CH720384A2 - Isothermal device for watch - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an isothermal device (1) for mechanical and/or functional components (5) of a watch (10), comprising a housing (2) provided with an enclosure (4) in which is capable of being removably arranged a case (12) of said watch (10) of which a crystal (11) is arranged facing a crystal (6) of said case (2), said device (1) comprising: – a fixing device (13) reversible fixing said box (12) of watch (10) in said enclosure (4) while keeping it away from functional elements (15) of this case (2), said elements (15) forming this enclosure (4) comprising a middle part (9a), a bottom (9b) and the glass (6) with variable opacity of this case (2), and – a dynamic control system (3) of the temperature of this enclosure (4) comprising said glass (6) with variable opacity and a control unit (8) configured to control the opacity of said glass (6) of the housing (2).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an isothermal device for mechanical and/or functional components of a watch arranged in a case of this device, said device comprising a system for dynamic control of the temperature of the enclosure of this case.

Technology background

[0002] A watch conventionally comprises a bracelet and a watch case comprising several mechanical or even electronic components. It is known in the state of the art that some of these components do not withstand certain temperatures, and cease to function correctly at these temperatures.

[0003] There is therefore a need to be able to use a watch, particularly an electronic watch, in environments where such temperatures may prevail.

Summary of the invention

[0004] For this purpose, the invention relates to an isothermal device for mechanical and/or functional components of a watch, comprising a case provided with an enclosure in which a box of said can be removably arranged. watch of which a crystal is arranged opposite a crystal of said case, said device comprising: - a reversible fixing device fixing said watch case in said enclosure while keeping it away from functional elements of this case, said elements forming this enclosure comprising a middle part, a bottom and the variable opacity glass of this case, and – a system for dynamic control of the temperature of this enclosure comprising said variable opacity glass and a control unit configured to control the opacity of said glass of the housing.

[0005] In other embodiments: – said glass with variable opacity comprises an element for varying the transmittance of this glass; – the control unit (8) is connected from a connecting element to the element for varying the transmittance of the glass with variable opacity; – the glass with variable opacity comprises a transparent substrate, a lower surface of which comprises a transmittance variation element; – the glass with variable opacity comprises a transparent substrate including a transmittance variation element included in its body; – the transparent substrate is formed of two layers of transparent material between which layers is placed the transmittance variation element consisting of the stack of functional layers; – the control unit comprises at least one event sensor, said event being capable of causing a temperature variation in the enclosure of the box, such a sensor being a brightness sensor and/or a temperature sensor; – the element for varying the transmittance of the glass with variable opacity is an electrochromic element, in particular a liquid crystal electrochromic element; – said enclosure is under vacuum or almost under vacuum; – the glass with variable opacity has a surface which is significantly greater or strictly greater than that of the glass of the watch case.

Brief description of the figures

[0006] Other particularities and advantages will emerge clearly from the description given below, for information only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figures, in which: – Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a view from above of an isothermal device comprising a housing provided with a glass comprising an element for varying a transmittance of said glass, according to embodiments of the invention, and - Figure 2 is a sectional view along the axis II-II of the schematic representation of the watch in Figure 1, according to the embodiments of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

[0007] Figures 1 and 2 represent an isothermal watchmaking device 1 for mechanical and/or functional components 5 of a watch 10. This isothermal device 1 also called "Dewar watchmaking device" or more simply "Dewar device" comprises a thermal protection box 2. Such a box 2 is also called an “insulated box” or even a “Dewar box”. This isothermal device 1 for thermal protection for mechanical and/or functional components 5 of a watch 10, is capable of providing good thermal insulation to mechanical and/or functional components 5 of the watch 10 of which a box 12 must be arranged in an enclosure 4 of this housing 2 in order to ensure such thermal insulation to these components 5. In other words, this housing 2 is notably formed by the combination of its functional elements 15 with the watch box 12 10 in order to achieve insulation thermal suitable for these mechanical and/or functional components 5. These functional elements 15 of the housing 2 forming this said enclosure 4, comprise a glass 6, an interior peripheral wall 17 of a middle part 9a and a bottom 9b of this housing 2. In this configuration, the box 12 of watch 10 is arranged in such an enclosure 4 while being kept distant or at a distance from the functional elements of the case 2 forming this said enclosure 4. It will be noted that this inner peripheral wall 17 of the middle part 9a is also that of said enclosure 4.

