Antenna arrangement, external watch part comprising such an antenna arrangement and method for manufacturing such an external watch part

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11258168-B2
Application number	US-202016846678-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2020
Priority date	Jun 12, 2019
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

An antenna arrangement ( 6 ) for an external watch part ( 2 ) of a timepiece. The antenna arrangement is formed of a technical embroidery, which includes an embroidered structure of insulating wires or natural fibres ( 10 ) and at least one conductive wire ( 12 ) embroidered so as to produce a fine coil integrated in the embroidered structure of insulating wires or natural fibres. The conductive wire is connected to a radiofrequency integrated circuit ( 8 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an external watch part that comprises:
an antenna arrangement formed of a technical embroidery, which technical embroidery comprises an embroidered structure of insulating wires or natural fibres and at least one conductive wire embroidered so as to produce a fine integrated coil in said embroidered structure of insulating wires or natural fibres.

2. The antenna arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the insulating wires are chosen from a group consisting of glass fibres, synthetic wires, and ceramic fibres.

3. The antenna arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the natural fibres are formed of flax, of hemp, or of cotton, or of a combination of these components.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the external watch part further comprises a radiofrequency integrated circuit, and the at least one conductive wire is connected to the radiofrequency integrated circuit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the radiofrequency integrated circuit is a contactless communication chip, in particular an RFID radio-identification chip or an NFC near field communication chip.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the radiofrequency integrated circuit is a near field communication chip NFC for effecting transactions or bank payments.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the external watch part is formed of a flexible structure, in particular, a structure made of fabric.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the external watch part is a watch strap.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the external watch part is formed of a composite structure comprising the technical embroidery and a solidified resin, and enclosing the radiofrequency integrated circuit.

10. The external watch part according to claim 9 , wherein the external watch part is a part chosen from a group consisting of a watch bezel, a watch strap, a watch dial, and a watch case middle.

11. A timepiece comprising the apparatus according to claim 4 .

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the external watch part is a watch bezel, a watch dial, or a watch case middle.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the external watch part is a watch bezel, and the at least one conductive wire of the embroidered structure extends along an annular shape of the watch bezel.

14. A method for manufacturing an external watch part comprising an antenna arrangement formed of a technical embroidery, which technical embroidery comprises an embroidered structure of insulating wires or natural fibres and at least one conductive wire embroidered so as to produce a fine coil integrated in said embroidered structure of insulating wires or natural fibres, the method comprising the following steps:
adjusting the technical embroidery in a mould of the external watch part to be produced, and connecting said at least one conductive wire to a radiofrequency integrated circuit inserted in the mould;
injecting a resin into the mould so as to impregnate the technical embroidery and the radiofrequency integrated circuit;
curing the resin contained in the mould;
crosslinking the resin contained in the mould; and
removing an assembly formed of the technical embroidery, the radiofrequency integrated circuit and the crosslinked resin from the mould.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the resin is a thermosetting resin, and wherein, during the step of curing the resin, the curing temperature is between 200° C. and 250° C.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the resin is an elastomeric resin, and wherein, during step of curing the resin, the curing temperature is substantially equal to 300° C.

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• François Nicolas
• Randjelovic Zoran
• Scordilis Thierry

Classifications

• H01Q1/24

  with receiving set · CPC title

• H01Q1/40

  Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material · CPC title

• H01Q1/50

  Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors · CPC title

• G04G21/04

  using radio waves (radio-controlled time-pieces G04R) · CPC title

• G04R60/06

  Antennas attached to or integrated in clock or watch bodies · CPC title