Patent Publication Number: US-2021181681-A1

Title: On-demand horological display mechanism

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an on-demand horological display mechanism, including a plurality of primary mechanisms each capable of determining the value of a variable, and at least one actuator that can be maneuvered by a user for the selection of the display of the instantaneous value of a specific variable determined by one of the primary mechanisms, each display being performed by the cooperation of a moveable display, including a hand or a disc, with a complementary display including at least one graduated index. 
     The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, including at least one such display mechanism. 
     The invention relates to the field of horological display mechanisms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Timepieces with complications are sought after by users, but the displays quickly become difficult to read when same relate to a wide variety of variables to be displayed. The small size of the markings makes the difficulty of reading worse. In addition, there is a risk of confusion by the user if each display is not unequivocal. 
     Document EP1959317A1 in the name of MAURICE LACROIX describes a gear shifting or transmission switching mechanism intended to be integrated into a horological movement and including a gear pinion rotated by a first wheel of the movement so as to represent a first piece of information to be displayed. An element holding a first fly-back heart-piece is freely mounted on the gear pinion, and is rotated by the first or by a second wheel of the movement so as to represent a second piece of information to be displayed, a second fly-back heart-piece being attached to the gear pinion, a gear wheel being freely mounted about the gear pinion and holding a first, respectively a second, hammer pretensioned by a first, respectively second, pretensioned spring against the first, respectively second, heart-piece, a shift wheel being rotatably mounted on the periphery of the gear wheel and holding a first, respectively a second, cam acting on the first, respectively second hammer so as to remove alternately the contact between the first hammer and the first heart-piece, respectively the second hammer and the second heart-piece, in order to shift the position of the gear wheel according to the first, respectively the second, piece of information to be displayed, an intermediate control wheel being freely mounted about the gear pinion, and engaging with the shift wheel, the intermediate control wheel being attached to a control wheel that can be rotated in a controlled manner via a control mechanism of the gear mechanism. 
     Document JP H08 220257 in the name of RHYTHM WATCH describes a multi-functional display timepiece capable of clearly showing the time and other information. The first dial has the first time index for displaying a portion of time, and the first information index for displaying information other than the time. Similarly, a second dial has the second time index hiding the first information index of the first dial and complementing the first time index. In this case, a time indicated with the first time index and the second time index, and the information indicated with the first information index may be clearly selected in order to be displayed by moving the second dial. 
     Document EP2887158A1 in the name of ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse describes a device for setting watches arranged to be pressed onto the crystal of a watch including a plurality of display means. Said device is arranged to enable a user to see said display means of said watch during the setting thereof, said device including at least one indexing mark for the angular indexing thereof in relation to a reference of said watch, and said device includes, for at least one specific display of said watch, at least one complementary piece of information in relation to said specific display of said watch to facilitate the setting of said specific display considered. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a known manner, watches may display indications by means of hands or apertures. It is also known that memory systems make it possible to display two indications on demand on the same display, for the same variable. 
     The invention proposes to make it possible to display two indications of different variables, or having different units, on the same display support, and particularly but not limited to, to produce the combination of the display of the months and of the date on the same display. 
     Thus, the invention proposes to provide the user of a watch reliable information relative to the variable of which they observe the position, with a simplified display, and advantageously of larger size than in the known mechanisms. 
     To this end, the invention relates to an on-demand horological display mechanism, according to claim  1 . 
     The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, including at least one such display mechanism. 
    
    
     
       SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, with reference to the appended drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  shows, schematically, and in front view, a watch including an on-demand display mechanism according to the invention, switchable between a date display position and a current month display position, by the same hand and on the same graduated sector; 
         FIG. 2  shows, in a manner similar to  FIG. 1 , another watch including a ring with apertures and a graduated ring in numerals for days and in letters for months, moveable in relation to one another, shown in a month display position; 
         FIG. 3  shows, in a manner similar to  FIG. 1 , another watch including a ring with apertures and a graduated ring in numerals for days and in letters for months, moveable in relation to one another, shown in a date display position; 
         FIG. 4  shows, in a manner similar to  FIG. 1 , a disc of such a watch including a scale graduated by alternation of numerals for days and letters for months; 
         FIG. 5  shows, in a manner similar to  FIG. 1 , such a mechanism for displaying on demand the current month or the date, including an actuator for the control of a column wheel itself controlling the position of an operating lever of a lifting-lever, which lifting-lever forms a stage of a block of coaxial and superimposed mobile components also including a month wheel equipped with a month lever and a month spring and able to interfere with said lifting-lever, a day wheel equipped with day lever and a day spring, and a display mobile component bearing a hand and a control heart-piece that is capable of cooperating both with the day lever with which same is in permanent contact, and with the month lever with which same is in contact during an action by the user on the button of the actuator; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a watch with a plurality of such display mechanisms. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention relates to an on-demand horological display mechanism  100 , including a plurality of primary mechanisms  10  each capable of determining the value of a variable, and at least one actuator  20  that can be maneuvered by a user for the selection of the display of the instantaneous value of a specific variable determined by one of the primary mechanisms  10 . Each display is performed by the cooperation of a moveable display  1 , including an hand or a disc, with a complementary display  2  including at least one graduated index  3 . 
     The display  1  and/or the complementary display  2  is common to all of the displays that the display mechanism  100  may produce. 
     More particularly, both the display  1  and the complementary display  2  are common to all of the displays that the display mechanism  100  may produce. 
     More particularly, the complementary display  2  includes a plurality of graduated indexes  3  each corresponding to the display of the value of a specific variable. 
     According to the invention:
         either the complementary display  2  is moveable in relation to a window  4 , so as to show, at a given moment, only one graduated index  3  for the user to view;   or the display mechanism  100  includes a window  4  that is moveable above the complementary display  2 , so as to show, at a given moment, only one graduated index  3  for the user to view.       

     More particularly, the display mechanism  100  includes a single disc, which holds all of the graduated indexes  3 . 
     More particularly, the display mechanism  100  includes a variable indicator  5  associated with each graduated index  3  for displaying for the user to view the name of the variable of which the value is displayed at a given moment, or of a symbol representing said variable. 
     In one variant, such a variable indicator  5  is moveable in relation to an aperture  6 , so as to show, at a given moment, only one variable name or symbol for the user to view. 
     In another variant, the display mechanism  100  includes an aperture  6  that is moveable above the variable indicator  5 , so as to show, at a given moment, only one variable name or symbol for the user to view. 
     More particularly, the display mechanism  100  includes a single disc, which holds all of the variable indicators  5 . 
     Even more particularly, the display mechanism  100  includes the same single disc that holds all of the graduated indexes  3  and all of the variable indicators  5 . 
     More particularly, each of the primary mechanisms  10  is a mechanical memory mechanism. Even more particularly, when the display mechanism  100  includes an aperture  6 , said mechanical memory mechanism is arranged to control the relative position between the variable indicator  5  and the aperture  6 . In one specific embodiment, at least one mechanical memory mechanism is a mechanism including at least one memory wheel, in particular such as described in document EP2362276B1 in the name of MONTRES BREGUET SA. 
     More particularly, the actuator  20  is arranged to be actuated by a simple press by the user, in order to control the change of display from the value of one variable to the value of another variable, according to a fixed sequence of various variables. 
     In one variant, the actuator  20  is arranged to take, upon action by the user, various positions each corresponding to the display of the value of a different variable. 
     More particularly, the moveable display  1  is a retrograde display. 
     More particularly, the display mechanism  100  relates to variables that all have different units. 
     More particularly, one of the primary mechanisms  10  is a month display. 
     The invention lends itself well to a wide variety of primary mechanisms  10 , in particular and not limited to:
         date display mechanism;   power reserve display mechanism;   striking-work mode display mechanism;   day/night display mechanism;   AM/PM display mechanism;   time zone display mechanism;   ambient pressure display mechanism;   ambient temperature display mechanism.       

