EP0710899B1 - Watch with time indication by non-sonic vibrations - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a timepiece delivering time information by touch not audible. It relates more particularly to a watch usual appearance, can be worn by a person visually impaired to allow him to know the time current and to have access to other usual functions a watch, such as the establishment of an hour alarm, without arousing the attention of a third party, or without having to call on his help.

The present invention therefore does not relate to essentially acoustic devices, such as timepieces with voice synthesis, the utility of which for visually impaired people cannot be disputed, but who have the disadvantage of clearly reporting the user's handicap.

Watches for the visually impaired, the use of which is still most common, use an active tactile sense, such as that the identification of the needles in relation to the indexes relief positioned around the dial, reading the time being after switching the window watch forming a cover. A watch of the previous type corresponds for example to the device described in the German utility models No 7 435 930 and No 8 700 364. In the latter case, the watch has a movement 24 hours, double inscription in Arabic numerals and in braille, and allows the establishment of an alarm hour. In patent application EP-A-0 132 814, the needles are replaced by two sets of pushers for the twelve time positions allowing to locate at touch the pusher of each series with a resistance for the positions that the needle would occupy hours and minutes.

Such watches, both by their aesthetic appearance global than through the manipulations they require, clearly indicate that the user is visually impaired. In addition, although this is satisfactory for most acts of in everyday life, such watches do not allow know the time with an accuracy of the order of 5 minutes.

Starting from the known principle of watches with vibrator, in particular so-called non-audible alarm watches, such as the device described in patent CH-A-323,056, the designers imagined to code the vibrations for allow a visually impaired person to know the time by using its passive tactile sense, that is to say without requiring tracking. In the Swiss patent CH-A-618 827, the proposed device is provided with four vibrators distributed around the wrist in positions 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock, which allows by counting a number reduced pulses to know the time to the nearest 5 minutes. Such a watch has an external appearance which clearly differentiates from ordinarily worn watches by sighted people. In US-A-3,938,317 a only vibrator is used, in connection with coding dash to code the digits from 1 to 12 and zero using trains with up to three vibrations trait-point. As disclosed, this device has the advantage to be able to deliver the time with precision minute, but has the disadvantage of require learning a complex code. In addition, although very detailed, the description does not contains no instruction relating to the possibility to set up an alarm time.

The present invention aims to remedy these disadvantages by providing a watch whose appearance exterior does not, or very little, differentiate it of a usual watch, but which gives to a person having visually impaired the possibility not only of know the current time but also, without calling a third party, to have access to other usual functions, such as internal time correction, or the establishment of an alarm hour.

To this end, the timepiece as defined in claim 1 has a case closed by a glass which protects a dial with a classic time display analog or digital. The case houses a circuit traditional timepiece, associated with an energy source, and including in particular an oscillator, a chain of divisions and counters. The timepiece circuit controls on the one hand a classic display and delivers secondly time signals to means electronic designed to code as pulses or pulse trains said signals, said means which can also receive and code others non-time signals. The timepiece includes in in addition to a device generating non-sound vibrations, such as an electromagnetic micromotor secured to the bottom of the case. It finally features, on the outside of the housing, control members intended to cooperate with the electronic coding means for controlling by means of pulse trains the generator device of vibrations or vibration trains, either to deliver time information, such as the current time or an alarm time, either to confirm the accuracy of the identification of an hourly value, of a time command, or a non-hourly order entered by means of said control devices.

As will be seen later, one of the essential features of the present invention is to allow a visually impaired person to have the confirmation that the manipulation it carried out on a control member, which she sees little or no, is very correct. To this end, it is important that the vibration trains coding each manipulation be easily understandable, as must also be the vibration trains that code the current time. Of many coding principles can be used but it will be proposed in the detailed examples which follow codings comprising signals having durations different and whose sequence is designed according to a logic to promote learning and memorization.

