EP3032357B1 - Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece - Google Patents

Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3032357B1
EP3032357B1 EP14196933.7A EP14196933A EP3032357B1 EP 3032357 B1 EP3032357 B1 EP 3032357B1 EP 14196933 A EP14196933 A EP 14196933A EP 3032357 B1 EP3032357 B1 EP 3032357B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
motifs
motif
group
display device
size
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.)
Active
Application number
EP14196933.7A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3032357A1 (en
Inventor
Nicolas François
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Swatch Group Research and Development SA
Original Assignee
Swatch Group Research and Development SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Swatch Group Research and Development SA filed Critical Swatch Group Research and Development SA
Priority to EP14196933.7A priority Critical patent/EP3032357B1/en
Priority to JP2015223835A priority patent/JP6352887B2/en
Priority to US14/955,353 priority patent/US20160161916A1/en
Priority to KR1020150173401A priority patent/KR101852240B1/en
Priority to CN201510895546.2A priority patent/CN105700326B/en
Publication of EP3032357A1 publication Critical patent/EP3032357A1/en
Priority to HK16114154A priority patent/HK1225814B/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3032357B1 publication Critical patent/EP3032357B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C17/00—Indicating the time optically by electric means
    • 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
    • G04B19/06—Dials
    • G04B19/10—Ornamental shape of the graduations or the surface of the dial; Attachment of the graduations to the dial
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C17/00—Indicating the time optically by electric means
    • G04C17/005—Indicating the time optically by electric means by discs
    • G04C17/0058—Indicating the time optically by electric means by discs with date indication
    • 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
    • G04B19/24—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars
    • G04B19/243—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars characterised by the shape of the date indicator
    • G04B19/247—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars characterised by the shape of the date indicator disc-shaped
    • 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
    • G04B45/00—Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects
    • G04B45/0038—Figures or parts thereof moved by the clockwork
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
    • G04G9/08—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques
    • G04G9/12—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques using light valves, e.g. liquid crystals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/12—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for using special optical effects
    • G09F19/14—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for using special optical effects displaying different signs depending upon the view-point of the observer

