EP0693718B1 - Watch with a display device associated with an optical magnifying device - Google Patents

Watch with a display device associated with an optical magnifying device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0693718B1
EP0693718B1 EP95111126A EP95111126A EP0693718B1 EP 0693718 B1 EP0693718 B1 EP 0693718B1 EP 95111126 A EP95111126 A EP 95111126A EP 95111126 A EP95111126 A EP 95111126A EP 0693718 B1 EP0693718 B1 EP 0693718B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mirror
watch
display means
watch according
lens
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95111126A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0693718A1 (en
Inventor
Michel Alain Chevroulet
Jean-Michel Mayor
Viron Teodoridis
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Centre Electronique Horloger SA
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Centre Electronique Horloger SA
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Publication of EP0693718A1 publication Critical patent/EP0693718A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B39/00—Watch crystals; Fastening or sealing of crystals; Clock glasses
    • G04B39/008—Watch crystals; Fastening or sealing of crystals; Clock glasses with means for magnified reading

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a watch comprising an information display device and a device magnification optics of this display device for the eye of a user of this watch.
  • an analog display generally formed of needles associated with one or several graduation (s), i.e. a digital display formed usually by liquid crystal cells (LCD).
  • LCD liquid crystal cells
  • a disc or printed ring associated with a window provided in the dial of the watch to indicate the date, the day of the week, the month or the year.
  • a lens magnifying at the level of the watch glass opposite the window provided in the dial.
  • the distance between the printed disc or ring and the magnifying lens is usually less than 3mm. Therefore, the focal length of the lens must be very small to allow significant magnification. For example, to obtain a magnification by a factor of 2, the focal length is less than 6 mm.
  • the magnifying lens By accepting that the counter has a radius of 1 mm and the eye is approximately 15 cm from the watch glass, the magnifying lens must have about a radius of 2 mm, corresponding to the radius of the virtual image formed by this magnifying lens, so that the date can be read as a whole by a watch user.
  • Document US 3,650,599 describes a device for measurement with an optical system of magnification of the end of an analog indicator and clues of the dial located near this end. It is provided here a system of referral by two oriented mirrors obliquely at 45 ° relative to the plane of the dial requiring a significant distance between the dial and the device glass. This leads to an object presenting a relatively high overall height.
  • One of the mirrors oblique is arranged in the central part so attached to the analog indicator.
  • the document CH 368 756 describes a device for magnification of a date appearing in a window of the dial of a timepiece. This device magnification is formed by a machined lens directly in the glass of the timepiece.
  • the document CH 346 178 proposes to integrate a lens flat diffracting at the watch glass for magnify information on the dial of this watch.
  • the present invention proposes to solve this problem in providing a watch including means information display, likely to have a strong information density, associated with an optical device magnification arranged in the watch so as to allow sufficient magnification of these means display to ensure easy reading of these information.
  • a ten-line text with line length corresponding to about fifteen characters can be displayed by a matrix device having 100 x 100 pixels.
  • pixel we understand a localized and substantially uniform information, in particular an emission of light by a cell, for example a light-emitting diode or an integrated micro-laser.
  • the above-mentioned matrix device has an area of approximately 4 cm 2 to ensure easy reading. It will be noted that a direct display of 4 cm 2 occupies approximately the whole of a dial of a wristwatch sized for a man's arm. This considerably limits the possibilities of arrangement of this dial.
  • the present invention also aims to provide a watch capable of having a matrix display of approximately 100 ⁇ 100 pixels which can be read correctly by a user of the watch while having a surface, provided on the dial of this watch for the reading of this matrix display, less than 4 cm 2 , for example from 1 to 2 cm 2 .
  • the subject of the present invention is a watch comprising a housing, first display means, a first mirror and optical magnification means arranged to magnify optically, for a user of this watch, said display means, said first mirror being arranged inside said housing for returning towards said optical means of magnification of the light coming from said first display means also arranged inside said display housing, characterized in that said first mirror is arranged in the region of the bottom of the case.
  • the means magnification optics include a first magnifying lens arranged under the watch glass.
  • the length of the optical path between the means display and this first lens can without other be greater than the thickness of the watch and the height between the bottom of the case and the watch glass is used by the arrangement of the various optical elements planned.
  • Watch 1 includes a timepiece movement 2 arranged in a box 4.
  • the box 4 includes a bottom 6 and a ice 8.
  • the watch movement 2 is associated with a analog time display including a hand hour 10 and a minute hand 12.
  • a micro-shutter display device 14 Inside box 4 are arranged a micro-shutter display device 14, a light source 16, a mirror 18 and a magnifying lens 20.
  • the light source 16 is capable of sending the light towards the micro-flap display device 14.
  • the latter is arranged so as to return the light from the light source 16 towards mirror 18, which is arranged so as to return the light coming from the device 14 towards the magnifying lens 20.
  • the light thus coming from the micro-flap display device 14 comes out of the magnifying lens 20.
  • the light thus coming from the micro-flap display device 14 comes out of the box 4 crossing the glass 8.
  • Inside the box 4 also included are internal parts 22 and 24 used to essentially prevent that the light provided by the light source 16 come directly out of the box 4 by the magnifying lens 20 without having been reflected by the micro-flap display device 14 and the mirror 18.
  • the light source 16 can be either a monochromatic light source or a polychromatic light source.
  • the mirror 18 is either a spherical mirror or an aspherical mirror used to correct optical aberrations of the lens magnifying 20.
  • An aspherical mirror is optically more advantageous than a spherical mirror since it allows essentially eliminate optical aberrations specific to spherical optical elements.
  • a plane mirror is provided.
  • the lens magnifying 20 is a conventional lens having a certain focal length.
  • the focal length of the lens 20 is 20 mm and the optical distance separating the micro-flap display device 14 and this magnifying lens 20 is 15 mm.
  • the magnifying lens 20 forms a virtual image of the micro-flap display device 14 approximately corresponding to a magnification of a factor four for the eye of a user located substantially a distance of 20 cm from said virtual image relative to the case of a liquid crystal display of a known type also located 20 cm from the eye of a user.
  • the arrangement of the various optical elements 14, 18 and 20 provides a relatively high magnification of a display device using a lens magnifier with a focal length greater than 10 cm. From this done, the micro-flap display device 14 can give information with high surface density which does not could be read directly by an eye with a normal visual acuity without requiring effort intense accommodation.
  • the magnifying lens 20 is a spherical lens.
  • the magnifying lens 20 is a cylindrical lens allowing a magnification of the display device to micro-flaps 14 according to a single dimension.
  • the mirror 18 also has symmetry cylindrical.
  • watch 1 includes a first dial 26 having on its surface a graduation 28 for the time indication.
  • watch 1 includes a second dial 30 located against or near the glass 8 of this ice 8 and used in particular for the arrangement of the device 14 and the magnifying lens 20.
  • the magnifying lens 20 is glued against the inner surface of the ice 8.
  • the magnifying lens 20 is directly formed in the ice 8.
  • the mirror 18 arranged on the bottom side 6 of the box 4 and the micro-flap display device 14 arranged from side of the glass 8 of the watch 1 allow to increase the optical distance separating the display device 14 and the magnifying lens 20. Therefore, it is relatively high magnification possible with a magnifying lens having a relatively focal length large, which reduces the size of the magnifying lens and decrease aberrations optics generated by this magnifying lens.
  • the aforementioned optical arrangement allows to use a magnifying lens 20 having dimensions sufficient to guarantee correct and easy reading of the micro-flap display device 14 magnified by this magnifying lens 20.
