A watch face containing a device that determines an acoustic event, and a wristwatch containing the watch face.

Abstract

To provide a watch provided with a dial including a device for determining an acoustic event.SOLUTION: One aspect of the invention relates to a dial 2a, 2b of a watch 1 including an autonomous device for determining an acoustic event. The dial 2a, 2b includes a visible face 20a and a hidden face, and the dial 2a, 2b is formed by a stack of thin layers of material extending between the two faces of the visible face 20a and the hidden face. Each thin layer includes one or more of functional elements included in the autonomous device: at least one receiver element 23 for receiving at least one acoustic wave emitted from the watch 1; a module 4 for reporting the acoustic event; a standalone power supply unit; and a control unit for managing operation of the reporting module 4 and of the at least one receiver element 23 for receiving the at least one acoustic wave.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wristwatch provided with a dial including a device for determining an acoustic event. This device is completely autonomous.

Background Art

[0002] Prior art documents describe an electromechanical wristwatch with hands driven by a gear train of the mechanism of the watch movement for displaying the current time. In this context, due to an impact on the wristwatch, the operation of the mechanism can be hindered. As a result, even if the internal clock of the wristwatch accurately displays the current time, the hour hand and the minute hand give a distorted display of this current time due to the disturbance applied to the wristwatch. Therefore, it may be necessary to resynchronize the positions of the hour hand and the minute hand.

[0003] In this context, it is understood that there is a need to find a solution to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a wristwatch provided with a dial including a device for determining an acoustic event, this device being autonomous and its efficiency being constant over time.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a wristwatch dial including an autonomous device for determining an acoustic event, such a dial including a visible face and a hidden face, the dial being formed by a laminate of thin material layers extending between these two faces, each of the layers including one or more of the following functional elements included in the device. • At least one receiving element that receives at least one acoustic wave emitted from a wristwatch, • Modules that report acoustic events. • Standalone power supply unit, and A control unit that manages the operation of the reporting module and the at least one receiving element that receives the at least one acoustic wave.

[0007] In other embodiments, The at least one receiving element includes a pressure microphone or a pressure gradient microphone. • The module that reports acoustic events includes at least one element capable of generating an optical signal. • The module that reports acoustic events includes at least one element capable of generating vibration signals. • A module that reports an acoustic event includes at least one element capable of generating an audio signal. The laminate of thin layers of material includes a first layer on which the visible surface of the dial is provided, and the first layer includes the at least one receiver element and the at least one light source. The at least one receiving element is located in a cavity formed in the hidden surface of the dial. The first layer is configured to allow light radiation, particularly solar radiation, to pass through completely or partially. The aforementioned first layer is entirely or partially transparent or translucent. • The laminate of thin layers of material includes a second layer containing a photovoltaic module that constitutes a standalone power supply unit. The second layer includes a substrate on which the photovoltaic module is printed. The photovoltaic module is positioned in the effective area of ​​the second layer, and the area is configured to receive light radiation emitted from the first layer of the laminate of thin layers of material. The laminate includes a third layer comprising an electrical energy storage unit that constitutes a standalone power supply unit. The third layer includes a substrate on which an electrical energy storage device is printed. The laminate includes a fourth layer that forms the hidden surface of the dial, which includes the control unit. The laminate includes a third layer with a hidden surface for the dial, which includes a control unit and an electrical energy storage unit that constitutes a standalone power supply unit. The first layer is rigid compared to the other layers in a laminate of thin layers of material, which are flexible. The visible and hidden surfaces are flat or dome-shaped.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a wristwatch including such a dial.

[0009] Advantageously, a wristwatch may include a mechanical, electronic, or electromechanical movement. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] The purpose, advantages, and features of the wristwatch according to the present invention will become clear in the following description given based on at least one non-limiting embodiment shown in the drawings.

[0011] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a wristwatch, including a dial equipped with a device for determining acoustic events, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is shown. This device is autonomous and included in the wristwatch. [Figure 2] The diagram shows an exploded view of a first alternative embodiment of a dial formed by a laminate of four superimposed layers, each of which contains one or more components of a device that determines an acoustic event according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This first alternative embodiment of a dial equipped with an autonomous device for determining acoustic events according to the first embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. [Figure 4] The diagram shows an exploded view of a second alternative embodiment of a dial formed by a laminate of three superimposed layers, each of which contains one or more components of a device that determines an acoustic event according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5]This second alternative embodiment of the dial provided with the autonomous device for determining an acoustic event according to the second embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] FIG. 1 schematically shows a wristwatch 1 including a case 19 having a middle part to which a back cover and a crystal 22 are attached, a set of components forming a timepiece movement, and dials 2a, 2b disposed between the timepiece movement and the crystal 22.

