Subassembly combining an antenna and position sensors on a same support, notably for a horological piece

• US 6,356,512 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1998
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Pollini, Alexandre, Zellweger, Emil, Martin, Jean-Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/118,911
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 368/47, 368/10, 368/69, 368/70, 368/88, 368/281, 368/282, 368/295, 368/294, 368/316, 368/224, 368/225, 368/276, 343/700, 343/702, 343/718, 455/41, 455/90, 455/129
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Abstract

The invention concerns a subassembly intended to be mounted in a portable device enabling the reception and/or emission of radio diffused messages as well as the selection of predetermined digital information. This subassembly comprises an antenna (4) and position sensors (6.1 to 6.12) disposed an a same isolating support (30). The subassembly is realised in manner such that mutual perturbations created by the combination of the antenna (4) and the position sensors (6.1 to 6.12) are avoided.

The invention further relates to a horological piece (1) comprising such a subassembly wound in a peripheral region of the watch case (2).

Claims

1. A portable electronic device enabling reception or emission of radio diffused messages as well as selection of predetermined information, said electronic device comprising:

a case;

a subassembly wound in a peripheral region of said case so as to form a cylindrical arrangement, said subassembly comprising an antenna comprising a radiating element adapted to receive or emit an electromagnetic field bearing said radio diffused messages, and position sensors arranged to enable said selection of predetermined information, said antenna and said position sensors being disposed on opposite surfaces of a same insulating support;

a micro-emitter-receiver enabling to emit or receive said messages with the antenna; and

electronic control means associated with said position sensors in order to enable said selection of predetermined information.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said position sensors are disposed on said insulating support so as to form a symmetric arrangement with respect to said radiating element of said antenna.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein filtering components are provided on connecting lines of said position sensors for preventing a radiation emanating from said antenna from perturbing a function of said position sensors.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said in isolating support is constituted of a dielectric substrate made of flexible material.

5. A horological piece comprising:

a watch case;

a subassembly wound in a peripheral region of said watch case so as to form a cylindrical arrangement, said subassembly comprising an antenna comprising a radiating element adapted to receive or emit an electromagnetic field bearing radio diffused messages, and position sensors arranged to enable said selection of predetermined information, said antenna and said position sensors being disposed on opposite surfaces of a same isolating support;

a micro-emitter-receiver enabling to emit or receive said messages with the antenna; and

electronic control means associated with said position sensors in order to enable said selection of predetermined information.

6. The horological piece according to claim 5 wherein said position sensors press against a bezel of the horological piece.

7. The horological piece according to claim 5, wherein said position sensors are bent radially towards an interior of said watch case.

8. The horological piece according to claim 5, wherein said position sensors are disposed on said insulating support so as to form a symmetric arrangement with respect to said radiating element of said antenna.