JPH0990059A - Structure of dial plate of clock - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure of a dial plate of a clock having a metallic color and feel which have been impossible to realize heretofore, by making the dial plate have the metallic color apparently according to an angle of view. SOLUTION: In this dial plate, a large number of saw-tooth-shaped prisms 21 are formed on the surface of a transparent base material 12A. Each of these prisms 21 has a vertical plane part 21A being vertical practically to the surface of the base material 12A and an inclined plane part 21B inclined to this vertical plane part 21A. A metal coat 22 is formed on the inclined plane part 21B and thereby this part is made a reflecting surface 23, while the vertical plane part 21A is made a light-transmitting surface 24.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timepiece dial structure such as a wristwatch, and more particularly to a timepiece dial structure in which the dial looks metallic in color depending on the viewing angle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a clock dial structure of this type,
For example, there is known a structure in which an electroluminescence plate is placed on the front side of a timepiece module and a light transmission type dial is placed on the front side of the electroluminescence plate. In this structure, when a voltage is applied between the electrodes of the electroluminescence plate to cause the electroluminescence plate to emit light, the emitted light passes through the dial and a symbol indicating the time applied to the front side of the dial or The pointer can be illuminated.

Further, a structure in which a solar cell is placed on the front side of a watch module and a light transmission type dial is placed on the front side of the solar cell is also well known. In this structure, the sunlight and the light of the interior light pass through the dial and reach the solar cell, so that the solar cell can generate electricity.

[0004]

However, since the timepiece dial structure using the electroluminescence plate as described above cannot be illuminated without transmitting the light emitted from the electroluminescence plate, transparent or semitransparent light is emitted. Only transparent dials can be used. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is not possible to give a metallic-like high-class feeling to a dial plate made of a metal flat plate.

Also, the timepiece dial structure using a solar cell cannot generate electricity unless it transmits light from the outside, so that only a dial plate that transmits transparent or translucent light can be used. . Therefore, there is a problem in that it is not possible to give a metallic-like high-class feeling as compared with a dial plate made of a flat metal plate.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make a dial face look metallic in color depending on the viewing angle, and to give a metallic-grade luxury dial. To provide the structure.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the timepiece dial structure according to the invention of claim 1 has a light transmission type dial provided on the front side of the electroluminescence plate or the solar cell. In the dial structure, a large number of reflective surfaces having a metal coat and light transmitting surfaces for transmitting light are alternately formed on the surface of the dial.

In order to achieve the above object, a watch dial structure according to the invention of claim 2 is the watch dial structure according to claim 1, wherein the dial is sawtoothed on the surface of a transparent base material. Forming a large number of prisms, each of these prisms has a vertical surface portion that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the base material and an inclined surface portion that inclines with respect to this vertical surface portion. The vertical surface portion was formed as a reflecting surface and the vertical surface portion was formed as a light transmitting surface for transmitting light.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the timepiece dial structure according to the invention of claim 3 is the timepiece dial structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal coat is A
It was formed by vapor-depositing or coating a metal such as 1, Ag, Au or Cr.

In order to achieve the above object, the timepiece dial structure according to the invention of claim 4 is the timepiece dial structure according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inclined surface portion is 6
Facing the time.

[0011]

In the timepiece dial structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, since a large number of reflective surfaces and light transmissive surfaces having metal coats are alternately formed on the surface of the dial plate, the dial plate is formed. Depending on the viewing angle, the entire face of the dial looks metallic to the metallic coat. Further, the radiated light of the electroluminescence plate is reflected by the reflection surface, transmitted through the light transmission surface, and reflected by the adjacent reflection surface, which makes the entire timepiece dial structure bright and makes it easy to read the hour characters. Nari and again
The sunlight and the room light are reflected by the reflecting surface having the metal coat, transmitted through the light transmitting surface, enter the prism, and are reflected by the adjacent reflecting surface to irradiate the solar cell to generate electricity.