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a display device for integration into a portable object, said display device comprising a dial having an opening which defines a display area, an indicator member being disposed behind the dial, and at least one first group of patterns extending in a plane parallel to the indicator member and arranged to appear through the opening in the dial.
  • Alphanumeric display devices are already known which correspond to the definition above.
  • a rotating indicator member usually has the shape of a disc or a ring which carries a series of regularly spaced alphanumeric indications carried on a circular track. These alphanumeric indications appear through an opening in the dial which is commonly called aperture and whose dimensions correspond to those alphanumeric indications to display.
  • the circular track of the disk or ring passes under the window, and the alphanumeric indications scroll through the window when the indicator member rotates, so that the various indications are displayed successively.
  • Such display systems are very commonly used, for example in calendar watches.
  • a defect shared by most alphanumeric display devices that meet the description given above is the small size of the displayed indications.
  • the different indications must each be in a sector separate from the circular track of the indicator organ.
  • the opening of a sector is limited to the angle obtained by dividing 360 ° by the number of indications distributed around the circumference of the circular track. In the case, for example, where the indications are following the calendar from 1 to 31, it can be calculated that the opening of the sectors is slightly less than 12 °.
  • the document EP 1 310 839 A1 describes a calendar watch which is adapted to deliver an enlarged image of the alphanumeric indication to be displayed.
  • the opening which constitutes the window is adapted in shape and size to receive a lens.
  • the lens thus mounted in the opening acts as a magnifying glass, transmitting an enlarged image of the indication of the date, so as to allow in principle a better reading of this indication.
  • a disadvantage of this known solution is that the dimension of the digits constituting the indication to be displayed is practically equal to the diameter of the lens. Under these conditions, it will be understood that the thickness of the lens in the display area is not even approximately constant. However, it is known that when they are large enough to be sensitive, variations in the thickness of the lens cause deformation of the transmitted image. This phenomenon is known as spherical aberration.
  • An object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art which have just been described.
  • the present invention accomplishes this purpose by providing an alphanumeric display device according to the appended claim 1.
  • cylindrical is to be taken in the broad sense, the expression “cylindrical lens” here designating any lens having an optical axis and having, in cross section, a constant profile over its entire length.
  • the "orientation" of a cylindrical lens corresponds to the orientation of the optical axis of this lens.
  • the orientation of a character corresponds to the conventional linking direction of that character with others in a text.
  • the preferred direction of linking characters in most languages is the "horizontal" direction (the characters are linked, as the case may be, from left to right or from right to left). It will be understood, however, that in the present context what is called the "horizontal” direction corresponds more exactly to the direction of a straight line passing through the two eyes of a reader whose head is oriented in a conventional manner with respect to the characters .
  • the present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea of arranging two representations of the same pattern in two different sizes under a lenticular lens array. Depending on the angle at which the observer looks at the patterns, he will first perceive one of the patterns of a given size and then the other pattern of a size different from that of the first perceived pattern, which causes a zoom effect to create a dynamic display.
  • the present invention will be described with reference to a rotating indicator member of the date ring type bearing the thirty-one date indications enabling it to indicate the date of every day of a given month. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and that the patterns visible under the lenticular lens arrays may be at the choice of numbers, letters, a logo, a decorative pattern or the like. Similarly, it is also possible to display a pattern by means of a fixed or dynamic display, for example of the LCD type or the like.
  • the figure 1 is a top plan view of a watch movement 1 of a calendar watch of the prior art.
  • the watch movement 1 shown is arranged to conventionally drive various analog display devices (not shown), including hour and minute hands. It is further arranged to drive an alphanumeric display device which, in the example shown, is constituted by a date display device.
  • the date display device comprises a disk 2 which carries the sequence of numbers from 1 to 31 to show the different dates. In the usual way, the numbers are arranged on the disk 2 so as to appear successively through an open window in the watch face (the location of the window is indicated on the figure 1 by a rectangle referenced 4).
  • the watch movement 1 can be either a mechanical movement or an electromechanical movement, quartz for example. It can be seen that the watch movement 1 represented at figure 1 is associated with a control rod 6 provided with a crown 8 conventionally provided for setting the time and date of the calendar watch.
  • the figure 2 is a partial schematic plan view of a date ring 10 constituting the rotating indicator member of an alphanumeric display device which is in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention.
  • the date ring 10 is part of a timing mechanism of a timepiece (not shown), and it is arranged to be driven step by step by the movement of the piece to note that, apart from the alphanumeric display device, the movement of the timepiece of the present example could, for example, be identical to the watch movement 1 of the watch. figure 1 .
  • the rotating indicator member is, for example, a date ring 10.
  • the groups of characters it carries are thirty-one, so as to display the dates of all months of the year.
  • each group of characters is covered by a lenticular network 14.
  • the thirty-one lenticular networks 14 are constituted by as many strips reported on a circular track 16 located on the periphery of the date ring 10. It will be noted that all the groups of characters that are visible through the different lenticular networks 14 under which these groups of characters are arranged have not been represented on the figure 2 , so as not to overload the drawing.
  • the figure 3A is an enlarged schematic view, in a plan view of one of the groups of characters of the display device of the figure 2
  • the figure 3B is a cross-sectional view of a lenticular array disposed above the group of characters of the figure 3A .
  • the illustrated group of characters is formed of a first "3" and a first "0" having a first size, and a second "3" and a second "0" having a second size different from the first size.
  • the group of characters extends in a plane 18 situated between the lenticular network 14 and the rotating indicator member 10.
  • the group of characters is covered by one of the lenticular networks 14.
  • each lenticular network 14 is formed of a layer of juxtaposed cylindrical lenses 20 which extend parallel to each other.
  • the "cylindrical" lenses 20 are not literally cylindrical in shape.
  • the term “cylindrical” is to be used here in a broad sense, according to which the expression “cylindrical lens” designates any lens having an optical axis OO, and having in cross section, an invariant profile over its entire length .
  • lenticular networks are already known as such. Lenticular arrays suitable for carrying out the invention are even commercially available from several companies. These networks are generally in the form of sheets of relatively large size that can be cut to the desired size.
  • lenticular sheets are made of a transparent and stable material. They normally have a smooth back surface 22 which makes it possible to fix the sheet on a substrate.
  • the lenticular network 14 may itself constitute the plane 18 which bears the characters to be displayed. According to this latter variant, the characters are applied directly to the smooth verso surface 22 of the lenticular sheet, for example by printing. To illustrate this variant, we have shown on the figure 3B dark areas at the base of the lenticular network 14 which materialize the ink used to print the characters.
  • the cylindrical lenses 20 of the lenticular networks 14 have a focal length such that the focal plane F of the lenses coincides with the plane 18 in which the group of characters extends.
  • the optical axes OO of the cylindrical lenses 20 are furthermore oriented in the same direction as the characters of the group of characters (it will be understood in this respect that the orientation of a character such as a digit is to be understood as the direction of normal sequence of reading this figure with the other digit of the same size).
  • the first "3" and the first "0" which have the same first size are broken into rectilinear slices referenced 24. It can be seen more that the second "3" and the second "0" which have a second size are also The rectilinear slices 24 and 26 extend parallel to the normal chaining direction of the characters, and they are nested so that there is always a straight slice 26, consisting of a fragment numbers of the second size between each rectilinear slice 24 constituted by a fragment of the figures of the first size.
  • each group of characters is formed of at least a first character having a first size and a second character having the same meaning as the first character and having a second size different from the first size. It is important to note that, according to an unrepresented variant of the invention, each group of characters could comprise at least a third character of meaning identical to that of the first and second characters and which would have a third size different from the first and second size. However, according to the particular embodiment which is the object of this example, each of the numbers "3" and "0" is represented in only two different sizes.
  • each of the cylindrical lenses 20 is split by a vertical plane P1 into first and second halves 20a and 20b of the same width L , the first half 20a of the cylindrical lens 20 covers at least one straight edge 24 of the first character, and the second half 20b of the cylindrical lens 20 covers at least one straight edge 26 of the second character.
  • this is a simplified variant embodiment of the invention. Indeed, the progress made in recent years in the field of print resolution are such that it is now quite possible to have under the same cylindrical lens several rectilinear slices of the first character nested between slices rectilinear of the second character.
  • the cylindrical lenses 20 of the lenticular networks 14 have a focal length such that the focal plane F of the lenses coincides with the plane 18 in which the group of characters extends. Under these conditions, each cylindrical lens 20 returns to the eyes of an observer 28 the enlarged image of only one of the straight slices 24 or 26. This rectilinear slice is that which is on either side of a P2 plane passing through the optical axis OO of the cylindrical lens 20 and the eyes of the observer 28. It will therefore be understood that since the cylindrical lenses 20 of a lenticular array 14 are oriented in the same direction as the characters that these cylindrical lenses cover, this makes it possible to prevent the two eyes of the observer 28 from seeing different images.
  • the first half 20a of the cylindrical lens 20 covers a straight edge 24 of the first character
  • the second half 20b of the cylindrical lens 20 covers a rectilinear edge 26 of the second character.
  • the two images are swapped according to the angle of vision.
  • the two images that are swapped are two images of the same number, which are written with figures of different sizes, we speak of a "zoom" effect.
  • the zoom effect draws attention to the group of characters visible through the aperture 30 by creating an animated image.
  • rectilinear slices 24 and 26 which are very thin.
  • a 40 LPI lenticular array 40 cylindrical lenses per inch
  • the width of the cylindrical lenses of such a network is about 2/3 of a millimeter.
  • the width of the rectilinear slices can be about 1/3 of a millimeter.
  • each group of characters may comprise a third character of identical meaning to that of the first and second characters and having a third size different from the first and second size, the third character being fragmented into slices. rectilinear parallel to the character orientation and nested with the first and second characters so that there is always a slice of the first character and a slice of the second character between each slice of the third character. It will be understood that, as long as the three kinds of slices always follow each other in the same order, the "zoom" effect can be made even more spectacular by using a number of sizes greater than two.
  • the rotating indicator member is a date ring which carries thirty-one groups of characters, so as to display the dates of all the months of the year. According to the invention, each group of characters is covered by a lenticular network.
  • a single lattice of lenticular lenses 14 is arranged in the aperture 30 in the dial 12 which covers the rotatable indicator member 10.
  • all Groups of characters that the rotating indicator member will scroll under the lenticular lens array as the rotating indicator member rotates.
  • the groups of characters that the rotating indicator member carries are in accordance with the invention, that is to say that each group of characters is formed of at least twice the same pattern according to two different sizes, these patterns being cut into straight slices interleaved into each other.
  • each group of characters consists of twice the same date indication in two different sizes. It will also be noted that the optical properties described above in connection with the embodiment of the invention in which each group of characters is covered by a network of lenticular lenses are also valid in the case of the figure 6 wherein a single lattice of lenticular lenses is fixed in the opening in the dial and where the groups of characters are carried by the rotating indicator member.
  • rotating indicator body that carries numerical indications.
  • the invention is not limited to such an embodiment and that the rotating indicator member may carry any type of pattern such as, without limitation, letters or a logo.
  • the group of patterns according to the invention will consist of two identical logos of two different sizes cut into rectilinear slices of the same thickness which will be nested in each other in a direction identical to the direction in which extend the cylindrical lenses.
  • the display device according to the invention makes it possible to display a single pattern in two different sizes.
  • Such a display device may find its interest in the case where it is desired to display for example only the logo of a trademark in two different sizes.
  • a digital display device such as a liquid crystal display cell 32 disposed vertically above the opening 30 formed in the 12 and in which is arranged a single lattice of lenticular lenses 14.
  • This liquid crystal display cell 32 can provide a fixed display in time, for example a logo in two different sizes.
  • this display cell 32 can also provide a dynamic display of at least a first ( Figure 7A ) and a second ( Figure 7B ) groups of characters, each of the first and second groups of characters being formed of at least a first character having a first size and a second character of same significance as the first character and having a second size different from the first size.
  • the characters will be cut into rectilinear slices of the same thickness which will be formed by the display electrodes of the liquid crystal display cell 32.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Lenses (AREA)
  • Stereoscopic And Panoramic Photography (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)

Description

Domaine de l'inventionField of the invention

La présente invention concerne un dispositif d'affichage destiné à être intégré dans un objet portable, ce dispositif d'affichage comprenant un cadran comportant une ouverture qui définit une zone d'affichage, un organe indicateur étant disposé derrière le cadran, et au moins un premier groupe de motifs s'étendant dans un plan parallèle à l'organe indicateur et agencé de manière à apparaître à travers l'ouverture ménagée dans le cadran.The present invention relates to a display device for integration into a portable object, said display device comprising a dial having an opening which defines a display area, an indicator member being disposed behind the dial, and at least one first group of patterns extending in a plane parallel to the indicator member and arranged to appear through the opening in the dial.

Arrière-plan technologique de l'inventionTechnological background of the invention

On connait déjà des dispositifs d'affichage alphanumériques qui correspondent à la définition ci-dessus. Dans ces dispositifs, un organe indicateur tournant a habituellement la forme d'un disque ou d'un anneau qui porte une série d'indications alphanumériques régulièrement espacées reportées sur une piste circulaire. Ces indications alphanumériques apparaissent à travers une ouverture ménagée dans le cadran que l'on appelle communément guichet et dont les dimensions correspondent à celles des indications alphanumériques à afficher. La piste circulaire du disque ou de l'anneau passe sous le guichet, et les indications alphanumériques défilent donc dans le guichet lorsque l'organe indicateur tourne, de sorte que les différentes indications s'affichent successivement. De tels systèmes d'affichages sont très couramment utilisés, par exemple dans les montres-calendriers.Alphanumeric display devices are already known which correspond to the definition above. In these devices, a rotating indicator member usually has the shape of a disc or a ring which carries a series of regularly spaced alphanumeric indications carried on a circular track. These alphanumeric indications appear through an opening in the dial which is commonly called aperture and whose dimensions correspond to those alphanumeric indications to display. The circular track of the disk or ring passes under the window, and the alphanumeric indications scroll through the window when the indicator member rotates, so that the various indications are displayed successively. Such display systems are very commonly used, for example in calendar watches.

