JPS5838882A - Movement of electronic timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an electronic timepiece with a display section by hands and a digital display section by constituting the shape of a movement in a non-circular shape with longer and shorter diameters and aranging wheel train block nearly at the center of the movement. CONSTITUTION:A liquid crystal cell supporting frame 1 that becomes the clock base is of a plane form that is made by cutting a circular shape with four straight lines and has different lengths in the directions of loner diameter and shorter diameter. The clock movement is, therefore, constituted in a plane shape that is the same as the above-mentioned support frame 1. In this movement a wheel train block 2 is provided roughly at the center, and at one end of the movement in the direction of the longer diameter a display device 3 that is an electronic optical display device and at the other end a battery 4 and a step motor 5 are respectively provided. With this constitution the electronic timepiece can have both a clock hand display section and a digital display section.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a so-called composite device that has both a pointer display section equipped with a hand movement device driven by a step motor and a digital display section consisting of an electro-optical display device such as a liquid crystal display device. Regarding display type electronic watches.

Recently, multi-display type electronic watches have rapidly become popular. This is an analog clock that is beautiful due to the harmony between the dial and hands, and is easy to read the remaining time and time intervals, and can accurately display the minutes and seconds of the clock in numbers. With the increase in IC integration, functions such as a stopwatch, alarm, and timer can be easily added to digital clocks. By combining them with digital clocks, we can take advantage of the characteristics of these screen displays to create functional designs. The biggest reason why it was so well received in the market was that it created an excellent watch.

However, the multi-display electronic watches that are currently on the market require a hand movement device driven by a step motor to be added to the normal digital display mechanism, making the movement larger and lacking in aesthetic design. It had become.

In other words, multi-display electronic watches, which had previously been accepted by the market because they had many functions, now require a design aesthetic comparable to that of analog watches, and the movement has become smaller,
There is a growing need for thinner devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a small, thin, composite display type electronic timepiece that has both a pointer display section and a digital display section and has an excellent design.

In order to make a watch smaller and thinner, including the outer case, it is necessary not only to make each component of the movement smaller and thinner, but also to make effective use of the space between the movement and the outer case that houses the movement. It is necessary to develop a movement with a shape suitable for this purpose.

Also, in terms of making the movement itself thinner, 1. Considering the correlation between battery size and step motor size,
It is necessary to set these in a well-balanced manner, and to lay out another two-dimensional structure so that the battery installation part and the step motor installation part have the maximum thickness of the module.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the movement of the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the movement of the present invention;
3 and 4 are partial sectional views of FIG. 1, and elements related to the exterior are drawn with imaginary lines. FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of an electronic timepiece using the movement according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, the liquid crystal cell support frame 1, which serves as the clock base, has a circular shape canted with four straight lines as shown in FIG. It has a planar shape with different lengths.

Therefore, the timepiece movement constructed using the liquid crystal cell support frame 1 as a base is also essentially constructed to have the same planar shape as the liquid crystal cell support frame 1.

A movement having such a planar shape has the advantage that it provides a greater degree of freedom in designing the exterior than other movements having various shapes having the same area, and is advantageous in terms of aesthetic design.

Inside the movement, a gear train block 2 is disposed approximately at the center, a liquid crystal display device 3 which is an electro-optical display device is disposed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the movement, and a liquid crystal display device 3 is disposed at the other end. A battery 4 and a step motor 5 are respectively disposed adjacent to the wheel train block 2. Further, an external operating device block 6 is arranged in an area surrounded by the battery 4, the wheel train block 2, and the liquid crystal display device B. Furthermore, among the constituent elements of the circuit block 11, an IC chip 10 such as a crystal oscillator 7, a boost capacitor 8, a boost coil 9 for a buzzer, etc.
The other electronic circuit elements surround the step motor 5 and overlap with the liquid crystal display device 6 in plan view, and are substantially separated from the battery 4, external operating device block 6, wheel train block 2, and step motor 5 in plan view. are arranged so that they do not overlap.

The transmission mechanism of the wheel train block 2 is almost the same as that of a conventional three-hand analog display type watch, so the explanation will be omitted. 3, the width of the digital display section 13 (short side The digital display portions 1 to B are eccentrically arranged in the direction opposite to each other by about half of the dimension), and the minute wheel 14 is arranged approximately at the center of the movement.

