JP2012185141A - Chronometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chronometer that not only can efficiently utilize light coming incident on the window parts of the dial for power generation by a solar battery but also excels in aesthetic appearance.SOLUTION: A chronometer has a dial, a solar battery provided with a plurality of solar cells installed on the rear side of the dial, and shafts that penetrate window parts and are fitted with pointers, wherein the dial has a window part more light-transmissive than other regions of the dial, the shafts are inserted into holes formed in the solar cells, and the solar battery is so arranged as to keep the outer circumference of the solar cells from being seen through the window parts.

Description

  The present invention relates to a timepiece.

Solar watches equipped with solar cells are widely used because periodic battery replacement is unnecessary. In order to ensure a sufficient voltage, a solar timepiece is usually provided with a solar cell including a solar cell substrate and a plurality of solar cell elements formed on the surface of the substrate.
On the other hand, a multi-axis timepiece (for example, a chronograph timepiece) having another axis (sub-axis) in addition to an axis (main axis) to which an hour hand and a minute hand are attached is known.
A multi-axis solar timepiece having these features is also known.

Such a multi-axis solar timepiece generally has a structure in which a dial is provided with a window portion, and a sub-axis passes through the window portion, and at the boundary (boundary line) portion of a plurality of solar cell elements. A secondary shaft is arranged (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, in such a configuration, there is a region where the solar cell element is not disposed in the window portion that can transmit light, and the light irradiated on the region is used for power generation by the solar cell element. As a result, light utilization efficiency as a whole decreases. Moreover, the boundary of a some solar cell element will be visually recognized as a boundary line, and the aesthetic appearance (aesthetics) of a timepiece will also fall.

JP-A-8-254582 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 7 to 9)

  An object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece that can efficiently use light incident on a window portion of a dial plate for power generation by a solar cell and has an excellent aesthetic appearance.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to use efficiently the light which injected into the window part of the dial plate for the electric power generation by a solar cell, the timepiece excellent in the aesthetic appearance can be provided.

Such an object is achieved by the present invention described below.
The watch of the present invention includes a dial,
A solar cell comprising a plurality of solar cell elements installed on the back side of the dial,
A pointer is attached and has a shaft passing through the window;
The dial has a window portion having a higher light transmittance than other portions of the dial,
The shaft is inserted through a hole provided in the solar cell element,
The solar cell is arranged so that an outer peripheral portion of the solar cell element is not visually recognized from the window portion.
Thereby, the light incident on the window portion of the dial can be efficiently used for power generation by the solar cell, and a watch having an excellent aesthetic appearance can be provided.

In the timepiece of the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of solar cell elements have the same plane area.
Thereby, the variation in the amount of power generated by each solar cell element can be suppressed, the decrease in the current amount as a whole, the decrease in electromotive force can be suppressed, and the overall power generation efficiency can be made particularly excellent. .

In the timepiece of the present invention, the solar cell element has a substantially fan shape,
It is preferable that the hole is provided on a bisector of the central angle of the sector.
Thereby, even if the ratio of the area of the window portion to the area of the solar cell element is relatively large, the outer periphery of the solar cell element (boundary line between adjacent solar cell elements) from the window portion on the appearance of the watch Can be more reliably prevented from being visually recognized. In addition, even when the watch has a large number of solar cell elements, the outer peripheral portion of the solar cell element (the boundary line between adjacent solar cell elements) is visually recognized from the window on the appearance of the watch. Since it can prevent reliably, the further increase of the solar cell element can be aimed at suitably, and the further improvement of the voltage as a whole can be aimed at.

In the timepiece of the present invention, it is preferable that the solar cell element has an arc shape such that a part of the outer peripheral portion thereof is along the edge of the window portion.
In a conventional timepiece having a plurality of solar cell elements (especially four), from the viewpoint of the design of the entire timepiece, the secondary shaft is arranged in the 12 o'clock direction, the 3 o'clock direction, the 6 o'clock direction, or the 9 o'clock direction as viewed from the main axis. Usually, the position of the extraction electrode from the solar cell element is also present in the vicinity of the 12 o'clock direction, 3 o'clock direction, 6 o'clock direction, or 9 o'clock direction as viewed from the main axis, When the outer peripheral portion of the solar cell element is linear from the main shaft supporting the hour hand or the like toward the outer periphery of the dial plate, the region behind the window portion as viewed from the main shaft (12 viewed from the main shaft). In the vicinity of the hour direction, the 3 o'clock direction, the 6 o'clock direction, or the 9 o'clock direction), a boundary line of the solar cell element exists. On the other hand, a part of the outer peripheral portion of the solar cell element has an arc shape along the edge of the window portion, so that a region behind the window portion as viewed from the main shaft position (viewed from the main shaft). In the vicinity of the 12 o'clock direction, the 3 o'clock direction, the 6 o'clock direction, or the 9 o'clock direction), the boundary line of the solar cell element can be suitably configured not to exist. As a result, it is not necessary to change the position of the extraction electrode from the solar cell element from the conventional one, so that the conventional platform can be used as it is. In particular, it is possible to determine the installation position of the countershaft without sacrificing the design of the entire watch, while arranging the solar cell elements so that the outer peripheral portion of the solar cell element is not visually recognized from the window.