Un défaut partagé par la plupart des dispositifs d'affichage alphanumériques qui répondent à la description donnée ci-dessus est la petite taille des indications affichées.A defect shared by most alphanumeric display devices that meet the description given above is the small size of the displayed indications.

En effet, pour éviter le chevauchement entre indications voisines, les différentes indications doivent s'inscrire chacune dans un secteur distinct de la piste circulaire de l'organe indicateur. Dans ces conditions, on comprendra que l'ouverture d'un secteur est limitée à l'angle obtenu en divisant 360° par le nombre d'indications réparties sur le pourtour de la piste circulaire. Dans le cas, par exemple, où les indications sont la suite des quantièmes de 1 à 31, on peut calculer que l'ouverture des secteurs est légèrement inférieure à 12°.Indeed, to avoid overlap between neighboring indications, the different indications must each be in a sector separate from the circular track of the indicator organ. In these conditions, it will be understood that the opening of a sector is limited to the angle obtained by dividing 360 ° by the number of indications distributed around the circumference of the circular track. In the case, for example, where the indications are following the calendar from 1 to 31, it can be calculated that the opening of the sectors is slightly less than 12 °.

Dans le but de remédier au défaut susmentionné, le document EP 1 310 839 A1 décrit une montre-calendrier dont le guichet est adapté pour livrer une image agrandie de l'indication alphanumérique à afficher. A cet effet, l'ouverture qui constitue le guichet est adaptée en forme et en dimension pour recevoir une lentille. La lentille ainsi montée dans l'ouverture fait office de loupe, transmettant une image agrandie de l'indication de la date, de façon à permettre en principe une meilleure lecture de cette indication.In order to remedy the defect mentioned above, the document EP 1 310 839 A1 describes a calendar watch which is adapted to deliver an enlarged image of the alphanumeric indication to be displayed. For this purpose, the opening which constitutes the window is adapted in shape and size to receive a lens. The lens thus mounted in the opening acts as a magnifying glass, transmitting an enlarged image of the indication of the date, so as to allow in principle a better reading of this indication.

Un inconvénient de cette solution connue est que la dimension des chiffres constituant l'indication à afficher est pratiquement égale au diamètre de la lentille. Dans ces conditions, on comprendra que l'épaisseur de la lentille dans la zone d'affichage n'est même pas approximativement constante. Or, il est connu que lorsqu'elles sont suffisamment importantes pour être sensibles, les variations de l'épaisseur de la lentille provoquent une déformation de l'image transmise. Ce phénomène est connu sous le nom d'aberration sphérique.A disadvantage of this known solution is that the dimension of the digits constituting the indication to be displayed is practically equal to the diameter of the lens. Under these conditions, it will be understood that the thickness of the lens in the display area is not even approximately constant. However, it is known that when they are large enough to be sensitive, variations in the thickness of the lens cause deformation of the transmitted image. This phenomenon is known as spherical aberration.

Les documents US 2014/226445 , EP 0 181 809 A1 , JP S62 14083 A et JP S50 91569 U décrivent des dispositifs selon le préambule de la revendication 1.The documents US 2014/226445 , EP 0 181 809 A1 , JP S62 14083 A and JP S50 91569 U describe devices according to the preamble of claim 1.

Les documents JP H08 304562 A , FR 2397695 A1 et US 6 463 012 B1 décrivent l'utilisation de lentilles cylindriques pour la réalisation de dispositifs d'affichage horlogers.The documents JP H08 304562 A , FR 2397695 A1 and US 6,463,012 B1 describe the use of cylindrical lenses for the realization of clock display devices.

Bref exposé de l'inventionBrief description of the invention

Un but de la présente invention est de remédier aux inconvénients de l'art antérieur qui viennent d'être décrits. La présente invention atteint ce but en fournissant un dispositif d'affichage alphanumérique conforme à la revendication 1 annexée.An object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art which have just been described. The present invention accomplishes this purpose by providing an alphanumeric display device according to the appended claim 1.

Précisons que le terme « cylindrique » est à prendre au sens large, l'expression « lentille cylindrique » désignant ici toute lentille comportant un axe optique et présentant, en section transversale, un profil constant sur toute sa longueur.Note that the term "cylindrical" is to be taken in the broad sense, the expression "cylindrical lens" here designating any lens having an optical axis and having, in cross section, a constant profile over its entire length.

Précisons que l'« orientation » d'une lentille cylindrique correspond à l'orientation de l'axe optique de cette lentille. De plus, l'orientation d'un caractère correspond à la direction conventionnelle d'enchaînement de ce caractère avec d'autres dans un texte. On sait que la direction privilégiée d'enchaînement des caractères dans la plupart des langues est la direction « horizontale » (les caractères s'enchaînant, selon le cas, de gauche à droite ou de droite à gauche). On comprendra toutefois que, dans le présent contexte, ce qu'on appelle la direction « horizontale » correspond plus exactement à la direction d'une droite passant par les deux yeux d'un lecteur dont la tête est orientée de manière conventionnelle relativement aux caractères.It should be noted that the "orientation" of a cylindrical lens corresponds to the orientation of the optical axis of this lens. In addition, the orientation of a character corresponds to the conventional linking direction of that character with others in a text. We know that the preferred direction of linking characters in most languages is the "horizontal" direction (the characters are linked, as the case may be, from left to right or from right to left). It will be understood, however, that in the present context what is called the "horizontal" direction corresponds more exactly to the direction of a straight line passing through the two eyes of a reader whose head is oriented in a conventional manner with respect to the characters .

Brève description des figuresBrief description of the figures

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description qui va suivre, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple non limitatif, et faite en référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en plan de dessus d'un mouvement horloger associé à un dispositif d'affichage alphanumérique de l'art antérieur, le dispositif d'affichage alphanumérique étant constitué par un affichage du quantième pour une montre-calendrier ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue schématique en plan de dessus d'un disque de quantième constituant l'organe indicateur tournant d'un dispositif d'affichage alphanumérique conforme à un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention ;
  • la figure 3A est un schéma de principe illustrant en vue de dessus un des groupes de caractères du dispositif d'affichage de la figure 2; ce groupe de caractères étant porté par une surface plane et étant formé d'un premier « 3 » et d'un premier « 0 » ayant une première taille et d'un deuxième « 3 » et d'un deuxième « 0 » ayant une seconde taille ;
  • la figure 3B est une vue en coupe transversale d'un réseau lenticulaire disposé au-dessus du groupe de caractères de la figure 3A,
  • la figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'un réseau lenticulaire disposé au-dessus d'un groupe de caractères ;
  • la figure 5 est une vue schématique illustrant quel caractère du groupe de caractères est visible par l'observateur selon que les yeux de l'observateur se trouvent d'un côté ou de l'autre du plan passant par l'axe optique de la lentille cylindrique et par les yeux de l'observateur ;
  • la figure 6 est une vue schématique d'une première variante de réalisation de l'invention dans laquelle un unique réseau de lentilles lenticulaires est agencé dans l'ouverture ménagée dans le cadran qui recouvre l'organe indicateur tournant sur lequel sont imprimés au moins un même motif selon deux tailles différentes, et
  • les figures 7A et 7B sont des vues schématiques d'une seconde variante de réalisation de l'invention dans laquelle une cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide disposée sous l'ouverture ménagée dans le cadran affiche au moins un même motif selon deux tailles différentes.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • the figure 1 is a top plan view of a watch movement associated with an alphanumeric display device of the prior art, the an alphanumeric display device consisting of a date display for a calendar watch;
  • the figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a date disk constituting the rotating indicator member of an alphanumeric display device according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
  • the figure 3A is a block diagram showing in top view one of the groups of characters of the display device of the figure 2 ; this group of characters being carried by a flat surface and being formed of a first "3" and a first "0" having a first size and a second "3" and a second "0" having a first second size;
  • the figure 3B is a cross-sectional view of a lenticular array disposed above the group of characters of the figure 3A ,
  • the figure 4 is a perspective view of a lenticular array disposed over a group of characters;
  • the figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating which character of the group of characters is visible to the observer according to whether the eyes of the observer are on one side or the other of the plane passing through the optical axis of the cylindrical lens and by the eyes of the observer;
  • the figure 6 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention in which a single lenticular lens array is arranged in the opening in the dial which covers the rotating indicator member on which at least one same pattern is printed. two different sizes, and
  • the Figures 7A and 7B are schematic views of a second embodiment of the invention in which a liquid crystal display cell disposed under the opening in the dial displays at least one same pattern in two different sizes.

