Electronic clock

Abstract

To provide an electronic watch that produces a luxurious appearance without inhibiting the performance of an electronic component accommodated therein.SOLUTION: A watch 100 that is an electronic watch comprises bezels 2 that each have a first area α formed by discontinuously depositing metal material on a substrate containing resin material, and a second area β formed containing resin material. The second areas β are arranged at respective positions along a circumferential direction of the bezel 2, the positions being three o'clock position, six o'clock position, nine o'clock position, and twelve o'clock position in an analog watch.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic clock.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a portable electronic device (such as an electronic clock) provided with an annular exterior member on a device case that houses electronic components inside has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As electronic components housed in the device case, for example, an antenna for GPS reception is assumed. However, when the antenna is housed inside the device case, if a member that shields radio waves from the outside (such as an exterior member like a metal bezel) is provided outside the antenna or the like, it becomes difficult to receive radio waves. Therefore, it is also conceivable to provide a metal exterior member and make the exterior member itself function as an antenna.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, if an antenna (antenna element) made of a metal member is exposed to the outside air as an exterior member (such as a bezel in a clock), there are concerns such as oxidation and corrosion. Furthermore, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of impact resistance.

[0005] Also, when the exterior member (such as a bezel in a clock) functions as an antenna, the weight of the exterior member increases and the size also increases. For example, electronic devices such as electronic clocks are assumed to be worn on a person's wrist or the like. Therefore, while miniaturization is generally required for improving usability and the like, an increase in the weight and size of the exterior member is not desirable. Therefore, it is preferable that the antenna be made as small and lightweight as possible and installed while being housed inside an electronic device (such as an electronic clock).

[0006] However, housing the antenna inside an electronic device (such as an electronic watch) creates a design problem because, as mentioned above, it is not possible to use metal bezels or other materials on the exterior that would shield radio waves, making it difficult to create a luxurious appearance.

[0007] The present invention aims to solve these problems and to provide an electronic clock that can create a high-quality appearance without impairing the performance of the electronic components housed inside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the aforementioned problems, an electronic clock according to a first aspect of the present invention is: Contains no metallic materials A first region formed by discontinuous deposition of a metal material onto a substrate, and the Contains no metallic materials The bezel is characterized by having a second region in which a metal material is formed on the substrate without discontinuous deposition. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, a high-quality appearance can be achieved without impairing the performance of the electronic components housed inside. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the clock in the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a front view of the clock in the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the clock along line AA in the embodiment. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of section IV in Figure 3. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the clock along the BB line in the embodiment. [Figure 6] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the VI part in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] (a) is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the VII part in FIG. 2, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the C-C line in (a). [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view of the main part in the state where the bezel is removed from the clock in the embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a plan view of the solar panel in the present embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a side view of the main part showing the configuration of the connection part between the solar panel and the circuit board in the present embodiment. [Figure 11] (a) is a plan view of the antenna in the present embodiment, (b) is a perspective view of the antenna shown in (a), and (c) is a side view of the antenna shown in (a). [Figure 12] (a) is a plan view of the main part showing the fixing structure of the antenna inside the clock in the embodiment, (b) is an enlarged view of the B part in (a), and (c) is an enlarged view of the C part in (a). [Figure 13] It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the wavelength shortening of the antenna. [Figure 14] It is a diagram showing the configuration of the connection part between the antenna and the circuit board in the present embodiment, and is a side view of the main part with a part in cross-section. [Figure 15] (a) is a perspective view of the antenna in the present embodiment, (b) is a perspective view of the antenna of Comparative Example 1, and (c) is a perspective view of the antenna of Comparative Example 2. [Figure 16] It is a plan view of the main part showing the internal configuration of the clock in the embodiment.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] [[ID=�0]]While referring to FIGS. 1 to 16, an embodiment of an electronic clock according to the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the case where the electronic clock includes an antenna will be exemplified and described. In addition, although various technically preferable limitations are imposed on the embodiments described below for carrying out the present invention, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0012] [Configuration] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of an electronic clock (hereinafter simply referred to as a "clock") as an electronic device in the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the clock shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 3. Further, FIG. 5 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion VI surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 5.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the clock 100 in the present embodiment has a device case 1. The device case 1 of the present embodiment is formed in a hollow short column shape with openings at the top and bottom, and the internal hollow portion constitutes a storage space for storing various components. The device case 1 is formed of a relatively hard synthetic resin such as, for example, biomass plastic, engineering plastic, super engineering plastic, etc. The material forming the device case 1 is not limited to those exemplified here, but various resin materials having a high relative dielectric constant, as described later, are more preferable.

[0014] On the outer surface of the device case 1 at the upper and lower positions in FIG. 2 (the 12 o'clock position and the 6 o'clock position in an analog clock), a pair of band attachment portions 11 (see FIG. 1) to which a band (not shown) is attached are provided. In addition, various operation buttons 12 (push buttons, rotary switches, etc.) for a user to perform various input operations are provided on the left and right side portions, etc. of the device case 1 in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the opening portion on the back side (non-visible side in the clock) of the device case 1 is closed by a back cover member 13. Note that the back cover member 13 may be integrally formed with the device case 1.

[0015] On the front side of the device case 1 (the side visible in the watch), a bezel 2 is provided as an exterior component to surround the opening. The bezel 2 is fixed to the device case 1, for example, by screws 8. The bezel 2 is a component formed in a substantially annular shape when the watch 100 is viewed from the viewing side (hereinafter referred to as "first direction I"). The bezel 2 has a first region α having at least a surface on which metal is discontinuously deposited onto a substrate containing resin material, and a second region β formed containing resin material (where metal is not discontinuously deposited). In this embodiment, the bezel 2 includes a first bezel 21 formed of a resin material such as urethane, and a second bezel 22 having at least one surface on which metal is discontinuously deposited onto a substrate containing a resin material such as urethane. The portion of the second bezel 22 that is exposed to the surface (viewing side) becomes the first region α, and the portion of the second bezel 22 that is covered by the first bezel 21 and does not appear to the surface (viewing side) becomes the second region β.

