US20210181693A1 - Watch Component And Electronic Watch - Google Patents

Watch Component And Electronic Watch Download PDF

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Publication number
US20210181693A1
US20210181693A1 US17/118,775 US202017118775A US2021181693A1 US 20210181693 A1 US20210181693 A1 US 20210181693A1 US 202017118775 A US202017118775 A US 202017118775A US 2021181693 A1 US2021181693 A1 US 2021181693A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
magnetic layer
region
thickness
watch
antenna
Prior art date
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Abandoned
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US17/118,775
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English (en)
Inventor
Koki Takasawa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Epson Corp
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Seiko Epson Corp
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Publication date
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Assigned to SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION reassignment SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TAKASAWA, KOKI
Publication of US20210181693A1 publication Critical patent/US20210181693A1/en
Priority to US18/320,468 priority Critical patent/US12045019B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B37/00—Cases
    • G04B37/22—Materials or processes of manufacturing pocket watch or wrist watch cases
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
    • H01Q1/273—Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C8/00—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/06—Dials
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/14—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating a stepping motor
    • G04C3/146—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating a stepping motor incorporating two or more stepping motors or rotors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G17/00—Structural details; Housings
    • G04G17/08—Housings
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G21/00—Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
    • G04G21/02—Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04R—RADIO-CONTROLLED TIME-PIECES
    • G04R20/00—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
    • G04R20/02—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal the radio signal being sent by a satellite, e.g. GPS
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04R—RADIO-CONTROLLED TIME-PIECES
    • G04R20/00—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
    • G04R20/08—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal the radio signal being broadcast from a long-wave call sign, e.g. DCF77, JJY40, JJY60, MSF60 or WWVB
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04R—RADIO-CONTROLLED TIME-PIECES
    • G04R60/00—Constructional details
    • G04R60/06—Antennas attached to or integrated in clock or watch bodies
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04R—RADIO-CONTROLLED TIME-PIECES
    • G04R60/00—Constructional details
    • G04R60/06—Antennas attached to or integrated in clock or watch bodies
    • G04R60/10—Antennas attached to or integrated in clock or watch bodies inside cases
    • G04R60/12—Antennas attached to or integrated in clock or watch bodies inside cases inside metal cases
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F1/00—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties
    • H01F1/01—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials
    • H01F1/03—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity
    • H01F1/12—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of soft-magnetic materials
    • H01F1/14—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of soft-magnetic materials metals or alloys
    • H01F1/147—Alloys characterised by their composition
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F1/00—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties
    • H01F1/01—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials
    • H01F1/03—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity
    • H01F1/12—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of soft-magnetic materials
    • H01F1/34—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of soft-magnetic materials non-metallic substances, e.g. ferrites
    • H01F1/342—Oxides
    • H01F1/344—Ferrites, e.g. having a cubic spinel structure (X2+O)(Y23+O3), e.g. magnetite Fe3O4
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q7/00—Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
    • H01Q7/06—Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop with core of ferromagnetic material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D2211/00—Microstructure comprising significant phases
    • C21D2211/001—Austenite

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a watch component and an electronic watch.
  • JP-A-2016-125989 discloses a radio watch including a movement including a magnetic shield plate and a motor.
  • the magnetic shield plate is disposed to overlap at least a portion of the motor in plan view of the movement in order to suppress the adverse influence of external magnetic fields on the motor.
  • an antenna core and the magnetic shield plate are disposed at a predetermined distance from each other in plan view in order to suppress a situation where radio waves are absorbed at the magnetic shield plate and the reception sensitivity of the antenna is reduced.
  • the magnetic shield plate is disposed such that the influence of external magnetic fields on the motor can be suppressed and that reduction in reception sensitivity of the antenna can be suppressed.
  • JP-A-2016-125989 the number of components is disadvantageously increased since the magnetic shield plate is required to be provided, for components that can be influenced by external magnetic fields such as motors, in order to suppress the influence.
