Solar panel and timepiece including solar panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016204292-A1
Application number	US-201414912860-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 2, 2014
Priority date	Sep 4, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A solar panel of the present invention, above which pointers mounted on a pointer shaft inserted into a through hole provided at the center of the solar panel move, includes a center cell circularly formed around the through hole and a plurality of outer-circumferential cells formed around the outer periphery of the center cell in a manner to have substantially same light-receiving areas. The center cell is formed to have a light-receiving area larger than the light-receiving area of each outer-circumferential cell, taking into consideration a light-shielding area where the pointers overlap with the center cell. Therefore, even though the pointers always overlap with the center cell and part of the pointers overlaps with one of the plurality of outer-circumferential cells, the fluctuation of each light-receiving area of the center cell and the plurality of outer-circumferential cells due to this overlap can be minimized.

First claim

1 . A solar panel where a pointer shaft is inserted into a through hole provided at center of the solar panel and pointers mounted on the pointer shaft move above the solar panel, comprising:
a center cell formed around periphery of the through hole; and a plurality of outer-circumferential cells formed around outer periphery of the center cell in a manner to have substantially same light-receiving areas, wherein the center cell is formed to have a light-receiving area larger than each light-receiving area of the plurality of outer-circumferential cells, taking into consideration a light-shielding area where the pointers overlap with the center cell.

2 . The solar panel according to claim 1 , wherein the light-shielding area where the pointers overlap with the center cell is an approximately average light-shielding area between a maximum light-shielding area and a minimum light-shielding area due to the pointers.

3 . The solar panel according to claim 1 , wherein a non-light-receiving area surrounded by at least one of the center cell and the plurality of outer-circumferential cells is provided.

4 . The solar panel according to claim 1 , wherein the center cell includes a first center cell formed along periphery of the through hole and a second center cell formed along outer periphery of the first center cell.

5 . The solar panel according to claim 1 , wherein the center cell is divided into a plural number less than number of the plurality of outer-circumferential cells, with the center of the solar panel as a boundary.

6 . The solar panel according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of outer-circumferential cells includes a plurality of outer-circumferential cells on an inner circumferential side positioned around outer periphery of the center cell and a plurality of outer-circumferential cells on an outer circumferential side positioned around outer periphery of the plurality of outer-circumferential cells on the inner circumferential side.

7 . The solar panel according to claim 1 , wherein the center cell and the plurality of outer-circumferential cells are connected in series by connecting sections.

8 . The solar panel according to claim 1 , wherein parting sections are provided on a front surface side of the solar panel, and the connecting sections which connect the center cell and the plurality of outer-circumferential cells in series are provided corresponding to the parting sections.

9 . The solar panel according to claim 8 , wherein boundaries of the center cell and the plurality of outer-circumferential cells are formed to suit the parting section.

10 . A timepiece comprising:
a solar panel where a pointer shaft is inserted into through hole provided at center of the solar panel and pointers mounted on the pointer shaft move above the solar panel, wherein the solar panel includes a center cell formed around periphery of the through hole, and a plurality of outer-circumferential cells formed around outer periphery of the center cell in a manner to have substantially same light-receiving areas, and wherein the center cell is formed to have a light-receiving area larger than each light-receiving area of the plurality of outer-circumferential cells, taking into consideration a light-shielding area where the pointers overlap with the center cell.

Assignees

• Casio Computer Co Ltd

Inventors

• Saito Yuta

Classifications

• G04C10/02 Primary

  the power supply being a radioactive {or photovoltaic} source · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title

• H10F19/35

  Structures for the connecting of adjacent photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers · CPC title

• H10F19/50

  Integrated devices comprising at least one photovoltaic cell and other types of semiconductor or solid-state components (H10F19/75 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H10F19/00 Primary

  Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules · CPC title