Dynamic display device intended to be integrated in a timepiece

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device (1) intended to be integrated into a timepiece, such as a watch, said display device (1) comprising a first lenticular array (11) and a first support element comprising a pattern arranged to be seen through the first lenticular array, the device being notable in that it comprises a second support element comprising a second lenticular array (12), the second support element extending above the first support element and being arranged so that the pattern is seen through both the first and second lenticular arrays (12), one of the first or second support elements being a support element rotating about an axis perpendicular to the plane P in which the pattern extends.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a display device intended to be integrated into a timepiece and offering a dynamic display.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a display device intended to be integrated into a timepiece comprising a lenticular network and a first support element comprising a pattern arranged to be seen through the first lenticular network.

[0003] The display device is intended, in particular but not exclusively, to be integrated into a portable object such as a watch. Technological background

[0004] It is known from display devices that use a lenticular network to provide dynamic display.

[0005] In the prior art, a lenticular lens array is defined as an array formed by a layer of juxtaposed cylindrical lenses extending parallel to one another. Most often, these so-called "cylindrical" lenses are not literally cylindrical in shape, as the term "cylindrical lens" is used broadly to refer to any lens with an optical axis and a cross-sectional profile that remains constant along its entire length. Lenticular arrays are generally available as relatively large sheets that can be cut to the desired size. These lenticular sheets are made of a transparent and stable material. They typically have a smooth underside, allowing the sheet to be fixed to a substrate.

[0006] A known application of lenticular lenses involves displaying two patterns of identical meaning but different sizes beneath the lens. Depending on the viewing angle, the observer will first perceive one pattern, then the other, different pattern, creating a zoom effect that allows for a dynamic display. The two patterns are supported by a substrate and overlaid by the lenticular lens. Patent application EP3032357 describes such a lenticular lens application in a display device intended for integration into a wearable object.

[0007] Another known use of lenticular gratings involves placing a fragmented pattern of interlocking straight strips between transparent strips beneath the grating. The straight strips of the pattern, like the transparent strips, are arranged at the same interval as the cylindrical lenses of the lenticular grating covering the pattern. Thus, depending on the angle from which the observer views the lenticular grating, they see either the pattern at an enlarged scale or what lies behind the transparent grating. Such a use of a lenticular grating is described in patent application EP3128359.

[0008] The limitations of these display devices are that the dynamic display only occurs following an action by the observer, such as, in the example of a watch equipped with one of these display devices, by rotating the wrist or moving the head.

[0009] The invention aims to provide a dynamic (animated) display device intended to be integrated into a portable object without requiring any specific action from the observer. Specific action from the observer is understood to mean any movement of the observer (wrist and head movements). Summary of the invention

[0010] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a display device intended to be integrated into a timepiece, such as a watch, said display device comprising a first lenticular array and a first support element comprising a pattern arranged to be seen through the first lenticular array, the pattern being fragmented into straight bands extending parallel to each other in a plane P parallel to the first support element, the first lenticular array being formed of a plurality of juxtaposed cylindrical or spherical lenses extending parallel to each other and having a focal length such that the focal plane of the lenses coincides with the plane P, the lenses of the lenticular array having a pitch corresponding to the pitch at which the bands of the first group, as well as the bands of the second group, succeed one another.Preferably, the straight strips are formed from at least a first group of strips defining first images and a second group of strips defining second images, the first and second images forming the pattern. The straight strips of the first group are arranged alternately with the strips of the second group so that there is always a strip from the first group adjacent to a strip from the second group. The device is notable in that it includes a second support element comprising a second lenticular grating. The second support element extends above the first support element and is arranged so that the pattern is seen through both the first and second lenticular gratings. One or the other of the first or second support elements is a support element rotating about an axis perpendicular to the plane P.

[0011] Thanks to the arrangement of two lenticular networks, one of which is associated with a mobile support element, the pattern offers an animated rendering without requiring any specific action from the observer, such as a wrist or head movement.

[0012] Advantageously, the lenses of one of the first or second lenticular arrays have a pitch between each lens similar or comparable to the pitch between the lenses of the other first or second lenticular array.

[0013] Advantageously, the rotating support element is a date disc.

[0014] Advantageously, the rotating support element is an oscillating mass.

[0015] Advantageously, the rotating support element is an indicating organ.

[0016] Advantageously, the indicator organ is a transparent seconds hand positioned above the first lenticular network.

