HK1212785B - Illuminated timpiece display - Google Patents

Description

Luminous clock display device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a watch comprising a mechanical timepiece movement including at least one timepiece display device including at least one movable timepiece component for a watch or timepiece, said movable component being deformed during operation of the movement by its function, said movable component being a slender, elastic component whose function is related to its elastic properties.

The invention concerns the field of mechanical horology.

Background

In mechanical timepieces comprising complex functional mechanisms, the display of the various timepiece functions is often complex. The spatial distribution of the output devices of these complex functioning mechanisms often makes direct display by hands or disks inconvenient and requires the use of intermediate wheels, which further complicates the timepiece, makes it more expensive and increases its thickness.

Other functions require rapid and approximate information to be provided to the user, particularly for the power reserve display that indicates to the user when reloading/charging is required.

Energy is consumed for each display and cumulative energy consumption is a long standing problem for the mechanical watchmaking industry.

European patent application No1319998a1 in the name of asulam discloses a light source formed by a plurality of LEDs under a dial, having in a central opening of the dial a cylindrical light guide, close to the head of a luminous pointer comprising a dihedral corner reflector.

German patent No 837070C in the name of EBERHARD also discloses a luminous pointer, and a diffusing sticker as a backlight.

International patent application No 2014/001659a2 in the name of RHUL & ALLANO discloses the manufacture of clock springs made of optical fibers.

German patent application No 102008029429 a1 in the name of damask ko discloses the manufacture of balance springs, some of which are transparent, in particular made of glass.

International patent application No 95/24002a1 in the name of corpet discloses a watch with a transparent member allowing light to pass through.

French patent No 2957688 in the name of RHUL & alano discloses the transmission of light into a watch from a light source outside the watch by means of an optical fiber.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention proposes to provide a compact, low-energy consumption solution to the problem of visual presentation of some timepiece displays in mechanical watches or, more generally, in mechanical timepieces.

To this end, the invention relates to a watch comprising a mechanical timepiece movement including at least one timepiece display device including at least one movable timepiece component for the watch or timepiece, said movable component being deformed by its function during operation of the movement.

The invention provides a watch comprising a mechanical timepiece movement, said movement comprising at least one timepiece display device, said timepiece display device comprising at least one movable timepiece component that deforms during operation of said movement as a result of the function of said movable timepiece component, said movable timepiece component being a slender elastic component and the function of said movable timepiece component being related to its elastic properties, said movable timepiece component propagating and diffusing light emitted by at least one light source contained in said timepiece display device; the movable timepiece component comprises at least one elastically deformable portion; the diffusion of light through the movable timepiece component varies with stress in the elastically deformable portion; the movable timepiece component has a rectangular cross-section and is formed, on the one hand, of a first material which is silica, or quartz, or single crystal quartz, or glass, or sapphire, or ceramic, or a material which is partially transparent to visible or ultraviolet wavelengths, or a material which is transparent or translucent and at least partially amorphous, and, on the other hand, of at least one second phosphorescent or fluorescent material applied in the form of a thin layer to at least one of the surfaces of the movable timepiece component; the active or passive light source is arranged to inject light into a portion of the movable timepiece component that spreads and diffuses the light so that the movable timepiece component is visible in the dark, either over at least a portion of the movable timepiece component or over the entire movable timepiece component. Preferably, the movable timepiece component is formed by a helically wound spring, the light source being located in the vicinity of the spring, above or below the coils of the spring, preferably two of the light sources being provided below the spring, one of the light sources being adjacent to an element for attaching the spring to a spindle and the other light source being adjacent to a fixing system for fixing the spring to a barrel wheel or stud, preferably the light sources being arranged such that a first light source is immediately adjacent to a plurality of successive outer turns during maximum extension of the spring and transmits light to all three outer turns simultaneously only in this extended configuration, while the first light source transmits light to only one of the outer turns in the retracted configuration of the spring; and a second light source is immediately adjacent to the plurality of successive inner coils during maximum contraction of the spring and propagates light to all three inner coils simultaneously only in this contracted configuration, while the second light source propagates light to only one of the inner coils in the extended configuration of the spring.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic view of a timepiece (in this case a watch) having a movement comprising a timepiece display device according to the invention including at least one movable timepiece component, which is a mainspring in an application dedicated to displaying the power reserve of the timepiece component.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a conventional cross section of a timepiece component according to a first embodiment, wherein the timepiece component has a rectangular cross section and is exposed.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a conventional cross section of a timepiece component according to a second embodiment, wherein the timepiece component has a rectangular cross section and includes thin coatings on its four long surfaces.

