Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Case 1892
MS
MEANS FOR LOADING OR EXTRACTING DATA FROM A
PORTABLE OBJECT, SUCH AS, IN PARTICULAR, A TIMEPIECE
The present invention concerns a portable object, such as, in particular, a
timepiece, including means which allow data to be exchanged between the
portable
object and a personal computer or PC.
Timepieces such as wristwatches including a case inside which is housed, for
example, a digital photographic device, are already known. The person wearing
such a
watch thus has a camera permanently available which allows him to take
snapshots of
a landscape, members of his family or a person he has met during a work
meeting.
Once the photographs are taken, they are digitised by an analogue/digital
converter,
then stored in a memory circuit.
The stored photographs then have to be transferred to a remote electronic
receiver and processing unit, conventionally a personal computer. This
transfer is
effected via an electric cable one end of which is connected to the watch, and
the
other end of which is connected to the PC. An ohmic contact carried, for
example, by
the middle part of the watch, allows the image transfer cable to be connected
to the
latter.
This solution has the advantage of being economical from the point of view of
electric power consumption. Indeed, the transmission of the digital data
corresponding
to the photographs stored in the memory via a cable link requires only a very
low
current. Moreover, during this transfer operation, the electric power supply
of the
watch can be assured by the computer itself which his generally connected to
the
electric mains supply.
However, a major drawback of transmission via a cable resides in the fact that
the ohmic contact necessary for connecting the transfer cable is very
detrimental to
the watertightness of the watch. This contact in fact constitutes an opening
through
which humidity, water and dust can easily penetrate the case of the watch and
compromise the proper operation of the latter.
A system for processing personal data is also known from US Patent No.
5,848,027 in the name of Biometrics, Inc. This system allows, for example, the
performance of an athlete such as a runner to be monitored. It allows the data
and
time of the run to be stored, the time for each lap, or even the final time
achieved by
the sportsman. The system also allows the values of certain physiological
parameters
to be stored such as the heart rhythm or an electrocardiogram (ECG) which
reflect the
effort made by the athlete during his sporting activity. All this data will
then be
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transmitted, via an acoustic link, to a personal computer in which the data
will be
processed, analysed, then finally displayed on the screen of said computer.
The Biometrics system described above advantageously allows personal data
to be stored in a watch, then this data to be transferred via acoustic waves
to a
computer where it will be processed and analysed. This system is unfortunately
not bi-
directional. It is thus not possible to transfer data from the computer to the
watch,
which considerably limits the possible applications of the Biometrics system.
Further,
data transmission via acoustic waves is a technique which uses a lot of power
and
which requires relatively expensive components.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the above problems and
drawbacks in addition to others by proposing a particularly simple and
inexpensive
system allowing data to be exchanged between a portable object such as a
timepiece
and a personal computer or PC.
The present invention therefore concerns a portable object such as, in
particular, a timepiece, including an electronic movement carried by a printed
circuit,
this electronic movement including a time base circuit, a frequency divider
circuit
powered by the time base, a control circuit connected to the divider circuit
and a
display system controlled by the control circuit, this portable object also
including at
least one push-button including a head and a stem passing through the middle
part of
a case closed by a back cover, characterised in that the stem of the push-
button can
be electrically connected to a data input of the control circuit by pressing
on the push-
button, so that it is possible, via this stem, to enter data into said control
circuit,
originating from an electronic unit for transmitting and receiving digital
data such as a
personal computer or PC or to extract data contained in said portable object.
As a result of these features, an electric link is very simply established
between
the computer and the portable object. An electric cable, connected to the PC
at one of
its ends, comes in contact at its other end with the stem of the push-button
which is
itself directly connected to a data input of the control unit of the portable
object. Such
a solution is economical from the point of view of electric power consumption
and does
not require any complex, expensive mechanical or electronic components. In
particular, it is not necessary to provide the portable object with an ohmic
contact for
connecting the cable. Thus full advantage is taken of all the benefits
associated with
the exchange of data via a cable link while avoiding the problems associated
with this
technique.
According to a complementary feature of the invention, the push-button also
acts on the control circuit to correct an indication or to start or stop a
particular
horological function, for example time measurement, the push-button stem
carrying,
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for this purpose, a contact spring which acts as a key to prevent said push-
button
being removed after it has been set in place and as a means for establishing
an
electric contact with a zone of the printed circuit, this contact spring being
electrically
insulated with respect to said stem.
