EP0884663B1 - Watch with tactile reading and setting of horometric functions - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a watch allowing reading the time in the usual way and including in addition to an arrangement intended to facilitate reading and adjustment of time functions by touch by means of coded non-sound vibrations, such a wristwatch being more particularly intended for a user visually impaired, or to a sighted user placed in circumstances where he cannot, or does not wish check his watch.

The invention relates more particularly to a wristwatch with analog display whose appearance aesthetic does not differentiate it from usual watches and whose technical characteristics, for example at level of tightness are higher than those of watches currently used by people visually impaired.

The invention also relates to such a wristwatch. whose arrangement at the bezel allows a more efficient location of a specific tactile area, whose number of manipulations for reading and setting of a time function is reduced, and the coding of sound vibrations is simplified.

In document US 5,559,761, the applicant has already describes various embodiments of a wristwatch whose external appearance does not make it possible to know if the person who wears it has a visual handicap and who delivers time information by means of vibrations not encoded sound. For this purpose, it is necessary to perform a more or less complex number of manipulations crown level, push buttons and markers tactile, arranged on the surface of the telescope, facing sensors incorporated in the telescope or in the glass. In the various embodiments, the tactile marks are hollowed out in the bezel, or are separated by bosses on it, and they only match a single function which can be an operating mode or a time indication. Although the aesthetic purpose is reached, the wristwatch described in the document US 5,559,761 still requires from the user a significant learning, both in terms of correct positioning of a finger on a tactile marker determined, that when it comes to learning the manipulation of control elements and proposed code to deliver information by non-audible vibrations.

The present invention therefore aims to make the use of a wrist watch of the aforementioned type plus reliable regarding the information it provides and easier to use because it is closer to reflexes already acquired with a usual watch.

• une boíte obturée par une glace disposée au-dessus d'un cadran d'affichage analogique au moyen d'aiguilles, ladite glace étant entourée d'une lunette fixe;
• un circuit garde-temps et au moins un moteur pas-à-pas d'entraínement des aiguilles;
• un dispositif générateur de vibrations non sonores;
• au moins une source d'énergie alimentant le circuit garde-temps, le moteur pas-à-pas et le dispositif générateur de vibrations;
• un ensemble de douze capteurs disposés en regard des douze positions horaires et au moins un organe de commande extérieur;
• un circuit électronique de codage associé au circuit garde-temps, aux capteurs et à l'organe de commande extérieur pour piloter le dispositif générateur de vibrations;

caractérisée en ce que la lunette est pourvue de douze reliefs s'étendant radialement au-delà de la lunette et de la boíte, lesdits reliefs étant disposés entre les douze capteurs pour guider le doigt d'un usager vers un capteur déterminé.To this end, the invention relates to a watch enabling the time to be read both visually and by touch, and the adjustment of all of the timekeeping functions being carried out by touch, with the exception of initialization. who can request the intervention of a sighted person. Such a watch according to the invention comprises:

• a box closed by a crystal arranged above an analog display dial by means of needles, said crystal being surrounded by a fixed bezel;
• a timepiece circuit and at least one stepping motor for driving the hands;
• a device for generating non-sound vibrations;
• at least one energy source supplying the timepiece circuit, the stepping motor and the vibration generating device;
• a set of twelve sensors arranged opposite the twelve time positions and at least one external control member;
• an electronic coding circuit associated with the timepiece circuit, the sensors and the external control member for controlling the vibration generating device;

characterized in that the telescope is provided with twelve reliefs extending radially beyond the telescope and the box, said reliefs being arranged between the twelve sensors to guide the finger of a user towards a determined sensor.

It has been observed that a visually impaired person followed more readily with his finger the circumference of a object that a surface. In the case of the watch, follow the circumference of the case or the middle part also offers the advantage, thanks to the position of the bracelet and the crown which can be the only control element exterior, to have a more secure location of positions 12 p.m., 6 a.m., 3 a.m. and 9 a.m., which are privileged positions, as will be explained later.

The reliefs arranged on the bezel have for example the shape of bars a little longer than the width of the bezel. An average attention observer can consider that said bars have only one purpose decorative, so that it is not possible, by the simple observation of the watch, to know if whoever door is visually impaired or not.

According to the preferred embodiment, the sensors used are of the capacitive type and are arranged under the glass, above each time position, although it it is possible to use other types of sensors according to other arrangements, for example piezoelectric sensors arranged on the bezel. It is further possible to allow the user to have a confirmation the correct positioning of his finger on a sensor in treating a small portion of the outer surface of the ice above each time marker to give it a noticeable low roughness so tactile, but not detectable visually. He is by possible example of forming small pellets by laser treatment.

