JP2017142190A - Information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information display device with which it is possible to realize decorative display while being filled with a liquid.SOLUTION: An electric timepiece 10 includes: a disk pointer 21 equipped with an indicator 21a for hour hand; a disk pointer 22 equipped with an indicator 22a for minute hand; an accommodation part 36 for accommodating the indicator 21a for hour hand, the indicator 22a for minute hand, and the disk pointers 21 and 22, and provided with a cover glass 33 having light permeability at positions facing the indicator 21a for hour hand, the indicator 22a for minute hand, and the disk pointers 21 and 22; and a liquid 37 filled in the accommodation part 36 and having light permeability. The disk pointers 21 and 22 have light permeability. The indicator 21a for hour hand and the indicator 22a for minute hand have a higher light refractive index than the disk pointers 21 and 22 and a liquid 37. The liquid 37 suppresses reflection of light at a boundary face with the disk pointers 21 and 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display device.

  An apparatus in which a housing part such as a case in which a display part is housed is filled with a transparent liquid is known (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-266867 A

  An information display device such as a clock is generally required to be practical and decorative. For this reason, it is desired to realize a decorative display even in an apparatus in which a container is filled with a liquid as described in Patent Document 1.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the situation mentioned above, and makes it a solution subject to implement | achieve the display with a decoration in the apparatus with which the liquid was filled.

One aspect of the information display device of the present invention accommodates an index, a mounting section on which the index is mounted, the index and the mounting section, and provides light transmission at a position facing the index and the mounting section. An accommodating portion having a transmissive member, and a liquid that is filled in the accommodating portion and has a light transmitting property, the mounting portion has a light transmitting property, and the indicator includes the mounting portion and the mounting portion. The reflectance of light is higher than that of liquid, and the liquid suppresses reflection of light at the interface with the mounting portion.
According to this aspect, since reflection of light at the interface between the liquid and the mounting portion is suppressed, the boundary between the liquid and the mounting portion becomes difficult to be visually recognized in addition to the light-transmitting liquid and the mounting portion. . Therefore, it is possible to make the index appear to the user as if the index is floating in the accommodating portion, and a display with a decorative property is possible.

In one aspect of the information display device described above, it is preferable that the mounting portion is fixed to the housing portion. Note that “the mounting portion is fixed to the housing portion” means that the mounting portion may be directly fixed to the housing portion, or the mounting portion may be indirectly fixed to the housing portion via some member. Including what may be.
According to this aspect, the indicator appears to float at a fixed position in the accommodating portion, and a decorative display is possible.

In one aspect of the information display device described above, it is preferable that the mounting unit changes the position of the index.
According to this aspect, the indicator appears to move in a state of floating in the accommodating portion, and a more decorative display is possible.

In one aspect of the information display device described above, it is preferable that the mounting unit changes the position of the index by rotation about a rotation axis.
According to this aspect, the indicator appears to rotate and move in a state of floating in the accommodating portion, and a more decorative display is possible.

In one aspect of the information display device described above, the index includes a first index and a second index, and the mounting unit is mounted with the first index and fixed to the housing unit, It is desirable to include a second mounting portion that mounts the second index and changes the position of the second index.
For example, in a situation where the refractive index of the liquid and the refractive index of the mounting portion are different, when light transmitted through the mounting portion is reflected by some member in the housing portion or the inner wall of the housing portion, the light is transmitted between the liquid and the mounting portion. Refracts at the interface. And by this refraction, the user visually recognizes the position of the member or the inner wall at a position shifted as compared with the case where there is no refraction.
On the other hand, light reflected by each of the first index and the second index out of the light incident on the internal space does not pass through the interface between the liquid and the mounting portion, so that the user is not affected by the above-described refraction. Is visually recognized.
For this reason, the first index and the second index are visually recognized by the user while maintaining the positional relationship between the first index and the second index. However, the positional relationship between the first index and the second index and the member or the inner wall is visually recognized by the user without maintaining the positional relationship depending on the presence or absence of refraction described above.
Therefore, the information represented by the combination of the first index and the second index has higher visibility than the information represented by the combination of the first index and the second index and the member or the inner wall.

