Decoration plate and timepiece

Abstract

To improve the efficiency of incidence of light on a solar cell with constitution with high-design quality.SOLUTION: A dial 10 as a decoration plate is arranged on one face side of a solar cell 70, and has a plurality of first inclined faces 11, rising from the 6 o'clock side (the thumb side when the timepiece is worn) as one side to the 12 o'clock side (the little finger side when the timepiece is worn) as the other side, formed from the one side to the other side, wherein a translucent part 13 which is a through hole is formed at least in part between adjacent first inclined surfaces 11, and a region of the dial 10 (decoration plate) located on one side of the translucent part 13 and a region of the dial 10 (decoration plate) located on the other side of the translucent part 13 are provided without overlapping each other in plan view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a decorative plate and a timepiece. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a watch display panel that comprises a substrate and a plurality of decorative bodies arranged on the substrate and inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the substrate surface, and causes light reflected by the surfaces of the decorative bodies inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the substrate surface to be incident on the light receiving surface of a solar cell. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-184256 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the configuration of Patent Document 1 has the problem that only light reflected by the surface of the decorative body that is inclined at a certain angle relative to the substrate surface can be captured by the light-receiving surface of the solar cell, making it difficult to obtain sufficient power from the solar cell.

[0005] The present invention aims to improve and solve the problems of such a situation, and provides a decorative plate and a watch that have a highly aesthetically pleasing configuration and can improve the efficiency of light incidence on the solar cell. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the decorative plate according to the present invention comprises: A decorative plate disposed on one side of the solar cell, a plurality of first inclined surfaces are formed from one side to the other side, the first inclined surfaces rising from the solar cell side; a through hole is formed in at least a portion between the adjacent first inclined surfaces, The decorative plate is characterized in that the area of ​​the decorative plate located on one side of the through hole and the area of ​​the decorative plate located on the other side of the through hole are positioned so as not to overlap in a planar view. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the efficiency of light incidence on the solar cell with a highly aesthetically pleasing configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a timepiece according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dial provided in the timepiece shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion IV enclosed by a dashed line in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of a decorative plate and a timepiece according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the decorative plate is illustrated as a timepiece dial. Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the timepiece is a wristwatch that is worn on the wrist. Note that in Figure 1 and other figures, illustrations of the band for wearing the timepiece on the wrist and the internal structure of the timepiece are omitted. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the timepiece 100 is approximately circular in plan view (see Figure 1 and other figures), but the shape of the timepiece 100 is not limited to this and may be, for example, rectangular or elliptical in plan view. Note that the embodiments described below are subject to various limitations that are technically preferable for carrying out the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0010] A timepiece 100 according to an embodiment of the invention includes at least a dial 10 (decorative plate) and a solar cell 70. As shown in FIG. 1, when the timepiece 100 is viewed from the front (viewing side), an annular partition member 30 is provided along the outer periphery of the opening on the front side of the case (not shown). The dial 10 is located inside the partition member 30. The timepiece 100 according to an embodiment of the invention includes multiple hands 40 attached to a pivot 41 located approximately in the center of the dial 10, and displays the time in an analog format. That is, the dial 10 has hour numerals 16 along its outer periphery, and the hands 40 point to the hour numerals 16 to appropriately display the time. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the timepiece 10 includes two hands 40 (for example, an hour hand and a minute hand). Note that the number and shape of the hands 40 are not limited to the illustrated example.

[0011] In the illustrated example, a portion that functions as an hour character is also provided on the top surface of the parting member 30 in a position that corresponds to the hour characters 16 provided on the dial 10. The configuration of the hour characters 16 on the dial 10 and the corresponding portion of the parting member 30 is not particularly limited. For example, the hour characters 16 and their corresponding portions may be formed three-dimensionally, or may be provided flatly by printing or various surface treatments. Furthermore, the hour characters 16 only need to be located on the outer periphery of the timepiece 100 in a position that can be pointed to by the hands 40, and do not necessarily have to be provided on the dial 10. For example, the hour characters 16 may be provided on only one of the dial 10 or the parting member 30.

