FR2490840A1 - - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION CONCERNS AN ELECTRONIC CLOCK-MAKING DEVICE OF THE TYPE INCLUDING AN ANALOGUE TIME-COUNTING MEANS AND AN ELECTRO-OPTICAL DISPLAY ELEMENT. THE DEVICE INCLUDES AN ANALOGUE TIME-COUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A MOTOR AND A GEAR TRAIN WHICH DRIVES A HOURS 16 HOURS AND A HANDS 17 MINUTES, AS WELL AS AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT MEANS, THESE TWO MEANS ARE ARRANGED IN A BOX 18. THE DEVICE INCLUDES AN ELEECTRO-OPTICAL DISPLAY ELEMENT 10 PLACED BEHIND THE HANDS SO AS TO FORM A VISIBLE FACE OF THE WATCH-MAKING DEVICE ABOVE WHICH THE HANDS TURN CONTINUOUSLY. THE DISPLAY ELEMENT HAS MARKS 11, 13 SELECTIVELY ACTIONABLE THROUGH THE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT MEANS TO DISPLAY INFORMATION OTHER THAN ANALOGUE TIME INFORMATION GIVEN BY THE HANDS.

Description

The present invention relates to a clock device (i.e.

  time counting device, such as a clock, a clock, a watch ..., generally without a chime)

  the so-called "combined" type in which time, ie an indica-

  time, is displayed analogically by means of the usual rotary indicator hands, and additional information, which usually includes other time data, is digitally displayed by means of an electro-optical display element. These combined horological devices have been developed to satisfy a need and a consumer demand for a timepiece having several functions such as chronograph, horn and timer. The watches

  of the so-called combined type typically use a mini electric motor.

  such as a stepper motor and a gear train driving the indicator hands, for example a needle of

  hours and a minute hand. The electronic display element

  Optical can belong to different well-known types such as liquid crystal display or light emitting diode. Time signals are provided to the stepper motor and the electro-optical display element by an integrated circuit, for example, as shown in the United States Patents.

Nos. 3,911,665 and 3,945,191.

  As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, combined watches currently available on the market use a face,

  or dial, 2 having a cut-out portion, or window, rectangu-

  3 through which the electro-optical display element can be seen. According to a watch style, shown in FIG. 1, the electro-optical display element and the window associated therewith are placed within the limits defined by the analogue indication marks of the hour, whereas, in another style, shown in Figure 2, the analog and digital display parts occupy separate and distinct areas of the face of the timepiece. However, the general aesthetic impression offered by these watches is not entirely satisfactory because either the analog part or the digital part of the dial is too underlined, thus causing a deterioration of the aesthetic value.

of the product.

  A recent effort to improve the appearance of the combined watch is illustrated in British Patent Application No. 2,023,887 A published on January 3, 1980 in the name of Machida. This patent application eliminates the window cut in the dial of the combined watch using a semi-transparent dial plate through which a diode display element can be seen

  electroluminescent when activated.

  The invention proposes a new structure for

  combined electronic timepiece having improved aesthetic and functional characteristics. A modular set of new structure for use in this device

  watchmaking is also described.

  In summary, according to the novel structure of the timepiece of the invention, the electro-optical display element is disposed in the boot of the timepiece behind the analog time indication hands to form a visible face. of the clockwork device that the analog hands scan continuously while they rotate on a central axis

  entralné by the gear train and the engine of the watch device.

  The electro-optical display elements have a central opening through which the central axis carrying the needles protrudes from the gear train of the timepiece device, through the display element and over the portion of the display element forming the face of the timepiece device. On the face portion of the electro-optical display element of the timepiece device, selectively actuable markers are arranged, such as a configuration of transparent electrode segments.

  forming figures and / or circumferentially distributed landmarks

  tally, to display additional information if desired. The electro-optical display element and the motor

  electrical equipment driving the analogue hands are preferably

  the time signals of an integrated circuit housed in a modular assembly of the boot of the timepiece device. An important aspect of the timepiece device of the invention is the possibility that it offers to appear to be an analog clock device of great style, jeweler type, simply by deactivation, by the user, of the element of electro-optical display, while continuing to provide the ability to display information electro-optically

after reactivation.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, a ring bearing time markers may be placed on the periphery of the electro-optical display element to cooperate with the display element to form the face of the device. watchmaking and cooperate with analog hands to form the analog display element. According to another embodiment, the electro-optical display element itself may comprise reference marks

  schedules intended to cooperate with analog hands.

