JPH10206561A - Electronic timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize and make thin an electronic timepiece by using a disk antenna for an antenna part for transmitting and receiving data by electromagnetic waves. SOLUTION: A disk antenna 1 consists of an antenna pattern 1a, a grounding pattern 1b, and an antenna substrate 1c and an armor 3 consists of a windscreen 3a, a side 3b, and a reverse lid 3c. The disk antenna 1 is arranged in parallel with the upper surface of an electronic clock hand display type timepiece movement 2 and the upper surface can be seen via the windscreen 3a. By directly forming a symbol 4 such as time, for example, by printing, the upper surface is allowed to function as a clockface. In this manner, the disk antenna 1 is used as the clockface, thus obtaining a compact and thin electronic timepiece without restricting an exterior design.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece for transmitting, receiving or transmitting and receiving data by using electromagnetic waves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic watches that transmit, receive, or transmit and receive data by using electromagnetic waves have been commercialized. These electronic timepieces have antennas for transmitting, receiving, or transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves, such as radio-controlled timepieces that adjust the time by using electromagnetic waves, and wristwatch-type pagers. Various structures are considered for these antennas.

[0003] By the way, with regard to the above-mentioned timepiece, an application has been seen from the past, for example, European Patent 0382130 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-235829.

A conventional electronic timepiece using an antenna arrangement will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is an antenna arrangement diagram described in European Patent No. 0382130. Reference numeral 11 denotes a small wireless watch, 12 denotes a band, 13 denotes a time display unit, 14 denotes a case, and 15 denotes a magnetic antenna, which comprises a core 16 and a coil 17 having high magnetic permeability. Reference numeral 18 denotes a dial. The magnetic antenna 15 is arranged in or near the side of the dial 18 along the long side direction of the case 14.

The antenna arrangement shown in FIG. 6 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-235829. 12a is a band piece, 21 is an antenna, 23 is a contact pin, 25 is a terminal spring, and 28 is a receiving circuit board. The antenna 21 is mounted inside the band piece 12a, and is electrically connected to the receiving circuit board 28 by the terminal spring 25.

[0006]

In the case of the antenna arrangement shown in FIG. 5, since the antenna is arranged beside the movement, the module itself becomes large, and the design is restricted. There was a problem that the number of variations could not be increased due to the singleness.

Further, when a coil antenna is used, there is a problem that the cost is increased due to the large volume of the core and the complicated structure.

In the case of the antenna arrangement shown in FIG. 6, the volume is small because the antenna is mounted on the band piece, but the connection structure of the antenna is complicated. Also, the versatility of the band piece is lacking.

The present invention solves the above problems and provides a thin and small electronic timepiece by transmitting, receiving or transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves by a disk antenna having a small volume and a simple structure, and using the disk antenna as a dial. The purpose is to do.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that a disk antenna is used for an antenna for transmitting, receiving or transmitting and receiving. Further, the disk antenna is arranged in parallel with a time display surface side. An antenna pattern is formed on the time display surface side of the disk antenna, and a ground pattern is formed on the back surface side. Further, the disc antenna is provided with a pointer-type time display symbol on the time display surface side. Also, a decorative member is arranged on the time display surface side of the disk antenna.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an electronic timepiece sectional structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
(A) shows a cross-sectional structure in a completed watch state, and FIG.
Indicates the cross-sectional structure of the disk antenna. Numeral 1 denotes a disk antenna, which has an antenna pattern 1a, a ground pattern 1
b, the antenna substrate 1c. Reference numeral 2 denotes a hands display type clock movement which constitutes a time display device. Reference numeral 3 denotes an exterior, which includes a windshield 3a, a side 3b, and a back cover 3c. Reference numeral 4 denotes a symbol representing time or the like. 5 is a pointer.

In the present embodiment, the disk antenna 1 is disposed in parallel with the upper surface of the hands movement 2 and the upper surface of the disk antenna 1 is visible through the windshield 3a, so that the upper surface of the disk antenna 1 functions as a dial. doing. The symbol 4 indicating the time or the like is directly formed on the disk antenna 1 by a method such as printing. Further, the symbol 4 indicating the time or the like may not be provided.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. 6
Is a decorative member. In this embodiment, the disk antenna 1
The symbol 4 representing the time or the like is formed on the disk antenna 1, and the decorative member 6 is arranged on the upper surface of the disk antenna 1. The decorative member 6 only needs to be able to recognize the symbol 4 indicating the time or the like formed on the disk antenna 1, and the shape is arbitrary. Also, the decorative member only needs to be decorated at least in part. Further, the disk antenna 1 and the decorative member 6 may be integrally formed.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. 7
Denotes a liquid crystal display unit. In this embodiment, the pointer 5 and the liquid crystal display 7 are provided. A plurality of liquid crystal display units 7 may be arranged. Further, the pointer 5 may not be provided. The liquid crystal display unit 8 is arranged outside the disk antenna 1.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, a liquid crystal display unit 7 is provided below the hands 5. A plurality of liquid crystal display units may be arranged. Also,
The pointer 5 may not be provided. The liquid crystal display section 8 is arranged on a part of the disk antenna 1.

[0016]

As described above, in the electronic timepiece according to the present invention, since the disk antenna is used as the dial, it is possible to provide a thin and small electronic timepiece which does not limit the exterior design as much as possible. Further, by providing a decorative member on the upper surface side of the disk antenna, it is possible to increase the variation of the dial such as color, pattern and shape.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an external view showing a conventional antenna arrangement structure.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing a conventional antenna arrangement structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disc antenna 2 Movement 3 Exterior 4 Symbol indicating time etc. 6 Decorative member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (72) Inventor Masakazu Ichikawa 6-11-12 Honcho, Tanashi-shi, Tokyo Inside the Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Tanashi Factory

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electronic timepiece having an antenna unit for transmitting, receiving or transmitting and receiving data by electromagnetic waves, and an electronic timepiece having a time display device, wherein the disk antenna is used for an antenna unit for transmitting, receiving or transmitting and receiving data. . 2. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the disk antenna is arranged in parallel with a time display surface of the time display device. 3. The electronic timepiece according to claim 2, wherein the disk antenna has an antenna pattern formed on the time display surface side and a grounding pattern formed on the back surface side. 4. The electronic timepiece according to claim 2, wherein the disc antenna is provided with a pointer-type time display symbol on the time display surface side. 5. The electronic timepiece according to claim 4, wherein a decorative member is arranged on a time display surface side of the disk antenna. 6. The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, wherein the decorative member is formed integrally with the disk antenna. 7. The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, wherein the decorative member has a structure separable from the disk antenna.