Patent Application
20170003660
The invention concerns a timepiece provided with an automatic, mechanical or electronic movement such as a quartz movement comprising a near field communication device of NFC or RFID type, the communication device having an electronic chip connected to an antenna.
It is known in the prior art how to equip a timepiece with a near field communication device in order to improve its tracking throughout the course of its lifetime or to fight against the piracy to which it might be subjected. In the course of its operation, the communication device is able to connect to an associated peripheral when it finds itself at a close distance from the latter and to send it a radio signal regarding information about it.
Generally speaking, in the prior art such a communication device is disposed inside components of the timepiece such as the casing, the caseband, the wristband, or even the glass.
However, one major drawback of such a communication device so arranged in the timepiece is due to the fact that it often suffers from a lack of reliability. In fact, the particular arrangement of this communication device in components of the timepiece which are essentially metallic produces much electromagnetic perturbation. Such perturbation results from reflection and/or absorption of signals emitted by the communication device when it is in proximity to the peripheral. This perturbation is liable to cause malfunctions in the context of establishing a connection with the peripheral or maintaining this connection.
To mitigate this drawback, it is common in the prior art to use a communication device having an antenna of large size.
However, the integration of such an antenna in the timepiece and in particular in its components is a complex and tedious operation. What is more, such an integration makes difficult any subsequent intervention in the timepiece in order to provide for its upkeep and/or repair.
The present invention intends to mitigate such drawbacks connected to the timepieces of the prior art.
In this design, the timepiece provided with a dial and/or a bezel comprising a near field communication device able to receive/send a signal, said communication device comprising a chip and an antenna and being arranged in the area of the dial or the bezel of said timepiece and the communication device being associated with a magnetic screen, especially one made of ferrite.
In other embodiments:
Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following description of two preferred embodiments, making reference to the figures, shown for illustration and not for limitation:
In the present invention, the timepiece 35 is provided with a case 20 having a caseband 22 and a bottom 24, visible in
More precisely, in
This communication device 4 implements, for example, wireless communication technologies of short range and high frequency of the NFC type (Near Field Communication) or RFID type (Radio Frequency Identification). This communication device 4 operates preferably in the high frequencies HF, for example at 13.56 MHz. But in other variants, it can operate in the following frequency bands:
Such technologies thus allow the timepiece 35 to exchange information at short distances with other associated peripherals. Such distances can lie between around 0 and 20 cm, preferably between 0 and 2 cm. This communication device 4 can be the passive type with energy furnished to it by the radio frequencies emitted by each associated peripheral. In other words, this communication device 4 functioning in the passive type, uses an electric induction mechanism in the chip to be powered. Moreover, it will be notice that unlike to the Bluetooth technology, the communication device allows transfers of very limited data volumes and at very close range. These transfers are controlled and allow high security.
Such short distances between the timepiece 35 and each associated peripheral make it possible to avoid any involuntary activation of establishing a connection between the latter and likewise help limit all attempts at an unauthorized connection which may result from acts of piracy.
More precisely, this near field communication device 4 comprises an electronic chip 6 and at least one antenna 5. The chip 6, which is connected to said at least one antenna 5, contains hardware and software elements. In this context, the hardware and/or software elements of the chip 6 of the device 4 comprise more precisely at least one microprocessor 13a cooperating with memory elements 13b. This chip 6 may be able to execute program code instructions to implement a computer program. The memory elements 13b of this chip 6 can save data regarding information about the timepiece 35 or about the wearer of this timepiece. It will be noted that in one alternative the communication device 4 can contain a substrate 16 made of plastic or laminated composites on which the chip 6 and the antenna 5 are glued.
In this timepiece 35, the magnetic screen 8 also known as a magnetic shielding element has a magnetic permeability adapted to the frequency bands of the magnetic field generated by the communication device 4. For example, when the communication device 4 is operating in the high frequency HF band, the magnetic screen 8 has a strong initial magnetic permeability μ′ with μ′ >100 and low magnetic losses μ″ with μ″ <7, and preferably a magnetic permeability μ′ of 150 and magnetic losses μ″ of 5.
Such a magnetic screen 8 preferably has an electrical resistivity greater than 1000 KΩ/m and a thickness between 50 and 200 ρm, and preferably 180 μm.
The magnetic screen 8 can preferably be made of metallic material, such as ferrite.