  • the first mode of realization of the invention described above does not solve optimal congestion issues generated by conventional optical elements 18 and 20 and the question of the optical quality of the virtual image of the micro-flap display device 14 formed by the magnifying lens 20.
  • the congestion problem is still increased.
  • the present invention also aims to solve the problem of congestion caused by various conventional optical elements of the first mode of realization described above and to increase the quality of the magnified image of the display device.
  • Watch 31 including a clockwork movement 32 associated to a liquid crystal display device 34 located under watch glass 8.
  • Watch 31 also includes a case formed by a middle part 4 and a bottom 6.
  • a the interior of the middle part 4 is arranged a device active display 36.
  • active display device includes an optical device comprising a set of elementary cells capable of providing light. By an appropriate command of all of these cells elementary it is possible to form on the surface of this active display device an image containing a certain information.
  • a diffracting lens plate 38 and a flat diffracting mirror 40 is arranged in the back 6 of watch 31.
  • diffracting mirror it is including a diffracting optical element used in reflection.
  • the mirror 40 is arranged so as to returning light from the display active 36 towards lens 38. It will be noted here that the light sent by the active display device 36 is substantially monochromatic.
  • the active display device 36 is formed by a set of light emitting diodes or by a set of integrated micro-lasers.
  • the manufacture of the diffracting mirror 40 and of the lens diffractante 38 are known to those skilled in the art.
  • the mirror 40 and lens 38 can be micro-machined from so as to essentially eliminate any aberration optical.
  • the micromachining profile of the surface 42 of the mirror 40 and the surface 44 of the lens 38 can be programmed using known optical design algorithms of the skilled person.
  • the optical arrangement according to this second embodiment of the invention also makes it possible to obtain relatively large magnifications of the active surface 46. Consequently, the density of information formed on this active surface 46 can be relatively high, which makes it possible, for a certain number of given pieces of information, to considerably reduce the dimensions of the active surface 46.
  • the active surface 46 is defined by a 25 mm 2 square inside which is arranged a matrix of pixels used for the formation of the design defining information for the user of the watch 31.
  • magnification is without other possible with the optical arrangement according to the invention.
  • a virtual image formed by the lens 38 corresponding to a magnification by a factor of four of the active surface 46 is virtually located at an optical distance of lens 38 of about 6 cm. Therefore, it is possible to provide that the surface of the lens 38 is less than the surface of the virtual image.
  • a magnification by a factor of four corresponds approximately to a virtual image of 4 cm 2 for an active surface 46 having 25 mm 2 .
  • the drawing formed on the active surface 46 is compressed only according to the small dimension of the rectangular active surface 46.
  • the virtual image received by the eye of a user has dimensions suitable for writing a text in particular.
  • the active surface 46 has a width of 5 mm and a length of 2 cm while the surface 44 of the magnifying lens 38 at a width of 1 cm and a length of 2 cm.
  • the factor magnification of the magnified dimension has a value between two and five.
  • the flat mirror 40 can be arranged obliquely relative to the bottom 6 of the watch 31 so as to return light from the display active 36 towards the magnifying lens 38 under a direction substantially perpendicular to the glass 8.
  • Watch 51 includes a crystal 8, a middle part 4 and a case back 6. This watch 51 is equipped with a movement watchmaker 2 associated with an analog display comprising an hour hand 10 and a minute hand 12 arranged between the glass 8 and a dial 52.
  • watch 51 includes a active display device 36 capable of sending the light towards a first flat mirror 40. This last returns the light coming from the device 36 in direction of a flat diffracting lens 54 located at level of the dial 52 and arranged between the mirror 40 and the flat diffracting lens 38 located at the level of the ice 8.
  • the lens 54 can, together with the lens 38, participate in the enlargement of the active surface 46 of the device 36.
  • the lens 54 essentially serves to increase the optical quality of the virtual image of the active surface 46 of the device 36.
  • the lens 54 is arranged so that the light from mirror 40 is diffracted in one direction slightly angularly offset relative to the direction of light between mirror 40 and lens 54.
  • the diffracting lens 38 is arranged to way to change the direction of propagation of the light passing through it so that the offset angular between the direction of the outgoing light out of watch 51 and the direction perpendicular to the glass 8 and is significantly less than the angular offset between this direction and the direction of light returned by the mirror 40.
  • the lens 54 can be glued below or above the dial 52. Then, in a variant of embodiment, the lens 54 can be directly machined in the dial 52. Likewise, the magnifying lens 38 can be either glued under the glass 8, or directly machined in this glass 8 to form with it a single and even room.
  • the mirror 40 is made up, in an alternative embodiment, with a simple plane mirror classic. Again, the mirror 40 can be arranged to inclined relative to the bottom 6 of the watch 51.
  • the various optical elements are arranged in each of the embodiments so as to define the optimal optical path 56 for the light coming from the display device provided in the watch according to the invention.
  • the use of flat lenses and flat mirrors reduce the overall dimensions of the arrangement optics of the invention and increases the number of degrees of freedom for the arrangement of the various optical elements constituting the optical arrangement according to the invention.
  • the flat mirror 40 can be a mirror diffractant participating in the magnification function of the active surface 40 of the active display device 36 and / or to return the light at an angle other than the angle of refraction.
  • Watch 61 includes a crystal 8, a middle part 4 and a case back 6. It is equipped with a watch movement 32 associated with a liquid crystal display 64.
  • watch 61 comprises at inside the housing 4 an active display device 36 likely to send light towards a first mirror 66, which returns this light in direction of a second mirror 68 which in turn returns this light towards a flat diffracting mirror 40. Finally, this mirror 40 returns the light coming from of device 36 towards a diffracting lens plate 38, arranged below the display device to liquid crystal 64 relative to ice 8.
  • the first mirror 66 and the flat diffracting mirror 40 are both arranged in the bottom 6, while the second mirror 68 is arranged directly below the liquid crystal display device 64.
  • Light supplied by the active display device 36 thus follows a zigzag optical path before crossing the lens magnifying 38 and then out of the box shows 61.
  • Mirrors 66 and 68 can either be formed of classic refracting mirrors, or mirrors diffracting. Such an optical arrangement makes it possible to increase considerably the optical distance between the device active display 36 and magnifying lens 38. From more, the optical arrangement described in this mode of achievement increases the number of degrees of freedom in the arrangement of each of the optical elements 66, 68, 40 and 38 thus optimizing the transmission of the light from device 36 to form an image virtual image of the active surface 46 of the device display 36.
  • the liquid crystal display device 64 is chosen in such a way that it is transparent for the wavelength of the light coming from the device 36, which sends a substantially monochromatic light. Of this fact, it is possible to superimpose a first drawing supplied by the liquid crystal display device 64 and a second drawing provided by the device active display 36. In an alternative embodiment, the device 64 is transparent to light from device 36 when the device 64 is not activated.
  • mirrors 40, 66 and 68 can be arranged from inclined relative to the bottom 6 and the glass 8, which are substantially parallel to each other.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Lenses (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne une montre comprenant un dispositif d'affichage d'informations et un dispositif optique de grossissement de ce dispositif d'affichage pour l'oeil d'un utilisateur de cette montre.The present invention relates to a watch comprising an information display device and a device magnification optics of this display device for the eye of a user of this watch.

Pour afficher des informations, il est connu d'utiliser dans une montre soit un affichage analogique formé généralement d'aiguilles associées à une ou plusieurs graduation(s), soit un affichage digital formé généralement par des cellules à cristaux liquides (LCD).To display information, it is known to use in a watch either an analog display generally formed of needles associated with one or several graduation (s), i.e. a digital display formed usually by liquid crystal cells (LCD).

