EP1134630A1 - Means for exchanging information with a portable object, in particular a time-piece - Google Patents

Abstract

A push-button (8) has multiple head portions (26) and stem portions (16). The stem is electrically connected to data input terminals (42,44) of a control circuit (22), when the push-button is pressed. Data from external electronic unit is entered or extracted to/from control circuit through the stem.

Description

The present invention relates to a portable object such as, in particular, a room clock making, including means for exchanging information between this portable object and a personal computer or PC.

We already know timepieces such as wristwatches comprising a box inside which is housed, for example, a digital image capture. The wearer of such a watch thus permanently has a camera that allows him to take pictures of a landscape, family members or an interlocutor met during a meeting of work. Once the photographs are taken, they are digitized by a analog / digital converter, then stored in a memory circuit.

The stored photographs must then be transferred to a unit remote reception and processing electronics, conventionally a computer staff. This transfer takes place via an electric cable, one end of which is connected to the watch, and the other end of which is connected to the PC. A ohmic contact worn, for example, by the middle of the watch, connects the transfer cable of images on the latter.

This solution has the merit of being economical from the point of view of power consumption. Transmission of digital data by wire corresponding to the photographs stored in memory requires, in fact, only one very low current. In addition, during this transfer operation, the power supply electric of the watch can be provided by the computer itself which is generally connected to the electrical distribution network.

However, a major drawback of wire transmission is that that the ohmic contact necessary for the connection of the transfer cable harms seriously to the water resistance of the watch. This contact constitutes an opening by which moisture, water and dust can easily enter the box of the watch and compromise its proper functioning.

We also know by US Patent No 5,848,027 in the name of Biometrics, Inc., a system for processing personal data. This system allows, for example, to control the performance of an athlete such as a runner feet. It allows you to record the date and time of the race, the time taken at each lap, or the final time accomplished by the sportsman. The system allows also to record the values of certain physiological parameters such as the heart rate or an electrocardiogram (ECG) that reflect the effort provided by the athlete during his sporting activity. All this information will then be transmitted, via an acoustic link, to a personal computer in which these data will be processed, analyzed and finally displayed on the said screen computer.

The Biometrics system described above advantageously makes it possible to record personal data in a watch and then transfer that data over the air acoustics to a computer where they will be processed and analyzed. This system is unfortunately not bidirectional. It is therefore not possible to transfer information from the computer to the watch, which considerably limits the possible applications of the Biometrics system. In addition, data transmission by acoustic waves is a technique which consumes a lot of energy and which requires relatively expensive components.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the problems and drawbacks above as well as others by proposing a particularly simple system and inexpensive to exchange information between a portable object such than a timepiece and a personal computer or PC.

To this end, the present invention relates to a portable object such as, in particular, a timepiece, comprising an electronic movement carried by a printed circuit, this electronic movement comprising a time base circuit, a frequency divider circuit powered by the time base, a circuit control connected to the divider circuit and a display system controlled by the control circuit, this portable object also comprising at least one push button comprising a head and a rod passing through the middle of a case closed by a bottom, characterized in that the push rod can be electrically connected to a data entry of the control circuit by pressing the push button, so that it is possible to introduce through this rod into said circuit controls information from an electronic transmission unit and reception of digital data such as personal computer or PC or extract information contained in said portable object.

Thanks to these characteristics, an electrical connection is very simply established. between the computer and the portable object. An electric cable, connected to the PC at one of its ends, comes into contact at its other end with the push rod which is itself directly connected to a data input of the object control unit portable. Such a solution is economical from the point of view of consumption electrical and does not require a complex mechanical or electronic component and expensive. In particular, it is not necessary to provide the portable object with a contact ohmic for cable connection. We thus take full advantage of the advantages related to the exchange of data by wire connection while avoiding the problems related to this technical.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the push button also acts on the control circuit to correct an indication or to initiate or trigger a particular watch function, for example a counting, the push rod carrying for this purpose a contact flange which acts as key to prevent the extraction of said push button after its installation and as a means of establishing electrical contact on an area of the printed circuit, this contact flange being electrically insulated from said rod.

