Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Thermoelectric – Adjuncts
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-17
2001-11-13
Gorgos, Kathryn (Department: 1741)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Thermoelectric
Adjuncts
C136S205000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06316714
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a generating block with a thermoelectric generator unit including a thermoelectric generator unit containing electrothermic elements for generating an electromotive force based on the Seebeck effect.
Particularly, the invention relates to a power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generator unit characterized in being provided with a booster circuit block including a booster circuit for boosting electromotive force generated by a thermoelectric generator unit and a power supply operation control unit for controlling the operation of storing the electromotive force generated by the thermoelectric generator unit and controlling the operation of the booster circuit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
According to a conventional electrothermic wrist watch, as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-55-20483, a thermoelectric type generator comprising a number of individual element parts is arranged between a bottom portion of a casing made of metal and a support ring. According to the thermoelectric type generator (Peltier battery), a hot pole is placed opposedly to the bottom portion of the casing and a cold pole is placed opposed to a cover made of metal. Further, according to other structures, a thermoelectric type generator is held by an intermediary ring via a shock absorber.
According to other electronic timepieces, as disclosed in JP-A-8-43555, a 1st insulating member constitutes a heat absorbing side, a 2nd insulating member constitutes a heat radiating side, electromotive force is provided at an output end portion, the electromotive force is stored in a storage member and time display means is operated by the storage member.
Further, according to a timepiece having conventional power generating elements, as disclosed in JP-A-9-15353, four electrothermic elements are arranged dividedly at other than a portion occupied by a movement in a space inside of a wrist watch. According to the electrothermic element, p type electrothermic members and n type electrothermic members are connected at end portions and form thermocouples. The electrothermic element is constituted by connecting in series all of the thermocouples.
Further, according to a conventional thermoelectric power generating wrist watch, as disclosed in JP-A-7-32590U, a thermoelectric power generating element is arranged between a case back and a module cover. The thermoelectric power generating element includes a number of thermocouples.
None of the conventional literature discloses a thermoelectric generator unit containing one or more electrothermic elements.
In an electrothermic element, a force resistant against external force is weak. Particularly, in an electrothermic element, numbers of p type electrothermic members and n type electrothermic members each in a slender columnar shape are arranged and accordingly, when the p type electrothermic members and the n type electrothermic members are exerted with a force in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of these, there is a concern of destroying the electrothermic element. Further, also in the case in which the p type electrothermic members and the n type electrothermic members are exerted with a force along the longitudinal direction of these, when the force exceeds a constant magnitude, there is a concern of destroying the electrothermic element.
Conventionally, an electrothermic element is arranged directly in a space inside of a wrist watch without mounting the electrothermic element as a thermoelectric generator unit and therefore, the strength of the electrothermic element cannot be increased. Further, when a plurality of the electrothermic elements are used, there is needed means for connecting the electrothermic elements.
Further, conventionally, there has not been developed a circuit block with a thermoelectric generator unit having a thermoelectric generator unit including a plurality of thermoelectric elements and provided with a booster circuit and a power supply operation control circuit for controlling operation of the booster circuit.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generator unit having excellent power generation efficiency.
It is another object of the invention to provide a small-sized thin type power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generator unit.
It is another object of the invention to provide a power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generation unit which is fabricated simply.
In order to resolve the above-described problem, according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a power generating block with a thermoelectric generator unit comprising a thermoelectric generator unit containing one or more of electrothermic elements for generating an electromotive force based on the Seebeck effect, including a 1st thermally conductive plate constituting a heat absorbing plate and including a 2nd thermally conductive plate constituting a heat radiating plate, a thermal conductive body made of a thermally conductive material and arranged to be brought into contact with the 2nd thermally conductive plate, a step-up circuit block including a step-up circuit for boosting the electromotive force generated by the thermoelectric generator unit, and a power supply operation control circuit for controlling operation of storing the electromotive force generated by the thermoelectric generator unit and controlling operation of the step-up circuit.
By the constitution, there can be realized a small-sized power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generator unit having excellent power generation efficiency.
Further, according to the power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generator unit of the invention, it is preferable that the thermoelectric generator unit is attached to the thermal conductive body in a state in which an outer side face of the 2nd thermally conductive plate is brought into contact with the thermal conductive body.
By the constitution, there can be realized a power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generator unit which is fabricated simply.
Further, according to the power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generator unit of the invention, it is preferable that a generating block frame made of an electrically insulating material is provided, the step-up circuit block includes a step-up circuit substrate, the thermoelectric generator unit includes a lead substrate for transmitting the generated electromotive force and the lead substrate is fixed to the generating block frame in a state in which a pattern of the lead substrate is brought into contact with a pattern of the step-up circuit substrate.
By the constitution, there can be realized the power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generator unit which is fabricated simply.
Further, according to the power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generator unit of the invention, it is preferable that electric elements of the step-up circuit block are arranged at a surrounding of the thermoelectric generator unit.
By the constitution, there can be realized the small-sized thin type power generating block provided with a thermoelectric generator unit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6232543 (2001-05-01), Nagata
patent: 61-254082-A (1986-11-01), None
patent: 2-119589-A (1990-05-01), None
patent: 6-22572-A (1994-01-01), None
patent: 6-153549-A (1994-05-01), None
Kishi Matsuo
Kotanagi Susumu
Matoge Akihiro
Utsunomiya Fumiyasu
Yoshida Yoshifumi
Adams & Wilks
Gorgos Kathryn
Parsons Thomas H
Seiko Instruments Inc.
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