JP2013029469A - Electronic timepiece with solar battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of an electronic timepiece with a solar battery having a structure in which a solar cell is arranged in an outer peripheral portion of a dial nearly perpendicularly to a surface of the dial, in which a connection spring interconnecting the solar battery and a circuit board is visible.SOLUTION: An electronic timepiece with a solar battery comprises: a dial constituting a time display part; a timepiece drive portion; a solar battery for generating power to operate the timepiece drive portion, the solar battery provided with an output terminal on a light receiving surface thereof and arranged annularly in an outer peripheral portion of the dial with the light receiving surface turned to the center of the time display part; and a connection member for conducting the power from the solar battery to a circuit board in the timepiece drive portion. In the electronic timepiece, a connection position between the connection member and the solar battery is arranged in a range between the 3 o'clock position and the 9 o'clock position across the 6 o'clock position in the time display part.

Description

The present invention relates to a structure of an electronic timepiece with a solar cell, and more particularly to an electronic timepiece with a solar cell in which the solar cell is arranged substantially perpendicular to the surface of a timepiece dial.

Electronic watches that place solar cells in the watch movement have become widespread because there is no need for battery replacement, and not only a three-hand type watch with a normal second, minute, and hour hands, but also a chronograph function and Products with additional functions such as an automatic time correction function that receives standard radio waves have been put into practical use.
An electronic timepiece on which a solar cell is mounted generally has a structure in which a dial plate is formed of a light semi-transmissive material, and a plate-like solar cell is disposed between the dial plate and the timepiece driving unit.
When the above arrangement structure is adopted, there is a problem in that the design of the dial plate is restricted because the dial plate needs to be formed of a light translucent material.
In order to eliminate such a design restriction of the dial, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, an electronic timepiece with a solar cell in which a solar cell is annularly arranged on the outer periphery of the dial instead of under the dial is provided. Proposed. In this timepiece, since the light-receiving surface (power generation surface) of the solar cell is arranged on the outer periphery of the dial so that it faces the center side of the time display unit, the dial is no longer restricted in terms of design.
Further, in the timepiece of Patent Document 1, since the light receiving surface of the solar cell is arranged substantially perpendicular to the dial surface, it is somewhat disadvantageous in terms of receiving light. In order to compensate for this, in the timepiece of Patent Document 1, light is efficiently guided to the solar cell by a light guide member disposed between the outer edge of the dial and the solar cell. Further, the light guide member makes it difficult to see the dark brown color of the power generation surface of the solar cell so that the user is not aware of the presence of the solar cell.
Furthermore, in Patent Document 1, since the power generation surface of the solar cell faces the center side of the time display unit and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the surface of the dial plate, the output electrode on the power generation surface and the timepiece drive unit The circuit board is configured to conduct with an elastic connection spring.

JP 2003-130974 A

However, when there is a connection spring that conducts the solar cell and the circuit board as in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that a part of the connection spring is visually recognized. In the case of Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 5 of the same document, since a part of the connection spring is at the 2 o'clock position in the time display area, there are mounting bands at the general 6 o'clock position and 12 o'clock position. In the attached watch, when the user checks the time, the gold color of the connecting spring comes into view. Since the position of the connection spring is below the dial surface, it may not be visible at first glance, but in reality, part of the light guided to the bottom of the dial through the light guide member reaches the connection spring. It is considered that it is reflected by the surface of the connection spring and returns to the light guide member, which is visually recognized.
By providing a shield with a dial spacer on the straight line connecting the outer edge of the dial and the connection spring, the gold color of the connection spring cannot be confirmed directly, but it is still connected in the dark brown of the solar cell and dial spacer. The gold-colored luster of the spring may be perceived by being slightly leaked into the appearance due to reflection.
In addition, as a similar problem, there is a problem that the edge of the solar cell is also in view. The solar cell used in the watch of Patent Document 1 is a film-like solar cell having a band shape. And it is arranged to be curved in an annular shape on the outer edge of the dial plate, but the length of the solar cell is usually set to be slightly longer than the length of the outer edge of the dial plate, and both ends are arranged to overlap. . There was also a problem that the overlapping portion was visually recognized.
The present invention provides a timepiece structure for making it difficult to visually recognize the presence of a connection spring that conducts a solar cell disposed on an outer edge of a dial and a circuit board of a timepiece driving unit in the electronic timepiece with a solar cell. It is in.

