Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B33/00—Electroluminescent light sources
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C15/00—Other forms of jewellery
  • A44C15/0015—Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C15/00—Other forms of jewellery
  • A44C15/004—Jewellery with monograms or other inscription
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
  • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
  • G04G9/08—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques
  • G04G9/10—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques by controlling light sources, e.g. electroluminescent diodes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for displaying digital or alphanumeric symbols, for example a watch.
• the present invention relates in particular to a device for displaying symbols by segment
• Liquid crystal displays are widespread and have the advantage of a very low power consumption. Since liquid crystals do not emit clean light, these devices require an additional light source so that they can be viewed at night or in low light conditions. Even during the day, the contrast offered by LCD displays is low.
• Segment displays that emit their own light are also known. Examples are light-emitting diode (LED) displays or plasma displays, which have the advantage of being very readable even in low light. These devices however have the disadvantage of a significant power consumption which limits their use in portable devices, such as watch, calculator or mobile phone.
• the light-emitting diode-display watches therefore generally include a means for activating the display segments for a predetermined period of time before the display turns off by itself in order to spare the battery.
• electroluminescent is fragile, so that they must be protected by ice. This ice increases the thickness of the device and reflects the external light, which affects the readability of the display. Lastly, light-emitting diode displays have often been used for economical watches, so that their image is frequently, but wrongly, associated with inferior quality.
• FR2838838 discloses a wristwatch indicating the hours and minutes by means of two series of light emitting diodes representing hours, respectively minutes. Reading the time is inconvenient since it does not call for digital or alphanumeric symbols but an unusual code. This solution is most suitable for displaying hours from 1 to 12 and minutes in 5 minute increments, but would be impractical to display accurate minu es, since a row of 60 diodes would be required. This document also suggests associating a translucent stone with each source of light, but does not indicate how the stones are arranged with respect to the LEDs, and does not propose in particular to light the stones.
• US6553786 discloses a jewel comprising a diamond paver, including light-colored diamonds arranged to write text when the paver is illuminated with ultraviolet light. This construction only makes it possible to display texts or fixed symbols, but is unsuitable for displaying variable alphanumeric data, such as time indications.
• EP894449 discloses a watch strap with light-emitting diodes to produce an animated decorative effect.
• the diodes are not covered and are not intended to display numeric or alphanumeric information.
• US4601584 discloses a watch face provided with light-emitting diodes for displaying different amusing words. However, LEDs are not used to display digital or alphanumeric symbols, nor are they protected by stones. * V1
• GB2276071 describes a jewel with backlit stones using LEDs. However, LEDs are not used to display numeric or alphanumeric symbols.
• An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device, in particular a watch, which avoids these disadvantages of the prior art.
• the illumination of the stones in transparency by means of electroluminescent sourcesselectively activated, makes it possible to make them sparkle or shine, especially when the stones are cut with facets.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a view from above of an example of a watch according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a watch case, without the bottom, according to a first embodiment of the invention. * V1
• FIG. 3 illustrates a view from above of a watch case according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a partial view in a skirt according to the plane of skirt A-A of FIG. 3 of a watch case according to the invention.
• FIGS 1 to 4 illustrate an embodiment of a device of the invention, constituted in this example by a wristwatch.
• the watch comprises a housing 10 whose upper face is constituted by a plate, or dial, 12 entirely covered with transparent or translucent stones 120.
• the plate 12 is an integral part of the watch case.
• stone is understood to be any solid, transparent or translucent element which diffracts the incident light and / or the light passing through the stone according to different directions, so as to produce flickering, iridescent, shimmering effects, etc.
• flickering iridescent, shimmering effects
• the stones are arranged in a matrix way, in a block with several lines and several columns.
• the lines and columns are equidistant.
• Other stone arrangements for example stones that would only cover a limited portion of the upper face of the box, or several portions ofjoints, or even irregular arrangements, for example stones of unequal size set in snow, can also be imagined in the context of the 'invention.
• the watch case 10 is entirely covered with stones, and other stones seem to overflow the box to cover a portion of the bracelet 11. The boundary between the stones above the box and those that overhang the bracelet is not clearly discernable.
• the bracelet is preferably a flexible bracelet made of leather, rubber, textile or synthetic material covered for example with satin or textile.
