Watch case comprising a device for controlling a near-field communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12021579-B2
Application number	US-202117510584-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2021
Priority date	Nov 30, 2020
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A watch case including a hollow pivoting bezel formed of first and second external elements including a near-field communication device provided with at least one microcircuit connected to an antenna, the case including a device for remotely controlling the communication device configured to activate or deactivate the communication device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A watch case comprising a hollow pivoting bezel formed of first and second external elements comprising a near-field communication device provided with at least one microcircuit connected to an antenna, said case including a device for remotely controlling said communication device configured to activate or deactivate said communication device, wherein the bezel is formed by an assembly of the first and second external elements configured to define a housing wherein is arranged said near-field communication device, said first and second external elements of the bezel being assembled together using a reversible fastening device.

2. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises:
an electrically conductive element of a loop type, two free ends of which each comprise an electrical contact terminal;
a switch element allowing to electrically close or open said conductive element, and
a movable control member capable of being moved between two predefined positions, namely an active position wherein the communication device is activated and an inactive position wherein the communication device is deactivated.

3. The case according to claim 2 , wherein the switch element comprises two end portions each of which is capable of being in contact with one of the two terminals of the conductive element when the latter is electrically closed by the switch element.

4. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a switch element and a conductive element which are movably arranged in the watch case relative to each other so that the switch element electrically opens or closes said conductive element.

5. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a switch element and a conductive element, the switch element being arranged in a control member in the bezel, and the conductive element in a middle part.

6. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a switch element and a conductive element, the switch element being arranged in a middle part and the conductive element in a control member in the bezel.

7. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the reversible fastening device comprises a clamping element including a compressible seal.

8. The case according to claim 7 , wherein the first external element comprises a reversible fastening area comprising a groove defined on an outer peripheral wall of the first external element.

9. The case according to claim 8 , wherein said groove is configured to receive said clamping element.

10. The case according to claim 1 , wherein said second external element comprises a reversible connection area which is capable of cooperating by friction with a clamping element arranged in a groove comprised in the first external element.

11. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the bezel comprises a removable support element for the near-field communication device.

12. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the bezel comprises a removable support element, said support element comprising on its upper face a reception area in an inclined plane capable of receiving said antenna.

13. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the bezel comprises a removable support element comprising a recess wherein said at least one microcircuit is capable of being entirely or partially arranged.

14. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the bezel comprises a removable support element comprising on its lower face at least two feet capable of bearing on an inner face of the second external element of the bezel when said second external element is assembled to the first external element.

15. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the bezel comprises a removable support element, said support element comprising on its upper face a reception area which comprises or is formed of a protective magnetic screen such as ferrite.

16. The case according to claim 15 , wherein the first and second external elements, the removable support element and a clamping element are made of at least one dielectric and/or electrically non-conductive material.

17. The case according to claim 1 , wherein said bezel is fastened to the middle part using at least one removable fastening element of a clipping type.

18. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the field communication device comprises a coating made of water-resistant material capable of making said device water and/or humidity resistant.

19. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the near-field communication device is a contactless electronic payment device.

20. A watch comprising a case comprising a near-field communication device, according to claim 1 .

21. The watch according to claim 20 , wherein said watch is water-resistant.

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Randjelovic Zoran
• Etienne Jean-Daniel
• Scordilis Thierry

Classifications

• H01Q7/00

  Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop · CPC title

• G04G21/08

  Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces · CPC title

• G04G21/04 Primary

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

• G04G17/04

  Mounting of electronic components · CPC title

• G04R60/08

  inside bezels · CPC title