Moon eclipse and solar eclipse display mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanism for displaying lunar eclipse and solar eclipse for a mechanical or electromechanical timepiece movement configured to be able to operate said mechanism, the eclipse display mechanism (1) comprising a first mobile indicator (2) corresponding to a first celestial body, such as the sun, and a second mobile indicator (3) corresponding to a second celestial body, such as the sun, the food display mechanism (1) comprises a first movement indicator (2) corresponding to a first celestial body, such as the moon, and a second movement indicator (3) corresponding to a second celestial body, such as the moon, the food display mechanism (1) comprising a first zone (6) in which the first indicator (2) and the second indicator (3) are visible, and a second zone (7) which allows the one or more indicators (2, 3, 4, 5) to be masked behind the cover plate (8), the food display mechanism (1) comprising a third movement indicator (4), and a third movement indicator (4) corresponding to a second celestial body, the configuration of which is different from the configuration of the second indicator (3), the third movement indicator (4) having at least one visible characteristic different from that of the second movement indicator (3), characterized in that the third indicator (4) is visible in the first zone (6) in place of the second indicator (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanism for a timepiece for displaying an eclipse, in particular a lunar and / or solar eclipse. Background Art

[0002] Mechanisms for moon phase displays are already known and can be either purely mechanical or electromechanical.

[0003] More sophisticated display mechanisms can even display other celestial bodies, in particular the sun, in order to be able to determine the time of a lunar and / or solar eclipse.

[0004] For example, European Patent EP0195742 shows a display with a pointer on which these celestial bodies are arranged. This mechanism can be used, in particular, to determine the occurrence of an eclipse. However, it does not distinguish between different types of eclipses. Depending on your location on Earth, a total or partial eclipse of the moon or sun occurs. An annular solar eclipse also occurs when the apparent diameter of the moon is smaller than that of the sun.

[0005] Patent documents CH715722 and WO2020 / 152015 show another type of display mechanism that allows a distinction to be made between a partial or total eclipse, or even to track it in real time. However, this display mechanism is not easy to read or intuitive at first glance. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a food display mechanism that is easier to understand and has clearer visualization for users.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a mechanism for displaying lunar and solar eclipses for a mechanical or electromechanical timepiece movement, the mechanical or electromechanical timepiece movement being configured to operate the mechanism, the eclipse display mechanism comprising a first moving indicator corresponding to a first celestial body, such as the Sun, and a second moving indicator corresponding to a second celestial body, such as the Moon, the eclipse display mechanism comprising a first zone in which the first and second indicators are visible and a second zone allowing the indicator or indicators to be concealed behind a cover, the eclipse display mechanism comprising a third moving indicator corresponding to the second celestial body, the configuration of which is different from that of the second indicator, the third moving indicator having at least one visible feature different from that of the second moving indicator, the first, second and third indicators preferably being disc-shaped.

[0008] The invention is characterized in that the third indicator is visible in the first zone in place of (à la place de) the second display indicator.

[0009] In certain embodiments of the present invention, the second moving indicator can at least partially overlie the first moving indicator when the second moving indicator completely covers the first indicator to indicate a partial eclipse of the first celestial body, or even a total eclipse of the first celestial body.

[0010] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the distinguishing visible feature of the third indicator is a diameter, which diameter is preferably smaller than the diameter of the second indicator.

[0011] In certain embodiments of the present invention, a third indicator can be superimposed on the first indicator to represent an annular solar eclipse.

[0012] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the display mechanism comprises a fourth movement indicator corresponding to the second object, its configuration being different from those of the second and third indicators, the fourth indicator having at least one visible feature different from those of the second and third indicators.

[0013] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the characteristic that distinguishes the fourth indicator from the second indicator is its color, which is preferably red to indicate a lunar eclipse.

[0014] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the fourth indicator is visible in the first zone instead of the second indicator and / or the third indicator.

[0015] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the movement indicators are rotatable about the same axis of rotation.

[0016] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the second indicator also has the function of indicating the phase of the moon according to its position relative to the cover.

[0017] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the first zone and the second zone have a shape corresponding to a conventional moon phase display mechanism.

