ELECTRONIC WATCH

An electronic watch including a case provided with a middle and with a bezel entirely or partially forming a tactile interface, the case including an electronic device including an electronic circuit provided with a substrate wherein a peripheral area of its upper surface forms with the bezel mounted over the middle a hatch within which are included an antenna circuit of a communication module and a tactile control circuit of a tactile control member of the electronic device, the tactile control circuit including at least one cambered element made of a conductive material forming an electrode one end of which is connected to a connection terminal of the tactile control member which is comprised over the peripheral area of the upper surface of the substrate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 21215636.8 filed Dec. 17, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electronic watch comprising a bezel forming with a substrate of an electronic circuit, a hatch comprising a tactile control circuit and an antenna circuit of a communication module of said watch.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Many portable electronic objects that could connect to communication networks are known in the prior art such as electronic watches which are provided with tactile interfaces conventionally arranged in the crystals of these. In general, such tactile interfaces are used to improve the interactivity of the watches and to simplify manipulations thereof in particular when these offer a large number of menus and functions.

In order to be able to connect to communication networks such as Bluetooth-type or geolocation-related networks, such electronic objects comprise communication means conventionally integrating an antenna. It is known that the optimum size of such an antenna depends directly on the wavelength of the emitted/received signal. Indeed, an antenna with an optimum length allows sending/receiving a signal in its entirety and at full power.

In these watches, the available space being limited, an antenna should have a suitable design in order to be integrated in the case of the watch. And if the watch integrates a radio communication means which operates over radio frequencies (such as 2.4 GHz or 1.5 GHz), the size of the product becomes critical with regards to the wavelength (120 mm and 200 mm).

Moreover, other constraints should also be taken into account because these watches include many metallic portions and because an antenna should be isolated therefrom.

In this context, one could understand that there is a need to find a solution, in particular one that does not have the drawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is to provide a watch, comprising a tactile interface and integrating an antenna circuit having an optimum length to send/receive a signal in its entirety and at full power and intended to be fitted into the case of this watch whose receiving volume is limited.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain an electronic watch whose aesthetics, energy consumption and manufacturing costs are not affected or barely affected by the integration of a tactile interface into a bezel of this watch in particular an antenna circuit.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain an electronic watch whose aesthetics, energy consumption and manufacturing costs are not affected or barely affected by the integration of a tactile control circuit and an antenna circuit into a bezel of this watch.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an electronic watch comprising a case provided with a middle and with a bezel entirely or partially forming a tactile interface, said case comprising an electronic device including an electronic circuit provided with a substrate wherein a peripheral area of its upper surface forms with said bezel mounted over the middle a hatch within which are comprised an antenna circuit of a communication module and a tactile control circuit of a tactile control member of the electronic device, said tactile control circuit comprising at least one cambered element (25) made of a conductive material forming an electrode one end of which is connected to a connection terminal of said tactile control member which is comprised over the peripheral area of the upper surface of the substrate.

In other embodiments:said cambered element comprises another end which is free;said cambered element comprises first and second rectilinear or substantially rectilinear portions which are linked together by a third curved portion of this element;said cambered element comprises a second portion provided with a free end which is arranged entirely or partially proximate to or in contact with a portion of an inner face of a body of the bezel arranged beneath at least one tactile area of the bezel defined over an outer face of this body;the antenna circuit comprises first and second strands each having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending in parallel between their proximal and distal ends, the first and second strands being connected together at their distal ends as well as at their proximal ends;the antenna circuit is entirely or partially comprised over the upper face of the peripheral area of the substrate or over an inner face of a body of the bezel;the communication module comprises a microcircuit connected to a connecting portion of the antenna circuit via a connection terminal comprised over the upper face of the substrate;the control circuit comprises a microcontroller connected to said at least one electrode via the connection terminal comprised over the upper face of the substrate;the bezel is manufactured in at least one dielectric and/or electrically non-conductive material;the watch is a watch in particular a smartwatch comprising the bezel which is a bezel entirely or partially forming a tactile interface.the antenna circuit and the tactile control circuit are located in the bezel on either side of an axis of symmetry passing through the centre of the bezel;the cambered element is partially comprised over the upper surface of the substrate in particular the end of this cambered element which is the only portion of said element that is comprised over this upper surface while being connected to a connection terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG.1, the invention covers an electronic watch1such as a smartwatch. In this context, such an electronic watch1is provided with a case3including a bezel2entirely or partially forming a tactile interface of said electronic watch1through which a wearer of said watch1could interact with the latter for example in order to control horological functions of this watch1. This case3also includes a middle which could be made of metal (for example of steel, preferably stainless steel), of a synthetic material (for example of a composite material comprising a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres, typically carbon fibres) or of ceramic or else of at least one dielectric and/or electrically non-conductive material. The case3also comprises a back and a crystal which contribute to form with the middle, a closed space of this case3.