  The modular assembly of the invention comprises anterior and posterior frame elements supporting the drive motor

  and the gear train associated with each other, the former frame member

  the central axis of the gear train protrudes from the central opening of the display element. A substrate plate with a circuit

  integrated circuit intended to produce signals intended for the motor of

  trapping and electro-optical display element is maintained between the anterior and posterior frame elements, the wafer

  substrate having an opening axially aligned with the

  central opening passing through the electronic display element

  optical to house the central axis. Preferably, an annular support member is snap fit on the frame member

  the outer circumference of the electronic display element

  optical, and a ring forming an annular frame which bears time marks is attached to this support member so as to overcome the display element in the same way. The complete modular assembly is simply inserted into a more or less conventional timepiece box having a transparent glass above the face of the timepiece (formed by the electro-optical display element and the dial ring) so that the analog hands sweep the face of the clock device while

  allowing observation of the digital display element.

  The following description, designed as an illustration

  of the invention, aims to give a better understanding of its features and advantages; it is based on the appended drawings, among which: - Figure 1 is a plan view of a combined watch according to the prior art; FIG. 2 is a plan view of another combined watch according to the prior art; FIG. 3 is a plan view of a combined watch according to the invention; FIG. 4 is a plan view of another combined watch according to the invention;

  FIG. 5 is a side view of the modular assembly;

  showing the gear train of the timepiece; FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a modular assembly intended for a combined time clock device similar to that shown in FIG. 4;

  FIG. 7 is a side view of the modular assembly

lar; and

  FIG. 8 is a plan view of the display element

electro-optical display.

  The combined watches according to the invention presented by way of examples, one having a circular face and the other a

  rectangular face, are shown in Figures 3 and 4. Natural-

  These are merely illustrations, not limitations, since other shapes, styles and designs may also be used according to the invention. The invention applies not only to wristwatches, but also to pocket watches, watches worn as pendants as well as clocks and other

horological devices.

  The circular face of the watch of FIG. 3 consists of a centrally arranged electro-optical display element 10 which comprises selectively actuable digits 11 associated with the two-dot typographic sign 11a, an audible warning mark 13 and a circumferentially disposed annular dial ring 14 having hour markings cooperating with clock indicating hands, such as the hour hand 16 and the minute hand 17 to give the time analogically. The electro-optical display element 10 and the ring 14 are housed in a boot 18 beneath a watch glass 19 which is held on the boot by a telescope 20 in a conventional manner, as shown in FIG. 5. Naturally, the telescope 20 may be a separate element or be integral with the boot. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the telescope 20 also bears marks 21 aligned with the hourly marks 15

  of the ring for aesthetic purposes. A modular assembly 22 (pre-

  6) carries the electro-optical display element 10, the ring 14, the analog hands 16 and 17 and the

  the watch, which includes a gear train and a drive motor.

  as will be described in more detail below.

  A crown, or winding button, 23 is related to the movement of the watch in the usual manner and allows the setting of the analog hands to the desired position, and a push button 24 can be provided to actuate the display element 10 and select the

  particular display function desired.

  FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which has a substantially rectangular face and whose components are otherwise identical to those shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the identical elements are designated by FIGS. identical reference with the sign

"premium".

