Device for selecting a combination of patterns and timepiece comprising such a device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for selecting a combination of patterns, in particular for a timepiece, comprising: ▪ A first disk, called internal (ID), and a second disk, called external (ED), coaxial, the internal disk (ID) being of smaller diameter than the external disk (ED), the disks (ID, ED) comprising a plurality of angular sectors of the same size, at least two angular sectors of each disk (ID, ED) bearing a pattern (A, B, C;D, E, F) on their periphery (HI, HE) ▪ Actuating means allowing rotation of the internal disk (DI), and gearing means coupling the two disks (DI, DE) according to a reduction ratio ▪ A dial (CD) extending opposite the internal disk (DI), the dial (CD) comprising a window (GC) allowing a pattern (A, B, C) of the internal disk (DI) to be matched with a pattern (D, E, F) of the external disk (DE), the device being such that a complete rotation of the internal disk (DI) causes a rotation of the external disk (DE) by 1 angular sector, the size of the window (GC) being sufficiently large so that each pattern (D, E, F) of the external disk (DE) is successively in correspondence with all the patterns (A, B, C) of the internal disk (DI) when the internal disk (DI) is rotated.;

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of devices for selecting functions represented by patterns, for example logos. Such a device can be integrated into a timepiece such as a wristwatch, and for example be used in the context of bank payments. Background of the invention

[0002] Payment watches have recently appeared on the market, ushering in a new era for credit payments and making small purchases faster and more convenient than fumbling for change. Such a watch typically features a device for selecting a combination of payment options, each option represented, for example, by a symbol (or logo). It is thus possible, for instance, to select and display a type of bank card (Visa, Mastercard, etc.), a type of bank account (household account, personal account, etc.), and so on.

[0003] For aesthetic and / or economic reasons, it is advisable to avoid using a screen. Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have limited aesthetic appeal, while organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays or similar technologies are expensive and energy-intensive. Furthermore, a screen detracts from the overall aesthetics of a watch, giving it a less horological appearance that may be undesirable. Notable prior art references: WO2012127055, FR1586999. Summary of the invention

[0004] The aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a pattern selection device according to claims 1 or 2, without a display screen, simple and inexpensive to produce.

[0005] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for selecting a combination of patterns, particularly for a timepiece, comprising: ▪ A first disk, called the inner disk, and a second disk, called the outer disk, coaxial, the inner disk being of smaller diameter than the outer disk, the disks comprising a plurality of angular sectors of the same size, at least two angular sectors of each disk bearing a pattern on their periphery, ▪ Actuation means allowing rotation of the inner disk, and gearing means coupling the two disks according to a reduction ratio, ▪ A dial extending opposite the inner disk, the dial comprising an aperture allowing a pattern of the inner disk to be matched with a pattern of the outer disk.

[0006] The device is such that a complete rotation of the internal disk causes a rotation of the external disk by 1 angular sector, the size of the window being large enough that each pattern of the external disk is successively in correspondence with all the patterns of the internal disk when the internal disk is rotated.

[0007] The device according to the invention is a coaxial counter with two discs, inspired by the operating principle of an hour and minute counter. The outer disc rotates more slowly than the inner disc and can be considered an hour wheel. The inner disc, for its part, can be considered a minute wheel. However, it should be noted that the reduction ratio between the inner and outer discs is not necessarily 12, as is the case with a conventional hour / minute counter. The reduction ratio depends on the number of patterns on the discs and the location of these patterns. A reduction ratio of M means that a 360° rotation of the driving disc (here, the inner disc) causes a 360 / M° rotation of the driven disc (here, the outer disc).

[0008] As with an hour / minute counter, a complete rotation of the internal disk causes a rotation of one angular sector of the external disk. To advance the external disk by one step without changing the angular sector of the internal disk located in the slot (thus modifying the information—a pattern or possibly an unpatterned space (called a blank)—transmitted by the external disk through the slot, without changing the information transmitted through the slot by the internal disk), it is therefore sufficient to rotate the internal disk 360°. Conversely, each rotation of one angular sector of the internal disk advances the external disk by a fraction of an angular sector, a factor dependent on the reduction ratio, which itself depends on the number of angular sectors of the external disk.To modify the information displayed by the internal disk through the access window without changing the information displayed by the external disk, the window must be large enough to allow all the patterns stored on the internal disk to pass successively through it without affecting the information displayed by the external disk. "Passing patterns from the internal disk" refers to a single, successive passage of the internal disk's patterns through the window. Therefore, passing patterns from the internal disk through the window is not necessarily equivalent to a complete rotation of the internal disk.

[0009] It is worth noting that it is conceivable that the ratio between the leading disk (the internal disk) and the driven disk (the external disk) could be a multiplication ratio instead of a reduction ratio. In this case, the leading disk (the internal disk) would rotate more slowly than the driven disk (the external disk).