In particular, a display device7and an electronic device4of said electronic watch1are arranged within such a space. The display device7includes display elements which could be analog such as hands and/or digital such as a LCD, LED or OLED screen. Such a display device7is located between the crystal and the electronic device4, a spacer or flange could be arranged between the crystal and this display device7.

As regards the electronic device4, it comprises an electronic horological movement. It is configured to provide at least one piece of information having to be displayed on this display device7. Non-exhaustively and without limitation, this electronic device4includes a communication module6, a control module of the portable watch, an electrical energy accumulator in particular a battery as well as different sensors such as sensors involved in the determination of a geolocation, an altitude or a temperature of a location or in the determination of physiological, biometric, vital and/or behavioural parameters of the wearer of the electronic watch1.

It should be noted that in this configuration, the control module enables the wearer of such an electronic watch1to be able to interact with the latter in particular by being able to activate/deactivate/select different functions—for example horological functions—that could be implemented by this electronic watch1. This control module comprises a tactile control member8and in some alternatives other control members such as push-pieces or buttons arranged on the middle.

In the electronic device4, the communication module6comprises an antenna circuit10connected to a microcircuit11, and the tactile control member8comprises a microcontroller12connected to a tactile control circuit13. More specifically, this device4comprises a printed circuit14including the microcontroller12of the control member8and a microcircuit11of the communication module6. This printed circuit14comprises a substrate5wherein a peripheral area9of its upper surface17forms with said bezel2mounted on the middle, a hatch within which the antenna circuit10and the tactile control circuit13are comprised.

Preferably, such a bezel2is fastened/mounted on the middle of the case3and clasps the crystal. It may consist of a rotating bezel or a fixed bezel. This bezel2may be a part removably fastened on the middle or else a part integrally made with this middle. It may consist of a monolithic part or conversely of a part made into several portions linked together in a reversible and/or tight manner, or into two portions linked together in a reversible and/or tight manner. The bezel2comprises a body provided with an inner face and with an outer face17. The outer face17is a face of this bezel2visible to the wearer which could be manipulated at first and second tactile areas18a,18bdefined over this face17. The bezel2may comprise a graduation over its outer face17. In the illustrated example, the graduation comprises figurative indexes24which are in the form of numerals (preferably Arabic numerals).

For the antenna circuit10and the control circuit13to operate effectively and/or optimally, this bezel2is made of at least one dielectric and/or electrically non-conductive material. Said at least one material allows contributing to the achievement of the capacitive effect of the tactile control member8. This material is also involved in not deteriorating the radiation of the antenna circuit10, enlarging its electric length and improving its efficiency with regards to its physical size. For example, such a material may be a polymer, titanium or a ceramic, or any other synthetic material. It should be noted that it is possible that the entire body of this bezel2is not made of this material type but only portions of this body:

opposite which are positioned/located the antenna circuit10and the control circuit13are made of this material, and/or

comprising the first and second tactile areas18a,18bof the outer face17of the body of this bezel2are made of this material.