In one aspect of the information display device described above, the refractive index of the mounting portion is larger than the refractive index of air, and the refractive index of the liquid is larger than the refractive index of the air and equal to or lower than the refractive index of the mounting portion. It is desirable.
According to this aspect, it is possible to suppress the reflection of light at the interface with the mounting portion and make it difficult to visually recognize the boundary as compared with the case where the housing portion is filled with air instead of the liquid. Thus, the decorativeness can be improved.

In one aspect of the information display device described above, a photovoltaic unit that converts light energy into electrical energy is provided in the housing portion on the side opposite to the side where the transmission member of the mounting portion is disposed. It is desirable that
According to this aspect, since the reflection of light at the interface between the liquid and the mounting portion is suppressed, it is possible to increase the amount of light that reaches the photovoltaic unit without being reflected at the interface. Therefore, the amount of power generated by the photovoltaic power generation unit can be increased.

1 is a plan view showing an electronic timepiece 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an outline of an electronic timepiece 10. 2 is an electric control block diagram of the electronic timepiece 10. FIG.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an electronic timepiece 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the electronic timepiece 10.
Hereinafter, an example in which the electronic timepiece 10 is a wristwatch will be described. However, the electronic timepiece 10 is not limited to a wristwatch, and may be a timepiece such as a table clock or a wall clock. The electronic timepiece 10 is an example of an information display device.

The electronic timepiece 10 displays the time on the surface (hereinafter referred to as “front surface”) opposite to the surface that contacts the arm (hereinafter referred to as “back surface”).
As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic timepiece 10 includes an exterior case 30, a cover glass 33, and a back cover 34 made of metal. The cover glass 33 is an example of a transmissive member having light permeability.
The exterior case 30 includes a cylindrical case 31 made of metal, a bezel 32 made of ceramic, and outer body members 35a and 35b made of ceramic. Of the two openings of the outer case 30, the opening on the front surface side is closed by the cover glass 33 via the bezel 32, and the opening on the back surface side is closed by the back cover 34.
The outer case 30, the cover glass 33, and the back cover 34 are included in the housing portion 36. The housing part 36 defines an internal space 36 a of the electronic timepiece 10. The internal space 36a is filled with a liquid 37.

The liquid 37 has light permeability and insulating properties. The liquid 37 is, for example, a transparent liquid. As the liquid 37, for example, a colorless and transparent fluorine-based inert liquid is used. As an example of a colorless and transparent fluorine-based inert liquid, trade name “Froninate” (registered trademark) (manufactured by Hiejiang Chemical Co., Ltd.) may be mentioned. The liquid 37 is not limited to “Froninate” but can be changed as appropriate.
Since the cover glass 33 and the liquid 37 are light transmissive, the user can visually recognize the internal space 36 a through the cover glass 33 and the liquid 37.

  The bezel 32 on which the cover glass 33 is mounted is fitted to the case 31 on the surface side of the electronic timepiece 10. On the inner peripheral side of the bezel 32, the dial plate 11 is fixedly disposed via a ring-shaped dial ring 40 formed of a plastic (for example, transparent plastic) having light permeability. The dial ring 40 is fixed to the dial plate 11, that is, fixed to the accommodating portion 36 via the dial plate 11. The dial ring 40 may be directly fixed to the housing portion 36 (for example, the bezel 32). Further, the dial ring 40 may be fixed to the accommodating portion 36 in a state where the dial ring 40 is sandwiched between the dial 11 and the outer case 30. That is, the dial ring 40 may be directly or indirectly fixed to the housing portion 36.

