clock

Abstract

To mitigate the effects of heat in high-temperature environments. [Solution] The thickness of the side walls of the main case 10a is formed to gradually increase from the top to the bottom. Inside the main case 10a are an analog block 40, which is a heat-resistant material such as a clock mechanism that drives the hands of the clock, and electronic components 41, which are non-heat-resistant materials such as an electronic circuit (integrated circuit) and a battery. The electronic components 41, which are non-heat-resistant materials, are disposed in the lower part of the main case 10a where the thickness of the side walls of the main case 10a is greater than the thickness of the side walls of the main case 10a at the location where the analog block 40, which is a heat-resistant material, is located. This reduces the thermal impact on the electronic components 41, which are non-heat-resistant materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clock.

Background Art

[0002] When using a clock in a high-temperature environment, it is conceivable that the operation of components that are easily affected by heat, such as integrated circuits and batteries, will be hindered. Therefore, it is conceivable to make the main body case of the clock from a material with low thermal conductivity, such as resin. For example, there is known a clock in which a clock module is disposed inside a heat-insulating case made of a heat-insulating material with low thermal conductivity, such as plastic resin (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when components that are easily affected by heat are arranged corresponding to a portion where the thickness of the heat-insulating case is thin and the heat-insulating effect is low, there is a problem that the components are affected by heat.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the influence of heat on components in a high-temperature environment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The clock according to this invention includes a module and a housing in which the module is disposed inside. The module includes a storage battery, a circuit portion, and a display portion. The thickness of the side wall of the housing at the position where the storage battery and the circuit portion are disposed is larger than the thickness of the side wall of the housing at the position where the display portion is disposed.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] This invention makes it possible to reduce the thermal effects on components in high-temperature environments. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a wristwatch 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the state when the back cover is fixed to the main case of the wristwatch 1 shown in the figure. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a plan view showing the structure (front and back) of the main case of the wristwatch 1. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a plan view showing the structure (front and back) of the back cover of the wristwatch 1 shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the difference in thickness of the main case of the wristwatch 1 at different locations. [Figure 6] This figure shows the arrangement relationship between the components of the wristwatch 1 shown in Figure 1 and the spacer (heat shield plate). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The wristwatch 1 shown in Figure 1 consists of a watch body 10 and a band 20. As shown in Figure 2, the watch body 10 includes a case (housing) 10a and a back cover 10b. The case 10a houses a watch module that includes a watch mechanism (not shown) including a dial, an electronic circuit (integrated circuit), a battery, etc. On the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock sides of the case 10a (see dial), there are band attachment parts 12a and 12b, respectively, to which the band 20 is attached, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3(a) and (b). In addition, push buttons 13a and 13b are provided on the 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock sides of the case 10a (see dial). The band 20 is a retractable coiled cord type band that can be easily attached to and detached from the arm (wrist). Push button 13a has the function of switching the operating mode. Push button 13b has the function of instructing the start and stop of the timing operation.

[0010] The main case 10a and the back cover 10b are made of a resin that has lower thermal conductivity, lower water absorption, is lighter in weight and stronger than metal, such as a highly rigid polyamide resin. As shown in Figures 2 and 3(b), four screw holes (female threads) 14a to 14d are provided at the bottom of the main case 10a for fixing the back cover 10b. Screw holes 14a and 14c are located at the positions of the band attachment parts 12a and 12b of the main case 10a (12 o'clock and 6 o'clock sides), and screw holes 14b and 14d are located at positions perpendicular to them (3 o'clock and 9 o'clock sides).

