WEARABLE ELECTRONIC TOUCH-SENSITIVE OBJECT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a portable electronic object comprising a case, said case comprising a first part made of ceramic materials, said portable electronic object comprising at least one electronic module providing at least one piece of information to display means arranged under the glass, said portable electronic object further comprising control means allowing the user to act on said at least one electronic watch module. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

[0002] A portable electronic object such as an electronic device or, for example, a portable timepiece comprises a case generally composed of a caseband closed by a back and a glass. In this case, a watch movement is arranged, the latter being able to be purely mechanical or electronic. This watch movement is arranged to provide time information, said time information being displayed via analog or digital display means. The timepiece further comprises control means allowing the user to interact with said timepiece.

[0003] In general, the control means are in the form of push buttons or a crown acting mechanically on the said watch movement. However, these push buttons and crowns can be supplemented with a touch interface. This touch interface is used to improve the interactivity of the timepiece, to simplify handling, especially when the timepiece offers a significant number of menus and functions. This touch interface can also contribute to improving the aesthetics of the product by eliminating the usual protrusions of a crown or push buttons.

[0004] This touch interface can be a resistive touch interface or a capacitive touch interface. In the case of a capacitive touch interface, this can be in the form of an electrode placed on the underside of the glass, this glass representing an electrically non-conductive element. This electrode is subjected to an electric field. When the user wants to activate the interface, he makes contact on the outer face of the glass, preferably with his finger. This means that this contact can be a press or a touch. This contact causes the appearance of an additional capacitance which is formed between said electrode and the finger which is an electrically conductive element. This variation in capacitance is detected by the electronic watch movement which will act according to its programming.This touch interface is made on the watch glass and not on the case because the latter is generally made of metal and is therefore electrically conductive. It does not allow the appearance of a capacitance.

[0005] However, these touch interfaces arranged on the glass of the timepiece have drawbacks.

[0006] A first disadvantage of the arrangement of the touch interface on the glass is that it does not allow optimal visibility of the information. Indeed, having a touch interface arranged on the glass of the timepiece implies that the user must regularly place their fingers on the glass. This has the consequence that the visibility of the information displayed on the dial is regularly reduced by the user's fingers. The latter therefore has more difficulty in taking note of the information provided by the timepiece.

[0007] Another disadvantage is that having a touch interface combined with conventional control elements like push buttons or crowns makes the timepiece more complex. Indeed, having a multitude of buttons in addition to the touch interface means that the number of combinations between the buttons and the touch interface is greater. This makes handling the timepiece more complex.

[0008] Another disadvantage is that for pieces with a dark dial or negative contrast display with a dark background, regularly placing your fingers on the glass leaves traces (grease, sweat, etc.) which detract from the aesthetics of the product (like a window covered in fingerprints).

[0009] Examples of state-of-the-art portable electronic objects are described in EP 1 610 209, JP 2010 035020, JP 2001 100907, JP 2007 142577 and US 2009 / 323262. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing to provide a portable electronic object that is intuitive and simple to use and whose information can be read clearly in all circumstances.

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a portable electronic object, as defined in claim 1.

[0012] An advantage of the present invention is to make it possible to have an electronic portable object which combines ease of use with an intuitive touch interface and good visibility by arranging this touch interface on the box of the portable object. Thus, the user avoids obstructing the display means when using the touch interface.

[0013] In a first advantageous embodiment, said at least one electrode is a sheet made of electrically conductive materials fixed to said support.

[0014] In a second advantageous embodiment, said at least one electrode is directly produced on said support.

[0015] In a third advantageous embodiment, the fixing means comprise at least one fixing flange made of conductive materials fixed on the one hand to the watch movement and on the other hand to the support allowing electrical conduction between said at least one fixing flange and said at least one electrode.

[0016] In a fourth advantageous embodiment, said at least one electrode system comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged on the same support.

[0017] In another advantageous embodiment, the case is made entirely of insulating materials.

[0018] In another advantageous embodiment, the insulating material is a ceramic.

[0019] In another advantageous embodiment, the tactile means comprise at least one electrode system near the inner face of said first part.

[0020] In another advantageous embodiment, the tactile means comprise at least one electrode system in contact with the inner face of said first part.