Thanks to these other characteristics, information can be exchanged between the portable object and the computer using only the means carried by the object portable for setting and activating its usual watch functions. It is not therefore it is no longer necessary to add additional parts to the portable object to ability to connect watch control circuit to PC. The construction of the watch is therefore simplified, which significantly limits manufacturing costs. Likewise, the watertightness of the portable object is not impaired.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention comprenant quatre boutons-poussoirs;
• la figure 2 est une vue de détail à plus grande échelle d'un des boutons-poussoirs de la figure 1;
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus d'un bouton-poussoir;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe du bouton-poussoir de la figure 3;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'une bride de contact montée sur la tige d'un bouton-poussoir;
• la figure 6 est une vue de face de la bride de contact de la figure 5;
• la figure 7 est une vue en coupe dans un manchon isolant par l'intermédiaire duquel la bride de contact est montée sur la tige du bouton-poussoir;
• la figure 8 est une vue en coupe d'une première variante de réalisation d'un bouton-poussoir;
• la figure 9 est une vue en coupe d'une seconde variante de réalisation d'un bouton-poussoir, et
• la figure 10 est une vue en coupe dans la tige du bouton-poussoir.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description which follows of an embodiment of the portable object according to the invention, this example being given purely by way of nonlimiting illustration, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a top view of a timepiece according to the invention comprising four push buttons;
• Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of one of the pushbuttons of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a top view of a push button;
• Figure 4 is a sectional view of the push button of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a contact flange mounted on the rod of a push button;
• Figure 6 is a front view of the contact flange of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a sectional view in an insulating sleeve through which the contact flange is mounted on the rod of the push button;
• Figure 8 is a sectional view of a first alternative embodiment of a push button;
• FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a second alternative embodiment of a push button, and
• Figure 10 is a sectional view in the rod of the push button.

The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea which consists in connecting an electronic unit for transmitting and receiving digital information, typically a personal computer or PC, to the integrated circuit contained in a watch using the pushbuttons that such a watch wears for controlling its functions usual watchmakers. To this end, the PC is electrically connected to the pushbuttons which, when pressed, come into contact with a contact blade that the printed circuit board of the watch carries and which is itself connected to the integrated circuit of the watch.

On the other hand, it will be noted that, although the present invention is described in reference to a timepiece, it applies identically to any object portable comprising an integrated memory circuit into which it is desired to introduce or extract information from outside said portable object.

The timepiece according to the invention can be, for example, a wristwatch. It is shown schematically in Figure 1 and designated in its together by the general reference numeral 1. It includes in particular a case 2 delimited by a middle part 4, metallic or not, and a bottom 6.

The middle 4 is crossed by four push buttons 8, 10, 12 and 14. It will it goes without saying that this example is given for illustrative purposes only and that it suffices, to implement the present invention, that watch 1 comprises a single pushbutton. In all that follows, we will focus only on the pushbuttons 8 and 10. The other two pushbuttons 12 and 14 can have the same structure as push buttons 8 and 10 or have a different structure known to those skilled in the art. They will therefore not be described in more detail below.

Push buttons 8 and 10 mainly consist of a rod elongated metallic 16 preferably, but not exclusively, shaped cylindrical. When the middle part 4 of watch 1 is metallic, the rod 16 of the push buttons 8 and 10 passes through a sleeve 18 made of a material electrically insulator as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2. The sleeve 18 can be, for example, driven into the middle part 4 of watch 1.

The middle part 4 of watch 1 defines a central cavity in which takes typically places an electronic watch movement supported by a printed circuit 20. This timepiece movement includes, among other things, a basic circuit of time, a frequency divider circuit supplied by the time base, a circuit of control connected to the divider circuit and a display system controlled by the control circuit 22. The display system can be an analog system including an hour hand, a minute hand and a seconds moving on a dial. The display system can also be consisting of a digital liquid crystal display cell.

The control circuit 22 performs various functions. He maintains in particular the oscillations of the quartz oscillator of the time base circuit, divides the frequency of the quartz, corrects the running of the watch, feeds if necessary motors and liquid crystal displays, controls special functions such as that the date, the chronograph, the alarm, the time zones, and allows correct certain indications and set the time.

