Electronic timepiece with radio communication function
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorIsao Oguchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An antenna is positioned relative to one or more other components within a metal or alloy case member/back cover assembly of an electronic timepiece having a radio communication function to facilitate reception of radio waves by the antenna, and/or to reduce negative effects on the signal reception ability of the antenna caused by one or more other components. Thus positioning the antenna improves its reception, while the external appearance of the timepiece can be maintained or enhanced by using metal or alloy for the case member/back cover assembly.
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 time display unit having a dial and a hand and configured to display the time, the dial being housed in the interior;
- and
- an electromagnetic motor housed in the interior and configured to drive the hand of the time display unit;
- wherein the dial has a first face that faces toward the open end and a second face that faces toward the back cover;
- wherein the antenna is disposed between the second face and the back cover;
- and
- wherein, with respect to an axial direction of the case member extending between the open end and the back cover, a distance between a center of the antenna and the open end is less than a distance between a center of the electromagnetic motor and the open end.
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 including a core made of high permeability material and a coil;
- and
- a time display unit configured to display the time and housed in the interior;
- wherein, with respect to an axial direction of the case member extending between the open end and the back cover, a distance between a center point of at least one continuous end surface segment of the core of the antenna and the time display unit is less than a distance between a center of the coil and the time display unit.
An electronic timepiece having a radio communication function as the distance determinations with respect to the time display unit are with respect to the dial of the time display unit distance between a center of the coil and the time display unit is the distance between a center of the coil and the dial.
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 photoelectric generator disposed in the interior, the photoelectric generator having a support substrate made of a nonconductive and nonmagnetic material and a photoelectric conversion element that is supported on, or proximally to, the support substrate 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;
- wherein the antenna is disposed on or under the photoelectric generator or proximally thereto between the photoelectric generator and the back cover, with an axis of the antenna being substantially parallel to the plane of the support substrate, such that the antenna is in a position overlapping the support substrate relative to a plan view of the electronic timepiece.
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 photoelectric generator disposed in the interior, the photoelectric generator having a support substrate and a photoelectric conversion element that is supported on, or proximally to, the support substrate 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;
- wherein the antenna is disposed on or under the photoelectric generator or proximally thereto between the photoelectric generator and the back cover, with an axis of the antenna being substantially parallel to the plane of the support substrate, with at least both ends of the antenna in positions not overlapping the support substrate relative to a plan view of the electronic timepiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.