To facilitate learning, another object of the invention is to allow adaptation of the product to capacities of memorization of each one by incorporating in electronic means of coding means allowing vary the transmission speed of trains by vibrations.

Likewise, to adapt the product to the needs of each with regard to the desired degree of precision in the indication of the current time, it is provided, according to another characteristic of the invention, that the command to be manipulated to know the time can be activated in two different modes to deliver the time with an accuracy of 5 minutes, or with 1 minute accuracy. It is for example possible to vary the duration of the pressure exerted on said control unit and / or the number of pressures applied on this one.

The vibration generating device can be a known devices used in alarms silent, such as a piezoelectric vibrating element of the type described in patent EP-B-0 349 230, or a motor electromagnetic of the type described in the patent application EP-A-0 625 738 incorporated in the present application by reference.

The control members making it possible to introduce hourly or non-hourly information can be produced in the form of activatable tactile markers, located on the bezel, on the glass and / or on the middle.

According to a first embodiment, benchmarks can be activated by a fixed bezel which has next to each marker a position sensor, such than a capacitive, resistive or piezoelectric sensor, or simply an electrical contactor, said sensors being sensitive to the positioning or pressure of a finger. Equivalently, said sensors can be worn by a crown of ice close to the telescope.

According to a second embodiment, benchmarks are carried by a rotating bezel, said marks being activatable by bringing them by rotation opposite a fixed mark. In this case, one can advantageously use micro-machined reed relays.

In this first and second embodiment, the confirmation of the selection of a benchmark is given by the emission of a train of vibrations coding said reference, either by maintaining the selection for a period determined, either by exerting pressure on another control member, such as a push button carried by the middle.

The marks carried by the fixed or rotating bezel can be divided into two corresponding ranges respectively to numerical marks and to marks operating modes. To allow modification of watch clock values digital markers may have 10 or 12 positions representative of digits 1 to 9 and zero, or digits 1 to 12 depending on the coding used for vibration trains. The beach with markers for operating modes can for example allow the speed of vibration transmission, activate or deactivate the alarm function or call time information other than the time, such as a calendar function.

According to a third embodiment, the organs only consist of the crown and push button function carried by the middle. One of these buttons is reserved for data entry numerical by simple counting, i.e. the number of pressures exerted, i.e. the number of simple vibrations uncoded, counted down to the desired number while maintaining pressing said push button.

• la figure 1 représente une vue de dessus d'un premier mode de réalisation d'une montre selon l'invention dans laquelle des repères sont portés par une lunette fixe;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en coupe selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1;
• la figure 3 représente sous forme de schéma bloc le circuit d'un mode de réalisation d'une montre selon l'invention;
• la figure 4 représente un schéma de fonctionnement d'un compteur du type de ceux incorporés dans le schéma de la figure 3;
• la figure 5 représente un codage trait-point des douze positions horaires;
• la figure 6 est une représentation schématique d'une première variante du premier mode de réalisation représenté à la figure 1;
• la figure 7 est une représentation schématique d'une deuxième variante du premier mode de réalisation représenté à la figure 1;
• la figure 8 est une représentation schématique d'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'une montre selon l'invention dans laquelle les repères sont portés par une lunette mobile; et
• la figure 9 est une représentation schématique d'un troisième mode de réalisation dans lequel la lunette ne porte aucun repère.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings which are given here by way of examples, and in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a top view of a first embodiment of a watch according to the invention in which marks are carried by a fixed bezel;
• 2 shows a sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 represents in the form of a block diagram the circuit of an embodiment of a watch according to the invention;
• FIG. 4 represents a diagram of the operation of a counter of the type of those incorporated in the diagram of FIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 represents a line-point coding of the twelve time positions;
• Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a first variant of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a second variant of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a watch according to the invention in which the pins are carried by a movable bezel; and
• Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment in which the telescope does not bear any mark.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, a piece will first be briefly described horology, designated by the general reference 1, provided with a module comprising the generator device non-sound vibrations, designated under the general reference 2. The timepiece includes a box 4, consisting a middle part 5 and a bottom 6 conventionally fixed to the build. The middle part has a fixed bezel L provided of a first sector N with marks Ni corresponding to numerical values, and a second sector M with Mi marks corresponding to modes of operation.

