Solar power generation watch and dial for solar power generation watch

Abstract

To provide a solar power generation watch and a dial for a solar power generation watch excellent in aesthetic properties.SOLUTION: A solar power generation watch 1 is a watch having a dial 3 that has a module 14 for solar power generation arranged therebelow and is formed of semi-transmissive material. A front face 31 of the dial 3 has a convex shape having a predetermined curvature at least on an outer peripheral part 35. A rear face 32 of the dial 3 has a shape along a surface 141 of the module 14 for solar power generation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar-powered timepiece and a dial for a solar-powered timepiece. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a curved shell dial for a timepiece, which has a structure in which a shell base plate and a metal base plate having the same curved surface are bonded together with an adhesive to improve aesthetics. The curved shell dial is manufactured by immersing a curved shell dial blank in hot water or steam to soften the shell base plate, pressing it with upper and lower dies having the desired curved shape, and bending it into the desired curved shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-43264 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when trying to use the aesthetically pleasing curved shell dial described in Patent Document 1 in a solar-powered watch, the back surface of the dial has a certain curvature, so on a flat solar power module, the center of the dial floats, making it difficult to stably fix it to the solar power module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A solar-powered watch is a watch having a dial formed from a semi-transparent material with a solar power generation module placed underneath, the surface of the dial having a convex shape with a predetermined curvature at least on the outer periphery, and the back of the dial having a shape that fits along the surface of the solar power generation module.

[0006] The solar-powered timepiece dial has a surface that has a convex shape with a predetermined curvature at least on the outer periphery, and a back surface of the dial that is flat and semi-transparent. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing the schematic structure of a solar-powered timepiece according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic structure of a solar-powered timepiece according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a plan view showing the schematic structure of a solar-powered timepiece dial provided in a solar-powered timepiece according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the schematic structure of a solar-powered timepiece dial provided in a solar-powered timepiece according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A2-A2 in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the schematic structure of a solar-powered timepiece dial provided in a solar-powered timepiece according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view taken along line A3-A3 in Figure 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the schematic structure of a solar-powered timepiece dial provided in a solar-powered timepiece according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] Cross-sectional view taken along line A4-A4 in Figure 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] 1. First embodiment First, a solar-powered timepiece 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. For ease of explanation, the following figures show three mutually orthogonal axes, the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis. The direction along the X-axis is called the "X-direction", the direction along the Y-axis is called the "Y-direction", and the direction along the Z-axis is called the "Z-direction". The tip of the arrow in each axial direction is also called the "plus side", the base end is called the "minus side", the plus side of the Z direction is also called the "upper" and the minus side of the Z direction is also called the "lower".

[0009] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the solar-powered watch 1 includes an outer case 2, a back cover 9, a cover crystal 5, a movement 13, a solar-powered module 14, and a dial 3 serving as a dial for a solar-powered watch. The outer case 2 is configured by fitting a bezel 22 made of ceramic or metal to a cylindrical case 21 made of metal. The disk-shaped dial 3 is disposed on the inner periphery of the bezel 22 via a circular dial ring 6 made of plastic. A crown 7 is provided on the side of the outer case 2 at the 3 o'clock position on the timepiece. In this embodiment, the case 21 and the dial 3 are circular, but are not limited thereto and may be rectangular or have a modified shape.

[0010] The solar-powered watch 1 has two openings in a metal case 21, the upper opening on the front side is covered by a cover crystal 5 via a bezel 22, and the lower opening on the back side is covered by a back cover 9 made of metal. Metallic materials such as brass, stainless steel, titanium, etc. are used for the case 21 and the back cover 9. Note that the case 21 may be made of materials other than metal, such as resin.

[0011] Next, the internal structure housed in the exterior case 2 of the solar-powered watch 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the space enclosed by the outer case 2, the back cover 9, and the cover crystal 5 contains the dial ring 6, the time display unit 10 including the dial 3, a solar power generation module 14, and a movement 13.

