JP2002286869A - Electronic wristwatch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic wristwatch, in which both an analog display function and a digital display function can be illuminated using one illumination member. SOLUTION: A light guide plate 18, on which light from a light-emitting diode 24 is incident, is arranged on the lower side of a transparent or semitransparent dial 13. A liquid crystal display device 11 is arranged on the lower side of the dial 13, so as to correspond to a display cutout part 21 in the plate 18 and a display window part 17 in the dial 13; and consequently, the light- emitting diode 24 emits light in a dark place, the light which is incident on the plate 18 is radiated toward the dial 13 from the surface of the plate 18, and is radiated also from the end face of the part 1 in the plate 18. Thereby, due to the light which is radiated from the surface of the plate 18, its upper part can be illuminated through the dial 13, and due to the light radiated from the end face of the cutout part 21 in the plate 18, the device 1 can be illuminated from its circumference, and thereby both the analog display function and the digital display function can be illuminated using one illumination member 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic wristwatch having an analog display function and a digital display function, and more particularly to an electronic wristwatch having an illumination member for illuminating each display function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic wristwatch, hands such as an hour hand and a minute hand move over the dial to indicate time, and a display device such as a liquid crystal display device displays information such as time. A combination watch having both a digital display function and a digital display function is known. Such an electronic wristwatch is provided with a lighting member so that the time can be known even in a dark place. As this electronic wristwatch, a dial having an analog display function is provided by an EL as an illumination member.
A light-emitting device that emits and illuminates the EL device, or a diffusion plate disposed below a liquid crystal display device having a digital display function, and a diffusion plate disposed on a side surface of the diffusion plate. An illumination member is composed of a lamp and a structure in which the illumination member illuminates the lower surface of the liquid crystal display device.

[0003]

However, in the former electronic wristwatch, since the dial is constituted by EL elements, it is possible to illuminate the analog display function by illuminating the dial and illuminating the area above it. However, there is a problem that a liquid crystal display device having a digital display function cannot be sufficiently illuminated. Also, the latter electronic wristwatch has a structure in which an illuminating member is arranged below the liquid crystal display device, so that it can illuminate the liquid crystal display device having a digital display function, but has an analog display function such as a dial and a pointer. There is a problem that illumination cannot be sufficiently performed.

[0004] In order to solve such a problem,
It is conceivable that both the analog display function and the digital display function are separately illuminated by arranging the dial with an EL element and arranging a lighting member composed of a diffusion plate and a lamp below the liquid crystal display device. However, such a structure has a problem that not only the number of parts increases, the structure becomes complicated, but also the manufacturing cost increases.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to illuminate both an analog display function and a digital display function with one lighting member.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic wristwatch comprising: an analog movement having a pointer shaft; and a transparent or semi-transparent body provided with a first through hole into which the pointer shaft of the analog movement is inserted. With a transparent dial,
A light guide plate disposed below the dial plate and provided with a second through hole into which the pointer shaft is inserted and a notch for display, and a light emitting element disposed so that light emitted to the light guide plate is incident on the light guide plate And a display device arranged corresponding to the display notch of the light guide plate.

According to the present invention, when the light emitting element emits light, the light enters the light guide plate, the incident light is emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate toward the dial, and the display notch of the light guide plate is formed. Since the light is emitted from the end face of the light guide plate, the light emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate can illuminate the upper portion thereof through a transparent or translucent dial plate, and is emitted from the end face of the display notch of the light guide plate. The display device can be illuminated from the surroundings by the light, so that one illumination member can satisfactorily illuminate both the analog display function such as a dial and the digital display function of the display device. In this case, if the dial is translucent, a display window may be provided on the dial in correspondence with the notch for display of the light guide plate, and if the dial is transparent, the display window is not necessarily provided. It is not necessary to provide a part. Further, the edge of the display notch of the light guide plate may be disposed on an end of the display device,
Alternatively, it may be arranged corresponding to the end face of the display device.

In the electronic wristwatch according to the second aspect of the present invention, the display notch is provided with an extended light guide portion extending along a lower surface of the display device, so that the light emitting element is provided. Part of the light emitted at the light guide plate and incident on the light guide plate is guided to the extended light guide portion, and the light guided to the extended light guide portion is emitted toward the lower surface of the display device. The lower surface side can be illuminated, whereby the display device can be illuminated sufficiently brightly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic wristwatch having an analog movement having a pointer shaft and a transparent or translucent dial provided with a first through hole into which the pointer shaft of the analog movement is inserted. And a display device disposed above the dial, a light guide plate disposed below the dial and provided with a second through hole into which the pointer shaft is inserted, and light emitted from the light guide plate. And a light emitting element arranged so that the light is incident. According to the present invention, light emitted by the light emitting element and incident on the light guide plate is emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate, and the emitted light passes through the dial, so that the upper portion can be illuminated and the display can be performed. The lower surface of the device can also be illuminated,
It is possible to satisfactorily illuminate both an analog display function such as a dial and a digital display function of a display device with one lighting member.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of an electronic wristwatch according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of the electronic wristwatch of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lighting member, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in the A arrow direction. The electronic wristwatch 1 includes a watch case 2 as shown in FIG. A bezel 3 is attached to the upper outer periphery of the watch case 2, and a watch glass 4
Is installed. Also, inside the watch case 2,
A watch module 5 is housed, and a back cover 6 is attached to a lower portion of the watch case 2.

