Exterior components and electronic clocks

Abstract

To provide an exterior member capable of further expanding surface diversity, an electronic timepiece, and a method of manufacturing the exterior member.SOLUTION: An exterior member (1) disclosed herein has a surface where each of materials with different crystal grain sizes is arranged in any of a plurality of regions (R1, R2).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an exterior member and Electronic time In total related.

Background Art

[0002] In portable electronic devices, in the exterior member, compatibility between functionality and designability is required within a size and shape suitable for portability. Conventionally, titanium materials such as titanium and titanium alloys have been used as members that can give a high-class feeling. However, some titanium materials have a low surface hardness, and depending on use, they are likely to be scratched, the glossiness decreases, and they are likely to deteriorate over time.

[0003] As a technique for hardening the surface without impairing the designability of the titanium material, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for forming a hardened layer in which oxygen or oxygen and nitrogen are diffused and dissolved in the surface of the titanium material, and making the outermost titanium oxide layer sufficiently thin to suppress the generation of interference fringes and turbidity.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the conventional technology has a problem that the surface state becomes monotonous and lacks diversity.

[0006] An object of this invention is to provide an exterior member and Electronic time The total that can expand the diversity of the surface more.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] It should be noted that the content in the original text from line to seems to be incorrect or incomplete. I have translated it as best as possible based on the existing text. You may want to check and correct the relevant content if needed.To achieve the above objective, the exterior member of the first embodiment of the present invention is 、 electric An exterior component provided on a sub-clock, having a surface in which constituent materials with mutually different crystal grain sizes are divided into multiple regions, The exterior member has an annular shape, The boundaries of the aforementioned multiple regions are Extending along the circumferential direction of the annular shape, Having straight sections or bent sections 。 [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, there is an effect of being able to further increase the diversity of the surface of the exterior components. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an overall perspective view of an example of an exterior component of this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing the manufacturing procedure for exterior components. [Figure 3] This is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing the manufacturing process. [Figure 4] This is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing the manufacturing process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of an example of the exterior member 1 of this embodiment. Exterior component 1 is a bezel that is attached along the upper edge or side of an electronic watch (electronic wristwatch) and has a substantially annular shape.

[0011] The upper surface shape of the exterior member 1 has irregularities depending on the design and function. The outer edge of the exterior member 1 has irregularities when viewed from above. At least a portion of the recesses on the outer edge corresponds to, for example, the position of a push-button switch located on the side of the electronic watch when viewed from above. In addition, a recess 11 that is recessed in the height direction is located in a portion of the protrusions on the outer edge. The recess 11 has a hole H for screw fastening. The upper surface of the exterior member 1 (in this embodiment, the upper surface means the surface that can be seen when viewed from above the display surface of the electronic watch when it is attached to the electronic watch, and is not limited to a single plane) has at least portions that are inclined from the inside outwards.

[0012] The exterior member 1 has multiple regions on its upper surface that have different appearances, for example, a first region R1 and a second region R2. The first region R1 is a region with a high degree of flatness (low surface roughness). Therefore, light is easily specularly reflected in the first region R1. The second region R2 has a matte surface with greater surface roughness compared to the first region R1. Therefore, light is more easily diffusely reflected in the second region R2 than in the first region R1.

[0013] The first region R1 and the second region R2 are clearly separated. Here, the boundary between the first region R1 and the second region R2 has a curved portion, for example, extending in a roughly ring-like manner along the circumferential direction while wavy (wave-like portion) perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the exterior member 1. The curved portion here may include minute straight lines that are bent and connected within the range that the user can perceive as a curve. There may be multiple rows of boundaries. The boundaries may partially extend beyond the exterior member 1 and be interrupted depending on the amplitude of the wave oscillation and the width of the exterior member 1. Also, the boundaries may branch or converge along the way. That is, the second region R2 may include an isolated region surrounded by the first region R1. The wavy oscillation does not need to be regular and may be arbitrarily determined according to the design. There is no clear difference in height (step) between the first region R1 and the second region R2.

[0014] The constituent material of the first region R1 is different from that of the second region R2. For example, the constituent material of the first region R1 is a 64 titanium alloy (the first constituent material, the first metallic material; a titanium alloy containing 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium by mass fraction). The constituent material of the second region R2 is, for example, pure titanium (the second constituent material, the second metallic material). Since more crystals grow in the second region R2 than in the first region R1 and the crystal grain sizes are large (different from each other), the surface roughness of the second region R2 is large. As a result, there is a difference in the appearance between the first region R1 and the second region R2.

[0015] Next, a method for manufacturing the exterior member 1 of the present embodiment will be described. In the exterior member 1, after one of the first region R1 or the second region R2, here the first region R1, is formed, the second region R2 is additionally formed. Thereafter, both regions are heated together to cause crystal growth.