[0016] Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the first bezel 21 has protruding portions 211 along the circumferential direction of the bezel 2 at the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock positions on an analog watch, each protruding more than the other parts (the main body portion 212 of the first bezel 21). The protruding portions 211 protrude at least in the thickness direction of the watch 100 (upward in Figure 3, etc.) and radially outward of the bezel 2 than the main body portion 212.

[0017] All or part of the protruding portion 211 is detachable from the main body portion 212 of the first bezel 21. In this embodiment, for example, the second bezel 22 is placed on the main body 212 with all or part of the protruding portion 211 removed from the main body 212. Subsequently, the removed protruding portion 211 is attached to the main body 212, thereby forming a bezel 2 in which the second bezel 22 is sandwiched between the main body 212 and the protruding portion 211 of the first bezel 21, and an integrated bezel 2 is constructed. By forming the bezel 2 from a resin material such as urethane, the weight of the bezel 2 can be reduced, and the degree of freedom in its shape is improved compared to metal processing. Furthermore, by providing the resin bezel 2 as an exterior component of the watch 100, the shock resistance of the watch 100 is also improved compared to when the bezel 2 is formed from a metal material.

[0018] The surface of the second bezel 22 is discontinuously coated with a metal such as indium (In). By discontinuously coating (thin film coating) indium, a metallic appearance is achieved, and spaces are created between the metal particles, so that radio waves are not blocked even when the bezel 2, including the second bezel 22, is placed on top of an antenna 6 (see Figure 1, etc.). A transparent film such as resin may be further formed on the discontinuously coated metal layer, in which case a glossy finish can be obtained and scratch resistance can be achieved. In addition, indium alloy may peel off if it is struck or rubbed against an object. In this respect, if a transparent film such as resin is formed on the surface, the peeling of the discontinuously coated metal layer of indium alloy can be prevented even if the second bezel 22 is struck against surrounding objects during use. This ensures that the beautiful metallic appearance is maintained for a long time. Furthermore, the metal that is discontinuously deposited is not limited to indium (In), but various alloys such as tin (Sn) can be used.

[0019] The discontinuous metal deposition layer may be formed over the entire surface of the second bezel 22, or only on the portion that may be exposed to the outside. The parts that may be exposed to the outside are the top surface 221 and the side surface 222 of the second bezel 22. Although discontinuous metal deposition may be performed on the entire top surface 221 and the side surface 222, even on the top surface 221 and the side surface 222 of the second bezel 22, the parts sandwiched between the main body 212 and the protruding part 211 of the first bezel 21 are not exposed to the outside in the assembled state. For this reason, discontinuous metal deposition may not be performed on these parts.

[0020] For example, the cross-sectional area along line AA in Figure 2, as shown in Figure 3, is where the protruding portion 211 of the first bezel 21 covers the second bezel 22, forming the second region β. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, in the second region β, the protruding portion 211 of the first bezel 21 is positioned on the outside, and as described above, the second bezel 22 is sandwiched between the main body portion 212 and the protruding portion 211 of the first bezel 21 and is not exposed to the outside. For this reason, in this area, discontinuous metal deposition may not be applied not only to the back surface 223 of the second bezel 22 but also to the top surface 221 (front surface) and side surface 222. In this way, by not performing discontinuous deposition on areas that are not visible, the amount of metal material to be deposited can be reduced. Also, if discontinuous deposition is not performed on areas that are not visible (such as the back surface 223), the deposition work can be performed with the back surface 223 etc. facing downwards and the second bezel 22 placed on a stand or the like, simplifying the work process.

[0021] In contrast, the cross-sectional area shown in Figure 5, along the BB line in Figure 2, is the area that forms the first region α where the upper surface 221 (surface) and side surface 222 of the second bezel 22 are exposed to the viewing side. The first region α and the second region β are arranged alternately along the circumferential direction of the bezel 2. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, the protruding portions 211 constituting the second region β are arranged at approximately equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the bezel 2, and the first region α is positioned between the protruding portions 211 constituting the second region β. The protruding portions 211 constituting the second region β are formed such that at least the height of their upper surfaces is higher than the height of the upper surface of the portion of the second bezel 22, which is the first region α, that is exposed. Therefore, the exposed second bezel 22 can be protected from external impacts, and the metallic-looking portion can be prevented from being scratched.

[0022] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper surface 221 and side surface 222 of the second bezel 22, which may be exposed to the outside, are subjected to, for example, V-groove processing (such as a grooved finish (record-like finish) or hairline finish), and groove portions 22a are formed in a concentric circular pattern. This makes it possible to create a more metallic texture when metal is deposited discontinuously. Figure 7(a) is an enlarged view of area VII enclosed by the dashed line in Figure 2, and is a cross-sectional view along the CC line in Figure 7(a). Figure 7(b) is a schematic diagram illustrating the cross-sectional state along the CC line and does not accurately represent the shape, number, depth, etc., of the groove 22a.

[0023] When a V-groove is machined into the bezel 2 (second bezel 22), the radial cross-section of the bezel 2 becomes uneven, reducing its appearance and feel. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b), an edge portion 225 is provided to build up the material around the cross-section so that the cross-section of the V-groove machined portion (such as the side surface 222 where the groove portion 22a is formed) is not exposed to the outside, thereby preventing unevenness from appearing in the cross-section. The method for forming the V-groove machined groove portion 22a and the edge portion 225 is not particularly limited, but for example, it is conceivable to use a mold with a shape corresponding to the groove portion 22a and the edge portion 225 and perform the molding. In Figure 7(b), an example is shown where an edge portion 225 is built up to a height that covers about half of the V-groove of the groove portion 22a, but the height of the edge portion 225 is not limited to this. For example, an edge portion may be built up to a height that completely covers the cross-section of the V-groove.