Il est également connu d'utiliser un disque ou un anneau imprimé associé à un guichet prévu dans le cadran de la montre pour indiquer la date, le jour de la semaine, le mois ou encore l'année. Afin de grossir le nombre indiquant la date, il est connu d'agencer une lentille grossissante au niveau de la glace de la montre en regard du guichet prévu dans le cadran. Dans un tel cas, la distance séparant le disque ou anneau imprimé et la lentille grossissante est généralement inférieure à 3 mm. De ce fait, la focale de la lentille doit être très petite pour permettre un grossissement important. Par exemple, pour obtenir un grossissement d'un facteur 2, la focale est inférieure à 6 mm. En acceptant que le guichet a un rayon de 1 mm et que l'oeil soit environ à 15 cm de la glace de la montre, la lentille grossissante doit avoir environ un rayon de 2 mm, correspondant au rayon de l'image virtuelle formée par cette lentille grossissante, pour que la date puisse être lue dans son ensemble par un utilisateur de la montre.It is also known to use a disc or printed ring associated with a window provided in the dial of the watch to indicate the date, the day of the week, the month or the year. To increase the number indicating the date, it is known to arrange a lens magnifying at the level of the watch glass opposite the window provided in the dial. In such a case, the distance between the printed disc or ring and the magnifying lens is usually less than 3mm. Therefore, the focal length of the lens must be very small to allow significant magnification. For example, to obtain a magnification by a factor of 2, the focal length is less than 6 mm. By accepting that the counter has a radius of 1 mm and the eye is approximately 15 cm from the watch glass, the magnifying lens must have about a radius of 2 mm, corresponding to the radius of the virtual image formed by this magnifying lens, so that the date can be read as a whole by a watch user.

De plus, avec une lentille d'une focale de 6 mm, les effets de bords sont très importants et les aberrations optiques sont énormes de telle sorte qu'il faut une lentille grossissante ayant un rayon d'une dimension sensiblement double, c'est-à-dire de l'ordre de 4 mm, pour lire correctement et aisément la date, ce qui est énorme pour une focale de 6 mm.In addition, with a lens with a focal length of 6 mm, the side effects are very important and the aberrations optics are huge so it takes a magnifying lens having a radius of one dimension substantially double, i.e. of the order of 4 mm, for read the date correctly and easily, which is huge for a focal length of 6 mm.

L'agencement susmentionné est très désavantageux pour ce qui concerne l'encombrement de la lentille grossissante et la qualité de l'image formée par cette lentille reste relativement médiocre. En conséquence, l'agencement décrit ci-avant n'est approprié que pour des grossissement bien inférieurs à un facteur deux. Ainsi, cet agencement ne permet pas une augmentation importante de la densité d'informations supportées par le dispositif d'affichage.The above arrangement is very disadvantageous for regarding the size of the magnifying lens and the quality of the image formed by this lens remains relatively poor. Consequently, the arrangement described above is only suitable for good magnification less than a factor of two. So this arrangement does not not allow a significant increase in density of information supported by the display device.

Le document US 3,650,599 décrit un dispositif de mesure avec un système optique de grossissement de l'extrémité d'un indicateur analogique et des indices du cadran situés à proximité de cette extrémité. Il est prévu ici un système de renvoi par deux miroirs orientés obliquement à 45° relativement au plan du cadran nécessitant une distance importante entre le cadran et la glace du dispositif. Ceci conduit à un objet présentant une hauteur totale relativement élevée. Un des miroirs obliques est agencé dans la partie centrale de manière solidaire à l'indicateur analogique.Document US 3,650,599 describes a device for measurement with an optical system of magnification of the end of an analog indicator and clues of the dial located near this end. It is provided here a system of referral by two oriented mirrors obliquely at 45 ° relative to the plane of the dial requiring a significant distance between the dial and the device glass. This leads to an object presenting a relatively high overall height. One of the mirrors oblique is arranged in the central part so attached to the analog indicator.

Le document CH 368 756 décrit un dispositif de grossissement d'un quantième apparaissant dans une fenêtre du cadran d'une pièce d'horlogerie. Ce dispositif de grossissement est formé par une lentille usinée directement dans la glace de la pièce d'horlogerie. Le document CH 346 178 propose d'intégrer une lentille diffractante plate au niveau de la glace de montre pour grossir une information du cadran de cette montre.The document CH 368 756 describes a device for magnification of a date appearing in a window of the dial of a timepiece. This device magnification is formed by a machined lens directly in the glass of the timepiece. The document CH 346 178 proposes to integrate a lens flat diffracting at the watch glass for magnify information on the dial of this watch.

Le problème qui ressort du document US 3,650,599 mentionné ci-avant démontre que dans le cas où des informations sont affichées au niveau du cadran, les possibilités d'agrandir ces informations de manière significative, tout en fournissant une image agrandie de bonne qualité permettant une lecture aisée de ces informations, sont inexistantes pour des montres ayant des dimensions conventionnelles et particulièrement pour des montres-bracelet.The problem which emerges from document US 3,650,599 mentioned above demonstrates that in the event that information is displayed on the dial, the possibilities to expand this information so significant while providing an enlarged picture of good quality allowing easy reading of these information is nonexistent for watches with conventional dimensions and particularly for wrist watches.

La présente invention se propose de résoudre ce problème en fournissant une montre comprenant des moyens d'affichage d'informations, susceptibles d'avoir une forte densité d'informations, associés à un dispositif optique de grossissement agencé dans la montre de manière à permettre un grossissement suffisant de ces moyens d'affichage pour garantir une lecture aisée de ces informations.The present invention proposes to solve this problem in providing a watch including means information display, likely to have a strong information density, associated with an optical device magnification arranged in the watch so as to allow sufficient magnification of these means display to ensure easy reading of these information.

A titre d'exemple, un texte de dix lignes avec des longueur de ligne correspondant à environ quinze caractères peut être affiché par un dispositif matriciel ayant 100 x 100 pixels. Par pixel, on comprend une information localisée et sensiblement uniforme, notamment une émission de lumière par une cellule, par exemple une diode luminescente ou un micro-laser intégré.For example, a ten-line text with line length corresponding to about fifteen characters can be displayed by a matrix device having 100 x 100 pixels. By pixel, we understand a localized and substantially uniform information, in particular an emission of light by a cell, for example a light-emitting diode or an integrated micro-laser.

Pour lire directement le texte susmentionné à une distance d'environ 20 cm, il est nécessaire que le dispositif matriciel susmentionné ait une surface d'environ 4 cm2 pour assurer une lecture aisée. On remarquera qu'un affichage direct de 4 cm2 occupe environ l'intégralité d'un cadran d'une montre-bracelet dimensionnée pour le bras d'un homme. Ceci limite considérablement les possibilités d'agencement de ce cadran.To read the above-mentioned text directly from a distance of approximately 20 cm, it is necessary that the above-mentioned matrix device has an area of approximately 4 cm 2 to ensure easy reading. It will be noted that a direct display of 4 cm 2 occupies approximately the whole of a dial of a wristwatch sized for a man's arm. This considerably limits the possibilities of arrangement of this dial.

La présente invention a également pour but de fournir une montre susceptible d'avoir un affichage matriciel d'environ 100 x 100 pixels pouvant être lu correctement par un utilisateur de la montre tout en ayant une surface, prévue sur le cadran de cette montre pour la lecture de cet affichage matriciel, inférieure à 4 cm2, par exemple de 1 à 2 cm2.The present invention also aims to provide a watch capable of having a matrix display of approximately 100 × 100 pixels which can be read correctly by a user of the watch while having a surface, provided on the dial of this watch for the reading of this matrix display, less than 4 cm 2 , for example from 1 to 2 cm 2 .