[0013] In a manner well known to those skilled in the art, the timepiece movement drives a set of hands including an hour hand, a minute hand, and optionally a second hand. For this purpose, the dials 2a, 2b include through-holes for receiving the spindles of these hands. The dials 2a, 2b further include two surfaces 20a, 20b, namely, · a so-called visible surface 20a that is visible from the outside of the wristwatch 1, also referred to as the "visible part" or "visible upper part" of the dials 2a, 2b, and · a so-called hidden surface 20b that is disposed opposite the timepiece movement in the enclosure of the case 19 of the wristwatch 1, also referred to as the "hidden part" or "hidden lower part" of the dials 2a, 2b.

[0014] Such a visible surface 20a may, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, · contribute to the display of horological information / horological measurements or physical information / physical measurements obtained by sensors included in the movement, such as references (or displays) elements such as numbers, indices, lines or points, with or without hands, · include at least one graphic representation such as an inscription, a pattern, a text or a logo, etc.

[0015] This visible face 20a and this hidden face 20b are substantially flat and / or parallel and / or on opposite sides of each other. It should be noted that in other alternative embodiments, the dials 2a, 2b may include a domed visible face 20a and a hidden face 20b that may be domed or flat. These faces 20a, 20b are also connected to each other by the peripheral walls of the dials 2a, 2b.

[0016] Also, it should be noted that in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the dials 2a, 2b preferably have a circular shape. As will be understood, the present invention can also be implemented for dials 2a, 2b having other shapes, such as, for example, a triangular shape or a shape similar to a quadrilateral shape.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the timepiece movement is a mechanical movement. Alternatively, this movement may be an electromechanical movement. In the following description, a mechanical wristwatch will be referred to when the movement is mechanical, and an electromechanical and an electric wristwatch will be referred to when the movement is electromechanical and electric, respectively.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, such dials 2a, 2b include an autonomous device 3 that determines acoustic events. This determination device 3 includes its own power supply means, as will be described later. Such a device 3 that determines acoustic events is said to be autonomous, particularly with respect to the movement of the wristwatch 1 and particularly with respect to the power source of this movement, for example when this power source is an electrical power source such as an electromechanical movement. In these situations, it will be understood that the power used by this device 3 that determines acoustic events does not impair the autonomy of the movement.

[0019] In this context, the dials 2a and 2b can be detachably mounted on the watch 1, regardless of the type of watch 1. The only condition that must be met is that the dials 2a and 2b include a device 3 that determines an acoustic event, and are therefore autonomous with respect to the movement of the watch 1. Since the dials 2a and 2b are not electrically connected to the movement of the watch 1, they are also referred to as "autonomous dials."

[0020] The decision device 3 included in these dials 2a and 2b comprises a module 4 for reporting acoustic events, a standalone power supply unit 21, at least one receiver element 23 for receiving at least one acoustic wave, and a control unit 7.

[0021] In this device 3, the reporting module 4 is - At least one element capable of generating an optical signal 4, such as a light source 4, which allows device 3 to broadcast a visual message in relation to a determined acoustic event. · At least one element capable of generating a vibration signal, such as a piezoelectric vibrator or a vibrator including an ERM motor (eccentric rotating mass vibration motor) or LRA motor (linear resonant actuator vibration motor), which allows device 3 to broadcast a message in the form of vibration in relation to a determined acoustic event, and / or The device includes at least one element capable of generating an audio signal, such as a loudspeaker, which allows device 3 to broadcast an audible message related to a determined acoustic event.

[0022] As described above, at least one light source 4 is implemented to help display a visual message related to a determined acoustic event. Each light source 4 may correspond to any light-emitting element selected from a non-exhaustive and non-restrictive list. The list is: • Light-emitting capacitor or LEC, LED (light-emitting diode) type, OLED (organic light-emitting diode) type, AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) type, or QLED (quantum light-emitting diode) type light-emitting diodes, • Any light-emitting material activated by a local electric field, • Any light-emitting material that is activated by electric current, • Any combination of these light-emitting elements Includes.

[0023] It should be noted that in certain embodiments of the present invention, this light source 4 may be a light source 4 capable of forming an area light source. This allows the area light source to be given a predetermined shape. Typically, but not exhaustively, it can be given a shape related to a graphic representation of numbers, letters, logos, or text. It should also be noted that this light source 4 can generate light of any color and / or in any direction.

[0024] In the device 3 that determines the acoustic event, the at least one acoustic wave receiving element 23 is configured to identify such waves generated by the wristwatch, in particular by the watch components and / or watch mechanism of the movement of the wristwatch 1.

[0025] In a non-exclusive and non-exclusive manner, this watch component is: • External watch components such as the case, middle section, dial, and case back. It may be a component of a watch movement, such as a oscillating weight, rotor, mainspring barrel, gear train, or movement plate.

