Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Combined with disparate device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-04
2001-07-31
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Combined with disparate device
C368S088000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269053
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a small-sized electronic appliance that the connection can be stabilized from a sensor unit to a circuit board.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 6
is a partial sectional view showing an electronic timepiece with a sensor disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 339294/1992. In this electronic timepiece with a sensor
500
, a circuit board
502
is provided on a housing
501
made of a synthetic resin. On this circuit board
502
a flexible connection board
503
is provided, and this connection board
503
is connected to a sensor unit (not shown). Meanwhile, the connection board
503
is urged onto the circuit board
502
by a support member
504
. The support member
504
is fixed on the housing
501
by a screw
505
, a thread portion of which is screwed to a clip
506
provided in the housing
501
. Also, a spacer
507
of an elastic member is provided between the support member
504
and the connection board
503
. The spacer
507
has a projection
571
formed in an underside, and this projection
571
is to be abutted against the connection board
503
. An electronic part
508
, such as a temperature compensation resistance, is attached on the connection board
503
in the support member
504
. In this electronic timepiece with a sensor
500
, the connection board
503
is urged onto the circuit board
502
by an elastic force obtained due to tightening of the spacer
507
and screw
505
, thereby securing electrical conduction.
In the conventional electronic timepiece with a sensor
500
, however, because screw fixing is made to the synthetic resin-made housing
501
, the screw
505
readily loosen due to deformation by thermal expansion or external stresses. Also, there is a fear that the urging force of the connection board
503
and circuit board
502
weakens due to deterioration in the spacer
507
. Due to this, there has been a problem that a contact state worsens between the connection board
503
and the circuit board
502
. In particular, such problem has a great affection for a small-sized electronic appliance because a current to be used is slight.
Besides this, the examples for connecting the sensor unit and circuit board include a wrist watch with a sensor disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 270551/1995.
FIG. 7
is a partial sectional view showing this wrist watch with a sensor. This wrist watch with a sensor
600
provides direct electrical conduction between the sensor unit
601
and the circuit board
602
without using a flexible connection board. The sensor unit
601
is attached to a case
603
and supported by a sensor retaining part
604
. The sensor unit
601
is electrically connected through the circuit board
602
provided on a backside of a panel frame
605
and a connector
606
. A cell
608
is accommodated in a space between the circuit board
602
and a back lid
607
.
However, in this wrist watch with a sensor
600
there is a restriction in design concerning the sensor position in comparison to the above electronic timepiece with a sensor
500
in that no flexible connection board is used. Furthermore, because the principal object is not in an improvement of a connection state of the circuit board
602
and sensor unit
601
, devising seems to be not made in the relevant portion (around connector). Due to this, there is a possibility that poor contact occur between the circuit board
602
and the connector
606
during manufacture, cell exchange or the like.
Therefore, this invention has been made in view of the above and its object is to provide a small-sized electronic appliance with a sensor that an electric connection can be stabilized from a sensor unit to a circuit board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above object, the space is regulated between the circuit board and the connection board in which spacing a conductive elastic member is arranged in a pressurized state, whereby positive contact is given to the circuit board and connection board thereby fully coping with change in the space. Specifically, the spacing between the circuit board and the connection board is regulated by a spacer, and a conductive elastic member is inserted in a conduction hole provided in this spacer. The circuit board and the connection board are fixed to the spacer by a fixing member to make the conductive elastic member into a pressurized state. However, the invention is not limited to this structure. The conductive elastic member preferably uses connector rubber having a conductive spring or conductive material.
Also, by structuring the fixing member by a metal-made male screw or female screw, it is strengthened to thermal expansion. The fixed member is correspondingly prevented from being loosened. Furthermore, it is effective to provide rotation prevention means to this screw. Incidentally, this structure is applicable to electronic timepieces, portable measuring instruments, portable telephone, game machine or other small-sized electronic appliances with a sensor.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4787072 (1988-11-01), Jou
patent: 5481506 (1996-01-01), Kita
patent: 5781511 (1998-07-01), Yasukawa et al.
Kawata Masayuki
Noguchi Eriko
Adams & Wilks
Miska Vit
Seiko Instruments Inc.
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