In order to achieve the above object, the solar cell electronic timepiece of the present invention employs the following means.
A dial plate that constitutes a time display unit, a timepiece drive unit, and a solar cell that generates electric power for operating the timepiece drive unit, and has an output terminal on a light receiving surface, and the light receiving surface displays the time display A solar cell-equipped electronic timepiece having a solar cell that is annularly arranged on the outer periphery of the dial while facing the center side of the dial, and a connection member for conducting the power of the solar cell to the circuit board of the timepiece drive unit In the above, the connection position between the connection member and the solar cell is arranged at a position that becomes a blind spot when the timepiece user visually recognizes the time.

According to the present invention, the connection position of the conducting member for conducting the circuit board of the timepiece driving unit and the solar cell is disposed at a position where the timepiece user visually recognizes the time, so that the dead time is reached. When confirming, it becomes difficult to visually recognize the connection member.
Although the present invention is not limited, for example, in the structure of a time display unit of a general timepiece, when a connection spring is arranged in a range from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock with the 6 o'clock position in between, the 6 o'clock position is Since the light reflected from the connection spring is blocked by the inner edge of the case from the user's field of view before the user, unpleasant light reflected from the connection member is not easily recognized by the user.

It is sectional drawing which shows the electronic timepiece with a solar cell in embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the 6 o'clock position of the electronic timepiece with a solar cell in embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the solar cell used for the electronic timepiece with a solar cell in embodiment of this invention. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows a display state when a wristwatch user visually recognizes the time with 6 o'clock side in front, and (b) is a rectangular area when the time is visually recognized in the state of (a). It is explanatory drawing which showed by hatching. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which mounted | wore the arm with the electronic timepiece with a solar cell in embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the electronic timepiece with solar cell in the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an electronic timepiece with a solar cell according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view at the 6 o'clock position. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the solar cell in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the appearance of the solar cell equipped electronic timepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the solar cell-equipped electronic timepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention is used.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a timepiece driving unit, and 3 denotes a dial mounted on the timepiece driving unit 10. 2 is a solar cell, 4 is a prism for guiding light such as sunlight to the solar cell 2 and making the solar cell 2 difficult to see. Reference numeral 5 denotes a case, and 6 denotes glass that covers the time display unit. Reference numeral 1 denotes a support member that holds the solar cell 2 and the prism 4 and is interposed to adapt the timepiece driving unit 10 and the dial 3 to the case 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the support member 1 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the timepiece driving unit 10 and holds the timepiece driving unit 10 and the dial 3. The support member 1 holding the timepiece driving unit 10 is housed in the case 5.
Although not shown, the timepiece drive unit 10 serves as a base of the timepiece drive unit 10 and drives a pointer between a ground plate that holds components (not shown) such as a train wheel mechanism and a circuit board and a train wheel bridge. The train wheel is rotatably supported.
Furthermore, a quartz substrate serving as a time reference source, a circuit board holding a semiconductor integrated circuit, and the like are disposed on the ground plane. The solar cell timepiece of this embodiment divides the reference signal of the crystal resonator by a semiconductor integrated circuit device mounted on a circuit board, and rotates the rotor of the step motor at a predetermined cycle, for example, a 1 second cycle. The rotation of the rotor is transmitted to the central vehicle via the fourth wheel and the third wheel, which are reduction gear trains, and the central vehicle rotates once in one hour. The rotation of the central wheel is transmitted to the hour wheel via the minute wheel which is a reduction gear train, and the hour wheel rotates once in 12 hours.