[0026] In this wristwatch, the timekeeping mechanism is involved in time measurement, or in function or complication. This may be, for example, a lever escapement.

[0027] The receiver element 23 includes at least one electroacoustic transducer capable of converting acoustic waves into electrical signals. The receiver element 23 may also include at least one pressure microphone or pressure gradient microphone, which generally includes a diaphragm or piezoelectric element that is deformable and / or movable under the influence of at least one acoustic signal.

[0028] Alternatively, the receiver element 23 may include at least one optical microphone, which is described in detail in Patent Document 1 and is a device capable of converting acoustic waves into electrical signals using interferometer-based techniques. Such a microphone particularly includes an electromagnetic radiation source, a reflective element such as a mirror, at least one detector for detecting this electromagnetic radiation, and an interferometer such as a Fabry-Perot interferometer or a Gilles Tornois etalon.

[0029] It should be noted that in other alternative embodiments, the receiver element 23 may include any combination of at least one pressure microphone, at least one pressure gradient microphone, and at least one optical microphone.

[0030] In this determination device 3, the standalone power supply unit 21 includes an electrical energy storage unit 6 and a photovoltaic module 5 which includes at least one photovoltaic cell, also referred to as a solar cell. This photovoltaic module 5 is connected to the electrical energy storage unit 6 via connecting elements shown by reference numerals 17b and 18 in Figures 3 and 5. This photovoltaic module 5 may include one or more heterojunction or multijunction unit cells connected in parallel or in series. Each photovoltaic cell in this module 5 may be made from a copper-based, indium-based, gallium-based, and selenium-based semiconductor material, a cadmium telluride-based semiconductor material, a single-crystal gallium arsenide-based semiconductor material, a single-crystal or polycrystalline silicon-based semiconductor material, or a perovskite-based semiconductor material, in embodiments well known to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that these examples are not limiting, and those skilled in the art may find a type of photovoltaic cell suitable for the present invention.

[0031] In this determination device 3 for determining acoustic events, a control unit 7, also referred to as a microcontroller, includes an electronic circuit 8. The electronic circuit 8 includes hardware resources, in particular a memory element, and at least one processor that works with an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. This control unit 7 is connected to a reporting module 4, to the at least one receiver element that receives at least one acoustic wave 23, and to a standalone power supply unit 21. The memory element of such a control unit 7 includes an algorithm for determining acoustic events.

[0032] This algorithm is capable of automated learning, also known as machine learning, and is preferably supervised. More specifically, it is a learning algorithm that determines acoustic events as a function of sound discrimination / signature characteristics derived from and executed by the control unit 7 from the processing of acoustic signals. Such an algorithm may include, or implement, at least one neural network and / or analytical function and / or polynomial regression principle. For this purpose, the control unit 7 involved in the implementation of such learning includes learning data related to acoustic wave measurements and learning data related to acoustic events that the watch has determined / identified to have experienced. The objective of this learning is to improve the algorithm (in particular the resulting model) to minimize the “estimated” error in the context of evaluating a given acoustic event as a function of acoustic wave measurements associated with that event.

[0033] It should be noted that such algorithms executed by the processor of this control unit 7 may also take into account other types of events based on data from the event sensors included in this decision device 3 in order to improve the determination of acoustic events. These events include, in a non-limiting and non-exclusive manner, the detection of a specific brightness level in the environment of the watch 1, the detection of a specific visual object, or the detection of movement by a part of the user's body including the watch 1. In this context, the event sensors of this decision device 3 may, in particular, in a non-limiting and non-exclusive manner, • A brightness sensor that detects the ambient brightness level. For example, motion sensors that sense movement by a part of the user's body, including a wristwatch 1, such as a gyro sensor and / or inertial sensor in the form of an electronic component of a gyro and / or inertial electromechanical microsystem circuit, and / or • Includes a photographic optical sensor.

[0034] Furthermore, if the reporting module 4 includes multiple light sources 4, their operation can be managed / controlled simultaneously and / or sequentially by the control unit 7. In addition, each light source 4 is managed / controlled individually by this control unit 7. In this context, the management of the operation of each light source 4 can be configured in a non-limiting and non-exclusive manner, from performing the following operations, namely sequential switching on or off, simultaneous switching on or off of two or more light sources 4, flashing of one or more light sources 4, defining the flashing frequency of each light source 4, the flashing time of each light source 4, and the switching on or off time of each light source 4.

[0035] The memory elements of such control unit 7 may further include algorithms for managing the electrical energy storage unit 6, in particular for managing recharging by the photovoltaic module 5, and for managing the power consumption of the reporting module 4 and the receiving element 23.