As seen in Figure 2, each Ni or Mi is shaped like a bowl so that it can be located tactile way by a visually impaired person. Instead of it is easy to see that the location can be facilitated by bosses or by any other means combining for example bowls and bosses. In the example represented there are at the same time Ni and Mi cuvettes and bosses 3, on the one hand to separate sector M from sector N, on the other hand to group the zones Ni by two, to make it even easier to locate.

The marks Ni correspond to the numbers from 1 to 9 and zero, the number 1 being positioned at 12 o'clock. Mi landmarks correspond to the operating modes "ON" "OFF" and "S" which will be explained in more detail later. In look of each mark, Ni or Mi, is a sensor 8, connected by a conductor 9 to module 2. The sensors used are of the capacitive type, well known to those skilled in the art profession, and there is no need to describe them here more. Timepiece 1 has a movement horometric 10 which is mounted in the middle 5 and which is shaped to conventionally drive the needle of 11 hours and 12 minutes hand. equivalent, as will be seen in other variants of realization described below, the horometric movement 10 can also be associated with a digital display.

The box 4 is closed on the side opposite the bottom 6 by a lens 13, engaged in the middle 5 with interposition of a seal 14. As can be seen, the glass does not can in no case be toggled to give access to the dial, which guarantees its water resistance.

The middle part also has a crown C likely to cause in translation or rotation a rod in a slow or fast mode, corresponding to several different commands, as is by example described in patent EP-0 175 961. The middle part also has two push buttons B1 and B2, each can also correspond to several orders different depending on how long a pressure is maintained, or according to the number of pressures exerted.

The module 2 includes an energy source 21, electronic coding means 22 and a device vibratory 23. The energy source 21 can be that which is also necessary for movement. In the example described, the vibrating device 23 comprises a motor of the electromagnetic type capable of transmitting a oscillatory movement to a mass 24 via of an elastic connecting element 25, said movement oscillatory being transmitted to cover 6 to be perceived in the form of vibrations on the user's wrist. According to the characteristics of the electromagnetic motor and materials constituting the covering of the watch, these vibrations can also be perceived by touch finger at any point on the watch, such as a point of the ice or the telescope, or a button B1 or B2.

Figure 3 shows in block diagram form the circuit of an embodiment of a watch according to the invention. It has a classic timepiece part, designated by the reference 30 and a part 40 intended for the coded production of non-sound vibrations.

The timepiece circuit 30 essentially comprises a quartz oscillator with base frequency 32786 Hz and its maintenance circuit 31, a chain of divisions 32 delivering at its output a frequency signal 1 Hz, a 33 second counter, 34 minute counter, and a 35 hour counter. It is obvious that other counters could be added if we wanted to endow the timepiece with a function calendar. Counters 33, 34 and 35 are counters by sixty whose operating mode is represented schematically in Figure 4.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the successive pulses of a signal S are counted by a binary register 38 of at least six bits, which they increment. The status of this register can be read at any time (signal S _i ). At each incrementation, the register 38 is tested in a circuit 39 constituted by a divider by sixty. When the number it contains is equal to sixty, a signal s _i is emitted on the one hand to cause the resetting of register 38 (RESET), on the other hand to constitute the input signal of another counter.

Referring again to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the signals s _i emitted by each counter are used by a management circuit 36 intended for the usual display of the time.

As regards the signals S _i , their exploitation is carried out in the part 40 where they are received by the electronic coding means 22, which also receive signals S ', S "and S"'. The signal S 'is emitted by a divider by twelve 42 in response to a minute signal at the output of the counter 33. As will be seen below, this signal will be particularly useful for a coding mode allowing the time to be delivered to the minute.