In order to avoid accidental handling of the sensors, the primary function of the controller outside is to allow the passage in reading mode when touching briefly. information horometric is then selected by positioning the finger on the sensor located at 12 o'clock for the current time, and at 6 a.m. for the alarm time. The second function of the control unit is the current time setting and setting or changing the alarm time on the contrary, when pulling, handling quite common with most watches.

In "reading" mode, the user will then have to scan the sensor field with a finger until sensor which triggers a coded vibration and which it easily locate the position by guiding his finger between the reliefs up to the level of the periphery of the box. In "setting" mode, the user performs the opposite operation to select a specific sensor. Coding which is the same in both modes is also extremely simple, as will be explained later. The sensors at 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. initializing the watch, as explained by the following.

As we can see, the sensors located at 12 p.m., 6 a.m., 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. perform two functions easily storable.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'une montre tactile selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de la montre représentée à la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 1, et
• la figure 4 représente des exemples de codage des vibrations non sonores.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following description of an embodiment presented by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a top view of a touch watch according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the watch shown in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 1, and
• FIG. 4 represents examples of coding of non-sound vibrations.

The watch shown consists of a box 1 formed by a base 2 and a middle part 3, and closed by a crystal 4 arranged above a circular dial 5 of a display analog by needles 6 and 7. Glass 5 is maintained in place by a fixed bezel 8 secured to the box 1. A push button 9, on which it is possible to exercise either a pressure or a traction is positioned on the middle 3 to 3 h. In the schematic section of Figure 3, the assembly means are not shown, as being well known to those skilled in the art. The interior space delimited by the dial 5 and the bottom 2 is occupied by a horometric movement, schematically represented by a timepiece circuit 10 and a stepping motor 11, and by a vibrating device 20 powered by a source of energy 24 according to instructions received from a electronic coding circuit 25 subject to the circuit timepiece 10.

The vibrating device 20 is for example that described in US Pat. No. 5,365,497. It basically consists of an electromagnetic type motor 21 capable of transmitting an oscillatory movement to a mass 23 via an elastic connection 22. The vibration, or the train of vibrations, thus created can be perceived by the user at the wrist, but also anywhere in the box. The watch according to the invention allows both a usual reading of the time visually by means of hands 6 and 7 and a tactile reading. This tactile reading is carried out by means of twelve capacitive sensors C ₁ to C ₁₂ arranged under the glass above each hour mark on the dial, the section in FIG. 3 showing the sensor C ₉ . The position of each sensor is identified by reliefs R ₁ to R ₁₂ arranged on the bezel between each time marker, and projecting from the periphery of the box 1. In the example shown, the reliefs R ₁ to R ₁₂ have the form bars slightly enveloping the bezel as it appears for the relief R ₅ in Figure 3. These bars can be added elements, for example by welding or gluing, or come in one piece with the bezel.

The watch structure which has just been described allows simple tactile reading and adjustment by use of vibration coding easily memorable, as will be understood with reference to the description below of the different functions horometrical.

Reading the current time

The user exerts a short press on the push button 9 to switch to touch mode, then positions his finger between the bars R ₁₂ and R ₁ , then slides it for a short time (less than two seconds) on the ice. above the sensor C ₁₂ . It will be observed that by physically separating the locating position on the telescope 8 from that of the sensor located under the glass 5, errors are avoided, which is even more important for the adjustment operations as will be explained below. The user then perceives a rapid vibration confirming that he is in "time reading" mode. He then moves his finger on the surface of the ice near the telescope until he perceives a continuous vibration indicating that he is above the hour hand. He then identifies this position by sliding his finger on the bezel between two bars that he can easily identify with respect to the relative position of the strap attachments and the push button. To know the position of the minute hand it will do the same, the vibrations emitted by an active sensor being coded as follows.

Multiples of five minutes are coded with a continuous vibration formed of pulses not countable;

The number of minutes exceeding a multiple five-minute integer is coded by trains formed of one to four countable vibrations.

For example, each vibration has a duration of 250 ms, the vibrations forming a train being separated by a silence of 500 ms and each train being separated by a 1'250 ms silence.

In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the hands indicate 9:18. The user will first perceive a continuous vibration when his finger is positioned on the sensor C ₉ , then a train of three vibrations when his finger is positioned on sensor C ₃ . These codifications are schematically represented in FIG. 4. The user will therefore have the knowledge of the hour to the minute, which is sometimes difficult to obtain visually, particularly with watches in which an aesthetic research leads to remove practically all the time marks.

Reading of time and alarm status

The procedure is exactly the same as that described above, but by activating sensor C ₆ at the start instead of sensor C ₁₂ . When the user has his finger on the sensor C ₆ , the rapid vibration is coded to also indicate the state of the alarm.

When the alarm is inactive (OFF), the train is formed of a rapid vibration.

When the alarm is active (ON), the train is formed of two rapid vibrations.

