Electronic devices and clocks

Abstract

To provide high-quality electronic devices and watches with superior design, while ensuring sufficient power generation and increasing design flexibility. [Solution] The clock 100 includes a sun wheel 6 which comprises a character section 64 and an area other than the character section 64, and has a weight-reducing portion as a through hole that penetrates the area other than the character section 64, and a solar panel 8 which serves as a solar cell and is located below the sun wheel 6.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to electronic devices and watches.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, electronic devices such as watches equipped with solar panels that generate electricity by receiving light have been widely known. Such watches and the like can be used without battery replacement by generating electricity with a solar panel and charging a secondary battery. In order to reliably receive light, it is preferable that the solar panel be disposed on the visual side of the watch so that light is not blocked by other members as much as possible. Also, in order to obtain a greater amount of generated electricity, solar panels are sometimes provided over the entire visual side of the watch.

[0003] However, a solar panel cannot be given a sophisticated design on its surface like a dial, for example. Therefore, if the solar panel is disposed on the topmost surface and directly visible from the outside, the external design will be impaired. Also, watch enthusiasts have a desire to see the internal structure of the watch. Particularly in analog watches that display time with hands, they have a train mechanism composed of gears and the like for rotating the hands inside the watch. If such a train mechanism can be shown as part of the watch's appearance, it will have excellent design quality. However, in the train mechanism and the like, the main components such as various gears are disposed in the central part of the watch and its periphery. In order to make this visible from the outside, it is necessary to secure a space in the central part of the watch where the visual side is not covered.

[0004] In this regard, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes arranging a solar panel in a ring shape near the outer periphery of the watch and forming components disposed on the visual side of the solar panel, such as a dial and a date wheel, with a light-transmissive member such as a transparent acrylic plate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-350567 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] However, even transparent acrylic sheets absorb some light. Therefore, covering solar panels with such materials may reduce their light-receiving efficiency, potentially preventing them from generating sufficient power.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide high-quality electronic devices and watches with superior design while ensuring sufficient power generation from solar panels and increasing design flexibility. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the aforementioned problems, the electronic device according to the present invention is A NISHILON includes a character portion and an area other than the character portion, and has a through hole that penetrates the area other than the character portion, A solar cell positioned on the underside of the aforementioned solar vehicle, It is characterized by having the following features. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize electronic devices such as watches that have a superior design and a high-quality feel, while ensuring sufficient power generation and increasing design flexibility. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a front view of the clock according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view showing the main components of the clock in this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is an exploded perspective view showing the main components of the clock in this embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a plan view showing a part of the day wheel of this embodiment enlarged. [Figure 5] It is a plan view showing a part of a modified example of the day wheel of this embodiment enlarged. [Figure 6] It is a plan view of the solar panel in this embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a plan view of the module and the solar panel of this embodiment as seen from the viewing side. [Figure 8] It is a plan view showing the state where a day wheel retainer is arranged above the module and the solar panel shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] (a) is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a part of the internal configuration of the clock in this embodiment, and (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of (a). [Figure 10] It is a plan view showing a modified example of the solar panel. [Figure 11] It is a plan view of the portion enclosed by the XI frame in FIG. 10 enlarged. [Figure 12] It is a plan view of a part of a modified example of the day wheel enlarged. [Figure 13] It is a plan view showing the state where the day wheel shown in FIG. 12 overlaps the solar panel shown in FIG. 10. [Figure 14] It is a plan view showing a modified example of the solar panel. [Figure 15] It is a plan view showing the state where the day wheel shown in FIG. 12 overlaps the solar panel shown in FIG. 14. [Figure 16] It is a plan view showing a modified example of the day wheel. [Figure 17] It is a plan view showing a modified example of the day wheel.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, an embodiment of a clock which is an electronic device according to the present invention will be described. In the embodiments described below, various technically preferable limitations are imposed for carrying out the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the clock in this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the clock shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 and the like, illustration of the hands such as the hour hand and the minute hand is omitted. In the following embodiments, the 9 o'clock - 3 o'clock direction in the clock is taken as the X direction, the 12 o'clock - 6 o'clock direction is taken as the Y direction, and the viewing direction from the viewing side to the non - viewing side is taken as the Z direction. In the following, the viewing side is also referred to as the "upper side" and the non - viewing side is also referred to as the "lower side". The X direction, the Y direction, and the viewing direction Z refer to the directions shown in FIG. 1.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the clock 100 in this embodiment includes a case (hereinafter referred to as "clock case 1" in the embodiment). The clock case 1 is formed of, for example, a metal such as stainless steel or titanium, ceramic, various synthetic resins, etc. The material forming the clock case 1 is not limited to those exemplified here.

[0014] The clock case 1 of this embodiment is formed in a hollow short column shape, and a windshield member 2 formed of transparent glass or the like is attached to the opening 11 on the front surface side of the clock 100 (the viewing side of the clock, that is, the side where the clock is viewed from the viewing direction Z in FIGS. 1 and 2). Also, the back side of the clock 100 is closed by a back cover not shown. At both upper and lower ends (both ends in the Y direction) of the clock case 1 in FIG. 1, that is, at the end on the 12 o'clock side and the end on the 6 o'clock side in an analog - type clock, there are provided band attachment portions 12 to which a clock band not shown is attached. Also, an operation part (such as a crown or a push button) not shown is provided on the clock 100, and a notch 13 is formed at a portion corresponding to the attachment position of the operation part, such as on the side part of the clock case 1.