  • a watch component of the present disclosure includes a first region including a first soft magnetic layer composed of a ferrite phase, a first non-magnetic layer composed of an austenized phase in which the ferrite phase is austenized, and a first mixed layer in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed, the first mixed layer being formed between the first soft magnetic layer and the first non-magnetic layer, and a second region including a second non-magnetic layer composed of the austenized phase, the second non-magnetic layer having a thickness greater than that of the first non-magnetic layer.
  • a watch of the present disclosure includes the above-described watch component.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an electronic watch of a first embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a main portion of the electronic watch of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the electronic watch as viewed from an axial direction of an antenna.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a case body according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of the case body of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of the case body of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of the case body of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a case body of a second embodiment.
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a case body of a third embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a case body of a fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a main portion of an electronic watch of a fifth embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating the electronic watch 1 of this embodiment.
  • the electronic watch 1 is configured as a wrist watch that is worn on the user's wrist.
  • the electronic watch 1 includes a metal case 10 .
  • the case 10 includes a case body 100 formed in a substantially ring shape, a cover glass 11 mounted on a front surface side of the case body 100 , and a case back (not illustrated) removably attached to the back surface side of the case body 100 .
  • the case body 100 is an example of the watch component of the present disclosure.
  • the electronic watch 1 includes a disk-shaped dial 2 , a second hand 3 , a minute hand 4 , an hour hand 5 , a crown 6 , an A-button 7 and a B-button 8 , which are disposed inside the case 10 .
  • the electronic watch 1 is configured as a radio watch that can receive a long-wavelength standard radio wave as a radio wave including time information, and can correct the indication positions of the second hand 3 , the minute hand 4 and the hour hand 5 on the basis of the received time information.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a main portion of the electronic watch 1 . Specifically, the plan view illustrates a main portion of the electronic watch 1 in the state where the cover glass 11 and the dial 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 are removed.
  • the antenna unit 9 is housed in the case body 100 .
  • motors 81 and 82 , a secondary battery 83 , and a circuit board and a wheel train (not illustrated), and the like, are housed in the case body 100 .
  • the antenna unit 9 includes an antenna 20 , a first antenna frame 40 , and a second antenna frame 50 .
  • the antenna 20 is composed of an antenna core 21 and a coil 25 wound on the antenna core 21 . That is, the antenna 20 is configured as a coil antenna.
  • the antenna 20 is configured as a bar antenna in which the coil winding of the antenna core 21 is formed in a straight-line shape.
  • the antenna core 21 is, for example, a member obtained by die-cutting a cobalt-based amorphous metal foil as a magnetic foil material, or a member obtained by stacking, in the thickness direction of the electronic watch 1, 10 to 30 sheets formed by etching and then performing thermal treatment such as annealing to stabilize the magnetic properties.
  • the antenna core 21 includes a first lead 23 and a second lead 24 .
  • a magnetic collecting plate may be attached to the surface of the first lead 23 and the second lead 24 in order to improve the reception performance of the antenna 20 .
  • the magnetic collecting plate can be formed by laminating several magnetic foil members composed of amorphous sheets, for example.
  • the magnetic foil member include a cobalt-based amorphous metal and an iron-based amorphous metal.
  • the first antenna frame 40 is a member made of a synthetic resin and is a member that holds the antenna core 21 .
  • the second antenna frame 50 is a member made of a synthetic resin and is a member that holds the antenna core 21 .
  • the antenna core 21 is held by the first antenna frame 40 and the second antenna frame 50 .
  • FIG. 3 is a side view as viewed from an axial direction O of the antenna 20 .
  • the axial direction O of the antenna 20 is the longitudinal direction of the antenna core 21 , and refers to a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the directivity of radio wave reception is highest in the antenna 20 .
  • the case body 100 is composed of an austenized ferritic stainless steel including a first region 110 and a second region 120 .
  • the first region 110 and the second region 120 are regions ranging from a first surface 101 , which is the outer surface, to a second surface 102 , which is the inner surface opposite the first surface 101 , in the case body 100 as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • the second region 120 is a region defined by virtual lines M and N, the first surface 101 , and the second surface 102 illustrated in FIG. 2 in the case body 100 .
