Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Thermoelectric – Electric power generator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-09-18
Gorgos, Kathryn (Department: 1741)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Thermoelectric
Electric power generator
C136S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06291760
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermoelectric generating electronic device such as a wrist watch, etc., an electronic device such as a table clock, a wall clock, a page, etc. Having a thermoelectric generator.
2. Description of the Related Art
The main current of a thermoelectric generating electronic device, e.g., a wrist watch is now an electronic type wrist watch. A silver oxide battery, a lithium battery, etc. Are used as a power source of this electronic wrist watch.
However, these batteries are articles of consumption so that periodic exchange is required and limited resources of the earth are consumed.
Therefore, a wrist watch having an electricity generating mechanism therein instead of these batteries is researched.
For example, a solar battery for converting optical energy, mechanical electricity generation utilizing gravitational energy, or thermoelectric generation utilizing the Seebeck effect based on a temperature difference, etc. are known as an electricity generating system of this wrist watch having the electricity generating mechanism therein. Wrist watches using the solar battery and the mechanical electricity generation among these electricity generating systems are already used practically.
When a thermoelectricity generating system is utilized, the thermoelectric generating electronic device utilizes the difference between a body temperature (a high temperature portion) transmitted to the thermoelectric generating electronic device through an arm and a temperature of the outside air (a low temperature portion) around the thermoelectric generating electronic device.
However, the conventional thermoelectric generating electronic device has problems in thermal conductivity from the high temperature portion to a heat receiving portion of a thermoelectric generator, thermal conductivity from a heat radiating portion of the thermoelectric generator to the low temperature portion, etc. Further, a problem exists in that the above temperature difference sufficient to generate required electric energy by the thermoelectric generator cannot be obtained.
In particular, after the thermoelectric generating electronic device is mounted to an arm, a rear cover of the thermoelectric generating electronic device is rapidly warmed by the body temperature for some time. In contrast to this, a drum or a bezel of the thermoelectric generating electronic device is cold. Therefore, the temperature difference between the heat receiving portion and the heat radiating portion of the thermoelectric generator is large. However, the bezel gradually rises in temperature by thermal conductivity so that the temperature difference is gradually reduced.
When the thermoelectric generating electronic device is detached from the arm, the heat receiving portion and the heat radiating portion of the thermoelectric generator are approximately simultaneously cooled by heat radiation so that the temperature difference becomes small. Therefore, a problem exists in that no thermoelectric generator can almost generate electric energy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, the present invention is constructed such that a heat radiating portion is connected to a bezel in a heat conductible state and a heat receiving portion is connected to a rear cover in a heat conductible state; and a first heat accumulating material is arranged in the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator in a heat conductible state.
In accordance with the present invention, the heat radiating portion of the thermoelectric generator is connected to the bezel in a heat conductible state and the heat receiving portion is connected to the rear cover in a heat conductible state. Further, a first heat accumulating material is arranged in the rear cover parallel with the thermoelectric generator in a heat conductible state. Therefore, heat from an arm is conducted to the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric accumulating material. The heat passing through the thermoelectric geerator is further radiated from the heat radiating portion to the outside air through the bezel, a glass and a heat radiating drum. In contrast to this, the heat flowing to the first heat accumulating material warms this heat accumulating material and is accumulated as latent heat until a melting point (solidifying point) temperature is reached. When the temperature of the first heat accumulating material exceeds the melting point, phases of the first heat accumulating material are changed from a solid phase to a liquid phase and the first heat accumulating material rises in temperature. Thus, the temperature difference between the first heat accumulating material and the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator is vanished so that the temperature of the first heat accumulating material is set to a constant temperature. A thin plate of stainless steel and titanium having low thermal conductivity is used in the rear cover. Accordingly, heat is easily conducted to the thin plate in its thickness direction and electricity is generated immediately after the thermoelectric generating electronic device is mounted to the arm. In contrast to this, no heat is easily conducted in a diametrical direction so that no thermoelectric generating electronic device is influenced by a reduction in temperature due to the heat accumulating material. Accordingly, a temperature difference equal to that in an unarranging case of the first heat accumulating material is caused between the heat receiving portion and the heat radiating portion of the thermoelectric generator. Thus, the thermoelectric generator can generate predetermined electric energy.
Further, a predetermined quantity of heat is accumulated to the first heat accumulating material.
Accordingly, electricity is continuously generated by the predetermined quantity of heat accumulated in the first heat accumulating material even when the above thermoelectric generating electronic device is detached from the arm.
When the thermoelectric generating electronic device is detached from the arm, the temperature of the rear cover begins to be reduced as well as the glass, the bezel and the heat radiating drum by radiating heat to. the outside air. Heat capacities of the glass, the bezel and the heat radiating drum are normally greater than the heat capacity of the rear cover. Accordingly, the rear cover is cooled fast in comparison with the glass, the bezel and the heat radiating drum so that an electricity generating amount is reduced and becomes zero. In a short time, the temperature of the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator is conversely lower than that of the heat radiating portion so that counter electromotive force is caused. There is a means in which the counter electromotive force is inverted by an electric circuit and is utilized as electromotive force. However, no counter electromotive force is utilized since there is no large effect in consideration of electric power consumed for this means. In accordance with the present invention, the first heat accumulating material is arranged in a state in which heat can be conducted to the rear cover. Stainless steel and titanium having low thermal conductivity are used in the rear cover, However, heat is greatly conducted to the rear cover in comparison with heat radiated from the rear cover to the outside air. Accordingly, while the above entire thermoelectric generating electronic device is cooled, electricity generation is maintained although efficiency is low while the rear cover is maintained at a high temperature in comparison with the glass, the bezel and the heat radiating drum. When the above entire thermoelectric generating electronic device is further cooled and falls in temperature until a solidifying point of the first heat accumulating material, this heat accumulating material discharges latent heat so that a constant temperature is held and the rear cover is held at the constant temperature. Accordingly, the heat receiving portion of the gen
Adams & Wilks
Gorgos Kathryn
Parsons Thomas H
Seiko Instruments Inc.
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