Analog timepiece with luminous hands using wireless power supply

Abstract

To provide a timepiece that has higher visibility than conventional ones by directly illuminating hands using a tape-shaped LED.SOLUTION: The present invention uses tape-shaped LEDs on hour and minute hands of a timepiece to make the hands themselves light up. In order to supply power to the tape-shaped LEDs, a wireless power supply system is used with a power supply coil on a timepiece body side and a power receiving coil on the hour and minute hands. Since the system is added to an existing movement for a timepiece, it is expected to significantly reduce design and manufacturing costs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a timepiece that uses wireless power supply to send power to each of the hour and minute hands of the timepiece, causing strip-shaped LEDs attached to the hands to light up. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, the most common way to make watch hands glow was to use luminous or phosphorescent paint. However, these paints have the drawback of being weakly luminous and not being sufficiently visible. Alternatively, methods have been developed to indirectly illuminate the watch face or hands by shining light on them, but this has not yet sufficiently improved visibility. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2015-31548 Patent Publication No. 2011-238125 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Traditionally, luminous or phosphorescent paints have been used to improve the visibility of watch hands at night. However, these paints produce little light, making it difficult to achieve sufficient visibility. Other approaches have been considered, such as illuminating the face with LEDs or using transparent light-guiding materials such as acrylic rods or optical fibers to illuminate the hands from inside the watch, but these solutions are not sufficient due to the brightness and structural difficulties involved. These problems could be solved by attaching LEDs or other light sources directly to the hands of a clock, but this was not possible because the cords supplying power to the light sources attached to the hands would twist as the hands rotated. Another problem was interference with the cords when the minute hand passed the hour hand. An object of the present invention is to provide an analog timepiece in which the visibility is improved by providing a light source on each of the hour and minute hands and illuminating them directly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This invention uses a system called wireless power transfer. It is equipped with a power transmission coil (3) and a high-frequency transmitter (2) to transmit power to the top of an existing clock movement (1). The high-frequency current that changes within the power transmission coil (3) can transmit power in the form of an induced current to the power receiving coils (4, 5) for the hour and minute hands that are placed on top of it. The induced current generated here is transmitted to the LEDs (6) built into the hands, causing them to light up (Figures 1 and 2).

[0006] The hour hand (7) and minute hand (8) rotate at different speeds, but because they each have a receiving coil (4, 5), the hour hand (7) and minute hand (8) can independently receive power from a single transmitting coil (3) (Figure 2).

[0007] Normally, LEDs can only be illuminated by direct current, but because they are illuminated at low voltages and high frequencies of several tens of kilohertz or more, they can be operated so that they appear to be lit continuously without flickering.

[0008] In wireless power transfer, the power transmission efficiency drops significantly if the power transmission coil (3) and power receiving coils (4, 5) are not close to each other, so they are placed as close as possible (Figure 2).

[0009] Although electromagnetic waves from the power transmission coil (3) are transmitted to the watch movement (1), the influence is minimal because the coil is installed perpendicular to the coil used to move the hands inside the watch. As a precaution, a thin metal plate (9) for electromagnetic wave shielding is placed between the power transmission coil and the watch body to prevent electromagnetic waves from being transmitted.

[0010] While most commercially available clocks use off-the-shelf movements, this invention adds functionality to off-the-shelf movements with minimal modification, making it easy to manufacture. Furthermore, since the power to power the clock itself, apart from the power to light the LED, comes from the battery built into the off-the-shelf movement, the only impact on the clock's use during a power outage is that the hands will not light up. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The hour hand (7) and minute hand (8) directly emit light, dramatically improving visibility not only at night but also in dimly lit rooms or large rooms during the day. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective cross-sectional view from the front of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention with a part of the timepiece in cross section. External power is sent to the transmitting coil (3) through the transmitting circuit (2). The current oscillating at high frequency within the transmitting coil (3) is released into space as electromagnetic waves.

[0014] When the electromagnetic waves emitted from the power transmission coil (3) reach the two power receiving coils (4, 5) installed nearby, an induced electromotive force is generated inside them.

[0015] The two coils are connected to strip-shaped LEDs (6) for the hour and minute hands, respectively, which light them up.

[0016] The wiring connecting the coil (4) for the hour hand and the tape-shaped LED (6) for the hour hand is routed outside the casing (10) so as not to cross the wiring for the minute hand (Figure 2). [Example]

[0017] The brightness of the hands is generally brighter during the day and reduced during the dark of night, but they can also be turned off during the day. It is also possible to automate this process using a light sensor. [Industrial Applicability]

[0018] In addition to use in the home, it can also be used as a clock with improved visibility of the time in public facilities such as sports facilities and halls, as well as in large spaces such as stations and airports. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] 1. Clock movement (ready-made) 2. High frequency oscillator circuit 3. Transmitting coil 4. Power receiving coil for short hand 5. Long hand receiving coil 6 LED strips 7. Long Hand 8 hour hand 9. Metal plate for electromagnetic wave shielding 10. Receiving coil casing

Claims

1. This system uses wireless power supply from an external source to supply power to the light-emitting elements on the hour and minute hands of the clock without the need for tangled cords.

2. A mechanism that places illuminants directly on the hour and minute hands of the clock to improve visibility.

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