The timepiece module 5 includes, as shown in FIG.
An upper housing 7 and a lower housing 8;
A circuit board 9 is provided between the upper housing 7 and the lower housing 8. In the upper housing 7, an analog movement 10 and a liquid crystal display device 11 are provided in parallel. Further, a dial 13 is disposed on the upper housing 7 via an illumination member 12, and a parting member 14 is provided on the inner surface of the watch case 2 on an outer peripheral portion of the dial 13. Part 2
a.

The analog movement 10 includes the lighting member 1.
2 and a pointer shaft 15 protruding above the dial 13. A pointer 16 such as an hour hand, a minute hand, or a second hand is attached to the upper end of the pointer shaft 15 so that the pointer 16 moves above the dial 13. Is configured. In this case, the dial 13 is made of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin, or a light-transmissive metal plate provided with a large number of fine holes, and a first through hole into which the pointer shaft 15 is inserted substantially at the center. 13a is provided, and a display window portion 17 is provided corresponding to the liquid crystal display device 11 at a position on the left side in FIG. The display window 17 is not necessarily provided if the dial 13 is a transparent synthetic resin. The analog movement 10, the dial 13, and the hands 1
6 and the like constitute an analog display function.

In the liquid crystal display device 11, a liquid crystal is sealed between a pair of upper and lower transparent electrode substrates, and a polarizing plate is provided on upper and lower surfaces of the pair of electrode substrates. Is a reflection type structure in which a reflection plate is provided on the lower surface of the light source. The liquid crystal display device 11 includes a display window 1 of a dial 13 in an upper housing 7 located below an illumination member 12.
7 are arranged. The liquid crystal display device 11 has an interconnector (not shown) at the lower part on both sides.
Are supported in a state of being electrically connected to the circuit board 9. The liquid crystal display device 11 has a digital display function.

The lighting member 12 includes a light guide plate 18 and a light source 19, as shown in FIGS. The light guide plate 18 is provided with a reflection sheet 20 on its lower surface, and is arranged in close contact with the lower surface of the dial 13 as shown in FIG. In this case, the lower surface of the light guide plate 18 or the reflection sheet 20
Is provided with a diffusion pattern (not shown) for diffusing light incident on the light guide plate 18 to the upper surface side and emitting the light so that the entire upper surface of the light guide plate 18 emits light substantially uniformly. I have.

In addition, approximately at the center of the light guide plate 18,
As shown in FIG. 2, the second through hole 1 into which the pointer shaft 15 is inserted.
8a is provided corresponding to the first through hole 13a of the dial 13. As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially rectangular display notch 21 is formed in the light guide plate 18.
1 is formed. Thereby, the liquid crystal display device 11 displays the information such as the displayed time on the display notch 2.
The watch glass 4 can be seen from the outside through the display window 17 of the dial 1 and the dial 13. In this case, the edge of the display notch 21 is located above the outer peripheral end of the liquid crystal display device 11, as shown in FIG. Further, a light source mounting section 22 to which the light source section 19 is mounted is provided at one end (right end in FIG. 2) of the light guide plate 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light source section 19 has a structure in which a plurality of light emitting diodes 24 are embedded in predetermined positions in a holding member 23, and the holding member 23 is mounted on the light source mounting section 22 of the light guide plate 18 in this state. It has become. In this case, the holding member 23 diffuses the light emitted from the light emitting diode 24 into the light guide plate 18 because the portion where the light emitting diode 24 is provided projects in a substantially arc shape toward the light guide plate 18 side. It is configured to be incident. Further, lead wires 25 are connected to the respective light emitting diodes 24, and as shown in FIG. 3, the respective ends of the lead wires 25 are exposed on the lower surface of the holding member 23, and the exposed portions are illustrated in FIG. 1, it is electrically connected to the circuit board 9 by a coil spring 26.

