Electronic devices and watches

Abstract

To provide an electronic device and a timepiece which increase the degree of freedom of design while ensuring a power generation capacity, so as to achieve a high-quality appearance with excellent design.SOLUTION: A timepiece 100 includes: a character part 64 and a region other than the character part 64; a date wheel 6 having a thinned portion as a through hole penetrating the region other than the character part 64; and a solar panel 8 as a solar battery arranged under the date wheel 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device and a timepiece. [Background technology]

[0002] Electronic devices such as watches equipped with solar panels that generate electricity by receiving light are widely known. Such watches and watches can be used without battery replacement by generating electricity using the solar panel and charging a secondary battery. To ensure reliable reception of light, it is preferable to place the solar panel on the viewing side of the watch so that the light is not blocked by other components as much as possible. In addition, to obtain a larger amount of power generation, the solar panel is sometimes installed over the entire viewing side of the watch.

[0003] However, unlike the dial, solar panels cannot be designed with elaborate surfaces, and if they are placed on the top surface and are directly visible from the outside, the exterior design is marred. Furthermore, watch enthusiasts desire to see the internal structure of their watches. Analog watches, in particular, which display the time using hands, are equipped with a train wheel mechanism comprised of gears and other components that rotate the hands. Being able to display this train wheel mechanism on the exterior of the watch would enhance its design. However, the main components of the train wheel mechanism, such as various gears, are located in or around the center of the watch. To make this visible from the outside, it is necessary to secure a space in the center of the watch that does not cover the viewing side.

[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 the components located on the visible side of the solar panel, such as the dial and date wheel, from a material with good light transmittance, such as a transparent acrylic plate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-350567 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, even transparent acrylic panels absorb some light, so if you cover the solar panel with such a material, the light-receiving efficiency will decrease and it may not be possible to generate enough power.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an electronic device and a watch that are stylish and luxurious, with increased freedom in design while ensuring sufficient power generation by the solar panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the electronic device according to the present invention comprises: a date wheel including a character portion and an area other than the character portion, the date wheel having a through-hole penetrating the area other than the character portion; a solar cell arranged below the date wheel; 、 the date indicator has a frame portion including a first frame portion and a second frame portion disposed inside the first frame portion, The solar cell has a shape that conforms to the frame portion, an outer edge portion of the solar cell that conforms to the first frame portion and an inner edge portion of the solar cell that conforms to the second frame portion are non-light-receiving regions, the first frame portion overlaps the outer edge portion of the solar cell, and the second frame portion is arranged to overlap the inner edge portion of the solar cell. It is characterized by the following. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize electronic devices such as watches that have excellent design and a luxurious feel by increasing the degree of freedom in design while ensuring sufficient power generation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of the timepiece according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the main components of the timepiece according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the main components of the timepiece according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the date indicator of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a modified example of the date indicator of the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the solar panel according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the module and solar panel of the present embodiment as viewed from the viewing side. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which a date indicator holder is placed above the module and solar panel shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 1A is a cross-sectional perspective view showing part of the internal structure of a timepiece according to this embodiment, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part of FIG. 1A. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modified example of the solar panel. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view of the area enclosed by the box XI in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a modified date indicator. [Figure 13] 13 is a plan view showing the state in which the date dial shown in FIG. 12 is superimposed on the solar panel shown in FIG. 10. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modified example of the solar panel. [Figure 15] 15 is a plan view showing the state in which the date dial shown in FIG. 12 is superimposed on the solar panel shown in FIG. 14. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modified example of the date indicator. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modified example of the date indicator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, an embodiment of a timepiece, which is an electronic device according to the present invention, will be described. It should be noted 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.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a front view showing a timepiece according to this embodiment, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the timepiece shown in Fig. 1. Note that illustration of hands such as hour and minute hands is omitted from Fig. 1 and other figures. In the following embodiments, the 9 o'clock-3 o'clock direction on the watch is defined as the X direction, the 12 o'clock-6 o'clock direction is defined as the Y direction, and the viewing direction from the viewing side to the non-viewing side is defined 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, Y direction, and viewing direction Z refer to the directions shown in FIG. 1.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, the watch 100 of this embodiment has a case (hereinafter referred to as "watch case 1" in the embodiment). The watch case 1 is made of metals such as stainless steel or titanium, ceramic, various synthetic resins, etc. Note that the materials from which the watch case 1 is made are not limited to those exemplified here.