Fig. 4 is a schematic partial perspective view of an end of a timepiece component in the form of a mainspring having an outer winding whose cross section is parallel to the other coils, the end facing the light relay.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic partial perspective view of an end of a timepiece component in the form of a mainspring with a twisted outer winding whose cross section is perpendicular to the other windings, the end comprising an inclined plane for collecting light which arrives substantially perpendicular to the plane of the inclined plane.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic partial section through the pivot axis of the barrel arbour of the timepiece display device of fig. 1, in which a light source located inside the watch and not in the immediate vicinity of the display device is connected by a light guide to an optical relay located on the bridge adjacent to the timepiece display device or adjacent to a timepiece component.

Fig. 7 shows a partial top view of two light sources arranged below the mainspring, in two positions of the spring, one adjacent to the barrel arbour and the other adjacent to the slide for hooking the spring to the barrel, said two positions of the spring being the maximum retracted position in fig. 7A and the maximum extended position in fig. 7B.

Detailed Description

The invention concerns the field of mechanical horology.

The present invention provides a new visual presentation of a timepiece display device in a mechanical watch, or more generally, in a mechanical timepiece.

More specifically, the timepiece display device is made luminous by making at least one of its constituent parts, called "timepiece part", using a specific material that allows light to diffuse and allows visual presentation of information about the state of the part (for example, the actuation or the stop of a specific function) by revealing mechanical stresses in the internal structure of the part or by revealing its specific relative position with respect to the environment. In particular and without limitation, silicon, quartz, single crystal quartz, sapphire, and glass may be used as the light guide.

The light from the active or passive light source that is incident into one part of the timepiece component is emitted in a manner distributed over at least a part of the timepiece component or over the entire length of the timepiece component, which makes it possible to see the light in the dark. The timepiece component transmits and diffuses the light. The injection of light is made easier at one of the ends of the timepiece component, in particular at the outer end, preferably far from the centre of the timepiece movement, by a light source such as a light emitting diode or a component coated with a passive phosphorescent layer; these light sources are not limiting.

If necessary, the timepiece-part is coated with a layer that allows only a part of the light to diffuse outwards while directing the majority of the light along the timepiece-part, which surface layer may also be phosphorescent or fluorescent. Silica, quartz, single crystal quartz, glass, sapphire, optically configured glass, or similar materials for timepiece components may be developed to include phosphorescence or fluorescence in a material entity/body (mass) or by implantation. The timepiece component according to the invention behaves like an optical fiber for guiding and/or diffusing light.

It should be understood that not only the presence or absence of light, but also any modulation of the light and/or changes in its wavelength provide information to the user.

The invention therefore relates to such a timepiece display device 4 for a watch or a timepiece movement 100, comprising at least one movable timepiece component 1.

Although the invention is described herein in the advantageous case of a mechanical movement 10, the invention is of course equally applicable to mechanisms of electronic movements or hybrid mechanical-electronic movements.

According to the invention, the mobile timepiece component 1 transmits and diffuses light emitted by at least one optical energy source 5, the optical energy source 5 being included in the timepiece display 4, or in the movement, or in the watch or timepiece 100.

By "movable" is meant herein a timepiece component that changes orientation or position due to its function (for example, a wheel and pinion, or a lever or other element that pivots between two pivots), or a timepiece component that deforms due to its function during operation of timepiece movement 10 (for example, a mainspring or a timing spring); these examples are non-limiting.