  • the second region 120 two regions are disposed along the axial direction O on the opposite sides with the antenna 20 therebetween.
  • the first region 110 is the region other than the second region 120 in the case body 100 .
  • the first region 110 is a region that has magnetic resistance and blocks external magnetic fields and the like in the case body 100 .
  • the motors 81 and 82 , the secondary battery 83 and the like disposed at positions corresponding to the first region 110 are less influenced by external magnetic fields.
  • the second region 120 is a region configured to be able to transmit radio waves such as a long-wavelength standard radio wave in the case body 100 . It is disposed at a position overlapping the antenna 20 in a side view as viewed from the axial direction O of the antenna 20 as illustrated in FIG. 3 in this embodiment. In addition, the second region 120 is configured to have a cross-sectional area greater than that of the antenna core 21 in the side view.
  • the case body 100 includes the first region 110 configured to block external magnetic fields and the like and the second region 120 configured to be able to transmit radio waves.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of the case body 100 taken along a direction parallel to the dial 2 . Note that FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of the first region 110 and the second region 120 disposed with the virtual line M therebetween in FIG. 2 in the case body 100 .
  • the first region 110 of the case body 100 includes a first soft magnetic layer 111 composed of a ferrite phase, and a first non-magnetic layer 112 composed of an austenite phase in which the ferrite phase is austenized (hereinafter referred to as “austenized phase”) , and a first mixed layer 113 in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed between the first soft magnetic layer 111 and the first non-magnetic layer 112 .
  • austenized phase an austenite phase in which the ferrite phase is austenized
  • the first non-magnetic layer 112 and the first mixed layer 113 are provided on the first surface 101 side with respect to the first soft magnetic layer 111 . Further, the first non-magnetic layer 112 and the first mixed layer 113 are provided also on the second surface 102 side with respect to the first soft magnetic layer 111 . In other words, the first soft magnetic layer 111 is provided between the first mixed layers 113 in the thickness direction of the case body 100 . The first mixed layers 113 are provided between the first soft magnetic layer 111 and the first non-magnetic layers 112 .
  • the first non-magnetic layer 112 , the first mixed layer 113 , the first soft magnetic layer 111 , the first mixed layer 113 , and the first non-magnetic layer 112 are stacked in this order.
  • each of the first region 110 and the second region 120 has a thickness of t 1 .
  • the first region 110 and the second region 120 are configured to have thicknesses equal to each other.
  • the thickness t 1 of the first region 110 and the second region 120 i.e., the thickness t 1 of the case body 100 , is approximately 4 mm, for example.
  • the first soft magnetic layer 111 is composed of a ferrite phase. In this manner, the first soft magnetic layer 111 has magnetic resistance.
  • the first soft magnetic layer 111 is composed of a ferritic stainless steel that contains, by mass %, 18 to 22% Cr, 1.3 to 2.8% Mo, 0.05 to 0.50% Nb, 0.1 to 0.8% Cu, less than 0.5% Ni, less than 0.8% Mn, less than 0.5% Si, less than 0.10% P, less than 0.05% S, less than 0.05% N, and less than 0.05% C, with the remainder composed of Fe and unavoidable impurities.
  • the first soft magnetic layer 111 is not limited to the above-described configuration as long as the first soft magnetic layer 111 is composed of a ferrite phase.
  • the first region 110 is configured such that the first soft magnetic layer 111 has a thickness a of 100 ⁇ m or greater. In this manner, the first region 110 has a predetermined magnetic resistance required as a watch.
  • the first non-magnetic layer 112 is formed by subjecting the base material forming the first soft magnetic layer 111 to a nitrogen absorption treatment such that the ferrite phase is austenized.
  • a thickness b of the first non-magnetic layer 112 provided on the first surface 101 side is set to approximately 350 ⁇ m
  • a thickness c of the first non-magnetic layer 112 provided on the second surface 102 side is set to approximately 350 ⁇ m.
