WO2015107132A2

WO2015107132A2 - Watch

Info

Publication number: WO2015107132A2
Application number: PCT/EP2015/050729
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgio BULGARI
Original assignee: Gianni Bulgari Idea Sa
Priority date: 2014-01-17
Filing date: 2015-01-16
Publication date: 2015-07-23
Also published as: CH709202B1; WO2015107132A3; CH709202A1

Abstract

Watch (1) comprising a recharging device (3) able to collaborate with an energy supply unit (2), characterized in that the recharging device (3) comprises: - an electric generator (4); and - a rotary bezel (5) kinematically connected to the generator (4).

Description

WATCH

The present invention relates to a watch comprising a charging device cooperating with a power supply unit.

It is known in the state of the art watches equipped with an electronic circuit using batteries or accumulators as a source of energy. These electrochemical energy sources generally have a limited life and must therefore periodically be exchanged or recharged often from external charging device to the watch.

To overcome this drawback, state-of-the-art watches are known that include charging devices that are capable of transforming the mechanical energy produced into electrical energy that can be used for powering the watch.

Such watch refill devices for example provide for the use of a toothed wheel integral with an oscillating mass which is capable of driving several rotors of electric generators placed on the periphery of the watch in order to produce electrical energy. .

In another example, these charging devices can implement an oscillating weight coupled to a rotor of a generator through a gear multiplier speed.

However, a common drawback to these watch refill devices is that they have a large footprint that is even more accentuated that the problem of the available space in the case of a watch is essential. In addition, because of this size, their integration in a watch requires significant changes in the arrangement and dimensioning of the constituent elements of the case of this watch. The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the various disadvantages mentioned above.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a watch comprising a recharging device adapted to cooperate with a power supply unit, in particular comprising an accumulator and / or a capacitor, in which the recharging device comprises:

- an electric generator; and

- A rotating bezel in mechanical or kinematic connection with the electric generator.

In other embodiments:

- The rotating bezel is a moving part, including a rotor, the electrical generator which is adapted to cooperate with at least one middle part of said watch which is a fixed part, in particular a stator, of the generator;

- The rotating bezel is in kinematic connection with a moving part comprising a rod of the watch or a transmission member or with a movable part connected to a rod of the watch or to a transmission member;

- The charging device comprises a mechanical energy storage module, including a cylinder spring arranged between the rotating bezel and the electric generator;

- The energy supply unit comprises an accumulator capable of storing the electrical energy produced by the electric generator; the power supply unit comprises a signal converter, in particular a rectifier circuit, connected between the accumulator and the electric generator;

- The watch comprises a power supply interface arranged in a middle and adapted to be coupled with an electrical device to said watch;

- the power supply interface is connected:

• to the electric generator via a rectifier circuit, and / or

- an accumulator;

the watch includes a movement that is connected:

to the electric generator via a rectifier circuit, and / or

to an accumulator;

- The watch comprises a power reserve indicator member, in particular connected to the rotating bezel so that said member is adapted to display the power reserve when the rotating bezel is manipulated;

the watch comprises an indicator member of the power reserve connected to an accumulator so that said member is able to display the reserve of electrical energy included in the accumulator;

a rod or a transmission member comprises a pinion in kinematic connection with the rotating bezel, in particular a pinion meshing with the rod or the transmission member;

the rotating bezel comprises a first toothing and in that a pinion comprises a second toothing, the first and second gear-engaging toothing;

the first toothing is housed in an annular groove of a middle part of the watch; - A pinion is arranged in a housing arranged in a middle and closed by a closure member, said housing communicating with an annular groove, and

- A rod and / or the rotating bezel is connected to a movement and is adapted to provide adjustment functions of the watch, including setting the time or date.

The invention also relates to a portable device intended to be worn by a user, in particular a timepiece or piece of jewelery, comprising a recharging device adapted to cooperate with a power supply unit, the recharging device comprising:

an electric generator, and

a mobile element which can be manipulated by the user in mechanical or kinematic connection with the electric generator, the energy supply unit comprising a power supply interface, in particular a power supply interface arranged in the device and capable of being coupled to an electrical device.

In particular, the power supply interface is electrically connected to the rectifier circuit and / or the accumulator.

