Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7210845?oq=5920316
Timestamp: 2018-03-18 12:06:06
Document Index: 252653658

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3']

US7210845B2 - Portable electronic instrument including at least one input/output terminal for establishing a communication with an electronic unit arranged within said instrument - Google Patents
US7210845B2
US7210845B2 US10946882 US94688204A US7210845B2 US 7210845 B2 US7210845 B2 US 7210845B2 US 10946882 US10946882 US 10946882 US 94688204 A US94688204 A US 94688204A US 7210845 B2 US7210845 B2 US 7210845B2
US10946882
US20050073806A1 (en )
There is disclosed a portable electronic instrument (1) including a case (2), at least one electronic unit (72, 74) housed inside the case, and at least a first input and/or output terminal (A; B) accessible from the exterior of the case and including an electrically conductive element (100) which is mounted so as to be mobile with respect to the case. The input and/or output terminal is adapted to be electrically connected to an input and/or output terminal (72 A , 74 A ; 72 B , 74 B) of said electronic unit via a transmission line (I/OA; I/OB) and for allowing transmission of electric signals on the transmission line through the connecting element. The connecting element can occupy a first or second position in which the input and/or output terminal is respectively uncoupled from or coupled to the input and/or output terminal of the electronic unit. The portable electronic instrument further includes a transmission gate (TGA; TGB) inserted on the transmission line between the input and/or output terminal and the input and/or output terminal of the electronic unit, said transmission gate having a transmitting and non-transmitting state allowing the input and/or output terminal to be respectively coupled to or uncoupled from said input and/or output terminal of the electronic unit. A protective element (TVSA, TVSB) against electrostatic charges is also inserted on the transmission line between the input and/or output terminal and the transmission gate.
FIG. 2 a is a cross-sectional view of one of the control members of the instrument of FIG. 1, this control member being illustrated in its non-pushed-in position;
FIG. 2 b is a similar cross-sectional view to that of FIG. 2 a in which the control member is illustrated in the pushed-in position;
FIG. 2 c is a partial plan view of the control member of FIG. 2 a in its non-pushed-in position;
FIG. 2 d is a similar plan view to that of FIG. 2 c in which the control member is illustrated in the pushed-in position;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the configuration and operation of the control member of FIGS. 2 a to 2 d in which, in addition to its conventional control function, this control member fulfils an additional function allowing transmission of electrical signals from and/or to the electronic instrument; and
FIG. 2 a shows a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken at control member 11 along its activation axis designated X—X. As already mentioned, control members 12, 13, 14 and 15 have a similar configuration. Control member 11 is mounted so as to be mobile in an assembly orifice 3 a arranged in middle part 3 so as to have a translation travel along activation axis X—X. Control member 11 can be activated by pressure, like a conventional push-button, to be brought from a first position called the non-pushed-in position, as illustrated in FIG. 2 a, into a second position, called the pushed-in position illustrated in FIG. 2 b.
Insulating sleeve 30 has a generally tubular shape with a shoulder 31 arranged to abut, from outside middle part 3, on a corresponding shoulder 3 b arranged in assembly orifice 3 a. This insulating sleeve 30 is thus introduced into assembly orifice 3 a from the exterior and is preferably secured to middle part 3, for example by being driven in, screwed in or bonded. This sleeve 30 can advantageously be made of a plastic material, ceramic material, eloxated aluminium, or any other material insofar as at least the contact surface between sleeve 30 and the neighbouring conductive parts is electrically insulated.
Elastic return means 6, formed in this example of a helical spring, is placed between shoulder 31 of insulating sleeve 30 and head 120 of the control member. When pressured is applied onto the control member, return means 6 is thus compressed between shoulder 31 and head 120 as illustrated in FIG. 2 b, thus exerting a return force tending to bring the control member back from its pushed-in position to its non-pushed-in position. It will be noted that shoulder 31 of the insulating sleeve also assures that head 120 of the control member, which is conductive here, does not go back into contact with middle part 3.
In FIG. 2 a, it can be seen that in the non-pushed-in position, retaining element 40 abuts onto middle part 3, at the periphery of assembly orifice 3 a. Consequently, an electrical connection is assured, in the non-pushed-in position, between stem 100 of the control member and middle part 3. Stem 100 of the control member is thus brought to the same electrical potential as middle part 3. In the pushed-in position, however, this electrical connection is interrupted because of the axial movement of retaining element 40, which accompanies the movement of stem 100.
With reference again to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the configuration of the aforementioned electric contacts will now be described. In these Figures, it can be seen that middle part 3 defines an inner cavity occupied, in a conventional manner, by an electronic module 7 (shown partially in FIG. 2 a) including in particular a printed circuit board, or PCB, 70 carrying various electric and electronic components (not shown in these Figures) including a data processing unit (for example a microcontroller or a microprocessor), storage means (for example EEPROM, FLASH or similar) and other components for implementing the functions of wristwatch 1. Horological components (time base, frequency divider analogue and/or digital display means, etc.) are in particular conventionally provided in this example to fulfil various horological functions, including in particular the time display. Reference 75 indicates an optional element forming a spacer arranged on the top face of PCB 70 and which carries in particular the display means of the electronic instrument.
In FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, an electric energy source 8 has also been partially shown, for powering the aforementioned electronic module 7. This may be a conventional battery or a rechargeable accumulator (which can for example be recharged via control members 14, 15 as already mentioned).