This magnetic screen 8 makes it possible to avoid a modification of the magnetic field sent or received by the communication device, which modification would be due to the presence of various metallic components 33 situated in the immediate surroundings of the communication device 4 such as the case 20 or even the movement of the timepiece 35. In fact, the magnetic screen 8 tends to be able to lessen the negative influence which these metallic components 33 might have on the performance of the communication device 4. This negative influence might involve the attenuation of the magnetic field generated or received by this communication device 4.
More precisely,
In
Thus, this magnetic screen 8 makes it possible to improve the efficiency and the sensitivity of the reception/transmission of radio signals by the antenna 5 of the communication device 4 by isolating this antenna 5 from the metallic components 33 comprised in its immediate surroundings.
It will be noted that this magnetic screen 8 can be flexible or rigid and can contain at least one layer, one plate, one film or one metallic deposit, preferably of ferrite or also a polymer resin ballasted with metallic particles of ferrite. Such a magnetic screen 8 is thus of small footprint.
In the timepiece 35, the magnetic screen 8 is associated with the communication device 4 by being arranged in the timepiece 35 relative to this communication device 4, or relative to this communication device 4 and at least one metallic component 33 of said timepiece 35 comprised in the immediate surroundings of the communication device 4. In the different variants of the two embodiments described below, the magnetic screen 8 is associated with the communication device 4 by being arranged relative to the latter such that there is a spacing of around 0 to 2500 μm defined between them and/or that this magnetic screen 8 is disposed between the communication device 4 and at least one electrical component 33 comprised in the immediate surroundings of said device 4.
It will be noted that when the spacing between the magnetic screen 8 and the communication device 4 is basically zero, the magnetic screen 8 can then be associated with the communication device 4 by producing the magnetic screen with a technique of printing, silk screening, gluing or vapour deposition of a metallic paint onto a support contained or mounted in the communication device 4. One will then choose a support having excellent electrical insulation properties. This support can be a layer of material, a film, a band, etc. In this configuration, this support can be located solely in the area of the antenna 5 of the communication device 4 or also in the area of the antenna 5 and the chip 6.
As an example, this magnetic screen 8 is associated with the communication device 4 by being arranged in the timepiece 35 beneath this communication device 4, that is, between the movement constituting a metallic component 33 of said timepiece 35 and this communication device 4. In this configuration, the magnetic screen 8 is associated with the communication device 4 by not being in direct contact with the antenna 5 of the communication device 4, but rather being able to be in contact with the chip 6.
As we have mentioned above, in the first embodiment of the timepiece 35 the communication device 4 is arranged in the area of the dial 1. This first embodiment comprises four variants of dial 1 where the communication device 4 is arranged. One such dial 1 is of a monobloc design. It is made preferably of rigid material able to provide good strength, and a proper appearance of the display. What is more, this material has no electrical conductivity properties and it can be made for example of synthetic sapphire, ceramic, or also an injection moulded or cast polymer such as polyamide-nylon PA12, polycarbonate PC or polyphenylsulfone PPSu.
This dial 1 which is preferably of circular shape comprises an upper surface 11a constituting a visible display surface being opposite a lower surface 11b situated opposite the movement of said timepiece 35.
The dial 1 likewise contains a peripheral wall 25 joining the lower and upper surfaces 11b, 11a to each other. It will be noted that the upper and lower surfaces 11a, 11b can be parallel to each other and that the intersections between the peripheral wall 25 and each of these surfaces 11a, 11b define the peripheral edges 27a, 27b.
This dial 1 can comprise feet 34, which are used as a geometrical reference in the manufacturing process of the dial and also to secure this dial 1 to the case 20 and/or to the movement. The case 20 and/or the movement then comprise orifices in which these feet 34 are engaged when the dial 1 is assembled with the case 20 and/or with the movement. Fixation elements such as screws engaging in threaded holes transversely to the orifices make it possible to ensure a mechanical connection between the dial 1 and the case 20 and/or the movement. These feet 34 can be arranged in the area of the lower surface 11b of the dial (visible in
This upper surface 11a can have, in the area of a peripheral zone, time indicating markings 7, such as hour and minute markings 7. These markings 7 can be indexes or digits (Roman or Arabic), or decorative elements such as small precious or semiprecious stones, or a combination of two or three of the latter. The dial 1 likewise has an axial passage orifice 10 through which passes one free end of a shaft connected to a kinematic chain of the movement, able to carry the hands of the timepiece 35 above the upper surface 11a. The dial 1 also comprises an opening 9 through which information pertaining to the date can be displayed.
