Mechanism for displaying lunar and solar eclipses

Abstract

To provide an eclipse display mechanism which is easier for a user to understand and has clearer visualization.SOLUTION: An eclipse display mechanism 1 for displaying lunar and solar eclipses for a mechanical or electromechanical horological movement comprises: a first moving indicator 2 corresponding to a first celestial body, for example the sun; and a second moving indicator 3 corresponding to a second celestial body, for example the moon. The eclipse display mechanism 1 further comprises: a first zone 6 in which the first indicator 2 and the second indicator 3 are visible; and a second zone 7 in which one or more of the indicators 2, 3, and indicators 4, 5 can be hidden behind a cover 8. The eclipse display mechanism 1 further comprises the third moving indicator 4 corresponding to the second celestial body of different configuration than the second indicator 3. Therein: the third moving indicator 4 has at least one visible feature different from that of the second moving indicator 3; and the third indicator 4 is visible in the first zone 6 instead of the second indicator 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanism for indicating eclipses, in particular lunar and / or solar eclipses, for a watch. [Background technology]

[0002] Moon phase display mechanisms have been known for a long time, both purely mechanical and electromechanical mechanisms.

[0003] More sophisticated display mechanisms can even display other celestial bodies, especially the sun, so that it can be determined when lunar and / or solar eclipses occur.

[0004] For example, European Patent EP 0 195 742 shows a display with a needle on which these celestial bodies are positioned. This mechanism can be used, among other things, to determine the occurrence of an eclipse. However, it is not possible to distinguish between different types of eclipses. Depending on where you are on Earth, a total or partial eclipse of the moon or the sun occurs. An annular solar eclipse also occurs when the apparent diameter of the moon is smaller than the diameter of the sun.

[0005] Patent documents CH715722 and WO2020 / 152015 show another type of display mechanism that allows for the distinction between partial and total eclipses and even real-time tracking, but this display mechanism is neither easy to read nor intuitive at first glance. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a food indication mechanism that is easier for the user to understand and has a clearer visualization.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a mechanism for indicating lunar and solar eclipses for a mechanical or electromechanical clock movement, the clock movement being configured to operate the mechanism, the eclipse display mechanism comprising a first movement indicator corresponding to a first celestial body, for example the Sun, and a second movement indicator corresponding to a second celestial body, for example the Moon, the eclipse display mechanism comprising a first zone in which the first and second indicators are visible and a second zone in which one or more indicators can be hidden behind a cover, the eclipse display mechanism comprising a third movement indicator corresponding to the second celestial body and having a different configuration than the second indicator, the third movement indicator having at least one visual characteristic different from that of the second movement indicator, the first indicator, the second indicator and the third indicator preferably being disc-shaped.

[0008] In the present invention, the third indicator is visible in the first zone in place of the second display indicator.

[0009] In certain embodiments of the present invention, when the second movement indicator completely covers the first movement indicator, the second movement indicator may be at least partially superimposed on the first movement indicator so as to represent a partial eclipse of the first celestial body, or even a total eclipse of the first celestial body.

[0010] In certain embodiments of the present invention, the different visual feature of the third movement indicator is preferably of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the second movement indicator.

[0011] In certain embodiments of the invention, the third movement indicator may be superimposed on the first movement indicator to represent an annular solar eclipse.

[0012] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the display mechanism includes a fourth movement indicator corresponding to the second celestial body and configured differently from the second and third movement indicators, the fourth movement indicator having at least one visual characteristic different from the second and third movement indicators.

[0013] In a particular embodiment of the invention, a distinctive feature of said fourth indicator from said second indicator is its colour, preferably red to represent a lunar eclipse.

[0014] In certain embodiments of the invention, the fourth indicator is visible in the first zone instead of the second indicator and / or the third indicator.

[0015] In certain embodiments of the invention, the movement indicators are rotatable about the same axis of rotation.

[0016] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the second indicator also has the function of indicating the phase of the moon depending on its position relative to the cover.