[0012] The timepiece 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a sub-display unit 50 located between the 7 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions. A substantially circular small display plate 51 is disposed within the sub-display unit 50. An axis 53 is provided approximately in the center of the small display plate 51, and the sub-display unit 50 has a small hand 52 attached to the axis 53 and rotating around the axis. The small hand 52 is a function hand that has functions such as a world time function that displays the hours and minutes of a specified region of the world (local time), and a function that displays various information such as temperature and humidity. Furthermore, at approximately the 3 o'clock position on the timepiece 100, a date window 18 is provided that can selectively expose the date located on a date wheel (not shown). It is not essential that the timepiece 100 have the sub-display unit 50 or the date window 18. The layout, shape, and configuration of the sub-display unit 50 and the date window 18 are not limited to those shown in the illustration.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 3, the dial 10 is arranged on one side of the solar cell 70, which will be described later. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dial 10 in this embodiment comprises an upper dial 1, which forms the exterior of the timepiece 100, and a lower dial 2, which is arranged on the back side (lower side, non-viewing side) of the upper dial 1. The upper dial 1 and the lower dial 2 are made of various resin materials, such as polycarbonate resin. Note that in FIG. 2, the lower dial 2 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The materials from which the upper dial 1 and the lower dial 2 are made are not limited to those exemplified here. The upper dial 1 and the lower dial 2 may each be made of different materials. Also, the hands 40 and the hand shaft 41 are not shown in FIG. 2.

[0014] The upper dial 1 is a plate-like member having an approximately circular shape overall. In this embodiment, a metal vapor deposition film is formed on the surface 1a of the dial 10 (in this embodiment, the upper dial 1). Examples of the metal vapor deposition film include an aluminum vapor deposition film formed by vapor deposition of aluminum and a titanium vapor deposition film formed by vapor deposition of titanium. However, the metal vapor deposition film is not limited to these. Furthermore, the method for vapor depositing the metal is not particularly limited, and various techniques can be used. The metal vapor deposition film may be formed in the same form all over, or the thickness of the vapor deposition film or the type of vapor-deposited metal may vary depending on the location, etc.

[0015] Furthermore, in this embodiment, three-dimensional patterns are repeatedly provided on the surface 1a of the upper dial 1 except for the portion where the hour digits 16 are located, the portion where the small display plate 51 of the sub-display unit 50 is located, and the portion where the date window 18 is located. The three-dimensional patterns provided on the surface 1a of the upper dial 1 will be described in detail later. The portion of the upper dial 1 where the small display plate 51 is located has a notch 17 cut out in a substantially circular shape to match the shape of the small display plate 51. An opening is also provided in the portion where the date window 18 is located, exposing the date provided on the date wheel. A through-hole 15 is formed in approximately the center of the upper dial 1, allowing the pointer pivot 41 to pass through from the inside.

[0016] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lower dial 2 is a substantially circular plate-like member that is slightly larger than the outer shape of the upper dial 1. The lower dial 2 is arranged to overlap the back side of the upper dial 1. In this embodiment, the front surface of the lower dial 2, i.e., the surface that contacts the back surface of the upper dial 1, is the reference plane Rp of the dial 10 (see Figure 4). The lower dial 2 is a light-transmitting dial made of a transparent resin material or the like that transmits light. A through-hole 21 is formed in the approximate center of the lower dial 2 at a position corresponding to the through-hole 15 of the upper dial 1. It is preferable that the lower dial 2 is processed so that the light transmittance is lower than that of other portions in the areas that do not overlap with the upper dial 1. The type of processing can be selected as appropriate, and examples include making the color darker than other portions or applying various surface printing. The area that does not overlap with the upper dial 1 is, for example, the area corresponding to the notch 17 formed in the upper dial 1.

[0017] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, a solar cell 70 is arranged on the back side of the dial 10, which is made up of the upper dial 1 and the lower dial 2. In this embodiment, the solar cell 70 is arranged on the back side of the lower dial 2, which is provided on the lower side (back side, non-viewing side) of the dial 10. The solar cell 70 is, for example, a circular plate-like member having approximately the same size and shape as the lower dial 2. A through-hole 71 is formed in approximately the center of the solar cell 70, at a position corresponding to the through-hole 15 of the upper dial 1 and the through-hole 21 of the lower dial 2. The specific shape, configuration, etc. of the solar cell are not particularly limited.

