Electronic timepiece with radio communication function
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorIsao Oguchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photoelectric generating means (6) is disposed proximally to the surface of the dial (21) on the back cover (3) side, and the dial (21) is made of a magnetic, optically transparent material. The support substrate (62) of the photoelectric generating means (6) is a nonmagnetic material, and the antenna (5) is located proximally to the surface of the support substrate (62) on the back cover (3) side. Because the support substrate (62) is a nonmagnetic material, external RF signals can pass through the dial (21) and photoelectric generating means (6) to the coil (52) of the antenna (5), and signals can thus be received by the antenna (5). Because the antenna (5) can be contained inside the case member (1), the appearance can be improved.
Claims42
An electronic timepiece having a radio communication function, comprising:
- a case member, and a back cover integrated with, or attached to, the case member, the case member and the back cover made of metal or alloy, the case member with which the back cover has been integrated or to which the back cover has been attached defining an interior and having an open end;
- an antenna housed in the interior;
- a support substrate made of a nonconductive and nonmagnetic material, the support substrate having a first face that faces toward the open end and a second face that faces toward the back cover;
- a photoelectric generator disposed in the interior, the photoelectric generator having a photoelectric conversion element that is supported on the first face of the support substrate and that faces outwardly toward the open end to receive light, the photoelectric conversion element being configured to generate electricity from the received light;
- a time display unit configured to display the time;
- and
- a drive unit configured to drive the time display unit using electricity generated by the photoelectric generator;
- wherein the antenna is disposed on the second face of the support substrate or proximally to the second face between the second face and the back cover, with an axis of the antenna being substantially parallel to the plane of the second face of the support substrate, such that the antenna is in a position overlapping the support substrate as seen in a plan view of the electronic timepiece.
An electronic timepiece having a radio communication function as described in 1, further comprising a date wheel made of a nonconductive and nonmagnetic material, the date wheel having a back cover side that faces the back cover, wherein the antenna is disposed proximally to the back cover side between the back cover side and the back cover and overlaps the date wheel as seen in a plan view of the electronic timepiece.
An electronic timepiece having a radio communication function as described in 1, wherein an outer surface of the case member comprises molded synthetic resin that is coated with a thin film having metallic properties.
An electronic timepiece having a radio communication function, comprising:
- a case member, and a back cover integrated with, or attached to, the case member, the case member and the back cover made of metal or alloy, the case member with which the back cover has been integrated or to which the back cover has been attached defining an interior and having an open end;
- an antenna housed in the interior, the antenna having two ends;
- a support substrate having a first face that faces toward the open end and a second face that faces toward the back cover;
- a photoelectric generator disposed in the interior, the photoelectric generator having a photoelectric conversion element that is supported on the first face of the support substrate and that faces outwardly toward the open end to receive light, the photoelectric conversion element being configured to generate electricity from the received light;
- a time display unit configured to display the time;
- and
- a drive unit configured to drive the time display unit using electricity generated by the photoelectric generator;
- wherein the antenna is disposed on the second face of the support substrate or proximally to the second face between the second face and the back cover, with an axis of the antenna being substantially parallel to the plane of the second face of the support substrate, with at least both ends of the antenna in positions not overlapping the support substrate as seen in a plan view of the electronic timepiece.
An electronic timepiece having a radio communication function as described in 15, further comprising a date wheel made of a nonconductive and nonmagnetic material, the date wheel having a back cover side that faces the back cover, wherein the antenna is disposed proximally to the back cover side between the back cover side and the back cover and overlaps the date wheel as seen in a plan view of the electronic timepiece.
An electronic timepiece having a radio communication function as described in 15, wherein an outer surface of the case member comprises molded synthetic resin that is coated with a thin film having metallic properties.
An electronic timepiece with a radio communication function, comprising:
- a case member, and a back cover integrated with, or attached to, the case member, the case member and the back cover made of metal or alloy, the case member with which the back cover has been integrated or to which the back cover has been attached defining an interior and having an open end;
- an antenna housed in the interior, the antenna having two ends;
- a support substrate having a first face that faces toward the open end and a second face that faces toward the back cover;
- a photoelectric generator disposed in the interior, the photoelectric generator having a photoelectric conversion element that is supported on the first face of the support substrate and that faces outwardly toward the open end to receive light, the photoelectric conversion element being configured to generate electricity from the received light;
- a time display unit configured to display the time;
- and
- a drive unit configured to drive the time display unit using electricity generated by the photoelectric generator;
- wherein the antenna is disposed on the second face of the support substrate or proximally to the second face between the second face and the back cover, with an axis of the antenna being substantially parallel to the plane of the second face of the support substrate;
- wherein the photoelectric generator and the support substrate are separated into a plurality of segments, at least one of the segments of the support substrate being made of a high permeability material;
- and
- wherein at least one of the ends of the antenna is magnetically connected to the at least one segment of the support substrate made of the high permeability material.
An electronic timepiece having a radio communication function as described in 33, further comprising a date wheel made of a nonconductive and nonmagnetic material, the date wheel having a back cover side that faces the back cover, wherein the antenna is disposed proximally to the back cover side between the back cover side and the back cover and overlaps the date wheel as seen in a plan view of the electronic timepiece.
An electronic timepiece having a radio communication function as described in 33, wherein an outer surface of the case member comprises molded synthetic resin that is coated with a thin film having metallic properties.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.