Wristwatch with a reskin equipped with a touch-sensitive control circuit

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a watch comprising a flange provided with a touch control circuit, said watch comprising an antenna circuit of a communication module of said watch. Technological background

[0002] In the state of the art, numerous portable electronic objects are known that can be connected to communication networks, such as electronic watches, which are provided with touch interfaces conventionally arranged in the crystals of the latter. Such touch interfaces are generally used to improve the interactivity of watches and simplify their handling, particularly when the latter offer a significant number of menus and functions.

[0003] In order to connect to communication networks such as Bluetooth or geolocation networks, such electronic watches include communication means that typically include an antenna. It is known that the optimal size of such an antenna depends directly on the wavelength of the transmitted / received signal. Indeed, an antenna of optimal length allows a signal to be sent / received in full and at full power.

[0004] In these watches, available space is limited, so an antenna must have a suitable design to fit into the watch case. And if the watch incorporates a radio communication device that operates on radio frequencies (such as 2.4 GHz or 1.5 GHz), the size of the product becomes critical compared to the wavelength (120 mm and 200 mm).

[0005] Furthermore, other constraints must also be taken into account due to the fact that these watches have many metal parts and that an antenna must be isolated from them. Document US 2018 / 088724 A1 discloses an electronic watch comprising a case provided with a bezel forming in whole or in part a touch interface of said watch, said bezel comprising an antenna circuit of a communication module of the watch, the watch being provided with a touch control circuit of a touch control member of this watch.

[0006] In this context, it is understood that there is a need to find a solution, in particular one which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0007] One of the aims of the invention is to have a watch comprising a touch interface and integrating an antenna circuit having an optimal length to send / receive a signal in full and at full power and to be integrated into the case of this watch whose reception volume is limited.

[0008] Another aim of the invention is to obtain a watch whose aesthetics, energy consumption and manufacturing costs are not impacted or are only slightly impacted by the integration of a touch interface in a flange of this watch, in particular an antenna circuit.

[0009] Another aim of the invention is to obtain a watch whose aesthetics, energy consumption and manufacturing costs are not impacted or are only slightly impacted by the integration of a touch control circuit and an antenna circuit in a flange of this watch.

[0010] For this purpose, the invention relates to an electronic watch according to claim 1.

[0011] In other embodiments: the bezel comprises first and second parts capable of being assembled with each other; the bezel comprises a first part which is capable of circumscribing a crystal of the watch; the bezel comprises a second part which is capable of circumscribing a dial of the watch; the first part of the bezel comprises a body comprising an external face of the bezel provided with at least one touch-sensitive zone; the second part of the bezel comprises a support element provided with an upper surface comprising at least one relief, the top of which is covered with a conductive material forming an electrode, said top being located opposite a portion of an internal face of the body of the first part of the bezel arranged below a first or a second touch-sensitive zone of an external face of this first part constituting an external face of the bezel;the antenna circuit is produced on an upper surface of a support element or on an internal face of the body of the first part of the bezel; the touch control circuit comprising at least one electrode is produced on a second portion of the upper surface of a support element of a second part of the bezel; the control circuit comprises a microcontroller connected to said at least one electrode via at least one connection track; the bezel is made of at least one dielectric and / or electrically non-conductive material; the watch is a connected watch comprising a bezel which is a bezel forming in whole or in part a touch interface. Brief description of the figures

[0012] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the appended figures listed below: there figure 1is a schematic representation of an electronic watch comprising a bezel forming in whole or in part a tactile interface of said watch, according to one embodiment of the invention; the figure 2 is a representation of the bezel comprising a second part of which a support element comprises on its upper surface a touch control circuit provided in particular with electrodes, according to the embodiment of the invention; the figure 3 is a larger scale view of part E of the figure 2 , according to the embodiment of the invention; the figure 4 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of the electrodes of the touch control circuit and of the antenna circuit of said watch on the upper surface of the support element of the second part of the bezel participating in forming a flange of this bezel, according to the embodiment of the invention; Figure 5is a schematic representation of the watch comprising a communication module and a touch control member of which respectively the antenna circuit and the touch control circuit are arranged on the upper surface of the support element, according to the embodiment of the invention, and the figure 6 represents the bezel of the electronic watch allowing the antenna circuit and the touch control circuit to be seen through transparency, according to the embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0013] In reference to the figure 1 , the invention relates to an electronic watch 1 such as a connected watch.

