JPH0633095U - clock - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] By using a liquid crystal whose state changes between transparent and cloudy depending on the ON / OFF state of the applied voltage, the mechanical parts that make up the drive mechanism of the clock hands, the objects such as dolls, etc. Hide or make things visible. [Structure] The dial 2 and the front panel 7 are formed of a transparent member having a liquid crystal layer. Drive mechanism 4 in the space behind the dial 2
And the object 6 to be viewed is provided in the back space of the front panel 7. The voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer is turned on / off to change the state of the liquid crystal layer between transparent and cloudy.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a timepiece in which a mechanical component that constitutes a drive mechanism of a timepiece and an object to be viewed built in an outer case can be seen or disappeared.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, in various clocks such as wall clocks, table clocks, and wristwatches, the letter plate is generally opaque, but the mechanism parts that make up the drive mechanism of the clock hands can be seen from the outside by making the dial transparent. It is known that he made it.

In addition, mainly wall clocks and table clocks are also known in which the door is opened at a predetermined time so that an object to be viewed such as a small bird or an animal appears.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the former uses a transparent plate as a dial that is usually opaque, and cannot switch the drive mechanism of the clock hands such that it is invisible or visible. In addition, the latter has a complicated structure such as a mechanism for opening and closing the door, and is often expensive as a watch.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a driving mechanism for a clock hand is configured by using a liquid crystal layer that changes its state between transparent and cloudy depending on ON / OFF of an applied voltage. It is an object of the present invention to provide a timepiece that can be switched such that the mechanical parts that operate are hidden or made visible.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a timepiece that can be switched to make the object to be viewed contained in the outer case invisible or visible by using the liquid crystal layer.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The timepiece according to the invention of claim 1 is provided with a mechanical component constituting a driving mechanism of a clock hand in the space behind the dial, and the dial is between transparent and cloudy depending on ON / OFF of the applied voltage. It is composed of a transparent member having a liquid crystal layer that changes state.

In the timepiece according to the invention of claim 2, a transparent member having a liquid crystal layer whose state changes between transparent and cloudy depending on ON / OFF of an applied voltage is provided in an opening formed in the outer case, The object to be appreciated is provided in the space behind the opening.

[0009]

[Action]

 According to the invention of claim 1, the light transmittance of the dial is changed by turning on / off the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer, and when the liquid crystal layer is transparent, the driving mechanism for the clock hands is configured through the dial. The meshing state of the gears, which are the mechanical components, are visible from the outside, and when the liquid crystal layer is cloudy, the mechanical components are covered by the dial and cannot be seen from the outside.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the optical transparency of the transparent member is changed by turning on / off the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer, and when the liquid crystal layer is transparent, the transparency provided with the liquid crystal layer is changed. The object to be viewed becomes visible from the outside through the bright member, and when the liquid crystal layer is clouded, the mechanical component is covered by the liquid crystal layer and cannot be seen from the outside.

[0011]

【Example】

 1 is a schematic front view of a timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing the internal structure of the timepiece of FIG. 1 in section, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a transparent member having a liquid crystal layer. is there .

In the timepiece shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is an outer case, 2 is a dial, 3 is a clock hand, 4 is a drive mechanism of a clock hand 3 arranged in the back space of the dial 2, and 5 is A transparent front panel made of glass or the like provided on the front side of the dial 2, 6 is an object to be viewed, and 7 is a front panel disposed in an opening provided in the outer case 2. The arrangement position is on the front side of the object 6 to be viewed. The drive mechanism 4 operates by using a battery 8 as a power source, and is provided with mechanical parts 9 such as a large number of gears of various kinds. The object to be viewed 6 is a model such as a doll or an animal that is moved by the action of the actuating device 6a, and the battery 8 described above can be used as the power source for it or a dedicated power source can be used for the actuating device 6a. Is possible. Also, various objects such as moving images, still images, stationary dolls, and animal models can be adopted as the object 6 to be viewed.

The dial 2 is composed of a transparent member having a liquid crystal layer that changes its state between transparent and cloudy depending on ON / OFF of an applied voltage. This transparent member is illustrated in FIG. In the transparent member shown in the figure, transparent electrodes 22, 22 and resin films 24, 24 made of a transparent resin sheet such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are laminated and integrated in this order on both sides of the liquid crystal layer 21. At the same time, the collector electrodes 23, 23 are provided on the transparent electrodes 22, 22, respectively. If necessary, transparent glass, transparent plastic, etc. are further laminated and reinforced.