The present description is given for a particular, non-limiting case, namely the visual presentation of the power reserve of the mainspring. Those skilled in the art will know how to adapt this example to other components of the watch and other functions. The invention is particularly well suited for slender and elastic components, since their function is exactly related to their elastic properties and their state changes over time, to changes in internal and external stress states.

The movable watch or clock part 1 is represented herein by a mainspring 1 mounted between a arbour 2 and a structure 3, which structure 3 may be a barrel, or a bridge or similar element.

The invention is described herein in a non-limiting manner in the case of a substantially flat timepiece component, i.e. timepiece component 1 which extends completely between two parallel planes P1 and P2 at each end and in the middle thereof. In the particular case of a power spring, only the inner winding at the inner end 7 of timepiece part 1 and the outer winding at the outer end 6 of timepiece part 1 may extend in a known manner in a space outside the gap between these two planes, so that the power spring is attached to the other elements, here arbour 2 and barrel 3.

According to the invention, the at least one timepiece component transmits and diffuses the light emitted by the at least one optical energy source 5.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one timepiece component is made of silica or quartz or single crystal quartz or glass or ceramic (e.g. sapphire), or a material that is partially transparent to visible or ultraviolet wavelengths, or a material that is transparent or translucent and at least partially amorphous.

The optical energy source 5 may be a primary light source that stores energy and then returns the energy by light propagation, or a secondary light source, referred to herein as an "optical relay" 50, that is connected to the primary light source 5 by an optical path formed by a light guide 51, an optical fiber, or the like. The timepiece component 1 is therefore in contact with or in close proximity to the main light source or light relay 50, which is selected according to the space available in the watch and the volume of the light source 5 or relay 50.

In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 6, barrel wheel 3 carries a light energy source 5 near the outer end 6 of timepiece part 1. It will be understood that the drum 3 may likewise carry a main light source 5 or a light relay 50, again chosen according to the space available in the watch and the volume of the light source 5 or relay 50.

In another variant, not shown in the drawings, the arbour 2 carries the light energy source 5 or the light relay 50 near the inner end 7 of the timepiece part 1. In particular, this variant may be the case of a one-piece assembly of a spindle-timepiece component made of silica or quartz or single crystal quartz or glass or ceramic (e.g. sapphire) or a transparent or translucent at least partially amorphous material, and the light can be collected and returned into a converging region, for example at the spindle or the like.

In another variant, for this particular example of a spirally wound spring forming member 1, the light source 5 or the light relay 50 is located near the timepiece member 1, above or below the coils of the timepiece member. In a particular version of this variant, several such light sources are arranged in the vicinity of the timepiece component 1. Fig. 7 thus shows two light sources 5A and 5B arranged below timepiece component 1, one adjacent to the element for attaching timepiece component to arbour 2 and the other adjacent to the system for attaching timepiece component 1 to barrel wheel 3. In the case of a speed regulating balance spring, the attachment element is collet 21 and the attachment system is balance spring stud 31. In the case of a mainspring, the element for attachment to the arbour is a hook of the arbour 2 that cooperates with a hole in a hook eye, and the attachment system is a slide-spring (slip-spring) or similar. They are arranged so that the first light source 5A is in close proximity to at least one of the outer circles 86, preferably several consecutive outer circles 84, 85, 86, during the maximum extension of the timepiece component 1, and transmits light to all three outer circles 84, 85, 86 simultaneously only in this extended configuration, whereas the light source 5A transmits light to only one of the outer circles 86 in the retracted configuration of the timepiece component. Similarly, the second light source 5B is immediately adjacent to at least one inner circle 87, preferably several consecutive inner circles 87, 82, 83, during maximum contraction of the timepiece component 1, and transmits light to all three inner circles 87, 82, 83 simultaneously only in this contracted configuration, whereas the light source 5B transmits light to only one of the inner circles 87 in the extended configuration of the timepiece component. Thus, the contraction or expansion of timepiece component 1 can be visually represented by using different colour filters on first light source 5A and second light source 5B, or by coloring outer ring 86 (and adjacent coils 84 and 85) of timepiece component 1 (and adjacent coils 81 and 82) differently from inner ring 87 (and adjacent coils 81 and 82) in the entity of the material forming the timepiece component or more simply by means of surface layer 40 located on at least one of the sides (also referred to herein as faces) of timepiece component 1.

