Isothermal Apparatus for Watches

Abstract

To provide an isothermal device used for a mechanical component and / or a functional component of a watch capable of withstanding specific temperature environment.SOLUTION: An isothermal device 1 used for a mechanical component and / or a functional component of a watch 10 includes: a case 2 that includes a housing 4 and can detachably dispose a case 12 of the watch 10; and a transparent cover 11 disposed to face a transparent cover 6 of the case 2. The device 1 is a removable fixing device 13 for fixing the case 12 of the watch 10 in the housing 4 by moving it away from a functional element 15 of the case 2. The element 15 forming the housing 4 comprises: the detachable removable fixing device 13 including a center unit 9a, a rear side unit 9b and a removable opaque transparent cover 6 of the case 2; and a system 3 for dynamically controlling temperature of the housing 4 including a variable opacity transparent cover 6 and a control unit 8 configured to control opacity of the transparent cover 6 of the case 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an isothermal device for mechanical and / or functional parts of a watch placed in a case, the device including a system for dynamically controlling the temperature of the enclosure of said case. [Background technology]

[0002] A wristwatch typically includes a band that is worn around the wrist and a watch case that contains several mechanical or electronic components, some of which are known in the prior art to be unable to withstand certain temperatures and will cease to function properly at these temperatures.

[0003] There is therefore a need to be able to use watches, and in particular electronic watches, in environments where such temperatures may persist. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For this purpose, the invention relates to an isothermal device for mechanical and / or functional parts of a watch, comprising a case having a housing, in which the case of the watch can be removably placed, and a transparent cover placed opposite the transparent cover of the case, the device comprising: A removable fastening device for fastening the case of the watch in a housing by moving away from the functional elements of the case, the elements forming the housing including the central part, the back and the variable opacity transparent cover of the case. a system for dynamically controlling the temperature of the housing of the case, the system including a variable opacity transparent cover and a control unit configured to control the opacity of the housing transparent cover of the case; Includes.

[0005] Another embodiment is The variable opacity transparent cover includes an element that changes the transmittance of the transparent cover; The control unit (8) is connected to the element that changes the transmittance of the variable opacity transparent cover using a connection element; The variable opacity transparent cover includes a transparent substrate, the lower surface of which includes a variable transmittance element; The variable opacity transparent cover includes a transparent substrate having a variable transmittance element contained within its body; The transparent substrate is formed of two layers of a transparent material, and a transmittance variable element formed by laminating functional layers is disposed between the layers; the control unit includes at least one event sensor, the event being capable of causing a temperature change within the enclosure of the case, such sensor being a light intensity sensor and / or a temperature sensor; The element that changes the transmittance of the variable opacity transparent cover is an electrochromic element, in particular a liquid crystal electrochromic element; The enclosure is in a vacuum or near vacuum; The variable opacity transparent cover has a surface area that is substantially greater or strictly greater than the surface area of ​​the transparent cover. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] Other characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the following description, given by way of illustration and not of limitation, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a top view of an isothermal device including a case having a transparent cover that includes an element that changes the transmittance of the transparent cover, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along axis II-II of the schematic diagram of the timepiece of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] 1 and 2 show an isothermal watch arrangement 1 for mechanical and / or functional parts 5 of a watch 10. This isothermal arrangement 1 is also known as a "Dewar watch arrangement" or more simply as a "Dewar arrangement" and includes a thermally protected case 2. Such a case 2 is also known as an "isothermal case" or a "Dewar case". This isothermal protective arrangement 1 for mechanical and / or functional parts 5 of a watch 10 can provide good thermal insulation for the mechanical and / or functional parts 5 of the watch 10, and the case 12 needs to be arranged in a housing 4 of this case 2 in order to provide such thermal insulation for these parts 5. In other words, this case 2 is formed by the combination of its functional elements 15 with the case 12 of the watch 10 in particular in order to create a suitable thermal insulation for these mechanical and / or functional parts 5. These functional elements 15 of the case 2 forming this housing 4 consist of the transparent cover 6, the middle part 9a and the inner peripheral wall 17 of the back part 9b of this case 2. In this configuration, the case 12 of the watch 10 is placed in such a housing 4 while being spaced or distanced from the functional elements of the case 2 which form the housing 4. It should be noted that the inner peripheral wall 17 of this intermediate portion 9a also belongs to the housing 4.