The support member 1 shown in FIG. 1 is made of a resin material, and has a convex portion 1f on its outer peripheral portion and a solar cell guide 1b on the outer peripheral portion side with a slight gap from the convex portion 1f.
The convex portion 1f includes an inner wall 1c facing the end surface 3a of the dial 3, an outer wall 1g facing the solar cell guide 1b with a predetermined gap, and a top portion 1e between the inner wall 1c and the outer wall 1g. Have Further, the support member 1 is provided with a dial receiving surface 1d on which the dial 3 is placed and in contact with the dial back surface 3b.
A gap between the inner peripheral wall surface and the outer wall 1g of the solar cell guide 1b serves as a solar cell storage portion 1a that stores and holds the solar cell 2. The solar cell 2 stored and held in the solar cell storage portion 1a is prevented from being inclined obliquely by the outer wall 1g of the convex portion 1f, and the power generation surface (signing) is made substantially perpendicular to the surface of the dial 3 It can be retained.
The solar cell 2 is configured by laminating amorphous silicon layers having different conductivity types on a resin substrate typified by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyether nitrile (PEN). The substrate made of a resin material has flexibility, and the solar cell 2 can be freely rounded or bent to some extent without impairing the power generation characteristics.
An annular prism 4 made of a translucent material is disposed on the light receiving surface 2 a side of the solar cell 2. The prism 4 has a role of making the solar cell 2 difficult to see when the solar cell 2 is viewed from the glass 6 side, and efficiently refracting light incident on the prism 4 through the glass 6 to the light receiving surface of the solar cell 2. It has the role of light irradiation.
The prism 4 includes a prism surface and has a cross-sectional shape having six surfaces.
The prism 4 is sandwiched and fixed between the top 1 e of the support member 1 and the flange 5 a of the case 5.
The prism 4 is formed of a colorless and transparent polycarbonate material that easily transmits light. Therefore, the light that passes through the glass 6 and enters from the dial 3 side passes through the prism 4 and enters the power generation surface of the solar cell 2, and a photovoltaic power is generated in the solar cell 2.
A back cover 11 that seals the inside of the case 5 is fixed to the side of the case 5 opposite to the glass 6 fixing surface.
Since the solar cell 2 is formed on the substrate made of a resin material as described above, when it is incorporated in the solar cell storage portion 1a of the support member 1, a force to spread by the elastic force of the resin substrate works. The solar cell guide 1b is held so as to stick to the inner wall surface.
Moreover, the length of the solar cell 2 is configured to be longer than the outer peripheral length of the dial 3. For this reason, when the solar cell 2 is incorporated in the solar cell storage portion 1a, as shown in FIG. 2, both end portions in the length direction of the solar cell 2 overlap between the solar cell guide 1b at 6 o'clock and the convex portion 1f. Are arranged.
In this way, in the handling and assembling process after the solar cell 2 is incorporated into the support member 1 by being housed and held in the solar cell housing 1a so that the lengthwise ends of the solar cell 2 overlap, 2 does not come off from the solar cell guide 1b, and an effect of improving workability can be obtained.
In order to exhibit this effect, the gap dimension between the inner wall surface and the outer wall 1g of the solar cell guide 1b, that is, the width dimension of the solar cell storage portion 1a is slightly larger than twice the thickness dimension of the solar cell 2. It is set to be.
The connection structure between the solar cell 2 and the circuit board of the timepiece driving unit 10 is as follows. As shown in FIG. 2, the solar cell 2 is composed of a solar cell light receiving portion 2a and a solar cell electrode portion 2b. The solar cell electrode 1b is arranged at the 6 o'clock display position on the dial of the support member 1. One end where the portion 2b is formed is inserted and fixed.
The most important feature of the present invention is that the connection position between the solar cell 2 and the connection spring 7 is arranged within the range from the 3 o'clock position to the 9 o'clock position across the 6 o'clock position of the time display section. It is. In this embodiment, the connection position between the connection spring 7 and the solar cell 2 is disposed at the 6 o'clock position, and the connection spring 7 is disposed and fixed on the surface of the circuit board 10 a of the timepiece driving unit 10. That is, at the 6 o'clock position, one end of the solar cell 2 on which the solar cell output terminal portion 2b is formed is inserted into the portion of the support member 1 that penetrates the bottom surface of the solar cell connection terminal storage portion 1a and positioned. The solar cell light receiving part 2a is arranged in a ring around the solar cell storage part 1a of the support member 1, and the other end is one of the end parts where the solar cell connection terminal part 2b is formed. It arrange | positions so that it may overlap in a peripheral part.