The body of the bezel2may comprise arrangements intended to provide access to a printed circuit14including the microcontroller12of the control member8and the microcircuit11of the communication module6. Thus, such arrangements offer the possibility of forming a passage in this body of the bezel2in order to connect the control circuit13, in particular the electrodes22, and the antenna circuit10respectively to the microcontroller12of the control member8and to the microcircuit11of the communication module6.

Referring toFIGS.1to4, the control member8comprises the microcontroller12which is connected to the tactile control circuit13. Such a tactile control circuit13comprises at least one cambered element25made of a conductive material forming an electrode22one end26aof which is connected to a connection terminal23aof the tactile control member8comprised over the upper surface16of the peripheral area9of the substrate5.

This cambered element25comprises first and second portions27a,27brectilinear or substantially rectilinear which are linked together by a third curved portion27cof this element25. As we have mentioned before, this cambered element25therefore comprises the first end26awhich is connected to the connection terminal23aas well as a second end26bwhich is so-called free. In this configuration, the first portion27acomprises the first end26aand the second portion is provided with the free end26b. This second portion27bis entirely or partially located proximate to and possibly in contact with a portion of the inner face of the body of the bezel2arranged beneath at least one tactile area18a,18bof the bezel2defined over an outer face17of this body.

The cambered element25forming the electrode22of the tactile control circuit13, is partially comprised over the peripheral area9of the upper surface16of the substrate5. In other words, only the first end26aof this cambered element25which is connected to the connection terminal23a, is comprised over this upper surface16. Thus, it should be understood that except for the first end26a, the rest of the body of the first portion27aas well as the second and third portions27b,27cof this cambered element25are not comprised over the upper surface16of the substrate5. In this configuration, the rest of the body of the first portion27aas well as the second and third portions27b,27cof this cambered element25are then located between this upper surface16and the inner face of the bezel2, the second portion27bcould be entirely or partially in contact with this inner face.

As we have mentioned before, the substrate5comprises the connection terminal23ato which the first end26aof the cambered element25forming the electrode22is connected. Thus, this connection terminal23aallows linking/connecting this electrode22to the microcontroller12of the control member8. In this configuration, the control member8comprises an electrical track21which could achieve the connection between each connection terminal23aand the microcontroller12. In this manner, each electrode22is thus connected to the microcontroller12from an electrical track20. Finally, one could notice that the tactile control circuit13preferably comprises as many electrical tracks21as electrodes22that the control circuit12comprises.

InFIGS.3and4, the tactile control member8comprises six electrodes22distributed within the hatch formed by the body of the bezel2and the peripheral area9of the upper surface16of the substrate5. More specifically, the cambered elements25forming these electrodes22are arranged within this hatch so as to define/form two distinct tactile areas18a,18bdefined over the outer face17of this bezel2, these two tactile areas18a,18bthus forming the tactile interface of the electronic watch1.

In this configuration, this hatch comprises several electrodes22per tactile area18a,18b. The first tactile area18acomprises three electrodes22respectively arranged beneath the indexes24two, three and four defined over the outer face17of the bezel2. The second tactile area18balso comprises three electrodes22respectively arranged beneath the indexes24five, six and seven defined over this outer face17of the bezel2. In this configuration, the first tactile area18aenables the wearer of the watch1to interact with the latter by performing a movement in particular a “vertical movement” (referenced Dv inFIG.4) of an accessory such as a stylus or a tip of one of his limbs such as a finger over this first area18a. As regards the second tactile area18b, it enables the wearer of the watch1to interact with the latter by performing a movement in particular a “horizontal movement” (reference Dh inFIG.4) of such an accessory or of the tip of one of his limbs over this area18b. The vertical movement describes a trajectory which is substantially parallel or parallel to an axis of symmetry A of the bezel2passing through the centre O of this bezel2and this trajectory being also substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to an axis of revolution R of this bezel2. As regards the horizontal movement, it describes a trajectory which, in turn, is substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to this axis A (or to the trajectory described by the vertical movement) and also to the axis of revolution R of this bezel2. Such an axis A separates the bezel2into two equal parts/portions while connecting the indexes24twelve and six present over the outer face17of this bezel2.