Next, the external operating device block 6 includes a winding stem 15 that can be operated from the outside via a well-known crown, and a mandarin cock 16 that allows the winding stem 15 to take three stable positions in the axial direction. and the back presser 17, the square column part 15 of the winding stem 15
The locking wheel 18 fitted to a, the bolt 19 that positions the axial position of the locking wheel 18 according to the stable axial position of the winding stem 15, and the normal position according to the stable axial position of the winding stem 15. Winding stem axis direction position detection switch 20 for selecting the usage state, pointer display correction state, or digital display correction state
, a switch wheel 21 that converts the rotation of the winding stem 15 into a digital display correction signal, and a first switch transmission wheel 22 that increases the speed and transmits the rotation of the winding stem 15 to the switch wheel 21 via the dial wheel 18. It consists of a second switch transmission wheel 23 and a third switch transmission wheel 24. Regarding the electric circuit that converts the rotation of the switch wheel 21 into a digital display correction signal and the control of the digital display correction signal by the winding stem axis direction position detection switch 20, Japanese Patent Application No. 55-148
Since this is similar to that shown in No. 21 and has no direct relation to the gist of the present invention, a description thereof will be omitted.

The winding stem 15 is rotatable and slidable in the axial direction, and can take three stable positions in the axial direction by means of a mandrel 16 and a back presser 17. Positioning in the direction of the winding stem axis is carried out by a lever 19 that rotates around the shaft 25 of the second switch transmission wheel, but this operating mechanism is similar to that of conventional analog display watches. Since there is, I will omit the explanation.

When the needle display section is being corrected, the dial wheel 18 meshes with the small iron wheel 26 that is always engaged with the day wheel 14 to enable the pointer display section to be corrected. At this time, the meshing with the small iron wheel 26 mentioned above is separated, and the meshing with the first switch transmission wheel 22 occurs. It should be noted that the digital display section correction signal generated based on the rotation of the switch wheel 21 due to the rotation of the winding T<'15 is generated only when the winding stem axis direction position detection switch 20 detects the digital display section correction state. Since it is controlled to execute the correction of the part, even during normal use, the transmission wheel 18 and the first switch transmission wheel 2 are controlled to be corrected.
The second switch transmission wheel 26 and the third switch transmission wheel 24, which are in mesh with each other, are connected to the shafts 25a and 25b, respectively, which are installed in the main plate, and the first switch transmission wheel 22 is connected to the liquid crystal cell. They are each rotatably attached to a shaft integrally provided on the support 'e1, and are restrained in the cross-sectional direction by a back presser 17.

Note that the liquid crystal cell support frame 1 is made of plastic and is weak in strength, so this shaft portion is The plane direction is restrained by the back presser 17.

Further, the switch wheel 21 is rotatably mounted on a shaft installed in the main plate 27, and has a spring portion 2 which is a contact portion of the switch wheel 21.
By pressing 1a with the circuit board 28, the vertical direction is restrained. When arranged as described above, since the minute wheel 14 is disposed approximately at the center of the movement as described above, the small iron wheel 26 that meshes with it and the Tsuzumi wheel 18 that meshes with the small iron wheel are can be disposed close to the center of the movement, and furthermore, as mentioned above, there are two possible positions for the screw wheel 18: meshing with the small iron wheel 26 or meshing with the first switch transmission wheel 22. Since the operation is small, the first switch transmission wheel 22 can also be placed approximately in the center between the center of the movement and the outer periphery of the long side of the movement. , it has become possible to realize a thin structure in which the switch wheel 21 does not overlap with other constituent elements of the external operating device block 6.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, since the operation of the Tsuzumi wheel 18 is small, the operation range of the cannula 19 that operates it is also small.
It has become possible to reduce the planar space of the external operating device block 6. Note that the back presser 17 includes a chevron portion 17a for jointly setting the stable state of the axial position of the winding stem 15 with the mandrel 16;
a mandarin pin holding portion 17b for preventing the mesh from disengaging in cross section, and the first switch transmission wheel 22 and the second switch transmission wheel 22.
The switch transmission wheel 26 and the third switch transmission wheel 24 have upper and lower internal holding parts, and at the same time, the high level potential [vDD] of the battery 4 is transmitted to the electronic circuit block 11 via the ground plate 27.
It has a battery side pressure spring portion 17c having an elastic shape for transmitting the pressure to the battery side.

The battery 4 is arranged so that a part 4a of its outer diameter substantially matches the outer diameter of the timepiece movement, and the other part is arranged so as to be adjacent to the wheel train block 2. That is, in a movement in which the center of rotation of the pointer is arranged as in this embodiment, the arrangement is such that the maximum diameter of the movement is minimized.

