System for analogue display of information for a watch

Abstract

The invention relates to an analog display system (1) for information for a watch (100) equipped with a mechanical movement, said system (1) comprising: - a display dial (3) comprising a plurality of windows (11); - a movable display piece (4) supporting graphic representations arranged in such a way that the graphic representations it carries appear in the plurality of windows (11) in order to generate said information, and - an indicator member (5) configured to designate information generated in a window (11) to be signaled to the wearer of said watch (100).

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an analog information display system for a watch and a method for displaying at least one piece of information on a display dial of the watch.

[0002] The invention also relates to a watch comprising such a system as well as a computer program. Previous art

[0003] The analog display systems used on mechanical watches, particularly wristwatches, all utilize very few apertures—usually one or two—to present information to the wearer, due to space constraints on the moving parts of the display. Because of these limited spaces, the watch's display capacity is severely restricted and ill-suited to the diverse range of information it will need to display, especially with the advent of smartwatches.

[0004] US 2016 / 154382 A1 describes a date / day display watch using movable discs and windows, but without an indicator organ intended to signal information generated in a window to the user.

[0005] It is understandable that there is therefore a need to find an alternative solution, in particular one that does not have the disadvantages of the previous art. Summary of the invention

[0006] One aim of the present invention is therefore to propose an analog information display system offering the possibility of displaying a range of diverse information, preferably different from the date, time or phases of the moon, in a clear manner and with simple implementation.

[0007] Another aim of the invention is to provide an analog information display system that allows for the display of a passive notification / alert that consumes little or no energy.

[0008] In this regard, the invention relates to an analog information display system for a watch equipped with a mechanical movement, according to claim 1.

[0009] In other embodiments: The information formation element is an added part; the information formation element is made of material with an upper or lower face of the dial in an area of ​​this dial including the window or with a wall of a through opening formed by this window; the system includes at least one drive element for the moving display part supporting graphic representations; the moving display part supporting information is a flat part of circular shape such as a disc or a ring; the moving display part supporting graphic representations and the display dial are coaxial, and the system includes a calibration element configured to identify a relative position between the moving part and the dial.

[0010] The invention also relates to a watch incorporating such a system.

[0011] Advantageously, the watch is a connected mechanical watch.

[0012] The invention also relates to a method of displaying at least one piece of information on a display dial of the watch implemented by the system, the method comprising a step of presenting information in a window of the dial including a sub-step of positioning both an indicator organ towards the window and a graphic representation or part of a graphic representation opposite a through opening of this window.

[0013] The invention further relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the process according to the preceding claim when said computer program is executed by a processing unit of a watch. Brief description of the figures

[0014] 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 figures, in which: there figure 1 is a schematic representation of a watch comprising an analog information display system, according to one embodiment of the invention, the figure 2 is a representation of the watch face, according to one embodiment of the invention; the figure 3 is a larger-scale view of a window comprising an information-forming element, according to the embodiment of the invention; the figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a set of superimposed elements comprising a display dial, a movable display piece supporting graphic representations, and a calibration element, according to the embodiment of the invention, and the figure 5represents a logic diagram relating to a method of visualizing at least one piece of information on a display dial, according to the embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0015] On the figure 1 A watch 100 is represented, comprising an analog display system 1 for at least one notification. Such a system 1 is included in the watch 100, which is preferably a connected mechanical watch 100 comprising a mechanical movement. This system 1 more specifically includes, but is not limited to: a processing unit 2 comprising hardware and software resources in particular at least one processor cooperating with memory elements; a hybrid display dial 3 having a first analog display component 10a and a second digital and / or alphanumeric display component 10b; a moving display part 4 for supporting graphic representations; an indicator 5 such as a hand, configured to point to information presented in a window 11 of the dial 3 to be signaled to the wearer of said watch 100; a sound interface 7 such as a loudspeaker; a calibration element 9 such as a light sensor; an activation control 10 for the display of at least one notification such as a push button, a rotating crown or a touch screen; a communication module 6, and at least one drive element 8 for the moving part 4 and the indicator 5.

[0016] The processing unit 2 of this system 1 is connected among other things to the sound interface 7, the communication module 6, the calibration element 9, the activation control 10 and the drive element 8.

[0017] In this System 1, the communication module 6 is capable of establishing a connection with a cellular network system, including a SIM card (acronym for "Subscriber Identity Module"), or with a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, and is also capable of implementing communication technologies such as Bluetooth. Under these conditions, System 1, and therefore the 100 watch, is capable of exchanging data with a remote server, a computer, or a smartphone.

