Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/20140328148
Timestamp: 2019-06-17 14:53:47
Document Index: 610768348

Matched Legal Cases: ['§119', 'Application No. 102116080', 'Application No. 102148554', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42']

US Patent Application for WRISTWATCH STRUCTURE, ELECTRONIC CORE FOR WRISTWATCH, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING WRISTWATCH Patent Application (Application #20140328148 issued November 6, 2014) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Hand And DialUS Patent Application for WRISTWATCH STRUCTURE, ELECTRONIC CORE FOR WRISTWATCH, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING WRISTWATCH Patent Application (Application #20140328148)
Feb 24, 2014 - Princo Middle East FZE
The present invention provides a wristwatch structure, an electronic core for a wristwatch, and a method for manufacturing the wristwatch. The wristwatch structure comprises: a dial; an indicator designed with the dial; an electric driving component connected to the indicator, for driving the indicator and actuating it; and an electronic core having an integrated circuit unit packaged therein, the electronic core also having a plurality of two-dimensional joints distributed on an external surface thereof, wherein the electric driving component is electrically connected to the integrated circuit unit of the electronic core via one set of joints among the two-dimensional joints. The present invention can improve compatibility for various designs, thereby shortening the product development cycle.
This application claims priority from and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 102116080, filed on May 6, 2013; and Taiwanese Patent Application No. 102148554, filed on Dec. 26, 2013 in the TIPO (Taiwan Intellectual Property Office), which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
In still another aspect, the present invention provides a wristwatch structure, which has a dial, an indicator arranged in accordance with the dial, and an electric driving component connected to the indicator, the electric driving component being used to drive the indicator to make the indicator operate correspondingly, said wristwatch structure comprising: an electronic core having an integrated circuit unit packaged therein, the electronic core having a plurality of two-dimensional junction points; and an electronic crown having a rotating part and a sensor, the sensor having a rotating portion and a fixed detecting portion, the detecting potion detecting an electronic signal according to a rotation of the rotating portion for altering a state of the indicator; wherein the detecting portion of the electronic crown exports the electronic signal to the electronic core via one junction point among the two-dimensional junction points, and the electric driving component is electrically connected to one set of junction points among the two-dimensional junction points.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a distribution of pre-designed junction points on the external surface of an electronic core of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another distribution of pre-designed junction points on the external surface of an electronic core of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a wristwatch manufacturing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 13A is a schematic diagram showing an electronic crown at a first specific position in the present invention.
FIG. 13B is a schematic diagram showing the electronic crown at a second specific position in the present invention.
FIG. 14A is a schematic diagram depicts a waveform of a detected electronic signal, in which a first sub portion and a second sub portion are disposed symmetrically in the electronic crown of the present invention.
FIG. 14B is a schematic diagram depicts a waveform of a detected electronic signal, in which the first sub portion and the second sub portion are disposed asymmetrically in the electronic crown of the present invention.
FIG. 15A is a schematic diagram showing a wristwatch having a display device.
FIG. 15B is a schematic diagram showing another wristwatch having a display device.
Please refer to FIG. 10. In one embodiment, the junction points distributed on the external surface of an electronic core of a wristwatch of the present invention may be implemented by a plurality of pre-designed junction points, which is disposed at predetermined positions on the external surface of an electronic core 15′. In spite of different arrangements of junction points, the wristwatch structure shown in FIG. 1, the electronic core shown in FIG. 7, and the augmented architecture shown in FIG. 8 are also applicable to the electronic core 15′ of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the positions of the pre-designed junction points disposed on the external surface of the electronic core 15′ correspond to the positions of components to be arranged in the wristwatch. For example, the pre-designed junction points 150-1 shown in FIG. 10 are arranged approximately at a center of the external surface of the electronic core 15′. The pre-designed junction points 150-1 are used to electrically connect to the electric driving component, which actuates the indicator to indicate time information such as hours, minutes, and seconds. The pre-designed junction points 150-2 are arranged at a peripheral portion of the external surface of the electronic core 15′. The pre-designed junction points 150-2 are disposed corresponding to the position of a crown, which is arranged at a lateral border of the wristwatch. The crown is used to adjust the position of an hour hand and/or a minute hand. In addition, the electronic core 15′ can also have peripheral junction points (such as the pre-designed junction points 150-3) disposed on the outer of the external surface. The pre-designed junction points 150-3 may be used to connect peripheral electronic components inside the wristwatch structure for providing extended functions. In order to provide electronic signals, the pre-designed junction points are distributed in pairs. This is because every two pre-designed junction points can make an individual circuit form a closed loop. Further, in the present embodiment, the electronic core 15′ is shaped as a thin board. The shape of the electronic core 15′ may correspond to that of the wristwatch. This may reduce the additional wiring between the pre-designed junction points and the components to be installed in the wristwatch.
