Electronic meter including Dewar device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic watch (2), which comprises a bracelet (4) and a watch case (6), wherein the watch case (6) comprises at least one electrical or electronic component (8a-8g), and the watch comprises at least one Dewar device (10), which is configured to accommodate at least one of the electrical or electronic components (8a-8g), wherein the at least one Dewar device (10) comprises inner and outer walls (12a, 12b) and a vacuum or quasi-vacuum space (16) defined between the walls (12a, 12b), wherein the inner wall (12a) defines a space (14) in which the at least one electrical or electronic component (8a-8g) can be arranged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic watch including a Dewar device, which is particularly suitable for working at extreme temperatures. Such an electronic watch is, for example, a quartz watch. Background Art

[0002] An electronic watch usually comprises a bracelet and a case, which comprises a number of electrical or electronic components. It is known in the prior art that some of these components cannot withstand extreme temperatures and cease to function properly at these temperatures. Typically, LCD (liquid crystal display) screens use light emitting diodes or quartz and can withstand temperatures not exceeding about 80°C (degrees Celsius) and not below 0°C. However, in certain environments such as space or lunar missions, the temperature often reaches values ​​of about -150°C to +125°C.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for an electronic watch that is equipped with a case that includes one or more electronic components and that is able to withstand such extreme temperatures while operating normally. Summary of the invention

[0004] To this end, the present invention relates to an electronic watch comprising a bracelet and a watch case, the watch case comprising at least one electrical or electronic component, the watch comprising at least one Dewar device, the Dewar device being configured to accommodate at least one of the electrical or electronic components, the at least one Dewar device comprising an inner wall and an outer wall and a vacuum or quasi-vacuum space defined between these walls, the inner wall defining a volume in which the at least one electrical or electronic component can be arranged.

[0005] Due to the presence of at least one Dewar device in the case encapsulating the electrical or electronic components of the watch, the watch is protected from any extreme external temperatures that may be between -150 and +125 degrees Celsius. This watch configuration therefore makes it possible to use standard electrical or electronic components in extreme temperature situations and environments such as space or lunar missions. This therefore helps to rationalize costs and preserve reasonable complexity for the components used in watches intended for such missions.

[0006] In some further embodiments:

[0007] - the case comprises a capsule in which at least one Dewar device is comprised, the Dewar device housing at least one of said electrical or electronic components;

[0008] - the Dewar device is formed entirely or partially by the case and houses at least one of the electrical or electronic components;

[0009] - The Dewar assembly comprises the following parts of the case that delimit said volume: the middle piece, the crystal and the back cover;

[0010] - the middle part and the back cover of the case form an integral part which defines an opening opposite the back cover which can be closed by a crystal of the watch, in particular in a removable manner;

[0011] - the middle part of the case and the crystal form an integral part defining an opening opposite the crystal, which opening can be closed, in particular in a removable manner, by a back cover of the watch;

[0012] - The Dewar device comprises two thin inner and outer walls nested in each other, the inner wall defining a volume in which the or each electrical or electronic component is arranged, the outer wall being arranged outside the table, and a vacuum or quasi-vacuum space separating the inner wall from the outer wall;

[0013] - the at least one electrical or electronic component is selected from the group consisting of: a display device, a processor, a memory, a storage element, a motor, an integrated circuit and an electronic oscillator, and

[0014] - the watch comprises a capsule in which at least one Dewar device is arranged, the Dewar device housing at least one electrical or electronic component;

[0015] -The watch is a quartz watch. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Further characteristics and advantages will emerge clearly from the description given hereinafter, which is made by way of indication and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] - Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a first alternative embodiment of an electronic watch according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a case of the electronic watch is formed entirely or partially by a Dewar device;

[0018] - Figure 2 According to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view along axis II-II of a first alternative embodiment of an electronic timepiece is shown, and

[0019] - Figure 3 1 is a top view of a second alternative embodiment of an electronic watch according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the case of the electronic watch comprises a capsule in which at least one Dewar device is arranged, and the Dewar device can accommodate at least one electrical or electronic component of the watch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Figures 1 to 3 An electronic watch 2 according to the present invention is shown. The electronic watch 2 comprises a bracelet 4 and a case 6. Without limiting the scope of the present invention, the electronic watch 2 is, for example, a quartz watch.

[0021] The watch case 6 typically includes at least one electrical or electronic component 8a-8g. Figures 1 to 3 In the particular alternative embodiment of the watch shown, the watch case 6 includes seven electrical or electronic components 8a-8g, which form the sensitive parts of the watch 2. Obviously, the watch case 6 may include more electrical or electronic components than those shown in these figures, or may include only a subset of the components 8a-8g. In these alternative embodiments, the watch case 6 thus includes, for example, a display device 8a, a processor 8b, a memory 8c, an electrical storage element 8d, a motor 8e, an integrated circuit 8f and an electronic oscillator 8g.

