Patent Application
20240210881
The invention relates to a system for controlling/adjusting an illumination function of a watch comprising at least one external timepiece element provided with an autonomous lighting device.
In the prior art, systems for controlling a light source intended to provide a watch with an illumination function are known. Such systems typically comprise a push-button associated with this light source. When the push-button is pressed, the light source is switched on or off as required.
One of the major drawbacks of such systems lies in the fact that such a push-button dedicated to this function is typically located at a given point on the periphery of the watch case, which often makes it difficult to access and thus requires the wearer of the watch to carry out complex operations to locate and operate it by fumbling in the dark.
Moreover, integrating such a push-button into the watch requires a dedicated hole to be made in the middle of the watch case, which can pose a risk to the water-resistance of this case.
Another drawback lies in the fact that such a push-button often has only two modes of operation for switching the light source on and off as required. Such modes do not allow the light intensity of this source to be adjusted according to the brightness of the environment in which this watch is located.
Under these conditions, it is understood that there is a need to find a solution that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.
The purpose of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by providing a system for controlling/adjusting an illumination function of a watch, which system is simple to use, robust and reliable.
To this end, the invention relates to a system for adjusting an illumination function of a watch comprising at least one external timepiece element provided with an autonomous lighting device, the system including a portable electronic device provided with a communication unit and a controller configured to control this communication unit, the lighting device being formed by an assembly (9a, 9b) of a plurality of stacked layers connected together and each including one or more of the following functional elements:
In other embodiments:
The purposes, advantages and features of the watch according to the invention will appear more clearly in the following description which is given on the basis of at least one non-limiting embodiment shown by way of the drawings, in which:
Such a system 100 thus comprises the portable electronic device in addition to said watch, both of which are capable of carrying out data exchanges between one another by implementing a near-field communication technology for example.
In this context, the watch can, for example, be an electronic, electromechanical and/or mechanical watch, and in particular a sports watch or a so-called “luxury” watch. In such a watch 1, the external timepiece elements 2a, 2b correspond to all of the component parts of the watch surrounding a movement, contributing in particular to the external presentation, protection, fastening and control thereof. These external timepiece elements further give this watch its aesthetic appearance and style, and allow all its functions to be indicated. More specifically and with reference to
In the description hereinbelow, all parts of the watch that are well known to a person skilled in the art will only be explained in a simplified manner.
In
It should be noted that in the example embodiment of the invention described, the horological movement is a mechanical movement. In one alternative embodiment, this movement can be an electronic movement or an electromechanical movement. A watch can be referred to herein as mechanical when its movement is mechanical, and as electromechanical or electronic when it includes electromechanical or electronic movements respectively.
In this configuration, the horological movement drives, in a manner known to a person skilled in the art, a display comprising an hour hand, a minute hand and optionally a seconds hand. To this end, the dial 2a, 2b includes a through-hole receiving the arbor of the hands.
In the particular embodiment shown in
Such a lighting device 3 includes functional elements such as: said at least one light source 4, a self-contained power supply unit 21, a communication module 22 and a control unit 7.
In this lighting device 3, the power supply unit 21 comprises an electrical accumulator 6 and a photovoltaic module 5 comprising at least one photovoltaic cell, also referred to as a solar cell. This photovoltaic module 5 is connected to the electrical accumulator 6 via connection elements given the reference numerals 17b and 18 in
In this lighting device 3, the control unit 7, also referred to as a microcontroller, includes an electronic circuit 8 including hardware resources, in particular at least one processor cooperating with memory elements as well as address, data and control buses. This control unit 7 comprises, in its memory elements, an algorithm for managing the illumination of said at least one light source 4. Such an algorithm is executed by the processor of this control unit 7, taking into account illumination instructions received from the portable electronic device and/or data from event sensors included in the lighting device 3 and/or the electronic device 110 in order to manage the operation of said at least one light source 4.
