Optical component and timepiece

a technology applied in the field of optical components and timepieces, can solve the problems of poor productivity of optical components and high production costs, and achieve the effects of excellent appearance, high anti-reflection function, and large influence on the appearance of the entire timepi

Active Publication Date: 2016-06-09
SEIKO EPSON CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0109]The cover glass is present at a place close to the viewpoint of an observer (a user or the like) at the time of using a timepiece, and also time-displaying members such as a dial plate and hands are generally disposed on a rear surface side of the cover glass, and therefore, the cover glass (optical component) is a member which is strongly required to have visibility of a dial plate and the like through the cover glass (optical component). Therefore, in the case where the invention with which a high antireflection function is exhibited is applied to a cover glass, the effect of the invention is more remarkably exhibited.
[0110]Further, the cover glass is a component which has many opportunities to be visually recognized by an observer (a user or the like), and has a large influence on the appearance of the entire timepiece. In the embodiment of the invention, a high antireflection function is exhibited, and therefore, the excellent appearance (aestheticity) inherent in an ornamental component such as a dial plate which is visually recognized through the cover glass can be effectively exhibited. Therefore, by applying the embodiment of the invention to a cover glass for a timepiece, the aesthetic appearance of the timepiece as a whole can be made particularly excellent.
[0111]Further, in a diver's watch or the like, liquid tightness in a case is maintained, however, a humidity contained in the case when assembling the watch is dew-condensed during use to cause a problem of decreasing the visibility in some cases. However, according to the embodiment of the invention, the antireflection film has a high antireflection function and also has a high antifogging property, and therefore, for example, in a diver's watch, by disposing a cover glass (optical component), to which the embodiment of the invention is applied, such that a surface provided with the antireflection film faces the inner surface side, the problem of dew condensation as described above can be more reliably prevented.Second Embodiment
[0112]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a second embodiment of the optical component according to the invention. In the following description, different points from the above embodiment will be mainly described, and the description of the same matter will be omitted.
[0113]As shown in FIG. 3, an optical component P10 of this embodiment includes abase material P1, an antireflection film P2 containing silica particles P21, and a foundation layer P3.
[0114]In this manner, by including the foundation layer P3, for example, the adhesiveness between the base material P1 and the antireflection film P2 (the adhesiveness through the foundation layer P3) can be made particularly excellent, and thus, the durability and reliability of the optical component P10 can be made particularly excellent.

Problems solved by technology

Further, in the related art, each layer constituting an antireflection film is formed by a chemical vapor deposition and therefore, the productivity of the optical component is poor, and also the production cost is high.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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first embodiment

[0036]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a first embodiment of an optical component according to the invention, and FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing one example of a particle size distribution of silica particles constituting an antireflection film of an optical component according to the invention.

[0037]As shown in FIG. 1, an optical component P10 of this embodiment includes a base material P1 and an antireflection film P2 containing silica particles P21.

[0038]The silica particles P21 contained in the antireflection film P2 have a given particle size distribution.

[0039]That is, the silica particles P21 contained in the antireflection film P2 have a first local maximum MV1 in the range of 1.5 nm or more and 2.5 nm or less (a first range R1), a second local maximum MV2 in the range of 3.5 nm or more and 4.5 nm or less (a second range R2), and a third local maximum MV3 in the range of 7.5 nm or more and 8.5 nm or less (a third range R3) in a number-based part...

second embodiment

[0112]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a second embodiment of the optical component according to the invention. In the following description, different points from the above embodiment will be mainly described, and the description of the same matter will be omitted.

[0113]As shown in FIG. 3, an optical component P10 of this embodiment includes abase material P1, an antireflection film P2 containing silica particles P21, and a foundation layer P3.

[0114]In this manner, by including the foundation layer P3, for example, the adhesiveness between the base material P1 and the antireflection film P2 (the adhesiveness through the foundation layer P3) can be made particularly excellent, and thus, the durability and reliability of the optical component P10 can be made particularly excellent.

[0115]Examples of a constituent material of the foundation layer P3 include various resin materials and SiO2.

[0116]The thickness of the foundation layer P3 is not particularly limited,...

example 1

[0182]By the method as described below, a cover glass as an optical component was produced.

[0183]First, a plate material (glass plate) composed of a sapphire glass was prepared as a base material (the base material preparation step), and a necessary part was cut and polished. The base material obtained by cutting and polishing had a substantially disk shape and had a size of 30 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness.

[0184]Subsequently, a UV irradiation treatment in which an ultraviolet ray with a wavelength of 248 nm was irradiated on the surface of the base material on the side where an antireflection film was going to be formed.

[0185]Subsequently, an antireflection film forming composition was applied onto the entire surface of one side of the base material by a spray coating method (antireflection film forming composition application step).

[0186]As the antireflection film forming composition, a composition obtained by mixing silica particles, tin oxide (SnO2) particles (number-base...

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Abstract

An optical component includes a base material and an antireflection film containing silica particles, wherein the silica particles have a first local maximum in the range of 1.5 nm or more and 2.5 nm or less (a first range), a second local maximum in the range of 3.5 nm or more and 4.5 nm or less (a second range), and a third local maximum in the range of 7.5 nm or more and 8.5 nm or less (a third range) in a number-based particle size distribution. It is preferred that the silica particles have a fourth local maximum in the range of 5.5 nm or more and 6.5 nm or less in the number-based particle size distribution.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present invention relates to an optical component and a timepiece.[0003]2. Related Art[0004]In an optical component such as a cover glass for a timepiece, an antireflection film which prevents light reflection is provided for the purpose of enhancing visibility on an opposite surface side or the like.[0005]In the related art, an optical component had a complicated structure such that many layers are stacked on one another for obtaining a sufficient antireflection function (see, for example JP-A-2010-37115). Further, in the related art, each layer constituting an antireflection film is formed by a chemical vapor deposition and therefore, the productivity of the optical component is poor, and also the production cost is high.SUMMARY[0006]An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an optical component including an antireflection film having an excellent antireflection function with a simple structure, and also to provide a ti...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G02B1/118G04B39/00
CPCG02B1/118B82Y20/00G04B39/002G04B39/006C03C17/23G02B1/115C03C2217/213B82Y30/00Y10S977/773G02B2207/107G02B1/113
Inventor FURUSATO, DAIKISUZUKI, KATSUMI
Owner SEIKO EPSON CORP
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