[0022] exist Figures 1 to 3 In the various alternative embodiments shown, the case 6 further comprises at least one Dewar device 10. The Dewar device 10 has the same properties and characteristics as the Dewar tube / container well known in the prior art. As will be seen below, the properties and characteristics of the Dewar device 10 contribute to its good thermal insulation relative to the temperatures that may prevail in the external environment in which it may be located. The Dewar device comprises a confined / encapsulated space 14, which is here a volume 14 defined inside the Dewar device 10 and is arranged to receive at least one of the electrical or electronic components 8a-8g, so that it is thermally insulated from the external environment. The volume 14 is also referred to as the confined / encapsulated volume 14.

[0023] exist Figure 1 and 2 In the first alternative embodiment of the watch shown, the watch case 6 thus comprises the Dewar device 10. More specifically, the Dewar device 10 is formed entirely or partially by the watch case 6. Such a Dewar device 10 is preconfigured to house at least one of the electrical or electronic components 8a-8g. In other words, the Dewar device 10 comprises a space 14 or volume 14 in which each component can be arranged by being encapsulated in the space 14.

[0024] exist Figure 1 and 2 In a first alternative of this first alternative embodiment, which can be seen in FIG, the Dewar device 10 can accommodate all the electrical or electronic components 8a-8g of the watch 2. In this case, the Dewar device 10 is then formed by components of the watch case 6, such as the middle piece 20, the watch mirror 18 and the back cover 19. The assembly of these components helps to form a limited space 14 or a limited volume 14 of the Dewar device 10 for arranging the components 8a-8g. The three components, the middle piece 20, the watch mirror 18 and the back cover 19, can be separate components that are then combined together to construct the encapsulated space 14 or the encapsulated volume 14. Alternatively, the middle piece 20 and the back cover 19 of the watch case can form together Figure 2The one-piece part shown defines an opening opposite back cover 19 that can be removably closed by crystal 18 of the watch. Alternatively, middle piece 20 of case 6 and crystal 18 can together form an one-piece part that defines an opening opposite crystal 18 that can be removably closed by back cover 19 of the watch. In these configurations, space 14 or volume 14 is formed between these three parts. Figure 1 and 2 In the first alternative shown, the Dewar device 10 comprises an inner wall formed by the inner wall of the mirror 18, the back cover 19 and the middle piece 20, and an outer wall 12b formed by the outer walls of the mirror 18, the back cover 19 and the middle piece 20. These inner and outer walls 12a, 12b are separated by a vacuum or quasi-vacuum space 16. In addition, the inner wall 12a defines a volume 14 in which the electrical or electronic components 8a-8g can be arranged.

[0025] In a second alternative to this first alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the Dewar device 10 houses at least one of the electrical or electronic components 8a-8g of the watch. In this case, the Dewar device 10 is then formed by at least two parts that can cooperate and assemble together to form the Dewar device 10. These parts include a partition for separating the watch case 6, which partition may have a specific shape so as to simultaneously:

[0026] - by cooperating with at least another part of the case 6 to define a confined or enclosed space 14, also called confined or enclosed volume, representing the volume that can be occupied by the elements 8a-8g, and

[0027] - Capable of being assembled with at least one other part of the case 6 (for example, all or part of the inner wall of the middle piece 20 of the case 6 or all or part of the inner wall of the back cover 19 ) or with the inner wall of the back cover 19 and the middle piece 20 .

[0028] In this second alternative, the Dewar device 10 has an inner wall 12a, which is formed by the inner wall of at least one other component of the watch case 6 (watch mirror 18, back cover 19 or middle piece 20) and the inner wall of the partition, and an outer wall 12b is formed by the outer wall of at least one other component (watch mirror 18, back cover 19 or middle piece 20) and the outer wall of the partition. Also in this alternative, these inner and outer walls 12a, 12b are separated by a vacuum or quasi-vacuum space 16. In addition, the inner wall 12a defines a volume 14 in which the elements 8a-8g can be arranged.

[0029] exist Figure 3In the second alternative embodiment of the watch shown, the watch case 6 includes a capsule 21, which generally includes a watch movement and is defined in particular by the inner walls of the middle piece 20 and the back cover 19. This capsule 21 also includes at least one Dewar device 10, which accommodates at least one of the electrical or electronic components 8a-8g. The Dewar device 10 can accommodate / encapsulate a single component or multiple components at the same time. The Dewar device 10 can be integrated in the movement of the watch 2. In this alternative embodiment, each Dewar device 10 arranged in the capsule 21 of the watch case includes an inner wall 12a and an outer wall 12b separated by a vacuum or quasi-vacuum space 16. In this configuration, the inner wall 12a defines a volume 14 in which the components 8a-8g can be arranged. In addition, in this alternative, multiple Dewar devices encapsulating one or more components 8a-8g can be arranged in the capsule of the watch case.

