JP6234279B2 - Satellite radio watch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a satellite radio wave watch.

  A radio wave wristwatch (hereinafter referred to as a satellite radio wave wristwatch) that receives a radio wave (hereinafter referred to as a satellite radio wave) from an artificial satellite used in a positioning system such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite and corrects the time is proposed. ing. This is because a positioning signal typified by a GPS signal includes accurate time information.

  Here, since satellite radio waves need to cross the ionosphere and use ultra-high frequency waves, satellite radio-controlled wristwatches are suitable for receiving ultra-high frequency waves, and are small and thin antennas, such as patch antennas, that can fit in the wristwatch. Used.

  Patent Document 1 below describes a radio timepiece in which a radio wave transmission region having a radio wave transmission property better than that of a metal material is formed in a portion of a pointer that overlaps with an antenna in a planar manner.

JP 2011-163914 A

  Analog clocks are generally equipped with time characters on the surface of the board so that the time indicated by the hands can be read, but this time character is also an important decorative element of the watch, especially when high-quality is required. There is a demand to use a conductor such as.

  However, since conductors such as metal reflect and absorb radio waves, placing conductors such as metal near the receiving surface of the antenna may block radio waves to be received or be affected by multipath interference. As a result, the reception sensitivity decreases. This effect becomes more pronounced with short-wavelength radio waves that are easily affected by electrical conductors.Therefore, when trying to receive satellite radio waves that use ultra-short waves, electrical conductors, especially those that are placed near the receiving surface of the antenna, It has been practically difficult to use a metal material.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a satellite radio-controlled wristwatch that can use a conductor for time characters while keeping the reception sensitivity of satellite radio waves practically sufficient.

  The invention disclosed in the present application in order to solve the above problems has various aspects, and the outline of typical ones of these aspects is as follows.

  (1) an antenna that receives satellite radio waves including time information, a dial disposed on the viewer side from the antenna, one or more hands disposed on the viewer side from the dial, and a rotation surface of the hands A satellite radio-controlled wristwatch comprising: a time character including at least a conductor disposed on a viewer side of at least one of them.

  (2) A satellite radio wave watch according to (1), wherein at least some of the time letters are provided on the windshield.

  (3) The satellite radio-controlled wristwatch according to any one of (1) and (2), further comprising a turn ring disposed on an outer periphery of the dial, wherein at least some of the time letters are provided on the turn ring.

  (4) In (1) to (3), a satellite radio wave wristwatch in which a time character arranged so as to overlap with the antenna in a plan view is smaller than at least one other time character.

  (5) In (1) to (4), the time character arranged so as to overlap with the antenna in a plan view is a satellite radio wave watch arranged on the viewer side with respect to at least one other time character.

  According to the above aspects (1) to (3) of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a satellite radio wave wristwatch that can use a conductor for time characters while keeping the reception sensitivity of satellite radio waves practically sufficient.

  In addition, according to the aspect (4) of the present invention, a satellite radio-controlled wristwatch is obtained in which the reception sensitivity of the satellite radio wave is further improved while maintaining the visibility of the time character.

  In addition, according to the above aspect (5) of the present invention, a satellite radio wave wristwatch with further improved satellite radio wave reception sensitivity can be obtained.

1 is a diagram showing a satellite radio-controlled wristwatch according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a satellite radio-controlled wristwatch according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the body 10, the dial ring 12, the hour character 20, the dial 22, the minute hand 30, the hour hand 32, the second hand 34, and the crown 40 are shown. In the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 according to the present embodiment, the trunk 10, the back cover (not shown), and the time character 20 are formed of a metal material. Further, although the material is not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, the minute hand 30, the hour hand 32, and the crown 40 are also made of a metal material. The dial 22 can be decorated in various ways. However, if the dial 22 is formed of a conductor such as metal, the radio wave may be shielded by the dial 22 and the radio wave reception sensitivity may be lowered. It is desirable to form with. For example, the dial 22 may be formed of various synthetic resins, ceramics, or biological minerals such as shellfish.

  The satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 according to the present embodiment is an analog timepiece, and a hour character 20 indicating the hour is arranged. indicate. The user of the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 can perform various operations including time adjustment by rotating the crown 40. In addition, the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 can perform time adjustment based on date and time information included in a satellite signal transmitted from a GPS satellite or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the time character 20 is formed of a metal material, but may be formed of a metal material or a conductor other than a metal. Further, the size and shape of the time character 20 shown in FIG. 1 are merely examples, and various sizes and shapes can be adopted besides this. However, the time character 20 needs to be designed so as not to interfere with the minute hand 30 and the second hand 34.