[0014] In this context, such an electronic watch 1 is provided with a case 3 comprising a bezel 2 forming in whole or in part a tactile interface of said electronic watch 1 by means of which a wearer of this watch 1 can interact with the latter in order to control, for example, watchmaking functions of this watch 1. This case 3 also comprises a caseband which 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 ceramic or even at least one dielectric and / or electrically non-conductive material. The case 3 also comprises a back and a crystal 29 which participate in forming, with the caseband, an enclosure of this case 3.

[0015] In such an enclosure, there are arranged in particular a dial 7 comprising a display device, and an electronic device 4 of said electronic watch 1. The display device comprises display elements which may be analog such as hands and / or digital such as an LCD, LED or OLED screen. The display device and the dial 7 are located between the crystal 29 and the electronic device 4.

[0016] In this configuration, the bezel 2 comprises first and second parts 9a, 9b capable of being assembled with each other. In this bezel 2, the first part 9a encloses the crystal 29. In other words, this first part 9a is capable of circumscribing the crystal 29 of the watch 1 by being in contact or even covering an edge of this crystal. As regards the second part 9b, it is capable of circumscribing the dial 7 of this watch 1 by also being capable of being in contact or even covering the edge of this dial 7. This bezel 2 also comprises a spacer or flange which is arranged between the crystal 29 and this dial 7. Indeed, this flange is formed by the portion of the bezel 2 which, starting from the notch of the crystal 29, covers the edge of the dial. Such a flange is included in both the first and second parts 9a, 9b of this bezel 2.

[0017] In this watch 1, the electronic device 4 comprises an electronic watch movement. It is configured to provide at least one item of information to be displayed by the dial display device 7. This electronic device 4 comprises, in a non-exhaustive and non-limiting manner, a communication module 6, a control module for the electronic watch, an electrical energy accumulator, in particular a battery, as well as various sensors such as, for example, sensors participating in the determination of a geolocation, an altitude or a temperature of a place or in the determination of physiological, biometric, vital and / or behavioral parameters of the wearer of the electronic watch 1.

[0018] It will be noted that in this configuration, the control module allows the wearer of such an electronic watch 1 to be able to interact with the latter, in particular by being able to activate / deactivate / select different functions - for example timepiece functions - likely to be implemented by this electronic watch 1. This control module comprises a touch control member 8 and, alternatively, other control members such as pushers or buttons arranged on the caseband.

[0019] In the electronic device 4, the communication module 6 comprises an antenna circuit 10 connected to a microcircuit 11, and the touch control member 8 comprises a microcontroller 12 connected to a touch control circuit 13. As we will see later, the antenna circuit 10 and the control circuit 13 are arranged on the bezel flange 2, the latter forming in whole or in part a touch interface of the electronic watch 1.

[0020] Such a bezel 2 is preferably arranged on the middle of the case 3. Il may be a rotating bezel or a fixed bezel. As previously mentioned, this bezel 2 is formed by assembling its first and second parts 9a, 9b together. These two parts 9a 9b are connected to each other in a reversible and / or sealed manner.

[0021] The first part 9a of the bezel 2 comprises a body 5 provided with an internal face and an external face 17 which forms an external face 17 of the bezel 2. The external face 17 is a face visible to the wearer of this bezel 2 which can be manipulated in particular at the level of first and second touch zones 18a, 18b defined on this face 17. The bezel 2 may comprise a graduation on its external face 17. In the example illustrated, the graduation comprises figurative indexes 24 which are in the form of numerals (preferably Arabic).

