JPS6124663B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece having a function of detecting pressure inside a watch case.

Water resistance testing during the watch manufacturing process can be carried out by actually putting the watch under water and pressurizing it, then pulling it out and detecting the moisture inside the case, or placing the watch in an airtight container and measuring the gas pressure inside. High,
This is done by measuring the amount of gas flowing into the watch case within a certain period of time. However, with the former method that uses water, if there is a leak, water will enter the watch case, so this water must be removed after the inspection, and if there is a large amount of water, the internal movement may be damaged. There is a risk of damage. If the latter method uses gas, there is no risk of flooding, but the amount of gas inflow, which is the criterion for judgment, varies depending on the volume of the space inside the watch case, so the settings should be changed for each type of watch. This has the drawback of low work efficiency and is difficult to detect if there is a significantly large leak.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic timepiece that can detect pressure inside a watch case. The electronic watch of this invention includes a pressure sensor that detects pressure within the watch case and generates an electric signal;
The pressure sensor has a display that displays a predetermined display according to the output signal of the pressure sensor. This indicator may be operated only by the output signal of the pressure sensor, but it may also be one for displaying time built into an electronic watch. The built-in pressure sensor detects pressure changes depending on the amount of leakage from the watch case when the electronic watch is pressurized. Furthermore,
The built-in pressure sensor measures external water pressure or pressure by opening a valve or by hermetically sealing the pressure receiving part of the pressure sensor from other parts.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The watch case indicated by the reference numeral 1 in FIG.
3, and a movement 4 provided with a display 2 such as a liquid crystal display, a pressure sensor 3, and a battery 5 as a power source are housed inside the movement.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the pressure sensor 3 includes a diaphragm 31 arranged to face the lower surface of the movement 4 at a predetermined interval;
The diaphragm 31 has a ring 32 for airtightly connecting the peripheral edge of the diaphragm 31 to the lower surface of the movement 4, and the diaphragm 31 has a pressing portion 31a in the center that faces a pressure-sensitive element 33 provided on the lower surface of the movement 4. is formed. This pressure sensitive element 3
3 generates an electric signal corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure received from the pressing portion 31a.

An example of a specific connection relationship between each element of the movement 4 and the pressure sensor 3 is shown in FIG. In this example, the oscillation frequency of the oscillator 41, which is based on the natural vibration of the crystal resonator, is divided by the frequency divider 42, the time reference signal obtained here is counted by the counter, and the count value is used by the decoder/driver. 44 and then digitally displayed on the display 2. This is a configuration for digitally displaying the time using a display 2 made of a liquid crystal display element, etc. However, if a pointer-type display 2 using a pulse motor is used, the frequency divider 42 The output directly drives the display 2. Since the configuration of this part is the same as that of a general electronic watch, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the pressure sensor 3 generates an output signal when it detects a pressure exceeding a set value, and this output signal is supplied to the decoder/driver 44 to display a different time display on the display 2. used to make for example,
In the case of digital display, all digits may be changed to "0" or "8", or at least one of the displayed digits may be blinked at a predetermined period. In the case of a pointer type display, the second hand may be stopped or its movement may be delayed so that it moves by one step every 2 to 3 seconds. By changing the display on the display 2 in this manner, it is displayed that the pressure sensor 3 has detected a pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined set value.

In an electronic watch having such a configuration, when the pressure vessel is pressurized for testing waterproofness, the pressure inside the watch case 1 increases at a rate corresponding to the degree of waterproofness of the watch case 1. As a result, the pressure acting on the diaphragm 31 increases, and the pressing portion 3
The pressure with which 1a presses the pressure sensitive element 33 increases. As a result, the output signal level of the pressure sensitive element 33 increases, but if this output signal level does not rise to the set value within a certain period of time, it is determined that the waterproofness is sufficient. However, if the output signal level of the pressure-sensitive element 33 rises to the set value within a certain period of time, the display on the display 2 changes depending on the output signal of the pressure sensor 3, and this causes the waterproofness to deteriorate. It will be displayed that it is sufficient.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, a pressure sensitive element 33 is used as the pressure sensor 3;
Instead, an element that generates an output signal according to the displacement of the diaphragm 31, for example, the diaphragm 31
It is also possible to use a capacitor or switch consisting of a pair of electrodes each attached to the movement 4, or a variable resistor that converts the displacement of the diaphragm 31 into a change in resistance value.