La présente invention a pour objet une montre comprenant un boítier, des premiers moyens d'affichage, un premier miroir et des moyens optiques de grossissement agencés de manière à grossir optiquement, pour un utilisateur de cette montre, lesdits moyens d'affichages, ledit premier miroir étant agencé à l'intérieur dudit boítier pour renvoyer en direction desdits moyens optiques de grossissement de la lumière provenant desdits premiers moyens d'affichage agencés également à l'intérieur dudit boítier, caractérisée en ce que ledit premier miroir est agencé dans la région du fond du boítier.The subject of the present invention is a watch comprising a housing, first display means, a first mirror and optical magnification means arranged to magnify optically, for a user of this watch, said display means, said first mirror being arranged inside said housing for returning towards said optical means of magnification of the light coming from said first display means also arranged inside said display housing, characterized in that said first mirror is arranged in the region of the bottom of the case.

Dans un mode de réalisation particulier, les moyens optiques de grossissement comprennent une première lentille grossissante agencée sous la glace de la montre. Ainsi, la longueur du chemin optique entre les moyens d'affichage et cette première lentille peut sans autre être supérieure à l'épaisseur de la montre et la hauteur totale entre le fond du boítier et la glace de montre est utilisée par l'agencement des divers éléments optiques prévus.In a particular embodiment, the means magnification optics include a first magnifying lens arranged under the watch glass. Thus, the length of the optical path between the means display and this first lens can without other be greater than the thickness of the watch and the height between the bottom of the case and the watch glass is used by the arrangement of the various optical elements planned.

De même, d'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention seront mieux décrits ci-après à l'aide de la description suivante, faíte en référence aux dessins, donnés à titre nullement limitatif, dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 représente une coupe schématique d'une montre selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention;
  • la figure 2 représente une vue schématique de dessus de la montre représentée à la figure 1;
  • la figure 3 est une vue schématique en coupe d'une montre selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention;
  • la figure 4 est une vue schématique en coupe d'une montre selon un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention;
  • la figure 5 est une vue schématique en coupe d'une montre selon un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'invention.
Likewise, other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better described below with the aid of the following description, made with reference to the drawings, given without any limitation being implied, in which:
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic section of a watch according to a first embodiment of the invention;
  • 2 shows a schematic top view of the watch shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a watch according to a second embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of a watch according to a third embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of a watch according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

On décrira ci-après à l'aide des figures 1 et 2 un premier mode de réalisation d'une montre selon l'invention. With the aid of FIGS. 1 and 2, a description will be given first embodiment of a watch according to the invention.

La montre 1 comprend un mouvement horloger 2 agencé dans une boíte 4. La boíte 4 comprend un fond 6 et une glace 8. Le mouvement horloger 2 est associé à un affichage analogique de l'heure comprenant une aiguille d'heure 10 et une aiguille de minute 12. A l'intérieur de la boíte 4 sont agencés un dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14, une source de lumière 16, un miroir 18 et une lentille grossissante 20.Watch 1 includes a timepiece movement 2 arranged in a box 4. The box 4 includes a bottom 6 and a ice 8. The watch movement 2 is associated with a analog time display including a hand hour 10 and a minute hand 12. Inside box 4 are arranged a micro-shutter display device 14, a light source 16, a mirror 18 and a magnifying lens 20.

La source de lumière 16 est susceptible d'envoyer de la lumière en direction du dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14. Ce dernier est agencé de manière à renvoyer la lumière provenant de la source de lumière 16 en direction du miroir 18, lequel est agencé de manière à renvoyer la lumière provenant du dispositif 14 en direction de la lentille grossissante 20. La lumière provenant ainsi du dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14 sort de la lentille grossissante 20. La lumière provenant ainsi du dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14 sort de la boíte 4 en traversant la glace 8. A l'intérieur de la boíte 4 sont également compris des parties internes 22 et 24 servant à empêcher essentiellement que la lumière fournie par la source de lumière 16 sortent directement de la boíte 4 par la lentille grossissante 20 sans avoir été réfléchie par le dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14 et le miroir 18.The light source 16 is capable of sending the light towards the micro-flap display device 14. The latter is arranged so as to return the light from the light source 16 towards mirror 18, which is arranged so as to return the light coming from the device 14 towards the magnifying lens 20. The light thus coming from the micro-flap display device 14 comes out of the magnifying lens 20. The light thus coming from the micro-flap display device 14 comes out of the box 4 crossing the glass 8. Inside the box 4 also included are internal parts 22 and 24 used to essentially prevent that the light provided by the light source 16 come directly out of the box 4 by the magnifying lens 20 without having been reflected by the micro-flap display device 14 and the mirror 18.

On notera ici que la source de lumière 16 peut être soit une source de lumière monochromatique, soit une source de lumière polychromatique. Ensuite, le miroir 18 est soit un miroir sphérique, soit un miroir asphérique servant à corriger les aberrations optiques de la lentille grossissante 20. Un miroir asphérique est optiquement plus avantageux qu'un miroir sphérique étant donné qu'il permet d'éliminer essentiellement les aberrations optiques propres aux éléments optiques sphériques. Dans une autre variante de réalisation, il est prévu un miroir plan.It will be noted here that the light source 16 can be either a monochromatic light source or a polychromatic light source. Then the mirror 18 is either a spherical mirror or an aspherical mirror used to correct optical aberrations of the lens magnifying 20. An aspherical mirror is optically more advantageous than a spherical mirror since it allows essentially eliminate optical aberrations specific to spherical optical elements. In an other variant, a plane mirror is provided.

Dans ce premier mode de réalisation, la lentille grossissante 20 est une lentille classique ayant une certaine focale. A titre d'exemple, la focale de la lentille 20 est de 20 mm et la distance optique séparant le dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14 et cette lentille grossissante 20 est de 15 mm. Par un dimensionnement approprié du dispositif 14, du miroir 18 et de la lentille grossissante 20 aisément réalisable par un homme du métier, la lentille grossissante 20 forme une image virtuelle du dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14 correspondant environ à un grossissement d'un facteur quatre pour l'oeil d'un utilisateur situé sensiblement à une distance de 20 cm de ladite image virtuelle relativement au cas d'un affichage à cristaux liquides d'un type connu situé également à 20 cm de l'oeil d'un utilisateur. Ainsi, il apparaít clairement que l'agencement des divers éléments optiques 14, 18 et 20 permet d'obtenir un relativement fort grossissement d'un dispositif d'affichage à l'aide d'une lentille grossissante ayant une focale supérieure à 10 cm. De ce fait, le dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14 peut donner des informations à haute densité surfacique qui ne pourraient être lues directement par un oeil ayant une acuité visuelle normale sans nécessiter un effort d'accommodation intense.In this first embodiment, the lens magnifying 20 is a conventional lens having a certain focal length. For example, the focal length of the lens 20 is 20 mm and the optical distance separating the micro-flap display device 14 and this magnifying lens 20 is 15 mm. By a appropriate dimensioning of the device 14, of the mirror 18 and of the magnifying lens 20 easily achievable by a person skilled in the art, the magnifying lens 20 forms a virtual image of the micro-flap display device 14 approximately corresponding to a magnification of a factor four for the eye of a user located substantially a distance of 20 cm from said virtual image relative to the case of a liquid crystal display of a known type also located 20 cm from the eye of a user. Thus, it is clear that the arrangement of the various optical elements 14, 18 and 20 provides a relatively high magnification of a display device using a lens magnifier with a focal length greater than 10 cm. From this done, the micro-flap display device 14 can give information with high surface density which does not could be read directly by an eye with a normal visual acuity without requiring effort intense accommodation.