  • the first region 110 is configured such that the thickness b of the first non-magnetic layer 112 provided on the first surface 101 side and the thickness c of the first non-magnetic layer 112 provided on the second surface 102 side are substantially equal to each other.
  • the thicknesses b and c of the first non-magnetic layers 112 are the thicknesses of the layers composed of the austenized phase, and are the shortest distances from the first surface 101 or the second surface 102 to the ferrite phase of the first mixed layer 113 in the field of view in SEM observation at a magnification of 500 to 1000. Alternatively, they are the austenized phases closest from the first surface 101 or the second surface 102 . In addition, the thickness of the first non-magnetic layer 112 may be set to an average value of the distances measured at a plurality of points where the distance from the first surface 101 or the second surface 102 to the ferrite phase is short.
  • the content of nitrogen in the first non-magnetic layer 112 is 1.0 to 1.6% by mass %
  • the first non-magnetic layer 112 is not limited to the above-described configuration.
  • the first non-magnetic layer 112 may be configured to have a thickness of 350 ⁇ m or greater, or may be configured to have a thickness of 350 ⁇ m or smaller as long as the first non-magnetic layer 112 is provided in accordance with the hardness and corrosion resistance required as a watch.
  • the first mixed layer 113 is formed by a variation in the transfer rate of nitrogen entering the first soft magnetic layer 111 composed of the ferrite phase in the process of forming the first non-magnetic layer 112 . Specifically, at the portion where the transfer rate of nitrogen is high, nitrogen enters into a deep portion in the ferrite phase to austenize it, whereas at a portion where the transfer rate of nitrogen is low, the ferrite phase is austenized only in a shallow portion, and thus, the first mixed layer 113 in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed with respect to the depth direction is formed. Note that the first mixed layer 113 is a layer including the shallowest part to the deepest part of the austenized phase in a cross-sectional view, and is a layer thinner than the first non-magnetic layer 112 .
  • the second region 120 is composed of a second non-magnetic layer 122 composed of an austenized phase. Specifically, in the second region 120 , the second non-magnetic layer 122 is formed from the first surface 101 , which is the outer surface, to the second surface 102 , which is the inner surface, in the case body 100 . In this manner, the second region 120 is configured to be able to transmit radio waves such as a long-wavelength standard radio wave.
  • the second non-magnetic layer 122 is formed by performing a nitrogen absorption treatment such that the ferrite phase is austenized.
  • the second non-magnetic layer 122 is provided from the first surface 101 to the second surface 102 in the case body 100 as described above. That is, there is no layer composed of a ferrite phase in the second region 120 . As such, the thickness of the second non-magnetic layer 122 is greater than that of the first non-magnetic layer 112 .
  • the content of nitrogen in the second non-magnetic layer 122 is 1.0 to 1.6% by mass % as with the above-described first non-magnetic layer 112 .
  • FIGS. 5 to 7 are schematic views illustrating manufacturing processes of the case body 100 .
  • a ferritic stainless steel is machined to form a base material 200 .
  • the base material 200 is formed such that the thickness of the portion corresponding to the first region 110 is greater than that of the portion corresponding to the second region 120 by a predetermined length.
  • a nitrogen absorption treatment is performed on the base material 200 machined in the above-mentioned manner.
  • nitrogen enters the base material 200 from the surface, and the ferrite phase is austenized.
  • nitrogen does not completely enter the portion in the nitrogen absorption treatment and the ferrite phase remains by a predetermined thickness since the base material 200 is formed such that the thickness of the portion is greater than that of the portion corresponding to the second region 120 .
  • nitrogen enters the portion corresponding to the second region 120 across the entire layer, and the ferrite phase is austenized.
  • the nitrogen absorption treatment of this embodiment is performed such that nitrogen enters the portion corresponding to the second region 120 across the entire layer.
  • the surface side of the base material 200 is cut by a predetermined length and thus the case body 100 as described above is formed. Specifically, in this embodiment, the surface side of the base material 200 is cut such that the thicknesses b and c of the first non-magnetic layers 112 are approximately 350 ⁇ m in the first region 110 . In this manner, the case body 100 can achieve the hardness and corrosion resistance required as a watch.