Please further refer to FIG. 11. In an embodiment for a wristwatch having complicated functions, additional pre-designed junction points may be arranged on the external surface of the electronic core 15″. For example, the pre-designed junction points 150-4 may be used to connect an electric driving motor corresponding to the indication of date information. The pre-designed junction points 150-5 may be used to connect an electric driving motor corresponding to the indication of moon phase. The pre-designed junction points 150-6 may be used to connect an electric driving motor corresponding to the indication of chronograph. The pre-designed junction points 150-7, 150-8, 150-9 may correspond to the crowns respectively for adjusting date, moon phase, and setting the chronograph. It is noted that the pre-designed junction points that are not used in some types of wristwatches may also be disposed on the external surface of the electronic core. That is to say, the pre-designed junction points may be arranged on the external surface of the electronic core as more as possible for being applicable to more types of wristwatches. Even though some pre-designed junction points may not be used in some types of wristwatches, this design benefits the wristwatch development. One type of electronic core suits various kinds of designs of the wristwatch.
The present invention also provides a wristwatch manufacturing method. Please refer to a flow chart shown in FIG. 12 in accompanying with above descriptions of the wristwatch structure. Firstly, the dial 12 and the indicator 13 are designed (Step S10), in which the design of the indicator 13 cooperates with that of the dial 12. The designs of the dial 12 and the indicator 13 are not particularly limited in the present invention. That is to say, the present invention allows the wristwatch manufacturers to design the dial 12 and the indicator 13 freely. Next, the electronic core 15 is provided (Step S12). As described above, the electronic core 15 has basic circuits (such as the logic component 31, the memory component 32, the power management component 33, and etc.) packaged therein, and the electronic core 15 has the two-dimensional junction points 150 distributed on the external surface thereof. Next, the electric driving component 14 is disposed (Step S14). Position of at least one electric driving component 14 on the external surface of the electronic core 15 is designed according to the position of the indicator 13. As described above, the electric driving component 14 is used to drive the indicator 13 to make the indicator 13 move correspondingly. Accordingly, the position of the electric driving component 14 may need to match the position of the indicator 13.
FIG. 13A is a schematic diagram showing an electronic crown for a wristwatch according to the present invention. As described above, junction points on the external surface of the electronic core 15 may include not only the even distributed junction points 150, but also the non-even distributed or non-regularly distributed junction points 155 (see FIG. 9). In the embodiments of the present invention, the electric driving component 14 may correspond to one set of junction points among the even distributed junction points 150 while the electronic signals from the electronic crown may be outputted to the electronic core 15 via an junction point 150 or 155 (i.e., one junction point of the two-dimensional junction points 150 or the non-regularly distributed junction points 155) on the external surface of the electronic core 15 in order to adjust or change the state of the indicator 13, e.g., adjusting the position of a hour hand and/or a minute hand to modify the time information. In a preferable embodiment, the electronic signals outputted by the electronic crown may be outputted to the electronic core 15 through the non-regularly distributed junction points 155.
As shown in FIG. 13A, the electronic crown of the present invention comprises a rotating part 42 and a sensor 44 coupled with the rotating part 42. The sensor 44 comprises a rotating portion 441 and a detecting portion 442. The rotating portion 441 of the sensor 44 rotates (such as being a circular motion) as the wristwatch user rotates the rotating part 42. The detecting portion 442 of the sensor 44 is fixed or fastened. The detecting portion 442 can generate and export the electronic signals in response to the rotation of the rotating portion 441 for adjusting the position of a hand on the clock.
In one embodiment, the detecting portion 442 of the sensor 44 may be arranged at a position corresponding to one of the non-regularly distributed junction points 155 on the external surface of the electronic core 15, as shown in FIG. 13A. In another embodiment, the detecting portion 442 of the sensor 44 may be disposed on a circuit board (not shown) such as a printed circuit board (PCB) and then be connected to one of the junction points 155 on the electronic core 15 through wiring lines. It is noted that the detecting signals outputted by the detecting portion 442 of the sensor 44 also may be outputted to the electronic core 15 via one of the junction points 150, rather than the junction points 155.
As shown in FIG. 13A, the rotating portion 441 of the electronic crown may include a first sub portion 401 and a second sub portion 402, or include more than two sub portions. Each sub portion 401, 402 is arranged along the circumference of a circle. Each sub portion 401, 402 possesses a physical characteristic but the sub portions 401, 402 have different physical values (such as a dielectric constant, a resistance, and a permeability) with respect to said characteristic. When the sub portions 401, 402 rotates relatively with respect to the detecting portion 442, the detecting portion 442 detects different levels of electronic signals based on the position changes of the first sub portion 401 and the second sub portion 402 on the circular circumference.