It is a fragmentary sectional view showing a 1st embodiment of a timepiece of the present invention. It is a top view which shows 1st Embodiment of the timepiece of this invention. It is a top view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the timepiece of this invention. It is a top view which shows 3rd Embodiment of the timepiece of this invention. It is a top view which shows 4th Embodiment of the timepiece of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing a first embodiment of the timepiece of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the first embodiment of the timepiece of the invention. In addition, each figure emphasizes and shows a part of structure for easy understanding, and does not accurately show actual dimensions and the like.
As shown in FIG. 1, the timepiece (watch) 1 includes a trunk (case) (not shown), a back cover 3, and a glass plate (cover glass) 5. Further, in the space in the case (the space formed by the trunk, the back lid 3 and the glass plate 5), windows 41, 42, 43 and 44 are provided in order from the side where the glass plate 5 is provided. The dial 4, the solar cell 8, and the movement 9 are accommodated.

  The dial 4 may be made of any material, but is a member that greatly affects the aesthetic appearance (aesthetics) of the watch 100 as a whole, and is usually a metal material or a colored plastic material. Etc. are preferably used. The window parts 41, 42, 43, 44 are parts having higher light transmittance than other parts of the dial plate 4 (parts other than the window part). Such window portions 41, 42, 43, and 44 may be, for example, holes provided in the dial 4 or may be made of substantially transparent materials (such as various glass materials and various plastic materials). It may be what was done. Moreover, the window parts 41, 42, 43, and 44 have the same area.

  The solar cell 8 includes a substrate 81 having a substantially circular shape in plan view, and a plurality of solar cell elements 82 (82a, 82b, 82c, 82d) formed on the surface side of the substrate 81. Moreover, the several solar cell element 82 (82a, 82b, 82c, 82d) is connected in series, and is improving the generated voltage. As a result, the solar cell 8 generates power when the sunlight transmitted through the dial 4 hits the solar cell element 82, and the electric power generated by the solar cell element 82 is provided on the circuit board via the conductive member. The secondary battery is charged, and the circuit board or the like is driven by the output of the secondary battery.

Each of the plurality of solar cell elements 82 (82a, 82b, 82c, 82d) has a substantially fan shape, and is installed adjacent to the upper side of the movement 9. Thus, by having a plurality of solar cell elements 82, a higher voltage can be ensured as a whole.
The solar cell elements 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d arranged in this manner receive light (for example, natural light or illumination light) incident from the window portions 41, 42, 43, and 44, and the energy of the light ( A function of converting light energy) into electrical energy. The electric energy converted by the solar cell element 82 is used for driving the movement 9 or the like.
In the solar cell element 82, for example, a p-type impurity and an n-type impurity are selectively introduced into a non-single-crystal silicon thin film, and a p-type non-single-crystal silicon thin film and an n-type non-single-crystal silicon thin film are used. The pin structure has an i-type non-single-crystal silicon thin film with a low impurity concentration.

The movement 9 is provided with a main shaft 61 and auxiliary shafts 62, 63, 64, 65. On the main shaft 61, an hour hand 70a, a minute hand 70b and a second hand 70c as a pointer 7 are rotatably supported. A first small needle 71 as a pointer 7 is rotatably supported on the countershaft 62, and a second small needle 72 as a pointer 7 is rotatably supported on the subshaft 63. 64, a third small needle 73 as a pointer 7 is rotatably supported, and a fourth small needle 74 as a pointer 7 is rotatably supported on the auxiliary shaft 65.
The movement 9 has a built-in mechanism for driving (rotating) the pointer 7 with the electric power generated by the power generation of the solar cell element 82.

  Although omitted in FIG. 1, in the movement 9, for example, an electric double layer capacitor for storing the electromotive force of the solar cell element 82, a lithium ion secondary battery, a crystal oscillator as a time reference source, a crystal A semiconductor integrated circuit that generates a driving pulse that drives the clock based on the oscillation frequency of the vibrator, a step motor that drives the wheel train mechanism every second in response to this driving pulse, and the movement of the step motor A train wheel mechanism for transmitting to the pointer is provided.