In the timepiece dial structure according to the second aspect of the present invention, the whole surface of the dial is kept at a predetermined angle from the direction in which the slanted surface portion on which the metal coat is formed faces the watch. It looks like a metallic color due to the metal coat.
Further, the radiated light of the electroluminescent plate is reflected by the reflecting surface formed by the inclined surface portion formed with the metal coat, transmitted through the light transmitting surface formed by the vertical surface portion, and reflected by the metal coat of the adjacent inclined surface portion. Therefore, the entire timepiece dial structure becomes bright, and the hour characters and the like can be easily seen. In addition, sunlight and room light are reflected by the reflecting surface formed by the inclined surface portion formed with the metal coat, transmitted through the light transmitting surface formed by the vertical surface portion, and enter the prism, and the metal coat of the adjacent inclined surface portion is formed. It is reflected by and irradiates the solar cell to generate electricity.

Further, in the timepiece dial structure according to the invention of claim 3, the same operation as the invention of claim 1 or 2 can be achieved.

Further, in the timepiece dial structure according to the invention of claim 4, not only can the same effect as that of the invention of claim 2 or 3 can be exerted, but the angle at which the wristwatch is viewed is 12 from 6 o'clock. The entire surface of the dial looks metallic up to 90 degrees toward the time direction, and when the wristwatch is worn on the wrist to check the time, it is usually within the above angle range. Look at the dial. Therefore, the wearer of the wristwatch can see only the metallic color.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a plan view of a wristwatch having a timepiece dial structure according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a wristwatch having the same timepiece dial structure, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of a timepiece dial structure according to the present invention. FIGS. 4A and 4B are configuration explanatory views of the electroluminescence plate in the timepiece dial structure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wristwatch 1 is provided with a module 4 inside a body 2 via a support frame 3 made of synthetic resin, and a watch dial structure A is formed on the front side of the module 4. Then, the needle shaft 5 of the double shaft structure provided in the module 4 is passed through the central hole portion A1 in the timepiece dial structure A, and the hour hand 6 is attached to the outer shaft 5a of the needle shaft 5 and the inner shaft 5b. A minute hand 7 is attached to each of the outer hands 2, a back cover 9 is attached to the bottom side of the outer case 2 via a waterproof packing 8, and a windshield 10 is attached to the front side of the outer case 2.

The watch dial structure A is provided on the front side of the EL plate 11 and the electroluminescence plate (hereinafter referred to as EL plate) 11 fixed to the front side of the module 4, as shown in FIG. A dial 21 is provided, and a prism 21 is formed on the front surface side of the base material 12A of the dial 12, and a transparent resin thin film layer 25 is provided on the prism 21. An hour character 26 as a time display is provided at 25. At this time, the character 26 may be formed by printing.

As shown in FIG. 4, the EL plate 11 includes a thin film transparent electrode 13, a light-diffusing semitransparent substrate 14 such as transparent or opal glass, an insulating coating 15 such as barium titanate, and an electro-luminescent material. A metal plate 17 to which the luminescent substance 16 is applied in a superposed manner is brought into close contact with each other, and is adhered with an organic adhesive, and a moisture-proof seal 18 is provided in the peripheral portion.

The transparent electrode 13 may be a metal thin film obtained by vapor deposition, which is processed into a mesh shape by etching, indium oxide is vapor deposited, or tin oxide is hydrolyzed and sintered. As the electroluminescent substance 16, zinc sulfide mixed with a small amount of copper is usually used. Then, the transparent electrode 13 and the metal plate 17
Are electrodes facing each other, and these electrodes 13, 17
Is an EL plate drive circuit 2 provided in the module 4.
Connected to 0.

The dial 12 is provided with a base material 12A made of transparent plastic such as acrylic resin or transparent glass. The sawtooth prisms 21 are arranged on the surface of the base material 12A at a pitch interval of about 500 μm to 3000 μm. And the prisms 21 are formed by the base material 12A.
Vertical surface portion 21A forming an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to the surface a, and inclined surface portion 21B forming an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the vertical surface portion 21A
And the inclined surface portion 21B has Al, A
A metal coat 22 is formed by vapor-depositing or applying a metal such as g, Au, or Cr.