  • the case body 100 of this embodiment includes the first region 110 including the first soft magnetic layer 111 composed of a ferrite phase, the first non-magnetic layer 112 composed of an austenized phase, and the first mixed layer 113 in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed between the first soft magnetic layer 111 and the first non-magnetic layer 112 . Further, the case body 100 includes the second region 120 including the second non-magnetic layer 122 composed of an austenized phase with a thickness greater than that of the first non-magnetic layer 112 .
  • the thickness of the second non-magnetic layer 122 composed of the austenized phase capable of transmitting radio waves can be increased, and thus transmission of radio waves such as a long-wavelength standard radio wave can be facilitated.
  • the second region 120 is composed only of the second non-magnetic layer 122 composed of the austenized phase, that is, the second region 120 includes no ferrite phase, and thus transmission of radio waves such as a long-wavelength standard radio wave can be further facilitated.
  • the first region 110 includes the first soft magnetic layer 111 composed of the ferrite phase, magnetic resistance can be achieved. That is, in this embodiment, with only a single component as the case body 100 , both the improvement in radio wave reception sensitivity and the improvement in magnetic resistance can be achieved and the need for a magnetic shield plate and the like can be eliminated, and thus, the number of components can be reduced.
  • the second region 120 includes no ferrite phase
  • the first soft magnetic layer 111 has a thickness a of 100 ⁇ m or greater.
  • the thickness of the first region 110 and the thickness of the second region 120 are equal to each other.
  • the first region 110 and the second region 120 can be simultaneously cut, and thus the ease of the manufacturing of the case body 100 can be increased.
  • the electronic watch 1 includes the antenna 20 including the antenna core 21 , and the second region 120 is disposed at a position overlapping the antenna 20 in a side view from the axial direction O of the antenna 20 . Further, in the above-described side view, the area of the second region 120 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the antenna core 21 .
  • the reception sensitivity of the antenna 20 for receiving radio waves such as a long-wavelength standard radio wave transmitted through the second region 120 of the case body 100 can be increased.
  • the second embodiment differs from the above-described first embodiment in that a second soft magnetic layer 121 A and a second mixed layer 123 A are formed in a second region 120 A.
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a case body 100 A of the second embodiment.
  • the second region 120 A of the case body 100 A includes the second soft magnetic layer 121 A composed of a ferrite phase, a second non-magnetic layer 122 A composed of an austenized phase, and the second mixed layer 123 A in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed between the second soft magnetic layer 121 A and the second non-magnetic layer 122 A.
  • the second non-magnetic layer 122 A is provided by austenizing the ferrite phase such that the content of nitrogen is 1.0 to 1.6% by mass %.
  • the thickness of the second non-magnetic layer 122 A is greater than that of the first non-magnetic layer 112 .
  • the second soft magnetic layer 121 A is composed of a ferritic stainless steel similar to that of the first soft magnetic layer 111 of the above-described first embodiment.
  • the second mixed layer 123 A is formed by a variation in the transfer rate of nitrogen entering the second soft magnetic layer 121 A composed of a ferrite phase, and is formed as a mixture of the ferrite phase and the austenized phase with respect to the depth direction.
  • the second region 120 A is configured such that a thickness d of a combination of the second soft magnetic layer 121 A and the second mixed layer 123 A is smaller than the thickness a of the first soft magnetic layer 111 of the first region 110 , and is 100 ⁇ m or smaller.
  • the thickness of the second soft magnetic layer 121 A and the second mixed layer 123 A including the ferrite phase capable of absorbing radio waves can be reduced, and thus the influence on the reception sensitivity of the antenna 20 can be reduced.
  • the second non-magnetic layer 122 A is not formed across the entire layer of the case body 100 A in the nitrogen absorption treatment, and the second soft magnetic layer 121 A and the second mixed layer 123 A partially remain unlike in the above-described first embodiment.
  • the nitrogen absorption treatment is performed such that the entry depth of nitrogen is smaller than in the above-described first embodiment.
