Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Chronological – With significant casing or mounting support structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-06
2001-04-17
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Chronological
With significant casing or mounting support structure
C368S250000, C368S255000, C368S281000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219304
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device capable of being submerged in liquid such as water, like for example a device worn on the wrist such as watches. More particularly, the invention concerns a device of this type in which an acoustic transducer is mounted in the case.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to guarantee water N resistance of watches worn on the wrist to a depth of immersion which may nominally reach thirty odd meters, mounting an acoustic transducer in the watch case without any communication path being provided between the transducer and the exterior capable of directly leading the sound waves is already known from the prior art. Such an assembly has the advantage of guaranteeing very good water tightness for the watch. However, since the acoustic energy has to reach the transducer or originate therefrom through the solid wall of the case, this solution is only possible if one is satisfied with mediocre acoustic quality. The band of frequencies which can be used is thus limited to the frequencies which succeed in passing through said wall. In practice, one has to work with the transducer resonance frequencies, these frequencies only being able to be transmitted effectively through a wall of the case if they correspond to a resonance frequency of such wall. This necessarily limits the range of frequencies able to be transmitted and is thus not suited to reproduction and/or reception of complex sounds such as speech or music. It will also be noted that such a wall inconveniently absorbs transmission of sounds transmitted or received by the transducer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aim of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated hereinbefore fitted with an acoustic transducer mounted so as to be able to operate over a broad acoustic spectrum, in particular the acoustic spectrum corresponding to speech, while assuring a high degree of water resistance.
The invention thus concerns a portable water resistant device capable of undergoing submersion to a predetermined depth in a liquid such as water, in particular a water resistant watch, including a case in which is mounted an acoustic transducer so as to communicate, in a water tight manner, with the exterior of the case via acoustic energy, characterised in that
said acoustic transducer is mounted in said case facing a membrane which is able to be deformed, separating it in a water tight manner from an inlet cavity which is arranged in said case and in direct communication with the exterior, and in that between the membrane and said acoustic transducer an intermediate chamber is arranged, allowing deformation of said membrane by the action of external static pressure and delimited on the side of the transducer by a support element fixedly mounted in the case and capable of limiting the deformation of the membrane in the event of application of said external static pressure.
As a result of these features, when the device is not in liquid, the membrane is mounted so as to be able to vibrate freely by the action of the acoustic energy to be received and/or transmitted. Conversely, when the device is submerged, the membrane can be deformed by the action of the hydrostatic pressure, without, of course, being able to transmit the acoustic energy, but is protected from any deterioration because of the support assured by the support element.
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear during the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the annexed drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3577876 (1971-05-01), Spadini
patent: 3777472 (1973-12-01), Iinuma
patent: 3811401 (1974-05-01), Piquerez
patent: 4872148 (1989-10-01), Kirby et al.
patent: 5500835 (1996-03-01), Born
patent: 5726626 (1998-03-01), Jabbour et al.
patent: 6014347 (2000-01-01), Mignot et al.
patent: 375 664 (1964-04-01), None
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 8 No. 58, (P-261) Mar. 16, 1984 & JP 58 206998 A, (Daini Seikosha KK) , Dec. 2, 1983, Abstract.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 4 No. 51, (P-007) Apr. 17, 1980 & JP 55 020464 A (Seiko Instr & Electronics LTD. . Feb.13 1980. Abstract.
Dinnissen Paul
Mignot Jean-Pierre
Asulab S.A.
Goodwin Jeanne-Marquerite
Griffin & Szipl, P.C.
Miska Vit
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