     The invention also relates to a timepiece  1000  including at least one such display mechanism  100 . 
     The invention is illustrated for a specific, non-limiting, case where the mechanism according to the invention makes it possible to perform the function of displaying two distinct horological values by the same display, here the same hand. In said example illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the primary mechanisms  10  are a date mechanism and a month mechanism, which may naturally include common elements. 
     This specific embodiment makes it possible to obtain the configuration visible in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the display of the date and of the month, alternatively by pressing a button, and twelve equidistant dates, in particular twelve successive dates, in particular the first twelve dates, serving as month number.  FIG. 1  illustrates the date display position, and  FIG. 2  the current month display position. 
     In a particular manner, the actuator  20  is arranged to control the position of a column wheel  12  determining the position of an operating lever  14  arranged for the control of a lifting-lever  15 , which is arranged to uncouple one of the primary mechanisms  10  from the display  1  in an inactive state of the actuator  20 , and to couple same to the display  1  when the actuator  20  is activated, and so as to then exert on the display  1  a torque greater than same that another primary mechanism  10  that the display mechanism  100  includes exerts on display  1 . 
     Preferably, but not limited to, the lifting-lever  15  is coaxial with three other mobile components, the superimposition thereof includes four levels, a first level including a display mobile component including the display  1  that is integral with a display heart-piece  18 , which also extends over a second level and a third level, the second level including a first wheel  16  of a first primary mechanism  10  holding a first lever  161  returned on the display heart-piece  18  by a first spring  162 , the third level including a second wheel  17  of a second primary mechanism  10  holding a second lever  171  returned on the display heart-piece  18  by a second spring  172 , and a fourth level including the lifting-lever  15  that holds a locking element or a pin  150 , extending in the third level so as to interact with the second lever  171  in order to keep same away from the display heart-piece  18  in the absence of action by the user on the actuator  20 . 
     Thus, the display mechanism  100  includes here:
         an actuator  20  that controls the pivoting of a first operating lever  11  in order to control the rotation of a column wheel, or similar; said first operating lever  11  includes an elastic arm  111  holding a drive finger  112  at the distal end thereof;   a column wheel  12 , pivoting about an axis D 12 , which conventionally holds an outer toothing  121  with which cooperates the finger  112  for the driving thereof, and the notched central portion including an alternation of columns  123  and of recesses  122  and; said column wheel  12  is held in position by a column wheel jumper  13 ;   a second operating lever  14 , pivoting about an axis D 14 , for the control of a memory lifting-lever and date/month display; said second operating lever  14  includes a catch  141  arranged to cooperate with a recess  122  of the column wheel  12 , in certain relative positions, and such as visible in the position shown in dotted line; same also includes an arm  142 , holding one or more teeth  143  at the distal end thereof, two teeth in the case of  FIG. 5 ; more particularly, said arm  142  is an elastic arm the body of which is made of elastic strips  144  and  145 ;   a memory lifting-lever  15 , rotatable about the axis D 0 , and which includes a toothing  151  with which in turn cooperates each tooth  143  of the second operating lever  14 ;   a date wheel  16 , also rotatable about the axis D 0 , and driven by a conventional date mechanism not described here, and that includes 31 teeth;   a month wheel  17 , also rotatable about the axis D 0 , and driven by a conventional month mechanism not described here, and that includes 12 teeth, which only occupy a portion of the circumference of said month wheel  17 ;   a display heart-piece  18  and a display mobile component or wheel  180 , rotatable about the axis D 0 ;   a moveable display  1 , here consisting of a date and month hand  19 .       

     The date wheel  16  holds a day lever  161 , pivoting about the axis D 1 , and that is activated by a day spring  162  that provides the connection thereof with the display heart-piece  18  by default. 
     The month wheel  17  in a similar manner holds a month lever  171 , pivoting about the axis D 2 , and that is activated by a month spring  172 , and that is controlled by the memory lifting-lever wheel  15 . The month spring  172  thereof is dimensioned to be capable of controlling the display heart-piece  18  when the memory lifting-lever  15  is deactivated despite the day lever  161  of the date wheel  16 . 
     It is understood that four mobile components are mounted coaxial about the axis D 0 , and superimposed:
         on a first level a display mobile component or wheel includes the hand  19  that is integral with the display heart-piece  18 , which also extends over a second level and a third level;   said second level is same of the date wheel  16 , and where the cam of the heart-piece is arranged to cooperate with the day lever  161 ;   said third level is same of the month wheel  17 , and where the cam of the heart-piece is arranged to cooperate with the month lever  171 ;   on a fourth level extends the memory lifting-lever  15 , the pin  150  of which extends in the third level so as to interact with the month lever  171 ; by default the pin  150  keeps the month lever  171  away from the heart-piece  18 . It is only when the second operating lever  14  controls the rotation of the lifting-lever  15  that the pin  150  changes position, moving from the position at 11 o&#39;clock to the position at 1 o&#39;clock in  FIG. 5 , in relation to the axis D 0 , the strong month spring  171  then searches for the stable position of the heart-piece  18 , while overcoming the opposite resistant torque by the day spring  162 , the day lever  161  always being in contact with the heart-piece  18 .       