[0011] As shown in Figures 2, 4(a), and 4(b), the back cover 10b has screw holes (through holes) 15a to 15d for inserting screws (connecting members) 30a to 30d that fix to the main case 10a, at positions corresponding to the screw holes 14a to 14d of the main case 10a. The back cover 10b is fixed to the main case 10a by metal screws 30a to 30d while in contact with the bottom of the main case 10a. In addition, as shown in Figure 4(a), the screw holes 15a to 15d on the back cover 10b are machined to a predetermined depth from the surface of the back cover 10b so that the screw heads do not protrude from the outer surface of the back cover 10b. The thickness of the flat portions 18a to 18c of the screw fixing portion is thinner than the thickness of the center of the back cover 10b. Furthermore, raised portions 19a to 19d are formed around the screw holes 15a to 15d, extending in the direction opposite to the direction in which the back cover 10b is fixed (the surface in Figure 4; outward).

[0012] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 4(b), the back cover 10b has protrusions 16a to 16d between each of the screw holes 15a to 15d. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3(b), the bottom surface of the main case 10a has recesses 17a to 17d opposite the protrusions 16a to 16d. The protrusions 16a to 16d of the back cover 10b fit into the recesses 17a to 17d of the main case 10a, respectively. At this time, the sizes of the protrusions 16a, 16d and their corresponding recesses 17a, 17d are different from the sizes of the protrusions 16b, 16c and their corresponding recesses 17b, 17c, making it possible to uniquely determine the mounting direction. Therefore, even if there is an engraving on the visible surface of the back cover 10b that determines the assembly direction, it is possible to prevent the back cover 10b from being assembled in the wrong direction. Furthermore, the protrusions 16a to 16d of the back cover 10b and the recesses 17a to 17d of the main case 10a engage with each other, preventing the back cover 10b from shifting.

[0013] Typically, in wristwatches, a protrusion is provided on the main case 10a, and the metal case back is fitted into this protrusion to prevent it from shifting. In contrast, in the wristwatch 1 of this embodiment, a resin case back 10b is used, prioritizing heat resistance, which allows for a complex shape to be molded for the case back 10b. Therefore, by providing protrusions 16a to 16d on the case back 10b and fitting them into recesses 17a to 17d on the main case 10a, the resin case back 10b is prevented from shifting. As a result, the main case 10a can be made the same size (diameter) as the case back 10b, making it possible to miniaturize the main case 10a.

[0014] Here, we will explain in detail the difference in the thickness of the side walls of the main case 10a. Figures 5(a) and 5(b) show cross-sectional views of AA and BB as shown in Figure 3(a), respectively. As shown in Figure 5(a), the thickness of the side walls of the main case 10a is formed to gradually increase from the top to the bottom. Analog components 40 (display section), such as the clock hands 40a, the dial 40b, and the analog block 40c for driving the clock hands 40a, are housed in the upper part of the main case 10a (see Figure 6(b)). These analog components 40 are materials that are less susceptible to the effects of heat on their operation. On the other hand, electronic components 41, such as the electronic circuit (circuit section; integrated circuit) 41a and the battery (storage battery) 41b, are housed in the lower part of the main case 10a (see Figure 6(b)). These electronic components 41 are materials that are more susceptible to the effects of heat on their operation. Therefore, by making the thickness of the side wall on the lower side where the electronic component 41 is housed greater than the thickness of the side wall on the upper side where the analog component 40 is housed, the influence of external heat on the electronic component 41, which is susceptible to operation due to heat from electronic circuits (integrated circuits), batteries, etc., can be reduced. In addition, by locally thickening only the side wall in the area where the heat-sensitive electronic component 41 is located, it is possible to reduce the weight compared to thickening the entire structure. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(b), a recess (placement area) 32 is formed in the side wall of the main body case 10a where the push button 13b is provided, for the purpose of arranging the push button 13b (the same applies to the push button 13a side). Therefore, the thickness of the side wall of the main body case 10a in the recess 32 is smaller than the thickness of the rest of the structure. Since the electronic component 41 is susceptible to operation due to heat, it is placed in a position further away from the recess 32, which has a relatively small side wall thickness, i.e., the recess (placement area) 32 for arranging the push button 13b. In this way, by arranging the electronic components 41 away from the recess 32 where the thickness of the side wall of the main case 10a is reduced, the thermal effects on the electronic components 41, such as electronic circuits (integrated circuits) and batteries, can be reduced.

