Device for controlling at least one electronic function of a portable object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11480928-B2
Application number	US-201816762983-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2018
Priority date	Dec 27, 2017
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

A device for controlling at least one electronic function of a portable object, in particular a timepiece, includes a control stem capable of moving axially between at least a first and a second stable position, or between at least a stable position and an unstable position. The control device also includes an actuation element made from an electrically insulating material rigidly connected to the control stem, as well as at least one flexible electrical switching element provided to be mechanically actuated by the actuation element when the control stem is moved axially, the at least one flexible electrical switching element being capable of moving between a closing position in which the at least one flexible electrical switching element closes an electrical circuit of the control device, and an opening position in which the at least one flexible electrical switching element opens the electrical circuit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for controlling at least one electronic function of a portable object, comprising:
a control stem capable of moving axially between at least a first and a second stable position, or between at least a stable position and an unstable position,
an actuation element made from an electrically insulating material rigidly connected to the control stem, and
at least one flexible electrical switching element provided to be mechanically actuated by the actuation element when the control stem is moved axially,
said at least one flexible electrical switching element being capable of moving between a closing position in which said at least one flexible electrical switching element closes an electrical circuit of the control device and an opening position in which said at least one flexible electrical switching element opens said electrical circuit, at least one electrical contact stud being provided to cooperate with said at least one flexible electrical switching element when said at least one flexible electrical switching element is moved into the closing position, said at least one flexible electrical switching element being made in one piece and having a shape of a V with two branches that each comprise an electrical contact zone of said flexible electrical switching element.

2. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation element comprises a position-indexing zone including a cam profile provided to participate in the indexing of the stable and unstable positions into which the control stem is brought during an axial movement.

3. The control device according to claim 2 , comprising a positioning spring arranged to cooperate with the cam profile defined in the position-indexing zone of the actuation element in order to define each stable and unstable position of the control stem.

4. The control device according to claim 3 , wherein the cam profile is formed by at least one of at least one hollow provided to cooperate with the positioning spring of the control device in order to define the stable position of the control stem and a slope provided to cooperate with the positioning spring in order to define the unstable position of the control stem.

5. The control device according to claim 3 , comprising a mechanical fastening stud connecting said at least one flexible electrical switching element in a fixed manner to the electrical circuit of the control device.

6. The control device according to claim 5 , wherein the cam profile is formed by at least one of at least one hollow provided to cooperate with the positioning spring of the control device in order to define the stable position of the control stem and a slope provided to cooperate with the positioning spring in order to define the unstable position of the control stem.

7. The control device according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one electrical contact stud comprises an end that is connected to a contact pad of the electrical circuit of the control device.

8. The control device to claim 7 , wherein the cam profile is formed by at least one of at least one hollow provided to cooperate with the positioning spring of the control device in order to define the stable position of the control stem and a slope provided to cooperate with the positioning spring in order to define the unstable position of the control stem.

9. The control device according to claim 7 , comprising a mechanical fastening stud connecting said at least one flexible electrical switching element in a fixed manner to the electrical circuit of the control device.

10. The control device according to claim 9 , wherein the cam profile is formed by at least one of at least one hollow provided to cooperate with the positioning spring of the control device in order to define the stable position of the control stem and a slope provided to cooperate with the positioning spring in order to define the unstable position of the control stem.

11. The control device according to claim 2 , comprising a mechanical fastening stud connecting said at least one flexible electrical switching element in a fixed manner to the electrical circuit of the control device.

12. The control device according to claim 11 , wherein the cam profile is formed by at least one of at least one hollow provided to cooperate with the positioning spring of the control device in order to define the stable position of the control stem and a slope provided to cooperate with the positioning spring in order to define the unstable position of the control stem.

13. The control device according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one electrical contact stud comprises an end that is connected to a contact pad of the electrical circuit of the control device.

14. The control device according to claim 13 , wherein the cam profile is formed by at least one of at least one hollow provided to cooperate with the positioning spring of the control device in order to define the stable position of the control stem and a slope provided to cooperate with the positioning spring in order to define the unstable position of the control stem.

15. The control device according to claim 13 , comprising a mechanical fastening stud connecting said at least one flexible electrical switching element in a fixed manner to the electrical circuit of the control device.

16. The control device according to claim 15 , wherein the cam profile is formed by at least one of at least one hollow provided to cooperate with the positioning spring of the control device in order to define the stable position of the control stem and a slope provided to cooperate with the positioning spring in order to define the unstable position of the control stem.

17. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one electrical contact stud comprises an end that is connected to a contact pad of the electrical circuit of the control device.

18. The control device according to claim 17 , wherein a cam profile is formed by at least one of at least one hollow provided to cooperate with the positioning spring of the control device in order to define the stable position of the control stem and a slope provided to cooperate with the positioning spring in order to define the unstable position of the control stem.

19. The control device according to claim 17 , comprising a mechanical fastening stud connecting said at least one flexible electrical switching element in a fixed manner to the electrical circuit of the control device.

20. The control device according to claim 19 , wherein a cam profile is formed by at least one of at least one hollow provided to cooperate with the positioning spring of the control device in order to define the stable position of the control stem and a slope provided to cooperate with the positioning spring in order to define the unstable position of the control stem.

21. The control device according to claim 1 , comprising a mechanical fastening stud connecting said at least one flexible electrical switching element in a fixed manner to the electrical circuit of the control device.

22. The control device according to claim 21 , wherein a cam profile is formed by at least one of at least one hollow provided to cooperate with the positioning spring of the control device in order to define the stable position of the control stem and a slope provided to cooperate with the positioning spring in order to define the unstable position of the control stem.

23. The control device ac

Assignees

• Eta Sa Mft Horlogere Suisse

Inventors

• Zanesco Vittorio
• Balmer Raphaël
• Schmutz Damien
• Lagorgette Pascal

Classifications

• G04C3/007 Primary

  Electromechanical contact-making and breaking devices acting as pulse generators for setting · CPC title

• G04C3/001 Primary

  Electromechanical switches for setting or display · CPC title

• G04G21/00

  Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces · CPC title