PROTECTIVE CASE FOR WRISTWATCH

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a protective case for a watch of the Dewar type case, providing thermal protection in particular to mechanical and / or functional components of a watch arranged in said case. Technological background

[0002] A watch typically consists of a strap and a watch case containing several mechanical, electrical, or electronic components. It is known in the prior art that some of these components cannot withstand certain temperatures and cease to function correctly at those temperatures.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to be able to use a watch, especially an electronic watch, in environments where such temperatures may prevail.

[0004] Document EP 4 105 735 describes a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional components of a watch, the device comprising an actuation device for at least one control element of a watch arranged in an enclosure of this Dewar device from an actuable casing element of this actuation device. Summary of the invention

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a Dewar case for mechanical and / or functional components of a watch, provided with an enclosure in which a watch case can be removably arranged, the latter having a display interface arranged opposite a crystal of said case, said case comprising a reversible fixing device fixing said watch case in said enclosure while keeping it away from functional elements forming said enclosure of said case, the crystal of said case comprising an element for varying the transmittance of said crystal and an element for generating illumination directed towards a display interface of said watch.

[0006] In other embodiments: the transmittance variation element and the illuminance generation element are included in said ice (6) by being superimposed; the ice is formed by an assembly comprising successively a layer of transparent material, a stack of functional layers forming said transmittance variation element and a stack of functional layers forming said illuminance generation element; the ice is formed by an assembly comprising successively an outer layer of transparent material, a stack of functional layers forming said transmittance variation element, a stack of functional layers forming said illuminance generation element and an inner layer of transparent material;The glass is formed by an assembly comprising successively a first outer layer of transparent material, a stack of functional layers forming said transmittance variation element, a second inner outer layer of transparent material and a stack of functional layers forming said illuminance generation element; the housing comprises a control unit connected by linking elements to the transmittance variation and illuminance generation elements of the glass; the control unit comprises at least one event sensor such as a brightness sensor and / or a temperature sensor; the transmittance variation element is an electrochromic element, in particular a liquid crystal electrochromic element; the illuminance generation element is a transparent lighting element of the OLED type;The housing includes a control unit configured to command / control / adjust the transmittance variation element so as to dynamically regulate the temperature of the enclosure of said housing; the housing includes a control unit configured to command / control / adjust the illumination generation element so as to adjust / adjust the contrast of said watch display interface; said enclosure is under vacuum or near-vacuum; the crystal has a surface area that is substantially larger or strictly larger than that of a crystal of the watch case. Brief description of the figures

[0007] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description provided below, which is indicative and in no way exhaustive, with reference to the figure 1 attached, in which is presented a cross-sectional view of a schematic representation of the Dewar box, according to embodiments of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0008] There figure 1 represents a Dewar 1 box for mechanical and / or functional components 5 of a watch 10. Such a Dewar 1 box can also be called " housing isothermal" or even " thermal protection housing. Such a case 1 can include a bracelet, and thus form a Dewar device also called "thermal protection device" Or "Dewar clockwork device" which can be worn by a user.

[0009] Such a case 1 is suitable for providing good thermal insulation to mechanical and / or functional components 5 of the watch 10, a case 12 of which must be removably arranged within a compartment 4 of this case 1 in order to ensure such thermal insulation for these components 5. In other words, this case 1 is formed in particular by the combination of its functional elements 15 with the case 12 of the watch 10 in order to achieve suitable thermal insulation for these mechanical and / or functional components 5. These functional elements 15 of the case 1 forming this said compartment 4 include a crystal 6, an inner peripheral wall 17 of a case 9a, and a case back 9b of this case 1. In this configuration, the case 12 of the watch 10 is arranged within such a compartment 4, being kept away from or at a distance from the functional elements of the case 1 forming this said compartment 4.It should be noted that this inner peripheral wall 17 of the frame 9a is also that of the said enclosure 4.

[0010] In this case 1, includes a dynamic temperature control system 3 for its enclosure 4. Such a system 3 helps to regulate the temperature within this enclosure 4. To do this, this system 3 includes the glass 6 of the case 1, which is a transparent glass 6 with variable opacity, also more simply called variable opacity glass 6, and a control unit 8 connected to this glass 6 which is configured to control / manage this opacity.

