JP2008082722A - Instrument case and wrist watch case - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an instrument case and a wrist watch case capable of enhancing the receiving sensitivity of an antenna by intending to insulate between a case main body and a rear cover. <P>SOLUTION: The instrument case comprises: a metallic case main body 3, in which an antenna 9 is accommodated; a metallic rear cover 6 fixed to the rear face of the case main body 3; a fixing screw 7 for fixing the rear cover 6 to the case main body 3; and the spacer member 8 intervening between the case main body 3 and the rear cover 6. The spacer member 8 is made of insulation material, and a fixing screw 7 is made of metallic material, the surface of which is formed with the insulating film 14. The conduction between the case main body 3 and the rear cover 6 is thereby inhibited by the spacer member 8, and the conduction by the fixing screw 7 is also inhibited by the insulating film 14 formed on the surface of the fixing screw 7. Thus, the insulation between the case main body 3 and the rear cover 6 is surely maintained, and the reception sensitivity of the antenna 9 is enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a device case for an electronic device incorporating an antenna, and a wristwatch case for a wristwatch incorporating an antenna.

For example, a wristwatch is known that includes an antenna that receives a standard time radio wave and corrects the time based on the standard time radio wave received by the antenna.
In such a radio-controlled wristwatch, if there is a metal member in the vicinity of the antenna, the magnetic field generated by the antenna passes through the metal member, so that an eddy current flows through the metal member, thereby reducing the receiving sensitivity of the antenna. In particular, when the case main body and the back cover of the radio-controlled wristwatch are made of metal and both are conductive, the current flowing back through the case main body and the back cover increases, and the reception sensitivity of the antenna is significantly reduced.

Therefore, in the conventional radio-controlled wristwatch, as described in Patent Document 1, a spacer member having a large electric resistance is provided between the metal case main body and the metal back cover, and the case main body is provided by the spacer member. And the current flowing back through the back cover are suppressed, and a decrease in the receiving sensitivity of the antenna is suppressed.
JP 2006-112866 A

