Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Power supply details – Electrical
Patent
1998-08-24
2000-07-25
Miska, Vit
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Power supply details
Electrical
368223, 136257, G04B 100, G04C 300, H01L 3106
Patent
active
060944048
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure for a display unit with a solar battery, and a solar-battery-mounted electronic apparatus and a solar-battery-mounted watch using such a solar-battery-mounted display structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display structure suitable to a case where a dial of a watch is made to serve as a light-receiving surface of a solar battery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hitherto, for example, in an apparatus in which at least a part of the displaying functions of its display unit is operated by photoelectrically generated power, a light-receiving surface of a solar battery is disposed on a part of or the entire displaying surface formed in the display unit, and electric power is generated from light incident on the light-receiving surface. Among such apparatuses, a typical example is a watch in which a light-receiving surface of a solar battery is disposed instead of a part of or the entire dial. In such a watch, since a light-receiving surface of a solar battery is placed in the position which should be a surface of its dial, another light-receiving surface in a position other than the displaying surface is not required, the space for the light-receiving surface can be saved, and therefore, even a small watch can contain a solar battery which has a power-generating ability sufficiently coping with the electric power demanded from its clocking function.
In early solar-battery-mounted watches, however, since the light-receiving surface of the solar-battery was exposed to the displaying surface where a dial should originally be disposed, the appearance of the displaying surface was unsatisfactory, and achieving a fancy design was difficult. FIG. 12 is a plan view of an example of a solar battery mounted in such a watch. On the surface of the solar battery 72, a light-receiving surface 72a is formed which has a planar pattern comprising four partitions 72a-1, 72a-2, 72a-3 and 72a-4 separated by gapping portions 72a-0. Here, the gapping portions 72a-0 ordinarily have a light color tone, and partitions 72a-1, 72a-2, 72a-3 and 72a-4 ordinarily have a dark color tone. Accordingly, such a separated pattern gives a markedly strange impression for the displaying surface, and is disadvantageous in view of design. In particular, although characters and decorative parts are desired to be added onto the dial of a watch by printing, sticking or other methods, such characters and decorative parts could rarely be directly formed on the light-receiving surface 72a of the solar battery.
Upon this, hitherto, as shown in FIG. 13, a technique was offered in which a translucent coating layer 73 is formed on a light-receiving surface 72a, and the displaying surface can thereby possess an appearance with a predetermined color tone. Such a technique is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 5-93057 and others. Inside the body case 70 (trunk) of a watch, a dial holding ring 71 and a dial ring 74 are fixed, and a solar battery 72 is fixed between the dial holding ring 71 and the dial ring 74. A coating layer 73 is formed on the light-receiving surface 72a of the solar battery 72, and the surface of the coating layer 73 serves as a dial surface of an ordinary watch. Incidentally, a hands/wheels portion 75 protrudes to the front surface through a wheel hole formed at the center of the solar battery 72, and a cover glass 76 fixed to the body case 70 is disposed above the hands/wheels portion 75.
The coating layer 73 is formed as a light-transmissive layer having a predetermined transmittance, or a scattering layer having a predetermined wavelength-selective scattering property. In this case, since a part of light is reflected or scattered in the coating layer 73 and the remaining transmitted light which reaches the light-receiving surface 72a is used for power generation in the solar battery, it is an important point to adjust the optical properties of the coating layer 73 to desired levels. In- such a structure, t
REFERENCES:
patent: 4392006 (1983-07-01), Apelian
patent: 4629821 (1986-12-01), Bronstein-Bentz et al.
patent: 5714012 (1998-02-01), Murata et al.
Hidai Yoshihiro
Sugiyama Noriaki
Miska Vit
Seiko Epson Corporation
LandOfFree
Display structure with solar cell, and electronic devices and ti does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Display structure with solar cell, and electronic devices and ti, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Display structure with solar cell, and electronic devices and ti will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1341429