Description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation de l'inventionDetailed description of an embodiment of the invention

La présente invention procède de l'idée générale inventive qui consiste à disposer sous un réseau de lentilles lenticulaires deux représentations d'un même motif selon deux tailles différentes. Suivant l'angle sous lequel l'observateur regarde les motifs, il percevra tout d'abord l'un des motifs d'une taille donnée puis l'autre motif d'une taille différente de celle du premier motif perçu, ce qui provoque un effet de zoom permettant de créer un affichage dynamique.The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea of arranging two representations of the same pattern in two different sizes under a lenticular lens array. Depending on the angle at which the observer looks at the patterns, he will first perceive one of the patterns of a given size and then the other pattern of a size different from that of the first perceived pattern, which causes a zoom effect to create a dynamic display.

La présente invention va être décrite en référence à un organe indicateur tournant du type anneau de quantième portant les trente et une indications de quantième lui permettant d'indiquer la date de tous les jours d'un mois donné. On comprendra cependant que la présente invention n'est pas limitée à un tel mode de réalisation et que les motifs visibles sous les réseaux de lentilles lenticulaires peuvent être au choix des chiffres, des lettres, un logo, un motif décoratif ou autre. De même, il est aussi possible d'afficher un motif au moyen d'un afficheur fixe ou dynamique par exemple de type LCD ou similaire.The present invention will be described with reference to a rotating indicator member of the date ring type bearing the thirty-one date indications enabling it to indicate the date of every day of a given month. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and that the patterns visible under the lenticular lens arrays may be at the choice of numbers, letters, a logo, a decorative pattern or the like. Similarly, it is also possible to display a pattern by means of a fixed or dynamic display, for example of the LCD type or the like.

La figure 1 est une vue en plan de dessus d'un mouvement horloger 1 d'une montre-calendrier de l'art antérieur. Le mouvement horloger 1 représenté est agencé pour entraîner de manière conventionnelle divers dispositifs d'affichage analogiques (non représentés), notamment des aiguilles d'heures et de minutes. Il est agencé en outre pour entraîner un dispositif d'affichage alphanumérique qui, dans l'exemple illustré, est constitué par un dispositif d'affichage du quantième. Comme on peut le voir sur la figure 1, le dispositif d'affichage du quantième comporte un disque 2 qui porte la suite des nombres de 1 à 31 pour figurer les différents quantièmes. De manière habituelle, les nombres sont agencés sur le disque 2 de manière à apparaître successivement à travers un guichet ouvert dans le cadran de la montre (l'emplacement du guichet est indiqué sur la figure 1 par un rectangle référencé 4).The figure 1 is a top plan view of a watch movement 1 of a calendar watch of the prior art. The watch movement 1 shown is arranged to conventionally drive various analog display devices (not shown), including hour and minute hands. It is further arranged to drive an alphanumeric display device which, in the example shown, is constituted by a date display device. As can be seen on the figure 1 , the date display device comprises a disk 2 which carries the sequence of numbers from 1 to 31 to show the different dates. In the usual way, the numbers are arranged on the disk 2 so as to appear successively through an open window in the watch face (the location of the window is indicated on the figure 1 by a rectangle referenced 4).

Le mouvement horloger 1 peut être soit un mouvement mécanique, soit un mouvement électromécanique, à quartz par exemple. On peut voir que le mouvement horloger 1 représenté à la figure 1 est associé à une tige de commande 6 munie d'une couronne 8 classiquement prévue pour régler l'heure et la date de la montre-calendrier.The watch movement 1 can be either a mechanical movement or an electromechanical movement, quartz for example. It can be seen that the watch movement 1 represented at figure 1 is associated with a control rod 6 provided with a crown 8 conventionally provided for setting the time and date of the calendar watch.

La figure 2 est une vue schématique partielle en plan de dessus d'un anneau de quantième 10 constituant l'organe indicateur tournant d'un dispositif d'affichage alphanumérique qui est conforme à un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention. Dans l'exemple illustré, l'anneau de quantième 10 fait partie d'un mécanisme de calendrier d'une pièce d'horlogerie (non représentée), et il est agencé pour être entraîné pas-à-pas par le mouvement de la pièce d'horlogerie, de manière à tourner derrière un cadran 12. Précisons que, mis à part le dispositif d'affichage alphanumérique, le mouvement de la pièce d'horlogerie du présent exemple pourrait, par exemple, être identique au mouvement horloger 1 de la figure 1.The figure 2 is a partial schematic plan view of a date ring 10 constituting the rotating indicator member of an alphanumeric display device which is in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the date ring 10 is part of a timing mechanism of a timepiece (not shown), and it is arranged to be driven step by step by the movement of the piece to note that, apart from the alphanumeric display device, the movement of the timepiece of the present example could, for example, be identical to the watch movement 1 of the watch. figure 1 .

On a vu que dans le mode de réalisation de la figure 2, l'organe indicateur tournant est, à titre d'exemple, un anneau de quantième 10. En conséquence, les groupes de caractères qu'il porte sont au nombre de trente et un, de manière à pouvoir afficher les dates de tous les mois de l'année. Conformément à l'invention, chaque groupe de caractères est recouvert par un réseau lenticulaire 14. Dans l'exemple illustré, les trente et un réseaux lenticulaires 14 sont constitués par autant de lamelles rapportées sur une piste circulaire 16 située à la périphérie de l'anneau de quantième 10. On notera que tous les groupes de caractères qui sont visibles à travers les différents réseaux lenticulaires 14 sous lesquels ces groupes de caractères sont disposés n'ont pas été représentés sur la figure 2, de manière à ne pas surcharger le dessin.We have seen that in the embodiment of the figure 2 , the rotating indicator member is, for example, a date ring 10. As a result, the groups of characters it carries are thirty-one, so as to display the dates of all months of the year. According to the invention, each group of characters is covered by a lenticular network 14. In the example illustrated, the thirty-one lenticular networks 14 are constituted by as many strips reported on a circular track 16 located on the periphery of the date ring 10. It will be noted that all the groups of characters that are visible through the different lenticular networks 14 under which these groups of characters are arranged have not been represented on the figure 2 , so as not to overload the drawing.

La figure 3A est une vue schématique agrandie, en plan de dessus d'un des groupes de caractères du dispositif d'affichage de la figure 2, et la figure 3B est une vue en coupe transversale d'un réseau lenticulaire disposé au-dessus du groupe de caractères de la figure 3A. On peut comprendre à partir de la figure 3A que le groupe de caractères illustré est formé d'un premier « 3 » et d'un premier « 0 » ayant une première taille, et d'un deuxième « 3 » et d'un deuxième « 0 » ayant une seconde taille différente de la première taille. Conformément à l'invention, le groupe de caractères s'étend dans un plan 18 situé entre le réseau lenticulaire 14 et l'organe indicateur tournant 10. De plus, le groupe de caractères est recouvert par un des réseaux lenticulaires 14.The figure 3A is an enlarged schematic view, in a plan view of one of the groups of characters of the display device of the figure 2 , and the figure 3B is a cross-sectional view of a lenticular array disposed above the group of characters of the figure 3A . We can understand from the figure 3A that the illustrated group of characters is formed of a first "3" and a first "0" having a first size, and a second "3" and a second "0" having a second size different from the first size. According to the invention, the group of characters extends in a plane 18 situated between the lenticular network 14 and the rotating indicator member 10. In addition, the group of characters is covered by one of the lenticular networks 14.

