JP2000105285A - Antenna structure for portable type electronic time piece - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively form a portable electronic time piece having a thin type antenna device excellent in portability and designability and free from generation of a function trouble, by surrounding a time piece module mounted on a center of a housing and by arranging an antenna on the same cross-section as that of the module. SOLUTION: Groove parts 4a, 4b are provided in an outer circumferential side of a time piece case 4 storing a time piece module 11 in its central part, and an antenna 1 comprising an antenna core 2 and an antenna coil 3 is lockedly stored in the groove parts 4a, 4b to have cross-sectional height that is substantially the same as that of the module 11. A winding stem 7a extended from a substantial central part of the cross-section of the module 11 to a time piece 4 side is penetrated to an outer circumference through a space (cut-out part) between end parts 2a of the antenna core 2, so as to be connected to a winding crown 7. Since the antenna 1 is bent into a substantial C-shape, and since the case 4 is formed of non-metallic member, a freedom for a posture of a time piece is high relating to an electric field component 10 of a long electric wave or the like of high directivity carrying a signal such as a time code, and substantially omnidirectional receptipon is made comfortable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an antenna structure of a portable electronic timepiece that functions by receiving radio waves, and more particularly, to an antenna device suitable for use in an electronic wristwatch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the development of portable electronic timepieces using radio waves has been remarkable, and commercialization has been made in many fields. In the field of electronic wristwatches, there are no exceptions, and various types of products that use radio waves, such as a radio clock or a radio-equipped wristwatch that receives a standard radio wave with a time code and automatically adjusts to standard time, have been commercialized. However, in order to use radio waves, components that are completely different from conventional watch components are required, and care must be taken not to hinder reception performance. Among them, antennas that have a significant effect on radio wave reception performance are considerably larger in size than conventional wristwatch components, and are subject to placement restrictions due to reception performance. Therefore, various types such as an external type, a built-in type, a telescopic type, and a cord type are adopted.

As a built-in type, a bar antenna consisting of a core and a winding wire is mainly used, but when built in a wristwatch, it is necessary to prevent deterioration of the antenna receiving performance due to the case material and structure of the device. . In addition, in the telescopic type seen in a radio cassette or the like, or in the cord type used also as an earphone or the like, it is necessary to consider the storability and durability. Under these circumstances, in order to further reduce the thickness of the electronic timepiece, enhance the design, and reduce the cost, an antenna device used for the reception function is arranged on the outer periphery of the timepiece module and is built in the main body of the wristwatch. Needed.

[0004] Next, a mounting structure of a conventional antenna device will be described by taking a wristwatch as an example of a portable electronic timepiece. As a configuration in which an antenna device is externally attached to a conventional wristwatch, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 2-126408 discloses a configuration in which a metal antenna is disposed in a leather band of a watch and externally attached to the watch body, as can be seen. . Further, as a configuration incorporating the antenna device, as disclosed by the present applicant in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-81787, an antenna having a coil wound around a core is disposed between the dial and the windshield to transmit radio waves. Some have a unique design as well as being separated from the obstructing metal case body.

[0005]

However, in the configuration of the prior art in which the antenna is arranged in the band, since the antenna is built in the band, it is necessary to establish conduction with the electronic timepiece body, and the joint between the two is sufficiently provided. Cannot be given flexibility. Furthermore, a metal band that blocks radio waves cannot be used, and a dedicated watch band such as a rubber band must be used, and there are great restrictions in terms of material and design. Also, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-81787, in a configuration in which an antenna is arranged on the upper surface of a wristwatch, the thickness of the entire watch is increased because the antenna is separated from the metal part of the watch body. There are improvements such as rounding and design constraints. And so on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of an antenna device of a portable electronic timepiece having a receiving function. In other words, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic timepiece which is inexpensive, thin and excellent in portability and design, and achieves a structure for mounting and dismounting an antenna device which does not cause any functional failure.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a portable electronic timepiece that functions by receiving radio waves, a module for performing the function of the portable electronic timepiece, an external operation member of the module, and a module of the portable electronic timepiece , A groove disposed to surround the module in the housing, and an antenna placed in the groove of the housing, the module is disposed at the center of the housing, and the module is disposed. The antenna is disposed so as to surround the antenna, and the antenna mounted in the groove of the housing is disposed on the same cross section as the module mounted in the center of the housing, and is mounted in the groove of the housing. The antenna is a coil that is bent in the shape of a letter C and is the external operation member of the module mounted on the center of the housing. It is characterized in that it has a cutout portion for passing the.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a back cover side of a timepiece showing an embodiment of the present invention. In a watch case 4 made of a non-metallic material such as plastic or ceramic, a watch module 11 is placed and stored in a central part with a dial (not shown) facing down. 7 and a plurality of external operation members such as a plurality of push buttons 8. An antenna 1 made of a ferrite material having a high magnetic permeability and formed by metal injection and fired by metal injection, and an antenna 1 composed of an antenna coil 3 wound around the antenna core 2, surrounds the timepiece 11 so as to surround the timepiece module 11. The module 11 is placed and housed on the outer circumference of the watch case 4 by grooves 4a and 4b of the watch case 4. The outer peripheral part of the antenna core 2 and the end 2a abut on each other by the plurality of protrusions 4c of the groove 4a.
The position is fixed. An external operating member such as a crown 7 having a winding stem 7a connected between two ends 2a of the antenna core 2 bent into a C-shape of the alphabet and the end portions 2a and a plurality of push buttons 8 penetrates the watch. The operation of the module 11 is enabled.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back cover side of the watch case showing one embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state where the watch module 11 and the antenna 1 of FIG. 1 are removed. Watch case 4
A groove 4a for accommodating the antenna core so as to surround the central portion, and a groove 4b for accommodating the antenna coil.
Is provided. The groove 4a is provided with a plurality of projections 4c for supporting a stored antenna. After the timepiece module and the antenna are placed and stored in the timepiece case 4, the back cover 5 (shown by imaginary lines) is fixed with a plurality of back cover screws 6, so that the watch is completed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a timepiece showing one embodiment of the present invention. A watch module 11 placed at the center of the watch case 4 includes a time display member such as a hand 9 and a dial 15, and a screw 1 through a circuit board 12 and a circuit support plate 13.
The timepiece module 11 is configured to be fixed by the reference numeral 4. An antenna 1 including an antenna core 2 and an antenna coil 3 is accommodated in grooves 4a and 4b provided in a watch case 4 at substantially the same cross-sectional position as the watch module 11 on the outer peripheral side of the watch module 11. .
A winding stem 7a extending from the approximate center of the cross section of the timepiece module 11 to the timepiece case 4 side is connected to the crown 7 to enable external operations such as alignment of the hands 9 and start of the timepiece. In order to allow the winding stem 7a to penetrate to the outer periphery of the watch case 4, a cut-out portion (end portion 2) is formed in the antenna core 2.
a) is provided, and in FIG.
2a and the winding stem 7a overlap in the cross-sectional direction.