[0021] In another advantageous embodiment, the case is formed of a middle part closed by a glass and a back.

[0022] In another advantageous embodiment, the portable object is a timepiece. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] The aims, advantages and characteristics of the portable electronic object or device according to the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention given solely by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings in which: There figure 1 schematically represents a portable electronic device, The figure 2 schematically represents a sectional view of the electronic device, which is not part of the invention; The figure 3 schematically represents a top view of the electronic device according to the invention; The figure 4 schematically represents a sectional view of the movement of the electronic device according to the invention; The Figure 5 schematically represents a first solution of the electrode system according to the invention; The figure 6schematically represents an exploded view of the electronic module of the timepiece according to the invention; The figures 7 to 9 schematically represent three solutions of the electrode system, which are not part of the invention; The figure 10 schematically represents a variant of the sectional view of the electrode system, which is not part of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] On the figure 1, a portable electronic device or portable electronic object according to the invention is shown. This portable electronic object may be a mobile phone or a mobile GPS device or a laptop or a touchscreen tablet, a heart rate monitor for sports or a music player or a timepiece 1. In the remainder of the description, we will take the example of a timepiece without this example being limiting. This timepiece 1 comprising a case or box 3 consisting of a middle 5 closed by a back 9 and by a crystal 7. In this case 3, an electronic module 10 is arranged. This electronic module 10 is configured to provide at least one piece of information to be displayed. This electronic module 10 is for example an electronic watch movement 11 comprises at least one microcontroller 12 connected to a time base 14 and is configured to provide at least one piece of time information such as, for example, the current time.The microcontroller 12 may also be a specific integrated circuit (ASIC) with equivalent functions. This information is sent to display means 15 which may be analog or digital. This watch movement 11 may further comprise different sensors such as for example a pressure sensor 16 to provide information on altitude or depth or on the weather. A temperature sensor 17 or a compass sensor 18 may also be arranged. In addition, it is conceivable that several electronic modules 10 are arranged in the case 3 of the timepiece 1, each of them providing at least one piece of information. In the remainder of this description, we will consider that a single electronic watch movement is arranged in said case.

[0025] This 11 electronic watch movement, visible at the figure 2, comprises a plate 10c in which a housing 10d for an electric accumulator 10b, such as a battery, is hollowed out. This watch movement 10 further comprises a printed circuit 10a or PCB on which the various integrated circuits and electrical and electronic components are fixed. The printed circuit 10a and the plate 10c are arranged so that the various components fixed on said printed circuit can be powered by the battery 10b.

[0026] The timepiece 1 further comprises control means 20 used so that the user can interact with said electronic watch movement 11. This allows the user to be able to select the different functions and activate them.

[0027] Advantageously, the control means 20 comprise at least tactile means 21 arranged on the case 3 of the timepiece 1. It may be provided that the timepiece only comprises tactile means 21 but that it may also further comprise at least one button or a crown to act on certain functions.

[0028] The touch means 21 are of the capacitive type. Such a capacitive system uses the principle of an electrode, subjected to an electric field, placed on the lower face of an insulating element. An additional capacitance is formed when the user comes into contact with the other face of the insulating element with his finger, varying the total capacitance seen by the system, which allows detection.

[0029] The touch-sensitive means 21 comprise an electrode system 100 and an insulating element. Advantageously, the present invention provides that the case 3 acts as an insulating element. For this, the case 3 of the timepiece comprises at least a first part 3a made of an insulating material, preferably a ceramic material. A plastic material, or sapphire, can also be used. This first part 3a made of insulating material thus forms said insulating element necessary for the touch-sensitive means 21. This first part 3a made of insulating material thus has an outer face which is the surface on which the user will act and an inner face on which an electrode system 100 is arranged. For example, the caseband 5 is arranged to comprise the first part 3a made of ceramic material.

[0030] In an example of the construction of the middle 5 visible in the figure 10, this may be in the form of a metal or plastic frame 3c having a shape identical to the final caseband, nevertheless having an orifice in which the first ceramic part 3a is inserted. This first ceramic part 3a is securely fixed to the frame by gluing or screwing or any other possible fixing means. Preferably, the entire caseband 5 is made of ceramic, allowing for a caseband or single-piece part. This results in a process that is simpler to carry out.

