JPH08201540A - Structure of watch with solar cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a structure whose maintainablity can be enhanced by a method wherein, when solar cells are connected electrically, one solar cell is connected via a watch circuit board from one connecting spring so as to be connected to the other solar cell from the other connecting spring. CONSTITUTION: A cell support frame 1 in which solar cells 2, 3 are built in advance is built in a movement body, and it is set electrically connected to a circuit board 9 by contact springs 4 to 7 projecting from an opening part in a circuit support base 10. The springs 5, 7 are used for connection to an IC 20, and the springs 4, 6 come into contact with connecting patterns 9b, 9c on the board 9 so as to connect the batteries 2, 3 via a lead pattern 9a. A face on which the batteries 2, 3 are installed does not comprise other components, and its space can be used effectively. This structure makes the soldering process of lead wires inessential, and its maintainability is excellent.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for connecting a plurality of solar cells in an electronic timepiece equipped with a solar cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a timepiece using a solar cell of a glass substrate has a square or octagonal outer shape that can be placed in the dial plate to the maximum extent, and has a hole in the center for passing a pointer shaft. However, in the case of a polygon such as an octagon, it takes time and cost to process the outer shape, and in addition to the square and octagon, it takes time and cost to drill the center hole. Therefore, it became possible to omit the drilling work of the center hole by using a plurality of solar cells.

However, when a plurality of solar cells are used, the solar cells are generally connected in series in order to extract effective electric energy from the plurality of solar cells held by a movement constituent member such as a main plate or a cell support frame. However, finally, it becomes necessary to electrically connect the solar cells to each other in order to establish conduction with the circuit board by means of a connection spring or the like. Therefore, conventionally, a structure has been generally adopted in which a flat spring formed by press working or a lead wire is connected to a solar cell for connection.

A conventional example will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a conventional timepiece module, and FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a main part of the conventional example. Pointer axis 1
Reference numeral 9 denotes an axis for attaching an hour hand, a minute hand, and a second hand, and the solar cells 12 and 13 shown in the figure have an adhesive 18 on the main plate 11.
The solar cells 12 and 13 are connected to each other by a pressed lead plate 16 disposed below the solar cells 12 and 13, as shown in FIG.
The lead plate 16 is assembled into the boss 11a formed on the base plate 11, and then the boss 11a is crushed and fastened. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the other output terminals of the solar cells 12 and 13 are connected to the circuit board 17 by connection springs 14 and 15. In addition, although the flat lead plate 16 is used for connection in FIG. 5, the lead plate 16 is not shown here, but it may be connected to a terminal portion by soldering instead of a lead wire.

[0005]

However, FIGS.
With the structure shown in, it is difficult to replace the individual parts because the boss is crushed to fix the parts and the lead wires are connected by solder when repairing the watch, and the maintainability in the market is extremely poor. Since the load of processing the lead plate 16 and a die for press working are also required, the capital investment was large. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lead plate 16 is fixed to the boss 11a by fixing the lead plate 16 to the boss 11a. Workability is poor because the boss 11a is fixed after being assembled by crushing or the like. Further, if the electrode position is on the same side, the lead plate 16 may be used, but if the electrode position is targeted with respect to the pointer shaft 19, or if the shape of the lead plate 16 is complicated due to the components of the timepiece. Inevitably, the space of the plane and the cross section on the side where the solar cells are arranged is wasted. Also,
Even when a lead wire is used, there are many factors that increase the cost, such as a heavy load of soldering work for fixing the lead wire to the solar cell.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve the above problems and to provide a user with a timepiece which is inexpensive and has excellent maintainability in the market.

[0007]

The gist of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a lead pattern provided on a circuit board having a function of changing to a lead plate or a lead wire in connecting a plurality of solar cell timepieces. The connection between the lead pattern and each solar cell terminal is made by a connection spring.

[0008]

In the structure of the present invention, the cell support frame in which the solar cells are previously incorporated is incorporated in the movement, and the plurality of solar cells are connected to each other through the connection spring arranged below the output terminals of the solar cells. The lead pattern is used.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the present invention, and 21 is a relief portion of a double layer capacitor for storing electric energy obtained by the solar cells 2 and 3, but the double layer capacitor is omitted here. Further, although the opening 22 shows the escape portion of the timepiece train wheel, the illustration of the train wheel is omitted. Reference numeral 23 indicates a hook portion for fastening the cell support frame to the main plate. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA. However, the hook 1 in FIG.
Although the position of a is different from the plan view of FIG. 1, the position is changed to make the explanation easy to understand. Further, FIG. 3 shows lead patterns 9a and connection patterns 9b arranged on the circuit board 9,
FIG. 9C is a diagram in which 9c is illustrated in an easily understandable manner, and circuit patterns other than the lead pattern and the connection pattern are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power source section is composed of two solar cells 2 and 3, and the electrodes of each solar cell 2 and 3 are arranged at the target position with respect to the pointer shaft 8. The solar cells 2 and 3 are held by the cell support frame 1. The circuit board 9 is arranged on the opposite side of the solar cells 2 and 3 with the circuit support 10 and a train wheel (not shown) interposed therebetween.

The circuit support base 10 in which the cell support frame 1 in which the solar cells 2 and 3 are incorporated in advance is incorporated in the movement body.
The contact springs 4, 5, 6, and 7 extending from the opening of the above-mentioned state establish continuity with the circuit board 9. In addition, the contact springs 5 and 7 shown in FIGS.
Reference numeral 6 is in contact with the connection patterns 9b and 9c of the circuit board 9 shown in FIG. 1 to connect the solar cells 2 and 3 via the lead pattern 9a, and the present embodiment is provided on the side where the solar cells 2 and 3 are arranged. In the example, there are no parts that have been set, but it is possible to make effective use of space. The connection springs 4 and 6 connected in series may be connected in any other combination as long as they are terminals connected in series. Further, although the analog clock has been described here, the same applies to a digital clock and a combination clock (having a display function of an analog clock and a digital clock) when a plurality of glass substrate solar cells are provided. .

[0012]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in the electronic timepiece using a plurality of solar cells, the connection is made by the lead pattern provided on the circuit board for connecting the respective solar cells. By doing so, it is possible to connect without being restricted by the position of the output terminal, and it is possible to omit complicated setting of press parts and soldering process of lead wires etc., so it is cheap and economical and excellent in maintainability. Since the space for connecting components can be used effectively, it is possible to provide the user with a watch with excellent design.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view seen from the dial side of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an essential part of a circuit board of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the conventional example seen from the dial side.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 cell support frame 2 solar cell 3 solar cell 4 connection spring 5 connection spring 6 connection spring 7 connection spring 8 connection spring 8 pointer shaft 9 circuit board 10 base plate 16 lead plate 20 IC

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electronic timepiece with a solar cell, which has a function of storing electricity in a double-layer capacitor using a plurality of solar cells, and has a structure in which the solar cells are arranged in a movement structural member. A structure of a solar cell timepiece characterized in that electrical connection is made from a connection spring through a timepiece circuit board, and another connection spring is electrically connected to the other solar cell.