Watch case including a near field communication device

Abstract

A watch case for a watch including a near field communication device. One aspect of the invention relates to a watch case (2) for a watch (1), comprising an intermediate piece (6) and a hollow bezel (3), provided with a near field communication device (4), said near field communication device (4) comprising at least one microcircuit (5a) connected to an antenna (5b), said bezel (3) being removably mounted on said intermediate piece (6) and being formed by an assembly of two bushing elements (7a, 7b) capable of defining a housing in which said near field communication device (4) is arranged, said first and second bushing elements (7a, 7b) of said bezel (3) being assembled together by means of a reversible fastening device (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a watch case of a watch comprising a near field communication device, and a watch equipped with such a watch case. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, portable contactless payment objects (such as watches) are well known, which are suitable for participating in the completion of electronic payments. These watches conventionally include near field communication devices consisting of an electronic chip or integrated circuit electrically connected to an antenna. Most of the time, these devices do not require an independent power supply, but are intended to communicate automatically with a reader when they are close to it. The electromagnetic field of the reader generates an induced current in the antenna, which powers the chip and in turn enables the chip to transmit a signal via the antenna.

[0003] Nevertheless, the useful life of these near-field communication means is limited by the expected life of the integrated circuit and more particularly by the expected life of its "electronic security system" part, which should not exceed ten years. Indeed, once this period has elapsed, these communication means no longer allow the completion of electronic payments and should therefore be replaced. Given the specific arrangement of these communication means in these watches of the prior art, the maintenance operations that would lead to such replacement are generally complex and even impossible, and also expensive, since they may require, among other things, the replacement of other parts of the watch associated with these communication means.

[0004] The prior art does not provide a solution allowing these drawbacks to be overcome and there is therefore a need to provide an alternative to the existing solutions. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a watch whose case comprises a bezel that can be easily and quickly disassembled to ensure maintenance of the near field communication device it contains without affecting neither the integrity nor the water resistance of the product.

[0006] To this end, one aspect of the invention relates to a watch case comprising a middle piece and a hollow bezel, which is provided with a near field communication device, which comprises at least one microcircuit connected to an antenna, the bezel being removably mounted on the middle piece and being formed by an assembly of two sleeve elements that can define a shell, the near field communication device being arranged in the shell, the first and second sleeve elements of the bezel being assembled together by means of a reversible fastening device.

[0007] In other embodiments:

[0008] - the reversible fastening device comprises a tightening element, in particular a compressible seal;

[0009] - the first bushing element comprises a reversible fastening area comprising a groove defined on an outer circumferential wall of the first bushing element;

[0010] - said groove being configured to receive said tightening element;

[0011] - the second bushing element comprises a reversible connection area capable of cooperating by friction with a tightening element arranged in a groove comprised in the first bushing element;

[0012] - the bezel comprises a removable support element for the near field communication device;

[0013] - the support element comprises, on its upper surface, a receiving area, in particular in an inclined plane capable of receiving said antenna;

[0014] - the receiving area of ​​the support element comprises or is formed by a protective magnetic shield, for example ferrite;

[0015] - the supporting element comprises a recess in which said at least one microcircuit can be arranged completely or partially;

[0016] - the support element comprises at least two feet on its lower surface, which can bear on the inner surface of the second bushing element of the bezel when this second bushing element is assembled to the first bushing element;

[0017] - the first and second bushing elements, the removable support element and the tightening element are made of at least one dielectric and / or non-conductive material;

[0018] - the bezel is fastened to the intermediate part by means of at least one removable fastening element, in particular a clip-on fastening element;

[0019] - the near field communication device comprises a coating of sealing material capable of making the device waterproof and / or moisture resistant;

[0020] - Near Field Communication devices are contactless electronic payment devices.

[0021] In another aspect, the invention relates to a watch comprising such a watch case containing a near field communication device.

[0022] Advantageously, the watch is water resistant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Purpose, advantages and features...

