Timepiece Pressure Sensor Transmission Member Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing timepieces with pressure sensors require complex and bulky adjustments to ensure accurate display of surrounding pressure, involving disassembly and reassembly of the movement within the watch case, which is time-consuming and delicate.

Innovation Solution

A compact transmission member with a first part integral to the pressure sensor and a second movable part that cooperates with the conversion member, allowing adjustment of the display means without altering the movement's position, using a tubular chimney and needle mechanism for precise alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the movement position is adjusted within the watch case to set the display to zero, then the display accuracy is improved, but the assembly process becomes lengthy and delicate requiring disassembly and reassembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay accuracyVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission member is divided into a first part fixed to the pressure sensor and a second part that is movable relative to the first part. This segmentation allows the second part to be adjusted independently to modify the reference position of the display without requiring disassembly of the movement from the watch case, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining display accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable second part of the transmission member acts as an intermediary element between the pressure sensor and the display means. By adjusting this intermediate component, the reference position can be modified without directly moving the conversion element or disassembling the movement, thus simplifying the adjustment process and reducing assembly time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the conversion element position is adjusted by moving the movement within the case, then the zero reference is calibrated accurately, but the operation becomes delicate and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezero reference calibrationVSAvoidadjustment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission member is segmented into fixed and movable parts, allowing the second part to be adjusted independently. This enables operators to calibrate the zero reference by simply moving the second part of the transmission member rather than performing delicate adjustments of the entire movement position, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second part of the transmission member is designed to be movable relative to the first part, introducing dynamic adjustability to an otherwise static transmission mechanism. This allows for easy calibration of the zero reference position by simply relocating the movable second part, making the adjustment process less delicate and more user-friendly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If bulky additional components are added to enable adjustment, then the display can be adjusted without disassembly, but the device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment convenienceVSAvoidcomponent quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable second part of the transmission member is integrated into the existing transmission mechanism between the pressure sensor and the display means. This merging approach allows the adjustment function to be incorporated within the existing kinematic chain without adding bulky external components, thus improving ease of operation while minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The movable second part of the transmission member is positioned within the existing kinematic chain, nested between the pressure sensor and the conversion element. This nesting approach allows the adjustment mechanism to be compact and integrated within the existing structure, avoiding the need for bulky additional components while maintaining adjustment convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables easy and precise adjustment of the pressure display without disassembling the movement, providing a more compact and user-friendly solution for accurately displaying pressure variations.

Implementation Method 1

A pressure sensor in the form of a diaphragm 10, on whose inner face is mounted a transmission member 20

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3306420B1Timepiece including a pressure sensor
Publication Date: 2020.09.09 OFFICINE PANERAI AG
  • EP3306420B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3306420B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3306420B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A timepiece comprising a watch case (18) and a timepiece movement (14) disposed inside the watch case (18), said timepiece further comprising a pressure sensor arranged to provide a displacement in response to a pressure variation and to drive display means (16) comprising a movable indicator opposite a graduated scale enabling the display on said scale of the surrounding pressure of the timepiece, said pressure sensor being kinematically connected to the display means (16) by a transmission member (20) capable of transmitting said displacement of the pressure sensor to a conversion member (12) kinematically connected to said display means (16).According to the invention, the transmission member (20) comprises a first part (200) fixed in movement to said pressure sensor and a second part (202) mounted on said first part (200), said second part (202) being movable in reference to the latter and able to cooperate with the conversion member (12).