In the first variant of the dial 1, illustrated in
The lateral wall 15b of this pocket 3 forms with the portion 12 of the lower surface 11b an edge 26 which defines an opening of the pocket 3.
Referring to
In this variant, this pocket 3 is defined on around 40 to 90% of the lower surface 11b, and preferably on 80% of this surface. Moreover, this pocket 3 has a depth P1 of around 300 to 500 μm, preferably 400 μm.
The communication device 4 comprising the chip 6 connected to at least one antenna 5 is disposed in the pocket 3 formed in the dial 1. More precisely, the chip 6 and the antenna 5 can be fixed to the bottom wall 15a by gluing or also by fitting into fixation elements present on this bottom wall 15a of the pocket 3. Alternatively, the antenna 5 can be disposed on this bottom wall 15a by printing, silk screening, or vapour deposition of a metallized paint.
In this variant of the dial 1, the alternative of the communication device 4 comprising the substrate 16 made of plastic or laminated composites on which the chip 6 and the antenna 5 are glued can likewise be arranged in this pocket 3, especially by gluing.
In this variant of the dial 1, when the communication device 4 is associated with the magnetic screen 8, the opening of the dial 1 is wholly or partly closed by this magnetic screen 8. This magnetic screen 8 comprises a zone of fixation which is mechanically connected by gluing, fitting, or welding to the edge 26 of the opening of the pocket 3, namely, the portion 12 of the lower surface 1 lb not constituting the pocket 3. Alternatively, the magnetic screen 8 can have a shape essentially complementary to that of the opening so as to be able to be arranged there by fitting and thus cover all or part of this opening of the pocket 3. In this case, the magnetic screen 8 is preferably rigid and the edge 26 of the opening comprises a fitting zone able to cooperate with the contour of the magnetic screen 8.
Such an arrangement of the communication device 4 in this pocket 3 makes it possible to limit the footprint of this device 4 in the case 20 of the timepiece 35 so as not to disturb the functioning of the movement.
In the second variant of the dial 1 illustrated in
In this variant of the dial 1, the alternative of the communication device 4 comprising the substrate 16 made of plastic or laminated composites on which the chip 6 and the antenna 5 are glued can likewise be arranged on the lower surface 11b, especially by gluing.
In this variant, when the communication device 4 is associated with the magnetic screen 8, the latter is then arranged on the lower surface 11b so as to cover the communication device 4. More precisely, this magnetic screen 8 can be arranged beneath the antenna 5 or the antenna 5 and the chip 6 by being situated between the lower surface 11b and the movement. In this configuration, this magnetic screen 8 comprises at least one layer, one film or one metallic deposit which is able to cover the communication device 4 arranged on the lower surface 11b. Thus, the antenna 5 or the antenna 5 and the chip 6 of the communication device 4 are comprised between the magnetic screen 8 and the lower surface 11b. This magnetic screen 8 can be applied to the lower surface 11b so as to cover the communication device 4 by the techniques of printing, silk screening, gluing, or vapour deposition of a metallic paint.
It will be noted that this second variant is particularly adapted to the dial 1 having feet arranged on the peripheral wall 25 of the latter. In fact, in such a configuration, the communication device 4 and in particular the antenna can be arranged on a larger portion of the lower surface 11b due to the absence of feet 34 of the dial 1 on the lower surface 11b.
In the third variant of the dial 1 illustrated in
In fact, in a first alternative illustrated in
In a second alternative, the antenna 5 can be a metallic element which is arranged in the area of the peripheral zone defined on the upper surface 11a of the dial 1 where the markings 7 are situated. In this case, the metallic element extends into this peripheral zone, making at least one turn around the dial 1 and hugging the markings 7.
In a third alternative, the metallic element can be arranged on the upper surface 11a in the area of the peripheral edge 27a defined on this upper surface 11a or, optionally, between the markings 7 and this edge 27a.
In these alternatives, the metallic element is preferably arranged on the upper surface 11a by overmoulding in the thickness of the dial 1 or by injection moulding so that it is not apparent. The metallic element can likewise be applied to the upper surface 11a by the techniques of printing, silk screening, etching, gluing, or vapour deposition of a metallic paint, and in this case it will be visible on the upper surface 11a of this dial 1 so as to constitute, for example, a motif having an aesthetic form.