  The satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 according to the present embodiment has a minute hand 30, an hour hand 32, and a second hand 34 as pointers. In addition, auxiliary pointers for performing various displays such as a 24-hour display and a power reserve are provided. May be. Further, instead of or in addition to the crown 40, a push button may be provided so that the user can perform various operations.

  Note that the design of the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example. In addition to what is shown here, for example, the external shape of the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 may be a square shape instead of a round shape, or a date window may be displayed on the dial 22 by providing a date window. Good. Further, a spacer ring formed of a transparent material such as a resin material may be provided instead of or in addition to the facing ring 12.

  In this specification, the term satellite radio wave wristwatch refers to a wristwatch that receives a satellite signal from a GPS satellite or the like and holds it inside the wristwatch based on information about the date and time contained in the satellite signal. It is used to indicate a wristwatch having a function of correcting the internal time, which is information on the current time.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1, and is a diagram showing a cross section including the 12 o'clock direction and the 6 o'clock direction of the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1. In addition to what is shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows a windshield 14, a back cover 16, a movement 50, a patch antenna 52 and a battery 54 attached to the movement 50. Here, the minute hand 30, the hour hand 32, and the second hand 34 are respectively provided on the viewing side (windshield 14 side) from the dial plate 22. The movement 50 is mounted with a train wheel and a motor for driving each pointer, a clock circuit having a crystal resonator, a high-frequency circuit for receiving satellite radio waves, a control circuit for controlling the operation of the entire satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1, and the like. A circuit board or the like is assembled to a frame called a ground plane, and is composed of a large number of members, but only the outer shape is shown in FIG.

  The battery 54 is a power source for the satellite radio wave wristwatch 1 and supplies power to various electrical components of the satellite radio wave wristwatch 1. That is, the battery 54 is a driving power source for a high-frequency circuit for receiving satellite radio waves, a power source for a control circuit that controls the entire satellite radio wave wristwatch 1, and a power source for a motor that drives each pointer. The battery 54 may be a primary battery such as a lithium battery.

  A solar battery may be disposed on the back cover 16 side of the dial 22 and a secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery may be adopted as the battery 54. In that case, it is desirable that the dial 22 be formed of a material that transmits light to such an extent that the solar cell can secure a sufficient power generation amount.

  The patch antenna 52 is a planar antenna having a rectangular planar shape, and is an antenna suitable for receiving extremely high frequency radio waves such as satellite radio waves. The patch antenna 52 is arranged on the back cover 16 side of the dial plate 22 in parallel with the dial plate 22 so that the receiving surface faces the dial plate 22 side. This arrangement is for receiving satellite radio waves transmitted from the dial 22 and incident from the viewing side because the satellite radio waves are shielded by the metallic material barrel 10 and the back cover 16.

  As described above, since ultra-high-frequency radio waves such as satellite radio waves are reflected and absorbed by the conductor, the conductor may not be disposed near the receiving surface side of the patch antenna 52 from the viewpoint of receiving radio waves. desirable. However, a wristwatch such as the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 is required to use a conductor such as a metal from the viewpoint of a decorative effect, and it is desired that the reception sensitivity of the patch antenna 52 be compatible.

  The time character 20 of the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 according to the present embodiment is disposed on the viewing side from the rotation surface S32 of the hour hand 32. Here, the rotation surface S32 of the hour hand 32 refers to a plane including a locus drawn by the rotation of the hour hand 32, and the time character 20 is arranged on the viewer side from the rotation surface S32. It is assumed that the lower surface (the surface closest to the back cover 16) is closer to the viewing side than the rotation surface S32. When the time character 20 is arranged in this manner, the time character 20 moves away from the receiving surface of the patch antenna 52 as compared with the case where the time character 20 is directly fixed to the dial plate 22 and the satellite radio wave generated by the time character 20 is. Therefore, the reception sensitivity of the patch antenna 52 is improved.

  Theoretically, the disposition position of the time character 20 is better as it is farther from the receiving surface of the patch antenna 52. In practice, however, the time character 20 is visually recognized from the rotation surface of at least one pointer. Arrangement on the side is a guideline for determining the arrangement position. In general, since the hour hand 32 is arranged closest to the dial plate 22, this guideline is that the hour character 20 is arranged closer to the viewing side than the rotation surface S 32 of the hour hand 32 as in the present embodiment. It will be said.