[0008] In this thermostatic device 1, the case 2 includes a system 3 for dynamically controlling the temperature of its housing 4. Such a system 3 is useful for regulating the temperature inside the housing 4. To that end, the system 3 includes a transparent cover 6 (which is a transparent variable opacity transparent cover 6, also known simply as a variable opacity transparent cover 6) of the case 2 and a control unit 8 connected to the transparent cover 6 and configured to control the opacity thereof.

[0009] In such a configuration, the control unit 8 includes electronic circuits including hardware resources, in particular a controller with at least one processor cooperating with memory elements as well as data and control address buses, and an energy store, otherwise known as a battery. This control device 8 includes in a memory element an algorithm for managing the temperature inside the housing 4 of the case 2. Such an algorithm is executed by the processor of this control unit 8, taking into account data from event sensors, in particular included in the control unit 8, in order to manage the temperature inside the housing 4 of the case 2. It should be noted that such data may provide, for example, information related to events detected by these sensors, which events tend to contribute / provoke / generate variations in the temperature inside the housing 4 of the case 2. These events include, but are not limited to, the detection of a certain level of luminance, in particular solar radiation, in the environment of the isothermal device 1, or the detection of a temperature change inside the housing 4 relative to a configurable reference temperature.

[0010] In such a configuration, the event sensor may include, among other things, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: A light intensity sensor, including a solar radiation sensor and / or an infrared solar radiation sensor and / or an ultraviolet solar radiation sensor, and / or Temperature Sensor Includes.

[0011] It should be noted that each event sensor forms part of the control unit 8 and is connected to the controller of this unit 8. The temperature sensor is installed in the housing 4 of the case 2. The light intensity sensor is arranged in the case 2, in particular in at least one of the functional elements 15 of the case 2, such that it is exposed to light from the external environment of the isothermal device 1 and thus the external environment of the case 2. By way of example, this light intensity sensor can be arranged in the body of the transparent cover 6 of the case 2 and / or in the internal surface 16 of this transparent cover 6.

[0012] In this isothermal device 1, the control unit 8 comprises a substrate, such as a flexible printed circuit board, on which its electronic circuits are arranged, with the exception of the light intensity sensor, which may be included in the transparent cover 6 or on the inner surface 16 of this transparent cover 6 of the case 2. In this context, the circuitry may be built on this substrate using a three-dimensional printing process or a polymer printing process. It should be noted that this substrate is arranged in the housing 4, on one of the functional elements 15, such as the inner surface 18 of the back part 9b or on the inner peripheral wall 17 of the housing 4.

[0013] As mentioned above, the control unit 8, in particular its controller, is linked / connected to the transparent cover 6 of the case 2 via a connection element 14. Such a transparent cover 6 is formed by a substrate, an element 7 for varying the transmittance of this substrate and an extension of the transparent cover 6. Such a transmittance variable element 7 is for example an electrochromic element, in particular a liquid crystal electrochromic element. This transmittance is the amount of energy (thermal radiation or light radiation) that the transparent cover 6 of the case 2 can transmit for a luminous flux of incident solar radiation. It should be noted that such a substrate is made of a material such as a glass, such as mineral glass, optical ceramic, acrylic glass or sapphire glass.

[0014] Such a variable transmittance element 7, if it is an electrochromic element, comprises a layer of an electrochromic material capable of reversibly simultaneously inserting cations and electrons, the oxidation states corresponding to the inserted and de-inserted states having different hues, one of the states having a higher light transmittance than the other. The insertion or de-insertion reaction is controlled by the application of a voltage by a control unit 8. Typically, tungsten oxide based electrochromic materials need to be in contact with a source of electrons, such as a transparent conductive layer, and a source of cations, such as an ion-conducting electrolyte.