[0031] The electrode system 100 comprises at least one electrode 101 electrically connected to the electronic watch movement 11. This electrode system 100 is arranged to be placed close to the inner face 3b of the first part 3a made of electrically non-conductive materials. This proximity to the inner face 3b of the first part 3a made of insulating material allows, when the user's finger comes into contact with the outer face of said first part, to create an additional capacitance. This variation in capacitance is detected by the electronic watch movement 11 which will act according to the programming implemented in said electronic watch movement.

[0032] For example, the tactile means 21 are arranged on the caseband at the 9 o'clock and / or 3 o'clock zones. It is then understood that for a square-shaped case and caseband, the tactile means 21 are arranged on one or more zones of the caseband parallel to the 12 o'clock-6 o'clock axis. For a circular-shaped case and caseband, the tactile means 21 are arranged on one or more zones 2 o'clock-4 o'clock and 8 o'clock-10 o'clock, i.e. the zones located between two symmetrically opposite horns. Having the touch-sensitive means 21 arranged on the caseband at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock zones allows flexibility of use so that it is possible to activate only the touch-sensitive means 21 of the 9 o'clock zone if the user wears the timepiece on the right wrist or to activate only the touch-sensitive means 21 of the 3 o'clock zone if the user wears the timepiece on the left wrist. This selective activation of the touch-sensitive means 21 arranged on the caseband at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock zones can be automatic or manual.

[0033] Of course, the touchscreens can be placed anywhere on the 5 case.

[0034] In one embodiment, case 5, made entirely of ceramic materials and visible in the sectional view of the figure 2, has a specific geometry. This specific geometry is configured so that the caseband is provided with sides 50 having a first portion 51 extending perpendicular to the bottom 9 of said case 3, a second portion 52 extending parallel to the crystal 7 and located in the same plane as said crystal 7, and a third inclined portion 53 connecting the first portion 51 and the second portion 52. This configuration makes it possible to have, seen from above, surfaces serving for the touch keys of a size allowing the user's fingers not to slip. The inner wall 5a of the caseband 5, similar to the inner face 3b of the first part produced 3a, has a hollow 54 so that the electrode system 100 can be housed there. It will be understood that the caseband 5 can simply comprise two portions perpendicular to each other.

[0035] The electrode system 100 of this preferred embodiment comprises at least one electrode 101 arranged on a support 103. The figure 4only represents the electronic module 10 with the electrode system without the middle 5. The support 103 is in the form of a part made of insulating materials such as, for example, plastic, wood or ceramic. On this support 103, at least one electrode 101 is arranged. This electrode 101 is made of an electrically conductive element material such as a metal such as copper or gold. This electrode 101 may consist of a metal sheet fixed to the support 103 by soldering, by mechanical fixing or by gluing with a conductive or non-conductive glue. A conductive glue is loaded with particles such as silver particles ensuring electrical conductivity. It is also possible for the electrode 101 to be directly produced on the support 103. For example, the use of galvanic growth, electroforming or electrodeposition techniques makes it possible to deposit a thin layer of electrically conductive material.

[0036] In the present case, the support 103 has a profile substantially similar to that of the hollow 54 arranged on the inner wall 5a of the middle part 5. Here, the support 103 has a profile consisting of two perpendicular straight lines whose apex is truncated so as to form an inclined plane, that is to say a profile similar to that of the middle part 5. Of course, the hollow 54 of the middle part 5 and the profile of the support 103 can have the most diverse shapes. Of course, the support 103 and / or the electrode 101 can have a shape similar to that of the middle part 5.

[0037] The electronic watch movement 11 also comprises fixing means 104 on which the support 103 is fixed as visible in the figure 6. The fixing means 104 are fixing clamps 105 according to the invention as claimed, which are in the form of metal elements fixed to the plate 10c or to said printed circuit. Said fixing clamps 105 are arranged to be electrically connected to the printed circuit 10a. For example, these fixing clamps 105 are in the form of plates curved at a right angle so as to have two branches. A first branch 105a is fixed to the printed circuit 10a and electrically connected to the different circuits, preferably to be wedged by the plate 10c and said printed circuit 10a. The second branch 105b is, once the plate and the printed circuit are assembled, pressed against a side wall of said plate 10b. This thus makes it possible to fix the support 103, carrying at least one electrode 101, on said clamp 105.It can then be envisaged that the integrated circuit(s) which must be electrically connected to the electrode 101, are connected by means of a wire or solder or conductive glue. Advantageously, the fixing flange 105 is arranged to electrically connect the electrode and the printed circuit.