The dial plate 11 is a circular plate member on which characters for displaying the time inside the outer case 30 are described. The dial plate 11 is made of a light-transmitting material such as transparent plastic. Here, the character described on the dial 11 is formed of a material that does not have optical transparency. Instead of the dial plate 11, a circular plate material that is formed of a light-transmitting material and has no characters described therein may be used.
Between the dial plate 11 and the cover glass 33, disk-shaped hands (hereinafter referred to as “disk hands”) 21 and 22 and a dial ring 40 are located.

  The disk pointers 21 and 22 and the dial ring 40 are formed of a light-transmitting material such as transparent plastic. The refractive indexes of the disk pointers 21 and 22 and the dial ring 40 may be equal to each other, or at least two of the three refractive indexes of the disk pointers 21 and 22 and the dial ring 40 may be different. Good.

The disk pointers 21 and 22 circulate by rotation around a pointer shaft (rotating shaft) 25 penetrating the dial 11.
The pointer shaft 25 is provided along a central axis that extends in the front and back direction through the center of the exterior case 30 in plan view. The pointer shaft 25 is driven by a drive mechanism 140 provided inside the outer case 30. The pointer shaft 25 may have the same refractive index and light transmittance as the disk pointer 21 and the disk pointer 22, or may not have light transmittance.

The disk pointers 21 and 22 and the dial ring 40 are examples of mounting portions, respectively. Furthermore, the dial ring 40 is an example of a first mounting portion, and the disk pointers 21 and 22 are examples of a second mounting portion.
The disk pointer 21 goes around once in 12 hours. An hour hand index 21 a is mounted on the peripheral side of the disk pointer 21. The hour hand index 21a is an example of an index and a second index. The hour hand index 21a functions as an hour hand.
The disk pointer 22 makes one turn in one hour. A minute hand indicator 22 a is mounted on the peripheral portion of the disk pointer 22. The minute hand index 22a is an example of an index and a second index. The minute hand index 22a functions as a minute hand.
The outer peripheral end of the dial ring 40 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the bezel 32. The dial ring 40 includes a flat plate portion 40 a that is parallel to the cover glass 33 and an inclined portion 40 b that is inclined toward the dial plate 11 such that the inner peripheral end contacts the dial plate 11.
The dial ring 40 has a ring shape in plan view and a mortar shape in sectional view.
On the dial ring 40, an index 41 indicating each hour from 1 o'clock to 12 o'clock is mounted at a position corresponding to each hour from 1 o'clock to 12 o'clock (see FIG. 1). The index 41 is an example of a first index.
Each of the hour hand indicator 21a, the minute hand indicator 22a, and the indicator 41 is formed of, for example, diamond. The materials of the hour hand index 21a, the minute hand index 22a, and the index 41 are not limited to diamond, but may be any material that has a higher light reflectivity than the disk pointers 21 and 22, the dial ring 40, and the liquid 37. Further, the shape of the hour hand indicator 21a may be the hour hand shape, and the shape of the minute hand indicator 22a may be the minute hand shape.

The liquid 37 suppresses reflection of light at the interface with the dial ring 40, the interface with the disk pointer 21, and the interface with the disk pointer 22.
For example, when the refractive indexes of the dial ring 40, the disk pointer 21, and the disk pointer 22 are equal, a liquid having a refractive index similar to the refractive index is used as the liquid 37.
In this case, reflection of light can be suppressed with high probability at each of the interface between the liquid 37 and the dial ring 40, the interface between the liquid 37 and the disk pointer 21, and the interface between the liquid 37 and the disk pointer 22.
Therefore, in addition to the light-transmitting liquid 37, the light-transmitting dial ring 40, and the light-transmitting disk pointers 21 and 22, the boundary between the liquid 37 and the dial ring 40, and the liquid 37 The boundary with the disk pointers 21 and 22 is also difficult to be visually recognized.
For this reason, the indicator 41 on the dial ring 40 appears to float in the internal space 36 a, and the hour hand indicator 21 a mounted on the moving disc pointer 21 and the minute hand indicator mounted on the moving disc pointer 22. 22a appears to move in a state of floating in the internal space 36a. Thereby, a decorative display is possible.