[0011] The box 1 includes a control unit 8 comprising an electronic circuit including a controller equipped with hardware resources, in particular at least one processor cooperating with memory elements as well as data and control address buses, and also an energy storage device, otherwise known as a battery. This control unit 8 includes in its memory elements several algorithms, including a temperature management algorithm for the enclosure 4 and the housing 1, and an algorithm for managing the dynamic contrast adjustment of the watch display 10. Such algorithms are executed by the processor of this control unit 8, taking into account, in particular, data from event sensors included in the control unit 8, in order to ensure temperature management in the enclosure 4 of the housing 1 and also the contrast management of this display.It should be noted that such data can, for example, provide information relating to events detected by these sensors. These events may contribute to, cause, or generate a temperature variation within enclosure 4 of housing 1 and / or a variation in ambient light in the environment of housing 1, which may disrupt or alter the reading of information on or within the display device. These events may include, but are not limited to: the detection of a particular light level in the environment of housing 1, especially solar radiation, and / or the detection of a temperature variation in enclosure 4 relative to a configurable reference temperature, etc.

[0012] In this context, the event sensor includes, in particular and without limitation: a light sensor comprising a solar radiation sensor and / or an infrared solar radiation sensor and / or an ultraviolet solar radiation sensor, and / or a temperature sensor.

[0013] It should be noted that each event sensor is part of the control unit 8 and is connected to the controller of this unit 8. The temperature sensor is arranged in the enclosure 4 of the housing 1. As for the light sensor, it is located in the housing 1 and in particular in at least one of the functional elements 15 of this housing 1 so as to be exposed to light from the external environment of the housing 1. By way of example, this light sensor can be arranged in the body of the glass 6 of the housing 1 and / or on an inner face 16 of this glass 6.

[0014] In this housing 1, the control unit 8 comprises a substrate, such as a flexible PCB, on which its electronic circuit is mounted, with the exception of the light sensor, which may be contained within the glass 6 or on an inner face 16 of this glass 6 of the housing 1. In this context, the construction of this circuit on this substrate can be carried out using 3D printing processes or polymer printing processes. It should be noted that this substrate is mounted in the enclosure 4 on one of the functional elements 15, such as the inner face 18 of the base 9b or on the inner peripheral wall 17 of the enclosure 4.

[0015] As we have mentioned, the control unit 8, and in particular its controller, is connected from a linking element 14a, 14b to the glass 6 of the housing 1. More precisely, the control unit 8 is connected from these linking elements 14a, 14b to the transmittance variation element 7a and the illuminance generation element 7b of the glass 6. Such a glass 6 comprises the transmittance variation element 7a and the illuminance generation element 7b which are arranged in a superimposed manner. In other words, these transmittance variation elements 7a and illuminance generation elements 7b are arranged one on top of the other in the ice 6. These elements 7a, 7b can be in contact or far from each other in this ice 6. These elements 7a, 7b can be included in this ice 6 by being joined to each other or disjoint.This superposition of the transmittance variation element 7a with the illuminance generation element 7b is configured so that the illuminance generation element 7b is as close to the watch 10 as the transmittance variation element 7a can be.

[0016] More specifically, in a first variant, the ice 6 is formed by an assembly comprising successively a layer of transparent material, a stack of functional layers forming said transmittance variation element 7a and a stack of functional layers forming said illuminance generation element 7b.

[0017] In a second variant, the glass 6 is formed by an assembly comprising successively an outer layer of transparent material, a stack of functional layers forming the transmittance variation element 7a, a stack of functional layers forming the illumination generation element 7b, and an inner layer of transparent material. The outer layer of transparent material corresponds to a portion of the glass 6 forming an external part of the case 1. The inner layer of transparent material corresponds to the portion of the glass arranged opposite the glass 11 of the watch case 12 10 and thus of the display device.

[0018] In a third variant, the ice 6 is formed by an assembly comprising successively a first outer layer of transparent material, a stack of functional layers forming said transmittance variation element 7a, a second inner layer of transparent material and a stack of functional layers forming said illuminance generation element 7b.

[0019] It should be noted that the transparent layer of material is made of a material such as glass, mineral glass, optical ceramic, acrylic glass, or sapphire glass.

[0020] In this context, the transmittance variation element 7a is, for example, an electrochromic element, specifically a liquid crystal electrochromic element. Recall that this transmittance is the amount of energy (thermal or luminous radiation) that the glass 6 of the housing 1 is capable of transmitting relative to the flux of incident solar radiation.

