WRISTWATCH CASE COMPLIMENTING WITH A CONTROL DEVICE FOR A NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a watch case comprising a device for controlling a near-field communication device, as well as a watch equipped with such a case. Technological background

[0002] Watches incorporating near-field communication devices are known to be made. These devices consist 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 and are designed to communicate automatically with a reader as soon as they approach it. The electromagnetic field of the reader generates an induced current in the antenna, which powers the chip and allows it, in turn, to emit a signal via the antenna.

[0003] However, these communication devices integrated into these watches are highly vulnerable to malicious third parties who could, by approaching a transmitter receiver, retrieve confidential information without the owner's knowledge. In addition, such near-field communication devices remain vulnerable between the time they are activated and the time communication is established with the reader. Furthermore, it should be noted that the various known security methods are unsuitable for certain watches, are impractical and do not completely eliminate the risk of hacking.CH 713 298 A2 discloses a watch case comprising a hollow pivoting bezel formed of first and second exterior elements comprising a near-field communication device provided with at least one microcircuit connected to an antenna, said case comprising a control device configured to activate or deactivate said communication device, said bezel being formed from an assembly of the two exterior elements capable of defining a housing in which said near-field communication device is arranged.

[0004] Thus, the state of the art does not offer a solution to overcome such drawbacks, therefore there is a need to propose an alternative to existing solutions. Summary of the invention

[0005] One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a means for securing a near-field communication device integrated into a watch which is easy to use and more secure than the solutions of the prior art.

[0006] Another of these aims is to provide a watch which can be easily and quickly disassembled to ensure maintenance of the near field communication device and / or a device for controlling this communication device, both arranged in this watch.

[0007] The invention relates to a watch case according to claim 1.

[0008] In other embodiments: the control device comprises a loop-type electrically conductive element, the two free ends of which each comprise an electrical contact terminal; the control device comprises a switching element for electrically closing or opening said conductive element; the control device comprises a movable control member capable of being moved between two predefined positions, namely an active position in which the communication device is activated and an inactive position in which the communication device is deactivated; the switching element comprises two terminal portions, each of which is capable of being in contact with one of the two terminals of the conductive element when the latter is electrically closed by the switching element;the switching element and the conductive element are arranged to be movable in the watch case relative to each other so that the switching element electrically opens or closes said conductive element; the switching element is arranged in a control member, in particular in the bezel, and the conductive element in the caseband; the switching element is arranged in the caseband and the conductive element in a control member, in particular in the bezel; the reversible fastening device comprises a clamping element, in particular a compressible seal; the first covering element comprises a reversible fastening zone comprising a groove defined on an external peripheral wall of the first covering element; said groove is configured to receive said clamping element;said second covering element comprises a reversible connection zone which is capable of cooperating by friction with a clamping element arranged in a groove included in the first covering element; the bezel comprises a removable support element of the near-field communication device; the support element comprises on its upper face a receiving zone, in particular in an inclined plane, capable of receiving said antenna; the support element comprises a recess in which said at least one microcircuit is capable of being arranged in whole or in part; the support element comprises on its lower face at least two feet capable of bearing on an internal face of the second covering element of the bezel when this second covering element is assembled to the first covering element; the receiving zone of the support element comprises or is formed of a magnetic protective screen such as ferrite;the first and second covering elements, the removable support element and the clamping element are made of at least one dielectric and / or electrically non-conductive material; said bezel is fixed to the caseband using at least one removable fixing element, in particular of the clipping type; the near-field communication device comprises a coating of waterproof material capable of making said device impermeable to water and / or moisture; the near-field communication device is a contactless electronic payment device;

[0009] Another aspect of the invention relates to a watch comprising a case comprising a near field communication device.

