JP2010078403A - Electronic timepiece with solar cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To alleviate such a dial-recessed state that a dial is positioned in the inmost recess of a timepiece relative to a wind shield member in the timepiece in which a solar cell is arranged approximately perpendicular to the dial. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic timepiece with a solar cell is provided, which includes: a timepiece movement 4; the dial 5; a timepiece case 1 for containing the timepiece movement 4 and the dial 5; the light-transmittance wind shield member 2 arranged on the upper part of the dial 5; and the solar cell 7 having a power generating section 7a which receives light passing through the wind shield member 2 and generates an electromotive force, wherein the solar cell 7 is arranged approximately perpendicular to the dial 5 so that at least a portion of the power generating section 7a is positioned between the dial 5 and the wind shield member 2. The electronic timepiece is characterized in that a containing recessed part 1a for containing the upper end 7c of the solar cell 7 is formed at the timepiece case 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure of an electronic timepiece with a solar cell in which solar cells that generate power using light are arranged substantially perpendicular to a dial.

Conventionally, an electronic timepiece having a solar cell and using light such as sunlight as a power generation power source has been put into practical use. Most of them are a light-transmitting windshield member such as a windshield glass and a light-transmitting dial arranged in parallel with the windshield member inside the watch case, and the windshield member of the dial is opposite to the windshield member. A solar cell is placed on the surface side. And when the light which permeate | transmitted the said windshield member and the said dial plate reaches | attains a solar cell, a solar cell produces electric power, and the timepiece is driven using the electric power. According to this method, a dial that transmits light is indispensable, and depending on how light is transmitted, the color of the solar cell on the lower surface may be seen through, which impairs the design. In addition, the design restrictions were large, such as the use of a dial made of metal that does not transmit light, which is often used for watches.

Therefore, the solar cell is not disposed below the dial, but is disposed between the windshield member and the dial as in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, and is substantially perpendicular to the dial so as to surround the dial. A structure to be arranged has been proposed. FIG. 5 is an electronic timepiece (a cross-sectional view of the main part of the electronic timepiece) shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, 102 is a windshield member, 105 is a dial, 107 is a solar cell, 100 is a watch case, and 103 is a back cover. Further, 106 is a turn ring which is a light-transmitting member, 104 is a timepiece movement, 104b is a component of the movement 104, and is a solar cell holding unit for holding the solar cell 107 and the like.

In this manner, the solar cell 107 disposed around the dial plate 105 receives the light transmitted through the windshield member 102 and the dial ring 106 and generates power, so that a conventional metal dial plate is used as the dial plate 105. As a result, the solar cell electronic watch that eliminates the restrictions on the design of the dial is realized without the color of the solar cell placed on the lower side of the dial being visible.
JP 2004-212389 A (page 11, FIG. 1) WO 2004/066042 (page 12, FIG. 6)

However, in the case where the solar cell 107 is arranged between the windshield member 102 and the dial plate 105 and is arranged substantially perpendicular to the dial plate 105 so as to surround the dial plate 105, the solar cell is set so as to satisfy the watch charging specification. In order to secure a power generation area of 107, the solar cell 107 must inevitably be enlarged in the thickness direction of the watch. As a result, the position of the dial 105 as viewed from the windshield member 102 must be at the back of the watch as compared with an electronic watch with a solar cell in which a solar cell is placed under a normal dial, and it is used for a thin watch. There was a drawback that it was limited to the “Okume” design, such as becoming difficult.

In addition, according to the structure shown in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1, actually, in addition to the photovoltaic power generation region 107a of the solar cell 107, the solar cell power generation unit 107a is protected from disturbances such as humidity temperature. A non-power generation region 107 b is formed at the upper end of 107. In the structure shown in Patent Document 1, the non-power generation region 107b is also irradiated with light, and the light that reaches the solar cell surface has an inefficient arrangement that cannot be used for power generation. there were.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problems, and aims to alleviate the depth of the timepiece of a timepiece in which solar cells are arranged substantially perpendicular to the dial and to improve power generation efficiency.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a watch movement, a dial, and a watch case that houses the watch movement, a light-transmissive windshield member disposed on the dial, and light transmitted through the windshield member. A solar cell having a power generation unit for generating electromotive force by receiving light, and with respect to the dial so that at least a part of the power generation unit is located between the dial and the windshield member In the electronic watch with a solar cell in which the solar cells are arranged substantially vertically, a storage recess for storing the upper end of the solar cell is formed in the watch case.