[0018] The solar cell 70 receives light and generates electricity, and is positioned with its light-receiving surface facing upward in the thickness direction H of the timepiece 100. The electricity generated by the solar cell 70 is used to power the timepiece 100. However, the solar cell 70 is a black or other colored component, and if the color of the solar cell 70 is visible from the outside, it will mar the appearance of the timepiece 100. For this reason, it is preferable to conceal the solar cell 70 with the dial 10, which is positioned higher than the solar cell 70 in the thickness direction H, so that it is less visible from the outside. A configuration for making the solar cell 70 less visible from the outside will be described later.

[0019] Next, with reference to Figure 4, the configuration of the dial 10 (particularly the upper dial 1) according to this embodiment and its positional relationship with the solar cell 70 will be described. Note that Figure 4 accurately shows the positional relationship in the thickness direction H of the upper dial 1, lower dial 2, and solar cell 70, but shows the thickness and shape of each component schematically. For example, in Figure 4, to clarify the configuration of the upper dial 1, part IV surrounded by a dashed line in Figure 3 is shown enlarged, particularly the upper dial 1, and the lower dial 2 and solar cell 70 are shown thinner than the upper dial 1.

[0020] The dial 10 is provided with a first inclined surface 11 that rises from the solar cell 70 side (light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70) side to the other side. The one side is the thumb side when the watch 100 is worn on the wrist, and is the 6 o'clock side of the watch 100 shown in FIG. 1. The other side is the little finger side when the watch 100 is worn on the wrist, and is the 12 o'clock side of the watch 100 shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of first inclined surfaces 11 are formed from one side to the other side. In this embodiment, the solar cell 70 side is the reference plane Rp side of the dial 10 shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the dial 10 of this embodiment has a valley-shaped portion 110 (see FIG. 3 ) formed on the surface 1a of the upper dial 1. The valley-shaped portion 110 is configured to have a valley-like cross section. The valley-shaped portion 110 is configured to have a substantially V-shape in cross section. The valley-shaped portion 110 is configured to have a flat portion between the point where the second sloping surface 12 reaches its descent point and the point where the first sloping surface 11 begins to ascend. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , a plurality of valley-shaped portions 110 are continuously provided.

[0021] Furthermore, a light-transmitting portion 13, which is a through-hole, is formed in at least a portion between adjacent first inclined surfaces 11. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 etc., the dial 10 (in this embodiment, the upper dial 1) has a light-transmitting portion 13 that opens in an area including at least a portion of the second inclined surface 12 located between adjacent first inclined surfaces 11. The area of ​​the dial 10 located on "one side" of this light-transmitting portion 13 and the area of ​​the dial 10 located on "the other side" of the light-transmitting portion 13 are positioned so as not to overlap in a plan view. In other words, the area on the 6 o'clock side of the light-transmitting portion 13 does not overlap with the area on the 12 o'clock side. Therefore, the upper portion of the light-transmitting portion 13, which is a through-hole, is open, allowing light L1 to enter from above.

[0022] 3 and 4, the open portion of light-transmitting portion 13 is referred to as opening portion 131. In this embodiment, the opening ratio of opening portion 131 of light-transmitting portion 13 is approximately 17 to 20% of the total area of ​​dial 10 (upper dial 1 in this embodiment). Light-transmitting portion 13 passes light from above and makes it incident on solar cell 70 arranged on the back side. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the light passing through light-transmitting portion 13 includes light L1 (indicated by the outline arrow in FIG. 4) that directly incidents on solar cell 70 from above, and reflected light L2 (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4) that enters light-transmitting portion 13 from an oblique direction, is reflected within light-transmitting portion 13, and incident on solar cell 70.