[0021] Such a transmittance variation element 7a, when it is an electrochromic element, comprises a layer of an electrochromic material capable of reversibly and simultaneously inserting cations and electrons, and whose oxidation states corresponding to the inserted and uninserted states are distinctly colored, one of the states exhibiting higher light transmission than the other. The insertion or uninsertion reaction is controlled by the application of an electrical voltage by the control unit 8. The electrochromic material, usually tungsten oxide-based, must therefore be brought into contact with an electron source such as a transparent electroconductive layer and a cation source such as an ionically conductive electrolyte.

[0022] This transmittance variation element 7a is formed, in a manner known per se, by a stack of functional layers. More precisely, in the case of an electrochromic liquid crystal element, this stack of functional layers comprises a film placed between first and second electroconductive layers and based on a polymer material in which liquid crystal droplets are dispersed, notably nematic droplets with positive dielectric anisotropy. When the film is energized, the liquid crystals align themselves along a preferred axis, configuring the ice 6 in a first state where its transmittance is at its maximum. When the film is de-energized, in the absence of crystal alignment, the film becomes diffusive and absorbing, and the ice 6 is then configured in a second state where its transmittance is minimal or even zero.

[0023] Alternatively, this stacking of functional layers of the transmittance variation element 7a could include, for example: a first electroconductive layer; a first layer of anodic electrochromic material in hydrated iridium oxide, (it could be replaced by a layer in hydrated nickel oxide); a layer in hydrated tantalum oxide with a protective function; a layer of electrolyte in solid solution of polyoxyethylene with phosphoric acid; a second layer of cathodic electrochromic material based on tungsten oxide; a second electroconductive layer.

[0024] It should be noted that the stack of functional layers forming the transmittance variation element 7a may include an additional layer of thermoplastic polymer such as polyvinyl butyral, known by the acronym PVB, which preferably contains ultraviolet filtering agents. Such a layer may be arranged above or below the first electrically conductive layer.

[0025] With regard to the illuminance generation element 7b, it corresponds for example to a transparent lighting element in particular an organic light-emitting diode lighting element known by the acronym OLED (for " Organic Light Emitting Diodes (in English).

[0026] Such an OLED-type lighting element comprises a stack of transparent functional layers, including layers of organic electroluminescent materials powered by transparent electrodes, typically in the form of first and second electroconductive layers of this stack, framing these material layers. Such an OLED lighting element 7b can be designed to emit polychromatic radiation defined at 0° by coordinates (x1, y1) in the CIE XYZ 1931 colorimetric diagram, coordinates thus given for radiation at normal. This transparent lighting element 7b is configured to emit light radiation in the direction of the display device or directed towards the display device.

[0027] In a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, electroluminescent layers can include small molecules, in which case they are called SM-OLEDs (“Small Molecule Organic Light Emitting Diodes”), or they can include polymers, in which case they are called PLEDs (“Polymer Light Emitting Diodes”).

[0028] In the various variants mentioned above, the transmittance variation element 7a and the illuminance generation element 7b can be arranged / applied / printed / deposited with each other, or with the transparent material layer(s).

[0029] In particular, in the first variant, the transmittance variation element 7a and the illuminance generation element 7b can be arranged / applied / printed / deposited together to form an assembly, and then this assembly can be applied / arranged on a lower surface of the transparent material layer, thus forming the inner face 16 of this glass 6.

[0030] In this configuration, the control unit 8, by controlling / managing the variation of an electrical voltage applied to the first and second electroconductive layers of the transmittance variation element 7a, allows the transmittance property of the glass 6 of the housing 1 to be varied between the first and second transmittance states. Recall that the first state here relates to a maximum transmittance of this glass 6, in which state the glass 6 of the housing 1 is transparent, thus allowing solar radiation to penetrate the enclosure 4 of the latter. The second state relates to a minimum or even zero transmittance of the glass 6, in which state the glass 6 is wholly or partially opaque, preventing / blocking the penetration of solar radiation, at least 99 percent, into this enclosure 4. In other words, in this second state, solar radiation is no longer transmitted by the glass 6 into the enclosure 4 of the housing 1.

[0031] This control unit 8 is also capable of controlling / managing the variation of an electrical voltage applied to the first and second electroconductive layers of the illuminating element 7b in order to vary the illumination / luminous intensity applied (e) to the display device, and in particular the distribution of the illumination / luminous intensity on this display device. Thus, the control unit 8 is then capable of configuring a contrast of the display device that is adapted to the ambient brightness, with the aim of facilitating the reading of this display device and / or providing reading comfort to the user of this Dewar device.