In this embodiment, the first electric contact SW1 of FIG. 3 is made in a conventional manner in the form of an electric contact strip 50 including a base secured to electronic module 7 (this base is held here between PCB 70 and spacer 75) and a flexible extension, which cooperates with the end of stem 100, this end being electrically insulated from contact strip 50 by an insulating sheath 150 able to be made in a similar material to that of insulating sleeve 30. The flexible extension of contact strip 50 is arranged to be brought conventionally into contact with the other part of the first electric contact (not shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b). In this particular case, it is a metallisation 52 formed on the edge of PCB 70 as illustrated in the partial plan view of FIG. 2 c. In this FIG. 2 c, spacer 75 has not been shown in order to allow the whole of the display device to be seen. FIG. 2 d shows a similar plan view to that of FIG. 2 c, control member 11 in the pushed-in position, where one can see the flexible extension of contact strip coming into contact with metallisation 52.
The function of the second electric contact SW2 of FIG. 3 is achieved owing to retaining element 40 secured to stem 100 and to a second electric contact strip 60 arranged tangentially to stem 100 in proximity to its end covered by insulating sheath 150. This electric contact strip 60 is also held by its base between PCB 70 and spacer 75. Consequently, in the non-pushed-in position (FIGS. 2 a and 2 c), electric contact strip 60 is in contact with insulating sheath 150 and in the pushed-in position (FIGS. 2 b and 2 d), electric strip 60 is in contact with stem 100.
In FIGS. 2 a to 2 d, it can be seen that insulating sheath 150 fulfils two functions, namely the electric insulation between stem 100 and the first electric contact (whatever the position of the control member) and the electric insulation between stem 100 and electric contact strip 60 (only in the non-pushed-in position). Electric contact strip 60 could of course be insulated from stem 100 by means of an insulating sheath distinct from insulating sheath 150.
Reference will now be made to the illustration of FIG. 4 to describe a preferred embodiment of the interface between the input/output terminals accessible from outside the case of the instrument and the electronic circuit of the instrument. As already mentioned hereinbefore, two control members (namely control members 11 and 13) advantageously form first and second input/output terminals A and B. Each of these input/output terminals A, B is capable of being coupled to a corresponding input/output terminal of at least one electronic unit (including particularly units 72, 74) via a transmission line I/OA, respectively I/OB. In FIG. 4, two distinct electronic units have been shown by way of example, namely a processor unit 72 (it may be a microcontroller or a microprocessor) and a memory 74 (for example a non volatile memory of the EEPROM or FLASH type), these components being for example carried by the aforementioned PCB 70. Each of these electronic units includes first and second input/output terminals respectively designated by the reference numerals 72 A, 74 A and 72 A, 74 A. In this preferred example, each of electronic units 72, 74 is advantageously coupled via its input/output terminals 72 A, 74 A and 72 A, 74 A to an internal bus including two lines designated CLK and DATA. The first and second transmission lines I/OA and I/OB are respectively connected across these two bus lines.
Referring more particularly to each of transmission lines I/OA and I/OB it can be seen that a transmission gate TGA, respectively TGB, is inserted on the transmission line between the input/output terminal A, respectively B, and the corresponding input/output terminal 72 A, 74 A and 72 A, 74 A of each electronic unit 72, 74. Each transmission gate TGA, TGB has a transmitting or non-transmitting state allowing the corresponding input/output terminal A, B to be respectively coupled to or uncoupled from the corresponding input/output terminal of each electronic unit 72, 74. The transmission gates are well known components. Reference can be made for example to the specification of the component NC7SZ66 marketed by the Fairchild Semiconductor Company for a detailed description of such a component.
US10946882 2003-09-23 2004-09-22 Portable electronic instrument including at least one input/output terminal for establishing a communication with an electronic unit arranged within said instrument Active 2025-06-09 US7210845B2 (en)
EP20030021458 EP1519453B1 (en) 2003-09-23 2003-09-23 Portable electronic equipment having at least one I/O terminal adapted for establishing a connection with an electronic unit located within said equipment
EP03021458.9 2003-09-23
US20050073806A1 true US20050073806A1 (en) 2005-04-07
US7210845B2 true US7210845B2 (en) 2007-05-01
ID=34178481
US10946882 Active 2025-06-09 US7210845B2 (en) 2003-09-23 2004-09-22 Portable electronic instrument including at least one input/output terminal for establishing a communication with an electronic unit arranged within said instrument
US (1) US7210845B2 (en)
JP (1) JP4949614B2 (en)
KR (1) KR101208858B1 (en)
CN (1) CN100527022C (en)
DE (2) DE60306524T2 (en)
EP (1) EP1519453B1 (en)
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US20050073806A1 (en) 2005-04-07 application
DE60306524D1 (en) 2006-08-10 grant
KR20050030144A (en) 2005-03-29 application
JP4949614B2 (en) 2012-06-13 grant
DE60306524T2 (en) 2007-02-08 grant
KR101208858B1 (en) 2012-12-05 grant
CN1601409A (en) 2005-03-30 application
EP1519453A1 (en) 2005-03-30 application
JP2005121646A (en) 2005-05-12 application
EP1519453B1 (en) 2006-06-28 grant
CN100527022C (en) 2009-08-12 grant
US6940711B2 (en) 2005-09-06 Advanced instrument packaging for electronic energy meter
Owner name: ASULAB SA, SWITZERLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OESCH, YVES;ETIENNE, JEAN-DANIEL;ZELLWEGER, EMIL;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:015826/0696