Watch Control Bezel Unidirectional Drive and Magnetic Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical and smart watches, particularly diving watches, face challenges in reconciling irreversible fixation for safety with reversible fixation for operation, while maintaining water resistance and allowing bidirectional bezel operation.
Innovation Solution
A watch design with a control bezel that drives a display bezel unidirectionally through a ratchet mechanism and a movable member, using magnetic or mechanical transmission means, allowing operation in one direction without impacting water resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the display bezel is fixed to maintain irreversible fixation for safety, then the water resistance and safety are improved, but the reversibility for operation and maintenance is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The bezel assembly is segmented into a display bezel and a control bezel that can rotate independently. The display bezel maintains irreversible fixation through a ratchet mechanism for safety, while the control bezel allows bidirectional rotation for operation and maintenance, resolving the contradiction between safety and reversibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A control bezel acts as an intermediary element between the user and the display bezel. It transmits rotational input to activate functions without requiring rotation of the display bezel itself, enabling operation while maintaining the display bezel's irreversible fixation for safety.
2Ease of operation
If the control bezel allows bidirectional rotation for operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the water resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Magnetic transmission means replace direct mechanical contact between the control bezel and internal mechanisms. This allows bidirectional rotation of the control bezel for ease of operation while maintaining water resistance by eliminating mechanical seals and contact points that could compromise the seal.
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic fields act as an intermediary transmission medium between the control bezel and internal movable members. This non-contact transmission enables bidirectional operation without mechanical penetration of the water-resistant barrier, preserving water resistance while improving ease of operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If magnetic transmission means are used for contactless driving, then the water resistance is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic transmission system serves multiple functions: it transmits rotational motion bidirectionally, maintains water resistance through contactless operation, and can be configured for different transmission requirements. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by eliminating the need for separate mechanical seals and contact mechanisms.
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 safe and reliable operation of watch functions underwater by ensuring unidirectional bezel rotation, maintaining water resistance and enabling contactless activation of internal mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
the control bezel is arranged to drive the movable member by means of contactless transmission means formed by magnetic transmission means, the control bezel or the movable member comprising magnets arranged to cooperate with magnets or at least one ferromagnetic mass that the movable member or respectively the control bezel comprises so as to allow contactless driving of the movable member by the control bezel through the caseband
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2
Figure 5~7
AI summary
One aspect of the invention relates to a watch (100) comprising a caseband (50) carrying a display bezel (10), and a control bezel (20) accessible to a user for operation and rotatable in a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite to the first and capable of driving the display bezel (10) only in the first direction of rotation, through a unidirectional drive mechanism of the display bezel, under the action of a rotational movement imparted by a user to the control bezel (20) in the first direction of rotation, the watch further comprising a movable member other than the display bezel and the control bezel (20) being arranged to be able to further drive the movable member (30) under the action of a rotational movement imparted by a user to the control bezel (20) in the second direction of rotation. The movable member is advantageously located inside the watch.