As a result of these other features, data can be exchanged between the
portable object and the computer using only the means which the portable
object
carries for adjusting and actuating its usual horological functions. It is
thus no longer
necessary to add additional parts to the portable object in order to be able
to connect
the control circuit of the watch to a PC. The construction of the watch is
thus simplified,
which substantially limits the manufacturing costs. Likewise, the sealing of
the portable
object is not altered.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more
clearly upon reading the following detailed description of an embodiment
example of
the portable object according to the invention, this example being given
purely by way
of illustrative and non limiting example in conjunction with the annexed
drawings, in
which:
- Figure 1 is a top view of a timepiece according to the invention including
four
push-buttons;
- Figure 2 is a detailed view on a larger scale of one of the push-buttons of
Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a top view of a push-button;
- Figure 4 is a cross-section of the push-button of Figure 3;
- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a contact spring mounted on the stem of a
push-button;
- Figure 6 is a front view of the contact spring of Figure 5;
- Figure 7 is a cross-section in an insulating sleeve through which the
contact
spring is mounted on the push-button stem;
- Figure 8 is a cross-section of a first alternative embodiment of a push-
button;
- Figure 9 is a cross-section of a second alternative embodiment of a push-
button; and
- Figure 10 is a cross-section of the push-button stem.
The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea which consists
in connecting an electronic unit for transmitting and receiving digital data,
typically a
personal computer, or PC, to an integrated circuit contained in a watch by
using the
push-buttons which such a watch has for controlling its usual horological
functions. For
this purpose, the PC is electrically connected to the push-buttons which, when
pushed
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in, come into contact with an electric contact blade carried by the printed
circuit of the
watch and which is itself connected to the integrated circuit of the watch.
On the other hand, it will be noted that, although the present invention is
described with reference to a timepiece, it also applies in an identical
manner, to any
portable object including an integrated circuit with a memory into which one
wishes to
enter or extract data from the exterior of said portable object.
The timepiece according to the invention may be, for example, a wristwatch. It
is shown schematically in Figure 1 and designated as a whole by the general
reference numeral 1. It includes, in particular, a case 2 delimited by a
middle part 4,
which may or may not be metal, and a back cover 6.
Four push-buttons 8, 10, 12 and 14 pass through middle part 4. It goes without
saying that this example is given purely by way of illustration and that, in
order to
implement the present invention, watch 1 need only include a single push-
button. In
the following description, one will concentrate solely on push-buttons 8 and
10. The
two other push-buttons 12 and 14 may have the same structure as push-buttons 8
and
10 or have a different structure known to those skilled in the art. They will
not,
therefore, be described in more detail hereinafter.
Push-buttons 8 and 10 are principally formed of an elongated metal stem 16
preferably, but not exclusively, having a cylindrical shape. When middle part
4 of
watch 1 is made of metal, stem 16 of push-buttons 8 and 10 passes through a
sleeve
18 made of an electrically insulating material as shown schematically in
Figure 2.
Sleeve 18 may be, for example, driven into middle part 4 of watch 1.
Middle part 4 of watch 1 defines a central cavity which houses, in a
conventional manner, an electronic clockwork movement carried by a printed
circuit
20. This clockwork movement includes, amongst others, a time base circuit, a
frequency divider circuit powered by the time base, a control circuit
connected to the
divider circuit and a display system controlled by control circuit 22. The
display system
can be an analogue system including an hour hand, a minute hand and a second
hand
moving above a dial. The display system can also be formed by a digital liquid
crystal
display cell.
Control circuit 22 fulfils various functions. In particular, it maintains the
oscillations of the quartz oscillator of the time base, divides the quartz
frequency,
corrects the working of the watch, powers, if required, the motors and liquid
crystal
displays, controls special functions, such as the date, the chronograph, the
alarm, the
time zones, and allows certain indications to be corrected and time-setting to
be
effected.
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Control circuit 22 is supplied with current by an accumulator 24 intended to
be
recharged after it runs down. It goes without saying that control circuit 22
could also be
powered by a non rechargeable battery. Accumulator 24, shown schematically in
Figure 1, typically has the shape of a button which can be housed in back
cover 6 of
watch 1. The bottom face of accumulator 24 which constitutes its negative pole
is
electrically connected to metal back cover 6 and thus to metal middle part 4,
i.e. the
earth of watch 1, for example via a contact spring fixed to the inner surface
of back
cover 6 of said watch 1. The positive pole of accumulator 24 which is formed
by its top
face is, in the usual manner, connected to a supply terminal of control
circuit 22.