[0015] In a first variant of the transparent cover 6 of the case 2, a transmittance variable element 7 is applied / applied / printed / deposited on the underside of the substrate, which then forms the inner surface 16 of this transparent cover 6. This transmittance variable element 7 is formed in a known manner from a stack of functional layers. More specifically, in the case of a liquid crystal electrochromic element, it comprises a film based on a polymeric material, arranged between a first and a second conductive layer, in which droplets of liquid crystals, in particular nematic liquid crystals with positive dielectric anisotropy, are dispersed. When the film is energized, the liquid crystals orient along a preferred axis, constituting the transparent cover 6 in a first state in which the transmittance of this transparent cover 6 is maximum. When the film is de-energized, there is no orientation of the transparent cover, so that the film has diffusive and absorbing properties, and the transparent cover 6 is configured in a second state in which its transmittance is minimal or even zero.

[0016] In a second variant of the transparent cover 6 of the case 2, the variable transmittance element 7 is included in the substrate body forming the transparent cover 6 of this case 2. In this case, this substrate can be formed of two layers of a transparent material such as glass, between which the variable transmittance element 7 is arranged, formed by stacking functional layers. If this variable transmittance element 7 is an electrochromic element, these functional layers can be, for example, A first conductive layer; a first layer of anodic electrochromic material consisting of hydrated iridium oxide (which may be replaced by a layer of hydrated nickel oxide); A protective layer of hydrated tantalum oxide; a layer of an electrolyte of a solid solution of polyoxyethylene and phosphoric acid; a second layer of cathodic electrochromic material based on tungsten oxide; A second conductive layer; may include:

[0017] It should be noted that in these two variants, the stack of functional layers forming the variable transmittance element 7 may also include an additional layer of a thermoplastic polymer such as polyvinyl butyral, known by the abbreviation PVB, preferably containing an UV filtering agent. Such a layer can be placed immediately after the first conductive layer in the first variant and between the glass layer and the first conductive layer in the second variant.

[0018] Thus, by controlling the change in the voltage applied to the first and second conductive layers of the transmittance variable element 7, the control unit 8 allows the transmittance properties of the transparent cover 6 of the case 2 to be changed between a first and a second transmittance state, where the first state is a state in which the transmittance of this transparent cover 6 is maximum, in which the transparent cover 6 of the case 2 is transparent and solar radiation is transmitted through the housing 4. The second state relates to a state in which the transmittance of the transparent cover 6 is minimum or zero, in which the transparent cover 6 is completely or partially opaque and prevents / blocks the transmission of at least 99% of solar radiation into the housing 4. In other words, in this second state, solar radiation is no longer transmitted by the transparent cover 6 into the housing 4 of the case 2.

[0019] In addition, as mentioned above, the case 12 of the watch 10 is placed in the case 2 of the isothermal device 1 while being spaced 19 or sufficiently spaced 19 from the inner peripheral wall 17 of the housing 4 thanks to the removable fastening device 13 of the case 2. In other words, such fastening device 13 can constitute the distance 19 between the case 12 and the functional elements of the case 2 forming the housing 4. In this configuration, the fastening device 13 serves to reduce or eliminate the heat transfer between the middle part 9a (or of the housing 4) and / or the back part 9b and / or the inner peripheral wall 17 of the crystal 6 and the case 12 of the watch 10, in particular the outer general surface of this case 12. This outer general surface includes the upper surface consisting of the crystal 11 of the case 12 of the watch 10, the lower surface consisting of the back of the case 12 and the middle outer peripheral wall of this case 12.

[0020] In this configuration, the fixing device 13 that detachably fixes the case 12 of the watch 10 to the inner peripheral wall 17 of the housing 4 of the case 2 is: connecting elements having first and second ends connectable respectively to the case 12 of the watch 10 and to the inner peripheral wall 17 of the housing 4 of this case 2, the body of each element having a specific structure that serves to ensure a reduction in heat loss to the external environment of the case 2 of the isothermal device 1 and thus to ensure a stable internal temperature within the case 12 of the watch 10; and / or Connection members configured to ensure the magnetic suspension of the case 12 of the watch 10 within the housing 4, and in fact these connection members are configured to ensure and maintain a separation 19 between the case 12 and the functional elements 15 forming the housing 4 of the case 2. Such connection members serve to reduce or eliminate heat conduction between the middle part 9a and / or the back part 9b and / or the inner peripheral wall 17 of the crystal 11 and the case 12 of the watch 10, in particular between the outer general surface of this case 12.