The sub-shaft 62 passes through the window 41 and is arranged such that the first small needle 71 exists in the region of the window 41 when viewed in plan. The sub-axis 63 passes through the window portion 42 and is arranged so that the second small needle 72 exists in the region of the window portion 42 when viewed in plan. The sub shaft 64 passes through the window portion 43 and is arranged such that the third small needle 73 exists in the region of the window portion 43 when viewed in plan. The sub-shaft 65 passes through the window portion 44 and is arranged such that the fourth small needle 74 exists in the region of the window portion 44 when viewed in plan.
The main shaft 61 is disposed in a main portion 83 of the solar cell element 82 having a substantially fan shape.

  Each solar cell element 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d is provided with holes 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d penetrating in the thickness direction, and each hole 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d has The sub-shafts 62, 63, 64, and 65 are inserted respectively. And each solar cell element 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d does not visually recognize each outer peripheral part (border (boundary line 86) of the adjacent solar cell element 82) from each window part 41, 42, 43, 44. Is arranged. By arranging the plurality of solar cell elements 82 in this way, there is no useless area where the solar cell elements 82 are not arranged in an area overlapping the light transmitting windows 41, 42, 43, 44. Thus, power generation by the solar cell element 82 can be performed efficiently, and the appearance on the lower surface side of each window portion 41, 42, 43, 44 can be made uniform, and the aesthetic appearance of the watch 100 as a whole. (Aesthetics) can be made excellent.

In the present embodiment, the holes 84a, 84b, 84c, and 84d are provided on the bisector of the central angle of the sector. Thereby, even if the ratio of the area of the window portions 41, 42, 43 to the area of the solar cell element 82 is relatively large, the solar cell is separated from the window portions 41, 42, 43, 44 on the appearance of the timepiece 100. It can prevent more reliably that the outer peripheral part (boundary (boundary line) 86 of the adjacent solar cell element 82) of the element 82 is visually recognized, and can exhibit the above effects more reliably. Even when the timepiece 100 includes a large number of solar cell elements 82, the outer periphery of the solar cell element 82 (adjacent solar cell elements) from the windows 41, 42, 43, 44 on the appearance of the timepiece 100. 82) (boundary line 86) can be more reliably prevented from being visually recognized, and the effects as described above can be more reliably exhibited. Therefore, it is preferable to further increase the number of solar cell elements. As a result, the voltage as a whole can be further improved.
Moreover, it is preferable that the plurality of solar cell elements 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d included in the timepiece 100 have the same plane area. Thereby, the variation in the amount of power generated by each solar cell element 82 can be suppressed, the decrease in the overall current amount and the decrease in electromotive force can be suppressed, and the overall power generation efficiency can be made particularly excellent. it can.

Next, a second embodiment of the timepiece of the invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the timepiece of the invention. Hereinafter, the timepiece according to the second embodiment will be described with a focus on differences from the above-described embodiment, and description of similar matters will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 3, the timepiece 100 of the present embodiment includes three solar cell elements 82 a, 82 b, 82 c, and three windows 41, 42, 43 are provided on the dial 4 so as to correspond to these. Provided, and three countershafts 62, 63, 64 are provided. Thus, the timepiece of the present invention only needs to have a plurality of solar cell elements, and the number of solar cell elements is not limited to four, and may be three. Moreover, the solar cell element with which the timepiece of this invention is provided may be two, and may be five or more.
Further, in the timepiece 100 of the present embodiment, the three solar cell elements 82a, 82b, 82c all have a substantially sector shape, and the central angles of these sector shapes are all 120 °. The planar areas of the elements 82a, 82b, and 82c are the same.

Next, a third embodiment of the timepiece of the invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the timepiece of the invention. Hereinafter, the timepiece according to the third embodiment will be described with a focus on differences from the above-described embodiment, and description of similar matters will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 4, the timepiece 100 of the present embodiment has a window portion for displaying a calendar as a window portion 49 that does not penetrate the shaft, and the solar cell elements 82 a and 82 b are respectively provided on the window portion 49. It has notches 85a and 85b at corresponding positions, and has a shape different from that of the solar cell element 82c not having a notch. Thus, in this invention, the shape of the several solar cell element which comprises a timepiece does not need to have the mutually same shape.

