Planar Antenna Placement in Electronic Timepiece for Thickness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic timepieces with planar antennas face limitations in thickness reduction and functional expansion due to restricted antenna placement, which hinders their application in thin, diverse, and multifunctional products.
Innovation Solution
The electronic timepiece design optimizes component placement by positioning the planar antenna at the 12-o'clock side, the winding stem at the 3-o'clock side, and the battery in the 6-o'clock region, allowing motors to be strategically located between the antenna and the winding stem or battery, thereby reducing thickness and enabling flexible sub-dial placement for various functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the planar antenna is disposed at a fixed position (e.g., five-o'clock position) to reduce thickness, then the thickness of the electronic timepiece is reduced, but the arrangement of the planar antenna restricts the position of sub-dials and the number thereof, resulting in restricted exterior appearance and limited functional expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional single-dimension layout to a two-dimensional planar distribution of components. By arranging the planar antenna, battery, and motors in different regions of the plan view (antenna at five-o'clock, battery at six-o'clock, motors at seven-o'clock and ten-o'clock positions), the design achieves both thickness reduction and functional versatility through spatial optimization in the planar dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the internal space into distinct functional zones: the planar antenna region, the battery region, and the motors region. This segmentation allows each component to be optimally positioned without interfering with others, enabling both thin profile and flexible sub-dial configuration for multiple functions such as chronograph and dual time display.
2Area of moving object
If the planar antenna, motors, and battery are arranged to overlap in the thickness direction to reduce planar size, then the planar size is reduced, but the thickness of the electronic timepiece increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by distributing components in the planar dimension rather than stacking them in the thickness direction. The planar antenna, battery, and motors are positioned in different angular regions of the plan view, maintaining a thin profile while accommodating all necessary components within the available planar space.
3Reliability
If the planar antenna is positioned to ensure satisfactory reception performance with small planar size, then reception performance is improved, but the position of sub-dials and their number are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing the reception performance of the planar antenna through its specific laminate structure and dielectric element configuration, while simultaneously allocating different regions of the plan view to different functions. The antenna maintains its reception effectiveness in its designated region while leaving other regions available for sub-dial placement, achieving both reliable signal reception and functional versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic timepiece includes a dial, an indicating hand shaft passing through the dial and to which an hour hand is attached, a planar antenna overlapping a 12-o'clock line, a winding stem overlapping a 3-o'clock line, a battery disposed in a region bordered by a 9-o'clock to 3-o'clock line and including the 6-o'clock position on the dial, and a first motor driving a second hand, a second motor driving a minute hand, and a third motor driving the hour hand. The planar antenna, the winding stem, the battery, the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor do not overlap one another in a plan view, and one of the first, second, and third motor is disposed between the planar antenna and the winding stem.