[0012] The outer peripheral edge of the dial ring 6 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the bezel 22, and the dial ring 6 has a flat portion with one surface parallel to the crystal 5, and an inclined portion inclined toward the dial 3. The dial ring 6 has a circular shape in a plan view, and a cone shape in a cross section.

[0013] The time display unit 10 is powered by power from a solar power generation module 14 or a battery (not shown) and displays the time. It has hour hand 4A, minute hand 4B, and second hand 4C, which are hands, between the dial 3 and the cover crystal 5, and is positioned inside the dial ring 6.

[0014] The dial 3 has a convex surface 31 on the upper side and a back surface 32 on the lower side that is shaped to fit the surface 141 on the upper side of the solar power generation module 14. A dial receiving ring 16 that fixes the back surface 32 on the outer periphery of the dial 3 is disposed on the back surface 32 side of the dial 3.

[0015] A solar power generation module 14 and a movement 13 are disposed between the dial 3 and the back cover 9, with the solar power generation module 14 and the movement 13 disposed in that order below the dial 3. In this embodiment, in order to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the dial 3, a semi-transparent reflective film 15, which is a brightness enhancing film, is provided between the dial 3 and the solar power generation module 14, but the semi-transparent reflective film 15 does not necessarily have to be provided.

[0016] A movement that has been used in conventional wristwatches can be used as the movement 13. In this embodiment, the movement 13 is provided on the main plate 12 with a step motor (not shown) that is driven by power from a solar power generation module 14 and a battery (not shown), and a wheel train (not shown) that is driven by the step motor.

[0017] The movement 13 drives the hour hand 4A, minute hand 4B, and second hand 4C shown in Fig. 1 via a step motor and a wheel train. The hour hand 4A, minute hand 4B, and second hand 4C are attached to a pointer shaft 11 provided in the center of the plane of the dial 3. A winding stem 8 is attached to the movement 13, and a crown 7 is attached to the end of the winding stem 8.

[0018] Next, the dial 3 serving as the solar-powered timepiece dial will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG.

[0019] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the dial 3 is disk-shaped and made of a semi-permeable material such as polycarbonate resin. The dial 3 has a front surface 31 and a back surface 32, with a convex portion 38 protruding upward on the front surface 31 side and a flat portion 37 having a concave portion 41 recessed toward the center 33 on the outer periphery. A protrusion is provided on the dial receiving ring 16 at a position opposite this concave portion 41, thereby preventing rotational deviation when fixing the dial 3b to the dial receiving ring 16 and enabling the dial 3b to be fixed with high positional accuracy. The dial 3 has an axis hole 34 at the center 33 of the dial 3 for passing the pointer shaft 11 through.

[0020] The surface 31 of the dial 3 has a convex shape having a predetermined curvature at least in the outer periphery 35, and is flat in the central portion 36. The predetermined curvature is a curvature having a predetermined radius of curvature R1. The back surface 32 of the dial 3 has a shape that follows the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14. In this embodiment, since the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14 is generally a flat surface, the back surface 32 of the dial 3 is a substantially flat surface that follows the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14. Since the back surface 32 of the dial 3 and the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14 are substantially flat surfaces, by pressing the surfaces together, the dial 3 can be fixed to the solar power generation module 14 so that the dial 3 does not rotate.

[0021] In this embodiment, the case where the back surface 32 of the dial 3 and the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14 are substantially flat surfaces are described, but the term "substantially flat surface" is not limited to this, and also includes a case where a recess or a protrusion is provided on the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14, and a protrusion or a recess is provided on the back surface 32 of the dial 3 along the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14. For example, when a recess is provided on the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14, a protrusion is provided on the back surface 32 of the dial 3 at a position facing the recess provided on the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14. Also, when a protrusion is provided on the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14, a recess is provided on the back surface 32 of the dial 3 at a position facing the protrusion provided on the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14.