[0018] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the display mechanism includes an electromechanical system configured to operate the display mechanism, the electromechanical system including a motor, a motor control unit, and a memory unit for storing the date and position of the lunar eclipse and the solar eclipse, the control unit being configured to operate the motor according to the date and position of the eclipse stored in the memory unit.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the electromechanical system comprises regulating means configured to provide an indication to the control unit allowing the control unit to determine the occurrence of an eclipse as a function of the position of the wearer of the timepiece movement.

[0020] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the adjustment means can be operated electronically or by mechanical adjustment.

[0021] The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising a display mechanism according to the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reading the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] - Figure 1 A diagrammatic top view of a display mechanism according to the invention in a position for displaying the moon phases is shown.

[0024] - Figure 2 Shown diagrammatically Figure 1 A top view of the display mechanism in the embodiment of the invention, in a position for displaying a total solar eclipse,

[0025] - Figure 3 Shown diagrammatically Figure 1 A top view of the display mechanism in a position for displaying a partial solar eclipse,

[0026] - Figure 4 Shown diagrammatically Figure 1 A top view of the display mechanism in a position for displaying an annular solar eclipse,

[0027] - Figure 5 Shown diagrammatically Figure 1 A top view of the display mechanism in the embodiment of the present invention, in a position for displaying a total lunar eclipse,

[0028] - Figure 6 Shown diagrammatically Figure 1 a top view of the display mechanism in a position for showing a partial lunar eclipse, and

[0029] - Figure 7 is configured to operate Figure 1 Block diagram of the electromechanical system of the display mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Figures 1 to 6 Diagrammatically illustrated is a display mechanism for a mechanical or electromechanical timepiece movement configured to operate the mechanism. Preferably, the movement is electromechanical.

[0031] The display mechanism 1 comprises a first moving indicator 2 corresponding to a first celestial body, such as the sun, and a second moving indicator 3 corresponding to a second celestial body, such as the moon.

[0032] Furthermore, the display mechanism 1 comprises a third movement indicator 4 and a fourth movement indicator 5 , each of which also corresponds to the second celestial body. However, the visible configuration of the celestial body differs from that of the second indicator 3 .

[0033] Therefore, the third movement indicator 4 and the fourth movement indicator 5 each have at least one characteristic different from the second movement indicator 3. Furthermore, the fourth movement indicator 5 corresponds to a second object, having a configuration different from both the second and third movement indicators 3 and 4.

[0034] In this embodiment, the distinguishing feature of the third indicator 4 is its diameter, which is preferably smaller than that of the second indicator 3 to be able to represent an annular solar eclipse. The distinguishing feature of the fourth indicator 5 is its color, which is preferably red to represent a lunar eclipse.

[0035] In this case, the moving indicators 2, 3, 4, 5 are disc-shaped and have approximately the same size, except for the third indicator 4, which is smaller. Preferably, the first indicator 2 is yellow to represent the sun and the second indicator 3 is pink or grey to represent the moon.

[0036] The four movement indicators 2, 3, 4, 5 are rotatable around the same axis of rotation. Each movement indicator is arranged at the end of an arm 11, 12 mounted on a rotation axis so that they can be operated independently of each other.

[0037] Preferably, the first indicator 2 and the fourth indicator 5 are arranged at the end of the same arm 11 , as are the second movement indicator 3 and the third movement indicator 4 , which are arranged at the end of another arm 12 .

[0038] In an alternative embodiment, each movement indicator 2, 3, 4, 5 has a different arm that can be operated independently of the arms of the other movement indicators.

[0039] Eclipse display mechanism 1 comprises a first zone 6, in which indicators 2, 3, 4, 5 are visible, and a second zone 7, which allows one or more indicators 2, 3, 4, 5 to be concealed behind cover 7. The shapes of first zone 6 and second zone 7 correspond to those of conventional moon phase display mechanism 1. Thus, these two zones together form a circular disk divided into two parts, with cover 7 having a half-disc shape, supplemented by two half-discs 8, 9, whose diameters are smaller than the radius of the circular disks of these two zones. These two half-discs 8, 9 extend toward the visible zone. Thanks to second indicator 3, these half-discs 8, 9 allow the moon phases to be displayed in a conventional manner.