[0010] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for selecting a combination of patterns, particularly for a timepiece, comprising: ▪ A first disk, called the inner disk, and a second disk, called the outer disk, coaxial, the inner disk being of smaller diameter than the outer disk, the disks having a plurality of angular sectors of the same size, at least two angular sectors of each disk bearing a pattern on their periphery ▪ Actuation means allowing rotation of the outer disk, and gearing means coupling the two disks according to a multiplication ratio ▪ A dial extending opposite the inner disk, the dial including an aperture allowing a pattern of the inner disk to be matched with a pattern of the outer disk.

[0011] The device is such that a rotation of the external disk by 1 angular sector causes a complete rotation of the internal disk, the size of the window being large enough that each pattern of the external disk is successively in correspondence with all the patterns of the internal disk when the external disk is rotated.

[0012] The difference with the invention, according to the first aspect, is that the driving disk is the external disk and the driven disk is the internal disk. It should be noted that it would be conceivable that the ratio between the driving disk (the external disk) and the driven disk (the internal disk) could be a reduction ratio instead of a multiplication ratio. In this case, the driving disk (the external disk) would rotate more slowly than the driven disk (the internal disk).

[0013] In first-aspect or second-aspect selection devices, the actuation and gearing means rotate the internal and external discs together. The actuation means are, for example, driven by an electric motor. This eliminates the need for multiple motors to rotate the external and internal discs separately. Thanks to the invention, space and weight savings are achieved by reducing the number of motors required to operate the display device. These savings are particularly advantageous for a timepiece.

[0014] The device according to the first aspect or the second aspect may include the following additional characteristics, taken alone or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0015] Advantageously, each angular sector of the external disk carries a pattern and is preceded and followed by an angular sector carrying a patternless space.

[0016] As explained previously, thanks to an appropriately sized window, all the patterns stored on the internal drive can successively scroll through the window without altering the information (a pattern or possibly a blank space) provided by the interaction between the window and the external drive. It is understood that during a scrolling of patterns from the internal drive, a pattern from the external drive displayed in the window does not remain centered within the window; it moves between one end and the other end of the window. Surrounding each pattern stored on the external drive with blank spaces prevents a portion of another pattern from the external drive from appearing in the window during a scrolling of patterns from the internal drive. The patterns stored on the external drive can also be as large as possible, which improves their readability.

[0017] Advantageously, every other angular sector of the external disk bears a pattern.

[0018] Thanks to this feature, the external drive can carry the largest possible number of patterns.

[0019] In an embodiment of the first or second aspect, the inner disc has at most 4 motifs, advantageously two or three.

[0020] Indeed, the greater the number of patterns stored on the internal disk, the larger the window needs to be. Limiting the number of patterns to four, or even two or three, therefore allows for a smaller window size.

[0021] In one embodiment of the first or second aspect, at least one angular sector of the inner disk carries a patternless space.

[0022] Thanks to this feature, once all the patterns from the internal drive have passed through the window once, at least one empty space (without a pattern) is displayed in the window before the first pattern from the internal drive is displayed again. This prevents a pattern from the internal drive from corresponding to two different pattern segments from the external drive at any given time.

[0023] In one embodiment of the first or second aspect, the motifs of the inner disk are arranged on consecutive angular sectors, a first motif and a last motif of the inner disk being separated by at least one angular sector bearing a patternless space.

[0024] This feature prevents one pattern from the internal disk and two portions of patterns from the external disk from being simultaneously in the window.

[0025] The device according to the first aspect or the second aspect comprises a single motor to actuate together the internal and external discs via the gearing means and the actuating means.

[0026] The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a payment watch, comprising such a pattern selection device. Summary description of the drawings

[0027] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description given below, which is indicative and in no way exhaustive, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: ▪ the figure 1 is a side view of the pattern selection device, according to the first aspect of the invention ▪ the figures 2a to 2e are top views of the discs and the device's window figure 1 representing successive positions of the disks during a complete rotation of the inner disk ▪ the figure 3is a side view of the device for selecting a combination of patterns, according to the second aspect of the invention. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0028] There figure 1 demonstrates a pattern selection device, particularly for a timepiece, according to a first aspect of the invention. The device comprises: ▪ a first disc, called the internal disc DI ▪ a second disc, called the external disc DE, coaxial with the internal disc DI and with a diameter greater than the internal disc DI. ▪ a CD dial having a GC window, that is to say a through opening, the CD dial being arranged so that the internal disc DI is between the CD dial and the external disc DE.

[0029] Since the external disk DE has a larger diameter than the internal disk DI, an annular peripheral portion HE of the external disk DE is located opposite the CD dial. Patterns are depicted on this portion. Similarly, patterns are depicted on an annular peripheral portion HI of the internal disk DI.

