EP1615086B1 - Method and device to display a cycle of images of the moon, notably in a watch - Google Patents

Method and device to display a cycle of images of the moon, notably in a watch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1615086B1
EP1615086B1 EP04016085A EP04016085A EP1615086B1 EP 1615086 B1 EP1615086 B1 EP 1615086B1 EP 04016085 A EP04016085 A EP 04016085A EP 04016085 A EP04016085 A EP 04016085A EP 1615086 B1 EP1615086 B1 EP 1615086B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
separation
moon
lines
aperture
watch
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EP04016085A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1615086A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Jacques Born
Frédéric Meylan
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Asulab AG
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Asulab AG
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Publication date
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Priority to AT04016085T priority Critical patent/ATE536571T1/en
Priority to EP04016085A priority patent/EP1615086B1/en
Priority to JP2005181760A priority patent/JP4559308B2/en
Priority to US11/176,421 priority patent/US7196973B2/en
Priority to CN200510084115.4A priority patent/CN1719351B/en
Publication of EP1615086A1 publication Critical patent/EP1615086A1/en
Priority to HK06102320.1A priority patent/HK1082056A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1615086B1 publication Critical patent/EP1615086B1/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
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/26—Clocks or watches with indicators for tides, for the phases of the moon, or the like
    • G04B19/268—Clocks or watches with indicators for tides, for the phases of the moon, or the like with indicators for the phases of the moon

