Patent Application
20190121297
This application claims priority from European patent application No. 17197737.4 filed on Oct. 23, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The invention concerns a presentation case for an electromechanical watch provided with a stepping motor for driving the watch hands.
The invention also concerns an assembly comprising the presentation case and an electromechanical watch provided with a stepping motor.
In the field of electromechanical watches with hands, there are known systems for correcting the time displayed by the watch. Such systems make it possible to reset the watch, for example in the case of a time zone change or of a summer/winter time change.
Such a time correction system is, for example, described in European Patent Application No EP 1 553 469 A1. The system is provided with a time correction instruction device, comprising, in an example embodiment, a computer connected to a camera and to a time correction signal generating circuit. The watch includes communication means for receiving time correction data contained in the signal and means for moving the hands to the exact time. The watch can be placed on a frame with the time indicated by the hands visible on the top, and the camera can take a photograph of the position of the hands, which is sent to the computer to recognise the time displayed by the watch. The computer then generates correction data including a reference time, and transmits this data to the watch, via the signal generating circuit. However, one drawback of such a system is that it requires modification of the watch movement in order to incorporate the communication means and means for moving the hands. Further, such a system is bulky and restrictive, requiring, in particular, the use of a computer for the time correction.
To overcome the aforementioned drawback, there are known watch presentation cases adapted to receive a watch on a support and comprising means for resetting the watch. Patent Application WO 2012/126978 A1, which discloses such a presentation case, can be cited in this regard. According to a particular example embodiment, the presentation case described in this document includes a removable support that receives the watch and a watch winding device connected to a camera. The winding device includes data analysis means. Once the watch is placed on the removable support of the presentation case, the camera stores an image of the position of the hands and sends it to the analysis means. Said means then determine the time displayed by the watch and, through comparison with a time reference, transmit a time correction instruction to the winding device. The winding device then winds the watch by direct mechanical action on the winding button. However, one drawback of the proposed presentation case is that it is mechanically complex, and it is limited to resetting watches which have a winding button.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a presentation case for an electromechanical watch provided with a stepping motor, which makes it possible to automatically reset the watch, in an easy and non-restrictive manner, and overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the state of the art.
To this end, the invention concerns a presentation case for an electromechanical watch provided with a stepping motor for driving the watch hands, the presentation case comprising:
a box comprising a support for receiving the watch, the presentation case being configured to contain a predefined type and/or shape of electromechanical watch;
a system for detecting the position of the watch hands;
means for resetting the watch, connected to the hand position detection system, and configured to reset the watch on the basis of information received from the hand position detection system, when the watch is placed on the receiving support;
wherein the presentation case is configured to contain a predefined type and/or shape of electromechanical watch, and
wherein the resetting means include a stepping motor drive means specific to the type of electromechanical watch, the drive means being arranged inside the presentation case so as to face the stepping motor when the watch is placed on the receiving support, and being configured to cause a direct rotation of a rotor of a stepping motor by inductive coupling.
Specific embodiments of the presentation case are defined in the dependent claims 2 to 15.
An electromechanical watch, such as an electromechanical quartz watch, typically includes a stepping motor, such as a Lavet motor, which drives the watch hands by means of a gear train.
One advantage of the presentation case of the invention lies in the fact that the means for resetting the watch include a stepping motor drive means, configured to control direct rotation of a rotor of the stepping motor by inductive coupling. The drive means is arranged in the presentation case so as to face the stepping motor when the watch is placed on the receiving support. Thus, the electromechanical watch is reset easily and quickly inside the presentation case, by the inductive coupling action of the drive means directly on the stepping motor.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the resetting system that it proposes does not require any modification of the watch movement. The presentation case is thus functional for any electromechanical watch movement provided with a stepping motor, without requiring any modification of said movement.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, the drive means includes at least one coil mounted on a ferromagnetic coil by ferromagnetic core and powered via electrical power means.
According to a second embodiment of the invention, the drive means includes a rotatably mounted magnet. One advantage of this second embodiment is that it makes it possible to rotate the stepping motor, and therefore the hands, in both directions of rotation. This advantageously makes it possible to reduce the time taken to reset the watch.
Advantageously, the presentation case further includes a flap portion mounted on the box, an optical system for detecting the position of the hands being fixed inside the flap portion so as to face the watch hands when the flap portion is closed onto the box and the watch is placed on the receiving support. This optimises the space inside the presentation case, by freeing space inside the box. The flap portion is, for example, a lid.