[0036] As described above, the autonomous device 3 that determines the acoustic event is thus included in the dials 2a and 2b. In this configuration, the components of the determination device 3, namely the reporting module 4, the electrical energy storage unit 6, the receiving element 23, the photovoltaic module 5, and the control unit 7, are included in one or more layers 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 that form the dials 2a and 2b.

[0037] Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the dials 2a and 2b are formed or composed of laminates 9a and 9b of multiple thin layers 10, 11, 12, and 13, and these layers 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are joined together and integrated by bonding elements such as adhesives to obtain monolithic laminates 9a and 9b, and thus to form integrated dials 2a and 2b. These bonding elements may be clips or screws. Such layers 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are superimposed within the multi-layer laminates 9a and 9b; that is, within the dials 2a and 2b, one is placed on top of the other in a predetermined order. It should be noted that such laminates 9a and 9b may also be referred to as aggregates of layers. In these laminates 9a and 9b, the multiple layers are substantially similar, having substantially the same upper and lower surface area / surface, which in turn contributes to the formation of the non-relief peripheral walls of the dials 2a and 2b.

[0038] It should be noted that each of these thin layers has a thickness of micrometers. More specifically, each layer may have a thickness of 1 to 100 μm, preferably 2 μm, and more preferably 3 μm. With respect to the thickness of the dials 2a and 2b, this thickness may be 8 to 400 μm, preferably 6 μm, more preferably 12 μm, even more preferably 100 μm, even more preferably 200 μm, or even more preferably 300 μm.

[0039] Such integrated dials 2a and 2b also have the additional advantage of being removablely mounted on the case 19 of the wristwatch 1, in addition to facilitating their integration into the case 19.

[0040] In the first alternative embodiment of the laminated structure 9a shown in Figure 3, it is composed of the following four consecutive thin layers 10, 11, 12, and 13. That is, - A first layer forming / constituting the visible surface 20a of the dial 2a, including at least one receiver element 23 and / or reporting module 4, • Second layer 11 including photovoltaic module 5, • A third layer 12 including an electrical energy storage device 6, also known as a rechargeable battery, and The fourth layer 13 forms the hidden surface 20b of the dial 2a, which includes at least one receiver element 23 and / or control unit 7.

[0041] The first layer 10 of this laminate 9a is preferably rigid or semi-rigid compared to the second, third, and fourth thin layers 11, 12, and 13, which are preferably soft or flexible. It is understood that such a first layer 10 contributes to the structural rigidity of the thin laminate 9a and, consequently, the dial 2a.

[0042] In this laminate 9a, the first, second, third, and fourth layers 10, 11, 12, and 13 each include an upper surface and a lower surface.

[0043] The first layer 10 is formed from a rigid or semi-rigid substrate that is transparent, translucent, at least partially transparent, or at least partially translucent. Such a substrate is made from a material having a transmittance (also known as UVT, "ultraviolet transmittance") between 65 and 95 percent of sunlight, particularly ultraviolet light. This transmittance is preferably 85 percent. Such a material may be transparent or translucent. This material may be, in no particular and non-exclusive, a polymer, glass, or ceramic.

[0044] In this context, it should be understood that this circuit board is • The light generated by at least one of the light sources in the reporting module 4 can escape to the outside of the dials 2a and 2b, and consequently to the outside of the wristwatch 1. The watch 1 is configured so that light from the environment (including solar radiation if this light is naturally occurring) can be transmitted through the dials 2a and 2b toward the photovoltaic module 5 of the device 3 that determines the acoustic event.

[0045] In other words, the transparent or translucent substrate is configured to transmit light (particularly solar radiation) that can be supplied to the photovoltaic module 5, which can convert the solar energy from this radiation into electrical energy.

[0046] This first layer 10 includes a reporting module 4 disposed on the main body of the substrate. In this configuration, the arrangement of the light source of this module 4 on the substrate is configured to ensure illumination of all or part of the visible surface 20a of the dial 2a, for example, illumination of graphic representations such as reference elements (or displays) such as numbers, indices, lines, dots, etc., or illumination of one or more hands, or illumination of all or part of the surface of the visible surface of the dial 2a. In an alternative embodiment, the light source 4 may have a predetermined shape, such as the shape of numbers, letters, indices, lines, dots, logos, or text.

[0047] This illumination can be backlight illumination or semi-direct illumination when the light source 4 is located in a cavity defined in the substrate. More specifically, this cavity may be a blind opening made in the underside of the substrate. In this configuration, if the bottom of this cavity includes a graphic representation, the light emission or light generated by the light source 4 can escape to the outside of the dial 2a through the visible surface 20a of the dial 2a, and thus at least one graphic representation can be seen in the dark. More specifically, the light emission escaping from the visible surface 20a outlines the graphic representation. In this context, this graphic representation included in the upper or lower surface of the substrate forming the first layer 10 is preferably opaque, non-transparent, or non-transparent.

