Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Combined with disparate device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-08
2001-05-15
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Combined with disparate device
C368S276000, C368S281000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233203
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electronic timepieces, and more particularly to an electronic timepiece which can fulfill such conditions that are good in appearance, easy to fix on an arm, suppressed in the number of parts and easy to be mounted with a large-sized power source, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, there is a tendency toward increase in electric timepiece power consumption as the electronic timepiece becomes multi-functioned. For example, power consumption is considerably increased for those electronic timepieces provided with personal computer functions and those with television functions. Accordingly they require a large-sized power source suited for them. On the other hand, watches are usually worn on an arm during walking. Accordingly, they will be poor in appearance and obstructive if they made large, and tiring if become heavy. Meanwhile, the frequent replacement of a small capacity battery requires opening of the battery lid in each time, hence resulting in troublesomeness. For these reasons, a variety of devising are required for timepiece power sources. For example, JP-A-56-94982U discloses a technology concerning a battery accommodation structure for an electronic timepiece.
FIG. 10
is an explanatory view showing one example of the above-described electronic timepiece.
FIG. 11
is a sectional view showing the timepiece
200
shown in
FIG. 10. A
battery accommodation section
203
is provided between a watch strap
202
and a main body case
201
. As for this battery
204
, the battery accommodation section
203
is connected to a positive terminal
206
and a negative terminal
205
. The positive terminal
206
and the negative terminal
205
are connected with a copper wire
207
. Also, insulation elastic members
208
are provided bridging over between the main body case
201
and the battery accommodation section
203
. The insulation elastic member
208
is a cylindrical member having a coiled spring
209
arranged therein. The insulation elastic member
208
is attached at respective ends with pin terminals
210
, and the opposite pin terminals are electrically connected by the coiled spring
209
to each other. One of the pin terminals
210
is connected to the copper wire
207
extended from the positive terminal
206
and the negative terminal
205
of the battery. The other of the pin terminals
210
extends to an inside of the main body case
201
. The battery accommodation section
203
is fixed to the main body case
201
with screws
211
, for attachment and detachment. In this manner, the timepiece can be reduced in thickness by taking the battery
204
from the main body case
201
to a side of a strap attaching section side.
However, in the conventional electronic timepiece
200
, there has been a problem of poor appearance because the battery accommodation section
203
is provided in a direction of the watch strap
202
. Also, the increase in length of the strap attaching section causes disagreement with the radius of curvature of an arm resulting in a problem of difficulty in closely fitting and fixing on the arm. It is Impossible to closely fit this structure on the arm even in a case that the battery accommodation section
203
is attached obliquely relative to the main body case
201
as shown in FIG.
11
. Furthermore, watch straps
202
different in length are required for the case attached with the battery accommodation section
203
and the case without it, causing a problem of increase in the number of parts. Also, the structure made capable of exchanging a large amount of information besides power source supply is favored for the times from now on.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object to provide an electronic timepiece which satisfies such conditions that are good in appearance, easy to fix on an arm, suppressed in the number of parts and easy to be mounted with a large-sized power source, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above-stated object, an electronic timepiece according to the present invention comprises: a main body case internally provided with a main function realizing means for timepiece movement and others functions and having a first connector electrically connected to these main function realizing means; and a separate case provided attachably to and detachably from a lower portion of the main body case, and having a second connector connected to the first connector in a state attached to the main body case and a sub-function realizing means to be electrically connected to this second connector.
By attaching the separate case to the main body case, if the first connector and the second connector are coupled, the sub-function realizing means extends the functions of the timepiece. The sub-function realizing means may include such functions as a computer. The operation results obtained by the computer are displayed on a display section of the main body case through the connector. Also, because the separate case is attached to the lower portion of the main body case instead of on the watch strap side, the timepiece is easy to fix on the arm and good in appearance. Furthermore, because the separate case can be attached as required, the function of the timepiece can be easily extended.
Also, an electronic timepiece of another structure according to the present invention comprises: a main body case internally provided with a first power source provided to supply power to a main function realizing means for timepiece movement and other functions and having a first connector to be electrically connected to the main function realizing means; and a separate case provided attachably to and detachably from a lower portion of the main body case, and having a second connector connected to the first connector in a state attached to the main body case and a second power source to be electrically connected to this second connector.
If the separate case is attached to the lower portion of the main body case, the second connector and the first connector are coupled thereby enabling power supply from the second power source to the main function realizing means. By doing so, even where the main function realizing means is high in power consumption, sufficient electric power can be supplied. Also, because the separate case is attached to the lower portion of the main body case instead of on the watch strap side, the timepiece is easy to fix on the arm and good in appearance. Furthermore, because the separate case can be attached as required, the function of the timepiece can be easily extended.
Also, an electronic timepiece of another structure according to the present invention is provided with: a main body case having an electronic circuit of a timepiece module and other functions a first power source for supplying power to this electronic circuit, and a first connector connected to this first power source; and a separate case having a second power source accommodated therein, a second connector connected to a second power source incorporated, and an attachment/detachment structure for the main body case provided at an upper portion; wherein the first connector and the second connector are coupled in a state that the main body case and the separate case are attached, thereby electrically connecting the first power source and the second power source.
If the main body case and separate case are attached, the first connector and the second connector are coupled, the first power source and the second power source are put into electrical connection. For example, where the second power source is a primary battery and the first power source is a secondary battery, it becomes possible to charge the secondary battery on the main body case side. Therefore, electric power can be supplied when required. Also, it is possible to save time and labor for exchanging the battery on the main body case side. Also, where both are secondary batteries, electric charge is possible by utilizing the second connector on th
Adams & Wilks
Miska Vit
Seiko Instruments Inc.
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