FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a watch case comprising a housing inside which is at least rotationally movable at least one thumbwheel for controlling a display or a function of the watch, said thumbwheel being arranged to be manipulated directly by the watch user via a peripheral contact surface, said housing being arranged to allow a limited translational motion, between an internal end position and an external end position, of at least one portion of said thumbwheel in a radial direction of said case, against elastic return means which are arranged to move said portion away from the interior of said case, and said case including at least a first control detection means arranged to detect the presence of said thumbwheel portion close to the centre of said case when pressure is applied by a user, or in the internal end position, said first detection means being arranged to activate or deactivate sensor means comprised in said case in proximity to said housing, which sensor means are arranged to detect, when a rotational movement is imparted by the user to said thumbwheel, the passage of transmitting means comprised in said thumbwheel.

The invention also concerns a watch including a case of this type.

The invention concerns the field of mechanisms for controlling watch functions for watches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For using the many functions of current watches, there are limited user interfaces. The best known are the crown, push-buttons and pull-out pieces. There are also touch screens, having zones for the selection of certain functions, or rotating bezels.

Many control means are fragile, or unsuitable for use in all conditions.

US Patent Application No 2002/101457A1 in the name of MICROSOFT discloses a user interface for small computing devices. The user interface includes a display screen and a bezel surrounding the display screen. The bezel is devised to move relative to the display screen on one or more axes. The bezel can pivot about the display screen, pivot about a pivot point or be moved in a planar direction. A cursor displayed in the display screen reacts to the movement of the bezel.

European Patent Application No EP3032360A1 in the name of The Swatch Group Research & Development Ltd discloses a timepiece including a case middle closed by a back cover and a crystal in which an electronic system is arranged, the case middle including a peripheral shoulder including a base and a side wall parallel to the central axis of the case middle, the timepiece including a bezel locked in rotation about the central axis on the peripheral shoulder, said ring has at least one degree of freedom allowing the electronic system to control the timepiece.

European Patent Application No EP0974879A1 in the name of SEIKO discloses an information processing device in which data can be entered by using a rotating bezel. A pulse-number detection unit and a rotational direction detection unit read an optical pattern which is formed by the rotating bezel to generate a series of pulse signals. The pulse-number detection unit and the rotational direction detection unit are arranged such that a phase difference is produced between their signals, so that it is possible to determine the direction of rotation of the rotating bezel. A data signal generating element generates a data signal on the basis of the detected rotational angle and number of pulses generated by the pulse-number detection unit.

French Patent Application No FR2763710A1 in the name of JDC Electronic discloses a device mounted in a timepiece and comprising means generating a variable inductive magnetic current formed of a movable member having one part made of material that conducts the inductive magnetic current and one non-conductive part. The device includes means for detecting the variable inductive magnetic current, means for processing signals from said detection means and means for controlling the watch functions. This device makes it possible to control a timepiece without requiring an element that passes through the case, so that the timepiece can be sealed.

Swiss Patent Application No. CH514877A in the name of SPILLMANN discloses a water-resistant watch with a rotating bezel, in which the crystal and the rotating bezel are secured by the single same annular component, which forms a bezel and has a cylindrical cover snap fitted into a groove in the case middle, and an internal shoulder of said component retains the crystal with its heel and an external shoulder retains the rotating bezel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention intends to provide a novel user interface which is more suited to a watch, especially to a smart watch having electronic and/or communication functions, than these conventional solutions, which can also function in a damp environment, or even in water, or with wet hands, while providing good shock protection.

To this end, the invention concerns a watch case according to claim1.

The invention also concerns a watch comprising such a case, arranged to contain a timepiece movement, wherein the display or watch functions are arranged to be controlled by sensor means comprised in said case.

