Timepiece and electronic apparatus with bulb-shaped semiconductor element

• US 20040008588A1
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Sawada, Makoto, Minami, Shunji, Minami, Narutoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,079,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/205
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/10 Ornamental shape of the graduations or the surface of the dial; Attachment of the graduations to the dial cases for special purposes, e.g. ring or button watches G04B37/12; indicating means with special effects G04B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/02 the power supply being a radioactive or photovoltaic source
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0082 by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements and by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the positions of which represents the time, i.e. combinations of G04G9/02 and G04G9/08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a timepiece and an electronic apparatus, which comprise a casing, a digital face and a time counting module, both being provided in the casing. A bulb-shaped solar battery element is mounted on the digital face. The bulb-shaped solar battery element is allowed to receive the external light sufficiently to generate the electric power efficiently.

Claims

1. A time counting apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a digital face provided in the casing;

a time counting module provided in the casing; and

a bulb-shaped semiconductor element mounted on the digital face for supplying driving power to the time counting module.

2. The time counting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the digital face has a hour indicating section on its surface;

and

the bulb-shaped semiconductor element disposed on the hour indicating section on the digital face.

3. The time counting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a box-like member provided in the digital face, the box-like member having a light reflection layer on its inner surface; and

wherein

the box-like member receives the bulb-shaped semiconductor element.

4. The time counting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a corner member fixed to the casing so as to cover a peripheral portion of the digital face; and

wherein

the bulb-shaped semiconductor element is disposed between a top surface of the digital face and the corner member.

5. The time counting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

a light reflection layer is provided on at least one surface of the top surface of the digital face, a bottom surface of the corner member and a inner surface of the casing.

6. The time counting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the corner member is made of a semi transparent member.

7. The time counting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the casing has a bezel portion, the bezel portion being formed with a groove for receiving the bulb-shaped semiconductor element.

8. The time counting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the groove of the bezel portion is provided on its surface with a light reflection layer.

9. The time counting apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising:

a supporting member fixed to the casing at the rear side of the digital face; and

wherein

the digital face is a light transmittance nature; and

the bulb-shaped semiconductor is disposed between the digital face and the supporting member.

10. The time counting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the supporting member is subjected to a light reflection process.

11. The time counting apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

an electro-luminescence element is provided on a rear surface of the supporting member, the electro-luminescence element being made activate under a electro-magnetic field caused by a current for driving the time counting module, and wherein

the supporting member is made of a semi light-transmittance and light-reflection material.

12. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a display section provided in the casing;

a protection glass of a light transmittance nature mounted on the casing so as to face the display section; and

a solar battery disposed so as to face a peripheral edge of the protection glass.

13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the protection glass has a peripheral portion bent substantially at a right angle toward the rear surface side of the protection glass, and

the solar battery is disposed along the peripheral edge of the protection glass.

14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the protection glass is provided with a light reflection member at the bent portion.

15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the solar battery comprises a base member in the form of a ring, and a solar battery element disposed on the base member.

16. The electronic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the solar battery comprises plural bulb-shaped solar battery elements, which bare disposed along the peripheral edge of the protection glass.

17. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the protection glass is formed with a groove along the peripheral edge of the protection glass, and the solar battery comprises a cylindrical base member and a solar battery element attached on an inner surface of the cylindrical base member, and wherein

the solar battery is disposed within the groove formed in the peripheral edge of the protection glass.

18. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a window section provided to the casing;

a display member of a light transmittance nature provided in the casing so as to face the window section; and

a solar battery arranged so as to face a peripheral edge of the display member.

19. The electronic apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

the solar battery comprises plural bulb-shaped solar battery elements, which bare disposed along the peripheral edge of the protection glass.

20. The electronic apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

the solar battery comprises a cylindrical base member and a solar battery element attached on an inner surface of the cylindrical base member, and the solar battery is disposed along a peripheral edge of the display member.