[0015] Furthermore, a ring-shaped trim member 3 is provided on the lower side (non-visible side, back side) of the crystal member 2, along the opening 11 of the watch case 1. Hour markers 4 are arranged at regular intervals on the inner circumference of the trim member 3. The hour markers 4 are indicated by hands (hour hand, minute hand, etc.) (not shown) to serve as a guide for the time, and are made of a metal such as stainless steel or titanium. Note that the material used to form the hour markers 4 and the position in which they are provided are not limited to those exemplified here.

[0016] The watch case 1 houses the module 5, etc. Module 5 includes a base plate 51 and motors, antennas (not shown), gear train mechanism 52, circuit board 57 (see Figure 9(a)), etc., which are appropriately distributed and mounted on the front and back of the base plate 51 (the non-visible side and visible side of the watch; in Figure 2, the visible direction Z from the visible side to the non-visible side is indicated by a thick arrow). The circuit board 57 has various circuits and terminals mounted on it, which are not shown. In the clock 100 of this embodiment, the time display unit is configured with a module 5 including an hour marker 4, a pointer (hour hand, minute hand, etc., not shown) that points to the hour marker 4, and a motor and gear train mechanism 52 that operate the pointer. The time display unit in the clock 100 is an analog system that displays the time by appropriately pointing to the hour marker 4 with a pointer that operates via the gear train mechanism 52.

[0017] Above module 5 (on the viewing side in the watch), a date wheel 6 is positioned, which rotates via a gear train mechanism 52. Above the date wheel 6, a date wheel retainer 7 is provided. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a solar cell is positioned between the module 5 and the sunshade 6 on the side that is not visible to the sunshade 6 (i.e., the underside of the sunshade 6). In this embodiment, the solar cell is a ring-shaped solar panel 8. Furthermore, the clock 100 of this embodiment has a configuration that, for example, does not have a dial. By not having a dial, the number of superimposed plate-shaped members is reduced, which reduces the number of parts and makes it possible to make the clock 100 thinner. In addition, since power generation loss due to light absorption by the material of the dial itself is eliminated, it becomes possible to obtain a sufficient amount of power generation in a smaller area (the area of ​​the effective power generation region, which will be described later).

[0018] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing details of module 5, solar panel 6, solar panel retainer 7, and solar panel 8. As shown in Figure 3, the sun wheel 6 comprises a frame portion 61 having teeth 62 along the circumferential direction that mesh with gears (gears 521 as shown in Figure 1, which will be described later) that constitute the gear train mechanism 52, and a letter portion 64 provided on this frame portion 61 via a bridge portion 63. The sun wheel 6 is made of a metal such as stainless steel or titanium, and has through holes that penetrate areas other than the character section 64. Specifically, the areas other than the character section 64 are hollowed out to penetrate both the front and back of the sun wheel 6, while retaining the shape of the sun wheel 6 and the parts necessary to support the character section 64 (frame section 61 and bridge section 63). In this way, by forming the sun wheel 6 by hollowing out a metal material, it is possible to create a sun wheel 6 with a sense of weight and three-dimensionality compared to a sun wheel with the lettering created by printing on a transparent material, for example, and this can give the watch a more luxurious appearance.

[0019] The method of forming the Nisha 6 by removing parts other than the frame portion 61, bridge portion 63, and letter portion 64 from the metal material (i.e., by forming through holes) is not particularly limited. Various methods can be used to process the weight-reducing portions, such as microfabrication techniques applied in MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), etching, and laser processing. Alternatively, the Nisha 6 may be formed using methods such as punching out metal sheets or casting.

[0020] The Nissha 6 of this embodiment includes a first frame portion 61a and a second frame portion 61b arranged inside the first frame portion 61a as the frame portion 61. In this embodiment, the teeth 62 are provided along the inner circumferential surface of the second frame portion 61b and mesh with the gears of the gear train mechanism 52 inside (closer to the center of rotation) of the second frame portion 61b. The character section 64 consists of numbers from "1" to "31" indicating the dates for one month, and between each character section 64, there is a bridge section 63 (first bridge section 63a) that spans between the first frame section 61a and the second frame section 61b to separate each date.

[0021] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the Nippon Sharyo 6 in this embodiment (the character section 64 showing "16" and its surrounding area). As shown in Figure 4, etc., in this embodiment, the character portion 64 is connected to a bridge portion 63 (second bridge portion 63b) that intersects with the bridge portion 63 (first bridge portion 63a) and is provided along the circumferential direction of the frame portion 61, and is held in the frame portion 61 (between the first frame portion 61a and the second frame portion 61b) via the first bridge portion 63a and the second bridge portion 63b.

[0022] Note that the configuration of Nippon Sharyo 6 is not limited to that shown in Figure 4, etc. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the character section 64 may be cantilevered to the first frame section 61a or the second frame section 61b via the bridge section 63. In this case, the frame section 61 only needs to be located either outside or inside the character section 64. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the frame section 61 may consist only of the second frame section 61b located inside the character section 64, and the first frame section 61a may not be located outside the character section 64.