[0030] In these alternative embodiments, the Dewar device 10 typically may include two thin inner and outer walls 12a, 12b nested in each other. The inner wall 12a of the Dewar device 10 defines a confined / encapsulated space 14 (or confined / encapsulated volume 14), and each electrical or electronic component 8a-8g is arranged inside it. The outer wall 12b of the Dewar device 10 according to the alternative embodiment can be arranged on the outside of the watch 2, or arranged on the outside of the watch 2 and in the enclosure of the watch case. The Dewar device 10 thus defines an empty or quasi-empty space 16 separating the first inner wall 12a from the second outer wall 12b. It can be clearly understood here that the space 16 is airtight and is in a vacuum or quasi-vacuum. These walls 12a, 12b are preferably made of metal materials, glass, thermosetting or thermoplastic carbon or glass fiber, or ceramic materials in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner.

[0031] It should be noted that when the inner wall 12a and the outer wall 12b are transparent or translucent and are simultaneously made of glass, for example, the outer surface of the inner wall 12a and the inner surface of the outer wall 12b are coated with a metal or similar reflective coating, such as a silver coating.

[0032] In this watch 2, the mirror 18 of the watch case 6 is formed by a transparent or translucent glass sheet. When the mirror 18 is included in the Dewar device 10 (i.e., it contributes to the formation of the Dewar device 10), it then includes inner and outer walls, which are also the inner and outer walls 12a, 12b of the Dewar device 10, respectively, and an empty (or vacuum) space or a quasi-empty (or quasi-vacuum) space 16 is defined between the walls 12a, 12b.

[0033] In the first alternative embodiment, when the partition, middle piece, mirror and back cover of the watch case 6 contribute to forming the Dewar device, the inner and outer walls of the partition, middle piece 20, mirror 18 and back cover 19 are also the inner and outer walls 12a, 12b of the Dewar device 10 of the watch 2. Therefore, it can be understood that the inner and outer walls of the partition, middle piece 20, mirror 18 and back cover 19 contribute to jointly forming the inner and outer walls 12a, 12b of the Dewar device 10.

[0034] Thus, by reducing or even preventing the heat radiation loss of the encapsulated volume 14, the Dewar device 10 provides very good thermal insulation for the watch 2 relative to the external environment. Therefore, when the temperature outside the watch 2 reaches an extreme value of typically about -125 to +125° C., the temperature inside the encapsulated space 14 (or encapsulated volume 14) itself remains substantially equal to the temperature of the ambient medium in which the encapsulation is performed (usually about 20° C.). Therefore, it can be understood that this configuration can protect the electrical or electronic components 8a-8g of the watch 2, thereby enabling it to operate under extreme external temperature conditions.

Claims

1. An electronic watch (2), comprising a bracelet (4) and a watch case (6), the watch case (6) comprising at least one electrical or electronic component (8a-8g), the watch comprising at least one Dewar device (10), the Dewar device (10) being configured to accommodate at least one of the electrical or electronic components (8a-8g), the at least one Dewar device (10) comprising inner and outer walls (12a, 12b) and a vacuum or quasi-vacuum space (16) defined between these walls (12a, 12b), the inner wall (12a) defining a volume (14) in which the at least one electrical or electronic component (8a-8g) can be arranged, the Dewar device (10) being formed entirely or partially by the watch case (6) and accommodating at least one of the electrical or electronic components (8a-8g).

2. The electronic watch (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The watch case (6) comprises a capsule (21), wherein the at least one Dewar device (10) is comprised in the capsule (21), the Dewar device (10) accommodating at least one of the electrical or electronic components (8a-8g).

3. The electronic watch (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Dewar device (10) comprises the following parts of the case (6) that delimit the volume (14): a middle piece (20), a crystal (18) and a back cover (19).

4. The electronic watch (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The middle piece (20) and the back cover (19) of the case form an integral part defining an opening opposite the back cover (19) which can be removably closed by the crystal (18) of the watch.

5. The electronic watch (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The middle piece (20) of the case (6) and the crystal (18) form an integral part defining an opening opposite the crystal (18) which can be removably closed by the back cover (19) of the watch (2).

6. The electronic watch (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The Dewar device (10) includes two thin inner and outer walls (12a, 12b) nested in each other, the inner wall (12a) defining a volume (14) in which the at least one electrical or electronic component (8a-8g) is arranged or a plurality of volumes each having electrical or electronic components arranged therein, the outer wall (12b) being arranged outside the table (2), and the vacuum or quasi-vacuum space (16) separating the inner wall (12a) from the outer wall (12b).

7. The electronic watch (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The at least one electrical or electronic component (8a-8g) is selected from the group consisting of: a display device, a processor, a memory, a storage element, a motor, an integrated circuit and an electronic oscillator.

8. The electronic watch (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electronic watch (2) comprises a housing in which at least one Dewar device (10) is arranged, the Dewar device (10) housing at least one electrical or electronic component (8a-8g).

9. The electronic watch (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The watch (2) is a quartz watch.

Images