Band type electronic device and substrate arrangement method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10620587-B2
Application number	US-201715631754-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2017
Priority date	Nov 18, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

A band-type electronic device and a method for configuration of a flexible circuit board in a band-type electronic device are disclosed. The band-type electronic device includes a plurality of segments connected with each other in a band-like shape, a plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments, and a flexible circuit board connected to the plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments, wherein the flexible circuit board is partly deformed into a meandering shape in at least one of the plurality of segments.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A band-type electronic device comprising:
a plurality of segments connected with each other in an open band-like shape,
the plurality of segments including a first segment larger than a second segment, a buckle part, a first connector at a first end of the open band-like shape and a second connector at a second end of the open band-like shape,
the first connector configured to connect the first end of the open band-like shape to a timepiece body indicating a time, the second connector configured to connect the second end of the open band-like shape to the timepiece body, and the timepiece body and the band-type electronic device combining to form a loop shape configured to surround a wrist of a user when the first and second connectors are connected to the timepiece body;

a plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments;
a flexible circuit board connected to the plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments;
a communication circuitry including an antenna and configured to send and receive a wireless communication signal, the communication circuitry disposed in the first segment; and
a notification circuitry configured to notify the user at a time when an incoming communication is received by the communication circuitry.

2. The band-type electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second connectors are configured to connect to opposite sides of the body of the timepiece.

3. The band-type electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first segment has at least one of the plurality of electronic components arranged therein, and the flexible circuit board is partly deformed into a meandering shape in the second segment.

4. The band-type electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein a connection between the first segment and the second segment includes a waterproof member that forms a first waterproof structure that covers the flexible circuit board.

5. The band-type electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein one of the plurality of electric components include a battery arranged in the first segment.

6. The band-type electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein the first segment includes a second waterproof structure.

7. The band-type electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein the second waterproof structure is formed by a plurality of bonding sheets attached to the battery installed in the first segment and the flexible circuit board.

8. The band-type electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first segment is formed of a metal and has a slit formed therein.

9. The band-type electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein the antenna of the communication circuitry is placed near the slit of the first segment.

10. The band-type electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a locking mechanism is arranged on the first segment.

11. The band-type electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second connector each include a pin that connects to mounting holes on the timepiece body.

12. The band-type electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments operate independently of any circuits in the timepiece body.

13. The band-type electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication circuitry further comprises a plurality of antennas, the first segment is formed of a metal and has a slit formed therein, and each of the plurality of antennas is placed near the slit of the first segment.

14. A band-type electronic device comprising:
a flexible circuit board;
means for arranging the flexible circuit board in a plurality of segments connected to each other in an open band-like shape, the plurality of segments including a buckle part, and a first segment larger than a second segment;
means for connecting one end of the open band-like shape to a timepiece body that indicates time, and for connecting another end of open band-like shape to the timepiece body so that the band-type electronic device and the timepiece body combine to form a loop shape configured to surround a wrist of a user when the means for connecting are connected to the timepiece body;
means for attaching a plurality of electronic components to the flexible circuit board;
means for sending and receiving a wireless communication signal, the means for sending and receiving being disposed in the first segment and including an antenna; and
means for notifying the user at a time when an incoming communication is received by the means for sending and receiving.

15. The band-type electronic device according to claim 14 , wherein
the first segment includes a means for placing an antenna as the means for sending and receiving to prevent interference during a wireless communication.

16. The band-type electronic device according to claim 14 , wherein a connection between the first segment and the second segment includes means for waterproofing that covers the flexible circuit board.

17. A system comprising:
a timepiece body indicating a time; and
a band-type electronic device attached to the timepiece body, wherein the band-type electronic device comprises:
a plurality of segments connected with each other in an open band-like shape, the plurality of segments including a first segment larger than a second segment, the plurality of segments including a buckle part, a first connector at a first end of the open band-like shape configured to connect one end of the open band-like shape to the timepiece body, a second connector at a second end of the open band-like shape configured to connect another end of the open band-like shape to the timepiece body, and the timepiece body and the band-type electronic device combining to form a loop shape configured to surround a wrist of a user when the first and second connectors are connected to the timepiece body;
a plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments;
a flexible circuit board connected to the plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments;
a communication circuitry including an antenna and configured to send and receive a wireless communication signal, the communication circuitry disposed in the first segment; and
a notification circuitry configured to notify the user at a time when an incoming communication is received by the communication circuitry.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein a connection between the first segment and the second segment includes a waterproof member that forms a first waterproof structure that covers the flexible circuit board.

Assignees

• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Tsushima Teppei

Classifications

• G04B37/1486 Primary

  Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet (building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446) · CPC title

• G04R60/04 Primary

  Antennas attached to or integrated in watch bracelets · CPC title

• G04G17/06

  Electric connectors, e.g. conductive elastomers · CPC title

• G04B37/08

  Hermetic sealing of openings, joints, passages or slits {(covers or protecting devices which can be directly removed, or by sliding or turning G04B37/005; hermetic sealing of watch or crystal with special pieces G04B39/02; hermetically-sealed electrical switches H01H23/06)} · CPC title

• A44C5/003

  with a storage compartment · CPC title