[0024] - Figure 1is a schematic illustration of a watch according to an embodiment of the present invention, the watch being provided with a watch case, the watch case comprising a watch frame, wherein a near field communication device is arranged;

[0025] - Figure 2 is a top view of a perspective illustration of a bezel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] - Figure 3 is a bottom view of a perspective illustration of a bezel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

[0027] - Figure 4 is an exploded view of a perspective illustration of a bezel according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a watch 1 comprising a watch case 2 comprising an intermediate piece 6 and a hollow watch frame 3 provided with a near-field communication device 4 of the NFC (short for “Near-field communication”) type. Such a near-field communication device 4 can participate in the completion of a contactless electronic payment. In this context, such a device 4 therefore comprises a contactless electronic payment device.

[0029] This near field communication device 4 comprises at least one microcircuit 5a, which may be composed of an integrated circuit and an antenna 5b, which is preferably circular and can be wound or formed on a printed circuit (or PCB for "printed circuit board") with a conductive material (such as copper) and connected to the microcircuit 5a.

[0030] In this configuration, the watch 1 according to the invention comprises a bezel 3 which can be easily removed / disassembled, in particular to replace a possibly defective near field communication device 4, without damaging the bezel 3 and, therefore, the case 2 of the watch 1. Moreover, this bezel 3 also contributes to enabling such a device 4 to be integrated in this watch 1 in a simpler and more economical manner. It should be noted that such a bezel 3 can be unidirectional or bidirectional, or a non-rotating bezel.

[0031] This watch 1 may include a wrist watch or a mechanical watch or a smart watch. This watch 1 may be waterproof, and in this configuration, it may be a sports watch, such as a diving watch.

[0032] In this watch 1, the watch case 2 mainly comprises a middle piece 6. The middle piece 6 can be made of metal (e.g. steel, preferably stainless steel) or a synthetic material (e.g. a composite material comprising a polymer matrix filled with fibers (usually carbon fibers)) or a dielectric, ceramic and / or non-conductive material. Figure 1As shown, the middle piece 6 has a circular profile. The middle piece 6 defines an internal space configured to house a clock movement. This middle piece 6 comprises lugs on which a strap for wearing the watch 1 on the wrist is intended to be hooked. Apart from these lugs, the middle piece 6 is characterized by a substantial axial symmetry about a central axis X.

[0033] Secondly, the case 2 of this watch 1 comprises a bezel 3 which is removably mounted on an intermediate piece 6. In practice, this bezel 3 is mounted on this intermediate piece 6 by means of removable fastening elements, in particular clip-on or nesting fastening elements. Such fastening elements allow easy, quick and simple assembly and disassembly of the bezel 3 from the intermediate piece 6, for example, in order to ensure maintenance of the near field communication device 4, without damaging them.

[0034] exist Figures 1 to 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, this bezel 3 has a substantially annular shape. It comprises two lining elements 7a, 7b, a reversible fastening device 8 and a removable support element 11 of the near field communication device 4. More specifically, this bezel 3 is formed by an assembly of a first lining element 7a and a second lining element 7b so as to define a housing in which the near field communication device 4 is arranged. In particular, it should be noted that in this configuration, the support element 11 is sandwiched between the two lining elements 7a and 7b. In this bezel 3, the reversible fastening device 8 comprises a fastening area 9a and a connection area 9c as well as a tightening element 9a to be described later. It should be remembered that such a device 8 participates in the assembly of the first and second lining elements 7a, 7b by tightening and nesting.

[0035] The first bushing element 7a comprises an outer surface 15 on which a graduation 16 is raised or formed. In the example shown, the graduation comprises graduated markings, some of which are symbolic and in the form of numerals (preferably Arabic numerals). One of the graduated markings, called the zero graduation 17, is in the form of a triangle pointing to the inside of this first bushing element 7a so as to form a starting mark from which the user measures the time in minutes from a predetermined initial time point (corresponding to the precise angular position of the bezel 3 relative to the middle piece 6). This first bushing element 7a also comprises an inner surface 18, an inner circumferential wall 19 and an outer circumferential wall.

