JPS6326791Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] The present invention relates to the structure of an electronic watch.

Traditionally, electronic watches have a battery, IC, and
It used to house all the crystal resonators, liquid crystal display devices, etc., but as it became multi-functional, the display content of the liquid crystal display device increased, and as a result, the liquid crystal display section became wider and was configured with two layers. Switch display,
Alternatively, a method has been adopted in which the transparent electrodes of the liquid crystal cell are formed into two layers to switch the display.

However, since the size of the electronic watch case is limited, the display area is small, and it is impossible to enlarge it further from the viewpoint of portability.
Since it is impossible to display them simultaneously, they have the disadvantage of being inconvenient from a user's perspective.

In addition, as the content of displays increases, larger batteries are required due to the increase in power consumption, but the design of conventional watches does not permit the use of large batteries. Particularly in so-called composite watches that have both a pointer display device and a digital display device, this has been a major obstacle in terms of plane space.

As a means to solve this problem, a structure in which the analog module and the digital module are made independent has been considered. Specifically, as shown in Figure 1 a and b, analog case 1 and digital case 1 are separated. An electronic watch has been proposed in which the two cases are made independent and the respective cases are connected by a hinge structure or a connecting pin structure.

However, there are problems that must be solved in order to make this structure a reality. The problem is how to electrically connect the modules housed in two independent cases. More specifically, how to arrange the electrical connection members for electrically connecting the modules and how to connect them to the modules. A wristwatch case usually consists of a case body and a case back, which have a cross-sectional arrangement as shown in FIG. 1b. Therefore, in order to take out the electrical connection member electrically connected to one of the modules to the outside of the case, it is easiest to take it out from between the case body and the case back cover.

That is, it is desirable that the electrical connection member be placed as close to the back cover side as possible in each module due to the structure of the case. Methods for electrically connecting modules and electrical connection members while observing this condition include fixing lead terminals provided on the electrical connection members to the modules housed in their respective cases with screws, or A method has been considered in which the lead terminal of the connecting member is directly pressed onto the electrical component of the module with the back cover via an electrically insulating member.

However, the former method has disadvantages in that it is difficult to assemble due to the use of screws, has problems in disassembling and assembling, such as making disassembly work complicated, and increases cost due to the large number of parts. In addition, the latter has a major production problem in that it is impossible to check the functionality of the watch because electrical connections cannot be made unless the case back is retracted. In the watch assembly process, attaching the back cover is the final step in the assembly process, and if it is not known until then whether or not the watch function is defective, the structure cannot be adopted in terms of production efficiency.

A further drawback of the latter is variation in contact pressure. For example, the compression ratio of the connector rubber used to electrically connect the liquid crystal cell and the circuit board, which are generally used in digital watches, is said to be approximately 15 to 20% of the connector rubber height (compression direction). If the height of the connector rubber is 1 mm, the compression amount will be 150 to 200 microns.

However, it is difficult to ensure a safe compression amount considering variations in the case, variations in the module, etc., and there is a problem in that the machining accuracy of each case and module must be improved.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks, has good assembly workability, is easy to disassemble, has a small number of parts, allows the function of the watch to be confirmed in the modular state before exterior assembly, and is electrically The purpose of this is to obtain a reliable connection structure.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the present invention, showing one module housing a digital display device and an electrical connection member for electrically connecting the modules. The circuit connector 11, which is an electrical connection member, includes a flexible printed circuit board 11b having a wiring pattern provided with contact portions 11a at both ends for connection to electrical components constituting each module.
and a waterproof packing part 11c formed of a polymeric material by insert molding the printed circuit board 11b. The waterproof packing portion 11b is interposed in each case and serves to prevent water from entering the case. 10
is a liquid crystal display panel, which is held by a cell presser 12 and a cell support frame 13, which are holding members.
The cell presser 12 has a receiving surface on the windshield 14 side.
A recess 12a for accommodating the front liquid crystal display panel 10 is formed in the recess 12a, which is a receiving surface.
A display window 12b is provided on the bottom surface of 2a.

Further, the cell support frame 13 having a receiving surface on the side of the back cover 15 includes the liquid crystal display panel 10 and the reflection plate 1.
A flat spacer portion 13a is formed for vertically regulating and supporting the circuit connector 6, and between the spacer portion 13a and the back cover 15 is a flexible print which is a component of the circuit connector 11. A substrate 11b is arranged, and the spacer portion 1
The circuit connector 11 is positioned in a plane by engaging the positioning boss 13b provided on the printed circuit board 11b with a hole or notch in the printed circuit board 11b.

