Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Power supply details – Electrical
Patent
1993-12-08
1995-08-01
Weisstuch, Aaron
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Power supply details
Electrical
429111, G04C 1000, H01M 636
Patent
active
054385563
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention concerns a horological piece provided with a source of energy constituted by one or several photovoltaic cells.
More particularly, the invention concerns a horological piece including at least one photovoltaic cell of the regenerating photoelectrochemical type comprising a semiconductor/electrolyte oxide interface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Horological pieces, such as watch-bracelets including a photovoltaic cell as an energy source, are already known. In these watches, the cell is generally located on the watch case or on the bracelet, at a location such that the cell may be exposed to sufficient luminous radiation to be able to assure the supply of current to the elements of the watch which function electrically.
The arrangement of the cell on the watch degrades its aesthetic appearance.
Further, this arrangement does not allow the photovoltaic cell to supply a sufficiently high voltage to assure the supply of current in all conditions of use, this being notably in conditions of weak lighting and of diffused light.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to supply a horological piece provided with a photovoltaic cell responding to the above-mentioned problems, namely in which the said cell is arranged in such a way that it does not degrade the aesthetic appearance of this piece while at the same time providing a sufficient level of electrical supply.
To this effect, an object of the present invention is a horological piece including: transforming luminous radiation into an electrical current, the photovoltaic cell including an active surface sensitive to luminous radiation, time keeping information, and said horometrical means and intended to display this information so as to be readable by a user, the horological piece being characterized in that the active surface of said photovoltaic cell has at least one transparent region which at least partially covers said displaying means.
It should also be explained that the active surface of the cell may cover the majority of said display means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the reading of the following detailed description, in which reference is made to the attached drawings given as examples only and in which:
FIG. 1 is an interrupted schematic view representing a transverse section of a single photovoltaic cell, equipping the horological piece according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a region II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cut-away view representing schematically a horological piece according to a first embodiment of the invention, equipped with a cell represented by FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the piece of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of part of a horological piece according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a very schematic cross-sectional view of part of a cell according to a variation of the embodiment; and
FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of an electrical power supply circuit equipped with a cell of the horological piece according to the invention and supplying a current to an electrically operating element of this piece, such as a motor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the context of the description which follows, the adjective "transparent" has the meaning transparent to visible light and non-diffusing of light.
Referring to FIG. 1, a regenerating photoelectrochemical cell is seen designated by the general reference 1.
The cell 1 comprises a first transparent substrate 2 and a second substrate 4 that is also transparent, these two substrates having respective transparent electrodes 6 and 8 over the entire surfaces of their opposing faces. To simplify the description, the electrodes 6, 8 could be designated first electrode and second electrode, respectively.
These electrodes 6, 8 are preferably produced in the form of a thin layer of a mixture of indium oxide/tin oxide or tin oxide/antimony oxide. The person skilled in the art will of course
REFERENCES:
patent: 5350644 (1994-09-01), Graetzel et al.
Dinger Rudolf
Graetzel Michael
Saurer Eric
Asulab S.A.
Weisstuch Aaron
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