[0036] This first bushing element 7a comprises a placement area 20 for placing said at least one microcircuit 5a of the communication device 4, formed both in a portion of the inner circumferential wall 19 and in a portion of the inner surface 18. Preferably, this placement area 20 is located behind the zero graduation index 17.

[0037] The first bushing element 7a further comprises a reversible fastening area 9b comprising a groove 10 defined on its outer circumferential wall. Such a groove 10 is specifically configured to receive a tightening element 9a.

[0038] This tightening element 9a may consist of a compressible seal having a smaller dimension than the perimeter (circumference) of the groove 10. Thus, such a tightening element 9a is arranged in the groove 10 by being stretched. Despite its smaller circumference, the tightening element 9a fits into the groove 10 thanks to its elastic properties, which enable it to expand and, once placed in the groove 10, contract so as to bear against the outer circumferential wall in the groove 10.

[0039] This reversible fastening area 9b is adapted to cooperate with a reversible connection area 9c defined on the inner circumferential wall 21 of the second bushing element 7b of the bezel 3. This connection area 9c is adapted to cooperate with the outer surface 20 of the tightening element 9a mounted in the groove 10 of the fastening area 9b so as to reversibly couple the first bushing element 7a with the second bushing element 7b. It should be noted that the connection area 9c is able to cooperate by friction with the outer surface 20 of the tightening element 9a arranged in the groove 10.

[0040] In this configuration, the diameter connecting two points of the outer surface 20 of the tightening element 9a mounted on the first bushing element 7a is substantially greater or strictly greater than the diameter connecting two points of the connecting area 9c of the second bushing element 7b. It should be noted that the diameter connecting two points of the groove 10 of the first bushing element 7a is substantially smaller or strictly smaller than the diameter connecting two points of the connecting area 9c of the second bushing element 7b. Further, it should be understood that the diameter of the first bushing element 7a without the tightening element 9a is substantially smaller or strictly smaller than the diameter of the second bushing element 7b.

[0041] The second bushing element 7b comprises an inner surface, which is adjacent to its inner circumferential wall 21. In particular, this inner surface is configured to serve as a bearing surface for the support element 11 of the bezel 3 when the first and second bushing elements 7a, 7b are assembled. This second bushing element 7b comprises an outer surface 22 opposite to the inner surface and which extends opposite to the intermediate piece 6 and more particularly opposite to a portion of the intermediate piece 6 for removable fastening of the bezel 3. This outer surface 22 comprises a toothing 23 of this bezel 3, which is used for angular indexing of the bezel 3 relative to the intermediate piece 6. This toothing 23 comprises a circumferential series of teeth, wherein each tooth is asymmetrical and comprises a ramp face and a vertical stop face, which ramp face and vertical stop face may be connected by a horizontal plate.

[0042] This second bushing element 7 b is also provided with an outer circumferential wall on which the clamping area 24 of the bezel 3 is defined.

[0043] As already mentioned, the bezel 3 comprises a removable support element 11 of the near field communication device 4. More specifically, this support element 11 is provided with an upper surface 13a comprising a reception area 12b for receiving an antenna 5b of said communication device 4. In particular, the reception area 12b on which said antenna 5b is arranged is included in an oblique plane. This support element 11 also comprises a recess 12a or through opening in which all or part of said at least one microcircuit 5a can be arranged.

[0044] In a variant, the receiving area 12b may comprise / form a protective magnetic shield by being covered with a layer of ferrite-based material (e.g. ferrite). In this context, the portion of the inner circumferential wall and the inner surface of the second bushing element 7b positioned closest to the at least one microcircuit 5a may also comprise such a layer of material so as to form a magnetic shield with this support element 11.