[0023] Conversely, if the character portion 64 is cantilevered to the first frame portion 61a which is positioned outside the character portion 64, then the second frame portion 61b does not need to be provided. In this case, the teeth portion 62 is provided along the outer circumferential surface of the first frame portion 61a and meshes with the gear of the gear train mechanism 52 (gear 521 shown in Figures 1, 3, 7, and 8) on the outside of the sun wheel 6. Furthermore, it is not essential to provide a first bridge portion 63a that separates each character portion 64. For example, as shown in Figure 5, if the character portion 64 is directly connected to the frame portion 61 by a bridge portion 63 (second bridge portion 63b) that extends radially in the wheel 6, then the first bridge portion 63a does not need to be provided.

[0024] As described later, in this embodiment, the solar panel 8 is positioned on the underside of the sun wheel 6 (the side not visible to the sun wheel 6, and the underside in the viewing direction Z). Since the sun wheel 6 is made of metal, it does not transmit light, and when the frame portion 61, bridge portion 63, and character portion 64 overlap the solar panel 8, the power generation efficiency decreases. For this reason, it is preferable to make the sun wheel 6 as light-reducing as possible while ensuring strength (impact resistance), and to make the portion remaining as the frame portion 61 and bridge portion 63 as small as possible (thin). The character portion 64 should be light-reduced to an extent that does not sacrifice visibility.

[0025] Figure 6 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a solar panel in this embodiment. Solar panel 8 is a solar cell that generates electricity by receiving light, and the electricity generated by solar panel 8 is stored in a secondary battery (not shown). As shown in Figure 6, the solar panel 8 is composed of a ring-shaped panel (main body) that is divided into multiple cells 81. There is no particular limit to how many cells 81 the solar panel 8 is divided into. In this embodiment, the solar panel 8 is divided into five cells 81, from cell 81a to cell 81e.

[0026] The voltage generated by the solar panel 8 is used to charge a secondary battery (not shown) and power various parts of the clock 100. However, the electromotive force of a single cell (solar cell) is low. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to ensure stable charging of the secondary battery, the solar panel 8 is divided into multiple cells 81, and multiple of these cells 81 are connected in series to form a solar panel capable of obtaining a higher voltage. Furthermore, the more cells 81 connected in series there are, the higher the overall voltage of the solar panel 8. For this reason, it is preferable to appropriately set the number of cells 81 that make up the solar panel 8 according to the required voltage level, such as the voltage of the secondary battery that stores the power generated by the solar panel 8.

[0027] The solar panel 8 has dividing lines 82 that divide the cells 81 (81a to 81e). In this embodiment, the dividing lines 82 are arranged along the radial direction of the ring-shaped solar panel 8 so that each cell 81 is approximately fan-shaped. The portion marked by the dividing line 82 is an area not used for power generation. Therefore, it is preferable that the material covering the visible side of the solar panel 8 overlaps with the dividing line 82 as much as possible. By doing so, the area of ​​the visible side of the effective area used for power generation (hereinafter referred to as the "effective power generation area") that is covered can be kept to a minimum, thereby reducing power generation loss.

[0028] In this embodiment, when the sunshade 6 is stationary, at least one of the bridge portions 63 of the sunshade 6 (the first bridge portion 63a along the radial direction of the sunshade 6) is configured to overlap with at least one of the dividing lines 82 of the solar panel 8. More preferably, when the sunshade 6 is stationary, each dividing line 82 of the solar panel 8 is configured to always overlap with one of the bridge portions 63 of the sunshade 6. Furthermore, the dividing line 82 is formed in a shape that matches the shape of the bridge section 63 (for example, the first bridge section 63a). As a result, when the dividing line 82 and the bridge section 63 are positioned in corresponding locations, the dividing line is hidden by the bridge section 63, resulting in a superior appearance, and power generation loss can be reduced by preventing the bridge section 63 from covering the effective area used for power generation.

[0029] Furthermore, the solar panel 8 has cell connection sections 83 that connect cells 81 to each other. The cell connection sections 83 are arranged to span across adjacent cells 81. As mentioned above, In this embodiment, the solar panel 8 is constructed by dividing it into multiple cells 81 and connecting the cells 81 in series at the cell connection section 83.

[0030] Furthermore, when multiple cells 81 are connected in series to form a single solar panel 8, if there is a difference in the output current values ​​between each cell 81, the output current value of the solar panel 8 will be reduced to match that of the cell 81 with the smallest output current value. Therefore, in order to increase power generation efficiency, it is preferable to configure the system so that the area of ​​the effective power generation region of each cell 81 is as equal as possible. Therefore, in this embodiment, the width of the dividing lines is made uniform, and the cell is divided so that the areas of the five cells 81 (81a to 81e) are approximately equal.

[0031] Furthermore, if metal components that affect power generation (for example, relatively large metal hour markers or metal decorative components such as logos not shown) are placed on the surface of the solar panel 8, the light transmittance of a portion of the effective power generation area of ​​the cell 81 will be reduced. In this case, the power generation of the cell 81 will decrease, and the overall power generation efficiency of the solar panel 8 will worsen. Therefore, in such cases, it is preferable to adjust the area of ​​the effective power generation region so that it is approximately equal for each cell 81, such as by making the area of ​​cell 81 in which the light transmittance of a part of the effective power generation region is lower larger than that of the other cells 81.