[0016] In crystal growth, the transformation temperature of the 64 titanium alloy is higher than that of pure titanium (the transformation temperatures are different). Therefore, when pure titanium and the 64 titanium alloy are heat-treated at a temperature between these two transformation temperatures, a significant difference occurs in the crystal growth rate between them. That is, crystals grow significantly in the second region R2 of pure titanium. As a result, the surface roughness selectively increases in the second region R2.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing procedure of the exterior member 1. FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional perspective views schematically showing the state during manufacturing. Here, for the sake of explanation, a cross-section obtained by cutting about 1 / 4 of the thickness range of one exterior member 1 is shown.

[0018] In step P1, pure titanium powder (granular material; the size can be appropriately chosen for processing; the same applies below) and 64 titanium alloy powder are prepared. First, using the 64 titanium alloy powder, a cylindrical structure S1 including columnar portions R1a (columnar structures) is formed in the first region R1 when viewed from above using a 3D printer. As shown in Figure 3(a), in the formed cylindrical structure S1, the columnar portions R1a extend in the vertical direction. The second region R2 when viewed from above is the hole-like gap V2 (void) remaining between the columnar portions R1a. This cylindrical structure S1 is actually sufficiently longer in the height direction than the exterior member 1, and multiple exterior members 1 can be obtained by later slicing it into rings at regular intervals in the height direction and shaping each ring by cutting or other means. Alternatively, the cylindrical structure S1 may be formed by creating and stacking multiple annular structures of the same thickness to be sliced.

[0019] In step P2, as shown in Figure 3(b), pure titanium (Ti) powder is filled into the gap V2 in the second region R2 when viewed from above. In step P3, the cylindrical structure S1 filled with pure titanium powder is subjected to pressurization and heat treatment by the hot isostatic pressing method (HIP). In this treatment, the pure titanium powder is integrated (bonded) and fixed to the cylindrical structure S1. At this time, the entire structure shrinks according to the gaps that existed between the particles of pure titanium powder, and the cylindrical structure S1 becomes slightly smaller. Therefore, the size of the cylindrical structure S1 formed in step P1 is set to be larger than the final size of the exterior member 1 by the amount of shrinkage, and the amount of pure titanium powder to be filled is also predetermined. The apparatus for performing the HIP treatment may be a well-known one.

[0020] In step P4, a cylindrical structure S1, in which 64 titanium alloy and pure titanium are bonded with regions separated by each other, is heat-treated at a set temperature. In this heat treatment, the heating temperature is set to a temperature between the transformation temperature of pure titanium and the transformation temperature of the 64 titanium alloy. As a result, pure titanium, whose transformation temperature is lower than the heating temperature, undergoes faster crystal growth (higher crystal growth rate) than the 64 titanium alloy, whose transformation temperature is higher than the heating temperature. Consequently, as shown in Figure 3(c), the pure titanium region R2b becomes matte, making diffuse reflection easier. The 64 titanium alloy undergoes slower crystal growth, and the crystal grain size of the pure titanium, when it reaches an appropriate size, is smaller than that of pure titanium. By appropriately changing the heating temperature within the above range, the difference in crystal growth rates between the two components changes. Therefore, the heating temperature may be adjusted according to the desired light reflection state in the 64 titanium alloy region R1b and the desired magnitude of the difference between the 64 titanium alloy region R1b and the pure titanium region R2b.

[0021] In step P5, the cylindrical structure S1, which has obtained the 64 titanium alloy region R1b and the pure titanium region R2b, is sliced ​​into rings at regular intervals in the height direction to obtain multiple annular members. The interval between the slices (height of the annular members) should be slightly greater than the height of the outer casing member 1.

[0022] In step P6, the annular member is cut and polished to obtain the outer shape of the exterior member. As shown in Figure 4(a), the pattern formed by the columnar 64 titanium alloy region R1b and the pure titanium region R2b is maintained in plan view even after cutting, and the first region R1 and the second region R2 appear on the upper surface of the exterior member. Depending on the positional relationship between region R1b and region R2b and the outer shape of the exterior member, the pattern may also be exposed on the side surface of the exterior member (the inner edge side or the outer edge side of the annular shape).

[0023] In step P7, the surface, which has been roughened by processes such as P5 and P6, is heated to an appropriate temperature, and each component is recrystallized.

[0024] In step P8, the surface that was recrystallized in step P7 is chemically (etched) to dissolve the surface of the exterior component. This process brings out the crystalline pattern on the surface of the exterior component.

[0025] In step P9, the surface is protected by an ion plating (IP) coating (hardened film). The coating is made of various titanium-based materials. As shown in Figure 4(b), the coating is formed so thinly that the first region R1 and the second region R2 are visible through the coating. A well-known technique, such as AIP (arc reaction IP) treatment, may be used for the IP treatment. Thus, the exterior member 1 is obtained. The exterior member 1 is fixed to the body of the electronic clock by screws that pass through the holes H.