Therefore, in the prism 21, the inclined surface portion 21B on which the metal coat 22 is formed is the reflecting surface 23.
The vertical surface portion 21A constitutes a light transmitting surface 24.

When the prism 21 is incorporated in the timepiece dial structure A, it is necessary to make the direction of the prism 21 parallel to the 3 o'clock-9 o'clock direction of the wristwatch as shown in FIG. , The vertical surface portion 21A (light transmitting surface 24) of the prism 21 faces toward the 12 o'clock direction,
The inclined surface portion 21B (reflection surface 23) faces the 6 o'clock direction.

To form the metal coat 22 on the inclined surface portion 21B of the prism 21, as shown in FIG. 6, a large number of slits 28 of the metal plate 27 are formed at a predetermined pitch and a blind portion 29 is formed between these slits 28. The jig 30 formed with is used. That is, the blindfold portion 29 of the jig 30 is
The prism 28 is overlapped on the corner 21C formed by the vertical surface portion 21A and the inclined surface portion 21B, the slit 28 is positioned above the inclined surface portion 21B, the jig 30 is overlapped on the prism 21, and a small piece of metal is placed in a high vacuum. Evaporate by heating with
Irradiate the inclined surface portion 21B through the slit 28,
It is performed by adhering as a thin film on the surface of the inclined surface portion 21B.

Next, the operation of the timepiece dial structure A constructed as described above will be described. The metal coat 22 as described above
Since the inclined surface portion 21B forming the arrow faces the 6 o'clock direction, the entire surface of the dial 12 is up to 90 degrees from the 6 o'clock direction to the 12 o'clock direction as shown in FIG. 11 when the wristwatch 1 is viewed. It looks like a metal color due to the metal coat 22.

When the wristwatch 1 is worn on the wrist and the time is to be confirmed, the dial 12 is usually viewed from within the angle range shown in FIG. Therefore, the wearer of the wristwatch 1 can see only the metallic color.

As described above, the angle at which the wristwatch 1 is viewed is 9 from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock as shown in FIG.
Since the entire surface of the dial plate 12 looks like a metallic color due to the metal coat 22 up to 0 degrees, the dial plate 12 having a metallic metallic feel, which has been impossible in the past, can be applied to a wristwatch using an EL plate. , It becomes possible to expand the valuation in the dial expression.

Further, as described above, in the EL plate 11, the transparent electrode 13 and the metal plate 17 are opposed to each other, and these electrodes 13 and 17 are the module 4
Since it is connected to the EL plate drive circuit 20 provided inside, by operating this EL plate drive circuit 20, 100 to 20 between the transparent electrode 13 and the metal plate 17 can be obtained.
By applying an AC voltage of 0 V, the electroluminescent substance 16 is caused to emit light, and light is emitted through the transparent electrode 13 and the substrate 14. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, the radiated light (b) is reflected by the reflecting surface 23 formed by the inclined surface portion 21B formed with the metal coat 22, is transmitted through the light transmitting surface 24 formed by the vertical surface portion 21A, and is adjacent to It reflects on the metal coat 22 of the inclined surface portion 21B. Therefore, the entire timepiece dial structure A becomes brighter, and the hour character 26 becomes easier to see.

Further, in the solar clock display board structure, the clock dial structure A has a solar cell 31 (fan-shaped in plan view 4 arranged on the front side of the module 4 as shown in FIG. The solar cells 31 are arranged so as to sandwich a cross-shaped insulating band (not shown)) and a dial 32 provided on the front side of these solar cells 31. A prism 33 is formed on the front surface side of the base material 32A, and a transparent resin thin film layer 34 is provided on the prism 33.
Is provided with an hour character 35 as a time display. At this time, the letter 35 may be formed by printing.