Selon l'invention, chaque réseau lenticulaire 14 est formé d'une couche de lentilles cylindriques 20 juxtaposées qui s'étendent parallèlement les unes aux autres. Comme on peut le voir sur la coupe transversale de la figure 3B, les lentilles « cylindriques » 20 ne sont pas littéralement de forme cylindrique. On comprendra en effet que le terme « cylindrique » est à prendre ici dans un sens large, conformément auquel l'expression « lentille cylindrique » désigne toute lentille comportant un axe optique O-O, et présentant en section transversale, un profil invariant sur toute sa longueur. Précisons que les réseaux lenticulaires sont déjà connus en tant que tels. Des réseaux lenticulaires convenant pour la réalisation de l'invention sont même disponibles commercialement auprès de plusieurs sociétés. Ces réseaux se présentent généralement sous la forme de feuilles de relativement grandes dimensions qu'il est possible de découper à la taille désirée. Ces feuilles lenticulaires sont réalisées en un matériau transparent et stable. Elles présentent normalement une surface verso lisse 22 qui permet de fixer la feuille sur un substrat. De plus, selon une variante avantageuse, le réseau lenticulaire 14 peut lui-même constituer le plan 18 qui porte les caractères à afficher. Selon cette dernière variante, les caractères sont appliqués directement sur la surface verso lisse 22 de la feuille lenticulaire, par exemple par impression. Pour illustrer cette variante, on a représenté sur la figure 3B des zones sombres à la base du réseau lenticulaire 14 qui matérialisent l'encre utilisée pour imprimer les caractères.According to the invention, each lenticular network 14 is formed of a layer of juxtaposed cylindrical lenses 20 which extend parallel to each other. As can be seen on the cross section of the figure 3B the "cylindrical" lenses 20 are not literally cylindrical in shape. It will be understood that the term "cylindrical" is to be used here in a broad sense, according to which the expression "cylindrical lens" designates any lens having an optical axis OO, and having in cross section, an invariant profile over its entire length . Note that lenticular networks are already known as such. Lenticular arrays suitable for carrying out the invention are even commercially available from several companies. These networks are generally in the form of sheets of relatively large size that can be cut to the desired size. These lenticular sheets are made of a transparent and stable material. They normally have a smooth back surface 22 which makes it possible to fix the sheet on a substrate. In addition, according to an advantageous variant, the lenticular network 14 may itself constitute the plane 18 which bears the characters to be displayed. According to this latter variant, the characters are applied directly to the smooth verso surface 22 of the lenticular sheet, for example by printing. To illustrate this variant, we have shown on the figure 3B dark areas at the base of the lenticular network 14 which materialize the ink used to print the characters.

Conformément à l'invention, les lentilles cylindriques 20 des réseaux lenticulaires 14 ont une distance focale telle que le plan focal F des lentilles est confondu avec le plan 18 dans lequel s'étend le groupe de caractères. Comme le montre clairement la figure 4, les axes optiques O-O des lentilles cylindriques 20 sont en outre orientés dans la même direction que les caractères du groupe de caractères (on comprendra à cet égard que l'orientation d'un caractère tel qu'un chiffre est à comprendre comme la direction d'enchaînement normale de lecture de ce chiffre avec l'autre chiffre de même taille).According to the invention, the cylindrical lenses 20 of the lenticular networks 14 have a focal length such that the focal plane F of the lenses coincides with the plane 18 in which the group of characters extends. As clearly shown in figure 4 the optical axes OO of the cylindrical lenses 20 are furthermore oriented in the same direction as the characters of the group of characters (it will be understood in this respect that the orientation of a character such as a digit is to be understood as the direction of normal sequence of reading this figure with the other digit of the same size).

On peut voir que, dans le groupe de caractères représenté par la figure 3A, le premier « 3 » et le premier « 0 » qui ont la même première taille sont fragmentés en tranches rectilignes référencées 24. On peut voir de plus que le deuxième « 3 » et le deuxième « 0 » qui ont une seconde taille sont également fragmentés en tranches rectilignes référencées 26. Les tranches rectilignes 24 et 26 s'étendent parallèlement à la direction d'enchaînement normale des caractères, et elles sont imbriquées de manière à ce qu'il y ait toujours une tranche rectiligne 26, constituée par un fragment des chiffres de la seconde taille entre chaque tranche rectiligne 24 constituée par un fragment des chiffres de la première taille. Finalement, en se référant encore aux figures 3A et 3B, on peut observer que les tranches rectilignes 24 du premier caractère, tout comme les tranches rectilignes 26 du second caractère, se succèdent avec un pas qui est le même que celui avec lequel les lentilles cylindriques 20 du réseau lenticulaire 14 qui recouvre le groupe de caractères se succèdent.It can be seen that in the group of characters represented by the figure 3A , the first "3" and the first "0" which have the same first size are broken into rectilinear slices referenced 24. It can be seen more that the second "3" and the second "0" which have a second size are also The rectilinear slices 24 and 26 extend parallel to the normal chaining direction of the characters, and they are nested so that there is always a straight slice 26, consisting of a fragment numbers of the second size between each rectilinear slice 24 constituted by a fragment of the figures of the first size. Finally, again referring to Figures 3A and 3B it can be seen that the rectilinear slices 24 of the first character, as well as the rectilinear slices 26 of the second character, follow each other with a step which is the same as that with which the cylindrical lenses 20 of the lenticular network 14 which covers the group of characters one after the other.

Conformément à l'invention, chaque groupe de caractères est formé d'au moins un premier caractère ayant une première taille et d'un deuxième caractère de signification identique à celle du premier caractère et ayant une seconde taille différente de la première taille. Il est important de noter que, selon une variante non représentée de l'invention, chaque groupe de caractères pourrait comprendre encore au moins un troisième caractère de signification identique à celle du premier et du deuxième caractère et qui aurait une troisième taille différente de la première et de la seconde taille. Toutefois, selon le mode de réalisation particulier qui fait l'objet du présent exemple, chacun des chiffres « 3 » et « 0 » n'est représenté qu'en deux tailles différentes. Ainsi, en supposant que chacune des lentilles cylindriques 20 est scindée par un plan vertical P1 en une première et une seconde moitiés 20a et 20b de même largeur L, la première moitié 20a de la lentille cylindrique 20 recouvre au moins une tranche rectiligne 24 du premier caractère, et la seconde moitié 20b de la lentille cylindrique 20 recouvre au moins une tranche rectiligne 26 du deuxième caractère. Il est important de noter qu'il s'agit là d'une variante simplifiée de réalisation de l'invention. En effet, les progrès réalisés ces dernières années dans le domaine de la résolution de l'impression sont tels qu'il est aujourd'hui tout à fait envisageable d'avoir sous une même lentille cylindrique plusieurs tranches rectilignes du premier caractère imbriquées entre des tranches rectilignes du second caractère.According to the invention, each group of characters is formed of at least a first character having a first size and a second character having the same meaning as the first character and having a second size different from the first size. It is important to note that, according to an unrepresented variant of the invention, each group of characters could comprise at least a third character of meaning identical to that of the first and second characters and which would have a third size different from the first and second size. However, according to the particular embodiment which is the object of this example, each of the numbers "3" and "0" is represented in only two different sizes. Thus, assuming that each of the cylindrical lenses 20 is split by a vertical plane P1 into first and second halves 20a and 20b of the same width L , the first half 20a of the cylindrical lens 20 covers at least one straight edge 24 of the first character, and the second half 20b of the cylindrical lens 20 covers at least one straight edge 26 of the second character. It is important to note that this is a simplified variant embodiment of the invention. Indeed, the progress made in recent years in the field of print resolution are such that it is now quite possible to have under the same cylindrical lens several rectilinear slices of the first character nested between slices rectilinear of the second character.