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for displaying a cycle of successive images of the moon during a lunation in a circular window of a dial by means of a mobile indicator disposed behind the window and having, on its face appearing in the window, lines of separation of different forms between light fields and dark fields intended to represent respectively the illuminated part and the dark part of the moon seen from the ground.
  • the invention also relates to a device for displaying a cycle of successive images of the moon during a lunation in a circular window of a dial, especially for the implementation of the aforementioned method, comprising a movable indicator disposed behind said window and drive means for moving the indicator stepwise so that different parts of a band-shaped region of the indicator can be successively viewed in the window.
  • the invention furthermore relates to a watch comprising a watch movement and such a display device, the driving means of which are controlled by the watch movement.
  • a disc bearing two images of the full moon makes a half-turn by lunation behind a semicircular window of particular shape, illustrated for example in the patent US 508,467 .
  • One of the edges of the window has two convex arcs that bite on the image of the full moon, respectively as the moon grows and decreases.
  • the shape of the moon image thus displayed is correct only at the beginning and at the end of the lunation (starting from the new moon), when the illuminated part has the shape of a crescent, and at the full moon.
  • the displayed image has a wrong shape, because the shape of the line of separation between the light and the dark zone is not in conformity with reality: it is curved instead of being straight at first. and in the last quarter, and it is curved in the wrong direction between the first and the last quarter.
  • this display mode gives an image of the moon that does not conform to reality during most of the lunation.
  • the patent CH 598 638 provides a method and a display device of the kind indicated in the preamble above, using a circular window in front of a disc which rotates every two days about the axis of the clockwise and which carries in the occurrence a series of fifteen successive images of the lunar disc as seen in the sky during the lunation.
  • the congestion of each image and the need to not see the edge of a second image in the window make the diameter of the window and the image must be less than about one seventh of the diameter of the disk, so is particularly small on a dial wristwatch.
  • These images are more realistic than in conventional devices, but their evolution remains quite crude since the display changes only every two days or so. If one wanted a more frequent update and therefore a better conformity of the representation every day, it would be necessary to double the number of images on the disk and thus to reduce so much their size that the display would lose its attraction.
  • the subject of the present invention is a method and a device for displaying lunar phases which make it possible to avoid to a large extent the disadvantages of the prior art and to show, in a circular window, an image of the illuminated area and the dark zone of the moon that is as close as possible to reality, and in particular much better in line with reality than in displays of the classical type.
  • the subject of the invention is a method and a device making it possible to display, in particular in a watch, images of the lunar disk that are both very close to reality each day and relatively large compared to the dial. of the watch.
  • a basic idea of the present invention is to use the same line of separation, located on the moving indicator, to form different successive images of the moon by slightly moving this line to move from one image to the next .
  • a wristwatch 1 having, on a fixed dial 2, an analogue time display by means of hands of the hours 3, minutes 4 and seconds 5.
  • a display of the clock is provided.
  • date by means of a date disk 6 appearing in a window 7 of the dial
  • a moon phase display by means of a moon indicator disc 8 appearing in a circular window 9 of the dial 2.
  • both discs 6 and 8 are concentric and both rotate about the axis of rotation 10 of the hands, preferably located in the center of the dial, and they may be located in the same plane behind the dial, the disc 6 being annular as usual.
  • the functions of the watch are controlled by means of a ring 11 of known type.
  • the watch 1 is a multifunctional electronic watch and its display members are actuated by means of electric motors step by step.
  • the moon indicator disc 8 is provided with a drive mechanism (not shown) having its own stepper motor, with a gear ratio large enough that, for example, 1000 steps of the motor are necessary to produce a gear. complete rotation of the disk 8.
  • the drive of the date disk 6 is also effected by means of a motor dedicated thereto, whereas the driving of the hands 3 to 5 can be carried out by means of one or more other engines.
  • the user of the watch sees a circular portion of the disk 8, which represents the current appearance of the moon seen from the ground and has, for the most part, a light portion 12 and a dark portion 13 representing respectively the illuminated part and the unlit part of the moon.
  • Parts 12 and 13 are delimited by a line of separation that can be straight or more or less curved depending on the age of the moon, while no line of separation is visible at the new moon and the full moon.
  • the figure 2 shows a preferred arrangement of the upper face of the disk 8 in the first embodiment of the invention.
  • An annular band-like region whose width in the radial direction is slightly greater than the diameter of the window 9 of the dial, is subdivided in its circumference into successive alternately light and dark fields, namely five light fields 21 to 25 and five dark fields 26 to 30, with five pairs of dividing lines, the two lines of each pair being symmetrical to each other.
  • the light field 21 is separated from the adjacent dark fields 26 and 27 by two lines of separation 31 and 32 with a strong convex curvature of the light side, their respective directions of curvature being opposite.
  • the light field 22 is separated from the adjacent dark fields 27 and 28 by two lines of separation 33 and 34 with a small concave curvature on the light side
  • the light field 23 is separated from the adjacent dark fields 28 and 29 by two lines of separation 35 and 36 with a strong concave curvature on the bright side
  • the bright field 24 is separated from the adjacent dark fields 29 and 30 by two separation lines 37 and 38 with a low convex curvature on the light side
  • the light field 25 is separated from the fields dark adjacent 30 and 26 by two rectilinear dividing lines 39 and 40.
  • the circles 41 and 42 drawn in the figure 2 only serve to highlight the concept of band with light and dark fields, but they are not really drawn on the disc 8.
  • the relatively low curvature lines 33, 34, 37 and 38 are preferably elliptical, to give an image as conform as possible to reality, while the relatively high curvature lines 31, 32, 35 and 36 may have an elliptical or other shape, for example circular, without altering the image of the moon.
  • the lines 31 and 36 have the same shape, the concavity being on the side of a bright field in one case and the side of a dark field in the other case. The same is true for lines 32 and 35, 33 and 38, 34 and 37 respectively.
  • this first embodiment uses only five different forms of separation lines.
  • the annular band 20 of the disc 8 comprises only five light fields and five dark fields and that several of these fields occupy, in the direction of the circumference, a length less than the diameter of the circular window 9, is a remarkable advantage, because the ratio between the diameter of the window and that of the moon indicator disc may be much greater than in the illustrated prior art by the patent CH 598 638 mentioned in the introduction. This ratio can reach about 1: 3.6 with the arrangement according to the figure 2 .
  • the invention offers the possibility of displaying a relatively large image of the moon, while varying this image often enough to remain true to reality.
  • Each of the dividing lines 31 to 40 is used during a given phase of the lunation, the direction and magnitude of its curvature being determined according to the appearance of the moon from the ground during this phase, that is, that is, essentially the general shape of the illuminated part of the moon.
  • the figure 3 shows twenty-eight different images of the moon, that the disk 8 can present in the round window 9 of the dial in successive positions P1 to P28.
  • the disk 8 is able to display at will a larger number of different images.
  • a number of positions and images divisible by four are preferably chosen in order to display the same number of images in each quarter of a lunation.
  • the electronics can be programmed in a way that varies this number.
  • the disk 8 performs either a relatively small, so-called secondary rotation, having the effect of slightly moving the separation line appearing in the window 9, or a relatively large, so-called primary rotation, to bring about one or two new fields and / or a new dividing line in front of the window 9 or at the edge thereof.
  • the primary rotations are greater than or equal to about 45 degrees, while the secondary rotations are of the order of 1 to 4 degrees, depending on the number of positions and the number of separation lines on the disc.
  • the position P1 represents the new moon by showing only the dark field 26 in the window, then a small (secondary) rotation of the disk 8 in the direction of the arrow A makes appear in the window the dividing line 31 and a little of the field 21 clear to present a crescent moon end in the P2 position.
  • the following positions P3 and P4 are reached each time by a small additional rotation of the disk 8 in the direction of A. Beyond, the curvature of the line 31 would be too strong compared to the real appearance of the moon. This is why we will use in a second part of the lunation line of separation 37, which has an elliptical shape and has a smaller curvature in its middle part than the line 31.
  • the electronic circuits of the watch command the electric motor so as to rapidly perform a large number of steps to produce a large (primary) rotation of the disk 8, either in the direction of A, or in the opposite direction, bringing the line 37 and the fields 24 and 29 into the position P5 in front of the window 9. Subsequently, the line 37 is advanced by a secondary rotation to the position P6, then to the position P7. To obtain the next position P8 which represents the moon in the first quarter, the straight line 39 is brought into the window by a primary rotation of the disk 8.
  • the line 39 is then replaced in the window by the line 33 with a small concave curvature at the position P9, then two secondary rotations of the disk 8 bring the line 33 successively to the positions P10 and P11.
  • a primary rotation then replaces the line 33 with the line 35 with greater curvature for the position P12.
  • the following secondary rotations of the disk 8 in the direction of A first bring the line 35 successively to the positions P13 and P14, then bring this line out of the window 9, where it only sees the light field 23 to represent the full moon in position P15.
  • the following secondary rotations of the disk show in the window the line of separation 36 located on the other side of the field 23, successively in the positions P16, P17 and P18.
  • a primary rotation then replaces line 36 with line 34 with lower curvature for position P19.
  • the following secondary rotations of the disk 8 in the direction of A first bring the line 34 successively to the positions P20 and P21, then a primary rotation replaces this line by the straight line 40 to represent the moon at the last quarter in the P22 position.
  • Line 40 is then replaced in the window at position P23 by line 38 with a small concave curvature, and then two secondary rotations of disc 8 bring line 38 successively to positions P24 and P25.
  • a primary rotation then replaces line 38 with the line 32 with the highest curvature for position P26.
  • the transition from one of the positions P1 to P28 to the next can be done either at a fixed time or at fixed time intervals corresponding to 1/28 of the average duration of the synodic lunation, namely about 25.312 hours, the passage from P1 to P2 being made for example at half a range after the moment of the new moon.
  • This moment is taken from an ephemeris table that is stored in the perpetual calendar electronic watch.
  • the electronics of the watch can be programmed to display, in particular by means of the disk 8 as represented in FIG. figure 2 , any number of images of the moon during a lunation, changing image at times that the producer of the watch can freely predetermine by appropriate programming. For example, about sixty different positions of the disc may be provided to display each evening and each morning an image consistent with the actual appearance of the moon.
  • the electronic watch illustrated by Figures 1 to 3 can also be designed to display the age of the moon, that is, the number of days since the last new moon.
  • a simple way is to temporarily indicate the age of the moon in the window 7 by means of the date indicator 6 in response to a specific maneuver of the crown 11.
  • Another construction of the watch may include an additional indicator , for example an annular disk similar to the date disk 6 and arranged concentrically thereon, to indicate numerically the age of the moon in an additional wicket 44 as shown in broken lines in the figure 1 .
  • the watch 1 is a watch with a mechanical clockwork movement and its display members are driven by this movement.
  • the moon indicator disc 8 whose upper face is visible in the figure 5 , is provided with a drive mechanism 75 shown in Figures 6 and 7 .
  • the figure 4 shows that there is also an indication of the age of the moon.
  • the dial 2 comprises an elongated window 45 lined with a graduation 46 ranging for example from 1 to 29 or 30. To reduce the length of the window, the graduation 46 is distributed for half along an edge of the window and for the other half along the opposite edge. A small area of the disc 8 appears in this window and has an index 47 which points to the relevant half of the graduation 46.
  • a region 50 in the form of an annular band which is subdivided in its circumference into successive alternately light and dark fields.
  • five light fields 51 to 55 and five dark fields 56 to 60 by means of ten dividing lines 61 to 70.
  • the pattern of each of the other lines 62, 64, 67 and 69 is chosen to prevent the dark field adjacent to that line from appearing while the adjacent bright field is visible in the window.
  • the six circles 9a to 9f each represent the relative position of the window 9 at the beginning of the corresponding part of the cycle, with respect to the bright field appearing in the window in this part of the cycle.
  • the position 9a gives the image of the new moon and it is tangent to the line 61 which will then appear in the window when the disk 8 will perform small secondary rotations, following the same principle as in the first embodiment.
  • This line is convex on the side of the light field 51.
  • the other line 62 delimiting this field 51 will come close to the edge of the window 9
  • a large primary rotation of the disk 8 will bring the straight line 63 and part of the field light 52 in the window 9, situation represented by the relative position 9b which corresponds to the beginning of the first quarter phase.
  • the position 9c corresponds to the beginning of the increasing gibbous moon phase and is associated with the concave line 65 on the light field side 53.
  • the position 9d corresponds to the full moon phase and is tangent to the line 66, concave on the side light field 53, which will then appear in the window when the Disc 8 will perform small secondary rotations.
  • the 9th position represents the beginning of the last quarter phase and straddles the straight line 68.
  • the 9f position corresponds to the beginning of the last part of the lunar cycle and overlaps the line 70 which is convex on the field side. clear 55.
  • the disk 8 is provided with a series of six indexes 47 each of which is associated with one of the six separation lines 61, 63, 65, 66, 68 and 70 which appear successively in the circular window 9.
  • Each index 47 is placed on the disk in an angular position as it appears in the elongated window 45 and indicates on the graduation 46 the age of the correct moon at the moment when a primary rotation brings this line in the circular window 9. The following secondary rotations advance the index along the scale, until the next primary rotation brings another line of separation and another index into the windows. Due to the short length of the window 45, the indexes 47 can be placed on the disk so that only one index at a time is visible in this window. Note also that the indexes 47 and the elongate window 45, instead of being closer to the center of the disk 8 than the circular window 9, could be located further outside in the region of the periphery of the disk 8.
  • the separation lines used have only three different shapes, namely a curved shape with center of curvature on the left when the line is at the top of the drawing, in the case of lines 61 and 66, a curved shape with center of curvature on the right in the case of the lines 65 and 70, and a rectilinear shape in the case of the lines 63 and 68.
  • the small number of the light fields 51 to 55 distributed in the annular band 50 makes it possible to use a window 9 occupying a fairly large portion of the diameter of the disk 8, so also the dial 2 of the watch 1.
  • the moon indicator disk 8 is integral with a moon wheel 72 having an external toothing 73 with 233 teeth, whose position is maintained by a jumper spring 74.
  • the wheel 72 and the disc 8 are driven in two different modes from the hour wheel 76 of the mechanical clockwork movement, by means of a drive mechanism 75 visible in the Figures 6 and 7 .
  • the wheel 76 obviously turns one in twelve hours and drives, via an intermediate wheel 78 making a turn per day, a first driving mobile 80 also making a turn in twelve hours and comprising a wheel 81 and a finger 82 which attacks the teeth 73 in order to advance a
  • the first drive mode produces two secondary rotations of 1/233 turn each day, or about 1.5 degrees each.
  • the second drive mode of the disc 8 uses an oscillating lever 84 which pivots about the axis of rotation 10 of the disc 8 and the wheel 76 and which carries at its end a pawl 85 cooperating with the toothing 73 under the effect a spring 86 pressed against a stud 87 of the lever 84.
  • a stationary spring 88 also rests against the stud 87 to push the lever 84 permanently in the direction of the arrow B.
  • a second driving mobile 90 comprising a wheel 91 and a spiral cam 92 which cooperates with a lip 93 of the lever 84, is driven in continuous rotation by meshing of the wheel 91 with a pinion 94 integral with the intermediate wheel 78.
  • the driving mobile 90 is a whole number of revolutions lunation, in this case six turns in 29.5 days thanks to the following numbers of teeth: wheel 76 48 teeth wheel 78 96 teeth pinion 94 24 teeth wheel 91 118 teeth
  • the cam 92 gradually pushes the lever 84 in the opposite direction to B, and as soon as the nose 93 has passed the outer end 94 of the spiral of the cam, the lever 84 turns sharply in the direction of B on an angle which is defined by the cam and which here corresponds to 29 teeth of the toothing 73.
  • the display cycle corresponding to a lunation includes 6 primary rotations and 59 secondary rotations of the indicator disc 8, thus presenting 65 different images of the moon in the window 9 of the watch face.
  • Each of the six parts of the cycle has the same duration of 118 hours and starts with the image represented by one of the positions 9a to 9f represented in the figure 5 .
  • the first driving mobile is an integer number of revolutions per day, so that each secondary rotation takes place at a fixed time.
  • This condition is not imperative, because on the one hand the secondary rotation is so small and slow that we hardly see it at the moment, and on the other hand this mobile must make a whole number of turns by one , whose duration is actually not a whole number of days.
  • the ratio of the speeds of the two mobiles Coaches 80 and 90 must be a ratio of whole numbers, while the ratio of their training by the watch movement can be chosen freely to best match the actual average duration of a synodic lunation.
  • the present invention is not limited to the use of a mobile indicator consisting of a rotating disc, because any indicator provided with a band of any shape carrying the light and dark fields is usable to the extent that its device of drive is able to scroll this band behind a circular window.
  • a mobile indicator consisting of a rotating disc
  • any indicator provided with a band of any shape carrying the light and dark fields is usable to the extent that its device of drive is able to scroll this band behind a circular window.
  • such an indicator could be formed by the periphery of a drum, an endless flexible band passing over pulleys, or by an elongated plate moved back and forth.