  Further, the solar cell is characterized in that a non-power generation part is formed at the upper end part.

The solar cell is disposed outside the outer peripheral portion of the windshield member in plan view of the dial, the watch case has an opening for arranging the windshield member, and the windshield is disposed on the inner periphery of the opening. A step portion having a predetermined cross-sectional height for mounting the outer peripheral portion of the member is formed, and the storage concave portion is formed such that the non-power generation portion is positioned within a cross-sectional height range of the step portion. It is characterized by that.

The storage recess may be formed to a depth that stores all of the non-power generation unit.

  Further, the solar cell further includes a non-power generation part on the dial side from the power generation part, and the dial side of the dial side is closer to the timepiece module than the surface of the windshield member on the dial. The solar cell is arranged so that the power generation unit is located.

  Further, the solar cell is arranged so as to surround the entire outer periphery of the windshield member in a plan view of the dial.

  Further, the solar cell is arranged so as to surround the entire outer periphery of the dial in a plan view of the dial.

  Further, a light-transmitting dial ring is disposed inside the solar cell and in a region between the dial and the windshield member.

According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the distance between the windshield member and the dial plate by storing the upper end portion of the solar cell in the storage recess formed in the watch case, compared with the conventional structure, Can be relaxed.
Also, by storing the non-power generation part, which is the upper end of the solar cell, in the storage recess provided in the watch case, the light that could not contribute to power generation by irradiating the non-power generation part of the solar cell in the past By irradiating the part and using more light for power generation, it is possible to arrange with high power generation efficiency.

  Exemplary embodiments of an electronic timepiece with solar power according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of an electronic timepiece with a solar cell showing a solar cell arrangement structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of the solar cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the watch case showing the relationship between the solar cell and the watch case when the solar cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted, and FIG. 4 is a second view of the present invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the electronic timepiece with a solar cell which shows the solar cell arrangement | positioning structure concerning this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, an electronic timepiece with a solar cell includes a timepiece movement 4 having a time display unit (not shown), and a dial 5 attached to the timepiece movement 4 and provided with a cut and decoration for determining the time. A timepiece case 1 that houses the timepiece movement 4 and the dial 5 and has a first opening 1b for visually recognizing the time display portion of the timepiece movement 4 from the outside of the timepiece; A light-transmitting windshield member 2 provided in the first opening 1b for protecting the timepiece display portion; and housed in the timepiece case 1; between the windshield member 2 and the timepiece movement 4; The solar cell 7 disposed substantially perpendicular to the dial 5 and the watch case 1 are accommodated in the watch case 1 and are disposed between the windshield member 2 and the dial 5 and formed of a light transmissive member. A counter ring 6 and a back cover 3 that fits with the watch case 1 and seals the second opening 1c opposite to the first opening 1b of the watch case 1 are provided. .

The windshield member 2 is mounted and mounted on a step portion 1 d provided inside the first opening 1 b of the watch case 1. The solar cell 7 is disposed outside the outer peripheral portion of the windshield member 2 in a plan view of the dial plate 5 and outside the outer peripheral portion of the dial plate 5. Similarly to the solar cell 7, the turn ring 6 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the dial 5 and is disposed on the inner side of the solar cell 7.

The timepiece movement 4 includes a time display unit (not shown) such as a liquid crystal cell or hands that can display time, and is connected to the solar cell 7 to generate electromotive force generated by the solar cell 7. A power storage device (not shown) for storing power is provided, and the time display unit is driven by the electric power stored in the power storage device and displays the time.