Le fonctionnement de l'invention va maintenant être expliqué en se référant aux figures 4 et 5A, 5B. Comme on l'a vu, les lentilles cylindriques 20 des réseaux lenticulaires 14 ont une distance focale telle que le plan focal F des lentilles est confondu avec le plan 18 dans lequel s'étend le groupe de caractères. Dans ces conditions, chaque lentille cylindrique 20 renvoie en direction des yeux d'un observateur 28 l'image agrandie d'une seule des tranches rectilignes 24 ou 26. Cette tranche rectiligne est celle qui se trouve de part ou d'autre d'un plan P2 passant par l'axe optique O-O de la lentille cylindrique 20 et par les yeux de l'observateur 28. On comprendra donc qu'étant donné que les lentilles cylindriques 20 d'un réseau lenticulaire 14 sont orientées dans la même direction que les caractères que ces lentilles cylindriques recouvrent, cela permet d'éviter que les deux yeux de l'observateur 28 ne voient des images différentes.The operation of the invention will now be explained with reference to Figures 4 and 5A, 5B . As we have seen, the cylindrical lenses 20 of the lenticular networks 14 have a focal length such that the focal plane F of the lenses coincides with the plane 18 in which the group of characters extends. Under these conditions, each cylindrical lens 20 returns to the eyes of an observer 28 the enlarged image of only one of the straight slices 24 or 26. This rectilinear slice is that which is on either side of a P2 plane passing through the optical axis OO of the cylindrical lens 20 and the eyes of the observer 28. It will therefore be understood that since the cylindrical lenses 20 of a lenticular array 14 are oriented in the same direction as the characters that these cylindrical lenses cover, this makes it possible to prevent the two eyes of the observer 28 from seeing different images.

On a vu que, dans l'exemple illustré, la première moitié 20a de la lentille cylindrique 20 recouvre une tranche rectiligne 24 du premier caractère, et la seconde moitié 20b de la lentille cylindrique 20 recouvre une tranche rectiligne 26 du deuxième caractère. Ainsi, lorsqu'un groupe de caractères est visible à travers une ouverture 30 ménagée dans le cadran 12, et qu'un observateur regarde l'ouverture 30 avec les yeux placés d'un côté du plan P2, l'observateur voit l'image formée par les tranches rectilignes 24 (l'image du nombre « 30 » avec des chiffres d'une première taille). Lorsqu'au contraire, les yeux de l'observateur sont placés de l'autre côté du plan P2, il voit l'image formée par les tranches rectilignes 26 (l'image du nombre « 30 » avec des chiffres d'une seconde taille). Autrement dit, les deux images s'intervertissent selon l'angle de vision. Comme les deux images qui s'intervertissent sont deux images du même nombre, qui sont écrites avec des chiffres de tailles différentes, on parle d'un effet « zoom ». L'effet zoom permet d'attirer l'attention sur le groupe de caractères visible à travers l'ouverture 30 en créant une image animée.It has been seen that, in the illustrated example, the first half 20a of the cylindrical lens 20 covers a straight edge 24 of the first character, and the second half 20b of the cylindrical lens 20 covers a rectilinear edge 26 of the second character. Thus, when a group of characters is visible through an opening 30 formed in the dial 12, and an observer looks at the opening 30 with the eyes placed on one side of the plane P2 , the observer sees the image formed by the straight slices 24 (the image of the number "30" with figures of a first size). When, on the contrary, the eyes of the observer are placed on the other side of the plane P2 , he sees the image formed by the rectilinear slices 26 (the image of the number "30" with figures of a second size ). In other words, the two images are swapped according to the angle of vision. As the two images that are swapped are two images of the same number, which are written with figures of different sizes, we speak of a "zoom" effect. The zoom effect draws attention to the group of characters visible through the aperture 30 by creating an animated image.

Dans le but d'obtenir une image nette d'un groupe de caractères, il est avantageux d'avoir des tranches rectilignes 24 et 26 qui soient très minces. A cette fin, on peut utiliser par exemple un réseau lenticulaire à 40 LPI (40 lentilles cylindriques par pouce). On peut calculer que la largeur des lentilles cylindriques d'un tel réseau est d'environ 2/3 de millimètre. Dans ces conditions, la largeur des tranches rectilignes peut être d'environ 1/3 de millimètre.In order to obtain a clear image of a group of characters, it is advantageous to have rectilinear slices 24 and 26 which are very thin. For this purpose, for example, a 40 LPI lenticular array (40 cylindrical lenses per inch) can be used. It can be calculated that the width of the cylindrical lenses of such a network is about 2/3 of a millimeter. Under these conditions, the width of the rectilinear slices can be about 1/3 of a millimeter.

On comprendra en outre que diverses modifications et/ou améliorations évidentes pour un homme du métier peuvent être apportées au mode de réalisation qui fait l'objet de la présente description sans sortir du cadre de la présente invention définie par les revendications annexées. En particulier, chaque groupe de caractères peut comprendre un troisième caractère de signification identique à celle du premier et du deuxième caractère et ayant une troisième taille différente de la première et de la seconde taille, le troisième caractère étant fragmenté en tranches rectilignes parallèlement à l'orientation des caractères et imbriqué avec le premier et le deuxième caractère de manière à ce qu'il y ait toujours une tranche du premier caractère et une tranche du deuxième caractère entre chaque tranche du troisième caractère. On comprendra que, pour autant que les trois sortes de tranches se succèdent toujours dans le même ordre, l'effet « zoom » peut être rendu encore plus spectaculaire grâce au recours à un nombre de tailles supérieur à deux.It will be further understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the embodiment which is the subject of the present description without departing from the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims. In particular, each group of characters may comprise a third character of identical meaning to that of the first and second characters and having a third size different from the first and second size, the third character being fragmented into slices. rectilinear parallel to the character orientation and nested with the first and second characters so that there is always a slice of the first character and a slice of the second character between each slice of the third character. It will be understood that, as long as the three kinds of slices always follow each other in the same order, the "zoom" effect can be made even more spectacular by using a number of sizes greater than two.

Dans le mode de réalisation décrit dans les pages qui précèdent, l'organe indicateur tournant est un anneau de quantième qui porte trente et un groupes de caractères, de manière à pouvoir afficher les dates de tous les mois de l'année. Conformément à l'invention, chaque groupe de caractères est recouvert par un réseau lenticulaire.In the embodiment described in the preceding pages, the rotating indicator member is a date ring which carries thirty-one groups of characters, so as to display the dates of all the months of the year. According to the invention, each group of characters is covered by a lenticular network.

Selon une variante intéressante de l'invention illustrée à la figure 6, au lieu de recouvrir chaque groupe de caractères avec un réseau de lentilles lenticulaires, on agence un unique réseau de lentilles lenticulaires 14 dans l'ouverture 30 ménagée dans le cadran 12 qui recouvre l'organe indicateur tournant 10. De la sorte, tous les groupes de caractères que porte l'organe indicateur tournant vont défiler sous le réseau de lentilles lenticulaires au fur et à mesure de la rotation de l'organe indicateur tournant. Une telle solution nécessite moins de composants et moins de temps de fabrication et est donc plus économique. Bien sûr, les groupes de caractères que porte l'organe indicateur tournant sont conformes à l'invention, c'est-à-dire que chaque groupe de caractères est formé d'au moins deux fois le même motif selon deux tailles différentes, ces motifs étant découpés en tranches rectilignes imbriquées les unes dans les autres. Dans l'exemple particulier représenté à la figure 6, on peut voir que chaque groupe de caractères se compose de deux fois la même indication de quantième selon deux tailles différentes. On notera également que les propriétés optiques décrites ci-dessus en liaison avec le mode de réalisation de l'invention dans lequel chaque groupe de caractères est recouvert d'un réseau de lentilles lenticulaires sont également valables dans le cas de la figure 6 où un unique réseau de lentilles lenticulaires est fixé dans l'ouverture ménagée dans le cadran et où les groupes de caractères sont portés par l'organe indicateur tournant.According to an interesting variant of the invention illustrated in figure 6 instead of covering each group of characters with an array of lenticular lenses, a single lattice of lenticular lenses 14 is arranged in the aperture 30 in the dial 12 which covers the rotatable indicator member 10. In this way, all Groups of characters that the rotating indicator member will scroll under the lenticular lens array as the rotating indicator member rotates. Such a solution requires fewer components and less manufacturing time and is therefore more economical. Of course, the groups of characters that the rotating indicator member carries are in accordance with the invention, that is to say that each group of characters is formed of at least twice the same pattern according to two different sizes, these patterns being cut into straight slices interleaved into each other. In the particular example shown in figure 6 it can be seen that each group of characters consists of twice the same date indication in two different sizes. It will also be noted that the optical properties described above in connection with the embodiment of the invention in which each group of characters is covered by a network of lenticular lenses are also valid in the case of the figure 6 wherein a single lattice of lenticular lenses is fixed in the opening in the dial and where the groups of characters are carried by the rotating indicator member.