[0010] Advantageously, the watch is waterproof. Brief description of the figures

[0011] The goals, advantages and characteristics... there figure 1is a schematic representation of a watch provided with a case comprising a bezel in which is arranged a near-field communication device, and a device for controlling said communication device, according to one embodiment of the invention; the Figures 2 and 3 represent sectional views of the watch of the figure 1 , respectively in inactive and active positions, namely an active position in which the communication device is activated and an inactive position in which the communication device is deactivated, according to the embodiment of the invention; figure 4 is a top view of a perspective representation of the telescope, according to the embodiment of the invention; the Figure 5 is a bottom view of a perspective representation of the telescope, according to the embodiment of the invention, and the figure 6is an exploded view of a perspective representation of the telescope, according to the embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0012] There figure 1 is a schematic representation of a watch 1 comprising a case 2 having a middle 6 and a hollow bezel 3 provided with a near-field communication device 4 of the NFC type (acronym for “Near Field Communication”). Such a near-field communication device 4 can participate in carrying out a contactless electronic payment. In this context, such a device 4 is then a contactless electronic payment device.

[0013] This near-field communication device 4 comprises at least one microcircuit 5a which may be an integrated circuit and an antenna 5b preferably of circular shape which may be wound in electrically conductive material, for example copper or aluminum or else produced on a printed circuit (or PCB from the English Printed Circuit Board) and which is connected to said microcircuit 5a.

[0014] In reference to the figures 1 to 6 , the watch 1 according to the invention comprises a bezel 3 which can be easily disassembled / disassembled, in particular to change the near-field communication device 4 which would be defective, without damaging this bezel 3 and by extension the case 2 of watch 1. In addition, this bezel 3 also helps to integrate such a device 4 into this watch 1 in a simpler and more economical manner. It will be noted that such a pivoting bezel 3 can be unidirectional or bidirectional.

[0015] In order to improve the security of this watch 1, the latter comprises a remote control device 30 for the communication device 4 which helps to prevent a malicious third party from recovering, without the knowledge of the user of the watch 1, sensitive information which is archived therein by using for this purpose, for example, a suitable transceiver. In this configuration, it is understood that the communication device 4 is deactivated by default and that its activation can only be carried out from this control device 30. Such a control device 30 which is described in more detail below is configured to activate or deactivate this communication device. It will be noted that this control device 30 is said to be remote or remote because it is distinct from the communication device 4. In other words, this control device 30 is not connected by a physical link to the communication device 4.

[0016] This watch 1 can be an electronic watch or a mechanical watch or even a connected watch. This watch 1 can be waterproof and in this configuration it can be a sports watch such as a diving watch.

[0017] In this watch 1, the case 2 firstly comprises a caseband 6. The caseband 6 can be made of metal (e.g. steel, preferably stainless steel), of a synthetic material (e.g. a composite material comprising a polymer matrix filled with fibers, typically carbon) or of ceramic or even of a dielectric and / or electrically non-conductive material. As can be seen in the figure 1, the middle 6 has a circular outline. The middle 6 defines an interior space configured to accommodate a watch movement. This middle 6 includes horns on which a bracelet is intended to be attached for wearing the watch 1 on the wrist. If we disregard the horns, the middle 6 has a general symmetry of revolution around a central axis X.

[0018] This case 2 of watch 1 comprises secondly, the bezel 3 which is removably mounted on the caseband 6. This bezel 3 is in fact mounted on this caseband 6 from at least one removable fixing element in particular of the clipping or casing type. Such a fixing element makes it possible to assemble and disassemble the bezel 3 from the caseband 6 easily, quickly and simply without damaging them in order to ensure, for example, the maintenance of the near-field communication device 4.

[0019] On the figures 1 to 4, this bezel 3 has an essentially annular shape. It comprises two covering elements 7a, 7b, a reversible fixing device 8 and a removable support element 11 for the near-field communication device 4. More precisely, this bezel 3 is formed by assembling the first covering element 7a with the second covering element 7b so as to define a housing in which the near-field communication device 4 is arranged. In particular, it will be noted that in this configuration the support element 11 is sandwiched between these two covering elements 7a, 7b. In this bezel 3, the reversible fixing device 8 comprises a fixing zone 9b and a connecting zone 9c as well as a clamping element 9a which we will describe later. It should be recalled that such a device 8 participates in the assembly of the first and second covering elements 7a, 7b by a clamping fit.

[0020] The first covering element 7a comprises an external face 15 on which a graduation 16 is affixed or formed. In the example illustrated, the graduation comprises indexes, some of which are figurative and are in the form of numerals (preferably Arabic). One of the indexes, called the zero index 17, is in the form of a triangle pointing towards the inside of this first covering element 7a, to form an origin marker from which the user measures, in minutes, the time elapsed from a predetermined initial instant corresponding to a precise angular position of the bezel 3 relative to the caseband 6. This first covering element 7a also comprises an internal face 18, an internal peripheral wall 19 and an external peripheral wall.