[0022] In order for the antenna circuit 10 and the control circuit 13 to operate efficiently and / or optimally, the body 5 of the first part 9a of this bezel 2 is made of at least one dielectric and / or electrically non-conductive material. Said at least one material helps to contribute to the achievement of the capacitive effect of the touch control member 8. This material also helps to avoid damaging the radiation of the antenna circuit 10, to increase its electrical length and to improve its efficiency relative to its physical size. Such a material may be, for example, a polymer, titanium or ceramic, or any other synthetic material. It will be noted that it is possible for the body 5 of this first part 9a not to be made entirely of this type of material but that only portions of this body 5 comprising first and second touch zones 18a, 18b of the outer face 17 of the bezel 2 are made of this material.

[0023] The second part 9b of the bezel 2 comprises a support element 25 provided with an upper surface 26 comprising at least one relief 27 whose apex 28 is covered / coated with a layer of a conductive material forming an electrode 22. Such a apex 28 is located opposite or in contact with a portion of the internal face of the first part 9a of the bezel 2 arranged below the first or second touch zone 18a, 18b of the external face 17 of this first part 9a constituting the external face 17 of the bezel 2.

[0024] In this configuration, the support element 25 is a thermoplastic part. More precisely, this support element 25 is a part injection molded using a technology called MID, acronym for "Molded Internal Connection Devices", comprising on its upper surface 26 at least one electrode 22. It will be noted that such a support element 25 is distinguished from conventional substrate materials by better mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical and environmental properties.

[0025] Alternatively, this support element 25 may be a substrate comprising an upper surface 26 provided with at least one relief 27 whose top 28 is covered / coated with the layer of a conductive material, using a physical vapor deposition technology of a conductive material or a selective printing technology at a micrometric scale of this conductive material. Screen printing technologies using silver on a polyester substrate or using copper on a polyimide substrate are also conceivable.

[0026] The support element 25 of this second part 9b of this bezel 2 may comprise arrangements intended to provide access to a printed circuit 14 of the electronic device 4 comprising the microcontroller 12 of the control member 8 and the microcircuit 11 of the communication module 6. Such arrangements thus offer the possibility of constituting a passage or defining a location in this support element 25 in order to facilitate the connection of the control circuit 13, in particular the electrodes 22, and the antenna circuit 10 respectively to the microcontroller 12 of the control member 8 and to the microcircuit 11 of the communication module 6.

[0027] In reference to the figures 2 to 5, the control member 8 comprises the microcontroller 12 which is connected to the touch control circuit 13. As we have mentioned, such a touch control circuit 13 comprises at least one layer of conductive material included on the top 28 of a relief 27 forming an electrode 22, the relief 27 being located under one of the first and second touch zones 18a, 18b of the external face 17 of the body 5 of the first part 9a of the bezel 2. In other words, each electrode 22 is formed by the layer of conductive material or is in the form of such a layer. Such an electrode 22 has a circular or parallelepiped or even triangular shape.

[0028] This electrode 22 is connected to a connection terminal 23a defined on the printed circuit 14 of the electronic device 4, this terminal 23a being connected to the microcontroller 12 of the control member 8. In this configuration, the control circuit 13 comprises an electrical connection element 20 capable of making the connection between each electrode 22 and the microcontroller 12. This connection element 20 is capable of cooperating with at least one electrical track 15b of the printed circuit 14 of the electronic device 4 comprising the microcontroller 12. In this way, each electrode 22 is thus connected to the microcontroller 12 from this connection element 20 and from said at least one electrical track 15b. Finally, it will be noted that the touch control circuit 13 preferably comprises as many connection elements 20 as the support element 25 comprises electrodes 22.