[0008] In this isothermal device 1, the housing 2 comprises a dynamic control system 3 of the temperature of its enclosure 4. Such a system 3 participates in regulating the temperature prevailing in this enclosure 4. To do this, this system 3 comprises the glass 6 of the box 2, which is a transparent glass 6 with variable opacity, also more simply called glass 6 with variable opacity, and a control unit 8 connected to this glass 6 which is configured to control/control this opacity.

[0009] In this context, the control unit 8 comprises an electronic circuit comprising a controller provided with hardware resources, in particular at least one processor cooperating with memory elements as well as data and control address buses , and also an energy accumulator otherwise called a battery. This control unit 8 includes in its memory elements an algorithm for managing the temperature in the enclosure 4 of the housing 2. Such an algorithm is executed by the processor of this control unit 8 taking into account in particular data coming from sensors of events included in the control unit 8 in order to ensure the management of the temperature in the enclosure 4 of the box 2. It will be noted that such data can for example provide information relating to events detected by these sensors, said events being likely to contribute/result in/generate a variation in the temperature in the enclosure 4 of the housing 2. These events may include in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: the detection of a particular level of brightness in the environment of the isothermal device 1, in particular solar radiation, and the detection of a temperature variation in the enclosure 4 compared to a configurable reference temperature, etc.

[0010] In this context, the event sensor comprises in particular and in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: – a brightness sensor comprising a solar radiation sensor and/or an infrared solar radiation sensor and/or a sensor ultraviolet solar radiation, and/or – a temperature sensor.

[0011] It will be noted that each event sensor is part of the control unit 8 and is connected to the controller of this unit 8. The temperature sensor is arranged in the enclosure 4 of the box 2. Concerning the sensor brightness, it is arranged in the housing 2 and in particular in at least one of the functional elements 15 of this housing 2 so as to be exposed to the light coming from the external environment of the isothermal device 1 and therefore from the housing 2. A for example, this brightness sensor can be arranged in the body of the glass 6 of the housing 2 and/or on an internal face 16 of this glass 6.

[0012] In this isothermal device 1, the control unit 8 comprises a substrate such as a flexible PCB on which its electronic circuit is arranged with the exception of the brightness sensor which can be included in the glass 6 or on a internal face 16 of this glass 6 of the housing 2. In this context, the construction of this circuit on this substrate can be carried out using three-dimensional printing processes or even polymer printing processes. It will be noted that this substrate is arranged in the enclosure 4 on one of the functional elements 15 such as the interior face 18 of the bottom 9b or even on the interior peripheral wall 17 of the enclosure 4.

As we have mentioned, the control unit 8, and in particular its controller, is connected/connected from a connecting element 14 to the glass 6 of the housing 2. Such a glass 6 is formed of a substrate and a transmittance variation element 7 of this substrate, and by extension of the glass 6. Such a transmittance variation element 7 is for example an electrochromic element, in particular a liquid crystal electrochromic element. Remember that this transmittance is the quantity of energy (thermal or light radiation) that the glass 6 of the box 2 is capable of transmitting in relation to the flow of incident solar radiation. It will be noted that such a substrate is made of a material such as glass such as mineral glass, optical ceramic, acrylic glass, or even sapphire glass.

[0014] Such a transmittance variation element 7, when it is an electrochromic element, comprises a layer of an electrochromic material capable of reversibly and simultaneously inserting cations and electrons and whose oxidation states correspond to the inserted states and disinserted are of distinct coloring, one of the states having a higher light transmission than the other. The insertion or deinsertion reaction is controlled by an application of an electrical voltage produced by the control unit 8. The electrochromic material, usually based on tungsten oxide, must thus be brought into contact with a source of electrons such as a transparent electroconductive layer and a source of cations such as an ionic conductive electrolyte.