[0017] In certain embodiments of the invention, the shapes of the first and second zones have shapes that correspond to conventional moon phase display mechanisms.

[0018] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the display mechanism comprises an electromechanical system configured to operate the display mechanism, the electromechanical system comprising a motor, a motor control unit, and a memory unit that stores dates and locations of lunar and solar eclipses, the control unit being configured to operate the motor according to the dates and locations of the eclipses stored in the memory unit.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the electromechanical system comprises adjustment means configured to provide the control unit with instructions making it possible to determine the occurrence of the eclipse according to the position of the wearer of the timepiece movement.

[0020] In certain embodiments of the invention, the adjustment means may be operated electronically or by mechanical adjustment.

[0021] The invention further relates to a timepiece movement including a display mechanism according to the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood from reading the following detailed description, which is given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 shows a top view of a display mechanism according to the invention in a position to display the phases of the moon; [Figure 2] 2 shows a top view of the display mechanism of FIG. 1 in a position to display a total solar eclipse. [Figure 3] 2 shows a top view of the display mechanism of FIG. 1 in a position to display a partial solar eclipse. [Figure 4] 2 shows a schematic top view of the display mechanism of FIG. 1 in a position to display an annular eclipse of the Sun; [Figure 5] 2 shows a schematic top view of the display mechanism of FIG. 1 in a position to display a total lunar eclipse; [Figure 6] 2 shows a schematic top view of the display mechanism of FIG. 1 in a position to display a partial lunar eclipse; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an electromechanical system configured to operate the display mechanism of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] 1 to 6 show diagrammatically a display mechanism for a mechanical or electromechanical timepiece movement adapted to operate this mechanism. Preferably, this movement is electromechanical.

[0024] The display mechanism 1 comprises a first movement indicator 2 corresponding to a first celestial body, for example the sun, and a second movement indicator 3 corresponding to a second celestial body, for example the moon.

[0025] Furthermore, the display mechanism 1 includes a third movement indicator 4 and a fourth movement indicator 5, each corresponding to a second celestial object. However, the celestial object has a different visual configuration than the second indicator 3.

[0026] Thus, each of the third movement indicator 4 and the fourth movement indicator 5 has at least one characteristic that is different from the second movement indicator 3. Also, the fourth movement indicator 5 corresponds to a second celestial body that has a different configuration from both the second movement indicator 3 and the third movement indicator 4.

[0027] In this embodiment, the different feature of the third indicator 4 is its diameter, which is preferably smaller than the second indicator 3 so as to represent an annular solar eclipse, and the different feature of the fourth indicator 5 is its color, which is preferably red to represent a lunar eclipse.

[0028] In this case, the moving indicators 2, 3, 4, 5 are disc-shaped and have approximately the same dimensions, except for the smaller third indicator 4. Preferably, the first indicator 2 is yellow to represent the sun, and the second indicator 3 is pink or grey to represent the moon.

[0029] The four movement indicators 2, 3, 4, 5 are rotatable about the same rotation axis, and are arranged at the ends of arms 11, 12 attached to the rotation axis so that they can move independently of each other.

[0030] Preferably, the first indicator 2 and the fourth indicator 5 are located at the end of the same arm 11, as are the second movement indicator 3 and the third movement indicator 4 located at the end of another arm 12.

[0031] In another embodiment, each movement indicator 2, 3, 4, 5 has a different arm that is operable independently of the arms of the other movement indicators.

[0032] The eclipse display mechanism 1 comprises a first zone 6 in which the indicators 2, 3, 4, 5 are visible, and a second zone 7 in which one or more of the indicators 2, 3, 4, 5 can be hidden behind a cover 7. The shapes of the first zone 6 and the second zone correspond to those of a conventional lunar phase display mechanism 1. The two zones thus together form a circular disk divided into two parts, and the cover 7 has a semi-disk shape augmented by two semi-disks 8, 9 whose diameters are smaller than the radii of the circular disks of the two zones. The two semi-disks 8, 9 extend towards the visible zone. The semi-disks 8, 9 allow the lunar phase to be displayed by the second indicator 3 in a conventional manner.