Advantageously, the presentation case further includes a lid, and a sensor detecting the presence of the watch and/or closure of the lid. Said sensor is connected to the watch resetting means, the resetting means being configured to start a watch resetting process based on a detection signal received from the sensor. This allows the watch resetting process to be completed automated, from the moment that the watch is placed on the receiving support and/or that the lid is closed.
To this end, the invention also concerns an assembly including an electromechanical watch provided with a stepping motor, and a presentation case for receiving the watch as above-mentioned.
The objects, advantages and features of the presentation case for an electromechanical watch will appear more clearly in the following description based on at least one non-limiting embodiment, illustrated by the drawings, in which:
In the following description, reference is made to a presentation case for an electromechanical watch, especially a presentation case for an electromechanical quartz watch. All the electronic components of the presentation case, which are well known to those skilled in the art in this technical field, will be described only in a simplified manner. In particular, those skilled in the art will know how to adapt these various electronic components and make them work together to operate the presentation case.
In
Presentation case 4 includes a box 8. As illustrated in
Preferably, presentation case 4 is configured to contain a predefined type and/or shape of electromechanical watch 2. For this purpose, box 8 includes a support 24 for receiving watch 2, adapted to the type and/or shape of watch 2. A support 24 of this type can be seen, in particular, in
As illustrated in
According to a second embodiment example, system 10 for detecting the position of hands 6 includes an optical sensor (not represented). The optical sensor is arranged to be precisely opposite hands 6 of watch 2 when watch 2 is placed on receiving support 24. For this purpose, the optical sensor is, for example, fixed inside lid 14 so as to face hands 6, when lid 14 is closed onto box 8. The optical sensor is, for example, fixed in such a position on lid 14 that it is flush with crystal 7 of watch case 5, for example at a distance of a few millimetres, when lid 14 is closed on box 8. The advantage of such an optical sensor is that it is a relatively simple and inexpensive component.
Resetting means 12 are configured to reset watch 2 on the basis of information received from system 10 for detecting the position of hands 6, when watch 2 is placed on receiving support 24. For this purpose, resetting means 12 include data analysis means 26, a time reference, and a means 28 for driving the stepping motor of watch 2.
As represented in
Stepping motor drive means 28 of watch 2 is arranged inside presentation case 4 so to face the stepping motor when watch 2 is placed on receiving support 24. Preferably, drive means 28 is arranged inside presentation case 4 so as to be on the back cover 30 side of watch case 5 when watch 2 is placed on receiving support 24, facing said back cover 30. For this purpose, drive means 28 is, for example, arranged inside receiving support 24, as illustrated in
Sensor 16 for detecting the presence of watch 2 and/or closure of lid 14 is, for example, fixed inside presentation case 4, inside or outside receiving support 24. The watch presence sensor 16 is for example a feeler arm arranged inside presentation case 4 so as to face the back cover 30 side of watch case 5 when watch 2 is placed on receiving support 24, facing said back cover 30. In a variant that is not represented, the sensor for detecting the presence of watch 2 and/or closure of lid 14 is formed by optical system 10 for detecting the position of hands 6 of watch 2. Data analysis means 26 are, for example, configured to start a process of resetting watch 2 on the basis of a detection signal received from sensor 16, as will be described in detail below.
Display and activation means 18 include, for example, several activation buttons and several light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes are intended to provide visual indications relating to the operation of presentation case 4, and in particular to the resetting of watch 2.
As illustrated in
Mobile telephone signal receiver 21, for example for a GSM signal, is provided with a communication module and with a signal receiver antenna.
Radio or GPS signal receiver 22 is provided with a communication module and with a signal receiver antenna.
As illustrated in
In the example embodiment illustrated in
Preferably, resetting means 12, in particular data analysis means 26, are adapted to set watch 2 according to the current time. The current time is synchronised by means of a reference system, for example an embedded or remote reference system. A remote reference system includes, for example, the reception, by receiver 22, of a radio or GPS signal, or the reception, by communication means 20, of a signal from a computer network, or the reception, by receiver 21, of a mobile telephone signal. The reception of one or more of these signals allows the time reference stored in microprocessor 26 or in printed circuit 42 to be updated. For example, such a time reference can be provided by a precision quartz placed on printed circuit 42.