[0015] In a first variant of the lens 6 of the housing 2, the transmittance variation element 7 is arranged/applied/printed/deposited on a lower surface of the substrate, then forming the internal face 16 of this lens 6. This transmittance variation element 7 is formed in a manner known per se, from a stack of functional layers. More precisely when it is an electrochromic element with liquid crystals, it comprises a film placed between first and second electroconductive layers and based on a polymeric material in which droplets of liquid crystals, in particular nematic to positive dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystals, when the film is put under tension, orient themselves along a preferred axis, and configure the glass 6 in a first state where the transmittance of this glass 6 is maximum. When the film is turned off, in the absence of alignment of the crystals, the film becomes diffusing and absorbing, and the glass 6 is then configured in a second state where its transmittance is minimal or even zero.

[0016] In a second variant of the glass 6 of the housing 2, the transmittance variation element 7 is included in the body of the substrate forming this glass 6 of the housing 2. In this context, this substrate can then be formed of two layers of transparent material such as glass, between which layers is placed the transmittance variation element 7 consisting of the stack of functional layers. When this transmittance variation element 7 is an electrochromic element, these functional layers can comprise, for example: – a first electroconductive layer; – a first layer of anodic electrochromic material in hydrated iridium oxide (it could be replaced by a layer in hydrated nickel oxide); – a layer of hydrated tantalum oxide with a protective function; – a layer of electrolyte in solid solution of polyoxyethylene with phosphoric acid; – a second layer of cathode electrochromic material based on tungsten oxide; – a second electroconductive layer.

[0017] It will be noted that in these two variants, the stack of functional layers forming the transmittance variation element 7 may comprise an additional layer of thermoplastic polymer such as polyvinyl butyral known by the acronym PVB which, preferably , contains ultraviolet filtering agents. Such a layer can be arranged in the first variant just after the first electroconductive layer, and in the second variant between the glass layer and the first electroconductive layer.

[0018] Thus, the control unit 8 by controlling/piloting the variation of an electrical voltage applied to the first and second electroconductive layers of the transmittance variation element 7, makes it possible to vary the transmittance property of the ice 6 of housing 2 between the first and second transmittance states. Let us recall that the first state here relates to a maximum transmittance of this glass 6 during which state, this glass 6 of the box 2 is then transparent thus allowing solar radiation to penetrate into the enclosure 4 of the latter. The second state relates to a minimal or even zero transmittance of the ice 6, during which state, the ice 6 is then completely or partially opaque preventing/blocking the penetration of solar radiation, at least 99 percent, into this state. enclosure 4. In other words, during this second state, solar radiation is no longer transmitted by the glass 6 in enclosure 4 of housing 2.

[0019] Furthermore, as we have previously mentioned, the watch box 12 10 is arranged in the housing 2 of this isothermal device 1 while being moved away or kept at a distance 19 or even at a distance 19 from the wall inner peripheral 17 of the enclosure 4, thanks to the reversible fixing device 13 of the housing 2. In other words, such a fixing device 13 is capable of configuring a spacing 19 between said box 12 and the functional elements of the housing 2 forming said enclosure 4. In this configuration, the fixing device 13 contributes to reducing or even eliminating any thermal conduction between the interior peripheral wall 17 of the middle part 9a (or enclosure 4) and/or the bottom 9b and/or the glass 6 with the box 12 of watch 10 in particular with an external overall face of this box 12. This external overall face comprises an upper face comprising the glass 11 of the box 12 of this watch 10, a lower face comprising a bottom of said box 12 and an external peripheral wall of a middle part of this box 12.