[0048] This illumination can be direct illumination if the light source 4 is placed in a cavity defined in the substrate. This cavity may be a blind opening made in the underside of the substrate, and there is no graphic representation at its bottom. In this configuration, the light emission or light generated by the light source 4 can escape through the bottom of this cavity toward the outside of the dial 2a, and thus escape through the visible surface 20a of the dial 2a.

[0049] This illumination may also be direct illumination if the light source 4 is positioned in a through-aperture that extends through the thickness of the substrate of the first layer 10, with each end of the light source 4 opening to the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate. In this configuration, all or part of the light source 4 may project from the top surface of the substrate, and consequently from the first layer 10, or from the visible surface 20a of the dial 2a, to form graphic representations such as indices, numbers, dots, or lines.

[0050] Such illumination may also be remote illumination if at least one light source 4b is coupled to at least one waveguide. This waveguide is also called an optical guide and is used to transport light from the point where light enters the guide to the substrate, or to an area of ​​the substrate near the top surface of the substrate (e.g., a cavity or through-aperture). Such an optical guide may be an optical fiber that can bypass obstacles that may occur in the substrate, for example, between the electroluminescent element and the area of ​​the substrate near the top surface of the substrate, through which the light escapes. In this alternative embodiment, light is thus brought from the electroluminescent element through the waveguide to this area of ​​the substrate to be illuminated.

[0051] In this configuration, the first end of the waveguide is coupled to the light source 4, and the second end of this waveguide is connected to the light source 4. • A cavity that may be a blind opening created on the underside of the substrate of this first layer 10, or - A through-opening extending through the thickness of the substrate of the first layer 10, with each end of the through-opening opening in the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate, and consequently the first layer 10. That is, the second end may protrude from the upper surface of the substrate or the first layer 10, or from the visible surface 20a of the dial 2a, in order to form a graphic representation of the dial 2a, such as an index, a number, a dot or a line.

[0052] In this context, indirect lighting is achieved by a single light source 4 contained on the underside of the substrate of this first layer 10 by being coupled to multiple waveguides, and these second ends are · Each cavity emits light radiation from this light source 4 (this radiation escapes to the outside of the dial 2a via the visible surface 20a so that at least one graphic representation is permissible to see in the dark. In this context, this graphic representation, which is contained on the visible surface 20a of the dial 2a or on the upper surface of the substrate, is preferably opaque), and / or Each of these is positioned in a through-aperture that protrudes or does not protrude from the top surface of the substrate, in order to form a reference element such as an index, line, or point, which emits light radiation from this light source 4.

[0053] In this first layer 10, the reporting module 4 is coated / fastened by printing or vapor deposition to the underside of the substrate of this first layer 10, which is located in the cavity or on the inner wall of the aforementioned through-opening. In other words, the light source of this module 4 is coated / fastened by printing or vapor deposition to the underside of the substrate of this first layer 10, which is located in the cavity or on the inner wall of the aforementioned through-opening.

[0054] In this first layer 10, a receiver element 23 is positioned within / on this substrate so as to receive acoustic waves present in the enclosure of the watch case 1. This receiver element 23 may be positioned on or below the upper surface of this substrate forming the first layer 10. If positioned within the substrate, the receiver element 23 is positioned in a blind cavity formed on its upper surface. In one alternative embodiment, it may be positioned in a blind cavity made in the lower surface of the substrate, with this upper surface as its bottom surface. In this configuration, acoustic waves propagating on the dials 2a, 2b and on the visible surface 20a can be measured by the receiver element 23. The substrate may further include through holes connecting the upper and lower surfaces, and the receiver element 23 may be positioned in these through holes.

[0055] It should also be noted that the lower surface of the first layer 10 may be self-adhesive so as to be able to be assembled with the second layer 11.

[0056] In this laminate 9a, the second layer 11 includes a substrate containing a photovoltaic module 5. Such a substrate is preferably flexible or pliable. The substrate of the second layer 11 may be a film on which the photovoltaic module 5 is arranged, or it may be made of a polymer-based material.

[0057] In this second layer 11, the photovoltaic module is preferentially spread across the entire so-called effective area on the upper surface of the substrate. This effective area is a portion of the upper surface of the substrate that can receive light from the lower surface of the first layer 10 of the dial 2a. This light, which has passed through all or part of the first layer 10, originates from the external environment of the dial 2a and, consequently, the wristwatch 1, and in this case, is mainly emitted from sunlight in naturally occurring cases.

[0058] It should be noted that the photovoltaic module 5 is coated onto the upper surface of this substrate using an inkjet printing or screen printing process, or using a thermal deposition printing process. Here, we also refer to the second layer 11, which includes the printed photovoltaic module 5, and in particular the photovoltaic module 5 printed on the substrate of the second layer 11.

