Timepiece with localised illumination
A timepiece including at least one timepiece external element including a visible face formed by a transparent or translucent body including an autonomous lighting device, the timepiece external element being formed by an assembly of a plurality of stacked layers connected together, each including one or more of the following functional elements of the lighting device: at least one light source capable of generating light in the visible face of the timepiece external element; a self-contained power supply unit; and a control unit configured to manage the operation of the light source; the at least one light source being configured to produce localised light on a point or quasi-point area of the visible face of the timepiece external element, so as to produce localised illumination on the timepiece external element.
1 . A timepiece comprising:
at least one timepiece external element comprising a visible face formed by a transparent or translucent body comprising an autonomous lighting device, said timepiece external element being formed by an assembly of at least three layers joined together by a joining element to form a monolithic assembly, the layers being stacked to overlap in an axial direction of the timepiece, each of the layers comprising one or more of the following functional elements of said lighting device:
at least one light source capable of generating light in the visible face of the timepiece external element;
a self-contained power supply unit; and
a control unit configured to manage the operation of the light source;
said at least one light source being configured to produce localised light on a point or quasi-point area of the visible face of the timepiece external element, so as to produce localised illumination on said timepiece external element.
2 . The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein said assembly comprises a first layer forming the visible face comprising said at least one point light source.
3 . The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein each point light source is:
a light-emitting element; or
a quantum dot or box.
4 . The timepiece according to claim 2 , wherein said assembly comprises, in addition to the first layer, the following successive layers:
a second layer comprising a photovoltaic module constituting the self-contained power supply unit;
a third layer comprising an electrical accumulator constituting the self-contained power supply unit;
a fourth layer forming a hidden face of the timepiece external element comprising the control unit.
5 . The timepiece according to claim 2 , wherein said assembly comprises, in addition to the first layer, the following successive layers:
a second layer comprising a photovoltaic module constituting the self-contained power supply unit; and
a third layer forming a hidden face of the timepiece external element comprising the control unit and an electrical accumulator constituting the self-contained power supply unit.
6 . The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein the functional elements are printed on substrates making up the layers of the assembly forming said at least one timepiece external element.
7 . The timepiece according to claim 2 , wherein the first layer is rigid relative to the other layers in the assembly, which are flexible.
8 . The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein the point light sources are configured in such a way that each point or quasi-point area of the visible face that can be illuminated is capable of being illuminated by a single monochromatic point light source.
9 . The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein the point light sources are configured in such a way that each point or quasi-point area of the visible face that can be illuminated is capable of being illuminated by several point light sources having different light colours.
10 . The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one timepiece external element is chosen from one of the following: a back, a middle, a dial, a bracelet strand, a bezel, a flange, a push-button, a winding button and/or a winding button fitted with a cap.
11 . The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein the layers are mounted on a common axis.
12 . The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein each of the layers is circular and planar.
13 . The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein the joining element that joins all of the layers of the assembly together is an adhesive.
14 . The timepiece according to claim 4 ,
wherein said second layer is positioned directly below said first layer and is directly connected to said first layer;
wherein said third layer is positioned directly below said second layer and is directly connected to said second layer; and
wherein said fourth layer is positioned directly below said third layer and is directly connected to said third layer.
15 . The timepiece according to claim 5 ,
wherein said second layer is positioned directly below said first layer and is directly connected to said first layer; and
wherein said third layer is positioned directly below said second layer and is directly connected to said second layer.