Amazing technological breakthrough

In 1999 the watch industry witnessed an amazing technological breakthrough with Tissot’s creation of its tactile watch. This creation occurred ahead of its time, years before any Smartphone even existed, marking the beginning of its ever-successful Tissot Touch Collection. The dynamic watches integrate a touch screen crystal, which is the interactive ‘cockpit’ of the timepieces’ diverse functionalities.
Today, it is the first to present a touch-screen watch powered by solar energy, confirming its position as leader in tactile technology in watchmaking. The rays of light on the dial allow to recharge the watch and to offer essential functions for everyday use.

THE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS OFFERED BY THE TISSOT T-TOUCH SOLAR WATCHES ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE USE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED IN SEVERAL CUTTING-EDGE FIELDS. THESE TECHNOLOGIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND TAILORED FOR WATCHES IN AN APPLICATION WHICH IS UNIQUE IN THE WORLD.

1.TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGY - OPERATING PRINCIPLE

Tissot was the first watch manufacturer to adapt touchscreen technology to watchmaking, with the first-generation Tissot T-Touch in 1999. The Tissot T-Touch Solar watches also have these «capacitive» sensors built in. They use the capacitive effect to detect small current variations over a surface created by skin contact, and determine the touch zone. Hence a finger press on the screen is detected over 7 zones on the touch-sensitive glass, and then the information is analysed by the watch program,which activates the function corresponding to the zone touched.

2. SOLAR CELL

OPERATING PRINCIPLE

The photons which make up light strike the surface of a semi-conductive layer, there by moving the electrons. These movements generate a difference in potential, producing sufficient voltage and current to power the watch functions and simultaneously recharge the accumulator.

USE

Advanced technology in the field of solar(photo-voltaic) cells has been specially adapted for use in the Tissot T-Touch Solar watches.The principle is similar to that of the solar panels mounted on building roofs. Choosing a first-generation so-called «amorphous silicon» technology enables the Tissot T-Touch Solar to recharge the accumulator not only using sunlight, but also by means of artificial lighting.

ACCUMULATOR

The accumulator is recharged automatically by light. A micro-controller manages consumption of the watch functions ad display. To manage energy consumption efficiently, it deactivates certain functions, or may switch the watch to energy saving mode.

3. ENERGY SAVING

THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES, FOR VERY LOW POWER CONSUMPTION

The display, electronic components and hand«motors» have been specially developed to reduce the electrical consumption of the Tissot T-Touch Solar watches. These ingenious systems,combined with recharging of the accumulator by solar cells, give the watch a near- perpetual autonomy when in regular use. In ECO AUTO mode, the Tissot T-Touch Solar uses itscompass to detect whether it is moving. This means if it is not worn at night, it switches off its LCD screen to reduce consumption. The Tissot T-Touch Solar can be taken out of ECO mode simply by pressing one of the push-buttons or activating an alarm.

BATTERY CHARGE TIME

The table below indicates the charge time recommended for daily use.

EXPOSURE LEVEL & DAILY USE

Sunlight Outdoors: 7 minutes

Sunlight through a window: 16 minutes

Daylight with cloudy sky: 26 minutes

Daylight indoors: 2 hours

Fluorescent light indoors: 5 hours