Device for update and related method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method (500) for updating the date of a watch implemented by an updating device (100). Said updating method (500) consists of storing the current date (171) according to a perpetual calendar programmed to a time zone (175), receiving a second signal (181), and then verifying a first signal (131) after receiving said second signal (181). A comparison is performed between said second signal (181) and the current date (171) in order to control the drive of at least one date disc (120) to a drive element (160) if said second portion (127) differs from the current date (171), until said first sensor (130) detects a first portion (126) of said at least one date disc (120).

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an updating device and updating method. Technological background

[0002] Most modern quartz watches include a date display. However, users should check at the end of certain months, such as February, April, June, September, and November, to ensure the date of the following month is correct, i.e., that the displayed date is "1st" and not "29th", "30th", or "31st".

[0003] Perpetual calendars exist, however, the algorithm and / or the watch is very complex because it requires considering all possible cases.

[0004] This becomes even more complicated if the user changes time zones, for example from Europe to Asia. In this case, the date change via the calendar occurs before the internal clock, leading to an error that requires user intervention.

[0005] US patent 2003 / 0198139 describes an electronic watch equipped with a date, month, and leap year display. Using a plurality of electrical switches associated with the display device's wheels, the date, month, and leap year are detected. If this data is incorrect according to an electronic perpetual calendar incorporated in the watch, the display is corrected.

[0006] US document 2001 / 0028605 proposes a detection of the displayed date, via a complex pattern on the back of the date disc, allowing the displayed date to be determined, in particular the 29th, 30th and 31st, by analyzing the pattern via a complex electronic circuit allowing the detection of transitions in the pattern when the date disc is driven, and correcting the date if necessary.

[0007] US patent 5,305,289 proposes a method for detecting the displayed date via a multi-bit binary code associated with the date disc. An optical device and a relatively complex electronic processing circuit are arranged to read the binary code and determine if the displayed date is correct. If it is not, the watch can correct the displayed date. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to resolve all or part of these drawbacks by means of a date updating device for a quartz watch equipped with a date disc as defined in claim 1.

[0009] The date updating device is remarkable in that the first portion of the date disc represents dates 1 to 28 and the second portion of the date disc represents dates 29 to 31, the second portion being detectable by a sensor.

[0010] Thanks to this provision, the date change is carried out correctly and simply, regardless of the user's location.

[0011] According to one embodiment, said time zone is a time zone among the time zones "+10", "+11", "+12", "+13" or "+14".

[0012] Thanks to this arrangement, the date change of the perpetual calendar of the internal clock of said memory takes place first.

[0013] According to one embodiment, said at least one date disc consists of one date disc or two date discs; the two date discs being a date unit disc and a date tens disc.

[0014] Thanks to this feature, the update device works for a date disc or for a large date.

[0015] According to one embodiment, said first portion of said two date discs represents the tens of date 0 and 1 and the units of date 2 to 8, and said second portion of said two date discs represents the tens of date 2 and 3 and the units of date 0, 1 and 9.

[0016] Thanks to this provision, it is possible to discriminate very simply against the ends of short months, which do not have 31 days such as the months of February, April, June, September and November.

[0017] According to one embodiment, said first sensor is a first optical sensor, a first resistive sensor, a first capacitive sensor and / or a first inductive sensor.

[0018] Thanks to one or the other of these previous arrangements, only one first sensor is sufficient to discriminate the first portion from the second portion.

[0019] According to one embodiment, said second sensor is a second optical sensor, a second resistive sensor, a second capacitive sensor and / or a second inductive sensor.

[0020] Thanks to this provision, it is possible to detect the date change made by said at least one date disc.

[0021] According to one embodiment, said drive element is a motor.

[0022] Thanks to this arrangement, it is possible to drive at least one date disc.

[0023] The present invention also relates to a method for updating the date for a quartz watch, equipped with a date disc, as defined in claim 8.

[0024] Thanks to this update process, the date change is carried out correctly and simply, regardless of the user's location.

[0025] According to one embodiment, said time zone is a time zone among the time zones "+10", "+11", "+12", "+13" or "+14".