[0014] The watch case 1 of this embodiment is formed in the shape of a hollow short pillar, and a crystal member 2 made of transparent glass or the like is attached to an opening 11 on the front side of the watch 100 (the viewing side of the watch, the side when the watch is viewed from viewing direction Z in Figures 1 and 2). The back side of the watch 100 is closed by a back cover (not shown). At both the upper and lower ends of the watch case 1 in Figure 1 (both ends in the Y direction), i.e., the end on the 12 o'clock side and the end on the 6 o'clock side in an analog watch, there are band attachment parts 12 to which a watch band (not shown) can be attached. The watch 100 is also provided with operating parts (crown, push buttons, etc.) not shown, and a notch 13 is formed in the side of the watch case 1 or in a portion corresponding to the mounting position of the operating parts.

[0015] Additionally, a ring-shaped parting member 3 is provided on the underside (non-viewing side, back side) of the crystal member 2, following the opening 11 of the watch case 1. Hour characters 4 are arranged at regular intervals on the inner periphery of the parting member 3. The hour characters 4 are indicated by hands (hour hand, minute hand, etc.) not shown, and serve as a guide to the time, and are made of metal such as stainless steel or titanium. Note that the material from which the hour characters 4 are made and their placement locations are not limited to those exemplified here.

[0016] The watch case 1 contains a module 5 and other components. The module 5 includes a main plate 51, and a motor, antenna (none of which are shown), gear train mechanism 52, and circuit board 57 (see FIG. 9(a)), which are appropriately distributed and arranged on the front and back of the main plate 51 (the non-viewing side and the viewing side of the watch; in FIG. 2, the viewing direction Z from the viewing side to the non-viewing side is indicated by a thick arrow). The circuit board 57 is equipped with various circuits, terminals, and other components (not shown). In the timepiece 100 of this embodiment, the time display unit is made up of the hour digits 4, the hands that point to the hour digits 4 (hour hand, minute hand, etc., not shown), and a module 5 that includes a motor that operates the hands and a gear train mechanism 52. The time display unit in the timepiece 100 is an analog type that displays the time by appropriately pointing to the hour digits 4 using the hands that operate via the gear train mechanism 52.

[0017] Above the module 5 (on the viewing side of the timepiece), there is arranged a date wheel 6 which rotates via a train wheel mechanism 52. Above the date wheel 6, there is provided a date wheel holder 7. In this embodiment, a solar cell is arranged on the non-visible side of the date wheel 6 (i.e., below the date wheel 6) between the module 5 and the date wheel 6. In this embodiment, the solar cell is a ring-shaped solar panel 8. Note that the timepiece 100 of this embodiment is configured without a dial, for example. By not having a dial, the number of overlapping plate-like components is reduced, keeping the number of parts down and making it possible to make the timepiece 100 thinner. Furthermore, because power generation loss due to light absorption by the dial material itself is eliminated, it is possible to obtain a sufficient amount of power generation with a correspondingly smaller area (the area of ​​the effective power generation region, described below).

[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the details of the module 5, the date indicator 6, the date indicator holder 7, and the solar panel 8. As shown in FIG. As shown in Figure 3, the date wheel 6 comprises a frame portion 61 having tooth portions 62 along the circumferential direction that mesh with gears that constitute the gear train mechanism 52 (gears 521 in Figure 1, etc., described later), and a character portion 64 that is provided on this frame portion 61 via a bridge portion 63. The date wheel 6 is formed from a metal such as stainless steel or titanium, and has a through-hole that penetrates the area other than the character portion 64. Specifically, the area other than the character portion 64 is hollowed out so as to penetrate from the front to the back of the date wheel 6, while maintaining the shape of the date wheel 6 and leaving only the portions necessary to support the character portion 64 (frame portion 61 and bridge portion 63). In this way, by forming the date wheel 6 by hollowing out the metal material, it is possible to create a date wheel 6 that has a sense of solidity and three-dimensionality compared to, for example, a date wheel in which the lettering is provided by printing on a transparent material, and this gives the appearance of the watch a luxurious feel.

[0019] The method for forming the date wheel 6 by cutting out the parts other than the frame portion 61, the bridge portion 63, and the character portion 64 from the metal material (that is, by forming a through hole) is not particularly limited. The hollowed-out portion can be processed by various methods, such as microfabrication technology applied in MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), etching, laser processing, etc. The date dial 6 may also be formed by punching a metal plate, casting, or other methods.

[0020] The date wheel 6 of this embodiment includes, as the frame portion 61, a first frame portion 61a and a second frame portion 61b that is arranged inside the first frame portion 61a. In this embodiment, the toothed portion 62 is provided along the inner circumferential surface of the second frame portion 61b, and meshes with the gear of the gear train mechanism 52 on the inner side (closer to the center of rotation) of the second frame portion 61b. The letter sections 64 are numbers from "1" to "31" indicating the dates of the month, and between each letter section 64, a bridge section 63 (first bridge section 63a) is provided that spans between the first frame section 61a and the second frame section 61b to separate each date.