Of course, the watch, in particular back cover 6 and middle part 4 thereof,
can
be made of an electrically insulating material such as a plastic material. In
such case,
the poles of accumulator 24 are directly connected to the supply terminals of
control
circuit 22.
It also goes without saying that the poles of accumulator 24 may be reversed,
the bottom face of the round button forming its positive pole, and the
negative pole
being then situated on the top of this button. In such case, the positive pole
is
electrically connected to the earth of watch 1.
As shown more particularly in Figures 2 to 4, push-buttons 8 and 10 each
include a push-button head 26 and metal push-button stem 16. Push-button stem
16 is
arranged so as to slide inside a housing 28 of generally cylindrical shape
arranged in
middle part 4 of watch 1. Push-button stem 16 moves axially in housing 28
against the
return force of a spring 30 when a control push is applied to push-button head
26.
Return spring 30 is arranged in a housing 32 arranged in push-button head 26
and rests axially on the bottom 34 of a cavity 36 provided in middle part 2.
Push-button
stem 16 has at one place on its length an annular groove 38 in which is housed
a
sealing gasket 40. This sealing gasket 40 assures the watertight sealing of
housing 32
when stem 16 slides therein during actuation of push-buttons 8 and 10 by a
user.
According to a simplified alternative embodiment of the present invention,
push-buttons 8 and 10 described above are used only for entering or extracting
data
from watch 1. For this purpose, they include holding means such as a key which
prevents only the removal of push-buttons 8 and 10 after they have been set in
place
in middle part 4 of watch 1. In accordance with the main feature of the
invention, stems
16 of the two push-buttons 8 and 10 can be electrically connected to two data
inputs,
respectively 42 and 44, of control circuit 22 by pressure on said push-buttons
8 and
10. It is thus possible, as will be seen in detail hereinafter, to connect an
electronic
digital data transceiver unit 45 such as a personal computer or PC to control
circuit 22
of watch 1 in order to enter data from the PC into said control circuit 22 or
to extract
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data contained in watch 1. For this purpose, the end of stem 16 located inside
case 2
touches, during pressure on the corresponding push-button 8, 10, a contact
blade or
strip 46 carried by printed circuit 20 and connected to one of the data inputs
respectively 42 and 44 of control circuit 22.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, push-buttons 8 and 10
are used not only for entering or extracting data from watch 1, but also for
correcting
data or for starting or stopping a particular horological function, for
example time
measurement. Thus, push-buttons 8 and 10 include a contact spring 48 which
exerts
sufficient force on push-button stem 16 to act against the return force of
spring 30 and
thus to prevent said stem 16 from escaping from housing 28 in which it slides.
Contact
spring 48 is a W-shaped key which is engaged in an annular groove 50 of a
sleeve 52
(see in particular Figure 7) mounted onto the end of stem 16 opposite push-
button
head 26. Sleeve 52 is made of an insulating material such as a ceramic
material or a
plastic material and is held by a washer 54 driven onto push-button stem 16
after said
sleeve 52. Contact spring 48 is thus electrically insulated with respect to
push-button
stem 16. In normal use conditions, contact spring 48 is always pressed against
the
inner face of middle part 4 of watch 1. It only moves when a control push is
applied to
one or other of push-buttons 8, 10.
Contact spring 48 is obtained by cutting out or stamping a metal sheet along a
particular contour and by folding so as to exert, after it has been set in
place, both the
function of a key and contact means. Contact spring 48 is thus formed of two
strips
56a, 56b extending in the general plane of said contact spring 48. These two
strips
56a, 56b are connected to each other in the top part by a V-shaped notch 58
intended
to engage in annular groove 50 of insulating sleeve 52 to form a key. Towards
the
bottom, each of strips 56a, 56b is extended beyond a fold 60a, 60b by a small
bent
contact lug 62a, 62b. It is clearly shown in Figure 5 that contact lug 62a is
projected at
a certain angle outside the general plane of contact spring 48 to establish a
contact,
for example an earth contact, over a zone of printed circuit 20 as will be
seen
hereinafter.