[0032] Furthermore, the cell connection portion 83, like the dividing line 82, is an area that is not used for power generation. For this reason, it is preferable that the member covering the visible side of the solar panel 8 overlaps with the cell connection portion 83 as much as possible. Specifically, for example, the cell connection portion 83 is configured to overlap with the character portion 64 of the sun wheel 6 when the sun wheel 6 is stationary. Alternatively, the cell connection portion 83 may be positioned below the hour character 4. More preferably, when the sun wheel 6 is stationary, each cell connection portion 83 of the solar panel 8 is configured to always overlap with one of the character portions 64 of the sun wheel 6. Furthermore, it is preferable that the cell connection portion 83 be shaped as closely as possible to the shape of the overlapping portion (character portion 64 or hour character 4). By doing so, the area of ​​the effective power generation region that is covered on the visible side can be kept to a minimum, thereby minimizing power generation losses.

[0033] Furthermore, the inner and outer edges of the ring-shaped solar panel 8 are areas not used for power generation (non-light-receiving areas). As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, when viewed from the viewing side, the frame portion 6 of the solar wheel 6 (first frame portion 61a, second frame portion 61b) overlaps with this non-light-receiving area. Therefore, the entire area of ​​the sunshade 6 where the metal material has been removed can be used as the light-receiving area of ​​the solar panel 8. In addition, the area of ​​the sunshade 6 becomes uniform in appearance, improving its aesthetics. Furthermore, since the edges of the cells 81 of the solar panel 8 do not interfere with the edges of the removed portion of the sunshade 6, the sunshade 6 can operate smoothly. Moreover, it is possible to avoid the edges of the cells 81 of the solar panel 8 colliding with the bridge portion 63 of the sunshade 6, thus preventing damage to the bridge portion 63.

[0034] Furthermore, the solar panel 8 has a date background area 86 in a color highly distinguishable from the sun wheel 6, in the portion corresponding to the date display position of the sun wheel 6. For example, in Figures 1 and 3, the portion of the solar panel 8 corresponding to the date (the portion where the character "1" is placed in Figure 1, etc.) is a date background area 86 that is a different color from the overall area shown by shading (represented as white in the illustrated example). The date background area 86 is provided, for example, by directly coloring the surface of the solar panel 8. The coloring method can be any method, such as printing or various vapor deposition methods. Alternatively, the corresponding portion of the solar panel 8 may be cut out, and a plate material or film of a different color from the solar panel 8 may be fitted in or attached from the back side to create the date background area 86, or the date background area 86 may be made in a color that is highly distinguishable from the date vehicle 6 using other methods.

[0035] The date background area 86 is located, for example, at the 3 o'clock position on a clock, and in Figure 6, etc., it is provided within the effective power generation area of ​​cell 81a. For example, if the date background area 86 is formed by fitting a plate member or film, it becomes impossible to generate electricity in this area. For this reason, the area of ​​cell 81a may be made slightly larger than the area of ​​the other cells 81, taking into account the area of ​​the date background area 86. Furthermore, if the date background area 86 is an area not used for power generation, a cell connection section 83 or the like may be provided at the location where this date background area 86 is located. By concentrating the areas not used for power generation in the same location as much as possible, the effective power generation area can be made as wide as possible.

[0036] Furthermore, the solar panel 8 is electrically connected to the substrate 57 (see Figure 9(a)). It has a contact portion 84. The portion corresponding to the contact portion 84 may not be an effective power generation area. For this reason, it is preferable that the contact portion 84 be positioned inside or outside the ring-shaped main body so as not to affect the area of ​​the effective power generation area of ​​the solar panel 8. In this embodiment, three contact portions 84 are provided on the inside of the ring-shaped main body, and as shown in Figure 3, one of these contact portions 84 makes contact with the substrate 57 located on the non-visible side of the module 5 via a contact spring 87.

[0037] The contact portion 84 may be provided on the outside of the ring-shaped main body. In this case, the contact portion 84 is positioned below the trim member 3 and is therefore not visible from the outside, which is preferable. However, in the assembled state, the contact spring 87 biases the solar panel 8 upward. To prevent the solar panel 8, and consequently the sunshade 6 placed on it, from being pushed up, it is necessary to place a retaining member or the like above the contact portion 84 (i.e., near the contact point where the contact spring 87 makes contact from the back side) to prevent upward movement. The retaining member can be provided, for example, on the trim member 3. In contrast, in this embodiment, when the contact portion 84 is provided inside the ring-shaped main body, as described above, the sun wheel 6 is pressed down from above by the sun wheel retainer, thus preventing it from being pushed up by the contact spring 87 without the need for a separate component.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the contact portion 84 also serves as a rotation prevention portion to prevent the solar panel 8 from rotating in the circumferential direction. If the solar panel 8 is formed only of a ring-shaped main body with no irregularities on its circumferential surface, it may rotate circumferentially due to the rotation of the sun wheel 6, vibrations applied to the clock 100, or other influences. To prevent rotation, it is necessary to take measures such as drilling holes and screwing the panel in place, sacrificing a portion of the effective power generation area. In this regard, as in this embodiment, if the ring-shaped main body has a contact portion 84 arranged on the inside or outside, this portion can be used to prevent the solar panel 8 from rotating in the circumferential direction.

