Portable object with a wristband including a keyboard

• US 6,590,835 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Born, Jean-Jacques, Mignot, Jean-Pierre, Farine, Pierre-André
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lindinger, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US09/873,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20010050883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 368/281-282
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 17/0091 Combined electro-optical and electro-mechanical displays see provisionally also G04G9/0082
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/001 Electromechanical switches for setting or display in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/06 Electric connectors, e.g. conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/083 Watches distributed over several housings
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14

Abstract

A wristwatch (1) includes a keyboard whose control keys (4) are distributed over the length of the wristband (3), a processing unit (19) for data introduced via the keyboard, at least one display device (6) for displaying time functions and/or data provided by the processing unit, and a power source for the electric power supply of the electronic components of the wristwatch. In order to allow the use of its keyboard, the wristwatch (1) is placed on a work surface, the length of the wristband (3) facing a user. The display of the alphanumerical characters (7a) occurs in the direction of the length of the wristwatch, i.e., rotated by 90° with respect to the usual time display (7b). At least one integrated encoding circuit (9) acts as a communication interface between the keys (4) of the keyboard and the processing unit (19) integrated in the case of the wristwatch. The encoding circuit is placed in the wristband (3) and communicates with the unit via one of the two electric supply wires of said circuit. The distribution of the keys of the wristband may change as a function of a determined country.

Claims

1. A portable object with a wristband including a keyboard with control keys bearing symbols oriented so a to be able to be read in the direction of the length of the wristband, said keys being distributed over the length of the wristband, a processing unit for data introduced via the keyboard, at least one display device for displaying in the direction of the length of the wristband characters introduced using the keyboard and processed by the processing unit, and a power source for the electric power supply of the electronic components of said object, wherein at least one integrated encoding circuit is placed in the wristband so as to act as a communication interface between the keys of the keyboard and the processing unit which is integrated in a case of the object.

2. A portable object according to claim 1, wherein it constitutes a wristwatch, and wherein the display device allows time functions and/or characters provided by the processing unit to be displayed.

3. A portable object according to claim 1, wherein the keys of the keyboard are arranged over three rows in the direction of the length of the wristband, the keys bearing letter and punctuation symbols being arranged like a computer keyboard the configuration of which depends on the country of destination.

4. A portable object according to claim 1, wherein the integrated encoding circuit receives metal electric connection paths of the keyboard control keys and transmits to the processing unit electric signals representative of each character introduced by the keyboard keys on one of the two electric supply lines of said integrated circuit, said integrated circuit further including keyboard data which depends on the country of destination.

5. A portable object according to claim 4, wherein two notches at least one of whose walls is metal are provided at the end of the wristband secured to the case to be in contact with two complementary metal sockets of the case to establish an electric connection between the processing unit arranged in the case and the encoding unit arranged in the wristband.

6. A portable object according to claim 4, wherein the power source is a battery or an electric power accumulator arranged inside the case of the object for the electric supply of the processing unit of the display device and of the integrated encoding circuit.

7. A portable object according to claim 4, wherein the wristband is formed of two strands secured in a removable manner onto two opposite sides of the case, the keys of the keyboard being distributed over most of the length of the two strands, wherein it includes two integrated encoding circuits placed respectively on each strand in proximity to the case, the electric supply of each encoding circuit passing through complementary metal electric connection parts between one of the ends of each strand and the case of the object.

8. A portable object according to claim 2, wherein it includes a display device for the time functions of the analogue type and a digital display device for displaying the characters.

9. A portable object according to claim 8, wherein the digital display device constitutes the dial of the analogue display device.

10. A portable device according to claim 2, wherein the display device is a digital display device allowing the display of time functions in a direction perpendicular to the display of the characters.

11. A portable object according to claim 10, wherein switching means are provided for passing from the time function display to the character display when at least one key of the keyboard is pressed for a predetermined period of time.

12. A portable object according to claim 4, wherein the wristband includes a first and a second superposed layer made of a rubber-like material so that the entire length of said wristband rests on a work surface when the keyboard is used, the metal paths for connecting each key to the respective integrated circuit, and said integrated circuit being inserted between the two layers of rubber-like material.

13. A portable object according to claim 12, wherein the metal paths are made on a flexible insulating film inserted between the two layers, the first surface of said film being secured to the first layer and the second surface of said film, which carries the metal paths, being secured to the second layer, and wherein the second layer includes protuberances to define each key of the keyboard, conductive discs being placed on the inner surface of the protuberances and held at a distance from the metal paths without any pressure on said protuberances, each disc being used to short-circuit two metal paths when a keyboard key is pressed to give information to the integrated circuit of the symbol corresponding to the key pressed.

14. A portable object according to claim 4, wherein the wristband is formed by metal links carrying the keys of said keyboard (4) and mechanically and electrically connected to each other for the electric connection of each key to the respective integrated circuit.

15. A portable object according to claim 2, wherein keys for controlling the functions of said watch are arranged on the wristband.

16. A portable object according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes means for storing data introduced through the keyboard in order to be able to display the data stored on the display device by pressing a control button arranged on a case of the object or a function control key arranged on the wristband.

17. A portable object according to claim 16, wherein means for transmitting and/or receiving radiofrequency signals connected to the processing unit are provided in the case of the object for transmitting data introduced by the keyboard and stored in storage means to a work station provided with means for reading the radiofrequency signals or for receiving data by radiofrequency signals to be processed by the processing unit.

18. A portable object with a wristband, comprising:

a keyboard with control keys bearing symbols oriented so as to be able to be read in the direction of the length of the wristband, said keys being distributed over the length of the wristband,

a processing unit for data introduced via the keyboard,

at least one display device for displaying, in the direction of the length of the wristband, characters introduced using the keyboard and processed by the processing unit, and

a power source for the electric power supply of the electronic components of said object,

wherein at least one integrated encoding circuit is located in the wristband so as to act as a communication interface between the control keys of the keyboard and the processing unit which is integrated in a case of the object, and

wherein the integrated encoding circuit receives metal electric connection paths of the keyboard control keys, and transmits to the processing unit electric signals, representative of each character introduced by the control keys, on one of two electric supply lines of said integrated circuit.

19. The portable object according to claim 18, wherein two notches, at least one of whose walls is metal, are provided, at a wristband end secured to the case, to be in contact with two complementary metal sockets of the case to establish an electric connection between the processing unit, located in the case, and the encoding unit located in the wristband.

20. A portable object with a wristband, comprising:

a keyboard with control keys bearing symbols oriented so as to be able to be read in the direction of the length of the wristband, said keys being distributed over the length of the wristband,

a processing unit for data introduced via the keyboard,

at least one display device for displaying, in the direction of the length of the wristband, characters introduced using the keyboard and processed by the processing unit, and

a power source for the electric power supply of the electronic components of said object,

wherein at least one integrated encoding circuit is placed in the wristband so as to act as a communication interface between the keys of the keyboard and the processing unit which is integrated in a case of the wristwatch, and

wherein the integrated encoding circuit is formed of a clock signal generating unit, a microprocessor clocked by an oscillator unit and hard-wired logic for sending in series binary words, corresponding to a symbol of a pressed key, on only one of two supply lines of the integrated circuit.