[0021] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the date wheel 6 of this embodiment (a character portion 64 indicating "16" and its surroundings). 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 this bridge portion 63 (first bridge portion 63a) and is arranged 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] The configuration of the date wheel 6 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 4 and the like. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the character portion 64 may be cantilevered by the first frame portion 61a or the second frame portion 61b via the bridge portion 63. In this case, it is sufficient that there is one frame portion 61 either on the outer side or on the inner side of the character portion 64. For example, in the case shown in Fig. 5, the frame portion 61 is composed of only the second frame portion 61b provided on the inner side of the character portion 64, and does not necessarily have to have the first frame portion 61a on the outer side of the character portion 64.

[0023] Conversely, the second frame portion 61b may not be provided if the character portion 64 is cantilevered by the first frame portion 61a, which is positioned outside the character portion 64. In this case, the tooth portion 62 is provided along the outer circumferential surface of the first frame portion 61a, and meshes with a gear (gear 521 shown in Figures 1, 3, 7 and 8) of the gear train mechanism 52 outside the date wheel 6. Furthermore, it is not essential to provide the first bridge portions 63a that separate each character portion 64. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, if the character portions 64 are directly connected to the frame portion 61 by bridge portions 63 (second bridge portions 63b) that extend in the radial direction of the date wheel 6, the first bridge portions 63a do not have to be provided.

[0024] As will be described later, in this embodiment, a solar panel 8 is placed below the date wheel 6 (on the non-visible side of the date wheel 6, below the viewing direction Z). Because the date wheel 6 is made of a metal material, it does not transmit light, and if the frame portion 61, bridge portion 63, and letter portion 64 overlap the solar panel 8, power generation efficiency will decrease. For this reason, it is preferable to make the date wheel 6 as hollowed out as possible within the scope that still ensures strength (impact resistance), and to leave as little (thin) as possible the portions that serve as the frame portion 61 and bridge portion 63. Note that hollowing out is done to the extent that it does not sacrifice visibility for the letter portion 64.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a solar panel in this embodiment. The solar panel 8 is a solar cell that generates electricity by receiving light, and the power generated by the solar panel 8 through photovoltaic power generation is stored in a secondary battery (not shown). 6, the solar panel 8 is configured by dividing a ring-shaped panel (main body) into a plurality of cells 81. There is no particular limitation on the number of cells 81 into which the solar panel 8 is divided. In this embodiment, the solar panel 8 is divided into five cells 81, cell 81a to cell 81e.

[0026] The voltage generated by the solar panel 8 is charged into a secondary battery (not shown) and serves as a power source for each part of the timepiece 100, but the electromotive force of a single cell (solar cell) is low. For this reason, in this embodiment, in order to ensure stable charging of the secondary battery, the solar panel 8 is divided into multiple cells 81, and these cells 81 are connected in series to form a solar panel that can obtain a higher voltage. The greater the number of cells 81 connected in series, the higher the overall voltage of the solar panel 8. For this reason, it is preferable that the number of cells 81 constituting the solar panel 8 be set appropriately according to the required voltage level, such as the voltage of a 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 substantially fan-shaped. The area of ​​dividing line 82 is an area not used for power generation. For this reason, it is preferable that the member covering the visible side of solar panel 8 overlaps dividing line 82 as much as possible. By doing so, the area of ​​the effective area used for power generation (hereinafter referred to as the "effective power generation area") that covers the visible side can be kept small, thereby reducing power generation loss.

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

[0029] The solar panel 8 also has cell connection parts 83 that connect the cells 81 together. The cell connection parts 83 are arranged so as to straddle adjacent cells 81. As described above, In this embodiment, the solar panel 8 is constructed by dividing the solar cell into a plurality of cells 81 and connecting the cells 81 in series at cell connection parts 83.

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

[0031] Note that if a metal component that affects power generation (for example, a relatively large metal hour marker 4 or a metal decorative component such as a logo (not shown)) is arranged so as to overlap the surface of the solar panel 8, the light transmittance of a portion of the effective power generation area of ​​the cell 81 will decrease. In this case, the amount of power generated by the cell 81 will decrease, and the power generation efficiency of the entire solar panel 8 will deteriorate. Therefore, in such cases, it is preferable to adjust the area of ​​the effective power generation area of ​​each cell 81 so that it is approximately equal, for example by making the area of ​​the cell 81 in which the light transmittance of part of the effective power generation area is low larger than that of the other cells 81.

