Support element for a timepiece sensor

• US 9,864,343 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Balmer, Raphael, Klopfenstein, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Amy Cohen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wicklund, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/648,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20150316896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 361752, 361760-764, 361807, 361809, 361813, 361825, 174520, 174527, 174528, 174529, 174532, 174536, 174555
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/02 Component assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/04 Mounting of electronic components
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/045 Mounting of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/06 Electric connectors, e.g. conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/115 Via connections; Lands around holes or via connections H05K1/112 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10265 Metallic coils or springs, e.g. as part of a connection element

Abstract

A three dimensional support element for a timepiece sensor, made in 3D-MID and including integrated electrical connection paths, a flexible connection interface formed of bent wire springs or flexible finger-pieces, and a rigid connection interface.

Claims

1. A support element for a timepiece sensor, comprising:

a support that is made in 3D/MID, so that the support element has a three-dimensional shape and integrated electrical connection paths;

a first rigid connection interface to connect to the timepiece sensor; and

a second flexible connection interface to connect to an integrated control circuit, the second flexible connection interface formed by at least one bent wire spring assembled to the support, or flexible finger-pieces on which are arranged the electrical connection paths, wherein

the second flexible connection interface, formed by the at least one bent wire spring or the flexible finger-pieces, projects outward from a second face of the support that is opposite a first face of the support mountable with the timepiece sensor, and

the first rigid connection interface and the second flexible connection interface are connected by the electrical connection paths, without the support element including any printed circuit board connection interface between the timepiece sensor and the integrated control circuit.

2. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second flexible connection interface is formed by the at least one bent wire spring, and the at least one bent wire spring includes a first portion secured to the support and a second flexible, free portion.

3. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 2, wherein the support includes clips to hold the at least one bent wire spring.

4. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 3, wherein the support includes at least one via hole in which the electrical connection paths form eyelets configured to be electrically connected to the at least one bent wire spring.

5. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 4, wherein one end of the at least one bent wire spring is soldered in the at least one via hole.

6. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 4, wherein one end of the at least one bent wire spring is bonded in the at least one via hole by an electrically conductive adhesive.

7. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 6, wherein the electrical connection paths include enlarged portions disposed in recesses arranged on one edge of the support.

8. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 6, wherein the support includes a first guide mark to aid assembly and a series of second laser guide marks to guide machining of the electrical connection paths.

9. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 6, wherein the support includes a securing notch including a shoulder including an axial bearing surface and a rotation lock surface.

10. A timepiece comprising a sensor module formed of a sensor mounted on the support element according to claim 8, wherein the support element is assembled to an internal wall of a case of the timepiece with aid of mounting feet.

11. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second flexible connection interface, formed by the at least one bent wire spring or the flexible finger-pieces, extends in a longitudinal direction along the second face with a gap between the second flexible connection interface and second face.

12. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 11, wherein the second flexible connection interface is formed by more than one of the bent wire spring that are parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction, or is formed by the flexible finger-pieces that are parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction.

13. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 11, wherein the second flexible connection interface, formed by the at least one bent wire spring or the flexible finger-pieces, extends inclined relative to the second face.

14. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second flexible connection interface is formed by the at least one bent wire spring, and the first face of the support is mountable with the timepiece sensor disposed between recesses arranged on one edge of the support to accommodate enlarged portions of the electrical connection paths and at least one via hole in which the electrical connection paths form eyelets configured to be electrically connected to the at least one bent wire spring.

15. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second flexible connection interface is formed by the at least one bent wire spring, the first face of the support includes a housing to mount the timepiece sensor, and the support includes at least one first via hole in the housing that forms at least one clip on the second face of the support to hold the at least one bent wire spring.

16. The support element for a timepiece sensor according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection paths wrap around an edge of the support, so that the electrical connection paths extend into a housing to mount the timepiece sensor on the first face of the support, and extend on the second face of the support.