[0022] The surface 31 of the dial 3 is coated with a coating film 50 such as an acrylic resin coating for decoration and surface protection. Surface protection also includes protection against corrosion from rust and the like and protection against light. Coating the surface 31 of the dial 3 can further enhance its aesthetic appeal.

[0023] As described above, the solar-powered timepiece 1 according to the embodiment can achieve the following effects. The dial 3 of the solar-powered watch 1 has a convex shape with a predetermined curvature on at least the outer periphery 35 of the surface 31 of the dial 3, which enhances the aesthetics of the dial 3. Also, the back surface 32 of the dial 3 has a shape that fits the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14, so the back surface 32 of the dial 3 and the surface 141 of the solar power generation module 14 are in surface contact and can be pressed down, and the dial 3 can be fixed to the solar power generation module 14 or the dial receiving ring 16.

[0024] 2. Second embodiment Next, the dial 3a as the solar-powered timepiece dial of the solar-powered timepiece according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. The solar-powered timepiece of this embodiment is similar to the solar-powered timepiece 1 of the first embodiment, except for the structure of the dial 3a.

[0025] The dial 3a of this embodiment is similar to the dial 3 of the first embodiment, except that the shape of the surface 31 of the dial 3a is different from that of the dial 3 of the first embodiment. The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment described above, and a description of the similar points will be omitted.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the surface 31 of the dial 3a has a convex shape with a predetermined curvature at the outer periphery 35, and a central portion 36 which has a convex shape with a curvature smaller than that of the outer periphery 35. In other words, on the surface 31 side of the dial 3a, a convex portion 38a is provided, in which the outer circumferential portion 35 has a convex shape with a predetermined radius of curvature R1, and the central portion 36 has a convex shape with a radius of curvature R2 that is larger than the radius of curvature R1 of the outer circumferential portion 35.

[0027] With this configuration, the central portion 36 of the dial 3a has a convex shape with a curvature smaller than that of the outer peripheral portion 35, thereby improving the aesthetic appeal and achieving the same effect as the first embodiment.

[0028] 3. Third embodiment Next, the dial 3b as the solar-powered timepiece dial of the solar-powered timepiece according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. The solar-powered timepiece of this embodiment is similar to the solar-powered timepiece 1 of the first embodiment, except for the structure of the dial 3b.

[0029] The dial 3b of this embodiment is similar to the dial 3 of the first embodiment, except that the shape of the outer periphery of the dial 3b is different from that of the dial 3 of the first embodiment. The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment described above, and descriptions of similar points will be omitted.

[0030] 7 and 8, the front surface 31 of the dial 3b has a convex shape with a predetermined curvature at the outer periphery 35, and the back surface 32 of the dial 3b is a substantially flat surface. A flat portion 37 for positioning and fixing the dial 3b to the case 21 is provided on the outer periphery of the dial 3b.

[0031] The flat portion 37 has a convex portion 39 that protrudes toward the outer periphery of the dial 3b, and the convex portion 39 has a concave portion 40 that is recessed toward the center 33 of the dial 3b. By providing a protrusion on the dial receiving ring 16 at a position opposite this concave portion 40, rotational deviation when fixing the dial 3b to the dial receiving ring 16 can be prevented, and the dial 3b can be fixed with high positional precision.

[0032] With this configuration, the recess 40 of the protrusion 39 serves for positioning, so that the dial 3b can be fixed with high positional accuracy, and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0033] 4. Fourth embodiment Next, the dial 3c as the solar-powered timepiece dial of the solar-powered timepiece according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. The solar-powered timepiece of this embodiment is similar to the solar-powered timepiece 1 of the first embodiment, except for the structure of the dial 3c.

[0034] The dial 3c of this embodiment is similar to the dial 3 of the first embodiment, except that, compared to the dial 3 of the first embodiment, the dial 3c has inlay characters 43 provided on the outer periphery 35 of the dial 3c. The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment described above, and descriptions of similar points will be omitted.