[0038] In a variation of this solution as seen in the figure 6 , it may be provided that the support 103 is designed to carry several electrodes 101. The support 103 consequently extends over a greater length so that the electrodes 101 can be placed next to each other. To fix such a support, several fixing clamps 105 are used to ensure good fixing. Preferably, a number of fixing clamps 105 equal to the number of electrodes 101 will be used so that each electrode 101 is electrically connected to the printed circuit 10c by a fixing clamp 105.

[0039] When the electronic watch movement 11 with the support 103 provided with the electrodes 101 and the fixing means 104 are inserted into the case 3, it is possible that the electrodes 101 can be in contact with the inner wall 5a of the caseband 5 or on the contrary, that a space (e) is present between the electrodes 101 and said inner wall 5a as visible in the figure 2 . As the ambient air is naturally a dielectric, the presence of this space (e) is not necessarily a problem. This space (e) simply causes a modification of the intrinsic electrical capacity of the device. It is therefore conceivable that the intrinsic capacity and, consequently, the sensitivity of the tactile means 21 can be adjusted by moving the electrode 101 closer to or further away from the inner face 3b of the middle part 5.

[0040] It may be advantageously provided that the presence of this space (e) is desired. Indeed, such a space (e) may be used to facilitate the assembly of the electronic watch module 11. The latter is assembled before being mounted, which means that the electrode system 100 is fixed to the watch movement 11 before the latter is inserted into the housing 3. The excess space may allow the position of the watch movement 11 to be adjusted.

[0041] The space between the electrode system 100 and the caseband 5 can be filled, once the watch movement 10 is fixed in the case. This space (e) can be filled with an insulating material such as plastic resin or else selectively for each electrode with a conductive material such as conductive glue, avoiding connecting the different electrodes together under penalty of short circuit. This conductive glue can improve the electrical conductivity.

[0042] Of course, it is conceivable that the electrode system 100 could be in a different form.

[0043] In another solution, it is conceivable that the fixing flanges 105 themselves act as electrodes. Indeed, the fixing flanges 105 are made of electrically conductive materials to allow the electrical connection between the electrode 101 and the printed circuit 10a. For such an effect to occur, it is necessary for the fixing flanges 105 to be close to the inner face 3b of the first part 3a. This solution makes it possible to have the electrodes formed by metal structures directly fixed and directly connected to the printed circuit 10a.

[0044] In a variant visible at figures 7 and 8, which are not part of the invention, the metal structures are not fixing flanges 105 but metal structures 106 exclusively made to be electrodes. The shape of these metal structures is designed to form the most efficient electrodes 101 possible. For example, if the inner face of the first part made of insulating material is flat, the metal structures can be in the form of a T-shaped structure. The central branch is the branch fixed to the printed circuit while the branch perpendicular to this central branch is the one which forms the electrode in front of which the finger will be placed. In another example, if the inner face of the first part is curved, it can then be imagined that the metal structure comprises a first flat branch parallel to the plane of the printed circuit. At the free end of this first parallel branch, a second flat branch extends.This second branch extends perpendicular to the first branch. This branch may extend to form a T-shaped structure or simply extend to form a structure similar to the fixing clamps previously described. At one end of this second branch, a third curved branch extends. This third curved branch extends to form a convex surface. In the case of a first branch and a second branch forming a T-shaped structure, the third curved portion extends between the two ends. The shape of the electrodes can then be adapted to the shape of the caseband and more precisely to the shape of the first portion.

[0045] In a third solution, which is not part of the invention, the electrodes 101 are flexible circuits 107. Indeed, the flexible circuits 107 are made of a substrate made of a flexible material on which electrical tracks are made. These flexible printed circuits 107 then have the advantage of being able to adapt to the complex shapes of the housings in which they are arranged. The flexible circuits are fixed by one end to the printed circuit, the other end being left free. This free end can therefore be bent so that said flexible printed circuit can match the shape of the inner face of the first part. Preferably, the conductive tracks of the flexible printed circuit are in contact with the inner face of the first part.