[0024] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the second bezel 22 is divided into two parts. However, the second bezel 22 only needs to be able to be sandwiched between the main body 212 and the protruding part 211 of the first bezel 21, and may be a single, integral part that is approximately annular, C-shaped, U-shaped, etc., when viewed from the first direction I (see Figures 1, 3, etc.). Furthermore, the second bezel 22 may be divided into four or more parts. Furthermore, the positions in which the protruding portions 211 are provided are not limited to those exemplified herein, but it is preferable that they be arranged at approximately equal intervals along the circumferential direction so as to reliably protect the portion (first region α) where the second bezel 22, which has a metallic appearance, is exposed. The protruding portions 211 may be distributed at multiple locations along the circumferential direction of the bezel 2, for example, three locations. Moreover, it is not essential that the protruding portions 211 are detachable from the main body portion 212. In addition, the protruding portions 211 do not have to be individually detachable, but may be connected and detachable from the main body portion 212 as a single unit. In this embodiment, the bezel 2 has a second bezel 22 having a metallic appearance, as well as a first bezel 21 on which metal is not discontinuously deposited. The first bezel 21 protects the portion (first region α) where the metallic appearance is exposed. However, if the adhesion of the discontinuously deposited metal layer, such as an indium alloy, can be improved to make it less prone to peeling, the bezel 2 may be configured without the first bezel 21.

[0025] In this embodiment, the bezel 2, which surrounds the opening on the surface side of the device case 1, is made of a resin material 2 such as urethane. Therefore, even if it is subjected to an impact from the outside, the bezel 2 absorbs the impact, effectively preventing damage to the device case 1 and the watch movement (for example, the circuit board 5 and liquid crystal panel unit 7 described later, various motors not shown, etc.) housed inside it. In this embodiment, we have illustrated the case where the member constituting the second region β (the first bezel 21 having the protruding portion 211) and the member constituting the first region α (the second bezel 22 having a metallic finish applied to at least the exposed portion) are made of separate members. However, the bezel having the second region β and the first region α may be formed integrally, and the metallic portion may be partially processed.

[0026] Furthermore, the opening on the surface side of the device case 1 (the side visible in the watch) is closed by the crystal member 3. The crystal member 3 is a transparent member formed from, for example, glass or transparent resin material. Preferably, the crystal member 3 is attached to the device case 1 via a resin waterproof ring or the like. This ensures waterproofness (airtightness) inside the device case 1.

[0027] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the watch with the bezel 2 removed. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the solar panel 4 is attached to the back side of the windbreak member 3 (i.e., the side that is positioned inside the equipment case 1). The solar panel 4 is a solar cell that generates electricity by receiving light. The electricity generated by the solar panel 4 is stored in a secondary battery housed in the device case 1 and serves as the power source for each part of the clock 100. In this embodiment, the solar panel 4, the antenna 6 (described later), and the circuit board 5 are arranged in order along the first direction I (a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board 5) in the thickness direction (first direction I) of the clock 100, and the solar panel 4 is positioned such that at least a portion of it overlaps with the antenna 6 when viewed from the first direction I in a plan view.

[0028] Figure 9 is a plan view of the solar panel in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 9, the solar panel 4 of this embodiment is a hollow, ring-shaped (annular) panel having at least an outer perimeter 40a and an inner perimeter 40b when viewed from a plan view from a first direction I. In this embodiment, dividing lines 44 are arranged at approximately equal intervals along the radial direction of the ring-shaped solar panel 4, and the solar panel 4 is divided into a plurality of cells 43 in a roughly fan shape by these dividing lines 44. In the illustrated example, the solar panel 4 is divided into eight cells 43, but there is no particular limit to how many cells 43 the solar panel 4 is divided into. The plurality of cells 43 constituting the solar panel 4 are connected in series and are connected to the circuit board 5 (see Figures 8, 10, etc.) at the contact section 45, as will be described later.

[0029] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection between the solar panel and the circuit board. As shown in Figure 10, the connection between the solar panel 4 and the circuit board 5 is made by providing at least one substrate-panel contact member 46 (panel contact member) between the contact portion 45 of the solar panel 4 and the solar panel connection terminal (pad) (not shown) of the circuit board 5. In this embodiment, two substrate-panel contact members 46 are provided as shown. The substrate-panel contact member 46 is, for example, a coil spring, with both ends electrically in contact with the solar panel 4 and the circuit board 5, respectively.

[0030] As shown in Figure 8, etc., in this embodiment, an antenna 6 is positioned between the solar panel 4 and the circuit board 5, and the substrate-panel contact member 46 is positioned so as to overlap with the solar panel 4, antenna 6, and circuit board 5 in a plan view from the first direction I. Specifically, as schematically shown in Figure 10, a hole 15 is formed in the equipment case 1 that penetrates vertically, corresponding to the location where the substrate-panel contact member 46 is placed. The substrate-panel contact member 46 is positioned by being inserted through this hole 15, and its orientation is maintained so that each end contacts the solar panel 4 and the circuit board 5. Furthermore, as will be described later, the antenna 6 is positioned to avoid the location where the substrate-panel contact member 46 is placed. A notch 67 is formed therein.

[0031] In this embodiment, the antenna 6 is, for example, a GPS antenna capable of receiving GNSS (GPS / GLONASS / QZSS / SBAS) signals transmitted from GPS satellites (including multiple types such as GLONASS in addition to GPS, but hereinafter simply referred to as "GPS"). GPS satellites are equipped with atomic clocks and transmit data containing time information from these atomic clocks. By receiving the GNSS (GPS) signals transmitted from GPS satellites with antenna 6, extremely high-precision time information can be obtained at any receiving point on the ground.

[0032] Furthermore, antenna 6, which is a GPS antenna that receives GNSS (GPS) signals, must be compatible with right-hand circular polarization. Furthermore, GPS satellites transmit GNSS (GPS) signals at frequencies such as the L1 band (around 1.6 GHz) and the L5 band (around 1.2 GHz). Therefore, the desired frequency bands for a GPS antenna receiving GNSS (GPS) signals are the L1 band, L5 band, etc., and it is desirable for antenna 6 to have high antenna performance in these frequency bands (especially antenna gain corresponding to right-hand circular polarization).