[0023] That is, the light-transmitting portion 13 has a standing wall 132 formed from an opening 131 formed in the second inclined surface 12 toward the solar cell 70. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 4 , this standing wall 132 reflects at least the reflected light L2 reflected by the first inclined surface 11 toward the solar cell 70. In particular, in this embodiment, as described above, a metal vapor-deposited film of aluminum or the like is formed on the surface 1a of the dial 10 (in this embodiment, the upper dial 1). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the standing wall 132 of the light-transmitting portion 13 is arranged so as to be approximately perpendicular to the solar cell 70. As a result, in this embodiment, a metal vapor-deposited film is easily formed not only on the first inclined surface 11 and the second inclined surface 12, but also on the standing wall 132 of the light-transmitting portion 13 and the like. As a result, light that penetrates the first inclined surface 11 is reflected efficiently, and the reflected light L2 enters the translucent portion 13, and as shown by the arrow in Figure 4, is repeatedly reflected by the vertical wall 132 and enters the solar cell 70 from the reference surface Rp side of the dial.

[0024] In this embodiment, an opening 131 is formed in the second inclined surface 12 of the upper dial 1, making it difficult for the solar cell 70 to be seen from the outside. That is, the opening 131 of the light-transmitting portion 13 is located at a position lower than the apex P of the first inclined surface 11. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , if the height position of the apex P of the first inclined surface 11 in the thickness direction H is "α," then the opening 131 of the light-transmitting portion 13, even at its highest point in the thickness direction H, is at a height position "β" that is lower than "α." For this reason, the opening 131 is difficult to see when the timepiece 100 is viewed from the 6 o'clock side. Therefore, the solar cell 70, which is located below (on the back side of) the reference plane Rp of the dial, is difficult to see from a user wearing the timepiece 100.

[0025] Next, the operation of the dial 10 and the timepiece 100 equipped with it according to this embodiment will be described. The dial 10 of this embodiment is formed by overlapping the upper dial 1 on the lower dial 2, which is made of a resin material such as transparent. The upper dial 1 is provided with appropriate hour markers 16 and a date window 18. A cutout 17 is formed in the area where the sub-display unit 50 is located, matching the position and shape of the small display panel 51. Multiple valley-shaped portions 110, each consisting of a first inclined surface 11 and a second inclined surface 12, are formed over almost the entire surface 1a of the upper dial 1, except for the areas where the hour markers 16, date window 18, etc. are provided. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the valley-shaped portions 110 are provided continuously over almost the entire surface, from the 6 o'clock side of the watch on one side to the 12 o'clock side of the watch on the other side. This creates a three-dimensional pattern on the surface 1a of the upper dial 1, with alternating peaks and valleys.

[0026] It is preferable that the length and inclination angle of the first inclined surface 11 and the length and inclination angle of the second inclined surface 12 are approximately constant. This makes the shapes of the multiple valley-shaped portions 110 uniform, and when the dial 10 is viewed, it is possible to provide an appearance with excellent design. It is also possible to make the length and inclination angle of the first inclined surface 11 and the second inclined surface 12 different. For example, the first inclined surface 11 may rise at a gentle angle, and the second inclined surface 12 may fall at a steeper angle than the first inclined surface 11.

[0027] Further, a light-transmitting portion 13, which is a through-hole, is formed at least partially between adjacent first inclined surfaces 11. Specifically, in this embodiment, the light-transmitting portion 13 is formed opening into an inclined surface including the second inclined surface 12 constituting the valley-shaped portion 110. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4 , the light-transmitting portion 13 is formed in a lowered portion of the valley-shaped portion 110, and an opening portion 131 is provided from the middle of the second inclined surface 12 to a part of the first inclined surface 11 constituting the same valley-shaped portion 110. The opening portion 131 of the light-transmitting portion 13 is lower in height in the thickness direction H than the apex P of the first inclined surface 11. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the opening portion 131 is shaped like a long slit extending in the 3 o'clock-9 o'clock direction on a clock, and a plurality of opening portions 131 are arranged side by side in the 3 o'clock-9 o'clock direction in each valley-shaped portion 110. The opening portions 131 formed in each valley-shaped portion 110 are offset, for example, in the 3 o'clock-9 o'clock direction and arranged in a staggered pattern overall. As a result, when the dial 10 is viewed from the outside, it appears as a brick-shaped three-dimensional pattern.