The signal S '' is emitted by a chain of divisions binary 43, in response to a signal extracted from the chain of divisions 32, and chosen at a frequency greater than 1 Hz. This signal S '' constitutes the clock signal which will allow vary the transmission speed of trains by vibrations. Its useful frequency can be adjusted by means of of a signal received from a circuit 41 for interpreting manipulations carried out on the control elements external B1, B2, C or L, said circuit 41 emitting also to electronic coding means 22 other signals representative of functions selected, other than the transmission speed of the vibrations. The interpretation circuit 41 can also control the management circuit 36.

On the block diagram of Figure 3, for better understanding, we represented the divisor by twelve 42 and the chain of binary divisions 43 separately from the means coding electronics 22 but the skilled person will easily understand that these elements can be integrated in a single programmed microprocessor. He could to be the same for the management circuit 36 for the display usual time. The signal emitted by the means coding electronics 22 finally controls the transmission of non-sound vibration trains by the device vibrating 23. The frequency of these non-sound vibrations is determined by a signal S '' 'extracted from the chain of division 32. With a base frequency of the resonator of 32768 Hz, we could for example give the signal S '' 'a frequency of 128 Hz.

In the above it has been assumed that the information horometric delivered is the current time, or the time alarm installed, but adding other counters in series with counters 33, 34, 35 it is also possible to know the day of the week and the month with pulse trains coded as hours, and know the calendar of the month with trains of pulses coded like minutes, when using a coding to the minute.

The electronic coding means 22 can advantageously be produced in the form of a microprocessor program. The skilled person will know, from previous information and examples below, program the microprocessor so that make it execute the appropriate codings.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5 to 9, the following will be described 5 examples illustrating various operating modes of the invention.

Example 1

We will now briefly describe the operation of a timepiece with analog display, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, in which the external control members are formed on the one hand by a fixed bezel, comprising numerical references 1 to 9 and zero and three functional marks "ON", "OFF and" S ", on the other hand by a crown C and two buttons B ₁ and B ₂ with push-button function, located on the middle.

To "read" the current time, we presses crown C to obtain the emission of vibration trains coding the time. According to the layout of the interpretation circuit 41 and the microprocessor programming 22 it is possible to have a "reading" of the hour on 12h, for example in pressing once, or reading over 24 hours, by example by exerting a second press.

By acting on the duration during which the pressure is kept, short or long, it is possible to have knowledge of the time to the nearest five minutes or a minute close.

After performing the appropriate handling on crown C, the time is delivered in the form of trains vibration according to a coding proposed to facilitate the memorization and correspondingly simplify construction of the timepiece.

Referring to Figure 5, we see that the figures from 1 to 12 are coded according to their logic of position on the dial, logic that a person visually impaired already knows by opening glass watches requiring tactile identification. This code is of the type dot line and each pulse train does more than three signals. For the figures of the first and the second quadrant, priority is given to pulses short, so that all numbers from 1 to 6 start with a short pulse and a pulse long is only used when progression to a increasing value does not allow another choice. Conversely in the third and fourth quadrant one priority is given to long pulses so that all numbers from 7 to 12 start with an impulse long and only a short pulse is used when progression to increasing value does not allow another choice. The numbers from 1 to 12 thus coded allow to deliver a first train of pulses representative of the hour, and a second pulse train representative of minutes to five minutes apart, i.e. values multiple of 5.

It follows from this coding that each group of three numbers contained in each quadrant has the same signals which signals are used to code the values from 1 to 4, to be added to the values integers multiples of 5 to achieve an accuracy of the minute. The pulse train coding 12h, 24h and 60mn also code zero.

