US 9,453,939 B2Granted

Device for detecting the position of watch hands

AssigneeThe Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

InventorsPierpasquale Tortora, Simon Springer

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Device for detecting the position of at least a first and a second hand of an electromechanical watch, said first and second hands moving above a dial, the detection device including a single light source emitting a light beam towards the first and second hands, and a first and a second light detection system, the light source and the first and second light detection systems being mounted on or underneath the dial, the light source and the first and second light detection systems being arranged so that, in a determined position of the first hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the first hand towards the first detection system, and in a determined position of the second hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the second hand towards the second detection system.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A device for detecting the position of at least a first hand and a second hand of an electromechanical watch, wherein the first hand and the second hand move above a dial, wherein the detection device comprises:

a single light source emitting a light beam towards the first hand and the second hand, and
a first light detection system and a second light detection system,
wherein the light source and the first and second light detection systems are mounted on or underneath the dial,
wherein the light source and the first and second light detection systems are arranged so that, in a determined position of the first hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the first hand towards the first detection system, and in a determined position of the second hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the second hand towards the second detection system.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/995,257Filed 14 Jan 2016 · continuation
Priority: EP 1319087230 Oct 2013
Published: US 2016/0131797 A112 May 2016
Granted: 27 Sep 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

G01V 8/22
Using multiple transmitters or receivers: using reflectors
G01B 11/14
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures
G02B 17/00
Systems with reflecting surfaces, with or without refracting elements
G04B 19/04
Indicating the time by visual means: hands; Discs with a single mark or the like

Family

Application14/460,582Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Aug 2014
US 2016/0131797 A1Pre-grant publication · published 12 May 2016
US 9,297,644 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2015/0116730 A1Published application
US 9,453,939 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.