# US 10,768,578 B2 · Solar hand for a portable object such as a watch or a measuring instrument

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- Number: US 10,768,578 B2
- Document ID: US10768578B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/770,340
- Filed: 2016-09-09
- Published: 2018-11-01
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-11
- Assignees: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
- Applicants: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
- Inventors: Pierpasquale Tortora
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768578B2

## CPC

- G04C 10/02: the power supply being a radioactive {or photovoltaic} source
- G01D 13/265: {Pointers which conduct light}
- G04B 19/305: {the hands carrying the light source (hands and manufacture thereof G04B19/042; projection of hands or dials G04B19/34; illumination of scales and/or hands on moving scales H03J1/02; on compasses G01C17/24; on weighing apparatus G01G23/18; on measuring instruments G01D11/28)}
- G04C 3/008: {Mounting, assembling of components}
- G04C: ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08)

## Abstract

A display hand for a portable object including an indication by the display hand, inside which is housed a rechargeable electrical energy source. The display hand includes at least one solar cell, the electrical energy source being connected to the display hand to be recharged.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A portable object inside which is housed a rechargeable electrical energy source, comprising:
a first display hand and a second display hand,
wherein the first display hand and the second display hand are formed of at least one solar cell, the electrical energy source being connected to the first and second display hands for recharging,
wherein the first and second display hands are superposed and each includes a hole for passage of a drive arbor,
the drive arbor of the second display hand being arranged concentrically inside the drive arbor of the first display hand, with an insulating layer between the two drive arbors, and
each of the first and second display hands including a first pole and a second pole, the first pole of the first display hand being electrically connected to a first terminal of the energy source via the drive arbor of the first display hand, the second pole of the first display hand being connected to the first pole of the second display hand via a contact piece that ensures electrical continuity between the first and second display hands, and the second pole of the second display hand being connected to the second terminal of the energy source via the chive arbor of the second display hand.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The portable object according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell is a heterojunction cell.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The portable object according to claim 1, wherein the contact piece is centered on the drive arbor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The portable object according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second display hands includes a first, respectively a second, annular element each including a hole at their center for passage of the drive arbor of the first, respectively of the second, display hand, the first and second annular elements each including an upper surface portion directed towards an observer, and with a lower surface portion opposite to the upper surface portion, the first and second annular elements being formed of an electrically conductive material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The portable object according to claim 4, wherein the first and second annular elements each carry the first and the second display hand.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A timepiece comprising the portable object according to claim 1.