The invention relates to a watch, incorporating a mechanical movement provided with a mechanical oscillator, and a system for correcting the time displayed by the watch other than a mechanical control element, in particular a winder, operated by a user.
Document WO2021/121711 describes a timepiece provided with a mechanical movement and incorporating a device for correcting the time displayed by the timepiece. The correction device is of the electronic type and comprises an electronic unit for receiving a correction signal, provided by a device external to the timepiece (in particular a mobile phone), an electromechanical actuator forming a braking device for the mechanical resonator incorporated into the mechanical movement, and an electronic unit for controlling the electromechanical actuator as a function of the correction signal received, this electronic unit being arranged in the timepiece.
Although the various embodiments of the timepiece disclosed in the aforementioned document are of great interest for correcting the time displayed by the timepiece easily and precisely without the user having to be aware of the exact current time and for setting the analogue display of this timepiece by conventional means, for example a winder which users have to actuate themselves, the invention described in document WO2021/121711 is disadvantageous for purists of fine watchmaking who consider that watches should be fully mechanical. Indeed, even if the invention described in the aforementioned document makes it possible advantageously not to have a battery or other rechargeable battery in the timepiece, as the electrical energy required can be supplied during each planned correction to a recharged power supply recharged by means of an external power supply, in particular by contactless means, the correction device incorporated in the timepiece still comprises electronic elements.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a timepiece assembly which makes it possible to correct the time displayed by a mechanical watch in a precise manner and/or to advance/turn back the time of the display by one hour when the clocks change in summer/winter without the user having to actuate a mechanical control member connected to the analogue time display.
For this purpose, the present invention relates to a timepiece assembly comprising a watch, formed by a case and a mechanical movement incorporated into the case, and a support which is external to the watch and arranged so as to be able to support at least the case of this watch, in particular a display case or a box. The mechanical movement comprises an analogue time display, a drive mechanism of this analogue time display and a mechanical oscillator, the mechanical resonator of which is formed by a balance wheel and an elastic return structure, this mechanical oscillator being arranged so as to be able to set the running of the drive mechanism. The timepiece assembly comprises a system for correcting a time displayed by the analogue display, this correction system being formed, on the one hand, by a mechanical device incorporated into the case and, on the other hand, by an electrical device incorporated into the support.
The mechanical device comprises a mobile magnetic element, in particular a magnet, which is configured and arranged in the watch such that the mechanical device can brake the oscillating mechanical resonator or momentarily stop an oscillation of the mechanical resonator by exciting the mobile magnetic element by a magnetic field, in particular by applying a magnetic force on the magnet by means of a magnetic field produced by the electrical device.
The electrical device comprises a magnetic field generator, this magnetic field generator and said case being arranged such that when the watch case is placed on the external support in a given position, a magnetic field produced by the magnetic field generator can pass through the case and reach the region where the mobile magnetic element is located and excite the latter so as to generate, via the mechanical device, braking pulses which are applied to the oscillating mechanical resonator or momentarily stop an oscillation of the mechanical resonator by the mechanical device.
The electrical device further comprises a control unit arranged so as to be able to produce an electric control signal as a function of a correction determined for the time displayed by the analogue display and provide this electric control signal to the magnetic field generator so that it generates a corresponding magnetic field which activates the mechanical device such that this mechanical device generates a series of braking pulses which are applied to the oscillating mechanical resonator or momentarily stop an oscillation of the mechanical resonator, so as to perform essentially the set correction of the displayed time.
Due to the advantageous features of the timepiece assembly according to the invention, it is possible to correct the time displayed by the watch or to set the analogue display to summer time or winter time on the planned date in a precise manner by taking care to place the watch case in a given position on the support associated with the watch. The setting of the correct time can be triggered automatically by closing a cover of the support or by pressing an activating button on the support or via any sensor associated with the support or possibly via a mobile phone which has an application used for sending a signal for activating the correction system to a receiver arranged in the support. The support is advantageously a box, a casket or a display case connected to the mains, or autonomous with batteries, or equipped with a solar power collector.
A major advantage of the invention is that no electrical element is required in the watch case, which can therefore be fully mechanical, i.e. without an electronic unit or other electrical device, the watch case incorporating a fully mechanical movement and a mechanical device comprising a mobile magnetic element, in particular a magnet. The electrical device of the correction system according to the invention is located outside the watch case and it is materially independent from the watch, such that the watch can be worn by a user without the electrical device, which remains connected to the external support on which the watch can be placed momentarily, in particular for at least part of the night.
The invention is described in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which:
With reference to the figures, two embodiments of the timepiece assembly according to the invention will be described below.
