Watch including a manual control device

• US 5,453,960 A
• Filed: 03/22/1995
• Issued: 09/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Teres, Yvan, Grupp, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/408,310
• Time in Patent Office: 188 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/69, 368/70, 368/223, 368/224, 307/116, 307/125, 307/129, 340/657, 340/663
• US Class Current: 368/69
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces

Abstract

This watch (1) includes a case (2), a glass (3) and at least one manual control device (22), which comprises a capacitive sensor (20) with a first electrode (5) arranged on the internal face (6) of the glass (3). The selective positioning of a finger (10) of a wearer of the watch (1) on the external face of the glass (3) enables a first capacity (C_d) to be formed between the first electrode (5) and earth (11) constituted by the case (2). A parasitic capacity (C_p) is present between the first electrode and the case.

The manual control device (22) also includes a voltage-frequency converter (22) whose oscillation frequency is determined by the first capacity (C_d), when the latter is formed by the presence of the finger, in combination with the parasitic capacity (C_p),

Claims

1. A watch comprising a case constituting ground, a glass and at least one manual control device, which is connected to a processing circuit for executing a predetermined watch function by the action of said manual control device, said manual control device comprising:

a capacitive sensor comprising a first armature placed on an internal face of the glass such that another armature is selectively formed by the positioning of a finger of a user of said watch on the external face of the glass, said capacitive sensor thereby forming a first capacity, and said watch also having a parasitic second capacity between said first armature and the case,

a voltage-frequency converter whose input is connected to a common junction between said first armature and said second capacity,

and a frequency detector connected between said converter and said processing circuit, so that the oscillation frequency of said converter varies as a function of the presence or absence of the user'"'"'s finger on said external face of the glass.

2. A watch according to claim 1, wherein said voltage-frequency converter is in the form of an astable multivibrator.

3. A watch according to claim 2, wherein said common junction is connected to the input of an amplifier forming part of said astable multivibrator.

4. A watch according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said manual control devices whose capacitive sensors together form a motif on the glass to enable handwriting on the external face of said glass to be recognized, the frequency detectors of all the control devices being connected to said processing circuit.

5. A watch according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said capacitive sensors, which together form a motif on the glass to enable handwriting on the external face of said glass to be recognized, and a multiplexor whose output is connected to the input of said voltage-frequency converter, the common junctions between said first armature and said second capacity of said capacitive sensors all being connected to the input of said multiplexor.

6. A watch according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality of said manual control devices whose capacitive sensors together form a motif on the glass to enable handwriting on the external face of said glass to be recognized, the frequency detectors of all the control devices being connected to said processing circuit.

7. A watch according to claim 3 further comprising a plurality of said manual control devices whose capacitive sensors together form a motif on the glass to enable handwriting on the external face of said glass to be recognized, the frequency detectors of all the control devices being connected to said processing circuit.

8. A watch according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality of said capacitive sensors, which together form a motif on the glass to enable handwriting on the external face of said glass to be recognized, and a multiplexor whose output is connected to the input of said voltage-frequency converter, the common junctions between said first armature and said second capacity of said capacitive sensors all being connected to the input of said multiplexor.

9. A watch according to claim 3 further comprising a plurality of said capacitive sensors, which together form a motif on the glass to enable handwriting on the external face of said glass to be recognized, and a multiplexor whose output is connected to the input of said voltage-frequency converter, the common junctions between said first armature and said second capacity of said capacitive sensors all being connected to the input of said multiplexor.