[0032] This variation in the lighting generated by the illuminance generation element 7b, otherwise known as the variation in light intensity, occurs between two states: a first state relating to maximum light intensity and a second state relating to zero light intensity.

[0033] Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the watch case 12 is arranged within the case 1, positioned away from or held at a distance 19 from the inner peripheral wall 17 of the enclosure 4, thanks to the reversible fastening device 13 of the case 1. In other words, such a fastening device 13 is capable of creating a gap 19 between said case 12 and functional elements of the case 1 forming said enclosure 4. In this configuration, the fastening device 13 helps to reduce or even eliminate any thermal conduction between the inner peripheral wall 17 of the case 9a (or enclosure 4) and / or the case back 9b and / or the crystal 6 and the watch case 12, in particular with an overall external face of this case 12.This overall external face comprises an upper face including the glass 11 of the case 12 of this watch 10, an lower face including a bottom of said case 12 and an external peripheral wall of a case of this case 12.

[0034] In this configuration, the fastening device 13, which provides a reversible fastening of the watch case 12 10 onto the inner peripheral wall 17 of the enclosure 4 of this case 1, may include: connecting elements each having first and second ends capable of connecting respectively to the watch case 12 10 and to the inner peripheral wall 17 of the enclosure 4 of this case 1. The body of each element has a particular structure which contributes to ensuring a reduction of heat losses to the external environment of the Dewar device's case 1 and thus to ensuring a stable internal temperature in the watch case 12 10, and / or connecting elements configured to ensure magnetic levitation of said watch case 12 10 in said enclosure 4. Indeed, these connecting elements are configured to ensure and maintain a spacing 19 between said case 12 and the functional elements 15 forming said enclosure 4 of the case 1.Such connecting elements help to reduce or even eliminate any thermal conduction between the inner peripheral wall 17 of the case 9a and / or the back 9b and / or the crystal 11 with the watch case 12 10 in particular with an overall external face of this case 12. .

[0035] Note that box 12 is included in a watch 10 which can be an electronic watch for example a quartz watch, or a mechanical watch or an electromechanical watch.

[0036] The mechanical and / or functional components 5 of the watch 10, mentioned previously, include, but are not limited to: a watch movement, a display device such as a dial, hands, rings, gaskets, and / or electronic and / or electrical components. It should be noted in particular that such electronic and / or electrical components include, for example, a display device, a processor, memory, an energy storage component, a motor, an integrated circuit, and an electronic oscillator, etc.

[0037] In this context, the case 1 includes the case middle 9a, onto which a strap 9c is mounted to allow a user of the Dewar device to wear it. This case 1 also includes the crystal 6 and the case back 9b mentioned earlier. In this case 1, it should be noted that the crystal 6 preferably has a surface area that is substantially larger or strictly larger than a crystal 11 of the watch case 12 10. In other words, the inner face 16 of the crystal 6 has a surface area that is substantially larger or strictly greater than or equal to that of an upper face of the crystal 11 of the watch 10.

[0038] As we have seen, the functional elements 15 such as the crystal 6, the case 9a and the case back 9b of this case 1 together define the enclosure 4 of this case 1 which is capable of receiving the watch case 12 10. These three elements 15 of the case 1, namely the case 9a, the crystal 6 and the case back 9b, can be distinct elements which are joined together to construct this enclosure 4. Alternatively, the case 9a and the case back 9b of the case 1 can together form a single piece, said single piece defining an opening opposite the case back 9b which is capable of being closed by the crystal 6 in a reversible and watertight manner. Alternatively, the case 9a and the crystal 6 of the watch case 12 10 can together form a single piece, said single piece defining an opening opposite the crystal 6 which can be closed by the bottom 9b and this also in a reversible and watertight and airtight manner.

[0039] The case 9a and the base 9b are preferably made, without limitation or exhaustiveness, of a metallic material, glass, or thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer resins reinforced with carbon or glass fibers, or even ceramic materials. It should be noted that when the case 9a and the base 9b are transparent or semi-transparent, for example, by being made of glass, the inner peripheral wall 17 of the case 9a and the inner face 18 of the base 9b may be coated with a metallic or similar reflective coating, such as, for example, a layer of silver.

[0040] Furthermore, in this case 1, when the watch case 10 is arranged in the enclosure 4 of the case 1, the space defined between this case 12 and the inner peripheral wall 17 of the case middle 9a, the case back 9b, and the crystal 6 is empty or nearly empty. In other words, the enclosure 4 is under vacuum or nearly under vacuum.