For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, the detecting portion 442 detects two distinct levels of electronic signals (as shown by the waveform on the left side of a dash line L in FIG. 14A) when the first sub portion 401 and the second sub portion 402 are arranged symmetrically. As shown in FIG. 14B, the detecting portion 442 detects at least three distinct levels of electronic signals (as shown by the waveform on the left side of a dash line L in FIG. 14B) when the first sub portion 401 and the second sub portion 402 are arranged asymmetrically. The electronic core 15 may output corresponding adjusting signals for adjusting the position of the indicator 13 as long as the electronic core 15 receives the electronic signals exported by the detecting portion 442. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14B, the electronic signals having opposite waveforms may be generated when the user rotates the electronic crown clockwise and counterclockwise. In such a manner, it is easily to control the hands on the clock to move in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction.
In another aspect, when the user pushes and draws the rotating part 42, the rotating portion 441 of the electronic crown may move along a rotating axis, and the first sub portion 401 together with the second sub portion 402 may park at a first specific position (as shown in FIG. 13A) and a second specific position (as shown in FIG. 13B) on the rotating axis. When the first sub portion 401 and the second sub portion 402 are parked at the first specific position and are rotated, an electronic signal detected by the detecting portion 442 is similar to the waveform shown on the left side of the dash line L in FIG. 14A (or in FIG. 14B). When the first sub portion 401 and the second sub portion 402 are parked at the second specific position and are rotated, an electronic signal detected by the detecting portion 442 is similar to the waveform shown on the right side of the dash line L in FIG. 14A (or in FIG. 14B). That is, when the first sub portion 401 and the second sub portion 402 are parked at the second specific position, the detecting portion 442 detects a relatively weak signal and the voltage level of the detected signal is relatively small. By this way, the electronic core 15 can control different hands or indicators with different signal waveforms. For example, the position of the hour hand can be adjusted when the user pushes the rotating part 42 so as to make the rotating portion 441 park at the first specific position. The position of the minute hand can be adjusted when the user pushes the rotating part 42 so as to make the rotating portion 441 park at the second specific position.
Please refer to FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B. The electronic crown described in above embodiments is also applicable to a wristwatch having a display (such as a liquid crystal display device) 51. The time relevant information is displayed on a screen of the display 51. For example, the display 51 may display hands and time scales on the screen, or display the current time by digital numbers. In addition to displaying the current time on the screen, the smart wristwatch may have other functions and may list these functions (e.g., items 53) or other settings on the screen of the display 51 by using a menu 52. The electronic crown 40 of the wristwatch can be used to switch the selection of the items 53 and confirm the selected item 53.
When the user rotates the electronic crown 40, the electronic crown 40 exports the electronic signals and the electronic signals are used to control the display 51 so as to switch or select the item 53 listed in the menu 52. For example, each time the user turns the electronic crown 40, the item 53 of the menu 52 moves to next position from top to bottom and the positions of the other items 53 are changed in the same manner, and the selected item 53 is enlarged as well. When the electronic crown 40 is rotated in an opposite direction, the items 53 move from bottom to top, as shown in FIG. 15A. In another example, the items 53 of the menu 52 may move along a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 15B. Also, after the user pushes or draws the electronic crown 40, the selected item 53 is confirmed and the function or setting represented by the selected item 53 is then executed.
1. A wristwatch structure, comprising:
an indicator arranged in accordance with the dial;
an electric driving component connected to the indicator, for driving the indicator to make the indicator operate correspondingly; and
an electronic core having an integrated circuit unit packaged therein, the electronic core having a plurality of two-dimensional junction points distributed on an external surface thereof;
wherein the electric driving component is electrically connected to the integrated circuit unit of the electronic core through one set of junction points among the two-dimensional junction points.
2. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the plural two-dimensional junction points are located at regular positions.
3. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the electric driving component actuates the indicator to indicate relevant information about time.
4. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional junction points are programmable junction points, and a connection path between an inner circuit of the electronic core and each junction point is adjustable.
5. The wristwatch structure according to claim 4, wherein by a command from outside, the connection path between the inner circuit of the electronic core and each junction point is adjusted such that the electric driving component is electrically connected to a specific circuit, and based on a control signal outputted by the specific circuit, the electric driving component drives the indicator to make the indicator have a specific movement different from a movement used to indicate time information.
6. The wristwatch structure according to claim 5, wherein the command is transmitted to the wristwatch structure through wireless communication.
7. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional junction points have the same pitch.
8. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional junction points are aligned along a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.
9. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional junction points form a concentric circular array distribution.
10. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional junction points are arranged in a hexagonal grid form.
11. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, further comprising an interposer, which is disposed between the electric driving component and the two-dimensional junction points on the external surface of the electronic core.
12. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the electric driving component has a driving shaft and the electric driving component directly drives the indictor via the driving shaft.
13. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the electric driving component is indirectly connected to the indicator through a transmission mechanism.
14. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the electronic core comprises a multi-layer interconnection substrate, and a logic component, a memory component, and a power management component that are packaged on the multi-layer interconnection substrate.
15. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the electronic core is connected to a peripheral electronic component inside the wristwatch structure through a peripheral junction point of the two-dimensional junction points.
16. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the electronic core further has non-regularly distributed junction points arranged on the external surface thereof, and the non-regularly distributed junction points are used to connect a circuit outside the electronic core.
17. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the plural two-dimensional junction points have pre-designed junction points distributed at predetermined positions on the external surface of the electronic core.
18. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the electronic core is shaped as a thin board, and the shape of the electronic core corresponds to that of the wristwatch structure.
19. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional junction points are distributed in pairs.
20. The wristwatch structure according to claim 1, further comprising:
a crown disposed at a lateral border of the wristwatch structure, for adjusting the indicator, wherein the two-dimensional junction points have at least one set of junction points disposed corresponding to the position of the crown.
21. An electronic core for a wristwatch, the wristwatch having an indicator and an electric driving component used to drive the indicator to make the indicator operate correspondingly, said electronic core comprising:
a multi-layer interconnection substrate; and
an integrated circuit unit disposed on the multi-layer interconnection substrate, the multi-layer interconnection substrate having a plurality of two-dimensional junction points;
wherein the electric driving component is electrically connected to the integrated circuit unit through one set of junction points among the two-dimensional junction points.
22. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the plural two-dimensional junction points are located at regular positions.
23. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the two-dimensional junction points are programmable junction points, and a connection path between an inner circuit of the electronic core and each junction point is adjustable.
24. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the two-dimensional junction points have the same pitch.
25. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the two-dimensional junction points are aligned along a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.
26. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the two-dimensional junction points form a concentric circular array distribution.
27. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the two-dimensional junction points are arranged in a hexagonal grid form.
28. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the integrated circuit unit comprises a logic component, a memory component, and a power management component.
29. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the multi-layer interconnection substrate further has non-regularly distributed junction points arranged on the external surface thereof, and the non-regularly distributed junction points are used to connect a circuit outside the electronic core.
30. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the plural two-dimensional junction points have pre-designed junction points distributed at predetermined positions on the external surface of the multi-layer interconnection substrate.
31. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the two-dimensional junction points are distributed in pairs.
32. The electronic core according to claim 21, wherein the two-dimensional junction points have at least one set of junction points disposed corresponding to the position of a crown, which is arranged at a lateral border of the wristwatch.
33. A method for manufacturing a wristwatch, comprising steps of:
designing a dial and an indicator, a design of the indicator cooperating with that of the dial;
providing an electronic core, which has two-dimensional junction points distributed on an external surface thereof;
designing position of at least one electric driving component on the external surface of the electronic core according to the position of the indicator, the electric driving component being used to drive the indicator to make the indicator operate correspondingly;
connecting a pin of the electric driving component to at least one point of the junction points on the external surface of the electronic core;
defining connection paths between inner circuits of the electronic core and the two-dimensional junction points so as to electrically connect the electric driving component to a specific circuit inside the electronic core; and
packaging the dial, the indicator, the electric driving component, and the electronic core into a watchcase.
34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising a step of:
providing a communicative component, which is used to receive a command from outside such that the connection paths between the inner circuits of the electronic core and the two-dimensional junction points are adjusted by the command.
35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the communicative component comprises a wireless communicative component.
36. The method according to claim 33, wherein a surface mounted technology is adopted for connecting the electric driving component to one of the junction points of the electronic core.
37. The method according to claim 33, further comprising a step of:
disposing an interposer between the electric driving component and the two-dimensional junction points on the external surface of the electronic core.
38. The method according to claim 33, further comprising a step of:
disposing a peripheral electronic component outside the electronic core and electrically connecting the peripheral electronic component to the electronic core.
39. The method according to claim 33, further comprising a step of:
disposing non-regularly distributed junction points on the external surface of the electronic core, the non-regularly distributed junction points being used to connect a circuit outside the electronic core.
Publication number: 20140328148
Patent Grant number: 9256209
Applicant: Princo Middle East FZE (Dubai)
Inventors: Chih-Kuang YANG (Hsinchu), Yeong-yan GUU (Hsinchu), Cheng-yi CHANG (Hsinchu), Gan-how SHAUE (Hsinchu)
Application Number: 14/188,004
Current U.S. Class: Hand And Dial (368/80); Conductor Or Circuit Manufacturing (29/825)
International Classification: G04C 3/00 (20060101);