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AssigneeAsulab S.A.
InventorsPierre-André Farine, Jean-Jacques Born, Ermanno Bernasconi
Estimating the term…
A device of small dimensions includes a two coaxial wheels (4, 6) respectively including two plates (44, 46) parallel to each other. A sensor (10) including a detection element (14).formed by a magnetic or capacitive element, in particular a flat spiral coil, is provided for detecting the angular position of both of the two wheels. In order to do this, the sensor (10) detects the presence or absence of an active material above the detection element (14). For this purpose, each of plates (44) and (46) has at least one inactive region for the sensor and is formed at least partially of active material for the sensor. The sensor is arranged relative to the wheel the closest to the detection element in such a way that the latter is at least in part above or below said at least one inactive region in at least one determined angular position of said wheel so as to allow the sensor to detect the angular position of the wheel whose plate (44) is furthest from the detection element (14). The inactive regions of the plates are preferably formed by openings.
A horological device of small dimensions, including a first wheel and a second wheel which are coaxial, rotatably mounted about a same geometrical axis of rotation and respectively including a first plate and a second plate perpendicular to said geometrical axis of rotation, this device further including means for detecting the angular positions of a first reference geometrical semi-axis of said first wheel, and a second reference geometrical semi-axis of said second wheel, wherein said means for detecting the angular positions of said first and second semi-axes are formed by a single inductive sensor provided with an element for detecting the presence of at least one active material above or below said element, said first plate including at least one first inactive region for said sensor, said first and second plates being formed at least partially of said at least one active material for said sensor, said sensor being arranged relative to said first wheel so that its detection element is at least in part above or below said first inactive region in at least one determined angular position of said first wheel.
A method for detecting the angular positions of N coaxial wheels, N being greater than 1, by means of a single inductive sensor, said N wheels respectively including N plates each having at least one inactive region for said sensor which includes a detection element of at least one active material at least partially forming each of said N plates, said detection element and each of said inactive regions being arranged so that they are superposed with each other in at least one determined angular position of the wheel having said inactive region, said N plates each defining a reference geometrical semi-axis which can be detected by said sensor, said method comprising in the following successive steps wherein the N plates are numbered in an ascending order from the plate situated closest to said detection element to the plate the furthest from said detection element:
A horological device of small dimensions, including a first wheel and a second wheel which are coaxial, rotatably mounted about a same geometrical axis of rotation and respectively including a first plate and a second plate perpendicular to said geometrical axis of rotation, this device further including means for detecting the angular positions of a first reference geometrical semi-axis of said first wheel, and a second reference geometrical semi-axis of said second wheel, wherein said means for detecting the angular positions of said first and second semi-axes are formed by a single capacitive sensor provided with an element for detecting the presence of at least one active material above or below said element, said first plate including at least one inactive region for said sensor, said first and second plates being formed at least partially of at least one active material for said sensor, said sensor being arranged relative to said first wheel so that its detection element is at least in part above or below said first inactive region in at least one determined angular position of said first wheel.
A method for detecting the angular positions of N coaxial wheels, N being greater than 1, by means of a single capacitive sensor, said N wheels respectively including N plates each having at least one inactive region for said sensor which includes a detection element of at least one active material at least partially forming each of said N plates, said detection element and each of said inactive regions being arranged so that they are superposed with each other in at least one determined angular position of the wheel having said inactive region, said N plates each defining a reference geometrical semi-axis which can be detected by said sensor, said method comprising in the following successive steps wherein the N plates are numbered in an ascending order from the plate situated closest to said detection element to the plate the furthest from said detection element:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.