[0026] Thanks to this arrangement, the date change of the perpetual calendar of the internal clock of said memory takes place first. Brief description of the figures

[0027] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which: There figure 1 shows an update device 100 the date for a watch according to a particular embodiment; The figures 2A & 2B illustrate a date disc 121 according to one embodiment; The figures 3A & 3B represent two date discs 122 forming a major date according to a method of implementation; The figure 4 shows a map of time zones; The figure 5 presents an updating process 500 of the date for a watch implemented by an updating device 100 according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0028] The present invention allows for a precise and simple date change, regardless of the user's location. Quartz watches with a calendar are generally set to the time zone in which the battery was changed or to the time zone of the factory where they were manufactured. When the user travels and changes time zones, this setting can permanently disrupt the calendar function and prevent it from working at the end of short months. The difficulty is real, as the watch does not know in advance which time zone the user has traveled to. The complexity arises when considering specific travel scenarios, particularly those involving crossing the International Date Line, such as a trip to Asia.

[0029] The present invention allows the watch to manage the ends of "short months", such as February, April, June, September and November, with a single QP setting at battery change, and provided that the user has set a time and date corresponding to the time zone in which he is located, i.e. the one where he lives, or the one where he has just traveled.

[0030] To this end, the present invention takes the form of an updating device 100 of the date for a watch implementing an updating process 500.

[0031] The said updating device 100, Fig. 1 includes only one memory 170, at least one date disc 120, a first sensor 130, typically a first optical sensor 130, a first resistive sensor 130, a first capacitive sensor 130 and / or a first inductive sensor 130,a drive unit 160, a second sensor 180 and a central unit 150.

[0032] During factory settings and even later, today's date 171 is memorized 570 according to a perpetual calendar programmed on a time zone 175 in said memory 170. Indeed, the perpetual calendar of the internal clock of said memory 170 transmits today's date 171 according to said time zone 175, which is a time zone 175 among the time zone 175 "+10", "+11", "+12", "+13" or "+14", which allows for a date change on the perpetual calendar first, especially when said time zone 175 is the time zone 175 "+13". Indeed, these time zones 175 are the first to change the date. Fig. 4 and more specifically the time zone 175 "+13".

[0033] On the figs. 2A-3B is represented at least one date disc 120 which consists of a first portion 126 and a second portion 127. More precisely, on the Figures 2A and 2B is illustrated a date disc 121 and on the Figures 3A and 3B two date discs 122 for "Large Date" displays with a date unit disc and a date tens disc.

[0034] In the method of implementation of Figures 2A and 2B , the said first portion 126 of the said date disc represents the dates 1 to 28 and the said second portion 127 The said date disc represents the dates 29 to 31. Whereas, regarding the method of implementation of the Figures 3A and 3B , said first portion 126 of the said two date discs 122 represents the tens digits of the date 0 and 1, and the units digits of the date 2 to 8, and said second portion 127 of the said two date discs122 represents the tens digits of the date 2 and 3, and the units digits of the date 0, 1 and 9.

[0035] Given that the said updating device 100 includes only the said first sensor 130, because it is sufficient to discriminate the first portion from the second portion, which are different from each other, in order to transmit a first signal 131 when said first sensor 130 detects said second portion 127, if the said first sensor 130 does not detect said second portion 127 of the said two date discs 122 No signal is transmitted. This makes it very easy to distinguish the ends of February, April, June, September and November.

[0036] The said second portion 127 said at least one date disc 120 is brought in view of the said first sensor 130 via said drive member 160,typically an engine 160, which is configured to drive said at least one date disk 120.

[0037] With each change of date, that is to say each time the said drive unit 160 entails said at least one date disc 120, said second sensor 180, typically a second optical sensor 180, a second resistive sensor 180, a second capacitive sensor 180 and / or a second inductive sensor 180, transmits a second signal 181 when a date jump is detected, that is, when the said second sensor 180 detects training 585 said at least one date disc 120 by said drive unit 160. This detection occurs when the date jump of the watch movement causes a rise in torque followed by a sudden drop in said torque when the jump of at least one date disc120 occurs, that is, when the displayed date is updated.