[0039] Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, a recess 55 corresponding to the shape of the contact portion 84 is formed in the module 5 (for example, the visible surface of the base plate 51) at a position corresponding to the contact portion 84, and the module is configured so that the contact portion 84 fits into the recess 55 when assembled. This restricts the rotation of the solar panel 8 in the circumferential direction, allowing for circumferential positioning. Furthermore, in order to more reliably restrict rotation and prevent the solar panel 8 from being pushed up by the contact spring 87, it is preferable that the solar panel 8 be screwed in near the contact spring 87.

[0040] In this embodiment, screw holes 85 are formed in all three contact portions 84, including the contact portion 84 in which the contact spring 87 abuts. Screws 72 (see Figures 3 and 7) are inserted through these screw holes 85 from above the sun wheel retainer 7 to fasten the sun wheel 6 and the solar panel 8 to the module 5 together (in Figure 3, the position where the screw 72 is inserted is indicated by a dashed line).

[0041] Above the 6th wheel, the 7th wheel retainer is positioned. The gear train retainer 7 has notches 71 (see Figures 3 and 8) formed in the parts corresponding to gears and other components that are assembled on module 5, such as the gear train mechanism 52, and that are to be visible from the outside. The shape of the notches 71 is not limited to the illustrated examples. The position and range of the notches are set appropriately to correspond to the position of the components exposed to the outside.

[0042] As mentioned above, the sun wheel retainer 7 is fastened to the module 5 together with the sun wheel 6 and the solar panel 8 by screws 72. Figure 9(a) is a perspective cross-sectional view of the main part showing the overlap between the sunshade retainer, the sunshade, and the solar panel, and Figure 9(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the overlapping portion between the sunshade retainer, the sunshade, and the solar panel.

[0043] As shown in Figures 9(a) and 9(b), a stepped portion 73 is formed on the circumferential surface of the sun wheel retainer 7. The height of the stepped portion 73 is approximately equal to the height of the frame portion 81 of the sun wheel 6 (in this embodiment, the second frame portion 81b). By positioning the peripheral edge of the frame portion 81 below the stepped portion 73, the sun wheel 6, including the frame portion 81, is positioned vertically, preventing it from lifting up. Furthermore, the rising portion 74 of the stepped portion 73 is positioned along the inner circumferential side surface of the frame portion 81 and functions as a stopper portion and radial positioning portion that restricts the radial movement of the sun wheel 6, including the frame portion 81. In this way, by pressing down on the sun wheel 6 from above on the radially inner side, it is possible to prevent the tooth tips of the sun wheel 6 from lifting up due to being pushed up by the contact spring 87 or the like. As a result, the meshing between the teeth 62 of the sun wheel 6 and the gears of the gear train mechanism 52 can be maintained with high precision.

[0044] As the sun wheel 6 fits into the stepped portion 73 of the sun wheel retainer 7, the non-visible surfaces of the sun wheel retainer 7 and the sun wheel 6 become almost flush, as shown in Figure 9(b). This non-visible surface is positioned on the visible side of the solar panel 8, thereby restricting the lifting of the solar panel 8. Furthermore, the placement of the wheel retainer 7 also holds down various parts on module 5, restricting their movement. This ensures that each component assembled to module 5, such as the barrel wheel, is positioned correctly.

[0045] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the gear train mechanism 51 and the like are assembled on both sides of the base plate 51 of module 5, and a ring-shaped solar panel 8 is placed on top of it (on the side that is visible in the watch). In this configuration, a contact spring 87 is placed between the contact portion 84 of the solar panel 8 and the module, so that the solar panel 8 is electrically connected to the substrate 57 of the module 5 via the contact spring 87. Then, by positioning the contact portion 84 of the solar panel 8 so that it fits into the recess 55 formed in the base plate 51, the rotation of the solar panel 8 in the circumferential direction is restricted and it is positioned accordingly.

[0046] Furthermore, the sun wheel 6 is positioned so as to overlap the solar panel 8, the sun wheel retainer 7 is used to hold down the sun wheel 6 from above, and screws 72 are used to fasten the sun wheel retainer 7, the sun wheel 6, and the solar panel 8 together to the module 5. The module 5, which integrates the sun wheel retainer 7, sun wheel 6, and solar panel 8, is housed in the watch case 1 along with the hands and other watch components, and the case back is attached to complete the watch.

[0047] As a result, the central part of the clock 100 is not covered by the solar panel 8, etc., allowing the mechanical components such as the gear train mechanism 52 to be exposed. Furthermore, since the sun wheel 6, which has cutouts for everything except the date display, is positioned on top of the solar panel 8, the area where light is blocked is small, and sufficient power generation can be secured without having to install a solar panel that covers the entire surface of the watch. Furthermore, since the date wheel 6 is a three-dimensional object made by hollowing out a metal material, it has a more prominent presence compared to a flat object that displays the date by printing or other means. As a result, the background color, surface irregularities, dividing lines 82, and cell connection parts 83 of the solar panel 8 become less noticeable when the date wheel is placed in place, resulting in a watch with a superior appearance.