[0028] Furthermore, when the timepiece 100 is viewed from the 6 o'clock side, the opening 131 is obscured by the first inclined surface 11 of the adjacent valley-shaped portion 110, and the solar cell 70 located further back than the opening 131 (below the thickness direction H) is also obscured and difficult to see from the outside. Furthermore, because the opening 131 is located on a slope including the second inclined surface 12 that constitutes the valley-shaped portion 110, the appearance changes depending on the viewing direction and angle, such as when the timepiece 100 is viewed from the 3 o'clock side, the 9 o'clock side, or the 12 o'clock side, resulting in an appearance with excellent design. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a metal vapor deposition film such as aluminum is formed on the surface 1a of the dial 10 (upper dial 1). This creates a more three-dimensional and varied appearance depending on the direction and angle from which the user views the dial 10.

[0029] A standing wall 132 is formed on the upper dial 1 from the opening 131 toward the solar cell 70 (reference plane Rp of the dial). The standing wall 132 is provided on at least the side facing the first inclined surface 11, and reflects light L2 reflected by the first inclined surface 11 toward the solar cell 70 (reference plane Rp of the dial). Furthermore, the standing wall 132 also reflects light L2 that enters the light-transmitting portion 13 and is reflected by the inner peripheral surface toward the solar cell 70 (reference plane Rp of the dial). In this embodiment, the standing wall 132 forms the inner peripheral surface of the light-transmitting portion 13. In this embodiment, the standing wall 132 is provided so as to be approximately perpendicular to the solar cell 70 (reference plane Rp of the dial). For this reason, when a metal vapor deposition film of aluminum or the like is formed on the surface 1a of the dial 10 (upper dial 1) as described above, a metal vapor deposition film of the same or similar thickness as that on the first inclined surface 11 and the second inclined surface 12 is also formed on the standing wall 132. This allows the reflected light L2 to be more effectively reflected by the first inclined surface 11, the second inclined surface 12, and also by the standing wall 132, allowing the reflected light L2 to be incident on the reference surface Rp of the dial and, ultimately, on the solar cell 70 (light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70) arranged on the back side of the dial 10.

[0030] In the present embodiment, the opening surface (standing wall 132 in this embodiment) of the light-transmitting portion 13 of the dial 10 located on one side of the light-transmitting portion 13, which is a through-hole, is formed in a direction approximately perpendicular to the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70. However, the position and size of the light-transmitting portion 13 and the angle of the standing wall 132 are not limited to those shown in the example. For example, the standing wall 132 only needs to be formed from the opening 131 formed in the second inclined surface 12 toward the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70 (reference surface Rp of the dial), and does not have to be perpendicular to the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70 (reference surface Rp of the dial). The opening surface of the light-transmitting portion 13 (standing wall 132 in this embodiment) may be formed to rise at an acute angle relative to the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70 (reference surface Rp of the dial). The standing wall 132 may also rise at a slightly obtuse angle from the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70 (reference surface Rp of the dial). Even when standing wall 132 rises at an acute angle, it is preferable to ensure that opening portion 131 has a sufficient size (width) so as not to block light L1 that directly enters light transmitting portion 13 from above.

[0031] As described above, the upper dial 1 has a three-dimensional pattern. That is, the upper dial 1 is provided with valley-shaped portions 110, which are generally valley-shaped in cross section, over almost the entire surface. As described above, the aperture ratio of the openings 131 of the light-transmitting portion 13 is approximately 17 to 20% of the total area of ​​the dial 10 (the upper dial 1 in this embodiment). Therefore, light transmission through the portion where the three-dimensionally patterned valley-shaped portions 110 are provided is limited to the openings 131, resulting in low light transmittance. It is believed that the solar cell 70 improves power generation efficiency when it receives light as uniformly as possible. If the light transmittance differs between the portion overlapping the upper dial 1 with the three-dimensional pattern and the portion not overlapping, the overall power generation efficiency of the solar cell 70 may decrease. In this regard, the lower dial 2 of this embodiment is processed to reduce light transmittance in the portion not overlapping the upper dial 1, such as the portion corresponding to the notch 17 of the upper dial 1. As a result, the dial 10 is adjusted so that the light transmittance is approximately 20% uniformly throughout the entire dial, whether it is in a portion with or without the notch 17.

