WO2019166982A2

WO2019166982A2 - An analog timepiece with a communication module

Info

Publication number: WO2019166982A2
Application number: PCT/IB2019/051615
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ranganathan Rajagopalan; Krishnamurthy Seenivasan; Sai Sudarson RANGARAJAN SUSINTHER; Parthasarathy SATHISH
Original assignee: Titan Company Limited
Priority date: 2018-02-28
Filing date: 2019-02-28
Publication date: 2019-09-06
Also published as: WO2019166982A3

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses an analog timepiece (100) having a metal dial plate (108) employed with a communication module (104), which is configured to transmit and receive communication signals through near field communication (NFC) signals. The communication module (104) is positioned in the cavity (111) defined in the metal dial plate (108). Further, the device comprises an insulator (103) positioned between the cavity (111) and the communication module (104), such that the insulators acts as a barrier between the cavity (111) and the communication module (104). The insulator (103) intercepts the metal dial plate (108) palate from absorbing or reflecting the communication signals generated by the communication module (104). This enables the analog timepiece (100) having metal dial plate (108) to communicate with the external devices, and thereby provide an option for employing smart features in the analog timepiece.

Description

TITLE:“AN ANALOG TIMEPIECE WITH A COMMUNICATION MODULE”

TECHNICAL FIELD Present disclosure generally relates to a field of horology. Particularly but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a timepiece. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure disclose the timepiece having a metal dial plate, configured with a communication module which transmits and receive data through a near field communication (NFC) signals. BACKGROUND OF l l ll DISCLOSURE

Generally, timepieces or watches may be broadly classified into two categories such as analog timepiece and digital timepiece, based on the mechanism adapted to operate. The analog timepieces are employed with a mechanism, which may involve mechanical and electromechanical parts such as linkages, gear wheels, springs, coil and the like for operating hands and/or indication units. In the analog timepieces, time is generally indicated by the position of an hour hand and a minute hand. Likewise, digital timepieces are configured with the mechanism, which may involve circuit board or a control unit, display, integrated circuit and the like. In digital watches, time may be indicated in numerical form on the display.

With advancements in the field of horology and affinity towards the timepieces, it has led the timepiece to transpose from a mere time keeping device to a multi-functional gadget. Modern timepieces, such as smart watches or digital watches are adapted to indicate time in various time-zones and are also equipped with additional features such as alarms, altitude indication features, physiological monitoring features such as heartbeat count, step count, and the like. Some of the modern timepieces are also adapted with cellular features such as call alerts, message alerts, and the like. To enable these functions, the timepiece may be equipped with an operating system, rechargeable batteries, and the like. In the recent past, the timepiece such as smart watches are equipped with communication modules, which transmit and receive data through Near Field Communication (NFC) signals to pair and establish wireless connection with the nearby reading devices. The use of Near Field Communication (NFC) in the watches has enabled the watches to be used in wide variety of applications such as payment processing, data transfer and the like. Though the smart watches are modernized and user friendly, affinity towards other category of timepieces such as analog watches, have been considerably increasing, due to their aesthetic and eye appealing configuration. This scenario has demanded to cater the features available in digital and smart watches into the analog timepieces.

However, incorporating the transmitting and receiving data through NFC feature in the analog timepieces, which comprises a metal dial plate, is a tedious and cumbersome process. Various modifications to the internal configuration, shape, mode of mechanism and the like, are required to incorporate the integrated and control circuits, which are required to control the NFC feature. Moreover, the metal dial plate, hinders enablement of the NFC tag, since the metal dial plate absorbs and reflects the electromagnetic waves from external devices and will not allow the NFC tag to energize and communicate with the nearby external devices or reading device. The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above and any other limitations associated with the conventional techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The shortcomings of the conventional techniques are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the configuration of the timepiece as disclosed in the present disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, analog timepiece is disclosed. The analog timepiece includes a base member and a movement mechanism which is supported by the base member. The movement mechanism is configured to actuate at least on hand of the timepiece. Further, the analog timepiece comprises a metal dial plate, which is supported by the base member enclosing the movement mechanism. The metal dial plate is defined with a cavity. A communication module is accommodated within the cavity defined in the metal dial plate. The communication module is adapted to generate communication signals for communicating with at least one external device. Additionally, the analog timepiece comprises an insulator, configured between the communication module and the cavity, to insulate the communication module from metal interference. In an embodiment, the communication module is an antenna configured to transmit and receive data through a near field communication (NFC) signals.

In an embodiment, the insulator is a ferric sheet, made of made of sintered ferrite, which is configured to insulate the communication module.

In an embodiment, the communication module is bonded to the insulator.