Début codage ler quadrant, ou valeur +1 : ·
Début codage 2ème quadrant, ou valeur +2 : ·-
Début codage 3ème quadrant, ou valeur +3 : -
Début codage 4ème quadrant, ou valeur +4 : -·
   AM : ··-   PM : --·It will also be observed that the line-point codifications of the diametrically opposite figures are complementary, which also facilitates memorization. Two additional codifications are free to allow delivery of the time over 24 hours by AM and PM coding. FIG. 5 can therefore also be represented in the form of the table below:

Start coding 1st quadrant, or value +1: ·
Start coding 2nd quadrant, or value +2: · -
Start coding 3rd quadrant, or value +3: -
Start of 4th quadrant coding, or value +4: - ·
AM: ·· - PM: - ·

FIG. 5 shows an example of coding over 12 hours to the minute. In addition, the coding of four different hours over 24 hours is indicated below, the AM or PM coding being placed at the beginning. 0h 42mn ·· - / - ·· - / - / · - 9h 03mn - · / --- / - ·· / - (= 21h + 00mn + 3mn) 21h 35mn - · / --- / - 9h 01mn ..- / --- / - ·· / ·

The respective durations of a short vibration, a space between two vibrations, a long vibration and of a space between two vibration trains are advantageously multiples of the duration separating two signal pulses S ''. Still assuming a resonator having a frequency of 32,768 Hz, the durations above can for example take the values 125 ms, 250 ms, 500 ms and 1250 ms. By acting on the frequency of signal S '' via the divider 43, we can vary these times proportionally to allow to adapt the transmission speed of trains of impulses to the perception ability of each user.

To correct the internal time, it is planned to exert a long pressure on B1 first, for example for more than 2 seconds, then introduce the desired time in the form h.h./mn.mn, by exercising successive presses on the numerical marks of the crown, each press giving rise to the emission of a confirmation vibration. The accuracy of the correction can be checked by pressing C, immediately after the correction. In the case of a analog type display time correction internal does not generally change the position of needles 11, 12 and this correction must be made by turning the rod, which is the only operation which requires the intervention of a third party having no visual impairment.

According to a comparable process, an alarm time can be programmed after long pressing on B ₂ . Once the alarm time has been programmed, it is activated by pressing the ON key. A short press on B ₂ delivers, as confirmation, a train of vibrations coding the alarm time set. This maneuver can be carried out at any time as a check on the activated state or not of the alarm. Conversely, by exerting pressure on the OFF mark, the alarm is deactivated, which can be controlled by exerting a short pressure on B ₂ , which must not cause any vibration.

FIG. 1 also shows by the letter "S" another function key for the selection of the speed of emission of the vibrations. After pressing "S", press a number chosen between 1 and 9. To check if the selected speed is suitable, you can either read the current time by pressing the crown C, or exert a brief pressure on B ₁ which can then deliver, according to the speed selected, vibration trains programmed at the time of construction, such as the vibration trains which code each quadrant, constituting a sort of memory aid general coding.

As indicated at the beginning, the tactile marking different active areas of the telescope is facilitated by a conformation in a bowl. We can make this even easier identification by giving the cuvettes different forms depending on their assignment, digital or functional, even by separating the two zones respective by bosses 3 and / or by also adding bosses 3 between the numerical marks, for example every two digits.

Example 2

According to a first variant of the embodiment of Example 1, schematically shown in Figure 6 a watch comprising on twelve fixed bezels Neither corresponding to the twelve time positions, said benchmarks being opposite of capacitive sensors 8a carried by ice. Positions 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock include in addition to a boss to facilitate the location. According to this variant, the "reading" of the time is carried out both by tactile location of time positions and by the emission of vibration trains according to a coding simplified, as shown below.

• une vibration longue pour les heures, par exemple d'une durée de 2 secondes;
• une vibration courte pour les minutes, par exemple d'une durée de 0,5 secondes, et
• un train de vibrations très courtes, par exemple cinq vibrations d'une durée de 0,1 seconde chacune, pour la valeur zéro ou pour une heure entière.