Dans une première variante, la lentille grossissante 20 est une lentille sphérique. Dans une deuxième variante, la lentille grossissante 20 est une lentille cylindrique permettant un grossissement du dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14 selon une seule dimension. Dans ce dernier cas, le miroir 18 présente également une symétrie cylindrique.In a first variant, the magnifying lens 20 is a spherical lens. In a second variant, the magnifying lens 20 is a cylindrical lens allowing a magnification of the display device to micro-flaps 14 according to a single dimension. In this last case, the mirror 18 also has symmetry cylindrical.

La réalisation du dispositif d'affichage à microvolets 14 ne sera pas décrite ici en détail étant donné que ce dispositif ne fait pas en lui-même l'objet de la présente invention.The realization of the display device with microvolets 14 will not be described here in detail given that this device is not in itself the subject of the present invention.

On remarquera que la montre 1 comprend un premier cadran 26 comportant à sa surface une graduation 28 pour l'indication de l'heure. En outre, la montre 1 comprend un deuxième cadran 30 situé contre la glace 8 ou à proximité de cette glace 8 et servant notamment à l'agencement du dispositif 14 et de la lentille grossissante 20. Dans une première variante, la lentille grossissante 20 est collée contre la surface intérieure de la glace 8. Dans une deuxième variante, la lentille grossissante 20 est directement formée dans la glace 8.Note that watch 1 includes a first dial 26 having on its surface a graduation 28 for the time indication. In addition, watch 1 includes a second dial 30 located against or near the glass 8 of this ice 8 and used in particular for the arrangement of the device 14 and the magnifying lens 20. In a first variant, the magnifying lens 20 is glued against the inner surface of the ice 8. In a second variant, the magnifying lens 20 is directly formed in the ice 8.

Le miroir 18 agencé du côté du fond 6 de la boíte 4 et le dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14 agencé du côté de la glace 8 de la montre 1 permettent d'augmenter la distance optique séparant le dispositif d'affichage 14 et la lentille grossissante 20. De ce fait, il est possible d'obtenir un grossissement relativement fort avec une lentille grossissante ayant une focale relativement grande, ce qui permet de diminuer l'encombrement de la lentille grossissante et de diminuer les aberrations optiques engendrées par cette lentille grossissante. De plus, l'agencement optique susmentionné permet d'utiliser une lentille grossissante 20 présentant des dimensions suffisantes pour garantir une lecture correcte et aisée du dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14 grossi par cette lentille grossissante 20.The mirror 18 arranged on the bottom side 6 of the box 4 and the micro-flap display device 14 arranged from side of the glass 8 of the watch 1 allow to increase the optical distance separating the display device 14 and the magnifying lens 20. Therefore, it is relatively high magnification possible with a magnifying lens having a relatively focal length large, which reduces the size of the magnifying lens and decrease aberrations optics generated by this magnifying lens. Of more, the aforementioned optical arrangement allows to use a magnifying lens 20 having dimensions sufficient to guarantee correct and easy reading of the micro-flap display device 14 magnified by this magnifying lens 20.

On notera toutefois que le premier mode de réalisation de l'invention décrit ci-avant ne résout pas de manière optimale les questions d'encombrements engendrés par les éléments optiques classiques 18 et 20 et la question de la qualité optique de l'image virtuelle du dispositif d'affichage à micro-volets 14 formée par la lentille grossissante 20. Lorsqu'une lentille correctrice est prévue, le problème de l'encombrement est encore accru.Note, however, that the first mode of realization of the invention described above does not solve optimal congestion issues generated by conventional optical elements 18 and 20 and the question of the optical quality of the virtual image of the micro-flap display device 14 formed by the magnifying lens 20. When a corrective lens is planned, the congestion problem is still increased.

La présente invention a également pour but de résoudre le problème de l'encombrement engendré par les divers éléments optiques classiques du premier mode de réalisation décrit ci-avant et d'augmenter la qualité de l'image grossie du dispositif d'affichage.The present invention also aims to solve the problem of congestion caused by various conventional optical elements of the first mode of realization described above and to increase the quality of the magnified image of the display device.

A cet effet, la présente invention propose ci-après d'autres modes de réalisation.To this end, the present invention provides below other embodiments.

A l'aide de la figure 3, on décrira ci-après un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention.Using FIG. 3, a description will be given below of second embodiment of the invention.

Sur cette figure 3 est représentée en coupe une montre 31 comprenant un mouvement d'horlogerie 32 associé à un dispositif d'affichage à cristaux liquides 34 situé sous la glace de montre 8. La montre 31 comprend également un boítier formé d'une carrure 4 et un fond 6. A l'intérieur de la carrure 4 est agencé un dispositif d'affichage actif 36. Par dispositif d'affichage actif, on comprend un dispositif optique comprenant un ensemble de cellules élémentaires capables de fournir de la lumière. Par une commande appropriée de l'ensemble de ces cellules élémentaires, il est possible de former à la surface de ce dispositif d'affichage actif une image contenant un certain nombre d'informations. In this figure 3 is shown in section a watch 31 including a clockwork movement 32 associated to a liquid crystal display device 34 located under watch glass 8. Watch 31 also includes a case formed by a middle part 4 and a bottom 6. A the interior of the middle part 4 is arranged a device active display 36. By active display device, includes an optical device comprising a set of elementary cells capable of providing light. By an appropriate command of all of these cells elementary it is possible to form on the surface of this active display device an image containing a certain information.

Sous la glace 8 est agencée une lentille diffractante plate 38 et un miroir diffractant plat 40 est agencé dans le fond 6 de la montre 31. Par miroir diffractant, il est compris un élément optique diffractant utilisé en réflexion. A nouveau, le miroir 40 est agencé de manière à renvoyer de la lumière provenant du dispositif d'affichage actif 36 en direction de la lentille 38. On notera ici que la lumière envoyée par le dispositif d'affichage actif 36 est sensiblement monochromatique.Under the glass 8 is arranged a diffracting lens plate 38 and a flat diffracting mirror 40 is arranged in the back 6 of watch 31. By diffracting mirror, it is including a diffracting optical element used in reflection. Again, the mirror 40 is arranged so as to returning light from the display active 36 towards lens 38. It will be noted here that the light sent by the active display device 36 is substantially monochromatic.

A titre d'exemple, le dispositif d'affichage actif 36 est formé par un ensemble de diodes électroluminescentes ou par un ensemble de micro-lasers intégrés. La fabrication du miroir diffractant 40 et de la lentille diffractante 38 sont connues de l'homme du métier. Afin d'obtenir une qualité optique optimale de l'image virtuelle de la surface active 46 du dispositif d'affichage actif 36 reçue par l'oeil d'un utilisateur, le miroir 40 et la lentille 38 peuvent être micro-usinés de manière à éliminer essentiellement toute aberration optique. Le profil du micro-usinage de la surface 42 du miroir 40 et de la surface 44 de la lentille 38 peut être programmé à l'aide d'algorithmes de design optique connus de l'homme du métier.By way of example, the active display device 36 is formed by a set of light emitting diodes or by a set of integrated micro-lasers. The manufacture of the diffracting mirror 40 and of the lens diffractante 38 are known to those skilled in the art. To obtain optimal optical image quality virtual surface 46 of the device active display 36 received by a user's eye, the mirror 40 and lens 38 can be micro-machined from so as to essentially eliminate any aberration optical. The micromachining profile of the surface 42 of the mirror 40 and the surface 44 of the lens 38 can be programmed using known optical design algorithms of the skilled person.

