Montres Rolex S. A.

Claude-Eric Leuenberger

Rene Besson

Jean-Jacques Burri

Gaston Schweighauser

The present invention concerns a wristwatch type of watch. More specifically, the watch comprises a display ( ), an electronic circuit ( ) controlling the display, a time set stem ( ), and at least two electrical contact elements ( &Prime;). The time set stem ( ) can be placed in different axial positions and the stem comprises a crown ( ) accessible from outside the watch and a helicoidal zone ( ) which may have three helicoidal elements ( &Prime;). When the time set stem is placed in a position such that the contact elements ( &Prime;) are facing the helicoidal zone ( ), rotating the time set stem causes an electrical connection on the electronic circuit ( ) to alternately open and close. This generates at least two electrical impulse signals which are transmitted to the electronic control circuit. These signals are used to regulate different watch functions, such as time correction or controlling the time belt or the date.

Wristwatch

The device for implementing the method for the automatic initialisation of the date display of a perpetual calendar electronic watch comprising a face fitted with a window and a date disk permits, every time the watch stops, at the moment the electronic circuit is reconnected, the automatic identification of the date appearing in the window, by optically analysing a code attributed to this date and by memorizing this data by means of the electronic circuit. This optical device (10) comprises a source (11) emitting a beam of light (12), reflective surfaces (13) fixed onto the date disk (15) and a receiver (14). The beam (16) reflected by a surface (13) is intercepted by the receiver (14) which supplies a signal to the electronic circuit (17) which controls an electronic motor (18) driving the disk (15) by a system of reduction gears (19, 20).

Automatic initialisation method for at least the date display, a device

Concealed display

The device for performing the method for detecting the zero position of a hand of a quartz watch with analogue display enables a beam of light to be generated and directed onto a reflective surface integral with a moving part bearing the hand, the reflected beam to be received on a detector and the position for which the output signal of the detector is maximal to be determined to make it correspond to the zero position of the hand when assembling the watch. This device comprises a source (1) emitting a beam of light (2) and a receiver (3) which intercepts the reflected beam (4) returned by a very reflective area (5). This area is integral with a surface of a moving part (6), for example the wheel bearing the second hand and, depending on the position of this wheel, the reflective surface may occupy a position (5) or an adjacent position (5') staggered by less than one step. The signals from the detector (3) are transmitted to an electronic ciruict (7) connected to an electric motor ( 8) which drives the moving body (6) by means of a train of wheels (9).

Method for detecting the zero position of a hand of a quartz watch with

An electronic watch having an electronic circuit arranged to control at least one function of the watch other than the usual functions of time indication, in which the manipulation of a time-setting rod and/or the position of movable elements of the watch at a given moment define the parameters which, alone or in combination, correspond to access codes which are recognized by the electronic circuit for accessing the advanced features. The present invention proposes to control the advanced features of the watch by means of a single time-setting rod. The time-setting rod of the preferred embodiment detects four parameters for determining an entered access code. These parameters are: (1) the position of the time-setting rod; (2) the rotation of the time-setting rod; (3) the direction of rotation of the time-setting rod; and (4) the rotation velocity of the time-setting rod. These four parameters, taken individually or in combination, can define access codes for the various features of the watch using a single control.

Growing community of inventors

Geneve-Acacias, Switzerland

Claude-Eric Leuenberger