[0033] The second movement indicator 3 may be at least partially superimposed on the first movement indicator 2 to represent a partial eclipse of the first celestial body, and the second movement indicator 3 can be completely superimposed on the first movement indicator 2 to represent a total eclipse of the first celestial body.

[0034] The movement indicators 2, 3, 4, 5 are visible only when located in the first zone 6 and are hidden by a cover 7 when located in the second zone.

[0035] A second movement indicator 3 may be superimposed on the first movement indicator 2 to represent a solar eclipse.

[0036] The second moving indicator 3 also has the function of displaying the phases of the moon. Thus, in Figure 1, when the phases of the moon are displayed, the second moving indicator 3 moves into the visible zone 6 and the semi-disks 8, 9 of the cover 7 make part of the second moving indicator 3 disappear to represent the visible part of the moon.

[0037] The other moving indicators 2, 4, 5 are hidden by cover in the second zone when there is no eclipse.

[0038] As a result of the common second arm 12 in one of the alternative embodiments, when the second indicator 3 moves, the third moving indicator 4 also moves, but remains hidden under the cover 7 .

[0039] In Figure 2, to show a total solar eclipse, the first indicator 2 is located in the center of the first visible zone 6, and the second indicator 3 is superimposed on the first moving indicator 2. Thus, to show a total solar eclipse, the Moon overlaps with the Sun and is at the center of the Sun.

[0040] In the case of a partial solar eclipse, the second indicator 3 is superimposed on only a portion of the first indicator 2, as shown in Figure 3. Therefore, the first indicator 2 has a visible portion, indicating a partial solar eclipse. The third and fourth indicators 4, 5 remain hidden behind the cover 7.

[0041] In the case of an annular solar eclipse, where the peripheral ring of the sun remains visible at all times, a third moving indicator 4 is superimposed on the first moving indicator 2 in the first visible zone 6, as shown in Figure 3. The second moving indicator 3 and the fourth moving indicator 5 are held in a second zone behind the cover 7. In this embodiment, the second moving indicator 3 and the third moving indicator 4 are also superimposed. Because the third moving indicator 4 has a smaller diameter than the first moving indicator 2, the peripheral ring of the first moving indicator 2 appears to remain and represent the visible ring 17 of the sun.

[0042] Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the total lunar eclipse display mechanism 1. The fourth moving indicator 5 is located alone in the center of the first visible zone 6. The red color of the fourth moving indicator 5 represents this total lunar eclipse. The other three moving indicators 2, 3, and 4 remain hidden under the cover 7 in the second zone.

[0043] If the lunar eclipse is partial, the fourth moving indicator 5 is positioned across the two zones, showing the visible part and hiding the other part under the cover 7 of the second zone, as shown in Figure 5. In this way, it is understood that the lunar eclipse is partial, as only part of the "red" moon is visible.

[0044] The invention further relates to an electromechanical device 10 for a timepiece movement, which is adapted to operate the display mechanism 1 described above.

[0045] Such an electromechanical device 10 includes electronic and mechanical components known to those skilled in the art. Figure 7 shows a block diagram of such an electromechanical device 10.

[0046] The electromechanical device 10 includes a motor 13 that can operate the arm of the display mechanism 1, and further includes a control unit 14 for the motor 13 that is configured to give an operation command to the motor 13. The control unit 14 is connected to the motor 13.

[0047] The electromechanical device 10 further comprises a memory unit 15 for storing the dates and locations of lunar and solar eclipses. The control unit 14 is connected to the memory unit 15 so as to be able to detect the occurrence of future eclipses. Such a memory unit 15 can store the dates, locations and durations of a large number of eclipses.

[0048] Thus, when the electromechanical device 10 detects that a lunar or solar eclipse is about to occur at a given location, it instructs the motor 13, based on the data in the memory unit 15, to position one or more corresponding movement indicators at positions corresponding to the eclipse during the lunar or solar eclipse.