On notera enfin que dans l'exemple décrit ci-dessus on s'intéresse à un organe indicateur tournant qui porte des indications numériques. On comprendra toutefois que l'invention n'est pas limitée à un tel mode de réalisation et que l'organe indicateur tournant peut porter tout type de motif tel que, non limitativement, des lettres ou bien encore un logo.Note finally that in the example described above we are interested in a rotating indicator body that carries numerical indications. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to such an embodiment and that the rotating indicator member may carry any type of pattern such as, without limitation, letters or a logo.

Dans le cas particulier d'un logo, le groupe de motifs selon l'invention sera constitué de deux logos identiques de deux tailles différentes découpés en tranches rectilignes de même épaisseur qui seront imbriquées les unes dans les autres selon une direction identique à la direction dans laquelle s'étendent les lentilles cylindriques.In the particular case of a logo, the group of patterns according to the invention will consist of two identical logos of two different sizes cut into rectilinear slices of the same thickness which will be nested in each other in a direction identical to the direction in which extend the cylindrical lenses.

Selon une variante simplifiée de réalisation de l'invention, on peut même imaginer que le dispositif d'affichage selon l'invention ne permette d'afficher qu'un unique motif selon deux tailles différentes. Un tel dispositif d'affichage peut trouver son intérêt dans le cas où l'on ne souhaite afficher par exemple que le logo d'une marque commerciale selon deux tailles différentes.According to a simplified variant embodiment of the invention, it can even be imagined that the display device according to the invention makes it possible to display a single pattern in two different sizes. Such a display device may find its interest in the case where it is desired to display for example only the logo of a trademark in two different sizes.

Selon une autre variante intéressante de l'invention, on peut envisager d'utiliser comme organe indicateur un dispositif d'affichage numérique tel qu'une cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide 32 disposée à l'aplomb de l'ouverture 30 ménagée dans le cadran 12 et dans laquelle est agencé un unique réseau de lentilles lenticulaires 14. Cette cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide 32 peut procurer un affichage fixe dans le temps, par exemple d'un logo selon deux tailles différentes. Comme illustré aux figures 7A et 7B, cette cellule d'affichage 32 peut également procurer un affichage dynamique d'au moins un premier (figure 7A) et un second (figure 7B) groupes de caractères, chacun des premier et second groupes de caractères étant formé d'au moins un premier caractère ayant une première taille et d'un deuxième caractère de signification identique à celle du premier caractère et ayant une seconde taille différente de la première taille. Dans les deux cas, les caractères seront découpés en tranches rectilignes de même épaisseur qui seront formées par les électrodes d'affichage de la cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide 32.According to another advantageous variant of the invention, it is conceivable to use as indicating member a digital display device such as a liquid crystal display cell 32 disposed vertically above the opening 30 formed in the 12 and in which is arranged a single lattice of lenticular lenses 14. This liquid crystal display cell 32 can provide a fixed display in time, for example a logo in two different sizes. As illustrated in Figures 7A and 7B , this display cell 32 can also provide a dynamic display of at least a first ( Figure 7A ) and a second ( Figure 7B ) groups of characters, each of the first and second groups of characters being formed of at least a first character having a first size and a second character of same significance as the first character and having a second size different from the first size. In both cases, the characters will be cut into rectilinear slices of the same thickness which will be formed by the display electrodes of the liquid crystal display cell 32.

NomenclatureNomenclature

  • Mouvement horloger 1Watch movement 1
  • Disque 2Disc 2
  • Guichet 4Box 4
  • Tige de commande 6Control rod 6
  • Couronne 8Crown 8
  • Anneau de quantième 10Ring of date 10
  • Cadran 12Dial 12
  • Réseau lenticulaire 14Lenticular network 14
  • Piste circulaire 16Circular track 16
  • Plan 18Plan 18
  • Lentille cylindrique 20Cylindrical lens 20
  • Surface verso lisse 22Smooth reverse surface 22
  • Tranches rectilignes 24 du premier caractèreStraight slices 24 of the first character
  • Tranches rectilignes 26 du second caractèreStraight slices 26 of the second character
  • Observateur 28Observer 28
  • Ouverture 30Opening 30
  • Cellule d'affichage à cristal liquide 32Liquid crystal display cell 32
  • Axe optique O-OOptical axis O-O
  • Plan focal FF focal plane
  • Plan P1Plan P1
  • Largeur LWidth L
  • Plan P2P2 plan

Claims (9)

  1. Display device intended to be incorporated into a portable object, the display device including a dial (12) in which is provided an opening (30), which defines a display area, an indicator member being arranged behind the dial, and at least a first group of motifs extending in a plane (18) parallel to the indicator member (10) and being arranged to appear through the opening (30) provided in the dial, the motifs of the first group of motifs always being oriented in the same direction when said motifs appear through the opening (30), characterized in that:
    - the group of motifs is formed of at least a first motif having a first size and of a second motif of identical meaning to that of the first motif and having a second size that is different from the first size;
    - the group of motifs is seen through a lenticular array (14) formed of a plurality of juxtaposed cylindrical lenses extending parallel to each other, the cylindrical lenses (20) of the lenticular array (14) having a focal length such that the focal plane (F) of the cylindrical lenses (20) coincides with the plane (18) in which the group of motifs extends;
    - the first motif of the group of motifs and the second motif of the same group of motifs as the first motif are fragmented into rectilinear sections (24, 26) which extend parallel to each other, the rectilinear sections (24, 26) being interleaved with each other so that there is always one section (26) of the second motif located between two sections (24) of the first motif.
  2. Display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the indicator member (10) rotates and in that at least one second group of motifs is arranged in the plane (18) parallel to the rotating indicator member (10), the groups of motifs being arranged to appear one after the other through the opening (30) provided in the dial during rotation of the rotating indicator member (10).
  3. Display device according to claim 2, characterized in that a single lenticular lens array (14) is arranged in the opening (30) provided in the dial (12) which covers the rotating indicator member (10)
  4. Display device according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotating indicator member (10) includes a plurality of lenticular arrays (14), the groups of motifs each being covered by one of the lenticular arrays (14).
  5. Display device according to claim 4, characterized in that each of the lenticular arrays (14) that covers a group of motifs has a smooth back surface (22) that forms the plane (18) in which the group of motifs is formed.
  6. Display device according to any of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the plane (18) in which the group of motifs is formed consists of a portion of the surface of the rotating indicator member (10).
  7. Display device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each group of motifs includes a third motif of identical meaning to that of the first and second motif and having a third size that is different from the first and second size, the third motif being fragmented into rectilinear sections which extend parallel to each other, the rectilinear sections of the third motif being interleaved with the rectilinear sections of the first and second motif so that there is always one section (24) of the first motif and one section (26) of the second motif between two sections of the third motif.
  8. Display device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the motifs of the first and second groups of motifs are alphanumeric characters which follow one another in the same direction, the cylindrical lenses (20) being oriented in the same direction as the linking direction of the alphanumeric characters of the group of alphanumeric characters covered by the cylindrical lenses, the alphanumeric characters being fragmented into rectilinear sections which extend parallel to each other in the linking direction of the alphanumeric characters.
  9. Display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the indicator member is a liquid crystal display cell (32) which provides either an unchanging display of a motif in two different sizes, or a dynamic display of at least a first and a second group of motifs, each of the first and second groups of motifs being formed of at least a first motif having a first size and of a second motif of identical meaning to that of the first motif and having a second size that is different from the first size, the motifs being cut into rectilinear sections of the same thickness which are formed by the display electrodes of the liquid crystal display cell (32).
EP14196933.7A 2014-12-09 2014-12-09 Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece Active EP3032357B1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14196933.7A EP3032357B1 (en) 2014-12-09 2014-12-09 Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece
JP2015223835A JP6352887B2 (en) 2014-12-09 2015-11-16 Display device for portable items such as timers
US14/955,353 US20160161916A1 (en) 2014-12-09 2015-12-01 Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece
KR1020150173401A KR101852240B1 (en) 2014-12-09 2015-12-07 Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece
CN201510895546.2A CN105700326B (en) 2014-12-09 2015-12-08 Display device for the portable item of such as clock and watch
HK16114154A HK1225814B (en) 2014-12-09 2016-12-13 Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14196933.7A EP3032357B1 (en) 2014-12-09 2014-12-09 Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3032357A1 EP3032357A1 (en) 2016-06-15
EP3032357B1 true EP3032357B1 (en) 2017-05-03