The electrical device 20 comprises a magnetic field generator formed by a coil 28 which is powered as a function of an electric control signal supplied by a control unit 30. The magnetic field generator, in particular the coil 28, and the case 6 are arranged in such a way that when the watch is placed on the support in a given position (
The mechanical device 18 comprises a permanent magnet 24 and a flexible blade 26 supporting this permanent magnet in a region of a free end of this flexible blade, which is anchored to the watch movement at its other end (alternatively, the anchoring is provided on a caging circle or on an inner wall of the case 6). The mechanical device 18 is arranged in the watch such that it can periodically brake, from the action of a magnetic field generated by the electrical device and applied to the permanent magnet 24, the oscillating mechanical resonator or momentarily stop an oscillation of this mechanical resonator by exerting a mechanical force/pressure on the balance wheel. More particularly, in the first embodiment, the flexible blade 26 is arranged so as to be able to exert a force/pressure against an external lateral surface of the balance wheel 14, when the permanent magnet is subject to a radial magnetic force from the action of said magnetic field, and thus generate the periodic braking pulses or stop the mechanical resonator 12 during a determined time interval, which depends on the function to be performed. It should be noted that the box 22 has a part 34 against which the case 6 of the watch 4 placed in this box bears in a given position substantially laterally so that the correction system 16 is effective. The magnetic field generator, formed by the coil 28, and the case 6 are arranged in such a way that the magnetic field produced by this field generator can reach, from one side of the watch, the region where the permanent magnet 24 is located with sufficient intensity to be able to exert a radial magnetic force on this permanent magnet capable of generating, by means of the flexible blade, braking pulses which are applied to the oscillating mechanical resonator, namely on the external lateral surface of the balance wheel 14, or to momentarily stop an oscillation of the mechanical resonator from the radial force/pressure exerted by the mechanical device 18 on the mechanical resonator, which generates a force torque on the balance wheel via the frictional force (dry friction) between the flexible blade and said external lateral surface of the balance wheel.
The control unit 30 is arranged to produce an electric control signal as a function of a correction determined for the time displayed by the analogue display 10 and to supply this electric control signal to the magnetic field generator 28 so that it generates a corresponding magnetic field which activates the mechanical device 18 such that this mechanical device generates a series of braking pulses applied to the oscillating mechanical resonator or momentarily stops an oscillation of the mechanical resonator, so as to essentially make the determined correction of the displayed time. The box 22 can be powered with electricity via a cable 36 or via contactless power supply means. The model represented comprises a digital display 38 making it possible for example to provide various pieces of information, in particular the current date, the time zone or a date for switching from winter time to summer time and vice versa. Data input means can be provided in an area of the box. In an advantageous variant, the reading of the various data stored in an electronic part of the box (for example in the control unit 30) and also the transmission of data to this electronic part is provided via a wireless communication unit arranged in the box and enabling communication with a mobile phone which has an application for this purpose.
In the first embodiment, the box 22 comprises an electronic device for determining a correction to be made to the time displayed by the watch, i.e. to the analogue display 10. This electronic device includes a photographic device 40 comprising a photographic sensor formed by a matrix of photodetectors. Then, the electronic device comprises an image processing unit which is arranged to be able to determine the position of at least one specific hand of the analogue display 10 in an image taken by the photographic device 40. Finally, the electronic device comprises or is connected to a time base capable of providing an accurate current time and it further comprises a comparison unit for determining the correction to be made. In one embodiment, a mobile phone equipped with a suitable application is provided to take a photo of the analogue display of the watch 4, then to process the image as indicated above, and finally to determine a correction of the displayed time. This mobile phone then sends a correction signal via a wireless communication unit to the electronic unit of the box, indicating the correction to be made and possibly a time to start said correction or a time interval until the start of said correction.
The elasticity of the flexible blade 26A is designed to ensure a certain stability of the magnet 24A and of the finger 46 in the absence of a magnetic field for actuating this magnet and also good dynamic behaviour of the mechanical device 18A when an axial magnetic field 52 is generated by the electrical device 20A, this axial magnetic field making it possible to generate braking pulses by dry friction between the finger 46 and a circular upper surface of the balance wheel against which the finger is pressed briefly, which then applies pressure 54 on said upper circular surface. The finger this forms a braking pad of the balance wheel.
In an improved embodiment shown in
In another embodiment, not shown, the magnetic field generator is a mobile permanent magnet or a fixed magnet associated with a mobile magnetic shield, the mobile magnet or the mobile magnetic shield being arranged in the support so as to be able to be displaced by an actuator to which the electric control signal is supplied, so as to vary the strength of the magnetic field supplied to said mechanical device as a function of the electric control signal.
