Timepiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11650548-B2
Application number	US-202016816242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2020
Priority date	Mar 13, 2019
Publication date	May 16, 2023
Grant date	May 16, 2023

Abstract

Provided is a watch, including: an exterior case having electroconductivity; an operating member having electroconductivity, which is inserted into the exterior case through an opening formed through the exterior case, and which is configured to accept an operation performed by a user; and an electrostatic motor including: an electret substrate having an electret surface on which electret films being electrically charged are provided; a counter substrate, on which electrodes to be arranged so as to be opposed to the electret films are provided; and a rotary shaft configured to rotate the electret substrate and the counter substrate relative to each other, wherein the operating member and the exterior case are electrically continuous with each other via a conduction path formed so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in plan view.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A timepiece, comprising:
an exterior case having electroconductivity;
an operating member having electroconductivity, which is inserted into the exterior case through an opening formed through the exterior case, and which is configured to accept an operation performed by a user;
an electrostatic induction type converter including:
an electret substrate having an electret surface on which electret films being electrically charged are provided;
a counter substrate, on which electrodes to be arranged so as to be opposed to the electret films are provided; and
a rotary shaft configured to rotate the electret substrate and the counter substrate relative to each other; and

a battery,
wherein the operating member and the exterior case are electrically continuous with each other via a conduction path formed so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in a plan view,
wherein the battery is arranged so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in the plan view,
wherein the rotary shaft and the battery are respectively arranged in different regions among four regions defined by a first straight line for connecting a twelve o'clock position and a six o'clock position and a second straight line for connecting a three o'clock position and a nine o'clock position in the plan view.

2. The timepiece according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a clock circuit board on which a control circuit having a time measurement function is mounted; and
a conductive member configured to allow conduction between the clock circuit board and the exterior case.

3. The timepiece according to claim 2 ,
wherein the conduction path passes through the clock circuit board, and
wherein the clock circuit board is arranged so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in the plan view.

4. The timepiece according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a member, which is provided on a part of the conduction path, which allows conduction between the operating member and the clock circuit board, and has a posture to be displaced along with the operation of the operation member, which is performed by a user,
wherein the member is arranged so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in the plan view.

5. The timepiece according to claim 2 , wherein the clock circuit board has a cutout formed so as to avoid covering the electret surface in the plan view.

6. The timepiece according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a wheel train configured to operate in association with a member having a posture to be displaced in accordance with an operation of the operation member,
wherein the wheel train is arranged so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in the plan view.

7. The timepiece according to claim 1 ,
wherein the exterior case includes a case body and a case back, and
wherein the operating member is electrically continuous with the case back via the conduction path.

8. The timepiece according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a main plate on which a clock circuit board assembled with a control circuit having a time measurement function is mounted,
a member having a posture to be displaced along with the operation of the operation member, which is performed by a user,
a positioning pin that supports the member so as to be rocked, and
a positioning member that positions the main plate with respect to the exterior case,
wherein the conduction path passes through the member, the positioning pin, the main plate, and the positioning member.

9. The timepiece according to claim 8 , wherein the member is arranged so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in the plan view.

10. A timepiece, comprising:
an exterior case having electroconductivity;
an operating member having electroconductivity, which is inserted into the exterior case through an opening formed through the exterior case, and which is configured to accept an operation performed by a user;
an electrostatic induction type converter including:
an electret substrate having an electret surface on which electret films being electrically charged are provide;
a counter substrate, on which electrodes to be arranged so as to be opposed to the electret films are provided; and
a rotary shaft configured to rotate the electret substrate and the counter substrate relative to each other; and

a battery,
wherein the operating member and the exterior case are electrically continuous with each other via a conduction path formed so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in a plan view,
wherein the electrostatic induction type converter comprises a plurality of electrostatic induction type converters, and
wherein at least the rotary shafts of the plurality of electrostatic induction type converters are respectively arranged in different regions among four regions defined by a first straight line for connecting a twelve o'clock position and a six o'clock position and a second straight line for connecting a three o'clock position and a nine o'clock position in the plan view.

11. A timepiece, comprising:
an exterior case having electroconductivity;
an operating member having electroconductivity, which is inserted into the exterior case through an opening formed through the exterior case, and which is configured to accept an operation performed by a user;
an electrostatic induction type converter including:
an electret substrate having an electret surface on which electret films being electrically charged are provide;
a counter substrate, on which electrodes to be arranged so as to be opposed to the electret films are provided; and
a rotary shaft configured to rotate the electret substrate and the counter substrate relative to each other; and

a battery,
wherein the operating member and the exterior case are electrically continuous with each other via a conduction path formed so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in a plan view,
wherein the electrostatic induction type converter comprises a driving device,
wherein the electrostatic induction type converter comprises:

a plurality of electrostatic induction type converters, which include at least two electric power generating devices, and
wherein at least the rotary shaft of the driving device and the rotary shafts of the electric power generating devices are respectively arranged in different regions among four regions defined by a first straight line for connecting a twelve o'clock position and a six o'clock position and a second straight line for connecting a three o'clock position and a nine o'clock position in the plan view.

12. The timepiece according to claim 11 , further comprising:
an oscillating weight configured to be rotated in accordance with a posture of the timepiece and transmit a rotation amount of the oscillating weight to the electret substrate of each of the electric power generating devices; and
a conductive member, which is arranged so as to avoid overlapping with an oscillation locus of the oscillating weight in the plan view and is electrically continuous with the exterior case on the conduction path.

13. The timepiece according to claim 11 , wherein the operating member and the rotary shaft of the driving device are respectively arranged in two different regions defined by a straight line for connecting a twelve o'clock position and a six o'clock position.

14. The timepiece according to claim 11 , further comprising a hand,
wherein the driving device is configured to move the hand.

15. The timepiece according to claim 14 , further comprising an electromagnetic motor,
wherein the hand comprises

Assignees

• Citizen Watch Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shimoda Kenji
• Kitajima Yasuo
• Tokunaga Daisuke
• Sakata Shinnosuke
• Mine Koki
• Furudate Yuta
• Igarashi Kazutaka

Classifications

• G04C10/00

  Arrangements of electric power supplies in time-pieces {(Mounting, assembling of components G04C3/008)} · CPC title

• G04C3/101

  constructional details · CPC title

• G04C5/005 Primary

  Magnetic or electromagnetic means · CPC title

• G04C3/14

  incorporating a stepping motor (G04C3/02 - G04C3/12 take precedence {; generating commutating pulses in primary clocks G04C13/0463}) · CPC title

• H01G7/025

  having an inorganic dielectric · CPC title