[0018] In this system 1, the display dial 3 visible on the figures 2 and 4The dial 3 comprises an upper face 12a and a lower face 12b, the upper face 12a being the visible face of the dial 3 when it is arranged in the watch 100, and the lower face 12b being the face opposite the moving part 4. The dial 3 also includes, in the first display component 10a, a plurality of apertures 11 through which information can be presented. Each of these apertures 11 has a cross-section that may be circular or essentially quadrilateral. These apertures 11 are distributed in this dial 3 in such a way as to cooperate distinctly with the indicator 5 to indicate / signify information to the wearer of the watch 100. This information may be a notification for the wearer. This notification may be an alert message relating to a function performed by the watch 100, for example, a notification relating to: In this case, email information presented in window 11 may correspond to the number of messages received, for example, on the figure 2 Ten messages were received; an activity tracker in this case the information may correspond to a heart rate, a number of steps taken, etc... a number of missed phone calls when the watch is connected to a smartphone; UV index (acronym for ultraviolet); etc...

[0019] The dial 3 is mounted superimposed on the movable support piece 4, which has a face 13 bearing graphic representations. More precisely, this movable piece 4 is arranged so that the graphic representations it bears appear in the plurality of apertures 11 of the dial 3 in order to generate information. This movable piece 4, which is coaxial with the dial 3, is a flat, circular piece such as a disc or a ring.

[0020] It should be noted that each window 11 includes a through opening extending longitudinally into that window 11 so as to connect the upper and lower faces 12a, 12b of the dial 3 together.

[0021] In dial 3, at least one window 11 includes a information-forming element 14. This information-forming element 14 is arranged above the graphic representation appearing in the corresponding window 11. More precisely, such an information-forming element 14 may be materially joined to the upper face 12a or the lower face 12b of dial 3 in an area of ​​this dial 3 including the window 11, or to the wall of the through-opening formed by this window 11. Alternatively, this information-forming element 14 may be an added piece arranged on an area of ​​the upper face 12a or the lower face 12b including the window 11, or in the through-opening formed by this window 11. This information-forming element 14 is a flat piece comprising a grid of a plurality of openings forming a symbol or pattern. With reference to the figure 3These openings can be, for example, micro-orifices, striations, slits, or a combination of at least two such types of openings. For example, when this formation element 14 comprises a network of micro-orifices, each micro-orifice may exhibit: a square section with a length on each side between 200 and 900 µm, preferably 265 µm, or a circular section with a diameter between 200 and 1000 µm, preferably 374 µm.

[0022] Such a training element 14 allows information to be generated from a graphical representation included on the moving part 4. This information, as previously seen, is preferably a notification. In the case of a window 11 equipped with such a training element 14, the information may relate to a rate / percentage, a state, a range of values, a parameter of a function of the watch 100 or its operation, or even a measurement of a bodily characteristic of the wearer of the watch 100 such as a physiological characteristic (pulse, blood oxygen saturation, skin impedance, blood pressure, respiratory rate, respiratory arrhythmia, skin temperature, sweating rate, blood oxygen saturation or blood flow).

[0023] This training element 14 includes a plurality of openings visible on the figure 3forming a pattern resembling a battery. This plurality of openings can cooperate with a graphic representation, such as a color gradient, to generate information about the energy charge level of the watch 100. Indeed, as this charge level decreases, the battery-shaped pattern changes color according to the color gradient of the graphic representation. This color change is achieved through small rotations of the moving part 4.

[0024] It is understood here that, in order to generate such information regarding the energy charge of the watch 100 in a window 11 lacking such a training element 14, it is necessary for the moving part 4 to include several graphic representations of a battery, each illustrating a different state of charge. In this context, such a configuration of the window without a training element 14 then consumes / requires a lot of space on the face 13 of the moving part 4 and greater rotations of the moving part, which then limits the variety of information that can be presented in the windows 11.

[0025] In another example, the training element 14 can comprise a plurality of openings forming a pattern such as a heart. This plurality of openings can cooperate with a graphic representation, such as a color gradient, to generate information relating to a heartbeat frequency range. Indeed, depending on the range within which the wearer's heartbeat frequency is measured, the color varies according to the color gradient of the graphic representation. This color change is achieved through small rotations of the moving part 4.

[0026] It should be noted that the graphic representations intended to be presented in a window 11 without a forming element 14 are defined in a portion of the face 13 of the movable part 4; said portion having a surface area which is less than that of a cross-section of this window 11. Conversely, the graphic representations intended to be presented in a window 11 including a forming element 14 are defined in a portion of the face 13 of the movable part 4 which has a surface area which is greater than that of a cross-section of this window 11.

[0027] In this system 1, the moving part 4 and the indicating element 5 are set in motion by the action of at least one drive element 8, such as a motor. The drive element 8 is controlled by the processing unit 2 according to the information to be displayed in one or more of the windows 11 of the dial 3.

[0028] This processing unit 2, when connected to at least one drive element 8 and one calibration element 9, is also capable of positioning the disc relative to the dial 3 in order to ensure correct display of the graphic representations in the windows 11. With reference to the figure 4In this system 1, when the calibration element 9 is a light sensor, the moving part 4 and the dial 3 both include apertures 15a and 15b that can be aligned with the calibration element 9 so that the latter receives light radiation. In particular, the aperture 15b extends into a region of the moving part 4 arranged opposite the calibration element 9 when this part 4 is rotating. This aperture 15b is defined throughout this region except for small portions of varying lengths that obscure the calibration element 9. These portions, notably by their differences, allow the detection of a known position of the moving part 4 relative to the dial 3.