  • the second region 120 A includes the second soft magnetic layer 121 A composed of a ferrite phase, and the second mixed layer 123 A in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed between the second soft magnetic layer 121 A and the second non-magnetic layer 122 A.
  • the entry depth of nitrogen can be reduced, and thus the treatment time of the nitrogen absorption treatment can be reduced.
  • the thickness d of the combination of the second soft magnetic layer 121 A and the second mixed layer 123 A is 100 ⁇ m or smaller.
  • the third embodiment differs from the above-described first embodiment in that in a first region 110 B, a thickness e of a first non-magnetic layer 112 B provided on the first surface 101 side is greater than a thickness f of the first non-magnetic layer 112 B provided on the second surface 102 side.
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a case body 100 B of the third embodiment.
  • the first region 110 B of the case body 100 B includes a first soft magnetic layer 111 B composed of a ferrite phase, the first non-magnetic layer 112 B composed of an austenized phase, and a first mixed layer 113 B in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed between the first soft magnetic layer 111 B and the first non-magnetic layer 112 B.
  • the first region 110 B is configured such that the thickness e of the first non-magnetic layer 112 B provided on the first surface 101 side is greater than the thickness f of the first non-magnetic layer 112 B provided on the second surface 102 side.
  • the thickness e of the first non-magnetic layer 112 B provided on the first surface 101 side is approximately 350 ⁇ m
  • the thickness f of the first non-magnetic layer 112 B provided on the second surface 102 side is approximately 100 ⁇ m.
  • the first non-magnetic layer 112 B having a sufficient thickness is provided on the first surface 101 side, which is the outer side of the case body 100 B, and thus the hardness and corrosion resistance required as a watch can be achieved.
  • the thickness of the first non-magnetic layer 112 B can be reduced on the second surface 102 side, which is the inner side of the case body 100 B, and thus the inner space of the case body 100 B can be increased. In this manner, the freedom of the arrangement of components such as the motors 81 and 82 , the secondary battery 83 , and the like can be increased, and the size of the electronic watch 1 can be reduced.
  • the first region 110 B includes the first surface 101 and the second surface 102 located opposite the first surface 101 , and the thickness e of the first non-magnetic layer 112 B provided on the first surface 101 side is greater than the thickness f of the first non-magnetic layer 112 B provided on the second surface 102 side.
  • the hardness and corrosion resistance required as a watch can be achieved, and the inner space of the case body 100 B can be increased.
  • the degree of freedom of the arrangement of components such as the motors 81 and 82 and the secondary battery 83 can be increased, and the size of the electronic watch 1 can be reduced.
  • the fourth embodiment differs from the above-described first embodiment in that the thickness of a first region 110 C and the thickness of a second region 120 C differ from each other in a case body 100 C.
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of the case body 100 C of the fourth embodiment.
  • the case body 100 C includes the first region 110 C and the second region 120 C.
  • the first region 110 C includes a first soft magnetic layer 111 C, a first non-magnetic layer 112 C, and a first mixed layer 113 C.
  • the second region 120 C includes a second non-magnetic layer 122 C as in the above-described first embodiment.
  • the case body 100 C is configured such that the thickness of the first region 110 C and the thickness of the second region 120 C are different from each other.
  • the second region 120 C a first surface 101 C side and a second surface 102 C side are cut more than in the first region 110 C, and a step is formed in the first surface 101 C and the second surface 102 C.
  • the second region 120 C is formed to have a thickness smaller than that of the first region 110 C.
  • the thickness of the first region 110 C and the thickness of the second region 120 C are different from each other.
  • the second region 120 C are provided so as to have a thickness smaller than that of the first region 110 C.
  • the fifth embodiment differs from the above-described first embodiment in that a first region 110 D is not disposed in a predetermined range from a center 61 D of a magnetic sensor 60 D in a case body 100 D.
  • FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a main portion of an electronic watch 1 D of the fifth embodiment. Specifically, the plan view illustrates a main portion of the electronic watch 1 D in the state where the cover glass 11 and the dial 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 are removed.