[0041] It is therefore clear that in this configuration, this casing 1 exhibits the same properties and characteristics as a Dewar flask, a well-known concept in the prior art. As previously mentioned, the properties and characteristics of this casing 1 contribute to its good thermal insulation against extreme temperatures that may prevail in the external environment where such a casing 1 might be located.

[0042] In addition, it should be noted that the mechanical and / or functional components 5 of the watch 10 may be non-magnetic and / or that the case 12 of the watch 10 may be made of a material or be covered with a coating that allows these components to be isolated from magnetic fields.

[0043] In addition, the fastening device 13 helps to position the watch case 10 12 in this case 1 so that the glass 11 of this watch case 10 12 is arranged opposite the glass 6 of the case 1 so that the information included on the dial and / or the display interface of this watch 10 can be perceived through the transparent glass 6 of the case 1 by the user wearing the case 1.

[0044] Thus, such a case 1 provides the mechanical and / or functional components 5 of the watch 10 with excellent thermal insulation from the external environment by reducing or even preventing heat loss by radiation from the components housed within the watch case 12 over extended periods. Therefore, even when the temperature outside the case 1 reaches extreme values, the temperature inside the enclosure 4 remains approximately equal to the temperature inside the watch case 12 when it was placed within the case 1, typically around 20°C. It should be noted that regardless of the ambient temperature of the case 1, the temperature inside the watch case 12 does not impede the proper functioning of the watch 10.This temperature is maintained for a period that is 2 to 18 times longer than the period during which such a watch case 12 would be able to maintain an operating temperature of its components by being located directly in such an environment where such extreme temperatures prevail, i.e. by being located outside the case 1. It is thus understood that such a configuration makes it possible to protect the mechanical and / or functional components 5 of the watch 10, as well as to help ensure their optimal operation in extreme external temperature conditions.

[0045] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments just described and that various simple modifications and variants can be envisaged by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A Dewar casing (1) for mechanical and / or functional components (5) of a watch (10), provided with an enclosure (4) wherein a case (12) of said watch (10) can be removably arranged, a display interface of which is disposed facing a crystal (6) of said casing (1), said casing (1) comprising a reversible fixing device (13) fixing said watch (10) case (12) in said enclosure (4) while keeping it away from functional elements (15) forming said enclosure (4) of this case (2), characterised in that the crystal (6) of said casing (1) comprises an element for varying the transmittance (7a) of said crystal (6) and an element for generating illumination (7b) directed towards a display interface of said watch (10).

2. The casing (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the element (7a) for varying the transmittance and the element (7b) for generating illumination are comprised in said crystal (6), being superimposed.

3. The casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the crystal (6) is formed by an assembly comprising successively a layer of transparent material, a stack of functional layers forming said transmittance variation element (7a) and a stack of functional layers forming said illumination generation element (7b).

4. The casing (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the crystal (6) is formed by an assembly comprising successively an outer layer of transparent material, a stack of functional layers forming said transmittance variation element (7a), a stack of functional layers forming said illumination generation element (7b) and an inner layer of transparent material.

5. The casing (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the crystal (6) is formed by an assembly comprising successively a first outer layer of transparent material, a stack of functional layers forming said transmittance variation element (7a), a second outer inner layer of transparent material and a stack of functional layers forming said illumination generation element (7b).

6. The casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a control unit (8) connected via connecting elements (14a, 14b) to the elements for varying the transmittance (7a) and generating an illumination (7b) of the crystal (6).

7. The casing (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the control unit (8) comprises at least one event sensor such as a luminosity sensor and / or a temperature sensor.

8. The casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transmittance variation element (7a) is an electrochromic element, in particular a liquid crystal electrochromic element.

9. The casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the illumination generation element (7b) is a transparent lighting element of the OLED type.

10. The casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a control unit (8) configured to drive / control / adjust the transmittance variation element (7a) so as to dynamically regulate a temperature of the enclosure (4) of said casing (1).

11. The casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a control unit (8) configured to drive / control / set the illumination generation element (7b) so as to adjust / set the contrast of said watch display interface (10).

12. The casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said enclosure (4) is under vacuum or near-vacuum.

13. The casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the crystal (6) has a surface that is substantially greater than or strictly greater than that of a crystal (11) of the watch (10) case (12).