[0033] Figure 11(a) is a plan view of the antenna of this embodiment as seen from a first direction, Figure 11(b) is a perspective view of the antenna, and Figure 11(c) is a side view of the antenna as seen from a second direction different from the first direction. As shown in Figure 11(a), the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) is formed in an annular shape having at least an outer perimeter 60a and an inner perimeter 60b when viewed from a plan view from the first direction I. The material of the antenna 6 is not particularly limited, but for a metal material used to form a high-frequency antenna element, a lower electrical volume resistivity is preferable. Furthermore, since electronic devices such as the clock 100 (electronic clocks, etc.) may be equipped with a geomagnetic sensor, a non-magnetic material is more desirable, taking into account the impact on geomagnetic measurement. From this viewpoint, phosphor bronze, for example, is preferably used as the material for the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6). The antenna function is realized when a high-frequency current flows through this annular antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) and the circuit board 5 (GND board).

[0034] As shown in Figures 11(a) to 11(c), the antenna 6 of this embodiment (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) has a top surface portion 61 whose main surface is visible in a plan view from a first direction I, and a side surface portion 62 connected to at least a part of the top surface portion 61 and extending along the first direction I. At least a part of the side surface portion 62 extends substantially in the first direction I from the outer peripheral edge of the top surface portion 61, and the main surface is visible from a second direction II different from the first direction I (in this embodiment, the second direction II is a direction from the side of the clock 100 that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction I). Specifically, the antenna 6 includes an annular top surface portion 61 and a side surface portion 62 that is suspended from the outer peripheral edge of the top surface portion 61 and is visible from a second direction II different from the first direction I (in this embodiment, the second direction II is a direction from the side of the clock 100 that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction I).

[0035] Antenna 6 is advantageous from the standpoint of radio wave emission if its surface area (the surface area of ​​the antenna element portion of antenna 6) is large. In this respect, as in this embodiment, by including a top surface portion 61 and a side surface portion 62 in the antenna 6, it is possible to secure a surface area without increasing the overall diameter of the antenna 6 compared to the case where there is only a flat top surface portion (top surface portion 61) or only a ring (side surface portion 62), which is preferable from the viewpoint of radio wave radiation. As will be described later, a circuit board 5 is located below the antenna 6. If the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) is positioned parallel to the circuit board 5, capacitive coupling is likely to occur, negatively affecting radio wave radiation. However, the side portion 62 is positioned almost perpendicular to the circuit board 5, making capacitive coupling less likely. Therefore, it is possible to increase the surface area of ​​the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) while avoiding capacitive coupling as much as possible.

[0036] However, on the other hand, the length of the inner diameter (the length of one circumference) of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) is shorter when the top surface 61 is present than when only the side surface 62 is present (i.e., the inner diameter becomes narrower). As a result, the electrical distance (electrical length) becomes shorter. The resonant frequency of antenna 6 is inversely proportional to the size and length (length of the inner diameter, length of the circumference) of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of antenna 6). As the electrical length decreases, the frequencies that antenna 6 can easily receive and radiate tend to become higher than the desired frequency band that antenna 6 in this embodiment wants to receive (i.e., the frequency bands such as the L1 band (around 1.6 GHz) and L5 band (around 1.2 GHz) to which GNSS (GPS) signals are transmitted, as described above).

[0037] Therefore, in this embodiment, the inner diameter element shape of the antenna 6 is made irregular rather than perfectly circular, thereby increasing the length of the inner diameter side of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) and lengthening the electrical length. Specifically, the distance of the inner periphery 60b from the approximate center of the annular shape (referred to as "annular center cp") in a plan view from the first direction I is non-uniform depending on the position in the circumferential direction. Specifically, as shown in Figure 11(a), the antenna 6 of this embodiment has at least one locking portion 63 provided on the inner periphery 60b, and a protruding edge portion 65 that protrudes inward from the locking portion 63 on the inner periphery 60b.

[0038] As shown in Figure 8, etc., the device case 1 of the clock 100 houses a liquid crystal panel unit 7 that constitutes the clock's display, and the shape of the inner diameter side of the antenna 6 is basically based on the shape of the glass of the liquid crystal panel unit 7 (the position of the inner diameter side in this basic shape is referred to as the "reference position"). Thus, the basic shape of the inner diameter side of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) is designed to match the shape of the glass of the liquid crystal panel unit 7, while also maximizing the surface area toward the inside (towards the annular center cp in Figure 11(a)).

[0039] The inner periphery 60b of the antenna 6 is provided with a "first cutout 64" that is cut out in a direction away from the annular center cp than the "reference position," and the locking portion 63 is provided within this "first cutout 64" (for example, on the far side of the "first cutout 64"). The protruding edge portion 65 is the part that protrudes relatively inward (towards the annular center cp side in Figure 11(a)) because the locking portion 63 is provided within the "first notched portion 64". The protruding edge portion 65 may remain at the same position as the "reference position" that follows the glass shape of the liquid crystal panel unit 7, or it may protrude inward in a direction closer to the annular center cp than the "reference position".

[0040] The distance d1 from the annular center cp to the protruding edge portion 65 shown in Figure 11(a) (for example, the shortest distance from the annular center cp) is shorter than the distance d2 from the annular center cp to the inner edge of the first notch portion 64. In this way, by providing the first notch 64 and the protruding edge 65 on the inner periphery 60b, and creating an uneven shape with different distances from the annular center cp, the length of the inner diameter side of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) can be increased, and the electrical length can be lengthened. As a result, even when the overall diameter of the antenna 6 is reduced to achieve miniaturization, an antenna 6 that can easily receive radio waves in the desired frequency band can be constructed.

[0041] The locking portion 63 provided on the inner periphery 60b of the antenna 6 is for locking the antenna 6 to the equipment case 1. As shown in Figures 11(a) to 11(c), the locking portions 63 of this embodiment are arranged at three locations with circumferential spacing along the inner periphery 60b of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6). As shown in Figure 11(b), the locking portion 63 is a tongue-shaped piece bent downward in the first direction I from the end face of the first notch portion 64 formed on the top surface portion 61, and a locking hole 63a is formed therein. The size of this locking portion 63 and the locking hole 63a can also be increased on the inner diameter side of the antenna 6, and it is expected that the electrical length will be increased.