[0021] This first covering element 7a comprises an arrangement zone 29 for said at least one microcircuit 5a of the communication device 4 which is arranged both in a part of the internal peripheral wall 19 and a part of the internal face 18. This arrangement zone 29 is preferably located behind the zero index 17.

[0022] The first covering element 7a also comprises the reversible fixing zone 9b comprising a groove 10 defined on its external peripheral wall. Such a groove 10 is specifically configured to receive the clamping element 9a.

[0023] This clamping element 9a may be a compressible seal which is smaller in size than the periphery (circumference) of the groove 10. Such a clamping element 9a is therefore arranged in the groove 10 by being stretched. Despite its smaller circumference, the clamping element 9a finds its place in this groove 10 thanks to its elastic properties, which allow it to be relaxed and which once placed in the groove 10 will shrink to press against the external peripheral wall in the groove 10.

[0024] This reversible fixing zone 9b is capable of cooperating with the reversible connecting zone 9c defined on an internal peripheral wall 21 of the second covering element 7b of the bezel 3. This connecting zone 9c is capable of cooperating with an external surface 20 of the clamping element 9a mounted in the groove 10 of the fixing zone 9b in order to reversibly connect the first covering element 7a with the second covering element 7b. It will be noted that the connecting zone 9c is capable of cooperating by friction with the external surface 20 of the clamping element 9a arranged in the groove 10.

[0025] In this configuration, the diameter connecting two points of the external surface 20 of the clamping element 9a mounted on the first covering element 7a is substantially greater or strictly greater than the diameter connecting two points of the connecting zone 9c of the second covering element 7b. It will be noted that the diameter connecting two points of the groove 10 of the first covering element 7a is substantially less or strictly less than the diameter connecting two points of the connecting zone 9c of the second covering element 7b. Furthermore, it is understood that the diameter of the first covering element 7a without the clamping element 9a is substantially less or strictly less than that of the second covering element 7b.

[0026] The second covering element 7b comprises an internal face which is contiguous to its internal peripheral wall 21. This internal face is in particular configured to be a bearing face of the support element 11 of the bezel 3 when the first and second covering elements 7a, 7b are assembled. This second covering element 7b comprises an external face 22 opposite the internal face and which extends opposite an upper face 28 of the middle part 6, and more precisely opposite a part of the middle part 6 provided for the removable attachment of the bezel 3. This external face 22 comprises a toothed crown 23 of this bezel 3 which is used for the angular indexing of the bezel 3 relative to the middle part 6. This toothed crown 23 comprises a peripheral series of teeth, each tooth of which is asymmetrical and comprises an inclined ramp and a vertical stop surface, possibly connected by a horizontal plate.

[0027] This second covering element 7b is also provided with an external peripheral wall on which a gripping zone 24 of the bezel 3 is defined.

[0028] As mentioned, the bezel 3 comprises the removable support element 11 of the near-field communication device 4. More specifically, this support element 11 is provided with an upper face 13a comprising a reception area 12b for the antenna 5b of said communication device 4. This reception area 12b on which said antenna 5b is arranged is in particular included in an inclined plane. This support element 11 also comprises a recess 12a, or a through opening, in which said at least one microcircuit 5a is capable of being arranged in whole or in part.

[0029] In a variant, the receiving zone 12b may comprise / form a protective magnetic screen such as ferrite by being covered with a layer of ferrite-based material. In this context, the part of the internal peripheral wall and the internal face of the second covering element 7b located near said at least one microcircuit 5a, may also comprise such a layer of material in order to form a magnetic screen with this support element 11.

[0030] Furthermore, this support element 11 comprises a lower face 13b comprising a plurality of feet 14 capable of bearing on the internal face of the second covering element 7b of this bezel 3 when this second covering element 7b is assembled to the first covering element 7a.

[0031] In this bezel 3, the first and second covering elements 7a, 7b, the clamping element 9a and the support element 11 are adapted to the operation of the near-field communication device 4 by being manufactured from dielectric and electrically non-conductive materials, such as for example a polymer, titanium or ceramic, or any other synthetic material.