[0032] When the dial 10 configured as in this embodiment is used as the dial of a timepiece 100, the user can rotate their wrist while wearing the timepiece 100 to change the viewing direction and angle of the dial 10, thereby changing the angle of the three-dimensional pattern on the upper dial 1, allowing for a variety of viewing possibilities. Furthermore, when wearing the timepiece 100 as a wristwatch, the user will view the dial 10 from the 6 o'clock side. In this embodiment, the opening 131 of the translucent portion 13 is formed on the second inclined surface 12, which is an inclined surface that is difficult to see from the 6 o'clock side. This makes the opening less noticeable. Consequently, the solar cell 70 located behind the opening is difficult to see from the outside, and the color of the solar cell 70 is not noticeable. Furthermore, the three-dimensional pattern is repeated almost uniformly throughout, resulting in an excellent exterior design. Therefore, the through-holes become visible or invisible as the user rotates their wrist, creating a more three-dimensional appearance and providing excellent design.

[0033] The solar cell 70, located on the back (lower) side of the dial 10, is both illuminated through the light-transmitting portion 13 by light L1 directly entering the light-transmitting portion 13 from above and light L2 reflected by the surrounding surfaces of the light-transmitting portion 13, such as the first inclined surface 11. Furthermore, in a portion of the upper dial 1 where a three-dimensional pattern occupies a large area, if the light transmittance that can be taken in through the light-transmitting portion 13 (opening 131 of the light-transmitting portion 13) is approximately 20% of the total area, the light transmittance will be high in portions corresponding to the notches 17 and other areas where the upper dial 1 does not overlap. Therefore, in these areas, the lower dial 2 is surface-treated or otherwise adjusted to reduce light transmittance. This allows light to enter the solar cell 70 evenly with a transmittance of approximately 20%, thereby improving power generation efficiency. Therefore, the timepiece 100 of this embodiment achieves a stylish appearance while improving the light incidence efficiency of the solar cell 70 and further increasing power generation efficiency. This allows the timepiece 100 to obtain sufficient power from the solar cell 70 to operate.

[0034] As described above, in this embodiment, the dial 10 provided in the timepiece 100 has a plurality of first inclined surfaces 11 formed from one side to the other, which rise from the solar cell 70 side (the reference plane Rp side of the dial 10) from one side to the other. Furthermore, a light-transmitting section 13, which is a through-hole, is formed in at least a portion between adjacent first inclined surfaces 11, and the area of ​​the dial 10 (decorative plate) located on one side of the light-transmitting section 13 and the area of ​​the dial 10 (decorative plate) located on the other side of the light-transmitting section 13 are positioned so that they do not overlap in a plan view.

[0035] In this way, because the top of the light-transmitting portion 13 is not blocked, light L1 can be taken in at least directly onto the solar cell 70 via the light-transmitting portion 13. In addition to the directly incident light L1, a portion of the reflected light L2 reflected by surfaces surrounding the light-transmitting portion 13, such as the first inclined surface 11, can also be guided to the solar cell 70 (the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70). This improves the efficiency with which light L1 and L2 are incident onto the solar cell 70. Furthermore, assuming normal use of the watch 100 worn on the wrist, when viewed from the 6 o'clock viewing direction, the opening 131 is difficult to see, preventing the solar cell 70, which is located below (on the back side of) the dial 10, from being seen. On the other hand, when the watch 100 is viewed from above in the thickness direction H, the opening 131 is visible, and the three-dimensional shape, such as a continuous brick-like three-dimensional pattern, gives the watch 100 a luxurious appearance. Furthermore, because the dial 10 has a three-dimensional shape, its appearance changes depending on the viewing direction, viewing angle, lighting conditions, etc., resulting in an appearance with excellent design. When the user views the timepiece 100 from the 6 o'clock side, the three-dimensional effect is relatively inconspicuous, making it easy to read the position of the hands 40.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the opening 131 of the light-transmitting portion 13 (through hole) is located at a position lower than the apex P of the first inclined surface 11. For this reason, when a user wearing the watch 100 on their wrist views the dial 10 from, for example, the 6 o'clock side of the watch 100, the opening 131 and the inside of the opening 131 are difficult to see.