The dial 32 has the same structure as the dial 12 described above, and has a base material 32A made of transparent plastic such as acrylic resin or transparent glass. The surface of the base material 32A has the sawtooth shape described above. A large number of prisms 33 are formed at a pitch interval of about 500 μm to 3000 μm. These prisms 33 have a vertical surface portion 33A forming an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the surface B of the base material 32A, and the vertical surface portion 3A.
3A, an inclined surface portion 33B forming an angle of about 45 degrees is provided on the inclined surface portion 33B. A metal such as Al, Ag, Au, or Cr is vapor-deposited or applied to the metal coat 22. Is formed.

Therefore, in the prism 33, the inclined surface portion 33B on which the metal coat 22 is formed is the reflecting surface 37.
The vertical surface portion 33A constitutes a light transmitting surface 38. The formation of the metal coat 22 on the inclined surface portion 33B is performed by forming the inclined surface portion 21B of the prism 21.
When the prism 33 is incorporated into the timepiece dial structure A, the direction of the prism 33 is made parallel to the 3 o'clock-9 o'clock direction of the wristwatch and the prism 33 The vertical surface portion 33A (light transmitting surface 38) faces the 12 o'clock direction, and the inclined surface portion 33B (reflecting surface 37) faces the 6 o'clock direction.

Since the inclined surface portion 33B formed with the metal coat 22 faces the 6 o'clock direction as described above, the wristwatch 1
As shown in FIG. 11, the entire surface of the dial 32 looks like a metallic color due to the metal coat 22 from the 6 o'clock direction to the 90 o'clock direction as shown in FIG.

When the wristwatch 1 is worn on the wrist and the time is to be confirmed, the dial 32 is usually viewed from within the angle range shown in FIG. Therefore, the wearer of the wristwatch 1 can see only the metallic color.

Further, the sunlight or the room light C has an inclined surface portion 33 on which the metal coat 22 is formed as shown by the arrow in FIG.
The vertical surface portion 33A by reflecting the reflection surface 37 formed by B
The light passes through the light transmitting surface 38 of the above, enters the prism 33, is reflected by the metal coat 22 of the adjacent inclined surface portion 33B, and illuminates the solar cell 31.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the prism 33 includes the vertical surface portion 33A which forms an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to the surface A of the base material 32A, and the inclined surface portion 33B which forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the vertical surface portion 33A. And the inclined surface portion 33B
The metal coat 22 is formed on the surface of the concave portion 33A to form the reflecting surface 37, and the vertical surface portion 33A is formed as the light transmitting surface 38. However, as shown in FIG. May be formed to form the reflecting surface 37. In this case, the amount of sunlight or room light C reflected by the reflecting surface 37 and taken into the inside of the prism 33 from the light transmitting surface 38 is larger than that in the case of the flat reflecting surface 37.

As described above, the viewing angle of the wristwatch 1 is 9 ° from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock as shown in FIG.
Since the entire surface of the dial plate 32 looks like a metallic color due to the metal coat 22 up to 0 degrees, the dial plate 32 having a metallic metallic feeling, which has been impossible in the past, can be applied to a wristwatch using a solar cell. , It becomes possible to expand the valuation in the dial expression.

[0036]

As described in detail above, the timepiece dial structure according to the invention of claim 1 is a light transmission type timepiece dial structure having an electroluminescent plate or a dial provided on the front side of the solar cell. , The surface of the dial is formed with a large number of reflecting surfaces having a metal coat and light-transmitting surfaces for transmitting light alternately, so that the entire surface of the dial may be made of metal by the metal coat depending on the angle at which the dial is viewed. It looks like a color. As described above, since the metallic-colored metallic dial plate, which has been impossible in the past, can be applied to the electroluminescence product or the solar product, it is possible to introduce the product into the middle-high price range.

Further, the radiated light of the electroluminescence plate is reflected by the reflection surface, transmitted through the light transmission surface, and reflected by the adjacent reflection surface, so that the entire timepiece dial structure becomes brighter and Characters are easier to see, and sunlight and room light are reflected by the metal-coated reflective surface, transmitted through the light-transmissive surface, enter the prism, and reflected by the adjacent reflective surface to illuminate the solar cell. And can generate electricity.

