JP2000356687A - Light-emitting display thin-model clock - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make emittable light from the face of a wall clock or a table clock without increasing the thickness thereof, and to make emittable light from the hands of the clock with a simple structure. SOLUTION: Plural light guide plates 21a, 21b are piled together, and edge lights 22a, 22b are made to face the end faces of the light guide plates 21a, 21b to compose a clockface 20. Grooves 21, 21 for light diffusion are formed on each rear face of the plates 21a, 21b, and colored films 24a, 24b are stuck on each front face. Incident light from the end faces of the light guide plates 21a, 21b into the inside of each light guide plate is diffused on the grooves 21, 21 on the rear faces by lighting the edge lights 22a, 22b and goes out forward, to thereby execute surface light emission from the clockface 20. Shaft bodies 33, 35 penetrating the light guide plates 21a, 21b are composed of light guide members in order to drive a long hand 31 and a short hand 32, and light leaking out from each internal surface of through holes 26a, 26b of the light guide plates 21a, 21b is guided to the long hand 31 and the short hand 32 to make emit light from the long hand 31 and the short hand 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light-emitting display type thin timepiece used as a wall clock or a table clock, and a dial plate also serving as a light-emitting display plate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wall-mounted decorative article with a clock, in which a clock is attached to a part of a light-emitting display panel for displaying a landscape photograph or the like, has been commercially available. However, there is no conventional wall clock or table clock that emits light from the entire dial as far as the applicant knows.

[0003]

The wall-mounted decorative article with a clock has a problem that its thickness is large because it is a so-called backlight system in which a light guide plate having a film adhered to the surface is illuminated from behind with a fluorescent lamp. It is considered that the reason why a normal wall clock or table clock that emits light from the entire dial is not generally used is that an increase in thickness due to the backlight system is an obstacle.

A normal wall clock or table clock that emits light from the entire dial is not only excellent in decorativeness but also capable of recognizing the time even in darkness without illumination and excellent in displayability. If the entire dial could be made to emit light without increasing, the commercial value of the watch could be significantly increased.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is a first object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting display thin timepiece capable of causing a part or the whole of a dial to emit light without increasing the thickness. Aim.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting display thin timepiece which can emit light with a simple structure even when the hands of the timepiece remain thin.

[0007]

In order to achieve the first object, in the luminescent display thin timepiece according to the present invention, the surface of the dial is subjected to a treatment for diffusing light incident from the end face. An edge light type thin plate type including one or a plurality of light guide plates and an edge light which is arranged to face an end surface of the light guide plate and allows light to enter the light guide plate from the end surface.

In order to achieve the second object,
A clock hand arranged on the front side of the dial is constituted by a light guide member, and a shaft body penetrating the dial to support the hands is constituted by a light guide member, and a shaft provided on the dial is provided. The needle is made to emit light by guiding light leaking from the inner surface of the body through-hole to the shaft body and the needle in order through the inclined surface.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a light-emitting cover thin timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the light-emitting display thin timepiece, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dial used in the light-emitting display thin timepiece. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a light emitting display type thin timepiece according to this embodiment has a non-light emitting decorative plate 10 having an opening at the center and a light emitting device attached to the rear surface of the decorative plate 10. It has a dial 20 of a display type and a timepiece main body 30 attached to the rear surface of the dial 20. The decorative plate 10 is circular, but may be square or polygonal, and the shape of the opening at the center is not limited. The dial 20 is square, but may be rectangular. The watch main body 30 drives a long hand 31 and a short hand 32 which are arranged on the front side of the dial 20 and are accommodated in the opening of the decorative board 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the surface-emitting type dial 20 has a plurality of light guide plates 21a,
21b, and edge lights 22a and 22b provided opposite to the respective end faces of the light guide plates 21a and 21b.
An acrylic plate is used as the light guide plates 21a and 21b, for example. The edge lights 22a and 22b are connected to the light guide plate 21.
a, 21b are accommodated in a frame 23 for fixing the frame,
Visible light (for example, white light) enters each light guide plate from each end face of the light guide plates 21a and 21b. Edge lights 22a, 2
As 2b, for example, a cold cathode tube is used.

Each of the light guide plates 21a and 21b has a structure in which a unique portion emits light with a unique color tone. By this combination, the dial 20 has an A color in the inner peripheral portion and a numeral corresponding to the time in the outer peripheral portion. Is the color A, the other is B
A predetermined symbol is illuminated and displayed in multiple colors, such as color.

The light guide plate 21 is used for the multicolor light emitting display.
a, 21b, a large number of parallel small grooves 2 for diffusing visible light incident on each light guide plate.
.. Are formed corresponding to the light emitting portions by laser processing or the like. Colored films 24a and 24b are attached to the front surfaces of the light guide plates 21a and 21b, respectively, corresponding to the light emitting portions. A reflection film 25 is attached to the entire rear surface of the rear light guide plate 21b in order to prevent light from leaking to the rear side.