  A typical modular assembly that can be used in the invention is shown in FIG. 6 as having a rear frame member 30 made of plastic or other suitable material and a front frame member 32 made of

  molded plastic. The posterior frame element has an opening

  30a for receiving the battery 33 which provides energy to the watch and several holes 30b for receiving the support pins of the gear train components. The stepper motor 34

  is of known construction (see, for example, the United States Patent

  United States No. 4,079,279) and comprises a coil 34a, a core 34b, an upper stator 34c and a lower stator 34d and a rotor assembly 34e which is rotatably mounted between the stators and comprises a magnetic disk 34ea and a pinion 34eb mounted on the lower end of the shaft 34ec. The upper end of the rotor shaft 34ec is pivotally mounted in a recess of the front frame member 32, while its lower end

  is articulated in a recess 30c of the post-frame element

30.

  As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 5, the pinion 34eb of the rotor shaft drives an intermediate assembly

  comprising an intermediate gear wheel 36a and an intermediate gear

  36b mounted on a post 36c. The intermediate gear 36b drives meanwhile a set of freewheel, especially a toothed freewheel 30a mounted on a pin 38c. The freewheel 38a then drives a gear assembly with a pinion 40a mounted on a tube 40b to which the minute hand 17 is connected. The tube 40b comprises another pinion 40c which meshes with a minute pinion 42a for rotation around a pin 42c. The pinion 42b carried by the pin 42c meshes meanwhile

  with the hour gear 44a formed on the tube 44b and the

  dragged. We see that the tube 40b is carried and rotated

  on the central axis 46 and that the tube 44b is carried rotatably

  independently on the tube 40b. The central axis 46 and the tenons 36c, 38c and 42c are received in the holes 30b of the frame,

or built, posterior.

  A printed circuit board 50 carries an integrated electronic circuit, for example an integrated circuit chip 51 and separate contact pads 52 connected together by various conductors (not shown) in order to provide time signals or possibly other signals to the reader. electro-optical display 10 and stepper motor 34. The printed circuit board is placed

  between the posterior frame member 30 and the anterior frame member

  32 and has a first lateral recess 50a for housing the button-type battery 33, a central opening 50b for receiving the tubes 40b, 44b and the central axis 46 and a second lateral recess 50c which houses the stepper motor 34, in particular

  the upper and lower stators 34c, 34d and the rotor assembly 34e.

  As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, an annular washer

  The wire 45 is disposed between the printed circuit board 50 and the hourly rotating gear 44a. Although this is not shown, the printed circuit board is also supported above the rear frame member 32 by appropriate support legs that descend from the board or protrude

from the posterior frame upwards.

  The front frame member 32 is disposed above the printed circuit board 50 and is secured to the rear frame member 30 by corner screws 53. The front frame member is typically molded plastic and includes

  a substantially rectangular opening 32a which extends from the

  the rear side, this opening being configured to receive the electro-optical display element 10 and elements

  conductor connection 54 made of elastomeric material. The element of

  The registration is based on corner support pads 32b molded on the front frame and the connecting members are disposed in longitudinal grooves 32c and 32d defined between the corner support pads and are in contact with the separate contact pads 52 of FIG. the printed circuit board 50 and with similarly spaced contact pads 10d of the prior display substrate 10a, i.e. on the bottom surface 10aa of the anterior substrate, as shown in FIG. 8. The integrated circuit of FIG. the printed circuit board is thus electrically connected to

  the electro-optical display element 10.

  The front frame member further includes a recess

  molded 32e formed on the back side (see Figure 7) so

  housing the battery 33, as well as other recesses and chambers intended to

  born to house the stepper motor and the gear train, for example

  the recess 32f which receives the shaft 34ec of the rotor assembly, the recess

  32g which receives the upper stator 34c and the rotor disk 34ea and the recess 32h which receives the coil 34a of the stepper motor, and

as can be seen in Figure 7.