[0026] As described above, the exterior member 1 of this embodiment has a surface in which constituent materials with different crystal grain sizes are divided into multiple regions (first region R1 and second region R2). By dividing and exposing the multiple constituent materials on the surface and creating a pattern, the exterior member 1 can increase the diversity of its surface while maintaining functionality. This expands the range of designs for the exterior member 1 and the electronic clock to which the exterior member 1 is attached.

[0027] Furthermore, the boundaries between multiple regions include curved sections. This allows for a wider range of design possibilities for the exterior component 1. In particular, it becomes possible to obtain exterior component 1 that incorporates highly artistic designs.

[0028] Furthermore, the exterior member 1 has an annular shape, and the boundaries of the multiple regions extend along the circumferential direction of the annular shape, with the curved portions including wavy portions. By defining the boundaries in this way, it is easy to incorporate periodic designs, and the exterior member 1 can obtain a pattern that conforms to the annular structure.

[0029] Furthermore, among the multiple regions, the first region R1 may be a region formed of a first metal material (64 titanium alloy), and the second region R2, which is different from the first region R1, may be a region formed of a second metal material (pure titanium) which is different from the first metal material. In this way, the degree of mirror-like finish of the surface of the exterior member 1 can be appropriately adjusted according to the contact of the metal crystals, making it easier to give the exterior member 1 a beautiful design finish.

[0030] Furthermore, the first metal material may be a 64-titanium alloy, and the second metal material may be pure titanium. By combining two similar materials with different transformation temperatures, the formation and function maintenance of the exterior component 1 can be easily facilitated. In addition, it is easier to keep the design of this exterior component 1 from being overly flashy.

[0031] Furthermore, the exterior component 1 may have a coating on multiple regions of a thickness that allows these regions to be visually observed. Since materials such as titanium are prone to damage and deterioration over time, the presence of a coating on the exterior component 1 allows the pattern and function to be maintained stably for a longer period of time.

[0032] Furthermore, by including a bezel as the exterior component 1, the electronic clock's overall appearance can be diversified. Moreover, the exterior component 1 alone can easily convey a sense of luxury to the electronic clock.

[0033] Furthermore, the manufacturing method of the exterior member 1 of this embodiment includes the steps of: forming a columnar portion R1a extending vertically and having a shape portion of a first region R1 when viewed from the top side using a first constituent material; filling the gap V2 of the columnar portion R1a with a shape portion of a second region when viewed from the top side with powder of a second constituent material having a different transformation temperature from the first constituent material; bonding the second constituent material to the columnar portion R1a by HIP treatment; and heating at a temperature between the transformation temperature of the first constituent material and the transformation temperature of the second constituent material to grow crystals of the first and second constituent materials at different crystal growth rates. In this way, crystals of two types of materials are grown using materials and conditions with different crystal growth rates, and ultimately the crystal grain size is made different, so that the part with the high crystal growth rate becomes matte. With this manufacturing method, once the columnar portion R1a is obtained, the subsequent processing can be easily carried out, so a wide range of designs can be obtained. Also, since the pattern is drawn by the difference in reflection state, the pattern of the exterior member 1 does not become flashy and it is easy to avoid it being too prominent on the display screen of the electronic clock.

[0034] Furthermore, the columnar portion R1a may be formed by a 3D printer. This allows for accurate formation even if the first region R1 is complex, thus enabling the creation of fine and intricate patterns. In particular, it has been difficult to mass-produce curved boundaries between multiple regions as designed, and even more difficult to expose these boundaries on a non-single-plane surface and use them as patterns. By using a 3D printer, it becomes possible to expose patterns with curved boundaries on the surface.

[0035] Furthermore, the manufacturing method for the exterior component 1 may include a step of forming a coating on the upper surface by ion plating with a thickness that allows the first region R1 and the second region R2 to be visible. This protects the surface of the exterior component 1 while maintaining the visibility of the design, and suppresses deterioration and damage over time.

[0036] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, a combination of pure titanium and 64 titanium alloy was used as an example of the two constituent materials, but the invention is not limited to this. Any material that can be processed as described above is acceptable, and examples of such constituent materials include Cobarion®, stainless steel (SUS), and zirconium. In Cobarion, crystal growth hardly progresses during heat treatment (step P4), and it hardly dissolves even during etching (step P8). Therefore, the Cobarion region has higher specularity, that is, a higher degree of specular reflection of light, compared to the 64 titanium alloy region. By combining Cobarion with a constituent material that undergoes crystal growth, the contrast between the two regions becomes larger and clearer compared to the combination of pure titanium and 64 titanium alloy.