  For this reason, the hour hand 32 and the minute hand 30 may be made of a metal material as in the present embodiment. However, such a pointer overlaps with the patch antenna 52 in plan view depending on the time, so the arrangement height is The patch antenna 52 is designed so as not to greatly affect the reception performance. Therefore, by placing the time character 20 on the viewing side of any one of the rotation surfaces of the pointer, the reception performance of the time character 20 to the patch antenna 52 can be considerably reduced, and a practically sufficient reception sensitivity can be obtained. It is thought that it is obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the time character 20 is arranged at a position intersecting with the extended line of the rotation surface S30 of the minute hand 30. Further, the arrangement position is set as the viewing side, and the viewing side is more than the rotating surface of the plurality of hands. That is, you may arrange | position to the visual recognition side rather than the rotation surface S30 of the minute hand and the rotation surface S34 of the second hand 34. The influence of the time character 20 on the reception sensitivity of the patch antenna 52 is considered to decrease as the time character 20 moves away from the reception surface of the patch antenna 52. Therefore, from the viewpoint of improving the reception sensitivity, It can be said that it is desirable to provide it on the visual recognition side from the rotation surface of the pointer.

  In this embodiment, the time character 20 is attached to the flat portion 18 provided on the facing ring 12 so as to be cantilevered. The position of the flat portion 18 in the height direction is on the viewing side from the rotation surface S32 of the hour hand 32, and thereby the hour character 20 is provided on the viewing side from the rotation surface S32 of the hour hand 32. The time character 20 does not necessarily have to be provided on the flat portion 18 of the dial ring 12, and may be provided directly on the inclined surface of the dial ring 12 or may be provided across the flat portion and the inclined portion. In any case, the time character 20 is arranged on the viewing side from at least one of the rotation surfaces of the hands.

  In the present embodiment, the time character 20 protrudes from the flat portion 18 of the dial ring 12 toward the center side of the dial plate 22 and is arranged so as to jump out into the air with a space from the dial plate 22. For this reason, the time character 20 is visually recognized as being lifted from the dial 22, and a unique design is obtained.

  As an example of the effect of the present embodiment, the satellite radio wave wristwatch 1 according to the present embodiment and the satellite radio wave wristwatch in which the time character 20 is directly provided on the dial 22 are actually produced as a comparative example. In the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 according to the embodiment, it was confirmed that the reception sensitivity of the patch antenna 52 is improved by about 0.5 dB.

  In the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 according to this embodiment, all the time characters 20 are arranged on the viewing side from the rotation surface S32 of at least one pointer (here, the hour hand 32), but at least some of the time characters 20 are present. You may make it arrange | position to the visual recognition side from this rotation surface. In particular, it is important to arrange the position overlapping with the patch antenna 52 in the plan view and the time character 20 located in the vicinity thereof on the viewing side from the rotation surface. On the other hand, when the position is far from the patch antenna 52 in the plan view. For the character, for example, the time character 20 at the 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock position in the present embodiment, the arrangement position in the height direction is not necessarily important.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the satellite radio-controlled wristwatch 1 is provided with the metal dial ring 12, and the dial ring 12 is provided with the time character 20, but instead of this, a spacer ring formed of an insulating material such as a resin material. May be provided on the outer periphery of the dial 22, and the hour character 20 may be provided on the spacer ring. Also in this case, the time character 20 is disposed on the viewer side from at least one of the rotation surfaces of the hands. When the spacer ring is formed of a transparent material, the time character 20 is visually recognized as if it is floating from the dial 22, and a unique design is obtained.

  Further, the same concept as described above can be applied to the case where the satellite radio wave wristwatch 1 is provided with an auxiliary pointer. This completely overlaps with special auxiliary pointers, for example, auxiliary pointers arranged closer to the back cover 16 than the dial plate 22 (that is, so as to sink from the dial plate 22) and the patch antenna 52 in plan view. This means that there is no need to consider this for supplementary guidelines. This is because such an auxiliary guideline is considered to have little influence on the reception performance of the patch antenna 52 in the first place, and therefore, the influence on the reception performance is not considered in determining the arrangement height. Therefore, in determining the arrangement height of the time character 20, only the pointer arranged on the visual recognition side from the dial 22 need be considered, and further, the pointer that may overlap with the patch antenna 52 in plan view is taken into consideration. You can do it.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a satellite radio-controlled wristwatch according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A part of the time character 20 in the second embodiment is different in position from that in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the time character 20 (the time character 20 shown on the right side of FIG. 3) arranged to overlap with the patch antenna 52 in a plan view among the time characters 20 is provided in the windshield 14. Of the time characters 20, the time characters 20 (the time characters 20 shown on the left side of FIG. 3) arranged without overlapping the patch antenna 52 in a plan view are provided in the dial ring 12 as in the first embodiment. It is done.