[0042] Figure 12(a) is a plan view of the antenna of this embodiment assembled inside the equipment case, viewed from the first direction; Figure 12(b) is an enlarged perspective view of the main part, showing portion B enclosed by the dashed line in Figure 12(a); and Figure 12(c) is an enlarged perspective view of the main part, showing portion C enclosed by the dashed line in Figure 12(a). As shown in Figures 12(a) and 12(b), the equipment case 1 has a locking portion located in a position that protrudes inward from the equipment case 1 and corresponds to the locking portion 63 of the antenna 6. By providing the locking portion in this position that protrudes inward from the equipment case 1, the thickness of the equipment case 1 can be increased in at least that portion, thereby maintaining the strength of the equipment case 1.

[0043] In this embodiment, the locking portion of the equipment case 1 is configured to include a recess 16 that receives a tongue-shaped locking portion 63, and a locking claw 17 that protrudes from within the recess 16 and locks into the locking hole 63a of the locking portion 63 when the locking portion 63 is inserted into the recess 16. The locking claw 17 has some springiness, and when the antenna 6 is positioned from above the equipment case 1 (above the first direction I) and the locking portion 63 is inserted into the recess 16, the claw 17 bends slightly to avoid the inserted locking portion 63, and once fitted into the locking hole 63a, it is designed not to come out easily. In this way, the locking portion on the equipment case 1 and the locking portion 63 on the antenna 6 engage with each other, thereby fixing the antenna 6 to the equipment case 1. Note that the configuration of the locking portion 63 on the antenna 6 and the locking portion on the equipment case 1 is not limited to those shown here.

[0044] Furthermore, as mentioned above, as shown in Figures 10, 12(a), and 12(c), a vertically penetrating hole 15 is formed in the location within the equipment case 1 where the substrate-panel contact member 46 connecting the solar panel 4 and the circuit board 5 is located. In this embodiment, two substrate-panel contact members 46 are provided, and the hole 15 on the equipment case 1 side also has this Two will be provided accordingly. In the area where the hole 15 is formed, a portion of the inner perimeter 60b of the antenna 6 is cut out to form a notch 67 that avoids the area where the substrate-panel contact member 46 is placed. This notch 67 also creates irregularities on the inner perimeter 60b of the antenna 6, increasing the length of the inner diameter side of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) and thus increasing the electrical length.

[0045] As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the antenna 6 is miniaturized in order to house it inside the equipment case 1. However, when the antenna 6 and the substrate-panel contact member 46 are placed close together due to the miniaturization, the members become more prone to electrical coupling, which leads to losses due to their resistance components (resulting in a decrease in antenna gain). In this embodiment, a notch 67 is formed in the antenna 6 to avoid the location where the substrate-panel contact member 46 is placed, and the substrate-panel contact member 46, which is a coil spring, is placed in the location where the notch 67 is provided to connect the solar panel 4 and the circuit board 5. This makes it possible to suppress losses (a decrease in antenna gain) caused by each resistive component by electrically coupling each component. Furthermore, electrical coupling can easily occur when a loop is formed from the solar panel 4 to the circuit board 5 (the connection terminal for the solar panel on the circuit board 5) via one substrate-panel contact member 46, and from the circuit board 5 to the solar panel 4 via the other substrate-panel contact member 46. However, by forming a notch 67 in the antenna 6 to avoid the location where the substrate-panel contact member 46 is placed, and placing the substrate-panel contact member 46, which is a coil spring, in this area to connect the solar panel 4 and the circuit board 5, such loop-based coupling can be suppressed.

[0046] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12(a), the equipment case 1 has grooves 14 formed in a position corresponding to the side portion 62 when the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) is placed inside the equipment case 1, which receive (accommodate) the side portion 62. As a result, at least a portion of the side portion 62 (i.e., at least a portion of the inner surface, outer surface, and bottom surface of the side portion 62) is in contact with the equipment case 1. In this embodiment, the groove 14 is shaped to substantially conform to the side surface 62 of the antenna 6, and when the side surface 62 of the antenna 6 is fitted into the groove 14, the groove 14 of the equipment case 1 and the side surface 62 of the antenna 6 come into close contact (tight contact). When the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) is miniaturized, the electrical distance (electrical length) becomes shorter (smaller), which weakens the radiation effect of the antenna 6 and causes the antenna 6 to not function properly. In this regard, by fitting the side portion 62 of the antenna 6 into the groove portion 14 of the equipment case 1, and making the antenna 6 and the dielectric resin equipment case 1 in close contact, the decrease in the radiation effect of the antenna 6 can be suppressed.

[0047] Generally speaking, antennas are considered more efficient (their performance improves) when their length and size are matched to the frequency and wavelength of the radio waves. However, as mentioned above, if the size and length of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) are reduced in order to fit it inside the equipment case 1, the electrical distance (electrical length) will be shortened, and the frequencies that the antenna 6 can easily receive and radiate will become higher than the desired frequency band (i.e., the frequency bands such as the L1 band (around 1.6 GHz) and L5 band (around 1.2 GHz) to which GNSS (GPS) signals are transmitted, as mentioned above).

[0048] In this regard, it has been observed that when antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of antenna 6) is surrounded by a dielectric material such as resin, the wavelength of the radio waves becomes shorter in proportion to the dielectric constant of the dielectric material compared to when antenna 6 is in the air. In other words, as shown in the explanatory diagram in Figure 13, a "wavelength shortening" effect of radio waves is observed in dielectrics, where the original length of one period (length of one wavelength) of the wavelength itself is shortened. The equipment case 1 in the embodiment is a case formed from a resin material. More specifically, a resin case in which a substance for increasing the dielectric constant is incorporated into a part of the material is preferably used. Therefore, by making the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) as close to the equipment case 1 as possible, the "wavelength shortening" effect of radio waves can be effectively obtained, and even if the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) is miniaturized, it can be made to resonate in a low frequency band (the desired frequency band such as the L1 band and L5 band mentioned above).