  However, in such a conventional radio-controlled wristwatch, the electrical resistance between the case body and the back cover is increased by the spacer member to suppress a decrease in the receiving sensitivity of the antenna. There is a problem in that sufficient antenna reception sensitivity cannot be ensured because the flow of the flowing current cannot be reliably prevented.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a device case and a watch case that can insulate the case body and the back cover and increase the receiving sensitivity of the antenna.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes the following components.
In addition, the reference numerals of the drawings attached to the respective elements described in the section of each embodiment described later are attached to the respective constituent elements together with parentheses.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the invention according to claim 1 is a metal case main body (3) in which an antenna (9) is housed, and a metal case attached to the back surface of the case main body. A device comprising a back cover (6), fixing screws (7, 17) for fixing the back cover to the case body, and a spacer member (8) interposed between the case body and the back cover In case
The spacer member is made of an insulating material, the fixing screw is made of a metal material, and an insulating film (14, 18) is formed on the surface thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the invention according to claim 2 is a metal case main body (3) in which an antenna (9) is housed, and a metal case attached to the back surface of the case main body. In a device case provided with a back cover (6, 23) and a fixing screw (7, 17) for fixing the back cover to the case body,
An insulating film (21, 24) is formed on at least one of the contact surfaces where the case body and the back cover contact each other, and the fixing screw is made of a metal material. The device case is characterized in that an insulating film (14, 18) is formed on the surface thereof.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the insulating film (14, 21) is a film formed by ion-plating ceramic. The device case according to claim 1, wherein the device case is a device case.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the insulating film (18, 24) is a film in which an aluminum oxide ceramic is formed by alumite treatment. Item 3. The device case according to Item 1 or 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the invention described in claim 5 includes an antenna (9) that receives a standard time radio wave therein, and a timepiece module that corrects the time based on the standard time radio wave received by the antenna. A case main body (3) in which (2) is accommodated, a metal back cover (6) attached to the back surface of the case main body, and fixing screws (7, 17) for fixing the back cover to the case main body In a watch case comprising a spacer member (8) interposed between the case body and the case back,
In the wristwatch case, the spacer member is made of an insulating material, the fixing screw is made of a metal material, and an insulating film (14, 18) is formed on the surface thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the invention described in claim 6 includes an antenna (9) that receives a standard time radio wave therein, and a timepiece module that corrects the time based on the standard time radio wave received by the antenna. The case body (3) in which (2) is accommodated, the metal back cover (6, 23) attached to the back surface of the case body, and the fixing screws (7, 17) for fixing the back cover to the case body )
An insulating film (21, 24) is formed on at least one of the contact surfaces where the case body and the back cover contact each other, and the fixing screw is made of a metal material. The wristwatch case is characterized in that an insulating film (14, 18) is formed on the surface thereof.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the spacer member made of an insulating material is interposed between the case body housing the antenna and the back cover, even if the case body and the back cover are made of metal. The spacer member can prevent conduction due to contact between the case main body and the back cover, and an insulating film is formed on the surface of the fixing screw. Even if the lid is fixed to the case body, the insulating film formed on the surface of the fixing screw can surely prevent electrical conduction between the case body and the back cover due to the fixing screw. As a result, the insulation between the metal case main body and the metal back cover can be reliably achieved, so that the flow of current flowing back between the case main body and the back cover by the magnetic field generated by the antenna can be prevented. Therefore, the receiving sensitivity of the antenna can be increased.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the insulating film is formed on at least one of the contact surfaces where the case main body and the back cover contact each other, the case main body and the back cover Even if it is made of metal, the insulating film formed on the contact surface can prevent conduction due to the contact between the case body and the back cover, and the insulating film is formed on the surface of the fixing screw. Even if the fixing screw is made of a metal material and the back cover is fixed to the case body with this fixing screw, the insulating film formed on the surface of the fixing screw makes the electrical contact between the case main body and the back cover by the fixing screw. Conduction can be reliably prevented. As a result, the insulation between the metal case main body and the metal back cover can be reliably achieved, so that the flow of current flowing back between the case main body and the back cover by the magnetic field generated by the antenna can be prevented. Therefore, the receiving sensitivity of the antenna can be increased.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the insulating film is a film formed by ion plating of ceramic, so that the surface of the metal fixing screw and the case main body and the back cover come into contact with each other. A highly insulating film made of ceramic such as silicon nitride, aluminum oxide or diamond-like carbon can be reliably formed on the mating contact surface, thereby preventing electrical conduction between the case body and the back cover. be able to.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the insulating film is a film in which an aluminum oxide ceramic is formed by alumite treatment, so that at least the surface of the metal fixing screw and the case main body and the back cover One contact surface that is in contact with each other is formed of aluminum and its alloy, and a highly insulating oxide film made of an aluminum oxide ceramic can be reliably formed on the surface. It is possible to prevent electrical conduction.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a case main body in which an antenna that receives a standard time radio wave, a clock module that corrects the time based on the standard time radio wave received by the antenna, and the case main body are accommodated. A wristwatch case comprising a metal back cover attached to the back surface of the watch, a fixing screw for fixing the back cover to the case body, and a spacer member interposed between the case body and the back cover. It is made of an insulating material, the fixing screw is made of a metal material, and an insulating film is formed on the surface thereof, so that the metal case main body and the metal back cover are formed in the same manner as in the invention of claim 1. Insulation can be ensured, and thereby the receiving sensitivity of the antenna can be increased.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a case main body in which an antenna that receives a standard time radio wave, a clock module that adjusts the time based on the standard time radio wave received by the antenna, and the case main body are accommodated. A watch case having a metal back cover attached to the back surface of the watch and a fixing screw for fixing the back cover to the case body, at least one of the contact surfaces with which the case body and the back cover come into contact with each other An insulating film is formed on the contact surface, the fixing screw is made of a metal material, and an insulating film is formed on the surface thereof, so that the metal case body and the metal are made in the same manner as in the invention of claim 2. Insulation from the back cover of the antenna can be ensured, and thereby the receiving sensitivity of the antenna can be increased.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a radio-controlled wristwatch will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of the radio-controlled wristwatch according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a fixing screw thereof.
As shown in FIG. 1, this radio-controlled wristwatch includes a wristwatch case 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wristwatch case 1 includes a case body 3 that is opened up and down and accommodates a watch module 2 therein, and a watch glass 4 that is attached to the upper center of the case body 3 via a packing 4a. A back cover 6 attached to the lower part of the case body 3 via a waterproof packing 5, a fixing screw 7 for fixing the back cover 6 to the case body 3, and between the case body 3 and the back cover 6. And an intervening spacer member 8.