It should be noted that such data can, for example, provide information relating to events detected by these sensors, said events being likely to contribute to the switching on/off of said at least one light source 4. These events can comprise, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: the detection of a particular brightness level in the environment of the watch, the detection of a particular sound element or a particular sound level, the detection of a particular visual object, the detection of a movement made by a part of the user's body on which the watch and/or the electronic device is worn, the detection of a geographical location of the user of the watch and thus of the watch, the detection of a notification relating to a function of the electronic device, the detection of a notification relating to an application executed by the electronic device, the detection of the reception of a message by the electronic device, etc.
In this context, the event sensor of this autonomous lighting device 3 comprises in particular and in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner:
It should further be noted that this control unit 7 is able to manage/control the operation of the light sources 4 simultaneously and/or in sequence. Moreover, each light source 4 is managed/controlled separately by this control unit. In this context, the management of the operation of each light source 4 can consist of, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, switching this source 4 on and off.
Such a control unit 7 can further comprise, in its memory elements, an algorithm for managing the electrical accumulator 6, in particular for managing its recharging by the photovoltaic module 5 and for managing the electricity consumption of said light source 4.
In this lighting device 3, the communication module 22 is preferably wireless, and can be a near-field communication (NFC) module which thus implements, for example, short-range, high-frequency wireless communication technology. This communication module 22 can, for example, operate in the high-frequency HF frequency bands, for example at 13.56 MHz. Alternatively, such a wireless communication module 22 can be a Bluetooth™-type communication module.
Such a communication module 22, when of the NFC type, thus allows data to be exchanged over short distances between the watch 1, and in particular between said at least one external timepiece element 2a, 2b, and the electronic device 110. Such distances can be between approximately 0 and 10 cm, and preferably between 0 and 5 cm. The communication module 22 can be of the passive type with power supplied thereto by the radio frequencies transmitted by the communication device of the electronic device 110. Alternatively, the communication module 7 of the watch 1 can be of the active type receiving power from the power supply unit 21 of the lighting device.
More specifically and with reference to
In this system 100, the portable electronic device 110, also referred to as a user terminal, is a device capable of being worn and carried by a user. This is the case for a smartphone, a phablet or a tablet for example. It goes without saying that the devices requiring a mains power supply, for example desktop computers, are excluded from this definition. Devices 110 such as a laptop computer to which a sensor is connected wirelessly or by wire are further excluded from this definition. This electronic device 110 comprises a case 27 in which an electronic circuit 26 is arranged. This electronic circuit 26 includes a controller 24 and a communication unit 25, in particular a near-field communication (NFC) unit 25, both powered by a battery. This controller 24 is capable of executing instructions to implement a computer program configured, for example, to process requests/instructions/data from/to the watch 1, in particular from/to its control unit 7. The electronic device 110 can further include a camera and an input interface such as a touch screen or buttons.
As mentioned above, this device 110 further comprises event sensors such as:
Furthermore, such a controller 24 is in particular able to execute instructions for implementing a computer program which is configured to process, for example, the requests/instructions/data received from/sent to the control unit 7 of the lighting device 3.
Furthermore, this controller 24 is also capable of executing a computer program also referred to as an “application” or “app”. More specifically in this context, the application is an “illumination management application of the watch”. When executed by the controller 24, this application is thus able to generate at least one instruction aimed at ensuring the immediate or automatic management of the illumination of the watch 1 and in particular of said at least one external timepiece element 2a, 2b. To do this, the memory elements of this controller 24 comprise:
It should be noted that when this application is executed by the electronic device 110, an interface generated by the execution of this application is then displayed on the screen of this device 110 allowing the user, by interacting with this interface, to configure an illumination mode and/or scenario.