Further, for example, in a situation where the refractive index of the dial ring 40, the disk pointer 21 and the disk pointer 22 are equal and the value is a value of 1.30 to 1.59 (for example, 1.59), the refractive index of the liquid 37 is 1. .29, the difference between the refractive index of each of the dial ring 40 and the disk pointers 21 and 22 and the refractive index of the liquid 37 (hereinafter referred to as “first refractive index difference”) is the dial ring 40 and the disk pointer 21. And 22 and smaller than the difference between the refractive index of air and the refractive index of air (= 1) (hereinafter referred to as “second refractive index difference”).
In this way, when the first refractive index difference is smaller than the second refractive index difference, the dial ring 40 and the disk pointers 21 and 22 are less visible as compared with the case where air is filled instead of the liquid 37, and the decoration. Display is possible.
The refractive index of the liquid 37 is not limited to 1.29, and can be changed as appropriate as long as it is larger than the refractive index of air and is equal to or lower than the refractive indexes of the disk pointers 21 and 22 and the dial ring 40.
In this case, the refractive index of the liquid 37 is closer to the refractive indexes of the disk pointers 21 and 22 and the dial ring 40 than the refractive index of air. Therefore, compared with the case where air is filled instead of the liquid 37, reflection of light (including irregular reflection) at the interface between the disk pointers 21 and 22, the dial ring 40, and the liquid 37 can be further suppressed. Become. Further, since the refractive index of the liquid 37 is equal to or lower than the refractive indexes of the disk pointers 21 and 22 and the dial ring 40, the light incident from the cover glass 33 and passing through the liquid 37 is reflected by the disk pointers 21 and 22 and the dial ring. The possibility of total reflection at the interface with 40 can be reduced.
The refractive indexes of the disk pointers 21 and 22 and the dial ring 40 are not limited to the values of 1.30 to 1.59, but are appropriately changed as long as they are larger than the refractive index of air and equal to or higher than the refractive index of the liquid 37. Is possible.

  The case 31 is provided with a pair of cans (not shown) for attaching a band to each side face of the 12 o'clock side and the 6 o'clock side as viewed from the center of the dial 11. The band may be a strap or a belt.

  The outer body members 35a and 35b are attached to the mutually opposing side surfaces of the case 31 between the 12 o'clock side can and the 6 o'clock side can with screws or the like.

A solar panel 135 that performs photovoltaic power generation is provided between the dial plate 11 and the ground plate 125 to which the driving mechanism 140 is attached. The position between the dial plate 11 and the base plate 125 is an example of a position facing the opposite side to the cover glass 33 side of the dial ring 40 and the disk pointers 21 and 22 in the housing portion 36. The solar panel 135 is an example of a photovoltaic unit. The solar panel 135 is a circular flat plate in which a plurality of solar cells (photovoltaic elements) that convert light energy into electric energy (electric power) are connected in series. The solar panel 135 also has a sunlight detection function. The drive mechanism 140 is driven using the power generated by the solar panel 135.
As described above, the light incident on the internal space 36a through the cover glass 33 is prevented from being reflected at the interface between the liquid 37 and the dial ring 40 or the disk pointers 21 and 22. For this reason, it becomes possible to increase the quantity of the light which reaches | attains the solar panel 135, without being reflected by those interfaces. Therefore, the amount of power generated by the solar panel 135 can be increased. In addition, since the drive mechanism 140 is driven using the power generated by the solar panel 135, it is possible to reduce the replacement frequency of the drive battery. Therefore, the frequency of opening the back cover 34 to replace the battery can be reduced, and the liquid 37 can be prevented from leaking when the back cover 34 is opened.
In addition, the dial 11, the solar panel 135, and the base plate 125 are formed with holes through which the pointer shaft 25 passes.