  The clock module 2 includes various electronic components necessary for clock functions such as a time display unit and an LSI, and also includes an antenna 9 that receives standard time radio waves. Based on the standard time radio waves received by the antenna 9 It is configured to correct the time. In this case, the time display unit includes an analog movement that moves the hands to indicate the time, a flat display element that electro-optically displays information such as time, or both an analog movement and a display element. It is.

  The antenna 9 is a bar antenna, and includes a rod-shaped core formed of a magnetic member having a high relative permeability such as amorphous or ferrite and a low conductivity, and a coil in which a conductor such as copper is wound around the core. When placed in a magnetic field generated by radio waves, the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic field concentrates on the core having a higher relative permeability than the surrounding space and is linked to the coil so that the magnetic field is generated in a direction that prevents the magnetic flux from changing. In this configuration, an induced electromotive force is generated.

  The circuit configuration of the timepiece module 2 includes a control unit that controls the entire circuit, a receiving circuit that detects the induced electromotive force generated in the coil of the antenna 9 and extracts standard time data, and the current time based on the transmitter. And a time correction circuit that controls the time by the control circuit based on the standard time data extracted by the receiving circuit, and controls the time display to indicate the corrected current time. Is configured to do.

  By the way, the case main body 3 is made of a high strength metal such as stainless steel or titanium, and a decorative bezel 10 is attached to the upper outer peripheral surface of the case main body 3 as shown in FIG. . Further, a parting member 11 is disposed along the inner peripheral surface of the case body 3 below the watch glass 4 inside the case body 3. Furthermore, a screw hole 12 into which the fixing screw 7 is screwed is provided on the outer peripheral side lower surface of the case body 3 as shown in FIG. The back cover 6 is formed in a substantially plate shape with a high-strength metal such as stainless steel or titanium, like the case body 3. On the outer peripheral side of the back cover 6, screw insertion holes 13 into which the fixing screws 7 are inserted are provided corresponding to the screw holes 12 of the case body 3.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing screw 7 has a head portion 7a and a screw portion 7b, and is formed of a metal having high strength such as stainless steel. An insulating film 14 is formed on the entire surface of the fixing screw 7 as shown in FIG. This insulating film 14 is made of silicon nitride (Si3N4), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), diamond-like carbon (DLC: high hardness, electrical insulation, infrared transmission similar to diamond synthesized by vapor phase synthesis using ions. This is a highly insulating film in which a non-conductive ceramic such as a carbon thin film having properties such as property is formed on the surface of the fixing screw 7 by ion plating.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the spacer member 8 is a disc having a hole 8 a into which the fixing screw 7 is inserted, and is formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin or ceramic. It arrange | positions between the upper surface of the back cover 6, and it is comprised so that the conduction | electrical_connection by the contact with the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 may be prevented. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a magnetic sheet 15 is provided on each inner surface of the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 in the vicinity of the antenna 9. The magnetic sheet 15 is for suppressing eddy currents from being generated in the case body 3 and the back cover 6 by the magnetic field generated by the antenna 9.

  According to such a wristwatch case 1, since the spacer member 8 made of an insulating material is interposed between the case main body 3 housing the antenna 9 and the back cover 6, the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 are made of metal. Even if it is formed, the spacer member 8 can prevent conduction due to contact between the case main body 3 and the back cover 6. Further, since the insulating film 14 is formed on the surface of the fixing screw 7, the fixing screw 7 is formed of a metal material, and even if the back cover 6 is fixed to the case body 3 with the fixing screw 7, the fixing screw 7 is fixed. The insulating coating 14 formed on the surface of the screw 7 can reliably prevent electrical conduction between the case body 3 and the back cover 6 due to the fixing screw 7.

