JPS6231912Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to the structure of a timepiece having an electro-optical display device such as a liquid crystal display or an electrochromic display.

[Prior Art] In recent years, the number of watches using liquid crystal displays has increased rapidly, and some watches using electrochromic displays have also begun to be released. Among these, a major drawback is the poor design compared to traditional analog display watches that use hands. Figures 1, 2, and 3 show examples of the structure of conventional electronic optical display watches.
Figure 1 is a plan view seen from the display surface side, Figure 2 is a top view of the
A sectional view showing the main part of the XX cross section in the figure, and the third
The figure is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the Y-Y cross section in FIG. In FIG. 1, the planar shape of each part is symmetrical in the horizontal and vertical directions, and only numbers and symbols representing a part of each part are written, and those in symmetrical positions are omitted. (Hereinafter, plan views will be expressed in the same way.) In Figures 1 to 3, 1 is a liquid crystal cell as an electro-optical display device, 2 is a resin circuit support, 3 is a liquid crystal cell holder, and 4 is a liquid crystal cell as an electro-optical display device. Polarizing plates bonded to the upper and lower surfaces of the liquid crystal cell 1; 5 a circuit board having a conductive pattern for transmitting driving signals for the liquid crystal cell 1; 6 a reflecting plate; 7 the liquid crystal cell 1 and the circuit board 5;
The liquid crystal cell 1 is a connector that provides electrical continuity between the corresponding electrodes.
By hooking the bent part 3a of the liquid crystal cell holder 3 onto the corresponding hook part 2c of the circuit support stand 2, the circuit support stand 2 is positioned via the connector 7 and the circuit board 5. It is fixed by pressing. In addition, 2b is a fixing receiving part formed around the circuit support base 2 (it does not necessarily have to be continuous all the way around), and corresponds to the case shown by the two-dot chain line in Figs. 2 and 3. This is for fixing the module to the case by coming into contact with the stepped part. Therefore, in FIG. 1, the width between the parting outline indicated by the dashed line and the module outline that matches the outline of the circuit support base 2 is:
The dimensions in the horizontal and vertical directions are indicated by A and B in the figure, respectively.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

Difficulties in the design of the conventional example will be described. In the conventional example, the widths indicated by A _and B in _FIG . It forms part of the support stand 2, and the liquid crystal cell 1
a positioning portion 2a that abuts against the side surface of the module and positions it within the module and with respect to the circuit board 5;
(a ₂ and b ₂ in the figure), and the width of the fixing receiving part 2b of the circuit support 2 (a ₃ and b ₃ in the figure). The width between the parting outer shape, which is calculated by adding the wall thickness of the case, and the outer shape of the case is extremely wide, and there is a need to narrow this width as much as possible.

However, when trying to reduce the widths of a ₁ , a ₂ , a ₃ , b ₁ , b ₂ , and b ₃ to below a predetermined value, the manufacturing yield of the parts decreases and costs increase. It has been considered difficult to reduce these widths below a certain value because this may lead to a decrease in product reliability due to tightness or insufficient strength of parts. This is because conventionally, both the fixing receiving part and the positioning part were provided along each side of the liquid crystal cell, inside and outside.

[Purpose of this invention]

An object of the present invention is to improve the design of an electro-optical display timepiece by narrowing the width from the parting outline to the case outline.

[Means to achieve the purpose]

A positioning unit for planar positioning of the electro-optical display device is arranged in the gap between each of the four rectangular sides of the electro-optical display device and the inner surface of the watch case, and is in contact with the stepped portion of the watch case so that the positioning unit can be positioned within the watch case. Fixing receivers for positioning the module are arranged in diagonally cut portions at each corner of the electro-optical display device.

[Effect]

Only the positioning portion exists outside each side of the rectangle of the electro-optical display device, and since the positioning portion receives the reinforcing action of the watch case from the outside, it can be made sufficiently thin, making it possible to reduce the thickness of the case and the external shape of the electro-optic display device. If the width from the opening to the outer diameter is fixed, the width from the outer diameter to the outer diameter of the case of the electro-optical display device can be made sufficiently small. On the other hand, the fixing receptacles placed in the notches at the corners of the electro-optical display device have little to do with the design (thinner edges) of the watch.

Next, explanation will be given based on FIGS. 4 to 7.
FIG. 4 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 in the conventional example, and FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are X'-X', Y'-Y' and Z'- It is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the Z′ cross section, and parts and parts with the same names as the conventional example are numbered by adding 10 to the number of the conventional example, and explanations of duplicate parts are omitted. do. In the conventional example, the circuit support stand 2
The fixing receiving part 2b is arranged between the module outer shape and the parting outer shape with a width of a ₃ in the horizontal direction and a width of b ₃ in the vertical direction. Notches 11 at each corner
a, and by arranging the fixing receiving part 12b of the circuit support stand 12 in the cutout part of the cutout part 11a, the width between the module outer shape and the parting outer shape (in the horizontal and vertical directions in FIG. each in
The width of the fixing receiving part 12b can be made not to be included in the width indicated by A' and B',
That is, only the positioning portion 12a exists in the gap between the outside of each side of the liquid crystal cell 11 and the case indicated by the two-dot chain line. Also, the positioning part 12a
Both sides of its width are sandwiched between the inner wall of the case and the side surface of the liquid crystal cell 11, and this relationship does not change even if a shock is applied to the watch, so there is no risk of deformation, and it can be made sufficiently thin. Furthermore, the width of the fixing receiving part 12b that comes into contact with the stepped part of the case cannot be made very small because the contact area receives the acceleration applied to the module. Since the width of the positioning portion 12a and the width of the fixing receiving portion 12b can be set independently from each other.