[0049] Therefore, it is preferable that the shape (width, depth, etc.) of the groove 14 of the equipment case 1 be matched as closely as possible to the shape of the side portion 62 of the antenna 6, so that the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) and the equipment case 1 are in close contact (tightly attached) when the side portion 62 is fitted into the groove 14. In other words, when the side portion 62 is fitted into the groove 14, it is desirable that the inner surface, outer surface, and lower end surface of the side portion 62 are in tight contact with the inner surface of the groove 14.

[0050] Furthermore, when the antenna 6 is placed inside the equipment case 1, at least a portion of the underside of the top surface 61 also comes into contact with the equipment case 1. Here too, by matching the depth of the groove 14 to the height of the side surface 62, the top surface 61 can be positioned in contact with the top surface of the equipment case 1 without lifting up when the side surface 62 is fitted into the groove 14, thereby similarly achieving the "wavelength shortening" effect of radio waves. Furthermore, for similar reasons, it is preferable that the locking portion 63 and the locking portion of the equipment case 1 be in close contact (tightly attached) with as little gap as possible. Furthermore, by adopting a configuration in which the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) and the equipment case 1 are in close contact (tightly attached), a similar effect can be expected in suppressing the decrease in the radiation effect of the antenna 6 due to the synergistic effect between the antenna 6 and the dielectric equipment case 1.

[0051] Furthermore, from the viewpoint that filling the area around the antenna 6 with a dielectric (resin material) allows the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) to resonate in a lower frequency band even if it is miniaturized, it is preferable to arrange a dielectric material such as resin material on the lower side (back side, the side facing the inside of the equipment case 1, in this embodiment the side to which the solar panel 4 is attached) of the windbreak member 3 so as to fill the gap between it and the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6). By filling the gaps around antenna 6 with a dielectric (resin material), an even greater wavelength shortening effect can be expected, and it is anticipated that antenna performance in the low frequency band (desired frequency band such as L1 band, L5 band, etc.) will be improved when a small antenna 6 is used.

[0052] Furthermore, the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) is connected to the circuit board 5 via a substrate-antenna contact member 56 (antenna contact member). Figure 14 is a schematic side view of the main components showing the connection between the antenna and the circuit board. The substrate-antenna contact member 56 is, for example, a coil spring or a pogo pin with a spring inside. One end of the substrate-antenna contact member 56 is pressed against the top surface 61 of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6), and the other end is in contact with a GPS circuit (not shown) on the circuit board 5.

[0053] By receiving the board-antenna contact member 56 for connecting to the circuit board 5 on the top surface 61 of the antenna 6, the connection between the antenna 6 and the circuit board 5 can be made in the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the clockwise 100, and sufficient contact pressure can be ensured at the contact points of the antenna 6 and the circuit board 5. The board-antenna contact member 56 connecting the antenna 6 and the circuit board 5 may be one or more, and may be three or more. Figure 14 and other illustrated examples illustrate a case where two board-antenna contact members 56 are provided.

[0054] Furthermore, at the point where the substrate-antenna contact member 56, including the spring, abuts, the top surface 61 of the antenna 6 may be pushed up by the substrate-antenna contact member 56. For this reason, as shown in Figure 12(a), it is preferable that the position where the substrate-antenna contact member 56 is placed is near the locking position where the locking portion 63 that locks the antenna 6 and the equipment case 1 is provided.

[0055] It has also been confirmed that the gain (gain characteristics) of antenna 6 changes when the shape of antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of antenna 6) changes. Figures 15(a) to 15(c) show that when the x-axis is defined as the 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock direction of antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of antenna 6) and the y-axis as the 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock direction, and the feed point is assumed to be somewhere between the 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions (i.e., around the 45-degree position between the x-axis and y-axis, as shown in Figure 11(a), etc.), if the y-axis side of antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of antenna 6) is shaved, the gain (gain characteristics) of antenna 6 will change depending on the degree of shaving.

[0056] For example, in Figure 15(a), a notch 601 is formed by cutting a portion of the side surface 62 on the 12 o'clock side of the y-axis of the antenna 6, and a notch 602 is formed by cutting a portion of the side surface 62 on the 6 o'clock side. The notches 601 and 602 formed on the side surface 62 in this manner are referred to as the "third notch." In contrast, in Figure 15(b), a notch 601 is formed by partially cutting off the side portion 62 on the 12 o'clock side of the antenna 6, while no notch is formed on the side portion 62 on the 6 o'clock side. The antenna (antenna element) with the shape shown in Figure 15(b) is referred to as "Comparative Example 1". For example, in Figure 15(c), a notch 602 (third notch) is formed by cutting a portion of the side surface 62 on the 6 o'clock side of the antenna 6, and a notch 603 is formed by cutting a portion of the top surface 61 on the 12 o'clock side. The notch 603 formed on the top surface 61 in this way will be referred to as the "second notch". The antenna (antenna element) with the shape shown in Figure 15(c) will be referred to as "Comparative Example 2".

[0057] In this embodiment, an antenna 6 with the shape shown in Figure 15(a) is used, in which notches 601 and 602, which serve as "third notches," are formed on the 12 o'clock side portion 62 and the 6 o'clock side portion 62 of the y axis of the antenna 6.

[0058] When a notch 601 is formed by partially cutting out only the side portion 62 at the 6 o'clock position in the y-axis direction of antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of antenna 6) (in the case of the antenna shape shown in Figure 15(b)), the antenna gain in both the L5 band and the L1 band (average value) is reduced compared to when notches 601 and 602 are formed by partially cutting out the side portions 62 at the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions in the y-axis direction of antenna 6 (the antenna shape of the embodiment shown in Figure 15(a)). Furthermore, when a notch 601 is formed by partially cutting out the side portion 62 at the 6 o'clock position in the y-axis direction of antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of antenna 6) and a notch 603 is formed by partially cutting out the top portion 61 at the 12 o'clock position in the y-axis direction (in the case of the antenna shape shown in Figure 15(c)), there was almost no difference in the L5 band compared to the case of the antenna shape of the embodiment shown in Figure 15(a), but the antenna gain decreased in the L1 band (average value) compared to the case in Figure 15(b).