[0032] Furthermore, the cell connection parts 83 are also areas that are not used for power generation, similar to the parting lines 82. For this reason, it is preferable that the member covering the visible side of the solar panel 8 overlap the cell connection parts 83 as much as possible. Specifically, for example, the cell connection portion 83 is configured so as to overlap with the character portion 64 of the date indicator 6 when the date indicator 6 is in a stationary state. The cell connection portion 83 may also be arranged below the hour characters 4. More preferably, the cell connection portion 83 of the solar panel 8 is configured so as to always overlap with one of the character portions 64 of the date indicator 6 when the date indicator 6 is in a stationary state. Moreover, it is preferable that the cell connection portion 83 has a shape as close as possible to the shape of the overlapping portion (character portion 64 and hour character 4). By doing so, the area of ​​the effective power generation region that is covered on the visible side can be kept small, and power generation loss can be minimized.

[0033] Furthermore, the inner and outer edge portions of the outer periphery of the ring-shaped solar panel 8 are areas not used for power generation (non-light-receiving areas). As shown in Fig. 1 etc., in this embodiment, when viewed from the viewing side, the frame portion 6 (first frame portion 61a, second frame portion 61b) of the date wheel 6 overlaps with this non-light-receiving area. For this reason, the entire area of ​​the date wheel 6 where the metal material has been removed can be used as the light-receiving area for the solar panel 8. Also, in terms of appearance, the area of ​​the date wheel 6 becomes uniform, improving its appearance. Furthermore, the edges of the cells 81 of the solar panel 8 do not interfere with the edges of the removed parts of the date wheel 6, allowing the date wheel 6 to operate smoothly. It is also possible to avoid the edges of the cells 81 of the solar panel 8 hitting the bridge part 63 of the date wheel 6, which is expected to prevent damage to the bridge part 63.

[0034] The solar panel 8 also has a date background area 86 in a color that is highly distinguishable from the date indicator 6, in a portion corresponding to the date display position of the date indicator 6. For example, in Figures 1 and 3, the part of the solar panel 8 that corresponds to the date (the part where the character part indicating "1" is placed in Figure 1, etc.) is a date background area 86 that is a different color (represented in white in the illustrated example) from the overall area shown in hatching. The date background area 86 is provided, for example, by directly coloring the surface of the solar panel 8. The coloring method may be any method such as printing or various vapor deposition methods. Alternatively, the date background area 86 may be made a color that is easily distinguishable from the date wheel 6 by cutting out the corresponding portion of the solar panel 8 and inserting a plate member or film of a color different from that of the solar panel 8, or by attaching it to the back side, or by using other methods.

[0035] The date background area 86 is located, for example, at the 3 o'clock position of the watch, and in FIG. 6 and other figures, is provided within the effective power generation area of ​​the cell 81a. For example, if the date background region 86 is formed by inserting a plate member, film, or the like, it will be impossible to generate electricity in this region. Therefore, taking into account the area of ​​the date background region 86, the area of ​​cell 81a may be formed slightly larger than the area of ​​the other cells 81. Furthermore, if the date background area 86 is an area not used for power generation, the cell connection part 83 or the like may be provided at the position where this date background area 86 is provided. By gathering areas not used for power generation in the same position as much as possible, it is possible to ensure as wide an effective power generation area as possible.

[0036] The solar panel 8 also has a contact portion 84 that is electrically connected to the substrate 57 (see FIG. 9(a)). The portion corresponding to the contact portion 84 may not be an effective power generation area. For this reason, the contact portion 84 is preferably disposed 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 inside the ring-shaped main body, and as shown in Figure 3, one of the 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 also be provided on the outside of the ring-shaped main body. In this case, the contact portion 84 is preferably located below the parting member 3, as it is not visible from the outside. However, when assembled, the contact spring 87 urges the solar panel 8 upward. To prevent this from pushing up the solar panel 8, and ultimately the date dial 6 arranged above it, it is necessary to provide a pressing member or the like above the contact portion 84 (i.e., near the point of contact with the contact spring 87 from the back side) to prevent this. The pressing member can be provided on the parting member 3, for example. In contrast, when the contact portion 84 is provided on the inside of the ring-shaped main body portion as in this embodiment, the date wheel 6 is held down from above by the date wheel holder as described above, so that it is possible to prevent it from being pushed up by the contact spring 87 without providing any additional components.

[0038] In 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. If the solar panel 8 were formed only from a ring-shaped main body with no irregularities on the circumferential surface, it could rotate in the circumferential direction due to the rotation of the date wheel 6 or vibrations or other influences on the timepiece 100. To prevent rotation, it would be necessary to sacrifice part of the effective power generation area, drill holes, and fasten them with screws, or some other method. In this regard, when the contact portion 84 is arranged on the inside or outside of the ring-shaped main body, as in this embodiment, this portion can be used to prevent the solar panel 8 from rotating in the circumferential direction.