To read the time, first press the crown C to initialize this function, without this causing the emission of vibrations. Then, the perimeter of the glass is touched on the sensors 8a, until a vibration, or several vibrations representative of the position of a hand, or of those of the two needles is perceived, then the time position is identified by the corresponding reference mark Ni and the vibrations emitted are decoded. The microprocessor 22 is on the other hand programmed to execute a codification by means of three types of vibrations having durations which cannot be confused, namely:

• a long vibration for the hours, for example of a duration of 2 seconds;
• a short vibration for the minutes, for example of a duration of 0.5 seconds, and
• a train of very short vibrations, for example five vibrations lasting 0.1 seconds each, for the value zero or for an entire hour.

For a current hour, for example 11:48 a.m., two markings are necessary. Following with his finger the periphery of the user's glass will first identify the 11 o'clock position by perceiving long vibrations, too as long as he keeps his finger on this position. By following the edge of the ice a second time, it will perceive on the 9 o'clock position, i.e. 45 minutes, trains made up of as many short vibrations as necessary add units to the integer multiple of five already identified to know the hour to the minute, at know in this example trains made up of three short vibrations. In case the number of minutes is an integer multiple of five, for example 11:45 a.m., short vibrations are replaced by very vibrations short, coding the value zero.

Two categories of time situations allow know the time by a single tracking.

For an entire hour, for example 6 p.m., vibrations emitted for the identified position are formed by the succession of very short vibrations.

For an hour in which the two hands depend on the same time position, for example 6:32 am, the vibrations emitted for the position identified are formed by the succession of a long vibration and of a train composed of as many short vibrations as it must add units to the integer multiple of five, already identified to know the hour by the minute close, namely in this example trains composed of a long vibration and two short vibrations. As previously, when the number of minutes corresponds to a integer multiple of five, short vibrations are replaced by very short vibrations coding zero.

As we see learning and memorization are limited to tactile recognition of the twelve time positions, to identify vibrations of three different durations and namely counting up to four.

To correct the internal time, we exert a long pressure on B1, then carry out a tactile marking of the desired time on the bezel and moves the finger on the corresponding sensor 8a. We act similarly to install the minutes to the nearest five minutes, then activate as many times as necessary a sensor 8b placed in the center to have a time correction internal to the minute. To validate this selection, we press B1 briefly, if you are before noon (AM), or two short presses if you are after noon (PM).

We will do the same to program an alarm time, having previously exerted a long press on B2. The activation of the alarm will be carried out by exercising a short press on B2, and deactivation by exerting a second short press. To adjust the vibration emission speed, the circuit of interpretation 41 is designed to initialize this function when the rod is pulled by means of the crown C, the speed then being selected by means of the marks 1 12 to the crown, the selection made being also validated by a short press on B1. This layout is particularly useful for avoiding false operations, knowing that, for a given user, this once made, should not be changed.

Example 3

According to a second variant of the embodiment of Example 1, schematically shown in Figure 7 a watch whose fixed bezel has ten marks numerals preceded by bosses corresponding to writing in Braille the numbers 1 to 9 and zero. To achieve one of the aims of the invention, namely to not make it obvious that the user is visually impaired, the coding Braille of each number, written in the corners of a square, is masked by a decoration of granite aspect arranged over the entire surface of the telescope, the difference appearing in figure 6 having voluntarily been exaggerated for better understanding. The "reading" of the time is as shown in Example 1, at using coded vibration trains, issued after exerted pressure on crown C.

In the watch shown, the usual display is of the digital type, so that a visually impaired person can correct the displayed time himself by correcting the internal time as indicated above, after exerting a long press on B ₁ . Likewise, to set the alarm, long press B ₂ , then program the selected time by pressing successively on each area identified by touch using braille coding. Once the alarm time has been set, the alarm is activated by a short press on B ₂ , and deactivation by a second short press.