  The drive mechanism 140 is attached to the ground plane 125 and is covered with the circuit board 120 from the back side. The drive mechanism 140 includes a step motor (not shown) and a gear train (not shown) such as a gear. As the step motor rotates the pointer shaft 25 via the train wheel, the disk pointers 21 and 22 are driven.

The circuit board 120 includes a control unit 150 and a secondary battery 130 such as a lithium ion battery. The secondary battery 130 is charged with the power generated by the solar panel 135.
A support part 115 is provided between the circuit board 120 and the ground plate 125. A circuit holder 123 connected to the ground potential of the circuit board 120 is provided below the circuit board 120.

  The ground plate 125 is made of plastic parts. The ground plate 125 is provided with an attachment portion (not shown) for the drive mechanism 140 and the secondary battery 130 and a fixing portion (not shown) for fixing the solar panel 135 and the dial plate 11.

Next, the electrical configuration of the electronic timepiece 10 will be described.
FIG. 3 is an electric control block diagram of the electronic timepiece 10. The electronic timepiece 10 includes a control unit 150 having a basic configuration of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 153, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 154, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 155, and peripheral devices of the input device 157 and the drive mechanism 140. I have. Each of these devices transmits and receives data via the data bus 159. The input device 157 is the crown 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The electronic timepiece 10 includes a rechargeable secondary battery 130 (see FIG. 2) serving as a power source.

  The RAM 154 and the ROM 155 are storage units of the electronic timepiece 10. The ROM 155 stores a program executed by the CPU 153 and the like. The CPU 153 uses the RAM 154 as a work area and executes various programs, controls, and timings by executing programs stored in the ROM 155. This timing is performed, for example, by counting the number of reference signal pulses from an oscillation circuit (not shown).

  The CPU 153 performs control to drive the drive mechanism 140 so that the time measured by an internal clock (not shown) is displayed. As a result, the electronic timepiece 10 displays the internal time by the dial 11 and the disk pointers 21 and 22.

According to the present embodiment, the hour hand indicator 21a and the minute hand indicator 22a for displaying the time appear to rotate in a state of floating in the internal space 36a, and a decorative display is possible.
Of the light incident on the internal space 36 a through the cover glass 33, the light reflected by the characters on the dial 11 passes through the disk pointer 21, the disk pointer 22, the dial ring 40, and the liquid 37 and passes through the user 37. May be visible. Here, when the refractive index of the liquid 37 is different from that of the disk pointer 21, the disk pointer 22 and the dial ring 40, refraction occurs at the interface between the liquid 37 and the disk pointer 21, the disk pointer 22 or the dial ring 40. Then, due to this refraction, the user visually recognizes the position of the character on the dial plate 11 at a position shifted as compared with the case where there is no refraction.
On the other hand, of the light incident on the internal space 36 a through the cover glass 33, the light reflected by the hour hand index 21 a, the minute hand index 22 a and the index 41 passes through the disk pointer 21, the disk pointer 22 and the dial ring 40. Instead, it is visually recognized by the user through the liquid 37. For this reason, the light reflected by the hour hand index 21a, the minute hand index 22a, and the index 41 is visually recognized by the user without being influenced by the above-described refraction.
Therefore, the hour hand index 21a and the minute hand index 22a and the index 41 are set by the user while maintaining the positional relationship between the hour hand index 21a and the index 41 and the positional relationship between the minute hand indicator 22a and the index 41. Visible. However, the positional relationship between the hour hand index 21a and the minute hand index 22a and the characters on the dial 11 is visually recognized by the user without being maintained depending on the presence or absence of refraction described above.
Therefore, the time information represented by the combination of the hour hand index 21a and the minute hand index 22a and the index 41 is the time information represented by the combination of the hour hand index 21a and the minute hand index 22a and the characters on the dial 11. Visibility is higher than information.

<Modification>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications such as those shown below can be added.