[0017] Advantageously, the other of the first or second support element is a fixed support element.

[0018] Advantageously, the fixed support element is a dial.

[0019] Advantageously, the first lenticular network constitutes the first support element and / or the second lenticular network constitutes the second support element.

[0020] Advantageously, a second motif is intercalated between the second lenticular network and the second support element.

[0021] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a watch comprising a display device according to any one of the preceding claims. Brief description of the figures

[0022] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention that follows, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying figures in which: there figure 1shows a partial schematic cross-sectional view of a date watch comprising a display device according to a first embodiment of the invention; the figure 2A represents a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of a sample pattern; the figure 2B shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a lenticular lattice associated with the pattern illustrated on the figure 2A ; there figure 3 shows a partial schematic cross-sectional view of a watch comprising a display device according to another embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0023] In the examples that will be described, the display device according to the invention comprises a first support element bearing a pattern, a second support element disposed above the first support element, and a first and second lenticular array. One of the first or second support elements is a rotating support element, while the other of the first and second support elements is a fixed support element.

[0024] There figure 1 shows a partial schematic cross-sectional representation of a date watch comprising a display device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0025] In this example, the display device 1 comprises a dial 2 and a rotating disc positioned behind the dial 2. The rotating disc is a date disc 3, displaying, for example, the date of the day. It is driven by a clockwork mechanism (not shown). The date disc 3 is visible through an opening 5 in the dial 2. The opening 5 in the dial 2 faces the date disc 3. Advantageously, it has dimensions that are preferably substantially identical to those of the date disc 3.

[0026] In the example described, the date disc 3 constitutes the rotating support element (defining the first support element) while the dial 2 constitutes the fixed support element (defining the second support element).

[0027] The first lenticular network 11 is arranged on the date disc 3 while the second lenticular network 12 is carried by the dial 2.

[0028] The pattern is located between the first lenticular grating 11 and the date disc 3. The pattern is fragmented into straight strips 24, 26 extending parallel to each other in a plane P parallel to the date disc 3. The straight strips are formed from at least a first group of strips defining first images and a second group of strips defining second images. The straight strips of the first group are arranged alternately with the strips of the second group so that there is always a strip from the first group adjacent to a strip from the second group.

[0029] An example of pattern display is shown on the Figures 2A and 2BAccording to a specific display example, the first images define a number ("30") of a certain size, and the second images, with the same meaning as the first images, have a different size. This is, of course, just one display example; other patterns can be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention, depending on the pattern and its intended animation. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the pattern is fragmented into two groups of strips. The invention is, of course, not limited to this embodiment; the pattern can include an interlacing of more than two groups of strips, depending on the desired animation.

[0030] The second lenticular lens 12 is arranged on the dial 2 so as to cover its opening 5. The pattern is thus seen simultaneously through the first lens 11 and the second lenticular lens 12. In the illustrated example, the second lenticular lens 12 covers the entire surface of the dial 2, including its opening 5. According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the lenticular lens can be arranged to cover essentially only the opening 5 of the dial 2.

[0031] The first and second lenticular arrays 11 and 12 are respectively formed of a plurality of juxtaposed cylindrical or spherical lenses extending parallel to one another. The "cylindrical" lenses are not literally cylindrical in shape; the term "cylindrical" is to be taken in this description in a broad sense, whereby the expression "cylindrical lens" designates any lens having an optical axis OO and exhibiting, in cross-section, a profile that is invariant along its entire length. These arrays are commonly in the form of sheets made of a transparent and stable material. The lenses conventionally have a smooth surface 22 on their reverse side, which allows the sheet to be fixed to a substrate.

[0032] According to an advantageous variant, the lenticular lens can form the plane on which the pattern to be displayed is placed. In this variant, the pattern is applied directly to the smooth reverse side 22 of the lenticular sheet, for example by printing, the lenticular lens bearing the pattern covering the date disc 3. According to another variant, the pattern is printed directly onto the date disc 3 and is covered by the first lenticular lens 11. According to yet another variant, the pattern is applied to a thin plastic sheet placed between a substrate and the lenticular lens, the whole forming the date disc 3.

[0033] The lenses 20 of the first lenticular array 11 have a focal length such that the focal plane of the lenses 20 of said first group is coincident with the plane P. Moreover, and advantageously, the first and second lenticular arrays 11, 12 have a pitch between each lens which is comparable, substantially similar or strictly similar.

