External element with a light sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10146185-B2
Application number	US-201515519041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2015
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

An external element of a timepiece including a frame made of a first material, the external element further including at least one light sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An external element of a timepiece comprising:
a frame made of a first material;
at least one light sensor formed of a light guide comprising an, input section orientating a light, from a direction of light incidence, towards a multitude of chromic sections, the chromic sections incorporating a photochromic pigment sensitive to a specific wavelength,
each chromic section configured such that the photochromic pigment reacts to a specific radiation intensity of specific wavelength so that the photochromic pigment changes from a first color to a second color when the specific radiation intensity is reached and a pigment concentration is different between each section,
the chromic sections configured along a perpendicular direction to the direction of light incidence, the chromic sections being arranged aside with respect to the input section, the pigment concentration in each chromic section increasing from an input section side, and
the chromic sections are coated with an anti-ultraviolet protective layer so that the light entering the chromic sections only enters through the input section.

2. The external element according to claim 1 , wherein the chromic sections are arranged in increasing order from lowest ultraviolet radiation intensity to highest ultraviolet radiation intensity.

3. The external element according to claim 2 , wherein the chromic sections are arranged so that a chromic section reacting to a lowest ultraviolet radiation intensity has a lowest concentration of the photochromic pigment and the pigment concentration increases as a function of ultraviolet radiation intensity.

4. The external element according to claim 1 , wherein the chromic sections all have a same first color at a rest state.

5. The external element according to claim 4 , wherein the chromic sections all have a same second color from a specific ultraviolet radiation threshold.

6. The external element according to claim 4 , wherein the chromic sections are devised such that the second color produces shading when the chromic sections have all changed from the first color to the second color.

7. The external element according to claim 1 , wherein the input section includes microstructures allowing the light to be oriented towards the chromic sections.

8. The external element according to claim 1 , wherein the frame includes at least one hollow in which the light sensor is arranged.

9. The external element according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is a bezel.

10. The external element according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is a crystal.

11. The external element according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is a middle part of a watch case.

12. The external element according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is a bracelet or watchband.

13. The external element according to claim 12 , wherein the bracelet includes two bracelet strands made of plastic materials, the light sensor being arranged on at least one of the two strands.

14. The external element according to claim 12 , wherein the bracelet includes a plurality of links hinged to each other, the light sensor being arranged on at least one link.

15. The external element according to claim 12 , wherein the bracelet is closed by a deployment buckle clasp, the light sensor being arranged on the clasp.

16. The external element according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is a crown.

17. The external element according to claim 1 , wherein the photochromic pigment is selected to react to ultraviolet radiation.

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Francois Nicolas

Classifications

• G04B47/06 Primary

  with attached measuring instruments, e.g. pedometer, barometer, thermometer or compass {(in combination with a tachometer which winds up the clockwork G04B5/206)} · CPC title

• G01J1/50

  using change in colour of an indicator, e.g. actinometer · CPC title

• G04F13/02

  using optical means · CPC title

• G01J1/429

  applied to measurement of ultraviolet light (using counting tubes G01T) · CPC title

• G04G21/02 Primary

  Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature · CPC title