The control circuit 22 is supplied with current by an accumulator 24 intended to be recharged after exhaustion. It goes without saying that the control circuit 22 could also be powered by a non-rechargeable battery. The accumulator 24, shown schematically in Figure 1, typically has the form of a tablet which can be housed in the back 6 of watch 1. The underside of the accumulator 24 which constitutes its negative pole is electrically connected to the bottom 6 metallic and therefore to the middle part 4 metallic, that is to say to the mass of watch 1, for example by means of a spring contact fixed on the inner surface of the bottom 6 of said watch 1. The positive pole of accumulator 24 which is constituted by its upper face is usually connected to a circuit supply terminal 22.

Of course, the watch, in particular the back 6 and the middle part 4 thereof, can be made of an electrically insulating material such as a plastic material. In in this case, the poles of the accumulator 24 are connected directly to the terminals control circuit supply 22.

It also goes without saying that the poles of the accumulator 24 can be inverted, the underside of the round patch constituting its positive pole, and the pole negative then being located on top of this patch. In this case, the positive pole is electrically connected to watch ground 1.

As shown more particularly in Figures 2 to 4, the push buttons 8 and 10 each have a pusher head 26 and the pusher rod 16 metallic. The push rod 16 is slidably arranged inside a housing 28 of generally cylindrical shape formed in the middle part 4 of the shows 1. The push rod 16 moves axially in the housing 28 to against the return force of a spring 30 when a control thrust is applied to the pusher head 26.

The return spring 30 is disposed in a housing 32 formed in the head pusher 26 and bears axially on the bottom 34 of a cavity 36 provided in the middle part 2. The push rod 16 has a groove at one point along its length annular 38 in which is housed a seal 40. This seal 40 ensures the watertight closing of the housing 32 when the rod 16 slides therein during actuation of push buttons 8 and 10 by a user.

According to a simplified variant of the present invention, the push buttons 8 and 10 described above are used only to introduce or extract information from watch 1. For this purpose, they include a retaining means such as a key which only prevents the extraction of these pushbuttons 8 and 10 after their installation in the middle part 4 of the watch 1. In accordance with the main characteristic of the invention, the rods 16 of the two push buttons 8 and 10 can be electrically connected to two data inputs, respectively 42 and 44, of the control circuit 22 by pressing on said push-buttons 8, 10. II it is thus possible, as will be seen in detail below, to connect a unit electronic 45 for transmitting and receiving digital data such as personal computer or PC to the control circuit 22 of watch 1 so to introduce into said control circuit 22 information from the PC or to extract information contained in the watch 1. For this purpose, the end of the rod 16 located inside the housing 2 comes to touch, when the pressure is pressed corresponding push button 8, 10, a contact blade 46 carried by the circuit printed 20 and connected to one of the circuit 42 and 44 data inputs respectively 22.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the push buttons 8, 10 are used not only to enter or extract information from the shows 1, but also to correct information or to start or trigger a particular watch function, for example a count. To this end, the push buttons 8 and 10 include a contact flange 48 which exerts on the push rod 16 a force sufficient to act against the restoring force of the spring 30 and thus prevent said rod 16 from escaping from the housing 28 in which it slides. Contact flange 48 is a W-shaped key which is engaged in an annular groove 50 that has a sleeve 52 (see in particular the figure 7) threaded onto the end of the rod 16 opposite the pusher head 26. The sleeve 52 is made of an insulating material such as a ceramic material or a material plastic and is retained by a washer 54 driven onto the push rod 16 at the following said sleeve 52. The contact flange 48 is therefore electrically insulated by relative to the push rod 16. In normal use, the contact flange 48 is always pressed against the inner face of the middle part 4 of the watch 1. It only moves when control thrust is applied to one or the other push buttons 8, 10.

The flange 48 is obtained by cutting or stamping a metal sheet according to a particular contour and by folding so as to exert, after installation, to the both the key and contact means functions. The flange 48 is composed effect of two blades 56a, 56b extending in the general plane of said flange 48. These two blades 56a, 56b are interconnected in their upper part by a notch 58 in the shape of a V intended to come to engage in the annular groove 50 of the insulating sleeve 52 to form a key. Downward, each of the blades 56a, 56b is extended beyond a fold 60a, 60b by a small curved contact tab 62a, 62b. It is clear from FIG. 5 that the contact tab 62a projects at a certain angle outside the general plane of the contact flange 48 to establish a contact, for example a ground contact, on an area of the printed circuit 20 such as we will see it later.

