JPH0110824Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a switch structure for an electronic watch, and in particular, in a pointer type wristwatch (hereinafter referred to as a hybrid) having an electro-optical display element, the electro-optic switch can be activated by rotating an external operating member. The purpose of this is to simplify the switch structure for correcting digital displays (hereinafter referred to as digital displays).

Conventionally, a hybrid switch structure has a switch lever that is loosely fitted into the winding stem and has a gear train and a switch spring (or a switch lever that integrates a cam and a switch spring) that meshes with the gear train with teeth (or protrusions) on the back side. The switch was opened and closed by bringing the switch spring into contact with the electrode pattern provided on the circuit board, and the digital display was corrected. . However, due to the large number of parts, the structure is complicated and costs cannot be reduced, and the switch structure occupies a large amount of space in the watch body, making it impossible to make the watch thinner and smaller.

The present invention improves these drawbacks, and will be described in detail below based on examples.

1, 3, and 5 are cross-sectional views showing an embodiment of the present invention, respectively showing the hybrid being carried, the digital display corrected, and the hands set. Further, FIGS. 2 and 4 are sectional views taken along lines X-X' and Y-Y' in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively.

1 is the main plate, 2 is the winding stem, 3 is the circuit catch, and 4 is the winding stem presser. The winding stem 2 is supported by a bent portion of the main plate 1 having a winding stem end hole and a winding stem base hole formed by a groove in the main plate 1 and the circuit receiving seat 3. Further, the winding stem 2 has grooves 2a, 2b, 2c and flanges 2e, 2f, 2 in the axial direction.
g, 2h and a winding stem pinion 2d. Brim 2
e, 2f, 2g have one notch 2e' on the outer periphery,
2f' and 2g', and are arranged at approximately 120° intervals as shown in FIG. 4 (FIGS. 1 and 5 are omitted).
The winding stem presser foot 4 has a recessed portion 4a that engages with the grooves 2a, 2b, and 2c of the winding stem, a spring portion that bends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the main plate 1, and a bent portion 4b. The bent portion 4b is inserted into a recessed portion of the circuit receiver 7 in order to prevent the spring portion from being bent in the axial direction of the winding stem 2 due to the pushing operation of the winding stem 2. Further, the winding stem presser foot 4 is fixed to the main plate 1 with screws. 6 is a flexible circuit board with copper foil pasted on a synthetic resin board and MOS-IC8 is fixed thereto, and 7 is a circuit receiver. A circuit board 6 with a circuit support 3 (a nonconductor molded from synthetic resin) and a copper foil facing the base plate 1 is placed between the base plate 1 and the circuit support 7, and fixed to the base plate 1 with screws. It has been done.
Further, the circuit board 6 has electrode patterns 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d arranged in the axial direction of the winding stem 2, and is pressed against the dowel 7a of the circuit holder so as to have a slight deflection as shown in FIG. ing. To explain the structure of the switch here, the electrode pattern 6a and the collar 2
6b and 2f, 6c and 2g, and 6d and 2h (circular outer circumferential shape) form switches A, B, C, and D, respectively. Further, the main plate 1 is electrically connected to a positive ground, and since the winding stem 2 is supported by the main plate 1, it is also connected to a positive ground similarly to the main plate 1. 5
is a small iron train that meshes with the rear gear train, and has a crown gear that meshes with the winding stem (2d).

