Watch Case Humidity Sensing With External Optical Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing humidity measurement devices in watch cases require a power supply, making them unsuitable for mechanical watches or watches with limited space, and affect the autonomy of electronic watches.
Innovation Solution
A humidity measurement device using an optical system with a light beam transmitter and receiver, coupled with a processing unit outside the watch case, measures humidity via light beam absorption by water vapor without a power source inside the case, utilizing a multi-pass cell and reflective elements to enhance sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an electronic humidity measurement module with sensor and battery is integrated into the watch case, then humidity measurement capability is achieved, but the watch autonomy is reduced and the device becomes unsuitable for mechanical watches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power-consuming electronic components (battery, electronic sensor, processing unit) from the watch case and relocates them to an external docking station. Only the passive optical components (light transmitter, multi-pass cell, light receiver) remain inside the watch case. This extraction eliminates the autonomy penalty while preserving humidity measurement capability, as the external processing unit handles all power-intensive operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary system using light beams and a multi-pass cell to transfer measurement information from the sealed watch case to the external processing unit. The optical components inside the case act as mediators that convey humidity data without requiring electrical power or electronic sensors within the case itself, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement capability and energy consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a battery-powered electronic humidity sensor is installed in the watch case, then humidity detection is enabled, but the device complexity and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts all complex electronic components (sensor, processor, battery, memory, communication modules) from the watch case and places them in the external docking station. This leaves only simple passive optical elements inside the case, dramatically reducing internal device complexity while maintaining full humidity detection capability through the external processing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic sensing mechanisms with an optical measurement system. Instead of using electronic sensors that require power and complex signal processing, the system uses optical absorption measurement through a multi-pass cell, where humidity detection is achieved by measuring light absorption characteristics without electronic sensors inside the case.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a battery-powered electronic humidity module is integrated into the watch case, then humidity measurement is achieved, but the available volume inside the case is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts all volume-consuming electronic components (battery, circuit boards, electronic sensors) from the watch case and relocates them to the external docking station. This extraction frees up significant internal volume while preserving the humidity measurement function through the compact optical components and external processing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the bulky electronic humidity sensor module with a compact optical measurement system using a multi-pass cell and light beams. This substitution dramatically reduces the volume required for humidity measurement inside the case, as the optical components occupy minimal space compared to electronic sensors and their supporting infrastructure.
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 accurate humidity measurement in watch cases without internal power, suitable for mechanical and small electronic watches, maintaining autonomy and reducing the need for frequent servicing.
Implementation Method 1
a light beam transmitter
Implementation Method 2
a multi-pass cell through which the light beam is intended to pass
Implementation Method 3
process data transmitted thereby in order to determine the humidity present in the internal volume of the case on the basis of the absorption of the light beam by the water vapour
Data Source
AI summary
A device for measuring the humidity in the internal volume of a case of a watch, which device includes a watch including a case housing an optical system, the optical system including a transmitter transmitting a light beam, a multi-pass cell through which the light beam is intended to pass, and a receiver intended to receive the light beam once it has passed through the multi-pass cell; a management module external to the case, including a processing unit configured to communicate with the optical system and to process data transmitted thereby in order to determine the humidity present in the internal volume of the case on the basis of the absorption of the light beam by the water vapour that may be present in the internal volume of the case.