[0059] It should be noted that once the photovoltaic module 5 is applied to the substrate, a layer of self-adhesive material may be deposited on all or part of the upper and / or lower surfaces of the substrate. In these situations, the second layer 11 can be a self-adhesive layer that helps to facilitate assembly with other layers, in particular the first layer 10 and / or third layer 12 of the laminate 9a.

[0060] In the laminate 9a, this third layer 12 also preferably includes a flexible or pliable substrate. The substrate includes the electrical energy storage unit 6 of the autonomous decision device 3. This substrate of the third layer 12 may be a film on which the storage unit 6 is arranged. Such a substrate may be made from a material belonging to the polymer family.

[0061] This storage device 6 may be a lithium battery or a semiconductor battery. Such a battery 6 is coated onto the upper surface of the substrate using a process known in the prior art, as follows: • Printing processes on flexible polymer substrates (which are involved in lithium-ion batteries, for example), or • 3D printing process (which is involved in semiconductor batteries such as lithium metal semiconductor batteries).

[0062] Here, we also refer to the third layer 12, which includes the printed electrical energy storage units 6, and in particular the electrical energy storage units 6 printed on the substrate of the third layer 12.

[0063] This process makes it possible to obtain a flexible and extremely thin third layer 12 containing the accumulator 6.

[0064] Furthermore, it should be noted that once the accumulator 6 is applied to the substrate, a layer of self-adhesive material may be deposited on all or part of the upper and / or lower surfaces of the substrate. In these situations, the third layer 12 can be a self-adhesive layer that helps to facilitate assembly with other layers, particularly the second layer 11 and / or fourth layer 13 of the laminate 9a.

[0065] It should be noted that the storage unit 6 is used to store the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic module 5 and to release it on demand to supply power to the decision device 3, in particular to the reporting module 4 and the at least one receiving element 23.

[0066] In this laminate 9a, the fourth and final layer 13 forms the hidden surface of the dial 2a. Such fourth layer 13 is formed of a preferably flexible or soft substrate, which includes a control unit 7. Such a substrate for the fourth layer 13 may be, for example, a flexible PCB on which the control unit 7 is placed, and the control unit 7 is placed particularly on the upper surface of the PCB, and by extension, the substrate. In this context, the control unit 7 may be constructed on this upper surface of the substrate using a three-dimensional printing process or a polymer printing process.

[0067] In this fourth and final layer 13, a receiver element 23 is positioned within / on this substrate to receive acoustic waves present in the enclosure of the watch case 1. This receiver element 23 may be positioned on or below the underside of this substrate forming this fourth layer 13. If positioned within the substrate, the receiver element 23 is positioned in a blind cavity formed in its underside. In one alternative embodiment, it may be positioned in a blind cavity made in the upper surface of the substrate, with this underside as its bottom surface. In this configuration, acoustic waves propagating in the dials 2a, 2b and in the hidden surface 20b can be measured by the receiver element 23. The substrate may further include a through hole connecting the upper and lower surfaces, in which the receiver element 23 may be positioned.

[0068] In the second alternative embodiment, the laminate 9b forming the dial 2b includes three thin layers 10, 11, and 14 that are bonded together. It should be noted that this second alternative embodiment differs from the first alternative embodiment in that it includes three layers 10, 11, and 14 instead of the four layers 10, 11, 12, and 13 as in the first alternative embodiment. In this second alternative embodiment, the electrical energy storer 6 of the autonomous decision device 3 is here included in the third and final layer 14 of this laminate 9b, together with the control unit 7.

[0069] Such a third and final layer 14 of the laminate 9b forms the hidden surface of the dial 2b and is preferably made of a flexible or pliable substrate. On this substrate, preferably on the upper surface of the substrate, the battery 6 and the electronic circuits 8 constituting the control unit 7 are constructed. The accumulator 6 and the control unit 7 may be constructed on this upper surface of the substrate using a three-dimensional printing process or a polymer printing process. It should be noted that such a substrate may be, for example, a flexible PCB.

[0070] In this third and final layer 14 of this second alternative embodiment, a receiver element 23 is positioned in / on the substrate so as to receive acoustic waves present in the enclosure of the watch case 1. The receiver element 23 may be positioned on or below the underside of the substrate forming the third layer 14. If positioned in the substrate, the receiver element 23 is positioned in a blind cavity formed in the underside. In one alternative embodiment, it may be positioned in a blind cavity made in the upper surface of the substrate, with the underside being its bottom surface. In this configuration, acoustic waves propagating in the dials 2a, 2b and in the hidden surface 20b can be measured by the receiver element 23. The substrate may further include a through hole connecting the upper and lower surfaces, in which the receiver element 23 may be positioned.