  The electro-optical display element 10 shown in the figures is a liquid crystal display element, for example of the nematic helical field effect type, having an anterior transparent substrate 10a, for example a glass plate, and a posterior substrate 10b spaced 10 microns apart by

  For example, the material of the liquid crystals occupying the inter-

  médiaire. The substrates 1a and 10b are hermetically closed around their periphery by epoxy resin 10c or another known seal, as shown in FIG. 8. The anterior glass substrate has a configuration of transparent electrode segments forming the numerals 11 and the sign "two points" Ila, the electrode segments terminating along opposite longitudinal edges of the plate 10a on the lower end of the overhanging portion 10aa

  in separate contact terminals 10d. In addition, the 10th markers

  on the circumference are provided and selectively actuated from

  to form an audible warning indicator display, that is,

  ie to represent the particular time at which the audible warning was set if necessary. The smaller posterior glass plate 10b has a common electrode (not shown),

  as is common in the art.

  An important feature of the display is the existence

  the central opening 10f through which the central axis 46, the minute tube 40b and the hour tube 44b pass, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. This opening may be

  formed by laser drilling, or by other well known techniques.

  Naturally, a seal 10c is placed between the plates

  of glass 10a and 10b around the circumference of the opening. The or-

  10f can be formed before the glass plates 10a and 10b are bonded to each other around their outer periphery,

or after this operation.

  It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that others

  numbers or markers may be formed on the glass plate

  above 10a, for example a production indication such as "QUARTZ", or a brand name could be visualized by the electro-optical process instead of being painted or applied in any way on the anterior glass plate, while the circumferentially distributed time marks could be viewed electro-optically instead of being formed on the annular dial 14 or painted on the display element. Naturally, an electro-optical element with a circular layout instead

  a rectangular layout could also be used in the in-

  and in some cases it would be preferable to save space. Other types of electro-optical display elements are also usable in the invention, for example electrochromic and electrolytic displays as well as LED displays, etc. Electro-optical displays with transparent display electrode segments, for example oxide electrodes

  indium, are preferred in some embodiments of the invention.

  vention for which it is desired that the analog clock device has an aesthetic of the genre "fashion", jewelery way, at least for part of the time. By the fact that the electrodic segments are transparent, the display element can offer a homogeneous uniform side behind the hour and minute hands by simple deactivation of the electrode segments while additional information can nevertheless be requested and displayed at will by selective actuation of the electrode segments

  (via the push button 24 and the integrated circuit).

  Since a helical nematic field effect liquid crystal display element is illustrated, an anterior polarizing sheet 31 and a posterior polarizing-reflective sandwich structure 12 are used in connection with the display element, these components being well known in the art. However, it is obvious that each of these components must have a central opening, respectively 31a and 12a, which is axially aligned with the opening 10f of the display element in order to pass through.

the axis 46 and the tubes 40b and 44b.

  For aesthetic reasons, it may be desirable and preferred to match the color of the display element 10 with the color of the box 18, for example a gold color display element, with a boot of gold tones or gold-plated or a silver colored display element with a boot of silver or chrome tones. Naturally, unacceptable color combinations are also possible. For this purpose, colored polarisers are available on the market; thus, the anterior polarizing sheet 31 could be gold, silver or another color, depending on the watch boot. Or

  the electro-optical display element may itself have the

  their intended purpose, for example a display element of the acceptor-

  accepted having an acceptor element dye of a suitable color mixed with the liquid crystal material constituting

  the element accepted in order to produce the desired color appearance.

  A support member 13 having an anterior plate

  13a substantially planar which is provided with a central opening

  13b tral fits snap on the front frame 32.

  For this purpose, the support member has tabs 13c which project downwardly to engage with notches 32i.

  molded in the previous frame, as shown in Figure 6. The

  support member further includes slots 13d in the vicinity of

each of the legs 13c.

  The annular dial 14 has an anterior surface 14a bearing time markers 14b and tabs 14c which project and which are bent in the slots 13d surrounding the

  posterior side of the support member 13 to fix it.

  The ring 14 also has a central opening 14d which, in relation to the opening 13b of the support member 13, provides a window for viewing the electro-optical display element 10 through the glass 19 of the watch boot. This completes the modular assembly, except for screws 53 which pass through the holes of

  30th corner of the posterior frame 30 and are screwed into holes cor-

  respondents (not shown) in the previous frame 32.