In addition, the output signal of the pressure sensor 3 is sent to a decoder/driver 4 to change the display on the display 2.
4, a similar display change can be made by supplying the output signal of the pressure sensor 3 to the oscillator 41 or frequency divider 42 to stop its operation or change its operating state. It can be done even if it is twisted. Furthermore, when the pressure sensor 3 detects a pressure equal to or higher than a set value, the pressure sensor 3 may generate a signal of an arbitrary frequency unrelated to time, and the display 2 may be driven by this signal.

In order to make a predetermined display according to the output signal of the pressure sensor 3, it is advantageous to use the time display 2 included in the electronic watch. An indicator may be provided. This dedicated display includes pressure sensor 3.
A light emitting diode that turns on or off when a predetermined pressure is detected is suitable.

No matter what type of pressure sensor and display means are applied, the electronic watch of this invention
Each watch case has an individual display function that indicates when the pressure inside the watch case has reached a set value, so by housing and pressurizing many watches in one pressure vessel, waterproofness can be achieved. It is possible to reliably detect an insufficient amount of data, and the detection result is not affected by conditions such as the internal volume of the watch case. In addition, if the operation of the oscillator is controlled by the output signal of the pressure sensor, or if the pressure sensor is configured to generate a specific oscillation output,
The sound waves generated by this oscillator may be extracted with a microphone, and a buzzer or lamp may be used to issue a warning of waterproofing failure.

In the above configuration, the output signal of the pressure sensor is
It is used to display a specified display only when the airtightness of the watch case is below a set value, but a pressure sensor that continuously detects the pressure value inside the watch case is used, and the detected value is It is also possible to configure it so that it is displayed directly. Such an operation can be obtained by providing an arithmetic circuit that converts the output signal of the pressure sensor into a signal proportional to the pressure value, and a display that displays this arithmetic value. If the time display installed in an electronic watch is a digital type, by configuring it so that the output signal of the pressure sensor is selected only during the waterproofness test, it is possible to ensure that the waterproofness is within the standard. It is possible to display not only whether or not it is true, but also its degree.

Furthermore, if the watch case is configured to enable continuous pressure detection, the watch case can be equipped with a valve that communicates the inside and outside, and this valve can be opened as needed to measure the outside atmospheric pressure. It can also be displayed. In addition, if the pressure receiving part of the pressure sensor is hermetically sealed from other parts, it is possible to measure this pressure underwater, thereby making it possible to measure the external water pressure, that is, the water depth during diving. Can be measured and displayed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electronic timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the main parts thereof, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of the electronic timepiece. 1...Watch case, 11...Body, 12...Windshield glass, 13...Back cover, 2...Display, 3...
Pressure sensor, 31...Diaphragm, 31a...
...Press portion, 32...Ring, 33...Pressure sensitive element,
4... Movement, 41... Oscillator, 42...
Frequency divider, 43...Counter, 44...Decoder/
driver.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an electronic timepiece in which a display device and a movement that drives the display device by a timekeeping operation are provided in an airtightly sealed watch case consisting of a main body and a back cover, the pressure inside the watch case is detected. A pressure sensor that outputs an electrical output signal to the movement is provided in the watch case, and when the pressure sensor detects a pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined set value, the output signal from the pressure sensor causes the movement to be activated. An electronic timepiece characterized in that a decoder/driver causes the display to display a different display from a normal display. 2. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising a second display for displaying the output signal of the pressure sensor. 3. In an electronic watch in which a display device and a movement that drives the display device by timekeeping operation are installed in an airtightly sealed watch case consisting of a main body and a back cover, pressure is detected inside the watch case and an electrical An electronic timepiece comprising a pressure sensor that generates an output signal and a display that displays a pressure value according to the output signal of the pressure sensor. 4. The electronic timepiece according to claim 3, wherein the timepiece case is provided with a valve that allows the inside to communicate with the outside.