[0071] In summary, in this second alternative embodiment, the laminate 9b is - A first layer forming the visible surface 20a of the dial 2a, including at least one receiving element 23 and / or reporting module 4, • A second layer 11 including a photovoltaic module 5, - A third layer 14 forming the hidden surface 20b of the dial 2b, which includes at least one receiver element 23 and / or the accumulator 6 and control unit 7. Includes.

[0072] It should be noted that in this second alternative embodiment, the first and second layers 10 and 11 are the same as those in the first alternative embodiment of the laminate 9a.

[0073] Furthermore, referring to Figures 3 and 5, the electronic circuit 8 of the control unit 7 includes a first connection element 15a, which is, • Reporting module 4 for broadcasting messages related to specific acoustic events, in order to manage the operation of module 4. It is connected to a connecting element 16 that connects to at least one receiver element 23 that contributes to the determination of an acoustic event.

[0074] This electronic circuit 8 further includes a second connection element 15b connected to the first connection element 17a of the accumulator 6.

[0075] Furthermore, it should be noted that the event sensors of the aforementioned decision device 3 are preferably located in the first layer 10 and / or the final layers 13, 14 of the multi-layer stack 9a, 9b and are connected to the control unit 7 of this device 3.

[0076] In a third alternative embodiment (not shown), the laminate of multiple thin layers forming the dial includes two interconnected layers. It should be noted that this third alternative embodiment differs from the second alternative embodiment in that it includes two layers instead of the three layers 10, 11, and 14 as in the second alternative embodiment. In this third alternative embodiment, the photovoltaic module 5 of the autonomous decision device 3 is here included in the first layer, in particular on the underside of the substrate forming this first layer. This photovoltaic module 5 may be coated on this underside of the substrate of this first layer using an inkjet printing process, a screen printing process, or a thermal evaporation printing process. Thus, this first layer is similar to the first layer 11 in the first and second alternative embodiments, but it should be noted that in this third alternative embodiment, the first layer additionally includes a photovoltaic module.

[0077] In the third alternative embodiment, similar to the second alternative embodiment, the electrical energy reservoir 6 of the autonomous decision device 3, together with the control unit 7, is included in the second and final layer of the laminate. Such a second layer, which forms the hidden surface of the dial, is preferably made of a flexible or pliable substrate. The battery 6 and the electronic circuits 8 constituting the control unit 7 are constructed on the preferably upper surface of this substrate. The reservoir 6 and the control unit 7 may be constructed on this upper surface of the substrate using a three-dimensional printing process or a polymer printing process. It should be noted that such a substrate may be, for example, a flexible PCB.

[0078] In summary, in this third alternative embodiment, the laminate of layers is therefore - A first layer forming the visible surface 20a of the dial, including at least one receiving element 23 and / or reporting module 4 and photovoltaic module 5, - A second layer forming the hidden surface 20b of the dial, including at least one receiver element 23 and / or the accumulator 6 and control unit 7. Includes.

[0079] In the final layers 13, 14 of various alternative embodiments, the transceiver module 23 is coated / fastened by printing or vapor deposition onto the underside or topside of the substrate of these layers, into the cavity, or onto the inner wall of the aforementioned through-opening.

[0080] In other words, in these dials 2a and 2b, the determination device 3 includes a receiver element 23 that converts received acoustic waves into electrical signals and transmits them to a control unit 7. Therefore, when at least one acoustic wave is generated by a clock component or clock mechanism, an electrical signal containing data related to one or more received acoustic waves is then transmitted to the control unit 7 by the receiver element 23. The control unit 7 then processes this data based on an algorithm for determining acoustic events. Such processing allows the acoustic event to be identified, in particular, as a function of the characteristics of at least one acoustic wave picked up by the receiver element 23 (i.e., the period, frequency, wavelength, acoustic power, acoustic intensity, acoustic pressure, and / or duration of the at least one acoustic wave).

[0081] By determining acoustic events, it may be permissible to implement various functions of this watch on the dials 2a and 2b. For example, the function of this watch may respond to the detection of shocks received by watch components such as case components (e.g., the middle section, crystal, or crown of watch 1) that may cause a loss of timekeeping accuracy. More specifically, shocks to the watch may disrupt the operation of the mechanism. As a result, even if the watch's internal clock accurately displays the current time, the hour and minute hands will give a distorted display of this current time because the gears have skipped several steps due to the impact on the watch. Therefore, it is necessary to resynchronize the positions of the hour and minute hands. Accordingly, as part of this function, the control unit 7 may generate a visual, vibratory, and / or audible message in response to this event, which communicates information about this loss of accuracy by controlling / driving the reporting module 4.