  By providing the time character 20 on the windshield 14, the distance from the receiving surface of the patch antenna 52 to the time character 20 is further increased, and the influence of the time character 20 on the reception sensitivity of the patch antenna 52 can be further reduced. Here, in the present embodiment, among the time characters 20, the time characters 20 arranged so as to overlap with the patch antenna 52 in plan view are provided on the windshield 14, but all the time characters 20 are provided on the windshield 14. It is good.

  In this embodiment, the time character 20 is provided by being stuck and fixed to the back surface of the windshield 14, that is, the surface facing the dial plate 22. However, other configurations, for example, the character 20 may be formed by printing or vapor-depositing a conductor such as metal on the windshield 14, or by combining methods such as pasting, printing, and vapor deposition. A time character 20 may be formed. In addition, the time character 20 is desirably provided on the rear surface of the windshield 14 from the viewpoint of preventing the drop or damage, but it does not prevent the time character 20 from being provided on the surface of the windshield 14.

  In this embodiment, as a configuration in which a part of the time characters 20 is arranged on the viewing side with respect to the other time characters 20, some time characters 20 are provided on the windshield 14, and the other time characters 20 are provided on the turning ring 12. However, other configurations may be employed. For example, the dial ring 12 may be provided with a plurality of flat portions, a part of the time characters 20 may be disposed on the viewing-side flat portion, and the other time characters 20 may be disposed on the flat portion on the dial 22 side. Alternatively, a transparent spacer ring having a plurality of flat portions may be provided and the same configuration may be employed. Moreover, it is good also as arrange | positioning the time letter 20 on the inclined surface of the position which becomes a visual recognition side from the flat part of the turning ring 12. In any case, it is desirable that the time character 20 disposed on the viewer side is disposed so as to overlap the patch antenna 52 in plan view.

[Third embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a view showing a satellite radio-controlled wristwatch according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that small time letters 24 are arranged in the 11 o'clock direction to the 1 o'clock direction. In the present embodiment, the time character arranged so as to overlap with the patch antenna 52 in plan view is the small time character 24, and other time characters 20 (time characters 20 arranged in the 2 o'clock direction to 10 o'clock direction) and The size is small compared. However, the time character 20 arranged in the 10 o'clock direction or the 2 o'clock direction may be replaced with the small time character 24.

  It is considered that the small time character 24 is narrower than the other time characters 20 and is less likely to shield satellite radio waves incident on the receiving surface of the patch antenna 52. Therefore, by adopting the small time character 24, the reception sensitivity of the patch antenna 52 is improved as compared with the case where the relatively large time character 20 is arranged in the 11 o'clock direction to the 1 o'clock direction.

  In the present embodiment, by adopting the small time character 24, the relatively large time character 20 enables a more flexible decorative expression, while further suppressing the influence of the time character on the patch antenna 52. The reception sensitivity of the patch antenna 52 can be improved while maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the character.

  In the present embodiment, the time character 20 and the small time character 24 are provided on the dial ring 12 as in the first embodiment, but the small time character 24 may be provided on the windshield 14. Moreover, it is good also as providing the time letter 20 and the small time letter 24 in a spacer ring as providing a transparent spacer ring.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment concerning this invention was described, the specific structure shown in this embodiment was shown as an example, and it is not intending limiting the technical scope of this invention to this. Those skilled in the art may appropriately modify these disclosed embodiments, and it should be understood that the technical scope of the invention disclosed herein includes such modifications.

  1 Satellite radio watch, 10 trunk, 12 turn ring, 14 windshield, 16 back cover, 18 flat part, 20 hour letter, 22 dial, 24 small hour letter, 30 minute hand, 32 hour hand, 34 second hand, 40 crown, 50 movement , 52 patch antenna, 54 batteries.

Claims (5)

An antenna for receiving satellite radio waves including time information;
A dial arranged on the viewing side from the antenna;
One or more hands arranged on the viewing side from the dial;
A time character including at least a conductor disposed on the viewing side of at least one of the rotating surfaces of the pointer;
Satellite radio wave watch equipped with.   The satellite radio-controlled wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the time characters are provided on a windshield. A dial ring disposed on the outer periphery of the dial,
The satellite radio-controlled wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the time characters are provided on the dial ring.   The satellite radio-controlled wristwatch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a time character arranged so as to overlap the antenna in a plan view is smaller than at least one other time character.   The satellite radio-controlled wristwatch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a time character arranged so as to overlap with the antenna in a plan view is arranged closer to the viewing side than at least one other time character.

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