In this configuration, the user can select an illumination mode for the external timepiece element 2a, 2b in order to immediately control said at least one light source 4 according to the management configuration for this illumination which is defined in this mode. More specifically, each mode comprises an illumination management configuration that is different from that of another mode. In a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, the one or more differences lie in:
Moreover, the user can further select an illumination scenario for the external timepiece element 2a, 2b in order to automatically control the illumination from said at least one light source 4 according to the management configuration for this illumination which is defined in this scenario. This scenario defines the automatic management of the illumination from said at least one light source 4 on the basis of event data from the one or more event sensors included in the external timepiece element 2a, 2b. Alternatively or additionally, this data can also come from the electronic device 110 which transmits it to the control unit 7 as soon as the event is detected by at least one event sensor in the device 110. It should be noted that each scenario comprises an illumination management configuration that is different from that of another scenario. In a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, the one or more differences lie in:
With reference to
In this assembly 9a, 9b, the layers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 are joined together by a joining element such as an adhesive substance so as to unify them in order to obtain a monolithic assembly 9a, 9b thus forming a one-piece external timepiece element 2a, 2b. This joining element can also be a clip or a screw. Such layers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 are stacked in the assembly 9a, 9b, and are arranged one on top of the other in a defined order.
Thus, such a one-piece external timepiece element 2a, 2b (e.g.: dial, bezel) has the additional advantage of being able to be removably mounted in a case of the timepiece 1, in addition to facilitating its integration into or onto such a case.
More specifically, in first and second alternative embodiments, this assembly 9a, 9b comprises a first layer 10 forming/constituting a visible face 20a of the external timepiece element 2a, 2b. Such a first layer 10 is formed by a transparent or translucent or at least partially transparent or at least partially translucent substrate which is rigid or semi-rigid. Such a substrate is made of a material having a transmittance to solar radiation, in particular to ultraviolet radiation, also known as UVT (for “Ultra-Violet Transmission”), of between 65 and 95 percent. This transmittance is preferably 85 percent. Such a material can be transparent or translucent. This material can be, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, a polymer, glass or ceramic.
In this context, it is understood that this substrate is configured so that:
In other words, this transparent or translucent substrate is configured so that light radiation such as solar radiation can pass through it and power the photovoltaic module 5 so that the latter can convert the solar energy from this radiation into electrical energy.
Such a first layer 10 thus includes said at least one light source 4 of the lighting device 3 of the external timepiece element 2a, 2b.
In this device 3, any type of light source 4, such as a light-emitting element, can be used, for example:
This said at least one light source 4 is arranged in a particular way on or in the substrate forming this first layer 10. Such an arrangement of the light source 4 is configured to illuminate all or part of the visible face 20a of the external timepiece element 2a, 2b. For example, when this external timepiece element 2a, 2b is a dial, all or part of the visible face 20a of this dial 2a, 2b can be illuminated, or at least one graphic representation present in or on the lower surface of this visible face 20a can be illuminated, such as:
This lighting can be backlighting or semi-direct lighting when the light source 4 is arranged in a cavity defined in the substrate. More specifically, this cavity can be a blind opening made in the lower surface of this substrate. In this configuration, when the bottom of this cavity comprises a graphic representation, the light radiation, or the light, produced by this light source 4 can escape to the outside of the external timepiece element 2a, 2b through the visible face 20a of this element 2a, 2b, thus allowing at least one graphic representation to be viewed in the dark. In particular, the light radiation escaping from the visible face 20a draws the outline of this graphic representation. In this context, this graphic representation included in or on the upper surface or on the lower surface of the substrate forming the first layer 10, is preferably opaque or non-translucent or non-transparent.
This lighting can be direct lighting when the light source 4 is arranged in a cavity defined in the substrate. This cavity can be a blind opening made in the lower surface of this substrate, the bottom of which is devoid of any graphic representation. In this configuration, the light radiation, or the light, produced by this light source 4 can escape through the bottom of this cavity towards the outside of the dial 2a and thus through the visible face 20a of this dial 2a.