[0082] Other functions of a watch that use the determination of acoustic events may include, but are not limited to or exhaustive, the following: The passage (or non-passage) of the date indicator may be detected by the receiver element 23. The light source may then be used to transmit information about the event causing it. For example, the stopping of a mechanism stop notch, such as in the hand setting mechanism of wristwatch 1, can be detected by the receiver element 23. At least one light source can then be used to indicate the position in which the mechanism is positioned, for example, the time adjustment position or the date indicator adjustment position. A predetermined impact sequence can be detected by the receiver element 23, for example, to turn on or off the switch of the light source 4, or to modify its light color. A series of taps on the watch crystal 1 may be used to illuminate the dials 2a and 2b, or to backlight the hands so that the time is visible even at night. Another series of taps may be used to modify the color of light from at least one of the active light sources. The frequency deviation monitored by the receiver element 23 can be transmitted by using at least one light source. This frequency variation may indicate a current or future malfunction.

[0083] Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various simple alternatives and modifications can be conceived by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A watch face (2a, 2b) of a wristwatch (1) including an autonomous device (3) that determines an acoustic event, wherein the watch face (2a, 2b) includes a visible surface (20a) and a hidden surface (20b), and the watch face (2a, 2b) is formed by a laminate (9a, 9b) of layers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) extending between the visible surface (20a) and the hidden surface (20b), and each of the layers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is a functional element included in the autonomous device (3). - At least one receiver element (23) that receives at least one acoustic wave emitted from the wristwatch (1), - A reporting module (4) that reports the aforementioned acoustic event. - Standalone power supply unit (21), and - Includes one or more control units (7) that manage the operation of the reporting module (4) and the at least one receiving element (23) that receives at least one acoustic wave, The concealed surface (20b) is a dial (2a, 2b) positioned in the enclosure of the case of the wristwatch (1) facing the watch movement.

2. The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving element (23) includes a pressure microphone or a pressure gradient microphone.

3. The aforementioned reporting module is - At least one element capable of generating an optical signal (4), - At least one element capable of generating vibration signals, and / or - At least one element capable of generating an audio signal The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 1, including the dial (2a, 2b).

4. The laminate (9a, 9b) includes a first layer (10) on which the visible surface (20a) of the dial (2a, 2b) is provided, and the first layer (10) includes the at least one receiver element (23) and the reporting module (4), as described in claim 1.

5. The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver element (23) is arranged in a cavity formed in the hidden surface of the dial (2a, 2b).

6. The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 4, wherein the first layer (10) is configured to allow light radiation to pass through completely or partially.

7. The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 4, wherein the first layer (10) is entirely or partially transparent or translucent.

8. The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 1, wherein the laminate (9a, 9b) includes a second layer (11) having a photovoltaic module (5) that constitutes the standalone power supply unit (21).

9. The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 1, wherein the laminate (9a, 9b) includes a second layer (11) having a photovoltaic module (5) constituting the standalone power supply unit (21), and the second layer (11) includes a substrate on which the photovoltaic module (5) is printed.

10. The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 4, wherein the laminate (9a, 9b) includes a second layer (11) having a photovoltaic module (5) that constitutes the standalone power supply unit (21), the photovoltaic module (5) is arranged in an effective area of ​​the second layer (11), and the effective area is configured to receive light radiation emitted from the first layer (10) of the laminate (9a, 9b).

11. The dial (2a) according to claim 1, wherein the laminate (9a) includes a third layer (12) having an electrical energy storage device (6) that constitutes the standalone power supply unit (21).

12. The dial (2a) according to claim 1, wherein the laminate (9a) includes a third layer (12) having an electrical energy storage device (6) that constitutes the standalone power supply unit (21), and the third layer (12) includes a substrate on which the electrical energy storage device (6) is printed.

13. The dial (2a) according to claim 1, wherein the laminate (9a) includes a fourth layer (13) that forms a hidden surface (20b) of the dial (2a) including the control unit (7).

14. The dial (2b) according to claim 1, wherein the laminate (9b) includes a third layer (14) including a hidden surface (20b) of the dial (2b) equipped with the control unit (7), and an electrical energy storage unit (6) constituting the standalone power supply unit (21).

15. The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 4, wherein the first layer (10) is more rigid than the other flexible layers (11, 12, 13, 14) in the laminate (9a, 9b).

16. The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 1, wherein the visible surface (20a) and the hidden surface (20b) are flat or dome-shaped.

17. A wristwatch (1) including the dials (2a, 2b) described in claim 1.

18. A wristwatch (1) according to claim 17, characterized by comprising a mechanical, electronic, or electromechanical watch movement.

19. The dial (2a, 2b) according to claim 6, wherein the light radiation includes solar radiation.

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