  Figures 3 and 4 show more clearly than the year

  14 and the electro-optical display element 10 together provide a clock face of a pleasant appearance and a

notable utility.

  Of course, those skilled in the art will be able to imagine

  from the device whose description has just been given to

  simply illustrative and by no means limitative, various

  rants and modifications not departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

  An electronic timekeeping device of the type comprising an analog time counting means comprising a motor (34) and a gear train driving an analog hour hand (16) and an analog minute hand (17) on an axis. central (46) and comprising an integrated circuit means (51), said analog time counting means and said integrated circuit means being arranged in a timepiece boot (18), the device being characterized in that it comprises: an electro-optical display element (10) disposed in the box of the clockwork device behind the analog hands to form a visible face which the analog hands scan continuously and defining an opening through which the central liaxial (46 ) carrying the analog hands extends to the gear train, the display element having selectively actuatable markers (11, 13) connected to the circulating means. integrated and actuated by it to display other information on the face of the watch device, when desired, in addition to the analog hourly information given by the needle of the hours and minute hand.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a ring (14) bearing time marks, the ring surmounting the periphery of the display element so that the display element and the ring together form the face of the clock device.   Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the selectively actuable markings of the display element are numerals (11) for displaying other information related to time.   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that   that the display element furthermore comprises markings (10e) cir-   conferentially distributed which are selectively operable to form a display indicative of a sound warning time. 5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that   that the display element further comprises circumferential markers   distributed electro-optically forming time markers for cooperating with the analog hands   at the time display analogically.   6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the integrated circuit means also actuates the drive motor.   the gear train and the analogue hands.   7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the selectively actuable markings of the electro-optical display member are in the form of transparent electrode segments so that the display element can provide a face homogeneous uniform clockwork device when the   electrode segments are not actuated, the hor-   thus having the general appearance of a clock-   analogy as long as the electrode segments are not not operated.   8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that   that the electro-optical display element provides a face of dis-   positive watchmaking having a color usually given to the   overall color of the boot of the timepiece.   9. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that   that the electro-optical display element provides a face of dis-   positive watchmaking having a color generally given to the overall color of the ring bearing time marks which   overcomes the periphery of the display element.   Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized   in that the display element is a crystal display element   helical nematic liquid field effect levels having on both sides a posterior polarizing sheet and an anterior polarizing sheet, the anterior polarizing sheet being colorful.   11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the display element is of circular outer shape.   12. Modular assembly for use in a   positive electronic watch in which time information is displayed analogically by a rotating hour hand (16) and a minute rotating hand (17) and other time information is digitally displayed by an electronic display element optic (10), the modular assembly being characterized in that it comprises: a. an anterior frame member (32) having a central aperture (32a) therethrough, b. an electro-optical display element (10) mounted in said opening of the front frame member and visible through this opening, the display element having selectively operable landmarks (11, 13) for displaying other information temporal and having a central opening that passes through it, c. a rear frame member (30) positioned behind the front frame member and the display member and attached to the front frame member, d. an electric motor (34) and a gear train mounted between the front and rear frame members behind the electro-optical display element, said gear train having a central axis (46), a shaft (44b) hour hand holder and a minute hand holding shaft (44b) which are independently and rotatably mounted on the central axis,   the support shafts passing through the central opening of the   the central opening of the front frame member, so that the hour hand and the minute hand are mounted so as to be able to rotate continuously in front of the electronic display element. optical, e. a printed circuit board (50) mounted between the front and rear frame members, the board carrying an integrated circuit means (51) which provides time signals to the motor and the display member and which has a central hole through which the hour hand and minute hand support shafts pass, and f. a means for electrically connecting the circuit means   integrated into the engine and the display element.   Modular assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that a support member (13) is removably attached to the front frame and a ring bearing hour markings is attached to the support member, said support member and said ring having central windows in alignment to show the display element.   14. Modular assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that a polarizing sheet (31, 12) is. disposed at least on one side of the display member and in that said sheet has an opening through which the support shafts pass.   the hour hand and the minute hand. - -., -.