[0045] Furthermore, the support element 11 comprises a lower surface 13b comprising a plurality of feet 14 which can bear on the inner surface of the second bushing element 7b of the bezel 3 when the second bushing element 7b is assembled to the first bushing element 7a.

[0046] In this bezel 3, the first and second bushing elements 7a, 7b, the tightening element 9a and the supporting element 11 are adapted for the operation of the near field communication device 4 by being made of dielectric and non-conductive material, such as plastic, ceramic or any other synthetic material.

[0047] Furthermore, the communication device 4 comprises a coating of sealing material, making it waterproof and moisture-proof. This coating of material is also suitable for making it resistant to the high pressures that the wearer of the watch 1 may encounter when diving. This coating of material may comprise an organic or inorganic layer or a combination of these two types of layers.

[0048] It will be appreciated that various modifications and / or improvements apparent to those skilled in the art may be made to the different embodiments of the invention disclosed above without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A watch case (2) of a watch (1), said watch case (2) comprising an intermediate piece (6) and a hollow bezel (3), provided with a near field communication device (4), said near field communication device (4) comprising at least one microcircuit (5a) connected to an antenna (5b), said bezel (3) being removably mounted on said intermediate piece (6) and being formed by an assembly of first and second bushing elements (7a, 7b) capable of defining a housing, said near field communication device (4) being arranged in said intermediate piece (6) and a hollow bezel (3), said near field communication device (4) being arranged in said hollow bezel (3) and a hollow bezel (3) being provided with a near field communication device (4), said near field communication device (4) comprising at least one microcircuit (5a) connected to an antenna (5b), said bezel (3) being removably mounted on said intermediate piece (6) and being formed by an assembly of first and second bushing elements (7a, 7b) capable of defining a housing, Inside the shell, the first and second bushing elements (7a, 7b) of the watch frame (3) are assembled together by means of a reversible fastening device (8), wherein the reversible fastening device (8) includes a tightening element (9a), the first bushing element (7a) includes a reversible fastening area (9b), the reversible fastening area (9b) includes a groove (10) defined on the outer circumferential wall of the first bushing element (7a), and the groove (10) is configured to receive the tightening element (9a).

2. The watch case (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tightening element (9a) is a compressible seal.

3. Watch case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The second bushing element (7b) comprises a reversible connection area (9c) which is capable of cooperating by friction with a tightening element (9a) which is arranged in a groove (10) comprised in the first bushing element (7a).

4. Watch case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The bezel (3) comprises a removable supporting element (11) for the near field communication device (4).

5. The watch case (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The support element (11) comprises a receiving area (12b) on its upper surface (13a).

6. The watch case (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that: The receiving area (12b) of the support element (11) comprises or is formed by a protective magnetic shield.

7. The watch case (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that The support element (11) comprises a recess (12a) in which the at least one microcircuit (5a) can be arranged completely or partially.

8. The watch case (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that The support element (11) includes at least two legs (14) on its lower surface (13b), and when the second bushing element (7b) is assembled to the first bushing element (7a), the at least two legs (14) are capable of supporting on the inner surface (15) of the second bushing element (7b) of the watch frame (3).

9. The watch case (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first and second bushing elements (7a, 7b), the removable support element (11) and the tightening element (9a) are made of at least one dielectric and / or non-conductive material.

10. Watch case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The bezel (3) is fastened to the intermediate piece (6) by means of at least one removable fastening element.

11. Watch case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The near field communication device (4) comprises a coating of sealing material capable of making the device (4) waterproof and / or moisture-proof.

12. Watch case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The near field communication device (4) is a contactless electronic payment device.

13. The watch case (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that The receiving area (12b) is within an inclined plane capable of receiving the antenna (5b).

14. The watch case (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that The protective magnetic shield is ferrite.

15. The watch case (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that The removable fastening element is a clip-type fastening element.

16. A watch (1) comprising a watch case (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, the watch case (2) comprising a near field communication device (4).

17. The watch (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that The watch (1) is waterproof.

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