Operating modes of the correction system according to the invention are described in the following.
According to a main operating mode, the control unit 30 of the electrical device, incorporated into the support, comprises a device for generating at least one frequency which is arranged so as to be able to generate a first periodic signal at a frequency FSUP. Then, the control unit is arranged to provide to the magnetic field generator, when the specified correction corresponds to a delay in the time displayed which is intended to be corrected and this correction therefore consists of advancing the display of the current time relative to a passage of time given by the undisturbed mechanical oscillator, a first control signal derived from the periodic first signal, during a first correction period, to activate the correction system so that it generates a first series of periodic braking pulses which are applied to the balance wheel of the mechanical resonator by the mechanical device at frequency FSUP. The duration of the first correction period and therefore the number of periodic braking pulses in said first series are determined by said delay to be corrected. The frequency FSUP is provided and the mechanical device incorporated into the watch is arranged such that the first series of periodic braking pulses at frequency FSUP can generate, during the first correction period, a first synchronous phase in which the oscillation of the mechanical resonator is synchronised to a correction frequency FSCor which is higher than a setpoint frequency FOc provided for the mechanical oscillator. The running of the mechanical movement is thus accelerated during the first correction period.
The person skilled in the art will find additional technical information relating to the main operating mode in document WO 2021/121711, and also in document EP 3629104. In these two documents, contrary to the present invention, the correction system is fully incorporated into the watch. Furthermore, in the second document, the watch comprises a sensor for itself detecting a temporal drift in the running of the mechanical oscillator and therefore of the timepiece movement. The teaching regarding the generating the various signals mentioned above and the periodic braking pulses, in the case of a delay to be corrected is similar however.
In a first particular operating mode, the device for generating at least one frequency is arranged so as also to be able to also generate a second periodic signal at a frequency FINF. Then the control unit is arranged to supply to the magnetic field generator, when the set correction corresponds to an advance in the displayed time which it is intended to correct and this correction thus consists in delaying the current time display relative to a passage of time given by the undisturbed mechanical oscillator, a second control signal derived from the second periodic signal, during a second correction period, to activate the correction system such that this correction system generates a second series of periodic braking pulses which are applied to the balance wheel by the mechanical device at frequency FINF. The duration of the second correction period and therefore the number of periodic braking pulses in said second series are determined by said advance to be corrected. The frequency FINF is provided and the mechanical device is arranged in such a way that the second series of periodic braking pulses at frequency FINF can generate, during the second correction period, a second synchronous phase in which the oscillation of the mechanical resonator is synchronised over a correction frequency FICor which is lower than the setpoint frequency FOc provided for the mechanical oscillator. The running of the mechanical movement is thus slowed down during the second correction period.
The person skilled in the art will find additional technical information relating to the first particular operating mode in document WO 2021/121711, and also in document EP 3629104.
According to second particular operating mode, the mechanical device of the correction system is arranged so as to be able to block the mechanical resonator by the action of a magnetic field, generated by the magnetic field generator, which is applied to the mobile magnetic element, so as to momentarily stop an oscillation of this mechanical oscillator during a correction period. The control unit is arranged so as to be able, when the determined correction corresponds to an advance in the displayed time and the correction to be made therefore consists of retarding the analogue display of the current time relative to a passage of time given by the undisturbed mechanical oscillator, to provide a third control signal to the magnetic field generator so that it activates the mechanical device such that this mechanical device blocks the oscillation of the mechanical resonator during the correction period which is determined by said advance to be corrected, so as to stop the running of said drive mechanism during this correction period. In the case of the correction systems described above, the blocking of the mechanical oscillator is performed by the elastic member 26, respectively 26A, bearing continuously on the rim of the balance wheel 14 during the correction period. To achieve this the magnetic field generator generates a continuous magnetic field during the correction period.
The person skilled in the art will also find additional technical information relating to the second particular operating mode in document WO 2021/121711. In an advantageous embodiment of the timepiece assembly according to the invention, the correction system is arranged so as to be able to correct the time displayed by 60 minutes overnight in order to adjust to summer time or winter time.
In a general embodiment of the timepiece assembly according to the invention, the control unit 30 is associated with an electronic device arranged to determine a correction to be made on a given date or as a function of the current time displayed by the watch. In a specific embodiment, the correction to be made is determined in a device external to the external support, in particular in a mobile phone comprising an application for this purpose.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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21205505.7 | Oct 2021 | WO | international |