[0029] In reference to the figures 2 And 4 à 6, the touch control member 8 comprises six electrodes 22 distributed over the upper surface 26 of the support element 25. More precisely, these electrodes 22 are included on this surface 26 so as to define / form the two distinct touch zones 18a, 18b on the outer face 17 of this bezel 2, these two touch zones 18a, 18b thus forming the touch interface of the electronic watch 1. In this configuration, the upper surface 26 of the support element 25 comprises several electrodes 22 per touch zone 18a, 18b. The first touch zone 18a comprises three electrodes 22 arranged respectively under the indexes 24 two, three and four defined on the outer face 17 of the bezel 2. The second touch zone 18b also comprises three electrodes 22 arranged respectively under the indexes 24 five, six and seven defined on this outer face 17 of the bezel 2.

[0030] In this configuration, the first touch zone 18a allows the wearer of the watch 1 to interact with the latter by performing a movement, in particular a “vertical movement” (referenced Dv on the figure 6 ) of an accessory such as a stylus or even an end of one of its members such as a finger on this first zone 18a. Regarding the second tactile zone 18b, it allows the wearer of the watch 1 to interact with the latter by performing a movement, in particular a “horizontal movement” (referenced Dh on the figure 6) of such an accessory or even the end of one of its members on this zone 18b. The vertical displacement describes a trajectory which is substantially parallel or parallel to an axis of symmetry A of the telescope 2 passing through the center O of this telescope 2 and this trajectory also being substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to an axis of revolution R of this telescope 2. Regarding the horizontal displacement, it describes a trajectory which is itself substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to this axis A (or to the trajectory described by the vertical displacement) and also to the axis of revolution R of this telescope 2. Such an axis A separates the telescope 2 into two equal parts / portions by connecting the indexes 24 twelve and six present on the external face 17 of this telescope 2.

[0031] In the electronic device 4, the communication module 6 is capable of enabling the connection of the electronic watch 1 to a Bluetooth type communication network. In other words, the communication module 6 is configured to communicate according to a Bluetooth type protocol. Alternatively, this communication module 6 may be capable of enabling the connection of the watch 1 to a GNSS (Geolocation and Navigation Satellite System) satellite location network, such as for example GPS (Global Positioning System), Glonass or Galileo. This communication module 6 comprises the antenna circuit 10 connected to the microcircuit 11.

[0032] In the present embodiment, such an antenna circuit 10 is included on the upper surface 26 of the support element 25 of the bezel 2. This antenna circuit 10 comprises first and second strands 19a, 19b each having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending in parallel between their proximal and distal ends. In this antenna circuit 10, the architecture with two parallel strands makes it possible to widen the frequency band (100 MHz), necessary for example for communicating on a Bluetooth type communication network (2.4 GHz). In this antenna circuit 10, the first and second strands 19a, 19b are connected at their distal ends as well as at their proximal ends.

[0033] In this configuration, the antenna circuit 10 extends essentially along an arcuate trajectory comprising two strands 19a, 19b arranged in parallel on the upper surface 26 which follows this trajectory. This antenna circuit 10 also comprises an electrical connection element 21 connected to a connection terminal 23b defined on the printed circuit 14 of the electronic device 4, this terminal 23b being connected to the proximal or distal ends of the strands 19a, 19b. This electrical connection element 21 is capable of cooperating with at least one electrical track 15a of the printed circuit 14 of the electronic device 4 comprising the microcircuit 11 of the communication module 6. In this way, the antenna circuit 10 is connected to this microcircuit 11 from this said electrical connection element 21 and from said at least one electrical track 15a.

[0034] In this watch 1, the antenna circuit 10 and the touch control circuit 13 are located in the bezel 2 on either side of an axis of symmetry B passing through the center O of the bezel 2 and which is substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to the axis of revolution R of this bezel 2. This axis referenced B separates the bezel 2 or its first and second parts 9a, 9b, or the upper surface 26 into two parts / portions and forms an angle α with the axis A which is between 30 and 40 degrees and which is preferably 36 degrees. Thus the antenna circuit 10 and the touch control circuit 13 are in whole or in part produced on distinct portions of the surface 26 of the support element 25 or of the bezel 2 or of the first and second parts 9a, 9b.