[0039] 3 and 7, recesses 55 having a shape corresponding to the contact portions 84 are formed in the module 5 (for example, on the visible side surface of the base plate 51) at positions corresponding to the contact portions 84, so that the contact portions 84 fit into the recesses 55 in the assembled state. This restricts the rotation of the solar panel 8 in the circumferential direction, enabling the solar panel 8 to be positioned in the circumferential direction. In order to more reliably restrict rotation and to fix the solar panel 8 by preventing it from being pushed up by the contact spring 87, it is preferable that the solar panel 8 be fastened with a screw near the contact spring 87.

[0040] In this embodiment, threaded holes 85 are formed in all three contact parts 84, including the contact part 84 against which the contact spring 87 abuts, and screws 72 (see Figures 3 and 7) are inserted into these threaded holes 85 from above the date dial holder 7 to tighten both the date dial 6 and the solar panel 8 to the module 5 (note that the position where the screw 72 is inserted is shown by a dashed line in Figure 3).

[0041] Above the date wheel 6, a date wheel holder 7 is arranged. The date indicator holder 7 has cutouts 71 (see Figs. 3 and 8) formed in portions that correspond to gears, etc. that are assembled on the module 5, such as the wheel train mechanism 52, and that are to be visible from the outside. The shape, etc. of the cutouts 71 are not limited to the example shown in the drawings. The position and range of the cutout are set appropriately in accordance with the position of the member exposed to the outside.

[0042] As described above, the date indicator holder 7 is fastened to the module 5 together with the date indicator 6 and the solar panel 8 by the screw 72 . Figure 9(a) is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main part showing the overlap between the date indicator holder, the date indicator and the solar panel, and Figure 9(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the overlap between the date indicator holder, the date indicator and the solar panel.

[0043] As shown in Figures 9(a) and 9(b), a step portion 73 is formed on the peripheral surface of the date indicator holder 7. The height of the step portion 73 is approximately equal to the height of the frame portion 81 of the date indicator 6 (in this embodiment, the second frame portion 81b), and by arranging the peripheral edge of the frame portion 81 below the step portion 73, the date indicator 6 including the frame portion 81 is positioned in the up and down direction, preventing it from floating up. Furthermore, the raised portion 74 of the step portion 73 is arranged along the inner peripheral side surface of the frame portion 81, and functions as an abutment portion and radial positioning portion that restricts movement in the surface direction (radial direction) of the date wheel 6 including the frame portion 81. In this way, by pressing the date wheel 6 from above on the inside in the radial direction, it is possible to prevent the tooth tips of the date wheel 6 from floating due to being pushed up by the contact spring 87, etc. This makes it possible to maintain high precision meshing between the tooth portion 62 of the date wheel 6 and the gear of the train wheel mechanism 52.

[0044] When the date wheel 6 fits into the step portion 73 of the date wheel holder 7, the non-visible side surfaces of the date wheel holder 7 and the date wheel 6 become almost flush, as shown in Figure 9(b), and the non-visible side surface is positioned on the visible side of the solar panel 8, thereby preventing the solar panel 8 from floating up. Furthermore, by arranging the date indicator holder 7, each part on the module 5 is also held down and movement is restricted. This also positions each component assembled to the module 5, such as the hour wheel, for example.

[0045] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the gear train mechanism 51 and the like are assembled on the front and back of the main plate 51 of the module 5, and a ring-shaped solar panel 8 is placed above it (on the viewing side of the timepiece). At this time, a contact spring 87 is disposed between the contact portion 84 of the solar panel 8 and the module, and the solar panel 8 is electrically connected to the substrate 57 of the module 5 via the contact spring 87 . Then, by arranging 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 the solar panel 8 is positioned.

[0046] Furthermore, the date wheel 6 is placed so as to overlap the solar panel 8, the date wheel 6 is held down from above by the date wheel holder 7, and the date wheel holder 7, date wheel 6 and solar panel 8 are all tightened to the module 5 by the screw 72. The module 5, which integrates the date indicator holder 7, date indicator 6 and solar panel 8, is housed in the watch case 1 together with the hands and other components of the watch, and the watch is completed by attaching the back cover.

[0047] As a result, the central part of the timepiece 100 is not covered by the solar panel 8 or the like, so the mechanical structure of the gear train mechanism 52 and the like can be exposed. Furthermore, since the date wheel 6, which is hollowed out except for the date, etc., is placed on top of the solar panel 8, the area where light is blocked is small, and sufficient power generation can be ensured without providing a solar panel that covers the entire surface of the watch. Furthermore, because the date wheel 6 is a three-dimensional object made from a hollowed-out metal material, it has a stronger presence than a flat object that displays the date by printing, etc. Therefore, the background color and surface irregularities of the solar panel 8, the dividing line 82, the cell connection part 83, etc. are less noticeable due to the placement of the date wheel, resulting in a watch with an excellent appearance.