[0049] Preferably, the electromechanical device 10 comprises adjustment means 16 that provide the control unit 14 with instructions that make it possible to determine the occurrence of an eclipse depending on the location of the wearer of the watch movement. In particular, the location of the wearer must be indicated in order to determine the date, time and type of eclipse that will occur.

[0050] Furthermore, the adjusting means 16 can be operated either by electronic or mechanical adjustment, for example electronically, directly on the watch screen by means of a drop-down menu that appears on the screen, or by means of wireless transmission, for example from a mobile phone, or by mechanical adjustment, for example by positioning an engraved bezel of the watch.

[0051] Therefore, it is possible to provide the information necessary to display the eclipse corresponding to the user's location.

[0052] Such a display mechanism is located in the timepiece movement of a timepiece such as a wristwatch.

Claims

1. A mechanism for indicating lunar and solar eclipses for a mechanical or electromechanical timepiece movement, said timepiece movement being adapted to operate said mechanism, The eclipse indication mechanism (1) comprises a first movement indicator (2) corresponding to a first celestial body, e.g., the sun, and a second movement indicator (3) corresponding to a second celestial body, e.g., the moon; The food indicator mechanism (1) comprises a first zone (6) in which the first indicator (2) and the second indicator (3) are visible, and a second zone (7) in which one or more indicators (2, 3, 4, 5) can be hidden behind a cover (8); The eclipse indication mechanism (1) comprises a third movement indicator (4) corresponding to the second celestial body, the third movement indicator (4) having a different configuration from the second movement indicator (3), the third movement indicator (4) having at least one visual characteristic different from the second movement indicator (3); The mechanism, wherein the first indicator (2), the second indicator (3) and the third indicator (4) are preferably disc-shaped, and the third indicator (4) is visible in the first zone (6) instead of the second indicator (3).

2. 2. The display mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second movement indicator (3) can be at least partially superimposed on the first movement indicator (2) so as to represent a partial eclipse of the first celestial body, or even a total eclipse of the first celestial body, when the second movement indicator (3) completely covers the first movement indicator (2).

3. 2. An indicator mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the different visual feature of the third movement indicator (4) is a diameter, said diameter being preferably smaller than the diameter of the second movement indicator (3).

4. 4. A display arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the third indicator (4) can be superimposed on the first moving indicator (2) to represent an annular solar eclipse.

5. 2. The display mechanism of claim 1, wherein the display mechanism comprises a fourth moving indicator (5) corresponding to the second celestial body in a configuration different from the second indicator (3) and the third indicator (4), the fourth indicator (5) having at least one visual characteristic different from the second indicator (3) and the third indicator (4).

6. 6. A display mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the different feature of said fourth movement indicator (5) is its colour, said colour being preferably red to represent a lunar eclipse.

7. 2. The indicator mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the fourth indicator (5) is visible in the first zone (6) instead of the second indicator (3) and / or the third indicator (4).

8. 2. The display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the movement indicators (2, 3, 4, 5) are rotatable about the same axis of rotation.

9. 2. A display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second indicator (3) has the function of indicating the phase of the moon depending on its position relative to the cover (7).

10. 2. A display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shapes of the first zone (6) and the second zone (7) correspond to conventional moon phase display mechanisms.

11. 2. The display mechanism of claim 1, wherein the display mechanism comprises an electromechanical system (10) configured to operate the display mechanism (1), the electromechanical system (10) comprising a motor (13), a control unit (14) that controls the motor (13), and a memory unit (15) that stores dates and locations of lunar and solar eclipses, and the control unit (14) is configured to operate the motor (13) according to the dates and locations of the eclipses stored in the memory unit (15).

12. 12. A display mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the electromechanical system (10) comprises adjusting means (16) configured to provide the control unit (14) with instructions that allow the occurrence of an eclipse to be determined according to the position of the wearer of the timepiece movement.

13. 13. A display mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said adjusting means (16) can be operated electronically or by mechanical adjustment.

14. A timepiece movement comprising a display mechanism (1) according to claim 1.

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