Advantageously, the invention proposes a watch comprising a recharging device and an energy supply unit which are of minimal size. The device according to the invention allows an easy and efficient conversion of a mechanical energy, in particular a mechanical energy supplied by a user, into an electrical energy.

In particular, the integration of the charging device and the power supply unit into existing watches is of a simple implementation. Other advantages and features of the invention will appear better on reading the description of preferred embodiments which will follow, with reference to the figures, made by way of indicative and nonlimiting example:

- Figure 1 shows an axial sectional view of a watch, according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the watch comprising a recharging device and a power supply unit according to this first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the architecture of the power supply system of the watch according to this first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the architecture of the power supply system of the watch according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

- Figure 5 is a schematic view of the architecture of the power supply system of the watch according to a third embodiment of the invention.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 is shown a first embodiment of a watch 1 provided with a housing formed of a middle part 12, a bottom 15 and a glass 13. The ice 13 is for example a touch-sensitive glass, in particular an ice cream with at least two dimensions making it possible to detect the movements of at least one finger in at least two different directions. Thus, different functions of the watch can then be controlled by the movement of at least one finger on the ice 13. This housing comprises a recharging device 3 and a power supply unit 2 as well as a movement 19 covered by an indicator dial 14. The charging device 3, visible in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises a rotating bezel 5 which is able to cooperate with a module for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy such as an electric generator 4. This electric generator 4 can be included in an electronic circuit of the watch.

The rotating bezel 5 is arranged in an annular recess 21 included in an upper part of the middle part 12. The arrangement of this rotating bezel 5 at the middle of the middle part 1 2 is such that said rotating bezel 5 is held fixed on this middle part 12 by a fixing mechanism which allows rotation of said rotating bezel 5 when it is manipulated, for example, by a wearer of the watch 1.

The annular recess 21 in which is positioned the rotating bezel 5 is provided with a bottom in which is formed an annular groove 22. This annular groove 22 is intended to receive a projecting annular portion 23 included in the lower face of the rotating bezel 5. This projecting annular portion 23 has a toothing 17 of edge.

This rotating bezel 5 is able to cooperate with the electric generator 4 in order to produce the electrical energy necessary to operate the movement 19 of the watch 1 and / or to supply:

at least one electrical device 9 capable of being coupled to said watch 1 via a power supply interface 8, and / or at least one electric accessory 26 of the watch such as for example a liquid crystal display operating according to TN (acronym for "twisted nematic"), TFT (acronym for "thin film transistor") or LCD (acronym for " liquid crystal display "), loudspeakers, devices implementing wireless technologies such as WiFi or Bluetooth and / or sensors such as thermometers, accelerometers, altimeters, motion sensors and / or brightness and / or at least one lighting element such as a light emitting diode more known by the acronym LED.

This electric generator 4 is fixedly mounted in the housing. It comprises a rigid casing protecting a fixed part 4a and a moving part 4b in rotation. This electric generator 4 is an electric micro-generator having small dimensions.

The moving part 4b comprises a rod 1 1 of the watch 1 which passes through the fixed part 4a of the electric generator 4. This mobile part 4b is a magnetic rotor carried by the rod 1 January. The fixed part 4a corresponds to a stator consisting of a winding. This fixed part 4a comprises terminals which correspond to the terminals of the electric generator 4.

The rod 1 1 is in connection with the movement 19 included in the case of the watch 1. The rod passes through the electric generator 4 and comprises a pinion 16 included in a housing 24 formed by the middle part 12 and a closure member 18 of said housing 24. This rod 1 1 comprises a ring 10 which is mounted integral on its end through the closing member 18.

This rod 1 1 through this pinion 1 6 at an axial opening of the latter whose shape is complementary to that of a section of a section 20 of the rod 1 1 which carries the pinion 1 6 when the rod 1 1 is mounted in the housing. This opening can be in the form of a quadrilateral or a triangle. The shape of this opening with that of the section of this section 20 are complementary because they contribute to ensure a solidarity mounting of the pinion on the rod.

The pinion 1 6 of the rod 1 1 is arranged in this housing 24, which is cylindrical, being between the middle 12 and the closure member 18 which closes the housing 24. Thus, the pinion 1 6 is fixed axially between two stops formed by the bottom of the cylindrical housing 24 on the one hand, and the inner face of the closure member 18.