In an embodiment, the insulator is configured as a barrier between the metal dial plate and the communication module.

In an embodiment, the insulator is configured to intercept the metal dial plate from influencing the communication signals generated by the communication module and, facilitates the communication module to communicatively couple with the at least one electronic device. In an embodiment, wherein the cavity defined in the metal dial plate is a stepped depression.

In an embodiment, the analog timepiece comprises a polymeric cap configured to enclose the communication module, accommodated within the cavity defined in the metal dial plate. In an embodiment, the metal dial plate is defined with a slit, to facilitate communication between the communication module and the external devices.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which: Figure. 1 illustrates an exploded view of an analog timepiece having a metal dial plate and employed with a communication module, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 2 illustrates a front view of the metal dial plate of the analog timepiece, defined with a slit, in accordance to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the system illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETATEED DESCRIPTION

While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure. It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated from the present disclosure and modify various constructions and configurations of the analog timepiece. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

The terms“comprises”,“comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by“comprises... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses an analog timepiece (hereinafter referred as timepiece). The timepiece comprises a metal dial plate, which is employed with a communication module. The communication module is configured to transmit and receive date through near filed communication (NFC) signals. Generally, the communication module placed in the metal dial plate, may not be enabled, since the metal dial plate blocks the wireless transmission through near field communication (NFC) signals and the corresponding external or reading devices. The metal dial plate hinders enablement of the communication module, since the metal dial plate absorbs and reflects the communication signals such as electromagnetic waves, radio waves, microwaves and the like from the communication module and the external devices. This phenomenon thus, hinders the communication module from communicating with the external devices and thus, disabling wireless data transmission between the intended nearby external devices. Hence, to activate the communication module, nullification of effect of the metal dial plate on the communication signals is desired. The present disclosure, aims at enabling the communication module in the analog timepiece, comprising a metal dial plate.

Accordingly, the metal dial plate of the analog timepiece is defined with a cavity, which is adapted to accommodate the communication module. An insulator may be configured between the communication module and the cavity, such that the insulator acts a barrier between the metal dial plate and the communication module and insulates the communication module. This, results in transmission of communication signals from the communication module through NFC from the timepiece, which enables to perform multi-tasks, including but not limiting to wireless payments, sharing business cards, NFC enabled door lock and the like.

Reference will be made to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figure 1. In the figures, only part of the timepiece is illustrated for the purpose of simplicity. The figure show only exemplary configuration of the metal dial plate with the communication module and the insulator, and does not illustrate other components.

Figure. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, illustrating an exploded view of a timepiece (100). The timepiece (100) may comprise a base member (110), which may be configured to support a movement mechanism (107). The movement mechanism (107) may be configured to actuate at least one hand (109) of the timepiece (100). In an embodiment, the movement mechanism (107) may comprise driving elements such as a battery, a rotor, a stator, a coil, a gear arrangement (not shown) and the like to actuate the movement mechanism (107) for driving at least one hand (109) of the timepiece (100). Further, the timepiece (100) may comprise a metal dial plate (108), supported by the base member (110), which encloses the movement mechanism (107). The metal dial plate (108) may be held within the inner periphery or circumference of a casing (101). As shown in Figure. 1 the metal dial plate (108) may be defined with a cavity (111), which may be configured to accommodate a communication module (104). In an embodiment, the cavity (111) defined in the metal dial plate (108) may be a stepped depression with dimensions similar to the cavity (111) and the cavity (111) may be configured in conformity with the dimension of the communication module (104) and the insulator (103). In some embodiments, the communication module (104) may be configured to generate communication signals, for wirelessly communicating with at least one of external devices (not shown). As an example, the external devices may be electronic devices such as a smart mobile phone, a tablet PC, a laptop, payment transaction devices and the like.

Further referring to Figure. 1, the timepiece (100) may comprise an insulator (103), which may be positioned between the communication module (104) and the metal dial plate (108) i.e. the insulator (103) may be sandwiched between the communication module (104) and the metal dial plate (108). The insulator (103) may facilitate in insulating the communication module (104) from metal interference during transmission of data. As an example, the metal interference in the timepiece (100), may be a result of metallic parts used in the timepiece (100) such as metal dial plate (108), the casing (101), the base (110) and the like. In an embodiment the insulator

(103) may be a ferric sheet, manufactured of sintered ferrite. The insulator (103) may be bonded to the cavity (111) of the metal dial plate (108) using adhesive. Further, the communication module (104) may be bonded to the insulator (103) accommodated within the cavity (111), such that the insulator (103) may act as a barrier between the metal dial plate (108) and the communication module (104), such that the insulator (103) suppress the effect of the metal dial plate (108) and other metallic parts of the timepiece (100) on the operation of the communication module (104) to transfer and receive date through Near field communication (NFC) signals. Further, the insulator (103) may intercept the metal dial plate (108) from interfering i.e. absorbing/reflecting the communication signals generated by the communication module (104) and the external devices. Hence, the insulator (103) aids in fine-tuning the communication module (104) to transmit and receive the data through near field communication (NFC) signals, even when placed on or in vicinity of the metal dial plate (108) of the timepiece (100).