In the electronic device4, the communication module6is able to enable the connection of the electronic watch1to a Bluetooth-type communication network. In other words, the communication module6is configured to communicate according to a Bluetooth-type protocol.

Alternatively, this communication module6could be able to enable the connection of the watch1to a GNSS (Geolocation and Navigation Satellite System) satellite location network, such as the GPS (Global Positioning System), Glonass or Galileo. This communication module6comprises the antenna circuit10connected to the microcircuit11.

In the present embodiment, such an antenna circuit10is also comprised within the hatch formed by the body of the bezel2and the peripheral area9of the upper surface16of the substrate5. This antenna circuit10comprises a connecting portion15and first and second strands19a,19beach having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending in parallel between their proximal and distal ends.

In this antenna circuit10, the architecture with two strands in parallel allows enlarging the frequency band (100 MHz), necessary for example to communicate over a Bluetooth-type communication network (2.4 GHz). In this antenna circuit10, the first and second strands19a,19bare connected by their distal ends as well as at their proximal ends. In this configuration, the antenna circuit10extends essentially according to a circular arc trajectory including two strands19a,19barranged in parallel within this hatch which follows this trajectory.

This antenna circuit10comprises a connecting portion15which is linked to a connection terminal23bof the communication module6. This connection terminal23bis comprised within the peripheral area9of the upper surface16of the substrate5. In this antenna circuit10, such a connecting portion15is located at the junction of the proximal ends or of the distal ends of its first and second strands19a,19b.

It should be understood that such a connection terminal23bthus allows linking/connecting the antenna circuit10to the microcircuit11of the communication module6at the connecting portion15. In this configuration, the communication module6comprises an electrical track20which could achieve the connection between the connection terminal23band the microcircuit11.

This antenna circuit10is partially comprised over the upper surface16of the peripheral area9of the substrate5. In other words, only the connecting portion15of the antenna circuit10which is linked to the connection terminal23b, is comprised over this upper surface16. Thus, it should be understood that except for this connecting portion15, the rest of the body of the antenna circuit10is not comprised over the upper surface16of the substrate5. In this configuration, the rest of the body of this antenna circuit10is located in the hatch between this upper surface16and the inner face of the bezel2.

In one variant, the antenna circuit10may be entirely comprised over the upper surface16of the peripheral area9of the substrate5or over the inner face of the body of the bezel2. In this context, this antenna circuit11and in particular the first and second strands19a,19bthat form it, are made by a deposition over the inner face or the upper surface16of at least one layer of a conductive material and that being so, according to a technology of physical vapour deposition of a conductive material or a technology of micrometric-scale selective printing of this conductive material. A technology of screen-printing with silver over a substrate5made of polyester or with copper over a substrate5made of polyimide could also be considered.

In this watch1, the antenna circuit10and the tactile control circuit13are located within said hatch formed by the bezel and the upper surface16of the substrate5and that being so, on either side of an axis of symmetry B passing through the centre O of the bezel2and which is substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to the axis of revolution R of this bezel2. This axis referenced B separates the bezel2into two parts/portions and forms an angle α with the axis A which is comprised between 30 and 40 degrees and which is preferably 36 degrees. Thus, the antenna circuit10and the tactile control circuit13are entirely or partially located in the distinct parts/portions of the bezel2while being located in distinct areas of the hatch formed by the bezel2and the upper surface17of the substrate5.

These two distinct areas or two parts/portions of the bezel2are separated by the axis of symmetry B. More specifically, the outer surface17of the bezel2therefore comprises two portions. The first portion includes the first and second strands19a,19bof this antenna circuit10and the second portion the electrodes22.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment that has just been described and that various simple modifications and variants could be considered by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.