Abstract

The method involves dividing a cycle of display during lunation into several successive parts comprising several positions of a moon indicator disc (8). A primary movement adapted to bring over a separation line in a circular window is applied to the disc. A secondary movement, smaller than the primary movement, is applied on the disc for passing the line between successive positions. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a device for displaying a cycle of successive images of the moon during lunation (B) a watch comprising a clockwork and a display device.

Description

Arrière-plan de l'inventionBackground of the invention

La présente invention concerne un procédé pour afficher un cycle d'images successives de la lune au cours d'une lunaison dans une fenêtre circulaire d'un cadran au moyen d'un indicateur mobile disposé derrière la fenêtre et ayant, sur sa face apparaissant dans la fenêtre, des lignes de séparation de différentes formes entre des champs clairs et des champs sombres destinés à représenter respectivement la partie éclairée et la partie sombre de la lune vue de la terre.The present invention relates to a method for displaying a cycle of successive images of the moon during a lunation in a circular window of a dial by means of a mobile indicator disposed behind the window and having, on its face appearing in the window, lines of separation of different forms between light fields and dark fields intended to represent respectively the illuminated part and the dark part of the moon seen from the ground.

L'invention concerne aussi un dispositif pour afficher un cycle d'images successives de la lune au cours d'une lunaison dans une fenêtre circulaire d'un cadran, notamment pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé susmentionné, comportant un indicateur mobile disposé derrière ladite fenêtre et des moyens d'entraînement pour déplacer l'indicateur pas à pas de sorte que différentes parties d'une région en forme de bande de l'indicateur peuvent être vues successivement dans la fenêtre. L'invention concerne en outre une montre comportant un mouvement d'horlogerie et un tel dispositif d'affichage, dont les moyens d'entraînement sont commandés par le mouvement d'horlogerie.The invention also relates to a device for displaying a cycle of successive images of the moon during a lunation in a circular window of a dial, especially for the implementation of the aforementioned method, comprising a movable indicator disposed behind said window and drive means for moving the indicator stepwise so that different parts of a band-shaped region of the indicator can be successively viewed in the window. The invention furthermore relates to a watch comprising a watch movement and such a display device, the driving means of which are controlled by the watch movement.

Dans les dispositifs classiques d'affichage des phases de la lune, un disque portant deux images de la pleine lune fait un demi-tour par lunaison derrière une fenêtre semi-circulaire de forme particulière, illustrée par exemple dans le brevet US 508 467 . L'un des bords de la fenêtre comporte deux arcs convexes qui mordent sur l'image de la pleine lune, respectivement pendant que la lune croît et décroît. La forme de l'image de lune ainsi affichée est correcte seulement au début et à la fin de la lunaison (en partant de la nouvelle lune), lorsque la partie éclairée a la forme d'un croissant, et à la pleine lune. Pendant les autres phases, l'image affichée a une forme fausse, car la forme de la ligne de séparation entre la zone claire et la zone sombre n'est pas conforme à la réalité : elle est courbe au lieu d'être droite au premier et au dernier quartier, et elle est incurvée dans le mauvais sens entre le premier et le dernier quartier. Autrement dit, ce mode d'affichage donne une image de la lune non conforme à la réalité durant la majorité de la lunaison.In the conventional devices for displaying the phases of the moon, a disc bearing two images of the full moon makes a half-turn by lunation behind a semicircular window of particular shape, illustrated for example in the patent US 508,467 . One of the edges of the window has two convex arcs that bite on the image of the full moon, respectively as the moon grows and decreases. The shape of the moon image thus displayed is correct only at the beginning and at the end of the lunation (starting from the new moon), when the illuminated part has the shape of a crescent, and at the full moon. During the other phases, the displayed image has a wrong shape, because the shape of the line of separation between the light and the dark zone is not in conformity with reality: it is curved instead of being straight at first. and in the last quarter, and it is curved in the wrong direction between the first and the last quarter. In other words, this display mode gives an image of the moon that does not conform to reality during most of the lunation.

Le brevet CH 598 638 prévoit un procédé et un dispositif d'affichage du genre indiqué en préambule ci-dessus, utilisant une fenêtre circulaire devant un disque qui tourne d'un pas tous les deux jours autour de l'axe des aiguilles d'une montre et qui porte en l'occurrence une série de quinze images successives du disque lunaire tel qu'on le voit dans le ciel au cours de la lunaison. En pratique, l'encombrement de chaque image et la nécessité de ne pas apercevoir le bord d'une seconde image dans la fenêtre font que le diamètre de la fenêtre et de l'image doit être inférieur à environ un septième du diamètre du disque, donc est particulièrement petit sur un cadran de montre-bracelet. Ces images sont mieux conformes à la réalité que dans les dispositifs classiques, mais leur évolution reste assez grossière puisque l'affichage ne change que tous les deux jours environ. Si l'on voulait une mise à jour plus fréquente et donc une meilleure conformité de la représentation chaque jour, il faudrait doubler le nombre d'images sur le disque et donc réduire tellement leur taille que l'affichage perdrait son attrait.The patent CH 598 638 provides a method and a display device of the kind indicated in the preamble above, using a circular window in front of a disc which rotates every two days about the axis of the clockwise and which carries in the occurrence a series of fifteen successive images of the lunar disc as seen in the sky during the lunation. In practice, the congestion of each image and the need to not see the edge of a second image in the window make the diameter of the window and the image must be less than about one seventh of the diameter of the disk, so is particularly small on a dial wristwatch. These images are more realistic than in conventional devices, but their evolution remains quite crude since the display changes only every two days or so. If one wanted a more frequent update and therefore a better conformity of the representation every day, it would be necessary to double the number of images on the disk and thus to reduce so much their size that the display would lose its attraction.

Résumé de l'inventionSummary of the invention

La présente invention a pour objet un procédé et un dispositif d'affichage des phases lunaires permettant d'éviter dans une large mesure les inconvénients de l'art antérieur et de montrer, dans un guichet circulaire, une image de la zone éclairée et de la zone sombre de la lune qui soit aussi proche que possible de la réalité, et notamment bien mieux conforme à la réalité que dans les affichages du type classique.The subject of the present invention is a method and a device for displaying lunar phases which make it possible to avoid to a large extent the disadvantages of the prior art and to show, in a circular window, an image of the illuminated area and the dark zone of the moon that is as close as possible to reality, and in particular much better in line with reality than in displays of the classical type.

A titre additionnel, l'invention a pour objet un procédé et un dispositif permettant d'afficher, en particulier dans une montre, des images du disque lunaire qui sont à la fois très proches de la réalité chaque jour et relativement grandes par rapport au cadran de la montre.In addition, the subject of the invention is a method and a device making it possible to display, in particular in a watch, images of the lunar disk that are both very close to reality each day and relatively large compared to the dial. of the watch.

A cet effet, il est prévu un procédé ayant les caractéristiques énoncées dans la revendication 1. Les revendications qui dépendent de celle-ci définissent des formes d'exécution particulières du procédé, notamment en utilisant pour l'affichage un disque rotatif, comme c'est l'usage dans les montres.For this purpose, there is provided a method having the features set forth in claim 1. The claims which depend on it define particular embodiments of the method, in particular by using for the display a rotary disk, such as is the use in watches.

Il est prévu en outre un dispositif d'affichage ayant les caractéristiques énoncées dans la revendication 5. Les revendications qui dépendent de celle-ci définissent des formes d'exécution particulières du dispositif d'affichage.There is further provided a display device having the features set forth in claim 5. The dependent claims thereof define particular embodiments of the display device.

On remarque qu'une idée de base de la présente invention consiste à utiliser une même ligne de séparation, située sur l'indicateur mobile, pour former différentes images successives de la lune en déplaçant légèrement cette ligne pour passer d'une image à la suivante. C'est ainsi qu'il devient possible de réduire le nombre de lignes de séparation par rapport au nombre des différentes images que l'on désire afficher, donc réduire le nombre des champs clairs et sombres sur l'indicateur. Il en résulte que ces champs et la fenêtre qui les laisse apparaître peuvent être relativement grands par rapport à la taille de l'indicateur et celle du cadran.It is noted that a basic idea of the present invention is to use the same line of separation, located on the moving indicator, to form different successive images of the moon by slightly moving this line to move from one image to the next . Thus it becomes possible to reduce the number of separation lines in relation to the number of different images that are to be displayed, thus reducing the number of light and dark fields on the indicator. As a result, these fields and the window that lets them appear can be relatively large compared to the size of the indicator and that of the dial.