<Modification 1>
The shape of the mounting portion (disc pointer 21) on which the hour hand indicator 21a is mounted and the shape of the mounting portion (disc pointer 22) on which the minute hand indicator 22a is mounted are not limited to the disc shape and can be changed as appropriate. For example, an indicator having the hour hand shape mounted with the hour hand indicator 21a may be used as the mounting portion on which the hour hand indicator 21a is mounted, and the minute hand indicator 22a is mounted as the mounting portion on which the minute hand indicator 22a is mounted. A pointer having the shape of a minute hand may be used.

<Modification 2>
In the above embodiment, the dial ring 40 and the disk pointers 21 and 22 are all configured to have light transmission. For example, the dial ring 40 does not have light transmission, and the disk pointers 21 and 22 At least one of them may have light transmittance. In this case, the liquid 37 suppresses the reflection of light at the interface between the disk pointers 21 and 22 and the disk pointer having light transmittance.
Further, the dial ring 40 has light transmittance, and either or both of the disk pointers 21 and 22 do not have to have light transmittance. In this case, the liquid 37 suppresses reflection of light at the interface with the dial ring 40 and the interface between the disk pointers 21 and 22 and the disk pointer having light permeability.
In addition to the index 41, the dial ring 40 may be mounted with a member that does not transmit light. In addition to the hour hand index 21a, the disk index 21 may be mounted with a member that does not have optical transparency. In addition to the minute hand index 22a, the disk index 22 may be mounted with a member that does not have optical transparency.
If at least the disk pointer 21 does not transmit light, the positional relationship between the disk pointer 21 and the disk pointer 22 is reversed (the disk pointer 21 is located on the dial 11 side, and the disk pointer 22 is covered). (Positional relationship located on the glass 33 side).

<Modification 3>
The pointer shaft 25 is further provided with a disk pointer that has the same refractive index and light transmittance as the disk pointer 21 and makes one turn in one minute. The disk pointer is for a second hand formed of diamond or the like. An indicator may be mounted.
In this case, the second hand indicator also appears to rotate and move in a state of floating in the internal space 36a, and a decorative display is possible.

<Modification 4>
The solar panel 135 may be omitted.

<Modification 5>
A one-piece case in which the outer case 30 including the case 31, the bezel 32, and the outer body member 35 and the back cover 34 is integrated may be used as the external case 30 and the back cover 34.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic timepiece, 11 ... Dial, 21, 22 ... Disc pointer, 21a ... Hour hand indicator, 22a ... Minute hand indicator, 30 ... Exterior case, 31 ... Case, 32 ... Bezel, 33 ... Cover glass, 34 ... Back Lid, 35a, 35b ... outer body member, 36 ... housing part, 36a ... internal space, 37 ... liquid, 40 ... dial ring, 41 ... indicator, 50 ... crown, 61 ... screw, 135 ... solar panel.

Claims (7)

Indicators and
A mounting portion on which the indicator is mounted;
A housing portion that houses the indicator and the mounting portion, and includes a transmissive member having a light transmission property at a position facing the indicator and the mounting portion;
A liquid filled in the housing portion and having light permeability,
The mounting portion has light permeability,
The index has a higher light reflectance than the mounting portion and the liquid,
The liquid suppresses reflection of light at the interface with the mounting unit,
An information display device characterized by that. The mounting portion is fixed to the housing portion.
The information display device according to claim 1. The mounting portion changes a position of the index;
The information display device according to claim 1. The mounting portion changes the position of the index by rotation around a rotation axis.
The information display device according to claim 3. The index includes a first index and a second index,
The mounting unit includes a first mounting unit that mounts the first index and is fixed to the housing unit, and a second mounting unit that mounts the second index and changes the position of the second index. ,
The information display device according to claim 1. The refractive index of the mounting portion is larger than the refractive index of air,
The refractive index of the liquid is greater than the refractive index of the air and less than or equal to the refractive index of the mounting portion.
The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is an information display device. In the housing part, a photovoltaic part that converts light energy into electrical energy is provided on the side of the mounting part opposite to the side where the transmission member is disposed.
The information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:

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