As before, each maneuver is confirmed by the emission of a train of vibrations, or on the contrary by its absence. To adjust the speed of transmission of the vibration trains, the push button B ₁ can be used by exerting successive short pressures, which allow access to a loop on which determined speeds have been programmed in the electronic coding means.

Example 4

According to a second embodiment shown schematically in Figure 8, a watch according to the invention comprises a rotating bezel provided with twelve marks corresponding to the twelve time positions. The time is read as shown in example 1, after pressing the crown C. This rotating bezel allows selectively activating twelve contacts carried by the ring of the middle opposite the bezel, when one of the marks Ni is brought by rotation of the bezel opposite a fixed mark of the middle, such as the button B1. The selection is validated by briefly pressing B ₁ if you are in the time slot before noon (AM) and by pressing twice briefly if you are in the afternoon time slot (PM).

Contactors for selection can advantageously be trained by Reed relays micro-machined, the magnet allowing their activation being then embedded in the material forming the telescope. As previously indicated the location of these twelve positions will be made possible by giving them a conformation in bowl or boss, further providing for a return automatic to a neutral position as indicated on the Figure 8, after each selection.

According to a variant, it can be provided that any angular displacement of a step corresponding to a reference point causes the emission of a vibration that the user can count, until its validation by a short pressure on B ₁ , pressure which at the same time will cause the count to be reset.

Thus in this second embodiment, the correction of the internal time can be carried out by exerting a long press on B1, then by selecting by rotation of the bezel and confirming by one or two short presses on B ₁ two numbers between 1 and 12 providing accuracy to the nearest five minutes. The same will be done to program an alarm time by first pressing B _{2 long} . The activation and deactivation of the alarm can be carried out as indicated above by pressing B ₂ briefly.

Setting the speed of vibration emission can be performed as shown in Example 2.

Example 5

According to a third embodiment shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9, the control members consist only of the crown C and the buttons B ₁ and B ₂ with push-button function.

Pressing the crown C performs a time reading as shown in example 1.

To correct the internal time, first press B ₁ briefly, then press and hold it twice, counting the number of vibrations emitted up to the desired values to obtain the hour to the minute in the form hh / mn.mn.

Similarly, to set the alarm time, first press B _{2 long} and count as previously indicated using button B1. Activation and deactivation can be carried out as indicated in examples 2 to 4 above by successive short presses on B ₂ .

To adjust the transmission speed of trains vibrations, the interpretation circuit 41 is designed to initialize this function when the rod is pulled crown means, speed then selected by exerting a long press on B2 to access a loop containing predetermined speeds.

According to the general principle of the invention, a vibration or a train of vibrations serves as a means of checking the accuracy of the manipulation carried out. In this third embodiment, the vibrating member 23 can also be connected to the button B ₁ to deliver vibrations not only to the wrist through the case, but also to the finger which maintains the pressure.

In the preceding examples, the same members B ₁ , B ₂ and C fulfill substantially the same functions, only for the purpose of ensuring better understanding, but it is obvious that the skilled person is able, by an arrangement appropriate of the interpretation circuit, to make them fulfill functions other than those which have just been described.

Likewise, although the entire description of this invention was essentially made with reference to a visually impaired person it is good obvious that this same timepiece can prove to be also very useful for a sighted person in certain situations where consulting the time of visually is not possible.

Claims (18)

1. Electronic timepiece adapted to deliver horometric information in silent tactile manner and comprising :

   a housing (4) closed by a glass (13);

   a time-keeping circuit (30) associated with an analog or digital display, notably comprising an oscillator and its maintenance circuit (31), a division chain (32) and counters (33, 34, 35);

   control elements provided on the outside of said housing, selected from amongst a bezel (L) provided with numerical tactile marks (Ni) or functional marks (Mi) opposite sensors (8,8a) and a crown and buttons with push-button function (C, B₁, B₂),

   an interpretation circuit (41) of the displacements of said control elements (L, C, B₁, B₂),