[0059] In this way, by changing the shape of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) from a perfect circle to a slightly shorter end on the x-axis side, or by enlarging the end on the y-axis side, or by changing the amount of metal (metal potentiometer) at ±45 degrees relative to the feed point (feed position), it is possible to adjust it so that just the right gain is obtained for radio waves in the desired frequency band. Furthermore, determining which parts to modify and to what extent to achieve better gain for radio waves in the desired frequency band can be adjusted by various surrounding conditions, such as the arrangement of metal components around antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of antenna 6). The amount of metal in antenna 6 (metal volume) can be adjusted by providing a notch in at least a part of antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of antenna 6), or by providing a hole.

[0060] Furthermore, while the gain of the antenna 6 is affected by various conditions such as metal components arranged around the antenna 6, a substrate-panel contact member 46 (coil spring) that connects the solar panel 4 and the circuit board 5 is positioned in the area corresponding to the notch 67 formed in the inner periphery 60b of the antenna 6, as described above. The shape and other configurations of the substrate-panel contact member 46 are not particularly limited, but the configuration of the substrate-panel contact member 46 also affects the gain of the antenna 6. Specifically, the gain of the antenna 6 is set based on one of the following: the wire diameter, effective number of turns, or expansion length of the coil spring (substrate-panel contact member 46).

[0061] In other words, it has been confirmed that increasing the inductance (calculated inductance) of the coil spring (spring) used as the substrate-panel contact member 46 improves the gain of the antenna 6. Therefore, in this embodiment, when designing the specifications (shape, etc.) of the coil spring, the inductance of the coil spring as a substrate-panel contact member 46 is made as large as possible.

[0062] Generally, when the effective number of turns [N] and the length of extension [mm] of a coil spring are the same, the smaller the wire diameter [mm] of the spring, the smaller the calculated inductance (calculated L). Utilizing this characteristic, it was found that a decrease in the calculated inductance (calculated L) reduces the antenna gain of the right-hand circular polarization in the L5 band required for a GPS antenna, and also reduces the antenna gain of the right-hand circular polarization in the L1 band (average value) required for a GPS antenna.

[0063] From this, it was confirmed that the larger the calculated inductance (L calculated value) of the coil spring (spring) used as the substrate-panel contact member 46, the better the gain of the antenna 6 in both the L5 band and the L1 band. This is thought to be because a larger inductance of the coil spring (spring) used as the substrate-panel contact member 46 blocks the flow of high-frequency current, thereby improving the reduction in the gain of the antenna 6.

[0064] Furthermore, the current generated by the solar panel 4 is either low-frequency (AC with a frequency below a specified value) or DC. Therefore, even if the inductance of the coil spring (spring) used as the substrate-panel contact member 46 is large, the current generated by the solar panel 4 is supplied to the circuit board 5 without being blocked, and the charging function of the solar panel 4 is not hindered. Furthermore, when designing the coil spring (spring) as the actual substrate-panel contact member 46, it is preferable to design it in a way that satisfies various conditions, taking into consideration the balance between the spring stress, tension, etc. when the solar panel 4 and the circuit board 5 actually make contact.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8 and other figures, a shield member 51 is provided on the circuit board 5 in this embodiment as a protective member. The shield member 51 is placed on the circuit board 5 as a protective member that covers at least some of the circuit elements (electronic components, not shown) on the circuit board 5. The shield member 51 is formed in the shape of a box, for example, from sheet metal, and its sides are fixed to the circuit board 5. The configuration for fixing the shield member 51 onto the circuit board 5 is not particularly limited; for example, it may be directly soldered, or it may be fixed to the circuit board 5 via other metal parts. In either case, the shield member 51 is in contact with the circuit board 5, which is ground (GND), on its side (directly or indirectly), and is at the same potential as ground.

[0066] In this embodiment, as described above, the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) has a top surface portion 61 and a side surface portion 62, but increasing the surface area of ​​the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) is advantageous from the viewpoint of radio wave radiation. For this reason, the annular top surface portion 61 is formed to be as wide as possible toward the annular center cp, especially in a plan view from the first direction I. For this reason, the top surface portion 61 is almost parallel to the circuit board 5 and, when they are close together, they tend to capacitively couple as if they were a "parallel plate capacitor".

[0067] In this respect, since the shield member 51 covers the circuit elements in a way that surrounds them, its surface (top surface) is positioned higher than the surface (top surface) of the circuit board 5, and is closer to the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6) than the surface (top surface) of the circuit board 5 itself. When a shielding member 51, which is at the same potential as ground, is positioned close to the antenna 6 (especially the top surface 61) in a nearly parallel position, it is prone to capacitive coupling like a "parallel plate capacitor," and if the capacitive coupling becomes large, it will significantly degrade the performance (antenna efficiency) of the antenna 6, which is undesirable. Therefore, in this embodiment, the antenna 6 and the shield member 51 are positioned so that they do not overlap when viewed from a first direction I perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board 5. This avoids the antenna 6 and the shield member 51 being in a nearly parallel positional relationship.

[0068] Figure 16 is a plan view showing an example of the internal configuration of the watch (an example of the arrangement of shielding members, etc.) when viewed from the first direction. Note that in Figure 16, the bezel 2, crystal member 3, etc. have been removed and the arrangement on the circuit board 5 is shown. As shown by the dashed lines in Figure 16, the shield members 51 provided on the circuit board 5 are all arranged so as not to overlap with the antenna 6 when viewed from the first direction I in a plan view. More specifically, as mentioned above, the antenna 6 has at least an outer perimeter 60a and an inner perimeter 60b when viewed from the first direction I in a plan view, but the shield members 51 are positioned inside the inner perimeter 60b when viewed from the first direction I in a plan view. By arranging the shielding member 51 in this manner, it was confirmed that the antenna efficiency does not deteriorate significantly even when the shielding member 51 is mounted on the circuit board 5, compared to when the shielding member 51 is not mounted.