This lighting can also be direct lighting when the light source 4 is arranged in a through-opening made in the substrate. In this context, this opening extends through the thickness of the substrate of this first layer 10, opening out at its two ends in the upper and lower surfaces of this substrate respectively. In this configuration, all or part of the light source 4 can project from the upper surface of this substrate and thus from the visible face 20a of this external timepiece element 2a, 2b.
Such lighting can also be indirect lighting when said at least one light source 4 is coupled to at least one waveguide. This waveguide, also referred to as a light guide, allows the light to be conveyed from the point where it is injected into the guide to the substrate or to an area of the substrate (for example a cavity, a through-opening) close to the upper surface of this substrate. Such a light guide can be an optical fibre that allows any obstacles that may appear in the substrate, for example between the light-emitting element and the region of the substrate close to the upper surface of this substrate, through which the light will escape, to be bypassed. In this alternative embodiment, light is thus transmitted from the light-emitting element, via the waveguide, to the area of the substrate to be illuminated.
In such a configuration, a first end of the waveguide is coupled to the light source 4 and a second end of this waveguide can be arranged in:
In an example configuration, indirect lighting can be achieved by a single light source 4 included on the lower surface of the substrate of this first layer 10 and coupled to several waveguides, the second ends of which, when arranged in:
In the substrate of this first layer 10, the light source 4 is applied/attached to the lower surface of this substrate, in said cavity or on an internal wall of the aforementioned through-opening, by printing or evaporation.
It should further be noted that the lower surface of this first layer 10 can be self-adhesive so that it can contribute to the joining thereof with the second layer 11.
In the assembly 9a, 9b forming the external timepiece element 2a, 2b, the second layer 11 comprises a substrate including the photovoltaic module 5. This substrate is preferably flexible or pliable. Such a substrate can be a film on which this photovoltaic module 5 is arranged, for example, this substrate can be made of a material belonging to the polymer family. Such a photovoltaic module 5 preferably extends over the whole of a so-called active area of an upper surface of this substrate of the second layer 11. This active area is a portion of this upper surface of the substrate which is able to receive the light coming from the lower surface of the first layer 10 of the external timepiece element 2a, 2b. This light, which has passed through all or part of the first layer 10, comes from the external environment of the external timepiece element 2a, 2b, and thus that of the watch 1, in this case mainly from solar radiation when it is of natural origin. It should be noted that the first layer 10 can be configured to appear visually opaque, in particular to the human eye, while still allowing such solar radiation to pass therethrough.
It should be noted that the photovoltaic module 5 is applied to the upper surface of this substrate using inkjet or screen printing processes or using a thermal evaporation printing process. Reference will be made here to a second layer 11 comprising a printed photovoltaic module, in particular to a photovoltaic module printed on the substrate of the second layer 11.
Furthermore, it should be noted that once the photovoltaic module 5 has been applied to the substrate, a layer of a self-adhesive substance can be deposited on all or part of the upper surface and/or of the lower surface of this substrate. Under these conditions, the second layer 11 can be a self-adhesive layer which helps to facilitate its assembly/mounting/adhesion with the other layers 10, 12, in particular with the first layer 10 and/or a third layer 12 of this assembly 9a, 9b.
In this first alternative embodiment, the assembly 9a comprises this third layer 12 further including a preferably flexible or pliable substrate, including the electrical accumulator 6 of the autonomous lighting device 3. This substrate can be a film on which this accumulator 6 is placed. Such a substrate can be made of a material belonging to the polymer family.
It should be noted that this accumulator 6 can be a lithium battery or a semiconductor battery. Such an accumulator 6 is applied to an upper surface of this substrate using processes known in the prior art, such as:
Reference will be made here to a third layer 12 comprising a printed electrical accumulator 6, in particular to an electrical accumulator 6 printed on the substrate of the third layer 12.
Such processes are used to obtain a third layer 12 comprising this accumulator 6 which is flexible and ultra-thin.