The step motor 5 has a coil block 29 and a stator 30.
and a rotor 61, and is arranged adjacent to the wheel train block 2 so that the gap between the coil block 29 and the outer diameter of the movement is as large as possible.

The liquid crystal display device 6 consists of a liquid crystal cell 62, a liquid crystal cell reflection plate 66, and a liquid crystal cell connecting rubber 34. 1a, and after attaching the liquid crystal cell connection rubber 34 and the liquid crystal cell reflection plate 66. Connect the electronic circuit block 11 with the electronic circuit block set screw 65.6.
6, the liquid crystal cell connecting rubber 34 is compressed and the liquid crystal cell 62 and the electronic circuit block 11 are electrically connected.

The electronic circuit block 11 has approximately half thereof substantially matching the outer shape of the movement, and the other half thereof is approximately adjacent to the gear train block 2, the battery 4, the step motor 5, and the external operating device block 6. A circuit board 28 having a shape like this, an IC chip 10 mounted on an electrode pattern formed on the circuit board 28 by soldering, etc.
Consists of electronic circuit elements such as a crystal oscillator 7, a boost coil 9 for the buzzer, a boost capacitor 8, a trimmer capacitor 67, and a transistor chip 68 for the buzzer, and the liquid crystal cell support frame is secured by the electronic circuit block set screws 65, 66, 69, 40. 1 is crimped and fixed. The IC chip 10 and the buzzer transistor chip 38 are made small and thin by mounting solder bumps on the electrical connections of each chip and then mounting them on the circuit board 28 by flip-chip mounting. are placed so that they overlap.

The buzzer booster coil 9, which has a thickness slightly thinner than the thickness of the movement, is arranged so that a part of its outer diameter almost matches the outer diameter of the watch movement, and the other part is arranged so that it matches the outer diameter of the watch movement. The electronic circuit elements such as the crystal resonator 7, the trimmer capacitor 67, and the boost capacitor 8 are arranged adjacent to each other, and
, are arranged so as not to overlap with other elements such as the IC chip 10 and so as to surround the periphery of the step motor 5. Note that the battery receiving spring 41 that is in contact with the lower surface of the battery 4 on the cathode side is positioned and mounted on the liquid crystal cell support frame 1, and the battery receiving spring 41 and the liquid crystal cell supporting frame 1 are
Has a low level potential [vSS] connection pattern on the bottom surface,
The circuit board 28 having a high-level potential connection pattern on its upper surface is stacked on the base plate 27 and fixed with screws 40 .

As a result, the low level potential of the battery 4 is lowered by the battery receiving spring 41.
The high-level potential applied to the back presser 17 is connected to the electronic circuit block 11 via the ground plate 27 and screws 40, respectively.

I have described the two-dimensional structure of the movement above, but
The cross-sectional configuration will be explained.

In the watch according to this embodiment, a piezoelectric element 44 is bonded to a back cover 43 that is combined with an outer case 42 in which the movement is housed, so that the back cover 43 can be used as both a sound source and a part of the body. It has a piezoelectric buzzer.

In the movement of this embodiment, the thickness of the battery 4 and the minimum gap between the battery 4 and the dial 450 that are provided to prevent the battery receiving spring 41 from electrically shorting with the dial 45 are determined. The sum of these determines the maximum thickness of the movement, and the back cover 46 (the part without the piezoelectric element 44) is set at approximately the same height as the top surface of the battery. The coil block 29 and the buzzer booster coil 9 can be connected to the coil block 2 by leaving a small gap between them and the back cover 46.
The electronic circuit block 11 (excluding the buzzer boost coil 9) and the wheel train pro 2 and the external operating device block 6 include a buzzer contact spring 46 for not electrically shorting the piezoelectric element 44 and connecting the piezoelectric element 44 to a buzzer drive signal output terminal provided in the electronic circuit block. It is placed at a height that ensures the minimum clearance necessary for installation.

A portion 46a of the buzzer contact spring 46 is bent into two stages. The two leaf spring parts 46 are mounted in holes provided in the circuit board 28, have a positioning part 46b in the planar direction, and have mutually different natural frequencies.
C146d is configured to elastically contact the piezoelectric element 44. Generally speaking, when the buzzer drive signal output terminal of the electronic circuit block 11 and the piezoelectric element 44 are electrically disconnected when an impact is applied to the exterior of the watch, the electrical energy generated due to the deformation of the piezoelectric element 44 due to the impact is released. is stored in the piezoelectric element 44, and then when the two are connected, a large amount of energy is applied to the electronic circuit, so there is a risk that the arithmetic circuit in the electronic circuit block 11 will malfunction. As described above, since it has a plurality of contacts (plate spring portions) with different natural frequencies, the risk of a plurality of contacts coming apart at the same time is reduced, making it possible to use a plate spring that can be disposed in a small gap.