[0020] In this configuration, the fixing device 13 performing reversible fixing of the box 12 of watch 10 on the inner peripheral wall 17 of the enclosure 4 of this case 2, can comprise: – connecting members having each of first and second ends capable of connecting respectively to the box 12 of watch 10 and to the interior peripheral wall 17 of the enclosure 4 of this case 2. The body of each member has a particular structure which contributes to ensuring a reduction in thermal losses towards the external environment of the housing 2 of the insulated device 1 and therefore to ensure an internal temperature in the watch box 12 10 which is stable, and/or – connecting members configured to ensure magnetic levitation of said watch box 12 10 in said enclosure 4. In fact, these connecting members are configured to ensure and maintain a spacing 19 between said box 12 and the functional elements 15 forming said enclosure 4 of the housing 2. Such connecting members contribute to reducing or even to eliminate any thermal conduction between the interior peripheral wall 17 of the middle part 9a and/or the bottom 9b and/or the crystal 11 with the watch box 12 10 in particular with an external overall face of this box 12.

[0021] It will be noted that the box 12 is included in a watch 10 which can be an electronic watch, for example a quartz watch, or even a mechanical watch or even an electromechanical watch.

[0022] The mechanical and/or functional components 5 of the watch 10, mentioned above, include in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: a watch movement, display device such as a dial, hands, rings, seals and /or electronic and/or electrical components. It will be noted in particular that such electronic and/or electrical components comprise for example a display device, a processor, a memory, an energy storage component, a motor, an integrated circuit and an electronic oscillator, etc.

[0023] In this context, this device 1 therefore comprises the housing 2 which includes the middle part 9a on which is mounted a bracelet 9c allowing a user of this device 1 to wear it. This case 2 also includes the glass 6 and the bottom 9b mentioned above. In this device 1, it will be noted that the glass 6 preferably comprises a surface which is substantially greater or strictly greater than a glass 11 of the case 12 of watch 10. In other words, the internal face 16 of the glass 6 has a surface which is significantly greater or strictly greater than or equal to that of an upper face of the crystal 11 of the watch 10.

As we have seen, the functional elements 15 such as the glass 6, the middle part 9a and the bottom 9b of this device 1 together define the enclosure 4 of this box 2 which is capable of receiving the box 12 watch 10. These three elements 15 of the case 2, namely the middle part 9a, the crystal 6 and the back 9b can be distinct elements which are joined together to construct this enclosure 4. Alternatively, the middle part 9a and the back 9b of the housing 2 can together form a single piece, said single piece defining an opening opposite the bottom 9b which is capable of being closed by the glass 6 and this, in a reversible and waterproof and hermetic manner. In an alternative, the middle part 9a and the crystal 6 of the watch case 2 10 can together form a one-piece part, said one-piece part defining an opening opposite the glass 6 which is capable of being closed by the bottom 9b and this, also reversible and waterproof and airtight.

The middle part 9a and the bottom 9b are preferably made in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner from a metallic material, from glass or from thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer resins reinforced with carbon or glass fibers or even from ceramic materials. It will be noted that when the middle part 9a and the bottom 9b are transparent or semi-transparent, for example being made of glass, the interior peripheral wall 17 of the middle part 9a and the interior face 18 of the bottom 9b can be coated with a metallic reflective coating or similar, such as for example a layer of silver.

[0026] Furthermore in this device, when the box 12 of watch 10 is arranged in the enclosure 4 of the case 2, the space defined between this box 12 and the interior peripheral wall 17 of the middle 9a, the bottom 9b and the ice 6 is empty of material or almost empty. In other words, enclosure 4 is under vacuum or almost under vacuum.

We therefore understand that in this configuration, this isothermal device 1 has the same properties and characteristics as a Dewar tube/vase well known in the state of the art. As we have previously mentioned, the properties and characteristics of this isothermal device 1 contribute to giving it good thermal insulation with regard to particularly extreme temperatures which may prevail in the external environment in which such a device 1 can be located.

[0028] In addition, it will be noted that the mechanical and/or functional components 5 of the watch 10 can be non-magnetic and/or that the case 2 of the watch 10 can be made of a material or be covered with a coating allowing isolate these components from magnetic fields.

