Portable object, in particular a watch, including multiple selectable electronic modules

• US 6,335,906 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
• Original Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
• Inventors: Engelmann, Adolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/192,602
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/47, 455/66, 455/101, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90, 455/556, 340/10.34, 340/825.31, 340/825.64, 340/825.72, 340/5--, 340/10.2
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 17/00 Indicating the time optically by electric means G04C19/00 takes precedence; by mechanical means G04B19/00, G04B19/20
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00214 by one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets

Abstract

A portable object, in particular a wristwatch (1), includes a case (2) with which are associated at least two different electronic modules, each module allowing access to a particular service, the portable object also including a selection switch (22) for selecting and activating one of said electronic modules as a function of the service desired by the user.

Claims

1. A timepiece for contactless access control systems enabling a user to access different access control services, said timepiece including a case, having at least one antenna thereon, and enclosing a first electronic module allowing access to a first control service upon transmission of a first access authorization code identifying the timepiece, the case housing a second electronic module allowing access to a second access control service upon transmission, via said at least one antenna, of a second access authorization code, different from said first authorization code and also identifying the timepiece, the timepiece also including means carried by said case for selecting and activating one of said electronic modules as a function of the access control service desired by the user.

2. A portable object according to claim 1, wherein the selection and activation means control the movement of an electric contact member for the connection of the electronic module which corresponds to the service sought by the user.

3. A timepiece according to claim 2, wherein each electronic module is disposed in a respective independent electric circuit that is normally in the open state, the electric contact member closing the electric circuit in which the electronic module allowing access to the service selected by the user is disposed.

4. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the selection and activation means (take the form of) comprise a manually actuated switch slidable in a guide-groove in said case.

5. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the resonance frequency of said at least one antenna is set at 125 kHz.

6. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the resonance frequency of said at least one antenna is set at 13.56 MHz.

7. A timepiece according to claim 5 wherein the electronic module electrically connected to the at least one antenna whose resonance frequency is set at 125 kHz comprises an integrated circuit.