Moreover, in the timepiece of the present invention, it is only necessary that the shaft penetrates at least one of the window portions of the dial plate. As in the present embodiment, the dial plate has a window portion where the solar cell element is not visually recognized. It may be a thing, and may have a window part which the axis does not penetrate.
Further, in the timepiece 100 of the present embodiment, the solar cell elements 82a and 82b having the cutout portions 85a and 85b have a larger sector central angle than the solar cell element 82c having no cutout portion. ing. Thereby, the solar cell elements 82a, 82b and 82c have the same plane area.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the timepiece of the invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a fourth embodiment of the timepiece of the invention. Hereinafter, the timepiece according to the fourth embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the above-described embodiment, and description of similar matters will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the timepiece 100 of this embodiment, the four solar cell elements 82 a, 82 b, 82 c, and 82 d have shapes other than the fan shape. Thus, in the present invention, the shape of the solar cell element is not limited to a substantially fan shape, and may be any shape.
In particular, in the timepiece 100 shown in FIG. 5, the solar cell elements 82 a, 82 b, 82 c, and 82 d each have an arc shape in which a part of the outer peripheral portion is along the edge of the window portions 41, 42, 43, and 44. It is what you make. By having such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained.

  In other words, in a conventional timepiece having a plurality of solar cell elements (particularly four), from the viewpoint of the design of the whole timepiece, the subclockwise direction, 3 o'clock direction, 6 o'clock direction or 9 o'clock direction as viewed from the main shaft Normally, the shaft is installed, and the position of the extraction electrode from the solar cell element is also usually in the vicinity of the 12 o'clock direction, the 3 o'clock direction, the 6 o'clock direction, or the 9 o'clock direction when viewed from the main axis. However, when the outer periphery of the solar cell element is straight from the main shaft supporting the hour hand etc. toward the outer periphery of the dial, the area behind the window as viewed from the position of the main shaft (viewed from the main shaft) In the vicinity of 12 o'clock direction, 3 o'clock direction, 6 o'clock direction, or 9 o'clock direction), there is a boundary line of the solar cell element. On the other hand, as in the present embodiment, a part of the outer peripheral portion of the solar cell element has an arc shape along the edge of the window portion, so that the back of the window portion is seen from the position of the main shaft. The boundary line of the solar cell element can be suitably configured not to exist in a region (near the 12 o'clock direction, 3 o'clock direction, 6 o'clock direction, or 9 o'clock direction as viewed from the main axis). As a result, it is not necessary to change the position of the extraction electrode from the solar cell element from the conventional one, so that the conventional platform can be used as it is. In particular, while arranging the solar cell element so that the outer peripheral portion of the solar cell element is not visually recognized from the window portion, it is possible to determine the installation position of the counter shaft without sacrificing the design of the entire watch, You can enjoy such benefits.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, each solar cell element 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d has an asymmetric shape when viewed in plan. Thereby, when the timepiece 100 is assembled, it is possible to more reliably prevent the solar cell elements from being attached differently.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above.

For example, in the timepiece of the present invention, the configuration of each part can be replaced with an arbitrary configuration that exhibits a similar function, and an arbitrary configuration can be added. For example, the dial may have a printing part formed by various printing methods.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the number of solar cell elements and the number of window portions provided on the dial plate are the same has been described. However, the number of solar cell elements and the windows provided on the dial plate are described. The number of parts may be different. For example, two or more holes may be provided in each solar cell element, and windows corresponding to the number may be provided.

  Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, the conditions as above-mentioned are satisfied between all the solar cell elements and all the window parts which a countershaft penetrates (the outer peripheral part of a solar cell element is not visually recognized from a window part). In the present invention, between the at least one solar cell element and the at least one window portion (the window portion through which the sub shaft passes), the above-described description has been given. Any material satisfying such conditions may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Watch (watch) 3 ... Back cover 4 ... Dial plate 41, 42, 43, 44 ... Window part 49 ... Window part 5 ... Glass plate (cover glass) 61 ... Main shaft 62, 63, 64, 65 ... Secondary shaft 7 ... hand 70a ... hour hand 70b ... minute hand 70c ... second hand 71 ... first small hand 72 ... second small hand 73 ... third small hand 74 ... fourth small hand 8 ... solar cell 81 ... substrate 82, 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d ... Solar cell element (light receiving element) 83 ... Essential part 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d ... Hole 85a, 85b ... Notch 86 ... Boundary (boundary line) 9 ... Movement

Claims (4)

Dial and
A solar cell comprising a plurality of solar cell elements installed on the back side of the dial,
A pointer is attached and has a shaft passing through the window;
The dial has a window portion having a higher light transmittance than other portions of the dial,
The shaft is inserted through a hole provided in the solar cell element,
A timepiece in which the solar cell is arranged so that an outer peripheral portion of the solar cell element is not visually recognized from the window portion.   The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of solar cell elements have the same plane area. The solar cell element is substantially fan-shaped,
The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the hole is provided on a bisector of a central angle of the fan shape.   3. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell element has an arc shape in which a part of an outer peripheral portion thereof follows an edge portion of the window portion.

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