And in order to conduct | electrically_connect the connection spring 7 and the solar cell connection terminal part 2b, the edge part in which the solar cell connection terminal part 2b was formed with the solar cell guide 1b of the supporting member 1 is hold | maintained. As shown in FIG. 2, the solar cell guide 1 b has a shape extending to the connection spring 7 side further below the dial 3. Thereby, the back surface of the solar cell 2 is held, and the electrical energy obtained by the solar cell 2 is conducted by the connection spring 7 from the solar cell connection terminal portion 2b to the circuit board 10a of the timepiece drive unit 10.
4 and 5 show states when the solar cell timepiece thus configured is viewed. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing a display state when the wristwatch user visually recognizes the time with the 6 o'clock side facing forward, and FIG. 4B shows the time visually recognized in the state of FIG. 4A. It is explanatory drawing which showed the area | region used as a blind spot by the oblique line. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the solar cell-equipped electronic timepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the arm.
When visually recognizing the normal time display unit, the 6 o'clock side is in front as shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, the region 13 from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock with 12 o'clock is in a state where the inner inner surface can be visually recognized by the user, but at 6 o'clock which is troublesome for the user. The side becomes a blind spot and it becomes difficult to see the edge of the time display area. That is, as shown by the hatched portion in FIG. 4B, when the dial 3 is viewed from a diagonally upper position of the 6 o'clock position, a region 12 blocked by the case inner edge 5a is generated.
Since the region 12 blocked by the case inner edge 5a is in the range from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock with the 6 o'clock position in between, the connection position of the connection spring 7 and the connection terminal 2b of the solar cell 2 is within this region. By disposing, the light reflected by the connection spring 7 is not visually recognized by the watch user. Similarly, the position where both ends of the solar cell 2 overlap is also not visually recognized by arranging it in this region.
In this embodiment, the wristwatch is described as an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the wristwatch. For example, a wall clock or the like is often arranged on a wall surface slightly higher than the line of sight, so that it is as effective as a wristwatch.
Depending on the design of the watch, the range of the blind spot of the watch user may not necessarily be within the range from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock with the 6 o'clock position in between. What is necessary is just to arrange | position the connection position of the connection spring 7 and the connection terminal 2b of the solar cell 2 in the range which becomes a blind spot of a person. Improvements without departing from the features of the present invention are included in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Support member 1a Solar cell storage part 1b Solar cell guide 1f Convex part 2 Solar cell 3 Dial 4 Prism 5 Case 6 Glass 8 Dial decoration part 10 Movement main part

Claims (4)

A dial plate that constitutes a time display unit, a timepiece drive unit, and a solar cell that generates electric power for operating the timepiece drive unit, and has an output terminal on a light receiving surface, and the light receiving surface displays the time display A solar cell-equipped electronic timepiece having a solar cell that is annularly arranged on the outer periphery of the dial while facing the center side of the dial, and a connection member for conducting the power of the solar cell to the circuit board of the timepiece drive unit The solar cell-attached electronic timepiece is characterized in that the connection position between the connection member and the solar cell is arranged at a position that becomes a blind spot when the timepiece user visually recognizes the time. The position at which the blind spot when the watch user visually recognizes the time is within a range from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock with the 6 o'clock position of the time display unit interposed therebetween. Electronic watch with solar battery. The solar cell is a rectangular and strip-like film-like solar cell, and the length of the solar cell is longer than the length of the outer edge of the dial, and both end portions are overlapped, and the overlapping both end portions The electronic timepiece with solar cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein is arranged within the range. The electronic timepiece with solar cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connecting member is a spring member having elasticity.

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