In such a transparent member, when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 21 by the battery 8, the liquid crystal layer 21 becomes transparent, and when the voltage application to the liquid crystal layer 21 is stopped, the liquid crystal layer 21 becomes cloudy. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, if the timer 10 and the inverter 20 for voltage amplification are interposed in the power supply path connecting the battery 8 and the collector electrodes 23, 23, the liquid crystal is kept for a certain time from a predetermined time. It is possible to change the dial 2 from white turbidity to transparent by applying a voltage to the layer 21 and change the dial 2 to white turbidity after a certain period of time. When it becomes transparent, the mechanical component 9 that constitutes the drive mechanism 4 for the clock hands 3 becomes visible through the dial 2, and when the liquid crystal layer 21 is cloudy, the mechanical component 9 is hidden by the dial 2. It will be invisible. When the liquid crystal layer 21 is transparent, not only the mechanical parts 9 can be seen through the dial 2 but also other objects, for example, dolls and other objects to be viewed in the space behind the dial 2 can be seen. You may stay. The battery 8 is used as the power source for applying the voltage, but the use of the commercial power source is not limited.

The front panel 7 provided on the front side of the object 6 to be viewed is made of the same transparent material as the dial 2 and the battery 8 is used as its power source. Therefore, when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 21 by the battery 8, the liquid crystal layer 21 becomes transparent, and when the voltage application to the liquid crystal layer 21 is stopped, the liquid crystal layer 21 becomes cloudy. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, by using the timer 10 and the inverter 20 for voltage amplification, a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 21 for a certain time from a predetermined time to change the front panel 7 from cloudy to transparent. It is possible to change the front panel 7 to white turbidity after a certain period of time. By doing so, when the liquid crystal layer 21 becomes transparent, the object 6 to be viewed can be seen through the front panel 7. When the liquid crystal layer 21 becomes cloudy, the object 6 to be viewed is hidden by the front panel 7 and disappears. It is also possible to make music and other sounds when the liquid crystal layer 21 is transparent. If the power supply path of the front panel 7 and the power supply path to the dial 2 are made to be the same, the front panel 7 and the dial 2 simultaneously change to transparent and cloudy, so that the object 6 to be viewed and the mechanical component 9 Both are visible or invisible at the same time.

In the embodiment described above, the transparent member used for the dial 2 and the transparent member used for the front panel 7 include a flexible sheet and a panel having shape retention. Moreover, the timing of voltage application to the liquid crystal layer 21 and the timing of stopping the voltage application can be set freely. It is also possible to press a manual button (not shown) to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal layer 21 or to stop the applied voltage. If the front panel 5 is formed of a transparent member having a liquid crystal layer, it is possible to make the clock hands visible or invisible.

[0017]

[Effect of device]

 According to the invention of claim 1, by turning on / off the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer of the transparent member constituting the dial, the dial is switched between transparent and cloudy, and the driving mechanism for the clock hands is provided. Since it is possible to make the constituent mechanical parts visible or invisible, it is possible to provide a novel clock that has never existed before.

According to the invention of claim 2, it is possible to make the object to be viewed visible or invisible by turning on / off the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer of the transparent member. It will be possible to provide a novel clock that did not exist at a low price.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing the internal structure of the timepiece of FIG. 1 in section.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a transparent member including a liquid crystal layer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Outer Case 2 Dial 3 Clock Hand 4 Drive Mechanism 6 Object to be Watched 7 Front Panel Made of Transparent Member 9 Mechanical Components 21 Liquid Crystal Layer

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A mechanical component constituting a drive mechanism for a clock hand is provided in a space behind the dial, and the dial has a liquid crystal layer that changes its state between transparent and cloudy depending on ON / OFF of an applied voltage. A timepiece comprising a transparent member provided. 2. A transparent member having a liquid crystal layer whose state changes between transparent and cloudy depending on ON / OFF of an applied voltage is provided in an opening formed in an outer case, and a space to be viewed is provided in a space behind the opening. A watch characterized by the provision of objects.