[0021] It should be noted that case 12 is contained within a watch 10 which may be an electronic watch, such as a quartz watch, or a mechanical or electromechanical watch.

[0022] The above-mentioned mechanical and / or functional components 5 of the watch 10 include, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, from the watch movement, the dial, the hands, the rings, the display devices such as joints, and / or electronic and / or electrical components. It is noted in particular that such electronic and / or electrical components include, for example, display devices, processors, memories, energy storage components, motors, integrated circuits, electronic oscillators, etc.

[0023] In such a configuration, the device 1 is therefore composed of a case 2 including a central part 9a to which is attached a band 9c enabling the device 1 to be worn by a user. The case 2 also includes the aforementioned crystal 6 and a back part 9b. It should be noted that in the device 1, the crystal 6 is preferably of a surface area substantially or strictly greater than that of the crystal 11 of the case 12 of the watch 10. In other words, the inner side 16 of the crystal 6 has a surface area substantially or strictly greater than that of the upper side of the crystal 11 of the watch 10.

[0024] As seen, the functional elements 15 such as the crystal 6, the middle part 9a and the back part 9b of the device 1 together define the housing 4 of this case 2 capable of receiving the case 12 of the watch 10. These three elements 15 of the case 2, namely the middle part 9a, the crystal 6 and the back part 9b, may be separate elements joined together to form this housing 4. Alternatively, the middle part 9a and the back part 9b of the case 2 may together form an integral part, which defines an opening facing the back part 9b, which opening can be removably and hermetically closed by the crystal 6. Alternatively, the middle part 9a and the crystal 6 of the case 2 of the watch 10 may together form an integral part, which defines an opening facing the crystal 6, which opening can be removably and hermetically closed by the back cover 9b, again removably and hermetically.

[0025] The intermediate and rear portions 9a, 9b are preferably made of, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, a metallic material, glass, or a thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer resin reinforced with carbon or glass fibers, or a ceramic material. It should be noted that if the intermediate and rear portions 9a, 9b are transparent or translucent, e.g. made of glass, the inner peripheral wall 17 of the intermediate portion 9a and the inner surface 18 of the rear portion 9b may be coated with a metallic or similar reflective coating, e.g. a layer of silver.

[0026] Moreover, in this arrangement, when the case 12 of the watch 10 is placed within the housing 4 of the case 2, the space defined between the case 12 and the middle portion 9a, the back portion 9b and the inner peripheral wall 17 of the crystal 6 is free of material or is substantially empty. In other words, the housing 4 is in a vacuum or quasi-vacuum.

[0027] It will therefore be appreciated that in this configuration, the isothermal apparatus 1 has the same properties and characteristics as Dewar tubes / vessels well known in the art. As previously mentioned, the properties and characteristics of the isothermal apparatus 1 tend to provide good insulation, particularly against extreme temperatures, in the external environment in which such an apparatus 1 may be placed.

[0028] Furthermore, it should be noted that the mechanical and / or functional components 5 of the watch 10 may be non-magnetic and / or the case 2 of the watch 10 may be made of a material or covered with a coating making it possible to insulate these components from magnetic fields.

[0029] Furthermore, the fixing device 13 serves to position the case 12 of the watch 10 within the case 2 such that the transparent cover 11 of the case 12 of the watch 10 is positioned opposite the transparent cover 6 of the case 2, so that the information and / or display interface on the dial of the watch 10 can be perceived by a user wearing the isothermal device 1 through the transparent transparent cover 6 of the case 2.