[0048] As described above, according to this embodiment, the timepiece 100 comprises a date wheel 6 having a frame portion 61 with a tooth portion 62 that meshes with a rotationally driven gear, a letter portion 64 attached to this frame portion 61 via a bridge portion 63, and a ring-shaped solar panel 8 as a solar cell that is arranged on the non-visible side of the date wheel 6. Because the solar panel is ring-shaped in this way, the central part of the timepiece 100 can be configured not to be covered by the solar panel 8 etc., and the mechanical configuration such as the gear train mechanism 52 can be exposed. The date wheel 6 has a three-dimensional structure with a frame portion 61, a bridge portion 63, and a letter portion 64. Therefore, when the date wheel 6 is placed on top of the solar panel 8, the background color of the solar panel 8, the unevenness of the surface, the dividing line 82, the cell connection portion 83, etc. are less noticeable due to the placement of the date wheel. This allows for the creation of a watch with a striking, stately appearance. Furthermore, because the date wheel 6 is made up of a minimum number of parts, such as the frame section 61, bridge section 63, and letter section 64, even when it is placed on top of the solar panel 8, only a small area is blocked by light, and sufficient power generation can be ensured without providing a solar panel that covers the entire surface of the watch.

[0049] In this embodiment, the gear that meshes with the toothed portion 62 of the frame portion 61 is the gear 521 that constitutes the gear train mechanism 52 (see FIG. 1, etc.). As a result, the gear 521 that constitutes the train wheel mechanism 52 is driven, causing the date 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 date wheel 6 when the date wheel 6 is in a stationary state. The date wheel 6 does not rotate except when the date is updated, and therefore when a user normally uses the timepiece 100, the date wheel 6 is in a stationary state. Therefore, by making the dividing line 82 overlap the bridge portion 63 of the date wheel 6 when the watch is stationary, the bridge portion 63 can hide the dividing line 82 and make it less noticeable, thereby achieving a timepiece with an excellent 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 allows the dividing line 82 to be more reliably hidden by the bridge portion 63 of the date indicator 6, making it less noticeable.

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

[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 part that protrudes inward or outward from the ring-shaped main body is made the contact part 84, this part can be easily positioned by fitting it into a recess 55 of the module 5, etc., to restrict circumferential rotation.

[0054] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the solar panel 8 has a date background area 86 in a color that is highly distinguishable from the date indicator 6, in a portion corresponding to the date display position of the date indicator 6. By providing the date background area 86, the currently selected date can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the user.

[0055] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the date wheel 6 includes a frame portion 61 consisting of a first frame portion 61a and a second frame portion 61b arranged inside the first frame portion 61a, 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 a date wheel 6 with excellent impact resistance.

[0056] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the date wheel 6 is formed by removing weight from the portions other than the frame portion 61, the bridge portion 63, and the letter portion 64. This means that even if the date wheel 6 is placed on the solar panel 8, only a small area is blocked by light, and sufficient power generation can be ensured without providing a solar panel that covers the entire surface of the watch. Furthermore, the hollowing out process allows the date wheel 6 to have a three-dimensional feel, which makes it possible to create a date wheel 6 with a strong presence, a sense of weight, and excellent design compared to, for example, a case in which the lettering is formed by printing on a plate-shaped member.

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

[0058] For example, in the above embodiment, the solar panel 8 has a cell connection portion 83 that connects the cells 81 together, and the cell connection portion 83 is arranged on the outer periphery of the solar panel 8 along the dividing line 82, but the arrangement and shape of the cell connection portion 83 are not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIGS. 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 FIG. 12, a character portion 64 is arranged in the middle of a bridge portion 63 that spans between a first frame portion 61a and a second frame portion 61b.

[0059] By doing this, as shown in Figure 13, when the date wheel 6b is in a stationary state, the character portion 64 of the date wheel 6 can be configured to overlap with the cell connection portion 83, and the cell connection portion 83 can be hidden by the character portion 64, making it less noticeable. In this case, when the date wheel 6b is stationary, the bridge portion 63 supporting the letter portion 64 is made to overlap the dividing line 82 of the solar panel 8a. This makes the dividing line 82 less noticeable, resulting in a beautiful appearance.

[0060] As shown in Figure 13, by arranging the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 within the date background area 86 and painting the date background area 86 together with the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 in the color of the date background area 86 (for example, white), it is possible to make the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 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 letter part 64 of the date wheel 6b.

[0061] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14, the cell connection portion 83 of the solar panel 8b may be arranged along the outer periphery of the solar panel 8b, and may be formed to have a small radial width. In this case, as shown in FIG. 15, for example, most of the cell connection part 83 is covered and hidden by the first frame part 61a provided on the outside of the date wheel 6c, making it less noticeable. Furthermore, if the parting 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. Also, as shown in Figure 15, the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 may be placed within the date background area 86, and the date background area 86 may be painted in the color of the date background area 86 (e.g., white), thereby making the dividing lines 82 and cell connection parts 83 less noticeable.