• Some stones are placed in front of light sources, for example light emitting diodes (LEDs) 121.
• the reference 1200 indicates the other stones not backlit. 120 refers indifferently backlit stones 1201 and non backlit stones 1200. * V1
• the light emitted by the selected light emitting diodes passes through the corresponding translucent or translucent stones 1201 and is reflected in different directions by the different facets on the upper face of the stones, so as to produce a scintillating illumination.
• An electronic circuit determines the electroluminescent diodes that are selected at each moment so as to display the desired digital or alphanumeric symbols.
• the electronic circuit is powered by an unrepresented independent electrical source. for example a battery or a photovoltaic cell.
• the electroluminescent diodes are arranged to form digital symbol segments.
• Four digits can be displayed to indicate a time of 00 to 12 (or 00 to 23) and a minute of 00 to 59.
• Two points can also be displayed. to be displayed to separate the two digits of the hour from the two minutes minutes alternatively, these two dots flash with a time of one second.
• Other types of symbols may of course be provided for displaying other indications, for example, seconds, date, chronograph indications, a second time zone, and so on.
• the controller 15, or other member such as pushbutton or crown, may be employed to select the displayed indications.
• the backlit stones 1201 have a substantially square shape, different from the elongated shape of conventional 7-segment symbol displays.
• the numerical symbols are constituted by selecting the lighted diodes in a group of 13 diodes per symbol.
• some adjacent light emitting diodes are electrically connected and thus are alwaysselected or deselected simultaneously by means of a single control signal. This limits the number of control signals needed to display one of the desdixes * V1
• a display segment is therefore constituted by several adjacent light sources in the horizontal or vertical direction.
• the illustrated watch further comprises at least one control member 15, for example a crown or a push-button, in order to control the different functions of the watch and to adjust the displayed time.
• the electroluminescent diodes corresponding to the displayed indication are preferably only lit when the user manipulates the control member 15, then automatically turned off after a predetermined time, in order to spare the battery or the autonomous electric power source of the watch.
• the light intensity produced by the selected light emitting diodes is variable and depends, for example, on user settings, the ambient brightness determined by a photovoltaic cell, the state of the battery, or the time of the day for example. It is thus possible to vary the display contrast or the flickering of the stones according to the user's tastes or the ambient conditions. Furthermore, it is also possible to turn on all the light sources 121 simultaneously, as well as other additionaloptional light sources, in order to make the stones 120 sparkle independently of the displayed indication. Moreover, the luminous intensity emitted by the different sources of light can be modulated, in time and in space, in order to generate variable iridescent reflections.
• the stones 120 are fixed on the plate 12 defining the upper face of the box 10 by crimping or gluing.
• each stone can be glued independently into an opening 130, into a blind hole or directly onto the upper surface of the plate 12.
• glue it is also possible to glue several stones in a single operation by means of an adhesive film, for example a transfer film or sticker deposited on the upper face 12 of the box. 8 KB ⁇ s M
• the stones are mounted on a rigid surface, for example a metal plate 12 sufficiently thick.
• all the stones including those that cover a portion of the bracelet 11, are preferably mounted on the same plate 12, or at least several solids solidarity of each other and jointly forming a non-deformable surface.
• the upper face of the watch is constituted by a metal plate 12 having a portion 122 cantilever which partially overlaps a strand of the bracelet (not shown).
• the cantilevered portion 122 is cut to match the length of the stones; the portion 122 is entirely covered by the stones, and thus virtually invisible when the stones are mounted.
• the cantilever portion has openings at the location provided each stone. Depending on the method of assembly chosen, such openings, or blind holes, could be prevussur over the entire plate 12.
• the plate 12 could naturally also cover part of the second strand of the bracelet.
• the stones covering the bracelet could be mountedessur a tip or other rigid element linked to the bracelet and held integrally with the box 10, for example by means of screws, pins or rods, so as to constitute with the upper surface of the box 10 a single rigid surface and free of discontinuities
• Bonding or crimping all the stones on a single non-deformable surface makes it possible to guarantee perfectly regular interstices between the stones of the pavement, and reduces the risk of loosening or taking off.
• Figure 3 illustrates a top view of a watch case variant 10 whose upper face 12 does not cover the bracelet. This face is pierced with openings 130 at the locations provided for the electroluminescent diodes.