[0046] In another variant, which is not part of the invention, each electrode of the electrode system 100 is in the form of a pad made of electrically conductive materials. This pad made of electrically conductive materials is located on the inner face of the first part of the caseband. This pad may consist of a layer of electrically conductive material or a layer of conductive paint deposited on the inner face of the first part of the caseband or a sheet of electrically conductive material fixed or glued to the inner face of the first part of the caseband. The electrode system also comprises connecting means for electrically connecting each pad forming electrode 101 to the printed circuit 10c of the watch movement. These connecting means may, depending on the configuration of the timepiece, be in different forms.For example, these bonding means can be an electrical wire or a flexible printed circuit or conductive glue or even a metal flange.

[0047] The advantage of such a variant is to have a positioning of the electrodes relative to the first part of the caseband which is perfect. Indeed, by directly producing the electrodes 101 on the inner face of the first part of the caseband, it is certain that said electrodes will be well positioned. Therefore, even if the watch movement were to have a position offset from its optimal position, the electrodes would not be offset. The connecting means such as electrical wires or flexible printed circuits are then arranged to compensate for this offset.

[0048] It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements and / or combinations obvious to those skilled in the art may be made to the various embodiments of the invention set out above without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

[0049] It will be understood that the tactile means 21 arranged according to the present invention are used for manipulating the various functions of the timepiece, such as, for example, setting the current time, a date or setting the time of an alarm. For this, it may be provided that the tactile means, arranged at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock zone of the caseband, are provided with at least two electrodes, i.e., at least two tactile keys. In a particular case, the caseband is provided with three electrodes, i.e., three tactile keys. In this particular case, for the example of setting the current time, it may be envisaged that a first electrode is used to activate the function while the second and third electrodes are used to increment or decrement the current time. The first electrode is also used to confirm the setting of the current time.

[0050] Furthermore, it will be understood that for a portable object 1 other than a timepiece, said portable electronic object will only comprise a casing 3 provided with at least a first part 3a made of insulating materials. The portable electronic object comprises at least one electronic module 10 providing at least one piece of information to the display means 15 which may be, for example, an LCD screen integrated into the casing.

Claims

1. A portable electronic object (1) comprising a case (3) consisting of a middle (5) provided with sides (50), the case (3) comprising at least a first part (3a) made of insulating materials, said portable electronic object comprising at least one electronic module (10) providing at least one piece of information to display means (15), said portable electronic object further comprising control means (20) enabling the user to act on said at least one electronic module, said control means comprising at least tactile control means (21) arranged on one of said sides (50), the tactile control means (21) comprising at least one electrode system (100) arranged in said at least one first part, said at least one electrode system (100) comprising a support (103) made of insulating materials on which at least one electrode (101) is arranged, said electrode system further comprising securing means (104) for attaching said support to the electronic module (10) and electrically connecting said at least one electrode to the electronic module, characterised in that the securing means (104) comprise at least one attachment clamp (105) made of conductive materials attached, on one hand, to the electronic module and on the other hand to the support enabling electrical conduction between said electronic module and said at least one electrode.

2. The portable electronic object according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one electrode (101) is a sheet made of electrically conductive materials attached to said support (103).

3. The portable electronic object according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one electrode (101) is made directly on said support (103).

4. The portable electronic object according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said at least one electrode system (100) comprises a plurality of electrodes (101) arranged on the same support (103).

5. The portable electronic object according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the case (3) is made entirely of insulating materials.

6. The portable electronic object according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the insulating material is a ceramic.

7. The portable electronic object according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said electrode system (100) is located in proximity to the inner face (3b, 5a) of said first part (3a, 5).

8. The portable electronic object according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said electrode system (100) is in contact with the inner face (3b, 5a) of said first part (3a, 5).

9. The portable electronic object according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the case (3) is formed of a middle (5) closed by a glass (7) and a back (9).

10. The portable electronic object according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said portable object is a timepiece.