[0032] Furthermore, the communication device 4 comprises a coating of waterproof material which makes it impermeable to water and moisture. This coating of material is also capable of making it resistant to high pressures which may be encountered during dives carried out by the wearer of the watch 1. This coating of material may comprise organic or inorganic layers or a combination of these two types of layers.

[0033] In reference to the figures 1 to 6, in this watch case 2 1, the remote control device 30 of the communication device 4 comprises an electrically conductive element 33, a switching element 34 and a movable control member 3, 27. This electrically conductive element 33 is of the loop type, in particular a loop which is open and the two free ends of which each form an electrical contact terminal 35a, 35b. This conductive element 33 has an essentially annular shape. The switching element 34 is a metal part 37 mounted on a fixing support 38. Such a switching element 34 makes it possible to electrically close or open the conductive element 33. This switching element 34 is provided with two terminal portions 36a, 36b, each of which is capable of being in contact with one of the two terminals 35a, 35b of the conductive element 33 when the latter is electrically closed by the switching element 34.

[0034] In the case 2 of the watch 1, the switching element 34 and the conductive element 33 are arranged to be movable relative to each other so that the switching element 34 electrically opens or closes said conductive element 33, that is to say so that: each terminal 35a, 35b is in contact with each terminal portion 36a, 36b to electrically close said conductive element 33, or each terminal 35a, 35b is not in contact with each terminal portion 36a, 36b to electrically open said conductive element 33.

[0035] More precisely and as illustrated by the Figures 2 and 3, the switching element 34 can be arranged in the mobile control member 3, 27 which can be moved in rotation or in translation such as for example the pivoting bezel 3 or a crown 27 of the case 2 of watch 1, and the conductive element 33 in the caseband 6. In this configuration, the switching element 34 is located in a portion of the external face 22 of the second covering element 7b of the bezel 3. The conductive element 33 is arranged in a portion of this caseband 6 which is made of at least one dielectric and / or electrically non-conductive material. It will be noted that the upper face 28 of the middle part 6 can also be made of at least one dielectric and / or electrically non-conductive material because the terminal portions 36a, 36b of the switching element 34 bear against this upper face 28 when the conductive element 33 is open and the near-field communication device 4 is deactivated.

[0036] In a variant, the conductive element 33 can be arranged in the mobile control member 3, 27 and the switching element 34 in the caseband 6. In this configuration, the conductive element 33 is arranged in a portion of the external face 22 of the second covering element 7b of the bezel 3. The switching element 34 is arranged in a portion of the caseband 6 which is made of at least one dielectric and / or electrically non-conductive material.

[0037] In reference to the figure 2 , when the control member 3, 27, here the pivoting bezel 3, is in a first predefined position, called the active position, the terminal portions 36a, 36b of the conductive element 33 are in abutment against the non-conductive material of the upper face 28 of the middle 6 so that the conductive element 33 is electrically open and the near-field communication device 4 is activated.

[0038] When the control member 3, 27 is in a second predefined position, called the inactive position, shown in figure 3, these terminal portions 36a, 36b bear against the conductive material of the terminals 35a, 35b of the conductive element 33 so that this element 33 is electrically closed and the communicating device 4 is then deactivated. More precisely in this configuration, when the communication device 4 is placed in the presence of a reader of the payment terminal type and the chip 5a of this device 4 initiates the emission of a signal via the antenna 5b, the magnetic field corresponding to this signal and emitted by this antenna 5b comprises field lines which collide with the conductive element 33 and generate in it induced currents, generally called eddy currents. Thus, the conductive element 33 absorbs this magnetic field of the device 4 which is then unable to communicate with the reader and is therefore in fact in a deactivated configuration.In other words, the conductive element 33 neutralizes / inhibits the ability of the communication device 4 to transmit a signal to the reader.

[0039] Thus, by rotating the bezel, it is possible to activate and deactivate the near-field communication device 4 at will, which makes it possible, by deactivating the device 4, to protect against the risks of fraudulent communication. The assembly composed of the bezel 3 and the terminal portions 36a, 36b on one side and by the terminals 35a, 35b and the housing on the other, constitutes a mechanical switch.