As shown in FIG. 2, the solar cell 7 receives a light transmitted through the windshield member 2 to generate an electromotive force, a solar cell power generation section 7a on the windshield member 2 side, The solar cell power generation unit 7a is configured at the end of the timepiece movement 4 and has solar cell non-power generation units 7b and 7c for protecting the solar cell power generation unit 7a from disturbances such as humidity and temperature. Here, the solar cell non-power generation units 7b and 7c do not generate power even when receiving light.
Therefore, in order to generate power using the solar cell 7, at least a part of the solar cell power generation unit 7a is disposed so as to be located in a portion irradiated with light between the windshield member 2 and the dial plate 5. There is a need to.
In addition, this invention is applicable also to the solar cell in which a non-power generation part is not formed.

Further, in order to store the electric power generated in the solar cell power generation unit 7a in a power storage device (not shown) mounted in the timepiece movement 4, the solar cell 7 has a solar cell terminal 8 for connection to the power storage device. It has.

Usually, the solar cell 7 is formed in a linear flat plate shape. As shown in FIG. 1, a groove 4 a is formed in an annular shape in the timepiece movement 4. The flat solar cell 7 is mounted so that the solar cell non-power generation part 7b is accommodated in the groove 4a while being bent into a desired shape as shown in FIG. Thereby, the solar cell non-power generation part 7b is located in a portion where the light on the timepiece movement 4 side is not irradiated with respect to the surface of the dial plate 5 (the surface on the windshield member 2 side of the dial plate 5).
Further, the watch movement 4 is formed with a solar cell holding portion 4b formed substantially perpendicular to the dial 5 outside the groove 4a. When the solar cell 7 is mounted in the groove 4a, the outer surface thereof is guided by being in close contact with the inner surface of the solar cell holding portion 4b.

The watch case 1 includes a storage recess 1a that stores a part of the solar cell non-power generation unit 7c. In the timepiece case 1, the storage recess 1 a is located above the solar cell non-power generation unit 7 c on the upper end side of the solar cell 7 and is provided in a portion overlapping the solar cell non-power generation unit 7 c in a plan view. The storage recess 1a is provided outside the step 1d to which the windshield member 2 is attached.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the solar cell non-power generation 7c is stored in the storage recess 1a. In the present embodiment, a substantially upper half of the solar cell non-power generation 7 c is stored in the storage recess 1 a of the watch case 1. The storage recess 1a also stores the upper end portion of the solar cell holding portion 4b.

As shown in FIG. 1, by storing the solar cell non-power generation portion 7c, which is the upper end portion of the solar cell 7, in the storage recess 1a provided in the watch case 1, the windshield member 2 can be attached to the depth of the storage recess 1a. The dial 5 can be arranged close to the dial 5 side, and the distance from the draft shield member 2 to the dial 5 can be shortened compared to the conventional case, and the “back” that has been a problem can be alleviated.
Further, without shortening the distance from the windshield member 2 to the dial plate 5, the length of the solar cell power generation unit 7a in the height direction is made longer than before, and the solar cell non-power generation unit 7c is provided in the watch case 1. By storing in the storage recess 1a, the solar cell power generation unit 7a is irradiated with light that could not contribute to power generation by irradiating the conventional solar cell non-power generation unit 7c with the same depth as before, and more Since a large amount of light can be used for power generation, an arrangement with good power generation efficiency is possible.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a watch case, which is different from the first embodiment in the depth of the recess 11a formed in the watch case 11.
The watch case 11 is formed with a storage recess 11a at a depth to store all of the solar cell non-power generation unit 7c. As a result, the portion of the solar cell 7 that faces the turn ring 6 becomes the solar cell power generation unit 7a, so that all the light that could not contribute to power generation by irradiating the conventional solar cell non-power generation unit is solar cell. An efficient arrangement is possible in which all of the light irradiated to the power generation unit 7a and reaching the solar cell surface can be used for power generation.