• the stones 120 are intended to be mounted above each opening 130, and in a matrix manner between and around the openings. In a preferred variant, the stones thus mounted constitute the upper surface of the watch, which therefore has no dial and is not covered by ice. However, it is also possible to mount stones on a portion of the upper face.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a partial view in section along the section plane AA of FIG. 3 of the watch case 10 with some mounted stones 120.
• the box comprises a metal plate 12 pierced with the mentioned openings 130.
• the stones are mounted by crimping or gluing. in the openings, and around these openings.
• a printed circuit board (PCB) 14, or other connection means, is mounted under the plate 12 and supports a number of light-emitting diodes 121, for example red diodes and / or blue diodes, shown schematically.
• the printed circuit comprises conductive or destructive paths for conductors, so as to connect the different electroluminescent diodes to the electronic circuit of the watch (not shown).
• the plate 12 is preferably placed directly on the printed circuit 14. In this way, the plate portions between the openings 130 constitute curtains 131 which prevent the light emitted for a light-emitting diode 121 from reaching a neighboring stone.
• the axis of the electroluminescent diodes 121 is perpendicular to the plane of the plate 12. It is however also possible to mount at least some of the diodes parallel to the facets 1 0 KB ⁇ s M
• a seal not shown in the figures is preferably provided around each stone, or in each opening 130, so as to prevent water infiltrations to the printed circuit 14.
• the non-backlit stones 1200 are mounted in a blind hole, as on the 4, it is possible to associate an individual joint only to each backlit stone 1201, where risks of water infiltration by the openings 130 may occur.
• the seal is provided by a circular elastic seal compressed around each stone.
• a glue joint made of a material hardening with air, light, ultraviolet, etc., which allows both to stick each stone in the opening 130 and to ensure its tightness.
• a not shown annular groove is preferably machined or arranged in the plate 12, within each opening 130, to accommodate the entire periphery of the stone 1201; this groove is filled with glue during assembly, for example by means of a syringe, to ensure optimal maintenance of the stone.
• the glue joint preferably retains some flexibility after hardening so as to ensure retention of the stone even in case of dilation or deformation. Crimping, for example by deformation of potions of the plate 12, can be performed in addition to bonding.
• the openings 130 are filled with adhesive or other synthetic material before, during or after the mounting of the stones 120. It would also be possible to seal by means of an additional layer between the plate 12 and the printed circuit 14, for example a transparent synthetic plate, or a plate and reed pierced with holes at the level of each diode. In this case, a single element prevents the infiltration of water from different stones. Sealing could also be ensured below the plate 14, which itself would be protected only imperfectly. 1 1 i ⁇ v .vi
• the seal is provided by means of a compressible and electrically conductive elastic mat between the LEDs and the rest of the circuit.
• the mat is for example made of electrically insulating silicone rubber with a thickness of 0.3 to 1 mm, for example.
• Metal threads preferably gold filaments, are integrated in the mat which they traverse perpendicularly to the plane of the mat, spaced from each other with a distance between 0.05 and about 1 mm. The threads are all cut off from the upper surface and the lower surface of the mat.
• An electrical contact is established through the wires between each pin of the LEDs resting on the upper face of the mat and the corresponding contact points under the lower surface of the mat, for example on a PCB support plate under the mat.
• the rubber between the threads ensures on the one hand the electrical insulation between the different points of electrical contact and on the other hand the tightness, the moisture reaching in this case up to the light-emitting diodes but blocked by the mat.
• Such mats are marketed by SHIN-ETSU, for example.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
• Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
• Adornments (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=35735281

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (19)

Family Cites Families (31)

• 2005
  • 2005-06-23 CH CH01065/05A patent/CH705956B1/fr not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2006
  • 2006-06-21 RU RU2008102371/28A patent/RU2379734C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-06-21 WO PCT/EP2006/063420 patent/WO2006136587A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2006-06-21 CN CN2006800224415A patent/CN101203814B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-06-21 TW TW095122267A patent/TWI328206B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-06-21 EP EP06763821A patent/EP1894064A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-06-21 KR KR1020077029865A patent/KR100972951B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-06-21 JP JP2008517501A patent/JP4808776B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-05-23 US US11/752,672 patent/US20070274160A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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