[0040] In addition, the case 2 of the watch 1 may comprise a visual and / or audible device indicating the activated or deactivated state of the communication device 4. In this context, an audible interface of this device 4 may comprise a loudspeaker, a buzzer and / or a vibrator. As a visual interface of this device 4, it may comprise: a screen arranged in the dial 26 of this watch 1 and / or at least one hand 25a, 25b capable of moving and cooperating with indexes / appliques included on a dial 26, and / or at least one hand 25a, 25b capable of moving and cooperating with indexes or numbers included on a flange of the watch and / or at least one hand 25a, 25b capable of moving and cooperating with the indexes and / or numbers included on the pivoting bezel 3 of the watch 1, and / or at least one window arranged in the dial 26 in which a graphic representation such as a drawing or a number can be displayed, and / or at least one light-emitting diode.

Claims

1. Watch (1) case (2) including a hollow pivoting bezel (3) formed of first and second external elements (7a, 7b) comprising a near-field communication device (4) provided with at least one microcircuit (5a) connected to an antenna (5b), said case (2) including a control device (30) configured to activate or deactivate said communication device (4), said bezel being formed by an assembly of two external elements (7a, 7b) capable of defining a housing in which said near-field communication device (4) is arranged, characterized in that the control device (30) is remote from the communication device (4), the control device (30) not being connected by a physical connection to the communication device (4) and in that said first and second external elements (7a, 7b) of the bezel (3) are assembled together using a reversible fastening device (8).

2. Case (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control device (30) comprises: - an electrically conductive element (33) of the loop type, the two free ends of which each comprise an electrical contact terminal (35a, 35b); - a switch element (34) capable of electrically closing or opening said conductive element (33), and - a movable control member (3, 27) capable of being moved between two predefined positions, namely an active position in which the communication device (4) is activated and an inactive position in which the communication device (4) is deactivated.

3. Case (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the switch element (34) comprises two end portions (36a, 36b) each of which is capable of being in contact with one of the two terminals (35a, 35b) of the conductive element (33) when the latter is electrically closed by the switch element (34).

4. Case (2) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the switch element (34) and the conductive element (33) are movably arranged in the watch (1) case (2) relative to each other so that the switch element (34) opens or closes said conductive element electrically (33).

5. Case (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the switch element (34) is arranged in a control member (3, 27), in particular in the bezel (3), and the conductive element (33) in the middle (6).

6. Case (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the switch element (34) is arranged in the middle (6) and the conductive element (33) in a control member (3, 27), in particular in the bezel (3).

7. Case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reversible fastening device (8) comprises a clamping element (9a) in particular a compressible seal.

8. Case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first external element (7a) comprises a reversible fastening area (9b) comprising a groove (10) defined on an outer peripheral wall of the first external element (7a).

9. Case (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said groove (10) is configured to receive said clamping element (9a).

10. Case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second external element (7b) comprises a reversible connection area (9c) which is capable of cooperating by friction with a clamping element (9a) arranged in a groove (10) formed in the first external element (7a).

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

12. Case (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the support element (11) comprises on its upper face (13a) a receiving area (12b), in particular in an inclined plane capable of receiving said antenna (5b).

13. Case (2) according to claim 11, characterized in that the support element (11) comprises a recess (12a) in which said at least one microcircuit (5a) is capable of being arranged entirely or partially.

14. Case (2) according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the support element (11) comprises on its lower face (13b) at least two feet (14) capable of bearing on an inner face (15) of the second external element (7b) of the bezel (3) when this second external element (7b) is assembled to the first external element (7a).

15. Case (2) according to any one of claims 12 or 14, characterized in that the area for receiving the support element (11) comprises or is formed of a protective magnetic screen such as ferrite.

16. Case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second external elements (7a, 7b), the removable support element (11) and the clamping element (9a) are made of at least one dielectric and / or electrically non-conductive material.

17. Case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bezel (3) is fastened to the middle (6) using at least one removable fastening element, in particular of the clipping type.

18. Case (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the field communication device (4) comprises a coating made of water-resistant material capable of making said device (4) water and / or humidity resistant.

19. 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.

20. Watch (1) including a case (2) comprising a near-field communication device (4), according to claims 1 to 19.

21. Watch (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is water-resistant.