The timepiece dial structure according to the invention of claim 2 is the timepiece dial structure according to claim 1, wherein the dial is formed by forming a large number of sawtooth prisms on the surface of a transparent base material. These prisms have a vertical surface portion that is substantially vertical to the surface of the base material and an inclined surface portion that inclines with respect to the vertical surface portion. A metal coat is formed on the inclined surface portion to form a reflection surface and Since the vertical plane is configured as a light-transmitting surface that allows light to pass through, the entire surface of the watch dial is covered with the metal coat until the angle at which the wristwatch is viewed is from the direction in which the inclined plane with the metal coat is facing to the predetermined angle. It looks like a metallic color. In this way, since the metallic-colored metallic dial plate, which has been impossible in the past, can be applied to electroluminescent products or solar products, it is possible to introduce products in the middle-high price range.

The radiated light from the electroluminescence plate is reflected by the reflecting surface formed by the inclined surface portion formed with the metal coat and transmitted through the light transmitting surface formed by the vertical surface portion,
It is reflected by the metal coat on the adjacent inclined surface portion. Therefore,
The entire timepiece dial structure becomes brighter, and the hour characters are easier to see, and sunlight and room light reflect the reflecting surface formed by the inclined surface part formed with the metal coat and the light transmitting surface formed by the vertical surface part. To enter the prism, and is reflected by the metal coat of the adjacent inclined surface portion to irradiate the solar cell to generate electric power.

A watch dial structure according to the invention of claim 3 is the watch dial structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a metal coat is vapor-deposited with a metal such as Al, Ag, Au or Cr. Alternatively, the same effect as that of the invention of claim 1 or 2 can be obtained by forming by applying or by applying.

The watch dial structure according to the invention of claim 4 is the watch dial structure as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, in which the inclined surface portion is oriented in the 6 o'clock direction, so that the angle at which the wristwatch is viewed is The entire surface of the dial looks like a metallic color due to the metal coat up to 90 degrees from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock, and when the wristwatch is worn on the wrist to check the time, it is usually the above. Look at the dial from within the angle range. Therefore, the wearer of the wristwatch can see only the metallic color.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a wrist watch having a timepiece dial structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a wrist watch having the same timepiece dial structure.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a timepiece dial structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a structural explanatory view of an electroluminescence plate in the timepiece dial structure.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view in which a part of the dial in the watch dial structure is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a jig for vapor deposition.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of vapor deposition of metal on the inclined surface portion of the prism of the dial.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the timepiece dial structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view in which a part of the dial in the watch dial structure is omitted.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view with a part omitted of another embodiment of the dial in the timepiece dial structure.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a range in which the dial looks metallic in a wristwatch having a watch dial structure according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Modules 11 Electroluminescence Plate 12 Dial 12A Base Material 21 Prism 21A Vertical Surface Part 21B Sloping Surface Part 23 Reflecting Surface 24 Light Transmitting Surface

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G12B 11/02 G12B 11/02 Z

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A watch dial structure having an electroluminescent plate or a light-transmissive dial provided on the front side of a solar cell, wherein a reflecting surface having a metal coat formed on the surface of the dial transmits light. A watch dial structure characterized in that a large number of light-transmitting surfaces are alternately formed. 2. The dial plate, wherein a large number of sawtooth prisms are formed on the surface of a transparent base material, and these prisms are provided on a vertical surface portion substantially perpendicular to the surface of the base material and on the vertical surface portion. 2. The timepiece dial structure according to claim 1, further comprising an inclined surface portion that is inclined with respect to the inclined surface portion, a metal coat is formed on the inclined surface portion to serve as a reflecting surface, and the vertical surface portion serves as a light transmitting surface that transmits light. 3. The timepiece dial structure according to claim 1, wherein the metal coat is formed by vapor-depositing or coating a metal such as Al, Ag, Au or Cr. 4. The timepiece dial structure according to claim 2, wherein the inclined surface portion faces the 6 o'clock direction.