The printed circuit 20 on which the control circuit 22 is mounted comprises two contact pads 64a, 64b which each consist of a semi-cylindrical hole having a metallized vertical wall 66a, 66b arranged opposite the contact tabs 62a, 62b respectively of the contact flange 48. One of these holes is electrically connected to the control circuit 22, while the other hole is connected to the watch mass 1.

When a control pressure is exerted on one of the push buttons 8 or 10, the contact flange 48 moves and its contact tabs 62a, 62b come touch the metallized holes 64a, 64b. As described above, the contact tab 62a projects out of the general plane of the contact flange 48. Thus, when press one of the push buttons 8 or 10, this contact tab 62a comes in contact with the metallized hole 64a which faces it before the other contact tab 62b does not come to touch itself the metallized hole 64b which corresponds to it, which avoids electrostatic discharges which are particularly harmful to the circuit 22.

When the two contact tabs 62a, 62b touch the metallized holes 64a, 64b, there is a short circuit between these two holes 64a, 64b, which causes the arrival of a instruction to the control circuit 22. On the other hand, when the watch 1 according to the invention is linked to the computer 45, the pushbuttons 8 and 10 remain pressed while the exchange of information between said watch 1 and said lasts computer 45. The control circuit 22 is programmed so that it then understand that this situation does not correspond to activation or deactivation of a watch function of watch 1, but upon introduction into the control circuit 22 of information coming from the PC 45 or at the extraction of information contained in the watch 1. When the push buttons 8, 10 are pressed, they are electrically connected to the data inputs 42 and 44 of the control circuit 22 via the contact blades 46. One can imagine that the push button 8 is used to transfer information from the electronic unit 45 to the control circuit 22 of watch 1 and, conversely, push-button 10 serves to the transfer of data from watch 1 to the electronic unit 45. However, according to another alternative embodiment, a single push button can be used to bidirectional exchange of information between watch 1 and electronic unit 45. A this effect, it suffices that the electronic unit 45 indicates, using a program adapted computing, to the control circuit 22 that it is ready to receive the information from said control circuit 22.

As already described above, the push buttons 8, 10 are connected electrically at the data inputs 42 and 44 respectively of the command 22 by pressing these push buttons 8, 10.

To enter or extract information from the control circuit 22 of the watch 1, the electronic unit or computer 45 has two electrical outlets 68 and 70 which come into contact with said push-buttons 8 and 10 respectively. According to a first alternative embodiment, the push buttons 8 and 10 comprise a metal pusher head 26 driven onto the pusher rod 16. It is then necessary ensure that this metallic pusher head 26 does not short-circuit with its neighborhood.

According to a second alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the head of pusher 26 is made of a plastic or elastomer injection molded to hot so as to bind to the push rod 16. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the metal push rod 16 arrives flush with the push head 26 or made slightly protruding from the surface of said pusher head 26, so that the contact electrical can be established with the electrical outlet 68, 70 of the personal computer 45.

According to another alternative embodiment shown in Figure 9, the rod pusher 16 is embedded in the pusher head 26 made of a plastic material or relatively soft elastomer. The electrical sockets 68, 70 of the electronic unit 45 then have a tapered tip 72 which is capable of easily penetrating the soft material from which the pusher head 26 is made and coming into electrical contact with the push rod 16.

The push rod 16 can be made in one piece. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 10, the rod pusher 16 is made up of two parts 74 and 76, one 74 being made of steel ordinary stainless steel 4C27A, and the other 76, driven into the drilling of the first, made made of high-performance 316L stainless steel to prevent corrosion under the effect of sweat or friction produced by contact with the electrical sockets 68, 70 of the unit electronic 45.