Description sommaire des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

  • La figure 1 est une vue de la face supérieure d'une montre-bracelet comportant un affichage de phases de lune selon la présente invention.The figure 1 is a view of the upper face of a wristwatch having a moon phase display according to the present invention.
  • La figure 2 représente la face supérieure d'un disque indicateur de lune de la montre de la figure 1, dans un mode de réalisation où l'entraînement du disque se fait au moyen d'un moteur électrique.The figure 2 represents the upper face of a moon indicator disc of the watch of the figure 1 in an embodiment where the driving of the disk is by means of an electric motor.
  • La figure 3 représente vingt-huit images de la lune que le disque de la figure 2 est capable d'afficher.The figure 3 represents twenty-eight images of the moon that the disc of the figure 2 is able to display.
  • La figure 4 représente une modification du cadran de la montre de la figure 1, dans un second mode de réalisation où le disque indicateur de lune est entraîné mécaniquement à partir du mouvement d'horlogerie de la montre.The figure 4 represents a modification of the watch face of the figure 1 in a second embodiment where the moon indicator disc is mechanically driven from the watch movement of the watch.
  • La figure 5 représente la face supérieure du disque indicateur de lune dans le second mode de réalisation.The figure 5 represents the upper face of the moon indicator disk in the second embodiment.
  • La figure 6 est une vue en plan par transparence du disque de la figure 5 avec son mécanisme d'entraînement.The figure 6 is a transparency plan view of the disk of the figure 5 with its drive mechanism.
  • La figure 7 est une vue en perspective du mécanisme de la figure 6.The figure 7 is a perspective view of the mechanism of the figure 6 .
Description détaillée de divers modes de réalisationDetailed description of various embodiments

Dans la figure 1, on reconnaît une montre-bracelet 1 ayant, sur un cadran fixe 2, un affichage analogique de l'heure au moyen d'aiguilles des heures 3, des minutes 4 et des secondes 5. En outre, il est prévu un affichage de la date au moyen d'un disque de quantième 6 apparaissant dans un guichet 7 du cadran, ainsi qu'un affichage de phase de lune au moyen d'un disque indicateur de lune 8 apparaissant dans une fenêtre circulaire 9 du cadran 2. Dans cet exemple, les deux disques 6 et 8 sont concentriques et tournent tous deux autour de l'axe de rotation 10 des aiguilles, situé de préférence au centre du cadran, et ils peuvent être situés dans le même plan derrière le cadran, le disque 6 étant annulaire comme d'habitude. Les fonctions de la montre sont commandées au moyen d'une couronne 11 de type connu.In the figure 1 it is possible to recognize a wristwatch 1 having, on a fixed dial 2, an analogue time display by means of hands of the hours 3, minutes 4 and seconds 5. In addition, a display of the clock is provided. date by means of a date disk 6 appearing in a window 7 of the dial, and a moon phase display by means of a moon indicator disc 8 appearing in a circular window 9 of the dial 2. In this example both discs 6 and 8 are concentric and both rotate about the axis of rotation 10 of the hands, preferably located in the center of the dial, and they may be located in the same plane behind the dial, the disc 6 being annular as usual. The functions of the watch are controlled by means of a ring 11 of known type.

Dans un premier mode de réalisation qui sera décrit maintenant en référence aux figures 1 à 3, la montre 1 est une montre électronique multifonctions et ses organes d'affichage sont actionnés au moyen de moteurs électriques pas à pas. En particulier, le disque indicateur de lune 8 est pourvu d'un mécanisme d'entraînement (non représenté) ayant son propre moteur pas à pas, avec une démultiplication assez grande pour que, par exemple, 1000 pas du moteur soient nécessaires pour produire un tour complet du disque 8. L'entraînement du disque de quantième 6 s'effectue aussi au moyen d'un moteur qui lui est dédié, tandis que l'entraînement des aiguilles 3 à 5 peut s'effectuer au moyen d'un ou plusieurs autres moteurs.In a first embodiment which will now be described with reference to the Figures 1 to 3 , the watch 1 is a multifunctional electronic watch and its display members are actuated by means of electric motors step by step. In particular, the moon indicator disc 8 is provided with a drive mechanism (not shown) having its own stepper motor, with a gear ratio large enough that, for example, 1000 steps of the motor are necessary to produce a gear. complete rotation of the disk 8. The drive of the date disk 6 is also effected by means of a motor dedicated thereto, whereas the driving of the hands 3 to 5 can be carried out by means of one or more other engines.

Dans le guichet 9, l'utilisateur de la montre voit une portion circulaire du disque 8, qui représente l'aspect actuel de la lune vue de la terre et comporte, la plupart du temps, une partie claire 12 et une partie sombre 13 représentant respectivement la partie éclairée et la partie non éclairée de la lune. Les parties 12 et 13 sont délimitées par une ligne de séparation pouvant être rectiligne ou plus ou moins incurvée selon l'âge de la lune, tandis qu'aucune ligne de séparation n'est visible à la nouvelle lune et à la pleine lune.In the window 9, the user of the watch sees a circular portion of the disk 8, which represents the current appearance of the moon seen from the ground and has, for the most part, a light portion 12 and a dark portion 13 representing respectively the illuminated part and the unlit part of the moon. Parts 12 and 13 are delimited by a line of separation that can be straight or more or less curved depending on the age of the moon, while no line of separation is visible at the new moon and the full moon.

La figure 2 montre un agencement préféré de la face supérieure du disque 8 dans le premier mode de réalisation de l'invention. Une région 20 en forme de bande annulaire, dont la largeur en direction radiale est légèrement plus grande que le diamètre de la fenêtre 9 du cadran, est subdivisée dans sa circonférence en champs successifs alternativement clairs et sombres, à savoir cinq champs clairs 21 à 25 et cinq champs sombres 26 à 30, grâce à cinq paires de lignes de séparation, les deux lignes de chaque paire étant symétriques l'une de l'autre. Le champ clair 21 est séparé des champs sombres adjacents 26 et 27 par deux lignes de séparation 31 et 32 à forte courbure convexe du côté clair, leurs sens de courbure respectifs étant opposés. De même, le champ clair 22 est séparé des champs sombres adjacents 27 et 28 par deux lignes de séparation 33 et 34 à faible courbure concave du côté clair, le champ clair 23 est séparé des champs sombres adjacents 28 et 29 par deux lignes de séparation 35 et 36 à forte courbure concave du côté clair, le champ clair 24 est séparé des champs sombres adjacents 29 et 30 par deux lignes de séparation 37 et 38 à faible courbure convexe du côté clair, et enfin le champ clair 25 est séparé des champs sombres adjacents 30 et 26 par deux lignes de séparation rectilignes 39 et 40. Les cercles 41 et 42 dessinés dans la figure 2 ne servent qu'à mettre en évidence la notion de bande comportant des champs clairs et sombres, mais ils ne sont pas réellement dessinés sur le disque 8.The figure 2 shows a preferred arrangement of the upper face of the disk 8 in the first embodiment of the invention. An annular band-like region, whose width in the radial direction is slightly greater than the diameter of the window 9 of the dial, is subdivided in its circumference into successive alternately light and dark fields, namely five light fields 21 to 25 and five dark fields 26 to 30, with five pairs of dividing lines, the two lines of each pair being symmetrical to each other. The light field 21 is separated from the adjacent dark fields 26 and 27 by two lines of separation 31 and 32 with a strong convex curvature of the light side, their respective directions of curvature being opposite. Similarly, the light field 22 is separated from the adjacent dark fields 27 and 28 by two lines of separation 33 and 34 with a small concave curvature on the light side, the light field 23 is separated from the adjacent dark fields 28 and 29 by two lines of separation 35 and 36 with a strong concave curvature on the bright side, the bright field 24 is separated from the adjacent dark fields 29 and 30 by two separation lines 37 and 38 with a low convex curvature on the light side, and finally the light field 25 is separated from the fields dark adjacent 30 and 26 by two rectilinear dividing lines 39 and 40. The circles 41 and 42 drawn in the figure 2 only serve to highlight the concept of band with light and dark fields, but they are not really drawn on the disc 8.

Il faut noter que les lignes à relativement faible courbure 33, 34, 37 et 38 sont de préférence elliptiques, pour donner une image aussi conforme que possible à la réalité, tandis que les lignes à relativement forte courbure 31, 32, 35 et 36 peuvent avoir une forme elliptique ou autre, par exemple circulaire, sans altérer l'image de la lune. On remarque aussi que les lignes 31 et 36 ont la même forme, la concavité se trouvant du côté d'un champ clair dans un cas et du côté d'un champ sombre dans l'autre cas. Il en va de même respectivement pour les lignes 32 et 35, 33 et 38, 34 et 37. Ainsi, en comptant encore la forme rectiligne des lignes 39 et 40, ce premier mode de réalisation utilise seulement cinq formes différentes de lignes de séparation.It should be noted that the relatively low curvature lines 33, 34, 37 and 38 are preferably elliptical, to give an image as conform as possible to reality, while the relatively high curvature lines 31, 32, 35 and 36 may have an elliptical or other shape, for example circular, without altering the image of the moon. We also note that the lines 31 and 36 have the same shape, the concavity being on the side of a bright field in one case and the side of a dark field in the other case. The same is true for lines 32 and 35, 33 and 38, 34 and 37 respectively. Thus, still counting the rectilinear shape of lines 39 and 40, this first embodiment uses only five different forms of separation lines.