[0030] Such an isothermal device 1 thus provides very good insulation of the mechanical and / or functional parts 5 of the watch 10 from the external environment by reducing or preventing heat loss by radiation from the components arranged in the case 12 of the watch 10 over a long period of time. Thus, even if the temperature outside the device 1 reaches extreme values, the temperature inside the housing 4 remains substantially equal to the temperature inside the case 12 when the watch 10 is arranged in the case 2, typically at around 20° C. It should be noted that whatever temperature conditions exist in the environment of the isothermal device 1, the temperature inside the case 12 of the watch 10 is a temperature that does not prevent the proper functioning of the watch 10. This temperature is maintained for a period of between 2 and 18 times longer than the period during which the case 12 of such a watch 10 would be able to maintain the operating temperature of its components if it were placed directly in an environment where such temperatures prevailed, i.e. outside the case 2 of the isothermal device 1. It is therefore conceivable that such an arrangement makes it possible to protect the mechanical and / or functional parts 5 of the watch 10 and helps to ensure that they work optimally even under extreme external temperature conditions.

[0031] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various simple modifications and variations can be envisaged by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. For example, it can be envisaged that the control unit 8 constitutes an operation sensor of the isothermal device 1, enabling in particular to cause the operation of the transition of the transparent cover 6 of the case 2 from the second state to the first transparent state, as soon as it is detected that the user of the isothermal device wishes to note down the information displayed on the dial of the watch 10, by turning the transparent cover 6 of the case 2 in the direction of his gaze. Such a sensor may be a gyroscope and / or an inertial sensor in the form of an electronic component of the gyroscope and / or inertial electromechanical microsystem circuit type.

Claims

1. An isothermal device (1) for use with a mechanical part and / or a functional part (5) of a watch (10), comprising a housing (4), a case (2) in which a case (12) of the watch (10) is removably disposed, and a transparent cover (11) disposed opposite a transparent cover (6) of the case (2), the isothermal device (1) comprising: a removable fastening device (13) for fastening the case (12) of the watch (10) in the housing (4) by moving it away from functional elements (15) of the case (2), the functional elements (15) forming the housing (4) including a central part (9a), a back part (9b) and a variable opacity transparent cover (6) of the case (2); A system (3) for dynamically controlling the temperature of the housing (4), the system (3) including the variable opacity transparent cover (6) and a control unit (8) configured to control the opacity of the variable opacity transparent cover (6) to prevent temperature changes within the housing (4); An isothermal apparatus (1).

2. 2. The isothermal device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the variable opacity transparent cover (6) comprises an element (7) for varying the opacity of the variable opacity transparent cover (6).

3. 2. The isothermal device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (8) is connected to an element (7) for varying the opacity of the variable opacity transparent cover (6) by means of a connecting element (14).

4. 2. The isothermal device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the variable opacity transparent cover (6) comprises a transparent substrate, the underside of which comprises an element (7) for varying the opacity of the variable opacity transparent cover (6).

5. 2. The isothermal device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the variable opacity transparent cover (6) comprises a transparent substrate including a variable transmittance element (7) contained in the body of the variable opacity transparent cover (6).

6. The isothermal device (1) of claim 1, wherein the variable opacity transparent cover (6) comprises a transparent substrate including a transmittance changing element (7) included in the body of the variable opacity transparent cover (6), the transparent substrate being formed by two layers of transparent material, and the transmittance changing element (7) formed by lamination of functional layers being disposed between the two layers.

7. The isothermal device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (8) comprises at least one event sensor, the event of which is to cause a temperature change in the housing (4), and the event sensor is a light intensity sensor and / or a temperature sensor.

8. 2. The isothermal device (1) of claim 1, wherein the variable opacity transparent cover (6) includes an element that changes the transmittance (7) of the variable opacity transparent cover (6), and the element that changes the transmittance (7) of the variable opacity transparent cover (6) is an electrochromic element including a liquid crystal electrochromic element.

9. 2. The isothermal device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (4) is in a vacuum.

10. 2. The isothermal device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the variable opacity crystal (6) has a surface area greater than the surface area of ​​the crystal (11) of the case (12) of the watch (10).

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