  • the electronic watch 1 D includes the magnetic sensor 60 D in the case body 100 D.
  • the magnetic sensor 60 D is disposed at the 12 o'clock position.
  • the magnetic sensor 60 D is a triaxial magnetic sensor, and is configured to be able to detect the geomagnetism of the vertical component in addition to the horizontal component.
  • the case body 100 D includes the first region 110 D and a second region 120 D.
  • the first region 110 D includes a first soft magnetic layer, a first non-magnetic layer, and a first mixed layer.
  • the second region 120 D includes a second non-magnetic layer as in the above-described first embodiment.
  • the first region 110 D is not disposed at least in a range of the inside of a circle S having a radius L centered on the center 61 D of the magnetic sensor 60 D in this embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 11 .
  • the second region 120 D is disposed in a range where the inside of the circle S and the case body 100 D overlap each other. More specifically, the second region 120 D is defined by a virtual line extending from the intersection point between the inner edge of the case body 100 D and the circle S in a direction orthogonal to a tangent to the inner edge of the case body 100 D at the intersection point.
  • the range inside the circle S is an example of the predetermined range of the present disclosure.
  • the magnetic sensor 60 D and the first region 110 D are disposed at a predetermined distance from each other, and thus, when measuring the geomagnetism using the magnetic sensor 60 D, absorption of the geomagnetism at the ferrite phase of the first region 110 D can be suppressed. In this manner, the measurement accuracy of the geomagnetism at the magnetic sensor 60 D can be improved.
  • the radius L is set to 15 mm in consideration of the influence of the ferrite phase of the first region 110 D on the measurement of the magnetic sensor 60 D.
  • the first region 110 D is not disposed at least in a predetermined range from the center 61 D of the magnetic sensor 60 D. Specifically, the first region 110 D is not disposed in a range inside the circle S having a radius of 15 mm centered on the center 61 D of the magnetic sensor 60 D in plan view.
  • the watch component of the present disclosure is configured as the case bodies 100 , 100 A, 100 B, 100 C and 100 D, but this is not limitative.
  • the watch component of the present disclosure may be configured as at least one of a case back, a dial, a bezel, a dial ring, and a main plate of a movement.
  • the electronic watch may include a plurality of the above-described watch components.
  • the thickness e of the first non-magnetic layer 112 B provided on the first surface 101 side is greater than the thickness f of the first non-magnetic layer 112 B provided on the second surface 102 side, but this is not limitative.
  • a motor and the like can be disposed near the ferrite phase, and thus the magnetic resistance can be further improved.
  • the antenna 20 is configured as a bar antenna in which the coil winding of the antenna core 21 is formed in a straight-line shape, but this is not limitative.
  • the antenna may be formed in an arc shape.
  • the axial direction of the antenna is the tangent direction of the end portion of the antenna 20 .
  • the antenna 20 is configured as a coil antenna, but this is not limitative.
  • the antenna may be configured as a planar antenna or a monopole antenna.
  • the electronic watch 1 is configured as a radio watch that receives the long-wavelength standard radio wave to adjust the time, but this is not limitative.
  • the electronic watch may be configured as a so-called GPS watch configured to be able to receive radio waves from a GPS satellite.
  • the case bodies 100 , 100 A, 100 B, 100 C and 100 D are configured as a watch component, but this is not limitative.
  • it may be configured as a case of an electronic device other than a watch, i.e., a component of an electronic device such as a housing.
  • the electronic device can achieve both the improvement in radio wave reception sensitivity and the improvement in magnetic resistance, and can reduce the number of components.
  • a watch component of the present disclosure includes a first region including a first soft magnetic layer composed of a ferrite phase, a first non-magnetic layer composed of an austenized phase in which the ferrite phase is austenized, and a first mixed layer in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed, the first mixed layer being formed between the first soft magnetic layer and the first non-magnetic layer, and a second region including a second non-magnetic layer composed of the austenized phase, the second non-magnetic layer having a thickness greater than that of the first non-magnetic layer.