[0030] More specifically, the peripheral portions of the DI and DE disks contain a plurality of angular sectors of the same size, and at least two angular sectors of each disk bear a pattern. A pattern or an unpatterned space (also called a blank space) will be called a "symbol." Each angular sector thus bears a symbol. The GC window is arranged so that it is positioned opposite a symbol on the internal DI disk and a symbol on the external DE disk to establish a correspondence between them. Through the GC window, one can therefore see a combination of two symbols.

[0031] The system also includes: • Means for actuating the inner disk DI, allowing the inner disk DI to be rotated by a desired angle. This could be, for example, an assembly comprising an actuable rod (not shown), a disk D1 that can be driven by the rod, and a pinion P1 meshing with the disk D1 and fixed in rotation to the inner disk DI. • Means for gearing between the inner disk DI and the outer disk DE, to impose a reduction ratio between the inner disk DI (driving) and the outer disk DE (driven). This could be, for example, an assembly comprising the pinion P1, the disk D1, a pinion P2 fixed in rotation to the disk D1, and a disk D2 meshing with the pinion P2 and fixed in rotation to the outer disk DE.

[0032] Furthermore, the inner disc DI of the selection device is connected, via a chain comprising discs and sprockets, to a rotor RT of an electric motor. The chain includes, for example, a disc D3 that is rotationally fixed to the inner disc DI, a sprocket P3 that meshes with disc D3, a disc D4 that is rotationally fixed to sprocket P3, a sprocket P4 that meshes with disc D4, and a disc D5 that is rotationally fixed to sprocket P4. The motor thus allows the inner and outer discs to rotate together. A single motor is sufficient to drive both discs.

[0033] According to the invention, a complete rotation of the internal disk DI causes the external disk DE to rotate by one angular sector. Furthermore, the size of the GC window is sufficiently large so that each pattern of the external disk DE successively corresponds to all the patterns of the internal disk DI when the internal disk DI is rotated.

[0034] For example, the figures 2a to 2e They show an embodiment in which the inner disk DI has four angular sectors, three of which bear patterns A, B, C and one has a blank space Ø. The outer disk has eight angular sectors, three of which bear patterns D, E, F and five have blank spaces Ø. In an initial position, the combination AD is displayed in the window GC. As the inner disk DI rotates, the following combinations are displayed: Comics ( figure 2b ) - CD ( Figure 2c ) - Ø D / / E ( figure 2d ) - AE ( figure 2e), etc. D / / E means that the GC window is facing one half of pattern D and one half of pattern E. We therefore observe that a complete rotation of the inner disk DI has advanced the outer disk DE by one angular sector. We also observe that the GC window is large enough that the symbol D has successively corresponded with patterns A, B, and C during the rotation of the inner disk DI.

[0035] It is noted that leaving an empty angular sector between the angular sectors of the disk bearing patterns A, B, C prevented the figure 2d , a pattern on the internal disk does not find itself opposite the halves of patterns D / / E on the external disk.

[0036] Advantageously, each pattern on the external hard drive is preceded and followed by a gap. In other words, the angular sectors surrounding an angular sector bearing a pattern contain empty spaces. Such a configuration would have notably prevented the figure 2d, a portion of pattern D and a portion of pattern E are simultaneously found in the GC window.

[0037] Advantageously, every other angular sector of the external disk carries a pattern, in order to maximize the number of possible combinations selectable via the device.

[0038] Advantageously, the internal disk holds at most 4 patterns, advantageously two or three. Indeed, it is understood that for a given number of patterns on the external disk, the more patterns the internal disk contains, the larger the access panel must be so that each pattern on the external disk can successively correspond to each pattern on the internal disk.

[0039] In an alternative embodiment shown in the figure 3and corresponding to a second aspect of the invention, the actuation means drive the external disk DE instead of driving the internal disk DI. The actuation means of the internal disk DE then comprise, for example, an actuable rod (not shown), a disk D6 that can be driven by the rod, and a pinion P6 that meshes with the disk D6 and is rotationally fixed to the external disk DE.

[0040] In cases where the actuation means drive the external disk DE, a gear ratio M must be established between the external disk DE (driving) and the internal disk DI (driven). The gearing means may include, for example, pinion P6, disk D6, a pinion P7 fixed in rotation to disk D6, and a disk D7 meshing with pinion P7 and fixed in rotation to the internal disk DI.

[0041] In addition, the external disc DE of the selection device is connected, via a chain comprising discs and sprockets, to the rotor RT. The chain includes, for example, sprocket P6, a disc D8 fixed in rotation to sprocket P6, a sprocket P8 meshing with disc D8, a disc D9 fixed in rotation to sprocket P8, a sprocket P9 meshing with disc D9, and a disc D10 fixed in rotation to sprocket P9.

[0042] However, apart from these differences, the operating principle remains unchanged compared to the first aspect of the invention.

