Asulab S.a.

The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Jean-Charles Guanter

Jean-Claude Martin

Pierre-André Farine

Erik Jan Frenkel

Pascal Heck

Gian-Carlo Poli

Ermanno Bernasconi

Jean-Nicolas Pfeuti

Ming Xu

A portable object including a case formed of a frame closed by a glass forming a housing, in which an electronic module is placed, the electronic module cooperating with a controller including at least one plurality of touch pads for interacting with the electronic module, each touch pad being located on an inner/outer surface of the case, the electronic module being programmed to operate in a first operating mode in which at least the touch pads are activated and to operate in a second operating mode in which at least the touch pads are deactivated.

Portable touch object with simplified turning off of touch keys

The device includes data entry means (), control means () connected to means () for displaying said data. The invention is characterised in that it further includes a processing unit () inserted between the data entry means () and the control means (). The processing unit () includes a memory () for storing reference times and particularly the Time Out, a counter () storing the time TC that elapses from the start of a manipulation and the time TM the elapses between two manipulations, and a comparator () including a first comparison unit (), which acts on the one hand on an ON/OFF switch () to interrupt, via control means () the energy supply when TC&#x3e;TO and which, on the other hand, enables TO to be altered at the end of a series of manipulations as a function of certain reference times of the memory and the speed at which the manipulations have been carried out.

Interactive switching device for a portable electronic apparatus

The method is one of wireless transmission of information between two units consisting primarily of a portable object, such as a personalized watch (), and a computer station (). Each unit includes signal transmitting and/or receiving means () switched alternately to a transmitting mode and into a receiving mode. Information is transmitted by transmitting a plurality of information frames alternately between the two units. Each information frame comprises a synchronization field, which includes a particular number of synchronization bytes, an information packet and filler bytes. On receiving a frame, the receiving unit counts the synchronization bytes. The receiving unit transmits, in a heading of the information packet, a synchronization indication which is a function of the number of synchronization bytes received. The synchronization indication is used to correct the size of the synchronization field of the next frame received by the receiving unit. These synchronization field size correction operations are effected in a similar manner in both units.

Method of transmitting information between two units each provided with means for sending and/or receiving signals

The device for managing memory in an electronic watch of the diary type includes a non-volatile memory () connected to a microprocessor unit (). The unit is programmed to manage data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations in the memory. Activation of at least one key of the watch (C) allows an instruction to be provided to the unit for managing data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations. The memory () includes a first static zone () for storing data and/or parameters in fixed memory locations and a second dynamic zone () for storing data records of different types. The memory location of each type of record is managed by the microprocessor unit () as a function of the modification or deletion of certain records and as a function of the storage of new records. Each record starts with a heading in which two pointers are placed to establish a link with a following record and a preceding record of the same type. The microprocessor unit () allows the data record memory case to be compacted or compressed in the dynamic zone () automatically or by activating at least one key of the watch (C).

Device and method for managing memory in an electronic watch

The control method allows execution of various functions in an electronic diary watch, which includes, in a case closed by a crystal, a time-keeping circuit and/or a watch movement powered by an energy source, and a dial on which the time is displayed in a digital and/or analogue manner. A determined number of sensors (Cto C) are provided with touch sensitive pads arranged on an inner or outer face of the crystal. These sensors are provided for carrying out the various controls of the method when they are individually activated by a user's finger. In order to consult data or parameters, the method includes a first series of steps consisting in displaying different menus (to) of the diary function on at least one liquid crystal display by activating at least one sensor (C, C) of a group of sensors (Cto C), and in selecting the menu or record to be consulted (to) by activating a validation sensor (C). In order to enter data, the method includes a second series of steps consisting in activating the validation sensor (C) for a determined period of time or with a determined application of pressure, entering diary data by activating certain sensors (Cto C) each controlling execution of a specific determined function, and validating data entered by action on the validation sensor.

Control method for executing functions in a diary watch

The electronic watch includes analogue display means () formed of at least one hand () driven by at least one motor (), a time base () for controlling means () for driving said motor, a rechargeable power source (), means () for stopping the motor () acting particularly on said drive means, and time counting means () in synchronism with said analogue display means () for a sufficient supply voltage. When the stopping means detect a power shortage, the display means are stopped and the corresponding value of the counting means is stored in storage means and the counting means continue to operate. As soon as the power supply is sufficient again, time difference calculating means () send time difference signals () between the stored value and the value of the counting means to the drive means in order to reset said analogue display means to the right time.

Analogue electronic watch having a device for resetting the time following a power shortage

The manual control device for executing functions of an electronic watch () particularly a diary watch, includes a certain number of sensors (Cto C) wherein one touch sensitive pad of each sensor is placed for example on an internal face of the crystal (). When a user's finger () is placed on the watch crystal in a determined zone of the sensitive pad of a sensor to be activated, it causes an electronic circuit () of the device to execute an instruction or a function. In a first mode selected by the electronic circuit, at least two sensors are grouped such that the electronic circuit executes the same operation when a finger is placed on the crystal in a determined zone of the sensitive pad of one sensor or the other. However, in a second mode selected by the electronic circuit, each sensor (Cto C) activated by the finger () provides measuring signals to the electronic circuit () for the execution of a different specific operation for each sensor. The sensitive pads of the sensors are distributed on the internal face of the crystal for the purpose of allowing data to be entered into the watch, pre-stored data to be consulted or different function menus to be consulted.

Manual control device for executing functions of an electronic watch

The watch is provided with a circular row of capacitive keys defined by transparent electrodes (to) arranged on the inner face of the crystal () of the watch and connected to a detection device via a multiplexer. These keys are activated by the person wearing the watch placing a finger () on the crystal facing one of the electrodes. The watch further includes means for detecting the position of at least one of the hands () by means of the same detection device, using the electrodes (to) of the capacitive keys and/or other fixed electrodes ().

Electronic watch including capacitive keys on its crystal

The present invention concerns a method for controlling the charge of an accumulator (,), as a function of the time during which said accumulator (,) has been on a charger (,), said accumulator (,) being intended to power an horological function and one or more auxiliary functions (,), this method being characterized in that it includes the steps of: incrementing a step counting signal during the charge time during which the accumulator (,) is on the charger (,); causing the accumulator (,) charge to stop when the counting signal has reached a previously defined maximum value corresponding to the nominal charge of said accumulator (,); and decrementing the step counting signal during the discharge time during which the accumulator (,) is not on the charger (,), the counting signal being decremented by a first step when only the horological function is being used, and by a second step which differs from the first and which depends on the auxiliary function or functions (,) used.

Method for controlling an accumulator charge and device for implementing such method

The present invention concerns a method for selecting at least one item of data from a set of data regrouped in accordance with a predetermined order. This method is able to be implemented in an electronic device including means for displaying the selected item of data, input means for supplying, via the action of a user of the device, a direction and successive pulses, means for controlling the display means in a non-instantaneous manner, and a processing unit for the set of data. This method is characterised in that it includes a first step which consists in counting the number of pulses provided, via the action of the user, during the period of time in which said display means is being activated to reach said selected item of data, in order to determine the acceleration provided by said user to said input means during this period of time.

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Diesse, Switzerland

Jean-Charles Guanter