  Thereby, even if the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 are formed of a metal material, the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 can be reliably insulated. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the flow of current flowing back through the case body 3 and the back cover 6 by the magnetic field generated by the antenna 9, so that the reception sensitivity of the antenna 9 can be increased. In this case, the insulating film 14 of the fixing screw 7 is a film in which a ceramic such as silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, diamond-like carbon or the like is formed on the entire surface of the metal fixing screw 7 by ion plating. A highly insulating film made of ceramic can be reliably formed on the surface of the fixing screw 7 made of metal, thereby preventing electrical conduction between the case body 3 and the back cover 6.

  Further, in the wristwatch case 1, as shown in FIG. 1, magnetic sheets 15 are respectively provided on the inner surfaces of the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 at locations near the antenna 9. 15, the generation of eddy currents in the case body 3 and the back cover 6 due to the magnetic field generated in the antenna 9 can be suppressed, and the reception sensitivity of the antenna 9 can also be increased.

  In the first embodiment, the insulating film 14 made of a non-conductive ceramic such as silicon nitride (Si3N4), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), diamond-like carbon (DLC) or the like is formed on the surface of the fixing screw 7 by ion plating. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as in the modification shown in FIG. 3, the insulating film 18 may be formed on the entire surface of the fixing screw 17 by alumite treatment (anodization treatment). .

  In this case, the material of the fixing screw 17 is preferably aluminum or an aluminum alloy, but may be one in which aluminum or an aluminum alloy is plated on the surface of a metal such as stainless steel. The insulating film 18 is a highly insulating film in which a ceramic of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is formed on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy, which is a base of the fixing screw 17, by anodizing. Even if the fixing screw 17 on which such an insulating film 18 is formed is used, the same effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a radio wave wristwatch will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated to the same part as Embodiment 1 shown by FIG. 1 and FIG.
The wristwatch case 20 of this radio-controlled wristwatch has a configuration in which an insulating film 21 is formed on a contact surface on the back cover 6 side among contact surfaces where the case body 3 and the back cover 6 are in contact with each other. The configuration is almost the same as in the first embodiment.

  That is, this insulating film 21 is formed on the back cover 6 with which the case body 3 contacts by non-conductive ceramic such as silicon nitride (Si3N4), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), diamond-like carbon (DLC), etc. by ion plating. It is a highly insulating film formed on the contact surface. Also in this case, the insulating film 14 is formed on the surface of the fixing screw 7 by ion plating as in the first embodiment. Further, magnetic sheets 15 are respectively provided on the inner surfaces of the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 at locations near the antenna 9, as in the first embodiment.

  According to such a watch case 20, since the insulating film 21 is formed on the contact surface of the back cover 6 among the contact surfaces where the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 contact each other, the case main body 3 Even if the back cover 6 is made of metal, the insulating film 21 formed on the contact surface of the back cover 6 can prevent conduction due to contact between the case body 3 and the back cover 6. In addition, since the insulating film 14 is formed on the surface of the fixing screw 7, the fixing screw 7 is formed of a metal material, and even if the back cover 6 is fixed to the case body 3 with this fixing screw 7, As in the first embodiment, the insulating film 14 formed on the surface of the fixing screw 7 can reliably prevent electrical conduction between the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 by the fixing screw 7.

  Thereby, even if the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 are formed of a metal material, the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 can be reliably insulated. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the flow of current flowing back through the case body 3 and the back cover 6 by the magnetic field generated by the antenna 9, so that the reception sensitivity of the antenna 9 can be increased. In this case, the insulating film 21 of the back cover 6 is a film in which a ceramic such as silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, diamond-like carbon is formed on the contact surface of the metal back cover 6 by ion plating. A highly insulating film made of ceramic can be reliably formed on the contact surface of the metal back cover 6, thereby preventing electrical conduction due to contact between the case body 3 and the back cover 6.

  Also in the wristwatch case 20, the magnetic sheet 15 is provided on each inner surface of the case main body 3 and the back cover 6 in the vicinity of the antenna 9. The generation of eddy currents in the case body 3 and the back cover 6 due to the magnetic field generated in the antenna 9 can be suppressed, and the reception sensitivity of the antenna 9 can also be increased.