As is clear from the figure, the cell support frame 13 and the circuit connector 11 need to be attached to the cell presser 12 in a state where they are connected to each other in advance, and the circuit connector is attached to the head of the positioning boss 13b. 1
Two umbrella-shaped brim 13 to prevent 1 from coming off easily.
c is provided, and a slit portion 13d is formed in a direction perpendicular to the flange 13c, so that when the circuit connector 11 is assembled into the positioning boss 13b, the flange 13c is directed toward the center of the positioning boss 13b. It is configured so that it is elastically deformed and returns to its normal position after the circuit connector 11 passes through the collar 13c.

Further, between the flexible printed circuit board 11b and the back cover 15, a contact portion 11a formed on the flexible printed circuit board 11b and an external connection electrode of the liquid crystal display panel 10 are provided for electrical connection. A pressing part 13e for crimping the conductive connector rubber 17 is formed, and the pressing part 13e
An opening 13f into which an end portion of the flexible substrate 11b can be inserted is provided between the spacer portion 13a and the spacer portion 13a. The flexible printed circuit board 11b is inserted and mounted through the opening 13f.
is arranged on the upper surface of the pressing part 13e, and
A conductive connector rubber 17 and a liquid crystal display panel 10 are stacked on the contact portion 11a. By hooking the hook 13g of the cell support frame 13 to the hook hooking part 12c provided on the cell presser 12, the bottom surface of the recess 12a of the cell presser 12 and the presser part 13e of the cell support frame 13 are connected.
The liquid crystal display panel 10, the conductive connector rubber 17, and the flexible printed circuit board 11b are crimped and clamped between them to form a block. The block module is positioned laterally within the case by engaging the outer circumferential portion 13h of the cell support frame 13 with the case body 18, and also projects from the case body 18 in one of the vertical directions. Stepped part 1
A shoulder portion 13 provided on the outer periphery of the cell support frame 13 at 8a
i and the other is received by the waterproof packing part 11c of the circuit connector 11 compressed by the back cover 15, thereby being housed and held in the case.

Note that the stepped portion 18a of the case body 18 has a cutout 1 only at the hook 13g provided on the cell support frame 13.
8b, and the other portions are configured to serve as receiving surfaces for the windshield 14.

As described above, according to the structure of the present invention, only two holding members, the cell presser and the cell support frame, hold the liquid crystal display panel and also hold the circuit connector, resulting in good space efficiency and cost. It is also inexpensive. In addition, since the upper and lower parts of the connection part are directly crimped and clamped between the cell presser and the cell support frame, the electrical connection is also reliable.

Furthermore, regarding assembly workability, it is possible to form a block by simply dropping the liquid crystal display panel, reflector, and conductive connector rubber into the cell presser and attaching the cell support frame and circuit connector that have been combined in advance, making it easy to replace parts due to damage. It is easy to make, and like conventional modules, the clock function can be checked on the module alone, providing a highly productive structure.

In other words, according to the present invention, in the method of securing display space by adopting an independent case, it is possible to obtain the lowest cost structure, the most space efficient, and the most reliable connection structure. I can do it.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 shows a conventional electronic watch in which an analog module and a digital module are housed in independent cases, a is a plan view, b is a side view, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention. . 10...Liquid crystal display panel, 11...Circuit connector, 11b...Flexible printed circuit board, 12
...Cell pusher, 13...Cell support frame, 13a...
Spacer part, 13e... Pressing part, 13f... Opening part, 17... Conductive connector rubber.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A first module having an electro-optical display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel, a second module comprising an electronic circuit section including at least a time standard; In the electronic timepiece, the electronic watch has first and second cases housing two modules, respectively, and a connecting member for electrically connecting the first and second modules, wherein the first module includes an electro-optical display panel, first and second holding members for holding the electro-optical display panel, and a connector rubber for electrically connecting the connecting member to the electro-optical display panel. The first holding member has a recess for accommodating the electro-optical display panel, a bottom surface of the recess that serves as a receiving surface for the electro-optical display panel, and a display provided on the bottom surface. The second holding member has a window and a hanging part for the second holding member to hang, and the second holding member has a spacer part for supporting the electro-optical display panel, and the second holding member is integrated with the spacer. a boss provided on the holder, a pressing part for crimping and clamping the connector rubber between the electro-optical display panel and the connecting member, and a connecting member between the pressing part and the spacer part. an opening for inserting an end portion formed with a contact portion, and a hook that is hooked to the hook portion of the first holding member, and the connecting member is hooked to the boss. By inserting the end portion through the opening and placing it on the upper surface of the pusher portion, and placing the connector rubber on the contact portion of the end portion, the electronic The electro-optical display panel, the connector rubber, and the connecting member are connected to an optical display panel, and the electro-optical display panel, the connector rubber, and the connecting member are connected to each other by hooking the hook of the second holding member to the hooking portion of the first holding member. 1. A structure of an electronic timepiece, characterized in that the electronic timepiece is configured to be clamped and clamped between the bottom surface of the recessed portion and the pusher portion by stopping the recessed portion.