Change of alarm status

After briefly pressing the crown 9, the user positions his finger on the sensor C _{6 as before} , but leaving it for more than two seconds. The user then perceives a train of vibrations formed by the succession of a rapid vibration and two rapid vibrations. To establish the alarm state that suits him, he withdraws his finger when he perceives either one vibration (OFF) or two vibrations (ON).

Changing the current time or the alarm time

After briefly pressing the crown 9 and selecting the current time (positioning of the finger on the sensor C ₁₂ ), or the alarm time (positioning of the finger on the sensor C ₆ ) the user pulls the crowned. The user will then successively move the hand 6 of the hour and the hand 7 of the minutes by acting on the sensors C ₁ to C ₁₂ .

To adjust the hour hand, the user marks the chosen hour position between two bars R ₁ to R ₁₂ and slides his finger over the corresponding sensor. He then perceives a continuous vibration confirming to him that the hour hand has come to occupy the position corresponding to the time difference he has chosen.

If the user simply wishes to make a change time zone, or change from summer time to winter time, it does not perform any other manipulation and the watch will automatically return to "reading" mode after a certain time. If, on the contrary, he wishes also adjust the minute hand it marks at the bars the hour position corresponding to the integer multiple of five minutes equal or immediately less than the number of minutes chosen, then it does slide his finger on the corresponding sensor. The circuit management electronics then sends signals to the vibratory device for producing a vibration train coding the values 0 to 4, respectively by a vibration continues then 1, 2, 3 and 4 countable vibrations separated by rests, this sequence, represented at Figure 4 for values 0 to 3, reproducing so many the user keeps his finger on the sensor. The number of minutes will correspond to the last group of vibrations perceived. After removing his finger, the needle of the 7 minutes will occupy the chosen position.

initialization

In electronic watches with analog display whose needles are driven by stepper motors independent, it is sometimes necessary to correct the zero reference of needles. For that we bring usually one after the other, the needles in position superimposed on 12 o'clock. In the absence of other devices, the control of this overlay is the only one to be done visually.

To this end, the user exerts on the crown a long press (more than five seconds) then a pull. He then positions his finger on the sensor C ₉ until perception of a continuous vibration confirming that the hour hand occupies the 12 o'clock position. In the same way, he moves the minute hand by positioning his finger on the sensor C ₃ .

Of course, the invention is not limited to the mode of realization which has just been described. Without leaving the within the scope of the invention, the skilled person can adapt the method of locating sensors to other products watchmakers.

Claims (8)

1. Watch with visual and touch horometric functions, including:

   a case (1) sealed by a crystal (4) arranged above an analogue display dial (5) and hand display means (6, 7), said crystal being surrounded by a fixed bezel (8)

   a time-keeping circuit (10) and at least one stepping motor (11) for driving the hands (6, 7);

   a non-acoustic vibration generating device (20);

   at least one power source (24) supplying the time-keeping circuit (10), the stepping motor (11) and the vibration generating device (20);

   a set of twelve sensors (C₁ to C₁₂) arranged facing the twelve time positions and at least one external control element (9);

   an electronic coding circuit (25) associated with the time-keeping circuit (10), the sensors (C₁ to C₁₂) and the external control device (9) to control the vibration generating device (20);

   characterised in that the bezel (8) is provided with twelve projections (R₁ to R₁₂) extending radially beyond the bezel (8) and the case (1), said projections (R₁ to R₁₂) being arranged between the twelve sensors (C₁ to C₁₂) to guide a user's finger towards a determined sensor.
2. Watch according to claim 1, characterised in that the sensors (C₁ to C₁₂) are of the capacitive type and are situated under the crystal (4) above each time positions.
3. Watch according to claim 2, characterised in that small external portions of the crystal facing each time position are treated so as to have slight roughness perceptible by touch, but not discernible visually.
4. Watch according to claim 1, characterised in that the external control element (9) is a push-button (9) arranged for setting the watch in touch reading mode when said push-button (9) is pressed briefly.
5. Watch according to claim 1, characterised in that the sensors (C₃, C₆, C₉ and C₁₂) are arranged so that the first activation thereof by positioning a finger selects a determined piece of horometric information.
6. Watch according to claim 5, characterised in that the sensors (C₁₂ and C₆) allow respectively the current time and the alarm time to be selected, for reading and setting, once passage into touch reading mode has been effected.
7. Watch according to claim 6, characterised in that the push-button (9) is arranged so that a pull exerted thereon allows setting of the current time or the alarm time to be effected.
8. Watch according to claim 5, characterised in that the sensors (C₉ and C₃) are arranged so that successively activating them, having previously pressed for a long time and pulled the push-button (9), allows initialisation of the watch, via visual monitoring of the superposition of the hands at 12 o'clock.

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