Timepiece associated with a compass and a sighting device

• US 5,883,861 A
• Filed: 05/12/1998
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Germiquet, Christophe, Moser, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US09/076,097
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 33/263, 33/333, 33/334
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/02 Divers' equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 25/04 Alarm clocks or watches with devices stimulating the skin normal pocket or wrist alarm clocks G04B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/065 with a compass compasses G01C17/00

Abstract

The timepiece (42) includes within the case (44) an electronic compass and a sighting device formed of two sighting marks (14, 15) arranged in the upper portion of the case (44) diametrically opposite each other and defining a reference axis of the case (44). The optical means formed by three light emitting diodes (54, 55, 56) are arranged on the surface of the case (44) in a peripheral region situated at six o'"'"'clock for warning or informing a user performing a sighting that the reference axis of the sighting device is aligned with a given azimuthal direction. In another embodiment, instead of the optical means, acoustic means or a buzzer are provided, capable of providing a vibration which is audible or perceptible by a user'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. A timepiece including a case and display means used in particular for displaying the time, said timepiece being associated with a compass and a sighting device together allowing determination of a selected azimuthal direction, wherein said compass is an electronic compass and wherein an electronic unit is provided, electrically connected to said compass and arranged for determining, via signals provided by said compass, the azimuthal orientation of a reference axis of said timepiece, and alarm means are provided controlled by said electronic unit for providing at least one signal perceptible to a user of said timepiece when he performs a sighting by means of said sighting device, said electronic unit being arranged so that said signal is provided to said user when said reference axis is aligned with said selected azimuthal direction.

2. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said alarm means are formed by an electrically activated acoustic device.

3. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said alarm means are formed by optical means which are electrically activated by an electric power supply connected to said electronic unit.

4. A timepiece according to claim 3, wherein said optical means are formed by at least one diode arranged on an external surface of the case in a region of said case situated substantially at 6 o'"'"'clock relative to a conventional 12 hour time display.

5. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said alarm means are formed by a buzzer providing a vibration signal perceptible by a user'"'"'s body.

6. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said sighting device is formed by two sighting marks arranged on a bezel of said case diametrically opposite each other and along the 6 o'"'"'clock-12 o'"'"'clock axis of said timepiece.

7. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said sighting device is formed by two sighting marks arranged on said crystal diametrically opposite each other and along the 6 o'"'"'clock-12 o'"'"'clock axis of said timepiece.

8. A timepiece according to claim 7, wherein said bezel is a rotating bezel.

9. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein an indicating hand is provided, used to indicate a given azimuthal direction, in particular the direction of magnetic or geographic north.

10. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein it includes an electronic crown and digital display means arranged for allowing a user to input any azimuthal direction.