[0062] Furthermore, the specific arrangement of the character portions 64 on the date wheel 6 is not limited to the example shown in the embodiment. For example, like a date wheel 6c shown in Fig. 16, the character portions 64 indicating the dates from "1" to "31" may be arranged counterclockwise. Furthermore, like a date wheel 6d shown in FIG. 17, character sections 64 indicating the dates from "1" to "31" may be arranged on alternate days. Furthermore, although not shown, single-digit dates (i.e., "1" to "9") may be appropriately mixed with two-digit dates (i.e., "11" to "31"). In this case, the character portions 64 may be appropriately rearranged to combine those that occupy a small area (e.g., "1" or "7") with those that occupy a large area (e.g., "28" or "29").

[0063] The area that can effectively receive light when overlapping with the solar panel 8 (called the "effective light-receiving area") differs between character portions 64 with small and large areas. Therefore, for example, when "31" is placed next to "1," as in the date wheel of this embodiment and the example shown in FIG. 16, the variation in the effective light-receiving area becomes large. In contrast, if character portions 64 indicating the dates from "1" to "31" are arranged alternately, for example, so that character portions with large and small effective light-receiving areas are mixed, 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, in order to reduce the variation in the effective light-receiving area, in addition to rearranging the order of the dates, design adjustments can be made, such as making the metal wires forming the characters thicker for characters with a large effective light-receiving area and making the metal wires forming the characters thinner for characters with a large effective light-receiving area. In addition, adjustments may be made by the degree of hollowing out, such as increasing the thickness of the metal forming the characters for characters with a large effective light receiving area, and decreasing the thickness of the metal forming the characters for characters with a large effective light receiving area.

[0065] Furthermore, the shape of the solar panel 8 and each of the cells 81 that make up the solar panel 8 is not limited to the substantially ring-shaped shape shown in the above embodiment. For example, if the timepiece 100 is rectangular, the solar panel 8 may also be in the shape of a rectangular frame.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the solar panel 8 is configured with five cells 81a to 81e, but there is no particular limitation on the number of cells 81 that make up the solar panel 8. For example, the solar panel 8 may be configured with a greater number of cells than in the embodiment, such as six, or may be configured with a fewer number of cells than in the embodiment, such as three.

[0067] Furthermore, the method of division is not limited. For example, in the present embodiment, the cells 81 are divided by radial dividing lines 82 along the diameter 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, the cell may be divided into a plurality of ring-shaped cells by providing concentric dividing lines. 1, when the user wears the watch 100, part of the watch 100 may be covered by the sleeves or the like of the user's clothing. In this case, if the cells 81 are divided by radial dividing lines 82 along the radial direction, some of the multiple cells 81 may be completely hidden by the shadow of the sleeve or the like. In this regard, by dividing the solar panel using concentric dividing lines, it is possible to avoid cells being completely hidden by sleeves or other objects, and to prevent the solar panel from generating zero electricity (i.e., completely losing its power generation function).

[0068] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the solar panel 8 is provided with the date background area 86, but providing the solar panel 8 with the date background area 86 is not essential. It is sufficient that the date display position (position indicating the current day) by the date wheel 6 is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the user, and for example, a frame indicating the date display position may be provided on the crystal member 2, the partition member 3, etc.

[0069] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a configuration without a dial has been exemplified, but a ring-shaped dial may be provided between the solar panel 8 and the date wheel 6, for example. In this case, in order to minimize the decrease in the power generation efficiency of the solar panel 8, the dial should have a high light transmittance, such as a dial printed on a transparent material such as glass. When a dial is provided, the dividing line 82 and cell connection part 83 of the solar panel 8 can be more reliably hidden and made less noticeable. Also, direct contact between the date wheel 6 and the solar panel 8 can be prevented, allowing the date wheel 6 to rotate more smoothly. If a dial is provided, a frame indicating the date display position may be provided on the dial.

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

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example was given in which the frame portion 61 of the date indicator 6 is ring-shaped, but the shape of the frame portion 61 and the date indicator 6 that includes it is not limited to being ring-shaped and may be other shapes. Furthermore, the frame portion 61 does not only have to be arranged around the entire circumference of an electronic device such as the timepiece 100 in a plan view, but may also be arranged around only a portion of that circumference.