Next, the operation will be explained. In Figures 1 and 2,
The winding stem 2 is positioned in the axial direction by a groove 2a and a winding stem presser. At this time, switches A, B, C, D
are all in the OFF state, and the crown gear of small iron car 5 is not engaged. When the winding stem 2 is pulled out one step from the state shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the groove 2b and the winding stem presser 4
As a result, the digital display correction state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is reached. At this time, the crown gear of the small iron wheel 5 and the winding stem pinion 2d are not meshing, and the switch D is in the OFF state. Further, the switch A is in the OFF state when the notch 2e' and the electrode pattern 6a face each other, and the switch A is in the OFF state when the outer circumference of the collar 2e comes into contact with the electrode pattern 6a.
The switch A is opened and closed by rotating the winding stem 2. This also applies to switches B and C. First, when the winding stem 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow from the state shown in Figure 5, the ON states of switches A, B, and C are (B and C) → (A, B, and C) → (A and B) → and B and C) → (A and C) → (A, B and C) → (B and C). Also, when the winding stem 2 is rotated in the opposite direction to the arrow, the ON state loop of switches A, B, and C will be
(B and C) → (A, B and C) → (A and C) → (A
and B and C) → (A and B) → (A, B and C) → (B
and C). Therefore, for example, if switches B and C
Rotate winding stem 2 from the ON state to turn switches A and B.
When it is in the ON state, the direction of rotation of the winding stem 2 is in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and when switches A and C are turned on from the ON state of switches B and C, the direction of rotation of the winding stem 2 is in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The rotation direction of the winding stem 2 can be detected in the opposite direction. This is the same in any state of the loop described above. When the winding stem 2 is further pulled out one step from the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the groove 2c and the winding stem presser foot 4 result in the needle alignment state shown in FIG. At this time, when the crown gear of the small iron wheel 5 and the winding stem pinion 2d mesh and rotate the winding stem 2, the needles can be aligned. Also, switches A, B, and C are in the OFF state,
Even if the winding stem 2 is rotated, the digital display is not corrected. Switch D is turned on and the clock is reset.

Next, the opening and closing states of switches A, B, C, and D in each state will be explained. In the portable state, all switches are in the OFF state. In the digital correction state, at least two of switches A, B, and C are in the ON state. In the needle alignment state, switch D is in the ON state. Therefore, the clock status can be detected if there is one or less switches A, B, and C in the ON state, and if there are two or three, the clock is in the digital display correction state, regardless of whether switches A, B, or C are in the open or closed state. This is possible by setting the needle alignment state when switch D is in the ON state. Also, when returning from the digital display correction state to the portable state, the spacing between the electrode patterns 6a and 6b, 6b and 6c and the collar of the winding stem 2.
In order to prevent the digital display from being corrected if the intervals between e and 2f and 2f and 2g deviate, multiple switches are set in the digital display correction state described above.
The ON state is set.

The present invention is applicable not only to a hybrid switch structure, but also to a switch structure for rotary correction of all-electronic watches or electronic correction of pointer-type watches. Furthermore, the structure of switch D in the text is based on the electrode pattern 6d.
It can also be applied to a push-type switch structure by placing the 2h on the inside of the watch and the collar 2h on the outside.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, the circuit receiver is constructed of a thin plate elastic member, and elastic parts are provided to press the collars individually. The reliability of the switch can be further improved by using a circuit board with a slit in the part).

As described above, the present invention provides the following effects.

That is, since the members constituting the switch are formed only by the protrusion provided on the shaft of the external operating member and the pattern provided on the flexible circuit board, special features such as the switch spring etc. are required to configure the switch. It does not require many parts, has a small number of parts, and has a simple configuration, making it easy to assemble and providing a space-saving switch structure that can accommodate small parts such as wristwatches. be.

Furthermore, switching is turned OFF when the protrusion of the external operating member and the pattern are separated, and when the external operating member is moved, the protrusion and the pattern come into contact with elastic force due to the flexibility of the circuit board.
Since the configuration is ON, the elastic force can absorb variations in the dimensions of the protrusion of the external operating member and variations in the relative distance to the circuit board, and can provide reliable switching over a long period of time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1, 3, and 5 are cross-sectional views showing the carrying state, digital display correction, and needle alignment of an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. Figures 2 and 4 are X-X in Figures 1 and 3, respectively.
It is a cross-sectional view showing the X', YY' cross section. In this embodiment, the winding stem 2 is used as an external operating member, and the flanges 2e, 2f, 2 are used as protrusions on the axis of the external operating member.
g, 2h was used. 1... Main plate, 2... Winding stem, 2e, 2f, 2g,
2k, 2h... Tsuba, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d...
...Electrode pattern, 6...Circuit board, 7...Circuit receiver.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] an external operating member that is movable in the axial or circumferential direction and has a protrusion on the shaft that projects in the radial direction; and a flexible member that is equipped with an electronic component and has a pattern formed on its surface facing the external operating member. The external operation member is turned off when the protrusion and the pattern are separated, and when the external operation member is moved, the protrusion and the pattern are separated from each other on the circuit board. A switch structure for an electronic watch characterized by being configured so that the switch is turned on by contacting with elastic force due to flexibility.