In such an electronic wristwatch 1, when used in a bright place where external light can be sufficiently obtained, the dial 13 can be used.
The time can be known by the hands 16 moving above the watch, and information such as the time displayed by the liquid crystal display device 11 can be transmitted through the display notch 21 of the light guide plate 18 and the display window 17 of the dial 13 to the watch glass. 4 can be seen from outside. Also, when using in a dark place,
When the light emitting diode 24 of the lighting member 12 emits light, the light is diffused and enters the light guide plate 18, and the incident light is transmitted from the entire upper surface of the light guide plate 18 by the reflection sheet 20 and the diffusion pattern (not shown). The light is emitted almost uniformly and also emitted from the end face of the display notch 21.

For this reason, the light emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate 18 passes through the transparent or translucent dial plate 13, so that the upper part can be illuminated. Notch 2 for display
The light emitted from the end face of the liquid crystal display device 1 is applied to the liquid crystal display device 11 from the upper outer periphery of the liquid crystal display device 11, so that the liquid crystal display device 11 can be illuminated from the periphery. Thereby, both the analog display function such as the dial 13 and the pointer 16 and the digital display function of the liquid crystal display device 11 can be sufficiently illuminated by one illumination member 12, and the information such as the time can be satisfactorily obtained even in a dark place. You can know.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the electronic wristwatch of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. This electronic watch 30
The structure is such that the edge of the display notch 21 of the light guide plate 18 is bent obliquely downward, and the tip end surface 21a is close to the side surface of the liquid crystal display device 11. The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. . That is, the light guide plate 18 is connected to the liquid crystal display 11.
Of the display notch 21 corresponding to the light source portion 19
Is bent obliquely downward, and the end surface 21a of the bent portion is arranged close to the side surface of the liquid crystal display device 11, that is, the end surfaces of a pair of upper and lower electrode substrates.

In such an electronic wristwatch 30, as in the first embodiment, the light emitting diode 2 of the lighting member 12 is used in a dark place.
4 emits light, the light is diffused into the light guide plate 18 and enters, and the incident light is emitted substantially uniformly from the entire upper surface of the light guide plate 18, and the end face of the edge of the display notch 21. The light is emitted from the bent end surface 21a of the edge. Thereby, the upper part of the dial 13 can be illuminated by the light emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate 18, and the liquid crystal display device 11 is moved upward by the light emitted from the edge of the edge of the display notch 21. In addition to being able to illuminate from the outer periphery, the liquid crystal display device 11 can also be illuminated from the side by the light emitted from the bent front end face 21a of the edge of the display notch 21 in particular. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device 11 can be illuminated brighter than in the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment] Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a third embodiment of the electronic wristwatch of the present invention will be described.
Also in this case, the same parts as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. This electronic wristwatch 40 uses a transflective liquid crystal display device 41 and has a liquid crystal display device 4 at the edge of the display notch 21 of the light guide plate 18.
1 is provided with an extended light guide section 42 extending along the lower surface, and other than this, the structure is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment.

That is, the transflective liquid crystal display device 4
Reference numeral 1 denotes a structure in which a transflective plate such as a half mirror is provided on the lower surface of a lower polarizing plate among the respective polarizing plates provided on the upper and lower surfaces of a pair of upper and lower transparent electrode substrates. . Accordingly, the liquid crystal display device 41 displays information by reflecting external light incident on the transflective plate in a bright place, and transmits light from the illumination member 12 through the transflective plate in a dark place. Thus, information is displayed.

The light guide plate 18 of the illuminating member 12 is formed by bending an edge of the display notch 21 corresponding to the liquid crystal display device 41 which is close to the light source 19 obliquely downward. The extended end extends along the lower surface of the liquid crystal display device 41, whereby an extended light guide section 42 is provided at the edge of the display notch 21. In this case, the extended light guide portion 42 is formed in a flat plate shape, and a diffusion pattern (not shown) and the reflection sheet 20 are provided on the lower surface thereof. It is configured to emit light almost uniformly from the upper surface side.

In such an electronic wristwatch 40, as in the first embodiment, the light emitting diode 2 of the illumination member 12 is used in a dark place.
4 is emitted, the light is diffused into the light guide plate 18 and enters the light guide plate 18, and the incident light is emitted almost uniformly from the entire upper surface of the light guide plate 18 and bent from the edge of the display notch 21. The light is also emitted substantially uniformly from the upper surface of the extended light guide section 42 that has been extended. Thus, the upper part of the dial 13 can be illuminated by the light emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate 18, and the liquid crystal display device 41 is illuminated from the lower surface by the light emitted from the upper surface of the extended light guide part 42. be able to. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, both the analog display function and the digital display function can be satisfactorily illuminated by one illumination member 12, and the liquid crystal display device 41 is illuminated brighter than in the first embodiment. be able to.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the electronic wristwatch of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In this case, the same parts as those of the third embodiment shown in FIG. This electronic watch 50
Similar to the third embodiment, the transflective liquid crystal display device 41
The liquid crystal display device 41 is disposed above the dial 13, and the light guide plate 5 of the illumination member 12 is disposed below the dial 13.
1 is arranged. In this case, the dial 13
A notch 52 for display is provided corresponding to the liquid crystal display device 41, and a holding portion 53 is provided on the upper surface of the upper housing 7 so as to protrude above the dial 13 through the notch 52 for display. ing.