L'agencement optique selon ce deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention permet également d'obtenir des grossissements de la surface active 46 relativement importants. De ce fait, la densité d'informations formée à cette surface active 46 peut être relativement élevée, ce qui permet, pour un certain nombre d'informations données, de diminuer considérablement les dimensions de la surface active 46. A titre d'exemple, la surface active 46 est définie par un carré de 25 mm2 à l'intérieur duquel est agencé une matrice de pixels servant à la formation du dessin définissant des informations pour l'utilisateur de la montre 31.The optical arrangement according to this second embodiment of the invention also makes it possible to obtain relatively large magnifications of the active surface 46. Consequently, the density of information formed on this active surface 46 can be relatively high, which makes it possible, for a certain number of given pieces of information, to considerably reduce the dimensions of the active surface 46. For example, the active surface 46 is defined by a 25 mm 2 square inside which is arranged a matrix of pixels used for the formation of the design defining information for the user of the watch 31.

Avec une matrice carrée formée de 100 fois 100 cellules élémentaires, il est possible de produire un texte de 10 lignes ayant chacune une longueur d'environ 15 caractères. Chaque cellule élémentaire définit un point d'information élémentaire ou un pixel. Comme cela a été mentionnée dans le préambule du présent exposé d'invention, il est nécessaire de grossir la surface active 46 d'un facteur quatre environ pour permettre une lecture aisée du texte affiché par un tel dispositif d'affichage actif 36, c'est-à-dire pour qu'une personne puisse le lire à une distance d'environ 20 cm sans effort particulier d'accommodation.With a square matrix formed by 100 times 100 elementary cells it is possible to produce a text of 10 lines each having a length of about 15 characters. Each elementary cell defines a point elementary information or a pixel. As has been mentioned in the preamble to this presentation invention, it is necessary to magnify the surface active 46 by a factor of about four to allow a easy reading of the text displayed by such a device active display 36, i.e. so that a person can read it from a distance of about 20 cm without effort particular accommodation.

Comme cela a été mentionné dans la description du premier mode de réalisation, un tel grossissement est sans autre possible avec l'agencement optique selon l'invention. Pour une distance optique d'environ 15 mm entre le dispositif d'affichage 36 et la lentille 38, une image virtuelle formée par la lentille 38 correspondant à un grossissement d'un facteur quatre de la surface active 46 est virtuellement située à une distance optique de la lentille 38 d'environ 6 cm. De ce fait, il est possible de prévoir que la surface de la lentille 38 soit inférieure à la surface de l'image virtuelle. En admettant que l'oeil d'un utilisateur est situé à environ 20 cm de l'image virtuelle formée par la lentille 38, un grossissement d'un facteur quatre correspond environ à une image virtuelle de 4 cm2 pour une surface active 46 ayant 25 mm2. Cependant, étant donné l'éloignement relativement grand de l'image virtuelle par rapport à la lentille 38, il est possible à un utilisateur de la montre 31 de voir l'ensemble des informations fournies par le dispositif d'affichage actif 36 à travers une lentille grossissante 38 ayant une surface carrée de 1 cm2. Pour ce faire, cet utilisateur doit faire subir à la montre 31 divers déplacements relativement à la position de ses yeux.As mentioned in the description of the first embodiment, such magnification is without other possible with the optical arrangement according to the invention. For an optical distance of approximately 15 mm between the display device 36 and the lens 38, a virtual image formed by the lens 38 corresponding to a magnification by a factor of four of the active surface 46 is virtually located at an optical distance of lens 38 of about 6 cm. Therefore, it is possible to provide that the surface of the lens 38 is less than the surface of the virtual image. Assuming that the eye of a user is located approximately 20 cm from the virtual image formed by the lens 38, a magnification by a factor of four corresponds approximately to a virtual image of 4 cm 2 for an active surface 46 having 25 mm 2 . However, given the relatively large distance of the virtual image relative to the lens 38, it is possible for a user of the watch 31 to see all of the information provided by the active display device 36 through a magnifying lens 38 having a square surface of 1 cm 2 . To do this, this user must subject watch 31 to various movements relative to the position of his eyes.

On notera ici que dans le cas d'une montre bracelet portée au poignet, seul un mouvement de rotation selon l'axe longitudinal défini par l'avant-bras de l'utilisateur de la montre 31 peut se faire aisément. Ainsi, comme cela a déjà été mentionné dans le premier mode de réalisation, il est possible de prévoir un miroir 40 et une lentille 38 présentant chacun un profil ayant un plan de symétrie parallèle à l'axe longitudinal de l'avant-bras de l'utilisateur. De ce fait, de manière analogue à un miroir cylindrique et une lentille cylindrique, seule la dimension transversale à l'axe longitudinal de l'avant-bras de l'utilisateur est grossie. Dans un tel cas, étant donné la configuration de la montre 31, la surface active 46 du dispositif d'affichage actif 36, tout comme la surface 42 du miroir 40 et la surface 44 de la lentille grossissante 38 sont rectangulaires. Le dessin formé à la surface active 46, notamment un texte, est comprimé seulement selon la petite dimension de la surface active rectangulaire 46. Ainsi, l'image virtuelle reçue par l'oeil d'un utilisateur présente des dimensions appropriées pour l'écriture d'un texte notamment. A titre d'exemple, la surface active 46 a une largeur de 5 mm et une longueur de 2 cm alors que la surface 44 de la lentille grossissante 38 à une largeur de 1 cm et une longueur de 2 cm. Toujours à titre d'exemple, le facteur de grossissement de la dimension grossie a une valeur comprise entre deux et cinq.Note here that in the case of a wristwatch worn on the wrist, only a rotational movement according to the longitudinal axis defined by the forearm of the user of watch 31 can easily do so. So, as already mentioned in the first embodiment, it is possible to provide a mirror 40 and a lens 38 each having a profile having a plane of symmetry parallel to the longitudinal axis of the user's forearm. Therefore, so analogous to a cylindrical mirror and a lens cylindrical, only the dimension transverse to the axis of the user's forearm is enlarged. In such a case, given the configuration of the watch 31, the active surface 46 of the active display device 36, just like the surface 42 of the mirror 40 and the surface 44 of the magnifying lens 38 are rectangular. The drawing formed on the active surface 46, in particular a text, is compressed only according to the small dimension of the rectangular active surface 46. Thus, the virtual image received by the eye of a user has dimensions suitable for writing a text in particular. As for example, the active surface 46 has a width of 5 mm and a length of 2 cm while the surface 44 of the magnifying lens 38 at a width of 1 cm and a length of 2 cm. Still by way of example, the factor magnification of the magnified dimension has a value between two and five.

On remarquera que dans une variante de réalisation, le miroir plat 40 peut être agencé de manière oblique relativement au fond 6 de la montre 31 de manière à renvoyer la lumière provenant du dispositif d'affichage actif 36 en direction de la lentille grossissante 38 sous une direction sensiblement perpendiculaire à la glace 8.It will be noted that in an alternative embodiment, the flat mirror 40 can be arranged obliquely relative to the bottom 6 of the watch 31 so as to return light from the display active 36 towards the magnifying lens 38 under a direction substantially perpendicular to the glass 8.

En se référant ci-après à la figure 4, on décrira un troisième mode de réalisation d'une montre selon l'invention.Referring below to Figure 4, we will describe a third embodiment of a watch according to the invention.

La montre 51 comprend une glace 8, une carrure 4 et un fond 6. Cette montre 51 est équipée d'un mouvement horloger 2 associé à un affichage analogique comprenant une aiguille des heures 10 et une aiguille des minutes 12 agencées entre la glace 8 et un cadran 52. Watch 51 includes a crystal 8, a middle part 4 and a case back 6. This watch 51 is equipped with a movement watchmaker 2 associated with an analog display comprising an hour hand 10 and a minute hand 12 arranged between the glass 8 and a dial 52.