Family

ID=52011101

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP14196933.7A Active EP3032357B1 (en) 2014-12-09 2014-12-09 Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20160161916A1 (en)
EP (1) EP3032357B1 (en)
JP (1) JP6352887B2 (en)
KR (1) KR101852240B1 (en)
CN (1) CN105700326B (en)
HK (1) HK1225814B (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3629102B1 (en) * 2018-09-26 2022-12-14 Patek Philippe SA Genève Display mechanism with single window
EP3654110B1 (en) * 2018-11-19 2021-07-28 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Mechanical clock piece with animated display

Family Cites Families (32)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2799938A (en) * 1954-02-09 1957-07-23 Pictorial Prod Inc Evaluating device
JPS4812540Y1 (en) * 1969-10-01 1973-04-05
JPS4812539Y1 (en) * 1969-10-01 1973-04-05
JPS5091569U (en) * 1973-12-22 1975-08-01
JPS5172082U (en) * 1974-12-04 1976-06-07
US4541727A (en) * 1975-12-16 1985-09-17 Rosenthal Bruce A Lenticular optical system
US4034555A (en) * 1975-12-16 1977-07-12 Rosenthal Bruce A Lenticular optical system
JPS53118664U (en) * 1977-02-28 1978-09-20
FR2397695A1 (en) * 1977-07-11 1979-02-09 Rosenthal Bruce Optical system having transparent surface structure - has flat face on one side and parallel grid lens ribs on other side
FR2572553B1 (en) * 1984-10-31 1987-04-30 Dupont S T WATCHES OR THE LIKE HAVING A DATE TYPE DISPLAY DEVICE
JPS6214083A (en) * 1985-07-12 1987-01-22 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Electronic appliance having dial plate with lens
CN2071797U (en) * 1990-06-27 1991-02-20 济南钟表厂 Second motion display for quartz clock (watch)
US5586089A (en) * 1994-03-18 1996-12-17 Mcgarvey; John D. Rotational moire timepiece
CH687495B5 (en) * 1994-07-21 1997-06-30 Centre Electron Horloger Watch comprising a display device associated with an optical magnifying device.
JPH08304562A (en) * 1995-05-02 1996-11-22 Takeo Masuyama Clock having dial plate printed by shift photoprinting
JP3135107B2 (en) * 1995-06-27 2001-02-13 シャープ株式会社 3D display device
IL129455A (en) * 1999-04-15 2003-07-06 Mvt Multi Vision Technologies Timepieces
US6463012B1 (en) * 1997-06-05 2002-10-08 M.V.T. Multi Vision Technologies Ltd. Timepieces
JPH11174172A (en) * 1997-07-30 1999-07-02 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Time piece
DE60042549D1 (en) * 2000-02-22 2009-08-27 Asulab Sa A contrast inversion display unit comprising two superimposed display devices
EP1310839A1 (en) 2001-11-13 2003-05-14 Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH Winding and time-setting device for a timepiece, such as a calendar-watch provided with disc date
US7295717B2 (en) * 2002-10-16 2007-11-13 Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Synthesis of superposition images for watches, valuable articles and publicity
EP1647867A1 (en) * 2004-10-11 2006-04-19 The Swatch Group Management Services AG Magnifying device for timepieces
US8279269B2 (en) * 2009-04-29 2012-10-02 Ke-Ou Peng Mobile information kiosk with a three-dimensional imaging effect
GB0919108D0 (en) * 2009-10-30 2009-12-16 Rue De Int Ltd Security device
GB201107657D0 (en) * 2011-05-09 2011-06-22 Rue De Int Ltd Security device
JP2013061190A (en) * 2011-09-12 2013-04-04 Seiko Epson Corp Dial for timepiece, and timepiece
US20130070574A1 (en) * 2011-09-15 2013-03-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Timepiece rotating display member, and timepiece
CH705600B1 (en) * 2011-10-07 2022-11-30 Richemont Int Sa Image guide device for clocks.
US8854560B2 (en) * 2012-11-06 2014-10-07 Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd Auto-stereoscopic display device, liquid crystal lens, and driving method thereof
JP3181972U (en) * 2012-12-18 2013-02-28 清水産業株式会社 Card and card reader
JP6292464B2 (en) * 2013-06-20 2018-03-14 Ｔｉａｎｍａ Ｊａｐａｎ株式会社 Display device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN105700326A (en) 2016-06-22
JP6352887B2 (en) 2018-07-04
KR20160070011A (en) 2016-06-17
JP2016109681A (en) 2016-06-20
EP3032357A1 (en) 2016-06-15
KR101852240B1 (en) 2018-04-25
HK1225814B (en) 2017-09-15
CN105700326B (en) 2018-03-20
US20160161916A1 (en) 2016-06-09

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2510406B1 (en) Dial module for a watch, and watch including such a dial module
EP3627240B1 (en) Roller display mechanism for a watch
EP3637199B1 (en) Mechanical digital display for a timepiece
EP3062172B1 (en) Watch provided with a magnifying glass
EP3018536B1 (en) Character display mechanism for a clock piece
EP3032357B1 (en) Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece
WO2006018157A1 (en) Watch displaying the date and indicating astronomical information
WO2010108947A1 (en) Display device
EP2835697B1 (en) Display system for showing the date
WO2008151458A1 (en) Digital display method for an analogue watch and analogue watch using this method
EP2853957B1 (en) Device for displaying the phases of the moon
CH710452A2 (en) A display device for a portable object such as a timepiece.
EP3128359A1 (en) Display device for a portable object such as a timepiece
EP3004991B1 (en) Timepiece comprising a device for displaying the equation of time
EP3779609A1 (en) Display device for a timepiece
CH710775A2 (en) Watch equipped with a magnifying glass.
CH700949B1 (en) A mechanical digital display especially for a timepiece.
CH711421A2 (en) A display device for a portable object such as a timepiece comprising a lenticular array.
EP2293156B1 (en) Mechanical digital display
EP4339714A1 (en) Watch adapted to generate a sequential animation
CH720050A2 (en) Watch suitable for generating sequential animation
EP4296791A1 (en) Device for displaying a calendar
CH701729B1 (en) Timepiece e.g. wristwatch, has disk placed at rear part of pattern, and central part defining window partially surrounding fixed pattern and enrolled in elliptical ring, where portion of drawings comprised in disk is visible through window
CH712671B1 (en) Roller calendar display mechanism for watch.
CA2861286A1 (en) Mechanism for the display of sunrise/sunset hours at different latitudes, kit with components to assemble such a mechanism and corresponding assembly, operation and usage methods

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20161215

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: G04C 17/00 20060101AFI20170201BHEP

Ipc: G09F 19/14 20060101ALI20170201BHEP

Ipc: G04G 9/12 20060101ALI20170201BHEP

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20170214

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 890649

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20170515

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: ICB INGENIEURS CONSEILS EN BREVETS SA, CH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: LANGUAGE OF EP DOCUMENT: FRENCH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602014009253

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20170503

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 890649

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20170503

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170804

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170803

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 4

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170803

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170903

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602014009253

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20180206

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20171209

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20171231

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20171209

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20171231

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20141209

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20181209

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20181209

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20170503

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230615

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20231122

Year of fee payment: 10

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20231121

Year of fee payment: 10

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20240102

Year of fee payment: 10