Printed circuit 20 on which control circuit 22 is mounted, includes two
contact
pads 64a, 64b which are each formed of a semi-cylindrical hole with a
metallised
vertical wall 66a, 66b arranged facing the respective contact lugs 62a, 62b of
contact
spring 48. One of these holes is electrically connected to control circuit 22,
while the
other hole is connected to the earth of watch 1.
When control pressure is exerted on one of push-buttons 8 or 10, contact
spring 48 moves and its contact lugs 62a, 62b touch metallised holes 64a, 64b.
As
described hereinbefore, contact lug 62a is projected outside the general plane
of
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contact spring 48. Thus, when one of push-buttons 8 or 10 is pushed in, this
contact
lug 62a comes into contact with metallised hole 64a which faces it before the
other
contact lug 62b itself touches the metallised hole 64a which corresponds
thereto,
which prevents the electrostatic discharges which are particularly harmful to
control
circuit 22.
When the two contact lugs 62a, 62b touch the metallised holes 64a, 64b, there
is a short-circuit between these two holes 64a; 64b, which causes the arrival
of an
instruction to control circuit 22. Conversely, when watch 1 according to the
invention is
connected to computer 45, push-buttons 8 and 10 remain pushed for the entire
time
that data is exchanged between said watch 1 and said computer 45. Control
circuit 22
is programmed so that it then understands that this situation does not
correspond to
the activation or deactivation of an horological function of watch 1, but to
the entry of
data from PC 45 into control circuit 22 or the extraction of data contained in
watch 1.
When push-buttons 8, 10 are pushed in, they are electrically connected to the
data
inputs respectively 42 and 44 of control circuit 22 via contact strips 46. One
may
imagine that push-button 8 is used for transferring data from electronic unit
45 to
control circuit 22 of watch 1 and that, conversely, push-button 10 is used for
transferring data from watch 1 to electronic unit 45. However, according to an
alternative embodiment, a single push-button can be used for the bi-
directional
exchange of data between watch 1 and electronicunit 45. For this purpose,
electronic
unit 45 need only indicate to control circuit 22, using a suitable computer
programme,
that it is ready to receive the data from said control circuit 22.
As already described hereinbefore, push-buttons 8, 10 are electrically
connected to the data inputs respectively 42 and 44 of control circuit 22 via
pressure
on these push-buttons 8, 10.
In order to enter or extract data from control circuit 22 of watch 1, the
electronic
unit or computer 45 is provided with two electric plugs 68 and 70 which come
into
contact with said push-buttons 8 and 10 respectively. According to a first
alternative
embodiment, push-buttons 8 and 10 include a metal push-button head 26 driven
onto
push-button stem 16. It must then be ensured that this metal push-button head
26
does not short-circuit with its surroundings.
According to a second alternative embodiment shown in Figure 8, push-button
head 26 is made of an injection moulded plastic or elastomeric material so as
to bond
to push-button stem 16. As Figure 8 shows, metal push-button stem 16 is flush
with
push-button head 26 or projects slightly from the surface of said push-button
head 26,
so that the electric contact can be established with electric plugs 68, 70 of
personal
computer 45.
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According to another alternative embodiment shown in Figure 9, push-button
stem 16 is embedded in push-button head 26 which is made of a relatively soft
plastic
or elastomeric material. Electric plugs 68, 70 of electronic unit 45 then have
a pointed
end 72 which is capable of easily penetrating the soft material of which push-
button
head 26 is made and coming into electric contact with push-button stem 16.
Push-button stem 16 may be made in a single part. However, according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 10, push-button stem 16
is
formed of two parts 74 and 76, one pierced part 74 made of ordinary stainless
steel
4C27A, and the other 76, driven into the pierced portion of the first and made
of
performing stainless steel 316L to prevent any corrosion via the effect of
perspiration
or friction produced by contact with electric plugs 68, 70 of electronic unit
45.
It goes without saying that various simple variants and modifications fall
within
the scope of the present invention. In particular, it will be understood that
contact
spring 48 described hereinabove which acts both as a key for preventing push-
button
8, 10 from being removed and as means for establishing an electric contact
with a
zone of printed circuit 20 may be replaced by two separate parts, one being
used to
keep push-button stem 16 in position, and the other assuring the electric
contact with
contact pads 64a, 64b of printed circuit 20.