Selon l'invention, la montre 51 comprend un dispositif d'affichage actif 36 susceptible d'envoyer de la lumière en direction d'un premier miroir plat 40. Ce dernier renvoit la lumière provenant du dispositif 36 en direction d'une lentille diffractante plate 54 située au niveau du cadran 52 et agencée entre le miroir 40 et la lentille diffractante plate 38 située au niveau de la glace 8.According to the invention, watch 51 includes a active display device 36 capable of sending the light towards a first flat mirror 40. This last returns the light coming from the device 36 in direction of a flat diffracting lens 54 located at level of the dial 52 and arranged between the mirror 40 and the flat diffracting lens 38 located at the level of the ice 8.

La lentille 54 peut, conjointement à la lentille 38, participer au grossissement de la surface active 46 du dispositif 36. La lentille 54 sert essentiellement à augmenter la qualité optique de l'image virtuelle de la surface active 46 du dispositif 36.The lens 54 can, together with the lens 38, participate in the enlargement of the active surface 46 of the device 36. The lens 54 essentially serves to increase the optical quality of the virtual image of the active surface 46 of the device 36.

Selon la variante représentée à la figure 4, la lentille 54 est agencée de manière à ce que la lumière provenant du miroir 40 soit diffractée selon une direction légèrement décalée angulairement relativement à la direction de la lumière entre le miroir 40 et la lentille 54. De même, la lentille diffractante 38 est agencée de manière à changer la direction de propagation de la lumière qui la traverse de manière à ce que le décalage angulaire entre la direction de la lumière sortante hors de la montre 51 et la direction perpendiculaire à la glace 8 et soit sensiblement inférieur au décalage angulaire entre cette direction et la direction de la lumière renvoyée par le miroir 40.According to the variant shown in Figure 4, the lens 54 is arranged so that the light from mirror 40 is diffracted in one direction slightly angularly offset relative to the direction of light between mirror 40 and lens 54. Likewise, the diffracting lens 38 is arranged to way to change the direction of propagation of the light passing through it so that the offset angular between the direction of the outgoing light out of watch 51 and the direction perpendicular to the glass 8 and is significantly less than the angular offset between this direction and the direction of light returned by the mirror 40.

On notera que la lentille 54 peut être collée dessous ou dessus le cadran 52. Ensuite, dans une variante de réalisation, la lentille 54 peut être directement usinée dans le cadran 52. De même, la lentille grossissante 38 peut être soit collée sous la glace 8, soit directement usinée dans cette glace 8 pour former avec elle une seule et même pièce.It will be noted that the lens 54 can be glued below or above the dial 52. Then, in a variant of embodiment, the lens 54 can be directly machined in the dial 52. Likewise, the magnifying lens 38 can be either glued under the glass 8, or directly machined in this glass 8 to form with it a single and even room.

On notera encore que le miroir 40 est constitué, dans une variante de réalisation, par un simple miroir plan classique. A nouveau, le miroir 40 peut être agencé de manière inclinée relativement au fond 6 de la montre 51. Bien entendu, les divers éléments optiques sont agencés dans chacun des modes de réalisation de manière à définir le chemin optique 56 optimal pour la lumière provenant du dispositif d'affichage prévu dans la montre selon l'invention. L'utilisation de lentilles plates et de miroirs plats diminue l'encombrement de l'agencement optique de l'invention et augmente le nombre de degrés de liberté pour la disposition des divers éléments optiques constituant l'agencement optique selon l'invention. On remarquera aussi que le miroir plat 40 peut être un miroir diffractant participant à la fonction de grossissement de la surface active 40 du dispositif d'affichage actif 36 et/ou à renvoyer la lumière selon un angle autre que l'angle de réfraction.It will also be noted that the mirror 40 is made up, in an alternative embodiment, with a simple plane mirror classic. Again, the mirror 40 can be arranged to inclined relative to the bottom 6 of the watch 51. Of course, the various optical elements are arranged in each of the embodiments so as to define the optimal optical path 56 for the light coming from the display device provided in the watch according to the invention. The use of flat lenses and flat mirrors reduce the overall dimensions of the arrangement optics of the invention and increases the number of degrees of freedom for the arrangement of the various optical elements constituting the optical arrangement according to the invention. We also note that the flat mirror 40 can be a mirror diffractant participating in the magnification function of the active surface 40 of the active display device 36 and / or to return the light at an angle other than the angle of refraction.

En se référant ci-après à la figure 5, on décrira un quatrième mode de réalisation d'une montre selon l'invention.Referring below to Figure 5, we will describe a fourth embodiment of a watch according to the invention.

La montre 61 comprend une glace 8, une carrure 4 et un fond 6. Il est équipé d'un mouvement horloger 32 associé à un affichage à cristaux liquides 64.Watch 61 includes a crystal 8, a middle part 4 and a case back 6. It is equipped with a watch movement 32 associated with a liquid crystal display 64.

Selon l'invention, la montre 61 comprend à l'intérieur du boítier 4 un dispositif d'affichage actif 36 susceptible d'envoyer de la lumière en direction d'un premier miroir 66, lequel renvoie cette lumière en direction d'un deuxième miroir 68 qui renvoie à son tour cette lumière en direction d'un miroir diffractant plat 40. Finalement, ce miroir 40 renvoie la lumière provenant du dispositif 36 en direction d'une lentille diffractante plate 38, agencée au-dessous du dispositif d'affichage à cristaux liquides 64 relativement à la glace 8.According to the invention, watch 61 comprises at inside the housing 4 an active display device 36 likely to send light towards a first mirror 66, which returns this light in direction of a second mirror 68 which in turn returns this light towards a flat diffracting mirror 40. Finally, this mirror 40 returns the light coming from of device 36 towards a diffracting lens plate 38, arranged below the display device to liquid crystal 64 relative to ice 8.

Le premier miroir 66 et le miroir diffractant plat 40 sont tous deux agencés dans le fond 6, alors que le deuxième miroir 68 est agencé directement au-dessous du dispositif d'affichage à cristaux liquides 64. La lumière fournie par le dispositif d'affichage actif 36 suit ainsi un chemin optique en zigzag avant de traverser la lentille grossissante 38 pour ensuite sortir hors de la boíte de montre 61.The first mirror 66 and the flat diffracting mirror 40 are both arranged in the bottom 6, while the second mirror 68 is arranged directly below the liquid crystal display device 64. Light supplied by the active display device 36 thus follows a zigzag optical path before crossing the lens magnifying 38 and then out of the box shows 61.

Les miroirs 66 et 68 peuvent être soit formés de miroirs réfractant classiques, soit de miroirs diffractant. Un tel agencement optique permet d'augmenter considérablement la distance optique entre le dispositif d'affichage actif 36 et la lentille grossissante 38. De plus, l'agencement optique décrit dans ce mode de réalisation augmente le nombre de degré de liberté dans l'agencement de chacun des éléments optiques 66, 68, 40 et 38 permettant ainsi d'optimiser la transmission de la lumière provenant du dispositif 36 pour former une image virtuelle agrandie de la surface active 46 du dispositif d'affichage 36.Mirrors 66 and 68 can either be formed of classic refracting mirrors, or mirrors diffracting. Such an optical arrangement makes it possible to increase considerably the optical distance between the device active display 36 and magnifying lens 38. From more, the optical arrangement described in this mode of achievement increases the number of degrees of freedom in the arrangement of each of the optical elements 66, 68, 40 and 38 thus optimizing the transmission of the light from device 36 to form an image virtual image of the active surface 46 of the device display 36.