[0035] As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the dial 3c has a downwardly recessed recess 42 for inserting the inlaid characters 43 in the outer periphery 35 of the dial 3c, and the recess 42 has a bottom surface along the approximately flat surface of the back surface 32 of the dial 3c. The inlaid characters 43 have a lower surface that is a plane along the approximately flat surface of the back surface 32 of the dial 3c, and an upper surface that has a convex shape with a curvature having the same radius of curvature R1 as the outer periphery 35 of the dial 3c. The upper surface of the inlaid characters 43 is higher than the surface 31 of the outer periphery 35 of the dial 3c, that is, the upper surface of the inlaid characters 43 protrudes from the surface 31 of the outer periphery 35 of the dial 3c. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the inlaid characters 43 has the same curvature as the outer periphery 35 of the dial 3c, but this is not limited thereto, and the curvature may be larger or smaller than the curvature of the outer periphery 35 of the dial 3c, or may not have a curvature at all. Furthermore, although the upper surface of the inlaid letters 43 protrudes from the surface 31 of the outer periphery 35 of the dial 3c, this is not limited to this, and the upper surface of the inlaid letters 43 may be at the same height as the surface 31 of the outer periphery 35 of the dial 3c or may be recessed.

[0036] With this configuration, the dial 3c has inlaid characters 43, which enhances the aesthetic appeal and provides the same effect as the first embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1...solar-powered watch, 2...exterior case, 3,3a,3b,3c...dial, 4A...hour hand, 4B...minute hand, 4C...second hand, 5...crystal, 6...dial ring, 7...crown, 8...winding stem, 9...back cover, 10...time display section, 11...hand axis, 12...main plate, 13...movement, 14...solar power generation module, 15...semi-transparent reflective film, 21...case, 22...bezel, 31...surface, 32...back, 33...center, 34...axis hole, 35...periphery, 36...center, 37...flat section, 38,39...convex section, 40,41,42...concave section, 43...set letters, 50...painted film, 141...surface, R1,R2...radius of curvature.

Claims

1. A timepiece having a dial made of a semi-transparent material with a solar power generation module disposed underneath, the surface of the dial has a convex shape with a predetermined curvature at least on the outer periphery, The back surface of the dial has a shape that fits the front surface of the solar power generation module. Solar powered watch.

2. The surface of the solar power generation module is a substantially flat surface, The back surface of the dial is a substantially flat surface that conforms to the front surface of the solar power generation module.

2. The solar-powered watch according to claim 1.

3. The surface of the dial is painted.

2. The solar-powered watch according to claim 1.

4. A flat portion is provided on the outer periphery of the dial to position and fix it to the case.

3. The solar-powered watch according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The flat portion has a protrusion protruding in a direction toward an outer periphery of the dial.

5. The solar-powered watch according to claim 4.

6. The protruding portion has a recessed portion recessed toward the center of the dial.

6. The solar-powered watch according to claim 5.

7. The central portion of the surface of the dial is flat.

3. The solar-powered watch according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The central portion of the surface of the dial has a convex shape having a curvature smaller than the curvature of the outer circumferential portion.

3. The solar-powered watch according to claim 1 or 2.

9. In a cross-sectional view, a semi-transmissive reflective film is provided between the dial and the solar power generation module.

3. The solar-powered watch according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The outer periphery of the dial has a recess for inlaying characters, The recess has a bottom surface that is aligned with a substantially flat surface of the back surface of the dial.

3. The solar-powered watch according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The surface of the dial has a convex shape with a predetermined curvature at least on the outer periphery, The back surface of the dial is flat, Semi-permeable, Solar-powered watch dial.

12. The surface is coated with paint.

12. The solar-powered timepiece dial according to claim 11.

13. A flat portion is provided on the outer periphery of the dial.

13. A solar-powered timepiece dial according to claim 11 or 12.

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