This arrangement of the pinion 1 6 in the housing 24 is formed so that the axis of revolution of the housing 24 coincides with the axis of the rod 1 January.

This cylindrical housing 24 communicates with the annular groove 22 so that the toothing 17 present at the end of the annular portion of the rotating bezel 5 is in mesh with that of the pinion 1 6, to form a kinematic connection between said rotating bezel 5 and pinion 1 6.

Thus, when the wearer of the watch 1 rotates the rotating bezel 5, the rod 1 1 is driven in a rotational movement. The moving part 4b of the generator 4 then also performs a rotational movement which produces magnetic flux variations at the fixed part 4a so that the electric generator 4 produces electrical energy by delivering a voltage or a current - for example example an alternating voltage or an alternating current - at the levels of the terminals of the electric generator 4. In a variant, the rod may be replaced by a simple shaft or, more generally, by any other transmission member. The shaft or the transmission member may in this case not leave the watch case.

In another variant, the recharging device 3 comprises an electric generator 4 comprising the rotating bezel 5 and at least a part of the middle part 12. This part of the middle part 12 is the fixed element of the generator 4, here the stator, which is capable of cooperating the rotating bezel constituting the moving part of this generator, in particular the rotor, in order to produce the electrical energy which is necessary for the movement 19 of the watch 1 to move and / or for feeding the at least one electrical device 9 or at least one electrical accessory 26 of the watch 1.

This electrical energy collected at the terminals of the generator 4 is transmitted to the power supply unit 2. This energy supply unit 2 comprises a rectifier circuit 6 such as an AC-DC converter, a battery 7 and an 8 power supply interface. These components of the power supply unit 2 are included in the electronic circuit of the watch.

For example, the accumulator is an electric accumulator, ie an electrochemical device for storing / distributing electricity. This accumulator has the characteristic of providing a voltage (potential difference) at its terminals. This accumulator is able to store / distribute electrical energy thanks to the property that certain chemical couples accumulate a certain amount of electricity by modifying their molecular structure and this in a reversible manner. In other words, the accumulator can be an electrochemical system used to store energy and which is able to restore, in the form of electrical energy, the chemical energy.

In a variant, the energy supply unit 2 may comprise a capacitor (not shown) arranged between the accumulator 7 and the generator 3, in particular between the rectifier circuit 6 and this accumulator 7. In such a configuration, the electrical energy collected by the energy supply unit 2 of the generator 3 is stored more quickly and more efficiently.

In another variant, the capacitor can replace the accumulator 7.

By capacitor, is meant here an electronic or electrical elementary component, consisting of two conductive armatures (called "electrodes") in influence and separated by a polarizable insulator (or "dielectric"). Its main property is to be able to store opposite electrical charges on its frames. In other words, the capacitor is used to store electrostatic energy and is able to restore, in the form of electrical energy, the electrostatic energy.

The electrical energy from the generator 4 is then rectified by the rectifier circuit 6 of the energy supply unit 2 to be:

stored in accumulator 7 and / or

delivered at the level of the power supply interface 8 which is arranged in the middle part 12 of the case of the watch 1.

The electrical energy stored in the accumulator 7 is intended for the movement of the movement 19 for example by being used by an electromagnetic motor that is able to cause time indicating elements as needles. This electrical energy also makes it possible to supply at least one electrical accessory 26. The electrical energy stored in the accumulator 7 may alternatively or additionally also be delivered at the power supply interface 8. In this configuration, the accumulator 7 is connected to said supply interface 8 and an on / off command makes it possible to activate the supply of electrical energy at the supply interface 8 when this is necessary. In a configuration where the electrical supply interface 8 is connected to the rectifier circuit 6 (dotted arrow in FIG. 3), the manipulation of the rotating bezel 5 to apply to it a rotational movement, makes it possible to generate the energy electrical power which is then delivered at the power interface 8 as this movement is applied to the rotating bezel 5 or as the battery 7 is charged and electrically connected to the power supply interface.

Alternatively, when the power supply unit 2 comprises a capacitor, the power supply interface 8 can be connected to the latter. Thus, the electrical energy stored in the capacitor can then be delivered at the power supply interface 8.