It goes without saying that various simple modifications and variants enter the part of the present invention. In particular, it will be understood that the contact flange 48 described above which acts both as a key to prevent extraction of the push button 8, 10 and as a means of establishing electrical contact on a printed circuit area 20 can be replaced by two separate parts, one serving to keep the push rod 16 in position, and the other ensuring contact electrical with the contact pads 64a, 64b of the printed circuit 20.

Claims (16)

Portable object such as, in particular, a timepiece, comprising an electronic movement carried by a printed circuit (20), this electronic movement comprising a time base circuit, a frequency divider circuit supplied by the time base, a circuit control device (22) connected to the divider circuit and a display system controlled by the control circuit, this portable object also comprising at least one push button (8, 10) comprising a head (26) and a rod (16) passing through the middle part (4) of a case (2) closed by a bottom (6), characterized in that the push rod (16) can be electrically connected to a data input (42,44) of the control circuit (22) by pressing the push button (8, 10), so that it is possible to introduce through this rod (16) into said control circuit (22) information from an electronic unit (45) transmission and reception of digital data such as o personal computer or PC or extract information from the portable object. Portable object according to claim 1, characterized in that the push button (8, 10) also acts on the control circuit (22) to correct an indication or to start or start a particular watch function, for example a count, the push rod (16) carrying for this purpose a contact flange (48) which acts as a key to prevent the extraction of said push button (8, 10) after its installation and as a means for establishing electrical contact on an area of the printed circuit (20), this contact flange (48) being electrically insulated from said rod (16). Portable object according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that , when the push button (8, 10) is pressed, the end of the rod (16) situated inside the housing (2) comes into contact with a contact blade (46) fixed on the printed circuit (20), this contact blade (46) itself being connected to one of the data inputs (42, 44) of the control circuit (22). Portable object according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that a sleeve (52) made of an insulating material is threaded on the end of the rod (16) located inside the housing (2) , this sleeve (52) carrying the contact flange (48) and being retained by a washer (54) driven onto said rod (16) following said sleeve (52). Portable object according to claim 4, characterized in that the sleeve (52) is made of a ceramic material or a plastic material. Portable object according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the push rod (16) consists of two parts (74, 76), one (74) drilled made of ordinary stainless steel 4C27A, and the other (76), driven out in the drilling of the first, made of high-performance 316 L stainless steel to avoid any corrosion under the effect of sweat or friction. Portable object according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the contact flange (48) is a W-shaped key. Portable object according to claim 7, characterized in that the contact flange (48) comprises two blades (56a, 56b) extending in the general plane of said flange (48), these two blades (56a, 56b) being connected between them in their upper part by a V-shaped notch (58) and being each extended downwards, beyond a fold (60a, 60b), by a curved contact tab (62a, 62b). Portable object according to claim 8, characterized in that one of the contact tabs (62a) projects at an angle outside the general plane of the contact flange (48). Portable object according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the push rod (16) is metallic. Portable object according to claim 10, characterized in that the pusher head (26) is metallic and is driven onto the pusher rod (16). Portable object according to claim 10, characterized in that the pusher head (26) is made of a plastic or elastomeric material and in that the pusher rod (16) comes flush with the pusher head (26) or slightly protrudes from said pusher head (26). Portable object according to claim 10, characterized in that the push rod (16) is embedded in the push head (26) made of a relatively soft plastic or elastomer and in that one of the electrical outlets (68 , 79) of the electronic unit (45) intended to transfer information to the portable object or vice versa has a tapered tip (72) which is capable of penetrating into the soft material of which the pusher head (26) is made and to come into electrical contact with the push rod (16). Portable object according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the push rod (16) is slidably disposed inside a housing (28) formed in the middle part (4) of said portable object , and in that a return spring (30) is disposed in a housing (32) formed in the pusher head (26) and bears axially on the bottom (34) provided in said middle (4). Portable object according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the printed circuit (20) has two contact pads (64a, 64b) disposed respectively opposite the contact tabs (62a, 62b) of the flange of contact (48). Portable object according to claim 15, characterized in that the contact pads (64a, 64b) each consist of a cylindrical half-hole having a metallized vertical wall (66a, 66b), one of these holes (64a) being connected to the control circuit (22) of said portable object, and the other hole (64b) being connected to the ground of the portable object.

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