US 5,517,468 AGranted

Electronic timepiece with thermoelectric element

AssigneeSeiko Instruments Inc.

InventorsTatsunori Inoue, Keisuke Tsubata

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Abstract

In an electric timepiece using a small and thin thermoelectric element wherein a first insulator made of silicon is on the heat absorbing side and a second insulator made of silicon is on the heat radiating side, when a temperature difference is applied thereon such that the temperature on the heat absorbing side is higher than that on the heat radiating side, heat is transferred in a direction from the insulator 101 to the insulator. In that case, electrons move toward the insulator on the heat radiating side in a n-type semiconductor. Holes move toward the insulator on the heat radiating side in a p-type semiconductor. The n-type semiconductor and the p-type semiconductor are electrically connected in series via a connector and therefore, the heat transfer is converted into current and an electromotive force can be provided between output terminals. Further, the electromotive force is stored in an electric storage means. A time display means is operated by the electromotive force from the electric storage means.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An electronic timepiece with thermoelectric element comprising:

a plurality of n-type semiconductors;
a plurality of p-type semiconductors;
a plurality of connectors for connecting the plurality of n-type semiconductors and the plurality of p-type semiconductors such that respectives of the plurality of n-type semiconductors and respectives of the plurality of p-type semiconductors are connected alternately and electrically in series;
a plurality of output terminals for outputting an electromotive force from ends of the connected pluralities of n-type semiconductors and p-type semiconductors;
a first insulator to which every other ones of the plurality of connectors are fixed;
a second insulator to which respectives of the plurality of connectors other than the ones fixed to the first insulator are fixed;
a thermoelectric element having 2000 or more pieces and 7500 or less pieces of the plurality of n-type semiconductors and the plurality of p-type semiconductors connected in series;
an electric storage means for storing the electromotive force generated by the thermoelectric element;
and
a time display means operated by the electromotive force stored in the electric storage means.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/507,042Filed 25 Jul 1995
Priority: JP 6-17899129 Jul 1994
Granted: 14 May 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H10N 10/17
Operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects: characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device
G04C 10/00
Arrangements of electric power supplies in time-pieces
H02J 7/34
Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries: parallel operation in networks using both…
H10N 10/01
Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects: manufacture or treatment