[0037] Furthermore, the valley-shaped portions 110 of this embodiment are formed in a generally V-shape in cross section, so that the V-shapes are continuous, making the dial 10 appear more three-dimensional.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the light-transmitting portion 13 has a standing wall 132 formed from an opening 131 formed in the second inclined surface 12 or the like toward the reference plane Rp of the dial, and the standing wall 132 reflects at least the reflected light L2 reflected by the first inclined surface 11 toward the reference plane Rp of the dial 10. Therefore, not only light L1 that is directly incident on the light-transmitting portion 13 from above, but also reflected light L2 reflected by surrounding inclined surfaces such as the second inclined surface 12 is incident on the solar cell 70. This allows the solar cell 70 to take in more light.

[0039] A metal vapor deposition film may also be formed on the surface 1a of the dial 10. In this case, light L2 can be more efficiently reflected by each surface of the dial 10, such as the first inclined surface 11. In this embodiment, the opening 131 faces upward on the dial 10, and therefore a metal vapor deposition film can also be formed within the light-transmitting portion 13 by performing vapor deposition. As a result, light L2 that enters the light-transmitting portion 13 is efficiently reflected by the upright wall 132 and the like, and is guided to the solar cell 70. Furthermore, by providing a metal vapor deposition film on the surface 1a of the dial 10, it is possible to achieve a luxurious finish with a metallic luster in terms of external design.

[0040] Furthermore, when a timepiece 100 is equipped with the dial 10 of this embodiment and the solar cell 70 arranged on the back side of the dial 10, the appearance with a three-dimensional pattern creates a sophisticated design and a luxurious feel. The dial 10 is also structured to guide both directly incident light L1 and reflected light L2 to the solar cell 70. This allows the solar cell 70 to generate a large amount of power. The dial 10 of this embodiment is also able to capture light L1 incident from a direction approximately perpendicular to the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70. Light L1 from a direction approximately perpendicular to the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70 has a higher light incidence efficiency than external light incident at an angle to the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70. This further improves the power generation efficiency of the solar cell 70.

[0041] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the dial 10 is illustrated as being made up of two layers, an upper dial 1 and a lower dial 2, but the dial 10 need only have a configuration equivalent to at least the upper dial 1 in the embodiment, and may be made up of a single layer. In this case, the surface of the dial that is positioned on the solar cell 70 side is used as the reference surface of the dial.

[0042] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a case where multiple valley-shaped portions 110 are provided contiguously is illustrated, but the multiple valley-shaped portions 110 do not have to be contiguous. For example, flat portions or the like may be provided appropriately between the valley-shaped portions 110. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the through-hole (light-transmitting portion 13) formed in the upper dial 1 is an opening, but the inside of the through-hole (light-transmitting portion 13) does not necessarily have to be hollow. The through-hole may be a light-transmitting portion that can take in external light onto the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 70, and a visible light-transmitting member or the like may be disposed inside the through-hole.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the apex of the mountain-shaped portion formed by the first inclined surface 11 of one valley-shaped portion 110 and the second inclined surface 12 of the adjacent valley-shaped portion 110 is pointed, but the apex of the mountain-shaped portion in cross section does not have to be pointed and may be a gentle arc. Furthermore, the first inclined surface 11 and the second inclined surface 12 are not limited to being strictly straight lines in side view. The first inclined surface 11 and the second inclined surface 12 may include curved portions, such as a wave shape.

[0044] Furthermore, the dial 10 (upper dial 1) of the above embodiment has a second inclined surface 12 that descends from one side to the other toward the solar cell 70, and the first inclined surface 11 and the second inclined surface 12 form a valley-shaped portion 110 that has a valley shape in cross section. However, the three-dimensional pattern provided on the dial 10 that is a decorative plate is not limited to one that forms a valley shape in cross section with the first inclined surface 11 and the second inclined surface 12. The three-dimensional pattern provided on the dial 10 that is a decorative plate may, for example, have only the first inclined surface 11 that ascends from the solar cell 70 side from one side to the other.