   electronic coding means (22) adapted to code time signals received from said time-keeping circuit (30) and/or non-time signals received from said interpretation circuit (41) in the form of pulse strings, and

   a device (23) generating silent vibrations, said timepiece being characterized in that said control elements (L, C, B₁, B₂) cooperate via the intermediary of said interpretation circuit (41) with said electronic coding means (22) to drive the vibration generating device (23) by means of pulse trains so as to emit vibration pulses representative of horometric information or of the accuracy of a time instruction or non-time instruction introduced by means of said control elements.
2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the control elements cooperating with electronic coding means (22) to deliver a horometric information are formed at least by one push-button, (C, B₁, B₂), the activation of which enables the vibration generating device (23) to emit a vibration string representative of said time information in a single action.
3. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the control elements cooperating with the electronic coding means (22) to deliver an item of horometric information are composed of one or two numerical keys (Ni) the activation of which by pressure or positioning of a finger enables the vibration generator devised to emit one or two vibration strings representative of said horometric information.
4. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the push-button control elements are provided with several activation modes recognisable by the interpretation circuit (41) to make it possible to deliver various items of horometric information or to execute various time instructions or non-time instructions.
5. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic coding means (22) also have means to vary the speed of emission of the pulse strings.
6. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the vibration generating device (23) is of the electromagnetic type and in that it is entirely contained in the housing.
7. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that a control element making it possible to introduce time information or non-time information is composed of a bezel (L) outside the housing and provided with tactile activatable marks (N_i, M_i).
8. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that the bezel (L) is a fixed bezel and in that each mark is opposite a position sensor (8) activatable by pressure or positioning of a finger.
9. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that the bezel (L) is a revolving bezel and in that each mark can be activated by causing it to coincide with another fixed tactile mark.
10. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that confirmation of the selection of a mark is effected by the emission of an associated vibration string, either in automatic manner, or by pressure on a control element.
11. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that the bezel has an area having 10 or 12 positions corresponding to numerical marks (N_i) making it possible to correct the internal time or to set the alarm time, and an area corresponding to marks of the mode of operation (M_i) that can be selected to obtain a change in the speed of transmission of vibrations, the activation or deactivation of the alarm function or the call-up of a calendar function.
12. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the control elements making it possible to introduce time information or non-time information are solely composed of a crown and push-buttons (C, B₁, B₂).
13. Timepiece according to claim 12, characterized in that one of the push-buttons (B₁, B₂) is adapted to permit the introduction of a time information by simple counting of the vibrations up to a desired number by maintaining pressure with one finger.
14. Timepiece according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic coding means (22) are composed of a microprocessor programmed so as to code the twelve hour positions in the form of pulse strings comprising at most three short or long pulses, according to a logical progression giving priority to the selection of short pulses for the numbers from 1 to 6 of the first and of the second area, and priority to the selection of long pulses for the numbers from 7 to 12 of the third and fourth quadrant.
15. Timepiece according to claim 14, characterized in that the sequences of pulses common to the numbers of each quadrant code the pulse strings representative of the values from 1 to 4 which must be added to a time information given to the nearest 5 minutes by the twelve hour positions to obtain an accuracy to the nearest minute.
16. Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that the numerical marks (Ni) are positioned on the twelve hourly positions and that the electronic coding means (22) are composed of a microprocessor programmed so as to emit one or several long pulses when the activated numerical mark (Ni) corresponds to the hour, short pulse strings when said mark corresponds to the minutes, each string having 1 to 4 pulses depending on the value to be added to the immediately lower number of minutes being a multiple of five corresponding to the numerical mark (Ni) activated, and very short pulse strings when said mark corresponds to the value zero or a whole hour.
17. Timepiece according to claim 16, characterized in that the long pulses for the hours and the strings of short pulses for the minutes commence when the hour hand and the minute hand depend on a single numerical mark (Ni).
18. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims composed of a pocket-watch or a wristwatch adapted for a visually impaired person.

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