Furthermore, it should be noted that once the accumulator 5 has been applied to the substrate, a layer of a self-adhesive substance can be deposited on all or part of the upper surface and/or of the lower surface of this substrate. Under these conditions, the third layer 12 can be a self-adhesive layer which helps to facilitate its assembly/mounting/adhesion with the other layers 11, 13, in particular with the second layer 11 and/or a fourth layer 13 of this assembly 9a.
It should be noted that this accumulator 6 is used to store the electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic module 5 and to release it on demand to power said at least one light source 4.
In the first alternative embodiment illustrated in
In the second alternative embodiment, this assembly 9b forming the external timepiece element 2b comprises three interconnected layers 10, 11, 14. It should be noted that this second alternative embodiment differs from the first alternative embodiment in that it comprises three layers 10, 11, 14 instead of four as in the first alternative embodiment. In this second alternative embodiment, the electrical accumulator 6 of the autonomous lighting device 3 is now included in the third and last layer 14 of this assembly 9b with the control unit 7 and the communication module 22.
Such a third layer 14 forming the hidden face of the external timepiece element 2b, consists of a preferably flexible or pliable substrate, on which are built, preferably on the upper surface of this substrate, the accumulator 6, the communication module 22 and the electronic circuit 8 constituting the control unit 7. The accumulator 6, the communication module 22 and the control unit 7 can be built in this way on this upper surface of the substrate using three-dimensional printing processes or polymer printing processes. It should be noted that such a substrate can be a flexible PCB for example.
To summarise, in this second alternative embodiment, the assembly 9b thus comprises:
It should be noted that in this second alternative embodiment, the first and second layers 10, 11 are similar to those of the first alternative embodiment of the assembly 9a.
Furthermore, with reference to
It should further be noted that the above-mentioned event sensors of the lighting device 3 are preferably arranged in the first layer 10 and/or the last layer 13, 14 of the assembly 9a, 9b and are connected to the control unit 7 of this device 3.
In a third alternative embodiment not shown, the assembly forming the external timepiece element comprises two interconnected layers. It should be noted that this third alternative embodiment differs from the second alternative embodiment in that it comprises two layers instead of three layers 10, 11, 14 as in this second alternative embodiment. In this third alternative embodiment, the photovoltaic module 5 of the autonomous lighting device 3 is now included in the first layer and in particular on the lower surface of the substrate forming this first layer. This photovoltaic module 5 can be applied to this lower surface of the substrate of this first layer using inkjet or screen printing processes or using thermal evaporation printing processes. It should thus be noted that this first layer is thus similar to the first layers 11 of the first and second alternative embodiments, with the exception that in this third alternative embodiment, the first layer additionally comprises the photovoltaic module.
Moreover, in the third alternative embodiment, and similarly to the second alternative embodiment, the electrical accumulator 6 of the autonomous lighting device 3 is included in the second and last layer of this assembly with the control unit 7. Such a second layer, forming the hidden face of the external timepiece element, consists of a preferably flexible or pliable substrate, on which are built, preferably on the upper surface of this substrate, the accumulator 6 and the electronic circuit 8 constituting the control unit 7. This accumulator 6 and the control unit 7 can be built in this way on the upper surface of the substrate using three-dimensional printing processes or polymer printing processes. It should be noted that such a substrate can be a flexible PCB for example.
To summarise, in this third alternative embodiment, the assembly thus comprises:
In this system 100, the electronic device 110 and the watch 1, more specifically the lighting device 3, are configured to establish a wireless connection between them, preferably a near-field connection. This connection can be automatic as soon as the position of this watch is determined to be, relative to the electronic device 110, at a distance that allows such a connection to be established. Once this connection has been established, this device 110 and this lighting device 3 can exchange data, in particular by transmitting, via:
It should be noted that these data exchanges are implemented in particular when the application is executed by the controller 24 of the electronic device 110 as soon as the connection is established between this device 110 and the watch 1.
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and that various simple modifications and alternative embodiments can be envisaged by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22215940.2 | Dec 2022 | EP | regional |