Le fait que la bande annulaire 20 du disque 8 ne comporte que cinq champs clairs et cinq champs sombres et que plusieurs de ces champs occupent, dans la direction de la circonférence, une longueur inférieure au diamètre de la fenêtre circulaire 9, constitue un avantage remarquable, parce que le rapport entre le diamètre de la fenêtre et celui du disque indicateur de lune peut être bien plus grand que selon l'art antérieur illustré par le brevet CH 598 638 mentionné dans l'introduction. Ce rapport peut atteindre environ 1:3,6 avec l'arrangement selon la figure 2. Autrement dit, l'invention offre la possibilité d'afficher une image relativement grande de la lune, tout en faisant varier cette image assez souvent pour qu'elle reste conforme à la réalité.The fact that the annular band 20 of the disc 8 comprises only five light fields and five dark fields and that several of these fields occupy, in the direction of the circumference, a length less than the diameter of the circular window 9, is a remarkable advantage, because the ratio between the diameter of the window and that of the moon indicator disc may be much greater than in the illustrated prior art by the patent CH 598 638 mentioned in the introduction. This ratio can reach about 1: 3.6 with the arrangement according to the figure 2 . In other words, the invention offers the possibility of displaying a relatively large image of the moon, while varying this image often enough to remain true to reality.

Chacune des lignes de séparation 31 à 40 est utilisée durant une phase donnée de la lunaison, le sens et l'ampleur de sa courbure étant déterminés en fonction de l'aspect de la lune vue de la terre durant cette phase, c'est-à-dire essentiellement la forme générale de la partie éclairée de la lune.Each of the dividing lines 31 to 40 is used during a given phase of the lunation, the direction and magnitude of its curvature being determined according to the appearance of the moon from the ground during this phase, that is, that is, essentially the general shape of the illuminated part of the moon.

La figure 3 montre vingt-huit images différentes de la lune, que le disque 8 peut présenter dans la fenêtre ronde 9 du cadran dans des positions successives P1 à P28. Il s'agit d'un exemple non limitatif, car le disque 8 est capable d'afficher à volonté un plus grand nombre d'images différentes. On choisit de préférence un nombre de positions et d'images divisible par quatre afin d'afficher le même nombre d'images dans chaque quart d'une lunaison. Toutefois, on verra plus loin que l'électronique peut être programmée d'une manière qui fait varier ce nombre. Pour passer d'une position à la suivante, le disque 8 effectue soit une rotation relativement petite, dite secondaire, ayant pour effet de déplacer légèrement la ligne de séparation apparaissant dans la fenêtre 9, soit une rotation relativement grande, dite primaire, pour amener un ou deux nouveaux champs et/ou une nouvelle ligne de séparation en face de la fenêtre 9 ou au bord de celle-ci. Typiquement, les rotations primaires sont supérieures ou égales à environ 45 degrés, tandis que les rotations secondaires sont de l'ordre de 1 à 4 degrés, selon le nombre de positions et le nombre de lignes de séparation sur le disque.The figure 3 shows twenty-eight different images of the moon, that the disk 8 can present in the round window 9 of the dial in successive positions P1 to P28. This is a non-limiting example, because the disk 8 is able to display at will a larger number of different images. A number of positions and images divisible by four are preferably chosen in order to display the same number of images in each quarter of a lunation. However, it will be seen later that the electronics can be programmed in a way that varies this number. To move from one position to the next, the disk 8 performs either a relatively small, so-called secondary rotation, having the effect of slightly moving the separation line appearing in the window 9, or a relatively large, so-called primary rotation, to bring about one or two new fields and / or a new dividing line in front of the window 9 or at the edge thereof. Typically, the primary rotations are greater than or equal to about 45 degrees, while the secondary rotations are of the order of 1 to 4 degrees, depending on the number of positions and the number of separation lines on the disc.

La position P1 représente la nouvelle lune en montrant uniquement le champ sombre 26 dans la fenêtre, puis une petite rotation (secondaire) du disque 8 dans le sens de la flèche A fait apparaître dans la fenêtre la ligne de séparation 31 et un peu du champ clair 21 pour présenter un fin croissant de lune dans la position P2. Les positions suivantes P3 et P4 sont atteintes chaque fois par une petite rotation supplémentaire du disque 8 dans le sens de A. Au-delà, la courbure de la ligne 31 serait trop forte par rapport à l'aspect réel de la lune. C'est pourquoi on va utiliser dans une deuxième partie de la lunaison la ligne de séparation 37, qui a une forme elliptique et présente une moindre courbure dans sa partie médiane que la ligne 31. Pour passer de P4 à P5, les circuits électroniques de la montre commandent le moteur électrique de façon à effectuer rapidement un grand nombre de pas pour produire une grande rotation (primaire) du disque 8, soit dans le sens de A, soit dans le sens inverse, amenant la ligne 37 et les champs 24 et 29 dans la position P5 en face de la fenêtre 9. Ultérieurement, la ligne 37 est avancée par une rotation secondaire jusqu'à la position P6, puis jusqu'à la position P7. Pour obtenir la position suivante P8 qui représente la lune au premier quartier, la ligne de séparation rectiligne 39 est amenée dans la fenêtre par une rotation primaire du disque 8. La ligne 39 est ensuite remplacée dans la fenêtre par la ligne 33 à faible courbure concave à la position P9, puis deux rotations secondaires du disque 8 amènent la ligne 33 successivement aux positions P10 et P11. Une rotation primaire remplace ensuite la ligne 33 par la ligne 35 à plus forte courbure pour la position P12. Les rotations secondaires suivantes du disque 8 dans le sens de A amènent d'abord la ligne 35 successivement aux positions P13 et P14, puis font sortir cette ligne de la fenêtre 9, où l'on n'y voit plus que le champ clair 23 pour représenter la pleine lune dans la position P15. Les rotations secondaires suivantes du disque font apparaître dans la fenêtre la ligne de séparation 36 située de l'autre côté du champ 23, successivement dans les positions P16, P17 et P18. Une rotation primaire remplace ensuite la ligne 36 par la ligne 34 à plus faible courbure pour la position P19. Les rotations secondaires suivantes du disque 8 dans le sens de A amènent d'abord la ligne 34 successivement aux positions P20 et P21, puis une rotation primaire remplace cette ligne par la ligne rectiligne 40 pour représenter la lune au dernier quartier dans la position P22. La ligne 40 est ensuite remplacée dans la fenêtre à la position P23 par la ligne 38 à faible courbure concave, puis deux rotations secondaires du disque 8 amènent la ligne 38 successivement aux positions P24 et P25. Une rotation primaire remplace ensuite la ligne 38 par la ligne 32 à plus forte courbure pour la position P26. Les rotations secondaires suivantes du disque 8 dans le sens de A amènent la ligne 32 successivement aux positions P27 et P28, puis une rotation primaire fait sortir cette ligne de la fenêtre 9 et apparaître le champ sombre 26 pour représenter la nouvelle lune dans la position P1, de sorte que le cycle d'affichage des images de la lune recommence.The position P1 represents the new moon by showing only the dark field 26 in the window, then a small (secondary) rotation of the disk 8 in the direction of the arrow A makes appear in the window the dividing line 31 and a little of the field 21 clear to present a crescent moon end in the P2 position. The following positions P3 and P4 are reached each time by a small additional rotation of the disk 8 in the direction of A. Beyond, the curvature of the line 31 would be too strong compared to the real appearance of the moon. This is why we will use in a second part of the lunation line of separation 37, which has an elliptical shape and has a smaller curvature in its middle part than the line 31. To pass from P4 to P5, the electronic circuits of the watch command the electric motor so as to rapidly perform a large number of steps to produce a large (primary) rotation of the disk 8, either in the direction of A, or in the opposite direction, bringing the line 37 and the fields 24 and 29 into the position P5 in front of the window 9. Subsequently, the line 37 is advanced by a secondary rotation to the position P6, then to the position P7. To obtain the next position P8 which represents the moon in the first quarter, the straight line 39 is brought into the window by a primary rotation of the disk 8. The line 39 is then replaced in the window by the line 33 with a small concave curvature at the position P9, then two secondary rotations of the disk 8 bring the line 33 successively to the positions P10 and P11. A primary rotation then replaces the line 33 with the line 35 with greater curvature for the position P12. The following secondary rotations of the disk 8 in the direction of A first bring the line 35 successively to the positions P13 and P14, then bring this line out of the window 9, where it only sees the light field 23 to represent the full moon in position P15. The following secondary rotations of the disk show in the window the line of separation 36 located on the other side of the field 23, successively in the positions P16, P17 and P18. A primary rotation then replaces line 36 with line 34 with lower curvature for position P19. The following secondary rotations of the disk 8 in the direction of A first bring the line 34 successively to the positions P20 and P21, then a primary rotation replaces this line by the straight line 40 to represent the moon at the last quarter in the P22 position. Line 40 is then replaced in the window at position P23 by line 38 with a small concave curvature, and then two secondary rotations of disc 8 bring line 38 successively to positions P24 and P25. A primary rotation then replaces line 38 with the line 32 with the highest curvature for position P26. The following secondary rotations of the disk 8 in the direction of A bring the line 32 successively to the positions P27 and P28, then a primary rotation takes this line out of the window 9 and appear the dark field 26 to represent the new moon in the P1 position. , so that the moon image display cycle starts again.