The watch main body 30 is, as described above, the dial 2
The long hand 31 and the short hand 32 arranged on the front side of 0 are driven. For this drive, through holes 26a, 26b through which the shaft body passes are provided in the center of the light guide plates 21a, 21b. In the edge light type dial 20 in which light enters the inside of the light guide plates 21a and 21b from the end faces, the through holes 26
Light leaks from each of the inner surfaces a and b. In the light-emitting display thin timepiece according to the present embodiment, the long hand 31 and the short hand 32 emit light by guiding light leaked from the inner surfaces of the through holes 26a and 26b to the front side of the dial 20 using a shaft body.
Hereinafter, the light guide structure for the needle light emission will be described.

The shafts 33 and 35 which pass through the through holes 26a and 26b of the light guide plates 21a and 21b for driving the long hand 31 and the short hand 32 have a double structure. The outer sleeve 33 for driving the short hand 32 is made of a light guide member such as acrylic. In order to drive the shaft 33, a metal sleeve 34 is fitted into the rear of the shaft 33, and a gear 34 'is mounted on the metal sleeve 34. Long hand 3
Inner shaft body 3 inserted through shaft body 33 to drive
5 is also made of a light guide member such as acrylic. In order to drive the shaft 35, a metal rod 36 is inserted into the center of the shaft 35, and a gear 36 'is attached to the metal bar 36.

The rear end surface of the shaft 33 for driving the short hand 32 is an inclined surface inclined at an angle of approximately 45 °. This inclined surface faces the inner surface of the through hole 26b of the rear light guide plate 21b which is also inclined at an angle of approximately 45 °. On the other hand, the base of the short hand 32 is a light guide ring portion 32 '. The inner surface of the ring portion 32 'is an inclined surface inclined at an angle of approximately 45 °, and is joined to the front end surface of the shaft 33 also inclined at an angle of approximately 45 °. Also,
On the inner surface of the shaft 33, an inclined surface 33 'inclined at an angle of about 45 ° is provided inside the through hole 26a of the front light guide plate 21a.

The rear end surface of the shaft 35 for driving the long hand 31 is an inclined surface inclined at an angle of approximately 45 °. This inclined surface faces the inclined portion 33 'on the inner surface of the shaft 33 also inclined at an angle of approximately 45 °. On the other hand, the base of the long hand 31 is a light-conductive ring portion 31 '.
The inner surface of the ring portion 31 ′ is an inclined surface inclined at an angle of approximately 45 °, and is joined to the front end surface of the shaft 35 also inclined at an angle of approximately 45 °.

Next, the function of the light emitting display thin timepiece according to this embodiment will be described.

The main body 30 of the watch is operated by the commercial power supply, and the long hand 31 and the short hand 32 are driven. At the same time, the edge lights 22a and 22b of the dial 20 are turned on by the commercial power supply. The light emitted from the edge light 22a is
a from the end face, and diffuses in the grooves 21 ', 21',.
At 1 ', 21',... The emitted light is emitted to the front of the dial 20 through the colored film 24a. Further, the light emitted from the edge light 22b enters the light guide plate 21b from the end face, and diffuses in the grooves 21 ', 21',... Formed partially on the rear surface of the light guide plate 21b.
The light is emitted to the front side at the grooves 21 ', 21',. The emitted light passes through the colored film 24b, and further exits through the light guide plate 21a to the front of the dial 20.

Here, each groove 2 of the light guide plates 21a, 21b
Since the 1 ', 21',... And the colored films 24a, 24b do not overlap with each other, the light guide plates 21a, 21b emit light in a unique part at a unique color tone. By the combination of each light emission, the dial 20 has an A color at the inner peripheral portion, an A color portion at the outer peripheral portion corresponding to the numeral whose time is set, and a B color at the other portions.
Multicolor surface light emission is performed on substantially the entire surface in the condition of color, and a predetermined symbol is displayed.

Therefore, the light-emitting display thin timepiece according to the present embodiment is excellent in decorativeness, can display time even in darkness without illumination, and is excellent in displayability. In addition, the edge lights 22a and 22b, which are light emitting light sources, are provided with the light guide plates 21a and 21b.
The thickness of the dial 20 is not increased since it is provided to face the end face of the dial 20.

The watch body 30 is provided on the rear side of the dial 20,
When the long hand 31 and the short hand 32 are provided on the front side of the dial 20, the shaft bodies 33 and 35 that drive the long hand 31 and the short hand 32 penetrate the dial 20. In the edge light type dial 20 in which light enters the inside of the light guide plates 21a and 21b from the end faces, light leaks from the inner surfaces of the through holes 26a and 26b of the light guide plates 21a and 21b. In a thin timepiece, the long hand 31 and the short hand 32
To emit light.