[0045] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the dial 10 (upper dial 1) has an opening 131 formed in the second inclined surface 12 that slopes downward from one side to the other toward the solar cell 70. However, the arrangement of the opening 131 is not limited to this configuration. For example, if the upper dial 1 has only the first inclined surface 11 as described above and does not have the second inclined surface 12, the standing wall 132 may be formed from the apex P of the first inclined surface 11 toward the solar cell 70. Even in this configuration, the reflected light L2 is repeatedly reflected between the standing walls between adjacent first inclined surfaces 11 and is guided to the solar cell 70. Therefore, the same effect as when the upper dial 1 has the first inclined surface 11 and the second inclined surface 12 formed thereon can be obtained.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a metal vapor deposition film is formed on the surface 1a of the dial 10 (upper dial 1 of the dial 10), but the formation of a metal vapor deposition film is not essential. For example, if the dial 10 is made of a light-colored material such as white, it can reflect light sufficiently without a metal vapor deposition film. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a metal vapor deposition film.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the timepiece 100 has multiple hands 40 attached to a pivot 41 located approximately in the center of the dial 10 serving as a decorative plate, and displays the time in an analog format. However, the configuration of the timepiece is not limited to this. The dial 10 (decorative plate) below the hands 40 does not have to cover the entire surface, but may be located on a portion of the dial, such as the 6 o'clock side, and a digital display unit composed of an LCD panel or the like may be located on the visible side of the timepiece in addition to the dial 10. In this case, the timepiece becomes a so-called combination timepiece that includes both an analog display unit and a digital display unit. Alternatively, the present invention can be applied to a digital timepiece that does not use analog hands or the like, but instead has only a digital display unit, with the decorative plate of this embodiment located around the periphery of the digital display unit. In either case, a through-hole serving as a light-transmitting portion is formed in the decorative plate area.

[0048] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the dial 10 is the dial of a timepiece (wristwatch) 100, but devices compatible with the dial of the present invention are not limited to timepieces. The dial may be widely applied to devices that include components such as a solar cell 70 that generates electricity from light incident through the dial. For example, the dial may be widely applied to electronic devices such as various smart watches and sports watches, as well as wearable devices that acquire biological information such as heart rate and blood flow information in addition to time.

[0049] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the specific configurations, structures, positional relationships, etc. shown in the above-described embodiments can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10 Dial (decorative plate), 11 First inclined surface, 13 Light-transmitting portion (through hole), 70 Solar cell

Claims

1. A decorative plate disposed on one side of the solar cell, a plurality of first inclined surfaces are formed from one side to the other side, the first inclined surfaces rising from the solar cell side; a through hole is formed in at least a portion between adjacent first inclined surfaces, The decorative plate region located on the one side of the through hole and the decorative plate region located on the other side of the through hole are provided at positions that do not overlap in a plan view. A decorative plate characterized by:

2. an opening surface of the through hole of the decorative plate located on the one side of the through hole is formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the light receiving surface of the solar cell or at an acute angle to the light receiving surface of the solar cell; 2. The decorative plate according to claim 1.

3. a second inclined surface is formed that descends from the one side to the other side toward the solar cell; The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface form a valley shape in cross section.

2. The decorative plate according to claim 1.

4. The one side is the thumb side when the watch is worn on the wrist, and the other side is the little finger side when the watch is worn on the wrist.

2. The decorative plate according to claim 1.

5. an opening surface of the through hole is formed at a position lower than the apex of the second inclined surface; 4. The decorative plate according to claim 3.

6. The cross-sectional valley shape is approximately V-shaped.

4. The decorative plate according to claim 3.

7. The through holes formed in the decorative plate are slit-shaped and long in the longitudinal direction of the wrist when the timepiece is worn on the wrist, and a plurality of the through holes are arranged side by side in each of the cross-sectional valley shapes, The through holes are arranged in a staggered pattern.

4. The decorative plate according to claim 3.

8. A metal vapor deposition film is formed on the surface.

2. The decorative plate according to claim 1.

9. The decorative plate according to any one of claims 1 to 8; The solar cell; Including, A watch characterized by

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