En résumé, le cycle d'affichage des images de la lune au cours d'une lunaison est ainsi divisé en dix parties inégales, comme le montre le tableau suivant. Partie No. Positions Ligne de séparation I P1 - P4 31 II P5 - P7 37 III P8 39 IV P9 - P11 33 V P12 - P14 35 VI P15 - P18 36 VII P19 - P21 34 VIII P22 40 IX P23 - P25 38 X P26 - P28 32 In summary, the cycle of displaying moon images during a lunation is thus divided into ten unequal parts, as shown in the following table. Part No. positions Separation line I P1 - P4 31 II P5 - P7 37 III P8 39 IV P9 - P11 33 V P12 - P14 35 VI P15 - P18 36 VII P19 - P21 34 VIII P22 40 IX P23 - P25 38 X P26 - P28 32

On notera dans la description qui précède le tableau qu'il est possible de passer de la partie V à la partie VI du cycle sans rotation primaire, mais par une seule rotation secondaire, si l'espacement des lignes 35 et 36 est choisi de façon à laisser entre elles juste assez de place pour l'image de la pleine lune.It will be noted in the above description of the table that it is possible to move from the V part to the part VI of the cycle without primary rotation, but by a single secondary rotation, if the spacing of the lines 35 and 36 is chosen so to leave just enough room for the image of the full moon.

Dans l'exemple présenté ici, le passage d'une des positions P1 à P28 à la suivante peut se faire soit à une heure fixe, soit à des intervalles de temps fixes correspondant à 1/28 de la durée moyenne de la lunaison synodique, à savoir environ 25,312 heures, le passage de P1 à P2 étant fait par exemple à un demi-intervalle après l'instant de la nouvelle lune. Cet instant est tiré d'une table d'éphémérides qui est mémorisée dans la montre électronique à calendrier perpétuel. D'une manière générale, on notera que l'électronique de la montre peut être programmée pour afficher, notamment au moyen du disque 8 tel que représenté à la figure 2, un nombre quelconque d'images de la lune au cours d'une lunaison, en changeant d'image à des moments que le producteur de la montre peut prédéterminer librement par une programmation appropriée. Par exemple, environ soixante positions différentes du disque peuvent être prévues afin d'afficher chaque soir et chaque matin une image conforme à l'aspect réel de la lune.In the example presented here, the transition from one of the positions P1 to P28 to the next can be done either at a fixed time or at fixed time intervals corresponding to 1/28 of the average duration of the synodic lunation, namely about 25.312 hours, the passage from P1 to P2 being made for example at half a range after the moment of the new moon. This moment is taken from an ephemeris table that is stored in the perpetual calendar electronic watch. In general, it will be noted that the electronics of the watch can be programmed to display, in particular by means of the disk 8 as represented in FIG. figure 2 , any number of images of the moon during a lunation, changing image at times that the producer of the watch can freely predetermine by appropriate programming. For example, about sixty different positions of the disc may be provided to display each evening and each morning an image consistent with the actual appearance of the moon.

La montre électronique illustrée par les figures 1 à 3 peut en outre être conçue pour afficher l'âge de la lune, c'est-à-dire le nombre de jours depuis la dernière nouvelle lune. Un mode de faire simple consiste à indiquer temporairement l'âge de la lune dans le guichet 7 au moyen de l'indicateur de quantième 6 en réponse à une manoeuvre spécifique de la couronne 11. Une autre construction de la montre peut comporter un indicateur supplémentaire, par exemple un disque annulaire similaire au disque de quantième 6 et disposé concentriquement à celui-ci, pour indiquer numériquement l'âge de la lune dans un guichet supplémentaire 44 tel que représenté en trait interrompu dans la figure 1.The electronic watch illustrated by Figures 1 to 3 can also be designed to display the age of the moon, that is, the number of days since the last new moon. A simple way is to temporarily indicate the age of the moon in the window 7 by means of the date indicator 6 in response to a specific maneuver of the crown 11. Another construction of the watch may include an additional indicator , for example an annular disk similar to the date disk 6 and arranged concentrically thereon, to indicate numerically the age of the moon in an additional wicket 44 as shown in broken lines in the figure 1 .

Dans un second mode de réalisation qui sera décrit maintenant en référence aux figures 1 et 4 à 7, la montre 1 est une montre à mouvement d'horlogerie mécanique et ses organes d'affichage sont entraînés par ce mouvement. En particulier, le disque indicateur de lune 8, dont la face supérieure est visible dans la figure 5, est pourvu d'un mécanisme d'entraînement 75 représenté dans les figures 6 et 7. La figure 4 montre qu'il est prévu en outre une indication de l'âge de la lune. A cet effet, près de la fenêtre circulaire 9 qui est la même que dans la figure 1, le cadran 2 comporte une fenêtre allongée 45 bordée d'une graduation 46 allant par exemple de 1 à 29 ou 30. Pour réduire la longueur de la fenêtre, la graduation 46 est répartie pour une moitié le long d'un bord de la fenêtre et pour l'autre moitié le long du bord opposé. Une petite zone du disque 8 apparaît dans cette fenêtre et comporte un index 47 qui pointe sur la moitié concernée de la graduation 46.In a second embodiment which will now be described with reference to figures 1 and 4 to 7 , the watch 1 is a watch with a mechanical clockwork movement and its display members are driven by this movement. In particular, the moon indicator disc 8, whose upper face is visible in the figure 5 , is provided with a drive mechanism 75 shown in Figures 6 and 7 . The figure 4 shows that there is also an indication of the age of the moon. For this purpose, near the circular window 9 which is the same as in the figure 1 , the dial 2 comprises an elongated window 45 lined with a graduation 46 ranging for example from 1 to 29 or 30. To reduce the length of the window, the graduation 46 is distributed for half along an edge of the window and for the other half along the opposite edge. A small area of the disc 8 appears in this window and has an index 47 which points to the relevant half of the graduation 46.

D'une manière analogue à celle de l'exemple précédent, mais avec une géométrie un peu différente, il est prévu sur le disque 8 une région 50 en forme de bande annulaire, qui est subdivisée dans sa circonférence en champs successifs alternativement clairs et sombres, à savoir cinq champs clairs 51 à 55 et cinq champs sombres 56 à 60, grâce à dix lignes de séparation 61 à 70. Dans ce cas, seules les lignes de séparation 61, 63, 65, 66, 68 et 70 deviendront visibles dans la fenêtre 9, au cours de six parties respectives de la lunaison. Le tracé de chacune des autres lignes 62, 64, 67 et 69 est choisi de façon à empêcher que le champ sombre adjacent à cette ligne apparaisse pendant que le champ clair adjacent est visible dans la fenêtre.In a manner analogous to that of the previous example, but with a slightly different geometry, there is provided on the disk 8 a region 50 in the form of an annular band, which is subdivided in its circumference into successive alternately light and dark fields. five light fields 51 to 55 and five dark fields 56 to 60, by means of ten dividing lines 61 to 70. In this case, only the dividing lines 61, 63, 65, 66, 68 and 70 will become visible in the window 9, during six respective parts of the lunation. The pattern of each of the other lines 62, 64, 67 and 69 is chosen to prevent the dark field adjacent to that line from appearing while the adjacent bright field is visible in the window.

Dans la figure 5, les six cercles 9a à 9f représentent chacun la position relative de la fenêtre 9 au début de la partie correspondante du cycle, par rapport au champ clair apparaissant dans la fenêtre dans cette partie du cycle. Ainsi, la position 9a donne l'image de la nouvelle lune et elle est tangente à la ligne 61 qui apparaîtra ensuite dans la fenêtre quand le disque 8 effectuera de petites rotations secondaires, suivant le même principe que dans le premier mode de réalisation. Cette ligne est convexe du côté du champ clair 51. Lorsque l'autre ligne 62 délimitant ce champ 51 arrivera tout près du bord de la fenêtre 9, une grande rotation primaire du disque 8 amènera la ligne de séparation rectiligne 63 et une partie du champ clair 52 dans la fenêtre 9, situation représentée par la position relative 9b qui correspond au début de la phase de premier quartier. La position 9c correspond au début de la phase de lune gibbeuse croissante et est associée à la ligne 65 concave du côté du champ clair 53. La position 9d correspond à la phase de pleine lune et elle est tangente à la ligne 66, concave du côté du champ clair 53, qui apparaîtra ensuite dans la fenêtre quand le disque 8 effectuera de petites rotations secondaires. La position 9e représente le début de la phase du dernier quartier et se trouve à cheval sur la ligne rectiligne 68. Enfin, la position 9f correspond au début de la dernière partie du cycle lunaire et chevauche la ligne 70 qui est convexe du côté du champ clair 55.In the figure 5 , the six circles 9a to 9f each represent the relative position of the window 9 at the beginning of the corresponding part of the cycle, with respect to the bright field appearing in the window in this part of the cycle. Thus, the position 9a gives the image of the new moon and it is tangent to the line 61 which will then appear in the window when the disk 8 will perform small secondary rotations, following the same principle as in the first embodiment. This line is convex on the side of the light field 51. When the other line 62 delimiting this field 51 will come close to the edge of the window 9, a large primary rotation of the disk 8 will bring the straight line 63 and part of the field light 52 in the window 9, situation represented by the relative position 9b which corresponds to the beginning of the first quarter phase. The position 9c corresponds to the beginning of the increasing gibbous moon phase and is associated with the concave line 65 on the light field side 53. The position 9d corresponds to the full moon phase and is tangent to the line 66, concave on the side light field 53, which will then appear in the window when the Disc 8 will perform small secondary rotations. The 9th position represents the beginning of the last quarter phase and straddles the straight line 68. Finally, the 9f position corresponds to the beginning of the last part of the lunar cycle and overlaps the line 70 which is convex on the field side. clear 55.