[0029] Furthermore, with reference to the figure 4The dial 3, the moving part 4 and the calibration element 9 are mounted in a superimposed manner in the watch case 100. It should be noted that the calibration element 9, when it is a light sensor, can allow the measurement of a UV index which can be information presented in a window 11 of the dial 3, when the calibration element 9 and the openings 15a, 15b are aligned.

[0030] Such a system 1 of the watch 100 is capable of implementing a method for displaying at least one piece of information on the display dial 3 of the watch 100 visible on the figure 5 .

[0031] This process includes an actuation step 20 of the activation control 10. This control is defined to participate in the presentation of one or more pieces of information. During this step 20, the actuation of the control generates a signal that is transmitted to the processing unit 2.

[0032] The process then includes a presentation step 21 of information in the window 11 of the dial 3. This step 21 comprises a substep 22 of positioning both an indicator 5 towards the window 11 and a graphic representation or part of a graphic representation opposite the through-opening of this window 11. To do this, as soon as the processing unit 2 receives the signal from the activation command 10, it generates a control instruction aimed at positioning the indicator 5 on / in / towards the window 11 to present the information by driving the drive element 8. Simultaneously or almost simultaneously, it also positions the corresponding graphic representation or the part of the graphic representation opposite the through-opening of the window 11 by also driving the drive element 8 to generate the rotation of the moving part 4.This control instruction is generated by processing unit 2 based on: . the identification of the information to be displayed from the processing of the signal from the activation command 10, for example this information may be the state of the energy charge of the watch 100; the carrying out of a measurement (for example to measure the state of the energy charge of the watch 100) or the retrieval of data from a remote server, a computer or a smartphone (for example a retrieval from the smartphone of a number of missed calls) relating to the identified information, selection of the window 11 suitable for the presentation of the information and this, according to the identified information, definition of the control instructions to be applied to the drive element 8 in order to control the movement of the indicator organ 5 and the moving part 4.

[0033] Furthermore, this process includes a calibration step 23 of the position of the moving part 4 relative to the dial 3. This step 23 ensures optimal positioning of the graphic representations, or parts thereof, in the windows 11 during the implementation of this process. During this step 23, the openings 15a, 15b of the dial 3 and the moving part 4 are aligned with the calibration element 9, here a light sensor. In this configuration, this light sensor receives light radiation and generates a signal that is then transmitted to the processing unit 2. Upon receiving this signal, the processing unit 2 can thus identify the position of the moving part 4 relative to the dial 3 and, if necessary, update configuration data stored in its memory elements, including this relative position between the moving part 4 and the dial 3, for the operation of the process and the display system 1.It is therefore understood that the alignment of these openings 15a, 15b with the light sensor 9 constitutes a reference point or an index allowing the relative position between the moving part 4 and the dial 3 to be identified.

Claims

1. Analogue information display system (1) for a watch (100) provided with a mechanical movement, said system (1) including: - a display dial (3) comprising a plurality of apertures (11); - a moving display part (4) supporting graphical representations, disposed in such a way that the graphical representations supported thereby appear in the plurality of apertures (11) in order to generate said information, characterized in that the system also comprises: - an indicator member (5) configured so as to designate a piece of information generated in an aperture (11) to be notified to the wearer of said watch (100), and at least one aperture (11) comprising an information-forming element (14) arranged above the graphical representation appearing in the corresponding aperture (11), said information-forming element (14) being a flat part comprising a network of a plurality of openings such as micro-orifices, grooves, slots or a combination of at least two of these types of openings, said openings forming a pattern and cooperating with the graphical representation so the pattern changes colour according to a colour gradation comprises in the graphical representation.

2. System (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the information-forming element (14) is a fixed part.

3. System (1) according to claim 1, wherein the information-forming element (14) is made in one piece with an upper face (12a) or lower face (12b) of the dial (3) in an area of this dial (3) comprising the aperture (11) or even with a wall of a through-opening formed by this aperture (11).

4. System (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises at least one drive element (8) for driving the moving display part (4) supporting graphical representations.

5. System (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the moving display part (4) supporting information is a flat part, circular in shape, such as a disc or a ring.

6. System (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the moving display part (4) supporting graphical representations and the display dial (3) are coaxial.

7. System (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises a calibration element (9) configured so as to identify a relative position between the moving part (4) and the dial (3).

8. Watch (100) comprising a system (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

9. Watch (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein it is a mechanical smartwatch (100).

10. Method for viewing at least one piece of information on a display dial (3) of the watch (100) implemented by the system (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, the method including a step (21) of presenting a piece of information in an aperture (11) of the dial (3) comprising a sub-step (22) of positioning both an indicator member (5) towards the aperture (11) and a graphical representation or a part of a graphical representation facing a through-opening of this aperture (11).

11. Computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps (20 to 22) of the method according to the preceding claim when said computer program is executed by a processing unit of a watch (100).

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