A first embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to
Coils 44 are each mounted on a ferromagnetic core 46 and are powered via an electrical power source. Ferromagnetic cores 46 are, for example, formed of a soft ferromagnetic metal. Preferably, the electrical power source is formed by electrical power means 23. In the example embodiment illustrated in
In a variant that is not represented, drive means 28 can, for example, comprise two coils 44. This variant makes it possible to obtain a horizontal magnetic field once coils 44 are electrically powered. This only allows hands 6 of watch 2 to be rotated in one direction of rotation. In this variant, coils 44 are, for example, chosen such that the value of the magnetic field produced is typically on the order of 0.02 Teslas.
According to this second embodiment, stepping motor drive means 28 of watch 2 does not include any coils, but includes a rotatably mounted magnet 48. In the example embodiment illustrated in
Rotating magnet 48 makes it possible to obtain a rotating magnetic field, once electric motor 50 is electrically powered. This rotating magnetic field induces a magnetic coupling with the stepping motor of watch 2. Magnet 48 is, for example, chosen such that the value of this magnetic field is typically on the order of 0.02 Teslas.
The speed of electric motor 50 is controlled by microprocessor 26. Electric motor 50 is, for example, a continuous current motor provided with an encoder. In a variant, electric motor 50 may be a stepping motor.
One advantage of using a rotatably mounted magnet 48 is that it makes it possible to rotate the stepping motor of watch 2, and therefore hands 6, in both directions of rotation. This advantageously makes it possible to reduce the time taken to reset watch 2.
The operation of presentation case 4 according to the invention will now be described. Watch 2 is initially placed inside presentation case 4, on receiving support 24.
The process for resetting watch 2, implemented by presentation case 4, can be started either manually by a user, or automatically.
In the case where the process is started manually by a user, after closing lid 14, the user presses, for example, on an activation button belonging to display and activation means 18.
In the case where presentation case 4 includes a sensor 16 for detecting the presence of watch 2 and/or closure of lid 14, the resetting process is started automatically, following a detection by sensor 16. Sensor 16 then transmits a detection signal to analysis means 26, which starts the resetting process.
In both cases, detection system 10, controlled by analysis means 26, starts detecting the position of hands 6 of watch 2, and transmits the hand position data to means 12 for resetting watch 2. More specifically, analysis means 26 receive the hand position data and compare it to the available time reference. The time reference could be updated by analysis means 26, via a remote reference system. The reception by analysis means 26 of a time reference signal, for example, enables this update. Analysis means 26 then determines, as a function of the comparison result, a command to reset watch 2 to the current time and transmits this command to drive means 28. Drive means 28 then causes a rotation, via inductive coupling, of the stepping motor rotor of watch 2, which allows a movement of hands 6, driven by the motor. The stepping motor of watch 2 is then driven in rotation, until hands 6 reach a position corresponding to the current time, which ends the process. An optical check of the correct position of the hands can be added, if required.
An example of an automatic start of the process for resetting a watch 2 with two hands 6, in the particular case where presentation case 4 includes a presence sensor for watch 2 and where detection system 10 includes an optical sensor, is provided by the following sequence:
detection, by sensor 16, of the presence of watch 2 inside presentation case 4;
start, by analysis means 26, of the process of resetting watch 2;
transmission to drive means 28, by analysis means 26, of a command to rotate the stepping motor of watch 2;
high speed rotation (typically at a frequency of 60 Hz), by drive means 28, of the stepping motor of watch 2. If the stepping motor is actuated in normal mode every 20 seconds, namely 180 positions per revolution for the minute hand, a maximum of 36 seconds is required to move the two hands 6 past the optical sensor;
detection, by the optical sensor, of the position of hands 6 and transmission of the position data for hand 6 to analysis means 26;
calculation, by analysis means 26, of the new position of hands 6 according to the internal time reference;
transmission to drive means 28, by analysis means 26, of a command to reset watch 2 to the current time;
high speed positioning (typically at a frequency of 60 Hz), by drive means 28, of hands 6 of watch 2.
In the variant wherein detection system 10 includes a camera and not an optical sensor, the first step of rotating the stepping motor of watch 2, to move hands 6 past the detection system, is no longer necessary.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17197737.4 | Oct 2017 | EP | regional |