  In the second embodiment, non-conductive such as silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4), aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3), diamond-like carbon (DLC) or the like is formed by ion plating on the contact surface of the back cover 6 with which the case body 3 contacts. Although the case where the insulating film 21 made of ceramic is formed has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as in the modification shown in FIG. The insulating film 24 may be formed by oxidation treatment.

  In this case, the back cover 23 is preferably made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, but may be made of a metal such as stainless steel plated with aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The insulating film 24 is a highly insulating film in which a ceramic of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is formed on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy, which is the base of the back cover 23, by anodizing. Even when the back cover 23 on which such an insulating film 24 is formed is used, the same effects as those of the second embodiment are obtained.

  Moreover, in the said Embodiment 2 and its modification, about the case where the insulating films | membranes 21 and 24 are formed in the contact surface of the back covers 6 and 23 among the contact surfaces in which the case main body 3 and the back covers 6 and 23 contact. As described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the insulating coatings 21 and 24 may be formed on the contact surface of the case body 3 with which the back covers 6 and 23 come into contact, and both the case body 3 and the back covers 6 and 23 are formed. Insulating films 21 and 24 may be formed on the contact surfaces, respectively. Even if comprised in this way, there exists an effect similar to Embodiment 2. FIG.

  In the first and second embodiments and the modifications thereof, the case where the present invention is applied to a wristwatch has been described. However, the present invention is not necessarily a wristwatch, and is applicable to various watches such as a travel watch, an alarm clock, a table clock, and a wall clock. In addition, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to electronic devices such as mobile phones and portable information terminals.

It is the expanded sectional view which showed the principal part of the radio-controlled wristwatch to which this invention is applied. (Embodiment 1) It is the expanded sectional view which showed the fixing screw of FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a modification of the fixing screw of the first embodiment. It is the expanded sectional view which showed the principal part of the radio-controlled wristwatch to which this invention is applied. (Embodiment 2) It is an expanded sectional view of the principal part which showed the contact part of the back cover which a case main body contacts in FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a modification of a contact portion of a back cover in Embodiment 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,20 Watch case 2 Watch module 3 Case main body 6, 23 Back cover 7, 17 Fixing screw 8 Spacer member 9 Antenna 14, 18 Insulating film of fixing screw 21, 24 Insulating film of back cover

Claims (6)

A metal case main body in which an antenna is housed, a metal back cover attached to the back surface of the case main body, a fixing screw for fixing the back cover to the case main body, the case main body and the back cover In a device case provided with a spacer member interposed between
The apparatus case, wherein the spacer member is made of an insulating material, the fixing screw is made of a metal material, and an insulating film is formed on a surface thereof. In a device case comprising a metal case body in which an antenna is housed, a metal back cover attached to the back surface of the case body, and a fixing screw for fixing the back cover to the case body,
An insulating film is formed on at least one of the contact surfaces where the case main body and the back cover come into contact with each other, and the fixing screw is made of a metal material and insulated on the surface. A device case characterized in that a conductive film is formed.   The device case according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulating film is a film formed by ion plating of ceramic.   The device case according to claim 1, wherein the insulating film is a film in which an aluminum oxide ceramic is formed by alumite treatment. A case body containing an antenna for receiving standard time radio waves, a clock module for adjusting the time based on the standard time radio waves received by the antenna, and a metal back cover attached to the back of the case main body, In a watch case provided with a fixing screw for fixing the back cover to the case body, and a spacer member interposed between the case body and the back cover,
The watch case according to claim 1, wherein the spacer member is made of an insulating material, the fixing screw is made of a metal material, and an insulating film is formed on a surface thereof. A case body containing an antenna for receiving standard time radio waves, a clock module for adjusting the time based on the standard time radio waves received by the antenna, and a metal back cover attached to the back of the case main body, In a watch case provided with a fixing screw for fixing the back cover to the case body,
An insulating film is formed on at least one of the contact surfaces where the case main body and the back cover come into contact with each other, and the fixing screw is made of a metal material and insulated on the surface. A watch case characterized in that a protective film is formed.

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