[0037] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the voids in the columnar structure of the 64 titanium alloy were filled with pure titanium powder before the HIP treatment was performed, but the reverse may also be used. That is, the voids in the columnar structure of pure titanium may be filled with 64 titanium alloy powder.

[0038] Furthermore, although the minute components that fill the voids were described as powder, they may also be granular as long as they are within a size range that allows for fixation and bonding by HIP treatment.

[0039] Furthermore, the boundary between the first region R1 and the second region R2 in the exterior member 1 does not have to be a wavy shape that mainly follows the circumferential direction of the annular shape of the exterior member 1. For example, the boundary may have straight or bent portions. Also, the exterior member 1 may have a boundary that mainly consists of closed shapes such as a circular, elliptical, or rectangular shape.

[0040] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described the upper surface of the exterior member 1 as a combination of two types of regions, it may also be a combination of three or more types of regions. In this case, for example, if the second and subsequent types of materials do not come into contact with each other, the powders of different constituent materials can be filled into the separate voids. As a result, the exterior member is formed in the same way as the exterior member 1 having the two types of regions described above. As a result, an exterior member 1 is obtained having multiple types of second regions with different crystal grain sizes made of multiple second constituent materials.

[0041] Furthermore, the columnar portion R1a does not necessarily have to be formed by a 3D printer.

[0042] Furthermore, the coating may be formed by methods other than IP (invasion film). Also, if a highly durable material is used, a coating may not necessarily be formed. In addition, the coating does not need to be completely transparent as long as it is light-transmitting and the first region R1 and the second region R2 are visible. That is, the top surface may be slightly colored by the coating.

[0043] Furthermore, the electronic clock to which the exterior component 1 is attached can be of any type. The electronic clock may also be a multi-functional device such as a smartwatch. Alternatively, it may be another portable electronic device instead of an electronic clock. Furthermore, the specific configurations, structures, and manufacturing methods shown in the above embodiments can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0044] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, 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.

[0045] [Note] <Claim 1> An exterior component having a surface divided into multiple regions by constituent materials with different crystal grain sizes. <Claim 2> The exterior member according to claim 1, wherein the boundaries of the plurality of regions include curved portions. <Claim 3> The exterior component has an annular shape, The exterior member according to claim 2, wherein the boundary extends along the circumferential direction of the annular shape, and the curved portion includes a corrugated portion. <Claim 4> The exterior member according to claim 1, wherein the first of the plurality of regions is a region formed of a first metal material, and the second region, which is different from the first region, is a region formed of a second metal material, which is different from the first metal material. <Claim 5> The exterior member according to claim 4, wherein the first metal material is a 64 titanium alloy and the second metal material is pure titanium. <Claim 6> The exterior member according to claim 1, having a coating on the plurality of regions that allows the plurality of regions to be seen. <Claim 7> An electronic clock comprising a bezel as an exterior component according to any one of claims 1 to 6. <Claim 8> A step of forming a columnar structure extending vertically in a first region as viewed from the top side using a first constituent material, A step of filling the void portion of the columnar structure in the second region, which is the void portion when viewed from the top side, with powder or granules of the second constituent material having a different transformation temperature from the first constituent material. A step of bonding the second constituent material to the columnar structure by hot isostatic pressurization, A step of heating the first constituent material and the second constituent material at a temperature between the transformation temperature of the first constituent material and the transformation temperature of the second constituent material to cause crystal growth of the first constituent material and the second constituent material at different crystal growth rates. A method for manufacturing exterior components including [specific components]. <Claim 9> The method for manufacturing an exterior member according to claim 8, wherein the columnar structure is formed by a 3D printer. <Claim 10> A method for manufacturing an exterior member according to claim 9, comprising the step of forming a coating on the upper surface by ion plating to a thickness that allows the first region and the second region to be visually distinguishable. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Exterior components 11 recess H hole R1 First Domain R1a Columnar part R1b area R2 Second Domain R2b area S1 Cylindrical structure V2 Gap

Claims

1. An exterior component provided for an electronic clock, having a surface in which constituent materials with mutually different crystal grain sizes are divided into multiple regions, The exterior member has an annular shape, The boundaries of the aforementioned multiple regions are exterior members that extend along the circumferential direction of the annular shape and have straight or bent portions.

2. The exterior member according to claim 1, wherein the first of the plurality of regions is a region formed of a first metal material, and the second region, which is different from the first region, is a region formed of a second metal material, which is different from the first metal material.

3. The exterior member according to claim 2, wherein the first metal material is a 64 titanium alloy and the second metal material is pure titanium.

4. The exterior member according to claim 1, having a coating on the plurality of regions that allows the plurality of regions to be seen.

5. The exterior member according to claim 2, wherein the first metal material is a cobalt alloy, and the second metal material is a metal material that undergoes heat treatment to promote crystal growth more readily than the cobalt alloy.

6. An electronic clock comprising a bezel as an exterior component as described in Claim 1.

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