  • the thickness of the second non-magnetic layer composed of the austenized phase capable of transmitting radio waves can be increased, and thus transmission of radio waves such as a long-wavelength standard radio wave can be facilitated.
  • the first region includes the first soft magnetic layer composed of the ferrite phase, magnetic resistance can be achieved. That is, with the watch component of the present disclosure, both the improvement in radio wave reception sensitivity and the improvement in magnetic resistance can be achieved with only a single component and the need for a magnetic shield plate and the like can be eliminated, and thus, the number of components can be reduced.
  • the second region may include a second soft magnetic layer composed of the ferrite phase, and a second mixed layer in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed, the second mixed layer being formed between the second soft magnetic layer and the second non-magnetic layer.
  • the entry depth of nitrogen can be reduced, and thus the treatment time of the nitrogen absorption treatment can be reduced.
  • a thickness of a combination of the second soft magnetic layer and the second mixed layer may be 100 ⁇ m or smaller.
  • the influence on the reception sensitivity of the antenna housed in the watch component can be reduced, for example.
  • a thickness of the first soft magnetic layer may be 100 ⁇ m or greater.
  • the first region may include a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface, the first non-magnetic layer and the first mixed layer may be provided on a first surface side and a second surface side with respect to the first soft magnetic layer, and a thickness of the first non-magnetic layer formed on the first surface side may be greater than a thickness of the first non-magnetic layer formed on the second surface side.
  • the hardness and corrosion resistance required as a watch component can be achieved. Further, the inner space of the watch component can be increased. Thus, the degree of freedom of the arrangement of the components such as the motor and the secondary battery housed in the watch component can be increased, and the size of the watch can be reduced, for example.
  • a thickness of the first region and a thickness of the second region may be equal to each other.
  • the first region and the second region can be simultaneously cut in the manufacturing process of the watch component, and thus the ease of the manufacturing of the watch component can be increased.
  • a thickness of the first region and a thickness of the second region may be different from each other.
  • the second region when the second region is provided in a thickness smaller than that of the first region, attenuation of the radio waves such as the long-wavelength standard radio wave propagating in the second region can be reduced, for example.
  • the reception sensitivity of the antenna housed in the watch component can be further improved, for example.
  • the watch component may be at least one of a case body, a case back, a dial, a bezel, a dial ring, and a main plate of a movement.
  • An electronic watch of the present disclosure includes the above-mentioned watch component.
  • the electronic watch of the present disclosure may further include an antenna including an antenna core and a coil wound on the antenna core.
  • the second region may be disposed at a position overlapping the antenna.
  • the reception sensitivity of the antenna that receives radio waves such as the long-wavelength standard radio wave transmitted through the second region can be increased.
  • an area of the second region may be larger than a cross-sectional area of the antenna core.
  • the reception sensitivity of the antenna that receives radio waves such as the long-wavelength standard radio wave transmitted through the second region can be increased.
  • the electronic watch component of the present disclosure may further include a magnetic sensor configured to detect geomagnetism.
  • the first region may not be disposed at least in a predetermined range from a center of the magnetic sensor.
  • the measurement accuracy of the geomagnetism at the magnetic sensor can be improved.
  • the predetermined range may be a range inside a circle centered on the center of the magnetic sensor, the circle having a radius of 15 mm.
  • the measurement accuracy of the geomagnetism at the magnetic sensor can be improved.

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070217293A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Seiko Epson Corporation Decorative product and timepiece
US8303168B2 (en) * 2007-09-14 2012-11-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Device and a method of manufacturing a housing material

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2463394A1 (en) * 2009-08-03 2012-06-13 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Nonmagnetic stainless steel, member for radio-controlled timepiece, production process of nonmagnetic stainless steel, and radio wave receiver
JP6424634B2 (ja) 2015-01-08 2018-11-21 セイコーエプソン株式会社 時計用ムーブメントおよび時計

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070217293A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Seiko Epson Corporation Decorative product and timepiece
US8303168B2 (en) * 2007-09-14 2012-11-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Device and a method of manufacturing a housing material

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US20230288880A1 (en) 2023-09-14

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