[0043] The invention also relates to a timepiece, not shown in the figures, comprising a pattern selection device as described above, which can operate according to either the first or second aspect of the invention. In particular, the timepiece can be a payment watch in which the selection device allows the user to select payment methods. The patterns are, for example, credit card type patterns (Visa, Mastercard, or other), displayed, for example, on the inner disc, and patterns representing bank accounts, the type of purchase, or the currency in which the payment is made, displayed, for example, on the outer disc. Thus, the wearer of the watch selects the card and the account or currency with which they wish to pay by matching the corresponding patterns on each disc in the dial window.

[0044] The selection device is, for example, linked to a payment system integrated into the payment watch, although this system is not shown in the illustrations. The watch wearer then selects designs using the selection device and initiates payment via the integrated payment system, which transmits banking data, for example, to a bank payment terminal.

[0045] In a first particular embodiment, the selection device includes coding means arranged under the internal and external disks to transmit the selection information to the payment system. The coding means are, for example, optical or capacitive means configured to determine the position of the disks, and therefore the patterns selected by the user.

[0046] In a second particular embodiment, the selection device includes a processing unit, for example equipped with software, configured to count the rotation commands transmitted to the selection device when the user operates the selection device. Thus, the processing unit is able to deduce the positions of the discs, and therefore the patterns selected by the user.

[0047] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is susceptible to various variations and modifications that will become apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular, the selection device can be used in other fields, the payment watch being just one possible example of its application.

Claims

1. Device for selecting a combination of patterns, in particular for a timepiece, which device comprises: ▪ a first, so-called inner disc (DI), and a second, so-called outer disc (DE), which are coaxial, the inner disc (DI) having a smaller diameter than the outer disc (DE), the discs (DI, DE) comprising a plurality of angular sectors of the same size, at least two angular sectors of each disc (DI, DE) bearing a pattern (A, B, C; D, E, F) on their periphery (HI, HE), ▪ actuating means allowing the inner disc (DI) to be rotated, and gear means coupling the two discs (DI, DE) in a speed reducing ratio, so that the outer disc (DE) rotates more slowly than the inner disc (DI), the driving disc being the inner disc (DI) and the driven disc being the outer disc (DE), ▪ a dial (CD) extending opposite the inner disc (DI), the dial (CD) comprising an aperture (GC) for pairing a pattern (A, B, C) of the inner disc (DI) with a pattern (D, E, F) of the outer disc (DE), the device being such that a complete rotation of the inner disc (DI) causes the outer disc (DE) to rotate by one angular sector, the size of the aperture (GC) being sufficiently large for each pattern (D, E, F) of the outer disc (DE) to be successively paired with all of the patterns (A, B, C) of the inner disc (DI) when the inner disc (DI) is rotated.

2. Device for selecting a combination of patterns, in particular for a timepiece, which device comprises: ▪ a first, so-called inner disc (DI), and a second, so-called outer disc (DE), which are coaxial, the inner disc (DI) having a smaller diameter than the outer disc (DE), the discs (DI, DE) comprising a plurality of angular sectors of the same size, at least two angular sectors of each disc (DI, DE) bearing a pattern (A, B, C; D, E, F) on their periphery (HI, HE), ▪ actuating means allowing the outer disc (DE) to be rotated, and gear means coupling the two discs (DI, DE) in a speed increasing ratio, so that the outer disc (DE) rotates more slowly than the inner disc (DI), the driving disc being the outer disc (DE) and the driven disc being the inner disc (DI), ▪ a dial (CD) extending opposite the inner disc (DI), the dial (CD) comprising an aperture (GC) for pairing a pattern (A, B, C) of the inner disc (DI) with a pattern (D, E, F) of the outer disc (DE), the device being such that a rotation of the outer disc (DE) by 1 angular sector causes the inner disc (DI) to perform a complete rotation, the size of the aperture (GC) being sufficiently large for each pattern (D, E, F) of the outer disc (DE) to be successively paired with all of the patterns (A, B, C) of the inner disc (DI) when the outer disc (DE) is rotated.

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each angular sector of the outer disc (DE) bearing a pattern is preceded and followed by an angular sector bearing a space without any pattern.

4. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein every second angular sector of the outer disc (DE) bears a pattern.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner disc (DI) bears four patterns at most, and advantageously bears two or three patterns.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one angular sector of the inner disc (DI) bears a space without any pattern.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the patterns of the inner disc (DI) are arranged on consecutive angular sectors, with a first pattern (A) and a last pattern (C) of the inner disc (DI) being separated by at least one angular sector bearing a space without any pattern.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a single motor for actuating the inner disc (DI) and outer disc (DE) together via the gear means and the actuating means.

9. Timepiece, in particular a payment watch, comprising a device for selecting a combination of patterns according to any one of the preceding claims.

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