[0029] Furthermore, the fixing device 13 helps to arrange the box 12 of watch 10 in this case 2 so that the glass 11 of this box 12 of watch 10 is arranged facing the glass 6 of the case 2 so that the information included on the dial and/or the display interface of this watch 10 can be perceived through the transparent glass 6 of the case 2 by the user carrying the insulated device 1.

[0030] Thus such an isothermal device 1 provides the mechanical and/or functional components 5 of the watch 10 with very good thermal insulation with respect to the external environment by reducing or even preventing heat loss by radiation from the arranged components. in box 12 of watch 10 for a long time. Thus, when the temperature outside the device 1 reaches extreme values, the temperature inside the enclosure 4 remains substantially equal to the temperature present in the box 12 of watch 10 when it is arranged in the box 2, typically around 20°C. It will be noted that whatever the temperature conditions prevailing in the environment of the isothermal device 1, the temperature present in the box 12 of watch 10 is a temperature which does not hinder the proper functioning of the watch 10. This temperature is maintained over a period which is 2 to 18 times longer than the period during which such a watch box 12 10 would be capable of preserving an operating temperature of its components by being located directly in such an environment where such temperatures reign. that is to say by being located outside the case 2 of the isothermal device 1. We can thus see that such a configuration makes it possible to protect the mechanical and/or functional components 5 of the watch 10, as well as to participate in ensuring their operation in a manner optimal in extreme outdoor temperature conditions.

[0031] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described and that various simple modifications and variants can be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. as defined by the appended claims. We can for example envisage that the control unit 8 can comprise a movement sensor of the isothermal device 1 making it possible in particular to activate the passage of the glass 6 of the housing 2 from the second state to the first transmittance state and this, therefore that it is detected that the user of the insulated device wishes to read information displayed on the dial of the watch 10 by orienting the glass 6 of the case 2 in the direction of his gaze. Such a sensor may be a gyroscopic and/or inertial sensor in the form of an electronic component of the gyroscopic and/or inertial electromechanical microsystems circuit type.

Claims (10)

1. Isothermal device (1) for mechanical and/or functional components (5) of a watch (10), comprising a case (2) provided with an enclosure (4) in which is capable of being arranged so removable a box (12) of said watch (10) of which a glass (11) is arranged facing a glass (6) of said case (2), said device (1) comprising: – a reversible fixing device (13) fixing said watch box (12) (10) in said enclosure (4) while keeping it away from functional elements (15) of this case (2), said elements (15) forming this enclosure (4) comprising a middle part (9a), a bottom (9b) and the glass (6) with variable opacity of this case (2), and – a dynamic control system (3) for the temperature of this enclosure (4) comprising said glass (6) with variable opacity and a control unit (8) configured to control the opacity of said glass (6) of the housing ( 2). 2. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said glass (6) with variable opacity comprises an element for varying its transmittance (7). 3. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized that the control unit (8) is connected from a connecting element (14) to the transmittance variation element (7) of the ice ( 6) with variable opacity. 4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glass (6) with variable opacity comprises a transparent substrate, a lower surface of which comprises an element for varying the transmittance (7) of said glass ( 6). 5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the glass (6) with variable opacity comprises a transparent substrate including a transmittance variation element (7) included in its body. 6. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the transparent substrate is formed of two layers of transparent material between which layers is arranged the transmittance variation element (7) consisting of the stack of functional layers. 7. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (8) comprises at least one event sensor, said event being capable of causing a temperature variation in the enclosure (4) of the housing (2), such a sensor being a brightness sensor and/or a temperature sensor. 8. Device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the element for varying the transmittance (7) of the glass (6) with variable opacity is an electrochromic element, in particular an electrochromic element with liquid crystals. 9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said enclosure (4) is under vacuum or almost under vacuum. 10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glass (6) with variable opacity has a surface which is substantially greater or strictly greater than that of the glass (11) of the box (12 ) watch (10).