Based on the choice of the particular material used for manufacturing the timepiece component 1, when the component is flat as in the present example, it is preferably made in clusters on the same substrate. Each timepiece component 1 includes a larger attachment element having a larger dimension than the cross section S of the coil 8 of the timepiece component 1. This attachment element forms a receiving surface well suited to the light emitted from light source 5 or relay 50 and at the same time provides a good mechanical attachment of timepiece component 1 to barrel wheel 3.

The at least one timepiece component 1 diffuses light over at least one portion of its largest dimension, referred to as the length, and/or over at least one portion of its cross-section orthogonal to the length.

Preferably, but in a non-limiting manner, timepiece-part 1 comprises an upper side 41, a lower side 42, an inner lateral side 46, and an outer lateral side 47. Thus, light is diffused on at least one of the sides of the balance spring. The component also comprises two outboard end faces 43 and an inboard end face 43A, generally limited in cross-section and corresponding to one of the attachment areas of the component 1.

In the usual case where one of the sides is not visible to the user, due to the bridge facing the non-transparent component motherboard or movement, this non-visible surface may advantageously comprise a thin surface metallization layer 40 to form a mirror surface and prevent light diffusion through the associated non-visible surface. This may in particular be the case for the lower side 42 and/or the lateral sides 46, 47. All partial coatings with such sides of the emission layer 40 enable light to be directed to a timepiece component for a certain distance without any significant losses. Thus, the orientation of the area and the relative faces through which light diffusion is desired can be chosen over the length of the timepiece component 1, typically the upper side 41 and one and/or the other of the lateral sides 46, 47.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one timepiece component 1 diffuses light over its entire length between barrel wheel 3 and arbour 2.

Preferably, according to fig. 2, the at least one timepiece component 1 has a rectangular cross section and is formed from a single material, such as silica, quartz, single crystal quartz, glass, sapphire, ceramic or a material partially transparent to visible or ultraviolet wavelengths or a transparent or translucent at least partially amorphous material.

In one variant of the invention, the at least one timepiece component 1 has a rectangular cross section and is formed from at least two materials: a first material consisting of silica, or quartz, or monocrystalline quartz, or glass, or sapphire, or ceramic, or a material that is partially transparent to visible or ultraviolet wavelengths, or a transparent or translucent at least partially amorphous material, on the one hand, and a phosphorescent or fluorescent agent, on the other hand, which is incorporated into the entity of the first material. The material, quartz or glass or the like, can be doped with at least one of the above-mentioned fluorescent or phosphorescent agents, for example by implantation in the body.

In another variant, the at least one timepiece component 1 has a rectangular cross section and is formed of a first material, which is silica, quartz, single crystal quartz, glass, sapphire, ceramic, or a material that is partially transparent to visible or ultraviolet wavelengths, or a material that is transparent or translucent and at least partially amorphous, and of at least one second phosphorescent or fluorescent material applied in the form of a thin layer 40 to at least one of the sides of timepiece component 1.

In the variant shown in fig. 3, this second phosphorescent or fluorescent material is applied in the form of thin layers 40 to the four sides of timepiece component 1.

In an advantageous variant, the at least one timepiece component 1 includes, on its upper and lower sides 41, 42 defining two parallel planes P1, P2, a surface roughness Rt of between 10 nanometers and 20 micrometers, preferably close to 1 micrometer or slightly greater than this value. This slight roughness, which gives the watch part 1 a frosted appearance, can be obtained during the manufacture of the quartz watch part 1, for example, wherein the control parameters of the method allow a certain degree of smooth surface finish to be achieved. Providing the projections at a particular angle along the lateral faces 46, 47 may provide a similar effect. The timepiece component 1 may also be reworked, in particular by chemical etching, so as to include microcells providing the required local roughness.