[0048] As described above, according to this embodiment, the clock 100 includes a sun wheel 6 having a frame portion 61 having teeth 62 that mesh with a gear that rotates, and a character portion 64 provided on the frame portion 61 via a bridge portion 63, and a ring-shaped solar panel 8 as a solar cell positioned on the non-visible side relative to the sun wheel 6. Because the solar panel is ring-shaped in this way, the central part of the watch 100 is not covered by the solar panel 8, etc., and the mechanical components such as the gear train mechanism 52 can be exposed. Furthermore, the sunshade 6 has a three-dimensional structure consisting of a frame portion 61, a bridge portion 63, and a letter portion 64. Therefore, when the sunshade 6 is placed on top of the solar panel 8, the background color, surface irregularities, dividing lines 82, cell connection portions 83, etc. of the solar panel 8 are less noticeable due to the placement of the sunshade. This makes it possible to create a watch with a strong presence and a substantial, impressive appearance. Furthermore, since the solar wheel 6 is composed of minimal parts such as the frame portion 61, the bridge portion 63, and the numeral portion 64, even when placed on the solar panel 8, only a small area is affected by light blocking, and sufficient power generation can be secured without installing a solar panel that covers the entire surface of the watch.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gear that meshes with the teeth 62 of the frame portion 61 is the gear 521 (see Figure 1, etc.) that constitutes the gear train mechanism 52. As a result, the gear 521 that constitutes the gear train mechanism 52 is driven, causing the sun wheel 6 to rotate.

[0050] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the solar panel 8 is divided into a plurality of cells 81, and the dividing lines 82 that divide the cells 81 are configured to overlap with the bridge portion 63 of the solar wheel 6 when the solar wheel 6 is stationary. Since the date wheel 6 does not rotate except when the date is updated, the date wheel 6 is usually stationary when a user is using the clock 100. Therefore, by ensuring that the dividing line 82 overlaps with the bridge portion 63 of the sun wheel 6 when the watch is stationary, the bridge portion 63 can hide the dividing line 82, making it less noticeable and resulting in a watch with a superior appearance.

[0051] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the dividing line 82 is formed in a shape that matches the shape of the bridge portion 63. This makes it possible to more reliably conceal the dividing line 82 by the bridge portion 63 of the Nippon Sharyo 6, making it less noticeable.

[0052] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the solar panel 8 has a contact portion 84 on the inside or outside of the ring-shaped main body portion that is electrically connected to the substrate 57. This allows the ring-shaped main body to make contact with the substrate 57 without sacrificing the effective power generation area.

[0053] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the contact portion 84 also serves as a rotation prevention portion that prevents the solar panel 8 from rotating in the circumferential direction. As in this embodiment, when the portion protruding from the inside or outside of the ring-shaped main body is designated as the contact portion 84, rotation in the circumferential direction can be easily restricted and positioning can be achieved by fitting this portion into a recess 55 of the module 5, etc.

[0054] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the solar panel 8 has a date background area 86 of a color highly distinguishable from the sun wheel 6 in the portion corresponding to the date display position of the sun wheel 6. This allows for the inclusion of a date background area 86, making it easier for the user to see which date is currently selected.

[0055] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the Nissha 6 includes a first frame portion 61a and a second frame portion 61b arranged inside the first frame portion 61a as the frame portion 61, and the character portion 64 is held between the first frame portion 61a and the second frame portion 61b via a bridge portion 63. This makes it possible to create the Nichisha 6, which has excellent impact resistance.

[0056] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the Nissha 6 is formed by removing material from parts other than the frame portion 61, the bridge portion 63, and the letter portion 64. This allows for a smaller area to be obscured by light even when the sun wheel 6 is placed on top of the solar panel 8, ensuring sufficient power generation without the need for a solar panel that covers the entire surface of the watch. Furthermore, by using a weight-reducing process, it is possible to create a three-dimensional Nichisha 6, resulting in a Nichisha 6 with a greater presence, a sense of weight, and superior design compared to, for example, forming the lettering on a flat component by printing.

[0057] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0058] For example, in the above embodiment, the solar panel 8 has cell connection portions 83 that connect cells 81 to each other, and the cell connection portions 83 are arranged on the outer periphery of the solar panel 8 along the dividing line 82. However, the arrangement and shape of the cell connection portions 83 are not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the cell connection portion 83 of the solar panel 8a may be located in the middle of the dividing line 82. In this case, for example, as shown in Figure 12, the character section 64 is placed in the middle of the bridge section 63 that spans between the first frame section 61a and the second frame section 61b.

[0059] In this way, as shown in Figure 13, when the sun wheel 6b is stationary, the character portion 64 of the sun wheel 6 can be configured to overlap with the cell connection portion 83, thereby concealing the cell connection portion 83 with the character portion 64 and making it less conspicuous. In this case, when the solar panel 6b is stationary, the bridge portion 63 supporting the letter portion 64 is made to overlap with the dividing line 82 of the solar panel 8a. This makes the dividing line 82 less noticeable, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0060] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, by placing the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 within the range of the date background area 86, and coloring the date background area 86 together with the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 with the color of the date background area 86 (for example, white), the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 can be made less noticeable even if the positions of the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 are slightly misaligned with the positions of the bridge part 63 and character part 64 of the date wheel 6b.