Le disque 8 est muni d'une série de six index 47 dont chacun est associé à l'une des six lignes de séparation 61, 63, 65, 66, 68 et 70 qui apparaissent successivement dans la fenêtre circulaire 9. Chaque index 47 est placé sur le disque dans une position angulaire telle qu'il apparaît dans la fenêtre allongée 45 et indique sur la graduation 46 l'âge de la lune correct au moment où une rotation primaire amène cette ligne dans la fenêtre circulaire 9. Les rotations secondaires suivantes feront avancer l'index le long de la graduation, jusqu'à ce que la rotation primaire suivante amène une autre ligne de séparation et un autre index dans les fenêtres. Grâce à la faible longueur de la fenêtre 45, on peut disposer les index 47 sur le disque de façon qu'un seul index à la fois soit visible dans cette fenêtre. On notera aussi que les index 47 et la fenêtre allongée 45, au lieu de se trouver plus près du centre du disque 8 que la fenêtre circulaire 9, pourraient être situés plus à l'extérieur, dans la région de la périphérie du disque 8.The disk 8 is provided with a series of six indexes 47 each of which is associated with one of the six separation lines 61, 63, 65, 66, 68 and 70 which appear successively in the circular window 9. Each index 47 is placed on the disk in an angular position as it appears in the elongated window 45 and indicates on the graduation 46 the age of the correct moon at the moment when a primary rotation brings this line in the circular window 9. The following secondary rotations advance the index along the scale, until the next primary rotation brings another line of separation and another index into the windows. Due to the short length of the window 45, the indexes 47 can be placed on the disk so that only one index at a time is visible in this window. Note also that the indexes 47 and the elongate window 45, instead of being closer to the center of the disk 8 than the circular window 9, could be located further outside in the region of the periphery of the disk 8.

Bien entendu, le mode d'indication de l'âge de la lune illustré par les figures 4 et 5 peut aussi être utilisé dans une montre électronique du type illustré par les figures 1 à 3.Of course, the mode of indication of the age of the moon illustrated by Figures 4 and 5 can also be used in an electronic watch of the type illustrated by the Figures 1 to 3 .

Il faut noter que les lignes de séparation utilisées ont seulement trois formes différentes, à savoir une forme incurvée avec centre de courbure à gauche quand la ligne est en haut du dessin, dans le cas des lignes 61 et 66, une forme incurvée avec centre de courbure à droite dans le cas des lignes 65 et 70, et une forme rectiligne dans le cas des lignes 63 et 68. Comme dans l'exemple précédent, le petit nombre des champs clairs 51 à 55 répartis dans la bande annulaire 50 permet d'utiliser une fenêtre 9 occupant une portion assez importante du diamètre du disque 8, donc aussi du cadran 2 de la montre 1.It should be noted that the separation lines used have only three different shapes, namely a curved shape with center of curvature on the left when the line is at the top of the drawing, in the case of lines 61 and 66, a curved shape with center of curvature on the right in the case of the lines 65 and 70, and a rectilinear shape in the case of the lines 63 and 68. As in the previous example, the small number of the light fields 51 to 55 distributed in the annular band 50 makes it possible to use a window 9 occupying a fairly large portion of the diameter of the disk 8, so also the dial 2 of the watch 1.

En référence à la figure 6 qui est une vue par transparence, on note que le disque indicateur de lune 8 est solidaire d'une roue de lune 72 ayant une denture extérieure 73 à 233 dents, dont la position est maintenue par un ressort-sautoir 74. La roue 72 et le disque 8 sont entraînés selon deux modes différents à partir de la roue des heures 76 du mouvement d'horlogerie mécanique, au moyen d'un mécanisme d'entraînement 75 visible dans les figures 6 et 7. La roue 76 fait évidemment un tour en douze heures et entraîne, via une roue intermédiaire 78 faisant un tour par jour, un premier mobile entraîneur 80 faisant aussi un tour en douze heures et comprenant une roue 81 et un doigt 82 qui attaque la denture 73 de façon à faire avancer d'une dent la roue de lune 72 deux fois par jour dans le sens de la flèche B. Ce premier mode d'entraînement produit donc chaque jour deux rotations secondaires de 1/233 de tour, soit environ 1,5 degré chacune.With reference to the figure 6 which is a view by transparency, it is noted that the moon indicator disk 8 is integral with a moon wheel 72 having an external toothing 73 with 233 teeth, whose position is maintained by a jumper spring 74. The wheel 72 and the disc 8 are driven in two different modes from the hour wheel 76 of the mechanical clockwork movement, by means of a drive mechanism 75 visible in the Figures 6 and 7 . The wheel 76 obviously turns one in twelve hours and drives, via an intermediate wheel 78 making a turn per day, a first driving mobile 80 also making a turn in twelve hours and comprising a wheel 81 and a finger 82 which attacks the teeth 73 in order to advance a The first drive mode produces two secondary rotations of 1/233 turn each day, or about 1.5 degrees each.

Le second mode d'entraînement du disque 8 utilise un levier oscillant 84 qui pivote autour de l'axe de rotation 10 du disque 8 et de la roue 76 et qui porte à son extrémité un cliquet 85 coopérant avec la denture 73 sous l'effet d'un ressort 86 appuyé contre un plot 87 du levier 84. Un ressort stationnaire 88 s'appuie également contre le plot 87 pour repousser le levier 84 en permanence dans le sens de la flèche B. Un second mobile entraîneur 90, comprenant une roue 91 et une came en spirale 92 qui coopère avec un bec 93 du levier 84, est entraîné en rotation continue par engrènement de la roue 91 avec un pignon 94 solidaire de la roue intermédiaire 78. Le mobile entraîneur 90 fait un nombre entier de tours par lunaison, en l'occurrence six tours en 29,5 jours grâce aux nombres de dents suivants : roue 76 48 dents roue 78 96 dents pignon 94 24 dents roue 91 118 dents The second drive mode of the disc 8 uses an oscillating lever 84 which pivots about the axis of rotation 10 of the disc 8 and the wheel 76 and which carries at its end a pawl 85 cooperating with the toothing 73 under the effect a spring 86 pressed against a stud 87 of the lever 84. A stationary spring 88 also rests against the stud 87 to push the lever 84 permanently in the direction of the arrow B. A second driving mobile 90, comprising a wheel 91 and a spiral cam 92 which cooperates with a lip 93 of the lever 84, is driven in continuous rotation by meshing of the wheel 91 with a pinion 94 integral with the intermediate wheel 78. The driving mobile 90 is a whole number of revolutions lunation, in this case six turns in 29.5 days thanks to the following numbers of teeth: wheel 76 48 teeth wheel 78 96 teeth pinion 94 24 teeth wheel 91 118 teeth

Durant chaque tour du mobile 90, la came 92 repousse progressivement le levier 84 dans le sens opposé à B, puis dès que le bec 93 a franchi l'extrémité extérieure 94 de la spirale de la came, le levier 84 tourne brusquement dans le sens de B sur un angle qui est défini par la came et qui correspond ici à 29 dents de la denture 73. Le cliquet 85 du levier impose ainsi à la roue de lune 72 et au disque 8 une rotation primaire de 29/233 de tour ou environ 44,8 degrés à des intervalles réguliers de (29,5 x 24)/6 = 118 heures. On peut indexer le mobile 90 par rapport au mobile 80 de façon que le doigt 82 ne soit jamais en prise avec la denture 73 au moment d'une rotation primaire.During each revolution of the mobile 90, the cam 92 gradually pushes the lever 84 in the opposite direction to B, and as soon as the nose 93 has passed the outer end 94 of the spiral of the cam, the lever 84 turns sharply in the direction of B on an angle which is defined by the cam and which here corresponds to 29 teeth of the toothing 73. The pawl 85 of the lever thus imposes on the moon wheel 72 and the disc 8 a primary rotation of 29/233 turn or about 44.8 degrees at regular intervals of (29.5 x 24) / 6 = 118 hours. One can index the mobile 90 relative to the mobile 80 so that the finger 82 is never engaged with the toothing 73 at the time of a primary rotation.