Le dispositif d'affichage à cristaux liquides 64 est choisi de telle manière qu'il est transparent pour la longueur d'onde de la lumière provenant du dispositif 36, lequel envoie une lumière sensiblement monochromatique. De ce fait, il est possible de superposer un premier dessin fourni par le dispositif d'affichage à cristaux liquides 64 et un deuxième dessin fourni par le dispositif d'affichage actif 36. Dans une variante de réalisation, le dispositif 64 est transparent pour la lumière provenant du dispositif 36 lorsque le dispositif 64 n'est pas activé. A nouveau, les miroirs 40, 66 et 68 peuvent être agencés de manière inclinée relativement au fond 6 et à la glace 8, lesquels sont sensiblement parallèles l'un à l'autre.The liquid crystal display device 64 is chosen in such a way that it is transparent for the wavelength of the light coming from the device 36, which sends a substantially monochromatic light. Of this fact, it is possible to superimpose a first drawing supplied by the liquid crystal display device 64 and a second drawing provided by the device active display 36. In an alternative embodiment, the device 64 is transparent to light from device 36 when the device 64 is not activated. AT again, mirrors 40, 66 and 68 can be arranged from inclined relative to the bottom 6 and the glass 8, which are substantially parallel to each other.

On remarquera encore qu'il est prévu deux parties internes 70 et 72 servant à empêcher que la lumière renvoyée par le premier miroir 66 sorte directement à travers la lentille grossissante 38.We will also notice that two parts are planned internal 70 and 72 used to prevent light returned by the first mirror 66 so directly to through the magnifying lens 38.

Claims (14)

  1. Watch comprising a case (4, 6), first display means (14; 36), a first mirror (40) and optical enlarging means (38; 54) arranged so as to enlarge optically said display means for a user of such watch, said first mirror (40) being arranged within said case in order to reflect light, coming from said display means also arranged within said case, in the direction of said optical enlarging means, characterized in that said first mirror (40) is arranged in the region of the back cover (6) of the case.
  2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that said first mirror (40) is arranged substantially parallel to the back cover (6).
  3. Watch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first mirror (40) is an aspherical refracting mirror.
  4. Watch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first mirror (40) is a diffracting optical element used in reflection.
  5. Watch according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said optical enlarging means comprise a flat diffracting lens (38).
  6. Watch according to any one of claims 1 to 4 comprising a dial (52), characterized in that said optical enlarging means (38; 54) comprise a first lens (38) located at the level of the crystal (8) and a second lens (54) located at the level of said dial, said first and second lenses being arranged so as to enlarge optically information supplied by said first display means (36).
  7. Watch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one second mirror (68) arranged facing said back cover (6) of said case so as to reflect said light coming from said first display means (36) in the direction of said first mirror (40).
  8. Watch according to claim 7, characterized in that said second mirror (68) is arranged substantially parallel to the back cover (6).
  9. Watch according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first display means (14) are formed by a microshutter arrangement, such microshutter arrangement being illuminated by means of a luminous source (16) arranged within the case (4, 6) of said watch.
  10. Watch according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said first display means (36) are formed by an active display means (36) of high information density.
  11. Watch according to claim 10, characterized in that said active display means (36) are formed by a set of elementary cells, each capable of supplying a luminous signal defining an elementary point of information.
  12. Watch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises second display means allowing the display of different information and being independent of the first display means.
  13. Watch according to claim 12, characterized in that said second display means are formed with a liquid crystal display arrangement (64) at least partially superposed onto said optical enlarging means (38), said liquid crystal display arrangement being basically transparent to the light coming from said first display means (36) whenever said liquid crystal display means is not activated.
  14. Watch according to claim 13, characterized in that said liquid crystal display arrangement (64) is likewise at least partially transparent to the light coming from said first display means whenever said liquid crystal display arrangement is activated.
EP95111126A 1994-07-21 1995-07-15 Watch with a display device associated with an optical magnifying device Expired - Lifetime EP0693718B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH02309/94A CH687495B5 (en) 1994-07-21 1994-07-21 Watch comprising a display device associated with an optical magnifying device.
CH2309/94 1994-07-21

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0693718A1 EP0693718A1 (en) 1996-01-24
EP0693718B1 true EP0693718B1 (en) 1999-01-20

Family

ID=4230794

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95111126A Expired - Lifetime EP0693718B1 (en) 1994-07-21 1995-07-15 Watch with a display device associated with an optical magnifying device

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US5566137A (en)
EP (1) EP0693718B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3583511B2 (en)
KR (1) KR100371740B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1050678C (en)
CH (1) CH687495B5 (en)
DE (1) DE69507393T2 (en)
HK (1) HK1012081A1 (en)
TW (1) TW314608B (en)

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WO2007001292A1 (en) * 2005-06-24 2007-01-04 Hideki Electronics, Inc. (Usa) Radio-controlled clock with remote digital time projection

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IL129455A (en) 1999-04-15 2003-07-06 Mvt Multi Vision Technologies Timepieces
US6330208B1 (en) 1998-10-16 2001-12-11 Xonix Watch Co., Ltd. Watch with front mounted liquid crystal display and liquid crystal display with reflective sheet
US7083326B2 (en) * 2004-09-13 2006-08-01 Ast Ryan C Adjustable watch crystal apparatus
EP1862873A1 (en) * 2006-06-02 2007-12-05 Montres Rado S.A. Display unit for a portable instrument, such as a watch
TR201103182A2 (en) * 2011-04-01 2011-09-21 Evren Yildirim Cuma Mirror reflection clock dial.
US20140269218A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Jeffrey Herold Watch Engaged ATIS Reminder Systems
EP3032357B1 (en) * 2014-12-09 2017-05-03 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece
EP3062172B1 (en) * 2015-02-24 2017-11-15 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Watch provided with a magnifying glass
US10564607B2 (en) * 2016-12-12 2020-02-18 Dayton Technologies Limited Apparatus comprising an electroluminescent display
CH713623A1 (en) 2017-03-27 2018-09-28 Fgp Capital Sa Device for reading an ice machine or screen.
EP3575888B1 (en) * 2018-05-30 2023-04-12 Rolex Sa Timepiece comprising an aspheric lens
US11604343B2 (en) * 2018-08-08 2023-03-14 Universitat De Valencia Plenoptic ocular device
US12025956B2 (en) 2021-06-29 2024-07-02 Bootstrap Brands, Inc. Apparatus for wrist-worn devices
WO2023214245A1 (en) 2022-05-05 2023-11-09 John Paul Leimone Timepiece with light-amplifying design

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CH346178A (en) * 1958-04-18 1960-04-30 Kyburz & Cie Glass to cover the dial of an indicating instrument
CH368756A (en) * 1960-01-25 1962-12-29 Kyburz & Cie Calendar timepiece
US3650599A (en) * 1971-01-28 1972-03-21 Carl Pedersen Measuring instrument and reading device assembly
US4451117A (en) * 1983-11-04 1984-05-29 Goode Robert C Digital watch magnifying element

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007001292A1 (en) * 2005-06-24 2007-01-04 Hideki Electronics, Inc. (Usa) Radio-controlled clock with remote digital time projection

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
HK1012081A1 (en) 1999-07-23
TW314608B (en) 1997-09-01
CH687495GA3 (en) 1996-12-31
DE69507393D1 (en) 1999-03-04
JPH0862349A (en) 1996-03-08
EP0693718A1 (en) 1996-01-24
CH687495B5 (en) 1997-06-30
CN1118459A (en) 1996-03-13
US5566137A (en) 1996-10-15
KR100371740B1 (en) 2003-03-19
JP3583511B2 (en) 2004-11-04
DE69507393T2 (en) 1999-09-02
CN1050678C (en) 2000-03-22

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