[0035] These two portions are separated by the axis of symmetry B. More precisely, the upper surface 26 of the support element 25 of the second part 9a of the bezel 2 therefore comprises two portions. The first portion comprises a relief whose summit comprises the first and second strands 19a, 19b of this antenna circuit 10. The second portion comprises the reliefs 27 forming the electrodes 22.

[0036] It will further be noted that the support element 25 comprising both the control circuit 13 and the antenna circuit 10 can be produced using the so-called MID technology already mentioned. When the support element 25 is a substrate provided with reliefs, the antenna circuit and the touch control circuit can be produced using the technology of physical vapor deposition of a conductive material or the technology of selective printing on a micrometric scale of this conductive material. Screen printing technologies using silver on an upper surface 26 made of polyester or using copper on an upper surface 26 made of polyimide are also conceivable.

[0037] Furthermore, it will be noted that in a variant, the touch control circuit 13 is included on the support element 25 of the second part 9b of the bezel 2 and the antenna circuit on the internal face of the bezel 2. The production of this antenna circuit 10 on this internal face can be carried out using the technology of physical vapor deposition of a conductive material or the technology of selective printing on a micrometric scale of this conductive material comprising a conductive ink, mentioned previously.

Claims

1. An electronic watch (1) comprising a case provided with a bezel (2) forming totally or partially a touch interface of said watch (1), said bezel (2) comprising an antenna circuit (10) of a communication module (6) of the watch (1) and a flange arranged between a crystal (29) and a dial (7) of the watch (1), the flange being provided with a touch control circuit (13) of a touch control organ (8) of this watch (1), said antenna circuit (10) and the touch control circuit (13) being located in the bezel (2) on either side of an axis of symmetry (B) passing through the centre (O) of the bezel (2), such antenna circuit (10) comprising first and second strands (19a, 19b) produced on a first portion of the upper surface (26) of a support element (25) of a second portion (9a) of the bezel (2), said first and second strands (19a, 19b) each having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending in parallel between their proximal and distal ends, the first and second strands (19a, 19b) being connected by their distal ends as well as at their proximal ends, this antenna circuit (10) comprising a microcircuit (11) connected to the first and second strands (19a, 19b) by means of a connection track (21) produced on the upper surface (26) of a support element (25) of a second portion (9a) of the bezel (2).

2. The electronic watch (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the bezel (2) comprises first and second portions (9a, 9b) likely to be assembled with one another.

3. The electronic watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bezel (2) comprises a first portion (9a) that is capable of enclosing a crystal (29) of the watch (1).

4. The electronic watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bezel (2) comprises a second portion (9b) that is capable of enclosing a dial of the watch (1).

5. The electronic watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first portion (9a) of the bezel (2) comprises a body (5) comprising an outer face (17) of the bezel (2) provided with at least one touch area (18a, 18b).

6. The electronic watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second portion (9b) of the bezel (2) comprises a support element (25) provided with an upper surface (26) including at least one relief (27) the tip (28) of which is covered with a conductive material forming an electrode (22), said tip (28) being located facing a portion of an inner face of the body (5) of the first portion (9a) of the bezel (2) arranged below a first or of a second touch area (18a, 18b) of an outer face (17) of this first portion (9a) constituting an external face of the bezel (2).

7. The electronic watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the antenna circuit (10) is produced on an upper surface (26) of a support element (25) or on an inner face of the body (5) of the first portion (9a) of the bezel (2).

8. The electronic watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the touch control circuit (13) comprising at least one electrode (22) is produced on a second portion of the upper surface (26) of a support element (25) of a second portion (9a) of the bezel (2).

9. The electronic watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control circuit (13) comprises a microcontroller (12) connected to said at least one electrode (22) by means of at least one connection track (20).

10. The electronic watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bezel (2) is manufactured in at least one dielectric and / or electrically non-conductive material.

11. The electronic watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is a watch (1) particularly a connected watch comprising a bezel (2) that is a bezel forming totally or partially a touch interface.