Electronic timepiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016252883-A1
Application number	US-201615052095-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 24, 2016
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic timepiece includes a secondary battery, a solar cell, a noncontact charging circuit, a control circuit, a time measurement section that measures time, a time display section that displays the time measured by the time measurement section, a biological information measurement circuit that measures information on a biological body to which the electronic timepiece is attached, and a power supply voltage detection circuit that detects voltage across the secondary battery, and the control circuit enables the biological information measurement circuit only when the voltage across the secondary battery is higher than or equal to first voltage whereas enabling the time measurement section and the time display section irrespective of the voltage across the secondary battery.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic timepiece comprising:
a secondary battery; a plurality of charging sections that charge the secondary battery with electric power; a time measurement section that is driven with the electric power from the secondary battery and measures time; a biological sensor that is driven with the electric power from the secondary battery and measures information on a biological body to which the electronic timepiece is attached; and a time display section that displays the time measured by the time measurement section.

2 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 1 ,
further comprising a voltage detection section that detects voltage across the secondary battery, wherein the biological sensor is enabled only when the voltage across the secondary battery is higher than or equal to first voltage, but the time measurement section and the time display section are enabled irrespective of the voltage across the secondary battery.

3 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a reception section that receives a radio wave containing time information; and a time correction section that corrects the time based on the time information received by the reception section, wherein the reception section and the time correction section are enabled irrespective of the voltage across the secondary battery.

4 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 3 ,
wherein the reception section includes at least one of a GPS reception circuit that receives a GPS satellite signal and a radio wave reception circuit that receives a standard radio wave.

5 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a wireless communication circuit that transmits and receives information to and from an external apparatus; and a time correction section that corrects the time based on time information received from the external apparatus, wherein the wireless communication circuit and the time correction section are enabled irrespective of the voltage across the secondary battery.

6 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an acceleration sensor; and a wireless communication circuit capable of transmitting information detected with the acceleration sensor to an external apparatus, wherein the acceleration sensor and the wireless communication circuit are enabled irrespective of the voltage across the secondary battery.

7 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an operation section; and at least one of an atmospheric pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a direction sensor, and a pulse sensor, wherein a sensor to be enabled irrespective of the voltage across the secondary battery is allowed to be selected by operation of the operation section from the atmospheric pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, the direction sensor, and the pulse sensor.

8 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 2 ,
wherein when the voltage across the secondary battery is lower than second voltage lower than the first voltage, at least part of a function of the time display section is disabled.

9 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 2 , further comprising an operation section,
wherein even when the voltage across the secondary battery is higher than or equal to the first voltage, disablement of the biological sensor is allowed to be selected by operation of the operation section.

10 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 2 , further comprising a remaining amount display section that displays the amount of remaining battery voltage of the secondary battery in the form of a relationship with the first voltage.

11 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 1 ,
wherein any one of the plurality of charging sections includes an operation section and converts energy produced by operation of the operation section into electric power for the charging.

12 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 1 ,
wherein any one of the plurality of charging sections converts any one of optical energy, kinetic energy, thermal energy, and fuel energy into electric power for the charging.

13 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 1 ,
wherein any one of the plurality of charging sections acquires electric power from an external power supply for the charging.

14 . The electronic timepiece according to claim 1 , further comprising a tubular case made of a metal material,
wherein the charging sections, the time measurement section, the biological sensor, and the time display section are disposed in the case, and the time display section includes a dial and an indication hand.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Inoue Katsutoyo

Classifications

• G04B47/063 Primary

  measuring physiological quantities, e.g. pedometers, heart-rate sensors, blood pressure gauges and the like · CPC title

• G04B47/068

  with a thermometer · CPC title

• G04B47/066

  with a pressure sensor · CPC title

• G04R20/02

  the radio signal being sent by a satellite, e.g. GPS · CPC title

• G04B47/06

  with attached measuring instruments, e.g. pedometer, barometer, thermometer or compass {(in combination with a tachometer which winds up the clockwork G04B5/206)} · CPC title