Furthermore, within the width indicated by A′ and B′, a′ ₁ ,
The parts indicated by a′ ₂ , b′ ₁ , and b′ ₂ correspond to a ₁ , a ₂ , b ₁ , and b ₂ in the conventional example, respectively, and have the same values as in the conventional example, but a ₄ ′ and
The part indicated by b ₄ ' is a positioning part 12 in order to absorb the processing tolerance of the liquid crystal cell 11 and circuit support stand 12.
This is the gap provided between a and the case (the portion indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7), and is a very small value.

〔Example〕

8 and 9 show other embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 4 in the first embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a plan view corresponding to FIG.
It is a sectional view showing the main part of the X″-X″ cross section, and parts and parts having the same names as those in the first embodiment are numbered by adding 10 to the number in the first embodiment. Explanation of duplicate parts will be omitted. In the first embodiment, only the fixing receiving part 12b of the circuit support stand 12 is connected to the notch part 11a of the liquid crystal cell 11.
In contrast, in this embodiment, the circuit support is placed in the area surrounded by the notch 21a provided at the four corners of the liquid crystal cell 21, its extension line, and the module outline. By arranging not only the fixing receiving parts 22b of 22 but also the positioning parts 22a, the width between the module outer shape and the parting outer shape (indicated by A'' and B'' in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, in FIG. 8) is increased. The width of the fixing receiving part 22b as well as the positioning part 22a can be excluded from the width of the positioning part 22a, and the values of A'' and B'' can be changed to the width of A' and B' in the first embodiment. This makes it possible to make the value even smaller. (As shown in FIG. 9, the gap between the outer shape of the liquid crystal cell 21 and the inner shape of the case (module outer shape) can be set to a minimum.) However, in this embodiment, the vertical width indicated by B'' includes the part (22c and 23a) for fixing the liquid crystal cell presser 23 to the circuit support stand 22, so the values of B' and B'' are essentially the same. (It has a cross section similar to that in FIG. 6), but the fixing part of the liquid crystal cell presser 23 to the circuit support stand 22 is also connected to the cutout part 21a of the liquid crystal cell 21.
By placing the value of B″ in the outer part of
It is possible to make it smaller than the value of B'. In addition,
The sectional view of the Z''-Z'' section in FIG. 8 is the same as that in FIG. 2.

According to this invention, only the positioning portion of the electro-optical device is disposed between the outside of each rectangular side of the electro-optical display device and the inner wall of the watch case, so there is almost no problem with its strength. , it can be made sufficiently thin, and on the other hand, the fixing receptacle, which has a limit to reducing the area, is placed at the corner part unrelated to the width of A' in Fig. 4, so it can be set to the necessary thickness for strength. can. Therefore, there is an effect that the width between the parting outline and the module outline can be reduced both in the horizontal and vertical directions without causing an increase in cost or a decrease in reliability by making the wall thickness of the case unreasonably small.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1, 2, and 3 show examples of the structure of a conventional electro-optical display timepiece. Figure 1 is a plan view of the module, and Figures 2 and 3 are X--X in Figure 1, respectively. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing main parts of an X cross section and a YY cross section. Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 show one embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 4 being a plan view of the module, and Figures 5, 6, and 7 being a plan view of the module. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views showing essential parts taken along lines X'-X', Y'-Y', and Z'-Z' in FIG. 4, respectively. Furthermore, FIGS. 8 and 9 show other embodiments of the present invention, with FIG. 8 being a plan view of the module and FIG. 9 showing the main part of the X''-X'' cross section of FIG. 8. FIG. 1, 11, 21... Electro-optical display device (liquid crystal cell), 11a, 21a... Notch, 2, 12, 2
2...Circuit support stand, 2a, 12a, 22a...Positioning part, 2b, 12b, 22b...Fixing receiving part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] an electro-optical display device having a planar shape with each corner of a rectangle cut out diagonally; a circuit board provided with a conductive pattern arranged parallel to the display device and applying a drive signal to an electrode of the display device; A connector that connects the electrodes of the display device and the conductive pattern, a positioning portion that supports the circuit board and abuts against the side surface of the display device from the periphery to position it in a plane, and a step portion of the watch case. a circuit support stand that is in contact with a fixing receiving part for positioning the module in the thickness direction within the watch case and that substantially determines the planar outer shape of the module; The cell holder includes a cell holder having a bent portion that is hung on the hook portion of the circuit support stand in a pressed state, and the positioning portion is disposed on each of the four sides of the square of the display device and is in contact with the inner surface of the watch case. The bent portions are arranged on opposite sides of the rectangle of the display device,
The structure of an electro-optical display timepiece is characterized in that the fixing receiving portion is positioned in a plane at a diagonally cut out corner portion of the electro-optical display device.