Solar Watch Shutter Dial for Photovoltaic Charging and Aesthetics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar watches with photovoltaic cells under translucent dials face low efficiency, leading to long charging times, while attempts to hide these cells aesthetically are not fully satisfactory, as they compromise efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A solar watch with a shutter device between the photovoltaic cell module and the crystal, allowing for both shutter and exposure states, controlled by a mechanism that adjusts based on brightness, charge state, and user activity to optimize energy harvesting while maintaining a desired aesthetic appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If photovoltaic cells are disposed under a translucent dial to mask them, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but charging efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a movable shutter device that can dynamically change between opaque and transparent states. The shutter is controlled by a transmission mechanism linked to the watch movement, allowing it to automatically adjust its position - covering the photovoltaic cells during daytime when lighting is sufficient, and uncovering them during nighttime or low-light conditions to maximize charging efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the dial's transparency variable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter device operates periodically based on the watch's movement and timekeeping functions. It follows a rhythmic pattern of opening and closing synchronized with the watch's operational cycles, allowing the photovoltaic cells to be alternately covered and exposed at appropriate intervals. This periodic action ensures that aesthetic requirements are met during certain periods while charging efficiency is optimized during other periods.
2Productivity
If photovoltaic cells are fully exposed to maximize charging efficiency, then energy harvesting is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable shutter device enables the dial to dynamically transition between fully opaque and fully transparent states. During daytime or when aesthetic appearance is prioritized, the shutter covers the photovoltaic cells completely, presenting a traditional watch face. During nighttime or when energy charging is needed, the shutter retracts to fully expose the cells, maximizing light absorption and charging efficiency without permanently compromising the dial's aesthetic design.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter device selectively applies transparency to specific areas and times. Rather than making the entire dial permanently transparent or opaque, the invention applies the transparency quality locally to the photovoltaic cell regions only when needed for charging, while maintaining the traditional aesthetic quality of the dial in other areas and times.
3Shape
If a fixed opaque dial is used to hide photovoltaic cells, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but light transmission and charging capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the fixed opaque dial into a dynamic system with variable transparency. The shutter mechanism allows the dial to switch between opaque and transparent states based on environmental conditions and charging needs, enabling the system to maintain aesthetic appearance during daytime while capturing sufficient light energy during nighttime or low-light periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The dial serves multiple functions through the shutter device: it maintains aesthetic appearance as a traditional watch face during daytime, enables energy charging during nighttime, and provides user information through the opening/closing action. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the dial adaptable to different operational requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The shutter device effectively manages photovoltaic cell exposure to enhance charging efficiency while maintaining a traditional or decorative dial appearance, improving the overall energy recharge process.
Implementation Method 1
Solar watches include in a known manner an electric accumulator supplied by photovoltaic cells in order to power a quartz electronic horological movement or an auxiliary electronic function
Implementation Method 2
a shutter device arranged between the photovoltaic cell module and the crystal of the watch, and configured to be able to occupy a shutter state wherein it masks the entire photovoltaic cell module and an exposure state wherein it exposes all or part of the photovoltaic cell module
Data Source
AI summary
A watch (10) including a case provided with a back, with a crystal (12), with a set of components forming a horological movement (13), and with a dial (14) disposed between the movement and the crystal (12), the dial (14) including a photovoltaic cell module (16) connected to an electric accumulator (17) intended to provide an electrical energy source to the watch (10), the dial (14) further including a shutter device (18) arranged between the photovoltaic cell module (16) and the crystal (12) of the watch (10), and configured to occupy a shutter state wherein it masks the entire photovoltaic cell module (16) and an exposure state wherein it exposes all or part of the photovoltaic cell module (16).