Referring to FIG. 3, the procedure for assembling the completed timepiece will be briefly described. First, the antenna 1 is mounted on the outer peripheral grooves 4a and 4b of the timepiece case 4 from the back cover 5 side, and then the central portion is formed. A clock movement 11 is inserted and placed from the pointer 9 side, and the winding connection portion 3a of the antenna coil 3 and the circuit board 12 are mounted.
With the winding stem 7 from the outer peripheral side of the watch case 4.
The crown 7 coupled with the a is inserted and fixed to the timepiece module 11, and a member (not shown) for pressing and fixing the timepiece module in the cross-sectional direction by a spacer member such as a middle frame is placed thereon, and then the back cover 5 is overlaid. It is fixed with the back cover screw 6 to complete.

In FIG. 1, the antenna 1 is bent in a substantially C-shape, and the timepiece case 4 in which the antenna 1 is mounted and stored is formed of a non-metallic member such as plastics. The degree of freedom of the attitude of the watch with respect to the electric field component 10 such as a long-wave radio wave having a high directivity on which a signal such as a code is placed is large, and it is possible to achieve comfortable reception in almost all directions.

In the present invention, the inner antenna 1 of the watch case 4
Although the embodiment in which the groove 4a for mounting the antenna 1 is configured is disclosed, the groove for mounting the antenna 1 on a member such as a middle frame made of a non-metal member such as plastic is formed separately from the watch case 4. The structure is also an antenna structure that can achieve the same result.

In this embodiment, the hand-held radio-controlled timepiece having the function of receiving and transmitting by an antenna is mainly described.
It is a structure that can be applied to digital display type radio timepieces and portable electronic timepieces in addition to a pointer display type radio timepiece, and is an antenna structure corresponding to a wide range of applications.

[0015]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in a portable electronic timepiece that functions by transmitting or receiving radio waves, a module is arranged at the center of the timepiece case and surrounds the module. By disposing the antenna at the center, it is possible to use an inexpensive standard watch module for the module placed at the center, to reduce the cost of the watch, and to bend the antenna into the C shape. , By being arranged to surround the outer circumference, there is an advantage that the direction of the clock can be freely set for reception of long waves and the like having high directivity,
In addition, the antenna and the module are arranged on the same cross section, which has the advantage that the thickness of the timepiece can be reduced. Further, the built-in antenna has a cutout for penetrating the winding stem, which is an external operation member of the module. Providing the notch has a great effect in practical use, such as providing a portable electronic timepiece having excellent design and portability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a back cover side of a timepiece showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back cover side plan view of the timepiece case showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a timepiece showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna 2 Antenna true 2a End part 3 Antenna coil 3a Winding connection part 4 Watch case 4a, b Groove part 4c Projection part 4d Screw hole 5 Back cover 6 Back cover screw 7 Crown 7a Winding 8 Push button 9 Pointer 10 Electric field component 11 Clock module 12 Circuit board 12a Notch 13 Circuit support plate 14 Screw 15 Dial

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A portable electronic timepiece functioning to receive a radio wave, a module for performing the function of the portable electronic timepiece, an external operation member of the module, and a housing for accommodating the module of the portable electronic timepiece. And a groove disposed in the housing to surround the module; and an antenna mounted in the groove of the housing, wherein the module is disposed in the center of the housing, and the module is surrounded by the antenna. An antenna structure for a portable electronic timepiece, wherein an antenna is provided. 2. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the antenna mounted on the groove of the housing is disposed on substantially the same cross section as the module mounted on the center of the housing. Clock antenna structure. 3. An antenna mounted in the groove of the housing is bent in a substantially C shape, and is integrated with a crown as the external operation member of the module mounted on the center of the housing. 3. A notch for penetrating a true or push button.
The antenna structure of the portable electronic timepiece described. 4. The antenna for a portable electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said portable electronic timepiece is a radio timepiece for transmitting and receiving radio waves, and said housing is made of a non-metallic member such as plastic or ceramic. Construction.