It will be noted that when the markings 7 form with the component 14 an antenna 5, these markings 7 can then be made by the techniques mentioned above, such as printing, silk screening, gluing, or vapour deposition of a metallic paint.
In this variant, the antenna 5 is then connected to the chip 6 of the communication device 4. This chip 6 is arranged on the upper surface 11a of the dial 1 by an overmoulding or an injection moulding technique so as not to be apparent. The chip 6 can likewise be applied to the upper surface 11a by a gluing technique and in this case it will be visible on the upper surface 11a of this dial 1 so as to constitute, for example, a motif having an aesthetic form.
In this variant of the dial 1, when the communication device 4 is associated with the magnetic screen 8, the latter is arranged on the lower surface 11b of the dial 1. It can likewise be arranged on the upper surface 11a, being situated beneath the antenna 5 or the antenna 5 and the chip 6. In this configuration, this magnetic screen 8 comprises at least one layer, one film or one metallic deposit which is able to be applied to one or the other of the two surfaces 11a, 11b of the dial 1 by the techniques of printing, silk screening, gluing, or vapour deposition of a metallic paint. Alternatively, this magnetic screen 8 can be arranged in the dial 1 by a technique of overmoulding or injection moulding, being comprised beneath the antenna 5 or the antenna 5 and the chip 6.
In a fourth variant of the dial 1 illustrated in
In this variant of the dial 1, when the communication device 4 is associated with the magnetic screen 8, the latter is arranged on the lower surface 11b of the dial 1. In this configuration, this magnetic screen 8 comprises at least one layer, one film, or one metallic deposit and it can be applied to the lower surface 11b of the dial 1 by the techniques of printing, silk screening, gluing, or vapour deposition of a metallic paint. Alternatively, this magnetic screen 8 can be arranged in the dial 1 beneath the communication device 4 by a technique of overmoulding or injection moulding.
Thus, as we have mentioned above, in the second embodiment of the timepiece 35 the communication device 4 is arranged in the area of the bezel 2. This second embodiment defines two different variants of the bezel 2. In these two variants, the bezel 2 is made preferably of rigid material able to provide good strength and preferably having no electrical conductivity properties. This material may correspond, for example, to synthetic sapphire, ceramic, or also an injection moulded or cast polymer such as polyamide-nylon PA12, polycarbonate PC or polyphenylsulfone PPSu. This bezel 2 can be circular in shape and comprise a lower surface 23b as well as an upper surface 23a. This upper surface 23a can constitute a visible display surface containing time indicator markings.
In the first variant of the bezel 2 illustrated in
The lateral wall 19b of this pocket 18 forms, with a portion 29 of the lower surface 23b not constituting this pocket 18, an edge 28 which defines an opening of the pocket 18.
In this variant, the opening of this pocket 18 is defined on around 30 to 70% of the lower surface 23b, and preferably 50% of this surface 23b. This pocket 18 has a depth P2 of around 200 to 2500 preferably 1000 μm.
The communication device 4 comprising the chip 6 connected to at least one antenna 5 is disposed in the pocket 18 formed in the bezel 2. More precisely, the chip 6 and the antenna 5 can be secured to the bottom wall 19a and/or the lateral wall 19b by gluing or by fitting into fixation elements present on the bottom wall 19a and/or the lateral wall 19b of the pocket 18. Alternatively, the antenna 5 can be disposed on the bottom wall 19a and/or the lateral wall 19b by printing, silk screening, or vapour deposition of a metallized paint.
In this variant of the bezel 2, the alternative of the communication device 4 comprising the substrate 16 made of plastic or laminated composites on which the chip 6 and the antenna 5 are glued can likewise be arranged in this pocket 18, especially by gluing or by fitting, or by being driven in by mechanical resistance through dimensional adjustment.