Further, by arranging each block as described above, the electronic circuit block set screws 65, 66, 69, 40 are arranged at approximately the same height as the coil block 29 and the buzzer boost coil 9. .

Further, the piezoelectric element 44 has a substantially rectangular or half-moon shape having an area approximately half that of the movement, and is connected to the battery 4 of the movement, the coil block 29, the booster coil 9 for the buzzer, and the electronic circuit block set screw 65. 6
It is arranged at a position that does not overlap with 6.69.40 in a plane.

As described above, according to the movement of the present invention,
Since the battery 4, which is the component with the largest diameter, is adjacent to the gear train block 2, the largest diameter of the movement (
In addition, the external operating device block 6 is also made thinner, and the liquid crystal display device 6, battery 4
It is now possible to arrange the vehicle in a range surrounded by the wheel train block 2. In addition, by making the coil block 29 approximately the same thickness as the movement, the plane size of the coil block 29 is also small, and the resulting plane space on the outer periphery of the coil block 29 can be effectively used to increase the pressure. Since the capacitor 8 and booster coil 9 for the buzzer are provided, the electrical detection part (contact operation part) of the electronic circuit block 11, battery 4, coil block 29, liquid crystal display device 6, and external operation device block 6 is , gear train block 2
Moreover, it has become possible to arrange the external operating device block 6 thinly without overlapping with the external operating device block 6 in a plane.

Furthermore, by making the thickness of the buzzer boost coil 9 approximately the same as the thickness of the movement, it is possible to secure a sufficient volume of the buzzer boost coil, which is a factor that influences the sound pressure of the piezoelectric buzzer as well as the planar size of the piezoelectric element 44. Even if the area of the piezoelectric element 44 is only about half of the movement, no practical problem arises. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the gap with the exterior was minimized, making it possible to have a movement that utilized all of its volume very effectively.

That is, according to the present invention, a compact watch that is equipped with both a pointer display section and a digital display section, and yet has a high degree of freedom in exterior design to the same degree as a conventional analog display type watch.
We were able to obtain a thin electronic watch movement.

In this movement structure, the buzzer boost coil 9 and the crystal oscillator 7, which are heavy elements, are placed on the outer peninsular part of the coil block 29, which is the weakest part of the circuit board 28 in terms of strength. Moreover, since these are arranged outside the electronic circuit set screws 69 and 40 that fix the circuit board 28 to the watch base, when an impact is applied to the watch, the circuit board 28 will be damaged. After being deformed or elastically deformed, the impact when it hits the liquid crystal cell support frame 1 again may cause problems such as breaking the solder that fixes these elements or breaking the crystal piece, which is the heart of the crystal resonator. Although there is a drawback that this is likely to occur, in this example, as shown in FIG. The inner frame 48, which also has the function of indirectly pressing and fixing the movement against the partition 42a of the case 42, also holds at least the vicinity of the buzzer boost coil of the circuit board 28 at the partition 4 at the same time.
Since it is pressed against and fixed to 2a, the above-mentioned drawbacks are also eliminated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the movement of an electronic timepiece showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are partial sectional views of FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a partial sectional view of the electronic watch worn. 1... Liquid crystal cell support frame 2... Gear train block 6... Liquid crystal display device 4... Battery 5... Stainless steel motor 6... ...External operating device block 7. ......Crystal oscillator 8.
...boost capacitor/sensor 9...boost coil for buzzer 11...electronic circuit block

Claims (1)

[Claims] In electronic watches that have both a pointer display section with a hand movement device driven by a step motor and a digital display section consisting of an electro-optical display device such as a liquid crystal display device, the shape of the movement is rectangular or rectangular. The movement is constructed in a non-circular shape having a major axis direction and a minor axis direction, such as a structure, and a gear train block is disposed approximately in the center of the movement, and an electro-optical display device is disposed at one end in the major axis direction. and a battery and a step motor are disposed adjacent to the wheel train block at the other end, and an external operating device block is further surrounded by the wheel train block, the electro-optical display device, and the battery. Furthermore, the components of the electronic circuit block, such as the crystal resonator, boost capacitor, trimmer capacitor, and boost coil for the buzzer, are placed in a planar space different from those of the battery, step motor, gear train block, and external operating device block. An electronic timepiece movement □, characterized in that the movement is arranged so as to surround the step motor.