As shown in Figure. 1, a cap (105) may be positioned on top of the communication module

(104) to hide the visibility of the communication module (104), when viewed through the mineral glass (102) of the timepiece (100). In an embodiment, the cap (105) may be made of polymeric material. Further, the cap (105) may be defined with a provision (106) for allowing the extension of the driving unit [not shown] for the movement mechanism (107) of the timepiece (100). In an embodiment, the cap (105) may be made of materials, such as plastic, polymer and the like, such that the operation of the communication module (104) is not altered. Additionally, the surface of the cap (105) may be configured to accommodate different indication units such as hands (109) of the timepiece (100). In an embodiment, the cap (105) may be bonded to the metal dial plate (108) or may be fixed by any fixing means, thus assists in enhancing aesthetic appearance of the timepiece (100) for the end user.

Turning now to Figure. 2 which illustrates the metal dial plate (108) for the timepiece according to another embodiment. The metal dial plate (108) as shown in Figure. 2 may be defined with a slit (112), to facilitate communication of the communication module (104), which transmits and receives communication signals through near field communication (NFC) signals. The communication module (104) may be positioned in a provision (not shown), defined beneath the metal dial plate (108), with an insulator (103) i.e. the ferrite sheet made of sintered ferrite accommodated on the communication module ( ! 04) . The insulator (103) facilitates in nullifying the metal interference on the communication module and the slit (112) may facilitate in allowing the communication signals from the communication module (104) to communicate with the external or reading devices.

In an embodiment, incorporating a communication module (104) to transmit and receive communication signals through near field communication (NFC) signals in the timepiece (100) enables the end user to simplify the mobile tasks, such as but not limiting to wireless access control, e-visiting card, smart home automatic solutions, enabling payments and the like.

In an embodiment, the ferric sheet may me made of thin, high-permeability sintered ferrite with PET film and adhesive tape.

In an embodiment, the communication module (104) may be placed and stitched inside a strap (not shown) of the timepiece (100).

EQUIVALENTS

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as“open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as“including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as“having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases“at least one” and“one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles“a” or“an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or“at least one” and indefinite articles such as“a” or“an” (e.g.,“a” and/or“an” should typically be interpreted to mean“at least one” or“one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of“two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to“at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g.,“a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to“at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g.,“a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase“A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of“A” or“B” or“A and B.”

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group. While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

REFERRAL NUMERICALS

Claims

Claims:

1. An analog timepiece (100), comprising: a base member (110);

a movement mechanism (107) supported by the base member (110), wherein the movement mechanism (107) is configured to actuate at least one hand (109) of the timepiece (100);

a metal dial plate (108) supported by the base member (110) enclosing the movement mechanism (107), wherein the metal dial plate (108) is defined with a cavity (111);

a communication module (104) accommodated within the cavity (111), the communication module (104) is adapted to generate communication signals, for communicating with at least one external device; and

an insulator (103) configured between the communication module (104) and the cavity (111), to insulate the communication module (104) from metal interferences.

2. The analog timepiece (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication module (104) is an antenna configured to transmit and receive data through a near field communication (NFC) signals.

3. The analog timepiece (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulator (103) is a ferric sheet.

4. The analog timepiece (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ferric sheet is made of sintered ferrite, configured to insulate the communication module (104).

5. The analog timepiece (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication module (104) bonded to the insulator (103).

6. The analog timepiece (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulator (103) is configured as a barrier between the metal dial plate (108) and the communication module (104).

7. The analog timepiece (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulator (103) is configured to intercept the metal dial plate (108) from influencing the communication signals generated by the communication module (104) and, facilitates the communication module (104) to communicatively couple with the at least one electronic device.

8. The analog timepiece (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity (111) defined in the metal dial plate (108) is a stepped depression.

9. The analog timepiece (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a polymeric cap (105) configured to enclose the communication module (104), accommodated within the cavity

(111) defined in the metal dial plate (108).

10. The analog timepiece (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal dial plate (108) is defined with a slit (112), to facilitate communication between the communication module (104) and the external devices.