Par conséquent, le cycle d'affichage correspondant à une lunaison comprend 6 rotations primaires et 59 rotations secondaires du disque indicateur 8, donc présente 65 images différentes de la lune dans la fenêtre 9 du cadran de la montre. Chacune des six parties du cycle a la même durée de 118 heures et commence avec l'image représentée par l'une des positions 9a à 9f représentées à la figure 5.Consequently, the display cycle corresponding to a lunation includes 6 primary rotations and 59 secondary rotations of the indicator disc 8, thus presenting 65 different images of the moon in the window 9 of the watch face. Each of the six parts of the cycle has the same duration of 118 hours and starts with the image represented by one of the positions 9a to 9f represented in the figure 5 .

Dans l'exemple décrit ici, le premier mobile entraîneur fait un nombre entier de tours par jour, de sorte que chaque rotation secondaire a lieu à heure fixe. Cette condition n'est pas impérative, parce que d'une part la rotation secondaire est si petite et lente qu'on ne la voit pratiquement pas sur le moment, et d'autre part ce mobile doit faire un nombre entier de tours par lunaison, dont la durée n'est en réalité pas un nombre entier de jours. En d'autres termes, le rapport des vitesses des deux mobiles entraîneurs 80 et 90 doit être un rapport de nombres entiers, tandis que le rapport de leur entraînement par le mouvement d'horlogerie peut être choisi librement afin de correspondre au mieux à la durée moyenne réelle d'une lunaison synodique.In the example described here, the first driving mobile is an integer number of revolutions per day, so that each secondary rotation takes place at a fixed time. This condition is not imperative, because on the one hand the secondary rotation is so small and slow that we hardly see it at the moment, and on the other hand this mobile must make a whole number of turns by one , whose duration is actually not a whole number of days. In other words, the ratio of the speeds of the two mobiles Coaches 80 and 90 must be a ratio of whole numbers, while the ratio of their training by the watch movement can be chosen freely to best match the actual average duration of a synodic lunation.

La présente invention n'est pas limitée à l'utilisation d'un indicateur mobile constitué par un disque rotatif, car tout indicateur pourvu d'une bande de forme quelconque portant les champs clairs et sombres est utilisable dans la mesure où son dispositif d'entraînement est capable de faire défiler cette bande derrière une fenêtre circulaire. Par exemple, un tel indicateur pourrait être formé par le pourtour d'un tambour, par une bande souple sans fin passant sur des poulies, ou encore par une plaque allongée déplacée en va-et-vient.The present invention is not limited to the use of a mobile indicator consisting of a rotating disc, because any indicator provided with a band of any shape carrying the light and dark fields is usable to the extent that its device of drive is able to scroll this band behind a circular window. For example, such an indicator could be formed by the periphery of a drum, an endless flexible band passing over pulleys, or by an elongated plate moved back and forth.

Claims (14)

  1. Method for displaying a cycle of successive images of the moon during a lunation in a circular aperture (9) of a dial by means of a mobile indicator (8) arranged behind the aperture and having, on the face thereof appearing in the aperture, lines of separation (31 to 40, 61 to 70) of different shapes between light fields and dark fields, characterized in that:
    the display cycle during a lunation is divided into several successive parts at least certain of which comprise several positions of the mobile indicator, which correspond to several successive images formed with different successive positions of the same line of separation visible in the aperture,
    in order to pass from one part of the cycle to the next part, the mobile indicator is subjected to a primary movement, able to bring a line of separation that was not yet visible or a field without any line of separation into the aperture, and
    in each of the parts of the cycle which comprise successive positions of a same line of separation, the mobile indicator is subjected to at least one secondary movement smaller than the primary movements, to make the line of separation pass from one of said successive positions to the next.
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least twenty-eight movements are made per lunation.
  3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile indicator (8) is a rotating disc, said movements being rotations about an axis (10) perpendicular to the disc.
  4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movements are produced by means of an electric stepping motor and in that the primary movements have different amplitudes and/or directions.
  5. Device for displaying a cycle of successive images of the moon during a lunation in a circular aperture (9) of a dial, in particular for the implementation of the method of claim 1, comprising a mobile indicator (8), comprising a strip-shaped region (20, 50), and arranged behind said aperture and drive means arranged for moving the indicator such that various parts of the strip-shaped region (20, 50) of the indicator (8) can be successively seen in the aperture,
    said strip-shaped region (20, 50) of the indicator (8) being subdivided in its length into successive fields (21 to 30, 51 to 60) that are alternately light and dark by lines of separation (31, to 40, 61 to 70) having different shapes, including at least two rectilinear lines, concave lines on the side of light fields and convex lines on the side of light fields, characterized in that the drive means are capable of importing primary movements on the indicator (8), and secondary movements smaller than the primary movements and able to move one of said lines of separation inside the aperture.
  6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the drive means are arranged so that each of the primary movements is large enough to replace one of said lines of separation (31 to 40, 61 to 70) by another inside or at the edge of the aperture (9).
  7. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the mobile indicator (8) is a circular or annular disc, the strip-shaped region (20, 50) being annular.
  8. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the different shapes of the lines of separation (31 to 40, 61 to 70) are at most five in number.
  9. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the strip-shaped region comprises five light fields (21 to 25) respectively delimited by a pair of rectilinear lines of separation (39, 40), a pair of concave lines of separation with a relatively slight curvature (33, 34), a pair of concave lines of separation with a relatively large curvature (35, 36), a pair of convex lines of separation with a relatively slight curvature (37, 38) and a pair of convex lines of separation with a relatively large curvature (31, 32).
  10. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it further includes means indicating the age of the moon, comprising in the dial an elongated aperture (45), edged with a scale (46), and on the mobile indicator a series of indices (47) each arranged in correspondence with one of the lines of separation (31 to 40, 61, 63, 65, 66, 68, 70) which appear in the circular aperture (9), so that a single index is visible at a time in the elongated aperture facing the scale.
  11. Watch (1) including a watch movement and a display device according to any of claims 5 to 10 whose drive means are arranged to be controlled by the watch movement.
  12. Watch according to claim 11, characterised in that the watch movement is an electronic movement and in that the drive means include an electric stepping motor.
  13. Watch according to claim 11, characterised in that the mobile indicator (8) is a circular or annular disc, in that the watch movement is a mechanical movement and in that the drive means include:
    a moon wheel (72) mechanically connected to the mobile indicator (8) and provided with a toothing (73),
    a first drive wheel set (80) which is arranged to be driven in rotation by the watch movement and arranged to impart one or several secondary rotations on the moon wheel per day,
    a second drive wheel set (90), which is arranged to be driven in rotation by the watch movement so as to make an integer number of revolutions per lunation and which includes a spiral cam (92), and
    a lever (84) capable of pivoting about the same axis (10) as the moon wheel and provided with a click (85) cooperating with the toothing (73) of the moon wheel, said lever being controlled by the spiral cam (92) so as to make, during each lunation, an integer number of back and forth angular movements each of which, by means of a click, causes a primary rotation, greater than each secondary rotation, of the moon wheel (72).
  14. Watch according to claim 13, characterised in that the toothing of the moon wheel has 233 teeth, the first drive wheel set (80) is arranged to make the moon wheel advance by 59 teeth per lunation, and the second drive wheel set (90) is arranged to make 6 revolutions per lunation, each of which produces a back and forth movement of the lever which causes the moon wheel to advance by 29 teeth.
EP04016085A 2004-07-08 2004-07-08 Method and device to display a cycle of images of the moon, notably in a watch Active EP1615086B1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT04016085T ATE536571T1 (en) 2004-07-08 2004-07-08 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING THE SEQUENCE OF IMAGES OF THE MOON, PARTICULARLY IN A CLOCK
EP04016085A EP1615086B1 (en) 2004-07-08 2004-07-08 Method and device to display a cycle of images of the moon, notably in a watch
JP2005181760A JP4559308B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2005-06-22 Method and apparatus for displaying the shape of the moon, especially for watches
US11/176,421 US7196973B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2005-07-08 Method and device for displaying a moon image cycle, in particular for a watch
CN200510084115.4A CN1719351B (en) 2004-07-08 2005-07-08 Procedure and device to display a cycle of images of the moon, notably in a watch
HK06102320.1A HK1082056A1 (en) 2004-07-08 2006-02-22 Method and device for displaying a moon image cycle, in particular for a watch

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04016085A EP1615086B1 (en) 2004-07-08 2004-07-08 Method and device to display a cycle of images of the moon, notably in a watch

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EP1615086A1 EP1615086A1 (en) 2006-01-11
EP1615086B1 true EP1615086B1 (en) 2011-12-07

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EP04016085A Active EP1615086B1 (en) 2004-07-08 2004-07-08 Method and device to display a cycle of images of the moon, notably in a watch

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EP (1) EP1615086B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4559308B2 (en)
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ATE536571T1 (en) 2011-12-15
HK1082056A1 (en) 2006-05-26
US20060007787A1 (en) 2006-01-12
US7196973B2 (en) 2007-03-27
CN1719351B (en) 2010-05-05
JP2006023299A (en) 2006-01-26
EP1615086A1 (en) 2006-01-11
JP4559308B2 (en) 2010-10-06
CN1719351A (en) 2006-01-11

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