[0034] The first group of 24 straight bands, just like the second group of 26 straight bands, follow one another with a step which is the same as that with which the lenses 20 of the first lenticular network 11 cover the pattern.

[0035] There figure 3 shows a partial schematic representation of a display device 10 of a watch according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0036] In this example, the display device 10 includes an indicating organ formed by at least one of the watch hands, and preferably the seconds hand 4, which forms the rotating element of the display device 10. The fixed element is constituted as before by the dial 2. In this example, the rotating element forms the second support element, while the fixed element constitutes the first support element.

[0037] As illustrated on the figure 3, the first lenticular grid 111 is carried by the dial 2, the pattern being interposed between the first lenticular grid 111 and the dial 2. As described previously, the pattern can either be affixed to the smooth reverse surface 22 of the first lenticular grid 111, or affixed directly to the dial 2, or affixed to a thin sheet, for example of plastic, placed between a substrate and the lenticular grid, the whole forming the dial 2. By "affixed" is meant the printing of the pattern or any other known technique allowing the pattern to be represented on the support concerned.

[0038] The second lenticular array 112 forms the seconds hand 4. This is, of course, only one embodiment; other arrangements are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the second lenticular array 112 may be arranged on a support element constituting the hand, which, in this case, will advantageously be transparent to allow the pattern to be seen through the second and first lenticular arrays 112 and 111.

[0039] The first and second lenticular networks 111, 112 respectively reproduce the characteristics of the first and second lenticular networks 11, 12 of the previously described example.

[0040] In the examples described above, the display device comprises a single pattern associated with the lowest support element and its associated lenticular array. However, a configuration is also possible in which the display device includes a second pattern associated with the upper support element.

[0041] It should be noted that in other examples of this display device, the rotating support element (defining the first support element) can be an oscillating mass.

[0042] The invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Nomenclature

[0043] 1, 10 display device 2 dial 3 date disc 4 seconds hand 5 aperture 11, 111 first lenticular lens array 12, 112 second lenticular lens array 20 lens 24 straight bands of the first group of bands 26 straight bands of the second group of bands 22 reverse surface

Claims

1. A display device (1, 10) intended to be integrated into a timepiece, such as a watch, said display device (1, 10) comprising a first lenticular grating (11, 111) and a first support element comprising a pattern arranged to be viewed through the first lenticular grating, the pattern being fragmented into straight strips (24, 26) extending parallel to each other in a plane P parallel to the first support element, the straight strips (24, 26) being formed of at least a first group of strips defining first images and a second group of strips defining second images, the first and second images forming the pattern, the straight strips (24) of the first group being arranged alternately with the straight strips (26) of the second group so that there is always a straight strip (24) of the first group adjacent to a strip (26) of the second band,the first lenticular array (11, 111) being formed of a plurality of juxtaposed cylindrical or spherical lenses (20) extending parallel to each other and having a focal length such that the focal plane of the lenses coincides with the plane P, the lenses (20) of the lenticular array (11, 111) having a pitch corresponding to the pitch at which the bands (24) of the first group, as well as the rectilinear bands (26) of the second group, succeed one another, , characterized in that the display device (1, 10) includes a second support element comprising a second lenticular array (12, 112), the second support element extending above the first support element and being arranged so that the pattern is seen jointly through the first and second lenticular arrays (12, 112), one of the first or second support elements being a support element rotating about an axis perpendicular to the plane P.

2. Display device (1, 10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lenses of one of the first or second lenticular arrays (11, 12, 111, 112) have a pitch between each lens similar to the pitch between the lenses of the other first or second lenticular array (11, 12, 111, 112).

3. Display device (1, 10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the rotating support element is a date disk (3).

4. Display device (1, 10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that The rotating support element is an oscillating mass.

5. Display device (1, 10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that The rotating support element is an indicator component.

6. Display device (1, 10) according to claim 4, characterized in thatthe indicator organ is a transparent seconds hand (4) positioned above the first lenticular network (111).

7. Display device (1, 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The other of the first or second support elements is a fixed support element.

8. Display device (1, 10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the fixed support element is a dial (2).

9. Display device (1, 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first lenticular network constitutes the first support element and / or the second lenticular network constitutes the second support element.

10. Display device (1, 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second motif is intercalated between the second lenticular network (12, 112) and the second support element.

11. Watch comprising a display device (1, 10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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