     The second operating lever  14  is advantageously used to hold or control the indication of the display mode in progress, by holding a variable indicator  5  such as a moveable indicator pallet-stone or a moveable aperture, or by controlling via a train or similar the rotation of such a moveable indicator pallet-stone or such a moveable aperture, in order to perform the display of a date/month indication as in  FIG. 1 , or in order to display a suitable scale such as for example J-F-M-A or 9-11-13-15-17, etc., in  FIG. 5 , respectively for the months or the dates. The second operating lever  14  may also hold a hand, on the axis thereof, which, due to the angular travel thereof, makes it possible to display the date/month on the dial graduations. 
     The starting state is positioned as being a display of the date. Said state corresponds to the solid-line representations in  FIG. 5 . The date/month display is then in “date” position. 
     The display is connected by the control heart-piece  18  and the day lever  161  of the date wheel  16  to same, therefore the display indicates the angular position of the date wheel  16 . 
     When the user presses the actuator  20 , in particular a button, of the watch  1000 , the operating lever  11  that controls the column wheel  12  makes same rotate by one pitch. In a known manner of the operation of column wheels, a pitch replaces a column  123  by a recess  122 , the second operating lever  14  for controlling the memory lifting-lever, which was resting on a column  123  therefore falls in active position in a hollow  122  (dotted-line position). The date/month display that is controlled by the second operating lever  14  for controlling the lifting-lever changes and then displays “month” instead of “date”. 
     The second operating lever  14  for controlling the memory lifting-lever drives the memory lifting-lever  15 , the pin  150  of which releases the month lever  171  of the month wheel  17 . As the torque imparted by the month spring  172  of said month lever  171  is higher than same imparted by the day spring  162  of the date lever  161 , the control heart-piece  18  aligns on the angular position of the current month, by driving the hand  19  towards the corresponding position. 
     A new press on the button  20  brings the parts back into initial position. 
     Said variant illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 5  allows a rotation of the hand  19  about 360°. Naturally, said mechanism may be produced in a retrograde manner. 
       FIG. 1  shows a display of the months and of the retrograde date on a single hand, the hand displays the months or the date alternatively during the press on the button  21  located at two o&#39;clock. The aperture  6  at six o&#39;clock indicates the units of the display, in this case: date indicator  52 /month indicator  51 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a display of the months and of the retrograde date on a single hand, the hand displays the months or the date alternatively during the press on the button  21  located at two o&#39;clock. The apertures/index of the retrograde arranged over 240° of the position at eight o&#39;clock up to the position at four o&#39;clock alternatively indicate the units of the display, in this case: 1-3-5-7-9-11-13 . . . 21 and J-F-M-A-M-J-J-A-S-O-N-D. 
     One variant of the invention consists in directly controlling by a button  20  the second control  14 ; in this case, two stable states do not exist, but the display is permanently on the date, except during the press on the actuator  20  which changes to the display of the month, and reverts back to the date when the button is released. 
     In short, a watch according to the invention uses known memory mechanisms to display by a hand and on demand, alternatively the date and the month. The memory mechanism uses here a combination of heart-piece and springs, other mechanisms are possible. 
     The mechanism also includes a display by aperture of the units, which is controlled by the memory mechanism so as to coordinate the units with the value of the hand. 
     Other displays having different units may be coupled, for example, date and power reserve, temperature, striking-work, etc. 
     The invention makes it possible to simplify the display of the watch, to provide an interesting animation for the user, to enable a discrete display of the variables the least used, such as here the month display, and to make possible memory displays with values having different units.