Wristwatch comprising a dial with luminous indices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10338533-B2
Application number	US-201615557961-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2016
Priority date	Mar 17, 2015
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A wristwatch including a watch case, a bezel mounted to rotate on the watch case, and a dial including at least one luminous index. The luminous index is illuminated through the dial by at least one light source disposed underneath the dial and powered by an electrical energy source. An activation component for activating the light source is housed inside the rotating dial and cooperates with a detection element housed inside the watch case. The activation component, in a determined position of the rotating bezel, detects presence of the activation component by the detection element. The detection element then emits an electrical signal addressed to a microprocessor circuit housed inside the watch case. The microprocessor circuit emits in response to reception of the electrical signal emitted by the detection element an electrical signal that activates lighting of the light source for a determined period of time.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wristwatch comprising:
a watch case inside which is housed a timepiece movement;
a bezel mounted to rotate on the watch case; and
a dial including at least one luminous index;
wherein the luminous index is illuminated through the dial by at least one light source disposed underneath the dial and powered by an electrical energy source;
wherein an activation component for activating the light source is housed inside the rotating bezel and cooperates with a detection component housed inside the watch case;
wherein the activation component is configured such that, in a determined position of the rotating bezel, presence of the activation component is detected by the detection component;
wherein the detection component is configured to emit an electrical signal addressed to an electronic power and control assembly housed inside the watch case;
wherein the electronic power and control assembly is configured to emit in response to reception of the electrical signal emitted by the detection component an electrical signal that activates lighting of the light source for a determined period of time;
wherein a lower surface of the dial includes recesses and a light guide is arranged in each of the recesses;
wherein the at least one light source is mounted on an upper surface of a first printed circuit sheet disposed underneath the lower surface of the dial and positioned adjacent to the light guides;
wherein the first printed circuit sheet is disposed above the timepiece movement;
wherein a second printed circuit sheet that carries the electronic power and control assembly is disposed underneath the timepiece movement; and
wherein the light source carried by the first printed circuit sheet is electrically connected to the electronic power and control assembly by a connecting tongue.

2. The wristwatch according to claim 1 , wherein the activation component is a bipolar magnet and wherein the detection component is a magnetic sensor.

3. The wristwatch according to claim 2 , wherein the lower surface of the dial is provided at a location that corresponds to the at least one luminous index provided in the dial, with a light guide into which is injected the light produced by the light source.

4. The wristwatch according to claim 3 , wherein the light guide is a diffusing light guide.

5. The wristwatch according to claim 3 , wherein the light guide is transparent, and wherein light extractors, whose function is to extract upwards towards the luminous index the light injected by the light source, are structured in the light guide.

6. The wristwatch according to claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the dial is provided at a location that corresponds to the at least one luminous index provided in the dial, such that the light produced by the light source is injected into the light guide.

7. The wristwatch according to claim 6 , wherein the light guide is a diffusing light guide.

8. The wristwatch according to claim 6 , wherein the light guide is transparent, and wherein light extractors, whose function is to extract upwards towards the luminous index the light injected by the light source, are structured in the light guide.

9. The wristwatch according to claim 1 , wherein the first printed circuit sheet is bonded via the upper surface thereof to the lower surface of the dial.

10. The wristwatch according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting tongue is provided at a location on a periphery of the first printed circuit sheet and is inserted into a connector provided on the second printed circuit sheet.

11. The wristwatch according to claim 1 , wherein the activation component is arranged on the connecting tongue.

12. The wristwatch according to claim 1 ,
wherein a first electrically conductive contact pad is structured on a lower face of the second printed circuit sheet and is in direct contact with a negative terminal of an electrical energy source,
wherein a second contact pad is connected to a positive terminal of the electrical energy source,
wherein the electrical energy source is secured underneath the second printed circuit sheet by an electrically conductive mounting clamp in contact with the second contact pad, and
wherein the second contact pad is connected to the positive terminal of the electrical energy source via a contact leaf.

13. The wristwatch according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is powered and controlled from an exterior of the watch case by a wired connection that connects the light source to a power and control box.

14. The wristwatch according to claim 1 , wherein each of the light guides includes mounting lugs that are bonded to the lower surface of the dial to mount the light guides to the dial.

15. The wristwatch according to claim 1 , wherein each of the light guides includes two mounting lugs positioned on opposite sides of an inner end of the light guide, and the mounting lugs are symmetrical.

16. The wristwatch according to claim 1 , wherein dial feet extend down from the lower surface of the dial and engage with holes pierced in the first printed circuit sheet.

17. A wristwatch comprising:
a watch case inside which is housed a timepiece movement;
a bezel mounted to rotate on the watch case; and
a dial including at least one luminous index;
wherein the luminous index is illuminated through the dial by at least one light source disposed underneath the dial and powered by an electrical energy source;
wherein an activation component for activating the light source is housed inside the rotating bezel and cooperates with a detection component housed inside the watch case;
wherein the activation component is configured such that, in a determined position of the rotating bezel, presence of the activation component is detected by the detection component;
wherein the detection component is configured to emit an electrical signal addressed to an electronic power and control assembly housed inside the watch case;
wherein the electronic power and control assembly is configured to emit in response to reception of the electrical signal emitted by the detection component an electrical signal that activates lighting of the light source for a determined period of time;
wherein the at least one light source is mounted on an upper surface of a first printed circuit sheet disposed underneath a lower surface of the dial;
wherein the first printed circuit sheet is disposed above the timepiece movement;
wherein a second printed circuit sheet that carries the electronic power and control assembly is disposed underneath the timepiece movement;
wherein the light source carried by the first printed circuit sheet is electrically connected to the electronic power and control assembly by a connecting tongue;
wherein a first electrically conductive contact pad is structured on a lower face of the second printed circuit sheet and is in direct contact with a negative terminal of an electrical energy source;
wherein a second contact pad is connected to a positive terminal of the electrical energy source;
wherein the electrical energy source is secured underneath the second printed circuit sheet by an electrically conductive mounting clamp in contact with the second contact pad; and
wherein the second contact pad is connected to the positive terminal of the electrical energy source via a contact leaf.

Assignees

• Omega Sa

Inventors

• Ferri Yvan
• Catanese Rocco
• Tortora Pierpasquale
• Kissling Gregory

Classifications

• G04B19/30 Primary

  Illumination of dials or hands {(dials in general G04B19/06; moving indicating means with numbers or hands, in general G04B19/20; arrangements for indicating different local apparent times by means of a globe illuminated from inside G04B19/22; continuous indication of the time by non-electric light sources G04B25/00, e.g. by electric lamps G04C17/02; illumination by electric lamps which function at fixed times or periodically G04C19/02; illuminated panels G09F13/00)} · CPC title

• G04B19/283

  on rotatable rings, i.e. bezel (for graduations on the bezels G04B19/18) · CPC title