The addition of the thin layer deposit 40 according to fig. 3 can, for example, increase or decrease the diffusion or guiding of light into the timepiece component 1. Examples of phosphorescent or fluorescent layers 40 can change the transmission spectrum (e.g., if an ultraviolet light emitting diode is used as the light source 5) or can enable light to be stored and transmitted within the layer. In particular, europium-doped strontium SrAl aluminates are known₂O₄One of the known types is known under the name "Super-luminescent (Super-lumineva)".

Such a thin layer deposit 40 can be used to colour at least one side face when the light is again propagated due to diffusion by at least one coil of the timepiece component 1.

The layer deposition can also ensure the surface roughness required for good diffusion.

The thickness of this layer 40 is preferably between 10 nanometers and 1 micron, preferably close to 100 nanometers.

Various properties of layer 40 may be used: metals, oxides (e.g. TiO, TiO)₂,Ta₂O₅,SiO₂,Si₃N₄,Al₂O₃) Or gold based on aluminum and goldIntergeneric compounds, but this list is non-limiting. It is also possible to coat the respective sides with layers 40 of different nature.

Layer 40 may be colored with a particular wavelength. Interaction with light from the light source 5 can produce particular effects, particularly if the light source 5 or relay 50 includes a monochromatic filter or is pulsed at a single wavelength.

The side faces of the timepiece component 1 may be structured, in particular, lithographically.

The path of the light within the watch component 1 can be changed by setting specific obstacles or changing the light environment (for example by setting notches, perforations, bevels or the like).

The structuring in the mask during the manufacture of the timepiece component 1 makes it possible to form characteristic lateral sides 46, 47 for two adjacent coils of the timepiece component 1 (in particular when this timepiece component is a spring as in this context), in particular by means of a notch or a pairing of optical polarities, for example, so that during the retraction of the timepiece component 1 the inner lateral surface 46 of the outermost one of the two coils fits in a characteristic manner closest to the outer lateral surface 47 of the innermost one of the two coils, and so that the optical effect produced during this closest approach is different from the optical effect which two adjacent coils exhibit together when they are at the greatest distance from one another during the extension of the timepiece component 1. In particular, the two opposite lateral surfaces may be subjected to different monochromatic treatments, for example blue on one surface and yellow on the other, both colors being clearly visible during extension and diffused in green in the retracted position.

In a particular embodiment, at least one of the ends 6, 7 of the timepiece component 1 comprises an end face 43 that directly receives light from the light source 5 or the light relay 50 of this light source. Fig. 4 shows such an embodiment, in which all the coils of the timepiece component 1 are parallel.

In another particular embodiment, shown in fig. 5, in particular in the case where timepiece component 1 includes a twist 45 adjacent to one of its ends 6, 7, this end includes at least one bevel 44 for receiving light in a direction D substantially perpendicular to a plane parallel to two parallel planes P1, P2, this planes P1, P2 being defined by upper and lower sides 41, 42 of timepiece component 1. The direction D is advantageously parallel to the pivot axis a of the spindle 2. This arrangement makes it possible to arrange the light source 5 or the light relay 50 above or below the timepiece part 1, just above or below the barrel wheel 3, which may be advantageous in terms of space.

The invention makes it possible to manufacture timepiece-part 1 as a light guide with controlled losses along the entire length of the timepiece-part.

The illumination of timepiece component 1 need not necessarily occur in the preferred direction, and in fact it may occur through upper side 41 (plane P1 in the drawings) and/or through lateral sides 46, 47 of timepiece component 1.

Depending on the design of the light source 5 and the design of the timepiece component 1, several types of illumination can be obtained. In particular, the following will be included:

constant illumination, regardless of the movement of the timepiece components;

variable illumination, varying according to the movement of the timepiece components, in order to simulate, for example, the beating of a human heart: the timepiece component can be illuminated over its entire length when the coils are close to each other, and can be minimized when the coils are far from each other (fading effect); or vice versa. Thus controlling losses according to the position of the coil;

colored lighting, with different colors at the two ends of the timepiece component, which can be achieved by a timepiece component coated with a particular thin layer 40.