This power supply interface 8 can be adapted to be connected to the electrical device 9. More specifically, this power supply interface 8 can correspond to a wireless electric charging element operating by magnetic induction or else according to Bluetooth, NFC ( Near Field Communication) or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or according to the Qi standard of the Wireless Power Consortium (http://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com), and is able to be coupled to electrical devices 9 such as clothing and / or so-called smart accessories. Such clothing and / or intelligent accessories include sensors and communication devices allowing for example to capture the heart and lungs of an individual who wears them or with an accelerometer to be able to give more information on the strength and frequency of movement that this individual performs. These clothes or smart accessories are also able to communicate for example with a computer or smartphone-based electronic terminal via a telecommunications network.

This electrical power supply interface 8 allows in particular the charging of a battery of the electrical device 9 allowing, for example, the wearer of the watch 1 to charge his electrical device 9 easily, and preferably efficiently and quickly. This efficiency and speed are obtained by the ease with which the wearer of the watch can manipulate the rotating bezel 5.

Moreover, in this watch 1, the rod 1 1 can slide freely through the pinion 1 6 and the electric generator 4 when the ring 10 is manipulated by the wearer of the watch 1.

This sliding of the rod 1 1 allows the latter to occupy different positions in the movement 19 to perform adjustment functions of the watch 1 such as setting the time or the date setting.

In a variant, the realization of the adjustment functions of the watch 1 can be performed from the actuation of the rotating bezel 5. In this variant, the rotating bezel 5 is not necessarily configured to cooperate with the rod 1 1 for performing these functions. In these different positions of the rod 1 1, the kinematic connection is constantly established between the latter and the rotating bezel 5, by means of the pinion 1 6 integral in rotation of this piece through the section 20 whose section has a complementary shape to that of the axial opening of the pinion 1 6.

Thus, the watch 1 comprises a charging device 3 and a power supply unit 2 which have a minimum size, especially because they use in part elements already present in the watch 1 as the rod 1 1 or rotating bezel 5.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the claims below.

The invention further relates, more generally, to a portable device intended to be worn by a user, in particular a piece of jewelery. The device comprises a charging device 3 adapted to cooperate with a power supply unit 2. The charging device 3 comprises: - an electric generator 4 comprising a fixed part 4a and a moving part 4b; and

- A movable member and manipulable by the user 5 in kinematic connection with moving part 4b. The power supply unit comprises an electrical supply interface 8, in particular a power supply interface 8 arranged on the device and designed to connect an electrical device 9 to the portable device 1 in order to ensure the electrical recharging of this device. latest. The electrical supply interface 8 can be electrically connected to the rectifier circuit 6 and / or to the accumulator 7. In this document, "portable element" preferably means an element that can be worn on the body of a user such as a watch, a bracelet, a jewel. Preferably, one excludes an element which is simply movable as a telephone and which is not worn on the body of the user.

The second embodiment of the watch is different from the first mode in that it comprises a different architecture of the power supply system. This architecture of the power system is illustrated in FIG. 4. In this architecture, the recharging device 3 comprises a mechanical energy storage module 27 such as a mainspring, co-operating with the rotating bezel 5 in a direct manner. or indirect to store the energy produced by the operation of this rotating bezel 5. This stored energy is then supplied to the electric generator 4 more precisely to the moving part 4b of the generator. In this architecture, the energy supply unit 2 is devoid of an electric energy accumulator 7. In this second embodiment, the electric generator 4 then supplies the electrical energy necessary for the movement 19 to move, at least one electrical device 9 via the power supply interface 8 and / or at least one electrical accessory 26 of the watch 1.

The third embodiment of the watch 1 comprises an architecture of the power system shown in Figure 5, wherein the charging device 3 includes a module for storing ^mechanical energy 27, such as a mainspring, and a module for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, such as the generator 4. The recharging device 3 is able to produce electrical energy which is supplied via the rectifier circuit 6: to the accumulator 7 of the energy supply unit 2 in view of being stored, and

to movement 19 for its operation.

The electrical energy stored in the accumulator is designed to supply at least one electrical device 9 via the power supply interface 8 and / or at least one electrical accessory 26 of the watch 1.

