Electronic timepiece with wireless information function

• US 20040233789A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Fujisawa, Teruhiko, Oguchi, Isao
• Granted Patent: US 7,433,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/47
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/008 Mounting, assembling of components
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/146 incorporating two or more stepping motors or rotors
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/10 Tuning or receiving; Circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/12 inside metal cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core

Abstract

An electronic timepiece with wireless information function that is small, has good reception performance, and has a construction that improves the freedom of design. Antennae 5A and 5B are disposed inside a short cylindrically-shaped metal case 1 of which both ends along its cylindrical axis L₁ are open with the axes L_5A and L_5B of the antennae 5A and 5B substantially parallel to the cylindrical axis L1 of the case 1. A magnetic-field-passing part capable of passing the magnetic field of radio waves is disposed in an open side of the case 1 along an extension of the antenna axis. Radio waves entering from the open side of the case 1 can therefore be received by the antenna, and the material of the case 1 does not affect the reception performance of the antennae 5A and 5B. The case 1 can therefore be made from metal, increasing the freedom of design and making it possible to improve the appearance.

Claims

1. An electronic timepiece with wireless information function, comprising:

a cylindrically-shaped case having a metal part on at least an outside surface and having an opening in at least one end along the cylindrical axis of the case;

an antenna disposed inside the case such that an axis of the antenna passes through the at least one opening in the case for receiving a radio signal;

a magnetic-field-passing part positioned in the case such that the antenna axis extends through the magnetic-field-passing part, the magnetic-field-passing part being constructed to enable the magnetic field component of the received radio signal to pass through the magnetic-field-passing part;

a control unit configured to execute a control operation based on information in the radio signal received by the antenna; and

a time display for presenting time.

2. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein:

the radio signal is a standard time signal containing time information;

the control unit comprises a timekeeping control unit configured to keep current time and to adjust the current time based on time information received by the antenna; and

the time display presents the current time kept by the timekeeping control unit.

3. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is positioned within a center region of the case.

4. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the antenna axis intersects the cylindrical axis of the case at between about 0°

and about 45°

.

5. An electronic timepiece according to claim 4, wherein the antenna axis is substantially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the case.

6. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic-field-passing part comprises one or more components, each of which is formed of a non-conductive and non-magnetic member.

7. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising:

a gear train for transferring drive power based on drive control by the control unit to the time display;

a main plate; and

a gear train holder adapted to hold the gear train in line with the cylindrical case axis,

wherein at least one of the main plate and gear train holder is formed of a non-conductive and non-magnetic member; and

wherein the case has an opening in both ends along its cylindrical axis.

8. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein:

the case has an opening in both ends along its cylindrical axis, and comprises a cover closing one of the case openings;

the time display comprises a dial disposed in the case such that the antenna is between the dial and the cover; and

at least one of the dial and cover is formed of a non-conductive and non-magnetic member.

9. An electronic timepiece according to claim 7, further comprising:

a rotatable calendar wheel adapted to display at least one of year, day, or week information and positioned such that the antenna axis passes through the calendar wheel, the calendar wheel being formed of a non-conductive and non-magnetic member.

10. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising:

a high permeability member disposed such that it is electrically isolated from the case and such that the antenna axis passes through the high permeability member, which is adapted to induce the magnetic field of the radio signal thereby improving the ability of the antenna to receive the magnetic field of the radio signal.

11. An electronic timepiece according to claim 10, wherein:

the case has an opening in both ends along its cylindrical axis, and comprises a cover closing one of the case openings;

the time display comprises a dial disposed such that the antenna is positioned between the dial and the cover;

at least one of the dial and cover is formed of a non-conductive and non-magnetic member; and

the high permeability member is disposed at a position corresponding to the antenna in at least one of the dial and cover.

12. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein:

the time display has hands that rotate and indicate time; and

the antenna is disposed so as not to be overlapped by the hand positions during radio signal reception.

13. An electronic timepiece according to claim 12, further comprising:

a piezoelectric actuator adapted to rotate the hands using oscillation of a piezoelectric element excited by an applied voltage.

14. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising:

a movement having a gear train comprised of gears, a quartz oscillator unit containing a quartz oscillator, and a circuit block containing the control unit; and

a battery for supplying power to the movement;

wherein in planar arrangement at least one of the gear train, quartz oscillator unit, and circuit block is disposed between the antenna and battery.

15. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising:

a photoelectric conversion unit disposed in the opening in the case and configured to receive external light and to generate power from the received light; and

a support substrate, through which the magnetic field component of the radio signal is capable of passing, adapted to support the photoelectric conversion unit in a position electrically isolated from the case;

wherein a part of the antenna is positioned within a specific distance of the support substrate.

16. An electronic timepiece according to claim 15,

wherein the case has an opening on both ends along its cylindrical axis;

and

the electronic timepiece further comprising

a high permeability member adapted to induce the magnetic field component of the radio signal thereby improving the ability of the antenna to receive the magnetic field of the radio signal, the high permeability member being disposed in the opening opposite from the opening in which the photoelectric conversion unit is disposed with the antenna positioned between the high permeability member and the photoelectric conversion unit; and

wherein the antenna is disposed between the support substrate and the high permeability member with a part of the antenna positioned within a specific distance of the high permeability member.

17. An electronic timepiece according to claim 16, further comprising:

a cover adapted to close the opening opposite from the opening in which the photoelectric conversion unit is disposed, and constructed so as to enable the magnetic field component of the radio signal to pass;

wherein the antenna is disposed between the support substrate and the cover with a part of the antenna positioned within a specific distance of the cover.

18. An electronic timepiece according to claim 15, further comprising:

at least one additional antenna and at least one additional substrate, a different support substrate being respectively disposed for each antennae.

19. An electronic timepiece according to claim 15, wherein the time display comprises a transparent dial disposed such that the photoelectric conversion unit is between the transparent dial and the antenna.