The coupling between the light source 5 or the relay 50 and the timepiece component 1 may be caused by their proximity: the light propagated by light source 5 or relay 50 has a sufficient energy level for timepiece component 1 to capture the light before propagating it again by diffusion.

The coupling may also be advantageously and preferably achieved by direct face-to-face contact, or by a plug-in arrangement, or by any known light guide and fibre optic technique.

Preferably, the light is concentrated upstream of its path of propagation to the watch component, or in a condenser when it enters the watch component 1. In a particular and advantageous embodiment, the condenser is integrated in timepiece component 1 during manufacture.

For a given setting, the stress distribution in the timepiece component 1 varies during the contraction or extension of the timepiece component. It also generates a variation during the variation of the characteristics of the movable timepiece component: in particular, in the case of a speed-regulating balance spring, depending on the amplitude of oscillation of the arbour 2, a variation in the luminescence of the timepiece component can thus reveal a change in amplitude.

The timepiece component 1 according to the invention can be heterogeneous, so that it is possible to produce specific technical functions and different light diffusion areas.

By "rendered amorphous" is meant herein that the structure is altered to change the refractive index. The coil can be made locally amorphous, in particular by laser processing.

The watch component 1 may be at least partially polished. A particular machining configuration may create light leakage surfaces on certain surfaces and at particular locations, the light leakage surfaces being selected to have a particular orientation.

The difficulty of guiding and diffusing light over the entire length of the timepiece component 1, which may have a large extension, may lead to a neutralization of some of the coils or of some coil portions, so that light is prevented from escaping from the coils, for example by means of a reflective layer or similar functional mask. This therefore preserves and directs light to the ends 6 and 7 of the timepiece component 1.

In a particular preferred embodiment, the movable watch part 1 comprises at least one elastic and deformable portion, and the diffusion of light through the movable watch part 1 varies with the stress in the elastic and deformable portion.

In a particular embodiment, the movable timepiece component 1 is a power spring, or a mainspring or a clockwork spring, and the luminous pattern of the timepiece component visually displays the remaining power reserve.

In another particular embodiment, the movable timepiece component 1 is a play take-up spring (play take-up). More specifically, the movable timepiece component 1 forms a gap-occupying spring for the height gauge.

In another particular embodiment, the movable timepiece component 1 is a split-time counting spring (split-time counting spring).

In another particular embodiment, the movable timepiece component 1 is a jumper or jumper spring.

The part 1 may also be a helical spring made of the same material, which has other functions than the speed regulating balance spring function.

The component 1 may also be a quartz spiral spring arranged to act as a return spring for eliminating play with a pointer or the like.

The light source 5 may take various forms. Preferably, the light source 5 is a light emitting diode or a fluorescent or phosphorescent component.

Advantageously, the light source 5 is phosphorescent and/or fluorescent, preferably phosphorescent, since it has a longer residual light time, which may be up to several hours, and moreover the light source 5 can also illuminate the timepiece component at any time all night.

For simplicity, the light source will be defined as "phosphorescent" in the following description. Such phosphorescent light sources advantageously comprise rare earth aluminates (e.g. europium-doped strontium aluminates SrAl) well known to physicists₂O₄One of the known types is known under the name "supernoctilucent"), or rare earth silicates, or mixtures of rare earth aluminates and silicates. For example, isMaterials such as tritium (3H), promethium-147 or radium-226 have excellent phosphorescent properties, but their high β and/or gamma radioactivity greatly limit their application, they can only be used in trace amounts, preferably in combination with rare earth aluminates, for some very specific military or aerospace applications, at very deep depths or similar locations with accompanying protection that significantly increases the volume of the timepiece, the term "radioluminescence" or "autoruminescence" being adopted in the case of these materials, as well as the known gas-containing borosilicate glass capsules, known as "GTLS" (gaseous tritium source) produced by MB microtechnology company (MB Microtech), which contain tritium (3H) and do not require any external excitation to luminesce, like radium, which capsules are particularly useful for illuminating the hands or inlays (appliques) that are mainly military.