As in the third embodiment, the liquid crystal display device 41 has a structure including a semi-transmissive reflection plate, and is supported by a holding portion 53 on the upper housing 7 by an interconnector (not shown). The light guide plate 51 of the illuminating member 12 has a structure in which a holding portion 53 of the upper housing 7 and a slit hole 54 into which an interconnector is inserted are provided on both sides of the liquid crystal display device 41. It has the same structure as the form. As a result, the holding portion 53 and the interconnector of the upper housing 7 project above the dial 13 through each slit hole 54 of the light guide plate 51 and the display cutout 52 of the dial 13, and in this state, the liquid crystal display device 41 is moved. It is held above the corresponding notch 52 for display.

In such an electronic wristwatch 50, as in the third embodiment, the light emitting diode 2 of the lighting member 12 is used in a dark place.
When light 4 is emitted, the light is diffused into the light guide plate 51 and enters, and the incident light is emitted almost uniformly from the entire upper surface of the light guide plate 51, and the emitted light passes through the dial 13. So it can illuminate the area above it,
The liquid crystal display device 4 passes through the display notch 52 of the dial 13.
1 can also be illuminated, so that
As in the embodiment, it is possible to satisfactorily illuminate both the analog display function and the digital display function with one lighting member 12.

In the fourth embodiment, the display notch 52 corresponding to the liquid crystal display device 41 is provided on the dial 13. However, it is not always necessary to provide the display notch 52 on the dial 13; A structure in which a slit hole into which the holding portion 53 of the housing 7 and the interconnector are inserted may be provided. Further, in the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the light emitting diode 24 is used as the light emitting element of the light source unit 19 that causes light to enter the light guide plates 18 and 51 has been described. May be used.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the light guide plate on which the light of the light emitting element is incident is disposed below the transparent or translucent dial, and Since the display device is arranged corresponding to the display notch, light incident on the light guide plate from the light emitting element is emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate toward the dial, and the end face of the display notch portion of the light guide plate. The light emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate can illuminate the upper part of the light guide plate through the dial, and the light emitted from the end face of the display notch of the light guide plate causes the display device to be surrounded by the light guide plate. Thus, it is possible to satisfactorily illuminate both the analog display function and the digital display function with one lighting member.

In this case, since the notch portion for display is provided with the extending light guiding portion extending along the lower surface of the display device, the light incident on the light guide plate and guided to the extending light guiding portion is provided. Can be emitted toward the lower surface of the display device, so that the display device can be brightly illuminated. According to the third aspect of the invention, the display device is disposed above the transparent or translucent dial, and the light guide plate through which light from the light emitting element is incident is disposed below the dial. The light incident on the light guide plate from the light emitting element is emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate, and the emitted light passes through the dial, thereby illuminating the upper side of the dial and simultaneously lowering the lower surface of the display device. Can be illuminated, so that one illumination member can satisfactorily illuminate both the analog display function and the digital display function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view showing a first embodiment of an electronic wristwatch of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the lighting member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a second embodiment of the electronic wristwatch of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a third embodiment of the electronic wristwatch of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the electronic wristwatch of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 30, 40, 50 Electronic wristwatch 2 Wristwatch case 5 Clock module 10 Analog movement 11, 41 Liquid crystal display device 12 Illumination member 13 Dial 13a First through hole 15 Pointer shaft 16 Pointer 18, 51 Light guide plate 18a Second through hole DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Light source part 21 Notch 21a for display 21a Tip surface 24 Light emitting diode 42 Extension light guide part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An analog movement having a pointer shaft, and a first shaft inserted by the pointer shaft of the analog movement.
A transparent or translucent dial provided with a through-hole, a light guide plate disposed below the dial, provided with a second through-hole into which the pointer shaft is inserted, and a display notch; An electronic wristwatch, comprising: a light emitting element arranged so that light emitted to a light plate is incident thereon; and a display device arranged corresponding to the display notch of the light guide plate. 2. The electronic wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the notch for display is provided with an extending light guide extending along a lower surface of the display device. 3. An analog movement having a pointer shaft, and a first insertion of said analog movement into which said pointer shaft is inserted.
A transparent or translucent dial provided with a through-hole, a display device disposed above the dial, and a second through-hole disposed below the dial and into which the pointer shaft is inserted. An electronic wristwatch comprising: a light guide plate provided; and a light emitting element arranged such that light emitted from the light guide plate is incident on the light guide plate.