IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,516,767
Granted Patent B2
US 9,516,767 · App. 14/501,744 · Granted Dec 6, 2016

Portable tactile electronic object

Inventors: Martin Jufer (Melchnau, CH); Stephan Schwegler (Zurich, CH); Sylvain Helfenstein (Lengnau, CH)
Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
H05K5/0017G04G17/06G04G21/08H05K1/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,516,767
App. No.
14/501,744
Granted
Dec 6, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable electronic object is provided with a case including a middle part closed by a back cover and by a glass and a bezel fixed to the middle part. The case contains at least one electronic module formed of a printed circuit board to which is fixed at least one microcontroller sending information to a display. The object further includes a tactile control including at least one base element on which there is arranged at least one electrode. The electrode is electrically connected to the microcontroller by a conductive path.

Claims (19)

1. A portable electronic object comprising:

a case including a middle part closed by a back cover and by a glass and a bezel fixed to the middle part, said case containing at least one electronic module formed of a printed circuit board on which is fixed at least one microcontroller sending information to display means; and

tactile control means including at least one base element on which a plurality of electrodes is structured, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes being positioned within the bezel and radially outside of the glass, said at least one electrode being electrically connected to the microcontroller by a conductive path, wherein the at least one base element is flexible in order to be deformable to adapt to the shape of the portable object and to be directly connected to the printed circuit board, wherein said at least one base element includes a peripheral section connected by a secondary section to the electronic module, the electrodes being arranged on said peripheral section.

2. The electronic object according to claim 1 , wherein the base element is made of a plastic, the electrode being a layer of conductive materials deposited on said base element.

3. The electronic object according to claim 2 , wherein the tactile control means include a plurality of base elements on each of which is arranged an electrode.

4. The electronic object according to claim 2 , wherein the tactile control means include a plurality of base elements on each of which at least two electrodes are arranged.

5. The electronic object according to claim 4 , wherein each base element includes a main section connected via one of the ends thereof to the electronic module and two arms extending on both sides of a free end of said main section, the electrodes being arranged on said arms.

6. The electronic object according to claim 1 , wherein the tactile control means include a plurality of base elements on each of which is arranged an electrode.

7. The electronic object according to claim 1 , wherein the tactile control means include a plurality of base elements on each of which at least two electrodes are arranged.

8. The electronic object according to claim 7 , wherein each base element includes a main section connected via one of the ends thereof to the electronic module and two arms extending on both sides of a free end of said main section, the electrodes being arranged on said arms.

9. The electronic object according to claim 1 , wherein said peripheral section of the base element has an identical shape to that of the case.

10. The electronic object according to claim 1 , wherein the bezel is a fixed bezel.

11. The electronic object according to claim 1 , wherein the bezel is a rotating bezel.

12. The electronic object according to claim 1 , wherein the middle part and the bezel are in a single piece to form a middle part-bezel.

13. The electronic object according to claim 1 , wherein said electrode is positioned entirely radially outside of the glass.

14. The electronic object according to claim 1 , wherein said bezel has a hollow inner space and the electrode is positioned within the hollow inner space of the bezel.

15. The electronic object according to claim 14 , wherein said bezel has a U-shaped cross section.

16. The electronic object according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a wedge positioned in the hollow inner space of the bezel, the wedge supports the electrode such that the electrode does not contact the bezel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2014
From: JUFER, MARTIN; SCHWEGLER, STEPHAN; HELFENSTEIN, SYLVAIN
To: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
Reel/Frame 033853/0158 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 13189341 · Oct 18, 2013 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150109744A1 · Apr 23, 2015