referenced from A to J) representing the various functions that the watch can perform according to the invention.

Timely

The above elements allow the time displayed by the hands to be corrected (corresponding to step B in the table in Figure 4a).

When the watch is in the normal time display mode (as shown by step A), the time correction function is activated by pulling on the bar (step B). Moving the bar outwards causes a signal to be emitted from the interpretation circuit 28 (Figure 1) to the EN input of the motor controls 24. Reception of this signal by the motor controls 24 causes switches 30 and 32 to be switched to state b. Simultaneously, the motor controls 24 emit a signal on the reset line of the reference second 6 to keep it to zero so that it no longer provides the signal for the 8 hour and 12 minute and 12 minute position counters.

The interpretation circuit 28 then sends pulses corresponding to the different rotational movements printed on the rod by the user to the D+, D- inputs of the motor controls 24 which in turn emit control pulses to increment or decrement the minute and hour hand position counters 8 and 12 and to simultaneously control the motors 18, 20 to move the hands. When the rod is pushed back (step A) at the end of the hour turn operation, the interpretation circuit 28 provides a deactivation signal to the motor controls 24 which will provide them with a signal at their output to turn the 32 switches into line C 30, and the second switches in the simulator.

Method of processing of digital information

As mentioned above, the watch part described here is intended to perform an additional function called processing.

For this purpose, the digital information processing devices 26 have a CP input for receiving the output signals from the position sensors 51 to 62 and two inputs P1 and P2.

When a user places his finger on one of the position sensors 51 to 62, a high-state signal is sent to the digital information processing means 22. The signals present at the outputs of the other position sensors are in the low state. Thus, all the output signals of the position sensors 51 to 62 correspond, at the CP input, to a binary value representing the position sensor that is activated. The digital information processing means 26 are able to convert this binary value into a value of 1 to 60 corresponding to the characteristic positions of the hour and minute hands on the C dial so that they overlap and indicate one of the angular sectors S1 to S12.

The electronic control means 22 shall also include a timing circuit 36 which is intended to send a confirmation signal to the digital information processing means 26 at the end of a specified period after an activation signal is received from the latter.

In addition, watch part 1 has a control circuit 38 to control the AF display device. The control circuit 38 receives signals corresponding to the digital information to be displayed, which come from the digital information processing means 26.

This digital information to be displayed is then sent to the AF display device for display.

In the examples shown in Figures 1 and 3, the watch part according to the invention also has an acoustic signal synthesis circuit referenced 40, which is connected to the electronic control means 22. This circuit is activated at selected times during the steps of digital input by the user.

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When the watch is in the normal time display mode, and the interpretation circuit 24 (Figure 1) emits an activation signal corresponding to a pressure applied to the bar towards the AN input of the electronic control means 22, the electronic control means 22 shall emit a signal on their output C to place switches 30 and 32 in the state b (Figure 1), i.e. to block the pulses from the meters 8 and 12.Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 330 (char 329)

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The confirmation of the selection of a digital information in the processing mode by the two hands superimposed on the dial is therefore immediately and very clearly perceptible to the user.

It should be noted that in the case of the embodiment shown in Figures 4a and 4b, the hands indicate a particular numerical information in an overlapping state so that the confirmation they provide is clear.

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When the user operates one of the position sensors 51 to 62, the digital information processing devices 26 send a high-state signal to the timing circuit 36, and as long as the sensor is the same, the signal remains in the high-state, and the timing circuit 26 starts counting time units.

After the actuation of one of the sensors from position 51 to 62, the digital information processing devices 26 remain in standby mode until they have determined, by means of the timing circuit 36, that a predetermined period of time, e.g. one second, has elapsed since this actuation.

The digital information processing means 26 consider, in this case, that the user has selected a desired digital information and therefore they record a value corresponding to this digital information in a (non-represented) memory for processing. At the time of this recording, the digital information processing means 26 activate the control circuit 40 for an acoustic signal to be emitted. The input of the selected digital information is thus indicated to the user, who can then proceed to the selection and input of the next digital information.

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After one second, measured by the timing circuit 36, during which the position sensor 61 has been operated, the digital information processing devices record a value corresponding to this digital information in a (non-represented) memory for processing.

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Finally, it should be noted that several modifications can be made to the watch part according to the invention without going beyond the scope of the invention. For example, the present invention can be used in a device that includes a telephone or other means of communication requiring the selection and entry of dialling numbers.

Claims (6)

1. Analog display horological piece comprising :

   - at least one step by step motor (18, 20) driving hands (MN, H) for displaying time keeping information;

   - means for controlling the step by step motor;

   - position detectors (51-62) provided in the angular sector defined on the piece, the activation of each one of said position detectors enabling the selection of a predetermined digital piece of information (0-9, x, ö, +, - =);

   - input means (36, 40) of said predetermined digital piece of information; and

   - processing means (22) of said digital information,

      characterized in that

   said control means are adapted so that at least one of said hands (MN, H) is driven so that it indicates the angular sector corresponding to the activated position detector (51-62) to confirm the selection of said digital piece of information (0-9, x, ö, +, -, =).
2. Horological piece according to claim 1, characterized in that one or several of said position detectors (51-62) are confused on the piece with the classical hour display indication.
3. Horological piece according to claim 2, characterized in that the position detectors are arranged at positions corresponding to the indications lh to 9h enabling respectively the selection of the figures 1 to 9.
4. Horological piece according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises :

   - supplementary display means (AF) of said selected digital piece of information.
5. Horological piece according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control means are adapted so that at least two of said hands (MN, H) are driven so that they are superposed whilst the display of the angular sector corresponding to said activated position detector (51-62).
6. Horological piece according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said position detectors (51-62) are of a capacity of type.