In variants of this third embodiment illustrated by dashed arrows in FIG. 5:

the electric movement 19 can be powered electrically by the accumulator 7 and / or

- At least one electrical device 9 can be electrically powered by the electric generator 4 via the power supply interface 8 connected to the rectifier circuit 6, and / or - at least one electrical accessory 26 of the watch 1 can being electrically powered by the electric generator 4 via the rectifier circuit 6.

In these embodiments, the watch 1 may comprise an indicator member of the power reserve (not shown) visible in particular at the indicator dial 14. The indicator member may be connected to or connected to the rotating bezel 5. Thus, this organ is able to display the power reserve especially when the rotating bezel 5 is manipulated and until a few seconds after the latter is no longer. Note that in the second and third embodiments the power reserve indicator member is in tension connection with the mainspring spring 27. In the case of the presence of a mechanical energy storage module 27, the power reserve indication can be permanently displayed. In the case of the presence of an accumulator 7, the watch may comprise a power reserve indicator connected to said accumulator 7 so that said member is able to display the reserve of electrical energy included in this accumulator 7. This organ is able to determine the power-reserve information by evaluating a charging parameter of the accumulator 7. This information can then be indicated to the user, in particular from time to time and / or at the request and / or during an action on the bezel.

Claims

1. Watch (1) comprising a recharging device (3) able to cooperate with a power supply unit (2), in particular comprising an accumulator (7) and / or a capacitor, characterized in that the recharging device (3) ) includes:

an electric generator (4); and

- A rotating bezel (5) in kinematic connection with the electric generator (4).

2. Watch (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rotating bezel (5) is a moving part, in particular a rotor, of the electric generator (4) which is adapted to cooperate with at least one middle part of said watch ( 1) which is a fixed part, in particular a stator, of the generator (4).

3. Watch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating bezel (5) is in kinematic connection with a movable part (4b) comprising a rod (1 1) of the watch or a transmission member or with a mobile part (4b) connected to a rod (1 1) of the watch or to a transmission member.

4. Watch (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the recharging device (3) comprises a mechanical energy storage module (27), in particular a barrel spring arranged between the bezel rotating (5) and the electric generator (4).

5. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy supply unit (2) comprises the accumulator (7) capable of storing the electrical energy produced by the electric generator (4).

6. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy supply unit (2) comprises a signal converter, in particular a rectifier circuit (6), connected between the accumulator ( 7) and the electric generator (4).

7. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electrical supply interface (8) arranged in a middle part (12) and adapted to be coupled with an electrical device (9). to said watch (1).

8. Watch (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said power supply interface (8) is connected:

to the electric generator (4) via a rectifier circuit (6), and / or

- to the accumulator (7).

9. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a movement (19) which is connected:

- to the electric generator (4) via a rectifier circuit (6), and / or

to the accumulator (7).

10. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an organ indicator of the power reserve, in particular connected to the rotating bezel (5) so that said member is able to display the power reserve when the rotating bezel (5) is manipulated.

1 1. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an indicator member of the power reserve connected to the accumulator (7) so that said member is able to display the energy reserve electrical included in the accumulator (7).

12. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rod (1 1) or a transmission member comprises a pinion (1 6) in kinematic connection with the rotating bezel (5), in particular a pinion meshing with the rod (1 1) or the transmission member.

13. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotating bezel (5) has a first toothing (17) and in that a pinion (1 6) comprises a second toothing, the first and second gear cooperating teeth.

14. Watch (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first toothing (17) is housed in an annular groove (22) of a middle part (12) of the watch (1).

15. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pinion (1 6) is arranged in a housing (24) arranged in a middle part (12) and closed by a closure member (18). ), said housing (24) communicating with a annular groove (22).

1 6. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rod (1 1) and / or the rotating bezel (5) is connected to a movement (19) and is able to perform functions setting the watch (1), including setting the time or date.

17. A portable device (1) intended to be worn by a user, in particular a timepiece or a piece of jewelery, comprising a recharging device (3) able to cooperate with a power supply unit (2), characterized in that the charging device (3) comprises:

an electric generator (4), and

a mobile and user-manipulable element (5) in kinematic connection with the electric generator (4),

the power supply unit (2) comprising an electrical power supply interface (8), in particular a power supply interface (8) arranged in the device and capable of being coupled to an electrical device (9).

18. Portable device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said power supply interface (8) is electrically connected to a rectifier circuit (6) and / or to an accumulator (7).