[0040] The second moving indicator 3 can be at least partially superimposed on the first moving indicator 2 to indicate a partial eclipse of the first celestial body, and the second moving indicator 3 can be completely superimposed on the first indicator 2 to indicate a total eclipse of the first celestial body.

[0041] The movement indicators 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 are only visible when they are located in the first zone 6 , and are concealed by the cover plate 7 when they are in the second zone.

[0042] A second moving indicator 3 can be superimposed on the first indicator 2 to represent a solar eclipse.

[0043] The second indicator 3 also has the function of displaying the moon phase. Figure 1 When the moon phase is displayed, the second moving indicator 3 moves into the visible zone 6 and the half-discs 8, 9 of the cover plate 7 allow a part of the second moving indicator 3 to disappear to represent the visible part of the moon.

[0044] When there is no eclipse, the other movement indicators 2, 4, 5 are masked by the cover plate in the second zone.

[0045] Due to the shared second arm 12 in one of the alternative embodiments, when the second indicator 3 moves, the third movement indicator 4 also moves, but remains concealed under the cover plate 7 .

[0046] exist Figure 2 In order to show a total solar eclipse, the first indicator 2 is positioned in the middle of the first visible zone 6, and the second indicator 3 is superimposed on the first moving indicator 2. Therefore, the moon overlaps with the sun and is centered on the sun to represent a total solar eclipse.

[0047] For a partial solar eclipse, Figure 3 As shown in FIG, the second indicator 3 is superimposed only on a portion of the first indicator 2. Thus, it can be seen that the first indicator has a visible portion to show that the food is only partial. The third and fourth indicators 4, 5 remain concealed behind the cover plate 7.

[0048] In the case of an annular solar eclipse in which the outer ring of the sun remains visible all the time, the third moving indicator 4 is superimposed on the first moving indicator 2 in the first visible zone 6, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 . The second movement indicator 3 and the fourth movement indicator 5 remain in the second zone, behind the cover plate 7. In this embodiment, the second movement indicator 3 and the third movement indicator 4 are also superimposed. Since the diameter of the third movement indicator 4 is smaller than the first indicator 2, the peripheral ring of the first indicator 2 remains visible, representing the visible ring 17 of the sun.

[0049] Figure 4The arrangement of the display mechanism 1 for a total lunar eclipse is shown. The fourth moving indicator 5 is positioned alone in the middle of the first visible zone 6. The red color of the fourth moving indicator 5 indicates this total lunar eclipse. The other three moving indicators 2, 3, 4 remain concealed beneath the cover plate 7 in the second zone.

[0050] When the eclipse is only partial, the fourth mobile indicator 5 is positioned across the two zones, showing the visible part and keeping the other part hidden under the cover 7 of the second zone, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 Therefore, since only a portion of the "red" Moon appears, it should be understood that the lunar eclipse is only partial.

[0051] The invention also relates to an electromechanical device 10 for a timepiece movement, configured to operate the display mechanism 1 described above.

[0052] Such an electromechanical device 10 comprises electronic and mechanical components known to those skilled in the art. Figure 7 A block diagram of such an electromechanical device 10 is shown.

[0053] The electromechanical device 10 comprises a motor 13 capable of operating the arm of the display mechanism 1 and further comprises a control unit 14 for the motor 13, the control unit 14 being configured to issue operating commands to the motor 13. The control unit 14 is connected to the motor 13.

[0054] The electromechanical device 10 further comprises a memory unit 15 for storing the dates and positions of lunar and solar eclipses. The control unit 14 is connected to the memory unit 15 so that it can detect the upcoming occurrence of an eclipse. Such a memory unit 15 is capable of storing a large number of eclipse dates, positions and durations.

[0055] Thus, when the electromechanical device 10 detects that a lunar or solar eclipse is about to occur at a given location, based on the data in the memory unit 15 , it instructs the motor 13 to place one or more corresponding movement indicators to the position corresponding to the eclipse during the occurrence of the eclipse.