[0072] In this embodiment, the electronic device is the watch 100, but the electronic device is not limited to a watch. The electronic device may be any device that includes a character section and an area other than the character section, a date wheel 6 having a through hole that penetrates the area other than the character section, and a solar cell (solar panel 8) that is arranged below the date wheel 6, and may 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 above-described embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. The inventions described in the claims originally attached to this application are as follows. The claim numbers described in the appendix are the same as those of the claims originally attached to this application. [Note] <Claim 1> a date wheel including a character portion and an area other than the character portion, the date wheel having a through-hole penetrating the area other than the character portion; a solar cell disposed below the date wheel; An electronic device comprising: <Claim 2> 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the date indicator has a frame portion, and the character portion is provided on the frame portion via a bridge portion. <Claim 3> 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the frame portion is ring-shaped. <Claim 4> 4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the frame portion has teeth that mesh with a gear that is driven to rotate. <Claim 5> 5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the gear is a gear that constitutes a gear train mechanism. <Claim 6> The solar cell is divided into a plurality of cells, 6. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the dividing line separating the cells is configured to overlap the bridge portion of the date indicator when the date indicator is in a stationary state. <Claim 7> 7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the dividing line is formed in a shape that matches the shape of the bridge portion. <Claim 8> 8. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the date indicator includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion disposed inside the first frame portion as the frame portion, and the character portion is held between the first frame portion and the second frame portion via the bridge portion. <Claim 9> 9. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the date indicator is formed by hollowing out portions other than the frame portion, the bridge portion, and the letter portion. <Claim 10> The solar cell has a ring-shaped main body, 10. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a contact portion on the inside or outside of the ring-shaped main body, the contact portion being electrically connected to a substrate. <Claim 11> 11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the contact portion also serves as a rotation prevention portion that prevents the solar cell from rotating in a circumferential direction. <Claim 12> the solar cell has a cell connection portion that connects the cells together, 12. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the cell connection portion is configured to overlap the character portion of the date indicator when the date indicator is in a stationary state. <Claim 13> 13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell has a date background area of ​​a color that is highly distinguishable from the date indicator in a portion corresponding to the date display position of the date indicator. <Claim 14> a date wheel including a character portion and an area other than the character portion, the date wheel having a through-hole penetrating the area other than the character portion; a solar cell disposed below the date wheel; A time display unit; A watch characterized by comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 3. Trim material 4 hour character 5 Modules 52 Wheel train mechanism 57 Circuit Board 6 day car 61 Frame section 62 Tooth 63 Bridge section 64 Text section 7-day wheel presser 8. Solar Panels 81 cells 82 Dividing Line 83 Cell connection 100 Clocks

Claims

1. a date wheel including a character portion and an area other than the character portion, the date wheel having a through-hole penetrating the area other than the character portion; a solar cell disposed below the date indicator, the date indicator has a frame portion including a first frame portion and a second frame portion disposed inside the first frame portion, The solar cell has a shape that conforms to the frame portion, an outer edge portion of the solar cell that conforms to the first frame portion and an inner edge portion of the solar cell that conforms to the second frame portion are non-light-receiving areas, the first frame portion overlaps the outer edge portion of the solar cell, and the second frame portion is arranged to overlap the inner edge portion of the solar cell.

2. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the character portion is provided on the frame portion via a bridge portion.

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

4. 4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the frame portion has teeth that mesh with a gear that is driven to rotate.

5. 5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the gear is a gear that constitutes a gear train mechanism.

6. The solar cell is divided into a plurality of cells, 6. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the dividing line dividing the cells is configured to overlap the bridge portion of the date indicator when the date indicator is in a stationary state.

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

8. 8. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the character portion is held between the first frame portion and the second frame portion via the bridge portion.

9. 9. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the date indicator is formed by hollowing out a portion other than the frame portion, the bridge portion, and the character portion.

10. The solar cell has a ring-shaped main body, 10. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a contact portion on the inside or outside of the ring-shaped main body portion, the contact portion being electrically connected to a substrate.

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

12. the solar cell has a cell connection portion that connects the cells together, The electronic device according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 11 that cites at least claim 6, characterized in that the cell connection portion is configured to overlap the character portion of the date indicator when the date indicator is in a stationary state.

13. 13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell has a date background area of ​​a color that is highly distinguishable from the date indicator in a portion corresponding to the date display position of the date indicator.

14. 14. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first frame portion and the second frame portion are each ring-shaped.

15. a date wheel including a character portion and an area other than the character portion, the date wheel having a through-hole penetrating the area other than the character portion; a solar cell disposed below the date wheel; a time display unit, the date indicator has a frame portion including a first frame portion and a second frame portion disposed inside the first frame portion, A watch characterized in that the solar cell is shaped to conform to the frame portion, an outer edge portion of the solar cell that conforms to the first frame portion and an inner edge portion of the solar cell that conforms to the second frame portion are non-light-receiving areas, the first frame portion overlaps the outer edge portion of the solar cell, and the second frame portion is arranged to overlap the inner edge portion of the solar cell.

Images