US 12,339,230 B2
Portable modular unit for inspecting in a timepiece the presence of a lubricating agent or of an epilame
Jean-Bosco Thanh Khai Dinh, Fribourg (CH)
Assigned to The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd, Marin (CH)
Filed by The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd, Marin (CH)
Filed on Jul. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/873,713.
Claims priority of application No. 21191299 (EP), filed on Aug. 13, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0048871 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01N 33/30 (2006.01); G02B 25/00 (2006.01); G02B 25/02 (2006.01); G04D 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/6447 (2013.01) [G01N 33/30 (2013.01); G02B 25/007 (2013.01); G02B 25/02 (2013.01); G04D 7/004 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A portable modular unit (1000) for inspecting in a timepiece (10) the presence of a lubricating agent, or of an epilame, having fluorescent markers, from an excitation luminous flux of white light, wherein said portable modular unit (1000) comprises an optical housing (100) forming a first module, a portable white light source (200) emitting an excitation luminous flux (201) forming a second module, and a portable magnifying device (300) forming a third module;
said optical housing (100) supporting:
an excitation filter (101) configured to select in the excitation luminous flux (201) of said portable white light source (200) a wavelength that corresponds to an excitation wavelength of the fluorescent markers of the lubricating agent or of the epilame to be inspected, and to transmit a filtered excitation luminous flux (202);
a dichroic filter (102) configured to reflect said filtered excitation luminous flux (202) and to orient said filtered excitation luminous flux (202) in the direction of an inspection opening (105) capable of being positioned opposite said timepiece (10), said dichroic filter (102) also being configured to allow a reflection luminous flux (203) emitted by said timepiece (10) under excitation of said filtered excitation luminous flux (202) to pass through;
an emission filter (103) configured to filter the reflection luminous flux (203) and transmit a fluorescence luminous flux (204) corresponding to the fluorescence of the fluorescent markers of said lubricating agent or of the epilame to be inspected;
said optical housing (100) comprising:
a first mounting interface (110) comprising a first cavity for removably mounting said portable white light source (200) on the optical housing (100) such that the portable white light source (200) is attachable to and detachable from the optical housing (100), the first mounting interface (110) being configured so that said excitation luminous flux (201) emitted by said portable white light source (200) is directed in the direction of said excitation filter (101);
a second mounting interface (120) comprising a second cavity for removably mounting said portable magnifying device (300) on the optical housing (100) such that the portable magnifying device (300) is attachable to and detachable from the optical housing (100), said second mounting interface (120) being configured so that said magnifying device (300) is opposite the inspection opening (105),
wherein the optical housing (100) further comprises a first slot for receiving and supporting an excitation filter (101).