[0056] Preferably, the electromechanical device 10 comprises regulating means 16 for providing an indication to the control unit 14, thereby allowing the control unit 14 to determine the occurrence of an eclipse based on the position of the wearer of the timepiece movement. In particular, the wearer's position must be indicated in order to determine the date, time and type of eclipse that has occurred.

[0057] Furthermore, adjustment device 16 can be operated electronically or by mechanical adjustment, for example, directly on the screen of the timepiece, by means of a pull-down menu appearing on the screen, or by wireless transmission, for example from a mobile phone, or by mechanical adjustment, for example by positioning the engraved bezel of the timepiece.

[0058] Therefore, it is possible to provide information required to display food corresponding to the user's location.

[0059] Such a display mechanism is arranged in a clock movement of a timepiece, such as a watch.

Claims

1. A mechanism for displaying lunar and solar eclipses in a mechanical or electromechanical clock movement, the mechanical or electromechanical clock movement being configured to operate the mechanism, the eclipse display mechanism (1) comprising a first moving indicator (2) and a second moving indicator (3), the first moving indicator (2) corresponding to a first celestial body, such as the sun, and the second moving indicator (3) corresponding to a second celestial body, such as the moon, the eclipse display mechanism (1) comprising a first zone (6) and a second zone (7), the first indicator (2) and the second indicator (3) being arranged in the first zone (6) ), the second zone (7) allows one or more indicators (2, 3, 4, 5) to be concealed behind the cover (8), the eclipse display mechanism (1) includes a third moving indicator (4), the third moving indicator (4) corresponds to the second object, its configuration is different from the configuration of the second indicator (3), the third moving indicator (4) has at least one visible feature different from the second moving indicator (3), the first indicator (2), the second indicator (3) and the third indicator (4) are preferably disc-shaped, characterized in that, The third indicator (4) is visible in the first zone (6) instead of the second indicator (3).

2. The display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: When the second moving indicator (3) completely covers the first indicator (2), the second moving indicator (3) can be at least partially superimposed on the first moving indicator (2) to indicate a partial eclipse of the first celestial body, or even a total eclipse of the first celestial body.

3. The display mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The distinguishing visible characteristic of the third indicator (4) is its diameter, which is preferably smaller than the diameter of the second indicator (3).

4. The display mechanism according to claim 3, wherein: The third indicator (4) can be superimposed on the first indicator (2) to indicate an annular solar eclipse.

5. A display mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that It comprises a fourth movement indicator (5) corresponding to the second object, having a configuration different from those of the second indicator (3) and the third indicator (4), the fourth indicator (5) having at least one visible feature different from those of the second indicator (3) and the third indicator (4).

6. The display mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that: The distinctive feature of the fourth indicator (5) is its color, which is preferably red to indicate a lunar eclipse.

7. A display mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The fourth indicator (5) is visible in the first zone (6) instead of the second indicator (3) and / or the third indicator (4).

8. A display mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The movement indicators (2, 3, 4, 5) are rotatable around the same axis of rotation.

9. A display mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The second indicator (3) also has the function of indicating the phase of the moon according to its position relative to the cover (7).

10. A display mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The shapes of the first zone (6) and the second zone (7) correspond to conventional moon phase display mechanisms.

11. A display mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that It comprises an electromechanical system (10) configured to operate the display mechanism (1), the electromechanical system (10) comprising a motor (13), a control unit (14) for controlling the motor (13), and a memory unit (15) for storing dates and positions of lunar and solar eclipses, the control unit (14) being configured to operate the motor (13) according to the dates and positions of the eclipses stored in the memory unit (15).

12. The display mechanism according to claim 11, wherein: The electromechanical system (10) comprises regulating means (16) configured to provide an indication to the control unit (14), thereby allowing the control unit (14) to determine the occurrence of an eclipse as a function of the position of the wearer of the timepiece movement.

13. The display mechanism according to claim 12, wherein: The adjustment device (16) can be operated electronically or by mechanical adjustment.

14. A watch movement, characterized in that: It comprises a display mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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