Timepiece comprising a capacitive sensing device
US6252825A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 26, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG04C3/14
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A timepiece includes a rotating member (1) and a contactless electric capacitive detection device for detecting positions and/or movements of the member. In order to avoid the problems posed by conventional systems with electric switches, the detection device includes at least one capacitive sensor (2), having one or more fixed electrodes (6, 7) and a toothed rotor (5) driven by the member, and an electronic detection apparatus (3) sensitive to variations in the sensor capacitance. The device may include two capacitive sensors whose output signals are in quadrature, in order to be able to indicate the direction of rotation of the member. The rotating member may be a time-setting control stem or another component such as the shaft of a watch hand.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.