That is, the light leaking inward from the inner surface of the through hole 26b of the light guide plate 21b changes its traveling direction to the front by passing through an approximately 45 ° inclined surface, and enters the outer shaft 33. . This entering light passes through the inside of the shaft 33 in the axial direction, and further passes through an inclined surface of about 45 °, thereby changing the traveling direction to the outside in the radial direction, thereby changing the ring portion 3 of the short hand 32.
Enter 2 '. This entering light travels in the longitudinal direction in the main body portion of the short hand 32, and in this process, the front surface of the main body portion emits light. For this light emission, a large number of grooves are formed on the entire rear surface of the main body, similarly to the rear surface of the light guide plate 21b, and a reflective film is adhered.

The light leaking inward from the inner surface of the through hole 26a of the light guide plate 21a passes through the outer shaft 33 in the radial direction and enters the inner shaft 35. At this time, the light passes through the inclined surface 33 ′ or the like, changes the traveling direction to the front, and enters the shaft 35. The entering light passes through the shaft body 35 in the axial direction and further passes through the inclined surface of about 45 °, thereby changing the traveling direction to the outside in the radial direction and enters the ring portion 31 ′ of the long hand 31. . The entering light travels in the longitudinal direction of the main body of the long hand 31 and, in this process, causes the front surface of the main body to emit light. For this light emission, a large number of grooves are formed on the entire rear surface of the main body in the same manner as the rear surface of the short hand 32, and a reflective film is adhered.

As described above, in the light emitting display thin timepiece according to the present embodiment, the through holes 26a, 2b of the light guide plates 21a, 21b are provided.
Since the long hand 31 and the short hand 32 emit light using light leakage from each inner surface of the inner hand 6b, the decorative and display properties are further improved, and a dedicated light source for emitting the long hand 31 and the short hand 32 is unnecessary. In addition, an increase in scale and an increase in manufacturing cost due to the needle emission are avoided as much as possible.

In the above embodiment, the number of the light guide plates 21 of the dial 20 is two, but may be three or more or one. When three or more light guide plates 21 are used, more symbols can be displayed in multicolor. When one light guide plate 21 is used, if the whole surface is subjected to a process for diffusion, the whole becomes a plane light emitter, and if an advertising film or the like is pasted on the surface, a plurality of light guide plates 21 are used. A display function equivalent to the case is secured. The diffusion treatment performed on the surface of the light guide plate may be engraving, shot blasting, or the like, and the type is not limited.

In the above embodiment, substantially the entire dial 20 is made to emit light, but it is also possible to make a part of the dial 20 emit light linearly in the form of characters, designs and the like.

The dial 20 of the surface emitting type can be configured to utilize the emitted light for deodorization. For example, if the rear light guide plate is used as the entire surface light emitting body and the rear surface is coated with a photocatalyst such as titanium oxide, and ultraviolet light is irradiated from the edge light combined with the photocatalyst, the rear side of the dial 20 is deodorized. When there is one light guide plate, ultraviolet light for deodorization is used for display. As described above, by coating the photocatalyst on the surface of the light guide plate of the full-surface light emission type and combining the light guide plate with the edge light of the ultraviolet irradiation type, a thin light-emitting display type timepiece that doubles as a deodorizing device is provided.

Although the type of clock is a wall clock, it may be a table clock. Regarding the design of the clock, as shown in FIG. 4, the dial 20 may be a decorative article with a clock that also serves as a large decorative plate, and the design is not limited.

[0030]

As described above, in the luminescent display thin timepiece according to the present invention, since the dial is a thin plate of the edge light type, a part or the whole of the dial can be formed without increasing the thickness. Since it can be made to emit light, it becomes high in commercial value as a clock or a wall clock excellent in decorativeness and display.

Further, by causing the hands of the timepiece to emit light by utilizing the light leakage from the dial, the commercial value can be further increased without increasing the scale and the manufacturing cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a light-emitting display thin timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the light-emitting display thin timepiece.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a dial used in the light-emitting display type timepiece.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a light-emitting display thin timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Decorative plate 20 Dial 21 'Groove 21a, 21b Light guide plate 22a, 22b Edge light 24a, 24b Colored film 25 Reflective film 26a, 26b Through-hole 30 Clock main body 31 Clock hour hand 32 Clock hour hand 33, 35 Shaft

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shinichi Ueda 1-48 Ujiyamamoto, Uji-city, Kyoto (72) Inventor Mitsuya Marumoto 456-33 Yanagidacho, Kurashiki-shi, Okayama In-house (72) Invention Ichiro Haba 5-14 Honmachibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A dial is used as a light-emitting type clock or table clock which also serves as a light-emitting display plate, and the dial is one or a plurality of which has been subjected to a process for diffusing light incident from an end face on its surface. A surface light-emitting thin timepiece comprising an edge light type thin plate type comprising: a light guide plate; and an edge light which is disposed to face an end surface of the light guide plate and allows light to enter the light guide plate from the end surface. . 2. A timepiece hand arranged on the front side of the dial is constituted by a light guide member, and a shaft penetrating the dial for supporting the hands is constituted by a light guide member;
The needle is made to emit light by sequentially guiding light leaking from an inner surface of a shaft body through-hole provided in the dial to the shaft body and the needle via an inclined surface. 2. The surface-emitting thin watch according to 1.