[0015] Figure 6(a) also shows a spacer (heat shield) 50 for protecting electronic components 41, such as the electronic circuit (integrated circuit) 41a and the battery 41b, from heat, which are housed in the main case 10a. Figure 6(b) shows a cross-sectional view of CC in Figure 6(a). Inside the main case 10a, as shown in Figures 6(a) and (b), is a clock module comprising analog components 40, such as the aforementioned hands 40a, dial 40b, and analog block 40c, and electronic components 41, such as the electronic circuit (integrated circuit) 41a and the battery 41b. As shown in Figure 6(b), the clock module has a housing 11 made of resin material. The analog block 40c, the electronic circuit (integrated circuit) 41a, and the battery 41b are located inside this housing 11. A metal dial 40b is placed on the top surface of the housing 11. As a result, heat from the outside is relatively easily transferred to the lower part where the electronic components 41 are located, via the metal dial 40b. Therefore, a spacer (plate-shaped member; heat shield) 50 made of a resin material such as PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), which has lower thermal conductivity than metal, is placed below the metal dial 40b. This prevents heat from the outside from being transmitted through the metal dial 40b to the lower part where the electronic components 41, consisting of the electronic circuit (integrated circuit) 41a and the battery 41b, are located, thereby reducing the thermal impact on the electronic components 41. In addition, there is no resin material of the housing 11 above the area where the analog block 40c is located. Since the spacer (plate-shaped member; heat shield) 50 is positioned to cover the area of ​​the housing 11 where there is no resin material and the analog block 40c is located, it can prevent heat from the outside from being directly transmitted to the lower part where the electronic components 41, consisting of the electronic circuit (integrated circuit) 41a and the battery 41b, are located.

[0016] Thus, in this embodiment, the thickness of the side wall of the main body case 10a at the position where the electronic component 41 is disposed is made larger than the thickness of the side wall of the main body case 10a at the position where the analog component 40 is disposed, so that the influence of heat on the electronic component 41 can be reduced. Further, a spacer (heat shield) 50 made of a resin material is disposed so as to cover a region where there is no resin member in the storage space where the analog block 40c is disposed under the metal nameplate 40b, so that heat from the outside can be shielded from being transmitted to the lower part where the electronic component 41 is disposed, and the influence of heat on the electronic component 41 can be reduced.

[0017] Moreover, regarding the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each component of the wristwatch 1 in the above embodiment, it is needless to say that they can be appropriately changed within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0018] 1... wristwatch, 10a... main body case, 40... analog block, 41... electronic component, 50... spacer

Claims

1. Modules and, The aforementioned module comprises a housing in which the module is arranged, The module includes a storage battery, a circuit section, and a display section. The thickness of the side wall of the housing at the location where the battery and the circuit unit are arranged is greater than the thickness of the side wall of the housing at the location where the display unit is arranged. A watch characterized by its features.

2. The aforementioned enclosure has a shape in which the thickness of its side walls gradually increases from the top to the bottom. The display unit is located on the upper side of the housing, and the storage battery and the circuit unit are located on the lower side of the housing. The watch according to feature 1.

3. It also includes an external control panel, The housing has an arrangement area on its outer surface where the external operating unit is arranged. The thickness of the side wall of the housing in the aforementioned arrangement area is smaller than the thickness of the side wall outside the arrangement area. The storage battery and the circuit unit are arranged at a location further away from the arrangement area. The watch according to feature 1.

4. The display unit includes a metal dial, The module comprises a housing in which the battery and the circuit section are arranged internally and the dial is positioned on its upper surface, and a plate-shaped member positioned below the dial and made of a material with lower thermal conductivity than metal, The storage battery and the circuit section are arranged below the plate-shaped member. The watch according to feature 1.

5. The housing has an opening, The plate-like member is positioned to cover at least a portion of the opening. The watch according to feature 4.

6. The housing is made of a resin material. The clock according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images