[0069] Furthermore, by positioning the shield member 51 as shown in Figure 16, the shield member 51 does not overlap with the equipment case 1 in a plan view from the first direction I. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent capacitive coupling between the antenna 6 and the shielding member 51. Furthermore, the upper surface of the shield member 51, which is a protective component, may be shaped such that at least a portion of it is inclined relative to the circuit board 5. For example, when viewed from a plan view from the first direction I, the height of the upper surface of the shield member 51 decreases as it moves away from the center (annular center cp) of the antenna 6 (the antenna element portion of the antenna 6), making capacitive coupling between the antenna 6 and the shield member 51 less likely.

[0070] Therefore, when providing the shielding member 51 on the circuit board 5, it is preferable to make adjustments during the design stage, such as ensuring that the shape of the shielding member 51 does not overlap with the antenna 6, or, in areas where the shielding member 51 must be placed due to reasons such as the presence of circuit elements that absolutely need to be protected, cutting out the antenna 6 in a shape that avoids the placement of the shielding member 51 (for example, cutting out the part that overlaps with the shielding member 51 in a plan view from the first direction I).

[0071] [Effect] As described above, in the electronic clock 100 of this embodiment, the antenna 6 and solar panel 4 are housed in the device case 1, and the bezel 2, which includes a first bezel 21 and a second bezel 22 made of a resin material such as urethane, is provided on the viewing side of the device case 1 as an exterior component. Therefore, it does not interfere with the functions of the antenna 6 and other components housed inside the device case 1, and the shock resistance of the entire watch 100 can be enhanced. Furthermore, the resin bezel 2 is lighter than the metal one, so it does not burden the user, for example, in wearable devices such as sports watches. Furthermore, it is easier to process in various ways, which improves the degree of freedom in shaping.

[0072] Furthermore, the bezel 2 of this embodiment has a first region α on its surface where a surface with discontinuously deposited metal is exposed. Therefore, by using this bezel 2 on the exterior of the watch 100, a metallic, high-quality appearance can be created.

[0073] [effect] As described above, the electronic clock 100 in this embodiment includes a bezel 2 having a first region α having at least one surface on which metal is discontinuously deposited on a substrate containing a resin material. This allows for a metallic, high-quality appearance without compromising the performance of electronic components such as the antenna 6 housed inside the device case 1. Furthermore, the bezel 2 can be made lighter, reducing the burden on users who wear electronic watches such as the Watch 100, which are fitted with the bezel 2, on their wrists, resulting in superior usability.

[0074] Furthermore, the bezel 2 of the watch 100 has a second region β formed with resin material, and the height of the upper surface of this second region β is set to be higher than the height of the upper surface of the first region α where a metallic-looking surface is exposed. Therefore, the areas treated with discontinuous metal deposition are less prone to scratches or peeling, and external physical damage to the watch 100 and other components can be minimized. This allows the aesthetically pleasing metallic appearance to be maintained for a long time.

[0075] In this embodiment, the antenna 6 is located on the lower side of the bezel 2, which includes the first region α. Although bezel 2 has a metallic appearance, it is made of resin and therefore does not affect the performance of electronic components such as antenna 6 housed within the device case 1. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the functional quality of electronic clocks such as the clock 100, which has an internal antenna 6, while creating a luxurious appearance.

[0076] Furthermore, by distributing the second region β along the circumferential direction of the bezel 2 at multiple locations such as the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock positions on an analog clock, a natural appearance can be achieved as the bezel 2 of an electronic clock such as the clock 100. Furthermore, by making the height and width of this second region β larger than those of the first region α, the metallic-finished first region α can be effectively protected from external impacts.

[0077] In this embodiment, the first bezel 21, which constitutes the second region β, and the second bezel 22, which constitutes the first region α, are separate components. Therefore, when forming bezel 2, only the second bezel 22 is given a metallic finish, and this is then assembled to the first bezel 21, making it possible to manufacture it relatively easily.

[0078] Furthermore, in the first region α, if discontinuous metal deposition is not applied to the surfaces that are covered by the back surface 223 and the first bezel 21 and are not exposed to the outside (parts that are not visible), the amount of metal material to be deposited can be reduced. Furthermore, by providing surfaces such as the back surface 223 where discontinuous deposition is not performed, the deposition work can be carried out with the second bezel 22 placed on a stand or the like with the back surface 223 facing downwards, thus simplifying the work process.

[0079] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0080] For example, this embodiment illustrates a case where the electronic clock is clock 100, but the electronic clock is not limited to this. The antenna 6 can be widely applied to any device that incorporates it, such as various smartwatches, sports watches, heart rate monitors, blood pressure monitors, and other electronic clocks that record various data along with the time.

[0081] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but includes the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1. Equipment case 2 Bezels 21 First bezel 22 Second bezel 211 Protrusion forming part 212 Main body 3. Windshield component 4 Solar Panels 40a Outer Perimeter 40b Inner Surroundings 45 Contact area 46. ​​Substrate-panel connecting component (panel contact component) 5 Circuit board 51 Shielding member 56. Substrate-Antenna Contact Component (Antenna Contact Component) 6 Antennas 60a Outer Perimeter 60b surrounding area 61 Top section 62 Side part 63 Locking part 64. Completely missing section 67 Notch 601 Notch (third notch) 602 Notch (third notch) 603 Notch (second notch) 7. LCD panel unit 100 Clocks (electronic clocks, electronic devices) cp Ring Center I. First direction (direction of sight) II Second direction (lateral) α First area β second area

Claims

1. A bezel having a first region formed by discontinuous deposition of a metal material onto a substrate that does not contain a metal material, and a second region formed on the substrate that does not contain a metal material without discontinuous deposition of a metal material. An electronic clock characterized by the following features.

2. The second region is formed such that the height of the upper surface of the second region is higher than the height of the upper surface of the first region. The electronic clock according to feature 1.

3. The first region and the second region are arranged alternately along the circumferential direction of the bezel. The electronic clock according to feature 1.

4. The second region is located along the circumferential direction of the bezel, at the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock positions on an analog watch, respectively. The electronic clock according to feature 1.

5. The member constituting the first region and the member constituting the second region are separate members. The electronic clock according to feature 1.

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