[0061] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14, the cell connection portion 83 of the solar panel 8b may be arranged along the outer circumference of the solar panel 8b and its radial width may be made small. In this case, as shown in Figure 15, for example, most of the cell connection portion 83 is covered by the first frame portion 61a provided on the outside of the Nippon Shaft 6c, making it less conspicuous. Furthermore, if the trim member 3 is configured to extend to a position that covers the cell connection portion 83, the cell connection portion 83 can be hidden more reliably. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 15, the dividing line 82 and cell connection part 83 are within the date background area 86. Alternatively, the date background area 86 may be colored with a color (for example, white) along with the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 to make the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 less noticeable.

[0062] Furthermore, the specific arrangement of the character section 64 in the date wheel 6 is not limited to the examples shown in the embodiments. For example, as shown in the date wheel 6c in Figure 16, the character sections 64 indicating the date from "1" to "31" may be arranged counterclockwise. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 17, the date indicators 64, numbered "1" through "31", may be arranged every other day. Furthermore, although not shown in the diagram, single-digit dates (i.e., "1" to "9") may be mixed with two-digit dates (i.e., "11" to "31") as appropriate. In this case, the characters may be rearranged as appropriate to combine those with a small area occupied by the character portion 64 (e.g., "1" or "7") with those with a large area occupied by the character portion 64 (e.g., "28" or "29").

[0063] The area that can effectively receive light when overlapping with the solar panel 8 (referred to as the "effective light-receiving area") differs depending on whether the area occupied by the character portion 64 is small or large. Therefore, in cases where "31" is placed next to "1", such as in the sunshade of this embodiment or the example shown in Figure 16, the variation in the effective light-receiving area becomes large. On the other hand, if the character portions 64 indicating the date, such as "1" to "31", are placed every other day, and the character portions with large and small effective light-receiving areas are mixed together, the variation in the effective light-receiving area becomes smaller. Therefore, the area of ​​the effective power generation region of each cell 81 becomes constant, improving power generation efficiency.

[0064] In addition to rearranging the order of the dates, design adjustments can also be made, such as using thicker metal wires to form characters with larger effective light-receiving areas and thinner metal wires to form characters with larger effective light-receiving areas. Furthermore, for characters with a large effective light-receiving area, the thickness of the metal forming the character may be increased, and for characters with a large effective light-receiving area, the thickness of the metal forming the character may be decreased, and so on, by adjusting the degree of weight reduction.

[0065] Furthermore, the shape of the solar panel 8 and each of the cells 81 constituting it is not limited to the substantially ring-shaped one shown in the above embodiment. For example, if the clock 100 is rectangular in shape, the solar panel 8 may also be rectangular in shape, such as a frame.

[0066] Furthermore, although this embodiment shows an example in which the solar panel 8 is composed of five cells 81a to 81e, the number of cells 81 that make up the solar panel 8 is not particularly limited. For example, it may be composed of more cells than in the embodiment, such as six, or it may be composed of fewer cells than in the embodiment, such as divided into three sections.

[0067] Furthermore, the method of division is not limited. For example, in this embodiment, the cells 81 are divided by radial dividing lines 82 along the radial direction of the ring-shaped solar panel 8, but the dividing lines that divide the solar panel 8 into multiple cells 81 are not limited to this. For example, concentric dividing lines may be provided to divide the cell into multiple ring-shaped cells. For example, if the watch 100 is a wristwatch as shown in Figure 1, when a user wears the watch 100, part of the watch 100 may be covered by the user's clothing, such as the sleeve. In this case, if the cells 81 are divided by radial dividing lines 82 along the radial direction, some of the cells among the multiple cells 81 may be completely hidden by the shadow of the sleeve, etc. In this regard, dividing the panel with concentric dividing lines prevents cells from being completely hidden by sleeves, etc., thus preventing situations where the solar panel generates zero power (i.e., completely loses its power generation function).

[0068] Furthermore, although this embodiment illustrates a case where the solar panel 8 is provided with a date background area 86, providing the date background area 86 to the solar panel 8 is not essential. The date display position (the position indicating the current day) indicated by the date wheel 6 should be clearly displayed to the user. For example, a frame indicating the date display position may be provided on the windshield member 2 or the trim member 3.

[0069] Furthermore, although this embodiment illustrates a configuration without a dial, a ring-shaped dial may be provided between the solar panel 8 and the sun wheel 6, for example. In this case, in order to minimize the reduction in power generation efficiency by the solar panel 8, the dial should have a configuration that allows for good light transmission, such as a dial printed on a transparent material like glass. By providing a dial, the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 of the solar panel 8 can be more reliably concealed and made less noticeable. In addition, direct contact between the sun wheel 6 and the solar panel 8 can be prevented, allowing the sun wheel 6 to rotate more smoothly. Furthermore, if a dial is included, a frame indicating the date display position may be provided on the dial.

[0070] Furthermore, although this embodiment illustrates a case where the solar panel 8, which is a solar cell, is formed in a ring shape, the shape of the solar cell is not limited to this and may be in a shape other than a ring.