In this variant of the bezel 2, when the communication device 4 is associated with the magnetic screen 8, the opening of the pocket 18 is wholly or partly covered by the magnetic screen 8 so as to optimize the performance of the communication device 4. This magnetic screen 8 has a zone of fixation which is mechanically connected by gluing, by fitting, or by welding to the edge 28 of the opening of the pocket 18, namely, to the portion 29 of the lower surface 23b. Alternatively, the magnetic screen 8 can have a shape essentially complementary to that of the opening so that it can be arranged therein by fitting or gluing and thus cover all or part of this opening of the pocket 18. In this case, the magnetic screen 8 is preferably rigid and the edge 28 of the opening has a fitting zone able to cooperate with the contour of the magnetic screen 8. In a second variant of the bezel 2 illustrated in
In this variant, the second interior surface 30b of the second component 17b has a pocket 18 in which the communication device 4 can be arranged. This pocket 18 forms a throat or an annular groove extending into the second interior surface 30b of the second component 17b of the bezel 2. This pocket 18 has a transverse section which can have the shape of a U. Such a pocket 18 has a bottom wall 19a and a lateral wall 19b, each having an essentially planar surface, the lateral wall 19b being preferably perpendicular to the bottom wall 19a.
The lateral wall 19b of this pocket 18 forms, with a portion 29 of the second interior surface 30b not constituting this pocket 18, an edge 28 which defines an opening of the pocket 18.
In this variant, the opening of this pocket 18 is defined on around 30 to 70% of the second interior surface 30b, and preferably 50% of this surface. This pocket 18 has a depth P3 of around 200 to 2500 μm, preferably 1000 μm.
In this variant, when the communication device 4 is associated with the magnetic screen 8, the latter is arranged in the pocket 18. This magnetic screen 8 can correspond to a layer, a film or a metallic deposit which is applied to the bottom wall 19a and/or the lateral wall 19b of the pocket 18. The application of this magnetic screen 8 in the pocket 18 can be done by a technique of printing, silk screening, or vapour deposition of a metallized paint.
The communication device 4 is then disposed in the pocket 18 above the magnetic screen 8. More precisely, the chip 6 and the antenna 5 can be fixed to at least one support element comprised on the bottom wall 19a and/or the lateral wall 19b by gluing or by fitting so that the antenna 5 of the communication device 4 is not in contact with the magnetic screen 8. The support element can correspond to at least one fixation arm or to a layer of material. This layer of material can cover all or part of the magnetic screen 8 arranged in the pocket 18, and have electrical insulating properties. Alternatively, the communication device 4 can be fixed in a connection zone defined on the first interior surface 30a of the first component 17a. This connection zone is situated opposite the pocket 18 when the first and second components 17a, 17b are assembled with each other.
In this variant of the bezel 2, the alternative of the communication device 4 comprising the substrate 16 made of plastic or laminated composites on which the chip and the antenna 5 are glued can likewise be arranged in this pocket 18, especially by the same principles mentioned above for this second variant.
In this second variant, the opening of this pocket 18 is then closed when the first component 17a is assembled with the second component 17b to form the bezel 2.
In these two embodiments of the invention, the communication device 4 and the magnetic screen 8 can be comprised in a module for example by being overmoulded in the same piece of polymer. Such a module can then be arranged in the dial 1 and the bezel 2 according to the different variants described above. The arrangement of this module in these different variants is preferably done so that the antenna 5 radiates optimally in the direction of the associated peripheral with which the timepiece 35 is able to exchange data.
In this timepiece 35, the case 20 is adapted to optimize/maximize the performance of the communication device 4 arranged in the area of the bezel 2 or the dial 1. In fact, this case 20 can be made in whole or in part of a material having no electrical conductivity properties, such as synthetic sapphire, ceramic, or also an injection moulded or cast polymer such as polyamide-nylon PA12, polycarbonate PC or polyphenylsulfone PPSu. Thus, the case 20 can be made wholly of this material. But alternatively the case 20 can be made only partly of this material, having only some of these components designed in this material, such as the components which are situated on top of the dial 1, such as a portion of the caseband situated above the level of the dial 1 and the bezel 2.
Thus, as we have mentioned above, the dial 1, the bezel 2, or even all or some of the case 20 can be made of a material having no electrical conductivity properties. The electrical nonconductivity of such a material is quantified by its resistivity, which characterizes its capacity to resist the flow of electric current. The resistivity of this material is greater than 1012 Ω/cm, and preferably greater than 1013 Ω/cm.
It will be noted that the arrangement of the communication device in upper portions of the timepiece such as the dial 1 and the bezel 2 makes it possible to limit the perturbation effects which may result from the wristband of the wearer of said timepiece 35.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but also includes the different variants and generalizations contained in the realm of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15174746.6 | Jul 2015 | EP | regional |