The excitation light originates from the environment of the user, sunlight, ambient light. The light source is housed in the internal volume of the case of the timepiece or watch. The surrounding energy can be collected in the intermediate part of the partially or completely transparent or translucent casing and/or in the partially or completely transparent or translucent dial and/or in the display aperture, in particular for the date or the like. The ambient energy may also be collected by accessories adjacent to the timepiece (e.g. watch bracelet or wristband) and propagated by waveguides or optical fibers or the like. Similarly, ambient energy may be captured in other external components, such as a back cover, bezel, flange, or other components.

The light source 5 may emit monochromatic pulsed light.

One of the preferred applications of the invention is the visual presentation of internal stresses in a timepiece component, which are manifested by light emitted by a light source 5 that is transmitted and diffused by the component 1.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement 10 including at least one such timepiece display device 4. The light source 5 is located in the timepiece display 4 or is removed from the timepiece display 4 and located in the movement 10, in which case it is connected to an optical relay 50 located in the timepiece display 4 in close proximity to or in contact with the movable timepiece component 1, by at least one light guide 51 or at least one optical fiber.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 100 including one such mechanical movement 10 and/or at least one such timepiece display device 4. The light source 5 is either located in the timepiece display 4 or is moved out of the timepiece display 4 and located in the movement 10, in which case it is connected to an optical relay 50 located in the timepiece display 4 in close proximity to or in contact with the movable timepiece component 1, by at least one light guide 51 or at least one optical fiber.

Preferably, this timepiece 100 is a wristwatch and the timepiece component 1 is of the "flat" type described above.

In a variant not shown in the figures, the invention can be coupled with a stroboscopic device inserted on the light track between the light source and the timepiece component, in order to achieve a specific luminous effect, if the component 1 moves with a high oscillation frequency.

Depending on the frequency and wavelength of the light diffused by the light source 5 or the relay 50, the stroboscopic structure makes it possible to produce, by structuring or masking, security markings or covert signatures that appear only under specific lighting conditions.

The slowing down of the light due to the refractive index variations associated with the variation of the internal stresses during the contraction or extension of the timepiece components also makes special authentication possible.

The diffusion of the monochromatic pulsating light of another wavelength by the timepiece component 1 treated and coloured at a first wavelength provides a particular visual display.

One variant of the invention, more suitable for clocks and stationary timepieces, relates to the application to such a movable timepiece part: it is not the substantially flat balance spring described above, but rather a coil spring.

In short, the device for visual presentation of a timepiece component provided by the invention is compact and low-energy-consuming. It draws the attention of the user to the visual "heart" of his or her watch or timepiece and highlights the particularly lively nature of a mechanical timepiece, while requiring fewer mechanical elements for displaying the status of the timepiece function.

Claims (22)

1. Watch (100) comprising a mechanical timepiece movement (10), said movement comprising at least one timepiece display device (4), said timepiece display device (4) comprising at least one movable timepiece component (1), said movable timepiece component (1) being deformed during operation of said movement (10) as a result of the function of said movable timepiece component, said movable timepiece component (1) being a slender elastic component and the function of said movable timepiece component being related to its elastic properties, characterized in that said movable timepiece component (1) propagates and diffuses light emitted by at least one light source (5) contained in said timepiece display device (4); the movable timepiece component (1) comprises at least one elastically deformable portion; the diffusion of light through the movable timepiece component (1) varies with the stress in the elastically deformable portion; the movable timepiece component (1) has a rectangular cross section and is formed on the one hand of a first material, which is silica, or quartz, or single crystal quartz, or glass, or sapphire, or ceramic, or a material that is partially transparent to visible or ultraviolet wavelengths, or a material that is transparent or translucent and at least partially amorphous, and on the other hand of at least one second phosphorescent or fluorescent material applied in the form of a thin layer (40) to at least one of the surfaces of the movable timepiece component (1); the light source (5), active or passive, is arranged to inject light into one part of the movable timepiece component (1) that spreads and diffuses the light so that it is visible in the dark, over at least a part of the movable timepiece component (1) or over the entire movable timepiece component (1), the movable timepiece component (1) being formed by a helically wound spring, the light source (5) being located in the vicinity of the spring, above or below the coils of the spring, wherein two of the light sources (5A,5B) are arranged below the spring, one of the light sources being adjacent to an element for attaching the spring to a spindle (2) and the other light source being adjacent to a fixing system for fixing the spring to a barrel wheel (3) or an epibole (31), wherein the light sources (5A; 5B) are arranged such that a first light source (5A) is in close proximity to a plurality of consecutive windings (84, 85, 86) during maximum extension of the spring and transmits light to all three windings (84, 85, 86) simultaneously only in this extended configuration, whereas the first light source (5A) transmits light to only one of the windings in the retracted configuration of the spring; and a second light source (5B) is in close proximity to a plurality of consecutive inner coils (87, 82, 83) during maximum contraction of the spring and transmits light to all three inner coils (87, 82, 83) simultaneously only in this contracted configuration, whereas the second light source (5B) transmits light to only one of the inner coils in the extended configuration of the spring.

2. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable timepiece component (1) is a speed regulating balance spring, said element for attaching said spring to the spindle (2) is a collet (21) and said fixing system is a balance spring stud (31).

3. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable timepiece component is a mainspring, said element for attachment to a arbour is a hook of a arbour (2) cooperating with a hole in a eye of said mainspring, and said fixing system is a sliding spring.

4. The watch (100) of claim 1, characterised in that the contraction or expansion of the spring is visually indicated by using different colour filters on the first (5A) and second (5B) light sources, or by coloring the outer turns (84, 85, 86) of the spring differently from the inner turns (87, 82, 83) in the entity of material forming the spring or in a surface layer on at least one of the sides of the spring.

5. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said light source (5) is located at one of the ends of said movable timepiece component (1).

6. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said light source (5) is located at one of the ends of said mobile timepiece component (1) remote from the centre of said movement (10).

7. The watch (100) of claim 1, wherein the light source (5) is a light emitting diode.

8. The wristwatch (100) of claim 1, characterized in that the light source (5) is a component coated with a passive phosphor layer.

9. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable timepiece component (1) diffuses light over at least a part of its largest dimension, called length, and/or over at least a part of a section orthogonal to said length.

10. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said movable timepiece component (1) diffuses the light over its entire maximum dimension, called length.

11. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable timepiece component (1) has a rectangular cross section and comprises at least one phosphorescent or fluorescent dopant incorporated in the entity of said first material.

12. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said movable timepiece component (1) has a rectangular cross section and comprises at least one second phosphorescent or fluorescent material applied in the form of a thin layer (40) on at least one of the faces of said movable timepiece component (1).

13. Watch (100) according to claim 12, characterised in that said second phosphorescent or fluorescent material is applied in the form of a thin layer (40) on four sides of said movable timepiece component (1).

14. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the mobile timepiece component (1) has a rectangular cross section and comprises at least one coloured material applied in the form of a thin layer (40) onto at least one of the surfaces of the mobile timepiece component (1).

15. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable timepiece component (1) comprises a surface roughness Rt between 10 nanometers and 20 micrometers on an upper face (41) and a lower face (42) defining two parallel planes (P1; P2).

16. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the ends (6; 7) of the movable timepiece component (1) comprises an end face (43) directly receiving light from the light source (5).

17. Watch (100) according to claim 16, characterised in that said end (6; 7) comprises at least one bevel (44) for receiving light in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane parallel to two parallel planes (P1; P2), said two parallel planes (P1; P2) being defined by an upper face (41) and a lower face (42) of said movable timepiece component (1).

18. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable timepiece component (1) is a power spring or a mainspring or a striking spring and in that the luminous pattern of the movable timepiece component visually displays the remaining power reserve.

19. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said movable timepiece component (1) is a gap-occupying spring.

20. Watch (100) according to claim 19, characterised in that the mobile timepiece component (1) is a gap-occupying spring for a mountain watch.

21. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said movable timepiece component (1) is a time-division counting spring.

22. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable timepiece component (1) is a jumper or a jumper spring.