[0071] In this embodiment, the case in which the frame portion 61 of the sun wheel 6 is ring-shaped is illustrated, but the shape of the frame portion 61 and the sun wheel 6 equipped therewith are not limited to a ring shape and may be other shapes. Furthermore, the frame portion 61 may not only be arranged around the entire circumference of the electronic device such as the clock 100 in a plan view, but may also be arranged only around a part of its circumference.

[0072] In this embodiment, the example given is that the electronic device is a clock 100, but the electronic device is not limited to a clock. The electronic device only needs to include a sunshade 6 having a character area and an area other than the character area, with a through hole penetrating the area other than the character area, and a solar cell (solar panel 8) positioned below the sunshade 6. It may also be a calendar device that does not display the time, for example, one that displays the date or day of the week.

[0073] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but includes the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents. The invention described in the claims initially attached to the application for this patent is listed below. The claim numbers listed below are the same as those in the claims initially attached to the application for this patent. [Note] <Claim 1> A NISHILON includes a character portion and an area other than the character portion, and has a through hole that penetrates the area other than the character portion, A solar cell positioned on the underside of the aforementioned solar vehicle, An electronic device characterized by having the following features. <Claim 2> The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned vehicle has a frame portion, and the character portion is provided on the frame portion via a bridge portion. <Claim 3> The electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that the frame portion is ring-shaped. <Claim 4> The electronic device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the frame portion has teeth that mesh with a gear that rotates. <Claim 5> The electronic device according to claim 4, characterized in that the gear is a gear constituting a gear train mechanism. <Claim 6> The aforementioned solar cell is divided into multiple cells, The electronic device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the dividing line separating the cells is configured to overlap with the bridge portion of the sunshade when the sunshade is in a stationary state. <Claim 7> The electronic device according to claim 6, characterized in that the dividing line is formed in a shape that matches the shape of the bridge portion. <Claim 8> The electronic device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the frame portion includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion disposed inside the first frame portion, and the character portion is held between the first frame portion and the second frame portion via the bridge portion. <Claim 9> The electronic device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the aforementioned vehicle is formed by removing material from parts other than the frame, bridge, and lettering. <Claim 10> The solar cell has a ring-shaped main body, The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the ring-shaped main body portion has a contact portion on the inside or outside that is electrically connected to a substrate. <Claim 11> The electronic device according to claim 10, characterized in that the contact portion also serves as a rotation prevention portion to prevent rotation of the solar cell in the circumferential direction. <Claim 12> The solar cell has cell connection parts that connect the cells to each other, The electronic device according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the cell connection portion is configured to overlap with the character portion of the solar panel when the solar panel is in a stationary state. <Claim 13> The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the solar cell has a date background area of ​​a color highly distinguishable from the date display position on the date wheel in the portion corresponding to the date display position on the date wheel. <Claim 14> A NISHILON includes a character portion and an area other than the character portion, and has a through hole that penetrates the area other than the character portion, A solar cell positioned on the underside of the aforementioned solar vehicle, Time display section, A watch characterized by having the following features. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0074] 3 Trim material 4 hour character 5 modules 52 Wheel train mechanism 57 circuit boards 6 day car 61 Frame section 62 Teeth 63 Bridge section 64 characters Car held for 7 days 8 solar panels 81 cells 82 dividing lines 83 Cell connection section 100 clocks

Claims

1. A NISHILON includes a character portion and an area other than the character portion, and has a through hole that penetrates the area other than the character portion, A solar cell positioned on the underside of the aforementioned solar vehicle, An electronic device characterized by having the following features.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned vehicle has a frame portion, and the character portion is provided on the frame portion via a bridge portion.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that the frame portion is ring-shaped.

4. The electronic device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the frame portion has teeth that mesh with a gear that rotates.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, characterized in that the gear is a gear constituting a gear train mechanism.

6. The aforementioned solar cell is divided into multiple cells, The electronic device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the dividing line separating the cells is configured to overlap with the bridge portion of the sunshade when the sunshade is in a stationary state.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, characterized in that the dividing line is formed in a shape that matches the shape of the bridge portion.

8. The electronic device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the frame portion includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion disposed inside the first frame portion, and the character portion is held between the first frame portion and the second frame portion via the bridge portion.

9. The electronic device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the aforementioned vehicle is formed by removing material from parts other than the frame, bridge, and lettering.

10. The solar cell has a ring-shaped main body, The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the ring-shaped main body portion has a contact portion on the inside or outside that is electrically connected to a substrate.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, characterized in that the contact portion also serves as a rotation prevention portion to prevent rotation of the solar cell in the circumferential direction.

12. The solar cell has cell connection parts that connect the cells to each other, The electronic device according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the cell connection portion is configured to overlap with the character portion of the sun vehicle when the sun vehicle is in a stationary state.

13. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the solar cell has a date background area of ​​a color highly distinguishable from the date display position on the date wheel in the portion corresponding to the date display position on the date wheel.

14. A NISHILON includes a character portion and an area other than the character portion, and has a through hole that penetrates the area other than the character portion, A solar cell positioned on the underside of the aforementioned solar vehicle, Time display section, A clock characterized by having the following features.

Images