[0038] The said central unit 150 receives 580 said second signal 181 transmitted by a second sensor 180 and check 530 said first signal 131 transmitted by said first sensor 130 when said first sensor 130 detects a second portion 127 said at least one date disc 120. A comparison ensues 510 said first signal 131 with today's date 171.

[0039] If the said first sensor 130 detects said first portion 126, said central unit 150 will not react to this information. If, on the contrary, the said first sensor 130 detects said second portion 127 and that the date of the day 171 does not correspond to the end of the month, that is to say if the said first sensor130 detects a date from among "29", "30" and "31", via said second portion 127 and that the date of the day 171 is the "1st", said central unit 150 commands the drive of said at least one date disc 120 to the said drive unit 160 until the said first sensor 130 detects said first portion 126 said at least one date disc 120, which will also correspond to the "1st<".

Claims

1. A device for updating (100) the date for a quartz watch fitted with at least one date disc (120); said updating device comprising: - A memory (170); said memory (170) being configured so that it can transmit the current date (171) according to a perpetual calendar programmed on a time zone (175); - A drive organ (160) configured so that it can drive said at least one date disc; - A first sensor (130) associated with said at least one date disc; characterised in that - Said at least one date disc (120) has a first portion (126) showing dates 1 to 28 and a second portion (127) showing dates 29 to 31; - Said first sensor (130) is arranged to be able to detect the second portion (127) and configured to be able to transmit a first signal (131) when it detects said second portion (127); and in that the updating device further comprises: - A second sensor (180): said second sensor (180) being configured to transmit a second signal (181) when this second sensor detects the driving of said at least one date disc (120) by said drive organ (160); and - A central unit (150): said central unit (150) being configured to receive said second signal (181) before comparing said first signal (131) with the current date (171) provided by said memory, and to control the drive of said at least one date disc, via said drive organ, if said first signal corresponds to a detection of said second portion (127) and the current date (171) is the 1st until said first sensor (130) detects said first portion (126).

2. The updating device (100) according to claim 1, in which said time zone (175) is a time zone (175) from the time zone (175) "+10," "+11," "+12," "+13" or "+14."3. The updating device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, in which said at least one date disc (120) consists of one date disc (121) or of two date discs (122); the two date discs (122) being a ones date disc and a tens date disc.

4. The updating device (100) according to claim 3, in which said first portion (126) of said two date discs (122) shows the tens dates 0 and 1 and the ones dates 2 to 8, and said second portion (127) of said two date discs (122) shows the tens dates 2 and 3 and the ones dates 0, 1 and 9.

5. The updating device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, in which said first sensor (130) is a first optical sensor (130), a first resistive sensor (130), a first capacitive sensor (130) and / or a first inductive sensor (130).

6. The updating device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, in which said second sensor (180) is a second optical sensor (180), a second resistive sensor (180), a second capacitive sensor (180) and / or a second inductive sensor (180).

7. The updating device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, in which said drive organ (160) is a motor (160).

8. A method for updating (500) the date for a quartz watch, fitted with at date disc, which is implemented by an updating device (100) according to any of claims 1 to 7; said updating method (500) consisting in: - Storing the current date (171) in a memory (570) according to a perpetual calendar programmed on a time zone (175); - Receiving (580) a second signal (181); said second signal (181) being transmitted by a second sensor (180) configured to detect the driving of at least one date disc (120) by a drive organ (160); - Verifying (530) a first signal (131) after having received said second signal (181); said first signal (131) being transmitted by a first sensor (130) when said first sensor (130) detects a second portion (127) of said at least one date disc (120) corresponding to dates 29 to 31; - Comparing (510) said first signal (131) with the current date (171); - Controlling (560) the drive of said at least one date disc (120) via a drive organ (160) if said second portion (127) is detected and if said current date is the 1st, until said first sensor (130) detects a first portion (126) of said at least one date disc (120) corresponding to dates 1 to 28.

9. An updating method (500) according to claim 8, in which said time zone (175) is a time zone (175) from the time zones (175) "+10," "+11," "+12," "+13" or "+14."

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