As in the first embodiment, a part of the solar cell non-power generation unit 7c is stored in the storage recess 1a, or the entire solar cell non-power generation unit 7c is stored as in the second embodiment. An appropriate one can be adopted depending on the size of the timepiece and the size and shape of the exterior cases 1 and 11 as to store in the recess 11a. For example, when a thin case is used for the watch case and the storage recess cannot be formed deeply, the watch case 1 of the first embodiment is adopted, and a thick case is used for the watch case. If the storage recess can be formed deeply, the watch case 11 of the second embodiment can be employed.

In the first and second embodiments, a timepiece having a round outer shape has been described as an example. However, a timepiece having an elliptical shape or a square shape may be used.

In the first and second embodiments, a structure in which one annular solar cell is arranged is described as an example. However, the solar cell is divided into a plurality of solar cells, and each of the divided solar cells is arranged. The non-power generation unit may be stored in the storage recess 1 a or the storage recess 11 a of the watch case 1 or the watch case 11.

  Further, the depth of the storage recess 11a of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is formed deeper within the cross-sectional height range of the windshield member 2, and the clock ring direction is extended to the upper end of the turn ring 6 The width of the storage recess 11a is widened, and the solar cell non-power generation part 7c and a part of the upper end side of the solar cell power generation part 7a and the upper end part of the turning ring 6 extended to the upper part are stored in the storage recess 11a. In this way, the light receiving area of the solar cell 7 may be extended into the storage recess. That is, the receiving concave portion 11a side is extended so that the solar cell power generation portion 7a and the turn ring 6 are extended to the peripheral portion on the dial plate 5 side within the cross-sectional height range of the dial plate 5. Also, the light receiving area may be expanded.

It is principal part sectional drawing of the electronic timepiece with a solar cell concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view of a solar cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view of the timepiece case which shows the solar cell mounting structure concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the electronic timepiece with a solar cell concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the conventional electronic timepiece with a solar cell.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 11 Clock case 1a, 11a Storage recessed part 1b 1st opening part 1c 2nd opening part 1d Step part 2 Windshield member 3 Back cover 4 Clock movement 4a Groove 4b Solar cell holding part 5 Dial 6 Look-back ring 7 Solar cell 7a Solar cell power generation unit 7b Solar cell non-power generation unit 7c Solar cell non-power generation unit 8 Solar cell terminal

Claims (8)

  A watch movement, a dial, a watch case that houses the watch movement and the dial, a light-transmitting windshield member disposed on the dial, and light transmitted through the windshield member; A solar cell having a power generation unit for generating an electromotive force, and with respect to the dial so that at least a part of the power generation unit is located between the dial and the windshield member An electronic timepiece with a solar cell in which solar cells are arranged substantially vertically, wherein a storage recess for storing an upper end portion of the solar cell is formed in the timepiece case.   The solar cell-equipped electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell has a non-power generation portion formed at the upper end portion.   The solar cell is disposed outside the outer peripheral portion of the windshield member in a plan view of the dial, and the watch case has an opening for arranging the windshield member. A step portion having a predetermined cross-sectional height for mounting the outer peripheral portion of the windshield member is formed, and the storage recess is formed such that the non-power generation portion is positioned up to a cross-sectional height range of the step portion. The electronic timepiece with solar cell according to claim 2, wherein the electronic timepiece has a solar cell.   4. The solar cell-attached electronic timepiece according to claim 3, wherein the storage recess is formed to a depth for storing all of the non-power generation unit.   The solar cell further includes a non-power generation portion on the dial side from the power generation portion, and the non-power generation on the dial side on the timepiece module side from the surface on the windshield member side of the dial. The solar cell-attached electronic timepiece according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the solar cell is arranged so that a portion is located.   The said solar cell is arrange | positioned so that the perimeter of the outer peripheral part of the said windshield member may be surrounded by planar view of the said dial plate, The solar cell with any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. Electronic clock.   The said solar cell is arrange | positioned so that the perimeter of the outer peripheral part of the said dial may be surrounded by planar view of the said dial, The solar cell of any one of Claims 1-6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Electronic clock with.   8. The light-transmitting dial ring is disposed inside the solar cell and in a region between the dial and the windshield member. Electronic watch with solar cell.

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